Chapter 28 – The Landsmeet

Several armoured men leapt from the nearby buildings and landed on the ground, their weapons drawn. The companions circled close to each other, their backs to one another. Ayu stood facing the base of the stairs, Zevran on her right. A tall human man with dark hair closed the door behind him and walked to the top of the first stair. He grinned and placed his hands on his hips.

"And so here is the mighty Grey Warden, at long last. The Crows send their greetings. Once again."

"Taliesen," Zevran said from beside the Warden.

"Oh and here he is, Zevran himself."

"Yes, it is I Taliesen, in the flesh. Now tell me did the Crows send you or did you volunteer?" The elf took a small step in front of Ayu. As he did so, the other Crow assassins began separating the party from Ayu and Zevran, corralling them between sharp weapons.

Taliesen began to slowly descend the stairs. "Why I volunteered of course. When I heard that the great Zevran had gone rogue, well I just had to see her for myself." Taliesen palmed one of his daggers. "It could only be a pretty face that would tempt you away."

"Leave her Taliesen and I will willingly go," Zevran stood fully between the Warden and the man.

Taliesen played with his dagger. "See, I don't think that's going to work. You were hired to kill the Warden and kill her we shall. The Crows will not be happy if she yet lives. Come on Zev," his voice held a pleading edge. "It'll be just like old times. You and me. No one can stop the pair of us. Not even a Grey Warden. Think of all the praise you'll receive, not to mention the glory. You will have done the impossible! Come back to the Crows Zevran. Leave this piece of ass and come back to me. Anyone can make a mistake. We'll make up a story."

Ayu had backed up a couple steps, away from the men. Zevran began to slowly prowl around her, a knife flashing at his waist. "Great glory?" He asked Taliesen. "You truly believe so? The Grey Wardens are royally hard to kill when they fight back."

"And it'll make for an even better story!" Taliesen opened his arms wide. "What do you say? Come on Zev. This isn't you. You're not some woman's pet, no matter how well you think she might treat you. You're an assassin just like me. We were made to be together. You think that fear in her eyes is from me? Oh no my friend, it's from you. She, even now, believes you are capable of killing her. Do it Zevran. She will never trust you."

"Zev?" Ayu's voice was quiet and thin.

"See? She bleats like a goat to the slaughter. She doesn't know you Zevran, not like I do. Come back to me."

Zevran continued to walk around Ayu, his eyes lost in thought. The small knife at his waist was now in his hand.

Ayu saw the steel flash in the sunlight. "No . . . Zev, no don't, please."

Zevran stood behind the Warden now. In one swift motion, he lunged forward, grabbing Ayu's chin and wrenched it up to the sky. The assassin slid his blade along her throat and Ayu began to gurgle as bright, red blood flowed down her chest. "You are right Taliesen. I am a Crow . . . and that's all I will ever be." He let the elven woman drop to her knees, throwing his knife into the ground, and continued to walk around her.

"You!" Wynne spat at him angrily with tears in her eyes. "After all she has done for you! This is how you repay her? I was wrong about you. We all were! You are nothing but a wretched cur!" The Crow men encircling the party brandished their weapons to keep the party in line.

Zevran cast a glance her way, his eyes filled with hurt, but he only got the mage's rage in return. He turned his head back, walking this time around Taliesen so the man stood between himself and the collapsed Warden.

"Oh, now there's the Zevran I remember!" Taliesen stretched his arms wide, turning to face the elven man. "Now we will dispatch of the rest of them and we can go home. That's where you belong Zev, in Antiva, with me."

A dagger point suddenly jutted from Talisesn's chest, angling upward. He stopped and looked at it, covered in his own blood, in shock. "What . . ?" He managed to say as the life started to drain from him.

Ayu stood behind him, her mouth near his ear. "Rinna sends her regards."

The man looked at Zevran, his mouth open as if to speak but no words were coming out. His eyes were wide in surprise and understanding.

