When the door closed behind her, Leigh had a moment that she felt like she was trapped. Kinloch Hold was much larger than she expected. The main doors were large enough that a Qunari could walk through and still have plenty of room for clearance. The foyer was cold, both in feel and in look. The sound of raised voices shook her out of the trapped feeling. She raised and eyebrow at Cullen and he shrugged. They rounded the corner and found a older woman screaming at the Templars in front of her. A younger woman was trying to calm her down but to no avail.

"I want to see my son! I know you have him here, let me see him!"

"We told you what the Knight Commander said madam, your son is not here any longer. He's gone."

"You lie! You lowland dregs took him from me, ripped him out of my arms, I want him back now!" The one Templar took a menacing step forward only to be pushed back by Cullen.

"Cullen? Maker why are you back here?"

"Not important right now, what is going on?"

"This woman wants to see her son, but he ain't here anymore." Cullen turned back to the two women and tried to defuse the situation.

"Madam what is your son's name I might be able to find him or at least point you in the right direction."

"Your one of them, thief, liar!" Before he could react the older woman drew a dagger and slashed at Cullen. The only thing that saved him from having a belly wound was his armor. The other Templars drew their blades ready to fight if necessary. Leigh step in between the Templars and the woman. Her hands were up to show she meant no harm.

"He is trying to help you good woman. Please don't do this."

"They took my boy, my sweet little boy. Now they won't give him back, won't let me see him. I have to find him, I have to."

"I understand, but attacking them won't help."

"Are you one of them?"

"No, I am a mage." Leigh held out her hand a let it glow with mage light. The woman's face lit up in a smile and she lowered her dagger. "How long ago did they take your son?"

"He was twelve." Leigh looked at the younger woman with her and gave her a questioning look.

"Are you her daughter?"

"No, I am her niece. You must forgive her, she is desperate and just wants to see her son before my uncle dies."

"Is he ill?"

"My uncle was the one who called for the Templars. For years he never talked bout my cousin. I did not know about him til a few years ago. Now my uncle wants nothing more than to ask his son for forgiveness before he dies. My aunt needs to know her son is safe and alive. For the past twenty years all she has ever thought about is her son."

"Twenty years?"

"There are no Circles where we are from. When he was taken, they took him here."

"Where are you from?"

"The north, the Anderfels."

"They have no Circles there?"

"No, we do not view mages like the rest of Thedas. Most who are born are sent to the Grey Wardens or sent away. Our homeland has paid dearly for sins of mages. The Blights have left large parts of land barren, void of life."

"I understand. Where is your uncle?"

"The innkeeper down by the loch would not let us stay there with him, but gave us a place in the stables. My other cousin is with him."

"What is wrong with him?" The older woman looked up at Leigh and showed the tears tracking down her face.

"His lungs are failing. He finds it harder and harder to breath."

"Has he seen a healer?"

"He is a proud man, magic is...unnerving to him. He thinks he does not deserve to have it save him after sending his son away." Leigh shook her head bitterly before turning to Cullen.

"Go ahead the three of you, I am going to go see what I can do to help these people."

"Leigh are you sure?"

"I am sure, if you need me send Wynne or Ori to come get me. I will be at the stables near the inn."

"Be careful. Beth will never forgive me if something happens to you."

"I will. I have every faith in you. You and Ori can do this."

"I hope so. It is not going to be easy."

"Nothing ever worth doing is."

OoO

Carver leaned against the railing and closed his eyes. If he watched Anders pace anymore he would give himself whiplash. The sound of the large heavy doors opening made him scramble to his feet. Three cloaked women walked out, only one of them he knew. Leigh had her hood down as she came out of the door the other two women had theirs pulled close around them.

"Leigh?"

"Where is Anders?"

"He is down by the boat pacing. He was making me dizzy so I came up here for some fresh air. Who are they?"

"People who meed our help. Is the ferry still here?"

"Yeah, we heading back already?"

"Just to the inn. Ori and Wynne are staying here to help Cullen. It is up to you if you want to stay here or go with us."

