Redcliffe

"Alistair should be down shortly, Loghain. Duran is in the courtyard with Gorim." Teagan motioned to his study.

"I saw them on the way in." Loghain chuckled. "Your men need more practice fighting shorter opponents."

Teagan sighed. "Let's have a brandy." When the two men entered the study, Teagan closed the door and went to the sideboard. As the new Arl, he had done a lot for Redcliffe Castle and the Arling, and much of it he had done himself. The villagers were quite fond of their new Arl and Arlessa, both who would pitch in to help on even the most menial tasks, if needed.

They relocated the village to another natural harbor a bit to the northeast. Too many bad memories in the old one. They hadn't dismantled the old buildings yet … just put a gate up … but Loghain knew it was on the Guerrin's list of things to do.

They were expanding the castle with two new wings, reworking everything else after the taint of that Orlesian Gaspard was gone. They still didn't know who had poisoned the man and all his chevaliers. Too bad. Loghain would have given him or her a medal and Alistair would have found a holding somewhere for the hero.

Today, Teagan's study was warm and inviting with comfortable furniture and greenery. It even had a large window to let in natural daylight. Much improved from the study of that old bastard, Eamon.

Loghain sat in an overstuffed dark brown leather chair … dropped into it, more like. "How is he?"

"Alistair is doing as well as can be expected. Neither he nor Anora … nor anyone else, for that matter … thought the Divine's conclave would cause such chaos in Ferelden — even before the disaster there. There are rebel mages and renegade mages, loyal Templars and renegade Templars. The renegades are the ones causing all the trouble. However, the renegades seem to follow in the wake of the rebels and loyals, so I wish the lot of them would just go somewhere else."

"Seems from what I've been hearing, at least half of the rebels don't want to be rebels. Although, the opposite is true for the renegade Templars. They all seem to be relishing their new-found control." Loghain sighed and leaned back in his chair.

Teagan sighed. "All quite the mess, to put it politely." Then, he chuckled as he handed Loghain his glass. "Alistair arrived a few hours before you did and said, 'Hello. We'll talk after I've some time to bathe and calm down.' He and Duran had just finished closing the rifts around the village and along the route from Haven."

"Sounds like Alistair." Loghain took a long draught of his drink. It was his recent favorite — brandy made from Rainesfere apples. "I thought he and Duran got along."

"It wasn't Duran that upset Alistair. It was that elf apostate that got to him. Solas is his name, I believe." Teagan leaned against the renovated fireplace mantle.

"I thought he was staying with the 'Inquisition' folk." Loghain knew that Teagan caught the sarcasm.

"No, he insists upon staying with the 'Herald of Andraste'." Teagan shook his head again and took a long swig. He swirled the brandy in his glass. "Strange one, that elf."

"Bedalanthe told me that 'solas' is the Elvhenan word for arrogant." When Teagan raised his eyebrows, Loghain added, "I asked her because Alistair thought he'd seen the word somewhere. From what little experience I've had with Solas, it fits."

"Fits like a glove." Teagan sat in a chair across from Loghain. "Anyway, if there's anything Redcliffe can do to help, Loghain. Please ask."

Loghain could tell the man was earnest in his offer. "Don't worry, Teagan, I will. How are you and your lady doing here?"

Teagan smiled. "A year and a half ago I would have never thought we'd be this far along. We literally had to burn everything in the castle and scrub the stone walls until they looked newly mortared. Ended up moving some walls and rebuilding others. We're not nearly finished with all the renovations. The place did need a bit of updating." He shook his head. "Now, the damn mages and Templars are blowing through the countryside. Not to mention the rifts in the Hinterlands." Teagan visibly shuddered after those words. "With only one person able to close the rifts, it all becomes a bit daunting."

"Damn infuriating." Loghain took a swallow. "And, it sounds unlikely to me. Magic is magic. Someone else must know how to negate these rifts." He took a deep breath. "Fortunately, Duran insisted that Ferelden be secured first before heading to the other countries … if the other countries will even allow this 'Inquisition' in. So, we'll be finishing up the Hinterlands and then heading north through the Bannorn to hit all of those rifts. I hope we can close all the bloody things before winter." Loghain sighed. "To bring up another sore topic, I understand the war between Orlais and Nevarra is heating up again."

