Chapter 118: Facing the Enemy
Her lover's pained cries woke her from a sound sleep.
Leliana bolted up in bed, her hand reaching for the dagger under her pillow that was not there.
The bard blinked, her heart pounded in her ears. She could still smell the rot; still feel the dampness of the darkened corridors.
She took a deep breath, and tried to center herself.
It was just a dream after all. Right now, a dream was all it was, a warning of things to come…
Her eyes narrowed.
…And she would be damned if she let it come to pass.
Had the visions not saved them in the past? Had they not found ways to maneuver around what was to come?
Of course, this time was different, this time it seems that Alim was alone, alone and suffering in darkness. The sights and smells of her vision still haunted her.
Her fingers curled into angry fists.
She would not let it happen, not to Alim…
…Never to Alim.
As quickly as they had come, the sensations of her visions passed, she found herself lying in a fine bed with silken sheets and large feather pillows. It had been a long time since she had been surrounded by such luxury, even their rooms in Castle Redcliffe had not been so…extravagant.
But that was the whole point, wasn't it, she thought to herself.
In the capital a noble had to put his or her best foot forward.
It would not do to let their guests have less than the best.
She reached across the bed, expecting to find Alim sound asleep beside her, alas; he was not there, only the warm spot of fabric he had left behind.
The bard blinked, afraid that Alim was already gone, that he was off with the others right now…by himself…alone.
That even now he was walking into the dark place from her vision.
She sprang from the bed throwing away the covers as she leapt.
A surprised grunt startled her; she dropped into a fighting crouch realizing suddenly that someone or something had been skulking at the foot of their bed.
Leliana set herself, ready to attack.
"Come out of there," she demanded.
A snort and a soft woof came in response that pulled her up short.
Woof?
A large Mabari head poked out from underneath the blankets, its large brown eyes questioning the strange human standing before it.
Bandit gave her an odd look, as if it to say.
What in the world do you think you are doing?
Leliana stifled a laugh.
Oh Maker, what had she been thinking?!
She blinked and shook her head.
"Sorry Bandit," she said, "You startled me."
The dog woofed softly and lay his head back down. He continued to watch her, the odd naked human who had thought it a good idea to bury him in blankets and wake him from his sound sleep.
She felt like a fool, but then remembered one of Marjolaine's earliest lessons.
Better to feel like a fool and be safe, then think nothing wrong and end up dead on the carpet.
Not one of the most pleasant sayings perhaps, but the point definitely had merit.
She sighed.
She remembered now, the dog had not gone to the kennels last night. Bandit had been uncomfortable since they arrived back in the city, or perhaps it simply recognized that Alim was having nightmares again. Whatever the reason, the dog had wanted to remain close to its master. Alim suffering from his own darkspawn flavored nightmares had agreed. As a matter of fact she had not questioned the whole thing either. Being here in the capital had them all on edge, not that anyone could blame them.
The bard frowned.
They were definitely in enemy territory now.
Realizing that she could not simply wander the house nude, she sought out the robe she had been wearing last night before bed, pulling the sash tight around her, she walked over to the window that looked down on the street.
The sky was still pink with dawn's light, suggesting that it was far earlier than she had first thought; still the city was already awake, awake and moving.
…Moving dangerously towards the future.
The sight below was surprising even for someone who had once been so used to the games that nobles play. Perhaps the reason for that was simple.
The nobles of Ferelden were no longer playing.
Denerim had become an armed camp. Soldiers bearing the colors and crests of many noble houses marched through the streets. Some loyal to the Regent, others to those that supported Arl Eamon and the wardens. They still had about two weeks until the Landsmeet was set to begin; even so, it was clear that the nobles of Ferelden were eager to see the matter of the royal succession concluded.
Leliana shook her head.
So many soldiers, so many weapons, all it would take was one small mistake and the whole capital would go up in a firestorm.
That is why they all had to be extra careful now. They had arrived in Denerim late last night, so it was safe bet by now that word had reached the palace and the ears of Teyrn Loghain and his allies.
The only question now, what would his next move would be?
Somehow, she did not think it would take long for them to find out.
The sound of a key in the lock made her pause, nervous energy poured into her. She turned; have expecting some servant to tell her something bad had happened to Alim, that he was gone.
Happily, this time, she was wrong.
The elf made his way into their room, balancing a heavy tray while he tried in vain to shut the door with his foot.
She almost sighed with relief.
Praise the Maker, he was alright!
