Chapter Text
Trigger Warning: Chapter discusses forced marriage, bedding and slavery. Not explicit.
Chapter 76: Epilogue
9:31 Dragon, Bloomingtide === Denerim
Fergus led his mother through the Palace to the gardens, part of which had been replanted, regaining some its old elegance. Anora sat by the pond, reading, attended by Erlina. The Orlesian elf looked up from her mending first and smiled at the sight of the approaching nobles. Fergus carried a small blonde child, who had a finger to her lips in the universal signal for quiet. Teyrna Eleanor mirrored her, and even Fergus could not stifle a grin. He put the little girl down, pointed at Anora and whispered. “There’s your Mum. Go surprise her with a kiss.” Elin gave Teyrna Eleanor one last look, saw the Teyrna nod, and ran towards Anora shouting, “Mama!”
Anora looked up wide eyed, dropped the small leather bound volume onto the grass, and leaned forward, arms held wide open. Elin ran into her embrace and, at Eleanor’s prompting, planted a large, somewhat wet kiss on Anora’s cheek.
“Mama?” she asked.
“Yes, sweetling, I’m your mama. I’m so happy you have come home.”
“Nana Elspeth came too. And Edwina. And Teeo.”
“Teeo?”
“My puppy.”
“You have a puppy?”
“Teeo’s too noisy. Too loud.” Elin put her hands over her ears, but continued talking. “She sits and comes. Right, Tey’na El’nor?”
Teyrna Eleanor nodded. “Theo’s not a mabari, Your Majesty, so he’s small enough for the Queen to manage.”
Anora looked up at the Teyrna, tears brimming over. “As long as it’s not a darkspawn she can have whatever pet she wants. Eleanor, thank you so much for returning her to me.”
The Teyrna’s smile did not last. “It’s the least I could do. She belongs here.”
Anora stood, picking Elin up. The little girl began playing with Anora’s necklace. “Eleanor, I have no words to express how sorry I am, and, despite your own pain, you did this for…us, for Ferelden.”
“She’s a pleasure, Anora, and keeping busy is the best remedy. Seneschal Laurens took Elspeth and Edwinna to the Queen’s rooms to unpack. Edwin went to the stables.”
“What of the elves, Aemilia and….”
“Nelaros. They stayed in Highever with his family. They’ll return to Arlessa Ho…Philippa’s service now that she is expecting. Aemilia as nurse for her child and Nelaros as Nathaniel’s man. Pippa’s doing well,” she added. “They’ve both been a great help to Fergus.”
Elin tugged on Anora’s gown. “Elin see pony?”
“Pony?” Anora asked.
“Edwin said Elin have pony here.”
“I’m afraid we made some promises,” Eleanor said, “when things had to be left behind.”
“Ah, I see. You had a pony?”
“Ginger. She stayed at manor. Not on ship. Too far.”
“Well, we’ll have to find a pony for you here then.”
Elin grinned.
“Let’s go see your new room and find Elspeth,” Anora said. “Will you-”
Teyrna Eleanor shook her head. “Fergus will take me back to Highever House. I’m looking forward to a long bath and one of Tilda’s meals.”
“You’ll visit? I know Reginalda will want to see you.”
“Of course.” Eleanor leaned closer and gently tapped Elin on the nose. “You give your Mama lots of kisses, Elin. She missed you very much.”
Elin kissed her mother again, and smiled at Eleanor. “Lots. More later.”
9:31 Dragon, Bloomingtide === Soldier ’s Peak
Levi Dryden’s family had taken over the management of Soldier’s Peak, except for Avernus’ tower. Beyond leaving food for the mage in the entry vestibule, the Drydens left the old mage alone. Levi’s uncle Seth, happy to retire from his travels, took on the job of Seneschal, managing the repair and refurbishing of the huge fortress. His son, Levi’s cousin, took over the kitchens, his wife oversaw the housekeeping staff of young Drydens and their daughter and her husband set up a spinnery, dye house and weaving room. Mikhael set up a smithy, forging ore from the nearby hills and making superior armor and weapons. Those family members who, like Seth, had grown tired of travel or simply wanted a safer, more settled life, found places in the armory and stables. They left an empty village behind on the Amaranthine border where only the Warden-Commander’s Arms and a few shops remained open just off the North Road. Drydenton, long a target of pranks and worse, lost most of its inhabitants to Soldier’s Peak.
