Ostagar Camp
An hour later
—
"You're certain the note said Quiet Death?" Wynne studied the wound on Fergus's abdomen.
"Yes. Thankfully the crossbow bolt from the assassin only grazed him, or he wouldn't be conscious right now." Elissa balled her hand into a fist "Which is more than can be said for the assassin and his friends."
:"You know…" Fergus groaned at both women fussing over him "Being unconscious for all of this wouldn't be all that bad right about now."
Maker, his head was spinning, and there was a throbbing, nulled pain on his side where the elderly woman was positioning her hands. A flash of emerald light, and he started to feel better.
"Drink."
Fergus did as his little sister commanded, and opened his mouth for a bitter liquid. Shame it wasn't rum.
"He'll be better." Wynne soothed "Just a few hours for the potion to run its course. Now, I should attend to the other wounded in the camp."
"Thank you, Wynne. I mean it."
Wynne smiled and curtsied to the two noble children, and made her way out of the tent.
"Alright, so I know I'm groggy, but I'm not stupid." Fergus stretched on the makeshift bed. "Thank you for saving me, Elissa, but what in Andraste's Grace are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be in charge of the Castle?"
Elissa took in a heavy breath, closed her eyes, and released.
—
The blow to his head might've dazed him, but his mind was absolutely spinning in freefall now.
A sharp panic seized him, and he snapped his gaze at Elissa.
"Oriana! Oren! Are they alright-"
"They're fine." Elissa placed her hand on his chest, willing him to lay back down. "We agreed it was best to send them a bit further west, into the Stormlands, with Mother's side of the family. If the worst should pass, they can take a ship to Antiva and stay with relatives there, but I don't think it will get that bad."
Fergus closed his eyes, having been granted that reprieve. Then his expression turned a little darker.
"And Howe?"
"The slimy bastard has holed up in his Keep." Elissa spat out. "Father doesn't have the numbers to lay a siege to Amaranthine or the port. Most of our forces are here, and the defense back home was reduced to half that number in the attack."
A moment of reflection, and he responded.
"He'll attack again soon."
"And when he does," Elissa agreed "I don't know if we can repel him again. We need to convince the King to allow some of our men northward."
Fergus shook his head "You'll never convince him. Cailan believes that this next skirmish might be the 'Great Battle for Ferelden's Future'. And in a frightening way, he might be right. The darkspawn seem to swell in numbers, even as we slaughter them like so much dumb cattle."
"I have to try. If I don't, Mother and Father could die."
"We'll both try. I'm coming with you. I'll be in good enough shape when the King assembles his council in the next few hours."
She considered it, and nodded her head. "I should let you rest, but I'll be nearby, after I check on Alistair and the Wardens."
Feeling great joy and confidence in saving another family member from peril, she turned to leave, only stopping at her voice.
"I never thanked you for saving them."
Fergus was on the verge of tears, his voice fraught with emotion "Oriana and little Oren. They…they mean everything to me. You know that. Thank you."
She turned halfway and smiled at him "You don't need to thank me. We are family, all of us. And we are going to pull through this together. Now, get some rest, Fergus." she raised an eyebrow at him "I didn't save you from that filthy swamp just for you to trip and break your neck in front of the entire assembled war council."
That roused a rough laugh out of him, and he eyed her curiously "You've changed. You used to be so….melancholy. Maybe a bit dramatic? What's gotten into you?"
Instinctively reaching into her pocket for a familiar ring, she shrugged "Maybe I've realized my fate isn't as fixed as I thought it was. Maybe I do have agency in my destiny."
—
Elissa made her way up the ramp and to the right, where Alistair said the Joining would take place. Duncan strode past her, and gave her a curt nod. He did not seem in a good mood.
Had he truly been so offended by her efforts to get out of her recruitment?
No, this was something else.
She turned back, and saw 7 figures in various protective levels of silverite armor, with blue and white underdressing. The symbol of the griffin, the Grey Warden creature of legend, was imprinted on the breastplate of each new ensign to the Order.
