As always, my adoration and heartfelt thanks to my betas: Erynnar, VioletTheirin, MireliAmbar and Piceron for their assistance in keeping me on track. You ladies are the best! Please check out their own works, too numerous to list her, as they are truly exceptional authors in their own right.
Bioware owns it all ... I am simply rearranging it as I see fit ...
ALISTAIR
Alistair stood near the window in his study, leaning his large, muscular frame against the wall until the muted early winter sun lit the page in his hands. The message was not long, but contained more information in what it did not say than in what it did. The king lowered the parchment to stare out the paned frame in front of him.
Your Majesty,
Alas, as of yet I still can bring you no specific news to the whereabouts of the individual that you and Teyrn Cousland seek. I know that this person made a stop elsewhere early on and before moving on, but I am not privileged to this information.
For now, suffice it to say that winter has arrived and I find myself welcomed with great enthusiasm at the village of Haven. Such a contrast to the last time we visited, you and I and our mutual friend, yes? Tremendous changes have been made and you would hardly recognize it for the same place today.
I shall stay here for as long as is necessary, which may be the entire winter season, possibly longer. The weather here, as we discovered on our previous visit, is at best inclement, particularly during these next few months.
Should the conditions change, or I receive specific word towards the goal we seek, I shall write you again. In the meantime, my dear friend,
Maker be with you ...
Leliana
Reading the missive again did nothing to change his opinion of the matter. He was certain she would have written to Fergus as well. But what of Teagan? Alistair thought on this for a moment. Smiling to himself, he made what he would later refer to as an executive decision. Rising to his full height, he turned and exited the room, striding down the halls of the palace with such speed that he almost ran over a servant as he rounded the corner. After assisting the elven lass to her feet once more and apologizing for his ill-mannered behavior, Alistair continued on.
In moments, he was entering the office that Eamon occupied as chancellor. Inside, he found Eamon leaning over a table with another of the many governmental officials who worked at the palace. Both men turned to face him as he entered the room, bowing respectfully as he came to a stop before them. He was about to tell them to desist when he caught a reproachful glance from Eamon. Swallowing what he had been about to say, Alistair turned his focus onto Eamon exclusively. "I will be taking a trip to Redcliffe on the morrow, Eamon," he announced, deciding from the outset to be more decisive in his attitude. He hoped that this might dissuade Eamon from protesting.
It did not.
"But, your Majesty," the elder man argued, "the weather conditions are hardly appropriate for long distance travel at this time."
Alistair snorted. "Eamon, if I let a little weather stop me from traveling, we never would have defeated the archdemon," he countered. "This will be an informal visit, and we will travel by horse, if that will satisfy you?" He waited for Eamon's nod, though it pained him to make the suggestion. The last time he'd been on a horse he'd nearly been thrown.
Eamon seemed taken aback by Alistair's take-charge attitude, and it took a moment before Alistair saw him start to protest again. Raising his hand, the king cut off his words. "Eamon, I need a break, let's face it. You can keep a handle on what's going on here. I feel the need for ... open skies and country air." He could see that Eamon sensed there was more, but the man wisely kept his mouth shut.
"Yes, your majesty," he replied. "May I at least request you take a contingent of guards with you for your own safety?"
Alistair swallowed his amusement. To keep me on my horse you mean? he thought. "Of course," he replied. "If you could arrange this for an early departure in the morning then?" Eamon nodded. "Good." Turning then, Alistair left the room so that he could not give Eamon another opportunity to organize his protests. Instead, he headed towards his apartments, determined to pack his own gear as he used to do ... once upon a time.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As their group rode into the castle courtyard, Alistair was more than happy to dismount his steed. He patted the animal's flanks gently as he reached to unstrap his pack, but was soon nudged aside by one of his guardsmen who had appointed himself as the king's personal aide on this trip. Sighing in frustration, Alistair rounded the animal and began walking up the steps towards the keep. He had almost reached the door when he heard a whine from behind him.
