Chapter 4

Marlena was pleasantly surprised to find her trunks unpacked and the tub already filled. Her robe was already laid out on her bed and a vase of roses sat on her table. After her bath, she opened the glass doors and stepped out into the balcony to take in the view and noticed several men on horses making their way up to the entrance.

Sensing this was not going to be a friendly visit, Marlena quickly dressed and headed downstairs.

Ser Perth and Ser Donall were downstairs talking in hushed tones.

"Something wrong gentlemen?" She asked.

"We were just coming to get you Marlee." Ser Perth said. "Vaughan Urien is here and is requesting the money that Teagan owes him."

"How much does he owe Vaughan?"

"One hundred eighty sovereign."

"Holy Maker!" Marlena exclaimed. "For what?"

"A few weeks before you arrived, there was a break in at the winery where all the bottles… were destroyed. We could not get in contact with our other bottle vendor and had to ask Vaughan for assistance." Ser Donall explained.

"Asking Vaughan for help is like saying yes to a desire demon. And it's a bit too convenient if you ask me."

"What are you going to do?" Ser Perth asked.

"I'm going to pay him of course." Marlena smiled. "I believe in keeping my enemies close gentlemen. It makes it easier to get them at the end. Will one of you go to the vault and count out two hundred sovereign from the gold I brought?"

"But its only one hundred and eighty sovereign that we owe him Marlee." Ser Donall said.

"Don't worry." Marlena grinned. "I know what I'm doing."

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Fifteen minutes later, Marlena stepped outside and smiled graciously as Vaughan's mouth dropped at the sight of her.

"Hello Vaughan." Marlena breezed over to him and gave him a bow.

"Marlena Cousland!" Vaughan looked at her hungrily. "Hero of Ferelden or rather… Goddess of Ferelden in my opinion.

"Still the charmer I see." Marlena said.

"Only for a beautiful woman such as yourself."

"I understand Bann Teagan owes you some money." Marlena said. "One hundred eighty sovereign is it?"

"Um...yes and I am dreadfully embarrassed because that's the reason I came." Vaughan said as he tried to feign being sympathetic. "I know the man has endured a… great deal not to mention having it hidden by that selfish cad of a brother but a deal is a deal and I am in dire need of funds at the moment."

"Of course." Marlena said. "And since I was made acting Regent of Rainesfere, I will also be handling all of Teagan's business affairs so here is the money that is owed to you. I included an extra twenty sovereign…just to call it even."

Vaughan looked both surprised and disappointed as she handed the sack of coins to him.

"Feel free to count it if you wish." Marlena said as she gingerly traced her lips with one of her fingers and watched Vaughan as he started to perspire.

"I don't think that will be necessary." He said, handing the sack to one of his guards. "Thank you for your time in handling this matter. I can see it will be a pleasure doing business with you. If you can forgive me, I must take my leave. Please give Teagan my regards."

"I will Vaughan." Marlena smiled. "Take Care."

Ser Perth came out of the castle and walked over to her as she watched Vaughan ride off

"You handled that well." He said

"He makes me want to puke." Marlena said disgustedly. "But we have to stay on his good side…for the time being at least. I have a bad feeling about him."

"I do too."

"First think tomorrow morning, I want to get every one of Teagan's debts paid then we can go on from there."

"Fortunately, his remaining debts are not as substantial but we really need to fill up the coffers."

"We will Ser Perth." She said reassuringly.

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That evening Marlena walked by Teagan's room, finding the door opened. She watched with fascination as he pulled himself out of the chair then onto the bed and actually noticed one of his legs moving slightly. Teagan then removed his shirt, revealing a smooth, muscular chest and arms which made Marlena stifle a gasp before she silently chided herself for staring.

"Is there something you wanted Marlena." He asked in a cold tone.

Marlena stepped in the room and handed him several folded pieces of parchment.

"Your daughter drew these pictures for you. She wanted me to give them to you."

Teagan glanced at them and set them on his nightstand. "Thank you. Close the door when you leave."

"Is that all you can say?" Marlena was furious.

"There is nothing else to say."

"Oh sod it!" Marlena growled as she stormed out of the room.

"You did not shut the door." Teagan called.

Marlena returned ten minutes later holding a hammer and nails.

"What are you doing?" Teagan asked.

