I got to enjoy one night of rest with Merrill before events continued to proceed apace.

We were woken up far too early by Fiolya, who came with confirmation that Elthina was going ahead with naming Saemus as Viscount. And that we were all expected to show up to provide support or legitimacy or something. I wasn't thrilled about that, nor was anyone else. Everyone had far more important things to be doing than watching an entirely unsuitable Viscount be named.

Lanamaya showing up not long later, confirming that Cullen was ordering us to attend, put a stop to our attempts to get out of it. Mostly.

For once Merrill was entirely in favor of being left behind. Not because she wanted to be apart from me, but because exploring the Crossroads was something that we had to get on as soon as possible. None of us disagreed, and after a bit of debate, I tasked Lanamaya and Fenris with escorting her. They'd also take a group of the Watch, who would begin standing guard on the other side, letting us keep the mirror open long-term.

With that established, the other Knights drew lots to see who'd get to stay to defend the Alienage's walls. Shina won, to Zatris and Nethon's disgust.

Leaving them to get ready, I'd been set to get back into armor for the day when Isabella had ambushed me just outside of Elowen's bathroom.

I'd emerged an hour later fully cleaned up, and with the cool air tickling the sides of my head once again.

"Don't you dare laugh." I growled on seeing Elowen's smirk. "Was this your idea?"

"It was." The baroness admitted shamelessly. "It is the look you are best known for, Maeve. A look that half of the Watch still tries to imitate. Appearances matter."

Huffing, I ran a hand through the mohawk I was once again sporting, letting my fingers drop back down to the hilt of my sword. She had a point, I supposed, but that didn't make me any happier about the ambush haircut.

As punishment I made damn sure that Evelyn and Fiolya stopped Isabella from slinking off, forcing her to come with to the grand ceremony.

Our party had headed out just after the eighth bell, just behind Cullen's own group. We'd be arriving early enough that we took our time, letting Elowen and I talk on the move. I filled her in on the very rough plans that Cullen and I had developed during our inspection the night before, and she gave me her own tentative ideas about seeing where Elves would fit into the city moving forward.

Well, that wasn't really accurate. They were more plans about seeing just how much push-back we were about to get, and if we'd need to evacuate the entire Alienage even if the battles ahead were won.

Eventually we arrived at the Grand Chantry to find that we were hardly the only ones fashionably early. What looked to be half of the city's knights, barons, deshrys, counts, and lords were already present. More were coming in behind us, leaving us standing amid the largest assembly of Kirkwall's nobility since the Grand Tourney's opening ball.

And, just as then, it was all too easy to see the battle lines being drawn up.

Literally.

Meredith and Marlowe Dumar's old ruling coalition all stood on the left side of the Chantry by some silent agreement. All of the Dwarven nobles and Deshyrs were there, along with a smattering of the wealthy human merchants who had bankrolled the Templar Order. Rounding them out were our tiny clique of Elven nobles, and three or four dozen of the city's Knights.

On the right were all of the old nobility. Most had the affections of Orlais; masks, gaudier clothing, that kind of thing. Mixed in with them were the rest of the local Knights, along with increasing numbers of the rural nobility. Worryingly, there were far more of them on that side than there were on ours.

"It's even worse than it looks." Varric had muttered to me when we met up before the ceremony. "A dozen people who old Dumar liked to have over for dinner went over there at the start, and we lost three more just since the doors opened."

We were bleeding support in other words.

The main event had gotten started right at the ninth bell, leaving me to stride up to take my place beside Elowen. We all stood silently as Seamus was marched down the aisle in his father's finery, four Templars serving as his escort.

Well, as his jailers, more accurately. The young man's expression betrayed how little he wanted to be there, going through with it. I don't think any of the nobles missed it from their expressions and quiet whispers.

Elthina gave a very short speech about perseverance in the name of crisis, about earning the Maker's forgiveness through bravery, then had Cullen put the circlet on his head. Saemus had bowed to them, then to the crowd, then given an even shorter speech saying much the same as she had.

After that everyone was brought up one row at a time to pay our respects, leaving me in line behind Varric and ahead of Elowen.

