Author's Note: I apologize for this chapter being so long. I wanted to do each ending contained in one chapter instead of making multiple stories. I tried to make the pov changes noticeable. Each ending will be starting from Chapter 52 where Hawke and company flee to Ferelden. This is the Fenris ending. The one I originally intended when I started writing this story. Thank you to all the readers and reviewers. And again, sorry for the length of the endings.

Two Years Later

Sebastian

"We've found them, your Highness." Said Brendan. He was the head of my elite guards. A group who I had searched for and spent a fortune to procure. They were skilled in tracking and less savory things.

"Where?" I asked moving away from the window.

"Denerim. They changed their name. Going by Freeman now. They have a place outside of the city. He's a guard of some sort. Leads a group of elven fighters." Brendan said. It was as I had suggested for him to do for me. Bastard. I didn't care about him though.

"And them?"

"She doesn't seem to be working. There's something else." He paused as I turned to him. "She's had another child. A son. He's around six months old."

It was a blow that staggered me. My beloved had another child. His child. I sat down heavily. He should have been ours. He would have been the son the dreams had foretold. Instead she had given him to that elf.

"What do you want us to do?" Brendan asked as silence stretched.

"Prepare for a trip." I said and stood up. Time had come for me to reclaim what was mine.

"You want us to grab your daughter and Hawke?"

"No, I want you to take me to them." I said and moved back to the window. "This time I have something she won't be able to refuse."

"What about the elf and baby?"

I paused wondering what to do about them. As much as I hated the thought of her having a child with anyone else, the fact was, he was hers. She would hate me if I took him from her. "We'll take the baby as well. If we can help it, I want to leave Fenris alive. Let him see what it's like to have someone take his love and child from him."

"As you wish." He bowed and started for the door.

I waited until he was gone before I headed to the dungeons. I motioned the guard to open the door and then stepped into the cell. "The time has come." I said sneering at the creature before me.

"So you're finally going to give me death? Finally got tired of torturing me?" Anders asked. His voice was thick with lack of use and the little bit of water he was given. Just enough food and water to keep him alive.

I had had him captured for six months now. I knew how much he hated to be in the dark, so he was kept in the darkest part of the dungeons. The air was stale and damp here. The only time he was allowed to see daylight was when I had him beaten. I wanted to strip all that remained of the man until all could see the monster he truly was.

He shifted, trying to stand up, but he couldn't because of his bindings. The chains that bound him were special made and bought from Tevinter. They nullified a mage's magic. They were heavy and thick and kept him weighed down.

"I'm not giving you death. You're going to serve a purpose yet. You're going to get me Hawke and Lea back." I said watching him as he glared at me.

"The Void I will! I don't know where they are. And even if I did, I would never tell you. Do you honestly think I would let her suffer at your hands?"

"I don't need you to find them. I've already found them. They weren't hiding too much anymore it seems."

He jerked the chains and glared at me. "You want to hurt someone, hurt me. Leave them alone."

"You idiot! I would never hurt them! I love them. They belong here with me."

"Can't you see the truth? Even after all this time, are you still so blind? She doesn't love you! She never will love you! You were used to hurt her. The Maker had no part in it. Playing dumb to the fact, doesn't change it."

"She just needs to give us a chance. Time together will change her mind." I protested. I wasn't sure why I was arguing this with him. Maybe it was just that he had known her as long as I had. No one else did.

"Sebastian, you lost her long before she knew the truth of what had been done to her. She cannot accept your views on the Chantry and mages. She isn't the person you think she needs to be. She can't be that person. Leave her alone. She's happy with Fenris."

"She'll be happy with me." I snapped at him. She would. I would make sure of it. "We can sort out or differences. We were never given a chance. All of you made sure of it. She would be here with me right now if you had all stayed out of it." I yelled at him and started for the door.

"If we had stayed out of it, she would be dead or a mindless husk now. That was what you did to her, Sebastian. Not us."

His words froze me in my tracks. I didn't like to think about the potions or her slow slip into insanity. I hadn't meant for that to happen. She would see this. She would understand. I had only wanted to save us. Save her.

"Prepare him for the trip. Brendan will send word as soon as we're ready for him." I told the guard and left.

I didn't want to think about the words of the mage who had taken Lea. I didn't want to think about the potions. All I wanted was justice for Elthina and to have Hawke and Lea where they belonged.

-0-

"Death is never justice, Sebastian." Elthina said frowning at me. I leaned against the podium and stared unseeing out at the chantry floor. My heart was enraged at the unjust death of my family, and the guilt of asking Hawke to kill the assassins. My mind cleared as I looked at her. This was just a dream or a memory. It wasn't real. Elthina was gone, and at that abominations hands.

"Sometimes it's the only justice." I snapped at the dream. She shook her head sadly and the images changed. No longer were we in the chantry. We were in the gardens.

"Sebastian, don't do this." She pleaded.

"You aren't real. Elthina is gone." I frowned at her.

"I am real. I am Elthina. I am you. I am all of these things and none of them. This is a dream, but still it is real. My words are real. My plea is real." She said watching me. "Don't do this."

"I have to. She ran from me. I have to reclaim them." I said and turned my back to her.

"Sebastian, holding onto the dream doesn't change what has been done. You have to see the truth before it's too late."

"I know the truth!" I yelled whirling back to glare at her. "I love her!"

"Do you love her? The real her or the image you have of her?" She asked and moved back. "Find the truth of it all, Sebastian. It's the only way you can move forward. Continue down this path and death is the only thing awaiting you."

"Death? Mine or the elf's?" I asked.

"Find the truth, Sebastian." She said and faded away as I sat upright in bed. I shoved off the covers and paced the room.

I knew the truth. It had to be the truth. The Maker had given them to me. Not a demon. I wouldn't be used by a demon. Elthina would never be used by a demon. It was just another lie by the mages to take my beloved and daughter away from me.

We set out a short time later. We would travel by horseback the week it took to reach the port. The ship would take another two weeks to reach Denerim. In less than a month she would be back with me. They would be back with me.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Fenris

I made my way out of the palace and headed for the market. I nodded to the guards as they shifted to attention as I passed them. It was a huge change from a few years ago when I had been invisible. Now I was the one everyone noticed. Well, Lila still turned heads, but not as she had in Kirkwall. Here she was known as my wife, not the Champion. Only the king, Zevran and his wife who was the Arlessa of Denerim, Teryn Teagan, and Teryn Fergus outside of our companions knew that Lila was the Champion of Kirkwall. She said that was exactly how she wanted it too.

