Author's Note: This chapter discusses what Sunshine got herself up to whilst her friends took on the ArchDemon. The first part is her farewell with Duncan and is rather lovey-dovey, as indicated by the subtitle of 'The Sandy Stretch', it can be skipped if you do not like reading such stuff. The middle section is rather graphic and might be disturbing as it deals with rape, the final section is all about Sunshine helping defend the Alienage.

The Sandy Stretch:

It was to be their last time together, as a whole group, before the fighting began in earnest. Duncan had chosen to have only their group at breakfast as he wanted there to be one last chance to share a meal together without the interruptions of messengers. Loghain wisely excused himself and had offered to turf the messengers alongside Fergus. He looked wistfully at the group and had a moment of deep regret at how the events over the past year unfolded. He knew he had only his own hand to blame for playing a part in the debacle. At least he could still fight for Ferelden and maybe there would be some redemption there. He would never be able to fully be absolved, either by his fellow Wardens, King Fergus or himself, for his actions. He vowed then, that he would spend the remainder of his days following his Commander and fighting for Ferelden. He cast one sad look at Sunshine, who was shining like the sun in her name at her friends, knowing that he would never have the opportunity to bask in her light as she seemed to dislike him. He doubted that she would ever listen to any case he pled for her affections, even if Duncan had not already laid claim to her. He smiled slightly while he made his way to the Reception Hall at the thought of him and his old friend fighting over her. It was unlikely to have the desired results of Sunshine swooning for the victor. He doubted that he deserved her, and would maybe even think less of her if she had thought of him as a hero.

In the Dining Hall a massive breakfast was served for everyone. There was no formality that morning as everyone held their plates and moved about the room talking to each other, saying final farewells without saying that's what it really was. Duncan had been dragged out of bed early and had not been able to talk to Sunshine alone. He watched as she gave Grace love and warmth from across the room. Loren was joking about lapdogs with Liam, Danforth was discussing Gavarth's new book, Michael and Garrett were chuckling over some anecdote, Anders and Zevran were holding hands and sitting quietly with each other...Everywhere he looked, this was his moment to keep.

He was happy that Sunshine arrived to breakfast wearing her 'modern armor', as she put it. And had several of her guns, including Big Bertha, near her. He needed one last moment with her, just her, as he knew that when they parted today it could be the last time they saw each other. He made his way over to her, his determined pace kept his fellows from calling out to him. Grace looked up, still glowing from her wedding night, and smiled at him. "Duncan!" She said, surprising him with a hug. Sunshine smiled up at him in joy at Grace's warmth with him this morning. He hugged his daughter closely, hating that she couldn't stay safe with Sunshine at the Palace.

"I need to have a word with your moth..Sunshine," he said, quickly covering his gaffe. Grace didn't miss a beat:

"I'll release my mother into your care then," she said winking at them, giving Sunshine a parting kiss on the cheek. Duncan flushed a little and smiled at his daughter's love of Sunshine. He pulled Sunshine through a servant's entrance and out to a little vegetable and herb garden. Sunshine was about to say something, but he kissed her quickly, stopping any words that were going to come from her. He put his finger on her lips to ensure her continued silence.

"Shhh, Sunshine, love. I need to tell you something, Maker knows I've been trying for days. I have to be uninterrupted or I'll lose my nerve. Please, let me talk." Sunshine nodded, but Duncan had gotten wise to her mouth and kept his finger there anyway, playing with her lips, enjoying the softness as he gathered his words. "I may not live past this fight," he pressed harder on her lips, stifling the protest. "I want...no, I need you to be safe. It is eating me up to think that something might happen to you." He paused again, steeling himself to reveal his fears.

"I am so afraid that even if I survive you'll be gone from me, from Grace. I think even Danforth and Gavarth would throw themselves on their swords if they lost their sister. Yes, that's how they think of you, they love you too, you know. I have been afraid to ask you about what would take you away. I am afraid of the answer. That night when you told me about some of the worlds you have traveled to, and you hazed over details on why you left...I knew what you were saying.

Love, don't cry. If you start, I'll start. Please, don't spare my feelings, tell me if you want to go. I know that our world lacks the things you like. And...we don't have...Maker, listen to me, my voice is going all maudlin. I know I'm not your husband, him, Jasper. I know you love me and Grace, and our friends...but, I...I don't want you to go. Even if I can never be him, for you. I want to try..." He trailed off then, his eyes feeling hot and stinging with tears, his breath ragged. He had never felt so exposed in his life with a lover. He felt like he was hanging by a thread waiting for her to say something. His heart stopped as he saw the sorrow in her eyes, this was it, he thought, she's going to end things with me. He braced himself.