Alistair, Zevran and two Dryden drovers led the six mules through the maze of tunnels to Soldier’s Peak after leaving the Highever troops on the North Road. Alistair thought he could have made it on his own, but one wrong turn could get a traveler lost forever, so he appreciated the Dryden guides. He resolved to map it so that trusted wardens could visit without Dryden guidance. Upon entering the Peak, Alistair saw Mikhael Dryden working in his smithy and numerous other Drydens busy at chores in the forecourt and outbuildings. The drovers halted the pack mules in the forecourt and waited for instructions.
“I have no idea where the supplies go,” Alistair said, but another Dryden soon took over and saw the supplies sent to their appropriate destinations in the household, kitchens, stables, weaving hall and spinnery.
“Now, let’s get you settled,” a middle-aged woman said, to Alistair. “It’s Ser Alun?”
“Right. Here to establish the Fereldan Warden training site.” Alistair manufactured a smile. “And you are?”
“Sorry, Ser. Zelda, Levi’s cousin by marriage.”
Alistair looked around the courtyard and gave Zelda a real grin. “Isn’t everyone here a cousin of Levi’s?”
Zelda laughed. “Everyone except the elves. We had some elven servants who chose to come along with us.”
“And they are all cousins to each other, yes?” asked Zevran.
Zelda laughed again. “T’is true. Two families, but the elves use the old style of naming. Each is called after their father or mother. You would be Alun Alunson, were your father named Alun too, and I would be Zelda Myriamsdaughter.”
“Ah, so we’ll know the difference by their names, yes?” Zevran said. “I would hate to confuse a Dryden with an elf.”
Alistair shook his head at the odd look Zelda gave the serious looking elf. “Ignore him, Zelda. He likes to jest.”
“I do, milady.” He bowed.
Zelda shook her head, but smiled. “Come along. Warden-Commander Liam sent a bird telling us of your arrival. We have your rooms ready. He said you would be in charge here and that the elf would be your companion. We’ll have a crew ready in the morning to build the sparring grounds and archery butts under your direction, as you recover from your wounds. You can also review the improvements to the fortress with my good-father, the Seneschal, Seth Dryden.” She stopped. “Levi, of course, knew the former Warden-Commander. He’s away right now. In his place, I will offer our condolences on Commander Alistair’s heroic death for him and our family.”
Alistair swallowed, opened his mouth and closed it and nodded. “I accept your sympathy, Dame Zelda.”
“Alistair saved Ferelden,” Zevran said. “He was a good man.”
Zelda turned and climbed the stair to the Peak’s entrance.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
“Your descriptions did not do justice to this place, amico. I understand why Liam sent you here. Even the Dwarf might get lost in those tunnels.”
“Only if he’s sober,” Alistair said.
Zevran chuckled. “True. Oghren functions better when he maintains his liquid intake.” Zevran looked around their chambers. A sitting room, sleeping chamber and servant’s room, where Zev immediately tossed his pack.
“Zev, you don’t have to play the servant.”
Zev responded with a smirk. “You would prefer me in your bed? I can comply-”
“-no.” Alistair’s lips quirked. “You’re pretty, but not as pretty as Lys.”
“Good you can joke, amico mio,” Zev said softly. “It’s best I play the servant and companion, though. We don’t need undue attention paid to us.”
“Right, but companion sounds better. You will help me train, so that makes you more than a servant.”
“Loghain promised to speak with Liam, telling him of my assignment. He must have done so, since my arrival did not surprise the Drydens.”
“It’s good if he did. Means he’s not assuming he can do as he wants.”
Zevran pursed his lips and nodded. “Better the Drydens know as well. An elf who wields weapons might unsettle them otherwise.”
