Friesan Pirate & Kanta48 Thank you for favoriting the story. My Spanish speaking guest: Yes Poor Alistair. He never does anything halfway. Judy: As always your comment is a faithful as the sun. Thank you.
9:32 Dragon 19 Guardian – The Hanged Man, Lowtown
It was two hours later when Alistair finished slurping his way through two bowls of Pig Oat Mash and four brandy spiked ciders. While he was no more sober than he was when he came into the Hanged Man at least now he was functioning. They could go back to the Gallows without drawing attention of Meredith.
Which was just as well because if she found him drunk on duty one more time, she was going to strip him of the Templar title and banish him from Kirkwall. They hadn't talked much after the warrior with the dog left. He assumed it was for the same reason he was quiet. They were both thinking about her.
"Come on Alistair. It is time to get back to the Gallows."
Alistair stood and wobbled. He put a hand on the table and steadied himself. "Let's get back to the scary templar lady who wants all the mages tranquil."
"Alistair," Cullen chided. "That is unkind of you. She is being vigilant and making sure the same thing doesn't happen here that happened back at Kinloch Hold. I know you weren't there, but it was horrible. I still have nightmares about it."
Alistair wisely choose not to say anything more as it was taking more effort to remain standing the longer, he stayed in one position. He was given help in the form of Keran who snaked an arm around Alistair's waist and braced the other knights arm around his shoulder.
For just a moment his alcohol-soaked brain told him it was a good idea to walk up those stairs and check every room just to see if she was here. But as quickly as he thought it Alistair banished the thought. She would only lie to him again. Then her and Cailan would have another good laugh at poor naïve Alistair.
Maneuvering the six-foot Knight in full Templar armor was proving to be a challenge for the recruits. The door wasn't large enough for them to go through it together. Keran would need to propel Alistair through and catch him on the other side.
His partner Juris had the same idea. He would catch the knight and Juris would push. They hadn't thought the plan completely through because if it hadn't been for Darragh catching the former Warden he and Keran would be on their faces in front of the tavern door.
Cullen stepped around Alistair and Keran offering his hand to the Ash Warrior. "I am indebted to you for your help good sir."
"No thanks necessary. Just make sure he sleeps it off. And stays away from the bottle. He will be better in the morning."
There was something about the man that made Cullen slightly uncomfortable. He had noticed the feeling when talking to the Ash Warrior the first time. But thought it was just the mention of the Grey Wardens that sent warning bells.
But now he had too much to do. Tomorrow was another story. Better yet maybe he could have Hawke check into him. The man had helped in with the blood mage infiltration. And after all it wasn't officially templar business so he couldn't officially do it himself.
"I see you have another hound. Is this one a stray?"
"No. The Corso is mine. The Mabari as I said earlier belongs to a … a friend. Good night, Knight Captain. I trust your travels to the Gallows will be uneventful."
Darragh stepped around the four Templars and went inside the tavern. He needed to check on a different heartbroken warden.
Across the street in the darkened doorway a hooded man and his partner watched the interchange with interest. His intent to intercept the party was interrupted by the appearance of the Templar. He nodded his head and his companion slipped away, completely unnoticed by either the Ash Warrior or Templars. He would watch the mark until it was time to make their move.
Cullen watched the warrior with narrowed eyes before motioning the two recruits forward. He still had things at the Gallows to care for, but tomorrow, that was different.
On the bed Alistair snored… loudly. In fact, Cullen could estimate how much ale Alistair drank based on how much the other man snored. There were days since his friend had come to town, he regretted billeting with the man.
It didn't help that many here thought Alistair and he shared quarters and a bed. In fact they did share a bed but there was nothing romantic about it. The first week he put Alistair with the other knights the Grey Warden woke troop of knights with his nightmares, making them completely useless and drawing Meredith's wrath for the first time. It wasn't as if Alistair did it on purpose, but it didn't help that he was completely wasted.
It was just easier that their nightmares kept each other company. That and he could minimize the exposure to the Knight Commander and keep his friend out of some trouble.
Alistair had promised him the whole story but, in the year, they had been together in Kirkwall he was still scratching the surface.
He knew Rhiannon had hurt him by keeping his brother's identity secret and traveling all over Ferelden with the King. And of course, finding out his brother faked his death and lied to him for a year before humiliating Alistair was betrayal enough. But he didn't think that was what kept his brother in arms returning to the oblivion of a drunken stupor night after night.
He just hoped he could help Alistair get over it because it was destroying him little by little. Maybe it was time to reach out to Ferelden for help. No one had come looking for him yet but he wondered if that was because they didn't know where Alistair was and not because they didn't want him.
Cullen had been thinking about her recently with her twenty birthday a fortnight ago. He'd listened to enough of the rumors to know they gave her an Arling in Amaranthine. She was now the head of all Grey Wardens in Ferelden. And that she was the king's mistress. He wondered if time had allowed for her to forgive him.
Maybe he should ask Alistair. Maybe the three of them could fix each other.