Sunshine met Duncan's eyes and felt herself rip apart. He looked so anguished. Her strong, handsome lover. The man who made her overflow with love and joy. She moved her fingers up to his lips, mimicking his earlier action. Duncan kissed them softly out of instinct and hoped this wasn't time he would be able to. "I...crap, my voice is cracking. Fuck, I'm going to start bawling!" This was not what Duncan had expected. Her fingers moved from his mouth to cover her eyes. He was bewildered. She started again after a few steadying breaths.

"Okay, okay. I can say this. Duncan, you make me insane. In the best way possible. I knew shortly after leaving Earth, my native land, that I wasn't deeply attached to Jasper. My children though, that hurt. I knew that he would find someone who would be a mother to them. No, don't grimace. He's very practical, but he loves his children and he knew that's what I wanted. I just kept saying the whole 'love of my life bit' because I didn't have any inclination, until you, to become involved with someone - intimately. It just became a background to give people. Most people are hesitant to pry because they assume it's too painful. It's not, at least not anymore. I'm so different now, I'm only the same at baseline. Him and I...I don't even know if we'd be friends. Probably vague acquaintances.

But you...I knew from that very first moment that I saw you and shook your hand that I would die for you. God, Duncan. This is stupid, not our love - that I'm having a hard time telling you this. Arghhh! I don't know if I'm going to have to leave you. I don't get a choice. I just get sucked back, generally after some sort of mortal injury - and no, you can't prevent it by keeping me bundled up somewhere, I'd just slip on a stone and give myself a tragic head injury. Sometimes it's less dramatic. I don't want to go. I want to stay here. With you, with Grace and company. But you have to live Duncan, I don't think there is any hope for me otherwise. If you die...I can't imagine that anyone but Grace might be able to anchor me here. I don't even know if it's possible. No pressure, huh? And Grace?...She's got so much on her plate...don't worry, you can't anchor me unless you want to...and if more powerful beings than your Archdemon drag me off...I'll have fought to stay, with you. Please know this."

Sunshine felt insecure. Nothing like telling a man you've realistically just met that if they want to keep you they have to really want it. And, hey, that might not even be enough, so they'd never even know if it was because they wanted it enough or not. Maybe I shouldn't have told him, maybe I could use my magic and erase me from his memory...no too complicated. I'd have to erase a lot of people, and find all the little pieces of me left about. Should I offer?

Duncan watched her face as it grew sadder and more conflicted with each passing moment. He wasn't expecting this. He kept forgetting how open Sunshine is. How she didn't like to keep something to herself for the sake of stringing people along or to appear more mysterious. He gently took her hands in his and began rubbing them. He knew that he really had to get this next piece right or he may very well lose her to self-doubt. How ironic that it would be his strong, confident lover who was plagued by insecurity now, and not himself - a man who had always been considered second-rate as an intimate companion. He was a tired, old man in a world that seemed to have little to offer her outside of the people she loved. Are people enough? Was he enough? Worse, would she regret staying?

He leaned in, and gently nudged her nose with his. "Sunshine, my love, I want you to stay. I want to be enough. No, that's not right. I want to be better than enough. I don't want to die. I don't want Grace to die. And while it is some sort of comfort to know that you won't truly shed your mortal coil, I don't want you to die here. I want you to be safely waiting for me. I promise to do everything possible to make my way back to you alive. Please try to avoid any loose stones. I just don't want you to regret our love, ever. I promise you that if you are torn from me I will rage to the Maker and whoever that God of yours is until you are returned to me. And I will never regret our time, and I pray that it lasts past all this."

Sunshine met his eyes, her doubt being erased by the sincerity she saw in their depths. She leaned up and kissed him with all of her, her always, her heart. "You better live Duncan, Commander of the Grey, or I will resurrect you in the hereafter and beat on you with a frying pan!" He laughed, and wondered if the 'hereafter' was an actual place. He kissed her back with ferocity.

"My sweet, tempestuous, Disreputable Urban Cowgirl, you keep yourself for me." They rejoined their friends, hand in hand, with matching smiles. Sunshine made her final farewells to everyone, giving Duncan one last parting kiss and slipped out the door. Not wanting to see them off with her eyes, she knew there was no way they could all survive the battle. She wanted her last view of them not to be of their backs, but of their beautiful, smiling faces.

Vengeance:

The streets were chaos as the city finally tore its head from its ass and people were fleeing. It was perfect for Sunshine. She concealed herself with a cloak and had her bag slung over her shoulder. She made a mental note to give Fergus evacuation guidelines, if she survived. It's too late for it now, she thought as she made her way through various back streets. Completely ignored by the confused and scared civilians she easily made her way to the Chantry. She hoisted herself over one of the courtyard walls of the Chantry. It was obscenely clean almost everywhere, except the center, where there were scorch marks. Her heart hardened like Pharaoh's.

