1. AMARANTHINE: AN UNEXPECTED NOTE

Maker, I hated going to Denerim. It was understandable that the Wardens wished to parade the "Hero of Ferelden" around whenever there was a recruiting drive, but it was always a trial for me. As if the Joinings themselves were not bad enough—fortunately, we only lost one recruit this time—there were other difficulties. Queen Anora felt obligated to put on a series of state dinners for me, despite the fact that she had never forgiven me for killing her father. While I understood her point of view, I wished she would just avoid me rather than treating me to small talk and tight, chilly smiles. Then, there was Wynne, who was still serving as Anora's advisor on things magical, much to the irritation of the Chantry. Her healing magic had saved my life a dozen times or more, but I had forgotten how wearying her little sermons could be. I longed to tell her that I did not feel that age granted any particular wisdom and perspective in someone who had spent practically her whole life locked up in a tower. I held my tongue only because Alistair adored her. He saw in her the mother he never knew.

I missed Alistair. He had not accompanied me to Denerim, insisting one of us should stay in Amaranthine to watch over the Warden's main base of operations in Ferelden. Two weeks without him seemed an eternity; it was the longest we had been separated since the day I met him more than six years ago. After so much time away and a long ride from Denerim, I was looking forward to relaxing in a nice hot bath with him.

Barely pausing to receive the salutes of the guards as I reached Amaranthine Castle, I dismounted from my horse and raced up the stairs. Alistair liked to take a nap at this time of the afternoon and I looked forward to surprising him in his sleep. I slowed my pace as I approached the bedroom to silence my footsteps, carefully opened the door and looked in.

Alistair was not there. The room was dark and silent…and chilly; no fire had been lit for some time. On the desk was a sealed letter with the word "Aedan" written upon it. I tore it open and read:

My dearest Aedan,

I have been called away to Weishaupt. It seems that the Grey Warden leadership has questions about the manner in which the Archdemon was defeated. As Ferelden's senior Grey Warden, they insisted that I come at once. I will return to you as soon as I am able, my love.
Yours Always,
Alistair

I dropped the letter to the floor and sat heavily on our bed. Called away? Now? Wasn't what we had done against the Blight enough? Two inexperienced Grey Wardens and a handful of companions fight off a Blight and they have the gall to question how we did it? They drill it into every recruit that a Warden can employ any means necessary, and then this? I shook my head and clenched my fists. This was insufferable.

The problem was that they knew things had not transpired in the usual fashion. I had been seen plunging my daggers into the Archdemon's throat to deliver the deathblow, but—unlike all other Grey Wardens before me—I had not fallen lifeless, my soul destroyed when the Archdemon sought a new host and found me. Morrigan had found another way, and I had lived. And now the Wardens sought to know why…not that Alistair would have any answers that would suffice. If I weren't so angry, I would have been amused by the lines "as Ferelden's senior warden". The Wardens placed much emphasis on seniority, and Alistair had joined six months before me, though he had deferred to my leadership from the start. In any event, Alistair had never known the full truth, only that Morrigan's magic had somehow saved us.

Damn it, how could he leave me without warning? I supposed he thought he was protecting me, and knew that I would never let him go without me. I would simply have to go after him.

I went back down to the gate. "Alaric, when did Alistair leave?"

"Four days days ago, m'l…Aedan." Although I am a Cousland-my brother is Teyrn of Highever—the Wardens were supposed to remember that Wardens left behind all external titles, but sometimes they forgot. Rather sheepishly, he continued, "I meant to tell you when you arrived, but you were in such a hurry…"

"I take it there was a messenger that arrived while I was away?"

"Yes, and Alistair left the next day. He said nothing to the rest of us…perhaps Nathaniel knows what it's about?"

I shook my head. "His letter was explicit enough. It was official business…" I frowned. "Did he say what route he would be taking?" He isn't travelling by sea, is he?"

"No, he's riding…along the Imperial Highway, I imagine."

I nodded. We had once taken a ship to Nevarra and he had been unable to keep any food down the entire time. A voyage to Anderfels would be torture for him. He must have passed through Denerim while I was stuck at the interminable farewell feast that Anora had thrown to honor me. At least that meant I had a chance of catching up with him. I wore lighter armor and my horse was faster; I would make better time. If I had not caught him by the time I reached the Dales, I could probably find passage across the Waking Sea to Val Royeaux and arrive there before him. Beyond that point, it was hard to say which road he would choose. Of course, I could take a ship to Val Royeaux directly and arrive long in advance, but I preferred to find him as quickly as possible.

"Did he take anyone else with him?"

"No, he insisted on going alone."

I sighed. Alistair was more than a match for a score of common bandits. In fact, only the bravest would dare attack a massively armored man on a warhorse, even if he were not recognized by the Grey Warden insignia on his shield. Alistair had had it repainted; I wondered if Nathaniel recognized his father's shield, even so...No, Alistair was far from helpless, but if he were ambushed…well, I definitely wanted to catch up with him as soon as possible.

"Alaric…I assume Alistair left Nathaniel in charge while both of us are absent? Tell him he's going to be running things a bit longer than anticipated. I will be leaving early tomorrow morning."

He blinked. "Umm…Alistair specifically said that you are not to go after him, that you are needed here…"

Yes, he would say that. Alistair's overdeveloped sense of duty frustrated me, sometimes. "I'll decide where I'm most needed, thank you. Go and tell Nathaniel what I have told you. I'm sure he'll be delighted to have the run of his father's old castle. And I'm sure the Ferelden Wardens can survive without us for a time." They had better be able to. I did not know if I would be coming back.