To say that Kirkwall was chaotic over the next two weeks was an understatement of the highest order.

Most of that was the Viscount's fault. The indecisive negotiator was extremely slow in giving any kind of information to the city about what had happened, and so rumor and hearsay were taken as fact by whoever was listening.

The most common one was that the Elves had risen up, exactly as the racists in Lowtown had been convinced that we would. At least eight of the People were lynched the very next day, just trying to get to their jobs, and a mob attacked the Alienage in the early evening.

Fueled by paranoia and alcohol, few of them were intimidated when they ran smack into Cullen and the forty plus Templars now protecting the Alienage while we counted our dead. According to Elowen, Cullen did his best to talk them down, but when someone threw a spear at him... well, he let his men wade in.

It took several dozen corpses before the mob broke. Those few captured alive were hanged by Meredith's orders. The bloody incident gave Brennan the leverage she needed, joining forces with the Knight-Commander in bullying the Viscount into letting her Guards out of Hightown.

Mixed patrols of Guards and Templars began marching through Lowtown regularly, enforcing peace at sword-point.

Dumar had apparently tried to release a statement around then, supporting Meredith's actions, but the nobility got wind that she'd ennobled Elves and that the Viscount was going to retroactively approve. They promptly lost their shit as well, trapping Dumar in endless meetings as they screamed at him.

For the next two weeks Kirkwall was a rumor-filled police state. Reports that the Alienage had risen were joined by the 'confirmed facts, no shit', that the Mages of the Gallows had risen in revolt. Then by equally certain reports that Tevinter agents had infiltrated the city, demanding it be returned to the Imperium, and that they'd attacked the Alienage to gather blood-slaves in advance of a landing.

Then it was that Orlais was attacking to reclaim the city. A while later someone finally remembered that the Qunari were sitting in their compound, and became convinced that it was all a Qunari plot, that Dreadnoughts had been sighted beyond the Narrows.

According to Petrice, Meredith herself marched off to calm a very unhappy Arishok, while Elthina had walked into the Viscount's Keep and curtly dismissed the assembled nobility so that she and Dumar could have a private conversation.

End result?

Fifteen days after the attack, Elowen and I were summoned to speak with the Viscount personally.

Which was how the two of us ended up in the Sister's solar at the Keep, getting dressed up by Petrice and a trio of her fellow clerics. One of whom proved to an Elven woman whose tanned skin betrayed her Tevinter origins.

I tugged at the clothing they'd stuffed me into, scowling at the screen between me and Petrice. "I still can't believe there's actually a uniform for Chantry Auxiliaries."

"Oui, oui." Petrice replied impatiently, "Sortez déjà. Let me see!"

Groaning, I walked out so that she could inspect me. "Well?"

The Sister hummed, eyes flicking up and down my body.

In truth it was a lot better than I'd thought it would be. Tight black slacks were covered up a bright red skirt that hung to the tops of my feet, slit in the front just as usual for a Templar's armor. Above a belt holding my sword was a thin black doublet with long sleeves, tight enough to prove that I actually had a small bust, but thick enough to hide my Dream-catcher in a hidden pocket.

Apart from the brass buttons, the only color was yellow threads on the shoulders; the Templar's Blade on my right, the knotted dragon of Kirwall on my left.

She nodded in approval when I did a little spin for her. "Good, very good. From your complaints I would have thought it looked terrible. You cut an impressive figure."

I turned, looking at the mirror in the room's corner again. The outfit was tight enough to show off, but loose enough that I didn't feel constricted. A little twist of my hips sent the heavy skirt rippling, letting me turn to see what I looked like from the back.

"It's... not bad." I admitted. "Elowen?"

The other woman cautiously stepped out from behind her own screen. Her outfit was much the same as mine, though someone had hastily stitched a golden tree on her left breast. Well, that and her right sleeve was tied off over the stump where her hand should have been.

