Enjoy this next Chapter! Sorry for the length!
When the Captain cried out above them that they were pulling into the port, Alistair not only jumped out of bed and ran up the stairs, but nearly hugged the man. He stopped when he got a glare but let the goofy grin spread across his face anyway. Zevran and Wynne joined him shortly and they leaned on the banister to watch them come in. The crew worked quickly and hard to get them onto the dock, and only once they were secured were they allowed to leave. Alistair ran from the ship, down the docks and onto land as fast as his still sore leg would allow him, and with a gleeful grin he fell into the grass. Zevran watched him with amusement written across his face, while Wynne laughed and shook her head and Shale just grunted in his direction.
The caravans arrived nearly an hour later; the ground crew worked quickly to load the cargo along with the ship's crew into the caravans. The horses were all stabled at the end of the dock, as they were known to mess the whole place up. They had a series of six caravans ready and stored but they still needed more. This would require time, but Alistair was happy to obligue and pay for the extra work to get all the cargo. He was also happy to just be on solid ground once again.
It took nearly four additional hours to find another set of three caravans. They agreed to take what this Warden offered, 5 sovereigns each when they leave, and another 5 when the arrive; if all of the cargo arrives unharmed and fully accounted for. Another two hours later and all caravans were filled to bursting and ready to go. The horses were being attached as Alistair paid the Captain, and in turn, the crew.
"I cannot come with you," Wynne said as he left the docks to rejoin the vans. Alistair looked shocked, but Zevran did not, he must've already known. "I have work to do with the Circles, and I have taken too much time off already. I will visit the Keep soon, I promise."
"I'll miss you Wynne," he admitted softly.
She laughed and shook her head, "Sure you will." Alistair stuck his hand out for a shake, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him gently. "Have a safe trip back. Don't forget to write!"
"Of course not!" Alistair laughed, awkwardly disentangling himself from her. "I'll write you often. Promise."
Zevran laughed and slapped Alistair on the back. "Shall we get a move on? We have a lot of ground to cover over these next few days."
"Stay safe, Wynne. And Shale." The golem didn't seem to care, and grunted. She hefted Wynne's bag over her shoulder and followed the elder mage.
"Come." Zevran tugged on Alistair again, "we must move."
"Of course."
And so they began the trek back to Vigil's Keep.
It was a long one at that, with the heavy cargo and the extra people to feed they had to stop an hour earlier than Alistair would have wanted to to feed the people and the horses. It took hours to get everything settled, and by then the sun would be down and food would just be beginning to be served.
However, on the fifth day they finally saw the Keep in the distance and Alistair himself was so pleased. But night was going to be coming soon, and there was still hours to go. So, he called them down for the night. Zevran was the first to comment, but Alistair explained himself and everyone seemed to understand.
Though once food had been dished out and everyone was settled to sleep Zevran slipped up beside Alistair. "There is another reason why you do not want to push through," there was no question and the Warden sighed.
"Of course there is. What if we get back and she's dead?" He asked lowly, not daring to look the elf in the eye.
"Then we deal with it," he shrugged. Of course, Zevran was not so cold-hearted, but he had had more time to come to grips with the idea of her death. She had been laying there for months now, and there was a good chance that she would be dead by the time they returned. "Like we have everything else."
Alistair grunted. "Like we have?" He shook his head, "I ran away, I didn't deal with anything."
Zevran sighed. "True, but you have choice to change now."
The former templar nodded grimly and got up. "I'm going to sleep, get a night of sleep before return to the Vigil."
The next morning found Alistair awake and not resting at all. He hadn't gotten a wink of sleep the whole night, he had spent it fighting off the nightmares of finding her cold corpse, looking at him accusingly.
He rubbed sleep and anger from his eyes and threw his tent down quickly. Others were only starting to rise as he finished packing up his things. He took time to feed the horses while the van owners and operators woke.
"No time for breakfast," he told them all as they started getting out of their tents. He even knocked Zevran's over to wake him. "We will be there in a few hours, you will get proper food there."
They all grumbled, but did as they were bid. Only an hour later and they were ready to go. Another four hours and they were riding up on the Keep's gates. Alistair's palms felt clammy and his stomach was clenching uncomfortable. Something was.. different about the place. even Zevran seemed to notice it. The recruits in the rings looked refreshed and happy, the forces he had sent away with Oghren had returned, but that wasn't it.
It wasn't until they came up to the front steps that the difference presented itself.
Her armour was immaculate, and a massive greatsword was slung over her shoulders. Her long orange hair tumbled loosely down her back while her white-blue eyes stared directly into his eyes. "Welcome back, my friend," Emily said smoothly, offering a salute to Alistair and Zevran. The former was struck silent and still with awe, while the latter cheered and rushed her, capturing her in a hug that she eagerly returned.
But her eyes remained on the former templar, even while she let the assassin go. "It is good to see you again, Alistair. Come, we have much to discuss. You too, Zevran."