DISCLAIMER: I base my stories on Intellectual Property (IP) owned by BioWare™ and EA™. I pretend to live in their world.

SPOILERS: I refer to information from the games, the novels and the comics. If you have not played or read, please beware.

CHAPTER 52: Convergence


9:30 Dragon Firstfall === Highever

As Nathaniel's Wrath troops and the Waking Sea and Rasiae archers set up their marching camp behind the screen of trees bordering Star Lake, Nate took reports from his agents. What he heard surprised him. He picked up the crumpled parchment one of them had laid on his camp table. It ordered the Amaranthine troops in an outpost near the road to Elstan Notch back to the castle and keep. The other agents reported equally empty outposts across the Coastlands. Could our way be clear? We'll see. My father may not be in Highever, but even Thomas or his captain may have tricks up their sleeves. We'll move out, but stay wary. Nate sent a courier riding north to the coastal camp confirming the attack would proceed as planned the next day. Then, calling his lieutenants into his tent, he gave them the order to march on Castle Cousland on the morrow.

Nathaniel's troops left the Star Lake camp before dawn and marched north crossing the Star River at the ford. Once across the river, the army moved east. Skirmishers fanned out onto either flank and scouts roamed ahead to ensure Amaranthine troops had not re-occupied any small outposts or sent out patrols. The army marched in triple columns behind each of their three lieutenants. Nate, accompanied by Zevran, rode in the center with Lieutenant Eli. Zev, with his knowledge of Highever, and a Chasind named Sven had joined the Wrath as scouts and liaisons to Fergus. Now they rode with Nate and his staff ready find an alternate entrance into the castle should Fergus not open the gate, or ride north with messages.

To the north, the Chasind and Highever troops left their camp and sailed towards a cove below Castle Cousland, planning on arriving at dusk. From their landing, they would enter tunnels which accessed the interior of the castle, thereby surprising the defenders from within and opening the gate to the Wrath's attackers. To Nate's surprise and consternation, Fergus had insisted on leading the smaller group, leaving the overland march to Nate. Further confusing him, Pippa reluctantly backed Fergus. Eventually, Pippa had to convince Fergus to explain why.

"Fergus, he will be my husband. There need be no secrets. If you don't explain why you must lead the troops into the tunnels I will."

"Pippa, you know why. Only I can open the gateway into the Portal tunnel."

"Or me."

"No!"

"Then explain. Andraste's Fiery Fingers, Fergus, do you still believe he'll betray us?"

Pursing his lips, he shook his head. "No. No Nate's given no reason to doubt him. He's…" he smiled. "He's Nate. My best friend grown up…at least that's what my logical mind tells me. My emotions haven't quiet gotten there yet, but Zevran, Kai, Einarr and Petyr trust him." He took a breath, his expression relaxing. "You and Mum trust him. Does he know about Areth?"

"Very little. I used Mel's method. Showing him the satellite." Seeing his raised eyebrows, she put her hand over her mouth. "You didn't know."

"Mel told Alistair about Areth? When?"

"Years ago, when they were betrothed, or thought they were."

"When they were kids? Huh. I never knew. My sister keeps secrets well."

"Better than most, to be honest. But then, she's had to, pretending to be Layne Haris or Mel the Mercenary."

He snorted. "Yeah, Layne Haris, I didn't know about that for years. I thought she was just living in Cumberland at the Haris Compound. She and Mum came up with that one. I'm not sure Da knew until she'd been working for Haris for months. He wasn't a fan of her working for Simon." His lips quirked. "I hadn't thought of it quite that way. That she's good at keeping secrets. Then again, she always followed Zevran around. I suppose he taught her more than blade skills and lock picking." Shame she didn't use those skills better that night. He took a deep breath, as if to clear his thoughts. "Fine, I'll explain about the locks requiring a hand print, but it's not just that. It's my home, Pippa. I should be the one to reconquer it. The first one inside to do to Howe's troops what they did to us."

Nate surprised Fergus by chuckling at his explanation. "I'm getting anxious to visit this mythical place. If I didn't know the two of you, I'd wager you were creating a massive hoax. I'll ask you what I asked Pippa-"

"-Ferelden is my home, Captain." Fergus answered before Nate could complete the question. "Areth is a place I visit, and not very often. Mel and Mum went every year, but Da and I didn't." His stare became unfocused and a smile brushed his lips. "Oriana loved it. The sights, the sounds, the art, the food, the shopping….Oren loved to fly." He recovered his teyrn's face. "It's interesting. Very different. What I wouldn't give for a rifle…and to them that's ancient technology. A gun ship would be even better, although more chance for civilian casualties." He almost grinned. "Sorry, imagining the battle with advanced weapons. Wouldn't that surprise your father."

