"Okay, how do we get into the alienage if the gate is sealed?" Alistair asked.
"You follow me," Jerath replied. He ducked down through an alley. He caught hold of a window ledge and pulled himself up to walk along the top of a fence, then jumped onto a roof.
"You remember the part where we aren't light-footed elves that only weight ten pounds, right?" Alistair asked. Next to him, Morrigan simply shifted into a raven and flew up to land on the roof next to Jerath.
"Wait there," Jerath said, and vanished. A minute later, the cellar door near them opened. "This way."
"How many secret passages are there like this in Denerim?" Alistair asked.
"Is that an official question, your majesty?" Jerath asked.
"Yes."
"Then none."
They emerged near a dock. Jerath led them immediately to a door, and opened it without bothering to so much as knock.
#
A handsome elf nearly dropped the cup he was holding as the four of them entered. "Cousin? Welcome home! Come in, come in! We assumed you were with the other Wardens at Ostagar. Things have been... difficult since you've been gone."
"What happened here?" There was a note of anger in Jerath's voice.
Soris shook his head. "Arl Howe led a purge. Vengeance for Vaughan's death, they say."
Jerath nodded. "How many died?" All emotion was gone from his voice and face. Cathiel felt a chill run down her spin.
"I don't know. After the purge came some sort of pestilence. It's hard to say who was killed by soldiers and who fell to disease."
"Isn't anything being done?" Cathiel asked, her voice appalled. Her father never would have left Highever's alienage to such deprivations. She felt sick when she realized that the elves of Highever had been under Howe's mercy for almost a year.
"Some men came from the Tevinter Imperium. They say they have magic that protects healthy people, and they've got a quarantine for the sick. They... they took Valendrian and your father, both. I'm sorry."
"Where's Valora?"
"She went to the hospice a week ago. They said... they said she had the plague. I didn't believe it, I mean, she was fine! But they took her to quarantine. I haven't seen her since."
"Where is this quarantine?"
"A house on the north side of the square. You can't miss it, Cousin, there's a huge crowd there now."
"I have to go."
"All right. It's good to see you again, Cousin."
"Jerath?" Cathiel asked.
"Pardon." Jerath turned back around. "Soris, these are Cathiel Cousland, Teyrna of Highever, and Alistair Theirin, King of Ferelden. And this is Morrigan. Everyone, my cousin Soris." He shrugged. "And if that completes introductions, we've got work to do."
"Maker's breath, Cousin." Soris shook his head. "Try to leave a little of Denerim standing when you are done."
#
They followed Jerath towards the alieanage tree. A young woman was arguing with a group of other elves. Jerath headed towards her.
"Shianni? Is that really you?"
"Maker's breath! They said all the Grey Wardens died with the king. Everyone thought..." She looked like she'd seen a ghost. "Valendrian even held a funeral for you. Cousin, you have no idea... the things that happened after your wedding... I'm babbling, aren't I? I'm so happy to see you."
"Wedding?" Cathiel asked.
"You're married?" Alistair asked?
Morrigan raised an eyebrow. "Now this sounds like a curious tale."
"I was betrothed. It didn't end well." Jerath shrugged.
"And the story unfolds. How did this wedding come to naught?"
He gave them an annoyed look. "Imagine a storybook wedding: This was the opposite."
Alistair gave him a dubious look. "I... all right... that does sound bad."
"I got conscripted by the Wardens. We can talk about this some other time."
"So much has happened... It's good you're home." Shianni beamed at him.
"I saw Nesiara in Redcliff. She looked well. "
"Her family spent all of the dowry your father paid getting her set up there."
"I saw Soris."
"A lot of people blame him." She gestured angrily. "Can you believe that? They blame Soris as if he were responsible for what the new arl did to us."
"What are you talking about?"
"You don't know? Oh-of course you don't. After you left, the regent appointed a new arl, Rendon Howe. The first thing this human did was march troops in here for a purge. Some people - - the stupid ones, mostly - - blame you and Soris for standing up to Vaughan."
