Chapter 37: Wardens Divided
"Let's just get one thing straight, right here and now. I don't like you and I never will. I'm only here for Rica's sake." Natia said seriously as she faced Prince Bhelen.
"Good, no false platitudes, strictly business." Bhelen responded. "My dear brother and his friends have begun to complicate my plans and I understand you can help offset some of their actions."
"First of all, I want your assurance that once I put you on the throne you'll give me the soldiers I need." Natia replied.
"You have my word." Bhelen said as he stared at Natia.
Natia glared at him for a moment before continuing. "The first thing you should know is that Daylen is your biggest threat."
"He's the mage who rushed to Duran's defense, correct?" Bhelen asked as he began pacing behind his desk.
"Yeah, that's him. Don't even bother trying to face him in a straight up fight, he's definitely one of the most powerful mages in Ferelden, maybe even Thedas. And don't be fooled by that cavalier attitude of his, he's a master tactician and is probably already plotting how to bring you down, hard." Natia explained.
"It's a shame we couldn't come to some sort of agreement. I could have used someone like him." Bhelen lamented.
"Yeah, I'll bet. There's no way Daylen or any of the others would ever help you. We all know what you did to Duran." Natia replied bitterly.
"I did what was necessary to remove the obstacles to my reign. And YOU'RE here, so why don't you continue filling me in on your friends?" Bhelen responded in an amused tone.
Natia could feel her skin crawling, but she had to do what was necessary. "We've all stepped in it now, haven't we Daylen?" she thought to herself.
Inside Lord Harrowmont's estate a rather heated exchange was taking place between several of the young wardens and their friends.
"Just say it! You agree with Aedan don't you!" Elissa shouted as she faced Daylen.
"I haven't said anything and I'd like to stress the fact that I don't plan to either." Daylen replied calmly.
News of Duran's new bundle of joy had created quite a stir among the group. Apparently, a tryst he had months ago with a noble hunter had resulted in a son. Unfortunately, Duran's exile meant that the child was currently casteless, a rather infuriating outcome for the child's mother, Mardy. As if that weren't enough to contend with, Natia was still missing and the girls were equally pissed on her behalf.
"Just ignore her Daylen. Like I said before, you can't blame Duran for something that happened almost a year ago." Aedan said sternly.
"Dammit Aedan!" Daylen thought to himself.
"Boys will be boys, is that it? And what about Natia? With all of her issues with trusting people and then this happens! How can you stand there and defend him?" Elissa shot back angrily.
"He could at least try to find her and explain things. I can only imagine what Natia must be thinking." Neria added with slight tone of irritability.
"It's not Duran's fault that she ran off before he could explain things." Darrian replied defiantly.
The bickering continued for several minutes until Theron entered the room. "He's at Tapster's and I don't believe that he'll be leaving anytime soon."
When Daylen anticipated the turmoil that they'd be facing after entering Orzammar, this was not on his list of concerns. One bit of good news was the fact that Lord Harrowmont had agreed to lend Duran his support, but only if he could successfully restore his name and honor. A task that the wardens would have to attend to themselves. Meanwhile, they'd been doing what they could to strengthen Harrowmont's position and weaken Bhelen's, which included fighting in his name at the provings. Unfortunately, their hard work amounted to nothing more than a continued stalemate after someone managed to convince two of Harrowmont's most powerful supporters that he'd promised each the same portion of land. Worse yet, Daylen had a feeling that he knew who it was...
"Alright Theron, I'll go and get him." Daylen replied. "And a friendly word of warning, tread lightly around the girls." he added in a whisper before leaving as Theron nodded his agreement.
As Daylen made his way into the tavern, he immediately noticed his rather despondent friend sitting alone at a table in the corner.
"Well, at least you aren't wasted." Daylen joked as he approached.
"Daylen, what the hell am I going to do? A son, a struggle for the throne, Natia..." Duran trailed off.
