As much as I wanted to not do anything further that day, beyond curl up next to Merrill in front of a fire, I had responsibilities.

Shina arranged for us to get fresh horses, promising to take our exhausted animals back for us, letting us ride the rest of the way back to the city. We made one short stop midway so that we could all get back into our armor, and so that Thrask could walk Evelyn through how to properly hit me with a Drain to wipe out my mana. He followed that up with teaching her how to double-tap me to get rid of the magical residue on my skin.

The familiar headache was throbbing behind my eyes when we rode into the city, for once not stopping at the stables. Instead we made directly for the Viscount's Keep on horseback, Brennan bellowing for everyone to clear the street as we came through.

Aveline herself was apparently working after hours, because she came storming out when we reached the center of government, several other Guards with her.

I swung myself free from where I'd been riding with Merrill, helping her down and earning myself a light blush when I let my hands slide up her legs a little in the process.

Sadly that was the extent of our fun; Brennan, once more in her armor, slammed an armored gauntlet into the face of one of the men near Aveline.

"Traitor!" Her roar shut up the stunned notes from the other guards, "Get this Qunari piece of shit in a cell!"

I think it said good things about her Guard that they didn't hesitate for more than a second before swarming the reeling man, disarming him in record time. Then he was being hauled back up the stairs, Aveline falling in with us as our party began stomping up after them.

"Proof?" The redhead asked.

"Maeve's got a book of every Qunari convert in the city." Brennan told her, "Find Guardsman Harris, and Guardswoman Val. I want them each in their own cells, nothing they can use to kill themselves or each other."

Aveline nodded without asking any more questions, darting off the moment we reached the Templar-guarded doors. They swung them open, confirming with Brennan that the Viscount was in his office when she asked.

"Right." She said once we were in the main hall. "I think this part's for Maeve and I."

I nodded, looking over everyone else. "Thrask, take the list we made of the Elven section to the Alienage. Evelyn, you mind backing him up before you go back to the Gallows? Thanks. I'm sure the Viscount will send word, but what happens in those walls is up to Elowen. Find her and tell her."

Both indicated their assent, leaving me to glance at Varric and Merrill. "I'm not sure what Dumar will decide, so maybe wait for us in Brennan's office. Either we'll get to head home tonight, or we'll be very busy. Either way we'll stick together."

Merill beamed at me. "You see, Varric? She's still just like a mabari."

I blinked a few times, then scowled ferociously when I realized what she meant. "I am not trained!"

My anger only made her giggle, and Varric laugh.

"For that, no kiss goodbye." I growled, ignoring her faked gasp when I turned around. "Come on, Bren."

Smirking, the Guard Captain followed me as we got moving. Of course her amusement faded quickly; there was too much serious crap going on to banter.

Our feet carried us up several stairwells, past several more Guards and Templars who both saluted on reflex, and then we were entering the antechamber. Dumar's annoying secretary was at his desk there, and wasted no time in scowling at our entrance.

"Captain. Dame." He narrowed his eyes without rising from his desk. "You are both supposed to be at Chateau Haine. He will not be pleased that you-"

"Fuck you too." I cut him off, walking past him. "We need to see Dumar."

"Wait, you are not on his schedule! Stop-"

My palm had already shoved the door open, the Viscount himself looking up from a paper he'd been reading on his desk. The bureaucrat's protests followed us until Brennan shut the door in his face, and locked it for good measure.

Dumar arched a pale eyebrow at our sudden entrance, his voice dry. "I cannot imagine that this conversation will please me, Lady Maeve. I fear that my Seneschal was quite correct. You were not due back for some days yet."

"It won't please you." I confirmed, pulling the book out of the pouch on my belt, approaching his desk to offer it. "And we've got a reason, and this little thing is it."

Long fingers took it, glancing between the leather cover and my eyes. "A book caused you to depart from a diplomatic function well ahead of schedule?"

"Yes."

The Viscount let out a slow, tired breath. "Knowing you as I do, lady, I trust this contains something of critical importance. Before I begin reading it, I would ask you tell me to what it is related."

I didn't mince words. "The Qunari."

He didn't look surprised, instead merely nodded once. Then he opened the cover and dropped his attention to the contents. The old man frowned as he began to slowly page through it, then began to pick up speed as he seemed to get a sense of what he was looking at. Brennan and I stayed silent, waiting for our liege lord to process it.

"...spies?" He guessed.

