After the Landsmeet
Kallian's companions were in a large reception room near the Landsmeet chamber, helping themselves to drink and the platter of bread, cheese and dried meat that had just been set out for them. Wynne fussed for a bit to make sure Kallian was fully recovered from her tumble and when she was satisfied all was well, the others crowded around Kallian to offer their congratulations. Sten spotted a tray of baked goods being brought into the room and moved to secure himself some cookies once he had dropped a heavy hand on her shoulder with a grunt of approval.
Leliana threw her arms around Kallian. "You looked lovely, even when Loghain was choking you, and barely a hair out of place!" She giggled as Kallian snorted in response, and then grew serious. "I am sorry it came to this, for both Anora and Cauthrien."
Kallian shook her head. "I did not see thatcoming…" Oghren pressed a goblet of something into her hand.
"Here ya go, kid. Good on ya." With a belch, he took a drink from his own flask and moved toward the food. A man of few words.
"Where's Zev?" Kallian had seen him when she entered the room, but she had lost track of him.
"Here I am," came the reply from behind her, and her heart fluttered. He held a small plate of food out to her, and Leliana excused herself, slipping off to speak with Wynne.
Taking the plate, she put it and her goblet on a nearby table and turned back to him. "Zev…"
He smiled. "I am yours." The way he said it, his voice low and thick with desire, made her breath hitch and her pulse race. The rest of her body quickly followed with its reaction and more than anything she wanted to be alone with him. She scowled slightly at herself.
"Maker's breath, Zevran, don't do that." He raised an eyebrow. "Get all charming when I'm annoyed with you. What happened? Why didn't you or Alistairdo something?" She would never tell either of them, but she was more impressed with how quickly Cauthrien had reacted than she was angry at how slowly her own companions had reacted.
"I apologize. I am embarrassed to admit I was not expecting Loghain to try to…"
The door swung open to reveal Alistair, who strode into the room and broke into a sheepish grin as heads turned to look at him. "Erm, hello."
He spotted Kallian and hurried over to her. "I'm going to be king. After all of this is over, they're going to put me on the throne. Make me wear a crown and fancy clothing and…"
"Yes, but now you will be able to ensure that you always have the finest cheeses on hand, so it really isn't all bad, is it?"
He rolled his eyes in response. "You know, there was a time when I'd be really unhappy about this and probably never speak to you again, but I think with Anora's help and the support of people like Eamon and Teagan…and you?...it will be…less terrifying."
Kallian blinked at him, unsure of what to make of his question, such as it was. There was no time for clarification, however; Alistair was addressing all of them now.
"I need to wrap up a bit of business here and then we are going to head back to Arl Eamon's estate for a celebration. The staff has been alerted and is preparing a feast for us. Kallian, would you mind?" He gestured to the door.
She cast a quick glance at Zevran, who bowed slightly at the waist. "I shall be here when you return and you may finish reprimanding me then."
She took a deep drink from her goblet, quickly made note not to drink any more as it was Oghren's own brew, and followed Alistair out into the hallway, where Riordan joined them. The three Wardens exchanged greetings.
Alistair looked at Kallian. "Anora will stay with…her father this evening. There will be a pyre for him in the morning and then she'll return to the estate while the staff prepares the palace." He ran his hand over his face and hair. "I don't know what to do about Cauthrien."
Kallian had already given this some consideration. "What's to do? She saved my life. Besides, Ser Cauthrien's experience and her sword are needed in battle. I had a thought, though. I want to invite her to join the Wardens."
"Oh. Ah, well, that is a good idea. But how will we do the joining? We need the blood of an arch demon. And what if she dies?"
Kallian smiled. "I think she'll survive. I have a good feeling about her. Riordan, didn't you say Loghain might have taken the Wardens' supply from the last blight?"
"I did." He nodded.
"Well, if he did, Ser Cauthrien might know where it is. She was his lieutenant." She shrugged. "It's worth a shot. We can get darkspawn blood within hours, I'm sure, and we have mages and lyrium."
"Sister, there are small groups of darkspawn nearby. I can be back with what you need within a day. Go, speak to Ser Cauthrien and enjoy your celebrations."
Alistair called upon a few of Eamon's knights to go with Riordan. Riordan took the men to prepare for the journey while Kallian and Alistair set off for the holding cells one floor down. They found the lieutenant sitting on the bench that ran along the wall of her cell, her tear-stained face pale and her eyes red. She was still wearing her armour, gloves and helm at her side, but her weapons were on a table near the entrance to the room where a lone guard stood watch.
