Matters of state

It was a fine, sunny day in Denerim. The capital city of Ferelden had seen a lot of change in the ten years since the Blight had been ended. Some of that change had been good, other parts of it were less so. But some things would never change.

"Dwarven Crafts, Fine Dwarven Crafts, direct from Orzammar! You won't find better!"

Gorim Saelachad never thought to be a merchant while growing up. His life had been service to the nobles of Orzammar. His life had taken a number of turns since then, but on the whole? He wouldn't change much about how things had turned out. Oh, he had regrets. Most did. But he also had things to look forward to.

"Papa?" A small voice from behind him had him turning just as he was about to start his spiel again. A familiar small from stood behind him, a large bundle in his hands. "You forgot your lunch again."

"Oh, Edrin." Gorim smiled widely as he took the bundle of food from his son and then knelt down to give the boy a hug. Edrin had been one of the good changes. When he had been forced to leave Orzammar, the last thing he might have expected was to fall in love and have a child with a mate he adored. But it had happened. Even with all of the bad things -the Blight hitting Denerim being high on that list- looking at his son made most of them fall to insignificance. "You and your mother spoil me. Don't you have class?"

"On my way now, Papa." Edrin said with a smile as he returned the hug. "I promised Mama that I would make sure you got your lunch. She says that the market sellers don't make proper food."

This last was half statement, half question. Then again, a ten year old had far fewer problems eating things than any adult would. He liked much of what was sold in the market. Gorim had to smile at that. But then he stiffened as he saw something he had hoped never to see. Five heavily armored forms had just entered the market. Familiar armored forms. Familiar armor that was rarely, if ever seen outside of Orzammar. Royal guard.

"Papa?" Edrin asked, sensing his father's sudden tension. Gorim gave himself a shake and forced himself to smile at his son.

"Run along to class, Edrin." Gorim said quietly, carefully not staring that the five armored forms as they swept through the busy market, obviously searching for something. He had a sinking feeling what. "And if you see Lieutenant Kylon near the Chantry, please let him know I need to talk to him." He was careful to keep any hint of fear out of his voice. He wasn't afraid for himself. Not now. Not after all of this time. But his mate? His son? Oh yes. Edrin stared at his father, uncomprehending and Gorim gave his son a smack on the rump. "Off with you, boy. Study well."

Edrin darted off. He was clearly curious, but he was also well trained for being nine years old. A father's command -and that had been a command- was to be obeyed. Gorim looked after his son with a smile for just a moment and then his expression hardened. He tested his leg carefully as the five armored forms strode closer to his stall. It still hurt and would for the rest of his life, but he wasn't as impaired as he had been. He had some very good friends now and some of them knew some very fine healers. There had been a time when he had despaired of ever being able to move again, let alone fight. Of course, these had come looking for a fight, so he would oblige them. Just... not the fight they had been hoping for. His hand slid under the table showcasing his wares to touch the hilt of his mace. That weapon had served him well, before the Blight and during. Now? It might again.

"Dwarven Crafts, Fine Dwarven Crafts, direct from Orzammar! You won't find better!"

As expected, as soon as his voice rang out gain, all five of the armored forms turned to look at him. Inside he sneered. What kind of fools all looked at their target at such a time? But then his estimation changed. Four of them turned to quarter the area. The other moved towards him. He could feel the disdain in the other's body language even before the armored form closed the gap.

"Where is the shield?" The voice was familiar and Gorim had to fight to keep from flinching or snarling. It was so very hard.

"I have a lot of shields for sale." Gorim replied evenly, his hands in plain view now. But it would be the act of moments to grasp the mace and draw it. Against a fully armored warrior, he had little chance clad as he was in merchant finery. He found that he did not care very much. "Would you care to browse them?"

"Don't play games with me, surfacer!" The other said in a quiet, dangerous tone. His hand went to his sword, but Gorim just sighed. "What?"

