The Awakening
A Dragon Age Fanfiction
By Bionca Femme
Chapter 10:
It was later that evening that Alec's family arrived at the Vigil, and as Alec's mentor, Alistair was at Sidona's side when she greeted them at the gate. They arrived in a wagon, pulled by an entirely too thin looking mule. Alec's wife was of darker complexion, with dark hair and dark eyes, indicating Rivaini ancestry. She was huge. That's not to say that she was a big woman, because no one barely surviving like Alec and his family had been trying to would be overweight. Rather, she was extremely pregnant. So pregnant in fact that Alistair found himself having to press his lips tight to prevent him from asking Alec just how many buns he felt he needed to put in the woman's oven. Still, despite that, the woman was impossibly cheerful and outgoing. Alec had no sooner helped her down from the cart than she had waddled up to Sidona and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Andraste preserve us!" Malinda exclaimed as she pulled away from Sidona and held her out at arms length. "Yer as skinny as a lamp post!" she admonished and then grinned at the Commander. "Pardon me fer saying so mi'lady, but if you'll be permittin' it, I'll have a talk to yer cook about fatten' ye up right proper. Being a Grey Warden requires meals that stick to yer bones, so it does!" she said, then she turned to Alistair and looked him over. "And this here be your Gentleman?" she gave a rapidly reddening Sidona a saucy wink and a grin. "Oh, he be a fine pretty thing! And so tall and strong looking!" she giggled and pinched Alistair's cheek.
Alistair couldn't help but grin and preen a little bit. "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
Malinda's own cheeks pinked. "And so mannerly, he is!"
"Oh, fer the love of Andraste!" Alec sighed with exasperation as he helped the fifth and final child down from the cart. "Leave the Commander and Alistair alone, woman!"
Malinda glared at Alec. "I was just makin' polite conversation. 'Sides, I do a far better job of it than you do! What with yer goin on and on about sheep. As if anyone but you were interested!"
Sidona's warm laugh in response made Alistair's grin widen further. He watched as she intertwined her arm with Malinda's. "Come, I will show you where you will be staying, and I would certainly appreciate any help you could be with the kitchen staff and the housekeeping staff. I haven't a matron of the house and I have a feeling that you would be perfect for the position," she said. They moved away from the men folk, surrounded by the couple's five awestruck children. Alistair could hear Sidona talking to Malinda faintly about her pregnancy.
"Sorry about that," Alec stepped up next to him and watched his wife and the Commander disappear into the castle, his youngest child clutching at her mother's skirts.
Alistair clapped him on the back. "No need to apologize. You're an extremely lucky man. You're wife seems like a lovely woman and...Maker's breath man! You have you're own little army!"
Alec responded with a foolish grin. "Aye, we got married young, Malinda and me. Couldn't keep our hands to ourselves. In fact, she was three cycles pregnant when we took marriage vows. Sometimes it seems like she's been pregnant fer our whole marriage. I don't mind it though. She's beautiful like that," he said, his face lit up with pride.
Alistair felt a twist in his heart. "I hope you hadn't planned on anymore after this next one."
Alec shook his head. "'Planned' ain't the word for it, mate. Either it happens, or it doesn't, yeah?"
Alistair sighed, "Becoming a Grey Warden makes it...more difficult."
Alec's face screwed up in confusion for a moment and then his eyebrows flew up into his hairline. "Oh. Well, the missus will be happy about that. I might love her pregnant, but she gets awful tired of it. Six is probably enough, anyway."
"Probably," Alistair said with a faint smile. "Like I said, you're very lucky. It's hard for Grey Wardens to have children with a non-Warden and nearly impossible for two Grey Wardens..." Alistair trailed off with a note of sadness.
This time it was Alec that clapped Alistair on the back. "Well, you ever get the urge to change nappies, boyo, I'm sure the missus would be more than happy to lend you one of ours."
"Er...thanks?" Alistair replied, not knowing whether to be honored or slightly horrified.