We had roamed around Ferelden the first six months of our arrival. Slowly the others all drifted away, and we had found a spot of our own. Varric headed back to the Free Marches. Merrill had stayed with Isabela and we often received letters from them. Anders had vanished a few months after we had landed in Ferelden. No one knew where he was. Bethany and Keran had moved from Lothering to a small cottage close to us a year ago after we had settled just outside of Denerim. Aveline and Donnic were working as guards in the palace.

Aveline true to form had risen quickly through the ranks until King Alistair had made her head of the palace guards. He trusted her guidance, so much so that he had jumped at her suggestion of starting an elven unit for the army. She had suggested I train and lead them. He was trying to see that the bridge that the Hero had started continued with the elves. He had even awarded them a place in the Landsmeet, naming the alienage a bannorn.

At first I hadn't wanted to do it. I liked our simple life, but after a few meetings with the king and Aveline I had given in. I had worried it would be hard for Lila to have me being in the guards, but she said she was proud of me. She had gladly laid down her blades and armor. We sparred every day, but she hadn't taken a job since we had discovered we were having a child.

Our son was seven months old now. He was a handsome boy with Lila's hair and my eyes. He was much quieter than Lea had been, but had a ready smile for any who looked his way. Lea adored him. She was determined she was going to take care of him and tried to drag him around everywhere she went. Lea was growing so quickly. She was a very active two year old. She was her mother's daughter and had a knack of finding mischief. She was smart and sweet and held my heart as firmly as little Malcolm did.

I stopped as I spotted the flash of red in the market place. Lila turned as if she could sense me and smiled. She crouched down to Lea who was intently looking at something on the ground. I didn't have to hear Lila's words to know what she had said. Lea's head snapped up and she began looking around quickly. Her smile could have lit up the whole world as she saw me. She dropped the little basket she had and ran, her red curls contained in two pigtails flew behind her as she raced towards me.

"Daddy!" She called as she ran. I crouched down and held my hands out for her. She didn't slow an ounce as she reached me, just crashed into me. I tossed her up in the air and caught her, cuddling her close as she hugged me tightly.

"Did you miss me, little one?" I asked carrying her back to where Lila was waiting for us. She had picked up the basket and shook her head at us.

"Note for future reference, don't let Lea carry eggs." She sighed looking at the mess in the basket.

"Sowy, Mommy. Want Daddy." Lea said and pouted at her.

Lila kissed her cheek. "It's alright, sweetie." Lila then smiled at me with a teasing light in her eyes. "You would think you've been gone for months. Oh, wait, you have been!"

"And did you not miss me as well?" I asked pulling her close. I had been working with the men on surviving out of the city and made some sweeps of the Wilds. It had been a long and hard two months away from my family.

She wrapped one of her arms around my waist and placed a kiss on my cheek. "More than words can say, but I'll have to show you how much after someone has gone to b-e-d." She spelled out bed and glanced at Lea.

Lea placed a noisy kiss on my cheek and wiggled free from my arms. "Home now. Mal miss too." She took my hand and tugged me along.

"I think we better go before bossy here gets mad. She's missed a nap." Lila warned.

"Why did she…oh. Me."

"I couldn't leave her behind. She's been so excited counting down to when you were coming back home."

"I won't have to do that again. At least not for a while. We have some promising candidates for officers." I explained lacing my fingers through Lila's. "Did you need anything else from the market?" She shook her head.

"We were just killing time really." She motioned with her head as a man approached us. I recognized him as the head of the city guards.

"Captain Fenris." Captain Kylon said inclining his head to me. "A moment of your time." He then turned to Lila. "Forgive me for stealing him a moment."

"Lea, look it's Uncle Keran. Let's go see how Aunt Beth is while Daddy talks to Captain Kylon." Lila said. Lea frowned up at me.

"You no home?" She asked pouting.

"I'm going home, little one. I need to take care of something. Go and see your uncle."

She sighed, crossed her arms, and rolled her eyes dramatically reminding me so much of her mother I had to work at not laughing. "Fine." She huffed and then ran towards Keran who had crouched down waiting for her to run to him.

Lila took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "So regretting her not getting a nap." She squeezed my arm and then moved off to join Lea.

"Is there something you needed?" I asked turning to Kylon. I had only met him a few times before. He was a good man from all accounts. He glanced back at Lila and moved closer.

"I thought I should let you know that some men were hear shortly after you left for the Wilds."

"Men?" I asked only half listening. I was watching my girls instead, drinking them in after so long without them.

"They were asking questions about a marked elf and a red headed woman." He said drawing my attention back to him.

"What sort of questions?"

"Well, it seemed like they were trying to find you. We kept an eye on them knowing you were gone. They never went anywhere near Lila, but they did take notice of her." He glanced around. "They left after that. We have had a patrol move around your house and I alerted Keran to them, but they haven't shown back up. It didn't sit right with me, so I wanted you to be aware of it."

"No one could find out who they were?" I asked as fear washed over me. Was this Sebastian or the Chantry hunters?

"They had the look of mercenaries. They were definitely not the hunters who came to the king looking for the Champion and Hero."

"You know?" I asked looking at him shocked.

"Yes, but don't worry. Her secret is safe with me. The king and Captain Aveline thought it best if I was aware of the situation." He dropped his voice even lower. "We are keeping an eye on the ships coming in. Any from the Free Marches are being watched closely."

"Thank you, Captain. I appreciate your vigilance."

"We Fereldens have to stick together. Especially us protecting the lands." He nodded to me. "If I hear of anything else, I'll let you know. Do you want me to continue the patrol around your home? Or will you have your men take over now?"

"I'll have my men do it, but if someone is watching it would probably be wise to have your patrols continue. We don't want to let them know we suspect anything. I'll see if I can convince Zevran to have his men sweeping the coast as well."

"He already had been. I made Captain Aveline aware of the men as well. She brought the matter to Zevran."

"Does Lila know about it?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I didn't want to worry her with you being gone and all. She's had enough trouble and worry put on her."

"Thank you for that. If you hear anything else…"

"You'll be the first to know." He assured me.

I made my way over to my girls and forced a smile for them. Lea wiggled free from Keran and wrapped around my leg. Lila took my hand and nodded to Keran. "I'll come and stay with her tomorrow. I understand about how cranky pregnant women can get."

"Just wait. It only gets worse." I warned him as Lila elbowed me.

"I was not as bad with Malcolm." She protested.

"No, I never had a book thrown at me once this time." I smiled at her.

"She threw a book at you?" Keran laughed. He shook his head. "Nice to know that Bethany really is the nicer sister." He teased her.

"Yes, but just remember that I'm also the one who will hurt you if you hurt her." Lila said narrowing her eyes at him.

