AN: Disclaimer- I own nothing except my OC's and any original plot points outside of the cannon Dragon age franchise. No money was made here. This chapter was written on behalf of a reader named Aryn who was the first ever to comment on this story. Thank you for your support and I hope you like this next instillation. I dropped a major plot point in this chapter. Please share in the Reviews your though and opinions on what happens to Vivian in this chapter.

Chapter 4

The Judiciary day had begun in the early hours of the morning as usual. The few prisoners who needed judgment had been seen to and the many audience requests had begun. The theme of the day seemed to be concerns regarding the blight and the emergency procedures the guards had delivered a few weeks ago to the elders. Presently, William Wicker, the elder of the walled village of Hendrickson was protesting that his village was where people would retreat to.

Even with all the work I'd done since becoming Duchess, the villages were still isolated communities where people were born, raised and died, often without ever having traveled beyond the village gate. They were tight nit communities where everyone knew everyone else and were weary of any strangers that passed through, even with the increase of settlers and tourism in the last few years.

Many of the older generation had no adjusted well to the changes I had 'forced' upon them. Even though the neighbouring villages shared a Duchess (me) who reigned over them, they rarely ever interacted, and Hendrickson was up in arms about having to house such a large quantity of strangers in the increasing likelihood that we become overrun with Darkspawn. Also, banking so much of this year's crop yield into the emergency stockpiles greatly diminished the farmers bottom dollar come harvest time.

It was all extremely dramatic and the peasants who filled the viewing galleries to compacity were gossiping like Orlisan nobles at a hanging. It was all very aggravating. Can't they understand that this is all in their best interest?

Anyway, I was more then ready for a short recess when a harassed guard came charging into the room and whispered something hurriedly into Seeker Hunt's ear.

Liam Hunt's faced hardened as he listed before he looked over at me and singled the need to wrap things up. Quickly, I rose from my seat and apologised for any inconveniences it may cause but the remaining scheduled appointments would have to be postponed until the next day. Which, until this point was unprecedented. Judiciary day had never been cancelled before.

It took some doing but the guards were able to shepherd the disgruntled and curious the villagers out of the Hall and off the property. The moment the room was clear, Liam told me that the tower guards has spotted an armed and mounted party of 25 or so knights in the distance headed this way. Odd. I had never once received any kind of distinguished visitors since becoming Duchess and from the sounds of it, it could only be a noble of some kind who could afford that kind of escort.

As luck would have it, on Judicial days I tend to put more effort into my appearance then usual so I would not need to change to receive whoever was on there way. What I would need is my Orlisan mask so Seriel and I left to retrieve it and add any finish touches needed to my hair and makeup. While we were doing this Liam would go with the Stewart Alron to intercept the incoming guests and escort them to the Great Hall in the heart of the estate.

I was seated on the throne placed on a dais which was located at the top of a grand, ostentatious staircase which ate up a third of the long, pretentious receiving hall. The throne itself was a metal monstrosity covered in gold leaf and precious jewels. It was too big for me and I felt a like a fool as I sat there impatiently waiting for whoever had been rude enough to come visit without sending a warning. (which was a major social faux pas.) I still clearly remembered my strict etiquette lessons from when I was younger and Seriel had gone into my parent's sealed master suite to retrieve my mother's tiara which was now resting regally on the crown of my skull.

The few people I would consider close to me would hardly be able to recognize me right now. Visually, I was the living embodiment of my Title and station, even if in truth I was only a 9, almost 10-year-old girl acting out the role. I was ready for anything that might come through those doors… or, at least, that what I had though.

It took them longer then it should have to arrive which lead me to assume there had been some sort of delay, but eventually the heavy metal doors that led into the Hall opened and Alron announced our guests with clear discomfort in his tone of voice.

"… P-presenting, by Royal Decree of His Royal Majesty King Markus Pentaghast, the newly appointed Duke Regent Markus Volkahrin nee-Pilus de Ghislain and his lady Wife, Mortalitasi of the Grand Necropolis, Lady Gabriella Volkahrin."

Following this announcement, there was a moment of stunned silence. I prayed I had misunderstood Alron's announcement, but my hopes were dashed when he arrogantly waltzed in with said wife on his arm like he owned the place. It was none other then Markus Pilus, the lesser Orlisan noble who had been my mothers Stewart and ally. That is, he was mother's ally until he betrayed her by orchestrating her, and my father assassination.

I had no real proof but him walking into my hall like the cat who got the cream paired with his parting vengeful words (which now echoed in my mind on repeat) when I had fired him over five years ago left me with little doubt. He, Markus was the unseen enemy who had been trying to have me killed when I had been in Nevarra City before I could pledge my allegiance to the king and properly gain my title and lands.

I had succeeded despite his and his accomplice's efforts (because he could not have done so much without help) and he must have spent the last five years withdrawing to the shadows and re-evaluating his schemes once the assassins failed to kill me. I had an inkling back when my parents passed that if he had been somehow responsible for there deaths, the motivation might have been some unknown grudge against my mother (which was unlikely but not impossible) or a desperate attempt at claiming my lands and titles for himself.

I had considered and then disregarded the possibility because even with both my parents and I out of the way, it would have been given to another Nevarran noble, even a distant relative of my fathers and not Markus Pilus. Markus Pilus was a foreign Orlisan lesser noble, but he seems to have resolved that technicality by marrying well above his station and into the high standing Nevarran clan of Volkahrin. He had even taken her name. (I wonder what his family thought of that.)