"You can't get them?"

"One, it's against the law there to bring any advanced technology here. I shouldn't even talk about it. Two, can't bring them through the portals, even the ones that would fit. The gunship…well, portal's not big enough for an air ship. Let's leave it at that."

"Don't worry, you lost me with rifle. And air ship? Flying?" Nate shook his head. "Stuff of fancy! PIppa does the same, piques my interest and then stops. I guess I'll have to go and see one day. I do understand that the lock requires you or Pippa to open it. Better you than her."

"Agreed." Fergus held Nate's gaze. "And let's hope this proves as easy as it is simple."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

In Nate's experience battles rarely went to plan, even when the commander tried to keep it simple. Coordinated attacks failed to coordinate. A unit failed to execute properly, leaving a hole in the line or a salient open to flank attack. Enemies failed to be surprised. Agents underestimated enemy strength. Empty outposts suddenly sprouted arrows and spears. Ambushes sprang from deserted copses. No matter how many problems I anticipate and plan for, there are always surprises and most are not in our favor. He scanned the horizon, but saw only windswept fields lightly covered with snow. To the south, the forested foothills remained empty. He hoped the galleys sailing along the coast found equally barren beaches.

The more things went well, the more Nate worried. His troops had moved across the Coastlands from the Lyrium Cave to Star Lake unopposed. Their supply camps had remained undiscovered. Now, on this final march across the rolling fields and farmlands towards the castle, they met no patrols and found only the empty outposts his scouts had reported. Agents in the city believed most would welcome Fergus, even some guards. Castle agents confirmed that Fergus would find the larder door unlocked. When Castle Cousland appeared on the horizon, as darkness fell, he halted his troops. They would move no further until the horizon behind them darkened. Nate could only hope Fergus' approach had gone as well.

Fergus disembarked first and climbed the short path to the cave with Jadyn following at his heels, whining quietly. Darkness had fallen on a moonless, but clear night. He scratched the mabari's head as they entered the cave. "We're almost home, boy," he whispered.

His troops, a mix of Chasind and Highever soldiers, gathered on the beach under Captain Silven and Einarr's watchful eyes, while Fergus found the palm pad and pressed his palm and fingers against the stone. The door to the Portal Tunnel slid open. Fergus returned to the cave's mouth and waved in the faint light. Einarr waved back and the troops began the climb and entered the tunnel. After a time spent traversing the underground passage from the seacoast, they halted at the door to the Castle Cousland tunnel, near the larder entry point.

"Let's hope Nate's agents had this right and the larder entry is still open and unlocked," Fergus whispered to Einarr.

"And that the tunnel is not well guarded," Einarr added.

Jadyn's whines intensified as he sniffed the brown stain running down the door.

"It's alright, boy," Fergus said, recognizing it as blood. "It's old." I wonder whose it is? Mel didn't say if she or mother was wounded. Fergus touched the palm pad and the door to the castle tunnel slid open. Stepping aside he let Kai and two Chasind scouts slip out. They found the larder entrance unguarded and the larder door unlocked.

"It seems Nate's agents did their jobs. Let's hope we don't find troops on the other side," Kai whispered as Fergus joined them. They pushed against the larder door. It opened into an empty room. No sounds came from the kitchen.

"They cook in the barracks," Kai said. "No one uses this kitchen, unless they placed guards in there." She watched Fergus' expression, but saw only compressed lips and a clenched jaw, as he stared at the door. "Troops live in the barracks. We should meet very few as we move through the Great Hall. The defenders will be on the wall, not in the yard."

The troops gathered around Fergus and Einarr, preparing to fight their way to the Great Hall and out through the bailey to the gates. Fergus did not look around the dark larder, but, even if he had, his troops, tightly clustered in the small room, hid the dark patch on the floor. The young Teyrn forcefully blocked any thoughts beyond the battle. "For Highever," Fergus said softly as Einarr opened the door to Nan's empty kitchen.

