Chapter Forty-Seven

Meet the Gang

Magma – in disguise – was the only one to follow me when I shouted where I was going. We made our way through the Cellar swiftly and got to the trap door easily – it was just past Anders' room here in the cellar which was behind a false wall.

We arrived just in time. I entered just in time to hear, "I have made this place a sanctum of Healing and Salvation. Why do you threaten it?"

"Anders, stand down!" I called out, coming out of the entry way that led to my home. I saw that the place had emptied out.

The change was instant. Anders lowered his staff and looked to me. I hardly had a moment to notice that it was Varric, Carver, Bethany and Fenris accompanying Hawke before I was pressed against the wall as Hawke kissed me.

I shouldn't have kissed back – Alistair was going to have this poor mages' head on a pike after this – but I couldn't help it. The man could kiss – very, very well.

Magma coughed lightly – but it was Fenris who yanked the mage off me. I was standing in a daze for a moment.

"Chuckles, you want to introduce us to your… friend here?" I heard Varric ask.

I flushed, but straightened up with a smirk.

Varric was 4'7 with blonde hair, brown eyes and stubbly chin… my eyes were instantly drawn to his half-open shirt and I smirked wider when I noticed that the Chest-hair was indeed iconic.

Bethany was 5'5 with black hair down to her shoulders and bright blue eyes that sparked when she recognized me; Carver had gold eyes and military cropped black hair standing at 5'10.

Then there was Fenris… my heart stopped when I saw him and I knew my face held awe. He was 5'8 with blinding white hair done in the style shown in game… his eyes were green, his skin tanned… and his tattoos pulsed. And I knew at once that he was my Earth-Born Mate – I felt a new power click into place, but I didn't know what that power might be. All I knew at this moment was that he was glaring at Hawke – and he likely didn't know why.

Fenris had always trusted his instincts – and right now, his instincts had screamed to get Hawke off me – it was cute; and Hawke had no idea how close he was to death in this moment.

"Sorry, Varric… this is Ara. I told you about her. She's the reason Bethany is still alive. Her visions of the Future warned me of the Ogre."

Anders eyes widened. "I thought you said you couldn't save lives like that. You said the law of Equal Exchange…" I slapped a hand over his mouth.

"What was he going to say?" Fenris' deep baritone sent shivers up my spine.

"I… if I save a life, a life is taken. I trade one for another. I didn't know it when I gave Hawke the information about the Ogre… I found out when I saved my brothers Seneschal and lost my Hound… I didn't want Bethany to feel like her Life killed someone when it… really didn't."

"Who… who's life did I replace?" Bethany sounded horrified and I flinched.

I shook my head, "Honey, no. The life that was traded for yours had yet to even be born; that life would have been miserable. You see that I have pointy ears – Alistair can make me his mistress all he likes but until I come out as the Princess of Danu, he can't exactly marry me or claim our children. I didn't even know I was pregnant until I lost the babe."

Magma sighed – it was long suffering, "It was… for the best."

Varric picked up on my words, "Princess of… you're the Fairy Princess?"

I gave a wide grin and let out my wings – spectral with a Gold-to-White Ombré coloring. Hawke took one step back.

Bethany came over, "Thank you – for saving my life; your warning and the… thing that warded off Darkspawn saved us all."

Fenris was standing close by – holding himself stiffly as he listened to both my conversation and Hawkes.

Carver nodded, "And thank you for informing them that I was alive after Ostagar; I've been informed of how you knew and with your information saving my twin… I don't feel right to gain-say it or call you a liar."

Hawkes' voice snapped, "Carver!"

I waved it off, "Honey, it is sort of unbelievable. Come now – a Seeress pops out of nowhere and tells you 'here, smear this on your body to make the Darkspawn run away screaming; oh, and your brother – whom I'd never met – is still alive and will make his way home in about a month. But be ready to run then – Darkspawn Horde is approaching and will completely wipe Lothering off the map'… yeah, no – I wouldn't have believed that if I were still human on Earth instead of a Fairy in Thedas."

