The Brecilian Forest was peaceful, for the most part. Sunlight streamed through the trees above as birds chirped and squirrels skittered between the bushes. The weather was warm and comfortable, unlike the atmosphere between the lovers.
"And I said no," Alistair shouted, as he paced back and forth. His face was almost as red as his hair. "You have already done more than enough for Ferelden if not Thedas itself. Let someone else go."
Andraste's Flaming Sword, why does she have to be so stubborn, Alistair thought.
In his peripheral vision, he saw a few nugs and fennics scamper away from the duo but he didn't care. He wasn't going to allow his wife to sacrifice herself yet again to save Thedas from another world-ending threat.
Kara folded her arms as her brows knitted together. "Someone needs to investigate these claims, Alistair-"
"Then let someone else do it," he said, as he stopped pacing and looked at her now. "Maker, just because you're the Warden-Commander of Ferelden doesn't mean you need to investigate every claim. Send one of the other wardens to do it."
The blonde elf's expression softened. "The others are still too green. Besides, it's my duty as Warden-Commander."
Maker screw your duty, he thought. Whoever said it was your job to repeatedly save Thedas?
"What about Warden-Commander Clarel?" Alistair asked, gesturing in the general direction of Orlais. "Why can't she deal with it?"
Kara closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. He knew that was a sign her patience was running thin.
"I have already tried contacting her, numerous times. Thus far, I have been unable to do so," she said, as exasperation leaked into her voice.
She removed her fingers and opened her eyes. Her expression was a mixture of concern and determination.
"Don't you see, Alistair?" she murmured. "I have to go. Besides, I need someone to investigate another claim and I can't be in two places at once."
The way her blue-green eyes softened as they focused on Alistair made him grow weak.
Maker's Breath, I hate it when she does that, thought Alistair. She knows I can't resist her when she looks at me like that.
He sighed and looked down to the ground. Even though he didn't agree with her decision, he knew further debate was pointless. Her blue-green eyes remained focused on him as he shifted his gaze back to her.
"Fine," Alistair sighed, admitting defeat. "What do you need me to do?"
"Thank you," Kara murmured as her tone and countenance relaxed once more. "I've heard there are rumors of a Darkspawn who can't be killed."
Andraste, it's never just a simple cheese run with us is it, he thought.
His eyes widened in shock, "Maker's Breath, how is that possible?"
"I don't know," she said, shaking her head. "That's why I need someone to go to the Vimmark Mountains in the Free Marches to find out."
Alistair sighed as he reached for her hand and brought it to his lips.
"I will miss you terribly, my dear wife," he murmured.
With her other hand, Kara placed her palm against his cheek. He leaned into her touch as she gently brushed her thumb against him.
"I will miss you as well, my wonderful husband," she whispered.
Alistair closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. He slid his arms around her waist as she wrapped her arms around the back of her neck. He pulled her closer as he gently pressed his lips to hers.
Maker's Breath, I love this woman, he thought. Please don't let our separation be permanent.
Although it had been years since that moment, Kara still remembered it like it was yesterday. Their last evening together had been especially memorable. The moment provided strength in trying times, of which there had been many.
Focus, Mahariel, she thought as she hacked another vine out of her way. The fortress isn't far now.
Sunlight filtered through the vines and branches above. The heat was oppressive, and Kara's armor stuck to her like a second skin. Animals chirped and chittered around her as the elf carefully walked around the vines scattered across the ground. She heard a crunch behind her, raised her sword, and whirled around.
Facing her was a man in beige, orange, and green armor. She noticed the symbol of a flaming eye on his chest but didn't recognize it. The human man shook like a freshly fallen leaf in Harvestmere. He held a manila envelope in his hand.
"Identify yourself, shemlen," Kara said. "Or I will gut you like a fish."
"I-I-I'm an Inquisition Scout, Warden-Commander Mahariel," the man stammered. "I-I'm here on behalf of Sister Leliana."
