Chapter 123: An Opportunity
"My name is Erlina; the Queen's handmaiden, she has sent me to ask for your help."
Alim's elven ears rose in surprise. Of all the things that might have happened upon his return to the Arl's Estate, this was something that he could not have foreseen.
He was once again standing in the Arl's study. After a rather disastrous morning, he had returned to this place in a bit of a foul mood. They had gone out trying to find allies to stand with them in the Landsmeet and, to be honest had come up empty.
Not that he should have been surprised, he thought with a frown.
Any true anti-Loghain nobles likely had died early on in the in the Civil War that had erupted after the Battle of Ostagar. What remained of the nobles here in Denerim were either supporters of the Teyrn and his allies, or fence sitters that would only act if they felt it was in their best interest.
Neither was the type of people that he would have preferred to ally with. Such allies would either choose to stay on the sidelines, or sell them to the Teyrn and his allies at the first moment that things were not going the wardens' way.
He had returned expecting to tell the Arl exactly that, only to arrive back here, and find the nobleman not alone. The pretty little dark haired elf with the Orlesian accent had been meeting with Arl, and wasted no time in making her presence known.
Arl Eamon, a little flustered by her presumption, by speaking out of turn, chose to remain silent while the woman explained her presence here.
The elven warden crossed his arms over his chest.
"And why exactly would the Queen need our help," he inquired, "Isn't she under the protection of her lord father?"
The woman, Erlina fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable with this conversation, but bound to continue under her lady's wishes.
"The Queen," she continued, "She is not blind. She sees what has happened since Ostagar. She worries, no? Her Father went to Ostagar, promising to keep King Cailan safe, only to return alone, and declare himself the new regent to the throne. She tries to speak to her father, but gets rebuffed every time. How can she not think that something is not right here in Denerim?"
Alim's ears rose slightly in surprise.
"Are you telling me that the Queen now believes that her Father murdered good king Cailan?"
The elven girl fidgeted again.
"Before he left for Ostagar," she murmured, "The Queen's Father promised My Lady that he would look after her husband. When he returned alone, how could she not have doubts?"
Erlina shook her head.
"But her father is subtle, he tells her not to worry, that she must have faith in him. Rendon Howe, he is not so subtle, the queen goes to Howe demanding answers. A visit from the Queen to the Arl Denerim is a courtesy, in normal times she would have demanded that he come before her."
Alim snorted at that.
It did not take a genius to know that they were not living in normal times.
"I'm guessing from the look on your face, Milady that did not go very well."
Erlina's elven ears lowered slightly.
"It did not go very well at all, no," she admitted, "Howe calls her all kinds of names, traitor being the worst. He locked her in a guest room, until he can discuss what to do with her with his master."
Alim's eyes widened slightly.
Was Howe a fool? How could he not expect Loghain to respond to that?
"The Queen has the royal guard," he said, "And her father is Regent, why isn't Howe in chains after doing something like this? Why has the Queen not asked her father for help?"
Erlina shook her head.
"Loghain practically raised King Cailan, but if what you say about Ostagar is true, Loghain left him to die. Does the Regent love his daughter more…who could say?"
The handmaiden sighed.
"Plus, a few days before your arrival, I heard Loghain and Howe speaking; Teyrn Howe made a suggestion that the Queen may be more valuable to their cause dead than alive. The Regent did not dismiss his idea; in fact it sounded like he was considering it."
She glanced at the Arl, her eyes cool and unsympathetic.
"If her death could be blamed on Arl Eamon," she said, "so much the better."
The warden gave his host a curious look.
"Is it possible," he asked, "Do you think that Loghain would actually go that far?"
Eamon sighed.
"If…if Loghain were able to pin the Queen's death on us, Warden. It would go very badly for us in the Landsmeet. Anora…in spite of everything…is still well loved."
The Arl shook his head.
"We cannot allow her death to be blamed on us."
Erlina once again turned to the warden.
"It is for this reason that the Queen has asked for your help.
Alim sighed and shook his head.
"And just how exactly are we supposed to help her?" he asked, "It is not like I can just walk up to the Arl's palace and demand and audience with the Queen."
"You will not need to," Erlina assured him, "I have…arranged disguises for you and several of your allies. I also have a way to get you into the estate without being detected. If you get My Lady out, then she is willing to aid you against her father and his allies."
Alim's eyes narrowed, he considered what it was the girl was saying…
Having Anora as an ally would go a long way towards swinging at least some of the nobles over to their side; of course, there was also the small matter of the fact that Arl Eamon was talking about deposing her, and putting Alistair on the throne.
He had a feeling that the queen would not like that very much.
Plus there was another consideration; Loghain had been running Ferelden for months. Who was to say if this was not some strategy to lure the wardens into a trap, to lure Alistair into a trap…?
Alim's elven ears lowered.
It was said that the Teyrn was a master strategist, using his own daughter as bait was likely not above him. He found it hard to believe that Loghain would write off his own child as collateral damage however…
How could a man do that to his own child? How would he be able to look himself in the mirror after having done such a thing?
