Chapter 16 – The Way Things Change

"One good thing about having Shale with us is that people stare at him as much as they stare at me," Kaehlyn said as they made their way through the Hall of Ancestors. The golem was gathering many looks, but as soon as the people stopped staring at him, Kaehlyn noticed their eyes turning to her, and that was when the whispering truly started. The only friendly glance she'd gotten was from the scholar she had helped on the day of the Proving, and it was the only one she expected to get.

"I'm almost expecting them to throw something," she added as a mother pulled her daughter away from them as they passed.

"You're a Warden, so they can do nothing," Alistair said, and Kaehlyn hoped for some humorous remark, because that would've told her that despite their previous conversation, everything was fine between them. But he remained silent and she continued on, her heart sinking even lower.

"We need to go see Harrowmont first," Kaehlyn said as they reached the doors leading to the Commons. "The rest of you can wait at his estate while I go see Bhelen."

"You can't be serious!" Gorim stopped her, touching her arm gently, but firmly. "You can't trust him, the moment he sees you he will…"

"I need to see him," Kaehlyn said, trying to stop her voice from breaking. "I need to look him in the eye and ask him if he killed father. I just have to. I'm sorry, but in this instance I'm not going to be reasonable, even if you give me that disapproving look."

"You're not going alone," Gorim stated, letting go of her arm. "I'm coming with you."

"I wouldn't have expected otherwise," Kaehlyn smiled, and pushed the doors open.

There were sound of a fight and a group of people gathered near the bridge to the Proving Grounds. As they approached, a horrified sigh rose from the crowd. Then the crowd started slowly to disperse, and Kaehlyn could see a group of armed guards escorting someone towards the Diamond Quarter. Soon the only ones left in the opening were four guards gathered around a body.

"So, this is dwarven politics, then?" Zevran smirked. "Pretty close to Antivan politics, although the killings usually take place in less public places."

"They usually do here, too," Kaehlyn sighed and motioned everyone to follow. The guards at the entrance to the Diamond Quarter were not very pleased to let her through, but the Grey Warden seal carried enough weight to make the men step aside, crumbling, and allow them entrance.

"Kaehlyn?" A noblewoman standing near the entrance with her servant stepped closer as they approached. "Kae, is that really you?"

"Nerav!" Kaehlyn smiled at the woman, then hesitated. After all, if nothing had happened, they'd probably already celebrated the marriage of Nerav and Trian, and if Nerav believed Bhelen's lies, then she would blame her for Trian's death.

"Oh, Kae, it's so good you're back!" Nerav rushed to hug her, then stepped quickly back. "You know, that armour is awfully hard."

"Sort of its point" Kaehlyn smiled, relieved. "How are you?"

"How would you think?" Nerav replied. "I'm so sorry about your father, and I'm sorry that I actually believed Bhelen's lies for a second. I should've known you would never do anything like that."

"What has happened here? Are they fighting in the streets now?" Kaehlyn looked around. Although the Diamond Quarter seemed normal, there was something in the air, something she'd never felt before. People seemed to be on their guard, eyeing each other to see whether anyone could be trusted. Thankfully Shale was again gathering up most of the stares, so Kaehlyn drew Nerav aside.

"Bhelen insists the crown belongs to him, but Harrowmont is vehement to keep the promise he made to your father. Mostly they are fighting at the Assembly, but sometimes the most fanatical followers fight in the streets. Yesterday a servant was injured and another died at a failed assassination attempt to one of Harrowmont's trusted followers. And there is no end in sight," Nerav sighed. "Neither one of them has enough followers to win, and it seems like the only thing they can do now is either bribe or kill enough of the other one's followers."

"The Blight is coming and Orzammar needs to stand united," Kaehlyn said. "And for that it needs a king."

"You'll support Harrowmont?" Nerav asked. "I fear your support won't mean much. Bhelen's followers will call you a murderer and tell everyone that your support proves that Harrowmont is trying to steal the throne. And if you support Bhelen…"

"Never," Kaehlyn said, her voice almost breaking. Helping Bhelen get the throne, what would that make her? Someone who rewarded murder and betrayal. "I guess I'll go see Steward Bandelor, to hear what his view of the situation is, and then go meet Harrowmont."

