"Ah your finally awake. Good." Sebastian sat up in the bed he had been occupying for the past few days. He had drifted in and out, but now his head seemed much clearer. He sat up and saw a man sitting in a chair by the fire.

"Who are you?"

"My name's Colm McLaughlin. My daughter and I found you being attacked on the road and brought you here to recover from your head injury."

"I...what of the others?"

"I'm sorry lad they did not make it. The Crows normally don't leave anyone alive unless they are told to."

"Maker's mercy."

"Are you hungry?"

"No I..." His stomach rumbled and betrayed him. Colm gave a hardy chuckle and set a bowl of stew in front of the prince.

"Eat up lad. You need your strength."

"You said your daughter and you saved me, where is she?"

"Out fetching firewood and some herbs. I used up my stock healing your head."

"I fell..."

"And hit your head on rock on the road. Your skull was cracked, but I was able to heal it. Though healing is not my strong suit."

"Your a mage?"

"Just figuring that out are you? Yes I am a mage and no I don't belong to the rebellion that started in Kirkwall. My daughter keeps me out of trouble."

"And what a hard job that is." Sebastian turned to the door and saw a woman's legs, but the rest of her was hidden behind firewood stacked in her arms. "I little help Da, These things are heavy." Colm got up and started to take piece after piece of wood from his daughter and pile them next to the fireplace. Once it was all done Kali turned and smiled at the man in her bed. "I was beginning to think you would never wake up. I hope my Da didn't bore you."

"Not at all. I am in debt serah."

"Your welcome. My name is Kali and my father you seemed to have already had a nice chat with."

"Yes, he told me he healed my head wound. I am surprised to see a mage here so close to the main roads."

"We keep to ourselves mostly. Templars have found us a few times, but I can normally talk them out of taking my father away." Sebastian turned a shade of red thinking on how she might have talked them out of it and Kali noticed. "Not in that way I was raised by the Chantry thank you very much."

"I...didn't mean to...forgive me my lady."

"It's fine. I should be thankful you aren't running from the house screaming there is a mage in here."

"You were raised in the Chantry?"

"Yes...Circle mages are not allowed to raise their children. I was taken from birth and trained to be a Templar."

"I was a brother in the Chantry until the Chantry in Kirkwall was destroyed."

'So it's true, you are Prince Vael."

"Aye, I am. My cousin has taken my throne and I want it back."

"To rule like him or to help your people?" Sebastian was a bit taken aback by this woman. She spoke her mind quite freely.

"To fix what my cousin has done. I want Starkhaven to be like it was under my father's rule." Kali smiled and nodded to her father.

"I knew he would no be like his cousin. I plead my sword and shield to you, My Prince."

"You don't have to do that."

"It would be an honor to fight for you and our people."

"What of your father?"

"I can take care of myself lad."

"If the Templars find you they will kill you, after what happened in Kirkwall any mage found is thought to be a blood mage."

"That is why he will be coming with us. He can be your personal healer and I the Templar charged to guard him and you."

"You have thought this out haven't you?"

"Just a little." She looked sheepish for the first time during this whole conversation. She looked a the ground and kicked at the dirt floor of their cabin.

"Can your father heal?"

'How do you think your head got fixed?"

"Alright, seeing as I have no other choice I accept your offer." She opened her mouth to blast him, but shut it when she saw the smirk on his face. "May I borough your sword for a moment?" Kali handed him her longsword and stepped back. "Kneel." Kali knelt in front of Sebastian and felt her sword touch each shoulder. "You are now a knight in my service, Ser McLaughlin."

"I will defend you with my life My Prince." He smiled and looked Kali over. Her chin length honey brown hair framed her face nicely. Her eyes looked like two ice blue ponds. She was quite beautiful for a warrior. Her body was curvy and well muscled and her height was only a few inches shorter than him. If he had to guess her age it would be in her early twenties since she had a little bit of youthful roundness to her face.

"I hope it does not come to that." He handed her sword back to her and sat back down. His head still throbbed a bit and he could feel the knot on the back of his head where he had hit it. "With most of my supporters dead...I 'm not sure how I will win this war."

"The people of Starkhaven will stand up for you, but you will have to show them that you will keep your promises."

"And how do I do that?"

"The Revered Mother can help you with that."

"When can we go see her?"

"As soon as we are sure your up for the journey."

OoO

Leigh awoke to silence and her heart skipped a beat. She ran over to the cribs and saw Karl sleeping soundly, but Meghan was not in her crib. She smiled to herself and knew right were to look to find her daughter. She walked into the other room she and Anders called home for now and found Anders sitting in a chair by the fire holding Meghan. She was asleep on his chest.

"She really does love her daddy doesn't she?" Anders turned his head and smiled.

"Yes she does. I wanted to let you sleep love. I know they have been keeping you up at night."

"I still don't know how my mother did it with three of us in the house. I know Papa helped, but Maker."

"We have a lot of help too Leigh. Mum is glory with them."

"So is Bethany and Wynne. Even Varric has helped out."

"I wish I had been here to see that."

It was...comical to say the least. So when does the Mage Rebellion meet again?"

"Tomorrow and yes I already know your coming with me. I'm not happy about it, but I know why you have to."

"I mostly want to come with you to shut my cousin up."

"Cullen told you didn't he?"

"Yes, and I am not happy about the things she has been saying."

