Chapter 45 = Good. No. Not on your life.

Leliana had requested an invitation to tea from Grand Cleric Dorothea. Leliana looked forward to catching up with the woman to whom she felt she owed so much.

They had a lengthy talk, during which Leliana shared all she had thought and felt during her journey from Lothering and with the Grey Wardens. Throughout Leliana's narrative, the Grand Cleric sensed something was missing either because Leliana herself was unaware or if she was, she was denying it.

"Leliana, you know that I know you and Aedan are lovers, yet he is conspicuously absent in the emotional journey you've taken since arriving at the chantry in Lothering. Have you been lying to Aedan about your feelings?"

Dorothea's question was meant to provoke a genuine reaction from Leliana, and it did. "No! I do love Aedan. It's just…well, I feel as if I must hold myself back because I have other obligations.

"Really? To whom?"

"To you."

Dorothea shook her head. "Leliana you owe me nothing. I release you from any holds you believe I have on your life now and in the future. I advise you to make a life away from the Chantry, marry, be a spymaster for the wardens, have ten children, or anything else that you wish to do. All I want for you is your happiness – the kind of I've never had, but the kind you'll have with Aedan. Do you want to be with Aedan?"

Tears streamed down Leliana cheeks. "Yes."

"Then be with Aedan."

~oOOo~

It was late afternoon when Emma woke-up. Rubbing her eyes, she stood up and stretched. I actually feel refreshed. She looked into the small mirror and chuckled. Of course, you couldn't tell that by looking at my hair or my shirt, I had no idea a shirt could look this wrinkled from just laying down.

She pulled her hair back in a short ponytail, changed into a fresh shirt made of light blue cambric, and put on her gambeson. As she stepped out of her tent, a sign pinned to the flap caught her attention. She read it and chortled. Alis you are one tough cookie. She unpinned the note and put it back in her tent, then went to find Greagoir.

The Templars were set up not far from her command tent in the middle of the encampment. She waved to Knight-Captain Hadley. He smiled and nodded towards their command tent. Emmalynn knocked on the pole. "Knight-Commander?"

"Come in, First Enchanter."

Emma entered the tent, noting that aside from the armor stand where her potions supplies would have been, the two tents were identical.

"Do you feel better?" Greagoir asked.

"Much, better. Thank you for agreeing to the delay."

Greagoir chuckled. "It's not like Enchanter Alis gave me much choice. She told me that the First Enchanter will see me after she's rested 'and not a candle mark before.' I'm glad you have someone to buffer you from being pulled in multiple directions. Please sit."

Emmalynn sat down. "I know, she is better at looking after me than I am."

Greagoir sat down across from her. "I am sorry that I didn't tell you about the Grand Cleric's edict or about your release."

"It's all right. I understand why you did it and it worked. The Arl slipped up and outed himself about bribing the Grand Cleric to name me. I take it you've heard about Elemena's demotion and replacement?"

"I cannot say I am at all unhappy about Elemena's recall to Val Royeaux and I am glad that the Divine bestirred herself enough to help Ferelden, for once. I hear that the Warden-Commander wrote to the Divine about Elemena's rather questionable interpretation of the Grey Warden treaty."

Emmalynn nodded in agreement. "Do you know anything about acting Grand Cleric Dorothea?"

"Dorothea was the Revered Mother at the Valance Chantry prior to being named the Envoy. She has an…interesting past. I believe she was a bard."

I wonder if Leliana knows her.

"By the way, blessings upon on yours and Alistair's betrothal and your pregnancy."

"About that…I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the pregnancy. I planned on letting Alistair know and hoped that he would raise our child. If he didn't then…I guess it would have been given to the Chantry. There was just so much going on when I found out that…well, I just thought I would have some time to settle things with Alistair."

"Thank you for the apology but there is not anything for which you need to apologize. Your plan would have been acceptable. As the father was not part of the circle, it would have been entirely appropriate to ask the him if he wanted to raise the child. The issue that concerns me is, what will you do if the child is born a mage?"

