Chapter 52; Peace & homecoming;
Characters of the chapter
Cassandra Pentaghast, Lady Seeker of the Seekers of Truth
Daenerys Targaryen, The Mother of Dragons, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Chains, Queen of the of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men of the South, Queen of the South Kingdom of the Twin kingdoms and Protector of the Realm
Gaspard de Chalons Emperor of Orlais
Iledia Agent of the Inquisition
Jon Snow, also known as Aegon Targaryen and Jon Stark, King of the North Kingdom of the Twin Kingdoms
Josephine Montilyet Ambassador of the Inquisition, head of the Inquisition's diplomatic corps, member of the Inquisition War Council, advisor to the Lord Inquisitor
Rydeon Cadash Lord Inquisitor of the Inquisition, Lord of Skyhold
Sansa Stark, Lady of Winterfell and the Eyrie, Wardeness of the North
Thorpe Junior Grey Warden
Varric Tethras Viscount of Kirkwall, businessman, author
"Thanks for coming along to take part in these peace negotiations yourself." Rydeon said to Josephine, as he walked to where she was leaning against the ship's railing, staring at the rocky coastline. The ship they were on was on its final leg in the weeks long journey to Eastwatch by the sea. It was where the war between Orlais and the Twin Kingdoms had begun and so it would also be the place where the peace now in the works would be made.
"Oh, I have to be here. I must." Josephine said.
"Must?" He asked, wondering at the emphasis in her words.
Josephine sighed and bowed her head. "Do you remember how we found Westeros? How we became aware of their existence?"
"Antivan expeditions, after scholars noted that temperatures south of the Korcari Wilds had risen in a noticeable way." He said.
Josephine nodded. "I was one of the ones financing those expeditions. I always wanted to know what lay outside our maps. Now I know. And thousands are dead because of my curiosity."
"You can't be meaning to say that you think you are responsible for this war. It was Orlais that declared it. You had nothing to do with that." Rydeon tried to console her.
"But I am the reason they knew how to come here. Once they knew of these lands the rest was just a matter of time. The nature of Empires, Orlais in particular. If I hadn't… some things should not be poked around in. I can't undo what happened, but I can help fix this mess now. That is why I felt it was necessary to come here myself. For the sake of these people, as well as myself."
"If you will excuse me, Inquisitor. We will be arriving soon, and I need to see to something for the negotiations." She said.
"Josephine…" Rydeon said.
"I'll be alright. This just hit home recently, so I need to process the thought." She said and left.
Rydeon was left alone for a while. He hoped that Josephine was being honest about her ability to get over this. It was hard seeing her upset.
It was then that Iledia joined him, going to where Josephine had been earlier. "Inquisitor. I thought I'd come out for some air. And to admire this little procession we have here. Think about it: On this ship the Lord Inquisitor, the Lady Seeker, the Inquisition's chief ambassador and the Viscount of Kirkwall. On the other ship a short distance behind us the Emperor of Orlais himself. Very impressive."
"I'm glad you are enjoying the journey." He said.
The mage chuckled. "I do and I don't."
"The Lady Seeker is undoubtedly a good person, and on some level I wish I could be her friend. All the same she continues to dislike me. Being cooped up with her on a ship with nowhere to go when our tempers flare up... it can be trying, even for someone who is used to hostility on her part." She explained.
"I'm sorry. She will come around. One day." He said with sympathy.
"Will she now? You're being optimistic, as ever. I wish I shared your outlook. But I fear the problem is rooted. She cannot see me for who I am. She can only see my past, my choices. And perhaps at the end of the day she is right to be wary." She said.
"Why do you say that?" Rydeon asked.
"Because I am still me. Scales have fallen from my eyes, and I am able to see why the choices of my past were wrong. But I never renounced the reasons for making those choices in the first place. The things that drove me then drive me now. Now I'm just seeking a better way to get the things I am after. With that in mind it would be easy to think I might slip back to what I used to be. Because on some level I have never stopped being that person. So it is easy for me to understand why so many others would choose to distrust me. It is as Sister Nightingale said. The road to trust is a long one and I may find it longer than most. Some days I wonder if I will ever reach its end." She explained.
