Fic: Teagan's Chance: Confrontation
First off I really want to share this gorgeous picture deadnotlurking drew for me. It's River and Teagan's first "date" when they sneaked away from the coronation ball and hid in the kitchens. Supposedly it is not done, but I think it is so lovely already, I asked if I could share it.
"He had spent the most wonderful night of his life in the palace kitchens with River Mahariel. . ."
And now for the story. It's a fairly short chapter this time. The next one will return us to Alistair's viewpoint...
Title: Teagan's Chance: Confrontation
Author: SignCherie
Rating: E (this chapter)
Summary: Now that the Blight is over, Bann Teagan has seized his chance--and he and River Mahariel are falling in love. Alistair is king, married to Anora, and secretly in love with his Chancellor and best friend, River. In today's chapter, Arl Eamon pays a visit to Rainesfere.
“You cannot be serious.”
This was the reaction Teagan expected; still, his heart sank at his brother’s words. Inwardly, he steeled himself for this fight.
“Teagan,” Eamon said. “You know I am fond of the girl, and I have not objected to your...fling. But you cannot marry her.”
Teagan’s face was like stone. “I see no reason why not.”
Eamon sighed. “I understand how you feel, Teagan. Truly, I do. I am not without heart. She is a kind soul, and very pretty as well. But a man in your position cannot marry...an elf.”
You understand nothing, Teagan thought, nothing at all. Kind and pretty were such understatements as to almost be insulting.
Outwardly, he maintained his stoic disposition. “She is the Hero of Fereldan, brother, and the King’s Chancellor. If there is any question of inequality of position, I should think it would be my suitability, as a mere Bann, to marry her.”
“It’s not a question of equality of position. You have a duty, as a bann, to the people in your bannorn.” Eamon hesitated, clearly trying to be diplomatic. “Not only is she an elf, but she is Dalish, as well. How do you think it will affect the loyalty of the people, to serve under a barbarian?”
Teagan wanted to laugh at that, but he didn’t. “She is no barbarian, brother. You know that as well as I.”
“Of course. Teagan, understand me. I don’t speak now of my personal opinion, but the prejudices of the masses. I like it as little as you do, but those who serve the people, as we do, must account for their wishes, whether fair or unfair.”
“Brother, forgive me, but--you did not seem so concerned about your people’s loyalty when you married an Orlesian woman. Surely that tested their faithfulness.”
He should not have brought up Isolde. Eamon’s wife was a touchy subject between the two brothers. Eamon’s nostrils flared.
His words, however, were fairly calm. “Isolde is still a human, and a noble. No matter what she accomplishes, no matter what honors the king bestows upon her, River will always be what she is.”
“I know that.” Teagan’s control was slipping, but he didn’t care. “It’s part of why I love her. It’s part of who she is. By the Maker, Eamon, I wouldn’t change one hair on her’s head, and I’m not about to let her get away. Not while I can help it.”
“This isn’t about what you want.” Eamon showed no sign of relenting. “You know as well as I, Teagan, that nobility is not a privilege. It is a duty. Your people come first, always. You cannot afford to be selfish.”
That was a bit rich, coming from Eamon. Eamon, who always put Isolde above everything.
“I have always served my people,” Teagan answered. “And they are not the fools you would make them out to be. My marriage to the hero of the realm can only do them honor.”
“If the world were just, perhaps. But there are some things that simply do not change. Human nature is human nature, and humans will never accept elves as their equals.”
“Pardon me, sers.”
Teagan and Eamon turned at the sound. It was a servant, a young human woman. She stood in the doorway, looking scared of her own nerve for interrupting.
“Yes, what is it?” said Eamon.
She spoke quietly. “I know I should not have been eavesdropping, but I was just walking past, you see, and I couldn’t help but hear....” Her voice faltered.
Ramona, Teagan recalled. That was her name. She was new to Teagan’s manor. “Never fear, Ramona, it’s all right. Tell us what you have to say.”
“It’s just...as a citizen of Rainesfere, I wanted to say...I would be honored to have the Hero of Fereldan as my Lady. I think...were such an event to occur, there would be much rejoicing among the common people.”
Teagan’s pride swelled to hear it. He believed as much, of course, but to hear it confirmed...well, he was quite proud, both of his people and of River.
Eamon, on the other hand....Teagan had rarely seen Eamon so speechless.
“Then you wouldn’t mind that she is an elf?” Teagan asked Ramona.
“No, ser.” Ramona blinked. “She is the Hero of Fereldan. The King’s most trusted advisor. She saved us all. As for the rest, well...it’s not bad to be reminded that even the most common of us can do magnificent things.” She looks a bit wistful. “Not bad at all.”
Eamon looked as though he had swallowed something unpleasant.
“Thank you, Ramona. You may leave us.”
Ramona curtseyed and disappeared down the corridor.
Teagan rose and closed the door behind her. He didn’t speak. There was nothing to say that Eamon didn’t already know.
When he turned around, Eamon’s expression had changed. He looked...hollow.
“Isolde will never accept her as a peer,” he whispered.
And that was the crux of it. Teagan understood what he was asking, and why he asked it.
But he had no intention of giving in.
“I’m sorry, brother,” he said. “I sympathize with your situation. Truly, I do. But you’ve given that woman everything she wants, even at the expense of other people you love.” It was Alistair he thought of now, sent off to the Chantry at Isolde’s whim for the great crime of being an unruly ten-year-old. “Not this time, Brother. It ends here.”
Eamon sighed, and his resignation showed in his eyes. He did not look at Teagan.
