Introduction:

It has been a year since Ferelden's triumph over the Blight and the death of the Archdemon, and the newly appointed king-consort to Queen Anora, Aldanon Cousland has had his fame spread like wildfire across Thedas, and even the kingdom of Orlais was impressed. So much so, that empress Celene of Orlais has invited King Aldanon and Queen Anora to Val Royeaux, to celebrate in the flamboyance and splendour of Olesian celebrations, and offer the newly appointed monarchs cannot deny, and for Aldanon to receive the title of Honorary Knight of Orlais, but other reasons lie in store for the royal couple.

Meanwhile, the orlesian bard, Leliana continues her hunt for her bard mistress Marjolaine, who recently left Ferelden. Now her path mirrors Aldanon's, back into her old homeland. However, she is harbouring feelings for the young Grey Warden that were abated during the war; when Aldanon fell for the wild sorceress, Morrigan, who had recently disappeared from Ferelden. Now she is truly less certain of what she feels for her former
companion. But events are taking place in the shadow of Val Royeaux, and an old enemy, insane with vengeance lusts for death, and plots schemes like the Dragon Age has never seen.

Farewells

Denerim's Royal Palace was the jewel in the royal crown Ferelden, or so the saying went. It was a city of surprising urban diversity, from the slums and elven alienage to the Royal Palace district and Fort Drakon, magnificence was always to be found, but you had to know where to look for it. The city could be as quiet as a sleeping Mabari and as loud as an enraged one. But it was the Maker's blessing that the castle was the quietest part of the city. But there were always exceptions to such fragile principles, one such exception was the king's best friend, Warden Commander Alistair.

"NO! Absolutely not!" exclaimed Alistair, his voice high with shock and surprise at his friend's notion, so loudly most of the castle heard him. He had been arguing with his warden friend in his guest chamber in Denerim's royal palace for the past five minutes. He was wearing his silverite Warden Commander Armour emblazoned with griffons, and his friend donned his dragonbone Royal Golden Armour. His friend, a debonair gentleman with dark, smart hair a trimmed moustache sitting in a red velvet armchair shook his head and sighed off the disagreement.
"Oh, don't start that way now of all times, Alistair. It's only temporary, at very most a week." assured Aldanon Cousland, his rich, cultured voice however did little to calm Alistair's evident apprehension, leadership was certainly not his forte. But Aldanon had little time for reluctance, one of the many lessons Alistair learned from him.
"I don't if it's only for the next five seconds; you're not appointing me as temporary chancellor!" retorted Alistair, his voice firming "You already made me Arl of Amaranthine, and Maker knows I'm worse than useless at leadership. I'm also Warden Commander, and why isn't Fergus appointed Chancellor?" Aldanon sat up straight and looked his friend directly in the eye, Alistair recognised this look and stopped tensing. Whenever Aldanon gave him that particular look, it meant that he was about to have some sense knocked into him.

"You know as well as the next person does that that was because the Wardens are returning to Amaranthine and are in need of both a Warden Commander and a lord of the region to receive direct instructions from. Besides, nothing changes the fact that you're still Maric's son and of noble ancestry" said Aldanon. For a moment it seemed Alistair was about to leave, he paced around the quarters, rapt in thought. His face screwed up in disagreement, which soon gave way to thought and sighed in acceptance and agreement.
"All right, all right, point taken. Wait, why are you leaving again?" he asked, confusion written on his face. Aldanon had told him, but he kept forgetting, the reasons were, after all, too many to number.

"Fine, I'll remind you" Aldanon sighed impatiently "Empress Celene has invited Anora to discuss post-Blight political relations between Ferelden and Orlais, and I'm to be named Honorary Chevalier for 'preventing the spread of the Blight into Orlesian lands' in the Empress's words. But it's more like a gesture to silence distrust. The orlesian wardens also want to discuss the situation with me now that the Blight unofficially ended."
"Still, if this invite came from Empress Celene herself, it means that she wants you to fall for her the way Cailan did," Alistair murmured "and in front of Anora." he added. Aldanon paused, folded his arms and frowned in incredulity "You, my friend, are absurd. You honestly think Celene would try to lull me into her influence?"
"Sure; 'Bonjour monsieur Aldanon; care to join me in my bedroom?'" he mimicked in an Orlesian accent with a toned up voice, to which Aldanon rolled his eyes grimaced in mock disgust, hiding his amusement. As much as he found Alistair annoying, the war had after all cemented their brotherhood, and he was used to it.

