Dragon Age- A Thedas Tale

by IAmElvie

This story is being written for fun; my AU. It is not canon. It will span before DAO through all three games and then we will see. If you know me, you'll know I've added my own flare and chars to the story which can change the way NPCs think or feel. Some DA2/DAI players will be met sooner. As always, mature readers only. Story begins in the Western Hills with something unexpected.

18. A Thedas Tale Ch18 - Unrest

Dragon Age

A Thedas Tale

Ch-18 – Unrest (DA2)

Ann hugged Lavista and Vrok. "Are you sure you have to go?" she asked through a throat tight with emotion.

"We do," Lavista replied in a somber voice. "The turbulence is growing here and we cannot intervene. I'm already exiled from my home. If I ever wish to return, I cannot compound that with further infractions of the law. If we stay – we would get involved, we love you all too much not to."

Ann, wiped her eyes and gripped her husband's hand. "It's okay. I understand. Will we ever see you again?"

Human lives were so short and there was so much she wanted to show her lifemate. No, she would have to pay attention to the time lapse, she did not want this to be the last time she saw these wonderful people. Over the last three years, they'd become like family to her. "You will. I won't let this be goodbye."

Leandra was unabashedly crying. Her family had grown so much since leaving Ferelden. It hurt to see any of them leave. She dabbed at her eyes with a soft cloth and moved back so that her sons could say goodbye.

Carver and Garrett came forward to shake the hands of the pair that were leaving. "Live well, my friends, and drop by when you can." Garrett told them.

Between one blink and the next they were gone – as if they hadn't just been standing there. Leandra felt the pressure at her side when Kitty rubbed up against her and her hand dropped down to rub behind his ears. Bless his heart, he knew she was hurting.

Carver couldn't stay. He had duties to get back to and had just stopped by because he knew they were leaving. There were times when he regretted his choice to become a templar. While he never realized he would, he missed the time spent with his family. You never know what you've got until it's gone. Technically, his family wasn't gone, but it was no longer the main part of his life. At times it felt like they were little more than a footnote in his life. As Knight-Commander, Cullen had more freedoms than he did. As an unmarried knight, he was required to live at the barracks – in the Gallows. As it was, he had to divide any free time he had between visiting Merrill or visiting the rest of his family. If he knew ahead of time, when he'd be free, he'd arrange to have Merrill go to the mansion, so he could spend time with all of them. As for Garrett, he was too busy to even begrudge his older brother becoming man of the Amell house. In the past, that would have been one more thing he'd have bitched about. But he was no longer that boy, he'd become a man.

After Carver left, her mom gave her a missive from the Viscount. She was to come to his office first thing on the morrow. With a sigh, she handed the missive to Alistair and walked away. She didn't dislike the Viscount; he had a very narrow view of things. And it wasn't something she'd ever been able to cure him of. Even now that the Amell name had been reinstated and their ancestral home was theirs once more, he still treated the rest of her family as upstarts…unless she, Seb, Thana or Alistair were with them. Only now that she was Ferelden royalty did the Viscount seriously acknowledge that she was nobility. Sure, he greatly appreciated her bringing his son back to him, but the only real thing he seemed to like about her was her marriage to Ferelden's crown and what that might mean for Kirkwall and himself.

That evening, she, Thana, Alistair, Garrett and Varric played a few hands of Wicked Grace at his room in the Hanged Man, which he'd purchased with a some of the coin he'd earned from the Deep Roads. Apparently, he'd given up asking Avaline to lean on the tavern's owner.

Come the morning, she, Alistair, Garrett and Thana were ushered into the Viscount's office by the guard, where she overheard the Viscount and the Senschal talking.

Marlowe's elbow settled onto his desk as he looked over the parchment. His head fell forward to land on his hand and he massaged his temples.

Bran shook his head, disagreeing with the Viscount. "The compound was not meant to be permanent. There are concerns the qunari influence is…no longer contained." He stiffened when he looked up to notice they were no longer alone. He immediately bowed. "Your Highnesses, my lord."

"Was it ever?" Marlowe asked as he rose and bowed too. "Your Highnesses, my lord." His gaze darted back to his Seneschal. "Kirkwall has tension enough between templars and mages, but these qunari…they sit like gargoyles, waiting for Maker knows what, and everyone goes mad around them. Nearly four years I have stood between fanatics." He looked over at his guests and then motions to the parchment on his desk. "And now this."

"What has happened?" Ann prodded, wanting them to just spit it out.

Marlowe crossed his arms over his chest and looked pointedly at his Seneschal. "Leave us," he demanded. He watched the man leave and exhaled heavily. "Meredith at my throat, Orsino at my heels, and a city scared of heretical giants. Balance has held because the qunari ask for nothing. Even the space in Lowtown was a gift to contain them. But now, the Arishok has requested you. By name."

Why not just come to her estate? "Surely, his scouts know where I live. I don't see why he had to involve you – unless it's some sort of qunari custom, since you run the city…."

The viscount shook his head absently and pinched the bridge of his nose before releasing a deep breath. "Since he has chosen to involve me, I must know. What did you do? How does he even know who you are?" Marlowe enquired, hoping he would find out something to help him deal with the escalating qunari issue.

"My actions may have impressed him a couple of times, but that was years ago." She rubbed the side of her forefinger along the bottom of her chin. "And last year, I treated one of his men when I found him injured along the Wounded Coast. "

Marlowe's brows rose. "I didn't realize you had medical training."

Her lips twitched. "I wouldn't exactly call it medical training per se – field medic might be better terminology. I stitched his wounds and…treated him for infection before returning him to the Arishok." At least that sounded better than I used magic to heal him.

The viscount nodded. "He has always refused our help, yet he accepts yours. It makes no sense." He shook his head. "And it doesn't matter. I just need them quiet." He turned away to gather himself. He hated having been put in this situation. "I remember how you helped my son. It seems you have always been meant to have influence over our great city." He turned back around to face her, his glance sliding over the others who were with her. "If you would, your Highness, speak to the Arishok. Give him what he needs to keep the peace. Will you do that for Kirkwall…" he swallowed hard. "For me?"

"Of course, Viscount Dumar. But tell me, how is Seamus?"

He pursed his lips and nodded, exhaling softly. "He is his own man, but your actions tempered him somewhat. He is not so angry at the world." He inclined his head. "I thank you for that. I may not agree with him on many things, but I am proud of what he is becoming."

"I hope…that you keep reminding him of that. Kids have a way of forgetting things quickly and remembering them another way."

"Quite so," he responded, rather than reprimanding her for telling him how to raise his son. Playing nice with the Royals is what was best for his Office. "As for the qunari, a treaty exists and it has been honored. Although…" He sighed. "They claim they are waiting for a second ship, but has been three years. They want something else."

"You are right. They are here for something specific. I've not been able to get the Arishok to open up any further, but from what he said, they won't be leaving until they get what they came for. Unfortunately, the Arishok is highly frustrated that they haven't retrieved what they are after. I fear what that will mean for Kirkwall, if this goes on too much longer," she admitted.

Marlowe rubbed a hand down his face. He did not need this aggravation. "What do you mean? What do you think he will do?"

"He believes we need "certainty" – which means that if he runs out of patience, he will attack Kirkwall and convert or kill its peoples," she explained.

The viscount took a step back in shock. "And you are only just now telling me this? Your Highness," he added quickly.

She shot him an incredulous look. "Qunari arrive as conquerors. That he has not yet attempted anything is surprising, but I had little doubt that you know that as well as I do. The last time I spoke with him, it was still not an imminent concern. If the Arishok is wanting to speak with me now, then I suspect that is a concern in and of itself. Do with it as you will. Though, I would suggest heavier patrols and training for the guard. Hiring more for our defense, would not be remiss. I would rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them."

He bowed slightly. "Of course, your Highness. My Seneschal will speak to the Guard-Captain forthwith. May I count on your assistance with the Arishok, Highness?"

"Absolutely, Viscount Dumar, we will adjourn there immediately. Perhaps I can get a feel for his mood."

She caught sight of another familiar face after she departed the viscount's office. "Seamus! It is good to see you again," she said, smiling at the young man.

He spun around, bowed like a proper gentleman and grinned at the princess. "You're here rather often, your Highness. A good influence on father, I think."

She lifted a brow and crossed her arms under her breasts. "And I believe I told you to call me Ann," she reminded the youth. "I'm doing what I can, Seamus. But honestly, sometimes it feels like trying to sail without the rigging."

"I would imagine it does. Still, you are our best hope at keeping the peace. You started something, helping me as you did. I still accept no blame for defending the qunari. And I don't miss the kindship of the people who oppose what I believe."

"I am not for or against the qunari. Everyone should be entitled to their beliefs so long as those beliefs don't hurt anyone else. That being said, the Arishok said he may demand a certainty. Do you know what that means, Seamus? It means everyone will be forced to convert to the Qun or die. Everyone will lose the right to choose the life they want to live. If you believe that everyone should be put to death who do not accept rule under the Qun, then it is your right to believe that. I, however, would not be able to defend you, in that case. I, myself, would fight for the right to be free. I will not accept being thrown in chains and having my mouth stitched closed. That is no life for me."

Seamus turned and settled his hands on the banister, looking down over the room below. "No, it wouldn't be." He knew she was a mage, but she had earned his loyalty. He'd told no one. "I hadn't realized it might come to that." With a sigh, he pushed off the banister and turned to face her once more. "I don't agree that the Qun should be forced on anyone. And, like you, I would die to protect our right to choose our chosen path. There needs to be a tolerance…on both sides…before it is too late." He shook his head. "I am the son of the viscount. My actions are dissected no matter what I believe. I may as well try to do some good – build tolerance." His gaze shifted from the prince of Ferelden and back to the princess. "My father listens to you, Ann. As much as he will listen to anyone. Try to get my father to see that the qunari do not need to be his enemy."

"Your father may dislike the qunari presence, but he's always tried to appease them. He knows we cannot risk a war with them. We will do what we can, Seamus. But I fear if things do not change soon, there will be nothing I can do to stop what is coming," she warned as gently as she could. Honestly, she wasn't sure if anything could stop what was likely coming. A part of her wished the Kin had remained. Though she knew Maric could ill afford to show himself. No, this was not their battle. It was hers. She'd chosen to live here and she would have to defend her home.

"I fear that as well," he murmured quietly. "I hope that we speak again soon, Ann."

"I'm sure we will, Seamus. You are welcome to join us for breakfast any time you like and stay for Laura's training sessions afterwards. I hope to see you there," she called back as continued on her way.

"I'm glad I'm with you, sister. I've been wanting to see this Arishok," Garrett told her as they left the Viscount's office.

"You said he's bigger than Vrok?" Thana asked in awe.

"I know you didn't get a chance to meet Kadar, but I think Arishok is about the same size as Kadar – but Kadar's horns were not so massive." Her lips quirked, the corners of her mouth tipping up. "I'm pretty sure the Arishok is grumpy because those huge horns give him a headache," Ann teased.

"Oh, I imagine they would," Thana agreed wholeheartedly. "If my hair gets too long, it gives me a headache too!" She watched as Ann reached down to touch a coin on her belt. "Someone calling?"

"Yes. Varric. But I think he's on his way to us, it's getting warmer." She saw the flush creep up into the dwarf's face. "Anything happening on the Varric front, Thana?"

"I thought he was going to kiss me a few days ago!"

Ann rolled her eyes. "That's going slow, even for a snail. Look, Thana. Corner Varric in his room. Make sure his door is closed. Start peeling off your clothing as you walk towards him. Make sure to touch yourself and moan. Guys like that sort of thing. Then kiss him. If he doesn't open his mouth, then flick his lips with your tongue. I think he'll take over from there. If he doesn't, then start undressing him and touching him while you are kissing."

The dwarf looked up into Alistair's red face. "Will that work? Do guys like that?"

"Well, erm – I mean…" he stuttered. Her words brought back memories of her having done something very similar to him. Only, she'd slid into his tent one night. He'd been crazy in love with her and every time he'd thought to do more than kiss, he'd freeze up. Until that night, when she'd come to him, taken off both their clothing and showed him just what she wanted. She'd done things to him he hadn't dare even dream about, then encouraged him to do things he'd heard the other men talking about. The first taste of her – her hoarse moan had nearly done him in. That was when he first realized he had power over her too. He hadn't stopped until she'd scooted off of his face and down his body. She rode him until his eyes crossed and he saw stars. He would never forget their first night together. He'd lost himself to her completely that night and knew he would spend the rest of his life with her.

Thana's gaze slid down to the obvious bulge in his breeches and she giggled. "Thank you! That's what I needed to know!"

Garrett laughed at Alistair's embarrassment. He knew his sister had been with the former templar for years, and she wasn't the type of woman to hold back. He didn't know why the prince still blushed so much, but he could see how his sister might find that endearing. "Guys like that very much, Thana. And when he's touching you, let him know if it feels good. If you want him to do something he's not doing, tell him – or tell him what you want to do to him. I don't know what's holding him back, but from what I can see, it won't take much to fell him to his knees. You're a beautiful woman, Thana. If he still doesn't come to his senses…you know where to find me." He waggled his brows suggestively and then winked at her.

Thana snorted. Garrett was a handsome human and she didn't have any human hangups, but the man was free with his…affections and that wasn't something she wanted part of. "And so does every other woman," she pointed out.

He shrugged without embarrassment. "I was raised by a man and hadn't ever seen a woman until father rescued me. I suppose, I'm making up for lost time."

Fair enough, she supposed, for someone to go overboard – if they were the type to. She wasn't. "I've never been with a man and I have no desire to spread my legs for everyone in sight. Why have you not been with Isabela?"

He shuddered at the thought of being with the former captain – and not in a good way. She'd hit on him a few times, until things seemed to have gotten more serious with that Rhynn woman. "I don't want someone that sleeps with everyone, she…" and then he realized the irony of what he'd just said. "Very clever, Thana. Point made. Believe it or not, I thank you for pointing out the obvious. I shall have to mend my wicked ways, lest the future love of my life run screaming from my advances."

The dwarf's brows drew together in uncertainty. Was he being truthful or teasing? "You know, sometimes I don't know whether you are joking or not."

Garrett sighed and nodded. "I'm serious about that. I see people in love all around me. Even Neria has moved into Fenris' stolen mansion. He's terrified by what he's feeling, but you can still see how much he loves her. And then there's you and Varric, with love in your eyes and no on your lips – which needs to change. It seems like everyone is love but me."

"There's Avaline," Thana pointed out as they entered the Guard-Captain's office.

He frowned down at the dwarf. "You are kidding right? Avaline and Donnic have eyes only for each other. Maybe they're pulling a you and Varric, denying what they feel for each other, but I'm not about to step in and end up with some sort of sordid love triangle, no matter how much I may want her for my own."

"Smart man," Avaline smirked. Even though she was embarrassed to have what she felt for Donnic put on display like that. And she couldn't deny his words made a shiver race down her spine. Garrett was an extremely handsome and virile man. If she had met him first…but she hadn't and Donnic didn't have to be as handsome and virile as Garrett, because he'd already won her heart – even if she didn't know what to do about that.

Garrett jerked his head up, a flush coming to his cheeks when he saw Avaline with her arms crossed over her armored chest. He cleared his throat. "Avaline," he said with an incline of his head. "You are looking as fine as ever." He bit back a grin when the guard-captain's cheeks pinkened.

"Thank you, Garrett. Now, as I was saying," she said to Ann. "Thank you for turning Taric into the guardpost in Lowtown. It saves us a lot of time when the criminals come to us. And thank you for letting me know about the qunari and the Seneschal's imminent arrival. I'll begin stricter training and hiring more guards right away." She turned to look at Garrett. "You have proven yourself a dependable, able fighter. Are you interested in becoming a guardsman?"

Had he really missed so much of the conversation? Well, he wasn't missing it now. His gaze raked slowly down her armor-clad body, well remembering how she filled out civilian clothing every time she came to the mansion during her time off. When his eyes lifted to meet hers again, her cheeks had darkened even further. "I doubt any good would come of that," he pointed out. "But I shall continue to help your guardsmen as needed."

"Just so," she said tightly, with a nod. There was an odd mixture of disappointment and relief when he refused her offer. It was for the best. "The guard appreciates the assistance all of you continue to provide. Now, it is best that you leave so that I can act surprised when the Seneschal stops by."

Ann laughed softly and nodded to her old friend. "You are probably right. I would say, better to avoid a snit and not borrow trouble…but I know how much you enjoy telling Bran off about interfering in how you run the guard."

Avaline felt a grin tug at her lips. Ann was usually able to make her smile, even when she didn't want to. "You know me so well."

Ann turned to leave and stopped to look back. "You should join us for dinner, Avaline. Mother's preparing your favorite tonight. Bring Donnic, if you wish." She smiled, knowing Avaline would not even ask Donnic. For a woman who was so strong, she could be incredibly unsure of herself.

"Roast," Avaline all but drooled. "I'll be there. I haven't had roast in a long time. I can almost taste it." But she would not be bringing Donnic. She wanted him there, but she couldn't bring herself to ask him.

Ann waved and left her office. Without further ado, she went straight to the barracks and peeked into every room until she found Donnic cleaning his weapons. "Donnic! Just the man I wanted to see!"

