Chapter 9
The Second Revelation
The estate was abuzz with activity as everyone pitched in to help the children. Wynne examined each one of them out thoroughly as Leliana sang to them. Eamon and Teagan scrounged around and found some of Connor's things and Isolde had her servants convert two of her dresses to fit the girls. Marielle was even surprised by Zevran's compassion as he brought food to the youngest boy who was named Miles. He would entertain the boy by walking on his hands and going into shadow mode. Marielle focused on Lily. She gave Lily her bath, put on the dress Isolde gave her, and did her hair in a braid.
"Lily smell your hands." Marielle smiled. "Do you know what flower you smell like?"
"I smell like the roses from the garden Uncle Alistair showed me"
"You are a lily that smells like a rose." Marielle said.
Lily squealed with delight and ran toward her brothers and sisters.
Marielle finally noticed Alistair, Wynne, and Leliana looking at her with complete awe.
"What's wrong?" Marielle asked. "Do I have something on my face?"
"You were so good to her." Alistair said; his eyes wide with wonder.
"She's a sweet little girl." Marielle replied. "They are all wonderful children."
"What made you think to check on the children?" Leliana asked.
"It was that bottle of wine at their booth." Marielle explained. "That wine was made in Amaranthine and is worth three to six sovereign depending on the vintage because of the vineyards are not expected to produce anymore for quite awhile. Something inside me knew those children were in trouble."
"Why didn't I see this sooner?" Alistair agonized. "Before she signed the agreement, Goldanna was a caring mother and every Sunday when they visited, they were always immaculate looking."
"Alistair." Marielle sighed. "For what it's worth…it's not your fault. Gold can corrupt people."
"I should have known better." He sighed. "You once told me that people are out for themselves. I should have remembered that."
"Well they are safe now and that's all that matters." Wynne said. "Their physical wounds will heal and while it will take longer for the emotional wounds to heal, they will eventually."
"I've already sent word back to the palace. They are preparing another wing for them. I will have tailors come tomorrow for clothes and talk with the Reverend Mother and the scribes I have."
"What's going to happen to Goldanna?" Marielle asked.
Eamon and Teagan are drawing up the papers for her to be sent to prison. She's even going to be charged for hitting you Marielle." Alistair said. "Eamon said I'll be able to impose the maximum sentence on her."
"She needs the maximum." Marielle answered. "Make sure she gets hard labor too. Stewing in a prison cell is too good for her."
"Oh she will get hard labor." Alistair said. "That I guarantee."
Alistair suddenly turned to look at Marielle and took her hand, making her shake slightly.
"Thank you Marielle." He said. "You saved my nieces and nephews. If it weren't for your instincts I would have never known."
"Just take care of them Alistair and give them the love that they deserve." Marielle said as she got up and headed upstairs.
Zevran and Wynne found Marielle slumped in the chair of her room staring into space.
"We thought you could use a drink right about now." Zevran said.
"Oh yes." Marielle said as she broke from he daze. "I might have two."
"You were awfully kind to Miles Zevran." Wynne smiled as he poured wine into three goblets.
"The whores that raised me treated better than that." Zevran said. "I always had clean clothes and food to eat. No child deserves to be treated the way those children were."
"Did Alistair leave?" Marielle asked.
"Yes." Wynne said. "The carriage from the palace arrived and he left with the children."
"I'm glad they will be taken care of." Marielle sighed.
"What's the matter?" Wynne asked
"I think I must have done something to upset the Maker." Marielle said. "I can't seem to avoid Alistair. If it's not saving him, its something else related to him. It's like I am cursed."
"It is sort of odd, almost like fate intervening." Wynne said.
"And that is exactly why I am going back to Highever and I'm going to start packing what I want to take back to Vigil's Keep. At least I know I will have no encounters with Alistair at the keep or in Amaranthine. I need a return to normalcy."
Wynne looked at Marielle knowing there would never be any normalcy for her.
The Palace at Denerim
Anora could not help but laugh when Alistair told her how Marielle threw his sister on the ground after being slapped by her. It lightened the mood somewhat after he recounted the horrors his nephews and nieces endured at the hands of their mother.
"I hope you intend to punish Goldanna to the fullest extent." Anora said
"Oh believe me; it's already in the works." Alistair seethed.
"How was Marielle's attitude towards you?" Anora asked.
