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 14: Reunion

9:32 Dragon, Firstfall === Areth

The ancient copper beech in the yard behind the townhouse had lost all its leaves since the last time she had seen the back garden. Across the deck, her mother stood looking out over the back yard. Wondering what could hold Eleanor's attention for so long, Lys opened the French door and called out.

Whirling around, Eleanor almost shouted, "Lys. I thought you would call."

"Why?" Lys said. "I have my own key. I don't need to let Aunt Liv know I'm coming."

Eleanor had crossed the deck and gently pushed Lys back into the house, following behind and closing the door.

"Mum, what's going on?"

"Nothing. Well, something, which is why I asked you to meet me here."

"Without Will." Lys' eyes narrowed. "Mum, did you bring someone with you? Not Fergus!"

"Yes. No! Not Fergus." Eleanor took a deep breath. "Lys, I've remarried."

"You've…. Who? Why did I not know you had met someone?" She looked past her mother to the yard. "Is he out there?"

After another deep breath, Eleanor, nodded. "He was shooting."

"That rules out Fergus in every way," Lys said, watching her mother shake her head. "Who is it, Mum?"

"Loghain Mac Tir."

"Loghain?" Lys' stopped, at a loss for words. Her mother had spent the last year in Gwaren, helping Loghain build up the economy of the Arling, after the Landsmeet had informed him that, while they would not banish him to his lands, they did not welcome him at Court. To placate the Landsmeet and keep the nobles from punishing Loghain for deeds after Ostagar, the Regents, in particular Anora and Fergus, had agreed. The nobles, Anora had to remind her father, did not know about the blood magic. Some believed he should have seen Howe's plans, despite the forged documents the man had produced.

During her year in Gwaren, Eleanor had made the journey to Areth only once, traveling to Cumberland where Fiona joined her at the portal there. On that visit, Eleanor had talked enthusiastically of the lovely wool from the local Gwaren sheep and the energy and skills of the local people, but had given no hint of a budding romance with the one-time Teyrn. Apparently, her mother had her secrets.

Eleanor waited for Lys to gather her thoughts.

"You have always been friends," Lys began, brow furrowing as she recalled times the two had been together, "but you never said it had become more." Her lips twitched. "You're not pregnant are you?"

Eleanor let out the breath she had been holding as Lys grinned. "No, but the sex-"

"-don't, Mum. I happy for you, but I don't need details." She grinned again. "Fair comeback though." Instead of hugging her Mum, she crossed her arms and frowned. "Was Olivia there?"

"No."

"Just Fergus and Anora?"

"No! No one knows in Ferelden. Just Mother Gilda. The two witnesses were strangers who didn't know us."

"Why?"

"Fergus and Anora plan to ask the Landsmeet to approve a marriage between them in Guardian. We don't want to give the Chantry a reason to oppose it."

A voice came from behind her. "And we don't want them to have to lie, if asked if they knew about our marriage."

Lys turned around, biting her lip to keep from smirking. "And how do you like Areth, Arl Loghain?"

He sniffed. "Confused. Exhausted. Intrigued. I've never had to sit still, for so long, and watch other things move. I don't know, Melysande; much as I hate to admit it, it's overwhelming…and exciting. Everything moves so fast! One thing, though, your mother took me to a book store and there were maps…not maps, but pictures of the land from the sky."

"Did you buy one?"

"Have I ever passed up a good map?" He stood, almost awkwardly, a few feet away from her, expecting a hug.

Lys wanted to hug him, but could not get past her reluctance to touch and be touched. She could hug Maric and Kai now, and cuddled Will with no hesitation, but with anyone else, she avoided any touching that went beyond a handshake. Taking a deep breath, she took both of Loghain's hands and said, "If you and Mum are happy then I'm happy for you." She leaned up and pecked his cheek, before dropping his hands and stepping back. Eleanor had told him that the demonstrative girl he remembered had changed, but this reaction still surprised him.

"Olivia told me a portal had been set up in Gwaren, so she could pursue her studies of the elves in the Brecilian. We could have easily attended."

"It would be hard to explain your sudden appearance, Lys," Eleanor said. "Gwaren's much smaller than Higheverport and fewer people pass through. Strangers stand out."

"Then why the portal?"

