Hidden blades

In Denerim Royal Palace

Anora gently massaged her head, furrowing her brow at a mountain of letters and reports - a myriad of problems presented before her: Hordes of Darkspawn, the landed gentry, clergy and other notable people vying for her favour, or just being an overall nuisance for the smallest matter they conjure in their pea-sized brains.

Anora sighed lightly and rubbed at her eyes, feeling the onset of a headache. The day-to-day running of Ferelden's affairs was taking a toll on her health, especially now that she's carrying a child in her belly. Her healers have often made it a statement that she must not overstrain her body and mind and to always take a rest when needed, but being the Queen of a nation was an excruciatingly punishing job and one she can never hope to procrastinate on.

At first, her pregnancy wasn't that noticeable and she could do her tasks splendidly, but months passed and her baby bump became more visible to the point she could no longer hide it.

Inevitably, the nobility pelted question after question like a rehearsed stoning routine, and Anora, both irritated and wanting to have fun at their expenses, nonchalantly confirmed her pregnancy, of course reassuring them that the father of her child is of noble birth (which you are) and warned them not to trifle with him.

Whether her warning fell on deaf ears or not, she could hardly care a lick.

"Guard!" She called.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" The guard answered.

"Find Erlina and tell her to prepare a bath for me and the cook to prepare dinner, I'm about to retire for the day," She said.

"Yes your Majesty."

The guard then scurried off.

After reading a few more letters and reports, she quickly head down to her chamber to freshen up.

"Ah... this is bliss," Said Anora, feeling her knots untie in the hot water of her bathtub.

Half an hour later, Anora dried herself and put on a fresh dress, and she was just about ready for dinner - specially and delicately crafted for her pregnancy cravings by the Head Cook according to the Healers' directives - served on her own table.

At least, she would have, if she did not notice something amiss; a vase, one that normally stood on the table by the window, was lying on the carpet instead.

'That's funny,' She thought, 'My servants aren't so careless as to knock it down like that, unless...'

The Queen narrowed her brow as she padded over and picked up the vase, running a hand over it to inspect for cracks.

And then, a noise. The slightest hint of wood creaking from pressure.

Anora felt a chill down her spine, and she carefully put down the vase as gently as possible without a sound.

And then, she moved to the side, barely dodging the dagger aimed at her heart.

'Maker damn it, someone really wants me and my babe dead, doesn't he?' She thought.

"Who the hell sent you!?" She exclaimed.

"Plenty of people who've promised us good payment!" Said the assassin, a clear Antivan accent in his voice.

'So they've hired the Antivan Crows', Anora thought, 'Damn, that means the other guards are either busy or dead. My fucking luck.'

It was all Anora could do to dodge while protecting her life and her child's, and eventually she stumbled and felt her back hit a wall - one flat and uncluttered with objects, thankfully - just as she desperately blocked the Antivan Crow's dagger with her own arm, the metal cleanly piercing through her flesh.

"Gah!"

White hot pain shot through her arm, warm blood leaking from the wound, and taking advantage of this, she raised her leg and stamped down hard on the Crow's knee, making him scream in pain and let go of the dagger as he writhed on the ground in pain.

Taking advantage, Anora took the dagger from her arm and, with one foot on the Crow's throat, punctured the Crow's skull dead in the brain.

Anora panted heavily and bit back a curse as she nursed her bleeding arm, and she could soon hear the roars of battle outside, muffled by the windows and doors.

The door opened with a bang as a trio of guards soon came into the room with Erlina, the Elven maid quickly rushing to her side.

"My Queen, you're bleeding!" Said Erlina, "Are you alright!?"

"I'll be fine," Said Anora, "More importantly, what of the other assassins? My assailant said there were more of his kind here."

"Not to worry, My Queen, they've already been dealt with," Said Erlina, "But we'd better get your arm bandaged first."

"Before that, make sure that whatever captives we round up are kept safe and interrogated first," Said Anora, "And keep a portion for the Inquisition to interrogate; they've got a lot of stake in our Kingdom, and it's best they know as soon as possible."