The man continued to look down from his window to the square below, watching two children play on the street, with their mother sitting by the fountain, laughing. He sighed happily, but soon his face fell to despair, as he looked down at the letter at his hand, before running a hand through his blond-but-graying, shoulder-length hair.

"Grand Meister Fairchild… I mean… Father?"

Anders Fairchild, former apostate mage and revolutionary, now Grand Meister of the Mages Division of the Kirkwall Institution, turned around, his aging eyes looking at the door to see two young men, peering at him. One of them was a tall, broad man, with red hair and brown eyes, his muscled frame fitting the broadsword at his back. The other was a slim, young lad with long blonde hair that reached his shoulders, with ocean blue eyes and two daggers sheathed at his back. He smiled at the smaller boy… his son… as he mentioned them in.

"Valrick." He looked at his son, and then to his companion, "Wesley. What can I do for you, my boys?"

His eldest son entered with his friend, which happened to be Aveline and Donnic's eldest boy. Both them were training to be soldiers, under Aveline and Fenris' guidance. From the way their armors' shine seemed muted, Ander surmised that they had just finished their training for the day. The two sat on the chairs in front of his table, and Anders cleared away some scrolls of parchment he was grading for his Healing class.

"Mother is asking if you'll be coming to her solstice party." Wesley asked, laying his broadsword down at the floor as to not ruin the furniture. "Did you get the invitation, ser?"

"I did." Anders said, rifling through the papers in his desk and raising an envelope. "I am not sure if I can attend though… I would have to ask Hawke and Lily… perhaps Valrick and his siblings would be able to attend in our place."

Valrick's brows furrowed, "Are you going somewhere, Father?"

Anders sighed and raised the letter he was reading, "The Warden Commander Amell and King Alistair… they're about to answer to their Calling."

The two men blinked, and immediately looked sad. They had met Solona and King Alistair in their youth, when the two lovers visited Hawke to have a yearly vacation. Even though King Alistair was married to Queen Anora and was able to have an heir with her, he still loved the Warden Commander… something that took a while to explain to his children. They understood it however, and treated the Hero of Ferelden and the King with much respect and admiration, especially since they grew up listening to stories of their adventures.

Valrick looked at him, "Who is going to rule Ferelden, then? Isn't Duncan a little too young to be king?"

"Duncan is only five years younger than you, Valrick." Anders said, "But yes, he still has much to learn about. Queen Anora will be ruling Ferelden until Duncan comes of age in three years."

The two men nodded and sighed, before looking at them, "Where are your siblings, Valrick?"

His son shrugged and picked at his fingernails, "Meribelle is with Leandra, doing mage research in the library with Auntie Merrill. Hawkeen and Fenrir are still training at the grounds with Uncle Fenris and Aunt Aveline. Seb and Lillian Ava are with Mother since their class finished just this afternoon."

Anders nodded, a little relieved that his children were with Marian and Fenris' eldest daughter and his old friends. His second-born and eldest daughter, Meribelle, was a mage and was two years younger than Valrick, but the same age as Hawke's eldest daughter. His twins, Hawkeen and Fenrir, were both training to be rouges, like their mother, and it is becoming quite obvious, since with their stealth, they had learned to play practical jokes on everyone… even their parents, which makes Lily huffed out a breath often and makes Anders laugh.

"I see." He blinked, before looking at them, "Are there supposed to be three of you in your rag-tag little group? Where is Carter? Is he with Brittany?" he asked, thinking of Marian and Fenris' white haired warrior of a second-born son, as well as their youngest mage-daughter.

Wesley answered, "Carter said Brittany is at home with the fever. Orana and Bodhan are taking care of her, but he went straight home today with Amelia so that she may heal her."

He nodded in approval, thinking of the black-haired Amelia, Aveline and Donnic's only daughter and Wesley's younger sister. He taught her in his mage class along with Meribelle and Leandra, although he had started teaching her in the Healing Arts, where she excelled quite well. "Your sister is a great healer, Wesley."

The boy looked proud, "I know, ser."

Anders looked at Valrick, "Any news on Isabela and Varric, my boy?"

Valrick shrugged, "From what I've heard, they went to Ferelden. I think it all makes sense. They probably went there for the Commander and the King's Calling. Are you going to head there too, Father? I think Aunt Marian will be heading there as well."

