Chapter 68: Captivity

Alistair and Aeden finally returned to Arl Eamon's estate the following morning after an eventful night. After they sent Delia and Leliana with the freed prisoners, they found Rendon Howe and his mage. There was no reasoning with the evil Arl, and they were forced to kill both of the men. They quickly made their way back to Anora's quarters. Since the glyph was no longer active, the queen's room was accessible. Once she was released, the group hurried to the main gates of the Arl of Denerim's estate.

At the gates they were accosted by Ser Cauthrien. Rather than fight their way past the many guards Cauthrien brought with her, the wardens surrendered to the charges of killing Howe, although they told the knight that she didn't know the entire story. At least it enabled Wynne and Zevran to get the queen and her servant out of the house and back to Eamon's estate.

The wardens were not treated well by Cauthrien's men. They were knocked unconscious and left without their equipment in a cell at Fort Drakon. Luckily, their wits were far more formidable than the guardsmen, and they were able to escape after equipping themselves from the guards' armory and pretending to be new recruits. Aeden was very pleased to be able to break out without any more bloodshed. He didn't want to give Loghain any more ammunition against them at the Landsmeet.

As they entered the building, Eamon was pacing back and forth in the foyer.

"Thank the Maker. Zevran and Wynne explained how you were captured. I'll send for Wynne to check you both for injuries." As he waved to one of his servants, Alistair waved him off.

"We're both fine, Eamon. I assume since you spoke to Wynne and Zevran that they made it back safely with Anora?"

Eamon nodded. "Yes, they were planning a rescue for you, but Wynne needed to attend to the prisoners and Zevran and Trent were waiting until she would be available before they left the estate. Anora is in the guest quarters and would very much like to speak to you, Aeden."

"To me?" He looked puzzled. "Why would she want to speak to me?"

Eamon shook his head. "I don't know, but I assume it has something to do with the Landsmeet. Be careful how much trust you place in her. I do not for a moment think Anora means to give up her power easily."

Alistair looked grim. "And how are the prisoners faring? One of them was nearly dead – has he survived?"

Eamon nodded. "They are in the quarters we assigned to your warriors. To my knowledge, the severely injured one has been steadily improving thanks to Morrigan and then Wynne."

"Is Delia with them? Aeden and I need to speak to her."

Eamon shifted subtly on his feet. "Delia is not in the estate. She… left a note. It's in my study in the desk."

Alistair raised an eyebrow. "And just where would she go? Did she take anyone with her?"

"No, she left alone." Eamon's eyes were looking at the floor, making Alistair and Aeden very suspicious.

"We need to see this note immediately." Aeden led the way to the study.

Eamon walked directly to his desk and opened a drawer, removing a sealed letter. He handed it to Aeden, who broke the seal and frowned as he read the contents.

My dearest Aeden,

I am sorry to leave while you are not the estate, but I realized that the life of a warden is not the life for me. I now know that I belong with Teagan after all. Please forgive me and do not try to find me. By the time you read this I hope to be well on my way to Rainesfere.

Maker watch over you,

Delia Loren

Both Alistair and Aeden were infuriated. The note was obviously forged, and it meant that Teagan had obviously done something to her. Alistair used every control technique he could remember from his Templar training to hide his feelings. He couldn't stop asking himself where was his wife and if she was alright. Somehow he needed to stay calm and believe in her abilities. She would find a way back to him.

"We will talk later, Eamon. Alistair, let's check in with the others. Maybe one of them knows something more." Aeden led the way back to the warriors' quarters, leaving Eamon with a satisfied smile on his face. Once the two wardens were gone for several minutes, the Arl made his way to the back exit of his estate. He had an errand to run.

…

When she finally woke up, Delia felt groggy and disoriented. She didn't recognize the room she was in. The furniture was made of thick chestnut wood, trees that were not normally grown in Ferelden. Someone had gone to great expense to purchase the furnishings from Orlais. The sheets were silk and the walls papered in a light blue color with a golden medallion pattern. As her eyes cleared a bit, Delia noticed one thing she did recognize: Rowen's brush set. The mere sight of it made Delia feel sick to her stomach.