I gave Saemus a tiny nod when it was my turn, muttering to him. "I'm going to do my best to overthrow you."

His smile was bleak, words barely making his lips move. "Sooner rather than later, please. They're already throwing their daughters at me."

I could well believe it. Leaving him to face the long line of people behind me, I slipped off to where I could see Cullen and Elthina speaking quietly to one side. Neither looked surprised at my rapid approach, though the Knight-Commander gave my new-old haircut an amused look.

"Back to that style, lady?" He asked.

"I'm told it's good for everyone's morale." I sighed, settling my hands on the hilt of my sword. "Speaking of morale, though, we've got a lot to do on that front."

He made a noise of agreement, but it was Elthina who spoke, folding her hands inside of her ornate robes. "You have a proposal, Lady Maeve?"

I did. Well, Elowen did, and I agreed with both halves of it.

"We need more knights." I told them. "There has to be plenty of squires and not-squires who accounted well for themselves during the battle. I think we call them up here as soon as we can, have them knighted before the new Viscount, in front of the nobility and all that. It'll help Saemus feel like he's actually doing the job, and make the nobles think the same."

Cullen hummed. "There certainly was valor enough shown during the battle. I was already planning on elevating many Templar squires up to full Knights, but I hadn't considered the Guard, or the Watches. Both likely have many deserving as well."

We both looked to the Grand Cleric, who seemed pensive.

"I agree in principle." She said after a moment. "However, I do not think that it need be done before the assembled nobility. It would be better to arrange such a thing among the soldiers themselves, so that are warriors may see it firsthand."

Our Templar perked up further at that, looking even more approving. "That's not a bad idea. Seeing their own knighted would certainly buoy the men's morale far more than any fancy ceremony in Hightown. It will also ensure we do not need to further complicate our troop rotations."

"It would," I allowed, "but we need to keep reminding the blue bloods that we're still at war here. Look at them. Half are already convinced it's over and done with, and that finding either a wife or a replacement for Saemus is all the only critical issue they're facing."

Elthina pursed her lips, "Are those your words, or is that the Baroness speaking?"

"Both." I said honestly. "She wants more Elven knights, so do I, and she wants the nobility to face up to the fact that we're not going to give up the Alienage to live in the sewers just because some wannabe Orlesians want our homes now that they aren't shacks."

A grimace from Cullen made the Grand Cleric glance to him, the man admitting. "Baron de Morais attempted to buy the Alienage from the Baroness last night."

She visibly sighed, shaking her head. "Was he at least polite about it?"

"He was surrounded by swords and spears." I noted. "He was extremely polite."

Her expression told me that she wasn't especially happy with the reason for it. "I see. Returning to your original request, I see no reason for the Knight-Commander not to reward valor when it is due. However, full ceremonies should wait given the circumstances. As Meredith conducted such things in the field, I believe you should do the same."

I was ready to keep trying, to ask for at least a few to be done up here, but Cullen was already agreeing with her.

"I will pick out those who are most deserving." He assured her. "Perhaps five or six from each Watch, and from the Guard. There will be no claims of favoritism then, and we can continue Meredith's example of treating each race equally."

The Grand Cleric beamed at him. "An excellent idea, Commander. See it done, and send me the names of those knighted so that I might add them to the city's rolls. I will also arrange for them to meet with our new Viscount when the time is right."

I inhaled slowly, then let it out just as quietly. Not letting myself otherwise react.

It was a perfectly sensible plan, and honestly it was one that I would have supported in normal times. The problem was that these weren't normal times, and according to Elowen, we had to beat the nobles over the head with the fact that the Alienage still had the Templars full support. Having Cullen knight more of our own in a big ceremony, right in their faces, would have sent a very clear message in that regard.

Sure, more Elven knights would send a message too, but a far quieter one if it was done at the Docks.

Elthina excused herself after that, plunging into the milling crowd of nobles who'd already gotten an up close look at Saemus. Leaving her to that, Cullen and I drifted off to one side, speaking in low tones as we moved.

"You don't look happy." He murmured once we neared the wall.

