After waking up in the company of an overly flatulent horse and a headache the size of a portly Genlock, Alistair noticed both Bethany and Raleigh actively avoided his company for the rest of that day. Alistair felt useless wandering about the grounds of Weisshaupt. Marching had becoming so much an integral part of his life that as he didn't bother readying himself for the day and simply wandered the countryside. Where Ferelden was very brown and an odd combination of moist and musty, or maybe even moisty if such a term existed, it appeared the Anderfels was more blackened and parched.
The people of the land labored humorously with such a conviction, as if simply carving a day to day life out of the Taint-kissed land about them was a blow struck to the two-legged bogeymen that toiled beneath the surface. Even the children elicited nary a giggle as they huddled together in the closely guarded markets of the villages Alistair ventured through. Despite the lack of open shows of mirth, the Anders sure knew how to make a fine cheese, but even a few solaced moments lost in indulging just one of the amplified and much storied Grey Warden appetites could not shake the man of his loneliness.
Here at Weisshaupt Fortress his reputation for being the other half of the Blight ending Fereldan Wardens made many of their Order stationed here in the Anderfels either resent him for the notoriety of ending the threat too early for their own shot at heroism or elevated his battle prowess to the point of not wanting to catch the ire of the barbaric Dog Lord who got up-close and personal with the Archdemon... and lived.
After the felling of the Archdemon, Alistair's taint-driven nightmares had subsided a bit, instead they were replaced by distorted recollections of the debrief-turned-interrogation when neither he or Amell had perished when his friend drove a Darkspawn blade deep into the monster's flesh rending it of its terrifyingly short life. Despite his part in the Witch's ritual, it was his friend who caught the brunt of the repercussions for their mutual decision to accept Morrigan's terms. The grilling he had received was terrible in that he had to relive that - night with Morrigan over and again as he had to try and recall as many details as to what exactly she did to him. Once it was decided that the Order and their various Agents across Thedas would remain vigilant for the Apostate and her child, the two Wardens were released and were given new assignments.
In the absence of the rest of the Wardens assigned to the Free Marches, some of those that didn't ignore or avoid him took the opportunity to make none too subtle advances on his person. It was one thing to be solicited by elven ladies of the night, it was a whole 'nother chamberpot of trouble being propositioned by Warriors and Shield-Maidens that could quite literally snap him in twain. Apparently the rumors of him being a savage-bedding saviour of Thedas was made all the more interesting to the libidinous Wardens as he rebuffed them time and again.
Locking himself in his quarters seemed to be the best option he could come up with until it was time to return to the field. At least here he could sleep and find solace in the familiarity of his other long time companion, his nightmares.
"Darkspawn tactics have changed little, even in the brevity of the Fifth Blight, horses were one of the first resources their monstrous raiding bands seized upon in Ferelden. Nobles, members of the nation's Bannorn, and speculative merchants have bought up every riding and pack animal in the surrounding nations."
Today the final meeting of the Free Marcher Wardens was taking place in the library in a rather public fashion. The Elven Grey Warden, Fiona, seemed to lord over this particular section of Weisshaupt's great collection of tomes and scrolls. Stroud paced the length of a floor rug as she informed them of yet more bad news.
"And this means we get no answer as to our petition for additional horses for our return to Nevarra?"
"Actually, due to the recent shortage we'll be taking half of the animals you've brought with you."
Bethany cringed at the audible grinding of Stroud's teeth.
"Half?", the young mage asked incredulously.
"It has been determined, via careful inventory, that half the animals are property of the Order of the Grey. The rest were picked up in your travels or brought with you from your individual recruitment. Thus we have no claim on them and therefore you are quite free to depart back to your temporary post with them in tow."
"Great, more walking. Going to need new shoes."
Stroud cast a stern glance at his recruit and Bethany quickly clammed up.
It wasn't the same being at this meeting without Alistair there to whisper random bits of humor or hushed, overly-exaggerated impersonations of their superiors but then again nothing had been the same since that night she read Gamlen's letter. Her Uncle, between drunken sentiments and angry rambling, had shared the grim fate that befallen her Mother. He seemed especially bitter that her Brother was unable to save Mother in time.
She pushed the thoughts away and left the meeting early without asking for leave or even excusing herself. Stroud didn't say a word and Bethany didn't bother focusing on Fiona's inquiry as to her departure. Instinctively she had wandered over to Alistair's quarters but stopped short of knocking. He had denied her request for company. Despite the rumors and resentment shown to her by her fellow Grey Wardens, from time to time she'd be propositioned. She always declined. Many of them had assumed it was either loyalty or some kind of awe for her friend Alistair that she refused them.
He was the only one she ever offered herself and he had refused her. She felt terrible putting him in such a position, how she now avoided him to not have to relive that night and its indignities and pains.
She slunk back to her own quarters and in the darkness, she fought back the urge to cry. Bethany willed herself free of her emotions. Her emotions were simply a weakness she cannot afford now that her party had been charged with an important investigation of the same Deep Roads that had put her on this path in the service of the Grey Wardens.
Much like her cousin, she'd relinquish her ties to her old life. Yes, she would let go of her past, any fading notions of her girlish fantasies and simply serve a higher cause.