Duty's Choice: The Bastards of Ferelden - Chapter 41

The Mission

Expert from a letter from King Alistair Therin to Brother Genitivi

…if you would do us the honor of wintering in Denerim to discuss the status of Haven. We would like to know your feelings on how to continue with the site, as well as those of the Templars you trust with its security. See that the site is well protected, but we wish to discuss the long-term for defense, study and visitation…

9:36 Dragon, Fall 3, 1st day

"Come on Duncen, you liked peas yesterday!" Elinora sighed as her son spit out a slimy torrent of green and fussed about the rudeness of being offered such unappetizing goo.

Maricen stuck out his three-year old tongue and stated. "I don't like peas either."

"Yuck!" declared Aurora, with all her two-year old authority. Wynn wrinkled her very cute nose.

Cailin smiled and distracted Maricen with a toy horse. "I think you're surrounded, Mother."

Elinora scowled and resumed trying to feed her youngest.

"You know where Darkspawn come from?" asked a new voice from the doorway. "They're children who don't eat their vegetables." Petra smiled warmly at the mighty Commander of the Grey, completely routed by a handful of children. It was a thing of beauty. "You know, you do have servants to handle these sorts of things."

Elinora wiped off her green hands and smiled at Petra. "I know, I just want to spend as much time with them as I can. Never know when it might run out."

Petra nodded solemnly as she lifted up Wynn, who had toddled over to see her. "Too true."

"Speaking of which, shouldn't you be in Highever, helping my sister-in-law bring another Cousland into the world?"

"That's why I came, to say good-bye." The mage cuddled her favorite royal child and set her back on her unsteady feet.

A sad smile graced Elinora's face. "I can't think of anyone I would like to have bringing my niece or nephew into the world, but I'm going to miss you. Don't know what I would have done without you."

Petra raised a pointed eyebrow. "Died, but that's neither here nor there." She went around to each of the children and kissed each forehead. Cailin gave her a fierce hug. "I'll be back in the Spring, if Twyla lets me out of her sight and Irving doesn't call me back to the Tower." She grimaced at the last thought.

Elinora attempted to de-pea Duncen's face. "I thought he was easing his position? The force field went down months ago."

"His paranoia hasn't eased in the slightest and he has a great many positions to consider." Petra sighed. "The Tower is changing, and it will be Irving's legacy. He wants to get it right. Enough politics, I have a baby to deliver."

Elinora and Cailin left the little ones with a nursemaid and walked Petra down to the stables where her horse and escort were waiting. They rode out with a wave and shouts of love for the mage and those at Highever.

Mother and son dawdled in the stables, Cailin rambling on about horses and his sixth birthday coming up. Elinora neatly evaded his fishing, until a trembling along the Warden bond drew her to the courtyard, Cailin at her heels.

Alcina and Maphisa bolted into the yard, and slid to halt in front of Elinora. Alcina panted, "Wardens… Fort Drakon. Lots of 'em."

Maphisa, much less winded than her partner, took up the report. "Foreign Commanders, all demanding to see you and Duncen."

Elinora's blood turned to ice. "Why are they at Fort Drakon?"

Maphisa shrugged. "Something about seeing where the Archdemon fell. They want to see his majesty too."

"I bet they do," Elinora muttered. She turned to the stable hands that had come to see what the news was. "Saddle up three horses," she called to them. "Someone find Wardens Sten and Barth and tell them we're going to the palace!"

Alcina looked confused. "But the commanders are at the fortress."

Elinora turned to the girl with a smug smile. "And if they want to meet with me, they'll go to the palace. I need you two to deliver that message. And take your time. I want to be there ahead of them."

Maphisa returned Elinora's smile and saluted. Alcina wasn't so agreeable, but she saluted as well. The girls turned and walked away from Tranquility House, as Elinora darted in. "I need armor, weapons!"

In the six months since Duncen's birth, she had managed to lose a good amount of the baby weight and was on the road to being back in fighting form. Her old armor still didn't fit, but Master Wade had been ecstatic to create a new set for her, modeled on what she had worn to Alistair's coronation. Technically, it was mostly dragonscale leather, but he had emphasized points of form and function with silverite. Rampant Grey Warden griffons rode her shining poltroons and greaves, and Wade had insisted on blue leggings underneath sliverite tipped and studded leather skirting. Most importantly, the design did include a way to easily open the breastplate and feed Duncen. Alistair had nearly fallen over with laughter at that.

