Wading through the thick, unkempt forest was getting incredibly tiresome. Solona tried to stifle a groan, her back was positively killing her. Rainier's warning had scared her enough not to even entertain the idea of setting Ayden down though. Just tough it out, she thought, we can't be much further now...

Ayden seemed to have been scared enough by what happened to not complain, which Solona was grateful for. She couldn't shake a nagging feeling in the back of her head that this whole experience was going to turn out to have been traumatizing for him. She was already mentally preparing herself to deal with nightmares and regressing to him sleeping in her bed again. At the moment though, she didn't really care whether he slept in her bed or not, so long as she actually got to sleep in a bed. It can't be that much farther, right?

Rainier hadn't said much since they'd left that ruined hotel. Not that marching in a staggered line was really accommodating for conversation anyway. The sun was just starting to peak over the horizon when large, imposing walls around Denerim came into view. A small bit of relief washed over him, but he quelled it back down. He'd learned his lesson one too many times about that kind of thing. You were never truly safe until you had a proper gate and soldiers behind you...and even then, you could never let your guard down.

Dorian sighed longingly. "Ah, Maker's Breath. I never thought I'd be so delighted to see a southerner city."

"This way." Rainier gruffly corrected when the group started heading for the main road. "Remember Rule #2: Keep off the-"

"Blighted Roads. Yes, yes we heard you the first 10 times."

"Then quit your bitching and keep to it. You can rest your pampered ass when we're safe."

"Pampered?" Dorian let out a clearly sarcastic gasp. "How gracious of you to notice. Shall I expect a trio of handsome servants to hand-feed me grapes while I lounge in a hot bath?"

"Take it up with the Warden Welcoming Committee."

"You have a welcoming committee?"

"No."

Dorian grunted in disgust. "And here I thought I dropped my broody baggage."

"Would you shut up? You'll give away our damned position."

"Ah, yes, our super-secret position. Because a sentry with half a brain wouldn't notice a group of vagabonds stumbling around their forest."

Rainier took a sharp turn towards a nearby tree. He glared directly at Dorian as he gripped the familiar false branch and pulled it downward. The ground opened up beneath Dorian quickly, sending him tumbling down a set of hidden stone stairs. Rainier looked positively pleased with himself. He barely held back a snicker as he motioned for the others to follow Dorian. He offered Solona a hand to steady herself for the first couple of steps. "Watch your footing, ma'am."

Alistair all but jumped to Solona's aide. She huffed a weary laugh as he tucked her and Ayden into his side. "I'm fine, Alistair."

He gave her a playful smile. "Well maybe I'm scared, did you ever think about that, hmm?"

Ayden perked his head up for a moment before laying it back down on Solona's shoulder. "Heroes aren't allowed to be afraid."

"I...uh, well, hard to argue that..."

Dorian stood up slowly, brushing himself off. He looked up at Rainier as Alistair and Solona passed and gave him a distinctively rude gesture before following them. Rainier rolled his eyes but turned his attention to Salem who seemed hesitant to follow the others. "Problem?"

"A question," She corrected. "Where does this lead?"

"Well, that's a bit of a long story. The tunnel ends in the King's study. He's the last remaining ally of the Wardens. If we're to rebuild our numbers, it starts here."

Salem's eyes narrowed as she scanned over Denerim's walls. "Will the lowlanders actually help us?"

Rainier shrugged. "They'll have to if they know what's good for them."

"And if they don't?"

"Then..." He sighed heavily. "We fight as much as we can for as long as we can. It's all we have."

Salem nodded slowly, clearing thinking deeply about it all. "I...understand."

"Good. Now, we need to move. We'll be spotted if we stand out here much longer."

She took a deep breath before she descended the steps quickly, forming an icy spell in her hands. Doesn't like enclosed spaces, probably. Noted. Rainier had learned that it was a good idea to keep track of his subordinates' weaknesses or fears. If they were ever in a situation that would aggravate it, he'd have to plan for it. He was glad to have an avvar on his side though. If nothing else, he wouldn't have to worry about her turning tail and running in the middle of a battle. Which was more than he could say for most of those damned Northern recruits.