"For Olivia, but she and her helpers will arrive, first, by ship. Once they're there and known, they can go off on their expeditions and use the portal to travel back and forth with research. Any time away can be explained by her expeditions in the region."

"Ah, so we can't visit you, but you can visit us. Aunt Liv says the portal in Gwaren connects to the one at the Institute in Hiever." She looked at Loghain. "You might like Hiever better than Revona City."

"From what your mother and Olivia tell me, I'm sure I will; I just may not feel comfortable with all the company." Loghain turned away and strode over to the kitchen, where he opened the refrigerator and took out a beer. "This," he said, holding up the bottle, "is one of my favorite things about Areth."

Chuckling, Lys asked, "The beer's quality or that it's cold?"

"Both," Loghain, said taking a long draught of the local brew.

Lys looked at Eleanor. "I can bring Will here, Mum. They don't have to meet." She looked at Loghain, who had taken a seat on the couch. "Would you prefer that?"

"You think he won't want to see me?"

"I think he'll be angry. There will be things the two of you need to work out," Lys said. "I've told him what happened in Ferelden since Howe took him, but it's what I knew, not your story." She looked at her mother.

"I've told Loghain what you and Maric told me about Howe's Orphanage, your captivity, and what happened there and after."

"You both will need to remember that you're friends. That you love each other," Lys said.

Loghain huffed. "What joined us was Ferelden. Without that I'm not sure we have a…friendship, as you call it."

Eleanor and Lys both looked at him in shock. "Loghain Mac Tir, that's simply not true and you know it," Eleanor said.

"We'll see," he said and drained the bottle. "Changes of heart have been far too uncommon of late."

Lys looked at her mother, eyebrows raised in question, but Eleanor shook her head. "Let's have a pleasant dinner. We'll talk about Ferelden later."

Lys took that to mean that nothing had changed in Denerim and thought someone should shake her brother and everyone in the Landsmeet to bring them to their senses.

The next morning, Eleanor filled the silence on the AirZIP ride to Hiever with commentary on the ground passing below them. Loghain only stared out the window, his hands gripping the arms of his seat. Lys, sitting across the aisle from them, noticed the grip and smiled. Neither Maric or Kai had gotten used to flying yet. Of all the wonders of Areth, traveling through the air seemed the most amazing, but disconcerting, to the Fereldans. The AirZIP body sat on a square frame with four propellers, one on each corner, to lift it and move it forward. To add discomfort, it had no pilot, but flew a programmed path

"This looks better," Loghain muttered, as they disembarked from the ZIP. He looked over at the van, parked on the side of the road. "What's that?"

"It's our ride to the house," Lys said. "It's an old vehicle."

"Do the wheels mean it stays on the ground?" Loghain asked, referring to the GroundZIPs which floated through the city streets on a cushion of air, only using its wheels on less developed countryside roads.

Lys laughed. "They do, but so do GroundZIPS out here. Now just get in." She looked at her mother. "Do you want to drive or shall I?" She chuckled when she heard Loghain stifle a comment and climbed into the driver's seat.

"Olivia ensured that only Will and Jenna, Maud's daughter and our part-time nanny, are at the house right now. Olivia took Maric and Kai to the Institute today. You'll have time to settle in before you meet them when they get home later this afternoon."

Loghain grunted in response as Eleanor climbed into the rear seat next to him and took his hand. "Let him react to you," she advised. "He's heard what happened from Lys and Kai, but he hasn't heard it from you."

"And I can hardly be upset with a man who spent six years in a cell having his blood drained every month."

"No, you can't, but he's here now and safe."

"It's neutral ground," Lys said from the front. "Mum's right. Let Maric talk."

Loghain snorted. "When has anyone been able to stop him."

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

"-do I need to sneak upstairs to change before I meet these mystery guests?" Maric held the door for Olivia and Kai, before following them into the house.

"Hardly," Olivia said, "but you might want a drink."

"A drink?"

"I've already made drinks," Lys said from the living room, where she put a bowl of nuts on the side table next to the bread, crackers, cheese, fruit and chocolates already set out.

"Chocolate. Is Eleanor here? You always get chocolate for Eleanor," Maric said, settling into his favorite chair by the hearth, where a fire blazed behind the glass doors. Maric raised his eyebrows when Lys brought a Laphroaig single malt. "All this service makes me more suspicious."