"Human…" Varric looked skeptical. I shrugged, "My past life was that of a Human girl on another Planet. Can you imagine my shock and worry to wake up with pointy ears and my hair and eyes had changed colors? I had no idea what happened, where I was, how I got there or anything of that nature. Anyway…"

"I will not fight the Templars," Fenris said smoothly while looking at Hawke. I coughed, "Honey, no one is asking you to fight them – and the mage… won't be leaving their custody anyway. Sorry Anders, but it is best that you still go tonight."

Anders frowned, "I'm not going to like this, am I?"

"Oh fuck no – you're going to hate it a lot." I said – pretending not to notice when Fenris' lips lightly curved up.

Hawke coughed, "Will I still get the maps?"

"Yes," Anders, Magma and I said at once. It was then that I realized just how rude I had been.

"Hawke – everyone – this is Magma; he's a Fire Sylph in disguise since his normal appearance makes most mortals uncomfortable."

"You think yourself immortal?" Fenris asked blankly.

"No – I'll just live another 300 years barring accidents so… yeah…" I rubbed the back of my neck and added, "Did you have plans to visit the Gallows today, Hawke?"

"I… do… is it wise for you to go there?" Hawke asked. I chuckled, "Oh for sure. Magma will explain mates to you all and then I will tell you the whole tale of the Blight. Besides – if they learn I have magic and I don't want to tell them that I'm a Fairy; I have an Allowance Permit signed by a Knight-Commander, a First Enchanter and the King of Ferelden."

"Well… we're headed that way now…" Hawke offered.

"I do have one question, though… if you're King Alistairs Mistress, why did you kiss my brother back?" Carver asked.

I coughed lightly, "I uh… I was taken off guard by it. Alistair will have his head if he learns about it – and not because Alistair wants to keep me all to himself either… We'll let Magma explain Mates first and then I'll tell you why Alistair might kill Hawke later… I can't let Alistair kill him, but if Alistair is faster… I suggest running since he's a former Templar-Recruit."

Hawke nodded, "I recall that much – and the man was as well muscled as I am; I doubt I'd have any chance of winning."

"Alistair can lift me and carry me down 20 flights of stairs without breaking a sweat – you'd lose with no question," I said.

Fenris looked amused, "And how did you find that out…"

"I passed out after the Battle of Denerim when we took out the Archdemon Urthemiel. We had a Golem and a Qunari ally that met us at the base of the Fort though so if Alistair did tire, he could have handed me to one of them."

"You fought with a Qunari at your side?" Fenris asked impressed.

I nodded, "The Sten was an admirable fighter and named me Kadan and Basalit-An."

Fenris nodded in thoughtful respect, "Do you know what that means?"

"Maraas Shokra, Fenris – of course I know," I winked. There is nothing to struggle against. He blinked, "I will… reserve judgement on you until I know more."

"Feel free to speak your mind, Blue Wraith."

He stiffened and Magma cursed – he hadn't realized we were in the presence of another Prince from the Court of Beings.

All heads turned to Magma. Fenris looked confused, "You know me – what they call me when I kill?"

I nodded, "Again – let's allow Magma to talk while we walk."

I folded away my wings as we departed for the Gallows.

We were halfway from Darktown to the Gallows when it finally occurred to me… "Hey Hawke – Why did you kiss me?"

He coughed – looking a little embarrassed before giving me a charming smile, "Do you remember when I asked what you wanted for the information back in Lothering?"

I nodded. "I sarcastically said a hug."

"Yeah and after that you said that if you'd known I would do it, you would have asked for a kiss. Well, when your information about the Ogre turned out true, saving Bethanys life, I swore that if I saw you again, I'd give you what you asked for."

