Chapter 49) Elven Memories

Layla POV


"How does that even work?" I asked, somewhat baffled. "If they are half elf, then they should show characteristics."

"There are many who believe the highly adaptive nature of elven inheritance is a sign of the great magic they used to have," Irving answered. "There are many who are curious if elf-blooded mages sense magic differently than humans, but there isn't any research."

"Why?" It seemed like everything else was researched.

"There is… a heavy stigma against elf-blooded humans, Layla." I frowned. That also made no sense. "Many think it a mark of shame." None of these made sense. "Regardless, this is a discussion about legal designations, not philosophy."

"Very well."


It was warm. Even though we were stuck underground, and all logic dictated it should be dark and cold, it was warm. People were smiling, laughing even, as we walked through the crowd. If not for the stone overhead, I would have thought we were in the castle again.

"So, Leliana," I began, turning to face her. My hands moved for the signs. Practice made perfect, and I wanted to be perfect in this. "When did you fall in love with Aiden? It came from nowhere!"

"That's because, Layla, I'm not," she answered easily, yet quietly. I liked watching her hands sign. It was like a dance. "I am interested, so I want to spend time with him." Ooohhhh… "By spending time, we'll become good friends and, perhaps, fall in love. But all my flirtations are simply to try and create scenarios where we can talk." She sighed, shaking her head. "Harder than it sounds. Who would've thought so much went over his head?" It was actually a bit funny to watch.

"What of Zevran, then?" I glanced over at him as I asked, noting he was bothering Wynne about something. His signing frequently mentioned 'bosom'. "He flirts."

"I think he focuses on me, because I am his guard, and Aiden, because Aiden is so oblivious." I could not deny that one. "It's rather like Nuada, though. No one expects a flirt to be good at anything but charming their way into someone's pants. While you're being charmed, you don't notice the poison being slipped into your tea, or the dagger sliding between your ribs." I was unnerved by how nonchalantly she listed those off. "I don't think he's actually planning on attacking us, but the purpose is the same. It makes people underestimate him." Both of us paused and turned as Wynne groaned and Zevran laughed. "I think he also just enjoys bothering people into exasperation."

I burst into giggles, shaking my head, and turned my attention forward again. The people were greeting Nuada, Elspeth, and Oren with smiles and even tears. Our progress was slow simply because the three insisted on shaking hands or giving hugs to everyone who came up to them. Even the elves pushed their way through to grip their hands tightly. I noticed, though, after they greeted the three and retreated, they eyed the other humans warily. Why would that…? Perhaps things for elves were not as rosy as I first understood? Then again, looking back, anything would have been better compared to Denerim's Alienage. That might have blinded me to things. Perhaps it had blinded the Couslands too? That was probably something to think on later, when things were peaceful again…

Despite our slow progress, it was not long before the way suddenly opened up, and I tiptoed to see a group of people, all armored, clustered around a map on a table. The one with their back completely towards us had the same black hair that Nuada and Elspeth had. Was this…? No, surely… was the Maker really…?

"Papa!" Oren yelled, racing for the person. The person stiffened, a pen falling from their fingers to clatter on the table. "Papa, Papa!" Slowly, the person turned, and I saw someone who looked like a slightly older Nuada, or perhaps a younger Teyrn Cousland would be more accurate? Regardless, his eyes were the same color as Nuada and Elspeth, and they were wide in shock. "Papa!"

"Oren…!" the man breathed. He lunged forward, sweeping Oren up in a crushing hug. "Oren." He kissed the top of Oren's head, crying without shame. "Maker's breath… how did you even get here? Did some knights find you?"

"No!" Oren laughed, beaming. "I found Uncle and Auntie!" The man froze again and looked over Oren's head, right at Nuada and Elspeth. Those two… they looked absolutely shocked. I could not blame them. I remembered how pessimistic the two had been. "See!"

"Yes, I do." He set Oren down and, still crying, grinned. "You two… are so incredibly late!" Eh?

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Fergus!" Nuada instantly laughed, running up to hug his presumed-to-be-dead brother. I checked and smiled as I saw Alistair signing the conversation for Cleon. We all just… hung back. It seemed rude to step up. "We got a little sidetracked by darkspawn, demons…"

"Don't forget werewolves," Elspeth added. Her smile, while still small, was perhaps the brightest I had ever seen. Fergus snatched her in a hug as soon as she was close enough, and then he bent down to pet Eoin, who sat at her feet. "We've been quite busy."