Bandit woofed and untangled himself from the blankets, he rose wagging his stubby tail.
Alim shot the dog a dirty look.
"Don't even think about jumping at me," he warned, "You make me spill our breakfast, than you won't get yours. I promise.
The dog whimpered excitedly, but still sat down, impatiently waiting for his share.
Alim spotted her standing by the window.
He gave her a sheepish grin.
"I…um…was hoping to surprise you," he said, "Breakfast in bed, and all that."
She smiled at him.
A very sweet thought dearest," she replied, "But totally unnecessary considering what we must soon face."
She went to his side and helped him place the heavy tray on the table.
He chuckled.
"So much for a bit of romance, huh," he said sheepishly.
"It is the thought that counts," she reminded him, kissing him on the tip of his nose.
"Besides," she continued, "Right now I'm just grateful for your company. It…"
She winced.
"It…it is good to know you are all right."
His ears twitched.
"Bad dreams, again?"
She nodded.
"Me to," he sighed, "That was part of the reason I went for breakfast so early, trying to get the Archdemon's roaring out of my head."
Leliana frowned.
"Is it still watching us?" she asked.
His ears lowered slightly.
"I don't know if watching us is the right word, it is…aware of us, that is for certain. I'm willing to bet it knows something is going on with the humans, whether it understands all the political stuff or not…I cannot say."
He shook his head.
"It knows we're trying to stop it. If it will act on that knowledge or not, who can say."
Leliana shivered.
It was too easy to think the Archdemon just a monster, what Alim was describing was something else.
Maker help them all.
"But enough of all the doom and gloom," he said smiling, "We are in a nice place, and have good food to eat."
He pulled out her chair and gestured for her to sit down.
She smiled and took her seat.
"Thank you, Milord," she said.
"Milady," he said with an embellished bow.
The sight almost made her giggle.
Courtly manners would never be her love's strong suit.
It was enough that he was making the attempt.
They ate their meal in a comfortable silence, occasionally Alim would toss a bit of bacon or sausage to Bandit who downed his treat in a single gulp.
When they did speak it was trivialities. Their room here in the Arl's estate, what was to come in the days leading up to the Landsmeet itself.
Leliana said nothing of her vision. What could she say that Alim was in danger?
They were all in danger here in the capital, they just had to make sure that they kept their eyes open, and their heads cool. Arl Eamon had told them to expect Teyrn Loghain to make his move soon.
As it turned out he was right.
Just as they were finishing their breakfast, a servant came to their door.
The Arl wanted them in the main hall.
The Regent was on his way.
Alim already dressed in his robes, wiped his mouth and prepared to head down to stand with the Arl when the man arrived.
Leliana asked one of the servants to prepare a bath, as she gave her armor and weapons a quick servicing.
The Arl didn't expect trouble, but there was no harm in being prepared.
Leliana shivered.
For so many months now, Loghain had been an abstract threat, a distant foe content to send others against them.
Now he was coming.
She frowned.
They needed to be ready.
IOI
Arl Eamon stood on the steps before the entrance to the great hall. Alistair stood to his right, while Alim took up position at his left. Two of the Arl's knights flanked Alistair, ready to defend him if this turned out to be a trick.
Behind Alim stood Fergus and Leliana, both armored, and both armed to the teeth.
The elf's eyes narrowed.
At long last, he was once again going to find himself in the presence of Teyrn Loghain.
A mixture of anger and excitement burned in his breast.
The last time he had seen the man had been at Ostagar, at the king's war council. It had been less than a year ago, but now seemed to have happened in another life.
Alim shook his head.
So much had happened between here and Ostagar. He had learned, lost, and loved so much during that time.
His ears lowered.
Now it was time to see what the Teyrn had learned, if anything…
And find out just what it might take to stop him.
It was then the Herald's voice rang out.
"Presenting Teyrn Loghain MacTir of Gwaren, Regent of Ferelden, accompanying him, Ser Cauthrien of Gwaren, Arl Rendon Howe of Highever, and the Lady Elissa Cousland of Highever."
Alim heard Fergus's gauntlet's clinch, not surprising that.
Who else would Loghain bring with him to back him up, but his most loyal sycophants and attack dogs.
Alim let his hand rest on spellbinder's hilt…
…just in case.
