A/N Ch. 18 for everyone! I'm really enjoying having to do one chapter a day during the week, it's seriously right up there with playing the game itself! :)

As always and on every chapter I post... Read, Review, and Enjoy the story!


"Grabbing what he needed from the Scholar's house Darien fled into the night, determined to put into motion a set of events that would possibly end the civil war, and the Blight itself." Varric says plainly.

Cassandra watches him for any indication of elaboration, she finds none, "Well?"

Varric blinks, "Well... what? That's what happened."

She folds her arms over her armored chest, not believing him.

He sighs, "Darien refused to tell me what he did that night, all I know is what I looked up with my contacts last year. Two highly influential supporters of Loghain's rule were robbed blind in the night, Bann Loren was one of them and he was murdered in his sleep, and what's even more interesting is that the city guard found strange symbols painted in goat blood on the front doors of eight houses in the city the next morning!"

Cassandra raises an eyebrow in suspicion, "In one night? You expect me to believe this... Darien was able to rob and assassinate a supporter of Loghain known only for his fickle allegiances while also robbing another noble completely blind and still have time to run around the city painting goat blood onto people's front doors?" She asks in disbelief.

Varric simply laughs, "Haha! You'll never guess what happens the next time he decides to go out for a midnight stroll! Haha!"

She stomps up to get in his face, "I don't find this amusing Dwarf. Get back to the facts about the Guardian and Warden or I'll see to it you're on the first ship to Orlais tomorrow, and you know how they just love proclaimed accomplices that betrayed the Divine herself."

Varric swallows hard as she backs off. He sighs as his mood is back to being depressed by his situation, "Darien was careful not to let his secrets get to the Warden or his other companions, he specifically covered his tracks by changing his appearance during each night he went out. That's all he told me."

Cassandra rubs her forehead in agitation. "The Guardian, the Champion, the Warden, this... Darien... Which one are you telling me caused this tragedy?" She asks tiredly.

Varric shakes his head, "I want to say none, but... that isn't what really happened." He sighs angrily, "I'm here to tell you the truth, I won't skip ahead and tell you the ending Seeker, that's just bad storytelling." He quips.

She closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath to steady herself. The last few months have been a nightmare, and now her only lead was a sarcastic Dwarf that writes romance novels. Oh how the Maker has a sense of humor. She shakes off her state and turns back towards him, now back in her authoritative mood, "Tell me what happens next, and if you waste another hour talking about some love triangle I'll-"

He raises his hands in understanding, "I got it! I got it Seeker, I'll tone down the sappy romances, but you do need to know of them to understand what happens next." She doesn't respond and he decides to just continue, the walls around Kirkwall weren't going to hold for long afterall...


I hand the crate of assorted poisons to the bartender and he smiles, "There you go, the... 'potions' you requested."

He drops it behind the counter and is about to hand me my payment when Erianne steps out of her and Alistair's room with what I can only guess is a massive hangover, "Oh, why did I drink so much last night?"

I shrug and tap the counter twice for a drink, the bartender understands and goes to fetch it. I speak up in a whisper as she pulls herself up onto the stool next to me, "You use alcohol as a substitution to facing your suppressed sexual urges towards your fellow Grey Warden." I take the pint and the sovereign he passes to me discreetly in-between his fingertips. I nod to him and pocket it as Erianne sobers up quickly.

"What?!" She yelps an octave higher than normal.

I look over and cringe as I hear my own words, "Oh sorry, I tend to rant when I think too hard, just ignore me." I take a long sip of the weak ale and try to avoid her eye.

"Uh... alright?" She grumbles as she wipes the rest of the sleep from her eyes and yawns.

"Hey, Eri?" I ask as I hear the local town crier start up for the morning news.

She lifts her head off the counter, "Yeah?"

"Listen."

"What are you-?"

I press a gloved finger to her lips, "Ah ah ah! Listen." I point behind me and at the crier as the young boy rushes inside.

"Tragedy strikes the Loren estate when Bann Loren was found dead in his bedroom and entire family vault emptied!" He takes a breath.

