I'M ALIVE! I promise I haven't forgotten about you, or this story! I have honestly been in a huge writing slump. Everything I wrote was so bad that when I re-read it, I actually would make gagging noises to myself. Seriously.

I'm sooo glad that is over, and honestly, I plan to update as soon as the next chapters are written to make up for it. No one has been calling me out for missing my updates, but I felt so bad about it!

Thank you so much to those of you that are reading and commenting! I can't believe I still got comments even when I wasn't giving new chapters. Love you guys❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣

Hawke stood up after several of the others nodded in response, and he rubbed his hands together. "Finally, something fun!" he said with a grin, and moved towards the door as the others stood to follow.

"Agreed," Isabela responded, moving after him. "And it sounds like we'll probably have a tussle or two, which makes it even better."

Cat smiled, and started to rise, but was kept where she was by a hand on her thigh. Looking over to Zevran in question, she stayed still as he leaned forward and whispered to her as he stood up. He was so seamless in his movements and quiet in his speech, that no one even realized that he had spoken to her. She stood and moved towards the group, trying to think fast.

"Would anyone object if I passed on this one?" Cat asked, trying to feign indifference. "I have a few other errands to complete, though I'd like to be a part of the ghost hunting if I can."

"It shouldn't take very long," Hawke replied with a frown. He didn't have a problem with it, exactly, but he wanted to have her with him. "You'll have time to complete your errands in between."

"You don't know that," she pointed out. "Whoever wrote that note could be trying to give Gamlen the run around, or setting a trap."

"What errands do you need to do?" Isabela asked. "The others can help you after we find the gem, so that you can come, Kitty. This is the type of adventure you don't want to miss!"

Cat hesitated, not wanting to lie to Hawke unless it was about what she knew. She looked at him, and shrugged. "Zev let me know that Marethari asked to speak to me," she said, giving a shrug.

"The Keeper?" Merrill asked, surprised, then shrewdly keeping quiet as she realized that she could guess what the conversation would be about. She knew Cat would try to prevent the keeper from taking on the demon, and the keeper would demand an explanation. Merrill was somewhat relieved to know that Cat meant it, when she said she wanted to save the clan.

"I'd hate for everyone to take the trip, when it seems pretty simple," Cat said. "And I thought I could take a look at what Master Ilen has in his shop, perhaps order some things even."

Hawke came over to her, glancing behind her at Zevran. "I take it you won't go alone?" he asked, and she grinned at him.

"Wouldn't dream of it," she replied, gesturing with a head movement towards Zevran, "I'd have an assassin covering my back," and he grinned as well.

"Well, as long as you leave Fenris with me, I guess I could let you skip this one," he said, leaning forward to give her a kiss. "Don't get upset when we have fun without you," he added.

She glanced at Fenris, and gave a nod, letting him know they would be all right. "Right back at you, though I will say I hope you find more than just a gem."

"That's the spirit!" Isabela hooted as she exchanged smirks with Varric. "Let's get going Hawke! You can lock lips with Kitty later!"

Hawke's smile turned sly, and he pulled Cat to him to give her a scorching kiss that took her breath away. He looked down at her, enjoying the way her knees buckled whenever he took her lips passionately. "I guess I'll have to finish that later," he said softly to her, and her eyes narrowed even as they rose to meet his. "Think of me," he demanded, then let her go and turned to leave.

"I don't have a choice now, do I?" she muttered, hearing Zevran chuckle beside her. She glanced aside to him, giving him a droll look.

They both exited the Hanged Man just behind the rest of the crew, watching as Hawke and his group moved off towards Darktown. She noted that Sebastian and Aveline split off as well, knowing they would have gone if Hawke had asked, but also knowing he wouldn't for a treasure hunt.

She turned to Zevran. "Ready?" she asked, and he gave her a little bow.

"For you my dove?" he said with a smirk. "Always."

Hawke glanced at the note again. There wasn't much by way of explanation, just the simple declaration and challenge, and a small symbol. It wasn't like they could just find someone that looked shady… or even someone that would be trying to lure Gamlen there. Just about everyone fit that description.

They took each alley and path slowly, looking nonchalant, but keeping sharp focus on their surroundings.

