Made some edits to some images, sorry if it threw you off!
Denerim
Landsmeet Chamber
Several days later
"And I expect each of you to supply these men!" Loghain barked at the assembled nobility.
"We must act quickly to defeat this darkspawn army, and we must do so sensibly!"
"If I may, Teryn Loghain…" Bann Teagan appeared to be the voice for the opposition.
Loghain dismissively gestured with his hand. It was no secret he had no love for the remaining members of the Guerrins. Rowan was worth more than all of them put together.
"You have declared yourself as Regent, and demanded that we must unite behind you without question. In addition, you have branded the Couslands, the next in line for the throne, as traitors to the realm." He pointed to Elissa, who was standing next to Loghain, chained like a common criminal.
"Some have considered these recent turn of events…beneficial for the Mac Tirs."
Loghain immediately bristled. "Everything I have done has been in the interest of Ferelden! I will not abandon my duty to this Kingdom, and neither, will any of you!"
"Perhaps it would be best if the details of the assault on Castle Cousland and Ostagar were revealed in more…neutral conditions." Teagan did not wish to overstep, as the Guerrins and Couslands were not exactly allies, but he continued. "If the Couslands are indeed traitors, then so be it. But should there not be a court held to overview the facts? If not, this set a bad precedent-"
Suddenly, Elissa shouted "Rendon Howe is a traitor! My family is innocent!"
"Silence!" Loghain roared.
A soldier immediately yanked at Elissa's chain, nearly toppling her over. Queen Anora did her best not to meet her gaze.
Undeterred, the captive noblewoman continued "This is now what constitutes justice in Ferelden, with Loghain in power! Do not expect a trial to prove my innocence or guilt, Teagan! Only judgment from our self proclaimed Regent! Is there no one who pays allegiance to Highever who will defend my family's honor?!"
There was a dreadful silence.
Elissa scanned the room furiously, for even one loyal Bann or freeholder who would speak up.
None said a word. The Landsmeet Chamber was as silent as the grave.
None assembled would keep their faith with the Couslands. None who were brave enough to challenge Teryn Loghain, newly proclaimed Regent of Queen Anora.
They would all pay for this. She swore it to the Maker himself.
"This woman has refused to cooperate," Loghain interjected, "and we cannot consider her words anything more than lies and treason. She has refused to reveal what she has done with the contents of our late King's possessions, including his spare armor, King Maric's sword and shield, and even his personal letters and correspondence. Are we to consider the theft of royal information and property as nothing less than a willful act of defiance against the throne, if not outright treason?"
He continued on.
"What's worse, some of my soldiers have reported that Fergus Cousland and his men, along with Grey Warden stragglers and apostates, have been spotted in Lothering in contact with a woman we believe to be an Orlesian bard!"
That was news to Elissa, and it did make some of the nobles whisper amongst themselves.
"My Lord, a message from Highever!"
The courier attempted to make his way through the crowd, and was finally allowed to approach Loghain, who took the letter from him and ripped it open.
The room was silent as his eyes scanned the contents, before he finally dropped it to the floor.
"As I expected, our former Teryn Bryce Cousland has refused to answer for his charges in Denerim. He is a traitor, and no longer a Lord of Ferelden!"
Elissa broke out in mocking laughter "You mean he refuses to saunter down here and let Rendon Howe and his men tear him to pieces!"
Her eyes were absolutely alive with triumph, knowing her family was now safe. She lunged closer at Loghain "And do you know what my brother was doing? Likely doing a better job of protecting the people of Lothering than you or anyone else has done! He's acting twice the man you are!"
That prompted one of the guardsmen to strike her.
The audience recoiled in shock.
"Barbarism!" Teagan couldn't believe what he had just seen.
"Father!" Anora hissed.
"Enough!" Loghain shouted them all down "Understand this: I will suffer no threat to this kingdom from you…or anyone!"
With that, the Regent motioned his guards, and they walked in unison with him, dragging Elissa away.
She stood her ground and tugged at her chains.
"Look at me."
Anora hesitated, but gave in, looking at the frazzled, younger woman, blood dripping from her lower lip, her eyes a flash of wrath.
