The Tainted Knight
A Dragon Age Fanfiction
By Bionca Femme
Chapter 25: Commander of the Grey
Selene was awoken by a Gauntleted fist banging on her door. She lifted her head up off Alistair's chest and squinted blearily into the half-light of the early morning that invaded her room. She realized that her cheek was wet and her fingers stole up to find that the moisture emanated from the corner of her mouth.
"Yep," Alistair chuckled. "You drool in your sleep," he pointedly wiped the corresponding wetness on his chest away and sat up as well.
Selene opened her mouth to retort with a no doubt witty reply when the impatient banging on her door sounded again. "Must be Oghren, no one else would dare," she smirked at Alistair's lifted brow and she grabbed a robe off of the post of her bed and slipped it on, tying it at the waist before flinging the door open.
"This better be good, Dwarf," she said in a grouchy tone which was completely nullified by the teasing smile she wore.
"Aye, its always good with old Oghren, lass. That's why the ladies call me, O-O-Oghren," he drew out his name in a sigh that sounded absolutely filthy and had Selene giggling.
"That had to be the most disturbing thing I have ever heard," Alistair commented from the bed.
"Yeah, well. Who asked ya?" Oghren retorted.
"Good point," Alistair replied.
"Oghren?" Selene called the Dwarf's attention back to her. "Not that I mind you coming to my rooms, but do you have a reason for pounding on my door before dawn?"
"You better get dressed and come downstairs, Commander. Watcher Rilyn, Ser Perth and some hot looking lady named Sigrun came in last night. Seems that Soldier's Peak got ambushed by Dark Spawn a few weeks ago," he replied.
"What!" she exclaimed. "Weeks? How did we not know this before?"
"Cause the messenger they sent to warn us never made it. Some Lady Warden named Niara," he replied.
"Oh, Maker…no!" Selene staggered a bit and was steadied by Oghren's large calloused hand. He helped her inside and supported her until Alistair had pulled on his trousers and was able to help her to a chair.
"Who else?" she asked.
"Them that showed up were the only ones that made it out alive," Oghren replied uncomfortably.
Selene sat there in shocked silence and then a sudden look of rage was the only warning that either man had before Selene's fist slammed down on the vanity table she sat at. The wood gave and splintered under the contact, luckily, or else she might have broken her hand.
"Son of a whore!" she swore at the abused furniture.
"I'll go let Varel know you'll be down in a bit," Oghren gave her a respectful nod and left, closing the door behind him.
Alistair waited while Selene sat there a moment to collect herself. Then unable to take the uncomfortable silence any longer he set a comforting hand on her shoulder. Which, she grasped gratefully. "Are you alright?" he asked softly.
"No," she said firmly. "I'm not alright. However, I have some dark spawn to kill, and it will have to do for now."
"Understood," he replied knowing now was not the time to hover over her. "I'll go back to my rooms and get ready. Meet you downstairs in ten minutes?"
She kissed him on the cheek and offered him a reassuring smile. "Yes, thank you, my love."
He gave her hand a squeeze in response and left quickly for his room.
Selene hurried to her Wardrobe and pulled out a shirt and trousers. Then she took her newly cleaned armor off the stand where the servants had hung it for her while she had bathed the previous night.
She mechanically donned her armor as the familiar anger that she had carried with her for the duration of the blight built within her. The anger at Loghain, at Howe, at the dark spawn, it was the same now as it was then. Someone had messed with her family, had killed those that she loved, and they would pay.
As she dressed she saw Niara's face, heard Cyrus scold Xephi and worst of all, Xephi's responding belly laugh. Midway through the last strap on her armor her hands began to tremble and just as her ten minutes were up she was choking down the grief that clawed at the inside of her ribcage.
Ten minutes later everyone was gathered in the throne room. Alistair stood at Varel's side, his eyes trained on Ser Perth who looked lost and somehow smaller without his plate armor. He turned to look at Selene and when their eyes met it was like a punch in the gut. This was not the same man that she had left at Soldier's Peak. This man's eyes, though still blue, held untold amounts of pain and self loathing. This was a man tormented by his own demons. He smiled at her sadly and she found herself offering him a sympathetic smile in return. They both had lost here and she saw also, the understanding and the acceptance in his eyes. They were over, and he acknowledged it. She took the apology in his gaze and returned it. They could move on and work together; there were more important things at stake here.