Teagan sat forward in his chair. "Orlais and Nevarra can slip into the Void for all I care. Their war had as much to do with the Archdemon not being dispatched properly as anything. The wardens from there should be executed as deserters, in my opinion, including the Nevarran who has assumed the First Warden's chair."

The arl ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "We've been scouting and confronting both the mages and Templars we find in the countryside. The mages and Templars who attack us and refuse to stand down are killed. However, many are surrendering — those 'rebel mages who don't really want to be rebels' that you mentioned. The south wing of the castle is a makeshift Circle for the mages who have been showing up asking for sanctuary." Teagan got angry then and stood to pace. "Loghain, many of them are only children! They're frightened!" Loghain saw a slight sheen form in Teagan's eyes. "And, I see my dear nephew's face in every one of them. Thank the Maker he's safely ensconced at Kinloch Hold." Teagan wiped his eyes with a sleeve. "Fortunately, Irving has been able to send a few mages to help instruct them here until we can move them north. The Knight-Commander here is a sympathetic sort, but even he is becoming nervous at the numbers."

"Damn, we can't serve as the Circle for all of Thedas." Loghain had always been appreciative of the power that magic could wield when it was on your side in a battle; however, he was also leery of mages he didn't know or trust. He had mistakenly trusted the mage Uldred once. Then, he found out that Uldred was the cause of the fall of the Circle in Ferelden during the Blight. The situation was another one that Loghain had to admit he was party to. Loghain had suggested that he would work with Uldred to free the Circle in Ferelden and Uldred took it as a promise. It caused Loghain to begin to question any mage's motives unless they proved trustworthy.

The door creaked open and a damp-haired Alistair peeked in. "May I join you?"

Loghain stood as Teagan answered, "Of course, Your Majesty. Please come in. Rainesfere brandy?"

"Loghain!" Alistair stepped up to his father-in-law and gave him a "manly" hug. "No little birdies told me you'd arrived. Any word from the Brecilian with all this mess? I know you skirted one of the contact points for the clans."

"Bedelanthe caught up to me just when I was about to give up on finding her." Loghain handed Teagan his snifter for a refill. "They are in hiding, for the most part. There's a reason that they only keep two mages per clan and feel very guilty about any elf mages that they are forced to turn away." After Teagan handed him his refill, Loghain sat back down. "As for the darkspawn, things are still quiet in the Brecilian. Same with Ostagar. Saldra has a strong presence down there with regular patrols into the Wilds. She's made a tenuous alliance with the wilder folk to keep an eye out. One of the clans to the southwest of Ostagar was the one to nurse Fergus back to health. Fergus made a good impression on the clan, so they've been very helpful in dealing with the other clans. No reports of rifts in the Wilds or the Brecilian … yet."

Alistair sighed and sat on a chair next to a nearby table. "Good. Let's hope it stays quiet until we close off the rifts in Ferelden. Loghain, it's a fight at every rift. Whenever someone approaches, the thing comes alive and spits out demons. We're sort of getting into a rhythm now: we fighters go in and attract the demons while Duran does his thing on the rift. We're getting better at keeping the demons off him so we don't have to deal with more than one round of monsters."

"Perhaps you should allow the other soldiers to do the fighting or I may have to deck you and put you in a wagon for Denerim. Something I wish I'd done with Cailan, so don't think I won't with you." Loghain took another sip. "Have you gotten any word from the north?"

"Drais reports the same 'under control' in the north. Kayda should be near or at Weisshaupt by now." Alistair turned toward Teagan. "First Warden Alman sent her, Anders, Oghren, Carby and a few others to see if there was anything left of the library there … if there's anything about how the Archdemon shows up again." Alistair sighed and shook his head. "It's been a year and a half and not a sign anywhere."

"You did lead the wardens to kill what we guessed were the 'spares', so to speak." Loghain leaned back in his chair and stared at the reflection of the roaring fire in his brandy. "Never fear. The beast will show up when we least want it to."

