A Game Well-Played
29 Wintermarch
9:39
Cricket and Siobhan are back from Denerim. Cricket had a growth spurt. When he left he was as tall as my elbow; now he's as tall as my shoulder. And he clearly looks like a teenager, not a young boy. Siobhan seems far more self-confident, and after her experience in Denerim she has also really taken an interest in raising horses! She showed me what she and Elfroot had learned during the dressage training. They were in complete harmony with each other, and it was beautiful to watch.
My children are growing up! I'm so proud. And a little sad, but mostly proud.
3 Guardian, 9:39 Dragon
Cricket said he had a strict schedule when he was working with the tutor at the palace. He'd spent the majority of his time studying, except when Siobhan and Elfroot had a show. But now that he was back with us he didn't want to study all the time.
But he was worried that if he didn't he wouldn't be able to learn enough to gain entrance into the Université. I suggested that we sit down and make out a schedule of study that made room for the other things he likes to do, and necessary chores. Try it for a month and see how he feels about how much he's learned.
I received an odd note from Varric the other day. He wrote that he'd been hearing rumors about templars using red lyrium, and that he was going to talk to Cullen. I find that very disturbing. How did anyone find more red lyrium? Neither Varric nor I have ever told anyone about the Thaig. I know Cullen wouldn't go near that crap, but what about the other templars? I need to find out more about red lyrium. Maybe Edwyn can look into it?
15 Guardian,
9:39
I think Marnie and Cricket's schedule experiment is working. Cricket seems happy and very productive. He only gets frustrated with the lack of information about botanicals. Aside from Innes book, there is very little written about botany. He has written to his tutor for suggestions.
15 Guardian, 9:39 Dragon
Given what Alistair had learned about the Calenhad line and the blood of Great Dragons, we thought that a trip to Amaranthine might be necessary to see if Ali really is free of the taint. At first, we thought about going Soldier's Peak to see Avernus, but Ali decided that writing to the "Commander of the Ferelden Grey Wardens" would be a better approach. I just think Ali still likes joking with Edwyn about his being "the Warden Commander." I had Alistair also ask about the red lyrium.
Things here are quiet and calm. Alistair is happy to be working with the horses again, and now Siobhan is helping. Dennet says he just needs to sit in the shade and supervise. Elaina said, lovingly, 'Him not working would be like a chantry mother not saying the Chant.'
I'm enjoying helping where I can, and taking care of Lily. After a life of running, fighting, and being constantly on high alert…I feel like I'm in paradise!
2 Drakonis, 9:39 Dragon
Instead of a letter from Edwyn, we had Edwyn show up at the farm. It was great to see him and introduce him to his second cousin once removed. Lily took a shine to him and I could see a look of longing in his eyes. Ali told me about Edwyn and Morrigan. I just cannot believe she up and left before the final battle. Still, Edwin was upbeat. He and Ali left yesterday for a weekend at the Gull and Lantern.
I talked to Edwyn about the red lyrium. He said he would look into it.
The best news, of course, was that Edwyn could not sense the taint in Ali. Not at all. Nothing. To be absolutely sure, we would need to see Avernus, of course, but Ali and I will need to talk about that.
~oOOo~
"Meeting Avernus was an interesting experience." Marnie chuckled.
Alistair laughed. "That is one way of putting it. I think Varric would call him 'bat-shit crazy.'"
"When Avernus confirmed you no longer carried the taint, I almost hugged him. Crazy or not, he gave us the news that we could grow old together."
"That was really the first day of the rest of our lives together," Alistair said as he pulled Marnie close. "It was quiet for a while after that. Then the Grand Duke decided to be an unmitigated arse."
"I think he was born an unmitigated arse, but I may be biased."
Alistair chuckled. "As least he isn't emperor."
Marnie rolled her eyes. "He certainly was sure of himself."
"You mean full of himself?"
"That too. I'm just glad I didn't have to dance with him."
~oOOo~
17 Harvestmere
9:39
Marnie and I received an invitation (more of a cordial, royal summons) to the semi-annual Landsmeet, 15 Firstfall. Neither Marnie nor I know why we need to be there. I do know that Teagan (and Walter) will be returning from Orlais; perhaps it's to formally welcome Teagan home?