Zevran looked at him sadly. "I am sorry my old friend, I am not going back. And you should have stayed in Antiva."

Ayu let the weight of Taliesen fall to the ground, his body slipping off her dagger as she stood still behind him. The rest of the Crows were in shock to see the elf standing, drying blood caking her chest. The party was swift to action, using the surprise to kill the rest of the Crows leaving only themselves standing.

Zevran stalked off to the side of a building by himself, both of his hands vigorously running through his hair. Ayu watched him go, wiping off her own dagger before slipping it back into her boot. Wynne approached her, slamming her staff into the ground in anger.

"What in the Fade, Ayu? You let us all think that he killed you!" She raged on.

"I know Wynne and I'm sorry. That was the whole plan. Zevran distracts him and I dispatch him, that was our agreement. Zev didn't think he'd be able to deliver the final blow."

"But he could to you?" Wynne threw her hands up in exasperation.

"Because I asked him too. He only cut deep enough to make it look convincing. This was my idea, not his. Be angry at me, not him!" Ayu huffed, pulling Zevran's knife from the ground, attaching it to her belt, and walked off to where he stood, his back to the party.

The assassin stood facing a stone wall, his arms crossed in front of him. Coming up behind, Ayu stopped, reaching out to touch his back.

"Don't," was all Zevran said.

Ayu let her hand drop back to her side. "I know you're mad at me Zev, everyone is," she glanced back at her companions, each of them glaring at her, "but I am sorry and I hope you can forgive me." She paused, starting to turn away. She turned back, hugging him from behind. "You know you're the only one I trusted enough to pull that off. You have the steadiest hand Zev. Anyone else would have gotten it wrong." The Warden let him go and pressed her lips together. "Just know that I am sorry."

Zevran whirled on her. The man grabbed her face on either side, pulling her toward him. His lips found the thin, angry, red scar and he kissed it fiercely over and over again. He held his lips to her skin, keeping her there briefly. "Do not make me do that again," he said furiously into her neck, punctuating each word.

Ayu could feel him trembling, she had upset him so. She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "I won't Zev, I won't. I promise." She put her hand on his cheek and raised his head so she could look him in the eyes. "I promise." Tears pricked her eyes.

Zevran yanked her into a full-bodied hug, burying his face into the hair of her temple. They stood like that for a time before Zevran slowly pulled away. Ayu presented the bloodied knife she had retrieved from the dirt to him. "I brought this back for you. You left it stuck in the ground."

Zevran swallowed hard. He picked it up gently from her hand and regarded it for a moment. Ayu's dried blood still clung to one side of the blade. He held the grip in one hand, the point of the knife digging into his index finger on his other hand. The blade cut into his flesh, blood welling out. "Ah," he softly cried. Grimacing, he snatched the tip of the blade and hurled it away from him. It buried itself deep into the trunk of the nearest tree, just under the branches. At Ayu's questioning look he cupped her cheek. "It has drawn your blood. Something I swore I would never do. I – I do not want it."

"It has drawn your blood too," Ayu's voice was low. She took his hand and lifted his bleeding finger to her mouth. Her fingers glowed softly as she healed the tiny puncture. The Warden released his hand and gently smiled up at him.

He traced a finger along her pink scar, her skin smooth and warm to the touch. Zevran lowered his mouth to the scar and gently kissed it once more. "How did I let you talk me into this?" His eyes were shining with unshed tears. "I am so mad at you right now." He pulled her into his chest and held her tight. "It could have gone so wrong . . ."

"I know Zev," she whispered into his throat. "I'm sorry, but I knew that you wouldn't kill me. You saw the logic in my plan and besides, I trust you and . . . and you are far more than just a Crow. Far more." The Warden squeezed him tighter. "Taliesen was too preoccupied with you and didn't notice me until it was too late, just as we thought." Ayu paused, licking her lips. "Rinna really did love you, you know."

The elf looked at her. "Now why would you bring that up? I prefer to let the past stay there."

