Chapter 49: Child of Stars, part V

Alistair swallowed and the feeling of untold sorrow overwhelmed him to the point that he desperately wanted to take the quietly sobbing man in his arms and hug him tightly, to never let him go. However, a moment such as this deserved a moment of privacy.

The ghostly apparation of an older man, who bore startling similarities to Hadrian, talked to his lover in low, soft tones. Perhaps the ghost did not want everyone to hear their conversation and thus, he bid everyone to step away even further, to give the couple much needed space of their own.

The blonde warrior had not expected to be called upon so soon and it was only because of Leliana's light pat on his shoulder that he was made aware of it. Leliana's green eyes simmered with unshed tears and her pale face told him all that he wanted to know.

As he approached closer to the pair, the ghost glanced at him and gave him a knowing smile before disappearing into the ancient stones. Hadrian was oddly quiet throughout the reminder of their excursion, only talking when necessary.

Alistair didn't push his lover into talking about what had transpired between him and the apparition. Seeing the striking semblance between the two had him think, and correctly so, that the ghost was his father. Oh Maker...then that means...

Suddenly, it all makes sense now. The family sword and shield. The wolves' mourning of his mother's birthday and Hadrian's feverish murmuring about his mother and fire. The unusual way his lover was protective of Fergus...

Initially, Alistair's first instinct upon seeing Hadrian hug the brunette so tenderly was to challenge him in a duel. Then, the unexpected revelation that Fergus was not an ex-lover but rather his brother instead absolutely confounded him and the others as well. All of his companions had no idea that Hadrian even had a brother let alone come from such a powerful noble lineage. If it weren't for King Calenhad's successful unification of Ferelden, the line of Cousland would have been one of royalty instead.

Forced into fighting against their own selves, shaded as they were, frightened Alistair and he could never forget striking Hadrian's shade down as it tried to backstab his lover. The grim acceptance of death etched on that shade's face forever haunted him, from that hollow room to all the way of the small altar they had finally come upon.

Release all the trappings of thy mortal life and only the worthy shall pass

Any other time, the blonde warrior would have said something light and funny. Oooh. I didn't know Andraste wanted to see us naked!

However, the jest died in his mouth as soon as he saw Hadrian's dejected form. He couldn't see the moistened eyes through the silver hair but it was all too clear to Alistair that his lover was still feeling the effects of the Gauntlets. Seeing as Hadrian couldn't really think straight and the two ladies shifted uncomfortably at the subtle meaning behind the inscription, Alistair opted to be the brave and stupid one this time around.

"Alistair! What are you doing?!" It was Leliana who had cried out at him and her exclamation caused Hadrian to whip around, shock and anger rising in those azure eyes of his.

"Getting naked, alright? Geez, Leliana...you don't have look so closely at me, you know!" Alistair's innocent reply brought a flush to the redhead's face and Hadrian gave a small smile.

"Alright, everyone," Hadrian's voice sounded stronger this time. "drop everything and hope to the Maker that this embarrassment is worth walking through that fire."

"If not, then I will certainly chase all three of you down in the Fade," Wynne replied and, for her dignity, everyone had turned away to allow her to undress in privacy.

Alistair took a deep breath and exhaled unsteadily before taking that first step through the fire. It burned, but not in the usual, painful way. Instead, it seared right through him, into his very soul itself. Soft whispers echoed in his mind and he could a young woman singing quietly in the background. The song was in another language, words from another time, but it lightened his heart of his burdens. Do not forget this feeling, young warrior, for dark times are ahead of us... Someone whispered to him and he gasped, his eyes opening only to find himself on the other side of the fire, with his three friends at his side.

"Alistair?" Hadrian asked him and a hand palmed his shoulder in question.

"I'm alright. But did you hear that voice? Was someone else here in this room with us?"

"No, not unless you count the statue of Andraste as an actual being," Hadrian answered and Alistair glanced in the direction where Hadrian had pointed.

There, placed on top of another altar, was Andraste's statue. Her head was turned upwards, towards the heavens, and her hands were out. One was open while the other guarded her heart. The eyes were blank but Alistair could swear that she was looking down at them with approval at their passing of her test.

"You have passed the Gauntlet," a deeper voice intoned throughout the room and the older warrior-priest simmered into being. "Thus, you have proven yourselves worthy to look upon the ashes of our Andraste."

"Thank you," Hadrian bowed his head and the priest smiled at him before disappearing, never to appear again.

