The months came and went. Anders tended to his duties and Marian was impressed to see him like this. She never saw what he was like with the mage underground, because he wouldn't let her join them, but she imagined he must have been much like this. He was so full of passion and determination and took great care of those under his command. Now they were not only helping children, but any mage who was unable to fight or injured. Those who didn't join them permanently where never told where in Thedas they were taken and were escorted through the Deeproads, to where they would be relocated. They were actually making a difference for the resistance by giving mages a safe haven, where they could recover and seek refuge for a time. Despite complaining about the darkspawn and deeproads Anders seemed more at peace than she had ever seen him. There was no fear of the templars bursting through your door at any given moment and no one who told him that the treatment of mages was justified. He spent his of duty hours with Marian and Lilly and in his duty hours he was doing what was most important to him. Helping mages throughout Thedas. Marian would help gather information and since she was neither a mage nor a warden, she could use channels that the others weren't allowed to use (because of the political issue) and she stood a better chance of not being discovered by templars. Lilly was thriving now having several instructors teaching her the basics and Anders focusing on her discipline and healing magic. She would play with the other children, but wasn't upset when they left again, probably due to Empathy's influence.
-OOO-
Lilly was woken by Anders' voice as he gently stroked her face.
"You need to wake up sweetheart."
"But I'm tired." She complained.
"I know, but I need you to get up and get dressed." He removed the covers and lifted her to stand. She sleepily rubbed her eyes as he gave her some clothes for her to put on.
"What time is it?"
"It's almost two."
She looked out the window and saw the moonlight shining down making the snow light up. She gave a tired whine, but Anders gave her a stern look. She grumbled as she put on her clothes and then went into the office that was now also used as their sitting room. Marian and Anders was already dressed and where wearing black cloaks. Anders came towards her and put a black cloak around her and pulled up the hood.
"I need you to wear the hood. You are not to pull it down under any circumstances unless I say so. Do you understand?"
"Yes, father."
"Good girl."
"What's going on?"
"We will tell you later dear. Right now we need to get going." Marian said as she took her hand. Anders opened the door and locked it behind them. Lilly was about to ask something when Marian hushed her and put a finger to her lips. They went out of the keep and it was terribly cold. Marian tightened Lilly's scarf and made her put on some gloves. Anders took Lilly's other hand and they went swiftly through the gates of the keep. They then continued through the tunnels that led away from the keep. Lilly remembered Anna taking her this way when she arrived at the keep. She was scared. It was so dark even as Anders held one hand forward sustaining a small flame to lighten the way. She closed her eyes and led her parents lead her. As if sensing her fear both parents squeezed her hand from time to time. Outside the tunnels a carriage was waiting for them and they got inside. Inside the carriage Lilly rested her head against Anders chest as he wrapped his arm around her. She quickly fell asleep. A few hours later Anders woke her up. They went out of the carriage and started walking through the snow with the moonlight as their only source of light. She was tired, cold and scared so she began crying. Anders looked at her and stroked her cheek.
"Shh... sweetheart. I need you to be brave for me and keep walking." He soothed.
"But I'm tired." She whimpered.
"I know, but we have to keep moving." Anders took pity on her and carried her on his back for a little while. They reached a small village. Anders went inside the Inn and Marian stayed outside with Lilly. She could feel the girl shivering and pulled her close as she wrapped her cloak around her. Anders came back out and a man went to the stables. Fifteen minutes later the man had prepared a wagon. Anders lifted Lilly onto it before he and Marian jumped onto it themselves. It was not as comfortable as the carriage had been, but Lilly sat between her parents and snuggled up against them. Marian took out a blanket and wrapped it around all three of them. Even with Lilly between them Marian could rest her head on Anders' shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Lilly was already asleep when Anders kissed Marian's hair.
"Sleep love. I'll wake you when we arrive."
It was almost daybreak when they arrived at another village. Lilly was tired and grumpy, but Anders just smiled kindly at her. Marian kissed her forehead and took her hand as Anders paid the man with the wagon. Anders then came towards them and kneeled down in front of her.
"Before we enter the village I need to remind you to keep your hood up. Got it?"
"Yes yes." She whined and Anders ruffled her hair a little before straightening her hood.
They went into the village and walked for a little while before they came to a small house. They went up and knocked on the door. The door opened and instantly Lilly went from grumpy to happy.
"Fenris!" She gasped and jumped forward hugging him and he lost his breath, earning a chuckle from him.
"Hello Lilly. With a charge like that you would make a great warrior."
