38. No Promises

"Oghren, have you seen Velanna?"

"Not fer a couple a hours, C'mmander," the dwarf replies, chuckling to himself. "She's a lotta fun, though."

"Maker's breath... What did you do?" I demand. I know Oghren. And I know what he considers fun, which has me very, very worried. Especially considering what I know of Velanna and her temper.

"Not a soddin' thing!" Oghren protests. "She... asked about why dwarves revere the stone and I had a little fun with answerin', that's all." He laughs. "And she bought it. The whole thing."

"What did you tell her?" I ask, leaning against a nearby pillar. Now I'm plain old curious.

"That it's 'cause dwarves are born as rocks."

"You did not!" I can't help but giggle, mostly because I'm sure he did.

"I did. Pink streaks means a girl, grey streaks means a boy. An' she believed me," he laughs.

"Wow. Well, I guess she has to learn sooner or later that she can't take anything you say seriously," I tease, still giggling. "Hey, if you don't know where Velanna is, have you seen Anders or Nathaniel? I'm thinkin' we should leave for the Blackmarsh soon, and I wanted to give them some warning."

"Sparklefingers is in his room. Not sure about Howe."

Sweet Andraste, you too? I shake my head. "Thanks." I head off to talk to Anders, trying to figure out where Nathaniel might be.

oOo

"Hey, Anders, I was thinking we should leave for the Blackmarsh soon. So consider this a warning," I tease, leaning against the doorjamb.

"You mean this lovely break is coming to an end?" he shoots back, grinning at me. He's laying back on his bed, Pounce curled up and asleep on his chest.

"Yep. So either wake up your cat or figure out how to get out from under him while he's still asleep."

"Will do, Rahna. But..." he only hesitates a second. "Are you sure you want to leave with His Royal Highness here?"

"Not really. But I doubt the darkspawn care if I have a houseguest. And if Kristoff needs help, 'Sorry, I was entertaining company' is a really flimsy excuse. 'Sides, the Wardens aren't supposed to get involved in politics, so it's not like I need to keep them happy or anything."

"And you don't like the queen. Don't forget that one," he adds, gingerly sliding Pounce off his chest and sitting up, all the while shooting me a cheeky grin.

"Even 'don't like' is kinda strong," I protest.

"C'mon, Rahna. That first night here? I could totally tell you really don't like her."

"She's far from my favorite person in the world, I'll give you that much," I concede. "But I am trying to get along and be nice."

"So, if she's not your favorite person in the world, who is?"

"You're as nosy as I am, Anders," I laugh.

"I'll take that as a compliment," he retorts. Pounce chooses this moment to wake up and jump back up on Anders' shoulder. "Come on, tell me."

"You sound rather desperate to know... I could have some fun with this..." I chuckle.

"Rahna."

I sigh in mock-exasperation. "Fine." I smirk. "Nathaniel." I make sure I'm gone before Anders has recovered enough to ask if I'm serious.

oOo

Nathaniel's not in his room when I check, but since his bow's gone too, I think I know where he is. I peek into my room, looking for Fade, before I head outside. To my surprise, the mabari's not curled up on the chaotic mess of blankets and sheets that is my bed. I frown. Where is that dog? I'll look for him later. Right now I need to find Nathaniel. I crack my knuckles absently as I head down the hallway.

"Sigrun, is it true that dwarves are born as rocks?" Velanna sounds wary, as if she's testing a rumor she mostly believes, but is still uncertain about. Glad as I am to have found her, I have to hear this before I interrupt.

"Born as...what?" Sigrun's tone is incredulous.

"I knew it!" the elf seethes. "That... that slimy, foul-breathed toadstool! 'Pink ones are girls, grey ones are boys'. Ooooh, and I almost believed him!"

"Who? Oghren?" Sigrun giggles. "You believed Oghren?"

"Almost, almost believed him!" Velanna retorts. "Elgar'nan-"

"There you are," I interrupt, stepping into the room before she can get herself too worked up. "Velanna, I'm heading for the Blackmarsh, and since Sigrun hurt her arm, I need you to come with me."

"Commander, I told you, I'm fine," Sigrun mutters.

"And I told you I don't want you fighting if you don't have to. So, Velanna, get together anything you think you'll need. Hopefully we're leaving soon."

"Hopefully?" she repeats, raising an eyebrow.