A knock sounded and they opened the door to reveal a young Dryden and an elf. The elven boy carried toweling and offered to lead the two men to the baths while the Dryden girl lit the fire in the hearth. Securing their belongings in their bedrooms, they left for a bath. Wonderful smells wafted through the hall on the lower floor as they passed by, before descending into the basement and the tubs fed by the hot springs beneath the Peak’s fortress. Watching Zevran eyeing the three large tubs after the boy left, Alistair spoke.
“I imagined a different companion here when I visited last time.”
“As I do now, my friend. I think we will not spend much time here, yes?”
“Just enough to clean up,” Alistair agreed.
9:31 Dragon, Cloudreach === The Orphanage
Mel sat in a steaming tub, submitting to the scrubbing delivered by two young elven girls. Kai had not been so compliant when the three elven women had begun undressing her, but the elves, used to uncooperative newcomers, soon subdued her, telling her she had nowhere to go and she would feel better once cleaned up. They talked as they washed and Kai quieted and began to listen. Might as well learn how things work here. If I cooperate, maybe I can stay with Lys. Watching Mel lie unmoving on the bed, eyes staring at nothing, she wondered how long the hopeless languor would last. When the elves pulled Mel from the bed for her bath, her friend offered no resistance and she realized the melancholy would not end that day.
Mel stepped out of the bath and let the elves rub the rough toweling over her. They clucked at her short hair. “Like a man’s,” one muttered. “And so many scars,” another said. “Both have scars,” a third added, looking over at Kai. Kai did not respond, as Thomas and Nicephorus pushed the door open and entered. Kai had already donned her smalls and tunic, but Lys stood naked. The elves backed away to let the human men approach.
“Skinny,” Thomas said, poking at Mel’s ribs. “Skinny and scarred.” He ran his hands up the back of her thighs and squeezed her buttocks. The shriek wounds had left light striations despite Reina’s efforts. “Can she even have children?”
“The mage confirms she can, Thomas. She’ll fill out with a good diet. Remember, she’s recovering from her wounds.”
Mel began to sway and grabbed the edge of tub to steady herself.
“Stand straight when I address you,” Thomas demanded, pulling her away from the tub. She stood for a moment, but, after the heat of the bath and little food, felt the darkness enveloping her again. Thomas watched as she crumpled to the ground. He nudged her with a boot. “Get her dressed; the priest waits and so do I.” He stomped out of the room.
Nicephorus turned to one of the elves. “Get the mage,” he snarled. “You,” he pointed at Kai, “get your mistress dressed.”
Kai moved once the mage left and knelt by Mel. She looked around for water or food but found nothing.
“She needs food,” Reina said as she came through the door. “I told them she needed to eat. I’ve sent for tea and some bread and soft cheese. Come, help me put her on the bed.” Shocked at how little Mel weighed, Kai helped the mage carry her to the bed.
“What did he mean, the priest?” Kai asked.
“To marry them. There’s a priest here and he will perform the ceremony.”
“He?”
“A Tevinter priest.”
“That’s not a marriage. Unless….” Kai looked up at Reina, more afraid than ever.
“They plan to leave this place. Nicephorus says a Tevinter marriage is recognized in the Marches and Antiva.” Reina cast a healing spell and then a rejuvenation spell. Mel’s eyes fluttered open.
“Hey,” Kai said softly. “You fainted.”
Mel rose on an elbow and looked around. “He’s gone?”
“He’s waiting in the Hall below,” Reina said. She handed Mel the tea. “Drink. You’ll feel stronger.”
Mel nibbled on the bread and cheese between sips of the hot tea.
“You should dress.” Reina pointed to the green gown hanging from a clothing poll. Smalls, an under tunic, stockings, soft leather shoes and a headdress lay on a table by the door. A soft breeze blew through the open shutters from the finger of the Amaranthine ocean below the old keep on the Orphanage’s seaward wall.
“Yes, I wouldn’t want to be late for my own wedding.”
“You knew?”
Mel looked at Kai. “Yes. He told me as we left Denerim. A Tevinter ceremony, I believe?”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“Tell you what? Would talking about it have changed anything?”
