A/N: I am sorry for last week, and while I don't have a second chapter ready to give you all a double, I did make this one extra long to help. It's been a bit of writer's block, so there wasn't much I could do, but I think I am back on a roll now.

The group was crowded around, looking down at the two of them, hoping for their eyes to open, but both were sleeping so peacefully that they could have been dead if not for the movement of their chests as they breathed.

Knowing that crowding them wouldn't help, but not willing to back away, Hawke stayed where he was- sitting next to Anders. He also felt he couldn't ask the others to do something he wouldn't, so they all continued their silent vigil, crowded near their friends.

"Are we safe here Warden, or do we need to move?" Sebastian asked Nathaniel quietly.

Nathaniel looked around the room, as if seeing through the walls themselves, trying to sense any approaching danger.

"I don't feel any tainted creature nearby, so we are fine for now," he answered. "I will let you know if that changes."

Feeling relief, Aveline, Sebastian, Varric and Merrill followed Hawke's example and sat, though they only moved back slightly in order to keep an eye on Anders and Cat as they lay in front of them.

"They're going to be all right, aren't they Hawke?" Varric asked.

"The healing went well," Hawke answered. "But the damage was extensive. "I don't know what would have happened if Anders hadn't been here."

"Then I owe you all more than I can say," Nathaniel added quietly, as he picked up Cat's hand and held it in his own, causing a few narrowed eyes.

"What were the two of you thinking, coming into the Deep Roads alone?" Hawke asked him, trying to keep calm. "Even being able to sense the darkspawn, it was foolhardy."

"I was doing just fine," Nathaniel argued. "Until Cat caught up with me." He looked back down at her still form. "I was furious that she followed me… I didn't think she would be able to."

He looked back up to Hawke, his expression guilty. "We argued… loudly. I am fairly certain that was what brought the darkspawn to us."

"I can hardly blame you, as I have been there with her before," Hawke replied.

Varric glanced over in surprise, his eyebrows raising as he took in Hawke's clenched fists.

"You don't need to blame me, I blame myself," Nathaniel continued, his gaze not moving from Cat. "I never should have taken her to Amaranthine with me."

"Why did you?" Varric asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "I thought she was keeping herself hidden?"

"Yes, she was," he replied. "But we had no attacks since she had gotten there, and felt safe since we were traveling alone. I wanted her to meet my family," he added quietly.

Anders opened his eyes at that moment, and all other thoughts of comments he might have made left Hawke as he turned to his friend.

"Anders?" he asked gently. "How are you feeling?"

"Weak," came the reply, though he smiled.

"You performed a miracle," Nathaniel said, as he looked at his one time friend. "I don't know if I can ever thank you enough."

Anders' head turned to face the other warden, and he smirked. "I guess that makes us even now," he said. It took Nathaniel a moment, but he remembered the note he wrote after he had taken Carver Hawke into the order, about how Anders owed him one.

"I suppose it does," Nathaniel said, the corner of his lips moving up slightly, and he turned back to Cat.

"Oh," Anders groaned as he began to move. "Give me a hand, will you?" he asked Hawke, who reached out to help him sit up. "That isn't something I hope to do very often," Anders said as he moved his neck to get rid of the stiffness.

"I surely hope you never have to again," Hawke replied. "You need more rest," he said, as Anders stretched.

"I feel pretty good," Anders replied. "Just drained from using too much power all at once."

Hawke stood and helped him to stand, and Anders walked around in small circles, getting the feeling back into his muscles. "Whoa, that really took a lot out of me," he said to himself as he did.

"We thought you had killed yourself at first," Merrill said, concerned. "We were very worried."

"Thank you," Anders replied, "but I knew what I was doing."

"You were able to push past your natural limit," Hawke said, giving him a baleful look, and Anders looked chagrined.

"Yes, well, I have experimented with that for a number of years. Magebane is used to keep mages in line when they are imprisoned, and I was constantly looking for a way to use my power in spite of that."

Hawke's eyebrow rose, but he didn't continue the conversation. It would take too long to explain to those that weren't mages, and truly, they didn't really need to know what Anders was capable of. Though he was glad that he knew now.

Anders and Nathaniel's heads moved in synchronization, causing the others to freeze, and go silent.

"We should move," Anders said quietly.

"Now," Nathaniel added.

Giving a nod, Hawke helped his crew up, and they moved as quietly as possible as they loaded their packs and weapons. Hawke turned back to Anders, seeing he was having a whispered argument with Nathaniel, and moved closer.