After their uneventful march, Nate felt sure the assault on the castle and city would not go as planned. The attack on Castle Cousland proved him right, but only because it went better than planned. The attack came as a total surprise to the defenders. His agents' estimate of troop numbers within the castle ran high; in fact, Nate and Fergus' army of more than four hundred outnumbered the defenders. They would find later that Howe had recently reassigned more defenders to the Bannorn. In response to this, Thom and his lieutenant had withdrawn the troops from the outposts, believing they could no longer send patrols to reinforce them should rebels attack. Inside the castle, however, the remaining Amaranthine troops felt secure - secure enough to celebrate the Satinalia holiday and grow lax as the winter set in.

The attack on the Castle occurred just after dark, which fell quite early during the winter months. Within a few candlemarks it was done. The elven and Waking Sea archers loosed their arrows on the battlements and diverted the defenders just before Fergus' attack from the tunnels spilled into the almost deserted Great Hall and bailey. Of the troops encountered, only the troops on the lightly guarded battlements wore full armor. Fergus's Highever troops and Einarr's Chasind cut through the partially armored defenders with a vengeance, pushing forward to the gate. The Highever troops had family and friends to avenge; Einarr's Chasind wanted only to help their Highever companions.

Once the main gate opened, Nate's infantry and archers poured in. The archers formed a square in the center of the bailey, targeting the battlements, towers and troops on the ground. Einarr's spearmen guarded the archers, while Fergus' troops fought their way up to the battlements and swept through the defenders on the wall walks. Nate's soldiers moved through the deserted servants' range to the sparring grounds, barracks and stables. They roused surprised troopers from supper, bed, cards and drink. Scrambling for swords, shields, spears and arrows, the defenders tried to organize a defensive line, but their efforts came too late. As they reached the archery range, the defense collapsed, the Amaranthine troops throwing down their arms in surrender.

Nate found Captain Tobias in his quarters behind an overturned table, the floor drenched in ale. Kicking empty mugs aside and trampling on playing cards scattered across the floor, Lieutenant Laur, backed by scores of Wrath, confronted Tobias and his officers in the officers mess. Armed only with daggers, the Amaranthine officers quickly surrendered. The only unpleasant surprise was Thomas' absence. Apparently he had accompanied Nicephorus to Vigil's Keep some weeks earlier, at his father's command.

Meeting back in the bailey, Fergus and Nate assessed their status. The wounded, from both sides, would be brought to the Chapel, where the Amaranthine troops had already set up a hospital. One of the Wrath's mages could stay, along with a few healers, to treat the them. Wrath troops would guard the Amaranthine casualties.

Prisoners would go to the dungeon cells where a few guards could watch them. They would worry about overcrowding and feeding them once the Keep and city were secured. Einarr, with a slight nod to Nate, volunteered to lead a sweep of the castle with his Chasind to rout out any remaining pockets of resistance. He set out immediately. As the Chasind headed towards the storage rooms by the gate, a shadow joined a Chasind called Sven. The shadow carried a large sack.

"Did I startle you, my forest wraith?"

"Zevran. I could have run you through."

The elf grinned. "You would have to catch me first, my friend. We are not in the wilds here. I can disappear into a shadow now that we are out of the forest, yes?"

Sven chuckled. "The city elf and his skills. I admit you beat me here, but you cannot move silently through the forest or meadow." He looked around. "Where is the Dalish elf?"

"Kai stayed with Fergus. She is more than a Dalish, my friend. She grew up in Denerim and lived here as well. Kailian has many skills, although she wears the Vallaslin of the Dalish. She could best either of us, anywhere, but no matter; I know the castle well. I thought I might accompany you."

"And the sack?" Einarr asked, dropping back to join them as his troops searched the storeroom.

"Ah, the remains of what Howe put on the wall. I thought perhaps Fergus should not see that, yes?"

Einarr winced. "His father?"

"And the Arlessa - Pippa's mother. Howe made signs, just in case anyone wondered."

"Not his wife or son?"

"Andraste's mercy, no, neither of them." He looked around the storeroom. "This is as good a place as any to leave these remains. We can ask Fergus how he wants to dispose of them tomorrow." He took an empty cask and carefully laid the sack inside. "We'll see what we find in the castle. It seems Howe abandoned all but the barracks and stables…and the dungeons. The Couslands didn't use them, they preferred the city gaol for prisoners awaiting justice, but they are extensive. Nate's agent reports that Howe holds many prisoners there, and that a torture room has been set up." He looked back to the bailey where Nate's Lieutenant herded the prisoners into groups. "We should release those down there and replace them with Howe's troops, yes?"

