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Griffin's Walk	By : Anesor Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 2489 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Dragon Age world, plot, and their characters aren't mine but belong to Bioware. I get no money for writing this fiction.

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Highever, the Great Hall
Warden Alistair macTheirin:
Dinner seemed pleasant, on the surface, but underneath the travel stories for the children was quiet anger and resentment.
Of course that could have been just me, the Teyrn and Teyrna were speaking and interacting with their children and dependents. Attryne was quiet as well, and I couldn't be sure just what she was thinking.
I wanted to glare at Fergus, and I couldn't decide if it would have been any better or worse if he had made these demands behind my back.
When the dinner dishes were taken away by the footmen, the cherry and apple pies were offered to each of us. I copied Trinna's choice of the cherry. What worried me more was that she hadn't met my gaze or shared any of our little touches during the family evening as we usually did.
That made my tummy uneasy.
Trinna had been raised to this by their father, but now Fergus was the Teyrn. I'd heard the occasional whispers that she might have been named Teyrna if she hadn't become a Gray Warden. She was bred for this.
Her family clearly thought this was her duty. The youngest, Alberic, was given for her to hold as if it would persuade her. The twins wanted stories about Duncan from me as was usual, but my heart wasn't in it. Eventually the family retired to their wing. There in her suite, we removed our armor and started on the padding.
Long familiar a chamber from earlier visits, I couldn't contain myself any longer. “Are you going to go to the Pearl or will this be one of those marriage alliances?” My venom surprised me as well.
She glared at me, her eyes flashing. “If I wanted that, I could have been engaged to Nathaniel's brother before Duncan arrived. That might have prevented most of the deaths here, aside from my family. I'm sure Rendon would have been pleased to make sure I inherited quickly. How many died because I was selfish and avoided off my duty?”
That made me pause. “You can't blame yourself for any of it.”
“No, I hope his soul flew apart in the Void, because he deserved worse than that quick death. I could have planned better and reacted faster.” She kicked a chair angrily and when it hit the wall, it broke with a loud crack. “I should have seen it coming.”
“Attryne, that's over. We have other responsibilities: victory, vigilance, and sacrifice.”
Her eyes shining and voice quiet, she looked me in the eye. “Not all sacrifice is death, Alistair.”
Fear rose from my gut. “You're considering it. Haven't we been engaged since you left for the Vigil after the Blight? Doesn't that mean something?”
“It hasn't been public, and engagements don't last this long. Announce it just before Landsmeet, and it looks like we're angling towards the throne in some kind of Warden play for power. Anora has Cal and Etta to protect, too. Do you think she will let any rumors threaten them?”
I'd wanted Arl Eamon's blessing, even if I wasn't king as he'd wanted. We couldn't have a family, so I thought we could wait for him. The Chant always said patience was a virtue.
Now it was too late.
I wanted to break something too, and strode out of our room. It was a bad idea, so I left the stone bulk of the inner keep. A cold, spring rain soaked me through and I cast my eyes around, seeking the shortest path to the stables.
They had always been a comfort, though I knew that was no credit to me.
When I got closer, I saw that the kennel master was awake, dealing with at least one bitch that was delivering a litter of mabari pups. It was warmer in here, but I'd have to go out into the rain again for any privacy.
The rain ached coldly and thunder rang in the distance. I stood in a small courtyard looking up at the bulk of the keep where lights shone out some windows.
I didn't want to think about it, but I had to.
Attryne had been a Warden for years now, and duty was meat and bone for her. The Wardens demanded an Arlessa for future vigilance. The nobles demanded an heir for duty's sacrifice. Fergus had done the same. This was all duty and sacrifice, traits our lives were built on.
How much did our desires stack against duty?
The cold water trickled down my back, making me shiver with goose bumps. The storm fit my mood.
“I'm not that mad at you, Alistair. I am mad that you didn't want to confront him before it came to this.” Her voice came from the shadows behind me, but she wasn't visible in the dark and rain.
It hurt me to speak a plea I didn't understand myself. “Sacrifice...”
She stood in front of me, and her arms slid around me and squeezed before I knew what to say.
Maker, this wasn't goodbye. I held her, and felt bliss that she was in my arms again, almost like I was floating. My feeling was interrupted by Trinna stretching to kiss me, and the rain didn't prevent me feeling hot now.
“Does this mean that we're at the warm and fuzzy part of the day?” I could say that with a wet smile.
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Griffin's Walk