I'd like to thank all the lovely people who've reviewed the story so far. I hope I can continue to keep you interested in Alistair's journey :)
Apologies for the reference to another fic but it didn't make sense to me that Alistair wouldn't ask.
...
Alistair stopped on the edge of the dense line of trees and braced himself. Not against possible danger but against the onrush of memories he knew this place was going to bring. Not all of them bad memories, but more memories of the past than he really wanted right now. He'd managed to push Eamon away, to be thought about only when they rested, but this place was going to be impossible to ignore.
"Ser?"
Gwyn. Glancing down at her he saw she was also staring into the trees. Waiting for orders? He supposed she was. Once that would have seemed strange and frightening, to have her dependant on him to tell her what to do. He was sure she could manage on her own, she'd found him hadn't she, but Gwyn was a soldier and as far as she was concerned, he was in command. Odd how he liked that.
"We'll have to skim around the edge of the forest Gwyn. We've had luck so far by avoiding the highway and if I'm right the humans will avoid coming here as much as possible."
"Yes ser." She'd never been this far south before. "Is that the Brecilian Forest?"
"It is. Last time I was here there were darkspawn and werewolves." He strode forward and saw her do the same.
"Werewolves ser?" Gwyn wasn't sure she wanted to see those.
"They're gone now. It should be safe enough."
"Yes ser." Just as they plunged into the cool darkness she asked. "There are Dalish here aren't there?"
"Most have gone down to the new homelands but I've heard some stayed. Have you met many Dalish?"
"Just two. One of the Wardens is Dalish, Velanna is her name. The other was Caethes. You travelled with her didn't you ser? Oghren told me stories about what you did."
"Oghren did?" He could well imagine. "I'd ignore half of what he told you. Oghren is prone to exaggerate, particularly when he's drunk. Which used to be most of the time."
"It still is ser. The Commander told me you were a hero and we should be proud to have you as our king." Gwyn stopped when he did. "Something wrong?" She scanned the area but couldn't see any danger. "Darkspawn maybe? I can't see anything."
Right now he'd welcome some darkspawn, however unlikely that was these days. "A hero? Me? I think he must have me confused with some other king."
"I don't think so. Caethes was right there and she didn't say he was wrong."
Shaking his head he started walking. "I'm sure they were just entertaining you with exaggerated tales. Caethes was the hero, I was just there to hit things and tell jokes."
"Oh no ser. The Commander doesn't exaggerate." She wasn't quite sure what to make of the way he looked at her. "Ser?"
"Does your Commander know you're in love with him?"
"Ser! I wouldn't. I couldn't. That's. No!" One eyebrow lifted, saying as clearly as words that he didn't believe her. "Well, maybe a little."
"Ah huh." He'd thought so. That much hero worship had to be based on more than duty. "You haven't tried to do anything about it?" She flushed a very interesting shade of red. "What did you do?"
"Nothing ser. I did think about it. That Caethes, she, well. I thought about offering to let the Commander bed me." Gwyn looked up to see how Alistair was reacting but he was watching the path and not her. "But I've not done it before and I couldn't work up the courage."
"Probably just as well. I can't see how it would have ended well." Hearing her say something under her breath, he glanced at her. "What was that?"
"I said, it would have been worth the risk." She just knew he wanted to laugh. Torn between offence at his laughing at her and relief that he'd finally come out of the dark mood he'd been in, Gwyn huffed. "It would have. The Commander's an archer." Holding her hands out she wiggled her fingers. "Nimble fingers." There. She'd made him laugh.
"You're a wicked woman Gwyn and your Commander is the worse off for not seeing what's in front of him."
"Thank you ser."
"You say Caethes and Howe are, involved? I thought she didn't like humans?"
"Its not for me to say."
Alistair had to laugh. "I think that's the first time anyone's told me to mind my own business so politely."
"Thank you ser."
"Now answer my question."
"I'd rather not, if you'll allow me, it really isn't my place. I will say they spent a long time sorting themselves out."
"And?" It was like trying to pry secrets out of Duncan, all nigh impossible. "Did they sort themselves out?"
"They did. You'll see once we get to the Vigil."
"I suppose I will." He looked forward to seeing his friend again. He owed her an apology and more. "Was she well when you saw her last?"
Gwyn hesitated, she didn't like deceiving Alistair, but as she'd said, not her place to talk about it. "She was."
"Alright, alright, I'll stop questioning you."
"Thank you."
This seemed to deep enough in to hide them from the road but not far enough to worry the Dalish. He hoped. "Let's skim the edge here now, keep to the same path as the road."
"I can fetch us some fresh meat for supper. Should be plenty of game about." Gwyn handed Alistair her pack and unhooked her bow.
"Don't go too far in and nothing too large. Remember we'll have to carry it."
"Yes ser."
Standing a moment he watched her run into the trees. If she had blood writing you'd almost mistake her Dalish. City elves weren't usually as comfortable in the wild. He must see what he could find out about how she'd learned her skills.
Hefting her pack in his arms, he started walking. Now he was alone he'd have to work to keep his attention from wandering. His mind wanted to worry over Eamon but he couldn't let it. He needed to stay alert and focused. Gwyn was his responsibility and when they eventually did arrive at the Vigil he had no intention of it being with one of them dead.
"Hold stranger."
Alistair froze. Dalish. Curse it, he'd thought they'd miss them. "I mean no harm."
"That may be true but you're passing our camp. We don't like shems too close to our camp."
Three of them, two hunters and what appeared to be a mage. Lovely. "If you'll allow me to pass, I'll be gone soon enough." The pack slipped and he hitched it up, instantly putting them on guard. Now he had two bows, arrows notched, aimed at his head.
