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
WARNING: This chapter includes conversations about Lys' treatment during her time at the Orphanage, that some may find disturbing.
Chapter 19: Truth and Reconciliation
9:33 Dragon, Firstfall === Areth
The personal AirZIP Fergus had hired landed at the Hiever landing zone with him as the only passenger. He had forgotten how easy travel could be in Areth. His ID, with its link to his credits and personal data, got him the AirZip in Revona, and a GroundZip and hotel room in Hiever. Settling into the GroundZip, he entered the small hotel's address, and the GroundZIP moved out of the parking area. He leaned back in the soft seat, torn between confronting Lys immediately or getting a good night's sleep first. Regardless, he needed to drop his luggage, freshen up, and find some food. He would decide the rest later. His wife, step-daughter, and newborn son would barely notice his absence, he thought, blessing the ability to Travel and only leave Ferelden for moments.
As the Zip skimmed along the road, Fergus' thoughts returned to his newborn son and he smiled. Anora had agreed to have an Arethian physician come to Highever for the birth, after Pippa had assured her that she had done the same. Pippa had made the arrangements, all had gone well with the birth, and Queen Elin now had a brother and Highever an heir. Again. A little human who would depend on him and one he could not fail, as he had the baby's older brother. The chubby baby boy had Anora's blond hair and blue eyes, he did not look at all like Oren. Dougal had his own charms and Fergus had fallen in love the first time he held him, much to his surprise and relief. Named for his two long dead uncles and more recently murdered grandfather, Dougal Alexander Bryce Cousland had a rich heritage to learn about and live up to.
He had chosen a small hotel outside of Hiever, and away from the typical hostelries for tourists visiting the living history park. Despite his increasingly angry mood, he treated the staff courteously, but declined the help they offered, finding his room on his own. Once there, he tossed his backpack on a chair, and stretched out on the bed, holding his CTab. He would surprise his sister without the interference of his mother, his wife, or Pippa. The visit Pippa had engineered to introduce Nate and Anora to Areth was still a few weeks away.
Anora would be furious with him, but he would deal with Anora's anger later. In his opinion, Anora had been inclined to forgive too easily once Pippa revealed that not only did Lys live, but that she had hidden away in Areth. She believed the story Pippa wove about kidnappings and danger. He did not. Whoever had escaped from Howe's Orphanage, it was not his sister. Lys had run after the battle and not come back. He could have understood a few weeks to come to terms with Alistair's death, but to just leave and run to Areth? Leave him behind to be a Regent, a Teyrn, and do it all alone? No. Her duty lay in Ferelden and she had run to Areth. Just as she had run to Nevarra and House Haris when the Couslands fell out of favor. Who knew, maybe she would have run before her wedding to Denis - just gone through the portal and not shown up that morning. A voice in his head whispered that her time with House Haris had proved, as Eleanor had predicted, beneficial to the Couslands. Another voice, Anora's this time, whispered in his head: Listen to what she has to say. Maybe she had a good reason, Fergus. He chose to ignore the whispers, shaking his head as he threw his CTab on the bed, bored by the vid he had selected. Right now, he wanted to express his own anger. He wanted to confront Lys alone.
Nate had not spoken in support of Lys, but he had not defended Fergus' view either. If Lys had been kidnapped by Thomas Howe, if the pregnant woman the captives spoke of was Lys, then Nate had a niece or nephew in Areth, and a reason to remain neutral. Anora and Pippa, on the other hand, had kept at him, trying to convince him Lys had done what she must to be safe. He did not want any of them present when he confronted his sister with her cowardice, her flight from duty. Not them and not his mother, who must know Lys had lived and run. His frown deepened, as he wondered how or when she had visited. It had been months since she had traveled to Highever. She had yet to meet her new grandson and, as far as he knew, she was in Gwaren and nowhere near a portal. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. It had been hours since he last ate. Some food and maybe a beer would taste good. He would face Lys in the morning. Early. She'll be out on the patio with her coffee.
x==========x
Kai answered the knock on the door, eyes widening when she saw Fergus.
