by Milton Garby
"Well, with all the smallfolk fleeing for Denerim or the Freemarches farming has come to a complete halt, and not to mention we haven't been able to collect any taxes from all the lords." Howe explained. "The ones that are loyal to you are spending their resources fighting the horde and the traitors are spending all their coin fighting you, the Battle of Wintersbreath was by far the most draining of the royal vaults."
"Not to mention all of the spending you've been doing, Howe." Loghain slowly seethed.
"My Lord?" Howe was taken back.
"What? You didn't think that your careless spending with your new palace in Denerim, that I so genoursly granted you, wouldn't add on to the crowns debts!? And now you're making it worse by refusing to pay the Crafter's Guild, too!?" Loghain lashed out, his voice getting louder and him rising out of his chair.
"W-well your grace, t-the manor needs to be… suited to the needs of me and my family, we are from a much colder part of the country after all." Howe excused trying, badly, to stay composed and praying to the Maker that the Regent didn't find out he was embezzling the treasury himself.
"I made you the Arl of Denerim and the Teyrn of Highever so that you could handle affairs of state while I'm busy handling affairs of the military, and thus far you have been failing! Need I find a more competent administrator!?"
"N-now, my lord, please hear me out." Howe pleaded. "I have a solution."
"Like the 'solution' you had when you hired The Antivan Crows to kill the Warden?" Loghain reminded. Hiring the Crows was probably another reason why the treasury was empty.
"Please, my lord, listen. After I put down the riots in the Alienage for murdering the Urien family, a plague apparently broke out. And as you know we don't have the resources to deal with this epidemic should it break out of the Alienage. So, I have found a way to deal with both this Alienage problem and the crown's finances." Howe looke over to one of his guards, "Please show our… guest in."
A minute later the guard returned with Howe's guest in tow. This newcomer was undoubtedly a foreigner, a bald man in his early forties with a triangular beard around his lips and chin, with a sharp beak nose. His clothes said he was a Tevinter, his staff said he was a mage.
"May I present Enchanter Caladrius of the Minrathous Circle of the Tevinter Imperium" Howe introduced.
"It's a great honor to meet the Hero of River Dane," greeted the mage "Even in the Imperium we hear tales of your exploits."
Loghain dismissed the obvious flattery, he didn't have time for it. "How can you fix the crown's debts, mage?" The regent demanded
"Ah, straight down to business is it? I like it." Caladrius continued with the obvious flattery. "We'll, it just so happens that the Imperium is always in need of… new blood, mainly due to similar problems you're having; they're all fighting and dying against the Qunari or fleeing to the Anderfels or the Freemarches…"
"Get. To. The point." Loghain angirily interjected. "How can you solve the realm's need for gold?"
"Yes, well, the Minrathous Circle needs…workers and you need gold, and you have an overcrowded Alienage full of elves who have contracted a plague and we're more than willing to pay you so that we may... uh, take care of them." Loghain saw where this was going.
"You're talking about slavery!?" Cauthrien called out "My Lord, surely you can't be considering this!"
"Well, what other option do we have?" Howe asked blithely. "The crown has incurred a massive debt, and somehow I doubt anyone is going to notice that a few elves here and there are missing. And besides, they're going to die of plague anyway."
"Precisely." Agreed Caladrius. "If you allow us to take them back to the Imperium we can cure them of their plague and they will be of more use to the Imperium than they could ever be of use to you, it's a win-win situation for all of us if you ask me."
"My lord, please." The knight pleaded. "Slavery is everything against what Ferelden stands for. King Maric would never have wanted this."
"King Maric would never have wanted the Orlesians taking our country away from us again either, and there won't be a Ferelden to stand for if the darkspawn overtake us now will there?" the Arl argued.
"Enough!" Loghain yelled out. Everyone in the room could feel his powerful presence and they were all holding their breath to see what the Teryn would do next. Loghain stood up from his chair, went over to the window and looked outside. He could see the soldiers practicing in the training yard, the merchants selling the wares in the city square, and the children playing in the yards with their families. This is what I'm fighting for, this is why I do what must be done, and if all I have sacrificed is too much, let the Maker judge me for it. No, this isn't what Maric would have done, but Maric isn't here anymore and I must do what I can with what I have.
