DISCLAIMER: Dragon Age, Dragon Age Origins, Dragon Awakenings, Dragon Age II, The Stolen Throne, The Calling, Asunder and all Dark Horse Comics are property of Bioware™ and Electronic Arts ™.

SPOILER WARNING: This story may contain spoilers for Dragon Age games, books and comics.

A/N: This story uses characters from my I Shall Endure universe. It does not follow the plot line or reveal the outcomes of the I Shall Endure series.

FROZEN DRAGONS

Chapter 2: DENERIM

ROYAL PALACE, DENERIM, FERELDEN === 9:39 Dragon, Wintermarch

A Mage-Templar war threatened to erupt across Thedas and a rebellion simmered in Orlais. Unlike the rest of Thedas, Ferelden remained peaceful, if vigilant. General Loghain continued to maintain Fereldan's small, but competent army. Queen Anora and King Fergus focused on fostering Ferelden's continuing recovery from the Blight. The General worked at securing her borders and the royal couple ensured Ferelden remained detached from external disputes.

Only Ferelden's attitude toward magic endangered the Crown's careful dealings with Ferelden's neighbors. With the monarchs' blessing and the tacit agreement of the Grand Cleric, the Circle Tower at Kinloch Hold received many mages fleeing the unrest in northern Thedas and Orlais. The monarchs, with Loghain's agreement, continued to bring healing and battle mages into their army. They also encouraged Chantry and mage healers to set up free clinics around Ferelden, based on the model King Fergus had grown up with in Highever. The image of sisters and mages working together emphasized the good magic could accomplish. Fereldans feared mages less than the common folk in other lands.

After the horrific disasters in Kirkwall, however, the rest of Thedas, both laity and Chantry, perceived Ferelden's lax attitude toward mages as dangerous. Even in its weakened state Orlais believed Ferelden bore watching. Opportunities might arise from Ferelden's lax attitudes. Orlais still wanted to regain its lost province.

Wintermarch of the year 9:39 Dragon began with a snowstorm. Threats from Tevinter did not cross the minds of Ferelden's rulers. First Day festivities had just ended. While they feared Ferelden's tenuous hold on peace could falter, King Fergus and Queen Anora encouraged restrained fest day celebrations to maintain a façade of normality.

The celebrations brought other benefits. Gathering the nobility in Denerim allowed Zevran's small, but talented security team to observe the nobles. The state sponsored festivities in Denerim, Higheverport, Amaranthine and elsewhere boosted the people's morale. The dwarven firework displays celebrating First Day emphasized to all Ferelden's improving relations with the kingdom in Orzammar.

Relishing a moment of quiet after the noise and confusion of the fest day celebrations, Queen Anora settled into her favorite chair by the hearth. Their nurse had taken Moira and Gareth for baths and bed. Fergus and her father would join her shortly. A quiet evening stretched before them.

As if on cue, the father in question entered with his two grandchildren in tow.

"What! You two should be asleep," Anora chuckled. "Father, you are the worst influence. The children stay up until all hours listening to your stories and Fergus injures himself sparring with you."

"A little sparring never hurt anyone. He needs to keep in practice, as do you." He motioned to his grandchildren and grumbled, "I brought them to kiss their mother goodnight. Has that become a crime?"

"No, of course not. Come here you two." She hugged each in turn and then replied to her father, "I go to the archery butts several times a week. I am in good form."

"She is Grandpa." Gareth, a blue-eyed blond boy of four defended Anora.

His six-year-old sister nodded in agreement. "It's true Grandpa. She practices with me and can still best me every time."

"Who can best you, Moira?" Her father, King Fergus, entered the solar.

"Mum."

"Ah, yes well she had an excellent teacher and she keeps in practice."

The gray-eyed little girl looked at her father. "Who?"

"Your, Grandpa. He was an archer as a young man. Quite a good one."

"Twisting her brown hair around her fingers, she crawled into her grandfather's lap. " During the Rebellion, Grandpa?"

"No, sweetheart, before."

"You never tell us stories from before."

"No. That was during the Orlesian occupation. They were not good times. I learned archery so I could help my father hunt. We needed the game for food."

"Didn't your huntsmen do that for you?"

"We were farmers, Moira, we had no huntsmen."

"Oh. That must have been hard."

"Not so bad when we had the farm. I'll tell you the story one day, but not tonight. It's time you two went to bed."

"Another story, grandpa," Gareth begged.

He received a glare in return.

Frowning in imitation of his grandfather's glower, he stomped off.

Moira giggled, "He looks just like you and Mum when he does that." Still laughing she ran off to her room. The nurse, who had been waiting outside the door, followed.

"Your glare must be losing its effect when the children either imitate it or giggle," Fergus smirked.

