Chapter 146: Rise a King

Morrigan watched from the shadows as Alim slowly tore away the last of Loghain's dignity and honor. The warden presented his evidence, each piece a log on an already large funeral pyre, the arrival of the man's daughter was the final piece of kindling, after that…no one in Ferelden would dare consider that the man was still a hero, much less an man worthy of following,

The witch smiled cruelly.

When they had first began this journey she had had no idea who Loghain was, but after almost a year of being chased and hounded by his bounty hunters and sycophants, she could finally understand Alistair's hatred for the man, and would not blame him one bit for enjoying the man's shaming, and why not, she certainly did.

She found herself thinking back to her mother, and one of the first lessons she had taught her.

"Defeating an enemy is good dear girl," Flemeth had said with a sly smile.

"But destroying them utterly, that is something far better."

Morrigan had never had many enemies, so she had not truly grasped what her mother had tried to teach her that day, now, after much experience outside of the wilds…

Now she understood.

Now she understood the pleasure of seeing a hated foe humbled, not that Loghain appeared humbled in the least, no.

The man's eyes flashed with each vote for the wardens, a small vein pulsed on his forehead, his fingers curled into angry fists, his metal gauntlets creaked as his fingers tightened and tightened.

By the time the votes were finished, it was clear that the man would not concede quietly.

Morrigan pulled a small piece of wood from her belt; she poured her magic into it, growing it back into her staff.

It had been most amusing seeing the lords try to settle this matter with words, alas tis not the way of the real world.

Loghain was about to show them that, strength is what mattered, fire and blood is what mattered.

Her amber eyes almost glowed with anticipation.

He was about to try and give them both, and she would be ready.

"Traitors," Loghain stammered; his whole body shook with barely contained rage.

"TRAITORS!" he roared defiantly.

"Where were any of you when the Orlesians flattened our fields and raped our wives!?"

He spun his deadly gaze pinned the Arl of Redcliffe, if looks could kill the noble would have been naught but a pile of ash.

"You fought with us Eamon. You used to care about this land once!"

The Arl said nothing, the Landsmeet had spoken, he no doubt though the matter was closed.

Twas clear from how Loghain was acting that was not the case.

"None of you have the right to condemn me," he snarled, "None of you have bled for this land the way that I have."

Finally his eyes settled on Alim, they flashed with both cruelty and, perhaps, a touch of madness. It was clear to the Teyrn who was most responsible for his defeat.

"How…how dare you judge me?!"

Alim did not respond, he simply stood there, his expression grim, but ready…

Perhaps he did not wish to provoke the noble further, if that was the case, it was for naught.

Loghain reached for his blade, all around the room his guards and few supporters did the same. The rest of the room started to draw their weapons…

Morrigan's blood quickened.

The Landsmeet was about to become a battlefield, and it would have if not for Alim.

The warden stepped forward, his staff, flashing with a blinding bright light, he brought it down hard on the stone floor, the crystal at the top of the staff flashed, blinding any who looked up at it, but that is not what stopped the fighting, it was the elven warden's voice, it was loud, so loud that it shook the chamber like a crack of thunder. Even Morrigan had almost shielded her ears; such was the force of the single word…

"NO!"

Swords fell from men's hands as many in the room covered their ears, all eyes fell upon the elf, small in stature he might have been, but in that moment he towered over all of them, stopping them from destroying their last chance to hold the kingdom together.

There last chance to stand together and oppose the Blight!

He turned to Loghain the only man who had not dropped his weapon, the Teyrn continued to glare at the warden, a glare that would have killed if it could.

Alim met it with one of his own.

"No," he repeated, his voice still booming in the huge chamber, "No more innocents die over your paranoia and stupidity, no more people shall be wasted when every life is needed to oppose the Blight!"

Elf and noble glared at each other, it was clear that this would not end as long as one of them still drew breath What happened next would decide the fate of Ferelden. Yet, it was not Alim who spoke up, it was not the elf that chose to face the power mad noble.

"I CHALLENGE!"

Morrigan did her best to stifle a gasp of surprise, as did many of the nobles in the room, as well.

Alistair stood at Alim's side, at his side, but with one quick step stood before the elven warden.