"You're here too!" he growled. Pippa must know. What else did she hold back? How did Kai get permission to Travel? The thoughts raced through his mind. "My aunt or my sister has enormous influence it seems." He stared at Kai, who remained silent. "Of course, Olivia's speciality is the Dalish. You can help her with that." Pushing past Kai, he snarled, "Where's my sister?"
"I'm right here, Fergus." Lys walked from the kitchen carrying a carafe of coffee and two mugs. "And there's no need to bully your way in." Looking at Kai, she said, "I'll be fine. Fergus will yell. He'll tell me I can never return to Highever, but he won't attack me." She looked at her brother, who had crossed the large living space to stand by the fireplace. "Will you, brother?"
Fergus remained silent, glaring at his sister.
"Right. I went through worse at the Orphanage." She heard Fergus snort. Handing Kai a mug of coffee and nodding towards the stairs, she said. "Go on."
As Kai walked past Lys, she whispered, "Take Will with you to the weaving house. Tell Maric." Lys continued into the living room, setting the pot and mug down, while Kai headed up the stairs to gather the toddler and his belongings. She would leave by the back stairs to keep Will away from his uncle. She texted Maric, who had already left for the armory, sure he would come home as soon as he could.
"Coffee?" Lys offered, as she went to the kitchen for a third mug.
Fergus watched Kai disappear into an upstairs room and then turned towards Lys who sat on the couch and waited for Fergus to speak. Instead, he paced from one end of the large room to the other, hands clenching and unclenching behind his back. Finally, he stood behind her, placed both hands on the couch's back and leaned forward over her shoulder. She turned sideways to look at him.
"You ran," he snapped through clenched teeth. "You let us all think you were dead. I know Alistair died, but so did Father. And Oriana. And Oren. I didn't run. I did everything I could to get back from the Wilds. I came back and fought." He leaned closer, hissing, "Once Alistair died you ran." He began pacing again. "You left Pippa and Mum to pick up the pieces in Highever, while I served as a regent. You left. You ran to the safest place you could find and left us to clean up."
Lys sipped her coffee and watched her brother. Once he stopped speaking, she took a deep breath and spoke quietly. "Thomas Howe kidnapped Kai and me in Denerim and took us to his father's…" she hesitated, wanting to find a different word, but as always failing, "a keep he called his Orphanage. You've apparently heard Nate's description of it, so you know where it is."
Fergus stood still eyes narrowing. "Thomas," he spit the word. "That's such a convenient story. You ran to Highever, used the portal, and came here."
"Seriously, Fergus? First, you could have found out if I used the portal by coming here years ago and checking the records. Why didn't you? Oh, right. You hate coming to Areth." Her eyes followed him as he resumed his pacing.
"The logs are not public."
"No, but exceptions can be made in emergencies. I'm sure you could have created one. You're not a stupid man. As for escaping from Denerim, how? Somehow, in a city in flames and ruin, two unarmed, badly injured women managed to find horses, or better yet, a wagon and teamsters, to take them on a two-week journey along war ravaged roads and do it without anyone else noticing-"
"-you say you were wounded."
"I was wounded. Kai almost died. Shrieks overwhelmed us on that rooftop. I'm good at fixing things Fergus, but I can't raise myself from near death! Where were you? Why is it Thomas found us, and you didn't?" She stopped, realizing her own anger and sarcasm would only fuel his.
"We searched for you," he snarled. "If you had been wounded, we would have found you!"
"If we had run, someone would have seen us and told you!"
He frowned, refusing to acknowledge what he knew to be true. Someone would have seen them and told his searchers, or Cauthrien's. He said nothing, simply stood across from her, arms folded as she spoke.
