Chapter 32 = = Another Piece Falls into Place.

Eamon stood, looking slightly abashed. "My Orlesian is a bit rusty…without my wife here–"

"I would be honored to translate, for you, your Grace," Leliana said sweetly.

"Thank you. Alistair and Aedan, would you come with us as well, please?"

Aedan said, "Of course."

Anora's handmaid Erlina was in tears, and when she saw the Arl she spoke quickly and frantically, "La reine a été prise par Howe et est maintenant prisonnière. S'il vous plaît, elle doit être sauvée."

"Attendre! Kidnappé la reine?"

"Oui."

"Du palais?"

"Oui!"

Leliana looked at Aedan. "The Queen was taken by Howe and is his prisoner and needs to be rescued. Queen Anora was kidnapped from the palace."

Aedan asked. "Wait - why hasn't her father rescued her?"

Erlina looked at Aedan and Leliana. "Il la tient dans les cachots, il n'y a aucun moyen pour le régent d'envoyer des troupes parce qu'ils n'ont pas pu la trouver avant que Howe puisse la tuer.

Leilana explained. "Howe has her in the dungeons. If Loghain tried to mount a rescue, Howe would be able to kill Anora before they could get to her." I know Erlina is a bard, but she is not acting; she is at her wits end.

Arl Eamon nodded. "The Arl of Denerim's estate is sprawling and unfortunately has extensive dungeons."

Aedan asked, "Leli?"

"Erlina seems sincere, and as both she and Arl Eamon say that the layout of the estate makes mounting a rescue difficult...?"

"I would imagine that Howe also has spies in the palace," Alistair suggested.

Erlina looked at Alistair, "Oui!"

"Then we need to save Her Majesty," Aedan declared.

"Warden-Commander, you are one of three remaining Grey Wardens. You should not risk yourself for this." Eamon spoke as the voice of reason. Anora's death would make the Landsmeet easier.

"Aedan, Eamon is right. As a Knight it is my duty to rescue our Queen. Sten, Leliana, and Wynne, you're with me. We will rescue the Queen and, if possible, capture Howe."

Eamon looked like he'd eaten something sour.

Aedan argued, "Howe is my responsibly."

"I didn't say I would kill Howe. I said I would capture him. Leliana, can you speak with Erlina and find out everything you can that can help us rescue the Queen? We will meet in the library to plan."

"Of course."

Eamon said, "Alistair, you shouldn't be risk–"

"Do not say it, Eamon. We are talking about our Queen and I am her Knight. She will be rescued from that sick bastard's clutches. End of discussion!"

Alistair turned his back on the Arl and strode out of the room to armor up and work out a plan.

~oOOo~

As they waited for word of Alistair and his team, a sickly-looking man arrived at the estate. He had a full beard and mustache, wore ragged clothes, and spoke with an Orlesian accent. He was almost sent away but Aedan came to the entryway, having felt the call of the taint. "That man is a Grey Warden, let him pass."

The man staggered in and Aedan helped him to the closest chair. After he caught his breath the warden said, "I am grateful to be rescued. I am Riordan, Senior Warden from Jader. I was able to sneak across the border to help but was captured by Howe's men somewhere near Highever."

"How long have you been in Ferelden?"

"I came here just after Ostagar; the Arl captured me and took me to Amaranthine. I was held there until recently when he moved everyone in his dungeons to Denerim. You should know that your friends, Ser Alistair and his group, captured Howe. I don't know about Her Majesty."

Aedan made sure that Riordan had a chance to wash and was given a room to sleep. I'll send Wynne up to take a look at him when she gets back.

It was almost dusk when Alistair returned. He held the Queen in his arms. The unconscious Howe was in a burlap sack slung over Sten's shoulder.

Alistair looked at Anora, who nodded, and he gently set her on her feet. Looking at Eamon, but addressing everyone, he said, "As you can see, her Majesty may have the missing pieces of the puzzle."

"Actually, I hope it's only one piece," she said placing her on her rounded stomach. Her eyes were red from crying, her normally fine braided hair was greasy and coming undone.

"I have examined her Majesty. She and the baby seem fine. Although, your Majesty, you need to rest," Wynne gently remined her.

Eamon started as if coming out of a trance. "Of course! The room across from Alistair's is available. Enchanter Wynne, anything you need for the Queen will be provided without delay."

Subtle, Eamon. Alistair looked at Anora. "Your Majesty, do you think you can walk if Leliana and Wynne accompany you?"

