Revolution

by rikkustrife

This is from a roleplay a friend and I have written together. It's placed in the aftermath of Anders destruction of the Chantry in Kirkwall and Leliana comes across him, and they begin their adventure together which in turns brings them closer together. Chapter 5 is the first sexual themed chapter for those uncertain if they want to read that part or not.

34. Chapter 34

"I think-I 'think'… everything's going to be fine." Anders had stuttered, mainly on the thought of the Seekers being in his domain.

He closed his eyes briefly and shook his head, trying to tell himself that it was going to work out smoothly… Even if he believed that Seekers were actually there to kill him for blowing up the Chantry, plotted to have the new Viscount (a.k. Prince) killed, murdered the current Knight Commander and Champion of Kirkwall, and overthrew power in the city for himself and his fellow mages. Oh, Anders was about three-quarters certain that he was going to be killed, or threatened of being killed.

This actually would have been nothing new anyway. After all, the Templars wanted him dead, the local village folk probably wanted him burned alive, and the Grey Wardens (as a whole) would have loved to try and kill him off quietly. What's one more murderous bunch of head-hunters on his list? All the same, protocol and politeness would have demanded for him to meet with these people. Plus, Anders was curious to see what this Cassandra and Ghaleon looked like.

Anders smiled some, offering as much reassurance as he could for the moment and lightly kissed Leliana's forehead. "Don't you worry any. I'll be back soon."

He turned away and headed for the door quickly just so that he wouldn't be having them to be waiting long. This was only because the sooner her saw them, the sooner that certain assumptions could hopefully be cleared up.

Anna was nervous some after hearing Leliana's gratitude to her. Her eyes had fluttered downward some and she covered her left hand over slightly with her right elbow so that the mark wouldn't have been shown. Everyone had different reactions to bloodmagic of course; though most likely the common response was generally negative. So, Anna had felt that it was best not to have mentioned the actual practice that she had done.

"Oh, there's-no-need... Er… Th-That is… I'm-just-glad-to-help." She spoke rather quickly with her nervous but bright smile still.

Her eyes had opened curiously to the invitation for her to have met and possibly hold the boy. Anna wasn't certain if that would have been wise for herself to do though. This was only because she feared that possibly the baby would have sensed the dark magic from her and react. From what Anna had read in books before, and from what she had feared, some babies (especially those born from mages) had a tendency to know and tell the difference when they are infants. Sensing certain forms of magic, the child would have been likely to react differently as well. It would have lead to explanations later, which of course wasn't something Anna would have wanted to admit herself into. Such things would have only brought back terrible memories.

Luckily for her, Baelfire had stirred some briefly and opened his green eyes. The orbs had looked over towards Anna and the little boy had started to whine in the middle of turning more against his mother. It had given the bloodmage the quick idea for an explanation. Since he was turned more to Leliana then it could have meant that the boy was actually hungry, rather than of what lingering dark aura that remained around Anna at the time.

"Aw, he's adorable! Could he be hungry again? Of course… Here, let me help." She stated rather quickly to in the grasped excuse. All the while, Anna took the assumption straight to the source by sliding down one fold of Leliana's robe to expose the breast closest to Baelfire.

About that time Fenris had walked into the room. He looked towards Anna at the moment and glanced down as he started to walk towards her. "Um… Anna? There's something I need to tell you—"

However, the elf didn't take into account of Leliana's exposed breast, resting near Baelfire's head at the moment. His eyes widened some when he realized of just how close Anna had been standing next to Leliana during a moment of feeding. Still though, this was an exposed female body near him, and it happened to his sights so suddenly.

"Woah." He started to say and immediately looked straight up towards the ceiling.

"What is it, Fenris?" Anna questioned while stepping towards Leliana's side and checking to make sure that the young boy would feed properly. "It's just feeding time here. You can still talk."

Fenris quickly turned around so that he could look towards the door. "Yeah-no, I don't think I can…"

Anna's eyebrows knitted up in worry, seeing that the boy wasn't really that eager to begin feeding. "Oh, dear… He's not even putting it to his mouth… He keeps pulling away."

"I don't need the mental image…" Fenris called from over his shoulder and covered his eyes with his hands.

Anna looked back up to Leliana happily. "Wait a moment. I learned a technique to this. We could try massaging your breast to stimulate the flow."

"Seriously?" Fenris asked in shock of what he was hearing at the moment as more wrongful images started to force their way into his mind.

"Well we have to try something." Anna pondered and looked back towards Fenris's backside. "I can't think of any other reason why he wouldn't want her breasts, can you?"

Fenris threw his hands up into the air and began his march out of the room. "I don't know! Maybe he's crazy!"

Anna flinched some after the door closed and she blinked, still lost. "Huh… What was that all about?"

"Please be careful Anders" Leliana responded as she had bit down on her lower lip watching while Anders had begun to take his leave from their chambers. "Cassandra can be a bit of a firecracker…" Just thinking of the former Seeker had brought her to even worry further. Why did the people even let them in is what she would have liked to know most of all. Leliana would have gone as far as finding who allowed such an invitation to let them in. But she believed Anders would have it under control and if he needed help then there were other mages that could step in.

With the door closing behind the mage Leliana turned back to Anna and gave a smile of thanks anyways to Anna. Even if she didn't tell her all the juicy details how she had done it, she was still happy she had. "Don't be so modest." She replied with a teasing tone. "I will repay you somehow. Not sure how yet though." She admitted with a pause as her hand reached up to cup along her jawline. "But if you ever need something come to Anders and I, and I'm always here to listen to whatever you want. After all us girls love the juicy stories and I'm sure not to far from now you'll have some on Fenris."

As Baelfire shifted in her arms Leliana had brought her attention down and tilted her head to the side some. It obviously wasn't a good idea to pick up the boy right after she had gotten him to sleep again seeing as how he wasn't to his 'deep sleep' stage yet and could waken easier. "Sure does seem he likes to wake up a lot thought." She chimed in a cheerful tone. "Though you need your rest child so you can grow up and be as strong as your daddy one day." She commented before turning to Anna and her compliments. "He is adorable isn't he? Anders thinks he's going to be a heart breaker one day… Which wouldn't surprise me since he will grow to be a charming young man."

Leliana hadn't questioned nor fought against Anna when her hands reached over to her and exposed her otherwise private area. After all they were both ladies and it wasn't like they hadn't seen such things before. "I swear he's gonna turn out to be a chunker the way he's eating… Though I have to admit he has been kind of fighting me on the matter." She responded to just show Anna how she clearly did need the help if it were to be given.

As the door started to creak open Leliana hadn't thought much on it. Thinking it was no more than a mere servant running back and forth or hopefully Anders who managed to get out of Cassandra's grasp alive. But the second she had heard the elfs voice she had glanced up to blink dumbfoundly as a blush slowly began to creep onto her features. "Err… Um… Hi Fenris." She greeted with a somewhat of a grin coming to her face. She hadn't turned seeing as Fenris had taken it upon himself to do so before then. Which brought Leliana to turn her needed attention back to Baelfire in her try and try again attempt to have him properly latch on.

"Maybe he's not hungry?" She questioned curiously with a quirk of her eye brow. After all he wasn't crying as if he was starving. So it was the only explanation why he would continue to spit out the nipple. Maybe? "Let's try one… Last… Time…" She whispered as her one hand slipped from Baelfire's lower half as her right arm already under him took full hold so she could take her breast in her other hand and maneuver the nipple precisely until Baelfire actually opened his mouth wide enough to take the nip in.

It was almost in unison that moment of Baelfire latching on and Fenris charging out that Leliana had almost completely forgotten the elf was there. If it wasn't for the clicking of the door closing behind him she wouldn't have glanced up to see he was gone.

"Odd." She replied back to Anna. "I guess it was just too much for him. And yet he said he would have taken over for Anders in the delivery when Anders was having a small fit Baelfire was coming. I would have liked to known how he would have handled that." She chuckle as her hand slowly and gently slipped from under her breast and re-wrapped around her son. "By the way Anna when you were entertaining Cassandra and that other Seeker… Did they happen to say anything of why they were here?"

"Well, she just said she sought the one who kidnapped the Nightingale." Anna pondered and then shrugged her shoulders happily. "At least that's the only thing she told the staff. I told her I haven't seen any nightingales in Kirkwall for a while; since this city seems to enjoy caving itself into stone."

She blinked some and turned towards the windows of the room for the moment. "You've noticed that too right? The gates around this city just make a huge circle, almost as if it's keeping everything inside captive."

"Leliana muttered under her breath as Anna's words had been heard. She hoped she was all hearing it wrong but there was no way she could fool herself on this matter. "I'm the Nightingale which she was speaking of Anna." She confirmed with a sulk of her head. "She probably thinks Anders took me away the night I freed him and went willingly… I have Oh no…" to explain to her that isn't the case at all."