"Are you sure you don't want to take the carriage, my lady?" Dedra asked as she handed Elinora Duncen's sling.

"Positive. Got to be the commander this afternoon." Elinora adjusted her weapon harness and draped the sling around her torso. Wade was a genius. No one else could have designed armor with a baby and breastfeeding to consider.

Dedra still looked uncomfortable. "I could bring Prince Duncen along later, in the carriage."

Elinora shot her maid a look that ended that line of suggestion. Of all her people, Dedra was the most overprotective, but obeyed and fetched Duncen from the nursery. She returned with a baby in hand and Cailin at her heels.

"May I go too?" he asked plaintively.

Maricen's head popped in the room. "Me too?"

Elinora looked at the boys as she tucked Duncen into his sling. Cailin did not like her to be out of his sight for very long, and seemed to prefer the palace to Tranquility House in general. Maricen didn't like to be left out. "Fine, but you're riding with the Wardens. You've got five minutes to get into good clothing."

Cailin pouted a bit, he'd wanted to ride on his own, but nodded and ran back to the nursery to change. Dedra scooped up Maricen and followed him with a smile.

Taking the winged Grey Warden helmet from its shelf, Elinora did a quick check. She was armed with her old dagger and a traditional Warden Longsword, neatly strapped to her back. Her armor fit properly and did, in fact, look magnificent. And Duncen was content in his sling, chewing the loose strap from her harness. She put on her helmet. Wade had done a masterful job to make it grand and functional, but Elinora still thought it looked a bit silly.

"Ready, mother!" Cailin chirped happily from the doorway. Dedra had put both boys in blue vests over clean shirts. Cailin had armed himself with arrows and the Dalish bow he's received during their progress. Maricen wore a wooden toy sword on his back like it was real.

"Dedra, as soon as you can, please bring the girls along, and anything else I've forgotten. In the carriage, of course. All right, my princes," she smiled down at her royal escort, "let's go met the commanders."

They rode full gallop most of the way to the city. Cailin rode with Sten and took point. Elinora and Duncen were at center with Barth and Maricen bringing up the rear. Once through the city gates, Sten and Barth dismounted and led their horses on either side of Elinora, creating a buffer. Elinora herself continued to ride, making her the tallest of their party, until Maricen decided to ride on Barth's shoulders. Cailin remained on Sten's horse and kept a wary eye and smiling face on the crowd.

And there was a crowd. Despite the sudden nature of Elinora's arrival, people started to gather as word had gotten around. She heard calls of 'hero' and 'my lady' and even a few of 'queen' as they winded toward the palace. The boys behaved like proper princes, acknowledging their people with nods and waves as they plowed through them. Someone handed Cailin a bunch of flowers, which he passed on to his mother. Duncen giggled as they rode on to the palace.

Alistair met his wife and sons in the Great Hall with hugs and kisses. "I heard we have company coming, my beloved wife." He jerked his head towards Alcina and Maphisa, loitering around the dais.

"Important company, my dearest husband." Five months they'd been married and still hadn't gotten tried of finally being able to call each other 'wife' and 'husband'. Sten and Maphisa were both rolling their eyes.

"How long do you think we have?" Alistair dropped off most the last word and looked at Elinora. They sensed it at the same time. Duncen hiccupped.

They had seconds.

Alistair pulled Elinora and the boys to the dais. Sten and Barth stayed on the floor level at either side. Alcina went to stand by Barth, Maphisa by Sten, creating Warden bookends to the royal family. Elinora placed herself at the top of the dais, centered and ready. Her husband took position at her right shoulder, watching her back, as always. Cailin stood to her left, wearing his best warrior expression. Maricen tried to model his elder brother. Elinora tried not to laugh. Her boys were adorable; all four of them.

The massive oak doors opened.

An upper servant, Declan, Elinora thought his name was, stepped forward to announce the new arrivals.

"Your majesties, Commander of the Grey Izidor of Nevarra." The first man who stepped forward wore armor that gleamed in the sunlight pouring through the high windows, reflecting off of poltroons that more than suggested wings. The double-headed griffon enameled on his breastplate was more detailed than any Elinora seen, and she had a feeling the shield on his back bore the same crest. It suited the man with the fussy mustache that dripped off his face and the long, intricately braided, dark hair that went to his mid-back. The look he gave her was nothing but evaluating.