"Getting injured, from the looks of it!" Fergus grumbled. He pointed to her leg. "You are limping and he-" He pointed to Nuada's eye. "Well, I don't even have to say it. What did you do?"

"I wasn't kidding about the demons!" Nuada retorted. I glanced around and saw the soldiers all smiling indulgently. It made me even giddier. Truly, this was unexpected! "I lost it because I didn't pay as much attention to wise advice as I should."

"That sounds like something I'd do. Don't do that." He ruffled Nuada's hair. "You're the younger brother. Younger siblings are smarter than the older ones."

"If we go by that logic, then that would mean I am the smartest," Elspeth pointed out. She batted Fergus's hand away as he tried to ruffle her hair. "Is that something you want?"

"Wait, was it a point of contention that you're the smart one of us three?" Fergus looked comically startled. "I thought those were the roles. You're the smart one, Nuada is the strong one, and I'm the pretty one."

"Someone hit their head again."

"Well, I did take a head wound back at Ostagar." He brushed back some of his hair to reveal the scar along his hairline. "We got ambushed by darkspawn, and then separated. Some Chansind found us and tended to our injuries. Thanks to the fever I caught, Ostagar was four days lost when I was coherent again." Ah… "Took a bad injury to the arm, so I can't use my normal sword and shield. That means you're keeping the family weapons, Nuada." Nuada grimaced, clearly not pleased. "Using a greatsword and…" He suddenly trailed off, focusing on the rest of us with a look that screamed he honestly hadn't noticed us before. "And you two are letting me make a rude ass of myself and not be polite to your friends."

"We were curious if you would set another record for obliviousness to surroundings." Fergus reached around and tugged Elspeth's braid. "It isn't my fault you get hyper-focused sometimes."

"I can complain anyway." Despite the teasing, Fergus bowed formally. "Welcome to Lowever. You have probably figured this out, but I am Fergus Cousland, their older brother, and Oren's father." He straightened, grinning. "And you all must be the incredibly patient people who have had to deal with my siblings. I have a great deal of respect! I know how extremely difficult they can be." He laughed as many of us nodded. Elspeth sighed, while Nuada simply shrugged and went to the table with the map. "I have noticed some signing. Is one of your number deaf?" After a moment, Cleon raised his hand, smiling slightly. "Then what is that I should do to make things easier?"

"If you will simply speak normally, and try not to interrupt, my lord?" Aiden answered after a moment. I watched him struggle to look Fergus in the eye and leaned into him reassuringly. "We translate for Cleon, and it just becomes muddled when there's multiple lines of conversation."

"Of course. Just hit me if I break one of the rules. Like Eoin when he misbehaves." Eoin growled and Fergus scratched his ears. "Can you keep Oren busy for a bit?" Eoin tilted his head before looking up at Elspeth. It was only at her nod that he nudged Oren off to the side, past the crowd. "Right then." Fergus clapped his hands. "So, we can do awkward introductions of everyone's names, or we can do that gradually and I get to the question that is quite bothering me?"

"Certainly, my lord." I checked the others reactions and saw them nodding. I suppose they wanted to speed things along? I could tell Sten was already wondering what the point of all this was. "What is the question?"

"How in bloody flames did you trick Nuada into coming here?" Even though he was still smiling, his posture shifted to become strong, eyes serious. "I know him, and I know the threat we face." Well, it hadn't been easy.

"Among the items your father sent with Oren was the book of treaties." Fergus's eyes widened. "Lord Nuada and Lady Elspeth stated we could name Loghain and Howe 'oathbreaker' upon gaining the assistance of Highever or Redcliffe. Highever seemed… more certain."

"I suppose that's the case. The only bit of gossip you get out of Redcliffe nowadays is that Eamon is ill." He was? Perhaps that should be our next destination. Wynne and I could look at him. "If you want reassurance that Highever will support the Wardens, I give it freely." The words sounded more powerful than they should have. Perhaps it was because the soldiers around had quieted. "I don't know how much I can promise as of now, but what we can, we will give. That is Highever's way." That is what put them into this situation in the first place.

"Yeah, but we're not going to have a lot to give with a strategy like this," Nuada suddenly interrupted. We all focused on him, and he was scowling at the map. "This is painfully inefficient, Fergus. I'm getting a headache just looking at it."

"Are you sure that's not your ego growing too large for your big head?" Fergus immediately deadpanned. Elspeth shook her head, smiling, so I assumed this was fairly typical? "Do you have better ideas?"