"I think that's Nate and Fergus' plan," Einarr agreed. "Now let's move on with our search."

Fergus had remained in the bailey organizing the rescue - Nate could think of no better word to describe it - of the prisoners in the dungeons, and ordering the incarceration of Howe's troops in their place. Nate watched his friend give orders and pace as he waited for reports to come in.

Fergus watched his troops fully disarm and bind the Amaranthine troops, but looked away from the dirty, ragged prisoners rescued from the dungeons as they shuffled past. He did not venture beyond the bailey.

He's avoiding the rest of the castle. No surprise. I'm not anxious to see the inside of Castle Cousland either. For all we know the bodies were left where they fell. Nate shivered, willing the image of Pippa, caught and slaughtered in her own Keep, out of his mind. He had seen heads still rotting by the gate as they entered; he hoped Zevran had taken the heads down before Fergus saw them. Good thing he came through the tunnels. It spared him that view.

Fergus had agreed with Einarr's move to sweep other parts of the castle to ensure no pockets of resistance or Howe agents remained and sent one of Nate's Lieutenants with more troops to help. Once he finished, Fergus declared that Einarr would stay and oversee the hospital and dungeons while the others moved on to capture the city.

Nathaniel's Lieutenant Bledri led a sorry looking gaggle of men and women up from the dungeons. He led them to several rooms off the Great Hall which, while damaged, still had roofs. Nate had ordered them held in more humane conditions until they could determine why the prisoners had been detained. The healers would treat their injuries and see them fed. Over the next few days the soldiers would arrange for baths. Those who could not walk, he ordered carried to the Great Hall where they could be fed and treated. At least they would have clean pallets and a warm, dry room.

Since Howe's troops had only occupied the barracks, practice grounds and stables, he worried, as he was sure Fergus did, about the state of the rest of the castle. When Nate questioned him, Captain Tobias had muttered that Thomas avoided the castle altogether and made his headquarters in the Arl's Keep, but, as Tobias added, Thomas was not there. Nate assumed the keep would be clean with no memories of the battle seven months before. Thomas, when not drunk, was fastidious about his appearance and surroundings or so Fergus had said. Nate only remembered the twelve year old he had left behind seven years before.

Once the dungeons were emptied and all Howe's forces had been disarmed and bound, Captain Silven and the Highever forces led Howe's troops to the castle's now empty dungeon. Despite the size of the dungeons, holding over two hundred made for crowded conditions, but, for now, it would have to do. With the Highever and Chasind forces holding the castle supported by the Rasiae archers on the battlements, and the prisoners secure, Nate and Fergus could move on to the Keep and city and keep to their plan of a pre-dawn attack. Since no reinforcements had arrived from the city, they hoped to achieve another surprise.

Scouts, patrolling the road to the Arl's Keep and Higheverport reported no activity from the city or keep; more importantly, they had seen no one leave the castle to report the attack. The wind had picked up off the sea, its whine masking any noise from the battle. Nate hoped their luck would hold and no one would raise the alarm. He sent the scouts back to the castle to help with the prisoners and wounded.

Leading the Wrath and Waking Sea archers, Nate and Fergus moved on to the Arl's Keep. As planned, Fergus, with Lieutenant Bledri, moved underground through the tunnel leading from the castle to the city, while Nate attacked from above ground. Fergus split his force. One continued into the city to clear any guards and keep the tunnel passage open; the larger contingent entered the passage into the Arl's Keep.

Thomas' troops offered a stiff defense of the Keep and city, by sending a force out of the City's wicket gate to flank the attacking army. The Waking Sea archers dueled with their enemy counterparts on the battlements. Again, the surprise of Fergus' forces coming up from the cellars and opening the Keep's gate created confusion as Fergus attacked the defenders from behind. The Amaranthine troops, without either Thomas or Tobias to lead them, surrendered or retreated into the Higheverport Gatehouse to join with the town guard. That proved a mistake.

