Chapter Seven

Lothering


Alistair had been rather… quiet as we walked today. In fact, I don't think he had said a word to anyone since the thing with the Broodmothers.

Sereda, Lyna and Solona had – understandably – freaked out when they learned about Broodmothers.

Today, we were all walking together – since we would be entering a 'major' place.

We were walking on the road when I saw the bandits that I'd read would try to stop us.

"Wake up, gentlemen, more travelers to attend to." A man with cropped black hair and green eyes called out.

I frowned – I'd hoped with a large force, they wouldn't bother us. They really were greedier than they were smart.

Well, one was smart, "Er… I don't know; they don't look much like them other ones. Maybe we just let these ones pass?"

"Highway men," Alistair spat. I almost jumped at the sudden sound of his voice. Morrigan hummed, "They are fools to get in our way."

"Nonsense – a simple 10 silvers and you're on your way," the leader said with a sleazy grin. So sleazy that I wanted to dump a bucket of grease on myself just to wash it off.

I moved to the front and passed the man 10 silver coins – I wanted to avoid confrontation. Just…

Unfortunately, the man was stupid.

"You came up with that a little too easy… let's make it another 10."

Alistair drew his sword, Morrigan pulled her staff and Aedan said, "How about you give over everything you've stolen so I can return it to the proper owners and we let you live. See, you're threatening the wrong people."

"I can't say I'm happy about this… Attack!"

The men died so very swiftly. I snorted, "Idiots."

"Alright… Ava, what should our plan be here?" Aedan turned to me.

I blinked but said, "Pair off into groups."

Alistair, Aedan, Morrigan and I were group one. Solona took Sereda, and Lyna. Faren was grouped with Darrien, Cailan – now with red hair and blue contacts – and Alim.

"Alright – Solona, Cai, and Aedan have lead. Cai, your group will head over and handle chantry board missions; if we do 3, I hear we get a nice sword… and we'll need it. Solona, your group is going to go find elder Miriam and give her these potions, a woman around there needs these traps, and then you'll need to find a family of 3 elves that these bandits robbed and tell them the bandits are dead. My group has to find someone – and I promise to explain later why I need to find them. After that, we all meet up outside of Danes' Refuge – the tavern in the north-eastern end of town. Oh – Cai… be sure to give 5 sovereigns in Tithe to the Revered Mother before asking her for the key to the Qunaris' cage. Assure her that we will not let the Qunari out until we are leaving town, and that we spoke to him and he only wishes to find atonement – that Sister Leliana said that these are unusual times and that – with us – the Qunari may do some good."

"… got it. You'll explain how you know the layout of the town and things that haven't happened yet when we 'make camp' for the night?" Cailan asked.

I coughed, "Yes – that's exactly what I plan to explain… just trust me for now."

"You saved the lives of every single person here – I doubt any of us are going to betray you now. For certain, I will serve you through the Blight," Cailan grinned, "And maybe after you'll let me follow you around like a Mabari pup."

I snorted, "Only if you're my second mate. As I said – I plan on taking only my true mates."

We split up. I was searching for either of the default Hawkes, but I was having very little success. I finally groaned and stopped to ask someone, "Excuse me… could you tell me where I might find the Hawke residence? I'm a cousin of theirs and was at Ostagar. I have news about Carver."

The old woman looked at me in suspicion, "Why is your hair blue?"

"I was born in the water and blessed by gods," I quipped back, "It's natural and I can more than prove it if you aren't a prude."

Alistair and Aedan began choking behind me.

The woman flushed, "They live at the end of this street. Which side of the family are you related to?"

"Malcom Hawke was my dads' brother." I flashed her a smile. Hmm – my lies had given dad 2 new brothers. Oops.

She nodded and ambled off. I headed over to the house she indicated and rapped on the door.

Imagine, for a moment, my complete and utter surprise when I saw not just one, but two default Hawkes. A male and a female. The woman had a large axe on her back and the man carried a bow and two daggers.

Both had short black hair and crimson marks across their noses. The male had golden-brown eyes and the girl had bright blue eyes. Both were tanned and muscular.

I coughed, "Greetings cousins. My name is Princess Avalon Angel of Elysion – niece of Malcom Hawke. I was at Ostagar with Carver. May I come in?"

