The Mistress, chapter 5/? (Rated M)

[i_paint_the_sky]

Crossposted to swooping_is_bad, dragonage_fic and fandomfic

Title: The Mistress
Rating: M
Pairings: Starts with Cailan/Elissa, eventual Alistair/Elissa.
Summary: Elissa Cousland, the favourite of King Cailan, finds herself thrown from the political arena into something completely different as the coming Blight changes her world forever.

Read the rest of the story here




Chapter 5: The Last of Her Line

Sleep eluded Elissa for most of the night before her father was to leave. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him torn and bloody on the battlefield, her brother's body lying beside him ... and her King's. It has been this way for several days now, ever since Fergus and his men rode out. Before then, the war had been a legend in the making, a tale of Good King Cailan and his flawless victory. She remembered feeling so sure that everything would be just fine, because Cailan said so. Now however, she couldn't help but see it as the possible ruin of everything and everyone.

These dark thoughts and visions continued to haunt her but she must have eventually drifted off – from sheer exhaustion if nothing else – only to be jolted awake by sudden noise. Barkspawn was standing by the door, snarling and trying to get out.

“What is it, boy?” she asked, forcing her body to get out of bed. “Did you see another giant rat?” She walked over to the door and was about to open it when something stopped her. She heard footsteps out there ... footsteps, low voices, and the clanging of armour. Something had happened, something wrong.

Her heart pounding, Elissa rushed to get her own armour on, thanking the Maker that it and her bow were back in good repair. In between breaths and beats, her mind raced, trying desperately to make sense of what was happening. Had the darkspawn gotten to Highever? It seemed impossible but it seemed the only possibility. She pulled an arrow from her quiver and notched it before slowly approaching the doorway. There was only one way to find answers now.

She opened the door.

The sight that greeted her was not of darkspawn but of men, armoured men whose faces she did not recognize. One of them turned towards her, noticing the movement, and was greeted with an arrow through his throat, an arrow Elissa barely realized she had fired. At the man's dying scream, his fellows also turned and charged towards her, blood-stained weapons raised. Elissa fired arrows as quickly as she could, while Barkspawn took care of any men whom she missed. It was chaos and then ... it was over.

She took one small step out, then another, with Barkspawn close at her side. All the soldiers she could see lay on the floor, dead by her hand. She shook her head slightly – couldn't think about that now, she had to go, to move, to act. To survive.

Elissa crept further into the hallway, stepping carefully around the bodies and growing puddles of blood, heading towards her brother's rooms on the other side. She had made it about six feet from the door when she heard footsteps and spun around, raising her bow once again.

“It's me, darling,” a hushed voice said and Elissa relaxed as her mother came into view. Eleanor was also wearing full armour, her own bow in hand. “I heard fighting and I feared the worst. Are you hurt?”

She shook her head. “I was about to ask you that.”

“I'm fine,” Eleanor said as she turned back to look the way she had come. “There were men in the hall so I barred the door. Did you see their shields? Those are Howe's men. Why would they attack us?”

Elissa blinked and forced herself to really look at the bodies for the first time. There it was, underneath the gore: Howe's crest. She'd never even noticed it. “I don't know, Mother,” she managed to say, “but we need to get out of here.”

Eleanor didn't seem to even hear her. “You don't think Howe's men were delayed ... on purpose?”

“Mother ...”

“Damn it, that bastard,” Eleanor swore, before kicking one of the soldiers. “I'll cut his lying throat myself.”

“Mother, we have to go!” Elissa cried out, unable to keep the desperation out of her voice.

Eleanor looked over at her and just stared for a moment, before recollecting herself. “Of course. Have you seen your father? He never came to bed.”

“No, I haven't,” Elissa told her. “I was sleeping in my room, when Barkspawn woke me.”

“Thank the Maker for him,” Eleanor said, reaching out to rest her hand on the mabari's head. “We must go and find Bryce.”

“I agree,” Elissa said, “we need him with us. But before that we should check on Oriana and Oren.”

“Andraste's mercy,” Eleanor gasped, her face going white, “what if the soldiers went into your brother's rooms first? Let's check on them quickly, then we'll look for Bryce downstairs.” Eleanor led the way towards Fergus' chambers, Elissa right behind her.

