My Spanish speaking guest- Thank you.

9:32 Dragon, 19 Guardian – The Hanged Man, Lowtown

I took a ragged breath. I think the hardest part of telling the story about Morien was that I never got him the justice he deserved. Aedan killed Howe, but that was revenge for murdering his family.

I'd beaten Loghain almost to death causing as much damage as I could but when his unconscious body fell to the floor the words of Riordan stopped me from taking that final blow. If Aedan and I died there had to be a Grey Warden still alive or Ferelden was doomed. That blighted dragon took too much from us I wasn't going to let him have my homeland.

"The Wardens had to know they were traveling with the King. He couldn't keep it a secret that long… could he? Bethany asked.

"There was a maid in the palace who told me about terrible fights between the Wardens, the King and the bard about lying to them. She was so busy going on and on about the fights it was difficult to get her focused." Alton answered nonchalantly.

My four male counter parts chuckled knowingly as if they'd been in the situation themselves.

I looked at my cup realizing that I needed something stronger than the wine. I stood excusing myself and asked where to go to relieve myself.

I only half listened as they continued to question the men as I left the room. If the group became more than acquaintances and I offended them, I would apologize later.

I crossed the hall and sat on the second step down where I could lookout into the main bar. From my bag, I pulled the wineskin I carried. Oghren had taken to packing one for me. In the beginning, he was spreading his alcohol around, so he didn't carry it all. Later it was his way of thanking me for proofing his letters to Felsi.

I pulled the stopper from the skin with my teeth and poured a mouthful of the amber liquid. It was strong, smooth and burned like molten rock all the way to my stomach. I would need a couple more mouthfuls before going back in there.

My faithful hound followed me and was sitting on the landing. Teyrn nuzzled the back of my head snorting into my coiled braids as his way of trying to comfort me. And I smiled as he sneezed twice in succession. I waited for the typical third one instead I heard a whine.

I looked and his body was still and poised to attack. The coiled energy created a vibration in the dog that mimicked shivering. He smelled the air and whined. I reached out to pet him but that only caused him to move away and start to whine more.

He whined. He looked at me. He looked down into the main room of the tavern and back at me. And wagged his short stumpy tail. I tried to pet him again, but he wasn't having it. He scooted away, barked twice, and whined.

I stood, he barked again and started bouncing down the stairs, front feet first, then back, then front. But I … I was stuck. I had prepared for this all day and I couldn't bring myself to move. I heard his voice before I saw him. His words were slurry and singsong, but it was his voice.

"Oh look Mabari. In a bar." Alistair said collapsing on the bench. He couldn't help but laugh as Teyrn licked him and nuzzled and pushed at him until he unsteadily fell off the bench to the floor.

He used to look just like you. He was my ..our dog. Well we shared him. I mean… he..hic… stayed with her so…not my dog. I miss that dog. We had a dog….Cullen. But he wouldn't be in a bar, would he?"

Cullen bent over and grabbed Alistair's spaulders to haul the man to his feet. He pushed the dog away with the command to be gone. Instead of obeying, the Templar Teyrn sat on his haunches and watched the Knight Captain wrestle the drunk on to the bench. "Yes Alistair, you told me about the dog. But it's not your dog. There are plenty of strays in Kirkwall because of the refuges. Why a dog would be in the tavern I don't know."

Alistair started laughing falling backward. "Because it's the best place to hear the tavern song about Andraste's Mabari, get cheese and good ale. Leliana used to sing the tavern songs to Teyrn all the time. I'm going to get the Mabari an ale… so he can tell Teyrn I miss him. Barkeep an ale for the Mabari."

Alistair forced himself to sit up and placed a mailed hand on the dogs head, leaned in and said, "But tell him not to tell her. Promise me he won't tell her."

Cullen placed his thumb and finger against his head as if trying to stop a headache. A deep sigh and he called out for food. "Alistair, dogs don't talk like that to each other. Let's get some food into you. Meredith already wants you gone from the Gallows.

"Yes they do. Andraste's Mabari warned her of danger."

"That's just a tavern song Alistair."

Sing it with me Cullen. Maybe she'll hear …. No she's not allowed to hear. She ruined our life."

Cullen had flopped down on the seat next his long-time friend keeping him upright for the moment. He was in a seedy tavern in the lower parts of the Kirkwall putting up with a drunkard. Which was damaging both of their reputations. Why was he allowing Alistair to get away with what he found unacceptable in other recruits?

He looked up when two recruits entered the tavern. His glance was pulled to the side when he noticed the dog looking toward the back of the room where the rooms were and barking. But when he followed the dogs gaze, he saw two warriors and a dark-haired woman with her back to him.

"Sorry Serah. We turned our backs for a moment, and he got away from me again."

Cullen noted the bruised eye and the split lip. Not many could match Alistair when they were boys and now with his time spent as a Grey Warden there was no telling how good he was. "What happened?"