The Last of the Couslands | By : MistressofMagic Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4401 -:- 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. |
Chapter 53
The Landsmeet Bridget drew her brows together and opened her eyes slowly. It was very early in the morning, she guessed, for the room was still fairly dark. She rolled over and smiled, only to have it fade from her face. Alistair wasn't lying next to her. Bridget sat up. Alistair wasn't even in the room. Furrowing her brow, she pulled back the blankets she was under and grabbed her nightshift from the floor. She threw it on and noticed a piece of paper on the nightstand. Bridget picked it up and squinted in the dimly lit room to read it. It was definitely Alistair's penmanship, she could tell from the horrible scrawl. It read: Went to breakfast early. You should head back to your room and prepare. The Landsmeet is only a few hours from now. Bridget frowned at the absence of any terms of endearment, but realized that Alistair was probably just nervous. She placed the paper back on the end table and exited the room, shutting the door gently behind her. "Ah, good morning my lovely Bridget." Bridget turned to see Zevran leaning up against the nearby wall, a large smile on his face. Bridget raised her eyebrows. "What's got you so happy this morning?" she asked. Zevran bowed his head. "Oh nothing, I just have a wonderful feeling about today. I think everything will go quite well, especially after seeing you trying to sneak away back to your own room." Bridget, not sure why her being in Alistair's room was any surprise to anyone, nodded slowly and walked down the hall and back to her own room. She washed up quickly and took the time to polish her armor and sharpen her sword. Once that was finished, Bridget slipped into her leggings and tunic before pulling her armor on. She also cleaned her father's shield…making the Cousland emblem shine. Bridget strapped her shield to her back and sheathed her sword. She took one last look at herself in the mirror. She was nervous to her core…afraid of what Loghain would do…but had confidence in her plan. Loghain would go down, probably not without a fight, but Bridget was ready for it. Zeus trotted up to her and nudged her hand with his head. She looked down at him and scratched his ears. "I'll be back soon, boy. Then we'll play fetch!" she exclaimed. Zeus's nub of a tail wagged back and forth and he barked in compliance. Bridget took a deep breath and exited her room, making her way down the corridor and towards the main hall. Most of everyone else was already present. Morrigan sat near the window, reading over Flemeth's grimoire and looking positively enraptured by the text. Oghren stood in front of the blazing fireplace, warning his hands. Bridget noticed he looked around for a second before pulling out his flask and taking a good swig of his "special ale". Wynne was chatting with Leliana near the entrance to the kitchen and Zevran strolled in, sinking his teeth into an apple. Bridget noted that Alistair was not present, or Eamon for that matter. It was then she heard muffled shouts from somewhere upstairs. Bridget furrowed her brow. What on earth could those two possibly be fighting about now? As much as she didn't want to believe that Alistair had lied to her the night before…something told Bridget that he hadn't been truthful when he said that her past relations with Gilmore was the cause of his unhappiness. Bridget felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Teagan standing behind her. He gave her a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "My lady, may I speak with you in private?" Bridget nodded and followed Teagan into the nearby room. Once inside, Teagan shut the door behind him and turned to her. "Is everything alright, Teagan?" Bridget asked slowly. Teagan didn't look well at all. Not only where there the telltale bags of sleeplessness under his eyes, he looked very strained, and Bridget thought she saw a few grey hairs in the midst of his copper tresses. Teagan sighed and motioned to the nearby loveseat. "Please, sit." He stated. Bridget, still curious as to what could be wrong, did so and Teagan sat next to her. "How are you feeling?" he asked after a brief moment of silence. Bridget looked at him. "Forgive me Teagan, but I think it is safe for me to say that I am in a better state than you." She replied. Teagan chuckled a moment before becoming serious again. Bridget sighed. "I am nervous…but I believe we have a solid argument against Loghain. If all else fails, surely the nobles will object to his involvement with the elf slave trade." Teagan nodded. "Yes, I believe you are right about that…but given that Loghain is a decorated war hero…my lady he will not go down without a fight." Teagan said warily. Bridget looked at him. "I thought the same. I am prepared to fight him, and his allies, Teagan. I will not underestimate him, but I have fought far worse things than a bloodthirsty, power hungry man." Teagan nodded, knowing full well the troubles she had seen. He looked into her crystal blue eyes and sighed. He could keep quiet no longer, someone had to tell her what was going to happen today…that way she would not be completely blindsided. Teagan was sure Eamon had persuaded Alistair to become king…and Teagan also had an inkling that Eamon had also managed to change Alistair's heart as well. Alistair was young…and because of his Chantry upbringing, he was still very naïve…and Teagan knew his conscious was most likely a weak one. "Are you alright, Teagan? You've gone deathly pale…" Bridget said softly. Teagan swallowed and blinked. He looked back at Bridget and sighed. "My lady…there is something that you must know before we leave here for the Landsmeet." Bridget furrowed her brow. "What is it, Teagan?" Teagan licked his lips and stood. He crossed the room and stood in front of the window, looking out at the streets of Denerim, noting that the nobles where already on their way to the Royal Palace. "I am sure you know Eamon has been trying to convince Alistair to become king, if we are able to defeat Loghain." He stated. Bridget nodded, an odd feeling creeping into her stomach. Teagan turned to look at her, and Bridget noted the pained expression on his face. "There is something that you have not been told…and I cannot let you go into the Landsmeet without knowing what may happen. My conscious cannot bear it." Teagan crossed the room again and knelt before Bridget, taking her hands into his. Bridget stared into his eyes and saw the worry and pain mixed in his hazel orbs. "My lady…if Alistair does become king…he can-" Before Teagan could finish his sentence, the door to the library swung open, and Eamon stood, scowling at the opening. "Teagan…may I speak with you…alone?" he asked. Teagan frowned at his brother and stood, releasing Bridget's hands. Bridget shook her head. "Eamon, please Teagan was just about to," Eamon turned his cold gaze onto Bridget. "I must speak with him now and I need you to leave us." He stated coldly. Bridget narrowed her eyes at him. Truthfully, she had lost her patience with this man a long time ago…but kept her temper in check because, after all, he was an Arl and he was allowing her and her friends to stay in his estate. She sighed loudly and walked out briskly; making sure to let him know with her body language that he had just ticked her off. Bridget walked back into the main hall to see Alistair…although he too did not look like his usual self. Dark circles were present under his eyes as well, and he looked at war with himself again. Bridget approached him and reached for his hand…but Alistair pulled away before she could hold it. "We should be heading to the Palace soon." Bridget raised her eyebrows at the tone of his voice. Alistair didn't even sound like Alistair anymore. His usual perky and cheery tone had vanished, only to be replaced with a cold and miserable drawl. Before Bridget could ask him what was wrong, Eamon and Teagan emerged from the library. Teagan looked furious, his face red with frustration, and Eamon had an icy glare for everyone. "It's time we went to the Palace. Bridget, round up who you wish to bring with you. Only take the best of your fighters, and leave the apostate here…"While AFF and its agents attempt to remove all illegal works from the site as quickly and thoroughly as possible, there is always the possibility that some submissions may be overlooked or dismissed in error. The AFF system includes a rigorous and complex abuse control system in order to prevent improper use of the AFF service, and we hope that its deployment indicates a good-faith effort to eliminate any illegal material on the site in a fair and unbiased manner. 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