Kara slid her sword back into its scabbard and took the letter from the Inquisition Scout. She removed her knife from its sheath and opened the letter. Her eyes quickly scanned the neat script on the page.
Dear Kara,
I know it has been some time since we last spoke, and much has happened. The reason for this letter is two-fold.
The first is to inform you that the Inquisition has been reformed. We are led by Inquisitor Shaya Lavellan, a Dalish Elf. Her spirit, her strength, and her determination all remind me of you at times.
The reason for the recreation of the Inquisition is Corypheus. He is an ancient Tevinter Magister who entered the Black City and became a darkspawn. Unlike other darkspawn, he cannot be killed.
That leads to the second reason for my letter. The Inquisition was hoping you might have any information relating to Corpyheus and how to defeat him. Anything you can spare would be much appreciated.
Additionally, Warden Alistair is with us and helping us fight some of Corypheus's forces.
Maker watch over you,
Leliana
Kara reread the letter a few times to make sure it was real. In her peripheral vision, she could see the Inquisition Scout watching her.
An Ancient Tevinter Magister, she thought. So, the rumors were true.
She pushed the thought aside as she refolded the letter and stuffed it into her backpack.
"Do you have a pen and paper I might borrow?" Kara asked.
"Of course," the scout replied.
He removed a pad of pen and paper from his pack and handed them to her. Kara took them and, using a nearby tree, began writing.
To Her Worship, Inquisitor Lavellan
I appreciate your warning regarding Corypheus. Fortunately, my own search has taken me out of the area where the supposed magister is operating, and while I have encountered challenges of my own, they have not involved any weakness related to my Grey Warden abilities.
As I have little information to offer, please accept the accompanying gift instead. If, in my quest, I find anything that may be of use to you in your fight against Corypheus, I will send it to you immediately.
I have also included a note of personal nature for Warden Alistair.
Please take care of him. Like me, he was instrumental in ending the last Blight. I trust his compassion and his strength above any other's, and I would not go through such effort to overcome our Callings only to lose him to your Inquisition.
In closing, I wish you luck. This world of shemlen is a difficult one for our kind, and I can only imagine the pressure of leading the Inquisition, an organization dedicated to the Chantry, while staying true to the Way of the Three Trees. May Mythal protect you in your quest, and Andruil bless your hunt.
Your Obedient Servant,
Warden-Commander Kara Mahariel of Ferelden
She quickly folded the letter and handed it to the scout. She grabbed a glowing belt from her backpack and gave it to the scout as well.
"These are for the Inquisitor," Kara said. "The next letter will be for Warden Alistair."
The scout nodded. "Of course." He slid these items into his backpack and gave her another piece of paper.
Creators, it's been so long since I've seen him, Kara thought. What do I even say?
It took her several minutes to think of how she wanted to word her letter. In the end, she settled on something short and sweet.
Dearest Husband,
Even though it has been years since we last spoke, it feels closer to seconds. Every time I close my eyes at night, I see your face. Whenever I am lost, I hear your voice and I feel strong.
The rumors we heard were correct. According to the locals, there is an old Grey Warden fortress far to the west of Orlais. Within the fortress, there is a book that describes the history and practices of the Grey Wardens. I believe this to be the key to ending The Calling and possibly erasing the Taint. I am nearly there and when I retrieve this book, I will return and we can end this, together.
Your loving wife,
Kara
As soon as she finished writing, Kara folded the envelope and handed it to the Inquisition Scout.
"Here," she said, removing some coins from her pocket and placing them in his hand. "For your trouble."
"Thank you, Warden-Commander Mahariel," he said with a respectful nod. "I wish you luck on your journey. May the Maker, er I mean, the Creators, watch over you."
She nodded at him. "You as well."
The scout immediately turned around and walked in the opposite direction. With a sigh, Kara shifted back to the tangle of vines in her way.