Anyway.
Just thinking about the last one I attended makes me ill, but if it means seeing Walter, I will happily be there, because nothing will keep me from my son!
Oh! I forgot to mention. We'll be staying in one of the apartments at the Palace. No, I have no idea why. But it's better than the Gnawed Noble (another place I closely associate with the Blight). Marnie jokingly suggested the Pearl, I reminded her that we'd have Lily with us.
She looked shocked. "I was joking! But if I wasn't, then that would be your only objection?"
I just smiled and didn't say another word.
I know, I'm evil.
17 Harvestmere, 9:39 Dragon
I know he was only joking about Lily being the only reason not to stay at the Pearl, but he won't admit it. He just smiles rather lasciviously at me and won't say another word about it.
Evil, evil man.
I have never been to a Landsmeet, but from what I've been told, a quarter of the time is spent on business and the rest is spent in senseless bickering. Still and all, at least Ferelden is actually governed, as opposed to Kirkwall under Meredith.
But if it's as Ali suspects, a welcome home to Teagan, then I get to see our son sooner than we thought!
14 Firstfall, 3:39 Dragon
Walter and Teagan are back!
We arrived at the Palace yesterday and were shown to our apartments. They are lavish – all silks, dark woods, and furs. Why we are staying here is still a mystery. However, we were right! The Landsmeet is in part to formally welcome Teagan home and give his report, and Walter will be with him!
14 Firstfall
3:39
Our son is back! I am so proud of him for helping Teagan in Orlais! Walter has a very quick and clever mind—he managed to outsmart the Grand Duke.
Watching Walter, I realized that he's just 19. I was close to 20 when Edwyn and I fought the Blight, it makes me feel a bit old. Of course my wife quickly picked up on this and spent the entire night showing me how young I really am.
Just imagine my smile.
17 Firstfall
3:39
Sorry for not writing earlier, I was recuperating from the mother of all hangovers after drinking way too much mead after the Landsmeet.
…wait why am I apologizing to you?
Anyway.
Why all the drinking? Well, most of it was in celebration. Celebrating both Teagan's triumphant return bearing the long-lost sword of the Rebel Queen and his public appreciation of my son who helped him get it. I have included the letter from Teagan that explains why our son is now Teagan's senior squire!
I know I said most was in celebration. However, some of it was a way to cope.
The Queen recently gave birth to twins and the Landsmeet was also their official presentation: Princess Celia and Prince Bryce.
No, neither Marnie nor I knew she was pregnant. Apparently, it was assumed that Siobhan or Cricket knew and would tell us…
So, why does the birth of twins require coping? It wasn't the birth of the twins, directly.
You see, their Majesties told the Landsmeet about my father's abduction, torture, and my role in his rescue. They said, "Alistair Theirin, at great personal risk, found and killed the Tevinter magister responsible for kidnapping our ruling and much beloved monarch. Alistair fought bravely through the Magister's fortress to rescue King Maric from torture of the vilest nature, and saw his father safely to the Maker's side."
At this point I looked at Marnie and whispered. "I thought they'd told the nobles about this already."
Marnie was just as perplexed.
Unfortunately, their Majesties continued and you will understand the need to cope.
"We ask the Landsmeet if you would allow Us to formally recognize Alistair as King Maric's son by giving him the title of Prince. It is a title that he should have borne whilst his father was alive. Alistair would be third in-line for the throne. This also has the advantage of protecting Ferelden from civil strife should the unthinkable happen."
I am now third in line to the throne, which will hopefully become farther down the line when the twins grow up, get married, and have children. However, if anything happens to the royal family before that, Maker-forbid, I would have to take the throne. I can see the logic in it, but I wasn't really given the option of refusing, especially in front of a Landsmeet.
And that's why I needed to drink.
So, I drank mead, lots of mead.
Unfortunately, no longer having the taint curtails my ability to remain sober. Thankfully, Marnie made us retire before I was legless and did something regretful. I woke in the morning feeling like a horde of darkspawn were digging through my head. Marnie let me spend the day in bed as I recovered.