"Leigh don't let her get to you. She is bitter and jealous."

"I know, but..."

"You have nothing to prove love. I am yours and will always be yours." Leigh leaned down a kissed him softly. "I don't want them to know about Pash or Justice if we can help it."

"Believe me I have no intention of telling anyone who does know already."

"Are you sure your up to it?"

"It has been three weeks since I had the twins and between all the healer around here I feel fitter than I did before I was pregnant. I will be fine love."

"We will leave before dawn then." Anders stood up trying very hard not to wake the sleeping baby in his arms. "Hopefully now she will sleep for a while."

"I wish she would do that for me. She is always so fussy when I hold her."

"What can I say love she loves me."

"Your not the one who carried her for nine months." He shook his head and grinned. Once he was sure Meghan stayed asleep in her crib he went back out into the sitting room. He and Leigh talked about the mage uprising and filled her in on all the plans that had made. "You all have been busy, haven't you?"

"We have, but I missed having you with me. It didn't feel right."

"Well I am now able to walk more than ten steps a day."

"I know it was hard on you love, but it was for the best for all three of you."

"I know. Come to bed, it seem we will be having a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

OoO

"Ah Anders, are you all alone again?"

"Mira you know one of these days you will ask me and I will say no."

"Looks like today is not the day." Anders just stared at Miranda Amell and laughed when he saw Leigh walk up behind her cousin.

"You must be Miranda. I've heard a lot about you." Miranda jumped and spun around to face the source of the voice. Her eyes went wide seeing the well equipped rogue whose beauty put hers to shame.

"You are?"

'Leigh Hawke, Anders is my husband." Leigh walked passed the stunned woman and wrapped her arms around her loves neck. "Miss me?" He chuckled and kissed her passionately.

"You have no idea." Miranda stormed away and Leigh could not help but giggle. "That should take her down a peg or two."

"Carver was right, she is very pretty."

"She could not hold a candle to you love."

"Stop it your making me blush. Looks like their starting, we'd better get inside."

"From the information we have gathered it looks like the Divine is not going to try to lead and Exalted March here is Ferelden." Greagoir was the one talking when they entered the room.

"Do we know that for certain?"

'No my Queen we don't. It might be a ploy to get us to lower our defenses."

"Most likely. I don't trust The Empress or the Divine. The borders are being held for now by the Dalish."

"How can we trust the elves? They hate humans." Ashlyn threw a dark look at Miranda Amell and the mage did not flinch. "What if they decide to let the Templars in so they can have this land?"

"The elves have suffered under the Chantry rule too. They are fighting for their freedom just as much as they are fighting for ours. I trust their leader with my life Mistress Amell, but if you feel you would have a better time with the Templars, please by all means leave Ferelden. We do not need someone causing trouble here." Leigh watched her cousin and wondered how did she become so bitter and spiteful.

"I...yes Your Majesty." She looked at the ground and stepped back. Ashlyn turned to Leigh and Anders.

"You two are the leaders of this, what is our next move?" Anders went o open his mouth, but Leigh cut him off.

"We need spies in the Divine's ranks. It is a dangerous job, but without the inside information we will never be able to free the mages in Orlias."

"I already have that covered Hawke. I have two of my best bards there. One of them I think you met, but we will not talk about it here. It seems we have no new information so I will call this meeting for the time being. We will meet again when we know more. I will send word the usual way, til then Maker watch over all of us." The crowd muttered back and left one by one. Leigh could see the fear and hopelessness in their eyes. It hurt her more than she thought it would. Once back at the palace Ashlyn, Anders and Leigh went in to a small sitting room to talk.

"We need a leader to show the Chantry we mean business, but no one wants to lead."

"Well Anders you started it so why don't you lead." Anders shot Ashlyn a look and shook his head.

"I'm not leader, I just blew up a building. You a leader Ash."

"I am, but I have to make sure I take care of Ferelden's interests first. I can't run both the country and the war."

"I'll do it." Anders spun on his heels and stared at Leigh with shock in his eyes. "What? I am use to leading. I also have the spirit of the leader of the last rebellion in my damned head. I am not saying it will be easy, but I have to try."

"What about our children? This will take you away from them more often then not?"

"Love if I don't do this do you really think if the Chantry wins the war our children will be safe. I am doing this for them, for you and for all our kind. I will not stand by hidden while that woman condemns us and hurts our brethren. I have seen enough."

"It looks like you won't be able to talk her out of it Anders."

"No, I didn't think I could, but I had to try. Alright love, what do we do next then?"

"I need to know who theses spies are first off."

"Leliana and the other is one of the assassins that I lead named Cara. Both were sisters in the Chantry at one time in their lives."

"Do you trust them?"

"Completely. I know that is a hard sell for you since you don't know either of them, but I hope after all this time you trust me."

"I do, I am going to have Varric keep his ear to the ground as well. He has a way of getting things that most people could never get."

"Sounds good to me. Once your children are a little bit older we will move you back to Soldier's Peak. Your family will be safe there."

"I hate this."

"Anders we don't have a choice, I just hope our little ones will forgive us for being away."

I know this is a very short chapter and I'm not sure if I am all that happy with it, but I have been hit with writer's block on both of my Dragon Age fics. I hope to get over that soon. Thank you all for your support and I will get both of these storied back on track. I hope you all had a good holiday season and are having a good start to your New Year. I will post soon I hope.

Raven