Part VI
The landsmeet was a spectacle like nothing else. It was one of the only occasions when all of the nobility in Ferelden could be found gathered in the same place at the same time. These gatherings were rarely called, and were usually saved for the most dire of political circumstances. Because every lord, bann, arl, and teyrn in the land was collected together, the security was taken to extreme levels, lest any outside forces should decided to try to eliminate Ferelden's most important houses in one stroke. It was a great risk and a logistical nightmare to bring them all together in one place, but sometimes those risks were warranted. This was such a time.
The northern bannorn had been in an upheaval ever since nine of its lords were lost defending Highever from the Order of Bohlen, when that religious cult attempted a takeover of Ferelden by invading the northern coast with a large army. Among those lost were three nobles who had no heirs, Banns Thailenari and Alfstanna, along with Arl Kotecki. It was the Order's intent to cause chaos and disarray among the lords, who would be too busy fighting with each other over the now-lordless lands than mount any real opposition. And for the most part, that plan worked.
In the months that followed, neighboring nobles vied to fill the void left by the fallen lords, with each professing to have a valid claim on the territories in question. Petty squabbles soon turned into outright arguments over control, and in time, these arguments would more than likely lead those involved to take up arms against one another. Ferelden had just seen five of the bloodiest years in its history, Arl Eamon had no wish to see any more, so he urged the king to call the landsmeet to settle the matter once and for all. Alistair agreed and had the word spread to all the nobles to come to Denerim and meet there so that he could rule on the matter. But, as the king was about to find out, sometimes even the best intentions can co horribly wrong.
All the lords were gathered together in the great main hall of the royal palace. As was the norm, these lords congregated together in their usual clicks based on their allegiances and loyalties, forming up into several groups around the room. King Alistair sat on his throne at the head of the chamber with Arl Eamon to his left and Teyrn Fergus to his right. Off to the side stood The Grey Warden, and although he held no official position, his popularity with the people of Ferelden would possibly provide the greatest influence of all at the proceedings. Few lords, if any, had the stones to go against his wishes.
Together, the four men comprised the largest and most powerful faction in Ferelden politics. Thus ensuring any ruling that Alistair made would have little trouble being accepted, whether it was favorable or not.
"I hereby call this landsmeet to order!" Alistair shouted out in a very authoritarian tone, "those of you who have business step forward and present it so that way may begin."
A large group of people approached the throne and bowed deeply in unison. These were the lords affected by the loss of the banns and who sought Alistair's rulings. They were comprised of people from all nine affected regions. The king, of course, knew who most of these people were and called each closer so that they may have their audience with him and state their case.
The first six such dealings went by rather smoothly, as it was relatively easy for Alistair to validate the claims of each household and give his approval to them. In short order, the six territories whose nobles had heirs were quickly assigned their new banns to oversee them, which would go far to stabilize the region. It was when the delegations representing the opposing parties for the seventh territory began to state their cases that things started to get a bit murky, as Eamon feared they might.
These were once the lands of Bann Thailenari, one of the most respected nobles in the country. He and his men were among the first to fall at Highever. He was the Bann of Vulshire, which was located about halfway between Highever and Denerim along the main western road. The small town served as a central hub for traders heading east and west, as well as those who traveled south. As such, it held both significant strategic and economic importance. Whoever controlled Vulshire could dictate trade with all parts of Ferelden.
Thailenari's family had representatives present to argue their rights to the ownership of the bannorn, but without a direct heir, claims could be made by other lords for it as well. Alistair very much wanted to keep Vulshire in the hands of the family that had ruled there for generations, but as Eamon suspected, Arl Bryland wasn't going to make it so simple, as he had representatives who were loyal to his cause as well.
Alistair felt that Lady Eustana Thailenari, the younger sister of the deceased bann, had the strongest case for assuming the duties as bann over Vulshire, but, like her brother, she had no offspring of her own. She did, however, have a cousin, Olaif Thailenari, who could act as a successor if anything was to happen to her, but he was still very young, so that option did not come without its risks.
