Chapter 26: A Royal Greeting
"PRESENTING HER LADYSHIP, NATALYA SONG, AGENT OF THE INQUISITION, AND HOLY SISTER OF NICHOLAI TREVELYAN, THE HERALD OF ANDRASTE!"
Natalya smiled. As far as introductions go, the herald at the door had hit all the right notes. She wanted every noble in Ferelden to realize just exactly who it was that was about to address them.
She strode into the throne room of the Palace of Denerim, a rather cold place, truth be told. She had hoped for some nice big braziers, giving off enough heat to warm her up appropriately from her long journey.
Or perhaps you should have not worn such a light gown, her conscience chided, beauty is all well and good, but it will not protect you if you catch cold.
She ignored that thought. You only had one chance to making a good or memorable first impression.
She did not intend to waste this chance.
From the balconies above and from the pillars around her; the Royal Court murmured as she passed. No doubt they had expected something…different from the sight that was standing before them…something more…prudish.
The thought amused her.
Natalya was many things…a prude she had never been.
She let the two Inquisition soldiers accompanying her display the strength of their order, both were strong and stout. Binder, the young man that Sister Leliana had sent with her to act as her aid was here somewhere, already watching her back from behind the scenes. As for Natalya herself, she pushed back her travelling cloak and let the nobles get a look at…well…the goods…so to speak.
She wore the symbols of both Andraste and the Inquisition on her cloak, the badge that held it around her neck bearing the mark of the eye and sword, but she realized that she needed something more as she began her life here in Denerim.
She needed to be remembered, too make an impression; a good gown was an excellent start.
The green dress was one of her favorites, typically worn during the summer months. The greens of the fabric matched her large almond-shaped eyes. It was also cut very low in the front, and slit up the side to allow her legs freedom of movement. The belt she wore sat just so on her hips that the curves of her body were on display, many heads turned as she walked past, but that was to be expected. She had turned many heads in Ostwick with this gown; she knew the effect it had on people.
Her smile widened slightly.
It was never a bad idea to put someone off balance in the early stages of any negotiations. If the nobles were staring at her body, they weren't fully focused on her words. That fact could be most useful as the Inquisition, still in its infancy, moved forward.
Today, she was a stranger in a strange land, familiar, but strange. Fereldans were an insular people, a proud people.
She needed to win them over quickly. She needed to dazzle and seduce them all at the same time.
The Inquisition could not afford to have her come off simply as an ambitious foreigner.
She was not here as a Marcher. She was not here simply as a member of the Inquisition. She was here as the mouth of the Herald of Andraste, his eyes and ears…
Let any man or woman here try to question that authority.
She had to admit, she had been a little…annoyed that Nicholai had chosen to send her here, far from the action of the Inquisition leadership. She would have preferred to remain at his side, watching and waiting as her brother wove his way into the hearts and mind of the Faithful that continued to descend upon Haven. She had done her best work as she had toiled on the grounds of the Hinterlands, laying the stones upon which she would built her chantry…her legend.
The bard's eyes flashed with excitement.
It was not every day that a person got to write their name into history. She would not waste this opportunity; she would carve her name on the sodding stone for all future generations to see.
Natalya Song…would be remembered.
She was not Andraste. She had no desire to be Andraste. Nicholai was the holy hero, and he was welcome to that role. What most people did not realize is that Andraste had not done what she had done alone. It was like she had heard Mother Giselle tell Nicholai, Andraste had had advisors, generals, people she trusted…
…Nicholai trusted her. She would not let that trust go to waste. She would be more in the eyes of the faithful; she would be his disciple, his willing acolyte.
She would be known to all as his first and most loved servant, and from that post, she would rise higher than any could possibly believe.
Nothing would be beyond the Holy Sister of the Herald.
Nothing.
She almost laughed at the very thought.
The Holy Sister?
What a curious title.
She had not started the 'Holy Sister' thing; it had come from the unfortunates in the Hinterlands, those who her charity had most benefited. When Corporal Vale distributed goods to the needy, she was there. When the fearful needed to hear of the Herald, to inspire them to be more, Natalya had told them tales of his exploits. Embellished tales, of course, but it was like Varric said.
All good tales deserve a little embellishment.
