Chapter 39 = = Toad-Man and Knicker Weasels = = 8th and 9th of Solace

After having had breakfast with Teagan, Alistair had escorted Emmalynn back to the mage encampment. Emmalynn spent the rest of the morning watching the primal mages practice, pleased at the progress they were making. Devon stood next to Emmalynn and said "Teaching us how templars meditate was a damn good idea! We can focus and block out all the other crap going on and tap into our mana better, it's safer, and we use less."

Emmalynn nodded. "So, am I forgiven for making you 'stare at a Maker-damn leaf?'"

Devon looked a bit sheepish. "Yeah, you're forgiven. It was kinda amazing. I went from only seeing 'green' to seeing 'deep emeralds' and 'greens so damn pale they were almost grey, but not quite.' About that meeting tomorrow?

"Yes?"

"If any of the Arl's cretins shows a much as a toenail near this camp, I've got several mages who can create a stinging swarm that puts wasps to shame. Pin-point accuracy, too. If they had ink, they could use the swarm to tattoo SCUM right across their foreheads."

Emmalynn laughed. "Excellent. We need to work on the ink idea."

Devon laughed as Emmalynn went back to her tent to write up notes from the morning practices. She was having tea and making notes when Petra ducked her head in. "Emmalynn? Surana and Jowan are back from the Arl's, and they look as pale as ghosts."

What else did Riordan tell them? "Where are they?" Emmalynn was on her feet and walking out of her tent.

"They went to Jowan's tent."

"Thanks, Petra." She forced herself to walk at a normal pace and keep a calm expression. When she reached the tent flap, she called, "Rana, Jowan may I please come in?"

A dejected sounding Surana replied, "Come in, M."

Both men were sitting at a small table, slumped in their chairs, looking into mugs of what smelled like ale.

Emma sat down and decided not to beat around the bush. "You knew the wardens who killed the Archdemon died; what else did Riordan say?"

Both men startled. "M, we, can't tell you–"

Emma sat back with her arms crossed and shook her head, clearly annoyed. "Yes, yes, I know, Grey Warden secrets. But you know what? There is no one in the whole of Thedas who was alive almost half a millennium ago. Ten generations of wardens have lived and died since the last blight, so I'm sorry but secrets that have been passed on unchallenged for 400 hundred years are little better than mere rumor."

Both wardens looked at each other. Jowan was surprised at the vehemence in Emmalynn's tone, and while Surana had seen it before, it was still a rare display from his best friend and made him rethink staying silent.

Emmalynn patiently waited. Finally, Surana sighed and nodded. "You have a point, M. Well, Riordan told us that when the Archdemon dies its soul travels to nearest tainted being. If that being is a darkspawn, who are soulless, then the archdemon reforms back into a dragon and the Blight continues. If a Grey Warden makes the kill, then the soul enters the Warden, who is the nearest tainted being. However, as warden is not soulless, the resulting paradox destroys both souls."

Emma blinked her eyes and then stared at Surana as if he'd grown a second head. "Maker's sake is that what the Wardens think? There is no paradox. Two souls can occupy the same body at the same time. While not the best example, Wynne carries a spirit of faith."

"But that's a spirit." Surana countered.

"Spirits have relevance and purpose, as do as do souls. The difference between a spirit and a soul are memories and experiences, which does not alter the fact that they can inhabit the same body at the same time."

"So why does the Warden die?" Jowan asked.

"Okay first, some context: the reason we don't randomly change shape is that once our soul is attached to our mortal form, our shape is fixed. When the Archdemon dies, and its soul finds a soulless darkspawn, it can reshape the body into the tainted soul's preferred form, which appears to be a dragon. If the soul of the archdemon tries that with the warden's body, the warden will die.

"So yes, the warden dies, but neither warden's soul nor the soul of the archdemon are destroyed. When the warden dies, the Archdemons' soul is tied to the fate of the warden's soul as they are both tied to the warden's body. Both souls cross the Veil. I have to wonder, has a mage Warden killed any of the previous Archdemons?"

"I doubt it. I believe the four Wardens all been warriors or rogues, like Garahel." Surana smirked.

Emmalynn looked pensive. "If a mage warden strikes the final blow…is there is a way for both the warden's and archdemon's souls to be sent into the fade when the body of the archdemon dies ?"

"You mean sending a mage into the Fade like we did when we helped Connor?"

