Heading down the hallway toward the staircase that leads up to the upper chambers, Ana spots Brother Aldous at the end as he turns to ask a guard if he's seen her. Quickly, she ducks into a nearby room and shuts the door. As soon as she enters, she quickly notices that she's not alone. She straightens as the two guards, who are sitting at the table with a deck of cards and a couple small piles of coins, jump up. Their cards spill onto the table. "Oh!" One of them exclaims, his eyes widening. "My Lady, we were just...uh..."

Raising her chin, she sneers at them. "Just what? Ignoring your duties and playing a card game? Isn't there something you should be doing?" She crosses her arms over her chest. "Perhaps my father should hear about this."

"No!" The other one exclaims, receiving an annoyed glare from his companion.

"What he means," He says, looking up at her. "The treasury's safe... I'm not even sure why the Teyrn stationed us here..."

She narrows her eyes. "Is that so? Do you always question your duties? If so, I'm sure we can find a suitable replacement for you."

"No, my lady! Of course not!"

She smirks, enjoying watching them squirm. "Good answer. Perhaps you should get back to work then? I'm sure my father had a reason to have you guard the Treasury." They stand there for a moment, gaping at her. "Well? Get to it!"

The men scramble to pick up their cards and coin before muttering an apology as they scuffle out the door. She looks at the door which they just went through and bites her lip. She doesn't want to risk running into her tutor and end up explaining why she didn't return after tending to the Much situation. Looking around, she walks over to one of the walls and feels around for the familiar lever. "Come on..." She mutters to herself. "Where are you?"

Her hands move over the cool stone wall and along the frame of the portrait with Ana's grandfather, William Cousland, posed with his white and brown mabari by his side. She lets out a triumphant noise as her hand finds the latch and pulls. A small section of the wall, concealed by a tapestry, pops out earning a concerned bark from Much.

"It's okay, boy." She grins, grabbing the protruding stone and using her strength to pull it over enough for them to go through. She motions with her head. "Come on."

Much whines and she rolls her eyes. "Come on, Much. Stop being a scaredy cat! We've been in here a few times before, remember? This leads out to the gardens and we can take the side passage up to Fergus."

Another whine and low bark.

"Seriously?" She shrugs. "Fine then. You stay here. Then if I get attacked by a giant rat—"

He barks and runs over to her.

"That's what I thought!" She chuckles, moving aside so he can go through. "In you go!"

He goes inside the dark passageway and lets out a low bark which resonates off the walls of the long passageway. Coming up behind him, she slides the wall back into place until she hears a faint click. Turning around, she stares into the darkness, groping around until she finds Much's head and grabs his collar. "Come on." She says, starting to walk. "I'll lead the way."

Listening to her footsteps in the dark, she focuses on imagining the layout of the passage in her mind. Her hand moves along the wall as Much lets out a small whine. "Almost there." She says. Within moments, she sees the faint light coming from outside coming through the cracks of the door. "Aha!" She smiles. "We're here." Releasing Much's collars, she feels for the side and pulls the heavy stone section to reveal the gardens. The sun is already beginning to set, leaving the greenery in a dusky light. Much quickly runs through the opening as Ana hisses for him to wait. Quickly exiting the passage, she closes it up once more, cursing under her breath before running after him. "Much! Come back!' She calls, her voice travelling over the faint talking of people nearby. She rounds the corner and almost collides with a young man. She looks up, ready to apologize when she sees the familiar face of Dairren.

"Dairren!" She gasps, her eyes widening. "What are you-"

"Ah, here's my lovely daughter now."

Hearing her mother's voice, she turns to look at her. "Yes Mother?" She smiles sweetly. As she says this she hears a short bark and looks down to see Much lying down beside her mother's feet. "There you are! You're a naughty boy!" As soon as she says it, her face reddens. From the corner of her eye, she sees Dairren try to conceal a smile. Beside him stands his mother, Lady Landra, and a young fair-skinned woman with light blonde hair, who both smile politely.

