So, this chapter has been ages but it is so long it's in two parts. Hope it's worth the wait, thanks for all the kind reviews and follows so far.

Second part to follow very shortly

...

The sun was breaking out into the sky by the time they made their way through the mostly empty streets of Kirkwall. The chill of the night hadn't quite left the air and Varric pulled the fabric about his shoulders a little closer. As he caught sight of his brother doing the same memories of the night before came back vividly and, unfortunately, Varric seemed unable to mask the mirth at the gruff merchant's misfortune.

"Would you just cut it out?" Bartrand growled.

Varric couldn't suppress the resultant snicker. "It's a little hard to stop…"

"Brother, I'm warning you…"

"Which part are you still laughing about, Newbie?" Bianca cut in, a smirk across her lips, "was it the part when he got knocked out by a woman half his size… or the part when he came running out of the shadows looking like he'd pissed himself…?"

"Actually it was the part when he woke up and begged for his life…"

"That was good." She agreed heartily, "I must admit though Git features, I would have thought you'd be better at snivelling…"

"It was dark and I was being carried though some stinkin' tunnel! How was I supposed to know it was you two?"

"You could have checked before you pressed your nose to the ground." Bianca chortled.

"That was probably a mistake in a sewer…" Varric concurred.

"When are you two going to soddin' drop this?!"

"When we get a lovely heart-felt thank you for saving your hide from the Templars…"

"Well that's not going to happen…"

"Then you'd better get a sense of humour, Brother…"

"Bah! I definitely picked the better sister!" Bartrand all but spat, his face a disturbing shade of purple, illumined by the pale aureate hues of the dawn.

"That's fine, Git features, because I definitely picked the better brother… so I guess we're even."

"Why thank you, Bianca." Varric chimed in, although he kept his tone flippant to continue their teasing of his brother, he wondered if she knew how much her words had meant to him, and he felt a slight warmth creep across his cheeks.

"Well sure you'd think that… I mean why have a dog and bark yourself? And I hear they're loyal for life…" Bartrand's stare collided with Varric's, a knowing glint in the older brother's eyes made Varric suddenly feel quite vulnerable, he didn't feel much like playing anymore. It was a stern reminder that whatever cannon fodder his brother could glean would almost certainly be used against him further down the road.

As if sensing the unspoken threat, Bianca cleared her throat. Her sing song voice and warm chuckles now replaced by a decidedly colder tone. "If you'd prefer, Git features, we can always forget the jokes and talk about the fact that you, almost single-handedly, started a war between the Carta and the Templars?"

"It was your sister's idea…"

"Bullshit. Before you came along she was happy with sneaking and thefts… there's no way she came up with an operation like this."

"Maybe you don't know Juvia as well as you think you do…"

"Maybe… or maybe I just need to keep better tabs on you. It's not you who has to face the repercussions, remember that the next time you decide to drag other people into one of your stupid schemes. Or better yet, just do them on your own and stop dragging our name through the shit."

"What name? No-one even knows who the Carta are in Kirkwall, let alone about those pathetic ideals the inner circle…"

Bianca stopped still mid-stride, which for some reason made both brothers take pause almost simultaneously. If Bartrand's expression of disdain had been disturbing, the young woman's was absolutely numbing. Her eyes narrowed and her lips thin, her stance stiff yet neutral, as if ready to pounce forward if pushed any further. Her face appeared drawn, as if she wasn't herself anymore, as if the light-hearted, flippant and funny woman he knew had never been there.

"You should be grateful for those ideals, otherwise your corpse would still be in the Gallows and your name would be erased from everyone's memory save for those who, for some reason, tolerate you. It is those ideals that have stopped me from punching you as many times as I feel like and prevented those who have marked your nefarious actions dangerous from slipping a knife into your back. Though if you continue to abuse those which protect you, I may just forget that which I live by and shut you up myself, you ignorant bastard. Now sew that shit hole up, before I drag you back myself with the marks of a beating the Templar's should have given you."

Needless to say, the older sibling next to Varric remained silent and still. Yet he could tell by the glint in Bartrand's eyes that he was imagining ways to make her pay. Way that would see her on her knees before him, begging for forgiveness.

He could imagine all too well the twisted way his brother's mind was working and he gave an involuntary shudder.

"Something wrong, Newbie?"

"Not at all." He lied, trying to evade what he was sure was her worried gaze.

"Good. Let's try and pick up the pace, I'm sure Grandfather is awaiting our arrival with bated breath… that probably still smells of ale from last night but we shall make do with what we can. At least if he's still muggy brained this probably won't be too painful for anyone…"

"Why would it be painful for anyone?"

