Chapter 3
The next morning there was quick knock at her bedroom door and then it swung open as Eva came in. "So I stopped by your room late last night and there wasn't anyone here?"
"How do you know that? I could have been asleep and just didn't hear you knock," Roxie retorted.
"Oh no there wasn't anyone in the room…at all," Eva said smugly.
"How could you know that, your Highness?" Roxie inquired.
"You're not the only rouge in the family, Roxie. I do have a few skills of my own."
"Yesss, Elias Seymour has told me all about your skills," Roxie replied with a grin.
Eva looked outraged until she looked at Roxie's face and then threw a pillow at her, "That's not nice, Cuz. Beside we were discussing your inappropriate actions not mine. So where were you last night?"
"I was with Reece," Roxie replied.
"Oh, for Maker's sake, Roxie tell me something I don't already know," Eva demanded.
"He told me that one day he is going to marry me," Roxie stated.
Eva looked shocked for a moment and then said, "Really? He said that?" Roxie nodded. "And what did you say?"
"I told him I can't wait to be his wife," Roxie replied.
Eva made a face and Roxie said, "Why the face? I love him, he loves me. I want to spend the rest of my life with him."
"Oh, Roxie, I think Reece is a fun guy and oh so very handsome with his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and piercing blue eyes, but you are the great grandchild of King Alistair. Reece Guerrin is below your station."
"You have got to be sodding kidding me. You sound exactly like your mother," Roxie said exasperated.
"Well, that was a low blow and uncalled for, but at times she does have a point," Eva retorted.
"Reece is of noble blood. His great grandfather was the Arl of Redcliff before he became Chancellor to King Alistair. His father is Bann of Rainesfere. I am not seeing the problem."
"Oh come on, Rox, his grandfather is a mage. That is carried in the blood. Do you really want to marry someone who could produce a mage? What kind of life would that child have living in a tower that looks like a giant penis?"
Roxie couldn't help but laugh. She eventually replied, "I love him, Eva. I can't imagine my life without him."
Eva walked over and put her arms around her cousin, "I know. The heart wants what the heart wants."
Later that morning Roxie and Reece headed into the market area for a few items that they needed and then they headed over to the Denerim Warden Compound. They were almost at the Compound gates when someone yelled, "You there. Stop immediately, apostate."
At first Roxie and Reece didn't even realize that the Templar was talking to them and kept walking. "I am talking to you, Reece Guerrin."
Reece spun around to face the Templar, his hand on his sword. Roxie rested her hand on top of Reece's and then stepped forward, "Ser, you must have us mistaken for someone else. Lord Guerrin is no apostate."
The templar stepped forward and was now toe to toe with Roxie as he replied, "That, Lady Wayland, is a bold face lie and you know it. I saw him heal your arm yesterday."
For a brief moment Roxie was stunned but checked herself before continuing, "Ser, I am not sure what you think you saw yesterday, but Lord Guerrin attended to a minor wound that I had by cleaning it off and wrapping it."
"Well, then Lady Wayland, you won't mind showing me your wound. It was bleeding sufficiently enough that there still should be evidence of the injury."
There was no way she could show this templar her arm. The only possible way out of this was to go on the offensive. "Who the bloody hell are you to question me? You have no solid evidence here. If you did you wouldn't be here alone you would have half a dozen Templars here to arrest an apostate. Now get out of my way I have business in the Warden compound."
"I'm sorry, my Lady, but I answer to a higher authority then you," the Templar declared as he withdrew his sword.
Immediately both Roxie and Reece unsheathed their swords, "Ser, it's two against one. I am begging you to back down. We don't want to hurt you," Roxie pleaded.
Roxie turned to Reece and whispered, "Whatever you do don't cast a single spell even if it looks like we are losing." Reese nodded as the Templar advanced on both of them.
The templar went after Reece first using his shield he hit him hard with three hard consecutive blows that drove him to the ground. With the Templar's attention diverted Roxie crept around him and delivered a backstabbing blow with the blunt side of her blade to the man's hip. She did not want to kill this man. He was a Templar, he worked for the Chantry, but at the same time she was going to defend herself and Reece.
The blow to the Templar's hip caused him to stumble and gave Reece the chance to get on his feet. Reece charged at him with both of his blades in a flurry. The Templar stumbled back as he tried to regain his stance. Reece kept coming at him trying to keep him off guard.
Reece glanced over his shoulder at Roxie and yelled, "Go get my grandfather."
Roxie nodded and as she turned for the Compound the Templar released Holy Smite knocking both Reece and herself to the ground.
It took Roxie a few seconds to orient herself as then she scramble to her feet. She saw the Templar advance on Reece who was still on the ground. She rushed towards him yelling at him to stop just as the Templar drove the sword into Reece's chest. The Templar dropped the sword and backed away as Reece's blood spilt out into the dirty.
Roxie heard screaming and it took her several seconds to realize that the screaming was coming from her. She ran to Reece who was now gasping for breath. She knelt down beside him and took him in her arms. Tears were running down her checks as she kissed his face.
