The Dalish Commander (The Daughters of Thedas Book 2)

12: Banters and Kittens

Soundtrack:

Legendary ~ Audiograve (Vigil's Keep's Theme)

I'd gone to the roof to escape from the bustle and confinement of the Keep. I was still Dalish and I still preferred openness to the confinement the humans seemed to enjoy. Tristan lay next to me, a slight snore telling me he was napping. I felt a Warden behind me and I looked over my shoulder.

Anders sat next to me. "In the Tower, I found a great little place at the top that I could sneak out to so I could escape from the stuffiness of the Tower and I could get fresh air and feel the breeze on my face without a Templar breathing down my neck."

I smiled. "It did seem a bit stuffy there."

"More than you know. This is hard on you, isn't it?"

"What?"

"Being confined to the cities. Going where your duty takes you. Especially after spending your whole life in the openness of the forests. At least, I assume you did. Correct me if I'm wrong."

"It is overwhelming, I'll admit. I was thrown into this world without so much as a how-to guide."

Anders chuckled. He laid back and looked up at the stars, resting his head on his arms. He reminded me of Tamlen just then. He would do the exact same thing when we stargazed. I leaned back on my hands and stargazed with him. Something I hadn't done since becoming a Warden.

"So what would you do if you didn't have to be a Grey Warden?" he suddenly asked.

"Strange question to ask out of the blue."

"Is it? You've never thought about it?"

"Oh, I've thought about it. But I also know I can't go back to the life I once led. Too many painful memories and when you spend a little over a year doing nothing but fighting, it's really hard to go back to your old ways."

"Does nobody ever leave the Wardens?"

"Alistair did."

Anders sat up, leaning back on his arms. "You speak of him as if he's still a Warden. And I noticed the way you two kept looking at each other. If I hadn't known better I would have said you two were sleeping together."

I laughed, sitting completely upright again and touching the emerald-colored pendent Alistair'd had made for me after the Landsmeet. "That's because we are." I glanced over at the Mage to see Anders looking at me wide-eyed. "We're married."

"Andraste's knickerweasels! I thought that was just a rumor."

"True story."

"I bet that's going over real well with the nobles."

"Not really. They resent that I'm Dalish and queen. I'm sure they resent every one of my titles as well."

Anders sat upright, moving to where his back was against one of the stone walls we were sitting between. "Which are..."

"Let's see. During the final push of the Blight, I took Loghain's place as general. I gave that up when I was appointed Commander of the Grey. Then there's Hero of Ferelden, Queen of Ferelden, and Arlessa of Amaranthine."

"So you're full title is Queen Arlessa Commander Mahariel-Theirin?"

"Very funny."