Chapter Three: The Architect
Authors Note: I apologize for the rough draft of chapter two that was posted. I was super hurried and did not have a chance to edit it. I'll try not to let it happen again. Thanks again for everyone who supports this story. Feed back is always appreciated.
Disclaimer: Bioware owns Dragon Age, I just take creative license.
Alistair launched up out of bed with his dagger drawn, battle ready. His eyes cleared and he looked around, recognition dawning on his face. He glanced at the window and saw the sunshine coming through and spreading across the floor. His face took on a softer look as he walked towards the light. Reaching out his hand, he watched as the sun splayed across it. His body went rigid, and his back stiffened. He slowly began to turn around, and there sitting in an arm chair holding a cup of tea was Evaine.
"You've become harder to sneak up on. The moment I came in, you shot up like a jumping bean. The guards said they hear you thrashing about. Are you having nightmares again?" She looked thoughtfully at him as she stirred her tea. A shadow of worry flashed across her delicate features before her face became a mask once again.
"You teach yourself to become alert when you live and fight for your life in the deep roads every day. And you get sleep whenever you can. I cannot remember the last time I had a complete and restful night sleep." He gave her an ironic smile.
"So are we going to talk about what you were doing in the deep roads yet, or would you prefer to wait. I have all day." She looked at her tea with an amused smile, as if she had some secret he was not aware of.
"There was nothing else for me to do. I had left everything behind," He continues to stare at the floor, "After a full week of being completely soddding drunk, I decided that I couldn't live the rest of my miserable life like that. I had no-where to go and nobody to see. I found my way down to the deep roads hoping to die. I was surrounded by darkspawn ready and willing, when the Legion had come out of no-where. They had asked why I was in the deep roads. At that point I no longer cared, so I told them the truth. They offered me a way to get my honor back, the same way they did. Seeing that I really had no other options I joined there band of little merry men." He gave her a bitter smile.
"So what happened? You had said that there was a reason you came back. Was the legion no longer to your liking?
"No, at least with them I felt like I was able to do something. No, everyday there were fewer and fewer of us. More of the med were taking back to the stone. Finally, about a few days ago the five of us that were left were ambushed by a swarm of darkspawn. They killed two of us, the other three they took alive," He physically shuttered and his face turned green, "They took us deep into their city. They were looking for a grey warden."
Her trance was broken and she looked at him with shock all over her face. "How do you know they were looking for one of us?"
He looked at her with his head still down, "Because one of them told me." He waited for it to sink in and watched as all the emotions played across her face.
"What do you mean, one of them told you?" Her lips pursed and her voiced cracked with terror. The memory of the Blight and everything that happened because of it was still fresh in her mind.
"That is the reason I came back. I stayed alive to make sure that you knew what had happened. I am the only one left out of the three of us taken. I don't know how I made it out alive, but somehow I got to the surface. They have one of them that speaks as clearly as you or I. He looks and smells just like any other darkspawn, but speaks as though he was human. They call him the architect."
"I don't understand Alistair, what is it you are trying to tell me?"
"This thing, the architect, he has been trying to find a Grey Warden. As a Grey Warden, some of us have the knowledge of where the old gods are located, and he in turn has been trying to find one of us that his this information. He proposes a truce between the Grey Wardens and the darkspawn; he claims he would like to unite us."
"Ok… So what I don't understand is how you got out, and could you find your way back."
"I don't know how I got out. I was in this dark room with the architect, I remember his talking to me about this, and then he mentioned trying to find you. I got angry and attacked him, while he was on the ground I made my break for the door. I wandered around the deep roads for two days until I finally found my way out."
"Why would this man want me?"
"You are Fereldens savior. Anora might be the queen, but it is you that the people look to. With your approval everyone would go into the Frost Back Mountains to die. I don't think you realize how much power you wield here."
She looked thoughtful for a moment, "ok, well, get dressed and meet me in my apartments in twenty minutes, we need to speak with Soren and decide what we are going to do." She nodded and left the room.
He was left alone again. He marveled at the light coming in his room once again. It had been so long since he had seen the sun. He forgot the warmth of it, like the warmth of Evaine's skin. He could still remember what it was like to touch her. Last night when she was in his arms had felt marvelous to him. He couldn't remember the last time that he had felt so safe. But sadly he had destroyed any feelings that she had for him when he deserted her the night before the final battle. He clenched his fist in anger and bunched the sun. Not knowing what else to do, he got dressed and headed out the door to find Evaine's apartments. He was escorted down the hall and to the right. They stopped in front of the giant oak door that he assumed led to her room. They knocked and then left him standing there alone, waiting to be invited in. The door was pushed open, and the man who had been in the dungeon was standing there in full armor, with a look that said he was ready for battle.
