These stories are based on characters created by David Gaider and a modified Ser Gilmore by Immortality for the video game Dragon Age:Origins. This is just for entertainment purposes and not for profit. I recommend the game and its spin-offs because the stories are just too much fun. So much so that here I am writing about characters whose origins are so attractive I just wanted to see where it would lead me and here it is. This is my interpretation. Not to be confused or overshadow the original creators. I have tried to keep them as much in character as I can out of respect for their creators. My characters. well, they are mine. You may borrow them if you treat them nicely. Okay, kill them off it you wish because I probably won't have the time to read it any ways. Too busy writing myself. I hope you love or hate the stories I am about to tell. If you hate it that is fine. I only write for people who like these kinds of stories. And to encourage those who don't to find something better to waste their time with. I'm not a great editor but I can weave a good story. If I make 100 errors out of 13,938 words. That I can live with and I hope you can to.
This story, so far is more of the aftermath of two simultaneous great wars. So, it will be fairly domestic until all of the dust settles and everyone is in their places. My other story takes place much further along in the lives of Tara Cousland and Roland Gilmore and is more dramatic. I can't think of anything that isn't going on in that story right now? But it is a very complex story and I wanted readers to get an idea of what these two are basing their relationships upon before tossing everyone into the volcano. Volcano? No, haven't done that yet but you never know in one of my stories. That story has been written, at least 1000+pages at this point. It's coming but let's take a break and enjoy the scenery for a while before jumping into the really messy relationships shall we than?
A parade unlike any other seen in Fereldon for some time now plowed it's way through the streets of Denerim. People waving banners, some sewn oddly together in different places, being rent upon in the various fights that took place throughout Fereldon were waved eagerly as proof their lands were still there and their people were still to be counted on. A few bitter souls could still be found cursing the names of the victors for they were too caught up in themselves to wallow with them in their own personal losses. But their struggles were to be built upon another day as the new Arlessa of Amaranthine, the Heroine of Fereldon, was there to celebrate their triumph over evil. The archdemon had been taken down and the darkspawn, had, for the most part, have been cut and pieced, burning up in pyres stacked some two stories high in some places. The stench, though disarming, was welcomed as proof that the Blight was no more.
So once again, the Grey Warden's or rather two Grey Warden's did save Fereldon and all of Thedas from a fate worse than that of even the Orlesian invasion years before. Some spoke of the rebellion. Of the schemes and ambitions of Teryn Loghain and his cohort, Arl Howe, wondering what was to be done now that they too, were no longer a part of Fereldon's reigning rule? Many questions were still be had. Many more, had reason to ponder their future fortunes as well. With a Country so brought down in so many ways, there was opportunities to be had and many had so much more that still waited to be laid to rest.
Lady Tara Cousland rode along with Eamon's men who escorted her as she rode through the town, much to the people's delight. She smiled and waved as if she was the ruler of all she could see and hear but honestly, it was the end of this parade that she longed for this day. Already there had been some merry-making up to this day that Alistair Theirin was crowned the King of all Fereldon. It was nice but too many questions came her way and what she really longed for is to be far from all of these inquiries. She knew, after today, nothing would ever be the same in her life. Though she walked away from anything to do with her playing a prominent part in the rule of Fereldon, much to even Alistair's disappointment, they both knew, she was only a distraction for him. She could never be what he wanted her to be. Her plan now was to live out her life with the man that she truly loved. But even that was not going to be so easy for Alistair now being the king, he made sure by appointing her as the Arlessa of Amaranthine that not only did she have to answer to him but to her brother as well. It seemed it was not enough to be the Princess of Highever, nor third in line to the throne but they made sure, even if she was tempted to leave Fereldon on her own, that her duties would tie her forever to it's land and it's people.
She had once imagined a journey with Gilmore to finally see that fabled land known as Weisshaupt. After all the tales Ser Gilmore had told her about the Grey Wardens that he learned in his own studies before the Blight it seemed like a land of dreams. Fereldon held so many bitter memories for them both now. Between the squabbling with her parents over their own hoped for union, to the slaughter that took place at Highever, so many nights, when even such creatures as Shreiks could appear to attack them out of nowhere. They wanted to finally live somewhere that they might be able to raise their child in peace. Now, however, that was all dashed when the new king and her own brother made it abundantly clear. The only way they could ensure that Fereldon is safe while it re-structures itself was if she held up the coastal regions of Amaranthine along with the Grey Wardens. Her being tainted now meant they only had so much time to secure their land before both she and the King were meant for the Deep Roads. This troubled her greatly. She tried her best to negotiate her way out of all of this but she knew it was for naught. They both were right. How could they trust anyone but their own inner circle while they are this vulnerable. Since Alistair must answer to the throne, she must answer to the Grey Wardens. They could not risk putting another in her place and having another rebellion within the Warden's while Fereldon was still recovering from the aftermath of the war.
It was a sorry burden she now carried with her, as she smiled and waved to these people who she knew really were wondering what was she up to? What schemes will she come up with now? What will become of Fereldon now that a woman rode up in triumph over the very evil most lived in terror of ever having to face? Now that the Grey Wardens held sway over both the throne and Amaranthine, what did that mean to the remaining nobles, their lands and people? These were all very good questions but not of immediate concern for the woman they had all come out to cheer for in the streets.
As she finally made her way back to the palace, she found her brother upon his own horse, riding up to meet her before she could return to the royal stables.
"Fergus, what is it? I was finally returning to the palace. Why are you here? I would have met up with you later on."
"I couldn't take that risk, Tara. The mage, Wynne, she told me, rather informed me, that you mean to go to Hunter Fell soon after this? Is this true?"
"It is. I have to settle some formalities before I leave here. Sign documents, attend certain meeting as well as you do to settle affairs before leaving here in regards to Amaranthine but other than that, it is my plans to go with Roland to meet up with his father finally. Why do you ask?"
"Why? You are not returning then to Highever?"
"It was not my intention to do so right away, why? Is something amiss?"
"Only our parents funeral. All of our people need to be laid to rest. Respectfully of course. Just because we could not do so when it was proper for us to so, doesn't mean it should never be done at all."
"No, of course not. Nor do I mean to leave all of that affair into your lap either. This, duty, I must take on, it is a burden to me brother, you must know that."
"Perhaps but we already discussed this part of it. You know, had I been ambushed and couldn't defend myself you would have to have stood in my stead. We both have carried this burden since we were but children Tara. To turn our backs on it now, that would be, well treason, wouldn't it?"
"It wasn't so much that I was turning away from any of it. It' s just now I must answer to the Grey Wardens."
"Why? The Blight is over. Come back to Highever and live with me. I can hardly run things well by myself. Not, well, as things stand now. I know, it must hurt so much, to even think of returning now, after everything that has happened. I heard what happened to Gilmore as well. To all of those who were left behind. They were my friends, Tara. They gave their lives so that we could live. For Highever, Tara. We owe it to our people to take care of them. So many have lost just as much if not more than we have. If I can go back, facing the fact that I failed my son. My wife. I vowed to protect them with my life and now? I have so little left of all of that. How will I live there without you and not go mad? I walk down the hall of our ancestors'. You know that hall well do you not?"
