Grey [ Closed ]
kxngcailan
It had been only a day. Only one, single, solitary day since the landsmeet. One day since Loghain had come to realize the full gravity of what he had done. Prior to that day, he had not allowed himself to think on it. He had kept himself numb with drink and focused all efforts on the country he loved so dearly, but he had quickly lost sight of what was best. He had allowed so much to happen while he had been drowning in his wine and regret that he just couldn't see what he had become.
That had all changed at the landsmeet, however. He had lost, it had been plain to see, and no matter how he had protested, he had met his match in a fair duel. He had surrendered, no desire in him to make any more of a scene when the warden had bested him. He had laid down his blade, ready for judgement to be passed upon him. He knew there would be consequences and he would not run from them. His actions had been out of desperation but they were no more excusable than if he had committed them spitefully. He expected execution. He expected to look up to see Anora, standing horrified as a blade was raised high, prepared to strike him down as he so deserved. He expected his last feeling to be one of crushing sorrow for the fact that his daughter had had to deal with him while he was behaving this way. He had failed her. He had failed Ferelden. His own fear of the past had clouded his judgement and he had done far more damage than he had done good.
What he had not expected was for a man to step forward, apparently one of the Grey, himself, and offer an alternative to his death. Loghain could feel his face fall blank, the arguing voices of the wardens and his daughter sounding faintly in the back of his mind as his eyes dropped to the floor. Whatever they decided, he would accept, whether it be his death or this 'joining' that the older warden had suggested.
It wasn't long before they reached a decision and the weapon that would have spilled his blood was sheathed, showing that he was not to die, but be put to the test of joining their order. A sigh left him, not one of relief, but one of slight disappointment, perhaps as he slowly raised his gaze from the floor. Just then, however, he saw the double doors to the chamber swing open slowly and a figure hobble it's way inside.
Looking closer, Loghain froze in shock as he discovered who it was that was intruding. Coated in dirt and blood and clothed in a tattered tunic, breeches and many bandages, was none other than Cailan. Loghain almost didn't believe his eyes. Since Ostagar, excessive amounts of alcohol had brought visions of the king to his mind, the state he had left him in, the younger man speaking to him from beyond the grave. This would not have been the first time. But he realized that other people in the chamber were reacting to the Theirin's presence just as he was. Cailan moved slowly, obviously still wounded, unlike the way he would imagine a ghost to move, certainly. Before he could speak he was pulled to his feet and guided towards the exit to face the joining, whatever that entailed. Try as he might to stay stubbornly in place, he was dragged from the hall before he or the king had a chance to say anything to one another.
Prior to this moment, he had known very little about the Grey Wardens and he had little desire to learn, especially right then. His thoughts were still fixed on the king's return from the grave, even as he raised the goblet of blood to his lips and drank. Immediately, he was almost sick, feeling the corruption flow thickly through his body. His skin began to crawl and burn even as he shuddered from the chill the substance gave him. Before he could speak or move, his head spun and he lurched forward, losing consciousness seconds before he hit the ground.
When he awoke, he was surprised to find himself in a room in the Arl's Denerim estate. Part of him had expected to just be left on the floor to push himself up whenever it was that he awakened. With a groan, he sat up, the vague flashes of a nightmare still dancing in front of his eyes when he closed them. A great dragon surrounded by countless darkspawn. Had that been the archdemon?
Getting to his feet, he glanced around quickly, trying to assess his surroundings. What about Cailan? Had that truly been him? What had happened with him since Loghain had left for his joining? Should he try to find him or stay hidden here until the others called on him to leave with them? No. He wasn't enough of a coward to avoid facing the mistakes he had made. With a sigh, he made his way out of the room. It seemed however, that he did not have to go far before running into the king.