A/N: Italics are correspondence in this chapter. Review please.

Tides

"You might be the 'Hero of Ferelden' but I see you still can't hold your wine."

"W-Wha'dya mean."

"That isn't how a knight moves."

"That's 'cause this is a Grand Cleric."

"No it isn't.

"Yes is."

"Aedan, it's a man riding a horse, wearing armor, and holding a sword. It's a knight."

Squinting at the blurred image of the checkered board that sat between the two brothers Aedan set the knight, or Grand Cleric, back down. "Fine, then I'll move a pawn…here."

"Cheater! Pawns can't move as far as a castle and jump pieces like a knight."

"Can when inspired by my King's mangifestence."

"What?"

Wincing as his ears reported his tongue's slurred attempt at speech Aedan carefully enunciated, "My King's manifest magnificence."

"Oh, that's what you tried to say." Fergus said with all the considerable superiority an elder sibling can muster. Chuckling at Aedan's nearly pouting expression Fergus moved his queen across the board, "I might show up to court this afternoon just to watch you try functioning. Perhaps you could get an interpreter to help everyone else understand words like mangifestence. I'd offer but I'll be too busy laughing to be much help."

"I might sound drunk," Aedan muttered as he moved a knight across the board, "But I'm not playing drunk. Checkmate."

"Damn, this is why I don't play chess with you, Aedan."

"Sore loser." Aedan commented as he unsteadily stood and made his way across the room to the cupboard.

"What's that?" Fergus asked, warily watching Aedan pull out another bottle.

"Something Leliana gave me; she said it's a typical part of the bard's equipment." Aedan responded, carefully pouring a single, small glass of the greenish fluid.

"You're not going to start singing, are you? I don't think even a mysterious potion can cure tone deafness."

"Feeling funny today, aren't you? Leliana said this medicine gets rid of alcohol's effects. Bards use it so they can drink with their companions and not get drunk themselves; very useful for getting secrets."

"Well give me some of that. I don't have to hold court but I do need to go to a certain bachelor's party tonight and I'd rather not be hung over before the party even starts."

Downing the cure Aedan blinked as the room stopped spinning around him and thoughts suddenly became much more cogent. Giving Fergus a toothy, predatory smile Aedan shook his head, "Oh no, Fergus. Remember that joke about my party being held in the chantry? Well, I told you I'd get payback."

"Coward, you just don't want to be embarrassed by your brother out drinking you tonight."

"Precisely. Now, I suggest you take a nap and sleep this off because you'll have to get back on the horse by tonight."

"You're cruel, you know that right?"

His response cut off by a loud knocking on the door Aedan crossed the room and opened the door.

"Ser Cauthrien," eyes narrowing as he looked at the soldier's blood spattered armor Aedan ushered her into his quarters, "whatever is the matter?" Turning away from the grim soldier Aedan addressed his inebriated brother, "Fergus, I'm afraid business calls and our morning together is at an end. I'll see you tonight."

"I look forward to it, brother." Fergus responded as he hauled himself out of the chair. "I'll see you later."

Ignoring the chair offered by Fergus as he made his unsteady way out of the room Cauthrien stood rigidly to attention and forced herself to look at Aedan's eyes as she reported.

"The Maker is testing us all, Ser Rylock."

"We will not fail, Your Reverence."

Peering around the corner of the narthex the fanatical Reverend Mother glared at the scene around the cathedral's altar. Turning away in disgust from the sight of Queen Anora resting comfortably on a cushion and nibbling at an apple as the Grand Cleric went through the ritual the Reverend Mother hissed, "Some already have failed. We must see to it that such corruption does not spread."

"Yes, Your Reverence."

"I will arrange for you to be assigned to the palace chantry. The knight-commander of that chantry is also traditionally one of the Queen's advisors so you will be in a position to watch Her Majesty. We must keep an eye on such impiety lest its corruption spread."

"What of the maleficar I've been hunting? He escaped the faithful in the courtyard."

"You still have his phylactery?"

"Of course, Reverence."

"The mage is a small matter and I need you to watch the queen. Give the phylactery to one of your subordinates and let him deal with the maleficar."

"As you wish, Your Reverence."

"No, Ser Rylock, not as I wish but rather as The Maker wills."

Bowing the templar pulled a vial of blood from her belt, "With Andraste's grace we will cut the tumor of disbelief from Ferelden."

