"So have you heard anything about that boy Feynriel? Varric asked.

Beau was sitting at the end of the table in Varric's suite riffling through papers while Varric poured a drink at the opposite end. It had been a month since they helped Feynriel escape the slavers. Beau and Varric were now focused on getting ready for the expedition into the Deep Roads.

"Honestly Varric I haven't been able to go to the Dalish camp for a while. The only time I have left the city was to round up those blood mages for Thrask and that was just a peachy experience. Oh and there was also helping that dwarf with the quanri…which again was an awesome time."

"Hawke you did the right thing. Those mages were dangerous. They wouldn't have stayed in that cave forever and they would have put other people in danger, and with the quanri…well we all left alive, so I take that as a positive experience."

Beau threw a pile of papers on the table and let out a sigh. "Tell that to Anders. He wasn't very happy about my choice."

"Well Anders is not the best moral compass in the world. He is after all possessed by a spirit. The good news is that you gained some points with the elf."

"I am not trying to gain points with anyone. I was trying to do what was right."

"Well you don't need to convince me. I've always got your back Hawke."

Beau smiled. "Aw Varric sometimes I think we should get hitched and all my problems would be solved, but then I remember you have Bianca."

Varric chuckled. "Bianca is the jealous type. Besides you don't want me, it's the elf you want."

Beau blushed and hid behind some of the paper she was holding. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Hawke you act like a giggly teenager whenever the subject comes up. Why don't you just tell him how you feel?"

"If it was that simple I would have done it already….maybe….probably…no I wouldn't, but it is complicated so no - it is going to stay buried."

"It is only as complicated as you make it." Varric smirked.

Beau glared at Varric. "I could feel what he was feeling. I could always tell where he was. I am a mage and he hates mages. I am also an apostate, and I have weird freaky magic where I am connected to an old elven god…how is that not complicated?"

"Touché Hawke. Come on, why don't we go for a walk. We have been inside all day and I know how you get testy when you don't get sunshine and fresh air."

Beau groaned. "I do like sunshine...and I guess I should get as much as I can right now."

Varric nodded. "Only a couple more days and we will be in the deep roads."

The time had finally come. In a couple of days Beau and her companions would be heading down into the Deep Roads. They had finally made enough money to convince Bartrand to let Beau become a partner for the expedition, and with that title came perks. Beau was able to choose people to come as long as she could pay for them. Her companions were helping, knowing they weren't going to get paid, and they were okay with that. Beau had finally chosen who was going to come with her during the expedition. Varric was coming of course, since he was the other partner on the expedition. Anders reluctantly agreed after Beau begged him to come. After a month Isabela decided she wanted to get out of the city so she said she would come. The whole point of Fenris sticking around was to be a part of the expedition. That left Aveline, Merrill, and Carver. Merrill and Aveline were staying in Kirkwall. Beau didn't trust the little elf yet and Aveline was now captain of the guard. Beau hadn't told Carver that he wasn't going to be a part of the Deep Road expedition. Just like when he was little, she would wait until the very last moment to tell him. She knew that is was mean of her to do it this way, but it had worked in the past so even though he was coming into adulthood, she kept revealing bad news to him at the very last moment.

"So what do you want to do Hawke? We could take a hike to the Dalish camp or walk up to Hightown. I have to see Bartrand sooner or later today."

"Why don't you do that Varric? I am going to talk to Fen'Harel."

"Sure, I will catch up with you later."

Beau walked in the alienage where she took up her favorite spot under the enormous tree that shaded the area. She hadn't talked to Fen'Harel in a while. Beau missed her talks with the giant wolf. Getting ready for the expedition had taken a lot of her time, along with the last couple of jobs she had taken on. She let herself relax and her mind drift. She was taken to the familiar area where the orange moon hung in the sky.

"It has been a long time Adalen. What brings you to my dwelling?" Fen'harel appeared out of the mist, greeting her.

"Well hello to you Fen'Harel. Do I always need an excuse to come visit you?" Beau asked.

The giant wolf chuckled. "No you don't Adalen but you usually only visit when you have an issue to discuss."

"Well not this time I'm afraid. No life threatening issues or historical questions. Actually, I have no idea what we will talk about." Beau giggled.

The giant wolf sat down and got more comfortable. "Well why don't you tell me what you have been up to Adalen.

So Beau told Fen'Harel what had been happening in her life. She told him about Feynriel and how she saved him. Then there was the whole issue with the black powder and the Quanri. She told him about the mages that were hiding in the cave. How she had to turn them into the Templars for fear of them being blood mages. The last story was about the sister from the chantry who made her release a quanri mage. The mage ended up dead after trying to set him free.

"Trouble seems to fellow you Adalen, especially trouble that involves mages."

Beau was now sitting down now feeling exhausted after reliving the recent events. "Sometimes I don't know what to do Fen'Harel. I know I should be more sympathetic to mages but some of them are out of control."

"You can only do what you think is right Adalen, just as I did in the past. Sometimes it works in your favour and sometimes it doesn't. That is life."

Beau smiled. "I guess it is. So do you have any advice for a person about to go into the deep roads?"

Fen'Harel growled and bared his teeth. "The deep roads are no place for a wolf. You should not venture there Adalen. The elven gods never even ventured there."

"I have no choice. This is for my family, and I will do anything to protect them."

"Only a true wolf would go this far to protect its pack. Very well Adalen if you choose to go I will not stop you. I will help you."

"Help me how?"

"Let me teach you some new magic. Some of these spells will be quite useful in the depths, though they might take a toll on your magic."

"I will take anything you can teach me Fen'Harel."

The great wolf stood up. "Very well let us begin then."

By the time Beau returned to her own body, the sun had set and she was greeted by the starry sky.

"Hawke?"

Beau looked up to see Fenris towering over her. He was leaning against the tree as he normally did when he watched over her.

Beau smiled at Fenris. "Let me guess, you talked to Varric."

"I bumped into him in Hightown. He said that you were going to see Fen'Harel. It is foolish for you to be here by yourself."

Beau smirked. "How did I ever get along without you before?"

Fenris' face flushed, but he recovered quickly. "What did Fen'Harel have to say this time?"

Beau got up and dusted herself off. "He just gave me some advice about the deep roads. Now if you'll excuse me I have ingredients to gather.

"All the shops are closed. Where are you going to get ingredients?"

"Fenris, I was talking to a giant wolf. He didn't tell me to go to the stall by the blacksmith's. He told me to get them from the forest."

"Then I am coming with you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Beau smiled.

I'M BACK! Sorry for the wait guys and gals but some stuff popped up in real life and had to deal with it! Sorry for such a short chapter but I just needed a bridge to get them into the deep roads. It is time to pick up the pace on this story! Be sure to keep an eye out for my holiday story, it should be fun!