"I can think of twenty right off the top of my head, based on what's here." Really? "That's not taking into account what my friends can do." I was not the only one who preened a bit at that. "So, yes, I have better ideas."

"However, is it possible to wait a while?" Elspeth cut in as Fergus opened his mouth to retort. Her signing was gentle and slow. "I'm certain the others would want to at least put their stuff down." This was very true. "Nuada and I also have not finished our rounds." Were… were they planning on greeting everyone? "I also doubt Eoin can keep Oren from you long enough for a true war meeting."

"And this is why you're the smart one," Fergus sighed, running a hand through his hair. He turned to smile at everyone else, the surrounded soldiers and us. "Rest and relax, please. We'll have a meeting later. I have quite a bit of teasing I simply must catch up on." That sparked laughter from the soldiers. "Just pick a place to put down your packs. No one here is very picky."

Apparently, those words were a dismissal, as soon everyone was milling about. "Cleon, Aiden, would you like me to drop off your packs?" I asked, signing quickly as I glanced up at them. "You two look like you've a plan?" At least, that was what I guessed by their determined looks.

"Ah, yes, Lord Nuada asked if I would talk to Hahren Sarethia here," Aiden answered. He carefully passed me his pack and I stumbled a little under the weight. "He states that it's not uncommon for people to insist things are fine to their faces, but that Cleon and I might be able to get more honest answers." Ahh… still, when had he had the time to ask? "He's been thinking recently about how his family might not have been much better, ultimately, than other nobles."

'Shemlen who want to learn,' Cleon signed, shaking his head. 'Not even a year ago, I would have thought the world mad. Now, it barely registers as weird.' Was that a testament to how his world view has broadened or just how strange our lives were now? 'Ma serranas, Layla.' He passed me his pack and helped me balance theirs with mine. 'Be careful to not fall.'

I stuck my tongue out at him childishly, and pushed my way through the crowd. Some soldiers helpfully showed me to one of the buildings, so it was not long before I was inside a beautiful room with geometric carvings all about. I stared at them for a while before looking for a good place to drop off the pack. I decided the table in the middle would suffice and set them down, squeaking as Cleon's tipped over and something fell out. I managed to snatch it before it fell, but I held it up in the candlelight when I realized it was actually a phylactery. The magic in it was old, like a towering oak tree. What was this? Why did Cleon have a…?"

'Elf blood!' What was…?! 'Magic gift!' Slinking feeling in my head, digging deep into my mind…! 'Learn!' Learn wh-?!

Memories. Memories that were not mine assaulted my brain. Flashes of battles… the taste of blood in my mouth… the smell of rot clogging my nose… the burn on magic on my skin… places I had never seen… people I had never heard of… languages and accents that clunked in my ears… they were in my head. They were carving paths in my mind I did not want, did not need! Get out of my head! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

"Layla!" That was… that was my name, right? I could not think. I could not think at all. "Layla, hey, can you hear me?" Strong arms supported me. I could not think of their owner's name. All I could see was that he(?) was blind in an eye. "What is going… Elspeth, what do you mean 'ah.'? What happened?" Elspeth? Did I know that name? "No, Aiden, I haven't figured it out yet, and Elspeth is having too fast a conversation with Cleon for me to eavesdrop." Aiden? Cleon? Did I… They were familiar, but I could not place them in the whirlwind of a forest blooming in my head. Everything throbbed. I wanted to scream. Was I screaming? "Wynne, can you check her for injuries?" Who was 'Wynne'? Did that not mean 'victory'? Victory… victory… Enasalin…

I blacked out.


I came to it patches. First, there was just general sensation, the feeling of soft and warm covers and a cold towel over my forehead. Then there was sound, the murmuring of people in the distance and the gentle lilt of a song close by. It was only after that I managed to open my eyes to blurred patches of grey and blue.

"Ugh…" I groaned, blinking slowly to try and clear my vision. It was hard, though, because… "I have words… for things I haven't seen before…" They were in my head, whirling and swirling. I felt like an entire library fell on my head.

"Layla?" My vision cleared enough for me to just barely make out Elspeth as she leaned over me. Her fingers were cool and gentle on my cheek. "Can you hear me?" she asked. I slowly nodded. "Wynne left some medicine for you to take. Are you up for it?" I grimaced at the thought of eating something. "I can mix it with water." That I could do, so I slowly nodded. "Okay." She disappeared and I heard her bustle about. The song had disappeared. Had she been the singer?

