Bioware owns Dragon Age and all the characters, I own Jaya, though...

The King's Rose
Chapter 17: Abducted!

Weeks after their wedding, Jaya and Alistair fell into a system, if there was something Alistair couldn't handle, he turned to his wife for advise and Jaya turned to him on matters that she herself had doubts. Occasionally, the two would go on trips to Soldier's Peak to see Avernus and they found out he had stumbled onto a way to hold off a Grey Warden's Calling until they are more ready, which thrilled both of them as they told Avernus the wonderful news about their pregnancy. The old mage admitted that he knew from the blood samples both had given two months prior, but was happy for them. Then came a visit to see Fergus. Wynne and Zevran were to join them, Leliana was helping Brother Genitivi and Wynne brought up the question everyone was thinking.

"Are you sure you want to do this in your condition, dear?" She asked.

Jaya sighed and looked to them, smiling a little. "If I don't now, I'll probably never get over it. Maybe if I remember things, I might start talking to myself." She chuckled softly and absently rubbed her belly. Being five months into her pregnancy, Jaya found it nice to rub the swell to make her feel better. "Besides. I may never get around to it once the child's born." With that, the group made their way to Highever, Jaya remembering the route she and Duncan had taken so long ago. She made them stop occasionally to let her stretch her legs and even pointed out the place she and Duncan had stayed one night when it was raining. "It was so funny to run with not only my bow but my family sword and dagger in the armor I wore."

"That's why you're so quick in battle, my dear Warden. Shame. I thought it was something else." Zevran stated.

Jaya smirked. "You, Zev, are so very wrong on many things." She said as they approached the gates of Highever. "Funny. Last time I saw these gates, there were Howe's soldiers at them, busting it down." She went to touch the stone before strolling into the courtyard. "Here's where the blunt of them were. Luckily, Duncan and I had use the servant's exit." She muttered before seeing Fergus looking at a tree. "Ferg? Were you waiting?"

"Not really. Just remembering how many times Mother yelled at us to get down from this tree." He commented, hugging his sister before giving Alistair a handshake and looking at Jaya's belly. "Maker, you're looking great, sis. Ignoring the belly, you are glowing." He stated.

"Gee. Thanks. Bad enough the cooks at the palace think I ate all their cheese and watermelon." Jaya grumbled before Alistair chuckled. "I know you ate the cheese, husband, and you didn't save any for me." She teased before pausing outside the doors.

Fergus also did. "Maybe we could just stay out here?"

Jaya inhaled and pushed the doors open, figuring to get it over with. When she did, she was assaulted by memories. "This.. This was where me and Mother met up with Gilly and the others. He informed us that Father was injured and made it possible to escape." She smiled fondly. "Before that, here was where Father, Duncan and that bastard were, chatting like nothing was happening." She stood exactly where Bryce had stood before going to the right, subconsciously following the steps she took that day, explaining her thoughts to the group. When she reached the larder, her hand froze over the handle.

"Jaya, perhaps you should rest before you get overtaxed." Wynne said, resting a hand on her shoulder.

Jaya shut her eyes and shook her head before shoving the door open and opening her eyes, surprised she hadn't traveled back in time. The floor looked clean, which was a good thing. "This room probably holds the demon plaguing me of that day." She said.

Fergus tilted his head and stepped in. "Maybe if you get the burden off your chest?"

Jaya smiled sadly at her brother before walking to a spot on the floor and sitting on her knees. "Right here... This.. This was where Father was... bleeding out from Howe's men. Mother and I rushed over and were tempted to find him some healing magic.. But... I think we both knew he was going to die." She spoke as if detached. "The last thing I heard was their screams before it went silent. According to Duncan, I had passed out. That had actually helped blocking out all that anger and things I felt that day."

Alistair knelt down next to her, knowing exactly what was going to come next. "Then that bastard broke it down." He stated.

"Blasted it, demolished, any of those words worked. I don't think I told you what he said, did I Ferg?" She asked, leaning into her husband's arms.

"No. Should I get myself a drink or go slash up some dummies?" Fergus asked.

"Well. I would think the dummies. Howe said he burnt Oren's body below Oriana's, calling him a worthless brat and..." She shuddered before speaking. "Then he called Oriana a worthless whore." She informed as, with assistance from her husband, she followed her brother out to the training yard and watched as he nearly tore a dummy out of the ground before hacking it to pieces. "Alright, save the dummies for others, brother." She called as they returned to the dining hall, Jaya occasionally glancing at the doorway, wondering if there'd be another massacre. The thought chilled her to the bone. If that happened and she lost not only Fergus but Alistair, the two most important men in her life, she would never recover. She could feel the questioning glances of those at the table and she grinned weakly. "You'd think I would not be so on guard in my childhood home. I guess there are way too many things for me to deal with." She sighed. "I need a little air. I'll be right back." With a kiss to her husband's cheek, she strolled out the doors.

"Maker, this was a bad idea." Fergus groaned. "I knew I shouldn't have forced her to come. Now it sapped the light right out of her."

Zevran nodded and frowned. "I haven't seen her like this in all the time I've known her." He sighed.

Suddenly a very high pitched scream had all four jumping from their seats and dash out to find a disturbing sign: Jaya missing, the dagger she always carried on the ground and a note tossed onto it like a napkin.

Zevran glanced around while Fergus reached for the items. "I just scanned this area not too long ago, while you were out. Nothing was amiss." He stated.

Fergus gave Alistair the dagger. "Why does that look familiar to me?" He asked.

"It... Was Duncan's dagger. Jaya found it when we returned to Ostagar. She's been using it ever since. Zev has his sword, since she has Starfang... which is at the castle." Alistair informed, gripping the favorite weapon of his wife. "What's the note say?" He asked.

"I can't understand it." Fergus admitted.

Zevran held a hand out and the note was placed in his hands. "It is written in Antivan. I shall translate. 'If you wish to see the queen unharmed, step down from the throne or else she will die, along with..'" Zevran paused and nearly tore the note in two. "'Along with the red-headed Sister. Relinquish the throne.' It looks like your 'friend' Anora still wants the throne. This is her handwriting. I would know, Jaya personally asked me to check all her messages from Anora, in case there was a poison involved. I wonder where she learned Antivan from, though."

Fergus sighed. "Anora, Cailan and I went to Antiva one summer to try and gain their assistance with something. While me and Cailan were out looking at the, erm, ladies, Anora was under some Antivan scholar learning the language." He punched a nearby pillar. "Andraste's flaming ass!"

"I knew she was lying. What exactly would she do right now? Wait or rush in?" Alistair mumbled before all four answered in harmony.

"Rush in."

Oh, my... Anora?! Hmmm... Surprising, yet not... I can see this happening between Origins and Awakening. Six months later, it is when the PC Origins heads off to Amaranthine... Who says it's not filled with stress?
~~Skittles~~