A/N: This is my first ever fanfiction, so I would very much like it if I could have as many responses, negative or otherwise, as possible.
Disclaimer: Some of the sentences used in this fanfiction were taken from the dialogue in game but most of it was my own imagining. I do not own Dragon Age! I do love it with all my being though!
What Do You Want From Me?
Melody Cousland was dumbfounded. So many things didn't make sense to her. It all happened so fast. First, she was in the Alienage with Alistair. Then, next thing she knew, Howe was dead. Slaughtered by her hand. The Landsmeet was won quickly after. All that remained was Loghain
She hadn't been planning on recruiting him, hadn't sought out the man who had betrayed Ferelden and Cailan. She just remembered her parents last moments with her. She didn't want Anora to go through that. No matter what her feelings toward the woman were, no one should have to watch their parents be murdered.
This had been her reason for her broken resolve. After the duel was won, she had hesitated just long enough. She stalled for just the right amount of time, then Riordan approached her with the alternative.
Melody hadn't thought. She never paused long enough to consider anything. She simply agreed. Alistair hadn't liked that. Mel supposed it had all just been too much for the poor boy. An arranged marriage with Anora was bad enough, but he couldn't let the man he percieved as Duncan's murderer go free.
So, with Alistair gone—he had stayed with Anora in Denerim—Melody was sitting by the fire faced with her one last problem.
Loghain didn't know what had happened. Hadn't he lost the duel? The Landsmeet turned against him and he'd been bested by the Cousland girl, Melody. Why then, was he standing there? Why did this Warden save him? There had to be a reason.
The girl was born a noble for Andraste's sake! Add to that the fact that she was a Warden, and you had irrefutable evidence that she couldn't be trusted. Loghain needed more information, but would not lower himself to that degree. He would not ask. This Warden—Melody, as she requested to be called—would approach him first. He would not show weakness.
He was Loghain. The name still held quite a bit of respect. The Hero of River Dane had never failed the people of Ferelden. He wasn't quite sure he still deserved the same respect as he once did, but every single thing he had done since Ostagar was in Ferelden's defense.
Not that it mattered now, he supposed. He was no longer the Hero of River Dane. He was now simply a Grey Warden. Hah. He supposed another man would find honor in his punishment. His dislike of the Wardens had never been a secret, however, and he supposed Melody knew this.
Was this her motive, then? Make him as miserable as possible for the remainder of his life? He had to know. Still, he refused to make the first move. He would wait.
For a long time, Melody simply sat and stared at the fire. She knew she needed to speak with Loghain, but she just couldn't face him yet. Not with her current dark thoughts. Alistair leaving was still smarting more than it should.
Though she knew his reasons, it still hurt that he did not stay with her. It pained her that he would be marrying Anora next week and be entirely free of her.
She shouldn't have been upset about it, though. It had been her idea, after all. A political compromise. Nothing would have to change. Ha. How wrong she was.
Melody glanced to her right. There he was, firelight glinting off his heavy plate. War-worn face full of scars and dents, but he had a fierceness in his eyes that told everyone that the Hero of River Dane was not an old, previously-powerful general gone to seed. He was strong. Just as able to protect Ferelden now as he had been during the Orlesian occupation. Melody knew she couldn't put it off. She needed to speak to him.
"Hello, Loghain."
He turned and looked for who had addressed him. His eyes found a woman with skin more common in Rivain than Ferelden. A woman with dark brown hair cut so short, you would never guess she was the daughter of a teyrn.
Looking around her face, Loghain caught her eyes and found the two most beautiful blue orbs in the world. Beautiful? Well, of course she was beautiful, but why was he addressing her beauty? He had more important things to address, anyway. Maker curse whatever made this woman so distractingly radiant.
"I passed your test. Fate has a twisted sense of humor, it seems." He continued to speak, though Melody opened her mouth to respond. "I suppose you think I'm some sort of monster. More so since I survived your ritual: you keep striking at me and I just refuse to die decently."
Melody smiled at this. So the Great Loghain Mac Tir was funny, was he? Two could play at this.
"I may have to resort to magic next."
The girl caught on quick. Her remark had just the right amount of flirtation coated with remarkable wit for someone her age.
"Oh? What was all that nonsense with darkspawn blood and mages then? A puppet show? It seems to me that magic has already failed. I'd recommend a sharp knife to the kidneys next time. Less impressive, but it gets the job done."
"Shouldn't you be trying to talk me out of killing you?"
"Why should i? I am a strategist by trade, after all. Should a fine plan be abandoned simply because it ends in my own demise? That seems like such a waste of a good idea."
Loghain could hardly believe himself. Was he actually flirting? He was old enough to be her father, at least. She was exactly his daughter's age. Cailan had even been infatuated with her before Anora had called his attention right back to herself.
And why this woman? Why now? He hadn't been this taken by a woman since—but no, Rowan was gone. He pulled himself out of his internal argument for long enough to realize that Melody was speaking. She had seemed to become solemn again and drop her flirtation. Good.
"We're going to have to work together, you know."
"Really? Is that punishment meant for me or you, I wonder?" He suddenly scoffed.
"And just like that we're allies? I can't imagine it's so simple." He shook his head and sighed,
"I don't know what concession you want from me, Warden—"
"Melody." She interrupted, her eyes wide and reproachful.
"What?"
"My name. I've told you to call me Melody, not Warden. That is what I am, not who I am."
"Melody, then. I expect my word will not satisfy you."
"I want no concession, Loghain. I just need to be able to trust you.
Trust? Was that all she wanted? Truly?
"Nothing I say will prove that. Either I will be worthy of trust or I won't be. I think it's time we got to the point here; what do you want from me?"
Melody looked at him questioningly.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I can't imagine you spared my life in the Landsmeet by accident. You have some plan in mind."
Melody simply shook her head and what she said next made Loghain seriously rethink his questions for her.
"That's just it, Loghain. It was an accident. My hesitation to kill you was for a simple reason: Anora. I know what it is like to lose your parents.
"Were I to take your life after your concession, I would be just like Howe. I refuse to be that monster. I'm not asking for anything, Loghain. All I wish you to do, is take this chance."
For a moment, Loghain did not have the words. With a simple clear of his throat, he found his voice, however.
"Fortunate for me, then, that I've always been a man to take chances. I'm hardly blind to the irony of this situation. All of this can rightly be called my fault. Whether or not you can do better remains to be seen, but if you can make this the end, Melody, then I will follow you. I swear it."
"I am glad, Loghain. It didn't please me to have the Hero of River Dane on the opposite side of me."
"Oh? Where in relation to you would you have me be, then?"
Melody approached him slowly, a smolder in her eyes, and just when she was an inch from him, she leaned up to his ear and whispered,
"All in good time, my general."
As she walked away, leaving Loghain gulping for air, she called over her shoulder,
"Rest up now. You need to be ready for your daughter's wedding."
Maker help me, thought Loghain, This woman will be the death of me long before I meet this Archdemon. I know it.