"Of course I am coming, I can't take the chance that we are surrounded again," Nathaniel hissed.

"You can't come back to Kirkwall, the point was to stay away until the threat was taken care of!" Anders said, his look saying what a foolish idea it was.

"I'll follow you if I have to, she would have died without you!" Nathaniel retorted. "It's been over a year, have the Crows even been seen in Kirkwall?"

Anders looked to Hawke as he came forward, then responded to the other warden. "Maybe you should just leave Cat with us, and lead the darkspawn away," he offered as a plan.

"Who in their right mind would leave someone they care about when they are in danger?" Nathaniel shot back, bending down and picking up Cat. "Now, I can understand your concern, so once we reach the surface, I will take Cat back to Ferelden by boat instead of through the tunnels, but for now, we are coming with you."

Hawke said nothing, Nathaniel's words striking a little to close to heart for comfort. He gave a brief nod, and turned, pulling Anders along by his sleeve to get him to lead the group. They would need his warden ability to sense the darkspawn in order to escape without a fight.

Anders didn't like it, but he followed Hawke's lead. He didn't sense many darkspawn, and could easily get his group away. Then, he'd follow Hawke's lead again, and if that meant taking Cat from Nathaniel, so be it.

Cat opened her eyes slowly, unsure of where she was, or even how long she had been asleep. It was as if her senses had reset, and were slowly coming back to her one by one. Sounds and sights went from fuzzy to clear, but it took a few minutes.

"Little Dove?"

Cat heard the voice, but didn't turn, as she didn't quite connect with it yet. Her eyes were looking up at a lowly lit cavern, that looked as if it were dwarven, and she felt confused. Last she remembered, she was fighting darkspawn. How am I just laying here? And where is here? she thought.

"Cat?"

This time, she blinked a few times at hearing a voice, but didn't need to turn her head, as a familiar face was looking down at her. She was sure her features must have conveyed the confusion she felt. Am I dreaming? she thought.

"No, it's really me," Anders said to her, and Cat realized she must have spoken her thoughts out loud.

"He means, it's us!" Merrill said happily as her face came into Cat's view.

"I'm here too, Little Dove," Varric added from beside Merrill.

"Where…?" Cat asked, as she began to move.

"Here, let me help you," Anders offered, and put his arm behind her to help her into a sitting position. "Long story short, Delilah Howe came and found Hawke, and asked us to go help you and Nathaniel. We got there just in time for you to take a beating from an ogre, and you had to do some major healing."

"That.. why I feel… off?" she asked, bringing her hand up to hold her head as it swam.

"Yeah," he answered. "You've been sleeping for several days."

"Nate okay?" she asked, as she concentrated on getting her bearings.

"Yes, he was fine, last I saw of him," he answered grumpily, and Cat looked over to him in question.

Anders, seeing the look gave a sigh. "Apparently he came here because some dwarves decided to try to follow our expedition, and were lost. Their father asked Nathaniel for help. He and Hawke wanted to rescue them if they could, since they were already down here."

"Hawke?" she asked, giving a smile, even as she felt nervous.

"He took Aveline and Choir Boy, and went with Nathaniel," Varric spoke up in answer. "We've been taking you back up to the surface where we'll wait for them."

"Oh… okay."

She could see that the three of them were looking at her in concern, so she gave another small smile. "I'll be all right," she said, "just feeling… strange."

"Strange how?" Anders asked, thought he just started checking her himself.

"Uh, like I've slept too long?" she answered, and he glanced at her, before going back to his task.

"Like I said, it was major healing, Cat. As in organ repair, and broken bones," he said in a professional and clipped manner. "I don't want to worry you, but you won't be able to jump back quickly from this. You still need recovery time, and I am not sure how much."

"Okay, I get it," she said. "And I know you're right, because I feel like I have already used up all my energy just sitting here." She was concerned, because Anders wouldn't lie about healing time. If he said she needed more, then she did.

"So I take it the ogre won then?" she asked, even as she settled herself back into a laying position. "I don't remember actually fighting it."

"It barged in as you were dealing with those shrieks," Varric answered.

"Those I remember," she said.

"Your skills have grown," Anders spoke up, even as he finished his cursory examination. "All of us just stood there watching you fight them. You were incredible."

Cat flushed slightly in pleasure. "Thanks, that's so sweet. I haven't been idle while with the wardens, that's for sure."

