Breakfast

Lawrien devoured her breakfast, bacon, eggs and bread happily while Cobian poked at his porridge. She eyed the strawberries in it and reached for it. He had noticed her, but he was nice enough to let her have one instead of whacking her hand with the spoon like Torph had threatened to when she had tried to steal some of his food.

Most of them were down for breakfast, except for Teagan and Connor. They hadn't appeared yet. Although Lawrien could feel Teagan's panic, relief and wonder, then horror, and then it all mix together as he marched down to the dining room. He slammed open the door, staring at Lawrien with wide eyes.

"You never told me Connor was awake!" he cried.

Lawrien blinked. "Oops?"

"Wait, you never told him?" Alistair gasped.

"I forgot." She shrugged.

"And I've also just found out that Jowan is missing." Teagan glowered. "Is there something I've missed?"

Lawrien stuffed her mouth with food. "Yeah, took care of him." She was probably going to get thrown out after admitting that, so she better eat as much as she could now.

Teagan threw her a baffled look, still confused. "I didn't understand a word of that through the food in your mouth, Commander."

"Sadly he took advantage of Lawrien's vulnerability of our relationship with him and she let him go," Ciara sighed.

"You did what?!" Teagan cried. "Commander Lawrien, how could you do such a thing? He needed to be judged!"

Lawrien swallowed down another mouthful and scowled. "I couldn't let you send him back to the Circle to be made into a tranquil when nobody but a mage understands how painful it is to become one. That, and I couldn't let Redcliffe and its people burn him alive at the stake. I admit it was selfish in my part, but I didn't start all this. Isolde did."

"Don't disrespect her now that she is dead." Teagan bristled.

"She isn't," Cobian said. "Lawrien is just pointing out that it was Isolde who started all this, and ended it with her sacrifice. If you really want to blame someone then blame Uncle Loghain."

"You can't be defending this, Cobian," Teagan protested. "Lawrien went down there and freed our prisoner."

Morrigan chortled. "Obviously Lawrien made a decision. That decision was not letting her brother's fate remain in your hands where you and your people would have him suffer. Perhaps burned alive at the stake or sent to the Templars to have his thoughts and feelings pried from him. I think she made the sensible choice."

"His punishment was supposed to be left up to my brother-"

"And you owe us for cleaning up this entire mess," Torph said dismissively, waving his hand. "We'll call us even."

"Owe you? This isn't about owing something like a bargain-"

"No, but we aren't supposed to be stopping for every poor fucking sod when we've got an Archdemon flying around out there trying to murder us all," Torph snapped. "Yet we stopped for your lot, because Alistair is kinder than any of us. We nearly lost Ciara trying to save your asses, yet you want to throw a tantrum now?"

"Torph-" Lawrien frowned.

He was pissed.

"I'm not finished, boss." Torph glowered. "We risked our senior Warden trying to save you. Ciara nearly bled out. We risked our Commander to save your nephew. Lawrien could have died or been possessed by a fucking demon. So get off your noble ass high horse and thank us already! We're Grey Wardens, at least back in Orzammar we give that title the damn well respect it deserves, not like you humans sitting up in your cosy little homes away from the darkspawn, which is what we're meant to be fighting right now!"

"The dwarf has a point." Epona crossed her arms.

"We can't just leave people behind," Leliana said desperately.

"Get it through your heads already, we can't save everyone!" Torph snapped. "Ostagar should have taught us all that."

Cobian nodded, his eyes hardening. "Then we need to move on. We're all going to the Circle, but then we're splitting up again. I know this isn't apart of our treaty, Torph, but we do need Arl Eamon's help. We're going to seek out Brother Genitivi and find Andraste's ashes."

Teagan sighed and slumped down into a chair. He felt exhausted, pained, but still relieved. Torph however was stewing in rage, grabbing more food and dumping it roughly on his plate. Narascha patted his shoulder, surprisingly gentle, a soft look in her eyes. Oh, she had wanted to say all those things too. Narascha was impressed that Torph had. Those two respected each other so much, it was amazing. Lawrien smiled at the pair, but Cobian, who had been scribbling notes on a sheet of paper, frowned, tapping his quill off it.

