Duty's Choice: The Bastards of Ferelden - Chapter 28

When the Wardens Come Marching In

Highever – Spring 2, 3rd day

Elinora lay in bed, enjoying a sweet spring breeze that wafted into her room. The thaw had begun in earnest, as if apologizing for the bad winter. Cailin lay next to her, his head on her belly, listening as she read to both her boys. Finn had found a nice puddle of sunlight, his ears twitching every once in a while. The mid-afternoon nap was becoming on of her favorite routines, one she would miss when the time came for her to get back to work. For right now though, she would enjoy it.

And it was one of the small bits of pleasure she found. This pregnancy business was difficult, though Petra assured her that hers was especially arduous. Everything ached, all the time. Her back, her legs and particularly her head. No amount of exercise or massage seemed to have any effect. Elinora was ready for this to be over.

Finn disrupted their peace with a grunt, a growl and a low bark out the open window. Elinora sat up as Cailin hopped out of bed in small boy fashion and ran to the window.

"Soldiers, mother!" He craned his neck for a better view of the road.

Elinora moved slowly to window and looked out. A motley group of about thirty came up the causeway at a slow, non-aggressive march. She scanned the group until she found their insignia. Her heart leapt when she found a blue griffon adoring a breastplate. She turned and moved as quickly as she could for the Great Hall.

Fergus was waiting already, armored and ready to receive guests. His people seemed nervous, but were following the calm demeanor of their teyrn. "Apparently, my dear sister, your boys have come to check on you."

Elinora gave him a wry smile and adjusted her dress, hoping she didn't look too rumpled. "And brought all of Amaranthine with them."

The heavy double doors opened, as the Wardens marched in and arranged themselves in a flanking position around the Hall. Once in, they bowed as one.

Elinora searched for familiar faces among the men not wearing closed helmets, and found ones she only vaguely recognized from her time in Weisshaupt. At least half the group were heavy warriors, most of which had some sort of visor protecting their faces.

A helmeted warrior stepped forward, his breastplate bearing the double griffon insignia of a commander. He pulled off the closed helmet and shook the tendrils of blonde hair that had gotten loose from their warrior's tail.

"Rainer!"

"Hello, El," he responded casually, like he had run into her at market, not stormed her castle.

Her face screwed up with confusion. "What in the Maker's name are you doing here? And with a combat force?"

Rainer stood up straight, as if he was addressing his superior instead of subordinate. "We are here to protect you and your child."

Fergus cleared his throat and stepped forward, putting a hand on Elinora's shoulder. "I am Teryn Fergus Cousland, Elinora's elder brother, and I assure you, she is quite safe."

Rainer smiled in a politic sort of way and gave Fergus a smaller bow. "I'm sure she is, but we are here to make certain of it. The Grey Wardens protect their own."

Fergus scanned the massed warriors, looked to his sister, and then shrugged. "A little extra protection can't hurt, I suppose."

"Wait," Elinora started to protest. "What about… oh never mind." She heaved a sigh and flinched a little, her hand going to her rounding belly. "I haven't the stamina to argue. And he's decided to do summersaults."

Rainer stepped one cautious step forward, his hand outstretched. "May I?"

She smiled with a slight headshake. "Why not? Everyone else does."

The First Warden slid his gauntlet off as he closed the distance between them. He knelt before her and placed a tenuous hand on her belly. At the baby's kick, Rainer murmured, "I can sense him."

"What do you sense?"

Rainer looked up at Elinora, overwhelmed with what was tingling across the Warden bond. "Joy."

A tired smile crept onto her face. "I never pegged you for the sentimental type."

Rainer rose abruptly, donning the resolution of command that a First Warden must wear. He looked to the Cousland siblings and said, "It's been a long journey and I would like to get the Wardens settled. We can camp outside the castle or…."

Elinora's mind drifted away from the logistics of boarding thirty warriors. Her focused turned to what Rainer had just experienced. He could sense the baby? How come she couldn't sense the baby? Or maybe she could and just wasn't reading him right. Maybe… too many maybes. She and Petra would have to work it out.

But for now, it was time to get off her feet.

It was late when the Warden bond pulled Rainer to the upper ramparts. She was worried, he could sense it. Aldo wasn't the only one good at picking things out over the bond.

Elinora leaned against a crenellation, staring at the moon. Sweet Andraste, she was beautiful, even round with child and wrapped in a beaten old shawl. Her hair wafted gently in the cold breeze, winter's last grip on the world.

And then she staggered. Rainer ran to catch her even as she caught herself on the stone battlements.

He meant to say something pithy, or at least comforting, but what came out was, "How could he leave you alone?"

Elinora's blue-green eyes squeezed shut, but she didn't pull away from him. "We need to keep this secret. The ruse…"

"The ruse has you up here in the middle of the night, worrying." He kept a steady arm around her shoulders.

Her eyes stayed shut and head down. "Had to be done."

Rainer frowned at her. "What about your happiness?"

Elinora bit her lip a moment before answering. "I gave up my own happiness the night Duncan pulled me from this castle. Sacrifice, remember?"

"You've already done your part…"

"My part is not over until the Deep Roads. Neither is yours."

"Since when did you become a prophet?"

She looked at him then. "There's no prophecy in it, just what a Warden does."

Rainer placed a gentle hand on her round belly. He felt the baby move under it. "No Warden has done this in a century and a half. None have been so brave."

She snorted an unhappy laugh and turned her gaze back to the moon. "None have been so foolish. What was I thinking? Trying to be more than one thing, its ridiculous! Warrior and Mother are not things a person can be at the same time."

"I respectfully disagree." Rainer squeezed her shoulder. "If anyone can do it, you can. I just wish you weren't doing it alone." He hand left her belly to find her chin. He lightly pulled her face to look at him. "If… if it was me, I never would have left your side."

"Rainer…"

"I'm sorry El, but I expected better of Alistair. He should be standing by you, Chantry bedamned!"

"It was my idea."

The hand at her shoulder slid to the small of her back. "And I would have said no and stayed put."

Elinora stepped away from his arms. "But its not you, and you don't have Alistair's duties to consider. Nor mine." She suddenly looked very tired. "I'm going to attempt to get some sleep. Good night." And without another word, she left the rampart.

Rainer watched her go, and then turned to face the moon. "Damnit."