Author's Note: Thanks to everyone reviewing and following along! Because of NaNoWriMo, I've gotten a little behind in writing TtP, so updates will be Monday and Thursday for November. Apologies for that! Things are about to pick up quite a bit though, so I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 68 - Friends in High Places

The afternoon air was full of chill as Serena and Alistair stepped out of the tavern. They hadn't learned much of anything eavesdropping on the nobility of the Gnawed Noble Tavern, except that the son of Bann Sighard, of Dragon's Peak, was apparently missing.

"I hope Zevran and the rest end up gathering more intelligence than we did," Alistair huffed. They were dressed in the clothes of nobility, rather than their armor, in an attempt to blend in.

"L-Lady Serena? Is that you?"

Apparently their subtle disguises were not working, Serena thought. Turning quickly, she barely recognized the sound of the voice as the person gasped. A dark haired young man stood staring at her, his cheeks flushing slightly. How in the realm..?

"S-Samuell? By the Maker!" Serena exclaimed, sprinting towards the man as she wrapped her arms around him. "I thought you were dead!"

"I can say I honestly thought the same of you, my lady." Ser Samuell grinned, hugging her tight. "I should have known you'd find a way out. Sweet Maker, what are you doing here in Denerim?"

"Oh, I'm..." Serena glanced around, lowering her voice. "I'm a Grey Warden now. That man, Duncan, he rescued me back at Highever. But nevermind that, how did you get here?"

"Oh. Ah. Gilmore, actually," the dark haired man replied, dipping his head. "He held the front gates as long as he could, and sent me and Ser Foster to round up whatever castle staff we could find, help them out the back." He shook his head sadly. "There were about ten of us by the end, Howe's men had scoured the whole castle, hunting anyone they didn't recognize as one of their own. We barely made it out."

"Regardless, two of the staff, elves, they had family here in the Alienage, and my cousin Moira lives here, so we decided to make our way to the capital. I got a job with the city guard pretty quickly." Samuell laughed bitterly. "How ironic, eh?"

"How do you mean?"

"Howe's here. In Denerim. The regent made him the Arl of Denerim, too, when Arl Urien died at Ostagar..." Samuell shook his head, his voice laced with cold fury. "A bloody traitor, running the most prestigious arl in all of Ferelden. The Maker sure shows us mercy in interesting ways, I suppose."

"Yes, I saw him for myself just earlier today, along with our most glorious regent. Howe's calling himself Teyrn of Highever, along with Arl of Amaranthine and Denerim." Serena cursed. "I can't believe it. He was one of my father's oldest friends..."

"Believe it, my lady," the knight answered gravely. "The city has been just short of chaos ever since, too. Rumor has it he's keeping Urien's son in his estate's dungeons, along with anyone else who puts pressure on the regent... I haven't been able to check it out myself yet, Howe forbade the city guard from patrolling the grounds."

"Interesting. We've heard Bann Sighard's son is missing, as well. Perhaps Howe knows something of that?" Serena tapped her foot, her mind working swiftly. "I know you probably have to get back to work, but... we're staying with the Arl of Redcliffe, would you... be able to meet us at the estate later tonight? There's so much to discuss."

"Of course, my lady," Samuell answered. "I shall meet you at... nine? My patrol ends just after the evening bells."

"That's perfect, see you then." Serena gave the former knight a little wave and hurried back to Alistair. "Uh, hi. Sorry. I probably should have introduced you, but... that was one of the knights, from Highever, one of my father's men. I didn't think any of them escaped."

"Yes, I wondered why you ran off to hug a strange man." Alistair raised an eyebrow, his eyes following the knight's retreating back. "Did any of the others survive... survive what happened?"

"Samuell said around ten or so. Another knight, Ser Foster, and some of the servants in the castle." Serena dropped her voice. "He told me Howe has forbade the city guard from patrolling the Denerim estate. And there's a rumor he's holding Urien's son in the dungeons there... Isn't that interesting?"

"Extremely," Alistair replied. "I wonder if Alim will uncover any more information from the elves... surely some of them work in Howe's new palace."

"That man's list of crimes just gets longer and longer by the day." Serena shook her head, falling into step beside Alistair. "I can't decide whether Loghain is a brilliant mastermind or the laziest politician I've ever seen..."

"How about we split the difference and just refer to him as the biggest prat in Thedas?" Alistair nodded to the two sentries standing outside Arl Eamon's estate as they passed. "You know, the more he mucks things up, the more I want to win in the Landsmeet."

Serena arched an eyebrow. "Being King isn't so scary now?"

