A/N: I just want to extend my thanks to everyone who is reading this story.

War of the Laurels

By Spectre4hire

4: Anora

It was strange not having them around.

The Queen of Ferelden could not remember the last time she had been without both of them. In recent days before they went south to fight the darkspawn all her husband and father could talk about was strategy in how to defend Ferelden. Their opinions varied and heated debates could be heard, Anora had been relieved when they had finally come to a decision to go to Ostagar to try to stem back the darkspawn incursion.

Her father and husband had left the capital weeks ago to head to Ostagar to fight the darkspawn in what her husband believed in a battle that would once and for all end the darkspawn threat. Her husband's usual confidence had only soared after a series of earlier victories. Before he left for Ostagar he had assured her of their pending success.

It was not just victory Cailan promised, but changes. She could still remember his face when he said it, his smile was gone and his expression turned serious. It was one of the few times she could remember him without his smile and looking so stoic.

Deep down, it had troubled her.

Anora was not immune to the gossip that spread through the capital. She was aware of the blame that was being leveled on her by many of the nobles. Five years of marriage, and there had been no children born. Not even a pregnancy.

Barren, that's what they were calling her.

Punishment that was the excuse they gave. The Maker was punishing them for putting a commoner on the throne. To them her father was a Teyrn by name only. He had no noble blood. In the eyes of many the Mac Tirs were unwelcomed within the ranks of the older aristocratic families. They spoke in whispers, gossiped under the protection of the shadows.

Common birth or not, she has effectively ruled Ferelden these last five years. Cailan may be king, but it was Anora who was overseeing the steady growth of Ferelden. Slowly, but surely she was proud of how Ferelden was developing. It was her policies that had made Ferelden richer, had made Ferelden stronger. She was the reason why Ferelden had enough food stored to allow the country to endure a few rough harvests.

Anora was far from done. She had plans for opening up a University in Denerim. She wanted to attract the great minds of Thedas. She wanted to change the perception that Ferelden was still a backwards country. It was not just an army that curbed threats of invasion, but respect. She was painfully aware that Ferelden had little clout with the other nations of Thedas.

Yet, for all the good Anora has done for Ferelden, it was not enough for some. It would never be enough for those who honored blood, not skill. They respected a family's name, not a person's character.

This hadn't always been the life she envisioned.

There was a time when she never thought she would become queen.

Growing up in Denerim with Cailan, she had been aware of the possibilities of her marrying him, but the chances had been pretty slight. The same nobles who were blaming her for not giving Cailan an heir now, had been just as adamant in their protests when the offer had first been brought up by her father and Maric when Anora and Cailan were children.

When she was fifteen she was brought to Highever. It was there she would be tutored by Teyrna Eleanor Cousland who would teach her politics, court etiquette, as well as the other responsibilities that came with being a noblewoman. Anora spent two years in Highever, in that time she grew close to the Teyrna and the rest of the Cousland family. She considered the Teyrna a friend and a second mother who helped to fill the gap that her own mother had left behind when she died.

In her time in Highever, it was Edmund Cousland that she found herself drawn to. He was smart, talented, charming, and he had a certain sincerity to him that Cailan had always lacked. They had become quick friends. He was never intimidated by her intelligence. He saw her as an equal. He truly was Eleanor's son.

It didn't take long for her feelings towards him to develop into something beyond friendship. She was young and foolish, and at the time she didn't possibly believe that she would one day be betrothed to Cailan. So instead of stamping out the affection she felt towards Edmund, she allowed it to grow.

Their first kiss had taken place between the towering bookshelves of the library within Cousland Castle. She had only been in Highever for five months when they shared that kiss. Their secret romance only blossomed during the remainder of her two year stay in Highever. In their moments together she even allowed herself to secretly imagine them getting married and returning to Gwaren to rule as Teyrn and Teyrna. They were the dreams of a foolish girl.

Then her father came to Highever with the news that would change everything. It had been decided that she would marry Cailan. Her father and King Maric had made and agreed to the betrothal arrangement. One day she was going to be Queen. The news was going to be announced throughout Ferelden, and that she was to accompany her father back to Denerim.