"The healers kept any wounded they believed blighted away from the others. They assumed Blight sickness in anyone wounded by Shrieks. I think they kept us in the Fort Drakon courtyard, guarded by templars, but both Kai and I were unconscious much of the time. Did your soldiers get past the templar guards to look there? I doubt it. The healer who cared for us said templars kept everyone out for fear of spreading Blight sickness. She worried she would be discovered by the templar guards every time she cast a spell, although all the healers in the quarantined space were mages. She was, but not by the templars. Thomas' Tevinter mage, Nicephorus, found her. She had escaped from him before. Kai and I were a bonus."
Doubt flickered across Fergus' face as he tried to comprehend the new information his sister had imparted, but his frown returned when he recalled that all the Blight sickened had been taken to a Hospice, which he had searched. He stopped pacing and sat on the chair opposite his sister. Speaking deliberately, his jaw clenching between sentences, he stated, "We searched the Hospice where the Blight infected were quarantined. You weren't there."
Sighing, Lys nodded. "No, we never made it to the Hospice. They took all the quarantined wounded from Fort Drakon one evening and that's when Thomas and Nicephorus captured us. They simply diverted the cart carrying the two of us and took us away."
"A cart with just you, Kai and this mage. How convenient."
"I doubt it was convenience. More like Thomas or Nicephorus bribed the carter. Nicephorus wanted Reina, as much as Thomas wanted Kai and me. She was an apostate from the Ferelden Circle and a talented healer. Nicephorus had witnessed her talent in Highever, but she'd escaped from him. She knew Nyla, if you'd like to ask about her. None of us escaped in Denerim, but I'd be dead if not for her."
"And they just happened to find a ship."
"No. Captain Ranulf had worked for Rendon Howe for years transporting…" she stopped, closing her eyes as memories flooded her mind. She shivered and, with palms pressed together, leaned her face against her fingers. Finally, she looked up, lips pressed tightly together. "His orphanage bred elven slaves for Tevinter, Fergus. Captain Ranulf transported those slaves, children of 5 or 6 years, sometimes younger, to Tevinter twice a year."
Fergus stared at her. "Howe bred slaves?"
"Nate didn't explain what happened at the orphanage?"
"Nate mentioned slaves, but not that he bred them. I just thought he held them there."
"Is it so hard to believe that he bred them? He was behind the slavers in the Denver Alienage; he emptied the Amaranthine Alienage. Higheverport's elves only survived because of the blockade. Forcing elven women to have babies for him to sell – it ensured the supply once the Alienages emptied." She chewed at her lip. "I'm sure Nate doesn't care to provide details. Can you blame him?"
Fergus frowned. "You all left Denerim on this ship?"
She nodded. "The Wyvern. It was in dry dock for repairs during the battle and wasn't damaged. They launched it and sailed away."
He stared at her. "I heard about that ship. We…it angered us that it sailed off, empty, but once it was in the water, we had no other ships to stop it sailing." He pushed himself to his feet. "We just assumed the Captain wanted to get away." He stood and resumed his pacing, finally speaking again. "Why should I believe that ship went to this orphanage? You could have sailed it to Highever or Cumberland and not needed carters or wagons."
Lys stood and walked to the door overlooking the patio and lake. Remembering still hurt. She had been seeing a therapist for months, a woman recommended by a friend. It had helped talking to Gina, also a Traveler, but one like Olivia, who had chosen to remain in Areth and pursue a profession. Gina understood, but did not judge. This…the emotions, the anger, the fear, the unfairness all made telling her story so much more difficult. He simply would not believe her. Lys shut her eyes, not knowing what else to say. She felt rather than heard Fergus loom behind her and turned to face him.
"Tears?" he jeered. "Does the truth hurt that much?"
Turning, she stepped to the side, but Fergus grabbed her wrist. When she pulled away, he pushed her against the door, grabbing her other wrist. She reacted without thinking, using the defenses she had learned in the class Gina had recommended. She kneed him in the groin and when he bent over, releasing his hold, hooked her leg around his calf and pushed with her now free hands. He fell onto his back. She heard clapping and looked up to see Maric across the room.