She looked around the crowd and yelled, "Someone go get Commander Guerrin, please." She saw several people running for the Compound.
"Reece, stay with me. Don't leave me. Your grandfather can heal you," Roxie said as she ran her hand a long side his face.
Reece coughed and blood came out of his mouth. He smiled and said, "I told you that I wanted you in my arms and in my heart until the day I died. I just didn't realize it would be so soon."
Roxie cried out. "No, no, no, no don't say that. Today is not that day. You aren't going to die on me. Do you hear me Reece Guerrin? You are not allowed to die and leave me here." Reece's head lulled to one side and Roxie buried her head in his chest as she screamed in frustration. She glanced to the side and saw the Templar's sword. She gently set Reece down on the ground, grabbed the sword and scrambled to her feet. She saw the Templar standing just off to the side and she quickly advanced on him.
"Who the bloody hell gave you the right to be jury, judge, and executioner? Did you see him use one ounce of magic on you? If he was a mage don't you think that would be his weapon of choice to defend himself against you?" Roxie demanded as she held the blade at chest level.
The Templar was stunned but managed to say, "He healed you. I saw him."
"You don't know what you saw, but you made a presumption and then killed an innocent man," Roxie said as she tilted her head slightly and continued, "And now I am going to return the favor." Before the Templar could react, Roxie waved her hand incapacitating the Templar leaving him motionless and just as she drove his sword through his heart she heard someone yell, "Roxie, no, Reece is alive."
The Templar crumbled to the ground and Roxie spun in the direction of Reece. Commander Connor Guerrin was standing over Reece casting healing spell after healing spell. Roxie ran over to him and said to Connor, "Send someone for my grandmother immediately."
Connor gave the order and a Grey Warden ran off in the direction of the Palace. Connor then commanded several of the Wardens to lift Reece and take him into Compound. They both started to follow when six Templars approached them and said, "Roxella Wayland, you are under arrest for the murder of a Chantry Templar."
"What? He attacked us. It was self defense," Roxie cried out.
Connor turned to the Templars and said, "Ser, I have a dying man on my hands right now. I think that is the more pressing matter. Can we please take care of him first and then deal with this misunderstanding?"
"Why should I care if an apostate lives or dies? This woman murdered a defenseless Templar in cold blood and I am arresting her."
"This woman just defended herself against a zealot Templar and watched the love of her life receive a sword to the chest. Her actions are justifiable. If you refused to wait and take this before the king I will conscript this woman right now."
The Templar took a step back and said, "Fine we will wait and present this to the King."
Connor nodded and walked into the compound. They headed into the room that Reece was taken too. Tessa, Connor's wife, was casting healing spells trying to keep Reece alive.
Roxie ran over to Reece's side and took his hand, kissed it and said, "Please Reece hold on. You can't leave me. You promised you would stay with me."
Reece looked at her and smiled, "Someday you are going to be my wife so I have to stick around for that."
Roxie laughed and said, "Yes you do."
Just then the door opened and Ella walked through. Roxie looked up and saw her grandmother; she released Reece's hand and quickly walked over to her. She pulled her aside and said, "Grandma, I have heard rumors and have read reports that you can heal people just by touching them. Please, Grandma heal him. I can't lose the man that I just promised to spend the rest of my life with."
Ella looked at Roxie and then walked over to Reece. She could tell just by looking at him that he didn't have long. As soon as the mages ran out of mana he would pass quickly.
She reached out to her brother, "Eli, should I save him?"
"This man's life has no great effect on the destiny of Ferelden, but whether he lives or dies will greatly affect the rest of Roxie's life. His death will profoundly shape her and it may devastate her so much that she will be unable to fulfill her destiny. If you save him, you know the consequences. I will leave this decision up to you, Sister."
Ella paused and looked into her granddaughter's eyes and saw such fear and heartbreak there. "Please Grandma, please don't let him die."
"You don't know what you ask my Child, you don't know the consequence," Ella replied.
"I don't care about the consequences. I just want him to live," Roxie pleaded.
Ella sighed and whispered, "Maker forgive me," as she touched Reece's arm. A warm glow began to spread up his arm toward his shoulder and then his heart.
Tessa and Connor simultaneously feel to their knees and began to shake uncontrollably. "By the love Maker, that is the most fantastic thing I have ever felt," Tessa cried out as she fell on her back.
Connor was on his knees trembling as sheer bliss coursed through his body and when his limbs could no longer support him the fell to his side quivering as pure ecstasy traveled through him.
The warm glow around Reece's heart began to grow brighter as the healing power restored and healed every fiber of his body. Ella could feel that he was almost completely healed and began to pull back. She broke the connection just as the last fiber was restored perfectly.
Roxie took Reece's hand and waited. After a few minutes he took a deep breath and opened his eyes. "Thank the Maker," Roxie said with a sigh of relief.
Reece started to sit up and Roxie helped him. He looked around at the room full of people and noticed Connor and Tessa on the floor. "Why are my grandparents laying on the floor?"
Ella looked at them and then at Reece, "Well, that's a long story and we are about to have company so I will explain later."