Alistair, the fool who she had seen so much with, now stood before their enemy with blood in his eyes.

"I challenge," Alistair repeated, "Trial by combat, just you and me."

The former Templar's eyes narrowed.

"I will see that you answer for your crimes."

The witch's golden eyes widened, her fingers tightened around her staff, tightened to such a degree that the flow of blood stopped. A frisson of fear raced through her, her heart pounded.

No! He cannot! He…

In that moment, Morrigan realized something horrifying.

Despite her commitment to her mother's plan, despite everything she had done to distance herself from Alistair, and what they had shared…she…she…

"No," she murmured, "Tis not possible!"

Despite the fact that she had cut herself off from him, feelings…caring remained.

It…it was a frightening thought, a terrifying one.

She found herself thinking back to when they had first lain together. Alistair, he…he had been so uncertain; it had fallen to her to seduce him, to make him at ease with what he had wanted, and what she had desired. She had told herself, at the time; that it was necessary, that if she was going to take over mother's plan and turn it to her own advantage she needed Alistair open to what would come later. Alim had been in the deep roads at the time, feared lost, and Theron had yet to be discovered.

She had done what she felt was necessary to see the plan to fruition, but now, it seemed that she had not emerged from what had happened totally unscathed.

She…she cared for him. He might have been a fool, but he had been her fool.

A wave of shame washed over her, she cursed her own weakness.

How could she do what was necessary when such emotions had wormed their way into her, love and sympathy had no meaning, power had meaning.

She knew the words, but she feared now that they were just that…words.

In her heart, she had changed, and the change frightened her.

It made what had to happen next that much more difficult. Yet she remained committed.

I will have to find a way out of this, she thought.

I will finish the plan.

IOI

Leliana watched as Alistair issued his challenge, all the lords of the Landsmeet had fallen silent; even her Alim had fallen silent.

None of them had expected this.

Loghain's eyes narrowed, almost as if the Teyrn were evaluating Alistair, evaluating him, and finding him wanted.

Loghain smiled grimly.

"I…accept," he hissed.

From the balcony above Bann Alfstanna of Waking Seas addressed her fellow lords, reminding them all of what was about to happen.

"A challenge has been made, and has been accepted," she announced, "A test of arms, one on one combat that will continue until one party yields."

The Teyrn sneered at Alistair.

"So the would-be-prince steps out of the shadow of his elven servant," the man spat, "A shame, part of me had been expecting to cross swords with that little one since Ostagar."

Her Alim glared at Loghain, but it was Alistair that answered.

"It is because of Ostagar that we are here," Alistair growled, "What you did to your king, to the wardens, and…and to Duncan."

Loghain gaze did not falter, but for the briefest of moments, a tired sigh escaped his lips.

"For me," he admitted, "Ostagar seems like a lifetime ago, but if this is what it takes to save the home I love then so be it."

Loghain raised his sword, one of his men handed him a shield, the sigil of Gwaren emblazoned on its front.

"This will not be the first time that I have shed blood in the name of my country boy."

"No," Alistair said coldly.

"But it will be your last."

The two men separated for a moment while the hall cleared around them, offering them a place to conduct their duel.

Alim came up to Alistair; the elf looked annoyed at his friend and fellow warden.

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

"Settling this," Alistair said.

"You don't have to," Alim said, "I can…"

"No."

"Ali…I can…"

"No you can't Lim," Alistair said bluntly, "Not this time."

The former Templar frowned.

"You can't protect me this time, I won't allow it. Duncan kept me back, and you kept me back, but not this time."

Alistair's eyes narrowed as Loghain stepped away from his servants, armor and weapons at the ready.

"I owe this to Duncan," he said flatly, "I have to do this."

He took a deep breath and mustered his courage.

"I must."

Alim sighed and shook his head, his elven ears twitched with irritation, but at the same time he did not make a move to stop his friend.

Leliana watched; she had seen duels like this before. If Alistair wished to face Loghain alone, it would be against protocol for the elf to step in now.

The elven mage sighed again.

"You're a real pain in my ass, you know that right."

Alistair chuckled.

"Yeah, I get that a lot."