"It's so good to see you Fenris." Marian said hugging him.
"You too, Hawke."
"Hello Fenris. How is she?" Anders asked with concern.
"They are both fine, but if you would take a look at them I would be grateful."
Fenris walked with them through the house and let them to a room, but before they entered Anders put a hand on Lilly's shoulder holding her back.
"We are going to see your aunt Bethany, but she is very weak, so no jumping." He said as he gave stern look and she nodded though she was a little annoyed. Then Fenris opened the door and they saw Bethany lying in bed. Lilly ran forward, but as she promised her father she didn't jump, but gave her a careful hug.
"Lilly. I can't believe how much you've grown. How have you been?"
"Fine." She smiled shyly.
Marian and Anders then came towards the bed and both hugged Bethany. Anders sat down on the bed and began examining her. Lilly looked at her father closely as she always did when he healed. He had told her to do so at any given opportunity to learn as much as possible. She didn't notice that Marian was standing in front of Fenris cooing.
"Hello little Carver... Lilly come here."
Lilly walked over to Marian and saw Fenris holding a baby. It was so tiny and chubby. It had black hair, slightly pointy ears and large blue eyes.
"This is your cousin Carver." Marian said and Lilly looked at the baby and smiled.
"May I hold him?" She asked.
"Yes, but sit over on the bed next to Bethany first." Fenris told her and she walked over and sat on the middle of the bed. Bethany then instructed her how to hold him and Fenris gently passed her the little boy. Anders finished his healing.
"You are in perfect health, Bethany. Ramous did a good job. Your leg seems a little overburdened though."
"It's probably because I have been as big as a house the last few months." She smiled and Anders chuckled. He then went over to the other side of the bed where Lilly was still holding Carver carefully. Anders tried hard not to laugh. She looked as scared as Marian had done when she held the baby aboard Isabela's ship.
"I need to see how Carver is doing, can you hold him very still for me?"
She nodded and watched as Anders held his hands over the baby examining him. When he was done he told Lilly to hand Carver over to Bethany. Anders then took Lilly's hand leading her out of the room and Fenris showed them into another room with a double bed. Lilly yawned and Anders helped her remove most of her clothes. He then lifted the covers and tucked her in.
"You have been very brave tonight. I'm proud of you. Now get some rest."
"Are we going to stay here?" She asked barely keeping her eyes open.
"For a few days and then we will go home again. It is very important that you stay inside the house at all times when we are here. Don't talk to strangers and stay close to mother, Fenris or myself."
"Why?"
"Because, the world isn't safe for mages. There are people who don't trust us and wants to hurt us."
"Like the men who took me before you found me?"
"Yes, but one day soon it will change."
"Father?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"I'm glad you found me." She said barely loud enough for him to hear, because she was falling asleep. He chuckled and kissed her forehead as he stroked her hair.
"So am I."
"Love you." Was the last thing she said before sleep claimed her.
-OOO-
Marian was standing looking out a window starring down at the village. Carver was so adorable and Bethany and Fenris seemed happier than she had ever seen them. Still she would have wished that they could have stayed near Redcliff where they were all together. She tried to take consolation in the fact that they were trying to make a world safe for their children. As long as they were all safe that was more important. She was tired and had only gotten a few hours of sleep early this morning. She yawned and didn't notice Anders standing her until he wrapped his arms around her.
"Did you get some rest love?" He said as he kissed her cheek.
"Me? What about you? You can't have gotten more than two hours."
"I had to keep an eye on Bethany. There were complications, but she is fine now."
"Is Lilly still asleep?"
"Like a rock. I don't know how your father did this... travelling around the country in the middle of the night with three children. It nearly broke my heart to make her go through all of this, she is so little."
"He wanted to protect us and that gave him the strength. It wasn't so bad and we did manage to make a home in Lothering for a long while."
"Hopefully when Lilly and Carver have children of their own they will never have to do this. Travel with the fear of being discovered and having to change carriages in the oddest places so they don't leave a trail."
"It will change love... Carver is cute isn't he?"
"Very... You have become a lot more comfortable with children haven't you?" he smiled.
"Thanks to Lilly. I never thought of myself as a mother, but now... well it doesn't matter."
"Don't do that. Tell me what is bothering you." He turned her around and looked into her eyes.
"It's just... I love Lilly more than anything, but... When I saw Carver I couldn't help but wonder what our child would look like... But it's alright. I have you and Lilly."
