Tabris and Sten arrived to The Spoiled Princess at dawn. Tabris sat Sten at a table as she approached the Innkeeper. "I need a room for the night." She told him.

"Welcome back." The Innkeeper greeted, as he made his way to behind the counter. He flipped open his guest book and picked up the left in its center. "I give you my thanks, once again, but for saving our country. I cannot thank you enough."

"It was an honor." Tabris replied, before giving their names to the Innkeeper.

The Innkeeper sat aside the book and ducked his hand under the counter to retrieve a small box full of keys. "Two rooms, or one with two beds?" He inquired.

"Ah, no just one room is fine with one bed." Tabris answered, taking a peek over her shoulder to check on Sten. The Innkeeper nodded, taking out a key, and recording its number in the guest book. He held the key out for her, as he finished recording her visit in the book. "How much?" Tabris asked, as she took the key from him.

"No charge, it's on the house." The Innkeeper told her. "It's not much, but my thanks for saving my family and the country."

Tabris nodded her thanks as she made her way back to Sten. "I got you a room for the night, so you can get some sleep before you leave tomorrow morning." Sten rose from his seat as she held out his room key to him. "I can show you to your room." She offered.

Sten nodded his head, as he took the key from her. He followed her through a side door, past a series of rooms before they came to a room with the same number on the door as the one on the key. Tabris stepped aside, allowing Sten to unlock the door. "Thank you, Kadan. I did not expect to find someone of your nature outside of the Qun, but you have...impressed me."

"Is it hard to impress the qunari?" Tabris questioned. She stared into Sten's eyes as he gazed affectionately back into hers.

"Perhaps impress is the wrong word." He stated, continuing to gaze into Tabris's eyes. He watched as she lowered her eyes, and took a step back.

"I should get going, so I'm not late getting back." She said, returning her gaze to Sten's. "I guess this is goodbye, for now." As she turned to leave, she felt her hand being grabbed. "Sten?" She asked, turning back to him.

"Don't go." He stated. "Stay with me."

Tabris reverted her gaze to the ground. "What's one more day out of court?" She replied and allowed Sten to pull her into the room and close the door behind them. "There's only one bed." She said, as they approached the medium-sized bed.

Sten released Tabris's hand before climbing into the bed. "It will do." He said, as he rolled around to the side of the bed. Tabris walked to the opposite side and turned her back to him, as he did the same. They began to remove their boots and armor, leaving them in their sleeping attire. Tabris laid in the bed first with her back still to Sten, but it was only a few moments before she felt the bed shift and Sten lay down, too. She closed her eyes as she felt Sten pull the covers onto them. Her breaths slowed as they became deeper, falling into a state of drowsiness. Tabris, try as she might, just couldn't fall asleep. She was too cold. The blanket was too thin and there was no fire, she was shivering. "Kadan." She heard Sten call out.

"Yes?" She shuddered. She turned around to look at him and seen he was staring back at her. She jumped as he suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his chest. Tabris eagerly cuddled into his chest. The moment similar to a moment they shared the night before the final battle.

Alistair, someone she thought she had loved and loved her in return, had just broken up with her a couple days before when he had been made king. Not only that, but to add salt to the wound, had to lay with Morrigan just so they could both survive. She didn't know if this ritual was real, but she knew Morrigan wouldn't lie about something like that just to have a baby. So, Tabris convinced Alistair, telling herself she was doing the right thing, but when she left the room and the door closed behind her, she couldn't pretend anymore. She ran back to her room in tears, slamming the door behind her as loud sobs followed after. Tabris pushed the armor on the desk on the floor, picked up her helmet and chucked it at the mirror, shattering it into pieces. Silencing herself of her sobs, she looked over and seen that a bath had been prepared for her. Tabris walked over to it and felt that the water was still warm, just shy of going cold. She hurriedly stripped herself of her attire and stepped into the tub, sinking into the water. She hurriedly scrubbed her body down and rinsed off, sitting in the water as tears, once again cascaded down her face. Tabris's shoulders shook as she cried silently in the tub. After a few minutes she heard a soft knock at the door. She quickly wiped the tears from her face and stood to get out of the tub. She rushed over to the bed to grab her robe when she seen the door opening. As Tabris finished donning her robe, she looked up and seen Sten, entering her room and closing the door behind him. He walked over and stood in front of her, staring at her. Tabris opened her mouth to speak, but before she can get anything out, Sten reached out his arms and pulled her into a hug, comforting her. She wrapped her arms around his waist in turn, allowing her tears to fall as she rested her head on his chest.

