Lothering & Ostagar
The storm was spent by morning. The sunrise was glorious and Elle spent every minute she could enjoying it during the partial-day ride to Lothering. She'd read about past Blights … how they darkened the skies as well as people's spirits.
Shortly after an eat-rations-while-riding lunch, Marc slipped off Rebel to take the secret bypass around Lothering and enter from the other side. By mid-afternoon, the rest of them rode into Lothering — one of Ferelden's hidden treasures. Pretty as a picture! Not a great military post, but it was a vibrant crossroads. Duncan and Elle gave the mages some coin to shop for better "nasty-weather" clothing. Duncan told them all to be at Dane's Refuge Inn in one hour for a debrief. He would arrange rooms and then contact a warden stationed there for information. They stabled their horses next to the Inn and headed into the village.
People from across Thedas traveling from Denerim to Redcliffe and beyond ... or in the other direction ... stopped in Lothering and traded. The Bannorn's farmers were sure to do some trade in Lothering … not as much as through the port cities … but enough to make a stop in Lothering quite appealing to Elle.
However, her first priority was to check in with her network!
In addition to Marc and his mother, she had a few other informants in Lothering. From the Chantry, of all places. In truth, the Highever Chantry was the only one in Ferelden that she didn't trust ... well, along with the Ferelden Grand Cleric Elemena in Denerim. She was Orlesian, after all.
Elle rarely got down this far south, so they usually just sent what they heard up to Denerim to be sent through to Mother Mallol at Highever castle.
As she turned to head toward the Chantry, one of her contacts was headed her way with a smile on his face. A Templar. Oh, the Chantry was an infinite source of information from those members of the Chantry whom Elle trusted. One must keep an open mind if one wanted to know all sides. And, it didn't hurt that the Chantry benefitted from Elle's information as well. Over the years, it made the traditionally close-lipped Chantry here more forthcoming.
"Lady Cousland! What brings you to Lothering … in the company of your wonderful mabari, the Warden-Commander and two mage recruits." Ser Bryant was horribly charming and already well-informed via a messenger bird from the Circle Tower, no doubt. Elle had been immediately smitten when she first met him, much to her embarrassment.
She smiled and quickly turned to see that they had all abandoned her and Midnight to their own fates. Of course, the silly mages spooked no less than a horse with a snake in the paddock and fled into a nearby shop. "Ser Bryant, I see you have already gotten word of Duncan's success in wresting two fine mages from the Circle."
He shook his head. "I hope Duncan has some shackles to keep Anders from running."
Elle raised one eyebrow and leaned closer to whisper, "Obviously, Knight-Commander Greagoir couldn't keep him shackled."
Bryant laughed. "I did not laugh at that. I will deny it." He swept his hand toward the Chantry and she followed him. "You know you can keep your horses at the Chantry stables, my lady. Here let me show you."
"That's very kind, Ser Bryant!" Once they entered the stables and they both looked through all the stalls to assure they were alone, she quietly asked, "What news?"
"The King rode through here a week ago along with Teyrn Loghain. They argued almost every minute." Bryant kept his eye on the door while Elle kept scanning shadows around the edge. The stables weren't as weather ... or sound ... proof as a normal building. Little to no wadding between the wall logs.
"What were they arguing about?" Elle held up her hand when a shadow moved outside the north wall.
"I was about to say that Sister Leliana might be able to answer that," Bryant replied with a louder than normal voice.
A quiet giggle preceded a lovely red-haired woman in an Initiate's robe entering the stables. Once she got near, she replied, "I helped the healers with Ferelden's soldiers and was stationed in a tent adjacent to the King's. Loghain is furious with the King for coming along. He feels that King Cailan should stay in Denerim." Her look darkened. "The King wants to be the one to kill the Archdemon."
"Dear Maker's Mercy!" Elle cringed at how loud that came out. "He must be made to go back to Denerim," she harshly whispered. "Only a Warden can kill an Archdemon. If Cailan makes the killing blow, it will rise again. Does the king only listen to the bard tales and not read history books!" She huffed. "I do not dare put to voice to all the treasonous adjectives I am thinking at this moment."
"You travel with Duncan, yes? Perhaps the Warden-Commander will be able to put the King to rights." Leliana's Orlesian accent always made Elle cringe a bit, but at least it was a pleasant Orlesian accent and not the haughty, raspy, off-key screeching Orlesian accent of Isolde Guerrin.