I laughed lightly – as did Magma, knowing that I was going to use this information as my excuse when I informed Alistair of the kiss. How could Hawke be blamed when he was only giving me what I'd asked for? "I shall endeavor to keep your siblings safe, Serah, but don't kiss me unless you actually want to die, okay?"

Even Fenris' lips twitched at that.

Magma said, "If Anders hears that, he'll ask why he was never allowed to kiss you."

"As I've told him – several times – I prefer the Warriors; Alistair, Knight-Captain Cullen and even Fenris since they're my Mates."

Fenris glanced at me coolly – Magma had finished the Mate talk by this point, but Fenris hadn't been informed that he was a mate.

"You believe…"

"I know – but I won't force anything, Fenris."

That was when Magma put his foot in his mouth, "You know; I find it ironic that you were once a…"

I slapped a hand over his mouth – I'd had a vision of what he was going to say just moments before he spoke. He was about to out me as a former Sex Slave.

"Magma – I swear to the Goddess that if you say anything about that without my permission that you will be cut into one inch strips before I bury you. I won't even have to kill you myself – Xia or Les will do it for me." Magma and I both felt the vow slide into place – woops… I needed to be more careful with my words. Now if he mentioned it again, I really would have to slice him into 1-inch strips before he was buried. At least I didn't swear to kill him – just cut him up before…

He had paled by this point, "Please don't tell the girls what I almost did – please."

"Never bring it up without my permission to someone who doesn't already know – my past as one of those is my buissness to inform people – and the universe seems to let me know when it's time to tell too. I know I shut that damn door that night that I was forced to tell you and the others. I know I did – so when that happens again, then it will be time to tell Fenris and the others of my past. And I will be crying while I do – I may be past it, but it still hurts."

Magma looked very contrite, "I apologize, Ara – I was so used to being around others who already knew… I didn't even think of it. Les will have my balls on a plate if she learns of this." He wasn't joking – Les would castrate Mag in a heartbeat for hurting me even emotionally. And she'd threaten to make him eat it too – for such a sweet girl, she terrified me.

Celeste knew that the ball sack wasn't actually needed on a man anyway – especially the right one; it was the left ball that produced the 'baby-making' stuff. I think she could scare a dragon away when she was angry – I wasn't about to find out.

Varric – in his nosy nature – asked, "I'm too curious to leave this alone, Feathers."

Magma looked confused, "Feathers?"

I smiled, "Is that my nickname?"

Varric smirked, "You know it – now… what's going on?"

I sighed, "You'll know eventually – within a month if my calculations are right. Just… leave it for now, Varric. It's a past I'm not proud of and had no control over. I wish I could change it – I really do – but I can't and it hurts. I have to sleep with someone in my bed every night or I wake screaming from the nightmares. So please –drop this for now."

Fenris stepped in, "You say we will know soon enough – I will not press; and I will hit the Dwarf if he does."

Varric flinched, "I didn't figure you for the protective type, Elf."

I smiled, "Fenris is very protective of those he's loyal to – he just isn't loyal to many people. You see how his former master is still alive at the moment, no? Fenris was quite protective – until he wasn't."

Fenris inclined his head a little – acknowledging that I was correct in this matter.

I then changed the subject and began to tell the tale of the Fifth Blight starting from Lothering.

It was about the time we got to the docks when I got to the part about the Tower at Kinlock.

Wait; wait… so you walked into the Circle Tower there with no one the wiser? So how did you get a permit? Better yet, how did you get out?" Varric pointed out – he wanted those details for the new book he was working on in his head I supposed.

"Please save all questions to the very end of the story. Some questions you have will be answered over the course of the telling." I made my voice sound like a Flight Attendant, and then I handed him a note pad and pen, "Write all this down… wouldn't want you to forget it when you go to write the book." I winked and he scoffed. "Feathers, I remember everything." I shrugged as we approached they ferry man at the docks.