If I remember correctly, The Head of clan of Volkahrin was not only the Chief Mage of the Mortalitasi Mage's guild located in Grand Necropolis in Neverra City but one of King Markus Pentaghast's advisors that I had been briefly introduced to when I had been there last.

This woman must be a relative or even a daughter of the Chief Mage. This is something I had always found interesting about Thadus. While gender roles did exist, women were much more likely to hold positions of power in Thadus then they had been back in earth's medieval period. Women here could become knights and be members of the military, own property and inherit lands and titles just like their male counterparts. I guess when magic and other races are introduced into the mix, genders are less of a concern. Thus, Markus was able to take on Lady Gabriella Volkahrin family name since she was socially and politically superior to him, and coincidentally, his ticket to Nevarran citizenship.

As they approached the bottom of the steps, Markus and his frigid red haired wife didn't even bother with proper protocol and etiquette like bowing in the presence of a titled aristocrat such as myself. He even had the gall to be overly familiar with me. "Ah… Hello again pet. It had been quite some time hasn't it? It's good to be back where I belong. Didn't I promise you I would be back? I am a man of my word after all." He purred.

Siriel gasped from somewhere to the left of me while I could see Alron all but frothing at the mouth in rage at his station by the doors.

"You forget yourself ser Volkahrin." I all but hissed at the man. "My name is not 'Pet' and you will never address me as such again. It is 'Her Royal Highness, Duchess Vivian de Ghislain', or 'your Grace'. Do not forget that I am your better." I ground out. I was usually not one to stand on ceremony, but I chose to make an exception for these two cretins.

Seeker Liam was standing on my right and I could see in my peripheral that his knuckles had turned white as they gripped the pommel of his sword in repressed furry.

Before Markus could reply to my stern reprimand, Liam handed me a ribboned and sealed scroll he'd confiscated from the pair before they entered the hall. Pressed into the mustard yellow wax seal was the distinctive royal coat of arms of the king of Nevarra. It depicted a human skull wearing a crown with a large star taking center stage on the front of the crown.

Breaking the seal, I read the kings royal decree which dammed me and all those who live on these lands.

To summarize:

Due to my 'vulnerable' youth and inexperience, the 'family friend' (it honestly specified 'family friend'. I almost laugh out loud.) Sir Markus Volkahrin nee-Pilus of Nervarra has been appointed, from this moment forth, 9:31 DA, as the Duke Regent of the Field of Ghislain, Nevarran Fiefdom. He shall assume all legal sovereignty and responsibility inherent to the tile of Duke de Ghislain until such a time as the full-blooded Heir Duchess Vivian Liliana de Ghislain is 25 year of age in the summer of 9:46 DA (The Dragon Age). Only at 25 summers old, is it assumed that the HRH Heir Duchess Vivian Liliana de Ghislain shall be ready to undertake the responsibilities characteristic to her title, HRH The Duchess de Ghislain.

"Well… fuck me." Was my only though as I read and reread the freaking royal decree from hell.

I couldn't every try to claim it a forgery. Even without the king's seal AND signature at the bottom on the document, it was written in the distinctive and exclusive red ink flecked with diamond dust which is unique to the king of Neverra. So, the sanctity of the document was without a doubt.

With disgust, I rolled up the parchment and handed it off to Seriel for safe keeping. At the same time, Marus and his wife walk up the staircase until the stood in front of me and he said, "I do believe you're in my seat pet."

Slowly I stood and stepped once to the left. All the while I leveled an icy glare colder the Ferelden's frost back mountains. In my sweetest voice ever, I said "For now, Markus, only for now. Keep it warm for me, would you? I will be taking it back, don't you fret."

Markus scowled. He did not like that I pointed how temporary his sudden elevation in status was.

I was both numb with shock and bone weary all at one, though you wouldn't know it looking at me. My silk robes suddenly felt to hot, itchy and my abdomen painfully knotted in torment. Or was it resentment? Could be both. Either way, I had no intention of sticking around a moment longer and subject myself to any more of his swill. Thus, I began walking down the steps flanked by Seriel and Liam.

"I do believe you forgot the Tiara pet. It belongs to my wife now so you'd best hand it over. We have much to discuss so you will be going nowhere for the time being." He ground out. His mask was slipping as his frustrating mounted. This was obviously not going as well he imagined it would.

I did not pause in my unhurried decent down the stairs. Nor did I design to turn and face his as I regally fried back, "You may be my Regent for the time being Markus, but your wife is not Duchess by default. That title still lies with me, as does my mother's crown. As far as I'm concerned, we have nothing to say to each other, ser Pilus of Orlais. Good day."

I finished my sentence just as I reached the exit and I took sick satisfaction in hearing the metal doors slammed closed behind me. I might have lost the battle; I might have been out played in 'The Game' by Markus for the moment and forced into a tactical retreat but if it's the last thing I do, I will win the war. It might take me years, but Maker help me, I will not abandon my people to that monster if I have any say in the matter.

Right now though, I had a very impromptu extended vacation to plan. Hopefully before Markus and his wife find a way to kill me and make it look like an unfortunate accident. The Estate… no, Nevarra itself was no longer safe.