Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews! I should mention that one day, I will revisit the canon universe, and try to do it justice. But I simply had this story cooking in my head for a while, and wanted to give it a spin first. Hope you enjoy!
Denerim
A few months later
Maric was gone. Or at least, that was what everyone believed. Teyrn Loghain had searched far and wide, but there was no sign of him.
Elissa didn't know what to think. The King seemed a decent man, if melancholy. And yet he had never visited his son, Alistair. It angered her.
The nobles of all the Arlings and Bannorns were to be summoned to determine who would now lead Ferelden. This wasn't like the other kingdoms and empires of Thedas. If one was the eldest child of the royal family, it did not guarantee succession. Succession was dependant on the votes cast in the Landsmeet.
Cailan was Maric's only child with the late Queen Rowan. He was the only candidate with direct royal blood from Maric and Calenhad. Elissa knew, as did much of the country, that Cailan was going to marry Anora, Loghains daughter. Elissa respected Anora for her pragmatic mind, but found her a bit capricious, and cold. Perhaps that's what Cailan needed.
Still, things were not so clean cut. Some of the nobles thought Cailan unfit to rule, or that perhaps someone else on the throne would benefit them better in the long run. Others believed that Cailan should rule, but whispered amongst themselves that a commoner sitting on the throne would destroy Ferelden.
This was why Father was in so much trouble at the moment. Some wanted him to be King. Loghain, of course, would have none of that. Any threat to Marics legacy could be tantamount to treason. There were even rumors now, that Father was responsible for Marics dissapearance!
Ridiculous.
She blew out a breath.
"Y'know, I just realized something."
Elissa raised her head with a smirk "Congratulations."
Alistair crossed his arms and rolled his eyes "Oh hoh hoh. Very funny." His face then grew serious "But really, you said that people might start to scramble for the throne, and press their own claims."
"Yes." Elissa leaned against a wall, looking around to see if anyone was eavesdropping. "Some simply do not care for the thought of a common born Queen, daughter of Loghain the Hero or not."
Alistair smiled "Like Habren. Imagine Habren as Queen of Ferelden."
She pinched her brow in disgust "Ferelden's treasury would empty within a week."
Alistair sniggered in response, but then asked another question "You think people will try to talk my brother out of marrying Anora?"
"Of course. There are always fools who do not think those of common birth to be worth anything."
"Who would he marry then?"
That WAS the question. There weren't very many eligible women around his age right now. Delilah? That was a bit of a stretch, but she could see Howe pressing a claim. The man wanted glory, after all. Of course, this was complicated by the fact that Rendon was firmly in Loghains camp. Nothing wrong with that. She respected Loghain as well, though she simply couldn't understand why he distrusted Father.
So, who else?
The obvious, horrible answer hit her like a pale of cold water. She looked over to Alistair, who was grinning.
"Don't imply such things!"
"You're telling me that you have NEVER wanted to be Queen? EVER?" He grinned even deeper "I don't believe it. Not possible."
Elissa crossed her arms and turned away from him, annoyed, refusing to answer. Marrying Cailan? The man was handsome, she granted him that. But he was also...no. It was not proper to think of her future king with such unflattering thoughts.
"It won't happen. That's that. My Father will also relinquish any claim to the throne."
"He'd be a good King." a sincere Alistair responded.
She slowly turned around, and touched him on his shoulder "That's sweet of you, Alistair. But enough of your silliness. Time to attend the Landsmeet."
Landsmeet Chamber
It was packed, of course.
The Landsmeet had some time before it would begin. Some representatives were on their way to the Chamber.
She could see Cailan talking to Eamon. They were discussing something, but Cailan was not in agreement, it seemed. Loghain was also close to the throne, but he obviously did not want to be here. He wanted to keep searching for Maric. Elissa felt a strange pity for the man. As the acting Regent, he would preside over the Landsmeet. And of course, he would do everything in his power to put his daughter on the throne.
Bryce was here, in scarred, but shining White Steel armor. Today was the day that he needed that extra touch in order to make his point. Eamon was walking right towards him.
"Well met, Bryce!" Eamon looked around, and whispered "What do you think?"
"I think today has a lot of potential, for those present, and for Ferelden." Bryce nodded "Cailan and Anora have the strongest claim to the throne, and I believe it would be best for everyone."
"Cailan and Anora, yes..." Eamon replied politely, but Bryce could see the cracks in his facade. "You know, there are some that believe that a match between Cailan and your daughter would also be beneficial to Ferelden."
Bryce tried his best to not smile tightly, and to smile as if genuinely. Eamon was pretty much tipping his hand. The Arl knew full well that there was a larger consensus that he take the throne himself. Clearly Eamon didn't belong to that camp. So the marriage between Cailan and his daughter? Bryce knew exactly where this was coming from, so he knew exactly what to say.
"Yes, she would make for a strong willed, independant Queen. It WOULD be good for her, and for Ferelden." Bryce looked over to his daughter, and the smile finally came naturally. "She's not the sort that allows others to influence her so easily. Still, Anora is the rightful Queen, and I'm sure that my daughter can understand that, as can others."
"Yes, well, that's good!" Eamon replied, somewhat awkwardly. "Well, don't allow me to ramble on. You should consider it, if you wish. Maker be with you!"
Eamon departed, and Bryce scoffed, shaking his head. Try your mind tricks on me if you must, but try them with my daughter, and you will regret it.
The Landsmeet trumphets sounded. About an hour into it...