As they drew close, she could see that the door was slightly open and there was light coming from within. Light but not a single sound. Her mother reached forward and gave the door a gentle push. On the other side, two figures lay on the ground, deathly still and covered in blood.

“No!” Eleanor cried out, running towards them. “No ... my little Oren.” She ran her fingers along Oren's cheek, shaking her head slowly, before reaching up and closing his eyes. She then turned and did the same for Oriana, murmuring a quick prayer for their souls. Elissa stood over them, unable to think or feel or do anything but watch, one hand resting heavily on her mabari's shoulder.

Eleanor stood up slowly. Her face was hard but Elissa could see everything that was suppressed in her mother's eyes. “What manner of fiends slaughters innocents?” she asked.

“I'll make them pay,” Elissa heard herself saying and she knew she meant every word.

Eleanor was still shaking her head and Elissa could see her mother's arms shaking as well. “Howe's not even taking hostages. He means to kill all of us. Oh, poor Fergus ... let's go, I don't want to see this.
They hurried from the room, Eleanor again in the lead. As they left, Elissa pulled the door shut, keeping the horror inside, safe and away for whatever else she would have to face before the night was over.

It wasn't long before they were set upon by even more soldiers and once more the sounds of violence erupted. At one point, Elissa looked down and realized she was bleeding but had no memory of when or why or how. It didn't matter anyway and so she looked away, seeking her next target. And the next. And the next.

By the end, somehow, it was her, Eleanor, and the hound that remained. If she believed in miracles, she would have called it that, but any faith she'd had lay scattered amidst the bodies.

All three of them ran through the hallways, past more dead or dying soldiers, many of whom bore faces far too familiar. Elissa kept moving but tried her best to take a moment and remember, now and forever. Sometimes it took a moment to conjure up the right name but she made sure to try. They deserved that much and more.

When they reached the main hall, she heard a voice that she could recognize immediately. “Go, man the gates,” Ser Gilmore called out. “Keep those bastards out as long as you can.”

When he turned and saw her and Eleanor, relief washed over his face. “Your Ladyship, my lady, you're both alive! I was certain Howe's men had gotten through.”

Elissa shook her head. “They did get through.”

“Maker no, did they ...” his voice trailed off as he looked into her eyes. “When I realized what was happening, it was all I could do to shut the gates. But they won't keep Howe's men out long. You need to get to safety, as fast as you can."

“We need to find Bryce,” Eleanor told him. “Have you see him?”

“I have,” Ser Gilmore said. “When I last saw the Teyrn, he'd been badly wounded. I urged him not to go but he was determined to find you. He went towards the kitchen. I believe he thought to find you at the servant's exit near the larder.”

“Then we must go, immediately,” Eleanor said, taking a few steps in that direction.

Elissa didn't follow, instead standing before Ser Gilmore. “Come with us,” she said softly.

His eyes were filled with sorrow. “My lady, you know I cannot. It is my duty to protect this keep, to protect you. I cannot leave my post now.”

She wanted to argue or order him away but knew it would only be in vain. She reached forward, taking his hand in hers. “Rory...”

He squeezed her hand. “Maker watch over you, Elissa,” he said, before letting go and turning to run towards the gate, which even now was under assault and splintering before the attack.

“Darling, we have to go, now.”

Elissa did as her mother ordered. As they ran, she turned back, trying to spot Ser Gilmore again but, with all the chaos around her, she could not make out his form.

Barkspawn gave a short yip and Elissa realized she was being left behind. She focused her thoughts back to her father in less than a moment and quickened her pace, catching up to her mother just as Eleanor reached the door to the larder. In the distance, she could still here the sound of Howe's men trying to break through.

At first when the door opened, it seemed as though the room was deserted, filled with only darkness and dust. And then she heard laboured breathing and a low groan. “Father?” she called out as Eleanor stepped further into the room. As her eyes adjusted, she finally saw him lying on the ground. At first he was immobile but then, thankfully, he moved to look up at them.

“There you both are,” he said, his voice hardly more than a whisper. “I was ...”

“Bryce!” Eleanor cried out, running to kneel by his side.

“... wondering when you would get here,” he finished, before lying his head on his wife's lap.

“Maker's blood,” Eleanor cried out, “what happened?”

