A Surprise From Orzammar
The expedition's progress around the northern end of Lake Calenhad was a bit slow. However, thanks to Tevinter road-building along with Ferelden maintenance on most of the Imperial Highway, it went rather smoothly, even with the wagons. The distance was farther; however, they were able to go faster!
When they were near West Hill — the fort and now-empty village overlooking the Storm Coast — the group camped early. Elle took Varric and Gorim up the disappointingly unkept road to West Hill to show them Calenhad's first bastion in Ferelden. She had never seen it herself. But, after the surprise of Soldier's Peak, she was curious. These were the holdings of Bann Franderel, who spent the majority, if not all, of his time in Denerim. Elle wasn't very fond of Franderel and his excesses ... not to mention the mistreatment of his servants.
Unfortunately, Bann Franderel's guards refused to let them pass. It rang all sorts of alarm bells for Elle. Undaunted, they rode part way back and then snuck around to view it from a nearby clifftop. It was a disaster! Where Soldier's Peak was awe-inspiring, West Hill was infuriating! Elle seethed to see the state of such an historic site to Ferelden. Most of the crenellations were missing and two of the corner towers were tumbled to the outside. Other than the guards on the road, they saw absolutely no guards around the structure at all. The surrounding community buildings were obviously abandoned and all the fields lay fallow ... unproductive. Where Franderel got all his coin to purchase his exorbitant collections Elle had no idea ... could not have been from legitimate sources, for certain!
Sadly, Elle had no time to explore further or to ride back to Denerim to say or do anything about it. Nor, did anyone else at this moment, although she sent a message bird back to Highever to inform her father. She just put it on her mental list of things to do after the Blight.
However, later that evening, Elle found herself sitting on a log around the center fire after many of the people had already gone to sleep. She stared into the fire, her mood vacillating between sadness and anger about the entire Franderel situation … so much so, that Varric and Gorim brought a bottle of Varric's private stash of wine over and sat on either side of her. It did not escape her attention that Midnight led them over.
"Okay, Elle, what's wrong? Midnight wanted us to cheer you up," Gorim said as he poured a very generous mug of the wine and handed it to Elle. "Is this mood about West Hill?"
"That's a large part of it, yes. West Hill used to be called Western Hill, long ago. Calenhad wasn't the first ruler of the bannorn, but he was most renowned. In fact, Calenhad squired for Arl Tenedor during the unity wars that determined Ferelden's first king." Elle took a long drink of the very good wine.
"Yeah, there are lots of stories about how Calenhad was able to rise from squire to Arl to King of Ferelden," Varric explained. "The most fanciful, of course, was that he drank the blood of a great dragon to become powerful enough." Varric grinned. "That one's my favorite."
"Mine, too!" Elle said. Then, she shook her head. "The stories that old structure could tell. It was also the site of one of Maric's most embarrassing defeats during the rebellion against Orlais. Get Loghain to tell you that one if you have the chance. Might want to give him some of this wine first," she added with a wink. "I'm named after Teryna Elethea Cousland who fought Calenhad to keep Highever independent. She lost, but he was so impressed that he let her remain Teryna after she swore fealty to him."
Gorim leaned back against an adjacent log. "Odonna is named after one of her ancestors who slogged through the Deep Roads to find stranded dwarves during the early darkspawn attacks. Her son became one of the first Aeducan kings." Sadly, he added, "I've been hoping that will mean she found a way to survive down there."
His arm was draped over the log, so Elle reached over and briefly squeezed Gorim's hand. "We are all hoping that, my friend," she said quietly.
"So, what would you do differently in West Hill?" Varric asked.
"I'd get it up and running again! I've never seen it, but I hear there's an old dwarven trading port on the Storm Coast somewhere. I'd find it, renovate it along with West Hill and open up trade to the north. No reason that Jader be the only port on this side of the Waking Sea. Although, those Storm Coast sea lanes are treacherous." She stood up and paced. "The lack of attention there leaves us vulnerable to Orlais coming along and blindsiding us. Maker's Mercy," she said and she ran her hand through her hair.
Varric stood and said, "Well, the bird for Highever should be back soon if you want to send an additional note to your father, Elle."
"I know you don't want to hear this, Elle," Gorim said as he also stood. "But, your father seems to be pretty busy right now. And, most of Ferelden's soldiers are down at Ostagar."
