The guest hall's tapestries and rugs seemed to absorb Carver's answer before they could reach Ellana and the rest. The hall was quiet. Yet an unintelligible splutter abruptly possessed Ellana, and Dorian clearly gestured at Carver and Garrett.

"You have a mage sibling?"

Garrett smugly replied, "Try two."

Ellana recovered from her shock. "Hawke's your older brother!?"

Thom perked up. "Hawke, as in—"

"Yes, yes," Garrett tiredly confirmed, "the Champion of Kirkwall."

"And viscount," Carver sharply reproached. "Honestly, Garrett, you can't just prance off on an adventure and abandon your office! Who did you leave the paperwork to: Mother? Uncle Gamlen?"

"They seem to be doing fine."

"Maker's breath, you did!?"

Garrett slung an arm around Carver's shoulder and snorted at Ellana. "I appreciate your patience with my brother, Inquisitor; Carver feels compelled to micromanage everything."

Carver protested. "One of us has to be responsible, and it's certainly not going to be you! At least Bethany—"

"Oh, Bethany, whom you always prefer!" Garrett intoned. "She can do no wrong! Just because she founded the Illuminati—"

"It's not just that," Carver refuted. "She respects the responsibilities thrust upon her. You would rather play 'fetch the criminal' with Brute than run the literal city-state depending on you!"

Garrett groaned theatrically. "You move your lips and Cavin's voice comes out."

"I pity your seneschal."

"Besides," Garrett continued, "didn't you name Bethany's fraternity the Illuminati and tell her to become a first enchanter!?"

"…Those were just suggestions."

Ellana held up a hand, and silence fell. "I thought the Champion's younger brother was Junior Hawke?"

Carver spluttered. "Junior—!?"

Ellana lowered her arm and motioned everyone to gather together, revealing Varric standing at the edge of the doorway, wincing.

The merchant prince shuffled in. "It's not like I used everyone's real name in the book…."

Carver shot him a flat stare.

Varric raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I had to censor your secrets out of my writing — which is basically everything about you! That left me with what Hawke had shared before we met." He squinted. "I thought you read it?"

Carver drawled. "Tethras, why would I read a tale about my brother?"

"See, that's precisely the tone that inspires the image of an inferiority complex."

"I just don't read fantasies about people I know!"

Varric placed a hand over his heart in false shock. "Why Shiny, I'll have you know that the Tale of the Champion accurately captures your brother."

Garrett shook his head fondly in denial, releasing his hold on Carver to wrestle Varric into a brief hug and pat on the back. Beyond them, Loghain in warden blues strolled in and closed the doors behind himself with finality, joining Ellana's huddle.

Carver self-consciously straightened and futilely fixed his roughed-up appearance. "Teyrn Loghain."

"Ser Carver," the man acknowledged, standing at rest beside Ellana. "It's Warden now, as you know."

Garrett nudged Carver. "While Varric and I were investigating red lyrium independent of the Seekers—"

Varric coughed. "Which is why Cassandra is fuming in the war room."

"—I thought I'd reach out to a trustworthy warden unlike the ones who, you know, tried to weaponize Corypheus. So I wrote to your former superior officer."

Loghain dryly revealed, "Ser Carver forcibly conscripted me into the Wardens as punishment for poisoning a noble."

The guest hall was inclined to silence, truly.

"We parted on good terms," Carver allowed.

"I'm going to unpack all this later," Ellana pressed on. "Warden Loghain has insight on the Orlesian Order's internal collapse, and Soldier's Peak must open its gates for a senior warden."

"And kill him, should they honour the law of desertion," Thom said. "I remember our last orders, Senior Warden. We're traitors for acting beyond Warden-Commander Clarel's reach, and if Soldier's Peak asks if we come with her blessing, I won't lie."

"It's worth a try," Loghain gravely stated. "The Warden-Commander is working towards creating a demon army out of the Order and sending us all down the Deep Roads for the remaining archdemons. Only recently with Viscount Garrett's help did I learn that the source of Warden-Commander Clarel's insanity is a Tevinter called Livius Erimond."

Dorian scoffed. "Another magister attracted to the Venatori's agenda. No doubt he intends to betray the Wardens and equip Corypheus with the demon army."