"Better than I thought." She looked me up and down once, glancing up at my head. "How did they finally convince you to shave it down on the sides again?"

I pursed my lips, turning back to the mirror to glare at the horse-mane cut I was again cursed with. "Betrayal and ambush."

And I was going to get back at Isabella, Merrill, and Fiolya for it. I'd vowed that the moment I'd woken up to find them holding me down so that Thrask's wife could attack me with a shaving razor and scissors.

Petrice huffed. "It is your image, and image will be everything today. Let us move, Kirkwall does not hold with being fashionably late as Orlais does."

One of the other sisters muttered, "Thank the Maker for that."

That earned her giggles from the other two, and a scowl from Petrice as she tried to usher us all out. We obeyed, slipping out of the room to find Brennan and four of her most loyal Guards waiting on the other side. She eyed us, nodded once, and then set off with her men marching in step behind.

Elowen and I walked right behind them, while the four Sisters formed up as an escort behind us in turn.

It was a pretty blatant display of the Chantry's support of us, especially when combined with our uniforms

The lack of subtlety was definitely needed though. There were plenty of lingering nobles in the Keep, and none of them missed a chance to glare at us when we walked past. Well, all right, the Humans all glared at us. The Dwarves among them didn't glare so much as they... coldly assessed.

Not really any more comfortable to deal with, even if they weren't openly hostile.

Brennan led us up three different flights of stairs, eventually bringing us to a doorway guarded by two Templars and a red-headed man in fine clothing. I recognized one of them even in full armor; the fact that they were barely taller than me was a bit of a giveaway that Meredith had sent her squire out on guard duty.

"Guard-Captain." The redhead nodded to her. "I see they have finally arrived."

"If by finally arrived, Seneschal, you mean they're half a bell early, then yes." Brennan, apparently, didn't like this guy. "Baroness Elowen of the Kirkwall Alienage, and Dame Maeve, Knight of Kirkwall, present themselves to the Viscount and Grand Cleric."

Redhead sniffed disdainfully, "They have no titles as of yet. The Knight-Commander did not follow protocol."

I scoffed, not really in the mood to deal with a bureaucrat. I think I vaguely remembered this guy being a pompous idiot, but I couldn't remember anything else about him. Or even his name. "Is it protocol to refuse to announce us? Or are just supposed to trample you as we go in?"

The man's jaw clenched, while a feminine snort came from the Templar on the right. His teeth ground a bit, but he turned around sharply, rapping once on the door. Someone called for him to enter, and he slipped through.

"I can't stand him." Brennan muttered, armored creaking when she crossed her arms. "Pretentious little bastard."

"But he was so warm and welcoming." I gave the amused Templar a wink, which earned me a giggle. "I was going to name my first born after him."

Brennan snorted, Elowen rolled her eyes, and the giggles from the squire got worse until the other Templar cleared his throat.

"Trevalyen. this is a most serious post." He rumbled.

"Yes, messere." The girl replied, getting herself under control. "Apologies, messere."

His approving noise was swallowed up the door opening, Mister Bureaucrat stepping out with a fresh scowl on his face. "The... Baroness and Dame may enter."

I gave me him my most irritating smile as I walked past, and I'm pretty sure Elowen simply rammed her shoulder into him when he didn't quite get out of her way. On the other side of the door was a broad patio overlooking the city, with a rich wooden table set out with tea in little cups.

Two of Kirkwall's three rulers sat across from one another, two empty chairs on our side.

Grand Cleric Elthina looked much as the same as the last time I'd seen her. Like a stern but benevolent grandmother, who gave us a polite smile when we approached.

Dumar, the other hand, looked... huh. He looked a lot younger than I would have thought, considering he had to be at least forty, probably older. Bald and slender, sure, but even in his robes of office he looked like he kept himself in good shape. If I'd run into him on Earth I'd assume he was one of those old, rich men who ran marathons just to brag about it at fancy parties.