Emmalynn was quiet, clearly thinking, then she looked at Greagoir. "Honestly? I would argue that as a free mage, I be allowed to train my child. If we have to give up our child to the Circle, Alistair and I would probably leave Ferelden and live in Rivain. I know that sounds hypocritical."

"Emmalynn, out of the many mages and non-mages I've known, I would trust in your judgment. If your child is born a mage, then I will do what is in my power to help you and Alistair so you do not have to leave Ferelden, or leave the chantry."

Emmalynn was surprised at Greagoir's pledge. "Thank you. That means a lot to me."

A moment of quiet understanding existed between two people formally divided as templar and mage, who would in any other existence be friends.

"What is your assessment of the mages preparations for the battle?"

Greagoir leaned back in his chair, clearly more comfortable with the more familiar subject area. "Well first, how did you all determine the fight would be in Denerim?"

"One of the Warden's companions is a shape-shifter." She saw the muscle of Greagoir's jaw tighten, but pushed on. "In crow form, the mage could get far better information about the horde and the aerial view allowed for better mapping and strategy. If the Archdemon wants to destroy Ferelden, it would have to take the capital city to do so, that was corroborated by aerial reconnaissance. And no, I will not turn this mage over to the Templars."

Greagoir exhaled sharply, then nodded. "At this point it makes little difference, and I am glad that we can plan for the attack. Speaking of which, I am very impressed with the discipline and focus of the mages of your charge. It was insightful of you to teach them how to meditate. The mages are in control of their magic to a degree that I have not really seen before – spells are more powerful, more effective, and use less mana, which means the veil is less taxed."

"As I have told the mages, I learned the meditation technique from you, something that I have always been grateful for. I do need to update you on the grey warden situation, particularly as it has much to do with how we hope to take down the archdemon."

After she explained everything, Greagoir looked at Emmalynn and smiled ruefully, "You are dragging the Grey Wardens into the 9th age. Why am I not surprised? I would like to be present when you obtain Nematon."

"I do not have a problem with that but I need to make sure her Majesty has no objections."

Emmalynn had just begun to feel the pangs of hunger when someone outside of the tent flap rapped on the pole. "Knight-Commander?"

"Yes, come in."

Alis walked in looking expectantly at Emmalynn. "First Enchanter, it's time for supper, shall we?"

Greagoir chuckled, "You'd better do as she says."

Emmalynn stood up. "I am all yours Alis, lead on."

As they left the tent, six different people asked to 'have a few minutes of the First Enchanter's time.' Each time it happened, Alis would look at the individual and say, "Will the archdemon win if you don't speak to the First Enchanter right now? No? I thought not. Give me your name and I will schedule a time for you to speak with the First Enchanter, tomorrow."

When they encountered Senior Enchanter Devon, Alis relented, but only a little. "Senior Enchanter, you have five minutes, but only because you are one of the sub-commanders."

When Alis and Emma arrived at Emmalyn's tent, Alis pointed to the tent flap. "Go in and relax. I will bring dinner for you and for Ser Alistair, who I see coming down the path."

"Thanks, Alis, I really do appreciate your standing up for me."

"First Enchanter, you are a kind and caring leader. You make the hard choices and smooth out the bruised egos of mages who think that their poop smells like roses. The least I can do is make sure you have time for yourself…and time for Ser Alistair," Alis said the last bit with a cheeky smile.

Emmalynn couldn't help but grin as she entered her tent.

Alis intercepted Alistair before he reached the tent and pulled him off to the side. "Ser Alistair, I need you to help me enforce a Vespers-to-Tierce curfew on the First Enchanter. I don't care how you do it – sit on her, tie her to the chair, physically bar the tent flap, just please keep her inside except of course when needing a privy. Or keep her out of the encampment altogether from dinner to breakfast."

"What's the problem?"

"People seem to think 'Command tent' means convenient meeting space where the First Enchanter sits around all day waiting for whomever has a bug up their arse, thinking their problem is the only problem that needs attention. She must conserve her energy for fighting the Archdemon."