Quickly stepping away from Fergus she put the couch between her and her brother, as Maric moved to her side.
Fergus rolled over onto his stomach and rose to his hands and knees. After several deep breaths he clambered to his feet glaring at Lys and at Maric.
"Ah, the lover."
"What?" Lys looked totally bewildered.
"Your lover. I heard all about him in a bar last night. How you, your lover, your love child, and your servant all live here. Although some thought Kai might be part of a threesome. Is that it?"
Lys stared, but Maric crossed his arms and glared back. "That, Fergus Cousland, is unworthy of you, your family, and everything your father stood for."
"What do you know of my father," Fergus spat.
"I've gone grey, but beyond that I am completely recognizable. I know we're in Areth, but in your case, I suggest you bend a knee and be very happy I'm not carrying my sword."
As Maric spoke, Lys watched recognition slowly creep across Fergus' face.
"King Maric," he croaked. He slowly bent a knee and bowed his head. "My apologies, Your Majesty," he whispered, "but, how…?"
"Yes, Howe."
Fergus' head snapped up. "Rendon?" Then he remembered Nate's description of the survivors who fled the Orphanage: the pregnant wife, her elven servant, a white-haired woman healer, and an older man, who had been a prisoner according to the elves and human women who had been imprisoned there. It all fit Lys story. "You were the prisoner?"
"I was."
Fergus looked at Lys. "You've kept your fighting skills. I'm lucky you didn't have your blades or bow."
"Yes, you are," she said, her jaw clamped shut.
"You should be glad Anora is already pregnant, although I doubt Lys did permanent damage," Maric said.
"Pregnant…Pippa hasn't been here since she gave birth?"
"No. She-"
"- is fine, Lys, as is our son." He closed his eyes, rubbing his brow. "Good to think we can have another."
He grimaced as he moved and Maric compressed his lips to stifle a smile.
"Everything you told me is true?"
"Yes."
"And the child?"
"His name is William, for our grandfather, but he's not Thomas'. I was pregnant before the battle, although I didn't know. Will is Alistair's son. Maric is his grandfather - in case you forget Alistair's family lines. It's why Maric is here. You're his uncle, not Nate."
Fergus sighed. "So, he's in danger from Orlais?"
"And Tevinter - or some magister called Aurelian Titus - who paid Howe for a vial of my blood every month for six years," Maric said. "He'd want Will's too."
"What? Why?"
Lys sighed, deeply. "We don't know why, Fergus, just that he paid Howe well for those vials of blood - the blood of Calenhad."
"Why don't we sit?" Maric said, motioning Fergus towards an armchair. He led Lys to the couch and sat beside her, the coffee table between them and her brother. Going to the kitchen, Maric returned with a mug and served himself. "Look Fergus, Howe kept me in a windowless dungeon, but he fed me and kept me healthy so he could scavenge the blood. Lys' imprisonment was far less kind."
"Less kind than a windowless cell and your blood taken every month?"
Maric looked at Lys, who nodded and faced Fergus. For the first time, he saw the fine lines around her eyes, and he realized she looked older than her twenty-three years. "I get tired of repeating my story, particularly to those who think I'm lying. Maric can tell you why I was in my own hell while at the Orphanage. Maybe you'll believe him." She left and went up the stairs.
"She can't tell her own story?" Fergus snapped, watching her leave.
"She's been trying to. She doesn't need continue, only to have you disbelieve every word." Maric held up his hand. "I know, the word liar hasn't passed your lips. It doesn't have to. You say it with every sneer, angry rant, and scornful expression. Now let me be clear. Thomas Howe and his mage, Nicephorus, kidnapped Kai and Lys in Denerim. Thomas forced her to marry him, he demanded his marital dues repeatedly, and, when he wasn't amusing himself with her, kept her in a small room at the top of the keep."
