The Rejoining

Chapter One

Arianna stood in the inner courtyard of Vigil's Keep with a grim expression on her face, and her heart sank. Merciful Maker…what have I done? She was a Grey Warden- the Warden-Commander- and she had done the unthinkable- she had defended the city of Amaranthine from the darkspawn, and had abandoned Vigil's Keep to its own fate.

The unmistakable pungent odor of smoldering and burnt wood hung heavy in the air, as thin plumes of white-grey smoke arose high above the Keep from still burning fires.

Arianna slowly walked around the courtyard and surveyed the heavy price that the Grey Wardens' home had paid for her decision. The darkspawn's siege of the Warden's base had taken many lives and had caused major damage to the structure.

"By the Ancestors, Commander, I told you my walls would hold," called out Voldrik as he walked towards the Warden-Commander. She gave the dwarf a welcoming smile as he reached her side.

"I'm glad I listened to you, Voldrik, and gave you the coin and materials needed to reinforce the walls." She looked at the surrounding walls thoughtfully, and then turned back and looked down at Voldrik. "You're a master stonemason for sure, Voldrik. Things would have been so much worse if the walls had fallen… and if you hadn't sealed up those barrier doors below."

Voldrik nodded his head as he pulled on his beard thoughtfully. "It's just too bad that the portcullis didn't hold those blighted Ogres out. By the Ancestors, I'm sure I can come up with a better design, Commander- one that will keep those beasties out next time."

"I sincerely hope there won't be a next time, Voldrik." She looked down at the dwarf and smiled. "But let me know about any ideas you might have about reinforcing the iron gates and wooden doors of the Keep. I'll make sure you have the coin, materials and manpower to do what must be done. Being married to the king does have some advantages."

Voldrik chuckled and then nodded his head in agreement. He bowed his head to the Commander and then walked away to find his brother, Dworkin. She watched the dwarf's departure and then turned and started to walk towards the entrance to the Throne Room, her thoughts in turmoil.

I had to save the city…I couldn't just turn my back on all those people. What kind of queen would I be if I turned my back on the people of Ferelden? I did my duty as a Grey Warden…I killed The Mother. What more can they ask of me? I did what I- Her thoughts were cut off abruptly.

"Well, I must say… it has been a long time since I had a beautiful woman in my arms!"

Arianna, so lost in her own thoughts and not watching where she was walking, had collided headlong into the mage Anders. She looked up at him in surprise as she realized that she was now indeed in the arms of the handsome mage.

She blushed slightly and gave him an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Anders. I guess I wasn't watching where I was walking."

Anders laughed good-naturedly and smiled at her. She noticed that he still hadn't removed his arms from around her.

"Uh…Anders? You can let me go now." She raised a lovely shaped brow at him.

"Yes…I suppose I could, couldn't I? But there's something that just feels so right about having such a beautiful woman in one's arms…" Anders gave her a cheeky grin.

"Anders!" she said loudly in irritation. Anders laughed at the Warden-Commander, but he released her from his embrace. She quickly stepped back and gave him an exasperated look.

"Sorry Warden-Commander. I just thought you could do with a bit of cheering up." The handsome mage gave his Commander and friend another good-natured grin.

Arianna looked at him for a moment and then shook her head at him. "What am I to do with you, Anders?" She looked at him and thought how much he reminded her of Alistair – which is why she wouldn't allow herself to get too close to this particularly handsome mage.

"My lady, you may do whatever your heart desires… with me…or to me." Anders looked into her green eyes intently and his invitation was clear. "Your wish is my command, Lady Arianna."

"Don't go there, Anders," she said curtly. "I don't need any more complications in my life right now." Arianna sighed and ran a hand roughly through her auburn hair. "Now if you'd excuse me, I need to find Seneschal Varel."

Anders bowed his head to her and watched as she walked away towards the entrance to the Throne Room. He heard a soft "meow" and reached into his pack and pulled out his small kitten, Ser Pounce-A-Lot. Anders smiled to himself as he stroked the young cat's soft yellow-gold fur.

"You know, Ser Pounce-A-Lot…I think I'm starting to wear the lady down." He looked at the cat that he was holding in his arms. "What do you think?" Ser Pounce-A-Lot just purred and blinked his eyes once at the mage.

Anders chuckled to himself and with kitten in hand, continued on with his search for those that still may be in need of his healing. He knew that he would have a long night ahead of him, but he didn't mind; he was a healer by nature and was much more comfortable using his magic to save lives than taking them. Yet the Chantry and the Templars continued to view him as some sort of threat- just because he was a mage who refused to stay locked up in some Tower that was part of the Circle of Magi. Anders knew that despite being a Grey Warden, the Templars would someday be after him again.

He shook is head and sighed; today he was still a free mage and he had people that needed his healing magic, so he would dwell no longer on what might happen. He would let the future take care of itself.

Soon Anders came across Oghren and Nathaniel, who were talking to Captain Garevel. Anders interrupted the dwarf and two men's conversation, to ask the Captain if he knew which guards or wardens were in need of healing still. Garevel said that the injured men and women had all been taken to rooms located within the eastern side of the Keep.

"Oghren and Nathaniel were just telling me about what happened in the Dragonbone Wastes. It makes my skin crawl to hear about that vile creature you found- what was she called?"

"They called her 'The Mother'," replied Oghren "And I thought my wife Branka was the craziest woman I'd ever met- that Mother was completely insane!"

"Wait- I thought your wife's name is Felsi," Anders said looking at Oghren.

"It is her name. That moss-licker, Branka, was my first wife. The Warden killed her in the Deep Roads," explained the dwarf.

"The Warden-Commander killed your first wife?" asked Garevel in astonishment.

"Long story," replied Oghren.

"…Moss-licker?" asked Nathaniel with a confused look. Garevel shrugged his shoulders.

"Longer story," said Oghren with a scowl as Anders tried unsuccessfully to contain his laughter.

Anders looked at the heavy battle-axe strapped to Oghren's back and decided that prudence was the better course for him to take. "I'll explain the term "moss-licker" to you later," Anders whispered to Nathaniel and Garevel.

Anders soon departed company from the two men and the dwarf, and headed to the eastern side of the Keep. The two men and the dwarf finished their conversation and then headed inside, in search of the Warden-Commander.