Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Age or any of its related characters. This is just for my own enjoyment and the potential enjoyment of other fans like me, and no monetary gain was expected or received.

Rating: T

Spoilers: May contain spoilers for Origins, Awakening, and Dragon Age II as well as the novels The Stolen Throne and The Calling.

Chapter Forty-Four: Seanna's Big Adventure

Seanna made it as far as the royal stables before the progress of her adventure was briefly arrested by the sight of the stablemaster working a beautiful chestnut horse of immense size. The proud creature arched its fine neck and shook its black mane in the falling snow, and she stopped at the edge of the training paddock to watch. She used to look at picture books in the Tower as a little girl, pictures of Ferelden Cob and Antivab Barb and Orlesian Walkers, and dream of one day seeing the beautiful creatures in life rather than colored plates and black and white sketches. But she wasn't sure she'd ever seen a drawing of a horse similar to this. It stood taller at the withers than the total height of the stable master, with long, thickly muscled legs and enormous hooves covered in long white hair that grew on the horse's legs from the knee down. A vague memory stirred.

"Maker's breath, that's an Avaari!" she burst out, then clapped a hand over her mouth as the stablemaster turned to look at her.

"Oh, hello, Miss," he said. "Yes, you're right - Gladiator here is an Avaari. You're familiar with the breed?"

"Only from books," she said, weakly. "I thought they were extinct."

The stablemaster laughed. "Not quite, though they are awfully rare these days. Once, before we southern barbarians even had war dogs, our ancestors' armored knights terrified their enemies by charging into battle on the backs of steeds just like Gladiator here. But the Tevinters didn't like the Avaari's size, so while they had us in their grasp they bred it down. The Ferelden Cob is one of the results of that, like Georgie-Boy over there," he nodded toward a groom currying a short-legged, stout-bodied horse in the shelter of the stable awning. "The Orlesians did their best to put paid to what was left of the original stock. Scared of heights, I think. But the Queen favors the Avaari, and she's invested in several breeders of the pure strain. Gladiator here is intended as a wedding gift for her Lord father, and I've got to make sure he's well trained before then. This horse won't go swayback on him, no matter how heavy his armor, and he'll look grand up there, a proper big Ferelden man on a proper big Ferelden horse. She's even had that fey armor smith, Master Wade, make armor for Gladiator to match the stuff she had him make her father. Beautiful work, that. Strange material, though - looks like dragonbone, but it isn't red like that usually comes out the forge. 'Tis blue. Deep, dark blue."

Seanna knew the secret origins of the blue dragonbone, but she merely said, "It sounds a grand sight indeed. What are you teaching him out here today?"

"Nothing, as it turns out. I wanted to see if he'd been outside in snowfall before - wedding is on First Day, you know, so the weather is apt to be a bit sloppy at least, though I hope it's fine - but it looks like the big bugger even likes it. He's been trying to eat it as it falls."

Seanna laughed. "Perhaps he thinks it is a sugar snow."

The stablemaster chuckled in response. "Maybe he does at that." He patted the horse affectionately high up on his muscular neck, and gave Seanna a sidelong glance. "I remember you, don't I? You were here with the Lord and Lady when my Mirani's pups imprinted to them."

"Yes, that was me. You have a good memory, Ser."

He chuckled again. "I'm not likely to forget a moment of the day two of my girl's pups went to two of the greatest heroes in Ferelden history. If I may say it, Miss, you look a sight better now than you did then. You seemed a bit…shy and retiring, like. Didn't want to creep out of the shadows and be noticed."

"That…sounds like me," she said. "I guess having good friends changes things for people, doesn't it?"

He nodded. "It does at that. You like horses? If you'd like a tour of the stables I could have one of the lads show you around. I've got to stay with this brute here."

"I…" she started to demur, but stopped herself mid-thought. "I think I'd like that, Ser, if its not too much trouble."

"No trouble at all. There's a new recruit the army has put to work here, I'm sure he'd be happy to stop shoveling shi - begging your pardon, Miss - to put down his shovel and give a lady the grand tour."