Daylen took a seat and started to consider the situation. "It's one hell of a mess, I'll give you that. The way I see it, once we restore your status, that'll take care of things with your son. As for being a father, well I'm sorry, I can't give you any pointers there. But you're a good guy Duran, I don't have any reason to believe that you won't be a great dad. As for Natia, well once we find her I'll help explain things. Honestly, I don't think Natia would just walk away from what you have." Daylen explained.
"She might, if she had a good enough reason." a familiar voice cut in.
As they both turned around, they were greeted with the familiar form of Natia standing before them.
"Natia!" Duran exclaimed.
"Nice to see you. It would've been nice if you'd contacted us to let everyone know that you're alright. Elissa and Neria have been on a warpath sent you disappeared." Daylen responded casually.
"Natia, listen I-"
"I don't want to hear it dammit! Just tell me one thing, is that really your kid?" she asked angrily.
As Duran nodded she quickly turned to leave but Daylen grabbed her hand. "Will you at least hear him out?" Daylen asked seriously.
Natia took a minute to look at them both before taking a seat. "Fine, start talking."
Duran and Daylen spent the next few minutes explaining the situation with Mardy and Duran's son. Afterwards, Natia simply sat staring at them. "Well, I hope the tumble was worth it." she finally said before standing and turning to leave.
After they watched her leave, Duran returned to his drink. "That was pretty sodding dramatic, wasn't it?" a drunken voice growled.
Daylen and Duran then noticed a drunken, scruffy looking dwarf with shaggy red hair join them at their table. "Can we help you?" Daylen replied incredulously.
"I doubt it, not as long as you're running errands for Harrowmont. To be honest I'm surprised to see you back here your highness." the mysterious dwarf said in an antagonistic tone as he faced Duran.
"I'm in no mood Oghren." Duran replied angrily.
"You know this guy Duran?" Daylen asked.
"Oghren's a berserker who drinks as much as he kills. Gorim used to throw him out of the palace at least once a week. He's also Branka's husband." Duran explained.
"You don't say." Daylen replied curiously.
"How is Gorim anyway? You're still sodding breathing so I figure he must be too. Heard you both got a raw deal with the assembly and your brother." Oghren asked as he chugged his rather large mug of ale.
"Gorim's fine, he's a merchant now on the surface." Duran replied.
Oghren immediately started to laugh until tears started to form in his eyes. "Are you sodding serious?! Gorim a merchant? Hell, I'd pay to see that." Oghren said rather loudly before laughing once more.
"Dammit Oghren, what the hell do you want?! I've got a lot on my mind right now!" Duran replied angrily.
"Yeah I'll bet. Problems with that sweet piece that just stormed out of here. But you're not the only one with trouble involving with women." Oghren said before taking another drink. "I want to find Branka, Dammit! The assembly ain't doing squat and neither are your brother or his lordship. The first Paragon in four generations lost in the Deep Roads and no one sodding cares!" he added angrily.
"I thought she took her whole house with her? Why is he still here?" Daylen asked curiously.
"She took everyone EXCEPT for Oghren." Duran replied.
"I can't imagine why." Daylen commented sarcastically as he surveyed Oghren.
"Listen Oghren, in case you hadn't noticed I've been stripped of my name and honor. I don't have the authority or resources to help you." Duran said in an exhausted tone.
"No, but I've got a feeling you'll be heading to the Deep Roads soon. It's only a matter of time before those bastards wise up and when you do I intend to be there. Until then, here's to crazy women and the poor sods who put up with them." Oghren said before emptying his mug and making his way to the barkeep to order another.
"That was...interesting." Daylen remarked afterwards.
"Oghren's a real piece of work, I'll give him that." Duran replied wearily. "Listen Daylen, thanks for coming to get me, but right now I just want to be alone with my thoughts." he added quietly.
Daylen simply nodded and made his way outside the tavern where he quickly took notice of Natia propped against the wall of the building. "I imagine your work for Bhelen keeps you pretty busy these days." he commented casually.
