Chapter 31 = = Pieces of a Puzzle = 26 Justinian – 2 Solace

Emmalynn was dumbfounded. "You want me to command our mages?"

Both the Knight-Commander and First Enchanter nodded.

"Shouldn't a templar command us, like Knight-Captain Hadley did at Ostagar?"

Avoiding the issue of templars, Irving said, "Your travel with the Warden-Commander and his company gives you a unique perspective. You would know better than the Knight-Captain when and how to deploy our mages."

"This is another test, then?"

"That is one way to look at it." Irving smiled.

It would be pointless to ask if there were 'other ways.' Again, they are both being deliberately vague. "The Knight-Captain is commanding the templars, yes?"

"Of course." Greagoir answered. "My counterpart in the Jainen Circle and I received the announcement that the Landsmeet will be held on the twelfth of Solace. You will want to get there well before then."

Emmalynn looked down at the list of mages. "Considering most do not know how to ride a horse, then we'll need to travel by cart. If we take the North Road, it will take eight days to get there."

"Then you should leave on the twenty-eighth."

Emmalynn nodded. "I need to see the Knight-Captain and start preparations."

Between Hadley's and Emmalynn's knowledge and experience, planning and provisioning for the trip turned out to be easier than Emmalynn had thought.

The two days flew by. It was an hour before they were scheduled to leave. Emmalynn, dressed in russet colored britches, blue tunic, and a leather gambeson, was finishing packing her saddle-bags. While her robes and the mantle of Apprentice First Enchanter were packed in a small chest that was on one of the supply carts, her bags carried would carry her journal, additional britches and tunics. The tunics and britches were made for the templars, but Clara, the head seamstress, and her assistants tailored them to fit Emma's figure.

She also packed a supply of ginger tea, which she'd been using to settle her stomach, and her enchanted tea mug. The simple blue mug allowed her to have tea first thing in the morning before she got out of bed.

She held up the mug with a smile. Rana had given it to her on her upon becoming a Senior Enchanter …

Rana handed her blue velvet pouch. "Here, in celebration of your becoming a Senior Enchanter."

Emma opened the pouch and took out a sky-blue mug; on the bottom she found what looked like a combination of an ice and fire rune. "How does it work?"

Surana took the mug and demonstrated. "Just activate the rune" She watched as the cup filled with ice, which then melted as it heated up. Less than a minute later, steam began to waft up from the inside. He handed it back to Emmalynn.

"The outside stays cool. All you need to do is dip in your infuser and voila…tea! Something to warm up your Senior bones without having to leave your bed."

They'd both laughed...

As she placed the tea supplies into her pack, she smiled at the thought of seeing Rana again. The happiness was short-lived, however: she knew she would also be seeing Alistair and she was worried. I'm sure he's angry at me for leaving like I did, and I have no idea what he will say about the baby. I hope we can at least be friends. Holding her saddle bags, she strapped her staff to her back and left her room into an uncertain future.

Irving and the Knight-Commander were there to see everyone off. Greagoir gave Emmalynn a sealed scroll case. "Deliver this directly into Commander Aedan's hands as soon as you see him."

Emmalynn nodded as she took the scroll case and placed it securely in her pack. He knew she would never even think of breaking the seal to read the contents.

I doubt I will ever trust another mage as much as I trust her.

As the caravan left, Irving looked at Greagoir. "I do hope she will forgive us for not telling her about the grand cleric or about being released from the Circle."

"I believe she will. Hopefully, it will flush out whoever is working with the Grand Cleric. If so, Bann Teagan and Ser Alistair will know what to do".

~oOOo~

Camping on the outskirts of Denerim, Aedan suggested spacing out their entry into the city to travel to the Arl's estate.

Morrigan would fly to Eamon's estate, while Oghren and Sten could go in on their own.

Save for Leliana and Alistair, the rest of the party needed to be circumspect; Wynne was a mage, Zevran, Jowan, and Aedan were known to Loghain, and Surana, while not known to the regent, was both a mage and an elf. Initially Surana thought that he and Zevran could pose as Alistair's servants.

Alistair shook his head. "My father and I do not have elven servants. We have elves in the guard, and as merchants, but not as servants."

Aedan nodded in agreement. "Bann Teagan and Alistair are known for treating elves as equals."

"Perhaps Wynne can pose as a noble woman and then Surana and Zevran can pose as her servants?" Leliana suggested.

