954 réponses à ce sujet

[MireliA]

Glad Alistair is becoming the king that Aedan thought he could be. Great chapter and I like the fight scenes.

[Miri1984]

Fight fight fight fight! I looove the fights. Beautifully written. Exciting and adventure filled. Loving every second of this.

[valen_morrow]

Masticetobbacco wrote...

good to hear alistair is rediscovering his balls

Lmao...  i hear ya:lol:

[Sisimka]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to comment. I honestly had no idea so many of you were reading my story! *gets a little bit nervous*

I have to say, I am thrilled with all the comments regarding my more decisive Alistair. He sounded good in my head when I was writing him, so it's gratifying to know it translated so well to the page. It's been a long time in coming, eh? I do tend to write an 'unhardened' more introspective Alistair than most, but it's my way of differentiating him from Aedan, who I write as a much more emotional character.

As regards the fight scenes, I’m glad you all like them. For those of you who have read ‘Hero’ you will remember how much I like to write combat. It’s a pity for me (but not for them) there was not more combat in this story. Perhaps I should have had Orlais take offense at the death of their chancellor and invade?

Again, I regret not including the ‘Zevran’ chapters! I’m sure he’s fighting lots of battles in Tevinter right now! I will have to slip those chapters in between these on FF.net as I get them written.

[Sisimka]

Chapter Thirteen

Aedan stood in the middle of the village trying to catch his breath, clenching and unclenching his fists as he fought to regain control. He could not focus on any single thought. He closed his eyes in an attempt block out the scene before him only to find his mind assaulted with worse. He had failed his family! He couldn’t stop the thought circling around and around. He had failed Luke and Leliana. Every time he opened his eyes in an attempt to deny this, a warden stood before him with another question and he stared at them blankly until they moved off.

Philippe approached. Where would he be without Philippe? Aedan stared at that stalwart face and wondered, not for the first time, why he held the title Warden Commander of Ferelden and not Philippe. He’d offered the Orlesian Warden the position twice; once after Philippe had returned from escorting a traitor to the order back to Orlais and once again after too much ale. Both times his second had refused. So Aedan had named him Senior Warden instead. Philippe’s mouth moved and Aedan realized he was speaking.

“Commander?” Philippe’s worried face creased further as he reached out to shake Aedan’s shoulder.

“Philippe.” His voice sounded hoarse. He cleared this throat and tried again. “What is it?”

“Your orders?”

Aedan took a deep breath and reached for his will. He tried to push his fury and grief aside. He could do this, he had to do this. He was the Commander.

“Burn it, Philippe. Burn the whole village.” His fury won out at this, but he did not take the words back.

Philippe’s brows rose but he nodded, turned and began giving orders. He turned to Aedan once more and asked, “The babe?”

Aedan then noticed that Philippe held the basket and the infant inside cried feebly. He knew that cry, he’d heard it many times before. “It’s hungry,” he said.

Philippe nodded. “I’ll have one of the wardens search the village for something to feed it.”

“Her. It’s a girl.” Aedan could not shake the image of the naked babe from his mind now. He knew if he closed his eyes it would still be there. He had held that babe, naked and squalling, before him and offered it to a horribly tainted man. Bile rose up the back of this throat as he thought of what he’d been willing to do - to exchange an innocent life for that of his son. Luke himself was a foundling, a child he’d rescued from the darkspawn.

Philippe’s mouth was moving again.

“Commander, can you hear me?” Philippe shook his shoulder and pointed downward at the basket and then over at the fence that surrounded the village.  

Aedan looked over his shoulder. Luke reclined against a fence post and Taren sat beside the boy. 

“Go be with your boy. I’ll finish up here.”