The Teyrn strode into the hall like he opened the place. He was just as Alim remembered, same cold piercing eyes, same dark hard, and predatory avian features. Gone was his soldier's armor, the good suit of Ferelden steel, in its place he wore armor of polished silverite, the kind worn by generals of the Orlesian Chevalier's. Eamon had warned them of that. The Teyrn had apparently acquired the armor during the battle of Riverdane long ago, and still chose to wear it during official meetings.
The elf frowned.
The Teyrn liked the symbolism of it apparently, to remind his enemies just what it was he had accomplished how he had done the impossible once.
Alim had not forgotten, but at the same time he refused to be intimidated.
It did not matter what armor the bastard wore. He had still abandoned the Grey Wardens; he had still betrayed his king.
Cailan might have been a fool, but he deserved better than that, far better!
Loghain would learn that lesson soon.
He swore it.
The man he assumed to be Rendon Howe sneered at them as they approached, the man was too oily too smug.
Fergus glared hatefully at the man, no doubt thinking about his lost wife and children, and who was responsible for their deaths.
Elissa Cousland's eyes never left Fergus' not once as they entered the chamber. This was the first time he had seen the woman without her battle helmet. She and Fergus had the same eyes, the same brown hair.
The noble woman kept her face bland, what was going on in her head, he could not say.
Ser Cauthrien glared at Alistair. Not that that was any surprise, Alim remembered the woman from Ostagar, they had not spoken, but she had not left the Teyrn's side once during the time that he had seen the man.
He had seen men and women like Cauthrien before. In the tower, there had always been Templars that gravitated toward the side of the strongest bullies in the order. They stood and watched while the object of their loyalty did unspeakable acts to those under their control. Personally, those knights did nothing, but at the same time they did nothing to check their alpha's appetites either.
The elf frowned.
Those people were worse than the ones that actually did the deed in his eyes. They knew what they were seeing was wrong, but they didn't have the guts to stop it.
Alim shook his head.
He didn't hate the woman, but he pitied her.
She could have been so much more, a force for good in Ferelden.
He shook his head.
What a waste.
Loghain walked right up to Arl Eamon, his expression remained polite, almost cordial.
Alim's elven ears twitched.
He doubted things would remain that way for long.
"Loghain," the Arl began, "What an honor it is to have the Regent grace my Denerim home with his presence."
"How could I not find myself here," the man said with a regal nod, "Especially, when you have called all of the lords to Denerim, even as a Blight claws at our land."
Elissa stepped forward.
"These men should be tending to their lands," she interjected, "We waste valuable time while the darkspawn continue to advance."
Alim fought the urge to snort.
Soooo, now it was a Blight?
Now the Teyrn was worried?
The south was all but lost, and the darkspawn were now advancing both east and west.
He shook his head.
It was funny how long it took some people to see what was really going on.
"It is the Blight that concerns me most, Loghain," Eamon continued, "We can no longer afford to be divided. The time has come to choose Cailan's successor. A strong leader is needed to unite our people against the darkspawn horde."
The Teyrn snorted with amusement.
"Ferelden already has a strong leader," he said, "Its Queen, and I lead her armies."
Alim crossed his arms over his chest.
"If Queen Anora still rules here," he said, "Let her come herself."
He gave the Teyrn his most acidic smile.
"I'm sure she would love to hear what I saw at Ostagar."
Loghain glared at him, perhaps noticing him for the first time. The look on his face suggestion that Alim was something unappetizing the Teyrn had found on his shoe.
He sneered down at Alim.
"Grey Warden recruit?" he said, making the title sound like an insult, "I had thought we might meet again."
He shook his head.
"For what it is worth, I'm sorry for your loss, it is unfortunate that your fellows chose Ostagar as the time and place to betray Ferelden."
Alim's ears lowered, his eyes narrowed.
"It was just as unfortunate that the King's General chose to quit the field and leave his king to die without support. That he chose to return to the capital and seize the King's vacant throne, even while he leaves his daughter in place as a puppet."
Alim's brown eyes burned into Loghain.
"Some might call that…betrayal too."
Cauthrien's hand went to her blade.
"Watch your tongue, Churl!" she snarled.
Alim glared at her.
He resisted the urge to shout: "Or what," but forced himself to hold his tongue.
He would not let the bitch bait him.
Loghain had spent months trying to convince all of Ferelden that the wardens were traitors and criminals.
He would not give the man more ammunition.
Not here.
Perhaps Loghain realized that he would not rise to the bait…
He quickly retook command of the conversation.
"Pay the warden no mind, Cauthrien," Teyrn soothed, "I would not expect such a small elf to understand the intricacies of war."