"Speaking of the wardens," Varric began, only to have Anders shake his head at him. He looked at the healer, who gave a pointed look at Cat. Varric looked back at her, noting that her eyes were heavy, and her lids would flutter as she tried to keep herself awake.

"We'll talk later," Varric amended. "For now, you need to rest."

"No, I'm … fine…" Cat argued, though she couldn't keep herself from falling back into a healing sleep.

"Next time she wakes, we need to get some food into her," Anders told his companions. "Her body needs all the help it can get to heal quickly."

"Well, I have to admit," Varric said, as he sat back against a rock. "I was picturing something a bit more romantic for Hawke and the Little Dove's reunion."

"I think we all were," Anders replied.

Merrill smiled, even as she folded up some clothing to make a pillow for Cat's head. She moved over to place it underneath her. "Hawke just seems so angry about it all still," she commented. "Oh!"

The other two looked at her concern, but calmed as Merrill simply lifted a chunk of Cat's hair. "I know Isabela told me she cut her hair to disguise herself, but I didn't realize it would be this short," she said sadly. "It's almost as short as my own."

"It's hair, Daisy," Varric replied kindly. "It will grow again."

"I know Varric," she answered, raking her fingers through her friend's cropped hair. "It's just that she would let me brush it and play with it sometimes." She looked down again as her fingers moved through the short tresses. "It's not the same now."

"No, it's not the same," he answered, his voice going quiet.

Weapons ready, and standing in front of their sleeping friend, Anders, Varric, and Merrill were ready to fight. Seeing Aveline and Hawke come into the hall, however, had them all lowering their weapons with a sigh of relief.

They watched as Sebastian and a couple of dwarves followed by Nathaniel came in after them.

"Glad you found us," Varric said with a smirk.

"You did a good job at leaving a visible trail," Hawke replied in kind. "Sebastian only had to take over once or twice to make sure we stayed on the right track."

"Nathaniel was sure that you were here as well," Sebastian added.

"How is she?" Nathaniel asked as he moved over to Cat, who was still sleeping.

"Good," Anders replied, though he looked to Hawke as he reported. "She's woken a couple of times, and we've been plying her with water and food when we can. She doesn't remember fighting the ogre, but can recall everything before that."

"Well, I wouldn't call getting thrown into a wall a fight, exactly," Hawke retorted, but he put his hand on Anders' shoulder and gave him a nod. "Good work," he added.

Anders nodded in reply, and turned back to the group. "She doesn't stay awake long, she's still recuperating from the injuries and the healing, however, she can be moved without worry."

"So we can go home?" Aveline asked, and Anders gave her a nod.

"We'll have to keep carrying her, but yes."

"Thank the Maker," Nathaniel murmured.

"Well then, I think we're all ready to get out of these caves," Hawke said. "Anders, Nathaniel? I'd like one of you in front and the other in the back of the group. Seb? Can you take Cat first?"

"Of course, Hawke."

"How regularly has she been waking?" Hawke asked Anders.

"Every few hours," came the reply.

"Okay, then we'll rest during that time," Hawke decided. "Let's get moving."

Nathaniel nor the dwarves offered any resistance to Hawke's leadership, and the group grabbed their packs and weapons, and their unconscious friend, and started for the surface.

"This tunnel will lead you out," Nathaniel said to the older brother. "At any forks, always take the largest tunnel, and you will reach the surface in two days. If you stay quiet, you shouldn't run into any darkspawn."

"Very well," the dwarf replied. "Thank you again for your assistance. Our family is in your debt."

"Just spread the word that the thaig has nothing to offer, and that will be thanks enough," Nathaniel retorted stoically. "There may not be any wardens or champions next time to help."

The dwarves nodded to the warden, thinking as they left that he needed to smile more. But in a profession such as his, there was probably no cause for it. Death and darkspawn, and battle were all they could tell that he lived with, and as they left the larger group, both dwarves were glad that they were able to go back to their family and their lives.

"Are you sure sending them off alone was wise?" Anders asked Nathaniel.

"Unless you wanted them following us all the way to Kirkwall?" Nathaniel replied dryly.

"No, but it seems odd to save them, only to send them off into dangers unknown."

"They can handle themselves," Hawke interrupted. "They were holding their own when we found them."

"Very well," Anders responded.

Nathaniel glanced over, surprised that Anders simply accepted the statement from Hawke, when if it had been himself, the mage would likely have continued to argue.

