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Blood Bond	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4278 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
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Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
Lies and Truths

The Landsmeet was a buzz. The nobles gathered muttered amongst each other at the words Teryn Loghain had just spoken. Bann Teagan stood among them. He looked up at the teryn, an uncertainty running through his mind.
Loghain had called this meeting to give the full details of what had happened at Ostagar. Before then, there were only rumors. Now the truth was out. Cailan was dead, along with almost half of Ferelden’s armies and the entire order of the Grey Wardens. But something didn’t sit right with Bann Teagan. Something about Loghain’s words and how he blamed the Grey Wardens for the king’s death didn’t make sense.
Loghain looked down on the nobles from a balcony in the Landsmeet chamber. Teagan could see next to him Queen Anora, as well as Arl Howe. Howe being up along side Loghain was what made Teagan suspicious in the first place. He had never known the arl to be friendly with the teryn, and what was it that Howe had also declared himself? The Teryn of Highever? Strange that Howe would get that position right after Bryce Cousland’s death. A death that didn’t make much sense either.
According to Howe, the Couslands were dead before he and his men could arrive on their way to Ostagar. Some bandits had taken advantage of the castle being defenseless with most of the soldiers gone off to deal with the darkspawn. They had killed everyone, but what had made Teagan uncertain was that nothing was taken. If it was bandits, then why hadn’t they looted the castle? Apparently, the only thing missing from the castle was the family sword and shield. This account coming from one of the family attendants, who had not been there when the assault had occurred. Teagan had always thought Howe a sneaky little snake, and when he questioned the arl, now teyrn, on why nothing was taken, he simply stated that he and his men had arrived to catch the bandits in the act.
Very convenient.
And now Howe stood up there on the balcony behind Loghain. A delicious smile on his face as he listened. As if he was enjoying the madness that was beginning to unfold around the room.
“With Cailan dead, and the threat of the darkspawn on our doorstep, I have no choice but to declare myself regent to the throne,” said Loghain. The nobles began to shout and holler. Loghain did not stop because of it. Only raised his voice, making the crowd stop at the authority that his voice conveyed. “Queen Anora has already approved this. She has granted me the regency and the reason why I had asked you all to come here.”
Of course she would approve, thought Teagan. He crossed his arms as he glared at the queen. She stood next to Loghain. Her royal blue dress glittering in the light of the many candles that flickered in the chamber. She stood tall next to her father, her face never waning. It was not like Anora to show any weakness. She was, as the popular saying went, her father’s daughter.
“I have already told you of Ostagar, of how the Grey Wardens betrayed our king, killing him and themselves in the process,” Loghain continued. “They had convinced him to send word to Orlais, to bring in troops from there to defeat the horde. I say we don’t need these troops, that we can fight this threat on our own. But we will need men, and I expect each of you to supply these men. We must rebuild what was lost at Ostagar, and quickly. There are those who would take advantage of our weakened state if we let them. We must defeat this darkspawn incursion, but we must do so sensibly and without hesitation.”
No, Teagan could not believe a word Loghain said. Why would the Grey Wardens betray the king? What could they have gained from such a thing? They had once been banished from Ferelden, and only recently been allowed back into the country. Why would they risk banishment again? Why would they want to kill Cailan when he had showed them nothing but respect and admiration? No, he could not believe and he would not either.
Teagan looked around the room. It appeared, however, that most of the nobles had accepted Loghain’s lie, but others, he could see, thought as he did. They whispered in each others ear, trying to figure out what his angle was. What Loghain was hoping to gain from such a slander.
“Your lordship, if I might speak?” Teagan asked as he took a step toward the balcony. The buzzing behind him went down to a low murmur as he gazed up at the two teyrns and the queen. Loghain looked down on him suspiciously, but then relented his gaze and gestured for Teagan to continue.
Teagan had to know. He had to ask the questions. He knew no one else would. “You have declared yourself Queen Anora’s regent, and claim we must unite under your banner for our own good. But what of the army lost at Ostagar? Your withdrawal was most... fortuitous.” This sent the buzzing to a fever pitch. He had stated what everyone had been thinking.
Loghain did not loosen the sternness in his eyes. He kept his gaze fixed on Teagan, unwilling to relent to him. “I did what I had to do in order to save my own men and to keep Ferelden from going into a civil war.”
“But there will be a civil war,” cried Teagan. “You have brought us to the brink of one by just declaring yourself regent. Do not think this will be seen in good light.”
“If you do not wish to support me, then that is your choice, but I will not allow Ferelden to fall. Not to the darkspawn, not to the Orlesians, not to anyone!”