As the room sharpened, I managed to push myself. I breathed in deeply to calm my body and focused on little pieces of my memory to reassure myself of who I was. My name was Layla Amell. I was a mage. I lived in Kirkwall before being taken to Kinloch Hold. I was a Warden. I survived Ostagar. I was not that other person. I was not the person with ten words for magic and twenty for a type of flower. I was not the person who could tell what was wrong with a spear in a single swing. Even though I had their memories, I was not them.

"Here." Elspeth sat next to me, helping me hold the glass. "She said you had to drink it all," she explained. I nodded and downed it in one gulp. I was glad I chose to do that. It was bitter. "I have some tea steeping to take the taste out of your mouth." Oh, thank the Maker. "Do you want some ginger for your stomach?"

"I… think I am okay," I finally croaked. My throat throbbed. "How long have I been out?"

"It has been a couple of hours." She brushed my hair out of my face, smiling slightly. "You are no longer quite as clammy." Had she…?

"You have not been here the whole time, right?" I would feel horrible! She had just returned home!

"No, I took over for Nuada." That… was just as bad. "He took over for Cleon, who took over for Aiden, who took over for Wynne." So… "We all knew you would feel bad if it interrupted any of our plans, so we made sure to take care of everything first." I breathed a small sigh of relief. "Are you up for explaining what happened?" Ah… "It's fine if you're not."

"No, but I do not have much of an answer…" I sighed, drooping. Elspeth held my shoulders, to make sure I did not collapse. "Cleon's pack tipped over, I grabbed the phylactery, and then my brain was assaulted." I hesitated before continuing, "I heard a voice when it happened." I ducked my head, hoping she did not think me insane. "It called me 'elf blood' and 'mage' or something."

"So, the ghost didn't even ask." Did she just say 'ghost'? "I'm sorry, Layla." Her hand was on my cheek again, tilting my face up. "This is my fault." Her eyes were sad, and her posture slumped. "I found the vial in the Brecilian Ruins. It carried a ghost, and I gave it to Cleon. He worried Lanaya would be reckless with the ghost, so kept it in his pack." Then I picked it up. "I'm sorry."

"If you give me sweets once Highever is reclaimed, I will forgive you." She blinked slowly at me, as if trying to determine if I was serious, before smiling and nodding. "I'm also curious. Who all did you and Cleon tell?"

"I told only him, and he did not tell anyone about it being in his pack still." So, basically, my head was split open and stirred about because of a secret they had.

"I want extra sweets." I was allowed to be annoyed, right? I thought so. "I also want a very, very long bath with… um…"

"Providing they haven't been stolen, I have a large collection of bath oils and perfumes." Her smile grew. "They are quite fun to hunt through."

"I want that, then." Perhaps it was childish, but I was annoyed! "I also want no more secrets." She looked a little concerned about that and I wondered why. Then I thought of what Nuada had mentioned. There were things in his past he could only talk about drunk. Surely, Elspeth had the same… "U-um… I mean… no more secrets for stuff involving us now, for important things." I made sure to hold her eyes as I said it. "That is okay, right?"

"Yes, I think so." Still, her smile was sad. "You might have to prompt me, though. Nuada and I are still not used to having so many people we can trust."

"I will." I decided pouting was the best option. "I will make sure the others do too!"

"Okay." She poked my cheek. "You have color to your face again." Oh, that was good! "But now I have a question." Hmm? "You mentioned 'elf blood'." …Ah… "You are elf-blooded?"

"It… seems so." I fiddled with my hands, glancing at the veins I could see in my wrists. "I never knew, so I don't…" Who was he? Who was my birth father? Was he a servant in the old estate? Was he a mage in the Gallows? Was he an apostate? Did he have red hair like me? "Is it a problem?"

"It is not for me." I focused on her again, though, and saw her serious. "But there is a horrible stigma against the elf-blooded in Thedas. Humans reject them for the 'shame' of being descended from elves. Elves reject them, because they are human in all aspects." Yet, despite that, the ghost had recognized that I was of elven descent. Was there something different? Had the ghost just been that desperate? "I doubt any of our group is prejudiced in that fashion. But the rest of the world…" The rest of the world would condemn me for it.

"Thedas sucks." Yet, here I was and here we were, trying to save it anyway just because it was the right thing to do.

"It does indeed." Elspeth stood from the bed. "Your tea should almost be done. Any preferences for what I put in."

