Chapter 33 = = The Honorable Thing to Do

Alistair was speaking with Aedan and Eamon. "There is much to discuss, but Queen Anora suggests that you hold Howe in your dungeon, Eamon, bound and heavily guarded."

"That will be done."

Alistair tried to reassure his friend, "Aedan, Howe will be found guilty at the Landsmeet - and not just for the murder of your parents."

Aedan nodded. "Don't we need to tell Loghain that his daughter is safe?".

Eamon began, "I don't–"

"I sent word to the palace as soon as we arrived," Alistair interrupted.

"Alistair," Eamon began, "that may have been unwise."

Alistair turned a cool gaze on Eamon, his tone implacable. "Oh? Why would that be? She is our Queen. She carries Cailan's heir, and Teyrn Loghain is her father - a father who was frantic with worry, according to Erlina. In fact, her Majesty was grateful that I sent word."

"Arora was grateful to you for sending word?"

"Yes, she was relieved."

Ignoring Eamon, Aedan asked, "Did Loghain respond?"

"He did." Alistair held the message in his hand. "He was very grateful for both her rescue and Howe's capture. When the Queen has rested, the Teyrn will send palace guards to bring her home."

"And I assume he will want Howe back under his control," Eamon said snidely.

"No. We will bring Howe to the Landsmeet where he can be formally charged with his heinous crimes. One thing, Aedan: According to Anora, Howe believes that there are no living Couslands to counter his narrative about what happened that night. We need to keep him ignorant of your survival until his trial. It will be easier to trap Howe when he lies about what he did."

"You do good work, Alistair." Aedan smiled.

"There's more. We found several people being tortured in Howe's dungeon: in addition to Warden Riordan, there was Bann Sighard's son Oswyn; Soris, an elf from the Alienage who went missing a month before Ostagar; the body of Vaughn Kendells; and Bann Alfstanna's brother, Ser Irminric, who is a Templar." Alistair gave Aedan Irminric's ring.

Eamon looked at Aedan. "I suggest you go to the Gnawed Noble and return the ring to Alfstanna, and make sure Oswyn arrived home safely. We must secure Alfstanna's and Sighard's support before the Landsmeet."

Aedan nodded. "I agree. I'll leave for the Noble with Surana first thing in the morning. Right now, Surana and I are going to speak with Warden Riordan. Hopefully, he's up to it."

Eamon was sitting in his private dining room off of the master bedroom, the servant had just placed the tray at the table and bowed as he left. Looking at the tray he saw a small scroll the size you would send with a Raven. Slowly unfurling the scroll, he read

"Plans remains unchanged. You will know when things have been set in motion."

~oOOo~

The following day, shortly after Surana and Aedan left with Leliana and Wynne for the Gnawed Noble, Teagan arrived from Rainesfere and went straight to the Arl's estate. The first person he saw was his son. "Thank the Maker you're safe."

"I'm fine. I missed you, Da."

"And I missed you. What's happening? I heard that the Queen is with child?"

"Yes, she's pregnant with Cailan's heir. Also, we have Howe in the dungeons. He kidnapped the Queen, but she's safe now. She's staying here until she feels strong enough to return the palace."

He noticed Alistair's guarded expression. "What are you not telling me?"

"Honestly, plenty. But that's because some of it is still unfolding. I promise to catch you up later once we are back in our estate."

Yes, even the walls in Eamon's estate have ears. "Okay, I'll check in with my brother, then go to the estate and unpack, I'll come by after that we can go back to the estate together."

"That sounds great, Father. I'll see you later."

Aedan and Wynne returned. The Warden pulled Alistair aside. "There is some unrest in the Alienage. Surana thought it better that he, Zevran and Leli look into it."

"Unrest in the Alienage? That sounds ominous. I was about to go upstairs to talk with Anora, so perhaps you could join me, Aedan?"

Anora was sitting on a sofa reading when Aedan and Alistair arrived.