"Of course I do, what of it?"
"How many times did we both walk it with our father who was carefully telling us over and over how they lived and died so that we could stand there, right there, remember how father told it? They lived and died so that we could raise Highever to be a great land. A land where people can finally be free to prosper, live out their lives, not as slaves but as freemen. Now, I avoid that hallway. I have vowed to take down every portrait. Every picture that stands there to mock me. As if saying to me; I failed them. I was given so much and lost it all. Please, say you are coming back with me or will be soon?"
"And what of Ser Gilmore? You know I mean to take him as my husband."
"Must you rush into that now? I mean, I have no hesitation in taking him back into my service. I will make him Captain of the Guards, as he should have been all along. I see that now. I mean, how did he even survive all that Howe put him through? The man must not be human and of course I want him by my side."
"But brother dear, you are forgetting several details. As much as I would like to return to my rather mundane life at home. It was for me for too long a torturous life under our parents thumb. Now, I am to be the Arlessa of Amaranthine. So I can no longer live in Highever and rule from afar can I now? Not if you expect your border to be free from pirates or opportunistic Orlesians. More than that even, whether you like it or not, I am a Grey Warden. Not just any Grey Warden but the Commander of the Grey. You of all people know what that means, Fergus."
"It just means that you are a leader. Another can stand in your place of leadership and answer to you in that regard. I have already placed a Senechel in place. You needn't live there full-time. Just visit on occasions to conduct business as it were."
"And you trust that another won't rise up in the ranks of the Grey Wardens, in my stead? Maybe find an apostate to recruit and once more the Grey Wardens rise up against their rulers. Are you prepared brother to take on any of that type of conflict now?"
"No, of course not. I have to rebuild my entire army. Almost entirely from scratch. With so many able bodied men now dead to me. Even their children, my son, what little do I have left to build upon? Can a man die of grief my sister? Some days it seems that I can but I must pretend that I am strong. Even when I am not. Is that not the way of things for us?"
"I know. But there is even more to all of this than even all that I have said."
"More? Already you have weighed me down too much."
"Please, Fergus, as you said, we haven't time for pity. I will marry the father of my child, Fergus. Even if it means I have to leave everything I have known behind me."
"What? Why must you play with me like this? Am I not suffering enough?"
"When you face an archdemon and feel it's breath against your throat or find yourself tossed about by an Orc the size of two rooms stacked one on top of the other than we can speak more together about suffering."
"I have faced giant Orcs during the Blight as well."
"And dragons? What say you to that?"
"No, I haven't come across any so far but it doesn't mean that I would tremble with fear in their presence either?"
"If you don't stand back some in awe, than you haven't faced fear yet. Or the grossness of a Broodmother."
"I have heard stories. Since the slight possibility still exists that I might wed again, I rather not."
"It will sober up even a drunken dwarf I promise you that. Even Rory had to catch his stomach upon facing such a monstrosity. It is beyond imagination."
"Best that it stays that way for me. But still, I would take it down, if only for the decency of women by and large. How can such a creature even be made to exist in our realm let alone our imaginations?"
"If only it was left to my imagination. Rory was left so uneasy by it all he refuses to allow me to face the end without his presence. So you see, Fergus, though I'm sure he would consider an honorary post here at Highever, he will not serve again under your wing."
"And why not? Am I not fair? Does he have a more lucrative offer in front of him?"
"He does, with me. You already had lost him and you knew it when you denied his advancement to Captain of the Guards. He was your second. He was the only soldier that could best you and you know it. To deny him out of principle? It was wrong. What our parents did to me was as wrong but what you did to him? What all three of you did, drove him to seek out membership among the Grey Wardens."
"I never made such a suggestion to him? Our parents were concerned that if we raised Ser Gilmore too high, he might challenge my rule. They suspected that his seduction of you could be a plot to push me out of the way. If he could marry my sister and convince her that he should rule instead? It would cause a rebellion. If he succeeded in such a plot. Other nobles might rise up against Highever. Challenge such an upset in their midst."
"What an imagination all of you had. Did father even discuss any of this with Roland? Where were all of these plots of his? Probably something Arl Howe hatched to distract our father from his own treachery. By putting Ser Gilmore aside, it left us weaker. Seeing himself so rejected by the very people that he loved as his own family? It was too much for him. Not only did it break his heart and mine to be so put down. Treated as if we were ignorant children even though we both knew each other well? We courted for years. It wasn't some passing whimsy of ours. Never had Roland plotted to overthrow your rule, Fergus. You must have known this in your heart. Surely you could have at least discussed it with me? If anyone knew his heart and desires for our future it was I. So instead you reinforced our parents insanity. Why? I must know the whole truth."
"It is as you say. A part of me would have loved to pass along all of that responsibility onto you instead. Or at least share it with you and even Roland if you both were allowed to wed. Of course my wife would hear none of it. The idea of Gilmore plotting against me could be a real threat. I see now he only meant to impress our parents. Much like I tried. To prove he was worthy of such a bride. Sadly, our parents did not see it that way. And it was too easy or I was distracted by my own ambitions to trust my own friend and ally. I don't know how to explain to you the pressure our parents laid upon my shoulders at that time. All they could see is that their perfect plans were not going as they wanted them to turn out to be.
Your refusal to marry was complicating matters to their wit's end. Oriana and I also had not produced any more children. Which of course was all my fault. As long as you remained at Highever they had to supervise you. They wanted you married off and then they could concentrate on my problems instead."
"How could our parents be so misled in their thinking? Though we both know things weren't so great between you and Oriana. Her resistance in allowing Oren to be trained up right was a sore spot for father I'm sure. Of course if you could keep your wife with child, than she wouldn't find as much time to interfere with the rule of our castle."
"I did what was expected of me. It wasn't my fault she didn't get with child again. I can only do so much. Our conversation were so trite though as you must well remember. How our parents could have found such a boring wife for me? It doesn't matter now does it? You know I did not hate my wife. Nor did I treat her so poorly. She wasn't very pleased with my duties that required me to have to scout in the Wilds. I suppose she wanted me to act like some old man. Sit at home, drink tea. Smoke a pipe. Get fat and lazy. Supervise jousts and reign over parties instead? Blast it all I say. I really could hardly stand such duties but you know that Tara? Father preached until I felt I was going deaf and an army that is not pushed will fall on it's own swords. That if we did not show our might, others will assume we were the easy target. In the end, that is exactly what ended up happening to us didn't it?"
"Our parents knew this, Fergus. They just felt they could keep order the way that they ran things. Too confident that their soldiers would allow them to make decisions for them rather than think more on their own. Obedience has its' limits and our parents should have seen this. One can only rule so much over the lives of another. They pushed it too far and we all were forced to pay the price for it. There is no such thing as absolute power. Not if we respect our knights and expect their true loyalty. Especially in matters of the heart. Father was a soldier as well? Even he knew Loghain's rise in position was based on his ability to command and control an army, not his nobility. Did he use his dislike of Loghain's move, pushing his daughter, Anora onto Cailan so much that it was intention to punish the two of us for it? Me, because I built up a reputation for rejecting other suitors and Ser Gilmore because he did return my affection? Or did he use Anora's forwardness as an example of why he should not trust Rory's ambitious pursuit of me?"
