Chapter Eight
Jasper adjusted the collar of his shirt for the third time, and then tugged on the bottom of his tailored vest, making sure that he was indeed presentable looking. He eyed the closed heavy oak doors as he stood stiffly at attention, and mentally ran down his check list of tasks, making sure that he had overlooked nothing. Jasper looked carefully around the entryway, his keen eye missing nothing. The older, white-haired man frowned slightly as he noticed that one of the wooden benches along the side of one wall had not been returned to its proper position after the cleaning servants had washed the stone floor. Jasper quickly strode over to the wooden bench and moved it back to its proper place. He made a mental note to speak to the cleaning servants, and instruct them on the proper way to do their job. Jasper returned to the other side of the entryway, and stood again at attention as he waited for the large oak doors to open.
Jasper turned his head at the sound of running footsteps, and observed Saranna as she hurriedly ran down the hallway to his side. Jasper gave her a slightly disapproving look as she almost skidded to a halt and tried to catch her breath.
"Have they arrived yet, Jasper?" she questioned breathlessly. Jasper gave her a single nod of his head in the usual very precise manner of his.
"They have just entered the courtyard, or so I have been informed," he replied in his usual somber tone of voice. Jasper returned his gaze to the heavy wooden door, and wondered how Saranna had ever become the Queen's lady's maid- the woman lacked any measure of decorum, from what he had observed.
Saranna quickly ran a hand over her hair to smooth it down as the heavy oak doors swung opened. Saranna dropped into a deep curtsey and Jasper bowed at the waist, as the king strode through the opened door. "Welcome home, Your Majesty," said both the servants in unison.
Home. Alistair supposed he did think of the palace as his home now, although the one person that truly made it a home for him was hundreds of miles away from here- and he missed her fiercely. He thanked the two servants for their welcome and bade them to rise. It still made him uncomfortable to have people bowing and curtsying to him, although he did his best to put up with it.
Alistair turned back towards the doorway as his young squire, a dark-haired boy of sixteen or so, entered with his shield and sword. Before Alistair could say anything, Jasper instructed the boy to take the king's shield and sword to his bedchamber and place it on his armor stand. The young squire bowed his head to the king and Jasper, and then hurriedly left to do as he had been instructed.
Bann Teagan and the King's personal guardsmen entered the hallway. Their armor was covered with dust and grime from their long journey. Although the men all wore weary expressions upon their faces, they brightened considerable when Alistair dismissed them all, and instructed Saranna to tell the cook and kitchen servants to prepare a meal for his guardsmen. Saranna gave a small curtsey to the Alistair, and then hurried off to the kitchen with several of the elite King's Guardsmen in tow. Alistair noticed that the King's Guard-Commander did not go with the rest of the men.
"Dante, go with your men and get some food. I will not need your service for the rest of the night." Alistair knew that he was wasting his breath, for he knew that Dante would not leave his side until he retired to his private chambers for the night.
"Your Majesty, I will eat once you have retired for the night, and not a moment sooner." Dante crossed his arms in front of him and Alistair knew that was the end of that conversation. He shook his head at the Guard-Commander's stubbornness, but let the matter rest.
Alistair removed his gauntlets and handed them to his manservant Jasper. Jasper informed the king that a bath had been drawn for him and that food would be sent up to his chambers shortly. Alistair thanked the servant, but asked him to hold off on sending the food up, as he needed to speak to Arl Eamon first.
"As you wish, Your Majesty," replied Jasper with another precise bow of his head. Jasper bowed his head to Bann Teagan, and then walked down the hallway to see about his duties with his usual measured and unhurried stride. Bann Teagan watched Jasper as the elderly servant departed, and then turned to Alistair with a small chuckle.
"Well, that is certainly one dignified and serious old servant. Isn't he a bit… stuffy for you, Your Maj- err…Nephew?" Teagan saw the look that Alistair had given him as he started to use the title that Alistair hated so much.
"He may be 'a bit stuffy', as you have said, Teagan, but he served my brother Cailan well and he has served me in the same fashion. I respect the man- he takes great pride in doing his duties." He smiled tiredly at his uncle. "And Uncle… enough with the "Your Majesty". I do have a name you know."