"Baroness, Dame." He surprised me by standing politely when we approached, waving for us to take the open seats. "Please, sit. The tea is still hot if you desire some."

"Thank you, messere." I said, Elowen repeating me a moment later as we both sat. Neither one of us poured any tea, and Dumar returned to his own chair once we'd settled down.

"I'm afraid we must begin with the grim business." He went on, "I am told that the count is finally settled. How many lives were lost?"

Elowen took a breath, then let it out with her words. "Two hundred and forty seven Elves died during the attack, or from their wounds, messere. Nineteen more have died in isolated attacks since."

The Viscount's face darkened. "I see. Have the attacks decreased since the Guard moved back into Lowtown?"

"Significantly. Only one man was killed in the past week, and his attackers were imprisoned by the Guard before they could escape." She replied. "I have already thanked the Guard-Captain personally, and the Lady Maeve wrote a letter of gratitude to the Knight-Commander as well."

"Good." He seemed to sigh, "A most dark affair, this. Has the Chantry been providing all of the necessary funeral rites?"

"Yes, my lord." Elowen tipped her head to Elthina, "Sister Petrice has been overseeing them with her new assistants."

"Good." Dumar repeated. "Well, as good as things can be under the circumstances. Dame Maeve? What is the status of your Night's Watch?"

I shifted in my seat, and went with my usual bluntness. "Crippled. We lost half our number, killed in action, and most of the rest are still getting over their wounds. I ordered a roll call this morning, and we had twelve people able to bear arms. I had fifty just sixteen days ago."

He winced. "I see. When do you think that the Watch would be able to safeguard the Alienage once more?"

"A few months?" I shook my head. "That's just a guess, messere. I've got enough volunteers and equipment that we could probably arm thirty or forty people if we really had to, but training... it'll be a mob with spears."

Dumar took a deep breath, then let it out with a sigh. "I see. It seems Meredith's reports were accurate, Grand Cleric."

The silent woman nodded, finally speaking. "It seems so. I shall authorize her detachments to remain in the Alienage for now, under Rutherford's command. Although I must ask the Baroness if their presence is causing unrest."

Elowen blinked, "The Templars? No, everyone appreciates having them around. The unrest is... more to do with my appointment."

"There is unrest then?" Dumar pressed.

"Yes, messere. Um..." She glanced at me, a wordless cry for help.

I sighed and took over, "Elves are leaving the Alienage, and Kirkwall, daily. Pretty much all of them are heading to either Starkhaven or Ostwick. About three hundred have already slipped out of the city, and more are probably going to follow. Men, women, children, all ages."

"Why?" He asked, sounding baffled. "Why risk such travel with entire families?"

"They don't want to live under an Andrastian noble, even if she is a fellow Elf." I shook my head. "Most of them are hard-core worshipers of the Evanuris, but plenty are just people who resent things changing. That the Elders losing their say in who rules us."

"And," Elowen added, "Many blame Lady Maeve for the deaths, and are furious Meredith rewarded her and her lieutenants. They think the Night's Watch failed them, and that its existence was what provoked the attack."

I grunted. "That too."

Dumar's frown deepened. "How many do you believe the city shall lose?"

I shrugged, but Elowen had an answer that time. "Perhaps a thousand, messere, but that's just a guess. It could be more or less."

He shook his head, "Even if only half were of working age, that would be a crisis. Elves work too many necessary jobs that others consider beneath them. Combined with the deaths in the attack, wounded who are too crippled to work, those who now refuse to leave the Alienage for fear of being mobbed..."

"Elowen's got ideas on that." I spoke up. "It won't be a short-term fix, but we might be able to draw Elves in from other cities."

Dumar blinked, then seemed to perk up. "Do tell me, Baroness."

"It's, um, pretty simple, messere. There may be many of the People in Kirkwall who don't want to live under my... ah, my rule, but there has to be just as many devout Elves in other cities who would welcome an Alienage such as ours."

