The Sort of Uncle
2 Firstfall
9:34
I heard back from Teagan. They have found Millie, Aiden, and Seana's parents! He and Kaitlyn are coming here to escort them back to Ferelden. It will be great to see him again!
30 Firstfall, 9:34 Dragon
Arl Teagan and his wife Arlessa Kaitlyn are arriving tomorrow and will stay with us for a month, then take Millie, Aiden and Seana back to Ferelden. The boat ride is short as they are coming from Highever, which leaves the Arl and Arleesa more time to visit with us, though probably more with Alistair than me.
The Arl seems to be the only bright spot in Alistair's life before was given to the Chantry. I will not judge King Maric for his choice of foster fathers; Eamon was the Arl of Redcliffe and married. Teagan was a bann and unwed. But I still think Bann Teagan would have made a much better father-figure than Arl Eamon.
Although a rabid dog would have made a better father than the Arl turned out to be.
The point is that I know how important Teagan is to Alistair, so now I'm nervous. What if Teagan doesn't like me? I'm nobility only because my mother was an Amell, but with magic in my line…
I have worked really hard at hiding my worries. I doubt Ali has noticed.
30 Firstfall
9:34
Marnie is trying to hide it, but I know she's nervous about meeting Teagan.
How do I know?
Her writing desk is clean and organized.
You know Marnie, she likes to keep everything neat. Everything except for her writing desk. I swear it looks like…well, if ink stains were the taint, it looks like it's been attacked by a miniature horde of darkspawn. There are crumpled and torn pieces of parchment in and among actual letters and envelopes. Fortunately, nothing is rotting under the piles of parchment, so doesn't smell like darkspawn. The desk is in our study, so really only Marnie and I see it, and I don't mind it.
I asked her about it, once. When they were living with Gamlen she kept it neat and clean because 'something in that hovel needed to be.' But when she moved to the estate and letters started to pile up, Leandra would complain, so Marnie moved the desk into the study and left it as messy as possible. She said it was a form of rebellion for Leandra deciding to use the name Amell and not Hawke.
Anyway, the desk is currently immaculate.
Without Jake, Min, and the twins here, the house is quieter. When Millie, Seana, and Aiden leave, it will just be Walter, Siobhan, Cricket, and us. Walter is happy with his room, as is Siobhan, and Cricket will stay in the guest room, although we can't really call it a guest room can we? It's Cricket's room. The suite that was formerly Leandra's is now the official guest room, and the study in the suite that was Leandra's will double as a servant's room, if necessary.
I know, I'm making this more complicated than it is.
~oOOo~
Marnie kissed Alistair and smiled. "It wasn't until after we moved that I realized just how much of a disaster my desk had become. You're right – it did look like it had been attacked by horde of mini-darkspawn. It never bothered you?"
Alistair tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Not at all. The Writing Desk Rebellion made sense. Besides, before were married you saw my bedroom in my Upper-Lowtown house and you didn't run screaming."
"I have fond memories of that bedroom." Marnie grinned.
"Since we never slept in that room, what memories do you have?"
"The ones where you'd stammer and blush at its rather…chaotic condition."
Alistair pulled her close and whispered in her ear, chuckling when Marnie blushed a brilliant pink.
~oOOo~
1 Haring
9:34
I didn't realize how much I missed my "sort-of uncle" (I can't believe I said that when I introduced him to Marnie and the kids). Teagan was his usually eloquent self and Kaitlyn is just as light hearted as Teagan, so they put Marnie at ease. They will be staying in our guestroom, that used to be Leandra's room, and no, I am not going through all that again.
Teagan brought letters from Millie's, Aiden's, and Seana's parents. The three of them stared at the envelopes, not really knowing how to feel. I know I wouldn't know how to feel if I were looking at a letter from my mother or father; then again mine are dead, so that would just be scary.
Anyway.
Marnie took the kids into the study. I don't know what happened except that tears were involved – "the happy type" Marnie assured me. Cricket, Walter, and Siobhan were happy to meet my sort-of-uncle (yes, they will twit me about that forever) and Kaitlyn.
2 Haring, 9:34 Dragon
My husband can be absolutely adorable. When he introduced Teagan he said, "This is Teagan, my uncle, sort-of." Teagan smiled, took my hand, and said, "I am actually Teagan. I'm only sort-of his uncle."
His wife Kaitlyn smiled and said, "I'm Kaitlyn, the wife of Alistair's sort-of-uncle."
That exchange completely put me at ease.
