Peace
Alistair and Zevran took turns sitting by Leliana's bedside that night. They had been swept from the room after the healer's visit so that she could be tended properly and when they were allowed to return she looked much better. She'd been cleaned up and dressed properly and tucked into Alistair's bed. She appeared to be sleeping now rather than unconscious and despite the healer's warning that she could sleep the night through, neither he nor Zevran wanted her to wake up alone.
As it turned out, they were both asleep when she decided to wake. Zevran was stretched out across the couch and Alistair was slumped in the chair by the bed. He'd been holding her had though, and as she woke and moved, he felt the tug and jerked awake himself. She was looking directly at him and her blue eyes were nearly grey. Alistair reached forward with his other hand, taking her hand in both of his and said, "Leliana?"
She blinked a few times and said, "Where am I?"
Her voice was hoarse and he dropped her hand to reach over to the nightstand for some water. Zevran appeared silently at his side and passed him the cup before walking around to sit on the bed at her feet.
Alistair answered her question, "Val Royeaux, at the palace. You're safe now, Leliana."
She answered in a small voice, "Oh," and turned her head then and closed her eyes. Tears leaked from between her closed lids and she curled away from them, rolling on to her side, and hid herself beneath the covers.
Alistair tentatively reached forward and patted Leliana's back and felt that she was trembling. Then they heard her take a shuddering breath and the subsequent sob. Despite the heartbreaking sound of her tears, Alistair was somewhat relieved to hear her cry. It meant she was aware and she remembered and that her mind was still her own. He would have spared her the memories if he could, however.
He continued to pat her back, starting to feel rather ineffectual as her sobs only increased in volume. Suddenly she turned and flung his hand away and said, "Stop it, Alistair. I will not thank you for saving me. Why could you not have left me there to die?"
Alistair sat back and blinked in surprise. He glanced at Zevran, but the elf looked as puzzled as he and only shrugged lightly as if to say, 'don't ask me'.
Alistair turned back to Leliana and took in her red-rimmed eyes and tear stained face. Her expression was one of utter misery…she looked like someone who wished for nothing more than death. What had they done to her? Biting back his anger at Damien lest it should colour his tone he said firmly, "I would leave no one at the hands of blood mages, Leliana."
Leliana responded with, "But Aedan is dead and my life means nothing without him!" She covered her face with her hands and said more quietly, her voice broken and desolate, "Just go away, please, let me be."
Alistair's mouth dropped open with shock and for a moment he was so stunned he could not speak. Either she thought Aedan had not survived the poison, or Damien had told her so. Jean would have been unable to confirm or deny Aedan's death without incurring his father's displeasure. Zevran recovered his wits more quickly and leaned forward, saying gently, "Leliana, Aedan lives."
She looked up from her hands, her eyes wide. She looked like she wanted to believe it, but was expecting it not to be true. Alistair immediately confirmed Zevran's words, "Zevran speaks the truth, Leliana, Aedan survived the poison. He is very much alive."
Leliana was speechless. Her mouth opened and closed and when it opened again such a string of curses came forth that Alistair was momentarily stunned. Then she threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. Alistair closed his arms about her and held her close. His heart ached for her. Not only had she been kidnapped and subjected to blood magic, but she'd been allowed to believe the entire time that Aedan was dead. Alistair couldn't even imagine the anguish she must have experienced.
She composed herself after a while and then leaned back, patting his damp shoulder. "I'm sorry," she muttered and he waved off her apology and then took her by the shoulders and said, "Leliana, after what you have endured, you need apologise for nothing."
She nodded, and then looked up, her eyes still wet with her tears. She said, "Where is he?"
Alistair swallowed the lump in his throat as he prayed she would understand what he was about to tell her, "He is in Ferelden, Leliana. He is fighting darkspawn with the rest of the wardens."
Her eyes clouded and she responded quietly, "Oh."