"Commander of the Grey Rabio of Antiva." A slight man in dragonscale leathers stepped forward and gave Elinora a respectful nod. It didn't match his wicked smile and a green-eyed gaze that was just a hair away from lustful. His hair was an unremarkable brown that framed an unremarkable face, one that was easily lost in a crowd. She had a feeling the short sword and dagger on his back were not the only blades on his person.

"Commander of the Grey Bresal of the Free Marches." A grizzled warrior in much abused armor hardly acknowledged the royal family on the dais. He was evaluating the room for defense. Satisfied, he took up a position against a wall where he could watch the door and the proceedings, stroking a short, dark beard. Elinora hoped the great axe on his back wouldn't nick the wood paneling.

"Commander of the Grey Bertrand of Orlais." Elinora recognized the next commander from Guerr Fort. He'd been promoted since her time in Orlais. His russet hair was greyer and there were new lines around his brown eyes. Like Izidor, his armor bore the griffon, but it was only etched in to the dragonbone. Bertrand had always struck Elinora as a practical man for an Orlesian.

"Sub-Commander Zelig of the Anderfels." Wrapped in plain blue mage robes, he leaned on his staff. Completely grey hair and tired eyes marked him as the oldest Grey Warden Elinora had ever met. He stared at her steadily, like she was something he had wanted to see for a long time, in order to study.

"Sub-Commander Tantus of the Tevinter Imperium" The second mage of the group wore ornate robes and a haughty expression like he was royalty. He clearly distained the room he stood in and didn't think much of the family in front of him.

Alistair whistled lowly as another twenty wardens filed into the Great Hall. Once the doorway stopped spilling armed men, he cleared his throat and said, "Commanders, welcome to Ferelden. My wife and Grey Warden, Elinora." His tone was cordial, as if this was a party and he was introducing one friend to another. "Cailin, my nephew," Cailin issued a slight nod and continued to watch the Wardens carefully. "Maricen, my eldest son," Maricen did his best imitation of Cailin's nod. "And of course, Duncen, our newest arrival." Duncen chewed on his strap and watched the Wardens. "What can I do for you?"

The collected commanders looked slightly baffled or amused at Alistair's introductions. Izidor stepped further forward with a salute and a polite smile. "A pleasure, but, as I'm sure your majesty is quite aware of, we are not here to see you. There are matters we wish to discuss with Warden El, the one time Commander of the Grey for Ferelden."

"I take it this will not be a short conversation?" Elinora sighed and took off her helmet, handing it to Cailin. She looked to Alistair, "The little dining hall then?" He nodded to her and then to Declan, who went off to prepare the room.

Elinora knelt in front Maricen. "Could you be a big help and go and make sure the nursery is ready for your sisters when they get here?" He scowled a little, but obeyed, running off with a nursemaid who was waiting at one of the side doors. She gave Elinora an approving smile.

With a graceful sweep of her hand, Elinora said, "Gentlemen, if you'll follow me."

The little dining hall was almost the same as it was for Elinora's first meal after slaying the Archdemon. Some of the décor had changed, but it was still just as intimate when compared to the Great Hall. Elinora sat at the head of the table, while Alistair leaned against the wall. Cailin placed himself at his mother's right shoulder, still holding her helmet. Sten and Alcina stood guard outside in the corridor, while Barth and Maphisa stationed themselves at the door. The commanders found seats around the table, Izidor and the mages with assistants standing behind them.

Declan brought in refreshments, including several pitches of wine and ale. After a quiet word with Alistair, he handed Cailin a goblet and jerked his head toward Elinora. The boy delivered it with a, "For you, mother."

Bertrand began. "We have a great many questions, about the slaying of the Archdemon and the events of the late spring. You'll forgive us for being blunt about them." He cut his eyes to Cailin.

Alistair put a fatherly hand on Cailin's shoulder. "Why don't you go find the swordmaster and get him to run you through the forms. You have a lot of Wardens to show off to." Alistair winked. Cailin frowned, but handed Alistair his mother's helmet, kissed her on the cheek and left the room with a hard glare for the commanders.

Izidor chuckled. "What did we do to offend the little princeling?"

Elinora gave him a flat stare. "The last time a bunch of unfamiliar Wardens showed up, they kidnapped me." She took a sip of very watered wine and grimaced.

Bertrand and Rabio exchanged a worried squint. "Bad wine?" Izidor queried as he pulled a pitcher to him.

Elinora sighed. "Wouldn't know. Mine is mostly water. Bloody Petra. Anyway, you were asking?"

