AN: A new story. I've been writing this one for a while so you'll get three Chapters in a row for now. Enjoy!
Ruio rolled over in the large bed feeling the emptiness of where Alistair would normally be sleeping. She sighed knowing that he would be gone for a few more days in Kirkwall. The Mage and Templar uprising there was of great concern. It could mean a war that none of them wanted to fight or see come to light. She sat up rubbing her eyes to rid the sleep that had built up in them. Connor would be by to visit later today with First Enchanter Irving. She got out of the bed walking over to the large windows and opening them letting the cool Fereldin air sweep across her bare skin.
The Blight was now officially over, yet the country was still in major disarray. She poured water into the bowl before dipping the rag into it and proceeding to wash herself. She'd have to ask for a bath to be drawn later today. Her mind fluttered back to the beginning of becoming the Arl of Amaranthine.
…
"You have quite the task ahead of you. Really, I'd like to help you fight darkspawn, but you're on your own for the moment," Alastair said looking at his new wife with sorrow. She knew she meant the world to him, her heart still stung in accepting him to sleep with Morrigan. But seeing him made things better. Despite their wanting to be together they couldn't do so easily. He had to stay in Denerim only traveling when needed. But she had to help the Grey Wardens rebuild. And this was just another one of those situations.
"Hey!" She and the others turned to Oghren as he raise his fist in the air, "What am I? Chopped nug livers?"
"From the smell, that's not a bad guess," Anders replied. Ruio shook her head at the way the two were acting.
"I came here to join the Grey Wardens," Oghren continued glowering at Anders, "and from the looks of it, you could use the extra hands! Where's the giant cup? I'll gargle and spit!"
"You'd be welcomed among us," she said smiling at the Dwarf. He had become a good friend albeit a strange and blood loving friend.
"Ha! Well smack my ass and call me Sally! I'm in!" The recruit who came with her seemed very unsatisfied and stated it so. But the Warden didn't care she knew who her real friends were and how much they mattered to her.
"Joining the Wardens, eh? Well good luck with that." Anders said before Ruio could stop him. She cringed when the templar stepped forward.
"King Alistair!" She said stepping a little ahead of him as if to block him, "Your Majesty, beware! This man is a dangerous criminal!"
"Oh, the dwarf is a bit of an arse, but I wouldn't go that-"
"She means me," Anders said his head drooping. The Warden shifted looking at him. She had an idea for him but she was unsure of what her husband would think.
"This is an apostate who we were in the process of bringing back to the Circle to face justice!"
"Oh, please," Anders said rolling his eyes, "The things you people know about justice would fit into a thimble. I'll just escape again, anyhow."
"Never!" The templar shouted stepping closer to him, "I will see you hanged for what you've done here, murderer!"
"Murderer?" He looked shocked, "But those templars were...oh what's the use? You won't believe me anyhow."
"It seems there isn't much to say. Unless," Alistair turned to her looking at her with all to knowing eyes, "you have something to add, Commander?"
"I do," she said smiling at him softly, "I hereby conscript this mage into the Grey Wardens."
"What?" The templar looked at her now with the same fire, "Never!"
"I believe the Grey Wardens still retain the Right of Conscription, no? I will allow it," Alistair said stepping closer to Ruio smiling at the trouble she was causing. The templar huffed before allowing it and walking away to calm down. Oghren cheered Anders on in becoming a recruit for the Wardens, to which Anders seemed excited about it. She didn't listen for long when Alistair talked again grabbing her hand in his.
"Then if you have everything under control," he said looking solely at her, "I will need to take my leave."
She listened to Varnel reply back to him. Her eyes were locked on his, neither were paying close attention to what he was saying for they were having their own talks. 'I don't want to leave you my love,' his eyes said. 'I know, but we know how this has to work,' she replied. They realized Varnel had finished talking and she turned to him holding her husband's hand tight.
"This arling belongs to the Wardens, not me," she replied. He added some reassurance to her before giving her some orders and then leaving.
"I hate having to ask you to do this, love," Alistair said while placing a hand on her cheek, "It'd be so much more interesting to keep you at court…"
She turned to him smirking tracing a hand on his neck, she felt the frustration at him being in his full armor. "Don't worry about it, Alistair," she said, "I'll be fine."
