A/N: I.

RETURN!

LONG LIVE THE UPDATE SPREE!

LET'S FINISH THIS STORY NOW SHALL WE?!

I wanted to devote one chapter to the child of Naruto and Merrill, so this is what came of it.

This is the second-to-last chapter. Well...we may get an epilogue as well, depending on the reception.

Also, Merrill is adorably daft and I REALLY need to pick up a copy of Dragon Age II again-because even THAT is better than the lie that is Anthem-if only to enjoy a Bioware game that had at least some semblance of a story.

Oh and obvious Game of Thrones reference is obvious.

"You're not afraid of dying?"

"Hardly. I died a long time ago. What you see now is...well. Let's call it an echo."

"An echo? But I can hear you perfectly fine. You'd have to shout for your voice to echo, wouldn't you?"

...never change, Merrill."

~?

Da'len (Little One)

Was she still an Abomination?

In her darkest hours Merrill feared this.

At times she wasn't wholly sure she was herself anymore; not since Naruto had taken up residence in her soul to maintain his existence. They were connected now, bound on a level they'd never known before. Two sides of the same coin, two halves of a whole being. As if they'd been thrown into a smelter and mixed together. Who was to say where one ended and the other began? When she lay alone at night, she could sometimes hear him; his thoughts, and he hers.

Yet in spite of that, her physical form did not change, did not alter and she remained herself.

Being possessed wasn't something one could simply shrug off however.

Even after Naruto's body finally reformed some months later and he "left" her soul, Merrill could still feel him there; a tiny infinitesimal fragment of his being left behind for her to claim. And so she did. Their joining had been a brief one not to meant to last, but pieces remained even after they'd parted. He'd anchored himself to her, just as she sensed there was a part of her own soul locked within him. In the days that followed, Merrill came to understand just what that meant.

She was stronger than before. Faster, too. Her magic, far more powerful.

But with this newfound power came a less-than-pleasant catch.

If she died, he died. If he died, so too would she.

Still, she thanked the Creators for small blessings. Their child was pure. Untouched by their had been over the moon when he realized it. Their...joining...had revealed more than a few secrets she'd intended to keep from him. The fist thing he did upon regaining physical arms was seize her by the waist and spin her about like a top.

Apparently he'd always wanted to be a father.

Who knew?

In the end however, their merry little band inevitably began to drift apart as the months dragged by.

Hawke-and by extension the rest of her family-had made her fortune in the Deep Roads and won back their ancestral home. While she did not intentionally distance herself from them, it was...difficult to countenance what they'd done. Conversely, poor Bethany owed Naruto her life; if not for him she may well have perished from the taint; one he'd taken into himself at great personal risk.

Still, both mages had seen the Old One for what he was and a rift had formed between them.

Aveline was less than chuffed to realize that Merrill had brought back a live dragon from said Deep Roads, no matter how young or relatively said dragon might have become. When told the truth of Naruto's "unique" nature she nearly popped a vein. Fenris wanted absolutely nothing to do with what he now viewed as an abomination; by his own words, they were lucky he didn't turn them in. Merrill suspected he might, still. She'd never gotten along with him, yet always hoped they might form a friendship of sorts. It was simply not to be.

Anders and Sebastian...well, that was a matter best left unsaid.

Ironically, it was the rogues of their band who stood true.

Varric didn't much care about her newfound state one way or another; after Bartand's betrayal he remained remarkably unruffled, if determined to track down his traitorous kin. Merrill didn't blame him. None of them had expected Bartrand to turn on them. It had taken days out of their journey just to find a new way to the surface. By then the shifty little bastard was long gone, and that strange lyrium idol with him. Yet despite all of that, Varric didn't blame them for any of it.

Isabela hadn't even been on the expedition and thus didn't give a fig one way or another.

Truth be told she found the whole experience rather entertaining.

Time flew by like wind and then, quite suddenly...

(...Several Months Later...)

"PUSH, daisy!"

"What do you think I'm doing?!"

Merrill was going to kill Varric. Slowly. Painfully.

Propped up a makeshift birthing stool, she shot a weak spark at him.

"Really?" the dwarf brushed off the tiny spell with ease. "Shooting me isn't going to make this any easier-urk?!"

Merrill seized him by his chest hair and dragged him forward. "Please. Be. Quiet." she hissed through clenched teeth. Even in the throes of labor she couldn't bring to herself to be mean to the dwarf.

Thankfully their resident storysteller recognized the implicit threat and raised his hands in defeat.

"Shutting up."

Naruto actually deigned to chuckle at that. "I did warn you...

Merrill absolutely hissed at him and squeezed his hand until her knuckles turned white. A flicker of pained amusement flitted through his eyes, but he bore her nails digging into his skin surprisingly well. Oh this wouldn't do at all; no, no, no, not at all! She hadn't known childbirth would hurt this much! She wanted to kill him for this! No, wait, killing was bad and she couldn't do that-OH CREATORS THAT HURT!

"This is all your fault!" she ground out as another contraction seized her, "You did this to me!"