Varric watched the interaction, and looked back down at the Little Dove. She had woken up not long before, and they had both been listening to those around them. The others hadn't even realized that she was awake, and neither of them were calling attention to the fact, just letting them go about their business.

"Varric…" she whispered, and he moved in closer to hear her. "Is he done with me?"

Varric eased back, his face near hers even as he gave a slight shake of his head. "He isn't sure what he is, but I don't think that's it. But you hurt him Little Dove."

Cat could feel her heart sink, though she had known. She had woken up twice before, and Hawke had just happened to be scouting ahead, or speaking with Anders privately. But, she didn't want to assume, and had to be sure.

She knew she had hurt him, hadn't she been the one who was so worried about him leaving once Meredith was defeated? She knew it would hurt her, and tried to thwart it at every turn, yet she had left without even speaking to him.

She knew she couldn't have done differently, there was too much at stake, and she couldn't risk him or his crew, they were too important- not only to Kirkwall, but to Thedas. She couldn't even begin to imagine what repercussions would befall if one of them were to die before their time.

But… that didn't change the fact that she had left for over a year. And Garrett Hawke wouldn't see it just as leaving him, but abandoning the crew. In fact, Cat had the feeling that he would be more upset about that part, then he would about anything personal.

The thought came now, of how she was stronger, and when it came time for Garrett to leave, she would be able to handle it. After all, she wasn't alone. She had friends, family… people to rely on.

And if and when Hawke needed to leave, to ensure his friends were kept safe… well. She'd be the one waiting that time.

Now, she hoped that he would not only listen long enough for her to share her new found knowledge, but feel the same.

"The Little Dove's awake," Varric announced, giving her a smirk as she shook herself from her thoughts, watching in trepidation as the man she loved turned to look at her.

Cat smiled nervously, even as Hawke gave her a nod and a small smile in return. Then her attention was grabbed by Nathaniel kneeling in front of her, grabbing her hand.

"Cat? Are you all right?" he asked in concern.

"I've told you countless times that she will be fine," Anders muttered crossly.

"I'm doing much better Nate," she replied, looking over his shoulder to see Hawke looking awkwardly anywhere else but at her. Her face fell as he turned and moved away from the group.

"You should eat something, and drink some more water," Merrill said happily as she moved toward her friend.

"All right," Cat agreed, hiding her disappointment as best as she could. Nathaniel scooted back as Merrill and Aveline both moved in to look her over.

"I'll help keep watch," Nathaniel said with a smile to Cat. "Don't overtax yourself," he told her, and she gave him a smile and a nod. She waited until he had pulled Anders away before she let her face fall again.

Not exactly what I was hoping for, she thought dejectedly.

"She doesn't seem to be herself," Nathaniel muttered to Anders, looking back to see her looking like she was in pain.

Anders gave him a dry look. "Again, she will be fine. But that takes time. Her body is healing from a traumatic experience. She's getting the rest and nutrients needed to heal, which is what she needs right now."

Nathaniel looked to her again, and back to face the healer. "She may not be saying it, but she is definitely in pain," he argued.

Anders looked over Nathaniel's shoulder, seeing Cat's gaze where Hawke had been, and understanding. "Not all pain is physical," he murmured, then cleared his throat and looked back to the warden. "You seem more concerned than I would have thought," he said speculatively.

Nathaniel glowered. "I can be as concerned as anyone when it is someone I care about," he replied pointedly.

"That's the second time you've mentioned caring for her," Anders said. "I'm curious what you mean by that."

"Exactly as I said. Now if you'll excuse me, I said I would be on watch."

Anders watched as Nathaniel stormed off, wondering what Cat had been up to during her time with the wardens. He smiled as he remembered how often Cat would unknowingly find herself with would-be suitors, and thought this may be another case. He turned in the opposite direction as Nathaniel, and began walking the perimeter of the make shift camp, hoping to come across Hawke on the way.

"How are you feeling?" Merrill asked Cat as she handed over a water skin.

Cat took a few swallows of the water, and returned the water skin. "Much better," Cat answered. "I can sit up on my own, and I don't feel the need to fall back asleep right away."

"That sounds like a good sign," Aveline replied, as she pulled out a piece of bread and handed it to Cat.

Cat wanted to rap the bread on a rock to prove how hard it was, but resisted the urge. Using both hands, she was able to break off a small piece and put it in her mouth. She let it sit there to soften, not wanting to crack her teeth on it.

"Thanks," she replied.

Aveline glanced around, and spoke quietly. "I'm glad that you're back," she said, giving Cat a smile. "It hasn't been the same without you."

