Chapter 50: Pariahs
Once again Solona found herself in her baths, and once again…she found no comfort. It had been days since the rather…unfortunate incident at the dinner, and still everyone was keeping their distance, not wanting to disturb her. Even Sebastian was giving her a wide birth.
It was frustrating beyond belief. Was her husband…was he actually afraid of her?
Maker that would be awful!
As she floated in the water, she tried to make sense of what had happened that day. She remembered hearing the voices, voices that rose so quickly to a crescendo, and then…nothing…
She…she had simply snapped.
The next three days had passed in a blur. She had lapsed in and out of consciousness as the healer tended to her. Mental exhaustion the man had said, he had prescribed a new kind of sleeping draught for her, it had kept her asleep for almost three days.
When she had awoken, she found that she did feel better, the voices had stopped, and she no longer felt so…so…distraught.
Sebastian had remained at her side for most of her recovery, holding her hand and whispering quietly to her.
He had been asleep when she had finally awakened, but opened his eyes when he felt her kiss upon his fingers.
He smiled and took her into his arms.
She sighed happily; saddened that she had frightened him so.
Seneschal Bran and Daylen arrived an hour or so later. The healers were insistent that she take a few days rest away from her duties, no stress, that meant no Qunari, no nobles, and especially no Meredith.
Daylen had volunteered to serve as protector of the realm during her recovery; he assured her that he was more than capable of carrying out her wishes.
Solona had smiled.
Her sweet little brother, he was always so eager to carry the load.
She had refused his request; he had enough things on his plate right now with the Alienage, his duties as Hand, and planning his wedding with Angelique.
She had no desire to add to his troubles. Bran would assume command until she was ready to return to the throne.
Daylen nodded, accepting her choice, but she still got the feeling that he did not agree, his good bye to her seemed more forced than usual. He returned her locket to her, and left.
The Viscountess shook her head, she knew that Daylen meant well, but she had no desire to see him work himself to exhaustion either.
Brand was a capable administrator, he might have been a bit of a clod, but he was a good man.
He could handle her duties while she rested.
…While she tried to rest.
The Viscountess frowned.
Rest as it turned out, was not so easy to find in the keep. She had become used to the daily routine of meetings and reports. Sebastian refused to let her see any of them, he wanted her to get better, and the best way to do that was to rest her mind, and heal.
She spent much of her time in her baths these days. Sebastian was busy with helping the Seneschal, leaving her with nothing to do. Even Bethany was no longer open to her as a companion. She spent most of her time getting Perrin's new household in order.
The Viscountess sighed.
Even Alec was avoiding her, they had only just begun to explore her ability to summon arcane constructs, but he had restricted her from studying that power until she was fully recovered.
No reports, no meetings, no magic, and no family, she feared that she would go insane from boredom.
She feared that she had already gone insane!
But how? Why? What had happened to make her…?
She just did not know.
She continued to try and dissect what had happened to her in the days leading up to her breakdown. Nothing made sense; she had never had such problems before now. What had changed in her life that would make her fall apart so?
She began a mental list.
She had gotten married, but that could not be it. Sebastian lightened her load. She might have been a little worried about not being able to get with child, but certainly that would not have caused her to…to snap.
As for the Templars and mages, she had been dealing with that problem since she had first taken the throne. Meredith and Orsino were a pain, but it was one she had learned how to deal with. She did not think them the problem.
The Qunari…well the fanatics were a problem, but so far they had not provoked the Arishok and his people to violence, at least…not yet. The Qun demanded that the Qunari continue to honor the treaty. The Arishok did not approve of Kirkwall, her agents had told her that much, but he would not act directly unless provoked.
She intended to give him no such provocation.
The Viscountess sighed.
None of it made any sense.
She slipped beneath the water, leaving only her nose to breath, she looked out at the world through the lapping waves of her bath.
A strange thought occurred to her.
What if her breakdown had not been an accident?
She started to dismiss it, but…thought again…carefully.
Entering someone's mind using magic was not difficult. A skilled and subtle mage would leave no trace for another to identify. Alec had taught her about the entropic school of spells. They could drive a person quite mad if the mage was not discovered in time.
Was that what was going on?
Was there some kind of…of…conspiracy here in the keep?
Solona found her thoughts drifting back to the Maiden's Shield plot. The Harimanns had claimed to have had no knowledge of it, and it was unlikely that Lady Harimann would have told her children, they had been just pawns by that point. Solona had simply assumed that they had been responsible, but…
But…
What if they had not been responsible?
What if it had been someone else?
The Viscountess did not like these thoughts. If someone could get that close to her, to place her under a spell without her recognizing it…
Stop it, she thought, you are going to make yourself sick again! You are turning paranoid, seeing enemies who are not there.
She tried to take her mind off such thoughts, but strangely it was Aedan's face that came to mind.
