"Let's get going, shall we?" the assassin raised an eyebrow.
"Fine." I grumbled, getting up, and we left the estate, going to where the Landsmeet was being held.
Ser Cauthrien was waiting for us, "Warden. I am not surprised it has come to this. And Alistair. If you were even remotely worthy of being called Maric's son, you would already be in the Landsmeet, now wouldn't you? You have torn Ferelden apart to oppose the very man who ensured you were born in to freedom. But do not think you will get past me to desecrate the Landsmeet itself. The nobles of Ferelden will confirm my lord as regent, and we can finally put this to rest. Once you are gone."
"Do you really not see what Loghain has become?" I implored, not wanting to hurt her. She was just doing her job.
"I have had... so many doubts of late." She murmured, more to herself than us, "Loghain is a great man, but his hatred of Orlais has driven him to madness. He has done terrible things, I know it, but I owe him everything. I cannot betray him, do not ask me to!" her tone turned to pleading.
"Then let us stop him. You know it's the only way." I begged softly, hoping I was getting through to her.
She hesitated, "I never thought duty would taste so bitter. Stop him, Warden. Stop him from betraying everything he once loved." She moved to the side, allowing us passage. She then knelt. "Please... show mercy. Without Loghain, there would be no Ferelden to defend."
"Thank you." I whispered as we walked to the door, going to join the Landsmeet finally.
"My lords and ladies of the Landsmeet, Teryn Loghain would have us give up our freedoms, our traditions, out of fear!" Arl Eamon stood in the rafters, trying to convince the nobles to stand with us. "He has placed us on this path, yet we should place our destiny in his hands? Must we sacrifice everything good about our nation to save it?"
The crowd roared with applause.
"A fine performance, Eamon, but no one here is taken in by it." Loghain tsked from the main floor, giving a slow clap. "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?'" That was when he took notice of us. "Ah! And here we have the puppeteer."
We were only allowed to go so far in to the room, before his guards cut us off.
"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? How much Ferelden blood does Orlesian gold buy these days?"
"The Blight is the threat here, not Orlais!" I responded, side-stepping the question.
A woman in the rafters spoke, "There are enough refugees in my bannorn now to make that abundantly clear." Alfstanna, perhaps?
Another noble added his voice, "The south is 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? 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 legions of chevaliers. And once we open our borders to the Chevaliers, can we really expect them to simply return from whence they came?"
"You allowed Rendon Howe to imprison and torture innocents." I asserted, not taking the bait he was setting out.
"The Warden speaks truly!" Came another voice, "My son was taken under cover of night. The things done to him... some of them are beyond any healer's skill."
"Howe was responsible for himself. He will answer to the Maker for any wrongs committed in this life. As must we all. But you know that." He smirked, "You were the one who murdered him." Several gasps rang out, whispers spreading like wildfire. Whether in disgust or respect, I couldn't say for sure. "Whatever Howe may have done, he should have been brought before the seneschal. There is no justice in butchering a man in his home."
"No? Then why did you send a blood mage to poison Arl Eamon?" I asked offhandedly. His eyes narrowed, and I gave a childish smile. He'd thought to trap me with my actions, but he'd fallen instead.
"I assure you, Warden, if I were going to send someone, it would by my own soldiers. I would not trust to the discretion of an apostate."
"Indeed? My brother tells a very different tale." Yup, she was Alfstanna, Irminric's sister, and she was challenging Loghain angrily, "He says you snatched a blood mage from the Chantry's justice. Coincidence?"
A Revered Mother of the chantry added her voice to the debate, "Do not think the Chantry will overlook this, Teryn Loghain. Interference in a Templar's sacred duties is an offense against the Maker."
"Whatever I have done, I will answer for later." the regent waved off her threat, "At the moment, however, I wish to know what this Warden has done with my daughter."
"What have I done? I've protected her from you." I was counting on her to stick to the script, this time. Never mind the fact that I was about to betray her... She'd better not do the same. Again.
"You took my daughter-our queen-by force, killing her guards in the process. What arts have you employed to keep her? Does she even still live?"
"I do believe I can speak for myself." Came the queen's answer from the side of the room. She made her way to the center, standing behind Loghain. "Lords and ladies of Ferelden, hear me. My father is no longer the man you know. This man is not the hero of River Dane. This man turned his troops aside and refused to protect your king as he fought bravely against the darkspawn. 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 this Grey Warden." She singled me out, like everyone else had been since I'd become a Warden. What was with these people? Did they see me and just forget that other people were with me? Accompanying me?
"Listen to Anora, Loghain is power-mad."
"So the Warden's influence has poisoned even your mind, Anora?" I was just a child, was I not? How did I supposedly have all this influence? I mean, he didn't know I was a mage. Right? "I wanted to protect you from this." He turned back to the congregation, "My lords and ladies, our land has been threatened before. It's been invaded, and lost, and won times beyond counting. We Fereldens 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."
It was time.
"The Warden! I'm with the Warden!"
"South Reach stands with the Grey Wardens."
"Waking Sea stands with the Grey Wardens!"
"Dragon's Peak supports the Warden!"
"The Western Hills throw their lot in with the Wardens. Maker help us."
"I stand by Loghain! We've no hope of victory, otherwise."
"I stand with the Warden! The Blight is coming; we need the Grey Wardens!"
We had the support we needed to make him back down.
"The Landsmeet is against you, Loghain. Step down gracefully." I spoke softly.
"Traitors! Which of you stood against the Orlesian emperor when his troops flattened your fields and raped your wives? 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." He didn't pause to give him any time to defend himself, pushing on. "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!"
"Call off your men, and we'll settle this honorably." I offered.
