With the business of the Grey Warden treaties over and done with, Caelyra thought it would be best to help her companions with a few things before setting off to Redcliffe and the inevitable landsmeet between nobles.
She had promised Shale that they would go to the Cadash Thaig in the deep roads to jog any memories she may have had before she got turned to stone, and she had told Oghren that they would go to Lake Calenhad to find a long-lost lover of his so they could be reacquainted after Branka's death.
On the way back to Orzammar and the deep roads, they were accosted by assassins. Again. They were swiftly dealt with, but just before Caelyra killed the leader, Leliana stopped her.
Leliana spoke the assassin and demanded to know who had sent him. The man did not know, only that he was to report to a house in Denerim for payment once the deed was done. Though there wasn't much information to go on, Leliana was certain that the one who had sent these assassins was her old mentor and bardsmaster — Marjolaine.
Leliana asked if they could go to Denerim, to this address, and confront the woman. Of course Caelyra agreed. But first they were going to the deep roads.
Cadash Thaig seemed a lot different to the other areas of the deep roads they had explored previously. Light burst in from the surface and there was greenery everywhere. If not for the dwarven architecture it would seem more an elven ruin than a dwarvish one.
It was filled with darkspawn of course, and hundreds upon hundreds of the lizard-like deepstalkers.
They fought through them all until they had gone from one end of the Thaig to the other.
There are great statue stood, and beneath it a monument to those who had volunteered to become golems for the Paragon Caridin. Shale's name was there. It was true. She had once been a squishy creature of flesh and blood and not just a stone construct.
Taking in the flickers of memories, Shale said that she needed some time to think. She thanked Caelyra for bringing her here but for now, she just wanted to be alone with her thoughts.
They left the deep roads, for the last time.
Closer to civilisation, Caelyra left Shale at camp and took Oghren to Lake Calenhad. There, at the tavern, he spied his long-lost lover, Felsi.
Oghren begged Caelyra to go talk with her, to test the waters, to see if it was worth Oghren going over and saying hello. Apparently they hadn't left on such good terms and he was a bit scared of her.
Rolling her eyes but smirking to herself, Caelyra wandered over to the lady dwarf and chatted her up for a bit and asked her if she knew an Oghren. Of course she did, that sleazebag; but before she could go into any great detail, the innkeeper yelled at Felsi to get back to work.
Despite the innkeeper's yelling, Oghren thought that now would be a good time to reacquaint himself with Felsi.
The two argued and delivered insults upon eachother like nobody's business, but apparently that was some sort of strange courtship ritual for as Oghren was saying his goodbyes, she begged for him to stay, or to catch up, or to have some ale before he left at least.
Caelyra's cupid arrow had won the day!
With Felsi's heart wafting around Oghren's head, Caelyra had one last stop. Denerim.
They quickly found the address that the would-be assassin had given them and stalked inside. After dispatching of the two guards that waited in the entrance, they stepped through to the living area and came face to face with a pretty Orlesian woman. Leliana's Marjolaine.
Marjolaine was paranoid. Certain that Leliana was out to get her. She had been keeping an eye on Leliana ever since she came to Ferelden, to the Chantry and became a sister, but was certain that Leliana was up to something more.
No longer wanting to wait for Leliana to betray her as she had betrayed Leliana, Marjolaine decided that it was simply time for Leliana to die.
Leliana was shocked. She had put her old life behind her and was hoping Marjolaine had done the same. She demanded that Marjolaine leave Ferelden forever, to let the past go.
Marjolaine stalked out the door. Apparently Leliana had a secret of Marjolaine's and could not be trusted, and that she would be back for Leliana one day.
Leliana wasn't concerned. She was certain that this time she would be free of Marjolaine.
Back at the camp after their eventful day of fulfilling wishes before the landsmeet, Caelyra thought that she would at last speak to Alistair of the looming issue that would soon face them: the possibility that he could become king.
What would happen to them if that were the case? Would they still be together? Would he still love her?
He didn't know the answers. He loved her, but he could not shirk his duty if he were to become king. He would prefer not think about it until it came to pass.
Approaching Redcliffe the next morning, Caelyra was surprised to see dwarves and elves using the training dummies outside of the castle. Evidently the forces she had secured were coming to Redcliffe and preparing for the upcoming fight against the darkspawn. It was very welcoming to see.
Inside the castle, Arl Eamon awaited their return and asked if they were ready for him to call the Landsmeet.
Caelyra nodded. Yes, they were as ready as they were ever going to be.
They set off for Denerim later that day and arrived just before night fell. Word of their arrival did not take long. Within moments of their arrival at Eamon's estate in the city, Loghain barged through the doors with one of his guards and... Arl Howe.
Caelyra clenched her fists and glared at the man, biting her tongue lest she say something wrong in the face of these already tense talks. At one point he mentioned Ferelden needing to be united against the Blight and that was enough, she couldn't hold her tongue any longer.
She accused him of being the one to divide Ferelden after Ostagar. He snapped back at her, just who the hell was she? Caelyra stood proud and declared herself Teyrn Cousland of Highever.
Then Howe had the audacity to speak to her. He was Teyrn of Highever; the Couslands were all dead, they had died when he had revealed them traitors to the king.
This whole conversation was ridiculous but Caelyra couldn't let her anger take her over, not at a time like this. Soon Loghain, Howe and the guard stalked out of Eamon's estate and left them be... for now.
Eamon told her to wander the city, to pose as his eyes and ears so he could get a better read of the situation and on how he should proceed once in the Landsmeet. Proving Loghain accountable for this mess was going to be no small task and they had to be careful.
Eamon went upstairs to his study and allowed Caelyra and her companions use of his estate. This would be their home whilst they were in the city. It was nice not to have to sleep in tents anymore; she had missed the simple luxury of a soft bed and enclosed walls.
After speaking to all of her people and making sure they were settled in, she returned to Eamon in his study just for a chat before going out into Denerim city.
It was good timing too, for he was talking with a very distressed, well-dressed elf. She claimed to be the queen's handmaiden and her queen was in trouble! Arl Howe had Queen Anora locked up in his estate, and there were plans of killing her and framing Eamon for her murder.
It seemed a bit farfetched, but rescuing the queen would be a great boon. If she spoke out against her father, Loghain, they would have a very powerful voice at the Landsmeet indeed.
Caelyra knew what she had to do. Putting on her boots, she grabbed Alistair, Wynne and Morrigan, and stepped out into Denerim. It was time to eavesdrop on some nobles and perhaps rescue a queen!
Until next time! ⚔️🐲
All screenshots in this post are courtesy of me, 