As they entered Skyhold, Renna watched as Kierrai's beautiful features lit up like the sun. She followed the woman's gaze to see a tall, broad-shouldered man with auburn hair and the bluest eyes she'd ever seen standing in the courtyard. With him was a toddler that Renna immediately identified as Kierrai's daughter, as she had her face, but the same blue eyes as her father. The way the man was looking at Kierrai made Renna feel like she was intruding on an extremely private moment. She had never seen so much love in a single look before. Kierrai rushed over and lifted her daughter into the air, to the delight of the child. Renna felt a hint of jealousy at the beautiful little family.
"Where are the twins?" Kierrai asked, pretending to be stern. Her husband chuckled.
"I sold them, love. Starkhaven needed more funds for its coffers, and they fetched me a fine price. I thought tha' would be a fine idea." he said wryly. Renna grinned. He had his wife's sense of humor, it seemed.
"Tha's a lie, da! They're only sleepin', mama." the little girl cried. Kierrai laughed joyously.
"It's good I have someone to tell the truth around." she said, kissing the girl's forehead. Kierrai turned to face her. "Renna, this is my husband, Prince Sebastian Vael of Starkhaven. And this is my oldest daughter, Talyssa." she said fondly. "Family, this is the Inquisitor, Renna Trevelyan of Ostwick." Sebastian bowed his head to her politely. She could see that he was the one who kept a rein on Kierrai's shenanigans.
"It's a pleasure t' meet you, Inquisitor. I hope ya' don't mind our intrusion, bu' we couldn't stay out of things much longer." he admitted. Renna smiled at him.
"We welcome the assistance." she said.
"Legs, Choir Boy, I've got an old friend you'll want to see." Varric said as he approached them. Kierrai clapped her hands delightedly.
"Ooh! I've got that friend's cousin! We should have them introduced!" she replied excitedly. She waved Renna along, and the group headed to Varric's rooms. Kierrai went off on a different course before they reached them, and when they arrived Renna saw that Hawke was waiting.
"Sebastian." he said fondly. Sebastian clapped him on the back.
"Hawke. It's good to see you. I dinnae know you were here." he pointed out. Hawke shrugged.
"I've been laying low." he said before looking at the young girl clutching Sebastian's leg. His blue eyes widened. "That is not possible. You can't be Talyssa Ziriana Vael!" he exclaimed in wonder. Talyssa's eyes widened in surprise, then a toothy grin appeared on her face.
"The one an' only!" she cheered. Hawke beamed at her.
"I haven't seen you since you were born, sweet thing. You've grown so much." he admitted. She ran forward and hugged him. Clearly, she was not a shy child.
"I am very big now. Da said I used to be a wee thing, bu' now I'm tall and strong like Mama!" she exclaimed. Hawke laughed.
"That you are." he agreed. They heard Kierrai's excited voice in the hallway just before she opened the door. She held a chubby baby boy in her arms, and the man behind her held an equally chubby baby girl. Renna blinked at the man. He looked incredibly similar to Hawke. A quiet woman entered behind them, and she seemed equally surprised by the similarity. Hawke stood and the two men studied each other. Both were tall and broad shouldered, with shaggy black hair and short, scruffy beards. They both had stunningly blue eyes, but Hawke had a wider face and his features were made of harder planes, while the other man seemed more rounded, but no less intense.
"Revin Hawke, meet Traven Amell. You two are cousins. Although, he you look more like brothers than you and Carver, Rev." Kierrai introduced. Traven shifted the baby in his arms and stuck out a hand.
"Pleased to meet you, cousin. I've heard many stories." he admitted. Hawke laughed.
"If they were from Kierrai, they're probably exaggerated. I know, because I've heard stories about you too." he agreed.
"Love, I thought we said the babes were asleep?" Sebastian reminded her. Kierrai snorted.