"Well, looks like we have the last member of the party, I'm surprised you're still here." He smirked and stepped aside to allow Alistair admittance into the room.
"Of course I am still here. I am the one with the information that you need. I will not leave until the job has been finished, or Eviane send me from this place. I am a Grey Warden, this is where I belong." And he gave Soren a look that dared him to fight. Alistair was in such a foul mood, he would welcome a confrontation with this little pup of a man, Evaine's new protector. Little did he know, the woman needed no protection. She was a deadly adversary.
"That has yet to be determined. She has not yet said if she will allow you to keep that title." Soren just looked as if he was taunting Alistiar, he wanted to fight just as bad as the other man.
Evaine, seeing that this was going nowhere fast, and could easily escalate decided to enter the conversation. "Alistair is yet a Grey Warden Soren, Duncan gave him that title, and I will not take it away. No matter his past actions, he is still a brother. He deserves you respect, it is because of him that we have any warning at all, and know anything about this situation. No, if you two are done playing who is the better man, I say we get down to business so we can get under to Denerim."
Both men looked at her as though she just sprouted another head. Alistair was open mouthed, he could not believe that she had stood up for him. Why would she do such a thing? Soren couldn't believe it either. Had her past with the man clouded her judgment.
"Ok, so what is the plan? Evaine brought me up to speed on the Architect, but what are we going to do about it?"
"I think that we should call for help from Orlais. But, to do that, we need to get the queens approval before we bring them into Ferelden. I say the first step is to head to Denerim and ask if we can get reinforcements. We need to stop this before it takes a bad turn. This can potentially turn into another blight is they find one of the ancients."
"When would you like to leave, and who are we going to take with us. Lady Cousland will need a guard escort to the palace."
"Soren, I do not an escort, you and Alistair will be enough," She rolled her eyes and gave an exasperated snort. Which was a very unbecoming sound from lady Cousland.
"Your guard dog is right, Anora values tradition. You are a senior noble in Ferelden. The only Tyrn left actually, she will respond better if you appear to her as such, instead of a battle worn grey warden." Soren looked like he had swallowed something bad. He was not expecting him to agree with him on this point.
"Very well, I will do it. But, we ride with the bare minimum. I was to ride fast. WE can stop at Arl Eamons estate and request an audience with the queen before we go before her in court. She will appreciate that I follow the rules, and unfortunately we need her assistance to let the Orlesians back into Ferelden."
"Agreed. I will go get the men prepared to leave within the hour, if that is ok with you Evie."
"Yes, that will be fine. We will meet in the courtyard in one hour, hopefully your skills on a horse have improved Alistair," She gave him a rueful smile, "Alistair, stay a moment, I would like to have a word with you before we leave." He was headed to the door and stopped. He turned around and bowed, before standing at attention waited for Soren to leave. Soren gave her a questioning look before glaring at Alistair on his way out the door.
"Eamon will not be in residence, you do not need to fear that confrontation. He is actually on a diplomatic mission in Orlais. But that is not what I wanted to discuss. Before I left Denerim, I asked Anora to save your life. That was the boon I asked the queen for when we won the battle. I need you to come with us. I know you wanted to argue this when I mention us going. You will need to explain the situation to her. IT is your story and not mine to tell. But I need to know that you are with us Alistair. IF you give me your oath, I will trust your word and never look back. You will be a welcomed member of the order again and a Lieutenant of the forces. But cross me again, and I will personally have your head, and in the Orlesian fashion, put it on a pike in front of the castle."
He had no doubt that she would cut off his head and show it to the world. She would have to be strong to earn the respect of so many men. "You have my oath of loyalty, my lady. I will not let you down."
"Then from here on out, you have been restored. I will let it be known before we leave today. And Alistiar, I head this brought out of the storage chests for you." She went to a chest and opened it. She had something in her hands as she walked towards him. It was Duncan's shield. She was handing it to him. Like is she was handing him back his honor. He reached out to touch it, but snapped his hand away before he reached it.
"I appreciate you keeping it for all this time, but I cannot have it back. I lost my right to wear that a long time ago, and I don't believe I am worthy any longer to carry his name. I am no longer that man. I need to earn my way back there." He turned away from her so she could not see the tears that had formed in his eyes. But he was too slow, she had seen them form, and for a moment she became soft. She grabbed his shoulder and turned him around to face her.
"The fact that you came back, that you are here trying to make a difference would mean more to him than you know. Fine, prove yourself worthy of this shield, but know that this is a clean slate. Do not live in the past Alistair. Fight for the future!" He nodded silently and turned around. He stopped a moment at the door before continue out to his room to get ready to leave.