"I'll stay here. I am not keen on leaving my wife here even with Cullen watching over her."

"She is still waiting in the foyer."

"Sister,...Anders is...he is worried about you."

"I know, that is why I am going with him over there."

"I'll see you soon."

"Watch over them."

"I will." Leigh led the women back to the ferry where Anders was pacing and talking to himself. He heard the footfalls and turned to see who was coming up on him. His face melted into a look of relief seeing Leigh coming toward him. She turned to the women and asked them to get on the ferry so she could talk to him.

"Who are they?"

"This woman's husband is very ill and needs healing. Your the best healer I know so we are going to help."

"Where is he?"

"At the stables near the inn."

"Maker's breathe it is not fit for a sick man to be out in the cold."

"The inn keeper did not want him in the inn for fear he might have something catching."

"I understand that, but give the man some decency. It is coming up on winter."

"This is why we are helping them."

"Let's go, the faster I get away from this bloody place the better." He pulled his cloak hood up to brave the chilling wind coming off the lake. He remembered now why he disliked Ferelden winters. It was too damned cold. He wrapped his arms around Leigh trying to keep her warm. He noticed the two women were not as effected by the cold as he was. He figured they were from a cold climate place. "What are your husband's symptoms?"

"He can't breathe fully most of the time. His lungs are failing."

"How long has he been like this?"

"A few months, we traveled her from the Anderfels to find our son. He fell ill and wanted to make amends before he left this world."

"Make amends?"

"He sent our son away after it was found he had magic." Anders tried to keep his voice from betraying the vast amount of anger that was welling up in him. "He thought...he was wrong and wants our son's forgiveness before he dies. He wants peace."

"Did you find your son?"

"No...the Templars said he is no longer here, but will not tell me anymore than that. I never should have let them take my sweet boy."

"How long ago was he taken from you?"

"Over twenty years ago. I tried..., but they were too strong, too many." Anders put his hand over the grieving woman's and patted it gently.

"You could not have stopped them my dear lady, they would have killed you."

"You are a mage?"

"Yes, I am a healer."

"My husband use to think that all who have magic are cursed, but to be a healer...it is not a curse is it?"

"It is a gift, but there are somethings magic can not cure. I do not want to give you false hope. I will do what I can for your husband." The woman nodded, biting back tears. It did not take long for them to get to the other side of the lake. Once on shore they could hear the man's coughs and wheezes even from the dock. Anders took off running when he heard a younger woman cry for help. He stopped dead when a young blonde woman drew a dagger on him for entering the stable. His eyes went wide looking at the woman, with her gold hair and amber eyes.

"Cilina let him through, he is a healer." The young blonde woman put down the blade she had drawn on Anders and moved next to her mother. Leigh knelt next to him and started pulling things out of his pack he might need. The old man was skin and bones. His skin gray for lack of proper air. The wet wheezing sound coming from him made Anders cringe.

"I need him sitting up please." The younger women gently and slowly pulled the ill man up for Anders to get a better look and to ease his breathing. Even as sick as he was the man fought to keep the mage from touching him.

"Let...me...alone."

"If you plan on finding your son to make amends you need to stop fighting me and let me help you." Leigh heard the venom in her normally soft spoken husband's voice. His eyes had a dead look to them. She wanted to ask him what was wrong beside the obvious that the man had done the very same thing his father had done, but she bit her lip to keep the question at bay.

"Too late...son...is …...dead."

"Did the Templars tell you that?"

"Y...yes." His wife flinched and glared at her husband.

"He is not dead...I know he is still alive."

"Arden,..."

"No!"

'Stop it both of you. Let the healer help you Da, then we can try to find my brother. Please." Anders looked back at Leigh from under his cloak. He fingers twitched to start healing, but he was torn about helping this man. It was like hearing his father all over again. After a few more seconds the man nodded. Anders removed his cloak so he could move better and began to work. He was so set on his task he did not see the older woman staring at him, searching his face.

"Love I need the elfroot and some menthol."

