Hope and Honor

by Kira Tamarion

AU. Alistair is saved from life at a monastery when Teagan convinces Maric to allow him to take over Alistair's fosterage. At the same time, young Emmalynn is condemned by her father as a mage and taken from Ostwick to the Kinloch Circle. When Emma and Alistair come together they bring Hope and Honor to aid the two Grey wardens who must end the 5th Blight. [Alistair, Amell]

3. Birth of a Nation – Death of a Sovereign

Chapter 3 = = Birth of a Nation – Death of a Sovereign = = 9:25 to 9:26

Maric told the Wintermarch Landsmeet, "As you know for the last two years, I've been working with the Marcher lords to try and regularize trade because it is ridiculous to have to negotiate seven different agreements for the same goods.

"I have been approached by the leaders of Starkhaven, Tantervale, and Kirkwall to meet with the Marcher Lords from all seven countries, as well as the Grand Cleric, to help them work towards Marcher unity...or as united as the Marcher Lords can be.

"Aside from the obvious benefit for trade, a unified Marches would allow us to create mutual defense pact in case Orlais or any other nation wants to pick a fight, and we all know that the Marchers hate Orlais almost as much as we do. I thank the King council, and the Bannorn advisory group for your help, advice, and suggestions. After much thought, here is what I propose. Chancellor, please read the proposal."

For approval by the Landsmeet, our Sovereign Maric Theirin King of Ferelden puts forth the following proposal:

First: That King Maric will travel to Wycombe to negotiate, on behalf of Ferelden, with the leaders of Ansburg, Ostwick, Tantervale, Kirkwall, Markham, Wycombe, and Starkhaven, as well as the Grand Cleric of the Free Marches for the purpose of creating a formal relationship between the Marcher nations.

Second: If such a relationship is created, King Maric negotiate with the newly unified body of the Free Marches for a formal trade agreement and mutual defense pact with Ferelden.

The Chancellor asked, "Any discussion?"

No one spoke.

"As there is no discussion, all in favor of the King's proposal, say. "Aye"

"Aye!" Reverberated throughout the chamber.

"Opposed?"

"No one is opposed. Any abstentions?"

"Our Majesty's proposal is approved…unanimously."

The Bannorn began to cheer. Maric raised his hand and the room quieted. "Thank you for your approval and support. I will make the arrangements to leave for the Free Marches." He nodded to the Chancellor.

"The business for the Wintermarch Landsmeet is hereby concluded."

Maric left the Landsmeet, followed by both Teyrns. "Bryce and Loghain, could you come to my study after dinner? I need your counsel."

Both men indicated their agreement. Maric smiled. "Thank you. See you later at dinner."

~oOOo~

"I don't remember the last unanimous vote of the Landsmeet," Loghain said as he took the proffered glass of port from Maric's hand.

"The Bannorn is tired of the tedium in dealing the Marches," Maric said.

"What has been driving the Marcher Lords towards unification?" Bryce asked.

"I think the Lords saw how Orlais worked through the Chantry to unseat Threnhold and put Dumar on the throne in Kirkwall. That's when they realized how isolated they are," Loghain offered.

"Indeed," Maric said.

"What counsel can we provide, Maric?" Bryce asked.

"I'm leery about Eamon. After what happened with Alistair's fosterage and with Eamon's current behavior towards Teagan, I cannot shake the feeling that he's plotting something, but I have no idea what, or if I am just being paranoid."

"If you are being paranoid, then so am I," Loghain said.

"Me as well."

"I want Eamon close by in order to keep an eye on him, so I was thinking of giving him the job of Seneschal or Chancellor, as Caen has been thinking about retiring. While those are elevated positions it also affords me and several trusted servants the opportunity to keep better tabs on him without his suspecting anything."

Bryce and Loghain looked thoughtful.

Loghain spoke first. "I think it's a sensible idea, aside from the thought of the walls resounding with the Arlessa's voice." Loghain shuddered. "It makes my skin crawl."