"An army recruit? Why would he be stationed to the royal stables?"

"Well, Miss, I oversee the army stables as well as the King's, so there's that, and I kind of like to keep the lad close so's I can kind of watch out for him, because…well…I guess you'll see for yourself. Oy, Lightning!"

A moment later, a young man in rusty splintmail old enough to qualify as antique stepped out of the shadows of the stable, and he was indeed carrying a scoop shovel. Seanna was startled to realize that he was an elf. "Yes, Ser?"

"Lay aside your weapon, lad. This young lady is a friend of the Lady Cousland, and she'd like to meet some of the King's nags. Whyn't you introduce her around?"

The young elf saluted. "Yes, Ser." He leaned his shovel against the stable wall. "Right this way, Ma'am," he said, and stepped aside to allow Seanna to enter the stable.

"So, what would you like to see? His Majesty has a bit of everything here; chargers, racers, saddlebreds…what's your interest?"

"At the moment, you. You're obviously the alienage elf that I'd heard enlisted in the army. What made you sign up?"

He chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "More and more, I'm beginning to think it was arrogance," he said. "I hope I had better motives than that. I signed up the same night that Lord Loghain saved us all from the Bloody Lung. I thought it was something I could do to help my country and my people both."

"It sounds very noble. Has it been difficult?"

"Not any more so than any other job I've worked. They haven't even started training me, just issued me a shovel and set me to work cleaning the stables. I try and tell myself that all recruits start this way…"

"Recruitment is up, I'm told, but I don't see any other young soldiers mucking stables."

"Not as their sole duty, at least," he said. "I'll work faithfully, whether they use me as a soldier or not. I just hope some day they'll give me a chance to prove myself."

They talked awhile longer and he showed her the horses. They were beautiful animals, but her interest was piqued more by the handsome young man. She was quite a bit older than he, she thought - he could not have been more than twenty-five - but the way his friendly black eyes appreciated her delicate features and the plunging neckline of her robes she thought he didn't much mind.

After some time had passed, Seanna reluctantly said her goodbyes. "I should let you get back to your duties."

"It was wonderful to meet you, Seanna," he said. "I hope perhaps you'll visit me again sometime. I…suspect this is where you'll find me."

She smiled. "I think I'd like that, Private Lightning."

He started to walk away, then hesitated and came back. "I know we just met, and this isn't exactly very good manners of me to ask, but I wonder if you could perhaps do a favor for me? If it's not too far out of your way, that is."

"You can certainly ask."

"The paymaster has given me partial wages for the last month, to cover the two weeks I've been with the army. Recruits are given liberty every other week's end, but, well…I haven't received a furlough myself, yet. I worry about my family in the alienage, with no money to sustain them, and I worry about keeping the money with me here. I wonder if you could take it to our Hahren, Valendrian, for me? He would ensure that it went to my family. His home is just across from the vhenadal, you can't miss it."

"I would do that for you gladly, but would you trust me with your money after having known me for such a short time?"

He shrugged and smiled. "I know it is perhaps unwise of me to trust incautiously, but I've also been told that it is best to go with your instincts, and my instincts tell me you wouldn't cheat a fellow elf."

"I hope I wouldn't cheat anyone. But I thank you for your trust."

"And I thank you, Seanna, for this kind service. Hopefully someday I can return the favor." He reached into his belt pouch and gave her a small coin purse. It wasn't very full, but even a few silvers was a fortune to an alienage elf, Seanna had heard.

She tipped a brief curtsey and left the stables, headed directly for the alienage in the low market commons. That was a bit more adventure than she had prepared herself for, and the alienage was certainly one of those places where even a strong woman might think twice about going alone, but it was broad daylight, and she was an elf…and if worse came to worst, she had magic at her command, even if she had left her staff in her rooms.

There were a few gimlet stares for the elf in fine clothing as she entered this poorest enclave of Denerim's poor, but no one bothered her. She found the Hahren's brave little house easily enough.

