I have attempted to keep this story true as possible to all the lore I know of the game, as well as my own personal RP choices. Some things are changed out of necessity, but I have tried to keep them to a minimum. I appreciate any and all feedback, especially if you see any continuity errors.
I want to give a very big thank you to KnightofPhoenix from the DA forums. He has been gracious enough to serve as a soundign board for my ideas, and to help me with the more political aspects of this story. Thank you, my friend.
Disclaimer: I do not own nor have any rights to the DAO and DAOA characters or story.
Prologue: 6 months after the end of the events in DAO.
Osric looked down at the papers on his desk. The last year and a half had been hectic, to say the least. The shortest Blight in history had been defeated by two junior Grey Wardens in a country in the middle of fighting a civil war over the throne. Had he not had all of the communications from the Wardens in Orlais during that year, and the information that came to light once they were finally allowed into Ferelden, he wouldn't have believed it. Not only were the Wardens restored to a position of honor in Ferelden, the throne was held by Wardens. To have this just dropped into his lap like a gift from the Maker was unbelievable.
Not to say there weren't problems. The biggest problem was that Alistair and Lya were somehow both alive. Every Grey Warden knew that slaying the Archdemon meant the Warden who dealt the killing blow had also died. Yet, these two had survived. He might have thought that Riordan was responsible, but he had confirmed that the man died before reaching Fort Drakon and that those two Wardens were the only ones there. It was troubling. The Orlesian Wardens hadn't been able to get an answer from them, saying they both claimed they didn't know how they survived. That was going to have to be dealt with, but not right now. Interrogating them at this time would only hinder his plans.
The other problem was the letter from the queen of Ferelden, though she hadn't been queen when she wrote it. She had written to him asking for information on Grey Wardens and their ability to have children, specifically with each other. He was going to have to be very careful here. While Lya had accomplished extraordinary things, she was still a young, newly married woman. Not only that, she was queen of a country that just fought a war over succession and would be looked at to provide an heir. Coming right out and telling her that it would not happen would not do anyone any good. He would have to have a mage draft a suitable reply about not knowing much and that they would look into it for her.
There was also the matter of the continued darkspawn raids. All accounts of previous Blights talked of how the darkspawn retreated back to the Deep Roads once the Archdemon was slain. But that wasn't happening in Ferelden. Not only that, they were now being spotted in other countries. He wondered if it were related to what happened with the Archdemon. No matter. While savage, these darkspawn parties were still just darkspawn and could be dealt with accordingly. The Wardens would meet the threat the threat of the nemesis the way they always had.
Osric picked up his pen again to finish signing the order appointing Lya Theirin as Commander of the Grey in Ferelden. He was pleased that the Order had its own lands to rule, especially in Ferelden. While he could appoint any Warden as Warden-Commander, in reality Lya was his only choice. She and Alistair would be offended if an outsider was sent to take control after everything they had done. The people would also likely take amiss to that action. Besides, they were both Duncan's recruits, and whatever other faults Osric thought the man had possessed, he was an able recruiter.
They could be very useful to him, Osric thought. But first he had to see what they were really like, especially Lya. He hoped she would do well with her command. A dozen Orlesian Wardens were in Amaranthine, setting up Vigil's Keep as needed, but it was going to be up to the girl to begin formal recruiting. He would have to watch her choices and decisions closely. If all went well, the Wardens would be seeing a rise to power that they had never known in Thedas.