Erianne's eyes widen and she turns to say something, but I silence her as he starts up again with the robbery of another of Loghain's supporter's mansions in town as well as a dead Scholar's assistant found with a Redcliff knight's body in his house. The crier bolts out of the tavern and I finish up my first pint as she gawks at me in surprise, "Did you...?"

I look away and take the second pint and two more sovereigns since the confirmation was the crier's word. "I have no idea what you're talking about Eri, you should take it easy until you get over your hangover." She opens her mouth to respond but is interrupted by Leliana sitting down to my left. I turn and smile at her, "Oh, hey. Where did you run off to? I didn't see you when I woke up." Because of only three rooms being available I had to bunk with Zevran, and Leliana in the third room. Morrigan, Sten, and Wynne took the second. Erianne, Alistair, and Barkspawn the first.

Leliana smiles sheepishly, "Oh, nothing important. I was just out shopping."

I smile at her, "For shoes?"

She winces playfully at being caught, "How'd you know?"

I take a drink and subtly point at her boots, "You shine your boots whenever you're about to go shopping for shoes. I've seen some noble women do it around town."

Erianne looks down at the spotless Ferelden boots and ends up breathless, "Wow... they're so nice and shiny."

Leli blushes, "I can't help it! I love shoes so much! These are just so disgusting and unshapely." She frowns down at her shined boots.

I finish my drink and stand up from my seat to smirk at her, "Then why don't we go buy you some shoes, I think you deserve to have pretty feet don't you agree?" Her eyes gleam in the candle light and as she opens up her mouth to ask how we're going to buy them I answer that question, "I've got it covered." I tap my overflowing sixty three sovereign coin pouch happily.

Her eyes widen in surprise, "Really?"

I shrug, "Sure why not, I'm already going out to that Wonders of Thedas shop around the corner to get my old staff appraised. And Morrigan was looking for a scrying ball for some odd reason."

Erianne shakes off her hangover like a pro and stands up, already in her armor and ready to join us, "Hey, I'm in. I need a new scarf, it gets way too chilly in the mountains here." I nod in agreement and we all head for the door whe-

"Hold on young man, I'm coming with." We turn to see Wynne walking up in her normal robes. "I require some replacement tonics after treating Alistair and Leliana."

"Alright then, lets just get on with it while the day is young." I comment as we exit the Tavern to be assaulted by the strangely pungent morning air.

It smells of vomit, dogs, and spiced lotions... such a strange combination.

We continue around the corner and just take in the morning air, quickly getting used to the smell.

You have to be able to adapt fast in Ferelden, otherwise you'll end up hacking up a lung with a sword through your gut and a fire-breathing dragon about to swallow you whole.

"Wynne, is this yours?" I look over at Leliana as she holds up a small bag of something to Wynne.

"Oh, my bag of components! Thank you dear... I was wondering where it got to." She takes it and wraps a rope around it to create a bag-purse of sorts.

"You left it by the cart with Bodahn and Sandal. I was going to return it once we all settled down for the night but I didn't want to disturb your beauty rest." Leliana says kindly.

Wynne smiles, "Oh... yes. I remember now. How age creeps up on you, and brings with it forgetfulness."

Leliana smiles back and I can tell by the look in her eye she's about to go into a tangent, "You're a great mage, Wynne, and you're sharper and wiser than many people I know. Some young ones too." She states in admiration.

Wynne sighs, "Ah, but you should have seen me fifteen, twenty years ago... the fires have dimmed somewhat, since then. But thank you, Leliana... for picking up after this old lady."


We enter the Wonders of Thedas shop and Wynne immediately starts chatting up the Tranquil running the place. Erianne goes over to the bookcases and marvels over the massive collection of novels and stories. I follow Leliana into the elevated back of the shop where the trinkets and knick knacks are on display.

Wynne joins us and searches the first table. "Hmm, jade, carved and polished into the shape of a large... oh, I see. Well, that's just... rude." She puts down the... phallic and-

"Oh let me see!" Erianne runs over to marvel at the large... phallic.

I sigh at her immaturity and facepalm as I turn to Leli, "Lets keep looking around."

She hides her blush with a smile, "You got it." And picks up an account of the Qunari to skim through curiously.

