Command Decisions
21 Justinian
9:34
Thank the Maker for Anders. Marnie is recovering. She's furious, but recovering. The Qunari have left for Par Vollen (after Isabella brought back the damned book).
There are so many emotions going through me right now that it's hard to sort them out. But that's why I still write in you…and to you.
Where do I start?
First, Marnie dueled the Arishok. When I heard her agree to the duel, the bottom dropped out of my world. Marnie was, once again, putting herself in harm's way. This time all I could do was watch.
I have never felt so damned helpless in my life! Not even the days following Ostagar could match the fear, helplessness, and rage that tore through my soul as I stood in the throne room.
I am furious with Isabella for stealing the relic, with Fenris for suggesting the duel, and with Aveline for unwittingly setting this confrontation into motion.
I was angry with Marnie for putting Kirkwall ahead of us. But as I watched the duel, I was reminded of just how amazing a warrior she is and how capable she was of winning this fight. I think my anger at Marnie was driven by my fear, and my fear was in-part due to my underestimating my wife's ability and courage. For that, I feel ashamed. Marnie still doesn't understand why I kept apologizing.
The Qunari were leaving, and the Arishok's corpse was cooling on the throne room floor when Meredith stalked into the room. When she was told what happened, she proclaimed Marnie as Kirkwall's new champion.
No, I have no idea if there had been a previous champion.
After that, Marnie, the brave and stubborn woman I adore, walked out of the throne room under her own power, and on her own two feet. We were just at the top of the stairs when she collapsed into my arms. As I whisked her home, Anders began healing her.
Yesterday, Marnie and I had asked Merrill and Varric if they could come over today and keep an eye on the kids, just in case things with the Qunari went to shit.
At the estate, it sounded like everyone was having a grand time in the cellar. Whatever was happening, it involved peals of young laugher, magic, and Bianca. It also allowed me to get Marnie into the house and upstairs without any of them seeing her.
I hope I can avoid seeing Aveline for a few days.
I am…I need…I want… Aveline to do her damned job and delegate to others. I don't want my family, or the people of Kirkwall, to suffer from the City Guard dropping the ball. Never again! I will speak with Aveline about this, and it won't be a friendly chat. It will be Sergeant Alistair speaking with Captain Aveline. I will be putting my job on the line to do this, but I don't care.
21 Justinian, 9:34 Dragon
If I hadn't killed that High Dragon, I would have cheerfully fed it Izzy, Aveline, and maybe Fenris too ~~~ Damn! That is the third fucking quill I've broken. Okay, no writing until I am less angry…although that might not be until Harin~~~. Damn! That's the 4th quill.
6 Solace
9:34
I finally have an appointment with Aveline for tomorrow morning. I would have done it earlier, however a large Qunari Arishok decided to try and convert the people of Kirkwall. The city was kind of a mess and I was kind of busy.
Okay, the city was really a mess and I was really busy…so there!
~oOOo~
Marnie put the packet back in the box and slipped into bed. "You never wrote or spoke of what went on in that meeting, but whatever you did, it seemed to work."
"It did," he kissed Marnie on the forehead, "and I'm still not telling you what was said."
Marnie pouted and Alistair kissed her silly, making her forget all about Aveline and everything else.
Later, as a sleeping Marnie lay curled up against him, Alistair's thoughts drifted to that meeting with Aveline…'
… … … … …… … … … …… … … … …… … … … …
…Aveline sat behind her desk, and gestured for Alistair to sit down. "So, why did you want to have such a formal meeting?"
"Because what I have to say is important, and it's coming from your sergeant, not your friend."
Aveline furrowed her brow. "That sounds ominous. Alright…Sergeant Theirin, what is it that you need to discuss?"
"Captain Aveline, cases fell through the cracks because you were, and still are, being pulled in too many directions."
Aveline sat back and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "What cases do you believe fell through the cracks?"
"Quentin and Kendrick."
"Are you going to blame me for Leandra's death and the Qunari attack?"
"No, but your actions contributed to it. You, and by extension the city-guard, are culpable in both cases."