Alistair gripped her shoulders gently and said, "Leliana, he wanted to be the one to come after you. I think he would have crawled down to the harbor half dead from poison had he not been restrained. He was beside himself with grief and rage. He nearly hit me when I told him he couldn't come."
Leliana looked up at him then, her eyes wide, "Aedan would never hit you, Alistair. He loves you as a brother!"
Alistair grinned, "Brothers do come to blows occasionally." He sobered again and continued, "Darkspawn are all over the south and Aedan does his duty as a Grey Warden. I can't say as he cares much for Ferelden's King right now, but he cares for his people. Many lives are at stake."
Leliana nodded her acceptance and after giving her shoulders another pat, he let her go. She lay back then and pulled the blankets back up over herself. She murmured, "I should thank you then, Alistair," and she glanced down at Zevran who was helping twitch the bed clothes back into shape, "and I'm sure he could not have done it without you, Zevran. Thank you both…I am so tired now, would you mind if I slept?" She didn't wait for their answer.
Alistair beckoned Zevran over the seating area beneath the windows and they both sank gratefully into chairs. Alistair leaned his head back and closed his eyes and was on the verge of sleep again himself when Zevran said quietly, "She is not wearing her amulet."
Alistair snapped his head back up and opened his eyes, taking in Zevran's thoughtful look. He replied, "Jean must have taken it from her. Perhaps he feared Damien would be able to use it and discover his weakness." Alistair sighed as he wondered how useful a gift these pendants really had been.
They were three more days in Val Royeaux.
The first day Leliana was moved to her own room and Alistair gratefully reclaimed his bed. He was not able to sleep the day away, however, as his original purpose for coming to Val Royeaux was yet to be addressed. Alistair spent the afternoon with Celene and they made great progress. During the course of their work he discovered that he liked and respected the Empress and it seemed his high regard was mutual. He was eager to present all the signed agreements to the Landsmeet upon his return to Ferelden. He felt he had accomplished much here and not the least of it was finishing something his half brother had not only started, but had believed in. Alistair was proud to have seen Cailan's dream brought to fruition.
Zevran disappeared that first day. Alistair asked after the elf, but was told only that he'd gone into the city that morning. His mission was revealed later that evening however, when he arrived back at the palace travel stained and weary.
Alistair was sharing a light dinner with Leliana in her room. She was much recovered and they were discussing the treaties that had been signed that day. After a light knock at the door, Zevran let himself in. He bowed formally to the pair before striding across the room and holding out a closed hand before Leliana. She lifted her hand, palm upward and gasped in surprise as Zevran's fingers opened and the heart shaped pendant dropped into her fingers. She clasped her hand to her heart and closed her eyes and after a moment her face was lit with a beatific smile. She raised the heart to her lips and kissed it, then stood up and threw her arms about Zevran, hugging him tightly as she whispered, "Thank you," over and over again.
Alistair's heart lightened at the joy in her face and he laughed quietly as Zevran's golden skin flushed just a little pink under Leliana's gratitude. He was not at all surprised by the elf's gesture. It was typical of Zevran to put the needs of those he cared for above his own. While Alistair had been sleeping, Zevran had been riding back to the Grey Warden's castle, no doubt. He found it increasingly hard to recall the dislike and distrust he'd felt for the rogue when he had spectacularly failed to ambush the wardens and Aedan had invited him to join their quest instead. Though he had sworn an oath to Aedan, the warden had released him from it nearly a year ago, content to have Zevran remain by his side out of simple friendship. He would never have a truer friend.
Leliana finally relinquished her hold upon the elf and invited him to join them for dinner. Zevran gratefully accepted, though he looked as if he could use sleep more than food. Alistair could not help noticing how often Leliana's hand strayed to the gem at the centre of the pendant throughout the remainder of the evening. He was just as relieved to know Aedan had not fallen in battle while they were away and hoped they'd return to Ferelden to find him still alive and well.