Naruto bore her ranting with a smile. "Maybe if you just pushed-

"Shut! Uuuuuuuuup!"

Creators, if someone told her to push one more time she was going to make them pull their own bloody fingers off! Wait, she couldn't do that. If she killed Varric then he wouldn't be able to tell her such fascinating stories. She liked his stories. She couldn't kill Naruto because she loved him, the way he smiled, the way he held her hand...oh, dear. She was rambling again. Where was Anders when you needed him? Gone to ground again. And Hawke? Nowhere to be seen. She'd never learned to cast heal properly herself and Naruto's talents veered toward the destructive. Poor, poor Isabela looked positively grey from where she sat in the corner; her dusky skin pale as the late night outside. She was likely regretting her decision to come, now.

Pain snarled through her and she fought down the urge to curse everyone within arms reach.

"Maybe...I should go find Anders?" Isabela croaked, covering her mouth with a hand.

Remarkably, she didn't have to; for at that very moment the door eased open as someone quietly slotted a key into the lock. Moments later a familiar head of dark curls nervously poked into the room, framing a pale face she knew all too well. Merrill almost didn't recognize her, dazed as she was-much less those fines clothes-but Isabela certainly did.

"Bethany!"

The pirate all but sprang to her feet and swept her into a crushing kiss. Startled, the younger girl stiffened for a moment before melting into the Rivaini's embrace. Oh. A flicker of confused excitement momentarily parted the red curtain draped over Merrill's thoughts as she beheld their shared, intimate moment. Oh. Oh! Isabela and Bethany? How cute~! She hadn't heard anything about this! It was almost enough to make her smile and forget about this. Almost.

"Sorry I'm late...

Naruto briefly took his leave of her to usher the healer inside, pausing only to lock the door behind her.

"I didn't think you would come." he muttered.

"Yes, well!" The mage's hands pulsed a gentle bluish green as she slid to Merrill's side. "I wouldn't be a very good healer if let Merrill suffer now, would I? Here, let me have a look at her."

Time blurred after that for Merrill; it could've been minutes. Might have been hours. Bethany's aid made all the difference. While she wasn't quite as accomplished a healer as Anders, she possessed a great deal of skill and that skill helped to ease what would have otherwise proved a most difficult birth.

One final push and a tiny pink form came into the world. For terrifying moment there was silence.

And then with a lusty cry she made herself heard. So loud!

"Its a girl!"

Cradling her newborn child in her arms, Merrill marveled at her. A tiny cap of dark hair atop her head, she was perfectly healthy. But the eyes...she'd never seen such a bright blue before. That was Naruto alright, through and through. Remarkably, her little ears were not the rounded shape of a human's but those of an elf. She didn't care. This was her child and she was hers and she would protect her until the end of time. But what to call her? She needed a name, of course. Everyone needed a name. Unbidden a name sprang to her lips, the name of an old friend she held dear in her heart. She liked to think she would've been honored by this.

"Meila." Merrill gasped, her strength slowly returning to her as Bethany worked her magic. "Her name is Meila."

Varric grunted. "Not bad."

"Aw, I wanted her to be named after me-

Bethany promptly swatted Isabela on the rump.

Naruto didn't protest; nay, he'd all but gone mute the moment their child made an appearance. A look of almost childlike wonder dawned in his eyes, but he dithered, almost afraid to hold the newborn, even as Bethany swaddled her in clean, fresh linen. In the end, he reluctantly accepted his daughter-carefully!-when Merril pushed her into his arms. Even then he seemed almost fearful; terrified she'd shatter into glass if he moved the wrong way. Cradling her with care, his mouth worked wordlessly a moment more before he finally found the strength to speak.

Naruto hummed softly. "That's...a good name. I-

The door abruptly exploded outward in a rush of broken timber and shattered hinges; unable to offer up anything more than a token resistance in the face of sudden and unexpected onslaught. With a ponderous groan it splintered outright and what remained was kicked away by booted feet and trod underfoot as their enemies were revealed.

Seven of them.

Seven armed Templars.

Led by Knight Commander Meredith.

Merrill had never suffered the misfortune of meeting the woman in person, but she knew her all the same from hearsay alone; those ice blue eyes, that stern face framed by pale golden hair, a garish gold circlet adorning her head beneath the bright red hood she wore. Then there was that ugly, towering greatsword bound to her back. Even with her mind dulled by the searing pain of childbirth, Merrill realized the danger. Had Fenris finally sold them out? Oddly enough, the thought didn't anger Merrill. It only made her feel...sad.

Then that frigid gaze found hers and she knew. She just knew. "There she is. Arrest the blood mage."

"What?! No! You can't!"

"My duty is clear, mage."

Meredith brandished her blade.

"Turn over the apostate and her child or die."

Naruto didn't deign to offer anything in the way of a reply; there was no witty retort lurking on his tongue, no snarky rejoinder to ease the tension, no sly insult to bring a smile to her face. Not this time. Stooping slightly, he unbent enough to return the little one to her arms and pressed a gentle kiss to her damp forehead. Then he slid past her, firmly placing himself between her and the Templars. Three quick strides carried him to their Commander outright. Only then did Merrill truly comprehend the change that had befallen her heart.