Ayu sighed. "She came to me. Last night . . . after you had fallen asleep. She sat beside you on the bed and she told me. She said that Taliesen would never give you up, but that he would be distracted by you if he thought I was out of the picture."

"I was wondering where this plan of yours came from when you told me this morning. Did – did she say anything else?"

"Just that it was my turn to take care of you and to be well." Ayu gave him a small smile.

Zevran pressed his forehead to hers, holding the back of her head with a hand. He kissed her sweetly and took her hands in his. "Do not think this is over. I am still mad at you."

"You can punish me later," Ayu's voice became husky.

He shook his head a half smile tugging at his lips. "Oh, I do believe I will." Zevran sighed. "You are going to be the death of me, woman." He let Ayu go and began to walk back to the others.

"Did you just woman me?" Ayu called after him, amusement in her voice. He turned his head and grinned at her. She placed her hands on her hips, laughing, before jogging after him.

As Ayu neared the party, she could hear them all telling Enwyn the tale of Mythal and the special gifts being a host to such a divine being permits her. Enwyn merely nodded and took it all in stride. "She does not have a dark heart, I have seen enough of those," Enwyn stated. "I trust in her as our Grey Warden and friend."

Alistair punched Ayu in the shoulder as she walked up. "That's for making us all think you were dying."

"Ouch," Ayu placed a hand over where her fellow Warden had hit her. She rubbed the spot a couple times, "I deserve that, I really do. I should have told you guys. Zevran was the only one that I knew would make it look convincing enough and I just never thought to let you guys know. I'm sorry."

"You forgot to mention that Alistair is no actor and would have given your ploy away," Morrigan quipped, crossing her arms.

"Hey," Alistair glared at her, "I don't give ploys away or anything else for that matter."

"Do you even know what a ploy is?"

"Enough you two," Ayu shushed the pair as Alistair opened his mouth to argue back.

Zevran walked passed Wynne and the old mage grabbed him suddenly. She pulled him into her bosom, hugging him tightly to the elf's surprise. "I must apologize Zevran," she started. "I should have never doubted you. I let my emotions get the better of me and I yelled at you for no reason."

Zevran's voice was muffled but he moved his head to the side so he could be heard. "There was a reason. As far as you knew at the time I had killed our dear Warden. It is no fault of yours. I do believe your outburst helped the ruse."

"I understand that Zevran, but I shouldn't have yelled at you. I know better. Beren beside me wasn't even reacting to the two of you and I should have realized. I apologize my friend."

Zevran gently pulled away from the aged woman. "Do not fret Wynne, all is forgiven." He smiled tentatively, turning to move beside his Warden.

The group started to move toward the stairs, Ayu and Zevran near the back. The elven man was looking at the ground as he walked. Ayu slowed her pace and touched his arm gently. "Are you okay, Zev?"

"Ah, I am fine. It's . . . It is a strange feeling – this being free from the Crows. They will assume that I am dead along with Taliesen and as long as I do not make my presence known, they will not search for me. I – I am just not used to this."

"You're a free man now Zevran," Ayu met his eyes as they looked at each other. "You could do anything you wanted now . . . go anywhere you wanted."

"I do not wish to leave your side. I go where you go," he told her quietly.

"Good," Ayu smiled at him and turned to start walking away, "it would be hard to kiss you if you left." She shot him a wink over her shoulder.

Zevran grinned and reached out to grab Ayu's hand. He pulled the elf to him while he took a step closer. His mouth found hers in a passionate kiss, holding both of her hands in his, their fingers intertwining. They were momentarily lost in each other when the party began to hoot and holler beside them.

"Aww," Wynne brought her hands up to her cheek, leaning into them slightly, "young love."

Zevran blushed, his cheeks a vivid pink. He looked at the party, most of them smiling, laughing or encouraging him on. Ayu had been right, they were his family. He looked back at his Warden and gave her a shy smile, squeezing her hands gently.

