Cruso met them at the gate. They returned to a light dusting of snow on the ground and dark gray skies, reflecting the darkness of the elf's mood. Elissa, at the head of the weary procession, came face to face with him before she had even stepped past the large wooden gate. "For having such long human legs, the lot of you are the slowest travellers I have ever known." He shook his head, his eyes slits. "One of your dwarves ran off, then the other is drunk more often than he is sober. And his sober hours are spent trying to get drunk!"

He stepped back, brown eyes widening as he took in the party for the first time. He'd been far too focused on chewing out Elissa that certain absences and new faces had gone entirely unnoticed. "Where is Paien?"

Lindise made a soft sound from the rear, dropped her pack and staff, and moved towards him. Her slim arms wrapped about him in a weak embrace, her head dropping into his shoulder.

Cruso blinked in alarm and automatically wrapped his arms back about her. Fire flashed in his eyes as he turned his furious attention back to Elissa. "What happened to Paien?!"

Elissa's chin dropped. "Dead," she said in a low voice. "His choice."

"He sacrificed himself to save Lindise," Alistair said as he scooped up Lindise's dropped things. "I think we'd all like a hot meal and some rest? I don't think any of us has the energy to get into the specifics."

"And the qunari?" Cruso's large eyes had locked onto the large gray skinned creature.
"I am not a qunari. I am a Grey Warden," Vashoth answered in a low rumble.

"Cruso, this is Vashoth." Lindise drew in a breath and straightened. "We'd be dead without him."

The Dale turned back to Lindise, expression softening, "Are you all right?"

She smiled weakly, "I am just so thankful to see you, that's all."

"Ollie!" Cruso barked out to a page, "Go to the kitchens, have them prepare some hot meals. And tell Gwen to heat up water for baths. Now." The round faced page nodded and ran off. Cruso turned back to the others, and motioned inside the Keep.

The flurry of activity upon their return was more subdued than when they had left. Bags were collected, a houseboy showed Vash to a room he could call his own, Lindise slipped away to be the first one in a hot bath, Nathaniel loped off to the kitchens, and Alistair jogged away in search of a proper shave.

Cruso cornered Elissa near the fireplace in the Great Hall, a small stack of letters in his hand. His expression was grim as he plucked one from the stack and held it out to her.

"I do not wish to run this place," he said in a low voice. "The humans do not respect me. I hear them whisper. And then there is the matter of him." He held up the letter. "He wishes only to correspond with you."

The paper of the letter was very old, crumbling and yellow. The ink had a faded red tone, and when she opened it, Elissa could barely read the text. No one wrote like this anymore. There were too many loops in the script, extra letters added in words that time had long since removed."The Architect," Elissa said. She frowned, "He will need to learn to deal with Wardens other than just myself."

Cruso lifted a shoulder, and then leaned in a little closer, "He wishes a meeting. In Kirkwall."

-

It took some time for him to catch his breath, naked body slicked with sweat and head resting on her bare stomach. Finally, he drew in a deep breath and said, "Aah, Elissa Cousland. There you are."

She laughed, her stomach shaking under his head while her fingers slid into his blond hair. "I think that was the homecoming you deserved."

Alistair lifted his head with a grin and his hands roamed up her body to cup her face. He leaned in to kiss her, "Damned right, it was."

She returned the kiss, then relaxed back into the pillows and blankets. She slipped her arms about him and peppered his collarbone with kisses, making him hum with delight.

"So," he said after a long glowing and comfortable silence. "What's next?"

She sighed and rested her head against his chest. "I hate that question."

"I'm all for living in the moment. That's what we agreed to do now, isn't it?" He tilted his head at her. "I'm really enjoying living in the moment. But."

"But what's next," she said, looking back up at him.

"I can let go. At a moment's notice," his thumb stroked her lower lip. "Whatever needs to be done, don't hold back on my account."

"Morrigan," she said at last, and he grimaced.

"You want me along for that one?"

"Well, there is the matter of Kirkwall."

"Right. That's a no."

"It might take months to track her down, Alistair."

"You don't need to-"

"And I need you with the Wardens, seeing to this business with the Architect. It's not-"

"Elissa," he said and pressed a kiss to her mouth to silence her. "You don't need to butter me up or convince me of anything. You want me in Kirkwall, I'll go to Kirkwall. Done."

"I don't want you to go anywhere…"

He grinned and gave her a squeeze. "If I am needed in Kirkwall," he amended, "I shall go to Kirkwall." His grin faded as he sighed, "I just got off a ship, though. Do I really have to get right back on?"

"Not tonight," she answered, and kissed him once more.