She had anticipated that the members of the Chantry would have battened themselves down. Something about the belief that the Maker would keep them safe, because zealots were morons, really. She found her way to the garden outside of Mother Lucia's suite and looked inside. It was surprising that her windows weren't shuttered. This woman was nuts. Unfortunately she was the murderous kind of nuts to which everyone had a fatal allergic reaction to. Sunshine stared inside the sleeping quarters noting that it was quite empty. She tried mundane methods of breaking and entering and was happy to see that it worked. This woman must think herself so above everything that personal safety wasn't an issue. It would work well to Sunshine's advantage.

She entered the room and drew a ward that would prevent curious ears or eyes from witnessing the events that were to transpire in this room. She moved around the room, examining the space, and how she needed to move things to help events move along in an optimal fashion. She tossed a ward on the door to prevent anyone from wanting to enter who wasn't Mother Lucia and decided to give everything a thorough shakedown. It was upon going through her private desk and finding a hidden drawer, so convenient, cocky and unoriginal and she set about opening it. The lock wasn't much, probably more for design than functionality. Lucia was likely very confident that her inner sanctum would never be disturbed, who'd dare? Within was an expandable journal, Sunshine carefully opened it and begun scanning its contents. It was meticulous and contained the following on every entry:

A start date

A name, or some sort of coding system if the name wasn't available, of the victim

Physical description, including gender, age, looks, nationality and obvious markings

How they were obtained - from informant to retreiver with reward amounts given

How they were prepared - what group of ingredients were used to prevent use of magic if binding them wasn't preferable, it seemed it rarely was, she must like to see a struggle.

Templar names, with actions they had performed for which this was a reward

Description of Acts Performed - not a list of bad deeds of the victim being raped and tortured, but of the raping and torturing

Witnesses present - if it was a public death

A physical souvenir of the victim

An end date

Sunshine supposed that in a world without videography that the sickos would want a different way of reliving what they had done. Normally women aren't sociopaths, clearly Lucia is an exception. Sunshine looked through all of the more recent entries, noting that this had been going on for over twenty years, in some form, with events becoming more frequent as time moved on. She found the entry she was looking for and viewed the details of her baby's torture. She forced herself to read every detail, of which there were many, most likely Lucia really enjoyed hurting Grace because of who she was. She looked at the names of the Templars who had raped her, Sers Domanic and Crias. She wouldn't have time to gather all the assholes in this book, but these two and Lucia she could do.

Sunshine stood in the center of the room, her eyes focused on the journal, and began talking while opening up a cord of her energy. As she wove the cord into a complicated knot she said, "I invoke the rite of the Hand of the Hag. May all of the victims of Mother Lucia, those contained in her journal and those from without, find justice in her death. May the Call of the Hand bring others to seek justice against those who aided Mother Lucia. May the Hag reach out and seek vengeance for all of the offences against her children." She released the knotted cord from her hands and it traveled to the journal, sinking in. Part of the cord whispered out of the room, seeking those with offences against the Hag's children and marking them for the Hunt. Sunshine sighed at the completion of the first part, the Calling of the Rite, and settled in at the desk.

She carefully stowed the journal in her pack and began reading through other pieces of Chantry record keeping. Noting any inconsistencies in monies received and distributed, reviewing all of her entries of the Chantry workers, from Mothers to Lay People, throughout Ferelden. It was comprehensive, it should be preserved. She decided to keep that as well. She had quite a while to sit and think about what she would do, and was frankly getting a little bored. She had found some bottles of potion, several of which appeared to be a powerful, drug laced aphrodisiac. The same kind Lucia used when she raped the male mages and wanted them to be hard for her. Sunshine's gut twisted. She found a basin and randomly dumped out portions of it, and then hid the bottles to be retrieved later. It was with great relief that in the early afternoon Lucia finally made it to her sleeping quarters. Sunshine heard her at the door and moved to the side of a wardrobe to disguise her presence.

Lucia walked in, looking as if she hadn't a care in the world. She began to disrobe and slip into a gown that looked awful on a woman of her age and incongruent with a woman who headed the Ferelden Chantries. She went to her desk, poured herself some wine and opened her hidden drawer. A perfect opening for Sunshine as she noted that her hands stilled on the drawer when she saw her journal was missing. "Mmm, mmm, mmm. Mother Lucia you have been a very evil thing, haven't you?" She watched as Lucia stiffened and froze in her seat. Sunshine wandered about the desk and leaned on it, giving Lucia a full view of a very mad woman whose eyes were entirely filled with a hot, yellow light.

Frightened of Sunshine, Lucia began to scream. Her screams started with fear, then went to rage as Sunshine just leaned on her desk, staring at her. It was quite some time, as her screams had turned to coherent words, that Lucia realized that no one could hear her. She finally stopped, panting. Being totally fucking crazy she said, "give it back to me."

"No."

