Borrowed Time, Ch 29 – Totally Worth It
AN: It's mostly cheery. Oh, and there's character death. What odd timing, right?
The nobles, wardens and their companions, and Queen and King-to-be were gathered in the throne room. Banners streamed overhead and the cheer everyone felt was the complete opposite of what they felt the last time they gathered there. Some of Shiva's companions dressed in finery – Leliana wore a yellow and red dress, much to the displeasure of Shiva's eyes, she hated such bright colors. Wynne wore a jade robe, accented with silver threads. Zevran had a burgundy tunic with large gold beads along the neckline. The others wore armor.
Alistair and Anora stood on either side of the throne, the space between them was like a chasm showing how forced their unity was. It was Anora who led the ceremony. "My friends, we are gathered here to celebrate the end of the Blight and to honor the wardens responsible for defeating the archdemon. Warden Loghain Mac Tir, and my betrothed, Warden Alistair Theirin." Alistair's eyes widened, he turned to his fiancée with color blooming in his cheeks. The queen's sweet responding smile made him even more uncomfortable. "Not to mention the wardens who fought bravely at Ostagar and were slain, as well as Warden Riordan, whose life was claimed at the Battle for Denerim. But the one who truly deserves commendation is the one who killed the archdemon and remains with us – an inspiration to all she saved. Ladies and gentlemen, I present the Hero of Ferelden." Anora smiled, gesturing to where Shiva stood. Loghain nudged her forward and was the only one who could hear her growl at the attention. Shiva walked forward to stand between Anora and Alistair and face the crowd, standing stiff and out-blushing Alistair. "The first Grey Warden to defeat the Blight since Garahel, for centuries ago." All those who gathered applauded. Shiva temporarily broke her scowl to give a half-hearted smirk in appreciation. "Shiva, I can hardly imagine how you could have aided Ferelden more. I think it appropriate to return the favor. Is there any boon you would request?"
"I only ask that the necessity of the Grey Wardens is not forgotten again." It seemed an appropriate boon – the disrespect Grey Wardens suffered after Ostagar caused the situation to be nearly impossible. It was mostly Loghain's fault, of course, but his conscription had been a turning point. There was no further opposition by anything but lowly bandits and darkspawn after that. If they could maintain the reverence they Grey Wardens had once again, future Blights could be ended as quickly. According to the Tevinter histories, there were two more Old Gods that stood the chance of corruption. Three, if Morrigan was wrong and her demon child could turn to the dark side again.
"Absolutely. Let it be known that the Arling of Amaranthine is now granted to the Grey Wardens. There they can rebuild, following the example of those that led before them." The members in the hall scattered into their own discussions. Anora turned to Shiva, Alistair approached the two of them as well.
"What are your plans? Will you remain with the Grey Wardens?" Anora's question was the same as in Alistair's mind.
With the nobles minding their own business, Shiva grew more relaxed. "Oh, I'll probably disappear under a rock with a thick wool blanket and a handsome admirer."
Anora paused, hoping for a more serious answer, but chuckled lightly. "A fine plan if I ever heard one."
"What?" Alistair exclaimed. "No ale?"
"Of course, plenty of ale, you twit!" Shiva put her hands on her hips in feigned outrage.
"I was about to say something is seriously wrong with that picture," he laced his words with an ongoing chuckle. "Well, we should let you get to your adoring public. There's a horde waiting outside, I suggest you go to them before they storm the gate," Alistair joked. It was good to see he had gotten past the coldness he showed her since the Landsmeet. This was the first time he wasn't repulsed by her company. Shiva smirked and descended the steps. She didn't get far before passing Loghain.
"Not a fan of the attention, I take it?" His posture was relaxed as he leaned against a support beam for the balcony. The smile he wore reached his eyes.
"Fuck no. That was bloody awkward! I don't know how you deal with court." Shiva glared at all the silk dresses and trimmed moustaches around her.
"I avoid it when I can. I was out of my element as Regent. I suppose that's obvious considering my actions. But that's not important, I was knocked off my pedestal – I'm sure you recall as well as I." He spoke with little bitterness, obviously pushing himself to make a joke out of mistakes that still pained him.
"Now to have you dismount your high horse," Shiva jested. She earned a light 'hmph' for it. "So what now? Going to supervise the little ones, make sure they get busy and make you a grandfather?"
"They can do that without me being around. In fact, that's how I'd prefer it," he shuddered. The horrible idea was worth it since he got a laugh out of her. "No, Anora assigned me as Grey Warden recruiter. If I don't get enough in the next six months, she threatened to call upon the Orlesian wardens."
