Author's Note: Happy Holidays to all, and a special thank you to those taking the time to review. I have been extremely busy in the past month or so, but I do want to finish this story. We're getting very, very near the end. Here's a short chapter, a new one should be up in the next couple of days.
Chapter 82 - How Cryptic of You, Dear Sir
Serena was used to Riordan looking grave. The man would look somber even if a herd of fluffy bunnies surrounded him and threatened to snuggle him until he smiled.
"It's a relief to see you unharmed, my lady. And you as well, Alistair. Or should I say your Majesty?"
"Err, no. No, I wouldn't say that. Not yet, anyway." Alistair shrugged, his body looking extra massive in his armor. He glanced around the hall, as if he hadn't really seen it before. Maybe it looked different to him, now that he was in a great position of power. At Redcliffe, he had never been on solid footing. "You remember our fellow Wardens, Theron and Kallian." He gestured to the two Wardens.
"Yes, of course. It is also good to see you both. Where is the mage? Alim?"
"Still recovering," Serena replied. "He is with the remaining army in our Bannorn camp."
"Which brings me to our news," Riordan said. "The darkspawn that attacked Redcliffe were relatively few in number, I'm afraid. It was assumed the horde was marching in this direction... but that is not true."
Eamon cleared his throat. "Riordan tells us the bulk of the horde is, in fact, heading toward Denerim. They are perhaps two days away from the capital."
Beside her, Alistair cursed softly. "Are we sure about that? I mean... if that's true... I thought we were relatively certain the horde was near here? When did that change?"
"I have ventured close enough to the order to 'listen in', as it were. I am quite sure." Riordan turned to face the fire at the end of the hall, his back to them all. "The darkspawn line is wide, and many roam away from the horde. Until now, most have been spotted here in the west."
"Not to mention we've been too busy killing each other to pay much attention to some silly old darkspawn horde," Alistair joked.
"There is another piece of news that is of even greater concern," Riordan said, ignoring Alistair. "The Archdemon has shown itself."
"Finally," Kallian mumbled.
The oldest Warden turned around, his mouth set in a line. "The dragon is at the head of the horde."
"Maker preserve us," Teagan breathed. Serena crossed her arms over the her chest, bowing her head in a quick prayer to the Maker.
"But we can't reach Denerim in two days, can we?" Alistair looked to the others for confirmation. "It's too far."
"We must begin a forced march to the capital immediately, with what we have." Eamon looked about the room as if expecting someone to argue his logic. "Denerim must be defended at all costs."
"And only the Grey Wardens can defeat the Archdemon," Riordan added. "In fact-"
"Then we will get there," Alistair interrupted. "We'll march, and hope the army we've collected can give us the chance we need."
"I will need to go to the aviary- the rest of the army can start marching to Denerim now, Alim among them. I need to contact the dwarves, Fergus, Cauthrien..." Serena put a hand to her braid, tugging on it gently in frustration. She couldn't let the stress of the situation overwhelm her, especially with the baby growing inside her. Wynne had warned her too much stress could cause the baby harm as well. "Kallian, please go find Samuell and tell him to write missives to my brother and Cauthrien and send them with one of my personal ravens within the hour."
"Right." The small elven girl disappeared through the door and into the hall beyond, her blonde hair bouncing happily. She seemed relieved to have something to do besides stand in place or march along.
"My friends, I'm afraid the emergence of the archdemon is not the end of the matter, nor is reaching the capital." Riordan wrung his hands, and it was obvious the older Grey Warden was about to deliver more bad news. "I had thought, perhaps, that with... well, you are both new recruits, and Duncan wouldn't have expected... what happened at Ostagar-"
"I will give the orders at once," the arl interrupted suddenly. Serena hadn't noticed how he and Teagan had moved off towards one side, far away from the Grey Wardens. He turned towards Alistair now. "I will notify you the moment we are ready to march."
"That would be appreciated," Alistair said politely, obviously distracted by Riordan cryptic speech.
"Perhaps you and Alistair should meet me before you retire for the evening," Riordan murmured to Serena, just barely loud enough for her to hear. "There are... things we need to speak of."
"I will have someone show you to your rooms," Eamon added. "I suggest you all get some rest, while you can. We will need it."
Serena glanced at Alistair sidelong, her stomach giving a curious thump.
"What do you suppose this is about?"
"Hmm. Super secret Grey Warden business, I'd imagine." Serena kept pace at Alistair's side as they traveled through the stone halls of Redcliffe castle. "Do you think it has to do with Ostagar? With Cailan's body?"
Alistair frowned, his forehead creasing in deep thought. "Do you think he found Duncan?" he asked quietly.
"We couldn't, with all the snow and... I mean, I suppose we didn't have time to look forever." Serena sighed, not knowing how she felt about that line of thought. Would she want to know details of Duncan's assuredly grisly fate? Riordan wasn't exactly known to sugar-coat the unpleasant.
They had finally reached the door of the room the older Grey Warden was staying in and Serena reached out a hand to knock. Rap-rap-rap. The sound echoed down the empty hallway. Nearly everyone was back in their rooms after dinner. The door opened with barely a whisper, and Riordan smiled at them.
