Cathiel adjusted the armor on Alistair, making sure the griffon was aligned front and center. He smiled down at her, bending slightly to kiss her forehead as she tightened the last strap.
"How do I look?"
"Like a warden." She kissed him. "And like a king. He does good work."
"Good." He gave her an admiring look. "I like the drakescale armor on you. Remind me to thank Leliana and Brehan for having it made." He bent to kiss her again when there was a polite knock on the open door. "Jerath! Hi! We were just..."
"My apologies for interrupting your royalnesses, but I found something that might complete your look." He handed Alistair a wrapped parcel.
"Ooh, present! And it's not even my name day." Alistair grinned boyishly as he began to unwrap the item. His hands started to shake as he starred at the item in disbelief. "This... this shield. It's Duncan's, isn't it? That's his crest..."
Jerath twitched a shoulder. "I thought maybe you might want it."
Alistair could barely get the words out. "Thank you. Truly, I had no idea his shield wasn't with him. This is perfect." He strapped the shield to his arm. "I don't know how else to express my gratitude." He grabbed Jerath, pulling the startled elf into a bear hug. "This means a great deal to me. I can't believe you remembered it at all..."
"Just take it." Cathiel had to hide a smile at the annoyance in Jerath's voice. "And let go of me."
"Oh. Of course." Alistair set him back on the ground. "Thank you again."
Jerath gave him a nod and left the room. Cathiel hesitated a moment, then followed.
"Thank you."
"He already said that."
"Now I'm saying it. I know... I know we haven't always been friendly to each other, or even nice, but... you've had our backs at every step. You even helped me get Howe. I owe you. We owe you."
Jerath stood there a moment, still and quiet. Cathiel waited, expecting a response, but after a couple heartbeats he finished walking way. She gazed after him a moment before returning to Alistair.
#
Saitada looked up as Alistair and Cathiel entered the room. She gave a low whistle. "You two look..."
Brosca chimed in 'like a couple of royal badasses." Lenore and Zevran smacked him lightly on the back of the head simultaneously.
Cathiel grinned at Saitada. "You look like a royal badass yourself, Princess."
Leliana grinned, pride evident on her face as she made last minute adjustments to various people. "Overthrowing a regent calls for a certain amount of style."
Eamon entered a moment later, followed by Jerath and Morrigan. "Good. You are all here. Bring Alistair and join me at the palace as soon as you are ready, Commander."
Saitada nodded. "Sten, Oghren, and Zevran are going to be accompanying you, Eamon. Loghain has hired assassins before, and it seems he has only grown more desperate since."
Eamon nodded, and took his leave, followed by the others.
Saitada looked around the room. "Everyone ready?"
Leliana smiled triumphantly. "Dressed in our best and prepared to go to war."
Saitada grinned. "Good. Let's go."
#
Eamon stood on the balcony, Alistair and Cathiel flanking him. The blue cloaks, trimmed in silver with embroidery of griffons, served to mark them as wardens. Saitada stood in the lower area, with the rest of the wardens, in a similar cloak. On her brow was a silver circlet, more subtle than a crown, but marked with the sign of house Aeducan. No few of the lords stared when they saw it.
"My lords and ladies of the Landsmeet, Teyrn Loghain would have us give up our freedoms, our traditions, out of fear!" Eamon's voice rang out, strong and powerful. "He placed us on this path, yet we should place our destiny in his hands? Must we sacrifice everything good about our nation to save it?"
The angry muttering of the bannorn was cut off by the sound of Loghain's mocking applause. "A fine performance, Eamon, but no one here is taken in by it." Loghain shook his head. "You would attempt to put a puppet on the throne and every soul here knows it. The better question is, 'Who will pull the strings?'" He turned to look at Saitada. "Ah! And here we have the puppeteer."