"Really? Because the instant I walked in the room, Gavin popped up and said 'Ama!'. And then Lea said 'Oog!'." she replied sarcastically. Sebastian laughed loudly.
"Well they were asleep when I left them with Trav an' Mhairi, an' tha's the truth." he replied. Kierrai smiled at Gavin, who was bouncing happily in her arms. Traven turned to the quiet woman that stood behind him.
"Maker, where are my manners? Hawke, everyone, this is my wife, Mhairi." he said fondly. The woman, whose face was simply pretty, smiled, and that smile transformed her entire face. She went from being pretty to being beautiful, and Renna saw the love between them. She blushed slightly, wondering if Cullen would ever look at her like that. They hadn't spoken since their dance at the Winter Palace. They hadn't had the chance to. She did, however, wish to discuss her feelings with him. As she was lost in her own thoughts, she did not notice that everyone was staring at her.
"And the young woman lost in her own thoughts is Renna, the Inquisitor!" Kierrai called, bringing her out of her reverie. Renna blinked and blushed further when she saw all the eyes trained on her.
"Hello...everyone." she murmured. Kierrai stood beside her.
"Traven, Mhairi, Hawke, Varric, Sebastian, Talyssa, Gavin, Eleanor, Kierrai, Renna." she said, pointing to everyone in the room. Renna snorted.
"Thanks." she said, nudging the woman with her elbow. Kierrai giggled and handed her son to her husband.
"It's good to see so much of the group back together." she said fondly, taking Eleanor from Traven and quickly handing her to Renna. Renna blinked and tried to protest, but Kierrai ignored her. She stared down at the large pair of brown eyes that gazed up at her. With the exception of her golden brown hair, she looked like a miniature version of her mother.
"Err, I don't-" she began.
"Oh, hush. I gave you the calm one!" Kierrai said as she embraced her friends. Renna laughed. So she had. She heard someone clear their throat behind her.
"Umm...Renna? Could we...talk?" Cullen said from the doorway. She looked down at the baby in her arms and then back at him.
"Of course." she said. Kierrai gave the pair a saucy wink and took her child.
"Don't have too much fun." she teased. Renna took a deep breath and followed him out.
Kierrai watched Renna leave with Cullen, a wry smile on her face. Eleanor wriggled against her chest. She felt Sebastian's hand settle on her shoulder.
"What are you plotting?" he asked quietly. She chuckled and kissed his cheek.
"I might have given Cullen a little...nudge." she admitted. Sebastian stared down at her.
"Meddling in people's love lives is not generally desired, love." he scolded. She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Hey, without my meddling, we wouldn't have Fenris and Aranys, Orana and Carver, you and I, or Zeriah and Alistair!" she exclaimed. Sebastian snorted.
"You weren't even there when Zeriah and Alistair met." he reminded her. She rolled her eyes.
"Details." she drawled. "And anyway, Zeri said that I was some sort of manifestation of her consciousness anyway, so I sort of had something to do with it." she added.
"Kierrai." Sebastian replied. She sighed.
"It wasn't a big nudge!" she promised, thinking back to the ball.
"Cullen! Let's dance." she said, pulling the commander away. He shook his head.
"No, please, I really don't-" he said futilely as she dragged him onto the floor. The music began, and he fell into leading her with a sigh. "What is your angle?" he asked. She laughed airily.
"I'm simply here to help, my dear. And is it so terrible to dance with an old friend?" she asked. He eyed her suspiciously.
"It would be less terrible if you just told me what you were up to." he said wryly. She chuckled.
"All right. I've noticed a lot of...looks...between you and the lovely Inquisitor. What is going on there?" she asked. He stumbled slightly.
"N-nothing." he stuttered. She narrowed her eyes at him behind her mask.
"I don't believe you. Cullen, if you have feelings for her, you need to do something about them. Don't just hide." she said sternly. He sighed as he dipped her.
"You see far too much. I can't do that to her, though." he said sadly. She frowned at him.