She sang songs of the noble house Trevelyan. She told of the grand stock that the Herald had descended from. The fact that he had been touched by magic did little to kill his appeal to the common folk. If anything, it enhanced his mystique. The fact that her brother had been forced into the Circle as a young boy, and now returned to serve the faithful played well with the masses that had been displaced by the Mage Rebellion.
The fact that Andraste had chosen a mage to serve as her herald made sense to most people. Magic was to serve, never to rule, and wasn't that what the Inquisition was, servants restoring order?
Any power that they gained from their actions was merely a side effect of their good works. The people accepted it...
…While Natalya was determined to revel in it.
The way she saw it, she had only one real enemy right now, a loose end that needed to be tied up before she could move forward.
From Denerim, she would be better suited to deal with that loose end.
She had tried to send a letter to her father, to explain the changing situation here in Ferelden. Bann Pieter had sent her here almost a year ago to…remove his mage son.
That plan was no longer viable.
Natalya had never failed her father, when he had given her a target, she had eliminated it, but the situation here was far more…curious.
Could Natalya have killed Nicholai, sure, did she want to, no. Plus, it would not do to kill the Herald now, not with so many people depending on him.
Could she have finished the mission? Yes, but if she had, how would history have regarded her? The woman who murdered the Herald of Andraste? Even if Father did recognize her as his legitimate daughter she would never live long enough to enjoy her reward. The faithful would hunt her down, she would die slowly and painfully, and her name would be damned for the ages. Provided anyone survived the onslaught from the Breach of course. The name Natalya Song would become as reviled as Maferath, a name synonymous with traitor.
She could not do that to herself, she would not.
She hoped to make her father see that. How it was in his best interest to now stand fast with his mage son, and his new allies.
She needed him to trust her judgment.
The world was changing; they needed to change with it.
She needed to make him understand, even though that would not be easy. Trevelyans were an extremely stubborn stock.
She would have to be more than her charming self, she would have to be better, but that was for another day.
She bowed her head in submission as she approached the throne of Ferelden, the rulers of the country looked down on her from the dais. She dropped to one knee.
First she needed to tame the greatest of the Dog Lords.
Then it would be time to deal with her father.
"Your Majesties," she purred in her most submissive voice, "On behalf of my brother, the Herald of the Andraste, and the Inquisition, I thank you for granting me this audience."
She chanced glancing up; the two thrones were basically large wooden chairs with arms carved into the shapes of Mabari warhounds. Both rulers were dressed in crimson and royal purple.
Their faces remained unreadable, even to someone as skilled as Lady Song in reading people's moods.
Even though the Blight was a decade past, King Alistair still cut an impressive figure. He was broad shouldered, with his strong arms filling out the red silk tunic he wore. His dark blond hair stood up like blades beneath the circlet of his crown.
If he had been the least bit dazzled by her beauty, he did not show it. Of course, that might have something to do with the woman sitting next to him.
Natalya pursed her lips.
Queen Allegra was not as…exotic as some of the rulers she had seen; she was pretty, but far from devastatingly beautiful. She was said to be soft spoken, yet fierce when angered. She had ruled Ferelden herself for almost a year some time back, and all the nobles had come to respect her. She had many of the traits that Natalya had come to identify as being synonymous with the Pentaghast line, her chin and eyes reminded the bard much of Cassandra Pentaghast of the Inquisition . There were some difference though; the queen's hair was so dark red it looked almost black, her nose and shoulders lightly dusted with freckles, likely from the time she had spent as a girl hunting in her native Nevarra. The princess had come here eight years ago, an arranged marriage brokered by King Markus and Chancellor Eamon of Redcliffe.
Little was known about their union, the king and the queen kept the rumors about them to a minimum, choosing to live and rule quietly. It was said that they had fallen in love early in their marriage and were now fiercely loyal to each other.
Natalya could respect that. It was not an easy thing, making an arranged marriage work.
The rulers of Ferelden seemed to have done just that.
She had expected the king to speak first that was protocol in most countries; of course Ferelden was not like most countries.
Queen Allegra spoke first.
"You seem…under-dressed, Agent Song," she said in her clipped Nevarran accent, "Can I have one of the servants get you a shawl?"
Natalya laughed lightly.
"I appreciate your concern, Your Majesty," she said, "But fear not; we Marchers are a warm blooded people, much as your storied Pentaghast ancestors."
If the queen accepted her compliment, she did not let it show; she merely nodded and fell silent.