Finally, as they started back towards the clinic, Fenris said his name, and gave a gesture towards a small group of men that looked like mercenaries. Hawke took a closer look, but didn't understand why Fenris thought they deserved it.

"I haven't seen them around Darktown before," Anders said under his breath.

As they got closer, Hawke finally understood. Each of the men had a symbol on them, whether on their clothing, their packs, or their weapons. One man even had it tattooed on his face. And the symbol was the same as on the note.

Hawke strode up, as the others followed him cautiously, and he gave a wicked smile as the leader told him to piss off.

"Well now, I simply wondered if you were the ones that I should see about this note," Hawke drawled, giving Varric a glance. The dwarf winked, and took over.

"See I told you they weren't the ones to talk to about the gem," Varric said, dismissing them.

The man in charge took another look at Hawke, then nodded. "We were beginning to think you wouldn't show," he said, trying to look casual, but failing. "It's rude to keep people waitin' you know. Been waitin' here for days. I have things to do besides sittin' here."

"Where are my manners?" Hawke said in a sarcastically sweet voice. "To inconvenience a man such as yourself, why, its appalling!"

The man's expression went hard. "Don't talk down to me," he threatened. "I ain't stupid."

"Those mutton chops you call sideburns say otherwise," Varric muttered quietly, and Hawke tried to keep his lips from smiling.

"See, we was hired to give you a note," the man continued, oblivious to their commentary. "but this keroshek gem the note talks about? We decided we want that instead." He pulled out his dagger, and waved it in Hawke's face. "So give it."

"Didn't you just finish telling me you weren't stupid?" Hawke asked, as he looked from the dagger to the man. "I'm surprised you knew how to read the note."

"Don't need to know how, Veld does the reading," the man said with a shrug. "All I needs to know is which end of the blade goes where," he added with a few small thrusts toward Hawke.

"Yes, well, keep trying to stick me with that, and you'll find it lodged where it shouldn't belong," Hawke replied, his own features going dangerously hard.

Before either of them said another word, Fenris let out a yell, and shot forward, taking the man and several of his underlings out with a single strike. Hawke yelled, "hey!" for being bumped, but couldn't say much more, as the fight was already over. Fenris held his sword under the chin of the last man alive.

Hawke walked up, stopping next to Fenris with a glower. "You know, some of the rest of us want to fight too," he complained.

"Then fight, and don't talk so much," Fenris replied without turning to look at him.

Hawke turned to give Isabela an eye roll, but she just tilted her head in thought. "He has a point," she said with a shrug.

Hawke gave her a dirty look as well, then turned back to the petrified man. "So, your leader… uh…" he gestured to the two pieces of the dead man.

"Mekel?" the mercenary supplied.

"Okay," Hawke replied. "So Mekel said something about being paid to give me a note?" he asked, and the man nodded. "So since you all were paid, you should probably hand it over."

"Oh, uh…" the man looked uncomfortable. "Mekel, he had it, there in the pocket on his shirt."

The group looked down, seeing the pocket that he spoke of. Or rather, the two pieces of pocket, on the two pieces of his body.

"You just had to cut him there," Hawke groused.

"Like I knew where it was," Fenris snapped, lowering his sword, and punching the enemy across the face with his spiked gauntlet, knocking him out cold.

"Uh, double pay for whoever retrieves the note?" Hawke suggested, though the others looked at him like he was crazy. "Fine," he said with a pout, and went to retrieve the note from the body. He gave Fenris a grin as the elf went to the second half, and pulled the piece of paper free, and handed it to him.

"Well, it's a little hard to read through the blood, but…" Hawke stated, holding it up at different angles. "Anders? How about some light?" he asked.

Anders went closer, and cast a spell of light on the ink. Suddenly the words were as clear as day.

"Gamlen," Hawke read aloud. "This gem is very pretty. I can understand your obsession with it. Remember the game wallop? Find the place your wallop mallet came from. Your answers are there." He produced flame in his hands, setting fire to the blood stained note fragments. "Guess we've got to go talk to Gamlen about wallop… whatever that is."

"The note clearly said it was a game," Isabela pointed out, as the group turned and started walking away.

"An old one at that," Varric explained the rules quickly. "I would never have pegged Gamlen as a wallop player."

"Let's just hope he knows where his mallet came from," Hawke replied.

