Chapter 50

Jarvia stood front and centre of the room, arms crossed, exuding arrogance, yet her pale green eyes were narrowed in anger. "So, Harrowmont finally realised we're taking the city, yet he still can't be bothered to send his own men. Well, you picked the wrong side, stranger. It doesn't matter who's king, as long as there's a queen!"

Aedan adopted a similar easy stance. "You know, you're awfully cocky for someone whose entire carta is dead." A cheeky grin accompanied his words. Jarvia dropped all pretence of aloofness and her face twisted with rage. "Kill them! But leave the mouthy one alive: I have plans for him!"
Aedan sniggered. "She must mean you, Zev."
An amused snort escaped the elf. "Isn't it marvellous? The reputation of my clever mouth has reached even the ears of the Carta."

Jarvia and her henchmen were thrown off stride by the unexpected banter which granted Aedan and his group an extra few seconds to prepare. Emma and Leliana moved to one of the alcoves, prompting Wynne and Morrigan to follow suit. Emma cast a force field around Aedan, and she noticed another one encase Zevran. Alistair and Sten pulled their blades and charged the henchmen, while the two rogues went into stealth and moved to dismantle the traps. Emma resolutely focused on the battle, refusing to be distracted by her anxiety for Aedan as he worked on the tripwires.

After a few minutes of intense fighting, Aedan materialised behind Jarvia and thrust his blade at her ribs; unfortunately, the nimble crime boss rolled out of the way, though Emma saw the woman flinch, so it seemed likely that she'd taken some damage. Zevran suddenly popped up and shouted, "The traps are disarmed."

He swiftly took stock of everyone's position before pouncing on a henchman involved in a two-on-one fight with Sten. Zevran's blades slid deep into the flesh, and blood spurted from gaping wounds as the thug hit the ground with a thud. Four more dwarves appeared at the top of the stairs and started to descend, two on each side, intent on creating a pincer movement on the warriors and rogues.

However, the ranged fighters had other plans. Wynne cast Storm of the Century and struck down two of the henchmen. Emma covered her side of the room with a Blizzard and infected one dwarf with the Virulent Walking Bomb spell. Leliana neatly put an arrow through the thug's thick skull and his corpse exploded, infecting the dwarf standing nearby. With all of the henchmen either dead or dying, the majority of the companions now concentrated on Jarvia.

This fight always caused Emma some difficulty; though to be fair, she only had three other companions when she faced Jarvia. However, even with a full crew, the damn crime boss still gave them a run for their money, as she constantly flitted in and out of the shadows. Only one thing would keep her still long enough for the others to get in a few hits. Emma cast Winters Grasp and turned Jarvia into a statue of ice. Everyone attacked immediately. As the spell wore off, Jarvia again found herself entrapped in a layer of ice; Emma glanced around the column and saw Wynne lower her staff.

Morrigan cast Drain Life and Jarvia staggered; Alistair saw an opening and charged, hitting her hard with his shield and skewering her on his sword at the same time. The body fell to the ground as he shoved with his shield arm and pulled his sword back. Aedan bent down and felt for a pulse. "Right through the heart. Nicely done, Alistair. Now, let's get back to Harrowmont and tell him the good news, and hopefully get the help we need." Emma didn't have the heart to tell him that they had a far more dangerous task ahead of them before that would happen.

-x-

Aedan glared at Harrowmont. "You're kidding, right? Just how many bloody problems do you want us to sort out for you?"
The dwarf spread his hands in an apologetic manner. "Believe me, I want this over just as much as you do. I am sorry, but with Bhelen pushing for another Assembly, I have no choice but to ask you for further help. With the word of a Paragon to back me, there would be no doubt as to who should be put on the throne."