He laughed and squeezed her arm. "How could I forget? I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Home now?" Lea asked looking up at me.

"Almost little one. I need to speak with one last person. Do you two want to start home without me?" I asked turning to Lila.

She scooped up Lea who made protesting noises. "We can check out the market a bit more if you need to attend to business." She said holding the thrashing Lea. "That is enough, Lea! Daddy has to take care of things. If you keep acting like this, you will stay home tomorrow and not get to go play with the new kittens at Aunt Beth's." Lea instantly went still and though she continued to sulk, she didn't make a word of protest. Lila looked at me then. "Is everything alright?"

"Nothing to worry about. I've just got to check in with Zevran. He's going to work with some of my men on archery. And we found some promising recruits among the Dalish. They were more skilled in duel fighting so I wanted to see if he would train them."

She narrowed her eyes at me, but nodded. "That sounded a bit suspicious Captain Freeman, but I'm going to take you at face value for now." She kissed me quickly. "Don't forget that underneath this docile wife exterior still beats the heart of a fighter."

"Docile?" I laughed and kissed her again. "I would hardly call you docile. And I am fully aware of how brilliant my wife is. I'll be back shortly." I placed a kiss on Lea's cheek. "Be good." She nodded but continued to pout. I looked back at them one last time before hurrying to find Zevran and his men. I wanted to make sure all angles were covered just in case.

Zevran assured me his men were watching the coast and the woods. He also thought that cross training some of the men on my unit was wise. We agreed to meet in the morning to work out the details. He walked with me to the market as his wife and son had headed that way as well.

Zevran had returned with us to Ferelden to a small surprise in the form of a son. He had left before Kallian had discovered she was pregnant. She had worked hard to keep the little boy quiet for fear he would be used by the Crows or one of her enemies. It was only after Zevran returned that she let anyone outside of their immediate circle know he was her son. I was surprised no one had guessed before. He looked so much like his father it was unreal, but he had the emerald eyes of his mother.

We found our families visiting together. Kallian and Lila had become fast friends from almost the moment they had met. They had a lot in common and enjoyed ganging up on us.

Lea was a bit obsessed with their small boy, Rian. This worried me, but Lila and Kallian seemed to think it was cute. Lea was holding hands with him as they stayed by their mother's. She flitted cutely as he smiled at her. It didn't make me feel any better despite how cute it was.

We visited a few moments longer before we parted ways. Lila seemed nervous as we made our way out of the city. She clutched tightly to Lea, not letting her run ahead of us as she normally did.

"Is everything alright?" I asked her as I picked up Lea. She was increasingly cross and rubbed her eyes sleepily.

She shrugged and glanced around. "I can't shake the feeling that we are being watched."

"Well…" I didn't want to worry her with the news of the men, but I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable either.

She sighed. "I know about the guards watching us. And I know all about the men asking questions."

"How?" I asked looking at her shocked.

She scoffed. "The day I can't spot being tailed by guardsmen is the day I need to be watched." She shook her head. "Not only could I spot them a mile away, Aveline and Kallian told me. Neither thought I should be left in the dark. I had hoped my husband would feel the same." She frowned at me.

"Lila, I wasn't trying to keep you in the dark exactly. We don't know for sure who they were or if it was even us they were looking for." I said glancing at Lea who was snuggled against my chest fast asleep.

"I know." She sighed and wrapped her arm around mine so she could lean her head against my shoulder as we walked. "I still can't shake the feeling."

"Well, you are being watched." I pointed out.

"No, this is different." She sighed. "I don't know how to explain it."

"Maybe it's just fear. Things have been going well for us and that's not what you're used to. Normally when things settle down for you, something big happens to shake you up again. We've had it easy for well over a year now." I said hoping to ease her concern. I was worried, but I wasn't going to let her see it.

She sighed. "Maybe you're right. I keep thinking something's going to come and break this spell any minute. I'll wake up and it's all been taken from me again." She squeezed my arm and smiled at me. "Maybe it's also been that you've been gone. I've missed you, husband."

I smiled back at her. "And I expect a proper showing of how much tonight."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Sebastian

I watched them as they moved through the lightly forested area heading for their home. It wasn't the little cottage I had expected, but rather a fairly large manor complete with lush gardens. It seemed they were doing quite well for themselves here.

Brendan was forced to hold me back after we had seen Lila and Lea. It was all I could do not to run to them. My daughter was growing up. She was a precious little thing with curly copper pigtails and a bright smile.

And Hawke, no Lila now. Hawke didn't suit the vision that she was. I had never seen her look so beautiful as she did in the light blue and purple dress. Her hair was down falling around her in a curtain of auburn waves. She looked ever bit the proper lady her mother had always tried to make her be.

"Your family is a beautiful one." Brendan said as we had followed behind them. Only through his skill had we managed to avoid detection. Zevran's men were good. As was Lila herself. I could see her nerves as she scanned the shadows.

"Yes, and in the hands of that man." I scowled as Lea curled tight to Fenris and drifted to sleep. She should have been in my arms. I shoved down the rage. Rage would only bring a confrontation. If we timed this properly we could take my family, and the boy, without Fenris knowing until we were far from here. Now wasn't the time to let emotions blind me.

"We'll get them back, sire." Brendan reassured me. He motioned me to move with him as we skirted around them. We watched them through a window as Fenris was reunited with his baby, rocking him as the boy smiled up at him.

I had to work hard on the rage again. How many times had he done that with my daughter? How many times had I been denied even that small pleasure? I clenched my hand into a fist and thought of Lila. If I killed Fenris, it would be harder to win her love back. I was going to have to let it go. We would have other children. Let him enjoy this last night with them.

I motioned to Brendan that I had seen enough. He lead us back to the small house we had taken over. The family who owned it had come into a large fortune recently and most happily handed the house over to us. It was a perfect place to hide out. Too far away from anyone else for them to ask questions about us or the man in chains.

"Please, Sebastian." Anders begged. I had had him shaved and cleaned up. I wanted Lila to recognize him after all. "It's not too late to stop this now. You don't have to hurt her anymore."

"I'm not going to hurt her. I'm taking her home. Can't you see that she deserves so much more than he could ever give her?" I argued unsure why I was even talking to him.

"She deserves to be happy." He pressed. I gave him a cold smile.

"And she will be. Happy as my princess."

"Sebastian, you have to see the truth of the situation. She's not going to go with you willingly. She's going to fight you. She'll never forgive you for this."

"Shut up, abomination!" Brendan yelled and slammed his fist into Anders temple. Anders glared at me defiantly as he slumped over.