Cold fish, this one, Natalya thought to herself, apparently she only warmed for her king.
King Alistair seemed more…animated.
"You are not quite what we expected, Agent Song," he said, "When I hear the term…Sister, I do not think of someone who looks so…so…"
Queen Allegra gave her husband an arched look.
"Noble," he added with an amused smile, but not before gently touching his wife's hand.
The Queen smiled slightly, pleased at the slight yet visible show of affection.
"We all serve the Maker, Your Majesty," Natalya said, "As it says in the chant: From the lowest slave to the highest king."
She tried hard not to smirk at the quote.
"Andraste accepts all into her service."
"HERETIC!"
The angry pronouncement pulled Song up short, out of the crowd stepped a young woman in chantry robes. She glared fire at Natalya and her Inquisition escorts.
The bard said nothing.
After all, she had expected this.
"Your Majesties beware," the sister added, "This…harlot is a daemon, a servant of a false-prophet, wishing to lead the faithful astray."
Natalya bowed her head to the priest.
"I am no daemon, good sister," she began, "I came here under the auspice of the Inquisition, at the behest of the Inquisition's ruling council, a council that contains both the Right and Left Hands of the Divine."
She smiled predatorily.
"I have come on behalf of those that are actually doing something to aid those most affected by the Breach. We are helping the faithful. Not hiding in our temples and wringing our hands."
Her comment caused a bit of a stir, Natalya knew she needed to be careful. Some of the Ferelden nobles were worried that the Inquisition was going to steal their lands, use them to build a new empire.
She needed to tread carefully; she did not wish to wake the dragon.
"It is the acts of the Inquisition that concern us most, Agent Song."
She turned to see a man with reddish brown hair and a goatee. His tunic bore the symbol of Redcliffe…
Arl Teagan Guerin, she presumed.
"I've heard many disturbing things, Agent Song," the Arl continued, "I have heard rumors that your people are reaching out to the mages that have taken Redcliffe Castle, that you are seeking an alliance…?"
The man frowned.
"Is that true?"
Natalya licked her lips.
She needed to be careful.
"I do not sit on the Ruling Council, Your Grace," she said, "I know that the Inquisition is seeking allies to heal the breach, the mages could help with that, but then again…so could the Templars."
She smiled slightly.
"I'm sure the Council is speaking with both sides, weighing the options, and the risks."
"You would negotiate with Maleficarum and traitors!" the sister spat.
Natalya returned her gaze to her.
"We are fighting a war, sister. We will take whatever allies we can find. More and more demons pour out of the fade rifts scattered throughout Thedas every day."
Song's face became solemn.
"The inquisition will do what it must to restore order."
"Whose order?" a noble from the balcony shouted, "Yours? The so-called Herald's?"
Natalya paused.
Be careful.
"Before the Conclave, my brother was a loyal member of the Circle of Magi. He sang the chant. He prayed to our Maker, and did everything that was expected of him as a Senior Enchanter…"
She took a deep breath.
"The upheaval between the mages and the Templars must end. Only fighting as a single people can we hope to the win the day, and bring peace back to our divided land."
The sister, who had first taken offense to her, scoffed at her words.
"And you expect the nobles of Ferelden to trust you?" she demanded, "We know who you are Lady Song."
The priestess made sure to emphasize her title.
"The chantry in Ostwick recognized your name, and what kind of person you are."
Natalya shrugged, though part of her wished that she could shut the fool woman up, permanently.
Of course, that would likely not go over well with the king and queen.
No she needed to be patient.
Of course, if she gave the woman enough rope, she might just hang herself with it. Natalya simply had to play this just right.
"I cannot change the circumstances of my birth." She said.
"You are nothing," the priest spat, "there is nothing holy about you, you are a murderess, filth that kills for coin!"
"I served my family, my lord who I love, and who protected me."
"You are nothing but a bastard," the priest continued, "You should never have been born! You are…"
"Ah-hem!"
The king cleared his voice quite loudly, so loudly in fact that the priest paused in her assault. Alistair's eyes had become cold and imperious; his wife gently touched his hand, offering him her support.
Natalya fought the urge to smile.
Bad move, sister, she thought…
Very, very, bad move.
Everyone was aware of King Alistair's…parentage. He had become a skilled and respected ruler over the years, but that did not mean that he had forgotten where he came from.
