A/N: So I've been toying with this crossover for awhile now. I hope you all enjoy it. Reviews are appreciated. Feedback even more so. Thank you to Saga Svanhildr for betaing this for me. xoxo
Heart on Display
The mask you're wearing is hardly you
The lies you're preaching are nothing new
Your taste is precious
But your heart is growing cold again
The spell is tempting but your wishes seem to fold again
-"Someone Like You" by 12 Stones
When the first raven had come, she sent word that the Grey Wardens could not interfere. Westeros was a long way from Ferelden and Warden-Commander Elissa Cousland was not willing to risk her men in her new position. When the second raven had come, she knew that Robb Stark was angry with her, telling her that she had betrayed everything they were supposed to have, betrayed him, and so many more things that she didn't want to think about again. She should have kept her father's promise to his house she knew, but she couldn't give in. She expected the third raven, but when it hadn't come, the youngest of the Couslands made a decision.
She was to sail south to a land where most of the people of Thedas would never go in their lifetime. Rules said that she had to ask the First Warden and beg pardon from the king, but rules be damned. She took her best men with her knowing that she would need them.
Since Alistair's wedding to Anora, she knew that she wasn't herself. If she had been, she would have jumped at the first opportunity to help Robb in his war. Her life became about her duty when she lost her love. I am a Cousland and I do what I must. It was a phrase she knew well and one that she said every day. When she hadn't received word from her oldest friend, she decided that she couldn't lose him as well.
"Are you sure this is wise?"
Elissa closed her eyes as she felt the cold yet salty wind from the ocean brush against her face. She opened them to see land just above the horizon. With a soft smile, she turned to see Loghain standing next to her. "The last time I was here my father promised me to Robb Stark," she told him. "You were here during the rebellion against the Mad King. Now there are several of them."
"And you wish to interfere?" The older man asked. She watched an eyebrow of his quirk slightly upwards as he looked down at her. His gauntleted hands gripped onto the wooden railing of the ship as the words left his lips. She couldn't tell if he was chastising her or if he was amused. Elissa just shook her head.
"No," she responded quietly. "I wish to save a friend and to honor a bond I dare not lose."
"And that is something that I can understand," he muttered under his breath, but the words were not lost to her. Loghain shook his head. It looked like he wanted to say more but she wasn't the type to press.
She had heard stories when she was little of heroes of legend. Loghain was among them with his adventures by King Maric's side. She wondered about all the things that he had done in the name of friendship. Could she be held at fault for interference? She didn't think so. The Wardens were allowed in Westeros, but none lingered longer than they would like. The scriptures and various books given to her by the First Warden said that an agreement had been struck shortly after the arrival of men. They had once lived in Thedas but chose to find themselves a new land to thrive on. Her order was allowed to recruit, but then they were to leave as soon as they were done. Westeros had their own equivalent to the Wardens; the Night's Watch.
Both had enemies of their own to fight.
But Elissa wasn't going there for a history lesson. She glanced at the Hero of River Dane and knew that she had made the right choice in letting him live. She couldn't have asked for a better man to have her back as they stepped into the unknown. Maker help her, but she was sure that she would have chosen the Blight over this.
"Thank you for coming with," she said to him. He looked as if he was surprised by her words, but they were the truth.
"Ah, I wouldn't let you go on your own," he replied. "After all… who better when it comes to war?" Only a few, but he did have a point. With Fergus busy rebuilding Highever, Zevran finishing business with the Crows and Alistair out of her life, she had no one, but it seemed that wasn't the case like she had originally thought. "May I ask you something?"
She crossed her arms in front of her body as she nodded. "Anything."
"What will your king think of this?" Her king, she felt herself cringe.
She noted the way he worded his question. The older man had shown no respect to his daughter's husband and with all fairness she supposed. The day she let him live because she couldn't take a father away from his daughter was the day she saw a new side of Alistair, a side that she would never forget.
"He is not my king," she replied slowly.