I pulled out a golden coin. "I want passage for me and these six to go to the Gallows." The man took the coin and motioned to his boat.

"You know you over paid him…" Hawke started. "So? Haven't you heard? I'm the Teyrna of Gwaren and a Soap Tycoon to boot my dear. I bet we'll leave the Gallows with more money than we enter with – seeing as we're here because Meredith wants to buy one of my Soap recipes…"

Varric sniggered and Hawke laughed. I continued, "And even if that weren't the case – Alistair would make sure all my needs are met… believe me… if I so much as tried to refuse money from him I'd find it somewhere awkward later… such as my bedroll or worse; my small clothes."

Magma looked amused, "From what I know of the Dragon King – that is very true. After all – he bought you the largest house in Kirkwall when you finally relented to allow him to buy you a house… and didn't specify how big."

Bethany looked confused, "I thought the De Launcet family had the biggest house?"

I shook my head, "Alistair – the foolish, most wonderful man – bought me the house that only a royal may buy… the House of Archon in Hightown. The damn thing had twenty bedrooms. I converted a few and have 14 houseguests but still don't use them all since many of those guests share. 5 in one room with a spare room; 5 others in a similar situation and 4 more in the same. I put aside rooms for all my mates in case they spend a night or two – and still haven't used all the rooms! With all the rooms currently in use – 12 of them if you count 'set up for specific people' and that I conjoined two rooms to make an office for one of those people – and the rooms converted, I'm only using sixteen rooms. And I had to strain my thoughts to figure out what to put in some of those rooms."

Carver and Bethany looked stunned. Varric looked like this was a gift. The ferryman looked like he was trying to ignore this topic but couldn't because it was too fantastic.

Fenris said, "This means you set up a room… for me?"

"Yes – it's pretty simple, actually; just a bed, a chair, fireplace and an area for training. There is a mannequin for your armor and a rack for your sword… as well as a few Mannequins with extra armor. The Wine Cellar is stocked with your favorite wine too…" I muttered in embarrassment.

"You know I won't move in." he said.

"I don't expect that – I know your motives for living where you are. Like I said – it's just for if you spend the night and don't room with me for some reason… you need not feel obliged –the armor is yours for whenever; you can come get it or leave it where it is. My Templar… friend has the same in his closet… and he doesn't know I made a room for him yet."

"What about Alistairs' room?" Hawke asked – not using his title made the Ferryman choke… apparently he knew who we were.

"Alistair will usually sleep in my room while he's around – but if he throws a fit or relents to one of my other lovers… his room is stocked with Fae Armor and a Dragon Theme for the Dragon King. He loves jokes, humor and Irony… and cheese – that man… you could bribe the king with good cheese, I'm not even joking. I think I could get anything I desire by offering him a Danu special – Smoked Flame Cheese made from a special type of Dragon milk."

We got out of the boat and began heading for the interior of the Gallows. Surprisingly, Fenris did not comment about the Gallows being a prison or asking about it – he was too absorbed in our conversation.

I looked to a Templar near me. "My name is Ara Cousland and I'm here to see knight-captain Cullen."

Hawke – recalling that Cullen had been mentioned as one of my mates before – didn't bat an eye.

"Yes, My Lady. Please wait here while I go see if the Knight-Captain is available."

I was at the part in my story where we got back to the Knight-Commander after Uldred died when I was grabbed from behind and a pair of lips met mine… twice in one day by two very good looking men.

What had changed Cullens' mind? He was 6'2 so he practically lifted me to kiss me. I didn't realize we were moving at all until my back hit the wall. My arms wound around his broad shoulders and thick plate armor. I was ecstatic, regardless. I moaned into the kiss. When he ended the kiss, I whimpered slightly and looked into his hypnotic golden eyes as his wavy gold hair ruffled in the breeze.

"Now see… if I'd known this was the welcome I'd get, I would have come here first thing after completing the renovations on my new house…" I sighed happily.