"Varric and I fought Corypheus," Garrett said. "We owe it to those affected by his depravity to permanently finish him."

Carver frowned. "I was there as well, Garrett."

"You were unconscious for the last part of the fight," Garrett pointed out. "I dealt the killing blow, and even with preparation, I failed to contain Corypheus' blight magic. With all of us working together, we might stand a better chance of ending him."

Ellana crossed her arms. "We're all headed to Soldier's Peak tomorrow to persuade the Wardens to join us and confront the Orlesian Order in Adamant Fortress. The Wardens have to realise that Corypheus is crippling them with fear through an artificial Calling. Should diplomacy fail…prepare for battle."

The trek to Soldier's Peak was awkward. Ellana's party led a force of three-hundred men and women east past Lake Calenhad and through the North Road for the Dryden territory, armed but spread out. Ellana was unwilling to bring more soldiers and be mistaken for a force that intended to conquer the territory.

While Ellana called Cassandra and Varric up to the front of the party to talk, Garrett shoulder-checked Carver and jerked his chin at the latter's split lip. "Hey, pup."

"Mutt," Carver returned. "Are we good?"

"We're good." Garrett ruffled his hair and pulled away when Carver swatted him. The older Hawke winced at his own bruises. "So, any of your friends still at Soldier's Peak? Like Cousland? Mahariel?"

"Last I heard," Carver confirmed, "but I lost contact with them after the conclave explosion. How's Fenris?"

"He's taken up hobbies." Garrett shrugged. "He paints the Free Marches with slavers' blood when some idiots see the coming apocalypse as an opportunity. When he's not killing people, he's walking Brute and helping Mother with her garden. Mostly Fenris stands there and hands her whichever odd tool she asks for while planting. It's cute. Don't tell him I said that."

"You won't need to worry with me," Carver assured, then looked at Ellana making peace between Cassandra and Varric. "What else has Tethras been up to outside of the Seekers' notice?"

Garrett snorted. "What is he not up to? One of his pet projects is deciphering the identity of some 'Postboy.'"

Carver tripped. As Garrett explained it, there was the rare person with the family name "Briefträger" or even more on point, "Postman," but they often lacked the motivation to be thoroughly involved in the Waking Sea's trade network. Before his illness, Bartrand had an opinion shared by others of the Merchant's Guild where the Postboy was a dwarf. It explained the figure's ingenuity and how he had yet to be caught in a raid, even a glimpse of him. Dwarves were averse to sailing or otherwise spending time on water. Gorim Saelac in Denerim had thus been suspected at one point, especially considering his relationship with a connected Antivan merchant named Cesar. Apparently, however, neither were involved in the Postal Service; Cesar was merely the main funder for Gorim's inventions.

Garrett also shared that Bethany and the Illuminati members she had gathered in Château Haine had attracted the presence of mages and a few Templars seeking refuge from the war. After the conclave explosion, the scattered mages who hadn't chosen to follow Fiona to Redcliffe had apparently gathered in the fortified château, Wynne among them. The gracefully old woman was now coordinating with Bethany on returning order across the Free Marches while batting away red Templars and opportunistic slavers drawn by the chaos. A number of Dalish could even be spotted traversing the Vimmark Mountains to pass by Château Haine, exchanging information with the Illuminati and its allies to help steer clans out of trouble. Between Bethany, Merrill, and surprisingly Charade, the bare bones of a comparatively efficient social network had developed out of Château Haine with at first the intention of stabilising arcane-affected societies, but now all of Marcher society in effect.

In a way, Carver should have expected it, given the Friends of Red Jenny included Charade and — at least in the past — Sebastian, as one of a certain "three brothers in Starkhaven." One of Garrett's other purposes for sneaking into Skyhold was apparently to help Bethany determine if the Illuminati would benefit from an alliance with the Inquisition. And to swat Carver for her.

At that point, Ellana's conversation had concluded, freeing Varric to find Garrett's side, and Cassandra to fall back alongside Loghain, Vivienne, and Bull. Carver sped up, leaving Varric and Garrett to chat with Sera, Thom, and Cole while Ellana found Solas and Dorian's company. She perked up at the sight of Carver and motioned him over.

