A/N: I think there might be a drinking game over this set of chapters. Every time Elinora has to stop Rainer and Alistair from beating up on each other or fighting, drink. Good times.

Duty's Choice: The Bastards of Ferelden: Chapter 7

Conclusions

Amaranthine – three days later

For three days, she had shown the First Warden and the King of Ferelden every inch and document of Amaranthine. They'd watched her Wardens train and work, visited the surrounding town and countryside, and wandered about the castle itself at all hours. So far, Rainer had only found minor issues, ones that were easily resolved or explained.

Alistair kept his mouth shut for most of it, but often smiled with pride at her competence. Truth be told, he was just tagging along so Elinora wouldn't be alone with Rainer. But her hard work had not gone unnoticed or un-remarked upon. Sometimes he caught himself competing with Rainer to complement her efforts.

Alistair hated to admit it, but he liked Rainer. The First Warden was a skilled leader, both on official business, in battle, and socially with his troops. He kept just enough distance from them, but Alistair was certain they didn't notice. Rainer had intelligence and congeniality to spare.

"I'm impressed." Rainer closed the ledger he had been scanning and handed it back to Elinora. She slid it neatly back into place on a bookcase behind her desk. "It takes some commanders years to work out the logistical side to running a compound."

Elinora smiled smartly. "Never send a soldier to do an Arlessa's work."

Rainer stood and wandered over to the window, looking down on the bustling training field below. Maneuvers were going well. "It looks like this place can run itself."

She nodded. "That's the point. The next mission is recruitment, which I expect will pull me away from Amaranthine." Her eyes fell on the Joining Chalice sitting on the mantelpiece. "Can't fulfill my grandiose plans for Ferelden without Grey Wardens."

Alistair looked up from the documents he was scanning. "What plans?"

Elinora and Rainer smiled, though his was more like a smirk. "Besides the base in Orzammar, I want Wardens in every Arling in Ferelden, three to six of them, running patrols, that sort of thing. Not enough to be burden to the people, but so the Darkspawn never get the drop on us again."

Rainer smiled. "Its much like the system in Orlais."

"Aren't you worried about the comparison?" asked Alistair.

"Not as much as I'm worried about Darkspawn," she responded flatly.

Rainer smiled coldly at Alistair. "Politics are your problem."

"Anyway," she gave Rainer a dirty look, "once we start looking for recruits, we'll speak to the appropriate parties."

Alistair looked to Elinora. "When do you plan to do that?"

She shrugged and sighed. "As soon as I can. The first goal is to get Amaranthine in order."

"Which it is."

She shook her head. "More repairs to handle. The west wing is still useless."

"I don't know," Alistair mused. "They seemed to like having a wrecked castle to practice on. But maybe improve it as an obstacle course."

Wishing to change the subject away from Alistair's good ideas, Rainer looked to the king. "I take it the Ferelden crown has paid for these repairs?"

Alistair looked to Elinora. "I thought the Wardens paid for it?"

"But its a Ferelden holding!"

"Full of Wardens!"

"Enough, you two!" Elinora groaned. "I paid for it."

"What," gasped Alistair as Rainer asked "How?"

"I had a dowry I wasn't using. The estate will pay me back over time, not like I'm going to need it for my old age."

Alistair and Rainer looked at each other with chagrin, then back to her. Rainer frowned, "That's not right. Have a copy of the expenditures made, and I'll take care of it."

Alistair would not be out done. "I handed you this mess, the costs should come from the Treasury."

"Weapons and arms are the Warden's prevue."

"But the estate is Ferelden."

She rolled her eyes. "I'll send both of you the bill, pay what you want. Maybe I'll even turn a profit," she finished with a sly smile. A gong sounded. "That's dinner. Can you two behave like the mature leaders you're supposed to be for the evening?"

Alistair grinned. "Probably not."

For the first time since Elinora's arrival, the Great Hall of Amaranthine was cheerful. Wardens mingled with prominent citizens of the surrounding town. Alistair's retinue was dragooned into preparing the feast and serving the assembled, much to their oddly blended annoyance and amusement.

Elinora wandered about the Hall, playing gracious hostess and mistress of the keep. Her mother would be proud to see that not all of her noble lady lessons had gone to waste. It was probably the most civilized farewell feast the Wardens had ever thrown. Granted, she was fully armed and armored, talking more of tactics and politics than the weather or canapés.

She was aware of the eyes on her. In fact, it seemed that everyone was watching her, First Warden Rainer and His Majesty, King Alistair of Ferelden.