Was that all this was about? Orlais? Did Loghain’s hatred for Orlais cause all of this? And if so, was Loghain’s withdrew from Ostagar more than just Cailan being overrun by darkspawn? It made Teagan widen his eyes as he pondered the thought. But would Loghain do such a thing just to keep the Orlesians out of Ferelden?
Teagan became angry just thinking about it. Did Loghain not see that Orlais no longer desired to claim Ferelden back? Ferelden had become a strong and respected country throughout Thedas thanks to him and Maric. Teagan could only wish that his older brother, Eamon, were here. He could straighten everything out. He would be able to find the truth and bring it out of the lies.
Loghain placed his attention back on the crowd. “Everything I have done has been to secure Ferelden’s independents. I have not shirked my duty to the throne, and neither will any of you!”
“The Bannorn will not bow to you simply because you demand it!” Teagan cried over the loud murmur of the nobles. “Just because you are the Hero of River Dane doesn’t mean you can just walk right in here and take anything you desire because there is no king to stop you.”
Loghain only glared at him, with Howe’s piercing glace right behind. Teagan stood his ground. He would not let either of them bring him down. There was too much deception, too much mystery for him to let them bring him down.
With a wave of his hand, Loghain dismissed the Landsmeet and he and Howe walked toward the door which lead off the balcony. The nobles began to disperse. Teagan lingered, staring at the door Loghain had left before, he to, began making his way out. He made to turn, before hearing the queen call out his name.
“Bann Teagan, please!” she cried. Anora hung over the balcony, staring upon him with her big blue eyes.
“Your Majesty,” he said. “Your father risks civil war. If Eamon were here...”
Anora shook her head. “Bann Teagan, my father is doing what is best. You know this.”
He might have been, but Teagan couldn’t be for sure. So many things had all happened at once. So many things that seemed to be connected: Ostagar, Highever, Eamon, Vaughan. Teagan narrowed his eyes at her. “Did he also do what was best for your husband, your Majesty?” he said to her before walking away. The look he got from her was one of stone. It told him a few things. Anora wasn’t stupid. She was suspicious of her father’s actions as well, but she would not betray him.
As Teagan made his way out, he knew what he had to do. He needed to find the truth. He needed to know what Loghain’s motives truly were, why he seemed to be confiding in Howe. But he couldn’t do it on his own. He would need his brother’s help. Teagan needed to head to Redcliffe to find out his brother’s fate.
***
They had finally made it out of the Wilds, Morrigan now leading them on a merchant path to the village of Lothering. Zelda was more than happy to be out of the swamps. They all seemed happy to be out of the swamps. The air was much lighter and the mist no longer covered the ground, causing them to shiver from the droplets of water.
As they walked down the path, Morrigan and Arawin were in the lead. Zelda could hear them talking to one another. About what, however, she could not fully hear, but she wasn’t paying very much attention. She was more worried about Alistair who was walking silently beside her. The sad expression was on his face again. She wondered if he would break into tears again as he stared at his feet.
“Do you want to talk?” Zelda asked him.
“Huh?” Alistair looked up at her. “Talk?”
“Yes,” she said. “Maybe about Duncan?”
“You don’t have to do that,” he said shaking his head. “I know you didn’t know him as long as I did.”
“That doesn’t mean anything. I still grieve for him. He helped me in many ways.” She breathed in and out deeply. “Tell me, how did he recruit you?”
Alistair placed his hands in between the links of his armor as if they were pockets. “Well, before Duncan found me, I grew up in the Chantry. They were training me to become a templar.”
“Really? You were a templar?”
“Not a full templar, no. I never took my vows. Duncan recruited me before that. He came out of the blue one day to our barracks, saying he was looking for recruits. The grand cleric didn’t like that one bit. She didn’t understand why the Grey Wardens needed recruits or why they thought they could just come and take a templar from the Chantry. Of course, the Wardens can take who ever they wish, but that wasn’t her concern.
“I’m not exactly sure why Duncan chose me. I wasn’t the strongest, or bravest, or even the most skilled of all the boys there, but I think he might have been looking for something else. All Duncan really did was walk around the barracks, observing us, and occasionally talking to us one on one. The only time he ever saw us fight was when we were in the training fields. So you can see why I was very surprised when he chose me to became a Grey Warden.”
“Did you try and impress him?” asked Zelda. “I’m sure you did.”
“Actually, to tell the truth, none of us even knew who he was.” This made Alistair smile. “We all thought he was just some weird man, more than likely from the Chantry, that was there to see about our training. Maybe to choose a few boys for secret templar missions or something. That thought excited some boys, but not me.”
Zelda smiled with him. “So are you happy you're a Grey Warden instead of a templar?”
