We'd been two days on the Pilgrim's Path, and I was cold and tired. I looked forward to being back in the Royal Palace, and the hot baths and comforting food that waited us there. A fresh change of clothes might be nice, too. Amethyne would scold me for pushing myself too hard, and—

"Commander." Nate's sharp voice brought me out of my daze.

I blinked. Denerim lay ahead, the walls of the palace surfacing over the trees. Home.

"I bet Anora's set up a surprise party!" Oghren said.

Nate frowned. "Could be."

Justine said nothing, but sat up straighter in the saddle. Her jaw was set in a firm line and she held her chin up high.

There was no way Aneirin was going to be able to stand being in a city like Denerim. I could tell he was nervous just thinking about it. I told him to wait for us. "You can make camp in that copse of trees you saw in my dream, when you came with me into the Fade. It's south of here, on the other side of the river. I'll send someone to you with a message if I need to. Otherwise, be nearby, and stay safe. I don't know how long this will take."

"Don't worry about me," Aneirin said. "I think I'll be far safer out here with the bears and wolves than you'll be in the palace."

I had a bad feeling that he was right. Suddenly the hot bath I was anticipating lost its appeal. I pulled my cloak tighter around my throat.

#

A group of guards met us at the gates. "Greetings, Warden-Commander," said the Captain. "Welcome home. The Chancellor requests your presence in the palace right away." He looked at my companions. "Fidele is to accompany you. General Oghren, Senior Warden Howe, your presence is not required."

"We go where the Commander goes," Nate said.

My nerves were jangling but I didn't know what to do. I couldn't very well start brawling in the streets. Besides, I could handle Anora. "Very well, Captain. Lead on."

#

Once we got to the palace, we were taken to the throne room, where there were more guards collected than I'd ever seen in that hall. I half-expected Anora to be sitting on the throne itself when we arrived, but she was far too clever for that. She stood on the dais, by the side of the king's throne. Exactly where she should be. Prim and proper, looking in control of every little aspect of the operation.

"Your Highness," she said. "I'm glad you've returned. I'm afraid we have a situation on our hands."

"We certainly do," I said. The voice had started battering at me and I gritted my teeth. When Aneirin was not in close proximity, my protection against the Old God's chanting weakened. I walked past her and sat on the throne that was next to Alistair's. My throne. I tried to be as regal as possible even in the dirt and grime. It wasn't easy. "Why don't you tell me exactly what's been going on here?"

Anora was as calm as a summer day. She had the advantage of having bathed recently, too. "The woman known as Justine Fidele, lately of the king's guard, is accused of being a traitor. We must imprison her immediately so she may await trial."

I looked at Justine, flanked by Nate and Oghren, standing straight without a single tremor. Her face was carved from stone. I turned back to Anora. "What are the specifics of the accusation?"

Anora waved her hand. "The Captain of the Guard will explain. Captain?"

He stepped forward. "She has stolen the king's personal correspondence as well as several other documents of state importance with the intent to sell them to the Orlesians."

"And the evidence?"

"Several witnesses, your Highness, will attest to the incident. Subsequently, a group of guards attempted to apprehend her, and she resisted arrest, doing grievous harm to several of my men. We managed to recover the stolen documents." He held up a battered leather courier's pouch.

I held out my hand. "Let me see."

He hesitated. Anora nodded and he handed them to me.

That was ominous. Since when did the Captain need to check with Anora to follow an order from the Queen?

I opened the folio. There were several letters, stamped with the king's personal seal. The letters were for me, and I resisted the urge to tear them open immediately. There were other documents there, as well. "What are these?" Drafts of treaties. Records of council meetings. "Justine? Can you explain these?"

She was trembling now and as pale as milk. "I have never seen those papers before," she said.

"Oh, of course you haven't," Anora said.

"I swear on Andraste's holy sword that those documents were not in the pouch when I was given it by the king."

"The documents could have easily been planted in the pouch," I said. "It proves nothing."

"That is for the King to decide," Anora said. "My Captain believes that Fidele used the personal correspondence as cover, so that she could smuggle the documents that she was sent to Denerim to retrieve. Whatever the truth, it is clear that there is cause to detain her until an investigation can be completed and a trial arranged."

My head was pounding and waves of nausea gripped my insides. The voice sang in my ears, sweet and sick. "There is no reason for her to be in the custody of the Royal Guards. She will be held by the Grey Wardens until we get to the bottom of this."

