Chapter 28
It was a bright, beautiful day as Alistair stood on the Denerim pier with his royal guard waiting for Empress Celene's ship to dock. He would rather be with Ella in Kal'Hirol right now. She had left with Eli and Ella three days ago with a group of Wardens including Zev and not knowing what was going on had him on edge.
The Empress' ship finally docked and the plank was lowered. Ferelden's royal guards stood at attention ready to greet the Empress as she disembarked from the vessel. A trumpet sound announcing her arrival as she headed down the gangplank. Alistair had heard of Celene's beauty and by all appearance the rumors were true. Her blond hair glistened in the bright sun light as she approached Alistair.
Alistair bowed and said, "Empress Celene, it is an honor to welcome you to Ferelden."
The Empress curtsied and replied, "Thank you King Alistair for such a gracious welcome."
"If our nations are going to become friends once again then I insist that you call me Alistair."
Empress Celene smiled and said, "Very well, and I insist that you call me Celene," she said as she looked around the crowd, "I do not see the Hero of Ferelden present. I hope that your betrothed will be able to join us."
Alistair smiled at her, gestured toward the carriage that would take them to the palace and told the first of many lies to come, "Bella is on a Grey Warden mission in Kal'Hirol and is delayed. I received a note from her the other day that she hopes to wrap things up there quickly and will join us in the next several days."
"Aaaah, someone needs to tell your future Queen that all work and no play makes for a very dull Warden," Celene said with a smile. "Isn't she worried about the details of her wedding?"
Alistair laughed, "The day that Bella begins to worry about such matters I will have her checked immediately for a fever. We have an event planner as part of the royal staff. She is handling all of the details of the wedding."
As they approached the royal carriage a tall and imposing man with long brown hair stepped up behind the Empress. She turned and smiled, "Aaah, Commander I am so glad you could join us. Alistair, I would like to introduce you to Commander Roland, Commander of the Orlais Grey Wardens."
Commander Roland bowed to Alistair and said, "King Alistair, it is a pleasure to finally meet one of the Ferelden Grey Wardens that stopped the blight." There was a smile on his face as he spoke, but there wasn't any warmth in his words or his eyes. Alistair took a deep breath. Yes this was going to be a very long day indeed he thought.
As the only Teryn in Ferelden, Fergus along with Alistair's chief advisor Arl Eamon greeted the royal carriage as it entered the palace courtyard.
Fergus bowed deeply to the Empress and said, "Welcome to Ferelden, Empress Celene," Fergus took her hand, kissed it and said, "The descriptions of your beauty do not do you justice."
Celene laughed light heartedly and said, "You must be Bryce Cousland's son." Alistair could see that the comment took Fergus by surprise as she continued, "I was a young girl when the treaties between our two countries were signed. I met your father on one of the occasions that he accompanied King Maric to Orlais. You look exactly like your father. Your father was a good and kind man, I was sorry to hear of his tragic death."
Fergus bowed again, "Thank you, Empress Celene, that is very kind of you to say."
The Empress turned to Eamon. Eamon bowed, "Empress Celene, welcome to Ferelden and it is a pleasure to see you again."
Celene curtsied and said, "The pleasure is all mine Eamon. I was so sorry to hear of the death of your wife. I hope that you received my condolences."
"I did. Thank you for your kind thoughts," Eamon replied.
The group made their way into the palace dining hall where a small feast had been prepared. The rest of the evening was enjoyable enough as the small group ate, drank and became better acquainted with one another. However, the looks that Roland gave Alistair throughout the night made him very uncomfortable. The deep roads would be more pleasant then the looks he received from Roland.
As the evening drew to a close, Roland approached Alistair and said, "I would like to spend some time discussing Grey Warden business with you."
Alistair smiled as he replied, "Celene's letter implied that you had Grey Warden business to discuss. I have set aside a few hours tomorrow morning to meet with you. If you could join me in my study after breakfast we can have a private discussion there without being disturbed."
Roland looked a little uncomfortable with the terms of the meeting being dictated to him, but he agreed. It was Ella's idea to not let Roland take control of the situation. He was on Ferelden soil. Alistair must control and direct the conversation.
