Highever
Castle Cousland
A few days later
The sight was disheartening. It sickened his stomach.
Bryce saw his home in flames, stained with blood. Men he had known since he was a young lad strewn about the hallways.
His family was safe, thank the Maker. Elissa had returned, with a small band of adventurers and mages. He was at once rather angry with her, and very proud of her. Certainly he was relieved that she was alive!
"You are..." Bryce began "I don't even know where to begin with you. What exactly has transpired since I told you to stay in the manor back at Denerim?"
As the troops rounded up the survivors and cleaned up the Castle, Elissa sat her famly down and discussed everything. Her secret meeting with the Queen. Exposing Eamon as a traitor. Preventing the assassination. The murder of Vaughan Kendalls, his father, and stopping a massive slave trade ship from hauling off most of the Alienages inhabitants.
Then they cornered Eamon, only to fight off a horde of fresh undead. When they finally breached the castle, Eamon and Isolde were both dead from a mage related problem. Connor was a mage.
"I want to go to Denerim next year, Father!" Oren was in far better spirits now "Sounds like so much fun! What do undead look like?"
Oriana and Fergus shushed their wayward son, and Elissa continued. Employing the Circles help. Running into apostates, the Hawke family, assassins, fanatical templars, spirits bent on aiding humanity, discovering plots to ruin the world as they knew it, darkspawn...
"All in all, I can say without a doubt that within the last few days, Ferelden has completely gone off her rocker, Father. If I were you, I'd probably just shut that front gate over there, bury the key and get comfortable living here for a while."
Bryce was seriously considering his daughters proposal. This entire thing was a nightmare.
The Theirin line was extinguished. He and his family now had the strongest claim to the throne. Anora would be a contender, but Bryce knew the reality of the situation, much as it personally bothered him to admit it. Her time as Queen was essentially over now. If he didn't take control of the crown, a civil war might erupt between those who would want it.
If he DID take it, Loghain might raise an army to reinstate his daughter to the throne, and there would be a civil war anyway!
And the Orlesians! The fleet would have to be assembled immediately. If any Orlesian ships got onto the mainland, it could spell disaster for Ferelden. A strong naval blockade had to be erected, immediately. He would send word to his captain later.
Bryce knew little about demons and spirits, but if the darkspawn were a problem, Malcolm needed to be alerted. It didn't surprise him that the Chantry would interfere. There were good people in the Chantry, but the structure itself was intolerable. Elissa had done well to recruit these people. Ferelden would need all the help it could get. And to think he hadn't thought of getting a court healer! They would need one now, more than ever, if his family was to take the throne.
"First things first." Bryce put his hands on Elissas' shoulders "You've performed brilliantly, my daughter. I have not forgotten that you not only saved our lives, but also that of our Queen. However, you've acted rather recklessly. I don't know what to say about Urien Kendalls or his son. I think you should have arrested them. I am not going to punish you, but right now, I want you to stay here. And I am dead serious this time, Elissa. Stay in the Castle. It simply is not safe out there, as you say. You've been at the center of a lot of danger, and that's bound to catch up with you if you don't lie low. At least for a little while."
All things considered, Elissa felt she had gotten off easy. She smiled at Alistair, and they grasped eachothers hands "I understand Father. There's...also something else."
Bryce and Eleanor shared a glance, then Eleanor spoke first "I've always known, daughter of mine. It was...in the best interests of you to marry Thomas, but it seems that simply is not an option right now, what with the Arls latest actions."
Elissa felt her heart race with excitement and dread "What do you intend, then?"
"We don't know." Bryce sighed "The King is dead. We Couslands have the greatest claim to the throne now. If there is to be peace, your Mother and I may have to take up the throne. That means you are to take control of Highever, Fergus, effective immediately."
Fergus nodded "I understand. I will not fail you, Father."
Bryce smiled warmly at his son "You've never failed me, nor dissapointed me. You fought bravely today. You've more than earned the right to rule these lands. Do so with pride, and never eschew your honor as a Cousland. Never forget your duty. A Cousland always does their duty."
Fergus stood up a bit taller, and Elissa smiled.
"What this means for you, Elissa," Bryce continued, his voice hardening "is that you might be named my heir."
"The Landsmeet chooses the heir." Elissa argued.
"And they won't be very well inclined to choose you if you marry Alistair."
Alistair immediately blushed bright red.
Bryce immediately looked over to Alistair with an apology written on his face. The unspoken hung in the air: that a noble would be denied marriage to Fereldens most eligible noble born woman because she chose a half blooded bastard commoner over him? Intolerable. Many a noble would be furious if Elissa married Alistair now. That was the simple truth.
Alistair, not thinking of these things at all, was only focused on the M word. "M-m-marriage? As in wedding? As in cake, some holy words and kissing marriage?"
"What OTHER kind of marriage were you thinking of?" Trevor raised an eyebrow.
