Chapter 36: Allies
The week following Bea and Alistair's first meal together was a busy one of the scholar.
Since the two of them had decided to…explore whatever it was they had, Bea's life had become much more complicated. It was no longer enough to simply be a scholar under the king's patronage. She had stepped foot into the lion's den so to speak…
And her father and the chancellor were determined to make sure she was prepared for it.
All this was made clear to her the night she returned from the king's quarters. The Chancellor was most pleased that she had caught Alistair's eye, and father was more than pleased. After everything had happened these last few months, at last he had a daughter in the king's good graces.
Neither Arl Glass nor the Chancellor was willing to let that slip away.
"You have a necessary role to play Lady Glass, the Chancellor had stressed, "His Majesty needs a woman at his side, a woman who can finally solidify his rule."
Her Father had grinned triumphantly.
"I'm so proud you, Sweetheart," he practically purred, "You have found not only a chance for true happiness, but a chance to advance our house as well."
Bea had said nothing to that; really…what could she say?
Her Father had continued to grin like the cat that had ate the canary.
"You should be proud as well."
The Scholar had not really known how to respond to all this. She had come to suspect what was going on, but to finally hear it from both the Chancellor and her father…
She had pursed her lips.
Believing in something was one thing, having that belief confirmed.
That changed everything.
She still tended to her duties in her lab, tending to her plants, but now…now there were new demands of her time. The Chancellor recognized that she needed to move beyond the rumors that had dogged her all these months. She needed to take her place in Denerim High Society.
To that, the Chancellor turned to the one woman he could trust…
…his wife.
Bea had spent much time in the last week with Isolde Guerein; the experience was not as…pleasant as the Chancellor had promised. Isolde knew noble politics that was clear, but at the same time, Bea found the woman…grating. The Chancellor was not wrong about her having a high place in society, but that was due more to his position than the Lady's…skill.
The nobles of Denerim were eager to please the wife of the chancellor, no matter how shrill her voice was, or how demanding or high handed she could be.
The woman's only saving grace in Bea's eyes was her love for her daughter. Recently she and the chancellor had been blessed with a beautiful baby girl, their daughter Rowan.
Bea had even gotten to hold the dear little thing once. The experience both frightened and excited her…
She…she had developed fascination with babies in the last few years. Such frail little things…yet they quickly became the center of a mother's world.
It was an intriguing sensation.
Isolde was extremely protective of her daughter. Bea might not have even gotten near her if not for her standing with the King. The chancellor's wife was polite enough when speaking of Alistair, but she got the feeling that too much history remained between the two for them to ever completely be free of old…animosities.
Alistair had commiserated with her when he learned of Isolde's new interest in her. One night, two days after her time with the Chancellor's wife had begun; he had saved her from Isolde and a gaggle of her noble…friends. His Majesty had said he needed to confer with her about seeding her latest batch of plants in an area near the Blighted lands in the south. She had gone willingly of course.
After they had been out of earshot, Bea had sighed.
"Thank you," she had murmured.
"Maker bless you."
The King had chuckled.
"I find that Lady Isolde is good only in small doses," he replied.
His hand brushed hers fondly.
"You seemed in danger of overdosing.
She had laughed lightly.
It was amazing how easily Alistair could do that, make her laugh.
She…she had misses feeling such freedom.
Not that the king did not claim his reward for her rescue later.
The mere thought made her blush.
He had walked her back to her quarters. The two of them had stood nervously before her door, both blushing.
"Goodnight, Your Majesty," she had cooed.
She had leaned in, to kiss him on the cheek.
Alistair had had other ideas.
He turned slightly, not much really, just enough…
Their lips met.
The kiss was chaste, at first, and then…things had become more…interesting.
He had wrapped his arms around her; he licked her lower lip, making her gasp.
He took full advantage, kissing her deeply.
Bea's head had spun, her heart had pounded, her blood raced, she…she…
Oh Maker!
The kiss had not been as…rough as she had thought. Alistair was a warrior, she expected his kisses to be…aggressive. Instead…they had been tender, gentle really.
It was as if he was worshipping her lips, waiting for her to make the next move.
When they had finally come up for air, they had both turned pure scarlet.
The king turned shyly away from her.
"That…that…um… wasn't too forward was it?" he inquired.