The woman laughed airily, dropping one of his hands. She maintained her hold on the other and walked back to into the group, her lover in tow. "Let's get a move on you lot," Ayu giggled, playfully shoving Alistair forward, up the stairs. They went through the door at the top of the stairs and continued on their way to the castle.

The party arrived at the Denerim royal castle undetected by any of the other nobles. Servants of all sorts were busy, bustling to and fro. No one gave them a second glance as they approached the castle's main entrance.

The heavy wooden doors were braced open, letting the servants move freely in and out. Two tired guards stood at the inside of the doorway, watching the comings and goings. Ayu, her friends close behind her, strode up to the door and walked inside.

"Halt," one of the guards stated, the pair of them crossing their lances in front of the elf. "What business do you have here?"

"I am Warden Ayu Mahariel," the elf looked up at the man speaking to her, "and I am here for the Landsmeet."

"Turn around," the guard asked her sternly.

Ayu rolled her eyes but did as he bade her and turned her back to him.

"My apologies Warden," the men returned their lances to their sides, "but you're the third person to claim that they're the Grey Warden since the Landsmeet began to assemble. You and your comrades are free to enter by order of Arl Eamon."

Ayu turned back around as the man spoke. "It is a necessary precaution, ser. No harm was done."

The soldiers each took a step back, making room for the party to pass. The group entered the castle into a large and spacious room. A thick rug ran the length of the room from the entrance to an archway on the opposite side. As the party started across, a tall woman in red heavy armour walked out of the archway, stalking toward them.

"Warden, I am not surprised it came to this, and Alistair," she turned her simmering gaze toward the warrior, "if you were even remotely worthy of being called Maric's son, you would already be in the Landsmeet, would you not?" Ser Cauthrien turned her angry glare back at the Warden. "You have torn this nation apart to oppose my lord, but you never once stopped to understand why he is a hero to Ferelden. Do not presume to think that you will get passed me to desecrate the Landsmeet itself. The nobles of Ferelden will confirm my lord as regent, and we can finally put this to rest. Once you are gone," she added with a sneer.

Ayu crossed her arms in front of her chest and stood up to her full height. "Turn aside Cauthrien," the elf's voice was stern. "You surely do not wish to see bloodshed on this day, do you? Can you not see what Loghain has become?"

Cauthrien scoffed. "Do you mean to talk me into betraying my lord?"

"Can you not see reason?" Ayu tried again to convince Cauthrien to change her mind. "Loghain is a madman and his daughter is no better! Neither one can see the danger of the darkspawn right under their noses! The Blight is no farce, I assure you, and the Orlesians have nothing to do with it."

Cauthrien licked her lips eyeing the Warden. "I admit I have started to have my doubts of late. Loghain is a great man, but you are right. His hatred of Orlais has driven him to madness," the woman paused, rubbing her forehead. Looking back up at the Warden with sadness in her eyes, she took a breath. "He has done terrible things – I know it, but-but I owe him everything. I cannot betray him. Do not ask me to."

Ayu's face softened as she regarded the woman. When the elf started to speak her voice was sympathetic. "Ser Cauthrien, let me stop him then. You know it has to be done. It's the only way."

The woman thought for a moment and took a step aside, clearing the party's path. "Who knew that duty would taste so bitter. Stop him, Warden." Ser Cauthrien looked away. "Stop him from betraying all that he once loved. But, please Warden, show him mercy. Without Loghain, there would be no Ferelden today."

Ayu said nought but gave the woman a nod and led her companions the rest of the way down the hall and to a great iron-banded door. The elf hefted the door open, pushing on both doors at once. It swung easily under its own weight. The party sauntered into the long and wide chamber much to the dismay of Anora. The audience chamber fell silent. The nobles on either side of the room looked down at the elf from long stone balconies.

"Warden!" Anora regarded the elf with shock and annoyance. "I thought you were on your deathbed, but I see you're as spry as ever." Anora's lips turned down in a scowl.