"It is both of you, good." He gestured them in, quickly taking a place near two chairs Serena could only assume were meant for them. Alistair plopped down in the larger of the two while Serena chose to stand beside him.
"Please know, I assumed you had already been told. Otherwise, I would have told you when you freed me in Denerim. I am sorry."
"What is it? What are you apologizing for?" Alistair asked.
"Is this about Duncan?"
Riordan shook his head. "Duncan? Well, yes, I suppose... in a way, yes." Riordan paced, his eyes focused on the intricate pattern sewn into the rug. "Tell me, have you ever wondered why the Grey Wardens are needed to defeat the darkspawn?"
"Only every day of my life," Alistair muttered. "Not only the darkspawn, mind you. Seems everyone wants a Grey Warden solving their problems..."
"I assumed it had something to do with the Taint," Serena added, pulling the conversation back in.
"That is exactly what it involves. The archdemon may be slain, as any other darkspawn, but should any other than a Grey Warden do the slaying, it will not be enough." Riordan looked up from his pacing, stopped, and frowned. "The essence of the beast will pass through the taint to the nearest darkspawn and will be reborn anew in that body. The dragon is thus all but immortal."
Alistair scowled. "Immortal? Then how do we-"
"If the archdemon is slain by a Grey Warden," Riordan continued. "It's essence travels into the Grey Warden instead. The darkspawn is an empty, soulless vessel, but a Grey Warden is not. The essence of the archdemon is destroyed... and so is the Grey Warden."
At that, Serena sat down.
"Meaning the... the Grey Warden who kills the archdemon... dies?" Alistair unconsciously reached for Serena's hand.
"Yes. Without the archdemon, the Blight ends. The darkspawn require some form of leadership in order to continue their purge of the land. It is the only way."
"Is there really no other way? I..." Serena thought of the child inside her. "Must a Grey Warden die? Alistair is to be king, and-"
"As far as we know, the transfer of the archdemon's essence is automatic. If one of us is not present when the killing blow is made, it is all for nothing." Riordan shook his head, looking at once infinitely sad. "There is no other way. For what it's worth, I'm sorry."
"And that's why the secrets," Serena mumbled. "I thought... it all makes sense now."
Riordan nodded. "Yes, it is the same reason we keep the Joining a secret. Who would become a Grey Warden if they knew the end that might await them? And yet... there must be Grey Wardens. Without us, there is no hope."
"That leaves.. what? Five, six of us?"
"In Blights past, when the time came, the eldest of the Grey Wardens would decide which amongst them would take that final blow," Riordan replied. "With half our number barely days into their new calling... and Alistair and yours joint duties to come... I think, if possible, the final blow should be mine to make. I am the eldest, and the taint will not spare me much longer."
"But if I fail, the deed fails upon the rest of you. The Blight must be stopped now, or it will destroy all of Ferelden before the rest of the Grey Wardens can assemble. Remember that." Riordan moved towards the door and Serena and Alistair stood. "There will be much to do tomorrow and little enough time to rest before it. I will let you return to your rooms."
"I will see you once the army is ready to march, then." Alistair squeezed Serena's hand quickly, before nodding to Riordan. "I guess this ends soon, one way or another."
"That it does, my friend, that it does." Bowing his head to Serena, Riordan smiled another of his sad smiles. "I hope I have not soiled your evening with too terrible of thoughts, my lady."
"I... no, it's... it's our duty. If you'll excuse us. Good, err, evening." Serena swiftly exited Riordan's room, tugging Alistair with her. They heard his door shut behind them as they moved down the hall.
"I wasn't expecting that," Alistair mumbled. He glanced at Serena as they moved past the kitchens towards the second story stair. "I mean, I don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't that one of us will have to sacrifice ourselves to take down that bloody dragon. We killed that damn dragon that protected the Urn... that didn't require any soul squashing!"
"Alistair, hush. At least wait until we're back in our rooms."
"I don't know how you're managing to stay so calm," Alistair insisted. "I knew as king I'd be ordering people to their doom on occasion, but this is just..." He sighed, hanging back a bit from the door outside Serena's room. "I think I'd rather just... call it a night, to be honest. Suddenly I feel very tired and if I know Eamon, he'll have me up before the sun."
"Goodnight, love." Serena pushed up on her toes and kissed Alistair's nose.
"Goodnight." He gave her a tight squeeze, then whispered. "It'll all work out. It has to."
Serena stood in the hallway, watching as Alistair disappeared down the hall to his much larger quarters. They usually stayed together, but she could tell he would not sleep this evening, instead spending it cleaning his sword, or pacing, as he usually did when something he could not change plagued him.
Surrendering herself to her own worrisome thoughts, Serena slipped into her room, only to find the familiar silhouette of Morrigan standing before the hearth of her fireplace. Peanut sat curled up on the rug beside her, snoring softly. The room was quite cozy and warm from the roaring fire, though Serena couldn't help but feel cold.
"Do not be alarmed," the witch purred. "It is only I."