Chapter 36: Revelations in Orzammar
"Allow me entry at once! King Loghain demands the allegiance of your deshyrs and as his messenger I demand to be allowed in to speak with the assembly!" a rather angry warrior shouted as he faced the dwarven guards responsible for protecting the entrance to Orzammar.
"As I told you before human, no one gets inside right now." the agitated guard replied.
"So Loghain has anointed himself king now has he?" Daylen asked casually as he and his friends approached the scene.
"Oh look, another one of his mindless bootlickers!" Elissa added derisively.
"Y-You!" the Loghain messenger stammered.
"Pardon us, we have business here." Daylen replied as he strolled past Loghain's messenger and his entourage. "The Grey Wardens have a treaty with Orzammar that obliges you to aid us." he explained as he presented the treaty to the guard.
"This is indeed the royal seal, but I'm afraid Orzammar has no king to honor this treaty." the guard replied.
"What?! What do you mean?" Duran shouted.
"King Endrin returned to the stone not long ago, sick over the loss of his sons. The assembly is now deadlocked over who should take his place." the guard explained solemnly.
"Dammit!" Duran said as he dropped to his knees. Natia was quick to wrap her arms around him as he muttered curses about Bhelen under his breath.
"The only ones who can settle this treaty matter are the assembly, wardens you're welcome to enter though I doubt you'll find the help you seek." the guard said obligingly.
"Hold on a minute! The wardens are traitors responsible for the king's death! You can't allow them to pass and ignore me! I am Loghain's messenger and I demand that you execute these stains on Ferelden's honor!" the messenger yelled.
Daylen simply approached the man and stood face to face with him. "Do you really want to do this?" he asked coldly.
"I-I am Loghain's messenger! You don't frighten me!" he responded nervously. "My men and I will stand our ground for the glory of King Loghain!"
"And what men would those be?" Daylen asked sarcastically.
The messenger then turned around to find that his companions had already been slain by a pair of elves, one who wore a grin and was wielding a pair of daggers while the other had a scowl on his face and a long sword and dagger in each hand.
"You idiots never learn, do you?" Daylen added before blasting the hapless messenger with a crushing prison spell.
"You have my thanks wardens, that fool Imrek was barking here for a week. Are all humans so touched in the head? Anyway, as I said before you can pass but mind your actions. Orzammar isn't exactly stable at the moment." the guard said before allowing them to pass into the entrance hall of the great dwarven city.
As they made their way inside, they immediately took notice of the giant statues that lined the hall. "The paragons, living ancestors." Duran said as they all examined the immense tributes.
"Duran, listen, I'm sorry about your father." Daylen said quietly as his dwarven friend stared at one of the statues.
"We all are." Aedan added.
"It's alright. I had a feeling that this was coming when I was first imprisoned. Whether Father died of sorrow or something more insidious, it still goes back to Bhelen." Duran replied angrily.
They all fell silent once more and began making their way to the entrance to the Orzammar Commons. As they entered, they bore witness to a heated exchange between the infamous Bhelen Aeducan, Duran's manipulative and traitorous younger brother, and Lord Pyral Harrowmont. Before the scene could unfold any further, Duran suddenly bolted ahead of the group.
"BHELEN!" he roared as he stormed into the center of the commons. The look on his brother's face was definitely worth it in Daylen's opinion, he was literally seeing a ghost. As Duran came to a stop between Bhelen and Harrowmont's groups he quickly locked eyes with his younger brother and fixed him with a glare that could've killed a demon of fright. "Well...aren't you going to welcome me home, brother?" he said as his voice quivered with fury.
"Duran, w-what the h-Someone restrain him!" Bhelen demanded.
"For what? Greeting his backstabbing brethren?" Daylen quipped as he entered the scene, his staff ready in his right hand and a ball of arcane energy ready in his left. Elissa and Natia were right behind him with their weapons drawn and the others weren't far behind. The sight of over a dozen warriors, four of whom were mages, and an eager mabari were more than enough to give anyone who'd considered obeying Bhelen pause.
"Duran? What is the meaning of this? Why have you returned?" Lord Harrowmont asked.
