This was a tough chapter for me. I hope I did it justice! Thank you all so much for your continued reading. I am very honored that Jinx1983 has created a forum page for me. It is located at http: .net /forum /Dragon_Age_Ridiculously_Awesome_Authors /85173 /1 /34617 . Since I'm too new to fanfiction and don't know if you're allowed to have links imbedded in the stories, I've added spaces before each individual '/' mark. Thank you so much, Jinx! I hope you all continue to enjoy my story.

Chapter 72: The Landsmeet

Alistair and Aeden stood in front of their friends, detailing their plans for the Landsmeet. Eamon and Teagan had already left so they would have the opportunity to converse with the other nobles before the meeting was convened. The three Grey Wardens would enter the chamber first along with Delia, Sten and Wynne. The others would serve as a protective escort for Anora and assist Dairren. Zevran would be stationed at the entrance to the chamber so that he could signal Dairren and Anora when Aeden determined they should enter the room.

Dairren was a bundle of nerves. He was still physically weak, and the torture had left his mind fragile as well. There was no doubt that their father, their legal father, would be in attendance and Dairren was terrified at the prospect of speaking to him. Trent assured him that he would be at Dairren's side for every moment they were in the chamber, which calmed Dairren a bit.

Aeden took great care in making sure that Delia, Dairren and Anora were disguised. He didn't want anyone to recognize them on their way to the palace. The element of surprise was in his favor, and he needed every advantage he could muster.

The group walked through the streets of Denerim as a loose unit with the wardens in the front. Aeden was pleased there were no unforeseen problems on their way. They arrived in good time, only to be confronted by Ser Cauthrien and her men in the foyer of the Landsmeet Chamber.

Cauthrien looked at Aeden. "Warden, I am not surprised it has come to this." The soldier shifted her eyes to Alistair as she frowned. "And Alistair. If you were even remotely worthy of being called Maric's son, you would already be in the Landsmeet, now wouldn't you? You have torn Ferelden apart to oppose the very man who ensured you were born into freedom. But do not think you will get past me to desecrate the Landsmeet itself. The nobles of Ferelden will confirm my lord as regent, and we can finally put this to rest. Once you are gone."

Aeden looked at the soldier sadly. Here was a proud woman, a strong and devoted soldier, who remained as loyal as a mabari even when she knew in her heart that the man she followed was no longer the man she knew. "Do you really not see what Loghain has become?" he asked her quietly.

Cauthrien's eyes betrayed her despondency. "I have had… so many doubts of late. Loghain is a great man, but his hatred of Orlais has driven him to madness." She paced back and forth as she carefully thought of her next words. "He has done terrible things, I know it, but I owe him everything. I cannot betray him, do not ask me to."

Aeden stepped toward her and placed his hand on her shoulder gently. "Then let me stop him. You know it's the only way."

She looked at him with unbidden tears forming in her eyes for her mentor. "I never thought duty would taste so bitter. Stop him, Warden. Stop him from betraying everything he once loved." As Aeden started to walk past her, she placed her arm on his. "Please… show mercy. Without Loghain, there would be no Ferelden to defend."

With a slight nod to Cauthrien, Aeden walked to the inner doors. Cauthrien removed her men from the foyer, retreating to their barracks and a bottle of dwarven ale. She had stashed some away for when she wanted to forget all the unspeakable acts she had witnessed firsthand.

Aeden and Alistair opened the doors and entered the Landsmeet Chamber. The nobles were debating the situation already and the wardens' group ignored everything they were saying as they strode toward Loghain. Delia looked around the room, trying to remember who was who. She recognized many of the nobles from summer visits, but when her eyes fell on Bann Loren her blood turned to ice. "Stay strong… stay strong," she repeated in her mind over and over. She couldn't afford to show any weakness, not when they were about to confront Loghain himself.

And there he stood. Loghain was in the front of the chamber, looking more terrifying than she had ever seen him. His eyes were icy as he watched them march in. Delia found she couldn't listen to the words being said around her as she was held in fear by what she felt from Loghain as she reached out with her talent. "He is so… angry. And his hatred… so powerful. Who is it that he really hates? He does hate the Orlesians, but even Loghain realizes they are not a current threat. His hatred originated back then, however… I see a man. His hair is the color of Alistair's and Caillen's. That face… it must be King Maric. I see Maric with an elf… now he kills her. Rowan… she's crying. She's… she's in Loghain's arms… and his bed? I knew Maric had cheated on her, but her as well? And Maric's best friend? But that isn't what Loghain felt, is it? He always resented Maric. The king who he felt was an imbecile. Loghain thought Caillen would be his own puppet, but Caillen surprised him. He had a mind of his own and began to resent Loghain's treating him like a fool. He threatened to replace Loghain as his commander and that was why he betrayed his son in law. It all originated with Rowan, and Loghain's losing his one true love to Maric, who he didn't even respect."

Delia snapped out of her talent's probe as the door opened to allow Dairren and Trent to walk in. Someone in the gallery had just mentioned the men Howe had imprisoned and Banns Bryland and Alfstanna spoke against Loghain. Dairren was living proof of the depravities Loghain permitted Howe to perpetrate.

Loghain watched as Dairren made his way to the wardens. "What can I say. We are at war. There are… casualties."