Donnic set his sword on the table and leapt up to bow. "Your Highnesses, my lord. To what do I owe this honor?" he asked as he rose back to his full height.

Ann snorted, but it ended up coming out as more of a raspberry sounding noise. "Donnic, it is just us. No need for such formality. I don't mind rubbing the viscount's nose it in, but not my friends' noses. Mother is preparing roast for supper and I wanted to invite you to join us."

His eyes rounded in surprise not only that she'd invited him but that she'd considered him a friend. She did stop by to talk with him every time she came to see Avaline and often stayed to help if she saw him out during his patrols, but…and now he saw it. She'd been acting like a friend all along. "Thank you, pri – Ann. I haven't had a good roast in years. Come to think of it, I haven't even had a bad one in years. But tell me – Avaline?"

Ann nodded. "She wouldn't miss it. Roast is her favorite dinner. We need to leave before the Seneschal arrives. We'll see you tonight, Donnic."

She grinned when she heard the men congratulating him on dining with the Royals as they left the barracks. Titles were nothing, but they could make people fools. No doubt, Donnic had risen a great deal in the guardsmen's eyes.

Varric caught sight of Ann as they were coming down the steps of the Viscount's Keep. He cleared his throat when he realized he'd been staring at Thana a bit too long. The dwarf was an innocent. As much as he ached to deflower her, it was not his place. She was a princess. Once again, there was no flash of guilt. It would seem that he'd been able to put his past behind him. But he was still no better off because he'd managed to fall in love with another woman he couldn't have. He tore his eyes away from her and looked up at Ann. "Visiting with Avaline?"

"Yes, but the Viscount is the reason I was there. Apparently, the Arishok sent a message that he wanted to see me. Not sure why he just didn't send a man to my door, but likely he wanted to tweak the Viscount's nose."

"Sounds about right," Varric replied with a chuckle as he moved his shorter legs faster to keep up with her. "I think you're the only one in Kirkwall that Stuffy actually likes."

She grunted her disagreement. "I'm not sure he's capable of liking anyone. I'm not even sure if I want him to know I exist," she admitted honestly, "but I do want to keep the peace."

"If anyone can do it, you can, Chuckles."

-BREAK ONE-

Before they'd even made it to the docks, Varric had managed to take his place at Thana's side. She had wondered how long it would take for him to make that transition. She also wondered if was a conscious or unconscious move on his part, but kept the teasing behind her lips.

At the bottom of the step that led down to the lower docks, a qunari stepped into her path. She did not often see them with their helmets on, at least not near the compound or even in Kirkwall, come to think of it. Perhaps, he'd only just returned from a mission of some kind.

"You are the Hawke," he stated simply.

She nodded slowly, taking in his red warpaint and heavy leather shoulder pauldrons. "I am a Hawke. Ann Amell-Hawke-Theirin, to be more precise."

He frowned at the ridiculously long name that meant nothing to him. "No. You are the Hawke. A patrol went missing along the Wounded Coast. The Arishok says you have some semblance of honor. So, tell me, did you kill them?"

Little more than a flaring of her nostrils conveyed her irritation of his assumption. "Why would you think I was involved with it?"

He grunted. "You think the bas in this city could fell a karataam? Hardly. You are another matter. You have killed karataam before…and others."

That did not paint a very good picture of her deeds, at least not in her eyes. But the qunari tended to remain expressionless. It was hard to know what they were thinking. Having to look through the slats of his helmet only exacerbated the problem. "It has been some time since I have visited the coast. Had I killed your karataam, I would have sought out an audience with your Arishok, as I did before."

"If you are not responsible, I waste my time here." He turned and walked away.

Garrett watched the qunari walk away. "I'm surprised he believed you, since you've killed other qunari."

She laughed softly. "I doubt he believes me at all – or at least that he even thinks about it. The Arishok said I had honor. He did not look beyond that to form his own opinion," she explained to her brother as they headed up the steps leading to the qunari compound. The qunari guard opened the gate for her with little more than a grunt.

Arishok waved the soldier away when he saw the man approach his throne. The only bas he was willing to speak to. "Serah Hawke," he acknowledged. "Last me we met, I did not care to know your name. You have changed your fortune over the years. The qunari have not. I offer a courtesy, Hawke. Someone has stolen what he thinks is a formula for gaatlok. You will want to hunt him."

She'd barely stopped herself from looking over at her companions. She did not want to draw the Arishok's attention to them unnecessarily. "I would not wish this gaatlok in anyone's hands. That is reason alone to find this thief. It is the "thought" that concerns me. If he didn't steal gaatlok, then what exactly was stolen? And how did he get past all of you to steal it?"

The Arishok gave a slight nod. "Those are worthy questions. The theft was allowed. The stolen formula was a decoy. Saar-gamek, a poisonous gas, not explosives. A small amount is dangerous enough to your kind. But if made in quantity, perhaps by someone intending to sell it…"

Of all the stupid… "Do you think it was Javaris?"

He shrugged. "Would he be cautious or would he assume success and make enough to threaten a district?"

She inclined her head to the Arishok. "Thank you, Messere, for the warning. I will hunt him down."

"Panahedan, Hawke. I do not hope you die."

She turned and made her way back down the steps and out of the compound. She had wanted to ask him why he would allow the poison to be stolen, but she wasn't sure she wanted to know his answer. What mattered most was that he had been willing to warn her.

"He did not even look at us," Garrett remarked in amazement, despite being insulted. "It was as if we were not even there." At least some of the other qunari had looked at him, even if their gazes were stony.

Varric absently twirled a bolt between his fingers. "And that's why I call him Stuffy. His head is stuffed so far up his arse, he can't see anything but his own shit."

Annalynn sighed as she trudged up the stairs to leave the docks behind. "Unless you give him reason to notice you, you are not worthy of his attention. One day, I will probably regret gaining his attention. But until then, I appear to be the only one capable of keeping the peace."

"We need to go to Darktown and visit the Coterie, Chuckles. If anyone will know where to find him, they would," Varric informed her.

The city eroded the closer they got to Darktown. Even Lowtown began to look prestigious upon entering Darktown. The city guards rarely breeched the lower reaches of the city. Here, there was nothing but the struggle to survive. A place where good men went bad and no one and nothing could be trusted. You didn't turn your back on anyone and you tried never to find yourself alone. She, like Anders, had been down here enough to earn respect from many of the unfortunates that dwelled down here, like rats in a sewer. But today, she wasn't down here to heal or hand out food. Normally, she would be swarmed with the wretched wails of those that needed something from her. Today, no one approached, though she could feel their stares, causing the hair to rise on the back of her neck.

"There she is," Varric nodded towards an armed merchant standing in front of a few crates and barrels. He doubted she did much business – at least not the merchant kind.

As Ann drew closer, she recognized a few of the items tossed in the crates. "You are selling the wares of Javaris Tintop."

A slow smiled curved on the merchant's lips. "Indeed, I am. He had a meager lot, but he skipped with dues outstanding, so up it goes."

"Sounds like I'm not the only friend he's made recently. What's a girl got to do to find out which direction our friend has gone?"

The coterie merchant crossed her arms over her breasts, the smile slipping from her lips. "Ask that about anyone else, I'd have you thrown out. This on, he owes me, too." Her arms fell, her hands landing on her hips. "Javaris left in a hurry. I'd put him at Smuggler's Cut, if he's avoiding patrols. It empties at a cave outside of town. If you find him, tell him I said, 'Don't come back!'"

Varric rubbed his chin. "Not the trail I'd expect from a master thief."

She nodded in agreement. "Honestly, I'm not sure he did this. It almost seems like he's running scared – not like a man who thought he'd outsmarted the qunari and had something worthwhile to sell for the highest bid."

"You might just have something there, sister," Garrett agreed. "Unfortunately, it still sounds like Javaris is the only clue we have."

"Maybe we will find something interesting in the cave!" Thana remarked with a wide grin.

Varric looked askance at her. "Probably bones, dirt and something that wants to kill us," he grumbled under his breath. He sighed and forced out the words that threatened to clog his throat. He really hated being underground. "I think I know a shortcut. Follow me."

Ann eyed the wooden trap door that Varric had led them too. "Sure you want to do this?"

"No," Varric replied with a scowl. "But time is not on our side," he reminded her.

"No, it's not. So, let's hope this takes us where we need to go without any unwanted excitement."

"Agreed," Alistair responded as he moved around his wife and lifted the trap door. "I'll take point. Garrett, take up rear guard." He leaned down to grip the top ladder rung and began to descend into the dark below. Eventually, the darkness beneath his feet began to lighten. By the time he reached the bottom, his eyes had adjusted enough that he could see through the gloom, at least enough to make out a few feet in front of him. He continued forward, giving the others room to come down. His gaze swept the shadows, his body ready to respond at the slightest provocation. His hand itched for his sword, but he held off.

The rock tunnel opened up into a cave system, lighted by cracks in the ground above them. He held up his fist to stop the others and ensure they remained quiet. The sound of voices came from not far below them.

They proceeded quietly down the plank stairs, testing each one slowly, to ensure it didn't creak and give their presence away. Right now, they had surprise going in their favor and Alistair did not intend to give that up.

The armed dwarves were heard talking about the large payoff Javaris had promised them. That was all Annalynn needed to hear. She rose to her feet and lifted her hand up, the spell already taking shape in her head. "Hello, boys. I don't suppose you'll step out of the way and allow us to pass?" she asked sweetly.

The leather clad dwarf pulled his sword and shield. His men followed suit. "No one gets past us," he growled.

She released a breath. "That's what I was afraid of." Her hand shot forward and a surge of power hit the dwarves and slammed them into the far cavern wall. Panicked screams turned into grunts of impact and thuds as their bodies hit the ground.

Garrett's brows rose and he clasped a hand on his sister's shoulder. "And we are here, why?"

"In case that didn't work," she teased with a grin. "I didn't want them dead," she said as she nudged her husband forward. "Only out of the way."

"I'm not usually one for senseless killing," Varric remarked. "But did you ever think they might be waiting for us on the way back?"

She nodded. "I did. We may need to deal with that particular problem later…But I'm hoping they will not wish to come upon us again after such an unpleasant experience."

"You realize they will know you're a mage," Alistair stated with concern.

"Mayhap. But they will also know that I showed mercy." She placed a hand on his arm. "If they've spent any time in Darktown or Lowtown, then they may have already known." She shrugged. "Again, a problem to be dealt with later, if needed. I won't borrow trouble where there is none." She patted his arm and nudged him to keep moving.

They took a doorway on the right and continued down deeper into the cave until they could hear more voices. Broken wooden stairs left only two ways to descend. Using the wooden lift or trying the doorway on the left. The chains on the lift were guaranteed to draw attention, so they chose to see where the doorway on the left led.

Three levels of wooden plank stairs led them deeper into the cave's depths, candle-lit lanterns on the steps cut through the shadows along the walls of the cave as they descended. Unlike the last time, the dwarven mercenary thugs were too spread out for her to sweep out of the way. This time, they had to carve their way through the mercs. Those that fled, they did not pursue. But those that fought, were cut down.

They located another door at the opposite end of the cavern and followed it downward. More voices echoed off the cavern walls.

Varric darted up to the front of the line and motioned for Alistair to go to the left.

They passed between two large, stone support columns and up another set of stairs on the left. Finally, they were heading up. She supposed the journey to the center of the earth would have to be delayed for a bit.

They continued in an upward direction, until the cave opened up to the late afternoon sky. But she didn't have time to enjoy the humid, fresh air. None of them did. Another group of dwarven mercs attacked the moment they stepped out of the cave. Unlike within the cave, there were only a few and it didn't take long to clear a path to Javaris. The dwarf had seen better days. Right now, he was filthy and all but quaking in his boots, his hands held up in surrender.

She waved off his fear as the others in her group fanned out next to her. "Your death isn't at the top of my to-do list today, Jarvis. But we need to talk."

He lowered his hand and took a step back. Of all the rotten… "Granny's garters, she would hire you. I can't buy a break on discount!" he grumbled. "You know what? Go ahead. Take my head and pike it back to that sodding elf! I need the rest."

She raised her hand to her chin and rubbed it. "Sounds like a job I could do, if I knew which elf to return it to. So…which elf can I take your head to?"

The dwarf's brows furrowed. "You don't know? Then, what – oh…you're tracking for the qunari?" He exhaled sharply. "Then she did it. That elf got them after me for nothing! Bitch-born!"

Varric chuckled. "Ah-ha…I knew he was no burglar. We're not climbers."

"Look," Javaris said with a frustrated tug on his long mustache. "I was minding my own business, like I always do, and out of the blue some elf tries to kill me. Says she's got qunari powder and I'm her cover. I slipped her, hired some bodyguards and ran for it." He shook his head. "And now you're here. Great."

"And?" Alistair quipped.

"Fine, your Princelyness – if you want to drag dark into light, I had a man follow her. The elf's in Lowtown. I just want to get out. With my dead guards. Thanks for that."

"There are some that are still alive in the cave. I suggest you find them and keep running…far, far away."

Javaris looked over the dead mercs. "Right. Got me a rosy future to plan out. Think I'll start by selling some boots." He turned away and dropped down next to one of the dead. "Sodding bunch of royal bastards…take a long breath on a short shaft you…blasted dog-lord in-roaders," he muttered as he pulled off the first of the boots.

"I suggest going that way," Varric motioned towards a dusty trail. "A trip along the coast is preferable than the cave. Probably awakened huge cave spiders by now," he said, lowering his voice.

It didn't take long for them to hear sounds of battle. She turned and hurried in that direction. Up ahead she could see some city guards squatting behind some large boulders, the attackers held higher ground.

She lowered herself and hurried over to the guards, just as a rival mage sent out a bolt of lightning that took down one of the guardsmen. One of them broke away and advanced a few steps towards her.

The guard frowned. "You don't look like city guard. Are you the reinforcements? I thought the captain would send more."

"Reinforcements? No…I haven't spoken to Avaline today, I just heard the sounds of battle and wanted to see if we could help."

"I'm Lieutenant Harley and this is what's left of my patrol. This disaster is my first routine assignment," she admitted. If you weren't sent by the Captain…" she slowly shook her head. "That means Little Beden must not have made it back."

"What's going on here?"

"We're up against Evets Marauders. Fell Orden's up there," she motioned behind her shoulder with her thumb. "And Viktor Longdeath's handiwork you've already seen. We've tried two sorties up the path, but it's trapped to oblivion. Now, I'd just be thankful to get out of here alive.

Fell's lip curled up seeing backup arrive. "No fair, guard dog. You've brought friends!"

Ann grinned as she brought a harmless spell forward in her mind. She held her hand up to her mouth and blew across her palm. A pale green fog shot towards the attackers, swarming them as if someone had kicked the hornet's nest. She could hear their gagging and retching over the foul smell. "That should give us a few more minutes. Who are Fell and Viktor?"

Harley's hand tightened into a fist. "They're a waste of breath. They've been robbing and raping for Maker knows how long. They did a broad daylight assault on the Keep to rescue one of their number two years back. Fell Orden, a blood mage, is here. Viktor Longdeath. Sophie. We're pinned down here – but so are they. We've been stalling for reinforcements to arrive. Viktor's arrows and Fell's fireballs have taken their toll on my patrol." She bit her lip and studied the woman who was obviously a mage. She hadn't heard spell chanting, but that stink wind hadn't popped up on its own. It could be that the Maker sent her here to counter Fell's magic. And who was she to turn away that kind of help? And if they survived this – the woman deserved her thanks not a one-way trip to the gallows.

She knew the moment the guardswoman had accepted her. "Then it's settled. We will work together and end their reign of terror." She lifted the back of her hand to her nose as the wind carried back whisps of the stink spell. She motioned towards her husband. "He did it."

The remaining guardsmen burst out laughing at Alistair's disgruntled expression.

"I did not!" Alistair refuted the charge and frowned at his wife. The men laughed even harder.

"Ready, LT?" she asked Haley.

Haley mouthed the woman a thank you. Her men needed that moment of brevity. And every last one of her remaining men were ready and willing to fight at the side of an unknown mage who'd managed to loosen the grip of fear with laughter.

"Someone brought…" Fell gagged again, "a mage to the party." He hacked up foul tasting phlegm and spat it out. "Party tricks aren't going to keep you alive." He hadn't been able to dispel the spell. In fact, he'd never even heard of a spell like that. Juvenile or not, he was thankful that it had been a cloud of stink and not poison. The enemy mage was either very lucky or very skilled. He tamped down on the niggle of fear. She would be no match for him.

She winked at the guardsmen. "You heard the man, it's time to party. Later tonight, there will be drinks on me at the Wishing Well."

Varric grunted. "Hanged Man's better," he grumbled. They all turned to look at him in surprise. "I own it – I'm entitled to be biased."

"Of course, you are," Thana crooned as she patted his arm. As soon as he looked away from her with a content nod, she turned her head and shook it. "No, he's not," she mouthed.

Varric shook his finger at Thana. "Don't think I didn't see that."

"Later, lovebirds." Garrett pulled his swords. "Party time." He rushed forward, the others hot on his heels. Ann broke away and he knew her goal was to take on the mage. He saw Alistair dash after her and then focused on the remaining men.

They were outnumbered but not outclassed. When the last one fell, she searched the area until she located the lieutenant.