As Anna's trail brought her to the other side of the room Leliana slowly followed for a moment and gazed out the window towards the gates which she spoke of. She had to agree with the mage, it did seem like they were trying to keep someone in instead of keeping them out. But she had never thought further on it seeing as how she believed that's how Kirkwall always was. "It is odd. I don't quite understand it myself… Maybe there's a dragon under the cobblestone." She joked with a small chuckle pushing through her lips. "… But I'm so sorry to cut this little get together short but I have to track down Cassandra. After all if she's looking for me I doubt she'll give up lightly. If you want to you can come along?" She hated to run but Leliana quickly scurried about the room, stopping a servant and handing Baelfire to them momentarily so she could go and change quickly into something more conservative and so the servant could change the boy too this time around while she had gotten ready to re-group with Anders.

After collecting herself she returned to the servant and took the slumbering boy back into her arms as she quickly made haste towards where she believed the only place Anders could be with Cassandra and that was the conference area. After she had reached the door she slowly reached for the door knob and turned as she slowly peered her head through the small opening to see if anything catastrophic had happened in her delay to get there. "Anders?" She called out almost hesitantly as she looked further in and saw him sitting among the other two seekers. A gulp forced it way down the rouge throat as she pushed the door open a tad more to allow herself in. "Sorry for taking so long… I heard you were searching for me Cassandra?"

In the council room, Anders was sitting at the throne of the table while near the side edges remained the large group of the fourteen Seekers. Of course outside from them remained the larger group of Anders's personal bodyguard. It was a series of people outnumbering each other in that process, which ended up turning out better in Anders's favor. It was the only main reason he had agreed to come out and address himself and his story in person.

From the head of the table, near the side, a tall woman in heavy brown Seeker armor had stood up from her seat and answered to the call given. She walked towards Leliana; her brown eyes looking ever more curiously as she had came closer to the redhead cradling the babe in her arms. Like a black smoldering cloud, her hair fell behind her in a tight ponytail. It was probably the only difference that the woman had; from growing out her hair.

Cassandra had stopped short from Leliana and brought her right fist up across her left shoulder in a stiff salute to her. "It's been too long, Nightingale. The Unit has been worried sick of you."

"The 'Unit?'" Anders questioned almost in a puzzled tone and leaned farther back into his chair. "And here, I thought the mistress worked alone."

"We got separated after a time." A mage in autumn-colored robes mentioned in a soft, though bright voice to him. "That was when the Nightingale had found you."

Anders's lids had lowered some and he glanced over towards the man carefully. "I see…"

"Now, that we've recovered you, we can all return back to the Holy Mother." Cassandra spoke proudly and strong once her arm had dropped back to her sides. "There is so much we have to report to her, and she would be anxious to hear from you as well."

Leliana was shocked by how different Cassandra had looked; she had to admit the long hair was appealing on her compared to the short. As for the formalities given to her when she approached also brought the rouge to feel uneasy as it had been so long since she heard someone call and act such a way to her. All she could do was stay silent as she had listened to what she had said. She wasn't expecting anyone to be worried about her, she thought the Seekers and anyone else would be infuriated with her for freeing a mage that destroyed a chantry and then went off with him even if they thought she had been kidnapped.

"I'm sorry I worried you all… I should have written… Or something." She admitted as she sulked her head down in dismay. "But please… Cassandra… You don't have to be all formal with me still. With this time that's separated us has brought me to put aside such titles." She responded as her hand reached over to take in Cassandra's hand and lower it back to her side.

With Anders questioning had brought Leliana to glance over to the mage and faintly smile in an innocent way. "It kind of slipped my mind." She admitted. "We were always running or doing something that I forgot to tell you. I'm sorry Anders." As the second voice arose Leliana's cranium turned once more and went to the second Seeker and smiled some to his politeness of explaining things further for the mage so she wouldn't otherwise have to.

"Now that you've found me Cassandra… I'm afraid I will have to turn down your offer." She replied as a saddened expression came over her. Not for not being able to go but for possibly bringing the people she cared about more hurt. It was the least she wanted to especially to Cassandra as she had grown to care for the woman in the times of travel. "Now if you had found me like before I had become involved with Anders, maybe I would have come back… A big maybe. But I'm with him now and the mages…" That might have sounded odd, coming from her. Since she was far from a mage but it was true its where she had been standing for sometime now, that it had just felt like home to her and she wouldn't feel the same else where.

"I wasn't expecting to get attached to that mage over there." She teased with a nod of her head towards Anders. "But it just happened just like our son here." She added with a bend of her posture so the Seeker could finally get a formal glimpse of the baby under the covers. "Do you think you can just tell the Mother that I'm okay and not to worry? And I'll write or something just to put her mind at ease?"

Cassandra had looked almost as if her expectations have all been crushed right in front of her. She looked towards the man Leliana was pointing at and then to the baby in her arms. Naturally, the Seeker had at first been speechless. The Nightingale had changed so much; or so it had seemed. While in one manner, she managed to keep her sense of understanding of others, but perhaps it was becoming too soft. After all, no matter how anyone could dance around it, the fact remained that Anders was a terrorist. He had killed many innocents in the name of his self-absorbed form of justice, and as if to add insult-to-injury, he accepts his actions with pride with the plans of continuing to kill again.

"You know that it's not that simple." Cassandra answered her after taking a small breath and stepping back. "The Holy Mother has many kingdoms to answer to in the name of Andraste. The world is watching and waiting for you, Nightingale, and your report. You have to answer to her, and you must answer to her in person."

"You cannot twist her arm to go." Anders remarked slightly louder than he was before.

Cassandra spun around towards him, matching the glare she was receiving and began her righteous march. "And you cannot twist her arm to stay! Don't think I'm clueless to what you've done—or of what you're doing to her!"

"What I'm doing? … What am I doing? Please tell me." Anders flashed almost a wicked smile from behind his clasped hand over his chin.

"Brainwashing her with your sugar-coated words. I know everything that happened in Kirkwall, everything that you did to the Champion." Cassandra said once she came close towards the chair she was previously sitting in at that moment.

"Don't you dare go there. " Anders warned as his eyebrows had flinched in the slight annoyance being brought to his attention. "Bring her presence up again, woman, and I swear I'll have you thrown out."

"You killed her with your own hands!" Cassandra accused him and then looked back towards Leliana in confusion. "Are you willing to stay with a man who kills the very ones he claims to love?"

Anders slammed his fist on the table to regain her attention quickly and started to scowl at her. "What did I just say?"

"You'll have to excuse her fiery nature, please." The mage in autumn robes offered as sweet of a smile that he could, despite how nervous he appeared at the moment. "We have been only going by what tales of the Champion that we know, and are plenty of talk about you … um… well killing her…"

Anders groaned and sulked back into his chair. He turned his head slightly to look back at the man afterwards.

"There have also been rumors of Kirkwall mingling with Tevinter soldiers as well." The mage continued curiously.

Anders didn't answer him though, he merely turned his head and looked back towards Leliana. "Love, are these people always this rude?"

Leliana whined some when Cassandra's had fought her on the matter of going with them. She knew it would be easily made if Cassandra just took her statement and gave it to the Divine instead of her having to travel all that way. "But you don't understand… I just had my son yesterday I'm exhausted and I can't just take a newborn baby that's Anders son no less to just give my report to the mother. That's madness. Plus I'm done with going here and there and well everywhere. Please Cassandra don't make me go." She pleaded almost sounding like a child whining to their mother when they didn't want to do what the parent had wanted.

Though it seemed like her words weren't heard no much needed as Anders and Cassandra had begun their spat with one another and standing there among it had brought Leliana to feel a bit odd as if she was a rag doll between the two and being pulled on each end. "Well I'm just going to make myself comfortable while you two argue." She commented as she trailed over to the nearest seat to sit down as her attention shifted down to Baelfire and his soft stirring to awake from the rising of voices in the room. Just paying so much attention to Baelfire had hardly given Leliana the chance to listen in on the argument. But when the mentioning of the Champion and Anders slaying her was brought up she perked her head up from its downed position and shook her head. "I know what happened to her… And I saw how torn he was afterwards. The only reason she had come to her demise was because she was on the other side of the playing field and wouldn't compermise. I know that's no reason for murdering such a high standing person but when the day is done and its just him and I. I can see how much he deeply cares for me. Not saying that he never did care for Naomi but I just am not afraid for my life when I am with him."

She sighed some from the other Seekers apology as she had raised as hand and flapped it his way. "Don't worry. It's fine. It's just how Cassandra has always been fierce and full of energy. Which is why she interrogated Varric and not me." She responded in a endearment tone of voice that trailed off the moment his second question was asked. Though it wasn't her place to answer she had looked to Anders for answering it. As she gave Anders an arch of her brow in hopes he would say something instead of avoiding it completely.

"There not rude once you get to know them." She responded. "After all I guess that's why they had me as one of the highest standing Seekers over the rest. Because I'm so calm and collected." She said with her last sentence holding a joking tone.