A voice from the back of the room shocked them all. "Casualties? My daughter was killed – my son tortured and I was blackmailed for months, and all you can say is that there are casualties? What exactly is the crime my son committed? He had only just returned to Ferelden – he didn't have any time to commit a crime!" Bann Loren stormed up to face Loghain. "I was always loyal to you, Loghain. I always did whatever it was you bade me to do, no matter who was hurt in the process. I will be silent no longer." He walked to Dairren and tried to place his hands on his son's arms, but Dairren flinched away. "I… I am so sorry, my son. I wish I could have saved you, but I didn't know where you were being held. Once the Blight is past, you and I shall mourn your mother and sister properly."

Delia watched her father as he did something she never expected to see. Tears began to fall down his cheeks. The scene made quite an impact on the nobles, as they had only seen the hardened Loren as he worked his political wiles to gain advantages. No one had ever suspected that he had been the puppet, playing a game created by a master puppeteer! Delia couldn't watch the man she grew up with as her father fall apart in this fashion, so she removed her helm.

"Father… I'm not dead yet. I escaped from Highever thanks to Duncan, the Commander of the Grey Wardens. I have been a recruit to the wardens ever since."

Bann Loren looked at Delia with a gentleness she had never seen. "I… I can't believe it," he nearly whispered. "Arl Howe originally told me that you lived and threatened me to tell him where you were. I had no idea where you were or if you lived, but then he told me… he told… me…" Sobs erupted from the man who she had only seen as either angry or uncaring. "He told me you were dead, killed by an assassin. Still, he wouldn't release Dairren. Instead, he and Loghain forced me to manipulate the spirits of the lesser nobles to cause instability for the higher members of the Bannorn."

Loghain spun around and hissed at the wardens. "Enough of this. You took my daughter – our queen - by force, killing her guards in the process. What arts have you employed to keep her? Does she even still live?"

A woman's voice traveled from the side door of the chamber. "I believe I can speak for myself." A gasp rang through the crowd as Anora showed herself to the nobles. "Lords and Ladies of Ferelden, hear me. My father is no longer the man you knew. This man is not the hero of River Dane. I would have already been killed if it weren't for this Grey Warden."

Aeden nodded. "The queen speaks the truth."

Loghain looked at his daughter with disgust. "So, the Warden's influence has poisoned even your mind, Anora?"

With that, the chamber erupted with nobles shouting their allegiance to the wardens. Loghain became more and more agitated as the nobles called for him to stand down. He refused to yield until Aeden offered a duel to settle the matter once and for all, in accordance with the traditions of the Landsmeet. When Aeden was asked who would be his champion, he said only one word with no hesitation and great confidence, "Alistair."

Loghain laughed loudly. "Then let us test the mettle of our would-be king. Prepare yourself."

Aeden and Delia walked Alistair to the wall. Before he put his helm on, he pulled a small object from inside his armor. As he showed it to Delia, he winked at her. It was the heart she had made for him in Orzammar.

"Your heart will keep me safe, my love. Have no doubt."

Delia kissed him on the cheek. "Fight bravely and return to me in one piece."

Alistair put on his helm and then Aeden gave him a warrior's handshake for good luck. As he started toward the center of the room, Griffon anxiously took a place at his side, ready to fight for his other master. "No, Griff, as much as I want you to fight this one with me, the rules say I must fight alone. Keep Delia safe, no matter what happens."

Griffon whined softly and nudged Alistair's hand before he left his side and took a protective stance next to his mistress. Alistair and Loghain pulled their swords from their sheaths and started the ritual of the dual. They circled one another, searching for each other's weaknesses. The tension in the room grew as the warriors took their first tentative hits. Then the battle started in earnest.

They were nearly evenly matched. Loghain wielded a two handed sword, depending on his massive strength to tire the warden, but he didn't count on Alistair's training and discipline. Every swipe of Loghain's blade met Alistair's shield, and the younger man was far more dexterous than the regent. The legendary stamina of the Grey Wardens helped Alistair as well. Loghain started to tire first, and then he made a mistake. He left an opening on his left side, which Alistair noticed immediately and took full advantage of. The Teryn of Gwaren suddenly was kneeling in defeat in front of Maric's son.

It took only two words for the dual to end. "I yield," whispered the regent as Alistair removed his helm. Loghain chuckled softly. "So, there is some of Maric in you after all."

Alistair snarled at the man in front of him. Suddenly his vision blurred with the memories of the men who had died because of this man… this monster in front of him. He saw the wardens, the only friends and family he had ever had until his traveling companions, as they met their deaths from the invading horde. Then he saw Caillen, the brother he wished he could have known, as he was crushed by the ogre. And Duncan. The man who had been the closest thing to a father he had ever known. His mentor. His friend. Alistair's anger took over as he raised his sword one final time. "Forget Maric. This is for Duncan."

Alistair's sword came down with tremendous force. He couldn't even see because of the fury that clouded his vision in that moment, but everyone else at the Landsmeet saw what happened as it felt as though time itself slowed to a crawl. Alistair's sword cut through Loghain's neck, and there was a sickening thud as the regent's head hit the floor and rolled across the aisle, taking its final rest staring lifelessly at his own horrified daughter.