I pick up a hard leather book and read the cover, "4th edition of the History of the Chantry... rubbish." I toss it and the other three books of the set into the burning fireplace while Wynne's back is turned and step over to the shelves that hold the glass balls.

Now lets see here...

"Ohh..." i look behind me to see Erianne marveling over a large replica of a high dragon and turns to the tranquil with obvious interest, "How much is this?" She points to the statue.

The tranquil simply blinks once before responding in his creepy monotoned voice, "One hundred twenty nine sovereigns."

Erianne literally jumps away from the statue like it just snapped at her hand, "Oh, not buying that... I'd rather have armor... for the entire squad... in Dragonplate."

I find the orb I'm looking for and lift up the mostly opaque, four inch in diameter scrying orb. "Perfect." I slip it into the inner pocket of my cowl easily as I fix the black velvet to cover more of my face.

Leliana notices and whispers hastily, "What are you doing?!"

I roll my eyes and whisper back my reasoning, "These con-artists want fifty sovereigns for an ordinary glass ball! It's worth at most fifty silver!"

She smirks, "I never knew you were a thief."

I smirk back, "I was once a full-time thief just for fun of getting away without getting caught."

She laughs quietly as Wynne comes over, "Did you find what you were looking for?" She asks while watching us with intense scrutiny.

I turn to start for the exit, "Yes and no, these orbs cost too much so I'll just have a glass-smith forge one with a bunch of flasks for health potions as well."

Erianne pushes past us, "Alright, lets go! I still need a scarf."

As we exit the shop Wynne speaks up to Erianne, "Oh dear, I could knit you one if you would have asked.

Erianne fidgets, "I didn't want to assume..."

But Wynne waves it off with a smile, "It's quite alright. I just need some yarn and I'lll have you one in two days, tops."

We make around the corner and down the road back towards the marketplace.

"What about your staff?" Leli whispers in my ear.

I look at her out of the corner of my eye and just smile at her, "I realized that time and reality don't coincide completely." I split off from the group and head for Wade's emporium. "I'll be right back."


I step out of the shop, my two staffs deconstructed completely into their components and stuffed into my pack along with a few dozen freshly fired flasks Herren had in stock and a smile on my face.

I almost forgot a small technical detail from Dragon Age Inquisition I heard was rumored to be added... component crafting.

I smile happily and look around the market to spot the girls over by the Orlesian imports stand.

"Erianne? Wade finished your armor." She smiles and runs off with Wynne towards the Emporium.

"What happened to your staffs?" Leli asks with a raised eyebrow at my empty back loops.

I look at the colorful silks on display and discreetly speak back without letting the merchant know my little secret, well... ONE of my secrets. "I'm going to build my own with components and enchant it with Sandal's help." She nods in surprise and we go back to shopping.

Tis about time I have something that is purely my own. Hmm... maybe I can wrap the staff in Drake Skin? That might add additional fire protection. Oh I love crafting!

We move around the market and eventually make it to Cesar's stand where I spot a particularly interesting book. The Noladar Anthology of Dwarven Poetry. I flip through a couple pages and grin as I read a dwarven rendition of Dr. Seuss. I laugh as I read about a drunken dwarven ballad.

"What do you have there?" Leli asks curiously as she peeks over my shoulder.

I hand her the book, "Read this."

She reads and her face lights up with hilarity as she does until she bursts into giggles, "Oh how cute! Oh this would be perfect for a little boy or girl!

I hand a sovereign to Cesar for the book, "That's what I thought." She hands me back the inch thick book and I put it in a secret pocket in my robes, "You never know when you might need a silly poem to lighten the mood."


An hour or two later we make it back around to the Orlesian stand as they're getting a new shipment. I find a strange hat with a feather and exquisite embroidery along it's elliptical rim for two hundred sovereigns and immediately hand it back to the merchant.

"I found them!" Leli shouts.

I cringe at her high-pitched eek. "Found?"

She turns to me to show a pair off red velvet shoes with delicate tapered heels and a burgundy bow across the toes that themselves were embroidered in blue fabric. "Oh, aren't they lovely?"