"Cullen, whatever it is that you are dealing with, having someone who cares for you to help you through it is essential. Think about it." she said. He nodded in agreement.
"Maybe you're right." he admitted. She laughed and spun away from him.
"Of course I am. Oh, by the way, we were just attacked by a bunch of Tevinters in the courtyard, and I know lyrium withdrawal when I see it." she said, leaving him dumbstruck.
"Yes. Only a little one." she murmured. Sebastian was staring at her with a quizzical expression on his face. She smiled at him. "Sorry. I'll leave them alone. I think the seed's planted anyway." she giggled.
"Kierrai, did you want me to let you know what's been going on in Skyhold while you were in Orlais?" Traven asked. Kierrai smiled and nodded, passing Lea off to Hawke.
"Let's have a walk through the gardens and you two can tell me all about it." she said, her tone switching to one that was more businesslike. Only Sebastian knew that Traven was her own personal spymaster. He was perfect for the job. No one suspected him, due to the fact that he was a mage, and nobody questioned Mhairi because she was just so quiet. They simply thought he was her arcane advisor. Even Wil and Cor didn't know his true function. Kierrai was in charge of her own network, of course, but Traven executed her plans. They descended into the gardens, politely chatting about the current of the fortress. As soon as they reached the simplistic gardens, Kierrai realized that she had made a huge mistake. A pale woman with raven hair stood at one of the pavilions, talking with a young boy with incredibly familiar features. She slammed an arm across Traven's chest, causing him to grunt and Mhairi to gasp in surprise. "On second thought, let's go somewhere else. I hate gardens." she sputtered quickly. Traven frowned at her.
"What in the Maker's name are you talking about, Kierrai? You love gardens." he said in a voice that was far too loud.
"I'm not feeling well, take me to my rooms." she hurried, far too late. She saw a pair of golden eyes snap up at the sound of Traven's voice.
"Kierrai, what is wrong with you?" Traven asked, blue eyes baffled.
"Traven." a voice from the past said. Kierrai shut her eyes, wishing that she could actually disappear. She felt Traven stiffen at the sound. The Princess of Starkhaven wanted to be anywhere but there.
"Traven." her voice said. He froze. That wasn't possible. She was long gone. He began to sweat. He had let her go a long time ago. He had a wife. She couldn't be here. His eyes opened, and there she was, beautiful as ever.
"Morrigan." he said hoarsely. He now knew why Kierrai had been acting so strange. She had caught sight of the woman before he was ever aware. His old friend was standing with her eyes closed as if to wish herself away. If he wasn't so shocked he would have laughed. She was spending too much time with her children if she thought that would work.
"Morrigan?" Mhairi said. He had forgotten that she was there. This couldn't be happening. He wasn't prepared for this. True to her nature, his wife of nearly five years stuck out a hand. The woman who had haunted him for so long took it hesitantly. "I am Mhairi. It is good to finally meet you." she said kindly. Traven barked a nervous laugh without realizing it. He was losing his mind. Morrigan, Maker's Breath, Morrigan, looked at Mhairi with an intent, studying gaze.
"You have taken care of him." she said simply. Mhairi nodded.
"He has taken care of me as well." she assured her. Morrigan nodded. Traven looked back and forth between the two women. This was his worst nightmare and his most treasured dream. Morrigan, returning to his side. But Mhairi. He loved Mhairi, he truly did. However, some part of him, some small part, still held on to the flame that Morrigan had instilled in his heart all those years ago. He never got closure from her and here she was.
"What are you doing here?" he finally said. It was Kierrai who answered, to his surprise.
"I was going to tell you, Trav, I didn't want...well this," she said, gesturing to the general area, "to happen. She was Celene's advisor, and was sent here as a liaison to the Inquisition." she explained. He nodded, comprehension slowly returning to him. Mhairi squeezed his hand, a gentle reminder that she was there to support him.