Kirkwall's official ruler got it at once. "You mean to lure immigrants from the other Free Cities. Those who might chafe under the rule of Elders who do not follow the Maker, and who would welcome a more properly devout Alienage."

"Yes, messere. We can also prove that our Alienage will offer better living conditions."

I took over again, since that part was my idea. "We were already going to tear down most of the Western Quarter and rebuild it, and now we have to anyway. I'm talking with Deshyr Tethras and his construction people, and they're positive they can build proper apartments or tenements there. Actual sewer access, reinforced streets, the full works."

The Viscount was looking more relieved, and approving, by the minute. "An excellent idea. We increase our city's population, and stimulate further construction at the same time. Even better, we keep the wealth spent within our own walls. Yes, I approve of this. How long will it take?"

"Months to years, depending." I said, "Not much we can do about that, but we're hoping to get the Western Wall replaced as soon as possible. Once that's up we won't need nearly as many Templars or Guards, just enough to hold the gate. Even my depleted Watch can keep track of anyone scaling the walls so long as another mage doesn't blow them apart."

Elthina tipped her head, smiling. "A wise course of action. Meredith will be pleased with your prudence, and promise to lessen her burden. But perhaps the Baronness and I could speak of these plans to attract devout Elves to our city? I am certain that the Chantry would be an ideal means to spread this message."

Elowen flushed, but dutifully rose when the Grand Cleric did. The Viscount stood as well, leaving me feeling left out to the point where I got up in turn. While Elthina drew my former-subordinate off toward the railing, speaking in low tones, Dumar turned to me.

"Walk with me, Dame Maeve."

"Yes, messere." I said, because what else could I say to the Viscount.

He led me away from the table, along a narrow path on the outside of the Keep. A short walk later and I was inside one of his offices, sitting down across a broad table covered in paperwork.

Dumar regarded me in stoic silence for several minutes, and I stared back at him, content to wait.

"I would understand you." He said finally. "Elthina and Meredith conspired to appoint you as the Baroness, yet you refused. Tell me why."

I pursed my lips, considering my answer. Then I asked him a question in turn. "Do you want the political answer, or the personal answer?"

"Both, but begin with the personal."

"I'd be terrible at it." I said bluntly. "I'm a stubborn bitch of a foreigner whose only dream is to go home. I've got no respect for local Elven traditions, no respect for the false-gods in the Evanuris. My diplomatic skills are non-existent on top of that."

Dumar blinked slowly, then a quiet chuckle escaped him. "You know yourself well."

"I try to. If I was baroness I'd be miserable, and I'd make everyone else in the Alienage miserable as well." I shrugged. "I didn't want that to happen, so I grabbed the first person I could convince Meredith to appoint instead of me."

"I see. And your political answer?"

Another shrug. "I didn't deserve the title."

"Why?" He asked calmly. "Did you not create the Night's Watch? Did you not protect your people, pay for improvements to their lives? Command the defense that saw the attack stalled long enough for the Templars to arrive?"

"I drew attention to us in a way that ensured someone attacked the Alienage sooner rather than later." I replied quietly. "And it was others who really commanded the defense. I was just the idiot who barely knew what she was doing."

Dumar considered me in silence again, and then asked a question I did not expect. "I have heard your tale from the Grand Cleric. That you are from far off lands, beyond the map. What occupation did you have there?"

I just... stared at him.

Then I started laughing. I laughed so hard it hurt.

"Pardon?" He frowned. "Was that amusing?"

"No, no. Just..." I struggled to stop, breathing hard. "...God. Did you know you're the first person to actually ask me that?"

He blinked. "I am?"

"Yeah." Another snort came out, and I barely swallowed a hysterical chuckle. "No one's ever... ever actually asked. Not even Varric, or Merrill, or... any of my friends. They just... assume I guess. You'd think someone would have asked by now."