Elle narrowed her eyes at Gorim. "You're are not making me feel any better." She sighed and looked up at the sky. "But, you are right." She looked over to the scout's tent. "Maybe Matin and I can come up with some ideas tomorrow." After sending a warm smile to both dwarves, she added, "Thank you both. I needed to air this out a bit. We don't have a plan, yet, but, at least I was able to put to voice what has been bothering me. See you gentlemen in the morning!"
The expedition was delayed for a few hours while Elle and Matin made a plan for several of Highever's scouts to rotate from Highever to West Hill to keep an eye out for trouble. Of course, they wouldn't be able to confront any problems, but at least Highever could be alerted about problems before any Orlesians … or Tevinters … or Qunari … or any unwanted faction marched right up to Denerim's main gate!
…
The trip to Crossheights, the village at the bottom of the road up to Orzammar's gates, took almost a week. The journey was mostly pleasant with a few downpours that turned to snow flurries as they neared the foothills of the Frostbacks. The road along the side of the foothills was a good deal higher in elevation than Lake Calenhad. The waxing moon-illuminated vistas in the evenings grew more and more incredible as the week went on. This entire journey along the western side of Lake Calenhad was all new territory to Elle and she took every opportunity she could to just stop and gaze at the splendor of Ferelden.
At last, they rode around a hill and spotted a small vale where the village lay, like a precious egg in a lush evergreen nest. Unlike West Hill, Crossheights was very busy! The aromas of cooking and fireplace smoke filled the air and lights were everywhere ... as if they were expecting Elle's group.
And, as it turned out ... they were! Varric's contact Vartag had alerted the Shady Rose Inn that a large group was arriving. The entire village pitched in to greet them and prepare for their arrival. Vartag was even there to meet them … with a surprise in tow!
"Anders! Thank the Maker you're all right!" Rance Amell came up and hugged his fellow mage. "A day didn't go by when I didn't say that I wish you were with us." Rance had a frown with that statement. He looked as if he had aged a decade from the fresh new mage Elle traveled with just a few months ago.
If Elle hadn't been tired and busy watching the reunion of Anders and Rance, she might have put two and two together to guess who the next person to walk up would be. But, alas, he surprised her. "Lady Cousland! Vartag said he was meeting one of his contacts, but I didn't expect to see you here," Alistair said as he walked up with a grin.
Elle returned the grin. "Nor I, you, Warden!" She turned to Genitivi, "Brother Genitivi here made me an offer that I could not refuse and this stop was on the way! Brother Genitivi, this is Warden Alistair."
"Brother Genitivi? The Brother Genitivi?!" Alistair asked, leaving his mouth hanging open.
The good Brother only laughed. "The one and only, Warden … as far as I know."
"I always have a copy of In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar with me, Brother Genitivi. It's exciting to meet you in person!" Alistair shook Genitivi's hand as Varric walked up.
Varric motioned to a dwarf standing nearby. "This is Vartag, Elle." Vartag was rather slim for a dwarf and had the scruffiest blonde beard Elle had ever seen!
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Cousland." He had twinkly blue eyes and a broad smile … Elle presumed from the way the beard moved. Elle got the sense that this dwarf was extremely personable — an effective trait in a contact. She was glad she insisted on coming to meet him. "Now, you don't have to travel all that way up through the pass."
When Elle just gave Varric a mostly friendly frown, he blushed and said, "Okay, I admit that I may have suggested he meet us down here."
Vartag just shouldered Varric and said, "I'll get you up there someday, Tethras."
Elle nodded toward Alistair. "Quite handy that you were able to time it with the Wardens' journey," she said. Then, she noticed a dwarf with a rather large axe on his back and Gorim hugging a female dwarf. Well, they did just come from Orzammar, Elle thought to herself in response to the thought that a lot of dwarves seemed to be around. Elle sincerely hoped that the hug meant good news for Gorim.
"Oh, pardon me. We have two new warden-recruits." Alistair motioned to the female dwarf who was hugging Gorim. "Um, I'll get to Odonna in a moment." The name brought a wide grin to everyone nearby who knew Gorim and his story. "This is Oghren Kondrat. He hasn't really decided yet if he wants to be a warden, but he did decide that he'd rather suffer the surface than stay with King Bhelen."
Gorim pulled out of the hug with Odonna Aeducan. "Bhelen?! Bhelen is king now?!"
