Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Five: Post-Awakening
Solona and I got some strange, concerned looks from Avanna as we left my office, but I ignored them. I asked Avanna to accompany Solona to her new quarters after they dropped me off at mine, and she agreed politely enough. Two guards who I vaguely recognised stood attentively outside my suite, and I shut the door and locked it after bidding them all goodnight. Solona shot me a slight smile as she turned to walk away, and I returned it thankfully.
Maybe I didn't screw up completely. It seemed like...maybe she needed that.
I was exhausted. Between holding the Architect's mana for hours, the long day, the prolonged period of stress as we completed the ritual to bind and hide the Architect, and then my emotional discussion with Solona, I could barely keep my eyes open. I stumbled through our bedroom door, dismayed to realise I was still filthy and covered in dust; I would have to do something about that before bed, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to stay awake long enough.
I looked around, only to discover that my husband, now clean with slightly damp hair, wearing only his sleeping trousers and holding a towel, had run me a bath and was waiting to help me. I fumbled with the buckles desperately and dropped my armour where it landed, leaving it strewn across the floor; I'd pick it up and send it to be cleaned in the morning, but didn't have even enough energy for that at that moment. I wanted to throw myself into Alistair's arms, once I was naked, but I didn't want to get him covered in the dust that clung to my skin. Instead I took his proffered hand and climbed into the tub, watching the dirt flush off my skin in little eddies in the warm water. And Alistair, after encouraging me to lay back, knelt on the floor behind me and washed my hair.
By the time I'd finished scrubbing and he'd helped me rinse conditioner out of my hair, I was barely conscious; I climbed out of the tub, rolled the towel around myself once until I was only damp instead of soaked, wrapped it around my head like a turban, and collapsed into bed naked. Alistair joined me, and I curled up against his broad, warm back, falling asleep before he'd even pulled the covers over us.
I slept deeply, sheer exhaustion ensuring I didn't have the chance to dream. I had to be up early to see Greagoir and his templars off, and as I climbed out of bed in the morning in response to a firm knock from Maeve, my maid, I grumbled irritably. I'd been incredibly comfortable, warm and cozy in the great big beg with my husband, and it was barely morning, the room dim despite opening the shutters. Alistair wasn't in much better shape, only reluctantly leaving the warmth of our little cocoon. I had the worst of it, though; I'd fallen asleep with the towel on my head, and by morning my hair was an unholy mess, tangled into large knots and curling crazily. Resigned to having to repeat the bath later, I scooped the whole mop into an untidy bun and swore at my tired reflection in my little mirror.
I found Greagoir and his templars, mages, and Tranquil eating breakfast in the main dining room. Aedan and Zevran were there as well, but the other Wardens were nowhere to be seen β not that I could blame them. I'd have slept in too, given the choice.
Greagoir nodded at me, and I returned the gesture. I hugged my brothers β
Zevran counts, especially given he calls me mia sorella and I call him mio fratello half the time
β and found myself a plate of food to appease the Warden appetite. I sat down with the four men β my brothers, my husband, and Greagoir β and once I had taken a few bites to quell the rumbling in my stomach, I turned to the Knight Commander.
"Everything set? Do you need supplies, food, anything for the journey?"
He swallowed his own bite, shaking his head. "Thank you, no. Your seneschal has been helpful in acquiring what little we needed β but with fewer mouths to feed, we require fewer supplies."
I must have looked puzzled, because he gestured towards Aedan with his head. I turned, and my brother and husband both flushed. "I, uh, guess we forgot to tell you. The Knight-Commander allowed us to recruit two of his templars β as well as one of the mages and one of the Tranquil." I shuddered slightly; the deadpan voices and emotionless expressions of the few Tranquil Greagoir had brought with him creeped me out entirely. Aedan smiled sympathetically, but went on, "I thought we could use another healer once Anders and Solona are transferred, and having an assistant for Jowan would be useful as well."
Greagoir scowled at the mention of the blood mage, but when Aedan raised one eyebrow, he smoothed his expression and took another mouthful of food without comment.
I'm guessing this isn't the first time they've talked about Jowan.
I nodded thoughtfully; we'd talked about trying to recruit a scholar of sorts to organise Avernus' library, someone to read all of the books and journals, and help us determine what other secrets might be hiding in the numerous volumes lying around. It hadn't occurred to me that a Tranquil could do an admirable job of it β but I did have a concern.
"You're going to make them Wardens?" I worried about the chances of a Tranquil surviving the Joining. No one knew what made for a successful recruit, of course, but Duncan had always said he thought willpower, or perhaps will to live, was part of it. How much will could a Tranquil have?
Though I suppose at least most Tranquil won't be missed by friends and family if they don't survive the Joining.
I shuddered again.
Aedan nodded slowly. He didn't reply, but his gaze strayed to Greagoir's face, and I got the hint β we couldn't discuss it with the Knight-Commander eavesdropping on the conversation.
Time for a change of subject β but this conversation isn't over, brother.
Aedan nodded again as though he knew what I was thinking.
I turned back to Greagoir. "With everything that's been going on, I forgot to ask about Cullen. How's he doing?"
Greagoir cleared his throat and grimaced. "He's...well. You saw. He's rather...angry. Still."
I nodded; I'd known that would be the case. "Where is he now?"
"After what you told me about Kirkwall, I was nervous about sending him there. I wanted to send him to Greenfell, a nice calm, isolated monastery, to try to recover, but then I got orders from the Grand Cleric." He scowled at me.