438 réponses à ce sujet

[Sarah1281]

At least while he's obsessing about Elissa he's not planning to sell his country back to the Orlesians via Celene?

[alschemid]

I guess we still have four years before those letters from/to Celene, no?

Nice chapter Addai! oh... who am I kidding all the chapters are great!

[Addai]

Next chapters will advance the timeline a bit.

[Esbatty]

Addai67 wrote...

Next chapters will advance the timeline a bit.

Ooh, excellent.

...

♪LET'S DO THE TIMEWARP AGAIN!♫

[Addai]

Esbatty, I have been snickering over your Anora-Erlina conversation for days. Drat you!

[Siduri]

I approve of Ellie for breastfeeding and co-sleeping! Strange how the old-fashioned ways have become modern again



Still enjoying this, thanks for continuing with it!

[Addai]

Heh, well as I see the Couslands, they are a pretty progressive lot. Mostly the baby sleeps on his own and my understanding that is the medieval custom, since a lot of infant mortality in the Middle Ages was from babies falling into the fire.   Nursing him herself is a pretty big departure for a noble lady, however. One more way she makes a good match for Loghain, she has some commoner instincts.

Oh, and thank you!!  I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Modifié par Addai67, 29 novembre 2010 - 09:23 .

[Esbatty]

Addai67 wrote...

Esbatty, I have been snickering over your Anora-Erlina conversation for days. Drat you!

Glad you two are enjoying that little ditty. I couldn't help myself. I honestly get a feeling Erlina is Anora's "bagman" or "cleaner", constantly cleaning up or doing backroom deals to resolve royal messes. And thats gotta have some kinda comedy gold.

[Addai]

Chapter 16

Satinalia Eve, 9:27 Dragon Age.

The infiltrator crept into Loghain's office, intent towards his desk. Surely he would find endless objects of fascination in a place where the teyrn spent so much time. By the time he reached it, however, it was plain that there was a problem. Even on tiptoes his nose was the only thing that could reach above it. An alternate plan was required. Going to the seat opposite, he pulled himself up into it, then turned around and flopped back, looking very satisfied with himself.

Ellie stood in the doorway, exchanging amused looks with her husband as she watched Gareth creep over to the desk and then settle into the chair like a visiting dignitary.

Loghain feigned surprise at seeing him. "Well, who do we have here? A visitor. And I was just thinking that I had had enough of work today."

Gareth let out a mischievous giggle, as though he and his father had worked on this plan together. The one and a half year-old still had the thick, silky dark hair he had been born with, wavy like his mother's, but his eyes had turned a snapping dark brown, one shade darker than Ellie's own. His dimpled smile also favored his mother. Still, his nose and many of his facial expressions were a picture of his father and he was often referred to around the palace as "the little teyrn." Dressed as he was in a white cuffed shirt, dark blue doublet and trousers and small leather boots, he looked the part. No one talked about Gareth being a royal bastard any longer.

"You're still free to watch him?" Ellie asked, stepping over to Loghain's desk and leaning down to give him a quick kiss. She had her archery gear in tow.

"I am sure we will manage. Go slay your beasts." On her way out, she heard Loghain get up from his desk and announce, "Now then, Lieutenant Gareth, how about a whiskey?"

"Loghain!" Ellie whirled back around.

He raised his brows again and addressed Gareth regretfully. "It seems whiskey is out of the question." The little boy giggled, wise to the gist of this game if not its particulars. "Well then, we shall have to plot with dry whistles. Come, my boy. Let us see what country you feel like taking over today." Scooping his son up in his arms, Loghain stepped over to his large wall map. This was a game father and son played often. Loghain would ask what country he wished to invade, Gareth would point at one, and then they would scheme how to go about it. The independence of all Thedas was sorely in jeopardy. Ellie listened to the banter a moment, their son babbling in between Loghain's earnest replies, then slipped out with a grin on her face.

She was on her second set at the outdoor range when Anora approached. The queen stood off at a distance watching a few moments before she came closer.

"Anora. Good afternoon." Ellie lowered her bow.

Anora waved at her to continue shooting. "Don't let me keep you from your practice, Elissa. I wanted to speak with you in private, and as you know, there is no place inside the palace that is truly private."

"Nor outside, either, but I take your meaning." She lifted the bow again and drew. A moment later the arrow joined the others on the target, a little off the mark.

Anora watched her shoot a few more, then stepped closer and gestured toward her archery gloves. "A wyvern surrounded by a laurel wreath. Interesting."

