Chapter 147: Meet's End
When the wardens and their allies finally returned to the Arl's estate, it was quite late. Much had to be done after the death of Loghain MacTir, an event that should have ended the matter right there, yet, as it turned out, it was only the first step in something larger, something grander.
By the time the sun had finally set, Ferelden had itself a new king, all hail His Majesty, the noble King Alistair, a king that was decided by Alim casting the deciding vote. The lords had come to see him as ultimate authority in their fight against the Blight, so to them it was likely only fair that he cast his vote as well. Either that, or they would cast blame upon him if everything fell apart, whatever their motivation, he did his duty. Alistair was now king.
Not that the king was entirely pleased with the whole matter.
He had not said two words to Alim since they had left the Landsmeet, now accompanying by a full brigade of Ferelden soldiers and royal guards. Officially, everything between the two men was fine, Alistair had declared Ferelden unified against the Blight, even naming Alim Surana: Commander of the Grey for all of Ferelden, general of his armies. At last Ferelden stood unified, both behind the Grey Wardens and their treaty bound allies.
It should have been a good thing; it was what the wardens had spent the last year working towards, however things rarely went as they were supposed to. Ferelden was still a mess; Loghain's civil war would likely haunt the nation for decades, provided they survived the Blight of course. Plus there remained a few loose ends to tie up.
It was not the most noble of work.
The first was dealing with Queen Anora, the former Queen Anora. It came to no surprise that she refused to bend the knee after her father's death, despite all that had happened to her in his name. In her eyes, she was still the rightful queen, despite Alistair's birth right. Eamon would have seen her executed, but Alistair showed mercy. He had Anora locked in the tower of Fort Drakon, at least for now. The move on his part surprised the former queen; she had no doubt expected Alistair to do exactly what the Arl of Redcliffe said. Perhaps she even believed what her father had believed, that Eamon intended for the new king to rule simply as a puppet of him and the other noble lords, if that was the case, then both the Arl and Anora was mistaken. Alim knew Alistair.
He may have preferred to follow, but he knew duty.
If they wanted him to be king, that is what he would be.
What had come next had been a parade of noble lords, all now swearing fealty to their new king. As this went on, Alim watched those lords carefully, particularly the ones that the Arl had identified as Loghain supporters. Most of these men and women would remain true to their words today, but the warden was enough of a realist to know that some were only feigning loyalty. Once the Blight was over, they would likely rise again holding daggers…
…Alistair would need to be protected from that.
One of Alistair's first official acts, next to naming Alim commander of the armies, was to reaffirm and restore Fergus Cousland as the Teyrn of Highever. In this, the nobles seemed pleased. Fergus' father was well loved and missed by all. Highever had descended into chaos since his death.
Kally watched the whole display with a curious eye, and the occasional twitch of her elven ears. Her lover's restoration to his lands and titles likely left the two of them in a very precarious state. Fergus had tried giving her a reassuring smile, but if she truly accepted it, only she would know for certain. Loving a soldier and loving one of the most powerful men in Ferelden was two decidedly different things. It was not unheard of for a lord to take an elven mistress, but, unfortunately, that was likely all she would ever be.
Good enough to bed, but never to wed, Alim had heard those words before. What happened next between Kally and Gus would be up to them. He hoped that they would end up finding at least some happiness.
Next, came the matter of dealing with the last living member of Loghain's inner circle. Elissa Cousland had murdered Ser Cauthrien in cold blood, and had been at least partially responsible for the death of the rest of the Cousland family.
By Fergus' own admission it fell to the new king to deal with her.
Alim had his own feelings on the matter of course. The bitch had tortured him in Fort Drakon. She had tried to kill them several times while trying to fulfill her own dark ambitions. Unlike Anora, Elissa had actively participated in Howe and Loghain's schemes. If anyone deserved the full weight of the law to come down upon them, it was her.
He had suspected that Alistair would sentence her to death, it was the least she deserved, but it was at that moment that Riordan had decided to put his two coppers in. Loghain and Howe were dead, that had been their punishment. Elissa had served them, and in doing so had proven her marshal skill. The senior warden believed that killing the girl would be a waste.
He suggested putting her through the joining.
Most of the wardens' party had balked at that idea. Elissa Cousland had never been simply a soldier following orders; she had taken pleasure in inflicting damage upon them, inflicting pain upon her own brother.