Then there was Matias Culthbert, brother-in-law to Arl Bryland. He was married to the arl's sister and the two of them had three children together. Also, Culthbert was a powerful and respected lord who had lived near Vulshire nearly his entire life, so he was readily familiar with its people and the surrounding country. Because of these facts, his claim to the bannorn could not be easily dismissed.
As much as Alistair wanted to rule in favor of Lady Eustana, he couldn't without listening to arguments from both sides first. To do so would cause him to lose respect with the other lords and nobles and only serve to undermine his position. Being king was more about gathering allies than it was a position of power. Such was the way of Ferelden politics.
"Your majesty," Lady Eustana began, "my family has been the caretakers of Vulshire for many generations. We have turned a quaint little village into a strong economic center; the envy of all Ferelden. In the tragic wake of my brother's passing we feel that there simply is no other alternative than for the Thailenari name to continue to oversee this vital center of commerce and trade. It is our birthright to do so. To rule otherwise would simply be illogical."
"I'm afraid I must disagree, your majesty." Lord Matias spoke up, "While it is known that the honorable Thailenari family has ruled Vulshire with both wisdom and justice, the matter is not so simple as Lady Eustana makes it out to be."
" Tell me, my lady, how long has it been since you've even set foot in the town of your birth? Years? Far too long, I'm afraid, to be in touch with the people and their needs. I, other the other hand, have worked closely with the bann and served as an advisor to him on many occasions. I know the region and its people. I alone, would be the obvious choice to continue on with the bann's vision."
"That's preposterous!" Lady Eustana exclaimed, "you are not a member of the Thailenari family. What possible claim could you have?"
"That is true, my lady. I am not a member of your esteemed household. However, I feel I would be the best choice to replace your honored brother. I knew him and served him, I have lived in Vulshire nearly my entire life and know the area well, and, perhaps most importantly, I have something you do not: A direct heir. Something that would ensure stability in the region for many years to come. And, as I'm sure your majesty is aware of, in times of great need it has been known for lands to pass from one house to another. Teyrn Fergus and The Warden, themselves, being the beneficiaries of such a change when their ancestor, Sarim Cousland, was awarded control of the Highever bannorn after the untimely death of Connobar Elstan."
"You are aware, Lord Culthbert, that I was raised in the area. I am no stranger to it. And I am not so old that I am unable to still bear children. Besides, you are forgetting my uncle's eldest. He would serve as an heir if I were to have no children." Lady Eustana rebuffed, "Bann Elstan was a peculiar case. He was the last surviving member of his family. I'm certain your majesty agrees that no such change is warranted here."
"I've heard enough." Alistair said, waving his hand through the air, "Lord Culthbert, you provide an interesting argument, to say the least. But I'm afraid there just isn't enough cause to validate me turning Vulshire over to you. I'm going to uphold Lady Eustana's claim to the bannorn. Congratulations, Bann Eustana."
"Thank you, your majesty. Your faith in me will not go unrewarded." Eustana said with a deep bow.
"I feel your majesty is making a grave mistake." Culthnert grumbled, "I strongly urge you to reconsider."
"My decision is final." Alistair replied flatly, ending the argument for good. "We will adjourn for the day and reconvene first thing in the morning, when I'll hear further on the matter of the Waking Sea bannorn."
The large group of lords and nobles dispersed, clearing the room and leaving Alistair alone with Fergus, Eamon, and The Warden. The king rose from his throne and stretched from side to side while cracking and popping sounds were heard coming from his back.
"Maker, that thing is bloody uncomfortable. I think it was meant to be a torture device." Alistair said, "my back is killing me."
"You did well, Alistair." Eamon noted, "you showed decisiveness and reason. The lords will have little trouble respecting your wishes. Granting Culthert control over Vulshire would surely have given Bryland a secure foothold in the north. The last thing Ferelden needs after so much tragedy is more power struggles. The people deserve some peace."
"Thank you, Arl Eamon. That means a great deal to me." Alistair replied.
"This isn't finished yet, I fear. Bryland will no doubt make his play for the Waking Sea bannorn, so you had best get some rest."
"Rest...that sounds like a wonderful idea."
"I need to go check on Morrigan." The Warden said, "Seth is probably driving her mad. She'll need some rest of her own."
