/blah/ Wolf speaking
/blah/ Someone talking in flashback
blah thought
blah High Lord of the Wolves speaking
Chapter 8: Hiding in Plain Sight
Eian Gilmore was an honorable man stuck between a rock and a hard place. As a younger child, he was poor and had wandered aimlessly around the countryside of Amaranthine. It wasn't until he was taken in by Arl Howe as a teenager when he realized that life was something more than just scrounging for food and seeking shelter from the harsh rains of the Maker. Arl Howe was a lot younger back then. He was also a lot nicer as well and not caught up in court politics. The Orlesian Occupation was the most prominent thing on his mind, as it was on everybody else's as well.
The Orlesians were in their last desperate stretch of maintaining control on the Fereldens, who were clamouring for freedom and fighting for it under one banner, the banner of King Maric. Arl Howe was actively seeking volunteers for his army, who would aide the King in fighting against the Orlesians at the final battle, the one that would mark Loghain as the Hero of River Dane. Even young males were taken in, despite their innocence and naivete in the rapaciousness of war and politics. Young males were most malleable and could be shaped into any form as their superiors saw fit. It was in him that Arl Howe sought to mold his ideas, the ideas of freedom and terrible honor.
When the last battle was fought and King Maric reclaimed his mother's usurped throne, Eian thought he would finally settle down and have a family. Unfortunately, Howe had asked him one final favour before he could do so. /To prevent this one from occurring, to hinder traitors from reaping benefits of their actions, look out for any signs. Any signs, Even from the King's own family and friends./ That was what Arl Howe had told him and at first, Eian Gilmore was tempted to refuse the favour. However, blood debts had stronger holds than anything else, even sovereigns. Arl Howe had taken him in and, throughout his whole career as Howe's right hand man, he fought for Ferelden's freedom.
Thus, ever since King Maric took the throne, he kept a watchful eye on the people surrounding the King. He even had an eye on the young King Cailan, a rambunctious little boy in the early days of Maric's rule. He was truly happy to see Ferelden prosper under the stern but mercy hand of King Maric. Perhaps Howe was too paranoid about the Orlesians wanting to finish what they had started: to conquer Ferelden by any means. Unfortunately, the presence of the Grey Wardens made him wary, more so out of the fact that there was an Orlesian female elf hanging around the King, even if it was a short while. He was fairly certain that she was no blood mage, but one couldn't be too careful. It was expected for any man to look for a warm body after the passing of his wife. Did it have to be an Orlesian though? That observation irked Eian since then and he watched with a careful eye.
Ever since Rowan passed into the Fade, King Maric had changed dramatically. He had always been a carefree man, even with the burden of Ferelden placed on his shoulders. However, he became more withdrawn after Rowan's death, more antisocial. It wasn't long until he embarked on another Deep Roads Expedition, where he possibly hoped to meet his death fighting the dreaded Darkspawn. Upon his return though, it was as if King Maric was himself again and he started paying more attention to his son, Cailan, who was just six years old.
This sudden change of behaviour intrigued Eian to no end and he had to find out the details. After losing an undesirable amount of coin to obtain information, he found out that King Maric had indeed been involved with an Orlesian woman. Her name was Fiona. To make the situation even worse, Fiona was an Elf Mage. Why did the King have to choose to dally with her when he had all the female nobles fawning over him back at home? What in the Maker was he thinking? The affair did not last long though and Fiona had disappeared without a trace. He couldn't find any tracings of her, not even in Orlais itself. It was as if she never existed at all.
He reported this to Arl Howe who just gave him a thin smile. /Focus on the boy. Forget the woman. She is ultimately of no consequence./ No consequence? It was as if Howe was ready to have her be assassinated if she stayed any longer. Having his own family, he wasn't at all too pleased to hear Howe say that in such a casual way, as if her life was not significant. However, orders were orders.
He focused on the boy for all his life, up until Cailan was sixteen years old and he was very shocked to see that Cailan had been watching him in turn. Why would this boy dumb himself down deliberately? Was it to fool his people? It worked so far. He liked the boy though and could see the inherent goodness in him. When he was discovered spying on him by Cailan himself, Cailan forgave him. A sixteen-year old Princeling forgave him. That befuddled the sharp mind of Eian Gilmore even more.
