Alistair
They say love happens in an instant. That sometimes all it takes is one look. Fergus spoke of it as so when he told stories of his late wife and his new wife. Aedan spoke of it as well. Saying when he had freed Nia Tabris, now Nia Cousland, from the cell in Howe's dungeon that day, he had known she was the one. Teagan even spoke of it when he talked of his young bride, Kaitlyn and how when she had been thanking Aedan and myself for finding her brother, she had stolen his breath. And when they had met again a few years later, it was like something clicked into place and the world was sane again.
I thought it all romantic and a bit of a lie. Something that the bards told tales of. I had been king for seven years now. I had met all the available nobles of Ferelden. Seen the beauties of Antivan. And danced with all the elegant noblewomen of Orlais. But none had caught my attention for even a second. Eamon said I was doing this simply to spite him. He said I was being difficult because I was still angry about being made king and for him sending me away as a child.
Neither of those things were true. I understood it all now. Aedan and Wynne had helped me realize that I was needed. And after the first couple of years, I was getting the hang of the whole king thing. Sometimes. But I still hadn't found a woman who made me even want to consider marriage.
Then she walked in. I stared at the woman dumbly. It was as if the clouds had parted and sunlight filled the viscount's keep shining on the beautiful woman in the strange and intimidating armor. She carried herself with a warriors strength, but moved with the grace of a cat. As she scanned the rooms darker corners I was reminded of Zevran. This girl was a rogue without a doubt. This beauty had been a Ferelden, but we had failed her and she had fled to the safety of this strange town. She had risen to the ranks of the highest elite here. There were even rumors of the nobles wanting her for viscount. Even the Prince of Starkhaven was supporting that bid. And I was desperately needing her to take that position too.
I turned back as the Knight Commander kept yelling at me. I couldn't even remember what the argument had been about. I was so taken with the raven haired beauty moving through the hall to our side all other thoughts had fled my mind.
"Now, Knight Commander, yelling at the king won't make him see your point anymore than it would with Orsino." She said in a tone that I couldn't tell if she was taunting or placating the angry woman in front of me.
"This is none of your concern, again, Champion. You would do well to remember that I have tolerated much for your sake." Meredith said with a snarl as she eyed the obviously mage male standing slightly behind the Champion.
"Threatening me is never a way to get me to cooperate, Meredith. I would have thought that obvious after the whole Qunari incident." The girl said narrowing her sapphire eyes at Meredith.
"Watch yourself, Champion." Meredith warned and shoved past her.
"Well, that was downright friendly." I said with a half laugh after Meredith had left.
The girl smiled at me. "That was Meredith's idea of a friendly welcome I'm afraid, your Majesty."
"Then the cruelty here must strip the skin off your face." I jested. She gave me a pained look for a moment before she forced a smile.
"You have no idea how close to the truth that statement is. Forgive me, your Majesty. I am Eliana Hawke, or Champion of Kirkwall. At least for the moment." She said bowing to me.
"Champion of Kirkwall shouldn't bow to the king of a foreign nation." I said motioning her to rise.
"Ah, but perhaps you didn't realize I was from Ferelden, sire. You are my king."
"You still consider yourself Ferelden?" I asked surprised. It was more than I could have hoped for.
"It will always be my home, sire. I left not willingly. I would have returned long ago if not for my family."
"We would be lucky to have you back, Champion." I nodded to her.
"Please call me Eliana, sire. I detest the title Champion."
"Really? Why is that?" I asked intrigued with the woman.
"I wasn't given a choice in the matter. I did only as I had to. And the people see me as a hero, but every time I try to help, I seem to make things worse." She shook her head and then gave me a small smile. "Forgive me, your Majesty. I am sure you summoned me here for something other than wanting to hear my tale."
"I would like to get to know you more." I said quickly. I saw the look Teagan was giving me, but chose to ignore him.
"I am hardly interesting." She laughed. "Tales of me have been greatly exaggerated." She said turning to give a hard look to the smiling dwarf beside her.
"A beautiful refugee who rose to the highest ranks in a foreign city. That is hardly uninteresting." I smiled at her.