"They were a bride gift from your father." Ellie reached for another arrow.

"Were they indeed?" Anora sounded surprised. She herself had picked out a shawl as Ellie's bride gift, and apparently it was news to her that Loghain had added to it. After a pause, she continued on, "You seem to have found quite a place in my father's affections, almost from the beginning."

Stopping mid-draw, Ellie glanced sidelong. There was a wistful air in the other woman's voice. She knew that Anora and Loghain had a difficult relationship, and guessed that it was because they were so alike. She and her own father had much the same dynamic, though they seemed to have gotten past it in a way that the queen and Loghain had not. Though Ellie had always kept her distance from Anora, she decided to venture a little. "Anora, Loghain loves you a great deal. And he has a high regard for you. The only reason he married me was to protect you."

"You do not need to remind me." The opening Ellie had glimpsed in the other woman closed, and Anora's cool demeanor set the distance between them again. "In any case, I did not come here to talk about Father."

"About what then? I am at your disposal."

"About Cailan."

Ellie drew a breath, and her own defenses flew up. The king had assumed a more normal, even cheerful, demeanor around her, and not made any more advances. There were even rumors he had moved on to other women. Nevertheless Ellie remained nervous on the subject. Cautiously she prompted, "Go on."

"I would like to know if you and Cailan have ever been intimate again since you came to Denerim."

Reddening, Ellie turned to face Anora squarely. "You know that isn't the case. You have eyes and ears everywhere in the palace, in all Denerim, Anora, so you know very well that I am not seeing Cailan or any other man."

The queen nodded. "I was fairly certain nothing like that had occurred, at least not recently. What I would like to know is..." She stopped and took a breath. "Is it in the realm of possibility that you would renew those intimacies with him again?"

Ellie looked at her uncomprehendingly. "Are you asking me if I still have feelings for Cailan?"

"I suppose. More specifically, I am asking if you would be willing to act on them. If you would be willing to become his mistress again. I have only two conditions."

The bow dropped and Ellie uttered a small, disbelieving laugh. About to demand what sort of joke the queen was playing, she paused and instead asked, "Out of curiosity, what are your 'conditions'?"

Anora stirred hopefully. "So you'll do it, then? My conditions are that first that you be discreet, that you not embarrass me. Secondly that you take precautions not to conceive another child. These are reasonable, I think, and you must understand why they are necessary."

Ellie shook her head and turned her eyes up to the few clouds that hung above in the warm autumn sun. It would not have been a surprise to see that the world had inverted and that the earth had changed places with the sky. She closed her eyes briefly to master her response, then turned back to the queen. "I would like to know why you think I would ever do such a thing, Anora. In fact, I think you had better explain yourself right now. Is this some kind of terribly poor joke? Or some trick?"

There was a note of desperation in the queen's voice. "It's not a trick. I want Cailan to be happy, Elissa. If he is going to take up with other women, I would rather know where he is and with whom. I believe that if he had you, he might be content and leave the others." She reached out to grasp Ellie's arm. "I would not ask you if I could think of another way. Do you think this is easy for me? If you are worried about Father, let me talk to him. He'll agree to it."

Ellie's face burned. "I'm sure he would, if I asked him. I am not going to do that."

"I see." Anora was tight-lipped, and for all the color in Ellie's face, the queen's had drained of it. "That is a final answer, then?"

"Quite final." Anora hesitated. It was plain she was searching for some other lever she might use, but since there were none, she turned to leave with a curt farewell. Ellie looked after her and spoke up again, softening her tone. "Anora, a word of advice. Cailan needs to feel that he has the upper hand. If nowhere else, then at least make him believe that he has it in your bed."

The queen stiffened visibly and said nothing. A moment later, the clip of her shoes made a quick report on the stone path leading back to the palace.

On the following evening there would be a ball in the palace as there were on all the annum feasts. Before the ball, Cailan and Anora hosted a dinner for their inner circle. The Couslands had also come to Denerim for Satinalia and were invited to the dinner. As the guests loitered, waiting for the king and queen to arrive, Gareth was passed off to his grandfather, and Ellie found Fergus.

"You are looking very dapper, little brother." Her smile was teasing as she straightened the brooch at the young man's neck, but it was true. The younger Cousland did look well, both taller and broader in shoulder than Ellie remembered seeing him before. Her father had mentioned that Fergus had stepped up his martial training, and it showed.

