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thewardenisonthecase · 29 days ago

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Weathering the Storm

Chapter 2: The Storm Hits

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A/N: TW for Miscarriage.

This chapter is focused only on the Ferelden front but the we will see the other POVs on the next one.

Your Majesty,

I thank you for your message but I fear that the worst has come: We are facing another Blight.

The darkspawn activity from the Deep Roads and our contacts from the North confirmed our suspicions. An archdemon has not been spotted yet, but last month, blighted dragons attacked Tevinter and Antiva.

From what we know, this Blight seems to be contained to the northern countries but we will remain vigilant in case their forces spread south.

Best Regards,

First Warden Howe of the Southern Grey Wardens

Anneliese folded the letter, as she rubbed her forehead.

Under any circumstances, a Blight was a terrible ordeal, but with the current fragmented state of the Order, things would be ugly for the North.

Ten years ago, the southern and the northern grey wardens had begun a dispute. Anneliese was only mildly aware of what transpired, as she had been away at the time, looking for a cure.

The story she was given had been that, after the disaster at Adamant Fortress, orlesian, ferelden and free marcher wardens were called to Weisshaupt, to discuss the orders fate. The southern group believed that the wardens needed to go into the light, and help defend Thedas against other evils, and not just darkspawn. They argued that one day, all archdemons would be killed, and people would no longer see the need for the Wardens.

The First Warden, alongside the rest of the northern group disagreed and thus, a civil war broke out in Weisshaupt. By the time Anneliese had returned from her search, she discovered the southern grey wardens had broken away, establishing their own headquarters in Vigil’s Keep. Commander Howe, Nathaniel’s nephew, has been voted as First Warden of the South.

‘You’re not part of the order anymore.’ She had told herself. ‘Don’t involve yourself in those matters.’

But now she couldn’t help but fear. Was it wise to leave their northern brethren to their own devices? And would they withstand another Blight, without the full forcer of the order standing together?

There was much to consider. She sighed, rubbing her belly. Nearing the end of her first trimester, Anneliese knew she shouldn’t be getting too stressed.

She folded the letter and stood up, making her way outside. It didn’t take long for her to find Alistair, as he was in the training yard with a wooden sword in hand as he sparred with Duncan.

Anneliese watched them play, a small smile on her face as she noticed Alistair exaggerating the pain each time he was hit.

At one point, Duncan hit him on the side and he went to his knees, dramatically saying “Ah, my prince, you wound me deeply! Look at me, bleeding all over the floor! Mercy I say, mercy!”

“Only if you yield!” The boy shouted with glee.

“I yield, I yield!” Alistair placed his sword on the ground, raising both arms. “Now, help your old man get up.”

Duncan put his own wooden weapons aside and sprinted towards Alistair, but before he knew, he was tackled to the ground, laughing as his father tickled his sides.

“This is why you never drop your guard!” Alistair laughed and when the kid shouted ‘yield’ he stopped. The two of them gathered their breath, and when they noticed Anneliese watching, they stood up.

Duncan ran towards his mother. “When will I get to fight with you, mum?”

She smiled “Only after your new sibling comes along, Duncan.”

“But that will take soooo long.”

“Trust me, Duncan” Alistair said, walking behind him and messing his hair. “You do not want to fight with your mother. She’s ruthless.”

Anneliese smirked. “Listen to your father.” She kissed the top of his head “Now, go take a bath.”

The boy sighed but nodded, running away to his maid. Anneliese turned to her husband.

“Howe sent word.” She said, handing him the letter. The smile dropped from his face as he read its contents.

“Maker’s breath…you don’t think it could spread here, do you?”

“I don’t know, but we should prepare for the worst.” She took a deep breath, brows furrowed. A familiar sense of impending doom began to fill her.

“Love? What are you thinking?”

“Nothing.” Anneliese shook her head. “I’m just…remember how I told you that before Howe attacked my family, I had a bad feeling about it all?”

He nodded and said “You’re feeling that again?”

“Yes. I can’t help but feel dread.”

Alistair gently grabbed her arms, pulling her closer. “If something does happen, we’ll be prepared. We have the Wardens in the Denerim compound, and we can make haste to Vigil’s Keep in a matter of days.”

She sighed. “I know. I just worry. It seems like everytime we have some semblance of peace, the world goes to shit again.”

Alistair chuckled. “No rest for the wicked.”

“And neither for us.”

Anneliese tossed her head around in her bed, as her dreams morphed into nightmares. Much like Alistair had described, she too saw the Archdemon, this one much different than Urthemiel.

It turned its head to her, as it flew from the ground, opening its mouth and before it could eat her, she woke up, quickly sitting up on the bed.

