In a dark dungeon underneath an extravagant mansion in Minrathous, a man with long blonde hair sat in the back corner of a cell. He was chained to the wall by his wrists; the chains were long enough to allow him to stand up and move his arms, but he couldn't move from his current location. Suddenly, he heard the doors to the dungeon open and a couple sets of heavy footsteps coming down the wooden staircase, and it also sounded like they were dragging something behind them since there was a thump after every step. When they finally came into view from the light of the few torches hanging on the wall, he saw that one of them was Aurelian Titus himself.

"How are you doing in there, Your Majesty?" Aurelian asked, smugly, which only caused Maric to glare at him. "It's your own damn fault for trying to escape for the thousandth time. When will you learn that you can't outsmart me?"

Maric smirked and replied, "What makes you think I haven't already? Maybe I've sent out a message to someone that I'm still alive after all."

"You're bluffing." He then turned back to his slave who was still carrying the unconscious body of Alistair that they had been carrying. "I didn't come down here to simply chat with you, however." He grabbed the back of Alistair's coat with one hand and opened the cell door with his other. He then tossed him into the cell, and his body hit the floor hard. "It took some time to finally get ahold of your precious son, but it was worth it!"

"My son?!" Maric growled and tried to lunge at Aurelian, but the chains on his wrists prevented him from doing so. "You bastard! When I finally get my hands on you, I will make you suffer!"

"Maybe, but that hasn't seemed to work out too well for you so far, has it?" He slammed the cell door shut again and locked it. "Have fun with your boy!" He then walked out with a smug smirk on his face, followed closely by his slave.

Maric knew that fighting against the restraints was useless, so he just sat back down on the makeshift chair and looked down his still comatose son. He knew immediately that it was Alistair, because even though he'd been a prisoner for fifteen years, he'd still heard about Cailan's death. Alistair was wearing brown leather outfit that was lined with white fur and a matching pair of leather boots (the outfit he wore in Redcliffe). Maric also noticed that his breathing was shallow, and it looked as though he had been beaten, which was likely since Aurelian was not known for being a "gentle" man, but it still made Maric's blood burn with rage seeing Alistair in such a state.

–

Meanwhile, back at Skyhold, it was morning now, and the sun came up over the mountains, bathing all of the fortress in its light. Fiona was in the upper courtyard with Luna, Fenris, Azariah, Tucker, and Varric, and was pacing back and forth impatiently. "I still don't understand why you want us to take your friend's ship to Tevinter." Fiona said. "I mean, I don't want to wait around while she finishes up her pirating and takes her sweet time even getting here."

"I have to agree with Fiona." Azariah said. "The ones who took Alistair could already be halfway back to Minrathous by now, and I don't want Isabela taking us off the trail for a detour to go raid some cargo ship."

"Okay, first, there is absolutely no way they could've traveled that fast. Secondly, will you two relax?" Luna sighed. "I'm sure everything is going to turn out fine."

"Hawke, do you even pay attention to the shit that happens in our lives? When has everything ever "turned out fine"?"

"You're not helping, Varric…" She sighed deeply. Just then, a messenger bird flew over and landed on Luna's arm when she held it up towards it. She then took the note off the bird and let it stand on her shoulder while she read it. She smiled and told them, "Isabela says she's only about a day's trip to the nearest port, which is just over the mountains. If we leave now, we can be on her ship and on our way to Tevinter by tomorrow."

Azariah and Fiona exchanged shocked expressions before agreeing and the five of them split up to go and tell the others. They split up five ways because Tucker once again went with Azariah, naturally.

–

Back in the cell with Maric and Alistair, Alistair started to wake up and groaned, holding his head in his hand as it pounded. He had his back towards Maric so he didn't even realize he wasn't alone until he heard his voice, "You're awake."

Alistair gasped in surprise as he looked back at him. "Huh? Who are you? Where am I? What's going on?" He asked quickly.