"Okay, I've made a list of who shall go where," Cobian mused. "We will have one group enter the Circle, led by Ciara and Lawrien, while the other goes to Denerim."

"So who's where?" Torph raised a brow.

.::.

Hopefully wherever Torph was going it wouldn't involve hills. He hated walking up and down hills. They were such a pain.

"Ciara, Lawrien, Alistair, Narascha, Faren, Zevran and Shale will go to the Circle. Faren, Alistair, you two cannot be in Denerim right now, not with Uncle Loghain and Vaughan looking for you both."

Faren grimaced. "Probably a good thought, although I can blend in if you do need me there."

Alistair frowned. "I do have business in Denerim, but I suppose I can handle that later..."

"And what about you, Cobian? If you're spotted-" Ciara began.

"I want to test the political waters in Denerim right now, and only really I can do that out of all of us," Cobian admitted. "I want Zevran kept close to Faren and Lawrien, since Lawrien's empathy can feel his emotional state, and he made vow directly to you, Faren."

"We'll keep our eyes on him." Faren smiled.

"Don't worry. I'll be well behaved." Zevran winked.

"Shale, sorry, but you stand out a lot, Sten is already going to stand out, but you're just a bit too much..." Cobian admitted sheepishly. "Besides, if any mages give you a hard time, you could just crush them."

"Now I'm excited," Shale chuckled.

"Just not my sister." Both Ciara and Lawrien glowered at Shale.

"Epona, Morrigan, Sten, you three would hate the Circle for the mage oppression, in Epona and Morrigan's cases, and Sten you just seem to hate mages in general," Cobian sighed. "So Denerim would be good for us, and I would appreciate a rogue who can lock pick to be with us, Torph, just in case something happens and we do get captured."

"Hell yeah." Torph grinned.

"I can pick locks if you want Torph to help in the tower," Leliana reminded him.

"You're not on a wanted poster, so likely if we do get captured Torph and I will be transported together," Cobian pointed out.

Huh, fair point. He could get them out of most cells after all.

"Sweet, sweet freedom," Torph said cheerfully.

"Are you sure about this, Cobian?" Teagan frowned. "You're probably in the most dangerous position if you get captured in Denerim." His face grew dark. "Howe is there-"

"And if he is stupid enough to face me I will drive the Cousland sword right through him," Cobian said, voice suddenly cold, and it made them all tense.

Morrigan looked like she had been starving with that hungry smile now on her face. That was creepy.

"Watch out, Cobian," Alistair said, grimacing. "Morrigan looks like she's about to suck out your soul."

"Ew." Lawrien wrinkled her nose.

Ciara snorted.

"Howe isn't my priority right now..." Cobian admitted softly, reaching down to touch the pommel of his sword, which sat right by his side, even now. "But if he does get in my way, I will take advantage of the situation and kill him. It might not be to the advantage of the Grey Wardens, who knows, it might not help anyone..."

"You don't have to wonder if it is selfish or even ask me." Lawrien's voice hardened. "Howe is a dead man walking as far as I'm concerned. Him and Vaughan."

Torph frowned when he noticed Zevran eyeing Faren, who had tensed up at Vaughan's name.

"Indeed." Epona nodded. "Those shemlens are better off dead and gone. If they are stupid to get in our way during this then we'll cut them down where they stand. If they do not and we end the Blight, then we will find them and kill them. It is as simple as that."

"Hell yeah!" Lawrien cheered. "And then we kick Bhelen's ass too-"

"Not our political ally!" Ciara bristled.

"I'll shove a fireball up his ass and test out his magical resistance."

"As much as I wouldn't mind seeing that," Narascha sighed. "We can't."

"If the opportunity presents itself..."

"No."

"I'll take it." Lawrien grinned wolfishly.

"We're going to be killed by angry dwarves," Alistair groaned.

"Okay, we're going with Cobian's plan," Epona said sharply. "Everyone is to be ready for this afternoon on the dot. We will meet by the docks and take a boat over. Understood?"

"We're gonna need a big boat," Lawrien mused.

"Or several smaller ones," Ciara agreed.

.::.