"Thrones are won with blood. You'll have to spill a lot more to keep it. So get used to the sight of it."
Arl of Denerim's Estate
Some hours later
A group of crows were perched above the humans. One of them cocked its head at them, and dove down past them, flying towards the estate.
Elissa was a bit confused.
Why take her here, and not Fort Drakon?
Did the Kendalls cast their lot with the Howe's and Mac Tirs?
Then, she remembered.
Arl Urien Kendall died at Ostagar. That spineless coward Vaughn probably realized he was far outmatched, and chose to submit to the Regent.
But then she saw the sigils of the men on duty: Amaranthine colors.
"Rendon's here? You're taking me to him?"
Ser Cauthrien, her captor, didn't say a word.
"You might as well spill my guts right here and now."
Loghain, Cauthrien and Elissa finally passed through the double doors, and she could hear two familiar voices.
"You will do as I command." Arl Howe was unmoved "I want you to take two dozen of my men and scour the Alienage immediately. Round up anyone with weapons. I want no less than 6 elves when you return."
"And what if I can't find 6 elves with weapons?" Thomas complained.
Arl Howe grinned like a wolf at his youngest son "I didn't say the weapons had to be theirs, did I?"
"Truly a paragon of virtue you are, Arl Rendon Howe."
The jab surprised Rendon, but he immediately slipped back into his smug persona when he feasted his eyes on the prize.
"Ahh, Elissa. Just like your mother with that barbed tongue."
He took a few leisurely steps forward.
"But I'm afraid you're mistaken. It is Teryn Rendon Howe, now, of Highever. And Arl of Denerim, in addition to Arl of Amaranthine."
"What did you do to Vaughn," Elissa was unfazed, "slip a knife between his ribs like you tried to do to my Father?"
Rendon barked a harsh laugh "Oh, no! That poor fool got himself sorted out with some feisty elves. The Regent here has placed me to deal with the unfortunate unrest in the city."
He might actually be telling the truth, this time. No matter, she knew how to get to him.
"It must be awfully vexing," she casually shrugged, grinning maliciously "to be the Teryn of Highever without command of the castle."
Rendon did lose a bit of his smile, but shrugged "All in due time. Your traitor family will be dealt with, one way or another. You too, could follow them, if you don't hold your tongue."
"I want her kept alive." Loghain ordered. "You can keep her here for now, but I'll have Cauthrien and others to obtain more information from her."
Rendon bowed graciously "Of course. In truth, I was a fool to attempt to kill her. The others, surely, needed to be punished for their treason, but she is far more useful to us alive. I'm also sending my son and his men to reinforce Denerim's defenses and keep order."
Thomas finally mustered up enough nerve to look up at his childhood friend and former betrothed. He immediately regretted doing so. She was glaring at him as if he were an abomination to be slaughtered.
He tried to say something, but the words could not escape his mouth.
"You don't have to say a word, Thomas. Your cowardice and lack of action has said everything I need to hear from you."
"Now now, Elissa." Rendon chided her "I did warn you about that temper of yours."
"You're absolutely right, most esteemed Lord Howe." was the reply, dripping with sarcasm. She mocked him further with a curtsy "What I meant to say was that the both of you can take it like a woman from a bloated pig in a filthy Antivan alley."
Rendon rolled his eyes "Have it your way. Guards," a small, evil smirk formed "would you see our new guest to her…chambers?"
Elissa saw a shadow loom behind her, before pain exploded at the back of her head. Her world spinned, and everything went dark.
—
"Wake up, Elissa."
A brisk slap to the face, followed by another.
She could feel metal digging at her wrists, raising her arms up.
Her instincts caused her to retreat back, but then she felt the cold brick behind her.
"I'm afraid you're going nowhere."
"Where am I…" she groaned.
"Your new quarters, of course!" Rendon grinned like a feral creature, in the darkness. "You'll be staying here for quite some time. I mean to keep you here, as leverage against that traitorous Father of yours. And so that you'll have plenty of time to have a change of heart. Oh…I'd almost forgotten…"
He leaned in closer, inches away. "I also had a few questions. Such as how you knew we were planning to attack your castle?"
