DISCLAIMER: I base my stories on Intellectual Property (IP) owned by BioWare™ and EA™. I pretend to live in their world.

SPOILERS: I refer to information from the games, the novels and the comics. If you have not played or read, please beware.

A SONG IN THE STILLNESS

Chapter 13: Purpose

9:32 Dragon === Areth

The ancient copper beech in the yard behind the townhouse had begun to drop its leaves as autumn storms blew through Revona. Lys watched from the deck as Kai and Maric, bows in hand, shot at the archery butt set up in the back garden. Maric, never an archer as a youth, had taken up the bow with Kai as instructor. Neither had ventured into the city in several days. Lys, herself, had only gone out to take Will for a walk or to work with Olivia at the University as a research assistant in conjunction with her classes in Thedosian history and anthropology. The classes themselves she attended on-line from home, allowing her to care for Will. She had convinced Kai to try a course in Arethian language and literature, but that did not get Kai beyond the Net screen in the office. The universal translator, which Kai and Maric both wore, worked well for conversations in daily life, at least it did when they ventured out, but Kai liked to read, and Lys hoped becoming literate in Arethian would open a new world of books to her, as well as introduce her to more people with a common interest. While Kai did enjoy the classes, she had so far avoided any meet ups on campus or at a center city coffee shop.

After watching the two shoot for a time, she called down, announcing she had prepared lunch and, with Will asleep, hoped to enjoy it before he woke. The archers unstrung their bows and headed for the ground floor entrance below the deck, where they would store their bows, quivers, and arrows. Going back to the kitchen, Lys heard them coming up the stairs. Tailie, her aunt's long-haired dachshund, sat quietly at her feet, hoping a piece of salami would find its way to the floor and provide a snack.

"Talisker," Lys said with mock severity, "Out!" She pointed towards the sitting room. Huffing his displeasure, the pup stalked out. "How do you do that," Lys said to the dog, watching what should have been an ungainly strut clearly convey Tallie's arrogant dissatisfaction.

"Talking to the dog again?" Kai asked. "He's not a mabari, you know."

"Doesn't mean he doesn't understand." Lys poured the soup into a serving bowl and carried it to the table where it joined cheese, salami, bread, and sliced apples. "I thought today merited soup. Getting chilly. "

Lys had come to enjoy both her classes and her work with her aunt. That work, combined with her new role as a Mum, gave her reason to look forward to each day. She did not see the same enthusiasm in Maric and Kai. Even though she knew coming to Areth had been a choice, being Lys, she felt responsible for uprooting them from Thedas and wanted to make their lives in Areth more satisfying. As Maric and Kai served themselves, Lys broached the topic she had been mulling over for some time. "Neither of you seem to enjoy the city."

"I enjoy some of the shops," Maric said. "That bookstore and map shop. It's good having the park nearby." His eyes slid sideways to see Kai's smirk. "As long as no one's pressing me to ride."

"I've enjoyed my class," Kai offered, ignoring Maric's glance.

"Which you could do from anywhere on the planet," Lys said.

Kai shrugged. "True. Only need the CTab and a Net connection, but what's your point?"

"The family has a place near the coast in the countryside. There's a village nearby where a group of artisans have settled."

"Let me guess," Kai said. "Weavers."

Lys smiled. "Yes, and bakers, spinners, dyers, herbalists, smiths of all sorts, plus old-style farmsteads and dairies …the villagers come from Ferelden and they've brought the crafts with them and make them here. There's also a Workshop, that's funded by the University, where they make "improved" items which offer some extra protection to Travelers and can be taken back to Thedas. The gambesons I took for Alistair and I were made there." She noticed Maric's confused frown. "The gambesons look like wool and linen, but they're made from a stronger material that will turn a blade or even some arrows. Under chainmail, they form an almost impermeable barrier."

"That would be useful," Maric said. "Could I-"

"Yes. They'll just need your measurements."

"What else do they make?"

"I don't have a list, but you could visit and perhaps consult for them."