"You wouldn't have gotten that welcome before yesterday." Cullen's deep voice growled.

"Are you sure? I mean… we did have a rather steamy good-bye kiss when I departed Kinlock last year…can I have another?"

"I got a letter from my sister yesterday. According to her, you waylaid the Hero of Ferelden and saved my family in Honnleath for me… she says you told her you love me. She said, and I'm quoting her letter here, 'if you don't marry her, Branson will. I don't care who else she's sleeping with.' I uh… got rather angry at my brother when I read that – and it was Mia making the threat."

"Well, you know you have Alistairs' permission in all this too… so are you telling me yes or was this a lapse in good judgement?"

He flushed as I heard my companions snigger behind me. He shook his head but before he could answer, I remembered that today was his birthday and exclaimed, "Oh! One more thing; these are for you, Cullen…" I handed him 3 packages. One was a square, one a long rectangle, and one a small box. Everyone was watching, and it provided the distraction Hawke needed to go do what he needed to.

Cullen looked at me, suspicious. The first one he opened was the long Rectangle. "That sword was made by Master Wade; from Wades Emporium in Denerim… it's named Vigilance and is made from the bones of an Eldest Dragon we slew in the Blackmarsh!" I said excitedly. Jaws hit the floor; Master Wade was already famous to anyone who'd visited Ferelden.

The next box opened was the Square. It was his Inquisition Shield with a twist. The logo on it was Templar, though the minute he accepted Cassandras offer it would change. "I had Wade make this from Star Metal; I named it Valiance to match the Sword."

"Why?" he asked softly.

"I like to dote on the people I love, of course – ask Fenris since he's also one of my mates."

Cullens' head snapped up to look at the elf I was pointing at. Fenris shrugged, "So she tells me – and I get a lot of new armor with no 'expectations' she says."

I grinned, "And… according to Mia, today is your Birthday."

I'd never found his birthday on any website; only the year. Today was Justinian (6th month) 1st, 31 Dragon. We had left Kinlock Hold before Cullens 20th birthday last year, but he turned 21 today and dammit I was making sure he got gifts!

He opened the third box, pulling out 3 Mountain Dews and a Ruby Sending Stone. "That Stone is connected to one I gave your sister… so you can talk to her… the drinks are what I gave you back when… yeah."

He smiled at the memory of the drink, "Ah – I've never found anything like these."

"The Fae make them," I said – covering my tracks. They did – but the Fae also had a hard limit on how much someone was allowed to drink when they started making them – because they knew right off how unhealthy they were.

"So you were in contact with the Fae even then?"

"Sort of – my bag is connected to the Princesses private storage where she keeps all her things in Fairy. She and I are so close; and we had amnesia when we woke in Ferelden. I recalled my life with Alex when I came to the tower as you know – she didn't know her past in Danu at all."

He nodded, "I recall Ser Alex – your noble former husband from another land…"

"America – I was from a city called Denver, in a state called Colorado… in the country called America. And you know about Rome – a country in the north eastern area. We had… many countries. Anyway; I suppose I should see the Commander for buissness… do you have an answer for me on the courting front – or do you need more time?"

"I've had two weeks – and everything in me is screaming to say yes; to court you and make you my own. I want to – but how would others view you for having so many men around you? King Alistair, Fenris and me – all of us yours…"

"Let them believe I am little more than a whore – as long as you and those 'other men' love me, then I will be the happiest woman ever. Besides – the Fae take between three to four mates each; though many are in 'Pods' where they are all mated to each other like Magma, Drake, Les, and Xia – they all share one bed most nights. Now – is that a yes or are you dithering?"

"Yes – I want to court you… if you'll allow it?"

"You know I will – hopefully, you'll kiss me again soon. Much better than Hawkes kiss earlier today," I said with a sly smile. If Hawke hadn't walked off to do buissness with that one merchant, he'd be a dead man. Cullen and Fenris looked sour at the thought of the Mage kissing me at all.

