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Chapter 19: The Landsmeet

Malcolm hums as he wakes up and smiles at the sight of Leliana asleep on her back, he gently kisses her hand before getting out of bed. She hums as she slowly wakes up as Malcolm is putting his armor on. Soon he finishes getting ready and looks over to see Leliana watching him, then he walks over and smiles. "Morning."

Leliana smiles as he leans down and kisses her. "Morning, my love."

"Eamon needs to see me; I have a feeling we will be done in Denerim soon." She sighs and nods as she climbs out of bed, the sheets dropping to reveal her naked body. "But it was nice… having an actual bed."

She smiles as she goes to get dressed herself. "It was."

Malcolm walks over to her and kisses her cheek before head to Eamon's room and walking in, where Alistair, Halia and Eamon wait for him. "Ah, Lord Cousland. I hope you slept well. The last of our allies have arrived in the city, we cannot delay any longer: I will call for the Landsmeet to convene." He looks at Halia. "You and some of your companions must come with me and Anora. We will have to keep her in a room at the palace to keep her safe." Halia nods while he looks at Alistair and Malcolm. "You two can bring who you want to the palace as soon as you are ready." Malcolm bows as him and Halia walk away.

Malcolm looks at Alistair. "Let's go. One way or another, one problem will end today." Alistair sighs and nods as he follows Malcolm to his room and knocks on the door. "Leli. The Landsmeet has been called."

After a while Leliana opens the door and walks out. "Ready for this to end."

"So am I. So am I." Malcolm, Alistair and Leliana head towards the front door and run into Oghren. "Oghren. Why don't you join us?"

"Warden, there you are. Wanted to talk to you."

"Oh? You can talk on the way to the palace. Come on."

"Alright." The four walk out of the estate and down the streets to head to the palace. "So, Warden. You and I, we've… You know how sometimes, you spend time with… people and you… grow close. I wanted to ask a favor for a friend… I managed to remember something… I do know someone out here on the surface. A girl I knew in Orzammar. We rutted a few times after Brank left for the Deep Roads. Ahh… Felsi was a fiery one. I'm sure she's forgiven me by now. Thought maybe I'd track her down. See how she's living. She left for the surface quite a while back, and I haven't seen her since. She said she went to work somewhere at Lake Calenhad."

Malcolm nods. "Next time we head to Redcliffe, we could make a stop at the inn there."

"Thanks, Warden. You're a good friend."

Malcolm smiles and pats Oghren on his shoulder as they continue. After a while they finally arrive at the palace and walk into the lobby and into Ser Cauthrien, who looks at them with distain. "Warden, I am not surprised it has come to this. And Alistair. If you were even remotely worth of being called Maric's son, you would already be in the Landsmeet, now wouldn't you? You have torn Ferelden apart to oppose the very man who ensured you were born into freedom. But do not think you will get past me to desecrate the Landsmeet itself. The nobles of Ferelden will confirm my lord as regent, and we can finally put this to rest. Once you are gone."

Malcolm takes a step forward. "Turn aside. Serve your queen and save Maric's throne."

She looks away a bit at the tone of his voice. "You say that with such conviction, such… such righteousness. Loghain used to have that ring in his voice." She looks down as doubt sneaks onto her face. "He has not sounded that way in many months now. It is not… so clear an enemy when it is your own people you fight." She looks up at him. "What would you have me say, Warden? Loghain is a great man, but his hatred of Orlais has driven him to madness. He has done terrible things, I know it, but I owe him everything. I cannot betray him, do not ask me to!"

Malcolm walks towards her. "Then let me stop him. You know it's the only way."

She looks away. "I never thought duty would taste so bitter. Stop him, Warden. Stop him from betraying everything he once loved." Malcolm nods as he starts walking past her before she puts a hand on his shoulder. "But please… show mercy. Without Loghain, there would be no Ferelden to defend."

Malcolm looks at her. "You're wrong about that. Ferelden is more than just him. The people are Ferelden." She puts her hand down and kneels down as she starts thinking about his words.

Malcolm leads the group to the doors and opens them to see the Landsmeet and they hear Eamon address them. "My lords and ladies of the Landsmeet, Teyrn Loghain would have us give up our freedoms, our traditions, out of fear! He placed us on this path, yet we should place our destiny in his hands? Must we sacrifice everything good about our nation to save it?" Eamon bows his head a little as most of the nobles start applauding.

A slow clapping can be heard as Loghain slowly walks in front of the throne. "A fine performance, Eamon, but no one here is taken in by it." He walks down the steps in front of the throne. "You would attempt to put a puppet on the throne and every soul here knows it. The better question is, 'Who will pull the strings?'" Loghain looks at Malcolm and points at him. "Ah! And here we have the puppeteer. Tell us, Warden: how will the Orlesians take our nation from us? Will they deign to send their troops, or simply issue their commands through this would-be prince?" He points at Alistair. "What did they offer you? How much is the price of Fereldan honor now?"

