Chapter 2
"Isolde?" Marlena gasped. "I always thought she was a bit off but I never thought she was capable of murder. My heart goes out to Teagan."
"That why we sent for you." Fergus said. "Eamon had no where else to turn to."
"What does he want with me?" Marlena could feel herself shaking. "More importantly, what makes you think I would want to deal with that man after what he did to me?" Marlena closed her eyes and shook her head as the memories came to the surface
"This is not about me Marlena. Its about helping Teagan."
She turned to see Eamon standing at the doorway.
"Oh Maker!" Marlena stood up and took several steps back. "He's here and you didn't even tell me!
"Eamon we weren't ready for you." Sandra said.
"Please hear him out sister." Fergus implored her. "This is about Teagan and nothing else."
"I will listen." Marlena glared. "But I make no promises."
"You have every right to hate me Marlena." Eamon said as he walked towards her. "What I did to you and Alistair was unforgivable and I will have to answer to the Maker for that sin among many others.
Marlena stepped closer to Fergus who put his arm around her.
"I had you summoned back to Ferelden because of your friendship with Teagan and Kaityln as well as your expertise with running Amarantine. Teagan has not recovered from this tragedy. He has not seen his daughter in nearly a year, his winery is in disarray and he is in danger of losing his lands. I need your help."
"What makes you think I can help him?"
"You have dealt with a great deal of tragedy in your life, including the one I perpetrated on you." Eamon said. "Your courage and resilience helped you to survive.
I believe you are the only who will be able help Teagan. He has…disowned me and I need him to move on from this."
"I did not simply move on Eamon." Marlena hissed. "Those horrific events became a part of who I am today. And I do not doubt it has not been easy for Teagan. It was your wife who killed his family. For the love of the Maker! How did this even happen?"
"It was my fault." Eamon said. "I left her at Redcliffe when I became busy being Alistair's chancellor and did not see the signs of her growing instability. I asked Teagan and Kaitlyn to watch her when I should have let them focus on their own lives. There were some isolated incidents but nothing that gave me pause. Even the castle's staff was aware of her instability but it never dawned on them that she would go this far."
"Where was Connor when this happened?" Marlena asked.
"He was at the Circle." Eamon said. "And he blames himself for what happened."
"A servant discovered them the next morning when they did not come down for breakfast. They thought Teagan was dead until one of the guards saw him breathe. There was a mage at the chantry and she managed to save him. Isolde was found covered in blood and calmly sitting in a chair. And Ser Perth and Ser Donall managed to get her in the dungeon."
"She killed a baby." Marlena cried. 'I don't care how insane Isolde was. She deserves to rot for that act alone.
"They told me she kept mumbling about having to kill the demons."
"Eamon, I knew she was not right in the head when I knew what she did to Alistair, when he was a child. And it was obvious after the event with Connor and saving Redcliffe that she was…fragile."
"You don't think I realize that now?" Eamon asked. "My ambition and pride have destroyed my family. I have made Teagan deprive his precious little girl the father she desperately needs."
"Why did you keep this secret for so long?" Marlena asked
Eamon bowed his head and did not answer.
"Oh I see!" Marlena raised her voice. "You wanted to avoid the public embarrassment that your Orlesian wife slaughtered your brother's family. How could you do that to Teagan when he's supported you all these years? Did you know he and Alistair begged me to save Isolde and not let her be sacrificed to save your son?"
"The nobles at the Landsmeet were recently made aware of Isolde's deeds." Fergus said.
"Isolde escaped from the asylum she was being held at." Sandra said. "She was caught but ended up being recognized."
"I finally had to face up to them." Eamon said. "They were already getting suspicious about Teagan's absence."
"And what did they say?"
"Most of them were angry, betrayed and expressed sympathy for Teagan." Eamon said. "Alistair became even more furious at me because I made another confession."
"And what was that Eamon?" Marlena asked.
"I told everyone that you did not betray Alistair with Nathaniel Howe. I confessed and publicly apologized to Commander Howe."
"He probably did not care what you had to say."
"He told me to sod off for the most part. Alistair summoned me to his study where I resigned as his Chancellor."
"So that means he realizes…"
"Yes Marlena." Eamon said solemnly. "Alistair knows the baby was his."
