I sat on the edge of a box, swinging my legs, as Anders tended to his patients. People watching as many came and went. He was in the process of healing, when an elven man walked in, gesturing over his shoulder.

"There's a band of people asking around about you, ser."

The other Warden's eyes met mine, before sending the man away with a word of gratitude.

Another hour passed, Anders now knee-deep in keeping a young boy from dying. The parents had brought him in, unconscious and not breathing.

Footsteps outside the door caught my attention, and then came a soft knock on one of the two doors.

Three women and two men entered, the woman in the lead glancing around. Four humans and a dwarf.

The Hawkes, sans Garrett, and Varric had made their appearance, with Aveline Vallen along for the ride, it seemed.

As they approached the mage, he finished the session. The boy gasping for air and lurching upright to a sitting position. While the parents fawned over their child, Anders stumbled and would have collapsed, had one of the men who'd signed on as a helper of sorts not been there to catch him.

Exhausted as he was, however, he didn't have the best control over Justice. We'd tried everything, but once he reached a certain point, if the spirit felt threatened, he had no way of stopping him from taking control. Which was why I hadn't gone far since we'd arrived. Wanting to be there for him to prevent anything awful from happening.

His glowing blue eyes met mine and, with a breath of relief, I saw him regain control over himself. I was always a little worried, when Justice flared like that. It felt like he saw threats in every little thing.

"I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation." He held his staff out in a defensive position. "Who are you?"

"We're just here to talk." Marian Hawke raised her hands in surrender, offering a smile.

The dwarf nodded, speaking up. "We're interested in getting into the Deep Roads. Rumor has it you were a Warden. Do you know a way?"

Anders didn't say anything, choosing to just eye them all.

"I'm part of an expedition into the Deep Roads. Any information you have could save people's lives." Marian finally broke the silence.

A shake of his head. "I shall die a happy man if I never think about the blighted Deep Roads again. You can't imagine what I've been through, just to get here."

It wasn't a "no," and the other Hawkes exchanged glances, Aveline frowning to herself.

I toyed with the idea of asking where Garrett was, but didn't want to intrude on the conversation.

"Did you come to Kirkwall, just to escape the Wardens?" Marian asked, raising an eyebrow.

He rolled his eyes, setting the staff down and crossing his arms. "Yes. There's no Warden outpost, no darkspawn, and a whole host of refugees to blend in with. And some reasons of my own." A pause, hesitation. I thought for a moment he was going to look over at me.

A soft hum left the senior Hawke. "If there's anything we can do for you, to earn the map, you can almost always find Varric in The Hanged Man."

"And if I'm not there, the barkeep will take a message." The dwarf added, and then the lot of them were retreating.

No one spoke until the messenger from earlier gave the all-clear. They were out of sight, out of hearing range.

"Can they be trusted?" Anders muttered, more to himself.

We'd already discussed it, when I'd first reached the clinic today.

"Yes." I stretched my arms above my head, reminding myself of cat sith. I was like the tiny demon cat, offering advice and aid but in a lazy way.

"Maybe they can even help with your problem." Inspecting my nails, I let the idea hang there. "Garrett and Bethany Hawke are mages. Even if they decline, they won't turn you in. Wouldn't be able to. And if they accept? They gain a piece of paper, and we get more people to aid in Karl's freedom."

I had also promised him, before he'd talk to me again, that if he said the word, we'd go in. Prepared or not. That had sated him, for the moment.

"You're right." He said slowly, thinking over my words. "Would you..?"

Already hopping down from my perch, I smiled. "I'll go deliver the message."

And by me, of course, I meant my new... servant seemed like such a bad word, honestly. Agent? Better than pawn or something... Agent, then. I sent my newest agent.

...

Another week passed, no answer. The Hawkes and co were busy, though, picking up every odd job they could get their hands on. Even the guard, Aveline, pitching in here and there. I couldn't help but wonder if they'd reach their goal.

As the days flitted by, I kept an eye on them. With only a few days left before the expedition was supposed to set off, I was at The Hanged Man, giving a coin purse to the barkeep.

Someone sat on the stool beside me, ordering two drinks. Waters. The bartender set the glasses in front of them, and one slid in front of me.

A grin on my face, I accepted. "Varric."

"Anastasia." He nodded. "Fancy meeting you here again."

"And here I thought you were seeking me out. I'm hurt." We fell into the playful banter, like we were old friends or something.

"Well, I am here to ask you something."

"Oh?" Tilting my head slightly, I raised an eyebrow. Neither of us looking at the other. "Is this a private conversation?"

"Probably should be."