The following morning Roland joined Alistair in his study, "Would you like some tea?" Alistair asked as he gestured for Roland to take a seat in a chair across from his desk.
"No, thank you," Roland replied coolly. "I was sorry to hear that Commander Cousland would not be able to join us. What type of mission did she have in Kal'Hirol?"
Alistair took a seat behind his large imposing desk and replied, "Well, her letter didn't go into much detail incase her correspondence was intercepted. The Dwarves are in the process of rebuilding Kal'Hirol. I would assume that they stumbled across a large nest of darkspawn and asked for the Grey Wardens' assistance."
"But the dwarves have plenty of experience fighting darkspawn why would they need the Commander's assistance?" Roland asked.
Alistair just shrugged his shoulders, "That's a question for Commander Cousland. As I said, her letter didn't give many details. So is the purpose of the meeting to discuss Kal'Hirol or is there something else you wish to chat about?"
Roland shifted uncomfortable in his seat. He could hear Ella in his head, 'Keep him on his toes. Don't let him control the conversation. Take the fight to him,' and had to smile to himself that her strategy was working.
"Yes, I wanted to discuss the events that took place on top of Fort Drakon when the Archdemon was slain."
Alistair looked directly into his eyes as he replied, "Did you not read the reports written by Commander Cousland, myself and Senior Enchanter Wynne?"
"Yes, I have and so has First Warden Blacwin at Weisshaupt and both of us have more questions than answers. So if you would so kind to retell the events of that day. It might help clear up some of the fuzzy details," Roland retorted.
So Alistair launched into the story of how the Archdemon was defeated, how Ella had driven the sword through its heart and Wynne's theory regarding how they both survived. When he finished Roland just stared at him coldly, "See that is where the First Warden and I have a problem. We both have researched through all of the Warden histories and there has never been an occasion when a Warden was spared due to being in close proximity when the killing blow was dealt."
Now it was Alistair's turn to shift uncomfortably in his chair, "Well, I guess that is why it's called a theory," he replied calmly.
"Yes, I can see that. But while researching this theory of Senior Enchanter Wynne's, First Warden Blacwin did discover an ancient magic ritual that would save the life Warden that delivered the final blow."
Alistair sat back in his chair crossed his arms and replied, "Really? That sounds fascinating."
Roland stood up and paced the room as he talked, "It is fascinating actually. It would require a very powerful blood mage to perform the ritual while she or he had intercourse with a Grey Warden and produced a child that would absorb the soul of the Archdemon when the final blow happened."
Roland paused and looked at Alistair whose face remained unreadable, "Your reports indicate that you traveled with two mages while trying to defeat the blight. One of which was a powerful apostate who disappeared shortly after the final battle and who reappeared a year ago in Orzammar with a two year old son."
Alistair remained quiet and stone faced even though his head was screaming. They knew. By the Maker they knew and now what were they going to do about it?
Roland continued, "The First Warden has demanded that you go to Weisshaupt Fortress and answer further questions."
Alistair remained calm as he replied coolly, "That isn't going to happen."
The color rose on Roland's face as he said, "Need I remind you that you are a Grey Warden and your Commanding Officer has requested your presence at Weisshaupt."
"There is no need to remind me that I am a Grey Warden. I feel the taint in my blood every day," Alistair retorted, "But I am also the King of Ferelden and my duty is to my country. I will not leave my country unprotected to accompany you to Weisshaupt. Was this the Empress' plan all along - to remove me from the throne under the pretense of Grey Warden business while she is in Ferelden? Then while the country is through into chaos take the throne for Olais."
Roland went white at the accusation, but Alistair wasn't sure if it was because his arrow had hit its mark or if he had just realized how it would look to the rest of Ferelden if he forced Alistair to leave with him. Alistair lowered his voice and growled, "Roland you are walking on dangerous ground right now. Your Empress is on Ferelden soil surrounded by countrymen that trust her as far as they could throw her. I suggest you back off your current course of action and rethink your plan. You tell First Warden Blacwin that if he wants answers that he will have to come here to get them and let him know he will get a lot more than he bargained for."
Alistair stood up and gestured for the door, "Now if you will excuse me, this meeting is over. I have other matters to attend to."
Roland stood up and said grimly, "I will convey your message to First Warden Blacwin. He will not be happy to hear of this development."
