Part 26: Resolution

The three Wardens in the cave were still alive, with no injuries that the Warden healers couldn't heal. Taken privately, all eight of the remaining wardens there chose to accept Velistara's offer.

Xander promised to talk with Anora, but told Alistair that it was unlikely in the extreme that she even knew what Deagon had been up to. It wasn't something she would authorize, and no doubt when she was informed, she would see to it that there was no retribution against Alistair.

But Alistair insisted that they discuss the matter of him being Warden Commander, and so they were gathered in the large common room at the bottom of the fortress.

"I think you're the best man for the job," Xander told Alistair immediately. "I don't even think it's up for debate. You already accepted the commission, and…"

Alistair held up his hand. "I'm not arguing that. Not that I'm being arrogant, but I'm not interested in arguing your view on it."

He paced a bit. "I think I should stay here. Do you know anything about Velistara? I mean, the first time she walked the world?" He turned to look at her. "When she was a pale blue dragon, I mean…"

"No," Xander told him.

"She was known in the Tevinter Imperium as the incarnation of Compassion," he said. "Her teachings were of compassion, of togetherness with nature, and of reaching out to those in need or in pain."

He walked over behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. "I think that she should be allowed to teach humanity again. To that end, I would like to stay here with her, and hopefully other Gray Wardens will come to help protect her. I would like to open the fortress to those who wish to seek her teachings."

Xander's face had cleared more and more as Alistair spoke. "That's a capital idea!" he said, jumping up from his seat. "Fabulous!" He looked around. "What say you?"

The room erupted in cheers and conversation, and he turned towards Alistair. "But who will be Warden Commander at the Arling?"

"I would say that Terrinz has what it takes," Alistair said. "He's been a staunch ally and an excellent fighter. I think he's capable of not only leading, but of training them, as well."

"Terrinz!" Xander bellowed.

"Yeah boss?" he responded.

"You've been nominated as Warden Commander. Think you can hack it?"

"I… what? Really?"

"Yeah. But don't blame me, this was Alistair's idea."

"I'm honored! I mean… thank you!" he turned to Alistair and pumped his hand happily.

Alistair grinned and handed him the Commander's badge.

"Well, that eagerness'll be gone within a week," Xander said dryly.

"Yep," Alistair agreed.

"So, what say you?" he asked Velistara. "Will you teach us?"

"It will be my honor," she said. "But truly, I must rest now, if I may."

He realized she was exhausted, and made their excuses. He led her up to her room, where he stayed and curled up in the bed with her, glad they'd taken their baths before the big talk in the common room.

He awoke in the Fade, curled up in the sun beside the pool. He looked up to see her splashing there, and realized that everything was larger than before. Which seemed rather opposite, since he was larger, it should have been smaller.

"It shifts to accommodate your desire," she reminded him.

He stood up, spreading his wings and grinning at her. He started stalking towards her, and she backed away, sensing his playful mood.

With a sudden lunge, she leaped into the sky, and he lurched up after her. They fled across the landscape, though he caught up to her easily, as she was weary from the ordeal of the last few days.

Dropping down, he found that natural instincts rose within him, and he managed to grapple her this time without claws and without snaring their wings.

Surprised, she dipped slightly, and he pulled her up and away from a treetop.

Then, he proceeded to show her that they could, indeed… do that… in the Fade in dragon form. When they were done, they were immediately back at the pool, with simply a thought.

"I may never get used to that," he told her, curling up beside her, licking her affectionately on the shoulder.

Her song swelled and roared with happiness.

"I have a question," he told her.

"I will answer it, if I can," she said.

He looked away, looking into the shimmering rainbows of the waterfall. "I'm a dragon now. At least here, anyway. You're the dragon of Compassion. Urthemiel was the dragon of Beauty. I wonder what my attribute is."

"Justice, of course," she told him. "After all, shouldn't Justice always be tempered by compassion?"

"Justice, huh? I can live with that." That wasn't half bad, he decided.