I know I keep apologizing for the lateness of my chapters but I can't help it! I've been overcome with writer's block for a month now! GRRR. Someone send me some inspiration...

Chapter 6

Kailyn entered the throne room and quickly found the faces of her family. She rushed over to them hugging each one. Her mother had a few tears that fell to her cheeks as they embraced each other. Everyone was overjoyed that she had recovered and was standing before them all.

Kailyn joined her brother at his side and looked up at Alistair sitting on his throne. He was wearing golden ceremonial armor. "More of the formalities I guess." Quickly she took in her surroundings. The throne room was approximately the size of her dining room at home (which she thought was a little large for just a throne room) and had the royal family tree displayed behind the two thrones. It really helped everyone to appreciate how long ago King Calenhad had ruled as there were many branches and levels of family. Kailyn's eyes found the leaves that represented King Maric and Queen Rowan. Her parents were strong supporters of them and she always smiled warmly at their memory. The branch underneath Maric and Rowan represented their late son, King Calin. She noticed that Anora's name was not there but wrote it off that it was because she didn't have Calin's heir. However, she found it odd that Alistair's name was not there either. "It must be because Alistair is a bastard. They never expected him to take the throne or to even be acknowledged as having royal blood." She hoped they added his name soon.

There were two flags on either side of the family tree. One had the seal of Calenhad and the other bore the royal seal of Denerim.

On the wall opposite of the main door was the sword used to kill the archdemon. It seemed simple to Kailyn, but then again, the Hero of Ferelden didn't need anything ornate to puncture the dragon's head. It lay against a well-made oak plaque with the Grey Warden motto inscribed underneath it. In war, victory. In peace, vigilence. In death, sacrifice. It all seemed very poetic.

Alistair stood up to address his audience. "Teryn Bryce Cousland and family, I welcome you to my royal palace. It has been my pleasure to become acquainted with your daughter. She has proven to be quite capable with a sword which has left me pleasantly surprised."

"If I may, Your Majesty, I have spent many hours training both my son and daughter. Both have proven to be very formidable should the occasion arise," Bryce boasted with a confident smile.

Did Bryce just publicly pay Kailyn a compliment? To the King? "I guess I really scared him..." Kailyn thought to herself.

"I am glad that you have trained your children so well. It never hurts to have another able body with combat training," Alistair continued. "However, I have not only called you here so that you may take your daughter home, but I wanted to inform you that the young Lady Cousland has discovered the man responsible for the slaughter of the Gourn family and their city."

The Cousland family suddenly became very uneasy. Fergus began shifting his weight in nervousness and Halley just seemed shocked that any man could be responsible for the massacre. Bryce, however, just hardened his face in an effort to appear strong for his family. Kailyn braced herself to hear the name again.

"In her interrogation of a mercenary she later killed," Alistair winked at her as he said this, "it was said that Arl Renden Howe hired the men to murder the family."

Everyone in the room except for Alistair and Kailyn looked completely dumbfounded.

"I know this is a shock to you all. I have set forth an investigation and I apologize but I need to ask you all something. I know that the Howes and the Couslands have been friends for many generations. I know that you, Teryn Cousland, fought beside the arl and the late Teryn Mac Tir," Alistair seemed to spit out Loghain's name, "during the Orleasion occupation, but do you know of any reason at all that he would want their family dead?"

Halley and Fergus both shook their heads in answer to to question. Bryce, however, seemed deep in thought. "Your Majesty, I don't know if it's relevant, but Howe has told me in the past he suspected the Gourns were selling smuggled goods to merchants in the Free Marches. I told him then, and I stand by it now, that they would do no such thing and that he needed to find proof. The Gourns are—were—good people and I can't imagine they would do anything of the sort. However, I never imagined Howe would do anything this...dramatic either. Our relationship with Renden has been...strained over the last decade or so. We have drifted..."

"You were still close with the Gourns though, correct?" Alistair asked.