"We are not judges," Riordan said, "And we are too few. Thieves, murderers, rebels, traitors, blood mages, and kinslayers, all are needed now if the Blight is to be stopped, all a person needs is willingness and the skill to take up the sword and join the fight."
Alim still was not sure; he was technically still Commander of the Grey and could choose to ignore Riordan's counsel.
He looked over at his fellows. Theron had not asked to be here. The Dalish had been a victim of circumstance. Alistair had chosen the warden path. Alim had not really had any choice, it was either join or spend the rest of his short life in Aeonar, or be made tranquil.
His elven ears lowered in thought.
He had seen Elissa's skill. Whatever else she was, she was a skilled warrior. If her blade could be redirected at the darkspawn, she would be a powerful ally.
He glanced over at Fergus. The new Teyrn was truly the wounded party here; he deserved to have at least some say in what was done about his traitorous sister.
Fergus' hand went to his chin, his expression was pained. Had he killed Elissa in combat that would have been one thing, what Riordan was asking now was something else. No doubt Fergus' memories were at war, the little sister he had loved, and the woman she had become, the one that had fought at the side of both Howe and Loghain.
Finally, the nobleman had sighed.
"Joining the wardens is dangerous yes?"
Alim sighed.
"It is," he confessed, he could not give all the gory details of course; he was bound to protect the orders secrets, just as Duncan had been so bound.
Fergus' expression was grim.
"When we were small," he said, "My father said Elissa was promise itself. As she grew older, he said that there was nothing she could not do if she put her mind to it."
The restored Teyrn shook his head.
"I want to believe that girl is still there. That she can still make our family proud. That she might find at least…some redemption for the things she has done."
Finally, he nodded.
"Very well warden," he said, "She is yours. You may put her through the joining."
Alim's eyes narrowed, he glanced over at Riordan, a look that said that they would discuss this later.
The older man nodded, no doubt realizing that whatever conversation they had would likely not be pleasant.
Once that was out of the way, the Landsmeet turned into a massive strategy session. Nobles presented their new king with what strength they could offer in facing the approaching Blight. Eamon and the rest of their crew remained at Alistair's side, offering both their opinions and their moral support. Fergus remained his staunchest supporter, pledging all the resources he now had available to help them resist the Archdemon. Seri and Zevran were both full of suggestions, both the former princess and the assassin had spent a lot of time moving through the circles of power.
Their words would be useful.
Alim and Riordan slipped out of the chamber, Theron and Jowan at their side. Leliana had wanted to come, but Riordan had denied her, what needed to be done was for wardens alone. Alim had done his best to reassure her, they would speak again when he returned. Wynne, suspecting what they were going to do, offered her services, she had helped Duncan during his time at Ostagar, and knew details of what needed to be done, details that they might need. Accepting her help, their group left the throne room and made its way to the former warden compound, Maric had offered it to the order when they had first been invited back, but it had been sealed since the purge following the massacre of Ostagar. Loghain loyalists had sacked it, making sure no allies of the wardens remained. Riordan had already slipped inside, using the Landsmeet as an opportunity to see exactly what the order had left to work with. Much had been destroyed, but it had not been a total loss. He had found the Ferelden order's copies of the joining ritual, as well as its main ingredient, a decanter of magically protected blood, blood from the fourth Archdemon.
Hearing that, Alim had nearly vomited, it was bad enough to know that he had taken taint from darkspawn blood; to know that he had also bound himself to one of the very monsters that had caused the Blights sickened him.
Riordan had sent Theron to fetch Elissa Cousland from the dungeon. While Riordan, Wynne, and Alim made the preparations for the ritual. Jowan stood nervously off to the side, no doubt fearful of what he would soon face. Alim had not sugar-coated his chances. Not everyone who took the joining survived, and those that did were forever changed.
Alim had feared that Jowan might try to bolt, much as he had done back in the Circle. He had been ready to cast, just in case his friend tried to escape his fate. Surprisingly, Jowan said not a word; he waited patiently for the joining to begin.
The thought made his oldest friend smile.
Perhaps Jowan had learned something after all.
Theron returned with Elissa Cousland and two guards in toe. The Teyrn's daughter spat curses at the wardens and her captors. Theron had already explained that her brother had offered her to the order, and that she was to be bound to darkspawn for the rest of her life.