"Entertain my curiosity for a moment." Ellana's eyes glittered. "What has Varric censored about you from the Tale?"

"How would I know?" Carver defended. "I've never read it."

"It's in Skyhold's library," Dorian mischievously shared.

Carver coughed, rejecting the offer. "…The fact that I'm in Maric's Shield."

Ellana frowned. "That's it?"

"I've been its captain since age eighteen," Carver elaborated. "A knight since earlier, and then there are the—"

"The…?"

"Songs," Carver miserably finished.

A noise of delight left Ellana. "You're Fen'halam!"

Solas whiplashed. "What?"

Ellana squeezed Carver's shoulder warmly. "It all makes sense! Your relationship with Leliana, the Wardens, the fact you can perform a smite. Those songs must all be about the same person — you! "

"Fen'halam?" Dorian echoed.

"Wolfsbane," Solas curtly translated, flatly staring at Carver.

Whatever, Dread Wolf.

"As Clan Siona shares it, Carver saved them from werewolves," Ellana shared. "It's too easy to associate Fen'halam with an idea than a single person. Leliana also laments that she can't write more about you. Apparently you've killed six dragons?"

"Three," Carver quickly denied. "Dragon thralls don't count, and Warden Faren killed the archdemon."

Dorian incredulously swivelled his head away and peered at the warden fortress atop Soldier's Peak rising ahead. "Well, I feel more assured now. If the Wardens don't heed even a friend's words, we're going to find ourselves fighting an entire army of people who specialise in apocalypses."

The party and accompanying soldiers marched to a halt at the keep's front doors, not a few of them gaping in awe at the flourishing flora. Since Carver had last seen it, Soldier's Peak had exponentially grown in size and beauty. The lack of blood or demons was a good sign that the Fereldan Order hadn't followed their sister order's path. Loghain and Thom stepped forward and announced themselves, demanding entry into the keep. Everyone waited three stifling minutes of silence before Loghain sent Carver a look.

Carver mumbled. "Maybe the Wardens are arguing over if they should open the doors."

"Or they're readying an attack," Dorian proposed.

Carver stood next to Loghain and raised his voice. "This is Carver of Lothering, Captain of Maric's Shield and the Inquisition! I come as a friend of the Wardens!"

Another minute stretched by.

Carver glanced back. "I don't think—"

CREEEAAK.

Everyone's eyes riveted to the large oak doors of the keep slowly swinging open, revealing an albino elf in warden leathers and chainmail. The man leaned off the doors and lifted his chin, where burgundy ink drew eyes to antlers tattooed on his forehead.

Sudden emotion caught Carver's throat. "…Theron."

Whispers spread at the sight of the Champion of Ostagar.

Theron subtly smiled. "Carver. It has been too long."

"More than ten years," Carver agreed.

They approached and wrapped an arm around each other, before parting and acknowledging the rest.

"Senior Warden Loghain," Theron greeted with familiarity, then turned. "Warden…Thom, as I recall. I see you come with company."

"The Inquisition." Ellana stepped forward. "A sentient darkspawn called Corypheus has cracked the sky open and manipulated the taint, making all wardens hear the Calling. Through this, his agents have leashed the Orlesian Order of the Grey with their fear and aim to create a demon army out of them. People across southern Thedas have united with the Inquisition to erase Corypheus' touch from the land, and our current quest is to likewise unite the Wardens."

As Theron scanned Loghain and Thom's confirming nods, more wardens could be seen past the doors behind him patrolling the keep with minimal numbers, occasionally peering through the door gap with unreadable expressions.

Carver motioned for Ellana to stand in front of him. "Inquisitor Ellana of Clan Lavellan, lady Herald of Andraste."

"Andaran atish'an, lethallan." Theron warmly held her forearm and nodded. "I am Senior Warden Theron Mahariel, formerly of Clan Siona."

Ellana briefly blinked before returning, "Ma serannas, lethallin."

"Come."

Theron led Ellana's party into the warden keep as the rest of the Inquisition waited outside. Carver glanced at Ellana, but she silently shook her head. As Ellana's party followed Theron through the keep's outer and inner baileys, Carver caught sight of wardens running around the ramparts above and funnelling for the main keep. The party's arrival may not have surprised the Wardens, but it had evidently stirred up an energy that had long been simmering.

