Author Note: This fan-fiction is taking place after using Dragon Age's ultimate sacrifice ending based on my very first play-through, so a warning that major game spoilers are to follow in this chapter and those to come...
Note on the story: All former companions will make an appearance as Alistair tries to piece together why this all happening since his love made the ultimate sacrifice. Two new characters will add the cast as soon-be Grey Wardens. Ayndr Dnaa (Aye-end-dre Den-ah) is a strong, silent Dalish Elf rogue who hates humans and is as good with a bow as a blade. Vena Suuh (Vee-na Sue-huh) is a self-loathing City Elf warrior whose duel-wielding dagger style is as quick as a wildfire and only outmatched by her even quicker temper. Their names are both Al-Bhed and mean "Earth Tree" and "Fire Moon" respectfully. Expect a lot of unexpected twists and turns as these new characters mix with old and band together to save Ferelden again from the impending threat. That is if they don't kill each other first. If that is possible, however, Maker only knows...
5,258,890, that's how many minutes it has been since he saw her. Alistair knew down to the very second, the last time he saw his love alive, held her dying in his arms. "Please, don't morn for me, love. To save you, I would die a million times over," were her last words to him as she touched his face giving him a weak smile. Even thinking about that moment on top of Fort Drakon as Ferelden was deemed free of the Archdemon and the whole battlefield was cheering, he felt so sad and so empty inside. It had been ten years and that pain of her loss had not gotten any worse, but it had not gotten any better. His love and fellow Warden's death, along with the death of the senior Warden from Orlais, Riordan, made being the only surviving Grey Warden from that battle in Ferelden, so much more of a burden on him then an honor.
Especially now, since it turns out the Archdemon was still alive and now beyond mad at being killed--almost killed--the last time. Everyone immediately turned to him to help, even if he considered himself nothing more then a-could-have-been king who was now a drunk and has-been. Yet, somehow, someway, Arl Eamon and Bann Teagan joined together and convinced him to don the Warden Commander armor and the title before heading out to find new recruits to join the ranking of the Grey Wardens. Alistair searched high and low for new recruits but Ferelden was short of willing bodies who weren't already enlisted into some warrior force to deal with the remaining darkspawn bands that roamed throughout the lands.
Alistair was not going to use the Right of Conscription knowing full well that later he was going to need the support of those very people. He had already been through this once before, but he was very sure even with all experience he had in this matter his love would have done it better. She knew just what to say to people to get them on her side and yet do exactly as she wanted. He knew all too well, even through she never had to do that with him because one look was all it took to make him instantly want to do anything she asked. If there was anything he picked up from his love during all their time together, it was her extraordinary knack for being at the right place, but at the wrong time. That was exactly the reason how he ended up finding his two recruits who willingly, of course they had very little choice considering alternative, to join him on what they probably thought would surely lead to an early death. Considering they hadn't done the Joining yet, that premature death could have been a lot closer then they imagined.
Alistair sighed pacing back and forth around the camp he had set up, just on the edge of the Kocari Wilds. Where were they anyway? The new recruits were suppose to been here hours ago. It was already getting dark and yet there was no sign of them. Now that he was thinking about it, maybe he should not have given them a day to say good-bye to the ones they love before they were to meet up again, but he just didn't feel right just ripping them away from their old lives like that. He still remebered how that felt. 'I always said your good heart would get you in trouble, didn't I, love?' Her voice spoke in his mind causing him to smile as the memories flooded back to him of his former Warden and lover. He was so lost in thought that he didn't even hear the rustling of the bushes behind him as something emerged. A sharp bark stopped that immediately as Alistair nearly jumped out of his skin and spun to face the newcomer.