"So are you still going to make me to go with you Cassandra?" She asked curiously towards the Seekers way. "The only way imaginable I could go is if Anders was alright with it… And you promised I could return. Otherwise I would have to tell you to tell the Mother that I'm with the Maker now and that was why you couldn't get my final report."

"I can't tell Her Holy Grace such a thing. There is no way in any position you will have me lie to the Holy Mother." Cassandra stated in a slight form of shock.

"Not even for the benefit her own people?" Anders scoffed and lowered his hand back down from his chin. "Typical."

"As you wish…" Cassandra gritted her teeth and grabbed the back of the chair, propping herself in a slightly defeated position. "Get some parchment and some wax with a seal. Write your report then, Nightingale. Seal it with the mark of the Grand Cleric and we shall deliver it to the Holy Mother."

"Cassandra—" Ghaleon, the autumn-cloaked mage stood up quickly from his chair and started to speak.

"But on one condition." Cassandra continued as she straightened her back and started to stand once more. She folded her arms and looked back towards Anders, who had looked too high and proud on his throne at the time. "We take Anders with us for insurance."

"Insurance?" Anders choked out the word nearly, and soon the smug look was quickly gone. "What kind of insurance would I be?"

"The insurance to know that Kirkwall will not rise against other cities, of course. You, who brought this land to its knees, are shunned from any other so sayeth Holy Justina The VI." Cassandra announced and soon drew her sword in his direction. "There are women and children present, Anders—your woman and child—do not have me or my men force our hands beyond this point."

Anders's jaw had tightened for the moment, but he remained silent and still. This had only risen tension from his soldiers who had all wanted him protected, but also knew of the risks that were going to be involved. Anders closed his eyes and stood up from his chair.

"We're so sorry to have to persist this way," Ghaleon urged with a frown and stood up next after him.

Leliana smiled some after hearing Cassandra oblige to Leliana's terms. She hated the thought of leaving Anders even if it was for a short time, plus she was a bit frightened to even get close to the Mother in fear that her past would catch up to her. Which was something she clearly didn't want to face as many things in her home awaited her return. "Thank you for understanding—" She began to thank which happened to be cut short from Cassandra's next terms of the agreement on this matter. When she had heard it she couldn't believe it that her mouth had slightly dropped and she stood up from her chair in a frantic swiftness.

"You can't do this! It's so not fair. Not to him, me or our son. Please Cassandra doesn't anything we went through, our friendship matter enough for you not to do this?" She pleaded as she had rushed over to the females Seekers side and had reached out to place and hand on her upper arm. She wasn't expecting much from her, but something would have been kind. Though when swords were sheeted Leliana staggered back a few steps and felt as if coming here to try and talk things out was all a bad idea to begin with.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing come out of Cassandra's lips of actually speaking of bringing harm to her and Baelfire. "You wouldn't dare." She spat as her arms tightened gently around the babe in her own form of protection.

"What if I decided not to write the letter, what then?" She questioned out of curiosity to hear what she would come up with. "And don't you dare say you're sorry." She responded in a harsh tone towards Ghaleon's way. "You all sicken me." She admitted with the warmth of building tears forming at the corner of her sockets was fought. But when she closed her eyes it brought the few to stream out and stain her soft sun-kissed skin. "I can't believe I was among any of you."

Ghaleon shook his head and held up his arms in a symbol of defeat. "As the Maker as my witness, My Lady, this is not the path we wished to take—"

"Be silent, Ghaleon! Negotiations are over." Cassandra quickly spoke up to grasp his attention.

"Please don't weep, my Love. You're tears will wake the baby." Anders spoke gently and turned as he started to open his eyes to her. He stepped around the table and slowly held his hands out in front of himself; wrist-to-wrist in the preparation of possibly being bound.

"Nightingale, I see your love for this man and I can sense your devotion is honest and pure. That is what truly pains me… You must think I'm horrid for this demand," Cassandra said and momentarily closed her eyes, "and if he were just a mage of the Circle —Blessed Andraste!—even an Apostate, I would agree with you and sheath my blade in shame. However, he is far more deadly than either one of those. His sins have been too great to go unnoticed and you have known this from the start."

"You compliment me too often." Anders rolled his eyes while Ghaleon had made his movements to bound down Anders's hands with the enchanted rope that prevented magic from wherever it touched. "Will the Holy Mother still have the pleasure of meeting one so vile then?"

"That will be something she will decide for herself." Cassandra answered and lifted her blade to place it back into its sheath. Propping her sword arm against her hip, the unwavering woman turned back towards Leliana as she spoke to her. "While the ultimate judgment lies with the Maker, I hope you realize that this is the only way to possibly clear either of your names. I would prefer an option with less violence, but as things currently stand, Kirkwall and its people cannot be trusted."

"You don't have to repeat yourself; we understand." Anders sighed once he walked passed her and Ghaleon in order to reach Leliana. He forced a smile and leaned to her side slightly to leave a small kiss to her cheek. "Write your report for me, love. At least try to escape my fate in this. I know you have no wish to harm the Holy Mother; you've served her and Andraste for far too long."

Leliana had reached up to wipe away the few tears that managed to slip past her defensive's when Anders words were heard. She didn't want their child to see her crying after all, even if he was too young to understand why she had been. It was said after all that a child could feel the peoples emotions around them and react to them. She didn't want to bring Baelfire to stir and begin his own crying spell from his mother's doing. "I'm sorry." She finally whispered back Anders as her head sulked down.

"What did I say about calling me that…" Leliana responded quickly upon hearing the title of Nightingale. She didn't even want to look Cassandra's way when she had begun speaking to her. All she did was shake her head in disbelief at what was happening, what was being said. She should have expected no less from her when the word was given that the Seekers had come. "This still isn't fair." She muttered as her eyes shifted to the corner of her sockets in a small form of an escape.

After a few moments of silence to herself she glanced up once hearing the sound of footsteps nearing her. She believed it was Cassandra approaching her to start in on her apology's and hopes to make some form of mends. Though when the rouge had seen it was otherwise Anders she had also forced on a smile as with each step he took towards her was a fight against her emotions. Once again the tears started to swell in the small corners of her eyes. She almost had it completely under control until she felt his warm lips press against her forehead. That she couldn't hold back anymore as she quickly lunged forward, carefully as Baelfire was still within her arms as she draped her arm around Anders torso in a tight embrace she could have given with one arm as the other carefully cradled Baelfire. She didn't care if the embrace wasn't returned as she truly just needed this moment to say. "I'm so sorry…" She mustered to muffle out against the mages chest as she finally pushed herself off though her hand had never left the mages chest until she reopened her eyes and glanced up to him.

"I'll write the letter." Leliana confirmed finally as her hues shot over to Cassandra and then back down to the ground. "I can't promise it won't be anything to exciting as its been sometime since I was supposed to go to her with my report."

Anders sighed, wishing that he could have held her, but the bounds prevented him from being able to. He sighed some, resting his head close towards her and closed his eyes. Anders knew that this was going to happen one day. He dreaded it for a long time. Anders couldn't even count the many times he had warned Leliana of the many ways he could end up just hurting her in a relationship.

Though, there was certainly no turning back from it now. He was just as hooked to her as she was to him; even if he was ready to face his fate. In truth, he had been for a long time; he would have had to be before taking any steps towards making the changes that he had done in the past. While he may have loved Leliana and of course-no doubt-loved his son, Anders lived for the freedom of mages everywhere, and that was his life's purpose.

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The week had been rather gloomy in between wondering of what the staff was doing between shifts and trying to keep the peace in the streets. Anna had stayed in the mansion most of the time with Leliana to help watch over Baelfire while Fenris had took to cleaning up the streets from crime. The city had almost seemed normal again, even without a proper Viscount to rule it. All of the duties were just simply handled mostly among the staff and of what Cabinet that Anders had left in charge.

As time went on Leliana had kept herself substantially busy to keep her mind off of Anders and his fate. There was little she could do alone and she doubted she could rile up an army worthy enough to free Anders or she would have done just that now. After all she wasn't a high ruler with a strong voice, or strong words. She was just a former bard, now rouge and mother. The most she could do was speak to the people in a motherly sense. And that's as far as she'd get.

Once the sun had raised to its highest point in the skies Leliana stretched, yawned and began reaching behind her in her still sleepy search as she mumbled out. "Anders—" Quickly the rouge had caught herself and jumped up in a frantic swiftness to sit up as her cranium had followed to look to her side where the mage had usually slept. A sigh was all that escaped her as she closed her eyes which had brought the image of the blond man vivid within her mind. It tore her to pieces just to think of him that when she could no longer handle it at last she had re-opened her eyes and turned her attention and needs to Baelfire laying soundly asleep next to her.

In the outskirts of Kirkwall walked along a man, along side him stood three of his guards he had taken just about anywhere with him, well besides his chambers. By his plated gold armor it was clear the man was a Ferelden, the king of Ferelden no less if one had looked to his features and looked past his age from the taint growing inside him and bringing him to age slightly quicker than most.

