Chapter 15
"By the expression on your face, it's quite obvious you know who I am." Fiona folded her arms and walked over to him. "I suppose Maric or Duncan did not reveal my immunity to the taint."
Fiona cast a healing spell on him and shook her head in disgust. "I'm not going to give you the satisfaction of dying on me Eamon…at least not yet."
"What do you want? Does Alistair know you are here?" Eamon coughed.
"Do you think I want to add more heartbreak to my son Eamon? He will never know my true identity. As for my desires, I merely wanted to speak to the remaining man alive who failed my son. Maric is dead. Duncan made a great many mistakes but there were many circumstances which were out of his control; because of you, so I really can't say he failed my son. So that leaves you Eamon."
"I did the best I could."
Fiona cast a spell that pulled him towards and she grabbed him by the neck.
"You made my son sleep in the stables and the kennels. You let your wife mistreat him before sending him off to the chantry!" Fiona unleashed a spell that flung Eamon against his bed.
"Do you think I don't have any regrets Fiona? If I had the chance to go back and change some things I would. And you did not do your son any favors by abandoning him."
"Oh I do not deny I failed Alistair and that is something I will have to live but your actions were reprehensible. Alistair was the consequence of Maric's infidelity. Deny it all you want, but you resented Maric and because of loyalty to your sister, you took it out on Alistair. While you never beat him, you showed him very little love or affection and you did not prepare him for his current role. The worst thing you did however is looking away at your wife's actions and then giving in to her."
"And that's why sending him to the Chantry was for the best."
"Oh I agree it was good that he escaped from the wretch you call a wife."
"How do you know all of this?"
"I was the one who saved Marlena's life, the night you accidentally pushed her. I came from Weisshaupt Fortress to meet the Warden-Commander who defeated The Architect and another hideous evil that threatened Ferelden I never expected to hold my dead grandson in my arms."
"She told you all of this?"
"You forget I am a mage Eamon and a very powerful one at that. I probed her mind when she was unconscious and saw and felt everything she went through."
"She does not know you are Alistair's mother?"
"I merely a Warden and a friend who was there for her during her darkest hour and I saw what you put her through."
"I truly regret my actions considering what she did for Ferelden and for me. I just felt threatened by her status."
"No Eamon, you felt threatened because she was a Cousland and came from the second most powerful family in Ferelden."
"Its actually ironic you know because Maric once said something to me before I even knew I was expecting Alistair." Fiona continued. "He told me if Theirin line somehow ended. He wanted to see a Cousland on the throne. They were the oldest family in Ferelden and he felt they deserved it above all the other noble families."
"Why are you telling me this Fiona?"
"I'm telling you this because there will be a Cousland on the throne one day. It won't be Marlena and it won't be her brother but the time is coming. I've seen it my dreams."
"And what else have you seen in your dreams Fiona?"
"Rowan. Your sister came to me in the Fade. She is very disappointed in you Eamon and sees you as hiding behind the guise of a noble man when you are as opportunistic and power hungry as Loghain was. She saw the sins you perpetrated on your brother. She had your nephew in her arms when she came to me and asked me to show you something."
"What did she want me to see?"
Fiona put her hand on Eamon's forehead and Eamon gasped at the intensity of the heat.
"You need to see your wife's insanity Eamon. You're going to see what she did that night to your brother's family."
"No. Please!" Eamon struggled but it was too late, his mind was flooded with images of Isolde attacking Teagan and killing Kaitlyn. He cried out and doubled over in agony as the images repeated in his mind but the most horrifying image was seeing how calm Isolde was as she placed the pillow over Teagan's infant son's head and smothered him to death.
Fiona let him go and he collapsed on the bed.
Maker forgive me!" Eamon cried out as he covered her face.
"Teagan is not much different than Alistair. He sought your love and approval much the same way Alistair was looking for it. The only real difference between them is Teagan put aside his own happiness to serve you until he met Kaitlyn.
"I am so sorry." Eamon cried. "Please do not take Marlena away from Teagan. He deserves to be happy after what I did to him."
"I have no intention of taking Marlena away from your brother. Her relationship with Alistair died when their son died. There is no going back."
"Thank you." Eamon sighed. "At least they will a couple of decades of happiness."
"Marlena's going to have a long life Eamon. When her body prepared itself as her son grew in her, it diminished the taint. I think my immunity played a part, but I think it was her son growing inside her that weakened the taint. Something about new blood destroys the taint."
"Does this mean Alistair is immune?"
"Yes Eamon."
"Will he be able to have…"
"Children?" Fiona interrupted. "He conceived a child with Marlena. I have no doubt he will able to again but not with that woman you forced him with.