"For a potion or poultice."

"Poultice. It will help with his breathing once I get some of the damage cleared away."

"What kind of mage was your son?"

"Pardon?"

"Was he a healer or another type of mage?"

"We don't know, his...he could use fire."

"Most of us can. It normally is the first magic we do."

"Da said he set the barn on fire."

"Poo...poor boy...sneezed...and..." Another large coughing fit hit the older man and Anders struggled to ease the spasms in his lungs.

"Leigh I want you out of here. You don't need to get sick."

"I'm fine love."

"Your pregnant and don't need to be around this. Please love, for me."

"Where am I to go?"

"Anywhere but here. Go to the inn I will be along when I am done." Leigh opened her mouth then shut it. Something had him upset, but it was best not to ask in front of strangers. She took both their packs and headed for the inn. "Drink this." He thrust potions at the women and went back to work. He let his eyes close so he did not have to see the man's face looking up at him, pitiful and withered. "Anders?" "Not now Justice, I am not in the mood." "But he's..." "I don't bloody care if he is the Maker, I will never forgive what he did. He can die without my forgiveness." "What of your mother?" "I...just don't know, I have to concentrate, please just drop it for now." "As you wish."

OoO

Leigh woke to warm arms wrapping around her. She stretched a bit and turned so she could face her husband. His hair was down and still wet from bathing. Her fingers began to twist some of the hair and she heard him sigh.

"Are you alright love?"

"Better now that I am here with you. I'm just tired Leigh. I used a lot of myself to heal that man."

"Will he live?"

"For now."

"What's wrong? I can hear in your voice something is bothering you."

'It's nothing love, let's just sleep. Tomorrow we will go back to the Tower talk to Greagior and leave this place. I want to get back to the Peak." Leigh sat up and eyed him. She knew he was holding something back and she would be damned if he shut her out again.

"Anders please talk to me. We promised, no more secrets, no more lies." He groaned and sat up next to her before getting out of bed. He went to his pack and took out the old pillow he had. "What's that?"

"It is a pillow, hand embroidered by my mother. It was the only thing they let me keep when they took me away. She wanted me to at least have something to remember home by."

"Seeing this family looking for their son must...be very hard for you."

"Not really. It has been years since I was taken and I really don't remember much of my life before the Circle. I am not missing much."

"Bullshit!"

"Leigh..."

"I saw the look in your eyes love. I know this is hurting you, please don't...shut down on me again." Anders rubbed his face with both hands and tried to think of a way to tell her.

"It does hurt, but I have you now. I don't need anything or anyone else."

"But to be able to have your family again...I would give anything to have my parents back."

"Your parents cared about you Leigh, mine...they let those monsters take me!" His hands clenched into tight white knuckled fists before punching the door to their room.

"Anders?"

"I...Maker why are they here? Why now?" He sank to his knees and cradled his now bleeding hand. A swift knock on the door broke Leigh's attention.

"You'd better not be destroying that room." She opened the door and saw the innkeeper staring at her with narrow eyes.

"I'm sorry my husband saw a rat in here and we were trying to kill it. It would be a awful shame for news to get out you have rats in your inn."

"Ah...I...sorry about that madam. I can move you to another room if you'd like. We don't want bad rumors starting do we?"

"No we don't. This room is fine, but I will ask that you take some food out to the people in your stables. Broth for the ill man and whatever was for dinner to the women if you would please."

"Yes, I...I will leave you to yourselves then." When she was sure he was gone Leigh knelt down next to Anders. She took his head between her hands and pulled his face up to look at her.

"Love?"

"I...I just need some air. I'm going to go for a walk, go back to sleep love." He got up quickly and tore out of the room. Leigh just sat on the floor dumbfounded. She had seen him upset many times before, but normally it was powered by Justice. This time it was all Anders and his own anger. After a few minutes Leigh got up and got herself dressed and went out to the stables.

OoO

"Anders?"

"Leave it alone Justice. I am never forgiving that man. You have no idea what he said to me or did after I set the barn on fire. He will just have to die without my forgiveness."