Then she suddenly remembered… Eamon. He kidnapped her and brought her somewhere, but where in Thedas was she? Delia walked to the window and looked out. "If only I had spent more time in Ferelden," she thought to herself as she tried to find a familiar landmark. If she looked at the very far right side of her window she could see a river that could possibly be the Drakon and the sun seemed to be shining into her window. If it were the morning, that would mean she had an eastern view from north of the river. Thinking there might possibly be a map somewhere, she started to search through drawers and in the closet. There was nothing to be found. Sadly, she sat on the window seat looking out at the city, trying harder to identify something that would let her know where she was.

A knock on the door startled her away from the window. Delia had no weapons, but she stood up, ready for whatever came through the door.

"Ah, my dear Delia, I see you are finally awake." Eamon seemed to be almost smug as he walked into the room.

"No thanks to you, Arl Eamon. You have no right…"

He slapped her across her cheek. "I have every right. You have disrespected your grandfather's memory by pretending to be a fighter, more so by pretending you will join the Grey Wardens. It is time you come to your senses." He walked toward the door, turning back to her before he opened it. "Tomorrow you will marry Teagan and go back to Rainesfere. There you will take up your rightful place helping him with his Bann."

Delia stood with her hand rubbing her cheek, glaring at the older man. "I will never marry Teagan. And don't you even try to tell me that I have disrespected my grandfather's memory. He wouldn't be only a memory if it weren't for you and your wife. You disgust me, Arl Eamon. I will never be a part of your family."

"You act as if you have any choice in this decision. I will have food brought up to you. Don't try to escape. There are guards stationed everywhere, and you will not be able to get past them." He left the room, slamming the door behind him.

The sickness in her stomach took over, and she vomited into the chamber pot. Delia hoped the residual effects of the poison he used to capture her the previous night would wear off soon. She needed to feel physically better in order to let her brain figure out a way to escape from this place, wherever she was…

…

Alistair was pacing from one side of the room to the other. "And no one saw anything? Nothing at all? I just can't believe it."

Wynne walked to his side and placed her hand on his shoulders to comfort him. "We will find her, Alistair. Have faith."

"I have faith. What I want is my wife… here… safe in my arms." He slumped into a chair.

Zevran looked around the room at his colleagues. "I propose that Leliana and I go into the city and try to glean whatever information we can. Perhaps we can loosen the tongues of members of Eamon's guard at the tavern."

"That's an excellent idea, Zev." Aeden reached down to comfort Griffon, who was whining for his mistress. "Wynne, how are the prisoners doing?"

"Most are doing better. Soris has already left for the Alienage to be with his family. Oswyn and Irminric need more care, but will be fine if their families bring them home. Rexel's mind is in bad shape and will need a great deal of attention from his family and friends. I don't know if he will ever be the man he once was. The final man, the one was so horribly beaten, is still unconscious, but his physical condition is improving. Actually, I was going to ask you to look in on him, Aeden."

He looked at her curiously. "Why me?"

"Well, the man looks familiar to me. I thought you might recognize him. Perhaps if we knew who he is, speaking with him and using his name would help in his recovery."

Aeden nodded. "I'll be there shortly. Alistair and I need to talk first." He looked at the two rogues and nodded to them grimly. "Stay safe in the city. We look forward to your report."

After hugging Leliana and shaking Zevran's hand, the two rogues left on their mission. Sten and Oghren followed Wynne and Morrigan into the hallway leaving the wardens with Trent. The warrior walked to where Alistair sat and placed his hand on the warden's shoulder.

"Alistair, have faith. Delia would never leave you willingly." He grinned slightly. "She's also inherited a bit of my stubborn streak. I know she'll find a way back to you. In the meantime, know that I am here to help you in any way that I can."

