sorry for taking so long again :( been trying to figure out where to take this and how to end it. I thought it was going to be over within a few more chapters, but it looks as though it might end up being quite a bit longer than originally thought. on a random note, who's your favourite dragon age character? And are you going to buy Inquisition? I for one am so excited for it, more Varric! Weeeeeee!

CHAPTER 27: THE NEWS

Almost all gathered in the doorway watching as Anders and Solona worked on healing Valerie. Her wounds had been vital, but nothing that Anders had not seen before.

"Anders stop, you're exhausting yourself." Solona whispered ringing the water from a cloth. The other mage bit her lip as she and the others watched as he struggled to stand on his own two feet. The glow on the palms of his hands beginning to take on an unusual dimness. "Anders..." She tried again as he wiped away the streams of sweat from his face, blotching it with blood.

"Solona bring me..." He swayed falling backwards into Solona who had been ready to catch him.

"Anders that is enough, she will be able to heal enough through time. The danger has passed..." He obediently followed Solona's lead as she sat him into one of the cushioned chairs by the fireplace. Instantly his eyes drifted shut as he passed out. The days events having finally taken a tole on his body. Solona sighed and fell into the other chair with a rather unceremonious grunt. Behind her she could hear Garrett ordering everyone else who had been watching away. All but himself and Varric remained close by to keep guard.

"Do you know who lived there?" Varric spoke under his breath.

Garrett was silent. His scowl fixated on the floor at his feet. He knew Avline was already looking into who had been staying there. She would find them soon, and if she didn't the things Garrett would do to the other mage would be so grim even he didn't know his mind could go to those dark of places. Varric took a glance over at the other man, his arms crossed and gauntlets digging into his bicep.

"Garrett, calm down. You won't do anyone any good in this state." Varric continued to watch as blood flowed from the self-inflicted puncture wounds that dripped down onto the white floor. The mages eyes closed and his face relaxed as he removed the sharp gauntlet claws from his own arm. Staring at the streams of crimson he thought back to just a few weeks ago. When he had resorted to using blood magic. Few had saw what had become of the Quinari Arishok; his body being ripped in half would be the least of this man's worries had he not witnessed just what Garret could really do.

Only a few minutes had passed before Anders had awoken once more. The color returning to his face and all around looking more lively than he had just moments before. There was a small conversation between himself and Solona that drew Garrett's attention toward them.

"I've done all I can for her..." Anders clasp his blood coated hands together and as if just now noticing the fact tried to wipe away blood on his already stained robes. ", but I... I."

Waiting for only the time it took for Varric to cross the room to the other three he asked. "What is it. What's wrong?"

"The child. I can't feel it."

Red flashed in Garrett's eyes, all could see the look of pure hatred on his face. The dark thoughts that had crossed his mind seemed tame to those he pictured now. The room grew cold as the streams of blood on his arm lift from his skin. Anders as well felt the blood from his hands beginning to burn. The small wounds on Garrett's arm vanished in the instant that he looked over his shoulder, and the room returning to it once had been; as if nothing had happened. Solona cleared her throat praying to herself that nothing would be coming out of the shadows as she glanced around.

Garrett turned back to face them; helplessness covering his usually stoic self.

"What do you mean?" Varric was the first to speak up of the four. Anders looked to Solona as he tried to figure out what to tell them. She silently urged him on, desperate to know just what else he had to say. "Anders, why can you not feel it!" Varric wished those words did not have to be said, that they didn't even need to be thought, but sadly it was an all to common occurrence. And it would not be the last.

"It's just, not there." He stood from his chair, slowly walking across the room to the bed. "If the child were..." He held back the word 'dead' and instead began again. "I would have been able to sense a body, but there is nothing."

"Are you sure?" Solona rose to her feet still holding the cloth tightly in her hands. Anders nod his head.

"Whom ever had attacked her... has taken her child."

Varric gave a curse nearly spitting out the words. "How are we supposed to find them!"

In the back of Garrett's mind he thought to the day of the attack. The old man, all of this had started after Valerie had met him. It was a slim hunch, but it had to be the only lead. "I know who we are looking for."

The three looked to him, wondering just how he had come up with that statement so quickly. "Who?" Anders voiced the question that the other two wanted to ask.

"The old man that brought Valerie to us the day of the Quinari attack."

Varric didn't know to praise the mage or to call bullshit on him. "Do you know who he is?"