Malcolm shakes his head and speaks loud enough for the Landsmeet to hear him. "The Blight is the threat here, not Orlais!"

Bann Alfstanna speaks up. "There are enough refugees in my bannorn now to make that abundantly clear!"

An older man shakes his head. "The south is fallen, Loghain! Will you let the darkspawn take the whole country for fear of Orlais?"

Loghain looks at him. "The Blight is indeed real, Wulff. But do we need Grey Wardens to fight it? They claim that they alone can end the Blight, yet they failed spectacularly against the darkspawn at Ostagar, and they ask to bring with them four legions of chevaliers. And once we open our borders to the Chevaliers, can we really expect them to simply return from whence they came?"

Malcolm crosses his arms. "Orlais is far from here and is not a threat. Some threats are much closer to home. Such as you allowing Rendon Howe to imprison and torture innocents."

Sighard speaks up at this. "The Warden speaks truly! My son was taken under cover of night. The things done to him… some of them are beyond any healer's skill." Other nobles gasps at this.

Loghain only sneers. "Howe was responsible for himself. He will answer to the Maker for any wrongs committed in this life. As must we all. But you know that. You were the one who murdered him. Whatever Howe may have done, he should have been brough before the seneschal. There is no justice in butchering a man in his home."

Malcolm starts pacing. "Rendon Howe had his men attack my home in the cover of night. My father, mother, my sister-in-law and her kid were slaughtered like animals, and that night I shed my blood from my hand, vowing that Howe would die for that. But he wasn't the only one to attack someone at their home. You sent a blood mage to poison Arl Eamon, before Ostagar!"

He turns his head away. "I assure you, Warden, if I were going to send someone, it would be my own soldiers." He looks at him. "I would not trust to the discretion of an apostate."

Bann Alfstanna scoffs. "Indeed? My brother, a Templar, tells a very different tale. He says you snatched a blood mage from the Chantry's justice and had my brother imprisoned. Coincidence?"

The Grand Cleric sneers at Loghain. "Do not think the Chantry will overlook this, Teyrn Loghain. Interference in a Templar's sacred duties is an offense against the Maker."

"Whatever I have done, I will answer for later, after I defeat the Blight." He looks at Malcolm. "At the moment, however, I wish to know what this Warden has done with my daughter. You took my daughter-our queen-by force, killing her guards in the process. What arts have you employed to keep her? Does she even still live?"

Anora walks out of a nearby door. "I believe I can speak for myself." She walks towards the steps in front of the throne before addressing the Landsmeet. "Lords and ladies of Ferelden, hear me. My father is no longer the man you know. This man is not the hero of River Dane." She lowers her head a little while everyone looks at her. "This man turned his troops aside and refused to protect your king as he fought bravely against the darkspawn. This man seized Cailan's throne before his body was cold and locked me away so I could not reveal his treachery. I would have already been killed, if not for Lord Cousland."

Loghain looks at her and shakes his head. "So the Warden's influenced has poisoned ever your mind, Anora? I wanted to protect you from this." He turns around. "My lords and ladies, our land has been threatened before. It's been invaded, and lost, and won times beyond counting. We Fereldans have proven that we will never truly be conquered so long as we are united. We must not let ourselves be divided now. Stand with me, and we shall defeat even the Blight itself."

Malcolm and Loghain look at each noble as they speak up.

"The Warden! I'm with the Warden!"

"South Reach stands with the Grey Wardens."

"Waking Sea stands with the Grey Warden!"

"Dragon's Peak supports the Warden!"

"The Western Hills throw their lot in with the Wardens. Maker help us."

"I stand by Loghain! We've no hope of victory otherwise."

"I stand with the Warden! The Blight is coming; we need the Grey Wardens!"

Malcolm smiles for a bit before looking at Loghain. "The Landsmeet is against you. Step down gracefully."

Loghain looks at them all with a blinding rage. "Traitors! Which of you stood against the Orlesian emperor when his troops flattened your fields and raped your wives?!" He looks at Eamon. "You fought with us once, Eamon! You cared about this land once! Before you got too old and fat and content to even see what you risk!" He turns his attention to the Landsmeet as a whole. "None of you deserve a say in what happens here! None of you have spilled blood for this land the way I have! How dare you judge me!"

Malcolm looks straight into his eyes. "Call off your men and we'll settle this honorably."

Loghain sneers. "Very well! Let us end this at last!"

Bann Alfstanna speaks up. "It shall be fought according to tradition: a test of arms in single combat until one party yields. And we who are assembled will abide by the outcome."

