A/N: Something wonky is going on with . I published Chapter 13, but it didn't show a single hit yesterday, even though I hit it myself (and wrote myself a review, just to test it). So, I hope these are getting to you and that things de-wonk!

Duty's Choice: The Bastards of Ferelden - Chapter 14

Down By the Sea

East Watch – that day

Alistair dragged himself out of bed and the worst night's sleep he'd had since Elinora's return. His room in the manor house overlooked the harbor, not the road into town, which he would have preferred, given the circumstances. Like back during the Blight, he'd gotten used to having her curled up next to him, even if she did sneak off before the rest of camp was up.

He behavior on the road confused him. For the life of him, Alistair could not figure out what Elinora considered right and proper, as far as their relationship was concerned. If he had to, he'd bet she didn't know either.

East Watch itself was a fine town with a good port. It served mostly as a berth for ships to repair and re-supply, though there was a decent shipbuilding business. Lumber came from the edges of the Bercilian Forests, carefully harvested so as to not anger its residents. Fishing and trade made up most of the rest of the local economy. Bann Elroy commented that the Blight had barely affected them.

It was almost lunchtime when the Wardens got into East Watch. They were up two Wardens, but down one man. He knew what had happened, even before he saw her haggard face. He was glad they were planning on staying on a few days; she needed the rest, and he thought, a few days in his arms.

But Elinora was not staying still.

Once situated at The Laden Vessel and fed, she took her two new Wardens to a metal smith. Commander El was starting a new tradition, one that Alistair was proud of. Along with the usual vial of Darkspawn blood, they had their names and the date of their Joining inscribed onto the tokens she gave to recruits. They would wear it with the vial until their deaths. Alistair had a feeling she would wear it after. On Cathial's token she had a small indentation made, to mark how many recruits it passed to before becoming a part of a Warden's kit.

The Wardens took their ease the rest of the day, though remained clannish. Kinna and Bordy were going to get a much more complete introduction to Warden life than Elinora ever did, which included a fine night of feasting and drinking at a local inn. Alistair joined them after his more official duties were done. He was, after all, still a Grey Warden, though he felt a little distant from them. These days he felt distant from just about everyone. But for that night he would enjoy swapping tales and the warm buzz of good cheer across the Warden bond.

Well after midnight and far too much ale, Elinora ordered everyone to bed and to sleep in. They had a day in East Watch, then back on the road. "Hide and Seek at mid-morning. Meet in the Great Hall of the keep."

Alistair and Elinora took their leave for the keep together, even though she had a room at the inn. Elinora was tired and tipsy enough for Alistair to coax her back to his rooms. She went without a peep of prudish protest. More than a little drunk in an unfamiliar town was not really a good idea, but they got back in one piece, thanks to Alistair's guards. Sleep took her the minute her head hit the pillows.

When she finally pulled herself out a deep and soothing sleep, a breakfast tray for two had already arrived. Alistair was already dressed for the day and wouldn't hear of her getting out of bed until she had stuffed herself silly. She was enjoying a sweet roll when the bath arrived. Servants brought in a great copper tub and bucket upon bucket of hot water.

Elinora looked into Alistair's smiling face. "I surrender. Send someone to the inn for Dedra and fresh clothes."

"Your wish is my command," he said gravely bowing over her hand. He kissed its back, then palm, then wrist.

With a small wince of memory, Elinora freed her hand and placed it on his cheek. "Don't you have boatyards to tour, Arls to placate?"

With a grin and swift kiss, he stood. "That I do. Enjoy your morning, my love."

Once Alistair and the bevy of servants were gone, she settled into the tub and enjoyed the kind of peace that only comes with hot water.

By mid-morning all the Wardens had assembled, as ordered, Bittan and Bordy's heads still aching from the evening's over indulgence. With a nod to the senior Wardens, she led the two newest ones out into the courtyard.

"Most likely you played this as a child, but our version is a little different," Elinora explained. "Its time for you to learn to use some of your new Warden talents. You will go back into the keep and find your fellow Wardens. Each will give you a token to show you found them. If they get the drop on you, they will mark you. You have one hour. When time is up or you've found everyone, return to me in the Great Hall with your tokens. Clear?"

Kinna and Bordy nodded.

Elinora smiled slightly with approval. "Good. Go."

The two ran back into the manor. Elinora followed at a sedate pace into the Great Hall. She turned over an hourglass, kindly loaned by the lady of the house, and settled in to wait.

"Good morning, Commander," said a reedy woman's voice from behind her. "I see you've put my hourglass to work. I instructed my people as you requested."

Elinora stood and gave Lady Eistir the blended curtsy and salute that she had mastered in Orlais. "Thank you, my lady. I appreciate you allowing us to use your home for this little exercise."

Lady Eistir waved it off. "Think nothing of it, my dear." She crisply walked over to the mantelpiece, elegant fingers adjusting an old helmet that sat there, a trophy from long ago. Even at her advanced age, a good bit past Elinora's mother's, she still moved with grace and precision. Elinora had a feeling all else was forbidden. Lady Eistir was a very neat and prim woman. "I understand you stayed with the king in his chambers last night."

Elinora felt her face heat. Suddenly she was twelve again, caught stealing meat pies from the kitchens. But, she assured herself, she was an adult and likely outranked this woman. "Yes, my lady, I did."

"No room at the inn?"

"Um…" This was just what Elinora had been trying to avoid; moralistic old biddies looking down their noses at her.