Emmalynn nodded. "Exactly."

"Killing the Archdemon has to be up close and personal, so the soul goes into the warden. Which means using a sword or something equally as lethal." Jowan said.

Emmalynn looked pensive then said, almost to her herself, "What if the sword was enchanted, so it was lighter, deadlier, and helped connect the warden mage with the sending spell?"

"Whoa there, M! Before we get into the weeds, we need to talk to Aedan and Riordan,"

"Can we wait until the Landsmeet is over?" Jowan suggested.

Both Emmalynn and Surana nodded. Emmalynn said, "Absolutely."

Surana and Jowan looked less pale. Jowan asked, "How do you know so much about this?"

"Remember how I always had a book in one hand and a fruit-tart in the other?" Both men smiled, the mood lightening a bit. "I've read most of the books about spirits and souls in the Circle library. You forget, while I call her the Spirit of Hope, she is, in fact, the soul of Justinia."

"You know, even if there is no way to save the warden, it's nice to know that our souls aren't destroyed, that's like being wiped out of existence." Jowan shuddered.

Emmalynn shook her head. "I hate secrets."

~oOOo~

The 9th of Solace

Greagoir looked at the writ from the Divine.

8th Day of Solace,
31st year of the Dragon Age

Dear Knight-Commander Greagoir:

Upon receipt of this order, you are to lead a full complement of templars to Denerim to join with the mages. Please have them move with all haste. I have sent similar orders to your counterpart in Jainen.

A more detailed writ will be read at the Ferelden Landsmeet on the 12th day of Solace.

Maker be with you,
Beatrix III

"Well, it seems that someone reported the treaty issue to the Divine. I'd better get ready. Are you staying, Irving?"

"I'm afraid I'm just too old to ride a horse. Besides, one of us should be here."

"True."

~oOOo~

Surana and Emmalynn were standing on either side of the tent entrance when Loghain and Anora arrived. Looking like three simple travelers, Loghain, Queen Anora and one bodyguard were wearing non-descript travel cloaks. Loghain wore leather armor instead of his customary Chevalier plate, and he carried daggers instead of his sword and shield.

Surana crossed his arms and bowed to Loghain and Anora. Emmalynn curtsied. "Welcome, Regent Mac Tir, your Majesty. Please meet Warden-Constable Surana."

The Queen nodded then took Emmalynn's hands. "Please, it's Anora. Thank you for helping set this up."

"Anora, I will do all that I can to help you. We have set wards to ensure the privacy of the meeting, and Surana and I will stand guard until you are ready to leave."

Anora smiled as the guard escorted her into the tent.

Loghain nodded at Surana, "Warden." Then he looked at Emmalynn "You are the best healer I have ever seen. Thank the Maker you survived Ostagar and thank you for helping Anora, and for being her friend."

"No thanks needed, Regent Loghain."

"Please, it's just Loghain." he turned and entered the tent.

Rana whispered. "M, for someone so shy, you make friends wherever you go."

"You have met Arl Toad-man, yes? I haven't made friends with him, not that I'd ever want to."

~oOOo~

Once everyone was sitting, and comfortably in the command tent, Alistair asked, "What can we do to help?"

Loghain looked at Anora. "Anora, can you do this?"

Anora nodded. "Let me start with the decisions Cailan and I before he left for Ostagar. You see, the morning the Warden-Commander came to the palace was the same morning we found out I was pregnant. Because I was staying in Denerim with only a detachment of the Shield, we decided not to make an announcement.

"We did not want Eamon to know until Cailan returned to Denerim. Cailan didn't even want Eamon at Ostagar. We didn't trust the Arl and worried because he'd been trying to convince Cailan to put me aside. Calian drafted a Writ naming me as his heir, to be read at the Landsmeet...in case…in case he didn't come back."

"A Writ? Then there shouldn't be a problem with the succession, right?" Aedan looked hopeful.

Anora sighed, "The witnesses were the late, Arl Urien, The Grand Cleric, and our chancellor. It is possible the Landsmeet will not accept the Writ."

"But Eamon knows you're pregnant with Cailan's heir," Aedan said.

Anora looked at her hands, then at Aedan. "Eamon never approved of me, because he's never approved of Maric raising my father to nobility. Many believe it's just because Eamon thinks it waters down the Theirin line, but that isn't all that Eamon is after. Cailan was convinced that Eamon was trying to get him to marry an Orlesian; not Celine, but someone close."