"I still need to find Nathaniel, and tell Varel what we're doing," I explain. "I don't know how long that's going to take."

"Oh. I understand." She leaves, heading for her room.

"So you're leaving me here with Oghren?" Sigrun makes a face. "Thanks a lot, Commander."

"Considering Velanna's attitude toward humans, I'm not sure I want to leave her here with the queen's fiance," I point out.

"True... still, can you at least tell him to stay at the opposite end of the keep from me?"

I laugh. "I'll see what I can do." After I find Nathaniel...

oOo

Fortunately, the archer is where I was expecting to find him: the corner of the Vigil's courtyard that's set up to serve as an archery range. Honey's laying in the shade not far off, her golden-brown eyes fixed on Nathaniel as he nocks another arrow and draws back the bowstring, holding it for the barest sliver of a moment before letting it fly. The arrow, of course, goes right where he was aiming, burying itself inside the same small circle on the target as the other four or five already there.

"Feel up to doing that to some darkspawn?" I ask as I approach, timing my question to be between shots. I bite back a grin when I realize I've found my mabari, too. Fade is laying with his chin on Honey's back, and barely looks up at me when I crouch to ruffle his ears.

Nathaniel turns, letting the arrow rest slack on the string. "I could be. Are we leaving soon, then?"

"Soon as we're ready and I've informed Varel," I reply, shooting him a teasing grin. "You sound like you're bored or something."

He shrugs but smiles. "I believe restless would be more accurate than bored, Commander."

"I see. Well, then, I'll have to hurry those mages along."

He raises an eyebrow as he heads for the target to pull out the tightly clustered arrows. "Both of them?"

"I know, I know." I stand. "But Sigrun hurt her arm in our sparring match this morning, and given Velanna's hostilty toward humans, it's probably not smart to leave her around Hayden unsupervised."

"Ah. That does make sense." He chuckles, slipping the retrieved arrows back in the quiver. "I'll be ready shortly, Commander."

When she sees him head back for the keep, Honey jumps up to follow, sending Fade tumbling backwards when she does. He lets out a hurt whine as he stands and gives himself a shake.

I laugh. "Oh, hush, you big baby. She still likes you. C'mon, let's go inform Varel of our plans." He bumps the back of my knee when I start walking, almost knocking me over. "Fade! Cut that out!" I'm giggling hard enough the command doesn't carry much weight. Fade barks happily and takes off after Honey. Somebody's smitten. I grin as I follow.

oOo

Varel's in the throne room, and he's in complete agreement with my decision to go to the Blackmarsh. "Kristoff has been gone an awfully long time, Commander. It's hardly the first time a Warden's been gone for weeks at a stretch, but something has me worried about him this time."

"And you'll take care of Hayden while I'm gone? Make sure he has what he needs and all?" I twirl one of my pigtails, trying to think if there's anything else.

"Of course, Commander. Who's going with you?"

"Anders, Nathaniel, and Velanna. So just make sure Oghren doesn't challenge the poor man to a drinking game or something," I grin. "Oh, and as far as Wardens go, I know there'll only be two here, but Sigrun's in charge."

"As you say, Commander," Varel nods. Those arrangements taken care of, I head off to finish collecting the supplies we'll need.

oOo

It's as we're leaving that Sergeant Maverlies flags me down. "Commander, you need to see this."

Maker, why do you do this to me? "What is it?"

"The men finished clearing the rubble under the keep," she explains. "Y'need to see what they found."

"Fine, fine," I mutter. Andraste's teeth, I'm never gonna get out of here! The others follow us down as Maverlies shows me what lay behind the rubble. I hear Sigrun whistle and Anders curse under his breath when we finally get there. What the men found is a serious of rickety wooden ladders and platforms that lead down to tunnels. "Sigrun, you and Oghren can take care of that."

"Commander, I thought you didn't want me fighting," she points out.

"If it could be avoided. Now there's two places that need Wardens, so it can't be avoided," I explain. "Get Oghren, tell him you're in charge, and then the two of you head down there."

"I- Of course, Commander." She sighs in resignation as she turns to go get the other dwarf.

"Hey, Sig?" I call after her. She turns back expectantly. "No promises, but if you deal with this, and I deal with the Blackmash, that may make it so there's time to return to Amaranthine when I get back."

Even in the dim cave I see her eyes light up. "You got it, Commander."

I chuckle. "Good girl." That taken care of, the rest of us are off for the Blackmarsh.

oOo

"Commander, could I ask you something?"

