Dragon Age: King in Exile

Part Six

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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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"Thank goodness I'm leaving," Leliana muttered, glancing at the qunari walking beside Kallian. "I don't think the revered mother is feeling very kindly towards me anymore."

Elissa huffed a small laugh. "Kallian has been obsessed with acquiring him ever since we first saw him, despite what anyone else said. I hope he doesn't take offense to Kallian calling him her personal battering ram."

"They both seem to share a certain… blunt quality to their personalities. Perhaps they will bond," Leliana said.

"Blunt is a kind way of putting it," Elissa replied, and the two women shared a smile. Elissa was pleased that the redheaded sister didn't seem nearly as crazy as she had first appeared. In fact, she thought Leliana might shape up to be an interesting friend. She was certainly less difficult to talk to than Morrigan or Kallian.

Elissa glanced behind them. "I had better go rescue Alistair from Morrigan. She doesn't seem to appreciate his need to grieve our losses, and they've been sniping at each other ever since."

Leliana smiled as she watched Elissa walk away. Elissa was just the kind of girl she liked—fierce but kind. She let out a sigh. Too bad it was obvious she only had eyes for their future king. To her disappointment, theirs was not solely a political betrothal. At least, Leliana consoled herself, she could call Elissa a new friend.

…

They continued on the road towards Redcliffe, camping nights with a traveling salesman and his strange son. They made steady progress—if occasionally interrupted by darkspawn—until Kallian paused at a crossroads.

"Redcliffe is that way," Elissa said, pointing. "We should get a move on."

"Right," Kallian said. "Or we could head to the circle tower and get that mage army the treaty promised me."

Elissa stopped in her tracks. "We had agreed to go to Arl Eamon."

Kallian crossed her arms. "You're the one who needs him. How does going to see Arl Eamon benefit me? Politics is your game, not mine."

Elissa narrowed her eyes. "I'm sorry to be the one to break this to you, Kallian, but the moment Loghain declared the wardens traitors to the crown, politics became your game too. If you think your warden army is going to amass anywhere in Ferelden without political support, you're in for a nasty surprise. And Redcliffe has an army too, one that wasn't at Ostagar."

Kallian threw up her arms. "Fine! But when we get there you better do your politicking and get me that army. I'm only in this to end the blight." She turned, trudging down the road. "All I ever wanted was to survive," she muttered. "I never asked for any of this."

None of us did, thought Elissa.

…

Leliana approached Kallian quietly as they were setting up camp. "What is it, sister?" Kallian said, crossing her arms.

Leliana's eyes glittered with mirth as she inclined her head towards Alistair and Elissa, who were setting up a single tent. "Have those two always shared a tent?"

Kallian shrugged. "I guess. Who cares?" She walked away, giving Leliana an odd glance.

Leliana giggled. Maybe Kallian didn't care, but how could she not? It was just so cute!

…

"There's Redcliffe," Elissa said, as they caught their first sight of the castle. "I hope Arl Eamon will help us." She turned to Alistair. "I never knew him very well. You mentioned before that he raised you?"

"I was raised in his household, anyhow. Though he was the closest thing to a father I had, I can't say I'm especially fond of him," Alistair admitted. "Not after the way he allowed his wife to treat me. I slept in the stables more often than not to stay out of Isolde's way."

"Did he know?"

Alistair shrugged, visibly uncomfortable. He didn't meet her eyes. "I don't know how he couldn't. But it was easier for him to ignore it and let her have her way. She thought I was his bastard and hated me for it."

"And now?" she asked.

His hands twisted in front of him. "I suspect she'll fawn over me and pretend nothing ever happened."

Elissa watched him, a sad look in her eyes. "I'll treat her with courtesy," she said, "but I won't ever forget. A child's parentage is never their fault." And she continued down the road.

…

The group was nearing Redcliffe when a young redheaded man approached them in a hurry. "Thank the Maker!" he cried. "Are you here to help us?"

"Excuse me?" Kallian said, staring at the boy like he had two heads.

He gaped at them in horror. "Then you haven't heard?"

"We've heard that Arl Eamon is ill, if that's what you mean," Alistair said cautiously.

