Haven … sort of

As Leliana entered the war room, she noticed Cassandra leaning over the map table. The Ferelden map was showing some success since the Herald had taken a personal interest there. However, the Herald being so closely associated with only Ferelden had to change. They all took a chance in elevating the Herald to the position he was in, not confirming that Andraste saved him from the explosion … but not denying it, either. Paragon Duran was part of the Inquisition and needed to leave the closing of rifts up to the priorities set forth by the Inquisition.

All of the rifts in the Hinterlands were closed. Other areas in Ferelden were being investigated, but would likely have to wait. Harding was following a group of Ferelden nobles who were traveling in north Ferelden. Leliana expected a report from Harding in a few days as to what they were doing.

Along with the maps of Ferelden and Orlais on the map table, there were detailed maps of the rest of Thedas. It seemed that Haven was the center and rifts spread out from there. Antiva and Rivain had no rifts so far. Zev had his people out searching in those two countries. Nevarra was spotty at best on reports of what was going on there. Same with the Free Marches. That would have to change. The Arishok sent her a brief message: Clear. Fortunately, Leliana knew the Arishok. She had traveled with him and Kayda before the Archdemon battle in Denerim. The fact he even reported confirmed that Seheron and Par Vollen were clear of rifts so far. The Anderfels and Tevinter were silent. Leliana's agents were investigating everywhere, nonetheless. Something was going on in the Western Approach, Emerald Graves and Emprise du Lion.

Basker, Leliana's agent at court, reported that Empress Celene seemed to be on top of the situation on her own, however. Court Enchanter Vivienne was already working with the Montsimmard Loyal Mages to discover another way to close the rifts. Leliana felt that if anyone else could discover a way, Orlais would. They weren't the most powerful country in Thedas for nothing … regardless of what Fereldens thought. That's why Leliana felt they needed to step in and close rifts in Orlais to prove the Inquisition's worth to Her Radiance as soon as possible.

A small piece of information from Valence in Orlais was disturbing, but it was only conjecture at this point — enough to keep her agents looking, though. Grand Cleric Victoire was sending out her own agents. Victoire was never an ally of Justinia. Quite the opposite. Since Justinia couldn't trust Victoire, Most Holy assigned her to the small area of Valence … and Victoire was not invited to the Conclave.

Leliana had gotten word that Victoire was elated to miss that "heretical attempt at appeasement with the apostates who should have been put down". Consequently, Lord Seeker Lucius and his hardline Templars and Seekers sought Victoire's patronage and they were now housed in a keep in Valence. Leliana's agent Farrier said that she had found a discarded missive that had been half-burned. All it said was, "Justinia elimin …" The rest was burned away. Farrier and Butler would keep looking.

Plus, on top of everything else, the Archdemon still hadn't reappeared … and the Grey Wardens were splintering along country borders. Cullen wanted to send some scouts up to Weisshaupt to see if all the leadership had truly abandoned their ancient fortress. He seemed mollified when Alistair told him that Warden-Commander Kayda Cousland was already there. And, Tevinter? Well, Tevinter was always a source of worry and concern, especially since they just heard that the rebel mages went there. Nettle was on it in Tevinter, but no word from him yet either.

It all made Leliana frown. If the Inquisition were ever to be taken seriously in all of Thedas, they needed to move out of Ferelden once the Breach was closed. Leave Haven … this Haven. Already, Josie was hearing the Inquisition called the Doglordquisition. It was part of The Game. Discredit the Inquisition, then eliminate them. Orlais comes out on top again. It was Orlais' strength. Leliana loved Ferelden. Loved the people in Ferelden. But, the explosion at the Conclave changed everything. Her feelings toward any one country or the people in that country were now irrelevant and she knew she needed to distance herself from her friends in Ferelden.