Nate stepped forward. "Chancellor, your Highness, if I may. Serrah Fidele has proved herself a staunch ally. General Oghren and I can testify to her courage during an ambush, wherein she saved the life of the Queen, risking her own. She fought most valiantly. The investigation should proceed, but I do not believe Serrah Fidele is a danger to any of us. I will personally vouch for her and keep her in my custody."

"Your loyalty to your companions is commendable, Senior Warden," Anora said in her high, imperious voice. "But my decision stands. The safety of Ferelden compels me to act. This matter is not under the jurisdiction of the Grey Wardens. It is a case of Fereldan internal security. The authority of the crown overrules that of the Wardens. Guards, convey the prisoner to the dungeons."

"Wait!" I stood up. All eyes were on me. "You will not take her." I hardly knew what I was doing. I didn't have a plan. I could have invoked the Right of Conscription, but I recoiled at that — the chance that Justine might not survive the Joining was too horrible to contemplate. I couldn't think of an alternative. I only knew that if I let Anora take Justine, that was a step towards some victory that wasn't yet clear to me. I had to stop it.

"Yes, your Highness?" Anora stared me down.

My face felt hot and cold and the same time. "She is not a traitor," I said. My voice sounded strange and unsteady. "I am the Queen of Ferelden as well as Warden-Commander. I speak for the crown in the absence of the king, Chancellor. Perhaps you have forgotten your place." My knees started to shake. My control was shattering. "You will not take Fidele prisoner. She will remain with the Grey Wardens. That is the will of the crown." Suddenly the dam broke and the voice overwhelmed me. I put my head in my hands, biting down hard to prevent my screaming.

From far away, I heard shouts: Oghren and Nate. Someone's hand supported my elbow. Then Anora's cool voice: "The Warden-Commander is not well. Take her to her room."

#

I was drowning. Anger surged through me, beating against my skin. I shouted back at the voice: "Stop!"

The voice relented. Find me and wake me.

My rage was stronger than the voice, for once. "I refuse!" I shouted.

Find me, human child. Free me. I offer you a gift in exchange.

"I want no gift from you, demon!"

We are in the Deep Roads. Listen, and you will hear us. Come to me. Dragon of Night, Lusacan. In the Deep Roads.

Then the voice's tide rose to a pitch that pierced my ears and I couldn't hear any more words.

#

I woke. Nate and Oghren and Biscuit were in my room with me. I reached out to grab Oghren's shoulder, trying to pull myself up. "We have to stop her. Maker knows what she'll do to Justine to further her own ends."Biscuit leaped onto the bed and held me down, licking at my face.

"Steady," said Nate. "You're in no condition to get out of bed."

"Worse news, boss," said Oghren gruffly. "There's a group of Templars from the Circle coming here."

"What do they want?"

Nate sighed. "They have apparently received word that you are traveling with an apostate mage and would like an audience with you."

"This is also Anora's work," I said through gritted teeth. "How long have I been out? We have to rescue Justine."

"You're mad." Nate's eyes were pale. "You would directly challenge the Denerim guard and the authority of the crown? You risk the credibility of the Wardens, and your own freedom."

"Anora's already challenged me, Nate. Or did you miss that scene in the throne room? She reduced me to a sick, hysterical woman. She's trying to discredit me."

He flushed, his mouth set in a tight line. "Justine will come to no harm with the guard. Let them hold her here in Denerim until she gets a fair hearing. Meanwhile, you may then petition her for her release. Through the official channels."

"How long would that take? No, I can't risk it. I can't take this insult lying down, don't you see that? It weakens my position, and by extension, Alistair's. I could to invoke the Right of Conscription," I mused. "Effective immediately." I had no intention of letting Justine go through the Joining. Not any time soon, at any rate. But the Right of Conscription would at least allow me to take her to safety. "Justine wants to join the Wardens, after all. Let me up. I've got work to do."

#

With Amethyne's help I managed to wash and dress hastily so I was at least presentable. In the mirror I stared at my hollow cheeks, the dark circles under my eyes. Lines on my brow, and tiny threads of silver in my hair, at the temples. I looked older than my twenty-five years. I looked like a weary war veteran, with the haunted look that many had. When had that happened?

Anora was in the council chambers, meeting with a group of Banns. When I entered, they all stood. I noticed that Anora was slow to get to her feet. "Ah, your Highness. What a surprise to see you here. You usually take so little interest in the governing of the Bannorn."

I let the barb go past. "I need to talk to you about Justine Fidele."

