To my Spanish speaking guest: Thanks. I am back. AquilaTempestas I am glad you liked the chapter. There is more Cullen and Alistair in 56 as well. Absolutely, I have several people in my family looking forward to the Mass Effect. I am waiting to hear how it turns out. savankala: Its good to be back ... again.

Thank you for all my readers...I have actually hit a 101 reviews. I am soo happy that you guys are enjoying the story.

The sun was just coming up on us as Fenris, Teyrn and I left Viscount's Way, a tavern in Hightown. Because of Teyrn the tavernkeeper only allowed us to eat if we had our meal on the porch. I couldn't complain too much the sun was rising on the Vimmark Mountains and I thought briefly of Duncan's offer to see sunrise in at the warden base in the Anderfels. Shoving the feeling of remorse down I would deal with it later I focused on the behavior of the tavern keeper. With the way she kept glancing at the elf I had a feeling it was more about Fenris than my Mabari.

It took a bit to persuade him to eat but when he did it was worth the extra thirty silver pieces to watch his face as he tried what people of Kirkwall called food. Either he had never had the food before, or he felt as I did. It took away the hunger and that was all I could say for it.

Fenris suggested that if I was really going to talk to the merchant helping the refuges, I might want to take Bethany with me since she was there when Hawke talked to her. I agreed. I suggested he go and retrieve her, and I would go back to the mansion and get Alton. I figured he would be back by now. And probably having a fit I wasn't where he could keep an eye one me.

The five of us met back at Lowtown. Tucked away in a corner down the street from the Hanged Man was the shop front Bethany told me Lirene worked from. She volunteered the information that the merchant gave up the information about Anders.

I allowed her to tell me about the healer and listened to the groan from the elf as the mage's name was mentioned. I wondered about their relationship. It was one of the things I would check out as soon as my wayward warden returned from the Deep Roads with her brother.

Good Morning Mistress Lirene," greeting the woman who has come to open the metal doors to the import warehouse. We had been waiting for about a half hour before there was movement inside.

She eyed Fenris and Alton with a measure of fear which was quickly replaced by a gruff throat clearing when her gaze landed on Bethany. "It is early. If you are in need of assistance you can leave your name with my girl."

I cleared my throat bring the woman's eyes back to me. "Actually Mistress, as I understand it you are the one in need of assistance. But it might be better if we go inside to talk. Business is often handled better in a private setting."

She opened the door to the mid-sized shop and motioned for us to enter. "I don't know how private this will be. We have many people who have no place to go laying on mats in the back room. Some are too ill to be outdoors. Others, well they just can not make it without extra assistance."

"Then they should be left to the elements and be allowed to die. Only the strong survive," Fenris said indifferently.

Disappointed at the inability of him holding his tongue I shot Fenris a scathing look. It either didn't matter to him that I was frustrated, or he didn't see he did any thing wrong. He just stared ahead unaffected. I glanced at Alton who shrugged. I knew he had the same opinion but had the sense not to comment on it in front of others.

I cleared my throat and inhaled deeply. "Mistress, please forgive him. His trials have left him with little compassion. As for privacy, this is acceptable. I had no desire to broadcast my intention on the streets."

Lirene was still glaring at the elf as she moved to the other end of the room and put the table between us and herself.

I told Teyrn to stay at the door. It was four humans and a dog. I didn't want to overwhelm the woman. To Fenris I said, "As long as you are with me, please refrain making comments like that. I have business to conduct and can not accomplish my goals if you sour the deal before we even start. If you can't then you should stay here with Teyrn."

He had the good grace to look away but said nothing. I took it as a sign of agreement. I responded by thanking him. Then stepped forward to lessen the distance between myself and the merchant. Alistair had always been better at making people feel at ease. I shook my head to get that thought out of my mind. He wasn't here and I needed to focus.

"I understand that you provide help to Ferelden refugees. Jobs, medicine, food is that correct?"

"I do what I can. It is more than most are doing. Is there a problem?"