Garrett stopped to think for a moment. Other than that one time, he had never seen him before. If, he thought to himself, he saw the man in a crowd would he even be able to point him out? "No but we now have something more to go off of." With that he left his estate to go give Aveline the news, one way or another if his suspensions weren't enough. They still had a newborn child missing.

Garrett marched past the rest of the group who had made themselves comfortable in the main living area and study of the estate. No word came from his mouth of where he was going, or if Valerie was alright. Merrill had been the only one to follow after Garrett, while the rest began to quietly talk between themselves as the two left. As the door was opened his path was blocked. Isabela stood with her back to him as though she had just been thinking of coming in, and had second thoughts.

She turned to face the two mages as the door opened. "Is she...?"

"She will live, wait with the others if you wish." He left without farther word, for the pirate to decide where she felt she belonged. He hadn't fully forgiven her for her betrayal, but she had returned. Merrill gave her a warm smile before dashing off to catch up to Garrett before he had gotten to far from her site.

As she walked farther into the room she remembered why she had finally decided to just disappear. She was afraid.

Bodhan and Sandal stood off in the corner of the room. The young dwarf holding the runes he had been making that day in his hands, all his focus pouring into making the tiny magical stones. While his father sat beside him keeping careful eyes on his son. Pacing up and down the study Leandra held a long forgotten book that she had been trying to read. Her head popping up every so often to glance at the second floor for anymore activity.

Sebastian and Fenris sat on opposite sides of the room. Sebastian having been sent over by Aveline to bring strong medicines kept for the guard, looked up at the pirate as she stood before him. The tilt of his head asked what she wanted.

"I... um... am not good at this, but I haven't done this in, well ever." She tried to joke with herself. Fenris moved from his spot to lean against the wall across from them.

"Please, sit." Sebastian spoke as he and Isabela traded places. "Would you join us?" He looked to the elf. Nothing more was said other than a few glances from an uncertain Isabela and nod from Sebastian who began to chant. "Our Blessed Andraste..."

Anders, Solona and Varric stood at the top of the stairs. Hearing every word and feeling all the emotion behind the other mans voice.

The next thing that Isabela became aware of had been the lounge chair shift with added weight and several sets of hands placed on hers. She opened her eyes to see the hands of those she had come to call friends. She turned her head down her hair shielding her face so no one could see the tears fall from her eyes.

x-x-x-x-x-x

At a table surrounded by jars and potions Anders' sat. Beside him Valerie still slept, and Solona having long since retired with most of their companions to empty rooms. Few others stayed up well into the next day, drowning themselves in the Estate's store of liquor and wines. Those that had been drinking lay over furniture and beds alike.

Anders' rubbed at his eyes attempting to force them open; to keep himself awake and focused. He jumped at a knock on the door frame, nearly dropping his poultice in the process. He took a glance over his shoulder to find Garrett had returned.

"Any luck?"

Garrett did not answer his question as he took a seat beside the other mage. "Aveline is running who she can to find anyone who may be leaving with a newborn."

"I take it she can not do that for long before she's found out?"

"She's filed it as an attempted murder, and kidnapping. She promised she would keep the search on as long as she could." Garrett rubbed at his beard wearily. "How is she?"

Anders gave a long drawn out sigh. "Stable, but I have more news I fear." Garrett looked like he did not want to hear anymore news. He was tired and wanted nothing but to have a nice long uninterrupted sleep. He waved his hand for Anders to continue with more undoubtedly wonderful tale. "I don't know how bluntly I can put it, but with what has happened we can't ignore the facts any longer."

"I was fearing as much."

"She is most certainly a mage, Garrett. And a shapeshifer at that it would seem..." The blood mage wanted to use the fog as an excuse. That it had been the one warping their minds and causing some mass illusion. Even though he truthfully did not know everything to know about blood magic; he knew that was not the answer. There had been suspension of the fact since the beginning, but in the years since nothing out of the ordinary had happened. "Do you remember if she's ever asked anything out of the ordinary? Anything at all?"

"No." His face tensed up as though he should be remembering something else. "Wait there was something she asked me. Just the other day in fact." Anders wordlessly urged him to continue. "It was odd, I thought nothing of it at the time. It was more than odd actually."

He recounted the events of the day. How he had been repairing his home, when Valerie began asking strange questions. All pertaining to the Fade and mages. At first he had thought she was just curious about mages, but she was so jittery that he should have been clued off right away. Then it came to the strangest of questions he had ever heard. One so preposterous that it seemed like the idle thoughts of a child who knew nothing of the world. Before he could finish his sentence Valerie gave a groan as she tossed and turned. With a scream the entire house was awoken.