Even though moving from Haven would have the extra result of protecting the real Temple of Sacred Ashes even more, Leliana still wondered if she should confide in Cassandra, Josephine and Cullen that this Haven was not the real Haven … or that the site of the explosion was not the real Temple of Sacred Ashes. She'd played scenarios over and over in her head and all of them always came out with a bad result. Cassandra would insist that the truth be told. (Most of the faithful would be relieved, but some would use the information to discredit the Inquisition before they even got started.) Cullen would want to march his soldiers up to the Temple to protect it. (A sound idea except a battalion of Inquisition soldiers would cause no small degree of curiosity … same result, except the outcry of a coverup resounding throughout Thedas.) Josephine would want to use the information guardedly to cement positive alliances and distance bad ones. (Again, the word would leak out to some they would prefer not know.) Leliana couldn't foresee the future, but all those outcomes just seemed bad.

When Alistair had informed Loghain about the real Haven, Leliana was surprised at Loghain's reaction. The teyrn said it was the smartest thing he'd heard any Chantry person do in a long time. He explained that all anyone had to do was look at the Breach to know why.

Not to mention Leliana could still hear Justinia's impassioned plea to keep the real site private and secure until the world would be ready for it to be revealed. Unfortunately, Most Holy did not define when that would be. During a time of chaos? Or, after the chaos was stopped? And, when would that ever happen?

Leliana looked down at the message she'd just gotten from one of her scouts in western Ferelden: Solas is bringing the Herald back to Haven along with twenty or so mages who, he believes, can be trusted. He said that should be enough to attempt to close the Breach. Should be there in a day or so. —Charter

She cleared her throat to get the others' attention. "Solas is returning with the Herald and some loyal mages to attempt to close the Breach."

"Let me read that." Cassandra pulled the small sheet out of Leliana's hands.

Leliana only smiled and Cullen shook his head, obviously against the idea. "I still think Templars would be the safer way to go. The loyal Templars nearby along with the few who have ended up here could work as well." He threw up his hands. "Templars are trained to suppress magic! Why doesn't that elf apostate see that!"

Josephine jumped up to rush out of the room. "I must contact the local nobles to let them know we are going to make an attempt." When Cassandra stepped over to bar her exit, Josephine added, "We must tell them that a dangerous experiment is about to happen."

"They'll probably want to be here then, Josie." Leliana knew the Game, but didn't always agree with the moves. However, she did get Josephine involved because she trusted her friend and fellow bard.

Josephine smiled. "Of course! And, they will bring their money and influence with them. The rifts may be considered 'local', but the Breach is the source and it threatens all of Thedas. With all the factions unwilling to work together, it demonstrates that an organization like the Inquisition is needed. Trust me, everyone must be told … everyone."

"And, if it fails?" Cullen was standing there with his hands on his hips. "Won't we look like idiots?" He motioned toward the message now in Cassandra's hand. "Mage sympathizers!"

Josie's smile only widened. "Of course not! Well, maybe a little, but they will have me to explain that this was the first step to the end result we all want. It shows we are doing something! If anything, a failure would end up better than a success. I will tell them that the mages were only the first step. The Templars will follow. The Inquisition will close the Breach and bring order back to Thedas." When no one commented, she added, "It must be witnessed by people of influence outside the Inquisition!"

Cassandra shook her head. "That makes little sense."

"You have seen what Josie can do, Cassandra, and you still doubt she can make rancid butter sound like special aged cheese that tastes of despair?" Leliana laughed. In truth, she understood where Cassandra was coming from, but she had known Josephine Montilyet for a long time. That's why she brought Josie into the organization.

"Are these mages going to stay here?" Cullen still wasn't convinced. "Twenty or so mages? We're going to need more Templars then. It will be a very stressful situation. Thank the Maker Ser Irminric has joined the Inquisition. He knows what to do. There are sure to be abominations."

"And, we're going to need to find places for them to live and conduct meetings." Leliana started thinking logistically.

"Leliana, why are we letting Solas run this?! We don't know anything about him other than he just showed up at an opportune time." Cullen really wasn't convinced.

"He and the Herald stabilized the Breach, Cullen. He's proven his value. What are you concerned with?" Cassandra was defending Solas? That surprised Leliana, too.

Cullen spun toward Cassandra. "I'm concerned with your turn of heart, Cassandra! You were as skeptical as I was when Solas first walked into the village. Now, you back anything he says, anything he wants to do. No questions."