"Let them pick Fergus or Oren, if they wish!" Elissa defiantly spoke back "Alistair defended the Queen with his life! He singlehandedly beat the best noble born knights in Ferelden in our tournament. And common born though he may be, he still has the blood of a Theirin. He's constantly been at my side, defending me, picking me up when I couldn't bear the weight. I want to marry him, to be his wife, to love him and to someday have children with him. If the nobility have a problem with that, fine! Alistair doesn't want to be King, anyway! Isn't that right, Alistair?"
"It might not be his decision." Bryce frowned "It could go either way, actually. If you two marry, the nobles might resent it. Or, they could see Alistair as the only connection left to the Theirin bloodline. Your own blood would further legitimize his claim. They might decide to-"
"Absolutely not!" Alistair objected "I never wanted it! I still don't want it! If anyone deserves to be King, it's you, Bryce!"
"I love him, Father. This is what I want."
Bryce smiled at the young man's kind words. Alistair had always looked up to him since he had come here, many years ago. And his daughter, she had grown up to become a strong young woman. Headstrong, impulsive, and with still much to learn, but she was also brave and charitable. Ferelden would need them both in this time of darkness.
"Then it is settled. Fergus, you shall take Highever, but if the worst should befall myself and Eleanor, then you will yield Highever to your sister and take up the throne. As for you, my daughter, you have my blessing. Alistair is a good man, and worthy of the blue blood in his veins.
Eleanor suddenly hugged her daughter, trying to hold back the tears "You have no idea how happy I am, my child."
After the well wishings were exchanged, Bryce went with his new bodyguard. The tattoed elf Fenris had slain his master, and had nowhere else to go. Fenris tensed at the sight of mages in the hallway ahead, but Bryce raised his hand
"It's alright, Fenris! I owe them much. Perhaps some introductions are in order? I am Teryn Bryce Cousland, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming to my families aid."
The Hawkes, along with Zevran, all bowed courteously.
"And may I have your names, if you do not mind, and how you came to be here?" Bryce asked politely.
Zevran grinned wickedly.
Val Royeaux, Orlais
Imperial Palace
"Easy, my love." Briala soothed, rubbing her masters back.
No amount of tea would soothe this headache.
Briala knew that well, as did her master. Nevertheless, the Empress continued to drink.
"Go on. Say it."
Silence.
"Very well, then I shall say it." Celene continued, leaning over her table with her favorite cup in hand "You were right. The risks were simply too high."
Briala shook her head "You were put into an impossible situation."
Impossible, indeed.
As of right now, Orlais was in the middle of a secret war of sorts. Grand Duke Gaspard had grown impatient with Celene's policies, her favorable treatment of the elves, and her peaceful stance on relations with the Fereldens.
Grand Duke Gaspard was one of the most powerful men in Orlais. He commanded the loyalty of many chevaliers. If a rebellion broke out, Celene was unsure of her chances of retaining her throne. And even if she did, who's to say the Nevarrans, or even the Fereldens would not take up the opportunity to strike at her country at its weakest?
Gaspard wanted Ferelden. No, that was inadequate. Most of Orlais wanted Ferelden back. Celene personally thought the idea of retaking their 'province' back as outdated, and counterproductive. Let the chevaliers bemoan about their wounded honor. It would have been far more practical to slowly ease away at the hostilities and earned Ferelden as a trading partner.
But, this was not the popular opinion. The popular opinion was war. War is costly. War destroys lives, erases culture, knowledge, damages the land, breeds hatred, and creates lasting enemies. Waging a war to reclaim the bountiful Bannorns, however rich a prize that might be, was not worth it. Waging a war simply to stick it in the nose of an old adversary is insanity.
War, was not an option.
So, Celene compromised with Gaspard.
In exchange for a few lives, she would prevent the onslaught of two wars. Celene liked Cailan and Anora, even though the feelings were not reciprocated from the Queen. Cailan would have been managable without Anora, Loghain, and the rest of the higher Ferelden nobility. What would have been a swift death would be nothing personal: merely the preservation of peace. With Anora's death, the path to marrying Cailan and unifying both countries would be open.
Would that things have gone to plan.
"So what you are reporting, spymaster," Celene groaned "is that not only is Anora alive, but Cailan is very much dead, along with Marjorlaine, who has probably confessed, and Arl Eamon as well."
"Information I get from the bards is harder as of late, with no thanks to Loghains surveillance. It appears Eamon did not die in battle, but by some sort of magical accident. And yes, Marjorlaine talked. They can't actually PROVE anything, as all of the documents issued were used with fake seals. If the Fereldens accuse us of anything, we can simply state that Eamon must have been acting alone. Getting a forgery, after all, isn't too hard when you have money and connections. Our tracks, at least, are covered. They will still obviously suspect us, of course."
Rather than defuse the tension, Celene slammed her hand on the table "That fool! I should never have entrusted Marjorlaine! And the Tevinters! I simply wanted the Ferelden nobility to be removed as a threat! Not create a scandal! Hand me that parchment! I have some choice words to deliver to the Archon."