"Like now? If we could just get rid of the damn mages and Templars." Alistair sighed as Teagan handed him a brandy. "Maker, I want to go home. I miss Anora and Gareth so much more than I thought I would … and I thought I would miss them a great deal."

"Well …" Teagan cleared his throat. "Perhaps this isn't the best time to announce this, but it seems I shall shortly be joining the two of you in fatherhood."

"Maker's Breath, I needed some good news, Teagan! Anytime is right for that!" Alistair jumped up and hugged Teagan, firmly — manly hug be damned. "How is Gwen handling all this bedlam?"

Loghain only smiled. "The lady is a rock. I daresay she'll handle things better than her husband. Celia was certainly better than me at such things."

"You hit that one right on the nose, Loghain." Teagan motioned around the room. "Most of the appointments that have made this drafty old castle a home are hers." He shook his head. "I will admit to you two that I am terrified right down to my toes about the entire baby thing."

Alistair chuckled. "I wish I could tell you not to be terrified, but that would make me a hypocrite and a liar."

A knock at the door stalled the family conversation. Teagan spoke up. "Enter."

Redcliffe's seneschal, Ardus, opened the door a crack. "My apologies for the intrusion, but Master Varric Tethras has arrived with news from Denerim and a letter from the Queen for His Majesty."

"Let him in!" Alistair almost ran for the door as Ardus opened it. Varric didn't even say anything. He handed the king a sealed letter which Alistair opened immediately.

Loghain was interested in his daughter's letter as well, but decided to give Alistair a few moments. "What news from Denerim?"

"Teryn Loghain, Arl Teagan, sorry for the abrupt entrance, but I knew he'd want to see that letter as soon as I darkened the door." Varric was still covered in road dust.

"Not to worry about that, Master Tethras. Brandy?" Teagan already started walking toward the sideboard.

"Sounds wonderful! My thanks!" Varric reached for the glass. But before he could grasp it, Alistair threw his glass into the fireplace. "I had a feeling he'd react like that."

"Varric, is she really all right?!" Alistair handed the letter to Loghain as he rounded on Varric.

"She's fine, Alistair. She told me I was to tie you up and make you eat raspberry pudding if you made motions to ride for Denerim immediately." Varric shrugged. "She knows you have a lot of demands nipping at you and wants you to know that Ferelden needs you to be king right now."

Loghain shared Alistair's initial reaction but Anora's threat of the one thing Alistair couldn't stand brought a smile to Loghain's face. "So, Fiona and the 'rebel mages' have gone to Tevinter."

"What?!" Teagan realized he had yet to give Varric his brandy and did so. "Sorry, Varric. They weren't at the Temple of Sacred Ashes? I left right away to come back here so I didn't have time to hear any details." He put his hands on his hips. "I guess I just assumed …" He frowned at Alistair. "I guess we should all sit down and share our information." He turned to Ardus. "Have dinner brought in here. Just something simple, please. And, ask Paragon Duran and Gorim to join us if they would."

They all moved to the long table to the right of the fireplace. Loghain was pleased to see that Alistair sat at the head of the table. It took Anora a lot of time to convince him that people expected him to lead and he would just have to get used to it. He glanced at Alistair who indicated he knew exactly what Loghain was thinking by rolling his eyes. Within minutes, Duran and Gorim walked in. Loghain could see that the elf mage was outside the door.

"Yeah, I'll get back to you, Solas." Duran did his own eye-rolling as he stepped up to a chair on the other end of the table while Gorim almost literally closed the door in Solas' face. Duran shrugged. "The elf says we have enough mage power here at Redcliffe to attempt to close the Breach."

"Would that close the local rifts?" Teagan looked so hopeful.

"No idea. I don't even think Solas knows for sure, but it is a more permanent assurance that rifts won't start to spawn again in new places. Thanks." Duran took the brandy that Teagan handed him. "So, now he wants me to go back to Haven, says the mages can power up this thing." He looked at his hand. Loghain could barely see a green glow, but it was there.

"Yeah, powering up something we barely understand would never come back to bite us on the ass," Alistair mumbled.