Cassandra looked like she'd been slapped in the face. "Are you accusing me of something, Commander?!"

"Stop it!" Leliana was afraid she may have yelled that a bit too loudly because all three of the others jumped. "How do you expect the Inquisition to garner any kind of respectability when all we do is argue?!" She turned toward Cassandra. "You need to quit taking any and all comments as personal affronts!" Then, she turned toward Josephine. "Until we have a better idea of what is going to happen, you need to keep quiet … at least until they get here and a plan is presented."

And, finally, she turned toward Cullen. In a kinder voice, she said, "And you need to start taking lyrium again, at least temporarily." When he turned a thunderous look toward Cassandra, Leliana added, "Don't look at Cassandra, Cullen. Anyone who knows about Templars can see it. What is done to Templars is wrong and one of the things the Inquisition needs to see change." She pointed to Cassandra. "Seekers do not use lyrium. Alistair's Templar skills are good enough, Cullen, and he never used lyrium. There was no Templar with us in the tower during Uldred's attack and Alistair was able to stop demons and blood mages as well as any Templar! He helped to save you, Cullen!" She stamped her foot. "Lyrium usage is not necessary. It is a lie of the Chantry that must be stopped!"

Josephine smiled. "I never thought I'd hear you rail against the Chantry, Leliana."

"I follow the guidance of the Maker, Josie. Some in the Chantry have become confused … glutinous in their need for gold and power. They have turned against the Maker." She turned to Cullen and put a hand on his arm. "They got you addicted to lyrium so they could control you."

"And, now you want me to stay under that control?!" Cullen pulled his arm away.

"You stopped cold, yes?" When Cullen nodded, Leliana added, "I think you should slowly stop taking it." She huffed. "I wish Anders weren't in Weisshaupt. He might know a way."

"You think I'd listen to anything that troublemaker had to suggest?" Cullen walked to the other side of the table. The question was confrontational, but the tone wasn't.

Leliana smiled. "I do … because you are a reasonable man who has undergone a lot of strife and come out on top."

Cullen sat in a chair and sighed. "Very well. I'll start to take a small amount of lyrium again … but, I'm not going to Anders for help. Senior Enchanter Bethany is heading up the Denerim Mage Academy. I'll get you a message to send to her for me."

Again, Ferelden connections, but it was okay for Cullen to be aligned with Ferelden. He was born and raised here. It was not okay for Leliana to be. Leliana wanted to suggest Senior Enchanter Vivienne in Orlais, but this needed to be someone Cullen was comfortable with.

"Mage Academy? Is that what they're calling it now?" Cassandra had a smile on her face. Leliana liked the title and had a feeling that Cassandra did, too. She cleared her throat. "If this mage can come up with a plan for Cullen, perhaps it will work for all the Inquisition Templars." Then, she sighed. "Sadly, I agree with Leliana. The Chantry needs to change drastically."

Leliana said to Cullen, "I'll have my fastest bird ready to carry that message."

Just as Charter had reported, mid-afternoon the next day, the Herald, Solas and the mages arrived. Some barracks were being built for Cullen's men, but they weren't finished just yet. So, everyone was still relegated to tents. A welcome surprise that Charter had omitted was that they also brought along a hundred or so horses for the Inquisition, along with Bron, a senior handler from Master Dennet's farm outside Redcliffe. Charter also omitted that Loghain and a battalion of Ferelden's military were in the group. But, that was all right. It afforded her the opportunity to cut one of her Ferelden connections … and, through Loghain, probably the rest of them, too.

"All right, you wanted to see me in private." Loghain stretched his back. "You know, you should build a house on this frozen lake for all your private meetings, Leliana."

Leliana smiled. "A house would only block my view and allow someone to sneak up and listen." She hated what she was about to do. Loghain had become a friend and confidant. But it had to be done.

"Ah, I see. Good choice, then. What do you need?" Loghain looked tired … but … Leliana couldn't recall a time when he didn't look tired.

"I want to tell Josie, Cullen and Cassandra that this isn't the real Haven, but I don't think I have the … presence to convince them to keep their mouths shut." She grinned. "And, you do!"

