Interlude – Uncle and Widow

He stands there, and he knows he sticks out. His fellows wear the clothing of their station, practical for the weather but not the best for fighting in. He, however, had come into this 'meeting' with armor and a weapon. He knows what this is about. He's not one to keep himself willfully blind while everything falls apart, and everyone is talking about what happened in the South.

He's prepared to voice what is needed, and he is even more than prepared for the potential consequences of doing so.

"And I expect each of you to supply these men," Loghain demands from above, as if being a war hero and high ranked noble is enough to make them bend. No, that has never been the way of Fereldan. Everything is earned, and Loghain has not earned the right to even ask such things, but less demand them like some Orlesian. "We must rebuild what was lost in Ostagar and quickly." Loghain certainly seems to think he has it, though, particularly with the recent widowed queen standing next to him, high above. "There are those who would take advantage of our weakened state if we let them." Oh, yes, that is quite true. That is why Howe had killed the Couslands with his ridiculous justification that no one believed. But did Loghain not realize the words he uses as justification could also be used for damning? He doubts it. "We must beat this darkspawn incursion." It is a Blight. He sees no reason to not believe the Wardens, and only a fool dismisses the possibility when the consequences of being wrong were so high. "But we must do so sensibly, and without hesitation."

'Sensibly', the teyrn says? Well, nothing about this is sensible. His nephew's body has not even been retrieved! "Your lordship, if I might speak?" he begins, stepping forward to make it even more obvious he is talking. Loghain looks startled, and Anora looks slightly confused at his armed state. "You have declared yourself Queen Anora's regent." He sees Anora's eyes narrow and knows he hit a nerve there. "You claim we must unite under your banner for 'our own good'." He glances up and sees the glare Loghain levels at him. But such things don't intimidate him. He is a Guerrin, and he is stubborn when he knows he is right. "But what of the army lost at Ostagar? Have you not heard what the people say? Many find your miraculous survival quite… convenient." There are murmurs around him, but, while none come to his aid, none also come to Loghain's, and that is more damning to the would-be regent than him.

"Everything I have done has been to secure Fereldan's independence." Yet Loghain's decision is doomed to tear Fereldan into pieces, not that the Teyrn could see that. "I have not shirked that duty, and neither will you."

"The Bannorn will not bend knee just because you demand it!" There are cheers, and this encourages him further. "Surely you saw that when the Orlesians tried to conquer us!"

"Understand this…" Loghain hisses, trying to frighten him into submission. But it will not work. "I will brook no threat to this nation from you or from anyone." From where he stands, though, he thinks the greatest threat to Fereldan is up there pretending to be savior.

Loghain leaves then, as if the matter is settled, ignorant, willfully or otherwise, on how his words have done nothing to secure his position. He rolls his eyes, growls under his breath, and makes to leave, nodding to some of the other Banns.

"Teagan!" But his attention is drawn back above to Anora, who leans on the railing to speak to him. "Please…" she begins, and he can already see the request in her eyes and demeanor.

But he cannot listen to it, so he interrupts her. "Your father risks civil war," he tells her bluntly. She winces and backs away. "If Eamon were here…" But he's not. His dear older brother is ill and nothing will cure him.

"…My father knows what is best…" But she won't look him in the eye as she whispers the words.

So, he asks her another question to try and get her to think. "Did he also do what was best for your husband?" She steps back, still looking away, and he follows the crowd out of the room, making plans to return to Redcliffe.

But even as she staggers back, she clenches her jaw and rushes down the stairs, furious behind her composure. She hates being taken by surprise. She hates not having a perfect retort to someone's question. So, she'll be damned before letting him leave without her saying something.

"Teagan," she calls again, reaching him just before he leaves the room. He turns to look at her, barely giving a polite bow. "What is it that you truly wish to say to me?" His eyes spark with a fire she doesn't quite recognize, but he remains silent. "You certainly spoke your mind earlier to my father. Give me the same courtesy. I will gladly hear it."

"Oh, is that so?" he asks, voice filled with sarcasm. "Truly, I'm grateful." She almost retorts, but he continues without letting her. "Why do you not do anything? Why leave this all to your father?" Whatever she had been expecting, it hadn't been this. "You're the queen!" Yes, she knows that. She has been raised to be queen ever since she was a young girl. It's all she knows, and all she's wanted. "You've ruled for five years!" Her pride warms at hearing that. No 'administration' as his brother would say, but open acknowledgement.

Still… "We live in a society where men are considered the 'superior' race, despite all protests of equality," she reminds him bitterly. This was despite Andraste, warrior queen rebel, mother of many. Yet despite the holiness all would give the Maker's Bride, any woman who wants authority outside of the Chantry has to claw for it. It is a state of mind that baffles her.

"You would be fighting tooth and nail if anyone but your father were the one doing this." …She can't fault him for that logic. But she has faith in her father. He has always listened to her in the past. She is still in control. Though it rankles her to rule through someone again, it's fine. It's her father. She loves and trusts him. Just as she said, he is doing what is best.

That doesn't mean, however, she won't keep her opportunities open. "Well, suppose I did step up as you seem to suggest." She carefully clasps her hands behind her back, to give a softer, more friendly posture. "Would you support me?"

"The Landsmeet might." His eyes are hard. "I won't." The words startle her. "Ignoring how you do not intervene now, when there is simply a threat and not outright bloodshed, there are only a handful of differences between you and your father, after all, and your greatest similarity is not one I can support." He turns away from her and walks without requesting permission. "You're both far too convinced you're in the right of it."

She stares after him, and isn't certain what she thinks. Of course she and her father know what's best for Ferelden. Right? They have for years. Yet she couldn't shake the sinking feeling that maybe, possibly, for the first time, she might be wrong.

Author's Note: It's rather interesting how you have Andraste, a woman, who is recognized as being holy while still reflecting her warrior and motherly aspects, yet Thedas, as a majority, has some sexism towards women? Never thought about it, since there's… not really an EXPLANATION for it. Though maybe half of it is what the fans claim to support their views… huh. Anyway. (No, I will not debate things like this. Please don't try to start one. I will ignore it.)

This is MOSTLY based on the cutscene in game, while also adding a bit to flesh out some things, like why Anora doesn't yell at her father (both believes in him and is convinced she's still in command) until it's a little late, as well as why some people might not want to support Anora despite the good that she did (she is like her father, who is throwing the country into ruin, and is not stopping him). The break this time is simply for a change in the POV, to reflect them both in this interlude (as Teagan made sense at the beginning, but ending on Anora allowed for further characterization).

Next chapter – Lothering with Nuada