She looked up at me startled. Her cheeks flushed slightly. "You think I'm beautiful?"
"Surely you are aware of this." I answered her.
"I try to tell her, but she just doesn't seem to listen." The dwarven man with a large crossbow said with a shake of his head.
She turned to him with a frown. "Varric, you have to say I'm beautiful. You tell my stories. No one wants a heroine who isn't beautiful. Besides, my sister is the true beauty."
"I highly doubt anyone could be more beautiful than you. I insist on meeting this sister so I can see for myself." I said smiling at her. She turned to me with sad eyes.
"If only you could, sire. She is trapped in the Gallows now."
"Your sister's a mage?" I asked surprised. It made more sense now. Eliana's sister was being held by the templars. "So that's why you oppose Meredith."
"My sister is a mage, but I don't just oppose Meredith for that. The mages are treated worse than criminals here. Made tranquil for the slightest offense. Every year here it has gotten worse. I cannot sit by and allow Meredith's madness to terrorize the city or the mages anymore. So long as I can do something about it, I will continue to."
"The mages have a strong ally in you." I nodded to her.
"I know my position on this is offensive to most. I won't apologize for it though. Mages are people as much as we are. They deserve the same rights we have." She said frowning at me.
"You will find I share your opinion, Eliana. That was part of the argument I was having with Meredith." I answered trying to calm her down.
"You…you support the mages?" She asked looking at me stunned.
"Some of my closest friends are mages." I nodded to her.
"I…don't know what to say, your Majesty. Forgive me for lecturing you."
"No harm done." I waved her off.
"So mages have it better in Ferelden?" She asked.
"Hardly. The Circle there is as much a prison, just with less chance of being made Tranquil." The mage scoffed. There was something familiar about him.
"Wait…I know you…you were a Warden, weren't you?" I asked. He had a longer ponytail and an earring before, but it was him. He was Aedan's first recruitment. I had to override the Chantry when they contested his conscription.
"That's the rumor." He said with a smile.
"Huh. We seem to make the rounds." I laughed. "And for the record, mages who are free from the Circle do have it better in Ferelden."
"Such as?" Eliana asked looking at me quickly.
"I employ them and have them as advisors. As do the new Arl and Arlessa of Denerim. And Teagan here who is the current Arl of Redcliffe." I said motioning to Teagan.
"So if some of my friends were mages, and they didn't want to return to the Circle, but wanted to return to Ferelden, what would happen to them?" She asked and bit into her lip.
"Well, I would find them a place in my employment or with someone who suited them. And I would also keep the Wardens from them. I already do that for Aedan who is the Arl of Denerim now." I said turning Anders.
"He is? How's Nia doing?" Anders asked.
"They are both well. I'll tell them you said hello."
"Um…might not be too wise. I'm trying to stay out of sight." Anders said with a shrug.
"Aedan always supported your decision, Anders. He still would. He and Nia came back and tore into the new Warden Commander when they found out what had been going on. You aren't the only one who fled the harshness of the new Commander." I turned back to Eliana. "Would you consider returning to Ferelden?"
"I would like to. Someday. For now, I fear that I am needed here. I won't abandon the mages to Meredith. Or the citizens. She tries everyday to take more power."
"I know. I had hoped your influence here could help me. There is trouble with Orlais." I sighed.
"I would help you anyway I could, sire. But I fear you will be disappointed if you think my influence will be of much use. The nobles back me, but without Meredith's support, I can do nothing much here."
"I had hoped to convince you to take the viscount's seat. It would be good to have the support of Kirkwall." I sighed. She drew in a sharp breath.
"You aren't the only one wanting me to take control, sire. I do not wish it, but if I felt that I could serve the people here and in Ferelden by taking it, I would. But to do so I would have to support Meredith. That is something I cannot do. The people need me to stay strong to her influence. I will not bow down to her."
"I would never ask that of anyone. Are you certain there is no other way to take the throne?" I asked her.
"No way that wouldn't end in violence. And that is the last thing this city needs more of. I am hoping the Grand Cleric will be able to reach a peaceful agreement with both the mages and Meredith."
