Anders woke to someone touching his arm. It took him a moment to figure out it wasn't Leigh who was touching him. She was still fast asleep buried under their blanket. He slowly turned over so not to wake her and saw Meghan standing there. Her face was wet with tears and she was clutching her stuffed cat. He threw back the covers and got out of bed taking the little girl in his arms. He took her into the sitting area of their room and sat down in his chair.

"What's the matter sweetheart?"

"Had a bad dream." He took a handkerchief and wiped the tears from her face and sat her on his knee.

"Was it about the scary man from earlier today?" She nodded and leaned her head against his chest. "He can't hurt you Meghan."

"He was sick."

"Yes he was, but you made him all better. I am so proud of you. I have a feeling you will be a better healer than me one day."

"Da, am I yours?" Anders looked down at his daughter and could not hide the pain in his face. He had hoped this question would wait a few more years before rearing its ugly head.

"Why do you ask that?"

"I heard Aunt Addy talking to Gran...she said I wasn't yours." Anders had a great desire to go smack his sister in the back of the head at that moment. She had voiced her opinion very loudly that she was not happy Meghan was not his child by blood. He knew it was her being a protective sister, but it still bothered him. Now he had to quell his daughter's fears and lie to her. That hurt worse than the fact she wasn't truly his.

"Your mine Meghan. I have loved you your entire life and will always love you. Your my little girl."

"Drea is the little one. I'm a big girl." She pushed her lips out into a pout and he laughed. She very much looked like her mother when she did that. She might have had Sebastian's eyes, hair color and skin color, but she looked every bit like Leigh.

"Yes you are a big girl and a very brave one at that." Meghan wrapped her small arms around her father's neck and kissed his cheek. "Now do you think you could go back to sleep?" She shook her head and pouted again. "Is something else scaring you?" She nodded and jumped down from the chair taking his hand she led him to her room she shared with her sibling. She showed him the candle had burned out and the room was thrown in shadow. Karl could care less about the dark, but Meghan never liked it. "I see the light went out."

"Don't like the dark."

"I know, I will get another candle for you." He hurried and grabbed a few candles from the other room and placed them in the holders in the children's room. "Do you want me to light it the old fashioned way or with magic?"

"Magic." He smirked and light a tiny flame on his pointer finger. Meghan stared at it in wonder. He went to light the candles, but stopped when he saw his daughter had lite a small flame in her hands. Her voice was a whisper. "I can do it too Da."

"Yes you can. Tomorrow after lunch you and I will have to start working on that won't we?" She nodded and climbed into her bed. Anders tucked her in and kissed her head. "Goodnight sweetheart."

"Night Da." He left the room and found Leigh standing around the corner. Her face was a mask of amusement. He put his finger up to signal her to be quiet and they retreated to their room.

"I was wondering where you got off to."

"She had a nightmare."

"About today?"

"Yes, but I think it was more she saw we were upset. At the time she was not afraid."

"I heard what she asked you. Can I kill your sister?"

"No love, you can't. I don't think Addy knew Meghan was there. It was a slip nothing more."

"I hope your right. The questions I get from Meghan are hard enough."

"Which questions?"

"Why don't I look like my brother and sister? Why am I different? It breaks my heart. How can I tell her...?"

"We will cross that bridge when we come to it Leigh. She knows she is loved and that is all she needs right now. I plan on beginning her training. When we head back to Denerim next week I will have Wynne help me and Bethany. Meghan will have ever resource at her disposal."

"I know." Anders hugged his wife tightly and felt her relax in his embrace. "I am going with you in the morning to see this Avernus."

"No your not. I don't want you anywhere near that man Leigh."

"Do you really think I am going to sit here and wait. I have to know Anders...if I'm going to lose you or not."

"Leigh...I don't want you to get your hopes up. Those men had only been tainted for a few days. It has been over ten years for me."

"But you said you haven't had the nightmares in years."

"That could just be Justice blocking it or there are not a lot of darkspawn around. It could even be the fact your presence soothes me."

"I can still hope. I lost you once, I will not lose you again without a fight Anders."

"We have here and now. Anything else in not guaranteed." The look of utter pain on her face made Anders sigh. "Alright you win, but do not drop your guard around him. The bastard bloody hates me so he will probably try to pick a fight."

"Why does he hate you?"

"I...the last time I was here, before Kirkwall, He and I got into a row. I sort of trashed his laboratory and he tried to kill me."

"Oh that is comforting. You just can't play nice with anyone can you?"

"He used his fellow Wardens as lab rats. Tried to figure out how to use the taint in our blood to make better soldiers. He also made a deal with a demon and is over two hundred years old, so I think I was justified in what I did."