Carver sped up to Ellana's pace with a whisper. "You're confused."

She lowered her voice. "We come as guests to Warden Theron's home appealing for his people's help. He has the right to establish himself as my hahren. Yet he set the tone of our discussion as equals — he willingly discarded his diplomatic advantage. We now both have equal say in the future of our figurative clans: the Wardens of Soldier's Peak, and the Inquisition."

Carver subdued a frown. "Meaning?"

Ellana's eyes burned a tense green. "He — or whoever sent him to open the doors — doesn't have the power to speak for the Wardens. But if not them, then who?" She stiffened when it seemed Theron was within earshot of her whispering and spoke at room volume. "I had no idea you knew the Champion of Ostagar, Carver."

Theron chuckled from ahead, glancing back. "I'm unsurprised to hear it, based on Warden Ellana's stories. Your humility hasn't changed, Carver, though you appear more at peace now."

"I…yes. I am, thank you." Right, body language. The former halla keeper was always sharp. "Theron, I sent a letter to the Wardens through my cousin a few months ago."

Theron's lips thinned as he gazed back ahead. "Warden Solona received it and shared your thoughts with us. However, Warden-Commander Duncan and the majority questioned the veracity of your letter. The entirety of it was conjecture."

Carver guiltily acknowledged it. "I'm aware."

"Since then, I'm sure you've noticed that the Wardens have sealed the keep from the outside world — to internally, hotly debate whether to trust your letter."

Loghain spoke sternly. "The Wardens here are fighting?"

"This place is no different than Montsimmard!" Thom realised.

"We're currently split in opinion." Theron gestured to the main keep's doors, and two wardens standing guard obediently opened them. "Myself and others are of the same mind as the Warden-Constable, while the rest share the Warden-Commander's hesitance."

Hence the equal terms of address: no one could speak for the Wardens with authority.

"BOOF!"

A mabari suddenly leapt at Carver from the doors, sending him to the ground with a grunt. He awkwardly sat up. "Dog…?"

Ellana and a few others murmured with confused confirmation that the furry mass licking Carver's face was indeed a canine – when suddenly from afar came an excited, "Carver!"

A storm of clanking armour filtered through the main doors as Carver stood up and was beset by another crushing embrace. "Elissa."

The woman laughed, parting from him with a grin. "Well well, everyone look who it is!"

Carver couldn't help a curve of his lips as he greeted Alistair with a hug, and Velanna with a nod who returned it with a familiar, "Shemlen." Elissa convinced Dog to cease scrabbling up at Carver's armour and instead lope about the crowd forming in the main keep's front doors. The Inquisition ascended the steps while Carver gestured.

"Where are Faren, Rusk, and Sigrun?"

Elissa moaned. "They had left with Duren and Oghren to check on Knotwood Hills before Duncan ordered our doors sealed. They haven't returned since then."

Since their relocation to the surface, Oghren served Duren as a mercenary – though in Gorim's opinion, the berserker was closer to a Second. While Duren received income as a royal – even outside the line of succession – the former prince wrote to his brother strictly about professional, impersonal items such as the maintenance of Kal'Hirol. Beyond the Legion of the Dead, few dwarves loyal to Orzammar could be found assisting Duren with royal tasks, and Gorim was settled in Denerim. Fortunately, Oghren was eager for active work. Bhelen handsomely provided Duren with the necessary materials to support Orzammar from the surface, likely in the hopes to soften Duren's will and convince him to return home, which meant that Duren could pay Oghren well and Oghren could comfortably support his family.

Duren and Oghren also oftentimes checked on Rusk's recovery in Soldier's Peak where Faren updated them on his sister and nephew. The four dwarves were rarely seen far from each other for long periods, and it was no surprise to hear that they had convinced Sigrun to follow them to Kal'Hirol for a routine investigation of darkspawn, likely to also allow Rusk an opportunity to exchange letters with his mother via the Legion of the Dead.

Carver's brows creased. "Knotwood Hills was quiet last I heard from Nathaniel, but I'll check again." He sighed and moved on. "As I've shared with Leliana, here is one less secret about me: my brother, Garrett Hawke."

