Vigil's Keep

Wolf paced in the shadows near the stable. Delia was late. He noticed there were a lot more guards around the Keep than before. He hoped nothing had happened to her. When her pale skin resolved out of the shadows he was so on edge he nearly jumped.

"You're late," he said, "I was worried."

"I had to escape. There was another attempt sometime in the night and they insisted on keeping me under guard all the time. It's almost like being in prison."

She wrapped her arms around Wolf's neck, noting he wore the mask again, and pressed her lips against his. His response, hungry and insistent, drove a moan of longing from her. He pushed her against the side of the stable and pressed his large, warm body against hers. That, coupled with the adrenaline of her escape from the Keep, made her want to take him here.

"For luck," he whispered into her ear and kissed her once more.

"For luck," she said.

"Can you get a horse?" he asked.

"Yes, give me a minute."

The stable was dark. No one was in there tonight. She grabbed her favorite mount and her tack and led the mare quietly out to where there was a little more light. She worked on getting the horse ready to go while Wolf rummaged through his pack.

"Here, you should wear this tonight," he held up a mask similar to the one he wore, "in case you're spotted." He put it over the top of her head and tied it in the back. "You look like wickedness personified," he said taking in her form-fitting ebony leather armor.

"I think Varel would agree with you," she said thinking back to his expression.

"Varel? Howe's seneschal?"

"Well, formerly yes. He's my seneschal now. Do you know him?"

Wolf chuckled. "You could say so. We spent some time in Howe's prison together. In fact, we escaped together. I'm glad he's your seneschal, he's a good man."

"Then it sounds like you have a good reason to come to the Keep. You can catch up with Varel," she said.

"I can think of an even better reason to come to the Keep," he said looked at her intently. "But we're wasting time. We have a woman intent on seeing you dead, to kill."

Delia mounted her horse gracefully. "Lead on, Wolf," she told him. He mounted his horse and spurred it to a quick pace and Delia followed behind.

Fortunately Delia had picked up horse riding skills quickly when she came to Amaranthine. Wolf however, was a very good rider. If she were to guess, he'd been riding all his life. He looked so tall and at ease in the saddle.

He turned to look back at her, she was having no problem keeping up. "Can you jump?" he asked.

"I've never tried," she said.

"I'll have to teach you sometime. You ride well." He guided his horse around the fences he would normally have jumped.

They dismounted well before they got to Esmerelle's estate and hid their horses in the woods.

"Here's my plan," Wolf said. "I'd like to do this without any bloodshed, other than the Bann's, of course. There are plenty of guards around the perimeter so we're going to need to be careful. The library on the second floor is not far from her room. It's easy to access and the Bann isn't much of a reader."

Delia nodded. "Can we make this look like an accident or a suicide?"

"That part we'll have to play by ear. I'm looking for something she stole from me when I was thrown into her dungeon."

They avoided the guards on the perimeter by keeping to the shadows. From where they stood below the library looked dark. Wolf threw his grappling hook and it caught securely in the wrought iron on the balcony. He sent Delia up first and followed after she got to the top. She already had the lock picked when he reached the top. He smiled at her, appreciating her competency. She opened the door slowly. The library was very dark. There were no light sources inside the library other than what little came in through the balcony door and the open door to the hallway.

"I think we'll be able to hear the Bann going into her bedroom from here. The door is just across the hall," he whispered. He peeked out of the ajar library door. Her bedroom was dark. They waited inside the library, just behind a tall shelf full of books. Who knew how long they'd have to wait? Delia was just beginning to feel fidgety when Wolf's hand grasped hers. He pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. It was too dark to see much, just the glittering of his eyes looking into hers. She felt his hand slide up her arm and he was about to pull her to him when they heard voices coming down the hallway and the shadows in the hall danced to someone walking holding a lamp or candle.

Wolf pulled her back, further into the shadows. They wouldn't be seen from the door. Delia removed a book from the stack of books in front of her and peered through. Bann Esmerelle had walked in with two highly armed people. She rummaged through a drawer in her desk.

"You're agreement with me is to kill Commander Tabris and you've failed!" she said, pulling a paper from the desk and shaking it in the face of the man she was speaking with. "You assured me it would be handled by now."

"We've met with some unforeseen difficulties, the woman is heavily guarded by well-trained troops," he said.

"What?" Esmerelle scoffed, "You're the feared Antivan Crows who kill princes and kings inside their castles and you can't manage one measly elf?" She slapped the paper she had been waving around on the desk.

"We've decided on a new approach we think will work better. We're going to need a large distraction outside the Keep so that we can get inside and get set-up more readily."

"A distraction?" Bann Esmerelle said, thinking.

"One big enough to concentrate the troops and Wardens in one place."