Another elf called out to them. "It's a fact that Howe sent the soldiers here because of Vaughan's death, Shianni. Even you know that."
Shianni rounded on him. "It's a fact? Really? So we should take everything the humans say at face value? We're all lazy, vulgar, thieves then? That's what they say, isn't it?"
Jerath shrugged. "Howe is dead. Denerim goes through arls pretty quick lately."
"All these gifts, and it's not even my naming day." Shianni looked positively gleeful at the news.
A woman shook her fist at Jerath. "You just don't care how much trouble you bring down on us, do you? Must be nice to be above your own people."
Shianni shook her fist right back. "Who brought Vaughan here in the first place? Tell me what we did to deserve that, and maybe I'll start caring what you think. Idiot. Elves wind up dead in the Market gutters every day over a wrong word, or a look, or nothing at all. That's how it's always been. We fight back, or we submit, but it doesn't change anything. I'm not about to shed a tear over that butcher Howe's death. If I could, I'd kick his grave marker and dance on his ashes." Cathiel smiled. She could get to like this woman.
Jerath smiled at her. "Don't hold back, tell me how you really feel."
Shianni just shook her head at him. "We'd be here all day. And I'd still have more to tell you, Cousin."
"What is going on here?"
"These people say they're here to help us. Funny thing, the people they 'help' all disappear."
The woman yelled at her. "That's not true, and you know it, Shianni! Both my sisters got protections from the plague, and they're fine!"
"What about your niece, though?" Shianni pointed a finger at her angrily. "And my Uncle Cyrion, and Valendrian? Where are they?"
"Wait, what's this about my father?" Jerath's voice became ice.
Shianni turned back to face him, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "The Tevinters quarantined your father yesterday. I told him not to go to the hospice. Not one elf they've taken in there has come out again. Who knows what's become of them?"
"I'm going in there."
"I knew you'd do something, Cousin! Maker watch over you." Shianni's face held relief, and more than a small trace of hero worship.
#
Cathiel caught up with him as he started for the building. "Shouldn't we take a moment..."
"I'm going in there."
Morrigan put a hand on her staff. "'tis time for the rampant slaughter then?"
Jerath jerked his head. "There is a way in around back."
Morrigan looked disappointed. "So, no rampant slaughter?"
"We go in, we come around from behind, where there is less chance of flammable innocent bystanders, and then we begin the rampant slaughter."
"Wonderful. For a moment there, you had me concerned."
Alistair and Cathiel exchanged a look. And then Alistair narrowed his eyes and nodded. He put a hand to his sword. "Let's kick these bastards out of Ferelden."
#
It occurred to Cathiel that if they did actually want to get the Tevinter's out of Ferelden at this point, they were going to need a broom. Or maybe a mop and bucket. A couple tried to demand they surrender. One almost managed to complete the sentence.
They stepped out into an alley. "What's this? Another shipment already? We weren't..." The guard narrowed his eyes. "Wait, you're no Tevinter. Who are you supposed to be?"
"I'm Warden Jerath Tabris."
Cathiel blinked as the guard nearly wet himself. "Oh no! I've heard of you." He turned to his fellows, his face terrified. "Attack!"
Cathiel sighed as she dropped the last one with an arrow. "If he had heard of you, you'd think he'd have realized attacking was about the stupidest thing he could have done."
Jerath walked to the door and kicked it open.
#
"What is the meaning of this? We were told that there would be no interference from the authorities!"
"Do I look like one of the authorities?" Jerath asked.
"No. You look like an elf with more curiosity than sense. You will regret this, you know. Believe it or not, we have been given dispensation to do our business here." She smirked. "The humans talk a great deal about how very wrong slavery is, but isn't it funny how quickly the smell of gold overcomes such ideals?"
"Slavers." Jerath narrowed his eyes.
"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to acquire new blood? These slaves will fetch an excellent price in the Imperium, and we are paying handsomely for this opportunity." She shrugged. "But enough. I am here to halt your slaughter, nothing more."