Alistair spluttered. "There's more of you!?"

Elissa gaped. "Hawke, like from the Tale of the Champion?"

"Exactly so," Carver confirmed, startled when Elissa and Alistair burst out laughing and Theron's lips twitched in amusement.

"Ha!" Elissa guffawed at Garrett. "You are definitely Carver's brother."

Carver whiplashed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Dorian blinked at the atmosphere. "Shall we drink to celebrate this reunion—?"

"No!" Elissa and Alistair immediately rejected in horror. "Carver didn't tell you? When we were in Orzammar, he got kicked out of a dwarven tavern!"

Carver protested. "Hey, I was hardly the only one there."

"You wiped out a criminal syndicate on a drunken rampage!"

"I was just tipsy when I did that –– and Wynne started it!"

"You didn't abduct a gangster from the fight and tie him to a chair so Faren could punch his face in?"

Carver grumbled. "…No one likes the Carta anyway."

Varric spluttered. "I'm sorry, you were the one who wiped out the Carta in Orzammar?"

"Paragon Faren?" Ellana belatedly realised in astonishment.

"Just their headquarters," Carver corrected Varric, "and I'm sure there were leftovers who had crawled to the surface afterwards. Elissa and Alistair, you're dramatising past events."

Velanna snorted. "The dwarf Faren said you once punched a dragon and killed it."

"I punched a dragon, and then I killed it!"

Elissa chuckled. "Maybe you should have been drunk when we were fighting the archdemon. Then you would have chopped off more than its leg." She ruffled Carver's hair. "You're even taller now — indeed we've all grown! Hear this, I was promoted to Warden-Constable after Oren's wedding. I'm a 'captain' like you now!"

Velanna grumbled. "It doesn't stop this Order from engaging in nonsense."

The mood dimmed.

Elissa stepped back, straightening into professionalism. "I permitted all of you entry into this keep. However, Warden-Commander Duncan will not meet with you."

"No one's in charge?" Garrett frowned.

"I just left the Warden-Commander's side trying to convince him to see all of you," Elissa sighed. "I'm sorry, but unless he and I agree to take the same action, the Wardens of Soldier's Peak won't move. Though divided, we all respect Duncan and his wisdom deeply. If you can provide proof that the Calling is fake…."

"What of a warden's word?" Thom protested. "Where is the faith that each one of us would investigate threats against the Order to the best of our ability?"

Elissa and Alistair's gazes slid to Loghain with silent hesitation. The former teyrn acknowledged it. "I may not personally deserve your trust, wardens. However, my investigation is supported by Warden Thom's and Viscount Garrett's accounts, the latter of whom is brother to someone you've trusted with your life before."

Velanna impatiently snapped at Carver. "Mayhaps you would better convince Duncan, shemlen. You and I were in Solona's party when we encountered the Architect and the Mother. Does this Corypheus resemble either of those talking darkspawn?"

A heavy weight lodged in Carver's gut. He and Leliana had discussed this. "…The Architect. Corypheus is Ancient Tevene for 'the conductor.'"

The air burst with shock.

"Then Duncan must accept his visitors," Velanna seethed above the sudden shouting, "regardless of his opinion! The Warden-Commander hesitates to send any of us outside the keep because he's investigating first if the Calling can be delayed or outright negated."

Elissa blinked at her in bewilderment. "After Solona and Avernus have already left?"

The plants near Velanna shivered with restraint. "Duncan is investigating through his connection with the Architect. Solona's party was sworn to secrecy concerning his existence, but I can see now that this demands open communication. Words are a people's lifeblood, and the Wardens are withering."

"I'm sorry," Ellana cut everyone off, "the Wardens are allied with a former Magister Sidereal!?"

Carver's hair rose with the crowd's tension. "The Architect suffers from amnesia; he has no recollection of his origins and wishes for only peace between darkspawn and the living."

Thom growled. "And what if he regains his memories!? Surely the Wardens recognise the danger a sentient darkspawn poses!"

Ellana brooked no argument. "The Wardens are sworn to defend Thedas from darkspawn, and they shall not falter when they are called to perform their duty! I demand to see Warden-Commander Duncan, or the entire Inquisition will!"