Alistair, cognizant of Aedan being the Commander, suggested, "Aedan, if Wynne does pose as a noble woman, once she Zev and Surana arrive Eamon's estate, she could ask Eamon to send a couple of his guard to meet us here with two tabards: one for me and one for you. Your helm should hide your face then we can then enter the city as part of the Arl's guard. Leliana could simply pose as a Chantry sister. What do you think?"

"I think we have a plan."

Leliana clapped her hands. "Wynne, I need to make you look the part."

Wynne patiently sighed.

~oOOo~

Once they all were in residence, Eamon called together Aedan, Surana, and Alistair to talk about what he'd learned since arriving in Denerim. Aedan included Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, and Morrigan in the meeting'; Oghren was already deep into his cups.

Alistair smirked at Eamon's discomfort. You are an arrogant ass. Yes, our companions include elves, women, Qunari, and mages. Morrigan agreed to come to this meeting just to see you squirm.

Eamon cleared his throat. "I am glad you were successful in getting the treaties ratified. The refugees from the south are crowded into Denerim."

"The Darkspawn first appeared at Ostagar. It makes sense that they spread to the south first." Aedan said. "Then they could sweep up towards Denerim and from there go west into Orlais. At least we know we can face the Archdemon here and not Redcliffe, as we originally thought."

The Arl lowered his voice. "Aedan, you should know that Howe has been made Arl of Denerim, and recently titled the Teyrn of Highever."

Aedan slammed his fist on the table. "Damn that odious bastard!"

Eamon's look of sympathy was real. "Howe will pay for his crimes, Aedan. Loghain actually came by the estate just after I arrived."

"He did?!" Surana asked.

"He came here in the morning the day after I arrived. He knows that we are challenging Anora's claim to the throne, and he isn't happy about that. However, he thanked me for calling the Landsmeet, claiming that the civil war was not something he intended, and that he was wrong about the Blight."

"That does not sound like someone who knowingly committed regicide. If he had, he would be against the Landsmeet," Aedan said.

"Was itLoghain who told you about Howe?"

"No, I received a message from Howe himself – letting me know of his new titles and how he expects to be addressed."

Alistair looked at Aedan. "Are you sure that it was always Loghain's intention to quit the field and abandon Cailan?"

Aedan sat back, thinking. "Right now, it all seems a blur. Surana?"

"I have nothing."

Aedan pulled out a map of Ostagar that he'd kept; it was filled with notations about where people were supposed to be given the plans made at that final war council.

Wynne pointed to the map with surprise. "Why does this have the king behind the bridge? He was in front of it."

Aedan sighed. "He was in front of the bridge? I thought it was bad enough that the archers weren't on the bridge."

Alistair shook his head. "The idea of a choke point is to be behind and not in front of it and archers needed to be above the fray. Why did he veer from the plan?"

"The only person who is alive and would know is the mage in charge of the healing and barrier mages. She argued with the King when he changed the formation because it would make it considerably harder for her mages to do their job."

Eamon asked. "Oh, who? That mage would have invaluable information that could certainly clear up some of the issues."

"That would be Senior Enchanter Amell." Wynne said simply.

"Too bad we cannot simply ask her, yes?" Zevran said.

Eamon facial expression didn't change, but they could see the anger in his eyes.

Morrigan nodded. "Senior Enchanter Amell's perspective would be invaluable. Also, the soldiers were outnumbered three to one."

Aedan frowned. "Three to one? Our total troop strength was 5,000." He shook his head. "Then there were 15,000 darkspawn?"

Alistair sighed. "I think we can agree that Loghain did the right thing when he retreated. But why would he accuse the Grey Wardens?"

"I might be able to answer that," Eamon interjected. "Loghain never trusted the wardens. Perhaps he believed that they intentionally underestimated in the strength of the Darkspawn force? However, that does not explain his poisoning of me, nor the Arl's actions at Highever."

"You were poisoned several weeks before Ostagar. Why didn't the poison kill you outright?" Alistair wondered aloud.

Eamon looked surprised. "I had not thought of that. However, Isolde told me that I was dying before the Ashes arrived."

"That was because the demon changed an element of the poison's formula. Emmalynn was able to change it back. The murder of my parents was just before Ostagar and must have also been planned in advance."

"Do you think Howe knew about what would happen at Ostagar?"

Aedan was clearly getting agitated. "I don't know. Howe's plan was for no survivors, then he could tell Calian or Loghain anything he wanted; there would be no one who could argue with him."

A knock sounded at the door.

"Yes, enter."

Eamon's private secretary walked into the room. "My Lord, the Queen's hand maid is here requesting an audience. She is quite upset and is speaking in Orlesian."