Remembrances and Suspicions
"Drais and Celephia have returned from Orzammar, Commander." Levi was standing in Alistair's office door … well, Kayda's office door at Soldier's Peak, actually. Levi was becoming quite the seneschal for the Peak. His sister Ruiza was cooking for them. Mikhael was smithing and the rest of the Dryden family just handled all the day-to-day affairs of the keep without being asked. With their merchant training, Alistair figured they were saving the wardens a fortune.
However, sadness hung over the place today. Marson was dead. Saldra was walking with a crutch. Taeodor was still unconscious and Anders didn't know if the archer would survive his head injury. Sigrun had been knocked out, but she was all right now. Tosh didn't get too banged up but he had pushed the limits of his reserves and slept for two days. Alistair was in and out of awareness for a day or so … and was only just today able to walk to the office and sit to catch up on office stuff. Fenris had a few scratches … probably scared the darkspawn so they left him alone to slay them in waves of his new, huge, Mikhael Dryden-smithed silverite sword. Mikhael christened the blade The Reaper. The smith was great at naming his work.
Morrigan had found an old elven artifact in the back of the chamber with The Mother. Called it an eluvian. Birdie Morrigan flew back to the Peak to get a wagon to transport the deceased and injured. They were all grateful, but Alistair knew she would have pitched them out of the wagon if there had been any way to move the eluvian. After seeing that everyone else made it to safety, Morrigan took off and didn't say where she was going or when she'd be back. Alistair hoped she planned to stay away indefinitely, but Kayda still liked Morrigan for some reason. Maker only knew why.
Fenris, Tosh, Sigrun and Oghren headed off to Amaranthine with Kayda to check on the situation there. Alistair knew he would only slow them down, so he volunteered to watch over the projects going on at Soldier's Peak. They wondered if the darkspawn scattered after the deaths of the Architect and the Mother. So, the place was pretty quiet and fairly empty.
"Let them get settled and get them something to eat." Alistair grimaced as he stood. His left shoulder and leg were pretty messed up by … something … he couldn't remember the injury happening. Anders did what he could, but ripped tendons and separated muscles just took longer to fully heal, even longer to become functional again. Alistair knew he'd still be out … maybe, dead … if they hadn't had Anders with them. "I'll be down in a few minutes."
Levi nodded and left. Alistair had been told that Drais and Celephia were sent to Orzammar to tell the Shaperate about Kal'Hirol. Alistair wondered if Alman and his Nevarran wardens ever made it to Orzammar.
It took him more than a few minutes to slowly descend to the mess hall. As soon as he walked in, both Drais and Celephia stood at attention. Anders, sitting in the corner reviewing some notes, just laughed. "At ease, wardens. We're not so formal here." Alistair hoped his grin put them at ease as well, but it did make him curious if Kayda expected it.
"Commander, we heard what you did. You deserve the recognition." Drais stepped up to the chair at the end of the table and pulled it out for Alistair … who was grateful for that.
"I didn't do it by myself. In fact," Alistair nodded toward Anders, "if Senior Mage Warden Anders hadn't been there, it might have ended quite a bit differently."
"Thank you, Alistair!" Anders picked up his notes and came over to join the group. "It's so nice to be part of a group where my magic is appreciated … even by a former Templar."
"I'd like to have a dozen more like you. Imagine what we could do with magic healing along with all our squads." Alistair slowly let himself down into the chair.
"After lunch, I'll need to take a look at that shoulder again. I was just reading through some of the … um … documentation that I brought with me from the Tower about tendon and muscle injuries." Anders sat across from Drais and Celephia.
Alistair winked at Anders. "You mean stole from the Tower."
"I prefer walked out with them in my pack … by mistake." Anders shrugged with a grin. "Alas, but it's just too far to return them at this point."
Then, Alistair turned to the others. "So, tell me about Orzammar. Did you have to deal with King Bhelen?"
The two looked at each other and Celephia answered, "King Bhelen was killed by his wife. King Ronus of House Dace is ruling Orzammar now."
"That was fast! The last time they had a murdered king, it took the wardens to straighten it out." Alistair then came to a realization. "Ah, all they had to do was drag Branka back to decide."
"No, they have another Paragon now." Drais thought for a moment. "Paragon Duran is the … middle son of Endrin. He was exiled to the Deep Roads when he was framed for the murder of the eldest son, Trian. As we understand it, Paragon Duran put Ronus on the throne."
Alistair put his head in his hands and groaned. "Gah, dwarf politics give me a headache." He sighed. "Has Alman showed up in Orzammar yet?"