Both bowed. Aedan spoke first. "Your Majesty, we are both so relieved that you're recovering. Would you be up to talking about what happened?"

Anora's eyes teared up. "Of course. First, Aedan, I am so sorry for what that snake did to you and your family. Bryce and Eleanor were such warm and welcoming people. Your father was a trusted advisor to Calian and me and your mother was a gracious and kind woman. Oriana was so helpful to me when Calian and I were wed. That she and Oren were also murdered is beyond unbelievable. Have you heard anything about Fergus?"

Aedan, choked up by Anora's kind words, could only shake his head.

Both men sat across from the Queen. "Your Majesty, what happened?" Alistair asked.

"It was such chaos after Ostagar, and I was in shock about losing Cailan," Anora started, placing her hand on her stomach. "The midwife said stress could cause a miscarriage, so I asked my father to be regent.

"I know it should have gone through the Bannorn, but honestly there was no time. People were already accusing father of intentionally abandoning Cailan. The combination of the two things set off this cursed civil war."

"What did your father say about Ostagar?" Aedan asked.

"He was furious that the Grey Wardens had grossly underestimated the force. He said that they were outnumbered by Darkspawn three to one. He was also upset that my husband changed the fighting formation they'd agreed on. I don't know why Cailan did that. In any case, Father wanted to save Cailan, but my husband had made him promise to never risk the army to save him. It was something that Maric also felt strongly about."

"Why would Cailan have Loghain make that promise?" Alistair asked.

"According to Cailan, after the battle of West Hill Father and Rowan went back to save Maric. It cost many soldiers' lives. Maric was angry at them for doing so and he made Father and Rowan promise to not come to his rescue at the risk of the entire army. Maric said that he would rather die than have the blood of those who were lost on his hands.

"Father wanted every remaining Grey Warden arrested and tried for regicide. That's when Howe brought in an Antivan Crow. Father wanted the wardens to pay for what happened at Ostagar."

"And now?" Aedan asked.

"Now my father has learned that Grey Wardens are the only ones who can stop a Blight; he doesn't know why they are, he just knows they are. He still blames the wardens for underestimating the size of the horde, but when he found that there were only two surviving wardens, he rescinded the order calling for your arrest.

"Howe had been trying to get into my father's good graces since Ostagar, but Father was leery after hearing about the massacre of the Couslands. Howe provided us with "evidence" that Bryce and Eleanor were conspiring with Duke Gaspard in Orlais. He was only made Arl of Denerim so we could keep an eye on him and to flush out his allies. Father wanted to call a Landsmeet to settle the civil war and formally charge Howe for murdering Aedan's family."

"What stopped him?"

"Howe came to the palace to see my father. I was at the palace chapel in the confession booth when Howe's agents captured me. Howe left the palace and sent father a note telling him that he needed to do exactly what Howe told him to do or I would be killed. That was when Howe was named Teyrn of Highever."

"How long were you Howe's prisoner?"

"Almost a month."

"That would explain why your father was so happy that Eamon called the Landsmeet," Alistair commented. Seeing the tiredness in Anora's eyes, he signaled to Aedan. "Your Majesty, you should rest."

"Honestly, if I could stay away from the palace a while longer, I would be grateful. I'm so tired, and right now the palace is nothing but a constant source of stress and memories."

"I'm sure the Arl would be happy to let you stay as long as you need," Aedan assured the Queen.

"Your father will be here later this afternoon to visit. I just heard back."

"Thank you for setting that up, Alistair."

Aedan and Alistair were walking down the hall after leaving Anora. "There is a lot that I was wrong about, Alistair. But I still don't understand why Loghain took Jowan away from the templars or his poisoning the Arl."

"I've been thinking about that. Perhaps there was something that Eamon was plotting? Given what he did to Emma, I'd believe almost anything about Eamon. Let me send that note to Loghain."