" 'Course you can, you're her favorite person in the world," I hear Anders mutter as I look up at Nathaniel.

"What?" The archer shoots a questioning look at the mage.

"Nothing," I answer for him. "It's nothing. But he's right; seein' as we're friends, of course you can ask me something."

"What you said to Sigrun about returning to Amaranthine-"

"Maybe," I clarify.

"Alright, fine, maybe." He almost chuckles. "If it works out, could I come with you?"

"Nathaniel, since you joined, have I gone anywhere without you?" I ask.

This time he does chuckle. "No, I don't believe you have."

"Then I'd say the odds are good you'll get to come along for that, too."

"Thanks."

I spend almost thirty seconds fighting my curious nature before I surrender and ask, "You just gonna visit Delilah again?"

He nods, raising an eyebrow. "Mm-hm. Why?"

"Oh, no reason," I reply, trying to sound innocent. Either not hard enough or too hard, because Nathaniel doesn't look like he's buying it. "Just curious, that's all."

"Who else would I visit?" he asks, the raised eyebrow going even higher.

"Nobody in particular..." I mumble. I look at Anders, half hoping for a rescue, but he and Velanna are arguing about fireballs or something. No help there.

"Rahna." The mere fact he used my sodding name nearly stops me in my tracks. "Tell me. As a friend."

Oh, balls. He's got me there. "That's cheating!" I protest.

"No, I don't think it is," Nathaniel counters quietly, a smirk pulling at one side of his mouth.

I groan and mumble, "Vi."

"Who? I couldn't hear you."

I sigh, roll my eyes, and repeat-louder this time-"Vi."

He looks at me like I'm crazy-which I am, but not in regards to this. "Delilah's friend? Dare I ask why you'd think that?"

I can feel my face getting hot. Maker, I shoulda kept my mouth shut..."I, um, I just... She's a pretty girl and, uhm, I was thinkin' if she's sweet on, um, you... maybe thefeelingwasmutual." My words jam together and I mumble the ending bit, wishing more than ever before that the ground would swallow me up.

Nathaniel's still looking at me incredulously. "If she's... what?"

"You didn't notice? Men, I swear..." I roll my eyes, and enunciate as I repeat myself. "Violet Henley is sweet on you."

"And you know this how, exactly?"

"Maker, above, did we see the same woman at Delilah's house? It was so bloody obvious!" I shrug. "Well, I s'ppose you do have a better excuse than most for not noticing, what with seeing your sister for the first time in almost a decade and all. But still..." I let the sentence trail off, huffing at the hair falling in my eyes. "Andraste's eyes, Nate, she wasn't 'zactly hiding it." The nickname slips out in my impassioned explanation, but he doesn't correct me, so I doubt it'll be the last time I use it.

"Indeed?" Only Nathaniel could make a single word say more than an entire speech. "And you weren't just imagining things?"

"Not unless Sigrun and Anders imagined the exact same thing," I shoot back. "Is it really so hard to believe that a woman could be sweet on you?"

"Considering she only had roughly two minutes to go on..." He hesitates, sighs. "Unexpected is probably a better word than unbelievable."

"Y'know, not all women want a ladies' man like Anders," I point out.

"I heard that!" the mage protests.

"Oh, hush, I wasn't talking to you!" I retort, rolling my eyes as I turn back to my conversation with Nathaniel. "So, you know, if we wind up back in Amaranthine, and if we happen to bump into her..." I shrug. "Maybe give her a smile."

He chuckles. "No promises, but... we'll see."

A/N: Sorry about the slight delay in posting, folks... My internet's out at home & I had to wait until I could get to the library.

Ah, Rahna... 'bout time you suffered from foot-in-mouth. *giggle* That conversation about Vi was wickedly fun to write. *evil chuckle* And yes, I delegated a sidequest. This will end up way, way crazy long if Rahna has to be the one to do everything. And I have an... interesting idea that sprouted from having her send Sigrun and Oghren to take care of the tunnels under the Vigil.

Unfortunately it does look like I'll have to do another Rahna chapter before I get back to Jowan&Miri(mostly cuz the resolution of their *cough* situation hasn't fully struck yet...). So, yes, I suppose I AM that evil after all. Sorry!

Ooh, and as of this chapter, I think this(as in Absence) is the longest thing I've ever written, word count-wise.