Bryant took a deep breath. "Perhaps it is not such a terrible thing that the King travels with his army." When both women turned to glare, he explained, "For all of the … treasonous adjectives … you may accord our good King, he is beloved by the Army. Perhaps, we should instead think of a way to make him return to Denerim after a time, once the army is prepared for battle."
Leliana frowned and slipped Elle a recently unsealed parchment. "This may do. Read it and let me know if you wish me to send it to the Queen."
Elle quickly opened the note. She had to force herself not to squeal in delight. Leliana was Maker sent! The document was a letter from Anora's Orlesian maid to someone named Briala in Val Royeaux. It outlined all of Erlina's activities, including dosing Anora with a purging agent to prevent the Queen from conceiving. Celene wanted to keep Anora barren it seemed. Convenient when doubled with Eamon's note to Cailan to set Anora aside and the forged one suggesting Celene marry Cailan. It made her wonder how closely Eamon and Rendon were in on this treachery. Damn Eamon. Damn Orlais. Damn Celene. May they all join Rendon in the Void!
The note looked very real to Elle. She was suddenly torn between wanting to report about Howe to the King and needing to tell Anora in person about her treacherous maid.
A quick glance at the Templar gave Elle an idea. She handed Ser Bryant the note and he read it quickly. "That's … do you trust this?!" he whispered harshly.
"Where did you get your hands on that piece of evidence?" Elle asked Leliana.
Leliana looked sad. "Out of the 'message pouch' from Denerim going to Redcliffe. The messenger was killed by bandits who took his coin without looking at the more valuable messages. I just do not understand how Celene can do so much good for Orlais and still insist on her little intrigues."
Elle turned to Bryant. "I need to get this to Anora, but I also need to get to Ostagar." She held his arm and leaned forward. "Queen Anora will trust you. You must ride for Denerim and get this to her and only her. I will write a cover note to go with it. Can you do this immediately?"
He looked around. Elle could tell he was taking inventory, reassessing manpower, rescheduling training … Maker, he was making it so hard to ignore his magnetism. "I shall leave within the hour. I've already arranged with the Revered Mother to go to Denerim to pick up a reserve of lyrium should the worst come to pass." He smiled at her. "Thank you for trusting me with this."
That surprised Elle. "Of course!" She smiled back. "Give me a few minutes to write out that note to go with it."
After he rushed out to prepare for his journey, Leliana's giggle made Elle frown. "You know, your feelings for our handsome and virile Knight-Commander make you let down your guard."
"You knew I would give it to him?" Elle asked.
"Of course! He can get it there without stealth … so, more quickly." She handed Elle a piece of parchment and quill. "Write your note."
Elle growled in response. "As far as Redcliffe, I'm beginning to believe that the Maker has sent the Blight to sort out the evil from the righteous. You heard about the traitor Rendon Howe, yes?"
"Yes, Mother Mallol sent us a bird after the Highever Revered Mother let her go," Leliana replied with a frown. "Is everyone all right?"
"Mostly. I believe the townsfolk got the worst of it." Then, Elle made all the personal marks and codes on the blank parchment so Anora would know it came from Elle. She wrote:
My Queen,
The partridge has shown her colors, much to your deepest sorrow, I am sure. As you always told me when we were young, your Father is seldom wrong. My prayers to the Maker to always keep you safe.
EC
Bryant came by and picked up the note and letter from the dead messenger as he was leaving. Elle watched him gallop away. "Maker keep you safe, brave Templar," she whispered.
Elle sighed. A love affair with a Templar was a very, very bad idea.
Elle and Sister Leliana did a little shopping before Elle had to be back at the Inn. As they parted, Elle took Leliana's hand. "If things go awry down there, Leliana, you must find out why. Find survivors. After witnessing the hardiness of Duncan, I feel certain that some wardens would survive even the worst outcome. Figure out a way to travel with any surviving wardens. They will need you. Get any information to Anora as soon as you can. I've already alerted her that she can trust your correspondence."
Leliana nodded and then slipped away. She was very good. She was a bard, after all. Bryant asked Elle why she trusted Leliana. Elle told him that Revered Mother Dorothea trusted her, so she did, too. Bryant was working with Ser Otto, recently blinded from the flames of a demon, to be another Denerim link in the chain.
