Chapter Text
This letter sits pride of place on Fergus Cousland’s desk.
Dear Brother,
I’ve arrived at Vigil’s Keep. We’ve had some small troubles with lingering darkspawn, but otherwise all is well. The King visited to grant his blessing and then was back to Denerim in a hurry. Varel, Howe’s seneschal—mine now, I suppose—seems to have a good head on his shoulders and has been a great help so far. It seems like Howe left the region in quite a knot, even Blight notwithstanding.
Even with the Blight in such recent memory it’s hard to scrape any promising recruits together. A couple have fallen right into my lap with no other place to go, but the promised great rebuilding of the Fereldan Order will take time. I expect to be engaged here full-time for the foreseeable future.
Nate Howe is back from the Anderfels and showed up threatening revenge for his father. He’s still in quite a mood but I’m hoping to talk him around. I don’t think he realized how far gone Howe was. My hope is that Delilah will help if we can find her.
It’s difficult to be in the keep knowing it’s where Howe plotted his violence against our family. But then, I imagine you are facing difficulties of your own there at home.
Take care and keep safe.
All my love,
Gwen
This letter was reassembled from fragments in a fireplace at Vigil’s Keep.
Alist Your Majesty A,
I was glad to see you
I’m glad I was able to attend your coronation before leaving for Amaranthine. I wondered whether your brief visit was
Things are well under control here. Please don’t waste worry on the Order for now.
Are you
Could I
Perhaps
The letter ends with a scribble of frustration.
This letter was reassembled from fragments in a fireplace at Denerim Palace.
Gwen Warden Commander,
I’m glad things seem to be progressing at Vigil’s Keep. I’ve received favorable
Teagan wanted me to ask you
Would you consider
I’m afraid I’ve made a
Below are several doodles: a heart cracked down the middle, a darkspawn impaled on an improbably long sword, and a snarling mabari. An imposing figure in armor has been rendered, poorly, over and over.
This letter and its yet-unsent reply are tucked out of sight under a book on the Bann of Rainesfere’s desk.
Teagan,
Good to see you in Denerim, albeit briefly. I hope the recovery effort is going well in Rainesfere and that Eamon hasn’t left too much on your plate in the way of Redcliffe. Highever is largely well, aside from the aftermath of Howe’s ransacking, and I would be interested to discuss what aid we could offer you both as thanks for Redcliffe’s support against the Blight and Loghain’s coup. Although it sounds like the Landsmeet came down to teyrn against (acting) teyrn, I know my sister’s efforts were only made possible by Eamon’s backing.
I write now with a more personal question, however, and I hope you will indulge me by not mentioning this to either involved party. Do you know if anything occurred between my sister and the King? As the only two wardens to survive Ostagar, and given the months I hear they traveled together, it makes sense that they would grow close. But by the coronation they didn’t seem to be speaking, and Gwen kept changing the subject when I asked about him. A falling out, perhaps?
I only ask so I can be sensitive to my sister’s feelings, and so I don’t put my foot in my mouth while representing Highever’s interests to the Crown.
Fond regards,
Fergus Cousland
Fergus,
I’m glad you were safe and sound after all! Your sister was distressed by your absence these last months. It’s a relief that Highever has been returned to the right hands—especially since, as you say, it was the Couslands and Guerrins sticking their necks out the farthest in this whole business. I am humbled by your offer of aid and would be happy to discuss it. Perhaps in Denerim after the harvest?
Firstly, I must tell you that Gwen distinguished herself greatly in the services she rendered to Redcliffe. Had she and Alistair His Majesty not arrived with their friends when they did, I think the unfortunate situation we discussed would have run its course and wiped out the town. Eamon and I are indebted to your family.
With that in mind, I am loath to speculate on their personal business. What Alistair His Majesty has told me, and what was obvious from their interactions, was that there was a great deal of affection between them. I would not be surprised if things were serious. But in the end, Alistair His Majesty seemed concerned about the logistics of having two wardens on the throne, particularly concerning heirs (?), and your sister agreed to part amicably.
Now, I too have eyes and ears, and thus can see that there is hurt on both sides. But that is the end of my knowledge on the matter.
Good Luck,
Teagan Guerrin