No Armor Against Fate (a Dragon Age fanfiction)

Showdown

The next day, leaving Anawyn with her nurse and the two new Wardens keeping an eye on things, Thora and Oghren and Felsi set out for the palace. When they entered, the guards immediately bowed to the Hero of Ferelden. "We are to take you to their Majesties, Commander," said one of them respectfully.

Thora took a deep breath. "Lead on," she said.

They came into the great hall, the three dwarves following the guards. Thora noted Wynne and Leliana were both there, standing near a fireplace, watching out of the corner of their eyes. Whose behavior were they most curious about, she wondered—hers, Alistair's, or the queen's? And then they were in front of their Majesties, both of whom rose from their chairs as the dwarves approached. "Your Majesties," Thora said, crossing her arm over her chest and bowing. She could tell that Oghren and Felsi were kneeling, but she would not. Could not. He had asked her never to kneel to him. As she raised her eyes to the queen's face, she saw that remaining upright hadn't done her any favors. Alistair didn't seem to notice anything untoward, though ... but then again, he was carefully studying things in the middle distance so he wouldn't have to make eye contact with either woman.

"Dorothea, may I present Thora? And Oghren, and Felsi." Felsi curtseyed, and Oghren brayed something, but Thora wasn't paying attention to them. She was watching the queen, as the queen watched her.

"Commander," the queen said.

"Your Majesty." And battle was joined. Alistair looked at both of them, their silence speaking volumes that he couldn't read, and wondered if being a Templar would really have been so bad after all.

With the formal introductions over, the group of them removed themselves to the comfortable seating area near the fireplace. "So, Felsi," Leliana said. "How is married life?" She hadn't been to Amaranthine since Felsi had been forced to wrestle Oghren to the ground and hold him there long enough for the Revered Mother to perform the service.

"Oghren was actually sober one day last week. And clean," Thora put in. "He was nearly unrecognizable."

Felsi grinned. "And useless as a hungry cave tick."

Oghren grunted. "Won't make that mistake again soon, will ya, woman?"

Thora was laughing when she heard a soft voice at her shoulder. "Commander, I believe we should speak."

Looking up, she saw the queen, and inclined her head in response. "Your Majesty." She followed the queen out of the room.

A hush fell as everyone else watched the two women go. "Maybe they'll get it all out of their systems," Alistair said hopefully.

Oghren laughed uproariously. "Don't you bet on it, boy. Them two women are enemies for life. Couldn't be otherwise." When Alistair grimaced, Oghren clapped him on the back. "Take it as a compliment. Isn't every blighter that gets two fine women like that fightin' over 'im."

"Why doesn't that make me feel any better?" Alistair muttered under his breath, taking the tankard of ale the dwarf handed him.

"Better start drinkin' now."

"That seems likely to get me into a lot more trouble," Alistair said, but he took a long swallow anyway.

The two women had reached the queen's private sitting room. Dorothea took a seat on a sofa embroidered in lovely blue damask. Her cream and blue gown spread out neatly across the rich fabric, and she leaned back, the picture of a noble lady. Thora stood near the door, her red hair slightly tousled, in at ease position.