Alec only laughed at the expression on his face. "So, Mentor. When are ya going to teach me sword-play? I know a fair bit about archery, but if it came to blows up close I'd be better with my hands than a blade," he admitted.
Alistair gave the man an assessing look. "You don't have the build for sword and shield. I think you'd be better with dual weapons, actually. Which means you'll have to train with Zevran. He's a master duelist and an ex-crow," Alistair said, motioning for Alec to follow him.
Unfortunately, Zevran didn't seem to be locatable anywhere in the Vigil. Which meant that he didn't want to be found. Alistair could only hope that the Antivan was staying out of trouble. So, instead Alistair took Alec to the Vigil Library where he started teaching the man Grey Warden history, or what he knew of it anyway. It was all stuff that Alistair had found terribly fascinating when he first joined the Wardens, but after only an hour into his lecture he noticed that Alec glanced towards the door when he thought that Alistair wasn't paying attention. Alistair had found it amusing at first because most people made the mistake of assuming that he wasn't very observant, which, wasn't true. He hoped that after the eighth time he'd cleared his throat Alec would have caught onto that fact. However, after Alec's third glance at the door, Alistair pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand and made a weary shooing gesture with the other. "I think that's enough for now," he told Alec with a heavy sigh. "Go and make sure your wife and children are settled in."
Alec's face lit up. "Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!"
Alistair watched as Alec scurried out of the room as if his backside were on fire, and sighed. He started putting away the books he'd gotten out for Alec to study only to be interrupted by a soft knock. He looked up and grinned broadly when he saw his lover standing in the doorway. "Excuse me," she smiled. "Have you by any chance seen the man I love?" she asked impishly.
Alistair raised an eyebrow, "I don't know, madam. Could you describe him?"
She sashayed into the room moving with grace towards him and he admired the way the light green dress she was wearing accentuated her form and set off her hair. "He is about your height, hazel colored eyes, a strong jaw and chin, ruggedly handsome, dark blonde hair, humorous...oh, and he has a most unholy fondness for fine cheese," she stopped mere inches in front of him, her dark brown eyes glittering up at him mischievously.
"Aha! You must mean Anders, if you hold on a moment I can go find him for you," he said and then winced slightly when she slapped him on the chest. "Oh, you mean me?" he asked laughingly, then he pulled her against him and kissed her soundly.
"That is much better," Sidona hummed appreciatively when he pulled away. "You are terrible," she accused with a smile.
"Nefarious even!" he said giving her his best evil laugh, which failed midway through and came out as more of a coughing fit.
Sidona laughed at him. "I think that needs a little work, mon cher."
Alistair sat down in a nearby chair and then pulled her onto his lap. "So, what have you been up to? Malinda and the children settling in alright?"
Sidona pouted prettily. "I do not know whether to feel well cared for or incredibly self conscious. She told me I was nothing but skin and bones at least three times."
Alistair chuckled. "Well, if it's any consolation, I happen to think you're quite beautiful," he kissed the tip of her nose.
"Ew! You know, I just realized what's been bothering me about the two of you," Ander's voice cut in.
Alistair groaned and leaned his forehead against Sidona's shoulder, which shook slightly as she laughed. "What's that, Anders?" he ground out, irritated at having been interrupted yet again by the troublesome Mage.
"Its like watching your parents get all mushy with each other. It's disgusting!" Anders scrunched up his face, making Sidona laugh harder.
"Well, then stop interrupting!" Alistair growled.
Sidona laughed and extricated herself from Alistair's lap. "I shall see you later," she kissed him lightly on the brow and then turned towards Anders. "Alright, Anders. Let us go look at the healing supplies."
"After you fearless leader!" Anders saluted and when she exited the room he turned to Alistair with a grin. "Two words: Spicy. Shimmy," he waggled his eyebrows at the ex-Templar.
"Two more words; Holy Smite," Alistair replied tersely.
"Ah. Good point," Anders said and then left Alistair to finish picking up the books he'd gotten out.