Oghren laughed as Rance paid him a few coins.
"Almost word for word," Rance mumbled.
Odonna sighed. "It's a long story, Gorim. The wardens ended up choosing the new king. We found Paragon Branka who was looking for the Anvil of the Void. The wardens became the disposables who defeated traps on the way. We were surprised to find Caridin who was still alive ... as a golem. He should have returned to the Stone long, long, long ago. He wanted to stop the production of golems. Branka wanted us to kill Caridin so she could keep making golems. Caridin told us that golems are made by pouring molten lyrium over live dwarves encased in armor made on the Anvil of the Void. Soon the volunteers ran out, so dwarves who'd lost favor were 'sentenced' to be golems."
She sighed and had to take a deep breath. "We had to kill Branka to get her to stop after hearing that. Caridin gave us a crown with his special mark and told us to choose the king ... he didn't want to know who got chosen. He ended his long existence by getting us to destroy the Anvil of the Void before he jumped into a nearby lava stream. I can tell more of the details later." She shook her head and frowned, "It was either Bhelen or father's sycophant Harrowmont … the sodding nug-humper who pushed me through the door to the Deep Roads … after telling me that he believed me."
Varric chuckled. "I would love to hear those extra details, Princess. I'm Varric Tethras, by the way."
"Nope, no longer a princess … wait, Tethras … are you a descendent of Tethras Garen?" Odonna looked very interested in Varric's answer.
"Yeah, I guess." Varric shrugged. "The heirs of Garen took the Tethras name and somewhere along the line one of them was made a Paragon and formed House Tethras. A more recent ancestor of mine was caught fixing a Proving and got everyone associated with him exiled to the surface. I guess my crazy brother, Bartrand, is now head of the family."
Odonna smiled. "I had occasion to do some reading while we were waiting for our audience with the assembly. Shaper Czibor gave me a book about him. Tethras Garen was the son of Paragon Garen. Tethras was exiled to the Deep Roads for being accused of murdering his sister." She turned to Gorim. "Sound familiar?"
"I don't know the guy you're talking about, but I know about you." Gorim stood with his arm around her shoulders.
"Anyway, the Paragon found out that the Carta killed his daughter and he sent Legion of the Dead volunteers to go down to look for his heir. He sent three full Legion units over ten years and they never found him ... never came back. Atrast tunsha. Totarnia amgetol tavash aeduc. That's a wish for the Stone's blessing."
"Well, I was born on the surface, so I guess he's not really my ancestor." Varric frowned.
"He should be. Our people have lost their way, Varric. As much as I'd like to wring Bhelen's neck for killing our older brother and pinning it on me … he'll be good for Orzammar. And, thanks to Alistair holding his feet to the fire, Bhelen's sending a good-sized army of Warrior Caste and Legion alike down to Ostagar via the Deep Roads." Odonna turned to Elle with a blush. "I'm so sorry, my lady! I didn't mean to ignore you."
For a moment, Elle didn't realize Odonna was speaking to her. She was still thinking about the sadness of Varric's ancestor's tale. "Oh! You didn't, Odonna! I was wrapped up in Tethras Garen's story. The Deep Roads definitely do not sound like a cheery place."
"That's the Maker's Truth, my lady," Alistair said while shaking his head. "And, we had to jump through innumerable hoops ... including almost a month in the Deep Roads ... to get that army," he added with a frown.
"Please, now, I asked you … all of you … to call me Elle." She grinned at Gorim. "I suppose this means that you're resigning as my Second now?"
Odonna backhanded Gorim's chest and gave him a snarky grin. "I'm busy for a few months and you attach yourself to another?" However, she quickly added, "I think you should stay Elle's Second, Gorim. I'll be busy as a Grey Warden now."
"Unless you want to become a Grey Warden, as well, Gorim. All levity aside, I would never stand in the way of increasing our cadre of Ferelden Grey Wardens!" Elle smiled at Gorim who was looking at Odonna.
"Let me think about it, Elle ... and Alistair. I'll let you know after Haven." Gorim kissed Odonna's forehead and smiled. "I can do that now and no one will kill me for it."
Elle looked away and caught Alistair looking at her. She smiled at him and he blushed. Why does he keep doing that? she asked herself. Nevermind, she answered herself. She had a pretty good idea as to the reason. She just wasn't sure yet how she felt about getting into a new relationship at that moment. "Well, let's get things sorted out and see if we can get a large enough table at the Inn to discuss our next stops."