"I do have some expertise in armaments," Maric said, leaning back and rubbing his forehead.

Kai's eyes narrowed, but she did not voice her thoughts. He's already convinced to agree to whatever she's planned. Kai crossed her arms and stared at her friend. "Do I get one too?"

"Of course."

"And for whom do I consult?"

"Olivia."

"I could do that here."

"Yes…but better there, because of the artisan community and the University's Anthropology Lab and Workshop. Liv can explain, but she's always had an interest in Dalish culture. She thought maybe you would work with her…us. She wants to document it, so what knowledge is left, isn't lost."

"That will be difficult to do from here."

"Which is why we may go back at times. I would trust the Rasiae to keep my secret, if we visited them. There's a limited portal at the Lab, so Traveling is easy."

"Limited?" Kai asked.

"Only goes to certain portals, near places being studied. This one goes to Cumberland and Markham, where Olivia has a place at the University. They may be adding another if Liv's current proposal gets approved. Liv wants to explore the Brecilian now that the Blight is over. She and Mum are planning something they won't divulge until it's, as Liv puts it, 'fully baked'."

"I do hate soggy centers," Maric said, eliciting an eye roll from Kai. "Where is this place?"

"Northwest of here. It's partly living cultural museum, partly a community of Thedosian Travelers who've chosen to remain on Areth like Liv, and partly a laboratory and workshop for supplementing or improving Travelers' lives. Each world with Travelers has a similar village. Since Thedas doesn't have all the technology we have in Areth, the village and surroundings live much as Arethians did several centuries ago, with some modern modifications, like Net connections. They drive old electric-powered land vehicles, with wheels, not GroundZIPs, and it's a slower paced life. Walking, swimming, riding, hunting-"

"Hunting?" Maric asked. "What do they hunt? What weapons do they use?"

"Bows, old style guns, some modern weapons, and they only hunt for food. Water fowl, animals similar to Fereldan deer and elk, some boar maybe…not sure what else. I never hunted here. I think you'll like it better than the city. Our land is like a Fereldan bann's estate, but the houses have all the modern plumbing, lighting, communications, and household conveniences." She waited a moment, but neither Kai or Maric asked a question. "The caretakers are relatives who live in the main house and farm the estate, but the other cottages are for the use of any family member. I thought…there's a large cottage overlooking a lake…I thought we could stay there. We'll each have a bedroom upstairs. There's a large dressing room off one I can use for Will's nursery. Each one has its own bathroom-"

"-just like every bann's estate I've ever seen," Maric quipped, receiving a mock glare from Lys and a chuckle from Kai.

"Sounds like a better place for us. What do you think, Your Maricness?" Kai asked.

Lys chuckled when Maric groaned at Kai's nickname for the former king. "I think it sounds more comfortable for this old Fereldan than the city."

Lys continued. "There's a fourth bedroom for guests and downstairs has an open kitchen, dining, and sitting space, as well as another room we can use as a library and office." She smirked at Kai. "There's an attached building that has a garage, a guest suite, and a separate wing for looms and spinning wheels."

"Right, I knew there was weaving involved."

"There's a garden too."

"Sounds good, Lys. I'm just teasing. You know I like to spin."

"That's good, because my cousins have sheep." She looked towards the stairway. "I think I hear Will asking for his lunch."

Kai and Maric looked at each other and smiled. "I never liked Denerim," Maric said, as Lys left to get Will. "Can't say I find cities that enjoyable. You'd think spending my youth in tents, always too warm or too cold and never having everything we needed would have cured me of country life, but I'd rather ramble along a country track than walk a city street any day."

"My memories of Denerim aren't so good either," Kai agreed. "I loved our time with the Dalish. I miss it. Maybe I'll start making potions."

"Soap," Maric said.

"Soap?" Kai frowned, puzzled. "Oh, like we saw in that shop. I could sell it you mean? Hmmm. That's a thought. Does this living cultural area have shops, Lys?" Kai asked, as mum and baby returned to the couch in the living room.