Her mind refused to form any sentence; all she could do was shake her head no.
He had smiled and kissed her on the nose.
"Goodnight, Milady," he had cooed before leaving her.
She watched him go, her mind still trying to work after…well…after what could be called sensory overload.
She took a deep breath, slowly her wits returned.
It was in that moment, that she came to realize something.
They…they were actually doing this, this, whatever it was!
It was…terrifying…yet…exciting.
She took another deep breath. She was not the type of girl to let her emotions run away with her.
She tried to reign in her breathing and focus on the now.
She pursed her lips.
She was fond of Alistair, she could not deny that, and apparently he was of her, but that was not enough.
She sighed.
Him, being king, meant that the two of them would never be totally free to do what they desired. Too many people were involved, yet, if she wanted to be in his life she would have to play the game those people now ran.
Her eyes narrowed.
Her Father, Chancellor Eamon, Lady Isolde, they all expected her to play their game, to dance to their tune.
Well…that was fine.
She would play their game, but that did not mean that she was powerless.
She would play the game, just not by all their rules.
She would dance, but she would choose the steps.
She had Alistair, her mind, and will.
Formidable advantages all.
She smiled slightly.
She would play the game…
…her way.
IOI
"Your brother's ship has been sighted of the coast of Highever."
Wilbur Rich smiled at his guest.
"They should reach port sometime this evening."
Bea smiled back.
"That is pleasing news, Mister Secretary," she said, "But Arland is not the only reason I'm here."
Rich smirked.
He tapped lightly on a pad of parchment on his desk. Bea glanced around at the small space that the man had made his office. She would have expected the royal secretary of Ferelden to have grander accommodations…
She pursed her lips.
The small space was a glorified broom closet. Two bookcases filled up much of the room. Scrolls and pieces of parchment hid much of the man's desk.
Rich must have deduced what she was thinking by the look on her face.
The man chuckled.
"Do you know who the second and third most powerful men in Ferelden are now, Lady Glass?"
She shrugged; there were many powerful men and women in the capital.
Rich leaned back in his chair.
"The chancellor is the second," he said sagely, "He has the respect of the people, and the ear of the nobility. If the powerful have any issue with the king, they feel comfortable bringing their complaints to him."
The Secretary sighed.
"There are even those who claim that it is he that truly rules Ferelden. Alistair is too young, too…uninterested in the affairs of state."
Bea's eyes narrowed.
"Few would speak so…openly about His Majesty."
Rich shrugged.
"I'm only repeating rumors," he said, "You know all about rumors don't you Lady Glass?"
She sighed.
She supposed she did.
The Secretary looked down at the page he was reading; he signed it and looked up on her again.
"Now we come to the third most powerful man in Ferelden," he said, "this man holds great power but does not show it. He has no reason too."
Rich smiled slyly.
"This man serves as the king's gatekeeper," he continued, "If a person wishes to gain the king's ear, he or she needs to go through this man. If the royal court realized just how…valuable that position was, it would never have ended up in the hands of a mere commoner."
He leaned forward.
"As a learned woman, you understand that, don't you Lady Glass?"
Bea stood a little taller.
"I understand the value of knowledge, Mister Rich," she said, "Which is why I'm here."
The man nodded, and gestured for her to continue.
She sighed, and spoke her mind.
"The king and I," she began, "We…we…have decided to begin something."
The man gave her a knowing look.
"Not a hard thing to figure out," he replied.
She frowned, but continued on anyway.
"My father and the Chancellor do not trust you," she said.
Again Rich chuckled.
"Your Father thinks the Chancellor is his road to power," he said, "But now that you and the king have begun your…your…"
The man smirked.
"Your whatever this is," he continued, "the chancellor may just discover how fluid your father's loyalties are."
Bea said nothing, her expression remained blank.
Rich tilted his head.
"Did I just insult you?" he inquired.
"I know my father, Mister Rich," she replied.
"I know what he is capable of."
Again Rich chuckled.
"Wise girl," he said, "Good. I have always preferred to ally with wise people, people who don't let emotion get in the way of cold hard facts."
Bea arched her eyebrow.
Rich shrugged.
"That is why you have come? Is it not?"
Bea paused for a moment, and then sighed.
She nodded slightly.
"You supported me when I first got to this city," she said, "I have not forgotten that. I've also heard that you value the nation and its king over the needs of the royal court."
