Author's Note: At long last! The Landsmeet! Apologies for the week long absence, this was difficult chapter to get together. Thanks all for the reviews and comments. I love seeing everyone's predictions for the future!

Chapter 78 - The Landsmeet

"My lords and ladies of the Landsmeet, you have heard the words straight from his very own mouth. Teyrn Loghain would have us give up our freedoms, our traditions, out of an unjustified fear!"

Arl Eamon Guerrin stood tall near the center of the chamber, his keen eyes snapping from one landholder to the next. He was dressed, instead of his usual embroidered tunic and surcote, in full leather plate armor. At his hip was a long sword, the same, Serena thought, that had hung in the arl's study back at Redcliffe. She hoped this wouldn't be an occasion to actually use it.

"He placed us on this path," Eamon continued. "Yet we should place our destiny in his hands? Must we sacrifice everything good about our nation to save it?" To that, there was applause from around the chamber, many of the landholders nodding and whispering to each other.

"A fine performance, Eamon, but no one here is taken in by it." Flanked by two helmeted guardsmen, Loghain swaggered into the center chamber, staring daggers at anyone who dared look at him directly. "You would attempt to put a puppet on the throne and every soul here knows it. The better question is, "Who will pull the strings?"

Searching about the room, Serena saw his gaze land on her as she and her companions joined the small group of landholders that were standing in the lower chamber. "Ah. And here we have the puppeteer."

"Tell us, Warden. How will the Orlesians take our nation from us? Will they deign to send their troops, or simply issue their commands through this would-be prince? What did they offer you? How much is the price of Fereldan honor now?"

Serena stood tall, her black armor shined to a high polish. She could hear the crowd shift, almost as one, in her and Alistair's direction. "How can you honestly believe, after seeing what has become of our lands these last months, that Orlais is a bigger danger than the Blight that is threatening to destroy us all?"

"There are enough refugees in my bannorn now to make that abundantly clear!" shouted Bann Alfstanna from the balcony above. "Farmhouses are filled with women and children, abandoned or sent ahead of their husbands and brothers and sons, hopeful to find a piece of this land not swallowed up by the Blight!"

Beside her, another spoke up. Craning her neck, Serena saw it was Arl Wulff, of Western Hills. She wondered if Leliana had worked any of her charms on the man, or if it was outrage that made him speak up against the regent. "The south has fallen, Loghain! Will you let darkspawn take the whole country for fear of Orlais?"

"The Blight is indeed real, Wulff. But do we need Grey Wardens to fight it?" Loghain paced across the stone floor, the light from the windows above catching on the sharp edges of his armor as he moved, reflecting it back in strange patterns. If Serena hadn't been so furious with the man, she would have been mesmerized.

"They claim that they alone can end the Blight, yet they failed spectacularly against the darkspawn at Ostagar, and they ask to bring with them four legions of chevaliers."

"And once we open our borders to the chevaliers," Loghain continued. "Can we really expect them to simply return from whence they came?"

"You bring in Orlais, time and again, to no avail, Teyrn Loghain," Serena said evenly, her temper, for once, not getting the best of her. "Let us speak some on what you have done." Pulling a sheath of papers from her belt, Serena held them high. "You sold Fereldan citizens into slavery to fund this civil war!"

"What is this, Loghain?" cried Bann Sighard, outrage battling shock as he stood glaring at the general from nearby. "There is no slavery in Ferelden. Explain yourself!"

"There is no saving the Alienage," Loghain replied tersely. "Damage from the riots has yet to be repaired. There are bodies still rotting in their homes. It is not a place I would send my worst enemy. There is no chance of holding it if the Blight comes here. I did those people a service by sending them off-"

"So you thought a better solution to helping them rebuild the Alienage was to sell the people who lived there into slavery?" Serena replied. "South Reach has nearly been taken by the darkspawn already. Will you sell Arl Bryland and his people into slavery next to fund your madness? Or would it be, as you say, to protect them? Because we couldn't possibly hold South Reach…" Turning on her heel, she addressed the Landsmeet as a whole for the first time. "Should we allow everywhere to fall, then, to the darkspawn? Everywhere but Denerim, for that is where we are now?"

"Despite what you may think, Warden, I have done my duty! Whatever my regrets may be for the elves, I have done what was needed for the good of Ferelden!"

"And that is my point, exactly, Teyrn Loghain!" Serena shot back. "You have no idea what is for the good of Ferelden any longer! You speak of duty, and I am left wondering… did you feel it was your duty to send an apostate to Redcliffe to poison Arl Eamon?"

"I assure you, Warden, if I were going to send someone, it would be my own soldiers. I would not trust to the discretion of an apostate." Loghain looked around, the hard lines of his face made harsher by his deep frown. "What evidence have you of these charges, anyway?"

"My brother, for one," called Alfstanna from above. "Iminric tells a very different tale. One that says you snatched a blood mage from the Chantry's justice. Coincidence?" The pointed look on her face said she certainly didn't think so.