Wanting to relive that night, Tabris repeated her actions. Resting her hands on Sten's chest, Tabris leaned her head forward and kissed the middle of his chest. She felt Sten stiffen, like last time, but continued to kiss around his chest. As she found her way to his nipple, she let her hand slide down his abdomen in his search of his member. She nibbled and sucked on his nipple as she pumped him, before releasing his nipple and trailing kisses down his torso. Sten laid himself flat on his back, allowing Tabris to settle herself in between his legs. Tabris felt Sten grip the back of her head as she took his tip into her mouth and sucked on it gently. She heard Sten take in a sharp breath as he pushed her head down and pushed himself further into her mouth. Tabris felt his member go deep into her throat before she retracted her head and took him in again, bobbing her head up and down repeatedly. As her mouth filled up with precum and drool, Tabris removed her underclothes. She lifted her head, taking Sten's member out of her mouth, and released all the spit from her mouth on it, bringing her hand up to stroke it all over his shaft. Tabris glanced up to see Sten staring back at her. She held his gaze as she took in his member once again, and began to bob her head. Like before, Sten didn't make sounds of pleasure, but she can tell by the way he pulled her hair and his ragged breathing, that he was enjoying it.

"Kadan." She heard him breath. She watched as he lifted himself up, still watching her and gripping the back of her head. Tabris released him from her mouth, once again, and spit the contents from her mouth on his shaft again. She felt Sten release the back of her head and she lifted herself up to give him a passionate kiss. As she intertwined her tongue with Sten's, Tabris climbed on top of him and put his member at her entrance before she pressed herself down onto it. She let out a moan as she felt him stretch her walls way more than she was used to.

Sten let out a groan as he felt himself being enveloped by Tabris's tight, dripping twat. He placed his hands around her as she began to bounce herself up and down on his cock.

Tabris let out a string of sensual moans as she felt her walls being penetrated. She placed her hands on his shoulders as she used her legs for support and rocked her hips back and forth. She felt Sten pull her closer by her rear, making him go in deeper, and let out another sensual moan. She increased her speed, matching the rock of her hips with his thrust.

Sten could feel Tabris's walls clench around his member as she let out a pleasure filled shrill. He laid Tabris down, and quickly flipped her around. Tabris was facedown in the pillow, with her derrière in the air, and her knees weakly supporting her. Sten immediately started thrusting into her, making Tabris cry out in response. Her mind went hazy as he continued to thrust into her, holding her waist and keeping her in place. Sten let out a growl as he felt her walls tighten around him again. He grabbed her hair with one hand as he started pounding into her at a much faster rate. Tabris let out another pleasure filled cry as she reached her climax for the second time that night. Sten let out a deep growl as he fell forward. He bit into Tabris's shoulder as he released himself into her.

Tabris let her knees finally fall when she felt Sten lay next to her again. After she finally caught her breath, she climbed over, on top of Sten, and cuddled into his chest. Sten wrapped his arms around her and they drifted off into a deep sleep.

"Where do we go now, Amell?" Surana asked her best friend as she sat on the bed. They were gathering their stuff from the room they had rented the night after the battle.

"I was thinking Kirkwall. I have family there and wanted to check up on them. What about you?" Amell asked, coming out of the bathroom.

Surana thought for a moment. "I don't know if I have any family. I don't remember any of them." She replied.

Amell sat on the bed next to her. "Do you remember where you're from?"

