Judy -Thank you. Every tome I see your comment I smile.
For all those interested in more of Rhiannon's and Alistair's backstory... Check out Finding Alistair Being released at the beginning of each week.
Time passed slowly. Too slowly for the two of us. Long enough for Cailan to finish eating his steak and root vegetables. I'd finished earlier and debated getting seconds. I had no idea why I was always so hungry anymore.
By the third time he looked at the camp entrance, I studied him. I could see the worry etched in his face. We had become close and he shared what having a brother would have meant for him. And he was between a rock and the mountain. If he showed too much interest in Alistair, it would look strange.
But neither of us could imagine what was keeping him.
About an hour later I gave in and was carving myself another hunk of meat off the animal. Teyrn's head rose. So, did Rabbit's. But it was Rabbit's reaction with the tail thumping on the ground and low pitched woos that told me the other Warden was about to enter camp.
His walk was uneven as if he either limping or carrying an oversized load. When he finally entered camp, we almost couldn't see the man for the packages he was carrying. I nudged Cailan. He looked at me startled and then realized he should go help.
I quickly looked at the ground to hide the grin from the king. Least he took my amusement at his giddiness as anything other than polite acknowledgement. Fade take that. He thought I was funny making a big deal out of two dwarfs. I shook my head laughing lightly and motioned to his brother. "Well what are you waiting for? Go. Help him."
I hadn't spoken that loudly, but Alistair heard it. You could see the packages move as he tried to see around them.
"I told you I did. I left the other grey warden's in the camp I did. They protected my boy and I until I could accept your kind offer. I thought there was no safer campsite that with a grey warden. And when they said they wanted to rejoin you. I thought there was no better way to repay the kindness you showed me and my boy. That and the sizable discount."
Cailan pulled two bundles of cloth or bedding from under each of Alistair's arms. He handed one to each dwarf and told them to carry over and leave it by the fire.
Then he took from the Grey Warden the wooden chest. Leaving Alistair with two sacks of weapons, two barely closed packs of miscellaneous items and a litter tied to his belt full of armor and oversized objects.
Seeing all that he was weighted down with I also hurried over to help. I pulled the packs off his shoulders wondering how he managed to walk at all. "Leliana, Sten can you come help?"
Both new companions were already on their way over to Alistair without having to be asked.
"Rhiannon."
He breathes my name and just stares for a moment. Leliana and Sten took the packs and the weapons leaving Alistair with the oversized items. He untied the litter from his belt loops and let it drop to the ground in a heap.
I am assuming he is trying to convince himself that I was real. One moment my feet were firmly planted on the ground and the next I have been crushed tight to his armored chest and swung around in a circle. He laughs happily as my feet dangle a foot off the ground and he swings me around twice more our laughter mixing.
"Maker's breath, you are a sight for sore eyes."
"Alistair. Your chances of being turned into a toad just went down. I am glad you are safe." I say hugging him back referencing our first meeting.
"I thought we lost you. Are you all right?
"I'm sorry I couldn't save Duncan. I tried. There were too many Darkspawn." Tears welled in my eyes.
He smoothed my hair as our foreheads touched and whispered, "sssh, I know you did what you could. I am just glad they didn't get you too."
I might have stayed in his embrace longer, but an irritated throat clearing retuned me to my senses. I stepped away from Alistair with some satisfaction that he didn't seem to want to let me go and turned to introduce the king.
Instead Cailan took it upon himself to get acquainted. "I am Morien of his Majesty's personal guard. You're Alistair. King Cailan spoke highly of you. Can I say I am honored and excited to meet you?"
"You could but you would be the first one today," Alistair said clasping the arm of his brother. "May I ask why you abandoned your duty to the King?"
I gasped at the venom in Alistair's voice. It was as if he held the man personally responsible for the death of Cailan. And maybe he did. Maybe somewhere deep-down Alistair was hoping that they could've become brothers. I couldn't wait for his wish to come true.
"No Rhiannon it is all right. He has a point. The king's guard has no duty except to the king. Not too Ferelden not too his wife. But Alistair, the king knew he had underestimated the Darkspawn. The battle was going badly. He didn't know how many of the Grey Warden's on the field had or would live. And for Ferelden to survive the Grey Wardens that were left would need protection. I was commanded to stay with the Wardens until the blight was ended. The King knows ... knew that if anyone could save us it would be the Grey Wardens."
Alistair accepting the wisdom of Cailan's words and stopped glaring at the man and said, "then thank you for guarding our sister and bringing her back to us. "
"Rhiannon saved me not the other way around. I can honestly say if it weren't for her, I would not be standing here able to speak with you." Cailan said letting go of his arm.
Alistair looked at the mage and noticed the reddening of her cheeks. He had thought she had a pretty blush when he first met her. But now she was breath taking. He understood the Revered Mother cautioning the recruits that the world would end, and lightening would strike if they bedded a mage.
He hadn't noticed all her womanly attributes when he first returned to camp. But there standing in front of him with nothing to focus on except what wasn't covered. He had to admit she was always beautiful but there was now no denying it. He would have to take a cold bath in the lake tonight to even get any sleep. But there were worst things he could dream about.