"You do always get that particular dark chocolate for your Mum," Kai said.

"I hadn't realized you two had become so observant. Mum's staying in the guest suite over the garage. She'll be in…" Lys looked toward the front door, "well, sounds like she's coming now."

Maric got up to hug the dowager teyrna, but froze when he saw who followed her into the room.

"What…how can you be here, MacTir?" he growled. "Don't tell me you're a Traveler."

Loghain shook his head. "Not born as one, anyway."

"Then how…?" Realization dawned and Maric looked at Eleanor, shocked. "You didn't!"

"I did, Maric. Loghain and I married last week. I'm Arlessa of Gwaren now."

Maric stared at her, shifted his gaze back to Loghain and stared at Eleanor again. "How could you? He abandoned his own daughter and my sons. Abandoned Ferelden! He enabled Howe's rise to power. Everything he did after Howe locked me in that cell caused others to die. How could you?" He turned on his heel and stomped up the stairway towards his room.

"Well, that went well," Loghain said downing the scotch Lys handed him in one gulp.

"He'll be back," Lys said, refreshing Loghain's empty glass. Seeing Olivia and her mother looking towards the second floor, she shook her head. "Don't. Let him think. You wanted to make this a surprise, now let it play out."

"She's right," Loghain said. "Just make sure he doesn't run off."

Maric stopped as he opened the door to his room. Bastard. I never ran from a fight. He slammed the door shut, strode towards the stairs and glared down at the three people looking up at him.

"I'm not running anywhere, Mac Tir. Hiever is my home, now. I can't keep you out, but I don't have to welcome you." He descended to the first floor.

"Or Eleanor?" Loghain said softly.

"Eleanor's a grown woman who knows her own mind. I disagree with her choice, but this is her home, even more than it's mine. But you, I feel no obligation to welcome you, even if you are -"

"-I betrayed you." Loghain spoke quietly, capturing Maric's gaze as he interrupted. "You. Cailan. Anora. Alistair. Bryce. Ferelden."

Maric's fist clenched at his sides, as firmly as his jaws. He took several deep breaths before answering. "You did exactly what I told you, what I ORDERED YOU, never to do again. You put the man – me - over the people, over the country, over Ferelden. You abandoned my son and your own daughter when they needed you most. Everything, everything, save the Blight itself, that happened after Howe captured me grew out of that betrayal."

Eleanor looked at her daughter, curious at the lack of surprise on Lys' face, as Maric referred to a long-ago conversation which took place just after the defeat at West Hill. She had expected Maric to rail against the blood magic and how Loghain's prejudice against Orlais had enabled the blood mage to influence him. Instead, Maric's anger grew out of Loghain's two-year odyssey in search of the missing king.

"Not what you expected?" her daughter whispered.

"Not at all."

"I could have told you. I…we've had this conversation with him. I happen to agree with it." She watched Maric stride out the door and across the patio, taking the path to the lake. "As, if I recall your conversation with him years ago in Antiva City, do you."

"Lys is right, Eleanor. You did encourage me to return home. It seems so long ago now, but I should have known he would see my search as a betrayal," Loghain said. "Even I see it that way now." His mouth quirked up. "You were right as usual."

"Then tell him that," Eleanor said. "Talk with him."

Loghain stood, taking a deep breath, and looked at Lys. "Where will he go?"

"He took the path through that field to the lake," Lys said.

Loghain followed Maric down to the lake where a dock stretched along the shoreline, formed a right angle, and extended into the water. At the end of the dock, a sailboat rocked gently, its sail furled.

Maric stood, his hand clasped behind his back, on the portion of the dock which paralleled the shore, opposite a bench built into the landward side of the dock. He did not look at Loghain when the other man arrived. "Rowan never agreed with me - that I wasn't important, but I thought you understood. I thought you would NEVER abandon Ferelden again. All your talk, all your worries about Orlesian treachery, and who betrays Ferelden without a second thought? They needed you, Loghain."

"I thought Ferelden needed you, not an ill prepared…." Loghain stopped, knowing that line of thought, questioning Cailan's readiness to become king, would lead to a worse place. "It's true, Rendorn Guerrin believed in the Theirin line and died for his belief at West Hill. Rowan needed to believe in that after he died. Like her father, she believed that you - the Prince, the heir of Calenhad - you held the Rebellion together."