"What are we looking for?" One guard from behind the King spoke in curiosity.

"We're looking for any rebellion mages. If you had kept up on the documentation I had given you. You would have read Kirkwall is separating by it's seams… Anders a previous Warden had taken charge of the city for mages. And just to be on the safe side since we're probably not welcome. We're to keep a watch out for mages that will attack." Alistair had replied. Usually he had let his other guards do the detailing, as he had gotten tiresome of such on and on again explaining back in Denermin. He truly didn't want it out in the field to where he could get killed when explaining.

The solider nodded his head some to Alistair as the two other guards had snickered some by the newbies slacking in keeping up on information. "Right right, sorry your majesty."

How he hated being called that. Even after all this time of standing on the throne he couldn't get use to it. That he just had to grit his teeth and ignore the title while nodding his head some in response. "Just be quite we don't want to be—"

"Caught?" Finished a voice from the side of Alistair as a smirk had played across the mages lips as this was all that could be seen from the shadows thanks to the lingering fire spell within his hand.

"Oh wonderful… Just what I was looking forward to. Company." Alistair swooned as he threw his arms up momentarily. Which had accidentally given his men to draw their swords. Alistair's panic heightened as quickly turned around to his guards and had given them a look of disapproval. "That wasn't exactly the signal to pull out your weapons…! What did they send with me? A bunch of newbies!?" He whined as he turned around at last to see the growing of mages coming in on them that brought Alistair to force down a gulp while his eyes had shifted to who he believed the leader had been. "We're not here to harm you. Do you really believe I would come to attack you with three boys that don't know what their doing obviously?"

"Not sure… You Ferelden's are a bit dim-witted and don't think things though." Replied the mage.

"Oh yes the Ferelden's that defeated the Arch Demon and put an end to the blight are so incapable of thinking for themselves. Alone defending themselves." Alistair responded in a slight annoyed tone. "So if your going to kill us get it over with, but know you'll have Ferelden after you next."

The mage flinched some from the kings words of his bluff since that's clearly what it was. He didn't have the authority to put down this dog if he had wanted to anyways after all. "It's not my choice to kill you. But I would like to know why you've come."

"To see Leliana." Alistair promptly responded without another word said.

"The icons lover…" Muttered the mage as he looked down and back up again to Alistair as his index and thumb caressed along his chin. "What business do you have with her?"

Alistair stared to the mage dumbfoundly as he pointed to himself before replying. "Do my looks perceive you. I traveled with the woman, she was present when her ex-lover Commander of Warders Aragorn was slain. I just wish to speak with her nothing further."

After a few moments of silence and pondering the mage's once suspicious eyes seemed to change as he slowly started to drop his guard and nod his head. "Alright, fine. You can come with us. Just don't try anything funny."

Leliana was in the common area, with Baelfire and whomever else wished to accompany her during her time. With the babe becoming more active during that day had brought Leliana to come out of her chambers more and visit when she could with Anna and even Fenris when he wasn't too busy off fighting or doing whatever he did. As it helped her mind ease with the pain of losing Anders.

"Maybe we should go out for a stroll today—" She had started to say but was abruptly interrupted with the crashing sound of the doors swinging open in front of her.

"M'lady… We found this…" Stated the mage that conversed with the King as he had the man within his grasp by his plated shoulder, but swiftly he was release with a push. Which brought Alistair to tumble almost face forward onto the marble flooring below.

"Damn man… You don't have to be so rough. You might mess up my hair." He joked.

"Alistair?" Leliana whispered as she ducked down to glimpse at the hunched over man that slowly rose to standing straight once more. "What are you doing here!?"

"Oh gez how kind of you. Not a I miss you Alistair or how you doing Alistair, no wait a did my guards hurt you would have been suffice even." He said in his usual cocky tone as his eyes dropped to the babe in her arm. A dumbfounded look came over the mans features as he looked back up to Leliana once more. "Are you watching the kid or are you going to tell me you pushed it out yourself?" He asked as his last sentence was more of a tease as he truly didn't believe Leliana would have a child… Ever. She was crazy after all. Saying the Maker had come to her in a dream… Please.

"I'm sorry Alistair… How have you been, are you feeling well? Oh…" She said with a pause as she came over to the Warden king and gave him a small hug. "I missed you oddles and doodles…" Though she wanted to hit the man over his scalp for asking if she had pushed Baelfire out in such a tone she hadn't and instead decided to shock him with the news right away. "The baby is mine… Mine and Anders."

At Leliana's attempts to please him brought him to drop his gaze down to the rouge and glare as he knew she was just doing it to further mess with him as she had always done in the past. "Ha… Ha…" He replied. "Very funn-" …. "Wait… What the kid is yours…. You mean someone was brave enough to sleep with you?"

Leliana had blinked then furrowed her brows together, again she hadn't hit the man over the head like she should have. Instead she walked away and handed Baelfire to the nearest servant and walked back to where she hadn't closed the gap between them before tackling the bulky armored man down to the ground.

A yelp of pleas and mercy were shouted in the area. Though no one stopped her assult on the king, not even his guards. Instead they had laughed silently to themselves to watch such a sight unfold in front of their eyes.

"Now you were saying King?" She hissed towards Alistair as she had the man still straddled to the ground as her hand was bound within his golden short hair.

"Mercy… Mercy…" He whined probably more than he should have. But she seriously had a tight enough grip on the ends of his hair that it was bringing tears to his eyes.

Leliana gave a final glare to Alistair before suddenly releasing the man from her grip and standing back to her own two feet. "I better not hear that again or I'll do worse to you next time." She stated as she went to collect Baelfire back in her arms.

"Right… Right… Not a word. I promise." He swore as he steadily stood to his feet.

"Get back here so I can kill you!" Fenris's voice shout practically echoed through the bottom floor of the mansion.

It was probably the first horn being sounded off for a race of blood since the high tension that was once in this building from last week. The sound of men shouting and people running in different directions. There was one woman who seemed to have screamed at that moment and a small crowd following afterwards.

From the east bottom wing, a small crowd of mages poured out from the room. They turned around and quickly started to use magic to create wall of ice over the room. However, it didn't help at all due to a wave of energy that attacked the door instead. The ice ended up taking the majority of the impact and after knocking back the pile of mages onto their backs, the ice and doors both had all shattered.

One mage in particular who was wearing a sheep costume; stepped on the men as he was attempting to leap over them. He turned back around towards the small group that were still groaning and frowned slightly. "Oops. Sorry—"

Fenris had given what sounded something close to a battle cry as he came from the other side of the doorway, leaping down with his weapon out. Of course the mage he was pursuing looked up at him with wide eyes and turned in a scrambling get away to escape. Following after him were three other soldiers: one dressed in a mouse costume, one dressed in a dog costume, and another in an old farming costume.

"I'm going to rip you open, cover you in salt and burry you out on the Coast in an ant field!" Fenris had snarled as he continued to swipe his sword into the air, but found that he was still missing with each swing.

"Slow down! It's not what you were thinking!" The mouse-man called to him.

"What was he thinking?" The guy in the dog suit started to ask.

Anna ran out of the room in a bright pink dress with a bonnet and a white cane rushed to the edge of the doorway. She looked down towards the pile of mages and lent a hand to the man on top as he needed balance to stand back up. After proceeding to the next three, Anna then turned towards the direction that Fenris was chasing the group which was up the stairs.

"Fenris stop!" She called out to him, but she doubted she was heard. So she had to grab the bottom of her dress to help herself walk faster and chase the group up the stairs. "Fenris, stop it! He didn't do anything! "

"My eye, he didn't!" Fenris shouted back and so the chase continued onward across the second floor and down the hallway.

With the commotion rising in the room Leliana had shifted her attention which it came. She wasn't expecting what she saw come forth when it had. That she had felt her eyes widen at the sight. "What in the name is going on?" She whispered under her breath as her gaze shot back to Alistair. Who she could see was stunned as well by this sight as much as she was. Leliana was about to fully turn her attention back to Alistair and continue their conversation on why he was here. But then the rouge had jumped almost completely out of her skin and turn around when Fenris's words echoed radiantly though the halls and into the opened space where they stood.

Quickly her concern went down to Baelfire and it wasn't even a moment later that his whaling had begun. And man when that kid wanted to cry he sure cried. She knew when he had grown to talk he would always be giving the person he was talking to an ear full that was for certain. But at this moment she couldn't help but groan as she attempted to sooth the little boy within her arms. It worked to an extent but not completely as his adorable pitiful whining continued. "Fenris! I'm gonna kill you!" She exclaimed which she accidently shouted herself and brought Baelfire to heighten his cries once more.

"Damn…" She muttered as she turned and held out the baby to Alistair. Who immdieatly looked at her shockingly stupid and rose his arms up in defense.

