Hi everyone! I am back, my examinations were unfortunately postponed by one month due to which I was away for much longer period than expected. Anyways, they are over now and hopefully I have done well enough.
Here is the 6th chapter, have fun...
Chapter 6: The Terms
"Your Majesty! Lord Alvar requests for an audience!" informed the guard.
"Oh! Send him in!" commanded King Cailan.
The guard saluted and walked outside the tent. Alvar entered the royal tent, he looked at the occupants; Cailan, Duncan and Loghain stood on the other side of the table on which was sprawled the map of the region, Arl Leonas Bryland was also present. But he did not see Arl Wulffe and Lord Braden. 'Perhaps they are engaged elsewhere?' he thought and he quickly forgot about them for he had other matters to concern with.
"Your Majesty! I have matters to discuss with you." Alvar said, facing the king.
"So do I," answered Cailan.
"My King, I…"
Cailan raised his hand, stopping the nobleman, "No, you listen to me first. My men sighted a convoy of over a hundred soldiers and a few wains, leaving Ostagar from the west. They were carrying your colours, they also sighted you instructing them. Is it true?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Alvar answered confidently, "It was for my wife, Sancia's entourage."
"Why?"
"I was having her escorted to safety, your majesty," answered Alvar "The close proximity of our camp to the darkspawn makes it dangerous for her to stay here. Thus, I had her escorted north to keep her safe."
"And by asking whom did you send men away from this camp?" questioned Loghain.
"What do you mean, my lord?" Alvar feigned incomprehension.
"You sent men away from this camp while possessing no authority to do so!" Loghain snapped, raising his voice.
"I beg to differ, my lord," Alvar answered without flinching, "As the last living descendant of my house, the authority over the men sworn to my household falls to me."
"Alvar," Cailan spoke calmly, "What Loghain means is that you have not been declared as the commander of the Highever forces yet.
"With Fergus missing and you not being acknowledged yet as the next commander of the Highever fyrd, the authority over the Highever fyrd is mine. You should have asked me before ordering men away from this camp."
"So, what are you saying? I shouldn't have sent my wife away to safety?" snapped Alvar, "Instead, I should have let her stay here in such close proximity to the darkspawn?!" he glanced at Duncan, "Or perhaps your friend here would even wish to take her into his order; if she could wield a sword?"
"Alvar, I understand your concern for Sancia's safety," said Cailan, "If you had come to me, I would have arranged for her safety. You did not have to send men away when every soldier is needed."
'Trust you with my Sancia's safety?' thought Alvar, stifling a laugh 'Ferelden would burn before that happens' he thought to himself in his head. "I… Yes, your majesty," he said, nodding with a feigned submission.
"What about the fact that you have overstepped your authority by commanding men, whom you had no right to?" demanded Loghain.
"Yes, Alvar," added Cailan, "You were supposed to ask me before deciding to send men away from the camp… especially at a time when every single soldier is indispensable."
"Is that so, your majesty?" Alvar crossed his arms, "Then it seems you have forgotten to inform the Highever officers about this-
"Because when I instructed them, not one of them objected or even notified me about this," he said, watching them intensely.
Cailan and Loghain were silent. Loghain cursed inwardly, he clearly remembered informing the Highever officers that they would now be answering to him due to Fergus's absence. And that those men would now be under his command until he notifies them. He was riled up at the disobedience of his direct order by the Highever officers; but honestly, he had partly expected this when Alvar had arrived at Ostagar in the morning, with that Nevarran wife of his.
"Anyways, I came here to discuss something else," said Alvar.
"I will agree to join the Grey Wardens!" he proclaimed.
Astounded by his declaration, the occupants of the tent stood silently gazing at him, "But, I have some terms which you must accept." Alvar continued confidently.
"What are they?" demanded Cailan.
"First, you shall officially denounce Rendon Howe as a renegade and traitor!" demanded Alvar, with conviction, "You shall then declare me and Sancia as the legitimate heirs to the Teyrnir of Highever…"
"Your Majesty? This is impossible!" protested Duncan, "As a Grey Warden, Lord Alvar must give up everything about his previous life. He cannot hold such rights to his lands."
Completely ignoring Duncan, Alvar continued, "Secondly, Since I will not be able to command the Highever fyrd while I hunt darkspawn as a Grey Warden, I want the command of the Highever fyrd to be transferred to Arl Leonas Bryland of South Reach!"
Arl Bryland was mildly surprised by this suggestion.