"Well… that's kind of a long story…" He then clarified, "My part in it is anyway."

"What?"

"Nothing." Maric sighed and used his foot to gently push over a pitcher of water. "Here, you should drink." Alistair hesitated, but he wrapped his hand gently around his throat as he opened his mouth a bit. His throat was parched so he threw caution to the wind and started chugging down water. "Take it easy. Don't drink it all at once. That's likely the only water we'll get for a couple days."

"…Thanks." He put the pitcher down and stated, "You never did answer my questions. Who are you?"

"I'm not surprised that you don't recognize me, Alistair…"

Alistair looked shocked and then glared at him, skeptically, "How do you know my name all of a sudden?"

"I know your name… I know who you are, because… I'm your father."

"What? That's impossible! My father was King Maric, and he's been dead for years! There's no way!"

"I know it sounds crazy, but I swear, I'm telling the truth. Why would I lie about this?"

"To see if it will gain my trust? To mess with my mind? Who knows!"

"Alistair, I would never do that to you."

"Really?" He scoffed. "…If you really are Maric, then tell me… why did you abandon Cailan? Why did you abandon Ferelden?"

Maric sighed deeply, "That's a very long story… but short version, during the war with Orlais, Loghain and I were saved by a mysterious woman in the Korcari Wilds. In exchange for helping, though, she asked something of me. After you and Cailan were old enough, I faked my death and went to Antiva to meet up with a woman named Yavana, and she brought me here to Tevinter, but as soon as we crossed the border, I was captured by Aurelian. I don't know why he's kept me alive so long rather than just kill me, but whatever the reason, it can't be good." He looked at Alistair regrettably, "And now he's captured you, too… I'm so sorry you got dragged into my mess."

Alistair scoffed again as he leaned up against the bars of the cell and folded his arms across his chest. "Don't try to pretend like you suddenly care about me!"

"What? But I do care about you, Alistair, I always have!"

"Bullshit!" He shouted. "If you cared about me, you would've never given me away, pawning me off on your brother-in-law! If you cared about me, you would've never ignored me my entire life and make me feel like I was an unwanted nuisance!"

"Alistair, I…"

"Shut up!" Alistair snapped. "Even if you are really Maric, you are not my father! You never were!" He then stomped over to the other side of the cell and sat down on the floor angrily.

Maric sat there, stunned and saddened, Alistair's words had cut his heart deeper than any blade could have, and he simply hung his head, feeling lower than he had in a long time.

–

The next day, Azariah, Fiona, Luna, Snow, Fenris, Cullen, Bethany, Dorian, and Varric had met up with Isabela at the docks and got aboard her ship before starting their journey to Tevinter. Azariah had thanked Isabela profusely for letting them take her ship to Tevinter and promised that she'd pay her back somehow once Alistair was safe. Now, Azariah was on the deck, looking out over the horizon as the sun glistened off the clear, blue water.

"Azariah…?" A voice said, and she immediately knew who it was.

"Hi Snow."

Snow walked up and stood next to her before breaking the silence once again. "Are you alright?"

Azariah let out a deep sigh, "No. No, I'm really not. I'm terrified that we'll be too late, and I'll find Alistair dead…"

"That won't happen."

"How do you know?"

Before Snow could answer, Luna joined the conversation, apparently overhearing what they'd said, "You don't take someone home just to kill them, Azariah. It's messy."

"Then what do they want with him?"

"I don't know, but I do know that they'll keep him alive."

"Excuse me…" Fiona spoke up as she walked over. The three of them looked at her and she asked, "Would you two mind if I talked to Azariah alone for a few minutes?"

"Why?" Luna asked. "We're her friends, so I'm sure that whatever you have to say to her, you can say in front of us, too."

"No, I can't. It's a private matter… you might even say it's personal."

When Luna and Snow looked back at Azariah, she tilted her head to the side as a signal for them to leave, and they did without argument. "So, what is it you need to talk about?"