"I think, perhaps, the two of you should talk." she said softly. He thought his eyes would pop out of his head.
"Alone?" he said in a strangled voice. She smiled fondly at him and nodded.
"You'll never get anywhere if we're hovering over your shoulder. I'll fill Kierrai in while you two have your...discussion." she said, grabbing Kierrai's arm and dragging her away. Traven leaned against the wall while Morrigan sat on a bench. They stayed that way for a time, not really looking at each other and not saying a word.
"She's pretty. And kind." Morrigan finally said, breaking the tense silence with her heart-melting voice. Traven nodded.
"That's why I married her." he agreed. Morrigan closed her lovely golden eyes. This was surreal.
"I thought that would happen. I...I am glad for you. Traven, I..." she began before snapping her mouth closed and shaking her head.
"You just left. Without a word. Do you know what that did to me?" he said, pleading for answers. She sighed.
"It was the best way." she argued.
"Bullshit. It was the easiest way and you know it." he snapped. Her eyes narrowed at him.
"You think it was easy for me to leave you? The one good thing I had ever had in my life? I gave up everything when I left you, and it was to make sure you would be safe." she growled. He shook his head.
"Disappearing in the night without saying a word was certainly much easier than telling me goodbye." he said through clenched teeth. She put her head in her hands.
"I couldn't do it, Traven. If I had told you goodbye, I wouldn't have been able to leave and you and I would both be dead." she explained mournfully.
"You don't know that." he yelled, slamming his fist against the stone wall. She stood and glided over to him, gently placing her small hand on his bleeding fist. Cool blue healing magic soothed the pain.
"I do know that. I've been nearly caught by Flemeth more times than I can count. It would have been too dangerous." she whispered. He rubbed at his eyes, which were suddenly, irritatingly leaking.
"Do you know how long it took after you left? It was over a year by the time I felt that I might be ready to start moving on. I fell for Mhairi relatively quickly, but it took me years to decide that I wanted to marry her. I kept putting it off because I was so afraid that she was going to leave, or be killed, because that is all I have ever known of love. I don't know how she's stayed married to me, because I am constantly paranoid that something is going to happen and she's going to leave, but she stays anyway. It's baffling. That's because of you. And Neria, true, but mostly you. You broke me, Morrigan, and I never truly got fixed." he admitted. She was crying now, silent tears rolling down her porcelain cheeks. She hadn't changed much. She was still just as beautiful as the day she left, but she seemed wiser, somehow, more mature.
"Mother, why are you crying?" a voice said nearby. Traven's eyes widened as he turned to see a young man who looked like a mixture of Morrigan and Alistair. His warm, brown eyes were filled with the same sort of curious wisdom that Morrigan's had always held, as if he wanted to know everything but somehow already did.
"This...this is him?" he breathed. She nodded.
"This is Kieran, my son." she said without further explanation. The look in her eyes when she looked at her child showed why she looked different. She had grown up when she had her son. Traven could see that the boy was more than she had expected him to be. She loved him. The boy stuck out a hand politely, and Traven took it, wonder filling him.
"I'm Traven." he said hoarsely. Kieran smiled, then frowned very quickly.
"Your heart is sad." he said. Traven nodded, remembering that this young boy had the soul of an Old God.
"Indeed it is." he agreed. Kieran looked at his mother.
"You want to fix him, but there is something that stops you." he added. Morrigan blushed slightly.
"That is also true. You should go back to your studies, little man." she said, ushering him away. The pair stood in silence for a time.
"He's beautiful." he said. She smiled fondly.
"He's perfect." she agreed. He nodded.
"I should go. I have...a lot to think about." he murmured. He turned to leave her.
"Traven." she called. He stopped, but did not turn back. "You kept it. Why?" she asked. He reached into his shirt, gently touching the small, silver ring that hung on a chain around his neck.
"As I said, I never really let go." he admitted before leaving her alone in the gardens, his heart aching with every step.