“Well, then, brother...I wish you every happiness.”
Teagan watched him for a moment more, but Eamon didn’t move. With one last look, Teagan left the room, closing the door behind him.
"He had spent the most wonderful night of his life in the palace kitchens with River Mahariel. . ."
And now for the story. It's a fairly short chapter this time. The next one will return us to Alistair's viewpoint...
Title: Teagan's Chance: Confrontation
Author: SignCherie
Rating: E (this chapter)
Summary: Now that the Blight is over, Bann Teagan has seized his chance--and he and River Mahariel are falling in love. Alistair is king, married to Anora, and secretly in love with his Chancellor and best friend, River. In today's chapter, Arl Eamon pays a visit to Rainesfere.
“You cannot be serious.”
This was the reaction Teagan expected; still, his heart sank at his brother’s words. Inwardly, he steeled himself for this fight.
“Teagan,” Eamon said. “You know I am fond of the girl, and I have not objected to your...fling. But you cannot marry her.”
Teagan’s face was like stone. “I see no reason why not.”
Eamon sighed. “I understand how you feel, Teagan. Truly, I do. I am not without heart. She is a kind soul, and very pretty as well. But a man in your position cannot marry...an elf.”
You understand nothing, Teagan thought, nothing at all. Kind and pretty were such understatements as to almost be insulting.
Outwardly, he maintained his stoic disposition. “She is the Hero of Fereldan, brother, and the King’s Chancellor. If there is any question of inequality of position, I should think it would be my suitability, as a mere Bann, to marry her.”
“It’s not a question of equality of position. You have a duty, as a bann, to the people in your bannorn.” Eamon hesitated, clearly trying to be diplomatic. “Not only is she an elf, but she is Dalish, as well. How do you think it will affect the loyalty of the people, to serve under a barbarian?”
Teagan wanted to laugh at that, but he didn’t. “She is no barbarian, brother. You know that as well as I.”
“Of course. Teagan, understand me. I don’t speak now of my personal opinion, but the prejudices of the masses. I like it as little as you do, but those who serve the people, as we do, must account for their wishes, whether fair or unfair.”
“Brother, forgive me, but--you did not seem so concerned about your people’s loyalty when you married an Orlesian woman. Surely that tested their faithfulness.”
He should not have brought up Isolde. Eamon’s wife was a touchy subject between the two brothers. Eamon’s nostrils flared.
His words, however, were fairly calm. “Isolde is still a human, and a noble. No matter what she accomplishes, no matter what honors the king bestows upon her, River will always be what she is.”
“I know that.” Teagan’s control was slipping, but he didn’t care. “It’s part of why I love her. It’s part of who she is. By the Maker, Eamon, I wouldn’t change one hair on her’s head, and I’m not about to let her get away. Not while I can help it.”
“This isn’t about what you want.” Eamon showed no sign of relenting. “You know as well as I, Teagan, that nobility is not a privilege. It is a duty. Your people come first, always. You cannot afford to be selfish.”
That was a bit rich, coming from Eamon. Eamon, who always put Isolde above everything.
“I have always served my people,” Teagan answered. “And they are not the fools you would make them out to be. My marriage to the hero of the realm can only do them honor.”
“If the world were just, perhaps. But there are some things that simply do not change. Human nature is human nature, and humans will never accept elves as their equals.”
“Pardon me, sers.”
Teagan and Eamon turned at the sound. It was a servant, a young human woman. She stood in the doorway, looking scared of her own nerve for interrupting.
“Yes, what is it?” said Eamon.
She spoke quietly. “I know I should not have been eavesdropping, but I was just walking past, you see, and I couldn’t help but hear....” Her voice faltered.
Ramona, Teagan recalled. That was her name. She was new to Teagan’s manor. “Never fear, Ramona, it’s all right. Tell us what you have to say.”
“It’s just...as a citizen of Rainesfere, I wanted to say...I would be honored to have the Hero of Fereldan as my Lady. I think...were such an event to occur, there would be much rejoicing among the common people.”
Teagan’s pride swelled to hear it. He believed as much, of course, but to hear it confirmed...well, he was quite proud, both of his people and of River.
Eamon, on the other hand....Teagan had rarely seen Eamon so speechless.
“Then you wouldn’t mind that she is an elf?” Teagan asked Ramona.
“No, ser.” Ramona blinked. “She is the Hero of Fereldan. The King’s most trusted advisor. She saved us all. As for the rest, well...it’s not bad to be reminded that even the most common of us can do magnificent things.” She looks a bit wistful. “Not bad at all.”
Eamon looked as though he had swallowed something unpleasant.
“Thank you, Ramona. You may leave us.”
Ramona curtseyed and disappeared down the corridor.
Teagan rose and closed the door behind her. He didn’t speak. There was nothing to say that Eamon didn’t already know.
When he turned around, Eamon’s expression had changed. He looked...hollow.
“Isolde will never accept her as a peer,” he whispered.
And that was the crux of it. Teagan understood what he was asking, and why he asked it.
But he had no intention of giving in.
“I’m sorry, brother,” he said. “I sympathize with your situation. Truly, I do. But you’ve given that woman everything she wants, even at the expense of other people you love.” It was Alistair he thought of now, sent off to the Chantry at Isolde’s whim for the great crime of being an unruly ten-year-old. “Not this time, Brother. It ends here.”
Eamon sighed, and his resignation showed in his eyes. He did not look at Teagan.
“Well, then, brother...I wish you every happiness.”
Teagan watched him for a moment more, but Eamon didn’t move. With one last look, Teagan left the room, closing the door behind him.