It was a moment before Bryce was able to answer. “Howe's men ... found me first. Almost did me in right there.”

Elissa moved forward, leaving Barkspawn to guard the closed door. “Why is Howe doing this?” she asked. “I thought he was your friend.”

Bryce tried to face her but failed. “I don't know, sweetheart ... I just don't.”

She knelt down beside her mother, reaching for his hand. “We need to get out of here.”

He shook his head slightly. “I won't survive standing, I think.”

“Then we will stay and defend you. We can save you.”

“Ah, my darling girl,” he muttered, running a finger along inside her wrist. “If only will could make it so.”

Before she could answer, there was another bang, louder than before. Eleanor looked back towards the door. “Once Howe's men break through the gate, they will find us. We must go. We can flee together, find you healing magic.”

“No, love, you will have to go without me,” Bryce told her, “The castle is surrounded. I cannot make it.”

“Bryce, we cannot-”

Barkspawn growled suddenly and Elissa spun up onto her feet just in time to see the door open. She reached for her bow and soon had an arrow pointed right at the intruder. It was the Grey Warden, Duncan. He quickly lowered his blades, which was enough to avoid the mabari's attack but not enough to make her trust him – there was no telling what side he would be on.

At the sight of her, he raised his hands. “I mean you no harm, but I'm afraid the Teyrn is correct. Howe's men have not yet discovered this exit but they surround the castle. Getting past will be difficult.”

“Are you going to help us?” Elissa asked, slowly putting away her weapon.

Duncan nodded. “If I can.”

“Duncan,” Bryce gasped, his voice louder than before and more desperate, “I beg you, take my wife and daughter to safety.”

“I will, your Lordship.”

“No,” Elissa said. “Father, I will not leave you.”

“Someone must reach Fergus, tell him what has happened,” Bryce told her. “Tell everyone. Howe thinks he'll use the chaos to advance himself. Make him wrong, Pup. See that justice is done.”

“I ...” Elissa's voice trailed off as she remembered seeing Oren on the floor. Only a few nights before, Fergus had kissed him farewell and now there would never be another hello. She closed her eyes tight, forcing away her tears, before nodding. “I will, Father.”

Duncan stepped closer. “My lord, though I will do this, I fear I must ask you for something in return.”

“Anything.”

Duncan came to stand beside them, going down on one knee to be closer to the Teyrn. “What is happening here pales in comparison to the evil now loose in this world. I came to your castle seeking a recruit. The Darkspawn threat demands that I leave with one.”

Bryce swallow hard. “I ... I understand.”

“Very well,” Duncan agreed. “I will take the Teyrna and your daughter to Ostagar, to the King what happened. Then your daughter joins the Grey Wardens.”

“So long as justice comes to Howe, I agree.”

Duncan turned to Elissa. “Then I offer you a place within the Grey Wardens. Fight with us.”

There was another loud bang, worse than any before. There was no time for anything but decision. “Will I able to fulfil my duty of taking vengeance on Howe?”

“We will inform the King and he will punish Howe,” Duncan told her. “But that is all. A Grey Warden's duties take precedence even over vengeance.”

She turned to her father. “Our family always does our duty first,” he said, finding the strength to sound more like himself. “The darkspawn must be defeated. You must go, for your own sake and for Ferelden's.”

“I will, Father, for you.”

“We must leave quickly then,” Duncan told her.

“Bryce,” Eleanor said, breaking her silence, “are you ... sure?”

“Our daughter will not die of Howe's treachery,” he whispered, gasping again. “She will live and make her mark on the world.”

Eleanor nodded once then looked over at Elissa, her face grave and determined. “Darling, you go alone with Duncan. You have a better chance to escape without me.”

“Eleanor ...”

“Hush, Bryce,” she told him, “I'll kill every bastard who comes through that door to buy them time. But I won't abandon you.”

They stared at each other for a moment until finally Bryce nodded and turned back towards Elissa. “Then go, Pup. Warn your brother.”

One more loud, long crash and then all she could hear was more yelling and screaming and dying.

“They've broken through the gates,” Duncan told her. “We must go, now.”

“Goodbye, darling,” her mother whispered.

“Go,” her father said.

Elissa turned and did the only she could now. She ran.