Aedan stooped to pick up the basket and with wooden legs turned and staggered toward the fence. He sank down beside Luke. The boy’s eyes were closed and his breath came in short, pained gasps. He fought the taint. Taren trickled small amounts of healing magic into him now and again, helping him, keeping the taint at bay; a temporary solution at best. Putting the basket aside, Aedan slipped his arm about Luke’s shoulders and pulled him against his side. He couldn’t bear to see his son in so much pain and tears pricked his eyes again.

So many conflicting emotions charged through his heart he thought it might stop altogether. How could he even consider making Luke a Grey Warden, he had yet to even turn sixteen! But the alternative was death, or worse. The guilt, holy Maker, the guilt. Why had he not sent Luke back to Denerim with Runir? Aedan wanted to throw back his head and howl at this. And then, the one thought he’d desperately been trying to hold at bay slipped in: What would he say to Leliana? 

The smell of the village as it burned turned more than one stomach inside out. The odor of rot and taint rose on the billowing clouds of smoke and circled the buildings, obscuring them from view. One by one the wardens gathered by the fence, faces pale and eyes clouded with horror. Many wiped their mouths and pinched their noses. Philippe had Erald’s body over his shoulder and he set the dead warden down reverently.

Kayley approached cautiously. She held a small sack in one hand. “For the baby,” she whispered quietly.

Aedan didn’t try to smile. Experience had taught him that his face did not work well under such circumstances. Instead, he gathered his wits once more and thanked the elven rogue. She rummaged around in the sack and produced a small flask and shrugged lightly. “I don’t know what to feed a baby, Commander.”

Kayley blushed and Aedan tried for a consoling expression. “It’s alright Kayley, water will quiet her cries until we get back to camp. See if you can find her something to suck on.”

Together they tended the babe.  He showed Kayley how to change her and the elf looked impressed. He muttered, “Leliana insisted I learn,” which earned an appreciative nod from Philippe. The few moments of tending an otherwise helpless being served to calm him, or at least distract his mind. Once they resettled her in the basket Aedan pushed himself to his feet and reached down a hand to Luke. The boy grimaced and stood somewhat unsteadily.

Aedan looked to Philippe and in as decisive tone as he could muster said, “Let’s leave before the stench chokes us. Will you bring Erald? I would not leave him here.”

Philippe’s expression lifted at his more steady tone and apparent return to sense and he nodded. “As you wish, Commander.”

Taren settled an arm about Luke’s shoulders. “I will walk with him, Commander. I can continue to slow the taint as we move.”

Aedan nodded and looked down to see Kayley reaching for the basket. He gently stopped her. He did not know what impulse made him reach for the handle himself, perhaps guilt? Perhaps the pink cheeked infant offered a glimmer of hope in a situation that had spiraled beyond his control. Either way, he found himself carrying the basket. Kayley collected the sack.

Darat, Marin and Philippe took turns shouldering the burden of Erald until they’d walked an hour from the village. Aedan stopped and led them from the winding path to a clearing by a small river. There they collected wood to make a pyre and paid the proper respect to their departed brother.

Afterwards they continued toward the camp and another unanswered question. What had become of Oghren? Aedan’s heart twisted again.  Felsi, what would he tell Felsi? The path beckoned and Aedan did what he always did when he wanted to clear the anguish from his heart and the fury from his mind. He walked faster. The rocking soothed the babe and she fell asleep as the basket swung from his hand.

The smell of the taint assaulted him and he stumbled across the bloated body of a ghoul lying across the path. A glint, something flaring briefly in the setting sun, caught Aedan’s eye and he stooped down. Luke’s sword lay beside the body. Blood and black ichor coated the blade. By Andraste, Luke had fought the ghoul. He had killed it. Aedan picked up the sword and his hand shook as he held the blade.

The rest of the wardens caught up to him. Aedan wiped the blade against what clothing remained on the dead body and slipped it back into the sheath at Luke’s back. He rested a hand on the boy’s shoulder a moment. “I’ll help you clean it properly at camp.”