"When you two are quite finished making fun of yourselves with Orlesian mock-ups, we must depart at once." Anora's even voice chimed in, a smug smirk across her face. She was dressed in a royal purple dress with gold linings, her hair allowed to run neatly down her body, a rare occurrence. Aldanon rose from his chair, adjusting his armour. "Fear not, dear" Aldanon said "I'm just appointing Arl Alistair as chancellor while we're both away. He has my full confidence that we won't return to a Ferelden bathed in another civil war." nodding to Alistair, who did not smile at Aldanon's attempt ar humour and stood focussing straight-faced at Anora, his smile had dissapeared when she entered, too much like Loghain, he thought. I suppose I should be lucky.

"Yes, well it's not like anything bad is going to happen." he told Anora "Like crops being stolen, another riot, tap-dancing soldiers trashing the palace!" he rambled on, inducing a delighted chuckle from Aldanon. But for all his glibness, Anora was hardly moved, only Aldanon's gentelmanly charm was the sort that would work on her.
"Enough, I can see your point clearly, Alistair." Anora interjected "Now then, my husband, don't forget your sword, shield and royal cloak. You wouldn't want to look less than you were when you killed the archdemon."
She threw a naughty smile across to Aldanon and departed, who admittedly made him smile back. "I'll see you at the carriage." Alistair seized the moment and threw another cheeky grin across, Aldanon's pleasure quickly turned back into pressure after realizing Alistair's humour attempt. He collapsed back into his armchair.

"Somebody's beginning to warm up to her!" he teased. Aldanon smacked his forehead, exasperated.
"I don't see what your problem is; to me she's more like a childhood acquaintance, than my worst enemy's daughter. That I reserved for Delilah Howe." He added; his voice growing cold. Alistair sensed his mood change and edged about nervously "Besides, she's your equivalent of Delilah, is she not?" he asked. Alistiar knew what he meant, he remembered the day the Howe family lost their noble title and lands, to be given to the Grey Wardens.
"That's true," said Alistair "and while I don't say it often, I am grateful you became her king instead of me. Maker, it would have been awkward." He clasped his hand on Aldanon's shoulder as he rose from the chair.
"Thank you. Luckily, she likes appearing attractive to me" He returned, smiling "I know you don't like the fact that people look to you for leadership, but the truth is you have it in you to lead. And don't worry; some men from Highever are coming to keep peace in Denerim while the Royal Regiment is gone, and Teyrn Fergus is coming to keep you company, his wife Lady Elebeth will look after Highever." At the news, Alistair relaxed. "I suppose that's not so bad." He said, acceptance in his voice. "But still what do I do in your absence?"

"Well..." Aldanon strode to his desk and picked up a large amount of books, scrolls and other articles "These should give you some background information about Ferelden politics, and what to do..." putting the heavy books in Alistair's arms, forming a pile up to his chin "and these documents are the more pressing items; letters from the nobility, trade subscriptions, tax reports, and don't sign the red letters" by the time Aldanon finished, they had formed a pile so high Alistair's face his behind it "Right. Thanks." His muffled voice sounded sarcastically from behind the pile. He rested it down on the desk, panting from the weight. "Anything else I need to be aware of?"
"Yes actually," Aldanon burst out in recollection, his voice suddenly hardened "In the time we're gone Alistair, take this:" Aldanon produced a pouch of sovereigns, enough to be called a back tax owed to the nobility. Alistair did not notice the caution in his voice and serious expressions, and reacted with awe and gasped.
"But what is it? It's enough to make a poor man rich enough to buy a decent house!" he exclaimed, amazed.
"Ssh!" Aldanon whispered "it's enough sovereigns to pay for the damage done to the elves in the Denerim, after Anora came down hard on them during their food crisis. It's like my father said once; 'You know what they say about mice when the cat is away?' I fear that you may need to do what Anora would not permit me to do while she's gone. Use it well." Alistair nodded understandingly, he took the pouch and concealed in underneath his armour. "All right, I'll be careful, you're doing a good thing, you know? Any more fuzzy stuff before you leave?"
"Yes; take care, brother," they clasped shoulders again "and no tap-dancing soldiers." He added smiling. Both men were used to each other's humour, whether it was Alistair's silliness or Aldanon's upper-class quips.
"Oh! You always were a fun sucker!" he joked. Aldanon turned and noticed a servant leave his Denerim Shield and King Maric's blade on a side table. He sheathed the blade and bore the shield . "Farewell." He finally said and vanished away. Alistair was left alone in the room, listening to the sound of his old friend's armour clinking away.

