Going Home … Finally

"So did the Champion act any differently after that trip up Sundermount?" Cassandra looked like a cat waiting to pounce.

"No, Seeker. Neither Alistair nor Bethany acted any differently afterwards," Varric growled and stood up. "You keep looking for a simple answer! Do you realize how annoying that is? It's all you and your ilk ever do. You hear 'mage' and 'demon' and assume, assume, assume. Maybe you should just sit and listen to all of the story and quit trying to jump to conclusions!"

Cassandra looked like Varric hit her with a dead fish … just before she looked like she wanted to shove a dead fish down his throat. "You react awfully strongly to that question, dwarf! What should I 'assume' from that?!"

Varric looked at the Seeker for several long moments. Then, he took a deep breath and sat down. "I assumed the same thing. Alistair got moody after that trip, but he explained later that he was just angry that everyone had to tippy-toe around because of him," he replied quietly. Then, he added, "Alistair hates being the reason for anyone's discomfort. I saw it time after time. He's got a truly noble spirit. So, I was wrong and so are you."

Cassandra just made a motion that Varric took to be "Go on."

"Athenril had her people contact us before we even made it back into Kirkwall. She said the bounty hunters were still in town, but she had some jobs that needed doing along the Wounded Coast, as well as in Ostwick. So, for the next four or five months, we stayed busy with all of her out-of-town jobs.

"Bethany flew into Kirkwall whenever we were near to keep up with the news and check on her mother and Aveline. While we were out, Kirkwall became a residence for a wrecked Qunari dreadnought's crew. Weird, since I'd always heard they went down with the ship … after blowing it up. Anyway, Viscount Dumar tucked 'em into a section of Lowtown near the docks."

"So, the Champion had nothing to do with the Qunari invasion?" Cassandra's eyes couldn't get more squinty.

"Nope." Varric grinned. "So … now where was I? Ah yes, just as we finished a dropoff in Ostwick and were just about to set sail back to Kirkwall, we got word that Loghain had become a Gray Warden and killed the Archdemon … and made himself a hero, again … and lived to publicly apologize to Ferelden for being an ass. Athenril sent word that the bounty hunters were gone and we could return to Kirkwall."

…..

Alistair made his way up to the open deck after he heard the news that the Blight was over in Ferelden, Anora was still Queen and Devon Cousland was the official Warden-Commander. It was a clear day with just the right amount of wind for making good time back to Kirkwall.

Varric walked up and stood next to Alistair for a few minutes before asking, "So, what's got you all deep in thought? You disappointed that Cousland didn't insist on you being the King of Ferelden?"

That made Alistair laugh heartily. He shook his head. "No, I was hoping we'd hear that Devon had made himself king." He turned and crossed his arms while leaning against the railing. "You know, I never heard from him once. Bethany was always sure to gather any notes and information I'd need to know."

Varric chuckled. "Well, he was a little busy, Hawke. And, the address you told me you gave him isn't occupied at the moment."

"Yeah, Carver reminded me of that, too." He shrugged. "I don't know what's got me bothered about it all actually. Just something sounds … off. For one thing, all the previous Grey Wardens who killed the Archdemon died. You know... the 'In Death, Sacrifice' thing. I checked. During our downtime in Ostwick, I spent some time in the library. They have an extensive section on Grey Wardens and past Blights. Guess because there's such a big warden compound there. Anyway, Loghain is still alive and kicking. I worry that means the Archdemon isn't really dead."

"It could just mean that even an Archdemon can't kill the old bastard." Varric sighed and sat on a rather large coil of rope. "Look, you guys have just gotten released from Athenril's services. Sounds like she did right by Leandra, too. Bethany said we wouldn't recognize the place anymore. Things aren't so bad for the Hawke family, at the moment." Varric stretched. "On the other hand, Bartrand is going to be antsy about getting that expedition going now that the Blight is over." He patted his breast pocket. "Glad I won those warden maps from Stroud."

"Good thing he didn't realize you cheated." Carver came up behind them.

"Hey, if a Grey Warden doesn't appreciate the concept of 'whatever it takes', who will?" Varric laughed.