"I can see how that had an effect on their decision in your case. Though it was never really discussed out loud. Our mother probably had some hope that you might wed Cailan. You were every bit as qualified and would be as well liked by the people had you risen to such a post. Plus, your own training would have made you a military asset. Much like King Maric's mother become in the war with the Orlesians. We all know how ignorant Anora was in the ways of war. How easily her father brushed her aside so that he could rule over Fereldon in her place."
"What a fool. Why did they all have to prove such old fools, Fergus? We really did not have anyone on our sides through all of this did we? And yet, we, our choices, would prove to be the wiser ones and the ones that saved Fereldon from a much worse fate."
"We all make mistakes, Tara. Sadly when you get to our level of rule, the mistakes that we make are very costly. I should have stood up for Rory. He was so loyal to us. Since you too were so loyal to him. I was hoping in time, when father stepped down, than I could change things for the better. It was not prompting that led Gilmore to leave us or my honest wish for him to do so. Even father did not wish to see him leave. Just leave you alone was all."
"But you did turn your back on him, when you denied him the promotion he worked so hard for to earn. Had you but granted his promotion father would be looked down upon for denying our marrying after that."
"He would have denied him anyways, Tara, out of principle. There was no going around with that. Mother was adamant about the issue. You know that is not my doing at least."
"That may have been but all of you sealed my fate, so now I am answering to what it brought about. You see brother, had Rory left for the Grey Warden's I would not have been far behind him."
"Please! Our parents would never allow such a thing to happen."
"Don't you understand? I would give them no choice."
"And so you would run away? From Highever and your duty to the Crown? All of it for a lusty soldier with no real rank or title. And what? Leave me to do all the work?"
"That was the only option open to me. Not to worry yourself too much. I would have made the journey to Weisshaupt. Married with Gilmore and buried my true identity. We would ask nothing of you or my family. You could pretend I was ambushed somewhere. The victim of some cruel plot to get revenge on our father from some disgruntled peasant or lord who had a dispute with him. It mattered not to me at that time. I didn't need a Blight or even a Civil War to know what really is to be my future. I know what is right for me, Fergus."
"You are as headstrong as ever, Tara." He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts before looking back to face her rebellion against his wishes. "Now what is this you were saying to me? Are you with child? I'll kill him, you know that! How could he even take advantage of you like that? Blight or Civil War it was not his right to do so and he knows it! There are still nobles out there who would marry with you despite your predicament. Not as many choices now of course."
"I am with child and still you think you can convince me to marry with another? What are you thinking, Fergus? Do you not even listen to what you, yourself, have said? You betrayed your own friend and it has brought us all down. Now? You want to deny him his own child? I wonder which one of us is truly stricken by the "taint"? Maybe it makes a person more sane instead of the lesser for it? It does heighten ones senses more? That is a blessing as well as a curse at times.
For now, I have proven my right to determine my destiny in this Country. If you want me to protect Amaranthine for you than you must accept my terms, brother dearest. I hold within me now the only Cousland heir. If my child is a male? He will sit upon Highever's throne whether you like it or not! I will marry Ser Gilmore and my child will not be a bastard. Best that you realize all that you are getting with me as your ally." She stared back at him with such a look that he was not sure how best to respond back at her with. But her boldness had to be challenged by him in the least of it.
"My ally is it?" Fergus now prompted his horse to step forward a few steps and then back as if he was ready to fight it out with his sister. But his nervousness was showing and he wasn't sure what was his best next move would really be? This move at least gave a little time to think out his own thoughts on the matter to express his concerns. "Yet, to turn you away means to risk our losing all that we have put forth. Alistair will hear none of it. Neither would Eamon or Teagan for that matter. You know, Eamon wants you to marry with the King and I am not against it. If he will accept the circumstances you are now undergoing that is."
"Alistair and I have already discussed this. At length already. Hasn't he told you all of this?"
"Some but he is not so against the idea. Even if it is for more of a show to unite our Kingdom rather than a typical marriage. Aren't royal marriages typically like this? Though it is my feeling that his feeling for you or his wish is for something more formal. He would want an heir. Whether he will accept Gilmore's child as such, whose to say? Now that we at least know you can conceive a child, this is great news to the nobles of Fereldon."
"It never ceases to amaze me how so many of you men find women to be merely pawns for you to spread your seed with? It matters not because I am not going to play your queen, Fergus. I have made my choice and I am not going to shame Rory by reducing him to only my lover. I fear that his love for me, even though it seems secure, will not tolerate such a choice either."
"So he says he loves you so much but will not share you even if all of Fereldon demands that you play the part you were born to fulfill. Is that what you are telling me?"
"He feels it would be a greater wrong to bind the King in such a way. Dishonor his own family since it would also deny him a legitimate heir of his own."
"Such a pity than. What would become of his little fife if all of Fereldon falls because we have no heir to place upon our throne? Does he ponder that much as well? Or is he so full of his own desires that no one but his will matters in this kingdom?"
"What good comes from playing with men's hearts and desires, Fergus? Does none of this matter to you any longer? All would have turned out for the better had our parents not denied Rory's proposal."
"No, you mean if you had not rejected all of your suitors."
"I do not recall Prince Cailan knocking down any guards to woo for my hand. I was up for bidding was I not? Any noble with some money in their pockets or a worthy enough title was good enough for them. Who cared about things like character or even purpose?"
"It is the way of things. We have to keep our holdings secure if we are to remain a powerful force here in Fereldon. Marrying you off to Gilmore leaves you weak. Sure he can fight. I know of few men who would dare to challenge him in a duel who are in their right minds. But I'd sooner marry you off to Bann Teagan for I know he is to be lifted up to the seat of Arl as soon as the King set's his Court into its' proper positions."
"Bann Teagan? He's at least ten years my senior. Has he even made any such inquires to that effect? At all?"
"None to my knowledge."
"And Eamon. Has he suggested such an arrangement for his brother either? Always plotting out other people's lives. That did so well with Cailan and Anora didn't it?"
"No, I told you, he rather set you up with the King instead."
"He can't be serious. He is only thinking of Alistair's reign. Not our own personal circumstances. Alistair must work alongside Teagan. He would not want to do so if he feels cheated out of a bride merely because of such circumstances. And I will not play games between the two of them either. Don't we have enough scandals going on between us?"
"But it isn't true is it? What some say about you and the King, right?"
"Depends on what is being said? We were never involved as anything but friends. There is no doubt between Rory and I as to who sired this child of mine. I am not going to let any of you get away with suggesting it otherwise either. So you can put that scandal aside, brother. Nor am I going to put Alistair in such a position to torture him by marrying him only to end up rejecting him as my suitor. We both agreed and I have at least proven it so. We had a better chance of having offspring of our own apart than we could ever hope to, together. Things are much too precarious to risk his not producing an heir. Highever needs an heir as well and here you have it with me.