"You'll be wanting to aim those elsewhere." Gwyn walked forward slowly, her arrow aimed at the mage, the lone woman with the two men. "You might kill me, but that mage of yours will die first."
"Gwyn! Lower that now. We're not here to fight."
"But ser."
"Gwyn." He clearly heard her sigh but lower her bow she did. "I apologise."
"No need, your servant was merely concerned for your safety." The sneer was clear in way she said 'servant'.
"Gwyn isn't my servant. We're Grey Wardens." As expected they relaxed slightly, but still appeared suspicious.
"Grey Wardens? A human and a flat ear? Where would you be off to that requires you to avoid the highway?"
"That doesn't concern you. If you'll allow us room, we'll move on and be gone." Alistair was careful to keep his tone soft and polite.
The mage frowned at him. "That one, she isn't a Warden."
"Not yet. I've just recruited her." That seemed to settle the last of her mistrust.
"Let them pass." The mage waved in the direction they'd been travelling. "Safe journey to you Wardens."
"Thank you."
Alistair jerked his head in the direction they needed to go and walked, hearing Gwyn coming behind him. "Don't threaten people who are only defending themselves."
Gwyn attached her bow to the pack then swung it over her shoulders. "You're my commander now and I'm not letting any harm come to you."
"If I'm your commander, then you do what I tell you, when I tell you. Understood?"
"Ser."
"Either we agree on this or you go back to the Vigil now. I need to know I can trust you Gwyn, or else I'll be safer alone." Looking down he saw her mouth was set stubbornly. "Alright then. Go. Tell Howe I'll be there once I've dealt with this." Leaving it at that, Alistair walked away from her, refusing to look back.
Gwyn watched him go. She couldn't agree to that, she couldn't. What if he was in danger and didn't realise? This Arl Eamon that was stirring him up so much, what if he was a danger and Alistair didn't see it until it was too late? But he'd told her to leave and he was in command.
Gwyn turned to face the direction they'd come from and started walking.
. . .
Alistair poked the fire and frowned. What was going on? He'd like nothing more than to believe it was some kind of misunderstanding, but how did you misunderstand something so clearly stated? Eamon had sent those men to kill him. It had happened after he'd left Denerim. Those men hadn't been that far behind him which meant they were sent from the Arl's home in Denerim and not from Redcliffe. Had they gone to the palace first? No. He didn't think they had. How did they know where he'd go?
Standing he paced a few steps back and forth, trying to work it out. "How did they know where I'd go?" I'm a Grey Warden. Maker yes, where else would he go but the Wardens? He really had nowhere else. Once he'd learned about the Banns he couldn't go to Redcliffe so he'd have to go to the Wardens. Particularly if they sent someone to fetch him.
Was Fergus Cousland involved? Gwyn had said he was the one who'd given Howe the information that had sent her to Denerim. How could Eamon know that's how Nathaniel Howe would react? He and the Howes didn't exactly have a happy history. He'd killed Howe's father for Andraste's sake, that should be enough to ensure he'd not be welcome at the Vigil.
"Maker curse it!" This was getting him nowhere. "Why would Fergus Cousland tell Nathaniel Howe about the Banns? Why would Nathaniel Howe send a scout to warn me? Why does Eamon want me dead?"
"Because you're a Warden."
"What? Gwyn?"
"Its because you're a Warden ser. That's why Teryn Cousland told the Commander you were in trouble and why the Commander sent me to fetch you. If that's both because you're a Warden, could the other be too?"
"I don't understand how it could be. I was a Warden before Eamon decided I should be king." Alistair went back to pacing. "And why are you here? Didn't I send you home?"
"Yes ser." Gwyn dropped her pack and sat to watch him pace. "If I could ask something?"
"Ask."
"Well ser, I wondered the whole time I was travelling to Denerim, how did the Banns find out about your mother? Who told them?"
"Of course! I'm an idiot. I was asking the wrong questions wasn't I."
"Did Arl Eamon know?"
Alistair thought about that. "He must have. I was told I was born in his house, that my mother died there giving birth to me." He remembered clearly that day at Redcliffe Castle when Eamon had announced he'd have to stand against Loghain at the Landsmeet. "Teagan knows. Bann Teagan, Eamon's brother. He tried to stop Eamon putting me forward as king."
"Would Teagan tell the Banns about your mother?"
"Teagan? No. Never." He could believe many things but not that Teagan would do something so dishonourable. Odd he had no such problem with Eamon. His problem there was, why? "It wasn't that long ago I'd have said Eamon was as honourable as Teagan. Why is it I don't believe that any longer?"
"I'm thinking, if Eamon wants you dead for some reason, does it matter why? We should go off to Amaranthine and put you on a ship somewhere. Away from here. If we go to Redcliffe you'll be an easy kill for him."
"I'm not running away again." She made a noise similar to the one he'd heard from Anora under similar circumstances. "You don't agree?"
"No ser." Settling herself, Gwyn started skinning the two rabbits she'd killed. "He's got an army. All you have is me."
"I think you underestimate yourself."
Gwyn watched the rabbit quickly losing its skin and wondered what would happen if she threw it at Alistair. Cursed stubborn man. "If I'm the army what are you? The camp follower?"
"Gwyn, I'm stunned. You do have a sense of humour, I'd wondered." He was treated to the noise again. "I'm sorry but I can't run from this. I need to know why Eamon sent those men after me."
"Alright ser. Redcliffe then."
Alistair winced when the rabbit's ribs cracked. Perhaps he'd wait until later to find out why she'd come back. Not that he was afraid of Gwyn, but he'd learned a long time ago it didn't pay to upset a woman with a sharp knife in her hand.
"Rabbit stew?"
"No ser, I'm thinking I'll shove a stick up its behind and roast it slowly over the fire." Leaning over she picked up a stick and waved it at him. "What do you think?"