She stepped forward. He gave her an accusing look as he continued. "Tell us, Warden: How will the Orlesians take our nation from us? Will they deign to send their troops, or simply issue their commands through this would-be prince?" He glared. "Where is the famous steadfastness of the dwarves? How much did it cost the empress to buy your loyalty?"
"The Blight is the threat here," she said. Her voice was almost maternal, patiently addressing a child throwing a tantrum. "Not Orlais!"
Alfstanna's voice was wry. "There are enough refugees in my bannorn now to make that abundantly clear."
Wulff rose. Cathiel had done her work well. "The south is fallen, Loghain! Will you let darkspawn take the whole country for fear of Orlais?"
Loghain's voice was apologetic. "The Blight is indeed real, Wulff. But do we need Grey Wardens to fight it?" He gestured at her again. "They claim that they alone can end the Blight, yet they failed spectacularly against the darkspawn at Ostagar, and they ask to bring with them four legions of chevaliers." He shook his head. "And once we open our borders to the chevaliers, can we really expect them to simply return from whence they came?" He glared down at her.
Time to change the field, and hit him at his weakest point. After all, why had the Orlesian occupation been so hated? "You allowed Rendon Howe to imprison and torture innocents."
The blow was solid. The Bannorn was rising. Sighard gestured angrily. "The Warden speaks truly! My son was taken under cover of night. The things done to him..." He slammed his fists down on the rail. "Some of them are beyond any healer's skill."
Loghain shook his head, and tried to regroup. "Howe was responsible for himself. He will answer to the Maker for any wrongs committed in this life. As must we all." He glared at her. "But you know that. You were the one who murdered him."
It was a mistake on his part, reminding the Bannorn who, exactly, had stopped Howe. Cathiel shifted, drawing attention to herself right on cue. The last of the Couslands. Loghain tried to draw them back. "Whatever Howe may have done, he should have been brought before the seneschal. There is no justice in butchering a man in his home."
"No?" Saitada's voice rang out, the voice of the royal house of Orzammar. "Then why did you send a blood mage to poison Arl Eamon?"
Loghain gave her a scornful look. "I assure you, Warden, if I were going to send someone, it would be my own soldiers. I would not trust to the discretion of an apostate."
"Indeed?" The ire in Alfstanna's voice couldn't have been more perfect than if Saitada had had Leliana coach her. The woman arched an eyebrow, her arms folded across her chest. "My brother tells a very different tale. He says you snatched a blood mage from the Chantry's justice. Coincidence?" Cathiel really hadn't been joking when she said Alfstanna would be a powerful ally.
The grand cleric stood up, and the eyes of every noble in the bannorn turned to her. She turned her stern eyes on Loghain. "Do not think the Chantry will overlook this, Teyrn Loghain. Interference in a templar's sacred duties is an offense against the Maker."
He tried to wave her off. Another mistake. "Whatever I have done, I will answer for later. At the moment, however, I wish to know what this Warden has done with my daughter."
Beautiful. It was like watching him walk through the Deep Roads gate on his own. "What have I done?" She shook her head and smiled. "I've protected her from you."
He glared at her. "You took my daughter - our queen - by force, killing her guards in the process. What arts have you employed to keep her? Does she even still live?"
The only art that kept Anora was a lie. A suggestion of support. Anora stepped out from where she'd been, protected by the watchful eyes of Sten and Jerath. "I believe I can speak for myself." She walked into the center of the room, playing the role of queen beautifully. It was almost a shame. "Lords and ladies of Ferelden, hear me. My father is no longer the man you know. This man is not the hero of River Dane." She pointed to the balcony as she addressed the crowd. "This man turned his troops aside and refused to protect your king as he fought bravely against the darkspawn." She spread her hands. "This man seized Cailan's throne before his body was cold and locked me away so I could not reveal his treachery." She turned, reaching a hand out to Saitada. I would have already been killed, if not for the Grey Wardens."
Saitada stepped to her side. "Loghain is not to be trusted."