"Oh, it's terrifying," Alistair assured her. "But when I think about everything Loghain has done in the last few months, how much he's weakened Ferelden... the fact that he's willing to kill anyone who stands in his way, or even appears to disagree with him... I just can't abide it any longer." He took a deep breath. "If there's something we can do, something I can do, to better the nation, I have to do it."

Serena popped up on her toes and kissed the tip of Alistair's nose, smiling broadly. "And that is why you'll be a fantastic King, my love."

It was later in the evening when Serena finally got around to sorting through the various messages her companions had left for her from their forays scouting in the city. Surprisingly, among the pile was a letter from Bodahn. Picking up the dwarf's note first, her smile became a deep frown as she read it.

'Gathered what information I could while trading in Highever. The castle is under renovation due to insurgency from the people against the new Teyrn. Once it was known the Couslands had been murdered, the city guard tried to forcibly take back the teyrnir, only to be hanged in the city square by Howe's men.

Howe has since installed his own men in the guard, though there are whispers of another rebellion brewing among the nobles due to the heavy taxes Howe has levied on them. There is talk among the elves that Howe's men storm the Alienage weekly looking for weapons; he is paranoid about them taking up arms against him...'

"Hello, sister dear." Fergus slid into the study, flopping easily into one of the comfortable sitting chairs. "What has you frowning so?" Serena pushed Bodahn's letter over the table to her brother, her lips set in a grim line. Fergus read it, his eyes flipping back and forth across the lines quickly.

"Howe will die for this," the dark haired man said, his voice deadly serious. "It was not enough for him to murder our family, he disgraces our people and forces them to pay for his crimes..." Fergus's hand clenched, crushing Bodahn's letter in his fist. "I'll have his head on a pike if it's the last thing I do."

"The bit about the elves worries me, after what Alim told me about the Denerim Alienage." She pulled out the notice Alim had handed her, which clearly stated that any elves found with blades or weapons of any kind would be hung immediately. "If Howe is here, I wonder who is running Highever and Amaranthine?"

"Cronies of his, probably," Fergus replied. "Or that son of his... Nathaniel, was it? I doubt Highever is much better off with him here."

"He said Nathaniel was in the Free Marches," Serena said, the quill in her hand tapping rhythmically against the parchment. "Maybe Thomas? Though he's only sixteen... Perhaps a regent?" She shook her head. "I suppose it doesn't matter. Once we win the Landsmeet we can turn the army north, and deal with Howe."

"I doubt that pesky archdemon will wait that long, Sister," said Fergus. He put a firm hand over hers, halting the tapping. "Highever, our parents... it will all be avenged, but do not fall into the same trap as Loghain and Howe, thinking of your personal squabbles before the good of Ferelden."

"You're right, I... I wasn't thinking. These missives-" she indicated the scattered papers. "They just make me so angry. How could one man muck up so much in a matter of months?"

"I would not be shocked if Rendon Howe has had these machinations in line for much longer than Loghain has been Regent."

"Serena?" Alistair popped his head in the door, looking sheepish. "Your friend is here, the knight?"

"Oh, I completely forgot." She turned to her brother. "You won't even believe it, Fergus. Samuell found me in the Market today. He escaped, along with Foster and some of the servants."

"Samuell's here?" Fergus stood up as Alistair led the dark haired knight turned city guardsmen into the study. Pulling the man to him in a hug, Fergus was all smiles. "Maker, it's been ages."

"It seems I am due for quite a few shocks this day," Samuell replied, bowing his head to Fergus and Serena. "My lord, my lady. The Maker must shine His light upon us, for I never thought to see you both again."

"A wonderful turn of events in these dark times," Fergus added. "What is it you're doing in the city?"

"I am but a proud member of Denerim's city guardsmen, my lord," Samuell replied with a nod. "As I was telling Lady Serena this afternoon, it is very interesting, with the new Arl... Howe does not allow the guardsmen to patrol the grounds of his estate, preferring his own men, from Amaranthine, to guard the estate on their own."

"We need to get to that estate, Fergus," Serena said keenly. "There's been rumors... some are saying he's holding nobles in the dungeons. Anyone who speaks out against the Regent or knows what happened at Ostagar."

"There has been a crowd at his door every morning, all day long, for every day this week." Samuell pulled one of the pieces of parchment on the table towards him, flipping it over and drawing a crude map. "Apparently our great friend Rendon Howe has not been paying his debts. Workmen, servants of Urien's... he had all the old employees tossed out, replaced with his own people, but word has it he hasn't been paying them back wages, either."

"Truly, it is an embarrassment of riches," Alistair said, mocking Howe's sniveling tone from earlier. "In fact, it is so embarrassing, I cannot even pay my bills. I would much rather put the coin to use in my personal bath tub, so I may swim about in it like a fat, pale fish. Har har har."

