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The Last of the Couslands	By : MistressofMagic Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4395 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Bioware and EA own everything associated with the Dragon Age universe. I am making no money off of this fan fiction.

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Chapter 46
Denerim
Eamon sat by the fire again later that evening with his brows drawn together. He stared into the flickering light as he pondered over everything. Loghain, Alistair, the Blight, he was quite sure things were going to get complicated from here on out. He looked up briefly as Teagan entered the room carrying a cup of tea over towards him. He set it down on the table in front of him and took the seat across from his.
"Drink it, Eamon. It will help you feel better." He stated.
Eamon did so half-heartedly. Teagan lifted his own tea cup to his lips and worriedly noticed Eamon's troubled face. He furrowed his brow as he set his cup back down and asked,
"Is something the matter, brother?"
Eamon sighed and set the tea cup back on the table.
"Of course there is. I wake up to find Fereldan in turmoil, on the brink of civil war while a Blight is occurring. Not only that but my son is a mage and the man who is the only surviving member of the Therin blood line doesn't want to take up his responsibility. So yes Teagan, something is wrong." Eamon snapped.
Teagan looked at his brother and shook his head.
"Eamon…you cannot blame Alistair for being afraid of taking his responsibility. He knows nothing of politics and nobility having grown up in a Chantry! If I were in his place, I would be scared as well!
Eamon sat back against his chair.
"I agree, it is a frightening aspect but this is his destiny. Alistair has always known what being Maric's son meant. Despite his personal feelings on the issue he still has a responsibility."
Teagan raised his eyebrows.
"Have you even considered what this would mean? If Alistair takes the throne and makes Bridget his queen, it will look as if you are trying to place Fereldan in control of the Grey Wardens."
Eamon snapped his head up from his tea and looked at Teagan.
"Why would he make her his queen?" he asked.
Teagan blinked.
"Well...they are a couple. In fact earlier, when you sent me to get them I…I walked in on them."
Eamon's eyes widened.
"Where they…?"
Teagan shook his head.
"No, they were just sharing a simple kiss by the fire."
Eamon folded his hands in front of his face and rested his chin on them.
"I guess that would explain why they were so comfortable standing here in their nightclothes together. Do you think they have already…?"
Teagan shrugged.
"I haven't the slightest idea. Why does this matter so much at any rate?"
Eamon closed his eyes.
"Leave me be Teagan, please. I need to rest."
Teagan opened his mouth to reply but closed it and stood. He bowed respectfully before exiting the room, a worrisome feeling burying itself in the pit of his stomach as he walked away.
Meanwhile, Bridget slowly opened her eyes as Alistair, for the umpteenth time that night rolled over and sat up once again. The wind howled outside as the blizzard continued. Bridget rubbed her eyes as she slowly sat up behind him, sitting on her knees and placing her hands on his back. Alistair lifted his head at her touch.
"Did I wake you?" he whispered.
Bridget shook her head and sighed.
"No." she replied as she yawned.
Alistair gave her a small smile.
"You're a terrible liar." He replied.
Bridget shrugged as she ran her hands down his arms and back up to his shoulders, rubbing out all of the tight knots she felt along the way.
"What's wrong, Alistair?" she asked softly, her breath tickling the back of his neck.
Alistair sighed.
"I'm just worried…"
Bridget gently placed her lips to his shoulder.
"What did I tell you earlier?" she whispered.
He looked over his shoulder at her and shook his head.
"I know…I just can't help it." He replied softly.
Bridget tipped her head to the side.
"Come here." She stated.
Alistair watched as she lay back against the bed, holding her arms out towards him. He moved back and settled himself in her embrace and Bridget ran her fingers through his hair as he rested his head against her chest. Bridget's heartbeat thumped in Alistair's ear.
"Whenever I was scared or worried about something when I was little, my mother always took me in her arms and let me rest my ear against her chest. Hearing her heartbeat always calmed me down and made me forget what it was I was so worried about…"
Alistair closed his eyes as he listened to Bridget's words and the continual thump of her heart. He was beginning to feel his lids become heavy. Bridget smiled.
"I knew it would work." She whispered.
Alistair chuckled softly. Bridget's own eyes grew heavy once again as well.
"Thank you." Alistair said.
Bridget furrowed her brow.
"For what?" she asked softly.
Alistair smiled.
"For just being you." He replied.
Bridget smiled and rested her head back against the pillows. They both finally drifted off into a sound sleep moments later. And it was a good thing that they did for they would need all the energy they had to make preparations in the morning to set off to Denerim.