"Lead the way."

With that, we slipped from the main room, going to the one he was staying in.

"I've heard, from reliable sources, that there's a Grey Warden who has hair like fire, sass for days. She's reckless, doesn't give a sh-damn about danger. Tougher than anyone else in all Thedas. And she's only ten."

"What a grandiose description." I spoke softly, eyeing him.

"You followed me in here, so I'm going with the assumption that you'll hear me out." I didn't stop him, so he continued. "Let me tell you a short story."

Walking over to a stack of boxes, I stood on my tiptoes and jumped a little, sitting on the top one. Motioning for him to start.

...

"Well, there is an option other than Blondie." I hid my smile, knowing I had Marian's attention.

She looked at me, confusion clear on her face. "Who?"

Garrett just stood there, watching.

"Word around town is there's another Grey Warden, one that helped in Ferelden during the Blight."

"Who?" She asked again, frowning. I could see the wheels in her head turning. "The King wouldn't-"

"There was another, a girl. She's-"

"A girl? Like, a child? What the-" The color drained from their faces, Garrett stumbling backward, back hitting the wall. Which he used for support.

"She'd been exposed to the Blight somehow. But she's in Kirkwall now, so..." I gave a shrug, trailing off.

No one said anything for a long while.

Garrett broke the silence first, straightening to his full height. Having digested the information before his sister. "And she'll help us? She must've left Ferelden for a reason, right?"

"I'll ask around, dig up her story."

They exchanged looks, nodding. Almost like they were having a mental conversation. Twins, am I right?

"Alright. Let us know."

...

"And here I am." The dwarf gave a regal bow.

"Quite the storyteller." I smiled, fondly. I liked him. "And did you dig up my story?"

"Ah, not quite. No one's willing to talk, no matter how much money I offer them. Or favors." A great, heavy sigh left him. Dramatic. But I didn't feel he was lying.

Which was nice.

"You have no idea who you're asking for help from." I chuckled quietly, more to myself than him, my head dipping.

Hopping down from my perch, I walked toward the door. And out of the tavern. He wordlessly followed after me, his curiosity peaked. Neither of us spoke again until he'd settled on my couch, with me holding out a cup of tea.

He didn't hesitate, taking a sip with a quick glance at the contents.

Looking at him over my own mug, I adopted a blank expression. "I'm the Arlessa of Amaranthine. The Commander of the Grey Wardens in Ferelden."

His eyebrows shot up practically into his hairline, his eyes wide.

"I am the Hero of Ferelden. And the illusive leader of the Antivan Crows." Blowing softly on my tea, I watched the emotions play out on his face.

It didn't take long before he gathered himself, schooling his expression.

"So, do you still want to ask for my help?" A tilt of my head after I sat across from him on one of my armchairs.

"I'm not here, asking for a handout." Picking his words carefully, his words came slowly, but with confidence. "I'm sure there's something we could do for that map."

"I doubt pay with coin, since y'all are running around, doing odd jobs, just to scrounge up some gold pieces." I admit it, I was teasing. I couldn't help myself.

Besides, I still wasn't sure if I would be the one helping them or not. Anders and I hadn't talked about the situation, if he was going to use them. Based on the current conversation, I would wager they weren't all in agreement.

"No, not coin." He swallowed another mouthful, looking thoughtful. "Either we can work it off, somehow, or we give you a cut of whatever we find down there."

"During the Blight, I made a fortune, helping strangers. I wouldn't even entertain this, if your offer was yet more coin. And I don't need anything from the deep roads." Leaning forward, I set my mug down on the table between us. Steepled my fingers together, elbows on my knees. "There isn't much you could do for me that isn't already getting done or that I don't have people for already. How long before you need a map?"

"We have two days."

Nodding slowly, I bobbed my head from side to side, thinking. A knock on the door had us both looking over at it.

And then Anders was walking in, fuming again.

And he hadn't seen Varric yet.

"I'm going tonight, and you can't stop me."

"Which is why you're busting into my home, to let me know I can't stop you. Whereas, if you had stayed away and kept your mouth shut, I wouldn't know." I let out an exasperated sigh. "Honestly, Anders."

Nostrils flaring, he opened his mouth. About to really lay into me.

Again.

Narrowing my eyes, I fixed a tight smile on my lips. "Anders, why don't you discuss your dilemma with Varric, since he's here. I know we recently talked about you asking for their help, in exchange for the map they so desperately need." Rising to my feet, I moved toward my kitchen. "I'll make more tea."

This was going to be a long conversation. If not actual length-wise, then headache-inducing-wise.