Storm Queen Rising
Betrayal is the only truth that sticks - Arthur Miller
Denerim ~ Royal Palace
The clearly traumatised Elven woman's screams echoed throughout the palace's resonant, empty, stone halls waking nearby slumbering nobles and alerting the night guard as well.
Captain of the Guard Kylon was first to reach the Elven handmaiden but Arl Teagan Guerrin was just steps behind, albeit still in his night shirt.
Despite Teagan's informal attire, Captain Kylon stepped aside to allow Teagan to be the first to approach the now, wildly weeping handmaiden. As he approached the forlorn Elf who was sitting on the palace floor directly in front of Queen Anora's bed chamber with her head in her hands. Teagan noticed fresh blood on not only her clothes but her delicate hands as well. Despite his best intentions of helping the poor Elf, the association between the blood and Queen's bed chamber caused him to pause. He had to swallow several times, despite the now numerous eyes upon him, before he was able to finally talk to the girl.
Kneeling down to be more on the Elf's level he began to speak but the frightened Elf cut him off, between fits of sobbing and deep haggard breaths.
"I...I...don't know what happened Ser. I was doing my normal night walk-through to change the Queen's chamber pots and I noticed she didn't seem to be moving which is unusual as she never sleeps that peacefully." she had to stop to pull herself together.
Teagan's fears were rising by the second.
"It's ok girl. Just breath in and take your time to explain what you saw." he was able to ask as calmly as he could. He didn't want to poor girl to stop speaking now that she finally had stopped crying.
Looking up at Teagan with teary eyes she continued, "So then Ser, I walked over to her bed and that's when I noticed the blood puddles on the floor. Of course I ran to her to make sure she was ok but..."
Now a look a pure terror crossed the girl's innocent face and Teagan knew all too well what her eventual answer would be. He gently nodded to her to signal her to continue.
"When I got to her bed she was still bleeding from her neck. I am so sorry Ser but someone sliced her neck from ear-to-ear. I tried to apply pressure like I was taught but the life left her eyes just a few moments later. I am so sorry I couldn't save her..." and that was last anyone could get from the poor Elf.
Not waiting another second Teagan open the Queen's thick, wooden chamber's door and ran at full speed towards her bedside. Before he arrived he noticed the huge pool of blood shinning cruelly proud in the dim candle light. Bile rose to the back of his throat but he continued on.
Reaching her bed he saw the lifeless body still somehow holding nobility even in death. Being a grown man he seldom cried but he cried at the moment and not so much for the Queen, although he was close to her, but for the implications it would mean for Ferelden.
Whispering softly he spoke, "Be with the Maker now and make peace with your father"
As gently as he could he closed her eyes and gently pulled one of her much admired silk sheets up over her now lifeless body. Gathering himself the best he could he turned around to face the now large crowd waiting for news about their loving and much admired Queen.
Reaching the door again he closed it behind him as to keep anyone else from entering, at least for the moment. Grimly gazing into the many familiar faces of both family and friends, he slowly but firmly uttered, "Queen Anora is now with the Maker."
The crowd took a collective breath in sadness and horror. Anora was not only their Queen, but to most of them, she was also their friend. The sudden loss of someone not only so important but so dear to their hearts was almost unbearable and slowly all the non-guard personnel slowly walked away either in shock or tears.
Captain Kylon stepped closer and asked, "Pardon me Ser, but what happened?"
Looking straight into Kylon's eyes Teagan replied, "She was assassinated and within the last hour or so."
Kylon a man who had seen some truly horrific tragedies in his time was at a loss for words momentarily. How was it possible someone could sneak into the Royal Palace unseen? Between the numerous guards and the multitude of Mages guarding the place it was impossible.
Finally acknowledging the crucial importance of the timing of the Queen's death, Teagan ordered Kylon and his men to shut and lock all of the palace's doors. He also sent messengers to all of Denerim's docks to inform the Port Authority to not allow any ships of any size to leave port until the Royal Guard had inspected them for the possible assassin or assassins.
Before he left Kylon asked, "Shall we ring the bells Ser?"
Nodding Teagan felt his heart go heavy then answered, "Aye, ring the bells of mourning. Let Ferelden know their Queen has passed. Also, we have to find out where in the world Alistair is. He should hear it from us, she was his wife. "
Not hesitating an instant Kylon was off but even Teagan could tell the normal spring in his step seemed muted.
Only an hour had passed before Teagan was able to assemble members of the Royal Council that were currently stationed at the palace. Usually once they were assembled they would talk and gossip among themselves but tonight there was dead silence and all eyes were upon him.
Standing up from his reserved chair he could feel the members staring at him in sad anticipation of his announcement.
"Most noble ladies and gentlemen, I have the unfortunate responsibility to inform you all that Queen Anora passed away earlier tonight. It is my even more unfortunate responsibility to report she was clearly assassinated while she slept." Teagan spoke with as little emotion as possible. He had to be strong for not only his now sadly widowed King but his country as well.
Bann Sighard asked the first question of which Teagan knew would be many.
"Assassination? Do we have any idea who?" he asked Teagan.
"At this early hour of the investigation no." Teagan answered honestly answered.
The beautiful Bann Alfstanna Eremon now spoke, visibly shaken by the sudden news, "Why would someone want to kill Anora? She is...sorry...was... not involved in the war with Orlais or the Templar/Mage war. Why, it makes no sense?"