He pulled a face. "You aren't going to start in, too, are you?"

"Mother dropping hints about marriage already?"

"A 'hint' is usually something subtle, isn't it? Mother's hints are about as subtle as a shield in the face." Fergus took a belt of his wine and looked around the room as though prospective brides might jump out of the centerpiece to attack him. If he had seen Eleanor standing with a group of ladies and looking in his direction, he'd have recognized where the real danger lay.

Ellie decided not to point that out. "Now that I have had a child, she has to move on to the next thing. Besides, you are the heir of Highever now."

Fergus let out a little groan. "Don't remind me. You're lucky you got out of that one." He glanced around slyly again. "There are a few pretty ones here, too, but I'm afraid if I talk to them I'll turn around and find Mother drawing up the marriage papers."

Following his glances, Ellie brightened and tugged on his arm. "Let me do the introducing for you then."

By dinnertime, Fergus had garnered enough attention to please even Eleanor. His greatest coup came when his little nephew, tired of being passed around between the women, insisted on sitting on Uncle's lap for the remainder of dinner. Gareth and Fergus were great friends, and the sight of the Cousland heir entertaining a little boy set off coos and sighs all along the table.

For Ellie it was always a relief to have her family in Denerim. Compared to Highever, the scrutiny of Denerim society was vicious. Some of the noblewomen she had considered her friends before her marriage had shown different colors afterward. Loghain's enemies had also become hers. It made Ellie cautious. She was friendly with everyone, but rarely did she reveal herself beyond niceties. When Bryce and Eleanor and Fergus were nearby, however, she could feel that it was like old times and that she was safe, even if the illusion was fragile. She tried hard not to notice the coldness between her father and husband.

After dinner, Ellie and Loghain took Gareth back to the residence to leave him with Anya, then returned to the palace for the Satinalia masque. Masked balls were an Orlesian fashion, and for that reason most of the Fereldan nobility were wild for them. Despite what the country had suffered, there was an envy of Orlais that made everything from its high society an object of fascination. In Maric's reign, the best parties had been in the country estates just outside Denerim, but Cailan and Anora had made the palace the place to be on such occasions.

Loghain would have preferred not to attend at all, however for the sake of appearances he went along. He steadfastly refused a mask. Ellie enjoyed the spectacle and the chance to dress up. She could enjoy it all the more for the fact that Cailan never approached her for a dance any longer, though he did dance with other women.

One woman leaned in as they were talking, and gestured to where the king was dancing with a wealthy merchant's daughter. "Very like his father, don't you think? So charming."

"I recall that Maric didn't dance at such affairs," Ellie answered.

The other woman looked surprised. "Did he not? You know, you're right. I had forgotten. Ah well, lucky for us then!"

Ellie could only return a wan smile at that. The music changed, and after bowing to his partner, Cailan turned and returned to the dais and made a show of begging Anora to dance. There was cheering and clapping when she agreed and the pair returned to the floor. The people loved this mask the best, that of the loving king and queen. For all their devotion to Maric, the nobility had put him aside just as they had put memories of the occupation aside. They had young, energetic monarchs now, a bright future, and endless amusements to distract them. In the midst of it, Loghain stood mostly off to the side, talking with people here and there, and dancing with Ellie on one of the slower dances. He did not stand beside the royal chair as he once had, and without Maric seemed more out of place in the rowdy hall than ever.

Ellie soon tired of the affair, as well. Fergus was well installed with other young nobles of his age, though Bryce and Eleanor kept him under a close eye. Ellie danced her last with Bryce, then with the party getting so raucous that the noise of it echoed off the ceiling rafters, she and Loghain retired early. They looked in on Gareth sleeping before going to Loghain's chambers. Still clothed in their finery, they slowly made love, and the echoes of the ball in the distance became merely a backdrop for the murmur of silk and the quiet sounds of their bodies moving together.

Late that night, they were woken by pounding on the bedchamber door. Loghain disentangled himself from Ellie and rose to answer it. When he returned, he was already changing clothes. "I have to go out for a while," he told her quietly. "Go back to sleep." In the few moments while he hastily dressed, he would not answer any other questions.

It was near dawn when Loghain returned. He would have waved off her questions again, but when she insisted, finally he came and sat on the bed. Head bowed, he explained, "The royal guard called me. They wanted help managing a certain situation."

"Cailan. What is it? What's happened?"

