This was another fun to write chapter. When I first did this one I wanted to shove Regina's face through a wall. I guess she really just captured my attention.
Chapter Six
The first salon of spring in Denerim after the Blight drew the nobility in for dance, music, lively talk and the first round of political alliances for the year. Dressed in their finest, they arrived to dance the dance of status and placement in the hierarchy.
Once he had tricked Muffin into a kennel with a hambone, and also dressed in his finest, Teagan went to the Gnawed Noble to escort Edwina. While there, he tried one last time to convince Arlessa Mathilde to attend. He was a bit worried for her and regretted that he hadn't called on her sooner. A night out away from her worries might do her a world of good, but she refused. Teagan wouldn't leave her alone though until she promised to allow him to escort her to the next one.
As they walked back to Eamon's estate, Edwina put her hand in the crook of Teagan's arm.
"Thank you, Teagan," she said.
"Me? What did I do?"
"You can't tell it, but Mother was very touched by you stopping by to chat with us earlier. And for tonight, trying to convince her to get out. You've done more for her in rejoining the world at large than I've been able to accomplish." A touch of sadness crossed her eyes. "Losing Father on top of losing Ian and Scott…Scott was only a youth of fourteen. It was very hard on her."
He could see it had been hard on her as well.
"Are you sure you're up to this?" he asked.
"Yes, someone has to be there for West Hills."
"All right, but if you want to leave, just say so, Edwina. Even if you just need to step out and get away from it for a bit."
He felt her hand tighten on his arm as they entered Eamon's estate and the sound of music and the sight of bright colors and lights struck them after the gloom and quiet of the evening.
Edwina was immediately swept up in a group of young women her own age and Teagan grinned, feeling she was going to be all right here. Since he had promised her mother, he would keep one eye on her, but he could relax and enjoy himself as well.
Almost immediately Bann Regina separated from her knot of admirers and friends to greet Teagan.
"How interesting that you showed up with the young heir of West Hills," she purred, attaching herself to his arm. "That's sure to throw them off the scent."
He frowned, a bit taken aback.
"Throw who off?" he asked.
"You'll see. Surely you must realize, Teagan, with Fergus remarried you're one of the most eligible bachelors left alive in Ferelden."
"I'm not…looking," he said.
He didn't want to reveal too much for Neria's sake, mindful of Arlessa Mathilde's earlier warning.
She laughed in a low, sensual way and patted his arm affectionately, her tone patronizing. "Of course, you aren't and if anyone asks me I will stick to that story as well. You can count on me."
Teagan frowned. Usually he was an observer, not a participant in the dance of politics. "Far be it from me to impose on your good graces, Bann Regina. If you spend all your time with me, your collection of admirers will expire from loneliness."
"They will live," she sighed. Somehow she managed to make it sound like a great sacrifice without really feeling one way or the other about it. "Unless you find my company unpleasant, Teagan?"
He was aware of the heat of her pressed to his side and he could swear she was flirting with him herself. But he didn't find her attention unpleasant. She was an attractive and lively woman, who could be a powerful ally or powerful enemy depending on what side you got of those green eyes, and Teagan couldn't help but have his head turned a little. She seemed to take his silence as acquiescence and continued to press her advantage, talking and tucking her arm in his companionably, walking around the room and engaging the various nobles in discussion.
From the looks he was getting from the younger, single nobles in the room, Teagan was actually grateful Regina was monopolizing his time. There was a hunger there akin to a pack of mabari on the hunt.
Eamon, Ceorlic and several older banns were gathered nearby. Teagan didn't think his brother looked very happy. Doubtless what he was hearing wasn't going to be good news later. Eamon broke off from his group and signaled Teagan.
"Excuse me, Bann Regina, I see my brother signaling me from across the room," he said, disentangling himself from the engaging woman and joined Eamon.
"Loren?" Teagan asked when they were standing in an alcove for privacy.
"This is more than Loren. There are a lot of disaffected banns, more than I thought, in truth. Alistair's been focusing on the city, getting in more trade, and the efforts to restore the countryside are not going fast enough for some of the Bannorn."
Teagan frowned. "Redcliffe and Rainesfere did well enough to make it through winter this year, but I doubt some of the more affected lands did. West Hills was hit pretty bad and has pretty much been abandoned for now. I hear South Reach didn't fare so well either, but Bryland is a capable man, so they should be all right. Waking Sea and Dragon's Peak are doing well—they were pretty much removed from most of the horde and the civil war."
"I saw young Wulff here with you tonight. I take it you spoke to Arlessa Wulff as well?"
Teagan nodded and relayed what he had learned in his conversation with Arlessa Mathilde.
"It would make sense," Eamon said, taking it all in. "Amaranthine is a rich arling. Sadly, once the Blights are defeated, it seems the Grey Wardens are always forgotten or pushed aside. I fear Alistair may have stirred up a hornet's nest, but he doesn't always heed my council. I've heard similar rumors of unrest, but for now it's too far out of our hands to deal with. We'll have to trust Neria can. We need more eyes and ears in Denerim, Teagan.
"I noticed Bann Regina seems to have taken a liking to you. She's been alone since her husband died last year in the war. She would be a powerful ally to have on our side. Stick close to her, find out what she knows and see if being with her will loosen other tongues as well. I know you don't like politics, but you have a keen mind, Teagan, and you listen well."