It was later after the evening meal that the preparations for Alec's joining had been complete. Alec was
allowed a few moments with his wife before he was called into the throne room. Varel stood at the center of it all, Sidona at his left and Alistair at his right. Though Varel was not a Warden himself, his many accomplishments and his position at the Vigil had earned him the right to certain Warden secrets. The joining being one of them.
Alistair hated attending Joinings. He spent a lot of his life saving people from the taint, somehow, subjecting them to it just seemed wrong. But that was one of the sacrifices made as a Grey Warden. At least Alec wasn't joining during a Blight.
"Step forth, Alec," Varel intoned and the speech that Alistair had heard from Duncan spilled forth from the middle aged Seneschal's lips. And then Sidona stepped forward.
"Join us, Brothers and Sisters," her rich voice rang out strongly. "Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant," her gaze fell to the floor. "And should you perish, know that one day, we shall join you."
"From this day forward, Alec. You are a Grey Warden," Varel said and handed the pale sheepherder the joining chalice.
Alec took it, his hands shaking. For one horrific moment, Alistair thought he would drop the cup. But instead the man looked up, first at Alistair and then to Sidona.
Sidona gave the man a nod, indicating that he should drink. Alistair noted the way her hand dropped to the hilt of her sword. Alec, thank the Maker, failed to notice. Instead he took a fortifying breath and said, "Well, here goes nothin'," and then took a big gulp of the vile concoction. He sputtered and coughed, then swayed on his feet. Thankfully, Varel took the chalice from his grasp just before Alec's eyes clouded over white and he fell backwards.
"Oh, well...that's a good sign," Alistair said. "He fell backwards."
Sidona shot a glare at him. "Now is not a good time for jokes, Alistair."
"I know. It's just... usually when it goes badly they fall forwards," he explained, even as Varel knelt at Alec's side.
Varel turned to Sidona with both relief and amusement. "He's right, Alec will live, Commander."
Alistair gestured in an 'I told you so' manner.
Sidona in turn rolled her eyes skywards. "Let Malinda in, then. Please make sure she knows that his unconsciousness is normal before she sees him, Varel. I would hate for her to think we've done something terrible to him."
"Or you'd never hear the end of it," Alistair voiced her unspoken thought.
"Yes, Commander," Varel replied and left to go collect Alec's wife.
It wasn't long before Malinda came bursting into the room. She waddled over to the prone Alec and then looked up at Sidona, "Is he alright?" she asked fretfully.
Sidona nodded. "He'll wake up in a moment. I'd say you could sit beside him until he wakes up, but the floor is too hard and too cold for you, in your condition," she warned.
Malinda nodded and fidgeted nervously as she stood next to her husbands body. Moments later he groaned and he opened his eyes. "If you be a desire demon, I'll warn ya now, I'm a married man and my Malinda's got no qualms about crossin' the veil to kick yer unholy arse!" he grumbled up at Malinda, making everyone laugh.
Malinda stuffed her hands on her hips. "Maker's mercy!" Malinda scowled. "I will be kicking your arse if'n yeh don't get up off yer duff right now!"
Alec picked himself up off the floor and wobbled a bit, his hands going up to his head. "I take that back, ya must be my wife. Only she'd expect me to get up from a perfectly comfortable floor when I feel like the Archdemon's been dancing the marigold on my head!"
Alistair bit back a laugh. "Come on, it's not that bad."
Alec shot Alistair an accusatory glare. "I think I'd rather be kicked by a mule than ever drink that swill again!"
Alistair did chuckle at that, then his face turned serious, "Did you have dreams? I had terrible dreams after my joining."
Alec paled, "I did. There was talking dark spawn, but not like any dark spawn I ever seen. And I have seen one or two tear into my flock. This one looked more like a man, but not like a man, you understand? I saw him in a great cavern, parts of it were filled with molten rock... looked like the deep roads if you ask me."
Alistair and Sidona exchanged a glance, "Tomorrow, when you are feeling up to it, I would like to discuss what you saw," Sidona said.
"Aye, Commander," Alec replied and then yawned.