The three men walked down the length of the hallway, their heavy armored boots sounded out with a distinct clang as their shod feet met the stone floor with each step taken. Alistair couldn't wait to rid himself of his heavy gold armor, but first he had to speak to his uncle, the Arl of Redcliffe. He was hoping that the arl would have some news of his wife. A sudden image of his wife on their wedding night filled his mind, and he almost groaned aloud as a rush of longing and desire filled his body. Maker's breath! I don't know how much more of this I can take! Alistair swore under his breath and quickened his stride as Bann Teagan and Guard-Commander Dante, exchanged knowing glances, and then picked up their own pace in order to keep up with their king. Before long the three men reached the arl's study, and Alistair and Teagan entered the room, while Dante stood guard outside the opened door.
Arl Eamon rose from his seated position at his large oak desk, and bowed his head to Alistair in greeting. "Welcome back, Your Majesty." He smiled at his nephew and brother, and waited for the two men to seat themselves across from him before seating himself once again. "I trust your journey home was without any difficulties?" He had noticed that the two men were both wearing their heavy armor.
Bann Teagan smiled at his brother, and leaned back into his chair as he crossed his arms. "We did have a few skirmishes with a few mercenaries and bandits upon the road, but I wouldn't say that we found it difficult to make a quick end of them." He turned to look at Alistair. "Wouldn't you agree, Alistair?"
Alistair nodded his head and smiled at his younger uncle. "I would indeed. The nobles in the southern cities gave me more difficulties than those men did." Alistair turned his head and looked at Arl Eamon with a serious expression on his face. "Some of the nobles don't seem to understand that I am doing everything that I can possible can to help rebuild those cities and towns in southern Ferelden that were so hard hit by the blight. It will take years before some of those farm lands corrupted by that cursed blight, can be used again." Alistair's face grew sad. "Some of the stories I heard… the things I saw…" He shook his head and gave a heavy sigh, unable to finish the rest of his words. He had spent the last few months touring the southern areas of Ferelden, and the other parts that had been destroyed by the last blight, trying to bring some hope to those folks that had lost so much.
Arl Eamon and Bann Teagan exchanged looks and smiled at one another. They were both immensely proud of their nephew, their reluctant king. He had proven himself to be a fair and just ruler since he had taken the crown, and he genuinely cared for the people of Ferelden- the people that he served. While there were still murmurings and complaints with some of the nobles- especially those that supported Anora and Loghain- the common people all seemed to love and support their new king and queen: which reminded the arl of a certain letter that had been addressed to King Alistair.
"Your Majesty…" the arl started speaking, but stopped when he saw the king's annoyed look at him. "I mean…Alistair…" The arl raised a brow at his nephew, but soon continued speaking. "There was a letter sent to you from Vigil's Keep, several weeks ago…it was written by Oghren." The arl paused for a moment as Alistair suddenly leaned forward in his chair.
"From Oghren, you say? What was the letter about? Is everything all right with my wife? What did the letter say, uncle?" Alistair frowned at his uncle, and wondered why he didn't just come out and tell him what the bloody letter said!
"I think it would be best if you read the letter yourself, Alistair." replied the arl, as he reached across his desk to hand Alistair the opened letter. He of course, had already read the letter, and what he read had disturbed him greatly. But he wanted Alistair to read what Oghren had written, and decide for himself what had to be done- if anything had to be done at all. He studied his nephew's face as the Alistair read the letter. Bann Teagan looked at his brother with a curious look, but said nothing.
Alistair read the letter, and then carefully re-read it a second time, just to make sure that he understood everything that Oghren had written. When he looked up from the letter, the arl could see that Alistair was extremely concerned and more than a little angry. Alistair swore softly under his breath.
"Why in all that is holy, would my wife act in such a …reckless manner? I know that being a Grey Warden is dangerous in its own way, and we often put ourselves in harms way…but we don't try to get ourselves killed, or act in reckless abandonment." Alistair shook his head in unbelief at his wife's uncharacteristic behavior. "Oghren wrote that she almost died because she didn't let anyone know for days that she had been severely injured! What has gotten into my wife?" Alistair tossed the letter onto the desk as he stood up from his chair. He walked away from the arl's desk, and began to angrily pace in front of the doorway, as he tried to make sense of the whole situation. He continued his angry pacing for several more minutes before he abruptly stopped, almost in mid-stride.