Loghain had sounded weary, but his voice took on an edge of bitterness. "That damn little whelp wasn't content debauching in the palace. We found him passed out in a brothel and had to bodily carry him home. Apparently he had rented out the entire place and brought a slew of his favorites along with him, both men and women, for a little orgy at the crown's expense." He fell silent, but Ellie could see Loghain's fists clenching. "Every advantage his entire life, and this is what that Maker-damned wastrel does to my daughter. I swear, Ellie, if he weren't Maric's son..."

"He is the king."

Loghain uttered a bitter little snort and rose, pacing. "I'm just glad Maric isn't alive to see this. It would cut him up. I don't know what to do, Ellie." He ran a hand across his hair, and she recognized that there was guilt alongside his anger and disappointment. Reaching out for his hand, she caught it and clasped it.

"You can't help it that he's so unlike Maric."

Loghain shot her a strange look. "That's just it. Maric wouldn't be upset because Cailan isn't like him, but because he has his faults. Maric once sulked for a week, drunk as a pickled plum, because he thought Arl Rendorn wasn't taking him seriously enough. With women, well, let us just say he was not always the wisest. He would always snap out of it eventually, though. I am afraid that Cailan won't and that this is only the beginning. Just when I think he is starting to show signs he knows how to be a king, he pulls something like this."

"Come back to bed. You're exhausted."

He paced a while longer, but eventually complied and returned to their bed. When Ellie drifted back to sleep towards dawn, Loghain's eyes were still open, looking up at the canopy.

Gareth ensured that his parents never overslept whether they would have liked to do so or not. He could be entertained quietly only so long by the staff before Ellie and Loghain would hear singing or talking outside their door, followed eventually by banging. If they delayed the inevitable even further, he would resort to calling for mamma or da-da in tones that moved from plaintive to ever more commanding. On this morning, he had a co-conspirator in Cutha the mabari, who could be heard snuffling and whimpering outside the door. The combination of mabari boy howls would have woken the dead.

The family ate a late breakfast together with Anya. There would be no work in the palace that day, so Loghain retired to his study, and the women took boy and mabari out in the yard to play. Eventually rain drove them inside again. After lunch, Ellie decided to get in some sword practice during Gareth's nap.

Both men and women commented on Ellie's determination to remain active in war arts, and sometimes Loghain even remarked on it. With a young son, it was unlikely that she would ever be called on to fight. Nevertheless it was more important to her than ever to feel that she had some skill that had nothing to do with nappies or tea salons. There was a thrill to the physical exertion and risk that Ellie did not like to be without for more than a few days. Her son was already used to the sight of both his parents in armor and shield. Swords and daggers had to be kept locked out of his way. It was certain that he would also become "little teyrn" in this respect, too.

Most of the guard was off duty and sleeping off Satinalia, but there was one person in the practice hall. "Ser Cauthrien. Dedicated as always."  Ellie strode up to the weapon racks, looking over the practice swords.  Loghain's second turned, startled at her approach, and after a mumbled greeting, excused herself. Ellie spoke up again, disappointed. "No, don't go. Stay. I've been wanting to learn more with the greatsword.  Would you consent to teach me?"

"My lady, I think it not appropriate."

Ellie's brow knit. "Not appropriate? Why ever not?"

Cauthrien looked unwilling to answer. In the several years since Ellie's marriage to Loghain, his closest confederate had kept carefully out of Ellie's way, and had been stiff and overly proper with her, barely mumbling two words. It seemed to Ellie a great shame, since the two women had so much in common. Finally Cauthrien answered, "You are my lord's wife and the mother of his child. You practice too hard, my lady. If something should happen to you, I'll not have it be under my blade."

Ellie was surprised, but after she recovered, she smiled and nodded. "You speak wisely, ser knight. I trust you, but I don't want to put you in an awkward position. I'll content myself with the straw dummies."

The woman lingered, watching Ellie. Finally Cauthrien spoke up again. "If it pleases you, my lady. We will be careful."

"Nothing would please me more," Ellie answered, reaching with relish for a greatsword.

An hour later and dripping with sweat, she put up her practice gear and thanked Cauthrien. The knight remained behind her, continuing to practice, as Ellie left for home. At the base of the great stair, she paused. Trying not to think too much about what she was doing, she ascended and made for the royal quarters. The guard in Cailan's chambers were so compliant in waving her through that Ellie wondered if Anora had given them the order to do so.

Cailan was awake, though barely. He sat slumped over a work table spread with books and papers, his blond hair wet and uncombed. When Ellie entered, he started but did not get up. Sounding dejected, he spoke over his shoulder. "What do you want?"