"Lothering." Surana nodded, "but it's long gone now."

Amell put her head down in thought. "The darkspawn most definitely destroyed everything," she said before looking up to Surana, "but you should go and check just to put the matter at rest."

"You think they were killed in the attack." Surana said solemnly.

Amell got up to put her the last of her things in her backpack. "Some had to escape, you just need to figure out where if they did happen to survive." Surana got up from the bed with her backpack slanged over her shoulder, and the two mages left the room. Amell returned the key to the innkeeper, and the two girls made their way out of the inn. "I guess this is where we part ways." She said to Surana as they came out of the inn.

"Will we see each other again?" The elf asked her human companion.

"Of course!" Amell smiled. "I'll be in Kirkwall for sometime, before I move on. I'm a member of the Mages' Collective, so if you need to contact me, just send the message through them and they'll get the message to me." Surana only nodded at her friend, not wanting to say goodbye. Amell sensing this gave her a big hug in reply. "Remember your training; and practice, but be discreet about it. Trust no one, and don't stay in one place for too long, okay?"

"Okay." Surana whispered, as Amell continued to embrace her.

Aeducan found herself in the streets of Dust Town, looking for a certain red headed dwarf. As she searched the faces of the casteless, she saw one particular dwarf who looked like an older version of the dwarf she was looking for. That has to be her mother. Aeducan made her way over to the dwarf, and stopped in front of her. The dwarf in response rose to her feet, but kept her head low, not making any eye contact.

"Lady Brosca," Aeducan started, cutting straight to the point, "where is your daughter, Rica."

Kalah made a grunting sound. "I haven't seen her since after that whole thing happened."

"The Blight?" Aeducan questioned, but she was ignored as the lady continued on her rant.

"We were staying with the prince, but after he was killed-" Oh, she means after they chose who would be king. "She was taken in somewhere else and I was dropped back off here."

"Do you know where she's staying now." Aeducan inquired.

"With the Vartags." Kalah grumbled.

Aeducan remained silent as she thought of how to make sense of this new information. "She would leave you out here on your own for the Vartags?"

"For the baby! They threatened to take the baby from her and leave us both out here!"

Baby? So the rumors were true. "Why would they care about the baby?" She needed to confirm.

"Because he's the prince's baby, the bastard." Kalah grumbled once again.

Aeducan stood lost in thought for a moment. She has a nephew, but how was she going to get him back? The same way she was going to get her throne back. "Lady Brosca, would you come with me back to the Royal Palace?"

As Surana travelled along the road of the Imperial Highway, she had an uneasy feeling that she was being followed. Without a second thought, she broke into a sprint and diverged from the road. She ran as fast as she could with her backpack and staff in hand. When she felt herself getting exhausted, she turned her head to see if there was actually anyone following her. She saw a group following behind her before she smacked into something hard, causing her to fall on the ground. Surana looked up in front of her and saw an elf towering over her. She noticed him from the battle at Denerim. She quickly scurried to her feet, and turned to face her pursuers.

"They're after me!" She cried, then snapped her head to the elf, when she heard him say the same thing, noticing he mimicked her action. "After you?" They questioned each other. Before Surana knew what was happening, the elf was fighting their pursuers off, killing them off one by one. When he was done fighting, the elf turned back to her. Surana watched as he made his way back to her, his body covered in flesh wounds.

"You were at the Battle of Denerim, no?" The elf asked her. Surana nodded her head, throwing her backpack to the ground, and got in her fighting stance. She didn't know this man, but if these men were actually after him, she wasn't going to trust that she was safe in his company. "I thank you and your friend with your assistance, especially considering our leader took both our battle and healing mage with her to fight."

"You're welcome." Surana replied, a little surprised.

"I am Zevran." He told her, stopping in front of her. "I'm guessing you thought these were templars, here to take you back to the Circle."

Surana nodded her head. He felt so much bigger than her, standing over her like that. She cowered in fear. "I'm Surana." She mumbled in reply. "Why were those guys after you?"