"Absolutely. It's set up for tourists. Everything made in the village can be sold…well, not all the weapons."

Kai gathered their bowls and took them to the kitchen. Maric followed with what was left of the cheese, salami, and bread and went back for the soup bowl. "I'll have to learn the plants here and their uses. Maybe someone in this village will teach me. Or I could check on the CTab we have."

"Or get a book."

Kai grinned at Maric. "You and your books."

"I like the feel of it in my hands. Lys did say there's a library."

x==========x

A week later, an AirZIP took them to the Cousland estate in Hiever, which Lys pronounced 'Heever'. She had explained that while it was named for Highever, the pronunciation had gotten corrupted over the years. Once in the air, Kai saw a solid carpet of buildings turn into large towns with green space between them. Viewing the land from above amazed her. She had seen lands spread out below her from mountain tops, but not the wide expanse she saw from an AirZIP, flying at 15,000 feet. Lys had told her the larger Planz flew higher and faster, but neither Kai or Maric had been anxious to try them.

As they flew northwest, the green space grew, and the towns became smaller. The thirty-minute flight soon took them over rolling countryside, but high mountains could be seen in the distance. Below them, Maric saw farmland and orchards, both traditional open-air cultivation and large collections of green houses where vegetables and fruit could be grown year-round. Interspersed, in fenced pastures and on hillsides, sheep and cows grazed. He also saw GroundZIP pathways, with vehicles moving along at speed, and other vehicles in the open fields, harvesting. Most, he guessed, were driverless vehicles, just like the six-person AirZip in which he rode.

Feeling disoriented by the view and uneasy at the lack of a driver, he looked over at Lys, holding 10-month-old Will up to the window and whispering to him. The baby giggled and Maric smiled, and then grabbed the chair's arms as he felt the AirZIP descending. Riding, hovering, or flying in ZIPs still made him uncomfortable, particularly the 'no driver' part. He looked forward to using these wheeled carts Lys had mentioned and wondered if a person would the guide the damn thing.

The small AirZIP hovered and sank to a landing on a pad just past a good-sized house. Maric, sighing with relief, hefted his own backpack, grabbed Will's baby bag, and walked down the ramp to the ground, leaving Kai to help Lys with the baby, while locals, who must have come to meet them, unloaded the rest of their luggage. He glimpsed the house he had seen as they landed behind a screen of trees to his right. A well-graded dirt road ran past it to the landing pad and continued over a hill to his left. A copse of trees, just beyond the road, hid the view in front of him. As Kai, Lys and Will followed him down the ramp, a vehicle approached over the hill. Maric grinned. It didn't hover above the ground as GroundZIPs did; it had wheels solidly rolling along in the dirt. No animals pulled it, so it had some sort of engine, electric he recalled Lys has said, but, regardless, it seemed comfortingly old-fashioned to Maric.

Handing Will to Kai, Lys hurried over to what she called 'the van', greeted the woman who climbed out, and then waved Maric and Kai over. Introducing the woman as Maud, her cousin and the estate manager, she explained they would load themselves and their luggage into Maud's vehicle and go directly to the cottage. At the cottage they would find similar vehicles they could use to explore the countryside and village once they settled in.

Kai, Maric, and Will, strapped into a baby seat, to keep him safe, Lys said, sat in the rear seats of the van. Lys sat in front with Maud who steered with a wheel and, Maric learned as he peered over the seat back, pressed pedals on the floor to brake and accelerate. Maud and Lys chatted about mutual friends and family, while Maud drove the van as naturally as any carter guided his team. Lys, turning to look at Kai and Maric, explained that Maud was a distant cousin and lived in what Lys called the 'big house'. A sort of bann, Maric thought, while remembering that they don't have nobility here. Lys had said the compound was owned by a family trust, a kind of consortium or syndicate of family members, so Maud was just one of many beneficiaries. The van bounced along the road, curving around the copse he had seen from the landing pad and going over another rise before turning onto a smaller track with the woods on their right. Ahead, a roof with two large dormers came into view above a hedge. Maric recognized the distinctive look of solar tiles on the roof and realized the 'cottage' would be fully powered with electricity. On the other hand, a chimney rose above the roof, but no smoke curled above the cottage, despite the cool weather. He wondered if the cottage had a working hearth. Probably they just kept the old one for appearances, which explains the lack of smoke. He realized he missed the smell of smoke and the warmth of a fire. As the car passed through a gap in the hedge, he saw the driveway curve around the front of a stucco and wood house with a large front window and door.