"We live by our own laws, Newbie. But they are still laws. You don't break them without consequence."

Bianca led the rest of the way in silence, following twisted paths and alleyways that looked oddly unfamiliar in the murky light of dawn. It didn't take long before they reached a dilapidated stone courtyard that he knew well and a doorway that he recognised as the main hall of the Carta.

Varric felt uneasy as Bianca led them into a dimly lit room, boots echoing off of the hard stone floor. In spite of the rays of light that stole intrusively through the grimy windows, the air was cold. A chill breeze blew sporadically through the gaping holes in the roof, causing the few candles to flicker violently. He was quite certain that the ambience hadn't been so decidedly chilling when he'd taken his vows.

Bartrand remained uncharacteristically silent, taking in the sight with narrowed eyes.

At the other end of the room sat the sum total of the inner circle. Varric didn't recognise all of them, but their stiff postures and formal attire left little doubt as to their power and influence. Bellam was there, of course, his normally relaxed demeanour replaced with a disturbingly predatory expression. In the midst of them sat Bianca's grandfather, as regal as a living Paragon on his throne of stone. His rage was writ large across his face as he scowled at the solitary figure that stood before him.

Juvia did not turn to welcome their arrival, her eyes locked straight ahead, though she visibly winced as the door slammed shut behind them.

Varric could only surmise that Bianca either hadn't noticed the hostile atmosphere, or didn't care. She strolled boldly forward. "A surprise party? For me? You shouldn't have, we didn't encounter much hardship. Still, good to see you didn't go to too much trouble concerning refreshments…"

"Peace, Bianca," One of the men Varric didn't recognise rebuked. "Your glibness does you no credit." He was silenced by a withering glare from the white-bearded man in the centre.

"You seek," the old man said slowly, "To defend one of my grand-daughters, and insist on berating the other. I wonder as to what logic you employed when you decided which was deserving of which. Bianca has just cleaned up Juvia's mess and saved us from the Templar's wrath, and you will mind your tongue when you address her." He rose from his chair to greet the new arrivals. "It is good to see you back safely, Granddaughter. Were you seen?"

Bianca shook her head.

"You and your companion have obviously dealt with this matter with the utmost discretion and skill, and I thank you both." He gave a Varric a small nod of his head, though the sternness never left his eyes. His eyes then swung to the dishevelled figure of Bartrand, and fixed him with a scowl of contempt that made it obvious from which side of the family his grand-daughters had inherited their trademark glares. "You, however, have some explaining to do. Step forward, young man, the trial is about to commence…"

"Trial?! Bartrand choked out, "What for?!"

"Both of you have violated our laws and put your brothers and sisters in danger. This is unforgiveable."

"Bellam," Bianca cut in before Bartrand could pale any more. "I told you to 'escort' Juvia not 'dob her in'."

"I had no choice, Bianca. This time things went too far…"

"But they haven't. Everything's fixed, everything's fine. Can we not just put this down to the 'folly of youth'?"

"There will be no such parley." The white-bearded leader cut in firmly, "my blood or no, Juvia, you will answer for these crimes, and your accomplice will answer with you."

"Grandfather, she made a mistake… we've all made them…"

"Well don't rush to my defence." Bartrand muttered venomously.

"Save your breath, Bianca." The small, dark haired woman interjected abruptly. She turned slowly away from the council of elders to take in the three who stood behind her. Varric was surprised that her expression betrayed little emotion. She seemed calm, almost despondent in the face of the hostilities around her. "I can answer for myself… although there seems to be little point, right, Old Man? You've already decided what you believe I'm guilty of so why don't we save everyone's time and just get this over with."

"Are you truly so hateful that you would force my hand?" The old man's voice lowered, as if imploring her.

Juvia, however, seemed unmoved. "You have forced mine. I have been forced to watch all my life as you have all clung to your ridiculous notions of 'a better life'… but what is so much better about it? It hasn't seen us financially sound. It hasn't seen us in any improved abodes. It hasn't taken away our worries. It hasn't granted us any respect or recognition from anyone. We may as well have stayed in Dust Town, at least there we had no delusions of our status…"

"As long as we do right by the stone, it does not matter…"

"What do we know of stone when there is only dust beneath our feet?"

"It is our memories of the stone that unite us."