That made him laugh. "It's itching at you, eh? Such is the power of secrets, Leliana. I would have thought you, of all people, knew that. Embraced it even." Then, he narrowed his eyes at her, "All right, what's brought this on?" He was also infuriatingly perceptive.

"We need to leave here, Loghain." She paused, fearing how he might take offense at what she was about to say. "If we remain within Ferelden borders … the Inquisition will not be taken seriously by the rest of Thedas."

Loghain's face clouded over quickly. "And, where do you plan to move to? Orlais?"

"I know how you feel about Orlais, Loghain, but it would be better than here." Leliana was fairly proud of how calm she kept her voice. "Someplace else might be the end result. I have nothing specific in mind just yet." She shrugged. "I was thinking that telling Josie, Cassandra and Cullen might make them more amenable to moving."

"So, you'd be willing to alienate Ferelden, a country that's been willing to help you, so you can appease your masters in Orlais?" Loghain was becoming livid. "Then what? The Inquisition joins an Exalted March on Ferelden? Joins with Orlais in a takeover of Ferelden?"

Leliana stamped her foot. The ice cracked a bit. "No, Loghain! The Inquisition cannot appear to be aligned with any one country of Thedas! We must be aligned with all of them, including Ferelden and Orlais. Surely, you can see that."

"No, I do not see that." His deadly calm voice and glare almost made Leliana step back. "You say this Haven is in Ferelden, so it appears you are playing favorites with Ferelden." He swung his arm to the west. "Don't you see that moving to Orlais makes it appear you are playing favorites with Orlais? In case you haven't heard, Orlais isn't liked too well these days."

Damn perceptive, but The Game had to be played. "This is not a popularity issue. It is a strength issue … and do not strike me or I shall be forced to defend myself … Orlais is the most powerful country in Thedas." She arrived at her own deadly calm voice. "It took over Ferelden easily enough."

Loghain leaned close to Leliana's face, close enough for her to smell the apple brandy on his breath. "You need to learn your history a bit better, girl. Orlais was only able to take over Ferelden for one reason … some of Ferelden's most powerful nobles turned traitor."

She didn't back down. "Yes, I know this. Who do you think convinced them to change allegiances? Orlesians can convince anyone to do whatever they want because Orlais is wealthy and powerful! It is a temptation that few can resist. Can you truthfully say that Orlais couldn't do the same today?"

She didn't miss that he clenched his fist and then took a deep breath. "I would like to think they could not."

This was exactly how she wanted this conversation to go.

"This isn't how I wanted this conversation to go, Loghain." She threw up her arms. "I'm trying to find a way to stay neutral. That is impossible, so I need to find a place with the most influence and power."

"If I may?" During the heated conversation, both Leliana and Loghain had turned away from the village. Solas snuck up on them so well they both turned with hands on weapons. Leliana definitely didn't want Solas to interfere with Loghain beginning to despise her. He smiled and put up the hand not holding his staff. "I may have a suggestion for a place, Sister Nightingale."

"Where? On a cloud in the sky?" Leliana knew her frustration with being caught off-guard was showing. "And, then … a cloud over which country?!" she added with a glare toward Loghain.

"There is a place … not on a cloud, but it is high in the Frostbacks. I'm uncertain on which side of an imaginary borderline between Orlais and Ferelden it is, but that uncertainty would work in the Inquisition's favor, I believe." Solas cocked his head. "I've just spoken to the Herald about it and he agreed it would be better than here once the Breach is closed." He motioned toward Haven. "This is a place of sadness and despair at such a great loss. The Inquisition would never be able to attain the status it needs to help all of Thedas if they stayed here." He looked directly at Loghain. "Don't you agree?"

"You're asking the wrong man that question, elf," Loghain growled as he stormed off toward the village.

Once Loghain was out of earshot, Solas said quietly, "The sooner the Inquisition can remove itself from negative influences like that, the better." Solas nodded and walked back toward the village himself.

Leliana stood there a few moments. She understood Loghain's feelings. Truly. The Game was a harsh thing, but it was necessary. More importantly, it worked. It made Orlais great and kept her great … simply because everyone else in Thedas refused to learn the rules.

