Just wanted to say: Thanks for the reviews. Also VERY sorry for how long this has taken - I just got into University so I've had to be sorting things out. I'm going to try and finish this before I go so updates SHOULD be faster now.

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?

He'd hardly believed it when he'd seen her entering Denerim again. She'd run straight to him, he hadn't been able to contain his smile. It felt so right to hold her again.

That was all faded now. He couldn't believe her, what she'd done. She was in the bedroom laying on the bed, but in exhaustion, not waiting for him.

She sat up as he entered the room, "I missed you."

He felt his anger dissipate a little; he had missed her too.

No. He forced himself to focus, this was important. "You let him go?" Alistair exclaimed. "What were you thinking?"

"Not you too. I had this from the others." Sari shuffled to the side of the bed so she could sit up more comfortably.

"Well, they're right! Letting The Architect live is basically guaranteeing another blight. You said in your letter that he was responsible for the last one."

"I don't think he meant-"

"Oh and that's ok then?"

"His intentions were-"

"He is a darkspawn! You can't trust him!"

Sari paused and clenched her jaw. "That may be. But this is pointless, I can't change it." Standing she continued, "And I don't know that I would." She looked him in the eyes, "I expected more from you Alistair. You of all people know what it is to have to make a decision like that."

"But freeing darkspawn?"

"I'm not discussing this." She turned to leave, "I don't want to argue with you. I wanted to come back and be with you. I thought we could have a few days before you found out but-"

"So what?" he grabbed her arm. "You weren't going to tell me?"

"I- Why should I? I knew you'd react like this." Her eyes began filling up with tears. "You don't understand, I just-"

He tried to pull her close. He wasn't angry. Not really. He could still fix this. Could he start again? "Sari..." he whispered.

"No," she pushed him away. "You weren't there."

That's what this was. He knew there had been something.

"When I needed you, you weren't there. The Architect captured us and you weren't there. The Keep and Amaranthine were attacked and you weren't there. The Architect came to me with that offer and you were not there."

She had a strange way of showing she wanted him, needed him. He should have been used to that by now.

"Sari, you know I-"

"Oh yes. Your duty as King," she yelled. "I apologise for interfering! Perhaps I should just leave again? Make more stupid decisions for you to have to 'tidy up'?" She paused. He saw the anger visibly drain from her.

He sighed. "I should have been there." Beside you.

"Yes," she whispered, "You should have."

"Warden-commander?" A voice echoed in and out of hearing, it was familiar…

Sari held her head, waiting for her eyes to show her the surroundings. Slowly she adjusted.

"Are you alright?" The voice beside her asked again. This time it was easily recognisable as Burna.

Sitting up Sari nodded, "The others?"

"Still out, saw you stirring thought you might rather see a friendly face when you woke up."

She smirked, "Thanks."

Glancing round she noted little had changed, fewer darkspawn were visible but she could sense a large amount of them nearby. She frowned, she could not see the Emissary.

"There's something strange about these darkspawn," Burna told her.

Sari didn't have to ask what was meant. Even without seeing the Emissary it was clear. They were sat in groups, that was usual enough but they didn't seem… as barbaric as she was used to. "The Emissary spoke to me."

"That's… unusual?"

"Yes. Even for an Emissary his thoughts seemed too ordered. These darkspawn are up to something strange and I don't plan on sticking around to find out what it is. Are you with me?"

"Always, Commander."

It had taken a while to fully explain to Alistair what was going on. His recovery had been fast enough after Zevran had neutralised all of the poison. Now there was a dead body and Sari was, potentially, missing; secrecy no longer seemed quite so important.

As soon as Alistair was strong enough to walk for any period of time he been insistent that they set off. Being King had its benefits; horses were easily come by and they were off to Orzammar.

Alistair sat in the main carriage, annoyed that they'd waited for him to be able to walk. He wasn't exactly doing a lot of that. Jimmy, Sari's mabari, sat at his feet, his head resting on Alistair's knee. Even the dog knew something important was going on. He was in the process of convincing himself that when he arrived in Orzammar he'd find her safe, when a head poked through the window.

Alistair jumped back in surprise.

Zevran slid through and sat opposite Alistair.

Jimmy wagged his tail until Zevran petted him.

"I should note," Zevran said still stroking the Mabari's head, "That you're not going to be that much safer in Orzammar than you were in Denerim. But at least it'll put your attackers on their back feet, no?"

It was just like Sari not to tell him, she always had her secrets. "Well that's something then. Anyway, isn't that what she left you here for?"

Zevran laughed, "Of course and it is going well. You're not dead yet."

Alistair clenched his jaw. He should be there with her. He should have gone with her. It would have solved both problems, surely?

"There is something I should tell you, if you will allow me... Perhaps it is not the best time."

"Just, say it." Things couldn't get any worse could they?

"Alright, you must know how your beautiful wife tries to be prepared for anything?"

"Yes..."

"Well, to that end, she asked me to prepare her a poison. A rather noxious one, of my own design. It was truly a marvel."

"Wait," he sat up straight, "She didn't intend to use it on the darkspawn did she?"

"No, it was should the worst happen."

Alistair shook his head, things did get worse.

"You should not worry so. She is not one to take the easy way out. But you should prepare yourself for the worst, no?"

There was a pause. Alistair wanted to be angry but he wasn't. It had been Sari's decision and he couldn't bring himself to be angry at her, not now. "Thank you for telling me."

Zevran dipped his head in acknowledgment and began to climb out of the window again. "I shall leave you then."

"I'm going to find her," Alistair said almost to himself.

The Elf smirked, "She would not doubt it."

Thanks for reading! Please review.

As I said, I'm going to try to finish this before I go. Which does mean we're not that far from the end!