Grim Tales: Stories of Dragon Age
Long Live the Viscountess
9:27 Dragon Age
Too late.
Two words that had defined the last leg of Solona Amell's long journey back to Kirkwall. Word had reached her as she had been finishing her studies in Val Chevin, an urgent message from her Mother, the Lady Revka. Words that had shook the young noble woman to her core.
Dearest Solona,
Your Father is leaving us, please return home.
The words had cut the young noble woman like a sword; she knew exactly what she needed to do.
The girl had run seeking her valets, horses were to be prepared. She dismissed her servants and the royal tutor, her belongings could be sent for later. She intended to travel light. Speed was all that mattered now. She needed to get home.
Even though she knew she was going to be too late.
She would not be there to see her Father go to the Maker's side. She would not be able to say goodbye.
Viscount Amell would be gone long before she could reach home.
The Viscount Amell, Lord Aristide Amell, who had seen Kirkwall through its darkest hour, and had ended the cruel Threnhold dynasty. Who had almost single handedly held the schemes and ambitions of a group of rogue Templars at bay.
He had been a lion among sheep, a colossus! Even the legendary Templar hero Meredith Stannard respected him.
He did not cow to the woman, or her ferocity.
He refused to be bullied or manipulated; he loved his home, and seized power because of it.
Viscount Amell had not waited for the Templars to decide if he was worthy of ruling the City of Chains. He had rallied the nobles around him and took the throne. Not even the newly minted Knight-Commander Meredith could stand in his way.
Aristide Amell had been strong, even when his eldest son had been taken to the gallows he had not faltered. He refused to be bullied into seclusion by the Templars. He lived his life, sending his Solona to study abroad so that she would not be harassed by the Templars, poked and prodded until she submitted to their foul tests. The birth of little Daylen had forever secured their line, even when his brother Damien had been executed and poor Fausten had died of the cholera.
No, Aristide Amell had been strong, but even he could not hold back the ravages of time.
He had married well, but late, Lady Revka was twenty years his junior, and she had blessed him with three children. Marius had been born first with Solona coming three years later, and Daylen five after that.
Marius developing magical talent had hurt Father's position, but he refused to be cowed by it, he continued to build alliances, when the nobles cut him off, he sought friends in the Dwarven Merchant's guild. He found new allies, and new investments to empower their family, and expand their wealth. Father had refused to let House Amell fall into obscurity, and in the end he had prevailed. All of Kirkwall now bowed to the Amell family.
A family that was about to lose its patriarch.
Solona prayed to the Maker to wait, to let her have time to see her father one last time, but she knew it would not happen.
She would be far too late.
IOI
Solona's ship arrived in the harbor on a sad rainy day. A full brigade of city guards had been sent to meet her and deliver her to the keep, after a message had arrived by carrier pigeon.
The guards stood at attention despite the driving rain.
She looked upon them in sadness, noticing the black armbands that they all wore, armbands marked with the crest of House Amell in regal purple.
Seeing those armbands made the seventeen year old feel like she had been punched in the stomach.
Father no, she thought, no…not my Father!
Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to allow them to fall, she held her head high, as a noble woman should, wiped at the offending tears and focused on her duty.
It was…what Father would have expected of her.
The young woman took a deep breath, and tried to settle her nerves, even though she knew the truth.
She had come home…too late.
IOI
The black banners flew throughout Hightown, marking the passing of Kirkwall's beloved ruler. Even House Dumar who had been rivals of House Amell for decades showed respect.
Solona pulled her cloak tighter around herself, her long blonde hair hidden under the dark fabric. It had been nearly ten years since she had last seen her home. Back when Perrin Threnhold had still ruled this city.
Solona had heard that the young tyrant had threatened her Father once, that she would have an accident before she ever had come of age.
Father responded by moving her away from Kirkwall, sending her to study abroad, even though she was only seven at the time. Father had no desire to see his second child lost as her brother Marius had been. He would see that she grew up happy and strong. Solona had hoped that her younger brother would join her in her exile, but the Threnhold line had collapsed before that had become necessary. Father had done what he could for her, and made sure she grew up safe from both the Threnholds and overly ambitious Templars…
…Far from the reach of tyrants.
When Father had become Viscount six years ago, Solona had hoped that she would finally be allowed to come home, but Father had forbid it.
Solona missed her parents, she missed little Daylen, she even missed her crass older brother Marius, who despite everything that had happened was doing quite well in the circle of magi.
She wondered if Marius would be in the keep, or would the Knight-Commander not allow him to attend, with Father gone…
No…she refused to think about that. She would be strong.
She hurried up the steps into the Viscount's Keep. She expected to be taken to the royal apartments, where she would be allowed to mourn with her family as was proper.
The guards did not take her there, they made straight for the throne room.
When the great doors opened, Solona stood in shock.
The royal court had been assembled, as well as every other noble in Kirkwall. Grand Cleric Elthina stood beside her Mother, both stood before the empty throne.
She found her eyes riveted to that throne, her Father's throne, the throne where he had ruled their home so well, a throne that he would never sit in again.
She barely held her tears in check, but managed to get control.
It was strange, he had been absent from her life, but she had never forgotten him, the Father who always wrote to her, and allowed her to explore the world beyond the borders of Kirkwall.
