All the way back to Arl Eamon's, Arianne was humming as if she didn't have a care in the world.
"Maker's breath, it's good to see you in one piece, my friend." the Arl breathed a sigh of relief when they walked in.
"Ari! Are you all right? They didn't hurt you did they?" Roderick asked immediately going over to her.
"I'm fine Rory." she laughed. Astonishment rippled across the room, "Yep, I've got my voice back. Don't know how, don't care."
"It is good that you are safe, Warden." Anora cut in, "We will need to work together, and quickly. My father has gone mad. I didn't believe it at first, but he is gripped by a paranoia so severe it prevents him from seeing sense. He saw me as a threat, yet even now I'm certain he will be telling the nobles you are dangerous murderers that have kidnapped and mind-controlled me. He may even believe it."
"He can't possibly be able to take the throne without you." Arianne said.
"It's possible. It will be more difficult for him, but if my father says Grey Wardens are the enemy, many will believe it. He is a legend."
"It's true. Our position in the Landsmeet is not strong, and this does little to help us." Arl Eamon said.
"At least that snake Howe is dead. That alone will not be enough, however. My father is committed to his path. You will need ammunition for the Landsmeet, and there I can help." Anora suggested, "You have only just arrived in the city so perhaps you are unaware of some... recent events. Denerim has been in turmoil since Ostagar. Many people here are angry or grieving. Strangely, the unrest is worse in the Alienage. Few elves accompanied the army. They should have little reason to be upset. Which means that Howe and my father must have given them reason. I don't know what is happening there, but I am certain my father has his hands in it."
Arl Eamon considered for a moment, "A useful lead, Anora, but... you could have sent this information with your maid."
"That is true. I feared for my safety as Howe's prisoner, but to tell the truth I sent Erlina to you because I hoped we might join forces. You need that evidence for the Landsmeet, but you also need a stronger candidate for the throne. You need me." she explained.
"Stronger candidate? What about Alistair?" Arianne narrowed her eyes, catching on.
"I have no doubt Alistair is biddable enough, and decent, but even with his blood he is no king. You think only I can see it? Not only that," she stopped the rogue before she could protest, "Alistair is a Grey Warden. It will look like you are trying to put a Grey Warden on the throne despite your claims. I am a neutral party, and I am already queen."
"Anora, you are also the daughter of the man who caused all this. And it sounds to me like you are just trying to keep your title. No, I support Alistair in this."
Anora glared at her, "How dare you accuse me of-"
"Anora, Arianne, enough! We are not here to argue about this." Eamon commanded. The queen composed herself immediately.
"I never thought you'd be able to get under my skin again, Arianne. Consider what I have said. For now, I think I will retire to my rooms. When you have a moment, I ask that you speak to me in private." She glided out of the room with as much dignity as she could muster.
Eamon sighed, "Well, she's quite... spirited. I remember when the two of you first came to Denerim. You would always be leading Cailan off on your 'adventures' but Anora would be two steps ahead and have you caught and brought back to the palace. She had poor Cailan jumping when she snapped since the first time she batted her eyelashes, yet he enjoyed his time with you more." he laughed, reminiscing, "I cannot help but think you are right, that she may be trouble. But we should keep her close, all the same."
"All right, we're going to go check out the Alienage." Arianne nodded.
As they entered the Alienage they saw a large group of elves waiting nervously around a few humans. The humans were dressed in robes and carried staves; they also had a few bodyguards.
"I've got children at home! I can't wait out here for another day!" an elven woman cried from the crowd.
A redheaded elf stepped up, "So go home!" she shouted, "The best thing you can do for your children is not trust these charlatans!"
"Everyone remain calm!" one of the humans said, "We will help as many as we can today, so long as we can do this in an orderly fashion"
"Oh, you're helping us, are you, shem? Like Valendrian and my uncle Cyrion, you helped them, didn't you? Helped them never to be seen again!" the redhead spat.
"We've explained this to you before, girl. More whining will not persuade us to let you into the quarantine to carry plague back out to the Alienage."
"Quit trying to get us all killed, Shianni! Some of us have still got things to live for!" another elf shouted from the crowd.
"If this spell of theirs works, why are half the people they quarantine perfectly healthy?" Shianni continued. Arianne stepped up behind her.
"Excuse me, what's going on?" she asked.
The girl turned around and scoffed, "What's wrong, shem, did you get bored and decide to come watch the elves die of plague?"
"Hey-!" Alistair began to leap to Ari's defense but she held up a hand to stop him.
"I would never sit by and watch people suffer. Not even elves. Ir abelas, falon, emma elvhen... well, sort of. I am part of a Dalish clan; I've come to help, if I could." the rogue explained.
"You must think I'm royally stupid. You aren't even an elf and the Dalish are a myth. ...Right?"
"The Dalish are no myth, and to make a long story short, it was a long time ago." Arianne laughed. The girl eyed her suspiciously for a moment then shrugged, apparently deciding it didn't matter.
"These foreigners say they're here to help with our outbreak of plague. Funny thing, though, all the people they 'help' disappear." she explained.
"That's not true, and you know it, Shianni! Both my sisters got the Tevinter spell cast on them, and they're fine!" the first elf who had spoken piped up.
"Where's your niece then? And Nymara and my uncle Cyrion? And Valendrian?" Shianni replied, "These men set up a quarantine to stop the plague from spreading, but many of the ones they quarantine aren't sick. One of them was our Hahren, Valendrian, and I don't know what we're going to do if we don't get him back." Her lip quivered slightly but she chomped down on it to keep herself from breaking down.
"Don't worry. We'll find him." Arianne smiled at the girl. They moved over to the door of the hospice and one of the 'healers' stopped them.
"Please leave, the Alienage is under quarantine-" he began. Zevran interrupted him with a fit of coughing.
"It is okay... my friends. I am sure... I can find aid here." he said, wheezing. Arianne and the other were perplexed for a moment but the Tevinter reacted fast.
"Hessarion's mercy, how long have you been ill, man?! You should have come here days ago!"
Arianne suddenly caught on. She reached over to support Zevran and whispered in his ear, "I'll give you until nightfall. Any longer and we're coming in after you."
"Have you no faith in me, my dear Warden? I am hurt." he grinned back. The healers escorted him inside the hospice and the group stood for a moment.
"Now what?" Rory asked.
"Now... we wait." And wait they did. The sun soon began to set and Shianni invited them into her house after they explained what happened. The light slowly faded and they lit candles. Arianne was tapping her foot nervously, wondering just how long she would wait before going in.
Then; there was a very slight knock on the door. Shianni practically flew to open it, praying that it would not just be Zevran but the others as well. Outside stood a lithe elven woman with long white hair that elegantly framed her shoulders.
"Cousin!" Shianni breathed and hugged the woman fiercely, "I am so glad you're alright! How did you...?"
"This man helped us escape," She motioned behind herself at Zevran, who now strode in the doorway, "Those Tevinters were slavers. They took Valendrian and the rest somewhere else."
Arianne stood, going over to the assassin, and clapped him on the back, "You're late."
"It is so refreshing to see the amount of worry you had for me, my friend." Zev chuckled.
"I knew you could take care of yourself." she told him.
"Ha! I guess I am a lucky man then, no? To have this beautiful woman help when I was all alone." he said, smiling devilishly at Shianni's cousin. She hardly even cast him a glance.
"I think they took them through the apartments behind the hospice. I would go after them but by myself it would be a fool's notion. Would you assist me? From what I have heard from your friend, you are competent fighters." she asked, addressing Arianne.
"Of course."
"Good. My name is Nymara Tabris."