Opposites Road

The Arl's study was the farthest Ealisay could go from the mage's ritual and still be close to the stairs that led to the family quarters. She didn't know how long it would take for Jowan to defeat the demon or how long it would take the healers to do what they needed to do. So far they were now entering the last gasp of afternoon without a sign of an end. Most of the Wardens' companions were out in the village but Leliana and the older mage were at the castle awaiting news. The Wardens were in the Main Hall where she left them, Alistair watching her as she left. She wondered if she had something in her hair that was odd.

The door to the study opened and Teagan came in looking relieved and he smiled. "Jowan freed Connor and the Ashes worked."

Ealisay stood, closing the book on dwarven society that she had picked up when she came in. "That is excellent news."

"Eamon wishes to see you in the Main Hall with the Wardens."

"Why? Their need is greater than mine." she replied. Before she had met the Wardens she was sure that she was the biggest thing in the world besides Eamon's illness. "I can speak of my matter later."

"This is unbecoming of you lady," he replied coming closer to her. "Besides the villagers wish to buy you drinks in the tavern for your bravery and the sooner you get done with Eamon the sooner you can drink."

Ealisay paled. "I'm a horrible drunk, Bann Teagan. Stomach like a ten year old. Please, my complaints are tiny compared to theirs."

"What is going on in here?" the matronly voice of Wynne asked from the doorway. "My lord?"

"Lady Cousland refuses to see Eamon until after the Grey Wardens and Eamon wishes to see her now."

"Lady Cousland?" Wynne studied the young woman who was glaring daggers at the man.

"By the Maker," she hissed and swatted Teagan with the book in her hand. "I didn't tell them who I am."

"You are the last of the Couslands?" Wynne bowed her head. "I am so sorry about your loss."

"I am not the last of the Couslands." Ealisay replied. "Fergus is alive. I feel it. Here." she thumped her chest defiantly.

Teagan stared at her as he rubbed his arm where the book hit him. She sighed and waved him away.

"Fine, yes. Lets go before you start to pout or something."

The Wardens and Eamon were waiting for when they entered the hall. Eamon looked ill but it was certainly better than comatose. The fire roaring behind him cast a warm glow on the armor of the Wardens and the knights on guard. The elder Arl gave her a welcoming smile.

"You truly have the beauty of your mother when she was young." he greeted. "I cannot repay you for what you have done for my people and my family. I call you my champion, Ealisay Cousland, you shall always be welcome here."

"Thank you, but it is unnecessary," she bowed her head slightly. "The reason I came here has evolved into a bigger problem. Loghain and Arl Howe are tearing our country apart when a Blight is at hand."

None of the men noticed the evasion from her to the Wardens. She had been so good at it with her parents, most of the time, her tutors that it was second nature to her. For her, as horrible as the deaths surrounding her past were, there was the duty to the country first. Her father pledged to help the King and the Grey Wardens and she will honor it.

Eamon nodded. "Very well. Daylen and Alistair have already appraised me of the situation involving Teryn Loghain. Arl Howe's part in it is unclear though gaining power is obviously his goal. I have a proposition to make...to the three of you."

"I'm listening." she replied crossing her arms over her chest.

"I will call a Landsmeet."

Ealisay felt herself smile. "That would put all the chickens in the hen house. Both allies and enemies without much blood shed."

"Indeed, You may confront Howe and we can put Alistair on the throne."

Ealisay felt her brows knit together and she glanced back in forth from Alistair to Eamon. "Pardon?"

The men around her sighed. "Alistair is the child of Maric, borne out of wedlock. He is the last of the Therrin bloodline."

Ealisay cocked her head to the side in confusion and looked over at Alistair. The man looked irritated, either at Eamon for telling her or irritated at being thrust into the thought of ruling. He caught her gaze his countenance turned apologetic. He thought she was going to be mad at him. For what? Not telling her? She made it a point not to tell them her full name and thus leaving her...title? Was she now teryna of Highever? She sighed and gave him a small smile.

