The Cure
Redcliffe was lively by the time they reached it. Ciara watched as Narascha, Epona and Sten walked down the hill, probably heading for Dwyn, while Torph took Zerlinda, her baby, Bohdan and Sandal to Bella's tavern.
Bohdan and Sandal had been angels during this entire trip. They were fine meeting up with them constantly, because for whatever reason Sandal was determined to stay near Narascha for now- something about a song- and Bohdan was quite happy selling his wares all around Ferelden, while in the safe company of the Grey Wardens. They had been looking after Zerlinda and her baby boy while they had been searching for the Urn, and now they had all safely reached Redcliffe together.
Besides, the most useful thing was Sandal's enchantments and the amount of healing potions and medical packs those two kept selling. They always had more in stock, no matter where they went.
It was very handy.
Ciara paused when she found Epona sitting on the steps to the castle doors. Her journal was back in her lap, wide open, and her brows were furrowed.
"Lavellan and that wolf really are getting close. She needs to be careful, I really don't want her heart broken, and he's always been so reckless," Epona read aloud, her eyes narrowing. "But I will have to trust in her. I already know what she'd say otherwise. 'Epona, it's so nice to see you care, I didn't know you loved me so much', urgh, she would be so sickly sweet about it too, and would forever hold it over my head. The ass."
Ciara chuckled at that. Epona met her eyes and smiled, looking just as amused. She closed the journal gently, smiling fondly at it.
"It's good to know the Ranger Commander had many people she cared for," Epona said, then frowned softly. "I wonder if... I wonder if she had a Tamlen as well back then..."
Ciara sat down next to her. "I..." Ciara hesitated.
Epona held up a hand. "Me first," she insisted. "Thank you, for helping me with Tamlen. I couldn't take his life, even to ease his suffering, it was too painful for both of us. I know you helped with the intention of being a neutral party, but I know taking his life pained you too. But why?"
"Because I don't want to see you suffer, and you loved him dearly," Ciara said. "I... I know we don't get to talk often, but we've all journeyed together for quite some time now, and I see you as a friend."
Epona nodded. "I see you as one too, Ciara. All you Grey Wardens, even if some of you are more frustrating than others."
"Alistair?" Ciara smirked.
"Alistair."
Ciara chuckled. "Why is it always him?"
"I actually am fond of him, he's just a bit daft," Epona admitted. "Don't tell him I said that though."
"I won't," Ciara promised, then shook her head. "And here I was going to apologise for making you suffer that night."
"If anything you eased it," Epona said. "All I could see was him, no matter how badly the taint had torn at him. I could feel his hands, smell his scent, even behind all the death and decay. You stopped his pain, and I will thank you for that, for your kindness."
"I just wish I could have been more help," Ciara began, then paused when the doors opened behind them, Leliana beaming.
"The Arl is awake!" Leliana said, then hesitated when her eyes met Epona. "I... I wanted to let you all know."
"Thanks," Ciara said, when she realised Epona wouldn't speak up at all. "We'll be there shortly."
"Alright..." Leliana threw Epona one last look, then retreated back inside.
"I know I am being petty," Epona admitted, staring at the courtyard.
It was impressive to see it full of elves, dwarves and mages, not too many just yet, but more were arriving by the day from what Ciara had been told.
"I don't blame you," Ciara said softly.
"You believe in the Maker and Andraste, yet you stood by Lawrien's side when she was ready to fight the Guardian," Epona said, her face falling. "And... and I started to think I was maybe important enough for Leliana to do the same for me... I don't know... I just... we had been talking about each other's religions, and it had started to go well for us both. I thought we were at the very least friends..."
"And you feel as though that friendship has been slapped back into your face?"
"A strange way of putting it... but yes..." Epona nodded. "I thought... I just thought she would say something against the Guardian at the very least, but she kept begging us not to fight, how it was a holy place, and... it was just so frustrating. If it had been the other way around, if it had been a guardian of Mythal insulting Leliana, I feel as though I would have yelled at them. If they had threatened her, my friend, I feel as though I would have defended her. That's what we're supposed to do. That is what our clan does. That is exactly what you and Lawrien did. A god is not supposed to be more important than our friends and family."
