Hey, everyone.
This chapter is short. Again. Sorry .
But at least it's here. Yay?
As I predicted, my muse is slow and uncooperative. And when it gets like this, I don't like my chapters as much.
If I manage to get to it, the next chapter will have quite a bit of angst, drama, and all that not-so-fun stuff. And I'm not sure if I can do a happy ending whilst making it realistic.
Now is your chance to give me some final input!
Side note: I might also write a separate story with unseen scenes from this story. If I write it, it'll have multiple chapters with various different things. Leave me a review on what you want to see, and I'll write it for you like the obedient little author I am.
Daylen
"Where is she?" Daylen demands. "I'm going to kill her. I'm going to gut her like a pig! I'm going to flambe her! I'm going to-"
Avina cuts him off. "Shut up."
Daylen gapes at her. "What?"
She gives him a sweet smile, one that he instantly distrusts. "Don't worry. I'll handle her."
Daylen crosses his arms. "We aren't murdering her? Why not?"
"We both know you aren't serious," Avina points out. "We just did all that work to get her out of the castle to protect her. We can't kill her now."
Daylen sighs dramatically. "Alright."
"Anora is a conniving, greedy, power-hungry bitch," she explains. "And this is her flaw. Just let me handle it, and Anora will regret it for the rest of her miserable life."
Daylen smirks. "You're evil. I like it."
Avina gives another sugary sweet smile. "Now!" She claps her hands. "Let's go find some dirt on Loghain."
Avina
Avina's a little nervous to be back here after so many years, to be honest. Surely, no one will recognize or remember her. But... this was home before she knew the confining protection of the Circle. She could remember playing here, scraping her knees, and being scolded.
It isn't very different from her memories.
It's an alienage. Of course it's messy, and humans rarely dare to set foot here.
Elves were lesser beings.
In the Circle, it wasn't like this. Since everyone there has magic, everyone there is pitied or feared depending on their level of power, not their race.
But Avina has never forgotten the way she cried for someone to help her sick mother, and the humans just passed her by. More than uncaring; annoyed. Merely by her presence.
These humans don't know how lucky they are that she isn't spiteful towards them for that.
She is heavily reminded when she walks through the alienage that she is an outcast. An elf in a human city, and a mage among the magicless.
It would be easy for her to lose herself like this; forget what's important, and become selfish.
But it is not in her nature to be selfish. And she has a feeling this might be why Duncan chose her as well.
They're suprized to see the alienage in an uproar; the elves out in the streets before a group of human men with armed guards.
As they come closer, she can hear them.
One of the older elven women steps towards the men in robes; likely mages? "I have children at home. I can't wait another day," she pleads.
And Avina wonders, wait for what?
Right then, she knows that something is wrong here. Very, very wrong.
Daylen
Daylen doesn't particularly like Tevinter.
But he can honestly say, after this run-in, he is even less fond of them than he was before.
Of course he knew about the slavery there, but...
He understands how it feels to be trapped, chained by rules he didn't want to follow from people who did not care for him.
And slaves have it worse.
Perhaps, several months ago, he might not have cared as much.
But he hates slavery. He hates it with all his being after seeing those elves in those cramped cages, their skin bruised and their eyes terrified.
How can a man look at another and say, 'I don't care that you are my brother, that you feel and think and reason, that you have a family and friends that love you. I am going to make you my property, and you can have no thoughts of your own.'
It's at times like these that he's infinitely glad it's Avina beside him, and not some other twit.
He can see it in her now. Most likely what Duncan saw. Uncertainty, certainly. Shyness? Definitely. But underneath, that fierceness... unending determination to do what is right, and nothing else.
He doesn't know if he'll ever meet another man as wise as Duncan was.
She is strong. She knows when to stop. When to answer injustice with mercy, and when to answer with vengeance. She knows how to comfort the needy, and protect those who cannot protect themselves.
He should have followed her from the very beginning.
So he does now. And he will from now on.