Maud brought the vehicle to a stop at the front door with a cheery 'Here we are!' and got out to help take the baggage inside. Hefting his pack, the baby bag and a larger case, Maric followed Maud into a large high-ceilinged, open room with rafters stretching across below the arch of the roofline. Behind him he heard Kai say, "Maker." He grinned as he looked at the view before him. Glass covered the entire rear wall of house, letting in light and providing a view towards a small lake. He heard Maud and Lys chuckling.

"That view always takes a first-time visitor's breath away, Wills," Lys whispered to her son.

"That it does," Maric said. "Are they doors? Do they open?"

"They do. And it's south facing, so lots of light and warmth all day."

Kai looked around the room, seeing well kept, but clearly well used, couches, chairs, and a large dining table. Beyond the glass wall, a stone-paved patio led to a lawn and the fields leading down to the lake. To her right, a stairway, open to the room on one side, provided the access to the second floor. Behind it, a kitchen overlooked the dining area.

"Best leave your luggage here by the stair," Maud said. "I have lunch ready, the heat's on, and I've laid a fire. Now mind you, it is a wood fire, but keep those glass doors closed or you'll lose all the heat from the house up that chimney." Seeing Kai and Maric's confusion, she looked at Lys. "I'll let you explain heat loss."

After a hearty meal, enlivened by Maud's description of the various cousins living in the area, and her answers to Kai and Maric's questions, Maud left the three Fereldans to settle into their new home. They headed to the upper level with its four bedrooms and open sitting area overlooking another view towards the lake. Well populated bookshelves lined one wall behind the comfortable armchairs and a telescope stood by the large glass doors which opened onto a small balcony. A stair led down, from the balcony, to the stone paved patio below. To Maric's delight, he saw some of the titles were in the Common Tongue or Orlesian.

Lys came to stand next to him and put an arm through his.

"Will napping?"

"He is. He seems to like his little room."

"As do I," Maric said, "although mine's not so little. Quite comfortable really, with the desk, easy chair, and bed. Not to mention the closet and the private privy…no bathroom."

"Gives everyone their own space, away from the gathering rooms downstairs. The whole house is connected to the Net." She felt his shrug and chuckled. "Don't tell me you don't use your CTab."

Maric laughed. "It's an insidious little device."

"What's insidious?" Kai asked. Maric held up the CTab. "Oh. And useful." Kai put her arm through Lys' free one. "Great idea, this. I already feel more relaxed with all this space around us."

"Almost at home," Maric murmured.

"I hope so," Lys said.

By the next morning the Fereldans were ready to explore their new home. At dinner the night before, Lys had explained that Hiever had been founded by the Cousland and Burke families, but had, over the years, become a haven for Travelers from all over Thedas. In the village, they would meet Travelers who, like Olivia, had chosen to remain in Areth, but keep some of their Thedosian culture and skills. They would also visit the Anthropological Institute Lys had described and where Maric might consult. While the Institute had a museum, it also treated the town as an open-air display of Thedosian life.

On any day they might find Arethians, and off-worlders visiting Areth, wandering around Hiever to see the artisans working in their various guilds, get a sense of life in various Thedosian lands, and purchase items made in the village workshops. Sometimes, she added, the village put on displays of skills from their respective countries. These festivals attracted even more visitors. Explaining further, she watched Maric and Kai's interest increase as she described sparring contests, archery demonstrations, song and story fests, hunting excursions, food halls, and other entertainments.