She turned to see that Alistair had done the same and not a moment later, the door was knocked over by darkspawn.

The couple sprung into action without a second thought. Both Alistair and Anneliese kept one of their swords hidden beneath the bed, just in case something like this happened. Without their armor, however, they were still vulnerable.

They made quick work of the creatures, avoiding getting hit as much as possible. They ran outside and heard screams, the dull headache on the back of their heads forming as they sensed more darkspawn.

“We need to evacuate.” Alistair said.

“Rally the guards and the others. I’ll get the children and go to the armory.”

“Anneliese, wait-” He said and looked at her stomach.

“I’ll be careful, I promise.”

Alistair still looked worried but he nodded and the two of them headed out.

Anneliese looked at the floor, noticing the man who used to guard her door was dead. She kneeled and began removing parts of his armor, mainly the breast plate and the helmet. She was quick to put them both on, the years of training to put them quickly while on the road kicking in.

Finally, she grabbed his shield and headed towards her children’s room. Luckily for her, there were not many darkspawn on her way, but the corpses of several servants littered the halls.

A pit in her stomach began to form as she got closer to the room, seeing the body of the children’s guard on the floor next to the door. When she tried to open it, she realized that something was blocking the entrance.

“Brynne, Duncan, if you’re inside, move out of the way!” She shouted before kicking down the door.

“Mommy!” Her youngest said, rushing to her and hugged her leg.

She kneeled, holding her daughter’s face. “Are the two of you alright?”

The girl nodded. “Duncan protected us.”

Anneliese extended her arm to him, and he dropped the wooden sword he was holding as he ran to her. “I heard the shouting and barred the door, like you taught me.”

She kissed his forehead. “Good boy.”

“Mommy, what’s happening?” Her daughter asked.

She looked at the two of them, their frightened expressions and she said “It’s hard to explain right now, but I’ll keep you two safe.” Anneliese hugged the two of them tightly. “Now, hold on to each other’s hand and don’t let go, you hear me. We have to go to the armory.”

“What about daddy?” Duncan asked.

“Daddy’s going to meet us there too.”

Brynne held her brother’s hand, holding her stuffed animal close to her chest. “I’m scared.” She whispered.

Anneliese patted her hair and kissed her forehead. “I know, my love, I know, but we have to hurry. Hold tight to your brother.”

She stood up, placing them in front of her. “I’ll be right behind you. The first sign of trouble, you two run and hide.” She said as they walked out of the room.

They walked as quickly as they could, Anneliese making sure to use the longer but more hidden paths.

Memories rushed to the forefront of her mind. Herself, much younger than now, followed by her mother, running around as their home burned. Ser Gilmore telling them of Howe’s betrayal. Her father, lying in a pool of his own blood.

Anneliese shook her head. She needed to focus.

They were nearing the armory when she saw an ogre, of all things, standing in front of it. “Go, go!” She told her children. They ran, finding somewhere to hide as the ogre turned around and rushed towards her.

She ran and matched the creature halfway, slashing its middle. The ogre fell forwards, and she jumped out of the way. As she got close to it, it kicked her, making her fall on her back.

The ogre stood up once again and Anneliese dodged its attack at the last second. In one move, she got back on her feet, stunning the ogre with her shield and slashing its knees. The darkspawn fell down and she slashed its throat, blood spraying everywhere before she climbed on its chest and impaled it with her sword.

Breathing heavily, she jumped back, Duncan and Brynne running to her side. She opened the door to the armory and headed inside.

She looked around at all the weapons they had, swords and shields and daggers she had collected over the years stored in a single room. She grabbed a few of her preferred weapons, strapping them to her, before walking over to a wall and stepping on a specific tile of the floor, a hidden passage opening before her.

As they were about to walk in, Duncan said “Mommy, you’re hurt.”

She frowned and looked down, only now noticing the blood between her legs. Now that they had had a moment to breathe, the pain was starting to make itself known. Anneliese did not have time to think on what this meant, as she turned towards the kids.

“We need to hurry.” Noticing that Brynne looked too spooked to do anything, she grabbed the girl into her arms, balancing her on one hip as she held Duncan’s hand.

“What about daddy?” Duncan asked.

“He’ll find us, love.”

Anneliese led them down a dark corridor.The more they walked, the more faint she began to feel, but the weight of Brynne on her arm reminded her to keep moving.

Finally, they reached the end, being met with a door. Opening it, they found themselves in the stables, and Anneliese’s mouth opened in disbelief as she saw the chaos and destruction outside of the castle.

She saw blight cysts falling from the sky, and taking a step back, she saw tendrils twisting around the castle walls.