It took several days to prepare the mages for the process to enhance the Herald's mark with their will so Duran could focus it on the Breach. The practice sessions got increasingly successful. Even Cullen remarked at how disciplined the mages were that Solas had brought with them. They weren't even Ferelden mages, but rebel mages who refused to follow Fiona any longer.

Duran also had some very troubling news. He told them about the red spikes all over the destroyed Temple of Sacred Ashes. It was red lyrium. He gave them a formula and tested instructions on how to get rid of it, so they had been busy destroying it all over the detritus of the Temple.

Leliana's agents said that they overheard heated conversations coming from the Herald's quarters, but they could never make out what was being said. It was Loghain that Duran was arguing with. At last, the Herald was coming around to the true scope of the Inquisition.

A few days before an attempt was going to be tried, Loghain walked into the war room, uninvited. Duran had just mentioned that Loghain was leaving before the attempt would be made … on Duran's request. "I wish your Inquisition success on closing the Breach. Due to recent conversations, we must insist that any and all future Inquisition incursions into Ferelden come through Denerim and Denerim only." He raised an eyebrow toward Leliana. His icy blue eyes stared into her soul. "Any deviation from this will be met with all due force."

At a hand signal from Leliana, Josephine didn't interfere. Josie knew what Leliana was attempting and told Leliana that she agreed with her.

"But, the Herald will need to close other rifts in Ferelden." Cullen was a bit surprised by the confrontational comments, but he'd been briefed about the chilly air between the Herald and Loghain lately.

"If we run across one we cannot close on our own, we will contact you, Templar." Leliana could see that everyone in the room wondered if Loghain had lost his mind, again.

Loghain turned back to Leliana. "Ferelden will expect you to pull your agents out as quickly as you can contact them. If an Inquisition spy is found, they will be arrested. You may be able to negotiate for their release from Fort Drakon."

Cassandra found her voice. "You are not the governing voice of Ferelden … Warden Loghain!"

His lips twisted into a cruel smile as he handed her a small note. Leliana knew that her birds hadn't carried a message to Loghain and wondered where he got it. Cassandra read it aloud, "'Inquisition forces are to listen to Teyrn Loghain MacTir as if the King and Queen were speaking. — King Alistair and Queen Anora.' It carries the royal seal." Suddenly, Leliana knew that her plan had worked. She was no longer considered a friend of Ferelden. And, that made her even more sad.

"Well, Loghain, you've made your Stone stubborn opinion known." Duran wasn't smiling. He seemed angry. "So, leave. But, know this. The Inquisition will do whatever is necessary to end this chaos, even if it goes against your petty pronouncements. No one is going to stand in the way. Not even you."

Loghain stood there for several long moments before he turned and left. Cassandra closed the door and then they all turned to Duran. He leaned over the table. "I really thought Loghain was just being his usual paranoid, isolationist self until he showed me the note from Alistair and Anora." Leliana thought he looked a little lost for a moment.

After a brief pause, he stood up straight and added, "I know I wouldn't have been first choice for the bearer of this thing for any of you." The Herald held up the hand with the mark on it. "But, it somehow got attached to me. Be it The Stone or your Maker or Andraste or my Ancestors or just dumb bad luck, I was given the way to close the Breach and we will close it. Nothing else matters for now. I wasn't made Paragon because I was blind to what was going on around me. I've been reading the reports Leliana's people have gathered. The Breach has to be closed. The rifts have to be closed. Then, the way I see it … we need to find out who is really responsible for the explosion before a new Divine is announced." He nodded to everyone at the table. "Then, the mages and Templars can be dealt with by the Chantry and the new Divine. Anyone see things differently?"

Leliana looked around the now silent room. Cassandra and Cullen nodded as did Josephine. It was a broad stroke … and it was logical … easy for all parties to agree, but they'd never really said it that way before. Finally, a course that the Herald and the advisors could agree upon.

Maybe the Maker did send a Paragon to keep the world from shattering. If this worked, Leliana hazarded the thought that maybe the Maker sent them an Inquisitor.