"If I may Inquisitor… why did you choose to trust me that day when I first came to you? You of all people? Why did you accept me when no one else would have? Before you I believed none but those of my own people would ever do so." She asked.
The Inquisitor sighed. "You have to remember that I wasn't always a perfect person either. Back in the carta days I cared about two things: Survival and profit. Not much room for anything else in that style of life. But when I ended up with the Inquisition I found out I wanted to be a better person, had always wanted it, and I took the opportunity with both hands. So you could say that I know a thing or two about giving a second chance to someone who genuinely wants to change. And on the day that you came to us… the pain in your eyes, the grief. You had seen something that had shocked you to your very core. At the time I didn't know what it was, but I saw that it had driven you to make new choices. Seeing that, I knew that you were honest. And so I knew you deserved a second chance."
"…Thank you." She said quietly.
Then she shook her head to clear her mind and moved on to the next topic: "Inquisitor, I believe we are near the end of our voyage? Before we arrive I'd like to ask you a favor."
"What favor?" Rydeon asked.
"I'd like you not to introduce me to the Queen just yet. It's alright if you tell her you are going to send me to her, but don't tell me I'm already with you." She said.
"I suppose I could do that. But why?" He said.
"I'd like a chance to observe the Queen from a distance. And when it is time I wish to contact her on my terms. It will cost you nothing and I will end up where you wanted me. Will you do it?" She said.
"If you wish." He said.
"Thanks." She said. The she frowned, closed her eyes and sighed loudly.
"Everything alright?" The Inquisitor asked.
"Yes. Just getting used to the thickness of the veil here." She said as she brought a hand to her face.
"If you don't mind… how does it feel to a mage? I have wondered." He asked.
For a moment Iledia was silent, considering how best to describe the sensation. "Imagine if you were covered by a thick blanket. One that does not simply cover you, but seeps into every pore of your being. Its presence dampens all your senses. Through it the world seems duller, muted, colorless. It's quieter."
"Will you be able to cope with it?" He asked.
"Yes, if other mages that have been to Westeros are to be believed. It just takes a while. I'm told it's a bit like wearing a shirt of chainmail. At first it feels heavy. Then your body gets used to the weight." She said.
"But once you remove the chainmail everything feels ridiculously light." He completed the metaphor.
"Indeed. I have been warned that once I return to Thedas I need to be careful with my powers until I have adjusted. The amount of magic that ignites a candle in Westeros is likely to set the table on fire back in Thedas."
"But speaking of things I have to get used to, I hear your proposal for Spellwatch went through?" She asked then.
"Yes. Barely, but it did. The Inquisition is moving to start training our first recruits as we speak." He said.
"I hope you know what you are doing. With that and many other things." She said.
"You still disapprove of being sent to Westeros to work for Queen Daenerys then?" He asked.
"I am still reluctant, if that is what you ask. And I still fail to see what line of reasoning led you to conclude that this would be a good idea. And as far as my personal goals go… this feels like the opposite of what I'm after. It's not often that you will see me act against the Imperium's interests. The only reason I agree to this is because I think my homeland still too corrupt to be allowed this victory. Only depravity would follow their triumph. To my sorrow and frustration I must deny them." She said.
"But I suppose this is just one more thing I will need to get used to. My reluctance will not impact the quality of my work, I promise you that much." She then added with a slight smile.
"Thanks for that. I believe the Twin Kingdoms need someone at their side who understands their opposition. And this might not be such an awful experience for you in the end. You did say you wish to have people who can depend on you for what you are. You might find those in Westeros." Rydeon said.
Iledia laughed. "You forget. That would be a friendship built on a lie. Were they to uncover the truth I have no doubt they would push me away like the rest. If I were to be revealed at an inopportune moment they might even kill me. I will do my duty, as I have decided it is right to do so. But friendship? I have no faith that I will find that among the Westerosi. At least not the kind that will outlive my deception."
The two might have conversed further, but their attention was caught by the sight ahead, in the distance. For now, for the first time in their lives, they beheld the immensity of the Wall.