"He's here as a Grey Warden, we all are in fact." Daylen replied.
"Wardens? I see now. Duran, I'm glad. We should speak later in private, for now I think we've all caused enough of a scene." Harrowmont said before leading his men away as Bhelen did the same, but not before staring back at Duran ominously.
"Well, that was one hell of a way to introduce ourselves." Daylen joked.
"I'm sorry Daylen, but the moment I saw him...it was no excuse though. We have a Blight to worry about and my personal issues shouldn't interfere." Duran said apologetically.
"Don't worry about it Duran. Your brother would've likely flipped anyway once he realized that you were actually alive and a warden." Daylen replied casually.
"So what do we do now? Should we go and see that Harrowmont guy?" Darrian asked.
"Not just yet. I want to gather some information and look around for a bit." Daylen replied as he surveyed the commons.
"Prince Duran!" a female voice suddenly shouted. As the party turned they noticed a dark haired young woman dressed in high class attire approaching them.
"Nerav?" Duran replied.
"Prince Duran, thank the stone! When I heard what Bhelen and the assembly did to you...and now you've returned to us." she said as tears began to form in her eyes.
"Nerav, I'm fine. I can't say it's been easy, but I'm alive and that's enough to spite Bhelen right now." Duran replied in a slightly angry tone.
"You gonna introduce us to your friend handsome?" Natia interjected as she eyed the woman suspiciously.
"Um, yeah. This is Nerav Helmi. She was-"
"I was a potential match for Prince Duran. King Endrin picked me himself." she said proudly.
"Well goody for you." Natia replied scathingly.
As the two women began to stare at each other coldly Duran decided to break up the tension. "Nerav, can you tell us what the hell is going on? Please tell me Bhelen isn't a candidate for the throne."
"I'm afraid he is and ancestors help us if he gets voted in. Lord Harrowmont has been his only opposition. After you were banished to the Deep Roads, Bhelen started seizing control over everything while poor King Endrin lied dying of a broken heart. I'm sure that he didn't actually believe that you killed Prince Trian, most people didn't including Lord Harrowmont. But everyone is either too afraid of Bhelen or on his payroll. Lord Harrowmont is the only one opposing him, I've heard that he promised your father that he'd do everything in his power to prevent Bhelen from taking the throne before he died." Nerav explained.
"Damn you Bhelen." Duran muttered angrily.
"Prince Duran, I'm glad to see you alive, it goes without saying that I never doubted your innocence either." Nerav added warmly.
"Nerav, I appreciate the sentiment but you don't have to address me with a title anymore. My name has been torn from the Aeducan family records and erased from the memories. I'm merely a phantom now, so I don't deserve your courtesy.
"Only because of Bhelen! And I don't care what the assembly says!" Nerav responded defiantly.
There was silence for a moment before the young woman spoke once more. "Why exactly have you returned? Revenge?"
"I'm a Grey Warden now and my friends and I have come to gain the support that we need to face a Blight. If I happen to get a bit of vengeance along the way though, I won't complain." Duran explained.
"A Blight! This is terrible news and now of all times! With things as they are now, you won't be able to make much progress. Your best chance for assistance would be Lord Harrowmont." Nerav replied.
"I agree. Nerav it was good to see you again and thank you for filling us in on what's been going on." Duran said graciously.
"Prince Duran, please be careful." Nerav replied in a concerned tone before departing for the Diamond Quarter.
"It looks like all signs are pointing to Lord Harrowmont." Aedan commented after Nerav left.
"True, but when have I ever traveled the beaten path?" Daylen joked.
"What do you mean? You aren't actually considering paying Bhelen a visit are you?" Elissa asked incredulously.
"Not even remotely." Daylen replied seriously. "But I do want to do some snooping. Leliana would you kindly come with me for awhile? I want the rest of you to wait for us at the local tavern."
The others exchanged a few confused glances before parting ways with Daylen and Leliana. Several hours later, Daylen reappeared with Leliana at Tapster's Tavern. Leliana was wearing a new set of armor, the Shadow of the Empire while Daylen was sporting a new ring, the Lifegiver.