Haley looked around at the scattered bodies. "They're all dead?" she asked, not truly believing what her eyes were seeing. "I – I can't believe it. I thought I would die out here." She shook her head and squared her shoulders. There would be time to work through her feelings later. Right now, she was alive and she had a job to do. "I'll tell Lieutenant Jalen at the Keep what you've done. I'll make sure he rewards you." She looked at her guardsmen. "Men! We're heading home."

"And we need to hurry back to Lowtown."

They passed the guardsmen at a steady jog. They weren't sure where they were supposed to go, once they reached Lowtown. But it didn't take long for them to hear whispers of gas and people going crazy.

"…of you, I can't fight the damned air! You want to live – stay out!" the guardsman yelled.

"What's happening in there?" Ann asked the guardsman, even though she knew what he was going to tell her. They'd been too late to stop it from happening.

The guardsman sucked in a harsh breath. Having Royals here was the last thing he needed. "Reports of some haze with the stench of rust and…vomit. There was cloud, then a…lingering mist. Anyone caught in the cloud went mad. Then the others just retched themselves dead."

"I'll take a look."

The guard stepped forward. "Maker's breath, your Highness. It is madness to go in there. All I can do is warn people. If someone like you – like any of you," he proclaimed with a wave of his hand at the Royals and nobleman," dies on my watch, I'm right stuffed."

She patted his shoulder as she passed him. "Then you are a sight luckier than most in Lowtown, who can barely afford to put anything in their bellies."

"That's not what I – please, your Highnesses…Damn my hide," he muttered when they disappeared into the affected zone. He was going to be in so much trouble.

She looked around until she located the barrels through the green haze. "There! The barrels are along the edges. Their lids are cranked open. Everyone – get to a barrel, we need to close them." Her hand lifted to cover her mouth and nose. When she reached the barrel, she pushed down on the lid, then attempted to turn it. "Need something to turn the lid – it won't lower on its own.

"Wait!" Garrett yelled. "There's a tool on the ground! A key, maybe. I was able to use it to close a barrel. But it doesn't work on the barrel right next to it."

"I've seen these before," Varric shouted. "Each barrel has its own key! Search the ground!"

Thankfully, the stench wasn't quite as foul as her stinker spell had been. Not that it was a breath of fresh air, by any means. Still, it coated her nose and mouth like a coat of paint. She dug through the pocket of one of the corpses. "Check the corpses! They have the key – they didn't survive the opening of the barrels." She quickly locked down the barrel and then hurried off to find another key. She was quick to recast a healing spell over everyone every time she felt the awful tickle in her lungs. It was the best she could do while they sought to lock down the barrels.

The haze had lightened more with each barrel closed. But the breeze was not strong enough to blow what remained away quickly enough to suit her needs. She turned when she heard the sound of steps coming from above them. An elf, flanked by two brutes, looked down at them over the railing. "And so I meet the elf."

The elf put her hands on the stone and peered down at the people who had thwarted her plans. Her eyes widened in surprise. Well, my, my. "It would seem I've got a Royal flush. You – you have enemies. I'm glad it's you, really." She sighed at the loss. "These poor people. You are a much better target!"

"It would seem someone forgot to drink their sanity potion this morning. You say, 'these poor people', yet you were the one that killed them!"

The elf shook her head. "The qunari take my people! My siblings forget their culture, then go the qun for purpose. We're losing them twice! So, I get help from your people. We'll take the qunari thunder, make some accidents, and make them hated! But this – this is all wrong!" It wasn't supposed to happen like this. No… she could still salvage this! "It can still work. They are hidden in your city. They'll enrage the faithful and make sure the qunari are blamed!" She could hear them. In her head. Why won't they shut up? She gripped both sides of her head until the voices quieted. "Me, I'm finished. I just need a few more bodies. A few more! Yours are perfect."

She spun around as feet poured down the steps all around them. Unfortunately, for the attackers, the gas had already killed most of them and the few that had stormed down to fight were aggressive, but sluggish.

There was no sense of victory when the battle ended. Too many innocent people died for this to be considered a victory. "I need to speak with the Arishok."

When they reached the compound, she explained first about the qunari's lost patrol and that the bandits were taken care of. She then told him about what happened with the theft and what it had been used for.

The Arishok bent his head in thought. "So, I was wrong about our thief." He lifted his head to meet the Hawke's gaze. "They say we were careless with our trap, that this is our fault. But even without the saar-gamek, there would have been death. This elf was determined to lay blame at our feet." He frowned. "I admire conviction with a focus, but your kind are truly committed to weakness."

She stiffened. "I am not my people, Messere."

The Arishok stared at the man in front of him. "Perhaps. That will be known soon enough."

What had he meant by that? No, it didn't matter. It was getting late and she still wanted a bath before dinner. "The elf believed you had taken her people and changed who they were."

"We did not take her people. The weak naturally seek out the strong. But it doesn't matter. We did not come here to indoctrinate. I am here to satisfy a demand you cannot understand."

"Not true," she stated calmly. "I do not know everything, as you are unwilling to talk about it. But I do know that you are here in search of something and that you cannot leave until it is found. I would help you locate what you are looking for if you would be more forthwith about what was lost."

His temper flared and bolted up from his throne. "It wasn't lost! Filth stole from us! A simple act of greed has bound me. We are all denied Par Vollen until I alone recover what was lost under my command! That is why this elf and her shadows are unimportant. That is why I do not simply walk from this pustule of a city!" His claws dug into his palms. He turned away from the man, trying to reign himself in, but failing. "Fixing your mess is not the demand of the Qun!" He spun back around and charged towards the bas. "And you should all be grateful!"

She crossed her arms under her breasts and stared up at him with a sardonic lift of her brow. Even the qun flanking him were staring at the Arishok in surprise. "You may wish to take a moment. And while you do, consider my offer. It is in all of our best interests for you to find what you are seeking and return to your homes in victory."

His head fell. His emotional outburst had been unacceptable. He returned to his throne and slowly lowered himself down onto it. He could not ask for help. It was not the Hawke's responsivity to find the tome. It was his alone. "Thank you, Hawke, for your service. Leave." He needed time to reflect on his outburst and this he would not do before others.

"Well, then," she said as they ascended the steps up from the docks. "I need to check in with the Viscount and then hurry home to get ready for the roast mother has been cooking up. I hope you'll join us, Varric."

The dwarf chucked. "You had me at home-cooked roast."

She waved her hand over all them, removing the dirt and blood with a cleanse spell.

Garrett beamed a smile at her sister, his now clean hair blowing in the breeze. "I wish I could do that."

Sure, it was all fine and dandy, until the templars locked you away. But that didn't need to be said. When she finally reached the Keep, she decided not to seek out Jalen for a reward. That's money the guard could put to use somewhere else.

Marlowe stared out the window, even after an aid had told him that the Royals were here to speak to him. Was it wrong to want to delay facing what they would say? He sighed softly the moment they stepped into his office. "Years of nice, quiet anxiety…gone. Along with a whole street."

"An accident on purpose, more or less," she responded, before explaining everything in detail.

He turned and bowed to the Royals. "Right," he said as he straightened. "A mad elf, pushed by zealots, likely hidden in the very groups I have to appease." He moved to his desk, dropping his palms flat upon it, and leaned heavily against it for a moment, torn by everything that the Princess was telling him. He didn't have to be there to see how it all went down. The picture she painted was more vivid than he'd thought it'd be. He felt like he was drowning and wondered if anyone would ever be able to pull him out in time. "The Maker has a grand sense of humor." He pushed himself off the desk. "And the Arishok – I suspected he had no plans to leave. I hadn't realized it was just as annoying for him."

"It is – yet, he refuses my help in locating the item that was stolen from him. And since I do not know what was stolen, I can't even try to find it behind his back. The sooner he returns to Par Vollen, the better."

"Agreed," Marlowe stated with an incline of his head. "I fear what will happen if he does not find it soon."

"I will continue to do what I can, for now." She turned to leave, but stopped at the door and looked back at him. "Marlowe – mother is cooking her famous roast tonight for dinner. You and Seamus are most welcome to attend."

He would be a fool to turn down an invitation to dine with the Royals. His office needed their support and his son needed their influence. He inclined his head. "Most gracious, your Highness. Please expect our arrival."

Dinner went off as expected. There was always enough food for drop-ins. Her mother cooked almost enough for a small army. Nothing went to waste. Anything that wasn't eaten, was donated to the less fortunate, including her uncle, who rarely dropped by to spend time with the family. Most days, the servants ate in the dining hall with them. But on days when there were more than family, the servants ate first at the kitchen table and then catered to the rest of them. Even Sandal and Rila dressed smart on those days and helped carry the food to the dining hall. Their happy grins never failed to make the grouchiest guest smile back in return.

If Avaline had been surprised to see Donnic at the table, a blush had been her only response to it. Though, they said little more than a few inane words to each other, their eyes and the tension between them belied their lack of interest. But they weren't the only couple that was playing that game. Thana and Varric were in the thick of it too. Was it really so hard to just be honest about your feelings? It hadn't been for her and Alistair. And while it had taken a bit of time for Fenris and Neria and Carver and Merrill, the couples did eventually come together. She frowned. That wasn't quite right. Neria had told her she and Fenris lived together as any couple would - he held her all night, kissed her all day, but they hadn't gone any further yet. Regardless, consummation or not, they were still a couple. Avaline, Donnic, Varric and Thana were vexing her to no end. Annalynn was sure how much longer she could go without boiling over and giving each couple a well-earned boot.

-BREAK TWO-

Come morning, Annalynn found Avaline pacing the salon in an agitated state. "Avaline, would you like to join us for breakfast?"

Avaline stopped and blinked. "What? Oh – no. I'm here about…Ann...I need…," she could feel the heat already creeping into her cheeks. What must Ann think of her? She cleared her throat. "I need a favor that I can only trust to you." She waved her hand to dismiss the matter's importance. "It is a small matter, but I worry."

"Spit it out, Avaline," she teased her friend. Giving her that small push she seemed to need.

Avaline released a sharp breath. "I need you to give something to Guardsman Donnic at the barracks. No questions, and he's not to know it's from me."

"Avaline…."

The captain pursed her lips. "I need a friend to do this. It's a short list. And you are doing very badly about the no questions part."

She chuckled in response. "You do realize, I hadn't asked any questions yet?"

Avaline's cheeks burned even hotter. "Yeah, right." She handed the package to Ann. Find me in my office once he's seen it. I want to know his reaction."

She took the package from her friend. "I've always been there for you, Avaline. And I always will be. You are like a sister to me – you know that, right?"

"I feel the same." Damn her stinging cheeks. "Your family is the only family I have left. I will do everything within my power to see that you all remain safe. And thank you for doing this for me. It means a lot to me."

She hugged her friend. "I'll head over after breakfast. Avaline – you should stay for breakfast."

"I appreciate that, Ann, you know I do. But there's a few things I need to do before you arrive at the Keep. I'll be waiting for you and for his reaction." She glanced up to see Garrett coming down the stairs as she headed to the door. The man was handsome, no doubt and he stirred things better left alone. He wasn't right for her. He was a wildcard. Donnic was steadfast and that was what she needed in her life. And that was why she'd come to love him so much. She slipped out the door with only a nod of her head to Garrett.

Most days, breakfast was a quick affair and today was no different. Everyone seemed to have something to do and wanted to get to it. All said and done, she ended up with Anders, Fenris and Merrill at her side as they ascended the steps into the Keep. Neria and Ninia had stayed behind to help her mother take food to the poor. Kitty was a good deterrent for anyone who thought to take advantage of three women. And so was Jerod, who was both cart puller and protector.

She barely glanced at Avaline's office as she passed it to walk further into the barracks. She caught sight of Donnic, who'd been talking to another guardsman until he saw her coming. He shooed the away and smiled at her by the time she'd reached him.

"I will have to thank your mother again the next time I see her. I haven't a dinner that nice in… ," he rubbed the stubble on his chin, "well, in years."

"You are welcome to drop by anytime, Donnic. Mother always makes more than we can eat. But that's not why I'm here," Ann explained.

"Oh? Is something wrong?" he asked, a hint of uncertainty filtered into his voice.

Fenris grunted behind his hand.

"No. At least I don't believe so." She pulled the trinket from her pocket. "I hope this means something to you," she said as she handed him what Avaline had given her.

His brows rose as he studied the item. This was supposed to mean something? "It's a copper relief of…marigolds?" he said slowly, as if it would help him understand its meaning. "Ah, and it helpfully says so. "Marigolds." That gave him no answers. "Well, how crafty. And I should know what it means?" He shrugged. "I fear I'm at a bit of a loss. Do you know its meaning?"

Ann shook her head in exasperation, air rushing from her lips in a raspberry sound. "No, I don't. I had hoped you would." She held up her hands when he tried to return it. "Keep it, Donnic. Perhaps its meaning will be made clear in time."

He grunted and slipped the small copper relief into a pouch on his belt. "I would hope so." He cleared his throat. "I appreciate the open invitation. Perhaps I will join you for dinner again soon." He still found it surreal that he could count Royals and nobles as friends. But he'd greatly enjoyed the dinner festivities at the mansion. It hadn't taken long for the family to make him feel comfortable enough to join in. Seeing Avaline there in a belted tunic and trousers had also been enlightening. It was the first time he'd seen her out of her armor. A small noise caught his attention and he focused once more on Ann.

"It will always be good to see you, Donnic." With that, she left to return to Avaline, more confused than when she'd left the guardswoman's office.

"You're back!" Avaline exclaimed and swallowed hard. "Of course, you are. You are more efficient than most of my guardsmen. So…how did Donnic react?"

"I have to admit he was as flummoxed as I was. Copper marigolds? What meaning did it have?"

"Ah, hell." Avaline frowned. The gift had made so much sense to her. "I thought it was clear. Metal is strong, Copper ages well. Flowers are soft." She could see confusion in every eye that looked at her. Apparently, she was the only one that understood the meaning behind the gift. A soft sigh blew from between her lips. "I've clearly gone about this the wrong way. Don't talk to him again."

Ann just blinked? "Excuse me? Why would I not talk to a friend?"

Avaline groaned. Nothing was coming out right. "That's not what I meant." She shook her head. "I don't know what I meant." She reached out for the parchment on her desk and held it out to Ann. "Just…bloody hell…just take this. The patrols for next week," she added, waving the parchment in Ann's direction when she didn't grab it right away. "Post it to the roster and just…listen."

"Avaline…I have a better - "

"Just do it. Please," she amended quickly.

Ann nodded, walked back into the main barracks hall and posted the duty roster on the board. She then leaned against a nearby column and waited.

Marie frowned when hurried over to check the new roster. "Hey, Donnic! Whose pucker have you been greasing to get Hightown?" She sneered at the man as he approached. It should have been her turn for Hightown.

"Your daft," Donnic replied, not believing a word of it. "I've been working dockside on those smugglers."

"Ha! Says here you're guarding the square. Always been a make-work job, that one." And it was to have been her rotation. "You someone's pet?" She turned from the roster, wrinkling her nose at the turn of events. "Good things are always happening to that bastard…" she grumbled under her breath.

He watched Marie walk away and then glanced at the duty roster. His hand clenched when he saw his name on Hightown. "You've got to be kidding me. What did I do to get that post?" he groused as he headed back to his room, none too pleased. "Why would she embarrass me with a patrol like that?" he muttered. "Guarding the market? Is that all the captain thinks I'm worth?" The mere thought caused his heart to cramp in pain.

She exhaled sharply when she entered Avaline's office and then told her what the man's reaction had been.

Avaline lowered her hands to her desk and absently studied the missives on it. "So, Donnic thinks I'm punishing him?" She shook her head slowly and pushed off the desk into an upright stance. "But hightown is a safe patrol. A reward."

"For some, perhaps. But Donnic is a proud man and doesn't seem to want to be coddled," Ann pointed out.

"Of course, he is. How stupid of me." She absently began to pace behind her desk. "All right, I can fix this. I need three goats and a sheaf of wheat." She nodded and turned to face Ann. "You'll take them to his mother."

Ann pursed her lips and arched a brow. "Avaline – what's this all about?"

The guardswoman sighed. "It's a dowry tradition. Maybe it will smooth the process."

Ann cleared her throat, trying not to laugh. "Do you know what would work even better? You telling him how you feel about him. Communication is what is needed. Not subtle attempts to avoid communication."

She knew Ann was right, yet she still couldn't bring herself to talk to him. It was fear. Fear that he wouldn't feel the same. Fear that she'd say something stupid and ruin and chance she might have had with him. "I know this doesn't make sense to you. Maybe it doesn't make sense at all. The thought of telling him – I feel paralyzed. I hate it."

"That's lovely," Merrill responded with a bright smile. The smile slowly slipped from her lips when she saw everyone turn to look at her. "Oh – Oh! That she's too shy to tell him she likes him," Merrill corrected in a rushed breath. "Not that – that last part." Her eyes brightened. She knew just how to make things better. "I can tell him for you!"

Avaline felt her stomach drop to the floor. "No! No, Merrill. This is – I must handle it." Her boot tapped the stone floor in frustration. "I'm the captain. He's my guardsman. Hard to get past that," she admitted. "It's not like I can just ask him out on a date."