"Remember that you will always be welcome in the house of Helmi if you need a place to stay," Nerav said.

"Thank you, Nerav," Kaehlyn said and watched the woman walk away.

"I wonder if there is any other way to resolve this than with blood," Gorim leaned towards her as they walked towards the Assembly Hall, speaking quietly. "As always, you just need to say the word."

"I'm…" Kaehlyn hesitated. "You just offered to kill my brother, didn't you? You think you could make it in and out of the palace alive?"

"I would only need to get in," Gorim said calmly, and Kaehlyn felt a chill run down her spine.

"No," she said, looking into his eyes. "We will try to resolve this without violence. Put Harrowmont on that throne fairly. Or at least as fairly as it's possible in Orzammar."

…

The Assembly was a mess, deshyrs shouting at one another, couple of them even drawing their weapons. The Steward ordered the Assembly to break, coming to meet Kaehlyn with a tired look on his face. What he told her was almost identical to what Nerav had said; neither candidate had enough support to win, but neither one was backing down, either. It would take almost a miracle for one of them to get such support that there was no room for an argument. He apologised he couldn't be any help, wishing her good luck in whatever she decided to do.

Lord Harrowmont's estate was well guarded, but after a small exchange of messages between the guards and whoever it was in charge inside, they were allowed entrance. Lord Harrowmont came to greet them in the hall, looking more determined than she'd ever seen.

"Your father was so sorry for what happened, for believing Bhelen," Harrowmont explained as they sat in his office. "But there are many who believe his lies, or are lulled by his promises of a more 'modern' future, so winning will not be easy."

"What can I do to help?" Kaehlyn asked and Harrowmont told them about the criminal carta, rising form Dust Town to claim hold of all of Orzammar.

"But even if I can claim the glory of defeating them, it will not be enough," Harrowmont sighed. "I think that the only thing that could really sway the vote would be Branka."

"The Paragon?" Kaehlyn asked. "But surely she is dead. It has been two years and…"

"Bhelen's men have started searching the Deep Roads," Harrowmont interrupted her. "I've sent some of my men to do the same. If there is any chance that she is alive, then… The situation is so bad that finding the Paragon and getting her endorsement seems like the only thing that could have any effect on the Assembly."

"I need to think about what do. Perhaps we could talk more tomorrow," Kaehlyn said. "It's getting late and I still need to visit the palace."

"What?" Harrowmont stared at her. "Bhelen will never allow you entrance. At worst, he will try to kill you."

"I want to bring him down," Kaehlyn said, slowly. "But I will not do so behind his back. I need to meet him. I need to look him in the eye and ask him why he did what he did. I need to ask him if he killed father. This is something that I have to do."

"I'll be going with her," Gorim said. "She won't be unprotected."

"And I was also hoping Shale would come too," Kaehlyn said and the golem glared at her.

"Why would it want me to come?"

"Well, if you don't mind, I would like to be able to go all 'Step aside or my golem will break the gates', in case they refuse to let us in," Kaehlyn said. "'My golem' being a bluff, naturally, since you're your own golem," she added quickly.

"If the guards won't step aside, do I have your permission to squish them?" Shale asked, the enthusiasm in his voice sounding quite worrying. But Kaehlyn hesitated only for a second.

"Of course," she replied, and the golem nodded.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"Lord Harrwomont, your youngest daughter is about my size, isn't she?" Kaehlyn asked as the rest of the group started to wander off. "I don't wish to march in there dressed in armour and carrying a sword. I'm going there as an ambassador of the Grey Wardens and a daughter of a dead king, not as a warrior. I don't think Bhelen would let me near him if I was carrying my sword."

"I'll see what the servants can find," Lord Harrowmont said, and then walked to a weapon rack at the end of the room. "And these daggers are small enough to conceal when wearing a dress," he said, taking out two delicate, but sharp daggers. "Taking them is my condition for getting a dress."

"Seems reasonable enough," Kaehlyn said, smiling a little, and took the daggers. "Wait for me in the hall," she said to Gorim and Shale, and then followed a servant towards the living quarters.