"I'm not." I said just as quietly. "Cullen, the point of the ceremonial crap is remind the nobles that our coalition isn't going anywhere. That our people are all battle-hardened, and that we've got every right to promote up more of our own."

He let out a frustrated breath. "You cannot say that she is wrong. The men's morale will be improved by seeing their companions knighted in front of them."

"Yes," I allowed, "But I'm pretty sure she was just throwing you a bone to cover up her refusal to let us intimidate the nobles like Meredith used to."

Cullen let out a quiet grunt. "I will not besmirch her name, but I will also not go that far, Maeve. We are soldiers, and our focus will be on the battle before us, not the politics behind us. That will be for when we are victorious."

I strangled the urge to smack him upside the head.

He was trying, I knew that, but I was pretty sure he'd never really understand politics all that well. From what I remembered of Inquisition, even a decade from now he'd never really be much of a player of the Game. Which I'd liked about him, a lot, back when he'd been a two dimensional image on a screen.

But now, in person, I was struggling to deal with the fact that an even younger Cullen really, really didn't want to get involved in the city's politics. Which was a massive problem because Meredith had built the entire city's power structure around the fact that the Knight-Commander was the city's dictator. That the Templars were their thugs, and that the old nobles were supposed to shut up and obey if they knew what was good for them.

I mean, I couldn't blame Cullen. Not really. I wasn't any more eager to get involved in noble bullshit, nor did we have the time thanks to the constant stream of problems that we had to deal with.

Unlike Cullen though, I was far more aware of just how dangerous being an Elf in this city had just become. The Baron who'd come by last night would be the first of many, and they'd get progressively less polite the less they feared that Cullen would react as his predecessor would have.

"Elowen is very worried." I told him, trying to help him see it. "Cullen, Meredith's personal will is the only reason our Alieange is as nice as it is. The only reason it hasn't already been seized and given away, and the lot of us forced into Darktown, or outside the city's walls. We-"

"I will not let them happen." He said firmly, clearly aiming to be reassuring. "I promise, Maeve. But the Seeker was right. Our Order has played at politics for too long in this city. We need to let that process play out."

I let out a ragged breath, "So if Elthina or Saemus orders you to help clear out the Alienage, to force us out, you'll refuse the order?"

He looked amused. "I doubt the men would obey me if I didn't."

I didn't smile back. "And what if they don't tell you, and come for us anyway? Will the Order march in to protect us, if that means going against the city's nobles? The Viscout? The Grand Cleric?"

Cullen's expression fell at once. "That will not happen. The Grand Cleric will not let things go that far, I assure you."

I was ready to keep pushing when a woman clearing her throat made us turn to see Brennan approaching, her expression grim.

"News." She said, motioning for us to move even farther away from the others. "Bad news, at that."

I shook my head, walking with them, "Just leave it at news, we know it's bad. It's always fucking bad in this damned city."

She looked like she agreed, even if Cullen seemed to be getting annoyed at my cutting pessimism.

"What is it?" He asked brusquely, facing Bren directly once we'd reached a fireplace.

"Reports out of Darktown." She replied. "The Qunari didn't reinforce the tunnels under the Compound. Instead they've filled it with some kind of poison gas that had three members of the Coterie turn on one another, and the survivor collapsed a few minutes later."

Shit and fuck. Right, that crap was a thing. I'd completely forgotten about it. My hand rising to slap myself in the face drew their attention, leaving me to mutter. "It's an airborne toxin. Sets off anyone who inhales it, puts them into a mindless rage. That lasts until their hearts give out."

Cullen crossed his arms. "Counters?"

"Don't breathe it in?" I suggested, shaking my head. "I've heard of it, never actually seen it. Or dealt with it before. Might be able to use fire to burn it out or something, but that's just a guess. I really don't know."

Brennan shook her head, "I don't want to gamble on trying. I already sent orders to fully seal off those tunnels to stop the gas from getting out, and gave the Coterie more coin to make it happen. They also sent back reports about the tunnels leading to the Gallows. The Mages know of them, and are layering them with warding spells and magical traps."

I glanced to Cullen, "Templars only for that attack then, if you still want to go through with it."