Anders crossed his arms over his chest. "Quit tripping over your own feet. He likes you. You like him. You're making things more difficult than they need to be. Look," he said with a wave of his hand, "invite him to the hanged man. You can't get more casual than that. Two friends who enjoy each other's company having a friendly drink." He smirked and shot her a wink. "Have several more and all your fears and doubts will drift away."

"That sounds nice!" Merrill agreed with a nod of her head.

"It does, doesn't it?" Avaline pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Ok. Ann – I need you to ask him to join you there. Don't tell him about me coming. Make something up. Anything to get him there. I don't want him to think he's meeting the captain."

Ann's eyes narrowed on Avaline. "Avaline, you are like a sister to me. But all this," she said as she motioned with both hands, "is crazy. If you don't want him to see you as his captain, then take off your armor – just like you do when you come to the mansion. I prefer frequenting the Wishing Well – he knows that. That alone would draw suspicion. We've had him over to dinner once. Me asking him to the Wishing Well would also be suspicious. Avaline, I love you – but I'm not going to further this travesty. It will not come to a good end. Here's what going to happen. I'll have a few of the guys take Donnic out after his patrol. You will come to the mansion a couple of hours before dinner. Garrett will invite him for dinner again and you will come downstairs in finery that will drop his jaw. That is the way to get him to see you as more than just his captain. Good food, good wine and a beautiful woman - that is the recipe to a man's heart."

"That's certainly the way to my heart," Anders quipped. Used to be the way to his bed too.

"I don't know…"

"You don't have to know. I do," Annalynn cut in before Avaline could finish. "And you're not getting out of it, even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming to the mansion," Ann warned.

Avaline didn't doubt Ann would do just that. "All right, Ann. I'll try it your way."

She nodded to her friend. "Then I will see you at the mansion this early eve." She'd turned and caught sight of a bottle on one of Avaline's shelves and smiled. "Avaline – How much for that bottle," she asked, pointing to the shelf on the left.

The guardswoman looked over on the shelf. "That? Please just take it. It's an eyesore. It reminds me too much of our journey to get to Kirkwall." She shuddered. If she could avoid it, she'd never travel by ship again. "In truth, I'd forgotten it was even there." She pulled the bottled ship from the shelf and handed it to Ann. "You're doing me a favor, taking it off my hands."

She studied the tiny ship for a moment and then slipped it into her pocket. "Thank you."

"Can I ask why you would want such a…toy?"

Yeah, that. She took a breath and released it slowly. "It's for Isabella …"

"That slattern?" Avaline growled nearly ready to ask for the damned thing back, when the obvious slammed into her. The whore wanted a new ship and soon she would have it. What a mockery. Laughter bubbled out of her and she wiped her eyes. "By all means, Ann. Give Isabella her ship. Almost wish I was there to see it."

Ann frowned just a bit at her friend's words, not quite certain what Avaline found so funny in the gift. She shrugged and headed for the stairs. "See you soon, Avaline."

As they slipped out of the keep, Annalynn looked down at the noble finery she wore and sighed. She always drew attention when she was about Lowtown or Darktown in fine frocks, though most knew to leave her alone by now. And if they didn't, there were still others out there that would step forward and defend her, despite her objections. Fights would just give her and Anders more work to heal them. Still, Garrett would have already made his rounds feeding those in need, and today was her day for heals.

First stop was Darktown, because they were usually more often in need. Despite Anders being there were more injuries than one man, alone, could handle.

"Home away from home," Anders responded when his clinic came into view. There were already people milling around the doors. He opened them with a flourish. "Come all and let me – us tend to your ills."

After three hours, Ann stretched. "I need to head to Lowtown. Remember to meet up at the barracks with Garrett, Varric and anyone else who wants to see to Donnic's arrival at the mansion. This time – no armor. He's a man tonight, not a guardsman."

A smile lit up Anders' face. "Oh, this will be fun!" He rubbed his hands together in glee. "One gullible man coming up."

"That's not exactly what I meant," she huffed.

He winked at her. "I know, but knowing you, my friend, I'm sure the poor fool won't know what hit him."

"I'm quite sure you're going to be right about that." She winked back and slipped out of the clinic with Merrill and Fenris at her side.

"Glad to be done with that one," Fenris grumbled, casting an eye at Merrill. He wished he could be done with the bloodmage as well. But, for now, at least, she seemed to be a part of the family that had taken him in. The family that had taken Neria in. And while he was at an impasse over his feelings for Neria and even Ann, he was not ready to walk away from those he begrudgingly cared for. They filled him in a way that he'd never experienced before. And regardless of his earlier attempts, they had never let him push them away. For the first time that he could recall, his heart was no longer his own and hadn't been for some time. Mages. Never could he have imagined falling in with mages and not wanting to rip out their beating hearts. Despite his dislike of Anders and Merrill, the other mages within the family had a strength and certainty about them. While he intended to continue watching them, he did not see them the type to allow themselves to become abominations. But Anders and Merrill – they would fall. And he would be there when they did.

"And I'm sure he's glad to be out from under your broody scowls," Ann teased.

"I don't brood," he shot back.

"That's not true. Why you are quite handsome with your dark, broody demeanor!" Merrill responded. "My Carver can brood ever so well too. At least he used to."

Fenris rolled his eyes and grunted with the need to rebuke her for words. Merrill was best taken in small doses and any kind of rebuttal on his part would only fuel her mouth.

They spent another three hours healing the ills of Lowtown before they headed for the Hanged Man. She spotted Isabella right away and made a beeline for the pirate. Isabella's life seemed little more than trolling the docks and hanging out with Rhynn at the Hanged Man. Though, they did come over a couple of times a week for dinner at the mansion or occasionally joined her or someone in her family to go gadding about Kirkwall. But those two were the most elusive of her friends – associates? She wasn't quite sure how to peg them. Rhynn was easier to talk to than Isabella – in a deeper, more meaningful way. And there was something familiar about the blacksmith that she just couldn't put her finger on. But Isabella, while nice enough, led a lifestyle she didn't approve of and wasn't comfortable with. That didn't stop her from being nice to the pirate. So far, Isabella had done her no wrong and she was willing to see how this possible friendship turned out.

Rhynn butted her lover's hip and pointed in the princess' direction. "Slumming it today, are you?" she teased.

"Funny," Ann responded with a wrinkle of her nose. "I may prefer the Wishing Well -it's the only one mother will attend, but a lot of my friends all but live here and who am I to judge? I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth, after all."

"You could have been," the blacksmith pointed out.

She shrugged. "I'd prefer a wooden spoon and a father to a silver spoon without him. My mother made the right call." How did everyone even know her business? Her mother's return to the Amell mansion got all the tongues wagging. Several years later, they were still apparently wagging.

"She's only having a bit of fun," Isabella butted in. "It's good to see you, pretty." She jumped when she felt an elbow dig into her side. "What?" she asked Rhynn with a knowing smirk. "She is pretty – but you've nothing to worry about; she's wrapped around the prince's cock." She saw Rynn frown. "And I've got all the woman I need," she amended, knowing that's what her sweetlips wanted. Sweetlips…warmth shot through her and she shivered. Her lover had magically sweet lips…and that tongue. Surprisingly, the woman had taught her a couple of things. She cleared her throat. "What?" she asked breathlessly.

Ann's brows lifted but didn't ask Isabella what she'd been thinking about, she wasn't sure she wanted to know. "I said I picked up something and thought of you."

"Aren't you as sweet as you are pretty," Isabella crooned.

"I don't know about all that," she replied as she pulled the bottled ship out of the pouch at her waist.

Isabella could make out little, since the princess' hand covered whatever it was. "Ohhhh….what's this?" she asked as she held out her hand, palm up. She felt a cool hardness in her palm a moment before the gift-bearer's hand pulled back. She was stunned to see a small, intricate ship encased in a bottle. If only it were full size…but still… "Isn't that just the cutest little thing?"

"I thought so too. When I saw it, I knew just the person it should belong to. You."

The sea captain turned the bottle gently in her hands, though the glass appeared thick enough to survive a fall. The ship was perfect in its miniscule shape. She could almost feel the wind and spray of water in her face. She sighed softly. "It's perfect." She smiled sardonically. "This is probably the only ship I'm going to have for a while." She kissed the bottle encased ship and tucked it away in a thick leather pack threaded onto her belt. "How pathetic is that? Cooing over a model ship?" She shook her head, but the smile remained on her lips. "Thank you, Ann. It was a thoughtful gesture."

"Indeed, it was," Rhynn agreed. She slipped her arm around the pirate's waist. "You'll have a ship again, Izzy. And we will sail off for the grandest of adventures!"

"You still want to be my first mate?"

Rhynn pursed her lips in mock annoyance. "I'll be your first and only mate, sugar-bottom. And don't you forget it."

Isabella's husky laugh filled the tavern. "How could I ever forget, when you never stop reminding me how splendidly and thoroughly you love me?" She brushed a kiss on Rhynn's cheek. "Your sweetlips have spoiled me for all others," she murmured into her lover's ear. She winked at Merrill. "Come play with us, kitten. We need to work on your wicked grace skills."

With a shake of her head, Ann left the lovebirds and Merril behind. With Fenris still at her side, she headed towards Varric's room. She smiled when she noticed he'd added a door to his quarters since the last time she was here. Now that he owned the tavern, he could do whatever he wanted. At least the door would keep out the drunken walk-ins that used to always pepper their conversations. Before she could knock on the door, it swung open.

"I was just going out to talk to you, but this even is better." Varric stood back from the door and waved them in. "I've got some news. And you might not want to be near anything breakable when I tell you."

She and Fenris pulled up two of the higher chairs Varric had added to his rooms recently to accommodate his taller visitors. "What's on your mind, Varric? I suppose this couldn't wait for dinner?"

"No," he replied, scratching his chest hair. "Not really."

"Does this have something to do with you and Thana?"

Heat flared in his cheeks. "No! Why? Did you…ah…hear something?" He shook his head. "No. Just no." And then he hurried on. "I've had an ear out for Bartrand. After the deep roads, he ran to Rivain, probably because he knew I couldn't track him. But I hear he might be back in Kirkwall. He called in loans from a few of his contacts in Hightown."

"Do you know where he might be?"

"If my information is good – and it's always good – he has a house in Hightown. Which gives a good shot at having a word with my dear, sweet brother."

She nodded. Good. "Then we will go there tonight, after dinner. I'm as eager to see him as you are. But today, we will have fun. I ask that you meet up with Garrett and a few of the guys to hang out with Donnic, loosen him up, dress him up and bring him to the mansion for dinner. We're planning a secret romantic dessert with him and Avaline. We'll all be leaving after dinner, leaving them alone with a bevy of sweets."

"Ha, ha," Varric chuckled. "I wouldn't miss that for anything. Especially, if it means seeing Red all dressed up!"

"Perfect!" She swung her head when the door opened to see Thana, bags in hand, step through. She laughed softly. "Glad things have finally been settled between you two."

"Thanks to you," Thana replied as she tossed the bags near the bed to take care of later. She hugged Ann. "Your advice worked splendidly." She then darted around the table and hopped into Varric's lap and nuzzled his neck with a small nip.

"It would appear so," Fenris agreed, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Ann is a talented woman in many respects."

"I only gave a nudge…or ten. It was only a matter of pealing the blinders off." She darted a pointed look at Fenris.

"I cannot give myself to another until I know who I am," the elf told her.

"You may never recall your past. Hurting the both of you for something that may never be is cruel. Maybe it's time to stop focusing on the past and start living for what you have today. The past will always be part of you, but the future is yours to mold into any shape you wish," she explained.

He was torn by her words because he knew they were true. But nothing was safe with Danarius dogging him every step of the way. "I will not deny the wisdom of your words, but so long as the past threatens me – it also threatens Neria. That I will not let happen. Once I have dealt with Danarius, then and only then will I look to the future."

"Fair enough," she said, accepting his answer. She turned to look at Varric to see the pair locked at the lips. She cleared her throat. "We should be switching partners now." She blinked. "I didn't mean it the way it sounded!" She nearly shuddered over it. Varric was like a brother to her. Sometimes annoying but always charming and forgivable. "I meant Thana needs to come with me and Fenris can stay with Varric so they can start making ideas for tonight. I'll explain it along the way," she told Thana.

"Yes, do go on and leave me here," Fenris grumped.

"Time to take off your broody pants and walk like a man," Varric teased.

Fenris' gaze grew stormy before a slow smile crept over his lips. "I shall remember that, dwarf."

Ann tugged Thana from her Varric perch. "Come, let's leave the boys to play nicely with each other."

"Merrill, time to go," she said as they walked through the tavern.

"You go now, kitten. We'll be here anytime you want to brush up on your skills." She leaned back on her chair and hummed softly when Rhynn's hand caressed her thigh.

Merrill skipped over to the two princesses. "That game is exciting! I kept losing my nuts to those girls. They are very good."

Anna and Thana looked at each other and burst out laughing as they left the tavern.

"Ooohhh…I did it again, didn't I? Did I miss something dirty?" Merrill asked, her eyes large wistful eagerness.

Ann nodded. "You did. Nuts are more than just a food, Merrill. It can also be used to describe a man's...er…daddy bags. With Merrill's lost look, she glanced over at Thana.

"His round dangly bits," Thana added, groping her crotch, emulating a common man gesture.

"Oh! Oh, dear." Though Merrill knew her face was red, the joy of learning something naughty far outweighed any embarrassment. "I will have to tell Carver what I learned today! He will never tell me what I missed. But I do love the feel of his nuts smacking against my -"

"Merrill! That's not something to be discussed in public. And Thana! I can't believe you just did that!"

Thana grunted at Ann. "I can't believe men do that. Do they grab it to ensure it's still there and hasn't fallen off?"

Ann shook her head. "You've got me there. I honestly don't know. Unless it's in the bedroom, it's crude to me. Oh – Merrill, you may not want to tell my brother what you learned today. I think he wants to preserve your innocence."

Merrill snorted and shivered. "After we've joined our bodies in love? He makes my body sing and then tries to preserve my innocence?"

"Sometimes men make no sense," Thana commiserated. "You should hear how the men talk in Orzammar. 'Hey, little lady. How about I grease up the old bronto and take you for a ride?'" Thana shuddered. "Awful. Just awful. My Varric is nothing like that. He has started writing me sexy poetry! Can you believe it? Isn't he amazing?"

Ann laughed softly. "That's certainly a side of him I didn't know about – or didn't think about." Didn't want to think about was more accurate. "But he's very good with words, so it doesn't surprise me overmuch. I suspect that he wouldn't like to know that you've shared that with me and I will do my best to not tease him about it." She then went on to explain what they had planned for tonight regarding Donnic and Avaline.

"This is going to be fun!" Thana's frown faltered and she quickened her steps to keep up with the other women. "But how are we ever going to get a dress made in time?"

"That is not a concern. Mother's just completed one she'd been working on for a while now. It will be our job to get Avaline into it. It will be Donnic's job to get her out of it. If all works out as we hope, they'll be staying the night at Avaline's room in the mansion."

After arriving at the mansion, she sent her brother off to meet Varric at the Hanged Man after she explained what would be happening tonight. She then spoke to the servants and her family to let them know what she planned. Everyone but the servants would be either leaving or retiring to their rooms after dinner. The women adjourned to the kitchen to plan, while a few of the servants hurried off to the market to purchase supplies for the dessert banquet.

After most of the sweets had been prepared, Leandra returned from the cellar, dusting a bottle off with a rag. "I think this will go nicely with desert. She set it on a side table that held the covered deserts and shooed the younger women from the kitchen when she heard Carid answer the door. "Go see to our Avaline. I'll finish up in here."

It took longer than expected to primp the guardswoman, because she fought being "dolled up" until eventually resigned herself to the fact that this was going to happen. One by one, the women left the room to see their own primping, until only she remained.

They could hear the boisterous voices below stairs and the tantalizing scents of dinner drew hungry growls from their bellies.

Lendra gave a brief nock and entered Avaline's chamber. She cooed and clucked as she fixed a few errant strands of hair. "There, there. You look stunning, Avaline." She nodded to her daughter. "Go take care of yourself. I'll take Avaline down in a few minutes."

"I knew there was a woman hidden under all that armor," Ann teased before slipping out of the chamber. She darted over to her own chamber to don the blue dress she'd previously laid out on her bed. She loosely piled her hair on her head, letting a few wavy strands escape to frame her face. With a touch of kohl to her eyes, she pinched her cheeks, slipped into her slippers and hurried downstairs to settle at Alistair's side.

Alistair nearly choked on his wine when he saw his wife. He leaned over and whispered near her ear. "You are breathtaking, love. My heart is at your feet, as always."

The murmuring around the table stopped when a noise drew their attention to the stairs. With light red hair framing her face, softening her features, a satiny emerald green dress defining her figure and Amell Emeralds hanging from her ears and throat, the guardswoman looked the princess.

The men rose to a stand as the women descended the stairs. Garrett clapped a shell-shocked Donnic on the back to get his attention. The guardsman quickly rose to stand with the rest of the men.

A new novel was already swimming around Varric's mind. "There's a story in this," Varric muttered under his breath. Sebastian seated Avaline, as she was sitting next to him. They'd purposely set the pair across from each other, unlike the other couples that sat next to their paramours. All the better to see you with, was the thought behind the placing.