Like her, the king of Ferelden had been born on what some called…the wrong side of the blanket. His mother had been a serving girl in Redcliffe Castle, one that had caught lonely King Maric's eye, bereft of his wife and attempting to lead his kingdom alone.
If anyone thought calling her a bastard in King Alistair's presence would turn him against her, they were quite wrong.
"Agent Song," he said in a cool voice, "The southern nobles have many questions about your brother and the Inquisition. I'm willing to let you stay and answer those questions for the time being. You will be granted full ambassadorial status, and given the protection of the crown."
"Your Majesty," the sister gasped, "You cannot…"
Both Alistair and his queen glared down at the woman.
She wisely fell silent.
Alistair returned his attention to Natalya and her fellows.
"We will have tough questions for you Lady Song," he promised, "I hope you will have good answers."
Natalya bowed.
"I will answer whatever you desire," She promised.
"See that you do," Queen Allegra added, "The crown is rightly concerned. Your Inquisition has armed soldiers moving unchecked across our lands."
The Queen frowned.
"It would be a shame to have censor them."
Song knew a threat when she heard one, but did not respond. Alistair and Allegra had a reason to be concerned. The Inquisition was an outside armed force, a force that was moving unchecked on their lands.
They simply had to make sure that the king and Queen had no reason to think them enemies.
The king dismissed the court, and left quickly with his wife. Natalya's audience with him was over…for now.
Silently, Natalya cursed the chantry sister getting in her way. She had hoped to give King Alistair, Sister Leliana's regards…
…Her regards…and a request.
Song glanced around the room, seeking out a face that the spymaster had hoped for her to see, but suspected that she would not.
Lady Song frowned.
Sister Leliana had hoped that the current crisis would have been enough to draw the Hero of Ferelden back from where ever it was he was travelling. More a wandering mystic these days, than a warrior, Alim Surana had vanished from almost all avenues of public life.
The hero could have done much for the Inquisition; bringing him back to Haven would have been a feather in her cap.
Both King Alistair and Queen Allegra had counted the man among their closest friends.
He had stood with the king as he had said his vows. It was even rumored that he had had a hand in the king and queen first getting to know each other, helping them through those first few hard months, or so Sister Leliana had claimed.
She had hoped that one of them might know where the wandering warden had gone.
The bard sighed.
Sister Leliana had also claimed that she and the warden were lovers, that they had done their best to continue their relationship despite the powers that were always pulling them in different directions. That she intended to go and be with him once the Inquisition had run its course.
She found such a thing hard to believe. Sister Leliana was one of the coldest, most ruthless women she had ever met. The fact that she loved, that she warmed for anyone was…hard to believe.
Still…Sister Leliana had hoped that 'Her Dearest' would have made an appearance today.
That was apparently, not so.
She suspected that Leliana had hoped that Surana would join them, and take up the title of Inquisitor. The elf was greatly respected, by both mages and mundanes both. His words and reputation would carry much weight.
Natalya smiled slightly.
Perhaps the fact that the elf was not here was a good thing. In her opinion, they did have to look to the Hero of the Blight to find a proper Inquisitor.
If they wanted a mage, then she could name one…a man trained both in leadership and battle.
One far more…
…closer to home.
She turned to leave, still feeling the eyes of the priest upon her back, things had not gone perfectly today, but still...she had made progress.
As they left the throne room, she looked up in surprise.
Three people stood speaking with her small staff of advisors and aids, three people she had not expected to see.
She was surprised to see Evelyn Trevelyan, she had thought the girl was now surviving as nothing more than Uncle Van's bodyguard. The presence of the younger Trevelyans, what was their names...?
Oh yes, now she remembered.
Rhaena and Byron, their presence here was most surprising, surprising, but pleasing at the same time.
She had made a mistake she realized, she had hoped to gain the support of the more established members of her family, she should have been going after the younger, more passionate members from the beginning.
Those two had nothing to lose, and everything to gain, it was not surprising that they would be drawn by visions of making their names, of showering themselves in glory.
She smiled slightly.
Today had not gone precisely as she wanted, but...
It was a good start, a very good start indeed.
A/N: I've had a Queen Allegra story kicking around in my head lately. I thought it would be interesting to introduce her here. If anyone wants to hear a bit more about her Alistair, and Alim, please shoot me a review.