Kai stared at her friend. “Yes, it would have included me, your friend.”
Mel stood carefully. “Help me dress, please.” She and Kai stared at each other for a long time before Kai gave in and handed Mel the undergarments. She helped her with the stockings, tying them to the points on her smalls. The gown came next. Kai pulled the laces in the back tight and tied them. “Sit,” she ordered, adding that she couldn’t put on the headdress when Mel towered above her. To her relief, Mel sat.
“I have to, Kai.”
“Have to what?”
“Keep it all inside, or I don’t know what I’ll do. I’m sorry. I know you’re hurting too.”
Kai sighed. “I’m here, just remember that.”
Reina waited at the door. “You’ll have to stay here,” she said to Kai. “Help the other elves get the bed ready and then go with them to the dormitory. For now. Once the marriage is consummated, I’ll bring you back. You don’t want to be here with Thomas and his soldiers.”
Kai’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve settled in nicely,” Kai murmured.
“Yes, which helps us all,” Reina said as softly. “I can’t keep you both reasonably safe unless you cooperate.”
“Safe?” Mel’s chuckle sounded raw.
“Safe as possible,” Reina corrected. “He wants children. He won’t hurt you.”
Mel nodded. “Let’s get this over with.” She stopped at the door. “Is it Summerday?”
“No,” Reina said, “Summerday is a week away, why?”
“Good. My last wedding was supposed to have happened a year ago on Summerday; I didn’t want to repeat it.” The laugh that followed sounded harsh. Her hand went to the empty place where her promise ring had been. “I seem doomed to have bad weddings. The Orlesian one that never happened, then in the Fade and now here.”
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The marriage debt. She hadn’t heard that quaint term in a long time, but, apparently, they still used it in Tevinter. The priest had given her a long lecture on what she owed to Thomas as they sat in her bed before the officers of Thom’s guards, the priest, Reina and Nicephorus. Finally, he had finished his lecture, said a prayer in Tevene over the marriage bed and left. Nicephorus had ushered the other men out, followed by Reina, who gave Thomas a stern look.
The coupling had been quick. Thomas made it clear she held no appeal beyond quickening with his child. He preferred more curves and long hair. A noble brood mare, he called her as he finished, and not even a pretty one. Then, before he left for his own apartment, he whispered that she should sleep well, he had a special morning gift for her.
Reina returned with Kai at sunrise. Mel’s room, at the top of the tower, afforded views to the east and they found her sitting in the window embrasure wrapped in a blanket. Assuring Kai she was fine, she sipped at the tea another elven servant brought and nibbled at a hard-cooked egg. Kai tidied the room while Reina gave Mel some idea of what to expect outside the tower. Thomas had brought her to this room on their arrival two days earlier and she had only left to go to the Hall below for the wedding the day before.
Reina described the fort, saying that the elves live in a dormitory against the north wall and cliff. “The women live on one floor and the men on another. Opposite the keep, there’s a barracks for the guard, the officers and their women. A range of buildings housing the armory, smithy, storehouse, kitchens and such line the south wall. Below, there are caves running far into the mountain, but the only way out is by ship. The Wyvern left on the tide last night, so we’re here until Captain Ranulf returns.”
As Reina finished, Thom walked in. “Come wife,” he smirked, “I have your morning gift waiting.”
Mel rose without looking at Kai or Reina, although it took some effort. “As you wish…husband.” She followed Thom down the curving stairs into the Hall and through the door to the outside. Crossing the bailey, she saw the buildings Reina had described. A low fence encircled what must be the elven dormitory. She could see elven women, babies and toddlers in the yard.
“This way, wife,” Thom snapped. He led her towards a wooden door in the cliffside which opened onto a stairway cut into the stone. Climbing down, they entered a cavernous space which opened out onto a ledge with water lapping along its far side. A shallop lay pulled up onto the stone. Beyond, white cliffs lined both sides of the narrow channel.
Thom turned away from the opening and entered another hand-hewn space, with two doors on one side and a third at its end. In the gloom, she could barely discern a large table pushed against the wall opposite the doors. Chalk. It’s easily worked and someone created this space.
