Delia hadn't been dozing more than fifteen minutes when there was a knock at her door.
"Come in," Wolf said. He hadn't moved since Delia had fallen asleep on his chest.
Varel opened the door. "I'm sorry to disturb you," he said, "but we have a problem."
Delia woke on hearing Varel's voice. She gave another great, racking cough. Varel's face creased hearing her cough so terribly. "I'm sorry to disturb you, Commander. But we've gotten word that Bann Esmerelle is on her way here with a large contingent of guards."
"Why would she do that?" Delia asked. She hoped that Varel couldn't see that emotional upheaval she had just been through. She sat up straighter, pushing away from where she had collapsed on Wolf.
"I'm not sure, Commander. Perhaps she thought she could have you arrested and dragged before the King for breaking into her estate?"
"When we have the contract with her signature? That's insane."
Varel shrugged. "Perhaps she doesn't realize we have it. Or perhaps she thinks you'll resist and be killed in the skirmish?"
"Did Captain Garavel get the troops back from the farmlands?" she asked.
"Yes, most of them just arrived. We still don't have a large force here. Reports are she outnumbers us."
"Stop her forces outside the gates and let her come inside with a small contingent and we'll arrest her then. If she wants to fight outside the gates, then we can accommodate her. Garavel can man the battlements with archers and ballistae. They'll be sitting ducks." She had to stop talking to cough again.
"Very well, Commander, we'll take care of it," Varel nodded to her, preparing to depart.
"No. I intend to be there. I wouldn't miss this for anything," she said with a feral smile.
"Delia, you can't," Wolf protested.
"I'm going to need some stamina potions and Anders can rejuvenate me when I need it," she said, ignoring Wolf's protests.
Varel's face looked distinctly disapproving. "Commander, we really can handle this. You don't need to be there."
"Oh, but I do. Revenge has wonderful healing properties. Already it gives me new strength," she said with an ironic smirk. "How long before she gets here?"
"She is perhaps thirty minutes out."
"Good. Send me a maid to help me dress, and Anders."
Varel nodded and left.
Wolf sighed. "Delia..."
"No," she said, holding up a hand to stop him. "I'm doing this. Don't argue with me. I want you to be there with me. This is as much about your revenge as it is mine."
Wolf shook his head, seeing there was not going to be any further arguing with her. "All right. Just be careful."
Delia scrutinized him. "You might want to clean up a bit, love. You're looking a bit scruffy." She scraped her thumb across his stubble and smiled grimly at him. "Would you see if Varel can loan you a razor? I want you to look sharp for your reunion with dear Esmerelle."
The maid came and helped Delia wash up and get into her finest armor. She fixed her hair too, in between coughing fits. Anders came and groused at her for what she was doing but he gave her the stamina tonics she wanted and promised to rejuvenate her if she started to flag.
Wolf carried her up to the battlements because she was still to weak for the stairs and exertion made her cough. Bann Esmerelle's force approached the Keep's gates. Captain Garavel and Varel were waiting for her. She could see them discussing something with the Bann. What they were saying, Delia couldn't hear, but the discussion looked heated. She saw archers poised along the battlements ready to fire on her if she did anything aggressive. Delia could see Esmerelle scanning the battlements until her eyes found her. It was too far to see the details, but she held her head defiantly and looked in her direction for a good long time. Finally she nodded at Varel, agreeing to his terms, and he allowed her inside the gates with a small force.
"We have to get down to the throne room," Delia said. Wolf picked her up again and rushed her downstairs. She gulped down a stamina potion and felt a surge of energy. She let herself cough one last time. She seated herself sideways on the throne, swinging her legs over the arm and lounging insouciantly, as if she didn't have a care in the world. Wolf stood next to her and Anders was behind her.
Esmerelle and her guards, along with Varel and Captain Garavel and a larger number of the Keep's soldiers, marched into the throne room. Bann Esmerelle was dressed in glittering plate armor that looked more ceremonial than functional. She also wore an elaborate longsword, overly decorated with gems and engravings. Delia suspected the woman didn't even have the strength to lift it over her head.
