Chapter 5 : A Gilded Cage

Alistair had just finished dressing when an urgent knock came at the door. He opened it to find Teagan standing there, a confused look on his face.

"Alistair, what is going on? A hundred templars were just sent off to the Circle Tower. Everyone is saying the mages there have gone mad. The place is supposedly filled with abominations!"

"What?" Alistair asked, walking out in to the hallway.

"Yes. I've also heard the ridiculous rumor that Connor is a Blood Mage and has been waiting for his chance to kill Duncan." Teagan hurried to keep up with Alistair, following him as he began down the stairs. "I was on my way to the Circle Tower myself thinking you and Lyssa were in trouble only to find out that Sten was still here, and Eamon has returned. I don't know what's going on. I'm so confused."

Halfway down the stairs, Alistair halted abruptly. At the bottom, Alistair saw the Grand Cleric ascending. He frowned turning back to Teagan.

"Lyssa has been taken. Q'unari attacked her and Eamon on route to the Circle Tower. When I found Eamon I sent Connor on to the tower. Dammit! I don't know what to believe anymore! Connor has been loyal to the family for all this time. He's had more than enough opportunity to kill Duncan if that was his desire. What in the Maker's name is going on? Has the entire world gone mad?" Alistair asked, pressing a palm to his forehead.

"Lyssa?" Teagan said stumbling a little. He grabbed the stair's railing to steady himself.

At that moment, the Grand Cleric drew level with Alistair and Teagan. Her face was grim.

"Alistair, I have just heard the news," she began.

"Who? Who told you?" Alistair shouted.

"Alistair," Teagan said shocked, "This is the Grand Cleric you speak to."

"It is okay Teagan. Alistair is not in his right mind," the Grand Cleric said magnanimously. "General Bativa saw Eamon here at the castle. We are all aware of the plan to visit Duncan; if Eamon was here it meant something had gone horribly awry. Apparently General Bativa asked Eamon a few questions. He became suspicious immediately. The only survivor of the abduction of our Queen, a man who knew of all the details of the plan. A man who insisted he and his son be part of the escort... well, it was too much to ignore. It turns out Eamon did know something. He was the one who alerted the Q'unari of the Queen's whereabouts. He instructed his son to go on to the Circle Tower to finish off Duncan. I hope my men will not be too late. I sent them out immediately to the tower. They have been..."

This time is was Teagan who shouted at the Grand Cleric, "Lies! These are outlandish lies! Eamon would never...,"

"Enough Teagan. Think on it. Do you not remember how strongly Eamon opposed putting Duncan on the throne? I recall him speaking passionately of the sacrifices that were made to put Alistair on the throne, all to save the Theirin bloodline. Eamon did not think it was prudent to risk all that work on the off chance that the boy would be able to sire a child in time. He pushed for us to insist Alistair bed another woman so as to sire a normal, untainted child," the Grand Cleric said sharply.

"No, Eamon would never betray Ferelden like this," Teagan said defiantly. "He owes his life, and the life of his own son to Lyssa. Why would he do this thing?"

Alistair sat down on the stairs in shock. Teagan put his hand on Alistair's shoulder.

"Bativa says Eamon believes he is doing it for the good of Ferelden. A mantra we have heard before if I remember correctly. There was a certain Regent who also did many things for the sake of Ferelden. I believe you handled that traitor yourself, your majesty," the Grand Cleric said quietly.

"I wish to speak to him," Alistair said, "immediately."

"I'm afraid I cannot allow that. The council has met in an emergency session. It is their belief that the recent events may... influence you, your majesty. The council is concerned you will act rashly. They believe Eamon has valuable information about the impending Q'unari invasion. It is also their decision to temporarily remove your authority,"

"What?" Teagan exclaimed.

Alistair just sighed and leaned against his knee.

"I said temporarily. Once the council has decided on the best action to take against the Q'unari they will take what Alistair has to say under advisement. But they do not feel his current state of mind will allow him to act with good judgment. I am sorry, your majesty," the Grand Cleric said sincerely.

Alistair shook his head, "And what of Teagan? He is my Regent. Can he not speak on my behalf? It was not his wife that was stolen from him."

"No... but the council does not completely trust him. Teagan is Eamon's brother after all. They have removed him as Regent. For the time being the council will operate as a single voice. All decisions will be voted upon, majority rules," the Grand Cleric said.

"And what do you think, your grace," Teagan asked pointedly.

"I do not entirely agree with the council, but I do not have a say in the matter. I am only there as a moderator, nothing more. I have not spoken with Eamon, but Bativa has been a loyal general for many years. I do not think he would be mistaken, or mislead me in this manner. He hails from Highever, and was quite broken up over the Queen's abduction. But I understand their reasoning. I take it your armor means you were about to rush off into Q'unari territory, your majesty," the Grand Cleric said gesturing to Alistair's armor, "This alone would certainly lend credence to what the council believes. Were you going to rush of to Seheron on your own, with just a few of your knights to accompany you? You, the King of Ferelden. You cannot go dashing off into hostile territory with naught but a few soldiers at your side. The council has not even declared war on them yet. You have no army to lead, and it is very likely your heir..." the Grand Cleric said.