Her mother frowns. "Seeing as your troublesome hound of yours is here, I take it that Ser Gilmore found you and the kitchen issue has been handled?"

"Yes." Ana nods. "It's been handled, Nan has been calmed down and is back to work."

"You've always has a way with her." Her mother chuckles. She glances at her guests before motioning to them. "Darling, you remember Lady Landra? Bann Loren's wife?"

"Of course!" Ana nods, bowing her head to her. She forces a smile. "It's good to see you again, Lady Landra."

Landra mimics her head bow. "Likewise. You've grown into quite a lovely young woman, Lady Ana." She smiles. "If I remember correctly, we last met at your mother's spring salon a couple years ago."

Images of a drunken Landra, leaning against tables and walls, slurring about marriage come to mind but she plasters a smile on her face. "I believe so. We were honored for you to come."

"You're too kind, dear girl." She laughs. "Didn't I spend half the salon trying to convince you to marry my son?"

Feeling Dairren's heated gaze, Ana nods. "Yes, you did."

"And made a very poor case for it, I might add." He jokes, shooting Ana a smile. There's no doubt that they both remembered very well what happened that night. "Had she the power, I'm sure my mother would have married us on the spot."

"That's still a possibility!" Landra exclaims. "Dairren is still not married!"

Nervous laughter emit from youths before Dairren clears his throat. "Don't listen to her. I can assure you that I come here, not as a suitor, but to assist your father."

Ana's brows furrow. "My father?"

Dairren nods. "Yes. I'm to ride out with your father tomorrow as his second. It's truly an honor."

She gives him a polite yet unimposing smile before his mother motions to the woman beside her. "This is my lady-in-waiting, Iona."

Iona bows her head and Landra purses her lips. "Do say something, dear." She says, pointedly.

"It's a great pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady." She says, her voice soft and just above a whisper. "The tales told of your beauty was not exaggerated." She smiles and as Ana thanks her, noting the side-eye given to her by Dairren.

"You would think that being such an intelligent and beautiful girl, making a match for her would be easier." Ana's mother frowns. "Yet as she grows older, it's become more difficult!"

"Perhaps she simply has a mind of her own, your ladyship." Dairren offers, shooting Ana a smile. "You should be proud of her."

She sighs. "Proud won't get me any more grandchildren."

"Mother..." Ana groans, resisting to roll her eyes. Feeling the tension growing between the mother and daughter, Landra quickly speaks up.

"It's been quite a long day. I think I shall go rest for a while, my dear." She turns and places a hand on her friend's arm. "Thank you again for a tour of your gardens, Eleanor. We'll speak later?"

"Of course." Eleanor smiles.

Landra turns to look at her son. "Dairren, stay out of trouble." She teases with a grin.

"Always do, Mother."

As she and Iona dismiss themselves and head back towards the keep. Dairren reaches for Ana's hand and kisses it before peering up at her. "I'm going to speak with your father about tomorrow. I shall see you later?"

Feeling her mother's gaze, she smiles and nods. "Of course."

Leaving her with her mother, she peers suspiciously at the older woman as she watches the young man leave. "Fine young man." Eleanor muses.

"Mother, no."

Eleanor turns to her daughter, her brows creasing. "No what?"

"I'm not going to marry him."

"I didn't say anything." She says defensively.

"You didn't have to." Ana crosses her arms over her chest. "I saw the way you looked at us. I refuse!"

She frowns. "And why is that? You two were so close when you saw each other two years ago. Besides, he's a handsome young man from a good family..."

"Mother, please." She touches her mother's hand. "I'm not ready for marriage. Maybe in a year but for now, I just want to enjoy my youth."

A frown tugs at the corners of Eleanor's mouth as she reaches up to touch her daughter's cheek. "Yes, youth is a rare and beautiful thing." She sighs. "My darling girl... how quickly you've grown up. I still remember when I used to walk around the gardens with you when you were little. Do you remember that?"

A memory sweeps in like a wave from the dark recesses of her mind, making her smile. "I do. We'd walk around and you'd point out the different types of flowers as we passed then we'd sit below one of the trees while you read to me."

