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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?
Zevran pressed his back against the walk listening to the persons movements. He'd watched them put the poison on the rose bush and cut some of the flowers. He assumed they were now going to Alistair's room and the route seemed to indicate that. He snuck a look round the corner, watching them move further he ran silently to follow them.
Two more turns and they'd be outside the King's chambers.
He continued to follow. Not that this needed proving to anyone but it looked better when you confronted someone with both of you knowing they'd done wrong. People protested innocence too often.
One more turn.
A piercing scream. Sari tried to open her eyes. They were heavy, her vision blurred...
The ground moved beneath her. How was she moving?
Her eyes began to adjust to the darkness, she was being carried. Glancing round she saw her companions in similar states.
"Put them over there." A voice ordered.
Hands grabbed her waist and flung her on the floor. She bit her lip not wanting to make a sound, she lay as she had been thrown. She could feel her swords were gone, all her weapons felt missing. Running her hand slowly over her back she felt the hilt of a dagger, not all.
She looked at the others, still unconscious.
Feet appeared by her head.
A darkspawn knelt down filling her gaze. "Awake already?"
His voice was familiar, he was the one who had spoken. Yet that was not all, he was the emissary whose cast had knocked her out.
He seemed to smile. "You're a strong one."
She frowned.
"Go to sleep." He said, "I'll wake you when I need you."
"What?" She exclaimed.
His smile deepened.
When he needed her? She tried to stand but her limbs were heavy and her eyes even more so. As she attempted to stand she stumbled and fell. The world was dark once more.
Dagger in hand Zevran now moved down the corridor mirroring his target. But silence wasn't his motive here. As the woman began to turn to confront him he clamped his hand over her mouth and let the knife point touch her back.
"Someone has been playing with poisons." He pinned her up against the wall moving the blade to her throat. "Who hired you?"
The woman smirked. "I thought I was being followed. I should have let you catch me earlier." She ran a hand over the side of his face.
She was playing him, he knew it. Just the way he would have but her eyes were too harsh. She was the one in control here. What she seemed to offer she had no intention of giving.
She parted her lips her teeth on display. In-between them a capsule.
"No!" He cried. Dragging her head forward he knew it was too late. She bit down and the formula was already filling her mouth.
By the time she hit the floor she was dead.
"What were you thinking? Keeping this to yourself? The King could have died." Teagan exclaimed.
"Such harsh words. Truly, you have such little faith in my abilities?" Zevran replied, not sure if he should mention Sari's involvement, "I have established the poison and begun administering the antidote. You did not even know of any plot."
"You made sure of that." He sighed, "And that body in the hallway?"
He'd been in the process of hiding it as he'd been discovered. Bodies were such bulky things to carry. He didn't think Sari would have wanted him to resist the guards. His cover had been blown and therefore he'd been forced to explain the situation. It was certainly one way to spend the evening. "The person who was doing the poisoning. She came prepared." He'd searched the body too, no papers, no orders - nothing. This was a masterpiece.
"Now they're dead, is the King safe?" Teagan asked.
"He won't be poisoned anymore, if that is what you mean. As for his safety, well, the contract is still active. I assume someone else will take it. Using an alternative method, of course. Until we know who called for this it is unlikely to stop."
"Alternative method?"
He shrugged. There was no way of knowing whether someone would use a similar method or something bolder. He knew what he would do if it were him. But that was not the kind of thing he felt he should share. Well, not to Teagan.
Teagan shook his head and picked up a letter from him desk. "Is the King well enough to wake?"
"I am no mage."
The pair found Wynne in the corridor. Asking her how Alistair was she told them he'd been awake when she'd last seen him. Relieved Teagan burst into the King's room. He sat in his bed reading. His complexion was still off but he looked up as they walked in. He was vastly improved. For a moment Zevran almost smiled, Sari would be pleased. He was too improved, at least being discrete was now out of the question now that there was a dead body...
"Your majesty, how are you?" Teagan asked rushing to the bedside.
"I've been better." He replied closing the book. He glanced to the window. "Rather unusual to pay me a visit at this hour." The moon was still visible.
"This letter came for you. I thought you'd want to read it as soon as possible." The paper exchanged hands.
"I assume Zevran explained the situation to you?" Wynne said as Alistair's eyes scanned the page.
"Yes. I'm glad to see things are under control here at least." Teagan folded his arms across his chest.
"I resent that implication. Just because you have one dead body does not mean things are out of control." Zevran laughed, "You should have seen-"
"They what?" Alistair exclaimed cutting through whatever humorous anecdote Zevran had felt inclined to share. "This is all they sent? What does that even mean?"
"The letter is the only information we received." Teagan confirmed. He turned to the others, "Sari's missed her last few check ins. Her team is 'Missing - presumed Dead.'"
"That is not all unlike her." Zevran attempted to reassure them, "To purposely miss a check in."
"The restrictions they placed on her seem like something she would go against." He sighed. But that wasn't the point. If this had been anywhere else, concerning anything else...
"I have to go and at least try to find her." Alistair clenched his fist the letter starting to crumple in his hand.
"You're in no state to be travelling let alone gallivanting off into the deep roads." Wynne intervened.
He hadn't been out of his bed in who knew how long but this was too important.
"We'll send a message to Vigil's Keep, some of the other grey wardens..."
"Alistair, if we ever get captured by Darkspawn I want you to kill me or find me something so that I can do it myself." Her sadness had gone, her brow was set in determination...
"They'll be able to..."
He kissed her forehead and as much as it pained him to do it he nodded, "I promise."
"No." Alistair stopped them, "I made her a promise. I will go to her."
He would do this. He would be strong enough. He would be there for her. And he would not leave her.
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