I was highly confused – I'd admit – as to why neither of these two were at Ostagar. Since it was said that Hawke only stayed home if they were a Mage.

The woman narrowed her eyes, "Dad didn't have family."

"If I can come in, I will explain. I swear to you – I do have news about Carver. I know… ugh – look." I had the men block me from sight before holding up a hand and summoning Ariel from my house.

"I have griffins, I have magic, and I'm not a danger to you or your family. Let me in and I'll let you play with Ariel here."

"You… you're bribing us… with allowing us to pet… a Griffin?" Garrett was laughing.

I held out the cub, "You know you want to."

He scooped the cub into his arms, "Damn straight, I do. Come on, Mary – no harm, no foul was dads' saying, right?"

"Oh… very well…" Marian sighed and opened the door wider.

I skipped into the house. I saw Bethany and Leandra.

I rubbed the back of my neck, "Where to start?"

"How about the lie that you're our cousin?" Marian crossed her arms as Garrett took Ariel to be pet by Bethany.

"Okay – I'm claiming the same that I'm a cousin of Aedan Cousland here too. It's the easiest way to explain how I'm connected to him or to you so people don't look to closely. My magic isn't connected the fade – I'm not a mage, I'm a Genie. Magical beings that grant wishes to those who find our tokens. Aedan found my token. I'm bound to serve him until he makes all three wishes and we avenge his family. My blue hair is because my mother is a Mermaid – a sea-dwelling humanoid person. I know bits of the future and things about the past that others don't. I know Garrett looks like his dad and sounds like him too. I also know that when Carver returns here – yes, he's alive – you will have to flee for your lives. At least one of you will not survive the journey."

"… Prove your words."

I pulled my laptop out and opened it to a split picture – in one half, Bethany was lifted and killed by the ogre, in the other, it was Carver.

"This is a magical device that tells me everything I need to know when I need to know it. As we were coming here, this is what it showed me."

"Can you prevent it?" Marian demanded.

"Maybe. I'm not sure if it will work or not. These rings… give one to each twin; it should prevent a death-blow. This device also tells me that I will meet with you all again in about a year, year and a half, somewhere in there. I can prove this another way, if you will agree?"

"Do it," Garrett called out. I nodded and poofed us all into my house.

I bowed slightly, "Welcome to my humble abode."

They were all frozen – all four of them.

Garrett spoke first, "Humble, my tit!"

I smiled at that, "This is where we go when my group 'camps' at night."

"Alright… say that we believe you – this is… a bit much. Why come to aid us?" Marian asked as I took us back to their house.

"Isn't that the question? I don't know. I get instructions from the Fates – the weavers of human life, luck, and death. Believe, or don't. This is up to you."

"What's the worst that happens, Sister? The ring doesn't work and carver or I die as we're meant? It's worth the risk, I think." Bethany reached her hand out. I placed the plain silver ring onto her left middle finger.

I handed her a second ring for her brother.

I then headed for the door after collecting Ariel. I said, "May the Fates be kind to you; I will see you again. But I do have one question. You are both here – are you both mages?"

Both stiffened, "You knew at least one of us was?" Garrett asked.

"I also know about Bethany." I shrugged.

"Yes… we are. I mostly use daggers and arrows to hide it. Marian uses that huge axe… no expects mages to know how to properly fight so… it works." Garrett said softly.

I hummed, "Cool – okay. Well, I'll see you all later!"

We left. I pretended that I didn't notice Garrett Hawke following us. Aedan leaned in, "You know we're being tailed?"

"Uh-huh. Let him. He's… attractive." I flushed a little.

Aedan stiffened, "You think he might be…?"

"It's possible. Very awkward if people think we're cousins, but…" I then raised my voice to allow Garrett to hear, "Garrett was very good looking. I would certainly take him to bed if he weren't my cousin. Then again, it's allowed in my society – the one where I grew up – for that to happen…"

I heard the sneak trip and curse. I let out a laugh.

Alistair was frowning, "I don't like him."

"Why not?"

"Er… b-because… I was raised as a templar?" he asked.

I lifted an eyebrow, "Is that really why you don't like him?"

"… I'm going to stick to that, so yes." He grumbled.