"We have the entire Inn booked," Vartag said. "Gancy is the innkeeper and said that it was his honor to house and feed the Grey Wardens and Brother Genitivi's special expedition." He looked around. "I think Gancy's hired the entire village to help him."
It took some finagling and crowding into rooms, but everyone had a bed, or at least a bedroll on a dry floor, for the evening. It looked to be a snowy night, so the protection from the cold was well-received. Elle knew that her Rebel would be well-tended in the fortified stable barn next to the Inn.
However, instead of telling everyone in the large room, Genitivi arranged to speak to Alistair and his wardens separately about the Temple of Sacred Ashes. As the activity of dinner and room assignments was dying down, Varric sidled up to Elle and Midnight.
"So, that's a bastard son of Maric, eh?" Varric asked quietly.
"How did you know that?" Elle whispered.
The dwarf chuckled and winked. "I hear things."
"I haven't been told that directly, but I believe he is." Elle leaned closer to Varric. "Cailan takes more after Queen Rowan, but Alistair definitely looks like Maric."
"So, that makes him a Prince." Varric chuckled. "Maybe I wasn't so far off calling you Princess, hmm?" He stepped away from Elle's backhand and chuckled. "No one missed how he looked at you, Elle," Varric whispered.
Elle decided to play along and tapped her lower lip in thought. "He is quite handsome; however, he's Duncan's man now and I don't think the Grey Wardens share. I do hope Gorim joins the Wardens. Now, that was a look of affection."
Varric started to reply, but Alistair took that moment to walk over. "I'll … uh … I need to meet with Vartag about your codes and all," Varric said as he bowed to Elle and winked as Alistair got there.
Elle looked at Alistair and smiled. "Varric thinks that you're attracted to me. I told him that you were attached to the Grey Wardens now and unavailable. Is that true?"
The Maker certainly could not have been pleased with Elle for causing the deep red blush on Alistair's cheeks. "I … uh … I suppose …"
She put her hand on his lower arm. "I didn't mean to embarrass you, Alistair, but I try to never start a friendship with anything but the absolute truth between us. I hope that's all right?"
Her statement seemed to surprise him and he smiled … a sweet genuine smile. "Actually, I find that rather refreshing, Elle. I was hoping we could be friends."
"Good! Me, too!" She took back her hand. "Will your group be able to go with us to Haven?"
"I don't know. I'm going to send word to Duncan through the messenger bird network at Loghain's outpost a bit up the road. They'll likely load us down with stuff that needs delivery in person. We'll go with you as far as Sulcher's Pass where Duncan can send a reply." Alistair folded his arms and added quietly, "Do you really think you'll find the Temple of Sacred Ashes?"
Elle shrugged. "Genitivi is pretty certain of it. I must admit that I hold a degree of trepidation as well as excitement. There are misguided cultists up there. You heard the beginning of Varric's story at dinner of their ambush at the Spoiled Princess. If we're lucky, we can negotiate with them. And, I'm glad that you'll get the report packets for Loghain." She smiled. "Saves me from having to do it."
Alistair looked around the crowded room. "You seem to have a fairly good-sized force for a Chantry expedition. When I was in the Templars, I was never part of a group even a quarter this size."
"Oh! That reminds me. Ser Friden said to send you his best wishes whenever I might run into you again." She winked at Alistair. "Don't worry. He didn't tell any tales of the Templar initiate bunkhouse."
Alistair laughed. He didn't blush this time. He was enjoying their conversation. "Thank the Maker. You'd be running for the hills by now. I'm glad to hear that he's all right. How did you run into him, if you don't mind telling me? Duncan's told me about how many people you seem to know ... and, how much you seem to know about them," he added with a laugh.
"Absolute truth … remember?" she replied and then her smile faded and she sighed. "Ser Friden uncovered a … well, I called it a Tevinter Circle hidden in Denerim. They were using blood magic to control the nobles in the city. They may have driven my once-betrothed, Nathaniel Howe, to do such horrible things that he ended up taking his own life."
Alistair held her shoulders. "Are you all right?"
His concern was more than touching for Elle. She didn't know why she automatically put her hand on the side of his face, but she did. It had taken her months to become that familiar with Nathaniel. Habit, perhaps? "I'm fine now. Can we delay the details for some other time? It was not a nice attack on that lair and I still have nightmares about it."