"It's my fault. I was the one who sent her to the Keep against her wishes. She never wanted to be Warden-Commander." Alistair looked at his uncles, and there was pain and guilt in his eyes. He bowed his head as he ran a hand haphazardly through his golden-brown hair, wishing that he could go back and change the past. But he couldn't and truth be told, he would make the same decision again- and that fact only made him feel worse. He lifted his head and looked at his uncle with a firm determination in his eyes.
"So…you have decided your course of action," stated Arl Eamon. He gazed thoughtfully at Alistair for a long moment and then smiled at him. "You have decided to finally send for her and allow her to come back home."
Alistair shook his head slightly at his uncle's statement. "Not quite, Uncle." He said with a small smile.
The arl frowned at Alistair, and decided that he needed to remind the king that his wife wasn't just a Grey Warden, but she was also the Queen of Ferelden and had duties of her own- duties that had been neglected these past several months. The people and the nobles needed to see their queen at court…they needed the Hero of Ferelden to come back to Denerim. But before the arl could remind the king of all of this, Alistair spoke once again.
"No, Uncle…I won't be sending for her. I will be bringing her back. I'm going to go to Vigil's Keep myself, and bring my wife home." Alistair gave his uncle one of his charming grins.
"That, Your Majesty, is the best news I have heard all day." The arl rose from his seat, and walked around the desk to where his nephew was standing. He put a hand upon Alistair's shoulder as he stood facing him and asked, "Shall I send word to Vigil's Keep of your impending arrival? "
Alistair shook his head no. "I want to surprise my wife, so don't send word." He gave another boyish-grin, as he imagined the look upon Arianna's face when he arrived at the Keep. He couldn't wait to finally be able to hold her in his arms once again.
"Are you sure that's the best course of action, Sire? I think that Seneschal Varel should be told of your arrival, so that he can adequately prepare to host the King of Ferelden and your King's Guardsmen." The arl raised a brow at Alistair, as his nephew opened his mouth to disagree with him, but Alistair quickly closed it again when his uncle gave him that look. The arl continued speaking. "Remember, the Keep is in the midst of being rebuilt, and resources are most likely hard to come by… so an unannounced arrival of the King would mostly likely cause…difficulties for Varel and his people. Not to mention the nobles- they would view it as an insult, I'm sure."
Alistair grumbled under his breath, but agreed to let the arl send word to Seneschal Varel of his arrival. But he made it clear that he didn't wish his wife to be forewarned of his visit. Arl Eamon assured Alistair that he would inform the seneschal of his wishes and then asked when Alistair planned on traveling to Vigil's Keep. Alistair replied that he would not be able to leave until he had found someone to replace Arianna, as the new Warden-Commander.
"I'll write to the First Warden-Commander at Weisshaupt Fortress, to see if there might be someone there that could replace Arianna. I'll also send word to the Orlesian Wardens, as well as those in the Free Marches. Perhaps Varel can help out with this task. When you write to Seneschal Varel, ask him if he knows of a suitable replacement."
Arl Eamon told Alistair that the rest of his business could wait until tomorrow, and he urged his nephew to retire to his chambers for the night. Alistair decided that he would listen to his uncle for he was tired from his long journey, and his empty stomach was clamoring to be filled. He bid both his uncles a good evening, and left the arl's study with Dante following a few steps behind.
Alistair remembered the day he had first met Dante, but at that time he had been a mere palace guard and not one of the more elite King's Guardsmen. That was also the day that Alistair had demoted and suspended the guardsman for one month without pay, for fighting with Arianna. That had been one of the worst days of his life, as king. He had been so upset with the way things had turned out, that he had sent money equal to one month's pay to Dante's family, so that they would not have to suffer for the guardsman's actions.