"Come on," the young Cousland bid his friends to him as he walked up the ramp, "let's go and save the Arl."

-o0o-

"How does he fare?"

The lilt at the end of the sentence caused his hairs to stand up and Fergus knew exactly who was behind him. His brother had told him that the elven assassin, despite his amorous and cocksure attitudes as well as his shady past as a paid killer, could be trusted. However, self-preservation bid the taller man to be on guard, in case he would have a knife at his back. Thus, his hand automatically reached for the small dirk at his side and there was a soft 'tsk' sound coming from the blonde elf.

"If I had wanted to kill you, handsome one," the elf purred but made no move otherwise. "You would be dead before your hand touches that knife, however closely hidden it is."

The threat didn't ease up the tension between the two and Zevran knew he made a mistake as soon as he saw Fergus whirl around, anger flashing rather hotly in those dark brown eyes.

Oh my...such a wonderful beast of a man he is, despite his nobility. Zevran had the full intention of seducing Hadrian's older brother but when he accidentally overheard their discussion upon the initial reunion,all plans became null. He knew all too well of having lost a loved one and Fergus lost both his immediate family and that of his own in one night. The assassin didn't believe in such things really but he truly hoped that they all found peace in another life. Thus, he made a lot of effort in trying not to be the seductive little bastard that he knows he is.

"Calm yourself, I merely wish to see how you are doing," Zevran said, raising his hands up in surrender as he tried to place himself in a non-threatening manner to appease the man.

"I am doing fine, assassin," Fergus hissed the word of Zevran's title and the elf winced, although he didn't know why. Zevran had been called many names, mostly of 'bastard' and 'whore son' but they've never truly hurt him. Hearing it come out of this noble man's mouth in disgust cut him though and he did another thing that he vowed would never do: cut short the seduction and run.

"Perhaps, you wish to be alone, yes?" Zevran asked politely, giving the other man a choice to say 'yes'

It shocked him when Fergus apologized for his rudeness and asked him to stay if he wanted.

"You know, Hadrian didn't mention that he even had a family until we arrived at Redcliffe," Zevran said almost hesitantly, trying to gauge the other man's mood when talking about family and such. If it was positive, he would continue. If not, well, they could always talk about Hadrian himself.

"Really?" The brunette's eyebrows shot straight up in surprise. A positive clue, Zevran continued on with the topic.

"Of course, considering what he told us before he left for that Haven village, I'm not surprised,"

"Yes...yes. Though, considering your profession, I can't imagine you would know about how it would feel to lose loved ones, especially..."

Fergus' voice trailed off and the other man turned his back on the elf, a rather bad move on the man's part in Zevran's opinion. However, that topic would be discussed at a much later time.

"I may be an assassin, Fergus Cousland," Zevran said coolly, "but don't think that I lack any experience in losing the one closest to me. Should you wish to apologize to me later on, you can find me in the third room away."

Before Fergus could stop him, the elf had already withdrawn himself from the Arl's room. The heavy silence that came afterward was stifling and Fergus had a hard time breathing, even with the voice inside his head trying to calm him down.

It was not his blade that slew our loved ones. Do not blame him for what he cannot help to be.

The wolf's hypnotic voice didn't help and the air in the Arl's room thickened until Fergus found himself gasping for breath. No, I thought...I thought I was over this!

Giggles of his son drifted hauntingly in the room and the room coalesced into the same one where he had left them on that dreadful night.

And I'll slay them with my soword!

That's sword, little Oren. Sword.

Fergus, I don't want you to go...

Fergus...Fergus..son...

"Fergus!"

Someone called his name and Fergus had difficulty in keeping out the voices, the images of his past.

"No...please...I didn't want to leave you...didn't want..."

"Damn it! Someone's poisoned his drink! Get me Bann Teagan now!"

"Poisoned..?" Fergus struggled and discovered that his arms weighed heavily. Lifting a finger was out of the question. Other voices came into the room and someone had gently supported his head on a pillow.

"Drink or you'll die and Hadrian would truly be the scion of his family," that voice urged him on and Fergus weakly drank the contents given to him.

"...I'm...sorry..." Fergus croaked and the last thing he saw was that fair elf's face, so different and yet so similar to his late wife's.

-TBC-

A/N: Oooh! Someone's managed to slip past Zevran and poison Fergus! What's going to happen next?! And if Fergus dies, will Hadrian ever forgive Zevran for having broken his promise? Will Zevran forgive himself?