He looked down at his daughter. Had he been any other man, she might have felt sorrow at the expression on his face. He'd lost. He knew it. "So the Warden's influence has poisoned even your mind, Anora?" He shook his head. "I wanted to protect you from this." He turned back to the Bannorn. "My lords and ladies, our land has been threatened before. It's been invaded, and lost, and won times beyond counting." He tried to rally them back. "We Fereldens have proven that we will never truly be conquered so long as we are united. We must not let ourselves be divided now. Stand with me, and we shall defeat even the Blight itself."
Bryland was the first to stand, as Cathiel had said. "South Reach stands with the Grey Wardens."
A noble whose name she didn't know stood. "The Warden helped me personally in a... family matter." She noted a bit of surprise on Eamon's face and made a mental note to ask about that later. Brosca was grinning.
Alfstanna's voice was firm. "Waking Sea stands with the Grey Wardens!"
Sighard's voice was still filled with rage. "Dragon's Peak supports the Wardens!"
Wulff sat as he spoke. "The Western Hills throw their lot in with the Wardens. Maker help us."
A quavering voice spoke up. "I stand by Loghain! We've no hope of victory otherwise."
The remaining voices failed to join him. "I stand with the Wardens." From the other side of the room. "The Blight is coming; we need the Grey Wardens!"
She counted as the last of the voices died away. Six more than Cathiel had predicted. Her companions had done their work well. "The Landsmeet is against you, Loghain. Step down gracefully." She really hoped he wouldn't.
"Traitors! Which of you stood against the Orlesian emperor when his troops flattened your fields and raped your wives?" He turned and gestured at Eamon. "You fought with us once, Eamon. You cared about this land once. Before you got too old and fat and content to even see what you risk." He shook his head. "None of you deserve a say in what happens here! None of you have spilled blood for this land the way I have!" His voice was almost a snarl. "How dare you judge me!"
His soldiers entered. She was rather amused at how casually Jerath and Sten stepped aside to let the soldiers pass. Perfect. "Call off your men and we'll settle this honorably." Let the Bannorn see the wardens as the peacemakers. The diplomats. Alistair's reign would begin with honor.
Loghain narrowed his eyes. "Then let us end this."
#
Loghain stood on one side of the room, flanked by his soldiers. "When we first met at Ostagar, I would never have thought so. But Ostagar seems like it happened in another lifetime, to someone else. A man is made by the quality of his enemies. Maric told me that once. I wonder if it's more a compliment to you or me. Enough. Let the Landsmeet declare the terms of the duel."
Alfstanna's voice rose above the crowd. It was good that woman was an ally. "It shall be fought according to tradition: a test of arms in single combat until one party yields. And we who are assembled will abide by the outcome."
"Will you face me yourself," Loghain stared at her. "Or have you a champion?"
"Jerath stands as the Warden's champion."
She saw the Bannorn react. A lovely side effect. She knew she was sending the Warden's best. But the Bannorn saw an elf, young enough not to have his full growth. They saw an insult. A few shifted uncertainly. It wasn't enough to beat Loghain. Killing him wasn't enough. She wanted him destroyed.
Alistair and Cathiel were standing by Eamon. She went to join them. Alistair nodded to her. It was almost over.
#
Cathiel tried to appear confident as the nobles made a circle around Loghain and Jerath. Loghain stood more than a foot taller than Jerath, and outweighed him by at least fifty pounds before taking into account the differences in their armor. Jerath had chosen splintmail, and for all it was made of dragon skin it looked like naught more than paper next to Loghain's full plate. The elf was fast, true, but it mattered for nothing if all Loghain had to do was land a single blow.
The combatants circled each other for a moment. Loghain drew his blade, tapping it lightly against his shield. Jerath made no move towards his own weapons. With a shout, Loghain charged. A half heart-beat before Loghain reached him, Jerath spun to the side, drawing his weapon with one hand as the other shoved against Loghain's sword arm, knocking the bigger man off balance. Before Loghain could recover, Jerath came around his back and slashed Starfang into the gap between Loghain's arm and shield, cutting and damaging the straps.