"Well all I have are your memories, and someone else's memories are as little use as stories… My memories are of being rejects in the city we are meant to call…"

Bianca groaned loudly, and the two paused for breath as they looked to her curiously. She closed the distance between herself and her sister and placed herself between the two. "Why don't you two just put on a damned play? This is nothing if not tragic, and that way the rest of us may get some entertainment out of it… You are both pathetic."

Both parties opened their mouths to retort, but Bianca continued, cheeks flushed with anger.

"For a start Juvia, if you were really the cold, upstart revolutionary you paint yourself as you wouldn't be gushing like a petulant child with an axe to grind." She swung to face the circle. "And Grandfather, my sister has the right of it. Surely living by the stone has more meaning than simply following an arbitrary set of rules? We're a 'people,' not some hobby club."

"Without rules there can be no order." Bellam interjected.

"And without acceptance there can be no progress." She countered. "When you welcomed myself and Juvia to your precious Inner Circle you placed in us your trust, and we placed ours in you. I didn't realise that faith and forgiveness are mutually exclusive."

The proud white-bearded dwarf leaned slowly forward, considering Bianca over his steepled hands. Varric found himself holding his breath, fingers curled into tense fists. Eventually, the man sighed an exhausted, heavy sigh. "Ancestors, Bianca… I forgot how you don't shut up sometimes. Your mother shouldn't have given you so many books… you wouldn't know so many words then… So tell me, Granddaughter, since you seem so certain of your grasp on this situation, what would you have us do?"

"Juvia and I will go out to the Coast, and we'll let those mages know that whatever scheme they had going is over, settle things once and for all. Send Hadriana back to whatever dickhead she serves empty handed and with her tail between her legs."

There was a weighted pause, punctuated by hisses of disbelief and gasps of excitement.

"… Bianca have you completely lost your mind?" Bellam choked out. "You don't know how many there are, how strong they are, how…"

Bianca waved her hand dismissively and Varric fought the overwhelming urge to chuckle at how easily she played the red-faced, silver haired old men before her. "Pish posh, nothing me and Juvia can't handle, right Sis?"

The dark-haired young woman gave her sister a strained look, though Varric was sure he could see the threat of a smile. "We can handle it, if by some miracle you can keep up with me nowadays…"

"Maybe if she doesn't do anything stupid," Bellam cut in, addressing Bianca directly. "You know what's happened to some of her previous party members…"

"Bellam. We vouch for people to be part of this family. I am now vouching for my sister. If she, as you say, 'does anything stupid' then I will be the one to carry the burden. But if you dismiss her from our ranks without giving her chance for redemption, then it will be a weight we will all have to bear."

The white-haired archer was still clearly unconvinced and looked furtively from sister to sister, his mouth flapping with words he clearly couldn't find… but then his eyes fell on Varric and the old man's lips pursed, curved into a slight smile. "Fine," he said. "I say let them go, Larsson, but with one slight alteration…"

"Do I get a say in this?" Juvia cut in, clearly a little irritated.

"No." Bianca told her bluntly.

…..

Her narrowed eyes took him in, and her scowl made it obvious that it wasn't out of curiosity. Strange, he thought, how the two could look so alike and yet so different.

"So… lovely weather we're having," Varric said. She was obviously trying to make him uncomfortable, and he felt a strange, uncontrollable urge to antagonise her with the fact it wasn't working.

"Why are you here?" She demanded.

"So… this is the Wounded Coast, eh?" He ignored the question. "I wonder how it came by such a colourful name."

"Me and Bianca can handle this without you." Juvia all but snarled.

"Actually it's 'Bianca and I'…"

"Whatever. We don't want you here. Now piss off and tell Bellam what a shit he is…"

Varric sighed, turning away from her to take in his surroundings; bare rocks and dusty trails, with the occasional gnarled, lifeless tree. It didn't make for especially nice viewing. The nicest thing about their sunny perch was the sound of the sea that he was sure was just around the next corner. He could almost imagine he was on a nice beach, a light breeze taking the edge off the sun's gentle heat. Almost.

"You can tell him that yourself."

"Wimp." She sniffed in response.

"Rich coming from someone who sent a relatively new recruit to do her dirty work for her…"

He wasn't sure what had made him say that, but he knew without even looking the expression that was undoubtedly across her face. He found a very interestingly twisted stump just beyond the clearing to focus on, torn between congratulating himself on putting her in her place and piss-scared that she was about to stab him in the face.

"Your dickhead brother told me he could handle it. My only mistake was assuming that he was competent."

"He is competent." Varric sighed, turning back to her. "He's a lot of things, but he's not an idiot. Something must have gone wrong."