"This isn't Orzammar." Gorim said quietly. "You may be able to kill me, you may not. But even the scum you serve wouldn't appreciate the repercussions of a bloodbath in the middle of a marketplace." Gorim smiled and only a fool would call it friendly. "Especially in the middle of the capital of a neighboring power. I know you Stone-blinded fools generally don't think such things are important, so if you want to cause a diplomatic incident that your Carta sucking boss likely won't appreciate,..." He shrugged. "...be my guest." His right hand slid under the table.

"Where is the shield?" The armored dwarf demanded. "The shield of Aeducan."

"Oh." Gorim fought to stay calm. Now? They were worrying about that now of all times? A massive hole in the sky. The human Divine dead. Demons pouring out all over the landscape and they were worried about a relic? It so figured. Priorities. "That shield."

"We know you have it." The other snarled. "Hand it over."

"If I did, I wouldn't." Gorim replied evenly. "I had it, true. It was given to me in trust by Edrin Aeducan. A true king." He couldn't resist the dig, even knowing how dangerous it was to provoke this dwarf. To his surprise, the other did not draw his sword.

"The king of Orzammar demands the shield." The armored form proclaimed. "Surrender it. Now."

"Even if I had it, I would not." Gorim repeated calmly. "Because the current king of Orzammar is a Carta sucking pile of nug droppings and you may quote me on that." The other had a hand on his sword now and Gorim fought hard not to sigh. This one had been good. Once. Now?

"Don't lie to me, surfacer!" The other snapped. "Give me the shield."

"Lie?" Gorim asked, to all appearances incredulous. Then he laughed. "Oh... Frandlin Ivo... you told a funny!" He was laughing hard, but did not miss the other armored forms looking at him before turning back to watch the area. He also did not miss an armored human striding towards his stall. Good boy, Edrin. The armored dwarf seemed confused by that and Gorim snickered. "You wouldn't know the truth if it bit you after so long with your head shoved up Behlen's rear end."

"You insult the rightful king." Frandlin Ivo's voice was flat now.

"Your rightful king." Gorim replied. "Not mine. Or was I mistaken when I was told, 'Go away and never come back'?" Exile was rarely forgiven. Very, very rarely. "Your lies cost me my duty. They cost me my place. They cost me a better friend than you will ever find. But no matter what you or your master..." He put just the right touch of derision in that word. "...might desire in his or your fondest wet dreams, you cannot cost me my honor, bootlicker. I was given a command, by a true king. Not a brat."

As expected, Frandlin Ivo drew his sword. Gorim was actually a bit impressed. It was only so long that most dwarves would take such insults. If Oghren had been insulted in such a way, whoever dared to do would be on the ground -maybe in pieces- before the second line passed their lips. He wasn't sure what Ivo planned to do with his sword, but he was quick to back away and -coincidentally of course- place himself at just the right angle to shield his back from any assailant. He had no shield, but neither did Ivo and his mace was in hand, glowing with fell energies. The other's armor would not offer much protection from that.

"Hold!" The stern voice silenced the marketplace for a moment as the human guardsman who had been approaching stepped forward. "Sheathe your weapons! This is a market, not a battlefield!" Ivo did not move. Neither did Gorim. The other four armored dwarves had shifted away from Ivo. None had drawn weapons and Gorim's eyes narrowed. The human's voice warmed. "Merchant Saelac? Is there a problem?"

"I do not know, Lieutenant Kylon." Gorim said quiet, watching Ivo's chest and shoulders. If the other attacked, those would presage the blow. Not by much, but enough to save Gorim's life. He hoped. "These seem to think I have something that I do not. They seem to think I have the shield of Aeducan."

"The what?" The guard commander for the market district asked, confused. "A shield?" He asked the armored dwarf incredulously. "You would die for a shield?"

"Die?" Ivo asked, not looking away from Gorim who sighed.

"Denerim survived the Blight. Look around, bootlicker." Gorim lowered his mace. A calculated risk. Ivo stared at him and then slowly turned his head to the right and left. What he saw had him stiffening. The other four dwarves also went still. All around the marketplace, guards had appeared. Most held loaded crossbows. Full plate or no, it would hurt. All of the regular marketplace hubbub hushed as people cowered away from the imminent danger. "You have cost me profits today, you little-." He broke off as the guard commander waved at him. "Lieutenant."