Teagan handed Loghain his requested glass of sweetberry juice and went to sit next to Gwen. The three of them chose the spot in front of a warm fire in Teagan's study to talk. Loghain had taken some time to bathe and relax before coming down to update them. "All right. Ready to tell us how it went?"

Loghain twirled the juice in his glass. "It was even more unpleasant than Duran readied me for. I never realized how closely dwarf machinations were to The Maker-forsaken Game." He took a sip. It was cool and sweet, just like he remembered Anora liked it. When she was a young girl, he was usually too busy to be a good father. However, there were a few tea parties where he would be a guest of Her Majesty To Be. They would drink cups of sweetberry juice as if it were tea laced with sweet wine.

"It had to be done, Loghain. It was the only way we could have a chance that Duran would become Inquisitor." Teagan made a face when he took a sip. "Ugh, this is so sweet!" He looked at his glass. "If you're tired of apple brandy, maybe I can see if Marris can make this into some kind of liquor."

"No, I'm not really tired of apple brandy. I just need some time away from it." Loghain leaned forward in the chair. "It played out exactly like he said it would. Leliana had to distance herself from Ferelden and knew all my buttons, pushed them like the artisan in The Game that she is. There was no doubt of my anger because it was real. No acting was required."

Gwen shook her head and took a deep breath. "I pity her. The Game takes it toll on the player as well as the played. I've never had to break off all relations with my friends, my confidants, people I knew could be trusted." She looked at Loghain with a bit of doubt. "But, I tend to agree with her, Loghain."

"Gwen, not now," Teagan quietly admonished his wife.

But, Loghain had calmed down. "No, let her speak."

She looked at Teagan and he shrugged. "Your issue with Orlais is really an issue with some of the nobles in Ferelden at the time. Without their treason, Orlais wouldn't have been able to take Ferelden the way they did."

"That is true and I reminded Leliana of that fact." Loghain narrowed his eyes. "Do you believe Orlais is the most powerful country in Thedas?"

"I do, actually." She frowned. "But, not in the way you see it. Empress Celene has made Orlais strong from within instead of looking for expansion to simply increase land mass."

Teagan shook his head. "A 'man's way of defining great' … isn't that what you said, my dear?"

"Take care on how much you defend the woman who kidnapped my daughter and swept Cailan off his sanity." Loghain didn't really want this to dissolve into an argument, just throw out a caution. "But, go on."

Gwen smiled. Loghain liked the Arlessa so he was willing to give her a bit more leeway. "All right. I cannot say definitely what went on; however, I shall give you a potential 'what if'." When Loghain nodded, she continued, "Celene and Anora have been writing for a long time. What if Celene really was only wishing to help Anora escape the darkspawn? Think a moment, Loghain. Ferelden with a dead Queen would be very vulnerable to invasion. Celene kept Anora alive. Why would the Empress do that if invasion were her true goal?"

Loghain wanted to argue that he would have kept his daughter safe, to growl and snarl that Celene was a mistress of subterfuge and deceit … but, the image of the broken doors of the palace with the dead ogres in the courtyard came to mind. Dead ogres, killed by the lances and weapons of the dead chevaliers surrounding the ogres. He took another drink of the sweet beverage. "Go on."

Emboldened by Loghain's entreaty, Gwen stood and paced. Loghain didn't miss Teagan watching his wife with a mixture of pride and fear on his face. "All right, then. The taking of Highever and Amaranthine." She narrowed her eyes at Loghain. "The state of north Ferelden was a direct result of the actions of Rendon Howe …"

"And me." Loghain knew where this was going, unsure if he wanted to hear it.

"Mitigated by blood magic control, to be sure, but my point is that the northlands were in a shambles during the Blight. Once again, nobles sold out Ferelden … Bann Esmerelle." She turned a sad face toward Teagan. "Eamon. And a few others up north who were in Howe's pocket.

"One could say that Orlais came in and stabilized our northern ports, bereft in the wake of Howe's death. To you and Fergus and Nathaniel, it appeared to be an invasion, but they never went any further." She held up her hand to stop Loghain from refuting that. "The chevaliers who left Highever in shambles overreacted to threats of spies and Fergus' resistance. That is true, but was it on Celene's order or the chevalier left in charge there? There will always be traitorous nobles vulnerable to experts of coercion. Instead of expecting our weak-minded nobles to step in line, we need to prepare for them to fail and be ready to counter them quickly. We need our own spies on our own people, Loghain. We need our own experts in The Game."