She kissed him and rested her cheek against his chest. Anders hadn't told her about the research he was doing with Finn. She knew he was researching the taint, but didn't know why. Even if she was living with the wardens there were many things that she wasn't informed of. He had told her that he didn't have to go through the calling and that it had something to do with Justice, but none of the specifics. He took a deep breath.
"What if I told you there is a way for us to have a child?"
"But you said that it was nearly impossible." She looked up at him and her eyes widened.
"It is, but I have been doing some research for the wardens that might change that. If you want to try it."
He looked down at her, but wasn't prepared for the smile crossing her and she kissed him deeply.
"What do we do?"
"Well, I have to drink potions during a few weeks. That way the... ehm... fluids..." He gave a crooked smile before continuing. "that my body creates, won't carry the taint. Then you will have to take a different potion that should make conception happen more easily."
She smiled again and kissed him.
-OOO-
Bethany was lying in bed with little Carver in her arms. Fenris had never thought she looked more beautiful. He had to chuckle to himself again as he thought of this twisted fate of his. For all his hatred of mages, years of telling people and even Bethany herself that she would be better off in the circle, he now found they were essential to his happiness. Now he had helped her not only escape the circle, but destroy it, only to fall in love with her. He had been in love with her sister for years only to see her affections being given to another... a rival in every meaning of the word. He wondered if Bethany had never been taken to the circle how many years more they would have had together. He let go of that thought coming to the realisation that he would probably have been to bitter to love her as she deserved. All those years of searching for a family and he had found it in a family were the curse of magic ran deep. He looked at his son and wondered if he would be cursed as well. For a moment the fear of having to kill his son, because he had turned into an abomination took away all happiness. Thankfully Bethany smiled at him and asked him to come closer and those dire thoughts disappeared... for now. He sat down next to her and kissed her hair.
"He is perfect isn't he?" She smiled sweetly down as their son.
"Indeed... I predict he is going to become a stubborn little menace with the Hawke family's gift for trouble."
"Maker I hope not." Bethany exclaimed with a smile and Fenris chuckled.
"Perhaps that was a gift we should return." Bethany kissed him and then looked at him a little more seriously.
"It's going to be alright, Fenris. Nothing will happen. I promise."
"No, I promise that to you. No one will hurt you as long as I breathe." He kissed her deeply until all the fear was forgotten and replaced with the love and joy they felt.
-OOO- Ferelden Royal Court -OOO-
A personal summoning can't be a good thing. After years in Kirkwall Aveline had become accustom to seneschal Bran only summoning her when there had been complaints. And there were always complaints in Kirkwall. Aveline had been surprised when King Alistair offered her the position as guard captain. She must really have made an impression when meeting him in Kirkwall. But now her hands were getting clammy. Not a feeling the red headed battle maiden was use to. She walked into the Kings office and he was looking out the window deep in thought. When he turned though there was a kind smile on his face and Aveline instantly relaxed. "Not going to be hounded then."
"Guard Captain, thank you for coming so quickly."
"Of course, your majesty. I assume you would not have sent for me unless it was important." His face turned worried.
"Your right unfortunately. I month ago I received a letter from the prince of Stark Haven demanding that I inform him where Hawke and Anders are. Like so many times before I have informed him that I do not."
"But you do. It is unlikely that they could have been so well hidden otherwise." Aveline said a little hopeful. Other than a few letters in the deposit box she knew nothing of their whereabouts or how they were doing.
"You are right and that is the conclusion that Vael has come to as well I fear. But that was not the letter that concerned me." He took forth another letter and Aveline immediately recognized it as the seal of the Viscount in Kirkwall.
"Do they know Anders is alive?" She asked a little hesitant.
"Not from what I am informed, but if what this letter says is true, then I almost wish that had been it. Apparently, the Prince of Stark Haven intends to march his army upon Kirkwall."
"But Anders is not even there. What could he possible hope to gain by this?"
"Power? Expanding his kingdom? Personally I believe he is trying to goad Hawke into exposing herself. But the reason I called you here is because I need a second opinion from someone who knows Vael. Do you believe he will actually go through with this and march against Kirkwall?"
"After the rage I saw him display in Kirkwall, I would have to say yes. He looked almost as deranged as Anders, when Hawke refused to kill him."
"I feared you would say that... Thank you Guard Captain you are dismissed."
Alistair looked down in the desk and rubbed his forehead. Aveline was almost out the door when she turned around.
"What do you intend to do your Majesty?"
"I have to rely on the wisdom of my better half." He smiled.