"Another one of my sins." Eamon sighed.
"The apple does not fall far from the tree Eamon. If she had not given Cailan a child what made you think she would give one to Alistair? You should have considered that when you brought that bitch back from exile."
"I had no choice. The queen needed to be as popular as…"
"As popular as Marlena."
"Anora still had her loyalists and Alistair needed a popular queen to solidify his strength on the throne."
"You did not want a Cousland to share the throne, yet you let the daughter of the man who betrayed his country." Fiona laughed.
"Oh Maker what have I done?" Eamon lamented.
"You need not worry Eamon. I will deal with Loghain's daughter."
"And what are you going to do with me?"
"I plan to do nothing Eamon. As I said, I wanted to speak to the man who failed my son. You are already being punished for your sins. You are dying and you are alone. Teagan and Marlena are going to restore honor to the Guerrin name. And given by how you look, I say you have about a week left."
"Why don't you just end it for me now?"
"Because that would mean giving you mercy. Goodbye Eamon. I hope it was worth it."
Eamon broke down and watched as she left the room.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Marlena stood with the furniture vendor and watched as everything she purchased for Redcliffe was being packed.
"Hello Marlena."
"Fiona!" Marlena turned to see the woman standing a foot away from her.
She rushed towards Fiona and the women embraced.
"It's so good to see you my dear." Fiona smiled. "I received your last letter just before I left Vigil's Keep. Congratulations on your engagement."
"Thank you Fiona. I haven't felt this happy in ages."
"You deserve to be happy considering all that you have done. I see your reputation and honor has been restored with Eamon confessing his lies and you being one of those responsible for bringing Vaughn to justice."
"I'm just relieved Vaughn will no longer be able to hurt anyone else. As for my reputation, I would gladly be known as the whore of Ferelden, if I could have my son back."
"I know. You never get over the loss of a child. It weaves into you and becomes part of who you are." Fiona said as they walked over to the bench and sat down. "I often wonder if things would have been different had I arrived an hour earlier."
"You saved my life Fiona. I don't blame you for what happened to my baby. I was just relieved that you told the Wardens at Weisshaupt that the body of my son was burned in a pyre. I know they would have wanted his body."
"Yes they would have and I was not about to let that happen. But enough of such talk. You're getting married and adopting Bann Teagan's daughter."
"Yes I am and it's Arl Teagan. The arling was restored back to him at Eamon's insistence. And I can't wait to be mother to Rowann."
"From what I heard about Teagan, he is a good man. The two of you will restore honor to the Guerrin name and you will be wonderful mother."
"Thank you Fiona. So tell me, what are you doing in Denerim? How are things at the Vigil?"
"Everything is running smoothly at the Vigil. I've decided to take a leave of absence. I heard rumors there may be some vacancies for some mages at the palace." Fiona studied Marlena's face for a reaction.
"I think that is a marvelous idea. I think Alistair could use someone who is an outsider."
"So you don't harbor anymore animosity towards the king?"
"I don't hate Alistair Fiona. But things will never be the same between us. I saw him the other day. It was difficult but I do wish him well."
"You are a good woman Marlena. I trust you will keep in touch?" Fiona smiled.
"Of course I will write." Marlena said as she stood up. "I wish I could stay longer but I'm expected back at my brother's. You take care of yourself Fiona, it was wonderful seeing you."
"It was good seeing you as well Marlena." Fiona squeezed her had and watched as Marlena walked away.
"You're going to have another child Marlena." Fiona whispered
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teagan was coming down the hall when Marlena returned.
"You're back." He put his arms around her. "Did you get everything?"
"I picked out the majority of it. There are still a few odds and ends that can be picked up at another time. Where is everyone?"
"Fergus and Sandra are out for the evening and the children are sleeping and under the care of their nanny."
Marlena's eyes met Teagan's.
"I'll tell the servants we're not to be disturbed." Marlena said before his lips crashed onto hers for a brief frenzied kiss.
"I'll be upstairs."
After instructing the servants to not disturb, Marlena raced back to the room and shut the door, making sure it was locked.
His shirt partially undone, Teagan was standing in the middle of the room waiting for her.
Teagan pulled her close and kissed her again, his lips molding against hers, while his tongue traced her lips, asking to be let in. She opened her mouth slowly until their tongues met.
Marlena could feel Teagan's slowly undo the buttons of her dress as she undid the laces of his breeches. She removed his shirt and rubbed his chest as she felt her dress slid down her body. Teagan shook when he felt her free his erection from the confines of his small clothes. Marlena gave a wicked a wicked smile, knelt down taking him in his and began to suck.
"Lena." He breathed.
She wrapped her hand around the base of his cock, stroking him slowly as she continued to suck him.