"I would like milk and honey." I attempted to get up from the bed to follow her, but found the rest of my body was not quite ready to cooperate. "Ungh…"

"Just relax." I sulked at her back, watching her make the tea for me. "There is only the strategy meeting later. The actual attack won't be until tomorrow." I would be recovered by then. I must. "Oh, Morrigan must be here." What the-?

Sure enough, the door to the room opened to reveal a surprisingly worried Morrigan. The look faded for her normal smirk as soon as she saw me awake, though. "The sleeping beauty wakes at last," she said, drawing the words out. "Tis a pity. I had plotted many pranks." Hey!

"You are a meanie," I whined. It earned me a smile. "Elspeth, how did you know she was coming?"

"I heard footsteps, and she was the next one on the list," Elspeth answered easily. They made a list? "Morrigan, do you want some tea too?"

"Ah… yes, that would be nice," Morrigan murmured. I giggled at how hesitant she was, gaining a scowl in the process. "Well, since she's awake, I intend to interrogate." What?!

"I hope that was to me. Layla is still recovering, and should take her time doing so." I certainly did not plan on filtering through those memories until after Highever was reclaimed. "Do you want anything in your tea?"

"Milk and honey." Elspeth giggled and Morrigan's scowl deepened. "What is so funny?"

"It's what Layla wanted too." Elspeth brought a tray with three cups over to the nightstand by the bed and passed the cups out before sitting on the bed again. Morrigan immediately sat across from her, leaving me awkwardly in the middle. "So, what is it you wanted to ask?"

"What is this place?" That… that was a good question, actually. "A giant underground…"

"It is an underground sanctuary, used when the castle city is too dangerous, or when there is an influx of refugees," Elspeth answered easily. I noticed she had not put anything in her tea and grimaced. Was it not too bitter otherwise? "The most prevalent theory is that it used to be a thaig." What was…? "A thaig is a dwarven settlement, Layla." No wonder I did not know. I had not read much on them. "The first record of Lowever in our history books was during the reign of Sarim Cousland, where it talks of checking the water for Taint. Everything here is checked periodically to ensure it remains a place of refuge."

"Were there any artifacts?" Morrigan leaned forward eagerly, almost spilling her tea. "Records?"

"Somewhere around here is where most of the library was stored, so the answer to that is likely there." Elspeth sipped her tea. I was waiting for mine to cool just a bit more. "If any items were found, they likely already made their way to Orzammar where they belong or were destroyed in one of the many battles." Morrigan sighed, actually pouting. "Is the tea not good?"

"No, it is wonderful." She took a gulp for emphasis. I blew on mine to cool it faster. I was thirsty and wanted the bitter medicine taste out of my mouth! "I will be looking through that library when things are calmer."

"You are more than welcome to." Elspeth turned to smile at me. "Will you want to do the same?"

"Oh, yes!" I agreed without hesitation. A grin split my face as I imagined just lazying about a library again, reading without a care. "We can share books, debate ideas…" Oh, wait, maybe they would not…

"That sounds most excellent," Morrigan agreed. Her eyes were sparkling. "Intelligent conversations are too few."

"Maybe we could even discuss how silly some fictional books are, just to laugh!" This was fun. I was having fun. "There simply must be some!"

"We have quite a few fictional books," Elspeth murmured. Her eyes danced. "There is this author from Kirkwall, Varric Tethras. He isn't well-known yet, but I just loved The Viper's Nest."

"Let's all read and discuss it then!" I gave Morrigan my most pleading eyes until she nodded, sighing even as she smiled. "What other books?"

It was fun planning for the future. It gave me something to keep in my head, when the path got unsteady again.


When I was steady on my feet, Elspeth and Morrigan helped me down to the table with the map again. As soon as I was there, though, a hand touched my shoulder, and I turned to see it was Cleon.

'I am so sorry,' he signed as soon as I faced him. His eyes were sad, his posture drooping. 'I should have secured that better. It's all my fault.' I… was amused by how similar he and Elspeth were being? I probably should not be, yet… 'Are you okay?'

'I will be fine,' I signed back. I made sure to smile. 'It will be a bit, though. I have another person's memories in my head.' He flinched at that. 'You owe me lots of sweets and hugs.' He stared at me a moment, not sure if I was serious, before shaking his head with a smile and hugging me right then. Hee~

When he pulled away, though, his face was serious. 'Make sure to not suffer through it alone.' Ah… yes…

'I won't. I promise.' I held out my pinky for a pinky sweat and he caught on immediately, doing the same. 'See? I promise,' I signed with my other hand, smiling.

