Dragon Age Origins: The Tale of Solana

Chapter 32: Regent Loghain

In the great city of Denerim we make our observation now. Loghain looked over the crowd of people as he gave his speech to the entirety of Ferelden. Queen Anora stood near her father, unable to get a word in. Her father had only just returned yesterday, and somehow he had the whole country in an up roar. How she missed Cailan's goofy grin when he spoke to the subjects.

"...and I expect each of you to supply these men. We must rebuild what we lost at lost at Ostagar, and quickly."

A mixture of whispers filled the Landsmeet. Several people who were gathered here, whom had been here for several weeks, stood in shock at the Teyrn's return. Alone. They all had spoken ill of his take over as stand-in king of sorts. There were also several men and women who thought Loghain as an opportunist, seeking to gain control over Ferelden in a time of wars and demons.

Loghain saw their hesitation. He scowled and started to pace the nose bleed section of the upper deck. He seemed distant; he was lost in memories of old. "There are those who take advantage of our weakened state if we let them," He turned sharply, "We must defeat the darkspawn incursion, but we must do so sensibly and without hesitation."

A well renowned, Bann Teagan stepped forward. "Your lordship, if I might speak?"

Loghain figured Bann Teagan would be the first to step forward. Luckily, Loghain had taken care of his brother at least a month ago. It wouldn't be long now. He saw no harm in letting the Bann speak his mind. Begrudgingly, the Teyrn gave the okay with a nod of his head. Bann Teagan's eyes narrowed into brown slits.

Everyone had eyes on the smaller man as he stepped closer and used his hands to speak. "You have declared yourself Queen Anora's regent," he began with the most delicate speak he could manage. "And now claim we must unite under your banner for our own good."

Loghain did not see what the point in him rehearsing everything he had just announced moments ago. What was the point? Loghain's grey eyes watched him in suspicion, and with only the hint of the man being an Orlesian spy haunting his back thoughts. Would such a renowned man, as himself, have been an Orlesian spy all along? The thought suddenly made the Teyrn sick with boiling fury.

"But what of the army lost at Ostagar?" The Bann's head hung down as he thought of the poor souls devoured by the darkspawn. "Your withdrawal was most... Fortuitous."

Loghain kept his composure as worried gasps echoed the crowd. He clenched his teeth to hold back the words that wanted to escape. He needed the people to see he was on their side. Cailan had to fall, he had his glory, and now it was Loghain's turn to make sure Ferelden would be alright. He needed to sacrifice Cailan for his country, no matter if the young man was king or a peasant. This was his dominion now.

"Everything I have done," Loghain said loudly over the many nobles, "has been to secure Ferelden's independence. I have not shirked my duty to the throne, and neither will any of you!"

There was a silence that pierced many of the people standing before the Teryn and Queen. Teagan hissed his reply back as if dealing with a small child not wanting to do his chores for the evening. "The Bannorn will not bow to you simply because you demand it!"

"Understand this: I will brook no threat to this nation....," Loghain said with grey eyes alight like an afternoon thunderstorm. His anger flashed in his eyes as he pointed to everyone in the crowd before finally falling on Bann Teagan's traitorous red head. "From you or anyone!"

He stalked off as cries arose from everyone from nobles to lower class merchants. He ignored them all, leaving his daughter to sort through the mess. She sighed and felt a tug at her heart strings. What should she do? Without Cailan here she wasn't entirely sure how to handle her father. Cailan, yes. Loghain, however, was a whole other matter. He was never the gentlest man, but she cared for him more deeply than anyone.

When the crowd began to disperse, and Bann Teagan began to head out scratching his head, Anora called out to him. "Bann Teagan, please!" Somehow she knew if only she could convince him, the others would follow willingly.

"Your Majesty," he said turning around with sour eyes. "Your father risks civil war. If Eamon were here..."

Anora's blue eyes never faltered. She knew her father to be extreme at times, but he always meant well. Even when Cailan would push him to the edge, Loghain would always remain cool and collected. He had to be! She knew he was doing what he thought best. After all, neither one of them had experienced Ostagar the way he had.

"Bann Teagan," she said with her chin raised. She was still Queen of Ferelden afterall. "My father is doing what is best."

Bann Teagan eyes never blinked. "Did he also do what was best for your husband, your Majesty?"

A knife pierced Anora's heart at what the Bann implied. Her father would never... He couldn't.... She watched the red headed man walk away with a dark look about him. His two armed men followed close behind, and she began to wonder. Her father would never sacrifice thousands of lives for a chance at the throne. Why would he do that? There was no honor in such a heinous act against the country he loved.

...4 days ago...

"So are you really Flemeth's daughter?"

The question was simple yet Solana felt odd asking personal questions. Morrigan seemed not to mind. Her and Alistair had been sharing looks of death towards each other for some time. Solana thought some conversation would lighten the mood. "Unless it's too personal, of course," she explained.

Morrigan shook her head and laughed a little. "'Twas she who raised me and thus I consider her my mother." The woman's yellow eyes casted a fleeting glance in the elf's direction. "Born from the womb or not. 'Tis what you meant, yes?"

Solana looked over at the tall woman suspiciously. "I'm just curious about her age. Daveth, a man traveling with us before, commented on the legend. He said she was a very old, ancient creature of the dark."

Morrigan snorted unlady like and busted into laughter. "She would no more tell you than me, I assure you."

Her laugh was contiguous. Solana giggled a few times and it felt nice. Despite the poisonous evil around them, they somehow had found a moment of laughter. How funny... Solana got her breath back. "Okay, so all that aside, tell me about this village to the North. I've never left the Alienage before."

"'Tis a small place of little consequence called Lothering." Morrigan made the motion of people walking with her fingers. "It is no more than a stop along your Imperial Highway where travelers purchase goods from local farms and smiths. I would go there more were it not for the town's Chantry."

This caught the attention of Alistair. His blonde head popped up and he eyed the woman with a look of distrust. Morrigan went on, not seeing the question hanging onto the former Templar's lips. "It makes the village look particularly intolerant and unpleasant for a stranger such as me."

"A Chantry? And they never, in all this time, thought maybe you were a witch?"

Alistair's question was what amused Morrigan so much. She did not have to turn to see that he had been crying. She wished he wouldn't moan and groan so much. Grey Wardens were supposed to be hardy warriors; mourning for the lost will need to wait.

"Of course they have," came her reply. "They even called out their Templars once. They found nothing."

They found nothing? Alistair wracked his brain for that one, as well as Solana. What had she meant by that? "Is there any reason to go to Lothering, then?"

"I simply mentioned it for its tavern, where travelers gather news from other places. 'Tis a small enough place our appearance may go unnoticed. Beyond that, 'tis close and I know the way."

Solana was about to ask another question when suddenly there was a noise ahead. They crouched and huddled against the white fence they walked next to. The setting sun was behind them, causing large shadows to fall over the trio in a way that kept them hidden. Solana's heart pounding out of her chest. Was it more darkspawn? Or was it going to be something even worse this time?