"Indeed we shall." The Reverend Mother answered beatifically, "For we have Andraste's approval. She herself has told me so."

Flipping through the sheaf of trade related correspondence Erlina had fetched for her, after all an entire day wasted on fanatics and rituals was an inexcusable dereliction of her duties, Anora glanced at the window. Noting the way the shadows had begun to play on the shattered stained glass that still hung in the battle damaged window frame Anora's impatience escalated as the Grand Cleric's endless, droning chanting continued. Taking a bite of her apple Anora motioned for the ever present Erlina to seal the letter she had just written to the Denerim cobbler's guild. Waiting as the elf carefully removed the vessel of melted, red wax from its improvised perch over a commandeered cluster of votive candles Anora idly scanned the cathedral's gilt ornamentation.

Her appraising survey interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps Anora turned to see Ser Mhairi coming down the center aisle bearing yet another bundle from the palace of letters to be read, missives to be signed, and reports to be considered. Shaking her head at the chantry's stubbornness Anora smirked as the little play that had by now become a well practiced production began once again. As Mhairi neared the altar a reverend mother, dressed in her stately robes and a sense of aggrievement, hurried to stand in the soldier's path. After a brief, whispered conversation complemented by increasingly aggressive body language the reverend moved aside and Ser Mhairi resumed her approach to where Anora kneeled comfortably before the altar.

Ignoring the surrounding clergy's glares as she interrupted the chant's reverent recitation with the mundane words of every-day speech Anora nodded to the soldier, "Thank you, Ser Mhairi, just set those down anywhere. This pile over here is done and ready to be taken back to the palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Mhairi responded, bending low and bringing her head down near to Anora's as she picked up the indicated pile of papers. Hesitating in her crouched position Mhairi's lips briefly moved before she stood and turned for the cathedral door.

Eyes flicking briefly to the stack of documents Mhairi had just dropped off Anora turned to look at the reverend mother who had obstructed the soldier's progress into the cathedral. Curiosity rising as the colorfully dressed mother was nowhere to be found Anora absentmindedly pressed her signet ring into the hot wax that now sealed the letter Erlina had placed before her. Hearing a voice from above her Anora turned back to the altar to find the Grand Cleric standing there with her seemingly constant scowl.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace, I didn't hear you. What did you say?"

"That, with your Majesty's permission," the cleric spat out, "It is time to examine you in preparation for marriage."

Glancing at the various metal instruments which were laid out on the altar where the Grand Cleric had apparently been ritually cleansing them Anora reluctantly stood up from her cushion. "Very well, but those things had better be warm this time. Go ahead, I'll wait…but I want those at body temperature before I take this robe off."

"Therefore I disobeyed your orders and moved to the Queen's aid."

"Anything else to report?"

"Queen Anora requests a meeting with you tonight." Cauthrien answered, hoping that request wasn't the final straw in Aedan's patience.

"I see." Carefully regarding the soldier standing before him Aedan got up from his chair and placed himself directly in front of Ser Cauthrien. "Your assignment was to divide the Royal Guard's loyalty."

"Yes, my lord."

"And you had succeeded. Your entire command, a full half of the guard, disobeyed the Queen in favor of my absentee orders and your commanding presence. Just as I had intended."

"Yes, my lord."

"Why, then, did you disobey me and abandon your mission?"

"I could not stand by and let the Queen die."

Circling the stationary guardswoman who kept her eyes firmly fixed forward Aedan let the silence surrounding them deepen before breaking it, "You already let one royal and one regent die as you stood by and watched; why was this different?"

Jaw and fists clenching as anger warred with shame Ser Cauthrien stood motionless in the face of Aedan's continued, predatory circling. Unrelentingly Aedan continued to heap scorn onto the soldier, "Perhaps it is guilt. After all, your inactivity is responsible for the deaths of Anora's husband and father; it makes sense that you would want to atone for that. Or maybe…"

Her restraint slipping as Aedan continued to pick at the festering memories of Ostagar and the Landsmeet Cauthrien's hand inched towards her greatsword. Smiling as he noticed the movement Aedan stopped his pacing as he came face to face with the tormented soldier. Reaching out and placing both hands on Ser Cauthrien's tense shoulders Aedan's harsh voice immediately softened, "Or maybe you are learning."