"Will the elves be mistreated or abused?" Loghain finally asked not looking at the mage or his advisors.
"Well, I certainly won't abuse them." The Magister explained. "Harming valuable merchandise is bad for business. I promise I will treat them right and see to it that those with plague are cured. However, I can't make promises for what their new master's will do with them, you understand that I hope."
Loghain looked long and hard. While this was against everything his country stood for, it was needed. He couldn't let how he felt about the few elves in the Alienage dictate about what he must do to keep the rest of his great and beloved homeland free. "How much are you willing to pay the crown?"
"For good elves? Ones that have all their body parts? I'd say about a hundred sovereigns a head."
Was that how much a citizen of Fereldens freedom was worth? But if that's the price to keep Ferelden a free kingdom it's a price that must be paid. "Will this be linked to me?"
"Oh, I certainly won't tell anyone, I can't make promises for these two however."
"Of course not." Howe said haughtily. "It's for the good of Ferelden."
"I will follow your lead, no matter the course, my lord." Ser Cauthrien spoke truly but her voice was full of guilt.
"Then I give you leave to take elves from the Alienage." Loghain answered slowly.
"You have made a wise decision, my lord. I promise you won't regret it." Caladrius announced.
"I already do!" the regent vented. "If it weren't for the damned, traitorous Wardens I never would've agreed to this! Do not think for a moment that I made this decision lightly!"
The enchanter looked nervous again. "Yes, yes of course, your grace, but I'm afraid there's one last thing to be done before we can begin our, ah, business venture. I need you to sign these documents with your seal and signature to make sure that everything is legal."
"Now wait a minute!" Cauthrien interrupted. "Is it not enough he has agreed for you to perform your horrible trade, now you want him to make it officially legal!?"
"Beg pardon, milady, but I need some assurance that your regent doesn't back out of this deal and try arrest me should anyone outside the alienage find out."
"Oh, don't worry." Howe assured. "As the Arl of Denerim I can make sure the local authorities keep their noses out of your affairs."
"Teryn Loghain is a man of honor, mage. He doesn't make idle promises." Cauthrien informed spitefully.
"Forgive me, my lady, but you said so yourself slavery's against your nation's ideals, and your dear Loghain is making deals with a slaver. Hardly honorable to me, but I'm not judging." The enchanter chided.
"I'll sign it." Loghain said surprising Cauthrien.
Loghain put his signature on the paper making sure the whole horrible affair was legal and with the authority of the regent. He stamped his seal on the paper finalizing the transaction. "Excellent, my lord, here's something upfront so that you know what a wise investment you've made." The enchanter snapped his fingers and an elven lass with messy brown hair came in with five bags busting at the seams with gold and dropped them on the nearest table. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Lord Regent. I'll be sure to see you regularly so that you know everything is going smooth
ly. Until next time." The mage gave a curtsy and left with his elven cohort.
Loghain looked at the dirty money on the table and couldn't help but wonder how many elves where worth this much gold. "See to it that gold is used to replenish the crown resources." Loghain commanded slowly as if trying to catch his breath.
"You did the right thing, sire…."
"My lord, this isn't…"
"Leave me, both of you." Loghain said without either of them finishing. A few of Howe's soldiers gathered of the bags of blood money and left the room, both his advisers bowed their heads and took their leave of the Regent.
Loghain walked back to his desk and looked at the two letter he had received from the two Arls and decided it was past time to read them.
Arl Wulff's letter was written in large broad strokes.
My lord Teyrn, I send this letter to you with gravest of urgencies. The South has fallen. The Darkspawn have overtaken the Western Hills and are now surging northward. My two eldest sons died fighting against the vile vermin defending YOUR people, and despite their sacrifice and the countless deaths of so many others, you still won't lend assistance. When King Maric appointed you the Teyrn of Gwaren, I swore fealty to you because The Savior trusted you, and I believed you would defend our people in times great of need. Was my faith misplaced? Was Maric wrong? I beg of you, please stop this needless fighting with bannorn and concentrate on bringing the fight to the present and true enemy; the Blight.