"Is Hawke one of yours?" Cullen asked – swallowing his jealousy until he knew more. That was hot.

"Not at all – he recalled that I mentioned I'd like a kiss for information given more than a year ago… when I was still single after my husband was lost to me. He paid up when the information saved his sisters' life. I told him not to do it again unless he wanted to die. Alistair would kill him if you or Fenris didn't beat him to it."

Cullen seemed to relax, "The Knight-Commanders' office is this way."

I got that – don't know what to say, so don't say anything about it. He'd changed the subject.

We got to the office and Meredith said, "Ah – Lady Cousland, Knight-Captain… Magma, was it? And I don't know this Elf…"

"This is Fenris – one of my friends who tagged along today. I hope that's alright?"

"Of course – interesting tattoos," she said. Meredith was 5'11 with blonde hair, Blue eyes and tanned skin. She was pretty – there was no doubt about that. It was a shame she would go crazy – and was already part way there.

Fenris stood by the door with Magma – like guards – while Cullen and I sat in the two chairs opposite Meredith.

She got right down to buissness, "Now – this soap I've been told about from Kinlock Hold; what was it called again?"

Cullen answered for me, "Templars' Rose – an infusion of Lyrium, Roses and Amrita Vein. It increases a Templars' abilities as well as a mages' control of their abilities. It can only be used by Templars or Mages – and can replace the need for our Lyrium use all together if we bathe regularly; at least once a week with the soap before withdrawal becomes an issue."

I wrinkled my nose and turned to look at Cullen, "You had better be bathing at least every other day. I push that on my friends – cleanliness is godliness they say."

He smiled, "I like the scent of the soap you give me too much – I bathe daily; right before bed."

I gave a firm nod, "Good – and I suppose I should have expected that since the amount I gave you was almost gone…"

Fenris lifted an eyebrow, but I just sent him a discreet wink – I already had a few new scents for the people in Hawkes' Crew. I didn't make new ones for everyone this time – just a few since I knew the scents I had would work for many of them.

Meredith cut back in, "Right – Templars' Rose. Kinlock wouldn't tell me how much they paid – only saying that the price may have gone up with the information that it could replace our use of Lyrium as well as increasing abilities and control."

I shrugged, "They paid 80 Sovereigns for the recipe back when I thought it was my second most useless soap… but I figure since I'm going to be in Kirkwall for a few years, I can sell by the bottle – and that's one Sovereign a piece."

She looked a bit bitter about that – she was hoping for the Recipe. But this way, I could cut her off when she moved to only allowing Templars to use the soap.

"Okay – I also wanted to sample the other scents; just to see…"

I pulled out the sampler tray and allowed her to scent all but Lions' Den – Cullen saw that his scent wasn't on the tray and looked highly amused as he glanced at me.

I stuck my tongue out, "I told you, Cullen – the one I give you is exclusive because it reminds me of Alex. I like Orange filled chocolates, but you and he like the strawberry ones."

Meredith – who hadn't had this information about the scent Cullen used before – said, "His scent isn't here?"

"No – he gets his directly from me; and always free. Lions' Den isn't for sale at all; it… it is too personal to me. Cullen sort of fits it perfectly – as though the scent were made for him –so of course I allow him to use it."

"I would take… Kitten as the other scent," I think she was picking at random to have something for the Mages – I hadn't given her a list of what they do, so she didn't know that River Rain was the one she really wanted; due to it being cosmetic only.

I nodded sagely – Anders wouldn't mind his scent being used by Mages, after all. "Kitten is 180 Royals per bottle – meaning the recipe would go for a minimum of 300 Sovereigns." Yes; Kitten was worth 180 silvers – 1.8 gold coins. Making it my fourth most expensive of the scents that were 'unveiled' – but only because Lions' Den didn't have a price. Kitten would be fifth if it did.