"What is it you wish to say? You may speak in front of our Banns. The government should not debate or act in secret, don't you agree?"

"Very well. I invoke the Right of Conscription for Fidele."

I saw the faintest smile flit across her face, and I realized with a sudden stone in my heart that Anora had set this all up perfectly.

She turned slowly to the group of Fereldan nobles with an air of much aggrieved patience. "Do you see, ladies and gentlemen, my concerns? The Grey Wardens continue to overstep their bounds. Not only do they steal recruits to their order who might have served in our army, but now they even invite criminals accused of treason against the crown and arm them with training and weapons."

I looked around the room. I couldn't believe it. The Banns' eyes were almost unanimously hostile. Even Bann Loren would not meet my eye.

Anora went on. "And what happens to these recruits? What happened to Ser Orlis Locke, of Gwaren? His body was returned to his family without a scratch. He died nobly, it was said; but how?"

"Foul play," said a Bann I didn't recognize. He looked daggers at me. "Locke was my cousin."

My blood froze.

Anora shook her head sadly. "As I was telling the Banns, Commander, if there were to be an invasion, I doubt I can trust your support in defending Ferelden. You are too wrapped up in your Grey Warden concerns."

I started to shake and had to clench my hands to stop it. "This is nonsense! There won't be an invasion, Anora. You know that as well as I do."

"No? Why are you so sure, your Highness? Could it be because you have already weakened Ferelden defenses and invited the enemy into the bosom of our nation, into the Arling of Amaranthine itself? Perhaps you have set the stage so well that a military invasion by Orlais is hardly necessary. They could just walk into Denerim, invited by the Queen."

"Are you mad? What motivation would I have for such an irrational act? Are you truly accusing me of treason?"

"No, Commander. I am accusing you of being a Grey Warden." She drew herself up. "While you've been closeted with the Grey Wardens, I've been making a tour of the Banns. I've listened to their concerns." She lifted a piece of parchment. "I have here a draft of legislation that will once again expel the Grey Wardens from Ferelden unless they pledge an oath of fealty to the crown. I have the support of many Banns on this, Commander. You pose the greatest threat to Fereldan security since the Blight."

"That's ridiculous," I said. "The king would never agree."

Bann Esmerelda said, "He will have to, or risk open rebellion by the Banns."

Bann Wulf said, "King Alistair is our king because we supported him in the Landsmeet; we can withdraw that support. The Chancellor has shown that she takes our concerns seriously. Perhaps it is time for a new Landsmeet."

I couldn't speak. I stood transfixed with horror.

Another Bann said, "We know our history, your Highness. The Grey Wardens attempted to meddle with the ruling of the country once before, staging a rebellion against King Arland. What's to stop you from doing so again? You wish to control the crown, and exerting influence through the king is as good a way as any."

The voice roared in my ears. I shook my head to try to clear it. "We can work together on this, Anora. We both want Ferelden to be safe."

"You Wardens only care about the Blight. I care about all threats to the country." Suddenly she softened. "But I am tiring you, am I not? You are ill."

I gritted my teeth. "I am not ill." I felt as though I might vomit.

"But I can see that you are." The pitying look on her face was almost convincing. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Commander is under great stress. She is clearly not in her right mind, or she would never suggest freeing a prisoner accused of treason."

"I'm fine!" I shouted, but the voice hummed throbbed in my head.

"Guard, we need a healer," Anora said with impeccable calm in her clear, fluting voice. "Her Highness must go to her chambers and rest."

#

She'd out-maneuvered me. I fumed. How could I have been so stupid? I paced my room, trying to push away the pain in my head. Amethyne tried to bring me a soothing broth but I snarled at her. And then immediately apologized and took the broth. It was simple and comforting.

"How long has Anora been like this?"

Amethyne gave me a helpless look. "I do not have much access to her. I had noticed a great deal of activity since you left, your Highness. Meetings with various banns, late nights working in her office. I should have sent word to you. I never suspected…"

"It's all right, Amie. You had no way of knowing, and I was hard to reach besides. It's my fault. I should have paid more attention."

Amie looked miserable. "Is there anything I can do?"

"I need you to get a message out to my favorite picnic spot. A companion of mine is staying there — an elf named Aneirin. Can you do that?"

"Yes, your Highness. I will."

"Be careful." I wrote out a message. I hoped none of the guards would think twice about a humble elven servant heading out to gather wood in the forest. I held her shoulders. She was so young, yet determination lit her eyes. She reminded me so much of her mother in that moment. Iona had died defending Lady Landra. Courageous and honorable to the last. Not like me, the coward who ran away with Duncan. "Good luck. And thank you, Amie."