"My dove…"

Cat waited a few beats, but when he didn't speak she glanced at him. "You know, you never call me little dove anymore," she said with a smile. "Is that because Varric uses it too?"

"You know I prefer to be one of a kind," he said, though she could tell he had his mind elsewhere.

"You think you can't tell me, but you can Zev," she replied softly as they walked up the path of Sundermount. "Honestly, you've been here longer than I thought you would."

"I have enjoyed myself more that I thought I would," he replied, finally giving her a smirk that reached his eyes, and she smiled in return.

"Don't think I don't know that's not just because of me," she said, teasing him, though he didn't blush. In fact, he seemed pleased.

"You have wonderful, exciting friends, my dove. I could not have asked for better for you."

"That's true, both here, and in Ferelden," she replied.

They were silent for a time, and then she finally spoke. "So when are you going?"

He turned to her, his mouth opening but unable to think of the right words, and she laughed. "Did you really not think I would know?" she asked. "You aren't exactly the settling down type my friend."

He sighed, the corners of his lips rounding up as it seemed that a large burden eased from his shoulders. "I should have known that you would understand," he said.

"Yes, you should have," she replied, giving him a light punch on the arm. "You and I know each other, not just who we are now, but what we had to overcome to become the amazing people that we are."

"There were weeks that I thought you would not stop crying," he teased.

"Hey, I missed my old life, and my family," she complained, though she smiled. Then her smile quickly disappeared. "I'm forgetting them Zev," she said seriously. "And I don't know which is harder, forgetting them, or how guilty I feel when I remember them."

"I am sorry my dove," he said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "But you are not alone."

"I know that," she replied, letting the single tear slide down her face without trying to stop it. "I have another family, which makes it bearable. It just hits me at odd times. The other day, I couldn't remember my mother's first name, and about drove myself crazy trying to recall it."

He glanced down at her. "Are you still trying to find out how to go back?" he asked in trepidation.

She looked at him, then looked out to the path, not answering for a few moments. "No…" she finally answered. "At this point it would do more harm than good. After all this time, I am sure they have grieved and made peace with my being gone. And… I don't think I would be able to leave all of you."

"That is… good to hear," he said softly in her ear, pulling her close for a one armed hug.

"Yeah," she said, smiling again. "Afraid you're stuck with me."

"Happy I am to be so," he responded.

"So, where will you go?" she asked, as they continued at an easy pace.

"I am not certain," he replied. "I want to check on the Crows, naturally, see who has replaced Enerio, and the other guildmasters that we took care of. Leliana said she always had work if I needed it, though it is not so much the money, as the work that I am craving."

"I get that," she said. "Hawke is much the same."

"Oh?" he asked skeptically. "He does not strike me as such with his mansion and his servants."

"You didn't notice his desperation just to go on a gem hunt?" she asked dryly, and Zevran laughed.

"Ah, I suppose you are right, and he merely hides it well."

He tensed slightly, and put her behind him in a quick move, just as the sentries for the dalish clan appeared from the foliage.

"You again," one of the warriors sneered.

"Yes, me again, are you not lucky?" Zevran asked in a cheerful tone, though his face was flat. "The keeper requested our presence," he stated, and the other sentry nodded.

"She is in the central camp," he replied, even as he backed up, seeming to melt into the background.

"Cause trouble, and you'll see us again," the first sentry warned, as he too melted out of sight.

"Pleasant, aren't they?" Cat asked Zevran as they continued forward.

"You never want to see them otherwise," he cautioned, as they moved through the camp.

Cat was surprised, at how many of the dalish greeted Zevran. He wasn't one of them, and didn't try to act like he belonged, and from what she knew of dalish, that was practically unheard of.

He could see the speculation on her face, and answered her unspoken question. "I told them of the varterral," he explained. "Though they do not believe you humans had anything to do with it. Apparently I slew the beast on my own." He gave her a smirk at the thought.

"Well, you are pretty awesome," she replied, chuckling a bit as they walked to the central fire, and came to the keeper.

"Zevran," she greeted him. "Thank you for returning." She turned her gaze to Cat. "And thank you for indulging my curiosity, child," she said with a nod.

"I hope you still feel that way when we are done," Cat replied.

"Zevran implied as much, but I would rather have the truth than live happily in ignorance," Marethari answered.

