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[Xandurpein]

This is an Alternate Universe story of Michael cousland and Anora MacTir. After the Landsmeet Anora relents and, although reluctantly, swear fealty to King Alistair, who lets her retain the title Teyrna of Gwaren. Michael Cousland is not a Grey Warden, but nevertheless manages to survive the Massacre of the Coulsnads, by running away to join the Royal Army. He survives Ostagar, and begins to fight his own personal Robin Hood style war against Loghain in Gwaren. Not knowing that Loghain is dead, Michael Cousland now prepares to abduct, what he still thinks is the Queen, Anora, to strike a blow against the tyrant.

This story grew out of a friendly collaboration with Sylvanarie. I let one of her main character's, Neria, have a cameo in my strory "Queen of Thorns," while she let my main character in that story have a cameo in her stories "Theshold" and "Crossing Over". I was intrigued by the setting she had written for Michael Cousland. He is a very different person here, still carefree and unmarked by the horrors and the decisions of a Grey Warden, while Anora does not hold the power she does as queen.

I am much indebted to Sylvanaire for helping me develope the characters in this story and to LadyDamodred for story developement and proof reading.

This story is rated (M) mature for explicit sexual content.

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Chapter 1-11 are now up on ff.net: www.fanfiction.net/s/6262053/1/The_Rebel_and_the_Queen

Modifié par Xandurpein, 11 octobre 2010 - 06:02 .

[sylvanaerie]

YES!!! Rogue Michael is at last in PRINT! *Rushes off to read*

[Xandurpein]

Chapter 3 is now up.

[Costin_Razvan]

So...is Michael going to overthrow Alistair or what?

[Xandurpein]

Chapter 4 is now up on ff.net

[Xandurpein]

Chapter 5 is up on ff.net



@Costin. If this incarnation of Michale Cousland steals the crown from Alistair, that's just what he'd do, steal the crown, he doesn't really dabble too much in politics.

[Costin_Razvan]

If this incarnation of Michale Cousland steals the crown from Alistair, that's just what he'd do, steal the crown, he doesn't really dabble too much in politics.

I see, though I find it curios that he would not know about Loghain dying. Since they hiding in the woods news would probably be very rare, but how come they found out Anora was in Gwaren and not that Alistair was crowned?

[LadyDamodred]

I think it's sort of like those rumors you hear in game, where some things are true and others aren't and some info doesn't travel at all. I'd put it down to a quickly overheard rumor that they decided to take a chance on.

[Xandurpein]

Costin_Razvan wrote...

If this incarnation of Michale Cousland steals the crown from Alistair, that's just what he'd do, steal the crown, he doesn't really dabble too much in politics.

I see, though I find it curios that he would not know about Loghain dying. Since they hiding in the woods news would probably be very rare, but how come they found out Anora was in Gwaren and not that Alistair was crowned?

He hears rumors when Anora and her escort travels along the Brecilian passage, where Michael and his men preys on caravans. Her escort is too strong for Michael to ambush it, but his scouts report that Anora is with them.

[Sarah1281]

I'm not really sure what Michael's ideal outcome is. Say Anora was still the Queen and Loghain and Howe were still around. Would he insist on Howe being killed or Anora would be? What would stop Loghain or even Anora from taking Highever back from him once she was free? Did he expect that Loghain would also surrender the regency because she'd been kidnapped? Was he just that desperate?

[Xandurpein]

Sarah1281 wrote...

I'm not really sure what Michael's ideal outcome is. Say Anora was still the Queen and Loghain and Howe were still around. Would he insist on Howe being killed or Anora would be? What would stop Loghain or even Anora from taking Highever back from him once she was free? Did he expect that Loghain would also surrender the regency because she'd been kidnapped? Was he just that desperate?

Michael never thought much farther than being able to capture someone he figures is a leader among the enemy. He doesn't know Anora has fallen out with Loghain, and he thinks that just by holding Anora hostage he will weaken Loghain's position. He hasn't really thought what concession he can ask for her release. It must be said that this incarnation of Michael is more reckless and he kidnaps Anora as much for the adventure and the dare as to achieve an easily identifiable political goal.

How he deals with the fact that Anora is now formally Alistair's loyal subject remains to be seen in he upcoming chapters.

[Costin_Razvan]

"Snorts" Anora's loyalty to Alistair could be counted just as much as Howe could be counted on by the Couslands, which isn't saying much.