"Marital dues?" He sucked in a breath. "He forced her into marriage? He raped her?"
Maric nodded. "You begin to understand. Her only access to fresh air was on the roof. He did let Kai stay with her and allowed the mage healer to monitor her pregnancy and heal her. He did something else which might sound familiar to you. Lys tells me he learned it from watching his father with Anora."
Fergus stiffened. "Howe never-"
"-no, he didn't go that far with Anora during the weeks he held her. Tom thought his father had been foolish not to take that final step, but he did have the jailors beat the soles of her feet. The Antivans call it- "
"-bastinado. Anora still hates anyone touching her feet." He stared, seeing something Maric could not see. His jaw clenched and unclenched as he thought about what Anora had been through and realized Lys had been through far worse for far longer. He knew how it had affected his wife; that his sister could escape, have a child, arrange a life for herself, Kai, and Maric in Hiever, after losing Alistair and living through months of captivity…. He breathed out. She lost Da, Oriana, and Oren, too, and so many others. That she could function proved her strength. And all I've done is feel sorry for myself. I could have had her help. Maybe not in Ferelden, but she could have helped from here. Fergus dropped his head into his hands, knowing Maric had no reason to lie for his sister. As king, Maric had his faults, but lying had never been one of them. He looked up. "Mum and Loghain know?"
Nodding, Maric said, "Lys contacted your Mum once we got to Cumberland. Your Mum told Loghain later. She kept it from you at first, because Lys needed to heal, to have her baby, and feel safe. And because your Mum thought adding another Theirin child to the mix right after the Blight would cause problems. I agreed, by the way. For the same reasons, I didn't return."
Fergus croaked what might have been a laugh. "I needed Lys. I wasn't ready to be Teyrn or Regent. Mum went off to Gwaren, saying she had faith in me. Loghain's essentially exiled there, given the Landsmeet's attitude, so I couldn't get advice from him. Anora…" he sighed, "Anora needed my support to recover from her own imprisonment at Howe's hands. I had no one to lean on. I needed Lys."
"All you had to do was visit me here," Lys snapped, coming back down the stairs. "And you weren't alone. You had Pippa, Nate, Anora as she recovered, and a fully functioning warden post with a wonderful Warden-Commander, who had just lost his closest friend and colleague. You were selfish, Fergus. I know you still mourned Papa, Oriana, and Oren, but so did I."
"Not to mention Alistair," Fergus said softly.
She stopped, gripping the banister. "No, you don't get to mention Ali. Ali knew he would die when he struck that blow. He knew and did it anyway."
""Lyssie…if you weren't running away," he whispered. He looked at her and the king. "Why didn't you come to us - to Pippa at least, when you left the elves in Highever."
She huffed, shaking her head. "Don't be dense. Will is Alistair's son. He's a Theirin. How would you and Anora have reacted to another Theirin so soon after the Blight? How would the Landsmeet?" Eyes narrowing in anger, Lys continued, "What would have happened if Maric showed up at the next Landsmeet? Or if he hid in Highever or Gwaren and was found later by some righteous noble? We knew that Tevinter Magister would find him, and Will too. Once we did escape, we had to find safety. There can be no safety in Thedas for Maric and Will. You offered me no safety. For all I knew, you would have married me off to the first likely suitor."
"I...no, I don't think I could have done that after Denis. I'm not sure Anora would have stood for it, much less Mother." He saw her jaw clench. "That didn't stop Da did it?"
She continued down the stairs as Maric replied.
"And as I already said, Ferelden didn't need me returning from the dead to complicate matters further. Then Mum told me how angry you were. Why would I contact you?"
"Fair points," Fergus murmured. "I'm not sure if Ferelden could handle your return now, but right after the Blight? It would have thrown the Landsmeet into chaos, no matter what you said or did." He shook his head and thought back to the year after the Blight ended and nodded. "Yeah, it would have complicated a complex situation." He stared into his mug for a time before his head snapped up. "Mum knows. Loghain knows. Pippa knows. Who else?"
