Author's Note: Hello to all the new followers and readers (you're wonderful), and thanks to all of you reviewing (you are also wonderful!)

Chapter 69 - Breaking and Entering

The next morning began entirely too early for Alistair. Serena burst into his room at what felt like the crack of dawn, papers and maps filling her arms as she plunked down on the edge of his bed.

"Are you sure you're allowed to be in here, my lady?" Alistair teased. "What will the servants say?"

"That you sleep too much and your socks are filthy," Serena replied, spreading the parchment across his rumbled bedspread. "Leliana came back with these just now. I imagine Erlina's invitation won't last until the day's end, lovely."

"Heeerrrmmm. Apparently it won't even last until the sun's properly up. Send Peanut. He's a hearty sort." Alistair pulled the bedspread over his head just as Serena wrapped her arms around him, giggling.

"I'll call him in here and you'll be awoken by dog kisses rather than mine."

"Pfft, I have yet to see these supposed kisses," the blonde mumbled from under the thick blanket. "My lady is full of lies."

"Suit yourself," Serena warned, pushing him aside gently. Her felt the slight uptick of her nature magic as she began to reach out to her mabari and Alistair crumbled, pulling the blanket from his head.

"I give up! No dog kisses, please! His breath smells like death."

Serena grinned triumphantly. "I plan on using it against the darkspawn." Setting out the map once again, he saw her face switch back to its previous seriousness. "So, it turns out that entrance leads down to a lower level, but it isn't labeled as a basement or dungeon or anything at all, really." She pointed to a hallway that connected to a room marked 'study' in Serena's loopy script.

"You think that the study is the entrance?"

"I do, indeed."

"It'll be guarded, I bet." Alistair glanced about the map, eyeing the other passageways critically. "Heavily."

"That's why we're going in very differently. I'm not entirely sure this isn't a trap. Erlina had too many conveient answers for everything, and Anora is two steps from downright diabolical on a good day." Serena tapped a finger on the different entrances.

"We're going to enter here, with Erlina, in the guard uniforms. You, me, Alim and Fergus. Zevran is entering this way with Leliana, Morrigan and Wynne as servants, with Zevran acting as Peanut's handler. Sten and Oghren are going to stay here as back-up, since there's no possible way to explain away an eight foot tall qunari and a dwarf."

"They don't tend to blend in well, do they?"

Serena giggled. "It's a key flaw in the qunari domination plan, surely."

"So what do you need me to do?"

"Look handsome and manly, and wear this." She nodded her head at the helm of the guard uniform that rested atop his desk. "Mine doesn't fit as nicely because I don't have all your rippling muscles and such."

"You flatter me, love," Alistair said, stretching wide as she faked a swoon.

"You earned it, surely." Serena pressed a kiss to his nose and stood up, rolling the scattered maps back into her arms. "We're leaving soon, so get that on, and I'll meet you in the kitchen for breakfast."

Groaning, Alistair pulled himself out of the bed and stumbled into the tiny side bathroom. Shoving his head into the water set aside in the basin for him, he nearly squealed at the instant gooseflesh that erupted all over his body.

"You better appreciate all the heartache I go through for you, Serena," Alistair grumbled to the chilly air. "I could be sleeping in..."

"Alim, a word?"

Morrigan slipped out of her bedroom, catching the other mages arm and pulling him in. He was wearing the ill-fitting guard uniform, and it made him long for his robes. The splint mail was heavy, and the short sword he carried kept banging against his thigh. He didn't know how Serena and the others could stand it. He missed his staff, but it wouldn't do to carry one around the arl's estate.

"Uh, hello, Morrigan. What can I do for you?"

"You've heard the plan, I'm sure." Without waiting for his answer, she continued. "We won't be in the same group."

Alim glanced down at the armor he wore, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "Obviously. You have the safer job." He grinned. "You don't want to trade, do you? I bet you could do wonders for this armor..." He reached out and grabbed her hips possessively. "All those curves..."

"You would think you had enough last night," Morrigan replied, leaning into his hands just a touch. Alim wondered how her skin always seemed so warm, even through the thin scraps of leather and cloth she insisted were robes. On the bed he saw a baggy servants dress laid out, he assumed she was waiting to put it on until the very last moment. "I have something for you."

"Really?" Alim glanced around her, tugging her closer in the process. "It is bigger than a bread box?"

"I meant that I have a gift for you," the witch clarified, dancing just out of his fingers. "'Tis a ring." She pressed the small band into his hand. "Now, before you get any foolish notions, let me explain."