"There can be no agreement, Eli. She is never going to change her mind about the mages." Anders protested angrily.
"Now is not the time for this argument, Anders." She said with a frown.
"If she can't resolve it?" I asked.
"Then I will resolve it. One way or another." She sighed. "Forgive me for not being able to help you, your Majesty. Kirkwall is in sad shape without a viscount."
"We should get back to…" Teagan started, but I waved him off.
"I would like to spend some time with you if you don't mind. Maybe buy you a drink?" I asked quickly.
Eliana had a smile as she appraised me. "Well, your Majesty, that isn't necessary, even if it is appreciated. But I'm afraid, the only tavern I enjoy frequenting isn't a place fit for one such as yourself."
I grinned. "You might find me more agreeable to a less…upstanding place. I wasn't born or raised as a noble after all."
"Alistair, you cannot possibly think it wise to roam around Kirkwall and haunt it's taverns." Teagan said with a sigh.
"Why not? I do in Denerim." I said frowning at him. "Besides what better way to get to know the city than to see how they really live, and not just the shiny surface they want you to see."
Varric laughed and nodded to me. "You're alright for a king." He then turned to Eliana. "How bout it, Eli? Hanged Man?"
"Alistair, I don't think this is wise." Teagan sighed. "You going with a full company of guards would attract too much attention."
"Then I don't go with guards. I'm not some weak king, Teagan. I'm a highly trained warrior least you forget." I frowned at him.
"If he was with us, your Grace, he would be safe. I would protect him." Eliana said nodding to Teagan.
"I am the king, Teagan. It's one evening. I won't cause an international incident." I promised and turned the puppy dog eyes on him.
"That's Eli's specialty." Varric laughed.
"Shut up, Varric." Eliana said frowning at him.
Teagan sighed and shook his head. "Just behave." He then turned to Eliana. "Thank you, Champion."
She nodded to him and then looked at her two companions. "Hanged Man?"
"Hanged Man." Nodded Anders.
"No place like home. Come on, your Majesty. We'll show you how the real people of Kirkwall live." Varric said with a laugh.
"I'll probably blend in a lot better if you would all just call me Alistair. I really don't like formality anyway."
"Well, then you'll fit right in with our merry band. You want me to go gather the others?" Varric asked turning to Eliana. She sighed.
"If I had a night at the Hanged Man without including everyone else, there would be mutiny the next time I asked for help." Eliana said dramatically.
"Come on Blondie, we'll split the list. I'll even take Sebastian and Fenris if you go get Merrill and Aveline." Varric said to Anders.
"Do we have to invite Sebastian? Fenris is bad enough." Anders almost whined.
"Anders, I don't let them pick on you. Please don't pick on them." Eliana said with a long suffering sigh. "And you are making a bad impression on the king here."
"Not at all. I'm enjoying this. It's almost like back to being with my companions during the Blight." I sighed. "I really do miss all of them."
"I met two of your companions recently." Eliana said as we moved out of the keep.
"Really? Who?" I asked trying to think who could have been here in Kirkwall.
"Leliana and Zevran." She said and nodded as people began greeting her as we moved through the streets.
"Really? What were they doing here? And together?" I asked surprised by this.
She laughed and shook her head. "They weren't together. I was hired to capture Zevran, but helped him kill the Crows after him instead. And Leliana was here on behalf of the Divine. She was trying to get the Grand Cleric to flee Kirkwall. I fear things are going to get worse before they get better."
"And you say you aren't interesting." I said with a shake of my head. She smiled at me and then stopped to deal with a crowd who wished to speak to her.
She looked up at me with those big eyes after the crowd finally let us move on. I noticed a sadness to them. "Does it ever get easier?" She asked.
"What?" I asked confused.
"Everyone knowing who you are. Looking to you to fix all the damn problems."
"No. Sorry. Seven years doing it and it's still hard." I gave her a sad smile.
"I didn't figure it would. Maybe once things settle down here, I'll disappear. Go somewhere no one knows me. Or maybe I'll accept Isabela's offer and join her new crew."
"Isabela? Is she a Rivaini pirate who likes to duel?" I asked. Surely it couldn't be the same Isabela.