"Better hop to it then, general!" She remembered what happened to the last person that threatened to call upon Orlais…
"I'll get to it when I'm ready to, woman. What about you? The Arling of Amaranthine is yours if you remain Warden-Commander, you know. The Teyrnir of Gwaren as well."
"What?" she wasn't faking her shock.
"Oh yes, my former title, even my riches and estate are yours if you express a desire for a title." That was one way of getting her in his bed, unfortunately it hardly counted since he wasn't able to share it.
"Oh, Maker no. I don't want a title. I kind of miss following orders instead of giving them, to tell you the truth." She looked at the ground during her admission. "I was planning on taking a break. Disappearing for a while." He went somber, giving her a curious stare. "I'll be around though. I won't be leaving Ferelden. If someone is keen enough to find me, I'll probably gladly return to adventure."
"Hmm. Have you even decided where you'll go?"
"Yes. But I'll not say anything further."
"I see. Well if you're going to abandon me in such a cold manner," he only half joked, "allow me to tell you now that you've earned my respect."
Shiva nodded, at a loss. "Likewise." He huffed, smiling sadly and shaking his head.
"Now off with you. There's a parade in your honor for you to growl about." She lightly shoved his arm as she walked away.
Thank the bloody Maker that parade is over.
Evening had turned to darkness, starlight pricked through the midnight blue sky. The party continued inside the palace and few nobles trickled out to the garden where Shiva sat on a stone bench. She stared at the fountain Riordan once decorated, flask in hand.
"You know, you're just making yourself an easy target for any lurking assassins," an Antivan accent purred.
"I'm bored. Let's kill someone."
Zevran threw his head back in a hearty laugh. "I knew I liked you for some reason. And soon we are to part ways," he said sadly. He sat beside her, placing a hand on her inner thigh. "Last chance to bed me." Shiva wrinkled her nose.
She had to wonder how he thought himself a skilled assassin when he couldn't even dodge a punch.
Leliana stood on the balcony above the garden, finding Shiva below as Zevran left in a hurry. She slowly descended the stairs.
"Hello." Shiva was pinching the bridge of her nose. She looked up at Leliana slowly, waving with the hand that held her flask. "You really don't like days at court, do you my love?" Shiva shook her head no.
"The stars are out," Leliana lisped. She got an agreeing hum next to her. "I loved the nights at camp where I would lay on the grass and just stare at the sky. I will be able to do so a while longer. I decided I want to travel, perhaps back to Orlais. What will you do, my love?"
"Disappear," the drunk warden mumbled. Leliana sighed.
"Is this where we part ways?"
"Ye-," Shiva slowed down, trying not to be too cold. This made one too many goodbyes for one day. "I'm afraid so."
"Did I mean anything to you?" The corners of Leliana's mouth sagged, pulling her full lips into a frown.
"Yes, you are a good friend."
"But you don't love me. With all the time we shared, you do not want to stay with me." Even with the extra month she had since their fight outside of Shiva's tent, they had only been intimate once and shared very little special time together other than that. Not that Leliana regretted putting this moment off, she enjoyed riding horseback with her arms around Shiva's waist – partly just being able to hold her, partly keeping her unsteady leader from falling off the mount. That was a memory she would be able to cherish.
"It wasn't supposed to be that much." Shiva winced at her own statement. Leliana turned her back to her.
"I see," she lisped. "Then this is goodbye." The Orlesian stood and stormed off.
Loghain made his way outside the palace. Zevran angrily passed him, wiping blood from under his nose. He watched the elf pass with a raised brow, but shrugged and kept walking. Leliana came from the same direction minutes later, catching the confused look Loghain gave her.
"Don't mind me," she sniffled.
"Is… something the matter?" It was an automatic reaction when he saw a woman crying, even if he didn't much care for this woman in particular.
Leliana took several deep breaths, Loghain nearly stepped back thinking the woman was going to lose her lunch. "Shiva is heartless," she seethed as she walked past him. His other eyebrow shot up to meet the first. They had been coming from… the garden?
He found Shiva passed out on the bench. There wasn't anyone around, he saw. He picked Shiva up with a grunt – Maker, he expected the woman to be lighter than this, granted she was muscled enough to be strong for her size and she still wore her armor. He had already carried her inside when he realized he had no idea where he was taking her. Unconscious warden leader and warden general stood in the middle of the hall, conscious warden was at a loss. Deciding making his way toward whatever possible destination there could be was better than standing there, he took another step but was halted when he heard a familiar voice – clearly female – behind him.