"So then – how much do you want for it?" Meredith asked. I shrugged – I would allow her to have the Kitten Recipe without trouble since it was for the Mages. I was a total Mages-Rights activist.

Cullen said, "I would suggest 350 Sovereigns – her scents all have extraordinary health benefits. I haven't gotten ill since I started using Lions' Den; my skin is healthier and that's just the least of what I've noticed."

"Then I will pay 350 for the Recipe," Meredith nodded without squabbling the price – a vision told me that the Gallows were fucking rich – with a capitol R. The Gallows were the richest Circle outside the Imperium. The De Launcet and other noble families saw to that.

Meredith continued, "I will also pay an additional 50 Sovereigns if you can get me 50 bottles of Templars' Rose in the next week."

I nodded and almost went to stand – but Cullen said, "Now for the other bit of buissness. She's also the one that invented that dissolving stitch thread, Knight-Commander."

Meredith looked startled, "You didn't tell me they were one in the same, Knight-Commander. Even the Chantry wants that recipe – and as such, the Grand Cathedral will reimburse any expenditure to acquire it."

I think that I blue-screened at that bit of information. Fenris coughed and placed a hand on my shoulder – drawing me out of my loss of self.

I straightened, "I-I… what?"

Cullen looked amused, "You sold the smaller spools for 5 Sovereigns a piece – so the recipe for it would be about… 1-2,000 Sovereigns for how in demand it is?"

I wanted to pass out – did I want to squeeze every coin I could from Meredith? Yes, yes I did. But it wasn't her money that I'd be taking – it was the Grand Cathedral that would be paying me… technically.

Magma stepped in, "That recipe is actually made by the Fae – a recent discovery through the Princess."

"Then I would need to ask the Princess – could I meet her?" Meredith asked and I saw the flash of contempt in her eyes. Magma shook his head, "There is no need – Ara does speak for the Princess; they are too close for it to be otherwise. I just figured I would put it out there that you would actually be paying the Fae for this invention."

He was right – by paying me, they were paying the Fae. Meredith looked surprised, "How does an Elf speak for the Princess of the Fae?"

Cullen looked like he had an epiphany, "You're one of her four mates – aren't you?"

I looked away – to hide an amused smile – but he took it as confirmation and looked to Meredith, "The Fae have at least three mates – but nobles, called Fairies, have four mates. I was informed of this not long ago; two weeks ago."

I recalled giving him vague information about mates… Magma said, "I sought him out to inform him more about mates – since he does have a mate, after all; if he accepts her."

Cullen caught on that Magma was skirting the topic of being my mate so that Meredith wouldn't single me out as a Fairy. I was glad he played along by shrugging at Magmas' words.

"So – 1500 Sovereigns for the stitching thread recipe?" Meredith came back to the topic at hand – and met in the middle it seemed.

Fenris said coolly, "I would thing 1,750 would be more appropriate if this is going to be spread through all of Thedas."

Cullen asked me, "Is that agreeable?"

"I – yes, of course…" I said softly – that thread would help people all over Thedas and I didn't have to give out the recipe to every circle in Thedas personally.

Meredith nodded, "Then that brings todays total to 2,150 for the two recipes and 50 bottles of Templars' Rose." I nodded.

She stood and went to the door – barking at a Templar to go get the amount from the 'vault'. The man ran off.

I wrote out the two recipes and began pulling out bottle after bottle of soap – because the Fae kept 100 bottles of each soap on hand in my storage at any given time according to Celeste.

Once I received my pay, we were ushered back to the main yard of the Gallows by Cullen. He smiled softly at me, "I'm off on Thursdays and Fridays – might I… come see you those days?"

I gave a teasing grin, "Only if you don't wear a plate uniform – dress down a little, Captain."

"I think I can do that," he muttered and gave me one last kiss before I left with Hawke and the others.

Fenris looked at me, "I think I need a little more explanation on the Fae."