Alim's temper started to boil, in the distance, thunder boomed.
Leliana put a hand on his shoulder.
Not here, her blue eyes seemed to say.
Not now.
The Teyrn turned his focus back to the Arl, his courtly manners returned.
"There are those that say your illness left you feeble Eamon," he said shaking his head, "Surely you can see that you are not in any condition to oppose me."
"Illness?" the Arl replied, "Is that what you are calling your poison here, Loghain, an Illness?"
"I can't say for sure what happened to you Eamon," he replied with a sigh, "But I can understand why you would lash out. You have my condolences by the way, for the death of your boy."
The Arl's eyes narrowed. It was not hard to see that Loghain had scored a hit, it wasn't a very smart hit, but it was a hit none the less.
Bringing up Connor was bad move, considering Loghain's role in all that.
Still, the man surprised Alim, he had every reason to blow up at the Teyrn, but he didn't. He kept his calm.
…Even as his gaze burned into the other man.
"I," he hissed, "I…can never forgive you for what you have done Loghain. Perhaps, the Maker can, but not me."
He stood a little prouder.
"There are those in Ferelden who do not believe your lies," he continued, "Men and women who do not forsake their honor as easy as these…these…sycophants."
Elissa Cousland glared at the Arl, but said nothing.
Loghain only smirked.
"I would not call any of these brave people sycophants, "He replied, "You have been gone from court for too long Eamon. Surely you recognize Rendon Howe, Arl of Amaranthine and Teyrn of Highever!"
Arl Howe chuckled.
"And current Arl of Denerim," he chuckled, "After Urien's unfortunate passing at Ostagar."
He gave Fergus a cruel smile.
"You see the rewards offered to those who are most…loyal."
Fergus had heard enough.
Alim and Leliana stopped him from flinging himself at the Arl, barely.
That could not stop him from speaking.
"JUSTICE," he spat, "I demand justice! This man murdered my family!"
Howe snorted dismissively.
"You have no claim to justice, boy," he spat, "Your Father was a traitor. Everyone knew it, even your dear sister here."
Howe smiled at Elissa.
"It is good to know at least one of your family remembered her oaths."
Elissa gave Fergus a pained look.
"The world has changed Fergus;" she said coldly, "Those that don't change with it will be left behind."
She shook her head.
"What happened in Highever Castle was unfortunate, but necessary."
Fergus almost roared.
"NECESSARY! NECESSARY!"
Cauthrien started to draw her sword.
"Control your dog, Your Grace," she warned, "Before I strike him down."
"Fergus stop," Alim spat, "This is not helping."
"My family," he hissed, "My family!"
Alim gave him a pained look.
"You will do them no good dying here. Calm down!"
Fergus whimpered, but stopped struggling.
He fell silent, though he continued to glare daggers at his sister and Howe.
Alim winced.
If looks could kill…
Loghain sneered at them.
"And these are who you ally yourself with Eamon, traitors and bastards."
The Teyrn shook his head.
"You are going to be laughed out of the Landsmeet."
Eamon remained cold, despite all the flaring tempers.
He glared the man who had brought Ferelden to this point.
"Ferelden is not yours to do with as you wish Loghain," he stated, "Any claim Anora had died with Cailan. Our Country deserves a ruler of the Theirin bloodline, a ruler that your daughter could not give us, even after five years."
Loghain's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
The Arl motioned behind him, to Alistair, who seemed to be trying to make himself smaller, especially with all the hostility in the air.
"It is to Alistair that we shall turn, he will lead us against the Blight."
The Teyrn's piercing gaze found him.
Alistair chuckled nervously.
"Is…is that all I have to do? Sure. No Pressure."
Loghain waved his hand dismissively.
"This boy has no claim; he is nothing, as for you Eamon."
Loghain stood almost nose to nose with the Arl.
To his credit Eamon did not back down.
"The Emperor of Orlais could not stop me from doing what was right for my country," the Teyrn growled, "Expect no more mercy than I showed him."
The Teyrn turned, he gestured for his entourage to follow him. One by one they followed in his wake.
Only Elissa paused, she looked at both Alim and Fergus.
The girl smiled.
"Good bye Fergus, warden, I'll be seeing you gentlemen soon."
She turned to leave.
"Until next time."
The Regent left the Arl's estate, the door slamming loudly in his wake.
For a moment there was silence.
Finally Alim chuckled.
"Soooo, that went rather well."
He smiled at the Arl.
"What do you think, Your Grace?"