Just then the door flew open as two royal guards entered followed by King Alistair James the second. Everyone in the room immediately bowed except for Reece how still lying on the table, but he bow his head.
"Please stand up." AJ looked at the mages on the floor, the blood on half the people in the room, the cuts on Roxie and said, "Well, it looks like it was a slow morning for you Roxie."
"Your Majesty I can explain," Roxie began.
"Oh, I certainly hope so because I have the Reverend Mother crawling down my neck and calling for her head," AJ replied.
"Your Majesty, we were on our way here to visit Commander Guerrin when the Templar stopped us and accused Reece of being an apostate. We tried to convince him that he wasn't. I told him that he needed to provide better evidence and have this brought before court. He refused to let us go and drew his sword and shield. He attacked Reece and knocked him to the ground. I managed to get behind him undetected and struck at his hip in order to knock him down. If my intention had been to kill him I could have backstabbed him and driven my sword through his chest, but I didn't. He then used Holy Smit on us which caused both of us to collapse. By the time that I got to my feet the Templar was standing over Reece and he plunged his sword into Reece's chest." Roxie let out a long breath as she finished.
"And how did the Templar end up with a sword in his heart?" the King asked.
Roxie shook her head as the tears flowed freely down her checks. Ella rested a hand on her shoulder trying to give her comfort. "I thought that Reece was dead and that the Templar had killed him in cold blood. Honestly, I don't even remember picking up the sword. One moment I had Reece cradled in my arms and the next moment I was standing over the Templar's body."
Connor was the first to speak up, "She was in shock, your Majesty. I have seen it on the battlefield before. The brain can only process so much trauma before it shuts down. That is why she doesn't remember her actions."
"Well, not remembering is not an excuse for murder," AJ replied.
"What about him trying to kill Reece?" Roxie pleaded. "If it weren't for Connor, Tessa and my Grandmother he would be died. That Templar started this without proof. If Reece was a mage why didn't he use magic to defend himself? That would have been his greatest weapon against a Templar," Roxie refuted.
AJ softened his tone as he responded, "Roxie, Reece is alive and well and there is still a man dead by your hand. He was unarmed when you attacked him. The Chantry is demanding justice. There is only one way to save you," AJ said glumly as he turned to Connor, "The Templars said that you threatened the Right of Conscription. Is that true?"
Connor nodded. "Well, then after this whole issue is brought before me I am going to have to have you arrested, Roxie, and brought before the nobles at the Landsmeet. Your fate will be left up to them, but I warn you that the Chantry already has those wheels in motion and the will have half the Landsmeet on their side before they even arrive in Denerim. So Connor, if you want to save our cousin you will need to conscript her into the Grey Wardens."
"NO!" Reece cried out.
The King looked at him sympathetically, but said, "I'm sorry Reece it's the only way to save her from life in prison or worse execution."
"There has to be another way. She is only eighteen she has her whole life a head of her. A life she is supposed to share with me," Reece pleaded.
"I'm sorry, but there is no other way to save her. And Reece, I am not banning you from Ferelden, but I seriously recommend that you take an extend vacation for the next decade or two. These Templars won't be happy about losing Roxie to the Wardens or about letting an apostate go."
"But I am not a …" Alistair raised his hand to stop him.
"Reece I was watching the sparring match from the balcony. I saw you heal her arm." AJ saw the shocked look on Reece's face and continued, "Don't worry; I am not going to turn you over to the circle. I think they are a bunch of overzealous virgins that are making up for living a life of celibacy, but they are not going to take it lying down losing both you and Roxie. You and your family are in danger if you stay in Ferelden. I am sorry. I can give you some funds to help you out, but you really can't stay in Ferelden," the King concluded.
A sob tore from Roxie's throat. AJ walked over to her and hugged her. "I am so sorry. As you know, your father was my best friend and I promised him before he died I would do whatever I could to keep you safe and protected. This is the only way, my dear. Becoming a Grey Warden is not a punishment. It's an honor and I have seen you fight. You will be an excellent Warden."
AJ pulled away from her and looked at both her and Reece before he continued, "Reece, you have one night to say your good-byes. I need you out of Denerim and on a boat by morning. Come see me at the Palace and I will give you funds from the treasury and the best armor and weapons from the armory. Roxie, you will be escorted back to the Palace by the royal guard and confided to your rooms until tomorrow afternoon when the Chantry presents their case against you to me. Connor I expect you to there."
"Yes, your Majesty. I will be there," Connor replied.
AJ nodded and said, "Good, I know that you like to train your recruits here in Denerim before you send them on to Vigil's Keep, but once you conscript her I need you to leave the City immediately. The Chantry won't be happy with taking what they consider a murder out from under them. I don't want to give them a chance to get all worked up. Let's hope out of sight will lead to out of mind."
Connor nodded, "I completely agree. I will escort Roxie to the Keep myself."
"Good then everything is settled. Let's go Roxie," AJ commanded.
She leaned in and kissed Reece. He slid his arms around her and pulled her towards him and whispered, "I will see you tonight." She nodded and followed the King out of the room.