"Do not think the Chantry will overlook this, Teyrn Loghain." It was the first time Revered Mother of Denerim's Chantry had chosen to speak up. Her stern face looked out over all of them, her tiny frame radiating it's own kind of power. "Interference in a templar's sacred duties is an offense against the Maker."

"Whatever I have done, I will answer for later," Loghain replied dismissively. "At the moment, however, I wish to know what this Warden has done with my daughter."

Serena shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You took my daughter- our queen- by force, killing her guards in the process," Loghain raged. "What arts have you employed to keep her? Does she even still live?"

"I believe I can speak for myself…" said a voice from the end of the long chamber. Serena cringed inwardly at the sound. Of course Anora would make a grand entrance. As one, the landholders turned to face their queen. "Lords and ladies of the Ferelden, hear me. My father is no longer the man you know. This man is not the hero of River Dane."

Dramatic, Serena thought, but effective. All around them the freeholders were whispering amongst themselves, heads bobbing from Anora, to Loghain, to Serena and her group, and back again.

"This man turned his troops aside and refused to protect your king as he fought bravely against the darkspawn," continued Anora, her lilting tone drawing the crowd in. "This man seized Cailan's throne before his body was cold, and locked me away so I could not reveal his treachery. I would have already been killed, if not for these Grey Wardens."

"Anora is telling the truth," Alistair said boldly. It was the first time he'd spoken up since they'd entered the Landsmeet chamber. "She was being held at the Arl of Denerim's estate by Rendon Howe and sent her handmaiden to us, to see if we could help."

"So these Warden's influence has poisoned even your mind, Anora?" Loghain said quietly. "I wanted to protect you from this." Turning his back on his daughter, he addressed the Landsmeet as a whole. "My lords and ladies, our land has been threatened before. It's been invaded, and lost, and won times beyond counting."

"We Fereldans have proven that we will never truly be conquered so long as we are united. We must not let ourselves be divided now. Stand with me, and we shall defeat even the Blight itself!"

"We shall call for a vote, then," a man in formal attire said from nearby. "Each bannorn shall make it's vote known!"

"South Reach stands with the Grey Wardens!" called Arl Bryland in response.

Stepping up to the balcony once again, Bann Alfstanna stood tall. "Waking Seas stands with the Grey Wardens!"

"Dragon's Peak supports the Wardens!" cried Bann Sighard, his fist in the air. Serena glanced sidelong at Alistair, hope bubbling up in her chest. Maybe this would actually work…

"The Western Hills throws their lot in with the Wardens," said Wulff, his beard twitching as he gazed down from the balcony above. "Maker help us."

"I stand by Loghain," replied Bann Ceorlic. "We've no hope of victory otherwise!"

"Rainesfere stands with the Grey Wardens!" Teagan stood near his brother, Eamon, who spoke up quickly next.

"As does Redcliffe, and it's people. We stand united behind the Grey Wardens."

"We, too, stand with the Grey Wardens!" There was a collective gasp from all as Serena's brother, Fergus, removed his hat and stepped forward. "Rendon Howe murdered my parents, Bryce and Eleanor Cousland. As their son and heir, I cannot stand by and allow their murderer's accomplice to lead our armies against the Blight. Highever supports the Grey Wardens and King Alistair!"

"The Landsmeet is against you, Teyrn Loghain," Serena said carefully. "It would be wise to step aside gracefully."

"Traitors!" Loghain spat, absolute fury lining his face. "Which of you stood against the Orlesian emperor when his troops flattened your fields and raped your wives?" Turning on Serena, he pointed a menacing finger at Eamon. "You fought with us once, Eamon. You cared about this land once. Before you got too old and fat and content to even see what you risk."

"None of you deserve a say in what happens here! None of you have spilled blood for this land the way I have! How dare you judge me!" His dark eyes flicked back to Serena, and he stepped forward, a mere two feet from her. Behind him, his guardsmen stepped forward as well, their hands on the hilts of their blades.

She felt, rather than saw, Alistair move to stand at her side. "Back down, Loghain," Alistair said, warning in his voice. "The Landsmeet has chosen."

"Call off your guards," Serena added. "We can settle this with honor."

"Then let us end this. I always knew it would come to this. When we first met at Ostagar, I would never have thought so. But Ostagar seems like it happened in another lifetime, to someone else." Loghain frowned, his body language becoming more relaxed as he spoke. Even so, Serena itched to pull one of her daggers, if only for it's comforting weight in her hand.

"A man is made by the quality of his enemies. Maric told me that once. I wonder if it's more a compliment to you or me, Warden." Waving a hand, he seemed to pull himself out of his reverie. "Enough! Let the Landsmeet declare the terms the duel."

"Duel?" Alistair whispered. His voice was low, and if Serena hadn't been just next to him, she wouldn't have heard him at all. "Who said anything about a duel?"

"It's the only honorable way," Serena replied. "Considering he won't just… give up... like a normal person."

"Have you ever dueled someone?"

"Fergus... a few knights back at Highever. Oh, and you." Chancing a glance at him, she smiled crookedly. "What about you?"