Leading them to a building next to the house, Lys pressed a button and the wide door opened to reveal another wheeled vehicle and a small GroundZIP. As Lys opened a door to the rear seat of the wheeled vehicle and strapped Will into the baby seat, Kai ask who would drive them.

"I'm driving."

"You can drive this thing?" Kai asked, her furrowed brow showing a certain lack of confidence in her friend.

"Get in. Strap on the seat belts. I wouldn't risk Will, if I couldn't drive, now would I?"

"She has a point," Maric said.

Kai huffed but got in the back seat next to Will.

"The weaving and spinning shed is in the other part of this building," Lys said as she pressed a button and started the ground car. Like the GroundZIPs, it hardly made a sound, but the instrumentation on the display lit up. Lys grasped what she called the 'steering wheel', put her foot on the pedal closest to Maric, and the car moved forward out of the garage.

"You guide it? As you would a horse?" Maric asked, immediately regretting his analogy.

"At least we won't fall off."

Maric sniffed. "Does that GroundZIP not work out here?"

"It does. The guidance system is mostly satellite based, so the type of road makes no difference. In fact, a Zip ride is smoother on these dirt roads and safer in winter, when there's ice, but this van is larger and seats five or six, so it's more convenient, particularly if we also need to pick up groceries and such.

Lys had specific destinations in mind as she guided her friends through the village. Maric, she took to the armory where smiths forged weapons, fletchers fletched arrows, carpenters and smiths built siege engines for display, and trained archers and warriors sparred. While most Thedosians had only heard of the black powder weapons used by the Qunari, here they got to try weapons based on those captured from Qunari.

In the armory, Maric strode over to a rack holding greatswords and began hefting each in turn. Will watched his grandfather from his stroller. "This," Maric explained to his grandson, "is an Orlesian design. Effective but a bit too ornate, which adds weight." Grasping a simple, well-balanced blade, he began moving through his forms and soon gathered an admiring crowd.

"If you're half that good in the sparring ring, you'd beat every warrior here," a voice said, his accent betraying his Marcher origin.

Completing his move, Maric stood. Not Starkhaven, but somewhere in the northern Marches. Maybe Tantervale? "I haven't sparred in some years. I'm not sure how quick I'd be. The muscles may remember, but they don't always respond as promptly as they did when I was younger."

The other man laughed. "I know that feeling, friend. Still, you could help train our young ones. We haven't had a warrior with your skill here in some time."

"We've just arrived," Maric said, "but, I could give it a try. No promises."

The other man held out his hand. "Ernst the Armorer. From Tantervale in the Marches." He squinted at Maric. "Fereldan?"

"Good ear, Ernst. Maric of Denerim."

"Like the king?"

"Exactly. It's a common name in the South."

"Well, why don't you stay?" Frowning, Ernst looked at Kai and Lys. "You two-"

"-look familiar?" Lys asked, a slight frown forming. "As do you."

"Minanter River 9:26."

Startled, Kai stared at the man, recognition dawning. "Lieutenant Ernst?"

Whispering to Maric, Lys explained that she and Kai had traveled down the Minanter on a Haris galley during her time as an apprentice merchant.

"I had no idea you two were Travelers," Ernst replied.

Lys shrugged. "What brought you here from Thedas?"

"Family. Mine lived in Tantervale and couldn't stomach the Chantry oversight any longer. Didn't bother me, being in Hrothgar's Wrath, but I missed them. So, I joined them here." He cocked his head. "Can always use more battle maidens, ladies," Ernst said. "As I recall, you're both good archers…."

"Maybe another time," Lys said. "I'm also a weaver and Kai spins. It's good to see you again. Turning to Maric, she said, "We'll stop back in an hour or so and take you to the Institute to meet Aunt Liv. She looked at Kai as she turned to go. "Unless you want-"

"No, I'll stay with you for now, but it's a good place for Maric to spend time, as long as they don't ask him to ride," Kai grinned as the former king rolled his eyes.