"In that case, there's no reason for me not to invite him to bed tonight," I shrugged – if Alistair had said he was jealous, I wouldn't do it.

Alistair frowned harder but didn't say anything as Garrett came over, "You knew I was following?"

"Uh-huh. You're a bit hard to miss," I said drily.

He grumbled, "In a good way, I hope…"

"Uh-huh. As I said, I'd bed you." I smiled.

"What a coincidence," he grinned, "That's what I came to ask."

"Then mission accomplished. You may follow us for now," I shrugged.

We met up with the others in front of the Refuge. I didn't even talk to them – I just walked right in.

"Well, look here boys – it seems we've been blessed." I heard a man say.

I looked over as the mans' companion said, "Didn't we spend all morning asking about and getting ridiculed for a woman with blue hair?"

"It seems we've been…" the leader began. I cut in, "We just got here. Why are you looking for me?"

The leader blinked, "Just… got here?"

"I spent the last 2 weeks out cold after taking 7 arrows and a shit-ton of blades. I lost a lot of blood when I was abandoned at the top of the tower of Ishal at Ostagar. It was lucky that the witch of the Wilds saved me. Now – why are you looking for me?" I repeated.

"Er… P-Princess Avalon, we humbly extend an invitation to… Denerim… the Queen and Regent want to speak with you… regarding a treaty?" the man faltered.

"I'm afraid that I took up a crusade to end the Blight – and make no mistake, this is a Blight. I saw the Archdemon as I went down. I will make my own way to Denerim and in my own time. For now, I am following a few helpful people that wish to end the Blight with me."

"B-but… our orders…" the man said.

"Are you going to follow the orders of a regent that wants to make a deal with my people and risk upsetting the one that can make said deal – or are you going to leave, report to your regent that I will see him when I am available, and not risk the deal?" I asked in a hard voice.

The hung their heads and left.

Leliana came up to us, "A wonderful way to end this without violence."

I smiled at her, "For a former Bard, you sure are soft at heart, Sister Leliana."

Her eyes widened, "Y-you… know who I am?"

"We share something in common – is that rose still blooming?" I asked with a grin.

She trembled in what appeared to be joy, "You had a vision too!"

I chuckled, "Something like that, I suppose. I'll explain the truth later. For now, you should get your gear packed – and when the Revered Mother asks if you really said that the Qunari could do some good with us…"

"You are giving him a second chance? Oh, that is wonderful news. I agree completely – it hurt to know he would be left there to starve or until the Darkspawn came." She said.

I nodded to her, "Go on – we'll wait here for you."

She rushed off and I headed over to the Blackstone Irregulars man and took both the missions. I passed the one letter to Solona and said, "This man is in the Chantry – go deliver the news to him, please?"

She nodded and headed off.

Alistair was glaring at Garrett – but I really couldn't understand why. He'd said that the only reason he didn't like Garrett was that Garrett was a mage and Alistair was templar trained… and besides that, Alistair liked Solona, so I was positive that it wasn't that he was jealous…

I would admit – I didn't actually think Garrett was my mate; he was attractive, but… not in the same way Alistair was. I only made plans to bed him to see if Alistair would get jealous. I don't even know why I was trying – he clearly didn't want me.

I resolved then and there to stop trying to come between him and Solona – even subconsciously. I was being a bitch each time I tried for him knowing that he wanted someone else. It wasn't fair to him.

By the time both Leliana and Solona arrived back, I had laid out a solid plan in my mind for how to get the two wardens together.

We headed back to the Hawke family home and I invited Marian, Bethany and Leandra to stay the night in my home. They declined, though they were told that they need only call my name and I'd come to them."

In my house, Darrien moved to cook. I smiled at him and thanked him before leading Garrett to my room.

He said, "You're not actually interested in me – are you?"

I flushed at being caught red-handed, "I am… just… not as much as I led on. I apologize – Alistair is one of my two mates and…"

"You were trying to make him jealous?" Garrett asked, sitting on my bed.

"I shouldn't have – he may be my soulmate but… he's already made it clear that he's interested in someone else and I already gave them my blessing. I shouldn't have…"

"Hey – soul mates. You two were meant to be together; I can't blame you for wanting that."

"Thank you, Garrett… for understanding," I sighed and plopped onto my bed beside him.