Then, Elle ran to the Dane's Refuge inn … to see everyone packing up to ride on. "The news is not good from Ostagar. We still have a few hours light and I'd like to stay on the road." Duncan wasn't going to explain further right then, so Elle and Midnight also got ready to ride south.
During the evenings of the three-day trip, Duncan filled them in about darkspawn sightings of increasing size in the Korcari Wilds. Warden scouts found a large hole to the southwest of Ostagar. It looked abandoned except for the stench and Chasind bodies lying around. The ground around the hole was unstable, so they weren't able to investigate any further.
Elle refused to let up on Duncan telling Cailan about the duty of a Grey Warden in regards to the Archdemon. All she could get from him was that he would think about it.
Late afternoon of the third day, they finally rode past the gate. The guards waved them through easily enough … likely glad that the Warden-Commander had joined them.
As they rode past the only standing tower on the grounds, Elle noticed something odd. "Those are Redcliffe soldiers, are they not?"
Duncan was already frowning. "Yes, I wasn't able to go to Redcliffe since we were tied up in Highever, but the warden in Lothering told me Arl Eamon was running late." He shrugged. "I guess he decided to go overland to get here without notifying anyone."
"Hmmm." Then, Elle put on one of her "political" smiles, as Anders was starting to call them. It seemed the King was going to greet them.
"Your Majesty!" Duncan slid off his horse and bowed. "We weren't expecting …"
"A Royal Welcome? Are these your new Grey Wardens?" Then, he finally noticed Elle sliding down … of course, after Midnight had announced their presence. "Lady Cousland and her fearsome Midnight! I was told you were going to be in charge in Highever while Bryce and Fergus marched down with Howe."
Elle took a deep breath. "I have three very important things to tell you, Your Majesty." She paused. "Actually, four. None of which is very pleasant, I'm afraid. Suffice it to mention here that Howe will not be coming and the Highever forces are diminished; however, Fergus and the Highever forces will be here as soon as he can recruit replacements. Details should be in private, Your Majesty."
Duncan narrowed his eyes at Elle. "I would also like to be in attendance at that private meeting." Apparently, Duncan ascertained that Elle would tell Cailan about the Warden's necessity to kill the Archdemon whether Duncan were present or not. Duncan was a very smart man.
Cailan's sunny disposition faded a bit. "Who are your new wardens, Duncan?"
"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty. Anders and Rance are our newest warden recruits from the Circle Tower." Duncan gave them both a pleasant smile.
"Warden mages! Excellent! I shall endeavor to see about getting you more mages once we stop the Blight here," Cailan said, in his usual bravado, prancing around with insincere sincerity and overblown gestures. Where he picked up that habit, no one knew ... certainly not from Maric or Loghain! Everyone just overlooked his mannerisms. He truly loved Anora. So, Elle held him in high regard.
"You believe we can stop the Blight here, Your Majesty?" Rance asked. Anders saw right through Cailan's bluster and kept his mouth shut. Rance, on the other hand, hadn't learned to recognize political-speak yet. Rance was young and he'd been sheltered.
"Of course, Warden! We have the finest men and women in Ferelden here. I'd hoped for a battle like the tales sung by the bards!" Again, with Cailan's gesturing. "Alas, there have been no sightings of an Archdemon, but I suppose this will have to do." Cailan gave a slight shake of his head.
"Disappointed, Your Majesty?" Duncan smirked.
"A bit. But, come Duncan and Elle, let's round up Loghain and have our little conference." He started to walk back across the main bridge while still speaking. "I'm surprised he doesn't pop out of the bushes. He never lets me out on my own down here."
Duncan turned. "Anders and Rance, take our horses to the wardens' stables and drop our things in the warden tent. Claim cots for yourselves. The ones with open chests are available. The chest's key should be inside. Once you've done that, see if you can find Warden Alistair."
Elle unstrapped her saddlebags and pack. "I'll just take my things with me ... if you would be so kind to take my horse, Rebel, to the stables. It has been a sincere pleasure traveling with you gentlemen." She shrugged with a smile. "Who knows? I may be bunking with you sooner rather than later."
Once Anders and Rance peeled off with the horses, Duncan leaned close to Elle. "I asked you to allow me to decide what to tell the King."
"I know, Duncan. I pulled a small manipulation on that one … but, really, it is a matter of recorded history." She didn't smile. "You failed to impress upon me how it could possibly be considered a secret … except that some superior in some foreign land told you it was."
Duncan nodded at the guard who waved them both inside. He didn't look too miffed.