Pleased with Cauthrien's confused look Aedan continued, "At Ostagar you blindly followed your master's commands without consideration of your own honor's worth. Then at the Landsmeet when confronted with your master's blatant wrongdoing you prevaricated and helped neither Loghain nor me. You held yourself above the conflict as if that inaction could protect your honor; but avoiding all duties is not honorable. In front of the cathedral it sounds like you learned from these lessons. You ignored my orders like you should have at ignored Loghain's at Ostagar and you actively followed what your sense of honor demanded; as you failed to do at the Landsmeet."

"You want me to disobey you?" Cauthrien asked, foundering in the tidal swells of emotion Aedan's alternate contempt and praise induced.

"Of course not. I do, however, want you to think. Do you remember exactly what I ordered you to do today?"

"You said I should escort Anora to the cathedral and when confronted with the crowd there I was to openly defy Anora's orders to disperse the crowd."

"Exactly, where in those orders did I tell you to let the Queen die? My plan was to force Anora to see that the military backs me instead of her but she ruined that plan when she ignored all commonsense and charged into the mob with only a handful of guards. Ser Cauthrien, you did exactly what I would have ordered you to do in that unexpected situation."

"But you're going to depose Anora; all the nobles are talking about the upcoming power struggle. Wasn't that a perfect opportunity to let Queen Anora die and avoid the dangers of a messy succession?"

"I am not yet King; at the moment I am simply Ferelden's last surviving Warden and have no claim to the throne. If Anora was to die now before I have established my claim the banns would see an opportunity to reject me in favor of a weak ruler who they could control. And defeating all of them would be very messy indeed."

Guiding Cauthrien towards the chair she had previously rejected Aedan saw her seated before pulling his own chair around to face her. Sitting down Aedan resumed speaking while keeping his eyes carefully averted from Cauthrien's, "I'm sorry for putting you in that all too familiar position this morning of being caught between honor and orders. I should not have abused your loyalty so callously by assigning you such an underhanded assignment as subverting the Royal Guard."

Finally making a visible effort to meet the soldier's confused, brown eyes Aedan raised his green gaze to her face. "I'm afraid such decisions are becoming all too common in my new position. I have a confession to make, Ser Cauthrien…if you'll hear it."

Captured by his sorrowful, honest eyes Cauthrien could only nod her agreement as Aedan continued, "I am not an honorable man. I know this because I was raised to be honorable and, until the end of the Blight, I always lived honorably. Since then, however, I have manipulated my brother, planned my betrothed's downfall, ordered several murders…and that is just the beginning. These actions have caused me to spend a lot of time contemplating what makes me different from Loghain and I have come up with an uncomfortable answer: a leader owes more to duty than he does to honor."

Its customary strength seeping back into his voice Aedan sat straighter as he continued, "I believe a king's role is not just to lead a country but to accept an entire country's sins. Loghain took no responsibility for his dishonorable actions. He blamed Ostagar on Cailan's arrogance, Anora's imprisonment on Howe, the Alienage's slavery on me costing his treasury money …none of it was his responsibility. I, however, take responsibility for Anora almost dying today, the murdered's blood is on my hands rather than those of my assassin…had you followed my orders today and Anora had died both her blood and your lost honor would also be on my hands. In accepting this burden I have the same sort of honor through duty that a whore supporting her out of wedlock child has. My actions, my way of life is morally repugnant but the reasons for it are honorable because they fulfill my duty. I plan, order, and execute terrible things but I do it so my followers and the country as a whole can survive.

"Before the Landsmeet you thought me Ferelden's best chance to survive the Blight and you were correct. Tell me, Ser Cauthrien, do you still believe me to be Ferelden's best chance to survive whatever dangers the future will doubtlessly produce; or are squabbling banns and Anora's bookkeeping Ferelden's future?"

Frozen by his intense stare and words Cauthrien swallowed hard as she tried to rapidly sort through all that he had said. "Our nation is weak from the Blight and others will try to take advantage of that. My lord, I stand by my belief that you will see us through such challenges when nobody else can."

"Thank you, Ser Cauthrien, Commander of the King's Wolves."

"What?"

"Your utility as the Queen's Guard captain is over so I've decided to transfer you to my own guard instead."

"I didn't know you had a guard, my lord."

"I've been keeping it as a surprise for the coronation. I would like you to command it both for your experience and martial abilities but also because I need someone of your unwavering integrity near me to help keep me from loosing my way in the dark days that doubtlessly lie ahead."

"It is an honor, my lord. I do not know if your faith in me is well placed but I would rather die than prove faithless."