Lys gave her a sidelong glance, but kept walking towards the textile guild where spinners, weavers, felters, tanners, and dyers created cloth and leather, which the seamstresses, hatmakers, and bootmakers turned into clothing, household linens, boots, shoes, hats, bags, belts, tapestries, and other products. As they entered, Lys told Kai that the artisans here must create traditional products in traditional ways, but that those who wanted to develop new ideas based on Thedosian cultural traditions could do so in a separate workshop and store. The Anthropology Institute collaborated with the artisans, using their skills and ideas to create innovative articles for use by Travelers, like the Fereldan gambesons. Other items, whether useful or artistic, the makers sold in the Community shop.

Kai gravitated to the spinners, recognizing Fereldan style spindles and distaffs, but her eyes widened as she saw men and women also using spinning wheels, which were rare in Thedas. I want to learn that. She laughed. No wonder they have that alternative shop. I want to drop my spindle and learn the wheel and I've only been here a few minutes. Lys, she noticed, had begun a conversation with a woman weaving on a traditional four harness Fereldan loom. The clacking, as the harnesses raised and lowered to provide a space through which the weaver would throw the shuttle with its thread unreeling to make another row in the weaving, reminded her of home. Farther along, a man wove a what seemed like a rug on a larger, sturdier loom, with more harnesses than any she had seen in Ferelden. It must have been hard for Teyrn Eleanor and Arlessa Alyse to avoid introducing some of these improvements. As if reading her mind, Lys pushed the stroller next to Kai and whispered that her Mum and Cousin Alyse had sometimes dropped hints to get people thinking about new methods, but never more than that.

Dealing with a fussy baby took Kai and Lys to a small bakery and coffee shop where Lys fed Will, while Kai had a coffee. Maric, responding to a Ping from Lys on his CTab, joined them, commenting on the CTab's convenience. So much better than finding a messenger, had been his judgment. Lys smiled at Maric's excited commentary on the armory and the work done there. She had not seen him this animated since before Rendon Howe imprisoned him. His enthusiasm continued during their visit to the Institute, where Lys put Will down for a nap in the on-site crèche, before joining Kai and Maric's tour of the facility with Olivia, where his enthusiasm from the morning carried over to discussions with the arms and armor experts, who welcomed his hands-on expertise. Unlike Maric, Kai remained skeptical of researching the Dalish without Dalish cooperation, but Liv only smiled and said that she agreed.

"What are you and the Teyrna planning?" Kai finally asked.

"That is not my story to tell, Kailian. You and Lys will have to wait for Ellie's next visit," Olivia said. "For now, I'd like you to review the data, documents and artifacts we have from the Dalish and, well we've taken to calling them the Andrastian Elves, those who live in Alienages or freely in Thedosian states. Despite our lack of knowledge, it's a big job. You're an expert because you have lived it."

"I don't read Dalish or any other language, save the Common Tongue."

"We'll work that out, Kai. All you should need is a Babbler. It translates a document into your chosen language as it reads it."

"Of course, it does," Kai chuckled. "Why am I surprised to be surprised?"

Olivia put her arm around Kai. "You'll be invaluable. We need you. Please look at what's there and we can talk about what's next for you and Lys when Ellie visits."

9:32 Dragon, Firstfall === Gwaren, Ferelden

Eleanor, the Dowager Teyrna of Highever, stood at the newly established Gwaren portal waiting for her sister Olivia to come through. Like most ancient keeps, Gwaren Keep had a network of tunnels leading out of the dungeons and into both the town and the forest just beyond the Keep's wall. They had used one of the tunnels leading west, into the forest, to build the portal chamber and an exit into the forest, hidden by a rock formation.

"If your other world is as advanced as you say, nothing will go wrong," Loghain stated.

"No world is that perfect, Loghain MacTir!" His rumbling chuckle brought a smile to her face. "You're just as worried as I am."