Alim couldn't, but it was like Erlina had said.
Loghain had known Cailan since he was a baby, if he could leave someone who had been like a nephew to him to the tender mercies of the darkspawn…
Such a man was likely capable of anything.
The warden sighed.
Opportunity or trap, it was not something they could just pass up. Loghain's main claim to power was that he was protecting his daughter's interests. How whole claim to the throne was that she needed him to protect her kingdom.
If she spoke out against him; he thought.
If she supported the warden cause…?
He nodded slightly.
There was really no alternative, was there?
He smiled at the elven handmaiden.
"I need to speak with my allies," he informed her, "Once that is done, we will see about freeing your mistress."
Erlina frowned.
"Speak quickly, warden," she advised, "I'm not sure how much time the queen has left."
Aim nodded.
Time was always against them, he thought. While they dealt with Loghain the Blight continued to march north.
How long until it reached Denerim.
He sighed.
They were running out of time.
IOI
He called his fellows together; this was not something that he could decide himself.
If they did this, they would be going after one of Loghain's allies directly. Whatever the result the Teyrn would likely retaliate.
Everyone needed to know exactly what they meant.
"We don't have much time," he said, "If this is a trap it is one that we are going to have to risk. We cannot afford to let Anora die, not when so much is at stake."
Alistair nodded and stood up.
"I'm with you Lim," he said, "Whatever you decide."
The elven warden smiled.
"Thanks, Ali," he said, "Unfortunately, you will not be able to come with us."
The former Templar's face fell.
"What?!" he said, "Why?!"
It was Leliana who answered.
""This trap maybe meant for you above all others Alistair," the bard said, "Loghain knows who you are. If he caught you breaking into the Arl of Denerim's estate, he would no doubt use that as an excuse to have to execute."
"Especially, if Anora dies while we make this attempt," Alim added, "Loghain could claim that you murdered her to advance your bid for the throne."
Alistair glared at them both.
"So you expect me to stay here…again."
Alim's eyes narrowed.
"I expect you to be warden. We can't all go on this mission. If we fail, there has to be at least one of us left to stand against the Blight."
Alistair looked ready to object, but Wynne placed a warm hand on his shoulder, he turned to her, and found her smiling gently at him.
"Duty can sometimes have a sour taste, Alistair," she reminded him, "But we still have to endure it, for the greater good.
The former Templar grumbled but fell silent. He did not like it, but that did not mean that he did not understand.
"I'll go with you," Fergus said rising to his feet, "You will need another strong sword arm if it turns into a fight with Howe's men."
Alim gave the noble a fishy look.
"This is not about vengeance, Fergus," he reminded, "We have to save the Queen."
The noble gave him a cool look.
"Taking the queen from Howe is the first step in weakening Loghain, the very man that allowed Howe to get away with everything he has done," the man said, "I'm not going to go running off on a vendetta, but if we come across Howe, you will need all the help you can get dealing with him."
Fergus sighed.
"The man was almost family to me, once. I know how he thinks."
"I'm with you too," Kally said, "I fought my way out of that accursed place once. I can do it again."
Oghren belched loudly.
"If the two lovebirds are going, then so am I," he said, "Gonna be a lot of arses between you and this Queen."
The dwarf smirked.
"Ole' Oghren will knock a few out of your way for ya!"
Alim smiled slightly.
"I welcome your help, my friend."
"There may be traps," Leliana said, "You will need someone to disarm them, besides…"
She pursed her lips.
"I did a job or two in the Arl's estate; I know a few of its weak spots."
Morrigan snorted.
"My magic would serve you well, in that place warden," She said, "You will no doubt be outnumbered.
The witch sneered.
"I can help you deal with those…numbers, tis a pleasure that I would greatly enjoy."
Alistair glanced her way. The witch tried to ignore him, but even Alim could see the concern on his face. Despite everything that happened, the former Templar still cared about the witch.
He would have to keep a close eye on her in the Arl's estate…
…For Alistair's benefit if nothing else...
Alim smiled slightly.
He was still not entirely sure about all this. It was likely a trap, and even if it wasn't, he had two wild cards in Kally and Fergus, both wanted Howe's blood.
They said that they could be professionals about this, but…
He was still not so sure.
He glanced over at his lover.
Leliana tried to give him a reassuring smile, but he did not buy it.
Something was bothering her, he knew her well enough for that. She had said nothing to him lately about her visions, but every so often these last few days, he had caught her giving him worried looks more than once.
His elven ears twitched.
Was there something she was not telling him?
It was possible.
He sighed.
Sadly, he had no choice.
Opportunity or trap, they had to take the risk. A Queen Anora as their ally was too good a risk to pass up.
He could not deny the worry he felt for his friends. He did not like the thought of Leliana being in Howe's clutches, not after what he had heard being whispered around Denerim.
He would not wish Howe on his greatest enemy.
Unfortunately they would need to face him.
Time was a luxury that they did not have.
The blight was coming.
They needed Anora's help now.
…One way, or the other.