"Then I will tell you what I can," Cat replied. "Though it is something I must ask that you share with no one else, though I admit I fear you will not believe it."

"I see," Marethari said, her eyes looking Cat over in a new light. "Come then," she said, gesturing with her hand. "We can use the medicinal room, and my magic can give us privacy."

"Thank you," Cat replied, and she and Zevran followed after the keeper.

"Smetty's fish cuttery?!" Hawke exclaimed as he stood next to the huge tree in the alienage reading the note some random elf had given him. "That's all the way in the docks!"

"It's like a treasure hunt, isn't it?" Merrill asked happily.

"Sort of," Anders replied. "Except the note tells us exactly which crate to look in," he said, looking over Hawke's shoulder to read the note.

"Well, at least we'll be able to poke into other crates while we're there," Isabela stated. She kept her eyes roaming over the buildings are they stood there. "It's strange though, I can't see anyone tailing us."

"If it were a trap for Gamlen, they'd have to know by now that he isn't here," Varric said. "So why continue with this game?"

"Maybe they know he's a relation," Hawke replied with a shrug. He sighed loudly. "This is taking much longer than I thought," he said. "Let's hurry and find that gem."

"Right behind you," Isabela said as he strode towards the exit.

"Hey Hawke! I think I've found it!"

Hawke left the crate he was looking through, and headed up the stairs towards the sound of Merrill's voice. He could see that Fenris, Anders and Varric had done the same, but Isabela was still looking for treasures among the other containers.

"I wonder what's in them?" Merrill asked as Hawke moved across the platform towards her, and she pointed out the large boxes in a stack, with a note pined to the outside.

"I don't think it has anything to do with what's inside," he muttered, heading towards the note.

"Something… seems off," Fenris mumbled, and Varric, who had been studying the boards beneath their feet yelled out.

"Hawke, freeze!"

Garrett Hawke knew in his heart that he could have made an excellent rogue. He knew how to be sneaky, and he was told by most women he… dallied with, that he had a roguish grin.

In times like these however, that little bubble of a daydream would pop, and he would be faced with reality. He simply wasn't light-footed enough to be a rogue.

He heard Varric's warning, but he was already in motion, and his foot hit the trigger for the trap Varric had spotted. A sharp snapping sound echoed through the chamber followed by the hissing of released gas. A thick, green-hued gas came wafting up through the boards of the platform, but so quickly that Hawke worried that one of them would be incapacitated.

"Get down to the main level!" he ordered, even as he pushed them all in front of him, not willing to let any of them behind him, for fear that he'd not notice if they passed out. "Hold your breath, don't breathe it in!"

He moved his non-gauntlet covered arm across his face, keeping his mouth and nose on the inside of his elbow. It helped to keep him from breathing in the poison, but his eyes started watering profusely.

They were quickly out of the way of the poison gas, and Hawke took a deep breath of relief. They had no time to check on each other, however, as the sounds of fighting were on top of them. Hawke could see Isabela striking quick, efficient slices across across a man's arm, causing him to drop his bow before he could fire, then she was off towards someone else.

Battle cries rang out, as his crew moved into fighting mode. He knew he wasn't the only one that hated poison gas- it always left a bad smell in the armor, that was difficult to get rid of. For that insult, they would fight even more fiercely.

Once the men were dead, Hawke sat on the ground, giving himself a short break while Isabela raided corpses.

"I can't believe they would send so many men, just to capture someone like Gamlen," Varric said as he paced a little, deep in thought.

"Obviously, this was for us, not Gamlen," Hawke replied.

"I don't think so, Hawke," Varric answered, stopping in front of him. "That trap wasn't fresh, and we've been watching for anyone tailing us. These men had to have been waiting for us, and there's no way they knew we would be here instead of Gamlen."

Hawke frowned, putting the pieces together. "That's… strange."

"We still need to find the one behind this little hunt," Fenris spoke up.

"Another note!" Isabela called out, handing it to Merrill, who trotted over to hand it to Hawke.

"Well?" Anders asked. "What's it say this time?"

"Nothing," Hawke answered. "Just a map, for a cave just outside the city. Looks like it connects to Smuggler's run." He held the note out so they could see it. "And X marks the spot," he added.

