Dragon Age: King in Exile

Part Two

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King Cailan has written Alistair into the succession and is ready to recognize him publicly. Loghain will do almost anything to keep that from happening. The darkspawn give him the perfect opportunity. Alistair/Cousland, featuring F!Tabris.

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Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize from Dragon Age belongs to me.

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Elissa woke with a start. She looked around for what had woken her, finding only her mabari, Kitty, staring intently at her closed bedroom door. He let out a low growl.

She climbed out of bed, taking a few tentative steps towards the door. As she approached she could just make out the sounds of movement outside in the corridor. She gasped at the sudden sound of clashing steel. A swordfight in the hallway could mean only one thing. The castle was under attack!

Before she could decide on a course of action, the door to her chambers swung open to reveal Alistair in loose pants and a tunic shirt, blood-splattered sword in hand. "Thank the Maker you're alright," he said, his expression one of stark relief. He pulled her into a one-armed embrace. "We're under attack," he said unnecessarily, and glanced back at the soldier he'd killed. "Oh Maker," he said, turning white, as if he'd only now realized what he'd done.

Elissa followed his look, then moved to close the door. "You didn't have a choice," she said.

"I know," he replied, but he still seemed sick at the sight.

After a moment, Elissa moved to her armor stand and began to strap the pieces on. Alistair blushed a violent red and turned his back, only then realizing she was in nothing but her smallclothes.

Under other circumstances this would have made her smile, but her mind was focused only on the danger that had befallen them. "Alistair, you need to go get your armor on right away. I can meet you back by your chambers once I finish here and check on my parents."

Future king or not, he still took orders well, and Alistair went immediately to do as she said. Once Elissa had put on her armor and bound up her long hair, she stepped into the hallway. A lump caught in her throat as she saw the bodies of castle guards she had known for years, dead on the ground. She took a deep breath to refocus herself, then went to the door of her parents' room. She knocked. "Mother?"

She could hear movement inside, and a few moments later, her mother came out in a full set of leather armor, bow in hand. "Darling! I heard fighting outside and feared the worst. Are you hurt?"

Elissa shook her head. "I'm unharmed. One of them tried to get to me, but Alistair killed him before he reached my door. He's just gone now to put on his armor." She looked over her mother's shoulder at the empty room. "Where is Father?"

"He never came to bed. We must find him!" Eleanor looked worried. "We need to check on Oren and Oriana as well."

As she turned to see the slightly cracked door to Fergus and Oriana's family chambers, Elissa felt a strong sense of foreboding. The silence behind the door only increased that feeling as she approached. Her heart dropped into her boots. She feared what she would find.

She bit back a scream at the sight of her sister-in-law and nephew with their throats slit, but she couldn't stop the tears that were forming in her eyes. "Mother," she said, backing away slowly, "Don't—"

Her mother rushed past her, kneeling at Oren's bedside. "Oren!" she cried out in anguish. "My poor, sweet boy," she wept.

Elissa raised her bow at the sound of armor clanking in the hallway, but only saw Alistair rushing towards them. One look at his face confirmed that he had heard her mother's cry. He stopped short in the doorway of the room, his amber eyes widening at the horrible sight.

"Poor Fergus," Eleanor sobbed. "Whoever is responsible for this, I'll make them pay," she said, climbing back to her feet.

"The men," Alistair said suddenly, and both women looked at him. He swallowed. "They're wearing Arl Howe's sigil." He pointed at the shield held by the dead soldier in the corridor.

"His men were delayed on purpose!" Eleanor said in shock. "That bastard! He's betrayed us!"

"Mother," Elissa said, "We have to keep moving. We have to find Father! Howe will pay for this. I'll make sure of it." Her eyes held a haunting darkness that Alistair had never before seen.

When they left the living quarters, they were shocked at the devastation. There were fires burning, bodies everywhere, and anyone who could fight was doing so. "The castle has fallen!" cried one servant, and the three of them looked at each other in dismay.