Fiona walked up and stood where Snow had been, next to her. "Well, I've been thinking about our conversation back at Skyhold and what might happen when we get to Tevinter. There's a good chance that if this Aurelian man is responsible for Alistair's disappearance, then he could also be responsible for Maric's disappearance."

"Possibly," Azariah agreed. "But what does that have to do with our discussion back at Skyhold?"

"Well… you asked why I get upset whenever Alistair is mentioned, and I think you should know why. After all, if we do find Maric and Alistair together, you are bound to find out, anyway. So, you may as well hear it straight from me."

"Alright. What is it, then?"

Fiona looked around to make sure no one was within hearing distance. "I'm sure you know that I was once a warden like you?"

"Yes…?"

"And I…I met Maric when I was sent to Ferelden with a few other wardens to ask for his help." Fiona intertwined her fingers nervously as she continued with her story. "I was part of the expedition into the Deep Roads with him, and… during that time, Maric and I… well, we became close."

"Close? As in…?"

Fiona nodded and finished, "We were lovers."

"And if this is about Alistair, then that means…" Her eyes widened in realization and she stared back at Fiona. "You're Alistair's mother?!"

"Shh! Azariah, please, keep your voice down!"

Azariah then glared. "And why should I do that?! Why shouldn't I just yell it out for everyone to hear?!" She shouted. "I can't believe you! You've been alive all this time, even meeting Alistair after the mage rebellion, and you never bothered to tell him the truth?! Do you even care about him at all?!"

"Of course I did!" Fiona insisted. "I still do! It's just that… I didn't want him to be looked down on and hated because his mother is an elf and a mage…" She bowed her head, sadly. "I wanted him to have a happy and normal life, and that's not something I could have ever given him… that's why Maric didn't take him in, either. We both agreed that having him grow up away from us was what was best for him."

"What was best for him?!" Azariah growled. "So letting him believe his entire life that his mother was someone else and that Maric hated him was what was best for him?! I don't buy it! You obviously never thought about him or what he wanted!" She sighed deeply, rubbing her temple in frustration. "I can't believe I actually admired you!"

"Admired me?"

"Yes. I admired the strength and courage it took for you to stand up to the chantry and fight for the freedom of mages. I may not be a mage myself, but I still have seen firsthand how they were treated, and I admired you for finally taking that step. But now…" She shook her head. "Now I don't have any admiration for you at all! Alistair deserves better than you and Maric! You're a horrible mother, you know that!" Azariah didn't let Fiona say anything as she walked off right after she was done talking.

–

It had now been almost a whole day since Maric had tried explaining things to Alistair, and neither had spoken anything since. The only sounds in the dungeon now were the water dripping down from the barred window after it had rained earlier, along with the slight footsteps of people walking overhead. Someone had come down earlier to give them food and fresh water, but did nothing else, and was gone just as quickly as they had arrived.

Maric finally couldn't take the silence anymore. "Alistair, are you ever going to talk to me?"

"I have nothing more to say to you." Alistair growled back, never looking at him.

"Fine. I'll do all the talking, then."

"There's nothing you can say that I am interested in hearing."

Maric sighed, but talked anyway, "Alistair, I know that you hate me… but please just give me a chance to explain. Despite what you think, you're my son and I love you, I always have." Alistair pretended to ignore him, but was curious about what he had to say, so he listened. "Your mother and I agreed that we wanted you to have a normal life. After all, with your mother being both an elf and a mage…" Alistair's eyes widened at that and he looked back at Maric, shocked, but he didn't seem to notice as he continued, "And me being King, you couldn't have a normal life with us. Your mother didn't want you to be hated because of her, and I didn't want you to be dragged into politics because of me."

"Wait!" Alistair said. "My mother was an elven mage?!"

"You didn't know? I thought you would've found that out by now, but… yes, to answer your question. She and I met when she was still a warden and… well, we never meant to fall in love, but it happened."