"Maker's breath, Eirdre, you need to stop doing that!" He scolded recognizing the mabari hound, even if he was now covered completely in leaves. The mabari whined pitifully looking down with his big black eyes and shook off the forest foliage exposing his tan fur and short tail. "I'm sorry, Eirdre. I just lost in thought about her." Alistair apologized and Eirdre looked at him sadly, seeming to understand. Eirdre had been with Alistair long ago in the party when they were fighting that big dragon, the very one that he hate too as it had taken away his kindest master. She made him always feel less like a war hound and more like a companion and confidant that deserved as much respect as all her other friends. He missed her a lot as well, just like Alistair. That's why he stood by his side after her death. Alistair needed him and he knew his master would have approved of his decision, at least he hoped she did.
Eirdre was not there to revive old memories, at least not now. He had barked for a reason. He looked at Alistair before barking again looking to the bushes he came from. "Huh?" Alistair questioned before following his gaze. There suddenly was a tall, lithe build man around age of twenty watching Alistair and Eirdre curiously. He had met Eirdre a while back in the forest and decided to follow him, knowing it would lead to its owner. "Am I interrupting, Warden?" He asked running a hand lazily through his short sandy blond hair. "No, Ayndr, just a guy and his dog having a little stare down and won't you know it, the dog won." Alistair said with a light attempt at humor as he gestured for the first recruit he was waiting for to sit down. The joke was lost on the elf as he sat, but not before moving a small distance away from his new leader. Alistair sighed watching him. At least this time he had used Warden to address him rather then Shemlen.
Alistair could feel Ayndr's eyes bore into him in the overwhelming silence. The Dalish Elf with his piercing green eyes did remind him of animal of prey watching and waiting for any wrong move that would give Ayndr reason to pounce and draw his bow, ready to fire. Alistair had seen him in action and this rogue was not someone you wanted to mess with a bow or blade. "So...Did you have a hard time getting here?" Alistair asked trying to make small talk as Eirdre settled next to him. "No." Ayndr answered flatly, pulling out his blood-soaked dagger before beginning to clean it. Alistair had forgotten he wasn't very much into saying anything more than he had to, if at all.
The Senior Warden sighed, before opening his mouth ready to give it another try when he heard a loud crash and something landed a few feet him on the opposite side of Eirdre and Ayndr. Alistair got to his feet upon the second he realized it was gracefully build young woman, around the age of nineteen, who was the other recruit he had been waiting for. "Vena, are you all right? Let me help you." He said extending his hand down to her, still the gentlemen as always. 'You take the boy out of the Templars, but you can't take the Templar out of the boy, not that I would ever want you to change, my dear Alistair.' He could almost hear his love saying before she began to laugh as she danced away from him in his little fantasy. He had to suppress a smile as he looked down at Vena, bring him to reality of the situation.
"I don't need your help, whatever-your-name-is. I can do it myself." The warrior woman responded angrily as she slapped away his hand before getting to her feet as she stated, on her own. Her words immediately caused him to frown as he took a step away from her to give her room. "Alistair, Vena, for the last time, it's Alistair. I am going to be your leader very soon you should remember my name." He stated trying his best to make himself sound more authoritative to no avail. "Yes, yes, whatever." Vena said dismissively as she continued to pick the forest floor debris from her rust-colored hair that reached her chin but strangely didn't move at all in movement. Now, Alistair was beginning to seriously question why he decided to recruit the curvaceous maiden from the tavern in Lothering he had visited a day ago.
If anyone would have asked him flat out, he would have said because he had seen no other fight like she did with a dagger in both hands and she had an instinctive agile fighting quality, unlike any warrior he ever met despite, what anyone would say upon see the way she just entered enter the camp. And although that was the majority of his reason, he did have another reason for recruiting her. On the surface, Vena seemed so angry at herself and the world, but her soft chocolate eyes seem to radiate a sense of deep sadness and pain. 'That's how all the Alienage elves look, don't they? They have seen so much despair. It's only natural they begin to breath it, live it, expect it, even when they are free from their walls.' He remembered his fellow Warden telling him, long before her death.