"Well that would be the best place to place the claim but it will seem like the Grey Wardens are trying to put a puppet on the throne." she replied. "I remember the Grey Warden, Duncan, coming to Highever and telling of how the Grey Wardens of the Anderfels practically rule that land."

"I do not want to be king." Alistair protested. "Let Anora be queen."

"But what if she is involved somehow? She was close to my mother but Howe was also my father's dearest friend." she replied. "She would not let you live either, you would be a liability to her claim, especially to those who know of you."

"That is a grim thought." Teagan frowned at her from his spot next to his brother.

"Yes, well this is a grim time." she replied and turned to Alistair and Daylen. "If there is anyway that I can assist you just ask."

"Thank you, my lady." Daylen replied.

Eamon nodded. "It has been an eventful day. Some rest would do us all some good. I will be in the family quarters with my wife and son should you need me."

"Thank you Eamon." Ealisay bowed to her elder with the rest of his audience. "Gentlemen, if you will excuse me."

She left the castle with Major bouncing happily around her. The tavern was full of men and women drinking and talking, letting the stress of the last few days slough off them like mud. When she opened the door the villagers noticed and cheered, whistling as she felt her face burst into a bright red blush that started at her hairline and traveled all the way to her chest. Some one slipped a mug of amber ale into her hand and they moved her towards the center of the room where a stool sat. One of the men, maybe one of the knights, grabbed her by her waist and lifted her onto said stool.

"To the Hero of Redcliffe!" the man shouted and the rest of the tavern mimicked him. "Go ahead, my lady. Drink."

"Drink! Drink! Drink!" the crowd chorused over and over until she gave in and started to chug the ale down.

When she had finished she held up the empty mug and tipped it over so that they could see that she had finished it off. They cheered again, some urging her with words while the others whistled and another mug found itself into her delicate little hands. She repeated her last performance and shoved the empty mug to a unknown man's hand. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Bann Teagan enter the inn and saw him grim as she politely wiped foam of her upper lip.

"People, please!" she cried happily lifting her hands into the air. "Bann Teagan deserves the high praise and free drinks! He was our leader and without him all would be lost!"

She gestured over to the older man who waved away the praise and thumps on the back that some of the men gave him. While the crowd's attention was away from her she slipped off the stool and made her way over to the table that had been claimed by Leliana and Wynne.

"Not very eager for celebrity are we, my lady." Wynne replied with a smile and handed her a mug of water.

"No, not really." Ealisay answered as she took her seat across from them. "Besides I didn't really do much save for getting on a boat and lighting a fire."

"You saved a village and a maid and you confirmed peoples' belief in the Maker and Andraste." Leliana replied. "You will have songs written about you if they have their way with things."

Ealisay paled at the thought. "Maker no."

"What are you going to do now?"

"While the mages were doing their work with Connor I looked for a book that could tell me more about golems since I'm in the company of one." she answered. "Dwarves made them centuries ago to fight darkspawn. I hope that Shale and I travel to Orzammar to see if we can dig anything up for her."

"Her?" Leliana asked.

Ealisay smirked. "Having to spend every waking hour with a giant snarky statue will cause you to figure out if it has a gender and since she likes to call me "it" I call her "her".

"She calls you "it"?" Leliana chuckled and waved her empty mug up to be refilled by a passing barmaid.

"How did you get a hold of Shale in the first place?"

"In a village that had once been home to an apostate named Wilhelm." Ealisay replied bluntly. " I remember my father talking about the same mage with a giant golem and at first I didn't make the connection until Shale confirmed that she was the same golem. Wilhelm's wife had him shrink her down so that Shale could fit into the house."

"How does one shrink a golem?"

Ealisay laughed at the reminder of the same conversation she had with Shale. "With a chisel and a lot of nerve. Shale thinks of the woman as a hag. The golem has wit which is nice when on the road a lot. I had to trick a demon into freeing a little girl to get her."

"A demon?" Wynne's eyebrow quirked.

