Sorry for such a long wait. Enjoy :) - Please review! I'd love to hear from you.

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?

Alistair ran like a man possessed. The knowledge that if he was fast enough he could save her was enough to give him all the speed he would need. Only Jimmy, Sari's mabari was having any luck keeping up. The creature seemed to understand the urgency and feel the absence of his mistress keenly. Once the others had explained the situation to Alistair, they had become only dots in the distance. He did not bother to wait for them, nor did they expect him to.

Finally he saw it, like a beacon of hope hidden amongst the rocks. He could hear the distance rumblings, they'd followed him all the way here. But he had beat them, he would beat them again.

The dwarves saw his approach and came out to meet him.

"By the order of King Bhelen you must stop these explosions!" Alistair yelled.

"What? Why?" They questioned.

"My wife, Lady Sari is in the deep roads. If you let these continue she will be trapped there and I cannot allow that." His fingers itched to pull out his sword, but something withheld him. Sari would have expected a use of diplomacy; he was better than threats. But what good was acting like a King if he lost his Queen because of it?

"The Warden-Commander?" One of them whispered.

"King Bhelen's orders were very specific that this was not to stop. How can we be sure you carry his orders?"

"We're not doing anything unless we see some authentication that this is from Bhelen."

Alistair glanced round, he could see the others were nearly here. The rumblings were getting louder. Time was running out.

"Go without me."

Those words were one of the last orders the trio had heard their Warden-Commander give. That had not stopped the inevitable debate emerging after the rock slide had settled.

"We can't just leave her!" Burna cried. She had not forgotten Sari's wiliness to exchange her own life, if there was any way she could stop what was about to happen she would.

"She could already have been caught by the landslide." Elwin replied, he'd seen how close she'd been stood. Even with her reflexes, she would not have been able to stop in time.

Tabia sighed, "There are still more of them than us. We can't go back. If she had ordered us to go, then we go and try not to get ourselves killed on the way."

They had walked in silence after that. The decision did not sit well with any of them.

Pulling her bow from her back Tabia peeked round the corner, she moved just as Sari had taught her taking her taking her place as scout now the Warden-Commander absent from the group. There was no way she could do it properly. They'd been ambushed by a group before, it was how they'd gotten their weapons, all because none of the group were Wardens. None of them could sense the darkspawn and now, down where they were, that would have been more useful that a proper sword.

Elwin followed. Tabia was about to move forward when he stopped her. Burna had not joined them. She was lingering against the wall.

"Are you alright?" Tabia asked, though the answer was obvious.

"Yes," Burna lied, clutching her side. She was pale, too pale.

Elwin ran back placing his hand on her face he shook his head, "She's going into shock."

"What? She was fine." Only moments ago they'd been making good progress how could things have changed so quickly?

Burna murmured something, too quiet to hear.

His hands began to glow, as he checked over her, "She's bleeding internally. There's no way to tell something like that straight away. It probably happened at the rock fall. I should have checked everyone was ok…"

"You're a healer, right? You can fix this?" Tabia stammered.

"I'm not losing anyone else today," he whispered as he moved Burna's hand. The source of pain was almost certainly the site of the injury.

A low growl caused Tabia to spin round, her bow drawn. She'd been distracted, unable to sense them the darkspawn, several had crept right up on them. With Burna down there was no way they could face them.

Tabia felt the amount of arrows in her stolen quiver, barely enough, she'd have to be a good shot. "Heal her," Tabia ordered, "I'll deal with these."

Before he could stop her she loose a precious arrow and began to draw another.

The ground was beginning to shake. Alistair had one more chance to change their minds before the sword came out. "This is my wife! Do you really want to be the ones responsible for her death?"

"I-" The dwarves were still undecided.

Jimmy growled.

"What would be worse, stopping this now? Or destroying a Ferelden hero?" Alistair asked.

"Do it," one said. "We can't have this on our heads."

The other opened his mouth to object but no words came. Instead he ran inside the tower and began to pull the lever. It was then the explosive trail truly became clear. The connecting blast was on a platform of its own, each one with a long fuse on it which would light the next one. The fuse for the connecting blast was already lit, already fast approaching the explosive. The entire system was impressive, if anyone had doubted the planning they couldn't anymore. Alistair stepped forwards watching with a frown, the chains were taut but it was not being removed, the fuse was still moving.

