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?

The broodmother lay dead. Sari pulled her sword from its head as Burna sliced through the final flailing tentacle.

"So this was..." Tabia whispered her bow still in hand.

Sari knelt down turning the creature's head so she could examine it. They had wounded it so badly before it had died such that it had almost tipped on its side. With arms waving wildly there had been little it could do to protect itself - herself. She corrected. "Yes." She answered, "This was once a dwarf, no doubt one of the ones who went missing before." The face now so foreign it was beyond recognition, it was monstrous. But the eyes...

Elwin shook his head, "By the creators, I didn't sign up for this."

Sari sighed, standing she turned to face him, "I'm sorry. But you signed up to protect Ferelden, this is the greatest danger to Ferelden," She gestured to the darkspawn corpses, "Even now. I explained to you some of what we would be facing. I apologise if it was not enough." She glanced down to the broodmother. She should have brought only wardens, these people were skilled yes, but they didn't need this kind of thing in their heads - no one did.

"We're with you Warden-Commander." Burna cut through her thoughts.

Sari smiled, "Good, then we had better be off. We're still not at the bottom of this."

Sheathing her swords Sari started to lead them down the next tunnel. She paused. "No. Not this way." She turned, they'd have to find another way round.

"What is it?" Burna asked.

"Darkspawn, lots of them." Sari moved in to a run, "They're getting closer."

Zevran crouched on the roof by the gardens. The moon was full bringing more than enough light to see, well just about everything. The rose bush was the only thing he focused on. His investigation was moving fast; he smirked, he had certainly not lost his touch.

He'd looked at the garden staff first, those who had recently been hired but they'd all checked out. He'd checked with some of the servants who had access to Alistair's room. The roses had neither been asked for nor had they done it. But all of them admitted they'd seen someone carrying the flowers into the King's room. It was not a surprise to say they'd not taken much notice of the person who was doing it. He shook his head, serious changes would need to occur...

He'd wanted to wait here to catch the culprit in the act but even after so many days he'd seen no one. He was convinced the roses were the method and the roses on the bush had tested positive for poison. It was for that reason, he assumed, that a couple of the garden workers had started to show minor symptoms. It seemed there was an unwritten rule: none tended the rose bush, other than Alistair. That was what had kept them safe thus far.

Movement stirred below him. He froze, remaining as still as possible. Perhaps tonight was the night.

Light flooded into the room. As Alistair opened his eyes he wasn't sure whether it was night or day. Slowly he brought his hand to his head.

"How are you feeling?" A voice asked.

Turning he saw Wynne sat beside his bed.

"Tired, but a bit better." He answered honestly.

She nodded, "Good."

He glanced to the window. The moon was shining but he'd slept so much he didn't feel like he could sleep any more. He looked back at Wynne, she was preparing some sort of potion no doubt expecting him to drink it. He would bet a lot of money that it would taste disgusting.

Right on cue she handed him the green coloured liquid. Without complaint he downed it. He'd been right. The taste caused him to cough and gag.

"It can't have been that bad." She replied.

"You didn't have to drink it!" He laughed

Wynne smiled, "You are feeling better." She paused, "Rest, I'll be back soon."

As she left the room Alistair sighed. Propping himself up in bed he noticed the roses by on the side. That was thoughtful. Picking one up out of the vase he fingered the petals and brought it to his nose. It smelt different.

"Where are we going?" Tabia asked breathlessly as they stopped for a second.

Sari glanced behind them, she didn't answer. She could feel them gaining they couldn't wait and yet the darkspawn were just too fast. They couldn't out run them, they'd been running for... too long already. She was not giving up; they had to try. "Come on." She began to sprint again, "We have to get to-" In her mind she searched somewhere, anywhere safe. Where was closest? How far they come?

A shrill cry cut through whatever fake assurances she was going to attempt to give. "Shrieks!" Burna cried.

This was it; Sari stopped running. She pulled out her blades. Shrieks materialised beside her. She swung her swords in a full arc slicing through them. Her companions joined in the combat as more appeared.

Their mouths dropped as they finally saw what had been chasing them. Darkspawn poured round the corner it must have been at least twenty of them, no... it was more, they just kept coming. One walked calmly in the centre of them his hands glowing, an emissary.

Sari thrust her blades into the darkspawn before her and started to move towards the emissary, she knew the best way to defeat them: they could not be allowed to complete the cast. The others too knew and all started to advance whilst the creature's hands began to move in ever more intricate patterns.

She was almost there. Just one more swing-

Too late. Rock appeared before her crashing into her chest and throwing her backwards such that she smashed into the wall.

The world went black.

Thanks for reading! This took a bit longer than I expected. It's partly due to the chapter's disjointed nature. Longer one next time I think. :)

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