A white-haired old man answered her tentative knock. "Yes? May I help you?"

"Hahren Valdenrian? Private Lightning Tabris asked me to bring you his army wages, to give to his family."

"Lightning? He's calling himself Lightning? Oh, where are my manners? Won't you come in?"

She didn't want to stay, but she didn't particularly care to stand in the street either. "Thank you."

"You are a friend of…'Lightning's'?" Valendrian enquired once the door was closed behind her.

"We only just met, actually, but he was worried and decided to trust me with the delivery. I take it that Lightning is not his real name?"

"No, but I think I understand why he has changed it. His real name would likely cause great offense to his fellow soldiers, considering he is an elf. Tell me, does he seem happy with the choice he has made?"

"He seems determined, I think. He understands that it is a difficult task he's set for himself, but he wants to help in any way he can. I believe he will be an excellent example for the elven people to follow."

Valendrian's tired face registered relief. "I am glad to hear that. I was surprised and not just a bit dismayed when I discovered he had left the alienage to enlist."

A redheaded woman burst in through the front door. "Hahren, I - oh. I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had company."

"Shianni, this is…I'm sorry, I'm afraid I didn't ask your name."

"Seanna. Seanna Surana."

Both elves gawped at her. "Seanna…Surana? Little Seanna? But you were taken…to the Circle…" Valendrian said.

"I…yes, I am a mage," Seanna said, with a blush. "I would prefer that wasn't bandied about, however, if at all possible. You…know of me?"

"My dear…you were born here," Valendrian said.

"Your parents were my next-door neighbors," red-headed Shianni. "I grew up playing with your brother and sisters."

"I…have family? Here?"

The alienage elves shared a look. "Not…any longer, I'm afraid, child," Valendrian said heavily. "The Tevinters…"

"Oh. I understand." Seanna swallowed hard. So, Loghain had ripped away her last chance to connect with her family. Or the blood mages who were messing with his mind, either one. "There's no need to speak of it. Please."

"Thank you, child. Shianni, you needed something of me?"

"Oh. Right. Well, its that bastard Kern again, only worse this time. He broke into the stockroom where you're keeping the extra food the Crown sent to support us. He's hoarding again."

"Blast. Seanna, I'm afraid I must deal with this. If it isn't too much trouble, perhaps you could deliver Lightning's wages to his family yourself? I can point their house out to you."

"Thank you, Hahren, I would be happy to do it."

They left his little house and he pointed her up the street to a corner building a little nicer than most of the others, meaning the roof was almost intact. "That is the Tabris residence. You'll find Nesiara inside."

"Thank you, Hahren."

Seanna walked up the street to the little house and knocked on the door. A young woman with long blonde hair answered, very pretty, and also very clearly not related to Lightning in any perceptible way. "May I help you?" she asked uncertainly.

"Hello. My name is Seanna Surana. Private Lightning Tabris asked me to bring his wages to his family…?"

"Lightning? You mean Loghain? Oh, wonderful! I was beginning to worry about him. Tell me, is he well?"

"His…name is Loghain? Now I understand why he didn't give the army recruiters his real name. Anyway, he looked quite well and happy to be doing something to help Ferelden, and eager to do more. Here - this is his pay for his two weeks' service."

"Oh, good. Adaia needs new mittens for the winter, and I was afraid there would be no money to buy the wool to knit them."

"Adaia is…?"

"Our daughter. She's with one of the elders, being taught her letters, or I'd introduce you."

Their daughter. Hers and Lightning's. Seanna ought to have guessed - she had heard that in the alienage, you were not considered an adult until you were married, and the difficulties of life forced many to adulthood very early. "Lightning" had probably been a family man since he was fifteen, or even younger. She felt a little twinge of jealousy and sorrow for all the simple, natural experiences her cursed magic had denied her. She forced a smile to her face.

"I'm sure she's beautiful. Well, I should be getting home. Good day to you, and it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance."