Cut out the tumors

Anora didn't take long to arrange another Landsmeet after the failed **** attempt, and this time it will be your turn to spring your own surprises on the conspirators, to uproot the entire nest once and for all. Either they pledge their loyalty to Anora, or die on charges of treason.

Either way, you don't care; your part in this will soon be done, and now Anora will do hers.

Hovering over the war table with your council, you engage in discussions on the upcoming preparations.

"Leliana, are all the preparations complete?" You asked.

"Yes, Inquisitor," Said Leliana, "All exit routes have been covered and dozens of agents lie in wait. They will never see what's coming."

"I've also corresponded with Keeper Lanaya of the Brecilian Dalish, and she says that they will help comb the surrounding areas of Denerim in case some do escape, and to prepare for whatever retaliatory attacks will come," Said Josephine, "You have to admit, they do their job well."

"They've lived in the forest for countless centuries, they know a thing or two about being stealthy," You remark, "So, I take it we're all ready?"

"As ready as we'll ever be," Said Josephine, "And Queen Anora says the same."

"Good, dismissed," You said.

*Line break*

It was just a few days before the Landsmeet, and an air of uncertainty took hold of the city as gossipers ran wild, spreading rumours and gesticulating all manner of wild theories in huddled groups or seedy taverns, betting on the outcome of this Landsmeet.

The previously unthinkable **** attempt on the Queen, especially at such a fragile time, sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it; if the Queen died, who would succeed the Queen, still pregnant and yet to sire her heir into this world?

To bolster security, a large contingent of inquisition soldiers marched out of Skyhold, stocked with ample provisions and equipment to last for months. They split into smaller regiments that would eventually converge on Denerim, so as to not draw suspicion for the time being.

Two days later, you arrive at the gate of Denerim with another large contingent of inquisition soldiers. The people and the City Guard were unnerved at this sight, some theorizing that you were here to conquer the city and put it under your thumb.

"Inquisitor! Its a surprise to see you here," Asked a man as he stepped forward, his hand twitching on his pike, "Captain Kylon, of the City Guard of Denerim."

"I'm here on official business, Captain. Here's my invitation," You said, handing out the letter bearing Anora's seal.

"Everything looks legit... but what's with the army? You don't mean to cause chaos, do you?" He asked nervously, eyes shifting between you and your army.

"My soldiers are here to control the chaos, if a certain party decides to put up a fight. If they decide to surrender, then we will return home," You stated. "By the way Captain, where does your loyalty lie? To Ferelden, its monarch and people, or to a certain anonymous group who only cares about its own interests?"

Captain Kylon gulped, saying "Of course to Ferelden, Your Holiness."

"Good man. Now if you excuse me, I have work to do," You said.

"Of course, don't let us keep you, Your Holiness," Said Kylon, who then turned to the guardsmen on the walls, "Open the gates and let them pass!"

The steel-banded gates of Ferelden opened with great creaking, allowing you to march straight to the palace with your contingent.

Along the way, you could see many eyes glued to you and your entourage, many unnerved and uncertain at the sight of such a huge host of soldiers not bearing the royal banner in Denerim. To many, it sent a very strong-worded message. To others, it was a sight for sore eyes, believing them the true salvation of Ferelden.

Nobles who watched your entourage looked at you with no small amount of suspicion, some even with vitriol and hate. You pay them no heed.

Eventually you arrive at the Royal Palace, and the guards on duty jump in shock at the sheer number of soldiers arrayed before them.

"A-Announcing the arrival of Lord Inquisitor Aedan!" The guards clumsily announced.

Before the guards' announcement, your ears picked up hints of a shouting match within the palace, no doubt arguing over petty things you've lost count of. The moment they heard the announcement, however, all of it dropped into a completely uncomfortable silence.

You snort in amusement at this.

"In the end, the only true thing they fear is one with absolute power," You muse to yourself.

Many nobles nervously watched as you strode to the front of the hall, greeting a relieved Anora who was happy to see you.

She would have jumped for joy to embrace you, but her queenly bearing, the sensitivity of the Landsmeet and her pregnant belly prevented that. Stepping up to the throne, you quickly embrace Anora in a fierce hug and kiss her, causing many nobles to gasp at this brazen sign of affection while you smirk.

"W-What is the meaning of this, inquisitor!?" One of them shouted.

When you look up, you see the face of Bann Murdock, one of the conspirators. Conveniently, all the conspirators grouped on the left side while the loyalists on the right.

"What this means, my dear Lords and Ladies, Banns and Arls, is that Anora is my rightful wife and as such my responsibility to protect and take care of," You said, anger rising, "I am most displeased by this **** attempt, and I will never hesitate to kill those who threaten her life and that of our unborn babe."

"With what, an army on our doorstep!?" Bann Murdock shouted, ready to draw his sword.

"That, and more," You said, "Cut them down."

By your order, arrows and daggers flew, and the conspirators were all simultaneously cut down, lying in pools of blood as the loyalists shireked in horror.

"Calm down, all of you," Anora reassured, "They're our men."

"T-They are?"

A nervous man named Bann Anikin talked, shuddering at the sight of blood.

"This was done to lure out the traitors who wanted my life and the throne," Said Anora, "The leaders are dead, but their troops may retaliate."

"No worries, my troops and the Dalish are ready," You said, "They've a bone to pick with them."

"Good, take command of the Royal garrison as well," Said Anora, "It's time we end this rot in Ferelden once and for all."

*Line Break*

Not long after the purging of the nobles in Denerim, their associates within the city were quickly dealt with and the city put under virtual lockdown as the gates shut, Anora informing a scared populace of what transpired in the Royal Palace, and that rebel troops were likely coming to Denerim.

This served to soothe fears and make the populace compliant, as they anxiously awaited the inevitable battle to come.

When the rebels and Inquisition clashed, the battle, if it could be called that, was more a one-sided massacre.

The rebel troops were far too focused on sieging the castle walls, scaling them with ladders as archers provided covering fire. The City Guard of Denerim performed very poorly, but the Inquisition troops were another calibre, composed of war veterans who fought far worse enemies. They quickly took down the ladders, raining arrows and spells and hot oil on the attackers, forcing them to desist and make for a retreat.

When they retreated, however, it was to their final doom.

Inquisition and Dalish troops sprung an ambush as they whittled down the beleaguered rebels even further, using a combination of strong barricades, stake pits and volleys of arrows and spells to pin them down.

Then, the Inquisition troops stationed within Denerim sallied out, hitting the rebels from behind as the hammer on the anvil.

No rebel survived that day, and Anora's retribution was swift; all the conspirators' families had two whole generations purged in blood, and the survivors assimilated into other families or conscripted as penal troops for the Inquisition.

Such was the cruelty in her execution of justice that for two whole decades, no noble of Ferelden would ever dare trouble Anora's reign.

And with this, the Inquisition stepped in as the benefactor of Ferelden, helping fill the vacancies left by the absence of the purged noble families. New families were enfeoffed - capable and talented people loyal to Ferelden and the Inquisition - and many sweeping reforms enacted throughout the Kingdom.

For one, the Ferelden feudal levies were to be disbanded and a new Royal Army united under a sole High Command, which in turn answered to the monarchy. Two, the tax codes were completely overhauled to be fairer to the people. Three, the Brecilian Forest was officially integrated as an official Teynir of Ferelden, with Lanaya made the new Teyrn. Four, investments were poured into revitalizing Ferelden's uncompetitive industries from agriculture to metallurgy, construction and shipbuilding.

And with a new code of law comprehensively and extensively enforced across the Kingdom, Ferelden was ready to catapult itself into a new Golden Age.