"Well, then you might want to remind First Warden Blacwin that it has only been 30 years since the boarders of Ferelden were open to the Grey Wardens. If he would like to push the issue that policy could change." Alistair said hoping they would never call his bluff.
"You wouldn't dare," Roland said.
"Wouldn't I? You have come into my country, threatened the stability of my lands by trying to usurp Grey Warden power over the throne. It was for this reason that the Grey Wardens were expelled in the first place. So if you want to test me, please go ahead and we will see where the chips land."
Roland stared at Alistair for a long time and then finally said, "I will convey your message." He bowed and said with a slight smile, "They have underestimated you. You are not the pushover they thought you would be."
As Roland exited the room and closed the door behind him, Alistair breathed a sigh of relief. Thank the Maker that was over. It might have been a good thing that Ella wasn't here. She may have driven a dagger through his heart.
Alistair walked into his room for lunch after he had just had grueling meeting with Eamon about the proper protocol for entertaining the Orlesian Empress during a formal dinner. Who cares about their customs? Isn't the reason that they are visiting us is to learn about our customs? Halsen had laid out his mail by his lunch. He looked through it and noticed a letter from the Denerim Warden Compound. He opened up the letter and saw it was from Nate.
Alistair,
I suppose congratulations are in order and that I should wish you and Brie all the happiness, but I am sure that you can understand how difficult that might be for me to do. Brie deserves to be happy. If you are the one to bring her that happiness then so be it, but the purpose of this note is to warn you that I will be watching and if you slip up even once I will be there waiting to catch her. So treat her well and make her happy.
Nathaniel
First a flash of anger and jealousy coursed through him, but then he had to smile. It took a lot of nerve to write the King and threaten to steal his wife if he ever did anything to make her unhappy. Alistair admired the man's gull and his devotion to Ella. It was also a good reminder to Alistair that there was more than one man out there willing to step into his shoes if he ever made a mistake grave enough for her to leave him. Sorry to disappoint you, Nate, but I won't be giving you the chance to catch her, Alistair thought as his mind drifted to thoughts of Ella and their last weekend at the Keep together.
Bella and her group had made it through Knotwood Hill and Kal'Hirol's Main Hall completely unnoticed by any darkspawn even though they could sense them through the taint. The concealment spell that Anders and Rhylyn had created after their encounter with the Maker's energy was very strong and it lasted for several hours. This allowed them to move through the areas where there were large numbers of darkspawn undetected.
Anders had Eli in a papoose on his back and Nate had Ella on his back. If they were attacked Kya, Cullen, and Will would fall back and protect Anders and Nate at any cost. Bella, Zev, Oghren and Sigrun would take point and attack head-on. As they moved through Kal'Hirol they moved in that order.
Bella had debated about whether or not to bring Nate because she knew that he was still trying to get over her and she wanted to honor his wishes about keeping their distance from each other. Bella could understand this and didn't want to make things more difficult for him. Since the announcement of her engagement to Alistair his reports had become less frequent and even more distance, but as the date to leave for Kal'Hirol drew near she had received a letter from Nate requesting permission to go with the group on this mission. He said that he had been with her from the very beginning of this operation and that he wanted to see it through to the end. She had agreed with his logic and granted him permission to join the group. He had kept his distance from her and had little to say, but it was good to know that he had her back and literally had Ella on his.
As they moved into the Kal'Hirol Trade Quarters Anders and Kya were having difficulty holding the concealment spell. The energy that was in that area was rapidly depleting their mana and several times the darkspawn were able to sense Eli, but as they approached the group Eli would send out a pulse of energy so strong that it would knock everyone down, but it would kill all of the darkspawn that were in the area. The Wardens would feel a tingling sensation as the energy surged out of Eli, but it did not harm them. Avernus continued to marvel at Eli's powers. His interest in Eli made Bella nervous and she would have to keep an eye on Avernus when he was around Eli.
As the group entered the Kal'Hirol's Lower Reaches Bella could feel the Architect's taint. Nate moved up beside her and said, "He isn't far. I can feel him."
Bella smiled, "You are getting good at sensing through the taint."
For the first time in weeks he smiled back at her, "I had a good teacher."