I blink at them as she hugs them to her chest and sighs, "Alright Leli." I turn to the saleswoman, a well-dressed woman with A LOT of make-up on. "How much for the tapered burgundy shoes?"

"Oh and this dress here is perfect with them!" I close my eyes and sigh as I turn to see Leli holding up a burgundy velvet dress with blue embroidery and the symbol of an unknown noble woven into the hem of the neckline.

I turn back to- "Oh! This hat and gloves just complete the set!"

I groan and turn to see her holding up a large hat with a jeweled blue flower broach pinned at an angle and some red leather gloves embroidered with golden-blue silk.

Well... she WOULD look stunning with all that on... I guess.

I look to the now-smiling saleswoman and cross my arms, ready to barter. "How much for the full set?"

She blinks and coughs before frowning, "I... cannot speak common-dog well."

Common do- Oh! She's Orlesian! Wait...

I inspect her face and see indications of a hard life before this one, she was either a maid or actually from Ferelden, either way she'd know common due to her proximity to guests during visits or foreigners in Ferelden.

Especially if she was indeed a merchant in a foreign lands.

I smile at her, "Aucun probleme, je sais que de nombreuses langues. Je tiens a ne pas payer plus de cinquante souverains." (No problem, I know many languages. I wish to pay no more than fifty sovereigns.)

Her eyes widen and she swallows at being unable to use the language barrier to get a better price. "Oh, um... ok how about twenty Orlesian gold?" She states with a slight smirk.

Oh you are clever... but I'm better. Mother would kill me if she found out I could fall for such a simple trick.

"Leli? How much is one Orlesian gold coin in common currency?" I ask without turning my head as I wish to watch the merchant's reaction.

"Oh, um... I believe its one gold coin to five soveriegns, or at least it was the last time I was traveling." She responds without looking over as she admires the outfit.

I smile as the merchant swallows again, "Thank you Leli."

The saleswoman sighs angrily, "Fine! I'll stop trying to mess with you, obviously you're more intelligent than the average Ferelden dog-lord."

"Oui." (Yes) "But I feel a bit insulted by your trickery, now I wish to buy the entire outfit for thirty sovereigns."

She frowns and purses her lips, "The dress alone is worth sixty. I canno-"

Leli steps up and scoffs, "You expect us to buy a ten year old dress for full price? You are quite mistaken madam."

I smile at her, "Thank you Leli, now what is it going to be? I believe breaking even would do your stand some good, especially since this is Ferelden, not some posh trading port in Antiva. You get caught screwing over a noble here, you get executed publicly, not assassinated in secret." I fold my arms and let the fact that my eyes are hidden under my hood add to my intimidation.

She groans and accepts our deal, "Fine! This place smells as disgusting as that dress is sure to be within a week. Take the worthless outfit then! Take it and be away with your stench!"

I take my decoy coin purse and toss it at her, she yelps as it hits her in the chest and staggers her back, "Say hello to the Empress' behind yes? I'm sure you'll be kissing it back in Orlais for the next century or two." We walk away as the merchant fumes at being outdone by the 'dog people'.

Racist shrew.

"Hahaha! That was so much fun! Oh I've forgotten how entertaining it was seeing a trader lose their temper." Leli comments as she packs up her new outfit carefully in a spare leather satchel.

I smile in agreement, "You are welcome." She kisses my cheek and I fight my blush with a quick cough.

Another point for Leliana, man this is becoming a bit complex!

We walk along until Erianne and Wynne join us and we all marvel over the intricate plates and scales weaved and shifting over Erianne's new Drakeskin armor. The dark red and black discoloration of the scales and skin makes your eye drift to her determined face and seriously bright eyes. The entire thing is wonderfully crafted and Wade even made her Drakebone Bow to match. The only question I asked after she finished her explanation was, "How long until he can make another?!"

Erianne looks at me sadly, "Sorry Darien, but there was only enough scales left to reinforce Alistair's armor. If we're going to have a squad fully outfitted with Drake armor we'll have to go dragon hunting."

I sigh as I realize I actually don't know anything about armor crafting and had just assumed two Drakes would give us two full sets off armor, "Alright, we found a dress for Leliana. And I procured those flasks so Wynne, we're going to be stuck at the inn for a few days brewing a few sets of potions, maybe even some poisons if Zevran feels up for it."

