-oOo-
"Your Highness," the maid said, as she put the breakfast tray on the table and bobbed a curtsy, "The King has asked if you would join him downstairs after breakfast."
"What? Oh, yes, of course." Maddy's low spirits following last night's party took a sudden upturn at the prospect of seeing Alistair without a massive audience, "Come back in twenty minutes or so to help me dress, please."
"Yes, Your Highness."
As soon as the maid left, she dived out of bed, threw a robe on, and made for the breakfast tray, intent on eating as quickly as possible so she could dress. The contents appeared somewhat strange to her eyes; there were none of the patisserie breads and preserves that she was accustomed to. Instead there was bacon, eggs, mushrooms, and Maker's Breath, what's that? She prodded with a tentative fork at the black disc, and shuddered. This was food?
-oOo-
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she found Alistair waiting for her in the hall; gorgeous in white shirt and soft green jerkin, brown eyes warm and smiling. He came to meet her and took her hand. "Did you sleep well, Maddy?"
She hadn't; in actual fact she had struggled to sleep in a bed that wasn't moving with the swell of the waves. Instead, she had spent half the night plotting whether she could get from her room to his, without causing an incident. She settled for a demure white lie. "Quite well, thank you."
"I wanted to see you before we get caught up in ceremonial nonsense again; I have a surprise for you." Nervous excitement vibrated in his voice. Still holding her hand, he led her away from the stairs, and towards one of the doors leading from the hall. "It's meant to be a wedding present, but with the Dalish coming today, I thought it would be best to let you have it now."
On these words he opened the door. Maddy walked through and stopped suddenly. "Oh…" They were in a long room with high arched windows made of many, many, small panes of glass. A fountain tinkled in the centre, surrounded by walkways. Everywhere there were luxuriant, exotic plants.
Alistair followed her in, and had his hands on her shoulders. He murmured in her ear, "I hope you like it; the Steward has been tearing his hair out these last three months, trying to ensure the craftsmen got it finished in time." She couldn't speak, her throat was full of tears, and all she could do was turn in his arms and hug him tightly, head in the crook of his shoulder.
He kissed the top of her head, and gently pulled her to a door between the arched windows. "Look," he said, indicating what was beyond the door. "I've had a garden laid out for you; not planted, just landscaped. It'll be the Queen's Garden; you can have it how you want it. That's why I had to show you today, because I thought you'd want the Dalish tree here…" All this came out in a rush. and he just looked at her anxiously, obviously hoping he'd done right.
"Alistair…" She was utterly overcome, couldn't think of a single thing to say.
His hazel eyes were soft and still solemnly seeking validation. "I just thought… you've left everything, your home, your garden, your whole life. I wanted you to have something of your own." It was too much; she turned into his chest and burst into tears, months of feeling dispossessed pouring out in one torrential cleansing. He held her close, and waited it out, stroking her hair. When the storm reduced to sniffles, he said jokingly, "Seeing as you hate it so much, I'll have it all torn down, shall I?"
That was enough to make her raise her head. "Don't you dare," she declared with a mock frown, which quickly melted away as soon as she looked into his eyes. "It's perfect, this means so much…I can't even think how to thank you." She gave him a misty smile. "So I'm not going to try." Instead she took his face in her hands and kissed him, long and lingeringly, as she'd wanted to since she arrived.
They were interrupted by a soft, polite cough. "Your Majesty, Your Highness. Keeper Lanaya and her associates are here to see you, as you requested."
They ended the kiss, but made no immediate move to break apart. Alistair replied, "Thank you Bertram, we'll be there in a moment."
"Very well, sire."
-oOo-
The royal couple led the Dalish into a raw, new garden, and the Princess, after some deliberation, indicated the perfect spot for planting. Keeper Lanaya produced a small box that appeared to contain a single walnut seed. She carefully took it from the box, and stripped off the fleshy husk, displaying the glossy green seed beneath.
The young Queen-to-be raised her brows in surprise. "I thought you were bringing a sapling; a walnut tree grown from seed takes at least ten years just to start fruiting."
"I think you may be surprised, Princess Madeleina. This is an old and very precious ritual, one of the few we have recovered. The Vhen'alath will be strong." Lanaya hesitated, with the seed in the palm of her hand, looking doubtfully at the fine clothes of royalty. "I will need you both to take part in the ritual, I'm afraid you may get a little dirty." Their broad smiles, and easy laughter, reassured her.