The boy scoffed. "He could be dead for all we know! No one can get into the castle. The village is under attack! Every night these… creatures come down from the castle. We're only safe during the daytime." He shuddered.

"What's your name?" Elissa asked kindly.

"Tomas, ser," he said, taking her for a knight in her fine armor.

"Tomas, who is in charge of the village if the arl is unreachable?"

"His brother, Bann Teagan, is in the chantry, organizing our defenses. Shall I take you to him?"

Elissa glanced at Kallian, who shrugged, and Alistair, who nodded. "Please do."

As they followed the boy down into the village, Kallian yanked Elissa back. "We don't have time to stay here and babysit this village," the warden hissed in her ear. "The darkspawn are moving, and we need to do the same!"

"What you need is a political backer for the wardens," Elissa whispered back. "At the very least, we should find out what has happened here. If the arl is dead, then perhaps there is no reason to stay. But if Bann Teagan believes that he lives, we still need his help."

Kallian rolled her eyes and ripped her hand away, marching off until she was right behind Tomas. Elissa sighed. Couldn't Flemeth have saved a more even-tempered warden?

She looked around the village and could see the preparations for battle, pitiful as they were. These were civilians, not an army. Where were Arl Eamon's knights?

They entered the chantry and approached a gentleman with auburn hair, who turned at their approach. He opened his mouth to say something, then his eyes widened at the sight of Alistair.

"Alistair?" he said in astonishment. "Maker, I thought you were killed at Ostagar. Thank goodness you're alive."

"No thanks to Loghain," Elissa said under her breath.

Teagan blinked as he looked at her. "Elissa Cousland? Is that you?"

She smiled briefly. "Indeed, my lord. At your service."

He shook his head. "Cailan's letter said you were both at Ostagar, unforeseen circumstances. And since that was the last we heard…"

"You assumed the worst," Elissa finished for him. "Understandable. Perhaps it is best we continue the illusion."

"You believe your lives are in danger?" Teagan asked in surprise.

Elissa and Alistair shared a look. "We do," she said.

Teagan thanked Tomas and sent him on his way before leading the group to a small side room. They told him a shortened version of the events from Highever on, and he briefed them on the situation within the village. Those inhabitants with martial training were fighting to defend it, alongside the few knights who remained. Most of the knights were gone, at Arlessa Isolde's request, to search for a cure for Eamon's mysterious illness.

"I believe I have a way into the castle to check on the inhabitants, but I don't believe it is safe to try at night, or without an armed retinue," Teagan said with a grimace. "It will be dusk in a few short hours. If you remain to help us defend the village tonight, I will show you my way into the castle in the morning. Then, we can learn if Eamon still lives. He certainly has the political power to aid the wardens," he said, nodding at Kallian, "and to support your right to the throne," he said to Alistair, who grimaced.

"We won't abandon Redcliffe," Alistair pledged. "After all, if I am to be king, these are my people."

Teagan graced him with a smile. "Thank you, Alistair. You are a good man."

Once they left the chantry, Kallian glared at Elissa. "If we all die here tonight, I'm blaming you!"

Elissa gave her a forced smile in return. "And when your armies are allowed to amass in Ferelden, I have no doubt you'll credit that to me as well."

With a shake of her head, the warden stormed off in a huff.

Morrigan came up beside Elissa. "Let her sulk. There are better ways to use our time."

"Indeed," Leliana said, cutting in. "I believe there are some things we can do to help the village before the battle tonight. Let us speak with the militia captain, shall we?"

…

When dark had fallen, they were gathered, waiting at the base of the path to the castle. They heard a host of strange screeches and clanging noises, and then an eerie mist rolled out of the castle gates.

The gate rose, and terrifying creatures began pouring out. Skeletons ran forward, carrying swords and shields like living men.

Kallian let out a growl of unbridled anger, daggers tight in her fists. "I'm blaming you for this," she said aside to Elissa, her eyes trained on the undead ahead of them.

Elissa, feeling the stirrings of fear, said, "Fair enough."

They stared down the path and waited for their nightmares to approach.

…