Varric looked at the note, seeing the large X over the etching of the cave. "Then we know where we're headed at least," he said, reaching out to help Hawke stand. "Let's hope this is the last clue."

"Oh, I'm more than ready to end this," Hawke replied. He strode out of the warehouse, Varric following, and yelling for the others to hurry up, or they'd get left behind.

Finding the cave was easy enough. Fighting through small groups of men that tried to get revenge for their comrades took barely any of their strength or skill. It only managed to get on their nerves, and push them to finish the mercenaries even more quickly.

Finally, they reached the center of the cave, and looked around. Hawke wasn't sure what he had been expecting, but the large empty cavern wasn't it. He heard the footsteps before he saw the woman, and the group all turned to watch her approach.

Was that disappointment in her eyes? he wondered. And who was she? She was even younger than he first thought, younger than him by several years he guessed.

She stopped several yards in front of him, though she didn't seem scared. "After all this, I don't know why I'm surprised," she said, the letdown evident in her voice. "I wouldn't have thought he couldn't be bothered. Though at least he was smart enough to send you instead, Hawke."

Hawke looked at the girl, for that was what he thought of her now, she seemed so young and miserable.

"He?" Varric asked, his fingers idly scratching his cheek as he thought. "Do you mean Gamlen?"

She turned to look down at him, and frowned. "Of course Gamlen," she replied in confusion. "Who else?"

"And you know Hawke?" Varric asked, not bothering to answer her previous question.

She looked a little perturbed now. "People generally know their own family," she said, though her voice didn't have the edge that she was trying for.

Hawke could hear the yearning in her words, and he didn't quite understand. "Family?" he asked skeptically. "You and me?" He helpfully pointed to her and back to himself, since he figured she was mistaken.

But, she nodded, and looked at him as if he were the one with the memory problem. "You're my cousin," she said slowly, wondering why he was making her explain it. Then the thought crossed her mind, and she reared back. "Wait, you mean he never told you?!"

Her features showed anger before she slipped back to disappointed. "Of course he didn't," she continued, though Hawke thought is was more to herself than him. "Why should he after all…"

"Shame on you Hawke," Isabela spoke up. "You never told us that you had such a pretty little cousin." The girl looked up, her eyebrow rose in question, and Isabela sent her a flirty smile.

Hawke however, was stunned. "I have a cousin?" he asked softly, as if he said it too loudly, it may all disappear. "Really?"

"Well, yes," the girl said, looking confused again. "Gamlen is my father, and his sister is your mother."

Hawke didn't care that she thought he was slow and needed to explain how cousins worked. He suddenly didn't care about all the steps she had put them through. He had family. The one thing whose numbers he thought would only dwindle, had suddenly grown. He gave her a huge grin and a chuckle. "I… have a cousin," he declared.

She looked at him strangely, but couldn't help but smile.

Then, they all turned as another man walked towards them, his voice sneering. "Sorry to interrupt this touching family reunion, but we have some unfinished business to deal with."

Hawke glanced back to his newly found cousin, and saw the surprise on her face. "Veld?" she asked. "What are you doing here? The job is finished, and I gave your man the payment already."

"Mekel is dead," the man glared over at Hawke. "And this bastard killed him."

Hawke looked at him in disinterest. "What's a mekel?" he asked.

The man bristled. "My brother! Mekel was my brother, and you killed him!"

"It's possible," Hawke replied with a shrug. "I kill a lot of people." He gave the sneering man a pointed look. "Though not until they try to threaten to harm me or my friends."

The girl looked between them. "That doesn't make sense. Mekel was just supposed to hand over the note. There shouldn't have been any threats."

The man rolled his eyes. "You're more naive than I knew if you thought we wouldn't read it." He held out his hand to her. "I won't let Mekel's death be for nothing. Hand over the gem, Charade."

The look she gave him was incredulous, and Hawke had a moment where he wondered just how sheltered she was. But her next words had him smirking.

"You let your brother go up against someone like Hawke? For a gem that you know nothing about? How stupid can you be?"

Veld snarled in anger and insult. "Give me the gem!"

Hawke would have been surprised to hear the thoughts of his friends as Charade's eyes lit up, and she smirked at the mercenary. "I did find that gem, but you know what? You're not getting your pathetic little hands on it, Veld."