She felt tightness in her chest as she remembered what came next. Torn between affection and ambition, in the end, the decision had been relatively easy. She wanted to be the Queen of Ferelden. Whatever feelings she may have had for Edmund paled at the desire to one day rule Ferelden. She had told herself it wasn't personal, just practical.

Anora could still remember telling Edmund about her pending betrothal and that they had been living in a foolish dream. She knew her words cut him deep, but she had to speak them, her words needed to be sharp, her tone needed to be blunt. In order for them to be able to move forward she had to effectively stamp out what they once had and make sure that it never saw the light of day.

Then the Highever tournament happened. It was the first time she saw him since she called off their romance and told him of her plans to marry Cailan. She had hoped the months apart would have had him finally see the reason for her decisions. It hadn't.

Enough, she quietly chastised herself. She didn't want to dwell on what happened next. The pain of those events still stirred within her like sharp thorn pricks coiled around her heart. She had wanted to bury what happened in Highever for so many years- Those memories, her feelings, her emotions and most importantly him.

"Your Majesty?" the thick Orlesian accented voice of her handmaiden, Erlina broke the Queen from her musings.

Anora turned to find her handmaiden standing in the doorway. She beckoned her in, watching as her handmaiden bowed before her before settling to stand in a position in front of the Queen's desk. "What is it, Erlina?"

"A letter came from one of your friends in the Coastlands," Erlina presented said letter.

The Queen took the letter, opening it to find the vellum mostly blank except for a few words hastily scribbled down.

The Laurels are dead. The Bear has seized their holdings.

Anora stared blankly up after finishing reading the encrypted message. Understanding quickly came to her at realizing the meaning behind the words. "Erlina," she turned towards her silent confidant. "Send for the Seneschal, please. I need to speak with him at once."

"Of course, Your Majesty," Erlina bowed, "Anything else?"

"Y-yes," Anora needed to maintain her composure, "A glass of wine." She ignored the worried look her handmaiden gave her, and was unable to understand the words Erlina spoke before she left, too focused on relaying the simple message over and over again in her head.

A few minutes later she found herself in her parlor sitting in her high back chair, a glass of wine in her hands. She needed something to soothe her nerves and settle her churning stomach. She took a long sip from the glass, thankful for the sweet taste and the calming effect the wine was slowly having.

It had to be a mistake, she thought, blindly grasping at any chance that this couldn't be true. Surely Howe wouldn't be so foolish as to think he would get away with this horrendous act…

"You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?"

She looked up from her glass to see Seneschal Luwin standing before her. He immediately crossed his arms over his chest and bowed low. He was tall and thin, he had aged well in his service under her father. He was brought in as Seneschal for Anora and Cailan when the previous one died several years ago.

He kept his grey hair short, and his brown eyes still showed plenty of strength. His goatee was as grey as his hair and neatly trimmed. His large nose marred his otherwise plain features.

"Yes, I did." She turned her gaze to her trusted handmaiden, "Close the door, Erlina."

Erlina obliged. This wasn't a conversation that Anora didn't want to leave this room.

Luwin's public position was overseeing the king's justice and administration of the palace's servants. However, secretly the Seneschal helped to oversee the various network of spies and agents Anora and him had orchestrated throughout Ferelden and parts of Thedas. Making him one of Anora's most trusted advisors.

"Take a seat," she gestured to an empty chair across from her.

He nodded his thanks, sitting down.

Erlina stepped forward offering him a glass of wine which he graciously took with a nod. "It is true, Your Majesty."

She felt her heart clench tightly. So they were all gone. She considered the Couslands a second family and Highever a second home. For a second the face of Edmund came to her, but she wouldn't allow it to stay, pushing it away. She now had this painful fresh wound to deal with and she couldn't allow herself to reopen old ones.

"I feared as much," she barely recognized her own voice. It was soft and weak. She needed to stay composed. Eleanor always taught her to remain composed. Oh Eleanor, her heart gave another painful lurch. My friend you will be avenged.