"Flemeth once gave me the ring because it allowed her to find me, no matter where I went, in case I was ever captured by hunters. I disabled its power as soon as I left the Wilds with Serena."

Alim nodded at her words, his eyes taking in the design of the ring. It appeared to subtlety shift in his hand, the tiny etched forms of birds becoming wolves and then the two footed steps of men.

"Recently, however, I thought to change it. Now, I will be able to find whoever wears it instead."

"And you want me to wear it?"

"'Tis not to track you," Morrigan said quickly. Her golden eyes were searching his expectantly, as she were concerned her meaning was not clear. "I believe you are... too important to risk. There are only three Grey Wardens in Ferelden, and should Serena or Alistair fall... a great burden would fall to you, Alim."

"If one of them fell, both of them would," Alim said quietly. "I think you know that as well as I do."

"I have advised Serena about how closely her and the templar intertwine their lives..." Morrigan shook her head, her dark hair fall in a thick curtain across one eye. "She is impossible to advise when it comes to Alistair."

"They're in love." Alim shrugged, slipping the ring on his little finger. "It isn't something to be pitied."

Morrigan snorted. "As you say. Regardless, if you were to get captured, it would be far easier to find you with that."

"Does it do anything else?"

"Flemeth used to say that 'twas a link between us, one that I presumed worked both ways. I never tested it, but I doubt she would have lied over such a thing." A dark brow arched up, and Alim found himself smiling. "So 'twould mean I am linked to you, as much as you to I."

"So I could find you, if need be?" Alim stepped closer to her.

"I... do not know... As I said, I never tested it. Perhaps." The witch pursed her lips, her eyes straying downwards. "I have no desire to see us part company so soon. Not unless we wish to, that is." She paused briefly. Alim wondered if she was testing him somehow. She seemed to enjoy pushing his buttons, gauging how he would react. "Do not read more into it than is there. You have supplied me with new spells... certainly this is not so very different, is it?"

"Oh, but you know how I like reading into things, Morrigan," Alim whispered, leaning in close. He pressed his lips to her forehead, even though she still wouldn't meet his eyes. "You don't have to be so guarded, you know. I'm not saying throw it all out there like Serena does, but..." He pressed another kiss to her temple, his hands resting lightly on her upper arms, holding her to him. "Feelings aren't necessarily something to be afraid of, my dark enchantress."

"Who said I have any feelings for you?"

"Not even any... warm fuzzy ones?" When she only frowned at him, he lifted her chin up, smiling gently. "Everything will be fine. I'm not wearing this uniform for giggles, you know. We'll slip in, we'll slip out. Very little danger involved."

"Just... wear the ring, Alim." She gave him a quick hug, wrapping her arms around his neck. She pressed a kiss to his lips then, and for a moment things were all quiet, and Alim felt as if it were the calm before a storm.

They met Erlina just outside the gates of Howe's Denerim estate. The elven woman appeared just short of frazzled, barking orders at Alistair and Serena while throwing annoyed looks at Alim and Fergus.

"You are not wearing the helm I provided!" Erlina was whispering fiercely at Serena, her large dark eyes narrowed fixedly on the brunette. "Surely someone will recognize you immed-"

"I have it right here," Serena growled, pulling the helm from her pack and tucking her long braid up in it. "Anora's handmaiden or not, I won't have you shouting at me, Erlina. You'll remember who you're speaking to, is that understood?"

"Y-yes, my lady," the elven woman muttered, dropping her eyes. Alistair was glad to see Serena stand up for herself. Anora's maid had been snapping impatiently at them all since they'd met up with her. "If you'll just follow me then..."

"For the hundredth time- his lordship isn't seeing anyone, you'll have to come back tomorrow!" They followed Erlina past the large group that had assembled in front of the estate, Leliana among them, in her servant's garb. Most of the people appeared to be simply milling about, but some had come angry.

"No! The Carpenter's Crafthall has had enough of Howe's conveniently busy schedule!" A burly man stepped forward then, shaking his first angrily at the messenger. "We will not be put off again!"

"Nor will the stonemasons!" another man shouted earnestly. "It's been a month since we've seen so much as a coin of Howe's for our work!"

"I love to hear he's busy making friends," Serena quipped, her voice somewhat muffled under the newly donned guardsman's helm.

Erlina glanced around and frowned, beckoning them forward quickly. "The servants' entrance is on the other side of the house. We must be very careful, Arl Howe is inside." Alistair saw the Cousland siblings both stiffen slightly, exchanging dark looks as they walked ahead of him.