"Yes," Ayu stalked forward to the edge of the wide stone stairs and placed her hands on her hips. "Pity your poisoning went awry." The elf walked down the stairs stopping a couple steps from the bottom. Her companions fanned out behind her on the stairs.

"What!?" Anora blustered, her face turning red. "How dare you accuse me of such a horrible thing! More of your slanderous lies!"

Ayu crossed her arms over her chest and looked at the queen with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, uh huh," she said simply. "I don't think I've been the one lying here."

"Lords and Ladies of Ferelden, hear me. This Warden has slandered and defamed Ferelden's greatest hero in a bid to put an imposter in Maric's throne." Anora turned her attention back to Ayu. "I know my father, Warden. He would never do anything less than the utmost for the sake of his country. I needed to know your mind, Warden. You could have proven to be an ally to Ferelden. It is unfortunate for all of us that you did not."

"Oh, and she turns on us again," Alistair complained from behind Ayu.

Anora sneered at the party. "It has become clear to me, Warden, that you are the true threat to this nation. I offered you the chance to ally with me, but you refused it. I will not allow you to destroy the throne Cailan and I have held."

Ayu's marking flashed in anger on her back. The party behind the elf quickly shuffled out of the way as Enwyn emerged from near the rear of the party. The woman, resplendent in her polished armour, came to stop beside Ayu. Queen Anora's eyes landed on the woman's face and no one in the room could miss the look of shock on the queen's face.

"Hello Anora," Enwyn cooed at the queen with a smirk.

"What are doing out of Howe's dungeon?" Anora blustered at a volume that was nearing a shriek. "I told him to keep you contained until after the Landsmeet!"

Enwyn stepped in front of Ayu. "The Wardens," she gestured to Alistair and Ayu, "they are the ones who freed me."

"It was you," Anora took a step forward, her finger pointed at Enwyn. "You were that dirty bilge rat in the castle."

"The one and the same," Enwyn replied, "no thanks to you." She pushed passed Anora roughly bumping her armoured shoulder into the queen. "Everyone, please hear me." She now addressed the Landsmeet as a whole. "This woman had me locked away so I could not tell you the truth. The late Arl Howe has murdered my family. He has taken my home and set it to ruin. Loghain and Anora wanted to keep me silent and told Howe to lock me away in the dark. I will be silent no more."

Enwyn's voice was firm and strong. She spoke with passion as she continued her story. "Ladies and gentleman, it was the Wardens who released me from my prison, who cleaned and fed me, who ensured I had somewhere safe to lay my head at night. I owe them my life and I urge you, each of you, to listen to what they have to say. Ask yourselves, would they be the sort to save me if they were planning to destroy Ferelden?" She paused for a moment letting her words sink in. "No, they would not. For the sake of this country and saving all that we know and love, join the Wardens in their fight to stop the Blight. For that is the true threat. Not the Orlesians. Anora and her father have become drunk with power and cannot see the true evil that plagues this land. Side with the Wardens. I have and I know my father would have too."

Anora shoved Enwyn back toward the party. "If you want to side with the Wardens then do so. You shall be labelled a traitor and a threat to the throne along with the rest of them." Anora snapped her fingers. "Guards!"

Enwyn gripped the hilt of her sword and began to wrench it from the scabbard. Ayu stepped just behind the woman again and gently placed her hand over Enwyn's, stopping the woman. Several guards ran into the chamber with weapons drawn. The men were looking from one to another as Ayu and Anora stared coldly at one another.

Above the group on one of the balconies, Arl Eamon broke the palpable tension. He spoke loud enough for all in the great stone hall to hear him clearly. "My Lords and Ladies, Teryn Loghain would have us give up our freedoms, our traditions, out of fear! He placed us on this path, yet we should place our destiny in his hands? Must we sacrifice everything that is good about our nation to save it?" As the Arl spoke he leaned forward on the railing before him, projecting his voice across the hall to all in attendance. He motioned the guards to stand down. They sheathed their weapons and retired to the edges of the hall, eyes wary.