I glanced from him to Brendan. "Do not lay a hand on him unless I order it."

"Forgive me, sire. I was only trying to help you."

"I know. Don't do it again. She cares for him. He's the key to forcing her without having to hurt or scare her. Leave him be." I turned and went to the bedroom. I was too excited to eat or sit still, but the sooner I slept the sooner they would be back in my arms.

I laid down and tried to rest. The trip had been long and trying. We had to travel well up coast from Denerim to avoid the sweeps of Zevran's men. I should have killed him all those years ago.

I had dreamed each night since we had left. None of them pleasant. Dreams of violence and death. Of Elthina begging me to see the truth. Random images rushing together. Some I didn't remember at all, just awoke with a feeling of dread. Tonight would hopefully be different. I had peace about the situation now. A plan to take them that wouldn't involve hurting them. It was going to go right for once. I would show them all that the Maker had given them to me.

-0-

Lila watched me horrified as I showed her Anders. I shoved him down to his knees in front of me. "Now then, I do believe you will listen to me."

"Anders! How did…what have you done to him?" She yelled at me.

"Don't worry about me, you have to run!" Anders said to her. I motioned to the man beside me. He swung the whip, striking Anders across his already scarred and bloody back. Anders yelled out as it hit him.

"Please, Sebastian, don't hurt him!" She sobbed reaching a hand out.

"Then surrender to me. Get Lea and the baby and come with me. I'll release him once you do." I promised.

"No." She shook her head and backed up from me. I sliced into Anders shoulder with my dagger. He jerked in pain, but refused to cry out again.

"Run." Anders croaked to her. "Don't worry about me." He pleaded. She covered her mouth and sobbed as blood ran freely from his wounds.

"You can make this stop, love. Say you belong to me."

"I can't." She shook her head. She whirled as Brendan and another man came up behind her. They grabbed her arms and held her in place as I laid the knife to Anders' throat. "Please, don't do this! You said you cared about me! If you do, you won't do this!"

"I am sick of having to prove to you I care!" I yelled and stormed towards her. I gripped her face in my hands forcing her to look at me. "I have shown you time and again how I feel. I will be stalled no longer. Surrender willingly and we'll take the baby as well. Continue to fight me and Anders won't be the only one I hurt."

Her eyes widened. I was shocked at the emotion in them. Fear. She was scared of me. She believed I would hurt the baby. How could she believe that?

She glared at me as she jerked away from me. "I'll never forgive you for this." She hissed at me.

"Time heals all wounds, love." I said and stepped back from her. I would show her it had been an empty threat. I would love the child as if he was my own. She would see that this was all for the best.

"Fenris will come for us." She warned as my men bound her arms.

"Let him come." I said calmly.

One of the men held Anders still. "What about the mage?" He asked.

"Kill him."

"No!" She screamed and struggled against the men. "You said you would release him!"

"And I am. Maker have mercy on your soul, abomination." I said as the guard sliced his throat. Hawke hung limp in the men's arms and sobbed brokenly as Anders fell down dead.

"I hate you, Sebastian. I used to feel sorry for you, but you've killed it. I will never give you what you want. I will fight you till the day I die. I will never submit to you. Never." She screamed.

"You will when he has your son's life in his hands." Brendan laughed and jerked her around. "Now then, let's go and fetch the children quickly."

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. They had thought they had secured her hands enough, but they hadn't. She grabbed Brendan's daggers and sliced through his arm as she whirled. She stabbed one dagger deep into the other guard's throat and stumbled back. More of my men came out of the shadows. She had no escape. As good as she was, she could never best them all.

"You will never have my children! You will never have me!" She yelled and lifted the dagger up.

I watched horrified and took a step towards her. "No! Don't!" I screamed but it was too late. She drove the dagger into her heart. She fell to the ground and gasped in pain. I rushed to her and gathered her into my arms.

"Get a healer!" I yelled at the men, but I knew it was too late. She coughed weakly and glared at me as I held her. "What have you done?"

"You have done this, Sebastian. My blood is on your head." She said as her eyes rolled up. Her head fell back limply as she breathed her last breath.

I jerked awake with a gasp. It was just a dream. It wasn't real. She was still alive. I sat up and rubbed my face tiredly.

I would never act like that. I would never harm her children. I would never even threaten them. I would never hurt or frighten her. That wasn't me. I loved her. I wanted to take care of her, make her happy. I didn't want to hurt her.

Thoughts of my confrontation with her in her home after discovering she was with Fenris pushed to the front. I had attacked her. I had been a mad man then. Slamming her around, hitting her. I laid my head in my hands. Maker, what had happened to me?

I wasn't a violent man. Even in my wild days I hadn't been violent. A drunk, a gambler, a womanizer, but not violent or cruel.

I had fought with Fenris. He was at one time my friend. He was a violent man. Him attacking me wasn't unexpected, but I had attacked him once as well. That was unexpected.

I had cheated and lied and manipulated people into helping with all of this. I had threatened and bribed to get my way. I had fought and hurt people around me without a thought. This wasn't the way of the Maker.

I couldn't catch my breath as the full magnitude of all the things I had done came to light. Drugging Hawke, sleeping with her while she was under the influence of the drugs, forcing her to see things my way, cutting her off from her friends, trying to use her sister against her, upping the use of potions when I felt her slipping away from me. Threatening Elthina and Erin. Fighting with Fenris. Hiring mercenaries to kidnap Hawke and Lea. Torturing a man for months, trying to destroy him. None of that was who I had been. None of it was the will of the Maker.

But if it wasn't the will of the Maker that left me being a tool of a demon. Worse than that, I had done those things and not had the demon pushing my mind. I had taken Elthina's words and run with them. Even when she had started to question what we were doing, I pushed it on. Maker, I was a monster! She had every reason to fear me. She had every reason to hate me. What was I going to do?

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Hawke

I set about my morning taking care of Malcolm and Lea. Orana had been kind enough to make the sticky buns for me to take to Bethany. Bethany was entering the last month of her pregnancy and was forced into bed rest. She was feeling rather cranky and put out. Keran hoped that I could entertain her enough to ease some of it.

I saw Fenris off as if nothing was wrong. I watched him as he left praying that I was wrong, but I couldn't shake the feeling of doom. I finished feeding Malcolm and handed him off to Orana. I placed a kiss on his cheek and went to pack the basket to take to Bethany.

Lea chatted animatedly discussing what she was going to name the kittens. Or at least I think that's what she was talking about. I was only half listening as I scanned the yard and tree line that I could see out the window. I was sure I had seen something…and then there it was again. A flash of pristine white.