"Captain…" Donnic managed to push past frozen lips. He'd been drawn to her strength and decidedness for some time now. He never could have imagined the hidden away.

Avaline felt the heat burning in her cheeks as the husky sound of his voice. "I'm not a guard captain right now…Donnic. It's just Avaline." She took in his fancy, noble tunic, with pumpkin colored insets that put a light warmth in his brown eyes. "You look nice this eve," she forced herself to say.

"I – you…you're amazing. I mean, you look amazing." He grunted in relief when a servant slid a slice of ham down onto his plate.

Cullen commiserated with the guardsman. He could remember all too well loving a woman he knew he shouldn't love. "He's right, Avaline. You are a breath of fresh air."

"You should let your hair down more often," Elvie agreed.

Dinner fell into a light-hearted affair, with couples disappearing, pair by pair with one excuse or another. The servants cleared away the dinner plates and brought out the awaiting desert feast. When the deserts were laid out, the last of the diners took their cue and left the table with urgent, pressing matter to attend to. Jerod poured them each a glass of wine and told them to ring the bell if they required further assistance.

Avaline smiled and shook her head. "I should have known they were up to something tonight. If this makes you uncomfortable, we can go. Yes. Perhaps, we should go."

"No! I mean, it is fine…Avaline." He tore his eyes from her to take in the bounty of deserts that laden the table. "I have never seen anything like this." He looked across the table at the woman that stole his breath away. "If you don't mind, I'd love to sample a few."

Lilly and Averna slowly closed the kitchen door and giggled with each other as they began to clean up the dinner dishes. "It's so romantic," Averna smiled wistfully. "Eiran and I consider ourselves so lucky to be workin' for a family with such a giving nature. They didn't even care that we were elves."

Lilly snorted. "Why would they, Averna? They have elven friends. They are certainly an odd bunch for rich folk - but, like you, I thank every day they hired me and my Jerod to serve them." She shook her ehad. "Never thought I'd see the day when Royals, mages, and common folk of all different races would join together as family. But I'm happy to be part of it all."

During the course of cleaning up, the girls would sneak peeks out at the couple, signaling Jerod whenever their wine glasses neared empty.

They started clearing the deserts away when the couple stopped eating, but the wine continued to pour until the couple tromped unsteadily up the stairs. Lilly smiled at Averna. "When all else fails – let the wine do the talking."

The women giggled until their husbands joined them to help them complete their evening chores.

-BREAK THREE-

Last night had been a thing of nightmares. To have seen, firsthand, what had become of Bartrand. What the idol found in the Deep Roads had done to him. She and Anders had done what they could for him. But no amount of spiritual healing could fix what the idol…contaminated? Was that the right word? Tainted, maybe? Even the two most powerful people there, Elvie and Laura, didn't know how to make Bartrand whole again. In a moment of clarity, Bartrand had asked for death, but they couldn't bring themselves to kill a man that might, one day, be saved. She'd lost people to death, but she'd never lost any to madness. She wasn't sure how to help Varric through this, except to be there for him.

She and Alistair grabbed a few sweet treats for a late breakfast and ate them on their way to the Hanged Man. She wanted to check in on Varric to see how he was doing after what happened last night. She noted Thana had already arrived early than she, unless the dwarf has stayed the night.

"You have to hear this, chuckles! There's this tale making the rounds…" His smile widened. "They're saying The Hawke – that's you, single-handedly fought off a pirate invasion, at midnight, on the sacred ground of the chantry."

"Ooooh…I'm amazing! To be in two places at once, protecting Kirkwall from its monstrous foes! But…," a brow lifted, "didn't the story mention my stunning good looks and my cunning wit?"

He grunted. "Nope. They skipped straight to the part about the loveable dwarf with the gorgeous crossbow, heart of gold and the stunning princess at his side. I tried to steer them straight," he remarked with a shrug. "Just…don't be surprised if people seem in awe."

"I have to ask…why don't you ever make yourself the main character in those wonderful tall tales?"

He smiled. Few would take him seriously if he was the hero of every tale. He would just end up another braggart at a tavern. No, he preferred to weave the tales, not necessarily be in them. "There's a recipe to a good hero, Chuckles. It's like alchemy. One part down-to-earth, one part selfless nobility, two parts crazy and you season liberally with wild falsehoods." Thana looped her arm through his and he lifted his hand to pat her arm. "You let that percolate through a good audience for a while, and when it's done, you've got your hero."

"I'm keeping up with Mirrored Mage. You are very good at what you do, whether you voice your words or put them to book."

He waved her off. "Aw, you'll tear me up – but do go on…" He smiled at her laugh. "As luck would have it, I love the sound of my own voice. And I'm a compulsive liar." He grunted when Thana's elbow hit him in the ribs. "Though not to my friends and loved ones," he corrected. "There's power in stories, though. That's all history is, the best tales. The ones that last. Might as well be mine."

She fingered the small item in her pocket and finally pulled it out. "I found something you might want back." She flicked it toward the dwarf, who caught it by sheer reflex.

Varric felt the warm metal that bit into his palm. He uncurled his fingers and just stared for a moment before showing it to Thana. "My father's signet ring? Where did you find it? Bartrand pawned it off to pay for the expedition. Of all the things…this sounds exactly like the sort of fake thing I'd make up about you."

"Well, then…when you tell the tale, mention that I got it from the belly of a dragon."

He chuckled. "For you, I'll throw in a couple of werewolves and a griffon for balance." He slid the ring onto his finger. He never thought he'd be the one to wear it. He watched it glint in the candlelight as he moved his hand to admire it. "Well, maybe now my contact at the gates of Orzammar won't ignore my letters anymore."

"You should have told me! Syn would let your missives through, if she knew!" Thana admonished; her lips pursed with her displeasure.

"I'm not about to use you for political or mercantile favors," he retorted.

"You're hardly using me if I agree and support it," she pointed out.

"I'll think about it, Honey."

Thana grunted. "Stubborn dwarf."

"About your brother…" Alistair brought up before something new popped into anyone's head.

Varric sighed and nodded. "He's still somewhat lucid. I have my contacts looking for the safest place possible to watch over him until we find out if there is any way to cure him permanently." He rubbed his chin. "I'll let you know more later."

Ann nodded. "If you need anything, we are here for you – you are family, after all."

"I know. Life can be stranger than fiction," he mused. "A few short years ago, I was a dwarf seeking a few more trading contacts. Then I met choirboy and my life has just become more and more fantastical. I don't think I would have believed my own life story if I hadn't been along for the ride."

"Is that why you haven't written a story about your life adventures yet?"

"No, I haven't written it, because my life's a long way from being finished." No that wasn't right. He sighed. "That's not exactly true. I don't know why I haven't started a series about my own life. But I have just come up with a new idea of a series about a captain and her guardsman. It will be called: Swords and Shields."

"And you won't even have to go far for the inspiration!" Ann teased and they all broke out in laughter. She wasn't sure Avaline would find it so funny, but she doubted Avaline would ever find out. She certainly wouldn't be telling her friend about it. A loud, familiar voice could be heard through the door. "It appears Isabella has arrived. I thought she'd be later." Ann shrugged. "Probably best to find out what's happening out there."

"Make sure you tell her no fighting in my tavern!"

She nodded and closed the door behind her. Surprising enough, Isabella wasn't causing any trouble. At least not the physical kind. But she was playing wicked grace with Merrill. Ann could understand how lonely Merrill was with Carver living in the templar barracks, but she wasn't sure if Isabella was the best influence on the impressionable, sheltered elf. Her brother certainly wouldn't approve – but then, he wasn't here.

Merrill frowned at her cards and dropped them down on the table. "Why do you always win at cards?"

Isabella chuckled. "Because I cheat, Kitten."

Rhynn nodded. "She really does. That's why I won't play her anymore."

"Oh, hush – you…or I won't use that thing you like so much later," Isabella warned in a teasing manner. She picked up the last item the elf had thrown into the pot. "This trinket…it's elven, isn't it? From your clan?" She slid the item across the table to Merrill. "Don't bet anything you're not prepared to lose."

Merrill picked up the stylized and inscribed band and slid it back onto her wrist. "Thank you. It keeps the dread wolf at bay."

Ann joined the pair, pulling up chair. "That was generous of you, Isabella." It would seem the pirate had a larger heart than she portrayed. "And a lesson well learned, Merrill."

Isabella's smile fell and she scratched a bit of dried food from the table's surface. At least she hoped it was dried food. She flicked it away. "Somebody didn't invite me to the party last night."

Ann released a slow breath. "It wasn't a party…exactly. It was a matchmaking shove for Avaline and Donnic. You and Avaline…I didn't want the tensions between you two to spoil what I was trying to achieve. Yelling whore and bitch across the table isn't exactly romantic."

"Ha! You haven't been to enough alehouses yet. I'll have you know in some places, that's prime foreplay!" Isabella took another swig of her whiskey, draining the glass. "Another jigger of whiskey over here!" she yelled at the barkeep. "I would have controlled myself if it meant I could watch the hilarity of those two trying to flirt with each other."

"No, you wouldn't," Rhynn scoffed. "Avaline would have said something and you wouldn't be able to resist teasing her mercilessly. Or saying something outrageous about Donnic taking control and feasting between Avaline's thighs."

Isabella's hearty laugh only grew at the stunned faces around her. "You are so naughty! And that does sound like me." Her gaze slid back to Ann. "Fine then, you're forgiven. I wouldn't have been able to keep my mouth shut. She's far too fun to goad."

The barkeep had brought all of them whiskey and she took a small sip, the burn a bit harsher than she liked. "I tease her too," Ann admitted, "but I try to keep my claws sheathed." She smiled at the thought of Avaline's strait as an arrow and by the book lifestyle. "I can see why you do it. Sometimes that stick needs to be wiggled."

Isabella laughed even harder and then wiped her eyes. "I like you. I thought I'd have to watch myself around you, but as it turns out, you're all right."

She grinned at that. "Oh, I'm a bit more than all right. As Varric would say, I'm the hero of tales and a legend in the making. A woman who will soon be aspiring to godhood."

The pirate set her elbows on the table and rolled a coin across her knuckles. "You're witty. I like that about you. You aren't afraid to get your hands dirty and don't judge people because of their station in life. You give them a chance. That means something – it means a lot. And you're damned good at everything you put your mind to. If I had someone like you aboard my ship when the…storm hit, maybe we wouldn't be shipwrecked."

Ann shook her head at the thought of herself at the helm of a ship. "You would have come to regret such a choice. My only experience sailing is being crowded in a hold with a bunch of refugees, barely keeping my food down. That would make me an awful sailor."

"Then I'd just have to keelhaul you until you shape up," Isabella teased.

She felt a warmth at her waist and felt the coins in her belt until she found the one that was warm. Anders. "It would appear I'm being called," she said as she rose from the table. "It's Anders," she told her husband. "You three can join us, if you have nothing better to do."

Isabella, Rhynn and Merrill were eager to join. It would appear that anything was preferable to being bored. "Hmmm…" she said as they exited the tavern. "He doesn't appear to be coming any closer to us. A trip to Darktown it is." She doubted Ninia would be with him at the clinic. Darktown was filled with desperate people and that made them dangerous. Anders was always careful to keep Ninia out of danger, even though she'd proven herself capable during the Blight. She would never let a man dictate where she could go. But Ninia didn't seem to mind and that was her right.

Anders was just finishing up with a healing when they stepped into his clinic. He ushered them out and then closed the door behind them. She supposed what he wanted was not meant for other ears.

Anders looked over the group. It wasn't as if he had expected her to be alone, though that would have been preferable. "I haven't seen you down here in a while, Isabella."

"And you won't either. I don't need your cures now that I have Rhynn."

He inclined his head to the brunette. "Then thank you for steering our Isabella down a less destructive path, Rhynn."

"It was my pleasure, Anders." Rhynn couldn't help but giggle as she recalled some of those very pleasures.

Anders cleared his throat and returned his attention to Ann. "Have you noticed how many tranquil are in the Gallows courtyard lately? And no, this isn't my normal griping. I've been watching and every day there are new tranquil, selling their bloody wares. Good mages, too. People I know passed their harrowing."

Damn. That wasn't what she thought she'd be hearing. She didn't know what he needed, but that hadn't even crossed her mind. Culllen and Elvie hadn't said anything about that. Not that they spent much time hanging around the mansion. "I hadn't heard. I figure it best to avoid the Gallows. No need to make their jobs easier by bringing myself to their doorstep. If that is true, then they are breaking chantry law."

He nodded. "Exactly so. The templars are using the Rite of Tranquility to silence those who speak against them. They are working on a deliberate plan to turn every mage in Kirkwall within the next three years."

His words seemed unreal to her. Cullen might be wary of mages but surely, he'd never be a part of something like that. He'd had too many examples of strong mages to think they'd all turn to demons. "No. No. That can't be right. Cullen would never allow that. He's married to a mage."

"Maybe not directly. But Cullen can only do so much when Meredith commands him. If he loses his position…"

"Then there would be no one left with any power to try to keep the balance. No one left who cares about what the mages are going through," she finished for him.

Now she understood what he was saying. He let out a sharp breath. "Exactly! And the mages aren't sitting around waiting for the ax to fall. There are groups in Kirkwall who help those fleeing the Circle. I've talked to people from the inside." He paced for a moment and then stilled. "The tranquil plan is the work of a templar named Ser Alrik. I've had a run-in with him myself. He's the one who did the ritual on Karl. Nasty piece of work, likes to make mages beg." A thought growled through him, lighting fire to his conviction. It was Alrik's turn to beg.

Rhynn's fingers toyed with the leather wrap on her dagger. "What did this Alrik do to you?"

Perhaps, he should not have said all that he had. But he could not take back his words. Regardless, He might be able to use her position in society and her skills with both magic and the blade to further his cause. "I've been involved with an…underground resistance. Mages, living free in Kirkwall, who help others escape. I asked Ninia not to say anything. I'm sorry. I didn't want to risk involving anyone else. I wouldn't have involved her but she followed me." He crossed his arms over his chest, pursing his lips with a small shake of his head. "I'm sorry, Ann, I can't tell you anymore. You have too much involvement with the guard and the nobility."

She rubbed her forehead and frowned in disappointment. Not knowing enough always led to poor decisions. "I'm also heavily involved with mages," she pointed out. "There are a lot of mages in the mansion, lest you forget."

He took a step back and waved his arms. "I don't doubt your loyalty to mages, but they will. And it's more than that, really. I won't put you in a position to lie. Your reputation has come to mean a lot in Kirkwall. You are known for being honorable and fair as much as you are known for your ability to fight criminals. I won't let this touch you." She would surely be needed in the weeks ahead and her reputation needed to be above reproach.

"Fine, Anders. Then tell me more about Alrik." Ann folded her arms under her breasts and waited.

Now this, he could tell her. "The knight-commander is at least sincere in her convictions. However misguided, she believes she's helping people. But Ser Alrik's a sadist. A cold-blooded lizard. He likes to experiment on mages, find out what it takes to push them into the arms of demons."

If only one man was spurring this on, then maybe something could be done about it. "Then it is him and not all the templars that are guilty of this horror."

"That is what I hope." He rubbed his forehead, a slight ache building in his head. "If we bring the evidence of this plan to light, there must be men who'll stand against it. Cullen, Carver…others. Perhaps, even the grand cleric will finally be forced to act." He glanced around, noting only a couple of people in the clinic, none of which he deemed a threat. Still, he leaned in closer to her. "My friends in the mage underground know a way inside," he all but whispered. "A secret entrance under the walls of the Gallows."

Hmmm…a secret entrance might come in handy. She listened more intently to what he was saying.

"Come with me tonight, Ann, please. Help me find the evidence of Ser Alrik's "Tranquil Solution."

Solution? Not on her watch. This was persecution not a solution. Killing people's minds for something they had never done or even thought to do was akin to cutting off the genitals of every man to keep them from raping women. Well, sort of. Equally abhorring, in any event. "I won't let that happen."

He inclined his head to her. "Good. I'm told he's bringing his proposal to Val Royeaux, to the divine herself." The heat of anger coursed through his veins but he tamped it down. He would not let the anger over the injustice rule him. But he could still feel its power beneath his skin, causing his next words to come out a bit harsher than he'd intended. "He would turn every mage in Thedas into a drooling simpleton under his command!"

"He is a ranting lunatic; the divine would never agree to such a thing. It goes against Chantry law," she reminded him.

"She's right," Alistair agreed. "I didn't spend long as a templar, but mages who pass there Harrowing are safe from being made tranquil. Unless they become malificar." He couldn't stop his gaze from sliding to Merrill, whose lips were pinched tight. He quickly looked away, focusing on Ander's words.

"Do you want to bet your wife's life on that? The lives of your friends and family?" he shot back.

"I won't let that happen," Alistair growled, his fists clenching. He'd start a war with the Free Marches before he'd let anything happen to Ann and his family.

"Of course not. You know us better than that. We'll do what it takes," she assured him. "He won't get away with this…this…persecution."

He was surprised by the rush of relief that coursed through him, dulling the anger. He hadn't doubted for a moment that she'd help the mages. So, he wasn't sure why he was feeling relief, but he did appreciate the calming affect it had on him. "I knew we could count on you. You are the one bright light of hope that the mages of Kirkwall need." He looked over at Merrill, Rhynn and Isabella.