Millie, Aiden, and Seana, were stunned by the letters from their parents. I took them into the study, so they could have some privacy while reading them. They opened them and read them, asking me if they couldn't understand a word. Then they wanted me to read them over myself. All three letters were full of hope and happiness at being reunited. I began to tear-up, and so did Millie, Seana, and Aiden.
Millie smiled and said that they needed to "remember to make sure Alistair knows that the tears are the happy kind. He always worries that tears are sad tears."
From the mouths of babes.
2 Haring
9:34
Kaitlyn was out with Millie, Aiden, and Seana getting some clothing for the cooler Fereldan weather. Walter and Siobhan took Cricket to Chantry library to borrow a book.
This was all planned, of course, because Teagan needed to talk with us alone.
Yes, I immediately thought it was something awful, but it wasn't. It was surprising, however.
He asked us if we would consider moving back to Ferelden. Horse-master Dennet, who taught me to ride and care for horses when I lived in Redcliffe, has his own farm in the Hinterlands (part of Teagan's Arling). While his daughter, Seanna, enjoys riding horses, and making horse runs, she doesn't want to take over as a horse-master…or would that be horse-mistress? No, that sounds…really wrong. Horse-master then.
Anyway. Dennet remembers me fondly and said that of all the children he has taught how to ride, Teagan and I were the only ones that showed an affinity with horses. I always thought it was because I slept among them, but Teagan assured me that wasn't it. Dennet wants to know if I would be willing to be his apprentice, and then he would pass the farm to me when he can no longer take care of it.
Naturally, I was speechless. Thank the Maker for Marnie, who asked, "Isn't Alistair exiled from Ferelden?"
Teagan sighed. "As it turns out, no."
Then I found my voice. I said, 'Really? It sure felt that way when she eagerly supported my retirement from the wardens and "gifted" me with enough money so I could live wherever I wanted. Not that I'm ungrateful, otherwise I wouldn't have found Marnie, but it was hard to interpret any other way."
That's when Teagan cleared his throat handed me an envelope. It was a letter from Queen Anora. He told us that Anora had…matured over the last few years and realized that there was much that she left unsaid.
"Can we go back to Ferelden if I don't accept Dennett's offer?"
Teagan assured me that yes, we are welcome in Ferelden. Knowingly, he asked Marnie if she would like to show him around Kirkwall. He said he'd heard of a placed called the Hanged Man that seemed to be popular.
Marnie laughed and they were talking as they left the room.
I have no idea if they were going or not, I just opened the letter. Which I will tuck into you so it'll be safe.
Turns out I was only sort-of exiled.
Anora's Letter
Dear Alistair,
Although rather belated, I congratulate you on your marriage to Lady Hawke. Knight-Commander Bryant of Denerim fondly remembers your wife and her family and passes along his best wishes.
Since the end of the Blight, Teagan has been one of my chief advisors, and Bann Alfstanna is my Chancellor. Through them I came to realize that I erred in how I treated you before, during, and, well, after that Landsmeet.
First, I apologize for not expressing my gratitude to you for allowing my father to become a Grey Warden and regain some of his honor. While he died killing the Archdemon, he will be remembered as a Hero. Teagan told me how the late Warden Commander Duncan was like a father to you. Showing mercy to the man you held responsible for your father's death was the act of a truly just and honorable man. Teyrn Fergus agreed and said he doubted he could have done that for Rendon Howe.
The other error, of which I only recently became aware, was the mistaken belief that you were exiled from Ferelden. When Teagan approached me with Master Dennet's offer, asking me if I would allow your return, I was surprised because I never issued a decree exiling you from Ferelden. However, upon reflection I realized that given what I said, and didn't say, it was the only conclusion one could have drawn.
Please understand that I do not believe you to be threat to my reign. You gave me your oath before the battle for Denerim. The man who showed my father mercy would also never go back on an oath once sworn. Your courage and your leadership are well known and you would never allow yourself to be used as a political pawn. You didn't when Eamon tried, and he was a master at that type of chess.
What I am saying is that you, your wife, and your children are free to come back home to Ferelden. This is true regardless of whether or not you accept Master Dennet's offer.
My regards to lady Theirin, who I suspect would prefer that moniker to the Champion of Kirkwall.
While we hope you will come back to Ferelden, it would be understandable if you've put down roots in the Free Marches.
Kind Regards,
Anora Mac Tir Theirin, Regina
Ferelden
p.s. Please send word back with Teagan on the affairs of the "Foranora" mine; my Chancellor and I are always eager for news.