Alistair placed his hand on top of the other man's and smiled gratefully. "Trent, you have no idea how much your support means to me. One thing you might do is to spend time with Eamon's guardsmen. If you blend in with them, perhaps some information will slip from their mouths."

Trent nodded. "I can do that. I know many of them from my travels to Redcliffe over the years. You'll be the first to know when I learn something."

With a pat on Alistair's shoulder, Trent left the room leaving the wardens alone. Alistair groaned and put his hands over his face in despair.

"I feel so helpless, Aeden. If I only knew where she is I could rescue her and feel better."

Aeden sat next to him. "One of the most awful parts about being a noble is that you need to delegate important tasks to others and wait for the results. Sometimes that process is painful. I'm sorry you have to go through this, but Delia is strong. She will not allow anyone to hurt her and I have faith everything will be fine. We will find her."

Alistair reached over and grasped Aeden's arm in a warrior handshake. "Thank you, Aeden. You believe in me more than anyone other than Delia. You have no idea what your friendship means to me. I couldn't do any of this without you."

Aeden nodded in response. He knew how powerless his friend felt, and his own fears about Delia's safety threatened to overwhelm him as well. Swallowing his own anxieties down, he forced himself to remain strong, for Delia, Alistair, as well as himself.

…

Delia was still looking out the window trying to figure out where she was being held captive when there was yet another knock at the door. A servant had brought food earlier, which Delia had barely touched. Her stomach refused to accept most anything she tried to put into it, and had only been able to drink some tea and eat part of a roll. Thinking the knock was another servant taking the dishes, Delia didn't even respond.

The door opened revealing her new visitor. It was Teagan. He saw her as she stared longingly out the window before she noticed his arrival. Her sad look was replaced with fierce anger as she sat back and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well, well, well… if it isn't my ultimate captor. You may think you have me where you want me, Bann Teagan, but I will not marry you. If you try to force this marriage, the Maker himself will know you are worse than an abomination. I would rather die than be your bride." She spat the words out with such venom and hatred that Teagan flinched.

"Delia, my dear, I assure you that I had no idea that Eamon planned this. I cannot take someone to be my bride who openly despises me so much. Please believe me when I say that I never wanted our relationship to come to this. I care about you far too much to force myself on you. I want to make this right. What can I do?" He walked toward her holding out his hand.

Delia slapped his hand away. "First of all, you will not touch me. Second of all, if you truly wish to make things right between us, you will release me immediately. Where am I being held captive? I don't recognize this place."

"This home belongs to Isolde. It was her family's before the Orlesian War, and title was passed to her when her parents returned to Orlais. Sometimes she likes to stay here instead of Eamon's estate. I suppose she likes to be reminded of her childhood."

Delia smirked at Isolde's name. "How nice that she has such a place to remind her of her childhood. Where is this place? Are we still in Denerim?"

He nodded his head. "We are west of the Chantry, not far from the river. Minor nobles inhabit the houses surrounding this one. It's a part of the city that is usually ignored because most of the houses were built in the Orlesian style and most Ferelden's wish to avoid them."

"I need to get back to the wardens. If you truly care about me, Teagan, you will release me."

"It's not that simple, my dear. Eamon has guards posted everywhere. I will have to come up with a cover story of some sort." He looked at her nearly untouched meal and grew concerned. "Are you feeling well? You've barely eaten."

"I believe whatever it was Eamon used to put me to sleep has made me ill. Hopefully I will be better soon." She tried to calm herself and reach out to "feel" his true intentions, but her emotions were clouding her mind. Somehow she needed to find a way to trust him without knowing if she really should. Her instincts told her that he was being sincere and she tried to believe he was.

Teagan walked back to the door. "I will return in a short while. Try to remain brave, and believe me when I tell you that I will get you out of here." He swallowed hard. "I promise you will be back with Aeden soon."

As he walked out of the door, Delia started to cry for the first time. "He still believes that I love Aeden. Oh, Alistair, I need you here so much. Maker, help him to keep his faith in me and in us." She walked to the bed, stifling her sobs into the pillow before falling into an uneasy sleep.