The Champion's crew mates were all thinking they could easily see the family resemblance in that smirk.

"Fine," Veld spat. "The hard way then." He pulled out a wicked looking mace and his shield, swirling the mace in circles above his head, which was an obvious signal of attack- which led to Hawke, his cousin, and his crew jumping out the way and pulling out their own weapons.

Hawke tried to pay attention to the fight, but he found himself watching Charade instead. He was glad that Anders and Fenris noticed, and swooped in front and in back of him to protect him. Charade had cartwheeled out of the front lines, and pulled out a large bow, which Hawke was uncertain she could actually draw.

His jaw dropped as she drew and fired faster than he thought possible, and he merely gaped as he watched her fight. Once Veld and his men were dead, he finally shut his mouth as his cousin came back to face him.

"Uh… are you sure Gamlen is your father?" Hawke asked her.

"Yeah, because Hawke was acting more like him during that fight than you were," Varric said, and grinned when she giggled.

"That's what my mother told me, anyway," Charade said. She turned to Isabela with a wink. "They're all yours," she offered, gesturing to the bodies.

"Don't mind if I do," Isabela replied. "Maybe later, you can show me the gem you found… over dinner?" she offered. "I'm staying at the Hanged Man."

Charade looked her over, seeming to consider the offer, and gave a slow smile. Isabela gave Hawke an innocent look when he glanced over with his brow furrowed. Then she moved to search the bodies for loot.

Charade moved away, distracting Hawke. "My mother, Mara, left Gamlen before I was born. But I heard all about how he was so fixated on the stupid gem, that he didn't even notice when she left. She waited for him to come after her, but he never did." She looked angry as her eyes met Hawke's.

"She finally told me the whole story before she died last year. I set this all up, I don't know… wondering if he'd take action for something it seemed he actually wanted. Then he doesn't even show up. I guess I'm not worth the trouble to him."

Hawke wasn't one to sing Gamlen's praises, the man wasn't exactly deserving of his help after all. But Charade seemed to be searching for family, and Hawke had no doubt that if Gamlen knew he had a child, he'd have been comparing them to Garrett and Carver as often as he could during those first few years.

"Gamlen's not so bad you know," Garrett heard himself say. "Charade huh?" he asked. "It's pretty, so obviously your mother chose it." He gave a small smile and continued. "I asked Uncle about the gem when I saw the first note on his table. He wanted nothing to do with it, he said, because he lost everything when he was looking for it."

"He said that?" Charade asked, surprised.

"If your mother left him before you were born," Anders spoke up quietly, "does he even know about you?"

"I… I'm not sure…" Charade replied softly.

"He can be a selfish bastard, but even he wouldn't ignore his own child," Varric added.

"I agree," Hawke said with a nod.

"Well…" Charade thought deeply, then looked up at Hawke, her vulnerability showing on her face. "What do you think I should do, Hawke?"

"Maybe… give him a chance? Before you write him off?" he suggested.

She looked down as she thought about it, and after a few moments of silence, she looked back up, determined. "I think I will," she declared. "After all, having a cousin turned out pretty well. Maybe having a father will too."

"Take the time you need," Isabela said with a smirk. "Come have a drink or two first."

"One thing, before you go," Hawke said with a smile, holding his arms out. "I don't want to guilt you into it, but … I'd like to give my cousin a hug, and maybe even spend some time getting to know her in the future. No matter what happens with Uncle Gamlen."

"I must admit child, I am curious about you," Marethari said once she raised a sound proof barrier around their tent. Cat looked over to Zevran, and Marethari chuckled, seeing what the look meant. "No, he didn't tell me much, but enough to peak my interest."

"What did you tell her?" Cat asked her friend.

"Simply that we are trying to get Merrill to let go of the mirror," Zevran replied easily. "That we know what it is, and we would destroy it if we cannot convince her to do so. It would not be worth her life, nor the lives of the clan."

"And that of course, was what made me pause," Marethari continued with a nod. "Even if you were to guess as to my intentions, why would my clan be in danger?" Her face was pained now at the thought. "My life is a small thing to give, but the clan's future? That is not so small a thing."