Urgently and Emphatically,
Gallagher Wulff, Arl of the Western Hills.
So, Wulff lost his two elder boys to the darkspawn. Unfortunate, but there are always casualties in war, both of common and noble birth. Loghain understood why Wulff was pleading for help, but to combat the 'spawn he needed all of the armies of Ferelden. The darkspawn are not a thinking military force, they are base, savage and diseased boogeymen, if anything Wulff should be pleading to the Bannorn to come under the banner of the Yellow Wyvern. Before Loghain responded to Wulff's pleas he would first read Arl Brylands letter. Loghain remembered Leonas from the rebellion, he served in the same regiment as himself and Maric.
Arl Bryland's letter was written in graceful hand writing.
Teyrn Loghain, you've always had gall, and at one time I admired that, but now you have overstepped your bounds. How dare you take the Bann of Lothering to fight in your war against the Bannorn and not consult me first!? Not only did you leave the people of Lothering defenseless against the darkspawn, you didn't even have the grace to secure them safe passage from the horde. And now hundreds, if not thousands of people are dead because of your attempt to seize the throne. If in the Maker's grace Ferelden survives this Blight, there will be a reckoning at the landsmeet, and you can count on the fact that I will be there to see to it that you are deposed!
Sincerely,
Leonas Bryland, Arl of South Reach.
Loghain could feel the blood boiling in his veins, but he shouldn't be surprised that this is how Bryland would react considering the fact that he is half Orlesian. ALL lords of Ferelden answer to the crown. He needed the Bann's army to assist in rebuilding the royal army. What happened at Lothering was tragic, but if the Bannorn had done their duty and given him their support Lothering and its people would still be alive.
Both Arls where powerful and popular men, beloved by the people in their respective arlings. Now the question was how to proceed next? Loghain knew he couldn't rely on Bryland, he made that quite clear in his letter. When the lords have been subdued and the darkspawn dealt with he would have to do something about that half-breed. Bryland was not without powerful friends, however, particularly Bann Sighard of Dragon's Peak and Bann Alfstanna Eremon of The Waking Sea. Not only did Sighard have a very sizeable army, he was one of the wealthiest lords in the Ferelden and was renowned for having a strong moral character and possessing a sharp wit and good humor. Bann Alfstanna, on the other hand, was a different matter. She ruled one of the oldest and most powerful bannorns in Ferelden, and her army was legendary for having the best bowmen in the kingdom. She would make either a powerful ally or a dangerous enemy.
Fortunately he had contingencies for both of them. Alfstanna's older brother, Irminric, was the Templar that was hunting that bloodmage Lghain sent to poison Arl Eamon. He was currently being held in Arl Howe's dungeon. Loghain had no interest in killing the Templar, a man who was doing his duty to the Maker, but the threat he posed to Ferelden's independence was too high, he would stay imprisoned for now, and perhaps Loghain could use him to bring Alfstanna to their side. Howe had already informed Loghain that they have leverage on Sighard should he ever rise against them. Loghain didn't know what "leverage" Howe had on the Bann, but perhaps it was best he didn't know so he could have deniability in the rest of Howe's schemes.
Wulff on the, however, could still be useful. If Wulff could be persuaded to support Loghain a great deal of members in the bannorn would be inclined to listen to him, and since he lost his Arling to darkspawn they will understand the nessecity of uniting under Loghain's banner for the good of Ferelden.
Loghain had just finished his letter to Wulff and saw to it that it was sent him immediatley. When he returned to his private chambers a dark-haired elven girl was waiting for him. It was Anora's handmaiden, Erlina.
"My lord, forgive me for coming to see you so late in the evening, but the queen has asked for your presence." The maiden said in a thick Orlesian accent.
"I will speak to my daughter later." Loghain dismissed.