Luke nodded through gritted teeth. Aedan looked at the wound across his throat. Taren had healed it, but a mark remained because of the taint. Likely Luke would carry a thin black scar across his throat for the rest of his life, if he survived the joining. Then only for another thirty years. Aedan swallowed and looked away again, beckoning the wardens forward. 

The odor of untended dead bodies hung thickly in the air and when he reached the clearing Aedan stopped and simply stared.   The cause of both Luke and Erald’s horribly injured state became perfectly clear. The camp was littered with ghouls. Aedan counted eight bodies. He did not see Oghren. Putting the basket down, he turned to his companions.

“Kayley, Marin, circle that way. Philippe and I will take the other side. Taren, watch Luke and the babe please. Darat, would you stand guard?”

The new warden nodded and stepped back to the path, weapons drawn, and assumed a watchful pose.

Aedan collected his second and they set off into the trees in search of Oghren. They had not walked more than ten minutes before they heard Marin’s call.

Aedan and Philippe jogged toward the sound and came upon Kayley and Marin crouched over Oghren’s prone form. The dwarf was fully armoured, the plate scored and scratched in dozens of places. Blood and gore had collected in joints and on straps. His helm was dented on one side. Aedan glanced about for Oghren’s axe and saw it a few feet away, the blade almost completely buried within a dead ghoul. Marin carefully removed the dented helm.

Aedan gasped at what it revealed. Oghren’s normally red hair, now darkened with blood, clung to his pale face. His closed eyelids did not twitch. Marin felt for a pulse and when he looked up his eyes were wide. “He lives!”

Aedan and Philippe gingerly lifted the dwarf between them and carried him back to camp. Taren hurried over and set to healing Oghren’s wounds, of which there appeared to be only one, his head.

“He will have a sore head when he wakes, Commander. He is lucky to be alive! But I think he will make a full recovery.”

Aedan’s shoulders sagged with relief, but the feeling was short lived. He glanced over at Luke. They needed to prepare the ritual. A cold stone settled into the pit of his stomach. When he spoke his voice sounded low and gruff.

“Let’s clear away these bodies. Taren, would you help me prepare…” his voice stopped abruptly as his breath caught in his throat.

Taren nodded. The mage knew what he’d tried to ask and he moved away to find his pack. Aedan undid his armour and started removing it piece by piece. He tired of the weight and the heat and the smell of it. The smell of the taint and of death. He tossed it aside and sat down next to Luke. The boy’s shoulders shook and his eyes were full of fear. Aedan put an arm around Luke’s shoulders and pulled his son close to his side. Luke rested his head against Aedan’s chest and they sat still, neither of them speaking. Finally Aedan cleared his throat.

“What do you know about the Joining, Luke?”

“I have to drink something, right? And I might not survive.”

Luke had been present at Amaranthine for a Joining. Though the wardens kept the ritual secret and performed it in a private location, they could not hide the fact that not all the recruits walked back with them.

“Darkspawn blood, Lyrium, Taren is preparing it now.” Aedan shivered as he remembered the taste, the burn, the fear of death. “You will become immune to the taint and be able to sense the darkspawn. You will be forever changed.”

Luke groaned quietly.

“Luke, I wish there was another way. You are so young. Son, I’m sorry.” Aedan’s voice broke and he bit his lip. He wanted to be strong for Luke, not a blubbering idiot. He drew in a shaky breath and sought his strength. His love for Leliana often provided the solace and fortitude he needed, but that would not work today. He thought of Philippe instead, his Brother and faithful second. Philippe kept him on his feet, and his mind to the task. Whenever he lacked the strength, Philippe was there. He glanced across the camp at the older warden and felt his nerve steady. Nevertheless, when he spoke again, his words were rushed.

“Normally it would be your choice, Luke, you’d be invited. I hate having to do this to you. You must be strong. Fight the taint as you do now. I’ll be right there with you the whole time.”

If Luke survived the Joining there would be more to tell.

