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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.

Chapter List
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I woke in that Cousland bed that was never truly my own. The one I'd grown up using was long destroyed by fire and invaders. The one in my quarters at the Vigil had been quietly upgraded to be more comfortable than the cots, bunks, and modest beds that filled that keep. I never knew if my original recruits replaced it, or Alistair had, with his sometimes hidden appreciation for luxury. I never asked.
I didn't have to pretend that I wasn't wallowing in the expensive mattress and sheets.
A calloused finger traced my cheek and drew me out of my early morning half-doze. I looked at Alistair.
“Have I mentioned lately just how enticing your sable hair is in the morning?”
I pulled some strands from where our hair overlapped, my dark brown a contrast with his lighter hair. “Not quite black enough to be sable.”
Nothing had really been solved, despite our reconciliation. His voice was more earnest than flirtatious just now; we both knew this wouldn't be easy. I was still more than a little annoyed that he'd waited too long for Eamon to bless our wedding.
“Sable can be lighter, dear.” Alistair wasn't pleading as incoherently as last night in the rain, but this wasn't what he meant.
I couldn't lie and guarantee what he wanted to hear. So I kissed him and promised, “I will try, but I can't say now what we'll need to do. The Banns are used to seeing us together. I don't remember any proposals, so this might just be a maggot in my brother's brain.”
“Hoping for maggots is such a bad, bad thing.” Alistair spoke with only a little humor.
Breakfast was as quiet as young children could make it, but soon we said our farewells. My brother, or maybe the Teyrn, made a point to mentioning he'd see us at Landsmeet.
We hurried to Amaranthine for a brief visit at the Vigil where it was almost a comfort to be in my own lands again.
Jean-Maurice long gone for near-treason in bowing to Orlesian orders, it had taken years until I could get Howe's promotion confirmed. He was eager to refuse visiting Landsmeet this year; he'd enough time away from home. Nate detailed a Warden from Denerim to command our honor guard from the Silver Order. Reports on Arling business, on Warden business, writs and reviews... these visits with Nate and Captain Garevel dragged out.
In only a few days, my parade set off for Denerim to prepare for Landsmeet. This fine house was not my home, and I didn't keep a large staff. My guard scattered to learn the layout, as the steward put up my arms. Over days, we ordered fine clothing, hoping to be ready before the rest of the nobility arrived.
Through all this, Alistair and I did not speak about the bronto in the hall.
Invitations from Banns and even merchants for social gatherings flooded in. My preferred duties as a Warden left me unable to attend most years, but this year we attended most events. I wanted to understand the mood of the other nobles before Anora formally opened this year's Landsmeet.
Alistair was too quiet during this, aside from jokes about nicer clothing. All too clear was how much we'd been raised differently.
As I spoke to merchants and younger lords, they gossiped about the fighting. They couldn't hide their glee that Ferelden was quiet. I couldn't blame them, I had traveled outside my homeland enough to get angry at how other lands dismissed how costly and destructive the Blight had been here.
Not that Ferelden was as free as Anders would like, but it was better than other places, now.
This was an afternoon event, the day after I got word that Fergus and Lizz had opened their house. Teas and rumors for the ladies, and males were frowned upon.
“Commander, what use is an honor guard who remains outside?” Eladras sounded respectfully pissed.
“Unless you can suddenly become female, bringing you or Alistair would lose more influence than I gain.” I wasn't that worried.
He shook his head. “I hear much from my cousin Shianni, the longer I am here. Rumors from the Marches mention Wardens in the original fighting there and a few hotheads distrust your influence, as noble and Warden.”
Remembering Sophia Dryden, I could understand that, but that would not deflect me from my various duties. Then I realized how sneaky Nathaniel had gotten, and had to laugh. “And you are to report on this to Nathaniel, aren't you?”
Eladras' smug grin answered that.
“No guard this time, but I would like any political reports too. I will be listening and don't need a second shadow.”
He nodded and faded away outside when I entered the Sighard mansion..
I moved quietly through the milling crowd, listening to the others speak. My skills at passing unnoticed were helpful for gathering this information, reminding me of the former Dark Wolf's information. Some worried about the mages, fewer worried about the Templars. All of them didn't want the fighting to come here too, even if none were inflamed. Other subjects came less often and those worried me.
Anora still had not granted the Gwaren or Denerim titles. She must not have forgiven Teagan for his loyalty to Eamon, and he was the most blooded noble without rank.
That was what the nobles wanted of her.
What was wanted with me was harder to gather. A few expressed an interest in allying with Amaranthine since that title wasn't vacant. A scathing comment about Alistair's legitimacy made me want to slap the woman, but that would have ended the chatter, as little as I liked it.
Fergus was right, always something a younger sister hated to admit.
Brooding about this, I went to the refreshment table. There, Erlina interrupted me and demanded that I accompany her to a study. The Queen had entered the board.

A/N: The challenge is to include the words: easy, earnest, and enticing . Thanks to my beta reader who has been kind enough to read this and point out stupid flubs. Any typos that remain are not intentional... Reviews or a PM to let me know what you think would be very appreciated.
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Griffin's Walk