Wow! Seven reviews this time! I'm totally giddy here! Thanks so much to PheonRen, auradorina, Warrose, LadyCallia, Liso66, megglesnake and Jinx1983 for all the awesomeness! yay!
Thanks to all those who voted so far as well. If you haven't voted yet, please go to my profile and vote. Should Alistair become king or remain a warden? :D
The chapter after this one is very shocking and revealing. Therefore, this chapter is short and light on purpose. LOL
Bioware owns everything...cross my heart! :D
Chapter 32 - The Trip to Amaranthine
I don't care
I don't care if you don't
I don't care if you don't
I don't care if you don't care
I don't care...
Everyone is so full of shit
Born and raised by hypocrites
Hearts recycled but never saved
From the cradle to the grave
We are the kids of war and peace
I don't care - Green Day
.
.
All too quickly they said their goodbyes. If they wanted to get to Amaranthine well before the Landsmeet in Denerim, they had to secure a trip on a ship to return.
Alistair and Chantalle made their way to the docks speaking to every captain they could, and finally found a ship that was bound for the port of Amaranthine. Chantalle and the man haggled on before finally settling for a price that was right for both parties.
Alistair had asked Leonie Caron to accompany him, as she would be the one who would help him at the Landsmeet with her testimony and she had agreed immediately, though Alistair wasn't sure if it was to help him or to be near Zevran. As it turned out, there were thirty-three of them on the ship for the journey back to Ferelden, twenty of them the Ferelden wardens he had ordered in from the keep to help put a stop to the darkspawn threat initially.
The trip itself would take seven days if the weather was kind, and Alistair found himself praying to the Maker it would be. His stomach lurched with each rise and swell of the sea, so he spent most of his time hanging onto the railing for his dear life and vomiting a great deal. It took much coaxing on Chantalle's side to finally take him below deck to the cabin he shared with her, where her cool fingers soothed his sweaty brow and the wet cloth she applied to his forehead soon calmed him enough to enable him to eat something and drink some water. As long as he remained below deck and the water itself was calm, he would be fine.
Zevran spent much of his time with Leonie which didn't come as a surprise to anyone there. They stayed below deck most of the journey and when they did join the rest on deck at odd times, Leonie had eyes only for him, which led them to come to the correct conclusion that she had finally met her match. She was much nicer to everyone and in a good mood all the time, and this in itself was somewhat of a blessing to them all.
As for Fiona, she divided her time between healing Alistair and writing down notes in a journal she kept. She was anxious to arrive at Vigil's Keep as she thought that the trunk with her belongings must already be there waiting for her. She wanted to get her hands on her work.
She had been doing some research on the brooch she had worn over twenty-five years ago in the Deep Roads, and wanted to continue to study its properties. She knew that the brooch had accelerated the stages of corruption. This is what had happened to herself and the rest of the wardens she had been travelling with. First Enchanter Remille had also been very explicit on the matter when he had revealed why he had really given them the brooches. But she felt there was something else that had yet to be discovered, and the wardens at Weisshaupt had agreed with her on this also.
After twenty-five years had passed, they still were not closer to an answer and had all but given up, leaving the whole project practically in her hands. Fiona was grateful. There was something she felt she had missed which she could not put her finger on, and she was impatient to get to it and possibly find out what it was.
Seven days later, nearly all of them stood on deck watching as the port of Amaranthine came slowly into view. The beauty of it all struck them dumb as they gazed at the horizon and the nearing dock bathed in the reddish colors of sunset, the sea glowing with a reddish-gold hue.
The peaceful view was interrupted by the groans of a man behind them.
Alistair stumbled on the deck, nearly falling overboard, his hands gripping the railing as he started to vomit into the sea below. His paleness had a greenish tint to it, his usual golden tan gone.
There was nobody onboard that was happier than he when the ship finally docked and his feet touched the solid ground at last.
...
Anora Mac Tir looked down upon her contact. The man was shaking a bit and she fought back the urge to call him a foolish coward.
"What is it now, Edgar?" She was so annoyed that she nearly spat out the words. The man kneeling before her flinched visibly and the queen fought to control herself. "Rise," she said wearily.
"My Queen, I bring you a report of your men stationed in Orlais," Edgar said, pulling a parchment out of his pocket.
He paused and Anora nodded at him, expecting him to continue.
Oh for the love of the "...what does it say then?" Anora asked impatiently.
"Your Highness, Empress Celene has declared Warden Commander Alistair Theirin the 'Defender of Orlais'," he announced clearly, in spite of the fact that he was quaking in his boots as he did so.
Anora's brow furrowed in thought as she processed the information. She paced up and down the length of the dais, weighing down the implications of what it meant. The Empress herself had chosen to bestow a title upon Alistair. If he was still alive and had survived the assassination attempt, this could work in her favor. There were still nobles in Ferelden that resented Orlais and anything that had to do with the Orlesians.
She stopped in front of the man, a smile on her face, without really looking at him. Her heart fluttered in her chest, and her breathing hitched. She was overjoyed at this unexpected turn of events.
"Is there anything else?" She asked Edgar, still smiling to herself.