Vena seemed to need an escape from her life and he had given it to her, but he knew the cost. She didn't even seem to want anyone to know she was an elf, either as she took great care in hiding her ears from the world around her, making sure to never have a hair out place to do it. Vena didn't even know that Alistair knew her secret. She just assumed nobody would be the wiser, and for the most part they were. He didn't attempt to bring the topic up, knowing she probably had a good reason for it and if she wanted to tell anyone, she would do it in her own time. He had not even told Ayndr about it or anything about her for that matter. He felt it was better that they did not know each other's past at first. He figured their personality would clash as was on their own. He just didn't know how right he was until he was introducing them.
"Vena, since your finished making yourself presentable now, follow me. I want you to meet the other recruit. Vena, this is--" Alistair started walking her over to Ayndr, but before he could finish Vena cut him off when she suddenly screamed, "It's you!" "You!" Ayndr yelled the exact same time, standing up. The next thing Alistair knew they were both in each other's faces, arguing at the top of their lungs. Although, Vena may have been quite a bit shorter then elf in front of her, she was just as angry and confrontational as if they were the same size. Ayndr may have not been as talkative as the woman in front of him, but he was just as visibly upset and animated while he stood his ground.
Alistair and Eirdre exchanged a look of confusion only catch a few choice words of the conversation. They could only make out something about the forest earlier and something being shot. "Guys, stop it...Guys! ...Guys!" Alistair tried to yell over them to get to bottom of what happen, but the argument only got louder to drown him out. It took Eirdre and one of his piercing barks to silence them as they clutched their now ringing ears. "Uh...Thanks, boy." Alistair said holding his own ears. He had forgotten just how loud the mabari could get when he wanted to. The hound just looked at him and barked as if to say that he was welcomed. The silence had at least given the Senior Warden time to figure everything out.
"Now, somebody explain what happened to me, please?" He asked looking between both of them. "Well, your knife-eared boy over here almost shot an arrow clear through the middle of me while I was running to get here. I didn't even do anything to him." Vena argued turning towards Alistair, pounding a closed fist against the palm of her other hand with each word. "Watch who you're calling a knife-eared, woman." Ayndr snapped as he threw an icy glare at Vena. He did not even bother explaining his actions to either of them, making Alistair have to ask, "And? Don't you have something else to say for yourself, Ayndr?" "Yes, tell us why did that before I pull the answer forcibly out of your head." The angry woman replied looking back at her attacker. "Vena, shush, I got it." Alistair commanded and surprisingly to him, she didn't say anything further.
Ayndr sighed with both of their attention now on him. "I saw a blight wolf. I decided to kill it. I shot. She got in the way. She got hysterical. The end." He said in such a matter-of-fact tone that Alistair had to remind himself that this was a serious matter otherwise he would have burst out laughing. His almost laughter still caused Vena to flash a murderously glare in his direction. "That's all you have to say about that? 'No, I'm sorry I almost killed you. Are you injured?' None of that at all? I'm so luckily I have fast reflexes and survived that because now I'll have the chance to kill you with my own blades." Vena screamed as she drew her daggers and before Alistair even got to yell, "Vena, don't!" She lunged at Ayndr, thrusting forward with her dagger.
Alistair could only watch as the scene played out before him between his new recruits. Vena's first attack was easily seen by Ayndr, who ready block with his second weapon set, wooden shield and because of the force behind her attack, the dagger embedded itself into the wood. One blade block, Vena's second dagger came into play as she swung down towards his face and yet again was block. This time, it was with Ayndr's dagger and the clanking of metal filled the air around them. Suddenly, Vena's surprise attack favored Ayndr as he was now in control. He ripped her first dagger from her as he relocated his shield back to his back, taking the dagger with it. He grabbed her empty hand by the wrist and twisted it behind her back as he did the same with her other hand by pure force, more then most would expect from his build.
