Dragon Age: King in Exile

Part Eleven

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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 watched as Morrigan collapsed to the floor, the other mages chanting around her. The air felt thick with magic, a feeling she could not have identified a mere few weeks ago. She'd seen more magic in the last few days than in her entire life before. The power was awe-inspiring… and frightening. She understood, as never before, why mages had spent generations locked in towers.

After a swell, the chanting seemed to lower to a quiet murmur, and the choking feeling in the air began to dissipate.

The first enchanter walked over to where the rest of the party was waiting. He gave a grandfatherly smile. "Your friend is safely in the fade now, and this may take some time. Why don't you all go have a rest? You won't be needed here before she awakens."

Kallian immediately shrugged and walked over to Teagan, probably seeing if there were rooms for them or something to eat. Leliana smiled slightly and followed her, passing Sten who hadn't moved a muscle.

Elissa looked at Morrigan lying motionless on the floor and bit her lip. Alistair squeezed her arm.

"She'll be alright, love," he said quietly, and steered her gently away. He bent by her ear as they walked. "You know Morrigan would never allow herself to fail in front of these circle mages."

Elissa glanced up at him, unable to contain a small smile in response. "Of course not."

When they reached the others, it seemed like Teagan was giving out room assignments. How lovely to sleep in a real bed.

When Elissa was told she would share with Leliana, the redhead gave her a wink, knowing that Elissa's nights would instead be by Alistair's side.

It had been nearly a full day's journey back from the tower, and all of them were tired. Teagan promised that food would be sent up to the rooms, and the first enchanter swore that they would be woken as soon as the ritual was complete. For the mages, it would be a long, lyrium-fueled night.

…

Just as Leliana had predicted, Elissa followed Alistair to his room, where they shared a meal of cold meat, bread, and fruit before retiring to bed. They held each other close, taking the comfort they always did in each other.

Alistair slept quickly, but Elissa lay awake, considering the events of the past few days. She was still troubled by how weak she had been in the fade, unable to confront the demon in her mother's guise.

Alistair had been worried sick about her the rest of the day, afraid to approach her, yet shadowing her as faithfully as her hound. Only in the quiet comfort of the inn's private room did she finally confess her troubles. Tears came, as Elissa knew they would, and she was glad only he was there to see them. She was a bit ashamed at how strong the relief was on his face when she finally started talking.

He didn't call her weak, even as he held her and wiped her tears. He said she was strong, that she'd survived more than anyone he knew, that she had nothing to be ashamed of. She was still working to believe him, but it was comfort nonetheless.

He didn't realize that he was the one who had kept her going through every struggle. Before the attack on Highever Castle, she'd lived a privileged life. She'd never known hardship or pain. She'd had everything, not knowing what a blessing that was. And then she lost it all. Without him, she might have given up. He was her strength. Perhaps she should find the nerve to tell him so.

As she was beginning to relax, she felt Alistair shifting next to her. "No," he murmured. His movements became more agitated. "Cailan! No!"

Elissa cupped his face in her hands. "Alistair, wake up!" She shook his shoulder. "You're having a nightmare!"

He began to rouse, his movement slowing, and blinked at her in the darkness. "Liss?"

"I'm here," she said. "You were having a nightmare." She thought there might be tear tracks on his cheeks, but couldn't tell in the near-darkness. The fire was only embers now.

He pulled her tight to him, his unshaven cheek rough and wet against her forehead. She could feel him trembling.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she whispered against his chest.

He squeezed her tighter. "I was with Cailan in the battle. At Ostagar," he said, his voice rough. "I watched the darkspawn kill him."

"Oh Alistair," Elissa said, blinking back tears of her own now. She hugged him tight, gently stroking his back through his thin linen shirt. What could she possibly say to comfort him?

"We couldn't even recover his body," he said softly.

Elissa pressed her eyes tight, but a tear still slipped out. "We will honor his sacrifice," was all she could find to say.

Alistair pressed a kiss to her forehead before resting his face against her head once again. "He entrusted Ferelden to me. We have to save it, Liss. We have to."

"We will," she promised him. "Together. I'll always be with you."

They fell asleep, still twined together, until a knock rattled their door. The ritual was complete.

…

Morrigan appeared unaffected by the ritual, but that was no surprise. She would never show weakness in front of the circle mages. The only thing that seemed to rattle her at all was Isolde's profuse gratitude for saving her son, culminating in a hug that had Morrigan's eyes flying wide and looking panicked for a brief moment before the Orlesian woman released her. Alistair and Leliana shared a giggle over that, thoroughly enjoying the expression on Morrigan's face.

"Connor is resting now," Isolde said. "He didn't remember anything, thank the Maker! I must return to him, but…" She looked at Teagan. "You will talk to them about the other thing, no?"

Teagan sighed. "Yes, Isolde. I promise."

"Thank you!" she said again before moving quickly for the stairs.

The party turned their attention to Teagan. "The mages are resting before their return to the tower. I have given Jowan to them to deal with as they see fit. The first enchanter asked me to tell you, Warden Kallian, that they will be preparing to heed your call as the treaty compels them."