This was worse than what they had faced 20 years ago.

“Annie!” She heard Alistair’s voice and turned around to find him running towards them, several guards, servants and citizens following behind him. “We have to evacuate the city, now!”

“Alistair” She breathed out as he took the girl from her arms. He said something else, but she could barely hear it as the world around her began to spin. She heard her name being shouted one last time before everything went black.

It took them a week to arrive in Vigil’s Keep.

As soon as they passed through the gates, First Warden Howe greeted him, a worried look on his face. That’s when Alistair learned the situation was worse than he had imagined.

Denerim hadn’t been the only place attacked. Kirkwall was overrun with darkspawn and Val Royeaux was dealing with them and the Venatori. Communication was becoming increasingly difficult. For now, they had to fend for themselves.

Their plan for now was to contact the other arls, banns and teynirs of the incoming threat. Word was also sent to Orzammar, but it would take long for them to receive an answer.

In the meantime, Alistair worried. For his country, for his people and for his family. During their journey to Vigil’s Keep, Anneliese had been fading in and out of consciousness. One of the healers, a mage, had confirmed the worst - during the fighting, she had lost the child she carried, and the loss of blood was the reason for her current state.

He hadn’t felt like a complete mess in a long time. He thought of that boy he once was - twenty years old, with the burden of a Blight on his back and giving all of the responsibility to Anneliese.

Alistair couldn’t be that boy, not when he looked at the tired expressions on his children, on his soldiers and on his people.

Not when he looked at Anneliese’s sleeping face and knew he had to be strong. If anything, he had to be strong for her. They would weather this storm, like they had done so ten times over.

He sat by her side, holding her hand, waiting.

Waiting.

Then-

Anneliese Cousland was nineteen again and her home was being attacked.

But this time, the bodies were different. Instead of Iona, it was Alistair who lay dead on her bed.

Running outside, she saw the bodies of her brother, her nephew, and her own children, all mangled and bloodied.

From between her legs, blood flowed freely.

Ser Gilmore and Duncan, also dead in the main hall. The Cousland’s family sword and shield were gone.

Anneliese raced to the larder and once again, she saw her father and mother embracing each other. They gave her one last look before turning to dust.

The fire grew all around her, consuming her completely.

Anneliese woke up with a dry mouth and laying on an unfamiliar bed. She looked around, and as her vision began to focus, she recognized where she was.

Vigil’s Keep. This had been her room when she had been the Warden-Commander.

She sighed in relief. They had made it out of Denerim, at the very least.

Turning her head, she saw Alistair sitting on a chair, his head on his chest as he slept. It was then she noticed that he had been holding her hand. With a gentle squeeze, she woke him up.

He looked startled, but once he saw her, he whispered “Thank the Maker you woke up.” before kissing her knuckles.

She motioned for him to help her sit up and once she was settled, she asked “How long have we been here?”

“A little over a week. We arrived a few days ago.” Alistait replied “What do you remember?”

“Darkspawn everywhere. Denerim burning.”

“We got everyone we could out of the city, with the help of the Wardens on the Denerim compound. We decided to head here, as it was safest.” Alistair took a deep breath. “Lise…a lot has happened while you were out.”

“Tell me everything.”

“You just woke up, you should-”

“Alistair.” She said, sternly. “Tell me what happened. I need to know.”

He sighed but complied. He explained the different attacks that happened simultaneously, that the other nobles had been contacted and that they waited on Orzammar’s response.

Then, he looked somehow even more somber. “There’s also something else. Anneliese…he healer, he…”

Alistair didn’t have to finish the sentence for her to know what happened. It wasn’t the first pregnancy that she lost, but it didn’t make the pain any better.

She took a deep breath. “Duncan and Brynne? How are they?”

“Shaken and scared. Brynne has barely uttered a word since we arrived and Duncan is putting on a brave face. But I think they’ll lighten up when they see you.”

“Maker…they shouldn’t have to go through this.” She rubbed her forehead and then shook her head. If Ferelden was to go through another Blight, she had much work to do.

Anneliese threw the sheet off of her and placed her feet on the floor. In a flash, Alistair ran to her side and helped her walk.

“Where are you going?”

“Well, I have to eat something. And then we have to discuss what we’ll do next.”

#alistair x female cousland #anneliese cousland #alistair theirin #fenris x hawke #elizabeth hawke #female hawke #purple mage hawke #blackwall x adaar #blackwall #thom rainier #inquisitor adaar #female adaar #mage adaar #asala adaar #female cousland #warden cousland #fix it fic

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wardenrainwall · 2 years ago

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a little something - I miss doing the writing on the regular.

