Redcliffe Bypass
The morning departure was interesting. Leliana had done her influential bard duty and all the Chantry staff staying behind were hopeful, reverent and honored to be part of the expedition to catalog and research the Temple of Sacred Ashes. Actually, Elle supposed it wasn't really the Temple of Sacred Ashes anymore … more like the Temple of the Dead Dragon Andraste and her cultists.
After some rearranging, Brother Genitivi had generously offered one of his wagons for the dragon skins and bones. He would be heading to Denerim by horseback with Leliana's group in a few days. At first, Elle thought to decline the wagon. One could travel so much faster without a wagon, but a wagon would mean they could take some tents. It was starting to get really cold and those tents would be welcome in the clear night freezes. Not to mention that hauling all those bits of dragon on horses would have made Elle's Rebel very vexed with her.
Several days later, when Elle's group got back to Sulcher's Pass and onto the Imperial Highway, the journey picked up speed somewhat. People did very little speaking on the road as they were all still lost in their own thoughts about the Temple of Sacred Ashes. However, several days of silence was Varric's absolute limit. By the reaction to his storytelling on the road, everyone else was glad for the change of pace, too.
By the fourth day, they had made their way down from the Frostbacks and were heading south a bit before they turned to the east. The village of Honnleath was down there somewhere. Elle wondered if Alistair found a golem there. Surely, if the village had a golem, they wouldn't want to part with it. The name of the village sparked a fuzzy memory from history, but Elle couldn't place it. She made a note to ask about it the next time she was in Denerim. Thanks to Anora, the Royal Palace had the best library in Ferelden ... as well as, in most of the Free Marches.
That evening, Matin found an excellent place to camp, to relax with good food and entertainment and to unwind from the tension of the past week or so. While some of the scouts successfully hunted a wild boar for dinner, the staff arranged the camp, set up the tents and started cooking. Once dinner was done and the card games were started, Varric walked over to Elle sitting on a log by the nice, warm fire. "Well, Seeker Leliana turned out to be a force of nature."
That made Elle laugh. "Yes, I hadn't thought about that, but it's a true statement. The Chantry, after all, is an organization made up of people who could be defined as forces of nature … many of those people blinded by their devotion to it, in my opinion. Still it is a good organization with the right people. Bad organization when the wrong people show up. Leliana definitely knew all the right buttons to push for everyone. No doubt a good reason why she wanted us to leave right away."
"I gotta admit, Elle," Anders said as he sat on the ground next to Midnight and huddled close to the mabari. "I was surprised that you agreed to leave so fast."
"I was briefly taken aback by the obvious dismissal, but that was not our situation to control. Not even if I wanted to, which I did not. The Wardens have seen the Archdemon in the Deep Roads. We definitely have a Blight in Ferelden and we need to get to Ostagar. My only concern, at this particular moment, is if we should stop in Redcliffe to pay our respects." Elle frowned. Putting her thoughts into words did nothing to calm her disquiet.
Bless Anders. He just laughed. "After he might have tried to have you assassinated? I think we should make a wide berth around that place."
"Do you have any contacts in Redcliffe, my lady?" Matin asked as he stepped up to the fire and warmed his hands.
"I do. Some rather reliable ones in the kitchens. They despise Isolde. But, I can't just walk into the kitchens without talking to Eamon." She took out her rapier and whet stone. "As for that Orlesian assassination attempt, I'm coming to the conclusion that it was more for outing Erlina. Eamon didn't have the time to set it up, for one thing. No, I believe it was a spy with standing orders to tie up any loose ends should anything interfere with Erlina's mission. Most likely a spy from this Briala."
"I could walk into the Redcliffe kitchens, my lady. I doubt he would even recognize me," Matin continued. "We should come near to Redcliffe five or six days from now if we take the southern road through the Hinterlands. If you could give me a note of introduction and a description, I could gather any news and return to meet the caravan shortly enough."
Varric motioned toward the wagon. "There's a case of wine he could 'deliver' to the kitchens, talk to your spy and be gone before anyone's the wiser."