"Yes your majesty. In fact, Kailyn and Aiden had started to become close friends around the time my relationship with Renden was beginning to strain. I feel I must say, though, that just because my relationship with the arl was fading, we still valued the company of his family and view them as friends still today. I am of the opinion he was slowly losing his mind," Bryce added. "I never knew much of his wife, but Thomas, Nathaniel, and Delilah were always wonderful friends to my children. They have always been well behaved in my home and I have no reason to suspect they were aware of their father's actions."

Alistair nodded. "You know the family better than anyone. I will take your word. Kailyn, however, has requested an audience with Nathaniel. She feels that he will not lie to her."

"My daughter and Nathaniel were just as close as she and Aiden. If she wishes to speak with him I have no objection. I pray that she is right and he will not lie to her."

The king walked forward towards Kailyn and spoke softly. The rest of the family had to strain to hear him. "If you still wish it, I will give you my study to meet with him. He is still in my castle in his guest room. Just say the word and I will send for him," as he said this he looked in her eyes. He wanted to be sure she was as confident as she sounded. He saw no sign of doubt.

Kailyn straightened her posture and squared her shoulders. "Yes, your majesty. If this meeting is concluded, I wish to see him right away."

"As you wish," Alistair backed up a few paces and turned to face the group as a whole again. "Teryn Cousland, you and your family are welcome to make yourselves at home. Feel free to explore my home. I'm told the gardens are quite lovely this time of year," he turned to Fergus. "She has every confidence this meeting will go well. Try not to worry so much. I will send her your way once her meeting has concluded."

Fergus nodded and tried to smile. It ended up with only one corner of his mouth turned up and worry spelled out all over his face. The king put his hand on the other's shoulder in attempt to offer comfort. It did little to appease him as he turned and walked out of the throne room with his family.

Kailyn stayed behind to watch her family leave.

"Your brother is worried about you."

"I know. I'll talk to him after I speak to Nathaniel. I think they will all feel better after we eat supper together."

Alistair just looked at her and sighed, "I'm worried about you too. If Nathaniel is in on his father's plan, you could be giving him the perfect opportunity to kill you."

"I'll be fine. Don't worry. I'm not completely helpless, you know," she said with a wink.

"When you are well rested and not recovering from a near death experience, yes. But you're still recovering. Look at you! You're exhausted already! I don't want to have to explain more injuries to your family. It was bad enough the last time," Alistair cracked a smile at his last remark.

"I'm fine. If it makes you feel any better, place a guard on the outside of the door. That way, if something happens, he will hear."

"I'll place two guards."

Kailyn rolled her eyes, "If you insist. Now show me where this study of yours is. I'm absolutely lost in this place!"

Alistair smiled and together they left the room.

Kailyn stood in the study as her king left. She heard the door close behind him. She giggled to herself as she thought about what he had just told her.

"If anything goes wrong, I want you to know that I keep a dagger hidden underneath my desk. Try to keep yourself positioned on the back side of the desk so you can easily reach it."

"Alistair. I'm not a little girl. I know how to position myself around a hidden weapon! Jeeze. And besides, I'm never without a dagger. EVER," she winked. "So stop worrying so much. I'll be fine."

The king still looked a little uneasy but nodded at the woman in front of him and turned to leave.

Kailyn looked around. It seemed very bland to her. "Kinda dreary." she thought. The four stone walls had one single window that was so dirty she would be surprised if sun shone through it at midday. In the center of the room was an oval rug. It was deep red outlined in gold. The fireplace was small but then again, it was a small room. A quill and a bottle of ink sat on the corner of the oak wood desk. The feather on the quill she thought was a bit ridiculous. It was much to large to be of any practical use and she imagined it often got in the way when trying to write. She imagined Alistair trying to write while the big, red feather fluttered in front of his face, tickling his nose. A smile appeared across her lips.