"Viddathari." I replied. "Converts, so yeah. Spies. Mostly."

"Mostly." He repeated, voice flat..

"Mostly." I repeated in turn. "A few are marked as having backed out, and others have a little mark saying they're willing to shelter fellow Qunari, but aren't willing or able to pass information. Both of those are minorities though."

Dumar exhaled, "How many regions does this book contain?"

"The Marches, Nevarra, Orlais, and Ferelden." Brennan spoke up. "Kirkwall is on page two hundred and forty, messere."

I quickly added, "It's not good. I already sent our Templar companions to alert Lady Elowen about those in the Alienage, and the Guard-Captain has ordered the arrest of all three agents in the Guard. The rest we were leaving to your decision."

"Good that you were both decisive, yet did not overstep your authorities." He clearly appreciated that, rapidly turning through the pages. Another question came out as he did, "You are certain this book is accurate?"

"A Ben-Hassarath traitor was trying to sell it to Duke Prosper in exchange for his safety, and the safety of those who traveled with him. High ranking, I think. Not sure what a Salit is, but I'll confirm that with people who know the Qun better." I replied. "The Duke believed him, and so did the Qunari. They sent a Tallis and a full kill team to try and silence the traitor, the Duke, and anyone who might find this list."

Brennan cleared her throat, "They also had ambushes set between Kirkwall and the Chateau, clearly aimed at eliminating us on our way home regardless of how involved we became. Two such teams on the coastal road, and another in the mountains. We were nearly run down by the group from the Chateau as well."

"...by the Maker, this gets worse with every moment." Dumar murmured, eyes snapping up to ours. "Do you have proof of these attacks? Of their origins and orders?"

I hesitated, then had to say, "We've got one little book in Qunlat that we took from a corpse, but otherwise we didn't retrieve anything else. We were being pursued and couldn't take the time."

"I see." A finger tapped rapidly on the open page. "That complicates matters."

Armor creaked, Brennan crossing her arms. "I am the Captain of the Guard, messere. Isn't my word going to be good enough?"

"For myself? Of course. I believe the Knight-Commander shall believe you as well." The same finger tapped again, more sharply. "But the very first name I see is the daughter of one of the Grand Cleric's confidants among the nobility."

We both winced.

The Viscount read on, shaking his head at a name, grimacing at another. Pages turned as he worked his way through the information we had just given him, the pair of us remaining silent while he worked.

Eventually he reached the end of his city's list, then slowly flicked back to the start of that section.

"This... is a disaster." He seemed to slump, aging before our eyes. "Did you read the full list?"

Brennan had, and she said as much, "Yes, messere."

One of his hands rose, rubbing tiredly at his face. "I don't recognize many of the names, so I am presuming they are servants, but I recognize far too many of the locations. Five of my closest supporters have these... Viddathari in their very homes. One of the Revered Mothers who attends to the Grand Chantry is named. How many of the others do you recognize?"

"Not as many as I would like, messere." Bren admitted. "Between Maeve and I, we recognized perhaps a dozen out of the forty-five listed. Mostly those in the Alienage or Guard."

Dumar nodded slowly. "Sadly I can only add a few, as I said. This will require a full investigation, and the most clear evidence that none can dispute. While I am certain that you both wish to act with speed and haste, this city cannot risk that."

I grimaced, speaking again. "You're right, but I think we have to. We're already moving to arrest or kill the spies in our groups, but even I know enough about politics to know what that would look like."

It would look like we were the only ones with traitors in our ranks. Considering how much Dumar openly favored both the Guard and the Alienage, that would be a massive political blow to him, even among his supporters.

"Quite." He agreed, clearly considering his words. "Guard-Captain. You may utilize this book and its information to arrest potential spies in Lowtown. That should not overly anger any of the factions within the city, and it may disguise just how many Elves were among them."

Another grimace there, but he had a point. Kirkwall's section had forty-five names listed, and nearly a quarter of them were Elves. Considering that the Elven population was, maybe, one in ten of Kirkwall's citizenry, it wasn't a good ratio. Especially since I was only counting those Elves whose listed residence was clearly in the Alienage.

It was possible, even likely, that a lot of the noble servants listed were actually Elves as well.

The Viscount continued, "Those with Hightown residences listed will be left alone until I speak privately with the Grand Cleric and Knight-Commander both."

"Messere." Brennan replied. "May I begin now?"