I do still hope that you will once again marry, Fergus. We did not make this child in hopes of ruling over Fereldon with it. We simply love each other. Now, you too have a chance to do the same and we both wish you well in your pursuit. You can tell Eamon, Teagan and the rest that I will serve in Amaranthine and I will do the duty that is called upon me to do but it is my wish to live in the Bannorn. At least when I am not actively training others to fight for the Grey Wardens or performing my duties to the people of Amaranthine."
"You mean to live in Hunter Fell? As opposed to living at Highever. Have you gone mad after all? Because your words make little sense to me right now."
"Probably because of your own grief right now. Here, this is what I will do for you. I have promised to go to Hunter Fell, to meet Bann Gilmore. After that is done, I will travel back to Highever to help you carry out the funeral for our parents and those who lost their loved ones. It is my duty and my wish to do so. I doubt Rory will not think it is a wise thing for us to do. Than, it is my wish to return with him to Hunter Fell where we will marry and I will give birth to our child. Away from all of those who would judge me and than you, maybe too harshly, for my own actions."
"If you are to marry than, against my will, you will not do so even here at Highever? Is that wise to do since whether I agree or not, this child will be our only heir and our people would like to know they have a future to build upon here at Highever."
"I will think about it than. But you will do nothing or say nothing publicly against Ser Gilmore and my marrying with him. Or I promise you, I will not cooperate with your scheming. And the good will of Highever depends on your relationship with the King of Fereldon. Who is my friend. If you alienate me I doubt he will do for you all that he will do for me."
"Why is it that I know you must be right? I don't know how you have such a hold on this man. You clearly are rejecting any affection he holds for you and what that would mean to both of our lives if you married with him. That is if you held so much sway over the people here."
"Mother and father taught me well in how to deal with people. Alistair and I fought for our lives together. When you depend so much on each other just to survive it does create a bond between people I have discovered. For me? It is more about what we experienced together throughout the blight between us Fergus. For Alistair, it just became complicated."
"Because Gilmore showed up. The matter has been spoken of between allies in your group of friends when I inquired about the situation. I wish, since the two of you had been separated and clearly Gilmore was seeking better prospects on his own, you would have left things as they were. To not dig up that old tome once more."
"You seem to have wished or imagined many things that concerned my life. Many of those were purely the product of your ridiculous imagination. But what I feel when I am with Rory is not all make-believe. I love him. And he does love me. If you could only know him as I do."
"That would prove a very provocative situation don't you think?"
"I'm being serious, Fergus!"
"I was merely taking your statement as you presented it to me. Roland had moved on with his life. In doing so you could have easily, even though parted under duress, honorably used that as reason to turn to the future king rather than to a man who had already accepted his fate. As he should have from the beginning. He knew he was wrong to encourage you. All of this trouble and still you pursue the man, Tara. It isn't right!"
"You still refuse to listen to me. Have you no heart left in you at all than? Our mother, she gave up her life to defend our father. She told me she rather end her life then to face a future without his being in it. I think that was because she loved him? I would do the same without a trace of doubt for Rory. I would not have survived if I had to depend entirely on Alistair for my life during the Blight. He turned to me for leadership, Fergus. I had never led an army. And I turned to Roland because I knew I could trust him with my own life. You say he moved on but not in his heart. Neither one of us could. Because we love each other. He is my inspiration to live and to keep fighting. It is because of his love for me that we now have an heir. The Maker has given us one more chance, Fergus to make things right. Can you not see this is so? For me to leave my love now? Would be to walk away from all that I have left of the life I once had and lived so much for. Now, even you cannot force me, except to take my life, to turn away from the man who I love and always will. I can understand that these feelings are foreign to you. But if you can imagine Rory ever turning his sword against you, than you surely can imagine that he would give his life for me and to protect our child from any harm."
"I don't doubt that Gilmore loves you. Or that he wouldn't give his life for yours or that of his own child. He is an honorable man. I'm sorry he had to endure so much to prove that to me."
"And for his loyalty is it not fair that he be given, from your hand, the one person who he values the most? Am I not at least worthy enough to be his boon for saving the kingdom for you?"
"It's just what you are asking, really demanding, of me is difficult on a much higher level than just what I think is fair and just. I too answer to those who stand above me. I agree. He deserves your hand. It is his position though that is my greatest concern. I could have lifted him up to take Rendon Howe's place. He did fight in the Blight and the Civil War. Unfortunately he was overwhelmed because our army was split in half and no man could have overcome such odds in his place. But as you see? Other's in more powerful position must have also seen this and they have blocked my way.
You know, even if I consent to this marriage, you will remain the Arlessa but he will not be lifted up next to you. They would resist even my want to do so because of their own apparent wish to control you. I am still not sure what they have so much against Gilmore or what sort of plots they hope to carry out by placing you in that position of authority. Only as a means I can see in keeping our alliances secure. Which if you cooperate I will keep your position secure. Are you so sure there is not more you are keeping from me, my sister?"
"No, nothing I swear it to you. I can only see it as perhaps a slight on Rory, since Alistair still might be unhappy that he succeeded in our relationship. But I don't understand why he would do this to me since I cannot marry with him and produce an heir?"
"No. It would have been easy enough as well to choose another to lead the Grey Wardens. He could have made you the Arlessa without tying you directly with the Grey Wardens. Though militarily others might see you as weak because of your age and lack of a strong enough spouse?"
"Do you think they felt I would abandon, Roland, in time? As you can see, I have no need for one with the full might of the Grey Wardens at my calling. If need be, as the Heroine of Fereldon, I have all of Fereldon to call upon if I so desired to do this in my own defense. I did lead them into victory."
"This too is reason enough for them to put you in such a position my sister."
"It all leads to putting me and loyalty to the test, isn't it? It almost feels like a dare to me. Will I dare to defy their wishes for my life? Eamon gives me so much influence even knowing I will not take on the role as the Queen."
"Ah, but think on this, Tara? Fereldon's noble, could more easily accept a weak and feeble-minded king as long as they know, besides him, is a powerful and influential noble standing, if not sitting, next to him. Now I have no wife. What I do have is a very prominent sister next to me. So if our King should find himself, dethroned, for so many possible reasons. If I am forced to step forward you will not have to change your place of influence. As our third, you are not seen as an honest threat to me as my sister. So to outsiders, our reign appears to be secure. And by someone who is not a Grey Warden. So the pieces are so fitted in their places!"
"I do see weakness' in King Theirin's character that others will object to. Especially if they feel they are being unfairly excluded or are just cunningly ambitious. With Eamon rising up to be the new Teryn I feel it is enough to quiet or keep down the rebels."
"I hope you are right, Tara. I may have prepared my whole life for this responsibility so much has changed in my life beyond my control. A lesson I hope you will learn from in regards to your own loved ones. I just wish there was more time to prepare Alistair for his role. Granted he has just enough charisma to hold a crowd's attention. It is businessmen that will challenge his reign the hardest."