"No, it is not," Cat agreed. "But Marethari, though you may see paying the price for Merrill's decisions as the right thing, I can assure you it would not end well. Merrill would live with the guilt forever."

"And perhaps make better choices in the future, would she not?" Marethari asked. "It is not a decision made lightly, I assure you. But Merrill is still young, and does not see how her actions affect others around her. After that, could she not help but see more clearly?"

Cat nodded, understanding now the keeper's position. It wasn't just sparing Merrill from being possessed that she was trying to accomplish… Marethari was trying to teach a life lesson that wasn't getting through by other means. "But tragedy is not the only teacher in life," Cat replied.

"True," Marethari said with a small smile. "You have wisdom, though you also are young." The keeper looked at her, staring intently, long enough that Cat began to feel uncomfortable, as if she could see into her mind. "Can you not share your tragedy with me, child?" she finally asked.

"There… are unusual circumstances at play," Cat said vaguely. "And I am not certain as to what they are yet."

"Ah, so you seek answers still," Marethari nodded. "I thought as much the first time I saw you." The keeper smiled now in understanding. "Asha'Bellanar is not one to give answers I would say, but to give more questions."

Cat glanced at Zevran, but he was simply listening, letting her decide what to reveal and what to keep secret. She looked back to the keeper. "I didn't get to speak to her much at the time," Cat admitted. "But though we had never met, she spoke as though she knew me."

"Ah, than perhaps she did, though you were unaware of her," Marethari speculated.

It wasn't what she said, but rather what that she didn't ask questions or pry, that had Cat feeling like she could speak of her past. She felt with a certainty that Marethari would never share it with anyone.

"I was taken from my home, years ago," Cat began, and Marethari nodded in encouragement. "I believe it was due to magic of some kind, because while I had never been to Thedas before, I had read and learned much of its people and cultures.

"But arriving here was disconcerting, as the people that I had read about… well, I met them. I had thought that they were simply characters in a story, but suddenly, that story was unfolding before my eyes."

Cat looked to Zevran, and he took her hand in his, giving hers a squeeze. "I don't know what brought me here, or why I know what I know," Cat continued. "But I can't just sit by and let bad things happen, not if I can stop them." She shrugged, looking embarrassed. "I know I'm not making much sense."

Silence followed, though it probably was not as long as Cat felt it stretched on for. After a few minutes, Marethari smiled, and reaching forward, put her hand on Cat's arm.

"And you are trying to prevent a tragedy for Merrill?" Marethari asked softly, and Cat nodded in reply. "Then I will follow your advice," the keeper added. "I will not follow blindly, but I believe you are a good friend to Merrill, and will help keep her from making a mistake."

"I… have told her the truth," Cat said, her features turning to worry. "But I fear she doesn't believe me. Though, a part of her may want to."

"As much as she goes her own way, all that Merrill is seeking to accomplish is actually for her people," Marethari said with a sad smile. "But she is still young, and impetuous. I cannot share the secrets of a keeper with her until she is wise enough to receive them. To do otherwise would cause more harm than good."

"That, I understand," Cat replied with a sheepish grin. "In fact I almost told her the truth of her creators, but I knew she would reject it."

Cat could have cheerfully slapped herself when she heard Marethari's sharp intake of breath, and she realized what she had said. "Uh…" she muttered, seeing both elves looking at her intensely.

"What do you mean by that child?" Marethari asked, her tone slightly sharp now. "Do you know something of the creators? Something we do not know?"

Cat glanced at Zevran for help, but Marethari grabbed her hand, directing her gaze back. "Please Catarina," Marethari pled softly. "I will not share it with my people if that is what you ask of me, but I want to know. I do not revel in teaching half truths that can change as they are passed down through the years."

Cat looked at her in surprise, and Marethari nodded. "You are not the only one to have questions for Asha'Bellanar that go unanswered," the keeper murmured. "She has said enough to make me question what I have been taught. She has spoken of them as if…"

She cut herself off, perhaps not wanting to actually say the words, and looked to Cat. Cat couldn't help but feel sorry for her, but she didn't want to tell her all that she knew of her deities.

"As if they were not gods at all," Zevran supplied, and the two women whipped their gazes to him. He gave a nod to the keeper, as if he was agreeing with her. "I have gotten the same impression," he said, and he raised an eyebrow in question to Cat.

