Chapter 9

Nate hurried to the stables and saddled the horse. He was excited to see his sister and Travis again and thought about all the events that had transpired in the last two days. After a few hours of fast riding, he was in Amaranthine and knocking on the door to his sister's house.

"Nate!" Delilah exclaimed as she opened the door. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him fiercely. "I thought I wasn't going to see you again!"

"I have once again cheated death," he proclaimed, smiling broadly and sat down. "You will never believe who the Warden-Commander is."

Delilah looked at him curiously, but before he could answer, Travis rushed in. "Nate!" he cried out. "I saw you ride up! I'm so glad you're back."

Nate ruffled the boy's hair and said, "I'm only visiting. I have to be back to the Keep in the morning."

"Did you find work?" Travis asked.

"Sort of..." he hesitated. "I got caught by a guard and the Warden-Commander conscripted me into service."

Travis looked at him puzzled. "Conscripted?"

Delilah burst out laughing, "You've been made a Grey Warden?"

Travis looked at Nate enviously. "Really?"

"Yep," Nate confirmed. "That was my sentence. The Commander sends her regards, by the way, Delilah."

"Who is she?" Delilah asked.

"Beth Cousland," he watched Delilah's reaction with amusement.

"Beth!" she said, shocked. "She survived? How? What did she say to you?"

"Whoa! Slow down. I'll tell you everything that I can. There was a Grey Warden at Highever when ..." he hesitated, frowning, "Anyway, a Grey Warden saved her and recruited her. Fergus is still alive too. She didn't tell me how though."

"Wow. That's pretty big news," she said. "I'll have to go visit. Maybe we can arrange for Albert to do the smithy work?"

"Definitely. The Keep was attacked by darkspawn before I got there and there is a lot of work to be done. We need all the help we can get," he said.

Delilah smiled as she looked at Nate's happy face, "Can you stay for supper?"

"Sure, but I'll have to leave shortly after, so I can get back," he looked at Travis, "So, Travis, how's the smithy work?"

"Albert's great. I've learned a lot already." Travis got excited as he talked about his new job.

Nate watched him and felt content for the first time in a long time.

...

Varel cast a sideways glance at Beth. 'This will be the real test,' he thought. 'How she handles the nobles will make or break her as an Arlessa. At least she took the effort to look the part and I have to admit, she is a strikingly beautiful woman.'

Beth hadn't worn a dress in over six months, 'since the landsmeet', she thought. She had been lucky to have found an old closet with some women's clothing that was close enough to her size to make do until she could get to a seamstress. She felt uncomfortable, but knew that the only way for the nobles to see her as their Arlessa was to dress as such. She stood regally through the introductions and now began to walk around the room, listening to the concerns of the various nobles.

Varel watched her with growing admiration. Bann Esmerelde approached him and said, "Senaschal Varel, what do you think of our new Arlessa?"

"She is a fine leader and a strong warrior. The Arling is in good hands," he answered honestly.

"Maybe," Esmerelde sneered. "But, I would have preferred a Howe to be in charge."

He raised an eyebrow at the remark, "This change of leadership is by the Queen's orders."

"Yes, I know," Esmerelde sniffed, "I would have thought Anora would be more sensitive to our situation."

Varel watched the Bann turn on her heels and march up to Beth. He quietly followed to be available if things got testy.

"I know the farmers are in need of protection, but there aren't enough soldiers yet. Once we've rebuilt the army, we can protect the lands better," Beth said to a nobleman.

"I understand," the man said, "once the Wending Road is cleared of the bandits, it will make us more profitable. Hopefully, you can resolve all these issues in a timely manner. My farmlands won't be able to provide the food the city needs if I have to fight bandits and darkspawn."

"I am in total agreement with you," Beth said and turned as Bann Esmerelde approached. "Bann Esmerelde," she acknowledged and bowed her head to the woman.

"The farmers are not the priority, the city is. We need more guards. It is getting more and more dangerous in the city every day. There are smugglers and bandits roaming the streets freely. If Renden was here, he would ensure the safety of the nobles." Esmerelde's contempt for Beth oozed with every word.

Beth smiled sweetly at the Bann, "I understand your worry. I have not been proven as a good Arlessa as of yet. I promise that I am working closely with the city guard to increase their presence and decrease the crime rate. I appreciate your support and patience while we regain control over these criminals."

Bann Esmerelde was taken aback by Beth's calmness. "Thank you, Arlessa," Esmerelde bowed and moved to join a different group of people.

Beth nodded to the farming noble and walked back toward the front. Varel followed, "You handled that superbly, Commander."

Beth smiled, "Yes, well, I was taught from a young age how to act around nobles." She saw Varel's questioning look and just shrugged it off.

...

Anders was bored. He had no patients now and nothing to do at the moment. He wandered into a little herbal garden and surveyed the pitiable plants. He knelt down and had begun weeding when he heard voices approaching.

"Something must be done! We can't just let some stranger come in and take over our Arling."

"I can't believe she's the great Hero that everyone talks about."

"I have contacts in Antiva. If you can collect some money, we can get a contract."

"There isn't much extra coin anywhere right now. She doesn't seem that well protected either, maybe a cheaper solution would work."

"There's talk that she's going to clear out the Wending Road tomorrow. Can we get someone that quickly?"