Fergus smiled and chuckled, "yes, you certainly wouldn't want her to start cracking that whip of hers, now would you?"
"I know I can always leave it to you, Fergus, to start talking out your arse."
"We'll see how smug you are when you're staring down one of her glares."
The Warden rolled his eyes and shook his head at his brother, and with a wave to the others, he made his way from the main hall and headed back towards he and Morrigan's quarters, which were in the rear of the palace. He expected that she would be more than ready for him to take a long turn watching Seth so that she could get some rest of her own.
Ever since her disastrous first stay in the royal palace, Morrigan had preferred to choose quarters in the back of the main building, far from the wooden door that led down to the dungeons below. But every once in a while she would be forced to pass by that door, and she always eyed it with a cold glare while bad memories surfaced and her blood would start to boil.
Before The Warden rounded the last turn near his quarters, the sound of gleeful squealing filled The Warden's ears, followed by the sound of tiny bare feet slapping down on hard stone echoing through the hallways. The Warden stopped where he was and waited for the tiny streaker to come barreling around the corner. Seth turned the corner and ran straight into his father's waiting arms, giggling and cackling like some mad little goblin.
"Where are your clothes?" The Warden asked, casting his son a very fatherly stare, "and you're soaking wet!"
Seth only giggled more and pointed back down the corridor towards Morrigan, who stomped towards the pair with an angry grimace etched into her face. In her hands she held the child's clothes and over her shoulder a large white towel was slung.
"I had no sooner gotten him out of his bath when your son decided he wanted to run off." she huffed.
"Why is he always my son when he does something you don't like?"
"Come, Seth. I've had enough of your foolishness for one day." the witch said as she hoisted the boy out of The Warden's arms while he continued to giggle and laugh.
"How like your father." the witch sighed, turning on her heels and heading back towards she and her warden's chambers, followed closely by The Warden.
Once inside, Seth was actually compliant enough to allow Morrigan to both dry and clothe him. Though, when he was almost dressed he began to impatiently fidget and wiggle in his place. His patience was soon rewarded, however, and the witch turned him loose. He immediately sprang up from his spot and raced away, acting as if something important required is attention. In this instance, he was focused on Leo, who was resting on the floor and didn't seem to want to be disturbed. That did little to stop the child, though, as he merrily called to the beast, urging the mabari to come and play.
While their son was suitably distracted for at least a few minutes, Morrigan and her warden had time to properly greet one another, which they did with a kiss and a tight embrace.
"I missed you today." he said to her.
"I am aware that I shall probably regret asking," she replied, "but I find myself curious as to the progress of the landsmeet. Did all go smoothly?"
"As smooth as can be expected. Alistair is really starting to act like a king."
"Is that so? And what of you? Were you called upon to dispatch any would-be dissenters?"
"Not at all. I stood there like a statue all day." he answered while plopping down into a comfortable chair.
"My feet are killing me."he said as he pulled his boots off, making a long ahh sound in relief.
"Am I to expect more of the same tomorrow, or has your business been concluded?"
"It'll take at least another day, probably more."
A disappointed look crossed the witch's face, "I see."she said, "That being the case, I believe I shall take Seth into the market tomorrow."
"What for? You have your eye on some pretty little dress or maybe some new shoes?" he teased with a wry grin.
"Do not mock me. You know I've no interest in such things. However, I would rather like to visit 'The Wonders of Thedas' while the opportunity presents itself."
"Ah, the magic shop. I should have known. How much is that going to cost me?"
"So coin is now a concern, is it? I thought we had gotten beyond such trivial annoyances."
"I didn't bring every sovereign we have with us, and I know you have expensive tastes."
"'The Wonders of Thedas' carries only the best wares." the witch quipped, "Do I not deserve the very best? Cost should be of no relevance."
The Warden grumbled, "of course you deserve the best." he said as he undid his money purse from his belt and handed it to Morrigan. "Just try to leave me some coin. I would like to be able to get something to eat, at least."
"Thank you, my sweet." the witch replied with a chipper voice, bending over to plant a quick kiss on his cheek.
"See? I told you there was nothing to worry about. In a couple of days this will all be finished and we can head back home."
"I would not be so quick to dismiss the potential for danger, were I you. As you, yourself, have noted, your business is far from concluded."
