Chapter 13

Travis was the happiest he had been in a long time, but he missed Nate. He loved Delilah and Albert, they were both kind and generous to him. Albert was patiently teaching him how to be a smithy and was proud of Travis' progress. Both Delilah and Albert knew of his longing to see his friend, so when the request from the Keep arrived by messenger, they had agreed to let Travis go to the Keep to pick up the armor and weapons needing repair.

Travis hitched the donkey to the cart, his excitement growing. Delilah came out to the small stable and gave him a parcel. "This is some food for the trip. It'll take you about a half a day to get there and I don't want you acting like we never feed you," she said, tousling his hair.

Albert smiled at Travis, "Be careful on the road. The bandits have been fewer now, but don't be reckless."

Travis groaned, "I'm not a little kid. I'll be fine." He hugged them both, "See you later."

"Say hi to Nate for us." Albert said.

"Mind your manners." Delilah called as Travis began walking, holding the lead to the donkey that was pulling the cart behind him.

...

Nate wandered around the grounds of the Keep. Training was finished for the day and the nobles were meeting in the main hall. He went to the stables and began grooming one of the horses they had acquired, thinking about how much life had changed in the past month.

His reverie was interrupted by the braying of a donkey being brought into the stables. He looked out of the stall to see Travis putting a donkey into a stall and giving it some hay.

"Travis!" Nate called out.

"Hey Nate!" Travis called back, grinning from ear to ear.

"What are you doing here?" Nate asked as he and Travis hugged.

"Albert got a request for repairs, so he sent me to pick them up." Travis said, latching the stall door.

"Let me show you around the Keep." Nate said and they walked out of the stables.

...

Varel was still amazed at Beth's ease and composure when dealing with the nobles. She was currently introducing the newly appointed Captain of the Guard, Garrett, around the room. It was amazing luck that the Warden Commander would be adept at politics. Usually, military minds had no patience for the nuances that were needed to handle the nobles of the Arling.

A couple of nobles who were worried about the crime rate in the city were speaking with Beth and Garrett.

"I have helped the city guard by training more guardsmen. They are given the option of serving here or in the city. The Constable of Amaranthine and I have even talked about rotating the guards so they don't get bored patrolling the same routes," Beth said, smiling at the nobles.

"Yes, that's seems to be one solution," a nobleman sniffed. "But, what about commerce? In order for the city to prosper, we need viable trade routes."

"We have established a patrol along the Wending Road and cleared it of any bandits. That trade route is now open and the merchants have been alerted in Denerim." She continued smiling benignly, waiting for this man's next question. She noticed Bann Esmerelde approaching.

"I don't think you've done enough," she accused. "What about the wharf? There are smugglers and all sorts of riff-raff causing trouble there."

Varel sighed, nothing seemed to please Bann Esmerelde. He watched Beth take a deep breath as she turned to Esmerelde and attempted to placate her.

"I haven't heard that there were issues at the wharf. I will check with the Constable and we will determine the priority of these issues. You must understand that I am also in charge of the Grey Wardens and we are trying to get to the bottom of the darkspawn issue," Beth spoke calmly and looked directly into Esmerelde's eyes.

...

Nate and Travis had been all over the Keep, there was just the main hall left to show him. "Now, the Commander is hosting the Banns this afternoon, so we'll have to slip in quietly and stick to the back, but when the nobles leave, I'll introduce you to her."

Travis nodded nervously and they quietly opened the door into the main hall. Travis looked around the large room, filled with people. All were dressed in their finest, but a soldier stuck out. "Who's the only one in the full armor?" Travis asked.

"That's Garrett. He's just been promoted to Captain of the Guard." Nate answered, looking around the room.

"Is he a Grey Warden?" Travis asked, hesitantly.

"No. He doesn't want to be one, but he's one of our best, so the Commander gave him the Captain job." Nate answered still scanning the crowd.

"Where is the Commander?" Travis whispered.

Nate smiled, "She is actually the Arlessa right now." He searched again and finally saw her with Bann Esmerelde and Varel toward the front of the hall. She was wearing a yellow dress that complimented her in all the right places. Nate pointed, "Over there, in the yellow dress."

Travis was surprised to see the Hero of Ferelden looking so noble. "But...she's a girl!" he exclaimed.

Nate laughed at his friend's expression, "Yes, that she is."

Suddenly there was a commotion around the front of the hall. The crowd noise rose with several screams and lots of shouting. People were moving quickly, some toward the front and some away.

"What's happened?" Travis asked.

"I don't know." Nate said, concerned and hurried to the front of the hall.