"Please tell me you didn't just waste time doing a bunch of shopping?" Elissa asked angrily.
"See what I mean, no subtlety whatsoever." Daylen mused.
"It must run in the family." Leliana replied before giggling as she glanced at Aedan.
"We did in fact do a bit of shopping. You'd be surprised how loose lipped the local merchants can get when you're dropping a few sovereigns and a charmingly lovely bard is working her magic." Daylen said as he grinned at Leliana.
"You don't say?" Elissa replied in a slightly irritable tone.
"Oh yes, we were able to learn quite a bit about good Prince Bhelen and the illustrious Lord Harrowmont. We also paid a visit to the shaperate. I have to say the history of Orzammar is quite fascinating." Daylen replied casually.
"Daylen, what the hell does any of this have to do with the task at hand? In case you hadn't noticed my brother is plotting to seize control of Orzammar while we're trying to get help to fight the Blight!" Duran said angrily.
"It has everything to with the task at hand. Whoever ends up on the throne will be the one deciding whether or not they'll honor the treaty." Daylen replied seriously. "Bhelen is a scumbag through and through. His ultimate goal is the throne and he's willing to use any means at his disposal to get it. There are also all kinds of rumors about how he may have had a hand in your father's death. With everything that he's done, I wouldn't trust his word for a minute."
"So then we're back to Harrowmont right?" Neria asked.
"Not necessarily, Neria. By all accounts, Harrowmont is an honorable guy and I'm fairly certain that he'd honor the treaty. But he's also a traditionalist and an inflexible one at that. We're going to need as many soldiers as possible to throw at the Blight and I don't think the warriors at Orzammar's disposal are going to be enough. We're going to need the casteless in addition to the warrior caste and I don't see Harrowmont enacting such a policy. Basically, I have no intention of appealing to either Bhelen or Harrowmont and I'm certainly not going to support either of their claims for the throne." Daylen explained.
There was a stunned silence as the others mulled over what Daylen had just told them.
"Then what the hell are you proposing we do here Daylen?" Aedan finally asked.
"It's simple really. I intend to put my own candidate own the throne." Daylen said in a matter of fact tone before facing Duran. "One of my best friends actually." he added as he grinned.
There was once again a stunned silence. "Daylen...are you insane? I don't exist, remember? I'm a disgrace and my honor has been forfeit. There's also the fact that I'm no king, I mean what the sodding hell?" Duran replied in an exasperated tone.
"I've heard how you talk about Orzammar Duran. You love this place, but you also feel that it has to change if it's going to survive and I agree. You've said plenty of times in the past how the casteless should be given a chance and trade with surface expanded. So the question now is, do you have the balls to make this place better yourself? Or are you content to just sit on the sidelines while someone else drags it further into the dark ages and possible extinction?" Daylen asked seriously.
Duran could barely fathom all of the thoughts that were going through his head at the moment. As he sat contemplating everything Daylen was proposing the others began to voice their opinions.
"Are you sure we can even pull this off if he agrees?" Aedan asked.
"Convincing Harrowmont to lend his support would be the first step. His main motivation is preventing Bhelen from gaining control, but I'm not convinced that he hasn't been tempted by the throne himself." Daylen replied.
"What about those assembly bastards? Aren't they the reason Duran was exiled in the first place?" Darrian asked angrily.
"We'll have to work on 'persuading' some of them to see reason." Daylen replied.
"Daylen, how long have you been planning this?" Elissa asked.
"Probably as long as you suspect. Wardens are supposed to be neutral, but given the fact that a Blight is bearing down on us, I think we can get a pass here. Duran's the only guy I trust to handle things here, if he's willing that is." Daylen said before once again turning to Duran. "Of course, if you'd prefer it, we could simply help Harrowmont and be on our way once he's crowned. It's your choice Duran."
But Duran had already made up his mind. Daylen was insane, but it worked for him. He was right, they needed Orzammar and right now Orzammar needed him.
"Alright Daylen, let's go for it." Duran finally said.
There was applause among their friends after he responded. "So what finally convinced you?" Natia asked after kissing him.
