My dear wife,
You are completely right that I would have turned around immediately when I received your letter, as well I should have. We rode into Weisshaupt yesterday and what should I find waiting for me but news of a child! I was no good for formal relations and today can barely put two words together to write to you in response. I'm so happy I believe I may actually burst.
You should see these Anderfels Wardens. They act like a smile on a man's face is as rare as a friendly darkspawn. Their Warden Commander, a nice fellow named Heinrich, managed to convince the rest of them that I am not, in fact, a lunatic or a simpleton, but merely the happiest man in Thedas. Once they understood, we did a bit of celebrating.
It's very strange here, so barren and cold. It's all mountains and pine trees, no lovely flat grasslands like our Bannorn. Even Brecilian Forest did not look as foreboding as these woods. The people are friendly enough, I suppose, but they look like their lives are rather rough. They defer to the Wardens quite differently than in Ferelden. We were met at the city of Nevarra by an escort to Weisshaupt. When the local inhabitants learned who I was, they seemed much more impressed by my status as a Grey Warden. I'm content with that, as you know, but they still treated me as if I was made of pure lyrium.
Now, I hear Heinrich coming down the hall. It must be time for another meeting. I will write more before I send the messenger back, my dear. We will probably wear a new road straight north-south between here and Val Royeaux before this trip is out, and I will name it for you.
I have brought records of induction, the names of the Wardens lost at Ostagar, and news of our fortress at Amaranthine to be added to the official records at Weisshaupt. Their summons, I have just learned, was to inquire about the slaying of the archdemon. I admit I told a lie, my dear, and said it was Riordan who took the final blow. I didn't know how to explain the Morrigan thing, and shrugging and looking stupid just wasn't going to pass with these stern fellows. It contradicts what we told, or rather didn't tell the Orlesian Grey Wardens right after the Blight ended, but they accepted my account.
Tell me again we did the right thing? Morrigan disappeared right after the battle, and no one has seen her since. Of course I'm happy with you, but in hindsight, if we had only known… We could have used Loghain. That's what Riordan meant, isn't it, when he suggested he be made a Grey Warden? Sometimes I wonder what Duncan would think of us. If he would have made the choice we did, or if he could have been more selfless. I can't help but feel that Morrigan will show back up one day with a powerful maleficar child… But I suppose there's no use in dwelling on that now. Maker knows what the future will bring. I'm looking now at the miniature you gave me before I left Denerim, and I'm so full of happiness and pride at the thought of our child that I can hardly stand it.
I'm pleased to hear about Cullen's promotion, and that he is adjusting well to life outside the Templars. He does remind me of myself, though more devoted to the Order than I was. You'll recall, I'm sure, my irreverence for life in the Chantry. He does seem like a good man, and if you trust him, so do I. And no, we were never so sickening with our flirtation. I was a perfect gentleman, and you a perfect lady, and there were no cow's eyes across the fire, or poetry, or star gazing, or… no, wait, we did all those things. I even gave you flowers. We were disgusting! Ah well, I'd do it all over again. Young love is precious, my dear. Don't you forget it.
Regarding the speed of my return—the Anderfels Wardens are giving us a small herd of horses to bring back to Ferelden. I am learning to ride now, and they are much faster than the wagons. I plan to ride back with a small group ahead of the oxen, and that should cut our travel time significantly. After about a week here, I have a trip to Hossberg to make, and I am still committed to a short official visit in Val Royeaux; remember, you packed my fancy armor for that. I can't wait to see you again. Maker, if I had only known about the child, this trip would have been postponed. I will write again soon. Please give this lad a few extra coins for his trouble when he reaches Denerim.
Yours always,
Alistair