Duty's Journey Chapter 13

Celebrations

The Crag – one day later

As was Crag tradition, the night before departure and after a successful Joining there was a feast. Between two difficult journeys, a moment of pleasure. In song and story, Alistair had told her about the comradely he felt among the other Ferelden Wardens, something she had missed out on. Tonight sought to make up for lost time.

Things were different in the Crag. Death waited just a few hundred feet below them. And the company was a bit more select. From Weisshaupt there were a party of twenty Wardens, plus the fifteen on their rotation in the Crag. Even with the High Commander in attendance, no one was playing politics tonight.

Elinora had never seen Gerlach cheerful. He laughed as they exchanged stories, and ate and drank like it was his last meal, which it was. He sat down next to Elinora as she was telling Aldo and some others a second-hand story about life among the Templars. A slightly drunk Gerlach clapped her on the back and pushed her shoulder around to face him.

"You've done good, girl. Especially the Joining yesterday, didn't flinch a moment. Pity you let yourself get a bit soft, but that'll get taken care of with some exercise. You found what you're looking for?"

Elinora tried to puzzle out if the High Commander was actually complimenting her or not. "No, Commander, not yet."

"Well, keep looking. I'm sure its there somewhere. But you're too good a soldier to let that rot. More fighting, less reading, that's what I say!"

"You most certainly do," muttered Aldo

Gerlach guffawed and punched Aldo in the shoulder as a gong sounded. Everyone's merriment faded. Rainer looked at Gerlach. "High Commander, its time."

He nodded. "That it is, my boy."

Gerlach marched from their table to the front of the room amid the cheers of the Wardens. He waved them into calm and then spoke.

"My fellow Grey Wardens, comrades and friends, tonight we come to an end, as must be before a new beginning. Tomorrow morning, Archard and I will submit to the Calling and head down into the Deep Roads. We have served long, with distinction and honor, and now it is time to be done. Maker take us to his bosom, but not until we've emptied the world of a few more Darkspawn!"

The room erupted in cheering.

"Now, the important part, which I am sad to say will surprise no one. I name as my successor Rainer, now High Commander of all the Grey Wardens!"

The hall, again, exploded in huzzahs. Rainer was popular. He rose and approached Gerlach. Solemn words were said and items passed on, which Elinora missed as Archard sat down next to her, two very small glasses of something brown in hand.

Handing her a glass he said, "To the little girl I pulled out of the snow. Duncan sure knew how to pick 'em." They clinked glasses and shot back the liquor. The stuff burned her throat, but she did not flinch. She'd show Archard who was a little girl. As she set down her glass, she saw a glint of pride in his eyes to match the lopsided grin.

More cheers brought their attention back to the front of the room. Solemnity done with, more ale was poured and the toasts began. Elinora counted about twenty to the old and the new High Commander.

And everyone not on duty was good and drunk.

Elinora had the good sense to slow down at about the fifth toast. There was something she had to attend to later, and it wouldn't do to pass out. No, passing out was defiantly a bad idea. She pushed away the dark memory and did her best to look like she was drinking heavily.

Rainer, on the other hand, had no such restrictions and not only had to drink the toasts with the whole party, but a good many individual toasts as well. He staggered over to her, put a leaden hand on her shoulder and one on the table to steady himself.

"So," he slurred, "you wanna be a Commander too, huh?"

"Of the Wardens in Ferelden, yes."

"Well, I need to see more leadership from you, my little minx, before that. Today was good, especially during the Joining, but we need more." Someone took that as a demand for more ale and filled his tankard.

Elinora raised an eyebrow. "Minx?"

Rainer drunkenly giggled. "You fight like one," his face swung close to hers, "and you're so pretty…"

A hand landed on Rainer's shoulder. Aldo pulled him away and steered him toward the dormitories. "That's enough for you, High Commander. Marching back to Weisshaupt with a hangover is a bad idea."

"Aldo," Rainer rambled, "don't you think she's pretty?"