"Yes." Eleanor's hand falls as she chuckles. "Like a true Fereleden, you always loved the stories about mabaris."

"I remember that." Ana chuckles. "Ser Gilmore and I used to play mabari warriors when we were children."

"That too." Eleanor says, sadness tinging her smile. "I love you, my darling girl. You know that, don't you?"

"I love you too, mum."

Reaching up to move some hair behind Ana's ear, Eleanor frowns. "How I wish you and Fergus didn't grow up so quickly." She sighs. "You'll be running the castle while your father is gone and your brother leaves tonight. Have you said your goodbyes?"

Ana shakes her head. "Not yet. I was actually on my way when Much ran off."

"Well, I won't keep you any longer. We can speak later." Turning away, she kneels before Much. "And you. Try to keep her out of trouble, understand?"

Much gives an affirmative bark, earning a smile and scratch behind his ears.

"Very good." Rising once more, she embraces her daughter, smiling as she breathes in the fragrance from her hair. When she pulls away once more, she looks Ana over before parting ways. Ana stares after her mother for a while before she starts off toward the side passage.

Keeping an eye out for her tutor, she quickly winds her way towards the bedchambers and hears her nephew's voice as she draws near the open doorway.

"Will you bring me back a sward?" Oren says, his eyes widening as he looks up at his father.

Fergus chuckles. "That's sword, Oren." He says, kneeling before his son. "And I'll find you the mightiest one I can find."

"Promise, papa?"

Fergus gently grasps his shoulders. "I promise." Noticing somebody enter from the corner of his eye, he glances over. "Ah! And here's my little sister, coming to see me off!" He grins.

"Sister?" Oren asks, his brows creasing. "But that's auntie Ana!"

"I am both." Ana chuckles, coming to stand before her brother. "Mother and Father have insisted that I come say goodbye since I don't know when I'll see you again."

Fergus is about to speak when his wife, Oriana, quickly speaks up. "Ana! Don't speak like that in front of Oren!"

Fergus frowns. "She didn't mean anything by it, Love."

"Not at all. I just mean that the journey to Ostagar takes a while." Ana quickly recovers. "Depending on weather, it could be months!"

Oriana's solemn expression remains as she seems unconvinced but says nothing.

"Besides," Ana grins, placing a graceful hand on his armored shoulder. "Nothing other there can harm Fergus. He's build like a fortified wall!"

"I don't know about that." Fergus laughs. "It's a shame you aren't coming with me. It's going to be tiring killing all those darkspawn by myself."

"A woman fighting in battle?" Oriana gapes. "In Antiva, the very idea of that would be...unthinkable!"

"Really?" Fergus grins. "I always heard that Antivian women were dangerous."

For the first time since Ana entered the room, Oriana cracks a smile. "Only with kindness and poison, my dear husband."

Fergus' eyes widen before he lets out a round of laughter. He turns to Ana, motioning back towards his wife. "You hear that? And this is from the woman who serves me my tea!"

"Honestly, at this point, I'm surprised she hasn't yet." Ana chuckles, earning a laugh from the both of them.

"Poison papa?" Oren gapes. "Don't do that!"

His mother kneels beside him and smooths down his hair, gently quieting him. "We're only joking Oren." She says, softly.

"Besides," Ana shrugs. "I doubt I would be much help. I'm not very good with a sword. That was always your area of expertise, not mine."

"Yes... Maker, let's hope that you'll never need that skill." He frowns. "Even so, I'm not looking forward to the journey very much since we're short on men." He shakes his head. "I still can't believe that Howe's men are delayed again! You would think they were marching backwards or something!"

"It's a shame Duncan won't be riding out with you. Being a Grey Warden, I imagine he would be of great use against the darkspawn."

"A grey warden?" Oren exclaims, his eyes widening with excitement. "Did he ride here on a Griffin?"

"Shush, Oren." His mother chides. "Griffins only appear in stories now."

Fergus turns to his sister. "I heard about a grey warden being here but I was never told why. Do you know?"

