Chapter 12 Part 1

I don't own Dragon Age, EA/Bioware do. This chapter will be in 3 parts; this was mostly Fergus' reaction, next will be Alistair's, and followed by Teegan

Dawn was approaching, Alistair hadn't slept much as he went over everything Teegan and Alfstanna had said. His anger towards Eamon had not faded. His talk with the female Bann yesterday, made him realize that when making decisions he'll consider what Emily would do. It worked during the Blight, except when Eamon interfered causing her to leave. He missed her dearly, as he felt incomplete without her there. Alistair reminded himself that he only had two more months before the trip to Kirkwall. Maker willing she would forgive him as long as he spoke from his heart, and he was just Alistair. He made a point of wearing the tan pants and blue tunic she loved so much. He would only dress officially when he was meeting Meredith, which from what he heard she would have Flemeth running back to the Wilds if they met. He noted that there was no official business for once, so he decided today was a tunic and pants kind of day. As he was getting dressed, he noticed a crow circling at the window sill. As it flew close by, he was relieved to see its eyes were normal not yellow. Just then Ser Donall knocked saying a small contingent from Highever and Redcliffe, led by Bann Teegan and Teryn Cousland. Ser Donall said that Arl Eamon was in a carriage behind them. Alistair thanked him and thought about changing, but heard Emily's voice saying that she preferred the tunic he was wearing now. He went out to meet them at the entrance to the palace, remembering his Templar training so not to yell at Eamon once he saw him. Teegan and Fergus were quite cheery until they saw the glare Alistair was giving Eamon as he stepped out of the carriage. Teegan remembered Alfstanna was there the day prior and evidently revealed Eamon's feelings towards Alistair and more importantly Emily. He looked at Fergus, who seemed to notice the icy glare as well, and wasn't going to like what was said or done to his sister either. Teegan wondered what information he was unaware of, but Stanna knew. As they were about to enter the castle the crow swooped down and dropped the letter in Teegan's hand.

Alistair had his staff take their things to their rooms. He suggested that Teegan and Fergus accompany to his study, while Eamon could go lie down. He wanted to know what was in Teegan's note, and Eamon was not allowed to know it. Alistair told Ser Perth that Eamon was not to be near his study. The three men sat and drank brandy, while Alistair told of his meeting Alfstanna yesterday, and that Eamon tried to convince everyone that Emily killed Isolde, and not the self sacrifice that really happened. Fergus didn't take the newest information well wanting to go after Eamon strangling what life was left in him. It took Alistair and three guards to keep him from doing it. Teegan, being there at Isolde's death knew what happened and squashed any rumors that had to do with Redcliffe Village and Castle, and set it straight that it was Isolde's decision. He now knew why those rumors only started after Eamon was awakened, he started them. Stanna wouldn't make this up as she regarded the Couslands as friends and allies. She was the first to speak out against Howe's lies. To try to calm down his two friends, as Fergus' outburst seemed to make Alistair remember old and new wounds caused by his former guardian. Teegan opened the letter and told the men of the treatment of the Ferelden refugees by Free Marches that most live in slums or on the streets. The mage and Templars there are on the verge of war at any moment. He then got to the part of Emily and her cousin taking in an Antivan noblewoman named Rowan Mac Eanraig, who is six months with child or children. She and Emily bonded as their lives mirrored each other, except for Emily being a GW. Rowan has brought Em back from the darkness that the previous year caused her. Bodhan says she doesn't miss fighting or constantly looking over her shoulder anymore. Em has accepted that Alistair was her one chance at having a love like her parents' had and she doesn't think she can love anyone else for fear of having her heart broken. Leliana said that if a decision isn't made soon in Ferelden and war on the horizon between templars and mages in and I will be forced to get Emily and Rowan out of Kirkwall to safety.

All three men were worried as they had heard news that after the quanari attack, Kirkwall barely survived. Now things were worrisome as the treatment of the Ferelden refugees and mage-templar conflict that was looming. Fergus grabbed the note and studied it more as he knew Rowan was Em's middle name and Mac Eanraig was their mother's family name. He got this hurt and sad look on his face that worried Alistair as Leliana didn't mention what was wrong with Em. Fergus asked Alistair if he was together with his sister six months ago. Teegan apparently was catching on, but Alistair needed prodding. Both men looked at Alistair saying in unison, intimately? Alistair went red in the face, remembering back to the nights at the temple in Haven where neither could get enough of each other. He stated; yes! Fergus got up to leave saying he needed to go to as he needed to get to Kirkwall he wasn't going to lose his sister, niece and or nephew waiting for the first thaw. Both Teegan and Alistair looked stunned at Fergus' words. Teegan spoke saying it was Rowan who was expectant not Emily.

A frustrated Fergus spoke, "Em is Rowan, Rowan is her middle name; Mac Eanraig was our mother's maiden name before she married Father". You were together six months ago. Rowan would be mine, Em's and Siobhan's cousin, which we don't have a female cousin named that and she wasn't acknowledged that way. When she left you said she wanted to start a new life away from Ferelden, everyone would know the Hero of Ferelden is Emily Cousland. Em felt she needed to erase all that was her old life; Ferelden; name; Grey Wardens, memories. She probably didn't even realize she was several months along until after you cast her aside as it hasn't been mentioned until now. That meant she was fighting pregnant the last three months before the Archdemon Both Alistair and Teegan looked at Fergus as he reached for the door, as he spoke before leaving. "Eamon had you turned against her after she united everyone, ended the Blight, and agreeing to put you on the throne. Your reward for her was taking away her happiness, tossing her to more Darkspawn, Howe's supporters, and a place as unwelcoming as Amaranthine. What Howe started, you would've let Eamon finish as I doubt Em would've lasted a week there. Now she's having your child or children, which was one of Eamon's reasons for wanting Emily out of the way, and she's across the ocean."He told Teegan that he didn't blame him for any of this, not really Alistair either. He mostly blamed Eamon, but from the looks of it he's paying for his actions. Now if you don't excuse me, I'm going to write to my seneschal telling him I'll be doing business here, find me a ship, and to keep scouts on the coast as soon as they see the first ice break I'm going to Kirkwall with or without you as I will not have a Cousland born in that Ferelden hating land.