"You went along?!" his grip tightened just a little. Then, he took a deep breath, squeezed her arms and let them go. "If you wish to talk about it, I would be happy to listen."
That was just what she wanted to hear. Maybe she could consider another close relationship. It seemed to be going well, so far! "Thank you, Alistair. Or, you can ask Varric to tell you. I call him my personal historian and I absolutely do not mind you asking him." She added with a wink.
Elle decided to go back to another topic. "But, to give you a brief explanation why Duncan may have said that about me ... I like to know what's going on. Always have … from the time I could first toddle around. King Maric had to pause a Landsmeet once because I snuck away from the Highever seating box and got caught hiding and listening behind the Throne." She smiled. "I still recall that scolding from Father fondly. I also talk to everyone and quite a few of them talk to me … on a regular basis. This includes good relationships with a lot of the Chantry in Ferelden. Ser Bryant and Sister Leliana in Lothering, Mother Mallol in Highever, and Ser Friden in Denerim. Revered Mother Dorothea was also one of my confidants, but she's now on her way to Val Royeaux." Elle leaned closer to Alistair, "If the Maker wills it, hopefully, she'll be our next Divine."
"We just heard about the death of the Divine as we were leaving Orzammar. Vartag caught us up to what's been going on in the rest of Thedas," Alistair said solemnly ... and then he laughed. "So, you'll angle to get the Divine as a confidant? As I said, Duncan was very clear about your high intelligence and need to ferret out the truth," Alistair said. "I don't think he knew just how wide-ranging your sources were, however."
"I adore Duncan. He is the best possible Warden-Commander we could have during a Blight in Ferelden. An Orlesian would never work." Elle took a deep breath. "Yes, I know that sounds like something Loghain would say, but I tend to agree with him quite often about Orlais … I hope that doesn't put you off."
"Before we left for Orzammar, we heard about several conversations between Loghain and Duncan. The two of them get along rather surprisingly well," Alistair grinned. "Loghain even told his men that Duncan would always be in charge on the battlefield with the darkspawn."
"I don't believe you! Truly?!" Elle was astounded.
Alistair nodded. "Truly … with … the darkspawn. Of course, Loghain is always around whenever Duncan says anything. Don't know if that led to any fisticuffs after we left." Even though he tried to hide it, a small yawn escaped.
Elle noticed … and as such things usually happen … she had to stifle her own yawn. "I'm hoping we can speak more over the next few days, Alistair, but, right now, Midnight and I need our sleep, I'm afraid."
"It has been a long and trying journey," he replied. "Good night, Midnight," he said as he patted her precious mabari's head. Midnight looked up at Elle and moofed his approval of her new friend. "And, sweet dreams, Elle." He smiled and turned … and then, turned back … "By the way, a Grey Warden never has sweet dreams."
"I know about that first-hand. Anders, Rance and I traveled with Duncan. Poor man … and poor you. Then, please have the best dreams you can, Grey Warden." Elle gave his hand a brief squeeze and went up the stairs to the room she was sharing with Aggilana, Odonna and several of the female guards.
She was the first one in the room, as the others were sitting rapt in attention for the continuation of Varric's new tale of the Ambush at the Tower. For some reason, the bedroll next to the fireplace looked the most appealing, so that's where Elle and Midnight bedded down for the night. As she put her arm around Midnight's shoulder, she whispered, "Well, what do you know, Midnight … I think I may have found a man to like who is younger than I am. I must find out more about that expedition Maric went on twenty years ago."
Midnight only moofed again and they both settled down to a good night's sleep, warm and comfy in front of a nice fireplace. Elle didn't even awaken when the others arrived to go to their beds later!
…
AN: I just cannot kick Alistair to the curb. ;) One more chapter and then arrival at Haven … the real Haven … not the Inquisition Haven. ;)
The Invisible Pretender, yeah, even Greagoir realizes the vital necessity of mages during a Blight in this AU. He's just a softie here. ;) And, I always found it weird that one of the options was Irving telling the Amell mage they knew what Jowan was going to do and then letting him actually destroy the real phylactery so they couldn't track him. I guess they were just overly confident that they'd be able to catch him? Thank you for your reviews! :)
Judy, thanks so much for the continued boost! :)
