Thanks for the reviews guys and sorry for the wait. As you can see I'm not sticking strictly to canon in this story. Characters may meet at times that don't suit. Provided that doesn't put you off, please read on and review...

Allowing her head to rest against the wooden wall of a nearby house, Marie released a sigh of trepidation. The threat against Teagan left her shoulders tense. Though she didn't open her eyes, or lower her head that tilted towards the sky, she knew Leliana had settled beside her. Red locks almost intertwined with blonde and brown. The bard didn't need to ask a question, she knew Marie would answer her thoughts.

"I don't know where he is," Marie whispered. Leliana nodded and gave a small smile her friend didn't see.

"We might find him," the bard suggested. Marie smiled but her eyes looked defeated.

"We don't have time...and he could be anywhere," she replied and Leliana could not argue, she simply gave her friend's shoulder a squeeze and followed when she walked away through what remained of the crowds. Once they passed through the market, Leliana led Marie down the backstreets to where Zevran was waiting. For some reason, the bard had sent Alistair to shop for supplies while the rogues met Zevran's 'contact'. The Antivan winked as they approached and lead them down another street and around another corner. Marie was slack jawed when she realised their destination.

"Ah...so many pleasant memories," Zevran sighed as he walked through the entrance of the Pearl. Marie smirked and shook her head, gently scolding herself for being surprised that Zevran's acquaintance resided in such a place. Leliana giggled, her eyes full of excitement as the two women followed their Antivan companion. The trio frowned when they heard the clash of steel. Zevran held up a hand for his companions to halt. The group waited until the noise ended and three bloodied men appeared, practically tripping over their own limbs and groaning in pain. Marie watched them stagger past with a raised eyebrow.

"And they say violence doesn't solve anything," a velvet voice chuckled from around a corner. Zevran smirked and lead his lady companions further into the building. They turned the corner to see a dark woman in a white shirt and blue bandana.

"Well now, this evening just got even more interesting..." the woman commented upon seeing Zevran but her eyes soon began to roam over Marie's figure. It left her feeling nervous...and a little intrigued.

"My dear ladies, allow me to introduce Isabela, captain of the Siren's Call," Zevran announced, "Isabela, this is the lovely Leliana and my dear friend, Marie, a grey warden." The woman's eyes briefly lingered on Leliana but soon returned to Marie, attention that Zevran appeared to notice and smirk at.

"A grey warden? My, my, Zev, you do keep interesting company," she purred, her golden eyes holding Marie's gaze. The warden looked away and changed the subject.

"I take it those poor gents outside crossed you?" Marie asked. Isabela laughed, gave a short nod and explained her style of fighting, her tone always flirtatious. Marie took the opportunity to glance at her companions and inwardly sighed when she noticed neither were attempting to hide their attraction to the pirate. When Marie requested to learn the pirate's fighting style, her eyes began to roam again.

"Well, you look like you have the figure to pull it off but it does require a certain degree of...dexterity," she added with a smirk, "so I would need to be sure you have the...stamina," Isabella wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and Marie decided to be bold.

"And how exactly would I pass that test?"

"Well, my cabins are rather nice, I could show you..." the pirate leaned in closer, her lips barely an inch away until Leliana cleared her throat. Isabela turned to the redhead with a smirk.

"I'm afraid Marie is my dearest friend so I cannot let her do this...without me, keeping an eye on her...and you..." the bard added as her gaze roamed towards the pirate's well toned rear.

"Ahem...yes and what sort of gentleman would I be if I allowed my two lady companions to leave without an escort?" Zevran added with a smirk of his own. Marie groaned. Clearly her fellow rogues had long had this encounter planned. Isabela gave a hearty laugh.

"The more the merrier!" she replied and pulled Marie away by the collar before the noble lady could voice any protest. Zevran and Leliana simply chuckled before following the warden and her brazen admirer down to the docks.

...

"Well, we should certainly do that again sometime," Isabela remarked as she began to tie the cords of her shirt. Leliana moaned her agreement as she rolled onto her front, Zevran's arm draped across her bare back. Marie stared at the cabin ceiling, beyond caring about her nakedness and wondering how likely she would be to see her disappointed mother in the fade anytime soon...

"Now, I'm not usually one to kill the mood but why don't we get down to business?"

"I'm going to need a rest before round two..." Leliana sighed as Zevran climbed off the bed. Isabela sniggered at the redhead's weary state. Marie picked her clothes off the floor and began to get dressed.

"And she was a cloistered sister? Not that kind of business, sweet thing, though if you want to stay for a little more after, I wouldn't say no..." the pirate replied, "meet me on deck, my dear warden, I'll show you how to really use your blades and we can chat about whatever Denerim gossip you're looking to get out of me..." the pirate pulled on her boots before leaving the cabin. Marie gave Leliana's rear an encouraging smack before following their new friend onto the deck. Isabella had already drawn her blades and Marie followed suit.

"Remember, the art of duelling is not like what you have learned before," the pirate told her student as they circled, "instead of relying on your own stealth, you use your opponent's lack of it to your advantage, always maintain eye contact..." when Isabella's first blow came, Marie only just managed to parry and push her away.

"Who is really running the country?" Marie asked as she aimed a swipe of her own.