"I will punish you, apostate! I will have you torn down! I will have every Templar take you in every orifice!"

"You're welcome to try."

Lucia tried lunging at Sunshine, but quickly realized that she was more or less immobile. Sunshine smiled.

"You see Lucia, you don't mind that I remove your title from your name, do you? Oh, you do? Good. As I was saying, I would like to think that I would have taken the time to do this without the impetus of the rape and torture of my daughter, but being honest, I may not have thought to make the time to do it before the Darkspawn descended on Denerim and possibly killed you before I could. I am going to get so much satisfaction from your death. And you know what? My veryalive, very strong, beautiful and powerful daughter will as well. She'll be able to rest easier knowing that you are dead and will not be in a position to hurt another person. Oh, but where are my manners?

Allow me to introduce myself, Sunshine Jack, Hand of the Hag, at your disservice. It is going to be my immense pleasure to destroy you, in your favorite way - Death by Templar Rape. I want you to know that I have already selected the sturdy Templars to provide you with your death, Ser Domanic and Ser Crias. I am sure that the two of them will be more than happy to oblige me, especially when they see how lovely you look on this Darkspawn cursed afternoon. Oh, I see there is recognition there! Say the name of my daughter."

"Grace," Lucia meekly replied.

"That's right, Grace." Sunshine began to touch Lucia, pulling cords of the Wild from the air and wrapping them around Lucia. Lucia felt an intense heat binding her body, it was hotter than any fire, the pain so vast her thoughts were gone from anything but that. There was no escape, no reprieve. She watched, as Sunshine concentrated on the cords she was wrapping Lucia's body, with fear and pain. As Sunshine finished up, she smiled at Lucia. It was a warm smile, one that was used when greeting someone you loved, it was frightening. The immediate onslaught of pain had ended, but her body still felt tight, hot and uncomfortable.

"Here, dear Lucia, take a look at yourself in the glass." Sunshine helped her up, as if she was rag doll and moved her in front of the looking glass. Lucia stared, stunned. Sunshine had transformed her into looking like Lucia's younger sister, Lisbette, when she was sixteen. Lisbette had been far more beautiful than herself, far more beloved, and she was an apostate whom her parents had protected. Lucia had killed her, but not before forcing herself upon her sister with the aid of a Templar trainee, Ser Alrik. Lisbette had been her first. She stared in horror at what was to come. She saw it all there, on Sunshine's face. Sunshine leaned in, "they are all here, watching. They will have their justice." At a soft hum from Sunshine's lips the room filled with countless women and men, with Lisbette in the forefront.

They said nothing, just stared at her, looking hopeful. "No," was all Lucia could force out. She tried saying many things, but they only came out as whimpers or indistinct pleas. Sunshine nodded, satisfied.

"Say your name," she said to Lucia.

"Lisbette," came her automatic reply, her face opening up in horror as she realized what was transpiring. She would never be able to tell Ser Domanic and Ser Crias who she was. It was the moment that she herself liked to see pass by her own victims - the moment you know there is no hope for your survival. She prayed, earnestly, to the Maker, perhaps for the first time in her life, to save her. Sunshine laughed.

"Oh, I'm sure your Maker would just love to come and save you." Sunshine then took the opportunity to change her own appearance into that of a Chantry Sister, and bound Lucia to the bed with a rough, hemp rope. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you are not alone with the spirits for too long." At that she went out of the door in search of the Templars.

They were not hard to find and she was able to convince them, without too much Wild Magic, to come to Mother Lucia's quarters and take care of the apostate there. Lucia had told her that this apostate was special and would need them to take their time to punish her fully for her crimes. The two Templars eagerly followed Sunshine to the bedroom, which was an unheard of treat, to find a beautiful, young, frightened apostate. Ser Domanic was already stroking himself underneath his skirting as Ser Crias was slowly pulling off his armor.

Ser Crias went up to Lucia and began stroking her hair gently, "so beautiful. Shhh, be quiet for me, my beautiful one. Oh, tears. No, none of that. Please don't cry, I hate seeing beautiful girls cry, even apostates." He loosened one of the ropes which was binding one of her hands saying, "please help me with my armor, it's so hard to get this buckle off." Lucia struggled to think of the best reaction, it was no comfort knowing what to expect from these two. She reached a trembling hand up to his buckle, fumbling with it. "Oh, these beautiful hands. You've never taken armor off of a man before have you? Here let me show you, my beauty. Yes, like this. I know that our dear Mother Lucia wants you to die, but you're so beautiful, if you're very good for me, I can help you escape. My name is Ser Crias, will you say it for me?" His name left her lips and he moaned in pleasure, "you're such a good girl, you'll love me so well." He began to trail his hands over her body, watching as her fear and hope battled in her eyes as she helped him with his armor. He moved to kneel behind her and smiled viciously up at Ser Domanic conspiratorially.