Zevran then, walked around her. "No need to concern yourself with that, but it is safe now for you to go. I don't know how long that'll last." He responded, walking towards the Brecilian forest.

"Wait!" Surana cried, running after him. She stopped abruptly when Zevran turned to face her, making them face to face with each other once again. "Um, let me heal your wounds before you go." Zevran shrugged his shoulders as he followed Surana to her backpack. He took off his shirt as Surana took out a healing ointment and some bandages from her pack. "Can you hold these for me?" She asked him, as she stood behind him and began healing him. Zevran felt the pain in his muscles ease. "Where were you going?" She asked him.

"No where in particular." He answered.

"Then why don't you travel with me?" Surana paused to gauge his reaction, when there was none, she kept going. "As you already know I'm greatly skilled in combat and I can heal your wounds after every fight."

"Where were you going?" Zevran asked, as she applied the ointment to his cuts.

"I was going to Lothering to look for traces of my family." Surana replied, as she bandaged him up. She bent down to return the ointment and bandages to her backpack.

"Why not?" She heard him reply, taking the pack from her hands to carry for her. Surana smiled to herself, as she followed after him. "So, long as we are both being hunted, right?"

Aeducan sat at her desk with the Kalah in front of her. "Lady Brosca, I would be honored if you stayed with me for the remainder of your days." She said, pausing as the mother gave her a shocked and quizzical look. "I just ask that you get in contact with your daughter and tell her I would like to speak with her."

"Oh, thank you!" Kalah exclaimed. "Right away, ma'am." She quickly got up, and made her way for the door.

"Tell her in the commons!" Aeducan called out, before she left.

Aeducan had remembered seeing Rica on the day of her feast. It seems she was more than just a fling, but her brother's actual lover. If she can get Rica to trust her, she could gain valuable information that would help her in her investigation. Taking her mother in was a good start, but she would have to convince her she bears no ill will against her for her brother's actions. Everything was in motion. She had the papers, she was working on getting a confession from Frandlin, and, with Rica on her side, she could find out exactly how Bhelen pulled all of this off, and which houses enabled him.

This was going to be a lot. Aeducan picked up the papers retrieved from the carta base. Why would the carta have such paperwork? Thinking back on it now, she was not familiar with the scout. If he was a member of the carta, her trail on the him would run cold, considering the carta had been completely wiped out.

Aeducan let out an exasperated sigh, as she stood up from her desk. She made a beeline to her dresser mirror. She wore a wig and a servants uniform, making traveling through Orzammar unnoticed a cake walk.

Aeducan grabbed her coin pouch from the dresser and turned to leave to the marketplace. When she opened the door to her room, she was met with Baizyl's twin daughters. "Any news on Frandlin Ivo?" She asked, turning to let the twins into her room.

Back at her desk, she watched as Shadya took a seat in front of her. The twins were not difficult to discern, Shadya's complexion being copper, and Sade having a more bronze complexion. "Priyal-" Frandlin's daughter, "-is working on getting a confession from him." She told her.

That's not what I asked. Could she even trust his daughter? Should she even trust Shadya? Her intentions remain unclear, unlike her counterpart. Aeducan turned her attention to her sister. Already knowing the trail for the scout was a dead end, but anxious to hear about what she found.

"I have bad news." She spoke, solemnly. "The deshyrs are organizing themselves. They're planning a rebellion to overthrow King Harrowmont."

The time limit on this investigation just got tight.

Tabris didn't waste any time in making her way back home. She couldn't wait to get back to spend time with her family. They didn't really get a chance to catch up during the blight, but she hoped things would be better from now on.

Grr!

Tabris instantly drew her weapons at her wolf's growl. She hoped no one would be stupid enough to try and attack her. She was the great Tabris: slayer of dragons, archdemons, and ancient beings. "Show yourself!" She commanded the unknown being. Shifting her eyes from left to right, she surveyed the area. She watched as a blonde elf stepped out from behind a tree. "You?" She asked, surprised. She recognized this elf. Their first meeting was sending him a message from the Blackstone Irregulars. She met him again at the Battle of Denerim, where he fought alongside her before she went after the archdemon.