"Hawke – call me Hawke. Marian goes by Mary; I go by Hawke."

"Hawke then. Thank you."

He leaned over and placed a kiss on my cheek, "We can pretend we slept together – see if he does get jealous. But if you're sure I'm not your mate, then I don't see much of a point. I'm one of those hopeless romantics – Mary is more likely to be the love-em-and-leave-em kind."

"Up to you – they're already going to assume that we did before dinner. You may as well come to cuddle with me tonight. I'm a snuggler," I flashed him a tired smile.

"What. A. Coincidence. I am the best snuggler ever," he grinned teasingly.

I laughed, "You get a bath before bed – sorry; I just did laundry."

He chuckled, "Not an issue for me. I like baths. Mary and I were born while mom was bathing so… we're naturally attuned to water."

I giggled, "My mother lives underwater – where do you think I was born?"

"Hmm – you sure we aren't soulmates? This seems like fate to me," he teased.

I yawned, "I'm… sure. Hey – I'm going to strip and get into bed. I'm sure some of the mens' clothes in one of those two closets will fit you and you can keep whatever you pick out if you want to change. Play it however you want with the others."

He nodded and stood, heading into what would be my second mates' closet. The other was Alistairs – I had just given him the newest closet that I had made since it hadn't been stocked when I'd learned he was my mate. I'd stocked it after learning… hoping he would like what was in it… even though he'd already rejected me.

This would one day be his home. Even if I died of a broken heart in the future, this home would exist for him and my other mate.

I stripped completely and crawled under the covers of my clam-shaped bed. The bedroom was styled to look like it was underwater. It was the one room in the house that reflected Mer-heritage. I'd change it before I died – I just… wanted to be comfortable for a while. I'd always figured I'd change it when I mated.

The walls were pained to be reminiscent of sea-foam, the floor was carpeted in blue-green. The hard bed-frame was shell-shaped and pale purple, beneath a princess-canopy that was the same color as the bedding – grey.

The bathroom looked like the inside of a hidden cave – like the bath could be a hidden escape to anywhere under the waves.

It looked a lot like the bedroom that I'd had growing up.

I closed my eyes and curled up – exhausted and depressed.


The next morning, I woke to Hawke in my bed – wearing only a pair of small-clothes. Well, since I was completely naked, I had no room to complain… except to say he was over-dressed.

He snorted – causing me to realize that I'd sleepily told him just that.

The door opened and Hawke moved to cover me more.

It was Solona, "Hey – we need assignments for the day."

I hummed and got out of bed. I almost – almost – didn't see her eyes widen. I ducked into my closet and grabbed a black pair of pants and a deep blue single-shoulder top.

Hawke was also dressed when I came out and we both headed down-stairs. Hawke pushed me to sit while he got me a serving of breakfast and a drink. He gave me a kiss – and I knew how he'd chosen to play last night as a result.

Aedan asked, "So… is Hawke your mate?"

"No," I said simply, "But he is rather affectionate and romantic. I do envy the man or woman he ends up with."

Hawke sat beside me and smiled softly – he was good at this. pretending to be sappy as though we had slept together when we hadn't.

Solona had obviously reported that'd I'd been naked this morning – she must have told them about the tattoo on my hip, because everyone kept glancing there as though they would see the little cartoon narwhal through my pants.

I'd had a pet narwhal as a kid.

Alistair spoke, "Very affectionate…" his voice sounded funny to me, but I couldn't place the tone.

I gave Hawke a glance and he just chuckled and shook his head. I was a bit confused.

I shrugged, "So… for today, we'll need two, maybe three groups. One group can handle the groups of bandits, there's need to find that last keepsake, and there are bears by the river. But be warned, there is also a nest of giant spiders near the bears."

"… two groups should be fine. Now – Ava… want to tell us how you know everything?" Aedan asked.

I summoned my laptop, "I… lied… when I told the Hawkes that this device showed me things. I mean, it does, just… not the way… that I made it seem… sorry, Hawke."

"So tell us the truth and I'll decide if I'm offended or not," he suggested.