"Enough." Teagan groaned. "As much as I love it, I won't last much longer. " He gently pulled her up and carried her to the bed.
Marlena coiled her legs around him as his cock probed her folds. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, as he plunged into her.
"Oh sweet mercy." Teagan moaned as he felt her inner muscles squeeze him.
He watched the ecstasy on Marlena's face her hips lifted to meet his.
Teagan kissed Marlena's hand as she stroked his face and his eyes closed and he sped up his thrusts. He groaned when she met every thrust and fought back his impending release when she cried out his name after his thumb found her clit and gently flicked it.
Their movements became frantic and soon, Marlena screamed her release. Teagan shuddered and growled when feeling her inner walls clench and pulse around him, milking his own release. He collapsed upon her and she wrapped her arms around him.
Teagan kissed Marlena as she sighed and moaned as he rolled off her.
"Maker! You were on fire just now." Teagan put his arm around him and she snuggled against him.
"Everything just seems more exquisitely sensitive than usual today. It's probably due that we haven't made love since we arrived."
"Yes, it has been rather hectic." He pulled her closer to him. "Once we're married and settled….we will never go a day without at least one ravishing."
"Just as long as you occasionally surprise me by sweeping me into you arms and carrying me to our room, I'll be happy."
"Oh you have my promise on that." Teagan laughed. "And it won't be only the bedroom I will carry you to."
"Mmmmm I can't wait." Marlena kissed his cheek.
"I'm relieved your brother and Sandra have no objections to us sharing the same bed considering we are not married yet." Teagan chuckled.
"They would be hypocrites if they said anything." Marlena laughed. "They shared a bed before they married."
"It's a relief I'm marrying into a family that is not overly religious then."
"I have another Cousland family secret for you love," Marlena "my brother was born seven months after our parents married."
"Oh really?" Teagan laughed. "Are there any other secrets I need to know?"
"I promise to reveal all my secrets all in good time." Marlena kissed him.
"And I look forward to getting them out of you but right now I just want to lay here with you."
"This feels so wonderful just laying here." Marlena said as she closed her eyes.
Teagan watched as she put her arm across his chest then slowly drift off to sleep.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"So what did you want to talk about Wynne?" Alistair sat back down in his chair after pouring her a drink.
"Alistair, you know how consider you to be like a son to me."
"Yes I know." Alistair smiled. "And I appreciate having you around. You're my rock Wynne."
"See that's the problem Alistair, I am too close to you. All the other mages in the palace do not possess the bias I have. You are a good king Alistair. You have proven that you can function without Eamon and I know you will be able to do so with out me."
Alistair dropped the empty goblet which bounced on the floor before rolling under his desk.
"You're leaving me?"
"I have to Alistair. For my own good as well as yours. Marlena brought up something when I saw her at Rainesfere and her words have haunted me ever since. I have coddled you Alistair. In essence you became my surrogate son. I would not have believed Eamon's lies had I not been so over protective of you."
"Wynne you can't leave me. I have no one else I can trust."
"You've become good friends with Bryland , Alfstanna, and Sighard." Wynne smiled. "You will do fine."
"But it's not the same." He lamented. "I still can't talk to them the way I can talk to you."
"You don't need to talk to them the same way you talk to me. You must build up your friendships differently from one another."
"Will you at least write to me and visit?"
"Of course I'll write and I will visit eventually." Wynne smiled.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going back to the Circle for the time being."
"It's going to be so difficult to replace you as senior mage of the palace." Alistair slumped in his chair.
"Actually since I was leaving, I felt it was my responsibility to find a suitable replacement and I found one for you."
"Who is he? Or She?"
"Her name is Fiona Alistair." Wynne smiled. "She is an Elven mage who also happens to be a Grey Warden."
"A Warden?" Alistair could not hide his interest. "How do you know here?"
"She is the one who saved Marlena from bleeding to death after she gave birth to your son. Fiona was from Weisshaupt Fortress and she's been at Vigil's Keep ever since."
"When can I see her?"
"You will see her tomorrow." Wynne smiled.
Alistair slumped back in his chair. It did not even matter if she was a Warden for all he could think about was the fact that he would soon be alone.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Eamon placed his will and letters on the desk and headed upstairs.
The pain in his chest was unbearable now but it no longer mattered. It been a week and as Fiona predicted, he could feel his life ebb away.
He dismissed his maid and the mages, locking his door and knelt down by his bed.
"Maker, I am prepared to meet you and to heed the punishment you will give me for my past deeds. Please watch over Teagan and his new family."
Eamon got up and lay down on his bed. Clutching his chest and gasping for air, he closed his eyes and finally felt peace as death enveloped him.