Denerim – Captured Queen

Agrona POV

The gossip that day was a single message: "They sent someone to Fort Drakon. Poor sod."

"Fort?" I asked, curious. I was in the market, waiting for Dad to get off work so we could walk home together. "Why would they send anyone to a fort?"

"Fort Drakon is where they send traitors and dangerous prisoners, little elf," one of the vendors answered. "That's where the poor criminals get tortured for information. Very few enter and even fewer leave alive."

"So why is it called a fort if it's a prison?"

"'Fort Drakon' rolls of the tongue easier than 'Torture Chamber of the Accursed Traitors of Denerim."

"So, no one escapes?"

"Not on their own." The man seemed a little haunted for some reason. "I think there's only been five successful escape attempts in the past thirty years."

My eyes widened. "That's not a lot."

"Nope. To be sent there is a death sentence in disguise. Most people who are sent there purposely get themselves killed, just to spare themselves the pain." His voice became quieter. "I hear they put the sadists in charge over there."

Shivering, I ran to the estate where Dad worked. I'd wait for him there, away from all the horrible gossip.

It didn't take Zevran long to dispose of the bloody servant clothes. In fact, he was already waiting outside the Tavern when I finished up business with Ignacio. He also had a grin akin to the cat that ate the canary. "What did you do?" I asked.

"I ran into our old friend," he answered. "The one who gave us the jobs earlier."

"Oh?" Curious. I'm surprised the man was brave enough, given that the last job almost killed us.

"Did you know that the gossips have dubbed you the Dark Wolf?" He grinned. "Apparently, I'm merely the Wolf's Crow. But, seeing as that is what I am, I have no quarrel."

"He informed you of something else," I stated. "You've got that look in your eye."

"He felt bad for the bad lead he gave us earlier, wanted to make it up."

"More leads?" I leaned against the outside wall. "What are they?"

"Are you up for stealing the Regent's crown and liberating the Tears of Andraste? He knows where the true location is now. We apparently went to the decoy last time."

Well… "Let's start with the crown."

"Excellent! I've always wanted to sneak into the palace!"

I blinked. "We're sneaking into the palace." When he nodded, I grinned. "Let's go!"

Silently, we slipped into the palace. We didn't steal servant's garb. No, we were proper rogues. We slipped in and out like the very shadows.

Zevran kept a good eye on me, though, to make sure I didn't go after Loghain. It was probably a good precaution, if we had actually encountered him.

But we didn't, merely slipped in, stole the crown, killed a few guards, and slipped out.

As soon as we were safely away, Zevran held up the plain little crown and let the sunlight make it sparkle. "Very clean, it is."

"I suppose," I commented before snatching it out of his hands.

"Hey!" He tried to grab it back, but I wouldn't let him.

Laughing, I danced away and placed the crown on my head. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful." He comically bowed. "All hail the Queen of Thieves and Assassins!"

"Shouldn't that queen be an actual Crow?" Some unknown voice called. I looked up to see a man staring at us. "After all, we Crows are the best assassins, aren't we, Zevran?"

"Taliesin…" Zevran breathed, looking sorrowful. "What are you doing here?"

"I accepted the contract to finish your job. Of course, that means I have to kill you too, but we can work something out, can't we, old friend?" This Taliesin smiled warmly. "I know why you did this; I certainly don't blame you. Come back with me, Zevran. We can make up a story."

"A story that will rely on my death," I pointed out, carefully taking off the crown and placing it on the ground.

"And I will not allow that to happen," Zevran declared softly. "I'm sorry, old friend, but I'm not going back."

"Did you get hit in the head?" Taliesin demanded. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing is wrong, except I wish to spend what time I might have left the way I desire." Zevran shrugged. "I do not want to spend my days grieving Rina as I have been." …Rina? Who's Rina?

"It was a mistake," Taliesin insisted. "You and I made a mistake."

"And it cost her that which is most precious, her life." Zevran winced, obviously remembering something, before continuing, "No. I will not return. You should have stayed in Antiva." He took a breath, steeling himself for something.

Before he could take one step, I grabbed his arm. "No, Zevran." I pulled him behind me. "You are my crow, my pack, my companion, my friend. I cannot ask you to kill an old friend for my sake. I'd rather bear the hatred you give me for doing the deed myself."

Before he could even protest, I was dashing forward, straight towards Taliesin. He tried to strike first, tried to kill me just as I went within reach, but I jumped up high and landed on one of the statues nearby. Strange, it almost seemed like I could jump even higher than before. Was I mastering even more of the Taint?

Taliesin stared, wide-eyed with surprise. "How can you…?"

"I am Agrona Tabris of the Wardens," I declared, slowly standing up. My balance had also improved, it seems. "I am the Dark Wolf of Denerim. I am Fen'falon of the Dalish. I am the Warrior of Arthalan." I casually tossed a couple of knives and killed his guards. "What are you, little crow? Someone who can do more than feast on carrion?" I jumped down and immediately lunged forward. My face inches from his, I continued, "I think not." A knife went into his neck and Taliesin fell dead, his face still frozen in shock.

I skipped down the stairs and looked up at Zevran.

He ignored the bodies and said, "perhaps you should teach me knife-throwing. It's a useful skill."

"Sure," I agreed with a smile. "I'll get Leliana to help."

"Sounds like a good plan." He seemed to be contemplating something. "Say, Agrona?"

"Yes?" I bent down to grab the crown. I wonder what we'll do with it. Melt it down into coin? Fashion it into something fancy? Hmm… that's a fun thought.

"I'd like to give you something."