Carver and not a few among Ellana's companions stared at her gobsmacked at the sudden declaration. As the wardens promptly led the party into the keep, it seemed that the woman best wielded power as a spear. When they finally entered the keep's war room, Duncan lifted his head from a discussion with senior wardens in surprise at sudden visitors despite his words to Elissa, before collecting himself and opening his mouth.

Ellana cut him off. "You're in contact with a talking darkspawn!?"

Duncan's gaze fell on Velanna disappointedly. "Velanna––"

"No," Velanna shut down. "I agreed with you that the Architect and his people would be valuable allies. However, this tradition of secrecy in the Order is costing us the world we're sworn to protect. Now, I don't give a nug's foot if some shemlens suffer a darkspawn's blade before a warden is able to reach them. But if this Conductor manipulates the taint for evil – if he endangers my sister – then your command for inaction is my permission to rebel!"

Sera softly murmured, "All of yer are messed up."

Duncan sighed, massaging his temple. Up until Solona and Avernus' departure for the Anderfels, they had been delaying Duncan's Calling for as long as they could. Now, the song was likely barraging Duncan to a depth that no warden around him could possibly understand, with or without Corypheus' manipulation.

"The Conductor?" Duncan tiredly echoed.

Ellana, Loghain, and Garrett shared what they knew, and Duncan in turn reluctantly revealed that he had been keeping in contact with the Architect through tunnels burrowed in the keep's deepest foundations. Though brambled plants and the like cut off the Deep Roads' access to the keep, they didn't prevent sound from carrying; the loophole had allowed Duncan and one of the Architect's awakened darkspawn – the Messenger – to communicate. While Duncan and the Messenger only contacted each other every two or so months, Duncan could confirm last he had heard that the Architect and the awakened darkspawn had been – like the wardens in Soldier's Peak – oblivious to Corypheus' activities. At the very least, the Architect wasn't in league with Corypheus. Though the alliance with the Architect was controversial, Duncan couldn't be swayed from breaking it, instead countering that the Architect might be able to shed light on Corypheus and his blight magic, needless to say what other insights the Architect could bring in the far future. On this, Velanna defended him.

Eventually, the warden-commander dismissed everyone but Elissa and the senior wardens from the war room. After a tense hour of raised voices, banging on the war table, then murmuring, the war room's doors finally opened and the upper echelon of Ferelden's warden order trickled out, emotionally exhausted.

Duncan halted at the doors and lifted his chin. "There must always be a warden in Ferelden."

Carver frowned. "Warden-Commander––"

Duncan turned to Elissa. "Warden-Constable, you will lead the Wardens to Adamant Fortress."

Elissa froze in shock, paling. Her rank had always meant she would eventually succeed him as warden-commander, but since her enlistment, Duncan's retirement had always seemed far-off. The fact that the weary Duncan was choosing to remain in Soldier's Peak while the rest of the Order would charge off into battle meant that her promotion – and Duncan's end – was not only certain, it had arrived. The warden-commander would hold on to his sanity with both hands for as long as the Wardens were needed outside the keep; once they returned, he would depart for the Deep Roads to die bloody and alone, as was the Warden way.

Behind Elissa, Alistair swallowed back tears. Duncan's jaw clenched in emotion, his heart softening at the sight of his ward, before he nodded jerkily to Theron. "You will assist her, Senior Warden."

Recognising the line of succession, Theron solemnly saluted. "Warden-Commander."

Elissa straightened and turned, her voice leaving her roughly as it thundered throughout the keep. "Wardens! Arm yourselves! Tomorrow, we march with the Inquisition!"

;

A/N:

Carver has so much to catch others up on, hehe. Fun fact, one of Varric's nicknames for Carver is "Junior" in the games. Anyway––

WE'RE FINALLY HERE! :D

Which is exactly when I need to take a break D:

I know, I know, but IRL has me adjusting priorities for now, so I plan to take this opportunity to rejuvenate my creative muscles before I get back into writing ~40k words a week. I might be gone for a week or a month, it's hard to predict, so look forward to the next chapter (whenever it comes), and thank you for the wonderful reviews!