"Err, the same, minus your brother. But I did pounce you, so…"

"It shall be fought according to tradition." Bann Alfstanna came down the short staircase from the balcony, her eyes flicking between Loghain and the rest. Behind her, the other lords were steadily trickling down. All wanted to get as close to the duel as possible, it seemed. "A test of arms in single combat until one party yields. And we who are assembled will abide by the outcome. The winning party shall choose the king."

"Or queen," Anora added.

The lady bann rolled her eyes. "Correct. Or queen."

"Well, will you face me yourself, Warden?" Loghain asked. "Or have you a champion?"

"I'm her champion. I'll face you," Alistair said instantly. "Serena has done enough on my behalf."

"Alistair-" Serena felt her stomach drop out as she stood rooted to the spot, her eyes searching his face. Surely he would be a better match, at least physically, against Loghain. But she couldn't help her unease. She hoped it wasn't a bad omen, or worse, a sign from the baby.

"This is my fight, Serena," Alistair said quietly. "This is justice."

"Yes. I just..." Serena stumbled over her words, unsure of how to phrase what she wanted to say. If he lost, they would be hung, all of them, and Alistair would never know of their son or daughter...

Breathing deep, she forced a smile to her face, trying her best to appear strong. "I love you."

"And I, you. This is for you. For us."

Serena nodded, touching his ring that she wore to her lips. "For Ferelden." Turning to Loghain, they stood shoulder to shoulder, a united front. "Alistair will face you."

"Ah! Then let us test the mettle of our would-be king." Loghain's dark eyes twinkled wickedly as Serena and the others stepped back, giving the two opponents a wide berth.

Immediately they fell into a predatory stance, circling each other wearily. Alistair matched him step for step, and Serena found herself feeling slightly more optimistic watching her fiancé duel Loghain as they traded a few easy blows, feeling out the others' strength.

"It would seem the cloister was good for you, after all," Loghain sneered, his shield held out in front for protection. It bore the symbol of Gwaren, an almost gold wyvern. "I imagine you would never have gotten this kind of experience with a sword living under Eamon's roof."

"Shut up," Alistair snapped. "You know nothing of my life."

"That just proves how truly little you really know, boy." Rushing forward, Loghain swung his sword down hard and fast, giving Alistair little time to parry the blow. "You forget Maric was my best friend. He could keep nothing from me! Not you, not even your mother. Not for lack of trying, though."

"She was a fighter, too," Loghain continued, his sword meeting Alistair's. "Atypical, of course." His dark eyes flicked over to Serena and he smiled cruelly. "That seems to be a trait of the Wardens."

Perhaps the others were too far back to see it. Or perhaps they simply did not know Alistair the way Serena did, but it was then that she saw his eyes go hard, almost glassy like a predators'. The mention of his mother was probably what did it, but Serena watched, her own eyes going wide as saucers, as Alistair let loose a wild combination of hits and shield bashes that took the teryn completely by surprise.

"I never want to hear you speak of my mother again," Alistair growled, his face etched in lines of pure fury. "I never want to hear you speak of Serena." His blue glowing sword slammed down again, the plummel striking Loghain's shield hard. "I never want to hear you speak of the Wardens. You know nothing of family, friendship, and most of all, honor!"

"You abandoned my half-brother at Ostagar to die, Loghain!" Alistair spat, his sword meeting Loghain's in a loud metallic clatter. "He was our king, and you left his body to rot among the darkspawn!"

"Cailan was a dreamer! He played at being a warrior, and played at being a king!" Loghain swung hard, his shield meeting Alistair's. "He had my daughter to carry him at one, and me to carry him at the other, just as the Cousland girl shall continue to carry you!"

There was a furious roar and loud, gut-wrenching bellow of pain as Alistair slammed his shield as hard as he could into the older man, knocking him flat on his back. Alistair's sword- when Serena had started to think of it as Alistair's sword instead of Maric's sword, she didn't know- was near Loghain's throat in an instant.

"I need no one to carry me, Loghain," Alistair said sternly. He pressed the sword tip closer, until it just barely drew blood. "Yield."

There was a interminable pause where Serena could hear the entire chamber collectively hold its breath, waiting for Loghain's response.

"I yield. There is some of Maric in you, after all," Loghain breathed raggedly. He gazed up at Alistair from his position on the floor, his eyes boring into the younger man's, as if conveying their own message. "Good."

"Forget Maric, this is for-"

"Wait!" Alistair had barely lifted the sword as Anora broke through the ring surrounding the two men. "You can't do that! My father may have been wrong, but he is still a hero to the people."

Serena opened her own mouth to counter but it was Loghain, now standing, who beat her to it.

"Anora, hush. It's over. Daughters never grow up, Anora. They remain six years old with pigtails and skinned knees forever." Turning back to Alistair, he dropped to one knee, his head bowed. "Just make it quick, boy."

"I owe that to Duncan," Alistair replied, his face still set in hard lines. His sword held high, it glowed slightly blue as it came slicing back down in the killing blow.

There was a gasp, as if everyone gathered had not believed it could truly end like this, and then just blood as the body of the man who had been general, and teryn, and then finally regent fell to the ground.

Loghain Mac Tir was dead.