Rich shrugged.
"Nobles fall in and out of favor all the time," he said, "The King's favorite this month could be out on the street a week later."
The Secretary sighed.
"King Alistair is not as…capricious as his elder brother was," he said, "Cailan had vices he needed to tend to. Anora MacTir understood those vices and used them to her advantage."
Rich smiled.
"Speaking of our beloved former Queen, she has been asking about you I've been told."
Bea's eyes widened at that news.
"Me?"
"Indeed," he replied, "You have made many waves in the last few months. The Lady Bridget Glass, the Lady Brokenshield…"
He smiled.
"Many eyes are on you now Milady and many more will be when they discover that you are now the king's…um…companion."
Bea pursed her lips.
The King's companion?
At least it sounded better than whore or concubine.
She still did not know what to make of Queen Anora asking after her, former Queen Anora. In truth, Bea had always respected the woman; she had been both a learned woman and a fine administrator during Cailan's five year reign.
The Scholar shook her head.
It was shame the woman was locked in the tower.
Had she decided to help her nation, she could do much.
As Cailan's widow, had she desired it, she could have assumed the position of Dowager Princess; basically she would be considered a peer of the realm, the king's sister in all but name. She would have been granted lands and been permitted to live her life. Instead, she chose to rot away in the tower for almost two years now.
Bea shook her head.
Wasteful.
She returned her attention to Mister Rich; the Secretary was her target today.
She would deal with Lady Anora's interest if it came to that.
"My father would have me relay on his contacts, his and the Chancellors," she said shaking her head, "Valuable commodities I know…"
Rich smiled.
"But limited ones," she finished.
The Secretary laughed.
"I see," he said, "So you wish to build a power base for yourself, separate from your father and the Chancellor."
Bea nodded.
Rich's smile widened, becoming more predatory.
"I'm assuming then, that your presence here means that you have found at least several others willing to support you?"
Bea nodded.
She had already spoken with Ambassador Petra of the Circle of Magi and Lis Cousland. The circle was always a powerful ally, and she would no doubt need Highever support if she was to have any chance of surviving the sharks that would come for her when her and Alistair's…whatever this was became public.
She also considered sending word to Sister Leliana. The king's old friend was in some little village along the border, a place called Haven…
Leliana would go a long way to winning chantry support, and it was likely the only way around Mother Allison, who had made no bones about her dislike for the Glass family.
If she could get around the woman, so much the better, but there was a problem.
How to get a message out to her without Allison hearing?
That is where the Secretary came in.
Rich chuckled.
"I've misjudged you Milady," he said, "I had heard you had no interest in politics, yet you are defending yourself like a seasoned politician."
Bea shrugged.
"I'm my father's daughter ser," she said, "No Glass would survive in our house without some knowledge of politics, and besides…"
She sighed.
"Some people think that the great game of Orlais is not played in the University, the nobles send their children who are not as skilled as they should be to keep them safe."
Bea shook her head.
"Those nobles are wrong. Many of their children understand the game very well, especially the value of being underestimated."
Bea shook her head.
"I had to learn to be smart, if I had not been my work would likely have been stolen by one of my more cunning, but far less intelligent peers."
She sighed again.
"I hate politics," she said, "But that does not mean that I know nothing about it."
She crossed her arms over her chest.
"I hope you can understand that."
Again Rich nodded, that oily grin never leaving his face.
He rose from his chair and to her surprise…bowed gallantly.
"I understand completely, Your Ladyship," he said, "Or perhaps…I should say…Your Majesty."
Bea blushed.
"It is a little too soon to be claiming that title," she said, "The king and I are close…but…"
Rich shrugged.
"No harm in being prepared," he said, holding out his hand.
"My sources are yours and the kings of course."
Bea smiled.
"Of course," she said raising her hand.
He took it and chastely kissed her knuckle.
He smiled coldly.
"Milady," he purred, "I hope this is the beginning of a long and profitable alliance."
Bea pursed her lips.
That remained to be seen.
She left the secretary's office, feeling much better about things.
Now she had to go and prepare, if Rich was correct Arland would be returning tonight with Quentin's bride to be.
She sighed.
Now she had to think of how she was going to explain all this to Arland.
She shook her head.
Fighting an Archdemon might be easier.