"I'm offended for you," I sighed, "Because those pictures – drawn as they were – were from a game. A game… called Dragon Age. On Earth, you're all story characters. I didn't play this game and I'm a bit traumatized to since I only played through all the beginnings for the 7 recruits we picked up before Ostagar… because Lyna looks exactly like the character I made and she's the only one we hadn't met before I started that. After that, I just kind of… looked up the needed information. According to the information, the first game follows Alistair and the Hero of Ferelden – because you can only pick one background, not all 6 – as they work to end the Blight in a country ravaged by civil war. Still cites that the Blight is the shortest in history – only a year." I added.

"6… there are 7 of us," Solona pointed out.

"You and Alim have the same background. That's just the first game. The second is called Dragon Age 2 – follows Hawke for about 7 years." I muttered.

"Me or Mary?" he asked.

"… You get to pick if the Champion you build is male or female. Since I haven't even opened the game to look at it, let alone customize if the champion is male, female, mage, rogue or warrior… this is freaking me out. Because all the options presented when we met." I said.

"Champion? Champion of what?" he asked.

"…Kirkwall?" I looked at the page. "It says here you stop a Qunari Uprising in its infancy when they attack the city – you kill the Arishok either through single combat or storming the keep and killing them all depending on your actions. But that doesn't happen until sometime in your 4th or 5th year in the city? Oh – and it appears your uncle lost the estate and you'll need to join either the Red Iron mercs or the smugglers to even get into the city. Hmm… this timeline means that I'll join up with your group in Kirkwall just after you finish working off your debts."

"You plan to join us?" Hawke asked.

"Well, the Fates have plans for everyone – I figure if I'm in a game world, then I'm meant to see the whole franchise through to the end. That's a decade of things to do."

"Wait – wait." Alistair said, "Wait… so we're all… characters in a game to you?"

"No – to me, it's more like my friends are part of a game. Because I didn't know about this game until after I met Aedan and the others. Aedan, remember my dad…"

"Told you to look into a game he played long ago," Aedan finished, "Yeah – I remember. Just after that, Faren pointed out how you might have two mates and you rushed off to fix your bedroom with another closet."

I nodded, "I'm terrified to play the stupid things – as stated. But… that was why I gave Loghain that bracelet that let me keep in contact with him; I wanted to know if he really was a traitor or not. The game and the wiki leave that up to the player. And it says that a companion in number 3 points out how both versions are real because people there had both thoughts. The companion is a dreamer who looked into memories there at Ostagar long after the battle and Blight ended. I look up what I need to know – or what I think I need to know. I had looked up the hero – the main protagonist of the first game – only to discover that there were 14 possibilities. Solona is Hawkes cousin, and that got me looking up Hawke – to discover he was the protagonist of the second game."

"Wait – I am?" Solona asked.

"Your Mother was Revka Amell – his mother is Leandra Hawke Née Amell. By the way, all four of your siblings were mages too. No fate is mentioned past them all going to circles, your father and mother both vanishing, and you being the oldest."

"… Ouch," she muttered.

"So – point here? I didn't know enough at the start to prevent the Couslands from dying… but by the time Ostagar happened, I knew enough to save the King." I motioned to Cailan.

Hawkes' head swiveled to the red-headed king with wide eyes.

Cailan stopped him from bowing by saying, "The trinket you gave me…"

"My dad made that. It's the same trinket I gave to the younger Hawke twins." I sighed.

Cailan looked at Hawke, "I was crushed by an ogre and that ring saved my life."

Hawke – pale – nodded, "Make sure they wear the rings… got it."

"So… you're worried that playing the game will lock things in? Make them unchangeable, I mean," Sereda asked.

I nodded, "Two things now – Lynas' appearance and the Hawke twins that are not supposed to be twins."

"So… you think that's how you were able to save Cailan and confirm Loghain wasn't a traitor?" Faren added.

I shrugged, "I don't know. But I'm not risking that shit."

"Okay… oh – games usually have romance, right? Who could the Hero romance?" Alim asked.

"… there was Alistair for a female player. Morrigan for the men. Leliana for either. Or, later, we meet an Antivan Crow who fails to kill us and joins our group – he's an option for anyone as well."

Alistair and Leliana were blushing so I continued, "According to the page detailing Alistair, in the version where you can play as a Darkspawn Vanguard, it's implied Leliana and Alistair got together – because there was no Hero. It also details all the choices Alistair would make as the Lone Warden – some of which can't be achieved by the player in the base game."