"But that's no longer possible, and you are carrying the heir," Aedan said.

"But it won't be the heir he wants. He is pushing for you to take the throne, Alistair, because you are ten years younger than me. This will in all likelihood be the last child I'll ever have. What is stopping Eamon from harming my child before they reach the age of majority?"

"He wouldn't?!" Aedan gasped, horrified.

Teagan said, "Yes, he would. This was the man who allowed his wife to beat Alistair, and he was going to send Alistair to the chantry without telling Maric."

"And he's clearly bribed the Grand Cleric," Alistair said.

Loghain, quiet so far, looked at Anora. "I should have had Cailan tied, gagged and dragged backed to Denerim. He was so set on leading the army."

"And Duncan didn't try hard enough," Aedan said.

Anora sighed, "Unfortunately none of that matters. We need to hold the Landsmeet, present the Writ and hope that will be enough." She looked at Alistair. "You are going to marry Emma, right?"

Alistair nodded. "Yes, your Majesty."

"Good." Anora smiled. "You both deserve to be happy."

"So, do you, Your Majesty," Alistair said. At that point, Surana cleared his throat. "Aedan? Zev's here."

"Oh good-send him in."

Zevran entered and bowed, "Your Majesty, Your Grace, I have some information on this troublesome Arl. May I sit?"

"Of course." Anora nodded regally.

Zevran reached into his pouch an pulled out what looked like a journal, several pieces of parchment, and a scroll, then arranged them on the table. "I removed these from the Arl's study in Redcliffe and here at his estate. I replaced them some with copies, which is why it took so long." Zevran grinned. "By the way, the Arl's security is rather lax."

He pulled picked up the journal, opened it and turned it to face the Queen. "According to the Arl's journal, a year before Ostagar, he was approached by an Orlesian bard, elven I believe, who encouraged him to convince King Cailan to put you aside and marry the Duke Remache de Lydes' daughter Monette."

Anora read the journal entries and nodded. "Cailan was right, Eamon was trying to get him to marry an Orlesian. The Duke of Lydes is very close to the Empress. Please continue, Zevran."

"The Arl was then gifted a villa in Lydes by the Duke." He unfurled the scroll that was the deed to the villa and placed it on top of the journal.

"A year before Ostagar?" Anora said. "That must be when Cailan and Eamon had their first major falling out."

Zevran picked up another parchment, apparently a letter. "The Arlessa is not in Redcliffe, ill as the Arl has claimed. She is living at the villa in Lydes."

Then Zevran picked up the last piece of parchment, a note. "A few months before Ostagar, Eamon was contacted again by the same Orlesian bard. This time the Bard suggested that Eamon try to arrange a better match for Cailan."

"Not Monette?" Teagan asked.

"No; according to my contacts, she was sent to the Chantry."

"Celine?" Aedan asked.

Zevran nodded.

Anora said softly, "A few months before Ostagar, Cailan had another falling out with Eamon."

Alistair looked disgusted. "So now Eamon has been trying to put Anora aside and place me on the throne so I can marry Celine?"

Loghain scowled. "Unfortunately, nothing Eamon's done is technically treason."

Alistair's brow furrowed. "No, just morally reprehensible. I cannot believe that Celine really wanted to marry Cailan or wants to marry me - or marry anyone. Something else is happening, but I have no idea what."

Zevran nodded. "That is Leliana's assessment as well. She is keeping an eye on the Arl while we are here, and I spoke with her before coming here. She too believes that marriage was not Celine's goal. She believes it has something to do with Grand Duke Gaspard."

Anora smiled. "Zevran you have done a masterful job of collecting this information. Can we keep it out of the palace until the Landsmeet?"

"I will find a safe place for these documents, Your Majesty, if you will excuse me, I will do that now."

Anora nodded then smiled. "Thank you, Zevran and thank you all, this has been a constructive meeting. The Landsmeet is in two days. We will first deal with the succession, and Father will remove the charge of Regicide from the Wardens. If all goes well, Arl Howe will be tried next. Then we will address the issue of my father's actions with Arl Eamon."

Zevran left the tent

"Is the meeting over?" Emmalynn asked.

"It is." He looked at Surana and took his hand. "Mi Amor, I need to find a place for these documents, I will meet you back at Teagan's estate."