"I know what he did, your memories are mine remember?"

"Then you know he beat me within a inch of my life and called for the Templars. He called me a curse, an evil, vile thing. He said I was dead to him so better I stay that way."

"What of your mother? She did not want you gone, she fought to keep you. Doesn't she deserve to know you are alive?"

"I...she has me sister. She doesn't need me."

"You know that is not true."

"They replaced me! They moved on and now so am I. I don't need them Justice. I have Leigh,that is all I need, all I want." The spirit stayed silent after that. He could feel his friend's pain, but did not know what to say to ease it. Anders wandered the shore line trying to calm himself. "I swear my children will never feel unwanted. I will never let anyone take them from me."

OoO

Leigh sat next to the older woman and her daughter. The older man was sleeping and the niece was down at the inn fetching water and more blankets. The mother and daughter were talking in a language Leigh did not understand. She wished Anders was here to help her translate since this was his native tongue, but he had run off to Maker knows where. A warm hand touched her arm and she saw the older woman smiling at her.

"We can not thank you or the healer enough for your help."

"It was our pleasure. Tell me more about your son."

"He was such a good boy. So full of life and such a charmer. He made friends very easily with both people and animals. Cats were his favorite."

"Must be a mage thing. My husband loves cats too."

"You are married?"

"Yes."

"I thought..."

"Normally we are not allowed, but here is Ferelden things are changing."

"He said you have a wee one on the way."

"Two actually, I am having twins." Leigh patted her ever growing bulge fondly and smiled. "He never thought he would ever have a family, ever be free."

"You are very lucky."

"I know, my father was a mage and raised in the Circle. He got away, gave my mother a life with my siblings and I. It was a hard life, but I would not change it for anything."

"You have lived free your entire life?"

"I was lucky, my sister was taken from us for a while, but I got her back and now we are here."

"You are lucky to have your family. It took me years to...forgive my husband for what he did. If it had not been for the gift that is my daughter I would have left the man to his misery. I hated him for taking away my son. Part of me still does, but I don't need to burden you with all this. You have helped us and shone kindness I was not expecting from a lowlander."

"Did the Templars tell you why they think your son is gone?"

"They said...he was killed by darkspawn."

"He fought in the battle of Denerim then?"

"No, they said he was conscripted by the Grey Wardens and died fighting darkspawn over seven years ago."

"The Wardens here in Ferelden?" Leigh's stomach flipped a bit, but she kept her expression calm.

"That is what I was told. I know...I know he is not dead."

"My husband was in the Circle here he might know your son. What is his name?"

"Leo. My little Leo."

"Holy Maker, you...you gave him a pillow when they took him.

"Yes, I made it for him when he was just a tiny thing. Wait...do you know my son?"

"I have met him yes and as far as I know he still lives."

"Do you know where he is, please, I...have to see him." The older woman clung to Leigh's arm tears flowing from her eyes.

"I...I don't know where he is, but I might no someone who does." A strangled wheezing sound came from behind the women and both scrambled to the sicken man's side. His lungs were filling with fluid again. Leigh used the knowledge she had learned from Anders years ago to try to ease the man's breathing, but she wasn't skilled enough. She could barely hold off the liquid from taking over his lungs. "I need you to go to the Tower and get a mage named Wynne and another named Ori. Ask for Ser Cullen or Ser Carver, tell them Hawke sent you."

"What of the other healer?"

"He went out for a walk and I am not sure where he is. I can hold this off til you get them here, but you have to hurry. I am no healer and my mana will not last forever." The two younger women ran from the stable and headed for the ferry. "Pash, I need you to help me." "He is dying Leigh, let him go." "This is Anders' father and the bastard need to apologize to him for what he did to him, if nothing else." "He is suffering." "So is Anders." "I will do what I can, but Mercy's touch will not help him. It is his time." Power flooded Leigh's veins giving her the strength to fend off this man's death . "Don't you dare die on me. I have a bone to pick with you." The man's eyes opened and stared into hers. He tried to speak, but he could not put enough air behind it. "Don't try to speak, just listen. What you did to your son was heinous. Do you know what they did to him? Do you care that they put in a cell for a year because he tried to run away? He has suffered. If you think I will let you die without being able to at least say you are sorry, you have another thing coming." Leigh poured more of her mana into the man trying desperately to keep him alive and she was losing the battle. She needed a miracle.