While Howe's Amaranthine soldiers had replaced the Higheverport guard officers, the guards themselves were the same men and women who had served Arl Broughten. As with most townsfolk, Howe gave the guards a choice between serving him or losing their homes, livelihoods and even their lives. Most chose to survive as best they could by serving, but when the guards saw the Cousland, Broughten and Highever pennants fluttering over the attacking troops, they turned on their officers. When Nate attacked the city gatehouse, a battle was already in progress. Pressed from within and without, the guard officers and Amaranthine troops capitulated and surrendered the town. Those fighting at the Keep's gate, caught between Fergus and Nate's forces, quickly followed.

By late morning, Nate and Fergus' exhausted troops had succeeded in capturing castle, keep and city. Again, Fergus ordered the wounded taken to a storeroom set up as a hospital and the prisoners to the Keep's dungeon. Once that was accomplished, Nate and Fergus gathered their remaining archers and soldiers. Nate sent Wrath patrols out to clean up small pockets of Howe defenders within the city, but the initial battle was won. Now Nate and Fergus needed to determine how to re-establish rule in the city and teyrnir.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Fergus and Nate set up their headquarters in the Arl's Keep, which had been cleaned out and repaired. The Chasind, Rasiae and Highever troops they billeted in the Keep's barracks. The Wrath and Waking Sea troops, who had no personal ties to the events around Howe's attack, were billeted in the castle. Fergus, with Nate's agreement, appointed one of his own Highever lieutenants to head the city guard and, with the help of the Highever force, secure the keep, city and port. The guard would gradually resume all their former duties under traditional Highever law.

The morning after the battle, Fergus and Nate visited the City Hall, where they found the mayor hurriedly packing while her staff fed parchment to a brazier. Fergus and Pippa had agreed that Nate would act as her regent while she remained in Long's Reach. In that capacity, Nate arrested the mayor and her staff, securing the offices with City Guard and Highever troops. Howe, they learned, had replaced most city leaders with his own people from Amaranthine. They found many former city leaders in the dungeons of the City Hall or missing entirely. They released the prisoners, sending them home or taking them to the healers.

Fergus appointed Nate acting mayor to serve until the City Council could reconvene and elect a new one. Before that could happen, they would need to replace the counselors appointed by Howe and reinstate those he removed. Both men agreed they should allow justice to prevail. No one would be arrested simply because he or she served during Howe's rule, but anyone appointed by Howe fell under suspicion and would be investigated. Nate, in his roles as regent and acting mayor, would oversee the guard and city government.

The troops spent the next days sweeping through town and countryside, flushing out any diehard Howe supporters and reporting on conditions. The troops found the Alienage overcrowded, which, oddly, was good news. Given the reports Nate had received from the refugees, he had feared all the elves had been transported before the Felicisima Armada's blockade closed the slave trade. Instead, they found that elves brought in from the countryside had been packed into the Alienage awaiting transport that never took place. While the elves lived in horrible conditions, they lived. They needed food, healing and more and better housing, but they were not slaves. When they recognized Fergus and realized he meant to restore historic privileges, those able to, stepped forward to assist him and begin to rebuild their lives.

Troops, on Fergus' order, tore down Howe's new wall, opening the old Alienage quarter to the city again. Restoration of elven businesses would go more slowly, but the elven population relaxed somewhat when those who had been guards were welcomed back into service and given weapons. Kai and Zev, representing Fergus, oversaw food distribution, from the well-stocked Amaranthine supplies. The Hahren re-established the Alienage council, and elven rule of their own quarter resumed.

Howe had left the merchants and artisans alone, as long as they were not elven, did not protest his policies, did not have a business one of his Amaranthine allies coveted, and made a profit he could tax. He wanted a functioning, profitable city, not a ruin.

Fergus called on the merchants at the Guild Hall the day after the battle, inviting them all to a meeting at the Keep the following day. At that meeting, in Broughten Keep's Great Hall, he assured them that he had no wish to disturb trade, nor would he punish anyone for pursuing their profession under Howe's rule. He would, however, continue the blockade until he could restore normal rule. Trade could continue, but under the watchful eyes of a special Customs brigade he would establish with his own Highever troops; men and women, he reminded the merchants, who would know many of them. Inspection of cargoes and ships would now take place at the docks, not at sea by Armada sailors.

At the same time, Fergus announced reinstatement of Highever's more tolerant elven policies and his intention to return any elven businesses to their rightful owners. A few Highever and several Amaranthine merchants had taken over elven business. The Highever merchants and artisans who took elven businesses he held under house arrest, pending investigation.