Sunshine watched impassively from the shadows, completely ignored by everyone, both corporeal and non, at the unfolding scene. She needed to stay witness until the magic of vengeance completely took over and there would be no turning back point for the three of them. Ser Domanic began to explore her body with some force, "so tight, it's still there," he said with pleasure, indicating her hymen. This surprised Lucia as she was certainly not a virgin, she was disconnected for a moment, trying to dissolve her mind from what was happening, but Ser Domanic began to squeeze her so painfully that her mind was brought back. "None of that."

Sunshine's face hardened as the Templars began in earnest, knowing she had to wait until the three were so caught up in the act that there would be no hope. Watching people get raped was not easy, even if she hated the people involved. Her only comfort was that they were all awful, evil, foul people. It seemed to take forever, but maybe only two hours, before the Wild Vengeance magic fully snapped into place. No one would be able to stop the inevitable and the magic would kill the Templars as they killed Lucia through their brutal raping. She casually reinforced the wards, and quieted their voices so it was only a harsh whisper. Her coup de grace was when she released the cords on Lucia and Lucia began to change back into her original body. She tossed the bottles of potion she had found around the room, to set the scene and cast confusion to whomever found the trio. After that she went up to the window, opening it and settling herself on the sill, "enjoy," she said to the startled Templars as she slipped out and closed the window, locking it with magic. Knowing that the Templars would fully begin to understand what was happening and would hurt themselves trying to struggle with the binds of the Wild Magic on them. She went back over the wall and quickly made her way to the Palace as the noise of battle began to draw ever nearer.

The Alienage:

Her prior wandering aimlessly through the streets of Denerim helped her navigate her way to the Palace, breathing a sigh of relief that she was able to keep her promise to Duncan. The infusion of Wild Magic she had received from the rite had completely dissipated at she got in sight of the Palace. She moved quietly through the passage that seemed to primarily serve as an entrance for Elves. As she approached she saw two young Elves pleading with the guards to open the gate and let the Elves of the Alienage in. Sunshine began to run as she noticed the one guard posted in front of the gate getting physical with the young pair and stepped in getting a fist to the chest that was meant for one of the Elves.

"What are you doing? Let these people in." Sunshine demanded.

"No." Came the reply from the ugliest man she'd ever seen. He had a dark thatch of ill kempt hair and teeth that could eat an apple through a keyhole. "We ain't got room for none of 'dem knife ears, and this gate won't open for 'dem, or for you."

Sunshine debated killing the guards, but thought better of it as it would be messy and she would still not be able to get the heavy gate open. Well at least there was this, she thought, punching the ugly son of bitch, she smiled as she heard a satisfying crack and he went down, hard. She turned to the Elves, "'what's the situation?"

"We can see the Darkspawn coming, they're heading to the Alienage! We don't have protection! Please!" Came the plea from a young male elf. Sunshine felt her face harden again, if she lived she was going to torture that guard. She grabbed the two by the hands,noting that the other was a girl of about the same age and look as the boy, twins, perhaps.

"I'm Sunshine, lead the way. I'll help you defend your home, to my dying breath if necessary." She learned, along the way, that the boy went by Zen and the girl by Del and they were, indeed, twins of eighteen summers, they replied to her query. The hustled back to the Alienage, making it before the Darkspawn had. The attack from the army slowing their progress some. She looked over the situation with the eye of a Commander. She addressed the group of Elves who were staring at her with apprehension.

"First, we must make barricades, you, you and you, grab the sturdiest of you and begin using anything at hand to set a low, heavily reinforced barricade about this high. Del grab a few others and set up random pilings that we can hide behind and fire from. Zen, take the least able to fight and barricade them in the most reinforced building, those that are barricaded should carefully barricade themselves further from within while making it feasible to escape if there is fire. The rest of you grab anything that can be used as a weapon, from real weapons to pitchforks and frying pans. I'll start setting up my own weapons and setting mines at various locations up front. Do not get near those devices, they will kill you. Our best chance is to hit them by range, only using direct contact if necessary. I will call out if we run out of ammunition and need to fall forward. Remember we will make it through this, we will win, we will show Denerim and all of Ferelden that we did not meekly roll on our backs as the Darkspawn invade." She stopped there, nodded at everyone, who cheered, swept up in her confidence and commanding presence and set themselves to their various tasks.

Sunshine went far forward and began laying trip wires attached to explosives, mines and strips of razor wire. She set out every weapon she had at various intervals, charging up Big Bertha and ensuring she had ammunition handy to reload her bullet using weapons. There was only so much she could take from her bag at once and hoped that it would be enough before she could replenish. The sounds of Darkspawn were drawing ever nearer and the Elves who had some skill with a range weapon were taking high positions, while the other would throw things that could not be used as a hand to hand weapon. Del joined her from behind one of her pilings. Sunshine could see the desire in Del's eyes to fight, she would not deny her.