"Nice to see you again, beautiful."

"Varel." Tabris greeted, putting her daggers away. "What are you doing all the way out here?"

"I could ask you the same thing. Both of our homes are in Denerim." Varel countered.

"I just walked a friend to the Lake Calenhad."

"And I just checked on some friends in Redcliffe. Mind if I join you?"

Tabris shook her head and continued walking. She seen her wolf stalk behind Varel as he walked by her side. She listened as she growled as him, but Varel either being oblivious to it or ignoring reached out and tried to grab her hand. Her wolf lunged at the contact, nipping his hand. Varel yelped in surprise and snatched his hand away. "Good, girl!" Tabris praised, and pet her wolf's head. Varel rolled his eyes, walking around to her other side, and throwing his arm around her. Her wolf began growling again, but she shushed her. "Give it a rest, Alpha, he's not letting up." Varel took that opportunity to give her a peck on the cheek, and Tabris elbowed him in return. "Don't push your luck."

The walk home with Varel was quite pleasant. Tabris had such a fun time with him, in fact. His diplomatic-humor personality mixed well with her aggressive-humor one. "Let's share a tent tonight, and get some rest for the remainder of the walk." Varel suggested. Tabris nodded in agreement climbing into the tent after him. Her white wolf, acting as a barrier, laid in between them. "Seriously?"

She liked Varel. He was striking, funny, and good-natured, but she just got her heart broken by one of her first loves and into...not quite a relationship, but some type of attachment with the other; and as long as she had this feeling towards him, she couldn't entertain a relationship with Varel. It wouldn't be fair to him. "Varel, you're everything I could ask for in a man, but now is not a good time. I just had a terrible breakup, and right now I just want to focus on myself and my family."

Varel stared at her response, studying her. "I don't mind waiting." He said. He gave her a kiss on her forehead before turning around and laying down.

Tabris smiled solfly at him. She laid down as well, using her wolf as a pillow.

Shianni and Tabris watched as the elves practiced weaponry, being taught, to their surprise, by other elves. Apparently the qunari kept spies in even the tightest areas. There were a few new faces, but the familiar ones is what shocked them. If they knew how to fight this whole time, then where were they when the alienage was being purged?

"I'm impressed." Tabris confessed, as she peeled an orange. "You are quite the leader to find someone to teach these banshees." Shianni felt herself smile with pride upon the compliment. "Let's hope they're all still here when the qunari leave."

Shianni frowned, remembering the Arishok's words. You think it is of the Qun to teach outsiders our skills? While it was true, they had established a temporary alliance, she knew there was a high possibility the qunari saw them as new recruits. "I need to go speak with the Arishok." Shianni told her cousin.

Tabris nodded her head, chewing on a slice of orange as she watched Shianni walk away. Turning her attention back to the elves, she realized there was someone missing amongst the group. Turning on her heel, she went in search of the missing elf.

"Soris?" Tabris shouted, upon entering her home. She discarded of the orange peel slices properly, before going further into the house. He wasn't here. Then, where could he be? She didn't think he'd be lounging about in anyone else's home. She noticed her father wasn't home, either. Probably in the castle, since Alistair named him to his personal court.

Upon leaving her childhood home, Tabris saw her bridesmaid standing near the alienage gate. "Wenna!" She called to her.

The bridesmaid looked in the direction of her name being called. "Tabris?" She asked, pleasantly surprised.

Tabris eyed the baby in her arms. "Congratulations!" She said, bringing her friend into a hug.

The bridesmaid returned the hug, eagerly, happy for the safe return of her friend. "Thank you, but she isn't mine." She said, when the hug came to an end.

"Oh, well, whose is she?" Tabris asked examining the baby, who looked to be only a few months old. She was an elven baby with pale skin and brown hair. Her ears stood out to a sharp point that made them hard to miss.