"No no no. I'm not taking it." He fought in his defense which hadn't lasted long as she had practically forced the child onto him.

"Just for a moment. It's like your repaying me back for those mean things you said. I just need to go beat Fenris down a few pegs and see what this is all about."

"But—" Alistair fought once more.

"No buts! Once I'm done we can talk to one another of why you're here." She interrupted with a wag of her finger as she quickly turned around and went after Fenris, Anna and the costumed people he chased after."

After running down the halls Leliana had finally come across Anna, who she quickly gave a glance to but shrugged her shoulders on the attire she wore before rushing further ahead until she came across Fenris. Her pace had quickened as she chased after the elf and once she was within arms reach she outstretched her arm and with her digits she took hold of the end of the elfs ear and forcibly stopped herself in her tracks. "Fenris." She greeted in an annoyed tone as she tugged on the elfs ear some. "Would you like to tell me what's happening?"

Feeling the tug on his ear, caused Fenris to halt in his tracks as he was quickly pulled back. His head was tilted to the angle that Leliana had pulled him. At first he nearly had swiped his blade behind himself to get her to have released him, but he heard Leliana's voice and that had halted his actions. It wasn't as though he really feared the woman, but at the same time he didn't want her hurt neither; so for the moment, he was frozen.

"Ow. That. Hurts." He spoke in a blunt tone, keeping his arms up still in the air. He looked ahead of himself though as the mage in the sheep costume ran for his life into the Viscount's public office and turned to lock the door behind him. Fenris groaned and reached up to try and pry his ear free from Leliana's grasp. "Now, he's got away-"

The mouse man, the dog man and the farmer was able to finally catch up to them and did what they could to restrain the elf as well. The mouse man took Fenris's arm, and the dog man had taken his opposite arm while the farmer was trying to pry the blade from Fenris's hands.

"Thank you, Serah." The farmer spoke to Leliana formally. "You're quite fast on your feet to have caught up with him."

"The bloody knife ear barged in with rage in his eyes trying to chop us down for no reason!" The dog man started to speak in fear still.

"Hey! We… We don't … use that kind of talk here… okay?" Anna called once she caught up to them and tried to catch her breath. She turned and started to walk to where she could have faced Fenris directly by blocking his path. "Fenris. I'm going to say it again. He did nothing wrong."

"And I'm going to tell you again, I just want to talk to him." Fenris spoke surprisingly calm as he started to jerk at his arms in the attempt of getting free.

"With an eight-foot blade?" The Mouse Man spoke rather in shock and accusingly.

"I just—I just want to talk to him." Fenris repeated and reached for his blade in his failure once the farmer was able to finally pry it from him.

"You're not talking to him with this." The man dressed like a farmer told him and stepped away.

Anna folded her arms and narrowed her eyes slightly at Fenris in disappointment before looking towards Leliana to finally give her the explanation. "We were practicing to put on a play for Baelfire and decided to take a break. Our Bo'Peep is actually taking assistant classes for an acupuncture and poultice shop. While some of us were on a break, he asked to borrow my back for practice and Fenris game in just frantic."

"*Practice* my eye!" Fenris mimicked Anna's voice as sweet and girlish as he could and finally plucked Leliana's fingers from tightening around his ear. "These ears aren't just for show, you know. I know what I heard in there!"

"It was a massage! He was trying to practice." Anna pleaded with wide eyes back at him.

"I bet he was. If you're going to go around kissing other strange men then I'm-a-I'm going to too!" Fenris said while squirming from the others, and the moment that he got free, he folded his arms and marched away from them. Turning back around, he saw that they were all still staring at him so he scowled and gave a fake mocking laugh. "Yes, yes, the elf's gay. Hah-hah! Get over it."

The dog man raised a slight eyebrow at Fenris curiously moments afterwards. "Really-?"

"No!" Fenris snapped back at him just as quickly though, causing the soldier to jump slightly.

Leliana shot a glare towards Fenris and gave another tug to his ear just so she could more easily speak into it. "You know you woke up Baelfire with your childish shouting. It's not good for children to be present when there's yelling you know!" She argued towards the elf. "And I'm glad it hurts. I hope it hurts for a good long while so you just think on what you did mister."

As the farmer had thanked her Leliana had smiled briefly and nodded. "No problem. Someone has to break it up… I bet the only reason I caught up with him is because of my fit of rage. Otherwise I bet I wouldn't have been able to catch up." She admitted as she looked past the farmer and see Alistair finally reaching the rest of them with baby Baelfire practically content within his arms.

"It looks like the mistress is out to get everyone today." He made as his announcement as he stopped beside Anna and looked over to her and her clothing. He wasn't one to judge but to see her and all these people dressed as oddities brought him to wonder. He wasn't about to ask though and accidently say the wrong thing and get attacked. So he just kept his mouth shut on the matter. "Are you going to take your son back…? I think he's enjoying my company to much and that will mean I will have to take him home with me." He joked in hopes it would move Leliana more quickly.

Leliana had known Alistair to be joking her but she turned back to Fenris as she gave a little leeway before parting her lips. "As long as the elf promises not to hunt anyone down anymore."

As Anna explained the meaning behind the whole dress-up and chase down Leliana had sighed with relief to hear it wasn't odder than what it seemed. But she couldn't help but smile afterwards to Anna for her thoughtful-ness. "Thank you Anna I'm sure he'll love it when you show it to him." She admitted with happiness as she felt her grasp from the elf's ear being taken that she dropped her arms back to her sides and shook her head to the ongoing argument Fenris spat back as he usually had. "Now what did I say about arguing and yelling. Don't make me put you in a corner Fenris."

"Why does it matter anyways if someone was giving Anna a massage? Maker knows she needs it. It's not like anything further came about of them being in close conduct." She added into the conversation as she had already taken it upon herself to take the awakened Baelfire into her arms and start her usual oggly faces. She was determined to make this child laugh early if it was the last thing she had done. "Silly gay Fenris being all butt hurt about Anna doing nothing… We should poke him with a stick until he's more nice huh?" She spoke to Baelfire who begun his gurgling comeback towards his mother.

"Leliana?" Alistair stated in a chance to bring her attention to him.

"Yes Alistair?" She replied with a glance up.

"We should begin our conversation so we can be out of each others hair at last." He responded. "Plus I doubt you would prefer me to stay here. I wouldn't want to be a bother."

"Psh, don't be silly your majesty." She teased just to get a flinch out of him. "You can stay as long as you please. But we should speak to one another right away. I wish to ask you of your help on something."

"M-Majesty?" Anna mumbled under her breath and blinked back towards Alistair.

Anna had not seen King Alistair in person before, and she had spent most of her time in Tevinter during the tales of the Hero of Ferelden, so it wasn't as if she had known of him other than of what the Magistrate spoke of him. It didn't even click in her mind at first when Leliana had even called the man by his first name. So, after a moment of it sinking in, Anna gasped and quickly stepped back.

She pulled Fenris in front of her to use him as a shield. After all, it was embarrassing enough that she had marched out into the main hall of the Viscount's Keep in this frilly pink costume. Though she really didn't think on it much until now… in front of every member to Anders's Cabinet….and the King of Ferelden…

"Tha-That's the king? The King? That's-I should bow. Should I? I'm going to bow." She whispered frantically into Fenris's ear and quickly started to drop down low into a bow.

"You're going to be the only one…" Fenris said rather out loud and looked up and away as he rolled his eyes.

"A-A thousand pardons, Highness." Anna spoke from her curtsied position and kept her head modestly low. "Such interruptions should have never occurred. I should have prepared the main hall for guests as highly established as you. Please carry on, then."

"Stand up, it's only Alistair…" Fenris looked back at Anna with a dull expression. However, Anna didn't move. She wasn't going to move unless she was dismissed, as such was the way that the High Archon in Tevinter had his public address him. Anna felt that it was the same everywhere. Giving a light sigh, Fenris folded his arms and looked back towards Alistair. "Would you tell her to stand so she'll start moving again?"

Alistair and Leliana had looked to Anna in almost unison when she had begun her complementation with herself that Alistair was half tempted to tell her like he had been telling everyone else not to be so pushy on the whole him being King thing. He understood why they did, some of them but it had gotten very old when it seemed he wasn't even treated human any more, or even a Warden. Just a high standing official and nothing else. "You know Alistair doesn't like that kind of thing." Leliana chimed cheerfully. "I just call him majesty to mess with his head. He gets his britches in a bunch so easily."

"Woman I swear it I'm going to get back at you." He groaned as he folded his arms some over his chest and finally looked down to Anna and then Fenris's with his request. "Right of course… Sorry." He replied through his own kneel down towards Anna as he had reached out towards her hand to help her up from such a position. "Please… Stand up… There's no need to apologize or bow for that matter. I'm still goofy Alistair that traveled with the Hero of Ferelden after all."

"You can say that goofy part again." Leliana mimicked with a wide grin pulling to her lips as she walked past Alistair and Anna. "Come on Alistair we can talk in the meeting room."