"They will but he has mastered the art of avoidance. He is quick with his humor though not as witty as most of us would like. It is how honest a man he is. His ability to stir up a crowd. They respect the King because he too proved to be more resilient in the face of mortal challenges and come out the victor."
"That is a good point. The people love success and power. More than anything else the majority want to be reassured they can go about their business without any outside threats. He also has the favor of the Chantry. This is another powerful resource he seems to have with him."
"Enough at least to keep the peace between the King and Reverend Mothers for now. They were not at all pleased to see Alistair leave their order and thus their control over him to join up with the Grey Wardens."
"No I wouldn't think so at all. I feel though it was the best thing that ever happened to the man. They would have kept him at bay when we needed his title to influence other groups to assist us with fighting the Blight."
"It had its' moments. He was so reluctant to step-up to that duty which made others leery of our true intentions Our true success on that matter came to us in out ability to work as a group, together. It was more by might that we won the day with most of our allies than our tongue I'm sorry to report."
"It often is the case. So goes matters in Fereldon for the time being. Let the Maker give you a son. The King, at least one of his own. Fereldon will not be secure until others can see we do have a succession in place. Until then others will be plotting tirelessly to come up with schemes to unseat this king I'll wager."
"Do not worry yourself so much, Fergus. Alistair has surrounded himself with good counsel. As you say with this new decree at least treason will not be one of our concerns at the present moment. I believe Alistair has a sincere goal set to improve on as much as he can to secure our livelihood for this reign. I know, he often is seen as the first one to push his responsibilities on to others. But I have spoken with him often enough over what he wanted to do with life if he rose up to serve as our king. He will not be so easily intimidated by his enemies. Once he settles into the job at least I am sure he could do no worse than his brother, Cailan did in the same place."
"I really am wishing for an improvement on that era seriously."
"So say we all. It has to be a priority to see him married. To someone who isn't too ignorant of the Court. But she has to be trustworthy. It would pain me to see another woman like Anora sitting next to him besides the throne."
"Well I do feel we do not need another barren queen. Queen Anora was not a bad influence on Fereldon so much?"
"Fergus she worked with blinders on. There is much corruption that took place by her own father's doing. Eamon feels that some of what happened to him and throughout Fereldon was a direct result of his insistence that King Cailan seek another wife to take her place."
"Only because he could manipulate his daughter. King Cailan though was already growing weary of his father-in-laws interference. It was only a matter of time before the King would be forced into making the changes necessary to save his royal line. A very difficult place to be standing in I can imagine."
"Especially if you have a murderous tyrant for a father-in-law. This is why we have to be so careful to not steer Alistair in the wrong direction when it comes down to his marrying. Even under this map you so cleverly laid out or really probably Eamon's workings, it is the kK`ng whose nuptials that everyone will be concerned with. Who I marry, as long as it is not an enemy of the realm, doesn't matter too much. What matters more as far as I am concerned to the realm is how I manage the Grey Wardens and what will be their place among the people of Fereldon."
"It does greatly matter for our own security here in Fereldon. We must make good use of the Wardens to prove they are an asset and not some ominous threat. Have you already considered how best to use them to our greatest advantage my sister?"
"It has been discussed between, Alistair, Roland and I. We had some discussions that I felt were productive with Riordan also. It is my wish to see at least some representation from any one of the older orders to assist us in the beginning. I have already made some inquiries while I was stuck here in the meantime. We will earn our keep I hope by securing transport. Aiding the local law enforcement in whatever way will put us in the best light. I'm not sending out Wardens to play local guard duty or to break-up a tavern squabbleS. That is a pure waste of our specialized training. It will hardly win us too many favorites with the locals either."
"No, that is a good choice. I highly recommend that you hold tournaments. Soldiers look forward to them. They draw a paying crowd. This will enourage recruits as well as serve as a way to prove your worth. If you keep your Wardens hiding in rooms deep inside your castle, people will create all sorts of morbid stories to fill in the spaces you leave too much open for them to do so with."
"That is a very good suggestion, Fergus. I am not so eager to show off what I have learned through specialized training. My advantage comes from my foes being unable to anticipate my moves. Still, I believe we can do this without upsetting too much the secrets all Grey Wardens must bear to protect our society."
"Yes, yes, so I have heard already too many times. How can you be so confident that Gilmore is willing to ride on your bootstraps? He will not chaff as it is you who is lifted up while he will be left but to follow behind you?"
"You put it all so eloquently."
"This is important, Tara. If you marry with him than you have little recourse but to have to live out your life with the man. Even if he grows bored and seeks out other more convenient situations for himself instead."
"Your suggestions are not improving any Fergus. I know that he loves me. That it is not his ambition to over-rule me or to manipulate me to gain power and influence for his personal gain. Only in securing his own home and the well-being of our people in Hunter Fell. He is not opposed to taking on his father's mantle when the time is right. He will do this for our child's security and to fulfill his obligations to his family. For him, this is enough. He tells me he will use these means to help to secure our families safety. He has never brought up to me his own personal need to rise any higher above the station that has already been established for him by his birth. The only other ambition he spoke about is joining with the Grey Wardens. So I cannot see that as a driving need for constant advancement except to continue on this course he has planned out"
"And what of his duties to Highever? Has he forsaken me completely now that he has built a reputation for himself."
"We already spoken about this, Fergus. I have already explained his reasons for that pursuit. He also harbors a heavy, personal burden, because of his cruel experiences under Rendon Howe's heavy hand. You and I will never, at least I hope not, comprehend what a terror it is to endure such torment and torture. His suffering is real but he has proven that his ability to carry out his duties in spite of this. I can assure you his scars are a miserable site to behold. Just because they clearly state that his story is true. I cried when I first beheld how vicious they were in their treatment of a very honorable knight. The memory of those days still torment him in his dreams. Our friends suffered loudly while he was so heavily restrained and unable to do nothing to ease their pain."
"It upsets me, every morbid story that comes to me from those days.. ' From what I have heard and please, let us not speak long on this matter, my wife and son, their death was, swift. You did not hear that my wife did suffer more, have you?"
"I was right nearby, Fergus. So was mother. Had it not been so Beowulf would have sensed their presence and alerted me sooner. No, I am sure, it was ….without any suffering, other than the immediate pain all deaths bring with it by such means. It was not so for many others though Rory confessed bitterly. You will have to discuss this further with him. If there is more that you wish to learn. He told me much but I care not to repeat it."
"I am not willing to hear it all either right now. Rest easy, dear sister. It was probably fortunate that at least you were there to fight the Blight more directly in my place. I would not be able to leave Highever to join with the Grey Wardens. You still would have been sent and I would have fought to save our parents at least."
"Things would have turned out much differently Fergus had your forces not been separated. We both know that is true. That is why he did it. Had I refused to leave with Duncan? I might not have survived. I really will never know? Howe had everyone murdered. I don't know what he planned to do with me if he caught me? Rory felt he would force me to marry someone of his choosing. At one point in the Civil War Loghain sent troops to try to imprison, Alistair and I. He meant to try us for the murder of Rendon Howe. None of us could see our surrendering to his will as a reliable method for survival. It seemed easier for him to put the two of us out of his way to prevent us from leading a rebellion against his attempt to seize the Fereldon throne for himself."