"This is Soris's daughter." Wenna handed the baby to Tabris, as they both considered each other silently. "I watch her for Soris from time to time." Tabris drew her gaze away from the baby girl to her friend. "It's the least I can do for him saving my life." Wenna finished.

She saved her life, too, but she wasn't going to nitpick. "I didn't know Soris had a kid." Tabris said, as she held the child close to her.

Guessing Tabris would want to speak more with Soris on the matter, the bridesmaid started to lead her to where said boy was. "Her name is Tathas. I helped Valora when she became pregnant with her and when she had given birth to her."

"It's a shame Valora was taken, but I'm glad they didn't take Tathas along with her." Her cousin had named her after one of the heroes from her story. She let a small smile grace her lips, as she cuddled Tathas in her arms.

As the two came to a stop in front of a store, Wenna moved to take the child back from Tabris. "Soris, is in there. I need to get her fed and cleaned before he comes home."

"I'll see you later, Tathas." She said, giving the baby a kiss on her forehead before she was pulled from her grasp. "It was nice seeing you, Wenna. We'll catch up some more later." Wenna nodded her head, before she strode off back towards the alienage.

Shianni found herself in the the back of the warehouse, awaiting an audience with the Arishok, once again. If the qunari had decided to take half the alienage with them when they left she couldn't stop them, but she also didn't want an alienage full of qunari spies.

"Elder." the Arishok greeted.

"I am not the elder. I only stand in for him when his duties at court pull him away." She corrected. She might of intentionally forgot to mention to her uncle Cyrion that there were qunari occupying this once empty space. She figured she didn't need to. She can deal with this, for now. "I just came to see if there was anything your people needed."

The Arishok studied her for a minute before answering. "Your people have been most welcoming. Assisting in groceries, cleaning, and cooking."

Shianni smiled at this. She wanted the qunari to feel as if they were apart of the community. That way, she could achieve whatever she needed to help her people. "Yet, you refuse any of the food or medicine offered for your benefit." She scrutinized.

"Shouldn't you be out learning how to use your bow?" The Arishok asked, ignoring her accusation.

Deflecting. He must not trust them completely. "If you fear poison, I will tend to you myself. I can cook and will oversee all treatment and any medicine being made for you." The Arishok was unimpressed, unwilling, but did not want to argue with her. He also didn't want to upset the only person ensuring that their stay remained a comfortable secret. So, against his better judgment he agreed, giving a slight nod of his head. Shianni let out a single smirk, beaming on the inside.

She planned to use this opportunity to get closer to the Arishok, and find out what else the qunari had to offer. However, the qunari were no pushovers, and Shianni will learn in time not to underestimate them.

Tabris walked into the store, examining the area before her. It appeared to be a clothing store filled with shoes, fur coats, and various clothes and robes for anyone from noble to peasant.

"Cousin?"

She heard her cousin greet, and turned her attention to him. "Soris, I can't seem to catch you or my father these days it seems."

Soris rushed to his cousin, wrapping her in a huge bear hug and lifting her up. "I'm glad you're back!"

Tabris felt the air being squeezed out of her. Over his shoulder, she saw a woman, who she guessed was the store owner, maker her way over to them. "I'm glad to see you, too. Now put me down!" Soris did as requested of him, and let Tabris back on her feet. "By the way, where's my dog at?" She asked, ignoring the store owner now standing next to her cousin.

"Uncle Cyrion takes her with him everyday to the palace for protection. No telling what the nobles could try, not to mention she protects him at night when they walk home."

Tabris nodded her head. Then, turning her gaze back to the store owner, she wondered why she was still here. It should be obvious she was here for her cousin, and not to buy anything; but if it will make her go away, "The fur coats look good. Would they keep me warm?"

Athaleyah nodded her head enthusiastically. She was so excited to be meeting the Hero of Fereldan. "Cousin, this is Athaleyah. Leyah, this is my cousin Tabris."