As for the Amaranthine merchants and artisans, they would be escorted to their homes where they could pack their personal belongings and prepare to leave. He would tolerate no branches of Amaranthine businesses in Highever or ownership of Highever businesses by Amaranthine folk. His guard would hold them all under house arrest until his people could investigate their actions during the past seven months. If they had harmed no one physically and not participated in Howe's atrocities, they could board a ship he would provide; the ship would carry them back to Amaranthine City. Their goods and businesses would remain in Highever.

"I'm offering you your lives, if you have committed no crimes beyond conducting business here," Fergus said, "which is more than your Arl offered to many of my people."

Nate had stood with Fergus as he spoke. He saw the Amaranthine people watching him and muttering.

"I think they recognize you, Captain," Zevran whispered. "They won't be happy when you become their Arl."

"I'll deal with that when it happens, Zev. No one in Amaranthine will be happy when I arrive, I suspect." He watched as the guards escorted the Amaranthine merchants and artisans out. He had specifically ordered his Wrath troops to confiscate any birds the merchants might have. None of the them would communicate with or return to Amaranthine until Nathaniel had taken the city.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The Highever, Chasind, Rasiae, Waking Sea and Wrath casualties had been moderate, due to the speed of the conquests, but many injured needed care. Fergus and Nate established a hospital in the castle's Great Hall, once they had it cleaned out and insured the well still provided good water. Nan's kitchen proved usable, although Fergus avoided going there. The Great Hall, bailey and chapel marked the boundaries of his visits to the castle.

Fergus posted a call for healers to come and help, under the Teyrn's protection, no questions asked. He hoped some mages, apothecaries, alchemists and healers had escaped the Chantry's sweeps after Howe declared the Highever Accord, protecting mages, void. In the meantime, he would visit the Revered Mother - he hoped Mother Agnes had remained - to discuss reining in the templars. Revered Mother Agnes had always remained somewhat independent of the Grand Cleric, often walking a fine line between obedience and outright defiance. If she had not changed, he could work with her, as she knew the content of the Highever Accord and could re-establish its terms.

Fergus took the position that Howe's usurpation of his title, without royal or Landsmeet confirmation, and the murder of so many in Castle Cousland and elsewhere, nullified any agreement Howe had made with the Chantry. As far as Fergus believed the old Accord still stood. Dealing with the Chantry, if Mother Agnes or her successor disagreed, must come later. If necessary, his own troops would keep the templars at bay, but he hoped he could achieve a more amicable agreement.

Kai and Zevran wandered the city observing and listening. Kai used friends she had made in years past, both elves and humans, to gather intelligence. Most citizens, she told Fergus, welcomed the return of their Teyrn. Howe's rule had been harsh and his taxes high. She and Zev assumed there were Howe agents, but finding them would take time. For now, she and Zev warned, Fergus and Nate should move about well-guarded. While Howe's troops had been defeated and his Amaranthine allies subjected to house arrest, Higheverport was not the safe, friendly city of Fergus' youth.

Still, with the city and Coastlands secured, at least through the winter months, Fergus, Nate and their advisers could take a breath, look to the future and make plans. The first item on their list: arranging a safe haven for mages who came to castle to serve. The second, decide what to do with all the prisoners filling the once unused dungeons of Castle Cousland. Third, either extend an amnesty to or punish those who collaborated with Howe in smaller ways; and, finally, identify those who might choose to work against the Teyrn and Arlessa.

Fergus, Nathanial, Petyr and Einarr met in the Keep's once cozy solar where a fire burned brightly and the afternoon sun shone through leaded windows. Heavy wooden chairs had replaced the finely upholstered arm chairs and water marks and scratches marred the once polished tabletop. Jadyn stretched out on the hearth. The four men sat behind the table hearing reports from their agents and officers.

"We've questioned the people Howe held in the castle dungeons," Lieutenant Bledri reported. "We discovered that the guard held criminals in the City Gaol…petty criminals for the most part; those held in the dungeons offended in other ways."

"Other ways?"

"Rebellion. Harboring mages - the templars left mundanes to the Howes to punish. Helping elves. Failing to pay taxes. Many only seem guilty of angering Thomas, Tobias, Howe's agent Rogier or that mage, Nicephorus." Bledri snorted. "I suspect all some of them did was look at Thomas the wrong way when he'd had too much to drink." Which was most of the time according to the testimony I heard. He frowned when he saw his captain put his face in his hands. "I believe most, if not all, could be released to their families."