"Here, kid." Sunshine handed her The Flapper and grabbed the holster with Dick and Jane in it, strapping it around Del's waist. "Be careful, when you fire the one in your hand, she sprays high velocity bullets, only shoot forward with her, when she's spent you should fire the two guns at your waist, in tandem, as much as possible. I'll help you reload until you get the hang of it." It's war, Sunshine thought, no use having unused weapons. "You aim Dick and Jane like this," demonstrating somewhat with The Continental Op. "The Flapper, the one in your hands, isn't much for aiming, just keep the trigger down and the muzzle in the direction of the Darkspawn." She clapped Del on the back one final time, realizing, belatedly that she neglected to warn them about the noise, ah well, they'd figure it out.

Fights are generally a vague blur of violence, screams and death. The smell was always awful, that it was the entrails of Darkspawn made it especially bad. Once the Darkspawn had made it past the primary entrance into the Alienage it was carnage as the explosive traps went off. There was no stopping them from exploding as the Darkspawn had no clue how to disarm such technology. The noise was deafening, Sunshine was used to it, but she looked around at the startled Elves. She signaled for the ranged weapons to be deployed and used Jet Setter to take out as many as she could from afar. She tried to take out any that seemed to have magic or have special prowess in battle. She wondered if any of them were the generals that had been in the game, and then thought nothing but killing the fucks.

When Del ran out of ammo, she took a moment to show her how to reload, and Del jumped back into the fray, firing and screaming at the Darkspawn. Sunshine armed grenades and threw them at the Darkspawn, shoving Del down as they exploded. When the Elves had exhausted their arrows and bolts she motioned for them to come down and start hurtling debris from an old building at the Darkspawn. She shouted orders, she fired her guns and threw every possible destructive item she could. These assholes were tireless. Every time Big Bertha was fully charged she used it to blow up a whole shit load of Darkspawn, it was immensely satisfying. She had run out of ammo for her rifle and grabbed The Battle Axe and the Op. She quickly showed Del how to use Big Bertha and told her to holler, 'Bertha', and a direction before firing her off.

Sunshine tore off her cloak and her bag and ran into the fighting, blasting Darkspawn with the shotgun, while the Elves took care of any partially live ones that got close to them or stragglers Sunshine missed. Sunshine was riding the high of going 'commando' and felt adrenaline course through her. She began to feel the rush of Wild Magic and knew what her mission was: Defend the Alienage. She could feel the pull of other dragons and knew that her friends were engaging the Archdemon. She let her body roll loose and dodged out of the way when Del signaled that she was firing Bertha. Del apparently picking up on how to use the heavy weapon rather quickly; good girl, Sunshine thought.

All of them, on her side, fought beautifully and Sunshine was very proud. She felt a snap of energy and realized that the Archdemon had been slain. The Darkspawn immediately became disorganized and were running crazy, making it more fun to kill them, but harder too. Sunshine Jack liked a challenge. Her magic approved of killing these creatures, and hummed in her body creating a calling like a Wild Hunt. So caught up she didn't realize that she was now using her shotgun as a club. There was a moment of calm, as most of the Darkspawn had fallen, and Sunshine breathed hard and carelessly kicked a writhing genlock. She began assessing the battlefield and saw the Elves regrouping, carrying of wounded and taking them into a warehouse that they turned into a field clinic.

There was a deep roar and Sunshine looked up to the wall that the Alienage shared with the Market District and watched as an Ogre charged through, demented and lost. She realized it was heading straight to Zen and Del who were helping a young Elf with a leg wound of some variety. She moved in a rush, leaping over the male on the stretcher, pushing Zen and Del back and began to fist fight the Ogre. It was a poor fighting choice on Sunshine's part. Del realized that if she didn't do something Sunshine was done for, she grabbed Big Bertha and charged her up. It was an agonizing amount of time as Sunshine and the Ogre exchanged blows. Sunshine was looking a little crumpled but she kept on going. This was clearly not her finest brawl, but, wow, what endurance. When Bertha finally hummed, completely full, Del yelled, "Bertha, left!" At that Sunshine flipped back, ungracefully, landed painfully on her back and scrambled back as Bertha roared out, nailing the Ogre and obliterating him.

Zen and Del ran up to Sunshine, who looked up weakly at them, :"good girl, Del, you rock!" And then promptly passed out. Zen had always been timid, afraid of being taken from his sister by Templars, afraid of his magic; watching Sunshine, a human and complete stranger, defend everyone here, throwing herself, unarmed at an Ogre. This was his moment, he was not afraid, he was not timid. He was, however, inexperienced, and flooded Sunshine with healing magic, or at least what he hoped was healing magic. It was this that saved Sunshine, keeping her in Thedas, physically. It helped that Del looked up, and smiled at Zen with pride, "I knew you had it!"