Elle smiled at the scout. He was becoming one of her favorite people. "All right. I'll work on that note. One of my contacts is an elf with sparkling blue eyes and bright red hair … hard to miss … and her name is Deseria. If the weather is nice, she might be working in the hothouse with the herbs. You may not even need to go inside. I'll also give you notes for Dusty, a blonde boy with a limp … the result of a beating demanded by Isolde … and Mistress Andrasal, the head cook ... a lovely older woman with gray and brown hair always tied back in a bun. She hates having to cook that froofy Orlesian food."
Varric and Anders laughed. Anders then shook his head. "You really do know everyone in Ferelden."
"Not everyone, Anders … but quite a few. I meet people everywhere I go. I was forced to go with Father to Redcliffe once and so I spent my time making friends and avoiding the nobles in attendance. My father wasn't amused." Elle smiled at the mage. "Let me give you notes for my contacts and also a note to go with the wine … an apology to Eamon for our urgency and inability to stop by Redcliffe. That should cover your presence … and it's true!" She winked at Varric. "The truth always works." She sighed as she reached into her nearby pack for parchment and quill. "If only Orlais realized that," she mumbled.
...
In five days, Matin was on his way to Redcliffe and Elle's group was pushing toward Lothering through the Hinterlands. This part of Ferelden was beautiful and Elle had never been west of Redcliffe before. Plains with small farms in valleys between tall hills and cliffs. Sometimes the going slowed down a bit when they were forced to maneuver up or down narrow switchback roads, but the roads were kept up ... mostly. She made a note to try to travel the southern roads of her precious Ferelden after the Blight. There was so much to see and experience ... and, no doubt, new people to meet. Plus, there was an abundance of colder weather in the south!
As long as the Blight didn't destroy the south like it destroyed western Orlais and much of the Anderfels and Antiva. She'd never seen those places either, but the descriptions by Brother Genitivi were heart-wrenching. Such once beautiful lands reduced to blighted sand and scrub.
As for the colder weather, most of the evenings were clear and cold. Elle would walk away from the center bonfire to be able to see the stars and moon. The crisp night air displayed the beauty of the night sky on all but one evening. That evening was not pleasant as the snow piled up several inches deep. Elle had to endure no end of complaints about the cold weather. Anders and Gorim tried to blame it on Elle making a pact with the Maker to give her such a cold night! Everyone crowded into one of the tents and Varric told the tale of Soldier's Peak. He ended it with, "You guys have never gone through bad weather until you've been cooped up with everyone ... including the horses ... inside a haunted building!"
It made her wonder how the weather was in Ostagar ... and if Alistair had any thoughts of that last evening where they opened up about themselves a bit. Maker knew that Elle had had thoughts. Especially when the thunder snow rumbled in the distance. The more she thought about that night, the more she was beginning to realize that her feelings for Alistair were real ... not just expedient. Plus, she felt he was sincere ... and real ... and handsome, like all Theirins she'd ever met.
...
Just after they had set camp a day out from Lothering, Matin caught back up with them. He had a rather haggard Eamon riding with him. The caravan had just finished eating a wonderful stew made from a stag the scouts killed that night. Maker! Elle ate better on the road than at home!
She briefly turned her back to the approaching pair and faced the card game. "Varric, go hide in my tent and listen." She grinned at the rest of the curious trying to look without looking while pretending to play cards. "It seems to be showtime, ladies and gentlemen!" she said before she turned with a large smile on her face.
"Your Lordship! To what do we owe this great honor?" Elle called out loudly as Matin and Eamon reached the edge of the camp.
She overheard Anders say quietly, "And, she really sounds sincere."
"Because she is, Warden. If ol' Arl Eamon would really listen, he'd know what she was sayin', that everyone should be treated with courtesy," one of the men whispered back. "All the Couslands are like that. That's why we fight for 'em." The sentiment was very welcome, but nothing she could acknowledge at that moment.