"Whatever. He tried to tell me they were waiting for him… what a load of…"

"Maybe they were." Varric answered her evenly, frowning in thoughts. "I thought it was weird he'd get caught in a rat trap… my brother is all about self-preservation."

"So you think I got me a mole? Think again, me and your brother were the only ones who knew…"

"How do you know that? Someone could have overheard you, or found records of the trade or…"

"…Well it doesn't matter now, does it?" Bianca interjected from her position in the shadows to the right. Varric jumped with surprise, grinning as he realised it was her… and noticed that Juvia hadn't even changed her expression. She must have caught sight of Varric's surprise at her stoniness and smirked.

"What's wrong, little rabbit? I've put up with that stupid sneaking since before I could walk."

"Thanks to me she's got nerves of steel." Bianca chuckled, picking her way over a small collection of rocks to them. "You will too, if you stick around long enough Newbie." She patted him affectionately on the shoulder, and Juvia rolled her eyes as Varric fought the blush.

Side by side, the two sisters didn't seem so different. Not so different hair, similar features, both could obviously handle themselves in a fight. They both had cold, hard eyes, but Bianca seemed much more at ease with who and where she was than her sibling.

"Anything?" The younger sibling enquired, though it was obvious by her flat tone that she knew what the reply would be.

"Why do you ask questions when you already know the answer? I'm not sure I'm willing to waste my breath telling you now."

Juvia smirked. "Nice job… in saving your breath I mean. Why don't we just accept the mages won't be found unless they want to be…?"

"Because that doesn't fit in with what I want… and that is just unacceptable." Bianca accepted the flask that Varric held out to her and took a long swig before handing it back to him. "What?" She frowned, catching sight of Juvia's confused and somewhat shocked expression.

The wide-eyed way the dark-haired young woman took in her lighter- haired sister set Varric on edge, it was as if she were upset, horrified and incredulous all at the same time. A silence hung in the air between them all until at last Varric could stand it no more.

"I was gonna offer you some next, you know."

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" Juvia found her voice… and it was a loud one apparently. Yet the volume did not hint at anger, more sheer amazement.

"I had a drink?"

"You had someone else's drink! Grandfather always says…"

"He also says that the sky is going to fall down and that mages have horns… so?"

"I've never seen anyone in the Carta do that!"

Bianca chuckled, "Don't get me wrong, if it was any of your men, particularly Git features, I'd be pouring it over his head and waiting till the poison kicked in and melted off his skin."

Awe gave way to annoyance as her wide-eyes narrowed and her scowl returned. "You're making some sort of shitty point, aren't you?"

"Indeed I am." Came the sing song reply.

"Something about 'trust' I take it?" Bianca's smile was answered with a grunt. "Brilliant, I got it, no need for any speeches…"

Varric fought to restrain the smile that clawed its way forward when Bianca's smile faded, her bottom lip stuck out and her eyes widened into a comical 'wounded expression'. "Do you not like my speeches?"

"Not since you told me about how mother and father made me…"

"That was a good speech…." The sister recalled fondly.

"It scarred me. Anyway, back to my original point…"

"You were making a point? Just sounded like 'complaining' to me."

Juvia observed her through hardened eyes. "Shut up. Anyway, my point is let's make it so they want to be found. I've been smuggling lyrium, remember? I've got eyes in the Gallows… I've got intelligence on the Coterie and patrol routes for the City Guard…"

"Maker's breath!" Varric uttered involuntarily, "you do know how to make plans, don't you...?"

"Mind your own business. Anyway, seems like I could be of use to these foreigners. They should know naught of me but my recent trade… let me go scouting, I bet you gold, Bianca, I'll get you a time, a place and numbers of the enemy…"

Bianca's mood had clearly altered, far from her usual self-assured demeanour, she now seemed uncertain. "I'm not sure that's a good idea, Juvia."

"Why? Because you've been listening to Bellam and think I'm going to stab you in the back and screw you all over…?"

"No." Bianca cut her off firmly. "No, it's not that at all. It's because if something goes wrong, you could get hurt."

"I've been in plenty of scraps…" Came the defensive response.

"Not like this." Although her tone had certainly softened, Bianca clearly remained unmoved and unconvinced.

Juvia sighed, "Look, Bianca, you brought us out here so you can prove you trust me… not much point if you don't play your part too…"

The older sister's shoulders drooped and an irritated, rattled sigh slowly left her lips. It wasn't long before Varric heard that familiar sound of her tongue clicking against her teeth.

Maker! She wasn't actually considering…

"Let me know exactly what you're planning… down to the last minute, miniature detail… then we'll see…"