Duty's Choice: The Bastards of Ferelden - Chapter 8

Parting Plans

Amaranthine – the next morning

Very carefully, Elinora poured the blue sealing wax onto the parchment, right next to Rainer's signature. He pressed the First Warden's seal into the puddle and smiled proudly. "There, that's done. Congratulations, you have passed your first inspection."

Her eyebrows knit with a bit of worry. "First?"

"And most likely only. Its tradition at the beginning of a First Warden's service, but often skipped and almost never repeated." His smile faded as his blue eyes locked on to hers. "In fact, there's a good chance we will never see each other again." His callused hand took hers and squeezed lightly.

Elinora's eyes dropped to their hands, and she bit her lip. "Rainer, I…"

"I know. You've chosen him, and I think he just might deserve you now. You'll have to forgive me for wondering about what might have been."

"It's the 'what ifs' that will drive one mad."

Rainer lifted her hand to his lips and placed a light kiss on its back. He held it a moment, then released it, letting the dream drop away with her hand. Back to business, he squared his shoulders, picked up the parchment, wax now set, and handed it to her. "Keep up the good work, Warden-Commander El. I expect regular reports of your progress. Is there anything else you require?"

Elinora took the paper and smiled at its symbolic validation of her command. "There is one thing."

"Name it."

"About a half dozen more Wardens for the Orzammar barrack. Heavy and light warriors, I've got all the mages I need."

Rainer considered a moment before answering. "How soon?"

"No rush, a few months. Send them once you return to Weisshaupt."

He nodded. "I shall endeavor to do so." He sighed, his hands twitching to touch her one more time, but he resisted. Instead he took a good, long look at her face; those blue-green eyes and the long scar the Archdemon had left her. He would never forget them. "Good-bye."

And with that, First Warden Rainer departed Elinora's study, and quite possibly her life.

Alistair stood by the First Warden's horse, waiting for him. The look of surprise on Rainer's face amused him greatly. "Can't let you leave without saying farewell. It would be rude." Alistair grinned and held out a hand.

Rainer took it with a firm handshake. "Its good to see the king of Ferelden has some manners, otherwise she'll beat them into you."

Alistair locked eyes with Rainer. "It was good to meet you."

Rainer returned Alistair's stare. "And you. Take care of her."

"You and I both know that she doesn't need taking care of, but I shall endeavor to do so."

Rainer paused a moment at hearing his own words to Elinora echoed back. He shrugged and mounted up. "One thing, your majesty."

"Yes?" Alistair asked.

"Any idea whatever happened that apostate and her child?"

Alistair's heart froze. He had successfully put Morrigan and that night out of his mind. They were not memories he wanted to revisit. "None."

Rainer repressed the smirk he wanted to wear. That little question had not only deflated the king, but also confirmed what he and Morrigan suspected. They did not want to find her. "Please let me know if you ever do. There are some questions we'd like answered."

"You're not the only one," Alistair muttered. He rallied himself and nodded to Rainer. "Safe journey."

"To you as well, your majesty." Rainer spurred his horse and rode out of Amaranthine followed by his Wardens.

Alistair watched them go, a cold dread settling into the pit of his stomach. The only cure he knew was just upstairs in the woman he loved, despite any other who had tried to replace her. He tried to focus his thoughts on the future, their future, but couldn't help thinking that the past might just be coming back to haunt them.

"I have an idea," Alistair whispered as he ran his fingers through Elinora's hair, now longer than he'd ever known it. He liked it; soft chestnut tresses slightly wavy from their day in that complicated braid.

She shifted to snuggle a bit closer to him. "Hm?"

"You need to recruit, and I've barely left Denerim since being crowned. So, let's go together?" That wasn't half as coherent has he had wanted it to be.

"Hm," she mumbled again. "Wait." She propped herself up on an elbow and looked at him in the darkness. "What?"

"I make a royal progress around Ferelden, and you tag along recruiting along the way." That made more sense.

She raised an eyebrow. "Tag along?"

"Alright, something more official then. Um, accompany my majesty as… oh, honor guard, looking for new Wardens as we go."

Elinora considered, tapping a finger on Alistair's chest. "It would look like an endorsement of the Wardens by the crown, which could be helpful with reluctant Arls and Banns."

"I don't think I could endorse the Wardens anymore than I already have, but I'll try." He smiled playfully. "Know what else it means?"

She was thinking, her mind wrapping around the logistics of such a trip. Duty her first thought, as always. "What?"

Alistair pulled her close then rolled, shifting her underneath him. He lightly bumped her nose with his own. "We get to be together for months, on the road, just like old times."

She stroked his cheek. "But with royal servants and decent food. Paradise."

"Anywhere I'm with you is paradise." The line may have been silly, but it didn't make it any less true. His kiss told her that and a thousand other endearments. The leg that wrapped around his waist told him that she wanted him. He would give her everything she wanted, everything that was in his power to give, and then maybe a few things more. He'd steal darkness from the sun if she wanted it.

He would make this work, he vowed it.