Chapter 14
Marlena could only stare at him. Wearing a dark blue doublet and matching breeches, Alistair looked pretty much the same as she last saw him except his amber eyes no longer glowed. They now conveyed a sobering resigned look, and the spark was completely gone from them.
This was the man who sent her away to rebuild the Grey Wardens at Vigils Keep. She had been pregnant when killing both the Architect and the Mother but Eamon put it into his head that she had been unfaithful with Nathaniel. Alistair did not have the sense to count back the months of when their son could have been conceived and he would have known that she remained true to him. After all they had been through; Alistair doubted her love and believed Eamon, turning his back on her when she needed him the most.
"I know I have no right to even be standing here considering what I did to you." Alistair broke the silence.
"Actually it's more like what you did not do. Is there something you wanted? Do I have to sign some sort of document after testifying?"
"Please Marlee. Please hear me out."
"Its funny how you want me to listen to you after you cut all ties with me when you believed Eamon's lies. And you did nothing to stop it when my reputation was being destroyed. You just let it happen."
"Marlee please listen." Alistair reached out to touch her but drew his hand back when he saw her recoil and step back. "I know nothing can take back what happened. And you have to believe me that I will never forgive myself. I just believed…."
"You believed that it was impossible for two Wardens to conceive." Marlena interrupted. "The Warden from Weisshaupt Fortress who saved my life told me that because I still had cycles, it enabled me to conceive."
"Duncan did say a great many things were assumed that had not held true."
"How could you even consider for one moment that I was not faithful to you?" Marlena folded her arms and waited for him to answer.
"I don't…know. You were considered a hero, we were apart and Eamon was putting things in my head at the time. The pressure was coming at me at all sides."
"You felt threatened by my status? Well let me tell you something your Majesty, I never wanted to be known as the Hero of Ferelden. I never asked to lead the group when we were on the road. You forced that role on
me without even considering that I might have been grieving over the lost of my family as well as Duncan. Granted you were an excellent second, I did the majority of everything! And after the Blight, I did not ask or request to be Commander of the Grey yet I did it."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I knew if I said anything, nothing would come of it. It did not matter. I am a Cousland. We do our duty."
The silence seemed to engulf them as they looked at each other.
"He had your eyes Alistair… and as I held him in my arms, he looked at me as if asking, why? And then…his eyes closed." Marlena started to sob. "You should have been there!"
"Marlee I am so sorry." Alistair choked. "I just pray that one day you will forgive me. And I know as long as I live I will never forgive myself for not believing in you."
"Alistair. I forgave you a long time ago. But I will never forget."
"I don't expect you to." Alistair sighed
Marlena looked at him and had a revelation. While a small part of her felt pity and perhaps even cared, those other feelings she once had for him were completely gone. All she could think about was Teagan. He had her heart now and all she wanted is to have a life with him and Rowan.
"Alistair, Wynne told me about the babies Anora lost. For what its worth I am sorry."
"Another one of my mistakes." Alistair lamented. "I don't know what possessed me to go along with Eamon's plan of bringing Anora out of exile. Damn him!"
"We conceived a child Alistair and surely you know that while Anora may be playing the dutiful wife now, she is capable of a lot of things. And as for Eamon; its best to let it go with him. The man is dying; he will answer to the Maker for his actions."
"I don't want to talk about Anora or Eamon Marlee. I just want to know. I need to know…."
"Know what Alistair?"
"Do you love him?"
"I love Teagan with all my heart Alistair. I can't see my life without him."
"He's very lucky you know."
"Actually I am the lucky one."
"I better let you get back to him then." Alistair said.
"Yes. I should go. Take care… Alistair."
"Goodbye Marlee."
Marlena turned and left the room.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Marlena found Teagan waiting for her outside.
"Are you alright?" Teagan put his arms around her.
"I'm fine." Marlena said as she kissed him.
"Actually I could not help but hear some of your conversation and I'd just like to correct one thing. I am the lucky one."
Teagan reached out and caressed her cheek and connected his lips to hers, kissing her slowly.
"I love you."
"And I love you."
"Lena, Eamon wants to see you as well. I hope that's alright."
"It's fine. Where is he?"
"We are to meet him at his estate."
"Let's go then."
"He's not looking… well Lena. I'm relieved you don't mind going with me."
"No matter what he's done, he is your brother Teagan. Let us hear what he has to say."