Alistair approached her first, but Elissa knew something was off.
"Nice armor." Elissa crossed her arms, smirking "It almost makes me want to re-consider joining the Wardens just so I can have my own."
Alistair did his best to try and smile, but failed.
Her efforts to break the ice having failed, she asked the question "What's wrong?"
Looking around, she could see some familiar faces, but not everyone. "Where's Daveth and Jory?"
—
The revelations of their deaths set a somber mood for many of the attendees at the King's war table.
Eventually, after some back and forth between Loghain and Cailan, Loghain shook his head.
"You risk far too much placing yourself on the frontlines, your Majesty. Especially with this plan of battle."
That was her cue.
"I must respectfully agree with Teyrn Loghain." She approached the table, placing her hands on it. "In fact, if I may, I'd like to offer some suggestions, if I am not being too bold."
"By all means." Cailan was intrigued by the Cousland girl.
She pointed to the Tower of Ishal "Well first, our plan to lure the darkspawn into the valley and sweep them up with a cavalry charge depends on a signal. But the visibility between the Tower and the battlefield isn't ideal. Why not have a mage in another position use their powers to survey the field and cast a Fireball into the sky as the signal?"
"We have no need of cursed magic if alternatives exist." The Chantry Mother coldly rebuffed her.
Elissa did not even face her, keeping her attention on Cailan. Fergus smirked, knowing his sister was playing her tricks again.
"Think of it, your Majesty! For the first time in centuries, elves, dwarves and mages are uniting to face a common evil! They have come here to fight for you, and for Ferelden! For all of Thedas! But to do so at their best, they must be allowed to BE their best!"
Briefly turning to the Holy Mother, but mostly appealing to the rest of the assembled warriors, she continued "I understand some of you have misgivings about magic, but Andraste said that 'Magic is meant to serve Man, and never rule over him.' Well, what better way to serve man than by allowing it to combat one of Man's worst enemies?"
Uldred, sensing an opportunity, spoke up "If we decide to proceed with Lady Cousland's suggestion, either myself or Miss Solona Amell are quite capable of casting the signal. She's particularly adept with Fire spells."
Hilda, the former dwarven princess, decided to speak "This strikes me as a sensible plan. There are plenty of locations closer to the valley that will have a better view of the battlefield as well. One of the mages could stand by there, and wait for the signal. In addition, since we would no longer need to secure the tower, we could reposition the soldiers stationed at the Tower of Ishal to more vital areas."
Loghain didn't disagree, but took his measure of the suggested mage "That all depends if she agrees."
Solona bowed before them all "I will not fail you in this. I swear it."
"Then it is settled!" Cailan flippantly cheered.
Before the Chantry Mother could open her mouth in protest, she was interrupted by another.
"If we are considering expanding the use of magic," Thalin Surana pointed at the valley "We should consider dedicating at least 2 mages to cast a powerful storm spell once the darkspawn have clustered around the defenders."
Solona and Uldred shared a glance with each other, and Solona mouthed to him silently 'Storm of the Ages?'
He nodded discreetly.
"The storm, if positioned correctly, would prevent their escape, hamper their ranged capabilities and visibility, and severely weaken their ranks." Thalin explained "But I require at least one other mage to do this. Preferably two mages."
"Solona should be able to assist you once she's done with the signal." Elissa suggested.
Neither Solona nor Thalin liked the idea of working with one another, but neither could muster a reason against it.
"I can send you an apprentice from the Tower to assist as well." Loghain felt the bleak odds of today improving, with more magical assistance and less Chantry interference.
And like that, the Chantry Mother felt the wind leave her sails. Elissa winked at Fergus, who did his best to keep a straight face.
—
The ensuing conversation Loghain didn't exactly tune out, but it didn't warrant his top attention.
Duncan was questioned about the Archdemon, but he didn't offer much information. Loghain was not impressed by the man or his order in general, but he admitted to himself that some of the recent recruits held a spark of promise.