When their wordless conversation was over the tension in the room lessened and she resumed her stride towards Varel. "What's the situation?" she asked when she reached him.
"Commander, Amaranthine is under attack. The city will fall if we don't respond immediately. But we have another problem. A horde is also heading here and will be here in another day," he said.
"Varel, I refuse to let this be an 'either/or' situation. There must be a way we can both save the city and defend the Keep," she folded her arms over her chest and then looked at her fellow wardens. "Any suggestions?"
"We need to march to Amaranthine. If we let those people die, then we're no better than the dark spawn!" Anders was the first to speak up.
"Don't be sodding stupid!" Oghren replied gruffly. "The city is lost, if we lose the Vigil then the rest of Amaranthine goes with it!"
"And what if it was Felsi and the baby in there?" Anders replied. "What would you sacrifice to save them?"
Oghren growled. "Everything. Sod, even the Commander," he favored her with an apologetic look and she returned it with a sympathetic smile.
"I love Amaranthine as much as anyone, Commander. Perhaps even more," Nathaniel replied. "But you can't lose the Vigil. We're all the Fereldan Wardens left."
"I'm with you, whatever you decide, Commander," Sigrun piped in.
"As am I," Ser Perth agreed.
"We cannot sit by while these vile creatures attack the helpless as we sit safe within our walls, make haste to the city Commander. Protect the innocent," Justice advised.
It was then that Selene realized that Alistair had been very quiet. "Alistair?" she prompted.
He looked up at her with a pale face. "Zevran, Bertram…Wynne. Maker's breath, I think they're still in the city!"
Of all the things she expected to hear. That was not it. "Andraste's ass!" she swore.
Everyone started talking at once and then began arguing and talking over one another and finally Selene had enough. "Silence!" she bellowed.
The room fell silent at her command and she looked at each of them in turn. "I have faith in this Keep, and in the men and women that Garrison it. I realize that we've been hit hard but the Wardens have suffered worse. It took three Wardens to unite the country and end the blight. And I swear by the Maker that with eight of us-," she was cut off when Velanna who had up until then been silent stepped forward.
"Nine," she said. "I took the joining while you were in Black Marsh."
Selene shot Varel a questioning look which he returned with a sheepish expression. She sighed, having no time to scold him for it. "Fine, nine. With eight of us, I see no reason why either the Keep or the City shall fall. I will take three of you with me to Amaranthine. The rest of you will stay here and make sure that the Vigil still stands when I return."
"I'm coming with you," Alistair said instantly.
Selene shook her head, "No, Alistair."
Alistair narrowed his eyes at her. "With all due respect Commander, you can hardly forbid me from going."
"Alistair, if you go, your men will want to come with you and I need them and you here!" she replied.
"They'll stay here, under Seneschal Varel's command. But I'm going with you, and that's final," his tone was commanding and while normally she would have pushed on and persuaded him with logic, he look on his face was stony and she actually flinched. He had changed since taking the throne. This wasn't Warden Alistair. This was King Alistair, and King Alistair wasn't going to be ordered around.
She sighed. "Yes, your Majesty," she replied but with a kind and accepting tone that held no hint of sarcasm or patronization.
"I'm going too," Anders volunteered.
"Alright," she nodded. She looked the rest over. One more, she would only take one more. She looked them all over, each one ready and eager to fight and die at her side. Finally the answer greeted her with a hawkish nose and an air of disdain that only a Howe can achieve, because in the end, Zevran would be most displeased with her if she let his lover die while she ran off to save him. "Nathaniel, this is a chance to redeem your family's honor. Will you come with me to defend Amaranthine?"
Nathaniel stepped forward and bowed, "It would be an honor, Commander."
She said goodbye to the rest of her extended family, clutching each of them to her as though it would be for the last time that they embraced.
And when she came to Oghren that grief that had gnawed at her insides earlier returned. "Don't you dare die on me, you dirty ol' drunk!" she said as she dropped to her knees and embraced him tightly.
He stiffened, momentarily taken aback by her emotional display and then his strong arms closed about her and he crushed her to him. "Don't be worrying about me, Lady," he said thickly. "You keep an eye on the little pike twirler and the man-skirt wearing freak. Either of them die and you're stuck with old Oghren to keep you warm at night."