"Murderous traitor. May his ashes be buried under a pile of manure. To cover up the man's stink. Since you eliminated the men he sent after you? We may never know his real intention regarding your future here. But do we really want to either?"
"You are right. It is a wasted effort. They tortured men though and for what? To what purpose? That is why I think on these things. That is all. As for my influences here in Fereldon and beyond. I just happened to find the opportunity to negotiate with more people from foreign lands and to solve some of their more pressuring issues for them in favor of our good relations with them in return. We did have the Grey Wardens treaties in our favor as well. You could have done the same brother, had you dared as much as I did. But, it is better that I made the sacrifice. Had I died after I had slain the archdemon, the people of Highever would still have you to pull them all back together. What you must now accept is that I couldn't have survived without Roland's help. He has saved my life many times in battle. What I could not accomplish with a slight of hand and dexterity, he did it, with skill and brute strength. We won because we learned to forgo our differences and worked to our personal strengths. We all had our sense of pride and dignity but never did it get so distracting as to interfere with our achieving our goals."
"Oh come now, Tara, even I know in battle, much of it comes from your enemy underestimating your skill and tactics. And a lot of miscalculations by your enemy."
"So it does and if we were so naïve or less foolhardy as I know you are really suggesting of us, we might not have won. Because the odds were clearly not in our favor most of the time. And yet here I stand before you. I learned more then you ever really imagined that was possible for me to do. I submitted to our parents rule because I was young, Fergus. I was afraid of what would happen if I just left. Ran away. But I was growing weary of it all. I would have left Highever eventually. One way or the other. Mother made it abundantly clear that Highever was not to remain my home forever. So you see my brother, even when I return I cannot stay and it was never meant for it to be that way. At least this way, I am leaving it happy and I will return, when you need me to. I am not abandoning you but I am helping you. The best way that I can by protecting and making good use of the people to the east of us in Amaranthine. I will die before you even though you are my senior. My fate, as we both understand it now, is already fore told. At least let me have the chance to be happy. Even if it is only for a little while. You, will one day have to step up as Regent to the Crown if not take on the throne itself if we can none of us produce an eligible heir. Hopefully, this will be a son. With Rory, you know he will be a strong boy and a good leader."
"Isn't it his dream now to join the Grey Wardens? What if he fails the Joining? If he too is tainted there will be no more children for you as well."
"He has agreed to put off the Joining of the Grey Wardens as long as he can move about them freely without restraints. As their leader I can guarantee such special treatment until the time comes that I cannot hope to bear any other children."
"And how long will that be than?"
"About ten years, so I am told. This might be our only child. I was also told that it is rare to even conceive a child because of the taint. I … well, I wasn't tainted very long before Rory and I reconciled and we became more involved. It must have happened soon after that considering how far along I am now."
"It is a miracle to have lasted this far. I don't even see how this can be if all that I have heard of your fights are true?"
"They are or were. Really, I rather not spend the rest of my day today recounting all that has come to pass. None of us can accurately predict the future. Just please, leave me to live in peace and I will do as I have promised to do for now. My priority is to keep my child safe from any harm and to marry the man who I have promised to love. Hopefully, there will be more children. At least Rory is willing to try to see if that is still possible and I am willing to see it all through. Whatever that will bring to us from our union."
"I am in no more mood to argue with you Tara over any of this. When you come back to Highever, we will continue with this conversation. You can bring along Gilmore, if you must. We will work out the details then of what the future will be. I have to face Eamon and he is not so easy to deal with when he feels he has his mind made up."
"Please remind him if you must how foul the match between King Cailan and Anora went if need be. Though they were never truly at odds with each other or really rejected the match, so much ill will came of it all because it was a hasty decision. Tell him to think more on that when he thinks of me."
"That won't put him in very good spirits, Tara, but you do have a point. My wife could do nothing to protect our child when he fell into harms way. Her abhorrence to actual combat training cost her, her life and that of our son's. It is something too we must ponder more on if Fereldon is to survive its enemies in the future. Look here! It seems your keeper has been kept waiting for too long and now he means to gather you up for himself. I hope you know what you are doing Tara. Maker help you and your children when they must answer to the nobles of Fereldon."
"He has blessed me so far! The price we both had to pay to reach this point in our lives was very high indeed."
Fergus than turned his attention to the man who was heavy laden with baggage and a look of purpose with this ill interruption.
"What are you up to now, Ser Gilmore? I am not pleased with your influence in regards to my sister."
"Yes, you have mentioned this before. The Maker though seems to have different plans for us than previously described. I know you don't like this and won't approve our future plans to be wed. It is all but set. I hope there are no hard feelings between us. You of all people know I have served your family well. I will protect your sister, as I have always in the past, from anyone who would see her harmed. My loyalty to your family has not changed. It has reached a level of commitment we both agree is the path we want to take on together. Fergus, I love Tara and you know I have for a very long time. I will do what we both know is the right thing to do to secure my family. We have accomplished what we set out to do here. It is time that we both move forward without delay to fulfill our new duties, my Teryn. Tara? I have what we need to make our journey out. Are you free now my love to leave?"
"I haven't taken care of those documents I mentioned with you earlier Rory. Fergus has held me hostage here for a while now."
"Anything else that you have to say, Lord Fergus, I hope can be addressed in a letter upon further thought. It will be dark soon and I rather Tara and I reach our destination before nightfall. We will still need a room for the night."
"Than brother dear, could you have what needs my attention sent onwards to Hunter Fell? We should reach there in three days hence."
"I will see that it is done. Those documents left can be forwarded as you wish. I will take care of what I can in your place."
"Good. Thank you for your consideration. Safe journey home than, my brother. Be well."
"So it is your intention my sister to leave us right now to who knows where?" He asked her in amusement but his eyes were trying to determine Gilmore's true intent with her.
"I'm afraid I have made other plans, brother dear. But we will see each other again, soon. I promised Alistair that I will not stray too far from Denerim for the time being. Though I did not say how far that would be. You know enough to see you through these dark days but they will get brighter. I promise."
"Rest easy, Tara. That is enough for now. Fergus. I hope you have not been keeping your sister out here all of this time only to bring her more to grieve?"
"No, but how can I make matters worse than they already seem to be? All I can say is you better watch over her well. If any harm comes to her? You will answer for it. That I assure you."
"There is no need to threaten me, Fergus. I vowed to protect your family with my life. Many of my friends died in trying to keep that promise to you. I see you have lived and I have done my duty to your sister as I promised that I would. I am sorry but her need seemed to outweigh your own for protection. Though it was both of our wish to seek you out as soon as we left Highever, Duncan made other plans and when I finally met up with your sister, she would not abandon her duty and so it seemed the wiser for me to help see her through with her quest."
"I see how you protected my sister, Gilmore. Much more than any of us would have expected from you. Now you have put the turn to the screws and we will see how it all turns out for you as well."