"I'm doing this for your daughter." She took the pictures and proceeded to nail each of them on the wall by the door."

"In the name of the Maker! You have no right to intrude like this." Teagan seethed. "I will just get someone to take them down."

"No you won't." Marlena laughed. "I am paying their salaries while I am in charge. And I already told them to ignore your requests. If you want them removed, you will just have to get out of that bed and do it yourself."

"You really are a heartless bitch you know!" Teagan shot back.

"And you are not honoring Kaitlyn's memory by wallowing in self pity." Marlena replied. "You are going to look at those pictures every day Britta rolls you out that door."

Marlena slammed the door when she left his room, angrily brushing past Britta and Ser Perth as she headed to her room.

Small Breakthrough

Teagan sat up in bed and reached for the pitcher of water. Gathering his strength he prepared to hurl the pitcher where Marlena had hung the pictures but set it back down on the nightstand.

"Damn her."

He closed his eyes, and placed both of his legs off the bed and sat up to where his feet touched the floor and slowly started to stand up before collapsing on the bed and cursing in frustration.

Wine: Its not just Red and White

After Marlena settled all of Teagan's debts, she visited the winery, met the workers and the master brewer who was a portly and jovial man named Jarrod and he was happy to spend the next few weeks teaching her about wine making.

Marlena had no idea there was so much to learn. There was the process of stomping the grapes, the purification process, bottling, and aging. And wine tasting was so much more difficult than it looked. She had to survey the color, take in the aroma, and when taking a sip, hold it in her mouth for a few seconds before swallowing. Then she would have to describe her perceptions. Jarrod would ask her what she thought of the bouquet, the taste or whether it was too fruity or acidic, or even buttery. She had no idea wine could be too buttery! And when he asked what she thought of its oak flavor, Marlena could only give him a blank stare and he patiently explained that an oak flavor is introduced from contact with the storage bottles made from that wood. She then learned that newer oak barrels contributed a stronger flavor to a wine than the older ones.

Marlena would come back to the castle feeling exhausted yet strangely fulfilled.

There was one day when she even made Teagan laugh when Britta took him to the winery and he saw her in the vat, stomping the grapes with the workers. She had slipped once and Britta told her later that day that it was the first time she had seen him laugh.

Marlena was surprised to find Teagan waiting for her in the study one day.

"Teagan!" Marlena exclaimed. "I never expected to see you here."

"It is my study you know."

"Of course it is." Marlena said.

"You received some letters today." He handed her a stack and watched her go through them.

"Thank you."

Teagan watched as she tossed two of them in the fire.

"Who were those from?"

"If you must know, one was from Alistair and the other from Wynne." Marlena said bitterly. "When your brother confessed his injustice towards you at the Landsmeet, he also publicly admitted his lies about me."

"He did?" Teagan was surprised.

"Yes. Apparently I am no longer considered a whore or a pariah."

"You know I never realized the extent of my brother's ambition until what he did to you and then what he did to me…I realized I never really knew him."

"Well, if it's any consolation, he's apparently angered many people over his actions."

"I could care less. That anger will not bring back what we've lost."

"If you see any more letters from Alistair and Wynne, feel free to throw them in the fire. I have nothing to say to them. Alistair hid behind your brother and never made an attempt to hear my side of the story. He didn't even think the baby was his. I don't care how many letters he sends, I want nothing to do with him. He is the king to me and nothing else. And as for Wynne, she always favored Alistair as we traveled so it was only natural she took Eamon's side. Alistair is like a son to her and it would never occur to her that the honorable Eamon would lie."

"So I take it you won't be attending the Denerim Court or any Landsmeet."

"I plan to have a representative attend." Marlena smiled. "Ser Perth would be an excellent choice to attend."

"I agree." Teagan said. "But I give you the task of telling him."

"Since you're here I might as well ask you something I have been putting off." Marlena said. "I was wondering if I could plant some flowers near Kaitlyn's grave. I remember how much she liked the garden at Vigil's Keep."

"She loved the garden." Teagan sighed at the memory. "Yes, you have my permission. Plant anything you wish there."

"Thank you Teagan."

"Thank you for asking first."

Marlena looked at Teagan and smiled. They were actually communicating and getting along. She didn't know whether she should feel relieved or suspicious but decided not to question it. They would most likely argue again tomorrow anyway.