“Your father built this?”
Thomas laughed. “No. He found it and used it, but it’s old. Fixed up the doors and made it secure. Nicephorus says it must have been an Alamarri or Avvar outpost or maybe dwarven. They say those tunnels out there connect to the Dwarves’ old cities. Nicephorus says they probably traded from here.”
Nicephorus says…Thomas sounds like a parrot. If these caves connect to the Roads…good thing the Blight is over. Otherwise we’d have to worry about darkspawn attacks. Less likely now, but not impossible. She almost laughed. Old habits die hard. Darkspawn are the least of my worries. She realized Thom was still talking.
“-a prison. Dungeons for the fort above.”
A chill ran through Mel. “You’re putting me-”
“-you? No. At least not until you give me a child or two or fail. I have something else to show you.”
The prisoner. Maric. This is where they keep King Maric?
As if reading her thoughts Thomas grinned. “Come see.” He grabbed a key from a hook on the wall and unlocked the door at the end of the passage. “Go in. You can visit. As I remember he favored you - you and your family. It’s why he’s here. He wouldn’t give my father what he deserved. I’ll come back for you in a while.” He pushed her through the door, shut it behind her and locked it.
Mel stood frozen unable to see anything in the darkness. Above her a faint outline shone brighter than the surrounding ceiling. An air shaft, that lets in light. She reached out, but felt no walls, save the door behind her. Relaxing a little, with the knowledge it was indeed a cell with air, she left the door and moved along the wall to her left. The corner came quickly. She leaned against the slightly damp side wall. “Hello,” she said quietly. “Your Majesty? King Maric?”
Something rustled on the far side of the room. “Who’s there?” a voice croaked.
“Melysande. Melysande Cousland, Your Majesty. I’m a prisoner here too.”
She continued following the wall, her eyes becoming accustomed to the darkness. She heard steps approach outside and feared they would take her away before she saw the king. Suddenly, light came in from the hall through a grill someone opened in the door and the steps receded. The light shone on a figure sitting on the edge of a cot against the wall opposite the door. Raised barely a foot above the ground, the man almost squatted, his knees drawn up beneath his chin. His hair, pulled back and tied with a leather thong, shone silver, as did the well-trimmed beard. She knelt before him. “You are missed, Your Majesty.”
“Melysande Cousland.” The voice, despite his daily recitations, cracked. “Why are you here? Or am I hallucinating? I do sometimes.”
“Captured by Thomas Howe and forced to marry him.”
“Thomas Howe? This is Ferelden?”
“You don’t know where you are?”
“I remember a ship, an attack, a fight and then nothing but this cell. The guards speak the Common tongue, but with various accents and never to me. I guessed Orlais or Antiva, but Antivans would demand ransom, so I settled on Orlais.” He coughed. “But, if Loghain got really angry and refused to pay that ransom, could still be Antiva.”
“He would never-”
“-a joke,” Maric said softly. “I did make him furious once or twice. IF this is Ferelden, how-”
-it’s an ancient fort on an unused inlet that leads nowhere. Cliffs surround it. No one would ever come here.”
“Ah, so Rendon Howe captured me?”
“Yes, but he’s dead now. Sadly, Thomas is no better and he brought me here. He said they take your blood and send it to a magister in Tevinter. Don’t you remember?”
“I remember nothing but this cell. I walk each day and talk to myself, reciting tales and singing songs. When they open the grill, I get up. When they close it, I go to sleep. It’s my sunrise and sunset.” He spoke softly, but she remembered the voice. It had told her stories and promised to recognize his son.
“I wake up every so often with my hair cut, shaved, washed, clean tunic and braies. Blood you say? That would explain why some part of me is sore after the bathing. They put something in my food I think, to make me sleep. Sometimes I think they put me in the sun. I recognize the burn, but I never see anything but this cell or talk to anyone but myself.”
“I’m the first person you’ve spoken to in six years?”