Mythal watch over them all, she thought, as she resumed hacking at vines bigger than her arms. Especially Warden Alistair.
Warden Alistair watched from the battlements of Skyhold as Inquisition soldiers prepared for the assault on Adamant Fortress. Seeing the countless soldiers reminded him of the preparations that occurred before the Battle of Ostagar.
Maker's Breath, that seems a lifetime ago, he thought as a light breeze rustled through his hair. Andraste willing, let's hope we fare better at Adamant Fortress.
Just then, he heard footsteps to his right. He turned to see Inquisitor Lavellan walking toward him, her hair as fiery as her personality.
Just like someone else I know, he thought with a sad smile.
"Did you receive your letter from Warden-Commander Mahariel?" the Inquisitor asked.
"Yes, I got her note," Alistair replied with a nod. He rubbed the stubble on his chin, "She might be onto something. There's danger, of course, but there's always danger." Both turned toward the troops and Alistair rested his hands on the battlements. "Thank you for getting word. It's easier to put it out of your mind, to focus on the task at hand," he trailed off as he ran a hand through his hair, "But hearing from her again...Maker's Breath, but I do miss that woman." He cleared his throat and pushed those emotions aside, "I am ready to leave whenever you are, Your Worship."
"My companions and I are ready," said Inquisitor Lavellan. "Commander Cullen and his troops are making the final preparations as we speak."
"Then let us end this once and for all," he said.
Maker watch over us all, he thought, before glancing in the vague direction of where Kara was. Especially her.
Looking away, he followed the Inquisitor downstairs.
"Mythal," Kara grunted, as she climbed yet another set of stairs. "How many stairs can one place have?"
After many years of searching, she'd finally managed to successfully locate the Grey Warden fortress. Once inside the fortress, she'd found a book that held ancient information regarding the Grey Warden organization. However, upon careful examination, she discovered she'd been unable to decipher it.
She'd initially gone in search of Morrigan to see if the Witch of the Wilds could translate the book, but she'd overheard Morrigan had left the Orlesian Court. She'd then sought Grey Warden Mages who she thought might be able to aid her. Unfortunately, she'd learned all the Grey Wardens had returned to Weisshaupt, Alistair among them. After stopping in Val Royeaux to resupply, Kara made her way to the Anderfels.
She'd been incensed to learn upon further investigation that the Orlesian Wardens had taken to blood magic and allying with a Tevinter Magister to combat The Calling.
Damned fools, Kara thought, as she shook her head. When has blood magic ever been a good idea?
While she knew the Grey Wardens weren't above using blood magic, Creators the Joining could be considered a form of it, sacrificing their warriors and binding their mages to demons sounded like a horrendous idea. Her blood boiled at the thought.
Alistair and the Inquisitor stopped them, thought Kara as she took the steps two at a time.
Regardless, she was still furious and more than ready to give the other Warden-Commanders and First Warden a piece of her mind. She briefly paused once she reached the top of the stairs and took in the view.
A mixture of yellow, orange, rose, and plum painted the empty desert sky. Mountains and rocks of various sizes dotted the otherwise barren landscape. To Kara's immediate left was a castle built into the mountain.
Weisshaupt Fortress, she thought, as she took in the enormous stronghold. She'd heard much about the Grey Warden Headquarters, but to actually see it was different.
I don't have time to stand here enjoying the view, thought Kara. I need answers from the other Warden-Commanders and First Warden.
She turned toward the castle and opened the enormous double doors. Inside, revealed an enormous well-swept empty hall. Her dust-covered boots brushed against the soft dark carpet lining the middle of the long hallway. Paintings of various Grey Wardens lined the walls.
I wonder what Alistair must have thought when he first came here, she thought.
She walked faster and opened another set of double doors at the end of the corridor. Doors lined both sides and her ears perked up when she heard voices. They grew louder the further down the passageway she went.
"Where is she anyway?" said a masculine voice.