Wynne nods, "I picked up a few bushels of elfroot and spindleweed just in case. Meet me in room three tonight."

"You got it."


"You are not religious, yes? You do not believe?" Leliana asks out of the blue as we walk back to the tavern.

"I hope that isn't directed at me." I turn to her and see her staring so I sigh, "Not entirely, tis useful in a crisis but only so. Why?"

She looks ahead and smiles, "Oh, nothing. You are just a very good person, and it shows, and I thought at first you were a criminal."

I blink, "Excuse me?"

She fidgets, "I-I didn't mean it like that." She slows her steps and I join her further back from Erianne and Wynne up ahead, "Erianne ran a tight ship before you showed up. To disobey was to be left behind." She leans in to whisper, "She was a bit of a bitch."

Erianne turns around, "Sorry, did I just hear wind in my ears?"

I clear my throat and smile, "Oh nothing Eri, tis simple banter."

She turns back and keeps walking, "Good, lets get back and regroup at the tavern, we need to decide our next destination. Oh and Bodahn finished selling off our salvage early."

"Do I want to know how much we got?" I ask worriedly.

She smiles at Wynne who sighs and turns to talk directly, "We were able to make a hundred sovereigns off of Joam's cart alone, and another sixty off of our own salvage. It appears ancient Grey Warden armor is a favorite collector's item in Orlais."

We watch her as she pauses to mentally count up the coin, "We have just over one hundred forty sovereigns."

"By the Dread Wolf..." I breath in shock as we step into the tavern and all go our separate ways for the evening.


Hours later, and after Wynne and I set up the brewing station in her room, everyone gathers in Erianne's room to figure out where or what we were going to do next.

Erianne stands from her seat next to a table at the center of the room and addresses her companions around her, "Alright, now that everyone's here we can begin." She crosses her arms over her newly armored chest as she realizes Darien and Leliana aren't in the room. "Could someone go get Darien and Leliana?"

Morrigan is the first to stand, "I'll go find them."


"Look at what that woman is wearing. Is she drunk, or just have bad taste?"

I look over at the specific woman and laugh as I see she's wearing her dress inside out and she's covered in stains. "I have no clue, and by the states her hair is in neither does she."

Leli giggles at my admission as I notice Morrigan standing in the doorway. She frowns at me and I can sense I'm forgetting something. Not remembering what I read her body language and-

Oh sod it all...

I whip my head around to Leliana, "Leli we're late to Erianne's meeting."

She turns to stare at me in surprise before we both run with Morrigan into her room and sit down near the center table.

"Nice of you two to join us." Erianne comments off-handedly.

I try to explain, "Sorry, Leli and I were just-" I look at her and smile, "-doing something to better hone our perceptive skills."

Morrigan scowls from her position near the exit and speaks in a scolding and provocative tone, "What, my brother, have you been doing with that Chantry sister I might ask?"

I go to speak and Leliana cuts me off, "Nothing that concerns you." She bites out in a fit of jealousy.

I sigh as Erianne, and I, have had enough, "Enough!" I shout as I lean forward angrily.

Erianne picks it up where I left it, "We are here to discuss our next phase, not bicker like elderly women around a sowing circle!" She looks to Wynne, "Uh... no offense."

She frowns, "None taken, young lady." Wynne responds with a bit of malice.

"We do not have time to dally!" Sten breaks through the conversation and puts us back on track as he stands, a permanent scowl on his face as he leans against the far wall with his arms crossed.

Alistair speaks next, "Agreed, we need to stop this civil war and unite the nation against the darkspawn." He declares in his newly repaired silverite-studded, drakeplate armor. "I propose our next stop be Redcliff. We need Arl Eamon's support!"

I sigh as he brings up Redcliff again, "Alistair-"

He cuts me off, "No, I know what I'm talking about! Erianne, tell him!"

Everyone looks to the default leader of our group. She looks extremely uncomfortable as she weighs the options of siding with either of us. She sighs and looks at Alistair sadly as she has her answer, "I'm sorry Alistair, but it's a risk we-"

He stops her as he stands up, completely agitated. "How is it a risk?! We haven't even heard anything from there! Eamon wasn't there at Ostagar Erianne. He still has all his men! I was a personal friend to him! He thought of Cailen like a brother! We need his support!"