“Six. I’ve been here six years?” He stared at the girl kneeling before him, short, tousled hair, thin, unlike the Cousland girl he remembered. “How do I know you’re even Lys Cousland?” She looked up at him. “You may have her eyes, but your hair-”
“-cut as part of a disguise to hide me from Howe. It’s easier to care for.”
“Hide from Howe?”
She sighed. “There’s so much you…missed. Do you remember riding with Loghain and me to an elephant seal rookery? You teased Loghain about being an old man.”
Maric sat silently for a long time, a frown creasing his brow. “That was a good day.”
“And the day I vomited on your shoes, you took me in your lap and told me to always take chances, even if they didn’t always work out, but not to be greedy once I reached my goal.”
Maric snorted. “Meaning, you succeeded in sneaking under the table, but you took too many honey cakes?”
“Hence the vomit.”
He patted the bed next to him. “Sit Lys.” He smiled. “See, I remember your name. And your eyes. Just like your mother’s.”
Said eyes spilled over and she brushed the tears away.
“Tell me. What’s happened in Ferelden since Rendon Howe locked me up.”
She looked at him and took a deep breath before she began her story. As she spoke, Maric asked a question here and there, but mostly let her talk. Mel kept to the short version, providing no commentary or anecdotes, details could come later. As she spoke she realized what had not been obvious over the past years: Ferelden had lost its way without Maric. Anora, as queen, had tried to keep the country on course, the nobles from pursuing their own interests at the expense of the common good, but with Loghain gone, her father out of favor and Howe and Eamon Guerrin in ascendance, other nobles had gone to ground in their own estates and let Ferelden drift. Leonas, Alfstanna, Sighard, Wolfe, they had all gone to their keeps and let Eamon and Rendon Howe have their way with an insecure king. Anora focused too much on administration and too little on the bigger picture. Maric had slumped back against the wall, arms crossed as she talked, asking fewer and fewer questions. Finally, having completed her tale with the Blight, the battle in Denerim and her capture by Thomas, she stopped.
“Both dead,” he whispered. “Both of my boys dead? Damn witch spoke truthfully.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “Flemeth. She seems to have played a part in all our lives. She predicted the Blight. I wonder, would I have made any difference?”
“Of course you would have.”
“You don’t think Howe’s blood mages would have influenced me?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. Why even second guess a past that didn’t happen? We’re stuck here now. Anyone climbing the cliffs can be seen by all the guards. The ocean forms the fourth border, with cliffs along it. There’s a shallop they use to row out to ships at anchor, but it’s beached once the ship leaves. I saw it outside the cave when Thomas brought me here.”
“He hasn’t hurt you?”
“No. He won’t. He wants a child from me.”
They heard steps and Mel rose, looking at the door and then at Maric. “I…we’ll think of something. I won’t forget….”
A food tray came through the slot, followed by a second tray. “Seems you’ll get to stay a bit longer,” Maric said. “Food’s bland but nourishing. Must want to keep the blood healthy.”
They ate and talked more. Maric asked more questions and grew even more disturbed at Mel’s answers, particularly at Loghain.
“Did the blood mages send him off on this quest to find me and the Demelza?”
“I don’t think so. They couldn’t have influenced him once he left. It’s why he always recovered when he was at Ostagar or in Highever. His headaches went away when he wasn’t trying to resist the blood mages’ influence. His hatred of Orlais didn’t and that caused almost as many problems.”
“He never got over his parents’ deaths. My mother died at the hands of Ferelden traitors and we punished them, but not all of Ferelden.” He leaned forward, his head resting on his knees. “How is he now?” Maric asked, his voice muffled.
“Better. Killing Howe - it gave him his just revenge and convinced most nobles that he rejected Howe’s plans. We didn’t reveal the blood magic. The Chantry didn’t want it known they’d failed to discover a blood mage coven in Denerim; we didn’t want Loghain tainted with blood magic. The spells wear off, but most people wouldn’t believe that. Howe’s own testimony made it clear he held Loghain in contempt and had done most of the foul deeds himself. We let the Landsmeet believe the documents with Loghain’s signature were forged or signed under duress.”
“And my granddaughter?”