"I have no doubt of that, Ser Cauthrien and it is exactly why I have selected you." Standing Aedan smiled as he opened the door to dismiss the woman, "Well, that and because I designed the uniforms with you in mind. If nothing else at least I can guarantee that you'll look amazing in the new uniform."

Too confused by the entire conversation to absorb Aedan's last statement Cauthrien made it out of the Warden's chambers before a light blush crept across her normally composed features.

Standing stock still until he heard Cauthrien's footsteps fade away Aedan suddenly burst into motion with an inarticulate shout. Grabbing an empty bottle left behind by Fergus Aedan threw it at the stone wall and watched it shatter sending glass flying throughout most of the room. Unsatisfied he picked up one of the solid, oaken chairs and swung it in a half-circle before sending it flying out the open window. Panting at the sudden exertion Aedan winced at the sudden commotion caused in the palace grounds by an enormous armchair plummeting into the garden's hedges.

Collecting himself Aedan muttered as he straightened his clothing, "Not a total loss. At least I managed to keep Cauthrien on her leash."

Opening the door to find several nervous looking guards Aedan forced a sheepish grin onto his face, "Sorry lads, nothing to worry about. I just found out I have to miss my own bachelor party because of some 'urgent business'. My last night of freedom and I can't even spend it getting blind drunk and waking up next to a complete stranger." Seeing the relieved guards relax and chuckle at this Aedan shook his head sadly, "Could one of you please find my brother and give him the bad news?"

"Right away, my lord."

Giving one last, rueful smile to hide his outburst Aedan nodded his thanks to the eager guardsman and headed down the hallway.

Thankful for the carriage's presence, no matter how bouncy the city's ill kept cobblestones rendered its ride, Anora glance about surreptitiously out of habit before opening the letter Ser Mhairi had said was given to her in the cathedral by the vanishing reverend mother.

Your Majesty,

I represent a group of brothers and sisters in Andraste's service who are concerned about the state of Ferelden's Chantry. The Chantry's excessive display of wealth, increasing political and military power, and lack of charitable efforts has become more pronounced in the last several years and must be addressed. These issues are prevalent throughout Andrastian Thedas but are most obvious in Ferelden due to the upheaval and desolation caused by the Blight. Your animosity towards these aspects of Chantry behavior are well known to those concerned with the Chantry's future and are the reasons that I have contacted you. It is my belief, and that of my compatriots, that with our help you may go some way to restoring the Ferelden Chantry to a form Andraste herself would recognize as the holy institution it was intended to be.

As a token of our faith in your devotion to restoring the Chantry to its proper role in Thedas I will give you a sample of the help you can expect from me and my compatriots. Like many others the Chantries in Kilmoore, Ceidhwyn, Lothering, and Bransford were established on grants of land given out illegally by the Orlesian occupation. After Ferelden's independence the Chantry agreed to compensate the victims of the illegal sales whenever possible. These four parishes, all in the diocese of Grand Cleric Theochoris II, never made any remuneration while within a week of the announcement promising compensation four local, dispossessed freeholders went missing. Documents can be found in the Denerim Cathedral archives, the chantries themselves, and their respective bann's archives.

Andraste's faithful servant,

Reverend Mother 'D'

Slipping the note into her bodice Anora leaned back into the plush seat smiling. Eyes closed Anora spoke to the carriage's other occupant, "First earning my guard's loyalty, then having a chance to catch up on paperwork, and now finding an unexpected chink in the Chantry's armor. Perhaps I ought to devote a few more days at prayer if they're all this productive. What do you think, Erlina?"

"I think, my lady, that you are forgetting you spent at most ten minutes today in prayer."

"Well then I suppose just being in the chantry is enough to earn the Maker's reward."

"I guess so, my lady. Perhaps you should hold your meeting tonight with the Warden in the chantry; you could sure use continued good luck for that."

Eyes opening as she leaned forward from her comfortable recline Anora glared at Erlina, "Thank you so much for spoiling my good mood."

"Any time, my lady."

"Fergus! Why are you still here? My agents who were supposed to be looking out for you two sodden fools have been frantically searching every one of Denerim's surviving tavern for you and Aedan."

Turning to face the bard Fergus gave a snort, "The party was cancelled."

"Why?"

"Apparently something 'urgent' came up. He didn't even tell me himself; sent some annoying guardsman up here to do it instead."