"A fine performance Eamon," Loghain's snarly voice rose from somewhere in the crowd. He came into view, clapping slowly at Eamon, "but no one here is taken in by it. You would attempt to put a puppet on the throne and every soul here knows it. The better question is, 'who would pull the strings?'" Loghain pointed a gauntleted finger at Ayu. "Here is the puppeteer!" The man turned to face Ayu and her party. His face was contorted in rage, a vein pulsing across his forehead. "Tell us, Warden: How will the Orleasians take our nation from us? Will they deign to send their troops, or simply issue their commands through this would-be prince?" Loghain flung a hand in Alistair's direction. "How much does Ferelden blood does Orlesian gold buy these days?"

Ayu took another step down. "The Blight is the threat here, not Orlais and I am not the one that betrayed Ferelden in the first place."

"Some of us are curious, Loghain, about precisely what happened at Ostagar," one of the nobles that Ayu did not recognize spoke from one of the balconies.

Loghain whirled away from Ayu and stalked away for a few steps. He drew in a breath, making himself look larger and spun back into the Warden's face. "So one of Cailan's killers would dare speak of betrayal? You led our king to his death with grandiose tales of griffons flying into battle."

Ayu could feel the heat rising off her body. The elf balled her hands into fists hidden under her crossed arms. She could feel Zevran move closer behind her, placing a gentle hand on her back. Ayu blew out an angry breath, not willing to make an example of the man just yet. "You were the one that turned your army away and fled the battle when Cailan needed you most! You left him to die," she hissed behind clenched teeth.

"Oh please go on," an elderly noble scoffed bitterly. "The Landsmeet longs to hear a proper tactical analysis of Ostagar from an elf."

Loghain continued his tirade. "You goaded him into making the charge! He believed the tales, Warden! He thought your handful of men would turn the tide for him, strategy and consequences be hanged!" Loghain threw his hands into the air. "What would you have me do? Cailan's life was not the only one in my hands. Should I have sacrificed the entire army for his mistake? Do not imagine you can shame me with Cailan's death. He was Maric's son. My king. No one regrets his loss more than I do."

Anora stepped forward to stand behind her father. "Do not think that I take his death easily either, Warden. I have lost the man I loved and now you seek to rip the throne from under me with this usurper." Her voice rose as she spoke. "You forced your way into the castle and took me, killing all my guards in the process! It is no secret you have dark magic at your employ, and that is what you used to bind me so I could not easily escape my entrapment."

Ayu's body shook with quelled rage, wisps of silver smoke beginning to waft off her body. Zevran rubbed her marking with his thumb in an attempt to calm her and her spirit. "I have done no such thing, Anora and you know it. Why do you spin these venomous lies in front of these good people? For once in your life, tell the truth." The elf's eyes locked onto the queen's and seemed to stare into the woman's soul.

"You seek to make claim on my throne," she sputtered, "why should I not tell them of the despicable acts you have done so I may protect it, and this great nation, from your maniacal clutches?"

Loghain jumped in, addressing the Landsmeet as a whole. "My Lords and Ladies, our land has been threatened before. It has been invaded, and lost, and won times beyond counting. We Fereldens have proven that we will never truly be conquered so long as we are united. We must not let ourselves be divided now. Stand with me and my daughter, your queen, and we shall defeat even the Blight itself."

"The Warden! I'm with the Warden!" One man from in the crowd cried out.

"South Reach stands with the Wardens," another noble chimed in.

"The Warden has helped me personally," another noble said, "I stand behind her."

A woman leaned over the railing from the balcony to Ayu's right. "Waking Sea stands with the Grey Warden."

The man beside the last speaker leant forward and shouted, "Dragon's Peak supports the Warden!"

"Western Hills is with you, Loghain," the elderly man from before yelled out from the other balcony. "Maker help us!"

Another joined in, "I stand by Loghain! We have no hope of victory otherwise."

"I stand by the Wardens," a man from the floor spoke loudly. "The Blight is coming; we need the Grey Wardens!" The crowd around him clapped enthusiastically and murmured their support for the Wardens.

