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Griffin's Walk	By : Anesor Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 2489 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Dragon Age world, plot, and their characters aren't mine but belong to Bioware. I get no money for writing this fiction.

Chapter List
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Denerim, Fort Drakon rooftop
Arlessa Attryne Cousland:
Landsmeet started last night, but I needed permissions from those unlikely to give me what I wanted: the Queen, Eamon, and even Fergus.
Fergus would stop his matchmaking. Missives about eligible bachelors arrived daily, with their political and strategic value to Amaranthine or the Wardens. I burnt them before Alistair saw them. I made enough sacrifices, and I would not give up Alistair because Fergus wanted to consolidate power.
The queen should have more important concerns than watching for me to get pregnant. Chaos swept through Thedas faster than I would have thought from one mage's protest.
Anora wanting me to get an heir and a spare was lovely, if I thought that was possible. She would have to accept I was barren. I might have 'mastered my taint,' according to Avernus, but that didn't mean much. I just didn't have the time to build a facade that I was expecting a happy bundle any day now. I doubted I would be able to twist Anora's arm until she told me what would satisfy her. I was sure I couldn't do it here in public, as tempting as it was.
But Alistair infuriated me the most. He tried for permission at Eamon's little drinking party and got cornered into a betrothal cabal. Alistair had to demand what he wanted, I could not do that for him.
Maybe he was too happy without marriage, or maybe a tiny part of him liked the chit. She was a liar, but younger and free of taint and scars and enemies.
I didn't want to face the years until my Calling alone; too many Wardens became bitter and cold. I would not accept being a convenience.
The crowd on the roof milled around as the ambassadors arrived later, as they often did. They didn't care who won the race, they just wanted to work the queen and rivals more.
The ships were maneuvering for position.
The Tevinter representative was maneuvering to corner Alistair, but he was fine with just about anyone but Anora and Eamon.
The ambassador's aides showed quick and graceful movements of assassins, under minimal clothing and weapons. Their knives were under length restrictions for court, but I'd rather wear the formal uniform and dress blades allowed to an Arlessa. Tabris and Karward were armed with small blades, but they weren't close enough if the Magister decided to attack.
Domitius was parading the superiority and wealth of Tevinter for us barbarians. The gems and gold he wore for a race would have clothed my entire household for a year, including the mabari and some gems for Shale if she decided to visit. I didn't care enough that he was rich to make me lose my temper.
I would watch the Magister's actions, not his subtler insults to us simpletons. Still, I amused myself with the thought of having the Dark Wolf steal those gems.
Speaking about runecraft seemed a safe topic, even if I wanted to grind my teeth at his lording his superior knowledge.
Another ambassadorial cluster was arranging themselves at the stair, catching their breath after the closely guided climb up so very... many steps.
“Those ships wallow like slugs.” Domitius peered at the ships that were not moving very well and grinned at the evident confusion.
“Because they are very much like the slugs. How can that be a surprise among the dog lords, General Domitius?” Ambassador Bastian had a painted face and lisped; a tiny mask-like hat perched on his pomaded curls. His reek of roses was strong enough that a mabari could smell it across the city. The high heels of his Orlesian fashion made him mince.
His decorative attendant petted a multicolored tame rabbit's fur, but her eyes were as hard as Leliana's could be.
Not that I was happy to learn the Imperial was a general. Domitius wasn't old enough for his appointment here to be a retirement posting. He was too young to have earned that title, at least here. Was this nepotism or was he a rising star?
Turning his attention to the Orlesian ambassador, the Tevinter's near grin became something more predatory. “The mabari are more open and honest, quite restful after martial exertion. Can your assistant manage to hold on to that radicivorous rodent on her own? I understand Empress Justina is having an embarrassing rash of rebellious nobles and has lost her hold over more than just the mages of the Circles...”
Bastian glared at Domitius, even as I wondered if the Orlesian would explode like a grenade.
Stilling suddenly, the Orlesian ambassador demanded, “Lapin,” to his dainty companion. Then he wrung the colorful rabbit's neck, flinging it toward the Tevinter ambassador's feet. “Mere rampallions and adventurer scoundrels will not dim our glorious Empress Celine.”
Tabris moved much closer to me and others were starting to notice this show more than the ship race.
“Glory?” Domitius snorted, the sphere on the end of his staff gleamed above daylight. “How much glory does she have with the soot of her citizens on her dresses? Who rules in Orlais?”
Another voice reached us, and Grand Cleric Elspeth herself arrived. “The Empress is a good daughter of the Chantry and does not interfere.”
The Imperial representative grinned, shifting to face both of them. “So it is true that the Celine is the by-blow of Beatrix and the Emperor Florian? She owns multiple rebellions as she dances in her masks with aggressive Nevarra is at her border.”
“Poof! Tevinter takes a minuscule, meaningless Nevarran border town and you think that makes you an impressive raisonneur?” Bastian made a shooing motion at Domitius.
Domitius gripped his staff, and took a careful breath before his smile brightened. “I don't need to out-reason you. Your incestuous empires of Olais and Chantry are dissolving under their own stupidity, and the Imperium will be there to scoop up the remains before Pol Valen can.”
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A/N: Challenge words are radicivorous, raisoneur, and rampallion. Thanks to my beta reader who's been kind enough to read this and point out stupid flubs. Any typos that remain are not intentional... Reviews or a PM to let me know what you think would be very appreciated.
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Griffin's Walk