"Yes. I'll send word as soon as we get back to Amaranthine."

"We should go back inside, before someone notices we're gone."

Anders didn't realize how tightly he was clenching his fists until the voices receded. 'I must warn the Commander,' he thought and hurried to the main hall.

As Anders entered the side door to the hall, he looked around frantically for Beth. 'Too many nobles,' he thought. 'Where is she?' He spotted Varel standing with a man and a beautiful woman in a blue gown. Her short brown hair framed her elegant face. He was mesmerized by her for a moment, she was talking to another man and smiling. She made a gesture and Anders was shocked to realize that he was looking at his Commander.

He moved to a position where he could catch her eye without leaving the perimeter of the hall. She nodded when she saw him. He watched as she extracted herself from the men and walked over to him.

"What's the matter, Anders?" she said.

"Oh, um," he stuttered. She was even more breathtaking up close.

She laughed softly, "So, the ladies man, can't really handle being around a lady?" she teased.

Regaining his composure, he smiled broadly at her. "It's hard to believe that this beautiful woman is the same woman who had a dagger to my throat this morning in practice."

She laughed again. "Yes, I clean up rather well. Did you come to gawk, or was there another reason?"

"Oh," he said, losing his train of thought again, "There was a reason. I overheard a disturbing discussion. Two or three of these fine noblemen were plotting against you."

She frowned, "I'm not surprised. Did you see who?"

"No. I'm sorry. I only overheard." Anders watched her survey the room, turn to him and smile.

"It won't be the first contract put out on me," she said quietly, "and probably not the last. Thanks for the warning." She walked over to Varel, who was talking with a group of nobles preparing to leave the Keep.

Anders watched her for awhile longer. He was unsure of the feelings that were tumbling in him. Shaking his head, he left the hall.

...

Nate groomed the horse, put fresh hay and water into its stall and went to look for Beth. He spotted Anders lazing about the gardens. "Hi Anders. Enjoy your time off?"

"No." Anders said grumpily, then looked at Nate slyly, "But you should have seen the Commander," he whistled. "Talk about a looker!"

"Don't talk about her like that!" Nate growled.

"Well, you didn't see her. Wow, what a transformation!" Anders taunted.

"Keep that up and you'll have a bloody nose!" Nate snarled and marched toward the Keep.

"If you hurry," Anders shouted, "Maybe she hasn't changed yet!"

Nate stalked into the Keep with Anders, laughter at his back. He entered the main hall and spotted Varel talking with Margaret.

"I need to talk to the Commander," Nate said. "Do you know where she is?"

Varel nodded. "She's in the study."

Nate turned and walked quickly to the study. He hesitated at the closed door, then knocked softly as he opened it. Beth was sitting behind the desk with her head in her hands. She looked up as Nate walked in and he could see how weary she was.

"Tough afternoon?" he asked.

"Boy was it ever," she grimaced. "Now I have a headache and we have a mission."

Nate sat down across the desk from her. "It wasn't too bad, was it?"

"Oh, you know nobles. It's all me, me, me. My lands need protecting. No, wait it's my lands. Meanwhile, we have no guards to protect anyone," she said, frustrated. Standing up, she said, "I need to eat. Want to join me?"

"Sure." Nate said and watched her come around the desk. She was in a blue gown and she walked regally toward the door.

"What?" she said at his expression.

"Um. You look beautiful," he said quietly.

She laughed at his embarrassment and they walked to the kitchen.

Margaret and Varel were at the table eating when they walked in. They both rose and bowed to her, before sitting back down to their meal. Beth and Nate got some food and sat down with them.

"Did you enjoy your visit to Amaranthine?" Beth asked Nate.

"Yes. Delilah sends her love. Her husband Albert is a smithy and would greatly appreciate our business," he replied.

"That would be wonderful," she said.

Anders entered, got some food and sat down. "You weren't kidding when you said our appetites would be bigger."

Beth smiled and finished off her meal. "I'll see you in the morning, I still have a few things to do before bed," and she left the kitchen.

Varel looked at Nate. "You knew her before the Blight, didn't you?"

"Well, yes," he said embarrassed. "We sort of grew up together."

Margaret and Anders looked at him in surprise.

Nate looked at the door, "She'd probably kill me if she knew I told you, but..." he hesitated and looked at their eager faces, "she is..was...Beth Cousland."

Varel gaped. "Teryn Cousland's daughter?" he exclaimed. Then he looked at Nate, "But, you are Renden Howe's son, aren't you?"

"Yes..." Nate said quietly. "But I was in the free marches. I didn't know what my father did until I came back."

"Look, can everyone pretend that I've been locked in a Tower and have no clue what you are talking about?" Anders interjected and looked around the table.

"The Couslands were a very prominent family before the Blight. Arl Renden Howe slaughtered the entire family." Varel looked at Nate, "I never heard that any of the Couslands survived."

"Beth and her brother Fergus survived," Nate said. "I don't know the whole story, but I do know that a Grey Warden named Duncan saved Beth and that's how she became a Grey Warden."

Anders looked at Nate, "And you are the son of the Arl that murdered our Commander's family?"

Margaret interrupted. "It doesn't matter. When you become a Grey Warden, you leave everything of your past behind you. The Grey Wardens become your family."

They finished their meal in silence. Each of them lost in their own thoughts.