Fergus put a hand on Nate's shoulder as he replied to Bledri "If they have homes and families, release them. If not or if they have no work, offer them work at the castle. We can use the rooms around the Great Hall to house them." Fergus rubbed his head, feeling the inch of hair now covering his pate. No need to hide his identity now. "They can help build a fence around that sorry excuse for a pyre outside the walls or help with other projects inside the castle."

Bledri placed fist on chest, bowed his head and left, as Lieutenant Laur entered, accompanied by Nate's senior agent, Lem.

"We've begun questioning the prisoners, but most aren't cooperative. Ones that might be fear retaliation from the others when we return them to the cells. There's already been several deaths. We think the prisoners believe anyone who spends too much time being interrogated told us too much."

"Any soldier who was here the night the of the attack I'll find guilty of murder," Fergus announced. "I don't care why they served Howe; every man and woman who attacked that night committed murder."

"They won't identify their officers, their duties or when the arrived, Your Grace."

"What about the city guard?" Nate asked. "I suspect some served my father and brother willingly."

"We'll watch and question the guard who have returned to their duties, as much to get evidence against Howe's troops and allies as anything," Lem said. "We'll also take evidence from the city folk. When the refugees return, they'll provide more evidence of who committed atrocities and who did not during the months after the attack."

"Then, for now, they all remain in the dungeons. We'll resume questioning when we can separate the cooperative from the recalcitrant.

"And the templars?" Einarr asked. "Will they abide by your rulings, Fergus, and leave mages alone?"

"We have no authority over the Chantry, but I'll speak with the Revered Mother. I don't want any lives lost in a battle with templars. Regardless, any mages who come to the castle will be given sanctuary. As far as I'm concerned the Highever Accord is in full effect. Mages can move about freely under my protection."

"What about apostates or those who might have escaped during the troubles we heard of at Kinloch Hold?" Nate asked.

Fergus rubbed his palms over his head. "I'll work something out with the Revered Mother. We've never tolerated apostates or untrained mages, but, unless they committed crimes or were maleficars and dealt with demons, we saw them taken to the Circle or trained here. That should not change. I hope we can find templars who can tell the difference.

"Maker," he groaned, taking a sip of ale, "I didn't expect this to be so difficult. The truly guilty are easy, but now there are too many gray areas. Did this person work for Howe to save her family or because she liked the rewards and will spy for him now? Is that mage an apostate or a true healer and refugee?"

"Lem could set up a place to interview townsfolk, perhaps in the City Hall," suggested Nate. "We'll gather evidence and investigate as you said. The Chantry could sit in, if it involved a mage. We can try to make it fair and not a way to settle scores."

"We can try," Fergus agreed. "We also need a better holding area. I won't sink to Howe's level and keep them crowded in the castle's dungeon indefinitely. The worst should remain there, but we'll need to move others to the city gaol, the dungeon here in the Keep; wherever we can find secure holding cells to keep the prisoners separated."

"We might help with that."

The men turned toward the voice coming from the doorway.

"I tried to stop them, my lord, but they just appeared out of nowhere." A Highever trooper stood glaring at the newcomers. "Good thing I recognized her ladyship and the mabari or it might have come to blows."

Fergus glared at his sister and her companions. Mel held his gaze, Pippa crossed her arms and Alistair shifted uneasily.

"Hello to you too, Fergus," Pippa said, eyes narrowed.

Fergus maintained his silence.

"Thank you for escorting us." Mel smiled at the trooper. "Secret passages. All these old keeps have secret passages. We thought it better to come through the tunnel from the Haris warehouse and not draw attention to ourselves." Mel shrugged and looked back at Nate and Fergus. "The others are out in the bailey with Kai and Zev. We managed to find them…or they us…down near the docks. They vouched for us with your Customs inspectors.

"They'll head out to the fairgrounds to set up camp. Kai said it was empty." Mel held up a document pouch. "Came on a galley from Long's Reach. Messages too. The courier, Franz, sailed with us…or we sailed with him?" She shrugged again. "He's with your Lieutenant in the Hall downstairs, Nate."

Nate had risen as Mel spoke. "Pippa! Who's in charge in Long's Reach?"