Alistair smiled to himself as he remembered what his wife had done to make amends to Dante, for it had been her fault that Alistair had to punish the palace guard. Arianna simply used some of her Cousland fortune to hire Dante for one month, as a Highever guard, and made him the personal guard to her brother Fergus, the Teryn of Highever. During his one month's suspension from his duties as a palace guard, Dante ended up earning more money then he earned in three months of service to the palace! Over the past several months, Dante had more than proven himself, so much so, that Alistair had not only promoted him to the elite King's Guardsmen, but had made him the Guard- Commander of his personal guards.
Alistair slowed his pace, signaling to the Guard-Commander to draw alongside him as they walked. Dante looked at his king and smiled.
"So, Her Ladyship Arianna will be home soon, Your Majesty? I know that you have missed her greatly, Sire." Dante had become one of Arianna's most staunchest and loyal supporters.
Alistair looked at Dante in mild amusement. "And what of you, Dante…don't tell me that you actually miss my wife, after all the trouble she caused you."
"I am grateful for all that Her Ladyship has done for me and for my family. I would gladly give my life for Her Highness," Dante replied in all seriousness.
"Well…let's hope it never comes to that, Guard-Commander. I'm sure your family would much rather prefer you to be among the living," replied Alistair as he clapped a hand on the back of the Guard-Commander.
Soon the two men reached the door to the king's outer-chamber, and the two palace guards standing on either side of the closed door bowed their heads to the king, and saluted the Guard-Commander. Alistair nodded his head to the two guards as one of them opened the door for him. He dismissed Dante for the night, and passed through the doorway into his private outer-chambers. The guard closed the door behind the king, and both guards stood at attention once more.
Alistair walked slowly through the first chamber, and then entered the inner chamber that he shared with his wife. The large room felt empty and lonely without her presence. He noticed that Saranna had placed a single red rose, the last rose of the season, upon his wife's vanity- the servant's way of reminding Alistair that he still had a wife. As if he could ever forget. Alistair walked over to the vanity and picked up the rose, its lovely fragrance instantly brought a cherished memory to his mind.
"Here… do you know what this is?" Alistair showed the rose to Arianna, who replied that it was a rose, of course. She looked at him curiously, and waited for him to explain himself to her. Alistair continued speaking, "I picked it in Lothering. I remember thinking, 'How could something so beautiful exist in a place with so much despair and ugliness?' I probably should have left it alone but I couldn't, the darkspawn would come and their taint would just destroy it… So I've had it ever since!" Arianna stared at him with her lovely green eyes for a moment, and then asked what he intended to do with the rose. Alistair swallowed the lump in his throat, and then quickly thrust the rose towards her, before he could lose his nerve. "Here, I thought I might give it…to you. I thought I could say to you what a rare and wonderful thing you are to find amidst all this… darkness." Arianna brought the rose to her nose and inhaled its heady fragrance, closing her eyes for a moment as she savored the sweet scent of the red rose. When she opened her eyes again, the look on her face caused Alistair's heart to stop beating for a moment.
"Was I wrong…to give it to you?" He asked her softly, a bit fearful of her answer. She gazed intently into his eyes, and then her face lit up with the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. "No, it was a beautiful sentiment, Alistair. Thank you."
Alistair thumbed the rose petals gently as his thoughts lingered on that wonderful memory. It was that night that he had realized just how much he loved Arianna, and it was that night that he also realized that she was in love with him. Of course, it wasn't until much later that she would actually admit it to herself- or to him- for she had been in a relationship with that assassin at the time…that cursed elf, Zevran.
That elf had brought him nothing but trouble, and had caused the biggest rift in Alistair and Arianna's relationship. Alistair shook his head as he tried to dispel any thoughts about Zevran… and… he sighed and cursed himself. Why must he always do this to himself? He knew without a doubt that Arianna loved him…after all she had chosen to marry him, and live the rest of her life by his side. Alistair chided himself for the direction that his thoughts had taken, and he refused to think anymore about that elf.
Alistair placed the rose back onto the vanity top and walked over to the bathing area. He would enjoy a hot bath and a hot meal, and then retire to his bed for a much needed sleep. Tomorrow he would start his search for the new Warden-Commander of Vigil's Keep, and once he found one, he would journey to the Keep and give the good news to his wife- she was coming home with him.