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

The young face looked grey, and not only because he was unshaven. "Why do you care? Where is Loghain? I expected the attack dog, not the kennel b*tch."

Ignoring the insult, Ellie came closer. "Cailan, what are you doing? What is this?" She crouched down and put a hand on his arm. He flinched at the touch but didn't move or respond. "You are only hurting yourself, can't you see that?"

"Like I hurt myself by getting involved with you. I seem to be good at that." The king glanced at her, pulled himself free and stood.

Standing, Ellie's eyes fell on the books littering the table. There were volumes on history and military tactics, and a scandalous romance that Anya had been mad for. Like his mother, Cailan had always been a reader, though he seemed to have trouble picking just one or finishing. Looking up, she answered, "That is all in the past now. I am here as your friend, Cailan. You have to wake up and see what you're doing. You can be a good king, but only if you master yourself and attend to your duty."

He laughed quietly. "You sound just like Loghain."

"I sound just like my father. And like yours." Ellie noticed a spasm of hurt crossed Cailan's features, and recalled the day shortly after Maric's disappearance that Cailan had come to her in the residence while Loghain was away. He had wanted to sleep with her, but when Ellie refused, he knelt at her feet, put his head in her lap and wept.

She stepped over to him and put a hand on his arm. "I know you miss him. We all do."

Cailan's eyes were bleary as he looked up at her. "I do. And I miss you. You were the only one who ever really listened to me. Not even Father did that. He was always off in a world of his own." The king reached up a hand and brushed a thumb across Ellie's cheek, giving her a tired smile. "We had a lot of fun, didn't we?"

Ellie returned the smile. "We did." It was true, though when he turned and leaned closer, she regretted the admission. She did not pull away, however, not even when Cailan leaned in and began to kiss her. He brought a hand up to touch her hair, and slowly moved to embrace her, trying to deepen the kiss. When Ellie remained unresponsive, however, he broke it, pulling back slightly to look at her. She spoke just above a whisper, but her words were firm. "I love Loghain."

Cailan withdrew a step, expression hardening. Turning to walk a few paces, he stared hard at the window some moments before turning back to her. "You know, Loghain tried to take my mother away. Did he tell you that?"

"He gave her up."

"Not without stealing her love first. I know the whole story. Father wanted me to know it, though I'm not sure why." Cailan's eyes moved towards the portrait of Rowan and Maric on the far wall, but he avoided their solemn gaze as though frightened of it. He then turned back to Ellie. "I keep wondering if this is Loghain's revenge. He couldn't have my mother, so he took you from me."

Tears sprang to Ellie's eyes. "He didn't want to love your mother. He told me the whole story. As for Loghain and I, neither of us expected to love each other, either. It was just a political marriage, you know that. Cailan, can't you be happy for us? Can't you be happy yourself? If not with Anora, then find some mistress who cares for you. No one will deny you that if you are discreet." When he didn't answer, she pressed, "Whatever you do, you have to cut out this whoring and drink. You're not a young prince anymore. Even what you and I did, that wasn't proper, but now you're the king and you have to master whatever this is that is eating at you. This isn't Orlais. The nobles won't put up with this in a king."

Cailan's mouth drew to a tight line and he waved a finger at her. "You forget yourself, Ellie. Loghain is my underling, not the other way around. He's not even my high councillor anymore, in case you've forgotten."

"I haven't forgotten," Ellie answered, her demeanor also turning colder. The previous year, there had been an attempt by some lords of council who were jealous of Loghain's influence over the crown to return him to Gwaren so that they could gain his position next to Cailan's chair. Loghain learned of the plan and he and Anora, after some deliberation, had decided that he should voluntarily give up the title of high councillor and remain only as commanding general of Ferelden's armies. The decision was only a feint however, not a retreat. For a few days, Loghain's enemies rejoiced that they had won a victory. During that time, Cailan began to worry that Loghain and Ellie might actually leave Denerim and retire to a life in their quiet backwater teyrnir. Anora fed him the suggestion that this was likely to happen. Whatever issue he might have with Loghain, he was the Hero of River Dane and the king needed him. Cailan had enjoyed the flattery of the snakes, but when it came down to it, he also didn't want any of them at his side. Anora was named the new chancellor and everything had gone on just as it had before. Everyone knew who could get things done, and they still looked to Loghain or the queen.