"I might not always agree with what Lawrien does, nor she with me," Ciara admitted. "But we will always have each others backs. No matter what. Leliana, obviously the Chantry, or someone within the Chantry, has played a massive role in her life. It is her hope, above all else, her faith. I think if it is taken from her, that above all else will break her."
"I might value my own gods, but they mean nothing if all that I love is destroyed," Epona said.
"And that's how you feel, but Leliana unfortunately must feel differently," Ciara said. "It might change over time, it might not, but we cannot change her mind for her. That has to be something she wants to do."
"So I should just forgive her?" Epona scowled.
"No. Hold on to your anger for as long as you wish or need," Ciara said. "But just don't let it get in the way of the Blight."
"Never," Epona said, grimacing. "The Archdemon..." Her fists clenched. "What it did to Tamlen, I can never forgive or forget. If it if the last thing I do I will kill it."
Ciara nodded and patted her shoulder. "We'll do it together, or die. You're not alone in this. All of the Grey Wardens of Ferelden will stand at your side. We will do whatever it takes to beat the Blight."
"Then I suppose we best see to this Arl and hope we can unite Ferelden's shemlens." Epona rolled her eyes. "They are so frustrating, fighting during all this."
Ciara snorted. "Says the one who went to the clan fighting werewolves."
"The dwarves were fighting each other too. At least my clan had the sense to fight someone other than their own kind," Epona teased.
"Yeah, yeah, I know you'll hold that over our heads for a while," Ciara chuckled. "Now let's go, before you get a big head and can't fit through the door."
Epona tilted her head, baffled. "Is that a shemlen saying?"
"I have to admit, I'm not sure," Ciara laughed. "You ready to head in?"
"I suppose so."
.:.
"Strange. I never thought I'd feel this way again," Sten murmured, as he left Dwyn's house, Narascha and Cobian following after him.
"Are you sure you are a Grey Warden?" he asked Narascha, turning back to face her. "I think you must be an ashkaari to find a single blade lost in a country at war."
"You should thank Lawrien, she was the one to find Faryn," Narascha said.
"I will do." Sten nodded.
"So what are you going to do now?" Narascha asked. "Report to the Arishok?"
"I think it will make a better report if I see how the Blight ends first hand. Don't you agree?" Sten smiled, actually smiled.
Narascha couldn't help but grin. "I think that will make a great report."
"It would truly be a fascinating report from a first person perspective," Cobian said. "Even if you cannot remark on every instance that has happened during this war, you can tell everything from your side of what has happened. It would be amazing to see what your Arishok would think of the Blight and if the qunari might need to become more involved in dealing with it."
"Oi!" Torph yelled from the hillside, waving at them. "Nara! Cobian! Sten!"
Narascha tilted her head. "Torph?"
"We gotta go back to the castle! A messenger said the old guy is awake!"
That made some of the villages look up, a little more hopeful, but Narascha ignored them and headed for Torph's side. Cobian and Sten following after her.
"I guess we better see what comes next then," Cobian said. "I'm a little nervous seeing Arl Eamon again. It has been a long time, and last time I heard about him he had been banished from court... it was such a scandal..."
"Hopefully this will be good news for us," Torph said. "Would be nice not having a bounty on our heads."
.:.
Arl Eamon stood with Bann Teagan at his back by the fireplace in the main hall, much to Narascha's relief when she arrived. Teagan had been the one to tell Eamon everything that had happened during his coma, Eamon being poisoned, Connor being possessed by a demon, Isolde's death, and even Jowan's escape. Narascha wasn't sure quite how well Eamon was taking it.
He seemed surprisingly composed, but that was probably his well practised politician face.
Narascha was rather familiar with the concept.
Arl Eamon surprisingly began by thanking them, and by formerly naming them all champions of Redcliffe. He even gave Alistair a fancy shield.
"We should speak of Loghain, brother." Teagan grimaced. "There is no telling what he will do once he learns of your recovery."
"Brood," Cobian said, rather dryly. "He will brood, and plot, and maybe let Howe send out another assassin."
"Maybe even a better one than ours." Torph eyed Zevran.
