An Even Dozen

3 Bloomingtide, 9:34 Dragon

Before mother passed…just writing that makes me want to curl back into a ball, but Alistair managed to get me going again.

Before mother passed, Anders had mentioned that among the refugees was a group of orphaned Fereldan children. They lived in Darktown, and a mage named Evelina had been trying to take care of them.

Ali knows me so well. He suggested that we see Anders in the morning, find these children, and see what we can do to help. Naturally, it requires leaving the house, which I have been reluctant to do since the pyre…Well, honestly, not reluctant. I have flat out refused to leave the house.

I have a very patient husband.

I wonder if we could bring the children here? We could work to find good families who will provide them with love and a home.

5 Bloomingtide
9:34

Seeing Marnie full of purpose and energy is a joy.

Yesterday, Anders took us to Evelina, who had been caring for the children while avoiding templars. Evelina is a mage on the ragged edge, primed for the next demon to offer 'help.'

There are ten children: 6 girls and 4 boys. Two of the girls are twins, and all ten are now staying with us at the estate. For now, the girls are in Leandra's suite and the boys are in the guest room.

The Maker (if he exists at all) works in mysterious ways. You would never guess, but we knew one of the boys! He goes by the name of Cricket, now, but he was the little boy we met in Lothering who was looking for his mother.

At the time, Marnie and I'd feared that his mother was Goodwife Sarha, the woman whose pendent we'd found. Cricket (he doesn't want to be called by his real name) confirmed that it was his mother, and a chantry sister had given him the pendent, which he still has.

5 Bloomingtide, 9:34 Dragon

I think Mother would be happy having the girls staying in her suite.

We found Evelina and the children just in time. Evelina was just this side of giving in.

It was heartbreaking seeing them living in the Darktown squalor. The two eldest, Walter and Siobhan, just barely in their teens, have been taking care of the other eight children's day-to day needs and keeping a close eye on the group.

Alistair and I recognized one of the boys. He was the child in Lothering looking for his mother; his name is Colin, but he goes by Cricket now. He remembered us and ran to hug me. That pretty much broke the ice with the kids.

In addition to Walter and Siobhan, there is Millie, Seana, Min, Alia and Cailyn who are twins, and Cricket, Aiden, and Jake.

We brought them to Anders' clinic and talked with them while Anders treated their various injuries. He also made tonics to nip colds in the bud.

I didn't have the heart to leave the children in Darktown. I looked at Alistair. He nodded just as if he'd read my mind, then he smiled.

His smile is like sunshine. No darkness can withstand that smile.

I asked them if they would consider staying with Alistair and me. And if they wanted, let us try to find loving families to adopt them. They were stunned. The children, save for Cricket, could not understand why we would do this. One of the older girls, Millie, who is 9, was direct, and asked what was in this for us? Considering what these children have been through, it wasn't an unreasonable question.

I told them that we care because we love children and hate the injustices in Kirkwall. There is nothing in this for us, save caring for them.

Millie considered what I said and then she just nodded.

We spent all of yesterday and today getting them healed (Anders even got rid of the lice), clothed, and fed.

The house has never felt so alive.

10 Bloomingtide, 9:34 Dragon

We've finished setting up the bedrooms for the kids.

We have one guest suite. It has one master bedroom and a separate garderobe and two attached servant's rooms (two bedrooms with a shared garderobe). I remember being puzzled about it when we moved in. According to mother, while there are separate servant's quarters for the house staff (Bodhan, Sandal, and Orana), visitors needed servant quarters attached their own suite for their own servants.

I wanted Walter and Siobhan to each have their own room and asked if they would object to using the servant quarters. They were both thrilled to have a space of their own. A place Siobhan said, "Where they could simply be."

As a result, Aiden, Cricket, and Jake were sharing the guest suite. Siobhan and Walter are using the attached servant quarters. The girls have more than enough room in mother's suite that has a bedroom and a small study which we converted to a bedroom that is shared by Millie and Seana.

Thank the Maker that Orana loves cooking for a crowd. Siobhan and Aiden also like helping in the kitchen, which makes the job a little easier.

14 Bloomingtide
9:34

Marnie has the estate organized and we are able to wash, clothe, and feed 10 children.

I'm glad Orana likes to cook, because these children's appetites could match a warden. Although I seem to be less ravenous these days.

I love Marnie.

I know, I know, you already know that, but I don't care.

I LOVE MARNIE!

She is stubborn, occasionally temperamental, but she laughs at all my jokes.

She swings a mean broadsword and can decapitate someone in a single swing.

She can get a group of (lovable) misfits: Varric, Aveline, Izzy, Merrill, Anders, and Fenris, to work as a team.

She knows when to let me complain and when to kick me in the arse.

And she is a natural with the kids. They all adore her. I wish I could give her children. She's never brought it up, because when she first met Anders, he told her about the taint as well as all the other Grey Wardens secrets. Which is just as well. Telling her about the Calling would have been extremely painful. Please, give me those 30 years.

I am a royal bastard, and a damned lucky one.

~oOOo~

Alistair hugged Marnie. "That was a crazy, busy month."

"Yes, it was. Remember our code?"

Alistair arched an eyebrow. "Shall we go to bed?"

Marnie grinned. "It was either 'Yes' or 'Yes, I really need some sleep.'"

"You rarely said that you needed the sleep."

Marnie gave Alistair a wicked smile. "Shall we go to bed?"

He whisked her into his arms; his voice deep and husky. "Why, yes, yes we should."

~oOOo~

AN: Thanks as always to you who read, and to ElyssaCousland for being my beta. BioWare owns all.