Lys sat on the edge of the sofa, hands clasped in her lap. "Pippa figured it out on her own and came here. I'm surprised you didn't come sooner, if you thought I lived and ran away. Did you hate me so much you couldn't face me? What changed?" she asked. "What we were told of your behavior, your words, offered nothing to make me think I could approach you. I didn't contact Pippa because I didn't want to jeopardize her position, or Nate's, if you found out. Or divide her loyalties."
"I thought about coming here a few times, but you know I dislike it here – and I thought trying to find you would be difficult. I'd forgotten how much you love it here in Hiever. I thought I'd have to search Revona City. I knew Mum and Olivia wouldn't help." He sighed. "I didn't mean to hurt you, just now."
"Fergus, the last man who grabbed me as you just did, was Thomas' captain. I was pregnant, Thomas had passed out, drunk, so he thought he'd suffer no consequences. If the Tevinter, the mage Nicephorus, hadn't stopped him…. I understand that wasn't your intent, but I wasn't sure you wouldn't harm me. Exactly how should I have reacted?"
Fergus leaned forward, dropping his head, his forearms resting on his thighs. Maric took Lys' hand as they waited for Fergus to look up. Finally, he did. "I wouldn't have hurt you. I'm just so angry…or I was." He shook his head. "After the battle, I needed you. I know, I had friends, Mum, even Loghain, but I needed you. Your advice, your support. I'd never felt so alone. The longer you weren't there, the angrier I got. We tried to find you in Denerim, we did."
"I know you did. I don't fault you for not finding us; I fault you for your anger afterwards. Mum said you wouldn't listen to her. She wanted to tell you I was here, but between your anger and the political complications…we both thought it put you in an awkward place with the Regents, Anora, and your responsibilities."
"How did Pippa know? You said she figured it out on her own."
Lys stared past Fergus and smiled. "Not exactly. Zevran spoke with her. He decided Kai and I must have survived because he knew we weren't mortally wounded, and he had sent the healing mage to tend to us. He told Pippa and a few others his speculations and she immediately assumed I came here."
"Ah. So, another thing that shouldn't have angered me." He coughed a laugh. "I assumed you or Mum told Pippa."
"Only Mum knew at first. Loghain didn't come until after." She stopped, not sure if Fergus knew about their Mum and Loghain, but he smiled. "We know. Not officially, but we know they married. We won't have to deal with it officially until the next Landsmeet. We'll manage Elemena in the meantime, although I can't imagine she doesn't know."
"Good," Lys replied. "The fewer secrets the better." Leaning forward, she changed the subject. "Fergus, I needed you too, but no one found me before Thomas took us away."
"Morrigan flew all over Denerim," Fergus said. "Erlina, Zev, Leliana - everyone looked for the two of you."
"I know." Lys sighed. "I'm not accusing you of not looking, I'm sad that you thought I would simply desert you. Let me tell you the rest of the story before Kai comes back with Will."
Lys began with the shriek attack on Fort Drakon and ended with their settling in Hiever, skipping over their capture and the time at the Orphanage Maric had already described. Fergus remained silent understanding, finally, that she had not run away, and that she had good reasons, as Pippa had said, for staying in Areth with Will and Maric. Maric filled in pieces from his own imprisonment and from their escape.
She sighed. "The Tevinter mage, Nicephorus, convinced Thomas to flee Ferelden, fearing Nathaniel or the Wardens would come through the tunnel from the Vigil and find the Orphanage."
"Which they did," Fergus said, interrupting.