As the two faced off again, Loghain's shield hung askew. Though it still provided some modicum of protection, its movements were slowed. At least, not without knocking himself dangerously off balance and providing his much faster opponent with all the opportunity he would need. Again, Jerath went still, waiting. Loghain glanced at his shield, shifting his arm to try to mitigate the damage done. He moved in, this time cautiously. Jerath let Loghain take a few steps, and then swiftly moved in to meet him. Loghain lifted his shield to block, and Jerath shifted his own motion, coming around to the side of the shield. The damaged strap prevented Loghain from being able to shift the shield's position in time to prevent Jerath's blow to the side of the knee.
Cathiel smiled. The combination of shield damage and the blow to the leg slowed the bigger man considerably. The more lightly armored Jerath would be able to dance in and out practically at his leisure. From the frustrated look on Loghain's face, he'd obviously come to the same conclusion. Again, the big man charged, but as Jerath started to move, Loghain shifted his weapon of choice from sword to shield in a movement clearly intended to simply pummel his smaller opponent to the ground. It would have worked to, except as Loghain struck, Jerath dodged inside the shield, instead of away from it, moving in close enough that the larger man could bring neither shield nor sword to bear.
Jerath plunged his dagger into Loghain's side, drawing a hiss of pain from the human. He then pushed off, using Loghain himself to provide leverage as he batted Loghain's sword out of his way, again putting distance between the two. Blood dripped from the opening in Loghain's armor. Loghain shifted his shield, obviously expecting the elf to close in again and finish it. Jerath's face never changed expression. He began to circle Loghain, who turned to keep the elf in front of him. Each step took nothing from Jerath, but it was clear that the injuries had taken their toll on Loghain.
Cathiel whispered to Alistair. "What is he waiting for?"
"I don't know." He blinked. "Neither does Saitada."
Loghain began to move towards the elf, slowly at first, before shifting to a charge from a closer position. Jerath caught Loghain's blade on his dagger, redirecting the force rather than blocking it and letting Loghain's own momentum carry him out of position. Starfang whipped out in a blow, tearing a gash in Loghain's breastplate. Jerath completed a spin, bringing Starfang in again, this time completing what his first blow had started and demolishing Loghain's shield entirely. The dagger came up and penetrated the shoulder of Loghain's sword-arm.
Loghain fell, landing on one knee. He tried to lift his sword, but the blade nearly slipped from his fingers entirely.
"I underestimated you, Warden. I thought you were like Cailan, a child wanting to play at war. I was wrong. There's a strength in you I've not seen anywhere since Maric died. I yield."
"I accept your surrender."
#
Saitada's mouth dropped open. That was... not supposed to happen.
Alistair shook his hands and gestured. "I didn't just hear you say that. You're going to let him live? After everything he's done?! Kill him, already!"
Riordan stepped out of the crowd. "Wait! There is another option! The teyrn is a warrior and general of renown. Let him be of use. Let him go through the joining."
"You want to make him a Warden?" Saitada stared at him. "Why?"
"There are eight of us in all of Ferelden. And there are... compelling reasons to have as many Wardens on hand as possible to deal with the archdemon."
Anora was quick to grasp the straw. "The Joining itself is often fatal, is it not? If he survives, you gain a general. If not, you have your revenge. Doesn't that satisfy you?"
"Absolutely not!" Alistair said. "Riordan, this man abandoned our brothers and then blamed us for the deed! He hunted us down like animals. He tortured you! How can we simply forget that?"
Brosca glanced at Jerath. "Maybe Riordan has a point, we could put him through the Joining."
"Joining the Wardens is an honor, not a punishment! Name him a Warden and you cheapen us all! I will not stand next to him as a brother. I won't!" Alistair drew back his shoulders.
"Not all of us have spotless honor, you know," Jerath said quietly.