…

"Does it know that it looks very good in that dress?" Shale asked in a conversational tone as they were leaving for the castle, Gorim wearing his armour, Kaehlyn dressed in dark blue dress and a black cape. "That colour brings out its complexion very nicely."

"What?" Kaehlyn asked, turning to look at the golem, who looked also slightly confused.

"I… I just had this thought that its dress was nice. And that I should be envious of how nice it looks when wearing the dress. Clearly its presence has done my brains some harm," Shale said, sounding both exasperated and baffled.

"Right…" Kaehlyn glanced at Gorim, who shrugged.

"Shale is right, you look wonderful. Although right now I would prefer you in armour," he added and, despite his worry of what might happen when they got to the castle, he also felt a warm flush as he watched her cheeks redden a little at his words.

"Let's just go," Kaehlyn turned away, suddenly not wanting to meet Gorim's eyes. The daggers Harrowmont had given her were hidden away, but easily accessible should the situation call for it. She wasn't certain if she wanted a reason to use them on Bhelen or not, and it frightened her slightly.

Surprisingly enough, and to Shale's disappointment, they were allowed entrance to the castle right away. But it became clear why as soon as they got in. There were armed guards, more than she'd ever seen in the castle at once, in every corridor. Part of Kaehlyn wondered, disapprovingly, that those guards would've served better making sure the carta wasn't threatening the people instead of protecting Bhelen. Part of her understood exactly how afraid her brother was, even though he'd never admit his fear to anyone.

"I'd never thought I'd see you again," Bhelen greeted her as they were escorted into the throne room. He was surrounded by guards, most of them holding crossbows and looking like they were ready to use them any second.

"That I can believe," she replied. "After all, you wanted me dead."

"A prize for murder usually is death," Bhelen replied. "Poor Trian, he had such a future ahead of him. I see you've picked up a golem somewhere on the way. Should I be impressed? Or should I be impressed that your second-in-command is still following you around like a tame… Dog, isn't it, the drooling creatures the surfacers have?"

"I'm not here to listen to your lies or insults," Kaehlyn said. "I wish to talk to you, alone. Unless you wish to answer the questions I have in front of everyone."

"Alone with a sister who's already murdered my dearest brother?" Bhelen asked, but there was flicker in his eyes Kaehlyn couldn't quite read. "How do I know you won't try to kill me the minute we're alone?"

Kaehlyn glanced at Gorim, who was staring at Bhelen and looked ready to attack, and then reached to take out her hidden daggers and handed them to the man.

"Now I'm unarmed," she said, spreading her arms open. "Does your highness have the courage to speak to me now that he has a weapon and I don't?"

"Leave us," Bhelen signalled the guards after a short moment of silence and then looked at Gorim and Shale. "They leave too."

"I'm not going to..:" Gorim started to say, but Kaehlyn turned to look at him.

"I'll be fine," she said, smiling at him. "If not," she whispered, leaning closer, "tell Shale to squish whoever he wishes."

"I'll be right outside," Gorim touched her hand, gently, and glared at Bhelen before walking out after Shale.

"Have you bedded him yet?" Bhelen asked when the door closed. "The fool seems to worship the stones you walk on rather than the Stone."

"I don't have the patience for your idiocy," Kaehlyn said, walking closer to her brother. "I just want an honest answer from you. Did you kill father?"

"Is that what Harrowmont is saying?" Bhelen looked her straight in the eye. "That I killed him?"

"Why would that be so hard to believe?" Kaehlyn asked, fighting to keep calm. "You already had killed Trian. What's patricide if you already have practised on fratricide?"

"I did not kill father," Bhelen said, looking away and sighing. "You won't believe me, I understand that, but I didn't. I could've waited. I just needed Trian out of the way. And you, of course."

"I was never in your way," Kaehlyn said. "I never wanted the th…"

"Don't do that!" Bhelen's voice was almost a growl. "You kept saying you just want to be a warrior, you have no interest on the throne, but everyone loved you! The warrior princess, almost like her grandmother, both beautiful and brave! Trian would've made a lousy king, everyone knew that, except father! I bet you anything, anything, that after father's death, the Assembly would've gathered and one of Trian's followers would've nominated him as the king, but then one deshyr would've risen, and another, and another, and all of them would've nominated you. And you would've taken the throne, because that would've been your duty. You wouldn't have walked away."