It was a traitorous thing to say, but who better to understand than himself? Elissa was ready to give Alistair the crown, but he had not been ready to receive it. That had been a little fact that she had failed to see until it was too late. When Eamon suggested a marriage to Anora to strengthen what hold the crown already had, he took the offer with anger flaring in his eyes. He had even invited her to the wedding. As Hero of Ferelden and newly made Warden-Commander, she had had no choice but to attend.
"Most would be a fool to say that." He let out a small laugh because they both knew who it was that truly ruled over Ferelden.
"Am I a fool to trust these men and women to possibly defend a man that they don't even know? In a foreign land no less?" She asked quickly. She surprised herself as the question came out, but she couldn't take it back.
"No," he replied honestly. "They'd follow you into the Void if they had to." They had marched into the Deep Roads; they pretty much already had. "They respect you and it's a respect well earned, having fought you myself and yielded."
Elissa smirked. "Barely," she said. "It's good to know." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "After everything, why do I inspire such faith in you?"
"You are your father's daughter," Loghain said as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
She smiled for the first time in what felt like forever. "Thank you."
The fallen general, whom she now called friend, gripped onto her shoulder. "I'm not sure if that's a compliment yet or not." She couldn't help but agree.
"No." It was a soft whisper that escaped her, desperate and distraught. Winterfell was no more. The burned remains made her look away. She had no idea if the Starks were in their home as it burned, just like she had no idea about the extent of the war in which Robb had begged her to aide. She was too late. She should have come sooner. Their deaths were on her hands. Guilt racked her body. She felt everything shake as the ground moved before her. It was a moment of weakness that she couldn't afford, but she couldn't stop.
When her knees gave out, she was ready to fall with the tears that she had fought so hard to keep back. But as strong hands held her, she steadied on her feet. Elissa looked up at Loghain, appreciating him in a new manner that she never thought she would. She gave him a grateful nod as she wiped her cheeks dry.
"What is our next move?" Loghain asked quietly. She almost asked him to take the lead. In a land far away from home, it would've been easier. Women did not lead armies, even if it was a small one.
She looked back to the Wardens behind them. "We should stray from the Kingsroad, but unfortunately, it is the only route that I know," she said. "If Winterfell is lost, I fear we will have no allies in the North. We go South and pray to the Maker that a Stark still lives."
"It's a fool's notion, Commander," Loghain told her. "We should turn back. I'm sorry, but if this lord is dead, then we must leave."
"You owe me," she countered. "Give me this and the debt for your life is paid."
His nose wrinkled slightly. "I thought the debt was paid with that witch."
"That is a deal you would have taken even if I had turned her away," she shot back. Loghain tilted his head down slightly. She was right. Even with the taint as a death sentence, he had no plans to join the Maker until he was sure Ferelden was in safe hands.
"And if he is dead?"
"Then we push back to Ferelden."
That seemed enough for him.
On the way to the South, they came across a band of 'barbarians' as she knew they were called in these lands. They were those who didn't wish to swear to a house, whose loyalties laid with themselves. Their swords had been drawn but she didn't wish to fight, not until she had to. She asked about the Starks and had been told of the "War of the Kings." He was alive. Robb was alive and according to them, marching back to Winterfell. It took everything she had not to cry out and jump up and down.
"I imagine he'd be bringin' that wife of his back to leave her there. Broke an oath, that he did. That isn't the way of the North." Elissa wasn't sure what stung most about the barbarian's words. Had it been the fact that Robb actually went against his duty and honor, or the fact that he had a wife?
Emotions were something to hide in Westeros. She remained stoic, a feat that her father would take pride in. "Do you know where I can find him?" She asked. The King of the North, she couldn't believe it. When she had seen the words in Robb's handwriting, she had reduced it to nothing more than his oversized ego at work again.
"I'd imagine he's almost to the Twins by now. Bet the Frey's won't be happy when they see his queen."
She decided that she couldn't listen to another moment of his blundering. There was no time to waste. Elissa had gone against everything she knew as a warrior, as a leader, and even as a human being. She pushed her Wardens to the brink; they were ready to fall from exhaustion, fatigue and whatever else ailed them. Only then would she stop as she listened to Loghain's warnings that she would lose those loyal to her before she even began her tour as Commander of the Grey.