Aldo sighed, "Yes, she reminds me of my sister, now why don't we…"

"Sister? Huh. You going to be all brotherly and hustle away the man talking to your sister?"

Aldo continued to try to get Rainer to move along, but Rainer was very strong, especially when drunk and he had dug his heels in. "Rainer, I'd be more worried about King Alistair sending his army to defend her honor."

Elinora hid her face in her hand. Had everyone read that stupid love letter?

"Alistair? King? What?" Rainer turned to Elinora, almost falling over himself in the process. "High Commander's not good enough for you?" He took a drunken step toward her, but three Wardens intercepted him and guided him away, his slurred words getting lost in their jovial commentary.

Elinora picked up her tankard, "And with that gentlemen," she drank the last of the ale down, "good night." She left the drinking hall.

Sometime close to dawn, sober now, Rainer found her again.

Elinora had taken it upon herself to see that Tretan was properly cremated.

She stood like she had a month ago back at Weisshaupt, calmly watching the pyre burn. Seemly emotionless, still as a rock. Her Marbari sat beside her, as patient as his mistress.

He'd made a royal ass of himself last night, and only by Andraste's grace and the blessing of ale, few may remember it. They had all been drunk, but he was fairly certain that she had not been drunk enough. He watched her a moment, gathering his courage to speak to her.

"Good morning, High Commander," she said softly. "How's the head?"

Caught, he stepped next to her and watched the fire. "About to explode. You?"

She pinned him with a sidelong glance. "Just fine."

He made some non-committal noise. She would, indeed, remember everything. "You don't have to do this. There are men on watch. They can handle it."

"I feel like I should. I was leading the ceremony."

"He was just a recruit, one that couldn't stomach it."

Her mouth twisted, but she said nothing.

"So," Rainer, High Commander of all the Wardens in Thedas, started casually, "about last night…"

"You were drunk, and your behavior was only mildly ungentlemanly." She shrugged. "I've seen worse."

"Did I say anything deeply stupid?"

"You questioned my standards and called me a minx."

"Minx?"

"Never again…" she said lowly.

"Right, right, of course." He fiddled with his gauntlet a moment. "I seem to remember declaring war on Ferelden."

"You did no such thing. Aldo warned you that Alistair might come defend my honor and bring his army with him."

Rainer snorted. "Like your honor needs defending." He realized the utter stupidity of what he had just said even as she shot him a look that redoubled his embarrassment. "I mean, you defend your own honor just fine. You don't need some man doing it for you."

"Right." Her eyes went back to the fire.

"Alistair, then. King of Ferelden, eh?"

"Yes."

An awkward silence stretched until he summoned his courage. "You two were lovers?"

Her face fell in resigned frustration. "Would be still if it weren't for our duties. Maybe we will be again." Her expression became distant.

Rainer thought about it, and decided to take the opportunity. "Are you so devoted to him?" She said nothing. It was pushy and prying, but right now he was going to take his chances. "Word has it that he enjoyed the company of…"

"I know," she injected abruptly. "I know, you don't have to remind me that he hasn't been devoted to me… at all really."

"So…"

"So maybe it's just easier this way." She turned to face him, the fire adding extra glow to those entrancing blue-green eyes. "No other romantic entanglements," she continued. "My heart belongs to another, that's my line, right? Simple as that."

"Simple." Rainer sighed. "If only it was. We hide most of our emotions behind duty. We try to forget about love and… all that goes with it."

"Until it sneaks up behind you in the exercise room."

"Is that what this is about?"

"No. Yes. Maybe." She shrugged, trying to get rid of the unpleasantness crawling up her spine. "Maybe that's why there are no women in the Grey Wardens."

"You're still looking?"

"I'm getting close to when the Wardens became a boys only club."

He smiled. "Don't forget training. If you want to be the next Commander of Ferelden, you're going to have to start leading maneuvers."

She nodded, a small smile on her lips. "Yes, High Commander."