Gwen didn't show pity toward Loghain, and, for that, he knew he would be grateful, in the long run. "Gaspard took Redcliffe in a most dishonorable way and showed himself for the crude man he was. He literally proved that Celene was the better choice of monarch for Orlais with that action during a Blight." She sighed. "But even that, wasn't the fault of Orlais. Isolde opened the gates and gave him the keys, selling out Eamon in the process."

"Very well, Arlessa, do you expect me to become a friend of Orlais now?" Loghain didn't growl that so much as rumble it.

"Not at all. My point to all of this is that there are always more than two ways of looking at a situation. Your ideas on one side and someone like Gaspard's ideas on the other leave an entire spectrum of perceptions in the middle." She knelt in front of Loghain's chair. Again, Loghain recalled Anora doing much the same thing when they would argue about Orlais. "It leaves you vulnerable if you refuse to recognize that." She smiled. "I know you prefer truth and honesty above all else, but not everyone sees things that way."

Teagan looked like he was about to pounce out of his chair to shield Gwen from the expected outrage from Loghain. They both took a deep sigh of relief when Loghain only smiled. "Lady Gwen, do you think you're the first woman to attempt to explain this to me? Anora has spent many an hour trying to make me see this." He motioned toward where she was sitting. "Please sit down, Arlessa."

Once she sat back down next to Teagan, Loghain stood. "Forgive the speech I am about to render. I will tell you what I have told Anora. I am who I am. I cannot forgive nor rationalize what the Orlesian people have done in and to Ferelden. Celene's intentions may have been to save Anora and help stabilize Ferelden, but it didn't work out that way, did it? If Nevarra hadn't taken that moment to attack Jader, I believe those chevaliers would still be in control of Highever and Amaranthine, making all of our lives very miserable. They killed everyone in Highever castle as they left … just to show how powerful they were.

"I have seen written correspondence between Celene and Cailan. Her words. She wanted to take Ferelden by marriage. Bloodless intentions on her part, but the men and women she would send to administer here would spit on her intentions. It is not the man or woman at the top, but all the bastards who think themselves above anyone who doesn't hide behind a mask."

Loghain sighed and stretched his back. "Kayda told me once that, before the Landsmeet, Alistair hated me and Anora because we were people who believed that we alone had all the answers. That was eye-opening to me because I have said the same about Orlais on many occasions. People believe that Orlais is historically the strongest nation in Thedas because Orlesians write much of the history. All that is my opinion. And, you will not ever change that opinion."

Loghain sighed. "It is getting late and I need some sleep if I intend to ride for Denerim in the morning." He smiled at Gwen. "Keep expressing your thoughts, madam. As long as you don't expect me to change my mine, I am always willing to listen."

He didn't look back as he left them to discuss what had just happened. Orlais would ever be the enemy to Loghain, but he wasn't a fool. They weren't the enemy right now. In fact, this upcoming period of time should afford Ferelden an opportunity to strengthen itself. Orlais was busy with an uneasy peace with Nevarra and would now have to deal with the Inquisition and its Herald … hopefully, soon to be Inquisitor. Duran would be a formidable player in The Game. Loghain almost pitied Orlais. He wondered if the dwarves invented The Game, as well.

Many of the traitorous nobles Gwen had mentioned were dead. Isolde was alive only because she hid behind the Empress' skirts. They had been replaced by good men and women. Alistair, Anora and Loghain needed to make certain they remained good, hardened to the temptations of an alliance with Orlais or any other country that might threaten Ferelden's sovereignty.

Loghain knew that Orlais did some good things, created some good things, that there were some Orlesians worth knowing. It did make him sad that Leliana was one of those good Orlesians he had to let go.

AN: Thank you for all reviews, favorites, follows … and PMs! Always read, considered and appreciated. :) Have a terrific week and see you next Sunday!