The desk chair was also boring and it matched the desk. It was also made of oak had four legs, a back and appeared sturdy. "I guess you don't need anything else in a desk chair." She walked towards the fireplace and poked the small, dying fire back to life when there was a knock at the door.

Kailyn was about to say "come in" but Nathaniel opened the door without invitation. He walked just far enough in to shut the door behind him.

"I was told that you were awake. You're amazing to have survived all that. I'm so glad you're okay," he came further into the room walking closer to her.

"King Alistair told me that you came to see me while I was still sleeping. He said you've been staying here at the castle. Did you stay because of me?"

The young Howe nodded. "You know how I feel about you. My heart was broken into pieces when I learned of your condition. I would've stayed with you at your bedside but the King's healer wouldn't allow it; said I would get in the way. I wasn't allowed to see you after you woke up either. No one would tell me why. Did you order that?"

"Nathaniel, did they tell you why I wanted to talk to you in private?"

He shook his head, "No. The servant who escorted me down here said he didn't know what the meeting was about. It all seems a little ominous."

"You know all of this happened because of the mercenaries that stormed Castle Gourn and the surrounding city."

Again he nodded.

"In an attempt to find out who was behind all the bloodshed I questioned one of the intruders. He said," she paused in attempt to gain her strength for what she was about to tell her friend. "He told me that you're father hired them."

Nathaniel looked puzzled. "My father? Are you sure? You must have heard wrong. He is certainly not that...that depraved. He knew that your family was close to theirs. As close as we are to yours."

Kailyn thought so far he was taking it pretty well. He hadn't screamed or yelled at her. Maybe he was taking it too well...

"Nate, he said the words, 'Arl Renden Howe.' It was not to be mistaken."

"Maybe he just said that name in attempt to spare his own life."

"If he thought his life was going to be spared then why would he lie? Obviously I would've found out the truth and killed him then."

He stared at her in disbelief. "My father isn't capable of such things. He had no reason to slaughter them! You can't actually tell me you believe this? Kailyn, you know us!"

She remained firm, "You. I know you. I know your brother and sister. Intimately even. I do not know your father."

"Well I know my father. I'm telling you he couldn't do this! Don't you believe me?"

She sighed, "I believe that you believe he didn't do this. Nate, I wanted to talk to you first to see if you were in on his plan. I wanted to see if you knew anything about it."

Nathaniel's eyes suddenly filled with fire. "You thought I had something to do with this?" he spat. "Kailyn, how could you? Just now you claimed to know my siblings and I intimately but you thought I might have knowledge of the this 'plan' my father supposedly had to destroy Aiden and his family? What the hell gives you the right to accuse anyone? Obviously you don't know me as well as you think you do. I would never do anything like this!" He was yelling at her now. He had every right to yell at her. Renden apparently sat high on a pedestal where his kids were concerned.

"You knew that Aiden and I were close! Maybe you thought he was a 'threat' to our 'relationship.' I don't know! I wanted to find out for sure. Can you blame me?" she was shouting back now.

"Damn it Kailyn Marie Cousland! Not every fucking thing revolves around you!" and with that comment Nathaniel Howe stormed out of the room slamming the door so loud behind him the echo reverberated down the hallway.

She crumpled down into the desk chair. Immediately Alistair rushed in, pushing the two stationed guards out of the way, with his sword drawn afraid something had gone horribly wrong.

When he saw her slumped down in the chair he quickly sheathed his sword and kneeled down beside her, "I take it that conversation could've gone a little better?"

Kailyn looked up at him blinking a tear out of her eye. It rolled down her cheek and clung to her jaw. Alistair scooped it up with his gaunleted finger in an attempt to comfort her. "What do you need me to do? Want me to go break his jaw? Throw him in the dungeon? Exile him? I can do that. I'm King you know," he winked.

She stared into his face half wondering if he was serious. Her mouth half curved into a smile at his comment. "Sometimes I forget that you are. You don't seem to act very 'kingly.' At least, not around me."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment, or an insult?" he thought about it for a moment. "Nevermind, I don't want to know. I'll take it as a compliment."