A few servants stepped past, and he noticed Wynne's white head among them, bustling into another entrance, all keeping their heads low. So far, it appeared as if their plan to split up was working. Alistair and the others passed a group of guards stationed outside next, and when Alistair saluted them, two of the trio nodded back.

"I see at least some of you are capable of blending in," Erlina muttered under her breath. Alistair saw Serena turn her head slightly, and hoped for the elf's sake she learned to shut her mouth around Serena. "I can distract these guards, but you must move quickly, yes? My lady does not have much time."

"Why would you need to distract the guards?" Fergus asked. "Why are we even wearing these silly disguises then?"

"It is one thing to walk about the grounds, but they will be checking those coming inside. I will lure them into the courtyard, you all wait in the bushes." The elven woman shot them another frazzled look before running off to where the two guards stood.

"I think she ought to lure them into the bushes while we wait in the courtyard," Alistair said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, you must come! I saw something! By the fountain!" Erlina's words drifted back towards their group, where Alim had found them a suitable place to stand behind a nearby wall, outside of the prickly bushes the elven woman had suggested. "I think it was a darkspawn!"

"Darkspawn?" Serena muttered. "Is she daft?"

"Darkspawn?" the guard echoed, sounding equally doubtful.

"Please! They'll drag us all underground to be eaten!" Erlina pleaded. Alistair had to admit she sounded convincing in her fear, though perhaps she should have picked a different distraction. A darkspawn wandering about the arl of Denerim's estate in broad daylight... it was a little far-fetched. Though if it'd been true, the irony of it would have been delicious.

"Should we call for help?" questioned the other guard.

"Did you fall off a cart full of stupid? Call for help?" the first guard replied. Beside him, Serena groaned. "So they can see us act like scared little girls because of some knife-eared wench?" At this, Alim groaned. This guard wasn't making any sort of friends with them today.

"They will eat us all alive! Please! Get help!"

"She's really laying it on thick, isn't she?" Alim muttered. "I could have paralyzed them by now... blindfolded."

The second guard was still wavering, as if the darkspawn threat was a valid one. "If there is something out there, and we don't sound the alarm, we'll look worse than scared. I heard they've been raiding in the south."

"Andraste's holy knickers!" cursed the guard. "Fine! We'll check the courtyard, if it'll keep you from wetting yourself. But there's nothing there!"

"Thank you! Thank you!" Erlina cried in her heavily accented tones. "It was over here, oh my. Quickly!" With a strange little skip, she hurried off in the opposite direction as Serena stepped out from behind the wall.

"Alright, well... here goes... everything."

They met Erlina again twenty minutes later, in a side foyer that led to the massive kitchens. The estate was bustling with activity, servants moving in and out, delicious smells wafting out of the kitchens into the hallways beyond.

"Ah, it took me forever to lose those two! You must be careful now. The servants..." She nodded her head to a small group of servants passing by, one of them a blonde elven man handling a large mabari. "They will not look too closely at anyone in uniform. All guards are alike to a cook, no? But you should not draw attention to yourselves." At the last part, she looked pointedly at Serena, almost baiting her.

"Most of the guards are new," the maid continued when it became obvious Serena wouldn't respond. "They will not know you for a stranger at a glance. It is best you keep your distance from all of them and try to blend in."

"And where is Anora?" Serena asked, her voice just on this side of exasperated.

"In a guest room, off the main hall." Erlina crossed herself quickly. "Andraste guide us." Frowning, she moved quickly away down another hallway, blending in with another group of elven servants.

"So... what was that?"

"What was what?" Serena asked innocently.

Alistair scoffed. "You, Erlina. What was that?"

"I don't care for her," the brunette replied brusquely. At Alistair's look, she rolled her eyes, relenting to him. "If I had to guess, I would assume our dear queen has poisoned her against me."

"Isn't that a bit paranoid, Sister?" Fergus said gently.

This time it was Serena's turn to throw him a look. "You remember Anora, surely."

"Yes..." The bearded man sighed. "How she used to flirt, sweet Maker, you'd think she wasn't promised to Cailan from birth. To this day, I think she still holds a grudge because I supposedly spurned her and took Oriana as a wife. What a peach."

"Consummate bitch," Serena muttered in agreement. She pulled a small copy of a map, copied from her journal it looked like, from her pocket. "Let's just get this done with."

Traveling through the estate was a slow process. Following Erlina's orders, the four of them tried to avoid the soldiers, though the main hall appeared to be situated in such a way that they needed to circle the entire estate to enter it. Their disguises appeared to be doing their job, however as the guards and servants alike seemed to leave them be.

"It's bad luck living in a house where the whole family got killed. I saw Howe ought to level the thing and build a new one."