Ignoring his comment, Lys continued. "He loaded us and the elves on board the Wyvern and prepared to sail for Tevinter, but he got greedy. He wanted every last coffer of treasure his father had squirreled away in the cave leading into the tunnels. He had the Tevinters, his own guard, Captain Ranulf, and most of the ship's crew on shore retrieving it, despite the darkspawn attacks. The last attack overwhelmed them. We watched from the ship as they died on the beach and then sailed on the next tide."
As Lys talked, Maric moved to the kitchen and made sandwiches and more coffee, bringing them to the table. Fergus ate automatically, hungry, since he had skipped breakfast, and because it gave him something to do with while his sister spoke. Lys only drank water.
His eyes widened when he understood the source of the golden windfall that had come to Ferelden and the Alienages.
"We made sure the elves had refuge in Highever, and gave them some coin to get settled, we kept a bit for ourselves, but we returned most of the treasure-"
"-the money sent to Ferelden from House Haris?"
"Yes. Mum says it's been put to good use."
"It has. We've - well mostly the elves themselves - rebuilt the Alienages, and we rebuilt Denerim, South Reach, and the Darkspawn damaged South as best we could. Some places will take years to recover, so we've had to resettle those who survived in what we're calling the Barren Lands. "Fortunately," his tone clearly conveyed sarcasm, "many died, so empty farm holds, cottages, and town houses offer new starts."
He felt the sun's warmth on his back, flowing in from the west through the doors to the patio, and marking the passing of the morning. Lys got up and excused herself.
"I'll be right back."
Fergus looked at Maric. "Could I be a bigger ass?"
"Nope. Not that you're evil, let's clear that off the table, but unbelievably foolish. I should know. As Loghain would happily tell you, I have done more foolish things than he could count." Maric shook his head. "Maker, Fergus. Duty is Lys' middle name. She's never run in her life."
"I left when father fell out of favor, Maric," Lys said returning to her seat. "Fergus didn't approve of my apprenticeship with House Haris. Mum convinced Papa to allow it. Fergus thinks I ran then."
Fergus sighed. "I did, at first, but it benefited us, just as Mum said it would, particularly your secret meetings with Anora. Papa and I came around." He heard a door open and a light, child's voice call Momma. Kai came in carrying a child who looked just like Alistair. She looked at Lys who nodded.
"Fergus, meet your nephew," Kai said. "His name is Will, William, for your grandfather. William Alistair Cousland Theirin."
Kai put Will down and the toddler ran to his mum. Lys pulled him into her lap and the boy snuggled into her, looking sideways at the stern looking man in the chair across the table. Lys cuddled Will and, warily, watched her brother.
Fergus stared at the boy, who started to whimper, but Will quieted when his mother whispered soothing words. Fergus lifted his hands palm outward saying he had not meant to scare the child. Maric interrupted, quietly reminding him the "child" was his nephew and Fergus whispered that he understood, as Maric rose and walked over to the patio door, motioning to Will and reminding him that they had planned to fish for their dinner. After some encouragement, Will scrambled down from his mum's lap, gave the grim man in the other chair a frightened look and ran around the couch to his grandfather. Fergus' eyes followed the boy. Maric nodded at the younger man and said only, "Fergus, you're both Couslands. When did either of you turn away from your duty?" He took Will's hand and left.
Kai watched Fergus react to Maric's remarks. The old Fergus had always been fair and sensible, someone who could change his viewpoint when presented with new information. She only hoped this Fergus would too.
Seeing Maric and Will helped him. The boy looked so much like his father. It made a fantastical tale real. He sat back.
Lys, willing herself to relax, leaned forward and poured herself a coffee. The angry brother who had stalked into the house earlier now slouched in the arm chair, his legs stretched out before him, all the taut, angry tension gone. Kai sat beside Lys and looked at Fergus. She took a deep breath and asked, "Fergus, how could you think Lys would just disappear? She saw Ali kill the Archdemon and then she almost died. Why didn't any of you find us?"
He closed his eyes and shook his head. "We searched Kai."
"Then again, if we hadn't been captured, we wouldn't have found Maric and rescued those elves," Lys said softly.
