I love this story!

Just reread again. I love this story!

I knew it was Zevran. From the moment I heard that Kate's rescuer was a man and an elf. :D I loved hints about his past and about his relationship with Kate and Sam. He still seems to know a lot about assassination, but Kate remembers him when they were children.

Interesting. And, he makes Surana feel very self-conscious? Same Surana who is sleeping close to beautiful woman, but finds the very idea of sex with her disgusting? VERY interesting. :D

Loghain and Maric's reaction when they found out about Vaughan raise so many questions. It almost seems Loghain NEEDS the man for some reason, and must keep him safe for now. But he wanted all elves to know what happened. I can't imagine they will give Vaughan warm welcome and gentle care now.

Fantastic chapter. I'll try to wait patiently. And if I'm seventy when the story's finished, well, so be it. It's not bad to have something nice to look forward to in future years. :D

Oh, fantastic! So worth the wait, which of course makes the eagerness for the next chapter all the more intense. ;) I adore everything about the way you've handled Zevran - his entrance, his demeanor, his alliances (Zathrian - clever, clever!), the hints at his history with Kate & Sam.

While a pity Vaughn's stupid skull wasn't caved in, it's all the more intriguing to see the way Loghain was preparing to deal with the situation - reinforces the notion that you aren't simply using Vaughn for some obligatory rapist-shem-bad-guy stereotype drama but that there's a lot going on that we have yet to understand.

This: "The man hummed as he moved, the same natural grace she had seen while on the streets showing clearly even in the homely setting. And there was something so painfully familiar about the brick walls, the way the candlelight would lighten just the barest space around, the soft humming which hinted at words long unheard. It reminded her a little of home, of her father in the kitchen – and her throat constricted a little thinking of it – how her parents would move in what was their space as she watched. And it seemed even more nostalgic when he turned and the light hit those carved features, the trace of a tattoo painted on skin ever so close to his eye. Eyes which were light, blue as a summer sky. Something slid down her cheek. Fluid? How inopportune."

So haunting & evocative. It comes close to inspiring an inopportune drop or two of my own.

What awes me about 'Reparation' is how you accomplish what the very best Alternate History writers do: you've placed these characters in a completely different background & personal history, you developed their altered lives & personalities accordingly and believably without sacrificing the essential core of what makes them recognizably the characters we know. It's masterfully done, seriously.

You hope the next chapter doesn't take another four months? So do we! Cliffhangerrrrrrrrrrrr! I'd say you were eevil, but I know this is all part of your master plan for...something. :) Though, even if you do take another six months, the picture of Zevran channelling Donkey 'I'm making pancakes!' is going to be entertaining me the entire time.

This has been so worth the wait. And a nice reveal all round. Between Zathrian, Zevran, Vaughan getting his just desserts and Sam for once losing his cool, it's no wonder you needed the time. This is packed full to the brim of really cool stuff, like a bag of all my favourite lollies.

And, and, and...Cullen! The best sweetie of all!

Excellent!

Okay, I admit I did a fist pump when I saw the update. :)

The introduction of Zevran into this was wonderfully done and gives additional insight/info on Kate. And Kate's inner voice continues to be wicked and funny and poignant...there is a wryness to her outlook, with a dollop of wariness, and a dash of bitterness that is quite appealing. Hmmm, sounds like a certain general I know.

Zevran saves the day, although I admit to being disappointed that Vaughan was only beaned with a brick and not killed. I like the bit of friction between Zev and Kate, and it appears even more so between Zev and Sam...hints that there is more in their history than is currently known.

This:"...And there was something so painfully familiar about the brick walls, the way the candlelight would lighten just the barest space around, the soft humming which hinted at words long unheard. It reminded her a little of home, of her father in the kitchen – and her throat constricted a little thinking of it – how her parents would move in what was their space as she watched. And it seemed even more nostalgic when he turned and the light hit those carved features, the trace of a tattoo painted on skin ever so close to his eye. Eyes which were light, blue as a summer sky.

Something slid down her cheek. Fluid? How inopportune."

Evocative and touching, another glimpse of Kate and it was very moving without being overly sentimental. You do that very well. Just enough language to convey the meaning without burying it. Lovely.

The normality of things...Cullen and Oghren playing cards and the jocularity between them,

And Zathrian, though one who seems a bit less..er...rabid.

LOL, and the dynamic between Maric and Loghain, as always, is just awesome.

Great update!

Oh Kate... she's going to be in so much trouble when she gets back in the same room with all the others. She may get in trouble with Loghain and Maric, but I'm betting the trouble she will be in with Sam will be much worse. Vaughan is lucky all he got this time was stepped on my Kate and Zevran, though I bet when word gets out of his attack on Kate, being stepped on will be the least of his worries.

Zevran brings a whole new layer to the story. He's friends with Kate, but not so much with Sam. You can see that Zevran very much enjoys the fact that he will be tormenting Sam again. At this point, however, he's more concerned with seeing to Kate's safety. Kate, on the other hand, is more concerned about getting back to Sam and letting him know that she's OK (even if it means she's in trouble for leaving). She and Sam are two halves of a whole and their companions are beginning to see that.

