Five Years After

Set after Witch Hunt. Sari and Alistair lead Ferelden, but a Warden's job is never done. She leaves just as a plot on her husband's life is discovered, can she trust others to take care of him whilst she does what a Warden does best?

Just like old times. Sari smirked. She moved through the tunnels cautiously. For the most part she was stealthed, indicating to the rest of the group when they could move. They had encountered surprisingly few darkspawn. That was worrying. The dwarves had been worried hadn't they? She felt if those who had been fighting darkspawn on their doorsteps for so long were concerned then she should be too.

The cavern widened. Sari paused. It seemed darker here as though the very light from the torches was somewhat dimmer. Her companions noted the change.

"Something is wrong." Elwin announced.

"Because you know everything?" Tabia shook her head.

"I'm just saying... something doesn't feel right."

Sari put up her hand, an unspoken order for them to stop. Being silent she crept forwards.

Darkspawn. She could sense them.

Moving a little more she saw tunnels to the left and right, each one containing darkspawn. No wonder the dwarves had been ambushed.

Edging back she approached her party, explaining the situation.

"Finally some action." Tabia pulled her bow from her back.

"What do you suggest Commander?" Burna asked.

"There's a few in each tunnel. It would be best if we can take them section at a time. There are four tunnels. Elwin, freeze the furthest tunnel on the right. Tabia, pin the front darkspawn opposite, that should keep the others from getting out for a few extra seconds. Burna, take the tunnel on the left. I'll be on the other one. Once you two are done, help Burna. That way by the time the others are out we should be ready."

"You're going to take one tunnel on your own?"

"There are only two there. I think I can handle a couple of darkspawn." Sari smirked, pulling her swords from her back, "Ready?"

They moved as a team. Sari kicked the darkspawn over and thrust her blade towards the other one, catching it on the arm. Stunning it she set to work hacking on the one that now scrambled up. Spinning her blades in her hands she hit both of creatures. As they moved back she pushed her advantage ramming her blades into their stomachs. Pulling them out she turned and ran to help the others. The darkspawn followed her but their wounds took them before they reached her.

In the heat of battle Sari felt focused, alive. She was a Grey Warden.

The last darkspawn fell. Elwin patched up their wounds. Tabia pulled some of her arrows from the corpses, if they were still good there was no use in wasting them.

"There is no time to stop." Sari announced and they pressed further on, moving cautiously as before.

She frowned; that was an odd noise. She took another step forwards.

Squelching under her feet. Glancing down she wished she hadn't. The floor was laden with that red goo, not blood but something boding much worse. It seemed to pulse of its own accord and it was climbing the walls... writing... wriggling...

"What is it?" Tabia whispered. Her bravado from earlier all but faded.

"I don't know." Sari knew no name for it, "But I know what it means."

"Which is?" Elwin asked.

As if answering the question the sound came. Somewhere between a growl and a strangled cry.

"That's where they come from. That's why they hate us... that's why they need us."

"Warden-Commander?"

Sari pulled her swords from her back. Glancing at her companions wishing she'd explained more to them before setting off. But there was no time for such regrets. Applying poison to her blades she forced herself to let no emotion show, "A broodmother."

Roses. Zevran shook his head. It was a beautifully sly way to do the deed. After all, he knew what it meant to them. He wasn't sure the assassin would, but even so. Flowers themselves made such a good delivery system for such a poison. They smell nice, take a quick whiff and enjoy your large dose of poison. Part of him wished he'd thought of it himself.

Now he'd identified the poison he started to administer the antidote, in small doses. If Alistair suddenly got better it would be too suspicious. He'd have to be careful, attempt to keep Alistair in roughly the same condition. It would stave off most suspicions and would give him enough time to properly track down the person responsible. He'd also neutralised the majority of the poison on the roses too. It would do no good to have others getting ill as well.

He would start in the gardens. It was best to work from the top and go down. He smirked, so many ways to apply such a phrase. But now was not the time for such thoughts...

Wynne placed a new cloth on Alistair's head. His colour seemed a little improved, that was something. Now that he was receiving the antidote she had confidence that he'd recover. He wasn't one to come through the blight and give up now. He had too much to fight for.

He stirred murmuring something in his sleep. Wynne stood up and sighed. Warden dreams no doubt...

Alistair rolled over stretching his arm out over the ground. He frowned, she wasn't there. Opening his eyes it was confirmed. He remembered a time when it would have surprised him she lay next to him. He stood and peered through the tent. She sat by the fire facing away from him. Pulling on a pair of leather trousers and a shirt he walked slowly to be beside her. This was so unlike her. Usually she would be the one who'd want to be in his arms, not that he minded that at all.

He sat next to her. In the firelight he could clearly see her eyes were full of tears, despite her trying to hold them back. "Are you alright?" He ran his hand over her shoulder so she lay her head on his chest. At his touch a tear escaped, rolling down her face like a liquid diamond.

"I don't understand." She whispered, "You all seem to have forgotten what we saw, what we found out. Am I the only one who can't get it out of my head?"

"No, of course not." He replied, the Broodmother had haunted him as well. It just seemed too horrific to mention.

"When did Darkspawn become so... evil?"

"They've always been evil."

"But to take women? To do as Hespith said? No, that is more than evil it is..." There was no word to describe it. She exhaled sharply and looked up at him, "When I believed they just killed people I felt I could fight them. Now I fear them, what they could do..."

He wanted to promise her he'd never let the Darkspawn take her, and yet he knew he couldn't. Such a promise would be so hollow. He ran fingers over her face, wiping away the tear.

"Alistair, if we ever get captured by Darkspawn I want you to kill me or find me something so that I can do it myself." Her sadness had gone, her brow was set in determination.

What could he say to her? He didn't want to lose her, much less at his own hand. But to lose her to Darkspawn? To have her go through that? No. That seemed a fate worse than death.

He kissed her forehead and as much as it pained him to do it he nodded, "I promise."

Thanks for reading! Sorry it took such a long time - Exams. But they're all over now so I should get back to regular updates. Thanks if you're reading this for sticking with me. I hope it was worth it.

Please review! I won't improve unless you help me. I'd love to hear from you.