Oh? "Well, I'm normally one for gifts, so what is it?"

He reached into his pack a pulled out a gold earring with a ruby drop dangling from it. "This."

"Pretty," I cooed. "Where did you get it?"

"I… oh, what's that euphemism you use a lot? Ah, yes. I remember." He grinned. "I 'acquired' it on my very first job. A merchant prince who was wearing this single earring when I killed him. In fact, that's about all he was wearing, now that I'm remembering." I rolled my eyes and laughed. Typical Zevran. "I thought it was beautiful and took it to remember the occasion, as it was. I've kept it since, but I'd like you to have it now."

"Are you sure?" I asked curiously. "It's probably very important."

He held out the earring. "It is, but so are…" He seemed to swallow a word. "So is what you do."

"You almost sound like you're proposing!" I teased, taking the earring. "Thank you. I'll have Leliana and Morrigan pierce my ears as soon as we get back." Wait, gold with a ruby dangling…? Ah! "Oh, it's perfect! It'll match Alim's. Yay! I'll wear both!"

"That will look delightful," was all he said, but he was blushing. Wonder why?

Oh well, I'll figure that out later. I slipped the earring and the crown into my pack and grinned. "Come on. We've some tears to steal."

The giddy high of successfully stealing the Tears of Andraste, and gifting them to the Chantry, wore off as soon as we returned to the Estate. There was just something in the air that said 'something is wrong.'

Kaiser was still waiting at the door, but there was something in his demeanor that told me he was expecting to be waiting for a very long time. Revas kept nudging him, trying to get him to respond, but to no avail.

Ditching Zevran in the doorway, I ran down the hall, doing a rapid headcount.

Sten and Oghren were in a side room, sharpening their weapons resolutely.

Wynne and Morrigan had returned and were alternating between debating spells that could destroy walls and cages and debating whether Leliana would be able to catch them in time. That meant Leliana wasn't here, but accounted for.

Zevran, Kaiser, and Revas were in the doorway. So, that's just two…

I ransacked all of the rooms, hunting for the last two. I think I scared the servants; they were certainly shouting enough. But I really didn't care. I just wanted to find my last two friends.

They weren't in any of the bedrooms. They weren't in the dining hall or kitchen. They weren't in the library. They weren't in that little study we stole when we first arrived.

So, what's the last place? Oh. Of course, the Arl's study.

It was there that I finally found Alistair, looking incredibly worried and glaring at an unknown woman with pale blonde hair and ice-blue eyes. I barely recognized her as the Queen. Erlina, the maid from earlier, was fretting in a corner while an unknown male in ill-fitting armor stood in the opposite corner, looking very grim. Arl Eamon had his face buried in his hands.

Serenity wasn't in here, though.

Serenity was nowhere to be found.

"Where is she?" I asked, feeling a little lost. "What happened? Why isn't she here?" When no one answered me, I rounded on Anora. "What did you do?"

"What did I do?" she repeated, outraged. I don't think she was used to anyone not treating her with respect. "All I did was send for help!"

"And now she's not here!" I snapped. "You lured her into a trap!"

"I did not!" She sounded sincere, but I knew how easily a person could fake an emotion, and she had grown up with Serenity. "I didn't know Cauthrien would be there! I certainly wouldn't have planned on her surrendering!"

"Surrender?" I stared. That's when I noted the footsteps behind me that told me the others had decided to come here too. "She's too stubborn to surrender."

"You think I don't know that!" she practically shrieked. "I've grown up with her. I know her better than almost anyone! Yet she-!" She paused suddenly. "Wait, are you Agrona?"

"I… yes?" I answered, confused. What did my name have anything to do with this?

"Then it's your fault," she hissed, glaring coldly. "She only surrendered because of a promise to you."

"Promise?" What promise?

"We…" Wynne began softly. She had to clear her throat before continuing. "She wasn't in a state to fight."

What? Why…? Oh. "Maker's Blood!" I swore, remembering. "Redcliffe. She had almost gotten killed twice."

"So, you made her promise to stand down if she couldn't fight properly." The Queen said haughtily. "It's your fault."

"Watch it, lady," I growled at her. "You being stupid enough to get yourself caught is why she was even in that estate in the first place."

"How dare you-?"

"Who cares about that?" Alistair suddenly shouted. I don't know what surprised me more: the yell or the fact he looked close to tears. "Who cares whose fault it is? Personally, I just want to know where she is."

"Leliana chased after them as soon as we were in a safe area," Morrigan answered. "With luck, we'll get a location." With even more luck, we'll get her.

"I do have one." Leliana stomped in, sending a baleful glare at Anora. "Fort Drakon. They took her to Fort Drakon. I hope you're happy, Queen. Your refusal to speak up just sent her to their highest security area. You know, where they torture the traitors to death?"

The room stilled, stunned into silence.

"Maker…" Alistair broke it, looking like his world was falling apart again. "No…"

Fort Drakon.

Cold fear and dread dripped down my spine as I reached up and buried my face in my hands. I was both surprised and not surprised to find tears.

I should have gone with her. I could have gotten her out of there. I would have been in a state to fight.

Anora's right. It's all my fault she's…

Please, please. Maker and Andraste… please.

Please let her still be alive.

Author's note:

Okay, main things here were Zevran's past thing and wrapping up the last of the "companion quests" (yes, I know it's not technically one, but I treat it like it is for simplicity's sake). Also, Anora's return.

For the record, I am not very fond of Anora. Agrona will be taking my opinions on her.

…Not sure whether the ending works, but I really can't think of another way to end it… ^^;

Next chapter: How does Serenity escape Fort Drakon?