For the first time, Dumar looked at a bit of a loss. His eyes softened slightly, "You were not a warrior, were you?"

"Oh God no. I worked at a public school. I helped repair things kids and teachers managed to break." It was the closest I could get to saying I worked IT support at a public school. "The only reason I know how to use a sword was because a woman I was courting was into dueling, and I wanted to spend more time with her. I'm not even remotely qualified to run the Night's Watch. Not as Guards or as soldiers."

I told him of my old plans to quit the post, as soon as I could pick an adequate replacement. That all I truly wanted to do was focus on finding a way home. If I could do some good for the local Elves, I'd be happy to help, but things had... gotten far away from what I was comfortable doing.

"I see." Dumar nodded when I finished. "Good."

"Good?"

That drew a faint smile to his lips. "The tale of your origins has spread among the nobility. Several versions of it. But having met you, I am at least certain that you are no vanguard of an Elven invasion from afar."

I couldn't stop a roll of my eyes, "I should have assumed that's where their minds went. Let me guess, half of the nobles are petrified I'm going to tell my home how terribly they treat Elves, and we're going to come back and massacre the lot of them. That I need to be killed right now before I get a chance to leave."

"Perhaps a third rather than half." He corrected mildly, "But you are otherwise correct. They are a vocal minority, one I am slowly bringing into check with the aid of those who are more wise. Should you return home, would this city benefit from contact with your people?"

"I doubt it." I admitted, telling more half-truths, "We're at least as far north as Ferelden is south, and I'm not sure where we are east or west compared to Kirkwall. Best case we're somewhere north of Par Vollen, but the Qunari would be in the way of any kind of trade."

"Or invasion." He supplied.

"Or invasion."

Dumar smiled again. "Then I shall have no qualms assuring the nobility that you are no threat at all. If you were to give up your Captaincy in the Templar Auxiliaries, I believe that would aid me greatly. It would prove that you are truthfully not interested in accumulating power here."

"Consider it done." I said at once. "I know who I want in the position, just give me a couple of weeks to convince them. And maybe find something to tell Meredith to reassure her that the Watch will still help her find dangerous maleficar even if I'm not running it."

His expression told me that the addendum was a wise one. "So long as it is arranged before the Grand Tourney. That is four months hence."

More than enough time. Wait.

"Grand Tourney? Kirkwall's hosting?" I blurted out.

"Yes." He seemed to cheer up again. "That is a key part of my plans to settle this city. Those day laborers and construction teams working on the new Chantries in Lowtown shall be able to transition seamlessly to constructing new tourney grounds outside of the walls. They will be well paid and well motivated."

"And outside of the city." I noted, "Too busy to complain about Elves. And when they're done they'll be a ton of entertainment to distract them, to spend their money on. Maybe get a good bit of hometown pride going to smooth tensions over."

"Just so." Dumar said, not-quite beaming at me. "I am glad you are as intelligent as others have claimed. And with the Alienage's own building projects, the Merchant's Guild will have their pick of investment opportunities. There will be no complaints from the city's wealth when it comes to Elven affairs, I think."

"Just the blue-bloods."

"And they find themselves a minority." He waved a hand, "True, they have a made a nuisance of themselves and made a bad situation worse, but they wasted a great deal of their time and attention attempting to force the Knight-Commander to recant her declarations. That she did not was a humiliation, a blow to their influence, and that the Deshyrs are in full support has caused them very real fear."

I frowned a little. "What does the Guild get out of this?"

He shrugged. "The precedent of what the Alienage has been given. I am told they are already putting together a petition to create their own Watch for the Enclave, and offering the Templar Order a great deal of monetary support to begin training Dwarves as Knights. They propose one Dwarf be knighted for each Elf that received the honor."

"Ah." Yeah. I could see that. "You allowing that?"

"For now, yes. In the long term the Guard-Captain has plans to integrate both your Watch and this new Dwarven variation into the city's overall Guard, but for now it suits us to keep them separate." He replied.