Jerath showed a hint of teeth. "Try." His blade burst into flames as Morrigan's staff glowed, and then he fell on the slavers. Cathiel picked off a couple archers, and Alistair dealt with a qunari mercenary.
Cathiel blinked. Jerath disemboweled the elf woman, then he simply sheathed his blade, and left her there, gasping and twitching on the floor. Morrigan gave the woman a satisfied smile, and followed Jerath. Alistair started to lift his blade for a mercy kill. "Leave her," Jerath said.
"Jerath..."
He turned, and she nearly recoiled from the look in his eyes. "Leave. Her."
Alistair slowly sheathed his sword, and they followed him down the corridor.
#
A man in ornate robes looked up when they entered the room. The walls were lined with cages, packed so full of elves they could hardly move. "I see we are to have an interruption after all. I am Caladrius. And you, I assume, must be the Grey Warden I've heard so much about."
"I don't care who you are; You're going to die." Jerath continued moving forward. The rage in him now was entirely his own.
"Are you certain you wish to commit such a rash action, Grey Warden? Look around you. Surely we can reach some kind of... compromise?"
"That's not going to happen."
Caladrius sighed. "Pity. It looks as if we shall have to settle this the hard way, then. My apologies." He started to intone a spell. Jerath sent out energy of his own, and the spell dissipated in the mage's hand. The man gave him a surprised look. So, for that matter, did Alistair.
The rest of the guards moved to attack. His blades moved almost of their own accord, and the men that came his way simply died.
"Enough! Enough! It seems your reputation is an accurate one. I surrender."
"Surrender?" The man had to be joking. "I don't think so."
"Wait!" Caladrius backed away as Jerath continued to move towards him. "Here me out, kind Ser! Were I to... use the life force of the remaining slaves here, I could... augment your physical health a great deal! Allow me to leave this place alive and I would be more than happy to do this little service for you."
"Hmm, an interesting offer, if a tad messy." Morrigan observed. Blood magic.
"So..." Caladrius actually looked hopeful when Morrigan spoke. "Is my offer of interest to you? Yes?"
It interested him.
Just not the way the mage was hoping.
#
Cathiel barely realized Jerath had moved before his blade impaled Caladrius's abdomen. The dagger was in low, not an immediately fatal wound, but it served to keep the mage pinned to the wall. She didn't hear what Jerath said, but the mage almost immediately tried to flee, slicing himself still further on the dagger. Jerath stepped away, and gave Morrigan an almost imperceptible nod of his head. The swamp witch began to gesture... Cathiel buried her face in Alistair's chest as he too turned away. The screams lasted thankfully only a few moments.
She raised her head, and saw Jerath walking back to where the cages were. He opened one, and the elves began to come out. An older elf, his face lined with the worry of years, approached Jerath.
"Son, is it really you? When they said all the Grey Wardens died at Ostager, I prayed they were wrong. Are you all right? What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't let them hurt my family." She saw Jerath's face soften. It was hard to reconcile the boy being hugged by his father with the man she'd just seen slaughter his way through a slaver operation.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You're so much like your mother."
"Where's Valendrian?"
"They took him on the ships yesterday. He's probably halfway to Tevinter by now."
"But why? He's an old man."
"He's educated and well-spoken. They probably want him for a house servant." Cyrion raised his head and looked around. "This isn't a good place to talk. Come to the house. There's something I should give you." He left the house with the rest of the elves.
#
Cathiel watched as the older man left. "Your father." She looked again at the smoking remains of what had recently been a human being. "The woman out there?"
"Shianni. My father and her father were brothers."
Cathiel bit her lip. "Jerath, how did you become a Grey Warden?"
"I told you. Duncan conscripted me."
Next to her, Alistair spoke up. "Jerath?"
"Yes?"
"This doesn't happen again. Not on Ferelden soil. Ever."
Jerath nodded. "That's why."
"Why?" Alistair blinked at him.
"Why you need to be king." He turned his attention to Morrigan. "Do you have a few moments? I'd like to introduce you to my father."
Cathiel had seen Morrigan fight darkspawn. And demons. And dragons. She was pretty sure that was the first time she'd ever seen Morrigan look afraid.
