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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?

They'd been watching for hours and hours now. It was one advantage of these organised darkspawn, patrols were regular and thus so were the moments where things were a little quieter. Sari was quick to notice and willing to take advantage. She'd moved as far as she could without drawing attention to herself, peering into the tunnel she was now convinced would take them in the direction of Orzammar.

"We've got just under twenty minutes," she whispered as the others gathered round her, "Then our ten minute gap comes up. It's not much, I know, but it should get us down this passage way."

"And after?" Burna asked. "Running?"

"What weapons do we have?"

Tabia pointed at Elwin, "We have him."

"You do remember that I'm a healer?" Elwin sighed.

"Better than nothing."

"Anything else?" Sari couldn't help the smirk that crossed her face.

"I've got a dagger," Burna answered. Her hand was on her boot, her fingers slipping in between the folds of leather and metal.

"Good. I've got one as well. Tabia you might just need to find some rocks and throw them." Sari bit her lip, her mind running through what would happen when they got to the end of the passage. Best case scenario it was empty, or nearly empty and they could run or fight their way down with whatever weapons they had. Worst case? It was full or they were actually running the wrong way. Sari felt sick just thinking about it.

Either way she didn't want to stay here.

"No matter what happens," Sari looked at them, "Your priority is to get back to Orzammar. Fight whatever darkspawn spot you but try to remain hidden. Speed is essential if we're going to get far."

"We killed a lot getting here, right? That's got to be a good thing," Elwin said.

"Yes, it should show if we're going the right way. It depends how long we've been here."

That silenced them. How long had they been here in that unnatural sleep? The rock above them let in no light and thus there was no way of telling.

"Heads up," Tabia whispered tilting her head sideways.

The Emissary was back, he was heading right for them. Sari had wondered how long it would take him. After all, they were awake that had to mean he needed them for something.

Finally, Alistair reached Orzammar. His legs were feeling a little stronger, he was recovering well. Or was it fear that drove him now? His arrival had not gone unnoticed; several guards met him at the gate, asking him where he wished to be taken.

"Straight to Bhelen," he said.

The guards turned and opened the humungous gates for him, being King definitely had its benefits. He walked through to the commons; he couldn't help but recall when Sari had brought them here in an attempt to gain aid. The Blight seemed like a different lifetime now.

Surrounded by dwarves he, Zevran , Teagan and Wynne entered the Diamond Quarter. Jimmy, Sari's mabari followed closely at Alistair's side.

A familiar Elf was running towards him, Jeji. "Your Majesty!" he called.

Please tell me she's come back, please tell me she is ok... Alistair's mind whispered his vain wishes. Controlling himself he said, "I assume you know why I'm here."

Jeji nodded, he glanced to the dwarven escort.

Taking the hint Alistair dismissed them, "We will be alright from here."

They frowned, "We'll wait by the royal palace."

Jeji watched them go.

"So? What is it?" Alistair drew his attention back. "We know Sari is missing."

"Well, that's not quite true. She chose to go against the check in."

Just like her, Alistair sighed. Why didn't he feel relieved? He still didn't like the idea of her in the deep roads. He was here now... maybe he could-

"I did try to tell you she was likely to do such a thing." Zevran smirked, smugly.

"Why would she do that?" Teagan asked.

"The check in wouldn't allow her to be in the deep roads for more than a day or so. That's not enough time to get to somewhere like the deep trenches and actually do what they asked us here for," Jeji answered. He turned to Alistair, "Unfortunately she took a big risk. We knew Bhelen was planning something but he wouldn't tell us what. Sari went without knowing what we know now."
"Wait, what do you mean?" Alistair felt his fear rise up.

"Sari sent my team to Aeducan Thaig. We found darkspawn going through crates, but only specific ones. Crates bearing Orzammar's brand, crates containing explosives."

"Explosives?"

"I wouldn't like to face a darkspawn who'd got their hands on that," Zevran chuckled. His attempt to lighten the mood failed.

"We thought the same," Jeji sighed, "But we were wrong. They weren't trying to take the explosives, but destroy them."

"That doesn't seem like something darkspawn would do," Wynne frowned.

"Do you know what the explosives were going to be used for?" Alistair questioned.

"Sari also made some of the group stay in the shaperate. Once we knew what was in the crates we could track them more easily."

"Just spit it out! What are the dwarves planning to do with all these explosives?"

"They're planning to detonate this side of the deep roads. Cutting Orzammar off from the bulk of the darkspawn."

"But that wouldn't kill them. Darkspawn don't die of hunger, they don't eat."

"No, but it would protect Orzammar from any numbers which might be building."

"I thought they were quieter now," Teagan said, "Since Lady Sari spared the... the..."

"Architect." Alistair finished.

"They are. But the dwarves fear organised darkspawn as well, if not more."

"Correct me if I am wrong," Zevran scratched his chin, "But if they destroy the entrance to the deep roads won't they cut off their Thaigs?"

"Not to mention it would probably cause collapses in the majority of tunnels," Wynne added.

"That won't happen, they've been very specific about how they do this. They've attempted to minimise the damage which will come after the initial explosion, from rock falls and left once clear path between all the Thaigs. If it wasn't such a ridiculous idea I'd praise their planning."

"Why is it ridiculous? It seems good to me. Seal the darkspawn away," Teagan said.

Alistair shook his head, "If they have even one broodmother in there with them their numbers will grow. They'll either break through to Orzammar in greater numbers or to the surface."

"Or worse," Jeji continued, "Being trapped might sent them downwards leading them to an Old God, causing a Blight."

His own words rang in his head. Even one broodmother... He turned and ran towards the royal palace.

"Your Majesty?" Teagan called after him.

"When do these explosions begin?" Zevran asked.

"We're not sure. But soon, very soon," Jeji replied.

"And Sari is going to be trapped inside, with the darkspawn," Wynne realised.

Zevran nodded.

"What?" Teagan span round, "The dwarves can't do that! That's tantamount to killing the Queen of Ferelden."

"If you don't go and stop him," Zevran said, "Alistair might just kill the dwarven King himself to stop it from happening."

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