Jeji, Wynne and Zevran caught up. Stopping by the Ferelden King, followed his gaze to assess the situation. No words were needed.

Finally, with a satisfying clank the platform began to lift. Taking the explosive out of the way the fuse burnt out.

There was a collective sigh.

"Thank you," Alistair dipped his head as the dwarf came out of the tower.

The nodded back, "You'd better bring her back, now."

"I intend to."

Glancing to the others Alistair began to move once again, this time heading straight for the deep trenches. He looked to Jimmy for guidance; the mabari knew what to do, trailing his mistress would not be hard task for him.

The arrow hit its target in the chest, enough to slow it but not stop it. The next felled the darkspawn. Tabia slotted another arrow as more of them poured round the corner. Firing the shot she struck one. Her heart sank as she pulled the next arrow, knowing she did not have enough to stop all of these even if she was a perfect shot. She back to move back as they advanced. Her eyes searching the ground for another weapon, or anything she would eventually be able to throw.

Her next arrow missed, the one after scraped its target it.

She put her hand to her quiver, knowing it was empty. Five more darkspawn to slay and no more arrows.

"Elwin," she called. "Please tell me you're done now."

"Not even close," he replied.

She whispered a prayer under her breath and grabbed two daggers from the floor. The enemies were advancing and she did not know how to use these weapons properly.

A loud shout came from round the corridor, almost like a battle cry, and the growl of a hound. She heard the clash of steal on steal and the sound of crunching bones. Without a second's pause she drove a blade into the nearest darkspawn and moved quickly to the next one.

It was over in seconds and Tabia thanked the creators when she saw their rescuers. Not usually a patriotic sort she could not help herself as she dipped her head, "Your majesty."

Alistair recognised the trio immediately as part of Sari's group. Wynne rushed passed him straight to Elwin's side.

"What's wrong?" Wynne asked.

"She's bleeding internally," Elwin said without looking away from his patient.

The mages tended to Burna together.

Alistair would wait no longer, "Where is Sari?"

"She…" Tabia bit her lip.

"Is she alive?" Jeji questioned.

Jimmy whined.

"We were captured, the Emissary he wanted a new broodmother. Then the Warden-Commander stepped in, she told us to go without her," Tabia answered finally.

"Of course she did," Zevran shook his head. Just like her to stand in, to show bravery. It was only Alistair to whom she would ever show her frailty perhaps that was why he fought so fiercely for her.

"In the shaking there was a rock fall, we couldn't go back. We haven't seen her since."

"How much further?" Alistair asked. He would go, no matter how far it was.

"Not far, it hasn't been long."

"Get back to Orzammar," He ordered moving past them, "Take Burna with you, find her the help she needs."

Tabia nodded and will Elwin's help they began to drag a mostly conscious Burna back.

Wynne stood shaking her head, "It does not look good for her."

"Let us hope Lady Sari is in a better state," said Jeji.

Alistair did not reply he only turned and ran down the rest of the tunnel, closely followed by the others. Now they were close they could not give up.

The rock slide had not been that hard to reach the top of, nor would it be too hard to get down on the other side. It had been the view that met their eyes that had caused them to pause. Darkspawn all crowded around something, a small shape that was curled up on the floor.

It did not take long to guess what it was.

Sari sat herself up as best she could, her leg still horribly contorted at a strange angle. Yet through the darkspawn she could see… something. It shone so brightly in this darkness that she had to shield her eyes.

The darkspawn grabbed her and pushed her back against the wall. She did not have the strength, or even the desire, to resist. But she could not tear her eyes from the light which now moved down the rock slide and was coming towards her.

For a moment she thought it called her name. For a moment she thought perhaps it was someone coming to save her. For a moment it was Alistair, her knight in shining armour.

Some of the darkspawn turned; ready to extinguish the light that gave her hope.

The emissary did not wish to give her up. The other darkspawn surrounded her, protecting her even as others fell.

And as the emissary stood before the light, breaking her ability to see it, darkness descended and even the voice that called her name even now was silenced.

Sorry for the long gap again. I promised that I wouldn't abandon this so I'm holding to that. This story will finish. And you'll be glad to know we are nearing the end. Only two or three more updates to go! :-O The majority of which have been pre-written.

Once again - thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed.

Please review! It's so encouraging and I'd love to know what you think. :)