#
His father fussed. He let him. "Let me get a look at you. Maker, don't they feed you Wardens? You're all skin and bones!"
Jerath smiled at him. "Did Soris mess anything up while you were gone?"
"Ha! You hear that, Soris?" Cyrion smiled and laughed. "No, everything's fine. If it looks a little messy, it's because I had to pull up the floorboards to get this out for you. It belonged to your mother. I think you should have it now."
Jerath looked down at the blade. He turned it over in his hands, and the nodded to himself. Circles. "Thank you."
"I know you'll do great things. You already do. So, tell me, who is your friend? Another Warden?"
Jerath smiled. "Father, this is Morrigan. She's a witch of the wilds."
"A who of the what?"
"An apostate, from the Korcari Wilds."
"I..." Cyrion's eyes widened. "I think I might need to sit down for this."
#
They left to go find Alistair and Cathiel. "You... you took me to meet your father." Morrigan's voice was confused.
He laughed. "Morrigan, there is an archdemon on the loose, and we could easily all be dead or worse tomorrow. For now, I choose to live each day as though it were my last. So yes, I took you to meet my father."
"You said..."
"That you are worth my distraction. If I die tomorrow, I die a happy man, because right now, I have you." He kissed her, there under the vhenadahl. He didn't care who saw them.
"You are an impossible man."
"You are just now figuring that out?" He led her to Alarith's store, where Soris had taken Cathiel to get more arrows.
"Well, well, look who's here." Alarith gave Jerath a pleased nod. "Welcome home! When we heard what happened at Ostagar, we assumed the worst. Should have known better." He wagged a finger at Jerath. "Would it kill you to let you know you're alive once in a while?"
"What's happened since I left?"
"They tore the place apart, cut down anyone who so much as looked at them." Alarith sighed. "There were bodies stacked in the square for weeks."
Jerath shook his head. "Howe is dead, along with most of his soldiers."
"Son, didn't you learn the first time? I'm not saying you shouldn't have done that, but... well, you shouldn't have done that. It will only bring more trouble here. Things are bad enough."
"It won't," Alistair said firmly.
"Oh, and I suppose you can do something about it?" Alarith asked him. "Who are you supposed to be?"
"I am Alistair Therin." He took a breath. "King of Ferelden."
Alarith blinked, and then looked from Alistair to Jerath. His face paled, and then he slowly turned back to Alistair. "A pleasure to meet you, your Majesty."
"We should be getting back," Jerath said. "We still need to kick Loghain off the throne."
#
They turned over the papers they'd found to Eamon. Eamon looked troubled by the news. "I think we have enough evidence to turn the entire Landsmeet against Loghain."
"Good," Saitada said.
"I think everyone who is going to arrive in time has. I will call the Landsmeet for this evening. Make any final preparations necessary."
Saitada nodded to Eamon, and then turned to the others. "Get cleaned up, and then meet me in the study."
#
Saitada finished going over what the Landsmeet entailed, then sighed. "Jerath, according to what I've been told, it seems that the Landsmeet can be decided by a duel. For the obvious reason that most of us aren't Fereldan citizens, that means if it comes to that, you will have to represent us. Loghain isn't going to stand 50' away and let Cathiel pepper him with arrows, and, well, no offense Alistair..."
"None taken!" Alistair assured her.
"We should have our best warrior as champion. That would be you even without the citizenship issue."
"I remain your sword, Saitada."
She nodded. "Because I know certain of you, this is an order. Brehan and Leliana have arranged everyone's clothing. You will give them your full cooperation in this matter." She sighed, then gave Alistair a considering look. "I wish we had a crown for you."
Brosca bent, and rummaged in his bag. He pulled out a crown. "This one work?"
"Where did you get that?" Saitada asked.
"Nicked it from Loghain."
"You... stole Loghain's crown?"
"Junior helped."
"I..." Saitada sighed. "Never mind. I don't want to know. Put that thing away before someone arrests you."
"I don't know, I think it might just send the proper message," Cathiel said, giggling.