"I've missed you all so much," Cat replied just as softly.

"But you were with your friends," Merrill said in confusion.

Cat smiled at her. "And while it was wonderful to spend time with them, they aren't you," she replied. "Though Alistair is almost as happy as you are Merrill, he's much more sarcastic."

Merrill grinned. "I'm glad you had someone to help you stay happy, Cat."

Cat smiled even as she shook her head. "No one is a substitute for my friends here though."

"Speaking of…" Aveline spoke up, and Cat turned to her with a questioning look. "I figured I would give you a heads up. Your friend, the Crow…"

"My friend?" Cat asked, confused. "Wait, you mean Zevran?" she asked in surprise. "A blond elf?"

"That's the one," Varric interrupted, proving he had been listening the entire time, and sporting a frown which had Cat confused again.

"What about him?" she asked.

"He came to Kirkwall, looking for you," Aveline said, keeping her voice quiet. "We thought he was one of the Crows sent for you."

"And?" Cat said, even as she grinned.

"You're not concerned we killed him?" Varric asked, and Cat rolled her eyes.

"Zev has lived through worse, and I'm assuming he recognized Issy, or vice versa."

He nodded. "The latter," he replied. "Rivaini stopped mid attack, and put her daggers away, which had us all pausing, and we found out who he was, and he explained that he was the reason the Crows were after you."

"You are leaving out the threats and posturing from all the men," Aveline added dryly.

"I would have loved to have seen that," Cat said with a grin.

"Yeah well," Varric continued. "Your buddy told us how he was looking for the Crows responsible, and how he was going to take them out, but he wanted to make sure you were all right first."

"Aww…" Cat said with a dopey smile.

"I'm confused Cat," Merrill spoke again. "You're smiling, but you look sad."

"I'm both, Merrill," Cat replied. "I'm so happy that he cares so much to track me down and check on me, but I'm sad that I missed seeing him. I haven't seen or heard from Zev since he put me on Isabela's ship in Ferelden to escape the blight."

"Oh, no wonder then," Merrill answered.

"That's not all," Aveline said, getting back on topic. "He deduced that Leliana took you to the wardens, and felt that you were safe enough." She returned the grin that Cat was sporting. "But then Fenris announced that he would be going with him."

Cat's grin died as she looked at her friends in shock. "Say again?" she asked.

"Broody went with the Crow," Varric repeated for her. "He wanted to help get you back sooner. And that's when Rivaini announced she would be going with them."

The first had been shocking, the second announcement had Cat gaping. "They… both of them… went with Zev?!" she demanded.

"Yes," Aveline answered, glad that she had decided to say something now.

"This is incredible…" Cat muttered, rubbing her forehead.

"Little Dove? You okay?" Varric asked.

"They are with Zev…" she repeated. "That's… not right," she muttered, and her friends looked at her in confusion.

"Why is that?" Varric asked. "I would think with the three of them, they'll probably have killed the bastard who started this by now."

"Everything is changing…" Cat murmured, then looking up and seeing the three of them looking at her in confusion and concern, she shook the thoughts away. "Sorry," she said to them. "It's just not something that I ever thought would happen. Zev tends to work alone."

"He did say that, trying to talk them out of it, if that helps," Aveline said. "But they were both quite insistent."

"And how did Hawke react to this?" she asked as the thought came to her.

"Not very well, but Fenris did ask permission first," Varric answered. "Unlike someone else we know."

The conversation turned in those simple words, and Cat forgot all about Zev and the changes that were being brought about as she turned to where she had last seen Hawke, her thoughts on him.

"Would that have helped?" she asked.

The other three were quiet, not having a good answer.

"I guess the real question, is what I do now," Cat continued. "He barely glanced at me, and I wanted to run to him."

The quiet was starting to get to her, and Cat was ready to change the subject when Aveline started speaking.

"Look Cat, I won't go into all we went through while you were gone, but it hasn't been easy… for any of us, but mostly for Hawke. There have been a lot of problems that he has had to deal with, and mostly on his own."

Cat looked at her, her stomach sinking as she listened.

"We all had things happening, and there was a time when the crew was broken. Whether it was true or not, some blamed themselves for the problems, and it took some time to fix. Many of us were angry, not just at the situation but at you- for leaving without even talking to us."

"I'm so sorry-"

"I'm not asking for an apology," Aveline cut her off. "I'm just trying to get you to understand how things were here. Hawke wasn't the only one that had to put himself back together during the past year."

