"Not at all; have a seat. And some introductions." She indicates each of her companions in turn, the quiet human and then the blond elf. "These are Warden Ambrose, my fiancé, and Zevran Arainai, my bodyguard."

"A pleasure to meet you," says Zevran, bowing slightly in his seat. He has a strong Antivan accent.

"Good morning," Ambrose adds, with a faint, shy smile.

She nods acknowledgement to each, getting herself a plate and a seat.

"I confess myself somewhat surprised that a Grey Warden needs a bodyguard who is not himself a Warden."

"Well, some fool keeps hiring assassins to kill her, you see," says Zevran with a little laugh.

"Only the once so far. But it was memorable. Why Teyrn Loghain is so determined to kill all the Grey Wardens he can find in the middle of a Blight, I really can't fathom."

"He was a strong supporter of Ferelden independence. Perhaps he believes he needs no help."

"If only he were right about that."

"History has amply proved that lesson."

"Yes."

Mm, breakfast.

"Are you interested in the political situation here at all?"

"More knowledge is always better than less."

"A perspective I tend to share. All right. How much do you already know?"

"Loghain was friendly with the father of the previous king, he served in an advisory capacity to both, and his daughter was married to Cailan. After Cailan's death at Ostagar, he took over the Regency. Some of the nobility do not much like his rule."

"All true," she says. "So, the next important piece of political background here is that Ambrose is Cailan's half-brother."

"Unacknowledged bastard?"

He nods.

"If Loghain wasn't such an unmitigated disaster, I'd be content to let things be. But he is well on his way to burning his own country to the ground, in the middle of a Blight no less. So Arl Eamon is calling a Landsmeet and we're going to point out a few of the stupid things Loghain has done and see if we can get Ambrose crowned King. Your contribution is deeply appreciated, by the way."

"Small wonder he sent assassins."

"He sent the assassins when the only thing we'd done to provoke him was survive Ostagar and remind a few people of the Grey Warden treaties. I'm not even completely sure he knew Ambrose's ancestry at the time; the assassins seemed to think I was the primary target."

"If he had met you once and knew you would be opposing his policies, that is sufficient justification."

...She laughs. (Zevran chuckles too.)

"Thank you! I'm flattered!"

This is going well. Breakfast was a good decision.

And the food is good as well. Ferelden cuisine is different from what she is used to, fewer peppers. But still enjoyable.

"So now you know approximately what we're up to on the political level. Oh, I'm also the rightful Teyrna of Highever, one of Loghain's associates murdered my family and took our lands, but that's a secondary concern and I'm probably going to end up finding someone to pass the teyrnir off to because being Queen and Warden-Commander will be taking up quite enough of my time already."

"I would imagine so. You certainly don't think small."

"I like to get things done."

"So I see." She turns to Ambrose. "And you? Any plans of your own?"

"I plan to rule Ferelden competently. Anything further will have to wait until I'm assured of managing that."