"...Incredible… now there is an eye opener and no mistake." Iledia said when she had found her voice again. She had been told of this structure that marked the northern border of Westeros, but that had done nothing to prepare her for the sight.
"Yes. Incredible. I did not know such things could be built. I wonder how they managed it?" Rydeon said, no less in awe than she was.
"There must be magic involved." Iledia guessed. "I can't imagine a structure of ice that size could bear its own weight otherwise. Strange, I know. This is Westeros we are talking about after all. But I have no other explanation."
At the same time Daenerys had her eyed locked on Eastwatch by the sea and the banner fluttering in the winds at the castle's walls. Jon was right beside her, the rest of their entourage right behind them. That entourage consisted of Sansa, who had come as a witness to the signing of the peace treaty, a bunch of other lords and ladies of the realm and guards for the lot of them. Kieran was there as well, to meet with the Inquisitor, as well as for other reasons he had not specified. For an occasion as important as this they wore the very best their wardrobes could provide, for the first time in a long while setting aside their garments of war. Their armies were on the west coast to begin their efforts of countering the Qunari threat, or else were watching over the imprisoned Orlesian army in their care. Daenerys and Jon would join with them as soon as these peace talks were done. With the war against the Orlesian Empire coming to a close Yara had seen fit to turn her fleet around as well, heading back to defend her own islands as fast as the winds would carry her.
"Something the matter?" Jon asked of her.
"Just thinking." She replied, not moving her gaze. "Tell me, whose banner do you see there?" She asked, nodding towards the castle.
Jon glanced at the battlement, then back at her, puzzled.
"Don't worry. It's not a trick question." She said, a smile briefly tugging the corner of her mouth. "It's not the direwolf of the Starks, not even the dragon of the Targaryens. It's the eye of the Inquisition, grim and all seeing. Most of the castles along the wall are under their direct control, and even where the Watch still has the command the Inquisitions banners fly. Their troops and ambassadors are in evidence all over Westeros. They recruit from amongst our people freely and there isn't much anyone can do about it. They have a lot of power here. And all that is just the visible portion of their influence. Who knows how much further the part we cannot see might have spread?"
"Well, as strong as they are, these are still our Kingdoms. Even they have to respect that." He said.
"Are they still our Kingdoms, Jon? Sometimes I wonder. They never even bothered to ask our permission to come here. They just did it. Neither did they ask for our opinion on the safe zones they established during this war. They simply arranged them through nobles that by right should heed only our commands. Tyrion tells me they had a hand in keeping the faiths from butchering each other. I'm pleased that they did but again it was they that acted, making their influence known. If my Hand had not asked for their assistance, would they have simply done the same thing anyway? And this peace meeting? They arranged all of it as they promised to. And they will be remembered as the architects of this treaty. Tell me truly, is this what free and independent kingdoms permit to happen on their soil?" She said.
"Are you saying you're having second thoughts about this deal we are planning on making with the Inquisition?" He asked.
"No, no." She said shaking her head. "We need them. This has to happen. But this will come at a cost, make no mistake. Once our alliance with them is made, we will be committed to it. For better or worse we will enter their sphere of influence and for as long as there is an Inquisition we and our Kingdoms will not emerge from it. I just hope we can live with what we are about to do, because there will be no reversing that course." She said, then spurred her horse toward the castle Jon and the others following.
She rode through the gate, across the courtyard and out through the other gate leading to the docks. Just beyond the gates she stopped and dismounted. Jon appeared at her side moments later, followed by Sansa. At the docks two ships had just arrived, their passengers beginning to disembark. One had black sails, the eye-sword sigil of the Inquisition stitched to them in gold. The other was as ostentatious as any Orlesian ship, except even more so.
