Back to the Present

A knock at his apartment door interrupted Varric's breakfast. He got up and answered, all ready to berate whatever Seeker guard was there.

It was Leliana.

"Come in. I'm almost finished with breakfast." He let her in and scowled at the guards outside his door … just before he slammed it shut and locked it. Varric woke up with a headache and a growing fear that Hawke was about to do something stupid.

She giggled. "There are going to be rumors, Varric."

"Hmmph." Varric sat and kept eating.

"I know you're getting tired of this. We are, too. Just tell us where he is." Leliana tried to sweet-talk him before. It didn't work then and it wasn't going to work now.

"Hell if I know. Shit, I don't even know why you want to hear it all again. It's in the book. There's no nefarious background that I kept out." He threw down his fork. "You know Alistair … probably better than I do. Why aren't you defending him?"

"I am!" Leliana pounded her fist on the table and made Varric's plate jump. He grabbed his mug of juice before it sloshed over. She stood and leaned toward Varric. "You don't know the whole story yet. Tell Cassandra about Corypheus before she asks. It will help. That's the only hint I'm willing to give you."

Varric narrowed his eyes. "How do you know about it?"

"See? A nefarious thing you left out of the book! Let's just say there are some things wardens don't mind talking about when faced with an overwhelming force. The Seekers arrived at the warden outpost in the Vimmark mountains shortly after you left." She reached over to the bread basket and took one of the biscuits. "And, remember, I was only here to threaten you to keep telling the truth," she said quietly as she left.

"Right." Varric finished his breakfast and mulled over what Sister Nightingale just said. Why would Corypheus even be on their radar … unless they also know about the blood magic? Malcolm Hawke had been forced to bind that ancient magister to a prison of the Grey Warden's making.

He dismissed his thoughts about that, finished getting dressed and headed back to the Amell estate that the Chantry just came in and took over from Hawke's family.

Varric kind of understood that one. They wanted to force Alistair, Carver and Bethany to come back. At first, he was afraid that they wanted to silence Alistair and Bethany through Tranquility. Hawke and Sunshine saw first hand what was happening at the Chantry and the Circle in Kirkwall. Meredith Stannard had gone off her rocker long ago. She turned a blind eye to corrupt Templars, just as Grand Cleric Elthina turned a blind eye to Meredith and First Enchanter Orsino turned a blind eye to necromantic study using things even worse than blood magic. It was bad … all around. Definitely something Varric could see the Chantry wanting to sweep under the rug.

They felt crazy Meredith was responsible for destroying the Chantry, to incite the unrest, but had no proof … and no one to ask since Meredith turned into a red lyrium statue in the courtyard of the Gallows. She made a sword out of red lyrium. It drover her crazier. Red lyrium sold to her by Varric's brother, Bartrand. For all Bartrand's ranting about the Stone, Varric doubted Bartrand was accepted by it when he died … by Varric's hand.

At least Curly … Knight-Captain Cullen … was appreciative enough to allow Hawke and company to hop on Isabela's new ship and leave.

The Orlesian Templars that were en route to the Gallows all thought Anders was responsible because he swore he'd make the Chantry pay for making his friend (lover?) Tranquil. As flaky as Anders had been as a companion of Hawke's, he was still a friend … and Alistair always stuck by his friends.

So … of course, Alistair had to make Isabela circle back to Kirkwall after Curly gave us a 'get out of jail free' card. "Too many loose ends," Alistair said.

Besides, Anders was in Ferelden negotiating with Kinloch Hold to become a mage school instead of a prison. Anders and Grand Enchanter Fiona had worked out a pretty exhaustive itinerary for a school. They really didn't want a mage war … even Greagoir was listening because Devon threatened to recruit the few mages left if he didn't. After the Blight and Uldred's extermination, there just weren't that many Templars left to argue.

According to Ander's last letter, even Greagoir was seeing the benefit of adjusting how mages were treated. The Divine was on board. After Lord Seeker Lambert had been killed by a demon (the Seekers said) or by a spirit of compassion corrupted by the treatment of the Templars (the mages and some Templars said) … Lord Seeker Lucius took his loyal Seekers and Templars and was no where to be found. The Seeker order was floundering.

Varric had to pause his thoughts when he arrived at the Amell estate. After going through a search and saying a sad farewell to Bianca for the day, Varric started again. "So, the Deep Roads. It took only a few days of preparation and negotiation with Leandra for the expedition to be on their way. She would only let one of her children go and left it to them to decide. Since Alistair was being hunted to be a Theirin breeding stud, he was the one to go. They had gotten a couple new companions in those few days of waiting — Fenris and Isabela. Isabela absolutely refused to go underground, but Fenris was intrigued. Anders went because Loghain and his warden platoon was still around, presumably looking for new recruits.

It took months of following old maps and forging around cave-ins to get to the thaig Bartrand had gotten the information about. En route, the son of one of the expedition helpers got lost and they found the boy standing next to a frozen ogre.

Anders asked the boy how he did that and all Sandal said was, "Boom.

"You're speaking of the enchantment savant boy, Sandal? He and Bodahn actually went along on that crazy expedition?!" Cassandra looked a bit skeptical.