"… where does that version take place?" Alistair asked softly.

"You play as the Vanguard during the final battle. Your objective is to hand victory to the darkspawn. The final bosses are Morrigan, Leliana, Alistair and Barkspawn – Alistairs' Mabari… who became my Mabari, Valor. The forum – where people talk about the game – says that Alistair is the hardest boss in any of the games; he's fucking impossible to kill."

Solona clapped Alistair on the shoulder while laughing, and asked, "What's the difficulty of the game?"

"Um… easy, normal, hard, and Nightmare. No one plays that version on anything higher than Easy and it still takes 40 tries to kill the warden – Alistair."

"Good to know we have in indestructible God on our team," Aedan commented drily.

"Leliana was the second hardest to kill – though that's how you unlock the information that Leliana and Alistair were lovers in that version," I mused, "It says here that you must have been 'hardened' – more practical and pragmatic – or Morrigan wouldn't have been in the final fight. She would have… oh… that is not my secret to tell. Nope. Nu-uh." I shook my head as I glanced at Morrigan. She inclined her head, "I see you discovered my 'ulterior motive' in joining the group?"

I nodded, "It also… tells me the… name?"

"… intriguing." She hummed.

"Okay – well… you'll have to tell us what choices he makes later. As to… wait – who takes the throne if Cailan died?" Aedan asked.

"His half-brother; Maric had a bastard son with an elven mage warden in 9:10 Dragon. Maric promised his beloved that he wouldn't acknowledge their son because she wanted him to have a normal life. So he was told his mother was human and died in childbirth. Fiona – the bastards real mother – is locked away in Weisshaupt being experimented on because she is the only warden to ever 'unjoin'. She's no longer… uh… the special ingredient was removed from her blood."

Alistair gaped, "She what? How is that… possible?"

"Something to do with a magister sidereal that doesn't recall it was once a Tevinter priest. Oh – goody. That same entity is the reason we're in the middle of a Blight. It wanted to kill Urthemiel, but tainted him instead. How ironic that the priest was a Priest of Urthemiel. The Architect of the Works of Beauty."

"… You're fucking joking," Lyna said, "The Chant that humans spew is real?"

"… um… halfsies?" I muttered, looking up the chantry.

"What does that mean?" Hawke asked.

"That half the chant is crock and spew. Apparently, the first inquisition was what made the seekers of truth and the Templars… but this says it was headed by a Dalish mage name Ameridan. And looking on his page states that humans… when the exalted march on the dales happened, they all claimed he was human and not a mage either. There's even an Orlesian house that claims descent from him and they've been ruthlessly suppressing the Dalish clan that claims the same. And the page on the second march indicates that it was religiously motivated and a bunch of crocks. A way to suppress the elves from ever keeping their homelands after Drakon passed. Back to the chantry page… huh. The black city was corrupted before the magisters went there…"

When I got to the bottom of the page – the trivia – I froze as I silently read, 'If Leliana is Divine Victoria and in a romance with the Warden... Leliana decreed that all members of the Chantry, from initiate to Divine, would be allowed to engage in romantic relationships. When questioned, the Divine pointed to Andraste, who served the Maker while wed to a mortal spouse. In time, many in the Chantry came to accept the Divine's decree that "Love is the Maker's best gift and is infinite."'

I looked up at Leliana and back down to the page. I clicked silently on Lelianas' link. I moved immediately to look up 'Divine Victoria' on the page. There were 10 mentions – one of which was right there under 'titles'. The second and third were in the 'Inquisition' section. The rest were in 'Trespasser'.

This woman before me would one day lead the worlds' religious sect.

Someone glanced over my shoulder and I slammed the laptop shut, "Nothing!"

"Very convincing," Morrigan scathed.

"… I just… learned who becomes the Divine in 10 years. It was a surprise." I muttered.

"Beatrix III has 10 years left?" Leliana asked.

"Who? The Divine I saw succeeded someone named Justina the Third." I blinked.

"What? Can you look up who that is?" Leliana asked with a small frown.

"I… better… not. Well, we all have our jobs – I uh… need to bathe. Bye!" I shot from the room with my laptop.