The passengers of the Inquisition ship were the first to set foot on the shore: Two women, one in armor and a rater severe appearance, another in a dress of dark blue and gold impressive enough to rival the clothes of any Queen and whose skin tone brought back memories of Missandei. Then there were the two men that Daenerys could only guess were Thedosian dwarves. She had herd heard spoken of these people before, but this was the first time she had laid eyes on their kind. Of course she had known the dwarves of Thedas to be a completely different case, but somehow she had still expected to see something akin to Tyrion. A false assumption to be certain. From the description given to her by the Kirkwall ambassador she was able to recognize Varric Tethras by his leather coat, the red shirt that left his chest exposed and the odd looking crossbow he carried even here. That meant the other one could only be Rydeon Cadash, the Lord Inquisitor himself, wearing the red and blue uniform the Inquisition used during formal occasions. Daenerys took note of his black hair tied into a bun behind his head, the braids in his beard, the tattoos on his cheeks and forehead, and perhaps most notably of all the empty sleeve where his left arm should have been.
"Dany… do you know the title by which the Inquisitor is to be addressed? I've quite forgotten." Jon whispered as the Inquisition entourage drew closer.
"Your Worship. And honestly, you managed to forget that, at a time like this? Sometimes I think you know nothing Jon." She whispered back. To her surprise Jon laughed at her words. "What's so amusing?" She asked.
"Oh nothing really. It's just something that Ygritte used to tell me a lot. I guess you've come to that conclusion as well." He explained, still smiling.
"Oh. I see…" She said, hiding a brief surprise. Rare indeed were the times Jon had spoken of his first lover. She barely knew the name of this other woman. That she had existed at all was revealed only after many years together, in a chance conversations of past loves. He had not even revealed what had ultimately happened to her. Not that Daenerys had gone out of her way to ask. It was obvious that whatever had happened, those were memories that still hurt, even after all these years, and it did not feel right to prod. If he asked of Drogo, perhaps then, as an exchange. But not until that time came.
"But now is not the time to dwell on this." She thought. Now was the time to attend to the reason they had come here.
"Lord Inquisitor. I am pleased to finally meet you in person. I have heard so many stories." She said in greeting.
"I am likewise honored to meet you Your Grace." Rydeon said in response. "Your Grace." He added, giving Jon a nod of acknowledgement as well.
"May I introduce Cassandra Pentaghast, the Lady Seeker of the Seekers of Truth and my wife. She's come here to be a witness to the signing of the peace agreement." He said, motioning to the woman in armor.
"Pentaghast? Isn't that the ruling family of Nevarra?" Daenerys asked.
"It is Your Grace. Though ours is a very large family. I myself am nowhere near the throne. Nor really that interested in my lineage if we are being perfectly honest." Cassandra said.
"It is an honor to be in the presence of another Nevarran My Lady. One you countrymen did a great deal to assist in the survival of the North. I am sad to say that in the end his efforts cost him his life." Jon said.
"Here we have Josephine Montilyet, the ambassador for the Inquisition. She will be mediating your talks with the Emperor." Rydeon continued on in his introductions.
"It is a pleasure Your Graces. I for one hope that the negotiations will be a success. I will do everything in my power to ensure that they are." Josephine said.
"I don't think anyone here is interested in making your job more difficult ambassador." Jon said.
"So long as the terms of that peace are acceptable." Sansa commented, to which Daenerys could only nod.
"Finally this is Varric Tethras Viscount of Kirkwall. He is here as a witness as well." Rydeon said.
"Wait… did you say Varric Tethras? THE Varric Tethras?" Sansa said, a sudden glint of excitement in her eyes.
"Yes. That's me. But why…?" Varric said uncertainly. Then he understood. "Oh. I think I get it. You've read one of my books haven't you? And enjoyed it by the sound of. Can't say I expected that, but it's not the first time fans of my works have cropped up in weird places. So, out of curiosity, which of my books was this? High in Hightown maybe? Or the Tale of the Champion?"
"Er, no… it's actually the, uh… your romance book. Swords and Shields?" She said, rubbing the back of her head.
For the second time Varric was surprised. "I… seriously? You're not joking right now?"
"No, of course not. Why would I be joking?" She asked, frowning.
"Oh, it's only that… that one isn't actually the most popular of my books. In fact you are only the second person I've ever met who has admitted to reading it and liking it." He explained.
"Well, what can I say?" She said with a smile. "The book brought back memories of simpler, happier times, days when it wasn't necessary to worry over kingdoms and nations. That alone made it a worthy read."
"Who was the other one?" She asked then.