Cat's defenses were already down. She had planned on sharing with Zevran, but she worried about sharing the truth with Marethari. And with the scrutinizing look on Zevran's face, she now worried about his reaction.

"I…" she started nervously. She looked to Marethari again. It was the expression on her face that convinced her to speak. She wasn't pleading any longer, it was more that she accepted what Zevran said. She had thought it already, and only needed someone else to confirm it.

"They were not the creators," Cat said softly. "But were very powerful mages."

"I may not understand why you think this," Marethari said as she leaned in towards Cat slightly. "But, I would like to hear it all the same."

Cat nodded, and thought that she could give some sort of condensed version. She wanted to tell Zevran anyway, and if Marethari shared it with someone else, they probably wouldn't believe her.

"During the time of Arlathan, all elves had magic," Cat began. "There was no veil, no fade that mages needed to draw from. It was everywhere, as magic was. Those you know as the creators were the strongest and most powerful mages. I don't have time to go through everything, but suffice it to say, that we can compare the elvhen empire to Tevinter of today."

"What are you saying my dove?" Zevran asked with a frown. "That they were power hungry? Secretly plotting the downfall of others while trying to take their riches and titles?"

"Yes," Cat said resolutely. "It didn't happen quickly, but most do not want to give up their power. They had ardent disciples, devoted servants, and eventually took slaves as well."

"Slaves…" Marethari looked as if she had been sucker punched, and Cat winced.

"I am sorry," she started, but the keeper gestured for her to continue.

"Uh, there was one, that though he was powerful enough to be among them, wanted to bring them down from their pedestals. He had his own followers that were spies, working to free his people from their oppressors. His plan was to seal them away, behind a veil that he would create."

"Fen'Harel."

Cat looked up to meet Marethari's cold gaze. "Yes."

"This cannot be true," the keeper snapped, and stood to pace the small area. "I have known in my heart, that the stories we passed to our children were not the whole truth, but this?!"

"When Fen'Harel created the veil, he did indeed seal away the creators," Cat responded with conviction. "Because of what they did to bring down Mythal." She nodded at Marethari's wide eyed look. "But it took all his power to do so, and he put himself into a deep sleep."

"And when he woke?!" Marethari demanded as she moved, her hand thrown out to point at Cat. "What then?!"

Cat's look was easy for the two of them to read, though Zevran was the one who put words to it. "He hasn't…" he said softly, his mind reeling from the revelations. He didn't truly know the stories, nor feel the connection to them as the keeper would have, but he didn't doubt Cat's words.

"His followers watch over him, and continue to help elves escape slavery to this day," Cat continued. "Once he wakes, they will follow him to whatever end."

Marethari stopped, and focused on Cat. "What does that mean?" she asked.

"Think about it," Cat suggested. "You live during the time of Arlathan, and you wake up now? You find out that the current state of your people was a result of something that you did?"

"The elves are nothing they once were, not even the dalish, if the stories are to be believed," Marethari murmured, as she returned to sitting. "If it were I… I would try to fix it."

"And doing so may cause all sorts of problems for the rest of the world," Cat said uncomfortably.

Marethari gave a large sigh. "I must admit, that this is hard to hear," she said, frowning. "I honestly do not know if I can accept just your word."

"I am not asking for you to," Cat replied. "You asked, and I told you some of what I know. Once Fen'Harel wakes, I will try to find him, however, and hopefully convince him of a better way to help his people. I would appreciate you passing along any information you may hear of him in the future."

Marethari sat pensively for a few moments, then nodded. "I will ponder your words," she said agreeably. "And by keeping Merrill from this path, and setting her on a new one… I will not be able to repay such a debt. You will always be welcome here, with clan Sabrae."

Cat smiled. "Thank you Keeper," she replied. She took a moment to stand, holding a hand out to help Zevran up as well, and though he took her hand, he pulled himself up without her help.

"We should be getting back," he said, obviously still internalizing their conversation.

"Agreed." Cat held out her hand, a common salute in greetings or farewells to clasp upper arms. Marethari met her halfway, though she pulled Cat in for an embrace.

"Do not let these burdens keep you down," she murmured in Cat's ear. "Rise up, and follow your heart," she said, then let Cat go.

"Thank you," Cat said, much more earnestly.