"Merchant Saelac, please." Lieutenant Kylon said with a sigh. "Was this shield stolen?"

"Yes!" Ivo snapped as Gorim said. "No."

"Okay." Kylon shook his head. "Then this is a case for the magistrate. Sheathe your weapon, Ser Dwarf. Now." This last was not friendly in the slightest.

"My orders are from the king of Orzammar." Ivo said in a surly tone. He did sheathe his sword. He wasn't completely stupid.

"I don't have the shield anymore, moron." Gorim retorted. "And even if I did? I wouldn't hand such a relic to one such as you serve."

"Right or wrong, what he did was best for Orzammar." Ivo said quietly as another guardsman hurried up and the lieutenant started speaking to him quickly. "You... haven't seen... Gorim, we have pushed the darkspawn back. We have reclaimed thaigs lost for centuries."

"And that was worth milady's life." Gorim said softly, his mace going back to its hiding place.

"We know she is not dead, Gorim." Ivo said flatly.

"The assassins were a good clue." Gorim retorted just as flatly. Ivo jerked and Gorim actually shouted at him. "What? You didn't know? Your kind and generous and wonderful master didn't tell you that his people have been trying to kill her for the last five years?" Ivo actually backed up a step and Gorim pressed his advantage. "She has more honor in her left foot than your entire kingdom does. She is angry, yes. She was abused by your so wonderful master. And then... having Harrowmont killed like that..."

Behlen may have started his campaign with the promise to be lenient or more traditional or whatever. But everyone had gotten the hint quickly when his competitor for the kingship had been beheaded in the street like a common criminal. Harrowmont had been a long time friend of Edrin Aeducan and his daughter had loved the crusty old councilor as much as she had loved her father. Losing both so quickly in succession... Gorim wondered at times if his lady was still sane.

"She was convicted." Ivo's words sounded weak.

"And she obeyed. She has stayed in the Deep Roads ever since. Even when what convicted her was a- What is the human term, Lieutenant?" Gorim asked Kylon who was watching all this silently. "'Qunari court?'" Having the assembly set up to convict his lady without her even able to speak in her own defense... that had taken some doing on Behlen's part.

"From what little I know of them, Qunari do not actually act that way." Kylon replied calmly. "But yes. A mockery of justice to be sure." He shook his head. "This is not something that we are going to be able to settle, even with a magistrate."

"I have my orders." Ivo declared. "From king Behlen Aeducan."

"And I have mine." Gorim retorted. From king Edrin Aeducan." Steel might have bent under the older dwarf's tone.

"Oh dear." Kylon swallowed hard, but then froze as a horn sounded. "Um..."

Whatever else he was going to say was tabled as a dozen humans in full armor entered the market. Behind them, two very recognizable people were walking. Both wore ornate armor and both were apparently arguing. They ignored most of the people in the market bowing. None of the guards relaxed.

"-and no, husband. I will not let them lock me up in my rooms." Queen Anora was in fine form as she walked beside her husband. "I had enough of that during the Blight. I wanted to see the market today so I will. Say 'Yes, dear'." Gorim had to smirk at the look on the face of Ferelden's monarch. It was clear who was the dominant force off the battlefield and it wasn't Alistair.

"Yes, dear." King Alistair was shaking his head. "We were not 'locking you up'. You know how I feel about that. We were worried. I am worried."

"You may think you are sweet." Anora's tone promised that the argument was far from over. "But it was annoying. I am not sick."

"I know that." Alistair paused, taking in the scene. "Uh, have we come at bad time... er... Sergeant Kylon, was it?" Anora paused whatever she was going to say and stared around as well. Her eyes went wide as she saw Gorim, Ivo and the lieutenant.

"I do not think there is a good time for such things, Your Majesty." The Lieutenant said with a tiny shrug. "And It is lieutenant now "He grimaced. "They gave me a promotion over my strenuous objections."

