This is, somehow, a lot harder than Against All Odds. When I write, I really bury myself into the characters and this story is a lot more painful, both physically and emotionally. I've never been pregnant either, so I have no idea what it's really like.

Also, I'm trying to make it shorter then the first, but it's hard with the way I write. It'll probably be confusing, especially if you haven't played the games. Not that you should read something containing so many spoilers for the game before you've played it.

Avina

Vigil's Keep is a very nice place to stay, Avina thinks.

Of course, she prefers Denerim, but she has no choice. Not anymore.

Daylen doesn't speak with her as much as he used to, and she can tell he feels guilty. He shouldn't; he's Commander of the Grey. Of course he won't be able to spend every moment with her.

Avina thinks it's partially because of his ridiculous protectiveness of her, partially because of the child, and partially because he's worried for her since... Alistair left her.

She can't say he has no reason to be, however. As it still hurts to even think his name.

There are moments when she cries herself to sleep, when she wraps her arms around herself to hold herself together. Daylen is one of the few who understand.

It's unbelievably strange, she thinks as she sits before the fire. She qualifies as an apostate, yet she's carrying the king's child in her womb, and staying as a guest in the home of the arl of Amaranthine.

And despite his protests, she still follows Daylen into battle occasionally. He claims she shouldn't strain herself in her condition, but she couldn't possibly stay in the Keep all the time. She'd go mad.

The only thing that ever really stops her from going is her incredible craving of cheese.

Since she only goes with him sometimes, she isn't always completely aware of everything that happens.

The few things that she's noticed and actually cares about are the sentient darkspawn, Nathaniel Howe's return, and the assassination plot.

She's only about six and a half months pregnant, and her child is already taking up most of her mind. How could she ignore the large mass on her front, the shift in her center of gravity, the movement inside, the hunger, the back and feet pains.

Daylen still trusts her judgement almost above his own, and Avina does appreciate this. The fact that he comes to her for help with some of his decision is one of the greatest compliments she's received from him.

Just then, her stomach rumbles, and she heads to the kitchen to hunt for something to eat.

Alistair

He had hoped, however foolishly, that she would be there when he visited the Vigil. That she'd be standing beside Daylen when he came marching up.

She wasn't.

Despite the fact that she was a hero and quite a few people in Ferelden knew what she looked like, it had been almost impossible to find any information about where she'd gone.

But he's not going to give up. He can't.

She is somewhere. She has to be.

He isn't quite sure what he's hoping for if he does find her... but he'll figure that out later.

Part of him hopes she'll come back, and be an advisor.

He doesn't acknowledge the part of him that wants more than that.

Only a few of those who helped them during the Blight live in Denerim, remaining to either help rebuild or help Alistair with being king.

Wynne did not; she went with Shale to Tevinter, to try to reverse Shale's golem form. Leliana was asked by the Chantry to go to Haven with a small army of templars shortly after the coronation. Sten returned to Parvollen with his sword and report of the Arishok's question. He doesn't really care where Morrigan is, as long as she doesn't cause trouble. Zevran, surprisingly, is still here, loving the lavish lifestyle that serving the King gives him. Oghren, as far as he knows, is with the Commander of the Grey in Amaranthine. Griffon and Avina are the only ones who disappeared completely.

He's keeping an eye on the Dalish, making sure they haven't seen an elf and a mabari passing through or attempting to join them. He has no doubt that they are together; Griffon would rather die than leave his mistress's side.

He would have thought an elven mage with a mabari warhound would be easier to find...

He's questioned Daylen, Leliana, Wynne, and Zevran since the coronation.

She hadn't even been there to see him become king.

And the only goodbye he'd gotten from her was the night they shared before the final battle.

If nothing else, he wants to apologize...

But where is she? And why did she feel the need to go?

Daylen

He doesn't know how much time has passed when he finally makes his way out of the silverite mines with Velanna, Oghren, and Nathaniel.

He just knows he's infinitely glad Avina wasn't with him.

When they come back to the Keep, almost everyone swamps them with questions of where they were and who the elf with him was.

Avina was among them, probably the loudest voice in the crowd.

"Daylen! What happened? Are you alright? I knew I should have gone with you! Where were you? Who is this?"

Velanna looks about ready to murder everyone in the room, so Daylen silences them.

"I'm fine, Avina," he tells her. "I'm just tired. We were in the Wending Woods... and... it's a long story."

Velanna glares at her.

Avina looks back, tilted her head curiously. "Are you Dalish? That vallaslin is very beautiful."

Velanna looks stunned for a moment, probably from a combination of her actually knowing what vallaslin was and her kindness towards a stranger.

"I... yes, I am," she admits. "Thank you."

Avina smiles. "Andaran atish'an. My name is Avina."

"I am Velanna," she responds. "You know my language?"

Avina nods.

"I'm sorry Avina," Daylen interrupts them. "But I really need to rest right now..."

"Of course," she agrees. "But you'll tell me as soon as you're able, right?"

"Yes. And you should be grateful you weren't there with me."

Sometimes... Avina can be quite frightening.

Even more so now than before. He can't place it, but Daylen somehow thinks she looks bigger than before... and not just because she's pregnant. Even when someone is a few feet taller than her, she seems to tower over them.

Even Rylock.

Of course she would agree to help Anders track down and destroy his phylactery; she was quick to trust, and even quicker to protect.

Daylen knows now he should have been more suspicious when he saw no guards in the warehouse.

"You made a poor choice with this one, Commander," Rylock tells him, the two templars beside her stepping up and making the situation all the more menacing. "Anders will never submit. Not to us, and not to you."

Daylen flashes her a cocky grin. "We don't recruit submissive Wardens. Thus, Anders makes a perfectly fine Warden."

Rylock's eyes narrow. "So far. But I intend to make sure this murderer is never a bother to anyone again."

Anders takes a step back, his expression one of shock. "What? No, you can't arrest me! King Alistair allowed my conscription!"

Rylock looks at him smugly. "The Chantry's authority supersedes the crown in this matter. You cannot hide within the Grey Wardens' ranks."

That's when Avina comes forward, almost nose to nose with Rylock, her eyes a hard steely blue. "You cannot take him from the Wardens," she snaps. "I will not allow you."

Rylock glares back. "Hardly surprising, from yet another mage." She glances over at Anders. "I do not know how you inspire such loyalty, Anders, but it will avail you not. Now you come with us."

And before any of them can react, Rylock lashes out with a smite, hitting Avina full force.

Daylen winces as he draws his staff; if he can, he'll have to put himself between Avina and the templars. A mana-less mage is a sitting duck for templars.

Avina staggers back, holding her forehead as Rylock draws her sword. Oghren manages to stop her from cleaving Avina in half, but when Avina straightens, Daylen instinctively takes a step back from the look on her face.

Fury, pain, and above all else, irritation.

The dagger on her belt glides across her palm, and Rylock's body is thrown back with a telekinetic blast from Avina's staff. Her head cracks against the wall, and Daylen hears a distictive snap as her neck breaks on impact.

It's over not long after, and when it is, Anders turns to her with a bright smile of relief.

"Remind me never to piss you off," he tells her. "Thank you for standing by me. You didn't have to help me."

She shrugs, a smile tugging at her lips. "I have a feeling that if it were me, you'd do the same."

Anders laughed. "You underestimate how lazy I am."