"We must." He insisted. "The Order will not abandon its own. I will send orders for additional lyrium to be prepared, and for more volunteers to be called for."

My nod came as Brennan spoke again, "Are we still going with the plan we talked about last night? All out attack?"

"Provided that nothing further changes, yes." Cullen replied. "Maeve, how far out do you think we dare risk pushing it?"

A hand rose, rubbing at my chin in thought. "Honestly, as far out as possible would be best. Get more of our wounded back on their feet, let the mages and Qunari think we're content. I'm not sure we've got the time though. How long of a warning will we have for the convoy?"

"A day, at most." Brennan replied, "Less if they risk deeper waters."

"Then sooner than I'd like." I said. "Three, four days from now maybe?"

He considered that for a moment. "Four days. We commence our Best-Case plan then. If all goes well, we will be able to regroup our forces in the aftermath of victory to deal with either the mages or thee Qunari. Assuming that the Qunari would even attempt a landing without their men in the Compound."

When we both nodded, he went on, "We will discuss the details at the War Council this afternoon. That will give us a firmer idea as to how many of the city's lords and knights will actually participate."

Since the plans rather required us to know just how many extra bodies we'd have, there wasn't any arguing with that.

We talked a bit more after that, Brennan confirming that there was no news of any other movement. The Qunari and Mages were both barricading themselves in, forting up to be ready for an attack, but weren't making any signs that they planned to come out and fight. Which was good, because they'd make a real mess of things if they did.

After a bit Cullen was summoned by Elthina, the Revered Mother indicating that he was needed to glad-hand a few of the lords who fancied themselves warriors. Brennan went with him, murmuring something about trying to wring more money out of the Deshyrs to pay for death bonuses for fallen Guards, leaving me to try and slink off to a corner to relax and avoid the political crap all around.

Sadly my luck wasn't that good.

I'd hardly been alone for thirty seconds before a man dressed in a red suit came strolling over. He lacked the gaudy Orlesian mask affected by so many, though his thin facial hair was very French in its styling.

"Dame Maeve." He tipped his head slightly.

"Hey." I said. "Don't know you."

If my brusque manners upset him, he didn't show it. "I am Baron Killam. I own several of the city's largest docks, as well as one of the shipyards. I would know just how much damage my property is liable to to take over the following weeks."

"Depends on how things go." I replied. "The Knight-Commander and I have put together several plans. If our primary ones go well, you shouldn't see much damage at all, and the Docks should be up and running in a couple of weeks."

He blinked once, then smiled, clearly pleased. "Most excellent to hear. So the moment of greatest danger is passed?"

"Not in the slightest." I said quickly. "The greatest danger is the Qunari ships still on their way. If they can make the harbor, then..."

"Ah." His smile faded at once, clearly understanding. "Yes, that would indeed be a crisis. But you have plans to prevent that from happening?"

I nodded, "We do. So long as our military operations aren't interfered with, Cullen and I are extremely hopeful we can deal with the crisis fairly quickly."

The nobleman understood my meaning, glancing to his left, at the great mass of nobles increasingly milling around the Grand Chantry. "I see. How do you rate your chances of victory if certain distractions began to occur? Or if certain persons attempted to withhold reinforcements?"

"Bad." I told him bluntly. "I can't give you the details, we're still finalizing them, but if we're forced to sit on the defensive, or if we don't get more help... our odds of holding the city at all go down with each passing day."

"I... see." His voice dropped further. "The situation remains that dire? The Grand Cleric assured us that the Qunari took catastrophic losses."

"They took heavy losses." I corrected him, "But so did we, and now we've got a thousand angry mages just across the harbor, and no idea how many more Qunari are on the way. In two or three weeks we could find ourselves staring down several thousand more of them."

He winced, mouth opening to reply when another man spoke, cutting him off.

"Rolling in the gutter, Killam?" A quick turn let me see someone I recognized, and very much wished that I didn't.

The surviving male of the Polignac family stalked forward, his gaudy mask not covering his loathing for me.

"Please tell me you aren't trying to marry your son off to this murderous rabbit." He spat.