"Enough," Alistair said standing, "I get it. I'm not going anywhere. I'm a prisoner in the castle. I must wait for my wife to die before anyone will take action. And your precious council will now think they have everything they want. The woman I refuse to be unfaithful to is now gone. Their biggest obstacle has been removed."

Alistair moved in close to the Grand Cleric and spoke into her face with a deadly quiet tone, "But there is a problem with their plan. I will never take another queen. I am not some stallion to be put out to stud. Whether it be Eamon's will, or anyone else's, this plot will not succeed. To hell with all of you."

With that Alistair stormed back upstairs and slammed the door to his chambers. Teagan looked from the door to the Grand Cleric, who seemed unfazed by Alistair's pronouncements.

"I'm fairly certain he means it. Perhaps if you mention that to the council, whoever is in charge of this botched up plot will return the queen unharmed," Teagan said. His mind began to run through all the implications of the plot and he surmised that this might be the main reason for the queen's abduction. He feared for Lyssa's life if something wasn't done quickly.

"You do not believe it is Eamon who has done this thing? I guess I should not be surprised. He is your brother after all," the Grand Cleric said putting her hand comfortingly on Teagan's shoulder.

"I will tell the council of Alistair's pronouncement… if you wish. But I doubt the conspirator will believe it. For that matter, I do not believe it myself. Alistair is hurting and angry right now. I've known him for a very long time as you know. He was just a boy when I took him under my wing."

The Grand Cleric paused for a moment, remembering the rascally, flaxen haired, young boy Arl Eamon had brought to her so long ago and smiled, "Alistair is not so different from everyone else. He is the King, yes, but King's are still human. I've seen many people lament the loss of their loved one. I have counseled many to have faith that the Maker will heal them, and in time, they will find another. And they do. But if there is a chance Eamon," she felt Teagan tense under her hand, "or any other, might reconsider their actions, I will make sure they have the opportunity to leak a message to the Q'unari. I don't know how much good it will do. The Q'unari care nothing for Ferelden. They only care to push the Qun on all the peoples of Thedas. If it weren't for the Chantry, we would all be slaves to that abomination of a religion. I suspect they merely took advantage of the situation," the Grand Cleric said.

Teagan watched as the Grand Cleric turned to leave.

"I'm sorry Teagan. As I am sure you suspect, the council has ordered you to stay in the castle as well. I will try to sway them best I can. I'm sure your wife will be quite worried over your absence. At the very least I should be able to get them to let you send a message to her," she said as she left.

Teagan looked back up at the door to the royal chambers. He cautiously approached and knocked softly. He heard Alistair's muffled response.

Inside the room, Alistair was staring out the window, thinking furiously. He didn't know who to believe anymore. Everyone was suspect but, he simply could not believe Connor had been planning on killing Duncan all this time. He didn't believe Eamon had betrayed him or Lyssa, either. Teagan was right; Eamon owed his life to them. When Alistair heard the knock he knew it must be Teagan.

"Come in," he said turning toward the door.

Teagan entered, a worried expression on his face.

"I...," Teagan looked down at the floor.

"It's okay Teagan. I may play the jester at times, but I'm no fool. Well, not a complete fool, anyway. You've harbored a fair share of admiration for Lyssa since you first met her in Highever. I'm not so blind that I can't see the way you look upon her from time to time. I know there is no possible way you could have put her in any danger. You, I can trust," Alistair said, taking his friend's hand.

Teagan sighed and sat down on the couch wearily. "Am I really so obvious after all these years? I am sorry Alistair. I mean no disrespect. And Kaitlyn... If she knew, I would be devastated. I don't deserve her. She is a good and faithful woman."

"Ah... well. Men never deserve the women who love them. They don't give us their love because we deserve it, they give us their love despite the fact that we don't. That is the magic of it," Alistair said pulling the battered cloth from his tunic again, clutching it tightly in his hand.

"I am sorry, Alistair. Truly I do not believe Eamon would do this... but... Eamon would have said the same thing about Loghain all those years ago had he no evidence to the contrary. I don't know what to believe anymore," Teagan said closing his eyes.

"Nor I. But the time for despair is over. If no one stands with us, we must go it alone," Alistair said firmly.

"How can we do that? They have trapped us here in the castle. You sent all your knights away, I saw them leave. The castle is now filled with templars. They are loyal only to the Chantry. They will not allow you to leave," Teagan said.

"I still have allies in the castle, Teagan. Never underestimate the power of the people. Lyssa is much loved. But my first concern is Sten. I fear the first thing the council would vote unanimously to do would be to imprison him for the crime of being a Q'unari. I think we will need his help whatever our plan is. He knows Seheron, he is from there. I think it will be in our best interest to take him with us. We'll just have to time this right," Alistair said.

"Well, perhaps Gildre could help with that," Teagan offered.

"No. With any luck Gildre is halfway to Seheron by now. We will have to do this on our own."