"Is it alright if I bring him back to our rooms, ma'am?" Malinda asked.
"Yes," Sidona said with a soft smile. "Varel will help you get him back to his room. Sleep well, the both of you. And Alec?" she called before they turned away.
"Commander?" he responded.
"I'm glad you made it. Welcome to your new life," she said kindly.
He smiled and nodded, then wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders, letting her and Varel lead him out of the throne room.
"Well," Alistair said as soon as the door shut behind them. "That certainly doesn't ominous at all, does it?"
Sidona hummed in agreement. "We must go to Old Stark's farm in the morning. Then I will check with Sergeant Maverlies about the rubble below the Vigil. If you recall Master Voldrik seemed to think that there is an entrance to the Deep Roads right below us, yes?"
Alistair nodded. "It kind of makes you wonder if Queen Anora knew about the entrance before she bequeathed the Arling to Wardens, doesn't it?" he asked with a grimace.
Sidona's eyebrows flew upwards, "That is a very serious accusation, Alistair. Do you really believe that Anora would be so malicious as to give us a Keep with a Deep Roads entrance, and not inform us?"
"It makes sense, doesn't it? We get everything under control and then she conveniently sweeps in to assess the damage? She wasn't happy to see that I was here, I know that much," he folded his arms and scowled down at the floor.
"Do not make that face, darling," Sidona admonished gently. "You'll wrinkle."
Alistair's scowl melted and he looked up at her with amusement. "Fereldan's like wrinkles. Mabari's have tons of them."
She laughed softly at him, then she sighed heavily. "All we have is suspicion. But suspicion enough for me to write a warning letter to the First Warden. Which I will do before we retire for the night. I am certain that he will be unhappy to hear that the gift of the Arling may, in fact, have been a trap to rid Ferelden of the Grey Wardens altogether."
"Yes, I would think he'd be a bit put out," Alistair teased.
Sidona stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his mid-section, "Are you free for the night?"
He nodded. "Yes...you?" he asked and also wrapped his arms around her.
She nodded as well. "Yes, all my duties are completed for the day..." she trailed off, looking up into his face with a broad grin.
"Is that an invitation?" he chuckled.
She slid her hands up his chest and then up over the his shoulders and around his neck, pulling him downwards. "Do you still need an invitation?" she replied, then kissed him teasingly. Moments later she squeaked in surprise when Alistair pulled away with a growl and threw her over his shoulder.
"Alistair, put me down!" she laughed.
"Let me think...mmm, no," he replied and carried her out of the throne room. He was most of the way up the stairs to the family wing when he started to get a bit tired. When he got to the hallway he paused to catch his breath. "Maker's breath! Next time you get to carry me to bed," he grunted out.
"I distinctly remember telling you to put me down earlier," she pointed out.
"I don't think you weighed this much the last time-, ouch!" he rubbed the back of his head where she'd slapped him.
"That is for implying that I am fat," she said smugly and then yelped when Alistair's hand connected with her bottom.
"That is for being a saucy minx," he retorted cheekily.
Sidona opened her mouth to say something scathing when a nearby door was flung open and Nathaniel stepped out into the corridor in nothing but his trousers. He regarded them with a lifted brow. "Dare I ask?" he asked.
Sidona and Alistair exchanged looks. "No," they both replied.
"Nathaniel, what is going on out there?" an unmistakable Antivan voice called from within Nathaniel's room.
Alistair's jaw dropped and Sidona giggled. Nathaniel reddened in embarrassment and then glared at Alistair. "Not. One. Word," he warned.
Alistair closed his mouth and Nathaniel hastily bid them both a goodnight, shutting his door behind him.
"What just happened?" Alistair asked.
"It seems that we are not the only lovebirds in the Vigil, no?" Sidona replied with a soft chuckle then she reached down and swatted him on the backside. "Get me to my room!" she ordered.
A/N: I'm sorry that this took so long, and is perhaps, grammatically incorrect. For those of you that want to know what really happened in Nathaniel's room, go to the one shot entitled, "Rogue".