Surana pulled Zevran close and whispered. "I will see all of you back at the estate."

Zevran beamed "I would not have it any other way." He waved to Emmalynn and then vanished into the shadows

Teagan came out of the tent, followed by Anora and Loghain and then Alistair and the bodyguard.

Emmalynn asked, "Would you both like to stay for supper?"

"I need to go back to the Palace. Anora?"

"I think I would like to stay for dinner."

Alistair smiled. "Your Guard Captain and I will escort Her Majesty back to the palace."

"Thank you," Loghain said. "Emmalynn, thank you for the use of the tent and the encampment. Enjoy your dinner, Ladies."

Once Loghain left, Emmalynn asked, "Would you prefer to eat in the mess tent or in my tent?"

"How about in your tent? We could eat and chat, and you can tell me about the pillow fort."

"I'd like that, too." Emmalynn smiled.

Surana chuckled. "That is a fun story. We'll see you tomorrow M., Your Majesty."

Emma hugged, Surana and Teagan. "Good night."

"So, um, cinnamon soup is on the menu."

"Really, here in camp? That is my favorite soup!"

"It's mine too! We like to eat well at the Circle. Magic gives us advantages on the creation and storage of ingredients while camping. We also have fresh soda bread, cheese, and fruit as well."

"That sounds delicious."

"Then I will make the arrangements"

Alistair said, "I'll fetch the food you two, go and relax. Guard Captain Holland and I will stand watch."

"Thank you!" Emmalynn squeezed Alistair's hand before he left for the mess tent

Ensconced in the tent with their dinners, both women opted for sitting on the on the floor of the tent on the soft rug surrounded by pillows. It was more comfortable for Anora's back.

They chatted happily while enjoying their dinner. "Alistair told me you were betrothed; congratulations."

"I never thought I would ever be able to marry. I don't even know what a wedding is supposed to be like."

"It is supposed to be a celebration above all else," Anora said. "Don't let anyone tell you differently. Do what means the most to you and to Alistair."

The two women sat quietly for a few minutes enjoying their dinner. "The soup was delicious. My compliments to your cook! So, you were going to tell me about the pillow fort?" Anora smiled.

"Ah yes! There were nine of us in the apprentice dorm. Anders was 13, Rana and Selene were 12, Petra, Muriel, and Eadric were 11. I was ten, and Rosa and Jayden were 9. We were old enough to create mischief and young enough not to know better.

"After dinner, we were all in the dorm, and Rana suggested we make a tower out of the mattresses. He'd overheard something from one of the younger enchanters, and when he explained it, we all thought it would be fun."

Anora grinned. "Yes, young enough not to know better."

"Exactly! Right after bed check, while Petra served as our lookout, we stripped all our bedding off the mattresses and began to pile them up. We decided to build it in the corner to help stabilize it. Selene and Anders had spell wisps strong enough to lift the mattresses on the top.

"It listed to the side a bit, and Anders said it looked like a pile of Hill Giant smalls, which of course set us off giggling. We covered the tower with sheets so you couldn't see the mattresses and we weighted down the sheets with pillows.

"Rosa suggested calling it a pillow fort. The girls loved it, and as we outnumbered the boys, we called it Pillow Fort Ferelden. I wrote that on a piece of parchment, but it kept curling up, so I had to weight it down with my shoes. Then Rana wanted a moat….

"A moat, hmmm." Anders suggested, "How about you, Selene, Petra, and I empty our trunks and set them around the front, and I will fill them with water."

"Rana, how will we cross over the moat?"

"We can use the table as a bridge, M," Rana suggested. "See, this way if they want to get to the fort, we will need put down the bridge so they don't put their feet in the water."

Rana said, "Petra, you and I can be guards. I found these pails, we can wear them on our heads."

"What do we say if they want us to lower the bridge?"

Selene said, "We need a password they can't guess."

Jayden said, "How about 'knickers."

"We can't use a word for our smalls!" Rosa said, giggling. "How about chocolate cookies?" she suggested.

"That's lame," Jayden said.

"Is not!" Rosa hmphed.

"Keep your voices down! How about Mabari?" Eadric suggested

"Knickers! Jayden whispered loudly.

"I vote for Bronto," Rana declared.

"Knickers!"

"How about Nug? They are so cute!" Muriel said.

"Knickers. knickers, knickers, knickers," Jayden said then stuck out his tongue.