I frown at his stubbornness and let someone else deal with it as I fold my hands in my lap to watch. "We don't have any way to ensure this Arl Eamon will support us." Wynne declares, right on spot.

I speak up, "Exactly, without a proper treaty forcing him to help us we can't be sure he won't try and screw us over to gain the crown or even put a puppet up there he can control." I reason logically.

Since this is reality I can argue anything I want without the 'plot' of the game messing with it. I'll use the game as an outline in the big things, but personality traits and loyalties are all up in the air as far as I'm concerned.

I sit forwards as everyone watches me, "Asking Eamon without having some leverage to hold him to his promise is almost as bad as asking the Orlesian wardens to come in with Chevaliers to 'contain' the Blight and save Ferelden. Despite the occupation being only decades ago."

Alistair scowls at me, "And what is the harm in that? Duncan and Cailen were about to let four legions of Chevaliers over the border with a thousand wardens when we were at Ostagar! We could have ended the Blight right then and there!"

I jump to my feet and glare at him as I speak in a dark voice, "And what would you think would happen to all those Chevaliers once Ferelden is secured? Do you expect them to leave when Ferelden is ripe for the picking with it's armies depleted?"

He bars his teeth in fury at me, "You sound like Loghain." He bites out.

"Good! Then maybe he had his reasons to sacrifice the wardens to keep Ferelden safe!" I bite back.

Alistair's eyes spell murder as he lunges at me and I instinctively cast mindblast to toss him and everyone else out of their seats and away from me. He quickly recovers and jumps up to pull out his sword and shield. I reach up and curse at the fact that I deconstructed my staffs before grabbing my daggers and getting ready to block whatever attack he has in him.

Come on, lets see what you can do templar boy.

He swings his sword and I roll around to dodge his shield as it crushes on overturned chair into firewood. "Hold still!" He shouts as I dodge another swing that cuts a fine line across the painting hung behind me.

I keep dodging around him as he swings until his boot connects with my side in a fierce kick that throws me into the wall. I look up at him while wheezing out and see an primal glint in his eye just before he stops to bring up his shield and block an incoming arrow. We all look over to find Leliana and Morrigan ready to attack Alistair at full force. "Stay away from him!" Leliana shouts as she notches another arrow and Morrigan readies what feels like an hex of some sort.

Alistair growls in anger and poses himself to blast them with smite when Sten swings at him from his right, forcing him to duck and back off to his side of the room where Erianne, Zevran, and Barkspawn stand ready to do battle. I stand up from where I landed and spot Wynne doing the same across from me. We look left and right in shock before jumping up to stop this madness.

"That's enough!" Wynne shouts while she glows bright blue with spiritual energy.

I stand back to back with her and address my side of the room while glowing with intense fade energy, "We have no time to fight!"

"Their is a Blight and Civil War going on outside those doors!" She adds.

"And if we don't work together-" I start.

She finishes it for me, "-no-one in this room will survive to see the result of our consequences!"

Wynne and I watch as everyone slowly puts down their weapons. We all breath sighs of relief and sheath our weapons. "This is why weapons should be forbidden during political debates." I comment to lighten the mood, "Someone always ends up losing their head."

"Shut up!" Alistair shouts as he stomps from his side to face me with his superior height. "Loghain betrayed the King, he betrayed the Grey Wardens. If you think what he did was the best for Ferelden then go ahead and do so, but you are no longer welcome in our group."