"He shall take temporary command of the Highever fyrd," Alvar continued solemnly, "After the battles in Ostagar are over, he shall surrender the command to me anytime I ask him.
"And during this period of temporary command, Arl Bryland shall not be asked to surrender his command to anyone unless I allow him to do so… Those are my terms, my king!"
The tent was silent for some time, as Alvar's audience contemplated the terms placed before them.
"Your Majesty," Duncan broke the silence as everyone turned to face him, "There is no need to accept these terms… As I have invoked the Right of Conscription on young lord Alvar here, he is already a Grey Warden recruit. He is not in any position to negotiate for his recruitment.
"You do not have to accept his terms."
"It is true what he says, Alvar," answered Cailan, "You are already a recruit among the Grey Wardens. Their Right of Conscription is legitimate and recognized in Ferelden."
"You will not accept my terms, then?" asked Alvar coldly.
"Yes, I will not accept terms which I am not required to accept," answered Cailan.
"If that is the case, then I shall take all my men and leave Ostagar right now and march northwards!" declared Alvar.
Taken aback by his proclamation, silence fell in the tent once more. Cailan, Loghain, Bryland and Duncan exchanged many dumbfounded glances with each other.
"You can't do that!" Cailan protested.
"I can and I will!" said Alvar confidently eyeing him.
"You would leave now, when your king when he needs you the most?!" thundered Loghain,
"You leave me no choice." Alvar answered gravely, with his left hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Where will you go?" questioned Loghain,
"I will march north towards Highever and confront Howe," answered Alvar, "I will bring him to justice!"
"And what after that?"
"I will bring stability to the region and then I shall immediately return southwards to Ostagar, bringing fyrds from all the northern lords. Then, we shall then face the darkspawn with a much larger army than now."
"You and your men are more urgently needed here, right now!" countered Loghain, "With the darkspawn increasing in strength as days pass, we need every single soldier here.
By the time you would return after your business in the north is completed, it will be too late here… No, we cannot allow this!"
"I was not asking for your permission, my lord!" stated Alvar, crossing his arms, "I am only informing you of what I shall do if you do not accept my terms."
"Why! You insolent, spoiled child!" thundered Loghain, "You would dare bargain with us now, at a time like this?"
Alvar simply nodded and turned towards Cailan, "Accept my terms, King Cailan; And we shall both have what we want."
"That will not happen, Alvar," Cailan shook his head apathetically "I will not accept terms which I do not have to. And you or your men aren't going anywhere, that is my order!"
"And I refuse!" said Alvar, shrugging his shoulders "As I have said earlier, I was not asking for your permission to leave."
"Disobey my direct order and you will be committing treason." Cailan declared sternly, "You will be no better than the renegade Howe, whom you wish to punish!
And then I will have to punish you as well!"
"You are already punishing me, your majesty," answered Alvar.
Cailan stared at Alvar, confused, "what do you mean?" he asked.
"I… uh… never mind, your majesty," Alvar answered resignedly, he was going to explain about how Cailan was punishing him the same way as his ancestor, Arland punished Sophia Dryden; But he realised that would be of no use as unlike Arland, Cailan did not see that forcing someone into the Grey Wardens can be a punishment.
"I am leaving with my men soon," proclaimed Alvar, "We shall meet again some other time."
Loghain suddenly chuckled, drawing everyone's attention, "Maker! Alvar, did you even think this through? We can have you arrested and punished for treason right now! If you wanted to leave you should have done so without informing us about it…it seems emotions have clouded your thoughts."
Alvar looked defiantly, "You arrest me and you will have a revolt in here!" he asserted,
"I have informed my officers of all the events at Highever," Alvar lied, "They fear for their families, they have in Highever. They are calling for Howe's blood and they demand that I lead them north. If you arrest me or kill me, you will soon have the Highever fyrd mutinying.
And with the darkspawn so close, a mutiny on your hands is not something you can afford now," he stated with a smirk.
"You, irresponsible child!" thundered Loghain, "Do you have any idea of the damage your actions can cause to our men's morale?"
"Well, my officers seemed rather convicted to fight Howe, after I informed them of the events at Highever," Alvar said, rubbing chin, feigning thought.
Loghain scowled at the young lord's selfishness, did he not even think of other serious pressing matters than his own personal grievances.
"I have assured my officers that I shall lead them against Howe, when the time comes," said Alvar, "Only I can calm them and keep them under control. I hope you will keep that in mind, my lord; before you order my capture."