In a matter of seconds Varric, Isabela and Fenris were at the door. Searching for what they thought were the attackers returning to finish the job. What they saw though was only Anders and Garrett; both trying to restrain Valerie. The three new comers all tried asking what to do, and what was happening.

"Garrett get them out! Fetch Solona!" He released Valerie's arm for only a moment as she fought against him. "Valerie calm down it is Anders, can you hear me!"

"Let me go!" She screamed and scratched before her arms were held down again. She cried trying weakly to fight back to free herself.

Garrett pushed the other three out toward the door where more of the group had slowly began to see what was happening.

"Out of my way!" Solona barked shoving Sebastian and Merrill to the side.

X-x-x-x-x-x

The screams of terror had been dulled down to mild whimpers that echoed through the otherwise silent house. At the kitchen table everyone who had been thrown out, including Garrett, all sat playing a game of Wicked Grace. There was no playful banter, nor shouts of Isabela's cheating. Bored mumbles came out as they each folded their hands of cards to deal a new game.

"This has to be the shittiest hand I've ever had."

Isabela snorted throwing down a card and drawing another. "Which is why I always have something up my sleeve."

Merrill sat up drawing her eyebrows close together. She tilted her head to the side. "But you do not wear blouses with sleeves? Where do they come from? I'll never understand where they all come from."

Isabela snorted again and rested her head on an open palm. "From my breasts love." Merrill shook her head not believing a word. "And when I want to crush my opponents beneath my heels I hide them in my-"

"Isabela!" Garrett slammed his hand of cards down onto the table pinching his nose between his fingers. His mother stood at the other end of the dining room looking as though she wanted to not even be in the same house as the pirate.

Leandra wondered how her son could keep such infantile company. Garrett was always so serious, but everyone else seemed so vulgar and childish.

"What?" Isabela shrugged her shoulders and hid a sinful grin. Before the woman could continue to embarrass Garrett farther a knock came on the door.

"I got it Hawke, you relax." Varric stood from the table leaving his cards on the table forgotten. Isabela took that moment to reach across the table, find the best card she could and tried to trade it for one of her own. Another knock reverberated through the house.

"Calm down I'm coming..." Varric mumbled under his breath. He ignored an oncoming yawn and pulled the door open. "Hawke is currently unavailable; please co-" He inwardly cursed to himself. Three templars stood on the other side of the door, each bearing an annoyed scowl. Varric cursed to himself again before composing himself.

"This is the Amell Estate correct." One asked. Varric's eyes followed up to the bulking armored man. His blonde beard graying in small patches and streaks in his short groomed hair. "I have urgent need to speak with the owner of the Estate. It is official Templar business, and negligence to comply will be seen as an act against the Chantry."

Ferelden Templars? What are they doing here... Instantly awake again Varric cleared his throat. "Ah yes, well I'll fetch Garrett right away. If you'll just wait here a moment." Beginning to close the door the foot of the Templar blocked it from closing. He pushed it back open as he entered the Estate.

"That will not be necessary." He spoke letting himself into the home.

"I'm sorry Ser, but we've all had a rough night. A friend was attacked and everyone is tired."

The Templar looked down halting his two companions. He looked genuinely apologetic, but his duty would have him continue on his mission. Garrett appeared around the corner followed by his mother several feet behind him.

The man looked away to the man he had sought. "Forgive the intrusion. I am Ser Hugh Silas." Hugh gave a slight bow of his head, arm bent and placed against his chest. "Myself and my companions have traveled from Ferelden seeking an appostate by the name of Solona Amell. We've tracked her family name here, to Kirkwall, and have high reason she is seeking refuge in the city."

Garrett leant into the wall crossing a leg over the other and casually folded his arms. "What reason would she come here? I've never met anyone other than my Uncle from my mothers side of the family."

"Then you would not mind quick sweep of the home? If you have nothing to hide Messere Hawke."

The two templars behind Hugh passed him by before being stopped before they could proceed farther into the Estate. One placed his hand on his sword.

"As my friend already has said, a close friend has just been attacked. She is resting and being treated right now. I would highly suggest not coming into my home unwarranted." The two men scuttled back behind their leader. "Ser Silas if I find any information on the cousin I've never met I will contact you, but for now leave."

Before Garrett could force the older man from the building he pulled a piece of paper from the bag at his side. "Messere Hawke I have authority to inspect any home or outlet I deem suspicious. Stand aside or I will have you arrested for harbouring an apostate, guilty or otherwise."

x-x-x-x-x-x

Garrett stood to the side of the room as the Templars searched the bottom floor of the Estate. Once they found it clear they began search of the upper level. "This room is clear." One said.