Merrill's eyes widened under his appraising look. "Don't look at me, I'm going,"

Rhynn winked at Izzy. "Izzy and I have got your backs."

"Who would have thought I'd end up with a soft spot for mages – but, there it is," Isabella shrugged nonchalantly. "Let's find your proof."

He inclined his head to the other ladies. "Thank you." He wasn't too sure if Isabella and Rhynn would sell the location of the hidden entrance to the highest bidder, but he would take a chance on them. He didn't have much of a choice. He needed their help. "Then, if you are ready, our entrance is concealed not far from here."

"Then let's go."

Anders let them through Darktown to a hatch located in a distant corner. "This is it. This tunnel with take us into the Gallows."

They scurried down the stairs, into the dark. They could see light filtering up from the bottom, but it was dark on the way down, lending a creepy air to the tight passage. When they reached the bottom, she discovered the light was coming from lit, hanging lanterns. That they were still burning told her this tunnel was used often.

"It's creepy down here," Merrill said softly. "I hope there aren't any spiders. I don't like spiders."

"Don't fret, Kitten. We'll keep you safe," Isabella assured the elf.

"If I find evidence of Ser Alrik's plan, I'm taking it straight to the grand cleric." A small voice filtered through Anders' mind. And Maker help her if she doesn't put a stop to it. "She will not be able to claim neutrality then." (Ann, Alistair, Merrill, Isabella, Rhynn and Anders) (need to do qun delegation

Like most underground cavers, it still bore testament to its mining background. Broken down carts and rusted, cracked tools had been pushed off to the side, among the crumbling rock walls. There was enough humidity for strangled weeds and plants to dot the dirt and gravel with small bursts of green. The lit lanterns showed the mine's passageways had been used recently and likely still occupied.

"Oh look, they left the lights on for us!" Merrill grinned. Magic balls of light were never fun for her to maintain.

Ander's heart beat faster with anticipation. "Then they are still here!" His stride lengthened, in a hurry to reach the doorway across the chamber. He frowned when he realized it led to a smaller chamber with little more than bones and broken crates. With a growl, he hurried back up the stairs and out of the useless chamber. He scanned the larger chamber and saw a wooden rail and hurried towards it. He smiled when he saw that it descended to a lower level.

When he realized he'd taken over point, his cheeks heated and he looked back at Ann with a sheepish grin. "This is important to me," he told her, without losing a step.

"It's okay, Anders, we're right behind you," she assured him.

They descended deeper, the cooler air making her skin tingle.

A rock scuttled across the ground and smacked into a wooden barrel. It sounded like an explosion in the eerie silence.

"Sorry!" Merrill squeaked out; her hand flew up to cover her mouth.

But it was too late, there was clanking metal and shouts as men in armor charged between two large, load-bearing stone columns. Pulling their own weapons, they cut a bloody path through the large chamber. One by one, the attackers died, not a one of them asked for mercy.

Anders shook his hands to ease their discomfort. Fire was highly effective, but not the most comfortable magic for him to use. "Lyrium smugglers built these tunnels – to service the templars who crave the stuff."

Alistair caught a few heads turning in his direction. "Don't look at me," he scoffed, "– I never actually became a templar. Grey Warden, remember?"

Ann returned to her husband after locating the way forward and patted his arm. "Come on…looks like we need to descend deeper." She looked up at the stalactites and released a breath. She'd make a horrible dwarf. She hated having so much stone above her head. She wanted to feel the sun warm her skin, see the stars twinkling in the evening sky and feel the grass between her toes.

They didn't get far through the lower chamber, when giant spiders lowered themselves down from the stalactites above. She glanced down to see webbing below their feet. It was so gossamer that it was barely noticeable, but it was obvious that was how the spiders knew they were there. Bugs. She shuddered and drew her runed longsword. Not for melee, never that with spiders, if she could help it, but to amplify her magic.

"Spiders?" Merrill squeaked. "Are we in one of Varric's books?"

"If we were, I'd be closing the cover!" Alistair exclaimed as he shot towards the closest spider, his sword drawn and ready. Maker, he hated giant spiders. Fighting them always left parts of him covered in spider…goo. Goo is bad.

Ann shot a ball of fire at the webbing that covered the ground near the spiders. It caught, as if it were drenched in alcohol. The flames skirted around Alistair and the spider he was fighting to engulf the remaining spiders. She watched them dance in the flames, like a macabre play, their bodies wrinkling and drying out before they could take more than a few steps. In another blink they were nothing but husks. She waved her arm, a cooling blast struck the flames, dousing the fire. Smoke and bits of dry skin filtered through the chamber.

Alistair shook the goo from his arm and sword and frowned at his wife. "You could have told me you were going to do that. You know I don't like spider goo," he complained.

She patted her husband's cheek when he reached her. "I didn't know it would work. Not like that. I thought it would just buy us a bit of time," she admitted. She stood up on her toes and whispered in his ear, "You ran in their like a true hero. My hero. And you will enjoy your reward later."

"Aren't you two just so cute?" Isabela teased.

They shouldn't have to even be doing this! "Templars are despicable. They fear to fight us, so they destroy our minds instead."

The smile slipped from Alistair's face as he turned to look at Anders. "Back to that, are we?"

"That is the only place I can be while mages lives are in danger," Anders retorted.

"And that is why we followed you here, mage man. No good will come if this festers in your soul," Rhynn pointed out.

The path curved around, much like a "C", but this time the route seemed to be ascending rather than descending, were they heading back to the surface? Her thoughts were cut off when they exited the stairway and skirted a large rock formation to walk right into more adversaries who were eager to fight.

This time she launched herself forward with his husband, Isabella and Rhynn, leaving Anders and Merrill to help from the rear. Every time her sword made contact, her foot shot out to propel the body backwards. Thus, keeping much of the blood from spraying her.

Rodrik's sword aimed for the woman's leg, but before he could even understand why she dropped low, he was falling to the ground and man's sword was bearing down on him. Icy cold bit into him. The man was talking, but he couldn't understand. It was as if he was rooms away, instead of at his feet. Was he dead? Why was he so cold? His vision started dimming, much as his hearing as the cold intensified.

Alistair yanked his sword from the man's body. He had intended to skewer the man from behind, but his wife swept the man's feet out from under him and he'd had to quickly alter his aim. "We work well together," he remarked with a small grin before plunging his sword into the man coming at him on the right. He swung his body and arched out shield. The impact shuddered up his arm as it propelled the man back off his sword.

Isabella and Rhynn worked together to take down the last man standing. Little more could be seen but a blur of flashing blades.

They continued up wooden stairs. The stairs eventually becoming stone steps. Eventually, the exited a doorway that led to a small patch of ground and more steps, but they were not alone here. She darted through as fast as possible, not wanting to be stuck in the narrow confines of the stairwell. She chanted a spell in her head and her arm arched out from right to left, a powerful gust throwing the attackers back away from them, to allow the other to come through behind her.

When the last man with the giant hammer fell, she sent a wave of rejuvenation. Apparently, Anders had as well. She grinned. It felt like she'd just woken up and was full of energy for the day.

"Wow," Isabella grunted, a smile curling on her lips. "That's just the boost I needed." She spun her daggers in her hands and then slipped them into the sheaths on her thighs. Now, if she only had time to grab Rhynn and find a dark corner. Sadly, that did not seem possible at this time.

They followed the wooden stairway upwards and over the planks that led to the right. The path continued through a doorway, across a small bridge and around a massive stone column to another doorway. She slowed when she heard voices. She motioned to the others to be ready. She stopped beside the door to listen.

A woman, wearing a circle mage's robes, backed away from a templar She was surrounded.

"No…please! I haven't done anything wrong!", the woman begged.

The templar snorted. "That's a lie. What do we do to mages that lie?" he asked snidely.

Ann looked back at the others and nodded. She held her finger up to her lips so that they would move forward silently. She hoped to get the drop on the templars.

The cold stone bit into the woman's back. No…no.. trapped. She raised her hands to show she wasn't armed. "I just wanted to see my mum. No one ever told her where they were taking me. I wanted her to know I was ok. Please, serrah.

Anders felt the fury rise up inside him. He fought it until he regained control. "No, he muttered. This is their place, we cannot…" It wasn't right, mages should be able to leave the tower, but that had never been the way of things. He doubted this mage had even had a chance to pass her Harrowing yet.

Akrik grinned. "So, you admit your attempted escape? You know what happens to mage girls who don't toe the line around here, don't you?" In a perfect world, mages would be drowned at birth. Too bad it isn't known until they are older. But he enjoyed making them productive members of society. They served well…once their wilder inhibitions were neutralized.

The girl dropped to her knees. "Please, no. Don't make me tranquil. I'll do anything! Anything at all…" she started crawling towards him, willing to offer herself, in any way, to him and his men. Anything to not be made tranquil.

Alrik grunted. "That's right. Once you are tranquil, you'll do anything I ask."

Ann had heard more than enough. She stepped forward. "That will not come to pass. Step away from the girl, now." An uneasy feeling rippled over Ann's skin and she shuddered.

Anger burst from Anders. "You fiends will never touch another mage!"

Ann took a step backwards as light bled from Anders. His voice was not his own. Justice. She dodged a blade, mentally slapping herself for not paying attention to what mattered most right now. Killing templars was not something she'd intended to do, she'd intended to reason with them, but that idea was moot now. If they were to make it out alive, there was no choice but to fight.

She felt magic drain from around her. it had been aimed at Anders, but hit her too. No matter, she didn't need magic to fight. Her father had taught her well in every aspect of fighting. She couldn't fight them head-on, for they were far stronger than her. She used her smaller size and agility to dart in, aiming for the weak points of their armor. An arrow whizzed by her head and she bolted up the stone steps to bring the fight to the archers, while the others handled the men below.

As soon as magic tingled against her skin, she sent a spell of protection to cover the mage girl and then focused once again on the archers. Rhynn joined her and together they took down the three men at the top of the stairs. With a nod to each other, they hurried back down to the main battle, which ended a few minutes later.

Power flooded through Anders until it was almost painful. "They will die! I will have every last templar for these abuses!"

Ann approached him slowly. "Look around you, Justice. They are all dead. Release Anders."

He spun to face who'd captured his attention. "Every one of them will feel Justice's burn!"

The glowy man was the most frightening things she'd ever seen. The girl slid to the right along the stone wall at her back, trying to put distance between them. "Get away from me, demon!" she cried, her hands coming up to cover her face in terror.

He turned at her words and stormed over to her. "I am no demon! Are you one of them that you would call me such?"

Ann waved Alistair and the others back and carefully approached the entity, for that is what he was right not. This was not her dear friend, Anders. "Justice…she is the girl they were going to make tranquil. We rescued her. You know this."

"No! She is theirs. I can feel their hold on her!" he turned back to the girl, a hand on his arm, prevented it from rising against the girl.

She stepped between the entity and the girl. "Let him go, Justice. Anders would not want you to harm her. She is everything you are fighting for." All the while, she altered a sleeping spell in her mind to calm the entity. The blue light began to fade. "There is a time to fight and a time to let go," she murmured softly, as the light continued to dim.

Anders gasped when the rage flooded out of him. He began to shake under the weight of what had almost happened. He was there. He could see everything, but it was as if he were not in control of his body. His legs gave out and he dropped to his knees, Ann dropping down with him. It was she that had given him strength. She that had weakened Justice's hold on him. He owed her more than he could ever repay. "Maker, no…if you weren't here…" He rose slowly to his feet, overwhelmed by everything that was whirling around him. It was too much. Feelings and fears that would surely drop him again if he didn't find a way to process them. "I- I need to get out of here. I need to think. Alone."

Annalynn rose to her feet, her hand falling away from Anders' arm. "Go then, we will talk later." She watched him leave. Something was very wrong. She didn't know how to help him and that troubled her.

Alistair took her hand. "You did what you could for him. For now, it was enough." Though he suspected one day it would not be enough and he was prepared to do whatever he had to do to keep his family safe. "We need to go before any more templars arrive.

Isabella tucked the coins away and rose from Alrik's corpse. "I found something I think you should see." She handed the missive to Ann.

She read over the missive. "Meredith and Divine Justinia were against Alrik's plan all along. Maybe this news will help settle Anders' heart."

"I'm not near as scary as he was," Merrill proclaimed, her voice tight with emotion from what she'd seen.

"Let's not go there right now," Alistair responded. "As you can see, we are clearly not leaving yet," he pointed out, sarcasm dripping from his words.

"Of course." Annalynn patted his arm. "Let's go. There's been too much death already today."

They doubled back and eventually took the ladder back up into Darktown. The girl they'd saved was waiting for them. It was not a safe place for her to be.

The girl clasped her hands in front of her, still shaken over what had happened. "You saved my life, messere. I will be forever grateful. But tell me, what was that thing?"

What could she tell her? The truth was out of the question. Perhaps a lie would server a far better purpose in this instance. "It was a prevention scare. To help mages understand how dangerous it is to summon demons."

"Demons? I – I wouldn't…I'd never…"

"Then you will never have to worry about the consequences. You should go home now, it's not safe here," Ann pointed out.

"Yes, of course, messere. Thank you all again."

Rynn watched the young girl go and frown. "Izzy and I will see that she makes it back safely."

Isabella sighed. "You are just too good sometimes. Fine, let's make sure she keeps her head…and all her other bits and pieces."

Ann nodded. "Good idea. I'm just going to check on Anders and my uncle."

When they arrived at Anders' clinic, he was engrossed in going through his possessions.

"I don't think that's going to make you feel any better," Ann pointed out.

He did not turn to look at her. How could he face her again? How could he face anyone? He'd almost killed a child he was trying to protect. "Should I feel better?" he sighed and dragged his hands down his face. She was too stubborn to leave him to his packing. He steeled himself and slowly turned to face her. "You were the only thing that kept e from murdering an innocent girl! It's all gone wrong, Justice and I. We're just a monster, same as any other abomination."

"No. The other abominations I've seen leave no part of the original host behind. If they are in there anywhere, they are unable to resurface. You are right, though. Justice can be a monster. He was never meant to be on this plane with us. I don't know the answers or what the future holds, Anders. I'm not sure running away will make a difference or if Justice will allow you to remain hidden away. But right now, you are in control. Right now you can make a difference."

He shook his head. "How can I fight for the freedom of mages, when I am the example of the worst that freedom brings?"

"Mages can be dangerous," Ann would not even pretend otherwise. "That's why this has been so hard. Show yourself and the other mages that you can control your power. In harrowing times like this, they need to have a good example."

Anders grunted. "Funny you should say that. You should be that good example, Ann. You…and Elvie, you are the best of us all."

"I can't do that. I can't let it be known I'm a mage. I have to protect my family as long as possible. I know I won't be able to keep it a secret forever, but for now…." She shook her head. "What I meant to say was that the mages here need you and other mages to set a good example. Elvie can do that. She's a free Circle mage that everyone believes is Grey Warden. And so are you. You two are free from the Circle's reach. I am not. Do what you can for as long as you can. If there comes a time that you are truly losing yourself to Justice, then come to me and I will help you, in whatever way you need."

Ander's head felt heavy on his shoulders and he let it drop. "How can I? How can I even trust myself to heal anynore? What if that…creature of vengeance turns on a patient? Will he…will I resist? Or will I lose to his fury?"

"Templars are the only thing that's ever set Justice off. I doubt you'd be healing a templar down here." She pulled out the missive and held it out to Anders. "You should read this. Alrik's solution was rejected."

He took the missive and opened it. "The Divine…" he mumbled. "She rejected the idea. Meredith rejected the idea." His head rose slowly to look into her blue eyes. "This is…not what I expected. Perhaps I should try talking to the grand cleric. Maybe she's more reasonable than I thought." He pulled Ann in for a brief hug. "Thank you. I will think on what you've said. I promise…I won't run away without talking to you. I just need…some time."

She pulled back. "I understand." She patted her belt. "You know how to reach me, if you need to talk some more."

-BREAK FOUR-

Carid was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for her when she and Alistair came down to break their fast come the morn.

"Mistress, a missive arrived for you this morning. I place it right over there," Carid explained as he motioned towards a nearby table."

"Thank you, Carid. Ann is just fine."

"Of course, Mistress."

She rolled her eyes. At least he wasn't calling her princess or your highness anymore. She would take whatever boon she was given. She ignored Rila and Sandal talking quietly in the corner. Even Bodahn kept his distance from the pair whenever Rila was able to capture the young dwarf's attention. If anyone got too close, Sandal's mind drifted away and no one wanted that. When she reached the table, she picked up the parchment and slid her fingernail under the wax seal. She read the message and dropped the letter back on the table. "It would seem we are wanted back at the keep. The viscount wishes to have a word with me." Her tummy gave an unladylike grumble. "But after we break our fast."

She noticed the silence at the table when she sat down. It didn't take her long to see the cause of it. Neria's sweet, heart-shaped elven face was damp with tears. She was resolutely eating, but refused to look at anyone.

She glanced at her mom, who was holding the elf's hand.

"Do you want me to tell them?" Leandra asked Neria quietly. It was not as if this was a secret that could be kept. It would all be obvious soon enough.

Neria nodded, but still didn't say anything. She just continued to shove food in her mouth and wipe her eyes with a linen napkin.