"Rowan." His voice softened when he said her name and a smile Loghain could not see ghosted. "I was either a younger brother or The Prince to Rowan. She never saw me. You always did. Both good and bad." He turned to face Loghain, no hint of a smile remaining. He pointed a finger at Loghain as he spoke, poking it towards Loghain each time he said you. "I thought you understood after West Hill that I wasn't the important one. When you rescued me at Kinloch Hold, it wasn't me you saved, you rescued Ferelden from an Orlesian plot. When Rendon took me prisoner, when I disappeared, I ceased to matter. I thought you, of all people, would let me go. Cailan mattered. Ferelden mattered. They needed you. And. You. Left."

"I thought Bryce would be there. He got along better with Cailan than I did and Fergus and Cailan were friends. How could I know Eamon and Rendon would scheme and put Bryce up against Cailan? I didn't think it would matter if I left and I thought Ferelden still needed you. I didn't see a difference between rescuing you from the Orlesian plot at Kinloch Hold and finding you after you disappeared on the Demelza. I…." He sat on the bench running along the length of dock. "I see it differently now…too late. Not that I shouldn't have searched at all, but that I stayed away too long. The only thing I felt guilty about, at the time, was Alistair. Even then, I knew I should have taken him with me."

Maric stood at the dock's edge, his glare disappearing as he looked surprised. "Why didn't you?"

"Cailan said no and I obeyed, just as I did when you refused to let him become my squire, or Teagan's. I should have smuggled him aboard that ship, but he liked the school, I thought he'd be safe there, and I didn't want to anger Cailan or my daughter. That decision looks worse now. Had I taken him, I might have saved one of your sons."

"Or consigned him to permanent exile, if Cailan had blamed him for leaving Dragon's Peak without his leave?" Maric asked.

"He'd be alive, although I'm not sure Anora would welcome him either, now."

"I don't think I like what I'm hearing about Anora and Fergus."

"I don't always either, but they rule well, with Leonas' help. And Nathaniel's, although he's not a regent. Anora's fine. She knows how to manage the Landsmeet, make them think she agrees with them, when in reality she doesn't and is pushing them in a different direction. Fergus…Fergus holds on to anger to tightly. He blames me for my Orlesian prejudice enabling the blood mages to control me. It's just best that Eleanor and I stay away for now." He huffed and looked up at Maric. "Honestly, I'm not sure who initiated the suggestion I leave Denerim or who decided to remove me as General. Leonas won't say, which makes me think it was Fergus and perhaps a few nobles in Landsmeet."

"And Anora?"

"Anora will fight battles she believes she can win. She saved my life after I killed Howe. Defending me further, particularly against Fergus…not a winning strategy. She needs the Landsmeet's support for their marriage and for rebuilding. She'll maneuver them into allowing us to return once they're safely married.

"It's best Lys is here. While they mourn her and Alistair, I'm not sure they would welcome either back at Court. Certainly Fergus wouldn't." Loghain sighed. "We're digressing. We were discussing my shortcomings." He sat up. "I've had a lot of time to regret my decisions. Eleanor agreed with you, you know. She tried to convince me to turn back when we met in Antiva City a year after you disappeared."

"She told you that Bryce had been sent from Court and that Eamon and Rendon Howe vied for influence." Maric's voice, which had become almost friendly, hardened again. "Once you knew Cailan had sent Bryce away, how could you leave Rendon Howe and Eamon as the main influences on Cailan?"

"I can be stubborn."

Maric stared at his one-time friend. Suddenly he started to laugh. "Is that a result of soul searching?" he choked out. "You can be stubborn. That's like me saying 'I fall off horses' or 'I babble'."

"Glad you find my admission so amusing." Loghain drawled, his mouth quirking up.

Pressing his lips together, his laughter spent, Maric turned away again, crossed his arms, and stared across the water. Loghain leaned forward, head bowed, forearms resting on his thighs, hands dangling between his legs. "I can't undo what I've done, Maric. I can try to do better. That's what I'm doing now, with Eleanor's help. Making Gwaren a better place."

Maric turned. "And I'm not, by running away to this world?"