"King Ronus told us that they showed up and went into the Deep Roads immediately … said they were headed to Bownamar." Celephia's eyes flashed in anger. "The Nevarran wardens were reported to have been rude and condescending, Commander. Paragon Duran almost kicked us out of Orzammar because of it." She nodded toward Drais. "He managed to calm the Paragon down."
"Good job!" Alistair was really beginning to like these two. "I've been working on just what I need to report to the First Warden about Alman." He frowned. "Not that I expect him to do anything about it." Then, he leaned back and stretched his bum leg a bit. "I don't understand it. I completely read Alman wrong, I'm afraid."
"He did seem to change, Alistair. Everyone saw it. One minute he's all helpful and pleasant. The next, he's sneaking off in the warden ship." Celephia moved the potatoes around on her plate. "Are we certain that all the blood mages were stopped?"
That made Alistair sit up. "Maker, I hadn't even thought about that."
"Not blood magic, Alistair. T'was my mother who arranged for the cadre of malifcarum to operate in Denerim and she's dead. Trust me. Tevinter magisters do not work for free." Morrigan stepped into the room. "From what Kayda told me about this Alman, he seemed to be dancing to someone else's tune … the new Nevarran king, perhaps? I'm more curious about this new Paragon who says he survived the Deep Roads for a year."
Alistair shrugged. "It wasn't that crowded with darkspawn when we were in the Deep Roads. If someone stayed smart, only ate deepstalker and drank clear water, they could survive down there."
Celephia looked surprised. "The Paragon said basically the same thing, Commander."
"He was pleased we didn't try to say different." Drais sat back. "We weren't there, but recalled you mentioning that the Deep Roads were more vacant than crowded with darkspawn. Duran said he plans to catch up with you at some point in the near future."
Levi popped his head in. "Mikhael has finished preparing Warden Marson's place in the memorial."
Alistair sighed. He suddenly didn't have an appetite. They had held the pyre ceremony the previous evening. All that was left to do were the remembrances and the placement of the remains in the memorial. "We'll go out there, immediately, Levi." He turned to Drais and Celephia. "Have you seen the memorial wall Mikhael built for our honored dead?"
"We did on the way in. It's a wonderful memorial." Celephia smiled at Levi.
"It's the least we can do, wardens. You've taken us Drydens in and given us a base … a home. We appreciate it." Levi smiled back at Celephia.
If Alistair wasn't reading things wrong … and, as he just just demonstrated about Alman, he often did read things wrong … the two of them were becoming friends … maybe more? He shook off that idea. Wrong time for that kind of thinking, Alistair thought to himself. Morrigan's glare, directed at Alistair, made him wonder if she could read minds, too. But then, she always glared at him, so it could mean anything. Aloud Alistair said, "Your family has pitched in to do the cooking, cleaning, remodeling, seneschaling, quartermastering, blacksmithing. Thank you."
They all went downstairs. Winter was coming, but it was still pleasant in the north. The day was sunny and cool. Mikhael had built a metal frame with empty squares to be filled in with ceramic containers or urns of the remains from fallen wardens. Across the top, he had carefully etched the warden motto: In War, Victory. In Peace, Vigilance. In Death, Sacrifice. There was a space below each square for the name of the warden. Mikhael had forged a decorative twisted metal lattice to fit into the spaces of wardens who went on their Calling to the Deep Roads. There would be no urns for them. It was beautiful, made from a metal that would develop a patina over the years.
Alistair was surprised to see Taeodor on a makeshift cot. He was still unconscious, but, apparently Anders thought this might be beneficial for some reason.
After a solemn ceremony of walking the urn from the pyre to the memorial and placing it in the top, upper left square, Alistair realized they were waiting for him to say something. "I would like to say that I hope this is the first and last time we will assemble here, but that would be a fool's hope." He sighed, grateful that Morrigan didn't give voice to the thoughts her smirk conveyed. "Marson was a good warden. He didn't speak often, but when he did it was reasoned and thoughtful, and he admitted when his idea may have been wrong. I only witnessed this once in the short time I knew him, but I felt it measured him as a warden. I was looking forward to working with him … but then, The Mother waged a horrendous battle and we lost him. His deadliness with his bow saved us sword wielders from having to engage with the creature. His blade kept the mages protected when he ran out of arrows. Without his skill and courage, our losses would have been much greater."
Alistair turned toward the urn and stood at attention. He heard the others do the same. "Know, that someday, we shall join you." He hit his chest with his right fist. His left shoulder protested, but Alistair stood firm. After a few moments, he turned and indicated that people should go inside. "Miss Ruiza has prepared a bit of food and we'll break into Oghren's stock of Gnawed Noble ale." Alistair grinned. "Hey, I think he'd offer if he were here."