The newest member of the group walked up with Carver. "Good one, Varric!" he said as he sat on the deck, closed his eyes and just let the wind blow in his face.

"Well, Blondie, Alistair won you in that game." Varric laughed.

Anders laughed. "I'd had my fill of the Grey Wardens and all their hypocritical morays. You said you were heading back to Kirkwall. I have a friend in Kirkwall and you agreed to help me break him out of the Gallows. All I had to do was give Varric signals about Stroud's hand. Simple."

Actually, it had been the second time Anders cheated. The first was when he faked drinking the Joining potion; however, Alistair could sort of understand that one. Drink darkspawn blood?! No, thank you. Alistair narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean? Both Duncan and Devon were two of the most honorable men I've ever known."

"Even though I think this plan to help him is daft, I can see what he means about the Grey Wardens, brother," Carver said quietly. "The men were honorable, but the organization left Ferelden alone during a Blight. All their talk about vigilance and brotherhood. Duncan was the only one who was vigilant enough to catch the signs early enough. Thank the Maker."

"That, too," Anders said. "No, I was referring to Devon, actually. The one thing I kept hearing was how the Grey Wardens put their titles and past behind them and here he took over the arling of Amaranthine. Made himself an Arl. Levied taxes and all that. Oh, it looked like the Queen gave the wardens the post, but there were rumors that it was all arranged ahead of the Landsmeet where Loghain lost a duel with Devon. Then, after the big fight in Denerim, who shows up? Devon's brother Fergus! And, then he takes back Highever, so the Couslands pretty much rule northern Ferelden now." Anders shrugged. "I dunno. I don't see Alistair running back and demanding that he be king of Ferelden. I find that more honorable."

Alistair frowned and turned away as Varric said, "Maybe he changed, Hawke. He has gone through some tough times." The storyteller shrugged. "Maybe after what Loghain put him … and us … through, Devon thought it was deserved."

"Yeah. Maybe." Alistair headed down the deck to the commons sleeping area on the ship. Varric had a point, but Alistair didn't want to believe it of the man he'd befriended over a year ago — a man who led the group to check on him and his family to make sure they had left Lothering and got to Gwaren. No one really knew Anders. Anders didn't really know Devon or what the Blight was. He cheated the wardens and then ran off to the Free Marches when it got too dangerous in the Deep Roads under Knotwood Hills. It was Anders' way.

Alistair was pretty certain Anders would abandon them, too, sometime.

…..

"Anders!" Cassandra fairly spat the name. "You know there are quite a few people who think it was Anders who blew up the Chantry here in Kirkwall and started all this mess!"

"Hey, Seeker, Anders had an air-tight alibi! He was in Ferelden." Varric took a drink and, over the rim of his cup, watched Cassandra pace. It was obvious to the storyteller that she didn't believe his alibi. But, it was true. Anders had abandoned Hawke right after the Deep Roads expedition … just like Hawke had foreseen on that ship home.

"But, he told any number of his friends that the Templars in the Gallows would pay for making his friend Tranquil." Cassandra sat in a chair next to a nearby desk. "We've never uncovered who did that, you know."

Varric had been staying pretty calm, but something about this last exchange put him over the top. He jumped out of his chair and stormed over to her. "No, you just refuse to see who actually did it, Seeker! You refuse to hear the truth spoken by the Champion and other mages! You keep protecting the VERY REASON FOR THE MAGE WAR!"

"Give me a name and evidence, dwarf!" Cassandra stood and tried to intimidate Varric.

All the storyteller did was smile and go to sit back in his chair. "I'll get to that."

For a moment, Varric thought she might throw that chair at him, but instead, she huffed and sat back down. "Very well. I assume the Deep Roads is next?"

"A bit more to set the stage, but yeah, the sodding Deep Roads will be coming up soon." Varric held out his mug for more ale. By the second or third day, the Seekers just put a tapped ale barrel in the room. She just motioned for him to get it himself.

"So, we got back to Kirkwall and Bethany met us at the docks …"

…..

AN: Hope everyone has a terrific week!