"Bann Esmerelle, so nice of you to visit," Delia said. She swung her legs around to the front of the seat. It briefly annoyed her that they didn't touch the floor. Note to self, she thought, get a smaller chair. "It saves me a trip."
"Delia Tabris, I am here to charge you with burglary and murder. You must immediately surrender to me and face justice in Denerim!" she said, her voice low and furious.
"Oh, dear," she said theatrically, "whatever shall I do?" She was nearly unable to control a coughing spasm that was tickling in her lungs. Wolf could see a fine sheen of sweat forming on her forehead.
"The contract, please," she held out her hand to Wolf and spoke softly.
"Did you really think you could get away with an assassination plot against me, Esmerelle?" She held up the contract. "We've got your signature right here. We killed your assassins but I hardly think anyone would call that murder."
"It's a forgery!" the Bann exclaimed. "I never..."
Delia could feel another surge of rejuvenation just as she felt her voice might give out. "Really? Well, it is a remarkable coincidence then that you were entertaining two Crow assassins and setting up another assassination attempt against me. Perhaps a few of your co-conspirators will be willing to dish in exchange for lighter treatment."
Bann Esmerelle snorted indignantly. "A conspiracy? What nonsense."
"We do have their names, my dear Esmerelle. Melchor found them for me," she said, gesturing to Wolf.
The Bann's glare turned on Wolf. "Melchor! That man is an escapee from justice!"
"Yes, from Arl Howe's justice. I'm quite familiar with the old Arl's penchant for imprisoning and torturing innocents."
Varel nodded beside her. "I myself can attest to that," he said. "Escaping from Howe's prison is a badge of honor these days."
Delia looked up at Wolf. He had a smirk on his face. "Which of the conspirators do you think will turn on her first, Melchor?"
"Lady Liza Packton always had a strong streak of self-preservation," he said, rubbing his newly shaved chin musingly. "Or perhaps Ser Guy, he's a bit of a opportunistic weasel. He'd probably turn on his own mother to save his hide."
Bann Esmerelle was beginning to look panicked. Wolf had touched on a raw nerve. She knew her friends were weak.
Delia stood, carefully bracing herself against the arm of the throne in a way the Bann couldn't see. Another wave of rejuvenation passed over her. "Bann Esmerelle, I am placing you under arrest for leading a conspiracy to assassinate me. You'll be taken to Denerim and tried there."
"Never!" she shouted. "Attack them!" she ordered her guards.
The guards looked around at the soldiers in the throne room. Attacking would be suicidal. Delia could read the doubt and hesitation on their faces. Their Bann had tried to murder the Hero of Ferelden. They held no excessive love for this woman.
Their hesitation was enough. Garavel signaled his soldiers to close in on the Bann and her guards. "Throw down your weapons and you will be allowed to go free," he told them. They didn't hesitate to surrender. Swords hit the floor like metal rain.
"Cowards! Ingrates!" Bann Esmerelle screamed. "You swore to give your lives in service to me," she cursed at them. She drew her longsword but Garavel was on in her in a flash and knocked it out of her grasp with his own sword.
"Funny, I seem to recall a similar oath of allegiance you swore to me, Esmerelle. Captain Garavel, would you escort Esmerelle to the prison. We will turn her over to the crown for justice in a few days."
Her captain bowed and escorted the cursing, screaming woman away and Delia collapsed into the throne and coughed until she nearly passed out.
"Ow," she said, panting for air after she stopped. "Well, that went well!" she said cheerfully. Then the potions and spells wore off. She wavered a moment then slumped in the chair unconscious.
"Saying 'I told you so' would be so much more gratifying if she were awake," Anders said with a sigh. "Well, let's get her back to her room at least."
Delia's lungs had accumulated a lot more fluid and Anders had to resort to draining them with a barbarically painful procedure. However, being a mage, he had a spell to put her to sleep so she was spared the pain. Two more days of drinking horrible tasting potions four times a day and she was feeling much better.
When Delia awoke from the lung draining Wolf was nearby. "Wolf," she said weakly. "Is that stupid arrow going to kill me yet?"
Wolf smiled at her and stroked her hair. "No, Anders said your lungs are finally doing well. If you're good you can be up in two days."
"You must be getting sick of looking after an invalid. You don't need to stay," she hesitated, "if you don't want to."
