Duty's Journey – Chapter 38

Winners

Orzammar – the next day

"Warden Commander Elinora Cousland, kneel before me."

Elinora squared her shoulders, lifted her chin and stepped forward. She stood before the throne for a handful of heartbeats before dropping to one knee and bowing her head. Eyes closed, she waited.

A few more seconds passed and the hall hushed. The ring of a drawn blade sounded, echoing through the chamber. Elinora opened her eyes to see an exquisite dagger before her.

"For your aid in the rebellion that secured my throne, I give you this dagger, an appropriate weapon for those who operate in the shadows." Elinora held out her hands to receive the blade that Queen Sereda offered. "Also, I grant the Grey Wardens of Ferelden the campsite in the Deep Roads where they spent much time over last few months. You should know the path to it well by now."

"Thank you, your majesty, on behalf of myself and the Grey Wardens." At a motion from the new Queen of Orzammar, Elinora rose. She saluted Sereda, and then stepped away from the throne.

And feasting began.

Elinora took a seat and stifled a yawn. She didn't know how long she could keep up the talking and eating and more talking before collapsing or running mad. Now that this unexpected mission was over, she was ready to move on. To where was the hard part.

Oghren dropped into a chair next to her, two tankards of ale in his hands. He shoved one into hers and raised his own for a toast. "To the Hero of Orzammar and Fereldan. Who'da thought a little human could do so much." He thunked her tankard and drank half of his down. Elinora sipped hers.

"I think 'hero' is an awfully strong term," she muttered over the rim. "I just stole half the army."

"Which was just what we needed. You played your part and played it well." He took another long pull. "Now that this over, what's next? Setting up base?"

Elinora sighed. As ready as she was for today to be over, she wasn't ready for tomorrow to arrive. "I'm going to head out tomorrow. I need more than me to get an outpost together, and my Wardens are on the way to Amaranthine." She heaved an exhausted sigh. "And I am sick of being underground."

Oghren grunted. "I know what you mean. There were days in the Blight I would have given my left rock for the shelter of the stone. So Amaranthine, eh?"

With a half shrug she said, "Maybe Highever first. I haven't seen my brother since this all began…" she counted the months and years since Fergus had marched for Ostragar, "almost four years ago."

Oghren again grunted one of his neutral grunts. "What about Denerim? Go see that king you were so fond of." He grinned a wickedly knowing grin.

Elinora shook her head. "No, not yet. Anora should be close to having the baby, but…." She stopped dead as Oghren's tankard clattered on the ground.

"You don't know." His bushy eyebrows climbed to join his spiky red hair.

She stared at him; Oghren did not drop his drink. "What? Know what?"

"Twins. She had twins."

"Oh, that's…"

"Anora's dead."

Elinora dropped her tankard.