At such moments it was not above Cailan to bring up the shuffle, however, as though it had been some coup on his part. "Then you had best remind him of it and remember it yourself. I don't need any lectures from either of you on how to be king, nor from Anora either. None of you would be here without me.

Seeing that her effort had been futile, Ellie made to go, but Cailan wasn't finished. He caught her arm. " And what are you, Elissa, but the daughter of one teyrn and wife of another? You're neither heir of Highever anymore nor of Gwaren either. You have no place at court. That's what marrying Loghain got you, exactly nothing. You know what people do when I go out in the streets? They cheer. Women weep. Everyone recognizes Anora now, but does anyone even know who you are? The people love me and they always will."

Ellie turned, her voice vehement. "If you choose to believe that, you're a greater fool than you look. And you can keep telling yourself that your blood will always protect you, but that isn't true, either. I just hope that you don't bring the rest of us down with you."

Cailan's ashen face turned white. Not even when they were lovers had Ellie spoken to him so frankly. She had always done just as she had advised Anora to do, always let him have his way, always smiled and gave in. Even in rejecting him, she had taken the cowardly route, ducking behind her father and Loghain. Marrying Loghain had turned out to be the best thing she had ever done, but it still made Ellie angry at herself to think of how it had come to be. Wrenching her arm free, she turned to leave. Only when she was once again in the outer hall did she realize that she was shaking.

At home, Gareth soon had her in better spirits. Nevertheless when Loghain came in and pulled her aside, Ellie expected him to bring up Cailan, perhaps to scold her for the visit. He was subdued, but only asked if she was free for dinner that evening. At her nod, he replied, "Good. You'll want to put on a nice dress." Without another word Loghain retreated to his own chambers, leaving Ellie looking after him in surprise.

There was still a mist in the air and the air had grown cool, so Ellie put on a dress of blue velvet with chain belt, and took her hooded cloak as well. They saw Gareth to bed and set off, Loghain holding her arm and steadying her as they walked through the slick, uneven streets. There was less revelry than there had been on the night before, but many were still out on the streets. The market fair would still be going on for the rest of the week.

They turned in at the Gnawed Noble Tavern in the market district, and were met at the door by a hostess. "All is prepared, your grace," she told Loghain, taking their cloaks.

Surprised, Ellie asked, "What is going on?"

Loghain just gave Ellie a little smile and directed her to the back. There, the staff had curtained off an area near the great hearth and there was a table set for them. With as many patrons as were out during the fair week, Ellie knew that only a national hero could have secured such a good location for a private dinner. When food was brought, she saw that it was all her favorites, lamb chops with mint and roasted potatoes and an enormous tart with what must be the last of the strawberries. Finally the waitress brought a cheese plate and Ellie found on it a fabulously rare Anderfels brown cheese, her favorite since she was a girl. She laughed, asking, "Loghain, what is this? It's not even my birthday."

He simply smiled and gestured with his glass. "Eat."

They talked about their son and about the latest news that was circulating from nobles visiting for Satinalia. Neither mentioned Cailan or Anora, a subject they obviously both wanted to forget a while. When they were finished, Loghain gestured for her to follow him. Ellie assumed they were going to have a drink at the bar, but when they reached the common room he retrieved their cloaks, took her hand and led her back through the kitchen and storeroom. By the time they reached the roof ladder, she was laughing again but knew better than to question.

They emerged onto the roof and walked past rain vats and storage crates to the rail, where they had a good view of the market below them and the palace and Fort Drakon high above. Compared to the tavern below, the roof was blessedly quiet and it felt as though they were alone. There were not many places, not even at home with Gareth and with all their staff, where that was the case.

Ellie gazed out at the city a few moments, then turned to Loghain with a smile of amazed contentment. His own smile was more subdued, and his tone serious as he asked, "Are you happy?" She guessed by his earnestness that he meant to ask about more than their dinner. When she nodded, he stepped closer and put an arm around her waist, studying her. "I know you are often on your own, you and Gareth. I am sorry about that."

It was true that Loghain was often wrapped up in work, and his survey mission of the year before had not been the last time he was called away from Denerim. "We manage. I wish I was more help to you."

"I admit that I sometimes wish I could draft you as one of my officers. Your talents are wasted. What you are doing is more important, however. You are a good mother." Loghain paused before adding, "No requests to return to the Fade yet, for example."

Ellie laughed. She had once joked that their baby would want to return to the Fade when he saw his mother. "No, just requests to swing from the rafters."