Edgar, who had seen her smile and the change that had come upon her, felt bolder and did not hesitate to babble out the rest of the missive he held in his hands.
"Empress Celene has declared all elves in Orlais free. They will no longer be treated as second-class citizens and will be allowed titles and riches from now on."
All traces of her smile vanished and her eyes flew open in shock at these words.
Edgar paled, his boldness vanishing instantly.
"Are you sure you have the correct information? Give me the parchment!" She said harshly as she took it from his now shaking hands.
She read it quickly, and felt anger start at the pit of her stomach and spread. After all she had done to put an end to the elven rebellions! She knew that when word of this got around, there would be no stopping them. That stupid Orlesian cow!
She took several deep breaths, fighting to gain her self-control once again. She must not give in to her emotions. She was the queen and she must act accordingly.
"Thank you Edgar, you may go now," she said clearly and quietly. The man knelt once and was gone.
Anora turned and sat on the throne behind her. She did not move for quite some time.
After a while she stood up again, her nostrils flaring. She could not allow this cow to ruin her place on the throne. She would have to do something about the elves and it would have to be done at the Landsmeet.
She grimaced for she did not like what she was going to do one bit, but the only thing on her mind right now was to be ahead of the empress, even if it meant going against the nobility of Ferelden.
She was queen and she could do this.
She had to.
...
The Keep welcomed them with open arms. Alistair and Nathaniel met and shook hands, Duran patted the rogue's back and laughed. When Alistair had finished introducing Leliana to Nathaniel, Anders stood by protectively and put an arm around the bard. Nate's eyes twinkled.
"What's this? The infamous Anders in love?" Leliana blushed and giggled at the comment while Anders just rolled his eyes, a faint blush slowly creeping on his cheeks.
"And he's blushing! Now that's something I thought I'd never see," Duran laughed.
Alistair grinned at the whole scene before him. It felt good to be back at the keep. He introduced Fiona next, but kept out the part about her being his mother. He wanted to do that publically later when he called for a meeting among his wardens.
He then introduced Leonie, and they bowed as a sign of respect to her, and she looked very pleased. Zevran had been smirking at all the teasing and now bowed as Alistair finally introduced him as well.
He saved Chantalle for last. She smiled at Nathaniel after Alistair had introduced them, and Nathaniel bowed and placed a quick kiss on her knuckles. He then straightened up and his eyes twinkled.
"Married, huh? That's a surprise, Commander. She is beautiful. Congratulations!"
"Thanks Nate," Alistair replied, feeling rather proud of Chantalle as he turned to beam at her.
"Will you be addressing the wardens today?" Nathaniel asked, readying himself to order the men to a meeting.
"No, Nate, we're tired from the journey and it's getting late. I do need some help in settling everyone in."
"Of course, and Warden Fiona?"
"Yes?"
"A trunk arrived for you two days ago, and I took the liberty of putting it in one of our spare rooms. That could be your room if you wish," he smiled.
"Excellent, and thank you," Fiona said.
"Right. I'll get everyone to show you to your rooms. We have some servants here who will prepare hot water for your baths as well. I know you must be hungry. Dinner is in a couple of hours in the mess hall," Nate's voice droned on and he gestured to a few wardens to make the rest feel at home and take them to their rooms.
...
Fiona sighed with relief when she saw the trunk placed against one of the walls of her new home. She hurried over to it and opened the locks with the key that Nathaniel had given her only moments before. She slowly began to unpack going through various books and setting them to the side. The rest of the things consisted of robes and clothes, several glass vials and several ingredients packed tightly into pouches or vials as well. Her hands slowly retrieved a small brown box and she opened that as well. A single onyx brooch stood out as it winked at her, catching the light in the room.
"I'll find the secret to you yet," she murmured as she closed the lid on it and set it back into her trunk.
...
Alistair sighed contentedly in the tub, watching his wife get out and dry herself. He was far from satisfied but knew that they could save the rest of their passionate interlude for later tonight. He was hungry and dinner was already waiting for them in the mess hall.
He stood up and dried himself also, dressing in leather trousers and a simple white tunic. Chantalle already stood before the only mirror in the room, having a little bit of trouble with the buckles on her leathers.
"Here, let me help you, love," he whispered into her ear, and kissed the tip, as his hands began to tighten the buckles lovingly. She sighed and looked into the mirror at their reflection, her eyes resting on his handsome face as he bent down and focused on getting the task done. When he finished with them, he lovingly placed his hands on her shoulders, and kissed the nape of her neck, causing her to tremble slightly.
This shem had turned her entire world upside down, but it didn't really matter to her any longer. She was a part of him and he was a part of her now. The world they lived in was changing and even though she was an elf, she had adjusted to her surroundings and even to the humans very well. She supposed a lot of it had to do with the fact that she was Dalish, and the Dalish were survivors, adjusting to any situation and environment they encountered.
Alistair turned her around gently and kissed her. She felt the desire building up in her again, but instead of taking her to the bed, he broke away gently.
"Let's go, before I forget dinner is waiting for us in the mess hall," he said, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Then, hand in hand, they walked out of the room together, pausing only to shut the door behind them.
...