Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Age or any of its characters.

Pepromene

"We are all part of the destined share. Follow your true calling, for everyone is tied to a destiny."

His procession was not a large one. He took only three guards. He wasn't sure if they'd be welcomed into their home. He approached the familiar path, eyes scanning the area for signs of life. He heard only the sounds of the forest. He cast a backward glance at his guards, and sent them an almost imperceptible nod of reassurance. When his gaze returned to the path three Dalish sentries stood before him, having appeared seemingly from out of nowhere, blocking his way. Luckily, he recognized one of them.

"Andaran atish'an, King Alistair. What brings you here?"

Alistair couldn't help but smile at Mithras' blunt manner. He could tell it rubbed his guards the wrong way, so he was quick to reply. "I was hoping to have a word with your Keeper, actually. It has been quite some time since I've seen her."

"Very well, follow me. Inform your guards to keep their weapons sheathed. You are always welcome amongst our clan, but know that we are weary of outsiders." Mithras cast a suspicious glance in the guards' direction. Alistair nodded toward them, and their hands fell away from the pommels of their blades.

Keeper Lanaya looked well, and her new position suited her. She bowed to Alistair respectfully and motioned him to follow her toward the halla pen for privacy. "She is very happy here," Lanaya said simply.

"I can imagine. She always craved a life away from constant…chaos," he sighed wistfully. "And Adair?"

Lanaya smiled widely. "She is wonderful. She's gifted, in fact."

Alistair's brow furrowed. "Gifted? Gifted in what way?" He saw Lanaya's shoulders stiffen, and a sudden realization washed over him. "Ah, I see. Well, as you know, humans know very little about Dalish culture. Most would overlook a gifted elf in these parts. You needn't fear that an invasion of templars will arrive to spirit her away to the Tower," he said reassuringly. "In fact, if all goes well today…"

Lanaya's smile disappeared, and her mask of stoicism took over. "What do you wish of her exactly? It's been six years since the end of the Blight, and I'd heard through several sources that the Wardens of Ferelden had posted a Commander in Amarathine to lead them. Everything seems to be in order. This is why I am so confused by your visit."

"If you heard about the Wardens taking up residence in Amaranthine, then you are no doubt aware of the…troubling issues that occurred some five years ago."

Lanaya shuddered. "Yes, the sentient darkspawn. Kallian left the clan for some time…she sensed their presence at a nearby village. She risked her life, yet again, for humans. She remained unnoticed for the most part. However, a few…brutish men discovered her and tried to enslave her. How quickly you shems forget-" she paused, taking a moment to regain her composure "She managed to return to us, unscathed."

"I-I'm sorry that she had to endure that. I know she wanted to remove herself from…" he sighed, shaking his head. "Anyhow, the Wardens managed to vanquish the evil that led the darkspawn uprising. Unfortunately, the victory came at great cost. The Keep fell after some time, though we've managed to rebuild…the Commander, however…" Alistair gazed off into the distance. "His time came just last year. He is with the Maker now. The Wardens need a new Commander."

The Keeper exhaled the breath she'd been holding. "And you wish for Kallian to take up the post." Alistair nodded. "I'm not sure she'll do it. She's made a life for herself here."

"May I ask where she is right now?"

"She is on a hunt with Arthras and a few hunter apprentices. She is a very good mentor," Lanaya replied.

"She's a born leader," Alistair remarked. "Which is why she'd be perfect for-"

"Keeper! Keeper! There are shems among us! Actual shems!" squealed a voice from behind the pair. Lanaya felt a faint tugging at her robes.

Alistair glanced down and his breath caught in his throat. The girl was a spitting image of her mother. Almond shaped, amethyst eyes, raven wing hair, button nose…though her ears were not pointed. He remembered reading somewhere that when an elf and human produced offspring, the human traits were usually dominant. Apparently, in this case, the only trait the girl shared with her father was her ears. Everything else screamed Kallian.

"Ah, da'len, this isn't just any shem. This is the king of the shems," she hefted the small girl into her arms and winked at Alistair.

Alistair felt the magic surrounding the child. He smiled at her. "I prefer to be called Alistair to be perfectly honest, but I never seem to have a say in the matter." He tilted his head to one side. "You probably don't remember me, Adair, but I was once a good friend of your mother's."

Adair smiled shyly. "Of course I remember you! I see you every night when I sleep, silly. Don't you remember? You told me to call you Uncle Ali."