"So independent," he said mocking a sad face, "It breaks my heart. It will be up to you to deal with the vestiges of the Blight before the situation grows out of control. No easy task, but I'm confident you are up to it."
She giggled at his remark of her being independent. His face grew solemn as they both knew their time together needed to be cut short. He brushed a thumb under her eye, the cool metal sent a shiver down her spine. She cupped his hand in hers and sighed closing her eyes and thinking of things as how they should've been without the Blight, without the darkspawn blood, without the Wardens. But she would've never met Alistair, it wasn't all bad. He tilted her head up a little his eyes also desiring what she was desiring.
"Now, let me say a quick goodbye before I change my mind," he leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss. He scooped her up into his arms pressing her body as close to him as he could through their bulky armor. All though they could feel nothing through the metal, her body heated and she sighed into the kiss. He pulled away a sad smile etched on his face. She turned her head trying to keep her sorrow at bay before she watched him leave.
…
She put the brush down on her dresser looking into the mirror. Her blue eyes told her how she really was feeling. She fell forward into her folded arms on the dresser letting a sob escape. She only felt like this one other time.
….
They all were at the Wardens Keep getting bandaged. Everyone had survived and Justice was getting settled into his new home in Anders. She wasn't too sure how she felt with them doing that but she couldn't stop them from doing it either. She was tapping her foot impatiently as her leg cut was cleaned out by maggots of infection. She flinched every now and then, as the doctor began to pull them out.
The doors to the keep opened, and to her pleasure and relief, it was Alistair who rushed in. He looked around panting before he saw her and rushed towards her, before he was held off by Wynne.
"Let me by Wynne," he said looking over the older womans shoulder at her, "Love, I'm so sorry."
Ruio didn't realize how much frustration, sorrow, and anger she felt at her husband until he had said that. She broke, sobbing away as the doctor finished and Wynne cast a healing spell on her wounds sealing them. Alistair held her in his arms. He stroked her hair and hummed to her gently. She pushed against him, feeling frustrated and not wanting him to be there to comfort her. But his grip tightened on her more.
"Let me go Alistair," she sobbed at him still pushing against him. Despite being the one who slayed the Archdemon, with Alistair she felt so weak.
"I'm not letting you go," he said, "Not when I just got you back in my arms."
"Why didn't you force me to come home with you? Why did you send me on this!" She shouted, she could hear Wynne shooing those not needed to help heal the others out, "Alistair, I can't do this. I can't continue to be a Warden."
She looked at his face finally, and saw the tears pouring down his face as he listened to her. He kept her in his arms loosening his grip on her a bit. She caught her breath and decided she should tell him all that had happened. After she told him about killing Architect a darkspawn who talked, he kissed her deeply. She pulled back looking at him shocked, as Oghren cheered spilling some of the swill he was drinking. Wynne rebuked him and took his drink away causing him to whine.
"And what was that for?" She asked looking at the others some who were smiling and others who were looking away.
"I've been hearing some strange reports," he said sitting on the edge of the bed next to her, "From Kirkwall. I'm… not sure what the reports entail but I'll need to find out soon. So," he looked around at the others who were not as badly injured as Ruio.
"Alistair, I want them all to choose what they want to do with their lives," she said looking at everyone, "Let them be able to stay or leave as they see fit."
"Understood," he stood up and stood as a King before them," I, King Alistair of Fereldin, do hereby give you authority to leave or continue to serve in the order of the Wardens. If you choose to stay then know we will work to keep you safe."
Ruio looked over at Anders seeing him fidget for a bit. She wanted to stand and go over to him, she already knew that he wanted to go and help refugees in Kirkwall. Alistair looked over at him before he waved him over. Anders walked over to them, watching as the King gathered the Queen in his arms. Protecting her and keeping her safe, despite her now killing two more major threats to Fereldin.
"Anders," she said looking at the young foolish mage, "I know that you want to go to Kirkwall and help the refugees of Fereldin who have fled there since the Blight began. But I've heard your talks with the others, I've seen how you feel about mages. And you have even willingly allowed a Spirit of Justice to live in your body. I'm worried that you may do something dangerous."
"I know," he replied, observing the tender touch of Alistair's hand around her freshly sealed wound, "But I have to help, and Justice doesn't deserve to have to go back to the Fade. I will be smart and won't allow myself to be consumed by him. Besides I could never dream of ever betraying your trust."