Several other council members echoed Alfstanna's concerns.
Teagan motioned for the guards to exit the room and shut the doors behind them. He needed to address the Council behind closed doors and he was already feeling the indigestion.
Clearing his throat Teagan began, "Actually there have been some recent events that might have made The Queen a target."
The Council members took a collective disbelieving breath of air before Teagan continued.
"First, I want you all to know we are doing everything we can, short of going house to house at two in the morning, looking for the assassin. Second, I assigned an enormous amount of people and assets to investigate this. We will know who and why soon I believe."
"We expected that Teagan but what about her being a target?" Sighard asked.
"Well here is the thing. As you know, I am the King's right hand and by both his and Anora's declaration I am Regent in their absence. So, as the Regent, I am telling you, what I am about to say stays within this room. No one and I mean no one must know what I am about to reveal. Not only would it severally jeopardize our investigation it would be a huge public relations issue especially considering our current problems. So therefore, I am proclaiming in the King's name, that if any of you reveal what I am about to tell you to ANYONE not only will I take your title away I will give your lands away as well."
A look of shock and anger came across all the Council members face's but Teagan held strong.
Again he spoke, "That is the promise you must pledge, so make up your minds now."
Eventually, everyone, some reluctantly, agreed to the Regent's mysterious but serious proclamation.
Despite his promises from the Council, Teagan still felt strangely guilty about what he was about to reveal but if he was going to catch the person or persons responsible for the Queen's death he was going to need ears and eyes in as many places as possible. The Council members being from all the different areas of Ferelden really were the best method of gathering information.
Taking his deepest breath yet he finally relented, "About a two years ago the Queen ordered me to help her on a secret project. She swore me and anyone else involved to secrecy on pain of death. Not even King Alistair was aware of the project believe it or not.
This project was something I tried very hard to discourage her on but she would not have it so eventually I had to fall in line.
I do not know her exact reasons but she ordered a death warrant be proclaimed for the former Hero of Ferelden and most of her companions who helped her defeat the arch-demon. Of course Alistair was not on the list and either was Sten, the now military leader of the Qunari, as that would have be an act of war. She also included an Elf named Ariane who we now know to be very close, almost intimate, with the former Hero."
Alfstanna broke in with a very sound, "I don't believe it!"
Motioning her to silence Teagan continued, "It actually gets worse. About a year ago a very heavily armed band of Crow Assassins caught Gallia, Ariane and Zevran travelling outside of Kirkwall. As you all probably deduced from Gallia's former battle performance, the Crows met a bad end. However, it has come to our attention that the lead assassin inadvertently carried one of the few copies of the death warrant on his person. We are pretty sure Gallia discovered it."
More gasps of disbelief and anger filled the room.
"Why the hell would The Queen want to kill the former Hero of Ferelden? She saved Thedas for Andraste's sake?" Alfstanna demanded.
"It's complicated" Teagan continued, "Most of you were at the land's meet when Gallia defeated her father Logain but what you might not know is that Gallia is the one that brokered the deal for Anora and Alistair to be married.
She also hated Anora for her betrayal concerning Howe and Ser Cauthrien when she attempted to rescue The Queen from Howe. Remember, Gallia is an Elf and well we think there was some resentment from Gallia on that front as well. She honestly feels if she had been human, The Queen would not have betrayed her, be that true or not.
Behind closed doors Gallia wanted Anora's head but both a senior Grey Warden and the then Arl Eamon convinced her to let the Queen live and marry Alistair to bring Ferelden more unity with both bloodlines on the throne. But both of them, Gallia and Anora, never made up and it's to my understanding Gallia left Ferelden partially due to Anora's desire to limit Gallia's influence over Alistair.
We also know one more thing. Gallia is normally stable, reasonable and predictable but in the situations where she feels her wife Leliana is threatened in anyway, she become totally irrational and will burn a village to the ground if it gets in her way of protecting Leliana.
As a matter of fact, it is pretty much well known, that in the battle with the arch-demon, Gallia and her companions were being held in check if not losing the battle. Then suddenly Leliana was knocked unconscious and something happened with Gallia's powers and they significantly increased allowing her to slay the arch-demon.
You add this all up and well..."
"And you end up with most powerful Mage in Thedas putting a bulls eye's on Anora." Alfstanna finished Teagan's sentence.
"That's what I am thinking. Mind you we have no proof and it's purely conjecture at this point. But if Gallia's stays true to form she will let it be known it was her who ordered it soon enough." Teagan spoke with dread in his voice.
"What do we do if she is responsible?" another council member asked.
"I am hesitant to make the decision yet without speaking to Alistair. Just like everything else with Gallia, her and Alistair's relationship is complicated at best and I honestly don't know how he would want me to react. Traditionally, this would be an act of war but like I said before, many would see this as Gallia simply protecting herself and wife. Also, I am not sure our armies would march against Gallia. Most of them were in enlisted when she led them while destroying the arch-demon and stopping Logain's betrayal. Not to mention the turmoil it would cause in the public eye.
Plus, I am not sure I even have the authority to declare war with New Elvhenan even if things weren't muddled. Bottom time is we have two things we MUST do.
One, discover the identity of the assassin and two, get word to King Alistair. Everything that happens from this point on, depends on those two things occurring."