Matin got off his horse and helped Eamon down. "The Arl walked into the kitchen as I delivered the wine, my lady. He insisted on riding along to thank you in person."
Elle put her hand on her chest and truly smiled at Eamon. "Oh, my. That was most gracious of you."
Eamon smiled back at her. "That was not the only reason, of course, Elle. There are some other private things I need to discuss with you. Not that I am ungrateful for the gift."
Since he was familiar with her, she answered, "Of course, Eamon. Let's adjourn to my tent. Matin, rest yourself and get some dinner. The men hunted a stag and the cook made a delicious stew! Have them bring some into my tent for Arl Eamon."
Matin bowed. "Of course, my lady."
Eamon chuckled. "I could use a good meal. Thank you."
As they entered the tent, Elle looked around. "I'm afraid that I don't have any vintages of the quality of which I'm certain you are accustomed." She saw Varric's hand briefly point to a crate and duck back behind a pile of bedding and personal packs. Elle went to the crate and pulled out a bottle and two mugs. She turned to find Eamon already sitting on a crate by the small table she used for her writings. She hoped she hadn't left anything incriminating laying about. "Perhaps, this will do." She poured out two half-mugs. "Certainly not the finery of glassware!"
Eamon smiled and took the mug. He held his up in a small toast and tried it as someone passed in a bowl of stew. She returned the toast and realized the wine was pretty good. Must have been one of Varric's private stock.
"There is nothing wrong with this wine, Elle. Allow me to eat a few bites and then we can talk." He took one bite. "Tell me. Did you find the Temple of Sacred Ashes?" At Elle's astonished face, he chuckled. "I have been financing Brother Genitivi's search for it. He notified me of the most recent expedition."
"I see! We have you to thank for the wonderful wagon Brother Genitivi let us borrow, then!" Elle sat as Midnight walked in the tent and sat beside her. "I don't think he's finished his bowl yet, Midnight." She skritched his ruff. "To answer your question, we did indeed find the Temple. To make the story short, the inhabitants of Haven may have been descendants of the Disciples of Andraste at one time, but they lost their way a while ago. They were worshipping a dragon … called her the risen Andraste."
"Maker's Breath! Are you certain it was the right place?" Eamon paused in his tucking in. "Did you have to kill them?"
"Something must have occurred prior to our arrival. A dragon killed most of them, actually." Elle just shook her head. "They must have been so devoted to this idea of a risen Andraste that the villagers actually held their children to be burned by the dragon's flame. It was all very distressing." She chose to leave out certain details ... like the possibility of a second dragon.
He reached over and took her hand. "We can talk about that later, if you'd prefer." Eamon had never touched her before … or treated her with any consideration … but then, they had never spoken alone before.
With a grateful smile, she briefly squeezed his hand in return and took her hand back. "Thank you, Eamon, but there's not much more to tell of the basic story. In the mountains above Haven, we found the Temple, much maligned by time. We fought our way through caves of dragonlings and drakes. It seemed the villagers were experimenting with them." Elle stopped a moment in thought. "Perhaps that's why the dragon attacked them. Anyway, at the end of these caves, we found the last of the Havenites and a dead dragon. Seeker Leliana went into ... what Brother Genitivi said was ... the part of the Temple where the Ashes and the Urn's eternal Guardian likely were. She came out carrying an empty Urn … said that it looked like it was turned over in the dragon's destruction of the building." Elle was curious if Eamon knew Leliana.
He did. "Seeker Leliana? Is that the same woman as Sister Leliana in Lothering's Chantry?" His look was rather intense.
"It is." Elle frowned. "Imagine my surprise to find that out. And, here I pride myself on being informed."
That made Eamon laugh as he finished his last bite of stew and put the bowl on the ground for Midnight. "As do I, Elle. As do I. She quite expertly pulled that off right under Isolde's nose. Tell me. Did you get that information about Erlina from Leliana?"