"What if I want to?" he asked. "I am courting you after all," he kissed her cheek.
"This surely wasn't what you had in mind, looking after an invalid."
"Well, you can see then that I would pass the through sickness and in health thing right off the bat, no?" he said with a little smile.
Delia chuckled. "Well then, if you want to stay, perhaps you should go collect your belongings and bring them to the Keep? Then you won't have to borrow Varel's razor." She blushed slightly, something Wolf thought he had never seen her do. "There are certainly lots of spare rooms in the Keep or even... well, this room is large enough. If... I mean, if you wanted to. It's up to you, of course." She plucked at the fuzz of her blanket shyly.
Delia being shy and embarrassed was something he had never seen. It was rather charming. "Are you asking me to move in with you?" he asked, hoping to extend the moment.
"If you want to," she said quietly, still fiddling with her blanket.
Wolf rubbed his chin thoughtfully as though pondering it. "Well, the room is large and the bed is quite comfortable. My roommate doesn't snore, which is always a plus. She is somewhat argumentative, however, but refreshingly direct and very beautiful. Hmmmm... I think that it would be an acceptable arrangement."
"Acceptable?" Delia squeaked with indignation.
"And there's the argumentativeness already!" he teased her.
She punched him in the arm, weakly. "Go get your belongings. Talk to the stable master and he'll get you a cart and horse if you need it."
He grinned at her. "Right away, Commander."
"Could you send Varel up while you're headed down?" she asked.
"Of course, wolfling," he said. He bent over her and kissed her tenderly. He felt her respond to his kiss by nibbling on his lower lip. He moaned against her mouth and broke away from her. "You really need to get better soon, mi corazón. There are so many things I intend to do to you in this big comfortable bed."
She smiled at him. "Well then, I'll be sure to drink all of Anders potions without complaint."
"I won't be back until tomorrow, if I go now. Are you sure you want me to go now?"
"Yes. I'll be fine, probably even much improved when you get back."
He kissed her again and held her a moment and then he left. Delia sighed happily and sank into her pillow wishing her body would heal faster. Varel entered the room a few minutes later.
"How are you feeling, Commander? Wolf said you wanted to see me." He sat beside her on her bed.
"I think better. That horrible cough is gone and I'm breathing freely. Just very tired."
Varel nodded. "Anders said you should be recovering quickly now. He'll probably be stopping by shortly."
"I want to go with the escort taking Bann Esmerelle to Denerim. Can we postpone that until I'm better? I think I should explain to Alistair exactly what happened."
Varel looked concerned. "I don't think that's wise. The darkspawn attacks are becoming more frequent and your accident has pushed a lot of things off. Could you just write him a letter? Either Garavel or I can take her to Denerim."
She nodded. "I suppose you're right, although I would dearly love to see her hang."
Varel nodded in sympathy. "You're not the only one," he said.
"Wolf is moving into the Keep," she blurted out suddenly.
Varel looked surprised. "Is he going to take the Joining?"
Delia shook her head. "No. At least, I don't want him to. He can train with the soldiers and Wardens. He'll be useful."
"Should I have a room made ready for him?" Varel asked, watching her closely.
"That won't be necessary. He's moving into my room." She wondered how Varel would react.
"Is that wise?" he asked. "People will gossip. It's not typical for Arlessas to take lovers openly."
She rolled her eyes at the title. "I'm no damn Arlessa, Varel, I'm a Grey Warden. No one cares what we do in our bedrooms as long as it doesn't involve an archdemon."
Varel laughed. "I wouldn't be so sure about that. Whatever you do is going the topic of discussion all over Thedas. But you could have chosen worse. Wolf is a good man, except for the part about robbing people."
"I have chosen worse, trust me. And he only stole from particularly egregious nobles... and me."
Varel looked surprised. "He stole from you? What did he take? Other than your heart, I assume."
Delia smiled wryly, "Cute. Well he stole a name from me. A reputation, of sorts."
"Oh?" Varel looked interested. "You did mention briefly you had been the Dark Wolf, but I didn't understand. As I told you before, whatever you tell me I will hold in confidence."
