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?

Sari strode confidently through the entrance. Her purpose set. She would not let distractions stop her now. She would say only what she wished and leave.

"You're here to see King Bhelen?" Kedsh asked trying to fall into step beside her, he was struggling, "You have news?"

"Of sorts." She replied.

"I will see if he is available."

She paused outside the grand doors and Kedsh slipped through them. Straining to listen she heard voices. It seemed to her some sort of meeting was in session. Now he was ruling without an assembly claims would have to come straight to him. He probably hadn't thought about that before he'd dissolved them.

Within minutes Kedsh returned, "He will see you Commander." He led her to the side door and into the corridor. Stopping by the room they had met in before.

Moments later Bhelen arrived. Whatever the meeting was he must have deemed her more important. Or simply not something to be paraded in front of whoever else was present. She looked him up and down, this man now solely ruled Orzammar. By her choice. That made her feel... almost responsible for his actions. What was he planning? Or had he already planned?

"Warden-Commander, I'm assuming you have something to say." He cut through her thoughts.

"I went to Adeucan Thaig." She announced, "I witnessed a darkspawn attack."

"You dealt with them?"

She ignored his question; its answer was obvious, "A group of five genlock rogues were on the other side of the Thaig to the main attack. They did not have the same purpose. They were looking for something amongst the crates, specifically the crates that bore Orzammar's brand."

There was a pause.

"Do you know what they were after?" Kedsh cut through the tension.

"No. It didn't go that far. They sensed me and stopped." The mark on her leg would testify to that. "But I just need to know. Is there anything that the darkspawn might be looking for? Is there something I should be aware of before I go back out there?"

Another pause.

Bhelen exchanged glances with Kedsh. The answer was yes.

"No." He lied.

"Very well." Sari took a deep breath. If they would not tell her she would simply have to find out on her own. She waited for another moment, seeing if he might just change his mind. But his face was set, he would not change. She had chosen a fool to rule Orzammar, one who did not appear to trust Wardens, or was it just her?

She nodded curtly and turned from him making her way out of the diamond quarter. She was not in the mood to face the rest of the team.

Frustration rose up in her. Frustration directed at everything and nothing. This was not an unfamiliar feeling. She remembered times, times when she had felt at her wits end, that nothing was going her way. He had always been there. He had always held her. He had always made things... better. Not perfect, not all ok, but better. And that was always enough.

She stood on the bridge to the proving grounds. Her hands clasped around the edge of the wall allowing her to look over the larva beneath. She let her eyes close...

"You're going to go to Orzammar."

Nodding slowly she stared at the floor. "I just wanted to hear you say it."

"I'd never have stopped you going." He pulled her chin up so that she looked him in the eyes.

"Come with me."

"Oh, so tempting. You know I can't."

She shouldn't have joked about it. She should have asked him again. That would have been the best way to keep him safe, surely. Perhaps there was still time to go back and see him. Perhaps she could send him a letter, to explain. Perhaps she should have told him... When did she become this woman? The one who couldn't survive without him? She smirked. She'd been this way for a long time now. She'd only first realised it the night Morrigan had come to her with an offer that almost broke her heart...

She shook her head forcing herself to focus. Zevran was looking after him. That had to be enough.

"That bad, huh?" A voice came from behind her.

Sari span round looking at who had spoken.

Jeji moved to stand beside her. "Tabia's been worried about you. I have to say I am too. You're... not you." He paused then added with a laugh, "Alistair hasn't written yet?"

She flinched, the joke hit hard. "No."

"The letter is probably on its way." He quickly attempted to reassure her.

She couldn't be sure. She had no guarantee he'd actually written. It usually escaped his memory for a couple of days, simply because of his business she was certain. Then he'd take ages writing... She sighed. Then he'd be poisoned and die, the letter would remain unfinished and she'd never know until she returned. That's what she feared. She might as well be honest with herself.

"What did Bhelen say?"

She turned to him, "He's lying. He knows what the darkspawn in Aeducan Thaig are looking for but he won't say anything."

"Why? We're Wardens. If anyone is going to know the darkspawn's secrets it's us."

"I can't imagine what he's hiding that he would feel the need to be this secretive."

"You still think it'll be in the records?" Jeji asked.

She bit her lip. She had her doubts. "It has to be." They'd never find out anything otherwise. Short of actually asking the darkspawn.

She ran her hands through her hair. Her worries temporarily fading to let a new plan form.

"I know that look," Jeji smiled, "What are you thinking?"

"You're going to Aeducan Thaig," She started to walk back to the Shaperate, Jeji quickly by her side, "See if you can get a better idea of what the darkspawn are searching for. Search through the crates they search through. Leave them for as long as you can, but just- don't let them have what it is they want. We have no way of knowing what it is. Make sure you keep in touch with Payl. I want her team still searching. They have to find something. " They just had to.

"And you?"

"I'm taking my group into the deep roads."

"You're going to ignore the check in. You're going to the deep trenches." He lowered his voice.

"I hope it won't come to that but yes. If Bhelen won't tell me, what choice is there?"

"And what then? When they find out you're missing and they send a team in after you, what then?"

"We'll just have to be thorough. It should be safe that way." She smirked, "And all someone will have to do is follow the trail of darkspawn corpses."

He shook his head. "And if we find something out, how will we tell you?"

"You can't follow a trail of corpses?"

Jeji laughed.

They paused for a second.

His face became serious, "Sari, come back safely."

"I intend to."

Thanks for reading! Sorry it took a while - again with the exams.

Please review! Let me know how what you think is going to happen. I'd love to hear from you. :)