"Not the first time it's lost its charm, Fergus. Anora's been immune for years." He glanced at his daughter and spoke once the children were out of earshot. "I did have something to discuss with the two of you. There have been reports of a dragon or dragons in the southern Frostbacks. It's not a populated area, but they present a threat to the Hinterlands and even Redcliffe."

"Is it something the Wardens will investigate, Father?"

"No. There's no sign that an Archdemon has appeared. The Warden-Commander agrees with me. They appear to be just dragons."

"Only a nation which has experienced a Blight could say just dragons, Loghain." Fergus chuckled.

"True. The second problem is that they appear to have attracted dragon hunters. Professional dragon hunters with at least one mage. The dragons attacked Arl Wulff's troops in the Frostback foothills. Then a party of hunters was attacked by the dragon hunters. Arl Wulff sent a few scouts, thinking they would attract less attention. He was right. They were not attacked. They did meet Avvar scouts, however, who told of a camp on the Col of the Lady of the Skies near an Avvar village. They've seen both dragons and dragon hunters there."

"Together?" Fergus asked.

"Apparently, although that wasn't clear. One attacking the other more likely."

"So you want us to mount a royal expedition?" Anora asked.

"No, I agree with Wulff. This is a job for a small group. I already have one in mind to take this on. I wanted to get your approval. Afterall, they will be another armed group moving through Ferelden."

"What group, Loghain? Not from the army I'm guessing?"

"Correct, Fergus. I asked Zevran to put one together. More specialized than the army could be. It will include a Warden."

Anora sat up straighter. "Did Zevran find Alistair? "

"Some time ago, apparently." Her quick mind still surprised him at times.

An eyebrow raised causing Loghain to smile. "Some time ago?"

"He claims prior loyalties where Alistair is concerned. I think we have to honor that. He has seen Alistair, said he was fine and reported he takes on special assignments for free mercenary companies and the wardens. He's based himself in Ansburg apparently."

"Father, you know we have no problem if he wants to come home. Quite the opposite. We'd all love to see him. He gave up the throne and left. We never banished him. Has the Hero heard from him?"

"Alistair keeps in touch with certain Wardens, according to Zevran, but not the Warden-Commander. The Hero, however, heard of him from his contacts in Ansburg. He belongs to no warden outpost, but...well one can't stop being a warden, Anora."

"No, of course not. I do understand that, Father." She frowned.

"How did you…or rather Zevran find him?"

"Zevran has his contacts. I didn't ask for details."

"So you have not asked him to return?" Fergus asked.

"No, I only spoke with Zevran. I mentioned this dragon hunt to him. I said we did not believe it to be an Archdemon, but having a warden lead the hunt could confirm our assumptions. Zevran replied that he could put together a party including Alistair, but he knew Alistair would want assurances that his return to Ferelden would not destabilize your reign."

Anora shook her head. "I understood why he left." She looked up sharply. "He hasn't married or settled down with anyone?"

"No."

Anora stood and walked over to Fergus. She slipped her arm around his waist. "I'm glad he didn't end up a drunk somewhere." She turned to Loghain. "We heard that initially, didn't we?"

"He did." Loghain replied. "Zevran found him two years after the Blight in Kirkwall. I don't know the whole story, but Zevran managed to get him dried out. Then he settled in Ansburg. He works independently. That's all I know."

"Zevran's been in contact with him all this time?"

"Apparently."

"Did you know Zevran was Oriana's guard when she came to Highever?" Fergus added.

"I did not." Loghain said thoughtfully.

"It's why he joined the companions during the Blight. He vowed revenge on Howe for Oriana's death. He also taught my sister, Melysande, many of her skills. They were good friends."

"So his ties to you and Alistair are stronger than I knew." Loghain replied

"Far stronger. He is pledged to our family. You know Zev regularly checks on the security at Highever. It's one reason he always returns to Ferelden."

"That can only be good," Anora said. "Perhaps he can convince Alistair to visit with us there after this mission ends. Voluntarily, of course. He should know he can come home." Anora stared into the fire. "And perhaps you and the army should be on maneuvers in the Hinterlands while they carry out this mission. Should they need help or support, you would be close by." She turned to Fergus, "And perhaps you should go with Father. You traveled in that area during the Blight, did you not?"

Loghain laughed to himself as Anora arranged their lives yet again. He knew Fergus would gently engage her in discussion if he disagreed, although in this case he did not seem to.

"Not in the Frostbacks, love. In the Korcari and the Hinterlands, but that may be of help. If you can live without me for a few months, I might enjoy getting out into the countryside with your father."

Anora smirked, knowing Fergus missed riding out and leading troops. "Chancellor Teagan and I can handle things here, I'm sure."