Alistair nodded. "Thank you for helping her. I will enforce that curfew."

Alis grinned. "Thanks, Ser Alistair – you're a good egg."

~oOOo~

Two days after the Landsmeet

Since Morrigan had determined the Horde was marching to Denerim, Aedan and Riordan's strategy to battle the Archdemon had always been to lure the beast to the top of Fort Drakon and kill it up there.

With that in mind, after breakfast Alistair, Zevran, Wynne, Leliana, Sten and Oghren and the four Grey Wardens were joined by the army commanders: Volram Ortan, the dwarven emissary; Keeper Ioril, the leader of the Dalish forces; Loghain, who commanded the Royal and Gwaren armies; Leonas Bryland, who commanded the rest of Ferelden's forces; Emmalynn, who commanded the mages; and Greagoir, leader of the templars.

Emmalynn brought along Devon and Mary, the two best primal mages in Ferelden, who had been practicing the Storm of the Century alongside Jowan and Surana. Morrigan was on a scouting mission to check on the Horde's progress.

When they reached the roof, they were happily surprised to see massive five large ballistae. Volram quickly examined them and said that they needed repair. He was confident that his siege engineers could fix them in a half candle.

Zevran walked the full area of the roof with parchment and pencil so he could create a battle map.

Riordan looked thoughtful. "I think we will be able to lure the archdemon here. When he is in range the storm spells should ground him. We just need to keep him grounded."

Aedan stroked the beard he'd recently grown and nodded. "Once the archdemon is downed by the storm, we can barrage him with arrow, ballista, and spell volleys to keep him grounded and take some of the wind from his sails. When we've exhausted the ranged attacks, the ground assault can begin in earnest and continue until the bastard is on death's door."

"I suspect that once the dragon knows he will not survive the confrontation, he will send for more darkspawn. We should be prepared for that additional wave," Riordan added.

Loghain agreed. "We are going to need a detachment in the Fort to keep the darkspawn out anyway. I understand that they can tunnel up from the ground, as they did in Ostagar. Any suggestions about how to keep them from doing that?"

Emmalynn looked at Keeper Iorill and asked, "The darkspawn are vulnerable to nature magic. Do you have a way to create some sort of barrier or zone that they cannot cross?"

Iorill nodded. "Keepers can create a barrier, localized but powerful, as well as a few other methods. If we can determine areas that would be more susceptible to tunneling, we can make those areas our priority."

Leonas looked at Aedan. "Loghain and I know the most about the layout and structure Fort Drakon, we could help to identify such areas."

"Riordan, are you familiar with Darkspawn tunneling?"

"Quite familiar. Would you like me to advise Arl Bryland and Teyrn Loghain?"

"Excellent, please do. Are there any other ideas for fighting this particular wave of darkspawn?"

Emmalynn offered, "I have some glyphs that, when combined and tripped, explode. Obviously, I cannot use them on the archdemon because he'll be too close to the ground troops, but I can lay a trap for the darkspawn."

Aedan looked pleased. "I think we can plan a fitting welcome for Archdemon. Zevran do you have all you need to create the diagram?"

Zevran grinned. "More than enough."

"Good, then let's get off of this roof, it's freezing up here."

Volram parted company with the group to fetch siege engineers to fix the ballistae.

Emmalynn consulted with Devon and Mary. "I would like to you to continue practicing; also, Devon, can you work with Alis to insure we have sufficient lyrium potions so they can be hidden on the roof, and a supply of lyrium…um…fit for a sending ritual."

"Just so we're clear, you mean you want templar-grade lyrium for the ritual?"

"That is one way of putting it, yes."

Morrigan returned that afternoon with the news that the horde was three days out and coming through the Bannorn headed east to Denerim. "The sky darkens before them, as you said it would, Aedan. I noticed the glowing orbs as I flew over the encampments. Those will do much to help the armies and to hinder the darkspawn." Morrigan tried not to sounds as impressed as she was with the what the Circle mages had created.

For everyone the afternoon was frenetic.