Leandra lifted her gaze to meet her daughter's and Alistair's. "Neria and Fenris were…intimate last night. Come the morning, Fenris ended what they had and left the mansion before the household was up."

"What?" Ann asked in a tight voice. Never could she have imagined that Fen would do such a thing. She knew he had his own demons to deal with, but she also knew he had deep feelings for Neria. "That doesn't make – I'll kill him," she growled.

Neria's head jerked up. "No! Please, Ann…don't…don't do anything." She dabbed at her eyes and gripped the cloth tighter. "I knew…what I was getting into. I didn't know that he would…" her hand wavered for a moment, then she shook her head. "It doesn't matter." Her shoulders drooped. "No one should feel forced to be with someone. He'll come back or I'll move on when I'm ready. Nothing more…nothing less."

Annalynn pursed her lips, keeping angry words behind them. A slow breath slipped from her lips. Neria was right. This wasn't her business. Regardless, she couldn't promise not to say anything to Fenris – but she would wait to see how the dust settled. At least…for a bit.

Neria could see the emotions crossing Ann's face. "I've never seen anyone look so forlorn and lost. Maybe he needs to find himself before he can open himself to me."

"Maybe," Ann told her, which was the best she could do at the moment. For now, she settled in to breakfast and discussed where she would be going shortly with the rest of her friends and family that showed up.

Garrett wiped his mouth with his sleeve, blushed when Leandra cleared her throat and picked up his linen cloth for another wipe. "Mind if I go along?"

Cullen swallowed his food quickly. "I have something I need you to look into for me. If you don't mind. Some women have gone missing. The guard do not think the cases are related and the templars don't involve themselves with matters not pertaining the Circle or chantry. I respect your skills," he said with a nod. "And you have both the Amell and the Hawke name, that could open doors that are closed to anyone else I might have asked were you to decline."

Garrett tossed the linen on the table. "You had me at women are missing."

"Laura and I will join you, Garrett," Sebastian informed the newest Hawke.

"Agreed," Laura replied, as she peeled the skin off a grape. "We'll grab Fenris too. I think he has a lot to work out. If we get jumped, he'll have his chance to vent."

Garrett nodded. If something was eating Fenris, he needed time to work it out and a way to vent his demons. And, honestly, he didn't really like being alone. He'd been alone far too long. "Now, tell me more."

Ann rose from the table. "Alistair and I need to get to the Keep. No doubt it's about more trouble with the qunari."

Elvie rose too. "I'm coming with." She saw her husband's raised brow. "I need a break from the Gallows and if there is trouble with the qunari, I may be able to keep things calmed down."

Cullen frowned and nodded. "Just be careful."

She smiled sweetly and kissed her husband's cheek. "Of course!"

"Can I come too?" Merrill asked quietly. She enjoyed spending time with Leandra and whoever else chose to stay behind at the mansion, but sometimes she missed Carver too much and just needed to get out. Of course, now was not one of those times. She still felt the sting of his betrayal. She loved him and he'd denied her the tool he'd refused to take from the Keeper to fix the eluvian mirror. Her people had so little of their past and he and the Keeper wanted to keep it from her. Said it was too dangerous. But she was careful. Always careful. She knew none of them approved of her using blood magic and consorting with…spirits…but she had to be right. Didn't she? Her people had lost so much. How could losing more benefit her clan? No, she had to be right.

"Of course, you may," Annalynn responded with a grin. Probably a good thing Laura was coming along. Merrill was sweet, but she was incredibly naïve and often said things that were a bit…inappropriate. Laura was good at smoothing rumpled feathers. She turned to Garrett. "We'll meet up tonight. Let me know what you were able to find out."

Garrett bowed his head and made a flourishing hand gesture. "Then we will swap stories, sister mine."

As she, Alistair and the girls left the mansion, her thoughts returned to the missing women. Kirkwall was like all other cities. People went missing. It was usually not due to foul play. People move on or they go visiting. They don't always tell anyone. She could only hope that was the case here. She was actually glad Cullen had asked her brother. Garrett was an intelligent man and good with a blade. Sometimes it started to feel like everyone expected her to handle every problem that came up. It was nice to share that burden with her brother.

"My little wifey is quiet," Alistair teased in a sing-song voice.

"I was just thinking how pleased I was that Cullen sought out my brother for assistance instead of me," she told him.

"Right," he replied with dry sarcasm. "I think you were thinking about the missing women."

She kicked a large pebble with her boot as they approached the steps to the Keep. "I was…thinking about them, of course. But he doesn't need me to help him find out the truth. I respect his capabilities."

"I know you do. But you also like to do everything yourself so you can ensure no one gets hurt," he pointed out.

She shrugged. "I've been a big sister for too long. I protected my siblings. I protected mother. It's all I know how to do. It is a part of who I am."

He patted the top of her head. "I'm so proud of you – letting your twin be a big boy," he teased.

She stuck her tongue out her husband and opened the Keep's door.

Elvie winked at Alistair. "That does explain a lot."

Merrill perked up. "Did I miss something dirty?"

Elvie choked over a laugh. "No, you most certainly did not, Merrill."

"Oh," Merrill replied with disappointment. "I was hoping for something dirty."

"Really? Hmmm….A little boy returns from doing chores he didn't want to do. When he sat down to eat breakfast, he noticed his plate was nearly empty. His mother frowned down at him. "You kicked the chicken, so you will get no eggs. You kicked a cow, so you will get no milk. You kicked a pig, so you will get no bacon." The little boy frowned. "Father kicked the cat this morning. Should you tell him or should I?"

The guards standing on either side of the door snorted."

"I don't understand," Merrill asked, perplexed. A smiled lit up her face. "Was that dirty?"

Elvie pursed her lips, seeing the shocked faces of Ann and Alistair. "Of course, it was dear." She leaned down to Merrill's ear and whispered. "A dirty word for a woman's…lower anatomy is…" She meant to say pussy, she honestly did, but then she just couldn't. "Kitty-kitty meow-meow." She pulled back to grin at Merrill's mouth that took on a big "O" of surprise. "So….when daddy kicked the cat, it meant…"

Merrill jumped up and down in excitement. "I know! He'll get no kitty-kitty meow-meow!"

The guards burst out in laughter that they could no longer contain.

Ann shook her head and continued up the steps towards the viscount's office. Really, she was relieved. That could have been so much worse. Kitty-kitty meow-meow. All she could do now was hope Alistair did not start using that name or she wouldn't let him anywhere near her kitty-kitty meow-meow.

Marlowe rose from his desk and bowed at the two Royals and inclined his head to the Amell nobles. The elf, he did not bother to acknowledge. "Thank you for arriving in a timely manner. There was an…unfortunate happenstance since last we talked and I fear what that would men to Kirkwall."

Annalynn pursed her lips. "That doesn't sound good."

The viscount grunted. "It's not. Nor is it your responsibility – but I can think of no one else to turn to under such dire circumstances."

"What happened, Marlowe?"

The use of his first name irritated him, but considering his past with Leandra…he expected nothing less. And his irritation over such frivolity was less than significant. "A qunari delegate and entourage paid me a visit. It was civil, tentative. Hopeful, even. They left my chambers with precision, but were not reported by the outer guard. They went missing almost literally from my doorstep. What, do you imagine, will be the Arishok's reaction?"

"I fear he may demand an accounting," she told him.

"That is what I fear too. Please. Speak to Seneschal Bran. He had details that show how damning this is." He shook his head. "I can't imagine who would benefit by prodding the ox-men to war. But it will cost all of us."

"Yes, it will," she agreed before departing the office.

"Oh!" Merrill chirped, her head swiveling to peer upwards. "I think I saw sparrows in the rafters!"

Elvie patted the elf's back with just enough pressure to get her moving again. "I'm sure you did. No doubt they liven the place up."

"I miss Carver," Merrill muttered. She missed him so badly, but he infuriated her too. He'd refused to accept the arulin 'holm from the Keeper. She needed the tool to cleanse the mirror for her people. Were her thoughts swirling in circles? She was just so mad, she…the sound of Elvie's voice drew her from her thoughts.

"I'm sure you do, honey. You don't have to stay mad at him, you know." Elvie gave her a one-armed hug and rubbed her arm.

"He doesn't love me. If he loved me, he'd give me the tool."

Elvie shook her head. Merrill was so naïve. "Sometimes, when you love someone, you have to protect them from themselves. He loves you – And what you are getting into has the potential to hurt not only yourself, but your clan and everyone around you. Mayhap, you should consider, not whether you could but whether you should. Every time you call on a demon, its bond with you strengthens. There will come a time when he won't need you to call on him. Sometimes, the thing you desire most is not worth the cost to obtain it." Merrill had ceased looking at her. So, the silent treatment. Knowing Merrill, it wouldn't last too long. "Just think on it – that's all I want."

"I like Orana. I'm glad Neria told her to come. No one should be a slave." Merrill changed the subject. "She's so nervous. I hope she settles in soon. The house is like a soup," she mused. "So many vegetables adding flavor."

Elvie supposed people were the vegetables that Merrill was referring to. She wondered which vegetable she, herself, was, then shook her head over the silliness of it. "You are right. Elves, humans, dwarves all living together in harmony. It is too bad Vrok is no longer here. He is the spice the soup is missing."

Merrill smiled. "I can almost smell the soup." Her eyes widened. "Oh – now, I'm hungry!"

For the briefest moment, Elvie wondered if Fenris' missing sister would eventually be joining their household or if she would choose to stay in Fenris's stolen mansion. But they'd located the seneschal and it was time to focus on more immediate concerns.

"I have been told that you have information about the missing qunari?" Annalynn asked the seneschal's back.

Bran waved the servant away and turned to face the Royals. He bowed respectfully. "Your highnesses, my lady and…elf," he added at the last moment. "I am to help you, yes. Viscount Dumar would appreciate discretion in the matter."

"Tell me, how did this come to happen?"

Bran felt the heat creep into his cheeks, but it could not be helped. "Unfortunately, the qunari were not at their best. Their swords were tied into their sheaths. As I advised." Her rubbed the back of his neck, uncomfortable with the telling. "It seemed like a respectful compromise. Even I know you cannot separate a qunari from his weapon."

She nodded. "I'm assuming the Arishok is unaware of this event?"

"I have no intention of sending a messenger to his dead. No, he'll find out soon enough. And when he does, the viscount is rightly concerned that the illusion of peace will dissolve."

"Who do you have investigating the dissapearance?" Alistair asked.

"No one, your highness," Bran admitted. "I must think about what is best for the viscount's office. The qunari are neutral hostiles at best. There is no relationship to salvage by…overextending ourselves on their behalf."

Elvie blinked at the pure ignorance of the words she'd just heard. "What? Maybe there is no relationship to salvage, but the delegation disappeared on our doorstep. It would be considered prudent to find out how and why to maintain the peace."

"Don't you want peace?" Merrill asked, her brows drawn together in confusion.

"She's right," Annalynn agreed. "The Arishok is not…in a good place. We need to give him answers. If we don't, he may well tear Kirkwall apart to find them himself. Now, is there anything more you can tell us?"

The city guard. If they'd done their job, this wouldn't have happened. Bran drew the back of his hand across his forehead. "I would start with the most obvious failure. It's clear the city guard has no excuse for allowing this. Unless they were involved. Several failed to report for duty." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Although, where you find a swordsman so eager to sell his honor and duty, I'm sure I don't know."

Merrill raised her hand. "Oh – I know. The Hanged Man!"

"Quite so," Bran agreed with a frown. "Then you know where to start. I can't imagine this has occurred without notice. There's always a weak link." He cleared his throat when they turned to leave. "Please keep this quiet. The Viscount is under enough scrutiny as it is."

She considered discussing this with Avaline, but she knew her friend well enough, that she'd want to get involved with the investigation of her men. But the men would never open up, if their captain was around.

The trip from the Keep to the Hanged Man was relatively quiet. Once she reached the pub, she went straight to the barkeep and ordered a round of drinks for everyone. Get them all drunk enough and someone would surely say too much. She had Elvie go to explain things to Varric and a few minutes later, Varric and Thana joined them and they each spread out to see what they could overhear. A few rounds later, they had a winner.

"Another round!" Oswald exclaimed as he slammed his mug down on the counter. "This one's on me!"

Though the man was not in his armor, he still sported a sword and shield of the guard. She leaned against the counter near him. "Didn't know the city guard padded your coin purse so much. But who am I to turn down a free drink?"

He grinned at the pretty woman. "That's right, sweetness. Tonight, I'm paid and blessed. And all I had to do was turn my head. Can you believe that?" Once everyone was served, he moved to the middle of the room and lifted his wine bottle. "To all my friends!"

She nodded at the rest of her party and they all stepped in to crowd the guardsman.

"Step back," he growled. "I know important people. We're going to show this city what to do with heathen oxmen.

Aveline moved away from the door, she'd heard enough. She was already irritated that Ann hadn't talked to her about this, but that was for later. This – this was now. She stormed over to her guardsman, spun him around and slammed him against a table. "I know important people too," she seethed, shooting Ann an irritated look. "Who bought you! Who bought the honor of a proud guard of Kirkwall and made him a drunken mabari bitch!"

Oswald had not expected to see his captain at the Hanged Man. She tended to hang out at the pretentious Wishing Well with that high and mighty princess friend of hers. This wasn't going to end well. He could feel it in his bones. If he was honest, the captain scared the shit out of him. He couldn't even look her in the eye. "I don't… I don't know." He shook his head. "A templar. He was a templar; I swear!" He steeled the nerve to meet her furious gaze. "He had the seal of the grand cleric and everything! It's true!"

The grand cleric? She released the guardsman in shock. It couldn't be. She looked over at Reginald, who'd accompanied her and nodded. She turned back to the disgrace of the uniform. "The penalty for abandoning your post is ten days on the wall. I expect you to report in the morning. Reginald will see you back to the barracks."

She watched Reginald take the man's arm and usher him out of the pub. Her own men! No. That was being taken care of. She had another piece of business she had to deal with. She turned to face a woman she considered a sister. "Why? Why did you not tell me about this?"

Ann winced. "Two reasons, actually. One, I feared this would turn into a wild goose chaise and it would be a waist of everyone's time. And two, I knew no one would talk if their captain circled like a vulture. I knew if I told you, that you'd demand to come along."

Avaline released a heavy breath. Ann was right. She would have demanded to come and the guards would have been silenced by her presence. As much as she hated it, she could see the sense of it. "I hate that you're right all the time."

"Not all of the time," Annalynn replied with a grin. "But certainly most of the time."

"The grand cleric," Alistair shivered. "That is a horrible thought."

"It is," Avaline agreed. "Not sure how it's going to look with the captain of the guard to be there while you accuse the grand cleric of funding zealots and kidnapping or killing qunari. But I intend to see this through. This cannot happen again. Not on my watch."

She approached a sister, who was lighting candles that had gone out. "Please arrange a meeting with the grand cleric. I need to speak with her about a recent happening with a qunari delegate. The woman rose and hurried away without a word.

"Well," Varric quipped. "That wasn't creepy at all."

A few moments later, footsteps turned their heads to a familiar face she couldn't quite place.

Patrice frowned at the group. She'd called on The Hawke once, but the foolish bird flew away without helping her forward her plan. "Serah Hawke."

The voice brought back a memory. A sister and a templar had once asked her for assistance, but the woman had set off alarm bells and she'd refused to have anything to do with her. "Sister Petrice," she acknowledged without enthusiasm. What was the woman up to this time?

"Mother Petrice. Time has changed us both, it seems. Grand Cleric Elthina cannot grant an audience to just anyone. What do you want?"

Annalynn's brows rose. "Just anyone? The crown prince and princess of Ferelden are not just anyone… Mother. I believe she would wish to make the choice to see us herself. Regardless, I'm here about the qunari incident at the Keep."

"Qunari," Petrice spat. "Filthy heathens that do no belong here. The Viscount is coddling them and you – I've heard stories about you being their staunchest supporter."

"I am trying to keep the peace. If the qunari attack, many people will die. Many innocent people," Ann explained.

"As so will the qunari. Something needs to be done. We cannot allow them to stay. We have done nothing for far too long. I won't stand for it!"

Annalynn nodded. "Now, I think I understand. It was you who used the grand cleric's seal. You paid the guards to look the other way. Do you know what you've done?"

"You have abused your privileges, mother," Avaline seethed.

Of all the stupid, irrational…Damned foreign nobles think they have a say in what happens in Kirkwall? It was not their place and Petrice was livid. "I have done what I had to do. Who are you to question one who serves her Grace? I see no reason to let you pass."

"Is that so?" Ann responded with a twist of her lips. "How about the fact that you used her seal – her authority to abduct qunari? Does she even know?"

Petrice slipped her hands behind her back to hide her clenched fists that ached to reach for her dagger. "The grand cleric trusts her stewards to enact the wishes of the Maker."

Thana wanted nothing more than to kick the naughty mother in the shins. "Will she support you after she finds out what you've done, heartless mother?"

The mother stared down at the royal dwarf. Would strangling once such as she be a sin? Or the Maker's duty? Dwarves didn't even believe in the Maker, did they? Heathens deserved no better. But still, she did not need the grand cleric getting involved. "All right, Serah Hawke, if you won't abandon this then let me offer you something. The templar you seek is a radical who has grown…unreliable. Confronting him may do us all a favor."