She smiled and nodded her head. He looked to the King and bowed before he grabbed his staff and left the keep.
…
"Ruio!" She laughed as Connor ran into her arms, the lad was sixteen years old now. He was doing better, she remembered when her and Alistair agreed to have him stay at the castle in Denerim when he remembered everything he had done to the villagers in Redcliffe. Irving and Wynne spent years talking to and teaching him, showing him that his magic wasn't to be feared. She felt he was better but her heart still ached for him.
"How are you Connor?" She asked looking at the young handsome teenager.
"I'm doing well, how are you? I miss Alistair, will he be back soon?"
"I don't know," she said before walking into the dining area adjacent to the courtroom they were in, "I fear he may take longer-"
"Longer for what, dear?" She stopped before turning around to see her love standing in the doorway with Teagan beside him. She ran at him, his arms open wide as he allowed her to crash into him and grip him tight despite his armor. He squeezed her back.
"You're back, what happened?" He kept her in his arms longer before he let her go and looked at Irving.
"A storm is brewing Irving," he said looking at him, "The mages are rebelling against the templars in Kirkwall. And I fear that means those whom you have cared for will be rebelling soon as well."
"About time if I say so," Irving said crossing his arms, "The templars have been overstepping themselves as of late."
"Irving," Teagan looked at him, his face worn and sorrowful.
"But Irving we need protection so if any of us get possessed we can be killed," Connor said looking at the mentor he had always admired. She understood his fear, he after all had allowed a demon to control him. And he knew better than most what it felt like to become an abomination.
"I know Connor," Irving said looking at him with sorrow, "But I grow weaker by the day. Soon I will die and I need to be sure you will be taken care of and safe."
"Irving," Connor looked at his mentor with sorrow.
"For now we shouldn't worry about such a thing," Ruio said walking over to them, "Connor how about you go get some tarts and tea for us. Then I'll give you your present."
"Ok!" They watched him walk off to the kitchen. She sighed looking at Alistair knowing he was going to tell something that would change the world they had always known.
"Alistair it would be best if you tell us in full what is going on," Irving said as he took a seat.
"Irving," he looked at his wife, "A war is brewing, you know that. But what is happening with you?"
He looked at the three before sighing and bowing his head. Alistair gripped her hand tight, she looked at him sensing something was really wrong. She looked at Irving suddenly realizing what was happening.
"You're possessed, aren't you."
"I had fought the demon for so long," he said looking at the two of them, "A spirit not yet a demon entered my body, like Wynne. I told her my spirit was not fully kind. He finally has become a demon. I lose control of him every now and then. I have come here to ask for you to kill me."
Ruio watched as he pulled out a vial and handed it to her.
"This is a quick poison," he said looking towards the kitchens, "I will consume it in my drink and then die before we leave. I want you to comfort Connor after my passing."
"Irving," Alistair stepped towards the old man, "Who would you like to take your place as first enchanter?"
Ruio knew not to be shocked by her husband's decision. After all an abomination of any kind was dangerous. She listened to Irving talk and thank Alistair. He seemed so calm about his death and she knew he was just going to be happy to not have to deal with the demon tempting him anymore. He requested a woman named Fiona, she recognized the name as a grey warden who had somehow been cured of the blight.
She closed her eyes shifting to walk into the kitchen to help Connor. Teagan looked at her with eyes of sorrow but understanding. She walked in seeing Connor gathering the tarts on a tray.
"I'll get the tea," she said smiling at him before placing all the cups on the carrying tray. Connor smiled and said ok before heading out first. She watched him leave before she poured the poison into one of the cups remembering it's position on the tray so she would hand it to Irving rather than Connor or her husband or Teagan. She walked out with the tray and smiled seeing Connor chewing on a tart, her husband laughing with Irving. She handed each cup to the men being sure to hand the poisoned cup to Irving. She then took her cup before sipping the tea.
"Now, Connor," Alistair sat down next to the young man, "What do you think we should do for the mages? Should they be free or should we continue to employ the use of the circles?"
"Well, I'd like to see the circles continued. But I'll do what you feel is best Irving," he said looking at Irving who nodded his head slightly before he tilted to the left and fell from the chair. Ruio gasped as Connor rushed towards Irving. Alistair stood and bent over Irvings body resting two fingers on the old man's neck to check for a pulse. He looked at Connor before slowly shaking his head.
"NO! No, Irving!"