"So we shall. Even though it seems that our own loyalties between the two of us have fallen under such trying circumstances. My life and my service remain faithful. To the needs of your sister if not also at the previous level to you. Only as her destiny has now been divided from your own. I am sure you will agree she is the Cousland who is in the greatest need of my protection."
"Come, Rory. " Tara pleaded as she rode her horse close enough beside his own so that she could take his hand to comfort him some from the feelings seeing Fergus now must conjure up inside of him. She knew the two of them still must have unfinished business between them. Especially when it concerned her fate. It was better to leave that until they returned to Highever at a later date. "My brother is not in so fair a mood for us to banter on like this Rory. He needs to rest before his journey back home as do we. I need some peace and quiet right now. So let us leave and I will tell you more of what we have decided between us later on. Fair thee well, brother. I promise I will see you soon."
"Good evening, Fergus."
"And to you as well." Fergus left it at that but he took the steps back up to the palace entrance in rebellion with his every step. He knew none of the council will be pleased with his sister's actions but they needed her support. He was sure to avoid them all for the most part now this evening. Time better spent in the type of company bound to help him forget the things he knew he had no control over in the meantime. His sister was not going to mourn his losses tonight so neither will he!
"Tara, come let us leave Denerim for now. I know of a place we can stay for a night or two at least. Do you feel up to the ride out? I know, it has already been a long day for you. I take it your brother is not too pleased with our plans is he?"
"No, he wanted me to return to Highever."
"I'm not too surprised. But you know what that would mean right?"
"I do but we must go back. After a time. I must lay to rest my parents. Our people. They deserve a decent funeral."
"Yes, of course. And what do you want me to do than? I will stay in the Bannorn if it will mean peace with your brother. I cannot even imagine his grief over the tragic loss of his family right now. I know he needs you."
"But you need me too. And most of all I need you. You promised I would not have to face all of this alone. I hope you meant what you said?"
"Of course I did. I only meant that I would respect your wishes. You know just the thought of going back to Highever, it troubles me."
"I also know that we must return. Rendon Howe is dead. If you will do better without me while I deal with this, so be it but I rather have you with me. I can deal with my brother. He is going through so much at this trying time and I do feel like I am abandoning him, our family, some. But if he fails to support my cause, to marry you and bear our child in the Bannorn, where we will be safe until the child arrives? Than I will turn my back on him for it. I have told him as much. They cannot force me to serve the Crown against my will. They need me to rule and I will but under my terms."
"I would have never thought you of all people are destined to become our mad little dictator, Tara. But I cannot say I oppose your actions. I can only imagine what you plan on doing with the Grey Wardens once you get those recruits to set upon."
"You talk as if I was Howe or Loghain? They will fear me, some, but more than that, they will respect me. I promise I will be fair in all things. But I will not be weak, Rory, you know that as well."
"The Blight and this Civil War has changed us all. But you I believe are destined for this role. All of the time I have known you, you have trained yourself, in one way or the other, to hone your skills and learn what it means to lead an army. I am happy at least that you will allow me to take over your duties when even you must rest at times."
"Considering what they now are laying upon my shoulders? I don't see when that is suppose to happen."
"Now enough of this. That is for the future to decide. Tonight you promised me that we get to celebrate our good fortune. I only wish that we had already married but I will see it done as soon as possible."
"We need to wait, until after the funeral at least."
"Why? Is our getting married so disrespectful to the dead? My father is sure to be troubled enough that I went so far ahead of myself without doing so on my own? Tara, please, this could be our only child. I don't want it to be illegitimate."
"Nor do I my love. But my brother is in grief by all of this. Eamon has tried to pressure my brother to consider my match with the King. He fears the people of Fereldon will question his right to rule."
"That has already been settled. As well as the other issue. Are you saying he does not agree now? What is he expecting? The two of you could not risk having children. There has to be an heir if possible."
"We agree, my love. Nothing is going to change our plans to wed. I have made that abundantly clear so please stop worrying. Fergus isn't happy that I won't return with him but I know and you do too, if I did, it would only further separate us. I need your protection now. In my condition, I am too vulnerable. I realize this. Not all will be happy to see me take up rule over Amaranthine."
"Especially with so low of a husband I would suppose."
"Let them dare to challenge me. Even if I cannot fight my own battles or it is the wiser if I do not and jeopardize the life of our child. I will raise such an army against them. Ha, ha, let us see who raises the biggest army first, shall we? Amaranthine or Highever?"
"You are being silly now."
"Am I? I do not plan to just take a comfortable seat in Hunter Fell. You will have your work to do and I will have mine. Mine will be to raise the fortune of adventurous children who want to train with my army. I can make at least as good an impression as Rendon Howe has in the past."
"Now that, I do not doubt. As much as it might pain me to admit it. Men will be falling over themselves, whether out of honor, wishful thinking or just a better opportunity for their future. Who wouldn't want to serve under a woman such as yourself? I would sign-up eagerly, that I am sure of."
"Stop acting so eager, Rory. I doubt we will find it so easy to recruit people to join the cause of the Grey Wardens."
"With the right pitch? All things are possible. I think that after a Civil War and especially after such a Blight, there will be more than a few seeking out the stability that being a Grey Warden brings. Even at such a cost."
"Much like Oghren felt there would be those who would transform themselves to become golems, right? We will see how it all turns out. I was just making sport of my brother and his arrogance at times. Love you or not, you will be his brother-in-law soon enough."
"That is comforting to think about. Better that I don't at this moment. So we are ready to leave, now that all is taken care of here?"
"What about our things? I need to retrieve them for our stay away from here at least."
"You haven't very much that you gathered up on the road. I packed some of your belongings here. I hope this will work out for you until we can re-establish ourselves elsewhere. From there we can make arrangements to retrieve what is left, if anything, of yours at Highever."
"I didn't take notice that you already had my saddlebags with you. If you just let me re-attach them to my saddle, we can be on our way than."
"Stay up there. I can manage that here." Rory than dismounted smoothly from his own horse to get the job done. "Just, if you can help me a little there with these buckles, we can finish up and start out on our way."
"Hum …." He started after a brief pause.
"What's the matter, dear? I didn't catch your finger did I?"
"No, not at all. I was just thinking. Today, we really are starting the beginning of the rest of our life."
"In many ways that is true. I think we got a little ahead of ourselves in one regard."
"One or two? But than who is really counting? Once we marry those other two won't matter much to most of the people that we know."
"It is unfortunate that we have to put off our getting married."
"That is not my wish."
"Nor is it mine. But you have to agree, if we do so before we lay my parents to rest, some might think we contrived their passing away for our own purposes."
"No, one who knows us would think such thoughts."
"It seems even those who have, did not trust us Rory."
"Why not? Who didn't trust us?"
"My parents to start with. It seems they convinced my brother to think that you were using me to challenge his reign as Highever's leader."
"Why would I ever do that? I told your father I was just in love with you and worked hard just to make you my wife. I had no sordid plots or wicked schemes otherwise."
"I know. It doesn't matter. They probably just used this story to turn my brother against one of his best friends."
"That could have gone very poorly for them. If he believed these lies it could have gotten me killed. Then what good would I be to them dead?"
