Chapter 25: Excessive
"A qunari as Warden-Commander! I can still scarcely believe it. I've never heard of such a thing, let alone met a qunari, Warden or not. Judging by your companions, your people never ended up conquering us, but I never thought your kind would be accepted here in Ferelden. How did this come to be?" Avernus asked, the old man's eyes examining and visually dissecting all of the information Mercy presented to him just by existing. The old man made Jowan shiver; his workshop was the stuff nightmares were made of.
"Accepted isn't the word I'd use, and I'm not a true— you know what, we can go over this later. You helped us close the tears in the Veil, and we're grateful for that, but the things you've done here are… Monstrous. And to your fellow Wardens at that. How do I know I can let you live, let alone trust you? Even for a blood mage, this seems… Excessive. Is that right, Jowan?"
Jowan nodded sheepishly. He was the only mage on the expedition to Soldier's Peak and his expertise was invaluable in Mercy's meeting with Avernus, but by the Maker did Jowan hate it. Fighting the skeletons, killing the possessed Warden-Commander, and even sealing the Veil… Taking back the Peak was easy, but something so simple as having a casual conversation with a two-hundred year old Warden blood mage was one of the most terrifying things he'd ever done.
"All I did, I did for the Wardens. The battle was lost, but some good could come from it. What I did here could save the Peak, and possibly save the Wardens. Do what you deem fair with me, Warden-Commander, but make use of my research. Ensure that my fellow Wardens' sacrifices were not in vain."
"In regards to that, actually… I drank your potion and I feel… Good. The taint had already made me stronger than any qunari I've ever met, but your potion was… Something else. Can you do that for everyone?"
"If I had more Warden blood, and samples of yours' specifically, I have no doubt. If my research is correct, we will be stronger, faster and more resilient than ever. The Calling will be staved off for longer than ever thought possible and it may even solve the… Fertility problem Wardens have. And for mages… Well, it's impossible to describe."
"And the cost, Senior Mage Avernus?"
"Next to nothing. I won't need more than negligeable amounts of blood from any other Wardens, as well as some pure darkspawn blood, and the archdemon blood I have here in reserves. And the necessary lyrium and herbs, of course."
Mercy thought on it for a moment, and looked at Jowan before agreeing outright. She extended her hand and smiled carefully at Avernus, saying: "You won't work without another Warden mage supervising you, and select few will be told about the nature of your work here, but it can continue. The day you go too far, or the day you stop being useful, is the day you die."
Taking her grey hand in his wrinkled one, Avernus responded: "I am at your service, Warden-Commander."
Leliana had spent most of the day working with Levi to dust, clean and make the Peak liveable again. Sten and Shale couldn't be bothered, but they both agreed that the fortress was impressive, whoever held it, and that it would make a good home base for the Wardens and the Drydens, who had agreed to move in as well.
"Did you see the note from Bann Wulff, Sten?" Leliana asked the qunari as he fixed himself some food to eat.
"I did. What of it?"
"It was most likely Cadoc's ancestor or something! That's fascinating, no?"
"No."
"Truly? I am sure Cadoc would find it interesting," Leliana said as she finished fluffing some of the pillows that hadn't crumbled to dust over the centuries.
"Likely," Sten said truly.
Leliana chuckled ruefully to herself more than anyone. "Truly, it is a wonder I even try to converse with you anymore, Sten."
Sten merely grunted at that, but Leliana swore that this was an amused grunt. She was becoming quite fluent at deciphering them.
"Don't take it personally, Leliana," Mercy called as she came down the stairs from the mage's tower. "From what my parents have told me, he's downright chatty for a qunari."
"Oh? Then I suppose I should take it as a compliment."
"Well, I wouldn't go that far," Mercy chuckled, as she stole a spoonful of Sten's porridge. He merely rolled his eyes in response. "See? If he didn't like us, he would have snapped my neck then and there."
"The day is still young, vashoth," Sten said with the slighest hint of mirth.
"Is that sarcasm from a member of the beresaad? It truly is the end of days," Mercy smiled as she sat beside Leliana on the couch. "Now, what can we do while we wait for the rest of the Wardens to arrive? Unless sten starts telling jokes, we're going to be pretty bored up here."
