Frandlin's mother, Morcha, had insisted that we stay in her home when we arrived in Ortan Thaig. Wojech gave me his room even though I was only going to be spending a day or two in the thaig while we gathered our supplies. The first evening we spent dinner catching up since the last time we'd met. We had a nice, cathartic conversation about Frandlin and about how House Ivo was preparing to create a program in Ortan Thaig to allow Casteless to become Warriors so long as they served at least ten years in the city guard.

Apparently Frandlin had marveled at how the Surface Caste had promoted more work and prosperity in Orzammar and wanted to present the proposal to me as a wedding present. Morcha said that she was using the money they'd collected for the dowry and was using it to fund the program. It melted my heart to think that Frandlin, who was a staunch traditionalist by most standards, saw how the Surface Caste had worked out and was inspired by it enough to find more ways to make our people productive and useful.

Thinking of how Frandlin had been working on this behind my back as a surprise made the memory of him hurt just a bit more.

During the time with House Ivo, Faren was in more of a passive mood. He kept to himself and didn't speak much. His interactions were limited to following any commands I might have. I wasn't sure what was going on with him, and any time I asked if he was alright, he'd simply nod and say he was just having difficulty working over some plans in his head. I knew Faren better than to believe such a shoddy excuse, but I didn't press him. He clearly wasn't ready to talk about whatever it was.

We left two days after our arrival, pushing west into the Deep Roads. Travel through the area was quiet. I used my new Titan powers to sense things through the stone for any possible threats. So long as we were below ground, we were nearly untouchable. While I was constantly looking for threats, I would tell the guards that I could only sense a smaller distance away. I didn't want them to grow complacent. My powers were becoming finely tuned, but I didn't want to take the chance that Seven had learned something that was able to get around them and ambush us.

We traveled through the Dead Trenches and I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer scale of the Deep Roads as the caverns opened up. Normally, the shattered series of bridges would have hindered our progress and forced us to take a much more winding path through the tombs of the Legion of the Dead. However, this was no longer a problem. I dismounted from my bronto and took a position up the edge of the broken bridge. I used my will to command the stone to extend itself out and repair the bridges. I took a few minutes to ensure that the stone was molded to the same style and had to sort of guess at what sort of engravings would be on the bridge's barriers, but after a few minutes, you'd have never known they were broken to begin with.

"Brilliant work, My Lady," Faren said in awe.

I smiled at him, "You'll get there."

"Doubtful," he shook his head. "The Titans may have touched me when I was needed to take you home, but I doubt I'll ever attain the level of skill that you have with stone molding."

"I don't doubt you can attain anything you set your heart on," I tried to encourage him. The response he gave confused me.

Faren cleared his throat and looked away, "There are some things in this life that I can never gain, My Lady. Try as I might."

I stepped in close and gave him a curious expression, "Oh? Name one thing in this world that someone like you couldn't get if you worked for it."

He stared at me for a few moments and the look he gave me unlocked something in me. The expression was a mixture of defeat, sadness, and longing.

"We need to keep moving, Princess," Faren said as he moved to my bronto to help me up. "This detour is keeping us from Orzammar longer than you had intended."

I hesitated in my response as I considered the expression Faren had given me. Still, I nodded and joined him at my bronto, "You're right. I don't want to leave Father alone for too long."

We continued on through to the Anvil of the Void. There were still no darkspawn in the vicinity, unlike in the game when there was a small horde of the creatures to get through. When we approached the room that contained a series of point traps, I reached through the stone to throw the proper switches so that we could pass through safely. There were golems in the area that I could free, but for now I left them as silent sentinels. My goal wasn't far away.

I stopped for a few minutes to examine the soul siphon. In the game it acted as a sort of puzzle or miniature boss fight, but the purpose of the room was actually meant to siphon the soul of a dwarf and process it so that it could be placed into a golem. June's spirit was speaking in excited whispers at the construction of the siphon, but I didn't really want to take the time to figure out how it worked. It was a mechanism that was used to murder and enslave thousands of dwarves. I didn't want it to be used for something like that again.

Something inspired me in that moment and I looked at Faren, "Faren, have you figured out the minutiae of your defense idea yet?"

Faren shook his head, "Not yet, My Lady. There are a couple of details I need to iron out. Why?"

"I think there may be a way to make it an offensive strategy as well," I grinned.

Faren seemed to mirror my expression, "Don't tease me like that, Princess. Please elaborate."

