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"So are you king still, or not?" They were walking across the Keep in the evening's light to the quartermaster as Alistair had brought no proper gear with him while disguised as a courier. As it was, he was wearing some of Alesander's clothes she borrowed, ill-fitting since the boy was slightly shorter and more slender than his father.
"Well, technically yes, although right now it would be as if I were a child and Duncan was my regent."
Her voice was low with emotion, "I think it was a lovely gesture, naming your child after him." Then she smirked, "You know you shouldn't go around referring to yourself as a child. It's unseemly for a man of your age. Maybe next time say invalid."
He didn't have a chance to respond as they had arrived and soon a trio of pages running armfuls of gear back to her rooms. She helped him tie the blue and silver tabard into place, declaring him a Grey Warden once again. "Since I didn't throw you out the window, I assume this means you're no longer in hiding?"
"Should I be worried? I just want to be clear if I am safe around high places with you. And I was never in hiding, just traveling in peace, with an easy escape route if you said no."
She led him in a different direction from which they came, "Then time to put that regal tongue of yours to work." Laughing, she put out a hand to steady him as he tripped, "You know, after making so many babies, I would think you'd be a little more difficult to fluster."
He haughtily straightened his tunic, "What? No! I...just stumbled is all! And what are you talking about?"
She grinned as she opened a small door to a short flight of stairs underground, "Whatever you say, your Majesty."
He stepped in before her and found himself in the massive kitchens. An entire wall was nothing but ovens and heaths large enough to roast whole cows in. There were at least a dozen people rushing about with baskets and trays. Overseeing it all was a tall woman with red hair waving a large cleaver about, which was currently turned in the two Wardens direction. "Warden! You know better than to intrude this soon before a meal!"
"Forgive me, Bella! I know how hard you work and you know how much I appreciate it. I don't know if you remember but this is Alistair, he was traveling with me when we first met, also known as the king of Fereldan. Alistair, this is Bella, from Redcliffe. It took me longer than I liked to fulfill my promise to her, but she runs our kitchens like a general over an army."
Bella blushed and curtsied, "Your Majesty, of course I remember you." She turned back to Calitae and waggled the cleaver at the dwarf, "I wish you had warned me he was coming: I didn't prepare anything special!"
Alistair held up a hand and smiled with all his charm, "No, please, I wasn't sure if I was going to be eating here, and she didn't know I was coming. I don't need anything special, but I did bring my appetite and it smells better than anything from Denerim's kitchens!"
Bella blushed deeper and curtsied again. "You flatter me. The Wardens have just sat down if you wanted to join them."
"Thank you, Bella." Calitae grabbed Alistair's elbow and dragged him in the direction of the mess hall as Bella turned back to yell at the staff. "She works miracles in there, even when we had over two score Wardens present with their hungers."
"How many are here now?"
"Two dozen or so, maybe a little less. We're mid-rotation with the Denerim post and with the influx of recruits, Commander Ventris sent patrols to see the bannorns. Orlais hasn't sent any new spies recently." She mentally kicked herself for letting that slip.
He stopped, "What? Orlesian spies? Don't you think that was something the king of Fereldan would want to know? Or is this something that isn't impersonal enough to qualify a note?" His voice was stony with anger.
She walked back to him, eyes flashing, looking to see if anyone was in earshot, "Lower your voice. And I didn't tell you because they're Wardens spying on me, not Fereldan, so no, it was personal business. You think after everything I've given up that I would endanger Fereldan? Weisshaupt has them here too, though in the support staff, not Wardens. Yet another reason Alesander cannot know anything. They don't trust me after the Archdemon and the whole business with the Architect, no matter the results." She frowned and continued down the hall. "Ventris and Harl both know and deal with it as they see fit, that's all that matters."
They stopped before a pair of large doors, both taking a moment to compose themselves. The doors vibrated from the sound within; the hall was packed for the evening meal and it was near-deafening. She led the way through the tables, stopping occasionally to exchange greetings with soldiers as she passed. Alistair looked around but couldn't spot Alesander in the crowded room.
In the very middle was the table of Grey Wardens, an eclectic mix of men of varying ages representing all of Fereldan. A cheer went up when they saw her. She went over to the man wearing the double gryphon crest of the Warden-Commander and spoke into his ear, gesturing at Alistair. He looked over Alistair, taking in the tabard, then nodded and yelled something at the Wardens to his right. They immediately cleared a spot on the table, and Calitae leapt up.
One of the mage Wardens shot a bolt of lightning to the rafters, catching the attention of the hall. In a moment, it was near-silent, every face looking to the elf on the table.
She cleared her throat then shouted, "It wasn't me, but thank you for your attention. I just wanted you all to know that we have a special guest – Alistair Theirin, king of Fereldan has come to rejoin the Grey Wardens for the evening!" She paused while she waited for the cheer to die down as Alistair waved and was pounded on the back by those in reach.
"I'm sure you have all heard the stories of him visiting local taverns in Denerim. Consider this visit like that - he seeks no special treatment beyond what you would give another Grey Warden." The second cheer was louder than the first and they started stomping their feet in unison as she hopped down.
The Wardens had made room for Alistair and her to join them at the table and soon the hall was back to the original roar of voices. She quickly ate through her meal, watching her men accept Alistair as if he had always been a part of the group; the taint was always a strong starting point for bonding. Deciding now was as good as any time to have a bath in peace, she slipped away.