"Well that would be…" Varric said before a cool glare from Cassandra silenced him. "…Actually I think she'd rather remain anonymous."
The exchange did not escape Sansa's notice, making her smile again. "No matter. Though I wonder… your first book ends rather abruptly. I was wondering if there might be another one that would continue where the first one left off. I tried to search for it, but can't seem to find it anywhere."
"I have written the next book but never got around to publishing it. I'll see about getting you a copy if you want." Varric said.
"It does seem you and the Viscount will have much to talk about. But I would rather that happen only after official matters of state have been attended to. I for one have an Empire to run, a task I should return to as soon as possible, particularly in the light of these recent events." A new voice spoke. Daenerys, Jon and Sansa all tensed when they saw the person that had spoken. They had never seen him before, but they could guess who he was easily enough. Before them was Emperor Gaspard de Chalons, surrounded by his guards and advisors. The man responsible for this invasion, the one whose commands had cost the Twin Kingdoms the lives of everyone killed in this war.
"Emperor Gaspard." Daenerys said coolly. *Your Majesty* might have been the more appropriate way to address him, but she could not, would not call him that.
"In the flesh. We meet at last. Would that it had happened under different kind of circumstances." He said with equal coldness.
"If you wished for better circumstances for our first meeting, perhaps you should not have invaded our lands." She said.
Josephine cleared her throat, eager to move on from this awkward confrontation. "Well. Seeing as we are all here, perhaps we might head inside and…"
"Not quite yet." Daenerys interrupted. "First I have a question that I would have the Emperor answer for me."
"You do? Hmmm. Very well. Ask away Your Grace." The Emperor said.
"A number of Upstart Houses betrayed us in this war. Their leaders have paid for their action with their lives. But of what remains of those families we have found no sign. I know their betrayal happened on your orders. I also have reason to believe they may have fled to Orlais."
"Daenerys, maybe this isn't worth pursuing? Those families are gone from Westeros. If they do not return…" Jon said.
"Don't interfere. Not this time." Daenerys replied tersely.
"Is this so? Is Orlais where they have fled?" She demanded, her tone one that made clear she would accept neither silence nor lies.
"It is so. They are safe there. Guests of the Empire." Gaspard said.
"Guests? Well that's one term for it." Daenerys sneered. "Those families are traitors. They should be turned over to us, to face proper judgement for their betrayals. In fact I will insist on it."
"I'm afraid I cannot acquiesce to this request. The Empire of Orlais has granted sanctuary to the families you speak of. They are protected from any retaliation from you and yours." He said.
"So the Empire is in the habit of protecting traitors, then? By what right do you help them escape justice?" She said scornfully.
"They are not traitors to Orlais. Quite the contrary in fact. In choosing to take the Empire's side they became my subjects. And they performed their duties admirably even if the war was ultimately not won. As they are my subjects, I will defend them." He said.
"Please, Your Majesty, Your Grace! This is not the time for this kind of discussion! There is much yet to do. I am certain that a compromise can be reached, but we must maintain civility." Josephine said.
"Civil? Civil!? You expect me to be civil before this warmonger? After everything he…" She began to say. Then she caught herself. She had to remember why they had come here in the first place. There were more important matters to attend to. Continuing to bicker about this further would only embarrass her and Jon. That would not do. Besides, she ultimately didn't need to have those families here…
"Fine." She said after taking a deep breath. Since you won't turn those families over, I will pass judgement now. Let it be known that the Upstart houses that betrayed the Twin Kingdoms are hereby banished from all lands belonging to the South Kingdom, under the penalty of death, from this day until the end of time."
"Understood. Does the North Kingdom make the same declaration?" The Emperor said.
"It does. It seems more than fair considering what those families have done." Jon said, silently relieved that the argument had not escalated further.
"Well then. The sooner we start these talks, the sooner we will finish. Shall we?" Josephine said.
Everyone gathered nodded in a chorus and stated to move inside the castle, where the negotiations would be held.
"So, I understand your family name is Stark?" Varric said to Sansa, thinking to lighten the mood.
"That's right." She said, frowning, unsure why he had asked that.
"Just wondering, have you ever been to Starkhaven? A city in the Free Marches?" He asked next, a glint in his eye.