"A leader should be a little paranoid Lona," he had said sadly, "My Father wasn't…and…and he paid for it with his life."
The Hero of Ferelden had sighed.
"Rendon Howe was my father's best friend, his oldest friend. They had fought together as young men. They had attended each other's weddings, visited when the other's children had been born. Rendon Howe had been like an uncle to me once. Nate, Tom, and Delilah had been play friends for me and Fergus."
Aedan's face turned grim, his fists tightened.
Then one day, Rendon Howe came into our keep, to meet with my Father. Their armies were supposed to march together you see, to aid good King Cailan against the Blight. Howe's men had been delayed, flooding on the road between Amaranthine and Highever he had said. Father had trusted Howe, why would he not?"
"Then that night…that one horrible dark night, Howe chose to…terminate their friendship, and my family along with it. His soldiers entered our home…and…and…"
Aedan gave her a sad look.
"Keep those you love close Lona, but watch them as well. A leader must stand alone from their peers sometimes; it is the only way to avoid a blade being shoved in their back. Those we care for…they may not hold such friendship and love in such high regard."
"Power can do strange things to people."
Lona hated to think like that. That…that someone she cared for…that they might…?
If it is true, then you must do something.
Solona thought about that, she had no talent for uncovering conspiracies. Varric might be able to help, but…
But what if he was a part of this?
A frightening thought, but if he was…then…then perhaps Garrett was as well.
No, she…she was not prepared to go that far, not yet.
She…she needed help, but she was too close to the problem.
It…it was time to turn to outside help.
She remembered her time in Orlais. The nobles that had sheltered her during those days, they had had people that watched out for such…plots and plans.
She had even met one of these people once.
His name was Benoit.
Benoit ran a travelling company of actors, singers, and fools, his people had been very popular with the nobility. She had attended one of his shows herself.
It was only later that she had learned the truth….
What it was to be a bard in Orlais.
For that was what Benoit was, what his people were, bards of Orlais.
Benoit traded in secrets. All of his 'players' were pieces in the great game, his spies and enforcers. They were gifted fighters as well, she had seen the man's apprentice, an elven girl of eleven, disarm a man twice her size.
Solona thought carefully about this.
Was she really ready to bring the great game to the court of Kirkwall?
Did she really have a choice?
She suspected that she had enemies in her midst.
Benoit's people would find them; while at the same time allow her to keep her distance.
It would be for the best…she…
A figure passed before one of the lanterns, she caught a glimpse of it through the water.
The Viscountess allowed herself to sink.
Someone was down here with her.
She reached out with her magic, but, gently subtly.
She felt another's magic respond.
The Viscountess's eyes narrowed.
It was not Bethany or Alec, she knew their magic intimately, it was not Marius either, her brother would announce himself, and he would not try and hide his presence from her. This…this person seemed familiar, yet alien to her.
She gathered her strength. This…this was no hallucination. She was sure of that.
Solona sprang from the water. Her eyes flaring with magic!
"Don't move!" she shouted.
The figure shrieked with shock and surprise, she tripped over a small table where Lona kept her bath oils, they fell with a loud resounding crash.
The intruder backed into a pillar, her staff floated harmlessly near were Viscountess was standing.
The thin figure cowered out of the light.
"I'm sorry," a familiar lilting accent exclaimed, "Lady Lona…I…I am so sorry Lady Lona! Oh sweet Creators, don't have my head cut off! Please don't have my head cut off!"
Lona froze.
"Merrill?" she gasped.
The Dalish coward in a shadowy corner, she nodded quickly, shivering in terror. Her staff floated out of reach in the Viscountess's bath water.
Solona's guard responded to the commotion two of them came down the stairs!
"Your Excellency!" one of them cried, "Your Excellency are you alright!"
Solona sighed.
It…it was just Merrill, but… but still…
How had she found her way in here?
"It is okay," the Viscountess shouted, "I'm fine."
One of the guards seized Merrill by the scruff of her neck, the Dalish whimpered pathetically.
"You again," he growled, "How did you find your way in here knife-ear!?"
"I was lost," Merrill whimpered she looked right at Solona, "Please Lady Lona…please don't have my head cut off!"
Solona shook her head; Hawke had warned the Dalish back when they met that Lona could have her head cut off if she annoyed her. He had been teasing her at the time. It seemed that the Dalish took that warning to heart.
It seemed she had a talent for scaring elves these days.
Solona sank beneath the water, to protect her modesty, not wanting her men to see her.
"You have seen her before?" she asked the guard.
"Yes," he said respectfully not looking her way, "We have caught her in your gardens a few times, picking flowers and bothering the servants."
Solona gave the Dalish an arched look.
"You have very lovely gardens," she confessed, "I'm surprised that more people don't come and visit them."
The guard twisted Merrill's ear, she squeaked painfully.