"The Landsmeet is against you, Loghain," Arl Eamon responded to the affirmation of the nobility. "Step down gracefully."

Loghain's face puckered with outrage. "Traitors! Which of you stood against the Orlesian emperor when his troop flattened your fields and raped your wives? You fought with us once Eamon. You cared about this land once. Before you got too old and fat and content to even see what you risk." Loghain turned to face the group of nobles scattered throughout the hall. "None of you deserve a say in what happens here! None of you has spilt blood for this land the way I have! How dare you judge me."

Ayu's voice was flat but firm. "Call off your men Loghain, and we shall settle this honourably."

Loghain regarded the elf over his shoulder. "Then let us end this. I suppose we both knew it would come to this. When we first met at Ostagar, I would never have thought so. But Ostagar seems like it happened in another lifetime, to someone else."

"I still have nightmares," Ayu's voice was far away.

"A man is made by the quality of his enemies. Maric told me that once," Loghain's voice held a touch of sadness. "I wonder if it is more a compliment to you or to me." He cleared his throat noisily. "Enough. Let the Landsmeet declare the terms of the dual."

A woman from the balcony stepped forward to be seen. "It shall be fought according to tradition: a test of arms in single combat until one party yields. We who are assembled shall abide by the outcome."

Loghain focused his steely gaze on the Warden. "Will you face me yourself, or have you a champion?"

Zevran stepped down beside Ayu, slipping under her arm. "Allow me to be your champion, my sweet Warden. I would hate to see your hands bloodied in such a matter" His voice purred in her ear, but his steady gaze did not leave Loghain.

As Ayu opened her mouth to respond, Alistair stepped forward from behind her.

"No," his voice was clear and rang in the hall. "This duty falls to me. I cannot ask you to fight this battle for me. You are a good friend Ayu, but I must do this." His voice was calm and firm. "I owe that to Duncan."

Ayu nodded her head once. "You will make a fine king, Alistair. I have no doubt of it."

Alistair walked down the rest of the stairs, glancing at Ayu as he passed her. He saw the golden light of Mythal in her eyes and in that instant he knew he was making the right choice for Ferelden.

Alistair walked a short distance down the hall, the nobles scattering close to the walls. Loghain stood in the centre, staring the other warrior down. He stopped in front of Loghain and drew his sword slowly, the steel ringing out in the quiet hall. Alistair hefted his shield in his arm and gripped it firmly. Loghain drew his own sword, a bastard sword, and held it in one hand. The men circled each other, neither letting the other out of his sight.

Loghain grabbed his own shield and charged at Alistair. "For Maric!" he cried out, bringing his sword high over his head. He brought it down sharply and Alistair flung off the strike with his shield. Alistair swung his blade to the side, but it banged off Loghain's plate mail as the dark-haired man moved aside.

They exchanged blow after blow, metal ringing off shields and heavy armour in the enclosed space. Loghain knocked Alistair to the ground, throwing his entire body weight into the Warden. Alistair grunted as he hit the stone of the floor. His shield clattered to the ground and it skidded away from him with the impact. Loghain laughed and stood above him. "Now then, you pitiful, would-be king, do you give up this farce?"

"Never," Alistair cried as he sat up, holding his sword with both hands. He drove the tip of his blade into Loghain's inner thigh. Loghain roared in pain and rage as Alistair wrenched his sword free of the man's leg. Alistair had punctured Loghain's femoral artery. As he removed his steel, blood spattered all over the pair of them. Alistair stood, his sword hanging at his side. "I cannot let you get away with what you did at Ostagar. You turned your back on family and fealty."

Loghain was doubled over, holding his bleeding wound. He fell to a knee and stared up at Alistair. "I underestimated you, Warden. I thought you were like Cailan, a child wanting to play at war." Loghain dropped to both knees, his sword clattering to the floor beside him. "I was wrong. There is a strength in you I have not seen since Maric died. I yield."