"My valet will hurt me for this, but I'm not afraid of a little mud."
"I ruin every dress I own in the garden, sooner or later."
Lanaya smiled, it was pleasing to see that these shemlen leaders were so natural. Many of the people who had attended the ceremony last night had disgusted the Dalish with their puffed-up conceit. She would have to bring different companions to each ceremony, so that they didn't run out of patience and say something impolite. Not to mention, minimising their exposure to the quickening. "Very well then, the three of us need to space ourselves around the planting spot. Once the seed is placed, please place your hands flat on the soil. Not too close," she cautioned them, "the Vhen'alath will need space."
-oOo-
Alistair watched as the Keeper carefully placed the seed on top of the soil. As instructed, he crouched down and placed his hands flat on the ground. Maddy was looking confused, and he was pretty sure he could work out why; even he knew enough to know that you started by digging a hole, yes? Not by putting the seed on the surface.
Once all three of them had their hands positioned correctly, the Keeper began to speak in the fluid, flowing syllables of Elvish. Immediately he felt the tug on his mind – magic. Dalish magic, just like the sort he remembered Zathrian using, alien to his senses. To even a partially trained Templar it felt, it tasted, quite different from Circle magic. The magic was encompassing the area, enveloping the three of them completely. For the first time, he wondered whether he had been foolish to agree to this; Eamon would have conniptions if he knew the King was exposing himself so. The seed began to sink into the ground of its own accord, and he felt a second type of magic coil through the first, a wild, free magic like the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, or the taste of wild strawberries. He'd felt it before, recently, but it slipped away as astonishment took the place of memory. A green shoot was slowly rising out of the ground.
-oOo-
When the first shoot appeared, Maddy was so shocked she almost took her hands away. She had been slipping into almost a dream state; lulled by the liquid sounds of the Elvish tongue, and the familiar soil beneath her hands, feeling the burgeoning of the slowly awakening seed. Once she got over the initial surprise, she found herself pulled back into the process; her consciousness of the world lessened. All her attention was on root and sap, and the diffused awareness that came from all vegetative life, but most strongly from trees.
She could feel the surge of growth as the shoot thickened into a sapling. Dreamily, she reached with her mind to embrace the young tree with the love and nurture she had for growing things, encouraging it to dig down deep with strong roots, to reach towards the sun. The sapling became sturdy, its bole widening. She was suddenly aware that the sun was no longer on her head, shade provided by a canopy of leaves.
-oOo-
When a full grown tree stood between them, Lanaya ended the ritual and gave thanks to Mythal and Andruil for their blessings. The results had been surprising, the tree was far more mature than she had been expecting. To have been assisted by a Vhen'alas'mamae! Of all things, this was the least likely. Among the Dalish they existed only as lore. There were none in this generation, although Zathrian had recounted meeting one during his long life. The mere idea of a human one was astounding; surely there must be elvhen blood somewhere in her line.
The young King was assisting his betrothed to her feet. She looked dazed; as well she might, much had been given. Lanaya wondered if the King realised what he had, and probed gently. "You are blessed King Alistair, to be receiving a Vhen'alas'mamae to your clan-hearth."
He was looking in awe at the flourishing tree. "Blessed indeed, this is amazing." She gave up, either he knew or he didn't, it was no real concern of the Dalish. Although, she couldn't help feeling it was unfair that the shemlen should be the ones to receive this blessing.
The Orlesian princess was running her hands over the bark lovingly. She turned to the Keeper and gave her a smile of heartfelt gratitude. "How do I say 'thank you' in your language Keeper?" Lanaya sounded out the words for her and immediately had her hands seized and held. "Ma serannas, Keeper Lanaya, to you and all your clans."
The Keeper bowed in profound respect. "Ma serannas; you will always have a welcome among us."
-oOo-
"My poor dear, you are exhausted."
Maddy was drooping in her chair, her gentle Orlesian maid brushing her hair out, while Leliana changed into a nightgown. "It's been a long day," she sighed.
It had passed in a blur, one traditional ceremony after another. The bride and groom must go to the Denerim cathedral; receive blessings, pay substantial tithes and spend time in prayer. They must hand out gifts to all the palace servants. They must receive in state any of the townspeople wishing to congratulate them; all the local merchants had turned up in force, hoping to gain the patronage of royalty.