"Have you suddenly gained the gift of foresight?" Kaehlyn hissed at him. "You based all of your plans on this fantasy, on this…"

"On the truth!" Bhelen yelled. "It's what would've happened! It has happened before, it would've happened again. The unwilling noble becomes the king because the Assembly deems it so. I decided to follow father's example and make sure I was the one to become king."

"What do you mean, follow his example?" Kaehlyn asked, blinking.

"Come on, how stupid are you? He was once me! His brother was destined to be the king, but whoops, the brother dies and then suddenly it's King Endrin on the throne!" Bhelen stopped and grinned at her. "Father should've been proud that I followed his example!"

"Liar!" Kaehlyn wished she'd still have those daggers, because one of them belonged between Bhelen's ribs. Instead she lunged herself at her brother, her fingernails scratching his cheek before he had the time to protect himself. She tried to hit him, but he caught hold of her wrist, then her other one.

"I am a murderer!" Bhelen yelled at her face as she tried to struggle free. "That I can admit! But a liar I am not. What I did was no worse than what father did. You can choose to live in blind ignorance and think father did nothing wrong, or you can go to the Shaperate, read the records and see the truth."

"You will never be the king as long as I live," Kaehlyn hissed at him. "I will make sure of that."

"You will let me in this instant!" The door swung open and a red-haired woman ran in and stopped, staring at them in horror. Kaehlyn remembered her, from the day before the battle. She'd come from Bhelen's room, at the day of the Proving, and now… Now she was wearing a loose dress that still didn't hide her growing stomach. Bhelen released Kaehlyn's wrists and took a step back, as if expecting another attack.

"You're going to be a father?" Kaehlyn asked, her voice almost a whisper, as the woman hurried past her and flung herself in Bhelen's arms. The woman turned to look at her, tears in her eyes.

"Do not harm him," she said, her voice pleading. "He's all I have."

"For your sake, I hope it's a boy," Kaehlyn said, unable to think of anything else to say, and turned away. She could hear Bhelen mumbling some reassurances to the woman, but it was impossible to make out the words. Not that it really mattered what her brother said to his whore, or did it?

"My lady…" Gorim tried to stop her, but she walked past him. She was aware of Gorim and Shale following her back to Harrowmont's estate and aware of following a servant to the room that had been prepared for her, but then she collapsed on the floor, hugging her knees and staring ahead without really seeing anything. She wasn't certain how many hours had passed before there was a knock on her door and Gorim slipped in.

"Your father served my father, so he would've known," Kaehlyn said before Gorim had time to ask how she was or make some other irrelevant question or comment. "And that means you might know it too. Did my father kill his own brother?" She looked up at Gorim, who stood there, in candlelight, clearly trying to think of what to say. His silence told her enough.

"Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised," she said. "After all, I grew up in the middle of all the politics. I've given a few orders to kill someone myself. I know father has, too. But his own brother… And I wanted to kill Bhelen, I wanted it so bad, but then that would've made me no different from him. And he will be a father! I will have a nephew or niece! I… I thought I already knew what it felt like for a life to crumble down, but this is much worse. This is…"

"Kaehlyn," Gorim knelt next to her on the floor and wrapped his arms around her. She allowed him to pull her into his arms, and pressed her head against his shoulder. His fingers were caressing her hair gently and she allowed herself to cry, feeling safe and… and loved. She could be weak, at least for a moment, because he wouldn't judge her, he would be there no matter what. At some point she must've fallen asleep, because she woke up the next morning in her bed, still wearing the blue dress. She changed her clothes and washed her face, the ordinary actions helping her not to think about the previous day, and headed to Harrowmont's office, where Gorim was already waiting. Waiting for her, she realized as he looked up and smiled at her.

"Thank you," she said, smiling back at him.

"Anything for you," he replied, and she knew he meant it.

…

Note from the writer: Schedules, can't keep 'em. And DA2 is almost here, which is both a blessing and a curse. But thank you for reading, there is more to come, although the "when" is not yet clear.