Elle didn't even hesitate. "I did. She said a Chantry initiate had found it and handed it to her." She huffed. "It turned out to be verified as true, so I'm fairly positive it wasn't malicious in nature. Do you think she had ulterior motives, Eamon?" Leliana had explained that her time in Lothering as Sister Leliana was because she needed the peace ... and Elle believed her, if she was betrayed by that harlot Marjolaine. Elle decided to play it a bit differently to Eamon, however.
He finished the wine in his mug and Elle filled it again. "Let me tell you what I came home to after you gave me that information in Cailan's tent." He fingered the handle on the mug and took a deep breath. "Ser Harrith had waited until I returned before he took Connor to the Circle … however, Isolde had left. She took several of my better guards and some of the kitchen staff." He frowned. "Harrith told me that she didn't even say farewell to Connor. Either she considered Connor a curse upon herself … or her handlers in Orlais instructed her to flee if found out." Those last words were stated flatly with little to no emotion. He shrugged. "Perhaps Isolde had received orders sent through the Chantry ... through Seeker Leliana? I truly have no idea."
This time Elle put her hand over Eamon's. "I'm sorry, Eamon." She hesitated a moment and then plowed ahead. "What do you plan to do about it all?"
"I find myself at loose ends. I heard about what you went through with Rendon's son, so I thought you might be someone who would understand how someone that you loved and trusted could turn out to be an enemy." He took back his hand and took a long drink.
"I can empathize, Eamon, but I cannot begin to understand why Nathaniel … or Isolde … did what they did." She smiled. "But, you didn't answer my question, Your Lordship."
He chuckled. "No, I didn't, did I. I truly don't know. In the present, I would like to go back to Ostagar with your caravan, if you'll have me. Update Cailan. Right at this moment, I'm thinking to hand the Arling over to Teagan now rather than later. I have no heir or Arlessa at the moment, so that sounds like a good thing for me to do. The people of the Arling are quite fond of him. It would give him time … and force him to marry and have an heir. The Arling will continue." He chuckled. "Perhaps I'll become a Grey Warden."
"Have you considered advising the crown? From my brief contact with Cailan, he seems to respect your opinion. He certainly shared your grief about Connor." To Elle, that seemed to be a more logical place someone like Eamon would want to go. Leaving the Arling to his younger brother and becoming a Grey Warden ... certainly did not!
"I did for a time ... and maybe I shall do that after I see what's going on in Ostagar," he said quietly. Elle could tell he was lying. He was not acting like a man with no purpose. He rode off ... alone ... just to go to Ostagar with her. Never in a dozen ages would that happen with the Eamon Guerrin that Elle knew. Something was going on with him. The game with him was always to figure out what that something might be. Her father was a pro at that game, but Elle felt at quite the disadvantage. She feared this was The Grand Game that Orlais played more than something Eamon came up with. That's why it sounded so foreign ... and made Elle's nerves twitch.
Elle filled her own mug with the last of the bottle. "I've been seriously considering becoming a Grey Warden myself … just seems like a Cousland should be a warden."
He sighed. "As much as I've put into Ferelden in my life, I'm afraid it's all been for nought. Likely my fault as much as anyone else's, I admit."
What … exactly … did you put into Ferelden? Other than Orlesian-style politics, derision and misinformation … all wrapped up in the oh-so-friendly Eamon Guerrin, Elle wanted to say out loud, but kept the thought to herself.
She needed to confer with Matin as soon as possible. She gently slapped her thighs. "Well, Eamon, you look dreadful … if you can pardon my effrontery. I suggest you retire to your tent and get some rest. And, of course, you can travel with us to Ostagar." What she didn't add was … so, I can find out what you're up to, you snake.
By the time Eamon exited Elle's tent, his tent was set up and ready. Anders was talking to Matin and laughed. Then, he walked over to Elle while Eamon went inside his tent.
"Matin thought it wiser for me to pass you this information." Anders whispered as he got to Elle. He made expansive motions like he was describing something gigantic. "You might want to laugh once in a while," the mage added with a smile. After Elle took his advice, he added, "Matin says that several Redcliffe knights are following. He's going to scout out their camp in a bit." Elle laughed again. "He also said that Dusty handed him this note from Deseria for you."