I smirked at him, "Oh, you know you like it when I tease you with my ideas."

Faren almost seemed to blush and his response was more of a blusterous huff than anything else.

"Come on, we're getting close," I shrugged.

We continued through the opposite doorway which led to the final path. We followed it through to Caradin's… I suppose the best term would be home. It was an open chasm with pillars of stone wrapped in thick veins of lyrium. Dozens of inert golems lined the opening and beyond them stood Caradin. He was still a massive metal golem, far more armored and stylized in his design than even the runic golems.

The massive golem's head moved slightly as I passed through the entrance to the cavern. When Faren, Shale, and the guards followed through, Caradin stood and moved forward to close the distance between us.

"Who are you that comes here after so long?" his metallic voice rang out.

I dipped down into a curtsy, "I am Paragon Merida Orodum, Princess of Orzammar." I turned and motioned to the others, "This is Faren Orodum, and Lady Shale Cadash."

"Shale?" Caradin gasped. "Ah! There is a name I recognize. Step forward."

Shale took a few steps close, gazing up at the massive metallic golem, "You know my name? Is it you who forged me, then?"

"You have forgotten, then?" Caradin sighed. "It has been so long. I made you into the golem you are now, Shale. But before that you were a dwarf, just as I was. The finest warrior to serve King Valtor, and the only woman to volunteer."

"Yes, so my friend Merida has told me," Shale responded. "I had my doubts, but your words have laid them to rest."

"Your friend told you, you say?" Caradin asked as he looked back at me. "You said you were a Paragon and a Princess?"

I curtsied once again, craning my neck up at him, "Merida Orodum, at your service."

Caradin hummed curiously, "Well, Paragon, what brings you here? Are you hoping to find the Anvil of the Void and discover its secrets?"

I shook my head, "Not at all. I'd rather see that wretched thing destroyed. I mean no offense, of course. It is a brilliant creation, but it was used to horrible ends. However, I can't deny that its use saved the dwarven race."

Caradin hummed as he considered my answer, "How did you know Shale was a dwarf? Or how the Anvil of the Void was used?"

"Faren and I are two of seven Fated," I explained. "We were born with knowledge of Thedas' past and some of its future. We've used that knowledge to affect the world and stop a Blight."

"You've stopped a Blight?" Caradin echoed. "Then tell me Paragon Orodum, if you haven't come here to destroy the Anvil, why have you come here?"

"I've come to bring you back to dwarven society," I said matter-of-factly. "I understand you have a great deal of regret about what happened to you and how the Anvil was used beyond your intentions, but we need you now. New enemies have surfaced that will require every resource we can gather."

"You think you understand how I feel?" Shale's tone was extremely doubtful.

"I don't pretend to understand all of the nuances of your feelings," I clarified, "but I do know how you feel when it comes to losing people while they helped to execute a plan you came up with. But I don't wish to engage in a game who understands what more. I simply wish to convince you to come back with us, more specifically, to go back with Shale."

"Tell me of these enemies and why I should return to the dwarves," Caradin demanded.

"The first is one of the Evanuris," I replied. "One of the elven gods who has returned and is likely preparing to recombine the physical world with the Fade. The other is one of the Fated who was born as a Darkspawn. He is hunting the remaining old gods to steal their power for himself so he can burn the world down."

"I am unfamiliar with the Evanuris, but if it is as you say, a god will be difficult to defeat," Caradin mused. "Do you think you could manage to find a way to defeat such an opponent?"

"I am the way," I responded with an air of confidence to my tone. "I have been blessed by the Titans themselves and am growing in strength and power."

To emphasize my point, I willed the stone around us to grow and form into an intricate arch and series of twisting fences.

Caradin watched the display and gasped, "The Titans? Truly? If this is true, why would you need the help of the other dwarves?"

"I don't know if I will," I replied honestly. "But I know I can defeat him with everyone's help. We've gathered many resources, but your abilities as a smith will be crucial to keeping Orzammar and the retaken thaigs safe. There are things that need to be built and perfected, and I don't know if I can do it without you."

"I exiled myself because even after the dwarves defeated the darkspawn, the nobles took the power of my creation to create an army of slaves," Caradin revealed. "Why would I want to go back with the idea that the nobles might repeat the same horrible actions?"