"Then let us end this." He stared in to my eyes, "I suppose we both knew it would come to this. 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." Both, I thought. I understood where he was coming from, admittedly. He was just so blinded by wanting to protect his country and keep everyone safe, he'd gone more than a little mad. I hated that I understood. "Enough. Let the Landsmeet declare the terms of the duel."
Alfstanna leaned over the railing, "It shall be fought according to tradition: a test of arms in single combat until one party yields. And we who are assembled will abide by the outcome."
"Will you face me yourself, or have you a champion?"
I glanced back at Alistair, and he gave a bob of his head. He gave me the opportunity to execute Loghain.
"I'll fight this duel myself."
"It is you or me the men will follow. So let us fight for it. Prepare yourself."
The guards created a circle around us, acting as a barrier between us and the nobles. Us and my companions. I guess they didn't trust them not to interfere. Or maybe it was for our own good. Our safety.
Loghain and I sized each other up. I took the first side-step, and he followed suit. We went around, completing almost an entire circle, before he freed his sword and donned his shield. With a yell, he launched himself at me.
I threw myself to the side, landing hard on the stone floor. He came at me again, swinging his sword down in an arc. Rolling out of the way, I jumped to my feet and darted around behind him. I hit between his shoulder blades with the butt of my dagger, and it stunned him. Sweeping my foot to knock his legs out from under him, I watched as he fell forward, then pointed my blade at the back of his neck. Stared down the length of the iron and saw the blood beading up on his skin.
"I underestimated you, Warden. I thought you were like Cailan, a child wanting to play at war. I was wrong." He knew he was at my mercy in that position. I lowered and sheathed my daggers, pulling him to his feet. "There's a strength in you that I have not seen anywhere since Maric died. I yield."
"You'll die for what you've done." He met my eyes, and all I saw was acceptance.
"Wait! There is another option!" Who... Riordan ran toward us. "The teryn is a warrior and general of renown. Let him be of use. Let him go through the Joining."
Was he insane?
"No. That's crazy." I argued.
"There are too few of us. It's not a matter of what we like; it's a matter of what we must do. Our duty is to slay the archdemon. We aren't judges. Kinslayers, blood mages, traitors, rebels, carta thugs, common bandits, a child: Anyone with the skill and the mettle to take up the sword against the darkspawn is welcome among us. There are eleven of us in all of Ferelden. And there are... compelling reasons to have as many Wardens on hand as possible to deal with the archdemon."
"The Joining itself is often fatal, is it not? If he survives, you gain a general. If not, you have your revenge. Doesn't that satisfy you?" Anora needed a muzzle.
"Absolutely not! Riordan, this man abandoned our brothers and then blamed us for the deed! He hunted us down like animals. He tortured you! How can we simply forget that?" Alistair waved his hands in front of him, shouting passionately against the Joining.
Something dark was starting to form in my mind and dread filled me. Why were Wardens needed to stop the Blight? Why only us? Why not some soldier who wanted to play at hero?
"No. Loghain has to die for his crimes." I shook myself and gave the verdict.
"You can't do this! My father may have been wrong, but he is still a hero to the people."
"Anora, hush. It's over." the overthrown regent smiled serenely.
"Stop treating me like a child. This is serious."
"Daughters never grow up, Anora. They remain six years old with pigtails and skinned knees forever." I had something in my eye and blinked rapidly to remove it.
"Father-" she buried her face in her hands.
"Just make it quick, Warden. I can face the Maker, knowing that Ferelden is in your hands."
We stared at each other for several long moments until I finally approached him. He knelt and closed his eyes, leaning forward slightly. Stretched out his neck. Alistair held out his sword, and I reached back for it. Hefted the blade in my hands and swung down. A clean execution, though his blood sprayed everywhere.
Anora screamed and ran to his body.
Some time later, Eamon called the Landsmeet to order. "So it is decided. Alistair will take his father's throne."
Alistair still panicked, even after my vision, but he swallowed hard and nodded.
Anora scowled, "He is a Grey Warden. He should not be on the throne. I think it's clear, then, that he abdicates in favor of me."
"I hardly think you're the appropriate person to mediate this, Anora. Warden, will you help us?" Eamon turned to me.
I glanced at him, confused. Alistair had already accepted. Why did this need to be decided?
"Yes, I can settle this." I said as kindly as I could.
"As the arbiter of this dispute, what is your decision? Who will lead Ferelden?"
"Alistair."
"Anora, the Landsmeet has decided against you. You must now swear fealty to our king, and relinquish all claim to the throne for yourself and your heirs."
"If you think I will swear that oath, Eamon, you know nothing of me." she glowered, still somehow looking dignified.
"Anora, be reasonable." I chastised.
"Reason clearly had nothing to do with your choice, Warden."
"We cannot leave Ferelden in a state of civil war. We must have unity. If she will not swear fealty to you, Alistair, and renounce her claim to the throne, she is a threat to us all."
"What do you want me to do, exactly? Kill her? I can't do that." the new king sighed. "I guess... put her in a tower, for now. Lock her up. Maybe we can find somewhere to send her. Later."
The look on her face was sad, and she twisted her fingers together, "Thank you, Alistair. You show me mercy that I... would not have shown you."
"Very well, then Guards, take her away." the arl waved his hand at Anora.
We waited in silence, until she was taken from the room.
"Your Highness, would you address the Landsmeet?" Eamon asked.
I cringed internally as Alistair stepped forward.
"Oh... that would be me." I was right to cringe. "Right, um... I never knew him, but from all I've heard of my father, what defined him was his commitment to protecting this land."
"Just tell them what to do." I covered my words with a loud fake cough.
"Everyone, get ready to march. It's going to take all of Ferelden's strength to survive this Blight. But we will face it. And we'll defeat it." He spun on his heel, regarding his companions, "We'd better get going. Ferelden is depending on us."