The Warden nodded his head in response as he stood back up to his standing position and started after Leliana. "I hope we can come by one another later. But for now… I have to dismiss myself."

The two had locked themselves away for a good hour of back and forth chatting, bickering and even some laughter. When the door had managed to come open Alistair was first to show his face as he turned back to Leliana and asked. "Are you certain?"

Leliana just nodded her head and forced on a smile hoping he wouldn't go back on his word. "You're the only person I can turn to now. I need your help more than you know." She admitted sheepishly.

"I don't know why I agreed it a death trap and asking for a war. But since we're already at war with Orlais there's no harm in helping I suppose."

Anna had her eyes clenched shut at first, when he had believed Alistair's words were directed at her. She felt someone's taking her hand and she was lifted carefully back up. So, nearing the same time that she was being raised, Anna had opened her eyes to see the King of Ferelden for the first time with acknowledging who he was and of what the stories have spoke of him. His eyes were warm and gentle, but they had also looked tired and strained. She quickly averted her eyes from him, but she smiled politely, feeling her embarrassment remain ever there still. Luckily for her their departure was soon and Anna could return back to hiding behind Fenris once more.

(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*((**(*(*(

In the bed chambers to the members of the court, Fenris stood with his arms outward, holding rack of dresses in front of himself. Each fabric was draped over his arms while more dresses of different colors have been thrown over him. He sighed as he could hear Anna's prattling to herself which dress would fit her best when in the possible chance of meeting with the King of Ferelden once again. Needless to say, Fenris was bored quickly from this much of a fuss she was giving at the moment. While at the same time, it was bittersweet to have seen her so excited about their guest.

"Too pretentious… To conservative…" Her voice continued onward from the closet while another Victorian style dress was thrown out; soon to follow were two more of a different colors. "Too unobtrusive… Too promiscuous…"

Fenris groaned a little while one of the dresses had landed on his head.

Anna threw out another pair of dresses soon to follow after the previous two. "Yikes. Yikes, yikes… Why is this one even in here?"

"You know you've got no reason to fear him. He's not going to judge you by your clothes." Fenris finally said and lowered his arms to drop the dresses on the bed. He then reached up to lift the dress from his face to put it down on the bed.

"It's not really fear that I have. It's more like… admiration and respect." Anna replied and then gave a quick sigh as she stepped out of the closet. "Oh! I give up… I have no clothes!"

"You don't say…" Fenris turned with a dull look towards the bed that was covered in dresses. Afterwards, he turned his head to look back towards her. "What is it that fascinates you so much of him?"

"He knew the Hero of Ferelden, of course! Remember, I've only met Serah Cousland one time…" Anna smiled brightly and turned towards the dresser to pick up a coat hanger. Turning around she lifted the coat hanger into the air and out towards Fenris as she pretended to be a sword and dodged him in her brief talkative display. "The stories of Serah Cousland sleighing dragons and demons; that's what I would crave to know. And who better to tell stories than someone who was actually there?"

Fenris smiled a little and dodged the playful dive towards him and watched as she landed back into the pile of clothes. He turned his attention to picking up dresses to put them away. "You know you could have asked Leliana for that sort of thing."

"Oh, I couldn't bring up any memories like that from her. I wouldn't want to accidently upset her, Fenris." Anna shook her head and scooted towards the pillows of the bed.

"Alright I won't push the matter." Fenris shook his head, though he did think that she was over-worrying. He reached into the pile and pulled up one of the satin dresses. "What about this one?"

"Oh! Maker, no. That should be burned." Anna gasped and shook her head.

Fenris raised a slight eyebrow to her questionably. "Anna, it's just a dress—"

"I wore that during my Tevinter Initiation." She quickly replied and folded her arms.

The elf felt his face turn a little blue as he stared at the fabric. Sure enough, there was still even a light bloodstain near the abdomen of the seams, from where she had been forced to kill a slave. Fenris quickly balled up the fabric and threw the dress over his shoulder and into the small waste-bin next to the mantel.

"So, where are the oil and matches?" He asked her, still keeping a light and chipper tone that caused her to laugh.

)*)*)*)*)*)

From the main hall at the front door, there was a knock at the door. One of the staff members walked to the doors and opened them. From the other side a tall man wearing silver Tevinter robes stepped inside. His long silver hair was tied in a tight braid to rest against his ankles. He looked around the room curiously as he stepped to the center of the main hall.

"So this is the Royal Viscount's Keep… Oh, the Icon must be just sitting-pretty with his caviar and champagne somewhere." He spoke in surprise and waved his hand excitedly and daintily as he could. "Oh, don't mind me, honey-kins. Just go and fetch for me, please."

The staff member hadn't said anything though he did bow and turned upon his moment to leave for upstairs.

As Leliana and Alistair stood before one another, their conversing with one another brought them to not pay much attention to their surroundings as nothing had seemed out of the ordinary as the duo kept up this process as their pace was started down the hallways and to the forefront of the Viscount's Keep entrance. Alistair couldn't believe he had agreed to such terms. Especially going about it without even speaking with his advisors first. It wasn't like it was the first time he made a decision without their approval, but when he had they would being a fit of rage only Alistair knew to well. At least this time he had an excuse and that was they hadn't come to Kirkwall with him so he really couldn't ask and okay with them before saying yes to Leliana. After all it was just like helping out a friend, in a large amount of course, but still helping out. From what she had told him he could see how truly devoted she was to this mage. And knowing from past experiences with love and such that it torn at the tinyest but most sensitive areas when one would be separated from that one person.

"I do hope you're going to pay me back somehow." Alistair chimed as he flashed a teethy grin towards the rouge.

Leliana shook her head some and laughed as she bounced Baelfire gently within her arms. "Oh I will… I'm one to repay my debts after all you know…" She responded with a short pause to think on how exactly she could give back to her former comrade. "What about a drink? And some cheese? Will that be sufficient?"

Alistair's eyes had gleamed momentarily on the mentioning of cheese that he had quickly nodded his head in a response of a yes. "Sure, I was hoping on a form of payment in gold and silver but that will be fine to." He joked as he further walked alongside Leliana.

After the two had come to the top of the staircase in front of the entrance Leliana's stance had stilled as she had spun onto her heel and give a suspicious eye to the incoming stranger. "And who might you be?"

As for Alistair he looked back over his shoulder to Leliana and then halted in his own tracks as well to turn to face where the rouge was directing her attention as his eyes scanned up and down the newcomer, taking in the appearance of his attire with thought. "Aren't those Tevinter garments?" He whispered with a lean in towards Leliana.

Leliana followed in her own glance to the man and nodded some to Alistair in a slow yet short movement that only the Warden could grasp to see given the distance of herself and this man. "And why are you looking for Anna? What business do you have with her?"

"Oh, my. Are you the Keeper of the Keep?" The silver haired man questioned when he turned slightly to the voice that called to him.

He reached into his pocket to pull out a pair of what looked like, a miniature pair of binoculars that were encrusted in gold. Smiling some, after seeing for certain who it was, the man folded the spectacles and placed them back at into his pocket.

"Yes, I do believe you are. I've heard stories about you, you know." He grinned, flashing many rows of tiny sharp teeth as he curtsied in hers and Alistair's direction. "But my tongue shouldn't waggle. I'm Malachi Christchev-De Ramstein, Category Member Six of the Black Divine, at your service. I bring news to , nothing more as of late, Serah..."

Near to that moment, Fenris had returned with Anna who was finally changed into a sky-blue Circle robe. She was speaking with the gentleman who was sent to retrieve her at the time. Though when she looked towards Malachi, her expression had seemed even more confused than before. Malachi didn't seem to have taken this as any hint though, and walked towards her quickly with opened arms.

"Darling! It's been too long-!" The silver haired man started to swoon, but Fenris quickly took a step in between his approach and folded his arms. Seeing this, Malachi leaned away slightly as if he was about to have been struck. "Oh! …I see you've brought you 'Handmaiden' with you."

"I remember you… " Fenris sneered but he didn't move from his stance. "You were the one helping to prepare Anna's Initiation Ceremony."

"Yes, it was lovely, wasn't it?" Malachi questioned in remembrance.

Fenris was doing everything he could to have kept from pinning the man to the wall and ripping out his heart from that very spot. However, Fenris had to keep in mind that he was in a Keep filled with mages who all were currently receiving support from Tevinter. It wouldn't have been in his best interest (at least currently) to attack this man. So, he attempted to steady his arms for the moment.

"State your business…and then leave." Fenris warned him after a light snort.

Malachi raised an eyebrow at him; extremely confused because he was use to giving orders to elves, not really receiving any. He then looked past Fenris's shoulder and attempted to try to speak to Anna directly; who at the time was finding a safer spot behind Fenris. "Anna, my dear girl, you slave is being rather hostel so suddenly. A delicate flower such as myself might chip a nail from the way he's glaring."