"I think I can arrange that. The peasants are hungry and frightened. A few well-placed rumors and we could get them to riot."

The Crow nodded. "That sounds good. How soon can you do this?"

"I'll need a week," Esmerelle said. "Spreading fear and panic takes some time."

"Then a week from today, around sunset, have your rioters ready. We will use the distraction to hide inside the Keep. You might want to be there as well with any friends you have," the Crow suggested.

Esmerelle nodded. "Very well, but this had better work or our deal is off."

The Crow nodded. "It will work." He and his companion stalked out of the library with the Bann following them.

Wolf moved carefully to the desk. He picked up the piece of paper and stuck it into a pocket inside his leather cuirass. Delia stood next to him, watching him opening the drawers of the desk. He swore softly and picked up a large ring. It disappeared into his pocket as well. He found something else in that drawer and also pocketed it.

"All right, done here," he whispered to her.

They heard Bann Esmerelle's voice again, she coming back towards the library. They went back into the stacks to see where she would go. She came into the library and put a lamp down on the desk. She stared a moment at the desk then opened first one drawer and then another looking for something.

Delia and Wolf exchanged a look between them.

Esmerelle slammed her hand down on the desk. "Stop the Crows! I need to ask them something. Someone unseen, outside the library, raced down the hallway and returned a few minutes later with the Crows.

"Our agreement," Bann Esmerelle said, "did you happen to pick it up?"

The Crows looked at one another and shook their heads. "You put it on the desk," one said.

"That's what I remember too," she said, "however it's gone." Her voice held a note of accusation.

"We have no need to take a paper we already have a copy of," the Crow pointed out.

Delia shrank back further into the shadows as the Crow turned and looked around the room. She silently unslung her bow and nocked an arrow. Wolf watched her and drew his daggers.

"Perhaps you have an unexpected guest," the Crow suggested. He walked towards the dark end of the library, where they were hiding, disappearing from Delia's sight. But his fellow Crow stayed near the Bann. It would be best to thin their numbers. Delia aimed for the other Crow and let her arrow fly. It hit him squarely in the throat.

Bann Esmerelle screamed for her guards and ran out of the library and the other Crow seemed to materialize out of the shadows and lunged at her. She only managed to just parry the attack using her shortbow. She scrambled backwards, nearly falling over Wolf. In a moment, she was thanking the Maker she had shot the other Crow because this one was not just good, he was extremely good.

Wolf was nearly overwhelmed by the Crow's attacks. He fell back, emerging out of the shadows between the rows of books. Delia switched to her daggers and nicked the Crow on his arm. He immediately saw who the fiercer opponent was and he turned to Delia. Delia and Wolf both were in front of him and he somehow was parrying their every attack. Delia just prayed he made a mistake before either of them did. But at least they had him on the defensive, he wasn't able to launch an attack while they were both on him.

She knew they were running out of time, Bann Esmerelle would be back with guards soon, they had to take this Crow down and get away. Delia watched his feet, he wasn't making the mistakes most fighters do. She feinted and then nicked him again. Finally Wolf nearly got an attack past his defense and it upset his balance slightly, Delia swept with her leg, expecting to take him down, no one ever expected it. But he was ready, he jumped over her leg and kick her. She staggered and nearly fell, her head hit an oil lamp, unlit fortunately, but her mask caught on it. She shook her head to get rid of the mask and was just barely ready for the Crow as he pressed his advantage.

She heard metal shod feet running down the hall and torch light bouncing against the walls. The noise might have distracted the Crow for a moment, but he left just enough of an opening that Delia was able to stab him with a dagger. He didn't react for a moment, just continued to fight, but eventually the wound began taking a toll on his abilities. He staggered, took another slice across the chest from Wolf, then he slipped in his own blood and fell. Delia leapt on him and slit his throat just as the guards began pouring into the library.

The torch light flood the room and Delia looked up, scrambling to her feet, meeting the eyes of Bann Esmerelle.

"Commander Tabris!" she shouted. "Kill her!"

There were too many guards. But they were also hampered in the small space of the library. Wolf pushed against one of the large bookcases and it started a chain reaction making the next bookcase fall. The falling books made the footing treacherous for the guards.

"Flee!" Wolf called to her. He pulled her by the arm to the balcony. "Go!"

She sheathed her blades and went over the railing and quickly sliding down the rope.

"Wolf! Come now!" she called, hoping he had enough time. She held her breath until she saw him sliding down the rope. He fell the last ten feet, but landed gracefully. They ran as fast as they could for their horses. They were halfway to the woods when they started to hear arrows thudding around them. Just before they got to the woods an arrow struck Delia in the back.

Wolf heard her grunt and saw her stop running. She took a few staggering steps and pitched forward. "Delia!" he shouted. He stopped and ran back and picked her up, hoping the next arrow didn't have his name on it. He mounted his horse and settled her across his lap, holding onto her. He kicked his horse into a gallop. He took a moment to look down at Delia. She was breathing but only barely.

