Blood Wound Chapter 31

[miri1984]

Title: Won't Catch Me in Fancy Pants Land
Title art by cave_fatuam 
EPILOGUE TO FOLLOW

Alim was sealing a last letter to the First Warden when there was a knock at the battered remains of his office door. "Come," he called. Oghren limped in, still using the cane Anders had insisted on, even though Oghren had laughed in his face the first time he was presented with it.

It was either the cane or flat on his back for months, and it hadn't taken too long for the dwarf to realise even with dwarven resistance to magic he couldn't shake off the concentrated magic of two healer mages.

"Commander," Oghren said.

"You can stop calling me that, Oghren," Alim said.

"Would you prefer elf-lips?"

"I always did." Alim grinned at him and pushed the papers back. "What's the problem?"

"Sparklefingers is complaining again. I told him to shove it. There's letters from Orlais, they want to send some poofed up pansy Commander to take your place and I suspect the mage is going to write back to them and allow it as soon as you're out the door…"

"If Anders wants to hand over power that's up to him," Alim said, frowning. "But I hope you try to convince him otherwise."

"The man can only give orders if it's to do with spoiling my fun," Oghren grumbled. "But I'll do my best. Also, the Howe wants to know if you got his papers, he has a few tips about the Free Marches in there. Says he used to hang around there a lot, before his father got his throat slit."

"I've read them. Still no sign of Velanna?"

"No, she's completely disappeared. Although why you think she could have survived that wall collapsing I'll never know."

"Even crazy elves leave corpses, Oghren. She may be back. Make sure Anders is on the lookout."

Oghren shifted from foot to foot for a few seconds, looking at the floor and fiddling with is cane. Alim took the opportunity to stuff the last of his paperwork into his leather document folder.

"And I wanted…" Oghren stopped. His blazing red brow was furrowed.

Alim smirked and watched him. "Yes?"

"Dammit, Alim. I wanted to ask you to stay. Why'd you make me say it?"

"Because I enjoy watching you squirm, Oghren." Alim got up and came around to the front of the desk. "I'm sorry, old friend, but you know I have to find him."

"Yeah, I know. Doesn't make me any happier about it."

There was a knock at the open door and Alim looked up. The King of Ferelden stood there, filling the doorframe. Alim had forgotten how huge his friend was. He noted, critically, that there were grey flecks in Alistair's red-gold hair and a few crows feet around his eyes. He was smiling though.

"Great. It's the sodding pike-twirler."

"Good to see you too Oghren." Alistair said. "The ship is ready, Alim. Whenever you are."

"Thanks, Alistair," Alim said. "I doubt the wardens would have let me go so easily if you hadn't thought of this."

"My official representative in Antiva!" Alistair winked. "The Hero of Ferelden, Commander of the Grey Wardens…"

"Pity I'm going to shirk my duties as soon as I get there."

Alistair made a pained face. "At least make a show of doing your job, please. For my sake. I have enough difficulty maintaining my credibility as it is."

"It shouldn't take me long to find him," Alim said. "I promise I'll do a fantastic job once he's back where he belongs."

"And I'm sure he'll help you. In any case, get yourself down to the docks and go before I decide to appoint Oghren instead."

"Won't catch me in fancy pants land," Oghren grumbled. "Felsi'd never stand for it."

Alim grinned and shook Oghren's hand. "Try to give Anders a hand if you can, Alistair," he said. Alistair gave him a look.

"I still can't believe you've left him in charge," Alistair said. "I wouldn't be surprised if there are some grumbles about it from the Templars…"

"I'm counting on it."

"I'll try to keep the famous escapee out of trouble. Now go."

They saw him off, at the gate. Anders, in his new commander robes, looking at him resentfully with Pounce curled on his shoulder and Justice his ever present shadow. "You'll pay for this, you know," he said as Alim passed.

"Just try to make sure you don't," Alim said. Anders rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on his face as he turned to direct the other wardens in a salute. Nathaniel Howe gave him a curt nod, but Sigrun rushed him and wrapped her arms around his middle in a vice like hug.

"Go find your friend," she said, grinning up at him. "And then come back. It won't be the same without you here."

"Make sure you're here when I come, Legionaire," Alim said, resisting the urge to ruffle her hair. "Also, give me back my coin purse."

She winked and flicked it to him. He caught it and grinned at her.

At the dock Alistair gave him a long look and held out his hand for Alim to shake. "Find him quickly," his friend said. "And come home."

"You have my word, Alistair," Alim said. He climbed the plank up onto the ship and stowed his gear in the state cabin he would be sleeping in, smiling at the Ferelden mabari crest over the bed, wondering how Alistair crammed his six feet two inches in the tiny mattress whenever he had to go on state visits. Then he made his way back up on deck in time to watch Amaranthine Harbour disappear into the horizon. A light rain started to fall, and he lifted his face to feel the drops on it, taking a deep breath of sea air.

I'm coming, Zev.