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Rincewind joined the others as they were summoned up to Arl Emmon's bedchamber. As he ascended the steps that all too familiar feeling returned, the feeling of imminent danger, that feeling that he should run as fast as possible in the opposite direction. Then he saw Cohen.
Well that would explain it thought Rincewind glumly. He started eyeing up all the possible escape routes, unfortunately Cohen spotted him.
The mad old warrior grinned, "There you are! Wondered where you ran off to. The Wizards shend me off to thish world, with no mapsh or any directionsh, and told me to find you."
"Well that's something, I suppose," said Rincewind. "What happens now?"
Cohen just shrugged.
"Oh"
"Wait," exclaimed Alistair "Another world?"
"Well I did say I was from far away," explained the Wizzard, who looked decidedly shifty.
"Far away and another world is quite a stretch." Odin pointed out, "Although that does explain a lot." The dwarf's eyes shifted towards the Luggage.
The Luggage had trotted up to Cohen, who patted it on the lid affectionately. It was always nice to see an old friend.
"So this was the help you mentioned Rincewind?" asked Wynne, eyeing the man in the loincloth with curiosity and an almost imperceptible smile.
"I assume so," decided Rincewind. "I shouldn't be surprised that none of my university 'comrades' decided to appear. I suppose if they did I would've just murdered them anyway for getting me in this mess, uh no offence."
"None taken," replied Odin before addressing the newest visitor. "Well welcome to… our world I suppose, some introductions are in order."
The group said their names to which Cohen grunted and nodded, presumably memorising each. Brother Genitivi also spoke, and was somewhat surprised to learn that the Grey Warden entourage recognised his name, having been sent to track him down. Unfortunately they also confirmed what the cultists had insinuated during his captivity; his assistant Weylon had been murdered.
When Cohen introduced himself it was Oghren who decided to address the Dragon in the room.
"So, what's with the loincloth?"
"I don't mind the cold," replied the Warrior, "and the only shteel in need ish my shword."
"But don't you think armour could be useful in, I don't know, not dying?" asked Alistair.
"I fought and shlew one of your High Dragons without any problems."
The incredulous stares that meet this statement came from everyone except Rincewind and Genitivi.
"Impossible," was the conclusion of Sten, which met agreement from all sides.
"It's true," announced Genitivi "I saw Cohen battle a High Dragon alone and receive not one scratch. It was only thanks to him that I survived and found the Urn. I have a pinch of the ashes. Everything I've found points to their remarkable powers. I am certain they will cure Arl Eamon."
Teagan, who had looked completely lost in the increasingly bizarre conversation, finally snapped out of his trance like state and was reminded of the reason they were outside his brother's bedroom.
"Then we must discuss all of this later and revive my brother."
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Alistair stared into the fire. The same thought kept going over and over in his head.
King… he was going to be King.
His relief and wonder that Arl Eamon had made a full recovery evaporated as soon as the Politics discussion began. Eamon had listened to all the news quietly and thanked them for saving Redcliffe and his son. Genitivi and Cohen were also commended for curing him. At Odin's suggestion Jowan was then turned over to the Circle for his role in the disaster, the bedraggled mage was amazed he hadn't been executed. Then Eamon announced his plan; publically challenge Loghain's regency by placing a son of King Maric, namely him, on the throne. He had attempted to protest only for Eamon to point out that the only other alternative was to ally with Loghain. The very thought of actually siding with the man who killed Duncan and the Wardens… but that still means becoming King.
"Still worrying about being King," asked Odin, joining him by the fireside.
"Is that so strange?"
"No, in fact I think that if you weren't worried you would be an idiot or a power mad lunatic."
Alistair laughed, "Well that's relief!" The good humour evaporated almost instantly. "What am I going to do? I've been a leader before and I never wanted it. Surely there must be another way? I mean Eamon would be a perfect king." Alistair stared into the fire, "Anyone would be a perfect candidate compared to me."
