Judy: Thanks, Oscar: Agreed about Bethany. Tonight a little subdued. She'll open up a bit. Thanks for the comment. Kanta: A little of both. Because the next time the meet... And there is a comment about Meredith closing down the city when you try to enter after leaving Ferelden. fanf1ct1onfanat1c: welcome and thank you for following the story Aquilia: Oh Cully Wully the torment we put him through.

We played two more rounds with Hawke the first to fold. Varric demanded his most embarrassing moment. Which was to admit chasing after Carver in nothing but his smalls after his little brother caught him with Peaches.

When Fenris folded Hawke demanded to know what the elf did all day alone in the big old house. Fenris admitted he danced in all the rooms of the abandoned mansion. I wasn't sure if he was joking or not. By, the looks on thier faces I wasn't sure if anyone else knew either.

We were six hands in, and I was getting a feel for how much power this Meredith wielded and how ineffectual the Viscount was.

The more I heard the more I wondered if a clash was inevitable. I wondered for just a moment if I should have come at the head of a Ferelden armada. But the refuges were a secondary problem and it wouldn't solve the Alistair situation.

Hawke's sarcasm when he explained how the Viscount ignored the problem hoping it would go away led me to asking how they got into the city.

As he told the story about his uncle arranging indentured service to pay the bribes the food Darragh had delivered to the Hanged Man had come. Nora hoping to interact with Alton again, but the Ash Warrior intercepted her taking the food and passing her a coin. With a frown and a backward glance, she left.

Gratefully I smiled as he handed me two pies. I took them and nodded my thanks. I gobbled the first one and passed one on to Teyrn who'd resumed his place at my feet.

And as Fenris told the story of coming over the mountains, I found a third pie stuffed in my hand. My seneschal couldn't have chosen better.

Four hours later I had finished Alton's and Darragh's portion of food and two more glasses of wilder wine. I was versed in all things Kirkwall including the Coterie, Brekker's mercenary affiliation. I just needed to find out which warehouse he called his home base.

I was in for a surprise Hawke and his companions knew Anders. Listening to Bethany talk about his clinic I found out a little about both mages. They didn't say much but what they did told me there was something wrong with my runaway warden. Maybe that was why he left.

Hawk's comments told me he was aware Anders was a former Grey Warden. And that he was traveling with them in the deep roads. I would have to wait to check on him until they got back. In the meantime, I would investigate this clinic.

"Forgive me gentleman and Bethany. I've had a long day. We enjoyed the drink and companionship, but we've not found an opportunity to get lodging after arriving in Kirkwall this afternoon. We must be off to find somewhere to stay. And while your tavern keeper allowed the hounds while we visited, I don't think he will be as accommodating for us to stay the night."

"Hawke do you think Dasiy..."

"All of them in Merrill's tiny house in the Alienage? Won't humans attract unwanted attention to her?" Bethany asked reminding them of Merrill's situation.

I found myself drawn to her. She was thoughtful and soft where her brother was brash and larger than life. Hawke drew you in and Bethany kept you. They almost reminded me of our motley group during the blight.

I wanted to tell them we could find somewhere. One of the tavern owners would want gold more than they didn't want hounds on their property. But sometimes it was better just to let the locals give a hand.

The lesson my escorts were trying to teach me this afternoon had given me pause. It was the first time in almost two years that I didn't have be the one with all the answers.

Hawke rubbed his bearded chin thoughtfully and said, "I would offer. But we are living in a hovel that is too small for my uncle much less us and the five of you."

"What about Broody? He has that huge mansion up in High Town all by himself."

Darragh frowned as Hawke, Fenris and Varric got up and walked to the far side of the room. It was only natural for them to discuss the idea between themselves. But the elf was an unknown.

He knew Rhiannon could care for herself, but everyone including his hero, could have an off day.

Jaleal's brother said Varric didn't have any stone sense but of the two brothers he was the real head of the house and was as honorable as the warrior caste. And he would have to trust that.

"I think if they suggest you stay with the elf you and Alton should." Darragh said leaning over and speaking in hushed tones.

"What?" I hissed.

"I promised the family I would lend a blade in the deep roads. They were four men short of a full party. Which leaves just Alton to be your eyes and watch your back. If you stayed in the upper part of town where the lords and ladies live would leave you less likely to need magic."

"Or since you are still three men short, we, Alton and I can help."

I didn't miss the look that passed between my two men and I could imagine what they were thinking. But me I wasn't sure why I volunteered, avoiding Alistair, worry about Anders or desire to know more about the secretive Darragh.

"Your offer is appreciated, but no. You're a known figure among the dwarves. You crowned the King, saved his older brother, and saw two paragons to their deaths. If you were a dwarf, they would have made you a living paragon."

Alton added his opinion. "Besides, you came to Kirkwall to get the prince and bring the people home. You can't do that running around Darkspawn tunnels adding to your kill count. Staying with the elf might not be a bad idea."

I felt like a child being pasted back and forth between two parents that didn't want her. Although I didn't relish staying in a tavern that smelled like Darkspawn tunnels.

I had just left the deep roads. And I had stayed with strangers before. In all honesty since the blight my life had been a parade of strangers. It would get me an opportunity to seek the highborn who were trying to help. But I felt as if I was losing control with everyone else deciding for me.

"All right. But this is my only concession. Because your family is important, Darragh. I expect you not to get killed down there. I would feel better if Oghren were going with you."

"Anders will be there. That's how they got the Grey Warden maps that allowed for this expedition. He stole them from Stroud. His Wardens are in the area."

"Really. I might look up Jean Marc and let him know what we are planning. Stay close to Anders and at least you will have a little warning before the Darkspawn attack. May the ancestors protect you."

"Promise me you will not become reckless while I am gone. I don't want to come back and find Alton has gone to the Maker and you need rescuing from the Gallows.

I grinned evilly tormenting my escort who just closed his eyes and groaned, reminding me of Duncan trying to reign in Aedan, Alistair, and I. With a grin and a shrug, I agreed to not go looking for trouble, allowing him a small measure of peace.

"What of our waif and her family?" I asked looking at Enid.

"Iona demanded an apology and Pietro to explain to his wife that he made her whore herself because she wouldn't lie with him. He refused. She then wanted me to make him. I told her nothing could force a man to say something he had no intention of saying. She decided to try and make him. I wasn't going to allow her to be beaten in front of her children."

"Is he still breathing?"

"More or less."

I shrugged thinking the man deserved nothing less, "Where is the family now?"

"I took the children to stay with Amalie. Iona disappeared. I imagine she felt she had to go back to earning a living the hard way. I made Whitney promise to stay there until either you or I came to get her. She didn't want to stay without her mother, but I convinced her for her little sister's sake."

I sighed knowing you couldn't save someone who didn't want to be saved. But that didn't mean I wouldn't try again to reason with Iona. "Should I go check on them tomorrow?"

"No. Give it three or four days. Get some traction with the refuges and then look in on her. I explained the situation. Amalie will keep them occupied."

We had finished our conversation but Varric, Hawke and Fenris had not. Something Hawke said cause Bethany to leave the group and go stand over by the fireplace. Alton noticed too. He walked over to her and started speaking in low tones. Soon I could hear her giggling over the crackling of the fire and wondered if Alton had a new victim.