Chapter Four

All Ava really wanted to do was to take a long, hot bath after the welcome she had received at the Vigil, but knowing that her duty needed doing, she had no choice but to go and greet the queen. She could not help the small slither of jealousy that gripped her when she saw the queen looking beautiful, dressed in all her finery and Ava was there covered in blood, her face marked with dirt and her hair was plastered to her head. Even though she had spent months covered in darkspawn blood, she had spent years as a noble and it was a hard habit to get rid of. It didn't help when Anora threw Ava a smirk at the sight of her. Ava kneeled down in front of the queen, showing her respect followed by Varel amd Mhiari.

'I see there has been some trouble, commander.' Anora said, clasping her hands in front of her lap, slipping her regal mask into place. 'We met a soldier on the road, he said the Vigil was under attack from darkspawn. We came to offer assistance but I do believe the matter is under control?'

'Yes your highness.' Ava said in a weary voice, standing up from her kneeling position to look at Anora.

'The darkspawn has been taken care of your majesty.' Varel said in a formal tone, but still in a thick accecent. 'Any darkspawn that were remaining have fled underground. The Orlesian Wardens at the keep have either perished or are missing.'

Ava looked at Varel. She frowned and her she pursed her lips in thought. She knew something terrible had happened to Orlesian Wardens but knowing that they had been potentially taken was extremely disturbing, and it posed some new questions about the darkspawn.

As if Anora read her thoughts, she spoke 'Do darkspawn even do that?'

'I'm not sure your majesty, all I know is that not all the Wardens cannot be accounted for.' Varel said, shaking his head.

'We need to find out what is going on, the darkspawn should have gone back underground when the Archdemon was defeated.' Ava said with some confusion. She was lead to believe at the end of a blight, the darkspawn retreated back to the deeproads, but that was clearly not the case here.

'I wish I could be of more help to you, but I had originally only set out to give you a formal welcome so I can be of no use. I'm afraid you're on your own.' Anora said with genuine regret.

'Hey, she's not on her own, she's got me!' Oghren all but shouted out, offended by the queen's words.

'Ah yes, the dwarf who spends more time drinking than talking. No need to worry, Thedas will be safe after all.' Anders said, his voice laced in sarcasm.

Pretending that Anders had not spoken, Oghren continued. 'I came here to join up, Warden. Point me to the giant cup, I will rinse and spit.'

Ava looked at Oghren affectionately, amusement twinkling in her eyes. She thought for a moment, but it didn't take long to make a decision. 'I don't think you're allowed to spit Oghren, but we would be honoured to have you.'

'I knew you wouldn't let me down, Warden.' Oghren said, mirroring Ava's affection, then quickly trying to cover it up, embarrassed that he let his emotions show so easily in company.

'The wardens welcome all.' Mhiari said looking at the floor, as if trying to remind herself that all are equal in the wardens.

As if thinking out loud Anders spoke. 'A warden? Good luck with that!'

Ava turned her attention to a female templar at the side of Anora stepping towards Anders with a look of pure hatred. It didn't take long for Anders to see the templar and his face visibly drained of all colour, his hands becoming clammy. 'Where are the templars that came to pick you up Anders?' she asked in voice that barely contained her anger.

'Dead.' he simply said with some satisfaction.

She flashed Anders a murderous glare. 'Your Majesty, this mage is a wanted apostate. He was being brought back to the circle tower. He must have murdered those templars.'

Anders looked as though he was going to say something in reply but was cut short by Ava.

'I would like to correct your assumptions ser templar, those templars accompanying Anders were killed by darkspawn. Anders helped me take back the Vigil from those evil creatures.' Ava said, narrowing her eyes at the other woman, struggling to keep her voice even. She did not like the way the templar was speaking to Anders.

The templar, as if seeing Ava for the first time blinked at her, shocked. 'Even so, this mage is an apostate and must be brought back to the circle for justice.' the templar eventually said, determined that she was not going to let Anders out of her sight.