"As is this one." The other closed the door to Garrett's room. Hugh opened the last door to find Anders sitting at the bed side of Valerie. Upon seeing Hugh his eyes went wide and turned to Garrett. The other man's jaw was set clenched tightly. Anders flicked his eyes over to the fire place and Garrett walked over to lean against the mantle.

Hugh looked around suspiciously as he pulled the heavy curtains back to see the high window. He looked back toward Anders' recognition passing through his face. The former Grey Warden stood from his seat holding his head high. He knew he was still protected by his status, but only so much.

"Are you satisfied Ser Silas?"

The Templar turned to face Garrett giving him a spiteful glare. "Everything seems to be in order here. I am sorry for the disturbance. May your friend have a swift recovery." He bowed once more to Garrett. Turning back to Anders he spoke once more. "The Queens reach only extends so far... mage..."

"I will let Elissa know next time I write her." Hugh gave Anders a disgusted glare as he left the room. Several seconds later they could hear the front door open and slam shut. "It's safe now Solona." Garrett looked around to find where the woman could be hiding. He could hear scratching behind him and a muffled voice. He stepped away from the fire place as something landed behind him.

"Really? The fire place?" Solona glared up at him as she crawled out from her hiding spot.

"What did you expect me to sit in the wardrobe and when he opened that pretend I'm just a dress?" She gave a cough and dusted herself off flinging ash onto the other mage. She stalked off without farther word to clean herself.

"How did Solona know to hide? I thought she was helping you in here the entire time." Anders sighed as he sat back into his chair.

"We were discussing some things about Valerie, when Fenris of all people came in and warned us there were Templars at the door looking for her." Anders let out a heavy sigh trying to calm himself down from the sudden intrusion. "He left and she had just enough time to squeeze herself into the fireplace and then Hugh came in."

"She should lay low for awhile. You as well Anders."

"We'll hide in the lower levels for a few days. I'll... close the clinic and hope nothing happens. Hopefully everyone will be alright until Hugh leaves. They'll understand." Anders stood once again and packed up what little he had with him. "For now I need to head back to the Clinic though, I'll be back later tonight to check on Valerie."

"Watch yourself out there."

Anders brushed off Garrett's words. "I have something to discuss with you tonight. Get some rest Garrett."

The remainder of the day went by quickly as the majority of the household slept. Those who chose to remain awake soon found themselves dragging their feet back to their own beds for the night. Varric walked Merrill home with Isabela, and the other two chose to head to the Hangedman for quick drinks before they passed out face first into their beds. Sebastian as well headed back to the Chantry.

Fenris now claimed the chair by the bed. He sat the book he had been trying to read on the table as he rubbed his eyes. He sat back making himself comfortable and pulled a foot onto the chair resting his arm on his knee. He drummed his fingers against his leg and shifted around in the chair again pulling the other leg up as well. His eyes drifted shut for several seconds before he shot up again awake. With a low growl he stood up pacing around the room. Under the bed he spot Valerie's bag. The same one he had found almost four years ago.

The last time he had seen her use it she had been trying sneak away in the early hours of the morning. Curious he pulled the bag from under the bed only checking once that she had still been asleep. He knew he shouldn't go through her things without permission, but he wanted to know what was in it.

He stared at the bag for a moment trying to remember how she had opened it before. Pulling on the zipper it opened half way before becoming stuck on a piece of fabric. Fighting with it for a moment he managed to get the annoying contraption to open fully. Clothes, what did I expect? He thought to himself as he poked around lifting one of her tiny all to revealing shirts. Giving it a skeptical look he placed it on the floor and found a small white device he had seen her using some months ago.

He just glared at the tangled mass of cord dangling from one end before that too was placed to the side. He pulled a piece of paper out next, one side was smooth while the other a bit rougher. Flipping it over he saw four faces staring back at him. It looked like a small, perfect painting of a family of four. A middle-aged man with a slight bald spot stood with a wide grin. Beside him a woman of the same age, looking angry or shocked at the other two in the photo. One he recognised instantly, the only one he knew, was Valerie. She stood behind a younger boy, her brother perhaps, a finger in each of his ears.