She pulled back slightly and kissed him on the cheek, chuckling as his cheeks reddened. "There's no better Dwarf for the job," she laughed through the tears that were welling up in her eyes.
"Hey, get your own," Alistair teased as he helped Selene up from the floor and then he clasped hands with the dwarf. "Maker watch over you, my friend."
"Sure lad," replied Oghren. "And may the stone catch you, if you fall," with that he sauntered off with a suspicious wetness in his eyes and a loud sniff.
He was replaced with Ser Perth and Alistair stiffened beside Selene. Andre held up a hand, "Peace, Sire. I do not wish to start a fight. Selene knows her own mind and she's chosen. I just hope that you treat her right, this time around. Because I'll be waiting if you don't," he finished by taking Selene's hand and kissing it tenderly.
"There's no need to worry about that," Alistair said firmly.
Ser Perth nodded, seemingly satisfied with that answer, he dropped Selene's hand gently and looked into her eyes. "If we never see each other again, know that I did love you, in my own way. And I am sorry if it took me so long to see you for who you truly are. You are brave, good and true. The King is truly a lucky man."
"Andre," Selene whispered, unable to think of anything to say.
He shook his head and nodded to them both before letting Sigrun take his hand. "Good luck, Commander," the small dwarven woman said.
"You as well Sigrun," Selene replied, not missing the way that Sigrun gazed up at Ser Perth before she dragged him away, presumably to get ready for the battle.
The rest of the goodbyes went by quickly and before Selene was ready she was heading out of the keep and picking up a few last minute supplies from Master Wade on her way out.
Not two hours later they were on the Pilgrim's Path, making haste to Amaranthine.
Bertram watched as Ser Tamra adjusted the gloves of her newly acquired leather Armor, something that Zevran had picked up for her in the Market before the Merchants had gone to the Chantry with the rest of the surviving citizens. The city had succumbed rapidly to the virulent dark spawn disease, spread by large grub-like dark spawn that had burst out of the remains of the crown and lion as it smoldered.
"You don't have to do this, lass," Bertram pointed out to her and watched as she strapped the quiver full of arrows to her back.
"Amaranthine is my home, and I will defend it with my dying breath if need be," she replied without looking at him.
"Aye, I suppose I cannot deny you that. No matter how much I may want to," he replied and then he picked up his shield and his Longsword. With them securely in place, he raised his eyes again he found her large green ones staring directly into his soul.
"I never thanked you, did I?" she asked. "For saving me, I mean to say."
Bertram winked in response. "I tell you what, once this is over you can thank me with a kiss," he replied.
She seemed to consider this awhile and then she smiled a genuine smile. One that reached her eyes and lit up the room like the sun. "I suppose that is an acceptable boon."
Bertram laughed. "Aye, lass," he grinned. "I'll have to do my best to not let a Hurlock take off my head so that I might collect it."
She nodded. "See that you do."
Zevran clucked his tongue from the doorway, "And what about me?"
"Nobody wants to kiss you, elf," Bertram said without missing a beat.
Zevran clutched his chest theatrically. "You are such a cad to spurn my affections so!"
"You'll get over it," Bertram chuckled.
"It's true, so many men, so little time," he smirked as Ser Tamra huffed at the elf's inability to be serious.
"Don't let him get to you, dear. He only does it to irritate people," Wynne appeared from behind Zevran.
"Ah my lovely Wynne, you are such a cynical woman. It drives me mad with desire," he purred and then he reached downwards and goosed her. Then he pranced out of the way as she turned around and swiped at him.
"You keep your desires where I can see them, you rapscallion!" she said sternly and then entered the room and fussed over Bertram and Ser Tamra for a bit.
Bertram waved her off. "My shoulder is fine. Maker's breath if there was a demon of over-mothering you would be it," he teased.
Wynne chuckled. "It's a rough job, but someone has to do it. What about you dear? Any lingering pain?" she asked Ser Tamra.
"I'm fine, thank you Wynne. You've done an excellent job, I've never felt better," she replied with a grateful smile.
Outside, the alarm sounded, signaling that dark spawn had reached the city. The four exchanged glances, then gathered their weapons and left the house to do battle with the approaching dark spawn.
Selene, Alistair, Anders, and Nathaniel found the city already under siege. They dismounted and Selene felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck. It was too much like Denerim for her liking. She drew her Longswords.
"Ready boys?" she looked over her shoulder to make sure they were all dismounted and were ready to charge in at her back.