Anora, Teagan, and Alistair spent the afternoon implementing the evacuation plans they'd designed just prior to the Landsmeet. After Alistair had discovered the extreme vulnerability of part of the city north of the river, Anora decided that they needed an evacuation plan, as she was not going to have an entire area of Denerim be sitting ducks. Anora opened the palace, especially for the chantry, as well as Bann Franderel's and Arl Eamon's people because they were in the evacuation zone. Secretly Eamon fumed that the location of his estate was deemed "vulnerable."

Teagan volunteered his estate as an evacuation place, Sanga agreed to allow the use of the Pearl, it being in a relatively safe position on the eastern harbor of Denerim. Also, after Howe had been executed, the Arl of Denerim's estate had been cleaned out and the dungeons cleared and sealed up, so the rest of the estate could be used to hold evacuees.

Surana spent the afternoon convincing the Hahren to evacuate the alienage. In the end it was decided that some families would go to Bann Teagan's, some to the Pearl.

After visiting the roof, Emmalynn worked with Loghain, Wynne, the Dalish lead healer, Mera, a dwarven sub-commander named Thorgim, and at the request of Grand Cleric, Mother Boann, on the locations for the medical tents. The main 'hospitals' would be within the mage encampment and within the palace, especially as the Palace would be hosting those evacuated from the Chantry.

When Emmalynn left that meeting, she went back to the encampment to meet with Devon and Petra. "I want two groups of elite mages particularly good at nature magic, especially your stinging swarm mages, and elemental spells, specifically lightning. In case we cannot down the Archdemon on the roof of Drakon, I want another team on the ground."

Devon asked, jokingly, "You want us to figure out how to add ink to the stinging swarm so we can tattoo dragon with 'the Archdemon is an arsehole'?"

All three mages laughed. "On that note, the meeting adjourned."

Three days after the Landsmeet–two days until the Battle

The following morning, the same group that went to the top of Drakon were now all gathered in the palace war-room, which was, as Loghain said, "A fancy name a for mostly empty room with a small wood box of battle markers, a large table covered in battle maps, and plenty of empty space for people to stand and stare at them."

The table had two maps spread upon it– one was of Denerim and the surrounding roads, and one was of the rooftop of Fort Drakon.

The main battle plan was similar to Ostagar, save for there being three times as many troops as well as mages and siege weaponry. A group of soldiers would be placed near the front gates of the city, flanking troops hidden to the north and south of the gate; when the horde attacked the seeming weak-link at the center, the flanking forces would descend on them.

The plans for the roof were more complex involving several stages: luring the Archdemon, grounding it via magic and ranged attacks, attacking using the ground troops, preparing the sending ritual, and killing the Archdemon, sending its soul into the fade. Surana was to be the warden to make the killing blow, particularly as he was senior to Jowan; if for some reason he was incapacitated, then either Riordan or Aedan in that order would kill it, and if none of them were alive then Jowan would be the last to try.

Needless to say, after that meeting, Zevran and Surana were nowhere to be seen.

Exhausted by the end of the day, Alistair and Emmalynn stayed at the estate. Emmalynn had sent a note to Alis to let her know where she would be, ask if there was anything she needed to attend to or to know, and tell her that if she was needed, Alis could send for her. Alis' sent a message back:

First Enchanter~
Good. No. Not on your Life.
~Alis

~oOOo~

AN:

Yes, the title is the short note by Alis to Emma.

Thank you to my Beta ElyssaCousland. Thank you to Melysande and Judy for your reviews and for the people who have signed on to follow this story!

Regarding why they were not tricked about Redcliffe being the target of the Archdemon: I never liked the idea that "Oh Redcliffe was the target of the Horde - oops sorry looks like they are going to Denerim, instead."

If the Archdemon is intelligent, then Denerim had to be the target. In order to destroy Ferelden, it makes more sense to go through the Bannorn and attack Denerim. I used Morrigan for aerial recon because she could get a much better view from the air than Riordan could from the ground. She also isn't vulnerable to bluffing-through-the-taint as the AD may have done with Riordan.