Duty's Journey – Chapter 10

Plans

Weisshaupt– One week later

Elinora's stomach rumbled. She, Finn and Sten had gone on a long jog around the fortress, but it had taken longer than her usual morning routine. Now her body was loudly demanding breakfast.

They headed for the Great Hall and found a crowd of Wardens, Aldo and Rainer among them entranced by Zevran.

"… underneath the archdemon's head, stabbing him in the soft flesh under his jaw and dragged her sword down its neck. The beast collapsed, but she swung herself on its neck, and…"

"Zev!"

He broke off his tale at her cry, but she shouldn't be so humble about these things, he thought. "What? I am simply telling them how you slew the archdemon…"

A massive collective gasp came from the Wardens, followed by a cacophony of questions. Elinora slapped her hand over her eyes.

Zevran was utterly perplexed by this reaction. "Did I say something wrong?"

Denerim

Alistair had a plan.

He wasn't about to keep that little serpent anywhere near him. Anora was dangerous and the sight of her made him sick. He had a feeling that he only had the term of pregnancy before she would try to kill him, putting the child on the throne and naming herself Regent. If her baby was healthy, he was as good as dead.

But he could not harm the child. He wouldn't, nor the mother who carried him. If she behaved then he's never lay a finger on her.

A few consultations with Eamon and Wynne, and a hostile take over later, it was time to put his plan to work. He waited until they were halfway through breakfast.

"My dear," he started. She bristled at the endearment. "I'm afraid the city can't be good for your condition. I think you will have to retire to the country until the child is born. You will leave this afternoon."

"What?" Anora dropped her fork.

He put on his best sympathetic look, pushing away the smirk that was trying to take over his face. "I know you will hate to be parted from me, but the air is cleaner and the food will be much better, fresh from the fields and all."

Anora worked on how to protest. "I do not wish…"

"I don't care what you wish." Alistair smiled ruefully. "Kings and queens do not always get what they wish, and don't I know it. But on this occasion, I will get what I wish, and that is a healthy mother and child."

Anora's mouth twisted as she considered. Alistair noticed for the first time that she looked tired. Pregancy, it appeared, did not agree with her. "So where is it you are exiling me to?"

"The Arl of Denerim's country estate, well, former estate. Vaughn owed quite the pile of back taxes."

"So you seized the estate as payment. Clever."

He nodded with a proud grin. "Only half a day away, but so much better than this manky city." He took a mouthful of bacon. "I'm also going to be using it as a training ground for palace guards and the like, so you will be well protected."

She raised an eyebrow. "Excessively well." She took a bite of her oatmeal, horrid stuff that it was. "So, husband, do you think you have thought of everything?"

Alistair shrugged nonchalantly. If she was trying to make him doubt his plans, it wouldn't work. "Probably not, but I think we've good start."

Weisshaupt

"How is it that you are still alive?" Gerlach demanded. "Or is this just some lie to make yourself a hero?"

Rainer frowned at his commander, but said nothing. Elinora evenly explained, "It was a ritual preformed by an apostate mage. She conceived a child with Alistair and the archdemon passed from the dragon to it. I do not know anymore detail than that."

Zevran blinked with incredulity at Elinora. "Morrigan?" She flinched and nodded.

"So," Aldo rolled the theory around in his head, "the demon was destroyed by the child's soul. Did the child die, or more accurately, did this Morrigan miscarry?"

Elinora shook her head and looked to Zevran for confirmation, who also shook his head. "I don't know. She was gone when I woke up. According to her, the child would be fine and born with the soul of an old god."

Aldo calculated, his head bobbing up and down, right and left as he worked it out. "It could work. I would love to know if it did."

Gerlach growled, "This witch and her get should be found and brought here. We shall decide what to do with them then. Aldo, you and your mages find ways to contain them and, if necessary, destroy them."

Zevran couldn't help it. He didn't like the High Commander and enjoyed ruffling him. "You have to find them first."

"I have Wardens all across Thedas at my command."

Zevran sniffed at the thought. "You send a Marbari to do a ferret's work."

Rainer gave Zevran a thoughtful look. Gerlach gave him a disgusted one. "Enough from you, assassin."

Elinora kept her eyes on Gerlach. "Anything else, High Commander?"

"No, dismissed."

They all left the High Commander's study.

Denerim

Alistair and Eamon watched the carriage leave the gates. Alistair had a bright smile on his face, Eamon was thoughtful.

"So, now what, your majesty?"

Alistair shrugged at Eamon. "She'll have the child, should everything go well. And then we'll try for the spare."

"You will?"

"I'm not letting her get away with this, not without trying for a completely legitimate heir."

Eamon studied Alistair. "Interesting. And if she doesn't conceive?"

"Then this child will inherit the throne, and next to no one will know about it's parentage."

"You seem to have this all worked out." Eamon took a moment of pride. Alistair was starting to think like a king.

Alistair turned to reenter the palace and get back to work. "I have a scenario worked out."

"What if Elinora returns?"

Alistair stopped and stared at his Chancellor. "Then we will work out another scenario. And have a parade." Alistair turned again and entered the palace.

Weisshaupt

"Thank you for seeing me, Zevran. I know this may not be your style."

Zevran looked Commander Rainer over with a sly smile. "You piqued my curiosity. What, I asked myself, could the very handsome second-in-command of the Grey Wardens possibly want to meet with me in secret about?"

Rainer's mouth opened and closed a moment, and then he laughed, a deep guffaw. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but this is purely a business meeting. Please, have a seat."

Zevran sat. "To business then."

"I understand that you used to be a Crow."

"Yes. Who do you wish dead?" Rainer looked momentarily surprised. "No one starts a conversation like that with out wanting someone dead."

"Actually, I want you to find someone, which assassins are good at too."

"Morrigan?"

"Obviously."

Zevran nodded. "Are you sure there isn't someone you disposed of?"

Rainer raised an eyebrow. "Did you have someone in mind?"