Serena put a hand over her mouth, stifling the laugh that bubbled up at Alistair's jokes. She could see her brother was having an equally terrible time across the table, his cheeks above the beard were red.

"He does look a bit like a fat old fish, doesn't he?" Samuell hadn't looked up from his map making, but Serena could hear the smile in his voice. "So, I apologize I cannot give you the interior, as I said, he doesn't allow anyone inside, but there are exits here, here, here and here." He pointed to four circles on the map. "And an underground entrance here. Foster noticed it, we think it's for deliveries to the kitchen when there's a party."

"That's where we could hit them from, then," Fergus said, pointing at the x on the knight's map. "It's already underground, and may be near an entrance to Howe's dungeons."

"You know, I bet the Chantry has plans of the estate..." Alistair looked up from the map, his honey eyes thoughtful. "Their scholars keep maps of most of the older buildings in the city. At least, they did in Redcliffe, I know."

"So tomorrow, we get a map of the interior, and we figure out where this dungeon is, and how easily we could bust into it," Serena replied.

Alistair scoffed at that. "We took down a high dragon and a broodmother, no problem. This will be cake in comparison."

"I apologize for the shortness of my visit, but I'm afraid I must be getting back to the barracks. They will wonder if I dally too long." Samuell stood up to leave, the rest of the table following suit. "If I hear anything else through the guard, shall I send word here?"

"Yes. Perhaps use another name, so it isn't directly traced back to the city guard." Serena bit her lip, thinking hard. "Use... Master Bryceson. That way we'll know it's you, and you'll get to keep your job in the guard, too."

"It would be awful if I were hung for treason," Samuell said, the ghost of a smile still lighting his features. Serena smiled sadly, seeing the dark circles under the man's eyes. She couldn't imagine the kinds of things Loghain had commanded the city guard to do to cover up some of his machinations around Denerim.

"You'd hang right next to us, Sam," Fergus murmured, clapping the knight on the shoulder. "I'll see you out. Serena, we'll talk in the morning about the Denerim estate plans."

"As if I would just go barging into the place without you, Brother dearest," Serena replied, rolling her eyes at him. Watching the two men disappear out of the study, she turned her attention once again to the missives, setting them in a pile.

Alistair pushed his chair closer, glancing at the pile of parchment. "So, nobles in the dungeons, secrets on the grounds... what else have Loghain and Howe cooked up, my love?"

"Well, Bodahn sent me a letter saying the people of Highever are fighting his rule, and he's basically put the town on lockdown, it seems." She pushed the dwarf's note over to Alistair, continuing as he quickly read over it. "Howe's also taxing the nobles to cover the cost of the damages he incurred on the castle during the raids."

"And if there's one thing nobles hate, it's taxes." Alistair looked up from the paper, a smile lighting his handsome face. "I'm getting the hang of this kingly business after all."

"Soon you won't even need me," Serena joked.

"Nonsense. I'll always need you." He reached over, grasping her hand gently and tapping the ring there. "Forever."

"Forever," she repeated. Her heart swelled just then with her love for him, and her hope that everything would work out the way it was meant to. She had added a daily prayer to the Maker that they both come out of this with their heads intact, though considering how complicated the capital was becoming... It may end being a vain hope, at best.

The sound of footsteps coming down the hall caused them both to quickly separate, Alistair picking up the parchment and pretending to examine it closely, though upon closer inspection, she saw it was upside down.

"Good evening, Lady Serena... Prince Alistair." The servant entered the study, bowing deeply, once to each of them. "I hate to intrude, but the arl requests your presence in his sitting room. Immediately."

"This late at night?" Serena asked.

"It is urgent, he said," the man replied, bowing again. He stood there awkwardly as Serena realized the servant was sent to collect them as well. Sighing, she gathered up the papers again and followed the two men out the door.

The servant led them into Eamon's sitting room where the arl was still dressed in his doublet from dinner. Next to him stood a much smaller figure, clad in a thick black cloak. Once the servant left, the figure removed the cloak's hood. Dark hair covered large pointed ears. Who was this then? Serena wondered. One of the servants from a noblemen's house?

Eamon gestured to the elven woman with a hand, his face looking tired and a touch annoyed at the lateness of the guest. "This is Erlina. She's-"

"I am Queen Anora's handmaiden," Erlina cut in smoothly. Her speech was the same lilting, affected accent that Leliana had, though much thicker than the redheaded bard. "She sent me here to ask for your help."

Eamon smiled tightly, his slight annoyance now reading fully on his face. "Or perhaps the young lady prefers to speak for herself."

"Have you already heard what she has to say, your grace?" Serena asked, effectively cutting off the woman's spiel as she saw Erlina's mouth snap back closed.

"Yes, she claims Anora is being held captive by Howe."