Poking her head back into the hallway Leliana whispered to an unseen person before entering Fergus' room and settling herself on the couch next to the still drunk Fergus. "Have you been drinking because of this?"

"No, me and Aedan got drunk to celebrate my decision to become Teyrn of Highever."

"Oh, that's wonderful, Fergus! I'm so happy for you." Leliana exclaimed, her infectious happiness somewhat alleviating Fergus' alcohol heightened irritation.

"Thanks, Leliana."

"But doesn't Aedan have court this afternoon? Is he doing that as drunk as you are?"

"No, that son of a…"

"He used my potion but didn't give you any, right?" Leliana finished.

"Yeah."

"I would punish him for that, Fergus, but I'm afraid with his marriage withholding sex might not be too useful anymore."

Noting the sudden evaporation of Leliana's usual joyful demeanor Fergus shifted awkwardly, "He loves you. You know that, don't you?"

"Yes, I know." Placing a reassuring hand on Fergus' arm Leliana continued, a brittle brightness edging her voice, "And he loves you too.

"I know."

As a companionable silence fell over the pair Leliana was just about to leave when Fergus spoke, "I just don't understand why he canceled the bachelor's party. I wish I knew what was so important to make him run off like this."

"It is doubtlessly something relating to his plots. Aedan is both a very practical man who seems frustratingly capable of making many decisions without using his emotions and a man capable of neglecting his own immediate gratification with an eye to the future. I'm sure that whatever he's up to is not as enjoyable as your party would have been but he for some reason deems it more important in the long run."

"That doesn't sound like the little brother I knew." Fergus grumbled.

"That's because he isn't that little brother. He is the 'Hero of Ferelden'; that is not some role he plays when he feels like it but it is actually who he has become. Believe me, I know exactly how disappointed you feel right now, if not more so."

"What do you mean?"

"Right before the Battle of Denerim when we were gathering the armies at Redcliffe Aedan did something very similar to this to me." Seeing Fergus' curious expression Leliana explained, "We were going to spend one last night in peace before marching to a very uncertain future but one that was certainly very bloody. That night Aedan was up late having talked to Alistair and an Orlesian Warden named Riordan. Once their secret Warden meeting was over I found Aedan pacing up and down the castle's halls deep in thought. His mind was filled with thoughts of battle, strategy, plans…Maker knows what other weighty matters."

"Well yes, that makes sense."

"Perhaps it does, but my mind was on much less lofty ideas. It was likely the last night we would have together and I wanted to share my love with him for a final time." Smiling sadly at the memory Leliana went on, "Aedan, however, upon hearing my suggestion told me to get some sleep and proclaimed that he was going to do the same himself. Without explaining anything he walked me in silence to the room I shared with Wynne, told the two of us to make sure we were well rested by tomorrow, bid us a goodnight, and then left. Had the battle gone differently my last night would have been listening to that old mage snore as I tried to fall asleep without my love's familiar shape and warmth pressed against my skin."

Emerging from the memory Leliana looked at Fergus' blank face before pulling out a bottle of familiar, green liquid, "Maker's sake, Fergus, here's my potion. Sober up so I can talk to someone intelligent!"

Downing the potion Fergus blinked a few times before speaking, "That stuff is amazing. Thank you, Leliana."

"Don't mention it. Now, do I have someone capable of thinking to talk with?"

"As capable as I ever am."

"Then that will have to do." Leliana laughed, "Now, what I was trying to tell you is that Aedan's refusal to spend one last night with me was devastating…until we killed the Archdemon. Now we have spent many wonderful nights together that I will always remember and, Maker willing, we will have many more chances. Aedan's ignoring my emotional desire and refusing immediate gratification made this future possible. If I had my way both of us would have entered battle sleep deprived and perhaps we would have been killed thereby robbing us of all our time together since that one night he wouldn't sleep with me."

"So you're saying that Aedan missing his own bachelor party might lead to many more nights of drunkenness with my brother in the future."

"Um, no. Not exactly my point. Close, Fergus, but not quite."

"I'm just pointing out that unless you're going to be making a lot more of this potion the hangovers that future holds make it more a curse than a blessing." Fergus said, a grin splitting his face.

"I think I like you more drunk and depressed." Leliana said, glaring at the smiling Cousland, "You were far better at holding a serious conversation."

A/N: Okay, almost done with the wedding's lead up. Next chapter will have Aedan and Anora's little talk, the coronation and wedding, and maybe even the wedding night.