3 Haring, 9:34 Dragon
Yesterday, Teagan wanted me to show him around Kirkwall so Alistair could read Anora's letter. He mentioned the Hanged Man and I laughed and told him that was no place for a Fereldan Arl, unless, of course, he frequented places with an ambiance that was equal parts vomit, unwashed bodies, and stale ale.
Teagan said that he knew one of my closest friends lived there. He then endeared himself to me forever when he said that meeting my friends was important to him, so the ambiance of the Hanged Man mattered little.
He and I went to the Hanged Man and spent the afternoon with Varric and Fenris, who was also there. We even played a few hands of Wicked Grace.
Teagan won the last hand.
~oOOo~
"At first, I didn't know what to make of that letter. I thought it was an elaborate joke at best or at worst that Anora was in trouble and the letter was some kind of code."
"Code? Did you really think so?" Marnie was curious.
"I really didn't know what to think. But in the end it seems that she really had matured after the Blight."
Marnie arched an eyebrow. "It also helped that she was to be cementing her crown by marrying Teyrn Fergus six months later, something she never mentioned in the letter."
"True, but she was sincere in the letter even if it was a strategic move."
"I think she was a bit surprised at our decision."
"Well she did mention our putting down roots in the Free Marches. It sounded almost like she expected us to stay in Kirkwall."
Marnie sighed. "Even if we had, we would have been uprooted anyway."
~oOOo~
12 Haring
9:35
Marnie and I went to the Hanged Man last night for the weekly game of Wicked Grace. We don't go every week, and we've not always gone together. Sometimes, I would be on guard duty, and sometimes Marnie stayed home, so I could have an evening out with our friends.
Having a group of friends was a new experience for me, and the times I went on my own allowed me to get to know everyone on my own terms, separate of their relationship with Marnie.
For example, unlike my wife, I do very well at Wicked Grace.
No, I don't cheat!
I'm good because I have no tell. It's something that drives Varric and Izzy nuts. They have no idea what I'm holding, or thinking, which it makes it almost impossible for them to figure out which cheating method to use.
Varric cornered me one night a few months after Marnie and I married, and asked me how it was possible to have no tell, and if I could teach him.
I explained that templars posted at a Circle know how to stand and watch without showing any expression or hint of what they are thinking. Part of that training happens at the monastery, formally through mental exercises. However, the best training was informal. At the monastery, in addition to templar initiates, there were chantry sisters, many of who our own age had curves in all the right places. If our eyes blinked in their direction, or if we showed any outward expression of 'lust' even a faint blush, the Revered Mother would punish us with a week's worth of chamber pot cleaning duty.
Nothing will cool one's ardor faster than the odor of a chamber pot.
When I told this story to Varric, he laughed so hard he almost hurt himself!
Anyway.
Last night we told everyone about Master Dennet's offer and our moving back to Ferelden.
Daisy was the most upset, and it was hard to see her cry. I really love Merrill. I love her for her perceptiveness, innate kindness, child-like sense of wonder, and her inner strength. For Maker's sake she was able to give up blood magic! Something that she doesn't get enough credit for. Daisy is one of mine and Marnie's closest friends, and we both will miss her dearly.
Isabella's reaction was true to form: She offered to give us a going away gift. Yes, the gift would be her. Naked. She is a beautiful woman, but she isn't Marnie, and I don't share.
Fenris wasn't happy, but he wasn't unhappy. He was…Fenris. It's not really brooding, its awkwardness. He doesn't really know how to act around people as a free man. Fenris is much more comfortable around men, unless they are mages, in which case it matters little to him if they are male or female. Yes, he and Anders have never gotten along. How Marnie manages to get them to work together, I'll never know. He and I have been far closer friends than he and Marnie have been.
Now that Denarius is dead, I have been trying to recruit Fenris into the Guard. He keeps saying no, but not saying why. Maybe Donnic will have more luck. The city guard could use him and I think he could get a lot of satisfaction being a guard.
Also true to form, Varric looked completely unsurprised at the news. He told us that when he heard about Teagan's arrival, he had a feeling something like this was going to happen. Later in the evening, Varric pulled me aside and said he was happy that I was taking Marnie out of this "shithole of a city." Varric is like the older brother I never had. While Cailan was my brother by blood, Varric is my brother by choice.
As for Anders…well, he and I are civil because he and Marnie are friends. I think he's an abomination. The spirit may have been Justice, a first, but it's Vengeance now. Every bit of my templar senses rise whenever he's around.
They are an odd group of people and I wouldn't have them any other way. I will miss them very, very much.
AN: Thank you to my beta, ElyssaCousland! Also thank you to Judy, Melysande, Eastern Violet for your reviews!