"Hold on, damn it, Delia."

He somehow kept her across the saddle and still controlled the horse at a mad pace. It wasn't long before they were at the Keep. He carefully lifted her down and carried her into the courtyard. He was immediately stopped and challenged.

"Halt, who goes there!" The guard challenged him.

"I am Melchor d'Alboquerque, I have your Commander, she's been wounded. She needs a healer immediately." He said forcefully.

"The Commander is in the Keep, Ser. Varel's orders, she's not to leave," the guard replied, looking at the woman in his arms.

Wolf held her head up to the light. "Haven't you ever seen your Commander, idiot?" he was nearly frothing at his mouth with anger and impatience. "She's barely alive and if she dies it's on your head." He pushed past the guard. "Open the damn door!" He waited while the guard opened the door. "Get Varel!" Wolf yelled. "Get the healer."

The guard was spurred into action by Wolf. He didn't have far to go, Varel was in the throne room anxiously awaiting Delia's return. He heard the ruckus at the door and was walking to see what was happening as Wolf walked in.

"Maker's breath," Varel said when he saw her. "Is she alive?"

"Just barely," Wolf replied. "We need a healer."

Varel sent the guard running to Anders room. Anders ran down the stairs a few moments later, seeing his commander hang limply in the masked man's arms. He put his hand on her, noted the shallowness of her breath.

"Maker, she's nearly gone," he swore. He put his hands on her arms and sent some healing magic into her. Then he felt her pulse again, it was a little stronger. "I think we can take her upstairs. The arrow has to come out."

The mage motioned Wolf to follow him upstairs. He did, holding Delia carefully so he wouldn't jar the arrow. They laid her on her bed, on her stomach.

"Can you cut through her armor with something?" Anders asked.

Wolf nodded. He got one of his daggers and gently sliced through her armor, fortunately it wasn't a heavy leather. He was able to pull it away from her back. Then he sliced through the cotton shirt she wore underneath, leaving her with nothing but her breast band.

Varel walked into the room, carrying a basin of steaming water and Nathaniel behind him with a pile of clean bandages.

"I need someone to pull out the arrow while I keep her from bleeding to death," Anders said. "I'm also going to need some lyrium. Nate, can you go to my room and bring some here?"

"I'll pull out the arrow," Varel volunteered. He had removed many arrows in his time.

Wolf got up from where he was sitting on the bed to let Varel have access to her. Anders sat next to him, his hands on her back, around the wound. A steady blue light glowed from his hands.

"Pull now, Varel," he said.

Varel pulled the arrow out, glad the Commander was unconscious. It would have hurt like hell.

A gout of blood bubbled up from the wound and stained Anders's hands. The blue light intensified and Anders began to sweat with the effort. Soon the blood stopped pumping out and he removed his hands.

"I need a towel," he said.

Nathaniel returned with lyrium and healing potions. He handed a cloth to Anders to wipe his hands. He wiped her back too. The wound was still gaping but the bleeding had stopped. He uncorked a lyrium potion and drank it. Then he poured a healing potion over the wound. It closed a little. He put his hand back on the wound and the intense blue light flowed over her back again. This time when he removed his hands the hole had closed. He drank more lyrium and repeated it several more times. When he finished, the Commander was breathing normally but still unconscious. Her back however, looked perfectly normal.

"She may have an infection. Someone needs to stay the night with her and keep an eye on her temperature." Anders got up and nearly fell. He felt dizzy from drinking so much lyrium. "Get me if she gets worse." Anders left to go back to bed.

"Question is, how did the Commander end up with an arrow in her back?" Nathaniel said, his eyes narrowing at the masked man. "In fact, how did she leave the Keep? And why?"

"You'll have your answers tomorrow, I suspect," Varel said. "Right now we'd better let the Commander rest." He clapped a hand on Nathaniel's shoulder, lead him out of her bedroom, hoping he'd take the hint. He did, and Varel shut the door and turned to the masked man.

"You're the Dark Wolf, I take it?" Varel said. Something about the man seemed familiar.

Wolf sighed and reached up and pulled off his mask. "I think you know me as Melchor d'Alboquerque."

"Melchor?" Varel stood stunned for a moment. "You're the Dark Wolf?"

"I am. Or at least, I am now. It's a long story."

Varel crossed the room and clasped his wrist in a handshake. "Melchor! I can't believe it. I always wondered what happened to you after we escaped from Howe's dungeon."

Wolf flinched at the sound of his name. "I go by Wolf now. Melchor just doesn't sound quite so good in Ferelden as it did in Rivain."

Varel laughed, "I see your point." He pointed at the Commander. "So, what happened?"