"I don't know enough to be that worried," Loghain replied. "All I need to do is think about seeing Maric again and all other worries flee."

Eleanor slipped her arm through his. "You two have had serious disagreements before. You will yell and argue and eventually work it out. It may be a different friendship, but it will be a friendship none-the-less."

"I wish I had your confidence, Ellie." He put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him as the portal buzzed softly and Olivia walked out.

"So, you've done the deed," Olivia said, seeing Loghain with his arm around Eleanor, something he would not have done before their marriage. "Congratulations."

Olivia hugged first Eleanor and then, to his surprise, Loghain.

"We may need this portal to escape my daughter's wrath, once she discovers we've married without telling her," Loghain grumbled, as Olivia stepped back. "Not to mention that of Fergus, Leonas Bryland, and the rest of the Landsmeet."

"Pfft." Eleanor waved a hand. "I've spent the best part of the year, here with you, unchaperoned. There's been talk for months. Our marriage will surprise no one. Anora may have to act annoyed to satisfy the Chantry and the nobles who think you deserved a worse punishment, but secretly she'll be happy for us. As will Leonas. The others, Fergus included, I'm not going to worry about. We mature adults and deserve some happiness after the past few years of pain.

"We're lucky Revered Mother Gilda honored our wishes and agreed to secrecy. We must keep the secret until Fergus and Anora finally gain the Landsmeet's approval of their proposed marriage. We don't want the Chantry objecting because Anora's widowed father married Fergus' widowed mother. Honestly, it's not as if we'll be having babies and if they don't hurry up, they won't either."

"Eleanor-"

"Oh don't, Loghain. You want more grandchildren as much as I do." She sighed. "And heirs for Highever and Gwaren."

Olivia laughed, but grew serious and asked Eleanor if the Regents might exile the two of them.

"Only to Gwaren," Loghain muttered. "Unless they see the successes we've had here. Leonas will speak for us at least."

"As I said, Anora will accept us," Eleanor said, taking Loghain's hand. "She'll be hurt that we left her out, but she will approve of the marriage; and she will understand not telling them. She knows Fergus can't lie to save his life. Anora is convincing, but not where you're concerned," she added, squeezing Loghain's hand. "This way, no one knows, so no one can tell, and it won't affect the Landsmeet decision about or the Chantry's approval of Fergus and Anora's marriage." Chuckling, Eleanor added, "Approval would be more assured if Anora were pregnant."

Olivia snorted.

"I always thought you so diplomatic," Loghain said, shaking his head. "but Anora pregnant would provide a convincing argument." He held up his hands. "I know, not a thought you'd expect from a father, but neither of them is that young. On your last visit to Denerim, didn't Fergus tell you they plan to make the formal request at the Guardian Landsmeet?"

Eleanor smiled sweetly. "In public, I am the image of a diplomat, as you know very well. And yes, they will spend Satinalia, First Day and Wintersend talking to the nobles and the Grand Cleric, to ensure their votes and approval. They will know the answer before they ask in Guardian, but a Wintersend wedding would have been nice."

"Even better if Lys and Maric could be there," Loghain murmured squeezing Eleanor's hand.

Olivia saw the question on both of their faces when they turned to look at her. "They're settling in to the cottage in Hiever quite nicely. All three seem happier now that they're working and living outside the city. Lys goes up to Revona every few weeks, but Maric and Kai don't. Maud's daughter, Jenna, helps with Will. He's almost a year old now, pulling himself up, trying to stand, and crawling when that doesn't quite work."

"I can't wait to see him again. Are they expecting me?"

"They have the guest suite over the garage ready."

"And no hint that Loghain is coming too?"

"None."

"Good."

"I'm still not sure about our strategy." Loghain frowned. "Liv, don't you think preparing them would have been better?"

"No. It won't make your reunion with Maric any easier. It would just give him time to feed his anger and resist talking with you."

"He won't be angry when we surprise him?"

"Of course, he will, but he won't be prepared with arguments and-"

"-chatter?" Loghain said.