Alistair cleared his throat. "Ser Cauthrien?"
She looked toward them and then away, sobbing softly. Kallian touched the guard's arm and pointed to the cell door. He started slightly and turned to Alistair. "My lord?"
"Go on. This is the Grey Warden Commander of Ferelden." He waved a hand at the heraldry on Kallian's armour to punctuate his point and seemed to puff up a bit when the guard jumped to unlock the cell door.
"Good job, Alistair, and...ah...thanks." Kallian whispered, feeling awkward.
"It's weird, right? Having a title?" He asked, trying to ignore the guard who had smirked just then.
"Um...yes, a little. Ah, okay..." She walked into the cell and sat near Cauthrien. "I don't know quite what to say, Ser Cauthrien. I am sorry for your loss."
Cauthrien laughed bitterly. "Really?"
"Yes, really. Whatever he was to me and Alistair, Cauthrien, Loghain was something entirely different to you and it is obvious you are grieving."
The warrior looked slightly surprised at Kallian's compassion, embarrassed even, and turned to Alistair. "What is to happen to me, your majesty? The regent must want my head."
"Oh, I haven't been crowned yet, so there's no need for that. Calling me your majesty, that is." He stepped into the cell. "Anora does not want your head, but Loghain may have supporters who would want revenge against you. I think we can protect you from that, if need be. As for me, you saved the Commander's life. I should reward you for that."
Who are you and what have you done with Alistair? Kallian thought, as she listened to him. With a smile, she nodded to him and turned to Cauthrien.
"I thank you for saving my life." She took a breath and carried on. "We do want to discuss something with you. Ferelden needs all the soldiers she has to fight this blight and I have no doubt you would continue to serve her well in that capacity. However, the more Wardens we have, the better. I want to offer you a place with the Wardens."
Cauthrien looked startled. She was quiet for a moment. "You would do this after everything that has happened, after Ostagar and Fort Drakon and everything else?"
Kallian nodded. "Surely you know the Antivan Crow Loghain hired to kill us now travels with us. I seem to make a habit of recruiting companions other people...wouldn't."
"I am not sure you should trust my judgement, Warden. I believedLoghain, I trusted him, but I couldn't see his madness until it was too late and when I did I…I couldn't…" Her voice drifted off. "I won't let that happen again."
Kallian frowned at the hard edge in Cauthrien's voice. Had she lovedLoghain? "I should warn you that a Warden's life is not easy."
Cauthrien nodded. "I have heard...rumours, Commander."
She lapsed into a contemplative silence for a few moments, giving Kallian a chance to shoot a look at Alistair. She's heard rumours? Are the Wardens' secrets not so secret? He shrugged.
Looking at Kallian and then to Alistair, Cauthrien nodded slowly and cleared her throat. "I accept. I confess I may have had more in common with King Cailan than Teyrn Loghain when it came to our attitudes regarding the Grey Wardens."
Kallian sighed with relief and stood, offering a hand to Cauthrien. The two women gripped arms as the latter stood. "There is something else. In order to prepare the Joining ceremony for you, we need something we believe Loghain may have taken from the Wardens' supplies here in Denerim. Do you know of what I speak?"
When Cauthrien nodded, Kallian had to surpress the urge to hug her.
xXx
Upon their return to the estate, Eamon announced dinner would be served within the hour and everyone had retired to their rooms to freshen up and change into more suitable clothing. Kallian laid out her green dress and stripped down to her small clothes. She was rubbing a cloth soaked in rose water over her arms and chest and relating the details of Cauthrien's recruitment and their subsequent search for, and discovery of, the stolen Grey Warden property, when she spotted Zevran's reflection in the vanity mirror. He was sneaking up behind her.
"I can see you, you know."
"I know. You wear your success well, amata, and it is making you even sexier than usual, which is pretty sexy. I musthave you. Now." Zevran wrapped his arms around her and kissed the nape of her neck while leaning her forward, his arousal obvious and pressing against her.
"Zev, what are you…we don't have time…" Kallian's protests were hardly serious. She pushed herself against his groin and reached back to run her fingers through his hair.
He pushed her smalls down and brought his fingers back up between her legs to tease her. "Brace yourself," he commanded, making her pulse race even faster.
