Thanks for the reviews (you give me encouragment to keep writing) and for waiting. Hope it is worth it. :)

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?

It was too much to describe it as shaking, more like a mild nudge. That did nothing to calm the Ferelden King. Sword in hand he span round to King Bhelen, "You're going to stop it and I'm going to get my wife."

"Weren't you listening? I can't!"

"I am going to save her," he repeated and ran out of the palace. He was closely followed by Sari's Mabari, Jimmy.

"Your Majesty!" Teagan ran after him, closely followed by Wynne, "You can't do this."

Their voices echoed through the chamber. But Alistair did not respond.

"You must at least wait, try to see if there is a diplomatic solution."

"Getting yourself killed here will not bring Sari back," Wynne said.

"I should have been there." Beside you.

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

That caused Alistair to pause, "But I have to try."

Sari groaned. She hurt all over. Opening her eyes she saw rocks surrounding her. Glancing up she saw the cavern had clearly fallen in in several areas. The exit was, however, blocked and her legs were covered in rubble. She had to find a way out before- she cried out in pain. She shouldn't have tried to move. Even partially covered it was clear the bone of her leg was twisted out at a strange angle. No doubt it was a consequence of the rock slide.

She looked behind her, the darkspawn advanced. The Emissary held his hand over his shoulder, healing where she had stabbed him. This could not end well.

"So, you can't stop these explosions then?" Zevran asked.

"I already told you that," King Bhelen replied.

The dwarves in the room were being shuffled out, the advisors who knew what was going on were trying to do damage control and limit what else was exposed.

"You're sure about that?" Zevran placed his hand on the dwarven King's shoulder. In between his fingers lay a thin blade, it was clearly visible to the dwarf's eyes.

He laughed, "There are guards in the room."

"No," Zevran smirked, "This isn't a threat. It's a way out. If you don't stop these explosions you're going to be responsible for the deaths of the King and Queen of Ferelden. Who, need I remind you, are both Grey Wardens. And Lady Sari, of course, is the Hero of Ferelden. Her death at your hand? Well, that would cause some kind of massive incident, I imagine." He paused letting his words sink in and couldn't help his widening smile. "I bet this blade seems a little friendlier now doesn't it?"

Bhelen cursed under his breath. Pushing Zevran's hand off, he stood calling for his advisors.

Zevran wanted to laugh. He was just too good at this. He walked towards Jeji, "Anything you'd like to add?"

Jeji raised an eyebrow but didn't respond. He walked over to the table, where a map of the deep roads had been laid. He'd seen one like it in the shaperate. It showed the placement of the explosives and the areas that would likely be affected by each blast. As he'd said before, the planning was impressive.

"If we wanted to stop the main blasts, the ones leading to the deep trenches, how could we do it?" King Bhelen asked.

"Considering the explosions have started, I'm not sure we can," One advisor responded.

"We still have time," another said, "The explosions are taking this route," he pointed at the map, "It's a longer way through. If we can get a message to this outpost, they can…"

"They can what?" Bhelen frowned.

"If they can stop this one from exploding then it will prevent the chain reaction leading to the deep trenches," Jeji finished. "That would work right?"

The advisors nodded, "But no message will get there in time."

Zevran replied, "If anyone can run that fast to save Lady Sari, it's King Alistair."

"Get her out," The Emissary ordered.

Darkspawn grabbed Sari's arms and pulled her from the rubble. She did her best to stifle her cries as they did so. They took no care over trying to ease her pain. They pulled her to her feet, forcing her to stand. She did so with great difficulty. All of her weight on her good leg and using her balance to try and keep her broken leg with as little pressure on it as possible.

The Emissary glanced to the top of the cavern; the ceiling seemed stable, for now.

"What was that?" Sari managed to ask.

"The dwarves are trying to trap us in here," The Emissary stated calmly.

"What?"

"The explosives are going to cut them off from the deep roads."

How long had the darkspawn known? Sari frowned. Such a plan was insane. No wonder it had caused a rock fall here, or maybe that had been the idea. How could Bhelen do this? He'd asked her here to help. Yes, she'd got herself captured but such a venture on his part must have taken a lot of planning. Or maybe that had been his plan. She came in, cleared the darkspawn and then the deep roads were shut off. Which was still as ridiculous. Darkspawn only needed one broodmother. Only needed her.

The Emissary examined her reactions to the information with an intense stare. Noting this, Sari searched the ground; she spotted a dagger but she could not reach it from where she was. Well, not in the state she was in, not in time, not with so many darkspawn around. She pulled the poison Zevran had made her from where she had hidden it in the folds of her armour. It had dried, crusted to the bottom.

No quick death either. She threw the flask at them. At the very least hoping the shards might keep them back. They withdrew for a moment but no ill came to them.

"Get her against the wall," The Emissary ordered.

Sari's eyes widened. The Darkspawn grabbed her arms again. She tried to struggle, to no avail. She was too weak, in too much pain… too frightened.

She wished Alistair were here. He would have saved her. He would never have let this happen.

Jeji and Zevran found Wynne and Teagan in the commons, near the deep roads entrance.

"Has he gone?" Zevran asked.

"Yes, he just left," Teagan replied.

"We have to go after him," Jeji said moving past them.

"He cannot be dissuaded," Wynne told them.

"No, nor should he." Zevran folded his arms across his chest, "But we know how to stop the explosions."

"We have to leave now, and go after him," Jeji continued.

"I'm coming with you," Wynne stated.

"I doubt we could leave you behind," Zevran smirked.

"Try to bring at least one of them back safe," Teagan said.

"No promises."

The trio started to run into the deep roads, leaving Teagan behind.

Sari continued to struggle as the darkspawn pinned her against the wall.

"It was always you we wanted Warden." The Emissary walked towards her calmly. "The Architect taught us that your blood was precious. We do wonder what it would be like if you were like us, if you joined us. It would surely make us stronger. Strange, that it would be blood we would all share, so many times over."

Frantically her eyes searched as he advanced. There must be something, anything she could use as a weapon. And what would she do then? Once she had killed the first one, maybe two, how did she plan on escaping? She could not climb over the rocks with her leg in such a state. She would not hold up to a pursuit.

Her poison was gone. Even death was not an option.

A small voice whispered inside: Alistair will come.

She wanted it to be true, how much she wished it.

The Emissary stood so close that Sari could smell him. She heaved. He smelt of death, rotting slowly. This whole cavern did. He ran the back of his hand over her face. All thoughts of anything good faded. Any hope she had left, died. There was no escaping from this. Not now, not ever.

She tried to turn away. The Emissary grasped her chin, holding her in a vice grip. The others followed his lead, tightening their grasps. If she'd believed anyone could hear her she would have screamed, as it was she felt it better to keep her mouth firmly shut. But that didn't stop her breathing increasing, her fear rising, her futile attempts to struggle.

He ran a knife along his arm letting his black blood freely flow. Forcing her lips open he pressed the wound to her mouth.

All the while he watched her frantic eyes. For a moment they met his and he saw her terror in its fullness. Grinning a toothy smile he ordered, "Drink."

Sooooooo, sorry that took such a long time. I really meant to get it out MUCH sooner. Good news is that I'd already pre-written the next couple of sections so the updates shouldn't take too long. Hoping to get that out in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed.

Would love some reviews! :)