Emma put down her glass of wine, figuring now was as good a time as any to question his views. "Before we agree to this excursion, I'd like to ask a question."
Harrowmont inclined his head. "Of course, I'm happy to help."
She smiled. "Good, because I'm curious about your stance on the casteless?"
An expression of distaste flickered across his features before he could school himself to be polite and project a more appropriate demeanour. But she'd caught the brief lapse in his friendly manner, and spoke up, her tone cool. "I see."
His brows drew down in a frown. "I haven't even answered your question yet."
She shrugged. "No, but the look on your face spoke volumes. I know it's traditional to hide the casteless and just pretend they don't exist. But has it ever occurred to you that Orzammar could use their help?"
He snorted with disgust. "And just what help could those criminals provide?"
Emma stiffened, and her eyes glinted with anger. "Some of them are criminals because you don't give them the option to be anything else. You conveniently forget that people are living below you in Dust Town. You all walk around up here like your shit doesn't stink, but not one of you has an ounce of compassion or integrity."
Dulin Forender stepped forward, a snarl on his lips. "Be very careful, girl! You go too far!"
She spun to face him. "Too far? I haven't even bloody started yet." She faced Harrowmont again. "As the King of Orzammar, shouldn't you be someone your people can look up to?"
Harrowmont tugged on his beard. "Well, of course! What a damn silly question!"
"No, it's not. I'm talking about all dwarves, including your fellow dwarves living in squalor and poverty. You're only thinking of the nobles and working dwarves." Harrowmont glared at her and opened his mouth to speak, but she kept talking. "The casteless turn to crime as a means of survival, but most would love the chance to do something else. Surely, you can offer them work, train them to do something, and give them a chance to improve their lives!"
She met Harrowmont's furious glare. "I bet if the darkspawn broke through to Orzammar, they'd be the first ones you'd get to fight for you. Use them as meat-shields, what difference does it make? I mean, they're just casteless, they don't think or feel like the other dwarves do, right?" She snorted as her anger peaked. "Let me tell you something Lord Harrowmont," she spoke his title with as much contempt as she currently felt for him. "I would rather put Prince Bhelen on the throne, regardless of what a bastard he is, because at least he has the right idea when it comes to helping his fellow dwarves – all his fellow dwarves, not just the ones who can help you climb the social ladder!"

Harrowmont's mottled red face creased with anger. "Grey Warden, I have the utmost respect for your Order, but do not presume to tell me how Orzammar should be run." Emma glared at him, the green of her eyes dark as emeralds. "Then you're a fool, Harrowmont. Orzammar needs every able-bodied dwarf to survive. If you can't see that, then you don't deserve to be king of a pile of nug shit, never mind Orzammar."

She turned on her heel and stormed from his house, only stopping when she reached the balcony that looked out over the commons. She leaned her arms on the metal railing and clasped her hands to control her trembling limbs. Emma flinched when she heard Harrowmont's front door open and close again. Moments later, Aedan stood next to her. "Remind me never to piss you off," he said with a chuckle.
She shot him a sideways glance. "I'm not going to apologise to Harrowmont. He's an asshole."
Aedan was silent for a couple of minutes before replying. "You realise it's not as easy as you make it sound? A lot of the dwarves back Harrowmont because of his traditionalist stance."
Emma rubbed a hand over her eyes. "I know that, and I never said it would be easy. But he doesn't even want to change the way things are. It just needs one person to stand up for what's right, and over time, others will follow. If he hasn't got the balls to do that, then he's not the right person for the job."

For a while, they stood side by side in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. At length, Aedan turned to Emma. "So, tell me about Bhelen. I admit I'm not a big fan of the people he employs if Vartag Gavorn is anything to go by."
Emma sighed and rested her head on her hand. "Agreed, both Bhelen and Gavorn are devious and vicious. However, putting that aside for the moment, Bhelen wants to bring about changes in Orzammar that could strengthen the Dwarven kingdom over time."
"All right, that sounds a worthy goal."
Emma nodded and rubbed a hand over her face. "It is, but Bhelen's still a git, which is why I wanted Harrowmont to incorporate something similar in his campaign."
"Come on, Angel. Let's head back to camp and get some dinner and we'll sleep on the matter, maybe see what the others think."
Emma groaned as she realised why they were heading back to camp. "Ah, shit! I screwed up our lodgings, didn't I? Harrowmont sure as hell won't want us sleeping under his roof now. Damn it! I need to apologise to everyone; we rarely get to sleep in a decent bed."
"Angel, they're used to sleeping in a tent by now. I wouldn't worry about it."
Emma made a wry face, annoyed at her lack of restraint. She'd meant to discuss the matter calmly with the dwarven leader, not lose her temper and insult him. Damn it! She'd completely screwed that up. Sometimes she could be a complete idiot.