The Cousland children wanted to pull some of their troops back home to defend their ancestral castle, but after tonight's battle of course.
Cailan, being stricken by a pretty face and moved by a convincing emotional appeal, granted their wishes.
There was also talk of sending some of their soldiers to scout out a ruined Grey Warden fortress somewhere in the North between Highever and Amaranthine. 'A gift to the Wardens for their bravery in defending her family', or so Elissa put it.
For her part, this Cousland girl tried her best to convince Cailan out of defending the valley below, or to at least join Loghain's cavalry charge instead.
To that, Cailan smiled sadly at her, and said that we all had to do our part to defeat evil, or some rubbish.
Cailan was going to die today. Loghain knew this. He himself would likely perish today.
Would today mark the death of Ferelden as well?
It was already happening. Kingdoms and Empires died the easiest from within. And Arl Eamon was already whispering treason into Cailan's ears, bending him ever towards the will of the Throne of Orlais.
Things were easier when Maric was here. That blonde, stupid bastard.
Loghain thought he saw Cailan hand something to Elissa. Something shiny. Metallic. They parted ways, and Elissa was walking towards him.
What did she want from him?
"I'm sorry."
Loghain raised an eyebrow "For what?"
"I tried to convince him not to be on the field, or at least ride with you as part of the cavalry instead, but it didn't work. He told me that the Gray Wardens were going to be his bodyguard below. Something tells me that doesn't give you any peace of mind."
Loghain snorted "This is war. I'd settle for decent odds of survival, let alone peace of mind." He did have his own opinions about the Grey Wardens, but didn't care to speak of them right now.
She frowned at him "I'm serious. I know you care."
"You didn't truly come to talk to me just to share our feelings about the King, did you?"
"And why wouldn't I?" Elissa shrugged "If things go wrong here today, it could be disastrous. I want to do whatever I can to prevent that. This is why I wanted to let you know I'll be joining the defenders below."
Loghain did his best not to react, but Elissa was far too perceptive.
"I know. It's suicide. But I've done my part. The Wardens will get a fortress in the North, my home will be lifted from Arl Howe's siege, and I'll have a chance to save our King. And even if I don't, my conscience will be clear."
The girl put on a brave face, but she was shaking.
"I must admit, your candor has defied my first opinions of you," Loghain crossed his arms "so I'm going to be equally honest. Your Father no doubt hired good trainers and swordsmen to mentor you. This likely isn't even the first time you've had to kill something or someone. But what's down below is different. This is war. And while I have serious doubts that this is a Blight, the darkspawn are nothing like what you've faced before. You don't have to prove anything to anyone. Not me, not Cailan, not your Father, and not yourself either."
She shook her head "It's not about that. I'm terrified. I don't want to be down there. But Cailan's life is more important than mine. It's as simple as that. I….I have to try to save him if I can. A Cousland always does their duty, and right now, that's my duty."
Maker's breath, she really said their family creed, didn't she? What sort of rubbish did Bryce fill this poor girl's head with? She was going to die, not for love or for family, but for Cailan's vanity. What a complete waste.
Elissa, still attempting to command herself, turned away and marched forward.
"And what does your brother think of this?"
She instantly stopped, but couldn't face him.
"He'd insist on joining me if I told him, but he needs to return to his wife and son. Tell him I'm sorry."
Loghain shook his head at the young girl walking to the Wardens.
Needless. Foolish.
Brave, he admitted.
And, because of her, his army had more magical assistance and superior strategy. The storm could tip the tide of battle in their favor.
Was she a child playing at war, like Cailan? Or something else? Something…stronger?
It didn't really matter in the end. Her loyalty was leading her to that valley, and to death.
In a way, he had failed Cailan and Elissa.
Cailan for a litany of reasons over the course of decades.
And Elissa…for omitting information from her.
The letter was still in his pack.
Sometime after returning to his personal camp and ensuring no one from Highever was nearby, he pulled it out, casually rubbing the broken seal of the Bear of Amaranthine pressed upon it, and read Arl Howe's words to himself again…