I crack my neck and grab his chestplate as I yank him down to my eye level forcefully, my eyes barely showing from under my black velvet cowl. "The wardens don't care about Ferelden, they are politically neutral and as such they, including Duncan, were willing to endanger or enslave all of Ferelden under the crushing force of the Orlesians once again if it meant putting an end to the Blight." I narrow my eyes into slits as he takes the full force of my deadliest glare, "Loghain is doing what's best for Ferelden, not what is best for Thedas. I don't give a hairy rat's ass if you think we can't end the Blight and Civil War without killing him for quitting the field!" I point at the only exit behind me, "He is right now out there pushing to do whatever it takes to do exactly what we're trying to do, but he's doing it without the Grey Warden Treaties!" I snarl out the next words, "Therefore he has to employ extreme measures! It's basic military strategy!" I pause to see the fright in his eyes and lower my voice a bit, "I don't agree with any of it, and I am truly sorry for what happened to the Grey Wardens, tis tragic." I raise my voice again, "Butat the time of Ostagar the best thing for Ferelden was to not force the last viable army loyal to the crown to be slaughtered just to satisfy the whims of a sterile dim-whitted King and an outsider Grey Warden Commander when the Orlesians are about to break out into civil war over whether or not to reclaim their lost territory! Mainly Ferelden!" I pant in and out from my furious speech and shove him onto the floor to point at him accusingly, "You are no Grey Warden if you believe for even the slightest second that I'd willingly take part in Loghain's plans! Nor are you any son of Maric if you don't see how much Loghain has struggled to keep order during all of this chaos." He stares at me, completely speechless as I break my glare and look apologetically to Erianne for my outburst.

She smiles weakly and looks down at Alistair, avoiding my gaze. "Alistair, he's right. I hate that he is, but if we can get Loghain to back down from the Regency we can end the Civil War and build up our combined forces against the Blight in no-time!"

Wait, what?

I look at her in surprise for a moment before just nodding in agreement. "Uh... yeah, that was my point."

It seriously isn't, but getting Loghain to back off is pretty much a brilliant idea if we can find a way to pull it off.

Alistair sighs tiredly and stands up to walk up to the exit and shove it open while muttering, "I'll be at the bar."

"He's pretty downtrodden. Erianne, why don't you go comfort him while we clean up." We all nod in agreement with Wynne and start picking up the shattered pieces of furniture as Erianne leaves to be with her undeclared boyfriend.

I'm so sorry Alistair... but you had to know what I felt, and unfortunately I feel as if the Grey Wardens DID betray the King, not in the way the public understands, but in a way only great generals or lifetime soldiers like myself understand.

"What did you mean by 'son of Maric'?" I look up and see everyone watching me, waiting for an answer.

Oh... crap... I really did just let that slip out didn't I?

Wynne's brow creases in thought, "Yes, I remember hearing that in the Tower, you asked him who his father was as we awoke from the Sloth demon's hold and he said his father was Maric. I thought I had heard him wrong." I cringe.

Well, well, well. It seems that I've fucked up twice now, great.

I look around me as they all gather, trying to look for answers. I sigh and rub my forehead as a headache finally erupts. "How about you ask him yourself?"

"He's not available." We turn to see Erianne stepping back into the room.

"How is he?" Leliana asks.

"He refuses to respond to anything I have to say." Erianne glares at me.

I wince as everyone looks back to me, "Look, I'm not even supposed to know!"

"Just tell us, we deserve the right to know." Zevran declares while scowling at me. "Especially after you drugged me..." Zevran mutters afterwards.

"I..." I shrink down, making them all look like giants, especially to an elf like me.

Can I tell them? What will happen if I do? Oh Creators...

"I..." I can't get myself to decide and start fidgeting.

"You shouldn't keep secrets from us brother." Morrigan says lightly while smirking at me.

She's enjoying this...

"I..."


A/N Cliffhanger! Sorry, you'll just have to wait 24 hours. :)

Again, wrong punctuation with the French bit I know. I'm working on it.

Alright, I haven't been getting that many reviews lately (None for about ten chapters I think) so I have to ask... how's the story doing? What's good, what's absolutely horrendous? I am not doing well just stewing here without your feedback! I won't know if I'm doing anything awesome by looking at the views/hour charts! I need input! :)

And as always have a wonderful day!

Also you can find The Noladar Anthology of Dwarven Poetry on a table behind Cesar in the Denerim Markets in Dragon Age: Origins. I play through the game to get the contexts of my story right and just happened across it while mapping out the shopping scene. I read a few lines and just HAD to add it in. Haha! It really is a Dwarven version of Dr. Seuss' work. Go ahead and read it in the codex if you don't believe me. ;)