Alistair looked over the assembled nobles. Jesin and Bromlin were making note of any who were in town that hadn't shown up. He was pleased to see they were all here. He was surprised when he saw both Cousland brothers as he was sure they wouldn't leave Isla alone and he hadn't expected them to. They glared at him as he looked at them. He felt a weight settle over him. She wasn't going to be coming back to him.
He turned to address the assembly. He pulled a cloak of calmness around him and tried to think of the pointers Isla had been giving him about dealing with the nobles. The main thing would be not to show the discomfort he felt. He summoned his anger over the things that had happened and used it to drive away his fear of doing the wrong thing. He would make Isla proud even if she wouldn't be here to see it.
"Nobles of Ferelden. I have called you all here to bear witness to the crimes of these three brought before you. I also have called you here because there are going to be changes made. But most importantly I need to apologize to the Cousland's for I have wronged them greatly. I wish that the one I had injured the most was present, but I hope that her brothers will hear me out." Alistair took a breath and continued. "The ball last night was to announce my engagement to Isla Cousland." He paused as the crowd murmured in confusion. "She had lost her memories when she fell escaping from Howe's men. She rescued me from a band of darkspawn who killed off my guards. She brought me back and served as my guard as she recovered her memories. I fell in love with her and asked her to marry me. Last night should have been a happy night for me, but I was a fool and believed the lies of Arl Eamon over what I knew to be true. He accused her of having an affair with my guard, Zevran. I had Zevran locked in the dungeons and refused to listen to his pleas that Isla was in danger. And because of this, she fell into the hands of this vile man here. He raped and beat her for two days before her brothers and I were able to rescue her. His plan was not simply to take my bride. It was part of an assassination plot by the former queen, Anora. She promised him he would be king if he helped her kill me. They planned to lure me into a trap and frame Isla with my death. This other man beside them was a member of my guards. He was hired by Eamon to get rid of Isla." He heard the crowd gasp and look over at Eamon who was watching him pale and horrified.
"Alistair, I didn't know what they had planned. I just wanted him to stop you from marrying her. That is why I came up with the plan to use a mage to knock them out and put them in bed together. If I had known that they were going to use her to get to you…or what they would do to her…I never would have done it. I just had to stop her from corrupting you." Eamon pleaded.
"She didn't corrupt me, Eamon. She helped me. She made me see things differently and gave me the courage to be a king. You didn't like the fact that you were no longer my only advisor. I know that you didn't know about Guyan's involvement in the assassination attempt. That is the only reason you are not in chains with them. That being said, you are hereby stripped of the title regent and I am banishing you back to Redcliffe where you will resume your role of arl there. But know that I am watching you. If you do not prove to be the good leader you once were, I will remove your title completely." Alistair turned away from him and looked back at the crowds. "Now on to the matter of Anora's terynship. I strip you of all your titles, land, and wealth. You are a traitor to your land and your king." Alistair said glaring at Anora.
"You are not my king. You could never live up to your father or mine." Anora sneered at him.
"You're right. I am not my father or brother, and most thankfully, I am nothing like your father. I will rule this land as best I can. I love Ferelden and it's people and I want only to serve them." Alistair said glaring at her before turning to Teagan who was beside his brother. "I hereby grant the titles, land, and wealth to a man most worthy of it. Teagan, step forward and accept your reward." Teagan looked up at Alistair in shock.
"Me, your Majesty?" Teagan asked.
"Yes, you. You have ruled as regent of Redcliffe very well. You have proven time after time that you are wise and listen to all sides before reacting. You fought in the front lines in the battle against the darkspawn. You will make a good and reliable teryn. I ask you if you would return after you have secured your area and act as my regent."
"I would be honored, my king." Teagan said bowing to Alistair and moving back.
Alistair nodded and turned to Bann Alfstanna. "Bann Alfstanna, please step forward." She looked at him confused and moved forward. "You have proven yourself a good and loyal friend. I would like to reward you for you loyalty. I hereby award you the title of Arlessa of Denerim." Vaughan protested, but a blow from Bromlin silenced him. Alistair continued. "I would ask that you continue in your residency you have now in Denerim. I will provide a new house to your replacement as Bann."
"Thank you, your Majesty. I would much rather stay in my own home."
"Shianni, Elder of the Alienage, step forward." Alistair said and watched as Shianni nervously moved out of the crowd. He smiled at her. "Shianni, I am doing something that is long overdue. I am hereby naming you Bann of the Alienage. From now on it is a land recognized as a banning. I am also awarding the elves the estate formerly belonging to Vaughan. I would recommend tearing it down and rebuilding as you wished, but I will leave it up to you." The crowd murmured and though Alistair could see some were angry about it, most were approving.
"Thank you, your Majesty. I will strive to prove ourselves worthy of your faith in us." Shianni said and bowed before moving back.
"Now then, that only leaves one last Bann to promote. Ser Gilmore, step forward." Alistair watched as the red haired man stepped forward and looked at him with a mix of confusion and anger.
"I hereby give you the lands that were formerly Bann Alfstanna's."
"May I ask why, your Majesty?" Gilmore asked watching Alistair.
"It is a reward for your faithful service to first the Cousland's then the Guerrin's. You will make a good Bann, I am sure."
"Thank you, your Majesty." He said and bowed as he moved back to Fergus' side.
"Now then, does anyone have anything to add or any objection to my decisions?" Alistair asked and watched as the crowd looked around.
"We do not, your Majesty. Execute them." Arlessa Alfstanna said. The others agreed quickly.
"Then it shall be carried out today. Guards take them away." Alistair said and looked to the Cousland's. "I am sorry for the horrible things I said to you both and about your sister. She is far to good for the likes of me. Even so, I would still ask for the right to marry her."
Aedan choked in rage, but Fergus laid a hand on his shoulder. "Your Majesty, we will not tell her what to do in this matter. Her life is her own to choose. But she isn't well right now. Let us take her home. Give her time to recover and then if she wishes to see you, we will arrange it."
"I…understand." Alistair said knowing that he had lost his chance with her. He dismissed the rest of the nobles and went to join the executions. Aedan joined him and glared at him.
"You hurt her." He snapped at him.
"I know. I just couldn't accept that she could love me." Alistair said feeling small.
"You are such an idiot." Aedan said but he clapped his hand on Alistair's shoulder. "I don't envy you trying to win her back, but I won't stand in your way like I planned on." Aedan looked at the three kneeling before them. "I ask a favor."
"Anything." Alistair said looking at him surprised. He hadn't expected Aedan to ever forgive him. What Alistair didn't know was that Aedan hadn't forgiven him. He just didn't want to cause Isla more pain. And after her crying for Alistair in her sleep, Aedan knew that she still loved him.
"I want to be the one who kills Vaughan and the guard." Aedan looked at them coldly.
"As you wish. Would you also like to kill Anora?" Alistair offered. "She says she picked Isla as a way to punish you. She knew what Vaughan would do to her." Alistair didn't want to be the one to kill her. As much as he wanted them dead, he didn't have the stomach to execute Anora. He wished he could kill Vaughan himself, but he owed this to Aedan. Aedan had allowed Alistair the right to fight and then execute Loghain all those years ago.
Aedan raised his eyebrow at him, but nodded. "As my king commands." Alistair felt his heart break as he thought off all the times Isla had said the exact same thing to him. He watched as Aedan killed the three. He killed Anora and Guyan quickly and cleanly, but he made Vaughan's last. Alistair felt sick, but couldn't really fault him with it. The man had treated Isla worse than an animal. Alistair turned and left heading for the children. He needed to see their innocence to cleanse him of the taint of all this vileness.