He held the book out for her take, which she did before saluting. Then she clapped me on the shoulder, making for the door. I began to turn to follow her when Dumar spoke again. "Remain, please, Lady Maeve."

Stopping, I reversed direction to take a seat when he motioned for me to do so. He waited until the door had closed again before ordering. "What happened at the Chateau? In detail, please."

I told him everything, sans the magic and my private conversation with Bethany.

How I'd spotted her and Greg on the road, in the company of someone I'd suspected of being a Qunari agent. I explained that away as recognizing her from my time in the north, which was the only excuse that could have possibly worked. I went on to describe our arrival at the Chateau, warning the servants, and then being warned in turn. Of making the call to see what was going on one way or the other, and finding out just what Salit was there to sell.

Coming up with the plan to take it and run before the situation blew up further, getting the servants and some of the Vashoth out, and then the fights we'd gotten into on the way back.

Dumar listened without interruption, nodding once or twice, frowning once or twice, but otherwise staying silent.

"I see." He said once I'd finished. "If I may ask, why did you not attack the charlatan visionary and the Qunari when you first encountered them?"

I took a deep breath, then let it out with the truth. "Bethany Hawke made it clear she would fight me to the death if I tried, and... I couldn't be the one to tell the Arlessa that I killed her sister. I know Meredith won't like that I let a mage walk like that, but... no. I couldn't do it."

My boss sighed as well. "The Knight-Commander certainly will not approve, but I appreciate your discretion. Ferelden has become our greatest trading partner since the Grand Tourney. Something that may have changed if the Arlessa of Amaranthine blamed us for the death of her sibling, no matter how estranged they may be."

"Not estranged." I corrected quietly. "If someone attacked Amaranthine, not even an Archdemon would stop Bethany from returning to fight beside her sister."

"Let us pray that example does not come to pass in our lifetimes." He shook his head, leaning back in his seat. "Returning to the Chateau. Do you know what they were doing there to begin with? Any noble of our March should have known to arrest at least Smith, if not his wife."

My hands rose helplessly. "No idea. Our only guess is that Prosper tried to invite Cousland, but that she sent Smith and Hawke instead."

"That implies," he noted, "That Duke Prosper knows where the fugitive Warden is."

"Yeah. And if he's really one of Empress Celene's best friends like he claimed, it means she does too." It was my turn to rub tiredly at my face. "I'd have loved to have dug into that, but I though the Qunari matter more pressing."

"Considering that there are nearly a thousand of them in our very walls, I cannot blame you." Dumar replied. "Does the Duke yet survive?"

"Supposedly, but who knows what happened at that Chateau after we left." I said. "Bethany claimed that the Duke fled when they destroyed the second copy of the list, which also implies that he knew he was badly outnumbered. Whether or not any of the other nobles there got away with him? No idea."

The Viscount pursed his thin lips, thinking on something.

"It will anger Elthina, but I will not cover this up." He said finally. "I will make a statement that the Qunari assaulted Chateau Haine to assassinate Duke Prosper, and dispatch a message to Val Royeaux asking for clarity on his business in our lands."

I nodded, unable to say if that was a good or bad idea.

"Regarding the rest, I will confer with the Knight-Commander when she returns from her estate tomorrow." He went on. "I will ask you to be present to explain the situation to her, but I will not take you to our meeting with the Grand Cleric after."

"Thanks."

A wan smile came and went. "I do that for my own sake, more than yours, my lady. As it is, we have our plan. The Guard-Captain shall deal with those who are safe to remove, and we shall prepare a more discrete operation to capture those in more delicate positions within the city."

Taking a breath, I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my armored knees. "I know you're going to tell me no, but I'm more convinced than ever that we need to prepare a preemptive strike on the Qunari Compound."

"You are correct." He replied calmly. "No, Lady. We shall not."

"We have to." I countered. "Viscount, the Qunari already made a move to assassinate your representatives to a diplomatic event. The Viddathari had to have told them that Brennan and Varric would be there, and they would know how badly it would hurt this city if they'd never come back."

He pursed his lips, but inclined his head very slightly, admitting the point.

"They've already made the first move." I pressed harder. "The Tallis and her team are still out there. The Watch drove them off, our luck that Shina took them out on a training exercise, but there was no battle. They could be infiltrating the city to report that we have a list of their spies in half the south."

"...a valid argument." Dumar murmured, "But I must still say no. The Divine's orders are absolute."