[Xandurpein]

To be honest. I only used the political situation as a stage. The real story is a piece of swashbuckling erotic fiction, with no pretense to be correct in every detail. I think I have managed to keep things largely within character, but of course things are written a bit "tongue in cheek". Do not expect this story to adhere to my vision of a political future of Ferelden the way "Queen of Thorns" did, that's a completely different story.

Since I may have only glanced at the background for this AU story. Here is a short rundown of events prior to the actual story.  Michael Cousland is not a Grey Warden, but still survives the Massacre of the Couslands. He ends up engaging in his own version of guerilla war, Robin Hood style, around the Brecilina passage. Hitting Loghain's supply columns from Gwaren. He has very limited acess to information of the outside world. Anora looses the Landsmeet, but after a week in the dungeon, grudgingly accepts Alistair's offer of pardon if she swear fealty to him. She gets to retain the title Teyrna of Gwaren as consolation. Anora stilll feels humiliated and leaves Denerim immediately.

I'm assuming that Alistair and the Grey Warden stay for at least a week or two in Denerim to organize things before setting out with the army to Redcliff. This means that when Anora reaches Gwaren, Alistair and the Grey Warden are still left in Denerim, preparing to march to Redcliff. Michael Cousland get's reports that Anora and the remnants of her father's army pass through the Brecilian Passage, but doesn't know she is no longer Queen or that Loghain is dead. So he plans to abduct her. since events during the story takes place roughly at the same time as the Grey Warden is in Redcliff and then march to Denerim, Michael still have no knowledge about Fergus Cousland's fate. Even if Arl Howe is dead, his men still hold Highever.

Please also remember that this Michael is capable of lying through his teeth about politics to further his ambition. That will be important later on.

If anyone wants to know more about Alistair and the Warden in this story, then I refer you to Sylvanaire's excellent fics "Threshold" and "Crossing Over", as this takes place in the same setting.

@Costin. Personally I don't think Anora would have any real loyalty to to Alistair in this scenario, but Anora is a realist and knows that she probably had her shot and now the chance is gone, once Alistair becomes king. I think she simply has no power base to challenge him. Ferelden is too war weary. The country will hail whoever becomes monarch after the Landsmeet and not want to hear anything more about renewed conflict for the throne. Anora will be smart enough to realize this and bite the bullet, however much it may gall her.

Modifié par Xandurpein, 03 septembre 2010 - 07:02 .

[sylvanaerie]

@Costin

Considering there is no epilogue card saying "Anora launched revolts after Alistair is made king" I'm going to assume the woman either was executed by Alistair (Not likely) or saw the wisdom in swearing fealty to his rule once she had a chance to cool down. For the purposes of the events in my story (and Xan's I am assuming she accepts, however grudgingly) that this is how things are.

She may be ambitious but she isn't stupid. I think no matter how much she loves that throne, she won't drag Ferelden into another senseless civil war. I believe she really DOES care about her homeland at least that much.

[Costin_Razvan]

Not likely? Tell that to hardened Alistair please.



There is also a third option: Life imprisonment.

[maxernst]

Costin_Razvan wrote...

Not likely? Tell that to hardened Alistair please.

There is also a third option: Life imprisonment.

There is, but life imprisonment might make her more potentially dangerous to Alistair.  As long as she refuses to swear fealty to him, she's a symbol around which a rebellion could crystallize.  I don't have any difficulty imagining Alistair and Anora making the choices they do in the story.

As to whether it's a good choice for Alistair, that's uncertain.  My personal feeling is that as long as Alistair's reign goes reasonably smoothly and he doesn't rile up powerful nobles too much, it's not likely that Anora could mass enough support to threaten him and she's savvy enough to realize it.  She won't try to foment a rebellion against him unless she thinks she can win.  Historically, I don't think it was that uncommon for the children of defeated enemies to be allowed to retain some titles.  Sometimes it worked out.  Sometimes it didn't.

[Xandurpein]

I've been neglecting to update here. I've posted all the way to chapter 9 now.

www.fanfiction.net/s/6262053/1/The_Rebel_and_the_Queen

[Xandurpein]

Chapter 10 is now up on fanfiction.net. Enjoy!

[Xandurpein]

Chapter 11 is now up on fanfiction.net. Readers be advised: chapter 11 contains explicit sexual content. Avoid it if that isn't your cup of tea.

[Xandurpein]

Chapter 12 is now up on fanfiction.net. Enjoy!

[Xandurpein]

Chapter 13 and 14 up on fanfiction.net now.