Turning, Alistair found Cadogan, Lysette's mabari warhound who had been left behind when she departed the palace so many months before. The poor animal had been upset at first, though as soon as Alistair had fed him, he seemed contented enough to remain with him. He had interacted with Fergus some as well, but wound up happy enough to remain at the palace. Alistair had brought him along on this trip in the hopes that a resolution satisfactory to all parties would be found, which included the lonely hound. Using a gesture that Lysette had taught Alistair and their companions to signal the dog to come, the king was able to enter the castle proper with the beast by his side.
Alistair led the way into the main hall. Dressed as he was in his armor, it took a moment before the staff realized that the King of Ferelden had arrived in their midst. He approached the hearth, removing gauntlets and loosening the buckles of his armor to be more comfortable, and stepped towards the giant hearth complete with raging fire. Signaling Cadogan to stay, he moved to set his things on the nearby table. He was just removing his chestplate when he heard a voice behind him. "Your Majesty!" Teagan's voice boomed in surprise as he hurried into the room and moved closer. "You should have sent a messenger ahead so we would have been able to greet you properly!"
Alistair chuckled as he lifted the chestplate over his head. Setting the piece aside, he greeted the man with the forearm clasp so common among the soldiering class. "Teagan, it is good to see you again."
Teagan grinned. "And you, your -"
Alistair frowned. "If you call me that one more time, I shall start referring to you as 'Uncle!'" he declared officiously.
Alistair watched as the man who had been uncle to his older half-brother shuddered visibly at the thought. "Maker's breath, no!" he gasped, horrified at the thought. "I don't want to have to defend myself to the Landsmeet against claims of regicide, justifiable as it may be!"
In the act of removing the remainder of his armor, Alistair straightened and laughed as he smoothed out his simple tunic and leggings that he had worn beneath. "Yes," he agreed with a smirk, "I can see your point!" Teagan gestured for him to follow then, and Alistair retrieved his armor and light pack before doing so. He followed his friend to a room that Teagan offered for lodgings during his stay. Alistair nodded in approval and set his armor upon his bed, knowing that one of his men would take it and clean it up after delivering the light baggage he had brought with him.
"Alistair," Teagan began while the king stretched to ease the stiffness in his limbs, "I have to ask: what is the reason for your visit? This is so ... sudden and unexpected. Is there trouble in Denerim?"
Alistair straightened then and reached for his pack. Retrieving the letter, he gestured for Teagan to lead the way out. "I believe you will want some privacy for this," he said softly as the older man led him back downstairs to the main floor. They turned right then and headed towards the study.Teagan closed the door behind them before Alistair turned and handed the parchment to his friend. As he watched Teagan read the document, he said, "I don't know if you are aware, but Fergus hired Leliana to assist with finding Lysette.
"Teagan shook his head. "I knew nothing of this," he breathed, reading the message a second time, "though given our last conversation together I suspected something of the like."
"Teagan," Alistair told him, stepping towards the man now, "The message is more than the mere words written there." He watched Teagan raise his head. "I think she has found Lys."
Teagan frowned and glanced down at the message once more. "At this ... Haven?" he queried. "How can you tell? Her letter is so ... vague."
Alistair nodded. "First of all, I traveled with her for almost two years: I know how she operates. Second, it makes sense," he explained. "Haven is a Chantry site now, undergoing refitting and restoration, as well as archaeological exploration. Brother Genitivi is running this expedition. I have no doubt that Lys would remember the man, and his ambitions, and seek him out for shelter and aid ... perhaps in return for assistance?"
Alistair watched the emotions that flitted across the man's chiseled features. When he saw the hope that sprung into his eyes, Alistair knew that he had him. "I think it is safe to say she is there, Teagan, and from the looks of things she plans to stay at least through the winter. Leliana would not have been so evasive in her letter if she had not found her in person."
"I've never even heard of this ... Haven," Teagan murmured.
Alistair chuckled. Gesturing his friend over to a nearby chair, he began, "Let me tell you a story about a group of fanatical cultists who thought Andraste was reincarnated as a dragon ..."
Modifié par ladyames, 27 juillet 2010 - 12:19 .





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