"Garrett, I know you're angry but-"

"Angry?" Garrett was frowning, and it was not one of his thoughtful frowns, which was a bad sign. "I'm frustrated and furious, and my patience is running thin. Which is why I've asked you both here, I need ideas, I need a way to force Meredith to change her decision and make her accept me as Viscount."

At the moment, Garrett looked very much like a Fereldian warrior-king, and considering the subject at hand, Varric found himself disturbed by the image. There was no questioning the imposing sight though. The man, in full white dragonbone armour from his sparring with Bastile, sat on a small chair, yet somehow made it look like a throne as he rested his right elbow on an armoured thigh while his left hand absently stroked the back of an attentive Maric's head. Around them, the sand of the training-room within the estate stained by sweat and disturbed by those who'd struggled upon it a while ago.

The other two in the room were unarmoured and looked far smaller than the noble, despite him sitting down. Varric, feeling surprisingly puny as he felt the pressure of history bearing down on him, he was anything but blind to what was going on around him, after all, put his hands deep into the pockets of his coat and shrugged. "Well...the Cats can always cause even more mischief."

"That is a continuation of the current idea, not a new one." Garrett grunted, then snorted. "Besides, any more and we'll be causing more damage to ourselves than to Meredith...there's only so many riots I can control, Varric."

"Well..." Next to Varric, Anders was in his dark robes that couldn't quite conceal the pale and scared flesh beneath, making him seem more like a scarecrow than a human as he with interlocked fingers cocked his head to the side. "...you do know that many nobles keep personal apostates as healers and such. Should that information be leaked to Meredith, she might do something rash that you may exploit."

Garrett frowned, thinking the idea over, and then rejected it with a shake of his head. "No. I want her to accept the reality of the situation, I don't want her to start a war. Nor do I desire to undermine the trust of one of the pillars of power I'm using. I need the nobles on my side."

Varric sighed. He didn't like any of this, not one bit. "Garrett, you know that Meredith can't keep this up forever, she'll have to relent eventually. So why not ease back with all the efforts on making her go your way and focus on keeping order and such? I know it's a strain, but if you'd stop fighting Meredith too, it would be less of one." Varric shrugged. "And in time, you'd still get what you want, there's no rush, is there?"

Garrett glared at Varric at that. "No rush? I've waited for this for...Maker, I can't even remember how many years now! And you want me to wait even more?" Snorting, he let go of Maric to point an accusing finger out the door. "She is holding what is rightfully mine and is making the entire city suffer at the same time! I will not sit on my laurels and wait until she grows tired of it or is forced away by some other force. What she's doing isn't legal, isn't moral and isn't acceptable, and I'll be damned before I let her get away with it!"

Oh boy...Meredith's refusal really hit hard, huh? Varric, aware that he was treading on thin ice, grimaced. "True, all true, but you're a realist, aren't you? And you know that in the end, you can't really force Meredith to do anything, she's too powerful, she has too many Templars to call on to be forced to do anything."

Garrett huffed at that, but didn't argue as his hand dropped back, scratching Maric behind the ear as the grim dog eyed Anders. The dog had been somewhat odd around the mage for a while, not hostile, but every time he was around, the dog just kept watching him. Creepy... The mage, refusing to even acknowledge the dog or its stare, was the one replying. "There is that, yes, we don't want a war with the templars..." Varric shot the mage a look, he knew the man well enough, he'd seen him change during the years...and something about his words had a foul scent to them. Maybe I'm just paranoid, though he was more pro-war and revolution before, wasn't he? Did Garrett finally temper him or...?

"I'm well aware of Meredith's military might." Garrett grunted, the man looking down at the ground between his feet, brooding. "I'm also aware of Meredith's stubbornness...if not for that, her military might would have been a non-issue, she would have balked at all the other issues and agreed with me, and we would all be better of."

Varric chuckled. "Not saying you're wrong, Hawke...but could we perhaps have a little humility in that statement?"

That drew a smile from Garrett, a pale and fleeting one that only seemed to make the grim look that followed look even more dark. "Humility doesn't change the fact that I should be the ruler of this city and that Meredith is slowly destroying this city with her behaviour."

"Yes, well..." Dangerous thoughts there, Garrett. "...while that is true, if you truly believed Meredith was risking destroying the city...why is Merrill still here?" Varric had to ask it. The announcement had been joyous, but something in the way Garrett acted about it disturbed the dwarf. "I can understand you staying, but why keep Merrill and the child here?"

"I feel it's safer to keep her close, in the estate and with me." Garrett curtly responded, the man looking anything but pleased to be questioned about that. Merrill was at him about this before, I think... "Plus, imagine how it would look to the commoners and nobles alike if I send my wife away. They'd say I was afraid the city would collapse into chaos, or that it's about to, or that the child is going to turn into an abomination or something."