She barely had time to put her hands down on the vanity before he thrust into her. Kallian gasped out his name, sending shivers of pleasure through his body. Zevran growled into her neck and turned her face to his so he could kiss her. His tongue possessed her mouth, his hands gripped her hips, and they were oblivious to everything but each other. Their passion was raw, animalistic and rough, and it was over all too quickly. Surprised, the lovers laughed as they collapsed onto the vanity.
xXx
The great hall glittered with candlelight and buzzed with conversation. A modest fire burned in the grand fireplace at one end of the room while musicians played nearby. Eamon's knights and their ladies were dancing and Bann Teagan had joined them, with Leliana at his side Kallian noted. Alistair was sharing a bottle of something with Oghren, which seemed a spectacularly bad idea this early in the evening. Wynne and Eamon were chatting near the high board, Sten and Morrigan were off in a corner together. Kallian hoped they weren't discussing what the Qunari did to their mages or how they managed sexual relations. Neither topic had seemed conducive to camaraderie the first time they had come up. Kallian stood still for a moment, taking in the scene, before suggesting they get drinks and mingle.
As they walked toward the table where Alistair and Oghren were, Zevran pulled her close. "You are positively glowing, bella," he whispered into her ear as he slid his hand down her back to rest it on the curve of her hip. "It must be the lovemaking." She was aroused; he could tell by the way she shifted against him, the way her breathing changed, the way she sighed softly. Kallian slipped her arms around his waist and gave him a squeeze, kissing his cheek. If I die now, I shall die a truly happy man.
Alistair draped an arm around each of the elves. "Don't try that stuff Oghren's drinking. I think it might be poisonous." He watched Oghren wander off on unsteady legs.
Kallian laughed. "You aren't much of a drinker, Alistair. Be careful or you'll wind up face down in your dinner soon enough."
"Good point." He straightened up and smoothed out his tunic. "I thought about what you said to Cauthrien and ah...I was wondering if I should go to the Palace tomorrow for Loghain's funeral pyre. You know, for Anora." He dragged out her name, holding the 'o', and tried not to giggle.
"That's a nice thought, Alistair. Just make sure she knows why you're there, so it's clear you aren't trying to make sure her father is really dead, you know?" She paused. "And make sure you're sober."
"Yes, mother. Ooh, cheese." With that, he followed the wheel of cheese that was being brought into the room.
Zevran poured them each a goblet of wine and they circled the room, exchanging greetings with the other guests. Kallian soon found it rather tiring to be the focus of attention, however. She had not gotten this far without the rest of her companions, but everyone's praise was directed at her and her alone. Eamon's voice interrupted her now well-rehearsed statement "I could not have done any of this with without the support of my companions" to announce that dinner was to be served and the guests slowly took their seats.
Platters of roasted pigs, duck, pheasant and quail formed the main course; a bounty of fruits, vegetables and bread were laid out; a variety of custard tarts were served for dessert. A small tray of cheese tarts had been prepared especially for Alistair, his love of cheese a now well-known fact in the kitchens. Wine and ale flowed, stories were told and gossip spread, and when it seemed that the festivities were finally winding down, Eamon stood. The clamour around the hall died down quickly.
"Thank you, thank you, everyone. Long may the Maker's blessings grace our good King Alistair!"
The hall echoed with the rustling of fabric as everyone stood to raise a glass to Alistair, who turned several shades of red, but smiled and waved in thanks. Eamon continued speaking.
"We must now make ready to return to Redcliffe to face the darkspawn hoard and defeat this blight. We have much to do in preparation, both here and at the palace, but it is our intention to depart in no more than three days' time. I trust you will be ready to march with us."
The response was deafening. Shouts of encouragement and war cries rang out and echoed around the hall. They would be ready.
A/N: I had thought this would be longer, but decided to end it here. For whatever reason, this one was a bit harder to get out and I am not entirely certain I'm done with it. That said, if you have anything to say about it, anything at all, please do! If you notice inconsistencies in spelling, remember I'm Canadian, eh (har har), so there's that, but between me and the dictionaries in Word and here and Google Chrome, some things might get missed or changed inadvertently.
My thanks goes out to everyone who is reading, especially those who add me or my story to favorite/alert lists - Welcome aboard! Last but certainly not least, thank you Zevgirl! On that note, I have some reading to do for the good woman. Cheers!