"Do I have to worry Justice or Pash will want him dead?"

"You just might what to be prepared for anything. He might just throw me out when he sees me."

"Won't Ash have something to say about it?"

"I hope so. He does listen to her, but I think it is a equal part respect and fear. She can be down right scary."

"So can I."

"I remember love. Come back to bed. We have a few hours til dawn."

"Hmmm, what do do with those hours?"

"Your going to be the death of me, but Maker it will be a fun death."

OoO

Ashlyn and Velanna met them at the door to Avernus' tower. Anders shifted his weight from side to side and fidgeted while the women talked. He hated this place almost as much as he hated the Circle. He looked at Ashlyn and she gave him a encouraging smile.

"He won't do anything Anders so stop worrying."

"He tried to kill me that last time, I think I have a right to worry."

"I stopped him before he put you in that contraption didn't I?" Leigh's eyes went wide and she looked between the two Wardens for an answer to her unspoken question. Anders answered her first.

"He tried to put me in a iron maiden with spikes to bleed me dry."

"And you let him live here why?" Ashlyn sighed and shook her head."

"I let him live because he was suppose to be looking into a way for the Wardens to live longer fuller lives. That was his penance for what he did all those years ago. I also owe him for helping me be able to have Duncan. His potions and magic made the impossible, possible."

"That is the only thing I am grateful to him for Ash. That man is a monster."

"I know, but a useful one."

"Let's get this bloody over with. The sooner I am away from him the better." The four walked the breeze way to the tower in silence. Ashlyn and Velanna entered first while Leigh and Anders lagged behind. The place smelled of decay and dark magic. Leigh inched herself closer to her husband and shivered a bit. "You don't have to do this."

"Yes I do." He nodded and went through the door. Ashlyn and Velanna were talking to Avernus by the time they entered the mage's tower. Anders hung back in the shadows listening to the old mage and trying to hold back Justice. The spirit had a even bigger dislike of the Warden blood mage than Anders did. Avernus stopped talking when he saw the blonde man standing in the doorway.

"What is he doing here?"

"Hello to you too Avernus."

"Get out!" Ashlyn put her hand up and stepped between the two men.

"I asked him to come here Avernus. He is the other one who's blood needs to be tested."

"No, I will do nothing for him." The ancient mage turned his back on them and began to walk away. Leigh sidestepped Anders and went after the man.

"If you will do nothing for him will you do it for his children. They would like to know if they are going to lose their father to the Blight in twenty years or not." Avernus glared at Leigh and looked her over.

"Wardens can not have children, not without help. Do not try to play on my sympathies girl."

"I would never do such a thing. I am his wife and we do have children, three in fact."

"Impossible. Even with my help it took the Commander years to conceive her son. And you claim to have three children, you waste my time." Leigh growled and pushed the mage against a wall. Her dagger just inches from his throat.

"I tried to be nice now I will threaten. You will help us or so help me I will send you to the Void." Ashlyn went to grab Leigh and pull her off Avernus, but Anders caught her arm and shook his head. Leigh's skin was starting to show signs of Pash taking over.

"I have lived for over two hundred years. You think death frightens me?"

"Yes I do or you would have never made a deal with a demon."

"And so have you." The red cracks in Leigh's skin got larger and Pash pushed herself forward.

"I am no demon mortal. I am her guardian. She asks for a simple thing and you would rather hold a grudge. Have you never loved another?"

"Love is a farce. It is a lie we tell ourselves so we think we are not alone."

"You are a fool. Love is a gift for those lucky enough to find it. You are just a bitter man who cares more for his experiments than he does for his fellow man. I pity you." Avernus hissed and called a fire ball into his hand. Pash smiled and grabbed his wrist. The spell died as fast as it came. "You are not strong enough to fight me mortal." Ashlyn put her hand on Pash's shoulder and pulled her back.

"Please spirit this is not the way."

"You are right, I apologize. This place, there is so much pain here. I forgot myself."

"I understand. Avernus, Anders does have three children and this is his wife. Please look past your hatred of him and help us." Avernus watched the red glow fade from Leigh. She took a few steps over to Anders and wrapped her arms around him.

"What is she?"

"She is a mage and the leader of the freedom movement for all mages in Thedas."

"But she is possessed."

"By a spirit of compassion." Anders looked up and his eyes met Avernus'.

"Fine, just don't touch anything or I will..."

"Understood." Anders nodded and led Leigh to the back of the room.