Cold spread through me as if ice ran through my veins. I glanced down at my beautiful little girl and then back to the woods. I swallowed hard and then crouched down to Lea. "Little one, I'm sorry."

"Huh, Mommy?" She asked quirking her head to the side as she looked up at me. Her big blue eyes full of happiness.

"You can't go with me today."

Her face fell instantly and tears filled her eyes. "I be good!" She cried.

I hugged her tightly, hating hurting her, fearing I would never see her again. "I know, sweetheart, but I need you to stay here."

"No! I go see kittens!" She yelled and stomped her foot.

"Not today."

"I wanna!" She wailed.

"I said no. Lea, that is enough. Go straight to your room this instant." I ordered hating the pain and confusion in her eyes. She let out a shriek and then flew out of the room. Orana entered looking at me wide eyed.

"Mistress?" She asked as I stood and wiped away the tears from my eyes. I didn't want to frighten Orana.

"I need Lea to stay here today. She's in trouble so keep her inside." I ordered and steeled myself for what was going to happen.

"Of course." She said and looked puzzled. I knew she would obey me without questions. I just needed to keep acting like nothing was wrong for now. Fenris and Zevran's men would be surrounding the house shortly. If I could force Sebastian to follow me, I could keep my children safe. "Will you be back for dinner?" She asked as I started for the door. I glanced back at her over my shoulder.

"I don't know." I answered truthfully.

I forced myself to walk at a normal pace and not look around, but it was hard. My skin crawled as I felt them moving around me. I chanced a glance over my shoulder and saw the flash of white again. At least he was following me. I couldn't take them towards Bethany's. I couldn't chance him using her against me. So instead I headed to the caves that were not too far from our home. I might could lose them in the caverns and buy myself enough time for Fenris' men to be close enough for me to get help. If not, at least they would have the children safe.

I managed to get all the way to the caves before he stepped out to block my way. "Hello, Lila." He said as if this was a normal morning.

"What are you doing here, Sebastian?" I demanded and looked around. I could see other men in the trees.

"I…" He started and then cleared his throat. "I came here to bring you and Lea home."

"We are home." I said cutting him off. I had to stall him. I had to buy more time. I had to make sure he couldn't come near the children.

"I've seen it. It's lovely, but it's not the Starkhaven palace." He said watching me. I shifted and my ring flashed. I saw his eye drawn to it. His mouth tightened and he flushed. He raised his eyes to me. "You married him?"

I swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes. Shortly after we left Kirkwall. We have a son." I hoped to reason with him, find that compassionate man who had been my friend.

He looked away from me pained. "I know about the boy."

"I'm not going back with you, Sebastian. And I won't let you take Lea." I said as silence stretched between us.

"I never wanted to take her from you." He looked at me and his eyes were full of pain. "I do love you, despite how all of this seems. I only want to make you happy. I've only wanted to take care of you." He hung his head. "I wanted to raise our daughter together. I wanted to have many more children with you. I wanted to give you all that you deserve."

"Then let me go." I said quietly. He cringed.

"Lila, please hear me out." He begged. I took a breath and nodded. Every moment I stalled gave the men more time to move into place. "I fell in love with you almost the moment I saw you. You were unlike anyone I'd ever met. I cursed the day I met you though. If it had happened just a bit sooner I would have been free to pursue you. So I tried to become the man you could come to. I tried to show you that the Chantry isn't as bad as you feared. I tried to be there for you in the fringes, but it was never enough. I wanted more. I burned for you. I prayed daily for the Maker to take my sinful desires away, but they just grew. And then one day it was as if all my prayers had been answered." He moved closer to me, but froze as I stepped back. He dropped his outstretched hand. "Elthina came to me and told me her dream. At first I didn't believe it. It felt too good to be true, but deep down I didn't care if it was or not. I took it as the sign I had been waiting for. All I could think about was you. That I could finally be the man you needed me to be. That I could finally take care of you, devote myself fully to you. The Maker gave you to me."

"Sebastian…" I started but he held up his hand.

"The day we found out you were pregnant was the happiest and saddest day of my life. I wanted to tell you that she was mine, that she had been created in love, but Elthina thought it better to wait until we were married and our thrones secure. She said you would forgive me for it because you loved me. I went along with it because I was afraid. I didn't want to lose you. But everything started falling apart. The harder I tried to make things work like Andraste had said it would, the more it got destroyed." He looked down and took another step towards me. He then looked back up into my eyes. "I never wanted to hurt you. I never meant for things to get so out of hand. I never wanted to frighten you. I just wanted that life I had dreamed of for us."

"I'm sorry, Sebastian. I wanted that dream too until reality set in. We were too different to make the other happy." I said watching the broken man in front of me.

"I would do anything to make you happy. Anything, Lila. We could still have that life."

I took a step back and shook my head. "No, Sebastian. We can't. I'm married to Fenris. I love him."

"But I'm Lea's father. I can give you both so much more than he ever could. If you would just try you would see that I can be the man you need."

"You can't be Fenris. He's the man I need."

He looked away angrily and motioned over his shoulder. I gasped and stumbled back as a man drug a chained thin man into the sunlight. He shoved him causing the man to fall forward. His robes hung off him as he was so painfully thin. His hair was messy and long, but there was no denying the pain filled eyes that looked up at me.

"Anders!" I took a step towards him.

"Run, Hawke!" Anders yelled and struggled against the chains, Justice surged forward adding his strength, but it was no use.

"What have you done to him?" I demanded whirling to glare at Sebastian.

"Exacting my vengeance." He said looking at Anders.

"I won't let you use me to hurt her. He's going to kill me no matter what you do. You know it's true, so run." Anders pleaded as two men clasped onto his arms and kept him back from Sebastian.

"Let him go, Sebastian." I demanded.

He took a step towards me, his eyes hard and angry like they had been the night he attacked me. "You are in no position to make demands of me." He snarled as he got closer to me.

"Hurt me, but leave him out of it." I said raising my chin up to him. I wasn't going to beg. I thought he was going to see reason, but he wasn't going to. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of groveling. This wasn't Sebastian. This was the same monster who thought it was alright to drug and use me.

His eyes widened in shock and he took a step back. "Lila, I…" He shook his head. "I never want to hurt you. Not anymore." He glanced at the men holding Anders. "Release him."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Fenris

I hadn't made it all the way to town before I was turning back around. I wasn't sure if it was Lila had me spooked or if something really was going on, but I couldn't shake the feeling. I caught one of the guards attention and requested he take a message to my second explaining that I would be home today.

