Author's Notes: Hi all. Sorry this chapter took so long to post-I just have had a very busy last few weeks thanks to the retail world. I promise to be more on top of it :) If not, just bug me. The story is done, I just need to post it all.

Enjoy!

Over the course of the following few years, Thayer fell back into the groove of maintaining his arling. With Alistair by his side once again, ruling over Amaranthine proved to be much easier, and significantly less stressful. He worked closely with Seneschal Varel and Mistress Woolsey to ensure that Amaranthine maintained its status and continued to grow. Thayer hadn't considered himself to be business savvy, but with their assistance, it became much simpler to handle the day to day and to learn what mattered most in balancing the needs of the city versus those of the arling.

He, along with Alistair and Nathaniel, helped to prepare a single dozen recruits for the Joining ritual. From the twelve, they gained seven new Wardens, bringing their number to just over twenty, including themselves. They mourned those they lost, including Thayer's own mentee, Rhiannon. However, with new fully-fledged Wardens, they were able to send parties into the Deep Roads to help ensure that the darkspawn threat remained neutralized.

Thayer kept in regular correspondence with his cousin, Garrett. He knew that Garrett would be busy with his own concerns, but he had taken Wynne's advice to heart: Put your energy into the family you do have. Garrett seemed content to write back when time permitted. From the sound of it, things in Kirkwall were going about as well as they could. Hawke mentioned some rising tension between the citizens of Kirkwall and the Qunari, but he didn't much elaborate. In his writing, even more than in his conversations, Garrett was rather succinct.

It wasn't until the year came to an end that Hawke finally explained what had happened. Without being present, the details provided seemed somewhat disconnected. Thayer didn't fully understand the plight of his cousin's companion, Isabela, and how she had stolen some artifact that actually belonged to the Qunari. All he knew was that it had resulted in a bloody mess, out of which Hawke and his companions miraculously escaped in one piece. Hawke had expressed disappointment in not having Thayer there to help, but he explained that he understood.

In truth, on some level, Thayer wished he had been there. His life had been nonstop since being conscripted—full of action of all types. The day to day of being an arl wasn't exactly the most stimulating lifestyle, especially for someone who had at several points in his life almost literally met death in the face.

Despite all of the combat training and preparations for another possible, but unlikely, darkspawn invasion, Thayer had begun to feel listless. Winter rolled through without so much as a single attack, giving way to an equally dull spring.

On some level he knew that Alistair and Nathaniel felt it, too; the three of them often spent their meetings sharing stories of their adventures and their exploits. The more time that passed, the more commonplace it became for them to try and one-up each other by telling another embellished tale.

Thayer had thought of going in search of Leliana several times. Though he knew she would never return, on a deeper level he hoped that she might. Not to mention, he really just wanted to get out and see more of Thedas. He had explored most of Ferelden, parts of Orlais and had only been to one city in the Free Marches. Nathaniel's tales of his years there did nothing to help squash the vagabond building within the mage.

And yet, he never actively brought up the subject with his partner, Alistair.

Not until tonight.

They were lying on their bed, under the covers, preparing to go to sleep. Thayer had his head propped up on his arm and was drawing circles and squares upon Alistair's chest and stomach. The cool, late spring breeze brought along with it the sounds of insects and birds bustling around in the night.

"Things seem to be going rather well here, aren't they?" Thayer said.

"It'd seem so. All thanks to our golden touches, of course."

"Do you remember long ago when you told me you'd go around Thedas with me?"

Alistair glanced over at the dark haired one. He smirked. "Why am I not surprised you'd bring this up? Nathaniel's stories about the Free Marches have been getting you all excited lately."

"They have not," Thayer denied automatically. "I just…well. We've been here for well over a year now and things are going all right. I think they could do without us for a few weeks."

"A few weeks where, exactly?"

"I don't know. Nevarra. Antiva. The Anderfels."

"The Anderfels?" Alistair snorted. "Is your idea of a vacation fighting darkspawn?"

Thayer groaned. "I just need to get out of this place."