"Polignac." Killam didn't look impressed. "Your fool of a brother attempted to assassinate the Lady over a single lost duel. That she, allegedly, replied in kind should have come as no surprise to anyone with a modicum of sense."

Polignac's lips twisted. "You would side with an animal over-"

"Enough." I growled, cutting him off. His eyes snapped back to me, then to where I'd let a hand drop to my sword. "Drop the insults, weak-chin, or we'll be seeing if you can duel better than your brother."

His jaw worked, and for a few seconds I thought he'd accept the challenge. Somehow he got control of his temper, visibly reigning it in. He spat a final few words in Orlesian, then stalked off once again before I could reply.

Killam grunted on his departure. "You should have waited to eliminate the entire family, Dame."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I replied, forcing my hand off my weapon's hilt.

"I'm sure." He rolled his eyes, "In either case, I will speak to my fellows who own property in the Docks. I will impress upon them that the crisis is nowhere near over, and that we must be prepared to support the Order and Guard through to the end."

Finally. Common sense.

"Thank you." I told him, doing my best to show that I meant it.

He waved off the words, "It is merely good business. Speaking of, I do have a son about your age."

Aaaand right back to noble bullshit. Ugh.

"Not interested." I said, far more tiredly.

"It need not be consumated." Killam pressed. "Rumor tells of your tastes. My daughter is far more beautiful, and would likely think your hair wonderfully interesting."

Jesus. I fought down the urge to tell him to fuck off. I couldn't, not when he'd literally just said he'd talk to at least a few other nobles about getting us the help we still badly needed.

"I'm not looking for marriage prospects, but... more friends would not be amiss." I tried to thread the needle. "Maybe once the crisis is past, I can talk Varric into hosting a party to celebrate our victory."

He smiled faintly, nodding once. "And would the right sorts be invited to this party?"

"They would." I said.

The Baron gave me a casual Templar salute, bowing a little as he did. Then he was off, content with what I'd offered. I watched him go, sighed, and quickly set off as well, looking for my friends.

I found Isabella first, her dark hair leading me to where she and Fiolya were currently blocking off a clearly livid Elowen from the rest of the nobility. Varric and Evelyn arrived a moment before I did, the dwarf bearing a tall glass of wine that he pressed into El's single hand.

She was downing it when I approached, giving the others a questioning look.

"Revered Mothers wouldn't let her speak to Elthina." Fiolya supplied quietly, "And one of the Counts yanked her away by the ear when she tried to speak with Saemus again. The Viscount didn't speak up in her defense."

I hissed quietly, glancing around, "Where's her guard?"

Isabella snorted, nodding in another direction, "Being held back from turning this into a bloodbath by Brennan."

I was grimacing when Elowen finished downing the glass, turning to me. Her voice low, "Where were you off to?"

"Getting threatened by the last Polignac." I replied, "I think he was trying to work up the nerve to challenge me, but stormed off when he couldn't find his spine. Oh, and Baron Killam tried to set me up with both of his kids."

"Ah." Elowen still needed a few deep breaths, but she visibly relaxed. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that like I was accusing you."

A hand waved off the apology. "It's fine. Today's not going well. Elthina said no to a public ceremony by the way."

"I guessed." She handed her glass to my squire, leaving her free to cross her arms angrily. "I didn't expect the Viscount to say something, but none of the nearby Deshyrs came to my aid either. Nor did several others I know supported Dumar."

I grimaced, glancing to Varric. My old friend gave me an almost helpless shake of his head.

"We're bleeding support by the minute, buzz." He said quietly. "Elthina's convincing everyone she can that we've got the situation under control. That the mages will see reason and raise the chains, and that the Seeker's going to deal with the Qunari and Mages alike when she shows up."

"I heard a bit of that from Killam." I glanced at the crowd, then stepped in closer, all of my friends and companions doing the same. "He's going to talk to the other nobles who own stuff down by the harbor. How much more support will that give us?"

His expression was bleak. "Not much, to be honest. They can probably scrounge up some sailors, but they won't be trained warriors. Maybe a handful of knights. The money they can provide will help in the long-term, and they'll have a lot of it, but that won't mean much over the next couple of weeks."