"He'd have to knock down every place he owns, then," replied a second soldier. Alistair heard Fergus snigger under his helm as they passed by. It would appear even Howe's newest guardsmen were weary of the man and his bloody reputation.

"I hope it's not mutton again," another man complained. "Three nights in a row now..."

"For all we know, it's not mutton. Howe's too cheap to buy it. Cook's probably roasting the elves that broke in here."

The guard made a gagging sound as he passed, carrying his helm under his arm. "You realize that doesn't help, right? Ugh."

"Sere-" Alim's voice cut out as he saddled up to Serena. "Ser? Did you hear that?"

"I did. Your friends, I'm assuming?"

Alim nodded. "I have to check."

"Let's find Anora first, then we'll break out the prisoners," Serena whispered. Her eyes closed briefly. "Zevran is nearby, I think. I can sense Peanut. There's other mabari, too. He must be nearing the kennels."

"That's just off to the right of the main hall, Seren-"

"Ser will do," Serena replied quickly, cutting Alistair off. "Let's head that way, then we'll double back for the lower levels."

They wouldn't have known the guest rooms from any of the other doors if not for Erlina standing conspicuously outside, leaning against the wall beside a strange glowing door.

"Magic," Alim said unnecessarily. "It can never been easy, can it?"

"Welcome to my entire life, Alim," Serena murmured.

"The Grey Warden's are here, my lady."

"Thank the Maker!" Anora's muffled voice carried through the door, despite it's magic seal. She sounded in good spirits, if not a bit exasperated. "I would greet you properly, but I'm afraid we've had... a small setback."

"The seal, you mean?"

"Indeed." There was a long sigh. "My 'host' was not content with leaving me under heavy guard. He's sealed the door by magic."

Serena rolled her eyes. Turning to her fellow 'guardsmen' she asked "Can you do anything Alistair? Alim? Anything to dispel it's effects?"

"You'll have to find the mage who cast the spell," Anora interrupted. "He'll most likely be at Howe's side."

"Any ideas where that might be, my lady?" The last two words were exaggerated, though Alistair thought perhaps only he and Fergus would be the only ones who could really tell.

"Serena? Is that you? You're the Grey Warden?"

"Yes, I am. We're looking rather obvious standing about in this hallway currently, however, so..."

"Right, right. Of course." Anora's voice pitched slightly higher before she continued. "I... Howe should be in his rooms, at the end of the hall on the... left. But there is also an entrance, to the dungeons there. You can enter through-"

"His study," Serena supplied.

"Correct. Ah, thank you, Serena. My... prayers go with you."

"I'm sure," muttered the brunette, turning away.

Howe's study was an offshoot of his master rooms, both of which were decidedly empty upon first inspection.

"You know, we'll probably never have another chance to loot the arl of Denerim," Alistair said quietly, heading over to the large desk. Serena moved over to a enormous chest, pulling a pin from her pocket to pick the lock. With a soft click, it opened on the first try, and she raided the contents quickly.

"Oh, dear."

"Find something?" Alistair called. Serena waved him over urgently, pushing some documents into his hands.

"These have the seal on them, the Grey Warden seal," she whispered. "Alim, come here. You should see these, too." She showed him the documents, pointing out the griffon pressed to the old parchment with wax.

"These are amazing." Alim ran his long fingers over the aging parchment, and Serena knew he was appreciating them as much as any spellbook from the Tower. "Are they in code?"

"Must be," Alistair whispered. "But I wouldn't be surprised if these tell us how to do the Joining."

"So I could become a... a real..." Alim grinned. "This makes the whole setback almost worth it, huh?"

"Very worth it," Serena confirmed.

"And this way leads to the dungeons, I gather," Fergus said solemnly, nodding his head down the now open doorway before them. The comfortable stone and wood carved walls quickly gave way to a crudely constructed tunnel, leading down.

Serena felt her stomach tie in knots as they descended the long passageway, concerned that they would finally face Rendon Howe at last. The door needed to be picked, a bad sign, and Serena instructed the others to pull their weapons as she worked. Alim was muttering a chant under his breath as the door swung open.

"What? Who goes there?" A guard was standing stationed in front of a cell, his body on alert. "I'm the only one meant to be down here, unless you lot are on patrol... Wait a sec-"

There was a sickening crack as a thick muscular arm shot out of the cell, grabbing the man's face and snapping the neck in one swift movement. The guard collapsed on the floor and Serena backed away as he was dragged into the cell by his feet.

Alistair gulped, his long sword out and glowing just slightly. "We have the worst timing. Just.. the worst."