Ah, there's the real crux of the matter. Varric grimaced. "Garrett, as your friend, I'll say this...please don't prioritise politics over the well-being of your child and wife." He winced, but forced himself to go on. "She once put her own ideals before everything else, and that lead nowhere good...don't repeat that mistake."

To his relief, the words made Garrett pause, a flicker of worry and hesitation in his eyes.

Anders was quick to reply though, the mage grunting as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I hardly think politics and blood-magic is the same thing. She was playing with fire the whole way through, what Garrett's doing is something inherently good, and much more safe."

To Varric's frustration, Garrett smiled at the mage's words. Bloody...I hate it when people are desperate to hear what they want to hear, makes it impossible to argue with them. "More safe? I think there's a few hundred dead Orlesian nobles, even emperors, throughout history who would disagree. Danger is danger, magic is just another form."

"Are you lecturing me about the dangers of magic?" Anders chuckled at the notion.

Before Varric could reply, Garrett made a curt gesture. "Enough, this is pointless." He turned to regard Varric with dark brown eyes, eyes full of intellect...intellect and ambition. "Varric, Merrill and I will both stay in Kirkwall, and we will lead the city out of this crisis." He turned to Anders, speaking calmly, so used to be obeyed he by now truly sounded like a lord. "Varric is, however, correct, politics is dangerous, and we must be careful. We must force Meredith into a position where her only alternative is to submit, that requires that the option to use force isn't available."

"Remove Meredith from the equation?" Anders asked, making Varric draw a sharp breath. Sure, they were in Garrett's estate, surrounded by his guards, and it wasn't like any of them hadn't gotten their hands dirty before...but some things one just didn't say.

"Oh yes, I wonder who they'd suspect of such a deed..." Garrett snorted in sarcasm. "Besides, we either get Cullen, who's competent enough to investigate who did such a deed and on who's order...in which case he'll be duty-bound to give a reply...or we get my brother to replace her." The man grimaced. "Either way would lead to war, if not immediately, then when the Divine's fury descends upon us." He shook his head. "No, killing is not the answer here."

Thank the Maker. Varric drew a breath of relief, he knew Garrett was frustrated beyond words at Meredith's refusal to bow to his demands, but at least he was still thinking straight. "As I hear it, she's quite stressed now..." Varric muttered, not sure where he was going with it. "...perhaps we could simply burn her out by increasing pressure specifically on her...if she's unfit for duty, she'd be replaced by someone appointed by the Divine, no?"

"That is indeed an idea..." Garrett nodded, but then shook his head. "Until the divine sent the replacement though, one of the captains would lead the templars though, and whoever the Divine favours might not look kindly on us either." He shrugged. "Besides, Meredith doesn't break, she's shown that again and again by now..." He grumbled at the words, clearly annoyed as he glared down at his clenched fist.

Silence, the two men advising the noble shuffling where they stood, not sure how to respond to Garrett's frustration.

"Well..." Anders begun. "...I have talked some with Orsino."

"And?" Garrett looked up, his face dull, not expecting anything.

"And he pointed out that the Circle tower is by now fairly lightly guarded, most templars apparently are kept in their own keep."

Varric paled at Anders' words, or rather, what they insinuated. "You can't be serious."

Anders didn't even glance at him, eyes intense, almost glowing, as he held Garrett's gaze. "He also pointed out that Meredith is, above all else, a control freak."

"That's putting it lightly." Garrett snorted. "That's why she's done all that she's done, after all." He wasn't encouraging Anders to continue speaking, but neither was he dismissing it, making a cold shiver run down Varric's spine. I have a bad feeling about this...

"So what if we remove her control of what she's above all else concerned about?" Anders smiled, a thin and cold smile. "If she can't control her mages, that means they could be doing all manner of things, blood-magic, necromancy, the foulest of things imaginable...or at least, that's what she'll think."

"And then she attacks and kills everyone, good plan." Varric snorted, trying to dismiss the words of the mage as swiftly as possible.

Anders wasn't dissuaded though. "The Circle tower is not so easily overcome by prepared defenders, and the Templars know how to fight mages, not mages working with warriors...they won't be able to breach it, at least not in time to stop whatever horrible thing Meredith imagines the free mages would be doing."

"You think she would feel compelled to negotiate." Garrett summarised, tone neutral.

Anders nodded. "Indeed, if she wants the mages back quickly enough, she has to do so. Remember, every second she's not in control of the Circle mages, is a second she's failing her duty as a templar, and she's all about duty."

Varric, shaking his head, could do nothing but protest. "Oh yes, except she might not see it that way, she might see an assault as the only option. Or she might burn down the entire city, or decide to starve you out...you can't just assume she'll do as you please."

His words fell on deaf ears, Garrett's gaze remained glued to Anders as he spoke. "And Orsino and you? Why would you want this...?"

"I'd want every mage free..." Anders sighed in irritation, then shrugged. "But this Circle wants to stay, and I have to respect that. As such, they want your help in this so as to take Meredith out of office, or at least make her follow the rules...even create more rules to make the mages safer and freer within the tower than they are now." The man shrugged. "I...take what I can get, but the offer hinges on you accepting it. If not...well...I'll have to find another way."