"Will you face me yourself, or have you a champion?"

Malcolm turns around. "As much as I would like to, this isn't my duel." He walks over to Alistair and turns around. "This man has a much better claim to this duel than I do. This man is owed the honor of killing you, for nearly destroying his nation and for killing the closest person he had to a father."

Loghain sneers. "Then let us test the mettle of our would-be king. Prepare yourself." Alistair nods as the people assembled form a ring for the two. Loghain and Alistair face each other as they slowly walk around the circle and they both draw their swords.

Alistair puts his other hand on his sword before Loghain charges with a downward slash. Alistair blocks before pushing him back, and Loghain follows up with a few quick slashes. Alistair parries most of them before jumping backwards to dodge the last slash. He steadies himself and attacks, which Loghain defends against. Malcolm watches, concerned for his friend and hopes that he can stay focused. Halia looks even more nervous, because if Alistair loses it will mean his life. Malcolm places his hand on her shoulder as Alistair pushes Loghain back and quickly slashes at him, managing to score a hit. Loghain stumbles backwards and holds his abdomen before yelling out and charges, Alistair narrows his eyes as he remembers all those that died at Ostagar, mainly the closest person he had to a father. He hits Loghain's sword up and out of the way before cutting his arm, causing him to drop the sword then striking low and cutting his leg, causing him to fall to his knees.

Alistair walks over to him and rests his sword on the back of his neck causing Loghain to turn his head and looks at him. "So there is some of Maric in you after all. Good."

Alistair looks up at Malcolm, who nods, before looking back at Loghain. "Forget Maric. This is for Duncan." He adjusts his grip before lifting his sword and brings it down hard, severing Loghain's head. Anora runs into the circle as Loghain's headless body falls to the ground while Halia walks up to Alistair.

Eamon walks into the middle of the circle. "So it is decided. Alistair will take his father's throne."

Alistair looks up, almost horrified. "Wait, what? No! When did this get decided? Nobody's decided that," he looks at Malcolm and Halia, "have they?"

Anora looks up and stands up. "So much for our plan to rule together. If Alistair would rather not have the throne, I am more than willing to take it."

Eamon shakes his head. "I hardly think you're the appropriate person to mediate this, Anora." He looks at Malcolm. "Lord Cousland, will you help us?"

Malcolm nods before looking at Alistair, "I need to talk to them both first and I'll start with Alistair."

"Strange, I feel like I'm back at the abbey, trying not to get chosen last for the sparring teams."

"Do you think you're ready to be king?"

"Are there people who are ready for that sort of thing? But I guess… if it comes down to it, I'll do my best." He groans and lightly clenches his stomach. "I think my stomach just twisted up into a knot or something…"

"And you're willing to give up your freedom?"

Alistair sighs. "If that's the price of ending the Blight and having peace… then it's my duty."

He nods before looking at Anora. "Now I would like to talk with you."

She almost seems to straighten herself up as she nods. "Certainly."

"Are you prepared for this? Are you sure it's what you want?"

"I've never had the smallest doubt, as I have led this nation for the past five years," she says as she crosses her arms.

He looks at her before walking towards the throne. "I'm ready to make my decision." He walks up the steps while Eamon follows and stops halfway up and Anora and Alistair stop at the first step apart from each other. "I believe Alistair and Anora plan to marry and rule jointly."

She scoffs and crosses her arms. "Plans change. Nothing could convince me to marry my father's murderer."

"Hard to be a murderer when it was up to the dueler to decide the fate of the other one."

"So you say."

He shakes his head before looking at Alistair. "Then I have no choice but to give the throne to a single person. Ladies and gentlemen, I choose Alistair, son of King Maric."

Alistair looks almost mortified. "This is where I wake up, usually. Or everyone points and laughs because I have no clothes on…"

Eamon nods and looks at Anora. "Anora, the Landsmeet has decided against you. You must now swear fealty to our king, and relinquish all claim to the throne for yourself and your heirs."

She scoffs and looks at him. "If you think I will sear that oath, Eamon, you know nothing of me."

Malcolm shakes his head and looks at Alistair. "You'll have to do something about her."

"What kind of something?"

Eamon looks at him. "We cannot leave Ferelden in a state of civil war. We must have unity. If she will not swear fealty to you, Alistair, and renounce her claim to the throne, she is a threat to us all."

"What do you want me to do, exactly? Kill her? I can't do that. I guess… put her in the tower, for now. Lock her up. Maybe we can find somewhere to send her. Later."

Anora looks at him confused and somewhat ashamed before looking down. "Thank you, Alistair. You have shown me mercy that I… would not have shown you."

Eamon nods. "Very well, then. Guards, taker her away." Two guards walk over to her and escort her out and Eamon turns his attention to Alistair. "Your Highness, would you address the Landsmeet?"