"I would have to ask your mother. I would like to bring her along." Anders said as he stood up and began arranging his desk for his work tomorrow. Valrick and Wesley stood up as well.

"Meribelle and I can take care of the others while you're gone, Father." Valrick said as Anders went around his desk and headed for the door, with the two men following him. "Meribelle's training doesn't take all day, so I'm sure she could take care of the house and Seb and Lillian. I'll come home as soon as my training for the day stops as well."

Anders smirked, "If you can handle the responsibility."

Valrick scoffed, "Father, please… I'm twenty years old! I can take care of them just fine."

He laughed, "Fine then… just as long as you don't leave them alone so that you could head to the Blooming Rose after hours, then I'm fine with it."

His son blushed a shade of red as Wesley laughed, "Who told you that?!"

"I have an acquaintance named Zevran who frequents the place when he visits Kirkwall." Anders said still grinning, "Naughty, naughty, Valrick! Just imagine what your mother would say!"

Wesley laughed out louder as they walked, and Valrick's face turned redder even more, "Maker, I am never going to live that down. Please, don't tell Mother! I promise to avoid that place forever if you don't tell her."

Anders chuckled, "No, I will not tell your mother. As for avoiding the Blooming Rose forever, I doubt that you could."

The three of them laughed and continued to tease Valrick as they left the Institution, as Hawke called it. The two boys headed over to the training grounds to talk to Aveline, and Anders headed for the Hightown square. As he walked, the bells on the Chantry rang, signifying the time of prayer for its students. It was one of the things Hawke had worked on… separating the Chantry's hold on the Mages and Templars, and giving them free will to do what they need to do. Like Anders, who became leader for Mages Department in Kirkwall, and Aveline, who became head of Kirkwall's Military, Hawke elected Sebastian to lead the Chantry sisters and brothers… students who wish to study the Andrastian religion as their main focus. He sighed when he remembered that they still had a meeting tomorrow with Hawke, to give reports on how everything was doing

He was barely a few feet from them when the small girl he was watching a moment ago, turned around and saw him, her face lighting up and opening her arms, "Daddy!"

Anders couldn't help but grin as the child ran, and he scooped her up and twirled her around in a circle, staring at her green-and-blue eyes. Out of all of six of his brood, only Lillian Ava had inherited Lily's green-and-blue eyes as well as her silver-blond hair, making her look like a miniature version of his wife. She even wore a garland of daisies on her hair, like her mother was.

"Hello, my darling!" He greeted as he lowered her a little so that she sat on his arm, nuzzling her neck so that his short beard tickled her and made her giggle, "What are you doing?"

"We're selling flowers with Mother, Father!" A young boy with light brown hair and blue eyes… Anders and Lily's youngest son, Seb… came forward to him and hugged him around the waist, and he reached out his other hand to ruffle the boy's hair. "And we're waiting for you! You're late!"

"I apologize then." Anders said as he walked with them, his youngest daughter in his arm, and his son holding on to his other hand. "Your brother and Wesley came by my office and I had to talk to them. Were you waiting long?"

"A little." Seb said, looking up at his father, "We sold all of Mother's flowers now."

"That's good. That means we could be home in time for dinner." Anders said as he went around the fountain to see his wife pocketing their earnings for the day on her pouch and lifting her basket. He smiled when she looked up at him, the lines on her face wrinkling a little, but the smile she bestowed him glowed. She was still so beautiful to him, even after all these years.

"Hello, love." He said as he bent over and kissed her lips, her hand rising up to his chest, and he reined his desire in. He still wanted her, everyday in fact, and he reined himself so not to cause embarrassment to his children. "Are you done for today?"

She nodded, "Yhes. Whe are dhone." She said, her voice rough, but at least she didn't wince in pain. Anders had created a potion for her ruined throat that she took every day. It stopped the pain and made sure that the muscles in her throat don't get scrapped raw when she spoke. It helped her a lot, and though there were still some problems in her speech, the fact that she can now communicate through talking was a great blessing for her. "Cahrter came bhy. He sed Bhrittany is sich. Ahre yoo ghoing to vhisit them?"