"Conveniently out of my parent's hair. We knew the risk. Just tell me once you left with Duncan, if he accepted you, you would have kidnapped me. Taken me away from my horrible predicament."
"You want me to say yes, don't you?"
"Of course I do. Wouldn't you have missed me so much? How could you live without me?"
"I don't even want to imagine such a life. At least as a Grey Warden it wouldn't have seemed like another lifetime spent missing you by my side."
"I noticed you showed no interest in becoming a Templar. Even after you had given up hope of our ever being together once again."
"That is true. You would have liked that better wouldn't you?"
"Men have done such things for love."
"You didn't join the Chantry either."
"I hadn't given up hope yet."
"Than, after I went through with the Joining, and because I missed having you to irritate me as well as make my life completely miserable on any other level of existence short of having such amusement. I decided that the only way I could ever live out the rest of my already limited lifespan was to return to Highever and save you from your wretched fate. I'm sure some storybook would educate me on these matter and I would have to come to my senses to see this was the only correct choice for future happiness."
"Quite right! You could kidnap me. Hold me for ransom. We probably could use the money!"
"Because just your being missing isn't enough of incentive to have all of Fereldon coming after us."
"First, they have to offer up the ransom."
"Then we have to get the money. Since you were not going to give yourself up for it that would mean I would have to kill, maybe, some of my friends."
"No, we can just give them some tainted wine. Something to just put them to sleep long enough for us to make our get away to Weisshaupt."
"But than, the Blight would come and since we were not there to fight it, all the people of Fereldon would die. Who knows how many other's until finally some brave Grey Warden did succeed in dying for the task."
"It might have ended sooner than that? We do not know this for sure. I couldn't have been the only Grey Warden who could successfully put down the archdemon?"
"You're right. I might have had to come back and done it just to save Fereldon from its wickedness. Then try to avoid being hunted down for the bounty on my head."
"That is so very kind of you, Rory! No wonder I love you so much! Wouldn't you think if you slay the archdemon and my parents didn't fall as they did then they would have to accept you as my husband?"
"I cannot really say? Your parents were very stubborn people."
"I know. But since I would be fighting along side you, I would beg for your life. The King would have to offer you some reward and the rest of Fereldon would be bound by honor to abide by it. And so our story comes around full circle!" She rode over close to him to give him a peck on the cheek.
"That is all I get for killing the archdemon for you? You know it would have been hard work to have to do it all myself."
"How would I know that? I never fought an archdemon before in my life! But I do believe it is very hard work to do so!" So she tried once more to kiss him and this time, he grabbed a hold of her leg so that he could hold her steady and really kiss her.
"Whoa! That is a lot to ask just for killing one little dragon."
"Or whatever it was. I would have expected a lot more for killing a Broodmother." Rory wryly looked over to her in response.
"At least for that, I would have to agree with you." She smiled back at him and he started to laugh over their funny teasing.
"If only our lives were this easy to solve." Rory stated with some sorrow ringing in his voice.
"I wish it was too. But we love each other more for our struggles with it all. Here let's go now. Before anyone tries to stop us from leaving, again! Now catch up or I will leave you behind!"
"Crow all you want to but only I know how to get to our destination."
"I can make one up if you like?"
"Maybe next time, love. Your home is a little too comfortable and tonight I rather we have less company than more. Even if I would be daft to deny that finally I have a chance to defy your parents wishes and sneaking into your room was something I thought of too many times I care to confess to in the present moment."
"So you say, so bravely now that they are gone from us. I hope this place you are taking me too has food. I don't mind not having yet another meal with people who enjoy making sport of me and my many, "adventures" on my own. The idea of our finally getting away on our own, is too exciting for words."
"Good. I promise there is food. All people still eat here in Fereldon." He said laughing at the thought.
"I am hungry."
"Yes, I got that idea. Hopefully, the rest of the people aren't too hungry than."
"Why?"
"Oh, I was just thinking, it was bad enough once the taint set in for you but now? Things might be getting worse."
"When I can eat that is. After this ride, well, the whole days event, even. Maybe we should have stayed around to eat dinner?"
"I thought about it but decided we would have better luck if we ate out tonight."
"But the food at the palace is rather good."
"True but the conversation? Even if you could manage to pull yourself away from it all I am not sure that I can. Besides, you said you wanted to get away from all of the attention didn't you? To be alone, except for me of course."
"You did say we were going out to celebrate didn't you?"
"I did! But I didn't say we had to do so with all of Fereldon."
"How will we be able to go anywhere that they won't recognize us? Or at least me tonight?"
"That might be a problem but since I am acquainted with these people I think we can do so without too much commotion."
"Than I am just going to have to trust that you can pull this off."
"You can trust me."
"Sometimes. I've gotten into trouble for doing that in the past."
"Situations sometimes are out of my control. You shouldn't be disappointed this time. I promise. It isn't a trick. Why would I do that now?"
"You like to make fun of me."
"Only in good humor, I promise. Are you really concerned that I am up to something?"
"Maybe. It has just been a long day. I hardly fought the Blight by myself. This entire hero worshiping idea isn't something I am too fond of. I can't say I enjoy being in the spotlight. At least by myself this way."
"It is safer in a crowd isn't it?"
"Especially when your enemies have you so outnumbered. I don't know how Fergus can stand it."
"It has its' good and bad points to it. It is nice to have the freedom to make choices for yourself isn't it? Many people have their life all planned out for them."
"Some people seem to like it that way."
"But you? I didn't get that impression from you at least?"
"No, not me. Isn't that why we are trying to avoid the party at the palace tonight."
"I don't mind it sometimes. But tonight I know few people will be happy that we have made our own decisions. It is difficult to celebrate when not everyone is happy with your choices I know."
"I know. Do we have very far to go?"
"Not too far but we really do have to stay outside of Denerim if we want to escape too much attention."
"Very well. Let us make way before someone starts to miss us."
"I can tell you are not very happy about that decision. You understand though if we dared to show up at the palace once more, we are inviting others to find reasons to delay our departure."
"No, I understand your reasoning. I am anxious for us to reach our destination. So, please, lead on then so we can hopefully arrive soon enough to secure good lodging."
"Right. Just follow me. It will be a little short of a two-hour ride depending on the road conditions but I promise it will be worth our effort to stay out there."
Roland started off and Tara followed him as they made way across a well-worn path for some time out of Denerim. It was forty-five minutes before they turned off the main road and to a road that though cleared for travel, it was lined on both sides by a heavily wooded forest. There were all sorts of strange noises echoing through the trees but nothing so odd as to alarm them. They both grew up in an area that was well situated to a long, flowing river that offered a dense forest, following across to the opposite side of the well stocked waters that separated Highever Castle from the Korcari Wilds.
Still it did cause them to travel at a slower pace for they both knew from experience that it was a good place for highwaymen, paid assassins, maybe a few imbeciles who think that kidnapping nobles is a sure way out of their financial troubles to lurk. So they rode close together on this expedition. Vigilantly keeping watch for when trouble did come upon them but this time at least, possibly because they were both traveling heavily armored, they found no trouble on this pass through to the country inn.