Alim took a shield from one of Eamon's supporters; it was, to his surprised, marked with the sigil of House Theirin.

"How appropriate," Leliana thought.

Her heart beat a little faster. The bard in her was already composing the words she would sing about this duel. The only question would be: would this be a song of victory or tragedy?

In a few moments she realized, all would be revealed.

From the balcony above, Alfstanna watched as the two men stepped away from their seconds, stepped away and began to circle each other, blades at the ready, waiting for the final word to begin.

Neither looked away, both only had eyes for the other, looking for weaknesses, evaluating strengths.

Then like the word spoken by Alim, earlier a new command issued through the chamber.

"FIGHT!"

Teyrn and grey warden lunged at each other blades striking with a deafening clank.

The battle for the kingdom of Ferelden had begun.

IOI

Alim could only stare impotently as Alistair and Loghain collided. The elf cursed his fellow warden for a fool under his breath.

What did he think he was doing? He could have done this just as well as Alistair, his magic could have…

Leliana drew in close beside him, close enough to whisper in his ear.

"It has to be Alistair," she murmured.

"Why," he whispered.

She smiled slightly.

"Because he is the king" she said, "You cannot win his crown, only he can do that."

The elf cursed under his breath, even though he knew that she was right.

If Alistair was to be the man they wanted him to be, than he had to do this. He might not like it, but that was the way it was.

The elf frowned.

The young king had to win his spurs; he could not do that by using his fellow warden as a crutch. Alistair likely did not see it that way, he probably saw this simply as trying to avenge Duncan and the other wardens.

Alim shook his head.

Whatever Alistair's reason, it was too late to question now.

His fellow warden had made his choice, now he had to live with the consequences, come what may.

Loghain back pedaled, he let Alistair charge in, let him try to rain blows down on him, then when the younger man was off balance he struck back. The Teyrn lashed out with his shield, pushing the warden back.

""Yessss," he hissed as he lunged forward, catching his opponent off guard. The warden almost lost his shield; he stumbled as Loghain pressed his attack. It was all that Alistair could do to recover his balance and disengage. Still Loghain stalked him, a wolf stalking a wounded animal.

The Teyrn gave him a feral smile. This was the man that the Orlesians had learned to fear almost thirty years ago, a man who did not compromise and did not back down, a hero fighting for what he believed in, no matter how much that belief was flawed.

"For Ferelden!" Loghain crowed; he renewed his attack with vigor. Alistair seemed to switch tactics, he took the other man's blows, blocking them away and looking for an opening. The Teyrn might have been backing him up, but it was clear that Alistair was not retreating, he was all business. The goofy humble Alistair that Alim had travelled with all these months in this moment was gone. This Alistair was the one that only came out during the hardest of battles, the man that Duncan had recruited into the Grey Wardens almost a year and a half ago now.

This man was a warrior, he knew his business.

It was something that the Teyrn would learn if he was not careful.

All Alistair needed was an opening, if he got it, things would turn around quite quickly.

The Teyrn would not like that.

Loghain continued to hammer on Alistair, his shield denting from the impact. Alistair continued to give ground, but only just, a step here a step there; he stepped to the side, likely trying to create a break in the battle.

Loghain leapt at it, trying to catch his opponent off balance.

Alistair side stepped, The Teyrn found himself over extended, his eyes widened in surprise.

The grey warden struck him hard.

He caught Loghain's wrist with the edge of his shield, the Teyrn lost his grip on his own shield and it clattered to the floor, Alistair kicked it away before the man could recover it. He smiled fiercely at his opponent.

"Did that hurt?" he said with mock sympathy, "So sorry."

Loghain sneered at him.

"Do not get cocky boy."

He set his feet and took a two handed grip on his weapon. Before Alistair could renew his offensive, Loghain struck, sword met shield, while Alistair lunged in trying to end the duel. Loghain side stepped and pinned his sword arm, he struck his opponent with a vicious head-butt. Alistair stumbled back, blood flowing from his nose. Loghain swatted his shield away and tried to drive his blade up under his opponents shoulder, it would not be a killing wound, but it would be a disabling one.

Somehow Alistair got his blade, up and blocked the strike. He drove his fist into the Teyrn's jaw, driving him back.