"He doesn't chatter as much as he once did," Eleanor said.

"Talks to himself sometimes," Liv added, "but that might be the result of six years of solitary confinement."

"Right. We're going to do this, eh? I have no chance to change my mind?" He looked at Eleanor's raised eyebrows and Olivia's amused smirk. "I assume Lys will join you to make a united front?" Loghain muttered. "You Burkes, or should it be Mac Eanraigs, stick together."

Olivia laughed. "Well, if Ellie wasn't stubborn and persistent she wouldn't have sailed the Mistral to so many victories and become the Seawolf."

Leaning over, he kissed Eleanor on the cheek, and growled, "Let's get this done with. I'm not looking forward to getting into that thing or spending time being oriented, but I need to do both if I'm to meet Maric again."

Eleanor sighed. "Sometimes I think you have no curiosity, Loghain."

"Sometimes I would say you are right." When the portal door opened revealing an empty chamber where Olivia had been moments before, he stepped through. This better work. Moments passed, and another door opened. He stepped out to see Olivia smiling at him. Eleanor followed, and Olivia led them to the rooms they would occupy for two nights while Loghain attended the Orientation sessions accompanied by Eleanor. After a stay at the townhouse to allow them to shop and get acclimated, they would take the AirZIP to Hiever and Loghain's reunion with Lys, Kai, and Maric.

"Do you think they'll accept this marriage?" Loghain asked again that night, as Eleanor spooned against him in the bed.

Eleanor rolled over on her back so that she could see her new husband's face above her in the dim light. He had bent his arm and rested his fist against his cheekbone. "I feel like I'm dealing with a five-year-old, Loghain. You ask that question every night."

"Not every night."

She reached up and rubbed his cheek. "They will be happy for us. They've left Ferelden, its politics, and its drama behind. We're just two people who decided our life would be better together than alone. We share so many memories and none of them prevent this marriage." She smiled. "Bryce would be amused, but happy for us. I didn't know Celia…."

He sniffed. "Celia would appreciate all you've done for Gwaren. Expanding the weaving and spinning house she established, adding the new dye house and tannery, convincing House Haris to establish an agent, and improving trade."

"All work she began," Eleanor said quietly, "without the contacts and resources we have now. I wish we had met. I think I would have enjoyed working with her."

"Acknowledging her work has made you popular with her family and, through them, the rest of the town." He kissed her temple. "She would appreciate how you've taken care of me and revitalized the Keep." She felt his chest vibrate when he chuckled. "I sneeze less often."

"Your poor seneschal! You had him shut the whole keep except your study, bedroom and the kitchen. He had to make do with those cramped rooms off the kitchen to keep warm, while the rest of the Keep gathered dust. Your people needed work after the Blight shut down trade to the rest of Ferelden and that includes providing work in your Keep. And not just for soldiers. It's true Gwaren is small and the Keep can share the town's smith, miller, and other artisans, but you need your own cook, housekeeper, seneschal, maids, gardeners-."

"-you're right." He chuckled, murmuring to himself, "as usual." He continued despite Eleanor's snort. "I had too few people and I only knew how to treat them like soldiers. No wonder none would stay." He laid his head back down. "The staff seems proud to work there now, just as they did before Celia passed. Everyone is better off since you arrived. I'm going to be wealthier as the Arl than I ever was as Teyrn."

"Which means you can reinvest it and do still more for your people. You have a purpose as the Arl, just as you have one as a general."

"Andraste's Song, you'll make a noble of me yet. What else will you make me do?"

"I can think of a few immediate needs," she whispered, running her fingers along his chest and across his stomach, until she reached the still-dark thatch between his thighs.

He groaned. "Ah, a task I can complete with joy." He bent down and kissed her.

A/N: Thanks to my wonderful betas Kira Tamarion and Elyssa Cousland, whose efforts make this a better story. Any errors are mine. Appreciate all who favorited, followed, and gave kudos. I hope you continue to read and enjoy.