OoO

It seemed like hours since she had sent the two young women to the Tower and Leigh was running out of time. Her arms felt numb and her body shook. She had poured all her energy and then some just to keep the man breathing. Pash screamed at her to stop before she hurt herself or worse, but Leigh would not fail another father. She did not have the skill back then to save her father, she'd be damned if she let the father of the man she loves die.

"Stop it now Leigh, your hurting yourself!" "I have to hold on a little bit longer. They'll be here soon, Maker please let them be here soon." "If you don't stop Leigh I will take over." "Pash..." "I know what you are trying to do Leigh, but you've done all you can for him. It is his time. Please, don't make me have to stop you." The last of her will was gone, as was her mana. She knew if she pushed herself farther she could hurt herself or worse her unborn children. Leigh choked back a sob as she let her magic fade on her hands. "I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry. I can't..." Her limbs felt heavy and her sight blurred before she passed out. She did not see Anders rush into the stable followed closely by Ori and Wynne. Nor did she feel Carver's touch on her arm.

"How long was she using her magic?"

"Over an hour." Anders shot a worried look at Leigh seeing her so still. Wynne clucked her tongue and shook her head.

"No mage can sustain their magic that long without lyrium."

"She is not like the rest of us Wynne. She's a Somniari."

"Maker's mercy. How has she stayed hidden all this time?"

"Wynne I need your help. His lungs are filling up to fast...I...I can't stop it." Anders started pulsing healing magic into his dying father, but it was not working. He could feel the man's life ebbing away. She floated her hands over the man and shook her head.

"There is nothing we can do." Tears formed in his eyes and he looked at his father's face, his face. He looked so much like him, even the amber eyes where inherited from his father. All the years of hating the man, wanting nothing more to see him suffer as he had suffered broke away. All there was left was a very scared little boy watching his father breath his last breaths.

"No...he can't..." Anders shook the man to get him to open his eyes. They were already milking over as death fast approached. "Da, open your eyes. Please, open your eyes!"

"L...Leo?"

"I'm here Da, I'm here. Just rest, you... need to save your strength."

"For...give...me..."

"I do, I forgive you Da." Anders saw a smile grace his father's face, before he breathed his last breath. Warm hands touched his face and he saw his mother kneeling next to him. He face a mixture of joy and great sadness.

"Could it be true?" Anders could only nod and hang his head. "I knew they were lying. I knew you were alive." She crushed him in a warm embrace and cried. "My son, my son..."

"Why did he want my forgiveness?"

"So he could meet the Maker without his guilt. He knew I never forgave him for having you taken away and in time he...he knew he made a mistake. I'm so sorry, I should have took you and hid the moment he started talking about sending you away."

"They would have found me eventually and you would have been hurt for trying to hide me."

"I'm your Mum, it is my job to protect you. I made a mess of it didn't I?"

"No, you didn't. I never blamed you." Arden's eyes fell on Leigh and she smiled.

"Your wife is awake." Anders turned and saw her sitting up against the side of the stable. He stood up and went to her. Leigh had tears tracking down her face when she looked up at him.

"I tried..."

"I know love, please don't cry."

"Did...?"

"I forgave him. I don't want this hate to seep into our lives anymore. I...need to heal and the only way I can is by letting my past go."

"I hope not all your past."

"No love your stuck with me and now it seems you will be stuck with my family too."

"There is no one I would rather be stuck with more than you love." Wynne had covered over Anders' father and was comforting his sister. The girl stared at the covered form of her father and sobbed. Leigh tilted her head at Anders and he went to talk to her.

"Mum said your my brother."

"It seems I am."