“Luke, I’m sorry.” If he said it a thousand times it would not be enough.

Luke shifted his head to look up at him and continued. “Don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault. If I’d not followed you from Denerim…”

“Sh. I should have sent you back.”

“I’m glad you didn’t. Orzammar was amazing. If I don’t…” Luke choked on a sob then and Aedan looked down at him, concerned.

“Luke?”

“If I don’t make it, I just wanted to say thank you, Aedan.”

Aedan hugged him close. “Don’t say that.” Aedan closed his eyes, the thought so unbearable his mind balked at it. “I enjoyed having you with me, son. I wish I had taken you somewhere sooner.”

Luke was shaking his head. “No, I wanted to thank you for being a father to me.”

Aedan felt the wetness on his cheeks but didn’t reach to wipe the tears from his eyes. What kind of father did this to his son?  His throat closed and his chest constricted. He bit his lips together. Finally he managed to whisper, “Always, Luke. Always.”

Taren approached. “Commander, I am ready.”

Aedan glanced up and noted that the sun had set. The wardens had completed the tasks set them. He’d not even noticed the smell as they burned the bodies. A campfire fire now crackled merrily away, tended by Marin as he prepared dinner. Oghren still slumped against his bedroll. Philippe fed the babe as Kayley looked on. The world had moved on around them, unheard and unnoticed.

Aedan and Luke stood up and moved toward the campfire. With Oghren unconscious they had no need for secrecy. As they stepped within the circle of light, all the wardens stood. He nodded to them one by one and then turned and took the cup from Taren.

Aedan turned to Luke and drew in deep breath.  The dried tears felt stiff upon his cheeks.  He cleared his mind and composed his face. “We speak only a few words prior to the Joining, but these words have been said since the beginning.”

Philippe spoke the words, his voice soft and quiet, yet easily heard in the still of early evening.

Aedan handed Luke the cup.

He held Luke’s gaze as he took a sip and grabbed the cup as it fell from his hands. Handing it to Philippe he caught the boy in his arms as Luke slumped to the ground. Aedan’s heart pounded and his ears rang as he watched Luke’s eyes roll back and heard the familiar gasping choke whistle from his lips.

Aedan dropped to his knees with Luke in his arms and held his son as he bucked and convulsed. He whispered, “Fight it Luke, be strong,” over and over. He cried. He prayed. 

Luke struggled for a long time. The only warden who had fought longer had been Taren.

Finally Luke fell limp in his arms. Aedan forgot to breathe. His heart hammered and the buzzing in his ears deafened him.  He bent his head over the boy’s face and felt the faint wisp of breath from his lips. With a wordless cry he gathered Luke up and cradled him against his chest and kissed the pale and sweaty forehead. He thanked the Maker and hugged Luke until his eyes finally opened.

Aedan found his voice and whispered, “Luke.”

Luke grunted and coughed. “I dreamed, Aedan, terrible things.”

Aedan nodded softly. “I did too. Tell me what you saw.”

With shaky limbs he helped Luke to his feet and led him away from the campfire. He had this conversation with every new Grey Warden. He told him about the dreams, he told him about the appetite. He told him he likely would not have children of his own. He told him he would only live for another thirty years. He told him what he knew of the Calling.

Luke listened to it all in somber silence, his eyes grave.  

“Does Leliana know all this stuff? I mean, about the thirty years…and, wait, you were already a Warden when…”

Aedan looked up and said, “Riordan is a gift from the Maker.” He smiled gently at Luke before adding, “All children are.”

He glanced over at the wardens gathered about the fire before continuing. “These are the secrets of the Grey Wardens, Luke. You may not share this with anyone other than your brothers and sisters. Do you understand?”

Luke nodded. He opened his mouth to speak, the question in his eyes, but Aedan held up a hand to forestall him.

“Yes. Leli knows it all. I cannot keep secrets from my wife.”