"We're not going to let you go alone, Duran." Loghain wasn't going to brook any arguments on that point and none were given. "Well, at least not in Ferelden."

"Good!" The Paragon laughed. "To tell you the truth, I'm not looking forward to going into other countries after we finish with Ferelden. Orzammar isn't going to let me back in pretty soon, I've been gone so long."

"I wonder if any rifts have occurred underground." Gorim sat to Duran's right. He was a level-headed dwarf and good friend to Duran.

"I'll get with Alman to see if we can put together an expedition through the Deep Roads for you to go with." Alistair sat back in his chair. "The wardens have reported clearing out twenty-seven broodmothers so far. A quick run through the cleared areas should give us an idea if any portals have shown up down there. It's still part of Ferelden … sort of."

Varric cleared his throat and everyone turned to look at him. "I, uh, have some news on the Deep Roads front … and it's not good." Varric reached into his pack and unfolded a map. "This is a copy of one of the maps Duran brought with him originally." He pointed to the areas where Duran had marked that he explored during his exile. "You got through most of this … and you almost reached a downward passage here." He pointed to a location just off the map. Varric sighed. "That passage leads to an old thaig, a very old thaig. Old enough to have been the site of those original dwarf/dragon experiments … maybe." Loghain was surprised that Varric looked so nervous.

Duran's interest was definitely roused. "How old? And, you know there are tales told all the time that never pan out to be true." He looked at the map and then pointed to it. "But, this is where I found some old stone etchings about the creation of broodmothers. It's close to that downward passage."

"Yeah, this tale is true." Varric looked to Alistair. "Remember, I told you once that the reason the Hawke family and I came to Ferelden was because an expedition fell through, seeing as the Archdemon fled to the Deep Roads … we think?"

"Yes, I recall you said your brother had to put the expedition on hold and he was insufferable, so you came along with the Hawkes." Alistair narrowed his eyes a bit. Looked to Loghain like he also was fearing he wouldn't like what Varric was about to report.

"Well, since the Archdemon hadn't made a reappearance yet, my brother needed to recoup the money he'd already spent on the expedition." Varric cleared his throat again and took a drink from his glass.

"He didn't go ahead anyway, did he?" Loghain had begrudgingly started to respect the dwarf. He hoped his brother wasn't an idiot.

"Not exactly." Varric sat down.

"What exactly did he do, Tethras?!" Duran stood.

Varric took a deep breath and, without taking another breath, said quickly, "He sold the location to the Carta. They found it. They found something there. Red lyrium. Red lyrium is to lyrium as a lizard is to a dragon."

"Maker's Breath." Teagan ran his hand through his hair.

"They sold it to the Templars in Kirkwall. Made them stronger … and crazier. The stuff is growing all over Kirkwall now. The city guard destroys whatever they find, but more just keeps popping up." A knock on the door announcing dinner gave Varric a brief respite. Once the food had been served and the servants excused, he noticed no one was eating.

Duran looked thoughtful. "There were red spikes at the Temple in Haven. Was that red lyrium?"

"We thought it was just an overheated ore of some kind from the explosion," Gorim added. "It's all over the place now. We've even seen it around the rifts here in Ferelden."

Varric took another deep breath. "The Carta was there at the Temple … selling their 'new and improved' lyrium to the Templars."

"I'm killing your brother if I ever see him, just so you know, Varric." Duran shook his head. "There are enough idiot dwarf children as it is. I don't want him to make any more."

Varric laughed. "Hey, I'll hold him down while you do it, Paragon."

"If I hadn't already destroyed one of your glasses, Teagan." Alistair held up his empty brandy glass. "This one would be heading there now."

Teagan took the glass from Alistair and threw it himself. "I'd rather be throwing Varric's brother in the … I guess it would be lava in Orzammar, yes?"

"He'd die too fast if we just threw him in whole," Gorim mumbled.

"Enough." Loghain didn't yell that, but it was a close thing. "We need to come up with a plan to rid Ferelden of it." Loghain turned his icy glare on Varric, who obliged by cringing a bit. "How do we destroy it safely?"