"Okay," Cat said with a nod, though inside she wanted to cry.

"I guess what I'm saying is… all of us have had to change, and you can't just have what you did before you left."

"We can't tell you what Hawke wants," Varric continued, "because he doesn't know that himself. But I can tell you that he's trying to figure that out."

"So I need to give him some space to do that," Cat said, her eyes downcast.

"That would be best," Aveline said gently. "For both of you."

"I'm sure he'll come to his senses soon," Merrill said with an encouraging smile.

"It's nothing he wouldn't or hasn't done for me," Cat replied with smile. "We made sure we were friends before, and I can be that again."

Aveline and Varric both sighed in relief. "Thank you Cat," Aveline said, feeling a weight leave her shoulders. "I should have known that you would understand."

"Well the Little Dove is the best," Varric said with a wink. "How would you feel about trying to stand for a bit?" he asked her.

"I would love that," Cat answered. "I don't want to be carried anymore."

"You were asleep, so how could it bother you?" Aveline asked with a grin, as she stood and held out a hand to help Cat up.

"I can feel it, like an itch between my shoulder blades," Cat replied, and the others chuckled.

"Cat," Anders said as he came hurrying back to them. "How are you doing?" he asked with a smile, seeing her standing, albeit wobbly.

"Pretty good," she replied. "Done sleeping for now, I think."

"That's a good sign," Anders said. "Can you walk around at all?"

"I'm definitely ready to," she answered, taking a few steps towards him. She grabbed the others' shoulders as she passed, both as support and also to give them a squeeze. As she reached Anders, she threw her arms around him, giving him a tight hug. "Thank you… for saving me," she whispered to him.

"As if I could do anything else," he replied in her ear, squeezing her tightly. "Please don't scare us like that again."

She pulled back with a nod, and stepped away from him, walking in slow paces around the cavern they were in, and looking around. "It seems we are almost back to the surface," she commented.

"Almost there," Hawke answered as he came back in. He was glad to see her on her feet. Seeing her laying asleep for days on end had his anxiety levels constantly on edge. "You look like you're feeling better," he said as he moved into the area.

"I am," Cat replied, and went with her gut, stepping to him and giving him a hug, similar to one she would give any friend. "Thank you so much, for coming to save us," she said.

"My pleasure," he answered, melting slightly and hugging her in return.

"I love you Garrett," she whispered, feeling him stiffen in shock. "And I'm sorry I hurt you. Take whatever time you need, I'll be here."

"Uh… Cat…" he had released her, but was trying to reply, though unsuccessfully. She stepped back, giving his arm a pat.

"It's okay," she said quietly, then turned and started walking slowly in a circle again. "I don't know how far I'll make it on my own, but I definitely want to walk as much as I can."

Hawke got his composure as she spoke, grateful that she was giving him time to do so. "That's fine," he replied normally, the group coming closer to hear him. "But you need to say something when you can't. If you fall over from exhaustion, then I won't take your word for it again."

"Deal," she said, turning with a smile.

"Cat!"

She turned as Nathaniel hurried up to her, giving her a hard hug. "I'm so sorry," he said as he held her. "This was all my fault."

"I believe I am responsible for my own actions," she replied dryly.

"Of course, but I should have known you would follow me," he said, as he stepped back and held her at arm's length.

"We're ready to continue Nathaniel," Hawke said, and the warden looked to him and nodded. "Do you want the front or the rear?" he asked.

"I'd like to walk with Cat," Nathaniel answered, looking to her in question. "Which would you prefer?" he asked her.

"Take the front then," Hawke answered before she could. "That way we will see her when she collapses."

Cat gave him a baleful look. "I said I would tell you before that happens."

"Knowing you, you'll say something as you fall," he retorted.

"He does have a point," Nathaniel commented.

"You shut up," Cat muttered, even as she walked with him to the front of the group. "Varric?" she asked. "Will you walk with me? I want to hear the story about Zev paying you a visit."

"Very well Little Dove," Varric replied, moving with her. "But then you have to tell me what you've been up to with the wardens."

"Of course," she answered. "But Nate here might stop me at the good parts," she said with a grin. "The wardens don't like to share."

"No revealing warden secrets today," Nathaniel added with a smirk.

The others moved along, Sebastian and Anders hanging back to walk with Hawke, neither saying anything, but he felt their support all the same.