He left her with a feeling of bewilderment. What had happened to him, what had turned him into this, this shell of a man? But she new. He deeply regretted his actions three years ago. Whatever that had happened in the deep roads, had matured him into the man she always knew he would be. It was too bad that it had to be this way. She used to picture their life together, and when she did it was always them growing and maturing together. But his actions had made that impossible. Why was she dwelling on the past again? She shook her head trying to rid herself of those thoughts. What is done is done, and there is no way of un-doing it. They had to concentrate on the task at hand, the architect.
She had one of her attendants pack her things and met the men in the courtyard. They would be traveling with six guards. When she opened her mouth to protest, Soren threw up his hands to stop her, "I will not be argued with." She shut her mouth and climbed atop her mount. She couldn't help notice that Alistair seemed quite at ease on his horse. They used to make jokes about how they knew he was Maric's son was because he lacked the ability to stay on a horse. It was as if it wasn't even Alistiar there with them. No joke, no smart remarks, who was this man?
There was no talking on the ride to Denerim, except for Soren's few orders to the other men. It took the entire day for them to reach the city. By the time they reach the estate, the sun had been set for a few hours. Even though the hour was late, Evaine had penned a note to the palace, informing her highness that they had arrived and wished an audience with her. It took a day for them to retrieve their response. Anora would see the three of them at court, the fallowing afternoon. Evaine decided that the best way to approach her was not as a grey warden. Anora was still not thrilled about her father leaving Ferelden and blamed them for his departure. Evaine would go to court as the Tyrna of Highever, it was the best way to receive the response that they needed.
The fallowing day Evaine had entered the main room to meet Soren and Alistiar in a high noble dress deep red and gold. Both men had looked at her as if they had never seen her before in their life. This was completely foreign to them. Soren had seen her in a dress on very rare occasions when her mother's nagging had won out in the end. And Alistair had never seen her in a dress in the year that they were together.
"Not one word from either of you, or I promise you I will throw you out of the highest window I can find! It is customary for a noble to appear as I do in front of the queen." Neither of them said anything, they knew she would keep her word.
When they arrived at the Palace they were ushered into a small study where the queen was waiting for them. The eyebrow perked up in great interest when she spotted Evaine, but was replaced by a glare when she saw Alistair. "You dare bring this traitor into my presence, you are asking too much of our friendship warden."
"Your highness forgets of the bargain we made three years ago. Your highness also forgets that it was my blade that saved your country, and that I am not only a warden, but Tyrna oh Highever, and it is that title that I use before you today." Anora had the good grace to flush when she was reminded of what Evaine had done.
"You desired a private audience, what is it that you need?" She was extremely interested in this. For three years Anora had been trying to get Evaine to join the court, hoping that with her approval that Ferelden would unite easier.
Evaine went through the whole situation again, letting Alistiar explain his part, albeit in a less involved fashion then previously stated.
"So you need my approval for more Grey Wardens from Orlais to come and help?" She sat quietly for a moment, obviously deciding what she could get out of this situation.
"All right, I agree to your request, but I have a request of my own. I do not want to be left out of the talks, this is my country and I deserve to know what is happening to or with it. If you want a formal summons from me, you will need to remain here until they arrive, otherwise they will be unprotected Orlesians in Ferelden."
Evaine had turned several different shades of red and purple, while Anora looked quite pleased. In the three years that Evaine had taken over the Wardens in Ferelden and became the leader of Highever, no one had told her what to do. Finally it looked as though she was able to breathe again, and her coloring had returned. "We agree. We will however stay at the Arl of Redcliff's estate."
"That is fine, as long as Lady Cousland and her guests join the court while they are in the city. We need to present a united front." So this is what she was actually after.
"Agreed." Was all that came out of Evaines clenched teeth. She hated being used in this fashion, but what other choice did she have? She needed the permission of her sovereign.
"Excellent!" Anora clapped her hands together in a joyful fashion. "Then I will see you three tonight at our fete. Oh, and Alistair, you might want to get some appropriate clothing." They were dismissed until that evening.
Evaine seethed the entire way back to the estate, and then for about two hours after. "I cannot believe the nerve of that woman! Doesn't she realize that it was I that put her there? I am the one that saved her soddding country, and this is the thanks I get? She gets to use us to prove to the people that she belongs on that throne? Ahhh!" She threw her hands up and began to pace the length of the common room. Soren was sitting in a chair by the fire, quite amused with her ranting, while Alistair sat there quietly and stared at her. She stopped a moment and looked at the two men, "She was right, if you two are going to court we need to find you some clothing. Unfortunately we need Anora's assistance to save her soddding country again, so we need to play by her rules. With any luck the Orlesian Wardens will be here within a few days." They found suitable clothing for them in the Arl's storage trunks and headed back to the palace.