"Ready Commander," Alistair slipped his helm over his head and drew his shield and Longsword.
"Aye, Commander," Nathaniel replied his bow out and an arrow already in his hand.
"You can count on me, fearless leader," Anders gave his staff a twirl and flashed her a toothy smile.
She grinned at them and then put on her own helm. "For the Grey Wardens!" she roared and together they charged into the fray.
The dark spawn seemed to hear her as they stopped fighting and turned to face the charging Commander.
"Get the Warden-Commander! Tear her apart, the Mother demands it!" shouted one of the talking dark spawn.
Selene cackled wildly as it charged her. "You first!" Selene said as she dodged its first blow and swept her blades low, slicing into the backs of the creature's knees. The dark spawns legs gave out and she ran it through from behind, the tip of her blade piercing through the front of its chest. With a crow of triumph she placed her boot in the small of its back and shoved it off her sword, watching as it fell face first into the mud and did not move.
Whispering invaded her mind suddenly and she turned, her eyes widened in horror as she spied Alistair battling with two Genlocks and running at him full speed was an Ogre. "Sweet Andraste!" she exclaimed and ran towards Alistair. "Alistair!" she screamed.
He beheaded a one Genlock and then skewered the other, pushing it off his blade with a push of his shield. His head snapped up to see her running at him.
"Ogre!" she shouted.
He turned, just in time for him to be picked up and shaken like a ragdoll. "No!" she screamed.
Just then Anders came out of seemingly nowhere, casting healing spell after healing spell, trying to keep the King alive as long as possible.
An arrow whizzed by her ear and lodged itself in the junction between the Ogre's neck and shoulder. It roared in pain and dropped Alistair, who rolled to his feet and stood, dazed but alright.
"Alistair!" she cried out. "Take a knee!"
Alistair did as he was commanded and he kneeled. Selene used her momentum to vault onto Alistair's back and then she launched herself into the air, both her blades drawn. The dragonbone blades pierce through the silverite plate armor of the Ogre like a hot knife through butter. She twisted them into the monster's chest. "Die, damn you!" she screamed at it and eventually it fell backwards, Selene still clinging to it.
She climbed off of it and then she and her companions continued cutting a path of destruction through the creatures.
When they finally reached the gates they were greeted by the wide mischievous smile of Zevran. "Well, aren't you all a sight for sore eyes!" he exclaimed.
"I brought your boyfriend," Selene chuckled and inclined her head at Nathaniel, who lifted an eyebrow at her but didn't say anything.
"So you did," he said with a smirk and a twinkle in his eyes. "I was beginning to wonder just who it was that I was going to give a good celebratory ravishing to. Alas, Wynne has turned me down already."
As if summoned, Wynne appeared and frowned. "Oh, Selene! Thank the Maker you're here! If I had to endure one more conversation about my bosom I was going to hex him into next week."
"Wynne!" Selene exclaimed happily and threw her arms around the woman. "I was so worried about you!"
Wynne pulled back and patted her cheek affectionately, "Oh, no need to worry about me dear." Her gaze drifted past Selene and found Alistair. She squeezed Selene once more and then she was engulfed in Alistair's arms. "Alistair! I'm so glad you're alright!" she sniffled. "When we heard that half the horde was going to the Vigil, I feared the worst."
"I'm alright, Mother," Selene heard him say softly into the Mage's ear, which made the aging woman cry harder. When she was done she pulled away wiping her eyes.
Bertram sauntered up and clasped hands with the King, "Sire, is it too much to expect you to stay put and leave the dark spawn killing to others?"
"Yes," Alistair replied with a grin. "Good to see you, my friend."
"It's good to see you as well, your Majesty," he replied.
Their brief reunion was cut short by a cry from the battlements, "Here they come!"
"Right," Selene said drawing her swords and turning to face the enemy. "Let's show these bastards what happens when they mess with Fereldans!" she growled.
"Let's do this," Alistair agreed.
Together the eight companions faced the onslaught, dozens of Amaranthine guards at their back.
A/N: This was a very emotional chapter for me. It reminded me of the goodbyes shared by the companions during the final battle in Denerim.
As for Alistair, Selene, Anders, Zevran, Nathaniel, Wynne and Ser Tamra, I don't expect to be writing about them again in this story until perhaps the very end. From here on out, its Ser Perth's show.