"We were going to take care of Bann Esmerelle, thinking that would put an end to the conspiracy. The Bann was meeting with the Crows about their failures and they set up their next attempt. Unfortunately we were noticed and Bann Esmerelle spotted the Commander. We just barely escaped, but we did kill the two Crows. She was shot as we were fleeing."

"The Commander seems to have a death wish," Varel said. "I caught her leaving tonight and tried to stop her, but she wouldn't hear of it."

Wolf sighed. "This was all my fault. I set this up and it didn't go as planned."

Varel frowned. "And now the Commander was seen on the Bann's estate. This is not going to end well," he rubbed his forehead.

Wolf thought a moment. "It might not be as bad as all that." He reached inside his cuirass and pulled out the piece of paper he had folded up. He hadn't seen what was on it. He went over to a lamp and read. "Yes, this might save the day." He handed the paper to Varel who read it.

A smile slowly dawned on Varel's face. "Yes, this will definitely help."

"Thanks, Wolf, for getting the Commander back here and helping with this matter. I guess I'll be staying the night with her," Varel said.

Wolf coughed. "If it's all the same, I'd like to stay with her," he said.

Varel's eyebrow lifted. "Oh?"

"We've become... close. I feel responsible for what happened."

"I trust you, Mel... Wolf. You've always been an honorable man." Varel glanced at him sternly. Wolf detected a bit of fatherly protectiveness in the man when it came to the elf. "Don't let me down." He turned and left the Commander alone with Melchor... Wolf.

Wolf pulled a chair alongside Delia's bed. He watched her breathe. Her breathing looked normal now but she was so pale from the loss of blood. He ran his hand over her back, unable to even find the wound now. The healer was talented, but what sort of injuries were left inside? She still had on her leather leggings and boots. He could at least make her more comfortable.

He sat on the edge of her bed and turned her over. She only stirred a little. He picked up a leg and put it on his lap, unlacing her boot and pulling it off. He pulled the sock off too and left her foot bare. It was so small. He carefully examined the toes, her little toe was so tiny yet perfectly formed. Something about the scale of her feet made him smile. He freed her other foot from it's encumbrance and unlaced her leather leggings. He pulled them off carefully, leaving the cotton ones she wore underneath alone. He picked her up just enough to tuck her under the blankets.

He pulled a chair over to the side of her bed and dozed lightly, waking up to check on her frequently. Sometime in the night she kicked her covers off and he saw her face gleaming with sweat. He touched her forehead, she had fever. He got up and went searching for the mage's room. He woke up someone else and they took him to Anders.

Anders opened his door looking exhausted. "Is there a problem?" he said, his voice burred with fatigue.

"She's got a fever," Wolf said.

"I'm not surprised. What does surprise me is that you're still here." Anders looked at Wolf suspiciously.

"Varel is aware I'm staying with her," Wolf said. Maker! he thought, what a suspicious lot. He didn't blame them. There was something about her that seemed to bring that out. Maybe it was her tiny stature and delicate features. Men tended to forget she was a vicious killing machine when she wanted to be.

"Hm," Anders hummed dubiously. "I'll be right there."

Wolf returned to Delia. He dampened a cloth and wiped the sweat off her forehead. Delia's eyes opened half-way, they looked clouded and unfocused.

"Wo..." she whispered barely audibly.

"Hm?" he said. Unsure what she was saying he put his ear next to her mouth. "What did you say, Delia?"

"I... want you," she whispered. She twined her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to him. "Fuck me," she whined and squirmed on the bed.

Wolf looked anxiously at the door. Anders was going to be coming in any second and this would be difficult to explain. "Shush, Delia," he tried to unwrap her arms from around his neck but she was clinging with a ferocious tenacity. "Go back to sleep, wolfling."

"Please," she whimpered. "Please, fuck me," she said, with impossibly bad timing because Anders was standing in the doorway listening to every word.

"She's delirious," Wolf explained. "She just woke up... with this notion."

"Um hm," Anders said dubiously. He said something low and made a gesture with his hands. She fell back onto the bed, asleep, her arms releasing Wolf's neck. "She should remain asleep for the rest of the night, provided nothing untoward wakes her." He glared at Wolf. "When I check on her in the morning, I expect to find her asleep."

Wolf nodded. "Of course... I'd never..." he trailed off, aware that nothing he said would convince the mage he was anything other than an opportunistic lecher who nearly got his commander killed.

Anders sat next to Delia and pumped more healing magic in her. In a few minutes she looked less sweaty. Anders tucked the covers in around her again. He left Wolf with one final glare.

Wolf closed the door after the mage and settled back into his chair. His last thought before his eyes closed was how much he wanted to be in the bed with her, his arms wrapped protectively around her, listening to her heart beating and her lungs working.