A Conversation among Friends

Denerim – Arl Eamon's Estate, 9:30, Haring 17th Midmorning

Natasha felt much better after a long night's sleep. After a short talk with Arl Eamon about the next days and the Landsmeet, the wardens and Leliana had went to their rooms. It had been a huge change to the weeks on the road to have warm and dry rooms with broad beds and fluffy bedclothes. She really could stay in bed for a few days but there was much to do.

Loud voices proclaimed the presence of a guest. Natasha sighed deeply. For a moment she was really hard pressed to walk away but the voices of Mikhail and Alistair convinced her to go on. At the table her fellow wardens were discussing with Arl Eamon, Bann Teagan and Teyrn Loghain. The discussion seemed quite agitated, words like murderer and traitor flowing back and forth freely. To her relief Ser Cauthrien was standing at the back of the room with a stony face. In her shiny armor and with the Summer Sword on her back she was the impressive sight Natasha remembered from Ostagar.

Arl Eamon shot her a puzzled glance as Natasha went to Ser Cauthrien instead of the table, but then he turned his face back to Mikhail. Natasha wasn't really sure whom she despised more: Loghain whom she made responsible for the deaths of Duncan and the other grey wardens or Eamon, who in her eyes tried to shove someone on the throne he treated badly in the past and hoped to be able to manipulate in the future.

Ser Cauthrien looked at the mage, let her eyes wanders over her muscled arms and shoulders and answered Natasha's greetings with a small nod. "Good morning, Ser Cauthrien. I hope you're all well?" For a moment the warrioress hesitated, pondered intensely about the intent of the warm greeting. "Err … yes, all fine … till now." Natasha disregarded Cauthrien's tentativeness. With a short look to the table she spoke silently. "I don't really expect that they will come to an agreement, but I really hope so. That's the reason I stay behind. I'm really not good at polite conversation."

Cauthrien pinched her eyes for a moment, and then she relaxed a bit and tried a broader smile, seeing no deviousness in the mage's eyes. "I heard so. I'm also more the … active part." Natasha grinned. "Perhaps sometime we can try a little sparring. I was hoping for an opportunity since you handed Mikhail his ass in Ostagar." Cauthrien frowned, and then answered the grin. "Yes, I remember. But he had potential. Surely he improved since then. As I heard you were fairly active the last months. About the sparring: I don't think that a warrior and a mage could do this reasonable."

"Oh, I won't be mage … err … sure I'm a mage. What I wanted to say: I wouldn't sling spells around. I learned to wear armor and arms, my magic strengthening my body. It is an old elven magic technique. I fear I'm still no match for someone like you but I shouldn't be more awful than Mikhail the last time. I would like to try it, especially because you're trained to fight with a greatsword."

Nodding slowly Cauthrien responded: "That sounds interesting. I never heard of such a technique. But … why is it important that I fight with a greatsword?" Natasha smiled grimly: "I prepare for a duel I promised someone for the time after the blight. He's very good with it. I don't want to look too shabby when the time comes up."

"You're very … odd. All over Ferelden we battle the blight and you make duel plans?" Natasha sighed: "Yes, it has to be. For now we postponed the duel because the blight is more urgent, but sometime …" Cauthrien made a thin smile: "So he's one of your companions? The Qunari I assume as Mikhail and Alistair are shield warriors." Natasha grinned slightly, not wondering about Ser Cauthrien's knowledge. "Yes, he is. Sten is his name or better his rank but he's called by it."

Ser Cauthrien stayed silent for a while. "Good, we have a sparring date if this all is over. And if we don't have to fight earlier." She pointed to the table. "From their faces I fear our next meeting will not be a pleasant one." Natasha nodded with sorrow on her face. "Yes, the disparity of opinions is too great. And that's even with your Sire thankfully leaving the murderous bastard at home. I mean Rendon Howe."

"Why do you think him a murderous bastard? Surely, he's not a very nice one. Truthfully told I despise him for being a treacherous rat. But he's not a murderer. Perhaps you think about him killing the Couslands but he had reason to do so. They we're in league with the Orlesians. Loghain got credible evidence about their treason. Howe was sent to arrest them and they resisted. He had to kill them. If Mikhail wouldn't be a grey warden, we would drag him before the Landsmeet for treason too."

Natasha gasped several times, looking at Cauthrien as she would be hopelessly mad. "You … you really believe this, yes? I always wondered how someone like you could be part of this. Loghain, yes, he's a statesman. But you …" For some moments Natasha tried to gather her nerves again.

"Do you know what happened at Highever? Howe came to the castle, played the old friend to the family. He waited some days, gave Fergus the time to leave with the bulk of the Cousland army, and then striking at night. You say they are traitors, and that he was there to imprison them. But how does this fit together with his men killing not only soldiers but many servants too? Ransacking the castle chapel? They tried to kill Mikhail in his bedchamber, attacked his unarmored girl-friend, and slaughtered the visiting Lady Landra. Mikhail saw Howe's men raping and killing Oriana, his sister-in-law. They shot Oren, his seven-year-old nephew."

Shocked Cauthrien looked at Natasha. "But … but he said … that can't be …" The mage interrupted her: "The truth will be shown sometime. But certainly that action was not to imprison anyone. Howe planned to extinguish the whole family. If not for Duncan's timely arrival and saving Mikhail, Howe would have succeeded."

Natasha gave the warrioress some time to ponder about the news, and then she continued with a soft voice: "I really don't want to push you or sway your loyalties. But be sure what Howe is. He is a bastard and deserves a death sentence. And he's dangerous, perhaps even for your Sire." Cauthrien stayed silent, her head bowed low. As the conversation at the table broke up, she gripped Cauthrien's arm gently: "I have a last question. You don't have to answer, I could understand you. But I have at least to ask."

Looking sternly in Cauthrien's eyes the mage asked: "Back at Ostagar: was it really essential for Loghain's troops to quit the field? From your vantage point was the situation so dire that it was not possible to win the battle?" Cauthrien blinked several times, her jaws strongly working. At last she answered with a coarse whisper: "I'm not an army leader but a simple warrior. My point of view may be …" Her voice trembled away. "Please don't press the question. I can't …"

With a jolt Cauthrien left her place, nodded a last time to Natasha and followed Loghain out of the estate.