"…An elven mage who was once a warden?" Alistair froze in realization, but managed to ask, "Her name wouldn't happen to be… Fiona, by any chance, would it?"

It was Maric's turn to look surprised. "You've met her?"

(Flashback!)

Alistair walked into the main hall of Redcliffe Castle after his guards had marched in and secured the room. "Grand Enchanter, imagine how surprised I was to learn you've given Redcliffe Castle over to a Tevinter magister!" He growled, angrily.

Fiona walked over slowly, her head bowed in submission, almost like a dog who's being scolded. "King Alistair!"

"Especially since I'm fairly sure Redcliffe belongs to Arl Teagan!"

"Your Majesty… we never intended-"

"I know what you intended! …I wanted to help you, but you've made it impossible!" He shook his head in frustration. "You and your followers are no longer welcome in Ferelden!"

"But… we have hundreds who need protection! Where will we go?"

Snow walked over and spoke up, "I should point out that the Inquisition did come here for mages to close the breach."

"And what are the terms of this arrangement?"

"Hopefully better than what Alexius gave you." Dorian said. "The Inquisition is better than that, yes?"

"I suggest conscripting them." Cassandra advised. "They've proven what they'll do given too much freedom."

"I've known a lot of mages." Varric then advised, "They can be loyal friends if you let them. Friends who make bad decisions, but, still… loyal."

"It seems we have little choice but to accept whatever you offer." Fiona said to Snow.

"I can see that once again, it's up to me to make the decision…" Snow sighed and thought it over for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in her head, and then announced, "We would be honored to have you fight as allies at the Inquisition's side."

"We'll discuss this… later." Cassandra said, obviously disapproving.

"I pray the rest of the Inquisition honors your promise, then."

"The breach threatens all of Thedas; we cannot afford to be divided now. We can't close it without you, so any chance of success requires your full support."

"I'd take that offer if I were you." Alistair said to Fiona, "One way or another, you're leaving my Kingdom!"

Fiona looked down sadly.

"Alistair!" Maric called, snapping Alistair out of his thoughts.

"I'm fine…"

"Are you?"

"It's nothing."

–

Back on Isabela's ship, Fiona had thought about everything Azariah had said to her, and after some consideration, she decided to go find her. She walked all throughout the ship before she finally found Azariah alone down in the lower deck, where all the cargo was stored, and also where they were keeping the horses, which Azariah was taking care of at the moment. "Azariah…"

"What do you want?" She growled.

"We need to talk. I've thought about what you told me, and… everything you said was true." Azariah stopped brushing her horse's coat, but didn't look back at Fiona, just listening to what she said with her back to her. "I never did consider how my actions might make Alistair feel and what was really best for him. I know he'll probably never forgive me, but I have to try… and I need your help to do so." Azariah was silent, so Fiona continued. "And after Alistair and Maric are freed, you two can go back to Denerim, cutting me out of your lives forever, and…and that will be fine." She started tearing up and let out a sob. "Because I know that I hurt him and I don't deserve for him to even like me, and you can walk away knowing that you were right! I really am a horrible mother!" She lowered her head and sniffed as tears rolled down her face.

"Yes, you are," Azariah agreed, but then turned around, showing that she was actually smiling. "But part of being a family is being able to forgive one another." Fiona let out a small laugh, then wiped her eyes with her sleeve as she sniffed again. "Alright, come here." Azariah opened her arms, and Fiona walked over, giving her a hug. "We'll get Maric and Alistair back, together."

Fiona pulled back from the hug and smiled at her. "Thank you. I'm glad my son has you. He deserves that much, at least!"

––

Well, here's the second chapter! Hope you're all enjoying this story, and don't worry, I'm getting to the action and adventure! Lol! If you have any suggestions, though, do not hesitate to tell me, I am always open to new ideas!

See you in the next one!