"I have never been outside Westeros. …Why?" She asked.
"Well, had you been there you would have been a Stark in…"
"Varric, no." Cassandra said while facepalming.
"But…" He tried to protest.
"No!" The Seeker said more insistently. Varric grumbled but kept his silence.
"Looks like you have you have quite a project ahead of you. Starting with keeping our negotiators from killing each other." Rydeon said to Josephine in a low voice in the meantime.
Josephine suppressed a chuckle. "Indeed. I can already tell this will be a very long, very tiring day." She said equally as quietly.
"If it helps I have absolute faith in your ability to see this through." He said. "Is there anything I might do to help things along?" He asked then.
"Not with the negotiations themselves I'm afraid. I have your instructions on the things you wish to have contained in the treaty. The rest is best left to me. Although… there is this herbal teal I like to drink. It helps to soothe my nerves. But no, I would not impose upon you." She said.
"Why ever not? You would like that tea made for you, correct? I would be happy to do that for you." He said.
"Rydeon, you're the Inquisitor, not some errand boy. What would people think?" She said.
"If the things I did during the breach war have taught me anything, it is that running errands is an integral part of being an Inquisitor." He joked.
"Seriously speaking though, I want these talks to go smoothly. If doing this will help matters then I would be glad to do so. I will be sure to be discreet, so I won't do damage to the dignity you have so carefully cultivated for my rank" He added.
"Very well then, if you're sure. You will find the ingredients and the instructions for making the tea in my cabin." She said, relenting.
And so began the negotiations for peace between the Twin Kingdoms and the Orlesian Empire. As predicted the talks were difficult, lasting for the entire day, with almost no breaks had for the participants. Fortunately the Inquisition had been working on a preliminary outline for the peace treaty and discussions between rulers had already occurred through letters, otherwise this would have taken even longer. The cooks at Eastwatch by the sea did their best to provide sustenance to the people involved, thankfully from quality ingredients provided by the Inquisition for just this occasion. As the talks were ongoing Rydeon ensured that Josephine received her tea, sending it through one of his soldiers to keep up appearances as they had agreed.
It was a torturously slow process, but little by little an agreement began to form. Gaspard eventually, reluctantly, agreed to acknowledge the Empire as the instigator of this conflict. It was agreed that Orlais would provide one tenth of the average annual value accumulated by the corridor until the material expenses this war had incurred on the Twin Kingdoms had been paid for in full. Then further one tenth of the corridors revenue would be paid annually by the Empire until such a time that a value equal to what the Corridor earned in a single year's time had been paid, as compensation for the Empire wrongfully starting a war of aggression. The Inquisition would handle all calculations regarding the reparations, since neither side trusted the other to provide accurate numbers. The Westerosi monarchs tried to push to have their merchants make use of the corridor at reduced prices, just as the Orlesian merchants did, but the Emperor would hear none of it. In his mind he had given more than enough concessions already. The prisoners captured by both sides would be released and returned to their homelands for no additional demands from either side. Despite the lingering Qunari threat this was one of the few points the monarchs and the Emperor could agree on almost immediately. Daenerys and Jon were just as eagerto get rid of this foreign army as Gaspard was to have it back. Neither were any of them interested in having to pay ransom for their captured nobility so both sides simply returning the prisoners they had was an agreeable arrangement. Neither would either side receive any territorial concessions. As a minor concession to the Empire the Westerosi would agree to return the Sunblade to the Empire along with the body of its wielder. The Inquisition for its part agreed to help all involved nations in any post-war recovery efforts, and to further normalize their relations. As a small additional detail thrown in by Rydeon, the Emperor was made to agree to appoint himself a magical advisor from both the College and the Circles. This way the Inquisitor hoped to help both institutions integrate without favoring one or the other, thus preserving the delicate balance between them. Gaspard was not exactly happy to agree to that given his distrust of mages in general, but agree to it he did. Hannah of Starkhaven was chosen as the representative of the College in recognition of her outstanding service on the battlefield. As for the Circles Rydeon was almost certain Vivienne would be retaking her position in the Imperial court.