Alistair came out of the room in time to see Teagan and Marlena kissing before they walked towards Fergus and Sandra. He watched as Fergus gave her a hug and the four of them laughed. After Marlena gave her sister-in-law a hug, she went off with Teagan.
Alistair let out a sigh and motioning for his guards, and headed towards the entrance that would take him directly back to the palace and for the first time he was how alone he truly was.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teagan squeezed Marlena's hand as they sat with Eamon in his study.
"Thank you. Thank you both for coming." Eamon offered them both a drink and they both declined.
"You said you wanted to see the both of us Eamon." Marlena watched Eamon pour himself a drink. He suddenly stumbled back and Teagan got up.
"Are you alright."
"I'm fine Teagan; you needn't trouble yourself over me."
Teagan sat back down and took Marlena's hand.
Eamon sat down on the chair and looked at them and Marlena saw the weariness and regret in his eyes. As much as she wanted to, Marlena could not hate him. She would never like him or forget what he did but she could not hate him.
"I'm going to be honest. I don't have much longer to live. I now need the assistance of a mage every few hours now. My concern now is for the arling. It is running well with the regent but once I die it could revert back to the property of the crown unless there is a new Arl."
"You want Teagan to reclaim the arling." Marlena said.
"Actually I want the both of you to reclaim it."
"Do you know what you are asking of me Eamon?" Teagan's voice shook. "I have not been there since…"
"I know Eamon but I am begging you, I do not want Redcliffe be given to someone that is not a Guerrin."
Teagan looked at Marlena. "I know how much you love Rainesfere. You're going to be my wife. You will be adopting Rowann. And agreeing to this will make you my Arlessa."
"Teagan I would live in a one room shack with you and Rowann if we had to. I don't see why a compromise can't be made. From what I saw when I was in Redcliffe, the place practically runs itself. Why can't we live six to seven months out of the year there and devote the rest of time to Rainesfere and Denerim? I also have no intention of never visiting my brother, so we have to plan for trips to Highever as well."
"Then you agree?" Marlena could see a faint spark in Eamon's eyes when he asked that.
"I have one more condition." Teagan said. "The family quarters will be moved to the other wing of the castle and the other wing be converted into something else. Lena and I will not live in the rooms where Kaitlyn, my son, and numerous servants were slaughtered by your wife."
"I will have all the wings refurbished." Eamon smiled wearily. "If that is what it takes to get you to come back."
"Lena will pick out the furniture while we are here. If we are to go back, I want nothing to remind me of Isolde."
"Then it is settled." Eamon's hands shook as he took a sip of his drink. "Marlena, pick out everything you want and have it billed to me."
Eamon looked at Teagan. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me."
"I'm not doing it for you Brother." Teagan said in a cold tone. "I'm doing this for Rowann. Redcliffe is part of her legacy."
"We need to get back. Fergus and Sandra are expecting us." Marlena said as she stood up.
"Marlena, would you wait by the main door? I need to speak to Teagan alone for a few minutes."
"Alright." Marlena kissed Teagan and turned to Eamon.
"Goodbye Eamon."
"Goodbye Marlena."
Teagan and Eamon watched as Marlena left the room and shut the door.
"So what did you want to say Eamon?" Teagan folded his arms and looked at him.
"I know you may not believe this Teagan but I am happy for you."
"You know six years ago when you were still comatose, Isolde offered to sacrifice herself so that Connor would be saved. I begged Marlena to spare Isolde and she did."
"I know Teagan. I also know our relationship will never be the same after what Isolde…. did."
"No it never will be but that does not mean I want to see you… suffer."
"I don't deserve your sympathy Teagan. I just want to know if you're happy."
"I love Marlena, Eamon. She brought me back from the brink and I can't see my life without her."
"You deserve to be happy Teagan. I know I have depended on you far too much and have not been the best brother."
"Its nice to know you can see that."
"Take care of yourself Teagan."
"Goodbye Eamon."
Teagan turned and walked away.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Later that evening, Eamon sat in his room waiting for the mage to come to treat him.
"So what does it feel like being alone?"
Eamon looked up saw an Elven mage standing in the doorway.
She looked to be in her early fifties and had a slight Orlesian accent.
"Who are you?" He asked. "Where is Renee?"
"Renee was indisposed. I agreed to take her place." The woman said in a cool tone. "But I have a few things I want to say to you Eamon, considering you failed my son."
"Who are you?"
"I am Fiona." She glared. "And you not only failed my son but my grandson as well."
Eamon gasped, clutched his chest and collapsed in his chair at the realization of who this woman was.