He looked at Luke anew. The boy would be only sixteen next week, and yet, he now had to speak to him as a man. “Grey Wardens shouldn’t marry, Luke.” A pain squeezed his heart and he swallowed over the lump in his throat before he could go on. “Having to keep secrets is the least of it. But I could not have done differently.” He dropped his gaze. He loved Leliana so desperately it was a physical sensation. He felt her everywhere.  

Luke’s face creased into a worried frown. “What are we going to tell her? She’s going to be so mad.” He looked suitably cowed for a moment before he continued. “But the way she talks about you when you’re away, the stories she tells. She makes you sound like one of the heroes of old. She loves you very much, you know that right?” He blushed and looked down at his hands. 

Aedan’s heart filled. “I do.”

“She’ll forgive us, Aedan.”

“Let’s hope you’re right.”

They returned to the fire and the wardens welcomed Luke as a Brother. They were so tender toward him that Aedan felt tears threatening again and he simply watched without speaking, not trusting his voice.

Oghren woke just as Marin started serving dinner. He blinked about at all the companions and started complaining about his head, his gut and the lack of ale. 

Luke ate only a little before dropping into an uneasy sleep. 

Aedan found he had little appetite either. He offered to take first watch and Philippe joined him for a while.

“I don’t suppose you’ve reconsidered my offer?” Aedan asked after they’d sat side by side starting at the fire in silence for perhaps an hour.

Philippe turned toward him and raised a brow. “No.” He clapped Aedan on the shoulder. “You are Warden Commander, and not just because you hold the title. You are the Hero…”

Aedan cut him off. “Ugh, why don’t you get some sleep, Philippe.”

“Today would have broken anyone, Aedan, you did well.” Philippe’s tone was quiet, but his eyes reflected his soft smile. He rose and made for his bedroll.

Aedan gazed around the fire at his sleeping companions and felt a sharp pang of loneliness. Though he enjoyed their camaraderie, he always felt a little separate from his wardens. Not only was he their commander, but he didn’t live like a warden. He held a noble title and lands. He had a wife and a family. He thought over Luke’s words and his heart ached for Leliana. The thought of the pain he would cause her when they returned to Denerim left him breathless. He found himself wishing, not for the first time, that he were not a Grey Warden and briefly entertained the fantasy of just walking away.

A small thin sound distracted him and he glanced toward the basket. The babe had woken up. He slipped his hands beneath the small bundle and pulled the infant out and cradled her gently in his arms.

“I wonder what your name is, little one,” he whispered quietly.

She looked up at him with wide blue-grey eyes. She felt so familiar in his arms. Though the babe resembled Riordan in no way with her grey eyes and blonde fluff of hair, she felt the same, she smelled the same. He fed her and changed her, barely noticing that the entire time he talked quietly to her. Those wide eyes never left his face. Then he hummed Leliana’s lullaby to her. He fell asleep with her curled against his chest.

Modifié par Sisimka, 24 mars 2010 - 04:17 .

[Miliat]

Oh Maker. I'm in tears, AGAIN. Aeden has a way of pulling my heart strings pretty hard.



Also, Aeden has a way of picking up stray children.

[Sandtigress]

Terrific chapter, Sisi. I'm glad Luke survived! And Aedan has a daughter now, maybe? Miliat's right, he picks up stray children a lot! Tainted blood, no problem, just adopt half of Ferelden!

[Miliat]

Sandtigress wrote...

Terrific chapter, Sisi. I'm glad Luke survived! And Aedan has a daughter now, maybe? Miliat's right, he picks up stray children a lot! Tainted blood, no problem, just adopt half of Ferelden!

I have a feeling this baby will be a "Gift"

[Sisimka]

Sandtigress wrote...

And Aedan has a daughter now, maybe? Miliat's right, he picks up stray children a lot! Tainted blood, no problem, just adopt half of Ferelden!