#

That evening, Anora came to visit me. I have no idea how I managed not to throttle her.

"What are you playing at, Anora?"

"Playing? This is not a game, your Highness."

"Could have fooled me," I muttered.

"I am doing what I have to," she said. "Ferelden is my concern. You show none for your people."

"That's a lie, and you know it."

She crossed her arms, tapped an elegant finger musingly. "Do you remember Ned Ferrin?"

"Ned? You mean the boy who stopped Oghren on our way outside the city?"

"The Captain has informed me that he has deserted his post, intending to run away to Vigil's Keep to become a Warden. Because the Warden-Commander encouraged him to."

"That's not what happened. We told him to wait a year. I never encouraged him."

"You steal away the soldiers that we need for Ferelden's defense, in order to train them alongside our enemies, the Orlesians."

"Because we must all work together to stop the Blight! The Orlesians are not our enemy."

"And if there is no Blight?"

"We remain vigilant," I said, but the words sounded hollow, even to me.

"Do you know what happened to Ned Ferrin, Elissa?" Her voice was very quiet now. "He left Denerim, traveling alone to Vigil's Keep. He was killed by bandits just outside the city. I consider his death on your head."

She left me alone.

#

I sagged onto the floor. I embraced the voice, wallowed in it. I was no leader. I couldn't do this. I should just take myself off to the Deep Roads. I deserved no better.

#

At some point in the night, I awoke in a cold sweat. Biscuit licked my hand and I spent a few minutes luxuriating in his warmth. And yet, in spite of the chill, my room seemed terribly stuffy. I slipped out of bed, pulling on a wool robe, and poked at the fire. I felt restless. I had to do something. I just didn't know what. There was a knot in my stomach, a tight bundle of pain and anxiety. I padded out,telling Biscuit to stay put. I didn't want to wake anyone and cause more concern over my health than there already was.

My steps seemed to turn of their own accord towards the library. Books had always been my comfort, and one of the most wonderful things about the palace was its impressive library. Whoever had started the collection was a true scholar. Perhaps a book would keep me company until the morning.

Anora's room lay at the end of the hall. I had a foolish notion to go there and… attempt to intimidate her, persuade her, Maker knows what I was thinking. But what good would it do? I was about to turn away towards the stair when I caught a glimpse of a hooded figure coming up the stairs on the other side of the hall. I stepped instinctively into shadow, pressing my back against the wall, and watched. The figure knocked once on Anora's door and slipped in.

How could I not? I went to Anora's door and placed my ear at the keyhole.

I recognized the speaker. Nate. "Anora, please listen to reason."

"It is late, Senior Warden Howe. I doubt you have anything new to say, but say it quickly."

Nate's voice was as I'd never heard it. Soft, pleading. "You cannot believe Elissa is guilty of anything. She is not a traitor."

"Your trust in her is misplaced."

"If you cannot trust her, then trust me." His voice broke.

"I do trust you, Nate." Anora's voice, by contrast, was perfectly controlled. "But you have been under her influence for too long. You can no longer see clearly."

"That is not true," he said. "She has her flaws, but she is not working against the crown, or against Ferelden."

"She may not intend to, but her actions damage us nonetheless. And did you not tell me of her illness? It is affecting her judgement."

Nate told Anora about the Calling? A burst of rage flamed through my veins. I'd trusted him. I'd sworn him to secrecy.

"I don't believe it is." Nate's voice was low and tightly constrained.

"I understand that she is your Commander, and you are a very loyal man. But when the legislation is passed, all Wardens who do not swear their allegiance to the crown will be immediately expelled. The Warden-Commander will be declared unfit to command." Her voice grew smoother now, gentle and almost sweet. "With my support, you could become the new Commander of the Grey, Nate, and lead the loyal Wardens in Ferelden. Your family would once again have control of your ancestral lands, the Arling of Amaranthine." Her voice dropped to a near whisper. "I'm counting on you, my dear Nathaniel. I hope I can depend on your fealty."

I didn't hear his answer. The bile choked my throat and I stumbled back, away from the door.

My hatred for Howe overwhelmed even the voice of the Old God. Like father, like son.

One thing was absolutely clear. Anora plotted against me, and I had to leave Denerim immediately. I had to warn Alistair, if I could.

And then - my heart sang - revenge.