Epona had perched herself up on the ledge of the balcony with her drawing book that overlooked Faren's and Zevran's spot of knife throwing. There were a couple of boards up in the shape of people for them to target, and while Zevran's throws were accurate, Faren's left much to be desired in comparison. Yes, he was hitting the board each time, but Zevran's went right for death.

It made her wary to leave Faren alone with the assassin. Faren wasn't gullible, no, but he was young and didn't have the same protection Lawrien had in her empathic abilities. If Zevran flirted and charmed his way into good graces, and aimed to break Faren's heart, Epona wasn't sure if Faren would know it. She might not either. So Epona would watch, she would wait, and if the Crow decided he was going to hurt Faren she would gut him.

Meanwhile she could draw out several ways of Zevran's death. She was currently drawing the tree she thought would be best to hang him from first.

"That's a lovely tree, Epona."

Epona resisted the urge to sigh as she lowered her sketchbook. She had heard Leliana's approach, but didn't bother to acknowledge it. Epona had hoped that it was a sign for Leliana to leave her be, but apparently not.

"Yes, shemlen?"

Leliana smiled warmly at her as she leaned beside her perch, looking over Faren and Zevran. Epona could feel her eyes on her sketchbook, and Leliana smiled sheepishly when she noticed her stare.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist taking a small peek. Your drawings are so beautiful," Leliana complimented, then her eyes went to Faren and Zevran. "By the Maker, Zevran really is charming, isn't he? I hope Faren will be alright."

"About that Maker of yours-"

"Oh," Leliana startled, then smiled brightly, hopefully even. "He isn't mine! He belongs to everyone-"

"Yes, as I said, yours," Epona insisted. "I was hoping to ask about that 'vision'."

If it was anything like seeing parts of the Ranger Commander then maybe this 'Maker' did have some merit to him.

"I knew this would come up." Leliana sighed and pushed herself up to sit next to her on the balcony with a heavy frown. "I'm not too sure how to explain it. You will think me silly."

Epona raised a brow. She hadn't realised she had given the impression that she thought a vision would be 'silly' considering everything they had already went through. How odd.

"Leliana, we are in a world where magic exists. It is highly possible you saw some kind of vision considering there are people who are empaths and mages who are Dreamers. There is also the fact I can understand what a Archdemon says in the King's tongue," Epona reminded. "And remember, I have also been reborn several times before according to a past life of mine. I doubt your vision is as 'silly' as you put it."

Leliana's smile returned in a flash. How, Epona wasn't sure, but it was rather unnerving. She had a pretty smile, yes, but this was too happy. Almost like Lawrien happy.

"Alright... Well I had a dream. In it was this impenetrable darkness, it was so dense, so real. There was a terrible noise, this horrible ungodly noise. I stood at the peak and watched as it consumed everything. When the storm swallowed the last of the sun's light I..." Leliana shivered. "I fell and the darkness drew me in..."

"It sounds like you dreamt of the Blight," Epona noted.

"It seems like it, no? That was probably what the darkness was," Leliana agreed. "When I awoke, I went to the Chantry's garden as I always do and there was this rosebush in the corner that had flowered. That rosebush was dead though, everyone knew that, it was grey and twisted and gnarled, but there it was. A single, beautiful rose-"

"Wait, the front garden in the Chantry?" Epona blinked, vaguely recalling something about Alistair. Ah, yes, right, the idiot had been about to murder the poor rose in a clumsy attempt at picking it.

That had felt like years ago. Odd how quickly time goes by.

"Yes, it was in the corner. Why?" Leliana frowned thoughtfully.

"Alistair should have it. He was about to skewer the poor thing, so I taught him how to take it without ruining it. It appeared to be newly grown. He hadn't wanted the Blight to destroy it."

He had said something rather sappy, but Epona hadn't paid it much mind. She didn't wish to hear such words from Alistair, only Tamlen.

Tamlen was whom she loved to hear soft words from.

"I did wonder where it went to. I tried to check on it one last time for a reminder but I found it was gone." Leliana laughed softly. "I'm relieved to know it yet lives."

She straightened up, the laughter fading from her face. "Anyway, to me it felt like that the Maker had reached out to say 'Even in the midst of darkness there is hope. Have faith.' I would do anything to stop the Blight. I don't want it to take this beautiful world the Maker created for us away."

