(AN: Here we go! At least I didn't wait two weeks to post this…actually I did, bad me. Well now we get to find out who Kitty and co's mysterious benefactor is. A hint, it's not Sandal LOL.)

"Look out, Kitty!"

The rogue turned just in time to see another genlock raise its jagged axe. Quickly she whipped her daggers around and severed the creature's head, sending it rolling. Michael squeezed the trigger on his G36 and with the staccato bark two more hurlocks fell to the ground. Then he heard a feminine voice speak up.

"Maker, that thing makes quite a racket, and a bit too loud for a crossbow. Is it Qunari weapon?"

The burned spy spun around to look at the voice's owner. It was a mage, the one who was fighting the darkspawn and probably also the one who killed the ogre. She was wearing light chain armor with a crest that Michael didn't recognize, and her staff was sharpened to a pike on one end and topped with a stylized dragon. Michael noticed that she had shoulder length platinum silver, almost-white hair, and plaited into a pigtail. Her face was youthful, and had an exotic angular look to it. Michael estimated that the mage to be the same age as Kitty. The mage also had vivid green eyes that were gazing at his weapon with undisguised interest, and him with undisguised lust. Michael heard Kitty's voice off to his side.

"Fancy bit of magic there love, where did you learn that?"

The mage looked over to the rogue, and her eyes widened at the sight.

"Kitty? Kitty Emily Amell Hawke, what on earth are you doing down here in the Deep Roads?"

The rogue stepped forward and put her hands on her hips.

"Treasure hunting, it's all part of my brilliant plan to become the richest and most beautiful Ferelden in all of Kirkwall."

The white-haired female mage frowned.

"Does your mother know you're out here chasing darkspawn?"

Kitty pushed out her chin defiantly.

"I could ask the same thing; does King Alistair know that his queen consort is cavorting around in the Deep Roads?"

That broke the tension, and the mage broke down into a familiar sounding giggle.

"No, I told him I was visiting my cousin."

She paused and looked over to Kitty.

"Which, as it turns out, I am."

She looked over to Michael.

"So, aren't you going to introduce me to your companions? You can start with the tall handsome one with the Qunari weapon."

Kitty took a step forward.

"Back off, he's mine! And besides, you already have King Alistair!"

The mage grinned.

"Oh come on, don't be so catty, Kitty."

Michael lowered his weapon and raised his hand.

"Um, Hawke?"

To his surprise both the mage and Kitty turned to him and said in unison.

"It's Kitty!"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Riiiight, um Kitty, who is this?"

The rogue blushed.

"Oh, where are my manners? Um, Michael and everybody else, this is Karisma Amell Cousland, my cousin from Ferelden."

She yelped as the mage pinched her.

"Only Alistair can get away with calling me Karisma. It's Kari, nice to meet you all."

She looked over at her staff.

"As you might have deduced, I'm a mage like my mother."

Kari walked up to her cousin's younger sibling.

"And how are you, Bethany? Staying out of the circle, I see?"

Bethany smiled.

"Oh yes, and Kitty has been an immense help in that regard."

Kari leaned in and squinted at the younger mage, then turned back to Kitty.

"Kitty darling, may I have a word with you? In private?"

The rogue nodded uncertainly, and followed the mage to a small alcove off to the side. Michael followed, more out of curiosity than anything. He caught Kari scolding Kitty.

"What on earth possessed you to take your younger sister into the Deep Roads, teeming with darkspawn. What if the taint sets in?"

Kitty shook her head.

"No, she hasn't been wounded, or had any darkspawn blood splattered on her."

She smiled.

"Bethany is far too fastidious for that."

Kitty yelped as her cousin cuffed her on the side of the head.

"I'm glad to know that your trademarked silly humour has survived the Fifth Blight, but I'm being serious."

Michael decided to interrupt before the situation got worse. He saw the flash in Kitty's green eyes, and although he hadn't witnessed it he was sure that a catfight between a mage and a rogue would be an ugly scene.

"So, even if Bethany isn't injured she can still get the taint?"

Kari nodded and gestured around the cave walls.

"The Deep Roads are permeated with the darkspawn's corruption. Any mage who spends too much time down here will eventually succumb to the taint."

