AN:Disclaimer: I own nothing but my oc's and any plot not original to the Dragon age video game trilogy. No money was made in this digital publication. etc. Also, please review. I would like to know your thoughts and opinions. :) This chapter is also set during the Dragon age 2 time period but the core of the story will be set in dragon age Inquisition in later chapters. This is not beta'd. If you wana Beta my work, PM me.
Chapter 3
It's the spring of Dragon Age 9:31. I'm to be turning 10 years old this coming mid summer. In a recent letter from Mariana, I realized how sheltered I still was. I was late to learn by nearly six months of the trouble brewing abroad. Mariana herself was supposed to come visit in a month's time but the trip has been postponed for now. She told me of a new blight that had begun in southern Ferelden. What's worse, the now deceased king of Ferelden, Cailan Theirin, died due to the rumored betrayal of a man named Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir who retreated with his forces early from a large battle against what they called "the hoard" at the Ferelden fortress of Ostagar. Once Loghain returned to the capital he claimed the thrown for his own which plunged the country into a civil war. Even so far north from epicenter we are feeling the effects of this chaos. The roads are not as safe to travel as they had been this time last year, what with refugees and bands of darkspawn roaming the southern half Of Thadus. Not that I every go anywhere mind you. Orlais is the most effected with a mass influx of refugees from Ferelden, but some refugees have gone as far as Nevarra city itself in search of safety. Being rural and far off the main Kingsway road as we are, we have not felt any ill effects as of yet but, if history is right, it's only a matter of time.
Thankfully all the major construction was finished last fall. I have spent more time the usual in meetings with my Guard Captains, the senior most being a man named Liam Hunt. Liam had been recruited three years ago. He is a salt and peppered dark-haired older man, and a carrier solder. He's also a retired warrior from the Andrastian order known as 'The Seekers of Truth' or 'Seekers' for short.
Rumors of the quality of life that can be found on my lands had begun to spread, so when Liam's Superior Lord Seeker Aldren practically forced him into retirement because of his age, (58-years-old) he came looking to see if the rumors were true for himself. Like many carrier solders, especially those from religious organizations, they dedicate their whole lives to there work and beliefs. So much so that when it comes time to put away their sword and past the metaphorical torch onto the younger generation, they discover they have noting and no one to go home to. (usually. Not always, but that is the case more often then not.)
I am glad Seeker Hunt was able to find a home among my guard, and we have been better for it. After working for a few months among my guards, he was quickly promoted to senior captain. It was an obvious choice and everyone among the Guard was happy with the promotion. His wealth of experience and knowledge would have been wasted otherwise.
I also have the advantage to count Liam as an ally and advisor. While most of the guard still disparage me due to my youth, Liam does not. Though the main body of the guards respect their captains so my will is still obeyed though them and the captains listen to me because of my social status as a duchess and because I have not requested anything to unreasonable. If I were to request something they were venomously apposed to though, then their loyalty would be tested, and I do not think it would end in my favor. Liam is not among them in this line of thinking. Upon our introduction, he could see the internal strength, unusual maturity, and wisdom I had for someone of my age.
I was initially concerned with his history as a religious warrior which is understandable. My values, by-laws and directives are sometimes in conflict with the Chantry's teachings so I was concerned that it would become a point of contention for us, and if that was the case, I would not want him as the head of my small military force.
My fears were put to rest over a series of private luncheons and dinners in the first few months of his employment. We discussed a lot of hot topic subject like politics, racism, religion, and mages. There was more then one point at which we disagreed but something he did agree with me on was my vision for the future of the fiefdom. It might be a little idealistic, but I wanted those I ruled over to be safe, free, happy, well fed and well treated. I wanted equality among the races and opportunities available for everyone to better themselves if they wished to. There were so many basic rights and liberties, and a quality of life in my past life which I had taken for granted.
