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Still here, I see.
Genevieve would cut off my feet if I went anywhere.
Ah, poor Duncan.
Shut up, Fiona. Did you see the Commander?
She's still negotiating with the captain of the city watch, thanks to you.
Negotiating? She does that?
Well, he's negotiating. She's staring him down and not budging an inch, of course.
You're rather lucky, all things considered you know.
Yes, lucky.
Lady Genevieve are you certain...
You may call me Genevieve. Or Commander. Nothing else
My apologies, Commander. Are you certain that was necessary? Your order does not wish to
antagonize King Maric, after all. . . .
We have already antagonized King Maric. And our order will bow to no authority, especially
not some foolish watch captain who believes he possesses more power than he does.
I trust you are satisfied? Maybe if I'd gotten away with it.
Don't be a child. We did not come to Ferelden to engage in nonsense, as you are well aware.
I hear you.
Your Majesty, it is good to see you in such excellent health!
Thank you, First Enchanter. So these are the Wardens you were so keen on me meeting?
May I introduce to you Genevieve, Commander of the Grey Wardens in Orlais.
I apologize for the delay in our arrival, King Maric. It was not our intention to anger you.
You Grey Wardens seem to get into a great deal of trouble in Ferelden, despite your best intentions.
This is Teyrn Loghain of Gwaren. The Hero of River Dane. We all know him.
You hear that? It appears you have a reputation in the Empire. That should make you happy.
I am thrilled.
Why did you keep us waiting for so long? If I had gone to such great lengths to ask for
a favor, I would go out of my way to avoid angering the king.
They haven't asked for anything yet, Loghain.
They will. Why else the formal introduction?
One of my people committed a crime in your city, King Maric. I needed to deal with the
matter before things got out of hand. A crime? What sort of crime?
This young man recruited into our order a few months ago from the streets of Val Royeaux.
I'm afraid he attempted to ply his former trade in your marketplace, and when chased
by your guardsmen he got into a fight with one of them. The man was injured, but lives.
I could have killed him. But I didn't! I could have, but I didn't! That's what I meant, err. . . Your Highness. My lord.
My guards can be a little overzealous at times. Truly I think all its done is drive the criminals
underground.
Unless the King wishes to have the boy arrested. The Grey Wardens will comply with your wishes.
No, I think not. The cells in Fort Drakon are full enough as it is.
Thank you, your Majesty.
I am more interested in why you're here. If you will?
One of our own has been captured by the darkspawn. Here in Ferelden. Within the Deep Roads.
And? How does this concern us?
This Grey Warden has the knowledge of the location of the Old Gods.
As you can see, my lords, this was why I thought the matter of utmost delicacy. If these darkspawn
prove able to learn the location of an Old God...
They are trying to scare us, nothing more. This order has been waning in importance since
the last Blight and would do anything to frighten the world into believing they still have relevance.
I assure you, it is true! There are only a few Grey Wardens who possess this knowledge,
Your Majesty. If these darkspawn wrest this knowledge from him, they will rise here, in
Ferelden. I assume you are asking after permission to
enter Ferelden to search for this missing Grey Warden?
No. Eight years ago, both of you traveled in the Deep Roads, a place no dwarf has traveled
in well over a century. You two are the only ones alive who have been to Ortan thaig. That
is where we need to go.
Surely the dwarves must have maps.
Insufficient. We need a guide, someone who has been there. We were hoping to ask for
your assistance, Your Grace. Absolutely not.
Can you not understand how vital this is?
I understand how vital you think it is, or at least how vital you would like us to think
it is. Who knows what you are really up to? Wouldn't it be wonderful for the Hero of River
Dane to find himself surrounded by Orlesians in a place where his death could be ascribed
to anything at all? Don't be a fool! Have you no concept of what
a Blight would mean to this land if it began here?
We can offer you directions, if you like. You will find the thaig the same way we did.
We need more than directions!
Maric and I were there briefly, eight years ago. What is it you expect us to remember,
fool woman?
Something! Anything!
I will go.
You'll do no such thing!
I said will go. I will lead them.
No one should be risked on such a foolish plan. It is a faint hope based on what? How
can you even be certain this Warden of yours is still alive?
We are certain. How? What is it that you aren't telling us?
Is His Majesty certain that this is wise? Wouldn't the Teyrn be a better choice to-
I have made my decision. I will contact you shortly, Commander, to make arrangements.
Now leave me alone with the Teyrn.
What if the Grey Wardens are telling us the truth?
The Wardens will do what they think is best to deal with Blight, and won't care about
you, or Ferelden, or anything else! It's not just that.
Then what? Because Rowan is dead? You barely see your son; you barely lift a finger to
rule the nation that you restored from ruins. Do you remember the witch we met in the Korcari
Wilds? When we were fleeing the Orlesians?
The mad woman who nearly killed us both. What of her?
She told me that a Blight was coming to Ferelden. But I wouldn't live to see it.
Magic is not to be trusted. But if you truly believe that warning has merit, let me go
into the Deep Roads, not you.
What you need to do is to stay. If something happens to me, you'll need to be Cailan'
s regent.
Even if I believed this cryptic warning, I would not agree that it was worth placing
you in the hands of these Orlesians.
You're right. They're desperate and asking too much. We can draw them a map.
I will send someone to tell the Wardens to come back. There is much that needs to be
done in the morning.
Begging your pardon but time is of the essence. We should be under way to the Circle as soon
as possible.
Who is it that we're looking for, exactly?
His name is Bregan. He is my brother.