"Yes. I can walk to the room. There are no words for how grateful I am to the four of you for rescuing me." Leliana and Wynne guided the Queen towards to her room.

~oOOo~

Anora was settled into bed; Leliana and Wynne had left the room moments before. When her father had told her that Cailan had died, she'd felt like she'd fallen into a well of sadness. Now she fought to keep her head above water as the memory of the Warden-Commander informing them about the Blight intruded into her thoughts.

I had just told Cailan that I was with child. Maker, his smile was like the sun, and for the rest of the morning we were wrapped in a blissful cocoon.

Then the Warden-Commander arrived with the news of a Blight starting in Ostagar. Naturally Cailan was going to take the Army and march to Ostagar.

…

"I suggest telling no one about my pregnancy until this issue of the Blight is resolved."

"I disagree," Cailan said. "I think that knowing that the Queen is carrying the heir to the throne will stabilize some of the unrest caused by the issue of an heir. It would provide something for the country to celebrate."

"It will also make me a target," Anora reminded him.

"Of who?"

"Orlais, or anyone else in Ferelden who has been vying for a throne that had no heir," Anora said.

"Surely you don't believe your father about the Grey Wardens?"

"Cailan, my father - perhaps more than anyone - has every right to not trust Orlais, or the Orlesian Grey Wardens. But what if someone - like Eamon - finds out while you are distracted by the Blight? We all know he's been plotting something."

"I see your point. Before I leave for Ostagar, I will document that you are carrying my child, the heir, and in the event that anything happens to me, you will retain the throne as Queen, and as Regent for our child. I will make it clear that the child will take the throne when they reach the age of majority.

"I don't want anyone thinking you don't belong on that throne." Cailan kissed Anora's hand. "You have to forgive me, my lovely wife, for wanting to shout this blessed news from the highest rooftops."

Anora blushed. "Soon, my love. Soon."

….

Anora softly cried herself to sleep.

~oOOo~

It was late; Eamon sat in his study having a glass of brandy as he thought back to his last meeting with the agent. "I was in my study in Redcliffe drinking a glass of brandy…"

…He heard the coded knock.

"Enter."

The elven woman entered. She looked like any other servant in the castle, save for the mask. Without waiting she sat in the chair across from the Arl. "It would seem your plan did not work."

"He will see nothing with that mage in the way. I tried to get her to turn on Alistair, but she wouldn't."

"I warned you that your plan would fail, as the one did before that. It is a good thing that she defied you. If she were killed or made tranquil, you would have sealed her forever in his heart. Your attempt was rather… Comment dites-vous? Ham in hand?"

Eamon looked annoyed. "You mean ham-handed."

"Oui! My Lady was patient with you and your plans, which have failed. Now you will do as I request, yes? If not, I will find someone else to carry My Lady's cause."

Looking alarmed, Eamon stammered, "Yes..yes. I will do as you ask me."

"Bon!" She placed a coffer on Eamon's desk. "As we speak, a templar is meeting with the Grand Cleric. By this afternoon, the old woman will be fully invested in sending only mages to fight and sending any who survive to Denerim. All you need to do is visit the Grand Cleric today at a quarter candle past nones. You will offer an incentive to put the healer in command of the mages and exempt her from reprisal."

"Exempt her? What would be the point?"

The woman looked at him and waited.

Sighing he nodded he head. "Alright. Is this the incentive?" he asked, gesturing to the coffer.

"Look inside."

Eamon opened the coffer: in it was a single piece of parchment. Written upon it was an amount of sovereigns. Gasping in shock he began to cough. After a few moments he regained his composure. "Am I to understand this coffer will be sent to the Grand Cleric with the promised amount of money?"

The woman nodded and handed him a small scroll. "Here are the last of the instructions. You will follow them, yes?"

"Yes."

"Bon. Our next communication will be by message just prior to your Landsmeet."

Eamon nodded. He opened the small case and removed the scroll, when he looked up the woman and coffer were gone. He read the letter.

Arl Eamon,

Once you have presented the incentive to Her Grace, you have no other duties regarding this matter. You will know once the plan has been set in motion.

All you need to do is remain your typically bombastic self about a Theirin sitting on the throne. Ser Alistair will be given a note when the time is right, explaining what will happen when the crown is placed on his head.

My Lady will remember your assistance and reward you for it.

Eamon swirled the brandy in his glass and sighed. "We didn't know Anora was pregnant. Now what?"

AN Sorry for the delay! Thanks to my Beta ElysaaCousland for the help!