The three of them spent the second day together exploring the city. Though they were all eager to return to Ferelden, Celene had planned a farewell banquet for their final evening and it would have been the height of rudeness not to attend, given the official reason for their visit. The empress had spent a quiet hour with Leliana the previous afternoon and it seemed the two women had enjoyed one another's company. Leliana was issued an official invitation to the banquet and was encouraged to bring the Hero of Ferelden with her next time she visited Val Royeaux. Alistair couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up at the thought of Aedan dressed with his usual disregard for fashion mixing with the Orlesian nobles. When asked to share the joke, Leliana and Zevran both heartily joined him in laughter.
Alistair missed his friend that day. Though the three of them enjoyed the beauty and atmosphere of Val Royeaux, Alistair felt Aedan's absence. This was a day the four of them should have spent together. Leliana was a delightful tour guide. She walked them around the city showing them her favourite gardens and pointing out the most spectacular views of the harbor. She made sure to show them the statues of the Emperor Drakon and Andraste and she even talked them into a visit to the Chantry were she would have sat for more than the hour they indulged her in had she not a dress to shop for.
They shopped. Alistair spoiled his friend's wife by buying her anything she wished for. Zevran showed his more refined taste several times as he complimented her purchases and Alistair began to feel more like a servant than a king as he accepted package after package and ran out of arms and hands with which to carry them. He was glad of the two hour respite at the dressmakers and even managed to nap in one of the thoughtfully provided chairs while the seamstress fussed over Leliana behind closed doors.
The day in the city was good for Leliana. The fresh air had fully restored the colour to her cheeks and the outing had given her a sense of purpose. Alistair was relieved and happy with the change in her and could not wait to see the look on Aedan's face when he brought her home, safe and sound.
They had visitors at the palace that third and final day. The three of them were in Alistair's sitting room discussing their plans for after they returned to Ferelden. Leliana had revealed all she knew of Damien and the information he had got from her mind. She remembered well her time in the fade and though her face paled as she talked of her experience, her natural strength of character and resiliency shone through. By the time she finished he tale she was more angry than upset. It seemed highly likely that Damien was on his way to Haven. He was obsessed with not only the details of the ritual, but with the result; he intended to take the child from Morrigan if he could.
When their visitors were announced, Alistair couldn't help the creeping sensation that traveled down his spine as Marc and Louis entered the room. The Grey Wardens had come for answers to the questions two bodies in their dungeon had raised. It was a tense meeting. Alistair did not know how much to reveal but it soon became obvious that the two wardens were not complicit in Damien's plans. He decided to risk sharing Philippe's conclusions regarding Damien and the wardens were both shocked and dismayed. By the time the meeting ended, Alistair felt confident the Orlesian wardens would soon be electing a new Commander. He did not envy them the task of routing out any of Damien's sympathizers, but it sounded as if he had probably taken the bulk of them to Ferelden when he left.
The banquet that evening turned out to be a much friendlier affair that the one he had endured his first night in Val Royeaux, for which he was enormously grateful. Alistair and Zevran paused by Leliana's rooms and knocked lightly. When she finally emerged they both caught their breath. Her dress was worth all the coin they had spent the previous day, and was flawlessly tailored to her still lithe form. The red and gold tones set off her colouring perfectly. She was so stunning that Alistair felt an uncharacteristic twinge of jealousy towards Aedan. But he tucked it away and formally offered her his arm.
Despite their enjoyment of the evening, however, the three companions fairly ran for the harbor the following morning. Their send off was no less grand than their arrival, the docks and streets lined with Chevaliers and well wishers. Celene herself came aboard briefly in order to formally offer her farewell and best wishes for their journey. As the Empress departed, Oghren finally set foot on deck and Alistair was not surprised to see the small flask tucked tightly into his hand. The dwarf smiled, raised his flask as if to toast and said the words they were all thinking, "Let's go home!"