Alistair escorted the young Cousland back to her guest room for some much needed rest.

"My family will think I'm avoiding them," Kailyn commented as they both stood outside her door.

"I'll just tell them that you were beginning to feel faint from walking so much after your recovery. They'll understand; and besides, it's not a complete lie," he smiled.

"Great. Then they'll just be that much more worried."

"Do you want me to tell them what really happened?"

Her eyes grew wide. "No! Your story works well enough. I'd rather deal with the after effects of your story than what really happened."

Alistair laughed, "Don't worry. They won't hear it from me." He turned away to go search for her family when a hand pulled his elbow back.

He faced her again, confused.

"Thank you," she said quietly. He started to stay something in turn but she cut him off. "Thank you for being so great; for sticking by me and understanding that my family doesn't need to know everything. You've been amazingly supportive during my recovery." Her emerald eyes were sparkling for the first time in what seemed like ages.

He nodded his head in acknowledgment not wanting to spoil with moment with words. Kailyn opened the door to her room and went inside leaving Alistair to go find her family.

She wasn't sure how long she had been laying on the bed mentally replaying her converstaion with Nathaniel. The only good thing that came out of the whole ordeal is that she knew, without a doubt, that he was not in on his father's scheme. But how had it gone so horribly wrong? Why did she say those things to him when she didn't mean them? Kailyn never felt that Nathaniel was threatened by Aiden. Where did that even come from? She thought about the last thing he said to her. He had every right to be mad. What she said was very selfish. Especially when she took into account that she didn't even feel that way.

She let out a defeated sigh and sat up.

Suddenly her bedroom door opened and her brother came rushing in, closing the door behind him.

"Fergus? What are you doing here?"

"King Alistair told me you felt feint. I wanted to come check on you. Are you alright?"

"I'm better now that I have laid down awhile," she smiled in attempt to alleviate her brother.

"We're all very worried about you. If you don't think you can make the trip back home, its okay. We can wait until you feel better, Kail." His eyes bore into hers trying to see what was wrong.

"Honestly, Fergus," she said as she rolled her eyes. "I'm not some frail old woman. I'll be fine. I just need to take a break every once in awhile."

Her brother gently sat down next to her on the bed, "So how'd it go with Nate?"

She shook her head, "He doesn't know about his father's treachery."

Fergus' eyebrow raised in question. "That's all you're going to tell me? That's the story you're going to give our parents. Can your dear brother at least have a few details?"

Kailyn sighed and slowly began to tell him what happened. To his credit, he sat and listened without interruption and when she finished he asked her, "Did you really think that Nathaniel felt threatened by Aiden?"

"No. I don't even know why I said that. It's like I was trying to make Nate out just like his father. I was out of line."

He wrapped his arm around his sister and kissed her forehead. "It'll be alright. Give him some time to cool down. He needs to figure out the truth on his own."

"The Maker only knows when that will happen," she mumbled into his chest.

Fergus sat with his sister in arms for awhile before mentioning the upcoming meal with their family. His reminder was met with, "Oh yeah," and she sat up smiling at her brother.

The Cousland siblings got up together and Fergus led them toward the dining hall for supper.

If Kailyn thought the throne room was huge, this was gargantuan. It had to be at least twice the size of the throne room. There were tapestries draped across the walls covering much of the bleak, gray, stone. There was a flag bearing the seal of each major city in Ferelden. On the wall closest to the head of their table hung a deep purple flag that was at least twice as long as she was tall. It had King Calenhad's seal on it. The flag was embroidered with gold colored fabric and appeared to be as old as King Calenhad himself. The room had windows on three sides and they seemed to be as long as the flag. It reminded her of the Chantry windows.

The dining hall had many tables in it but only one was set with plates, silverware, and glasses. She and Fergus headed toward it and were greeted by their family. The look of relief on her mother's face made Kailyn feel guilty about not going to see her right after she spoke with Nathaniel. Obviously, they all still worried about her.