Marlena sat down in a chair. It was supposed to be near impossible for a Grey Warden to conceive but she had beaten the odds. She could not wait to tell Alistair but Eamon had other plans back then. Her late father's popularity had haunted Eamon and he did not want two Grey Wardens ruling Ferelden. When visiting Vigil's Keep, Eamon had witnessed an innocent moment where she was giving comfort to Nathaniel and misconstrued it for his own benefit. Eamon immediately accused her of betraying Alistair and returned to Denerim. Three days later, she received a letter saying representatives would be dealing with her when it came to Warden Business. She had written several letters to Alistair pleading with him but they were never answered. In her eighth month, Eamon came by and ordered her not bother Alistair again and they had a horrible fight. Marlena ended up falling. Anders and a warden visiting from Weisshaupt Fortress who was also a mage had saved her but the baby did not survive. The most devastating revelation was when the Weisshaupt Warden had told that the child was born without the taint. By that time Fergus had taken her back to Highever and cared for her when she had fallen into a deep depression after her son was buried. Marlena had named him Roderick Oren after Ser Gilmore and her nephew and would spend everyday at his grave until eventually recovering and returning to Vigil's Keep. But Eamon damaged her reputation enough that she could no longer effectively rule so she left Ferelden. Marlena had the support of the people she considered close friends with the exception of Wynne who sided with Eamon. She also had the support of several nobles but it was Teagan and Kaitlyn who had ardently came to her defense on many occasions. Teagan began to see his brother differently but there was not much he could do then. Leliana and Zevran convinced her to leave Ferelden and they traveled for a time before settling in Antiva where she was treated like royalty and enjoyed a life of decadence.
"I still can't believe you have even agreed to speak to this man Fergus, after what he did."
"Sister, I have not forgotten his injustice towards you but I am not a stranger to Teagan's pain and I know you aren't either. You survived Howe's destruction of our family. You also know the pain of losing a child."
"What do you want me to do?" Marlena sighed.
"You are to be acting Reagent of Rainesfere." Eamon said. "The province is small; a little over one hundred people occupy it. Most of them work at the winery or the grape orchards but there are a few farms along the village."
"I know very little about wine." Marlena said.
"Teagan's master brewer will teach you everything you need to know." Eamon said. "Along with dealing with the winery, there have been problems with bandits and there are rumors that they were hired by nobles who deem this tragedy as an opportunity to take over his lands."
"And where will I be residing when I am doing this?"
"Teagan's estate has more than enough room for you. It's very beautiful and there's plenty of space for you to help him learn to walk again."
"Learn to walk?" Marlena's eyes widened. "Are you telling me he's still paralyzed?"
"All the physicians and mages who have checked him told me he is healed and has the ability to walk again but refuses."
"How is he getting around?"
"Owen made him a wheelchair and he has a nurse."
"A very tired and frustrated nurse." Sandra added.
"If anybody can make him walk again, its you sister." Fergus said.
"I have some conditions if I do this." Marlena looked at Eamon.
"Of course." He said. "I wouldn't expect you to not have any."
"First, I refuse to attend the Denerim Court and any Landsmeet. I will appoint a representative in my place."
"Agreed." Eamon said. "Anything else?"
"When Zevran and Leliana arrive, I want them to come to Rainesfere. The both have the experience to help me deal with these bandits and the nobles who may be responsible for them."
"Of course they are welcome to help you." Eamon said,
"And finally I want no interference from you Eamon." Marlena said. "You will let me do what I have to do.'
"Marlena, my brother wants nothing to do with me." Eamon sighed. "I promise I will not interfere. I don't care what methods you employ. I just want him well so he can be a father to his daughter."
"Then we have an agreement." Marlena said. "I'll help Teagan."
"Thank you Marlena." Eamon looked as if he was about hug her.
"Here is the decree declaring you regent." Fergus handed her a parchment that bore the royal seal. "Alistair also wrote you a letter."
Marlena threw the letter in the fire. "That's what Alistair can do with his letters."
"He's visited the grave Marlee." Fergus said.
"The king can visit the grave as much as he wants. And when you see him at court, feel free to tell him that his son was free of the taint."
"No!" Eamon exclaimed.
"Yes Eamon, my son was born perfectly healthy. The warden from Weisshaupt told me she thought the baby absorbed the taint and some sort of resistance was formed in the womb."
"I am so sorry Marlena."
"I take it from the regret in your voice that Alistair has no heir yet." Marlena said.
"He doesn't." Eamon admitted.
"That's too bad." Marlena said in nonchalant tone.
Marlena watched as Eamon sank down in a chair.
"I don't care how sorry you are now Eamon. It's not going to bring back my son. I will help Teagan but I am not doing it for you. I'll do it for him and his little girl."
"Thank you Marlena." Eamon said. "The Crown of course will be compensating you for this."
"I don't need anything from the Crown. I have plenty of money. I will need a horse and wagon however."
"I'll get that arranged." Fergus said.
"I'll send word that you will be arriving."
"Who are you sending word to if Teagan is not speaking to you?"
"Ser Perth and a few knights resigned out of loyalty to Teagan and are living there."
"Its touching to know Teagan inspires such loyalty." Marlena said. "Or they have just realized your nobility was a façade."
They watched as she walked out of the room.
"Why didn't you mention you were dying Eamon?" Fergus asked.
"She'll know eventually. I just want her focus on helping Teagan. That is all that matters."