Five Years After

Set after Witch Hunt. Sari and Alistair lead Ferelden, but a Warden's job is never done.

Sari watched the city bustle from her window. Five years had made some memories fade and that, for the most part, could only be a good thing. She'd never forget but she didn't always want to remember.

She ran her hands over her dress, a word back then she'd never considered hearing her name in the same sentence as. She'd been a fighter, not a woman. She smirked; Sten was wiser than people gave him credit for. Now she felt like a woman more than a fighter. Not all traces of it were gone. Only few people knew her dresses had been tailored just so that she could reach the blades strapped to her legs. After all, Ferelden wasn't without its dangers and she would never stop managing to find them.

Footsteps came up behind her.

She let the corners of her mouth turn up; they were decidedly familiar. "Is there something you wished of me, my King?"

"Always, my love." He slipped his hands round her slender waist.

Turning to face him she traced his face with her finger, one of her favourite past times. Perhaps some parts of that time were worth remembering after all. "Though I am eager to see you," With a coy smile she added, "Always," Upon gaining the reaction she desired she continued almost abruptly normal, "What did you want?"

"I can't just come and see my wife?" He questioned.

"Of course. It's just I thought you were to be in court all day. I was almost going to come and join you."

His expression changed, almost a frown and he released her from his grip.

"What is it?" She placed a hand on his arm, "Alistair?"

"There's a representative from the Dwarves to see you."

"And this is bad because?"

For a moment he didn't respond. He opened his mouth to do so but she cut him off, an effort to break the tension.

"It's not Oghren is it? You're worried I'll run off to Orzammar with him and you'll only ever hear rumours of the Ferelden Queen who abandoned her husband for a rather dashing Dwarf."

"Is that so?" He raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps I'd better let Felsi know she has competition."

Sari laughed, "Oh Alistair. There is no competition." As she planted a kiss on his lips he smiled that boyish smile that was perhaps the very reason there was no competition where he was concerned.

"Anyway, the Dwarves, right..." He tried to refocus his mind. "They're not being too forthcoming with information. From what I can tell they either want to simply discuss the Darkspawn in the deep roads or they want you to do something about it."

"By do something about it, you mean go and kill them."

He shrugged.

"Why now? What has changed? Have their numbers really grown that much?"

"Like I said, they don't want to say. Perhaps they'll talk to the mighty Warden-Commander."

"Perhaps."

There was a pause; there was something else he clearly wanted to say. Why wouldn't he? After five years she'd learnt more about how to read him. That didn't mean she knew exactly what he was thinking but she could guess. He didn't want her to go to Orzammar; perhaps the joke had been a little misplaced.

Yet the reasons for his desire she couldn't be sure. Of course he wanted her to be in court with him but was it something more? She pushed such thoughts out of her head. Alistair knew her just as well as she knew him. He would never force her to be someone she wasn't.

She kissed him on the cheek. "Come, let us face this dwarf together."

He nodded and together they moved down the corridor.

"Just so I know, it isn't Oghren is it?"

Smiling he squeezed her hand and shook his head.

Thanks for reading. More to come soon, just need to check over it.

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