Alistair looks confused for a moment. "Oh… that would be me. Right." He walks up and joins Malcolm before looking at the Landsmeet. "Um… I never knew him, but from all I've heard of my father, what defined him was his commitment to protecting this land. I may be Maric's son, but I am also a Grey Warden. I swore an oath to fight the darkspawn and the Blight, and I can't give up that oath yet just to wear the crown. When the Blight is over, I'll come back and take up my duties… whatever they are… as king. I can only hope that I will live up to my father's example. Until then, I think Arl Eamon will have to be my regent." He holds out his hand towards Eamon.

Eamon bows as he says, "Then I can do Maric's memory no less honor than you do. I accept. And may the Maker bless your efforts against the darkspawn."

"Malcolm Cousland will, I hope," he says as he places a hand on Malcolm's shoulder, "take Loghain's place as the leader of my armies." He looks at Malcolm. "Shall we finish this thing together?"

Malcolm smiles and bows his head. "I could do no less, my king."

Alistair smiles before looking back at the Landsmeet. "Everyone, get ready to march. It's going to take all of Ferelden's strength to survive this Blight." The nobles cheer as Alistair looks at Malcolm. "We'd better get going. Ferelden is depending on us." He nods and the group heads to Eamon's estate, with Alistair looking quiet and Halia looking at him, worried about him. The group walks into the estate and heads to the dining room while Alistair waits outside for a while before coming in. He walks through the door and Malcolm turns towards him. "You made me king. After all this is over with, they're actually going to put me on the throne. I'm still… I'm going to be king."

"And here I thought you'd be speechless." Malcolm gives a light smile, but Alistair's face says he's not amused.

"Speechless? I'm furious! How could you do this to me?! I've done nothing but regret my blood since the day I was born. I don't want this. I never wanted this. I hate the very idea of it. I thought we were friends. You knew how I felt about this, yet you went ahead and did it anyway. Why?"

"Alistair, we are more than friends, we are brothers. That will never change, trust me this is a good thing."

"A good thing. Are you serious?" Malcolm nods. "I've just… never thought of myself as a leader. I'm going to make a terrible king, you have to know that. How can I make decisions that are going to affect the lives of everyone in the kingdom? I guess I don't really have a choice in this now, do I? I'll do my best, of course. And I expect that you'll be there to help me, right?"

Malcolm smiles. "You won't need my help, Alistair. You'll be a great king."

"You're the one that got me into this mess." He smiles. "And besides, where else would you go? We're a team."

Malcolm smiles before looking down and looks back up to him, his smile gone. "What about the Grey Wardens? Rebuilding the order will require as many that can be spared."

"Well that option isn't really open to me any more, is it? I'm going to be king whether I like it or not, Grey Warden or no. And if I can be an exception, then so can you. As a matter of fact, I insist."

Malcolm gives a little chuckle. "Well… I think I can be convinced.

Alistair smiles. "That's good enough for me. Anyway, Arl Eamon has left for Redcliffe. He says the army has gathered there and is almost ready to march. As soon as we're ready, we should head to Redcliffe ourselves. The Blight awaits, right?" Malcolm nods and Alistair walks out of the room.

Halia follows him. "Alistair."

He stops and looks at her. "I knew I forgotten something. Halia… being king, that raises some questions about you and me."

She gently grabs his hands. "It doesn't need to influence us at all."

"You don't think so?" She shakes her head. "Maybe you're right, but I've thought of almost nothing else since the Landsmeet. First, there's the fact that both you and I are Grey Wardens. It's not just a question of obligation, but of blood. You know that Wardens don't usually live to become old, right? The taint in our blood… the taint we take in during the Joinings… it will kill us in the long run. Wardens maybe live to their forties at most, no longer. As king, I'll be required to have a child. Even more so because my death is assured. That's assuming that someone with the taint can or even should have a child."

"Are you suggesting I have this child?"

"No, I'm not. I mean… both of us have tainted blood. Both of us will die young." He looks away from her. "If I am to be king, then I guess I will need to find a wife, one who can bear a child. Who will live to raise it. I don't relish it, but… I will have a duty as the king." He looks back at her. "I love you. More than I ever thought possible, but… I have to face what this means, I guess."

"I love you too… and what ever you decide, I will be there for you." She leans into him and kisses him deeply for a while before pulling back.

"Thank you, Halia." They two pull apart before they join the others at the doors to the estate and walk out.

Sorry about the long wait, I had trouble with the duel and eventually I just lost my spark. But I'm now playing Dragon Age Origins again and so my spark came back. But the more I think about it, the more I have questions for myself that I will not burden you with. Thank you for your patience and I'll send a new chapter out sometime in the future.