Five Years After
Set after Witch Hunt. Sari and Alistair lead Ferelden, but a Warden's job is never done. She leaves just as a plot on her husband's life is discovered, can she trust others to take care of him whilst she does what a Warden does best?
A surprisingly uneventful visit. Sari sighed. Part of her had wanted a fight. She couldn't stop the change that had come over her. She was a fighter after all.
Her group were on the edge of the populated part of the Thaig, they looked over to one of the tunnels which lead further into the deep roads. Two connected to this here and a third lead back to Orzammar. She guessed they had intended this Thaig to be a stepping stone to others. As it happened with the darkspawn still roaming free it would make them easier targets.
"What now? Commander?" Elwin asked, "We've been here for three full days and there's been no sign of any darkspawn."
He was right. "You're suggesting our time might be better spent elsewhere?"
Looking sheepish for a moment, he then nodded.
Yet she wanted to stay, she'd never find the reason for the darkspawn coming if she left now. Just a small group wasn't too much to ask for was it?
She stopped herself. She should not be wishing for darkspawn to turn up.
She froze. A strange growl echoed beside her.
The whole team tensed, they'd been trained well enough to know what that meant.
Wish granted.
Sari pulled her swords gingerly off her back. She moved forwards towards the noise.
Suddenly a genlock materialised stabbing her in the leg. Yelling out Sari kicked the creature in the stomach. Four more became visible as the genlock fell backwards over a box. Yet these rogues weren't heavily armed, they hadn't even noticed she could see them. They were searching through the boxes with an intensity she'd never seen on a darkspawn's face.
Snapping her out of thought Burna ran past swinging her sword at the darkspawn, grabbing their attention. The genlocks were quickly dispatched, too quickly.
As Sari pulled the dagger out of her thigh Elwin healed it.
"You should rest that Commander." He said sarcastically. He knew she wouldn't but he felt the need to say it anyway.
The wound was closed and gone, what did her leg need resting for?
She moved towards the crates the darkspawn had been so concerned about. The mark on the side... these crates had come straight from Orzammar. They to be seemed basic supply crates. Checking inside she frowned, she was right. But there were other boxes here and the darkspawn had come straight to these. They had known what to look for.
A horn sounded on the other side of the Thaig announcing the presence of darkspawn.
Sari and her team started into a sprint. They reached the scene of battle as it finished.
"Don't worry Commander." The dwarf she had spoken to earlier sighed, "We had it covered."
"Is everyone alright?" She asked quickly.
He nodded, ordering the clean up to begin.
"There were five genlocks on the other side."
"I'm sure they didn't give you too much trouble."
"No, they-" She frowned, what had they been doing? "Is this a common attack? Ten here? Five somewhere else?"
"No. We don't usually have any others."
You just don't usually find them. She realised. "They seemed to be looking for something. Do you have any ideas what that might be?"
"Probably people if I'm any judge of what happened before. But you're the Warden. You tell me, what do darkspawn look for?"
Sari bit her lip. She wasn't sure.
Orzammar was a strangely welcome sight as Sari and her team emerged from the deep roads. She'd had to 'check in' briefly. A meeting which consisted of her saying: 'We're still alive' once or twice. And not a lot else. The group moved through the streets and into the diamond quarter. Sari strode boldly up to the royal palace doorway.
"You're going to confront Bhelen." Tabia stated.
"Yes." Sari replied. "He knew there was something more going on." Forcing herself to calm down she sighed, "You're right. We need more information."
"To the Shaperate then?" Elwin asked.
"Indeed."
"Please tell me you found something." Sari said as she met Payl's eyes.
"We found something."
"But probably not what you're hoping for." Jeji added.
Sari frowned, "When did you make it back?"
"A day or so ago. There was little to see in Cadash Thaig." As he spoke the others in the team put down what they were searching through and came over to listen. "We did see a group of darkspawn, but they were out of reach."
"No doubt the ones we met." Burna folded her arms across her chest.