When the sun set, a wave of women had carried Maddy away to her rooms for a private celebration, while a horde of men marched Alistair off to his, followed by stern commands from Leliana not to get him drunk. They were, by tradition, not permitted to see each other again until they were to walk down the aisle together.
Maddy had slept badly, had endured a punishing day, and wanted nothing more than to sink into her bed. This evening's 'entertainment' was a step too far for her. All she could manage was to offer sleepy smiles to the court ladies who fussed around her, refuse all drinks except tea, and hope she didn't mortally offend anyone.
Leliana played hostess for her; passing round drinks, telling stories and entertaining the ladies with her best tales. The bride's lacklustre reactions affected them all, though, and thankfully they did not linger. Now there was just her and Leliana who, as her Maid of Honour, was required by tradition to stay and ensure her virtue was not threatened.
Gowned, and with her hair braided back, Maddy staggered to the bed, and flopped into it. Leliana dismissed the maid, who curtsied, and sought her own bed in the side chamber. She then quickly finished her own preparations, and slipped in the other side. Peace descended.
-oOo-
The party in Alistair's sitting room had become comparatively uproarious, seeing as it contained rather a lot more people who actually knew him, and had no intention of letting him sleep. In addition to the expected smattering of nobles and court gentlemen, it contained the bride's brother, a gaggle of Wardens, and all of the King's Own, who, for this one night, had left the palace guard to do all the actual work around the place. Wine and spirits were flowing like water, and if Philippe was quietly ensuring very little of it flowed into the King's goblet, no-one seemed to notice except Alistair himself, who was grateful for it. Despite comparative sobriety, both of these young royals threw themselves into the celebrations with gusto, betting freely on their favourites for Anders' new game – picking up a piece of paper from the floor with your teeth, without anything other than your feet touching the floor.
When a brawny young fellow from the King's Own picked Oghren up by his ankles, and dangled him so he could pick the paper up easily, there were cries of 'Cheat' and roars of laughter… and then the door burst open. Leliana staggered in half-carrying Maddy, whose white nightgown was splashed with gore and who had a bloodied hand pressed to her side.
"What the…"
"The princess…"
"She's bleeding…"
"To arms!" The contingent of King's Own, plus most of the rest of the men, plunged out of the room to seek the threat.
"Maker, what happened, is she alright? Anders, here, now!" Alistair took Leliana's burden away and gently laid her on a sofa. Maddy was at best only half-conscious, crying with pain.
"I'm on it." The mage immediately moved forward, ripping open the knife cut in Maddy's nightgown to properly inspect the wound. "It's poisoned. Nathaniel, Leliana; take a shufti at this, and tell me what it is." He used a scrap of nightie to swab away a small amount of the dark gunk around the wound and passed it behind him.
"I'll take a look; I think Leliana is also hurt." The dark-haired Warden took the swab, and walked over to the nearest light source to inspect the colour. He frowned, and cautiously sniffed it. Nathaniel immediately spun round, calling urgently, "Anders, do not close that wound until I return. We'll need to get an antidote into it first, or she'll die." He dashed out of the room at full speed.
"Die?" Alistair's voice was no more than a distraught whisper. He was knelt at Maddy's side, holding her hand.
"Don't worry Alistair, I've got her." Anders' voice was reassuring; he was casting with butterfly gentle gestures, keeping the blood staunched while he waited for Nathaniel to return. "Someone make sure Leliana isn't in any danger, I can't stop to check."
"I have done so, mon ami. Her wound is not so deep, and I see no poison." Philippe's eyes were anxiously fixed on his sister, but his hands were pressing together the cut on Leliana's arm.
Leliana answered faintly, "I'm alright. I'm so sorry, Alistair; I couldn't get to them both in time to stop it. They came from the maid's chamber, we were asleep. I had no weapons; I had to disarm one of them before I could do anything else."
Oghren burst back in. "One nughumper dead in the princess' chamber, and no sign of any others. And a maid in the side chamber with her throat cut."
"There were two of them Oghren, but I imagine the other is long gone." Leliana winced as Philippe washed the long cut with brandy.
"I apologise my dear, I'm afraid my abilities with wounds are a little rough and ready."