Alistair shook his head. "Some things can't be undone or forgiven. This goes way past having spotless honor, we aren't talking about a minor hiccup in his past! I didn't want to be king. I still don't. But... if that's what it takes to see Loghain get justice, then I'll do it. I'll take the crown."
Jerath twitched a shoulder. "Then I hereby invoke the Grey Warden's Right of Conscription. I remove this prisoner into my custody."
"I..." Anger shown on every inch of Alistair's face. "You!"
Saitada starred at Jerath before putting a hand on Alistair's arm. "It is his right, Alistair."
Alistair glared down at her. "Fine. You want Loghain in the Grey Wardens so badly. Then I'll be leaving the Wardens to take the throne."
"You can't just stop being a Warden, Alistair."
"Watch me."
Cathiel spoke up before the argument could continue. "This can be discussed later. We are keeping the Landsmeet waiting."
"Right."
#
Eamon strode towards them, and turned his gaze on Saitada. "Warden Commander, as the arbiter of this dispute, what is your decision? Who will lead Ferelden?"
Saitada stood, again every inch the princess. "Alistair will be king, and Teryna Cousland will rule beside him." Anora's face went black with fury.
Eamon's voice held a small note of satisfaction as he turned to her. "Anora, the Landsmeet has decided against you. You must now swear fealty to the king, and relinquish all claim to the throne for yourself and your heirs."
Anora all but spat at him. "If you think I will swear that oath, Eamon, you know nothing of me."
Jerath gave Loghain the barest nudge with his foot. Loghain glanced at the elf, who gave a pointed look towards the guards, and Saitada saw realization dawn in his eyes. Loghain turned to his daughter. "Anora, be reasonable."
Anora turned towards him, and her eyes widened slightly. "Very well, Eamon. I will make the oath."
#
Jerath helped Loghain to his feet and the two started to follow Riordan. Morrigan followed a few paces behind. Saitada turned to the others. "Go back to Arl Eamon's estate, finish gathering whatever supplies we need for the trek back to Redcliff." She sent a furious glance in the direction Jerath had gone. "Alistair...I'm sorry."
"It wasn't your fault."
Saitada gave a jerky nod of her head before stalking off after Jerath. Cathiel hesitated a moment, then followed.
"Somebody's about to have his ears clipped." Brosca shook his head.
Lenore stared. "What...what was he thinking, pulling that stunt?"
Brehan frowned. "I have this revolutionary idea... we could...you know... ask him."
Brosca snorted. "Yeah, because the guy has always been so forthcoming with answers thus far."
Wynne shook her head. "Enough, now is not the time."
#
Riordan and Jerath had helped Loghain remove his damaged armor before Saitada caught up with them. Morrigan began casting the healing spell as Saitada stalked into the room. Riordan stood by a small altar, mixing something into a silver chalice.
Saitada shoved a finger into his chest. "Jerath, what the hell was that."
"Commander, if you wait just a few more minutes, we can find out if this conversation is even going to be necessary."
"It's going to be necessary regardless," she said, shoving him back a step.
Riordan tried to intercede. "Commander..."
She held up a hand. "I'm talking to Jerath. I do not desire input from anyone else in this room."
"Then let us speak elsewhere." He gestured for Saitada to follow him.
They had barely managed to get out of the room before Saitada grabbed his arm. "I repeat, what the hell was that?"
"The Right of Conscription. You may not be familiar with it, as I believe you joined voluntarily."
Cathiel stepped next to Saitada. "This is not the time for your games, Jerath."
"It isn't a game, Cathiel. It never has been. Grey Wardens do what they must." He shook his head. "You'd have preferred to execute Anora?"
"Execute... why would I execute Anora?"
