"Do you have a suggestion?"

"Myself. Even if I am not so well-loved as Cailan, the nobility all know me, and enough respect my competence."

"We'd appreciate your help, and you're the obvious choice of successor until Ambrose has children, but perhaps I should have mentioned that Ambrose is engaged."

"To whom?"

"Me."

"Ah. I see. I... wish you both the best of luck, of course."

"Thank you. We don't intend to announce the engagement until after the Blight is settled, because we don't want the country to mourn a queen if I die defending Ferelden."

"Sensible of you." She nods. "Ferelden would be in good hands, if they were yours."

She smiles. "Thank you."

"I will support your claim at the Landsmeet, on three conditions. First, that I be named heir to the throne, until such time as you and Ambrose produce children of your own. Second, that my father be allowed to retire peacefully. Third, that his terynir is passed to me."

"I'm happy to agree to all three of those. Concerning your father, though - I really don't mean him any harm, but the way things have been going, I would not be entirely surprised if he openly attacked me at the Landsmeet once things were very obviously not going his way, and if that happens I will do my best to disarm him without bloodshed, but not past the point where it endangers my life or the lives of my allies. Just so we're clear."

"I... understand."

She nods.

"I believe I will try to get some more sleep before the morning is properly upon us after all. Lady Cousland."

She nods acknowledgment. "Good night, your majesty. That room is available," and she points to a half-open door down the hall as she turns away to head for her own room.

Off Anora goes, shutting the door behind her.

Elissa catches an hour and a half of sleep herself, then wakes up and finds Hesta and catches up on what's happened since her imprisonment. She's... on reflection, mostly pleased... to hear that Vaughan Kendells was successfully rescued from Howe's dungeon.

Speaking of Howe's dungeon, Riordan is here. Does she have some time?

"I can spare a few minutes. What is it?"

"After Ostagar, I was sent by Weisshaupt to assess the situation, and do what I could to salvage it. Thanks to your efforts, we are in a much better place than we might otherwise have been. With the support of the dwarves, elves, and mages, one the political turmoil here is resolved and all the armies of Ferelden are pointing in the same direction, we stand an excellent chance of stopping this Blight before it spreads any further. But a word of caution: when one becomes a Warden, their past is forgotten. Criminal or chevalier, once you take up the Grey, that is the only mantle that matters. Wardens do not hold titles. The nations of the world must be able to trust our neutrality. You have done a fine job of holding the line so far, and I do not intend to get in the way of you continuing to do so. The Blight must be defeated, that is our first priority. But when it has been, Weisshaupt will register an opinion of your actions. Be prepared for that."

"Understood," she says. "Thank you for the warning."

He nods. "How much did Duncan tell you, about Wardens and the end of Blights?"

"I know what it takes to kill an Archdemon, if that's what you mean."

"Good. If we are in a position to make a choice, when it comes to that, it should be me, as senior Warden. I have recovered our Ferelden cache. Later, when you have time, we should go over its contents together."

She nods. "All right. Thank you. And now I'd better go and do politics."

After checking to make sure Ambrose is awake, she heads out in search of the banns whose relatives she encountered in Howe's dungeon.