"First," Bertrand cut in on Izidor and gave the door a confused look. "Mother? I don't remember you mentioning children at Guerr Fort."

"My only child by birth is Duncen here," she bouncing the dozing baby just a little. "Cailin adopted me."

The Orlesian commander chuckled. "And the others?"

She shrugged. "Alistair's by his first wife, Anora. Time will tell what I am to them."

"Speaking of children," Tantus broke in. "We are here to discuss Ashling. Let us start at the beginning."

For an hour they rehashed the events surrounding the fall of the Archdemon and Ashling's conception. The questions flowed into Elinora's journey from Ferelden to her time at Weisshaupt, including the affair with Rainer. Those were thankfully brief, as they were more interested in what she did upon return to Ferelden as a Commander of the Grey. She detailed her plans, both those that were accomplished and those for the future. A great many expressions were exchanged.

"An impressive body of work, practical and hopeful," said Rabio. "And yet, you gave up your command. Why?

"Pregnancy hit me very hard, Commander Rabio. My healer said that my symptoms were normal, but extreme. By my second month I couldn't walk straight when I could walk at all, and I was unreasonable to say the least." She caught their eyes sweeping up to Alistair, who was probably confirming just how unreasonable she had been. She ignored him, saving that punch in the arm for later. "I decided it would be prudent to transfer command to someone more functional. Commander Burion has done a fine job, though has asked me regularly since Duncen was born when I was going to take over."

A new look passed between the commanders, one filled Elinora with dread. They were going to forbid her to return to the Wardens, she knew it. She fought to keep her expression neutral.

As if awakened by his mother's unhappiness, Duncen started to cry. Elinora turned her attention to his hungry howl and loosened the sling. With the deft juggling only mothers can do, she held the baby and opened her breastplate. The top layer of shaped dragonscale detached at her sternum and swung toward her shoulder, while the linen lining attached at her collarbone and folded down to reveal bare breast, which was quickly replaced by a hungry baby. Once Duncen was happily sucking away, she looked back up to the commanders and was very satisfied with their expressions. Izidor, Tantus and Bertrand were open-mouthed with shock and a little scandal. Rabio clearly approved and Zelig was examining her like a specimen again. Only Bresal scowled.

With a slightly smug smile, Elinora said, "My apologizes, gentlemen. A mother's duty is never done."

Bresal's scowl folded as he laughed, a deep guffaw. "She might do after all."

Izidor shot him a quelling glare, then turned to Elinora. "If we may continue?" At her nod, he asked, "Given that Morrigan and Ashling escaped, what do you plan to do?"

"Scouts have already been sent all over Ferelden. So far they have found nothing, though I suspect Morrigan has gone south, into the Korcari Wilds."

Rabio narrowed his eyes at her. "Why there?"

"Morrigan was raised there; she knows the territory. And as it mostly uncharted wilderness, it's a good place to hide. Also, the scouts we sent that way have not reported back."

Rabio nodded. "Sound reasoning, but not proof."

She frowned. "Not at all. In the meantime, we continue to search and I have the Circle of Magi studying ways to contain an Old God."

"Contain?" asked Zelig. "Why not just kill?"

"Far easier said than done, and I fear simply slaying the girl won't work; the soul would still transfer and I fear it might have learned something about being human. Ashling was able to possess the Wardens and seemed to believe that Duncen could contain another like her. My gut says the best course would be to find a way to truly seal her away, cut the Calling off, for us and Darkspawn."

Tantus leaned forward. "How?"

"I have no idea, which is why I have the Circle looking into it. In fact, if you care to be of use in this endeavor, I would greatly appreciate it. Somewhere there has to be something." Duncen burbled as he finished his snack and Alistair stepped up, throwing a towel over his shoulder. He collected Duncen and started to rub and pat his little back. Elinora put herself back together, then took a sip of her wine.

"And Rainer?" Bresal growled.

Elinora shook her head, rolling the goblet in her hands. "His trail dead-ended at the main road when it got confused with all the other tracks. He knew what he was doing, and I don't think he wants to be found. His armor and signet ring are in the armory here."

"Good place for it." Bresal muttered.

"It wouldn't do for them to get stolen." Elinora commented and took another sip from her goblet.

"That's not what he means." Izidor stood, quickly followed by the other commanders in the room. "Elinora, by consensus of the Commanders of the Grey, we name you the First Warden. We are yours to command."

Elinora dropped her goblet.