"Everything all right?" I turned again to see Elspeth had waited for us. Morrigan had joined the group by the table, needling Alistair based on the glares. Oh dear… "Do you need to rest more?" she asked, signing for Cleon. I shook my head with a smile. "Then let's join the others." Yes, let's.

"Fergus, by all that is holy, if you don't shut up and let me strategize, I will inform the group of your first meeting with Oriana," I heard Nuada growl as we approached. He was glowering at Fergus, who looked horrified, and his signs were sharp with irritation. Um… "See if I won't. Who knows? They might make a song of it like they did Father and Mother's first meeting."

"There is a song about how your parents met?" Leliana asked, dragging the conversation from whatever it had been before. I was curious, but it was probably best to wait to ask. Instead, I would focus on the relieved smiles everyone gave me. Well, Sten did not smile, but there seemed to be concern in his eyes, even as he studied me warily. I simply smiled, hoping it did something to reassure him? "That sounds romantic."

"It… really isn't," Elspeth replied, shaking her head as we joined the group properly. I slid in between Alistair and Wynne, and squeaked as Alistair gave me a one-armed hug. "Have you heard of the sea chantey 'The Soldier and the Seawolf'?"

"Oh, yes, it's incredibly…" She gasped, covering her mouth as her eyes widened. "No! Those were your parents?!"

"Mother was called the Seawolf, so you can guess who the ass of a solider was," Nuada answered. Based on his triumphant grin, I assumed Fergus had been quieted? "I think Father actually sung it while he was also trying to propose. The whole thing was awkward. Father was awkward. It's really hilarious." Noticing Cleon, he added, "I'll write down the lyrics for you later. For now…" He gestured to the map and we all leaned over it. "Now, this is going to be a two pronged attack, with contingency plans if Thomas manages to escape."

"I'm assuming we're going with the basic 'bait' and 'main force'?" Zevran asked. At Nuada's nod, he sighed a little. "Well, let it never be said boring basics weren't effective."

"This isn't boring." Laughter rippled through the group at Nuada's indignant tone, and I made sure to find Cleon in the group, between Morrigan and Sten, and signed out what exactly we found funny. It made him grin. "It should be quite exciting if Fergus isn't exaggerating how generous our uncle is." How many uncles did they have? What did he mean by 'generous'? Only Fergus and Elspeth seemed to have an idea. "But yes, there will be the bait force and there will be the main force. The latter will sneak into the castle through some of the hidden paths. I have individual strategies for each path."

"How many are there?" Sten asked. He eyed the map of the castle. "Do you have escape methods, just in case?"

"I have 'redirection' strategies, where groups will retreat and head to a different area of the castle," Nuada answered with a grin. "We're purposely choosing paths that are close to other paths for that specific reason." Sten nodded, and this time I knew I saw a small smile. "Now then, sister mine, do you mind handling the bait part?" What?!

"I don't mind, no," Elspeth replied without hesitation. She studied the map, ignoring how Zevran and Leliana gave her odd looks. "If the numbers don't match, though, things might get messy. When are the counts coming in?"

"Hopefully, the scouts will be back while I'm in the middle of explaining the rest of the main force strategy."

Cleon waved his hand to catch their attention, a scowl on his face as he signed, 'Are we getting an explanation?'

"You will as soon as I have final numbers for the intended distraction," Nuada answered with a giant, even boyish, grin, hands practically flying with the signs. "It'll be easier to explain the final plan when I do." Cleon nodded, accepting that. "But if anyone gets seasick, tell me now. It's… kind of important." Why would that be…? Wait, were we really…?

Oh, things were going to be very, very strange tomorrow.


Author's Note: And now Layla is an Arcane Warrior and it's confirmed she's elfblooded. It's been statedthat the elven genome's adaptivity is due more to magic than science, so I'm not making that up. If you're curious about her birth-father (yes, I have it written down), simply ask. I will answer.
Not making up the Soldier and Seawolf thing. That is an actual thing, revealed through World of Thedas volume 2, and I find it hilarious. The Viper's Nest is one of Varric's novels, according to World of Thedas, and was published in 9:23. The same book mentions that Hard in Hightown (published 9:33) was his 'breakthrough' work, though, so I'm assuming he's still a lesser known author during Origins (since it takes place during 9:30).

Next Chapter: The Battle for Highever begins with Aiden