I had already set up a unit of my men to patrol the outer areas today, including my home so I felt fairly secure that Lila and the children were safe, but I had earned the day off. Even the king had said I should take a day or two off. I made my way to the house hoping to catch Lila before she left for Bethany's.

"Lila?" I called as I entered the house. A few seconds later a distraught looking Orana entered and glanced at me worriedly.

"Mistress set out a bit ago, Master." She said and glanced back out of the room as a wail could be heard.

I started for the door. "Is that Lea?" I asked confused as to why she was home and wailing as if her heart was broken.

"Yes, Master. Mistress says she's in trouble and to keep her inside today." I glanced at her even more confused. Lila was rarely strict with Lea. And she had never forbidden her from going outside. I entered Lea's room and found her curled in a corner crying.

"Little one?" I called and crouched down to her. She threw herself in my arms and snubbed.

"Daddy! Mommy mean." She cried.

"What happened?" I asked rocking her gently. I didn't want to go against something Lila had decided, but I couldn't bear the sobs either.

"She say I no go see kittens. I be good. I no fit." She sobbed.

"Did you act ugly this morning?" I asked. She looked up at me as if I had betrayed her.

"No! I be good!" She said and crossed her arms, the tears forgone in her anger.

"Then why did Mommy say you couldn't go?" I pressed. I wasn't sure how much of an answer I would get now. Lea had Lila's temper for sure.

"She say no." She said as if that explained it all.

"I'll talk to Mommy. Maybe we can see the kittens tomorrow." I said hoping to stop the sulk enough so I could leave and find Lila.

"Take Wian?" She asked looking up at me hopefully. I sighed heavily. I had thought we would have a good fifteen years before we had to worry about boys.

"We'll see." I answered her. It was enough it seemed. She smiled at me and kissed my cheek. "Will you be good for Orana while I go find Mommy?"

She pouted again. "I be good all day."

"That's what I like to hear, little one." I placed a kiss on her head as I sat her on her bed. I glanced back to find her playing with her dolls now. Her tantrum over it seemed.

"Thank you, Master." Orana said as I left the room. I nodded to her.

"Keep her inside until I find out why Lila said it."

"Of course, Master." Orana answered and moved out of the way as I started past her.

"Captain Fenris?" Called one of my men as I entered the yard. He was one of the newer recruits from the Dalish clans.

"What is it, Theron?" I asked trying not to be irritated. The men were supposed to be hidden, and I was in a hurry to see what was wrong with Lila.

"Forgive me, Captain, but I felt it urgent." He said and waited for me to nod before he continued. "I've discovered tracks in the woods around the house."

"The city guards have been watching." I answered.

"I have seen those. Those foolish shem…sorry." He said as I glanced at him sharply. "They are not careful with their footing. They leave obvious tracks. These are hidden. If I hadn't been looking closely I would have missed them. Whoever left them are skilled."

"Zevran's men?" I suggested hoping it was so.

"I cannot say, Captain. I thought I should warn you. I followed them for a ways. They grew a bit sloppier as they seemed to be following after a woman's tracks." He answered.

"Towards town?" I asked fearfully.

"No, towards the caverns."

"Show me." I ordered just as Zevran rushed into the yard.

"Please tell me Lila and Lea are inside the house right now." Zevran said breathing hard.

"Lea is. Why?" I asked as fear poured over me.

"My men swept farther out today. There had been a story of a ship seen too far from dock to be up to any good. They found a small farm taken over. There were guards there bearing the crest of Starkhaven."

"Venhedis! Fasta vaas! Vishante kaffas!" I shouted. No matter what we did that man was going to haunt us to our dying day. Well, no. Until his dying day.

"We should hurry. The tracks were still fresh." Theron said motioning me to follow him.

Understanding dawned on me as we followed the tracks that were definitely Lila's and too many men to make me comfortable. She had seen them and thought to drag them away from our home. She was protecting the children by giving him something else to chase. The infuriating woman was going to be the death of me.

I stopped even trying to follow the trail as I heard Anders' yelling at her to run. I broke into a run, summoning my powers to aid my way. Zevran caught my arm as I would have crashed through the guards hiding in the trees. He shushed me and motioned me closer.

"We need to get in position. So far they are not attacking. Let the men get in place before you react. She is safe from harm. He wants her, no?"

"That is my wife out there! You don't know the things he's done to her!" I hissed at him.

"Getting yourself killed will not help her. We have the element of surprise right now. Do not give it away." He hissed back. I growled but knew he was right. But if that bastard made one wrong move, I would have his heart.

"Hurt me, but leave him out of it." Lila said glaring at him defiantly. I was going to kill her myself. What the Void was she thinking to taunt him so? Hadn't he already proved he was unstable? I tensed up prepared to save her when Sebastian stunned me. He quickly took a step back from her seeming shocked.

"Lila, I…" He shook his head. "I never want to hurt you. Not anymore." He glanced at the men holding Anders. "Release him."

"Sire…" Started the guard who held Anders.

"Release him!" Sebastian ordered and looked back at Lila. "I don't want to be that man anymore." I glanced at Zevran and he shrugged.

"The men are in place if you want to go to her now." Zevran whispered after a quick glance around.

"Wait for my signal." I nodded and used my abilities to move to her side. As always she seemed to know I was there and reached out for my hand as I moved to her. I clasped it and released my powers.

Several guards moved closer as I appeared. One appearing by Sebastian's side, his hand on his blade. Sebastian held his hand up, freezing them all.

"Hold." Sebastian ordered as he eyed me. "Release the mage."

The men holding Anders undid his chains and he nearly collapsed when they backed away from him. Lila started to go to him, but I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her tightly to me. "What are you doing here, Sebastian?" I growled at him. I didn't buy this act a moment. He was playing her again.

"Fooling myself." He said sounding defeated. He looked at Lila longingly. "Are you happy?"

She tightened her hand on my arm as I tensed up. "I am." She answered him.

"And Lea?"

"She's perfect, Sebastian. Smart and beautiful and sweet. And she has her mother's temper." Lila said giving him a small smile. He closed his eyes and nodded slowly.

"Will you take care of them?" He asked looking at me.

"They are my family. I would give my life for them." I said watching him.

He looked back at Lila. "All I ever wanted was for you to be safe and happy. Forgive me for all I've done. Forgive me for refusing to see the truth. I just didn't want to face the reality of what I had done or that I had lost you and Lea."

She pulled away from me and clasped his hand. "I do, Sebastian. You need to forgive yourself as well. Don't hold onto the hurt and anger."

"You always were the best of us." He said and lightly cupped her face in his hand. She took a step back from him, forcing his hand to drop from her face.