The warden gave a small nod in acknowledgement. "And the other thing?" she asked.

Teagan sighed. "Eamon is still unchanged. Jowan could not tell us anything useful about the poison he was given, and the circle mages were unable to rouse him. Even before this happened with Connor and the demon, Isolde was convinced there was only one way to save Eamon. The urn of sacred ashes."

Leliana tilted her head. "Do you mean Andraste's ashes?"

"Yes," Teagan confirmed. "Andraste's sacred ashes have been said to carry the Maker's own power. To cure any ill."

"But they've been lost for centuries," Leliana replied, shaking her head. "What makes Isolde think she can find them?"

"If they exist at all," Kallian interjected. "This sounds like a wild goose chase and a waste of time."

Teagan put his hands up defensively. "Please, hear me out. I confess I have my doubts as well, but Isolde was in contact with one researcher, Brother Genitivi, who seemed to have a credible lead. His home is in Denerim. All I ask is that you speak to him before giving up on Eamon."

Alistair looked worried. "I'm not sure Denerim is safe for us at the moment. What about Loghain?"

"Denerim is the biggest city in Ferelden," Leliana replied. "We can hide easier there than anywhere else."

Elissa let out a small laugh. "I guess that means I'm not offering up the family estate while we stay there."

Teagan smiled in response. "Yes, that would probably be wise. But you will go?"

Everyone looked to Kallian. "You'll call back Eamon's knights if we do?" she asked. "And prepare them for war?"

Teagan nodded. "I will."

She shrugged. "Then I guess we're going to Denerim."

…

Shortly outside Denerim, Kallian stopped everyone and asked them to gather around. "Listen up," she said. "This is going to be a short trip. No messing around. We're going to split up into two groups, one to shop for supplies and one to talk to Brother Genitivi."

Leliana raised her hand. "Can I go shopping?"

"No," Kallian said with a glare. "You like shopping too much. You're visiting Genitivi with me. Besides, he's a church man, you're a church woman… it makes sense."

Wynne cleared her throat. "I'd like to go along to meet Brother Genitivi."

Kallian shrugged. "Fine. Anyone else have a preference?" When no one spoke she said, "Good. Sten, Elissa, Morrigan, you're going shopping. Elissa does the talking. Sten and Morrigan, just look intimidating. Get us some good prices. And take the dog with you. I don't want him underfoot. Alistair, you're coming with Leliana, Wynne, and I to meet Genitivi. Wear your biggest armor."

"Why?" Alistair asked, puzzled.

Kallian shrugged. "You never know if we'll need some intimidation of our own." She looked at the others. "When you're done, meet by the chantry gates. Elissa, you know what we need. Don't spend all my money." With that, Kallian turned around and started marching towards the city gates.

…

Elissa enjoyed the normalcy of shopping, even if it was for weapons, armor, and camping supplies, accompanied by a giant and a witch of the wilds.

She'd shopped often in Highever, usually with her mother, her brother, or a couple of servants. Her mother always said they should do their best to patronize local merchants and support the Highever economy. Those had been happy days, happier than she'd ever realized. Looking back, she'd been so… ungrateful. What would she give to spend one more day with her mother dragging her to the shops? Or wandering the markets with Fergus, teasing each other with the worst gifts they could threaten to buy? Elissa wiped at her eyes and quickened her pace. There was no time for such reminiscence.

The Denerim market was hardly unfamiliar to her, though she patronized different merchants today. Never in her old life would she have had to order swaths of oiled canvas for tents or the kind of food that wouldn't spoil on a long journey. Nor had she ever had to purchase second-hand weapons—hers were always made by the castle blacksmith, forged especially for her. But things were different now.

They won't be forever, she reminded herself. Should they succeed, Alistair would be crowned king with her beside him. She would never worry about her safety or her next meal. But it wouldn't be the same. She would never be that carefree girl again.

It didn't take long—especially with Sten looming behind her—to purchase everything they needed. So they waited by the chantry, watching people go by with the chant floating on the breeze, until Kallian and the others finally returned.

Elissa frowned at a smear of blood on Alistair's armor. "You missed a spot," she said, wiping at it. "What happened?"

Kallian answered for him. "Someone doesn't want Genitivi finding the ashes. A guy was posing as his assistant. Turns out, he killed the real assistant… so we had to kill him."

"I do hope the good brother wasn't hurt," Morrigan said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Wynne glared at her. "Brother Genitivi had gone on ahead, to a village called Haven."

"I've never heard of it," Elissa wondered. "It must be quite small."

"It's not on any maps of Ferelden," Alistair explained. "But Genitivi's notes give enough detail that we should be able to follow him."

"When do we leave?" Elissa asked, looking at Kallian.

"We camp outside the city tonight. Tomorrow we're on our way," she answered, already walking back towards the city gates.

Sten grumbled, but said nothing. Elissa wondered if he was frowning more than usual. It was hard to tell.

…