'Ha, justice, when have you templars ever known anything about justice?' Anders shouted angrily, never taking his gaze from the templar.

'I suppose that is the end of the matter, unless you have anything to say commander?' asked Anora, looking at Ava.

Ava looked back at Anora and saw the hidden meaning in her eyes. Taking the opportunity Ava said confidently, 'I do your highness, I hereby conscript this mage into the Grey Wardens.'

'Never!' the templar shouted, outraged. 'I will see you hanged for your crimes mage.' the templar sneered believing to have the final word on the matter.

'Rylock, stand down.' Anora said, with an almost bored expression on her face. 'I believe the Grey Wardens still hold the right of conscription in Ferelden. I'm going to allow it, it's what Cailan would have done.'

'Yyy...yes your majesty, if you believe it is best.' was all Rylock could say.

Ava turned round to speak with Anders who has a satisfied smirk on his face. 'The same warning goes for you as well Anders, the joining does not come without risks. I can't say too much, but you could die.' Ava said the last part as almost a whisper.

'Hmmmm.' Anders said in mock contemplation. 'Go with the crazy templar and die for definite or go with the commander and maybe live. I'm not sure, it's such a tough decision.' he said sarcastically. 'The only thing swinging in your favour commander, is that you're far prettier than the templar.' he grinned.

'Ha, the more the merrier.' Oghren butted in.

Mhiari, the only one still with any formality left said 'Welcome ser mage, I look forward to fighting by your side.' and bowed respectfully to Anders.

Anora looked at the small group with some amusement before saying, 'I believe that everything is settled then. I will take my leave of you now. I wish you the best of luck in the times to come commander.'

And with that the queen left with her soldiers, walking back down the road away from Vigil's keep. The small group began to head back into the keep.

'A word if you may commander?' Varel asked. 'I just wanted to let you know I am here to help you with the everyday running of the arling of Amaranthine and the maintenance of the keep.'

'The arling and the keep belong to the wardens Varel.' Ava stated, glancing at the older man, not really grasping what Varel was telling her.

'With all due respect, you are the commander and will therefore be seen as the arlessa.' Varel said.

Ava stopped walking and scowled. The thought had never even crossed her mind. No wonder Anora had wanted her take the arling. Anora needed someone to replace Arl Howe and with her noble blood she would be the perfect person. Anora could then hand over Amaranthine as though it was for the wardens, gaining her support from the people who saw the wardens as nothing as heroes. Anora also knew that Ava would have refused to take the arling with the wardens being her first priority. Ava rubbed her eyes with the heels of her palms. She had been taken for a ride and she had fallen for it hook line and sinker. How could she be so foolish. Unable to find an excuse for her stupidness, she continued contemplating. She supposed every cloud had a silver lining. Ava had not come away with nothing, she did have somewhere to rebuild the Grey Wardens. Ava could still only respect the queen, she was damn good at her job.

'I know you have had a tough day commander, but there are lots of thing to discuss. There is also the matter of the joining to prepare for.' Varel said apologetically. 'Please come and seek me out when you have settled in. I will send have a servant show you to your rooms.'

Following the servant to her room she could only look forward to getting out of her disgusting armour and having a long soak in a bath. She felt bad for asking the servants to bring her hot water, they too had had a traumatic time at the keep, but she needed to make herself look presentable for the joining. She peeled her armour off and placed it in a pile on the floor to be cleaned later and lowered herself into the bath. She let the feeling of warmth wash over her and finally felt herself relaxing. Her mind began wondering and she soon found her thoughts going to Alistair. He should have been the one to welcome the new wardens to the keep, not Anora. And even though she had Oghren with her and Mhiari and Anders seemed like wonderful people she felt completely alone. She wished more than ever Alistair was still here. She knew that he would be able to make her feel better and help her with the pressures of managing the Grey Wardens as well as the arling. Even though she promised herself she would not shed anymore tears, she could not stop them as they began to fall.