To say that she was less than enthusiastic was an understatement.
"Kill me," she spat, "I would rather be dead than have to fight with the likes of you."
She glared at Alim above all others.
"You destroyed my life," she hissed, "I will never forgive you for that."
"Forgiveness is not necessary," Alim said his face bland, "You may die during the joining girl, but I won't be your executioner."
His brown eyes turned cold.
"Death is too good for you. You deserve to be punished, and I can think of no worse one. Forced to serve the order you and your allies betrayed.
He smiled savagely.
"Besides, Fergus still thinks you might be worthy of redemption, redemption has its price, this is yours."
A flicker of fear passed over her face, momentarily pushing away here defiance.
"I don't want your redemption."
"You have no choice, and neither do I," he said, "Wardens are needed. You will serve one way or the other."
Riordan spoke the words. The words of the joining, words that had been said since the first, then Alim held up the chalice he had recovered from Ostagar, the blood of both darkspawn and Archdemon inside.
He glanced at the two conscripts, at Jowan and Elissa.
The time had finally come.
They had come to the joining.
"Step forward, Jowan," he said.
His old friend did just that. He still looked afraid, but seemed committed as well.
He at least understood; there was no turning back.
"You have been called to submit yourself to the taint, for the greater good" Alim said holding up the chalice, "From this day forth, you are a grey warden."
Jowan took the cup, and nodded grimly.
He looked down into the dark surface, his reflection in the blood.
He took a deep breath and sighed.
"I'm sorry Lily," he murmured.
Jowan drank from the chalice.
The wardens watched, as the blood mage staggered, his hands went to his head, as he gasped for breath. He looked upon them with white milky eyes.
Jowan collapsed.
Riordan quickly went to his side, checking for signs of life.
He looked up at Alim, his expression…pleased.
"He will live brother."
Alim nodded.
He could not be sure if he was happy or sad. His old friend would live, after a fashion.
Elissa Cousland struggled against her chains. The guards had left her in Theron's care, and the Dalish kept close watch on her. Her eyes darted around the room looking for a way out, but the wardens had used this room for the joining for almost twenty years.
There was no escape to be had here.
Her eye bore the look of a trapped animal, her breathing came in fearful gasps, the look she gave the elf was almost feral, feral, and almost mad.
Alim gestured, her chains fell away, but Theron remained, blade at the ready, just in case.
"From this moment forward, Elissa," Alim said solemnly, "You are a grey warden."
She glared at him, her eyes full of hate.
She took the chalice, he thought she might try something desperate, perhaps even try to throw the contents back in his face.
Instead she calmed, she smiled wickedly, savagely.
"There will come a time knife-ear," she growled, "A time that you will wish you never met me."
His eyes narrowed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Lady," he snarled back, "I'm already there."
She gave him an evil smirk.
She drank deep of the chalice, she drank all of it.
The cup fell from her hands with a clatter. Her eyes turned white and milky, and she fell.
Riordan went to her, yet Alim already knew what he would say.
The girl was already moaning weakly.
He took a deep and frustrated breath.
She would live.
Maker help them all.
IOI
One by one the others had retired to their rooms. It had been a long day, a trying day, yet…successful none the less.
Alim had gone to the Arl's study, he promised Leliana he would be coming to bed shortly, but for now, he needed time to think, to process everything that had been done.
Jowan and Elissa remained at the warden compound, under the watchful eye of both Theron and Riordan. The two new wardens would no doubt be needed in the days to come, but for now they had to recover their strength, the compound had the tools that they would enable them to do that the most quickly, so the two had remained.
It was for the best.
He sat in the Arl's arm chair by the fire. Bandit dosing at his feet, occasionally he would stroke the dog's side with tip of his foot, causing the large animal to roll on his back, waiting for belly rubs.
Alim nudged him with his foot, as the dog looked up adoringly at his master. He…
Alim paused, his warden senses picking up the approach of one his brothers, and given the sense of barely controlled panic he was feeling he could guess which one it was.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair, as the door opened, the new king of Ferelden stood before him, not looking the least bit happy.
He smiled at his warden brother, his king.
"Hello Alistair," he said dryly.
"I guess you want to talk?"