Ann folded her arms under her chest. "Let me guess…this would be the templar I saw you with a few years back?"

The mother inclined her head. "It is. He is my former bodyguard. Ser Varnell. Assume what you wish, but I offer him to you as a… reconciliation." She pulled a parchment flyer that she'd been circulating out from a pocket within her robes and held it out to the princess. "Meet me at this location. I invite you, Serah Hawke. Come see the unrest the qunari have inspired."

"Need I say I'm skeptical?" Avaline responded when the mother departed.

Varric grunted his unease. "Aren't we all?"

Ann nodded. "It's her game, for the moment. But I don't intend for us lose – and I'm looking forward to saying checkmate. But first…a visit with the grand cleric."

"Good," Elvie replied. "I'm interested to hear what she says."

Althena rose from her knees as the group ascended the stairs. Interesting. Have of the group were either royals or nobles. Everyone, no matter how lofty, had need of the Maker's love. "What can I do for you all today?"

"Good day, your Grace. Thank you for seeing us. I am sorry to ask, but I have need to know if you were aware that someone used the authority of your name…your seal to instigate a crime against the qunari?"

No, she had not been aware but she'd heard whispers of discontent. She knew something might happen soon. "The path to righteousness is never as straight and narrow as we wish. I truly hoped this would not go so far…but do not trouble yourselves. I will step in when the time comes."

Annalynn pursed her lips to keep from frowning at the response she'd been given. "Thank you for your time, your Grace." She turned and stormed down the stairs. "I will step in when the time comes?" she seethed as they approached the doors of the chantry. "If she knew anything about this, she should have stepped in before Petrice had the qunari abducted."

"Evil flourishes when good men do nothing," Elvie responded to Ann's statement. "Lives are at stake and she retreats into her shell. I do not understand it."

Varric grunted. "It's hard to see where you're going if your head's up your arse."

Avaline's lips twitched, wanting to smile. Despite Varric's words, it was a sober moment. "Her inaction may well lead us to war with the qunari."

Ann nodded. "That's what I'm afraid of. Petrice incites the fears of the people. If they push the qunari too far, they will fight back. And they will not give any quarter." Ann glanced over at her husband, who was unusually quiet.

A flush crept into Alistair's cheeks. "I am disappointed in the grand cleric. I don't like the way that feels," he admitted. "She should have done something."

"I know. She may have buckled under the pressure, my love, but we won't."

"So, where to, Chuckles?" Varric asked as blined from the harshness of the midafternoon sun.

Despite the nickname, she didn't feel like laughing or telling jokes right now. "The Arishok. He needs to know the truth and I need to know what he intends to do."

Thana pushed herself to move faster to keep up with Ann. "You don't think it would be better to wait until we know more about what happened?"

She glanced down at the dwarf and slowed her pace. They'd get to the qunari compound soon enough, she didn't need to run the dwarves ragged. "Normally, yes. But I can't risk him finding out some other way and taking matters into his own hands. I'm hoping he will allow me to find out more before making any kind of decision."

Banter, from that point, was inane, as if no one really wanted to talk about the elephant in the room – what the Arishok was going to do. She took a deep breath as she ascended the steps into the qunari compound. The guard allowed them to pass with little more that a grunt.

The Arishok lifted his gaze to watch the man ascend the stairs towards his throne. Not this. Not now. "What do you want, Hawke? I have no interest in adding to my distractions."

"I find it curious that you sent a delegate to the viscount.

He waved his hand impatiently. "A brief attempt to educate. This city is mired in selfish greed. You have seen the outcome of that greed. These fools are determined to be wrong. I won't waste the effort again."

She nodded at his words. Still, she was surprised he'd even reached out at all. "I bear some unsettling news. Your delegate went missing after they left the Keep. I will find out how and why – but I wanted you to know first."

One insult after another! "Anyone else, and those words would have been their last. You are handling this? Not your buffoon of a viscount?"

"That is correct," she told him.

He inclined his head. "Then I will wait. But know this: the provocations we have suffered have worked. If this is not resolved, I can fulfill my duty to the Qun with far less annoyance by sifting through rubble."

She stared him in the eyes and refused to flinch at his words. "Know this: I will protect my home – this city."

He appreciated Hawke's courage, considering his party was far outnumbered. "That is expected."

-BREAK FIVE-

"This doesn't bode well," Avaline stated as they started back up the steps leading away from the docks.

They went straight to the appointed location in darktown. Varric clicked his tongue. "Have to hand it to Varnell. Nice place for an extremist rally."

"More like the only place the guard won't show up," Elvie pointed out. Her gaze slid quickly to Avaline. "Usually, that is," she corrected quickly with an embarrassed smile.

Avaline waved her off. "You are right. We do not have enough guardsmen to patrol Darktown regularly," she admitted. "I can admit that is a problem."

A voice floated back to them. "Qunari have no power. They are absent in the eyes of the Maker."

Annalynn turned to face the others and held her finger to her lips. "This way," she told them softly as she motioned with her had. She hoped to hear a bit more before drawing attention to themselves.

"Do not fear them! They die like any animal."

They rounded the wall to see four qunari tied up in front of a crowd. The delegate and his entourage were still alive. Varnell paces in front of the qunari, trying to rile the crowd with his self-sure speech.

Varrell tapped one of the qunari's chests with his dagger. "Like any beast, remove the fangs and all is lost. They are weak before the faithful of the Maker. The only certainty in their precious Qun Is death before the righteous." He sneered at the oxman and drew his dagger across its throat.

Annalynn darted forward. "Murdering a helpless man is nothing the Maker would approve of! You've gone too far, Varnell!"

He slowly wiped the blood from his face and slowly turned to face his accusers. "Wrong, your highness. I've not gone far enough." He pointed to the dead qunari with his dagger. "This is no man! It is no part of the Maker's plan. It is nothing more than an aggressive, barbarian beast worthy of nothing but the sword. The Viscount gave these vermin – these heathens shelter in our fair city. He coddles them and leaves the rest of us to tremble in fear, knowing these oxmen could turn on us – take away our Maker and force us into there Qun…or kill us. We are nothing to them and they should be nothing to us!"

He spun around to take his dagger to a second throat. His weapon flew from his hands. With a frustrated growl, he drew his sword and plunged it into the second heathen's belly. Before he could draw the sword out, he yelped as he found himself propelled through the air, his breath knocked out of him when he hit the wall hard.

Petrice stormed in, things were getting out of hand. A blasted Grey Warden mage. Above the Circle. Above the Chantry. That should never be! "Ser Varnell!"

He groaned and rose to his feet; a smile stretched his cheeks when he saw Mother Petrice make her appearance. He smirked at the intruders and stiffened his sore back, determined no one would see him wince. He had to gain control of the frightened people. By the time he reached qunari, they were already surrounded by the intruders. Two trying to save the beast he'd run through. He shook his head. The animal was beyond saving.

Varnell lifted his arms to the audience. "Take a knee, faithful. The Chantry blesses us."

Varnell was a madman. He'd gone too far and now he was risking everything she'd fought for. Petrice frowned at the man who had once served her well. "You claim a blessing when you have used the authority of the grand cleric so openly? You have brought wrath down upon you. You remember Serah Hawke – princess of Ferelden and the champion of qunari? The qunari have friends, templar. How will you answer their allegations?"

Ann gazed up at Petrice, her nose wrinkled in distaste, while the healing mantra ran circles in her head. Even now, the rotted woman intended to use her to fulfill her own ends.

Elvie withdrew a vial from her pouch, emptying the contents into the wound and then removed a needle and thread. She quickly tucked a few stiches through the entry and exit wounds ripped away the bottom of her shirt. She wrapped the cloth around him, tied it tight and then settled her hand back between Ann's, directly over the puncture. She whispered a new spell to her friend and together, they continued to work to save his life.

The templar grabbed the sword that had been cast from qunari and raised it in the air. Fury welled up inside him. "Destroy the heathens!" Mumurs ran across the crowd as they continued to back away. "Righteous souls, destroy all of them!"

"No," Padero shouted. "Ann saved my daughter! She feeds us and heals us. I don't like the qunari – but I'll not raise a weapon against the only people who care about us!"

More voices joined his. "Who will stand with me in the eyes of the Maker?"

"Murderer!" Seena hissed. "You would make us murderers in the eyes of the Maker!"

Todd waved the crowd back. "Go back to your homes. We're done here!" He turned to the templar. "You're on your own, Varnell." And then walked away.

"Worthless! All of you!" he bellowed. With a war cry, He launched himself at the two remaining ox-men. He saw nothing but the red haze of fury until icy cold fingers bit into him. The world tilted and spun. When he could see clearly once more, he watched his body take a step backwards. His torso was peppered with bolts, a dagger was burred hilt deep in his chest and his head… Maker, where was his head…. He had to find his head. A hard, flat-footed kick propelled his body backwards as darkness rushed in to take his vision. Words became jumbled and they, too, faded to nothingness.

Alistair unbound the two remaining qunari when his wife and friend rose from the ground.

Elvie stretched the kinks out and then turned her attention to the survivors. "We have done what we can to save your injured man. Are you two well enough to get him back to your compound?"

The delegate studied the human for a moment and then inclined his head to him. He patted his sword. "We will have no further trouble. Thank you, human."

Of course, human. Though, she supposed that was better than being referred to as a man. "Tell your Arishok, that I will come before him soon." She watched as they each took an arm from the injured man and slung it over their shoulders. She heard a groan and hoped he'd survive. She then turned to look at the dead qunari.

"They did not take him?" Merrill asked.

Elvie frowned. "Admittedly, I did not find much on qunari when I was in the Circle. But I imagine their beliefs are different. Perhaps, they see the body as an empty shell that requires no more attention. I can't know for sure."

"Sounds as good as any other theory," Varric agreed.

Elvie sighed and rubbed the ache in her neck. "I suppose it's time to bring this mess to the viscount's front door. Varric, Thana… can you make sure the qunari make it back in once piece?"

He cocked his head with a smarmy grin. "They'll never even see us."

Avaline settled her hand on her sword. "I'll stay and guard the bodies."

Elvie moved in beside Avaline. "I'll stay with her."

Ann nodded her approval. She, Merrill and Alistair made their way out of Darktown. When they reached the keep, Marlowe heard them out, but then demanded to be taken to where it happened. They led him and his body guards through Darktown to where the rally had been held.

Marlow looked over the scene. A bound, dead qunari lay crumpled against the wall. Not far from him was the blood splatter from the second victim that would likely perish as well. He moved towards the head on the ground and bumped it with his foot until it rolled over and he could look down at the man responsible for all of this. "Madness. Absolute madness. Chantry involvement…even if the are fringe elements… It could not be worse. It will look like we sanctioned it." He rubbed his bald head. "A templar is bad enough. But a mother?"

"Mother Petrice and Varnell have been stirring malcontent for years. Though, I didn't know it at the time. I felt they were… shady, but I didn't know it went any further than that. As far as I know, she hired out for any dirty work she needed done. Tried to hire me a few years back, but something felt off and I walked away. She is… slippery."

It felt like everything was rolling downhill with him trying to outrun the growing mass. "A blasted mother! You have no idea the storm these allegations would cause. It would destroy what support I do have." He crossed his arms over his chest. "I will make my inquiries. Gently. It is, after all, your word against hers." He held his hand up. "Your word is not in question… with me, highness. But the people will want proof."

He turned and walked over to the qunari. "I honestly do not know if this is the delegate or not." He cleared his throat. "They all look the same to me." He turned his head at the princess' approach. "After being attacked, you let them leave on their own?"

"Of course not," she scoffed. "I had two of my friends shadow them. I told them not to be seen. I did not wish to further offend the qunari by believing I thought they were weak."

He rubbed his head. "I'm sure that was for the best. Honestly, I'm losing any sense of how to balance this nightmare," he admitted. "We will see that the body is returned to the qunari." He bowed slightly as Alistair joined them. "Your highnesses. I appreciate your help in this matter. As bad as it was, it could have been a lot worse without you. Kirkwall owes you. I owe you. You have all done so much to help our fair city."

"We all must do what we can in these trying times."

"I wish more people thought as you do, your highness."

She nodded to her friends to follow and left the viscount's guards to their work. "Time to see how the Arishok intends to respond."

They met up with Varric and Thana at the gate. Varric was cleaning under his nails with the tip of bolt. He smiled when he saw them, twirled the bolt and slid it back into the quiver.

"A smart man knows when to wait," she teased.

"My thoughts exactly," he proclaimed with a wink.

She nodded her head. "Let's do this."

She led her friends up the stairs to the Arishok's throne.

The Arishok had been waiting for the Hawke to arrive. "So, you could not rescue my delegate, but you killed the man responsible for his death and saved his entourage. How did this happen?"

"It was the work of a few zealots," she told him. "They were trying to rile others into standing with them, but his plan failed and he was…neutralized."

He gave a slight nod. "That is as I was told. I accept that." He forced his hands to uncurl and rested them on his thighs. "I have seen every vice and weakness of your kind – and how few of you take responsibility. Your viscount remains a fool. But you are not. Panahedan, Hawke. I will keep one good thought about your kind."

"That went better than expected," Avaline said as they moved out of earshot of the compound. "If this did not set him off, perhaps we will survive until he departs. But I won't be relaxing the guards training – not so long as the qunari are a possible threat."

Varric grunted. "Meaning not so long as they remain in Kirkwall."

The guardswoman smiles. "Exactly."

"So…." Thana sighed. "Do we intend to visit Petrice?"

"We do, indeed," Ann replied with a grin.

She hesitated only a moment before stepping through the Chantry doors. While, she absolutely believed in the Maker, she did not believe in the Chantry or the Circle. It only took her a moment to find Petrice talking with a sister. "Miss me?" she asked with a haughty raise of her brow.

When the sister moved away, she turned to the last people she really wanted to see. "Serah Hawke." The princess' brow rose higher. "Your highness, it is good to see you. The shame that Varnell brought his order is most unfortunate. Praise the Maker that you were His Champion in that dark place."

Annalynn gave a slight cough at the thick, sugary words that fell from Petrice's mouth. "I will play words of etiquette, if you wish. But words such as those say nothing and mean even less. Can we drop the pretense, Petrice?"

"Mother Petrice," she corrected for the hundredth time. "I think you will find that I have said nothing threatening or untruthful. I gave you what you wanted at considerable cost. Varnell is more manageable as a martyr, but his loss will be felt. You have avenged heretical qunari with human blood. Surely that is good enough for you?"

"I didn't want anyone to die – that has never been what I wanted. He attacked, we defended ourselves and those that were tied and defenseless. Varnell may be dead, but we both know this is not over. You have no intension of stopping your crusade against the qunari. You will see this city go down in flames and I won't let you do that."

The mother sighed. Must she always explain herself to fools? "Varnell was a fool, but the facts remain: an offence to the Maker goes unchallenged." Petrice turned away from them, to quit the room. But she would have the last word. "I will give you no further cause to shame the Chantry today, but we will have this argument again. The viscount's incompetence all but guarantees it."

Varric rubbed the back of his neck. "Sometimes, you just know trouble is coming."

Trouble was what they talked about over dinner at the mansion. After she and her group explained everything that happened concerning the qunari and answered a few rounds of questions, she sipped her wine and leaned forward in her chair to get a better look at her brother. "I do believe it is your turn, Garrett. Tell us what you learned about the missing women."

"It's not pretty," he admits. "First we went to the Gallows to speak with the Templar named Emeric. He asked us to go to the DuPuis' estate. We had to fight through a few shades and a rage demon. We read a note pertaining to an artifact shipment. It may have been the cause of the shade infestation. There was also a missive from the first enchanter of Starkhaven about missing mages. There were signs of possible blood magic and even a letter from Meredith apologizing for the raid Emeric instigated. We didn't find Gascard until we reached the upper level. He claimed he was trying to save the life of a woman he was holding against her will. I actually believed him. As he told it, he wasn't really a blood mage, but he was desperate and was using blood magic to find the killer. I'm sure there was something he wasn't telling me, but I believed him enough to let him go."

Garrett raised his hand to keep them silent. He knew not everyone would agree with his decision, but it was done and there was nothing anyone could do about it now. "We returned to the Gallows to talk to Emeric, but he was gone. Another templar said he was off to meet with me according to a note I sent." He shook his head. "I never sent a note. Regardless, the templar told us where the note said to meet…but all we found was Emeric's body and a few shades. The templar arrived after we cleared out the shades. At least, the templars are now taking Emeric serious. He was killed because he got too close to the truth. It is unfortunate that it takes his death for that to happen. Before we left, she asked if Gascard DuPuis was the killer of the missing women. I told her no, I don't think he is. And I don't. There is something he is hiding, but I honestly don't think he killed them."

"No bodies were found and there is nothing to implicate who the killer is?" Avaline asked impatiently. They had next to nothing to go on. How many more women would have to die before evidence could be found?

"Nothing. At least not yet. Gascard believes they've been killed and now the templars do too. I know it's precious little. There's not even a real pattern. From what I've heard of the missing women, they are of varying age and caste. The only thing they seem to have in common is that they are light of skin."

Avaline nodded. "No woman should leave this mansion alone. Not until this killer is caught. Is that understood?"