(Johnboy: Oh yes, I will be showing the Landsmeet. I agree: heavily scripted or not, it's just too important to skip.)

135. Off to War

It was like a bunch of Warriors preparing for war.

Oghren sat back against the wall beside the Qunari, watching the fuss and bustle . Sten was tense... probably wanted to go with just like Oghren did. There would probably be head-bashing, and Oghren was never one to turn down some good head-bashing.

But no, this situation was "too delicate" for the dwarf, or the Qunari, or the Antivan or Orlesian or witch or unsupervised enchanter. So they got to sit and wait at the estate while the Wardens went and walked into what was probably a trap.

Bah, forget it. They wanted to get themselves killed, it wasn't any of Oghren's business. Apparently.

Eamon had left for the palace about half an hour earlier, armed to the teeth and bringing Teagan, Anora, and Fergus with him, the latter two hidden among his household guards. This left the eight Wardens, standing in the front hall, gathering last minute bits of gear.

"Is this Cailan's armor?" Alistair cried loudly. "Why in the Maker's name do we have Cailan's armor, and why is it going on me?"

"It's not the actual thing," Finian said as he strapped Alistair into the shining plate. "But Garott had the king's suit laying around, and I thought it might be a good idea to commission a similar set... that perhaps invokes fond thoughts of Cailan. You know, just in case."

Alistair gave the elf a flat look. "And if I'd said 'no' to your little scheme? How much would this have set you back, exactly?"

Fin just smiled in response.

Meanwhile, the witch was fussing over Cousland. "I do not like that we cannot accompany you." She sniffed disdainfully. "I would very much like to meet this 'Loghain'."

"And that is why you're staying," Percival replied evenly. He tied his steel gauntlets on. "Between you and Zevren, I doubt there'd be anything of Loghain left to bargain with."

The Antivan, who was perched stiffly in a doorway nearby, gave a forced chuckle. "You say that as if it were a bad thing."

"It is. No assassinating while we're in there." Both witch and assassin rolled their eyes, and the human leveled a look at both of them. "I mean it. No assassinating."

"Not even a little?" Zevran pouted.

"Not even the smallest bit of assassination. I don't want to see a dead dove when we get out."

Morrigan scoffed. "Well, obviously, you wouldn't see it. We'd dispose of the evidence."

Percival sighed.

On the other side of the room, Meila applied some sort of warpaint to Kazar's face, tracing the tattoos to make them stand out more. Nearby, Garott, Leliana, Riordan, and Felicity were all in deep discussion over the possibilty that this could be an elaborate trap.

"It would be an egregious faux-pas," Felicity was saying, "for them to violate the truce of the Landsmeet so much as to attack us while it's in session."

"But you forget," Leliana said, "that it was also a violation to block us from coming into the city. They did that anyway."

"They'll expect us to come," Garott said. "But I wouldn't expect a warm welcome. We'll probably be dealing with guards, at least."

"Then let us come with you!" Leliana pressed. "At least to the doors!"

Riordan shook his head. "That is what they expect. We go in as if prepared for war, and that is what they will give us. I do not know that I approve of going in armed, even."

"Gotta do it," Garott said. "Loghain's a warrior, remember? We go in wearing cloth, he's gonna think we're weak."

"Even if it means getting stopped by an ambush outside?" Leliana pressed.

"We'll be fine," Felicity said. "We've handled worse."

Leliana shook her head and sighed, but stopped arguing.

Oghren watched it all, because it was like a bunch of Warriors going off for a long forray in the Deep Roads. Or a bunch of Smiths, off on a fool quest for the Anvil of the Void. As the Wardens turned and headed out, he considered following after them, and damn their excuses.

And so, when Morrigan turned an arched brow to the assembled companions and said, "Well? Come on," and then turned on her heel and marched out the door after the Wardens, Oghren could only chuckle and fall into step between the Orlesian and the Qunari.

This time, he wouldn't be waiting two years for his companions not to come back. That was for damned sure.