All property belongs to BioWare.
A/N: okay, battle is over. I think I won. Hopefully you all will agree ^_^
It had been a long night.
The two men had agreed to leave stitches for when they arrived at the Peak, instead just scrubbing each cut with soap and lots of water followed by a liberal dousing of whiskey. Alistair's arms burned with how much water he had ended up carrying; Alder had ended up creating a make-shift moat and run-off for all the water to keep from damaging the camp for future travelers. They packed each break in her skin with Merta's poultices, and then dragged their bedrolls over to stay on either side of her. Even though more than an hour had passed since she had taken the diluted poison, Alder was still concerned and wanted to be close by – Alistair just wanted to be near her.
Now the caravan was on the last part of their journey: the steep path between the maze of caves and old mines and the actual fortress itself. The oxen strained against their loads as the merchants prodded them along; Alder was trailing behind, rearming the extra traps for the winter and hiding the caravan's passageway. Alistair walked next to the wagon that Calitae was wedged into. She had woken briefly before the entered the tunnels, sweating from the fever and pain. Alder was hard-pressed from keeping her from drinking too much of her concoction.
As they rounded the last switch back, Alistair's eyes widened as he took in the old warden fortress for the first time since before the Blight's end; it hardly looked like the same place. With the growing business and families of the Drydens, outbuildings had overtaken the yard. To one side was a barn and paddock for the oxen and other various livestock they kept for supplies over the winter. Alistair was sure he could hear chickens nearby.
The stonework of the keep had been repaired and cleaned up, the walls were straight and proud, no signs of age visible through the curtain of deep green ivy that softened the look of the keep. He looked around and noticed plants everywhere, splashes of greens and yellows caught his eye. The tower still sat like a guard dog over-looking the area, but even it appeared as if it had been given a makeover.
He glanced at the slumbering figure of his fellow warden; she had finally lapsed into a deeper sleep instead of the fitful tossing noticeable even with the wagons' lurching movement up the hills. "I think I like what you've done with the place." He murmured as he squeezed her hand before tucking it back under the blanket. It had finally started snowing after threatening clouds had moved in overnight.
Alder glanced over from the far side of the wagon, and grinned.
Alistair caught the look, "Are you going to explain why you are smiling like that or just leave me in suspense? It's not something mushy or sappy is it?" He gave the mage a sideways look.
"Hardly. I was just thinking it's a good thing she's comatose or chances are I'd have to listen to you two arguing. She makes a lousy patient. Can't say I'm not happy to have someone else to deal with her."
"Well, if it gets too bad, I'll just walk to Highever and find a proper healer."
"In the snow?" Alder raised his eyebrows in a mischievous look.
Alistair maintained a deadpan expression, "Yes, and uphill both ways!"
"Well, at least you'll have your boots."
The men's laughing was interrupted as Fifth suddenly streaked past them for the keep's yard, barking happily to announce their arrival. Half a dozen small children appeared in a squealing crowd around Fifth, who seemed quite content being the center of such adoration. Men of all ages were appearing from the houses, pulling on gloves and jackets to help with the unloading. A teenage boy ran to the barn to open the doors for the oxen as they pulled the wagons alongside a pair of doors set into the ground.
Alder started hanging all their bags off his back and arms, until he was lost under the load. Alistair gently picked up the sleeping elf, cradling her against his chest. They began picking their way across the yard and up the front stairs, mindful of the thin layer of snow accumulating over everything.
The large front doors opened to reveal an angular woman and two girls, who barely seemed teenagers yet. Alistair assumed they were her daughters from the way the woman hovered over them protectively and how they all shared the same hair color. She watched Alistair suspiciously as she pushed the girls behind her, he was sure she would have pushed him backwards down the stairs if she hadn't noticed who he was carrying with a dismissive glance.
"Who are you?"
A voice floated from behind the moving pile of bags, "Beulah, I am honored to introduce you to Alistair Theirin, senior Grey Warden of Ferelden. Alistair, this is Beulah, matron of the keep, wife to Meron, and a most wonderful cook. We would all be lost without her." There was no mistaking the smile in his voice.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Alesander." Despite her words, the woman looked pleased before turning her hawkish glare back on Alistair. "Theirin, eh? Like the king?"
Alistair stood a little straighter under the scrutiny, knowing he must be a sight after so many days on the road. "The one and the same. Thank you for opening your home to us." He made a mental note to ask about this woman who clearly felt the keep was hers.
She considered his words, but didn't seem to thaw, "Hmph. Well, don't expect anything special here. Don't stand out there all day. Girls, help Alesander." The girls had been shyly peeking around their mother, watching the stranger. After a moment of juggling, Alder had been relieved of the two lightest bags and soon they were following the pair.
"Alistair, these are the two most beautiful flowers in all of the Coastlands, Chanah and Shaina." This elicited charming giggles from both girls as they hurried ahead, whispering to each other. Alistair chuckled, reminded of his own daughter and her friends, when she could be separated from her twin.
Then he realized where they were headed as they made their way through the halls. "The tower?" He sounded pensive.
"After Avernus died, the dwarves tore it down and rebuilt it completely," He paused to adjust his hold on the bags, "At the time, the Dryden's were packed in here, standing room only it felt like, but Levi still refused to have any of his family move in. So the bottom floor is storage for everyone. We share a workshop on the second floor, my room is above that, and she took the top floor."
"Top floor. Why am I not surprised?" He adjusted his hold on Calitae, careful not to bump her injuries, and began to climb the stairs. The shifting was enough for her to wake with a grimace, her eyes seemed clearer that that morning.
She glanced around, disorientated for a moment at the strange movement then realized she was being carried; instinctively, she reached out to hold his neck, her groan in pain quickly turning to a growl. He had stopped when he realized she was awake, and was met with a point-blank scowl. "Hey! How are you feeling?"
She cursed then muttered, "Like I have been run over by a stampede of halla." She wouldn't be surprised if she looked in a mirror and was bruise from head to toe. She certainly felt like it.
"You know these bags aren't getting any lighter." Alder's voice came from lower on the stairs, prompting Alistair to keep climbing.
Meron's daughters stopped on the landing outside of Alder's room. Chanah, the older one, noticed Calitae was awake, and stood on her tip-toes so she could see the elf's face, "Welcome back, Ser Tabris." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Shaina blurted out, obviously the more outgoing of the two, "What's wrong with you?" She leaned on her sister, and then wrinkled her nose, "You smell!"
"Shaina!" Chanah looked horrified.
Alistair did his best to smother the laughter, but couldn't help it as a snicker escaped. Alder coincidentally was struck by a coughing fit as he pushed by into his room. He was met with an icy look. "What? You do smell. Like…bear breath!" He was once against struck at how feline she could look. "It's probably your leathers. They were soaked in blood and dirt then we soaked them while cleaning your wounds." He finished lamely.
Smoothing her face with effort, she looked at the girls trying to stifle giggles in reaction to Alistair, "Thank you, Chanah. Shaina, I was hurt while hunting a bear. You can leave the bags here." They set the bags on the floor next to the door and ran down the stairs.
Alder stuck his head out of his room, "I'll find you a wash basin, don't worry. And we still need to do those stitches. Alistair, I'll set up a bed in here if you want?"
The angry cat look returned his gaze flatly, "Yes, that would be appreciated, I think." He continued to the top floor as she pointedly ignored him.