Now, here in Thadus, I wanted to share at least a small part of that with the people I'm responsible for and while there is much we don't see eye to eye on, this is one thing seeker Hunt and I can agree on. He is also a good, even tempered, moral man who treats everyone fairly, regardless of there race (which is an unusual trait for a human) and so, I made him the head of my guards and he's been my staunch ally ever since.
I have been able to keep the racism among my guard itself at bay because there is a fair balance of elves, Dwarves, and humans among them. Its hard to harass an elvish civilian out or racial hatred for example when the guard captain of your platoon or fellow comrade who's on patrol with you is an elf as well. I have not cured the racial tensions by any means, but it has defiantly improved.
With the increased dangers from outside forces, two whole platoons have been permanently posted until further notice between the four watch towers for the time being, to keep a sharp eye out for any incoming dangers. Also, emergency procedures have been thoroughly discussed and finalized should the worse happen and the darkspawn forces reach us here in Navarra.
The final plan is to assign outlaying villages to retreat to either the walled village of Hendrickson or to the walled estate here depending on there location. 2/3rd (simply due to the shear size of the estates lands) of the people would come here and the last of them would go to Hendrickson. It was the patrolling guard's duty to inform each village elder where their fellow villagers were to retreat to in case of emergency and hand over the documents drafted by me personally giving the same details. If all goes as planed, each village elder should be holding a town hall soon to share the evacuation plans with there fellow peasants should the dark spawn be seen coming. A tower guard should be the ones to go to each village and sound the evacuation giving the villages time enough to do just that in such an event.
The outer village wall and the Chantry as well as the extensive underground bunker in Hendrickson had been built for just this purpose and I mentally kissed my past self for my ingenious forethought.
Next, each platoon was assigned a post. Eight of the platoons would report to Hendrickson in the event of an evacuation and the other eight platoons would be assigned here at the estate.
The rest was planning for the possibility of an extended lockdown or enemy siege. Working with the aid of the chantry sisters; Food, blankets, tents, wood, medicine, and bandages would be stock pilled both in the estate's basement storage and in the bunker under the chantry.
The front lines of the blight were sill far away in southern Ferelden, so I was sure it was safe to take the time and spend the summer collecting what we need to stockpile. The woollen blankets would come from my textile factor. The food could come from the next harvest which would hopefully prove to be as bountiful as last year. We would still sell some to the city of Nervarra, but most non-perishable or long-lasting produce like grains, flours, onions, potatoes, and the like will not be sold off in large quantities as was usual but added to the stockpile instead. A lot of the perishable fresh produce will be pickled and bottled, and lot of meat will be smoked and salted. Some medicinal herb like elf root which grows wild in the area can be collected and trees can be cut down and cut into logs. Whatever we couldn't produce ourselves could be purchased from the dwarven merchants we trade with regularly.
If the worst should happen and we're invaded, regardless of our preparations, the consequences will be dire. The crops will become sick and burned. Live stalk not kept behind the walls will be killed or robbed. Homes will be destroyed and pillaged. A lot of the work I had been putting into developing the area the last six years or so will be largely ruined. Thankfully though, due to the subterranean, water ways, sewage systems and toilets and bathrooms introduced to the area, disease and the lack of clean water and sanitation won't be a concern regardless of what the future may bring.
Now, all that was left to decide was what to do with the likelihood of refugees eventually seeking shelter here. No one in the meetings seemed to be able to agree on anything regarding refugees. I myself have no experience to draw upon in this situation so I can only rely on the council of those around me. I'm contending with a lot of conflicting opinions which has made it difficult for me to come to a decision. In the end, the choice will fall to me because regardless of the unofficial council group I've formed consisting of the Guard captains, the Stewart Alron and his assistant Fredric, and finally Seriel, this is not a democracy but a monarchy with me as Duchess.
I do no want to turn away anyone in need, but the massive numbers we expect will push even our currently abundant resources to their limits. In this violent and uncertain age where survival is often a struggle, that could mean a slow, starved, and diseased death sentence for the people I am responsible for. Some of the worse case scenarios being thrown around are quite disconcerting and would have been unimaginable back on earth. Whenever I think I've begun to adjust to the harsh and violent realities of Thadus it takes it as a challenge and proves itself to me that I've not even begun to realize its ugly truths.