Bryce chuckled. "It makes mine crawl too. Honestly, Maric, I'd been thinking along the same lines. Especially, as I've already had to discretely intervene to ensure that Eamon didn't delay shipments to Rainesfere."

"Then we'll make it formal at the next Landsmeet. Now on a related topic, I want Teagan to attend me on my trip to the Marches. His personal connections to the Margrave and professional connections with the Marchers will serve me well. Additionally, I can see if he would be willing to become the Arl of Redcliffe."

Loghain chuckled. "The people of Redcliffe would welcome him with open arms and it would benefit Rainesfere, too."

"I agree with Loghain; Redcliffe would do far better under Teagan than Eamon."

Maric motioned to a servant to bring them more brandy. "Then it is settled. Once the Marches are sorted out, I will appoint Eamon as Chamberlain or Seneschal and elevate Teagan to Arl of Redcliffe."

~oOOo~

Teagan read Maric's request to accompany him to the Free Marches and then sent for Alistair. I would happily use my contacts in the Marches to help Maric's mission.

"Hi, Da! You needed to see me?"

Teagan nodded. "You remember from the Landsmeet that Maric is going to Wycombe to try and get the Marcher lords to agree on some kind of unification?"

Alistair nodded.

"I just received a note from the King asking me to accompany him on his mission."

"That makes sense; you have a lot of contacts in the Marches."

"Son, would you be alright with staying with the Couslands while I'm gone? The king thinks we'll be gone for at least three months."

"Da, I'll miss you, but I'll be fine at Highever. Besides, an agreement with the Marches will open up more markets for our horses!" Alistair rubbed his hands together eagerly.

Teagan laughed. "Quite right!"

~oOOo~

Maric was so happy that Teagan agreed to come along, that he became quite eager to get started and they left a week earlier than planned.

One evening aboard the ship, the two men were having a glass of port in Maric's sitting room.

"Teagan, how are things really going between you and your brother?"

"Between us as brothers, I would say cordial, but not warm. Since that one incident where Bryce intervened, Eamon has left Rainesfere alone. So, between Arl Eamon and Bann Teagan things are calm…At least for now."

"What would you think of my appointing Eamon to serve as Chancellor?"

"You mean he would no longer be Arl of Redcliffe?"

"Exactly."

Teagan arched an eyebrow. "You want to keep your eye on him?"

"Am I that transparent?"

'No. But most people know only the public Eamon: unselfish, having only Ferelden's interests at heart. The real Eamon will see this appointment as a step up and his pride won't let him question it. But what of Connor?"

"They would all live at the palace."

Teagan was about to take a sip of the port but the glass stopped at his mouth. He slowly put down the drink. "Who would you make Arl?"

Maric just looked at Teagan.

"Me! Your Majesty, I'm flattered but…"

"No buts, Teagan. Redcliffe would welcome you with open arms, and you would finally have more land for your growing horse farm."

"Well, assuming the Landsmeet agrees, I humbly accept your proposal."

~oOOo~

Teagan wrote in his journal

24 Cloudreach 9:25

I am on my way back home.

The League of Marcher Nations was created by the Treaty of Wycombe signed on the 15th of Cloudreach 9:25 Dragon, by each ruler in the Marches, and the Grand Cleric. Among the largest of the changes is relocating the Circle of Magi from Kirkwall and dividing the mages between Starkhaven, Ostwick, and Markham. The Gallows will be either taken down or left vacant.

Surprisingly, the Divine approved, in part because the request was couched in the context of the safety of Grand Cleric and that the size of the Kirkwall Circle prevents effective guarding of the mages. At the heart of the issue, however, is to stop the templars from interfering with the Kirkwall guard, and the governing of Kirkwall. The Grand Cleric of the Free Marches is a lovely and pious woman, who needs to be able to focus her attention on her flock.

The first official act of the League was to draw up a trade agreement and mutual defense pact between the League and Ferelden.

I am taking the Treaty, defense pact, and trade agreement to Denerim, because Maric wants to stay in Wycombe until everything has been ratified by the Landsmeet. Just in case there are changes need to be negotiated, Maric doesn't want to have to travel back and forth to Wycombe. Personally, I think he is staying away from Ferelden to force the Landsmeet to act and not dicker around.

