"You made me king. After all this is over with, they're actually going to put me on the throne. I'm... I'm going to be the king." He had started talking before he'd fully walked in to the room.

I ran over and threw my arms around his waist, hurting myself on his shiny, kingly armor, but I didn't care. He would be safe from whatever that future was.

"Is that a thank you?" I teased him when I pulled away.

He narrowed his eyes at me, "I think I would have been furious at you once, but since our talk after seeing my sister... and the vision you had... well, I suppose this might not be such a bad thing." He shook his head, bewildered still, "This was always a possibility. I always feared it, but maybe there's nothing to fear. I might actually make a good king, you never know."

I raised an eyebrow. I did know, and I'd even told him so.

"I'll tell you what, though. I'll make a far better king if I have the right people by my side to help me, once I'm on the throne. People like you."

"If you want me there, of course I will." I didn't hesitate, the thought of ever going back to my world a distant dream that I'd long since forgotten.

"Good, then it's settled. Arl Eamon has left for Redcliffe. He says the army has gathered there and is almost ready to march. As soon as we're ready, we should head to Redcliffe ourselves. The Blight awaits, right?" With that, he left the room, not bothering to say bye or anything. Just like not greeting us when he'd entered. I mean, he'd ignored everyone else.

I could feel Morrigan's eyes on me and knew she had something on her mind, but she would come around when she was ready. I didn't want to push her.

An arm settled around my shoulders, and Leliana and Zevran were on either side of me.

"He liked the package." She said nonchalantly.

I had to think about that one. "Oh! I guess I should go see if he needs anything else, while we're still in Denerim."

"He does. He said to give you this, and to not read it." She pouted, holding out another letter.

I gave her a look before reading it. One last heist. This time, he had information of the actual whereabouts of the Tears. He knew when the guards were scheduled to switch. When they were supposed to eat, sleep, breathe, and... piss... I made a face at that part. The Tears of Andraste were hidden in a secret room, the door a bookshelf in the room where he had been told they were supposed to be originally. Clever, Bann Franderel.

"Do you want to do more thievery?" I murmured to the two of them.

The bard's eyes lit up, and the assassin nodded, a grin on his face.

"We're going to steal... the Tears of Andraste. This time, we're not going to get betrayed, and we're going to get our hands on that vial. Let me know as soon as you're ready, and we'll leave."

"I'm ready now."

"As am I."

"Good." I nodded approvingly, "Then, what are we waiting for?"

In and out. It was so sweetly simple. At one time, I would have been frustrated at how smoothly the job went, but after the last disastrous attempt... this suited me just fine. Nothing went wrong. We weren't ambushed. No one saw us. I was even tempted a few times to make us visible, because the guards were lazy and a good majority of them had their eyes closed. Asleep on duty. Classy.

"You did it! You really did it!" He whooped with joy when we returned. "Tomorrow, everyone will be talking about this. Bann Franderel will be humiliated. Can I have the Tears? I've arranged them an anonymous delivery to the Chantry."

"Here you go. Make sure it gets there safely." I gently placed the vial in his hands, praying it didn't break or spill or something.

"It will, Warden." He tucked it in to a pouch at his belt. "It's been an honor. I wonder if history will ever know the full story of what we've done. Good luck."

"Why did you give it to him? What if he does not give it to the Chantry?" Leliana was conflicted.

"The same way I knew Aedan didn't really want to poison the Urn of Sacred Ashes. I just do."

That seemed to mollify her.

...

"Why so few?" Alistair was frowning.

We'd been having this argument for the last few hours, and neither one of us was going to bend any time soon.

"Denerim is the capital. Please. For the love of all that's holy, just keep the majority of them here!"

"Why? You haven't had a vision, so you don't know what you're talking about!"

I puffed up at that, "Excuse me? EXCUSE ME?"

A knock on the door caused us to step back from each other and look toward the door. A servant stood there, looking worried.

"I-I'm sorry if this is a bad time, your Highness, but Arl Eamon has sent for the Grey Wardens formally. The darkspawn have been spotted in the area." She bowed and fled from the room.

Before she'd gotten out of earshot, the fight had resumed.