As the others filed inside, Alistair froze in his tracks. He saw Loghain at the gate. There was no mistake the man with him was Maric.
Loghain, Aveline, Kayda and the other wardens turned the tide in Amaranthine. When Aveline, Loghain and a group of wardens arrived from Denerim, the few surviving Orlesians had been killed or turned tail and ran. Two, heavily-laden Orlesian ships left port in fast order when the darkspawn began to make the bastards actually have to fight.
Ferelden benefitted greatly by all the fine horses they left behind at Vigil's Keep, as well as the five empty ships … the Orlesians were only able to scuttle three of them as they departed in a hurry. Unfortunately, any horses in Amaranthine were slaughtered by the darkspawn. Maker forgive me, Fergus thought as he walked through the streets of the retaken city a few days ago, but I cheer every dead Orlesian chevalier I see. Comeuppance for killing everyone in Highever.
The darkspawn turned out to be the greater threat. The well-armored ogres and squads led by thinking, speaking darkspawn were taking quite a toll on Nathaniel's forces before the Denerim wardens arrived. Kayda's group from Soldier's Peak arrived in time to help with the mopping up.
She reported that Alistair had led a group of wardens to the lair of the two darkspawn factions. It was this Mother's darkspawn that attacked Amaranthine. His group also dispatched the Architect. Fergus' father had shared the story of Maric's involvement with that darkspawn over twenty years ago. They lost a warden and many were seriously injured, including Alistair. The dwarf, Oghren, and Tosh, a mage, gave a detailed report of the two battles. One thing became very clear to Fergus: Alistair Theirin was a good leader, respected by his wardens. Even Kayda was willing to follow him and she never followed anyone!
Nathaniel knew of every nook in Amaranthine where darkspawn may hide and soon routed out the stragglers. They found Bann Esmerelle, dead in her lush four-poster bed. It looked like she had committed suicide. When Fergus found the note, he was angry he couldn't kill her again. The bitch had requested the chevaliers from Celene, telling Her Radiance that Highever and Amaranthine were floundering and Ferelden was lost … in exchange for a great deal of coin, of course. The chests of sovereigns they found would go a long way to rebuilding the city and Vigil's Keep. Voldrik Glavonak and his brother were already making plans on how to spend it.
All the soldiers who became blightsick were unfortunate candidates for becoming wardens. A few decided on death at the hand of a friend when they were told what was involved with becoming a warden, but most agreed to undertake the ceremony. Kayda held a Joining ceremony for ten blightsick soldiers, only six of which survived. After all that, she was planning to stay in Amaranthine a while. However, another surprise rode up to the gates of Amaranthine and made her revise her plans.
The battle was in the final stages when Maric showed up with Varric — a friend of Mason Hawke — Zevran and an Orlesian bard friend of the wardens, Leliana. The ensuing argument between Maric and Loghain actually came to blows. After a lengthy fist-fight … and Kayda negotiating a peace to spare Alistair from having to deal with all that … the two men left for Soldier's Peak, a day ahead of Kayda, Zevran and the other wardens. Maric had negotiated a day to have Alistair to himself.
Fergus had to admit, he was pretty upset when he heard what Kayda had to give up to become a warden. She had been the most promising marriageable woman of noble birth in Ferelden. Now, she was infertile, the darkspawn taint flowing through her veins. She was also infatuated with an Antivan Crow, of all things. Meeting Zevran was an interesting experience, but Fergus had to admit that he liked the assassin.
Alistair Theirin. Bastard of Maric's. And, by all accounts, a much finer leader than either his father or half-brother. Fergus had held absolutely no respect for Cailan. Oh, he had to show him respect befitting Cailan's station as king, but, in private, he felt Ferelden was much better off with him dead. It was better off with Maric dead, too, but Fergus couldn't have his way in every detail.
"You are lost in thought, Teryn Cousland. Would it help to have someone to talk to?" Leliana was beautiful and charming … dangerous, albeit typical, combination in a bard … just the kind of woman to avoid at all costs. But, also, the kind of woman who would understand the way of things … and Kayda vouched for her, called Leliana one of her dearest friends.
Fergus laughed. "Please forgive me, my lady, but my father always told me to never use an Orlesian bard when I needed someone to talk to."
"You are forgiven, of course, Your Grace, but I truly have given up that way of life. Kayda is my friend. I had hoped she would have convinced you of that." Leliana's sparkling smile hid just the tiniest bit of hurt.
"She did, I suppose … even Loghain spoke up for you. Old habits are hard to break." He sighed. "I was just thinking about Maric showing up."
"Ah, you know that Alistair sent us to find him, yes?" Leliana leaned forward on her horse so she could make eye-contact with Fergus.