"For the Templars." I argued, "And the mages, I guess, but the Guard are yours. So is the Night and Stone Watch. Maybe we don't have enough numbers to attack the Compound, but at least let them start building up our own positions. Between the three groups we could barricade them in, put them under siege. If they do nothing, if they really intend to leave when their ships arrive, we can still let them. And if they attack, Meredith has her excuse to back us up and move in."

Dumar's fingers curled, then relaxed, then curled again. His head shook once.

"...I shall speak with the Knight-Commander about your proposal tomorrow." He said finally. "We shall see."

I grimaced, "Viscount, if even one Viddathari escapes, if Tallis is sneaking into the city to warn them, we won't have time. We have to-"

He interrupted me, "I am glad that you are well, Lady Maeve. I shall see you tomorrow."

My nose flared as I stared him down, finding him staring right back at me. He knew I was right, I thought. He knew that the Qunari weren't about to back down, weren't about to leave his city without a fight.

But he wasn't going to go against the Chantry's orders. Not when the Divine's Right Hand had given explicit instructions, and when Elthina was still absolutely against any kind of attack on the Qunari at all.

He'd shown some backbone before, to Elthina... but gentle push-back was apparently as far as he was willing to go.

Dammit.

"Messere." I said, rising to salute him. He gave me an exhausted wave, and I departed without another word.

His Seneschal was scowling at me when I walked out, an expression I returned with an equal amount of disgust. Just outside I found Varric and Merrill sitting on a bench rather than waiting in Bren's office, the pair of them quickly standing when they saw me come out.

"That bad?" Varric asked.

"Yes and no." I groused, moving to tuck myself into Merrill's side, the three of us walking back toward the nearest stairwell. "Brennan's handling the spies who are politically acceptable to arrest, but the others aren't to be touched yet. He also refused to have the Guards and Watches isolate the Qunari Compound."

Varric grunted. "Told you he would."

I scowled ahead, "Not what I need right now, Varric."

A hand patted the back of mine, his tone soothing when he spoke again. "I know. Don't worry, we'll be back home soon, then Daisy can give you what you actually need."

"Varric!" Merrill scolded him, reddening at once.

I swatted at his head on our behalf, which only made him laugh. "Just trying to lighten the mood a little. Come on, shit's not that bad right now. Meredith's going to side with you, she always does. We'll get the Qunari handled."

"Meredith's going to be iffy about the plan as it is." I countered, our feet carrying us down the first set of stairs. "We'd be avoiding the Divine's orders on a technicality."

"Maybe," He replied, "But she likes your paranoia. I bet you can get at least get her to plan it out. That way the city will be ready just in case. She'd like that."

Maybe. If I put it in those terms, as a 'just in case' kind of thing like Varric had said. If we used the 'just an exercise' excuse some more. It wouldn't be as good as directly acting right the hell now, but if we drilled everyone constantly on what to do when the Qunari acted...

...maybe we'd have a chance to avoid the kind of bloodshed that Act Two saw in the Arishok's assault.

Plus, I supposed, there was the chance that the Qunari were telling the truth. That they really intended to withdraw their small garrison, to leaving nothing but a small Ben-Hassarath team from which to work a spy network under the guise of an Embassy.

I didn't think it was likely though. Kirkwall was very isolated politically right now, thanks in large part due to the city's internal divisions over the Elven Question. The city didn't have a great army either, relying too much on its geographic position to deter outside attackers. Relying too much on the Chantry's diplomacy.

"Are you all right?" Merrill asked as we entered the Great Hall once more, finding it filling up with Guardsmen. Brennan and Aveline were barking orders, handing out papers to officers, clearly preparing their operation.

"No." I admitted, the three of us lurking in the back as the first teams stormed out into the city.

Merrill leaned over, gently kissing my cheek. "We'll be resting soon, don't worry."

Smiling faintly, I leaned in as well, enjoying the feeling of her holding on to me until it was time to get moving once more.

Our walk back to Varric's estate paced in relative peace. The sun was nearly set by then, so there weren't many people out and about. It made our walk back to the Enclave a quiet one, apart from a minor debate over what to have for dinner, and how things in the Alienage were going.

I probably should have gone down there. Helped Elowen get the Viddathari arrested, backed her up... but I was too tired, too sore. Today had been a damned long day, with not nearly enough sleep.

Elowen would be fine. She had plenty of capable Knights backing her up, along with Templars. They'd be able to handle it, and I could go down and check on things tomorrow once I'd recovered.