"Yes." She looked at me with a surprised smile. "I take it you are familiar with my friend."
"Not as familiar as most men seem to be." She laughed then. A full musical laugh. "That came out badly. I didn't mean it as bad as it sounded." I hurried to explain. She had called Isabela a friend. I didn't want to insult her.
She waved me off. "Isabela makes no apologies for how she is. It was shocking at first, but I find I rather like her. She's been a good friend."
"Is she the one who had stolen the Qunari relic?" I asked as we began descending the stairs heading out of the shiny Hightown.
"Yep." She answered with a sigh.
"And she's the one you fought for?" I asked surprised. I would have handed Isabela over.
"In a sense. I could have handed her over, but Isabela is my friend. There was no way I was going to let them harm her. She handed them the book. It should have ended there." She sighed again. "I hated having to kill him. He was a good man. Different, but a honorable man."
"The Arishok?" I asked surprised. "You speak of him as if you were friends."
"Friends would be a stretch." She laughed sadly. "But we had developed a mutual respect for the other."
"It's hard to earn the respect of the Qunari. I know Aedan finally managed with Sten, but it took forever." I answered.
"They value honesty above all else. I'm a very honest person. Aveline says I'm too honest sometimes. She's still a little mad at me about the last encounter we had with the Arishok before having to battle him."
"And that would be?" I asked curiously.
"I sided with him when he explained about the elven criminals he had taken in." She looked at me and gave me a small smile. "They had killed a guard when they couldn't get the other guards to do anything about the fact he had raped their sister. Aveline is the captain of the guards, but she hadn't been informed or it wouldn't have gotten to that point. She's very good at her job. But it didn't get to her, and they felt they had no recourse. I wish they had come to me, but they didn't. Still when the Arishok asked if I wouldn't have done the same in their place, I couldn't lie. I had just done the very thing they had done."
I looked at her sharply. "Someone hurt your sister?"
"No. A man…killed my mother. He was a necromancer and she looked like his dead wife he was attempting to bring back to life. He had…mutilated other women, piecing them back together to form his wife. My mother was his final victim." She looked off in the distance, pain and anger etched on her youthful face. It didn't fit with the beauty and I wanted nothing more than to pull her into my arms and soothe it away. "I killed him. I wished Anders could have done the same ritual and brought him back so I could do it over and over again. I know what it is like to take justice into my own hands." She looked at me and took a steadying breath. "Not what you expected from a Champion, is it? I swear to you, you are safe with me. I would never harm someone without provocation."
"I'm so sorry for all you've been through. I wish I could have done more to protect the people from the Blight." I said sadly. She reached out and squeezed my hand.
"You are not to blame for that. Loghain was. And you made that bastard pay."
"I understand taking justice into your own hand. Killing him was a sick sort of satisfaction, but it didn't make the pain of all I'd lost go away." I said feeling the pain of losing all the Wardens. It was a dull ache now, but still it remained.
"It never does. Forgive me, Alistair. This isn't the pleasant drink you were expecting."
"I said I wanted to get to know you." I shrugged.
"And you are finding out what a horrible person I truly am. The Qunari are a fine point of it. I was involved with it from the beginning. Trying to appease all parties involved, but I only made things worse."
"I hardly see how that's your fault. Sten told us they were looking to convert us all. Sounds to me like he was just looking for an excuse."
"It wouldn't have gotten to that point if someone had listened to me sooner. And if that bitch Petrice would have stopped her instigating." She said disgusted. "I still wish I had been the one to get to kill her. But at least I got to see the look of surprise when Ashaad shot her." She looked at me contritely. "I sound like a blood thirsty person. I'm really not. This has been a trying few years. Makes me miss the life of dodging templars back in Lothering."
"You could come back with me. And no dodging templars this time. I could find a position for your sister and Anders. You don't have to stay." I said wanting desperately to take her away with me.
She gave me a smile and squeezed my hand. "Thank you, Alistair. Someday I will return. But you need me here as much as they do. For now, like it or not, I have to be here. Duty is not always the most pleasant thing. I couldn't live with myself if the city fell into madness because I was the last thing holding Meredith back."