Insert disclaimer here.
Another screaming match about putting Alistair on the throne is in full swing when it is unexpectedly cut short by a servant escorting a well dressed elven woman into the chambers.
"Erlina, it is an honor to have the queen's personal handmaiden in my home," Eamon drawls as if he'd not been yowling only a minute before, "How can I be of service to her Majesty?"
The servant offers the aging human a deep bow, "My Lord, Arl Howe has lost his mind and taken her Majesty! I didn't know where else to go!"
Lynx leans over to Alistair and whispers, "So...trap?"
He bobs his blond head and folds his arms over his barrel chest, "Definitely a trap, but set by whom? Loghain? Howe? Or Anora herself?"
Gabriel, shifting to Alistair's right, snorts in derision, "I'll wager it was Anora. She's always been a frosty control freak. It would be just like her to pull something like this."
"I'll say Howe, just for what he did to Gabe and his family," Jowan meekly adds then offers an apology to his fellow Greylcoak.
Alistair smirks and victoriously blurts, "Loghain," before Lynx or Zevran can claim the name.
"What's the ante then, since I know positions are off the table?" Zevran purrs, pulling an empty pouch from his belt and untying the cord.
"Not much. A full sovereign," Lynx decides with a toothy grin, "We can talk about positions in private so Alistair's head doesn't explode from embarrassment."
"Saucy, I like it," the elf smiles lecherously.
"Not much you say?" the Templar whines as he reaches for his pouch, "A sovereign is all that I have left after stopping by the cheese vendor."
His sister elbows him in the side, "Get over it or I'm going to beat you to death with your precious cheese."
Zevran turns his grin back to his lover, "Don't be so hasty about that dea, it might be an enduring fantasy of his to leave this world in such a manner."
She lets out an evil cackle and winks at the elf, "Maybe I'll just heat it up to boiling and pour it over his big blocky head. See how much he likes it then."
"I've had a reoccurring dream where I've been swimming in a massive vat of gooey cheese and it was so wonderful," Alistair's features turn wistful for a moment before melting into a frown, "Then Morrigan came along and drowned me in it."
"Death by cheese? This is officially the weirdest conversation ever, even for us," Gabriel shakes his head and peeks over at the Arl, "Hurry up, I think they're almost done."
They quickly deposit the coins into the bag and Zevran tucks it away from sight while Eamon concludes his discussion with the elven maid. As he hobbles closer, Lynx spots Erlina making doe eyes at her assassin and utters a low, feral growl at the woman, causing her to squeak and scurry from the room.
"I love it when you get so possessive of me cara. You have no idea what it does to me," he suggestively coos into her hair before donning his usual cocky smirk and facing the Arl.
"Queen Anora has been taken hostage by Rendon Howe and is being held at his estate here in Denerim," he aims a dark look at the lone female Warden before adding," It seems that she was willing to give the Grey Wardens a full pardon and stand with us at the Landsmeet, causing Howe- and most likely Loghain- to take measures."
"Is there any proof of this intent?" Lynx inquires in spite of what her intuition is telling her.
Eamon hands her a piece of parchment, "Erlina gave me this."
She takes one look at the letter, notices the strange ink it is written in, then peers over to Jowan, "Is this written in what I think it is?"
"Yes," he confirms, taking the letter from her and holding it up to the window, "This will make it much easier to track her down."
The human lord bristles over the pairs thinly disguised talk of blood magic, but his complaints are stalled by the annoyed glares of the other Wardens in the room. He fidgets in agitation while the companions construct a plan with looks, gestures, and half spoken sentences.
"That is final," Lynx eventually scowls and the men quiet, "Gabe, Alis, you will stay here with Oghren, Wynne, Morrigan, and the dogs. Jowan, Leli, Zev, and I will go save the stupid damsel in distress. While we're busy, try to send a message out to the other Wardens and apprise them of the new situation. I don't want anyone to be caught unawares if this explodes on us."
"What's the plan if you are captured?" Alistair's visage is pained as he gingerly drops an arm over her shoulders, "I don't want to lose any of you."
"Come and rescue us of course," his sister half-jokingly responds, then sobers, "You have enough evidence to bring the Landsmeet-and Loghain-to their knees little brother. If the worst should come to pass, you or Gabriel flip a coin on which of you will volunteer to be king, then hack Loghain into kibble. After that you can come and set us free. Easy peasy."
None of those set to be left behind are happy about it, but once Lynx convinces them that stealth is needed over brute strength, they individually vow to come to their aid should the group find themselves trapped. Oghren even gives the hedge mage a flask of his good stuff for luck as they head out to save the queen.
