I want to thank Piceron, sleepyowlet, and Arsinoe de Blassenville for stories that have caused me to rethink my take on Anora. Thanks to them she's (hopefully!) a more interesting character than the bland villain I might otherwise have made her.

Continued thanks to everyone reading, favoriting, and reviewing! Constructive criticism and suggestions are always welcome.

Judith stumbled through the hallway, trying to reach her room before her tenuous hold on herself broke. Then, turning a corner, she cannoned into a tall figure.

"Hey, hey," Alistair said, concerned, tilting her chin up to look at her. "What's wrong?"

His voice was so safe and familiar, the arms that went around her so comforting, that Judith couldn't hold back any longer. She buried her face in his shoulder and the great, wracking sobs tore through her. Alistair held her, stroking her back, wisely refraining from speech. His eyes were far away, gazing over her shoulder.

At last the torrent of weeping eased, and Judith pulled away, swiping at her face.

"You want to tell me what that was all about?" he asked gently.

"D-Daniel. He— He flinched. I tried to t-touch him and he flinched." She sniffled, the tears threatening to overwhelm her again. "H-He said that Howe used a blood mage on him." She paused, calming somewhat. "Which must have been horrible. But then he f-flinched. From me! As if I was … one of them. A m-maleficar!" The moment flashed before her eyes again, and she was overtaken by another spasm of weeping. Alistair held her tightly, his cheek resting against her hair. There was a certain amount of satisfaction in being able to comfort at least one hurting woman in the castle today. Leliana still refused to understand, and he had no idea how to make that whole mess better.

Finally Judith pulled back, rubbing her sleeve over her face. "Thank you," she said.

"Feel any better?"

"No." She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. Grey Wardens. Ferelden. Eamon. Darkspawn, she thought. Civil war, Blight, Archdemon. Much more important than being rejected by some man. She hoped if she said it to herself enough, she'd believe it. "What were you up to, before you were so rudely interrupted?"

"Coming to look for you, actually," Alistair said. "Anora's here."

"Here?" Judith said, startled. "Why in Thedas is she here?"

Alistair shrugged. "I can't imagine. You think maybe we could, I don't know, ask her?"

"Solid plan. Let's do it. But after I wash my face and make myself presentable."

"Good idea," he said, surveying her with a smirk.

She stuck her tongue out at him, grateful for his innate ability to let humor bubble to the surface at any occasion, and went to her room to freshen up and prepare to meet the monarch they were planning to dethrone.

Once she was presentable again, Judith went to Arl Eamon's study. A willowy blond woman whose blue eyes were calculating behind a mask of prettiness stood up to meet her.

"Ah," said Eamon, rushing to stand between the two women. "Queen Anora, meet Grey Warden Judith Amell."

The two women nodded at each other, sizing one another up like fighters in a duel. "Your Majesty," Judith said. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"It has come to my attention that you broke into Arl Howe's estate last night and killed him," Anora said coolly. It was impossible to tell from her tone or expression how she felt about that.

"Well, we killed him, certainly, but I didn't break in. I was invited. And perhaps it would be more accurate to say we executed him. What we found in his dungeons …" Judith shuddered. "Let's just say killing was too good for him."

Anora nodded, her eyes still on Judith's face. Since Judith had come into the room, Anora hadn't even glanced anywhere else. "I believe I can work with you," Anora said. "Gentlemen, will you excuse us?"

Eamon and Alistair looked startled, but left the room as the queen had requested. When they were gone, Anora sank into the chair behind Eamon's desk with a sigh of relief. "Well-meaning men, but what do they know?" she asked, her face relaxing. "Please sit," she said, gesturing to the chair across from her.

Judith sat warily.

"You're wondering what I'm doing here," Anora said. "My father's daughter and all that. In truth, it's simple." She leaned forward. "I'm going to put my cards on the table. My father's mania about Orlais is causing him to make foolish decisions. Eamon's mania about the Theirin line seems likely to push me off the throne. Men and their obsessions." She paused, studying Judith's face. "I quite like being the queen, and I'm really very good at it. Cailan was the show—and the role suited him. He liked being all flashy. But I was the brains. Could I give that up to go off into exile somewhere while some fool bumbles around doing my job badly? I think not. So I came here to meet you, to see what I was dealing with."

"Me?" Judith said, surprised.

"You are the leader, are you not? The Grey Warden? May I add, if I needed any proof that Alistair is not ready to be king, charming though he may be, the fact that you, the raw recruit, are at the forefront while he follows would be enough. It is you who will make the ultimate decisions at the Landsmeet."

"And you want me to choose you."

"Well, of course. But I recognize that it won't be that simple. That's why I'm here. To put it simply: What will it take to keep me on the throne, keep my father alive, and reconcile Eamon and Alistair so the country won't be needlessly divided?"

"No pressure," Judith said.

Anora smiled slightly. "There is very little time. I can offer you proof of things that are going on here in Denerim, proof that will sway the Landsmeet to your side peacefully." She held up a hand as Judith was about to speak. "Trust me when I say I know more than your Sergeant does."

"My Sergeant?" Judith's eyebrows shot up.

The smile turned more than a bit smug. "I told you, I am very good at this. Denerim is my city. I know what happens within its walls."

Judith studied the Queen with a new respect. "So I see." She took a deep breath. "There's one possibility for a peaceful resolution that I have been mulling over."

"And that is?"

"You marry Alistair." Judith thought sadly of Alistair and Leliana, but the decision had been made to make Alistair king. This was the best way to cement his reign and ensure peace in the nation. She hoped her friends would understand.

Anora nodded slowly. "Of course." She leaned back in the chair. "Maric did breed some handsome young men. Taking him to bed wouldn't be a hardship, I'll say that. Oh, Maker—I just remembered he trained as a Templar. He's not some blushing virgin, is he?"

"Not anymore," Judith said, grinning.

Anora's eyes widened. "Not your conquest, I hope? I wouldn't want you hanging about the castle cuckolding me."

Choking slightly, Judith shook her head. "No, no, no no. Not me. The whole mage thing, ex-Templar—it just wasn't going to work. Besides, he was too young and inexperienced for me."

"So it's true, what they say about the mages in the Tower?" Anora raised an eyebrow. Judith merely smiled, and Anora grinned at her. "I like you. I think we'll be able to work together quite well." She sighed, closing her eyes. "Marry Alistair. Remain queen. But what of my father?"

"That I cannot promise," Judith said, suddenly serious. "Perhaps I could overlook what Loghain did, but Alistair … In order for Alistair to agree to this alliance, well, Duncan was the only father he'd ever known, and the Grey Wardens the only family. The hurt and resentment run deep. I don't know if he will be willing to spare Loghain."

Anora nodded, her face sorrowful. "That doesn't entirely surprise me. We will have to see what kind of convincing I can do."

"It won't be easy," Judith warned. "Now, what can you tell me about the things going on in Denerim?"

"Start with the Alienage," Anora said. "There's some kind of mysterious plague there. The whole area has been quarantined, and no one knows what's happening, but it's obvious the elves are frightened and edgy."

"That's it? That's what you know that Kylon doesn't?"

Anora smiled. "I think you know better than that. But right now our alliance is tenuous. I don't think I'm ready to trust you with everything." She rose from behind the desk. "Clean out the Alienage, work on Alistair, and I will see you when that is done."