Elle took the note and slipped it behind her belt. She gave a final laugh. "Please tell our scout that the joke was horribly in poor taste … however, it was still funny."
Anders chuckled and walked away. "I'll do that, Elle."
Once just outside the flap of her tent, she turned and looked out toward the fire. Then, she walked around the outside of the tent and went inside. "You can come out now, but speak quietly," Elle whispered.
Varric grunted as he got up and lifted the back of the tent. "Be back in a minute."
Elle heard him walk away from the tent as she opened Deseria's note. All the right codes were there. "My Lady … terrible things are happening here. A letter from the Arl arrived shortly before the Arlessa went screaming through the castle for everyone to stop what they were doing and attend to her. She had to leave for Val Royeaux immediately. It was made to look like the Arl didn't know. But, he sent the message. No one saw what happened to that note. Then, just as the Arl got home, a fancy Orlesian messenger gave him an official letter from Orlais. No one could read it before he burned it. But, the Arl looked worse after."
The next time she heard Varric, he was telling a joke to the men around the fire and then said, "I gotta tell the Lady."
They all laughed and agreed.
He also walked around the tent and then entered. "I assume you don't believe a word."
"I believe the small bit about Connor. It's documented and, since he's a high noble of Ferelden, the Chantry would have allowed him to say farewell to his son. However, the bits about Isolde don't quite ring true …" She handed Deseria's note to Varric.
After reading the note, he handed it back to Elle and whispered, "Son of a … what's he up to?" Varric took a peek out the small slit in the tent flaps.
"I'm not certain, but I intend to find out before we get to Ostagar." She shook her head. "I don't know what he …" She gritted her teeth. "His misguided affection for an Orlesian tart has made him a pawn for Orlais. I'm afraid he's actually been sent to sabotage something … or even assassinate someone, but who? He's certainly in no shape to fight anyone honorably."
"He might do something dishonorable, if he's in that deep," Varric countered.
"Matin uncovered that there are three Redcliffe knights following him. Are they there in suspicion of Eamon … or to act in his behalf?" Elle was getting more and more furious by the moment. Then, she calmed herself down. "We need evidence, not speculation. Loghain would stand for no less." Then, she sat down and the blood drained from her face. "Loghain. The enemy of Orlais. In the heat of battle with the darkspawn, Eamon's handlers feel like he could arrange to kill Loghain. If he were unsuccessful and caught doing the deed or arranging for it to be done, the Landsmeet would have him executed. Orlais would only be rid of Eamon, but they know that Ferelden is too tied up at the moment to do anything about it. If he were successful and caught, Orlais would be rid of two problems. That must be it."
"You're not mentioning the successful and not caught option," Varric said with a frown.
"Because we are not going to let it happen," Elle replied rather vehemently.
She got up and wrote two notes: Loghain, as we previously arranged, this is to notify you that we shall arrive within two weeks … and another: Loghain, Eamon is up to something, maybe your assassination. Be on your guard. Eamon's traveling with us. More when we arrive. She handed them to Varric. "Get those to Matin and tell him to send our fastest messenger to ride hard for Ostagar … not him, as Eamon would get suspicious. Put the first note in an easily accessible pocket. Put the other one in a very secure location."
Varric nodded, peeked out the tent flap, laughed to a feigned joke and made his way to find Matin.
…
AN: I just cannot seem to write Eamon in a benevolent way. :) For those of you who agree with me, next week should be interesting.
Judy, thank you so much for sticking around! :)
The Invisible Pretender, it's going to be interesting to witness Elle's and Alistair's relationship, as non-traditional as the Maker can … well … Make it. ;) Thanks so much for your review! I missed hearing from you guys last week!
Marika Hailwell, Elethea and Arlaine are the same person in different timestreams, only the situations have changed a bit. Anyway, I think they would get along as siblings! Thanks for your kind words! :)