"Forgive me, your grace, but it has come to the queen's attention that you held a council meeting today and did not bother to inform her to attend, she wants to know why."
Loghain was beginning to feel annoyed. "There was no need for Anora to attend today's meeting, all affairs of state and the military are being handled. Tell the queen she does not need to concern herself."
The handmaiden bowed her head and took her leave.
Loghain entered his bedchamber, poured himself a cup of wine and drank deeply. Above his bed was picture of himself, his wife and Anora when she was a little girl. He looked over at the far side of the room and gazed at the wedding portrait of Cailan and Anora. Cailan looked so much like Maric it was like seeing his ghost. Perhaps it was the wine, but the picture of Cailan didn't have his happy childish face like it did when the portrait was painted, instead it seemed to be staring at him accusingly.
It was nessecary, Loghain told himself. Cailan was leading Ferelden down a path that would've made them slaves to Orlais again. He was confident that he could've convinced Cailan that they could fight the darkspawn without the assistance of Orlais or the Wardens, if the Wardens hadn't blinded the boy-king with their fairy tales of griffon riders and dragon slayers. What he had said about the Grey Wardens betraying the king at Ostagar was not a lie, Loghain just wished he didn't also have to sacrifice all the good soldiers who had died there, but it was for the sake of their homeland and it was a sacrifice he would honor.
Loghain's mind drifted back to the civil war. Too many of the lords were being too stupid or selfish to realize that what they were doing was destroying Ferelden. Every time he went to a local bann to claim their armies to defend their homeland instead of greeting him and giving him their military they acted with hostility and told him to leave! Loghain remembered what happened with Bann Bronach. The teyrn had no reason to feel guilty about what happened but he did feel very angry. Loghain went to Bann Bronach's land to have him and his army join forces with Loghain's so that they may deal with the rebel lords and the darkspawn. Instead of greeting Loghain in his halls, Bann Bronach greeted him with his army, barring him from entering his lands.
The Teryn and the Bann met eachother face to face however to discuss terms so that they may avoid needless bloodshed.
"You can't just demand support from the lords and expect them to just give you their armies, especially so soon after the loss of our king, Andraste guide him." Loghain remembered Bronach saying. "Don't you see what y
ou're doing? You're stooping to same tyranny as the Orlesians!" Remembering those words still made Loghain furious, how dare that miserable traitor compare him to those foul false-knights!? After Bronach made that fatal comment Loghain took his sword and decapitated the traitor and seized his lands by force. That should make all the other lords understand what happens when they betray their country!
None of these lords had the right to question him. Loghain is the reason why Ferelden is free to begin with! He was the one that drove out those chevalier bastards back across the mountains. He was the one that gave good council and sound advice to their beloved King Maric. Don't any of these poor fools realize that Orlais is on the verge of taking over their homes again, using the Grey Wardens as a means to covertly infiltrate their nation?
Loghain never had a reason to trust the Grey Wardens. They were a rudderless order of castoffs whose only purpose in life to kill the darkspawn because the dwarves were unable to handle it. What possessed Maric to bring back that archaic order to begin with? No doubt that Orlesian mage-elf, Fiona, hypnotized him to allow them back in Ferelden, and Duncan more than likely stayed in the kingdom to report to his imperial masters in Val Royeux. He heaved a deep sigh. If Maric had never allowed this forgotten and unneeded band of criminals and undesirables back into their borders none of this would have happened. They would've defeated the darkspawn by now and many dead would still be living, even Cailan.
He remembered the day when the Wardens were practically begging Maric to give them a footing in this country. From what Loghain understood, Duncan was in the order because he was a thief and a murderer, and was spared the noose if he swore himself to the Wardens. That was more than enough reason not to trust the Rivaini. Then Loghain recalled when Maric came and told him of his bastard son, Alistair. Maric didn't tell him who his mother was, but Maric needed help in trying to rear this boy up without shaming the memory of Queen Rowan, or making him a political threat to Cailan. Loghain had convinced Maric to let the child be raised at Redcliffe under the stewardship of Arl Eamon, and Eamon had gregariously accepted the boy.