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Samahlen	By : BronxWench Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 1569 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age: Origins, and I make no money from this story.

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Uneasy Lies the Head

The Landsmeet was held in an imposing building, and Wraith took a deep breath as he entered, Alistair beside him. The rest of Wraith's companions followed closely, all of them in full armor and alert for signs of trouble. They need not have worried.
Loghain was far from subtle, something Wraith was beginning to believe was a Fereldan characteristic, bred into the very bone. Ser Cauthrien and several of her elite men barred the way into the main chamber, no doubt at Loghain's instruction. Wraith sighed, not looking forward to a fight in the antechamber of the Landsmeet, the very body they needed to sway to put Alistair on the throne.
"You'll go no further, elf," Cauthrien snarled, stepping forward in a clear challenge. "You've done enough harm. You'll not desecrate the Landsmeet with your filthy lies."
Cauthrien had led Loghain's troops in retreat from Ostagar, leaving King Cailan and Duncan, and thousands of good men and women to die at the hands of darkspawn. She had thrown Alistair and Wraith into Fort Drakon on the basis of obvious lies, and now, once again, she was blindly following the orders of a man who was fighting an enemy that did not exist. Wraith held up a hand to forestall her.
"Hold a moment, Cauthrien," Wraith said, keeping his hands visible. "While I'm sure you'd rather have us all cubed and fed to the mabari at Fort Drakon, at least take a moment to listen."
"If you think you can sway me with words, you're welcome to try." Cauthrien folded her arms across her chest, her red steel armor gleaming.
"What enemy are we fighting?" Wraith asked. "I can tell you who I'm fighting. I've been trying to fight darkspawn, not Fereldans, since Ostagar. You remember Ostagar, don't you? How many hurlocks did you kill there? How many genlocks felt that blade of yours? Alistair and I fought our way up the Tower of Ishal to light the beacon fire that was supposed to call you to battle."
"It was a battle we never could have won," Cauthrien snapped. "Teryn Loghain preserved his men to defend Ferelden."
"I went back to Ostagar, you know. I couldn't count the bodies that were buried in the snow." Wraith paused, his eyes narrowing. "We found Cailan. The darkspawn hung him up on top of the bridge, like a trophy." Wraith could feel Alistair's grief as he remembered that moment.
Something flickered in Cauthrien's eyes, and Wraith tried to decide what that was. Grief? Regret? Whatever else she was, Cauthrien was a Fereldan, and loyal to her country. Yet Cauthrien continued to support a man who was slowly tearing Ferelden apart, and leaving it easy prey for the archdemon that haunted Wraith's dreams.
"We cut him down, and burned his body," Alistair said, his voice harsh with memory. "You know who I am, Cauthrien. You know who Cailan was to me. You served my father alongside Loghain once, and you served my half-brother in his turn. I'd rather not lose a loyal Fereldan, but by the Maker, I will not let Loghain's blind hatred of Orlais leave my country at the mercy of the archdemon."
Cauthrien's eyes flickered again and she shifted her stance slightly. "No archdemon has been sighted. There's no proof that this is a Blight."
"Are you willing to take that chance? We've walked the Deep Roads, and we saw the archdemon." Wraith looked at Cauthrien, all but willing her to listen, to believe. "Orlais isn't the threat right now. It wasn't a threat at Ostagar. In fact, I'm willing to bet that Empress Celene has recalled all her chevaliers and has closed the borders. She knows damned well that a Blight is what we're facing, and she's thrown Ferelden to the darkspawn to buy herself time. So I'll ask you again. What enemy are we fighting?"
"He loves his country, you know." Cauthrien's shoulders sagged slightly, and Wraith breathed a small sigh of relief when he realized he would not have to fight her. "He's spent his life loving Ferelden."
"That won't be forgotten, Cauthrien, but we need to make sure there's a few of us left to remember." Alistair nodded to Wraith. "You're doing the right thing."
Cauthrien managed a small smile filled with pain as she stepped aside. "Then why does it feel so bad?"
The Landsmeet chose Alistair. Loghain had called for a duel, and Alistair had insisted on the combat as his right. While Wraith had known there was no mercy in Alistair's heart, nor had he felt mercy himself, Wraith had not been able to deny his lover. Now Loghain was dead, Anora imprisoned, and Alistair was King as Eamon had wanted.
Riordan, the senior Grey Warden from Jader that had been released from Rendon Howe's dungeon, shook his head. "A waste. I would have put him through the Joining myself."
"The Wardens don't need to be tainted by a traitor. We'll do this without him." Alistair looked at Wraith, his face set. "I'll meet you back at Eamon's estate."
Wraith watched his lover, his King, walk away and then turned back to Riordan. "I can understand how he feels. You weren't at Ostagar, and it was worse when we went back. To see Cailan like that..." Wraith's voice trailed off. He shook his head. "Where do we go from here?" It was not a question, and Riordan did not bother to answer.
"We will need to talk later," Riordan said. "But for now, go to him and settle him down. We need him focused on the Blight."
Wraith nodded, and left to follow Alistair back to Eamon's estate. For better or for worse, the die was cast, and Alistair was King of Ferelden. Now Wraith had to ensure there was a kingdom left for his lover to rule. The loss of Alistair's gentle side was a price worth paying, and Wraith clung to that as he walked the streets alone.

Prompt word: Cubed
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