CHAPTER 1: THE UNWANTED GUEST

The Gnawed Noble Tavern was decorated with flowers, the splendour of red and white roses and the shy white twinkling of those small wild petals known as Andraste's Grace giving off a sweet fresh scent, and bright multicoloured ribbons. Edwina was hurrying to and fro about the inn, to the kitchen and back to the main room, snapping orders to servants and wincing at the sound of the growling from the side room.

"Lilith, I understand your... friends… helped to save Ferelden and such, but I would appreciate it if the whole cow's carcass would make them a bit… quieter. Oh, and please… would you mind slipping off that table and sitting yourself in a chair instead?" – the old woman winced.

Lilith Amell smiled and granted the old lady's request by relocating to the near-by chair. Her fierce mabari hound, Ghar, misinterpreted it as a sign for action and leapt from his resting place under the table with a bark. Edwina gave a jolt.

"Oh you mongrel… if Jakeb was here, he'd throw you out, I swear!"

The two women's eyes simultaneously traveled to the empty tavern-stand.

"I'm sorry, Edwina," - said Lilith quietly.

The old woman pressed her lips tight. Wrinkles collected around her eyes.

"Nothing you've got to be sorry for. If not for you, I'd be in the same place wherever my son is now… Now, woman, I've got work to do, if you want to have a wedding in this tavern tomorrow!" – she sounded lively, but her voice was strained. She made an awkward turn and scurried off to the kitchen.

Lilith looked at the empty stand again and tried to envision Jakeb there. Seems like it's been only yesterday they talked last time. Last time, indeed. Lilith reached for the crumpled notes that were still in her pocket. Love letters of the stupid wealthy nobles, she hasn't been able to procure enough for Jakeb and the "certain interested parties" he worked for. Now it was too late. Lilith tossed the letters into the merrily burning fire. Jakeb was killed along with the rest when the darkspawn horde invaded Denerim.

Her glance swept over the tavern. The colourful decorations for the heroes' of Ferelden wedding made the place lively and festive. But the damage showed. A broken window here, a burnt wall there. Denerim still had a long way to recover from the darkspawn horde. Of course, there were always those who took their own advantage of the situation – Lilith's hearing has grown sharper lately, and she was hearing how two kitchen girls discussed some rogues who tried to rob the palace treasury in the commotion provided by the darkspawn, and who were now awaiting trial in Fort Drakon.

"I wonder why you made a decision to celebrate your wedding here, and not in Arl Eamon's estate", - said Leliana's soft voice. – "After all, you are a Teyrna now," - the bard winked to Lilith.

"I prefer it here," - Lilith's voice grew cold. Sure, a Teyrna. How glamorous. A human and a noble now. Pity it's not Anora in the darkspawn's bowels now instead of Jakeb.

"I would say," - the musical Antivan accent broke in as Zevran glanced up from his cards he'd been playing with Leliana, - "that The Pearl would be a far greater surrounding for your striking beauty, Lilith."

"Are you saying I should hold my wedding in a brothel?" – Lilith arched a brow at the elf.

"My lovely blood mage, I'm saying that you should probably reconsider your wedding at all, given the poor choice of the candidate for the event and the doubtfully exciting nature of marriage itself."

"Do you mind keeping your voice down about the blood mages?" – hissed Lilith. – "As to the wedding and marriage, I swear I will make your life extremely exciting if you don't stop on your comments about Alistair, Zevran."

"Oh? This should be interesting…" - drawled the elf, his eyes twinkling at the Warden. – "And – Alistair? Whoever mentioned Alistair? Anyway, now that we've come to think of him unfortunately in the course of our discussion, where is he – I can't see him here…"

"He's with Arl Eamon, discussing something…" - Lilith let out between her teeth.

"Oh, the Arl… no doubt, receiving instructions for the wedding night. Not the best source of expertise, I see, considering needing Andraste's Sacred Ashes for… elementary bodily functions."

Lilith laughed in spite of herself.

"Zevran, you're… horrible."

"Always ready to serve, my Grey Warden… or should I say Your Lordship, now that you are the Teyrna of Gwaren?" – Zevran bowed his head. – "And does that mean you've reconsidered your wedding?"

Lilith sighed. Some people were just incorrigible.

As if to confirm that thought, Oghren, who had been drinking himself stupid all day long, shoved the ale tankard aside and collapsed on the table, laughing uncontrollably. Sten, who had been sitting next to him, looked at Oghren with the strongest Qunari disapproval. I do have such wonderful friends, thought Lilith sourly. She had been feeling a bit ill today since morning for no reason she could think of, and bitter for reasons she knew only too well… she knew what exactly would help her, but the thought brought no comfort. Also, she was feeling a bit disappointed… she wanted a certain person to be a guest at her wedding, but that person had sent a note she wasn't coming. Of course, I'm so stupid, it was clear she wasn't coming. She's got more important business to attend, now that I've granted her the thing she had been lusting for for years.

"Asschabs… 'course she isn't sodding coming… now that she's got her sodding steel goonies to play with, you're right that's all she ever wanted."

"Um, Oghren, did I say that out loud?"

"You did," - whispered Zevran. Lilith blushed and cursed herself for blushing.

"How was your wedding, Oghren?" – she asked to change the subject.

"Eh-he-e… we fucked." – slurred Oghren. – "In public."

Zevran choked on his drink.