"Oh, you and me both, love." Alistair reached out and stopped Thayer's hand, idly fidgeting with his fingers. "We're hardened war veterans. We killed an archdemon. Now we're bogged down in daily politics. This pretty face is meant to be out there maiming evil, not choosing pasta Fridays and breaking up fights."

The mage grinned. "Pasta Fridays?"

"What? The cook was talking about it the other day…"

Thayer laughed. "You spend entirely too much time in the kitchen."

"Yeah, well, you knew I liked to eat when you met me." The warrior stuck out his tongue. "Anyway. So. Nevarra or Antiva, hm?"

"Maybe we'll run into Zevran."

"Good call. I wonder how Mister Lascivious is doing with his mission…"

Thayer closed his eyes and leaned into his pillow, letting his arm fall against the bed. As Alistair continued to play with the fingers on his free hand, he felt sleepiness begin to take him over.

"Antiva it is, then. We can leave at the end of the week…"

. . . . .

After breakfast that morning Thayer returned to the throne room for his daily meeting with Seneschal Varel and Captain Garevel. As was typical at the beginning of the week, they were interrupted by the arrival of a private who acted as a messenger for incoming post. She rifled through her collection of letters and finally came across one addressed to Thayer.

"Warden-Commander," she said, extending him the slightly worn envelope. "This just arrived from Kirkwall today."

Kirkwall. It must have been from Garrett.

"Thank you, private," he told her, dismissing her once she'd delivered a set of letters to both the seneschal and captain.

By this time, aside from Alistair and Nathaniel, only the two men sitting before him were aware of what Thayer had found in Kirkwall. He kept Hawke's identity secret from his recruits and the junior Wardens, not wanting them to concern themselves with business that didn't relate to them.

When it came to guessing the origin of the letter, Varel hit it right on the head.

"Your cousin, I presume?"

"Mm-hmm. Gentlemen, if you don't mind, I'm going to read his letter right quick before we begin our meeting."

"By all means," Garevel said.

Thayer retrieved his letter opener from the table before him and used it to slice open the wax seal on the back. When he opened it, he immediately took notice of how much Hawke had written. It was unlike him to be so long-winded. That made him wonder.

Thayer,

Sorry I haven't written recently. Things in Kirkwall have been rather complicated, and that's putting it nicely.

Tension is mounting here. You can feel it everywhere you go. Knight-Commander Meredith is pressing down on the Circle each and every day, harder and harder. First Enchanter Orsino is struggling to maintain his composure under her vice grip. Her rules have become almost impossible to adhere to. I've begun to see the number of tranquil mages grow as the days go by. It worries me that whatever may be coming down the road is not only inevitable, but also incredibly dangerous.

Anders has been acting stranger than usual recently. I know I don't typically write about him in our correspondence but lately I can't seem to get him to sit still. He's always fidgeting, moving—like he's waiting for something to happen. I've asked him time and time again what the problem is but he won't tell me. I was wondering perhaps if it had to do with him being kidnapped by those rebels I wrote about in my last letter, but he insists I'm only imagining things.

It sounds as if you have everything under control in Amaranthine. I'm glad to hear your numbers have increased. Having many Wardens present will surely help keep things running smoothly.

Listen. I have a request of you. At the rate things are going, I can't guarantee that Kirkwall will be around much longer. If Meredith has her way, all mages will be oppressed beyond recognition. If you can come here, if together we can show her that mages are not the problem and can be part of the solution, maybe she'll lighten up. If not, at the very least, we'll get to knock some sense into her. Hopefully. You are the Warden-Commander of Ferelden, after all. As a warrior I'm sure she'll respect your authority.

I understand if you can't. On some level, I'm hoping the thrill of the possible battle will bring you in. Whatever the case, I could use your help.

Hope all is well, cousin. Write me back soon.

-Garrett

Thayer folded up the letter, managing to maintain a straight face despite the dozens of thoughts that started rumbling around in his head. He looked to Varel, then Garevel, and cleared his throat.