Loghain sat up, raising his palms toward Maric. "No, you're mis-reading me. If you stay in Ferelden, in Thedas, you'll have some crazed Tevinter magister hunting you for your blood. Honestly, I'm not sure Fergus and Anora would welcome you, if it puts Elin in danger. Anora's become a bit fearful about anyone usurping Elin's throne." He shook his head as he smiled. "Obsessive, even."

"Like father, like daughter." Maric muttered.

Ignoring him, Loghain continued, "Before the Battle, Delilah, Lys, and Pippa helped connect her with the world outside the Palace. Her current ladies - they do as she says. Fergus doesn't help. He can't get past his grief and anger over Howe's treachery and what he believes is Lys' disappearance. Rendon ruined Ferelden for you, just as he ruined, tainted and destroyed everything he touched." He rubbed his hands through his hair. "I'm still a rebel, Maric. Fergus and Anora don't know we married." His chuckle sounded more like a cough. "Anora lies well, but Fergus doesn't. The Chantry would never believe they didn't know. Once they find out, after they marry, they'll be angry. We may have to join you here if they decide it's treason. Eleanor doesn't think they will, but…I don't know. Fergus is in love with my daughter and would die for Queen Elin, which makes him a good regent, but he's a hard man now. He'll be furious with his mother for marrying without his leave. My daughter, despite saving my life at the Landsmeet after I killed Howe, still worries that the Chantry or the nobility will find out about the blood mages' influencing me to ally with Howe. The Landsmeet…most think I wasn't punished enough for, what they believe, is willingly allying with Howe. I'm not welcome in Denerim and as my wife, Eleanor may not be either."

"And despite all that, Melysande said they kept you as General after you executed Howe. A good trick if you can manage it. You committed murder – Maker knows the man deserved it, but did you deserve it less?"

Closing his eyes, Loghain sighed. "I lived because they needed me, or thought they did, not because they forgave anything I did. They needed me to end the Blight. When that was over they kept me as General for six months, just to be sure Orlais wasn't going to invade, and then asked me to retire. Now, they have Fergus and Cauthrien to lead the armies. Cauthrien writes occasionally, as does Leonas Bryland. Teyrn Bryland, as he is now, even visited a few times, as my liege lord. I'm just the Arl of Gwaren." He smiled. "You know, I rather like it. It's smaller, manageable, and I have no other distractions. It's…I understand my father better. How he cared for the people he led. Eleanor's helped me with that." His lips quirked again. "She's making a noble of me."

"Your father was a noble." Maric said, turning to face Loghain again. "I made him a knight, which you derided."

Loghain groaned softly. "I'm not going to argue that with you, Maric. Yes, my father had nobility of character and you made him a knight. Calling me a Teyrn did not make my character or actions noble, but that wasn't my role was it?"

Maric sighed as Loghain repeated a well-worn disclaimer. "It did make you a noble. Nobles have many roles. We been down this well-trod path too many times." He sat down next to Loghain, surprising him with his next question. "You love Ellie?"

Loghain smiled, staring past Maric. After a few moments he answered. "I do. I'm…we're happy. Content. And worried about our children and grandchildren, but we do what we can, what is possible."

The two leaned back against the rail, sitting in silence, arms crossed, and looked out across the lake as the sun set. What might once have been a companionable silence felt fraught. Loghain took several deep breaths and waited for Maric's next accusation. After a time Maric did ask another question.

"You said Fergus couldn't get over Lys' disappearance. Not her death."

After another deep breath, surprised by the new direction the conversation had taken, Loghain shook his head and stared across the lake as he spoke. "He thinks Lys ran off after the battle. He's decided she deserted Highever after Howe attacked the castle, and that she deserted Denerim after Alistair died. He needs someone to blame and he's chosen his sister. Eleanor insists they'd resolved any differences about Highever and, from what I saw, they had, but that was before she disappeared. He's convinced that his soldiers would have found her, her body, or, at least, some trace…her armor, weapons, jewelry, something. When they didn't, he decided that she ran." He looked at Maric. "He hasn't shown up here, has he?"

"No, but our being here is no secret. Couldn't he find out?"

Loghain shrugged. "He doesn't enjoy coming here, Eleanor says, but there'll be a confrontation if he does."

On the balcony above the patio, Lys handed the binoculars to her mother. "They've been sitting there for almost an hour. I can barely see them now that it's dark, but they look like they're speaking calmly."