"I will need blood from the three of you. Only a small amount." Ashlyn rolled up her sleeve and let the man cut her forearm. Next was Velanna who cut her own arm and Anders let Leigh do his. Avernus took the samples and walked over to a small table. "This will take some time. Come back in an hour I will have your answer."

"Thank you Avernus."

"Yes, yes just leave me to this I need to concentrate." He waved them off and went back to his work. Once outside Ashlyn sighed.

"Now we wait."

"Maker, I hate waiting."

"So do I Anders, but if that's what it takes to find out if we are no longer tainted I will gladly wait the hour."

"I know Ash."

OoO

Sebastian paced his room trying to quell his anger. The letter he had been reading was now balled up on the floor. It had been only a week since he sent his answer to the Divine that he would not be getting his country involved in the mage war. Her answer back to him was more a threat than anything else. She and her guard were coming to strong arm him into complying and it made his blood boil. His anger rose again and he slammed his hand down on his desk. The feeling of soft warm hands on his own cooled his ire if only a little.

"What has you so upset Sebastian?" Kali's eyes were filled with concern.

"It is nothing."

"Nothing would not have you this angry." He sighed heavily and went to retrieve the letter from the floor. He uncrumpled it and handed it to his future bride. She read it and her face mirrored his own. "She can't do this!"

"She thinks she can. She will be here in three weeks give or take. I need to go to Kirkwall and ask for help. I want you to come with me, your father as well. I am not taking any chances. She has gone mad."

"I agree, but what is in Kirkwall?"

"Old friends, at least I hope they are still my friends. They might be able to help or at least give me advice. I will not let out people be drug back into another war." Kali smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder.

"When do we leave?"

"In the morning. We travel light and fast. I don't want to draw attention, just in case she has spies here already."

"Which she probably does. I will go pack and inform my father. I will see you at dinner."

"I would like it if you come back here before that."

"Of course. I will return soon." Sebastian listened to her footsteps fade and he began to feel utterly alone again. Kali's presence made him feel at peace even when they were fighting his cousin's soldiers. Her easy demeanor reminded him a Hawke's. He shook his head bitterly at the thought of a woman he had loved so much, but was never able to truly have. The dream he had almost three years ago came back to him. Hawke had wished him to find someone that would hold his heart more than she ever did. Someone who would be his match in every way. He was sure now he had found it in Kali.

"You look so deep in thought Your Majesty." The voice that came from behind him made his jump and spin on his heels. His work dagger was in his hand to face this intruder.

"Asha I thought you left!"

"I was going to, but I received word the Divine sent you a message again and I wanted to make sure it was not bad news."

"I am sorry to inform you it is. She is coming here before the month is out. She wants to "talk"."

"That sounds ominous. So what are you planning?"

"I need to talk to Aveline and Varric. Maybe I can convince them to help me hide Kali and her father for a while."

"You think the Divine will cause them harm?"

"I am not willing to take that chance." Asha took the letter from his desk and read it. Her brow furrowed and she placed it back on the table.

"I think it would be better is we get the three of you out of here."

"I can't leave my people defenseless. I can't leave."

"How many people do you think live in Starkhaven proper?"

"A few hundred in and around the castle. Why?"

"I need to send word to Ferelden and go talk to Varric myself. I have a plan, but it will take careful planning and skill. I hope you remember your rogue ways Sebastian. This will not be easy."

"Tell me what you are thinking." He listen to the older woman and his eyes went wide. If this worked it would mean he would be a enemy of the Chantry just as Hawke and Ashlyn were. A part of him wanted to say no, but the thought of losing his love and the suffering of his people made him nod to answer Asha. He sent a silent prayer to the Maker for forgiveness. "Contact them. I will see what I can do here to make sure my people will not suffer."

"As you wish Your Majesty."

"What I wish is for peace, but I will fight to protect what is mine."

"As will we all." Asha left him and Sebastian fell to his knees. The Chant began spilling from his lips and he closed his eyes. He heard Kali before he felt her touch, but he did not open his eyes. She knelt beside him and began to recite the Chant along with him. Her head resting on his shoulder and his arms around her they sat there for hours. Colm silently watched them from the doorway. He had not prayed in a long time, but found himself sending a silent prayer for the two young lovers to the Maker. If it meant they would live a peaceful he would gladly lay down his life or face the Tranquility brand. He might not have been able to be there for most of Kali's life, but he would be damned if he let the Divine hurt his little girl now.

Sorry about the long delay everyone. I lost most of this chapter when my computer crashed two weeks ago. I have written and rewritten it over four times and this was the only draft that made me somewhat happy. Thank you all for your patience and I hope you continue to enjoy.

Raven