Mother looked haggard, her blond hair streaked with gray. She had clearly tried to be strong for the nobles, but was faltering.
Everyone knew that she had married Father for love, When Mother's family had collapsed, Aristide had taken her into their house, as a favor to Revka's father, an ally of House Amell.
The young girl had married him two years later.
Twelve year old Daylen slouched behind them, looking sullen.
Did he blame her for not being here? Did he think that she did not love Father as much as he?
She hoped not.
Marius stood with First Enchanter Orsino, the two could not be more different, Marius was broad shouldered; his dark hair and smoldering blue eyes promised vengeance on whoever insulted House Amell. He had been ten when she left, recently grafted into the circle as an apprentice.
He nodded respectfully to her now as she approached the throne.
Knight-Commander Meredith stood in the back with her Templars. The powerfully built leader of the orders gaze never left Solona, like a she wolf stalking her prey.
Solona ignored her; nothing would interfere with her comforting her family.
She embraced her mother, who held her tightly, their first embrace in ten years. For a moment Solona sobbed, but again held it in check.
There would be a time for tears later, in private.
"I'm sorry Mother," the girl whimpered, "I was too…"
Lady Revka put a hand to her daughter's lips.
"Hush child," the older woman said, "You are here now, that is what matters."
Something in her Mother's voice put the girl on edge.
What was going on? Why were all the nobles here?
Grand Cleric Elthina also embraced her. The Amells had always been devoted Andrastians, it was not surprising that she was here.
"Greeting My dear," Elthina said.
"Grand Cleric," Solona responded with a curtsey.
The old priest nodded, and turned to Solona's Mother.
"We are ready to begin."
Solona again felt nervousness run up her spine…
Begin what?
"Kneel daughter," Mother said.
Solona looked at her in surprise.
"Kneel, Mother?"
"Yes dear, kneel."
Solona parted her wet cloak, it was not an easy thing to kneel in her travel clothes, but far easier than if she had been wearing a full gown.
She did as she was ordered.
Mother smiled proudly down at her.
Daylen rolled his eyes, while Marius shot their younger brother a cold glare.
Solona still did not understand what was going on…why would they…?
OH MAKER!
The Grand Cleric stood before her, in her hands she held Father's black crown.
The circlet of power, the black crown of Kirkwall, the crown worn by the Viscount's of Kirkwall.
Solona feared that she was going to have a panic attack.
They…she…they could not honestly think!
Grand Cleric Elthina lowered the crown, placing it upon Solona's brow.
The grand Cleric stepped back.
"THE VISCOUNT IS DEAD!" she called out to the crowd.
The nobles watched with cold blank stares, one by one, they fell to one knee.
Even Knight-Commander Meredith kneeled, but she did not take her eyes off the young girl's back…
…The eyes of a predator stalking her prey.
Solona's blue eyes were wide with fear and disbelief, her Mother placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Arise, My Lady," Mother said warmly.
Solona stood; she was trying hard not to faint.
She turned to regard the nobles of Kirkwall. They refused to look upon her, diverting their gaze respectfully, only Meredith and Marius held her gaze.
She knew what Meredith thought, but Marius was a closed book to her.
Was he jealous?
Did…did he realize that she did not want this?!
Oh Maker, not this, not me?
This had to be some dream, some horrible nightmare!
Grand Cleric Elthina's voice rang out strong and clear through the throne room.
"LONG LIVE THE VISCOUNTESS!"
"LONG LIVE THE VISCOUNTESS!" the noble repeated.
"LONG LIVE THE VISCOUNTESS!" the guards repeated.
"LONG LIVE THE VISCOUNTESS!"
Four words that changed Solona Amell's life forever, and…
All of Thedas would change with it.
IOI
Later that night, Solona paced in the Viscount's apartment, her parent's apartment, she felt like a thief.
"You are Viscountess now," Mother had said, "These are your rooms. We always knew this day would come dearest."
The woman cried and embraced her daughter, the new ruler of Kirkwall.
"Your Father would be so proud of you my dear."
Solona had smiled weakly, trying to be brave, but now…in the dark with only her thoughts for company.
She was free to be herself.
She sank onto the bed.
Officially, she was now Viscountess, but would not assume the full duties until she turned eighteen next month, until then…Seneschal Bran would rule as lord protector. After that…
Solona suppressed a whimper.
She held up her hand before herself.
She wondered if Mother knew.
Father did, he had visited her when she had been staying in Rivain.
She had showed him.
Solona closed her eyes.
She whispered the words that she had learned from that apostate girl that Father had found.
Heat warmed her face.
Solona opened her eyes.
A ball of blue flame flickered in her hand.
Magic was meant to serve man, not rule over him, but she…she…
They expected her to rule Kirkwall!
How would she do it?
How would she hide this from the Templars?
She had no idea?
Solona closed her hand, the flame died.
Her vision doubled, tripled, wetness flowed down her cheeks.
Here…alone with the darkness and with the demons both real and metaphorically.
She was free to be herself.
She was free to cry.
It would be the first tears of her reign…
…but not the last.
A/N: What did you think? AU I know, but Grim Tales will be a place for me to explore different characters both original and canon. Please review, do you want to hear more of Viscount Solona's story? I want to hear your thoughts gentle readers.
Thanks
DG