"Interesting...very...interesting." Stroking his Mabari a little swifter, Garrett regarded the mage with a glow in his eyes, his pose shifting, turning from broody to eager.

Varric took a step forward, tone low. "Garrett...this is too dangerous, a million things can go wrong with such a plan. It gambles everything, everything you've built, everything you have. Just wait a little more, think-"

"I've waited long enough, Meredith won't budge for anything." Garrett grunted back, looking to Varric with a tired look, his smile thin. "But this...oh she'll have to budge."

Maker, no... "You don't know that! By Andraste's tits! I know you're impatient, I know you're frustrated! I know you've waited for soooo long! But this is not a good idea!" Varric, spreading his arms wide, made a final gamble. "Think about Merrill! Your kid! Would you risk their future, maybe their very lives, on this?"

Silence.

Garrett before him looking back with a surprised look, then one of anguish, the thought triggered by the dwarf's words hitting home, making him finally lower his head. Thank goodness... Varric took a deep breath, ignoring Anders' furious glare as he smiled at Garrett, glad the man had come back to his senses.

When the man looked back up, his tone was calm. "That might not happen." Varric's smile died. "Besides, I'm doing this for thousands of children's sake..." The man offered an uneasy smile. "It's the right thing to do, Varric."

Taking a step back, Varric shook his head, mouth hanging open in shock and fear. Oh no...

And next to him, Anders smirked.

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Merrill whimpered, then gasped, the intricate tattoos on her back seemingly writhing with a life of their own as her sweat made them glint and shimmer.

Groaning back, Garrett gripped her hips and pressed hard, his body going rigid as a taut rope, drawing a moan from the elf as she felt him twitch against her and then empty himself within her.

Blinking, suddenly dizzy, Garrett swayed where he knelt. Then he managed to pull back and roll onto his back, the sheets of their bed clinging to his limbs as he clumsily tried to pull them over himself and the elf. Merrill was no longer on all fours but now lay on her stomach, face pressed into a pillow as she whimpered and twitched in the afterglow of their lovemaking.

Breathing heavily, Garrett leant over, kissing the woman's hair, his lips just brushing a pointed ear, making her mewl something into the pillow. Garrett chuckled at the sight. "This pregnancy sure has gotten you...demanding. How am I supposed to be able to survive eight more months of this?"

Merrill turned her head, teeth flashing in one of her rare grins. "I guess you have to cope, I haven't even tried the dirty spells yet."

Garrett arched an eyebrow, curious. "Dirty spells?"

"Oh yes, I had some help from Isabela figuring them out...you know...what would be...good." Merrill, despite their current predicament, somehow managed to blush, making her look away. "She's awful." There was a smile in the accusation.

"Yes she is." Garrett rolled closer, pressing himself against the elf's back, lips finding an ear to kiss as he wrapped an arm around her. "And I'll hate having to thank her later."

Silence greeted his joke, making him frown in worry.

Merrill soon spoke though, her mirth gone. "Why can't we leave?" Not this again. Garrett groaned inwardly even as the elf continued. "I like it here, I love it here, but...with everything happening...this is not the place to have a child."

"There is eight months still left, you know." Garrett pointed out, trying to sound cheerful.

"You know what I mean." Merrill grumbled, curling up as she lay facing away from him. "I...I don't want anyone else in my family getting hurt."

"They won't be." Garrett kissed the nape of her neck. "I promise...I'll get this all fixed and you'll see a new city emerge."

"Yes, probably, if anyone can do that, you can..." Merrill sighed in reluctance, yet still pressed back against him, not about to leave his warmth. "...but I still worry, I don't want to take any more chances."

"Hey..." Garrett reached round, cupping the woman's chin, he made her turn her head to look at him as he offered a gentle smile. "...let me worry about all that stuff, okay? It'll be fine, I assure you..." He leant over, kissing her softly.

When he leant back, the woman sighed. "I...well..yes, I guess it will be...I just...I don't-" Again, Garrett leant forward, kissing her harder this time. When he pulled back, Merrill was giggling. "Well when you put it that way...!" She smiled, there was a worry in her eyes, but Garrett noticed her suppressing it as best she could. Thank you, I need that support right now. "Okay, I trust you...sorry for being so silly, of course it'll work out, it'll be fine."

Garrett smiled back, happy with the result of their talk.

Then Merrill's smile turned into a smirk, the woman twisting to press the side of her thigh against him with a feigned look of surprise. "Oh, what's this...?" She looked up at Garrett, grinning. "I thought you called me demanding?"

Smirking back, Garrett thrust against her. "Well...you did mention something about a dirty spell...?"

Merrill bit her bottom lip, eyes sparkling. "Yes, yes I did..."

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Thanks to Abydos Jackson, for everything.