They walked deeper into the Lower Reaches until they arrived at the main chamber. The Architect stepped out of the shadows and said, "Aaaah, Warden Commander, it's so good to see you again and I see that have brought a fellow scholar along with you. How wonderful." The Architect said as he paused to look at Avernus. "And I see that you have brought the child with you. This is excellent. Please bring him here."
Anders stepped forward with Eli still on his back. The Architect reached for him, but Bella stepped in between them. "I will hold him," she said, "You just give me the instructions."
The Architect nodded and said, "Then the two of you need to lie down on that stone table," and pointed to table that looked like it was covered in dried blood at the top of a dais. Bella cringed inwardly and was a little grateful Alistair wasn't here. The sight of the bloody alter would have unnerved him, but seeing his future wife and son displayed on the altar as its current sacrifice would have sent him over the edge.
She headed towards the altar when Nate grabbed her arm, "Brie, I don't like this. That altar is covered with dried blood."
Bella glanced at Anders who gave a slight nodded. Bella replied, "It's going to be okay Nate. Trust me." Nate glanced at Anders who gave Nate a wink. Nate let go of Bella's arm and she walked up to the altar and lay down with Eli in her arms. Nate moved up a long side the altar and took Ella out of her papoose and held her in his arms. Anders and Kya moved to the other side of altar. Bella had instructed them if something went wrong or if something felt amiss that they were to cast a concealment spell over the altar hiding them from the Architect and the others in the room.
At the base of the dais Zev, Oghren, Cullen and Will stood on guard, alert for an ambush.
Eli touched Bella's arm and said, "Everything is going to be alright. I promise."
Bella squeezed Eli a little tighter and said, "I certainly hope your right, little one. I love you, Eli."
"I love you too, Mom."
The Architect stood over them and began to wave his hand across their bodies as he chanted. Bella felt a tingling and strange pulling in her own blood. She looked up and saw the astonished looks on Anders and Kya's faces. The Architect had cast a cage around them using a telekinetic force that rendered them immobile. Bella glanced down and saw the palms of both her and Eli were open ad blood was poured out of them. The Architect moved around the altar as he gathered up the blood in large vials.
Bella looked down at where Nate is standing unable to move, but she can see the look of fear and frustration as it rippled across his face. She smiled slightly at him as the room began to spin and everything turns black.
Nate screamed Brie's name in his head, but he was unable to move his lips. Noooo, this can't be happening. How could she have been so easily deceived by the Architect? Why didn't any of them pick up on his true intentions? Why would he want to drain Brie of her blood? Hadn't he already done that back in the mines?
As quickly as his muscles had been frozen they were just as quickly released and he was able to move. The Architect said, "Bring Ella over to Eli so that she can heal him."
"What about Brie?" Nate asked.
The Architect smiled, "Ella can only heal one of them. If she heals her brother quick enough he will be able to save the Commander."
The moment that Anders cage was broken he caused a self inflicted wound on his hand and began to cast a blood magic healing spell on Bella. It wouldn't keep her alive for long, but hopefully long enough for Eli to be healed.
Nate sat Ella down on the table. Ella reached over and touched Eli's arm and the healing power slowly worked its way up to Eli shoulder and down to his heart. Anders fought the divine sensation that coursed through his body so that he could continue to heal Bella, but the feeling became too strong and he gave in and to the ecstasy. Kya began to tremble as the heavenly experience over took all of her senses and she feel to her knees marveling as pure bliss traveled through her body.
"You lying, dirty bastard," Nate yelled. "Why take Brie's blood?"
"Because the Commander has the strongest and most extraordinary taint I have ever seen. Wouldn't you agree, Avernus?" Avernus nodded. "I can stop more darkspawn with just one vial of her blood then I could with a dozen ordinary Wardens. When she delivered the killing blow the essence of the Archdemon passed through her before it sought out Eli. That essence changed her taint forever. To have both large qualities of both her blood and Eli's blood will allow me to do remarkable things and now that her blood has been infused with Eli's blood her taint will be even more powerful."
"What do you mean infused?" Nate said.
A sly smile spread across Avernus face, "Didn't she tell you? Eli's blood could save the Wardens and give them longer lives. Both her and Alistair have already infused their blood with his. It will give them an extra 10 to 15 years together. I really would have thought she would have told one of her oldest and dearest friends."