"As I already told you, she is on an important mission," Alistair replied, sounding exasperated and exhausted.
"Do you know when she will be back?" asked a woman's voice.
Mythal these shemlen are idiots, thought Kara, as she raced down the hall. She threw the doors open and everyone turned to look at her.
Grey Wardens from across Thedas filled the room. Positioned in a semi-circle in the front of the chamber were six Warden-Commanders and the First Warden. Alistair stood before them and Kara ignored the stares as she made her way toward her husband.
"Sorry I was late," she responded. "I was busy climbing those damned stairs of yours."
In her peripheral vision, she noticed Alistair fight a smirk as she came to stand beside him. Relief and longing flooded her, and she pushed those feelings aside for now as she focused on the First Warden and other Warden-Commanders.
"Warden-Commander Mahariel," said a dark-haired human Warden-Commander. "We were asking Warden Alistair-"
"I know full well what you were asking Warden Alistair," she shot back, folding her arms as her brows knitted together. "What I want to know is why in the Name of the Three Trees you all did nothing when Warden-Commander Clarel turned to blood magic to cure The Calling?" When no one answered, she uncrossed her arms and began to pace. "And why did no one reach out to her before she allied herself with a Tevinter Magister?"
She turned and glared at them now, the full force of Andruil behind her. The First Warden and other Warden-Commanders looked silently between one another as they shrank away from her gaze.
After Kara finished yelling at the First Warden and other Warden-Commanders, a sight Alistair thoroughly relished, the meeting was adjourned for the day. Fortunately, Alistair was able to find a room where he and Kara could be alone.
"I'm sorry you had to learn about what happened that way," he said, as he sat down on the queen-sized bed. The adrenaline of the past week gave way to exhaustion at that moment. "I meant to write you to but-"
Kara shook her head, "It isn't your fault. You were the only one who stood up against Clarel, and the Orlesian Grey Wardens nearly paid the price."
She sat down beside him and leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I know but I still feel bad," he murmured, as he wrapped an arm around her waist. "Because of her actions, I don't know if Orlais, much less southern Thedas, will trust the Grey Wardens again."
"They will," she said. "They'll just need some time."
She removed her head from his shoulder and reached up to kiss him. Just as he leaned down to kiss her, someone knocked on the door.
"Warden-Commander Mahariel?" said a familiar voice. "Are you in there?"
Maker's Breath, is that who I think it is, Alistair thought.
He held back a smirk as Kara silently growled. If she hadn't spent the past hour and a half yelling at the First Warden and Warden-Commanders, he would have commented
on how cute she looked. Instead, he remained silent as she pushed off the bed and walked to the door. She opened the door to reveal a grizzled, middle-aged Grey Warden.
"Yes," said Kara. "How can I help?"
Despite her long journey, she's still ready for duty, thought Alistair, as love for her swelled in his heart.
"Well met, Warden-Commander Mahariel," said the middle-aged Grey Warden with a nod. "I am Warden-Constable Rainier."
Wait, what, Alistair thought as his eyes widened in shock.
As Alistair focused his gaze on Warden Rainier, the grizzled warden fidgeted. However, Kara moved to block Warden Rainier's view of Alistair.
Maker's Breath, she's good at that, he thought.
"The First Warden and other Warden-Commanders sent me to request a meeting with you," said Warden Rainier.
Anger and confusion warred within Alistair as Kara looked between the two men. He shook his head, indicating now was not the time for such a discussion. Kara nodded once in acknowledgment, before shifting her focus back to Warden Rainier.
"When and where would they like to meet?" she asked.
"On the battlements one hour before dawn tomorrow morning," Warden Rainier replied.
"Let them know I will be there," she responded.
"Of course," said Warden Rainier. He looked past Kara and nodded at Alistair. "Warden Alistair."
As Warden Rainier turned away, Kara closed the door. She shifted to her husband as she folded her arms and raised a brow.