"A maleficar told me."
"What?" the frank, blunt nature of her response shook him out of his smug mood.
"I found him at the bottom of the Amaranthine Sea." she said with a perfectly straight face "He won the information in a game of Diamondback with some jellyfish and a crab family."
"I see."
"No, no, no. Wait, that's not right." she shook her head with a faux apologetic tone. "It was King Calenhad. He said your army was openly talking about their plans over their usual meal of rotten cabbage and dingleberries."
Rendon blew out a long sigh.
"Oh, wait, I remember! It was your wife! She came all the way back from the dead to let me know how displeased she was with your little coup. Then again, she confessed she was never really pleased or satisfied by you in any measurable fashion-"
The blow knocked the wind out of her, making her double over.
"I see you wish to play games. No matter. I will break you eventually… or I'll kill your family and maybe I'll just decide to break you afterwards for sport."
"Why not get on with it, then?" she gasped between labored breathing "We both know you'll never suffer us Couslands to live."
"This is true." Howe admitted "Although, in your case, I think you are still of more worth to me alive."
"As a trophy of war? A living pincushion? Do your worst."
"Tempting. But no. I've decided I wish to re-enter marriage negotiations."
She looked up at him, quizzically. "Thomas is going to wed Anora."
Howe raised an eyebrow "Now how did you deduce that?"
After a moment, he shrugged "Yes, you are correct. Thomas will marry Anora and become King. And I shall serve as Chancellor to my son, bringing order to this lawless land. As for you, you shall marry Nathaniel Howe."
He lifted his hand, and grabbed a handful of her hair from her scalp, painfully yanking it upwards.
"And this time, your Father will not be here to cancel the arrangement."
"What are you talking about?"
"Still playing games, are we? You don't have to deny it. I admit, were I in Bryce's shoes, I might've done the same."
Elissa said nothing. Rendon studied her carefully, then released her.
"Your Father is certainly gifted with that silver tongue of his. I suppose it was only natural he would try to use it to call off your engagement to my son, in favor of our late King Cailan."
"Right. I remember Loghain saying something similar. Well, I'll tell you what I told him: I don't know anything about that!"
He punched the wall next to her head "More Cousland lies! Just like the lie your Father told me about our houses uniting! Well, this time, he's going to keep his word. You will marry Thomas, denounce your traitorous family, and sire children of the house of Howe!"
"Enough, Howe! We both know even you don't believe my Father is a traitor. We were far more loyal to Cailan and to Ferelden than you ever were."
A moment passed between them, and Rendon carried on, dodging her claim "Loghain is our King, now. In all but name, of course, while his daughter sits on the throne. Anyone who defies him will soon learn the price of betrayal. Your Father picked a foolish moment to put his blood forward. He should have done it 5 years ago."
He laughed to himself, imagining his dreams finally fulfilling. "Your Father squandered glory that should have, by all rights, been mine. But this time, the Cousland name will be wiped from the books, from every piece of legible history. I'll use yours and Nathaniel's child as an irrefutable claim to the North. The Landsmeet will abide by it, and my victory will be complete!"
Rendon turned again to face her. She didn't say a word, but those eyes…
It was the same look Bryce made when he was about to do something foolish, get all of the credit, and leave Howe with the bill.
"There it is…" Rendon's tone changed dangerously "Right there. That damn look in the eyes that held every Cousland determination and success that held me back."
His brow then furrowed.
"You know, I just realized I never got a chance to repay you for meddling with my affairs that night back in your ancestral home."
A sudden blow to her stomach, and again, Elissa was bent over, coughing.
"You always did need a lesson in humility. So I think I'm just going to take the slow approach…."
He grabbed her tight again by the scalp, and raised her head up "...and bring that insolence of yours to heel."
Apologies: I know there's quite a few chapters about Elissa, when I promised there'd be some about the Couslands, but I promise we will get back to them, in time!
I also want to make sure to get out as many chapters as I can before Elden Ring releases.
And also, it's been some time since I've posted stories from 2013, but the ads are something that I did not anticipate. Doesn't seem like there's anything I can do about it, but let me know if I'm wrong.