"Everything all right, Commander?" Varel asked.

"My cousin has some concerns regarding a few goings-on in Kirkwall. I may have to go visit him here shortly."

"We're in a good position right now," Varel continued. He smiled, perhaps a bit cheekily. "So long as you don't disappear again for months on end again, we should be fine."

"What sort of concerns does he have?" Garevel asked. "I've heard there's unrest in Kirkwall with the Knight-Commander. Rumors travel fast."

"He didn't say. He just asked that I come and offer my opinion, maybe some assistance."

"Mm. Well, it's your choice, Commander."

Thayer eyed Varel, who gave a nod in agreement.

"Alistair and I had discussed taking a leave of absence, at any rate," he explained. "Seeing more of Thedas."

"Just say the word, Commander, and we'll keep watch for you. Nathaniel can keep an eye on the Wardens," Varel said.

"I need to speak with him here soon so we can finalize the details. I'll have a decision by the end of the night."

And with that, their meeting commenced. They discussed the importance of the revitalization project planned for Amaranthine, as well as the refurbishment of the ports. They shared their concerns with making sure there was adequate funding for it, and even had a mild argument involving the level of importance of strengthening trade in Vigil's Keep.

Thayer's mind, however, remained just distanced enough throughout the entirety of the meeting that by the end, he could scarcely recall but a single topic at hand. Thankfully for him, neither Seneschal Varel nor Captain Garevel felt like quizzing him. He knew the luck wouldn't last; he needed to find Alistair and discuss what Garret had told him, and quickly.

He wandered through the different locations of the keep, not entirely sure where Alistair might go at this time of the day. He never followed a set schedule, much to the chagrin of his partner.

Thayer happened upon the blond warrior inside the library, of all places. He wondered what he was doing in here. Alistair avoided books like the plague whenever he could. To actively seek them out…what had gotten into him?

"Fancy meeting you here," the mage said curiously, his eyebrows rising as he approached Alistair at his small round table, around which stood several large, ancient-looking bookcases. "Enjoying some light reading, hm?"

Alistair grinned bashfully. "I'm looking up things about Nevarra, if you really must know. Thought it would be good if we knew what to expect when we go."

Thayer couldn't help it—he felt his expression falter just slightly.

And that was all Alistair needed to realize something was amiss.

"I don't like that look," he said. "You get it whenever something's gone wrong. Tell me nothing's gone wrong."

"It's not exactly that, per se," the mage said, sighing. He took a seat beside his partner. "I…got a letter from Garrett."

"And?"

"And he said something is not right. He says there's an insurmountable level of tension building between the Templars and the mages back in Kirkwall. He asked if I could go there and appeal to the Knight-Commander. You know, using my status as Warden-Commander."

"Isn't he some grand hero of Kirkwall?" Alistair asked with slight exasperation.

"Yes, but two is better than one. And on a topic like this, it hits close to home."

Thayer rubbed his wrists. Why any mage would willingly choose to live in Kirkwall when there were other Circles around Thedas made so sense to him. The treatment of the magically inclined in that state was beyond poor. It was no wonder Anders was so worked up over it all.

Alistair closed the book before him and made a face. "Do you promise we'll go to Nevarra afterward? All of this work and no play will eventually make me mental. You know that, right?"

"I promise. I just won't be able to sleep at night if I don't go and help Garrett out somehow."

"What about Garevel and Varel? Are they going to let you go, knowing what happened last time?"

Thayer huffed. "Need I remind you that I'm the Warden-Commander and can make decisions without the approval of others?"

Alistair smirked. Immediately Thayer flushed. That was not the response he'd intended.

"Oh, the Warden-Commander can make such decisions, hm? Well! Who am I to disagree?"

"So I can count on you to come along with me?"

The blond stood, putting himself at the ready. Even though he only wore finery, he still looked like quite the dedicated warrior, with his shoulders squared and his brow set firmly.

"Thayer Amell, I'm by your side through thick and thin."

Thayer smiled.

"Then I guess we had best get packing."