With the details finally worked out the rulers and the gathered witnesses signed their names. Then it was done, to surprisingly little ceremony and fanfare. Everyone was simply glad it was over and done with, not to mention exhausted by hours and hours of debating.
The Inquisition entourage agreed to spend the night in Eastwatch and start the journey back to Thedas in the morning. Gaspard on the other hand set course back to his homeland at once, to manage the popularity crisis brewing there due to this failed campaign. With some fortune he would manage to claw back the favor of his people, and things would return to normal in short order. Nonetheless Rydeon made a mental note to put the Inquisition assets in Orlais on standby, in case more serious unrest arose in the Empire. He was of course still displeased by Gaspard's and Briala's decision to start this war, but that did not enter into it. This was not about either of them. If the Inquisition intervened, it would be for the benefit of the people of Orlais first and foremost. The Emperor had his share of domestic enemies, some of which might see this as the chance to start the rebellion they had long contemplated, which Gaspard would be compelled to try to crush, his methods unlikely to be gentle. If it came to that a lot of innocents might die in the fighting, just as had happened during the last Orlesian civil war. Better the Inquisition step in and act as a calming influence to ensure this scenario never materialized.
Some might also decide that Briala's presence at the Emperor's side was sufficient excuse to take out their frustrations about this defeat on the elves. Until matters settled down they would need protecting. Briala would no doubt take steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of her people, as ever. Where her means were lacking, the Inquisition would provide in turn. She might share responsibility for this conflict, but her people did not deserve to pay the price for this.
At sunset, as the talks were starting to wind down, a lone merchant vessel sailed past Eastwatch, one of the first of its kind now that the trade lanes between Thedas and Westeros were open again. On the deck of that ship a woman in the Grey Warden uniform stood, looking at the Wall and the castle next to it. She was shortly joined by another Grey Warden by the name of Thorpe.
"Arya. I must say I'm surprised to see you of all people here at this hour. After all the Wall isn't anything new to you." He said.
"Not new, no. But it has been many years since I saw it last. And I had rather thought that time would be the last time." Arya answered.
"They're probably right there now, aren't they?" She added, nodding towards Eastwatch.
"Most likely yes. I understand the peace talks were supposed to be held today." Thorpe replied. "You know, if it's not for long the captain could probably be convinced to stop by, give you a chance to meet with your folk."
Arya was silent for a time, clearly tempted by the suggestion. "Don't get me wrong. I want to. I really want to. But… I don't think I'm ready."
"When I left, I never said any goodbyes, never offered any explanations. And I haven't been in contact with them since. I can't just go back after that. It would be just… awkward. I wouldn't even know where to begin explaining where I've been, what I've done and why." She explained.
"And… maybe I don't deserve to see them again." She said, hanging her head.
"Why do you say that?" He asked, frowning.
"Because before I heard about the Orlesian invasion I never had the slightest intentions of coming back. I had stopped thinking about my old life, my family. I hate myself for having done it, but I allowed myself to forget them, and if Orlais hadn't started this war I wouldn't have bothered to remember. How could I do that and ever have the right to be in their presence again?" She said.
After that outburst there was a lengthy, uneasy silence.
"I… I didn't mean to open old wounds, I'm sorry." Thorpe said finally.
Arya gave a sad smile. "Don't be. You didn't. It's just… being in Westeros again… it brings up all kinds of baggage. Things I thought were dead and buried. Maybe that was one of the reasons I originally left."
Then she shook her head. "Let's just talk about something else, ok? I don't want to think about this right now."
"Sure thing. Actually I came to tell you that I and the others were planning on playing a few rounds of cards before turning in for the night. Want to join us?" Thorpe said.
She smiled again, more warmly than last time. "Sure."
With that the two left the deck to go join the others. As the merchant ship slipped by without catching anyone's attention, Arya stopped briefly and took one last look at Eastwatch before going below decks. She found herself unable to concentrate on her card game with her fellow wardens, haunted as she was by memories of home, torn between the craving to reconnect with her family and her unwillingness to bring back a life she had long since left behind her. She knew she would have to find a solution to those conflicting desires, but also that this was not the day she would succeed.