Half way through the evening Evaine had felt like she was introduced to half of Ferelden. Anora couldn't hide her glee at having the war hero by her side. She had finally been able to sneak away and found Soren in an alcove drinking ale. "You wouldn't be hiding by any chance, would you Evie?" She hated that knowing smile that Soren had.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I am. I can no longer tolerate being paraded around to all of the nobles like her little lap dog. Everywhere I go I am surrounded by people. Uhg."
Soren pointed his glass to the opposite side of the room where Alistair was flocked by young women of every station trying to get his attention. "It seems you are not the only one with that problem. A waiter walked by with drinks in his hands and Evaine grabbed one hoping it was strong. She drank it down in one gulp. Why was she having a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach? She convinced herself it was irritation at Anora. Throughout the next hour, Soren watched as she got continuously more inebriated. He had never seen her even drink ale.
After a while she became dizzy and decided fresh air would do her some good, she snuck out to the balcony and looked out at the city. It looked so beautiful at night, one would hardly know it from the disgusting place it was in the day. Someone had come to stand next to her. IT was a familiar sent that made her senses reach out to it.
"I saw you stumble out here alone, I wanted to make sure you were doing ok." Alistair had worry written all over his face. "I can't remember you ever drinking."
"I've never had a reason, Anora has been able to change that."
"Yes she has always had that way about her. I couldn't stand her as a child. She always seemed to treat others like they were nothing, even Cailen. I never did see what he saw in her." He seemed to be smiling at some private joke. That made her heart break all the more. She loved his smile, it was always the one thing she looked forward to at the return to camp.
"I noticed you seemed to have quite the gathering in there. It must be nice to return to that instead of the scorn you thought you would encounter." Her face was a frown as she went on, "I'm sure you could have your pick of them."
"Why are you doing this?" He was looking at her with extreme sadness in his eyes. She could never know the depth of his feelings for her.
"Doing what? I was just commenting on the situation. "Alistair has returned, five hundred silver to whoever has him first!" I bet that is what they are all saying." She started to turn and walk away when he grabbed her by the fore-arm.
"What is it that you want from me?"
"Nothing! I want nothing from you. Go and take your pick from the beautiful women throwing themselves at you! I'm sure they will mean more to you than I ever did!" She almost spat the words out in her fury and hurt.
Alistair's eyes flared in anger, "How can you say that? You will never understand how much you mean to me! About how the thought of losing you drives me to madness! The feel of your skin on mine is like a fire that spreads to my entire body. Being around you and not being able to touch you, or hold you are the most pain that I have had to endure, but being without you is worse. I will NEVER love anyone the way I love you. EVER, even if I live past my thirty years and for eternity." His declaration took her off guard. She stared at him like if she was seeing something foreign. She couldn't move, the intensity of his eyes and her grip was keeping her stationary. She looked about to say something when a primal sort of noise came from his throat and his lips were on hers with a passion that she had never felt before. His arms pulled her into him and wrapped around her. She had forgotten how good this felt. He hands reached up to his face, tracing the outline of it. She sighed with contentment, but that noise seemed to break the spell. He grudgingly pulled away from her and turned his back to her.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. You have made things perfectly clear as to what we will never be. I took advantage of your weakened state of mind. It will not happen again."
She looked like she was about to say something, when she collapsed. Alistair caught her at the last second before she hit the floor. In a panic he carried her into the ballroom yelling for help. Soren was at his side right away, a look of terror on his face.
"What happened to her?
"I don't know, we were out there getting air and she fell, out of no-where." Alistair's voice was panicked and he looked to be on the edge of hysteria.
"Call a healer! Quickly."
They rushed her to a room in the palace to lay her down. When the healer finally made it she was already coming around. "What happened? Where am I?" everyone seemed to breath a consecutive breath of relief.
"We should take her back to Arl Eamons, do you think that you could send over a healer? I just want to be sure there is nothing wrong." Anora saw the pain in Alistair's eyes, and something in her softened.
"Yes, I will send out best. Send me word tomorrow?"
"Of course, Soren I have her, you wouldn't mind going ahead to make sure things are ready there?"
He nodded his head in the affirmative and dashed off to tell the house what had happened. Alistair picked up the now awake Evaine and carried her back to her room at the Arl's estate and with Soren stayed by her side until the healer arrived.
"Well my boy, I'm happy to see you finally got your head screwed on straight enough to come back." The healer was smiling at him with a smile that said, I told you so. He had never been so happy to see a mage in all his life.