"Oh, I'm not so certain," Leliana said, leaning into Mercy and smiling mischievously. "I am certain that we can think of something."
They could practically hear Sten rolling his eyes as he took his porridge and fled the scene.
Felix was sad that his human was still so down, but really happy to see the golden lady again. He dozed on Keegan's bed while him and Anora discussed the situation. Neither was very happy, but both were relieved.
Keegan was still staying in his room, even though his parents' room was technically his. He couldn't bring himself to do it, though. He was sitting next to Felix on his purple bedspread while Anora was perched on his desk chair.
"How could you do this, Keegan? I am of course thankful, but staying here puts Mistress Peyton and the rest of the staff at risk if Howe finds out I was here… Or that you and the Wardens are here, for that matter."
Keegan sighed wearily. "I know, Your Majesty, but I knew that I was coming to help you, and that we might have to ferret you out of the city and hide you somewhere in between… And we couldn't very well have had you stay at the Gnawed Noble, could we? And you hiding in the , did exactly what I did with Miss P." "It seems we have both found ourselves relying on the kindness of our… Lessers. Regardless, thank you. I am in your debt, Teyrn Cousland." "Not at all, Your Majesty. I am simply doing my duty to Ferelden; I am a Cousland, after all."
"It is appreciated, regardless. I will have to reward Mistress Peyton, as well, of course… And the elves." She pursed her lips in thought, her cold blue eyes looking towards the future even in this time of crisis. "The way they live… I— I had never been to an Alienage before, I regret to say. But as Ferelden's queen… It is unconscionable that Fereldan citizens live that way. Something must be done to rectify that when this is over. Is it the same in Highever, do you know, or other cities in Thedas?"
"I regret that I have never been to the Highever Alienage either, Your Majesty. One of our traveling companions, however, an elf by the name of Evelyn Tabris has said that Alienages are pretty much the same everywhere. It is disconcerting, and seems a waste. If she or the other elves I've met are any indication, elves are just as capable and clever as any man, or at least have the potential to be… If they are permitted the opportunity, Your Majesty."
Anora chuckled at his insistence on her formal title, despite everything. "Keegan, it there is no one listening, except perhaps Erlina, knowing her. Do not be so formal."
"Of course, Anora," Keegan chuckled before having to choke back a sob, tears filling his eyes unbidden, before he put his hand over his mouth, trying to swallow everything back down. "Apologies, Anora, I…"
Anora looked at him, concerned. The tears were flowing freely now. Felix had woken up, and was licking Keegan's face, and Anora joined him on the bed, hugging him close and letting him cry into her gown. "Keegan, tell me what is wrong… I want to help."
He sobbed a little bit longer, before calming himself enough to choke out some words. "I can't believe this is happening. We have a Blight to contend with, a civil war to pacify, and, here I am blubbering and— Maker, I miss them Anora. If Nathaniel hadn't been there, I'd be dead in the ground with them. And some days, I wish I were. I've tried not to feel anything, to push it all down, but…" he stopped, continuing to cry, letting it all out.
"For what it's worth, Keegan… I'm happy you aren't. Without your letters, I would have contined to be blind to my father's schemes and Howe's crimes for Maker knows how long. So… Thank you, and I will have to thank Nathaniel as well," she smiled, wiping tears from his eyes as one escaped her own. "I am so sorry for what happened, however. Bryce and Eleanor were loyal Fereldans and good friends, especially your mother. Fereldan is lesser without them."
He hugged her again, tightly, before taking a deep breath and collecting himself again, letting Felix come between the two of them and smother Keegan with love, eliciting a laugh from them both before Keegan turned to Anora more seriously.
"I'm sorry, Anora… This was selfish. You're grieving too. I am sorry about Cailan," he said sincerely. "…and your father's wits," he added, less so.
She smiled again, sadly. "Thank you. I have had some time to process and grieve, and I had Erlina to help keep my wits about me… But, now, more importantly… What is the plan? Your alliance with the Grey Wardens seems to have borne fruit. Tell me all of the details."
The quarantine has given me time to take another stab at finishing this! Let me know your thoughts!