That's kind of the idea.  I've always liked to imagine Aedan and Leli surrounded by kids but it's not realistic that he would be able to concieve any more, so he'll just have to keep picking up strays.  It's that big warrior's heart...

Edit: He's just not your conventional Warden...

Modifié par Sisimka, 24 mars 2010 - 02:45 .

[Sandtigress]

Hehe, this is going to be one heck of an "I'm sorry" present...



Leliana: Aedan, how could you! Luke! A Warden! And...

Aedan: Leli, I'm so sorry...Um, look, here!

*Aedan holds up baby*

Leliana: Oooo a baby... *coos over baby*

*Aedan runs away*



Some men bring home flowers or jewelry. Aedan brings home children!

[Sisimka]

Hey, you just wrote Chapter Fifteen! AWESOME.

[Sandtigress]

Just thought I'd save you the trouble so you could keep on with the Alistair bits. ;-)

[Maximus741000]

Just read the chapter, bloody brilliant if I might say so. I loved all the emotions you were able to create in this chapter, from ones of grief and espair to quiet joy and releif; particularly when Luke survived the joining and Oghren lived. We will all soon have to see how you will wrap this marvel of a tale up. Maybe one day I'll be as good a writer as you are, I certainly hope so because you are amazing.

Modifié par Maximus741000, 24 mars 2010 - 03:22 .

[Freckles04]

Hehehe...too funny. You'll have to put Sandi's name on this story now. And thank you for that, Sandi; a little lightheartedness was definitely needed after that chapter! Excellent, excellent. Poor, poor Aedan. I can't want until they get back to Denerim. Lots of 'splaining to do...

[Kulkodar]

*Writes note to self: Do Not read at work.* Yes, I had to log in at work!
Good grief, I almost started crying at my desk, reading this chapter. Sisi, you are definitely a gifted author - you should be published, in my humble opinion. Sandi - loved your lines, that is so what could happen!
Gah! between Sisi, Freckles and Sandi, and a couple others, I spend way too much time reading stories lol
Thank you, though, life is so much richer with tales told. Keep it coming!
Hopefully, spacing is fixed :/  Ok, so apparently not.  I give up. I'll just leave this all smushed together.

Modifié par Kulkodar, 24 mars 2010 - 07:16 .

[Miri1984]

I loved this chapter - you captured the conflict and regret so beautifully. Aedan is such a honey!

[MireliA]

A wonderful chapter and I had tears in my eyes as I read, especially the scene just before they made Luke a Warden (he survived! yay!).



Lets hope the stray baby line works with Leliana

[Sisimka]

I'm sure you all remember me peppering Alistair with arrows back in Chapter Two of The Wedding Gift.  Miliat was so overcome she vowed revenge.  Of course, her 'revenge fan art' is wonderful and she allowed me to colour it for her.

Drawing Credit: Miliat

[Miliat]

I love your coloring. You make my art so much better

[Sandtigress]

*sniffles* Poor poor Alistair.....



Its beautiful though - lovely work from both of you!

[Maximus741000]

The colouring and the art itself is beyond words, you've even captured Brenna's fair beauty even in spite of the dire situation and her blood-matted state. Really nice work, ladies! Both Miliat and Sisimka.

[amethyst_rose2009]

Aww, that's just so terribly sad.  Beautifully done, though.

[DalishRanger]

And now to lighten the mood...

Sandtigress wrote...

Hehe, this is going to be one heck of an "I'm sorry" present...

Leliana: Aedan, how could you! Luke! A Warden! And...
Aedan: Leli, I'm so sorry...Um, look, here!
*Aedan holds up baby*
Leliana: Oooo a baby... *coos over baby*
*Aedan runs away*

Some men bring home flowers or jewelry. Aedan brings home children!

Doodled in pen in about 3-4 minutes. Apologies for my shoddy handwriting.

[Sandtigress]

[Sisimka]

AWESOME!  Chapter fifteen sure is shaping up nicely, thanks!