Anna glanced down before starting to step forward so that she stood next to Fenris rather than behind him. She curtsied, holding her head low for the moment before rising and began to speak. "Your Grace, I hold no such claim, -despite what license my husband has over this man—"

"Elf, darling. He's an elf… and if you haven't been attention to your husband's titles and licenses, then I suggest that you do so swiftly before the mansion is raided by squatters." Malachi expressed with dramatic poses of flipping his hair and shifting his weight to one side. He reached up afterwards and pressed a gloved finger underneath his eyes as he continued. "For you see, …your husband is dead…and your poor son has passed on as well."

Anna merely stared at him for the moment. She blinked a couple of times, as though she wasn't even there for a moment. She never really had any official letter or anyone to really bring her the news about her son and husband. It was difficult enough to have accepted her son to have been turned into a demon through Alexander's previous means. Though now to hear of them being gone, was yet still another piece of news that was shocking to her. Even if she had known of it from the back of her mind…

"Oh, it was horrible! I'm terribly sorry for you, Lady Hamilton… I know I loved hi—" Malachi paused a moment and looked at her, nearly stunned for the moment since she didn't seem to have been completely there. He reached up and waved her hand in front of her face a couple of times.

"Lady Hamilton? …Hello? Aren't you upset at all?" He asked her a couple of times, as to have been trying to gain her attention. "You can't even shed one tear?"

"….So, that's why Sithis…!" She gasped, with her eyes to the floor and started to step towards the nearest window to her left.

Malachi blinked a couple of times before glaring at her. He started to raise his hand towards her head at the moment. "Cry, you miserable-!"

Fenris quickly came up behind him and snatched Malachi's hand in a tight grip. He started to squeeze harshly; forcing the mage's hand to press more against pointer's knuckle. All too eagerly, the elf then proceeded to twist the man's arm behind his back. Malachi jumped and let out a girlish yelp in the process of standing on his toes.

"Oh, you brute! Is that any way to treat a lady?" Malachi asked and looked away from him with a light blush rising to his cheeks.

"A cow would be more of a lady than you." Fenris growled at him.

Leliana had arched an inquisitive brow as the words of this newly found strangers reached her ears. She took a moment for herself to glance around herself and then fall her eyes back to the newcomer as her head lastly shifted to the side. "Keeper?" She mimicked in a softer tone which was dully followed by a blink of her eyes. "Oh… You mean since Anders has been… Gone…" She mustered as her hues fell down to gaze before her feet momentarily. "I'm not much a keeper if that's what your asking… Anders put others in charge if such occurrences were to happen. I guess you could just call me the hold down the fort until he returns."

"If he returns." Alistair pipped in with a sly quickness which resulted in him buckling over from Leliana's swift swat to his gut. He couldn't help but wonder how she penetrated past his armor but he wasn't one to ask just to experience it again as he knew she would do just that.

"You said you would help so you better help!" Leliana warned with a final wave of her finger to the Warden King before wrapping her arm back under her son.

Upon hearing the spat begin between Fenris and Malachi, Leliana had glanced up and gave a sigh. It was no surprise for her at least since she was use to Fenris fighting with just about anyone. "Must you argue with everyone Fenris?" Leliana teased his way once the statement was given of him giving Malachi the orders to state why he was here and then to leave. "Just don't get too much in a fiasco in front of the baby. Don't think I won't break it up a fight still."

Blinking a few times Leliana shifted her weight to one side of her posture and listened to the news which was giving on behalf of Alexander. She had already knew of this of course, but Leliana would have thought Anna would have known as well. Seeing as how things came about back in Tevinter, which was one of the reasons she never brought it up, along with not wanting to open fresh wounds. "Why are we talking about this? Hasn't she been through enough?"

Alistiar turned his attention to Leliana as his fore finger and thumb caressed alongside his chin in thought. "Hamilton… Why does that name ring a bell?" He whispered.

"Because he was a well known man in Tevinter… I bet your advisers let you know of him when he started working with Anders for the mages. You were probably just off in your own world as usual." She teased with a sly smirk pulling to her lips.

"H-Hey now… I always listen. Just more so on certain things and not so much on the boring." He replied with a wide grin accompanying his features.

Leliana rolled her eyes, which lastly dropped to Malachi's raising hand to Anna. Leliana gasped momentarily as she had reached out no matter her distance, but from Fenris's quick intervene she slowly relaxed back into her previous position. But this hadn't stopped her in the pursuit of Anna once she had stood behind her.

"Are you alright Anna?" She had questioned, almost hesitantly as she wasn't even sure if those were the right words for such a time. Or if she would even answer seeing as how she pushed away Malachi's questions as well. Which brought the rouge to look back at the silver haired man and shake her head. "You know that was very unthoughtful. Everyone has their own way of grieving after all."

"You're—ah!—You're right, of course. Whatever was I thinking?" Malachi attempted laugh despite the painful hold Fenris had placed him in at the time. It seemed that the elf was not about to let up in his struggle, and his grip around the Magister's hand was like an iron casing. So, Malachi continued in his befuddled excuses. "Tevinters are proudly known for their emotional control, I realize- Anna makes a fine Tevinter Wife—"

"She's Ferelden." Fenris grumbled and tightened his hold on Malachi's hand, causing the other male to yelp a bit more.

"Ah! Okay, okay! Ferelden, Tevinter…hah-hah. What's the difference, right?" Malachi asked, glancing behind himself to look at what he could of Fenris's spiked armor and then turned his head towards Anna once more. "Lady Hamilton? Darling? Could you please—um—c-call off your Elvin Handmaiden—?"

Fenris growled and started to add pressure against Malachi's twisted arm, forcing the silver haired male to stumble forward onto his knees.

"Dumat's-Wing-Alright! Not 'Handmaiden'…" Malachi grunted as his sweet and chipper voice turned quickly sour and bitter. He stared down at the floor he was forced to kneel into and rolled his eyes; trying to block out the pain in his arm. "Give me a break, elf, you're about to rip it off! Think of all that blood staining the floor. I don't want a missing arm, and you certainly don't want to have to clean that up..."

Meanwhile the flashes of Sithis and the things he had told Anna when he came to the mansion, flashed in Anna's mind. She had still seemed almost lost in the previous memories. She probably would have reverted back to her previous state in that moment in time if it hadn't been for Leliana reaching out to her. The sudden silence that was wrapped within Anna's mind had suddenly filled in completely and then left as quickly as it came, causing her to blink some and jump a little towards Leliana's words.

"H-Huh?...Oh… Yes, I'm fine." She started to offer what chipped smile she could; which quickly had faded yet again up on turning and seeing of what Fenris was doing to the Magister. Anna's eyes widened and she gasped before giving out what almost seemed close an order—and probably her first ever given. "Fenris, release him this instant!"

Fenris glanced at her before pushing Malachi slightly down and removing his hands away from he male. He lifted his arms up into the air, showing that he wasn't keeping him held down anymore.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace." Anna began to explain and helped Malachi back to his feet. "…Fenris has been just … a little protective of me since I've left the mansion."

Of course this brought a little surprise to Fenris by seeing how much mercy Anna was showing the Magister when he clearly didn't deserve it. Then again, that was just the way she always had been. He tried to ignore the feeling of being commanded and folded his arms bitterly. "The racist bastard deserves it. That's what he gets for calling me an elf…"

"Fenris, you are an elf." Anna sighed though had her attention still with making sure that Malachi had been alright. Though the minute that she spoke, she paused and looked back towards Fenris in her own retaliation. "I'm sorry… That wasn't what I—"

The slight questionable brow Fenris had risen towards her lifted and quickly the elf turned away. In a bitter march, he headed back up the stairs and down the second hallway without another word. Anna flinched some when she heard the door being closed much farther down the hallway. It wasn't a slam, but just from hearing it she realized just how upset she had made him.

"Wow… I tell you, I do not want to have to be the one going after him…. Such poor manners." Malachi shook his hand a little and winced before glancing back up the stairway. Afterwards, he looked back towards Anna, who had seemed to retreat more to Leliana's side. "Darling, why on earth, are even traveling without a proper escort? I've brought two; if you'd like you could have one of mine."

"-Thank you, Your Grace..." Anna started to say and tried her best at smiling again, "But I don't think that—"

"Ser Jacob might not be much to look at in the face but his abs are rippling and he has the firmest butt in the Order!" Malachi continued almost as if talking over her.

"—your opinion is needed." Anna continued as well, feeling her expression wanting to twitch from hearing this Magister play "match-maker of the magisters," or so it seemed.

"Oh, just meet him. He's right outside." Malachi pouted some after hearing only the last bit of her given answer. "You realize by law, you can't truly venture past Tevinter lands without a Templar Escort of the Black Divine, you know. Besides, Master Hamilton had it made very clear in his will that if he were to die before you, a Tevinter Templar would be assigned to you. Since your son has passed also, everything that Sera Hamilton owns and operates now falls into your lap. You can't just run off, you have responsibilities."