“Yes, I am,” he answered. “It’s really for the best. I’m not exactly the Chantry type, if you haven’t noticed. I don’t think I would have made a very good templar. The grand cleric didn’t want to let me go. Duncan was forced to conscript me, actually, and was she ever furious when he did. I thought she was going to have us both arrested. I was lucky.”
“Why did she do that? Did the grand cleric want to keep you?”
“I wondered that myself. It’s not as if she valued me highly. I think she just didn’t want to give anything to the Grey Wardens, is all. The Chantry didn’t lose much. And I think I can do more fighting the Blight anyhow rather than sitting in a temple somewhere. I’ll always be thankful to Duncan for recruiting me. If it hadn’t been for him, you know, I would never... I wouldn’t have...” Alistair began to trail off, and his eyes started to glow.
“It’s all right,” Zelda said comforting him. “Grieving is good. It allows you to let go. I can see he was like a father to you.”
Alistair took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes. “I... I should be handling this better. Duncan warned me right from the beginning that this could happen. Any of us could die in battle. I shouldn’t have lost it, not when so much is riding on us, not with the Blight and... and everything. I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize,” Zelda said patting him on the shoulder. “Like I said, this is what you need.”
“Do... do you think it would be too much to ask to have a proper burial for him? I mean, we don’t have his body but we could maybe make a memorial. I think he said he was from Highever. Maybe after this Blight is dealt with, I'll go up there and make one for him. Would you come with me? I’m sure he would like that.”
Zelda took her hand from his shoulder and stared down at her feet. She watched as they moved forward practically on their own. She felt more as if she was floating. “I... I don’t think I could ever go back to Highever.”
“Oh, why?” Alistair sounded confused. “Unless it has to do with what happened. You said you would tell me later. I think now is a good time, if you don’t mind.”
Zelda looked back up at him. She supposed he had a right to know. She could tell him, and the others as she noticed that both Morrigan and Arawin had become quiet.
Zelda took in a deep breath. She hoped she could get through the story without her voice cracking, and that she would be able to hold back the tears. “It all began when my father got the order from the king to report to Ostagar because of the darkspawn. Arl Howe...” She cringed at the name. “Was my father’s best friend, and he had gotten the same order. He arrived at the castle, and they both planned on riding out together. That was also around the same time Duncan arrived. He was there to test a young knight, Ser Rory Gilmore, to be a potential recruit.” Zelda had to stop and keep herself steady. She didn’t realize how hard it was just to say his name. Alistair waited patiently for her to continue.
“The day before my father would leave,” she was finally able to continue. “He put me in charge of the castle. He then sent out my brother Fergus with the bulk of our army ahead of him. When they were all gone, I was to make sure Duncan was able to test Ser Gilmore, and allow him anything else he desired. But as you can guess, that never happened.
“That night, Howe’s men attacked the castle, and killed everyone. My mother and I were able to fight our way to find my father, but by the time we got to him, he was already wounded severely. Duncan had saved him, but it wasn’t enough. Duncan offered to take me to safety, to become a Grey Warden and help with the Blight. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to leave my family behind, but... My father and mother convinced me I should. So now here I am. Worried that I might be the last Cousland because I can’t find my brother and wondering what is going to happen with Highever. I can go with you, if you want to make a memorial for Duncan, but it will all depend on if I can even go without breaking down.”
“I understand,” said Alistair as he now put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry about your family. I’m sure Arl Howe will pay for what he did.”
“He will,” Zelda said, the hurt no longer in her voice. Instead replaced with a hardness. “I will make sure of it.”
Arawin had listened intently to Zelda’s story. She began to feel sorry for her, and it was a true feeling. Zelda had lost even more than she had. Even though they had both lost their families, at least Arawin’s was still alive. They were still in Denerim, waiting for her to return. Zelda had no one waiting for her. She was all alone. Arawin could tell that it had been hard for Zelda to tell her story. Even though they could no longer feel each other through their bond, thanks to the potion, Arawin remembered feeling something similar to what was in Zelda’s voice as she spoke. Hurt, and a longing for a lost love. There was something about the Ser Gilmore she mentioned that she was not saying. Arawin could only guess. She realized that perhaps she should at least try to be nicer to Zelda. It would be hard, but she would try.
“So do you feel better?” Zelda asked Alistair. They had been walking silently for a while. Zelda didn’t like it. She did not want to be left with her thoughts. She still couldn’t afford to break down, not now.
“A little,” he said as he stared at her. He was concerned at why she had just changed the subject back to him. “Are you all right?”
“I’ll be fine, I’m just more worried about you,” she said. “We can’t have our only man acting like a weeny, now can we?”
“Are you sure that potion is working?” he asked with a smile. “I think that’s something Arawin would more than likely say.”
This made Zelda giggle. “I’m just trying to lighten the mood. It all the sudden became so serious.” Alistair laughed along with her. Smiling broadly as he looked into her crystal blue eyes.