"I might not kill you due to my oath to Faren, but I can still put poisonous substances in your food to make you shit yourself for days," Zevran said cheerfully.
"Ahhhhh, extra spicy," Oghren said gleefully.
Narascha paused that at, while Zevran and Torph stared at Oghren.
"Wait, are you the one stealing my herbs?" Epona said, earning a few flinches.
"...No?" Oghren lied.
Morrigan sighed. "The dwarf has been stealing mine too."
"I still cannot believe he has sided with traitorous Howe." Arl Eamon's nose curled. "Long have I known Loghain. He is a sensible man who has never desired power. I do not understand why he is doing all of this. He instigates a civil war with the darkspawn right on our doorstep."
"I was there when he announced that he was taking control of the throne, Eamon," Teagan insisted. "He is mad with ambition, I tell you."
"Uncle Loghain unfortunately allies with Howe because many other members of the nobility think of him as still a commoner and not worth heeding," Cobian said, earning a grimace with both Eamon and Teagan. "Despite him being a Teryn that Uncle Maric titled personally, and no, he is not mad with ambition, that might have been easier to deal with," Cobian sighed heavily. "He is afraid."
Lawrien frowned. "Afraid?"
"Orlais left a permanent scar on him," Cobian said softly. "Uncle Maric, Queen Rowan, and Uncle Loghain all made great sacrifices in order to save Ferelden from its shackles."
"I understand you feel fondly for him, Cobian, but Loghain left Cailan to die-" Eamon argued.
"Uncle Loghain and I pleaded with Calian many times to not join the fight," Cobian said firmly. "He didn't want to let the men see him retreat. He wanted to bolster their courage like Uncle Maric once did."
"Dammit, Cailan..." Eamon sighed heavily. "Either way, Loghain must be stopped. We can hardly fight off a Blight when we're all at each others throat."
Cobian nodded. "Agreed. We were hoping you could help us unite the nobility against Uncle Loghain. You are a respected member of the court, more people will listen to you rather than I or Teagan."
"I could unite all those who oppose Loghain, that is true, but he has made some powerful allies as well. He has Howe and Vaughan backing him in court, and with their support, stopping him will be that much more difficult."
"I do not understand, why would two nobles make it difficult?" Epona asked.
"Vaughan is the Arl of Denerim, and Howe is now the Arl of Amaranthine and..." Teagan looked solemnly at Cobian. "Now the Teryn of Highever too. Those are very powerful titles."
"He won't be when I put my sword through him," Cobian grumbled, lowly enough that neither Teagan nor Eamon heard him.
Narascha couldn't help but grin at the idea.
She couldn't wait to see the fucker drown in his own blood. Howe would pay for making Cobian suffer, as would Vaughan pay for hurting Faren.
"We have no time to wage a campaign against him," Arl Eamon mused. "Someone must surrender for Ferelden's sake if we're to have any chance against the darkspawn."
Lawrien raised a brow. "We're not doing to surrendering part, right?"
"No, Warden Commander, we will make Loghain surrender. We need a challenge that Loghain cannot ignore. We need someone with a stronger claim to the throne than Anora."
Automatically they all looked at Alistair, who went pale.
Teagan breathed in sharply. "Y-You're putting Alistair forward as king?"
"Ha!" Torph pointed at Alistair.
Alistair twitched, then smacked the back of his head, earning a curse.
"You deserved that one," Narascha muttered to him.
Torph grinned. "Worth it."
"Teagan and I have a claim through marriage, but we would seem opportunists, no better than Loghain. Alistair's claim is by blood," Eamon explained.
"And what about me?" Alistair scowled. "Does anyone care for what I want?"
"You have a responsibility, Alistair. Without you, Loghain wins. I will have to support him for the sake of Ferelden. Is that what you want?" Eamon chided him.
"I... but I..." Alistair's face grew cold. "No... my lord..."
"I see only one way to proceed," Eamon said. "I shall call for a Landsmeet."
"A land what now?" Torph asked.
"A Landsmeet will gather up all the nobility in Ferelden to Denerim," Cobian explained. "Arl Eamon wants the nobility to decide who shall rule us."