"What in the Name of Mythal was that about?" she asked.
Alistair sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "During my time with the Inquisition, I met Warden Rainier, except he wasn't Warden Rainier. He called himself Warden Blackwall."
"And who was Warden Blackwall?" Kara inquired with a raised brow.
Alistair gave a shuddering breath, "He was an Orlesian Grey Warden who knew Duncan."
Kara's face softened as she approached him. Even after a decade, Alistair still felt a hollow place in his soul whenever he spoke of his former mentor and father figure.
I know why the wardens let him in, but that doesn't mean I have to like it, thought Alistair.
"I'm sorry, my love," she murmured, as she placed a hand against his cheek. He looked into her comforting blue-green eyes. "Do you know why he was impersonating another Grey Warden?"
Alistair shook his head. "I don't, but I plan to find out later. By the way, did you manage to find the Grey Warden fortress?"
Kara nodded as she removed her hand from his cheek, "Yes." She slid her knapsack off her back and placed it on the bed beside him. She rummaged through it before finally removing a white book with silver bindings. "This is it," she said, gently handing it to him.
He tentatively took it, turning it over in his hands. The cover was smooth and he felt the pulse of magic within.
"This book is filled with magic," he said.
I suppose that Templar training wasn't entirely rubbish, he thought.
Kara sat down beside him, "How can you tell?"
He looked at her as she sat beside him on the bed once more. "I trained as a Templar, remember? One of the things they taught us early on was how to sense magic." He carefully handed her the book, which she slipped back into her bag, "We're going to need a mage's help deciphering that."
"My thoughts exactly," she said with a nod. "Do you know where Morrigan is?"
"The last I heard, she disappeared after helping the Inquisition defeat Corypheus," Alistair responded.
And my son with her, he thought, but didn't add.
Confusion, apprehension, and joy fought within him as he recalled his conversation with his son. Kieran. He could still picture his face, hear his voice-
"Alistair, are you all right?" Kara asked, studying his face.
Maker's Breath, I'd almost forgotten how perceptive she can be, thought Alistair.
He pushed thoughts of his son aside as he focused on his wife.
"Yes. I'm sorry, I was thinking about dinner," he replied. "I can't remember the last time I ate, and you know how Grey Wardens are about food."
"While I know I've been gone for some time, that was not your hungry look. That was your sad, regretful look," she said, searching his face. "What happened with Morrigan? Did she say something to upset you?"
Alistair scoffed, "You know upsetting me is her favorite pastime."
"And you're deflecting," Kara retorted.
Dammit, I hate it when she does that, he thought.
"I met my son, Kara," he said. "His name is Kieran."
"Oh," said the blond elf, as her eyes widened in realization. "What was he like?"
"He was," Alistair began, as he took a shaky breath. The conversation had been brief, but he could remember everything. "He was kind, intelligent, thoughtful, but also soft-spoken. He was everything I would want in a son. And he reminded me what exactly we're fighting for."
Not just for the Grey Wardens, he thought. But ourselves.
"Good," Kara said, pecking him gently on the cheek. "I'm glad."
He fully turned toward her now, whispering.
"Whatever you're thinking about doing, it can wait."
She sighed and nodded. "You're right."
With that, both reached for and kissed one another. She deepened the kiss, sliding her arms around the back of his neck. Alistair wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
Maker's Breath it's been too long, he thought. And I will savor this moment for as long as possible.
Because regardless of what Thedas threw at them, Alistair knew they would face it together.
Greetings, Loyal Readers! I hope you've all enjoyed my Alistair x Warden trilogy. This is a story I've been meaning to complete for a while, but with NaNoWriMo and other projects consuming much of my time, I had to delay work on this piece.
If you've enjoyed my Alistair x Warden stories fear not, there will be more to come!
If you liked this story, or are just skimming, please feel free to leave a like or a review. Your constructive criticism is the best paycheck I have!