~oOOo~

Later that day, Teyrn Loghain arrived, much to the discomfort of Eamon, but he could hardly prevent the Teyrn from seeing his daughter.

Alistair and Aedan greeted him, and Alistair escorted him to Anora's room.

"Alistair, I owe you a debt of gratitude for coming to the aid of my daughter and my grandchild."

"No thanks are needed. I'm just glad we were able to help."

"I was at my wit's end because Howe was watching my every move. I was relieved when Eamon called the Landsmeet. When I heard you and the Wardens had arrived in Denerim, I sent Erlina to the estate to ask for help. I know there is so much more to discuss, but..."

"Go visit your daughter, Your Grace. We can talk after," Alistair said.

Just after Loghain went upstairs, Surana returned in a murderous rage. "That bastard should die for selling elves to Tevinter!"

"What? Who? Loghain!?"

"No, Howe! The magister had an order from Loghain, but Zev and Leliana are convinced that it's a forgery. The magister also told us that Howe was the person with whom he'd dealt."

"Are you sure the Magister was telling the truth?" Aedan asked.

"Oh…quite sure…" Zevran practically purred.

~oOOo~

When Loghain left Anora's room, Alistair was waiting nearby. "Your Grace," He nodded and proceeded to accompany Loghain and his guards.

Loghain knew that he and Alistair needed to talk but they both knew it would have to be outside of the estate to escape being overheard. Bryce, Maric, and I were sure that even Eamon's walls had ears.

Once the courtyard, Alistair said, "Your Grace, I know Her Majesty mentioned her desire to stay away from the palace for a while longer.

Loghain nodded. "She told me that, as well."

"Staying here for a few days makes sense. I just am having an increasingly harder time trusting Eamon. I doubt, he would act against Anora, especially while she is under his roof, but I would feel better if someone like Ser Cauthrien were to stay with her while she is here."

Loghain looked concerned. "But you're across from her room."

"I need to talk to my father, who just arrived in Denerim, and I need to do that at home, away from Eamon's spies. I've already spoken with Aedan, Warden Surana, Leliana, and Zevran and asked them to keep an eye on the Arl. but I would feel better if she has a someone with her. Besides, it isn't like Eamon can refuse."

"If he even tries to harm Anora…." Loghain seethed at the thought.

"If he tries harming our Queen, I will personally shackle him and take him to Drakon."

"If he resists arrest?" Loghain locked eyes with Alistair. What does he truly feel about Eamon?

He returned Loghain's gaze. "If he resists, I will separate his head from his body."

Loghain nodded "You sound like Maric. I'll have Cauthrien stay. Thank you again for all you've done Alistair."

The men clasped arms.

~oOOo~

Aedan, Teagan, Alistair, and Eamon were sitting in the Arl's study talking about the Landsmeet.

"Arl Eamon, Anora carries the heir to the throne. Now that she's been rescued from Howe's clutches, she is the natural choice to be Regent and raise the heir. Why do you persist on challenging her right to the throne?"

"Aedan brings up a good point, Arl Eamon," Alistair agreed.

"Because we need a king and queen. Alone, Anora is vulnerable. She is pregnant with the heir and if she carries the baby to term the throne will be without a Theirin for 18 years."

Just then they were interrupted by Eamon's secretary. "Warden-Commander, the mages have arrived at the encampment, and their commander is here to report to you."

"Ah yes, time to meet the templar in command. Excuse me my Lord." I wonder which bucket head Gregoire sent.

Eamon nodded. "Of course, do what you must."

After Aedan left the room, the Arl of Redcliffe looked at Alistair. "Given your... lack of desire to take up the throne, perhaps I should support Loghain to make the peace."

Alistair did not raise to the bait. "I think that would be the honorable thing to do, don't you? You have always valued doing the honorable thing."

AN: Thak you to my Beta ElysaCousland. Thank you to Melysande for your reviews and support. BioWare owns all!