From there, he held both her hands in one of his and she still didn't let go her other dagger. Meanwhile, his other hand found its way to press his dagger at her throat. "Drop it and I'll release you." He demanded in a low voice right next her ear since her back was now towards him. "Never." Vena said defiantly, refusing to back down as she struggled against his hold. There was no fear in her voice though Ayndr realized and he had to admit that impressed him that she was so bold and confident to standby her convictions, no matter how foolhardy. "I said drop it." He demanded again, more forcefully. After a good ten seconds of thought and one more unsuccessful try to get free later, she reluctantly let the dagger fall to the ground. As soon as she did, Ayndr let her go, staying true to his word.
Alistair watched them separate, amazed. He was sure he was going to be mopping up someone's blood and most presumably it was going to be Ayndr's. He, however, was much better fighter than Alistair would have anticipated. Vena was quick and stubborn, a potent combination especially with her quick-tempered personality. He knew he was going to have to watch her if he hoped to ever end the Blight without another incident like this. What surprised him about Vena as he watched her rub her wrist was the look in her eyes as she watch Ayndr. It was one full of surprise and anger, but Alistair could recognize a bit of amazement in the look as Ayndr was busy trying to get her dagger out of his shield.
Alistair knew that look. It was the same exact look he had on his face when he met his lovely, lady love and look at how that ended up. Just maybe love was starting to bloom between the two Grey Warden recruits. He began to grin widely as he looked at Eirdre until he heard Vena beginning to yell at Ayndr again for taking too long to remove her dagger and it only had been a couple of seconds...Okay, maybe he had jumped the gun a little with that assumption of love. He sighed, shaking his head as he went to go help get the dagger out with Eirdre on his heels. Alistair had not forgotten there was still the Joining to do and that was just the first small step of their adventures together, one that need to get started right away. That sense of urgency causing him to remember another conversation between his love and himself that happened ten years and a little more then a month and half ago.
"Why are we stopping here and just staring at the stars?" The much younger Alistair asked, slightly whining as he did, before looking at the woman sitting next to him. "Patience, patience, Alistair, you're always so eager to get going. Didn't you think the faster we do this, then the faster it's over?" She answered with a smile, leaning back on her arms, not in the slightest way bother by his whining tone. "So, I want to end the Blight as quickly as possible? Is that a problem? Then we get to be together after all. That's what happens when we end this thing, right? Well, after the parade, cheers, and everyone is done carrying you around after naming you the 'hero of Ferelden,' right?" He joked, throwing her a lopsided grin as he leaned back as well.
"Be serious, Alistair, you know that won't happen." She sighed, looking at the stars. "Why in Thedas not? I love you, you love me, and I'm not going to be king now, so what stopping us from being together?" He asked, and could not help but think that she was being silly for worrying about something that would never happen. "Exactly that, Thedas, don't you feel it? It's like ever since we left Denerim, there a dark cloud hanging over us. Something bad is going to happen, I just know it. It's going to keep us from our happy ending." She answered sitting up, looking at him with the saddest look in her dark brown eyes he had ever seen. "You worry too much, my dear. I think that's all Wynne's fault for putting these silly doom and gloom notions in your pretty little head. Come on, let's go yell at her." His younger self said with chuckle getting up and held his hand to her. She took it without another word and he helped her to her feet before he began to run. She let him drag her back to camp, with both of them laughing all the while.
Back then, Alistair thought he had saved the situation and kept his love from dwelling on the negative. He denied the fact that he ever felt anything she was talking about, even to himself, but he had felt it too. He knew something was beginning to separate them, but he just did not know what. Why didn't he listen to her? She was always far more sensitive then most people gave her credit for. Now, he wished for nothing more then to get a chance to go back to that night. To be able tell her that he felt the same way or just stay there sitting under the stars and look into those beautiful, expressive, eyes of hers? Maybe he wouldn't be left feeling so guilty for being the one that was left to survive and carry on to save Ferelden again...That was always her job. She was his leader as much as his lover...And how he still missed her so...