"I'd say they'd been sharing companionable silence if they weren't both so tense," Eleanor said. "Arms crossed. Shoulders hunched. They'll both need massages tonight."

Lys eyes slid sideways to glance at her mother. "Who would give Maric a massage?"

"I know about Olivia and Maric, Lys. Liv told us, so we wouldn't have any more secrets."

"Maric agreed?"

"For her to tell me, but Loghain and I are a package now. Tell me, tell him."

Lys looked at her mother, left eyebrow raised.

"Well, when it concerns both of us."

Lys kept staring.

"It's different with Loghain. We're older, Gwaren is smaller and simpler than Highever, the world isn't ending… and both of us are tired of games." She smiled. "He accepts me as I am. I'm an equal partner." She touched Lys' cheek, when she saw the frown form.

"Your Papa…he accepted who I was during the Rebellion, the Seawolf sailing the Mistral, but once we married and returned to Highever as Teyrn and Teyrna, his expectations changed. He wanted a wife, not a privateer. I became the junior partner, not an equal one, and I accepted it, even enjoyed it. I loved Bryce, Lys, and he loved me. Those were wonderful years. After all, I still had more freedom and influence than any other noble woman in Ferelden, but even I couldn't stop your betrothal to Denis."

"Papa didn't want to anger Cailan and lose his position again. Not to mention, that the betrothal saved our lives the night Howe attacked. I'm not sure we would have made it to the Portal without Denis."

"You dreaded that marriage and for good reason, but you're right, he proved himself that night."

Lys shrugged. "We'll never know how it would have turned out. His…plans were not quite what I imagined. He's a better man than I thought." She held her mother's gaze. "Just like Loghain."

"Point taken," Eleanor said and then put her hand on Lys' forearm. She felt her daughter suppress a flinch, but Lys did not pull away. "Look."

Maric trudged up the path from the lake with Loghain following him on the narrow path. Neither spoke until they reached the house. Maric went to the fridge and pulled out two beers and asked Loghain if he could still pull a bow.

"A bow?" Loghain took the beer, puzzled. "Of course."

"Good. I've been consulting with Olivia's Anthropology Institute. Arms, armor-"

"-but not bows or horses."

Maric did not smile. "Not bows or horses. Your opinion might interest them. We'll go in the morning. Meet me out by the garage at eight. I'm sure Eleanor can tell you what that means. I'll drive." He nodded to the four women sitting in the living room, wished them good night and went upstairs.

Loghain's eyes followed him.

"He can drive," Kai said. "Can't fall off a car. He won't crash it if he's inside."

Eleanor and Lys had exchanged glances, when Maric offered Loghain the beer, hoping the two had established a truce, but Maric's request, although apparently benign, hadn't been a friendly one, more an order from King to Teyrn. Lys shrugged, thinking what harm could either come to at the armory. Bruise each other in a sparring match? Both men had the strength and reflexes developed by years of training. Eleanor got up and whispered something to Loghain. The two turned and said goodnight and left for the guest suite. Lys looked at Kai and Olivia.

"That made for an exciting evening. Good thing we don't have an armory here or it might have ended differently," Lys said, trying to make light of Maric's anger. She frowned as she thought about the two of them at the Hiever Armory. A sparring match may be just the thing to help him work through his anger.

The next morning the four women, coffees in hand, watched Maric back the old electric car out of the garage and stop to let Loghain climb in the front seat. Maric only grunted when Loghain said good morning.

"Bets on how fast Maric drives?" Kai asked.

"I just hope they get there in one piece," Olivia replied, as Eleanor looked from one to the other.

"Don't worry, Mum, Maric's a good driver, but he will probably show off a bit."

"At least he won't chatter the whole trip," Eleanor said. "If that grunt's any evidence, it seems he's still angry with Loghain." She looked at Olivia for confirmation, but her sister only shrugged.

"Jenna will be here soon," Lys said. "We can go check up on them once she arrives. I think I'll leave Will here today."

Later, shouting and cheers greeted the women as they walked into the armory. They exchanged glances and hurried to the sparring ring, where a crowd had gathered.

"Maker's Breath," Eleanor hissed, as they made their way to the rail around the sparring grounds, and Maric and he husband became visible through the crowd. "They're like two children."