He actually didn't report this to Howe. There was a fear that Howe would gut him then and there, despite their history. He had a wife and son to take care of and it was really thanks to the Couslands that they finally have a minor house within the castle walls. He even enjoyed the family life, watching over his son and seeing him grow up so quickly warmed his heart. Even good things do not last long though, especially when Howe cruelly reminded him exactly who he was working for. /You work for me, Eian, not for him! Remember that well./ Howe forced him to accompany him on excursions to Dragon's Peak, the Bannorns, everywhere else except Highever. It wasn't until the Howes' visit to the Cousland Castle that Howe left him there, with another mission for him. He was getting really tired of all this but this man had saved his life and he owed him.
His own son managed to get in the Cousland's personal entourage of Guards and he wasn't expecting him to suddenly befriend Hadrian. It appeared as if they were involved with each other somehow, as if they were more than just friends. When his son returned home from a grueling day of training, he set him aside and asked him if he was. His son's eyes were as wide as dinnerplates when such a question was asked of him. /Dad, he and I are just good friends. I know he's fey but I'm not. Don't worry about it. I'll still give you kids someday./ That was when Eian first found out that Hadrian was fey and he had to report this to Howe. There was no response to his letter that was sent by bird two weeks after the conversation. Then, after a month of hearing no reply, a pigeon landed outside his study window, and there was a missive waiting for him. Howe already knew about this. His next order was to confirm his own observations about the Orlesians coming back into the country. If Hadrian had met with an untimely accident, the suspicion would fall on him without question.
Eian had observed the visits of the Cousland's family to a minor estate just inside the Orlesian border. In their absents, he very discreetly went through their things with gloved hands and a shrewd mind. He found several letters that were locked up in their chest. The locks were of high quality and any thief of lesser skill wouldn't have been to retrieve them without breaking the lock and thus alerting the owner of its mishandling. His heart sank when he read one letter in particular.
Dear Alpha,
It is my understanding that the King has unfortunately lost his wife, Rowan, to the Darkspawn taint. Perhaps now is the time to see each other once again.
It would benefit us both if you could bring your sons as well. We have been waiting to see them for a very long time.
Truly yours,
Beta
The names were coded of course. But why? Was Bryce afraid of someone reading his hidden letters and thinking the worst of him? It was too late now and Eian, with a heavy heart, knew that Howe was right. The letter was dated 8:12, a few days right before the Couslands departure to Redcliffe Castle. Other letters were to be found lying underneath that particular one. Another one, written in very elegant handwriting, caught his attention. It read as the following:
Jacquelyn,
It was good seeing you, after all these years. I hope my sons have impressed even you. Perhaps Celene would like to see them herself. She always did like seeing handsome men with skills in battle. It would do her much honor if she could see them fight.
Bryce
There was no mistaken it now. There was only one Jacquelyn and she was third in line to Empress Celene I. Was Bryce trying to marry off his sons to the Orlesian nobility? That was treachery by law. He didn't have time to read the others when he heard voices in the corridor. He hastily returned everything to its original state and slinked out of the room before Bryce entered it.
With the letters boring holes in his memory, he started his main quest with a heavy heart and knew that the Maker would make him pay dearly for it.
The Couslands had just returned from their trip to Redcliffe Castle. The visit exhausted them and immediately upon their arrival, their servants started helping them out to the Castle, mindful of their Masters' slow movements. Hot baths awaited them and their bodies welcomed the clean sheets with great relish. The elves ensured that food and drink was given to them without haste or spillage. The Couslands had always treated their servants well, better than their noble peers, who held a scornful and reproachful eye to them. To their peers, the servants were nothing. They were here to serve them and only them.
The next day was better received and soon the routine started all over again. The Cousland boys trained and trained from sunup to sunrise while Eleanor chatted amenably with visiting nobles from the surrounding vicinities. Bryce did his own thing, overseeing the Guards and ensuring that everyone was taken care of within his walls. They never knew that someone was observing their activities with a patient eye.
They did throw off their spy in a loop with one strange activity. It occurred on the night of a full moon and it was as if the whole family had disappeared for the whole night. Eian would eventually discover this to be a habit, but he wouldn't find this out until several weeks later after jotting down notes and seeing patterns. What in the Black City were they doing?
-o0o-
Bryce had taken his entire family to the Clearing, where Hadrian drank the waters of the pond. His close servants knew what they were up to and prepared the horses, stuffing the saddlebags with essentials, prior to their leaving. Hadrian was quite confused when his father led them to that site, where he saw that strange ghostly apparition of a wolf. He asked Fergus, who was walking besides him solemnly.
"Just watch and listen, Hadrian," was all Fergus said before silently walking through the woods with light footsteps. The night sky was clear, dotted with sparkling stars and the moon sat in the sky, watching over the four people plus Hadrian's faithful canine companion journey to the large pond. They stopped upon reaching it and Hadrian watched with apprehensive eyes as he saw something take shape on the opposite side of the Pond.