One never knew how to prepare for the unforeseen and the inevitable. Once you thought that you had a plan, a second one was usually needed. Elissa brought up a hand to rub the back of her neck as she felt the tension growing there. She didn't know how she felt about not having a backup plan, but she supposed that she was going to have to make do.
They made it to the Riverlands by nightfall the next day and the following morning the Twins came into view… and as they got closer, the sounds of battle could be heard inside. Elissa's pace quickened from a brisk walk to a sprint. A dagger was in one hand with her sword in the other. She attacked anyone that didn't wear the Starks' sigil until she was able to find Robb, bent over on his knees, head bowed and eyes closed. A sword rose above his head and Elissa screamed, "Stop!"
A woman's voice was unexpected in the halls, especially during battle. Men froze, all except for one. His dagger was aimed and ready for Robb Stark's heart. Elissa reared back her arm and threw her dagger as hard as she could. She watched as the blade sank into the man's hand. He cried out and dropped his own blade.
"Who…?" He asked but didn't finish his question. Robb's head snapped up. His mouth gaped open slightly as he looked at her. She gave him a soft smile as she assessed his wounds. He would need a healer. And soon.
"Elissa Cousland, Commander of the Grey Wardens in Ferelden," she introduced herself. Loghain moved by her side, sword in hand. "This is my second in command, Loghain Mac Tir." Her tongue rolled slightly over her lower lip. "You will stop what you're doing now."
"You have no say in my house, young one," she recognized the voice of Walder Frey. It had been a long time, but there was no mistaking the venom of someone who thought they were owed everything.
"Oh my Lord, my say goes farther than your house," Elissa called out to him. "Robb Stark belongs to me now. Conscripted into the Grey Wardens. You harm a hair on his head, you answer to Thedas. Do you understand?" A war with the continent past the sea of snow was not one that they wanted.
The one that readied the death blow for Robb took a step towards her and Loghain reacted, sword out, tip nearly grazing his Adam's apple. "Do not mistake me for one that would think twice," the older man told him.
There was so much death around them. They would not have long to get Robb out of there, along with themselves. She knew that the Wardens couldn't come back until the war in Westeros was over. Elissa moved toward Robb and helped him to his feet. "Ellie," he whispered.
"I've got you." The other men didn't make a move as she helped Robb out of the castle. "I need a healer!" She called out to her men. One of the mages came quickly as she set the Young Wolf on the ground. She quickly helped to remove his armor before she started to feel the warm tingling of magic crawling over her skin.
She moved as she heard someone coming behind her but stopped when Robb grabbed her hand. Elissa turned her head to see that it was only Loghain, grim look and all. "Is he fit for travel?" She asked the healer.
"Not if you rush me," he replied.
The Warden-Commander frowned and looked down at Robb. His eyes were closed and she wondered if he was able to find peace in those moments. His life was about to change in ways that he could never have dreamed.
"Someone wishes to speak with you, Commander," Loghain said quietly.
"Then let them speak."
"It seems that my house owes your family another debt." That was a voice that she hadn't expected. Elissa stood up quickly, letting go of Robb's hand to face Lady Stark.
"My Lady…" she didn't know what to say.
Catelyn smiled sadly at him. "I should thank you," she told her. "I've lost…so much already. I could have not have endured losing Robb."
"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner."
"As am I," the older woman said. Her hard eyes watched Elissa and the young Cousland did her best not to cower.
"Lady Stark," she began as she crossed her arms in front of her body. "If I take him, there's a chance that he won't survive the Joining." The words were almost lost on her lips. It was hard telling someone that a loved one might die. But she had learned from experience that nothing could soften the blow of reality.
"But there is a chance that he might live," Catelyn said. "If he remains here, then his life is forfeit." Too many people wanted him dead. "Please…please take him." She didn't need to be asked twice. "And I must ask you one last thing. If he asks, tell him that I am dead."