"Everything will be fine. You'll see."
"It had better be."
The next morning, Alistair was in his study getting ready for another long day of the landsmeet. These sorts of dealings usually left Alistair mentally drained and exhausted, and he looked forward to them with the same amount of anticipation as someone who was about to be drawn and quartered. Recently, he'd become accustomed to being able to lean on Dyana for support, both before and after such an ordeal. But she was no longer there. She had gone off to find whatever her life had in store for her, leaving him behind to deal with everything on his own. And so far, he felt he was doing horribly at it.
Sure, he put on a brave face in front of the others and his subjects, but inside he felt empty and hollow. He felt as if he were just going through the motions of being king. He knew enough, however, to know that was a terribly risky way to act for someone in his position. He knew that no matter how rotten he felt inside, he still had a job to do and that people all over Ferelden were counting on him to make the proper decisions. So he paced in his study, trying to will himself the strength to make it through another day, and not having much luck. All he could think about was Dyana. Little could he know all of that was about to change, for events that were about to turn his entire life upside down had been set into motion, like dominoes falling against each other. And, unwittingly, he, himself, had been the one to start it.
"Alistair, we need to talk." Eamon said as he burst into the room with a look of great apprehension on his face.
"Good morning, Arl Eamon." Alistair replied as if he barely noticed the arl's entrance; continuing his pacing while his mind wandered elsewhere.
"Alistair, listen to me. This is urgent." Eamon implored, grabbing the king's shoulder in order to gain his full attention.
"What's so important? Can't it wait until after the landsmeet?"
"That letter you found, did you actually take the time to read it?"
"I read through it...mostly anyway." Alistair replied, "Why?"
"I just met with Brother Cantarus from the chantry and he tells me something very troubling about it."
"Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll keep until after the landsmeet. The lords are already assembled in the main hall by now and I better not keep them waiting. We can discuss it afterward." Alistair said as he shrugged off Eamon's concerns and headed out of the room on his way to the main hall.
"Damn fool boy!" Eamon fumed while he chased after Alistair, "He will be the death of me yet!"
As Alistair had predicted, the nobles were already assembled in the large main hall, ready to begin another day of hearings. As the king walked down the middle aisle between them, he caught a glimpse of Arl Bryland, whose face bore a smug look of satisfaction. Something felt a bit out of place, though Alistair was unable to put his finger on what it might be.
When the king reached his throne, he lowered himself on it and said loudly, "This landsmeet has hereby commenced. Those of you who have business, step forward."
Almost immediately, Arl Bryland moved to the front and stood before Alistair, still wearing his smug grin. "I have business that I would like to address." he said.
"Arl Bryland, I was not aware that you had a claim to either of the remaining lands in question." Alistair replied.
"Oh, I don't, your majesty. But I do have a matter of great importance, nonetheless."
Alistair turned to look at Eamon and saw the old arl's eyes were filled with concern. An uneasy feeling began to creep up into the king. He was starting to get the sense that maybe something wasn't quite right, after all.
"State what's on your mind." he said.
Bryland grinned slyly as he pulled a folded piece of paper from his breast pocket and unfolded it, holding it up for all to see, saying as he did, "I have here a copy of a letter that was given to Brother Cantarus of the Denerim chantry. It's seems to have been written by a spy who worked for the Orlesians during their invasion after the murder of our beloved Queen Moira."
"How did you get that?"
"How I came across it is not important, your majesty. What is, however, is what the letter describes. Apparently the spy was deeply embedded in our own forces; a woman by the name of Katriel. And it would seem that she was not alone. In order for her to have gotten the information she did and use it against the rebel forces at West Hill, she had assistance. That assistance came from her lover...a notable Fereldan."
"Say what you mean, Arl Bryland. Who are you referring to?"
"Oh, I think you know already, your majesty." Bryland replied as he held the paper out to Alistair, allowing him to see it more clearly, "I speak of none other than your own father: Maric Theirin!"
Liked it? Hated it? Don't forget to click on the review button and let me know what you thought. And for even more fantastic stuff (including excellent drawings from the stories) join us at the Official OoA website (the link can be found on my profile).