Both men were left panting; blood now flowed from Alistair's nose and mouth. Loghain shook his head, and spit out a tooth.

Despite the pain, the Teyrn was actually grinning.

"You have strength in you; I have to give you that."

Alistair said nothing; he locked his hands around the hilt of his sword, ready for the next exchange.

Loghain smirked, and charged. Rather than stand his ground Alistair met his charge, they met in the center of the room blades clanging loudly, neither man had a shield now, so it was now just a hammering match, the two beating on each other, with each savage blow anything could give, yet neither showed any sign of yielding. They both knew what was at stake.

Neither would back down now.

Alim could only watch helplessly. He wished that he could intervene, but that would only set off a firestorm of blood. He had to trust that Alistair could do this.

He had to, as Leliana would say, have faith.

The Teyrn chopped down on his opponent, Alistair side stepped and nearly caught a blow across his face. Again Loghain tried to force the issue. He trapped Alistair's sword arm again, and tried for another head-butt.

This time, Alistair was ready for him. He drove the top of his own head up into Loghain's jaw; the Teyrn was lifted off his feet for a few seconds, likely seeing stars from the force of the blow. He managed to strike a glancing blow to the side of Alistair's head with the hilt of his sword, but it did not stop the younger man.

Alistair rolled with the blow and tumbled away. Loghain charged again, trying to catch him with an overhand chop. Alistair slashed out from his knees.

Loghain cried out, more in surprise than pain.

The warden's blow was glancing, but it did managed to catch him beneath just right, the blade cut just below where the breastplate meets the waist.

The Teyrn staggered back.

Alistair snarled; he did not give the older man a chance to recover.

He attacked.

The warden rained down blows on the wounded Teyrn, all the pain and anger of the last few months flowing out with each blow. Loghain blocked, but the blocks became more desperate with each passing minute.

Loghain was no fool, he had to know what was coming, yet, he still fought on, as valiantly as he could.

The end came suddenly.

Loghain lashed out, and Alistair's blade caught him, he cut deep with an upward thrust, near the Teyrn's armpit, the man cried out again, as his blade fell from his grasp. Before he could recover it, Alistair kicked the sword away. He did not give Loghain the chance to crawl and recover his weapon.

The point of Alistair's sword found Loghain's throat, one more thrust and it would end.

The Teyrn leaned away from the blade but he did not try to retreat.

Many in the chamber gasped. Some might have seen this outcome, but for others it was a shock.

From his place on his knees Loghain did something surprising.

The Teyrn of Gwaren chuckled.

"I…I underestimated you boy," he admitted, "I thought you like Cailan, a child playing at war. I…I was wrong."

Loghain held out his arms.

"I…I yield."

The Landsmeet fell silent, as silent as a crypt. For a moment the only sound was the ragged breathing of the two men.

Loghain was smiling, despite the pain he had to be in.

"Perhaps you are what others claim you are," he said, "I've…I've not seen such strength since Maric died."

Alistair's eyes narrowed, righteous anger still glowed there.

"This is not about Maric," he snarled.

He raised his blade.

"This is about Duncan."

Loghain nodded, something passed between the two men, something only they would ever know.

Loghain did not resist, he did plead. He did not struggle.

He tilted his head in surrender, offering the victor his neck.

"Strike true, lad," he murmured.

"Strike true."

IOI

Alistair's sword came down, some looked away. Anora MacTir stood their transfixed watching the blade fall.

As it did, her father caught her eye for the last time, for that one brief moment, he was the Hero of Riverdane once again, a man loved and respected by all.

He had fought for his country since he was a teenager, since the Orlesians raped his mother and burned his home. He had lost much in serving, but he had never regretted that choice. It had been a life worth living.

Two words escaped his lips before the end; they were heard by no one, except for perhaps Alistair. If he did hear, he never told anyone.

The smile never left Loghain's face.

He could rest now, Ferelden had a strong leader.

"For Ferelden," he murmured.

The blade finished its arch, and with it the life of the Teyrn of Gwaren was finished.

The body fell to the floor, blood flowing onto the stone.

Loghain had always expected to give his life in defense of Ferelden.

Finally…he had.