"Yes, that entire story about a nest of blood mages in Denerim was the most chilling thing I'd ever heard." Fergus even shuddered to think of it.
"I agree." She frowned. "Our world is turning to chaos. As much as I appreciate magic healing and magic support in a battle, it still frightens me a great deal. Refugees from Val Royeaux were showing up in Denerim when we arrived."
"Refugees from Val Royeaux?! What's happening there?" The surprise at her statement make him pull up his horse.
"You have not heard, then? The mages at the White Spire … the Circle of Orlais … have rebelled. They avoided the Rite of Annulment by escape through the old tunnels under the tower." She shook her head. "The Chantry closed its doors to the citizens. Frightened people left the city any way they could. I cannot understand why the Chantry shut them out."
That got a solid guffaw from Fergus. "Leliana, between you and me, I think the Maker can't be very happy with the Chantry of recent times. I've heard, first-hand, about the abuse of mages in Circle Towers. Many Templars have become bullies, not protectors. The mages in Kirkwall were slaughtered by a Rite of Annulment, ordered by one of the most strident Knight-Commanders in Thedas. If the mages in the White Spire rebelled, I feel certain it was inevitable, if not also justified."
"Perhaps you are right, Your Grace," she replied quietly and sadly.
"Please call me Fergus when we are alone, Leliana. For one thing, I haven't been approved as the Teryn of Highever by the Landsmeet yet." Fergus gave her a sincere smile. "And, it's prudent to be fearful of magic when wielded by an enemy, but be grateful to have a mage or two to use that magic to your aid. Treat mages like people who carry weapons. You respect them and show them courtesy. The good ones will be grateful. The bad ones may attack, but so would a mercenary with a sword." Fergus shrugged.
Leliana smiled broadly. "But, we have not yet spoken of Maric. What is bothering you about that?"
"Let me begin by saying that I would have done the same as Alistair. If I thought my father dead and then see evidence that he may still live, I would try to find out." Fergus started forward again. "On the other hand, Alistair's life has been very, very different from mine. From what I could piece together from the disjointed conversations among Loghain, Maric and Kayda … Alistair was lied to from birth to believe his mother died in child birth, that he was an unwanted bastard child of an indiscrete man of power."
"In reality, Alistair's mother was an Orlesian, elf mage named Fiona who…" Leliana stopped when Fergus looked over to her in surprise.
"I've heard of a mage named Fiona." Fergus closed his eyes tightly as he tried to remember. "Ah, yes! Grand Enchanter Fiona of the Cumberland Circle. She's committed to rounding up some very nasty maleficarum in Nevarra … something about death magic."
"The Mortalitasi." When Fergus looked at her in surprise, Leliana explained, "During my time at the Chantry in Lothering, I did a lot of reading. One of the Mother's there was from Nevarra and thought the Mortalitasi were abominations in the sight of the Maker … so, I read about this." She shuddered a bit. "After my research, I tend to agree with her."
Fergus grinned. "Wow, Alistair is quite the mixture of royalty, eh? King of Ferelden for a father and Grand Enchanter for a mother."
"Maric does not deserve to have Alistair call him father. He has been anything but. Even Loghain thinks this!" Leliana's outburst caused Fergus to raise an eyebrow. "Maric is up to something, Fergus."
"Why do you think that, Leliana?" Fergus suspected the same thing, but hoped it was just his own paranoia. It was unsettling to have his suspicions confirmed.
"Because this Maric is different from any of the stories I know." She held up a hand to forestall any arguments from Fergus. "Loghain has seen it as well. Maric was held by Flemeth all this time. That kind of … torture … has to wear on a person. Change him." She leaned slightly closer to Fergus, as close as she could without falling off her horse. "He killed Flemeth's daughter, Yavana, as well as Achalla, Flemeth's agent in Prince Claudio Valisti's house."
Fergus chuckled. "I can't see ridding the world of those two as a bad thing."
"Have you heard Varric's tale about Maric the Dragon Master?" Leliana was clearly getting frustrated that Fergus wasn't becoming incensed.
"I loved that one! Maric at the bow of the ship directing drakes to torch the ship of his enemy! Terrific story." Fergus' chuckling stopped when he noticed Leliana's raised eyebrow. "That was true?!"
"It was! That was our ship that he saved! The story of Calenhad drinking the blood of dragons to gain power? All true." At Fergus look of horror, Leliana smiled. "You see? The Dragon Master is up to something."
AN: A grateful thank-you for all reviews, favorites and follows! You are all like a warm coat on a cold winter day. :)
ChaoticHarmony1991, Alistair is THE ladies' man, indeed! ;)
The Invisible Pretender, a berserker reaver … ooo, deadly! That could be fun, eh? :)