"There's no hiding anything from you, is there?" she replied. "Why didn't you confront me about it in front of Duran?"
"Are you serious? He has enough to deal with and I'm damn sure not going to add to it unless I have to." Daylen replied seriously. "Just tell me why Natia. Are you that pissed off at Duran? I know women can be vindictive, but damn."
There was a moment of silence as Natia made her way towards Daylen and brushed by him. "I'm doing what I have to Daylen." she replied coldly before disappearing into the commons.
Daylen stood rooted to the spot for several minutes as he considered the situation. Had Natia really turned her back on their original plan? Was he actually going to have to fight her? As he placed his hands in his pockets and began making his way back to the Diamond Quarter, he noticed a rather small and inconspicuous note tucked in his pocket. He was certain it hadn't been there before and had a pretty good idea where it had come from. As he read it, a grin gradually spread across his face. After he finished reading it, he quickly burned it with a small ball of flames.
"It never gets any easier, does it?" he said to himself as he began making his way back to Harrowmont's estate.
Back at Harrowmont's estate, Daylen had called a meeting. "I want all of you to listen carefully because this won't be easy for you to hear." Daylen announced seriously.
The sudden change in his tone caught everyone's attention. "Natia is working for Bhelen." he said solemnly.
There was a stunned silence as the others considered what Daylen had just said.
"No." Elissa suddenly replied. "Natia would never do that, I don't care how angry she is with Duran." she added defiantly.
"Elissa is right! This can't be true!" Neria said in disbelief.
"Are you certain of this Daylen?" Theron asked calmly.
"I've had my suspicions since that promissory note business, but she confirmed things for me a little while ago. Duran has nothing to do with this though, apparently her sister is Bhelen's concubine and they have a son." Daylen explained.
There was once again a stunned silence as they all tried to process the latest revelation.
"How the hell do we play this one?" Aedan finally asked.
"The same as usual." Daylen replied casually. "I'm going to pay a visit to the royal palace and see if I can reason with her sister, maybe even convince her to leave. We damn sure don't need Bhelen having that kind of leverage."
"Are you crazy?! Suppose that's exactly what they want you to do!" Elissa said, clearly shocked by Daylen's latest bout of indifference in regards to danger.
"Oh, I'm sure it's trap. It'll certainly be an interesting one though. And it's not like I'll be going alone, Morrigan is coming with me." Daylen replied.
"Oh joy." Morrigan remarked dully.
"Wait, what?! Daylen what the hell-"
"That reminds me, Zevran I need you to handle some business for me as well. See me after the meeting." Daylen added before Elissa could argue further.
"Something tells me that this little scenario just got even more interesting." Zevran commented while grinning.
"Daylen, what exactly are you scheming here? There's a lot going on and I've got a feeling you're keeping us in the dark about a lot of it." Darrian asked suspiciously.
"You're all going to have to trust me here. I'm sorry, but that's all I can say right now." Daylen replied seriously.
"Daylen, I've always trusted your judgment but this all sounds really ominous." Neria said, the concern in her voice was clearly evident.
"Sorry, Neria. That's all for now." and with those final words, Daylen dismissed everyone and quickly gathered Morrigan and Zevran.
"I don't like this, he's definitely playing with fire this time." Aedan remarked as he observed the trio leave the room.
"When is the wizard not playing with fire? I mean literally and figuratively." Darrian replied.
"I don't care what he says, I'm getting to the bottom of this." Elissa announced angrily.
"What are you proposing?" Theron asked.
"We tail them." Elissa replied plainly.
"You do realize who we're dealing with, right?" Aedan asked.
"Yeah, I do. Which is why we'll use the best. Theron will follow Daylen and the witch, while I see what Zevran is up to." Elissa explained.
"You? Elissa, stealth is not your strong point and Zevran is a master of slipping into the shadows." Aedan replied.
"Yeah, but I know how the assassin thinks. He'll only slip into the shadows if thinks he's being followed and with my eyes I can track him from across the market." Elissa added.