The following days at Eamon's castle were filled with scurrying feet and confusion. They had to get to Denerim as soon as possible, despite the terrible weather. Each day that went by was another day Loghain came closer to snatching the throne. Eamon had his workers fill two wagons with supplies. The road was perilous in all the snow, but Loghain wasn't slowing down do to the weather and neither were they. He was grateful for the help that Bridget and the others gave his workers. With extra sets of hands, they could be off by morning at least. Eamon watched Bridget and Alistair's interactions carefully. He sighed. It was quite apparent that the two were very close…
And here I didn't think things could get worse…Eamon thought to himself.
By that night, all the wagons were loaded with the necessary items to make the trip to Denerim. Eamon was to hold a feast later on, so Bridget and the others changed into more formal attire. Isolde lent her one of her dresses and Bridget changed into it. She decided to wear her hair long, since Alistair liked it that way and stared at herself in the mirror. She raised her eyebrows at her reflection.
"It's certainly been a while since I dressed like this." She noted.
Bridget exited her room and found Alistair about to knock on her door. They walked to the dining hall together and sat next to each other once there. Over the feast, everyone laughed and talked and for a moment everything was peaceful. Bridget let herself forget Loghain and the Blight and just enjoyed the time she had with her friends. She did keep feeling eyes on her though and more than once caught herself in Eamon's scrutinizing gaze. What was even more unsettling was the fact that Bridget was the one who always had to look away. She didn't understand what she had done to deserve that look…had she not just brought this man from the brink of death itself? Bridget furrowed her brow as she returned to her food. As the merrymaking dwindled down and everyone began to head off to their rooms, Bridget followed Alistair out of the dining hall and down the accompanying hallway. Alistair smiled at her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"You look stunning tonight." He whispered.
Bridget looked up at him.
"Eamon was staring at me…" she said.
Alistair chuckled.
"Well of course he was! You were the most beautiful woman in there! Oh I bet Isolde is just regretting having let you borrow that dress." He replied.
Bridget shook her head.
"No I don't mean like that…he looked like he was angry at me or something. I don't know what I could have possibly done to offend him. I practically saved his entire family!" she exclaimed.
Alistair shrugged.
"Maybe he's just jealous. After all, you're such a beautiful amazing woman and all he has is Isolde…"
Bridget raised her eyebrows.
"Ouch…I think that's the meanest thing I've ever heard you say!"
Alistair smiled.
"Well it's the truth. Every other woman on the face of Thedas pales in comparison to you." He replied, his voice getting a bit husky.
Bridget smirked.
"Boy you really want to make love to me tonight don't you?" she asked.
Alistair laughed.
"Well, I certainly wouldn't complain if we did! After all…it's been a while."
Bridget looked at him.
"Your definition of while and my definition of while must vastly differ." She snorted.
Alistair grinned as he bent down to kiss his love sweetly. Bridget kissed him back, glad that he wasn't worried like he was the night before. Her thoughts left her though as his hand slowly moved towards her breast. Alistair broke the kiss and trailed his lips to her neck, gently nipping at her flesh.
"Ahem."
Bridget and Alistair broke apart quickly to find Eamon standing not too far away. He blinked.
"Please refrain from such acts in the middle of my hallway." He said as he motioned towards them both.
Alistair looked down to see that his hand was still holding Bridget's breast. He dropped it quickly and cleared his throat as his face burned in embarrassment. Eamon walked past them without giving them a second look. He did however stop at the bottom of the staircase to say,
"We are leaving fairly early in the morning. You two may want to sleep apart so that you can at least get some sleep."
Bridget and Alistair watched as he climbed the staircase and didn't say anything until they heard his bedroom door close.
"You see what I mean?" Bridget asked.
Alistair turned his attention back to her and shook his head.
"Eamon's a traditional type, that's all, I'm sure."
Bridget sighed.
"Maybe you're right. At any rate perhaps we should sleep separately if we want any sleep at all…"
Alistair pouted.
"Yes I do suppose that would be wise…"
Bridget smiled up at him and kissed him slowly.
"Goodnight." She whispered as she pulled away.
Alistair watched as she walked away and to her own room. He turned to go to his but turned back around and walked towards Bridget's room instead. He opened the door to find her standing by the bed with her hands on her hips.