...

Bann Esmerelde sneered at Beth, "You are not taking care of the nobles and I will tell Queen Anora to have you replaced as Arlessa!"

Beth was trying to maintain her composure as she grew angrier with Bann Esmerelde. "I understand your position, but I am trying to obey my Queen's orders."

Esmerelde leaned closer, "Maybe I won't have to wait for the Queen."

Varel was growing increasingly concerned, suddenly, a side door nearby opened and the twang of a crossbow was heard. Garrett was running towards the door as was Beth. Varel had grabbed Bann Esmerelde by the arm and was holding her in place.

Beth and Garrett ran through the hall chasing the archer. The man was swift and stopped at a corner to fire another bolt at them. Dodging the bolt, they both kept running until they finally caught him in a dead end.

"You should have studied the layout of the Keep better." Beth hissed and twisted the man's arm behind his back while Garrett took the crossbow.

"Who are you and why are you here?" Garrett demanded pointing his sword at the man's throat.

"I don't have to answer your questions," the man spat. "Go ahead, kill me."

Beth rolled her eyes, "Put him in the dungeon, while I go calm the nobles."

Garrett looked at her, watching a red stain appear on her arm. "Um...you may want Anders to look at that."

Beth shrugged, "Luckily our assassin is a poor shot and just grazed me." She headed back for the main hall while Garrett took the prisoner away.

Nate rushed up to her as soon as she entered, "Are you okay?"

Beth smiled at him, "Yes. It seems you hired a poor shot Esmerelde."

Esmerelde glared at her. "You do not deserve to be Arlessa. You are a murderer and should have been put to death."

Varel gripped her arm tighter. "You don't deserve to be a Bann."

Beth shook her head, "But she is. Please let her go Varel." She watched as Esmerelde rubbed her arm and stalked away. "Please dismiss the nobles, Varel. I think we've had enough excitement for today."

She walked over and picked up the bolt that had been intended to kill her.

"Is this the issue Anders heard about?" Nate asked.

"I think so." Beth sighed. "It's going to be hard to turn some of these nobles around." She looked at Travis. "Who's this?"

"Oh, sorry. Beth, this is Travis. Travis, this is the Warden Commander." Nate introduced.

Beth put her hand out and Travis shook it. She smiled at him and said, "I hear you want to join the Wardens."

Travis nodded. Somehow he had lost his ability to speak. Nate laughed at his embarrassment. "He came to pick up the broken armor and weapons for repair."

Beth laughed, "Okay, well I think you should take him for some food. Perhaps you'd like to join us for training in the morning before you leave."

Travis cleared his throat, "Y..yes. That would be great," he stuttered and grew bright red.

Nate tried not to embarrass his friend further and said, "You really should have Anders fix that. You're ruining a very pretty dress."

Beth laughed. "Okay, you're the second person to say that, so I should go."

Varel was smiling at the exchange and said, "Let me know when you are going to interrogate the prisoner. I want to be there."

"Certainly. But, I really don't think he will tell us anything we don't already suspect." Beth turned and walked out of the main hall.

Travis watched her go, star struck. Nate couldn't help himself and started laughing again.

"What?" Travis said.

"Nothing...Let's go eat." Nate said and led his young friend toward the kitchen.

...

Beth entered her office and sat at her desk. Her arm didn't really hurt that much and she had too much paperwork to sort through. She sat with her head in her hands, wondering what she should do about her assassin. Her mind wandered back to another assassin...

"I can't believe you spared his life." Alistair said, upset. "He tried to kill you."

"Yes, but his loyalties only lie with himself. We should be able to trust him as long as his best interest lies with us." Beth said.

"An Antivan Crow is not someone to take lightly," Alistair admonished, "I will be keeping a careful watch on him."

His name was Zevran and he had proved a valuable companion until they had reached Denerim near the end of their journeys. They had been going through the city, garnering support for the Landsmeet, when they had met another Antivan Crow in a back alley. Zevran had shown his true colors and turned on her when his friend offered to help him back into the Crows. Beth had been forced to kill both Zevran and his friend.

Tears threatened at the memory and she wiped them away as a knock sounded at her door. "Come in," she said, sighing.

Anders poked his head in. "Um...sorry to intrude, but Varel asked me to check on you."

Beth rolled her eyes, "I'm fine. It's just a scratch."

Anders came up to the desk and eyed the red stain on the left arm of her yellow dress. "Well...you did appoint me as healer of our group, so if you would indulge me, I would like to make sure there was no poison involved..." He watched her carefully.

Beth looked at Anders and said, "I'm too tired to argue with you."