She chuckled humorlessly to herself.

"Well, unless you're a Grey Warden, but I don't recommend that."

Kitty shook her head.

"But she can't go back to Kirkwall, the Templars will take her for sure. And that Ser Kerras has been gunning for her, I'm sure he'd make her Tranquil just to spite me."

Kari shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Kitty. But Bethany can't stay here."

Kitty was interrupted by a new voice.

"What's wrong, Hawke? You and your cousin's voices are carrying, and Sunshine's getting worried."

Kitty turned and looked a Varric.

"My cousin the Grey Warden here just informed me of something troubling. Bethany can't stay here in the Deep Roads. She'll contract the darkspawn's corruption."

The rogue looked over to where Bethany was standing and closed her eyes.

"We'll have to turn back, there's no other way. I'm sorry Varric."

The dwarf nodded in sympathy.

"No need to apologize Hawke, and I'll tell Bartrand, and don't worry, maybe he'll still honor the agreement."

He shook his head.

"And then again maybe Bartrand will become nice and even-tempered, and sprout lilies out of his ass, too."

"No, we worked too hard for that coin, I won't let you throw that away."

Kitty looked up and saw her younger sister had approached. She took her Bethany's hand.

"No, I mean it, Bethany. You're too precious to me, and to mother. All the treasure in Thedas isn't worth losing you."

Kari spoke up.

"There might be a third option, cousin."

Kitty looked over.

"Alright, Kari. I'm listening, tell me about your brilliant cunning plan."

She cracked her knuckles.

"If it involves taking out all the Templars in Kirkwall, I'm game."

Kitty looked over to Michael, who was giving her a flat look.

"What? Besides you were the one who threatened them with annihilation."

She gestured over to Kari.

"And besides, my cousin, the Hero of Ferelden defeated the Archdemon and all His minions, surely she can handle a few over-armored choir boys."

She heard Kari clear her throat, and looked over to see the white-haired mage giving her a disapproving look.

"Kitty, you're incorrigible. My cunning plan involves no bloodshed."

She pointed to the ornate crest on her armored cuirass.

"This is the royal seal of Ferelden, as Queen consort of King Alistair I have diplomatic immunity, even here in Kirkwall. I will take Bethany with me, back to Ferelden. I will ensure her safety."

Kitty's eyes widened.

"You would do that? Why?"

Kari giggled again.

"Because we're family, you silly goose. Besides, Alistair has been going on about needing more mages in his court, and I've been itching for more female company, and Bethany needs protection from the Templars in Kirkwall. It's a win-win."

She paused.

"Actually that would be a win-win-win, but neither here nor there."

Kitty looked over to Bethany.

"Well, what do you think, sister?"

The younger mage shook her head.

"If it will keep me out of the hands of the Templars, I think it's worth a try."

She took one of Kitty's hands.

"But what do you think? What will you tell our mother?"

Kitty smiled wryly.

"Oh, I'll just tell Mother that you went off to visit your cousin the Queen of Ferelden for a permanent visit."

Kari put a hand on Kitty's shoulder.

"It's for the best, cousin."

She looked down the passage way.

"Not too far from here is a small side-tunnel, one I used to gain entrance to the Deep Roads. I will accompany you there, but then we must part ways. I must get Bethany out of here."

Kitty nodded, and for a moment Michael thought that the rogue was going to cry. Then suddenly, she leaped off to the side and started rummaging through the pockets of a larger hurlock, humming to herself. Kari shook her head.

"Really Kitty? Still looting dead bodies?"

Kitty looked up.

"You're one to talk, I heard rumors in Kirkwall that your party members had to bring extra backpacks to carry all the junk you picked up on your adventures."

(AN: Well, yeah that was a bit out there in left field, but in fairness it rankled me that you really didn't have much of a choice with Bethany when it came to the Deep Roads expedition. Either you let her stay behind and get taken into the Circle, and possibly killed at the end of Act III, or you let her tag along and have to either kill her or have Anders induct her into the Grey Wardens. Neither is a particularly good idea, so I came up with this one. HOpefully it didn't seem too forced. Next chapter shouldn't take so long, should have it up by next week. Until then!)