Thanks for the reviews and to everyone who is still with me. :)

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?

The Emissary walked with a confidence Sari couldn't describe, he seemed to saunter towards them, his teeth showing and his face contorted into what she assumed to be a smile. She pulled herself to her feet, her companions around her doing the same.

The darkspawn watched them closely but made no signs of movement.

"You must know why I have brought you here," the Emissary said.

"We killed your broodmother," Sari answered.

He nodded.

"She wasn't like you," Sari realised. These darkspawn must have been part of something the Architect had done, or was doing, but the broodmother hadn't been capable of rational thought. "The Architect taught us a broodmother should never be like us."

"Why?" She feared she already knew the answer.

"Too much happened to her, her mind could not hold it."

Of course. It was what she'd always thought about the Mother. The reason she hated the Architect for what he'd done, the reason she wanted to 'hear the song again'. A 'freed' broodmother would know what she was and that was enough to drive anyone mad.

"Commander," Tabia whispered beside her, "Is this really the time for information gathering?"

"Right," Sari forced herself to focus. Her task had been to stop them but now? She had to get out as she knew what they wanted. "I'm assuming you want another broodmother?"

Her companions gasped.

"Yes," the Emissary almost hissed. His eyes moved over the group, resting on Burna, "You, you shall be our broodmother." He began to reach for her.

"No." Sari stepped in between them, knocking the emissary back. "You will not touch her."

That provoked growls amongst the darkspawn.

"You don't have to do that Commander," Burna's whisper was so quiet, she did not mean her words.

"Yes, I do." She was the grey warden here, she'd practically signed up for this. The darkspawn were her fight and she would get her people out. Wouldn't she?

The Emissary's eyes lingered on Sari for a moment too long, he was considering her unspoken offer. "You will take her place."

Sari slipped her fingers between the folds in her armour, her dagger was still there, "If I must."

"We disagreed with the Architect over many things, it was part of why we left. It will be interesting to see if you are like us." His smile broadened and he turned away from them, "You're all going to die. This act of 'bravery' only prolongs your own suffering."

As he moved away Sari let her dagger go. She wished Alistair were here. Thinking of him gave her hope, a smile almost crossed her face despite the surroundings. What would he have done? Something brave, and stupid, no doubt. He certainly would never have allowed that to just happen.

"Thank you," Burna whispered so quietly Sari almost did not hear it.

"Commander..." Elwin said.

She looked at him.

"How long until we move?"

"Ten minutes, or as soon as the Emissary comes back, whichever comes first." She was not planning to wait long for either.

The throne room doors crashed open, Alistair charged through them breathing heavily. He did not care, or even seem to notice, the amount of dwarven guards that pursued him. "How dare you!" he bellowed only inches from Bhelen's face. "My wife came here as a courtesy to you and now you're going to trap her in the deep roads?"

Whispers ran through the room, the majority of people present knew little or nothing about the plan concerning the deep roads.

Teagan, Zevran, Wynne and Jeji finally made it into the room. Teagan stepped forward, "I'm sure there is-"

"Shut up," Alistair snapped. His eyes not wavering from Bhelen, he commanded, "Explain yourself."

Jimmy, the Mabari, growled at the dwarven king, voicing his own disapproval from Alistair's side.

"Warden-Commander Sari has been declared missing, we do not know if she is still alive."

"She only went against your stupid check in so she could do what you actually asked her here to do! And you're going to abandon her for it? Unacceptable! Are you, or are you not planning to detonate the entrances to the deep roads?"

There was a pause.

"Yes."

A gasp echoed through all present. The people watched on in awe.

"You're going to stop it," Alistair ordered, "And I'm going to get my wife. Then, when she is safe, you'll discuss with the grey wardens what an idiotic idea this is." He turned pulling his sword off his back.

"It's too late," Bhelen stopped him, for a second he almost seemed sorry for what he was saying. "The explosives are already set, they should start going off any minute."

"Let's go," Sari stood pulling the dagger from her armour.

Burna retrieved the blade from her boot and Tabia had gathered five small stones in her hands. The group followed Sari as she traced the outline of the cavern, as of yet they hadn't been spotted.

A patrol of two darkspawn blocked their path but that was expected. Sari held her hand out for Burna's dagger. Throwing them both she caught the pair between the eyes. She ran towards them, breaking their falls trying to soften the noise. She gestured to the others to follow as she retrieved her blades. his

She glanced down the passage. The way was clear. This was going well, too well.

"Go," she whispered looking back to the other darkspawn. The trio ran past her, not having to be told twice. As Burna did so Sari passed her back the blade.

Sari felt her heart sink as she spotted Emissary. Their eyes met.

"Stop them!" he cried. His hands started to move, he was casting.

Which spell was it? There was no way she could tell. Sari was torn. She could run and save herself or she could stop him and save her hands began They were far enough that they'd probably make it, weren't they?

"Commander!" Elwin cried, "We have to go!"

Decision made she shouted, "Go without me," and threw her dagger towards the Emissary. The ground shook as she did so. Her shot still met its target on the shoulder but he was still casting. Without another look back she tackled the Emissary. Crashing to the ground she flipped herself up right. She'd distracted enough of the darkspawn that her companions cut down the ones chasing them.

They stood frozen watching her. She barely saw them, wrenching her blade from the Emissary's shoulder she stood before the darkspawn.

This was it, she realised. It was highly likely that she was going to die here.

The ground shook again, worse than before. Sari struggled to stay upright, but thankfully so did the darkspawn. Most of them fell to the ground. Taking her chance she leapt over the majority moving towards the tunnel. Her team couldn't stand either, only Tabia managed to remain on her feet.

Rocks cracked. Sari looked up. "Move!" she yelled.

The ceiling gave way.

So it really doesn't look like I'm going to finish this before I go to University (considering I go friday). Sorry about that, something quite bad has happened in my family which clearly needs my attention more. That DOES NOT mean that I'm abandoning this. Especially considering where the story is right now. I will try to update again soon, but no promises. What I might to is not update for a while but then give you the WHOLE thing to enjoy, or alternatively I can do smaller updates? If you have a preference let me know. If you don't I'll just roll with whatever I feel like.

As always, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed.

Clearly would love it if you reviewed. :)