This sent Alistair reeling. "You…that's actually you? I thought I was just dreaming…that's incredible!"

"Of course it's her, you silly blond shem!" a familiar feminine voice mocked from behind him. "You were a Templar at one time, so you must know that those gifted with magic remain aware when in the Beyond," Alistair spun on his heel and nearly fell onto his hindquarters. She looked so different! Though she was a warrior, she wore traditional Dalish armour. He very nearly blushed at the amount of flesh she had exposed. He saw the faint scar on her lower abdomen from where they'd cut Adair from her womb. She had pulled her dark hair back into a simple ponytail, which hung just past her shoulder blades. Her eyes were still that same remarkable shade of violet, but what struck him most were the markings on her face. She'd truly become one with the clan, and now paid homage to the elven pantheon with the traditional blood inking. He wasn't sure which god or goddess her markings represented, but he knew that they were similar to those that Lanaya herself sported, though Kallian's were far more intricate. "What's gotten into you, brother? When last we saw each other I couldn't get a word in edgewise because you spent the entire Blight talking your fool head off. Say something!"

He rushed toward Kallian and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Oh Maker, I've missed you, Kalli. You can't even imagine how bloody awful these noblemen-" his words were cut off immediately at the stiffening of her muscles. "Oh, Andraste's arse, Kalli, I didn't mean to-I'm such a prize idiot."

Kallian sighed and relaxed in his grasp. "Don't worry about it. It's in the past. Besides, at least I got my daughter out of the sordid affair, eh?" she gave him a sad smile. It made his heart clench.

"Mum, is Uncle Ali really gonna take us to the stone castle?" Adair piped up.

The Wardens turned to face the Keeper and child. Alistair's expression was priceless. "How did she-?"

"You told her all about it in your dreams, fool. I knew you were coming long before you got here," Kallian replied. "I don't know why you think that I would be the best candidate, but I do see that you're pretty set in your decision. I've been giving it some thought. But before I give my answer, I want to ask you a couple of questions." Alistair nodded. "Who're the Wardens there now?"

"Well, there's a dwarf who was rescued from the Deep Roads, her name's Sigrun. Then there's Oghren-"

Kallian's eyes lit up. "Oghren's a Warden now? I'll be damned…"

"Mum, you said a bad word!" Adair cried out.

Kallian flinched and smiled at her daughter apologetically. "Sorry, sweetheart. It won't happen again." She turned back to Alistair. "Who else?"

"An apostate mage named Anders-"

"Human?" Kallian asked.

"Yes, he's human," Alistair replied. Kallian scoffed. Alistair ignored the sound and continued. "There's also an interesting…well…there's no real way of explaining it…it's a corpse possessed by a Fade spirit…they call him Justice."

"Al…right…that's something even I wouldn't expect. Is that all then?"

"No, there's one more…remember Rendon Howe?" Kallian shuddered and nodded. "Well, his son, Nathaniel, is now part of the Order."

Kallian's eyebrows practically flew up past her hairline. "You've got to be kidding! Are you trying to get back at me for making you sleep with Morrigan?" Alistair shook his head, not daring to speak while she was so incensed. "By all the Creators…is he anything like his father?"

"No, he's proven himself an honorable man."

"Fine…I'll be this…Commander of yours on one condition," Kallian stated.

Alistair folded his arms over his chest. "Name it."

"My daughter comes with me. I can't and won't leave her here. I trust the clan with my life, but I need to keep her at my side. Always." Kallian's chin lifted defiantly. She fully expected an argument on this concession.

Alistair nodded his head in approval. "Deal. I see no reason to separate the two of you."

Alistair's acceptance pleased Kallian. She turned to Lanaya, her eyes suddenly filled with emotion. The plans had been made with such speed that she barely had a chance to digest what she was leaving behind. Yet, she knew that as soon as her lips had pressed against the silver chalice filled with darkspawn blood, her duty to the Wardens would always come first. They needed her now. That meant she would have to abandon the tranquility and acceptance that came with living among her people. She took Adair from Lanaya's arms, her tears spilling freely. "Ma serannas, Keeper, for all you've done for me and mine."

Lanaya nodded her own eyes glistening. "May the Creators always light your path."

Kallian gazed upon her daughter and smiled. "Well, sweeting, it looks like you were right all along. I guess I owe you that big wheel of halla cheese that you've had your eye on for so long."

Alistair's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "Did you say cheese?"