"You turned aside in war, blamed us for the deed and hunted us down like animals. You must die for your crimes, Loghain." Alistair stepped closer to Loghain, his face grim.

"You can't do this!" Anora shrieked. "My father may have been wrong, but he is still a hero to these people."

"Anora, hush," Loghain's voice was just above a whisper. "It's over."

"Stop treating me like a child," she spat at her father. "This is serious."

Loghain looked down at the ground, his hands resting on his knees. "Daughters never grow up, Anora. They remain six years old with pigtails and skinned knees forever."

Anora covered her face with her hands, beginning to sob loudly. "Father - "

"Make it quick. I can face the maker knowing Ferelden in your hands." Loghain gasped for air.

Alistair advanced on the general, raising his sword high. "May Andraste guide you," Alistair said as the cleaved Loghain's head from his shoulders.

The man's body fell the stone floor with a clatter, a second softer thump following it. Anora cried out and fell beside her father's body, weeping. "How could you?" She screamed at Alistair. "He was the hero of Ferelden."

"Not anymore he wasn't Anora," Alistair said softly. "I took no pleasure in killing Loghain, but as one of the surviving Grey Wardens, it was I who needed to carry out his punishment."

Ayu stepped up beside her fellow Warden and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Spoken like a true king. I am proud of the man you have grown into, Alistair."

"King?" Alistair looked at her slightly confused. "Wait, when did that get decided? No one decided that - have they?"

Eamon spoke from the balcony. "So it is decided. Alistair will take his father's throne."

"Oh, there it is . . ."

Anora was quick to pounce on the opportunity. "He refuses the throne. Everyone here has heard him. I think it's clear then, he abdicates the throne in favour of me."

"I hardly think you are the appropriate person to mediate this, Anora," Eamon said. He looked at Ayu. "Warden, will you help us?"

Ayu cleared her throat and stepped forward. "Of course. I will settle this."

"As the arbiter of this dispute, what is your decision?" Eamon asked her. "Who will lead Ferelden?"

Ayu stopped and faced both Alistair and Anora. "Alistair shall rule. He has the capacity to be a great king like his father was, and I want him to have that chance."

Alistair rubbed his brow with a hand. "This is where I wake up, usually. Or everyone points and laughs because I have no clothes on."

"Anora," Eamon started, "the Landsmeet has decided against you. You must swear fealty to our king and relinquish all claims to the throne for yourself and your heirs."

"If you think I will swear that oath, Eamon, you know nothing of me."

"We must have unity. If she will not swear fealty to you, Alistair, and renounce her claim to the throne, she is a threat to us all." Eamon looked to the elder Warden for his ruling.

"Put her in the tower for now," Alistair said calmly. "If I fall in battle then she can have her throne. If I don't - well then we'll see."

"You would give me a chance, after all this?" Anora's eyes grew wide in anticipation.

"If I fall to the Blight. If I fall, Anora the throne will fall to you. I won't kill you while there is a chance that may happen. Someone has to take this Blight seriously."

"That is uncharacteristically wise of you."

"Yes, well don't let that get around. I have a reputation."

"Guards, take her away," Eamon ordered the men. "Your Highness, will you address the Landsmeet?"

"Oh, ah that would be me," Alistair stammered. "I vow to protect this land and once the Blight is over I shall return and perform my kingly duties - whatever they may be. Until then, I think, Arl Eamon should act as my regent."

Eamon bowed graciously to Alistair. "I accept. May the Maker bless your efforts against the darkspawn."

Alistair addressed the Landsmeet again as a whole. "Everyone, get ready to march. It's going to take all of Ferelden's strength to survive this Blight. But we will face it and we will defeat it!"

A/N - We are in the homestretch! There should be only a couple chapters left to go and the epilogue (unless this story gets away on me again :P ) The last two chapters I will be posting at the same time - so do bear with me, but there is a method to my madness - usually lol. I hope you are enjoying the story so far! Thanks for reading! 3