Fergus snorted. "You sound like Alistair. What did he call it - bright-siding?"
Lys got up and walked out to the patio. Fergus stood and followed. Below them, on the dock, a little boy and his grandfather laughed as they pulled in a fish. Lys gripped the patio railing and said, "I know you want Oren and Papa to be there with them, as do I. I can't fix that, but I can keep Maric and Will safe here."
"We did this once before didn't we?" he said softly and put his hand over hers. She stiffened, but did not pull away.
"Maybe the lesson will stick this time," she whispered. "I would love it if you would visit us too, just like Mum and Loghain do. We miss everyone."
"We'll all be here soon. That's if I survive telling Anora about his visit."
"You should have thought of that before you set out without her."
"I…she and Pippa tried to talk me down…I didn't want them here. I wanted to confront you alone."
"Pippa didn't tell you about Maric?"
"No, only a very brief version of your kidnapping and escape and that you had a child." He looked at Lys, eyebrows raised. "She knows the whole story?"
"Yes, but…I thought it best that you and Anora hear most of it from Maric and me, although I left it up to her. I'm not sure how much she told Nate. It won't be easy for him, I fear, despite his not being responsible for any of this."
"I think it's best coming from you, first, and then Maric, so he can see you're both alright. Anora's already decided everything Pippa's told her is true, so you don't need to worry about her. She told me Thomas was just like his father. That it rang true. I didn't accept that. It's why I came alone. Convinced I was right. I'm so sorry." Fergus leaned over and kissed the side of her temple. "We always made a good team, sis, but," he swallowed and sighed, "but therein lays the source of my anger. I needed you and you weren't there. I should have known you would never run, would always have a reason. And I am so…so sorry about Ali."
Her me too came out as a whisper.
Before she pushed him towards the path to the dock she asked about the baby. "Do I have a niece or a nephew?"
Fergus smiled. "Nephew. Dougal. Dougal, Alexander Bryce Cousland."
Lys smiled. "Quite a name for an infant, but no one will doubt his heritage. Papa's brother, Mum's brother, and Papa. Names fit for a Teyrn. Is it-"
"-hard? I won't lie to you, I hoped for a girl. Fewer reminders, but," he teared up and looked away. Once he regained his composure he turned back. "But he's his own unique self already."
Lys squeezed his hand. "I'm not sure why I'm forgiving you so easily, but I missed you. Now, go meet your nephew again and try not to make him cry this time." As Fergus headed toward the dock, she yelled, "And don't take him sailing, he's too young."
"You forgave him?" Kai said walking up behind her. "You believe he's sorry. That this won't happen again?"
"I think he thinks he's changed his views, but no, I don't trust him not to get angry at some other fault, real or imagined. I never thought of him as selfish before."
"This was all about you leaving him to manage on his own?"
"Yes and no. I think Gina will tell me he channeled all his anger toward me, because he felt guilty being angry at Papa, Oriana, and even Anora." Kai slipped her arm through Lys' and stood with her watching the two men and little boy on the dock.
Lys lifted her wrist, already showing the bruise Fergus had left.
"He did that!"
"I tried to pull away from him…again!" A quick smile made Kai stiffen. "Guess the symbolism proved too much."
"Lys! That's not a joke."
"Gina tells me I should keep my sense of humor," Lys said. "She and I will talk about this."
"Good." Kai watched the men on the dock. "Do you think he'll ever be the man he was before Ostagar. He's so changed. He was always the even handed one, the mediator, not a diplomat exactly-"
Lys laughed. "No, not like Papa."
"- he was fair, to everyone.
Lys smiled watching Fergus squat and help Will bait his hook. "Are you're saying I shouldn't trust him."
"I'm saying be careful."
"I'm not going back to Highever, Kai, or Ferelden. He can't hurt us here. I'm not telling him my…our plans, if we go with Olivia in the Marches."
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.