"Come on, we need a password," Selene said.

Anders grinned. "Everyone get into the fort. Surana, the password is 'Knicker Weasels.'"

"Knicker weasels?" Anora laughed. "What are knicker weasels?"

"I have no idea, I don't think Anders did either, but it was funny, and kept Jayden quiet, which was helpful. We were giggling up a storm as we piled into the Fort and waited. We knew Ser Allyn was on duty. He was the Templar assigned to the Apprentices, and we all loved him.

"Ser Allyn was frequently given the new templars to evaluate, and that night he was partnered with Ser Tuttles."

"Ser Tuttles? Was that his nickname?"

"No, Tuttles was his real name. Rana, who was our official giver of nicknames, said he couldn't do any better. Ser Tuttles was not happy when he and Ser Allyn arrived for bed check. Not at all."

….

Ser Tuttles yelled at the fort, "You all need to come out, right now!"

Surana said politely, "Ser Tuttles, Ser Allyn, we cannot lower the bridge unless you can tell us the password."

"I do not need a password. I'm a Templar that's the password."

Giggles and laughter came from the fort, and Jayden called out. "No, it's not."

"They're right Ser Tuttles," Petra said. "That isn't the password."

More giggles erupted from the fort.

"Listen to them! They are giggling like little maleficar!" accused Ser Tuttles.

"They are giggling like children," Ser Allyn replied calmly.

"But how do we know that? How do we know that that thing isn't full of little maleficarum?"

Ser Allyn sighed. "Tuttles, let's go back to your first lessons as a Templar - can you detect magic?"

"Uh…No."

Giggles and laughter came from the fort.

"Can you detect any disturbance in the veil?"

"No."

"Where are their staffs?"

"Uh."

"Look around the fort – see the pillowcase flags? Those poles are their staffs."

"Oh."

More giggles came from the fort.

"So exactly how can they be maleficar?"

"Uh…well…they are still in violation of the rules and must be punished!"

"What punishment do recommend, Ser Tuttles?"

"They should be in locked up in the cells!"

"That serious huh? All right, Tuttles we'd best go directly to Knight-Captain Hadley."

"We can't just leave them alone – who knows what they'll do?"

"Hmm. Well, how about I stay here, and you talk to the Knight-Captain?"

"Of course, Ser Allyn, right away."

"Ser Tuttles – tell the Knight Captain that I told you to explain everything."

Peals of laughter came from the fort….

"Everyone knew that Ser Allyn had a code with the Knight-Captain - 'tell the Knight Captain that I told you to explain everything' meant that Ser Allyn had grave doubts about the templar. Rana told me that after Ser Tuttles left, Ser Allyn winked at him and Petra."

"Did you have to take down that fort that night?"

"No. Anders left the fort because he was too tall to crouch. Then we all fell asleep in the fort kind of in a puppy pile. We woke up to the smell of bacon. Wynne arrived with a plate full of bacon and said we could have it if we told them the secret word."

"We all called out 'Knicker Weasels!' and piled out of the fort. I think I might have accidentally stepped in a trunk of water. Anyway, we gobbled up the bacon and then began cleaning up our mess and putting everything back to rights."

"They brought you bacon?"

"It was a thank you for helping them find out how unsuitable Ser Tuttles was for the Circle."

"Were you punished at all?"

"Well, we were not supposed to have a pudding that night, but the Senior Enchanters found the whole episode so adorable that they snuck in a desert after bed check. Ser Allyn told me later that it was the first time in a long time a group of apprentices had done something so completely normal.

"Granted, we used a little magic to help with the mattresses and the water, but the rest was just plain harmless mischief. Ser Allyn said that the giggles erupting from the fort were some of his best memories at Kinloch."

"What happened to Ser Tuttles?"

"He was sent packing. There is a coda for this story. About six months later, Anders was helping me during creation class - I needed to practice rejuvenate, but I put a bit too much mana into the spell, and Anders jolted up like I'd shocked him. He yelled, "Andraste's' Knicker Weasels, Emmalynn, use less mana!"

Anora laughed and almost spit out her tea. "I wonder what would happen if I yelled at the Banns, 'Andraste's Knicker Weasels, stop arguing!'"

~oOOo~

AN: Thank you for your reviews Melysande and Judy and to those who are following and have favorited this story. Next up…the Landsmeet.