The groan was deep in my throat and fought to keep my body language neutral. When she looked between Alton and Fenris there was a touch of fear in her eyes she tried to mask. Her tone was a mix of defiant and fearful. "Are you having troubles from other merchants for helping them?"

Lirene's eyes darted from the warrior to the rouge and she shook her head.

"Who?" Alton asked knowing it was my next question.

"I said no," Lirene answered defensively.

"Who are you protecting?" Fenris demanded. Like us clearly not believing the lie.

Suddenly as she decided she wasn't going to fear us there was a defiant tilt to her chin. She turned an icy stare on me and said, "You see what our people face in Kirkwall. They have no jobs, no homes. Most can barely by bread to fend off starvation. And you can tell the dock master I am not paying any more for the goods that come in. SO, if he sent you here to threaten me. I am not afraid."

"Your word usage and accent say you're from Kirkwall, but you said our people? Are you Ferelden?"

"My father and mother escaped the Orlesian occupation of Amaranthine. I was two when we came to live in Kirkwall."

I smile finally we were getting somewhere. "My friends and I are here to find out what we can to help you take care of the people. I don't know the Dock Master. What is it that you need?"

"We never say no to donations."

"Donations are not what I had in mind. They are only a temporary measure. I am here in Kirkwall representing the King Calian and Warden Commander. Prince Alistair will be joining me later. I have come to see what we can do about taking care of our people."

Lirene scoffed. "Really the King has finally decided to notice us. It took the nobility long enough. People are starving and dying, and nothing was done. The blight was over a year ago."

Bethany gasped at the venom in Lirene's tone.

"Actually, between the traitor's attempt to steal the throne and the Darkspawn's civil war that almost destroyed the Arling of Amaranthine. The Warden Commander and King of Ferelden have been a little busy." Alton said defending me.

"Oh," Lirene said softly. "My apologies then for speaking out of turn. We had heard the rumors but..."

I cleared my throat to bring us back on topic. Listening to the merchant I realized we were going to have another problem I hadn't counted on. Resentment. "I haven't been in Kirkwall for more than a day. Tell me about what you are doing, who here in Kirkwall is aiding or hindering you, and where you need the most help."

We spent the next two hours talking about her operation. How she would allow people to sell belongings for coin and resell them to other merchants who would either not deal with refugees or try to cheat them. Jobs to have food and a dignified way to live seemed to be the hardest thing for her to provide.

I realize here was the first way I could help. The idea I had when talking to Iona about information gathering of those in Kirkwall would be a perfect way to get a count of those here. Plus, the influx of coin would also bring additional supplies that would help all of those stranded here.

Then there was always illness. Lirene spoke of a healer in Darktown but would not give his name. He would often treat the most critical of injuries. But they were often more people injured or ill than resources to heal them.

She mentioned one noble in particular I would want to look into. Lord Harimann. He had gone against other old money to petition for funds to be sent to Denerim. He was taking the money to Ferelden himself.

As we walked out of Lirene's store Bethany confirmed that the healer was Anders. I asked if she was comfortable filling in for him. When I saw the fear in her eyes, I knew she might do it because it was the right thing, but it would put a strain on her. I told her not to give it another thought. There were other ways we could get them what they needed.

She was interested.

I suggested that we gather the components for healing balms and injury kits. We could all make them and then a mage would just have to touch mana to them to make them more than just liquid and lotions.

She told me about an Dalish elf that her brother helped that had a clan on Sundermount. Bethany said she went with Merrill twice to gather supplies. If I didn't mind dealing with the Dalish I could probably get supplies from them.

After the Brecilian Forrest it had been hard to deal with the Dalish and my guilt. My guilt was one of the reasons I allowed the overly prickly Velanna to join our group without punishing her for the mess she made of Pilgrim's Path. But I found myself counting the Keeper of Valanna's old clan my friend as we tried to work together for the betterment of both elves and humans in my Arling.

Fenris argued that we didn't need Merrill and the clan would not help us if she was in our group. I disagreed as more hands would mean more potions. I disagreed right up until he disgustedly mentioned her constant use of blood magic. On blood magic the elf and I agreed.

But first we had a dock masters greed to deal with.