For the first time since they'd met...

...Naruto wasn't smiling.

To her credit, the Knight Commander didn't flinch when his forehead slammed against hers. Those eyes...such a strange color. Red as rubies, yet slitted all the same. Doubtlessly the influence of the blood mage. She must have enthralled this one.

How little she knew.

"Ah, and here we are at last." when he spoke, it almost sounded as another were speaking with him, through him. "Hello, Meredith. We were wondering when you'd stop by. Well." he paused and tilted his head to the right, considering her as a cat would a mouse, "Kurama was wondering. I didn't much care. But I confess myself curious, did the grand bitch herself send you? Was it Fenris? Sebastian? Or is this a personal visit?"

A muscle jumped in the woman's jaw. "Move aside, ser."

He did not.

"No."

Rather than attack, the blond stubbornly jammed both hands into his pockets and planted his feet. With his back to her, Merrill couldn't tell if he was smiling now or not; the grim set of his shoulders suggested otherwise, yet one

Irritated, Meredith flicked her gaze towards Merrill.

"Order your man to step aside, or there will be violence."

Naruto hissed.

"I choose violence."

The Templars struck first.

No doubt the nearest recruit thought he could win all manner of accolades and glory by taking out this fool who dared to threaten the Knight Commander.

It was a good blow, well struck at that.

An ax slammed home into Naruto's chest with the dull crunch of flesh yielding to steel, burying itself in blood and bone with a harsh, meaty thwack. Merrill flinched. Her beloved barely blinked as he considered the honed edge now wedged where his heart should have been. Rather than fall, he merely lowered his head in response, a lone blond brow arched in what might have been amusement-or perhaps mild incredulity-as the baffled Templar gaped at him. Aghast, the young man struggled to extricate his weapon, to no avail.

Naruto clicked his tongue.

Then he struck out like greased lightning.

Strong fingers clamped around the templar's throat and squeezed, crushing his windpipe, hoisting him into the air armor and all as though he weighed no more than a child. The man croaked like a startled frog and tried to pry those clawed fingers from his neck, to no avail.

With a contemptuous flick of his wrist, Naruto tossed him into his fellows.

As they were still very much bunched up near the door, this had the added effect of launching them out into the Alienage itself.

"Smite him!" Meredith was shrieking as she clamored upright, even as she unlimbered the towering greatsword on her back. "Smite him now!"

The first Smite crashed down on his shoulders with a low roar; the mere backwash of it left Merrill feeling nauseous. Once again, Naruto didn't flinch. A second struck him just as he reached the downed Templar and tore his head clean off his shoulders. By the time the third found him he had already slain two more in similar fashion.

Four remained.

Bounding forward at them he dodged around a crossbow bolt just as he drew within striking distance to catch a frigid longsword in a glowing hand; a twitch of those clawed fingers rendered it so much shattered steel in his grasp. In a single seamless movement he ripped the shattered hilt from the man's hand to jam it up under his chin, carving him out a bloody red grin. The man gave a soft cough and offered up one final protesting gurgle before he collapsed, clutching at his throat.

Three.

The two remaining Templars flanking Meredith likely realized where this was going-and fast! but in the time it took the poor sods to actually do something about this, it was too late. Bethany loosed the most crushing curse she could muster, catching one just as they raised their shield. They resisted of course, but it bound the in place and left their back open for a moment. That was all Isabela needed. Twin daggers sank into the vulnerable joints of his armor as she rode him to the ground. Huh. Judging by the shriek of pain, it was a woman after all.

Two.

Bianca clanged and the last unlucky sod found himself sporting a bolt in the groin. Ouch. Merrill winced in spite of herself as the young man tumbled to the ground in an ever-growing puddle of his own viscera. Their party couldn't help but look away from the sight. That looked...painful.

One.

Meredith physically shrank back as Naruto's blazing gaze found hers.

"Demons! Filth! Maker spit on you!" spittle frothed at her mouth as he advanced upon her, as she raged at him. "This will not stand! I'll kill you all myself if I have to!"

"Oh, shut up."

Here at last he stumbled, but only just.

In that moment something unfolded in the room. Golden light spilled outward and quite suddenly everything seemed too small; because in place of the man she'd known and loved there was suddenly a towering fox, large enough to dwarf even the Alienage's great tree, and it was raising a paw and Meredith was swinging her blade, but too slowly, far too slowly-

Crushed beneath a clawed paw, the Knight Commander died a swift, utterly ignoble death.

By comparison, the Knight Commander's dead was...anticlimactic, really.

She made a very nice stain, Merrill thought.

A/N: Well, its been fun.

We've got one more chapter after this! So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review, Would You Kindly? It would make Merill oh so very happy.

And trust me when I say you WANT to make her happy.

No one wants to see the Puppy Dog eyes!

Assuming there's an epilogue:

Dareth Shiral (Farewell)

(Previews)

Naruto rapped his daggers together, drawing the Arishok's attention.

"That's right, over here!"

R&R! =D