Odin shook his head. "If you want to find the perfect ruler then you should abandon our fight against the Darkspawn and spend the rest of your life searching the world for a person that you'll never find. There is no such thing as a perfect ruler. As it happens I think you would be perfectly good king. You know the difference between right and wrong, you know what it's like to be a normal person, as opposed to being sheltered from the world in a Palace, and, last but not least, you know how to fight."
"That's nice of you to say but that doesn't mean I know how to govern or wield power!" protested Alistair.
This conversation had by now attracted others, namely Zevran, Leliana, Cohen and Rincewind, who had been chatting away while collecting firewood and foraging.
"We're not interrupting are we?" asked Leliana.
"Not at all," replied Odin "I was just reassuring Alistair that being king won't result in the end of the world."
Leliana smiled at Alistair. "You will do well when the time comes. The long lost prince, leading his people in their darkest hour? It would make a fine ballad." Alistair looked doubtful; Odin and Zevran rolled their eyes.
"Think about the advantages of being a ruler," suggested Zevran "Money, good food, women and providing employment for assassins."
Alistair groaned, "That's your idea of an advantage!?"
"Well it is if you're the one hiring them. My own fees are most reasonable."
"I'd run if I were you," said Rincewind. Odin frowned as Alistair seemed to be considering it.
"That'sh your sholution to everything," said Cohen.
Rincewind shrugged, "It works."
Odin did not agree, "So well that you end up in another world?"
Rincewind looked him, "Problems pursue me, even if I outrun them I run into others."
Alistair sighed, "I don't think I can run away from this, but I've never led anyone before. How on earth do I do that?"
Inspiration hit Odin "I have a riddle for you, three great people, a king, a priest and a rich merchant, sit in a room and between them stands an ordinary soldier."
Cohen interrupted, "I heard thish one from a bald eunuch in Klatch, crafty bashtard that one."
"Don't spoil it!" hissed Leliana.
"Anyway," continued Odin "Each of the great ones bids the soldier to slay the other two. 'Do it' says the king, 'for I am your lawful ruler.' 'Do it' says the priest, 'for I command you in the name of the Maker.' 'Do it' says the rich man, 'and all this gold shall be yours.' So tell me," Odin's eyes swept the group, "Who holds the power?"
Cohen kept quiet as the others pondered. Naturally the rest came to completely different conclusions.
"The king has the power," said Alistair, albeit rather uncertainly. "Most people follow their King; even swear oaths to do so."
"None is more powerful than the Maker," said Leliana "any representative of his has power that no earthly source can match."
"Gold has far more power over everyone and it does not require duty or faith to be useful," Zevran pointed out.
"I'm always at the mercy of soldiers," said Rincewind "power does get much more absolute than life and death."
Cohen chuckled, "Heh, all wrong!"
"The answer is that power resides where people believe it resides, it's an illusion and a shadow. All four people in that room need to maintain that perception of power to have a chance of survival. Basically," Odin faced Alistair "if you act like you have power most people will follow you. Having a Crown on your head will also help."
"But that can't be right," protested Alistair.
"No? In that case why does everyone ask me where we going or what we are doing next? You are the senior Grey Warden here so, by rights, you should be in charge but because you avoided leading I stepped in and now everyone here follows me, almost without thinking about it." Then Odin frowned, "Of course now that I've said it everyone else will notice this and there'll be mutiny, damn. The point is if you act like a leader, find good advisers and listen to that conscience of yours, you'll do fine."
Everyone if the group nodded in agreement at this and Alistair looked somewhat reassured.
"So, my soon to be overthrown leader," asked Zevran with a smirk, "you told Eamon we'd meet him in Denerim but we had one more place to go, may we know where it is?"
Odin did not speak for some time, as though he trying to work out how to say this. In the end he went for blunt honesty.
"Ostagar"
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Hello all; firstly thanks for the continuing support for this. I've been pleasantly surprised by how many people from all over the world have read this obscure little story. This message is just to let you know that due to my increased workload for the next month the next chapter may take longer than my usual fortnight(ish) update rate. Rest assured that the story will not be abandoned. I will finish this by the old gods and the new.
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