"What in the Maker's name are you doing, Loghain Mac Tir?" The old mage came around to stand in his path. "Oh, I see. Dragging your conquest to your chambers." Her rouge-lined lips were pursed and her arms crossed under the padded bosom of her robes.
"I beg you pardon?" Dragging a woman with the weight of an ogre had him irate enough without whatever she was getting at.
"I've seen how you watch her. As foolish as she may be, I have hoped she would continue to avoid a rather unsavory-"
"Shut. Up." Loghain hoped the heat in his cheeks was from exertion, at least as far as Wynne figured. "She passed out in the garden, I'm bringing her somewhere she can remain undisturbed. Some of the nobles have sticky fingers and as soon as she wakes and finds her gold and whatever else gone, there will be a damn bloodbath. I wasn't taking her to my chambers." Too bad she was the one to bring that location to his attention. He could have played quite a prank on the pirate, though he would never actually touch her in her current state. She truly had earned his respect, and much more.
"Where do you intend to take her then?"
"I haven't figured it out yet." Loghain glanced at the woman he held, her head lolled to the side – the position reminded him of her predicament after she killed the archdemon. He didn't want to think of that – how he almost lost her. The position and the memory made him feel uneasy, he tightened his hold around her, releasing her wrist so he could hook his arm behind her knees and hold her. He shrugged as much as he could with her cradled in his arms. "My study. She's been there before, she may even recognize it." He walked around the mage, listened to her light footsteps trailing behind him.
Shiva woke up in a study. The room seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn't figure out why. 'Morning' was grumbled from somewhere behind her. She craned her head to look, Loghain was sitting at a large desk, quill in hand dancing along the parchment pinned beneath. "Do you know where you are?" He spoke without looking up.
"On a couch in your estimable company?" He grinned, shaking his head that she was right in her vague response. Loki's head popped up from the floor, making her jump and squeal.
"Never thought I'd hear you make that noise," he laughed, setting the quill down.
"That's because you haven't taken your pants off in my presence."
He paused, peering at her skeptically. "I truly cannot tell when you are in jest or serious about such matters." She simply smirked so he continued dragging the chair beside her. "How do you feel?"
"Sleepy." She stretched and lay on her side, cuddling with a small pillow she pulled from under her head.
"No hangover?" It was surprising how well she looked, her color was good, her eyes were heavy lidded but not red. If she felt nauseated it wasn't so much that she couldn't smile through it.
"I don't get hangovers," she mumbled.
"Good, then you'll be ready to eat," he crossed the room to pull the velvet rope to ring the servant's bell.
"Not til I've been awake for hours, at least." She grimaced at the thought of food so soon.
"You'll change your mind quick I'm sure. I've seen how you eat." He turned and gave her a wink.
So he was right – she could eat like a horse. He escorted her to the castle entrance after breakfast, she insisted she shouldn't drag out her stay there. They stood a bit awkwardly by the doors. She was shifting, trying to find a way to lead up to a decent goodbye.
"You remember how you would have executed me if you'd won the Landsmeet?"
"Mhm," he hummed.
"If I'm being too forward, you may do so now." Before he could resist, she captured him in a kiss. Her hands were around his neck, fingers laced together in his hair. The kiss wasn't returned, just as she expected, but he wasn't pulling away. He was tense and his arms remained by his sides as she slowly massaged his bottom lip with both of hers. The instant she released him he took a quick step back, clearing his throat. He was looking over her shoulder to avoid eye contact, and was completely unreadable.
"Goodbye, Warden."
Well, it could have gone worse.
She bit her lip, still feeling the kiss as she left the castle.
Totally worth it.
A guard on the grounds of the castle heard the light pit, pat of drops falling on his helm. The sky above him was blue, no rain fell so he wondered what was on him. He patted the top of his head, pulling his glove away to see drops of… he couldn't make out what. Thinking someone could have been dumping a chamber pot above him, he quickly stepped to the side, only to nearly walk into some debris falling and crashing on the stone steps. It was a small cup.
He cocked his head to the side, standing from the crouch he bent in to scoop it up with. He looked for the windows above him, seeing if someone had dropped it while taking tea.
Several floors above, Wynne slumped over in her chair. Her head leaned against the window, the hand that had been holding her teacup rested limply on the frame she had used as a table. Tea was spilled and still dripped from the saucer over the side of the window.
A servant walked in after knocking, bent to take the saucer and look for the cup, before realizing what she presumed was a sleeping old woman breathed no more. The young elf gasped and scurried out of the room, unsure what to do.
The spirit of Compassion ghosted overhead, all energy used to sustain the old mage was spent, its essence waned as it returned to the Fade.