She told the servants not to disturb me because I was "holding a vigil, of a sort, praying to the Maker for guidance at being bestowed such an unexpected honor."
I love my wife.
After the Landsmeet I did make some things clear with their Majesties:
I will not allow Lily to be in the succession, which is my right as Prince (thanks to Marnie for knowing that loophole).
I will not change my work and relationship with Dennet.
I do not want to use the title Prince, or Your Highness, unless it is during a Landsmeet, or when a state occasion requires it.
I don't have to move to Denerim, or be involved in Palace life, but it does mean that I need to attend Landsmeets.
Every Landsmeet.
Anyway.
Attached is Teagan's letter. I am so proud of my Walter. He is a clever young man!
16 Firstfall, 9:39 Dragon
To: The Theirin Family
Redcliffe Farms
Dear Marnie and Alistair,
This is the portion of my report on the incident with Grand Duke Gaspard. I give it to you as context for the reason I have made Walter my senior squire.
….. ….. …. …. …. … …. … …. …. …. …. ….
"Grand Duke Gaspard, in a rather convoluted attempt to overthrow Empress Celene, attempted to taunt me into a duel. The Grand Duke believed my death, (as the he clearly expected to win) would draw the ire of Ferelden. If hostilities ensued, then the Grand Duke (who has support of the military) would have a way to unseat Celene.
The Grand Duke's opening move was boasting that Queen Moira's sword was taken from her body, and was being used by his servants to kill rats. At first I thought he was lying, but he described the sword's unique markings. He believed that I would find this a grave insult to Queen Moira's memory and my honor would demand satisfaction. Satisfaction, of course, that could only be achieved by a duel to the death.
While I did find it insulting, I am not a vainglorious man. My honor is not so easily challenged. Nonetheless, the Grand Duke challenged me. However, there were two major problems with his plan.
First. My death would not be considered an act of Orlais, as the Grand Duke assumed. Your Majesties are wise and cautious, and would never rise to such obvious bait. Granted, reparations for my death would need to be made, but the Empress would do that without being told.
Second. The Grand Duke has made no secret of his disdain for the Game. Yet, he continues to ignore Celene's mastery of it. Consequently, once again, she out maneuvered him. The Empress essentially championed me with her Champion, Michel de Chevin. In Orlais, the challenged party picks the weapon of choice. Michel, at Celene's behest, chose a feather.
This being a symbol of the Chevaliers was a double-insult to the Grand Duke.
….. ….. …. …. …. … …. … …. …. …. …. ….
Okay. Now you both have context for what followed.
While Gaspard stewed, Walter quietly pulled me aside and whispered, "Pourquoi utiliser des domestiques pour tuer des rats? Ma maman a un chat pour tuer des rats. Si le Grand-Duc utilise un chat, ses serviteurs peuvent faire d'autres choses, oui?"
His Orlesian is quite good, by the way. To translate he asked me, "Why use servants to kill rats? My Mum has a cat to kill rats. If the Grand Duke uses a cat, his servants can do other things, yes?"
I was, however, surprised at the question because I knew you didn't own a cat, but I simply shrugged. Then in Fereldan he said, "Perhaps that's why the Grand Duke is so angry. His servants spend more time catching rats than taking care of him."
At that, I heard a snicker from one of the ladies-in-waiting, who then whispered something to Celene. Walter nodded to me and stepped back. I didn't think much more about it as I was happy enough to just get out of there and back to our apartments.
That was mid-afternoon.
Shortly before dinner, we were summoned back to the throne room. When we arrived, Michel de Chevin was at Celene's right. The Grand Duke stood stiffly before the throne, wearing his rage like a thick cloak, and across Empress Celene's lap was a sword.
We bowed and she asked Walter to approach.
"We understand that your mother uses a cat to kill rats?"
"Yes, your Radiance."
"Not servants?"
"No, your Radiance."