My friends must have agreed because neither of them proposed that I go out and help either Elowen or Brennan. I think in Varric's case that was simple exhaustion as well; he was covering yawns before we even made it to his front door, and Merrill seemed more concerned about getting us both safely to his mansion than what might be going on in the city.

She was equally concerned about making sure we ate enough, the staff quickly throwing together a meal of cold cuts, bread, and fruit. It wasn't the best meal I'd ever had, but I was hungry enough not to care. Besides, we hadn't given them much warning, so I hadn't expected anything else.

Varric quickly waved off their apologies, and their offers to stay late to make something better. He sent them all off to rest before tromping off as well, leaving Merrill to help me shuffle along to my room.

Or, I guess, our room. She'd moved her things into it while I'd been gone.

"...should bathe." I covered another yawn. "I reek right now."

"You do smell like horse." Merrill replied, "And sweat. I'll help, come on."

I blinked tiredly, watching as she quickly hustled over to a dresser, pulling one of the sleeping shifts I rarely wore, along with a new pair of underwear. Then she grabbed my wrist, pulling me right back out of the room and to the neighboring bathroom.

She started filling the bath while I began laboring through the process of removing my armor.

It was only halfway through the process that some part of my brain reminded me that Merrill was still present. And that yes, we'd bathed together plenty of times before, but we'd... never bathed together after I'd made out with her in front of half the Night Watch.

Merrill turned when I only had my straps around my breasts on above the waist, but was still fully armored below it. I felt my skin heating up more than from the hot water, my eyes just... staring at her.

She began to color as well, clearing her throat. "Um. I... didn't think we'd be doing anything dirty. Are we?"

"I..." I swallowed, then managed. "...think we should wait. Until Longing can tell you. Um... are you staying?"

"...yes?"

We stared at each other awkwardly a bit longer, then something like a giggle burst out of her lips. "Maeve. I've, um, seen you before. A lot, I mean."

Right. Right.

Shaking my head, I got to work getting the rest of the armor off, something she came over to help with. Apart from a bit more blushing it wasn't any more awkward than it usually was, at least until it came time for me to remove the undergarments. Then she finally had to turn away, muttering something I couldn't make out.

Tip toeing behind her, I eased my aching body into the hot water, doing my best not to pass out the second I was settled into the brass tub.

"Ohhhh..." I groaned, closing my eyes. "...fuck. I needed this."

I heard Merrill's feet moving on the floor, then a pair of hands gently touching my shoulders from behind. They slid down a moment later, cupping the water, then bringing it up over my greasy hair.

"...Merrill, I can do it."

She shushed me, already scooping up more of it, my eyes staying closed as the liquid ran down my scalp and face. Strong fingers began carefully working through my short hair, making sure all of it was properly soaked. They vanished for too long before returning with the scent of soap, Merrill lathering it into my hair.

There was... something wonderful, about being touched like that. None of it was sexual, but it was still... intimate in a way I'd forgotten I'd missed.

I don't know how long I lay there, soaking in the hot water while Merrill washed me. Only that she kept touching me, massaging my shoulders, my neck, my scalp, all well after she'd finished cleaning my hair. Long after I'd tiredly cleaned myself off beneath the water's surface.

Eventually it cooled to the point where I had to get out, a blushing companion drying me off before helping me to dress again.

Leaving my armor in the bathroom, we made our way back to our own. There I let her guide me into bed, pushing me down while she retreated to change as well. I waited patiently for her to return, felt the bed shift as she climbed in with me.

I think she intended to spoon me as usual, and let out a little noise when I pushed her onto her back. A slight yank got a pillow into place on her shoulder, letting me lazily drape an arm and a leg over her, breathing in her scent.

"Have to enjoy it." I heard myself murmur, fingertips trailing over her ribs, feeling them through the thin cloth she wore. "Not over yet."

"Maeve?" She whispered, the arm under me shifting, sliding hesitantly around my waist. Her own fingers touching the thick scars there. "What do you mean?"

"Qunari." I yawned, certain I was right. "Can't fight fate. They're gonna make a move. Battle's coming."

"...fate?"

My head shook slightly, limbs pulling her as close as possible. Some vague part of me wondering why I'd taken so long .Why I had denied myself this wonderful feeling.

"Have to enjoy this. Not letting anything happen to you."

"...Maeve, shush." Her other hand touched my forehead, then came down, trailing fingers over my eyes. "Sleep, ma vhenan."

I did, in her arms, and it was...

...wonderful.