Elissa flinched. "Why?" She asked. "As someone who has lost their parents, knowing that both are dead… I know that it changes a person."
"If my son is the man I think he is, then it will serve him good, and I pray that one day he and I can be together again."
"What of Sansa? Of Arya? Bran and Rickon?" She asked softly. She knew better than to ask of Jon. When she saw the pained look on the woman who could have once been her mother-in-law, Elissa reached out and touched her arm gently. "I will do what you ask of me."
"I had hoped to one day call you a daughter," she said softly. "Even if our houses did not join, I'd like to think of you as one."
She smiled at Lady Stark. "You are a true mother," Elissa told her. "May your Gods watch over you."
A small gasp echoed through the cabin. "Relax," Elissa said gently as she laid a hand on his shoulder. "You're safe." Blue eyes stared at her, wide and unsure. He looked away and sighed.
"Safe is a relative term," he told her quietly. "Where am I?"
"On a ship," she said, "to Ferelden." Robb started to sit up. A groan left him as he winced in pain. He brought up his hands to touch where his wounds had been. "The healers did what they could. Your wounds are gone, but there may be some internal injuries they'll want to tend to better when we get back to Vigil's Keep."
"The Howe's place?"
"Mine now," she told him.
His nose crinkled slightly. It really had been too long since they had last spoken to each other. "I bet Nathaniel loves that," he said under his breath. She wouldn't know but she didn't say anything. "Why am I going to Ferelden?"
"It was the only way to save you," she replied. "I conscripted you into the Wardens."
His eyes narrowed at her. "What?" He yelled. "You can't do that! What gives you the right? Gods, Elissa, I belong in Westeros, in the North with-"
"You're wife, I know," she replied. "It's hard to be King of the North when you're dead, even harder when you must leave the title behind for another cause." She pinched the bridge of her nose as she sighed.
"Wife," he repeated the word. She barely heard him but nodded still. "You know?" It was funny how he never mentioned it to her.
"Yes." Her hands fumbled slightly with her drakeskin armor. She needed something to keep her distracted.
"Ellie, I…"
"You don't have to explain yourself," she told him, "but remember this moment the next time you want to preach to me in a letter about family duties and honor."
"Don't patronize me," he shot back. "I have my reasons."
Elissa groaned. Sometimes she forgot how much younger he was than her. Sometimes four years seemed like nothing, but at other times it felt like the gap was endless. "As do I," she said as she got up, ready to leave. Names and insults readied but she bit them back. She had already lost enough people in her life, she didn't need to lose another…even though there was the chance he wouldn't survive the Joining.
"Oh?" He asked as his eyebrows rose.
"You're a fool, you know that?"
For a brief moment, she felt human. Feelings of anger and hurt rippled over her. It wasn't like she should care. She had had Alistair. But where did that get her? There weren't feelings between Robb and her, only expectations of old promises. Promises that were broken and couldn't be kept. She should have been used to it. That didn't make it sting any less.
"I've been called worse," he replied. She was sure. Robb sucked in a sharp breath. "They wanted to kill me."
Elissa nodded. "Why were you there?"
"I just wanted peace. To make up for what I did."
A small smirk graced her features. "Like I said, a fool." He glared at her. "I've got to check on the others," she said. "Get some rest."
"Don't go." The pleading in Robb's voice put a hesitation in her step. Yes, he was still so young despite everything that he had been through. His emotions made his age very clear, though she was sure the same could be said of herself.
"I don't want to stay."
She didn't even want to look at him. Robb sighed and reached out to her but she pulled away. "What of my mother?"
Lady Stark's request was still fresh on her mind. She couldn't face him because she knew if she did, she wouldn't be able to tell him the truth. "She's dead," she told him, voice thick. "I'm sorry." She wanted to leave. She wanted to walk away. She wanted to keep her resolve.
Then she heard his quiet sobbing. Elissa spun on her heels and went to him. She took him into her arms and comforted him. It was what he needed. It was what she needed.
