The Dalish Commander (The Daughters of Thedas Book 2)

37: After the Battle

Soundtrack:

For A Lost Love ~ Adrian von Zieglar

There was no bantering or much conversation on the return trip. It had been a week since we left Vigil's Keep to save Amaranthine and stop the Architect and the Mother. I had faith that Voldrik's granite stabilized the walls enough to withstand the Darkspawn attack. But it was the soldiers and Wardens inside that I feared for.

"She still stands," Nathaniel said, relief in his voice when we came within sight of the Keep.

It was a beautiful vision. The land around the Keep was littered with Darkspawn dead. I urged my horse into a gallop. As we got closer, I saw the walls did not have a single crack in them and I could sense two Wardens. It gave me hope that others had survived as well. I slowed my horse down and we trotted through the gates.

Maverlies met us as we dismounted. "Thank the Maker you survived!" she said. She looked like she'd seen better days. She had a bandage around her head and over her left eye and she walked with a limp.

"My heart sings to see you did as well. What of the men?"

"We've suffered much loss of life, Commander. Worse than the last Darkspawn attack."

"Where's Varel?"

She looked down and I knew that did not bode well. "He was killed by an ogre. Velanna tried to save him but her skill wasn't enough." My heart broke at the loss of such a good man and friend. "As were two of your Wardens."

"Two?" If two of my Wardens were dead, then who was the second...? Then I realized Alistair was in the Keep. "Alistair is here, isn't he?"

"How did you...?"

"She can sense other Wardens as well."

I turned to see Leliana.

My best friend embraced me. "We came to deliver that last of the Fereldan Warden records. When we arrived the Darkspawn were in retreat and the Keep was in chaos. You were missing and there were so many dead. We feared the worst."

"I told His Majesty that you'd stayed behind in Amaranthine to defend it," Maverlies explained. "Then Garevel returned to report that you'd gone to deal with the Mother."

"Where are the dead?" I needed to see who I'd lost.

~~~

Maverlies led me to where they'd lain the dead.

"Creators!" I breathed. There were so many! Against the wall, I saw Nathaniel cradling Velanna, silent tears streaming down his face. My heart broke, both with Velanna's loss and Nathaniel's pain. Next to them lay a headless corpse that I assumed had been Justice. Well, Kristoff again "What happened to Justice?"

"He was the final causality. As the Darkspawn were retreating and the horn of victory was sounding, he was beheaded. We saw a flash but we don't know what happened to the Spirit. I pray he found his way back to the Fade."

"So do I." I walked over to Nathaniel and Velanna. Her body was pierced in many places.

"I guess you don't have to worry about keeping that promise," Nathaniel said.

"I will still try. In her honor."

"They said she was covering Sigrun. When they were separated, she protected several of the soldiers from an Emissary. She never saw the Shriek. Gilmore killed the Shriek, but couldn't get to her in time. A Hurlock finished her, but she killed it as she died."

Tears were beginning to fill my eyes. We may not have seen eye to eye, but she was still one of the People.

I placed my hand on her forehead. "May Falon'Din guide you swiftly to a peaceful rest, Sister. Know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten and that one day we shall join you." I kissed her forehead and stood, squeezing Nathaniel's shoulder. "Take all the time you need." I wiped away my own tears.

~~~

I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, my grief at the loss of my Wardens and soldiers piercing my heart. The aftermath of the simultaneous battles weighed heavy on me. Did I make the right choice in defending Amaranthine? Would Velanna and Justice still be alive had I chose the Keep? Anders was doing what he could for the wounded. I retreated to my quarters. After both Nathaniel and Leliana insisted I do so. I felt hands take my shoulders and I looked up into my husband's face.

"Thank the Maker, Realin!" Alistair pulled me into his arms. "I was worried sick when I saw you weren't here when I arrived. I feared the worst."

I closed my eyes and laid my head on his chest and gave a ragged breath, not having the energy to do my usual quip. "Alistair, it's been a long few days. I didn't know you'd be here when I got back. In fact, I wasn't expecting you. I would have made sure to have cleaned to front yard first."

Alistair laughed at my attempt and lifted my chin so he could look into my eyes. I could never tire of looking into those unique sapphire eyes of his. "I'm just glad you're okay." He kissed me.

I heard a knock and I looked over to see Zevran in the doorway. "I hope you're in a good mood, Realin," he said.

"Creators, what now?"

"I thought I should tell you in person that I'm... going to... be your brother-in-law. Braylyn accepted my proposal of marriage."

It took me a moment for the news to sink in.

"I'm going... to kill you."