"Because they are private elf," the guard growled, "Do you always trespass where you are not wanted?!"
Merrill winced.
Solona found herself grateful that Merrill wasn't using magic, if she attacked these guards…
Things would go very bad for her.
"You were warned to stay away from the keep!" the guard said, "Well…it is the dungeon for you now."
The Dalish's eye widened in fear.
"No," Merrill gasped, "Please Lady Lona, I…I did not mean…please help me!"
Solona rolled her eyes.
Maker give me strength.
Hawke and Varric would never forgive her if she had their little Daisy locked up.
"Let her go," she ordered.
"Your excellency?" the man sounded surprised.
"She is a friend of Lord Hawke and is here at his request," she lied, "She just startled me is all. Please return to your posts."
The guard released Merrill, though he gave her one final warning look.
"We are watching you knife-ear," he warned, "Be thankful for her Excellency."
Merrill nodded, staring longingly at her staff.
The guards left them alone.
Solona shook her head at the Dalish, who stood there wringing her hands nervously.
She hated the fear in the Dalish's eyes.
"You…you are not going to cut my head off?" she asked shyly.
Solona rolled her eyes.
"Your head is quite safe," she promised.
"Praise the Creators," the Dalish said with gentle smile.
Solona pointed to the corner.
"Could you fetch my robe please," she asked the Dalish.
Merrill scurried to obey her order. Solona retrieved the girl's staff, and handed it to her when she stepped out of the water.
"Now," the Viscountess said slipping on her bathrobe, "How did you find your way in here? How did you get past the guards?"
The Dalish blushed.
"I came through that door," she said pointing to the wall.
"Door?" Solona looked for a door, she saw none.
The Dalish went over to the wall.
"It is right here," she said pointing to one of the painted walls, a picture of two mages surrounded with vines, the Dalish pushed hard on it.
The picture popped out and slid open revealing a dark tunnel.
Solona stared at the hidden entrance.
"While I'll be damned," she murmured.
She had not known about this entrance. Bran had never mentioned it, he likely would have had had it sealed if he had known about it. Father certainly would have.
"It opens up near the Hanged Man," Merrill said shyly, "I was on my way home and got lost again, there are just too many corners in Kirkwall."
The Dalish bowed her head.
"Isabela used to walk me home, but since she…left…well…I…"
The Dalish's elven ears drooped slightly.
Solona gave her a pitying look.
The poor girl had meant no harm. Solona did not sense any lying in her. She likely just fell into this passageway.
Solona quirked her lip as she considered what was best to do about it. It had likely always been here. Some bolt hole for the Magisters to escape the keep during a revolt. Rioting slaves would not have expected their masters to escape near the alienage, by the time they realized where they were gone, the Tevinters would have been at the docks boarding ships out of the city.
Sealing the entrance was the logical choice, but then again, having a secret way out of the keep was not a bad idea.
She would seal it magically from the other side, to be safe; she did not want anyone else blundering into this entrance.
Of course Merrill already knew about it, that was a problem.
She would need to keep Merrill close, she could not risk her telling anyone about that bolt hole.
She looked at the nervous Dalish girl. She saw the shallow cuts on her palms. It was clear the girl was still practicing blood magic.
A dangerous path Solona knew, Merrill did not understand how dangerous a…'spirit' could be.
She feared that a blood mage might have been attacking her, but she did not think it was Merrill; the Dalish had no reason to do her harm. Solona had gone out of her way to help the elves, both city born and Dalish.
The girl's appearance startled her. Things had gotten better in the Alienage, she had visited with both Daylen and Bethany, but Merrill…the poor elf looked half starved, her thin frame more so than when Solona had last seen her.
Solona gave her a gentle smile.
"Would you like something to eat Merrill?" she asked.
The Dalish gave her a nervous look, her stomach growled loudly..
"I don't…don't wish to impose Lady Lona."
"Nonsense," Solona said, "We shall share a meal together. Tonight, you are my guest. We will catch up on any good gossip about my dear cousin."
Merrill giggled.
"It had been a long time since anyone wanted to talk to me," she confessed, "Since…since Isabela left."
Solona put her arm around the girl's slender shoulders. She had been feeling so alone lately.
Perhaps this was what she needed, someone who was not afraid to talk to her.
"I'm sorry to hear that, let's change that tonight shall we?"
"If…If you wish Lady Lona," the Dalish agreed.
Lona smiled.
She had been looking for outside help. She had never been close with the Dalish.
Perhaps it was time to change that. Varric said that she was mostly harmless, and Garrett seemed to trust her.
Perhaps it was time that Solona should to.
She still would send word to Orlais; see if Benoit was still operating around Val Chevin, but in the meantime.
She would see to her guest...
…One pariah to another.
Even when she was supposed to be resting, she could still play the role of good hostess.
She led the Dalish up into the keep.
She suspected that they had much to talk about.