"It seemed Wilhelm used the demon and her minions to guard his lab." she shrugged and finished off her water. "Ah well, I don't think I shall ever be surprised what is out in the wide world."

"You didn't leave the castle much, did you?" Leliana chuckled.

"No, I didn't. I've been to Denerim but that was mainly for the Landsmeet and mother trying to make a marriage for myself." Ealisay chuckled sadly. "Waste of time, really. So, where are you and your companions off to after this?"

"Oh, well there are still two treaties left." Wynne answered smoothly. "I think Daylen and Alistair were thinking of heading to the Brecilian Forest, it's closer and Daylen is interested in seeing how the other side of his people live."

Ealisay nodded."Sounds like a fine plan."

"Lady Ealisay?" a young woman's voice asked from behind. It was Valena, the blacksmith's daughter.

"How are you feeling, Valena?" she asked concern tinging her voice.

"I'm better," the young woman replied sheepishly. "I just wanted to thank you for rescuing me. Before you leave Redcliffe my father wants to see you."

Ealisay smiled and patted her arm. "Of course, go on and enjoy yourself. You need it more than I do."

Valena smiled and left Ealisay to her water. Strangely her water had turned to ale but she didn't care. She was quick in drinking it as she watched Teagan in the epicenter of the villagers praise. He turned to her and she answered with a raising of her mug and a grin. He shook his head and tried to decline the refilled tankard that appeared in his hand. The men around him, including Murdock, encouraged him to continue drinking.

"You are doing that on purpose." Leliana laughed. "Poor man."

"He'll live." Ealisay replied with a smirk watched Wynne's gaze turn to the tavern's entrance.

Alistair and Daylen, dressed in regular clothes instead of their armor, had entered. The two moved through the crowd without incident and Daylen waved at the trio of ladies. Alistair grew a little red at the sight of them and hurried off to grab a couple of tankards. The elf moved effortlessly between patrons and grinned at the table of females as he did so.

"Evening ladies." he replied taking a seat next to Leliana leaving the only empty spot next to Ealisay. He inclined his head to Teagan and his audience. "How long has he been drinking?"

"Not long enough." Ealisay smirked over her tankard.

"Oh, someone's being devious." Daylen grinned. "You know what they say about drunk men and being roughed up."

"They puke all over the carpet?" Alistair asked as he came over with two tankards. He gave one to Daylen and kept one for himself. He turned to Ealisay. "May sit next to you, Lady Cousland?"

It was meant to tease her, or mock her, she couldn't tell so she decided to play towards the teasing slant. "Of course, my prince." she grinned.

"By the Maker!" Alistair groaned making Ealisay laugh at his unease.

"I'm sorry," Ealisay giggled, swallowing down the rest of her mirth at his new circumstance. "I shouldn't tease you about that. Please, just call me Ealisay."

"Oh no, you should." Daylen replied. "He never told me either."

Alistair sighed into his ale. "I didn't think it mattered until now. I thought that Eamon or Teagan would approach the throne since they are related to Cailin's mother."

"Don't worry, Alistair." Leliana replied. "We don't hold anything against you."

"See? Nothing to worry about." Ealisay comforted the Warden next to her with a smile. "Just enjoy yourself tonight. You could probably use it."

She let the phrase speak of the trials he'd been through before and that she knew of them. The table got quiet, each patron letting the ruckus flow over them as they drank. For Ealisay it was a nice silence, no need for small talk or idle chit chat. Some one tapped her on the shoulder breaking her from her distance and she turned to see who it was. Teagan was looking down at her with glazed eyes that she had seen at a few of her mother's salons.

"Lady Ealisay, you look as if you could use some fresh air." he replied and the tone of his voice spoke of a conversation wanting to be had. He cast a quick look at the Warden sitting next to her but did not lose his smile.

"You look like you could use the fresh air more than I do." she chuckled but stood. "Come Bann Teagan, lets get you some fresh air before you fall over."

She slipped her arm through his and guided the newly drunk Bann out of the tavern and into the lakeside night.