"I know you hated him, but still you tried to save him, why?"

"I hated what he did. I thought...he was so angry when my magic started to manifest itself."

"He regretted it, even if he did not voice it til he found out he was dying. Mum threatened many times to take me away and leave him alone. She missed you so much. I grew up hearing stories about how much you were the light in her life."

"You seem to be the same."

"I try."

"I am so very sorry I could not save him. No matter how I felt about him, he was still my father and I do have some good memories about him."

"You did what you could, he was ready to go and he got what he wanted most, your forgiveness. He can go to the Maker without the guilt that has been slowly eating away at him all these years." Ciline stepped closer to her brother and opened her arms to embrace him. They talked for a while longer before Anders returned to Leigh's side. She was still sitting on the straw floor, but she was smiling despite her exhaustion.

"Our family keeps growing."

"That it does, they want to come with us once we are done here. My Mum sold their farm so they have nowhere to go back to in the Anderfels."

"I think that is a wonderful idea. You can get to know your sister better and your mother seems to not want to let you out of her sight."

"No she doesn't, does she." He looked back at this family and sighed. "I should have told you I knew when you asked me, but I did not want you to try and fix this."

"I tried to anyway."

"I can't say I am happy you drained yourself to exhaustion, but I am happy you tried to help them."

"I did not have to power to save my father. I know you have a lot of anger toward yours, but losing him without him knowing it was you, without your forgiveness would be worse."

"Pash tell you that?"

"No, she told me to let him go. She knew it was his time, I was just stubborn and did not want it to end like that."

"I don't know which one of you is wiser, her or you? She has the wisdom of ages, but you my love know me better than anyone else I have ever known. I love you for that."

"You know me better than anyone else so we are even. What will they do about a funeral?"

"I am going to freeze his body so we can have Elthina give him a proper send off. Carver said Ori and Cullen were almost done at the Tower before this happened."

"Almost done?"

"I'm not sure what it means, but hopefully it is good news. I need to get you back to our room so you can rest."

"Carver can take me back, you should stay here and talk to your family without all the others here."

"If your sure?"

"I'm sure." Leigh let him pull her off the ground and hand her to Carver. She was not surprised when she woke later that day that Anders was not in the room with her. She knew he needed to be with his family and reconnect. Their family was indeed growing and with every new addition she say Anders heal a little bit more. It warmed her heart to see some of his old self shine though. Even with a war looming over their heads she saw hope, at least for them. It was a small victory, but a victory none the less.

OoO

Cullen rushed into the inn looking for Leigh later the next evening. He had a very large smile on his face when he found her in her room. Anders was asleep having spent the entire night talking to his sister and mother, but bolted awake when the door burst open.

"Ferelden's Circle is no more!"

"They are giving up without a fight?"

"Yes, Greagoir agreed with Ori and I about it. Mages can come here to study under senior mages, but they will not be forced to stay. The Templars will be reassigned to the royal army as blood mage hunters if need be, but nothing more."

"I...I can't believe it."

"Believe it Anders, mages in Ferelden are free."

"Cullen I don't know how to thank you for this."

"Don't thank me, thank Ori. She has a silver tongue when it comes to her father."

"Maker bless that woman, she really did it"

"The Queen is closing Ferelden's borders since she knows this will anger the Divine, but she hoping other Circles will follow suit around Thedas and force a change."

"She is closing the borders, but that will hurt the land won't it?"

"She has ways around it, at least that is what she told me."

'How does she plan to guard the borders?"

"The Dalish have that covered and as for the sea I think your friend Isabela has that covered. War is coming, but they will have a Void of a time getting very far." Anders picked up Leigh and spun her.

"This is really happening, mages will be free."

"Yes love we will be, but this is far from over."

"I know, but this is worth celebrating. The first step forward to a brighter future, for us, for our families."

"Who are you and what have you done with my moody, angry Anders?"

"Are you complaining?"

"Maker, no. I like this side of you. I have missed it."

"Well get use to seeing more if it. We are doing it love, we are changing the world."