"I trust you," she bit her lip and decided to tell him. "When you said to seek out the Dark Wolf I was confused because that had been my name once. Mine and my partner's. We robbed many of the nobles allied with Howe and Loghain. Even Loghain himself. We stole his crown. The money we used to buy weapons and armor, feed ourselves, and to help raise the army for the blight."
Varel's eyebrows looked about to shoot off his forehead. "You were the Dark Wolf?"
Delia nodded. "Yes, in Denerim. So when I heard there was an upstart in Amaranthine, I had to see who was laying claim to the name. That's when I met Wolf... Melchor. It turns out, he had planned a lot of the jobs we did in Denerim, although we never met."
Varel smiled at her. "And you fell in love with him?"
"No, I found him irritating and smug. But he grew on me," she said, smiling as she remembered how infuriating he had been.
"An interesting story, Commander, is there more?"
"Much more, but I'd probably need to be fairly drunk to tell it. None of my companions during the blight knew about my Dark Wolf activities. I was sure they wouldn't approve, but we were desperate for money."
"Then perhaps someday I can coax more of the story out of you with a bottle of good Antivan brandy. Was there anything else, Commander?"
"I could use a maid to check on me periodically while Wolf is gone to fetch his things. He'll be back tomorrow."
Varel nodded. "I'll have one attend to you."
Varel left and Delia was worn out by her storytelling she snoozed until the maid came. Then she asked for a bath. After the bath Anders listened to her lungs again and made her drink another nasty potion, which she did without complaint this time.
"I'll drink two of them if it'll speed this up," she groused.
Anders shook his head. "No, sorry. Just eat a lot and sleep a lot. You'll be up in no time."
So she did her best, for once, to follow directions.
...
When she awoke the next day she felt vastly better. She sat up on the side of her bed. No dizziness. She stood. Still no dizziness. She walked to the armoire and got a simple gown out. Carmine looked good with her black hair and eyes. It was one of the very few gowns she owned. She dug through her drawers until she found a silky chemise. She poured the chilly water from the ewer into the basin and washed, then dressed. She looked at herself in the mirror. Unfortunately she had lost more weight with her injury and her small breasts were even smaller. Her ribs stuck out too. She vowed to put on more weight. Maybe Anders had a tonic that could make her eat more.
She smiled, happy to be able to do simple tasks for herself again. She wore her hair unbraided for a change and brushed it until it fell down her back in smooth, ebony waves. Anders would yell at her, no doubt, but there was no use in lingering in bed since she felt so well. She went downstairs, carefully at first until she was sure her strength would last, but she quickly gained confidence that it was not going to desert her immediately. When she walked into the dining room most of the Wardens were already eating breakfast and they stopped and stared when she walked in.
She smiled and looked at them. "Not dead yet," she said.
Anders looked up at her in surprise. "You do look... good," his eyes swept over her appreciating seeing her in a gown with her hair down, "but are you sure you should be up?"
"Stabbing my lungs with a needle did me a lot of good." She got an evil grin. "Funny, isn't it? All that magic and you had to resort to a procedure any well-trained medic could do?"
Anders's eyes narrowed. "Um hm, well next time you take an arrow to the lung lets see how well that 'well-trained medic' does."
Delia smiled apologetically. "I am just teasing, Anders. I owe you a lot for saving my life." She leaned over and hugged him.
"I should make you drink that tonic for several more days because of that crack," he said, but he smiled at her, forgiving her the jest at his expense.
Delia took a seat next to Anders and piled her plate high with food.
Nathaniel cleared his throat. "So, are you going to tell us about this mysterious man who nearly got you killed and has been hovering around ever since?"
Delia blushed. "He's the son of an exiled Rivaini noble. His name is... difficult to pronounce, so he goes by Wolf."
Anders wiped his mouth, laughing into his napkin. "Oh come on, Commander, tell them."
"Melchor d'Alboquerque," she grimaced as she said it.
The Wardens burst out laughing.
Delia conveniently forgot her own burst of hilarity when she had first heard his name. "Hey!" she scolded them. "It's unfair to make fun of someone's name. Besides, it is a noble name, with a glorious history, in Rivain. It just sounds funny to our ears." She shot a glare around the table and the laughing subsided.
