Kanta Thank you. I am glad you like Varric / Spanish guest - I glad you are enjoying it / Judy -Yay your back I missed you.
Two years ago, when he led his men in the Kings service, he had no idea he would be standing in a foreign land under the command of a woman/child. Fate was a funny thing.
Especially since as being an Ash Warrior meant turning your back on your past. Things tended to get complicated when your past didn't know it wasn't supposed to come back to haunt you.
He had to admit he was proud of her even if she was failing as a commander. Her desire to succeed was admirable but she tried to treat every mission like it was on she was on the blight. She wanted to be everyone's friend which lead to hurt feelings.
He knew the moment he did it and cursed the maker for putting him in that spot. But he didn't have time to worry about the past and present colliding.
His brother in law had signed on as Tethras's muscle and wanted his help since he was in Kirkwall. His help on this mission was far too observant. And his hero was going to bet the death of him literally.
On top of that he had a couple to put back together despite themselves. He caught the fearful look in her eye as he watched her follow the dwarf in the back room and wanted to reassure her before heading down the stairs. To reign in a mutt who probably knew everything but was no help.
"I am Darragh. I apologize for the hound's manors. He normally doesn't knock people to the ground and slobber all over them."
"He's a good boy. Who's a cute and adorable puppy?" asked in a sing song voice scratching the jowls of the Mabari.
Cullen sighed deeply. He was due back at the gallows two hours ago but instead he was sitting in a tavern trying to coax his friend to eat food and sober up so they could return. And now Alistair had found something else to sidetrack him. On one hand he was tempted to allow knight to find his way home.
He had two recruits to reprimand, his own vigil and the duty roster for next week to finish and get to the Knight Commander. But who was he kidding Alistair was just as lost and broken as he was before coming to Kirkwall? So here he sat listening to some random stranger apologize for allowing his dog to molest them.
"Does your dog like Andraste's Mabari? We are sharing an ale and requesting the minstrel to play the tune."
"I don't know. He isn't mine. I am just taking him outside to take care of business. His owner has a room here, but she should not be out and about at night. But I imagine that if a hound liked a tavern song, that would be the one."
"They do. My hound … would listen as Lilly..lealan… Lilianna would sing it just for him."
"Your dog?" Darragh asked. "I didn't know Templars were allowed hounds."
'I'm not a templar … I m a grey ward…. Hic… den."
Darragh looked at the long-suffering Knight Captain and said, "You might want to sober him up. If he keeps claiming to be a grey warden. They are going to take offence. I hear Ferelden's Commander of the Grey doesn't have patience for stolen honor. Her punishment fits the crime. She conscripts them and they have to serve their first two years in the deep roads with the Legion of the Dead."
"I am a Grey Warden. I fought with the hero; Maker damn her beautiful hide."
The tone was reproving as Darragh took a moment to chastise the former warden. "So, you're still celebrating the archdemon's defeat then. So did the rest of Thedas. But I would think you had duties that needed attending too. I knew an Alistair once. He was a skillful warrior. Fought in the Kings battle at Ostagar. A grey Warden too, if I remember correctly. But he wouldn't be drunk in a tavern, he had too much self-respect. Come Teyrn, let's go outside."
Cullen, "Alistair said animatedly. Did you hear his hound is name Teyrn? You don't think she is here right? Do you think she came looking for me?"
Cullen swallowed hard. The idea of Rhiannon being on this side of the Waking Sea both terrified him and enthralled him. No woman but her had made him doubt his responsibility or calling. He knew he made the right decision at the Tower. No mage tortured could have held out that long. But he wished she hadn't been there to see it.
Between the look she gave him and the curse she spat at him when leaving that was one mage, he was torn about seeing. He wondered if the warrior actually traveling with her. "No Alistair, I am sure it is common name for a hound. What would she be doing in Kirkwall? Please now please eat. We need to get back to the gallows. Before Commander Meredith stripes the hide off our backs."
Teyrn nuzzled Alistair and gave a small woof before following Darragh out the door.
Alistair watched through bloodshot eyes debating if he should whistle and call the dog back. But if he did and it really was Teyrn then that meant Rhi was here. And she haunted his dreams as much as the Darkspwan. He needed another drink.
His life changed the moment he walked into camp and found the three of them had joined Bodahn Feddic and his son Sandal. He couldn't decide if it would have been better to believe Cailan and Rhi were dead than to travel all over Ferelden falling in love with her and befriending him, and then finding out he was nothing more than a joke to them.
NOTE: We are returning to about 20 days after the battle of Ostagar in the next few chapters.