"I can tell you why," Shale interrupted. "Merida worked to create the Surface Caste which allowed even the Casteless to move up in station and has brought wealth and commerce back to the dwarves. She has also retaken four of the lost thaigs and helped to set them up in such a way that those lower in station could make a name for themselves by moving to the thaigs."

Shale looked at me and almost smiled, "Merida has changed the culture of dwarves in her time. Very few dwarves, nobles included, will ever openly decry the work she's done or the changes she's brought to our people. Her brother has taken over Aeducan Thaig so that she has a better chance of being voted to become Queen when her father is no longer fit to rule."

"Our people love her," Faren added. "She's adored beyond reproach. The people even demanded she be given a constant guard. She cannot walk the streets without being cheered and given presents by the citizens. She is changing the mentality of everyone from the Castless to the Nobles. She has presented them with a brighter future through a change in our culture. If there is anyone you can trust to keep the ne'er-do-wells in line, it is Paragon Orodum."

I couldn't speak. Shale called me 'Merida'. She didn't call me 'it'. That made me so happy that I was speechless.

Caradin was silent for some time as he processed what the others said, "What of this Fated darkspawn? How do you plan on defeating it?"

I shook myself from my stupor and focused on Caradin again, "I'll use the resources I've gathered for the Evanuris, and alliances I've made over the years. We'll need to work together to defeat it if it manages to get the power of the olds gods."

"You would be wise to try and stop it before it could manage to gain that power," Caradin pointed out.

"I'm working on that," I tried to reassure him. "I have people hunting for the information I need to get to the old gods before the Seventh does."

"Why do you call it the Seventh?" Caradin asked.

"It's the Seventh one we knew of," I bent the truth. "And it named itself Seven. Out of the rest of us, I'm the youngest, so I would be considered the sixth."

Caradin hummed, "What is it you expect me to do if I join Shale?"

"Shale has reestablished Cadash Thaig," I motioned to Shale. "She is turning the thaig into a place where golems can live and try to live a life they should have been allowed to live after the sacrifice they endured for the dwarven race. I would like you to help her do that, and help the dwarves with your genius. We're trying to make the lives of all dwarves better, no matter what form they're in."

"Two golems does not seem like it will be much of a population," Caradin countered.

"I agree," I nodded and motioned to the other golems who stood frozen in place. "But I have the ability to break the control magic that binds the minds of golems. I hope to free all of them that I can. The more we find, the more the golem population can grow."

"If you can free these golems, then why haven't you?" Caradin pressed me.

"When they're broken from their control, they're confused and dazed," I replied. "They need help and someone to guide them. So I thought I would speak with you first before releasing them. It was my thought that they would appreciate having you and Shale to guide them."

Caradin looked at Shale who gave him a firm nod. When looked back at me, he bowed his head, "If you can free those who were bound in service because of my mistake, I will take responsibility for them."

"Then I'm happy to have you back," I smiled and reached out to find the magic that bound the golems in chasm, then countered the magic.

The golems stumbled from their control. Caradin and Shale both moved to help them regain their senses. We all left together after a while, and I freed more golems on our return trip.

Caradin agreed to come to Orzammar after he'd helped settle all of the golems from Amgarrak and the Dead Trenches. I would need his help on a few different projects, and his return would be a big deal. If he stayed with House Orodum and gave me credit for convincing him to come back, my reputation would only grow.

When we returned to Orzammar, the golems who had chosen to come with me offered to become Orodum guards. They didn't need to sleep, so they were perfect for the position.

Bhelen and Dagna were set to work on inspecting the lyrium wells and figuring out how to best replicate them. I would help as well, but I knew I was going to be busy. I'd make Caradin coming a surprise for them. I had a feeling Dagna would freak out and I was looking forward to her reaction.

I continued to sit in on Assembly meetings alongside Father. Rica would sit in my place. Father needed my help with focusing on things sometimes, but he also wanted my advice. Things had changed drastically since I was born and he was having trouble keeping up. There was more than just Orzammar to worry about now. The other thaigs had issues that needed to be addressed as well, and they couldn't simply wait until the Assembly had time for them.

However, as spring rolled around, I started to notice that I wasn't getting my weekly letters from Trianna. I started to grow concerned because it wasn't like Trianna to simply go silent. There were ways to check in on her from Orzammar, but I thought it might be best to do so in person. At best, it would be a two month trip. So I began to gather supplies and guards. If something had happened to Trianna and Aelfric, I didn't know what I would do. Something wasn't right, and I was bound and determined to find out what was going on.