"Are you sure about this?" Hawke asked while frowning.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Cat replied. "Fenris is gone, and we have plenty of rooms. Though I wonder how much I'll need to clean up first," she mused.

"Merrill and Anders have been taking turns staying there to keep it ready for you," Hawke said, and Cat turned to him with a smile.

"That was so thoughtful! I'll be sure to think of a way to thank them," she exclaimed.

"It turned out to be good for them as well, keeping them out of staying in one place too long," he replied.

Cat's eyes narrowed. "It's gotten worse?" she asked, and he nodded.

"Meredith is seeing blood mages everywhere," he replied. "Mages aren't safe anywhere, but places like Darktown and the Alienage are even worse, because of how desperate people there can be."

As the group moved through the city towards Hightown, Anders had pulled Nathaniel back to have a conversation of their own.

"Look, I know you may not think of me as a friend, but-" Anders started.

"Of course I do." Anders looked at Nathaniel, gobsmacked, and the warden smirked. "I was angry Anders, I felt betrayed. You couldn't have hurt me like that if you weren't a friend."

"I … see. Well, I don't know that I've ever apologized, so I will now. I am sorry that I hurt you."

"Thank you, though I can understand a little better now, and am no longer angry. However you know as well as I that you are a warden. Whether you act like one or not."

Anders smiled sadly. "Believe me, I know."

"Good."

"AS a friend though, I feel I need to explain a little about Cat…" Anders began. "It can be easy to feel close to her, and she has a way of making a man feel like she is, uh… encouraging his attentions…"

"Oh really?" Nathaniel gave him a sarcastic smile, enjoying his discomfort.

"Look," Anders said more firmly, "I don't know how much you know about her-"

"Everything."

"What?" Anders stopped at the interruption.

"I know everything," Nathaniel repeated. "And I am aware that she has told both you and the warrior elf, as well as the pirate to an extent. We have spoken about it several times, and she sought advice from the commander on several issues."

"She told you and the commander what she knows?" Anders asked darkly.

"Not in so many words, just asking for opinions for things that involve the wardens," Nathaniel said with a nod. "And Alistair was involved as well." He looked sideways at the mage as they followed the group through the streets. "She did mention something about not sharing everything, just enough to get an opinion."

"That's not the point," Anders said, though he noted to himself that he would be having a personal conversation with Cat very soon.

"What IS the point?" Nathaniel asked. "You're concerned that I'm planning a future with her?"

Anders glanced over, unable to read the tone. "More or less," he replied.

"I am, though you needn't worry," Nathaniel said quietly. "She has been very clear on where she stands."

"Then…" Anders began, perplexed.

"I told her that I would wait. If she does not end up with Hawke as she believes, then I believe she will be happy with me."

"I believed the same, once, as have others" Anders said in argument. "But I cannot fathom how you would be all right with being someone she settles for… for being second choice."

Nathaniel looked away, his voice going even more quiet. "I had resigned myself to not being a choice for anyone," he answered. "Before joining the wardens, finding a suitable wife was all that was planned for me. After, I assumed that I would never have the opportunity. Wardens aren't exactly encouraged to marry and such, as you know."

"Yeah," Anders replied.

"But… with Cat, it could be different. She is so concerned with changing the story, and being with a warden would mean that there would be fewer changes, less involvement directly. She would live in obscurity, there would be little chance of offspring, and we could travel as much as she wanted to see her friends."

"You've given this some thought," Anders replied.

"Eventually, she will realize that in order to be with Hawke, she will have to tell him the truth," Nathaniel added. "And I am thinking that she will not be willing to do that. But, since I am already aware, she will not have that keeping her from being with me. We are compatible, and though she has closed herself off from thinking of me romantically, there is attraction. I do not see it as second choice," he concluded. "I think that she will come to realize that I am the only choice, and I am ensuring that when she discovers this, she will know that I will be waiting for her."

Anders wanted to continue to argue, but Nathaniel had made several valid points, points that he couldn't tell Varric or even Hawke in order to counter, since they were not privy to the information. He would need to think very carefully, and even speak to Cat about the situation. Because as of that moment, he could see it all happening exactly as Nathaniel explained.

"Blondie, I didn't expect to see you so soon," Varric said as Anders came to join him at his table.

"I needed a drink, and a few hours away from Nathaniel," came the cross reply, then the mage stepped over to the bar to order a drink, causing Varric to speculate.

Anders came back, a large mug of ale in place of his usual glass of wine.

"What's wrong Blondie?" Varric asked. "It's not like you to drown your sorrows."