Briala was happy to deliver. The deal was for the Tevinters to subtly influence the higher nobility, weakening the defenses of each Bannorn, Arling and Teyrnir. When enough damage had been done, the mages would be responsible for taking them down. In return, the trading deals between the Imperium and Orlais would be more favorable.
Of course, the plan was to be executed in low profile, for starters. Celene had also made it clear that no one was to be taken as a slave. Briala had heard of the news in the Denerim Alienage.
When she was done scribbling, she threw the pen down, and floded up the parchment roughly "I shall remember to never make deals with the Imperium ever again." Celene sighed, and eyed Briala curiously "What other news do you have to report?"
The spymaster commented on Chantry news next. Apparently the rumors were true: Beatrix III had died in her sleep not mere days ago. The Chantry had already picked its next successor, one that Celene favored, much to the chagrin of the Lord Seeker. They were keeping things quiet for now, until Divine Justinia was ready to ascend the Sunburst Throne.
The Circle Tower in Ferelden also had something of a rebellion on its hands. Many dead, mage and templar alike, but the Annulment was canceled. The Lord Seeker was expressing interest in an extended investigation.
"Hmph." Celene muttered "Good luck getting across the border right now, Lambert."
Some other news about the Urn of Sacred Ashes. Probably rubbish, but Briala trusted her instincts on this one. Apparently the Chantry had found a good lead.
The late Arl Rendon Howe had made use of the Crows, all due in part to the Tevinters meddling. Some targets were assassinated. The Arling of Denerim has a successor, one outside of Ferelden at the moment. In addition, Castle Cousland was nearly sacked. Those responsible were slain by the Teryns army.
A powerplay of sorts in Orzammar. King Endrin's eldest, Trian, was dead. The middle child, Maera, has been exiled for his murder, but Briala suspected a setup. It would bear watching.
The Qunari are on the move again. A huge front is preparing at the Tevinter Imperium, it seems, but a small detachment seperated from the group. The last known location was in the Waking Sea, between the Free Marches and Ferelden.
"One last bit of news." Briala inched in closer "My bards close to the Korcari Wilds tell me that darkspawn have been sighted in larger numbers than usual. Probably nothing, but it might be wise to inform the Wardens in the Anderfels."
Celene nodded, trying to absorb all of this information, process it, and form a coherent plan.
"Well, Gaspard will likely try to force a war with the Fereldens, since we have failed. We can't let that happen." Briala waved her hand.
"But how? How do we manage to do that without risking a civil war?"
"I'm not sure that it is possible, at this point." the spymaster replied frankly. "The good news is that the new Divine is a staunch ally of ours. If Gaspard is denounced by the Chantry, that could draw away popular support. The problem would be getting the Chantry to unify. Lord Seeker Lambert isn't exactly in line with Justinia, and he has almost as much power as her."
Celene considered other possibilities...
Marriage to Gaspard...
No. She would not break on that. Celene loved Briala, and nothing would stand between them. Gaspard would not have tolerated an elven lover. That he accepted her plan to marry Cailan, instead of him, was a miracle itself!
Besides, it would only solve one problem. The rift in Orlais would be sealed, but Gaspard would still press for war with Ferelden. Gaspard would also push his policies to the front. The elves would suffer. The arts? Literature? They would stagnate as the boorish, chivalier culture took over. More and more priveledges would be extended to cruel, spoiled men, who would rape, beat, and terrorize the people of the cities and countrysides.
"So it seems the only thing to do...is wait."
Briala lowered her head "I would have gladly gone in Marjorlanes place, if you had allowed it."
"And risk losing you?" Celene raised a hand to Briala's cheek "This was a dangerous gamble. I wouldn't place your life in it to better the odds."
Briala leaned in for a kiss, but Celene stopped her "One last thing: tell me more about this Elissa Cousland, and the bastard."
I'm basing this Celene off of the one in Masked Empire, who likes to compromise, is not above trickery, etc. In canon, Celene wants to marry Cailan. This would be a huge upset to the Orlesians, the nobility especially, who view the Fereldens as inferior. I'm guessing Celene wanted to succeed where her predecessors failed, but not by conquest, since she goes out of her way to stop a possible war in the book. She's propped up to be the opposite of Gaspard, who clearly fits the role of the aggressive leader in Masked Empire (this is done on purpose, as I suspect we will have to choose who leads Orlais in Inquisition.)
Marrying Cailan ties the bloodlines together. This still would be horrid for Ferelden, if you are familiar with history. Basically, Orlesian laws and interests would then trump Ferelden laws and interests, because Ferelden is now a part of Orlais. The land would be taxed dry of its resources, and the people now unable to defend themselves from a new wave of imperial tyranny. Cailan would be a puppet dancing to Celene's tune.
Thanks for reading!