Nathaniel wiped his smirk off his face. "And how did you come to know this... Wolf?"
"I hired him to look into the assassination conspiracy. He found many of the conspirators and... I was to handle them myself."
"Handle them?" Nathaniel asked, his eyebrow raising with interest.
"Take... counter-measures," she replied.
Oghren grunted. "Remember that Crow our Commander used to forge the moaning statue with? She learned a trick or two from him."
Delia's face turned to stone. "Don't mention him in my presence again."
Oghren looked surprised. "Really? I thought you two left on good terms."
"Enough, Oghren. I meant what I said," she put her fork down with a clatter, ready to leave the dining room.
Oghren's face looked puzzled for a few moments then a look of shock and enlightenment passed over him. He looked to be ready to spout another question but Nathaniel put a warning hand on his shoulder.
"So what happened with the counter-measures? Did you actually kill the conspirators?" Nathaniel asked, badly wanting to hear more of the story.
Delia grimaced. "One, yes. I couldn't arrest him because revealing I knew about the conspiracy would make them act out of desperation. But shortly after Wolf found the leader of the conspiracy, Bann Esmerelle."
Nathaniel looked impressed. His Commander was nothing like he thought she was. She seemed to have a dark, lawless side. Something he certainly had not heard about her from the stories of the blight.
"So, Bann Esmerelle was going to be a tough target but I figured if I got her, the conspiracy would fall apart," she said, glossing over the details. "Wolf and I went together. Our goal was simply to take... counter-measures, but it was complicated by there being two assassins with her, plotting the details of their next attempt on my life. We saw Esmerelle had a signed contract with the Crows, so we took that. Unfortunately, in doing so we alerted them to our presence. I killed one immediately but the second one was a monster. It took both Wolf and I to bring him down. Then the guards arrived and we had to flee. We had nearly made it to our horses when I was shot."
She paused to shovel in more food.
"So, Wolf saved my life by getting me back to the Keep as quickly as he did."
Anders looked at her suspiciously. "Why did he wear that mask?"
"It's usually a good idea to hid your identity during such matters. I was wearing a mask too, but it fell off in the battle. I didn't want anyone to know what I was up to, of course. But with Wolf, he had an even better reason. Bann Esmerelle had thrown him in prison once, for making a comment about Loghain's retreat. So, he wanted to avoid that fate for a second time."
Delia thought she did a credible job of covering up Wolf's more larcenous background.
"So now what? Wolf is gone and we're back to fighting darkspawn?" Nathaniel asked.
"Well, the conspiracy is over most likely. The remaining conspirators will probably turn on Bann Esmerelle or fade away. We have the contract to prove her involvement. I think I can put this behind me." The last sentence was, of course, a complete lie. She hadn't put it behind her. There was still one more loose end to take care of, but it would have to wait.
"And what about Wolf?" Anders pressed.
"Wolf is returning," she said simply.
"Oh?" he replied. "To become a Grey Warden?"
Delia shook her head. "Not if I can help it. Most of us became Wardens out of necessity, not choice. Except Oghren, who thought it was an opportunity to experience a new, exotic drink."
Anders was unsatisfied by her answer. "Then what will he be doing?"
"He's been very helpful with the conspiracy. He has a lot of contacts and knows Amaranthine well, plus he is a capable fighter. He'll be useful in many capacities."
"I bet he will be," Anders said with an obvious double meaning implied.
Delia coughed and her cheeks grew slightly red. "Yes, well. I should be in fighting form in a day or two. Agreed, Anders?"
"Would it really matter what I say?" he asked.
"Not really. But as soon as I'm a little stronger, we'll start looking for Kristoff again. So enjoy your time off, it isn't going to last."
The Wardens chatted amiably and Delia tried to eat as much as she possibly could. She spent a little time with Varel and Captain Garavel after breakfast, taking care of some small matters. Then she went back to her room, feeling a little tired after the minor exertions. She laid down on top of her bed and fell asleep fast.
...
Note: Thanks so much to Jenna53, CynderJenn, Eva Galana, bioncafemme, zevgirl, Nithu, Lavinia Luscious for the reviews! I appreciate your feedback.