Avina
One thing is abundantly clear to her when she at last leaves the alienage. Even more so than before.
Anora and her father cannot be trusted with power.
When she goes to see the queen, she forces herself to stand straight. She manages a firm, professional expression from copying Daylen.
As Avina enters, Anora bows her head respectfully. "Hello again, Warden. It is good that you came to speak with me."
Avina nods back stiffly.
She is already imagining Anora's reaction when Avina double crosses her.
"I realize that my... actions at Howe's estate may not have painted me in the best light," Anora admits.
Avina forces herself not to snort.
"For that I apologize," she continues. "And hope that we can start again. I will be blunt. I can see that your voice will be a strong one in days to come. It is to you that Eamon listens, and with good reason. My father must be stopped, but once that is done Ferelden will need a ruler. I would welcome your support for my throne."
Alistair's throne.
"You will be seen as my father's enemy, yet you will be in support of his daughter. You will be seen as supporting the interests of Ferelden as opposed to solely those of the Grey Wardens. In return, I add my voice to yours. Do you see? Together we can do what alone we cannot."
It is so easy to see Loghain in her when she speaks like this.
Nothing but lust for power. Greed. Craving something that does not belong to her.
Avina pretends to think it over. "And what happens to Loghain when you are queen?"
Anora's eyes light up with excitement at the prospect of such a powerful ally. "He is my father, as well as a great general who has served this nation well until now. If there is a way for him to live, I would prefer it."
Avina bats her eyes innocently. "Justice should be done, don't you think?"
"I will always be my father's daughter," Anora says. "But even I know he must pay for his crimes. It will not make me glad, even so. Does that affect your decision? Can we come to an arrangment?"
"I agree to an alliance," Avina says, smirking inwardly. "You'll have my support in the Landsmeet."
Lying has never felt better.
Anora smiles brightly. "That is good to hear. So we have a deal, Warden. I trust you'll keep your end of the bargain... now, I suppose, comes the task of dealing with my father. That will be no small feat, of course, but I am certain you already know this. I imagine you have much to do. Is there anything else you need from me?"
"Nothing at all," Avina replies, and stalks out of the room.
Alistair
Alistair scratches the back of his neck. "So, I'm guessing someone told Anora I was planning to steal her throne. She has a nasty glare." He sighs. "She wants to be queen. I get it. I don't trust her anymore than her father, but I get it."
Avina gives him a sidelong glance. "What do you think of her?"
"They say that Anora is smart, determined... she's supposedly the one who's really ruled here, not Cailan. She's her father's daughter. Me, I say that's where the problem lies. People like her and her father always think they're the only ones who can fix things. So everyone should just stay out of their way."
Avina half-smiles. "I just thought they were crazy, but I suppose that's true too."
Alistair laughs. "What do you think? When the Landsmeet comes, you might even have a say."
"I think Anora needs to be taken down a few notches," Avina states. "And you'll be a good king."
Alistair smirks. "You say that now. Just wait. I'm full of surprises."
Then she's pulling something off her back and - oh, how did he not notice that?
But it's something familiar...
His breath catches in his throat as he realizes what it is.
"This... this shield." His hands slide along the cold metal of what she put in his hands. "It's Duncan's, isn't it? That's his crest..."
And she just looks at him, as if she hasn't just found something so important to him. She smiles, and his heart swells in his chest. "I found it in the vault. I thought you might want it."
His lips press together. This is truly one of the most thoughtful gestures anyone has ever done for him.
And most of his thoughtful gestures were from her.
"Thank you," he breathes. "Truly, I had no idea his shield wasn't with him. This is... perfect. I don't know how else to express my gratitude. This means a great deal to me. I can't believe you remembered it at all..."
After all, she has so much else on her mind...
"Of course I remembered," she tells him, as if it would be impossible not to.
"I'll treasure this," he promises. "Thank you."
Tel'abelas.
Next Chapter: The Landsmeet End