"Many think Loghain," Isabella replied and smirked, "you'll need to be quicker than that," the pirate added after she dodged the warden's attack.

"And they're wrong?"

"He's in this big chess game but none of the big moves are for his gain," Isabella explained with a telling smirk. They circled again.

"Because he's not the one controlling the pieces?" Marie asked and Isabella smiled in confirmation. Marie felt her spirits rise when she forced the pirate to parry her blow.

"Better."

"So who holds the pieces?" the younger woman asked. Isabella smirked again and raised a curious brow.

"I would have thought you would know that better than most, Lady Cousland," she whispered and Marie took a quick step back. The pirate offered no explanation and Marie realised she didn't need one. It would have only been a matter of time before the many rumours about her collided and the people put two and two together. Loghain knew of her identity from that meeting at Ostagar but as far as Marie could tell, he had not sought to make it public. Perhaps he thought the title of warden combined with the blood of a beloved noble family would be too great a rallying call. Still, if her name and status could reach noble ears undecided on their alliances, it might not be a bad thing. Her mind returned to Isabella's statement and the familiar hatred flooded her thoughts.

"Howe," she hissed and Isabella nodded.

"Got his fingers in a lot of pies, that one," the darker woman added before aiming another blow which Marie managed to dodge completely, "exactly how many, I couldn't tell you but you're a grey warden with some rather swanky connections, I'm sure you'll find out somehow," she added with a wink. Smirking, Marie thrust her blade forward and Isabela struggled to parry. With their focus entirely on the duel, they exchanged blow after blow until their rogue companions finally joined them on deck.

"Winner stays on?" Zevran suggested with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Soon the duel was over, Isabella satisfied that her student had taken the lesson on board. She settled herself practically on top of Leliana, the red-head still too worn out to care.

"She wasted too much time as a sister," Zevran whispered to his warden companion and she chuckled.

...

The day was beginning to close as the rogue trio made their way back into the market. Alistair stood waiting for them, leaning against a shop front with his sacks of supplies. He raised an innocent eyebrow at the way Leliana seemed to be stretching her limbs out.

"The training went well then?" the former templar asked.

"That's one word for it..." Leliana sighed and before the blonde warden could ask any more awkward questions Zevran quickly enquired about his purchases. Marie chuckled, placed an arm around her worn out friend and followed the Antivan as he lead a clueless Alistair away. They walked past the market traders packing up the last of their wares. From her childhood Marie remembered a cheerful atmosphere in Denerim when trading finished, tradesmen laughing and joking together, men stood outside the tavern with mugs of ale, children being called inside for their supper. Now the market was quiet, those in conversation would glance around to see who risked hearing, men would not meet eyes they did not recognise and the children were kept inside. A shadow of the capital Marie used to know.

"You surprised me, you know," Leliana finally spoke. Marie raised a confused eyebrow.

"I never would have imagined you going with her, let alone what followed," the redhead explained, "you haven't pursued anything like that while we've been travelling," she added.

"I've never been a blushing, noble maiden...I suppose all this fighting has just distracted me from it," Marie replied.

"So there have been others?"

"I few kisses here and there, kind merchants, a noble's eldest son as a thank you for defending me against his younger brother...more than just kisses, there were only two..."

"Teagan?"

"Yes...and an elven maid visiting the castle, Iona," Marie told her friend, relieved that Alistair was still far ahead of them. Another glance at Leliana told her the bard wanted more details.

"For him...it was the anniversary of Rowan's death and everything around him that day seemed to remind him of her...myself, I...I had overheard my father speaking with Arl Howe..." Marie explained, "they wanted me to marry his son, Thomas...a weasel who had always been unkind to me, the thought of being bound to him was horrifying..." Marie glanced ahead. Alistair was still out of ear-shot. Teagan was practically his uncle, it would have been uncomfortable for him to know of this.

"Teagan and I had been friends for years, so I visited Rainesfere on my way home from meeting merchants in the south, Arlessa Isolde had miscarried again and her only son, Connor, was a very weak child...everyone regarded Teagan as the true heir of Redcliffe, his brother was getting impatient for Teagan to be married," Marie's expression creased into sadness, "We just wanted one night where we made our decisions..."

"And you didn't marry?"

"No, I didn't want him to marry me out of guilt for taking my honour," the Cousland heiress replied, "and I don't think he thought he was good enough for me..."

"Was he?" Leliana asked with a small smile. Marie glanced at her friend, then looked towards the sky and nodded. A smile glittered in her eyes.

"I've never loved anyone the same," she murmured.

"Letter for you madam," Marie's thoughts were interrupted by the young message boy. She knew better than to ask questions and simply gave the boy two silvers for his work and sent him away. The men stopped and observed the note in her hand.

"Ignacio?" Zevran asked. The last message had been from the Crow handler. After working together and talking about her late sister-in-law, they had parted on good terms; perhaps he was looking to work together again. Marie opened the note, noting the lack of a personal or family seal.

Marie,

I know recent events have placed a divide between us but nothing is as it seems and I am fearful of who to trust. We could always talk freely before and I long for your good sense to guide me now...

"Amazing..." Leliana whispered as she read over Marie's shoulder.

"Is it from him?" Zevran asked again. Marie shook her head before meeting Alistair's eyes.

"...it's from the Queen."