"It is such an honor to meet you!" Athaleyah beamed. She took Tabris's hand in her own, and gave it a firm shake.

"Well met." Tabris replied, taking her arm back. "So, the coats...?"

"Of course!" Athaleyah said. She excused herself before running to the back to find some more fur coats.

Tabris let a smile break across her face once the store owner was out of sight. "Is this where you've been hiding this whole time?" She questioned.

Soris answered with a quizzical look. He couldn't understand why she was smiling the way she was. "What's with the smile?" He finally asked.

"She's been occupying a lot of your time." Tabris said, simply, ignoring his question. "So, she owns this store. A merchant?" Tabris asked. She began looking around the store, as they waited for Athaleyah to return.

"Yes, but more like a stylist tailor. She used to dress up the queen." He said with pride.

"Hmph." Tabris was not impressed. She did not like the queen. Anora had double crossed her twice, even when she was willing to join her with Alistair. She should've known better. "Can't be that good, then." She and Soris paused, staring at each other in shock. She did not mean to say that out loud.

At that time Athaleyah made her reappearance. "I've also dressed Lady Isolde, the Couslands, you name 'em. I've traveled all over Thedas." Tabris followed Athaleyah to the counter where she laid several fur coats down on it. They were nice coats. Tabris watched as Athaleyah presented to her a jet black fur coat with a hood. "I notice you were in armor, so this would help keep you warm, covered, and your weapons concealed." Athaleyah opened the coat revealing multiple pockets hidden in it. It looked like it could cover her whole body.

Tabris examined the other coats. One was beige with no hood. It looked like it would barely just pass her hips. The next one had a hood, it was ash gray and went down to her knees; and the last coat looked like it barely reached her waist. She liked the ones that could hide her armor underneath. "How much for the black and gray coats?" She asked, taking out her coin purse.

"Three hundred sovereigns, but since you're a friend of Soris, I'll sell them to you for...one hundred and eighty sovereigns."

"Maybe I will let you dress me, for my court appearances." Tabris chided. She turned to Soris, "Will we see you at dinner tonight?"

Soris nodded his head. "I'm just going to help Leyah finish setting up her shop, then I'll meet you at home."

Tabris nodded her head, setting her change on the counter before she made her exit with her new coats.

Cousland pulled at her hair in frustration. So many had died during the blight, leaving lands like her own scarce with soldiers to protect. There had to be someone out there! At this point, she was considering hiring commoners, and training them to fight herself.

"I've sent a request to the king, but I wouldn't get my hopes up." She heard her brother say from behind.

She turned around to face him. "A lot of people are without homes, we should reach out to them."

"The common folk? They couldn't tell a sword from its hilt! We'd be better off hiring bandits."

"Then, we teach them! We have to do something! We don't have a lot of options right now." Cousland argued. She watched Fergus shake his head, as he moved passed her. "At least to clean up the place! One would think you would of done at least that."

"You think you were the only one in hiding? I couldn't show my face with Howe and Loghain on the throne! I'm just getting here, the same as you." Fergus said, now standing face to face with her.

Cousland lowered her head in shame. She hadn't thought of that. Here, Fergus had comforted her when she returned and she didn't think to do the same for him. "I'm sorry." She said and rose her head. "How was it for you? We lost the battle at Ostagar, but I'm glad to see you survived."

"I never made it to the battle. My party was ambushed leaving me in critical condition. I didn't recover fully until after the blight."

"Are you ok?" She asked again.

Fergus shook his head. "Hopefully one day."

"Just not anytime soon." She finished for him. I guess we've both been through a lot. She knew exactly how he was feeling. The guilt and pain for losing their home; but she was here, and he was here with her. They both would just have to support each other. "What if we put a request up on the chanter's board, and hired a mercenary group to train the recruits."

"That could work." Fergus relented. Cousland smiled at her brother, finally able to come to some sort of compromise.

I want the readers' to feel as if these are their heroes. So, like in the game, I won't mention any features they may have. Just imagine them as your own.