"Children don't spar with real blades," Lys said softly.

Olivia hand covered her mouth and Eleanor whispered a frantic denial. Kai put a hand on Lys' shoulder as they all stared at the two men fighting in the ring.

Maric and Loghain circled each other, Maric with his great sword and Loghain with longsword and round shield. Maric made a remark Lys could not hear.

"You have the advantage, Maric. You're used to that blade," Loghain replied, in a tone that carried clearly.

Maric made a noise that passed for laugh and stepped forward, swinging the blade in a horizontal arc that Loghain barely managed to block with his shield. Too late, Loghain tried to take advantage of Maric's open left side, but his thrust encountered only air when Maric turned and stepped back. His arm still throbbing from the force of Maric's blow on his shield, Loghain advanced, feinting with his blade, before bashing the shield against Maric's right forearm and gauntleted hand. Maric retreated, his sword raised before him.

Blood trickled down one side of Loghain's face from an early pommel hit to his forehead, but he could not wipe it away or protect his bare head from further attacks. A few moments into the fight, as he realized this was a fight, not a sparring match, he had tossed away the ill-fitting helmet when it slipped forward. Loghain hefted the well-balanced longsword, knowing it would serve him well, but regretted his choice of shield. The small, round leather and wood buckler would serve for a sparring match, but for a fight he would have chosen a larger metal battle shield. Too late for regrets. I'll use this until it shatters. Luckily, I chose the right sword. He had expected to spar, but after he donned the borrowed mail, the armorer returned the sword to him, not blunted, but newly sharpened. Maric had set no rules for this fight. For all he knew his friend intended it to be to the death. That may be his wish, but it is not mine. So, I better win and keep us both alive. This time Andraste and I agree. Mercy and forgiveness for us both.

He stepped back, out of range of Maric's longer reach. Maric still moved with a swiftness that surprised Loghain. I've been practicing with my guard, but apparently so has Maric here in Areth. He's only lost a step or two. Loghain danced to the side, away from the sweep of Maric's blade, and rushed forward to strike at his one-time friend's side, bending a few links in the chain and scoring a strong blow to Maric's ribs. Maric fell back to catch his breath and they began to circle again. He's lost a few steps, but so have I. No advantage there. How do we not kill each other with these damn blades? On his next blows he tried to turn his blade just before impact, causing bruising but not drawing blood. Images of past sparring matches flowed through Loghain's head as he searched his memory for Maric's weaknesses. Maric had an advantage in reach and height, but Loghain had always been more agile, at least until he had begun to wear the Orlesian plate. Now that he wore chain again, that advantage had returned, assisted by the stretching exercises Eleanor had introduced. He may spar here, but he doesn't ride out every day. He's breathing harder than me. I need to keep him fighting until he tires and slows. Loghain thought better of taunting, afraid he would give his tactics away. He fought defensively, turning his blade and hoping his shield would hold against the battering by Maric's great sword. Maric did not hold back. His great blade swung down from above, delivering a glancing blow to Loghain's left shoulder.

"You're quicker in that chain mail. I should have given you plate," Maric growled.

"I don't wear plate anymore," Loghain said.

"Then it would have tired you out more quickly," Maric said, ignoring Loghain's comment. He changed his grip and swung for Loghain's torso, missing as Loghain jumped back, pulling his stomach away from the greatsword's trajectory.

"Next time I'll wear plate."

Maric stepped back, his sword pointing skyward. "You think there'll be a next time?"

Loghain continued to dance around his opponent, pulling back to avoid Maric's thrusts and slices, blocking only when necessary to preserve his weakening shield, and suddenly attacking with a blow to the shoulder or torso when Maric left him a rare opening. As he had hoped, Maric began breathing harder. As he tired, he raised the greatsword above his head less often. Loghain feigned fatigue, slowing his movements, watching Maric's eyes. He saw them narrow ever so slightly, before Maric moved forward, raising his sword high for a downward blow. As he did Loghain rolled beneath the blade and swept his own sword against Maric's calves, kicking as Maric tried to regain his balance. Maric fell hard, his right arm, extended to break the fall, buckling under his weight. Loghain stood, but not before Maric rolled away and got to his own feet.

"I didn't expect that move," Maric said, gripping his sword in both hands, but Loghain saw him wince as he moved his right elbow.