~oOOo~

"Lost at sea!?" Loghain sat down heavily.

"Where?" Cailan asked, disbelieving and in shock.

"The information we have is that the ship was last seen on the east side of Alamar." Reported the Senior Lieutenant of Maric's Shield, now acting Captain

"We will need to convene the Landsmeet to settle the succession," Cailan said trying to hold off a tidal wave of grief by thinking through what needed to be done to secure Ferelden.

"Cailan, I will gather some of the Shield and take one of the smaller ships to see if we can find Maric or the ship or any sign of the wreck."

"Thank you, Loghain. We can convene the Landsmeet in six weeks?"

The Chancellor nodded. "Yes, your Highness. Teyrn Loghain?"

Loghain lost in a revere, started. "Yes, yes, six weeks. It shouldn't take much more than that to search Alamar and Brandel's Reach."

"I'll tell Anora," Cailan said, leaving the room.

Loghain looked at the Chancellor. "I'm glad that Maric had Cailan shadow him for the last year. He's been to council meetings, assemblies, and traveling around Ferelden meeting with the Bannorn. Maric said he felt more confident that Cailan understood what it took to be king. I hope so."

"As do I."

Loghain stood, expression stoic, his posture ramrod straight, his grief held at bay, grateful that Celia had come to Denerim to visit with him and Anora.

~oOOo~

9 August, 9:25 Dragon
Cailan Theirin, Rex Ferelden

Your Majesty,

It's been almost over 6 weeks and we've found no signs of a shipwreck on the coasts of either Alamar or Brandel's Reach. Searching both islands yielded no clues either.

If the ship sank then it has been swept into the Amaranthine Ocean.

It couldn't be the Marcher Lords, as the treaty and pact had already been ratified. I suspect Orlais, even though it would have made more sense for Orlais to prevent the unification of the Marches. But I have no evidence.

I'm sorry to have delayed the coronation. I will be back in Denerim within the week. Celia and I will be there for yours and Anora's wedding and coronation.

LMT

1 Kingsway, 9:25 Dragon
Bryce Cousland, Teyrn
Highever

Bryce

I am back in Gwaren and will be staying here with Celia.

I think that you'll agree that the issues we spoke of in Wintermarch will need to wait until Cailan and Anora have settled in as husband and wife, and King and Queen, and the Bannorn has settled down.

We will just have to keep our ears to the ground in case the Arl stirs the pot.

LMT

~oOOo~

23rd of August 9:26 Dragon
Bann Teagan Guerrin
Rainesfere

Dear Teagan,

Loghain and I spoke to Cailan and Anora about Maric's idea to appoint Eamon as Chancellor as we had discussed prior to going to Wycombe. Cailan refused to entertain the idea, and Anora supported him. They gave no reason; they simply refused.

It was clear to both Loghain and me that for whatever reason, Eamon is clearly out of favor with the King and Queen. We don't believe they want him at the palace. At all.

The bright spot, however, is that Cailan and Anora were furious with Eamon when Loghain told them about the taxes being levied on your horse farm profits. Cailan said that all of Ferelden is benefiting from trade with the League, and if Redcliffe wants to partake of the flow of trade then 'the Arl needs to get off his arse and do something productive for and with Redcliffe, instead of living high off of yours and Alistair's hard work.'

Eamon will be told by royal proclamation that he is forbidden from taxing your horse farm. Particularly as you use the profits to maintain and improve Rainesfere. His taxation essentially takes money from your people.

I am heading back to Highever tomorrow and will continue to keep an eye on Eamon.

~Bryce

---

AN: Thank you to ElyssaCousland for being my Beta! Thanks to those who have reviewed and follow. I actually didn't know until I did the research for this story that Teagan had such close connections to the Margravine of Ansburg. Additionally, I had forgotten that the reason Maric went to Wycombe was to unify the Free Marches. What the Marches would look like if Maric had made it to Wycombe was a fun thought exercise, and I hope you enjoy it.