There it was again, that same wolf. Except this time, it was more solid. It seemed to be waiting for them for as soon as they arrived it rose on all fours and loped easily across the pond, and, Hadrian noticed with a shiver, right on top of the water. The wolf was easier to see once it stopped in front of them. Hadrian saw that the wolf was bathed in blue light and his eyes strayed to the moon above them. The moon itself was white so where did the blue colour come from?
/I see you/
A voice spoke calmly to them and Hadrian gasped at how the wolf spoke to them but without moving its mouth.
"We see you, Zarieth," Bryce bowed respectively before him. In turn, both his mother and brother bowed as well. Hadrian instinctively followed his family, although he was unsure of what exactly was occurring here.
/You have brought him here, Alpha. He has grown much since the last./
"Kids, unfortunately, grow up with time and experience," Bryce murmured in a low voice.
There was a warm chuckle and Hadrian could feel the approval emanating from the reverent beast sitting before them.
/As do we all. Bring the young pup forward, Alpha./
Bryce motioned his son to step forward and Hadrian did so, his nervousness increasing with each inch he got closer to the wolf. It seemed as if the wolf was getting bigger and bigger with each step.
/You are mourning, young pup. But this too will pass. Wolves mate for life but Nathan was not to be yours. His path is directed elsewhere./
"How'd you know?"
/We know many things, but not the final destination. That is the Maker's secret. It is time though for you to accept your duty as a Cousland./
"Duty?"
Hadrian looked to his family for answers but all they gave him was an encouraging smile. He turned his attention to the wolf.
/You are the only Cousland to ever drink from this sacred place. Such an event has been unforeseen. The High Lord of the Wolves Himself is confused as to why it occurred in the first place./
"But why me? What's so special about me?" Hadrian didn't think himself particularly special.
He worked hard to uphold the image of a Cousland: honourable, protective, and dutiful. Other than that, he was just a simple young boy trying to survive in this harsh world of men and beasts.
/We do not know. We can only accept this and move forward, as we all should do. Give me your hand./
The request startled the young Cousland and there was another wave of warmth and reassurance coming from the wolf. Feeling assured that the wolf would not harm him or his family, he slowly brought his hand out, palm facing up. The wolf placed his large paw on top of the palm and Hadrian let out a soft gasp as he felt something shift in his mind. His vision then whitened and there was a brief moment of pain before it cleared away.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself still standing before the wolf, but someone was supporting him. It was Fergus' arm around his waist that kept him standing. What happened?
/It is complete. With this contract in place, you, Bryce, are no longer required to upkeep it. When death comes to you, the contract will not be nullified as it would be./
"C-c-contract?"
/Yes. Thanks to your ancestor, the Wolves and the Couslands have always been bound, for good or ill. Only the Alphas were charged to upkeep this. However, the High Lord requested that it be passed to you./
"What about Fergus?"
/Fergus is no longer pure./
"Pure?"
Hadrian turned his head to face Fergus, who was blushing madly. Their mother looked ready to burst with indignation but she kept her mouth shut. It dawned on him then that the wolf meant 'pure' as in the body not being violated in anyway.
"You can keep quit staring at me, brother," Fergus hissed unhappily, but Hadrian knew his brother was too embarrassed to put the full force of the venom in his reply.
"Didn't know you were a virgin until now, Fergus," Hadrian said in a teasing tone. The blush on his brother's face spread and Hadrian could hear the wolf laughing at their banter.
/Take them back, Alpha. Hadrian will soon need his rest and he won't find it here./
"Yes, Zarieth," Bryce replied and he beckoned the boys to follow him out of the Clearing.
Once they left, another wolf took up residence besides Zarieth. It was much, much bigger than he and if Hadrian were here to see him, he would have needed another pair of pants to wear.
Has it been done, Zarieth?
/Yes, Alpha./
Good. We shall see how this young one fares in the turmoil ahead. If he passes, then this world will change forever.
-TBC-
A/N: I'm sorry if this chapter is soo short compared to the previous one. I promise that the next two will be longer. It is almost the end of the first arc and there are a couple of things I need to wrap up before we head into Wolf's Journey. The second arc, although it will comprise of details from the game, will have 'behind the scenes' parts that will greatly affect the outcome of Thedas' future. So it will not solely be a complete novelization of the game. Stay tuned for next time! Please review and thanks for reading!
PS Don't forget to vote for Fergus' romantic interest! If you are an anonymous reader, vote in a review! Otherwise, vote in a poll. Thanks!