"I understand your wedding was interrupted by the Grand Cleric, but if you carry on like this, Ferelden will have yet another bastard prince or princess. Is that really a good idea?"

Elinora was ready for this attack. "The last bastard prince has stood us in good stead so far, my lady. Why not another?"

A smile broke on Lady Eistir's thin face. "And excellent answer. Its good to see you've prepared for the inevitable questions if you two are less than discreet."

With a relived laugh, Elinora answered, "I do try. I blame last night on The Laden Vessel's very excellent ale."

Eistir chuckled. "That stuff gets more girls in trouble, always has. Anyway, I'll send someone to the inn to bring your personal possession here, if you wish."

Elinora stood dumbfounded for moment, then stammered, "That would be very kind of you, thank you."

"Not at all." Eistir evaluated the room once more. "Now, if you'll excuse me, there are things that need seeing to."

Elinora shook her head. Even now people still surprised her.

Before the last sands of the hour glass had run out, Kinna returned with all five tokens and not a mark on her. Bordy came back with Alcina and Maphisa behind him, teasing him for completely missing Alcina in a guest room. He had one of Bittan's dice and Aldo's bit of crystal, but three chalk marks on a shoulder.

"Either you're going to have to get craftier," Elinora sighed, "or I'm going to have to send you to Weisshaupt to be put on a shieldwall."

Bordy stiffened. "I'll do my best, Commander."

Elinora took pity on him and smiled. "Don't worry, Warden Bordy. We need men who are good at rending Darkspawn from stem to stern as well had finding them before they find us."

He nodded. "Yes, Commander."

She raised an eyebrow at his formality, then turned to the lot of them. "Rest of the day you are at liberty. We muster at dawn at the gate. Be ready to ride. Dismissed!" Her Wardens grinned and then scattered like freed school children. Aldo stayed, putting a hand on her arm and a smile on his face.

Alistair walked into the room a minute later.

Elinora looked to her mage. "Show off." Aldo chuckled, bowed to Alistair, and departed.

Alistair grinned a little broader. "I've got a surprise. Look what the diplomatic packet brought in."

With a bit of flourish, Leliana entered the hall, and immediately gave Elinora a warm hug. The commander pulled away with a smile. "Not that I'm not delighted, but what in the Maker's name are you doing here?"

Leliana's face fell a little. "I have news."

Once safely in the privacy of Bann Elroys's study, Leliana shared what she had learned. "I wanted to confirm this before I told you, but I've gotten the same story for enough sources that I'm sure this is genuine. The Divine did issue that order, with you two particularly in mind."

"What?" Alistair gasped.

"She had a vision. A young woman, almost a girl, with wheat colored hair and glowing golden eyes flanked by Grey Wardens, an army of them. She used magic on levels the Divine had never seen, and destroyed the Great Cathedral. She described a man standing in front of the burning cathedral; a blonde-haired, brown-eyed man, wearing a crown and weeping. The Divine claimed to, and I quote, 'see the face of the man in the face of the girl.' Alistair, she has decided that its you and your daughter."

His face crumpled, falling into his hands. "What have I done?"

Elinora put her hand on his shoulder, but looked to the bard. "What about Aroura and Wynn?"

"She's ordered the priests in Denerim to keep a close eye on them."

Elinora shuddered and Alistair glared. "Its not either of them," he growled.

Elinora looked to him sadly. "Morrigan."

"So its true, then?" Leliana murmured. Alistair nodded gravely and Elinora looked away. "And here I thought Zevran was just making things up."

"I wish," muttered Alistair. "Now what?"

Elinora bit her lip, knowing what had to come next. "We need to find Morrigan and her daughter, but very quietly. I don't want to cause a panic. And we need to get word to Rainer."

Alistair gave her a look at Rainer's name. "What sort of word?"

She ignored his spike of jealously. "A warning, or at least a briefing of what might be headed his way."

"An Old God," Leliana's gaze turned inward, her bard's imagination wandering. "in the shape of a little girl."

Elinora looked to Leliana. "You said that the Divine saw a young woman."

"Yes."

"Morrigan's child couldn't be more than three."

Alistair sighed with a little relief. "We have time."

Elinora nodded. They may have time, but she wasn't going to waste it.

That evening she spent several frustrating hours trying to write the message to Rainer. He knew about that night, about Morrigan's plan for the unborn child to take on the taint and thereby save herself and Alistair. He didn't know the part about the Old God, or how dangerous Morrigan could be, or about Flemeth. There were many details he needed, and she wasn't sure she had all of them to give him.

She was sealing up the missive and wrapping it tight in oiled leather when Alistair found her. "You missed dinner."

She didn't even glance up as she tied off a final knot. "Sorry. Wanted to get this done. I'm sending Bittan back to Denerim with the packet tomorrow, and then on to Weisshaupt. Leliana is going to try to track down Morrigan or Zevran, since Zevran is a better tracker. This needs to get done as soon as possible."

His hand covered her, still clutching the bundle. "What about our baby?"

She looked up and into his eyes. "We don't have one, yet."

"Should we…"

Elinora set down the wrapped letter and studied her lover, the man she would like to call husband. "Our child will be different, but unlikely golden-eyed god. And I'd like to think we would raise him better than to go about burning Chantries."

A playful smile found its way onto Alistair's face. "I don't know. It seems that even the most well-brought up children can be troublesome."

She returned his smile. "We'll just have to have one and see."