As always, my deepest gratitude to everyone reading, favoriting, and reviewing! And today I have to offer my most special thanks to my husband, who uncomplainingly acts as beta and sounding board and cheerleader. Happy anniversary, honey!
Daniel and Judith were so comfortable, sleeping in each other's arms at last, that the knock on the door in the morning came before they awoke. Daniel jumped at the sound, and Judith woke with a start from her first dreamless sleep in a long time.
"Are you all right?" she asked groggily.
He nodded, his heart pounding, wondering how long it would be until sudden noises stopped making him jump out of his skin.
"Who is it?" Judith called out.
"Alistair."
"Damn Chantry training. He's always punctual," she groaned, climbing out of bed. "I hope you brought breakfast," she called to Alistair through the door.
"Am I a Grey Warden, or not?" he said. "Of course I brought breakfast. And it's heavy, so if you don't mind …"
Judith hastily put on her mage robes, being the easiest and not requiring underwear. Daniel chuckled as he watched the process. "I'll never be able to look at mages the same way again," he said.
"It'll be a more accurate picture, I suspect," Judith said, grinning. Daniel pulled on his pants, but didn't bother with the shirt. "That's a good look for you," she said, her eyes resting on his bare chest hungrily.
"Later," he said, his eyes darkening with promise. It was so natural being together this way, both of them felt momentarily free of the stresses of the Blight. Daniel crossed the room, opening the door for Alistair.
"Thanks a lot," Alistair said. "What took you so long?" He looked at the scene in front of him—clothes strewn everywhere, bedcovers a tangled mess, half-dressed couple who had clearly just gotten out of bed—and thought of Leliana. He swallowed uncomfortably. "Never mind. I don't want the details."
"Wasn't going to share them anyway," Judith grinned. She shoved a chunk of cheese into her mouth.
"Er, should I be in here for this?" Daniel asked. "Grey Warden secrets and things."
Judith looked at him. "You know, most of it you'll either have to know because you're with me, or you already know because you eavesdropped on my conversation with Riordan."
"I told you before, it can be a valuable tool," he said unapologetically. "Information gathering is key."
Thinking of Alistair's probable reaction to her discussion with Anora, Judith thought he might not want to have an audience for the revelation. "This might be better off being a private conversation, after all," she said to Daniel. "Would you mind?"
"Not at all," he said. After a moment's search, he found his shirt, shrugging into it. He gave Judith a brief kiss on the cheek. "See you later?"
"We'll be leaving for the Alienage at 9. I'll need you to come along, since you know it better than the rest of us."
Daniel nodded, and he and Judith stood grinning foolishly at each other for a moment.
"If the two of you don't mind," Alistair said testily, "time is passing rather quickly while I wait here for whatever bad news is sure to be coming."
Judith started guiltily. "I'm sorry, Alistair, you're right." She looked apologetically at Daniel.
"I'm off, then," he said, snagging an apple off the breakfast tray.
The door closed behind Daniel and there was a silence.
"Everything seems to have worked out," Alistair offered.
"Mostly. I think it'll be a while before he's fully recovered." Judith tore into a strip of bacon.
"Understandable." He sat heavily in a chair, sighing. "You might as well hit me with it."
Judith rubbed a hand over her face. "Where to start?" she groaned. "All right, the Grey Warden part first. According to Riordan, a Grey Warden has to kill the Archdemon. Otherwise, the tainted essence goes into the nearest darkspawn, and the Blight just keeps on going."
"Well, we certainly wouldn't want that. And the Grey Warden?"
"The Grey Warden's tainted essence absorbs the taint from the Archdemon, and both are destroyed."
"I'll do it," Alistair said without hesitation.
"No, you won't." Judith looked at him severely. "Firstly, because Riordan will do it." She held up a hand to forestall Alistair's protest. "Traditionally, the Grey Warden closest to their Calling is chosen. Riordan said it would be a shame to waste someone with so many years ahead as we have." She stared straight into Alistair's eyes. "And let me make this clear: If Riordan is killed and can't kill the Archdemon, I will do it. You are going to be King of Ferelden, and I am the Warden Commander here. It's my duty to perform this task if Riordan can't, and yours to live and rule this kingdom. There will be no last-minute grandstands. Clear?"
Alistair nodded sullenly. It was obvious he still wanted to argue, but there was no room for that. Not right now. Of course, he'd want to sacrifice himself even more when she told him about Anora, Judith thought.
"Is there anything else?" Alistair asked, bringing her back to herself.
"Of course. And it's … you're not going to like it."
"That's a surprise," Alistair said. "Because I've been so thrilled with all the events leading up to this."
A smile drifted across Judith's face at his sarcasm. "I think you'll like this a bit less than usual. You remember when Anora and I had our private talk yesterday?"
"Yes?" He looked apprehensive, reflexively taking the last of the cheese off the breakfast tray.
"The easiest way to resolve the civil war so we can all get on to the business of ending the Blight is to ally the house of Theirin with the power currently on the throne." She paused, watching as Alistair chewed on the cheese, his jaws slowing as her meaning began to filter through. He swallowed it all in a lump, coughing, his eyes staring at her in horror as he understood.
"'House of Theirin'? 'Ally'? That's an awfully impersonal way to tell me you want me to spend the rest of my life sleeping with Anora!"
"'Want,' I think, is an overstatement," Judith said. "But it makes sense, strategically."
"Strategically? Is that what I'm supposed to tell Leliana? That everything we've … been together is nothing because Anora makes sense strategically?" He was shouting at her now, and Judith looked at him sadly.
"I don't know what you should tell her. She knows she can't be queen, we've all been over this."
Calming somewhat, Alistair said, "No, I don't think she really does know. She's so practical in so many ways, but in this …"
"Do you want me to talk to her?"
"No. I'll have to. I just … don't know what to tell her. I wish— I never wanted this."
"I know you didn't. And I'm sorry," Judith said softly. "I wish there was a way for the two of you, but we all know there isn't." She waited a moment, then asked, "Will you do it?"
"Marry Anora?"
She nodded.
Alistair swallowed, standing up. Judith could see in his eyes that he wanted to say no, wanted to insist on having something in his life go the way he wanted it, and she held her breath, waiting to see what he would do.
"I have to talk to Leliana," he said hoarsely.
"Does that mean you'll do it?"
He shrugged miserably before rushing out of the room.
Judith rubbed a hand across her face, wishing somehow she could find a way to make it right for her friends. But it wasn't to be.