Halina Adaar stood in the War Room, the small leather-wrapped parcel spread out on the massive war table that still held a map of Thedas. It contained three items. A beautiful white feather, a folded-up piece of parchment that looked as if it had been carried for a very long time, and lastly, a metal and leather badge that bore the Grey Warden’s sigil. The mark of the Warden-Commander, with a smear of old dried blood.

She knew what it meant. Had suspected for some time even. But there had still been hope. But now, that hope had vanished. Unfolding the piece of paper with trembling fingers Halina began to read.

Dear Halina, My Love,

Tears filled her eyes and she struggled to swallow the sob lodged in her throat.

I never expected to find love, to find a purpose, to find you. It wasn’t enough time. The few short years I’ve known you. The few months we spent together. A lifetime wouldn’t be long enough.

A tear rolled down her cheek, dripping onto the map spread on the table. The handwriting changed slightly, the flow of the ink, a little more unsteady.

It has been months since I last saw you at the Winter Palace since you nearly bleed to death in my arms. I’ve wished for things to be different. That you hadn’t sent me off to join the Wardens. Don’t get me wrong, I value the comrades I’ve made, and the purpose you’ve given me. But I’m wholly selfish and wish I could have found purpose at your side.

Halina’s jaw trembled and she regretted ever giving the command. Declaring that Blackwall would join the Grey Wardens before a room full of people had been a mistake. Because she was selfish too.

The color of ink shifted. The ink bold and crisp, words written much more recently.

They have found a cure. The Wardens are no longer condemned to a death in the Deep Roads. I leave for a mission in the morning, then I plan to return to Skyhold. I made you a ring and I plan to ask for your hand, well, the one that you’ve left.

You made me want to be a better man. You made me feel hope and love, and so much more than the pity I felt for myself for so many years. I can only hope that you’ll do me the honor of becoming my wife.

The sob tore from her throat and with the letter clutched to her chest Halina hit her knees and began to wail.

Alistair walked at a fast clip toward the open door of the War Room. One of the scouts had informed him that was where he would find the Inquisitor. The package had been sent before he could stop them. He had wanted to deliver it in person, wanted to present her with the rest of the items found on Warden Rainier’s body in the hopes that it might offer some small comfort.

And he had wanted to be there, to offer a shoulder or an ear as someone who had lost a love to the Wardens as well.

The sound that came from the War Room split his heart in two. He ran, sprinted, that remaining distance and when he burst past the doorway he found Halina, doubled over. She screamed, a sound full of the deepest of pains. Tears filled his own eyes, at remembered loss, at her palpable agony. Seeing the letter in her hand, he felt the tips of his ears burn hot with guilt. Alistair had read the letter, as he’d been there when they prepared Rainier’s body for burning.

The letter and the ring had been tucked into a leather pocket inside Rainier’s gambeson. He’d carried the ring ever since so that he would be able to deliver it safely to the Inquisitor. Reaching up to the chain around his neck, he fingered the ring, the band of metal and stone and wood. Alistair had wanted to present them to her, with his deepest condolences, but now, he stood awkwardly a few short feet away from the woman mourning, unsure of what he should do.

They weren’t friends, they had been mere acquaintances, companions in a few fights. To interrupt her now - his ears burned hotter. Alistair had no place here. He stepped back, eager to flee now, to find her later when these private tears had dried, and then he’d give her the ring.

He took a step back, then another, quiet as a mouse. Alistair turned to continue his silent journey, but he didn’t see the chair until it was too late. It scraped loudly across the wooden floor as his knee crashed into the seat of it and in his attempt to right it, to silence it, he teetered, tipped, and ended up on the floor, with his legs tangled around those of the chair. The pink of his ears had turned to a crimson flush over his entire face as the sobbing woman went silent and reluctantly he looked up and met her eyes.

He scrambled to his feet and set the chair upright once more and looked at Halina as she blinked up at him. “I’m sorry,” he said tugging at the hem of his jacket. “For Rainier.” Her face crumbled and tears rolled down her cheeks again. “I had meant to-” he gestured to the unfolded parcel. “Deliver it in person. To offer my condolences.” Alistair took a step back, kicked the chair again but just managed to catch himself. “I’ll just… go.” Then turning, he fled, mortified by the scene he’d made.

Remembering the ring he almost turned back, but decided that no, he’d humiliated himself enough for one afternoon, he’d find her later and perhaps she will have forgotten the scene he had made in the War room.

#meraadwrites #blackwall x adaar #alistair x adaar #i mean #if I ever actually continue to write this #blackwall #thom rainier #alistair theirin #adaar #inquisitor adaar

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