"And as per Marics wish," Loghain nearly shouted, frowning at the crowd "Cailan is his heir. And he has chosen an alliance with my daughter, Anora."
Anora slouched in her chair slightly, raising a finger to her temple. Father could be as fiercely protective as a mabari, and about as subtle.
"What about Teyrn Cousland?"
"I think Cailan should marry ME!"
Bryland yanked down his daughter Habren, and muttered some angry words to her. The crowd laughed in response.
Loghain turned to Bryce "Yes. Let's see what the Teyrn has to say about that."
Bryce straightened himself up, and stood tall, greeting each face before him with a smile, as he finally stood at the Throne, a safe distance from it.
"Lords and ladies of the Landsmeet! Thank you for your time, for I know that right now, time is more precious than ever. We have lost a King! With the help of Teyrn Loghain and the late Queen Rowan, Maker bless her soul, Maric inspired in us the fire to rule over our own destinies, and not allow petty tyranny to dictate our lives!"
A roar of cheering from the audience. Bryland, in particular, was always inspired by his old friends power of speech. He paused, and continued when the crowd stilled.
"I know that some of you wish for me to take the throne, and I must say, I am beyond honored. Part of me even considered it. Who does not dream of being King, after all?"
Some laughter ensued.
"And yet, when I remember the hardships we faced in the occupation, I remember the cruelties of the so called 'King Meghren'. I remember quite well what it was like to live in a land rule by one mans avarice and ambition."
The last line, Eamon could have sworn that Bryce turned toward his direction.
"Yet Ferelden is so much more than that! It is a land of many peoples, many dreams! What we share in common, is that we will not submit to the tyranny of other nations..."
A hand grasped Elissa in a place she felt to be very much her personal space. Alistair, who was admittedly bored of all the talking, grasped the offenders wrist and roughly brought him closer.
"What we share in common is the idea of a legacy we want to leave behind. Today is not about one individual, or two, or even the people in this room, as devoted as we all are. Today is about the future we leave behind for Ferelden and its children. That we can give them a brighter, better life! Free from the vices, horrors, and sins of the past!"
A cheer from the crowd again.
Fergus was wrapped up in Fathers speech, but Mother was not, and she immediately stalked over.
Elissa spun around, completely indignant. In front of her was Vaughan Kendells.
Dagonet immediately started growling at him, inching forward.
The nobleman jerked his hand free of Alistair, and directed his attention to the lovely creature before him. "Greetings, Lady Cousland. I merely wished to garner your attention."
"You most certainly have it." Elissa was not charmed by his smooth words at all. Certainly not by his crude behavior.
"I was merely curious that someone like you would not already be considered for marriage." Vaughan shrugged, inching uncomfortably close "Clearly you need a strong suitor, and I believe I would make a perfect match for a gentle, defenseless creature such as yourself. I would be certain to...please you in whatever your desires commanded."
Eleanor could hear every single word, and her eyes widened with anger. Her hands balled into fists, and she made a beeline for Vaughan.
Elissa raised a hand in her direction without losing eye contact with Vaughan. She leaned over to Alistair, and whispered something inaudible. Alistair lost all of his anger, and casually delivered a parting shot to the noble born son
"Well. Nice knowing you. Not really."
"Come with me. I think I have something perfect in mind for a...good time."
Elissa grabbed Vaughan by the wrist, and made her way to the Landsmeet doors. Vaughan grinned with excitement. He knew she would be up to a little sport. She wanted him. That much was clear.
Bryce was still in his speech, but was watching Elissa, Dagonet, and Urien's son exit the Landsmeet Chamber. What was going on?
"And it is for these reasons, that I cannot-"
The faint sound of someone crashing into a wall could be heard, but only those near the doors noticed.
Maker's breath, what was going on now?
"...that I cannot take the throne."
He looked to his wife as he went on, even with all the sounds he could hear. She seemed to be...enjoying it? There were going to be questions after this.
In the anteroom, Vaughan was scrambling on the floor, trying to escape her attacks. A foot swung upwards into his midsection, and he grunted in pain, tumbling backwards. Another kick, and it hit right where Elissa really wanted it to land.
"Oh! Oooooh.."
Vaughan slowly curled up into a ball, trying to protect what had just been injured.
Elissa let out a triumphant laugh, before kicking him over to face him. In a single snap, a greatsword was unsheathed, hovering scant inches from Vaughans neck. It was unlike any sword he had ever seen.
"Defenseless creature he says!" Elissa mockingly laughed. "What do you think, Dagonet?"
The Mabari was also very, very close to Vaughan, putting itself in front of any chance of escape. It growled in response to her query.
"He disagrees, it seems."
Vaughan kept looking at the sword, so she humored him "It's called Starfang. It was a gift by the Warden Commander of Ferelden, for helping him retake one of their fortresses. Forged by a master, meant for my hand. It cuts through bandits, monsters, and demons as if they were little more than withered parchment."
She inched the blade closer "I want you to keep that in mind, and have a good look at this sword. Touch me again, you little SHIT, and I'll shove it up your ass."
Elissa spun the greatsword in her hand a few times before sheathing it in her scabbard. "Come Dagonet."
Vaughan wasn't paying attention to the fact that Dagonet had 'marked his territory' right on his leg. The new warmth, dampness and smell all registered, and he looked down.
Dagonet barked happilly, and rejoined his giggling mistress as they both returned to the Landsmeet Chamber.
Nonplussed, Elissa merely replied to her curious Father "Good speech", kissed him on the cheek, and walked over to Delilah, Thomas, and Alistair.