"I have it on good authority, that the spikes have to be dissolved and my source gave me a formula that would do it. Easy to find stuff. Then, burn the area where the spike was. Get the Templars to quit taking it and the market goes away. The Carta loses interest." Varric downed his brandy.

"What good authority?" Loghain drawled.

"A, uh, friend in the Carta." When it looked like Duran may jump up and throttle the messenger, Varric added. "She's as horrified as I am!"

Teagan went to the door and asked the guard to find the Arlessa and request her presence. Then, he turned back to the group. "Let me see that formula, Varric. Gwen knows something about … these sorts of things." As if she'd been waiting around the corner, Gwen entered the room and closed the door. "Ah! Here she is." Teagan's smile for his wife was sincere and hers was tinged with a bit of anger. Loghain guessed she was put out that she wasn't invited to this meeting from the start. "My dear, we've come across an issue that could use your learned eye."

"I see." Gwen was warring with herself. Loghain could see that as he was certain all the men in the room, save perhaps Teagan, could see. She took a deep breath and looked at the list. "What are you trying to dissolve?" After Varric caught her up, Gwen's anger only spiked. "Damnable stupid Templars!" She held up her hand to forestall any conversation for a moment. Loghain listened to the crackling of the fire in the fireplace. They must have replaced on the flues because the updraft was … Gwen grabbed his attention back. "These are common minerals and powders, but they must be kept separate until you're about to use them or they become ineffective."

Varric frowned. "She didn't mention that part."

"Because she's in the Carta, Varric. They always leave something out and want you to pay for a fix later!" Duran was up and pacing.

Varric only opened his mouth to say something and then wisely shut it.

"There are a couple of these red spikes outside the village. We could try it out and refine the procedure before we send men out to dissolve the rest. Once we're certain of the procedure, we can get word to the other landholders." Gwen was calm. "This will work, Teagan, as long as the Templars don't track more of the stuff here." With deadly calm, she added, "I recommend we execute any unusual looking Templars on sight and dissolve them as well, followed by burning the residue. It is the only way to stop the apparent spread."

Loghain and Teagan looked at each other as the older man said, "We need to collect any of the bodies already killed and take care of it immediately."

Teagan took out a parchment and began to write down a list of men. Gwen took the parchment away from him. "I'll take care of this, Teagan. You men go on with your meeting."

And, Teagan still didn't catch on. Alistair stood. "Arlessa, please stay for the rest of our debrief." He threw Teagan a frustrated look. "Arl Teagan may wish to protect you from all the sordid details, but your insight may prove to be invaluable."

Teagan started to argue, but, fortunately got the gist of the situation. "Uh, yes, please, my dear, please forgive me for asking you to …"

Gwen frowned and then laughed, stepped up to Teagan and put her hand on the side of his face. "Teagan, I'm not a delicate flower. One of these days, you'll believe that." She raised an eyebrow. "Really, though, husband, even the king recognized I wished to be included and the Queen tells me that he's usually the last man in Thedas to understand things female."

That cracked up everyone at the table. Even Duran stopped his pacing to grin. "So, the Arlessa is in charge of sending out teams to dissolve the red lyrium and the infected crazy Templars. Me, Loghain, Solas, a bunch of mages and Gorim are going to head back to Haven to close the sodding Breach. Then, we'll double back to finish up closing the rifts in Ferelden and the Deep Roads." He put his hands on his hips. "We're going to have to recognize this 'Inquisition' or destroy it. Anything else will give it credibility we may not want it to have."

Loghain leaned back in his chair with a smirk on his face. "You're their 'Herald of Andraste'. I think you should insist on being the Inquisitor." Before Duran could slug him, Loghain added, "It's the only way for you to keep control over what they're doing."

"The title 'Inquisitor' is better than the Stone-forsaken 'Herald of Andraste'." Gorim had a way of putting things that seemed to calm the Paragon down.

"What are the rest of you going to do in the meantime?" Duran looked at Alistair.