Nathaniel slipped through the door, and dropped a bottle next to Anders. "Get as much of that as possible in the wound, and then close it quickly." He moved to where Leliana sat and took her arm to check the wound. "I brought a second dose in case you were also poisoned, but this looks clean."
Anders was casting in earnest now, while Alistair carefully tilted the bottle over the gash in Maddy's side. As soon as the liquid made contact with her flesh she screamed, and he caught his lip between his teeth in a sob as he poured. The wound began to knit together, and Maddy subsided with a sigh, the crease between her eyes smoothing out as the pain melted away. The mage continued to work, until the wound was no more than a slim pink line, and then slumped back. "That's the best I can do; it should heal neatly." He wearily rose from his knees next to the sofa, and went to help Leliana.
Cedric, the Captain of the King's Own, entered the room, looking with dismay at the unconscious Princess, surrounded by bloody rags. Alistair, who had retaken her hand, and was knelt numbly watching her, looked up sharply, his eyebrows twitching together. "Report," he rapped out.
"We have guards at every exit. My men have quartered the palace, and are conducting a thorough search. If he's still inside, then we'll find him."
The King's voice was dangerously silky, "And how did they get into my bride's room in the first place, Captain?"
"I…I don't know, sire." Cedric's frustration showed clearly. "This was the one night when all my men were off-duty, in here. It seems they were hiding in the maid's chamber, waiting for everyone to leave the Princess alone, but I have no idea how they slipped past the palace guard. I'll conduct a full investigation, I promise."
Alistair's furious posture relaxed. "At ease Captain, I know this is not the fault of you or your men. It's my fault for not leaving some of you on duty."
"In all honesty sire, we should be able to leave the palace guard to do their job, or they're not worth their salt. I'll take it up with the Guard Captain tomorrow, but in future you and the queen will always have my men with you."
Alistair nodded, and turned his attention elsewhere. "Anders?"
The mage had finished with Leliana and was recruiting his energies with a tankard of ale. "Yes?"
"Thank you; if you hadn't been here… and you, too, Nathaniel. Thank you."
"All part of the stag night service; beer, party games, and assassination prevention." Anders left his seat to check again on Maddy. "She'll sleep for a while now, but should be fine by morning."
"Which brings us to a very important point, mes amis; who tried to assassinate my sister on the eve of her wedding, and why?" Philippe was pacing the room with an uncharacteristic frown.
Leliana and Nathaniel had their heads together, and Leliana looked up at that. "Alistair, are you keeping Maddy here with you for the rest of the night? If so, I think Nate and I will go out into the city while the trail is still fresh, see what we can find out."
Alistair nodded, but then looked at her with a shade of concern. "Provided you're up to it, you've been wounded too."
"It was just a scratch, and Anders is a fine healer."
"Do it then. I don't much care about the assassin, but I want the buyer found." The two rogues left to get arms and armour, and he turned back to look down at his prone, unconscious, bride. "Can I move her, Anders? I'll put her to bed here, where she'll be safe."
"Yes, do so. And get some sleep yourself; you two are getting married in the morning."
Alistair gawked at the mage. "She'll be able to? I can postpone it…"
Captain Cedric jumped in hastily, "I don't recommend postponing it if you can avoid it, sire. Preventing your wedding was the reason for this attack. I would suggest that you not only have the wedding tomorrow, but that you move the coronation up to tomorrow also, if possible."
Alistair looked at him for a moment under heavy brows, and then nodded decisively. "If Maddy is well enough; then I agree. Once she is my wife, and my Queen, I can protect her far better. Get a couple of your men on the doors of these rooms Captain, and then go inform the Chamberlain of the change of plan. Philippe, don't worry; I'll keep her safe from any further harm. Anders, I can't thank you enough for your assistance, now go get some sleep."
"I'll stick around if you don't mind, just in case she has any problems."
"Good idea. You can use the Queen's Chamber; the bed in there is made up, I believe. I'll call you if I need you. In the meantime, get some rest; you've used a lot of energy on healing spells." Alistair carefully picked Maddy up in his arms and carried her into his own bedchamber. She murmured, but didn't wake, as he placed her gently in bed, and pulled the covers over her. Instead of undressing, he threw a dressing robe on over his shirt and trousers for warmth; stretching out next to her on top of the bed, ready to go for help instantly if she needed it. For a long time he watched her sleep, fury and fear curdling in him, preventing his own slumber.
-oOo-