He followed Salem closely, hoping to get into the tunnel as quickly as possible. He pressed against a seemingly random brick in the wall and the hatch above them closed slowly. Rainier watched the hatch intently until it sealed once more. When he turned back to the group, a realization came over him. The tunnel was pitch black, as it was meant to be. A Warden's sight was unaffected by darkness. But to those without the taint, the inability to see was quite the problem.

"Well, this is just bloody convenient." Dorian snarked. "Should I register a complaint with the Warden Construction Committee?"

"Or," Rainier shuffled passed everyone to stand at the front again. "You could use your damned magic for something practical, for once."

"Practicality?! Oh, the horror!" Dorian proceeded to conjure a small fireball to light the way, but he couldn't resist adding sass to the action by turning the fire pink.

"Maker's Balls." Rainier groaned, but made a measured effort to ignore him as he led the group down the tunnel.

Ayden scowled at the fireball. "Pink is a girl's color."

Solona sighed heavily. "Who told you that?"

"Grandpa."

"Well, he sounds like a fool." Dorian smirked playfully as he twirled the pink fire around his fingers. "Pink is a pretty color. And girls aren't the only ones who can be pretty."

"Oh..." Ayden pulled himself back so he could talk to Solona. "Mom, can we buy the pink car from the store?"

"The...what?" Solona's mind sluggishly remembered their last trip to the department store, and even more vaguely remembered the toy he was talking about. "You already have a red one, honey."

"Yeah, but when I raced Amy at school, her car was faster. So, I want the pink one now."

"Honey, they're the same one."

"Nuh uh. Amy said they made the pink one faster because girls are supposed to be better than boys."

Salem scoffed. "Fucking lowlanders."

Ayden giggled uncontrollably, which only was made worse by Alistair laughing with him. Solona rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. "Alright, next time we go to the store, we'll see if we can find it. But you'll have to do some chores to earn it, deal?"

"Deal." Ayden agreed through snickers. "Can I get down now? My legs hurt."

Rainier turned back for a moment to nod at Solona. "Should be fine now, ma'am. But best keep a hold on him just in case."

Solona muttered a praise to the Maker as she finally set Ayden down. Her back audibly popped a couple of times when she stood back up. "Welcoming Committee aside, I don't suppose there will be an opportunity for a hot bath soon?"

"King Cailan has always shown the Wardens the upmost hospitality. I'm sure he'll extend the courtesy to you and your boy too."

"Ugh." Ayden drooped his shoulders dramatically. "The King sucks."

Alistair outright chuckled at that. He only stopped when he caught Solona's scolding glance.

"I'll have to ask you to can the opinions for now, lad. The Wardens aren't going to find help anywhere else for the moment." Rainier was first to reach the long staircase at the end of the tunnel. He stopped on the first step, motioning for everyone else to do the same. "Salem, up front." Salem held a questioning look as she shuffled her way up to him. Rainier leaned in close enough to whisper to her. "I go in first. Keep the others down here until I tell you otherwise. If shit goes south, you get them out of here. You stick to the rules and head North. There's a fort called Vigil's Keep in Amaranthine. You take the others there and rebuild. There's a fortune beneath the throne in the great hall. It belongs to the Howe family."

"I thought the King was a friend...?"

"Many supposed friends have turned on the Wardens in recent years. You can never be too careful. Remember that."

Salem focused hard and made herself commit his every word to her memory. She wistfully thought of how much easier than might have been if she'd still had her spirit guide...She shook the depressing thoughts away and nodded affirmatively. "Understood, Commander."

Rainier concealed a deep breath as he climbed up the long staircase. When the others moved to follow, Salem held her arm out to stop them. She placed a finger over her lips to tell them to keep quiet. Solona knelt down next to Ayden, clutching him tight and covering his mouth. Alistair stepped in front of Solona and placed his shield down in front of Ayden, hoping to obscure them from view.