"I'm younger than you, old man," Loghain replied. "And I don't just spar with play soldiers. I fight beside my guard and ride out on patrol."

Maric smiled. "I'm not an Orlesian chevalier you can bait with gibes, Loghain. Taunt all you like."

Sighing, Loghain feinted with his sword. Maric, expecting another shield bash, raised his own blade to block and Loghain brought his sword's flat side down on Maric's right wrist. Gauntleted or not, the strength of the blow bruised Maric's wrist. His grip loosened on the greatsword as Loghain did bash his weakened shield against Maric's damaged elbow. The former king dropped his sword. Loghain stepped on the blade.

"You need to work on strengthening your arms and shoulders, Maric."

"Clearly," Maric replied.

"Six years in a cell, even if you did forms every day, would weaken anyone." Loghain pointed at the sword on the ground. "Are we done here, or do we continue?"

Maric had pulled his gauntlet off and was massaging his wrist as Loghain spoke. "Twenty years of wearing plate would strengthen your arms," he grumbled.

"I told you, I don't wear plate any longer. I stopped after the Blight. Archers can't wear plate. I've taken up the bow again, so I wear chain." He gave a rough laugh. "Curious how few people outside of Gwaren recognize me in chain. I could walk through Denerim and no one would know me." He rubbed his now ungauntleted hand through his short hair. "Good haircut helps too."

At that Maric chuckled and shook his head. "I'm still angry with you, but this took the edge off. We should talk."

"I'm still angry with myself. They weren't my sons, but I loved them too."

Maric breathed in. "I don't fault you for Ostagar, Loghain. I wish you could have influenced Cailan not to play the hero, but you did what I asked and saved the army to fight another day. You secured the borders. Nor can I fault you for the what the blood magic made you do. You obsessed about Orlais and that gave the blood mages their opening, but that obsession also protected Ferelden."

"Until it didn't."

"I know a little about Tevinter mages," Maric said, walking towards the gate that led to the locker room. He stopped at the fence and leaned against the rail, still massaging his wrist. "That's how they captured me. Somehow, two of Howe's Tevinters sailed as part of the Demelza's crew. They cast sleep spells on the watch one night and let Howe's men on board to capture me. One sailor came on deck as they boarded and rang the alarm, but by then it was too late. We fought, but they overwhelmed us with magic. They took me. The next thing I remember is the cell.

"Lys tells me Howe refitted the Demelza, painted her black, and sent her north. She says you were chasing it when she saw you in Antiva City."

"I was. Never found her. Howe's plans worked, until they didn't." Loghain stared past Maric, clearly seeing some other time and place. Maric said nothing. Finally, Loghain spoke. "He's one of the few men I enjoyed killing." Loghain turned towards the gate. "Let's clean up. I thought I saw what Eleanor calls showers in the privy chamber. Better than the cold beer - like a water fall from a hot spring."

"It's called a locker room and has toilets not privies, Loghain, and yes, there are showers." Maric smiled an unforced smile. "And they are amazing, aren't they?"

The two walked into the armory without acknowledging the women standing on the other side of the sparring ground.

"Seriously," Lys said. "That's it. They're not even going to speak with us."

Eleanor patted her arm, purposely ignoring the small flinch. "They need more time to get used to this truce."

"Truce?" Olivia asked.

"They have more to work out, but they'll manage now. They needed to remind each other of what they've shared. That's more important than the mistakes they've both made."

"You think Maric's captivity is his mistake!" Lys' voice rose.

"No, sweetling, of course not. No one opposed his trip to Wycombe, but there were other mistakes. Maric wasn't the best father."

"Right. Cailan and Alistair wouldn't have needed so much saving if Maric had paid them more attention, would they?"

"If Maric had allowed it, Loghain would have taken care of them, particularly Alistair. Loghain, Bryce, and even Teagan, kept suggesting alternatives to Redcliffe and Dragon's Peak. It's done, Lys. They need to forgive each other and learn to live together now. We can help by letting them do it their way."

Lys looked back towards the sparring ring. "Even if they kill each other?"

"I admit, today worried me, but if they survived this, they'll survive any other disagreements. Maric does not hold grudges. This won't happen again." She chuckled softly. "They may spar again, but next time they'll use blunted weapons."

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.