"What about the rest of us?" Neria asked.
"You'll all have to wait here. It's risky enough with just two of us and we can't risk my idiot boyfriend catching on." Elissa replied. "We'll all be fine Neria." She added reassuringly.
After awhile Neria nodded her approval and Elissa set her plan into motion. An hour later Daylen and Morrigan were making their way to the royal palace.
"You do realize we have company?" Morrigan commented casually as they walked up the Diamond Quarter.
"Theron I suppose, I figured as much." Daylen chuckled.
"Does this not complicate your plans?" Morrigan asked curiously.
"Not really, actually the fact that it's Theron makes things even more perfect. My only concern is who they sent to tail Zevran." Daylen replied with a note of concern in his voice.
As they approached the palace they were immediately greeted by Vartag Gavorn, Prince Bhelen's second. "You've got a lot of nerve showing your faces here." he said while scowling.
"I have lots of things in fact. Nerve, sovereigns, ridiculously good looks, beautiful women at my beckon call, life is good." Daylen replied pleasantly after glancing at Morrigan. "Let's just skip the whole trying to intimidate me bit and show me to Natia, Rica or both." he added coolly.
Vartag simply continued to eye him menacingly before leading him into the palace. He eventually led them into a rather lavish guest room. "Someone will be here to see you soon." he said in a sinister tone before leaving and shutting the door, which he promptly locked.
"I certainly expected better." Morrigan mused as she made herself comfortable.
"You should probably give them a little more credit, check the walls." Daylen replied casually.
As Morrigan made her way over to the walls and examined them she quickly took notice of a very insidious feature of the room that now housed them.
"So they've lined the inside of the walls with dweomer runes. I must say, I'm impressed." Morrigan commented.
"Natia has probably briefed them on our strengths and weaknesses. I suppose they believe that they've removed the threat of magic from our inevitable confrontation." Daylen remarked while scanning the walls himself.
"Fools." Morrigan added while grinning.
Not long afterwards, the door to their would be prison began to open while Daylen and Morrigan readied themselves for a fight.
Meanwhile, Elissa found herself following Zevran who'd led her from the Diamond Quarter to the commons and was now approaching the entrance to the casteless section of Orzammar, the infamous Dust Town. As she continued to follow him into the dilapidated area he eventually came to an abrupt stop before shaking his head.
"I must say, I'm quite disappointed in the judgment of the others to have sent you to trail me. As lovely as you are my dear, stealth is most certainly not one of your strengths." Zevran lamented as he faced Elissa's direction.
"Dammit!" Elissa muttered before approaching the assassin. Trying to continue the farce now was pointless. "Fine, you caught me! So why don't you tell me what you're doing here?"
"I'm afraid that's not how it works lovely one. But you're more than welcome to accompany me." Zevran replied while smiling.
Elissa decided to accept the invitation, one way or another she was going to get to the bottom of things. As the pair approached the center of the shanty town, they quickly took notice of Natia speaking with another casteless. It didn't take long for her to notice them.
"Unbelievable. Zevran makes perfect sense, but you! What the hell was Daylen thinking?! Oh well, his loss." Natia replied derisively.
"Natia, what the hell is going on?! Are you really working for Bhelen?!" Elissa shouted desperately.
"And if I am?" she asked coldly.
"Natia...don't make me do this." Elissa replied threateningly as she struggled to contain her anger.
"Assuming you're still alive, we can discuss this further later." Natia said before disappearing into one of the houses that lined the street.
Moments later dozens of armed attackers began pouring in from every direction. There weren't just dwarves, but also what appeared to be qunari mercenaries and elven mages.
"The carta I presume?" Zevran quipped as he surveyed the scene. "My dear, I hope your rage is as potent as I've heard. This will likely be a bloodbath." he added grimly.
But Elissa was already tapping into her anger as she drew her swords. As her muscles began to twitch in anticipation she fanned the flames of her temper further by imagining exactly what she'd do to Natia once she caught her.