"Amelia went with him already, she's going to be the one to do the Healing." Anders said, sitting down the fountain for a while. Lily did the same and sat down beside him as Lillian wriggled out of his grasp and went to play with Seb. "Actually, I just wanted to tell you… if you'd like to go to Ferelden with me. We can leave the children in Valrick and Meribelle's hands."

Lily's head tilted left, "What's whrong?"

He sighed as he looked up, watching his youngest children play, "The Warden Commander and King Alistair are heading to Orzammar for their Calling."

Lily blinked, and her eyes became saddened. Anders had told her about the Calling… how the Taint in a Grey Warden's blood overwhelms the person after around thirty years, causing them to have extreme nightmares and rashes that showed that the Taint is growing strong. It signified that their time is ending. Rather than allow the Taint to overwhelm them, many Grey Wardens chose to head to Orzammar and die in battle instead… which was why the Warden and King Alistair decided to go there together.

"Ahnders…" She whispered, laying a hand on her husband's shoulder, comforting him.

He sighed, "I can't help but… but think about what would've happened… if I still had the Taint." He admitted, "If Justice hadn't separated from me and taken the Taint with him." He looked down at her, his eyes a little sad, "Even if you saved me and let me live, if I still had Justice and the Taint with me…"

"I whould still beh wit' yoo." Lily said, "I whould ehndure Justice, ruhn awhay wit' yoo, ahnd I'd goh to Ohzammhar wit' yoo."

Anders looked down at her, her green-and-blue eyes shining with determination, and he reached out and grasped her hand, the strength in them making his chest fill with happiness. "Thank you, love." He said sincerely, "I do not think I would've had this kind of life it hadn't been for you."

She smiled at him, "Yhou are whelcome, lhove. I whas right when I sed that yoo'd mhake up for yoor pahst sins. Yoo sahved a loht of mhages since yoo started teaching."

"I have, haven't I?" He said, thinking about the hundreds of students he's had during his years of teaching Magic, telling them about the dangers of blood magic and dealing with demons and spirits. His students took the dangers very seriously, and very few had actually tried to do them. And if they did, Anders and Merrill were there to remind them, and teach them once again. It was a very diplomatic solution for the issues against mages, and in the twenty years he had taught, he had travelled all over Thedas to talk about his experiences, even writing books for Institutions in other cities to use. "Not only are you wise, but you're also prophetic. You are an amazing woman, Lily."

His wife laughed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "Noht really. I juhst behlieved in the ghood in yoo, tha's all."

He smiled again as he cupped her face, staring into her eyes that reminded him of a far green pasture amidst the shores of the blue see, and kissing her reverently. She sighed in his kiss, touching his face, and he smiled when they broke off. "Whatever you did… thank you." He said, "I love you."

She smiled and kissed the corner of his lips, "Ah lohve yoo, too, Ahnders."

"Are you two going to stay there snogging, or are we going to make dinner? I'm hungry!"

Anders and Lily laughed as they turned to Seb, glaring at them with his hands on his hips as Lillian held on to her brother's shirt. He bent over and grabbed his son, making the boy giggle in delight. He put the boy on his shoulder, his son's legs on either side of his neck. Seb grabbed on to his hair, and he laughed.

"Not so hard, son!" He said, chuckling, and Seb loosened his grip a little as he held on to the boy's ankles. He looked down at Lily who had now taken her basket and held on to Lillian's hand. He smiled as they started walking down the road, heading towards their estate.

"So… you're coming with me, then? To Ferelden?" Anders said, and Lily smiled up at him as she took one of his hands off Seb's ankle and held it in hers as they walked.

"Ohf cohrse." Lily said, "Ah wihll nehver leave yoo, Ahnders."

Anders felt his heart burst with love as he stared into Lily's eyes again, before raising their clasped hands together and kissing the back of her hand, making her smile. Seb pulled a little at his hair, making him look up to the sky, and he couldn't help but smile and take in a deep breath, making him think back on his life since he had left the Ferelden Circle… from an escaped apostate, to a Grey Warden, to a healer in Darktown, to a murderer and terrorist, to a teacher, and to a loving husband and father. He had to admit, it's been quite a journey… but he knows that there is much more he had to experience and much more to do.

And after looking in Lily's eyes, he finally understood. To be loved and to give love… to himself, to her, to his children, to his friends, and to his students… is the ultimate meaning of freedom.

The End