Dragons and Thrones: Rising Tensions – Breaking of Bonds
Chapter 52 of my crossover, enjoy.
Reviews
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin. Dragon Age belongs to Bioware.
Briala
Briala sighed as she stood, waiting in the secret passage, to meet with Celene that night. Her mind was still full of what she had heard in the ballroom from Celene's announcement and her encounter with Felassan afterwards.
'How can I...I tried so hard, why would Celene betray me like this. She promised, she promised she'd help the Elves trapped in Halamshiral.' Briala thought desperately. 'That she would improve things for the Elves; but now, now she's intending to attack Halamshiral and doesn't care if the Elves die in the process.'
She suppressed a shudder at that thought and instead tried to think of some solution. Deciding to try one more time, she took a deep breath and entered the room. Celene was seated at her vanity, clad in her silken nightgown. She turned and smiled when she saw Briala, Briala did her best to return it, but her feeling just wasn't there.
"I am glad to see you; I was worried you forgot." Celene said softly.
Briala bit her lip but kept herself composed. "I could never forget my Empress."
Celene laughed softly as she stood. "I always hope, I am not just that to you."
Briala gave a weak smile and tilted her head back, letting out a soft moan as Celene's arms snaked around her waist and she kissed her neck. Briala barely hesitated before reaching for Celene's nightgown. Celene raised her head to meet Briala's eyes and nodded.
It took very little time after that for them to undress each other and soon they were locked in a passionate embrace, falling onto the bed. Their kissing grew more heated as their hands explored each other's bodies; yet for Briala, her actions were more automatic, than stirred by passion.
Her mind was elsewhere. 'I just can't, focus...I keep thinking about; urgh...'
She tried her hardest but the passion wasn't there; her concern for her fellow Elves was too great, the danger they were in threatened to overwhelm her thoughts completely.
"Briala?" Celene said; her voice thick with concern.
It was then she realized her distraction had reached the stage that Celene had noticed it now, hiding it was no longer an option.
She sighed. "Your Radiance, I..."
Celene shook her head. "We've discussed this."
"Celene, please, I..." She shook her head. "I cannot help but be worried, the things you've said. Your announcement, your plans for Halamshiral."
Celene sat up, not bothering to cover herself. "Briala, what are you…?"
Briala couldn't hold back any longer. "Your plans for Halamshiral, they put the Elves in danger, you said you would help them but now you're putting them in harms way. They'll be slaughtered; the soldiers will simply cut them down, using the attack as an excuse to kill them."
"Briala..."
"Don't deny it, you know they will." She replied sharply. "We spoke about this, you promised me..."
Celene exhaled sharply and suddenly got out of bed.
Briala watched as Celene, still as naked as the day she was born, crossed the room before turning to face her.
"Briala, listen to yourself. Yes, I said I'd try to help the Elves; but I am Empress of Orlais, I have the entirety of Orlais to think about, I cannot simply focus on the Elves." She replied. "You ask too much Briala."
Briala glowered. "So, just like that, you turn on your word. You said you'd help and now you care only about saving your own city."
Celene shook her head and approached Briala again, anger etched into her face. "Enough, you are being selfish Briala. You expect me to simply make changes like that; as if the Elves can be helped at once. It is not that simple, change takes time."
Briala scoffed. "Well, well, I guess being Empress isn't all that then, is it."
"The dangers of Halamshiral cannot be ignored, I must think of the good of the Empire, the whole empire, not just the Elves. Everyone!" Celene retorted.
Briala glowered and shook her head, immediately turning away, lying down in the bed, facing away from Celene. Her feelings of betrayal only increasing as Celene returned to bed, but made no further effort to talk to her.
Later, that night, now certain that Celene was asleep, Briala turned over. She was certainly asleep now, Briala made up her mind.
'I have no choice now, there's only one way.' She thought to herself.
She couldn't remain here, especially not after what Celene had said to her. She slipped out of the bed; moving silently as she began to get dressed. Once dressed she took one glance back at Celene's sleeping form and, sighing quietly she left the room. Making her way back along the secret passage she continued onwards until she finally reached her own chambers.
She removed the clothing she had on and quickly pulled on her armour, securing her daggers and ensuring she was ready, she headed back into the secret chambers, heading down another passage. She was heading outside the palace. Leaving the palace she waited outside, keeping an eye out for any guards, she waited for a break in the patrols before slipping out of the shadows and making her way out of the palace grounds.
She was after all well known in the palace, the last thing she wanted was to face some awkward questions. Once out of the palace grounds, she was safe enough to move a little more easily. She quickly made her way to her destination, the Alienage.
When she arrived, she found Felassan waiting for her, he was seated beneath the Heart Tree, smiling serenely.
"So, you've finally come." He said. "I knew you would."
Briala sighed. "I see what you meant, I've, I've made my choice, I know what I must do...it is time to start standing for the Elves, directly. If Celene refuses to do it, I will."
Felassan nodded, appearing satisfied.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.