"I don't care about your Maker's world," Epona admitted, pressing on despite Leliana's immediate protest. "But I do care about my world. My family, my kin, we are all here. I would do anything to protect them. I have already lost one of them to this corruption. I do not intend to lose another while I still live."

Epona glanced over Leliana, seeing that she had gone silent, looking more hopeful, and sighed. "You are strong to believe in what the rest of your people do not."

"I suppose so, there was quite a bit of disdain held for me when I shared my belief," Leliana admitted softly, looking a bit disappointed.

"Then you are stronger than most for holding on to it," Epona acknowledged. "Many would simply hide themselves in order to fit in. You have my respect for sticking to your faith."

Leliana's smile brightened. "Thank you, it's nice to know you think that way."

"Why is it?" Epona asked, confused.

Leliana tilted her head, equally confused. "I'm sorry?"

"Why is it 'nice' to know I think that way?"

"Well I feel comfortable around you. You're a very good person, Epona, even if you hide it behind a cold face. You are warm and pure and so kind."

Epona couldn't help it, she laughed. "I'm not sure if I've heard anyone describe me like that before."

"You will have to take my word for it then." Leliana grinned at her, pleased.

Epona couldn't help but stare at her smile and couldn't help but think how pretty it was on Leliana's face. It reminded her of how happy and warm Lawrien was, how strong she was.

.::.

"So how are you finding all this so far, Zevran?" Faren asked, leaning against the wall as another blade went soaring into the centre of the board, sinking deep into it.

"The knife throwing? The adventure? Our companions?" Zevran smirked, eyeing him over. "Your company?"

Faren smiled. "You are very good at the knife throwing, I have to admit."

"You aren't half bad yourself, but I must admit, considering your skill with a sword and pick pocketing, I thought you would be faster with your knife throws. You tend to linger too long in aiming them," Zevran noted, and he looked a little concerned after he said that, as if he had overstepped.

Better to nip that in the bud. Faren didn't mind having his imperfections pointed out. If he had, Vaughan would have broken him a long time ago.

"Elves aren't allowed weapons in the Alienage," Faren explained, shrugging lightly. "So I wasn't exactly able to practise knife throwing out in public without risking attention from the guards."

"Oh? And those blades of yours?" Zevran asked knowingly. "I mean no offence, but unless you stole them, I doubt you could have afforded them."

"They were my mum's." Faren reached down, pulling The Rose's Thorn out of its sheath. "I don't know where she got them from, only that she used them often."

"So was she a thief? A huntress? An assassin?" Zevran tilted his head, eyes gleaming when he said 'assassin'. He was neatly spinning his dagger in his hand, his long fingers looked elegant as they handed the dagger's blade.

"A thief," Faren offered quietly, staring down at the blade, remembering long fingers spinning it nimbly, just as Zevran had with his own. He could see her, smiling, her green eyes warm.

"And she's retired now?"

"Dead." Faren bit his lip, recalling the broken body. The blood. Her lifeless form.

How the Commander of the Guards disappeared and reappeared the next day, just as mangled and twisted as his mother had been. The Thieves Guild's leader Ghost symbol sketched on to his skin.

"A..." Faren hesitated, but Zevran looked patient, and he would understand the situation, at least perhaps better than anyone else out of their companions. He was a city elf too. But he was also a Crow, someone powerful, strong, so maybe he wouldn't. Maybe he would think Faren was weak.

"A group of guards came across me when I was a child," Faren began, slowly, struggling to speak the words through his suddenly dry throat. "I looked like a girl, it was what drew Vaughan in, so obviously others had caught on too. The guards were going to rape me, and possibly worse, but then my mum rushed in and fought them back. She made sure I had escaped, and then she died upon the Commander of the Guard's sword."

"I..." Zevran faltered. "I am sorry." He paused, and threw Faren a small, gentle smile. "Tell me, what did she look like? As lovely as you?"

Faren felt his cheeks burn. "Not really, no. My mother had dark skin and short blonde hair. I did get her green eyes though. She was really pretty. Her accent too." He paused, realising that it had sounded familiar. "Duncan actually had that accent too I think?"