"I knew you were coming." She giggled as Alistair closed the door behind him and closed the space in between them…
The days of traveling that followed were absolutely terrible. The weather had not changed in their favor at all, if anything it had just gotten worse. The roads were completely iced over as the snow was nearly knee deep. It was even worse at night. It was colder and the fires that they built were always blown out from the wind. It was a full week before Denerim finally came into view. Eamon warned them before entering the capital city that Loghain would most likely greet them in someway. He advised everyone too keep their hoods up and their scarves around their faces. Sure enough not five minutes passed after entering Eamon's estate did Loghain barge in and approach them. Bridget kept her eyes low as the men exchanged forced pleasantries. She could feel Alistair tense next to her and ever so slightly moved a bit closer to him. Soon Loghain turned to leave before another set of footsteps entered the room.
"Ah Eamon, you remember the Arl of Amaranthine."
Bridget's head snapped up. A chill that had nothing to do with the cold weather entered her body and traversed through her blood. Howe stood not three feet ahead of her looking smug and proud.
"I believe you also mean the Arl of Denerim as well, good friend. Tragic what happened to old what's his name…and then the fact that his own son was nowhere to be found…"
Eamon pursed his lips together.
"How very fortunate that you replaced him." he said, sarcasm ringing in his voice.
Howe drew his eyes over him and narrowed them.
"Indeed…I am also the new Teyrn of Highever. So sad that the entire Cousland line was wiped out in that terrible fire...Bryce left everything to me."
Eamon raised his eyebrows.
"I find that very interesting that he would leave his entire Teyrnir to you of all people. One finds it odd how you would know this if all documents and anything related to the Couslands went up in smoke."
Bridget swallowed and clenched her fists. It was all she could do to hold herself back. Howe ignored Eamon's remark completely and instead swept his eyes over Bridget and the others. She quickly bowed her head so that they would not make eye contact. Howe, unfortunately noticed this and tipped his head to the side.
"Why do your soldiers keep their hoods on while inside? That is rather rude, don't you think. And I also saw none of them bow to Loghain or myself…what type of dogs do you breed, Eamon? Surely they have at least some training."
Bridget narrowed her eyes. She was not bowing to this man. Luckily for her, Loghain intervened.
"Let the heathens be, Howe. You and I have business to attend to."
He turned his dark eyes back on Eamon.
"I suppose I will see you at this silly Landsmeet of yours. Why you would bother with calling all those nobles while we are in the middle of a Blight is beyond me."
Eamon said nothing as Loghain and Howe turned and left. Once the door closed behind them, Bridget let out a long breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Alistair turned to her and took her hand in his. Eamon turned back around and sighed.
"I was not aware that Howe is also the new Arl of Denerim. This could be problematic. I'm sure he had something to do with this, as well as the disappearance of the rightful heir to the throne, Vaughn."
Eamon rubbed his forehead and shook his head.
"Let's get settled for now. Perhaps you may wish to explore the market place, see which nobles have already arrived. Maybe dip your feet in the water and see just how much favor Loghain currently has. Maker help us that he doesn't have a lot…"
With that, Eamon and Teagan walked past Bridget and the others, talking quietly in hushed tones. Zevran walked up to Bridget.
"Was that the man who was responsible for your family's death?" he asked.
She nodded as Alistair pulled her into a hug. Zevran narrowed his eyes.
"We will see to it that he is dealt with, Bridget." He stated.
Bridget shook her head.
"No, if anyone's going to kill him, it's going to be me." She replied.
She broke free of Alistair's hug and walked over to the nearby window.
"Howe is mine." She stated in a tight voice.
Oghren nodded.
"There's nothing like revenge." He said in a gruff voice.
As the others walked off to begin to put away their things and find their rooms, Alistair walked towards Bridget and stood behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders as she turned towards him, her eyes glistening slightly.
"I need you with me Alistair, when I face him. I…I can't do it without you."
Alistair nodded and kissed her deeply. He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.
"I wouldn't be anywhere else than by your side."
Bridget licked her lips and rested her head against his chest as Alistair pulled her into a tight hug. She didn't know when she would face Howe but knew that it would be soon. In fact…it would be sooner than she thought.
A/N: Whew! I'm so sorry for the delayed update. I've had hardly no time at all to write as my second semester of school is starting soon and I've been trying to get things sorted out for that. Why does college have to be so expensive! WHY! Anyways, I really, really hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Stay tuned, things are going to get pretty heavy coming up! As always thank you so much for reading (and I'll try my hardest to get the next chapter out quicker!) :)
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The Last of the Couslands