The Alienage slowly settled into life around Sunshine, Del and Zen. Del collected all of Sunshine's belongings and brought them to the room where she was kept. She kept vigil when Zen slept, otherwise she helped around the Alienage, cleaning and building. She was in awe of Sunshine's heroism and selflessness, it was humbling. She was determined to see Sunshine live. Del had taken broken pieces from Sunshine's armor and fashioned it into a smaller set for herself, she had a feeling that Sunshine would approve. She even went with Elder Valendrian to attempt to get an audience with someone at the Palace to talk about Sunshine but were brusquely turned aside. When Del discussed this later with Zen they decided that they didn't need to share Sunshine with the undeserving humans.

Zen continued to fill Sunshine with energy whenever she seemed to lag. He began having more pride in his magic. All of the Alienage decided to name Sunshine the 'Hero of the Alienage' which would have amused and tickled her. He loved seeing the determination in Del to become a 'brawler', as she called it, like Sunshine. The Elves, as it turned out, were the first to move to the other districts, helping out employers who had remained, returning to servant positions. It surprised everyone to see the Elves out and about and going about their lives so quickly. The general populace of Denerim quickly took it for granted and it was almost completely forgotten about. Zen was initially worried that Templars would find him, but was relieved when it seemed like they couldn't sense his magic.

News of the Alienage and its inhabitants finally made it to Fergus. It took a couple of months as he was sorting out how to rebuild Ferelden after the Blight and asked that every district be investigated, including the Alienage, for a damage report. He later admitted to himself, that his initial decision was based on practicality and not deep concern for the Alienage, which made him more determined to right the situation there. He was surprised when the investigators came back and told him that they Alienage actually looked better than before, although the Elves were not very open about what happened, and just said that someone came and helped them out. They reported that the Elves were actively trying to improve the look of the Alienage on their own and seemed highly suspicious of the investigators and their concern. At this Fergus sent out Sergeant Kylon, of the City Guard, at the recommendation of one of his advisors, to see if he could get to the bottom of what happened in the Alienage during the battle.

Sergeant Kylon, nervously, debriefed his new King in person, at the King's insistence. "Your Majesty," he began, "I have completed, to the best of my ability, my investigation into the Alienage during the battle and its recovery since the battle."

"At ease, Sergeant. I read your report and I have a few questions regarding your findings. You wrote that when you arrived that the Elves were cordial but reluctant to divulge much information. Did you have a sense of why?"

Sergeant Kylon, shifted awkwardly, wondering how to tell the King about the Denerim Alienage. Fergus picked up on this and realized that he had put Kylon in an difficult space, as he knew that Kylon would be worried about diplomacy. "Sergeant, please, be candid. You will receive no censure from me with candor, I assure you."

Sergeant Kylon nodded at this, "Very well, Your Majesty. The Elves here in Denerim had an awful time of it with the former Teryn of Denerim. They view humans with distrust, which has been well earned, I assure you. When I talked to a couple of Elves who work in the Market District they told me that the Elves were turned away by Palace Guards during the battle and sent back to the Alienage. When I was finally granted an audience with Elder Valendrian he informed me, curtly, that he doesn't understand why the Palace if concerned with them now, as they were turned away before. I pressed him for details, assuring him that the new King, pardon my use of your title, Majesty, would be interested to know them. He finally told me that two young Elves, Del and Zen, went to Palace, by way of the Elves Servant Entrance, to get aid. They were turned back, and a human woman came up and returned to the Alienage with them. That was all I got from them. He claimed he didn't know her name, and that the young Elves were not available to question as they were out of the Alienage at the moment, and he didn't know when they would return."

"How about the state of the buildings, did they allow you to search them?"

"Only a couple, claiming the others were in no shape for me to view. The ones I saw were in the generally dilapidated state from before the battle but it seems they are trying to improve them." He hesitated, Fergus nodded for him to go on. "Well, Your Majesty, I couldn't add this to my report, because it is subjective, but they seem happier. They have more pride, they seemed to stand straighter, everyone looked me in the eye. Not a one of them shied from me. I was glad for the change, but I wonder at how it happened. I'm sure that they are pleased that they defended the Alienage so successfully, but something seems different. As the prior investigators, from both sides mentioned, there was destruction to the main entrances into the Alienage, and aside from some alterations, they haven't touched those areas, except to make some sort of memorial out of it."

"No one seems to know what caused the destruction, do you have any insight?"

"Well, it looked pretty thorough. Like something massive came through, and there were scorch marks on the stones. I've never seen anything like it, really."

Fergus thought on all of the reports he read and now Sergeant Kylon's debriefing. There was something more there, he was sure. He had been determined to be an active ruler, and not at all like his predecessors, and so he strengthened his resolve. "Sergeant Kylon, I believe that I should go investigate the Alienage, myself. Would you extend me the courtesy of your escort, along with my personal guard?"