Aldanon was walking rather quickly now, guards stood to attention when he passed and maids and servants stopped working where ever he passed. However, avoiding Anora's bad side was imperative. They may have been childhood friends, but her father's reserved nature did put him off ease. Often he would cling to fond memories of play sword fights with his brother and Cailan, and Anora chatting with Delilah in the distance, whilst their parents discussed Grey Wardens returning and other politics. The fact that Anora was the true leader kept him subdued, he would not risk his title or Ferelden's prosperity in a heated argument with her, the best he could do was nudge her in the right direction.

"Ho there, your highness!" called a familiar voice, Fergus marched into sight, his grin visible across the hall. He was clad in a dazzling red steel heavy mail suit, and flanked by four formidible Highever soldiers.
"Fergus! Good to see you!" The two brothers embraced, but broke away just as quickly. "How's Lady Elebeth?"
"She's fine, you know getting me to walk in Denerim at the height of the celebrations was the best thing you did for me, I would not have met her otherwise." his eyes wandered the depths of his thoughts as he spoke, and a dreamy smile came across his face. Aldanon was glad that his brother had finally met a woman he truly loved. While he did love Oriana, she was just a bit too inflexible, and in Aldanon's opion stuffy. But he continued to remember her with honour, and her son, Oren. "I just passed the queen," he resumed "she says she's going to leave without you." the fact that Aldanon had to obey her still amused Fergus. Before more brotherly banter could resume, Anora entered the hall and was about to interrupt; she had a tendency to do that. But of course that was part of the package that was Anora Mac Tir.
"I was just about to tell the Teyrn that Alistair was in the palace, Anora" he countered, irritation rising in his tone. Anora shot a disaproving frown across, which lessened when Aldanon became visibly less annoyed.
"Well, we are ready when you are." She reminded him and left for the carriage. Aldanon strode out into the courtyard, Fergus at his side, and to his delight saw a company of knights clad in silverite armour with shield seals representing all the nobility of Ferelden, from Highever to Gwaren, Denerim, Redcliffe and Amaranthine. It took a lot for him not to give into his pride; even though uniting Ferelden from civil war was no triviality. Ultimately his position as king-consort, chancellor and General of Ferelden's army provided him great ceremonial prestige.

He marched towards a white stallion at the head of the regiment, mounted and turned to Fergus "Farewell, brother. Look after Alistair and Ferelden while I'm gone." He bid his brother with sincerity, clasping his hand.
"Don't worry about us, just have fun in Orlais and don't look too handsome or go unescorted, Orlesian ladies have a taste for heroes. And with Anora around, don't get too endulged" he chuckled "Oh, and here, take these." he unsheathed what looked like the Cousland sword and shield, but reforged with silverite, and a magical glow ran around their edges, Aldanon recognies the enchantments that were made. "I had them taken to Soldier's Peak to be reforged anew by Mikheal Dryden, cost me a bundle but it was worth it, considering the adventures you've had."
"I'll remember, and thank you." said Aldanon. He fastened his golden helmet and Fergus stepped back folding his arms. "Knights, sally forth!" he shouted, horns sounded across the city and the Royal Regiment and Anora's carriage set forth. Royal bugles sounded as they departed, the king was received by cheering crowds, eager to see the Ferelden king face the Orlesians.

Long after they departed the city, a golden sun was setting into the Amaranthine Ocean, Aldanon's armour shone in the fading light like a beacon for all to see. They would go first to Highever then to Val Royeaux. Aldanon's thoughts were just as quiet. I have served Ferelden as best I could thus far, Orlais will prove a challenge. Empress Celene is cunning, just like her people. My Warden sense is tingling once again, I know something great and terrible is on that road, Maker watch over those in my care.