"And they will listen to Arl Bryland?" asked Cailan, after a glance at Arl Bryland, "since, you will not be with your men when you join the Grey Wardens."
"They will!" affirmed Alvar, "If I tell them to!"
The men stood silent, contemplating Alvar's words. Loghain and Cailan glared angrily at Alvar who stood smugly as if challenging them to arrest or attack him, while Duncan was in deep thought and Arl Bryland's face was inscrutable. He was still surprised at the turn the events were taking.
"Even if you and your men leave Ostagar in peace," said Cailan, "I will still declare you a renegade and order my vassals to subdue you and your men even on your way."
"And cause further delay to any reinforcements to Ostagar?" asked Alvar, with a mocking tone, "With my men gone, you will have lesser strength here, any reinforcements from the nobility and the Bannorn will be urgently required. Can you afford that delay, Your Majesty?"
Cailan did not answer, he knew Alvar was right as much as he hated to agree on that. Loghain was still glaring at Alvar. Alvar crossed his arms as he stood beaming confidently.
"You know that there will be severe consequences of what you are doing?" questioned Loghain, although it was more like a statement, "The Landsmeet shall know about all that has happened here, even all of your words and actions as well."
"Yes, Alvar," stated Cailan, "The Landsmeet will hear everything about this, there is no way your words and actions will go unheard. You will have to face consequences for everything you have spoken here and everything you plan to do next!"
"Yes, Your majesty," Alvar shrugged, his arms still crossed over his chest "I am fully aware of that. I have planned this far; do you think I have not anything planned further?" asked Alvar, the smug smile did not leave his face. He stood brimming with confidence, as if he dominated the discussion.
"What does Arl Leonas Bryland say?" asked Cailan as he glanced towards the Arl, "Alvar wishes to give you the command of the temporary command of the Highever fyrd. What do you think?"
"Your majesty, I will accept the command," answered Arl Bryland, "If you are accepting the terms… or considering them."
Cailan looked at Duncan, Duncan gave a slight nod. "Fine… I accept your terms!" he declared turning towards Alvar.
Alvar smiled, he glanced at Duncan who for the first time, did not voice any objection.
"Then I shall accept my recruitment the Grey Wardens!" he proclaimed, "only after King Cailan drafts a charter denouncing Rendon Howe as a traitor and declaring myself and my wife Lady Sancia Cousland as the legitimate heirs to the Teyrnir of Highever."
"I shall summon the scribe to do so," said Cailan.
In the next few minutes, the scribe summoned by Cailan arrived and drafted a charter on a vellum. The charter denounced Arl Rendon Howe of Amaranthine as a renegade and his takeover of Highever as illegitimate. The last descendants of the Cousland family, Lord Alvar and Lady Sancia Cousland are recognised as the legitimate heirs to the Teyrnir of Highever.
The charter recognized Alvar's and Sancia's rights to Highever, but as he had agreed to join the Grey Wardens because of the blight, he would have to wait for Maker knows how long before he takes his title as the new Teyrn.
Cailan affixed the royal seal on the document and gave it to a servant. The servant walked towards Alvar and handed him the parchment. Alvar read the parchment, his face was calm and after rolling the parchment into a scroll, he looked at Cailan, "It is just as I want, your majesty," he said. He then turned to Arl Bryland, "Arl Bryland, I shall inform Ser Alan Sinclair to report to you for now."
Arl Bryland nodded in agreement.
"Now you make good on your part of the agreement" demanded Cailan.
Alvar nodded and then turned towards Duncan, "Duncan… I accept my recruitment into the Grey Wardens…. tell me what I must do now," he said hesitantly, it was clear from his tone that he was far from pleased with what he was doing.
"Well, first let me welcome you the order!" Duncan proclaimed with a smile, not acknowledging Alvar's hesitancy.
"Shove your welcome!" scoffed Alvar.
Originally, I had planned this chapter and the previous one to be in one single chapter, but considering how long the previous chapter went, I felt it was better to split them up.
Finally, Alvar agrees to join the Grey Wardens. In game, I know that the player has to become a Grey Warden for the game to proceed, but I felt the way the recruitment of Human Noble was handled was quite poor. So, I hope you all liked the changes I have done so far in my story.
I forgot to give Ser Alan his surname in the previous chapters, so I have given it now.
I hope you all have enjoyed this and the previous chapters, feel free to leave reviews. I appreciate them a lot.
In the next chapter we will have Alistair's first appearance and hopefully Morrigan as well.
Regards,
Volnoius