Jerath raised his eyebrow. "Because your alternative would have been to have her raise a rebellion against you. For her to whisper to all the nobles that if she were on the throne, their people would have their farms back by now, that the supply routes would be open, that the refugees would have homes. And they'd listen, because they'd want to believe it and to believe that if she were back on the throne they would have some modicum more power of their own." He gave Saitada a steady look. "Am I right?"
Cathiel stared when she saw Saitada sigh and nod. "But she did take the oath."
"Of course she did." He turned to look at her. "Just as you became a warden. Because she too, loves a father who saw the axe coming for his child. And she, like you, will do her duty. I've given you a hostage to gain you an administrator who knows the ins and outs of Ferelden and because her father raised her to know her duty, will serve you well. I suggest you acknowledge Anora as Teryna of Gwaren as soon as possible."
Cathiel's jaw dropped open, and she tried several times to speak.
Saitada shook her head. "An admirable thought, but we still can't trust Loghain."
Jerath shrugged. "How many of our allies did we start out able to trust? For that matter, how many of our allies can we trust now? If he moves against us, I will kill him then."
"Yes." She tapped his breastplate. "You will. If he survives the joining, he is your responsibility."
"I suppose he is." He twitched a shoulder. "Was there anything else?"
"Just this..." She gazed up at him. "Pull another stunt like that, and I'm going to make you eat my shield, got it?"
"Understood, Commander."
#
Morrigan looked up from where she had finished closing the last of Loghain's wounds. Loghain followed her gaze. "Everything settled?"
Jerath nodded. "Riordan, are you ready?
"Yes." He handed Loghain the chalice. "You are called upon to submit yourself to the taint for the greater good. From this moment forth, you are a Grey Warden."
"I... understand."
#
Loghain was rather surprised when he woke up. The elf sat in a chair across the room, watching quietly.
"I passed your test. Fate has a twisted sense of humor, it seems. I suppose you think I'm some sort of monster. More so since I survived your ritual: you keep striking at me, and I just refuse to die decently."
"I don't think you're a monster."
Loghain sighed. "You're a poor liar, you know. It's kind of you to say so, all the same. We must settle things between us somehow or other, or none of us will get any work done. So, what will it be?"
The elf twitched a shoulder. "Saitada wishes you to know that if you act against us in any way, you'll be executed immediately. She's made you my responsibility. We're going to have to work together."
Loghain remembered the fury on the dwarf's face when she'd confronted the elf. "Is that punishment meant for me or for you? And just like that, we're allies? I can't imagine it's so simple. I don't know what concession you want from me, Warden. I expect my word will not satisfy you."
"You are a Grey Warden now, too, you know."
"Indeed, I'd almost forgotten that. Thank you for the reminder. I think it's time we got to the point here: What do you want from me? I can't imagine you spared my life in the Landsmeet by accident. You have some plan in mind."
"You tell me: What do you want?"
"What I want? What an odd question..." Loghain shook his head, and stared at the other man. It was several moments before he answered. "I want to ride back to Denerim and sit in the war room and find no empty chairs at the table. I want to lose nothing else. I want a line, clearly drawn, that I can defend. I want an end to this war. All of this can rightly be called my fault. Whether or not you can do better remains to be seen." He met the younger man's eyes. "But if you can make this the end, Warden, I will follow you. I swear it."
Jerath rose, and picked up the items on the table. He handed them to Loghain. "The sword is called the Keening Blade. It's been enchanted to be especially potent against the Darkspawn. The shield... The shield I think you might know."
He stared at it in disbelief, then took it reverantly. His fingers traced the heraldry. "Maric's shield. Where did you?"
"It seems he lost it in the Deep Roads some time previous. An enterprising merchant found it, and it made its way into my hands." Jerath shrugged. "And it seems I rendered your previous shield somewhat beyond repair."
"That you did." He looked up. The elf in front of him couldn't be more than seventeen. He doubted the young man even had his full growth on him. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"
"From a Night Elf." Loghain started at the young man's answer. "You've been unconscious for about three hours now. The soldiers are preparing to march. We can talk more later."