"Yep. Bodahn ended up serving as the Amell seneschal because we saved his boy. Actually, all we did was find the boy. He saved himself." Varric took a swig of ale. "Most of that trip is covered pretty well in the book, Seeker. Do you have any specific questions?"

Cassandra frowned. "Your book says that you found the vault after Bartrand locked you in a passage and stole a statue that drove him mad. You don't need to forge ahead to the Gallows, but was the statue made from red lyrium? And, what did he do with it?"

"Yeah, it was an ancient idol made from red lyrium. No idea why the ancient dwarves were messing with the stuff. Any documentation was long destroyed … even the stone etchings in lyrium. I found out later that the red stuff is lyrium that's been tainted. Only good for making darkspawn, I guess. But, it drove my brother crazy. Bartrand sold it to Meredith Stannard." Varric paused.

"Did the Champion tell him to do that?" Cassandra asked with an intense gaze on her face.

"No. Just like in the book, Seeker, we didn't even know what happened to Bartrand until we got back and I got replies to the messages I sent to my contacts all over the Free Marches. Just about the time we were going to head out after Bartrand, we found out he was back in Kirkwall. We confronted him and he attacked. He said he sold it, but not where. I didn't find out from him because we had to kill him before he killed us. I had to kill my own brother because of that sodding statue."

"I'm sorry, Varric." She even looked sincere. "So, the Champion got his wealth from his share of the other treasure in the vault, not from selling the statue."

"Yeah, it set us up pretty well. I took over Bartrand's estate. Leandra Amell Hawke became the lady of the estate again … until you all kicked her out of her own home." Varric got a very sour look on his face.

She sighed. "Varric, if the Champion would just come back here, we would vacate immediately. We would just like to hear …"

A commotion outside the door caused Cassandra to send a vicious glare Varric's way and fling open the door. There stood Alistair … all the guards were asleep …

Varric mumbled. "I guess the interrogation is over."

"I understand that you're looking for me." Alistair stood there, the anger plain on his face. He motioned to the guards on the floor. "They're only asleep. Unlike you people, I know the line I won't cross."

"Wake them up and we'll talk, Champion." Cassandra pulled her sword, ready to attack or defend.

But, Alistair was beyond being civil. "Get out of here, now. Let my family return here with no retribution from the Chantry. All of my family and my companions." Alistair nodded toward Varric. "And let Varric go." He glanced up to Leliana coming down the stair and his jaw ground. The bedrooms were upstairs. "If one thing is out of place, you won't like how I respond, Sister Nightingale."

Varric was pissed … at Alistair, at the Seekers, at the Maker. But, the storyteller turned toward Cassandra. "Well, Seeker, you just told me that if Alistair would return, you'd vacate immediately." He motioned toward the very angry mage. "Here he is. Get out."

"We'll leave after we've spoken with the Champion," Leliana said.

"No, you will leave now. After everyone has been settled and nerves are returned to normal, I will speak with you … on my word … at my invitation." When both Leliana and Cassandra took a step forward, he added, "If you attack me or use any of your perverse Seeker abilities on me, I will defend myself." An aura of blue energy surrounded Alistair that surprised the Seekers.

Alistair had used it before … once when he defeated the Arishok to keep him from taking Isabela and again to put down Meredith. It wasn't blood magic, but it was damn powerful protection magic that Marethari had taught him before they left.

"Perverse?" Cassandra asked as she stepped back. She put up one hand toward Leliana to do the same.

"Yes, my father was a very accomplished senior enchanter here if you recall. He was well-liked and trusted. Some Templars here weren't happy that the Seekers just looked the other way at Meredith's excesses. Those Templars shared with my father how some Seekers can affect the … blood … of their opponents."

"No shit?! That sounds like what that blood mage did who tried to take Fenris back." Varric stood with his hands on his hips. "Sodding Chantry Seekers using sodding blood magic. Hypocrites."

Alistair narrowed his eyes. "Tell him how you became a Seeker. Tell him how they make you Tranquil … and then reverse it by merging with a spirit of compassion. Everything you stand for is a lie, Cassandra."

"That is not true! We undergo a lengthy meditation in solitude!" Cassandra actually stomped her foot. "You have no idea what we have to do to become Seekers!"

"Apparently, neither do you. I have proof. It's on its way here as we speak. I'll show you when it arrives since I believe that you really don't know." Alistair narrowed his eyes. "Now get out of my home."

She glared at Alistair for a long moment, gave a brief nod of her head to Leliana, and then put away her sword. "Very well, there is an empty estate nearby that the Seekers will take over."

"There are several that the Champion cleared out … to make the city safer at night. I think I know the one you're talking about." Varric stepped over the guards and opened the door. "I'll come get you myself when the Champion is ready to speak with you."

Alistair released his spell on the guards and they all left. Fenris stood outside the door, his blade drawn and his lyrium tattoos blazing. Carver also stood with his blade out. Alistair made a hand signal to back down. "Come in. We need to contact the others."

...

AN: Thank you again for your review, Judy! :) See you next Sunday!