Ana nods, her stomach knotting up as she thinks about Roderick. "He's come here because he's recruiting." She says, her eyes cast downward. "One of the men he has a mind to test is Ser Gilmore."

Fergus, watches her change in demeanor. Unlike their parents, he was fully aware of his sister's relationship with her guard. Once, after a dalliance between the two in the library, Ana had left some of her small clothes behind which Much had found and brought to Oren when they were playing fetch. He frowns. "Ser Gilmore is a good and capable man." He says, aware of his unknowing wife and son next to him. "Duncan would be lucky to have him within his ranks."

With a tight smile, Ana nods in agreement. A sad and tense silence falls upon them before Fergus clears his throat. "Anyways," He begins. "If it's any consolation, I'm sure I'll freeze in the southern rains." He offers her a grin. "I'll be so jealous of you here at the castle, all warm and safe."

Ana cracks a smile. "Not to mention there's better food here."

Oriana sighs. "I'm so glad to hear you'll be so miserable, my love."

He chuckles. "I was only joking...kind of." He sighs as he looks at the three of them. "Well, I should probably head out then. The darkspawn aren't going to decapitate themselves!"

Oriana wrinkles her nose. "Fergus!"

"Good! You haven't left yet!"

The four of them turn to look at the doorway as the Teyrn and Teyrna stride in together. "I was just about to." Fergus says.

Eleanor frowns as she pulls her son into an embrace. "Be well, my son." She says, into his neck. "I will pray to the Maker for your safety, every day that you're gone."

"Thank you, Mother." He whispers. "You know fairly well that no darkspawn can best me!" He says, cheerfully. Once she steps back, she wipes the rogue tear that escapes and runs down her cheek. Bryce then steps forward and hugs his son.

"Stay safe out there, my boy." Bryce says, clasping his son's shoulder. "Howe and I will see you in Ostagar."

"The Maker sustain and preserve us all." Oriana says. "Watch over our sons, husbands and fathers and bring them safely back to us."

"And bring us some ale and wenches while you're at it!" Fergus says with a laugh. He never was one to like overly serious or ominous moments.

"Fergus!" Oriana exclaims. "You would really say this in front of your mother?"

She shoots him a glare and he gives her a sheepish smile. "Err... for the men, I mean. I don't need any wenches since I have you, my love."

"What's a wench?" Oren asks, innocently. "Is that what you pull on to get the bucket out of the well?"

"No, dear boy." Bryce chuckles. "A wench is a woman who pours the ale in a tavern." He lowers his voice. "Or a woman who drinks a lot of ale."

"Bryce!" Eleanor chuckles. "Maker's breath! It's like living with a pair of small boys. Thankfully I have a daughter who acts properly."

Ana and Fergus exchange a knowing look as Fergus suppresses a laugh. He clears his throat. "I'll miss you, Mother dear." He grins. "I'm sure Ana will take good care of you while we're gone." He smirks at his sister. "Isn't that right?"

Feeling everybody's gazes on her, her cheeks redden slightly. "I'll try. Although, out of the two of us, Mother is the warrior."

"That's true." Fergus chuckles. "Perhaps we should be sending her to Ostagar instead of me. She can scold the darkspawn back into the deep roads. For those who resist, she can hack them to pieces."

"I'm glad you find this so funny." Eleanor snaps.

"Now, now." Bryce laughs, touching his wife's shoulders. He glances at Ana. "If you haven't already, say your goodbyes, pup. You'll need to get some rest. Tomorrow will be a big day for you."

She nods and walks over to Fergus and throws her arms around him. "Goodbye brother." She mutters. "Fight well. I'll see you whenever you return."

"Goodbye, my dear little sister." He says, returning the gesture. He turns his head toward her ear and lowers his voice so only she can hear. "With father and I gone, do try to be more discrete with your... liaisons." She gives a slight nod before they pull apart. "Behave while we're gone." He grins.

Wishing the others a good night, she turns on her heel and, hearing her father strike up a conversation with her brother, she starts down the hallway towards her chambers.