Dorian let out an indignant sigh as he let the pink fireball flicker out. "So much cloak and dagger, I'm starting to get homesick."

Once Rainier was sure everyone was ready, he reached for another seemingly random brick in the wall. This one however, apparently needed to be turned slightly instead of pushed. The wall in front of him slid open nearly silently. Rainier searched the room ahead for any sign of trouble. But he found the King's study to be exactly as it should have been...except the King wasn't there. Rainier groaned in annoyance. Of course, the bastard wouldn't be right where he needed him. He took a couple of steps into the room, just to be damn sure that nothing was amiss. He was about to call out to Salem when the door to the study opened quickly.

Rainier drew his shield quickly and whipped around to face the door. A thin woman with short, red hair walked right in casually. Her black and silver armor made her look like some kind of assassin. The burning sun symbol on her shoulder gave her away as some kind of Chantry agent. Rainier had a mind to warn the others but before he could speak, the woman crossed the room and offered out her hand as friendly as possible.

"You must be Warden-Commander Rainier. The King spoke highly of you."

Rainier looked her over for a moment, trying to gauge what her game was. As nice as she seemed to be, it was clear that she had some scheme in the works. There was something so insincere about her tone of voice. As if she were expecting to be stabbed just as much as he was. He cautious shook her hand. "You seem to have me at a disadvantage, miss."

"Ah, of course. Where are my manners? My name is Leliana, Left Hand of Divine Alexander."

"Right..." Rainier stepped back from her as casually as he could manage, keeping his shield ready at his side. "And why exactly are you barging into the King's study?"

Leliana smirked. "I could ask you that same question. But we both know that would be a waste of time."

"Out with it, then. Where is the King?"

"Dead, I'm afraid." Leliana seemed to watch Rainier's reaction closely. When she seemed satisfied, she continued. "The work of an assassin late last night. The castle has been in an uproar ever since. I had hoped to catch the assassin escaping through the tunnel. But here you are."

Rainier's fists clenched at his sides. This was the last bloody thing he needed to deal with right now. "The Wardens had nothing to do with it."

"Of course not. It would have been counter-intuitive to murder your last political ally. Still, you won't find many sympathetic to your order here."

"You don't say."

Leliana smirked again, her gaze drifting to the opened tunnel for a fleeting moment. "The Divine is prepared to offer an alliance, if you're amenable."

"Oh, is he now?" Rainier sneered at her. "But he couldn't be bothered before, could he?"

"Divine Alexander was elected only weeks ago. Your grievances are with his predecessor." Leliana shrugged as she backed away towards the door. "Your group needs rest and you need allies now more than ever. It couldn't hurt to hear him out now, could it?"

Rainier cursed under his breath. It pissed him off to no end, but the agent was right. They were out of options. He'd promised to get the woman and child to safety, and he couldn't really risk sending them to Amaranthine without a proper rest. With a weary sigh, he motioned to Salem to bring the rest of them up.

Leliana watched the group emerge from the tunnel intently. Her gaze fixed on Alistair for a long moment, it was evident that some sort of idea had sparked in her head. "Just so you know, you may have a larger bargaining chip than you realize..."

Rainier followed her gaze to Alistair, who was looking between the both of them like the kid who got his hand caught in the cookie jar. That definitely wasn't part of the plan...but if he had to lose a recruit for the good of the order... "We'll see about that."

"Just food for thought, of course. If he truly is your recruit, then the choice is ultimately yours, Warden-Commander." Leliana gave the group a friendly smile as she opened the door again. "Follow me, please."

Rainier reluctantly nodded to the group. The rest followed behind with very degrees of wariness. Except for Alistair. He shuffled behind the rest, feeling as confused as ever. "No one is really going to explain that? No? Nothing. Ugh."