Elle dropped her things just inside the tent and walked directly to Loghain. She handed him a parchment where she had copied the text of Erlina's note and her note to Anora. She had also written out a brief report about Ceorlic which she handed over next. "The first two parchments are copies. That situation is being taken care of. We'll speak more after Duncan has left. The other is a report about suspicious activities we just came upon on our way down here."
Loghain narrowed his eyes at her and read them all. Elle could see him warring with himself, but the sane Loghain won out. "Hello to you, too, Elethea." He then stepped to the guard and told him to find Ser Cauthrien.
Cailan finished ordering food and refreshments and turned … most of his bluster gone. "Now, what is this business with Highever, Elle?"
Elle reached into her cuirass and pulled out two documents. Before she gave them to Cailan, she launched into her tale. "On my way back to Highever from Denerim, I discovered two things: Delilah had not been seen outside of Vigil's Keep for over a year … and Arl Howe had hired mercenaries, verified by a trusted seaman in Amaranthine. So, I stopped at The Vigil …" She spoke for over a half-hour with Duncan adding his experiences fighting with Fergus in the city. Everyone, even Cauthrien once she arrived, asked good questions. Elle laid out Howe's receipts with the Flint Mercenary Company.
She finished with, "After we received the report from Bann Loren about the High Justice on Arl Howe, we headed south."
Loghain studied the receipts. "These don't appear to be forgeries."
"Since I got one of them off one of the mercenaries and the other from inside a locked compartment in Howe's desk, I do not believe them to be forged either." Elle took a long drink of wine. It was a very good wine. Fortunately, they didn't ask her about that "inside a locked compartment" thing.
"Damn fool." Loghain frowned and drank something that smelled wonderful from his own flask.
Cailan sighed. "I would have enjoyed watching Howe's head roll, to be honest. Don't think I won't scold your father for denying me that pleasure. What about Delilah and Thomas?"
Elle shrugged. "Bann Loren didn't know, but I doubt Father will do ill by them. After all, they told the truth to the Revered Mother and got their father booted out of sanctuary." She grumbled. "No doubt the Chantry kept Howe's gold."
"All right, that's one thing." Cailan motioned at her to continue. "What are the other two ... three?"
Elle motioned to Duncan who said, "Your Majesty, what I am about to tell you is a secret that must not go beyond the people in this tent." He held up his hand to forestall Elle's argument. "Yes, if one has studied the history of past Blights carefully … and is as perceptive and vexing as Lady Cousland, you could glean this information from there."
"You wound me, Duncan." Elle put her hand over her heart and winked. "Truly."
Surprisingly, Duncan not only told Cailan, Loghain and Cauthrien about the requirement of a Grey Warden to kill the Archdemon, but also about the Joining and the life of a Grey Warden. He finished with, "The information about the Joining is not recorded in history, but Elle, in conjunction with Anders, would have figured it out quickly enough and she would have told you anyway." The inside of the tent was quiet with shock.
"Maker's Breath," Cailan whispered. He folded his arms behind his head and leaned back in his chair. "I knew your motto, Duncan. I've always found it inspiring … but I had no idea …"
"I'm glad you told us, Duncan … no doubt in opposition to your Orlesian superiors." Loghain didn't look upset. That was just the way he rolled.
"Actually, the First Warden is Antivan at the moment, Your Lordship." Duncan smirked at Elle. "He has sent word down that the top leadership of a country can be told Grey Warden secrets."
"You sly dog!" Elle stood and put her hands on her hips. She grinned. "I must say I am impressed that you kept that from me." She leaned toward Duncan. "But, I wager that Celene has known all along. I'd wager a lot on that one."
Everyone laughed and Duncan smiled at her. "You would win that wager."
Loghain cleared his throat. "Duncan, we have a couple more things to discuss that are Ferelden business, if you don't mind."
"Not at all, Your Lordship." Duncan stood and became very serious. "I have a Joining ceremony to conduct."
Once he left, Elle softly said, "Maker keep them all safe." Then she turned to see Loghain handing Erlina's note to Cailan.
After reading it, the king jumped up. "Cauthrien! We ride for Denerim in the morning! Prepare Maric's Shield!"
Cauthrien's look of alarm was tempered by Loghain. "I'll get with you shortly."
"Loghain, how can you be so calm?!" Cailan was looking around for something to pack or rend or shred.