Celene then spoke to all of us (and this is memorable!): "We are concerned for our Cousin's health. Clearly his temper is proof that his domestic needs are not adequately being met. His servants need to attend to him, and not to rats. A strong cat will be found and will relieve Our Cousin's servants so they may attend to him. Cousin, return to your estate and rest. We will see to your future comfort."
Gaspard did the only thing he could—bow and leave. Walter had not moved from where he stood.
Then Celene indicated for Michel to take the sword from her lap and to give it to me. It was indeed Queen Moira's sword! I recognized the markings my father had once described to me.
Celene thanked me for my work as Ambassador, then said, "Please, take the sword home and know that We only wish peace between our countries."
On behalf of their Majesties I thanked Celene, and I was truly grateful for having the sword.
Then Celene looked at your son and smiled. "Well played young Walter Theirin. We have wanted to retrieve the sword from Our Cousin, and you provided an elegant, and unique, solution."
Walter bowed, saying that he was grateful to have been of assistance.
We returned to our apartments. Once I was assured of some privacy, I asked Walter what Celene had meant.
He smiled and said, "When the Grand Duke mentioned the sword I could tell that the Empress seemed really frustrated. I doubt she wanted to have it publicly known that Queen Moira's sword was in Orlais. Clearly, she hadn't been able to get it back from the Grand Duke, so I just suggested a way to get the sword and let the Grand Duke save face."
"You played the Grand Game!"
Walter just grinned. You have a wily son.
And that is why he is now my senior squire.
Your Uncle,
Teagan
~oOOo~
Marnie shook her head. "I'm glad Teagan came back when he did. Orlais practically fell to pieces shortly after."
"I know Orlesians don't do things by halves, but 'The War of the Lions?' In comparison, it made our civil war seem far more civil and far less war…Well, except for the whole Darkspawn marching through Ferelden part." He pulled Marnie closer.
"I have to say, you've handled being Prince Alistair very well."
"Yes, because I mostly ignore it."
"You didn't ignore it when they lost our reservation at the Crown and Lion." Marnie smiled.
Alistair put his hand to his chest, faking offense. "What? I never said a word. It was the inn keeper's wife who recognized me."
"True, you didn't say a word. You just smiled and nodded when they offered us the official royal suite. I didn't even know they had a royal suite."
"Neither did I…But you have to admit that mirror was conveniently placed." Alistair gave her a lascivious grin
Marnie blushed. "It was a memorable vacation."
"It was, and things were quiet at home, but Cullen really needed to learn to write letters that had only good news."
"Needed?" Marnie chuckled
~oOOo~
1 August, 9:39 Dragon Age
To: Lord and Lady Theirin
Ferelden
Dear Marnie and Alistair
I hope this letter finds you both well. While severely belated, Alistair, as a Fereldan, thank you for your work in Tevinter. I am sure your father rests at the Maker's side.
Forgive me for being a poor correspondent. As with my last letter, I bring good news and news that is unsettling.
The good news is very good! The investigation and clamoring over Meredith's death has officially ended. The Templars and the Chantry (in what is now a rare act of agreement) proclaimed:
"Knight-Commander Meredith tried to execute a rite of annulment she had no reason to invoke and no right to carry out. Furthermore, she turned into a meleficar as she tried fight those who opposed her. The Champion of Kirkwall exacted the Maker's Judgment on the Knight Commander, and in doing so saved many lives."
Marnie, needless to say, You. Are. Safe!
Now the unsettling news: The Mage-Templar conflict has escalated to the point where the templars are pulling away from the Chantry to hunt mages. They are upset at the Divine's more open-mindedness about Mages, or what the Templars call "softening." It is now to the point where the Order to which I gave my vows no longer exists.
Sister Leliana—Marnie, you know her as Sister Nightingale; Alistair, she is the Leliana with whom you traveled during the Blight—has offered me a place working directly for the Divine as her military commander, but not as a Templar (thank the Maker). Both Sister Leliana and her partner, Seeker Pentaghast, will arrive in Kirkwall at the end of this month to discuss the situation with me.
I am inclined to accept, but if I don't I will leave Kirkwall and go home to Ferelden.
Maker bless you and your family.
Yours in service,
Cullen