The boy looked as though he had just screamed for her to stop, and she just smiled mischievously. He smiled placing it to the side and pulled out a small leather book. Inside held several items. Several of them were small and had raised shapes on them. They must have said something, but he couldn't tell what. Most were bright colors, and shimmered when light touched them. One was white with a small square on the left side. Valerie's face stared back at him, she wasn't smiling though, but she didn't look angry. He tipped over the book, and out spilled green paper and another tiny painting. It was folded over perhaps to fit into the book.

It had been sitting like that for a long time, but the image was still clear. It was once again Valerie, this time it was only her. She wore a white long sleeved shirt with matching white pants, and a black belt around her waist. She looked tired in the painting, but she still smiled as she knelt down in the floor stretching. He folded the painting back up and tapped it on the back of one hand before tucking it away in his armor. Everything else though he replaced carefully back into the back where it belonged.

He sat back down in the chair and before long he found himself drifting off into sleep.

X-x-x-x-x-x

Moments before Garrett and Anders opened the door Fenris awoke from a light sleep. He could hear the two men talking on the other side of the door. "What was it you wanted to talk about, Anders?"

"I've been doing some thinking and-" Fenris stood as the door opened.

"Any changed Fenris?" Garrett walked into the room once more and began placing wood in the fire place.

"Slept all day. No more outbursts either." He watched as the two men began silently going about some tasks in the room, Garrett's fire had been started quickly thanks to a toss of a small fireball. Anders mixed some of his herbs into a glass of water. "I suppose I shall see myself out. Let me know if anything happens." He started for the door as Anders finished mixing some sort of remedy.

"I think you might want to stay to hear this as well." Turning Fenris looked to Garrett and Anders but the two remained silent. One didn't know what the other had to say and the other was silently going about helping Valerie recover. He held her head up and placed the cup to her lips pouring the liquid down her throat. She made a face, but relaxed as her head was sat back down into the pillows.

Garrett still crouched down at the fireplace warming his hands.

"I know you've been thinking the same thing Garrett, and we can't think differently any longer."

"We had this discussion four years ago, and until now nothing's shown itself." Fenris looked between the two as Garrett spoke and stood.

Anders turned to face the other mage. "You know it can lie dormant for years, but it's coming out now."

"What are you two getting at?" Fenris said with a bitter tone in his voice.

Anders stood between Valerie and Fenris using his entire bulk to block the other mans view. "You have another mage to deal with that's what." Fenris went from looking angry to confused and then denial. "Believe me I've tried to find all reasons to say it's not true, but it is. I did not do this to myself." He pulled up his sleeves to reveal bandages on both arms. Removing the bandages his arms oozed puss and blood. The other two men knew he could heal that to barely noticeable scars within a few hours, but he already had been drained from healing Valerie.

"She caused those?" Garrett asked. "When?"

"Just after everyone went downstairs. It was only for a moment, and then she stopped." Anders' began covering his wounds again as he spoke. "I don't even think she knew anything about it either. What happened in that house must have awakened it." The crackling of the fire was the only sound for several long minutes as the men thought to themselves.

"So what do you expect to happen now?" Fenris growled out. "Do we just take her out into the woods tell her good luck and leave it at that. She won't last a day."

Anders jaw clenched tightly as he began to speak through barred teeth. "We will not give her up to the Templars! I don't even want to hear you suggest that!" His voice was a stern whisper.

"Anders calm yourself. No one is suggesting that." Garrett placed a hand on Anders' shoulder. The blonde mage relaxed and gave a sigh. "When she's well enough to move. I will train her as best I can." The two men took fast glances across the room at the still sleeping woman. "Is that all you needed to say? If so get some rest, both of you I can take over watch now."

"No, one more thing. It's about the type of magic she can use. None of us have any experience with it. Even in the circle no one knew." Anders began to pace the length of the room. "Unless you know how to change forms and haven't told us."

"No Anders, I'm afraid I can't do that." Garrett watched as the other man stopped.

Anders stopped in his tracks. "I know of someone who might have some idea. I just hope she can tell us something useful."

"More of your great contacts I presume..." Fenris folded his arms against his chest. Anders just smiled giving a shrug of his shoulders.

"Well not really, but she did travel with someone she claimed to be a shapeshifter." Anders quickly crossed the room to grab a quill and paper. "I thought she was just making it up, but maybe she was telling the truth." Anders began to scrawl a fast letter. Garrett came to stand over his shoulder trying to read the short letter.

"You can't be serious." Garrett backed off. "That thing will be picked up before it even reaches her."

"Why who is he sending it to?" Fenris asked as he came to stand at the bed side. He gazed from under the fringe of his hair.

"Queen Elissa Theirin." With a grin he sealed the letter.