"And of course if they pick Queen Anora, we're all dead," Ciara said. "With the exception of Cobian."
"Can I use diplomatic immunity given I'm from Orzammar?" Narascha asked.
"It could work," Cobian chuckled.
"I'd like use that too then," Torph added.
"It has to work, once Loghain is dealt with, we can fight our true foe," Eamon said, then smiled at Lawrien. "What say you to that, Warden Commander? I do not wish to proceed without your blessings."
Lawrien looked strangely amused. "I know I am the Grey Warden Commander of Ferelden, but we're not actually supposed to meddle in politics."
Torph cackled. "We named a King in Orzammar, Lawrien."
"Actually the Proving did." Lawrien grinned, a gleam in her eyes.
Narascha snorted at that. "She's not wrong."
"Is that the excuse we're gonna use if anyone asks?" Torph sniggered.
"Yep." Lawrien nodded.
Alistair shook his head fondly, patting Lawrien's back. "Never change, Lawrien."
"I don't plan to." Lawrien grinned wolfishly. "As for my blessing, Arl Eamon? You have it."
"Now as for Jowan..." Eamon sighed heavily.
They all went quiet at that.
"I heard you let him go?" Eamon frowned at Lawrien.
"Yes...?" Lawrien answered warily.
"I have heard the reasoning from Teagan, and while I do not like them, you did save my life and my son's. My village and brother are also safe thanks to you, but I will warn you, if I ever see Jowan again..." Eamon said, a warning bite to his tone.
"Then Jowan is an idiot who should have made sure he was far away from you." Lawrien shrugged.
Narascha fought off the urge to call bullshit. If Lawrien ever heard that Jowan had been captured, Narascha knew it would bring Lawrien running. She would do the same for any of them. That was just the type of person she was.
It was sweet, if not insane, that amount of loyalty.
"Very well. Now that everything is settled, I understand you have gathered all the allies you could," Eamon said. "That is good. We can call for the Landsmeet, and by the time we arrive in Denerim, everyone else should have too."
"Sounds good, we'll meet you there," Lawrien said. "We have business in the Kocari Wilds to attend to."
"The Kocari Wilds?" Eamon raised a brow.
"It'll be quick enough," Lawrien said.
"Then I highly suggest you leave Alistair behind-"
"What?" Alistair scowled.
"Yes, you need to begin learning your duties as a king to impress the Landsmeet," Eamon said. "If you know nothing about how to be king, then they will only see you as a puppet to myself, or perhaps even the Grey Wardens. The Ferelden Grey Wardens have tried to claim the throne before with Sophia Dryden. That cannot be a risk again."
"Not only when we were just allowed back into Ferelden," Lawrien agreed. "Alistair-"
"Fine." Alistair huffed, crossing his arms. "But if you all asked me to dress up and dance to distract the Landsmeet, I will be drawing the line."
"It would be a good distraction," Faren teased.
"If you gave me ten silk scarves I could really draw their attention," Zevran purred.
"I'd certainly be distracted then." Faren grinned.
"Cobian, you should stay as well," Eamon said.
"No, I have business to attend to there, and lots of questions that need answering," Cobian mused. "I will be going."
"I'll stay with Alistair and make sure everything remains fine," Ciara said.
"Thanks, Ciara." Lawrien smiled.
"I will also go with you, Cobian," Epona said, her brow furrowed. "I have questions too."
"We'll all split up then," Cobian said. "It'll be easier to get most of us inside Denerim with Arl Eamon's help in the first place."
"True, all the Grey Wardens do have bounties, and under my protection nobody will enact on them," Arl Eamon said. "But that will only last for as long as you are close by me."
"That sucks, but it's better than being outright arrested at the gate," Torph huffed.
"So our group will either need to reunite with you before Denerim's gates, or get in another way," Lawrien said.
"I'll keep an eye out if you don't make it in time," Faren said.
His connections to the Thieves Guild were very handy after all.
"Thanks, Faren. That would be good." Cobian smiled.
"We have a lot to do, so let's get all of you fed and rested," Arl Eamon said. "These next few days will be busy as we prepare to head out for Denerim."