Before the arguments could continue, I've decided to adjourn the meeting. It was getting late and it would soon be the supper hour. Everyone was tired and overworked. This discussion would keep until the next meeting a few days from now. Tomorrow was a big day and we would all need our sleep. It was the monthly Judiciary day.
Usually it was the Senior Captain's responsibility to enforce the laws of Nevarra and the by-laws I had dictated for my lands. He was the judge and jury so to speak so it was one of the reason's it was so important he be a fair, moral, and even-tempered individual but above all, trustworthy. Any punishments, arrests or judgments made would be recorded in a weekly report I received where I would make any changes, I felt were needed but that rarely ever happened, if at all.
In cases where he could not make the call himself, they would be scheduled for the last day of the month of each month which we called The Judiciary Day. This was also a day the average citizen could petition to speak to me. Often it was the village elders doing this but there was the odd peasant as well who chose to request an audience with me through my Stewart or assistant. These proceedings were held in court room styled hall I had refurbished and decorated during the estates remodeling.
Since people respected wealth and authority in this world more then anything else, I had the Judiciary Hall reflect that. In the center of the richly decorated room was a type of witness stand with a couple chairs and table which faced the front of the room. The wall of the front of the room was largely made of up of stain glass windows I had commissioned which reflected each of the races living (even a Qunari) and working in harmony on the recognizable backdrop of my fiefdoms rural landscape. Infront of this window was a long, raised stage where a long and large heavy oaken desk with a distinctive decorative chair behind it and two other wooden armchairs on the left and right of my own for Liam and Seriel.
On top of the desk sat the days schedule, ink wells and fresh parchment for the three of us and any other documentation I needed. The far back of the room was a set of decorative heavy wooden doors where the petitioner and prisoners entered from. On the left-hand side of the stage in the front of the room was a smaller door which led to an anti-room from which Serial my executive assistant, Liam my Senior Captain and I entered and exited the room. I even had a Judges mallet and sound block made for my use whenever the proceeding got out of had. It worked rather well and often spared the Guards posted around the room from having to intercede and clam down the rabble. (which no one wanted) On the left and right side of the long main length of the room, decorative stone balusters divided the room creating public viewing seats along the benches placed behind the waist high balusters. Everything in this room was intentional.
It was posturing which I disliked but it was a necessary evil. Also, I had it made into a courtroom setting because, while I was the Duchess who presided over these lands, I was not the overall ruling monarch. That honour belonged to King Markus Pentaghast and he could keep it as far as I was concerned. Thus, I found a thrown room would have been in poor taste and I had this Judiciary Hall built in it's stead.
The concept of a Judiciary day was another novelty I had introduced. Before, if someone needed to speak to my mother or father it would be nigh, impossible and the farthest most got was to the Stewart Markus. Worst, most people were illiterate so the messages would only reach my parents if Markus had been so inclined to pass it along in the first place and secondly, the petitioner had to trust Markus was being truthful when repeating a rendition of the verbal request which was usually not the case.
I'm glad to say the literacy levels have improved leaps and bonds since the constructions of the public schools. So now, if it was really important, and couldn't wait till the end of the month, they could buy ink, quill and paper at the printing company and send me a missive which my staff knows had better reach me or else.
As my good reputation spread among the people of my fiefdom, most are no longer weary of coming to me whenever they are in need. This has some drawback because some of the things people have come to me for are petty and ridiculous, but I'd rather have it that way then be in ignorance of there plight and feared by the local peasants.
Also, while people have a hard time taking me, a child seriously. They do know Senior Captain Liam by sight and reputation and have come to respect the man. SO, with him by my side when I pass judgment, mot wont question it since Seeker Liam in throwing his support behind my authority and decisions. Tomorrow should prove to be interesting, either way.