"We must still find your father," Eleanor said firmly. "But if the castle truly has fallen, there are some family heirlooms we should protect before we make our escape."

They stopped by the vault, ignoring most of the gold and jewels. Eleanor reverently handed Elissa a sword. "This sword has been in the family for hundreds of years. We can't leave this for Howe's men."

While Elissa was distracted, Eleanor turned to Alistair and placed something in his hand. "These rings belonged to Elissa's grandparents. We thought you might wish to have them for your wedding rings."

Alistair looked down at the rings in astonishment, then up to Eleanor. "I would be honored, my lady."

The three of them fought their way to the main gate, where most of the guard was stationed, trying their best to hold the gate for as long as possible.

Ser Gilmore met them there. "Thank the Maker you are safe!" he cried out. "Did any of Howe's men get through to you?"

"They killed Oriana and Oren. Without his highness, I might have lost my daughter as well," Eleanor said, motioning to Alistair. He looked at his boots, uncomfortable with the teyrna's praise.

"When I realized what was happening, it was all we could do to get the gates closed. But they won't hold forever. I'd suggest taking the servants' exit as quickly as possible, before the rest of Howe's men get through," Ser Gilmore insisted.

"Not without Father!" Elissa cried.

The knight's face turned grim. "I saw the teyrn not long ago, but he'd been wounded. He went towards the kitchens, hoping to meet you there."

"Thank you, Ser Gilmore," Eleanor said. "Maker watch over you."

He nodded solemnly. "Maker watch over us all."

They made their way as quickly as possible to the servants' exit in the kitchens, hoping that Bryce was still there. Elissa swallowed hard as she saw the bodies of the kitchen servants. Nan had practically raised her, and now her lifeless body was strewn across the stone floor. But there was no time for grief. They headed straight through, into the larder.

Bryce Cousland was sprawled on the floor, hand pressed into his side where a bloodstain grew. "Bryce!" cried Eleanor as she ran to him, Elissa hot on her heels.

"There you all are," the teyrn said in a broken voice. "I was hoping you would make it here."

"Oh, Papa," Elissa said softly, tears running down her face. Alistair approached slowly, standing sentry behind her.

"Howe's men found me in the study," Bryce explained. "Tried to do me in quickly." He gave a harsh laugh. "They only managed to do it slowly."

"Don't talk like that!" Eleanor snapped. "We'll get you out of here."

"Eleanor." His voice was soft but firm, and she began weeping.

"Someone must reach Fergus," Bryce continued. "Tell him what has happened."

"You can tell him yourself, Father," Elissa insisted.

"My dear girl," he said. "I wish I could."

There was a loud crashing sound, the castle shook, and all of them knew that the gates had broken. Elissa's hound began growling at the larder door. "You must go now," Bryce insisted. "Before they find us here."

Alistair turned to the teyrna, who, instead of rising to leave, was settling in beside her husband. "Come with us, my lady," he said urgently. He glanced over at Elissa, who was kneeling in front of her father, tears streaming down her face. "Please." For her sake.

Eleanor smiled at him gently, sadly, and looked at Bryce beside her. "My place is with my husband." She reached out and cupped Alistair's cheek. "You will understand someday. Take good care of my daughter."

"I promise," he said, tears burning in his eyes.

The sounds of battle were getting closer. Alistair reached out for Elissa's hand. After a moment of hesitation, she took it, allowing him to help her up. "I love you," she called to her parents, before Alistair could drag her to safety.

They ran, numb and terrified, until they were far enough from the castle to escape detection. Elissa dropped down onto the cold, hard ground of the forest and listened to the sounds of her world going up in flames.

Alistair sat down beside her, barely able to make out her soft green eyes in the starlight.

"What do we do now?" Elissa uttered, her voice cracking and devastated.

"I don't know," Alistair said, still in shock. And Elissa fell against his chest, sobbing.

He held her and stroked her hair, murmuring words of comfort. And when she had cried herself to sleep, he shed tears of his own for the first people who had ever treated him as family.

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