"They left Cadash Thaig alone?" Sari asked.
"They seemed intent on it. I sensed them but by the time I could aim at them they were moving fast enough that they'd get round the corner before my arrow hit. It wasn't just a good tactic, it was perfect."
There was intelligence in these darkspawn.
"When they reached us they seemed disorganised." Tabia said.
"No," Sari shook her head, "They were looking for something. That was their purpose and their tactic. It may have been that the other group were meant as a distraction so they could leave with what they wanted." She should have waited and followed them.
"You know what they were looking for?" Payl questioned.
"I was rather hoping you might have found some clues."
"No. Then what we know is not what you were hoping for."
"What do you know?"
Payl put down the book she was holding. "Bhelen hasn't just suspended the assembly. He's dissolved it."
"What?" Sari exclaimed. "That's rash, even for him. Do we know why?"
"It seems simply too many disagreements." Jeji shrugged.
Bhelen did like doing things his way and he was not one to suffer his plans going awry.
"Keep searching." Sari ordered, "Though interesting it doesn't explain what the darkspawn are after."
"You think we'll find that here?"
"I hope so. Why are the darkspawn searching through crates from Orzammar if they aren't looking for something the dwarves have?"
"And what are you going to do Commander?"
Glancing to Tabia she smirked, "Now, I am going to see what Bhelen says to my 'update'."
As she walked away Tabia shook her head, "She is... different. She seems-"
"On edge?" Jeji finished.
"It's more than that. One moment she is calm and laid back the next I think she might..." She paused, uncertain how best to finish.
"She always gets that way." Payl said opening the book before her again, "She misses the King. She'll calm down soon enough. Once he sends her a letter anyway."
Zevran slid through the open window into the kitchen. It was too easy to get in and out here. Taking another sample of one of the dishes that would be brought to Alistair he placed it in a vial. Quickly he added several other ingredients and swilled this mixture. Nothing, no discernable colour change.
He was now convinced. The poison was not being administered by his food.
He was running low on ideas. He'd checked Alistair's clothing, the curtains and the bed linen. None of it had any traces of a poison and they'd been favourable choices. After all, coughing meant an inhaled poison didn't it?
He may be running low on ideas but he was not yet out. There were more things to check. He sighed. He heard footsteps outside the door. Glancing at the plate he shook his head, why was the King's food left unattended for so long? It was a wonder he hadn't been poisoned before. When this was over there were many things that needed fixing.
The footsteps came closer; he had lingered too long. He climbed back out the window and up on to the roof.
The rumours were now out, the King was ill. It was nothing too serious yet but the progression of said illness was alarming. Zevran had wasted no time in following all possible leads amongst the nobles. Most had a price, or a vice. Each of them had motive, nothing too large, though he had seen men kill for a pittance, he had killed for a pittance. Yet he felt no closer. He had no solid motive and no one at which to point his own weapon.
Now, where was Alistair?
From the height of his perch it was not long until he spotted the familiar shape of the King. He ran and leapt from roof to roof, the rush of wind against his skin exhilarating him into the next jump. It had been too long since he and Sari had done this together. When she was not yet Queen they had discovered almost every nook and cranny in this place. Back then she had not been allowed so close to Alistair, after all she had not been his wife. Such strange rules, did no one realise they had been 'close' long before?
Zevran crouched on the edge of the roof. From his position he could spot his charge with ease.
Alistair thumbed a rose. A sad smile was on his face; he missed her. He sat next to the entire bush, one he had tended with care for a long time previous. Alistair, the gardener... the things he had done for his love.
The Elf glanced down at the bag Sari had given him; the things she had done for him. He had not spent a single copper. What he did for her was not a job but a duty as her friend. He did not need payment for that.
"Your majesty." A voice called.
Alistair looked up.
"They're ready for you now." The voice continued.
He sighed and placed the flower on the bench. He stood and took a step forwards. He paused holding his head. He had started to sway. Zevran watched in horror as Alistair's legs buckled beneath him and he crashed to floor.
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