"And to ride Cutha like a horse."

"That was your idea, Loghain," she reminded him.

"Ah. I do seem to recall something like that." He leaned over, drawing her into a kiss. His hands slid down to her back and he hoisted her up slightly, closing the distance between their mouths as Ellie wrapped her arms around his shoulders. The mist turned to rain but neither of them moved from the spot and they simply allowed the drops to wet their hair and faces and mingle in their kissing.

When they walked home later that night with hoods up against the rain, Ellie took his arm. "This was lovely."

"I'm glad you liked it. I should have done something like this long ago."

"What brought all this on?"

Loghain walked in silence a time, obviously reluctant to answer. Finally, eyes trained forward, he replied, "Seeing that mess last night, I realized that Cailan had gone to more trouble for his wh*res than I ever do for you."

Ellie turned her head sharply. "That's not true."

"It is. I'm still just a simple man, Ellie. I never learned how to court, not like others do. My father didn't really get to that part, living as we did, and I wasn't ever naturally good at it like Maric was. It's not an excuse, but I mean that it doesn't come easily to me."

"Does that mean you courting me now?" she asked with a mischievous smile.

Loghain kept his eyes forward, but the corner of his mouth pulled in a grin. "Maybe. Is it working?"

"Maybe." He turned and met her smile, then drew her gloved fingers up to his lips.

"Good. I am glad to hear it."


End chapter 16.

Modifié par Addai67, 06 décembre 2010 - 02:11 .

[Addai]

tgail73 wrote...
Edited to say good job Addai. Another great chapter.

Thank you!  I love daddy Loghain, too.    The way I see it, he can relax more with a little boy than he could with Anora.

From the toolset talents of alschemid, "Loghain can't understand all this talk of bulls when he's around."

[WeRtheBrox]

Somehow I don't think Loghain would be as accommodating of Anora's (horrifcally logical!) proposal as she thinks he would.  I almost wish Ellie had told him of their conversation, just to see his reaction.

Good on Ellie for trying to talk some sense into Cailan, and shame on Cailan for being such a douche.
Loghain "courting" Ellie:  *melt*

I  this story so very very much!  *sigh*

[Addai]

Thank you so much. I appreciate the kind words and am glad you're enjoying it!

As far as how Loghain would have reacted, as long as he didn't think Ellie would actually act on it, I think he would chuckle and say "that's my girl." LOL He knows that Anora has to be ruthlessly political in the position she is in. It's what she was trained to do. In a way, she is his creation. He just won the lottery in that her machinations benefited him in ways none of them expected.

Modifié par Addai67, 06 décembre 2010 - 02:35 .

[Sarah1281]

tgail73 wrote...
The arrangement that Anora came up with for Ellie and Cailan was just so creepy. I really cannot believe she would even consider handing him over to another woman. I know she wants him happy, but come on. Hopefully, she will take the advice Ellie gave her.

I don't think it's so much that she's concerned for Cailan's happiness, regardless of what she might have said. Cailan has been being very indiscrete and brattish about his women. Anora has probably resigned herself to Cailan having affairs (and the way she responded to Ellie offering tips in bed makes me wonder if they're having problems there or even not sleeping together at all) and Cailan's excuse for sulking is Ellie being happy with Loghain. I think Anora is hoping that if he gets what he wants, Ellie, then he'll stop sulking and embarrassing her and Ellie should have the sense to keep things quiet and also not to have an heir. The chapter Gareth was born reveals that Anora's already uncomfortable with the subject and if Cailan gets someone other than her pregnant, that will cause problems. I really do feel horrible for her here even if her solution to the problem was...rather odd. There really are no easy answers for the Cailan Situation, though, now that her last-ditch effort failed.

As for Cailan himself...I'm glad Ellie's done indulging him. He's being really insulting and obsessive. Did Maric only tell him about Rowan/Loghain and not Maric/Katriel or is Cailan just being more of an ass for not acknowledging why Rowan turned to Loghain in the first place? 

[SurelyForth]

I think Cailan is just a petulant brat sometimes. Even if Maric told him that he'd been in love with Katriel he'd be on about Loghain and Rowan just because he wants to be pissy about Loghain, so he'll use any fuel he can.

I actually feel bad for Anora (which is a big deal for me). While her manipulating the lives of others is kinda evil, I think she's completely desperate and terrified that Cailan's catting around and general assholish indiscretions are going to bite the both of them big time. She's such a control freak that it must be undoing her to have him getting away from her the way he is. So while asking Ellie to be Cailan's mistress is so very wrong, I understand where she's coming from. It's something she can look at and say "This is what I want to be happening, and there will be no unpleasant surprises."