"Okay. Can you pull your arm out of the dress or do you want to cut it?" He asked eyeing the still wet stain on her dress.

Beth began unbuttoning the dress and pulled her arm out. Anders surveyed the wound and his hands glowed a faint blue as he healed the wound. "No poison, that's good," he mumbled as he worked, "but I should put a poultice on it to prevent infection." He rooted through a bag he had brought with him. "Here we go," and he bandaged her wound. Holding her arm he happened to notice the bruise and scabbed cut. "What happened here?" he asked, concerned.

"I don't know. It seems to have healed fine though," she said, "Can I have my arm back now?"

Anders was still holding her arm, studying the scars that circled her wrist. "Oh, sorry," he said and let go.

As Beth was re-buttoning her dress, Anders looked at her shyly, "I'm sorry for what I did in Denerim. I only meant to help."

Beth sighed deeply, "I know, Anders."

Anders tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "You are a very beautiful woman and I am growing quite fond of you." He leaned in and kissed her.

Beth was startled and pulled back, "Anders...I..."

"No. Don't say anything. That was out of order. I should know better." Anders gathered his things quickly and left the room.

Beth sat looking at the door. She wasn't sure what she was feeling. She liked Anders. His sarcasm and sense of humor reminded her of Alistair, but she couldn't deal with it. She just wanted to escape the responsibilities that were thrust upon her and hide. Sighing loudly, she reread the paper in front of her, the words still not making any sense.

...

Anders entered the kitchen, silently reprimanding himself for kissing her. A faint smile played across his face. He did enjoy it though. He grabbed a bowl of food from the large pot over the fire. The cook had gotten the idea that Gray Wardens were always hungry, so food was always available. Anders sat down at the table with Ohgren, Nate and Travis.

"What have you been up to, sparkle fingers?" Ohgren asked, belching loudly.

"Nothing, why?" Anders asked in a rush.

"Nothing, sure. You look like the cat that swallowed the canary." Nate said, seeing the blush spread on Anders face.

"Are you a Grey Warden too?" Travis asked.

"Yep and who are you?" Anders said, glad for the change in subject.

"This is Travis. He traveled from Antiva with me." Nate responded, looking fondly at the boy.

"I want to be a Grey Warden some day," Travis said, "and do all the things you hear about in the stories."

"I've got a few good stories to tell." Ohgren said, "Like the time we fought the high dragon at the Temple of Andraste."

"Really?" Travis said, eagerly.

"Don't believe everything this dwarf tells you. He has some mighty tall tales." Anders said, smiling at the boy's enthusiasm.

Varel entered the kitchen. "Did you see the Commander, Anders?"

"Yes, ser. All's good." Anders said.

Nate watched him closely. Something must have happened when he was with Beth. "Did you do something to upset her again?"

"No." Anders responded, quickly.

Beth poked her head into the kitchen at that point. "Varel, if you could come with me?"

"Certainly." Varel said and left the kitchen with her.

"She's really pretty." Travis said and Nate, Ohgren and Anders all laughed at the smitten boy.

...

"Have you decided what to do with our 'guest'?" Varel asked.

"Not completely. I want to talk to him first and that will decide his fate." Beth responded.

Varel stopped walking and said, "You aren't going to conscript him are you?"

"No. He's not Warden material. Now if he had hit me with the bolt..." Beth smirked at Varel.

Varel frowned, "Don't even joke about it. You are the best Warden Commander I've seen."

Beth looked at Varel, raising an eyebrow. "Flattery will get you nowhere Seneschal," she smirked.

Varel shrugged, "Just the truth."

They entered the dungeon, Varel stayed behind Beth as she approached the cell. The prisoner was sitting on the cot, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed in front of him. He looked at her defiantly.

"I've got nothing to say to you," he spat.

Beth shrugged noncommittally, "That's fine. I'll do all the talking then." She walked over to the desk and looked through the items taken off the man. Besides the crossbow, he had a dagger and a small pouch of coins. "I certainly hope this was not your payment. I would think killing a Warden Commander would rate a higher bounty." She watched him glare at her.

"Seneschal. What do you think should be done with him?" she looked at Varel.

Varel didn't hesitate, "He has attempted to murder you. He should be put to death."

The prisoner tried unsuccessfully to act uninterested, but fear was shadowed in his face.

Beth watched him and said, "Double tomorrow's patrol to Denerim and have him taken to the city guard. I have seen too much death to add to it." She turned and left the dungeon.

Varel looked at the prisoner and growled, "You got off lucky." Then he left the dungeon as well.