Over the last three days, Elinora had caught snatches of gossip. Most of it was about her and the two men that followed her about like a couple of newly imprinted Mabari. Even when not inspecting parts of Amaranthine, Alistair and Rainer had been close on her heels. It was ridiculous. They were two of the most powerful men in Thedas, yet they hung on her every word and watched her every move.

At least they weren't fighting. A few squabbles had broken out, but there had been no blows exchanged since the first morning's duel. The king and commander walked a strange line between comrades and competition, and it made the space between her shoulder blades itch. She knew it was only a matter of time before one of them took a swing at the other. And she had no idea what to do about it.

The lack of fisticuffs had greatly disappointed everyone in Amaranthine. There were too many unsettled wagers out there. Tomorrow morning, Rainer and his men would leave for Antiva, continuing his tour of Warden outposts, leaving questions unanswered, rumors unproven and bets uncollected.

Alistair and Rainer were not oblivious to the rumor mill, and had their own thoughts on how to settle it. All they needed was the right time.

"You're sure about this?" Rainer muttered to Alistair.

Alistair smiled and nodded to servant pouring his wine that conveniently blocked him from Elinora's view. "Not at all, but I think it's a good plan."

"Which one?"

"Both." Alistair craned his neck to watch a portly gentleman approach Elinora. After a few moments' discussion, they left the Hall. "And Elder Fegen has taken her to see his Mabari pups. Let's go."

Rainer and Alistair quickly descended on the head of the center table, which Burion cleared once he saw them coming. They sat across from each other, right elbows on the table and right hands clasped together.

"I want a good, clean fight, sers." Burion squatted at the head of the table, serving as referee.

"Is the First Warden ready?"

Rainer nodded, a cocky grin on his face.

"Is His Majesty ready?"

Alistair nodded, his brown eyes locking on Rainer's blue.

Burion dramatically raised a fist in the air. "And….." his fist pounded on the table. "Go!"

Elinora had struck a good deal that night: four half-grown Mabari in exchange for studding service from her Finn the next time Elder Fegen's Tully was in heat. Finn was a very popular dog. This was part of her plans. It was only suitable that Ferelden Wardens would have Ferelden war hounds as part of their force.

Fegen had prattled on for at least an hour. Discussion of Tully's bloodlines had lead to his own, which had lead to a fairly comprehensive history of Amaranthine, which Elinora had already heard from him, twice. But Fegen was a man she wanted on her side, and thus she was patient. It was time away from the politicking and whispers of the feast.

When she finally returned to the Great Hall, the mood had shifted noticeably. The Ferelden based Wardens seemed to have separated from those from Weisshaupt. Rainer had a conceited smirk on his face, mirrored by his Wardens. Her own men looked a little crestfallen.

She was zeroing in on a guilty-looking Burion when Alistair intercepted her. He stepped out from behind a pillar, blocking her path with a smile as brash as Rainer's. His arms wrapped possessively around her and he tipped her backwards, kissing her long and deep, in front of the Maker and everyone, again. A cheer rose up from the Ferelden Wardens.

Rainer may have beat Alistair at arm-wrestling, but he still got the girl in the end. Not that anyone would ever dare say that to the girl in question.

As Rainer watched Alistair kiss Elinora, his mind flashed back to a certain night in Orlais. For a brief moment in time, one that would never be again, Elinora had chosen to be with him. But she had never looked at him like she did at Alistair. He sighed and tried to put his feelings back into heavy trunk they were supposed to be locked away in. Her choice was king and command, and he would have to live with that.

No one, not even Rainer himself, noticed his eyes flash from their usual blue to bright gold.

Weisshaupt

Ashling's eyes shifted for a moment from gold to blue. When it passed, she looked to her mother. "You were right. He still has feelings for her."

Morrigan nodded, not for the first time disturbed by her daughter's powers, especially since the child was only two years old. By normal human standards, she should be walking unsteadily and using simple words. Ashling was much further along than that, mind, body and abilities.

Ashling had placed her spell on Rainer with just a touch before he left. He had no idea that she could see through his eyes if she chose to. And Morrigan had no idea how many times that had been.

"My father is very handsome," Ashling continued.

Morrigan snorted dismissively. "If you like that sort of thing."

Ashling cocked her head to he side. "Humans are very strange."

A small chill ran down Morrigan's spine. That was the third time she had heard Ashling refer to humans as something other than herself. The child seemed to have at least some awareness of what she was, which lead to a larger set of questions. Most importantly, Morrigan wondered how much longer she could control the god in the shape of her child.