Modifié par SurelyForth, 06 décembre 2010 - 03:48 .

[Sarah1281]

Thinking more on it, I don't think Anora really realizes that she's out of line asking Ellie to become Cailan's mistress. I mean, she had Ellie married off because she was worried about the relationship and she knows that Cailan's feelings haven't changed. She hasn't spent much time with Ellie and so she likely assumes that hers haven't either. If Ellie were still in love with Cailan (and willing to be the wife-approved other woman) then being offered the chance to be his mistress again could have been a favor. Anora was certainly acting like it when she gave her the two conditions.

[WeRtheBrox]

I don't know -- if that's the case, Anora hasn't been paying much attention to Loghain and Ellie's behavior towards each other, which seems odd for her.  I mean, even Cailan has seen it, and he is King of Only Seeing What He Wants To See (...and Ferelden).

You know, I only came to the forums to read this chapter because FF.net has been throwing malware at me, but I like this -- actually discussing the chapter instead of just leaving a review.

[Sarah1281]

Cailan only noticed it once Ellie spelled it out for him, remember? Way back in Chapter 11 when Ellie and Fergus were attacked and Cailan kept assuring her that he knew how to handle Loghain. She actually had to tell him she didn't love him anymore a couple of times before he got it. Plus it's already been established that Ellie and Anora never spend time together and I can't see Loghain discussing the matter with Anora.

[Addai]

*steeples fingers and sits back to watch*

Actually I'll say that I don't think Anora totally gets it. Loghain and Ellie are very private, so you only see it if you want to see it or if you're an intuitive person like Lady Regan. It's ironic, but Anora really doesn't understand her father very well. Regardless, since she thinks it might benefit the kingdom, in my view she would still ask him to share. She would reason that if she has to do it, it's not too much to ask him to put up with it, either.

Modifié par Addai67, 06 décembre 2010 - 06:20 .

[Esbatty]

Fergus and Gareth Conquer Ferelden... I can see it now! Now I await Cutha drawing a tiny chariot lol



I'm starting to mix the game and novel canon with The Arrangement's canon, so when others speak of what Maric or Cailan have done in the past I have to quiet the urge to start citing parts of this story lol

[Addai]

That's why I'm banning myself from reading other Loghain stories til this one is done, since it's easy to do!

Fergus and Gareth conquering Ferelden in a Cutha-drawn chariot is quite an image.  :happy:

Modifié par Addai67, 06 décembre 2010 - 07:40 .

[Sandtigress]

Anora is like everyone else in Ferelden. :-P She only sees what she wants to see. I don't think she can really comprehend the idea of Loghain being in love with anyone other than her mother (a few of the examples in-game, like her story of Loghain with Celia's rosebush say a lot about Loghain's gruff way of showing he really did care) and she knows that they married out of political motive and not originally love. I think as far as Anora is concerned, that's where it stayed. She did seem a bit scandalized at having a new half-sibling, after all.

So like Sarah said, I think Anora thought she was doing everyone, including herself, a favor by asking Ellie to officially be Cailan's mistress. Cailan would get who he wanted, she thought Ellie would have who she wanted, and Anora would be able to keep tabs on her husband while knowing that his actions wouldn't be too public. There were already rumors already anyways. Loghain didn't really fit in the picture because I think Anora still can't picture the two of them being intimate. XD Kind of the way you don't want to think about how you yourself came into existence, you know? Weird squick factor to that even though, duh.

Heh, not to mention I think it was Anora's way of saying "I don't want anymore half-siblings either!" Note that it wasn't just "Don't get pregnant by Cailan" but also "Don't get pregnant again". I think Anora probably had her doubts during Ellie's pregnancy as to who the father was too, and that she'd rather not have to deal with any other children coming into the family.

[Addai]

Nice to see it's coming across as intended.    Obviously Anora and everyone else realize now that whatever else is going on in the match, Loghain and Ellie are doing it.  But I figure Anora pictures it as once a month with the lights out.  ("For Ferelden!")  It's her dad, and there's some denial because of jealousy both for her own sake and on behalf of her mother.  At least with Cailan + Ellie, it would help her manage the political situation.  So she hopes.

Thanks for the read, everyone. 

Modifié par Addai67, 06 décembre 2010 - 06:54 .