"You did. I remember you saying something along the lines of 'So basically, you think Orzammar needs to change, but you don't want to be the one who does it? What a lovely line of thinking' back when we first met. You were right, I wanted things to change but I didn't want to be the one who worked for it. But things are different now and so am I." Duran replied resolutely.
"Well that's good to hear. It'd be a real shame if I was supporting a spineless nug-humper. Did I get that right Natia?" Daylen joked.
"Close enough!" she laughed before they all left the tavern and began making their way to the Diamond Quarter.
"I still don't know how you plan to pull this off." Aedan remarked as they made their way through the commons.
"I am certain that there is a method to his madness." Theron replied calmly.
"It's not as hopeless as you may think. I had a really enlightening conversation with a scholar in the shaperate named Gertek, who happens to be a really big fan of yours Duran." Daylen said as he glanced at the dwarven warrior. "He sends his regards by the way. He's convinced of your innocence and has been spreading word of all the inconsistencies in your trial and Bhelen's alleged corruption. I have a feeling that if he didn't have so many wealthy and well connected patrons, he'd be pretty much dead right now."
"So what did this Gertek have to say?" Neria asked.
"Well, Duran is pretty much a dead man walking as far as Orzammar is concerned, but there is one person who could overturn that and completely restore his name and honor." Daylen replied.
"Who?" the twins asked in unison.
"A Paragon." Daylen replied.
"Aren't they all dead?" Darrian asked.
"No, there is one living Paragon who was named such awhile back." Daylen replied as he struggled to remember the woman's name.
"Branka." Duran said while shaking his head.
"I've heard rumors about her. Sodding brilliant but completely unbalanced." Natia remarked.
"Who is she?" Neria asked.
"Branka was a brilliant smith, possibly the greatest the caste ever produced. She was also the only paragon named in the last four generations. She was named Paragon after she invented a smokeless coal that allowed the smith caste to increase their output by a third and decrease deaths from black-lung. But two years ago she took her entire house into the Deep Roads to look for some old relic or something and she hasn't been seen or heard from since." Duran explained.
"Great, just great. I really hope we can settle this without having to resort to searching the damn Deep Roads for a woman who's likely dead." Aedan remarked sardonically.
"Well, I'm certainly not looking forward to scouring a bunch of old thaigs for a mad woman who decided to go treasure hunting, but according to some of the information that Leliana and I gathered she had a huge escort and plenty of supplies. We heard they could've held out for quite awhile if they managed to avoid being killed by darkspawn." Daylen explained.
"It's not really worth mentioning anyway, we have no idea where she went or what she was after." Duran added.
"True, but I'd wager that Harrowmont and Bhelen do. I'll be sure to ask nicely once we get to Harrowmont's." Daylen joked.
As the group entered the Diamond Quarter they were immediately met by a young woman who was holding a baby.
"Um, can we help you miss?" Aedan asked.
"No, but your friend can. I think it's about time he met his son." she replied sternly as she stared at a very astonished Duran.
"Oh boy." Daylen said sympathetically as he watched a furious Natia dash off after leaving a handprint on the side of Duran's face.
As Natia bolted through the quarter she was suddenly aware of someone calling her name. At first she thought it was one of her friends, but then she recognized it as a voice she hadn't heard in almost a year.
"Rica?" she asked as she came to a stop.
Standing outside of the royal palace was her older sister, beaming at her.
"Natia! I thought that was you!" she said excitedly as she ran over and embraced her younger sister.
After separating, the two sisters began walking the quarter and catching up. "So you're actually a Grey Warden now? I should've known you'd find a way to get to them." Rica said as she surveyed her sister.
"And what about you? I'm guessing your 'friend' was the real deal then." she teased.
"He is, actually I should probably let you meet your nephew soon." she replied while smiling.
"Then, that means-"
"Mother and I now reside in the palace! Isn't that wonderful?" Rica said happily.
"Wait, the palace? Exactly who is this guy, Rica?" she asked apprehensively.
"Prince Bhelen Aeducan, the future king of Orzammar." she replied with a smile.
"Sod it all." Natia replied under her breath as she fell to her knees. The ancestors were cruel indeed.