About what I'd assumed. "What's your best guess as far as attendance for the War Council goes?"

"Best guess?" He repeated, thinking it over. "There's enough Knights who care more about duty, or glory, that you should get a couple dozen more. Add in a few of the nobles who remember they're supposed to be the ones to defend the city, plus any troops they can scrounge up... I'd say you'll get an extra hundred swords for sure. One fifty if we're being optimistic."

Elowen glanced to me, "Is that enough for the Knight-Commander's plan?"

"...barely." I admitted. "But it means it'll be possible to pull it off. So long as Elthina doesn't stop us, that is. The fact that her little guards didn't let you get close isn't a good sign, and if she's telling everyone that everything is fine..."

The baroness of the Alienage got where I was going. "She may think an attack would go against her claims."

Which it could, especially if the attack went badly. If we were thrown back with heavy losses. That would be disaster enough all on its own, but it would also destroy the Grand Cleric's credibility with the nobles.

"No choice though." I went on. "I don't care that she thinks she can talk Orsino into raising the Chains. I don't believe that for a moment, and I've got Cullen convinced as well. That means we have to deal with this situation before the convoy arrives. Otherwise we're screwed."

No one disagreed, and Isabella finally spoke up.

"You all need to be ready to leave." She insisted, as she had been since she'd arrived. "I mean that. No matter how this turns out, the city's already turned against anyone with pointed ears. I heard two conversations in here about how you were the ones to set off the Qunari, and how that proves you need to have your titles stripped."

Fingers clenched as Elowen's own temper rose once more. "I heard them as well. They were not being quiet in their opinions. I am beginning to agree that our time in Kirkwall is over."

I shifted my weight. Sure, I'd, personally, planned on leaving after this was done with no matter how it went. But that was me and Merrill. And, I supposed, Fiolya and Evelyn.

Four young women going off to live with Hawke was one thing.

The Alienage's population was still somewhere above four thousand, as far as I knew.

"That's a lot of people to move, El." I said quietly. "And we still don't have an exit on the other side. Not a viable one for that many people. Cullen still says he'll defend us, defend the Alienage if they try to take it by force."

"I know, and that's good to hear." She exhaled, lips pressed together for several long moments. Then she seemed to relax all at once, her head shaking, "But.. no. No, the pirate is right. Meredith was the only thing holding them back, and Meredith is gone. Cullen is a good man, for a Human, but he's not her. He refuses to even try to be her."

Having thought exactly that not long ago, I couldn't argue with her.

"They're going to come for us sooner rather than later." Elowen went on, drawing herself up as she made her decision. "We will not let that happen. The Alienage is to be evacuated the moment Lady Merrill finds a way through."

We all stared at her, but I was the only one who spoke. "You sure?"

"Yes." She said firmly. "I will skip the battle planning this afternoon, and return home to begin organizing it. We will need plentiful supplies, and total secrecy. I do not want so much as one resident left behind. Maeve? Find a way to get the Night's Watch back home. I will not see them guarding Revered Mothers who call me a knife-ear for a day longer."

I nodded, "I'll get them back."

"Good." She glanced around, "Squire Fiolya? I need you to come with me as well. You will head into the Crossroads and inform Lady Merrill and her team of my decision."

Fiolya saluted at once, "Yes, my lady. I'll tell her."

Apparently in a commanding mood, she continued on to Varric. "Lord Tethras? Please do all that you can to garner more support regardless. If there is enough hope that we will be treated well, I would sooner not move all of my people to unknown lands."

"Do my best." He promised.

"Thank you. Captain Isabella?" Elowen nodded toward me, "Make sure this one stays alive. That Tallis is still out there, and if Polignac has returned, he may have brought a bard or two with him from Orlais."

"Oh I will." Isabella promptly slipped around me, resting her chin on my head just as Longing so often did. I grumbled, but was too glad to have her back, and close to me, to push her away. "I'll escort her everywhere, don't worry."

"You can start," I said, "By escorting me to the Keep. We've got battle plans to make, and a Night's Watch to retrieve."

Her nod ruffled my hair, and our little party broke up as our work resumed.