Loghain handed him a full glass of wine. "Sit. Elethea has already taken care of notifying Anora, as you see, but I agree that you need to go to your Queen." He turned to Elle. "Who did you send to Denerim?"
"Ser Bryant of the Lothering Chantry had to go to Denerim anyway." She shrugged. "I trust him and I knew he could get there quickly with little interference. Taking messages doesn't cross their 'non-secular interference' line since he was going to Denerim anyway."
Loghain only nodded his agreement. "I've met him. Good man. Not stupid like many of their order."
"I don't know if I should leave, though … but I can't kill the Archdemon … but morale … and Alistair, Loghain … what if …" Cailan wasn't making sense. Elle recalled Duncan sending Anders and Rance to find Warden Alistair.
"Your Majesty," Elle looked at Loghain to okay her interruption. At his nod, she continued, "You led the army here. They already know of your determination to keep Ferelden safe. We shall tell them that the Queen may be ill. Not only will the men understand, but they will pray that the Queen recovers. It gives them another reason to fight on!" Then, she kneeled at Cailan's side and took on a more personal tone. "Cailan, once you can determine that Anora is safe, you can send regular messages of support." She winked. "You know how good Anora is at writing those."
He chuckled. "Yes, she is, isn't she." He took her hand. "Thank you for handling this."
Then, Elle got an idea. "En route, Anders mentioned that Senior Enchanter Wynne was here. She is reputed to be a master healer." She looked up at Cailan. "Take Wynne with you. If anyone can make certain Anora is healthy, she could."
Cailan popped up. "I'll go see to that right now!" he said as he walked with purpose out of the tent, leaving Elle alone with Loghain.
"There's one more thing you need to know, Loghain." Elle listened for a moment to see if anyone was approaching. "The message was en route to Redcliffe Castle. So, Erlina's handler is likely a spy there."
Loghain's face grayed. "Or, hidden in the Castle in Eamon's bed." He chewed on that a moment. "Eamon arrived here a few hours before we did. He had already commandeered the Tower of Ishal. He thought to tempt Cailan to join him, but Cailan was already miffed at his uncle about Alistair."
Elle drew her face together and then decided to plunge ahead and just ask. "Who is Warden Alistair to Cailan?"
Loghain sighed and then chuckled. "A secret that's been kept from Elethea Cousland? You must be slipping, madam."
She smirked. "Very well, don't tell me. I'll ferret it out for myself!"
"We don't have the time to deal with Eamon at this moment or place … and this intel about Ceorlic will also need more scrutiny and investigation. I shall send someone to keep watch on our suspicious Bann." He lowered his voice. "Eamon will probably hie back to Denerim when Cailan leaves. I'll get someone to follow him, too." Then, Loghain cocked his head, "Are you going to join the Grey Wardens, Elethea?"
She shrugged as she skritched Midnight's scruff and sat back in her chair. "I don't know, to be honest. I need to talk it over with Fergus when he gets here."
Loghain poured her another glass of wine. "I'm surprised the Warden-Commander hasn't conscripted you." He smirked again. "I've always threatened Bryce with conscripting you into Maric's Shield myself, but you seem more useful as an independent."
Elle smiled. "I am more useful when not bound by a lot of silly rules."
"Good, because I want you to go with Cailan back to Denerim." Loghain sat next to her. "You don't need to be bound to the Grey Wardens. Make Duncan see that you can be more helpful on your own or as a companion to the wardens."
"I think I can do that," she mused. "I'll make my way back down here after I've made certain Anora is all right … damnable Orlesian maid. I knew she was a spy!" She finished off her mug of wine. "Loghain, Erlina has been the reason for the royal couple's inability to have a child." Elle raised an eyebrow and then sighed.
Loghain only chuckled. "You are as paranoid about Orlais as I am."
"I'm touched and overwhelmed, Your Lordship! Such high praise!" Elle stood. "However, my staunch bodyguard here and I need some sleep …" she lowered her voice and whispered to Loghain as she skritched Midnight's ear, "… and time to prowl around this Tower of Ishal."
...
AN: Ugghhh ... back to Denerim for Elle next week! But first … Warden Alistair. ;)
The Invisible Pretender, thank you for your review last week! Ah, but slow chapters sometimes hide hints of upcoming things … or not. ;)
Angeles22, thanks for the story favorite for The Duty of a Cousland! Much appreciated. :)
Superstar Kid, thank you for the author's follow! I am humbled and grateful. :)