"I'm far from the angel you think I am."

"I've no right to ask it, but…" He paused and glanced at me. "May I write Lea? I know that what I've done is…horrific, but…she's my daughter."

"She is not your daughter!" I snarled and moved closer to them. Lila gripped my arm and gave me a look.

"So long as you realize that Fenris is my husband and her father, I think she should know you. It would take some time to explain all this mess to her, but I believe letters would be alright. Just know that if I see anything in it I don't like, I will not allow her to see it." Lila said after a moment.

"Thank you, Lila. It is more than I deserve. I swear to you both that I will not be that man anymore. I took a hard look at my actions these last few years and didn't like the man I saw." He took a breath and looked at me. "So long as you take care of them and treat them well, I will stay away." He then looked at Lila. "If you ever need anything…"

"Thank you, Sebastian. For what it's worth, I am sorry for all of this. I'm sorry you were used to hurt me. I'm sorry you've been hurt."

"Don't apologize, Lila." He said and then held his hand out to me. "I'm sorry for our friendship being lost." I eyed his hand a moment, but then took it. We had been close at one point. He had been the only person other than Lila that I had considered a friend. Until Zevran that is.

"I am not as forgiving as she is. I don't trust you, Sebastian. But I will try and forgive you if you will stay away from my family."

He stepped back and gave me a sharp nod. "I can understand that. I would feel the same if the situation was reversed." He glanced around at his men. "We leave here." He ordered.

"Are you certain, sire?" The man at his side asked. Sebastian nodded.

"We are done here." He answered.

"A wise choice given your men are surrounded and outnumbered." Zevran said moving to my side. He kept an eye on Sebastian but spoke to me. "My men and I will escort the prince to his ship to make sure there are no…unnecessary side trips. Furthermore, Prince Sebastian, it would be advisable for you to conduct your future business in Ferelden at one of the actual ports. Next time a ship is spotted off the coast as yours is, the navy has been ordered to sink it."

He narrowed his eyes at Zevran, but gave him a nod. I clutched Lila to me as the men left. "Are you alright?" I demanded turning her to me. She shook against me as she nodded.

"I was so scared, Fenris. All I could think was I couldn't let him near the children." She said.

"They are safe. My men are watching the house. Though Lea is quite upset about not seeing the kittens. I think we're going to have to take Rian with us to make it up to her."

"My poor baby." She said and then moved to hug Anders. "I've been so worried about you, you jerk!"

"I thought it would be better if I just disappeared. I didn't think he'd be able to find me. I'm so sorry he tried to use me to get to you." Anders said giving her a small smile. The mage looked horrible.

"All that matters is that you are alright now. I'm so sorry, Anders." Lila said and hugged him again. "Come on, let's get you settled. Oh, damn it! I forgot about Bethany." Lila sighed.

"I'll send one of my men over with the food. Tell her we'll be over tomorrow. I think she'll understand under the circumstances." I said taking her hand as she wrapped an arm around Anders waist, helping him as we walked back home.

"What's wrong with Bethany?" Anders asked clearing his throat.

"She's pregnant. Due in another month or so." Lila said and the two began filling each other in on what had been going on in their lives. I was unsurprised by her insistence that he stay with us until he was settled here.

"Settled here?" Anders asked looking up at her from the plate of food Orana had given him.

"Yes, settled here. Bethany's going to need help at her clinic now that she's having a baby. Who better than you? And it's not like you have anywhere else to go. Mages are treated fairly here. And all of us are here. You are not running off on me again, Anders."

"I…hadn't thought I would survive past today so I suppose it sounds like a plan." He laughed and shook his head. "I can't believe that we actually did it."

"Did what?" I asked him puzzled.

"We made a place for mages to enjoy the things everyone else does." He said smiling at Lila. "Bethany lives free and is having a baby that she'll get to raise. Each of us having our own place where we belong. It's better than I could have even dreamed of."

"It has turned out pretty well, hasn't it?" She answered with a smile.

She looked over at me as she cuddled Malcolm close to her. Lea was curled in my lap content now that she had been told we would take Rian with us to see the kittens tomorrow. Orana flitted around the kitchen humming happily. She had lost some of her fear over the last two years. And if I wasn't mistaken, had taken notice of Theron who Lila had insisted come in for something to eat. He was watching her as well.

"It has at that." I answered her before giving her a kiss.

"Me too!" Lea giggled. I bent down and placed a kiss on her upturned face. I hugged her close as I bent over to place a kiss on Malcolm's cheek. He giggled happily. I sighed in contentment. My daughter, my wife, and my son.

I thought over how much my life had changed. I would never have thought it possible, but here I was a husband and father. A captain in the guards with my own unit. Trusted by the king. I had love and family and friends. Yes, this was better than anything I could have ever dreamed of.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Fifteen years later

Fenris

"Are you sure about this?" I asked glancing down at Lila as we watched Lea greet Sebastian.

She sighed and squeezed my hand. "No. But it's her life. I swore when I had children of my own that I would support their choices."

"It probably helps it's just for a summer too." I said smiling at her before turning back to look at Sebastian.

"Well…there is that." She answered giving me a sheepish look.

Sebastian had been true to his word and not returned all this time. He had kept in contact with letters. Eventually he and Lea had formed a relationship of sorts. When he had learned of her interest in archery he had offered, asking our permission first, for her to come and spend some time with him in Starkhaven. Lea had thought long and hard about it, but when Rian had voiced his interest in going there, she had agreed to go for one summer. I hated it.

I didn't want her to go. I especially hated she was going with the far too smooth for my taste Rian. Zevran moved to our side and slapped my back. "At least she's not going alone. My son will be there to look out for her."

"That is part of my problem with this." I said frowning at him.

"I am offended to be sure." He laughed good-naturedly and moved off to help Rian finish with their bags.

"Lila, we could still tell her no." I said as Lea laced her fingers through Rian's hand for a moment as she introduced him to Sebastian.

"She's not our little one anymore, Fenris. And Rian is a good boy." She said with a smile. "He has some of his mother in him after all." She teased.

"She's too young." I protested.

"She's only a few years younger than I was when we first met."

"That doesn't make me feel better." I shook my head. "I know how he's thinking."

"Oh?" She asked turning to me with a mischievous look.

"I was him once." I said wishing she would take this more serious.

She pouted then. "Once, as in you don't think of me the same way anymore? I've gotten too old for you?"

"What? Lila, you are still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." I said hurriedly and then narrowed my eyes at her as she smiled unrepentant.

"I told you once sometimes a girl needs to hear that." She hugged Malcolm to her and placed a kiss on his cheek as he moved to us.