"A reward for a job well done is usually a promotion and harder job." Alistair agreed. "What is going on?"

"I think this is actually more a question of state than a police matter, Your Majesty." Kylon said with a nod. Alistair looked at him and the guardsman shrugged. "You know Merchant Saelac, I believe." Alistair and Anora both smiled at Gorim who bowed. "Merchant?"

"I was exiled, Your Majesties." Gorim said quietly. The shame of the past returned and his head bowed a little. "Right, wrong or indifferent, I was convicted and sentenced. I did as the law demanded." Ivo made a noise, but both of the monarchs looked at him and he shut up. Smart of him. "Before I left, the king at the time gave me a relic of his house in the hopes that I would give it to his daughter who was also exiled."

"A long story there." Alistair said quietly. Gorim nodded.

"And not one for public consumption, Your Majesty. Politics are rarely clean, especially in Orzammar." Gorim said softly. Alistair made a face, but nodded. Anora jus looked at him. "I held the relic and safeguarded it until my lady asked for it. When she did and I confirmed it was her, I gave it to her."

"You what?" Ivo nearly exploded. More than one of the guards surrounding the area raised their weapons and he subsided.

"Like I said, I no longer have it." Gorim said with a shrug. "Feel free to search if you wish." Ivo perked up at that, but both Alistair and Anora shook their heads.

"You are right, lieutenant." Alistair said after a glance at Anora who nodded. "This is a matter of state. Merchant Saelac has proven himself trustworthy time and again." He looked at Ivo who did not move. "I do not think you can accomplish your orders here."

"If he is telling the truth." Ivo replied his tone a hair from disrespectful.

"I do not know you." Alistair's tone was cool now. "And I have known many of your people. Perhaps too many. Good, bad and indifferent, just like most groups of thinking beings." He shook his head. "If Merchant Gorim Saelac says that he does not have your relic, then I for one am inclined to believe him. He looked at Anora who nodded. "He fought hard and well during the Blight. He has been a forerunner in our reconstruction. You will not find what you seek here, Ser Dwarf." This was a dismissal.

"This isn't over, surfacer." Ivo said with a snarl, only to freeze as Anora made a tiny gesture. One of her guards drew her sword. Anora's second gesture stilled the guard, but no one dared breathe hard. That sword was glowing, fine work Gorim noticed.

"Think before you speak again, Ser Dwarf." Anora's voice was cold. "If you threaten one of our subjects, we may get annoyed. And if anything happens to his family, we will get annoyed. Are we clear?" She did threat very well, that queen. Ivo nodded and turned away. He and his compatriots left the market without a word, but a squad of guards followed them. Gorim had always liked Anora. Now? He felt a swell of gratitude for this human.

Anora shook her head and her guard's sword vanished back into its sheathe.

"Merchant..." Anora said with a smile. "I find I am in need of something special and I believe that you may have what I need or may know someone who does."

"How may I serve, Your Majesty?" Gorim kept his eyes on the royals, but did see Kylon smile before returning to wherever he lurked these days.

"I understand Orzammar smiths can make just about anything." Anora pursed her lips. "And I need a bassinet."

"A-" Gorim felt his entire being shake as the queen smiled at him. "I see."

"It is early days." Anora said with a smile that turned partly into a frown. "And some people..." She glared at Alistair who looked suitably abashed. "Seem to think that confining me would be better."

"Your Majesty..." Gorim said delicately. "I have no right to speak of domestic concerns. If I did think that, my wife would put me right as soon as I got home." Anora actually chuckled and Alistair smiled. "May I offer my congratulations?"

"They are appreciated." Anora smiled and it was as if the sun had come out in the market. People were speaking in hushed tone, but they were speaking again. "There is... one question, Merchant. Will this problem with the shield spill into our lands?" Gorim looked away. "Merchant?"

"Sereda Aeducan swore to die in the Deep Roads, Your Majesty." Gorim said sadly.

"She keeps her word."