Mythal's Favour: A Dragon Age Origins Fan Fiction

Chapter 29 - The Last Night

Arl Eamon and his troops marched back to Redcliffe, the Wardens and their companions in tow. The Arl sent letters to each of the armies: dwarves, mages and elves. They were asked to assemble at Redcliffe to gather before assaulting the darkspawn and the archdemon.

Once arriving, the party gathered in the common room before separating to their rooms for the evening.

"You really think I'll make a good king, Ayu?" Alistair tentatively asked the elf. "Because I'm not so sure."

Ayu placed a hand on his shoulder. "Of course I do Alistair. I know you'll make a great king."

"Will you help me? I mean will you be an advisor?"

Ayu cocked her head to the side. "Of course. Once the Blight is over, I will gladly give you advice but I will need to find a safe home for the Dalish first. I do have a duty to my people to see them settled safely."

Alistair nodded his head. "I'm sure once the Blight is over we'll find a place for them."

"Mhmm," she agreed, "we will. But we won't worry about that tonight. It's time to head off to bed." Ayu stood from her armchair and Zevran rose from beside her. "It was a hard day of riding and I am weary."

Zevran took her arm into his. "Come mio amore, let's get you into bed," he softly purred in her ear.

The pair said their goodnights and left the common room through the open archway. The man held her hand on his arm as he led her to their room, his thumb gliding over her smooth skin. He glanced at her from the corner of his honey eyes. Her eyes were heavy and she followed him obediently, leaning into his side.

Their room was at the end of the hall. Zevran opened the door and ushered the elven woman in. Ayu heard a pair of voices back down the hall. She turned and leaned on the door frame, crossing her arms loosely and grinning. Ayu saw Alistair and Enwyn emerge from under the archway of the common room, arm in arm. The elf watched as the pair walked down the hall away from her, lost in conversation. She smirked and let out a small chuckle.

Zevran reappeared at her side, his chin on her shoulder. His eyes followed her gaze and he smiled his roguish grin. "Everything alright, my dear Warden?"

Ayu cast a quick glance at her lover and then back down the hallway. "Mmm, yes, Zev. Everything is alright." She grinned, looking at the pair again. "Everything is as it should be."

Zevran planted a kiss on her cheek and took her hand in his. "Then come to bed my sweet," he seductively pulled her into the room and closed the door behind them.

***

The next morning a servant knocked lightly on the door. When Ayu called out for her to enter the young woman did so.

"My lady," she began timidly, "there is another Grey Warden here to speak to you. He is in the hall waiting for you."

"Thank you," Ayu set the brush down on the table, "I shall be down shortly." Ayu nodded to the girl and she dropped into a small curtsy before leaving the room. Gathering her hair into a ponytail, the elf looked at Zevran. "I'm sure that's Riordan she was talking about. He's the only other Grey Warden that I know - besides Alistair," she added quickly.

"I am sure you are right my dear. Are you ready to go down to the hall?" Zevran sheathed a dagger in his belt.

"Yes, I am ready," Ayu said pulling on her boots roughly.

Entering the hall downstairs, Ayu spied a man standing with the Arl and Alistair on the dais. He turned to her as she approached. "It is a relief to see you again unharmed." He stepped off the dais to stand in front of the Warden. "There were darkspawn headed this way, however, they were few in number. I had thought perhaps they were a scouting party of sorts before the bulk of the horde marched this way, but I was mistaken." Riordan hung his head.