"All right… forget I asked," - Lilith gave him a strained smile.

Why did you ever think you were friends with her. Why did you think she could ever be friends with anyone, for that matter. Ah, there was one more person… she missed. But no, she could never think of him being present at her wedding. This would make things… complicated. Why the hell can't she forget about him at all. Better stop thinking about him.

Maybe you want to see those two because they can help you in getting what you want, and you know it, a thought snaked its way inside her mind. Or maybe I can't forget that kiss at the gates…or what happened at the mountain top…No. Stop it. These thoughts won't get you anywhere.

She was snapped from her reveries by a sudden commotion at the doorway.

"Oh, how beautiful it is here!" – squealed a voice at the door. – "Look, children, look, this is the fabled Gnawed Noble Tavern… Good day to you, old lady, I've come about tomorrow's wedding, I didn't get the invitation and thought it was some kind of mistake, as we are a family and all, of course I decided to come in and inquire, as my house is just across the square… Oh, could you please show me where I can sit… it is so exciting, a wedding, almost makes me cry… who could ever have thought…"

As she recognized the voice, Lilith's face grew hard and her eyes narrowed. Oh no, you don't. She snapped from her sitting-place and crossed the room. The woman in front of her had a cheap worn dress of a gaudy bright-yellow colour, clearly one intended as a garment for special occasions. There were two small children clinging to her skirts. As soon as she saw Lilith, the woman gave out a wide false smile, which showed her bad teeth, and tried to embrace the Warden, but Lilith stepped back. The mage's eyes were icy-cold, and if looks could kill, the commoner woman would certainly be lying dead on the floor already.

"My dear… my dear, dear one," - the other woman noted the tension and continued somewhat nervously, but still keeping that glued false smile on her face, - "I am so honoured that you are about to become my sister… you, the Teyrna of Gwaren, and my little brother Alistair, son of King Maric, and you both the saviours of Ferelden… oh, who could ever have thought… And where is Alistair, is he not here? I long to take him in my arms and give him a sisterly kiss as a blessing for this wonderful marriage with you…"

"Get. Out of here. Now." – Lilith put a stress on each word, crossing her arms on her chest, her mouth twitching slightly.

"Now, now, my dear… no need to be so rude… now as we are to become family, we must put these petty disagreements aside, mustn't we… Oh, this is such a nice smell from the kitchen, could we sit somewhere and have a little meal maybe? And you still haven't told me when Alistair is returning… you see, with the darkspawn and all, that you two have so nobly defeated, our house is in a poor state, and the carpenter charges so much, we just can't afford it… Oh, but look how beautiful you are, my dear sister-to-be!" – Goldanna was chattering quickly, throwing nervous glances at Ghar who gave off a low growl.

"I'm not your sister and never will be." – Lilith's voice was low and constrained with rage. – "I will sooner be a sister to the Archdemon which I have recently slain. If you want money, you may go to the Docks and sell your wretched body to the sailors who are too drunk to notice how ugly you are. And if you thought that bringing your brats here would wrench a gold-flowing pity out of me, you were dead wrong. And if you, mind it, if you ever show your presence to me or Alistair again, I will use spells on you which would make your blood boil and gush from your eyes, nose, mouth, ears and whatever openings else you have, I swear it. Now get out of here. NOW."

Goldanna's mouth was open agape, and she was trembling with indignation and fear. Suddenly her features became mean and hateful, and she scowled at the Warden.

"Look at her, the new Teyrna of Gwaren, how high and mighty!" – she spit out. – "Well, high and mighty you might be, and wealthy too, and this hero of Ferelden, but the thing is, you won't ever have even as little happiness as I do!" – she pointed at the terrified children at her skirts. – "Oh, surely you must know, being such a wise mage as you are, that this Grey Warden taint you and my bastard brother share, has rendered you both infertile! And you, Lilith Amell, will never be able to grant him a child, no matter how much you fuck!"

Lilith went deathly pale. Zevran and Leliana moved closer to her, they knew just how dangerous she could be, and there were too many witnesses around now to engage in Lilith's deadly and forbidden art of blood magic.

But she was standing still as stone, as if Goldanna's words had frozen her to the ground.

"Cassian!" – her voice was rasp.

"Look, Mummy, there's a big doggie!" – ventured Goldanna's little boy from behind his mother's skirts.

"This ain't no doggie, you stupid…" - said a girl about two years older than him. – " 'Tis a monster."

Goldanna shrieked as the great werewolf went out of the side room and neared her, with a low growl baring his sharp teeth still dripping with blood from the raw meat which he had been feasting upon.

"Your command, Warden?"

"Take this lady out, Cassian. And see her to her house. It's just across the market square… so that you know where it is, should she get lost again and come to me."

"May I tear her leg off?" – inquired the werewolf with interest, his red tongue licking his teeth.

"No, I don't think that would be necessary. Not unless she wishes to return."

Cassian gave a dissatisfied grunt and shove the terrified Goldanna out the door. The door shut after them, and Goldanna's whimpering grew fainter, but Lilith still stood frozen before the door, her face white as death.

Leliana tried to touch her shoulder in a comforting gesture.

"Lilith… don't… just ignore what she said…"

The Warden jerked away and held up a warning hand. Lilith was slightly trembling now, her eyes were wide and seemed almost black. She kicked the door with her foot, and stormed out the tavern. Ghar followed her at her heels.