I laughed at Kate's remark to Zevran asking him not to hit on Sam. :p Poor Sam. I also laughed at Oghren and Cullen playing cards and accusing each other of cheating. It's a bit of normal life going on around Sam as he worries about Kate. I also liked the banter between Loghain and Maric ("Don't spawn"). They may poke fun at each other, but you can see the friendship between them. They are like two halves of the same coin.

Once Sam learned of the attack on Kate, he quickly wanted to find her and make sure she was all right. Unfortunately, the explosion got in the way. And I still laugh at the "was that an explosion?" line.

Great update and I'm always happy to help! :) Sorry about the hammer. O_o

Hoping for an update soon. I REALLY like this story!

Ah, you should know by now that I prefer the 'weird A/U' stories! ;) Can only read the same thing over and over and over and over again before one's eyes kind of glaze over... XD

Anyways, sorry it took me so long to get to this, since hubs has the computer these days...

Another interesting and compelling look at the 'modern' Ferelden. Especially the 'Reservation'. And Vaughan is even creepier/nastier than the in-game version...

Very nicely done! O.O

Hoo! A very intriguing chapter! The arrival at Haven being as chaotic as it was...and Vaughan...I knew that rascal was up to no good! Where's your cavalry and a hero when you need it?

I particularly loved the little connection Kate and Cullen had, sharing a piece of their history. The very casual way he described his Tower life was sad because it was so offhand. A prison is still a prison, cultural or physical and I now have a new favourite :)

Chapter done brilliantly! The grimy, depressing, dirty post-apocalyptic feel of this story is still so perfect.

The opening fight scene was great - both for the descriptive action and for the real sense of the smooth teamwork in development. Their flight from the wyvern, then is all the more intense for its reminder that yes, even a pack of indomitable killing machines like the GWs get worn out and need to regroup, and tells us the wyvern is a serious foe better than any amount of description could.

The Loghain-Maric-Fiona dynamic is mightily intriguing. (Tho' Maric, it appears, is an ass true to form, despite the grittier setting.)

My heart goes ou to Kate regarding Sam's withdrawal, yet I suspect pulling apart a little is the only way for both of them to find their footing in themselves. It's a sign of her own growth that she didn't try to choke what she wanted from him then and there. I can't praise Sam's conversation with Fiona enough. Ulterior motives or not, her argument was valid enough from her perspective, and Sam's all the more so from his. Plus there's the added satisfaction of how he disconcerted her so thoroughly. ;)

"Why do I hate you?" He questioned, almost curiously. His fingers tightened even more. "I really don't get it."

*shudder* This is infinitely more creepy and threatening than any amount of threats. And Kate's situation & fluttering thoughts are the perfect tie-back to the opening line: "She was too easily distracted." Very, very well done.

Wow, ominous ending is ominous. And Vaughan's question is probably one asked by other psychopaths trying to understand why they do what they do. Or, you know, maybe they aren't capable of caring enough to ask the question...so is it because he really wants to understand himself or because he wants her to say something specific? Very intense and thought-provoking scene with Vaughan and Kate. I suspect he's not going to meet a good end. This was a small snippet but very powerful.

The conversation between Cullen and Kate was very interesting, especially in the description of how different the magic was that Sam cast (thunderstorms, blunt hammer) and Cullen (a scalpel, stone). Very evocative and easy to appreciate the difference. Also, Cullen (and the other mages) competing for the Commander's attention so they could be chosen by him, makes me think of Zevran and how he must have had to compete to become a Crow for some reason.

Ironic to see what Haven has become, but it is in keeping with how cleverly upside down this story is, very little of what you initially believe is correct, yet when revealed, makes perfect sense. I love that about this story.

As always, the characterizations of the group are wonderful and each new layer of Kate I see makes me want to know more. But then the whole story is that way...I read it and then find I'm rereading because there are so many subtle things going on, so many little hints.

Great update to a fascinating story!

Ah, so Sam gets the job of healing the Commander... is that a testament to his healing abilities or the confidence the Commander has in his new recruit? Sam definitely seems to be accepting his new life a bit easier than Kate is. While Sam carefully considers his situation before reacting, Kate is the opposite. She reacts first and thinks later, which can certainly get her in trouble (and certainly did in this chapter).

Ever so slowly, though, you can see Kate beginning to accept the circumstances around her. She's even opening up to Cullen, which is a big deal to her. Not to say she's ready to just drop all her defenses and completely open up to everyone on a whim. She's still questioning just what the Wardens are all about. She's right to be skeptical of the humans around her (Wardens or not). As an elf, she's seen a lot of bad things done to her kind and those are memories she can't easily forget.

I always enjoy seeing her and Sam interact. They can both be themselves around each other and you can see the genuine affection they have for one another. Sam is the thinker and Kate the feeler between the two of them. He, of course, is thinking of Haven and just what it represents. There is freedom there, but it's hard to see the benefits of that freedom when surrounded by high walls. The reader can also see that Sam has little reason to trust Fiona, which is a bit of Kate rubbing off on him. Just what is Fiona up to?

Kate is going to find herself in a ton of trouble when Sam and Maric find her. Sam warned her about Vaughan, but Kate didn't take it completely seriously. Now, she's finding out how truly dangerous Vaughan is. If she gets half a chance, Vaughan is going to be a dead man, Warden or not. And just why is he attacking an elf in a city full of them? That could certainly cause more problems than solve.

Update soon! I can't wait to see what's next!

Excellent! You are too hard on yourself! Looking forward to next chapter!