He frowned at her and wiped the kiss off. "Ug, Mom!" He protested and glanced around to see if Nerina was around to see it. He had developed quite the crush on Isabela and Anders daughter. I missed the simplicity of them being babies.

"I could make it worse, my little broody boy." She said smiling at him as she ruffled his auburn hair. He narrowed his eyes at her in a scowl so familiar to the one I had often seen in my own reflection.

"I still don't see why I can't spend the summer somewhere else. Uncle Varric invited me to spend the summer with him in Kirkwall." He said grumpily.

"When you are seventeen we'll discuss it." I said cutting his argument off. He frowned at me for a second before Lea moved to us. She tugged his hair.

"Still pouting?" She teased him.

"No." He grumbled. She smiled and kissed his cheek. "I'll bring you back something fantastic."

"So?" He shrugged.

"Mal, are you really mad at me? Say you don't want me to go and I won't." Lea said holding his hand. The two of them were close. As close as Lila and Bethany were. All our children were.

He sighed and gave her a quick hug. "I want you to go." He grinned at her. "No one will be here to tell on me anymore."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't think you're going to get away with anything, Mal. Duncan's already promised to keep an eye on you. He'll keep you out of trouble."

"Ha! Duncan's too busy watching Andy to see anything Carver and I get into." Malcolm laughed and pointed towards where his friend followed after Andris, our fourteen year old daughter. I sighed. Were all of my children going to start down this path?

Lila shook her head as Andris socked the prince in his arm and rolled her eyes at him. He rubbed his shoulder and grinned a goofy grin much like his father, Alistair, had when he looked at his wife, Elissa. She glanced up at me with a half grin. "I almost feel sorry for the prince. Our precious Andy is a bit clueless about his affections."

"Good." I said frowning as she grinned at me and hugged Lea to her.

"I wouldn't say she was completely immune to him." Lea motioned with her head towards them as they moved to us. Andris was watching him out of the corner of her eyes with a curiousness I didn't like at all.

Bethany and Keran rounded a corner with their son Carver who was Malcolm's age, and their young twins Declan and Emma. With the twins was our youngest, Caia. I crouched down and held my hands out to her. She had been our little surprise coming nine years after Andris.

"You'll never leave Daddy, will you, angel?" I asked her as I held her. She wrapped her arms around my neck and smiled at me.

She giggled and shook her head. "Never, Daddy." She said and then spotted Orana and Theron with their young son. "Jordan!" She yelled and wiggled free from me, running to her friend.

I glanced at Lila who was smiling at me. "I blame you for this."

"Me? What have I done?" She asked with a laugh.

"They are your daughters. The boys are drawn to them because they look like you." I frowned at her.

She arched a brow. "I'm going to take that as a compliment since our girls are beautiful as is our son."

"Hey!" Malcolm protested to being called beautiful.

Lila ignored him and poked me in the chest. "And the boys like our daughters because they are brilliant, strong, and wonderful."

"I said they were your daughters!" I frowned at her as she smiled at me.

"Daddy, we're growing up. You can't expect us to be your little ones forever." Lea said and hugged me.

I cupped her face in my hands. "Yes, I can."

Lila motioned for the others to give us a moment. She squeezed my arm. "Don't make this harder for her." She whispered before moving off to greet Sebastian.

"Daddy if you aren't alright with this, I won't go. I don't want to upset you." Lea said watching me with the same eyes her mother did. I was as immune to them as I was to Lila's.

"I want you to do as you want, I just fear for you. Starkhaven is so far and…" I trailed off as tears filled her eyes. "I don't want to lose you, little one."

"Daddy, you aren't going to lose me." She glanced at Sebastian and then back to me. She hugged me tightly. "You are my father. I do want to get to know him, but no one can ever take your place, Daddy. I love you." She kissed my cheek as I held her tightly.

"I love you as well, little one. Just come back to us."

"Promise." She nodded against my neck. She stepped away from me and turned to hug Lila as she moved back to us.

"I'm going to miss you so much." Lila said and held her face in her hands. "I want you to have fun, but be safe. I love you so much. I'm so proud of you."

"I love you too. I'll be back before you even know it." Lea smiled and moved back. She hugged Andris tightly. "Be good, little sister. Don't beat up Duncan too badly."

"No promises." Andris laughed and moved back as the rest of our family and friends came to hug her goodbye.

Sebastian moved to us and nodded to me. "Thank you for allowing me this chance."

"Keep her safe." I answered though I would have rather never had to speak to him again. I would do this for my girls.

"I will." He promised. Lea and Lila both gave me smiles as Sebastian moved back to allow Rian to move to me.

Rian shook my hand. "Remember that she is my daughter." I said scowling at the young elf.

"I will treat her with the honor due her, Captain Freeman." He turned to Lila. "I'll keep her safe. I swear it."

"I don't need someone to keep me safe!" Lea said giving him a look like Lila had often given me. I couldn't help but smile at the image.

"Now I almost feel sorry for him." I laughed as Lea rolled her eyes at me. There was more commotion as the king and queen also joined us all to greet Sebastian and see Lea and Rian off. Before too long though all that was left was for them to board and leave.

Lila wrapped her arms around my waist and leaned into me as the ship pulled away from dock. The kids all ran to wave as it pulled away, leaving us adults behind. Eventually you could no longer see the ship and they drifted off into little groups hanging around the docks waiting for us. I glanced around at the group around us as I held my wife.

Aveline and Donnic visited with the king and queen, keeping an eye on the people around us all. Their son, Ben, was hanging with Carver, Malcolm, and Duncan. The four were all around the same age and often into mischief. Zevran, Aveline, and I were training them all.

Nerina was with Andris, Adia, Zevran and Kallian's daughter, and Vallen, Aveline and Donnic's daughter, doing her best to pretend she wasn't watching Malcolm at all. Merrill was with Orana and Theron chatting animatedly. Jordan, Caia, Emma and Declan had managed to find a puddle of mud and were happily splashing away. Anders was holding Isabela as they spoke with Bethany and Keran. Zevran and Kallian moved to stand with us.

"Well, our children are off to adventure together. It is as it should be, no?" Zevran said nodding to us.

"Hopefully it won't be like our adventures." Lila laughed.

Kallian looked up at her husband and smiled at him. "I don't know. I think ours turned out alright."

"Just alright? Woman, I am offended!" Zevran teased her.

"I would say that our adventures aren't over yet." Lila said glancing at all the children. "But I will agree that they have turned out better than alright." She said looking up at me.

"They have indeed." I hugged her. "Let's gather our children and go home."

"I like the sound of that."