Mel replied. "Dame Claire and-"

Fergus jumped to his feet, finding his voice. "-you left her there alone?"

"Fergus, it's her bannorn," Mel said. "And, if you would let me finish, no, there's a whole company of Wrath, along with Bann Alfstanna and her guard. They sailed together from Cumberland. And she's there only as Dame Claire. Alfie was on one of her regular visits to Cumberland, but this time Dame Claire decided to return with her. Fortunately, she understood that it was too soon to come here; that she would cause you too much worry, even though it's probably safe during the winter. So she and Alfstanna went to Long's Reach."

"Thank the Maker for small favors," Fergus muttered.

Mel walked across the hall and stood in front of her brother. "Mum's fine," she said, softly. "She won't do anything foolish. She's hoping you'll go to her, although she won't ask. I suggest you go after you get established here.

"And, seriously, Fergus, I was here that night. I can help. I can tell you what happened. I can recognize some of the soldiers. I saw the Vigilant Shield when they marched in. I'm the one who made sure they got settled. I saw others during the fighting. I doubt any of them are innocent, given what the refugees say went on here. Howe's men followed his every order, but the Shield led the battle that night. We heard they left with Rendon, so many of the troops here now may have come later.

"As for the merchants and artisans - I know them too; which are honest, which clip a coin here and there and which cheat every day. Not many are so venal that they would support Howe's worst atrocities, but some would go pretty far for a coin."

"My father would threaten a man or woman's family to gain compliance," Nate said quietly. "Sometimes there are no good choices. We had deserters from his army joining the refugees. They deserted hoping they would be thought dead so their families left alone. Most deserted when they couldn't follow any more orders. It's more complicated than just following orders or wanting coin."

"What did you do with them?" Fergus asked.

"Watched them, listened to what other refugees said, but let them stay unless we discovered they were agents. Usually the refugees vouched for them. They often escaped together when the soldiers refused to kill a whole family. The usual method was to lock a family in their home and burn it; instead the soldiers would set them free, burn the farm-hold and then run away with the family. They often protected the farm holders as they made their escape. Pippa wanted to be fair, not sink to my father's level and assume they were his agents. I agreed."

Fergus sat down, as Nate walked over to greet Pippa. He watched Nate cupped her cheek, but refrain from kissing her. Probably for my benefit. He saw Alistair place a hand on Mel's back and whisper to her. "Alright," he said, "I'll accept your help." He stood and stared at his sister. "First, we'll go on a tour of the castle. I've put it off for too long. You'll be my guide. You can tell me what happened. Who you saw. Then we'll start interviewing the prisoners."

Mel opened her mouth, but quickly shut it. Alistair saw her grow pale, but she nodded.

"Mel?" he whispered.

"I'll be fine." She whispered back. "Not the first thing I expected, but…it might be the best option."

"I'm coming along," Alistair said in his normal voice.

"Me too," said Pippa. She looked at Nate who nodded. "We'll get Kai and Zev on the way through the bailey."

"Einarr and Petyr will gather up a few guards," Nate added. "The city is secure, but we don't go anywhere without protection. I'll make sure Seneschal Richelda finds you a room, Mel. We can supply your companions and offer the use of the baths."

"You might want to warn her about Sten and Shayle," Alistair said. "They can be…surprising."

Nate stopped to look at him, as Pippa chuckled and Fergus almost let himself smile.

"Qunari and golem," Alistair explained.

Nate just looked confused, but followed Alistair outside where he stopped, staring.

"Sten is the qunari and Shayle is the golem," Fergus explained.

"Right. I'll war…tell Richelda." Nate looked at the company. "Dwarves too, I see. And mages?" He glanced at Fergus. "The Revered Mother will love this. You'll have to make them your attendants when you visit her tomorrow."

Fergus did smile then. "I might do just that."

"At least he and Nate seem friendly," Mel whispered to Alistair. "Maybe there's hope for me."


A/N: Thank you for reading. If you have time, please review. I appreciate all followers, favorites, kudos and comments.

Thanks to my wonderful betas Kira Tamarion and Elyssa Cousland whose efforts make this a better story. Any errors are mine.

Thanks for the reviews and comments: Judy, SnowHelm, MIke3207, dustywalker. Thanks to all who favorited, followed and gave kudos. I hope you continue to read and enjoy.