She had? Good on Brennan, being sensible and planning for the long term.

"In any case, knowing that you intend to retire from your post means we can end this discussion early. You will have your replacement work with the Guard-Captain?"

"Brenan and I are good friends." I nodded. "She already knows who I've picked to take the role. They'll coordinate, no worries."

"Good." Dumar rested his arms on his desk, folding his hands together. "With that out of the way, I have... a personal favor to ask."

I blinked slowly. "Yes, messere?"

Some of his confidence left him, leaving him looking older, more lost. "It... is rather personal, as I said. I am told by the Grand Cleric that you are well informed on the Qunari ways. Their culture, society."

"...more than most people, yes." I allowed, thinking I knew where he was going with this. "I'm kind of violently opposed."

"Yes." His hands flexed a little, but didn't come apart. "I... my son has begun to speak well of the Qunari. Their ways interest him in a way that is... dangerous. Both to my position as Viscount, and... as a father. I attempted to have him speak to several in the Chantry who know of the Qun, but he claimed them to be nothing but bigots who did not understand it."

I fought down a wince. Not a good sign, in my opinion, if he was already that opinionated about it.

"I... would ask your advice, serrah." He said finally. "Ask how you became opposed to the Qun. Did your people war with them?"

...and there was a dangerous pair of questions, ones that demanded an answer.

I knew that Petrice had assumed that my people had warred with the Qunari, in their early history from her oblique references. But that wasn't the kind of claim that would really hold up. Not if actual Qunari diplomats ever showed up.

So I needed a better reason.

"We didn't fight them, no." I said, carefully speaking the lie I'd kept in reserve. One of too many that I had to remember. "A ship of Tal-Vashoth arrived on our shores. They were half-starved, many dead. My people took them in, and they told us about the evils that they had fled from. The depths that the Qunari go to maintain control."

"Tal Vashoth? Those bandits?"

I shook my head, "It's a catch-all term for anyone that tries to flee the Qunari. A Tal-Vashoth from their warrior caste is probably a bandit, sure, they don't train them to know anything besides war. But a baker who would rather take care of horses is called a Tal-Vashoth too, and would be executed just the same."

Dumar nodded slowly, "I have noticed in my few talks with the Arishok that their terms are... broad and inflexible."

"Sounds like the Qunari. But if I was trying to convince a loved one not to go over to the Qun, I'd find Tal-Vashoth willing to talk. Maybe find some that have settled peacefully, are raising families." I advised. "Have him sit down with them. Learn just why they left the Qunari. That their way of life is anything but some peaceful utopia."

The Viscount stared at me for several seconds, then a relieved sound came out of him. "Finally, true advice beyond prayers to the Maker. I thank you, Dame Maeve. As both a father and as Viscount."

"You're welcome messere. I wouldn't wish the Qunari on my worst enemies."

"I trust I shall have you discretion in this matter?" When I nodded at once, he did the same. He pushed himself slowly to his feet, a hint that I took to stand as well. "I thank you for that as well. I shall look forward to seeing you at the Grand Tourney, and will ensure you are invited to the opening ceremonies."

I grimaced. "Please tell me it's not a ball, messere."

"It is, and I'm afraid I must insist on your attendance. A reassurance to the new King of Ferelden that we are following his lead in Elven relations, you see."

I'd get to meet Alistair? All right. That would be pretty awesome. Maybe I could catch him half-drunk, and get him to tell me everything that Anders wouldn't about what had happened during the Blight.

"And," He added, "I shall ensure that you are included in the Deshyr's booth for the tilts."

And front row seats to the largest jousting tournament in Thedas?

I started to smile... and then I remembered the hundreds of people who'd died so that I could get those seats. Could attend a party with the rich and noble of Thedas. The little girl who'd been raped because of my changes to the order of things.

"...thank you, Viscount."

"You are quite welcome, my lady."