“Mum knows where Elin is and will bring her back. Fergus, Leonas and Anora will rule as regents for her. Loghain will be her General. It wasn’t announced, but Ser Cauthrien will be made Arl of Denerim. She’s kept the peace and led the city well through the Blight. It’s a just reward.”
“Cauthrien, a good soldier and a good person. You’re right, she’ll do well.” He got up and pushed the two trays out through the slot. “They won’t bring more food if I don’t do that.” He chuckled softly. “They think I’m crazy and some days they may be right. They think I’m like a trained mabari who does everything by rote. Jog around my cell, talk to myself, eat, return the trays, sleep and do it all again. Sometimes I’m so tired I have trouble remembering anything, other times the day ends before I finish my routine.”
“They play with time? Shine the light for longer or shorter turns of the glass to confuse you?”
“Yes. Sometimes its brighter than other times too.” He began to jog around the room.
“You could do other exercises,” she suggested. “It would improve your strength.”
“I have no sword or weight. I do my forms.”
“Watch.” Mel pulled her skirt up around her thighs and proceeded to show the surprised king push-ups and planks and various other yoga and strength poses. “See, they’re similar to forms, but focus more on strengthening your muscles. Try.”
Maric found the poses surprisingly difficult to hold and the thing she called push-ups was something he could perform only a few times. He grunted as he stood up. “I see your point.” Suddenly he laughed. “And if I had any doubts about your identity they are gone now.”
“That’s…” Mel stood straighter, then laughed herself. “You’re right. It’s a very Lady Fix It thing to do.” Seeing his questioning look, she added, “A name my companion, my friend Kai, calls me.”
They heard footsteps. Mel stepped forward and hugged Maric. His arms went around her and murmured, “Another very Lys thing to do.” They stepped away from each other as they heard the key turn in the lock. “I’ll try to come back.”
“Act upset, tell them I’m crazy,” Maric whispered and moved quickly to sit on the bunk.
Mel sank down to the floor near the door and leaned against the wall, her arms around her legs. The door opened and Thomas walked in. Maric looked up at him, his gaze dull. Mel stood slowly and Thomas turned towards her. A smile slowly spread across his face.
“Not fun?”
“It’s awful. He’s…crazy.”
“He didn’t lay a hand on you, did he? He’s not violent.”
“No. No, he’s just crazy and I wanted to keep away from him. It’s awful here.”
“Well, perhaps you can visit again and tame the beast.” Thomas chuckled. “Time to leave now. You have a marriage debt to pay.” He grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the cell. Maric started singing a Ferelden folk song in a quavering voice and Thomas winced. The guard slammed the cell door shut behind them.
As they entered the cave, several of Thom’s guardsmen stumbled in from another passage. Two held up a third, dragging him along. Blood ran down his leg, but a darker, more viscous fluid covered his torso. That’s darkspawn blood. Those tunnels must go into the Roads. The guardsmen yelled for a healer and Thomas pushed her up the rock hewn stairs before she could witness anything else.
“I’ve decided, wife, to give you another boon,” Thomas said as they entered her small chamber at the top of the tower. “Your maid can remain with you and see to your needs, under Nicephorus’ guidance. His elven mage tells me you should have fresh air and sun, so you will be allowed access to the roof. She also suggested I allow you a spindle and wool to keep you occupied. You will receive me, as a wife should, whenever I demand it.”
Mel quickly unclenched her jaw before answering. “As you wish, husband. I am grateful for the consideration.”
Thomas’ eyes narrowed, but he said nothing more and left. Mel settled on the seat in the window embrasure, leaning against the wall, eyes closed, and reviewed her visit with the one-time king of Ferelden, hoping she had convinced Thomas she had hated it. Reina and Kai found her there when they arrived carrying spinning tools, wool and a cloak to wear on the roof. Apparently, this would be their world for some time to come, Kai thought, looking at her friend. Mel looked…calm? Thomas had seemed so happy she was sure he had hurt Mel in some way, but it seemed not. She only hoped the trust she had placed in the mage, Reina, would be rewarded.