They took their seats and began idle chatter. Kailyn just sat still and pretended to listen to what was being said around her. It made her realize how long the table was. It was made of a dark mahogany-colored wood and had carved claws for feet. The legs of the table were massive, but then again, so was the table. There were five place sets set out. One at the head of the table (for the King obviously) and two on each side of the king. She was curious why he hadn't joined them yet.

Just when she had looked up, an elven servant came in with a basket of warm bread. He placed it on the table and began asking the Couslands if they would like their wine now. After they all had answered, he left quickly only to come back a few seconds later with a glass pitcher full of red wine. He filled all of their glasses. However, he seemed to be moving slowly now; as if he were stalling. Kailyn couldn't help but notice their King had yet to join them. Once the glasses were filled the servant apologized for the meal not yet arriving and asked if they needed anything else.

"Yes," said Kailyn. "I would like to know your name. I wouldn't want to have to call you just 'servant.' Tell me the name you wish to be called."

He smiled at this but also seemed a little taken aback.

"M'lady, my name is Dakath. It is a pleasure to serve you this evening."

"Thank you, Dakath. I shall not forget that name."

The elf turned and hurried out of the room.

"I'll never know why you insist on knowing their names. If I had it my way, they wouldn't even have names. Maybe numbers..." Bryce said to her.

Kailyn stared daggers at her father and was about to rebut when a page came in to announce that the King was finally here.

He hadn't even finished getting his announcement out when Alistair came rushing in, waving off the page.

"You don't have to announce me when I'm coming to my own dining hall. It isn't necessary."

"Yes your Majesty." The page bowed and hurried out of the room.

The King stood before them at his place at the table. "I apologize for my lateness. I was...detained."

"It is no trouble, your Majesty. We enjoyed some of your delicious bread the servant brought out to us." Bryce explained.

"Oh good. So at least you're not starving,"

Kailyn's family was a little put off at his easy going temperament. It wasn't the "formality" they had come to expect from a king.

Kailyn, however, winked at him in appreciation of his humor. He awkwardly smiled back and sat down.

Dakath brought in the food while another servant went behind him to serve them.

The meal consisted of a smoked goose with roasted lamb, and a porridge with cabbage. They all began to eat.

"Maiden Cousland, I am curious as to how your conversation went with Nathaniel Howe. Could you tell us what you found out?" Alistair asked trying to sound formal.

She finished chewing, put down her fork and looked up. "I have gathered from my conversation with him that he was not aware of his father's treachery. In fact, Nathaniel accused me of lying when I told him his father was responsible."

Bryce sighed and looked over at his daughter, "Well, at least we're sure he didn't have a role in this."

Kailyn nodded, "I am absolutely certain."

Fergus quickly changed the subject, not wanting to ruin his supper with talk about Reden Howe. The rest of meal continued with everyone bantering back and forth.

Kailyn was back in her room getting her things together when she heard a knock on her door. She hurried over and opened it half surprised to see the King staring back at her.

"King Alistair." he winced at the title again. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

He didn't say anything but just looked at her. She was about to say something else, but he cut her off. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay. Do you need any help packing your belongings? I could send someone for you."

"No, thank you. I think I can handle packing my things," she replied with a giggle. "If I can't even do that, what's the point of my existence, right?"

Alistair laughed nervously but didn't budge from his spot.

"Do you want to come in?" she asked him utterly confused why he was acting so strangely.

"Umm, well, I umm, I don't think its exactly...proper for me to be alone with you in your room..."

"Well then is there something I can help you with? I mean, you are just standing outside my door, not moving."

"Yes. Well. I suppose that's even more improper than going into your room alone with you." he said with a nervous chuckle. "So, if the invitation still stands, yes, I would like to speak with you privately in your room."

"Certainly," she answered still bewildered. She stepped out of the way holding the door open for him and he entered her room.