"We're going to stay vigilant for the Archdemon's return." Alistair dropped his head in his hands. "We also need to prepare for some kind of retribution from Fiona and her new best friends in Tevinter." He looked back at Duran. "You'll need to make sure all the Inquisition people have the blood magic tattoo. No exceptions. One thing we cannot afford is the mess we had in Denerim spreading all over Thedas."

"You need to insist on order, Paragon." Loghain got up and poured himself yet another brandy … and he was beginning to feel it. "This chaos must end. It is what these 'rebel' mages want. That blood mage Decimus started it by blowing up the Kirkwall Chantry. It is what the darkspawn want. Even though these renegade Seekers and Templars say they want order, they do not." He sighed. "And, chaos is what the remaining Chantry officials want."

Alistair frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Loghain sat and took a long drink. He knew this had to be his last brandy. "Because Alistair … the mage rebellion leaders and the Templar leaders weren't at the Conclave. They don't benefit from more chaos. They've already instigated all the chaos they need. The Carta …" Loghain growled that part at Varric. "… wouldn't profit by destroying their market." He looked directly at Alistair. "The only people who benefit directly from the death of Divine Justinia were the Grand Clerics who weren't important enough to attend. And, as a rule, Grand Clerics are never afraid to use powerful magic when it benefits them."

"Shit." Varric sighed. "He's right. They have a motive that most people wouldn't even consider."

"That means the end of the Chantry, Loghain. If it can be proven." Teagan was horrified, but even he wasn't jumping to the Chantry's defense.

Duran turned toward the fireplace. "By the Stone, you're right, Loghain. Inquisitor Duran. I carry the only way to close the Breach." He turned to face the group with a smile and held up his hand with the green glow. "Given to me by Andraste herself! Witnessed by the faithful as I descended from their Maker's side! There is only one person who can end the chaos … me." He laughed at the solemn looks around the table. "I guess that was a bit over the top. I'll have to work on it on my way to close the Breach."

Gorim chuckled. "Yeah, I think I'd try the unassuming, modest hero thing that got you Paragon."

Duran frowned at Gorim and then chuckled. "Only you can by with that lip, Gorim, but you're right." He winked at the group. "That's what worked before."

"So, we leave in the morning?" Alistair asked.

"I think you and Varric need to go back to Denerim, Alistair." Loghain gave the young king a look that said, and I will brook no refusals. "You need to get that network up and running. We're going to need quick and reliable communications with the Paragon if he's going to make this work. And, you need to be an active liaison with the wardens. Maker help Aveline. You need to be there to make decisions when news comes in from Weisshaupt or Maker forbid, an Archdemon sighting. Denerim is on the other side of Ferelden from the Inquisition and we need a decision maker there. Need I go on?"

Gwen smiled. "And, you need to play with your son and kiss your wife."

That made Alistair smile. "She'll be cross with me if I don't do the kingly thing, you know. Varric might make me eat raspberry pudding." He scrunched up his face.

"Only for a few minutes … until you tell her all the things that Teryn Loghain just listed off." Varric was signing off on Loghain's plan. It was a surprising thing. Maybe this was so confusing that even the infuriatingly nosey dwarf didn't want to be involved.

"Or, until you kiss her." Gwen squeezed Teagan's arm. Loghain could tell Teagan was finally getting it when he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

Alistair sat quietly for a moment and then nodded. "All right. Varric and I will head back to Denerim with Maric's Shield. I'll keep up with warden affairs and let Loghain know if and when he and I need to don our warden tabards once again." He looked at Duran. "The Inquisitor, along with Solas, Loghain and Gorim will head back to Haven with a group of mages to close the Breach and take over the world." He smiled warmly at Gwen. "Arlessa Gwen will coordinate the destruction of red lyrium on Ferelden lands and Teagan will command the groups that go out for that. Have I forgotten anything?"

Loghain looked at his son-in-law fondly. "You will play with Gareth and kiss Anora. Tell them Graffer will be back as soon as he can."

"So, we have a plan." Alistair downed his brandy, sat back in his chair, and took a deep breath. "Yep, time for the Archdemon to show up."

AN: Thank you very much for all reviews, favorites and follows! Have a terrific week and I'll see you next Sunday!