"I want Howe in chains." Anora suddenly demanded, her calm demeanor crumbling to the cold fury that was storming within her. "This cannot be tolerated."

"Your Majesty it is more difficult than that," The Seneschal reminded her gently. "Howe has an army at his back. We have nothing but the city guard."

"Where is his army heading?"

"He's marching here."

That took Anora by surprise, she would've thought that he would return to Amaranthine to gather his strength and rally his supporters for the judgment that was sure to be coming once her husband and father returned. To hear him coming to Denerim, he was acting as if he had nothing to fear, no reason to be punished. It didn't sit well with Anora.

"May I see the letter you received?" Luwin's question broke Anora from her musings on Howe and what games he was playing at.

She presented him the letter watching him read it. She noticed his brows furrowed and his lips twitched. "Is there something they missed?"

"Yes," he looked up. "I received a message from a friend in the Bannorn."

"What does he say?"

"That not all the Couslands were killed," he returned the letter to her. "That Bryce's youngest escaped with the heir. Howe is quietly looking for them."

Edmund and Oren, Anora realized at once. A spark of hope ignited in her chest at realizing that they were not all slaughtered. His face returned to her, but she was just as persistent at pushing it way. That life is over, she reminded herself.

"Do you know where he would go?"

"East," she answered. "He would come here to Denerim." She knew he would demand a royal audience to speak his justifiable grievance towards Howe. Was that why Howe was coming to Denerim? Was he intending to stop Edmund from reaching the capital first?

Luwin nodded, "Perhaps that is why Howe is marching east, sending out scouts and riders to try to capture him before he reaches us."

"My thoughts exactly," Anora agreed. "What about his brother?"

"Fergus left Highever with their forces. He is headed towards Ostagar, oblivious to the carnage that has happened in his home."

"Do you think Howe has plans for him as well?"

"Surely he does," Luwin answered. "As far as we know, Fergus may have already been killed by an assassin's blade."

She took another sip of wine. The thought of Fergus being betrayed and killed on the road to Ostagar was not an image she wanted to keep.

He brought his hands together under his chin while his elbows rested on the arms of the chair. "However, I don't think Edmund plans on coming here."

"What do you mean?" Anora frowned. "Where else would he go?"

"South Reach."

Of course, Anora thought, realizing her miscalculation. The Arling of South Reach was the seat of the Bryland family. Eleanor was Leonas' older sister. He was never friendly with Howe, and surely, he wouldn't tolerate his own sister being killed in cold blood, Cousland or not.

"And of Howe's approach?"

"We welcome him, Your Majesty," Luwin answered simply.

"Welcome him?" Anora repeated, unable to hide her fury at the notion.

He looked at her sympathetically. "We have to, Your Majesty." He brought his hands to rest on his lap. "We cannot repel him with the city guard. So we must act the dutiful host, let us listen to his story and the causes for his actions."

Anora understood the plan now. "We stall until my husband and father return with their forces."

Luwin smiled, "exactly, Your Majesty." He drank one more sip from the goblet before raising it as if toasting. "Howe will not be able to escape justice."

"Keep me informed of any movement or sightings of Edmund and Oren," Anora instructed. "I want our men to get him before Howe's."

"I couldn't agree more, Your Majesty," He stood up, bowing low, "I will keep you informed by the hour."

"Thank you," she watched him go. She didn't like the idea of Howe entering the capital a free man and the self proclaimed Teyrn of Highever. She would have to swallow the bitter taste and push down her own growing fury towards the man if she wanted justice to be served. Anora wouldn't allow herself to tip her hand to him.

She would get justice for the Couslands, she silently vowed. She could only hope Edmund and Oren were around to see it.

A/N: This is AU. I will be taking liberties so not everything will match up with DA canon. I will be adding additional background to characters, and changing others to fit this story. Some characters may also appear a bit OOC, but I do try to stay true to the spirit of the characters.

I know it's not 'canon' but I liked the idea of Eleanor being a Bryland. Especially since Leonas fought with Howe and Bryce during the Rebellion. I'm very much looking forward to exploring his character and the important role that Leonas will have in this story.