Shocked, Sergeant Kylon readily agreed and within the hour they found themselves at the Alienage. He watched as King Fergus applied himself to examining the damage to the gates and walls at the front of the Alienage, deciding that this was one for the history books. Maybe King Fergus would be a change for the better after all.

Fergus made slow progress through the Alienage, masking his horror at the condition. This was better than before? He thought with dismay. This place was unfit for any life. He was ashamed of his country in that moment, ashamed in himself. He went up to the group of Elves that were waiting for him, having realized that the King, himself, was here. He approached what appeared to be the group's leader. Sergeant Kylon made the introductions.

"Your Majesty, may I have the honor of presenting Elder Valendrian to you? Elder Valendrian, His Majesty, King Fergus." Valendrian bowed deeply, King Fergus inclined his head, honoring the Elder.

"Please be at ease, Elder Valendrian. I am coming to ensure that all citizens in Denerim are faring well after the battle. I see that you may need supplies and workers to help rebuild, does that meet your assessment?"

"Your Majesty, you honor us with your concern. We would be glad of your..." Valendrian was cut off as an oblivious Del ran out, ignoring the humans, and grabbing Valendrian.

"We need more elfroot, she's worsening, Zen's passed out from his efforts. We're losing her!" King Fergus was bemused to notice that he, and his escort, were completely forgotten by the Elves as they ran into a nearby house. They followed behind the Elves, being deterred by no one, as they realized the King was still there. He stopped straight away as he saw Sunshine laying naked on a cot. It looked like she had been being bathed. Everything seemed to come into focus as he realized why he had never seen Sunshine at the Palace. Of course, he thought, she would be the one to go and help the Alienage. Well at least that explains the damage to the gate and walls, and the successful defense of the Alienage. He turned to one of his guards.

"Go get Mage Wynne, immediately, we will need her help. Also bring along a litter to carry her back to the palace. Dismissed."

"You aren't taking our Sunshine," Del jumped up in front of Sunshine and glared at the King. "She's our Hero! The only person who cared enough to help us, you can't have her because you're greedy and want her. You didn't want her during the battle, but now you do? Tough! She's mine!"

"Del - " Valendrian began, in warning.

"No, Elder Valendrian, it is okay. Del, right? I promise that Sunshine is a dear friend of mine. I am proud that she came here to defend you and the Alienage, that's the kind of person she is. Maker knows, we need more people like her. I want to make sure that she's safe, and I know a really good healer that can help her. Please let us take her back with us." He saw Del's conflicted look and knew she didn't think much of a human's promise, well maybe Sunshine's, but she was one of those people who broke every exception, much like Grace.

"Look, Del, I care for her. She's like a sister to me. Please trust me. If you like, you can come with me and help me keep her safe. What do you say?"

Del digested this, "Zen has to come too."

"Done," Fergus said with some relief.

It was a week before he sent word to Duncan. He wanted to make sure she would live before sending word. Wynne, with Zen's help, worked tirelessly on Sunshine. It exhausted the two of them, but they never gave up. Wynne finally came and told him that she thought she would hold steady for now, but only time would tell if she revived fully.

"Frankly," Wynne said, "I am amazed that she has survived this long. Zen has a definite talent with healing. I don't know how she's lived without much going into her body, but something, maybe Zen's magic, has been sustaining her. She had some injuries that Zen didn't know how to address and with a lot of work, I was able to fix them. It was harder than it should have been. There is one more thing...I'm not sure if we should inform Duncan, but she is pregnant. And no, do not tell Grace either, I don't want to get either of their hopes up only to have her lose them."

Great, Fergus thought, this letter just got a whole lot harder to write.

'Dear Duncan,

It is with great relief that I am able to tell you that Sunshine has been recovered.'

No, that made it sound like it was her remains and not her.

'Dear Duncan,

Sunshine has been found, bad injuries, long story, come quickly'

Hmmm, no, he would probably be killed for that one.

'Duncan, my friend,

I have mixed news to share with you. Sunshine's whereabouts during the battle have been confirmed. She defended the Alienage and was caught in a hand to hand battle with an Ogre. I would like to give you more detail but my informants are a difficult pair to get information from. They have kept her safe and protected while she has been recovering from her injuries. Wynne has been treating her and has healed her obvious injuries. Sunshine is now at the Palace, and while she is in steady condition, she has yet to revive and regain consciousness. Wynne, Zen and Del remain with her. Zen and Del are the pair who have refused to leave her side. She has been declared, by the whole Alienage, as 'Hero of the Alienage'. I hope that you and your daughter are well and that I will once again be graced with your presence at Court.

Your friend,

Fergus'

Okay, he could send that one out.