"She was a bit reserved but polite." Alistair said. "Lily really took a shine to her and it was touching to see how Marielle treated her."
"What did Marielle do?"
"She was just so gentle and caring to her." Alistair said. "Marielle put aside any negative feelings she had towards me and focused entirely on Lily's well being."
"Marielle's nobility is very rare in this day and age. It comes from her heart." Anora said.
"Indeed it does." Alistair said wistfully.
Anora looked at Alistair and could see the love he had for Marielle.
"Are the children settled?" Anora asked.
"Yes." Alistair said. "They are in the other wing. The boys are one room and the girls are in another. I've placed a servant in each room to watch them. Tomorrow I plan to discuss the situation with the reverend mother and the scribes and I will arrange for a tailor to come."
"I will have Erlina speak to Shianni about finding two nannies for them." Anora offered.
"Thank you." Alistair said. "I appreciate that Anora."
"It's not a problem Alistair." Anora smiled. "They are your family and it will be good for our child to have them around."
"Speaking of which, I will let you get your rest." Alistair said. "Goodnight Anora."
"Goodnight." She smiled.
Anora motioned for Erlina to lock the door as she sat up in bed and smiled.
"You look happy your Majesty." Erlina said.
"I am happy Erlina because these recent incidents are a sign that my dream may indeed come to fruition. She saved Alistair and she saved his nieces and nephews, despite what he did to her brother. Marielle possesses a great deal of inner strength and from what Alistair described she is nurturing as well. Those aspects alone only further my desire for her to be the mother to my son."
"He still loves her your Majesty."
"Indeed he does Erlina." Anora remarked. "It will be good for my son to have a mother and father who actually love each other.
Going Back to Highever
Marielle, Zevran, Wynne, and Leliana awoke after dawn and had a quick breakfast.
After Marielle left notes for both Teagan and Eamon, they headed for the stables. Marielle saw Alistair in the distance standing outside of Goldanna's house as they were preparing to leave the city. She suddenly rode towards him and watched as he supervised workmen who were cleaning out the house. Alistair suddenly stopped and looked at her. She could feel his stare piece through her. He mouthed the words thank you and Marielle bowed her head in acknowledgment before riding back to the city gate where everyone was waiting for her.
Four Days Later
Morrigan and Messenger were a few hours away from Ostagar when they encountered the darkspawn. There was one that looked like Messenger but was a spellcaster. He didn't speak as clearly but the hatred and evil in him was evident as he brought waves of undead upon them until Messenger was finally able to kill him. Though she tried to hide it, Morrigan was unnerved by Messenger's ferocity. To see a darkspawn kill its own kind was unreal to her.
"Are you alright Messenger?" She asked.
Morrigan took his arm and used a healing poultice on it as well as one spell before wrapping it up.
"Thank you." He said as he sheathed his weapons.
"Messenger do you remember how you learned to dual wield two weapons she asked?"
"I do not know." He said. "I have always done it."
"Who was that darkspawn?" Morrigan asked
"They believed the Mother."
"You mean that broodmother Marielle killed?"
"Yes." Messenger replied.
"Does this mean if we come across darkspawn followers from this Architect that you will not kill them?" Morrigan asked.
"I will kill them." Messenger said. "The only one I follow is…you."
Morrigan was surprised and pleased by that response. She had gained his trust and knew that it was essential she tread carefully or else it would be gone.
After a couple hours of walking, Morrigan could see the top of the tower of Ishal. She watched Messenger's reactions to his surroundings and could feel his agitation.
"What's wrong Messenger?"
"I feel like I have walked this road before but not understand how that could be."
"Well we make camp and rest before we head to Ostagar." Morrigan said.
"Yes." Messenger agreed.
Morrigan made plans to slip a sleeping potion in his food and get her hands on that journal. She knew the answer was there and knowing it before Messenger would only enable her to help him come to terms with his origin.
A few hours later Morrigan watched as Messenger fell to the ground. After checking on him, she knelt down and pulled the book out of his pack and held it her hands as if it were a lost grimoire. Her hands shook as she opened the book and began to read it.
Morrigan suddenly dropped the book and looked at the sleeping Messenger as she covered her mouth.
She put the book away and glanced at Messenger again.
"And now it has become so much clearer on who you are Messenger…I mean Duncan."