"Pray tell, what actions of mine are your referring to?
"You considered Ninette de Carrac's disappearance to be a domestic dispute, and decided that your guardsmen didn't have time to deal with it. You closed the case until more evidence turned up. Exactly how that would have been possible without further investigation, I don't know.
"Yes, the guard are spread thin, but that's because we're not strategically used. If we had a proper command structure, you would have delegated this case to a lieutenant or sergeant, and given them the authority to carry out an investigation, and find a resolution.
"When Marnie and I found Ninette's severed hand, and discovered that a blood mage was involved, you assigned two city-guards who aren't sergeants and have no experience investigating magic-related crimes. Shall I go on?"
"Please do." Aveline said angrily.
"Captain, I am the only city-guard with templar abilities, and significant experience with blood mages. Instead of using me, you punished me for my off-duty investigation by taking me off the case. I get it that you believe it was insubordinate. Even so, you put my insubordination ahead of the needs of the investigation."
"I involved you in the raid of the estate! Which, may I remind you, turned up nothing. What would you have had me do?"
"I told you at the time that DuPris was a blood mage. That alone should have been sufficient to take him into custody and question him. I could have drained his mana, making the arrest much easier. I should have tried harder to convince you and that was my error. You cow-towed to that Orlesian maleficar and the Knight-Commander when you closed the investigation. Later, you asked Marnie to quiet Emeric because the guard was embarrassing itself. We lost our only connection to that monster and Leandra paid the price!"
"Are you saying that I cannot do my job?"
"No. I'm saying that you are doing too many jobs. You are Captain of the Guard, not Captain anda guard. I know that you were dealing with a Viscount who withheld resources, and a Knight Commander who wouldn't lend you her Templars. But dealing with Meredith and with the political situations in Kirkwall as they affect the security of this city is your job. Investigating and following through on reports and cases is not."
"Since you are such an authority on what my job is, tell me what you think I should do to solve this supposed problem?"
"Delegate. We have quite a few guardsmen, but only a handful of sergeants. We have only one lieutenant, which is clearly not enough because you're trying to do the job of a lieutenant, in addition to being the Captain. You cannot do that, no one can. You need a command structure that would free you to deal with the Dumars and the Merediths."
"Are you finished?"
"No. there's still the matter of Kendrick and the Qunari. We all knew that Dumar and the Chantry were butting heads over the Qunari and you were in the thick of it, which is where the Captain should be. However, when the victim's brothers reported the crime, you said you'd look into it. You should have delegated it, or at minimum suspended Kendrick without pay. You did nothing - or if you did, it clearly wasn't enough.
"The brothers saw nothing had been done, so they took the law into their own hands. I know you don't want to encourage vigilantism. But if we don't do our jobs, then we are encouraging people to do it for us. Don't you ever wonder why Marnie is asked to involve herself in things that would normally be the job of the city guard?"
Aveline sighed and slowly nodded her head.
"Then, once the Arishok took the brothers in, you should have let it go."
Aveline remained silent.
Alistair leaned forward, his tone was less severe. "Aveline, I was the Commander of the Grey in Ferelden, and you know what we accomplished there. I know what I'm talking about. Tell me I'm wrong?"
Aveline slumped in her chair and looked up towards the ceiling. "You're not wrong." She looked back to Alistair. "When I was being trained to be Captain of the Guard, most of the training involved the history of Kirkwall, how to deal with the nobility, protocols and procedures for dealing with the Viscount, the Chantry, and the Knight-Commander. I should have realized that being Captain of the Kirkwall City Guard meant not being a guardsman.
"You're right. My job is to fight for resources and try to work with the leaders of the City. Right now, dealing with the Knight-Commander is taking all of my time." She stood up and smiled at Alistair. "As painful as it is to hear of my failures, I'm glad you came. Let's meet again next week and see what we can do about the structure of the guard."
Alistair crossed his arms and bowed in salute. "Same day and time?"
"Same day and time."
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
AN: Thanks to Melysande and Judy for their reviews. Speical thanks to ElyssaCousland my beta!