"Oh it's plenty like me," Anders shot back. "I just don't much anymore because of Justice."

"I see." Varric waited a minute or two, then spoke again when Anders didn't. "So, are you going to tell me what has your knickers in a twist?" he asked.

Anders grunted, then finally replied. "Nathaniel."

"Shade?" Varric asked with a smirk. "Now that's just surprising Blondie, the two of you not getting along like brothers."

"Yeah, just like you and Bartrand," Anders quipped back.

"Meh," Varric waved that thought away. "So what happened?"

"I just don't like having him underfoot," Anders replied. "Every time I go to Cat's he's there, even if she isn't. It's like he doesn't have warden business to get back to, which I for one know he does."

"You realize how funny it is that YOU are the one complaining about him being a bad warden?" Varric asked with a smirk.

"Yes," Anders groused.

"So what's the real reason?" he asked.

"It's Cat," Anders said, finally getting to the reason he had come to the Hanged Man. He figured he needed help, and Varric was who he had. "Nathaniel is of the impression that she and Hawke won't make it. He is trying to court her, and she won't have it, so he's just waiting until something happens one way or the other, so he can hopefully scoop her up."

Varric seemed to take the information in stride, though he didn't have a chance to reply.

"Who's scooping who up?" Hawke asked as he sat down to join them.

"Hawke," Varric said with a nod in greeting, and Hawke got Norah's attention to get a drink.

"Nothing Hawke, just telling Varric what rumors I've heard," Anders said quickly.

"Oh? Do tell," Hawke said with a grin. "You know how much I enjoy the good ones."

"Really, Hawke, it's not even true…" Varric said.

"Which means it's about Cat," Hawke replied with a roll of his eyes. "Go on, I can take it you know."

They tried to balk, but Hawke pushed harder, so eventually Anders told him, though making it sound as if it were nothing.

"Poor Nathaniel," Hawke said dismissively after Anders finished.

Varric choked on his drink and gave a few coughs. "Do you know something you haven't told me?" he asked Hawke accusingly.

"No, Varric, I've made no decisions," Hawke answered, rolling his eyes again. The dwarf will not give up! he thought. "In fact… I've been thinking that perhaps because I cannot seem to make a decision, that may be the answer."

"What does that mean?" Varric said unhappily.

"If I was in love with her, I would know- wouldn't I? I wouldn't have all these doubts. I wouldn't always be wondering if I could trust her."

"Shouldn't you be talking to her about this?" Anders asked skeptically.

"That's the problem," Hawke replied with a frown. "I can't even figure out how I'm feeling. Hearing her tell me that she loves me doesn't exactly help."

"She said that?" Varric asked sharply. "Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded as he scurried to write it down.

"For that exact reaction…" Hawke drawled.

"Hmph," Varric answered.

"I suppose that you've decided to keep an eye on the two of them then?" Hawke asked Anders, who scowled at him.

"You would think that a little of the jealous, possessive Hawke would show his face about this," Anders complained. "The man is waiting to steal your woman."

"I won't argue since you seem to think that," Hawke muttered. "Why do you think I feel sorry for him?" Hawke asked. "He is waiting for a woman, who is in love with another man. I had thought for awhile that I was in the same situation, and it is not a good place to be. He's a good man, and deserves better."

"Better than Cat?!" Anders said, outraged.

"Better than the situation," Hawke sighed. "Look, I know you all are invested in what happens between us, and I am trying to get it all sorted out, okay?" He chugged the rest of his drink and stood. "I've got to get home," he said, as he walked away.

"You just got here!" Varric called after him.

"Seems it is still a sore point," Anders muttered.

"I thought we were going to have to keep Hawke from killing Shade, not this," Varric added. "After everything that happened with Curly? It's almost shocking to see Hawke react like this."

Varric watched, as Anders sat up, his eyes glinting, and a wicked smirk on his face. "What? What did I say?" he asked the mage.

"Curly… that's the Knight Captain, right?" Anders asked.

"Yeah…" Varric replied, bewildered. "I mean, you've seen his hair, right?"

"Cat was just telling me earlier, that she's gone to see him several times now, and she's been banned from the Gallows. Not even her messages have gotten in."

"Is that so?" Varric drawled, understanding dawning on him. "I'm sure with Aveline's help, we could lure Curly out for a night of drinks with the Champion?"

"And if Cat happens to show?" Anders asked with a grin.

"Intriguing idea Blondie… that would be a show I simply cannot miss."