"HOW DARE YOU TALK TO ME LIKE THAT?"

"HOW DARE I? YOU PUT ME ON THE THRONE, REMEMBER? I'M KING!"

"THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE LIKE THEY'RE BENEATH YOU! NOT AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE GONE THROUGH!" I screamed at him. His eyes widened, and he stilled. "YOU CAN'T TREAT PEOPLE LIKE THAT, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE! MAYBE I SHOULDN'T HAVE SHARED WHAT I KNEW! DAMN, IF I KNEW YOU WOULD ACT LIKE THIS, I MIGHT HAVE RECONSIDERED!"

I spun on my heel and started for the door. He lunged forward and grabbed my arm, keeping me from leaving.

"Let go of me."

"Don't walk away." He pleaded. "I'm sorry. I know you know what you're doing. I do. I swear. I just... I feel like you should have more people with you in Redcliffe."

I could feel the guards outside relax. Hear their audible sighs of relief.

"I'm sorry, too." I conceded, but crossed my arms and gave him a stern look, "I understand you're king now. Trust and believe, I do. But you can't say things like that just because you don't agree. I shouldn't have tried to leave, but I didn't want either of us to say anything we'd regret. I've never had friends before, and this is hard for me."

He took a deep breath, "Okay. So, only Sten, Natia, Duran, and Zevran. Was that right?"

"Yeah. I want the others to stay here." I explained again, taking greater care with my words this time around, "It's a common tactic. A large force shows up somewhere. The bulk of the opposing force goes out to meet them, leaving the true target unprotected. Denerim is the capital. It makes sense they would want to storm here, rather than Redcliffe."

"Why don't you stay here, then? Send the others out?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Have I ever let someone else do something dangerous instead of doing it myself?"

"Fair point." Alistair ran a hand through his hair several times.

"Besides, Duncan isn't in Denerim. And the mages I brought to him to go through the Joining aren't here, either. They might have gone to Redcliffe to fight darkspawn. That's another three people, right there."

"But if you're wrong, you'll only have-"

"Every solider of Redcliffe, plus what you've already sent. On top of the five of us." I pointed out.

"You're right. You're right. I know you're right."

"We have to go soon, Alistair. Eamon needs us."

"When are you planning?"

"As soon as I walk out this door." I shrugged at his raised eyebrow, "I already told them to get ready. They've been waiting this whole time. None of us expected a full-blown fight that lasted hours. I'm sure your guards will be happier to have me gone, what with how volatile we've been today. And Leliana has as keen eyes as Zevran does, I'm sure, so keep her close."

"What?" his bewildered expression was comical.

"In case someone tries to kill you? Because you're king?"

"Oh. Oh, that." He groaned. "I have to deal with that now, too? Maker..."

I giggled at him, "Yeah. Yeah, that's part of the downside."

He shook his head, and I gave him a hug.

"We should get going now. I'll send word when we've cleared them out. You send anything if the horde shows here."

"I will." he squeezed me, "Don't do anything stupid, Ana. I mean it."

"Who? Me?" I batted my eyes innocently, backing out of the room. "You wound me, sir."

"Are we leaving now?" Natia rolled her neck.

I nodded, feeling a hand on my shoulder. I glanced back and saw Zevran, a questioning look on his face.

"Oh, you know. We just had an argument because neither of us have the right social skills to solve a problem any other way." I blinked, "Wait. Is that okay to say? He's a king now, after all..."

"Let's go." was Sten's reply to that.

"I wish to accompany you." Morrigan's voice surprised us all. Not that she was there, because she was in front of us, but her words.

"I'm sorry, what? You want to come? Really?" I asked skeptically.

She nodded, "It has come to my attention that... perhaps... I have not done all I can to aid you, Anastasia."

Duran whistled, glancing between us. The rest of them were silent.

"Okay." I mumbled, conflicted but going with it, "We're leaving right now, though."

"I am packed and ready." She raised her chin.

Blink. Blink. Blink. Guess she was coming with us.

I turned to the guard next to us, "Can you make sure the king knows Morrigan is coming with me? Thanks."