Nate couldn't believe what he was hearing. An extra 10 to 15 years of life – why hadn't she told him? There had to be a good reason. He knew that she wouldn't purposely let her friends die an early death. Wow, an extra 10 – 15 years.
Ella pulled back from Eli and the boy opened his eyes, "Mom," he cried out and rolled over and touched Bella's arm. The healing glow coursed through her veins toward her heart and moments later Bella sat up and was quickly on her feet with her dagger at the Architect's throat. "I should slice you open from navel to sternum," she hissed.
"If you did, then all of this will have been for nothing," the Architect said. "Retrieving the blood is only the first step. I now have to administer it to the darkspawn."
"And how are you going to do that exactly," Kya asked.
"After the ritual is complete I will add it to their food and water supply. It will take time, but eventually they will stop seeking out Eli," the Architect said.
With her blades still at the Architect throat she called over her shoulder to Avernus, "You have studied his notes and journals. Do you know the ritual that he needs to perform on the blood to stop them from seeking out Eli?"
"Yes, I could perform the ritual, but the Architect would be better equipped to handle that then I," Avernus replied.
"But you can do it?" Bella asked again.
Avernus nodded. Bella turned back to the Architect with loathing, "Your actions here today have proven that I can't trust you. If you would have asked I might have cooperated with you and given you some of my blood, but you took advantage of my desperation to save Eli and manipulated me while placing everyone I love in grave danger and that is something I cannot forgive. My father use to say, 'Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me'," and before the Architect could respond Bella slid her dagger into his stomach, pulled the blade upward and twisted it out. His body hit the ground with a loud thud, "Nobody steals my blood from me and lives to tell about."
"Darkspawn, meet Grey Warden, Grey Warden meet darkspawn," Zev said with a chuckle as the group gathered up their things and headed out of Kal'Hirol.
Bella sat in her office at the Keep as she sipped her wine and wrote to Alistair about their successful mission. Thank the Maker she didn't have to go into details yet about the events that took place in Kal'Hirol. She knew Alistair would be a little upset to learn that she had almost been drained of all of her blood.
Bella had decided that it would be wise for Avernus to stay with the Wardens at the keep while he worked on the blood ritual. He wasn't thrilled with the idea, but Bella really wasn't giving him a choice. She also instructed Anders or Kya to be present while he was working on all of his rituals and experiments.
There was a knock at her door and she called out, "Come in."
The door opened and Nate, Anders, Oghren, Sigrun and Zev marched into her office. "Aaah, did we have meeting that I forgot about?"
"No, Commander," Nate said. "We want to know about this ritual that Avernus performed on you and Alistair that will extend your lives."
Bella slowly nodded her head and asked them to take a seat. She explained how Eli's blood attacks the taint in a Warden's blood and slows down the taint corrupting the blood. She explained how Eli said that this was the reason he was created. She went on to explain that she and Alistair had decided that they would be the guinea pigs. If after a year there were no serious side effects that they would offer it to all Ferelden Grey Wardens and would alter Weisshaupt to the discovery.
All five of them stared at her astonished, but it was Nate that said, "The King and future Queen of Ferelden allowed themselves to be used as guinea pigs and what if the two of you had gone stark raving mad due to your experiment. What would have happened to Ferelden?"
"Alistair and I are Wardens before all else. As Commander it is my duty to make sure that this works and that it is safe before it is offered it my Wardens. If Alistair and I become basket cases then Duncan would become King and Fergus would be regent until Duncan is old enough to rule on his own."
"Hmm, that is a well thought out plan, Commander," Sigrun said.
Bella sighed, "Thanks, I didn't get this job based on my looks you know."
"Oh, I don't know about that, Commander. You are much easier on the eyes, than say Nathaniel. When following my Commanding Officer I would much rather look at your behind then his," Anders said as they all laughed.
They spent the rest of the evening relaxing and enjoying each other's company. This was the core group of Wardens that she had spent to last four years fighting darkspawn with. They were her family, she loved and needed them, but Bella also knew that once she married Alistair things would change and this might be the last time they were together like this. So she sipped her wine and savored the moment.