"Duncan? A lover?" Zevran grinned.

"No! The Grey Warden Commander of Ferelden!" Faren yelped, earning a laugh. Zevran's laughter was lovely and it made Faren smile and shake his head. "Jerk."

"I'm sorry, my dear Warden. It's too easy to make you flush." Zevran chuckled. "I can hardly resist."

Faren rolled his eyes. "Duncan was the one who recruited me to the Grey Wardens. Actually, I think he must have recruited all us rookies. Poor man, we drove him crazy." Faren's smile weakened, and he grimaced. "He died buying us time to escape from Ostagar. Duncan was a very kind man."

Faren hoped that one day they could lay the Grey Wardens of Ferelden to rest properly one day.

"We didn't really have any mentors like that in the Crows. Training to be a Crow is a very harsh life," Zevran explained. "None of them would have ever risked their lives for us. Duncan must have truly been a kind man indeed."

Faren frowned. "Why did you wish to leave the Crows, Zevran?"

Zevran paused, then smiled, a small, easy going smile. "Well now, I imagine that is a very fair question, considering living as an assassin is a living, as far as such things go. I simply wanted to choose another way to go and since the opportunity presented itself, I decided to seize upon it."

"You didn't choose to join the Crows?" Faren asked.

Zevran chuckled. "I didn't even know they existed when I first joined them. I was but a boy of seven when I was purchased. For three sovereigns I was told. Which is a good price considering I was all ribs and bones and didn't know the pommel of a dagger from the pointy end."

"You were bought?" Faren frowned, confused.

"I believe my father had been in debt and my mother died trying to pay it off. He was a woodcutter, so I was told and my mother was a Dalish elf who left her clan for him. My guildmaster at the time paid off the debt though and thus 'bought me'," Zevran explained. "The Crows buy them all that way. Young, to raise them that way so that they know nothing but murder. If you do poorly in your training, you die."

"That sounds horrible." Faren winced.

Zevran smirked. "Oh, I don't know about that. Those that are good enough get to enjoy the benefits. In Antiva being a Crow gets you respect, it gets you women... Or men, or whatever it is you might fancy. It's a glided cage, fancy, but still a cage."

"So what is it you fancy exactly?" Faren grinned.

"I fancy many things." Zevran smirked, his eyes dancing over him, but Faren was surprised at how thoughtful they were, how he actually focused on Faren's features, not just glanced over. It was like he was taking in every detail of Faren. "Would you be offended if I said I fancied you? You are certainly beautiful, strong." Zevran's eyes brightened. "Dangerous and exciting."

"Beautiful huh?" Faren mused, and couldn't help but raised his hand, trailing the small scars on his face, over his cheek and lower lip. Zevran frowned, tilting his head.

"Do you not find your scars attractive?"

"Vaughan certainly didn't," Faren said, brow furrowing.

Vaughan hated them. He hated seeing them on 'his soft, sweet Faren.' He liked it when Faren was pretty.

"I had to wear make up all the time so that I wouldn't be hideous in bed," Faren said bitterly. "Vaughan had ordered one of the serving girls to hand over her make up, so ever since then I made sure to cover them up." Faren shrugged at Zevran's frustrated look. "It wasn't a bad thing entirely to be honest. Scars on elves is seen as a troublesome thing. It stopped people from looking at me like I was a troublemaker and was going to commit a crime trying to buy things."

"What a nasty piece of work." Zevran scowled. "You are gorgeous, yet he has the nerve to complain?"

Faren laughed. "How come you sound more offended than me?"

"That idiot couldn't see beauty if it went up to him and smacked him," Zevran huffed, crossing his arms.

"Like I said, it was helpful," Faren explained.

"Elves aren't allowed to have scars? How stupid!" Zevran complained. "My body is full of them, but I'm still one handsome devil."

Faren grinned. "I'll cheer to that."

"Oi, kid, assassin, time to go!" Torph called out. "Before the angry elf murders us for being late."

"Coming." Faren nodded, grabbing his knifes. "Just got to grab my bag."

"Same. Then we're all ready for another adventure. Hurray, team!" Zevran cheered, with a playful grin.