It was then that Rupee suddenly stopped and began sniffing the air. Alistair didn’t notice she had stopped right in front of him, and he stumbled into her, falling on his face. Morrigan and Arawin turned and laughed at him. Zelda couldn’t help but to laugh as well, but she stopped long enough to help him up.
“Oh, and what are you two laughing about?” he asked the two cackling women. “It’s the dog's fault.”
“Sure it was,” said Morrigan. “And not your own stupidity that you didn’t see the dog right in front of you?”
“Alis will be Alis,” Arawin said shaking her head.
Alistair glared at them, not relenting his gaze.
“Oh come on, Alistair,” said Zelda. “You have to admit, it was kind of funny. Sorry Rupee did that, but even if you were paying attention, I don’t think you could've saved yourself. She did stop without warning.”
Alistair only huffed at her and turned his head. “So this is what I get for being the only man here?”
“Oh stop that, Alis,” Arawin said.
He turned to her. “Could you please stop calling me that! How would you like it if I called you a name you didn’t like?”
Arawin snickered. “You’ll never find one, so don’t even bother.”
Alistair stared at her, trying to think of something he could call her that would get on her nerves. “How about... Ary?”
Arawin gritted her teeth and glared at him. “Don’t call me that!”
“Ha! I thought you said I would never find one? Now you know how it feels, so every time you call me Alis, I will call you Ary. How about that!”
“I hate you,” Arawin said turning from him.
“And I love you, too,” Alistair teased with a big smile.
Rupee, however, had not payed much attention to what had happened. She only whimpered a little when Alistair ran into her, but went right back into focusing on something far off in the distance as soon as she got up. Her nose was high in the air as she sniffed the surroundings. A bark sounded from her throat, making the four of them stop their bantering and turn to her. Rupee panted with her tongue hanging out and ears stiff as they shifted, listening for unheard sounds.
“What is she doing?” Arawin asked as she peered down at the dog.
“I don’t know,” answered Zelda. She made her way around to Rupee’s front and hunched down in front of the mabari. “What is it girl? Do you hear something?”
Rupee ignored her and barked again, three times in a row. It was then that Zelda heard it. At first she thought it was an echo, but then noticed that the sound was different. The answering bark was deeper and longer than Rupee’s. It answered her in the same three bark sequence.
“Is that another dog I hear?” said Alistair as he strained to listen.
“I think so,” Zelda stated as she stood. All of them stared off into the distance where Rupee was staring. She continued her barking, with answers that were getting louder. Arawin took a step forward as she noticed something coming through the trees. It was large and brown, and hurtling towards them at great speed.
It was another dog, and it ran straight for her. When the new mabari reached Arawin, it leaped up and brought her down. Zelda screamed, thinking it was attacking Arawin, but as she went to pry the dog off her, she noticed that Arawin was laughing. The dog licking her face.
Arawin was able to push the dog off and stand. She wiped off her face and then looked down at the mabari who had seated himself next to her. His face up, staring at her as he panted loudly. “I think this is the mabari I helped cure back at Ostagar,” said Arawin as she leaned down and examined the tattered leather collar on his neck. “Yep, this is him. Kunjo is his name.”
“He was probably out there looking for you,” said Alistair.
“Then that means he imprinted on you when you cured him, Arawin,” Zelda added. She made her way up to Kunjo and examined him. Rupee went with her, and she and Kunjo began sniffing each other, circling around. The red in Rupee’s fur was very bright when compared to the deeper chocolate brown of Kunjo’s.
“Does this mean that we’re going to have two mangy beasts following us around now?” Morrigan moaned.
“I’ve always wanted a dog, and I did cure him for a reason,” said Arawin. “He’s coming with us.”
“I don’t see a problem with it,” Zelda stated. “Besides, I think he and Rupee are becoming good friends.” The two mabari whined at one another and then barked.
“Mmm, at least they can get along,” said Alistair. “Maybe you two should learn from them.”
“Very funny, Alis.”
“Right you are, Ary!”
“Do you want me to pop you one in the head?” Arawin threatened. “Cause I will.”
“Enough, don’t make me put you two in a corner,” said Zelda.
“Well, if we're done, I think it would be good if we continued on to Lothering,” Morrigan said trying to steer the conversation.
“Yes, that sounds good.” Zelda stared up at the sky. “It’s still early in the morning. Do you think we could reach Lothering by mid afternoon, maybe?”
“I think it’s possible, but only if we are not stopped by more hounds or any other creatures that might have been saved.”
“No, Kunjo was the only one,” Arawin commented.
The group began making their way again down the road, now joined by their new companion and Arawin’s new best friend.

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age: Origins
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Blood Bond