Leliana couldn't help but flinch the moment it felt the slamming but so quietly slamming of the door occurred. She had to admit she did feel kind of bad for the Elf. After all he was always the one getting the flack of everyone else and when she spent the time years ago with the elves she understood there meaning behind the hatred and weary concern of the humans. A part of her wanted to console him but as she stood before Anna she could see she was more so needed elsewhere. And it wasn't like her presence would help any for Fenris; it was just a hope and nothing more.

"Not to sound rude or anything… Malachi was it? But I think Anna is safe in our company. After all this is a place for mages and their freedom… Why would she need an escort if we have done a proper job so far?" She questioned curiously as she felt in unison with her brow raising as her shoulder was pulled back a few inches which brought the rouge to turn suspiciously and look to the grip and up to Alistair's whom had hold. "Whatttt!" She groaned in a spat as she stepped back a few paces as she could feel the warden wouldn't let up anytime soon.

"You should let him do what he wants. It's difficult to change a person that is in that positions mind." He replied in a softer tone as he leaned in just so his words could reach her ears. "Trust me I know."

The rouge rolled her eyes and sighed a single sigh before pulling her shoulder free from the male as she began turning to face him. "Fine…" She replied as she glanced back to Anna and Malachi where she stepped towards the duo once more.. "She doesn't have to leave to Tevinter now does she? After all she's a big help with Baelfire and with Anders being gone I was hoping she could visit a little longer. It's not like you guys got the mansion all cleaned and rebuilt from what it last went through now do you? And we don't need a lady going home to a wreck of home." She started explain hoping at least part of her plees were true. "After all I need someone to watch Baelfire when I go somewhere… Maybe we can bring Anna to Tevinter if she and you are okay with that?"

At first Malachi heard Leliana speaking, but before he was given the chance of a proper response he had seen her being pulled back. He didn't want to have intervened with what may have been discussed since it seemed to have not been his place to do so, at the time. No. Malachi, was more concerned with bringing Anna back with him, or at the very least having her to accept the templar he would have been willing to lend her while her time away from her home. He turned his attention back towards Anna for the moment.

"Take him in for now. That's all I'm asking. I can have the paperwork pulled up later." Malachi started to say with a wave of his hand before Anna could really even get a word in edge-wise.

Though at that time, Leliana had stepped in closer with her words of reason. While it had been true that Kirkwall established themselves a free city for Ferelden mages, Anna was not considered a Ferelden anymore, and all she had to do in order to get into big trouble, was to have crossed paths with the wrong people. That meant, Tevinter Black Divine Members, Tevinter Templars, or even Ferelden Circle members or Templars of the White Spire. Despite her location, Anna would have been in danger from both sides, simply because she currently was not protected by anyone—as far as any Chantry member would have recognized.

"Well… the place is still in shambles, but you know how squatters are—give them a teapot over their head and they'll call it a roof!" Malachi exclaimed brightly in thought afterwards. He turned his gaze from the roof to glance between Leliana and Anna once more. "I was going to suggest Lady Hamilton to stay in Asariel until the refurnishing were completed."

"Really, I would rather just give the home up to the staff." Anna sighed and reached up rubbing her temples.

At the moment, there was nothing more she would have rather done than to go after Fenris, but Malachi wasn't about to allow it without some sort of conclusion to any of this. After all, Malachi was Alexander's legal advisor in most of his things, so it was only fitting that he would have handled the will and anything else that went along with it.

"Madam! How dare you to suggest such a thing. Your husband would be rolling over in his grave if he were to see—" Malachi started to storm away, but only till the moment he had looked back in front of himself to have seen The King of Ferelden practically standing there the entire time.

Of course Malachi had paled some and pointed back at the man almost frantically. Though standing but maybe a few feet away from them, to the Tevinter Magister, the other male had still seemed to pose as a threat. He couldn't believe that he had completely not recognized the Ferelden King (of all people) standing right in the same room with them this entire time. Yes, Malachi was slightly crude, and even rude in some aspects, but to have blindly passed this was just plain stupidity on his part. To top things off, as far as Malachi had even been aware of, Kirkwall stood on its own ground, which meant that soldiers from the more southern lands—like Ferelden—would have been the actual enemy.

"Wha-Wha-What's he doing here?" He started to demand after a slight girlish yelp. He quickly raised his left hand up into the air, reflecting a light blue glow in his palm as a warning. "The Ferelden King? What trickery? What madness? Kirkwall shall not bend nor shall it bow, so say the Icon!"

"Your Grace, no—calm down!" Anna pleaded—finding that this had been the only thing she had been doing for hours. She reached up and tugged at Malachi's arm to try and pull it down. "He's not here for Anders—or anything like that."

"Once a Templar, always a Templar, my Dear." Malachi retorted back though he eventually had given in to Anna's tugging at the moment. His light glowing reflection had began to fade away when he started to notice that he was the only one actually acting on an impulse. He turned slightly, pushing Anna back behind him and spoke over his shoulder. "You did know he was a templar, didn't you?"

"He's… a templar?" Anna blinked some with both a slight fear in recognition and new knowledge. How quickly a mage in her position would change when such information was brought to their attention. For her-any apostate or bloodmage-it was like that.

"Ex-templar of the White Spire; though from what I heard, not ex-communicated." Malachi continued, but fisted his hands in defense still. "Well, Serrah, regardless of what circumstances you may have heard under this roof thus far—as far as Lady Hamilton is concerned, she is protected under a Tevinter Citizenship. As a member of the Black Divine, shall bare witness to any abductions you attempt to lay claim—and if you do-so Maker-help-me, there will be a reckoning brought to your Circle's doorstep!"

Anna felt her cheeks turn bright red as she tugged at Malachi's arm. She started to twist it behind his back after Fenris's previous torture to it, and pull him away. Tugging him off while Malachi was yelping all the way, she shyly began to fumble under her breath. "I-I-I am so sorry for all of this… P-Please excuse us…"

Leliana was on her own way to take her leave from this mess as well seeing as how Malachi wouldn't do as she wished. So there was little she could do. But she was quickly stalled the moment she saw the Magisters expression change when he sighted Alistair that Leliana shook her head as she had situated Baelfire more comfortable in her arms and propped a hand upon her hip. "You do realize he's been standing here the whole time. I swear men never pay attention to anything!"

"I must argue that—" Alistair started to say in his defense and all other men. But he had paused abruptly from Malachi's finger pointing that the Warden had leaned back to just get the previous space he once had with this man. "Don't worry… You can say it." He joked in a cocky tone of voice as he gave a nod of his head. "The King of Ferelden." He finished figuring the man would take twenty or a hundred years to spit it out. That he began to turn a shoulder to leave aside Leliana. But the comment of him being a Templar whipped him back around. "I technically was never a 'Templar' I never joined their click if you must know… My commander pulled me out before then. The Chantry was just a home for me for we had family problems." He corrected as he started to cris cross his arms over his frame while cocking his head to the side.

Though as soon as the flickering of light hit his eye sight Alistair's once cool and mellow composure had diminished as he staggered back and put his arms up in his defense.

Which had also brought Leliana to come into the mix of things as well, but clearly staying clear of any crossfire for she still had Baelfire within her arms. "He's here to help me." She replied quickly hoping at least he would listen for a moment. "Alistair's to much of a dummy-smarty-pants to hurt anyone here. Plus he was one of the Wardens I traveled with back in Ferelden shouldn't that mean something?"

Alistair had wanted to lash out at Leliana with her comment towards him but he knew she meant no harm by it. That he finally stepped forward once he thought Anna had a better grip on him and he wouldn't have to worry about being frozen, electrified or put a blaze. "What she says is true… I came at first to check on her, as you're doing for Anna. After all that's what friends do, right?"

Leliana had to stop herself from rolling her eyes as she stepped back seeing as how Anna had begun to get control over Malachi and drag him away. She hoped she wouldn't take him near Fenris as the Elf would still be irate most likely. But she couldn't help but feel a sigh of relief fall across her as she slowly turned her attention elsewhere and back to Alistair and gave a gleamy grin. Which by Alistair's expression it was seen he was more frightened of the rouge tenfold than he ever was of the Magister. "What!?" He dared to ask as he regained his stature from before. "You admitted to helping me, so now you can't back out." She responded which brought Alistair to arch a curious brow. "I was never going to back out. I keep my word. We should set things into motion so we can finish this."

After almost a week or two of preparations Leliana and Alistair were on the road. She was still surprised to know Alistair was going through with helping her. But it wasn't as if Ferelden and Orlaisis were on good terms. They possibly went over a million strategies most seems pointless but one that didn't see acted out, if she were to just go to the mother herself. That could be a turn for the worst depending on how it was played out. She was also worried mostly about the "Mother" and how she was going to confront her and Cassandra if needed. So for now she decided to wing it, and see where it lead from there.