Teagan was shaking his head, balking at this idea.
"I can't just ignore this, Eamon. Neria is in danger—I have to go to her." Teagan protested, speaking the first words that came to mind. "I shouldn't be here. I'm useless at politics, Brother, and I should be with Neria. I would have left as soon as I heard about the unrest in Amaranthine, but the Landsmeet is in three days."
"We're all in danger here, Teagan. Whatever they have planned is already in motion there or will be soon enough. You have to have faith she can deal with it. She's the Hero of Ferelden and she's not without resources or her own protectors. I'm sorry, but we need you here. Alistair needs you. The future of Ferelden may rest in our hands."
Teagan was torn. His heart bade him go to Amaranthine to face whatever danger awaited Neria, together. His head told him he could do more for her here in Denerim, fighting to resolve this crisis in the Bannorn. Eamon was also being reasonable, not arguing with him or giving him the stony, stubborn glares they had been exchanging the past week. Hope kindled that they may heal the breach between them soon.
"All right, Eamon I'll do what I can," Teagan promised.
Eamon moved back out to mingle with the guests while Teagan held back in the alcove watching. His hand went to his throat, feeling the small lump under his tunic that was the little locket and sighed, finding its physical reality a small comfort.
The chamberlain announced the teyrn and teyrna of Highever had arrived. Fergus and Leah entered, without Michael, Teagan noticed. Doubtless they were going to spring the teyrn of Gwaren on the Landsmeet. Teagan watched as they greeted people in the room, moving from person to person, Fergus with one hand on Leah's arm protectively. There was a change in the room Teagan couldn't put his finger on, a tension that previously hadn't been there before. It was more than that these two had more rank than anyone else present—it was something more…malicious.
He overheard two young women near him.
"Look at him, he's so handsome. She's so lucky," said the first.
"Lucky? Maybe, but look how 'friendly' she had to get to grab the teyrn of Highever," complained the second.
"She looks like she's about to burst right here on the floor."
"That would ruin the carpets," said the second giggling, nastily.
"She must be…what seven months? Eight?" said another girl nearby.
"They've only been married since the war ended," said the first.
He was about to say something when Edwina stepped ahead of him and snapped at them.
"You silly, malicious magpies!" she gasped. For all the vehemence in her tone, it never exceeded a whisper. "La…Teyrna Leah is a nice person. I won't listen to such slanderous nonsense!"
They glared at Edwina, but were shocked into momentary silence. Their fathers were all minor banns and she was an arl's daughter, even if her arling was a blighted shambles.
"We're only saying what everyone is thinking," said the first girl, defensively.
"Edwina, you're just as bad," said the third. "We saw you fawning all over Bann Teagan. So when will you get yourself in a family way? It seems to be what all the nice people do to advance."
Teagan cleared his throat in a loud, pointed way and the girls blinked and scattered when they noticed him in the alcove. One, bolder than the rest, sneered at Edwina.
"Your idiot mother won't live forever, Edwina, and West Hills is a mess. You'll be penniless and homeless soon enough."
Teagan stepped up to take Edwina's arm, but she shrugged him off, stuck out her chin proudly and glared back at the foolish girl.
"Have a care of whom you speak. The Arling of West Hills may be blighted now, but it won't always be so and I still have the Wulff name. My father was not without influence in the Landsmeet, influence that I will carry when I speak for the Wulff family this spring.
"Perhaps I will speak against your father, Bann Mather. His peasants starved while he feasted in his hall this winter, and you certainly look like you didn't suffer much hardship, either, Mala."
Something in Edwina's quiet, gray eyes made Mala blink, glare angrily at Edwina, then turn and move away to quickly follow the other two gossips.
Teagan leaned close to her ear and whispered to Edwina. "Your father would have been very proud of you tonight."
She glared at the girls who still had their malicious little heads together.
"Maybe. Such things didn't bother my father like they do me, but family was important to him, and I won't have Teyrn and Teyrna Cousland slandered that way. They offered what aid they could to West Hills' recovery even though they were hit by the raids, too. They're good people."
"That they are," Teagan agreed. "Is it true? What they were saying?"
"Does it matter? Look at them. Have you ever seen a man and a woman so in love before?"
"Perhaps I have, but you're right, they certainly seem happy."
"I'd give anything to be loved like that," she whispered, wistfully. "Bann Teagan, is it true what I have heard?"
"I don't know. What have you heard?"
"That the Hero of Ferelden and you…are close," she stumbled over the words.
There was something about Edwina, something old and wise, Teagan felt, a wisdom born of pain and courage in the face of tragedy. She was good and kind and mature beyond her years. Teagan trusted her.
"Yes," he said.
"Be careful then. Bann Regina has staked her 'claim' on you and the other women won't press that unless they think they can get away with it. You may find you have a lot more offers of company this spring. If you care for…what was her name?"
"Neria," Teagan supplied.
"Neria. If you care for her, be careful. I don't trust Regina. She's too…political, but it could just be me, gossiping out of turn now myself."
"You don't strike me as the idle gossip," he said.
As if speaking of her brought her to them, Regina walked over to them, tucked her arm in Teagan's and smiled sweetly to Edwina.
"You don't mind if I borrow him, do you, dear?" she said.
Nor did she wait for an answer, turning her attention to Teagan, and smiling, pulled him away from Edwina to where people had gathered around the Couslands.