"And how in the realm did Howe manage that under Loghain's nose?"

"The queen, she is in a difficult position!" Erlina exclaimed, looking quickly between Serena, Alistair and Eamon. "She loved her husband, no? And trusted her father to protect him. When he returns with no king and only dark rumors, what is she to think?"

"I shudder to wonder," Serena muttered darkly. "May I ask, are you Orlesian, Erlina? I love your accent."

The elven woman appeared taken aback by Serena's sudden change in conversational direction. "Why, y-yes, I was born in Jader, just beyond the Frostbacks. I... why does that matter?"

"Just curious. To be quite frank, Loghain hates Orlesians, he's really quite outspoken about it, so I just found it interesting he would allow his daughter to employ... well, you. I would imagine he would think you were a spy for the Empress, or some such thing.

"He is not my biggest fan, of that I can assure you. I was hired by King Cailan, though," the elf said, ducking her dark head. Serena noticed she wore a black arm bracelet, perhaps given to her by Anora? "So there is... was... little he could do it about it. Now my only protection is by my lady's grace. My queen suspects she cannot trust her father. And Loghain, he is very subtle, no? But Rendon Howe... he is privy to all the secrets and... not so subtle."

Serena chuckled at that. "No, no, he is not."

"Which brings us back to our original point," Eamon said quickly, urging the elven woman to get to the crux of the problem.

"So, she goes to Howe. A visit from the queen to the new arl of Denerim... it is only a matter of courtesy. And she demands answers."

"That's bold of her," Alistair murmured.

"And rather foolish," Serena added. "She must know Howe is a complete lunatic."

The elven woman nodded. "He calls her every sort of name, "traitor" being the kindest, and locks her in a guest room."

"At the manner."

"Yes," the elf replied.

"All roads led to Denerim, as they say," Zevran replied, leaning casually against the wall. Serena hadn't even noticed him slip into the room. She would have to tell him to be more careful about eavesdropping in the estate. They weren't at party camp anymore. "It would appear the new arl has many skeletons in his closet... and perhaps a queen or two." Serena saw Eamon's eyes flick to the assassin quickly at his interruption before resting on the ceiling in annoyance.

"Does Loghain know of this? Surely he wouldn't allow Howe to overstep like this."

"King Cailan was like a son to him, and Loghain left him to die," Erlina said, shaking her head sadly. "Does he love Anora more? Who can say? If she were to put herself in his way..." There was a long pause before the handmaiden looked up again, tears gleaming in her eyes.

"I think her life is in danger," the elf said earnestly. "I heard Howe say she would be a greater ally dead than alive. Especially if her death could be blamed on Arl Eamon."

Serena saw then how Erlina had made her way into the estate at so late an hour. She had played upon Eamon's fears like an expert lute player.

"Maker have mercy, only Howe would think regicide was a proper way of going about things," Serena said disgustedly.

"How can we even be sure that Anora is still there? Or alive?" Alistair looked from Eamon to Serena, his unspoken concern reading plainly. This could be a trap.

"We may have no choice but to trust Erlina, and by extension, Anora. The queen is well-loved. If Loghain succeeded in pinning her death on me... I'm not sure that's a risk we can afford to take."

Serena sighed, not really seeing an alternative around it, either. At least they already had business there, anyway. "How do we go about this, then?" she asked tiredly.

"I have some uniforms," Erlina replied. "Arl Howe hires so many new guards every day, a few more will not cause much stir. I can show you to the servants' entrance. We must slip in and out with my queen before anyone is the wiser."

"Ah, that's the rub," Serena said, shaking her head. "We have other business there, too." She glanced at Eamon. "We believe he's holding some of the nobility captive in his dungeons. I intended to find out."

"Hmm. That would put us in a better position for the Landsmeet..." Eamon reasoned softly.

"Two groups then," Zevran said, stepping away from the wall. "The Wardens could rescue the queen, while another group checks the dungeons."

"That would take a lot of planning," Eamon murmured.

"My lady cannot wait long, Wardens," Erlina said. "Find me at the estate tomorrow, and I will led you in. There are only four uniforms, so choose wisely." With a curt nod, the elf left the room.

"I love how people ask for help and in the same breath tell us exactly how to go about it," Serena said grumpily. "How rude."

"Be that as it may, I think we'd do best to think this over carefully, and proceed even more so. There really is no way to tell if this is a trap or not." Eamon sighed, rubbing his temples. "It is late, let us rest for tomorrow will certainly be as exciting as today has been."

"I could really do with a bit less excitement in my life, actually," Alistair said humorlessly.

The older man smiled, clapping a hand on Alistair's shoulder as they exited the sitting room. "Me, too, my boy, me too."