Trouble in Kirkwall

Viscountess Hawke was having a really bad day. Ever since she made the decision to take in more Elven slaves fleeing Tevinter, the nobles have been raising hell over the issue, concerned that the Elves would be a severe drain on their resources and unlawfully occupying land belonging to the country.

Marian grudgingly admitted that as of now, the Elves weren’t making significant economic contributions to Kirkwall’s economy, and with most of them severely malnourished or injured from their flight, they simply weren’t in any condition to work.

Furthermore, the nobles were a mostly conservative bunch, still of the idea that Elves were no good for the country and should not be allowed sanctuary.

After an extremely exhausting day of politicking and haggling, Marian crashed onto her bed in a soft nightgown, grumbling into her pillow. She wanted to scream and rage against the problem children, she wanted to slice them apart just so they could shut up, but years of experience taught her that lethal **** was a last resort in politics.

“Tired?”

Marian did not need to see who was patting her back, knowing that her husband Fenris was already there attending to him.

Though many questioned her choice of marriage partner, Marian trusted Fenris with her life, and she saved Fenris from certain danger and ****, and from a traitorous sister who threatened to sell him out to his former master. After losing both her brother Carver and her parents, Fenris was the confidant she desperately needed.

“Nobles again?” Asked Fenris.

“Mm,” She answered.

“Hmph, trust them to be obstinate,” Said Fenris, “They never contributed much to the rebuilding of Kirkwall after its near-destruction during the Mage Rebellion. The Templars didn’t help much either, and with Meredith falling to that Red Idol’s control…”

Fenris clenched his other fist hard until it turned white.

“To think Anders would fall so low…”

Marian said nothing, feeling a familiar pang of hurt in her heart.

“Do you think I was wrong?” Asked Marian, “To take in those fleeing slaves?”

Fenris struggled hard to work out an answer, remembering the memories of her sister’s betrayal, of how she willingly sold him out for power because he ‘got the better bargain’, so she said.

“...The last time I dealt with an Elf **** from Tevinter, she was vainly hoping for power, to rise in standing,” Fenris answered, “With the chaos in Tevinter and the ensuing slaughter of unfortunate Magister families, they’re far more ****, and much less eager to gain power. In all honesty though, I cannot bring myself to fully trust them.”

“So you’re saying I’m wrong?” Asked Marian.

“No, you’re not,” Said Fenris, “Your kindness and compassion for others is what drew me to you. Although much as I hate to admit it, they are a drain on resources. Unless we make trade agreements to supply the refugees with food and other necessities, they’ll die of starvation or disease.”

Marian hummed in agreement.

“And by indebting them to me, I gain a staunchly loyal people on my side,” She muttered.

“I admit I’m loathe to use people like this, but unless they make themselves useful…”

“Well, we’ll heal them first, then we worry about their employment,” Stated Marian, “Right now, I just want to sleep…”

Nothing more needed to be said as Fenris joined his wife in bed, the soft lull of snores and the soft comfort of the silk mattress carrying them to dreamland.

-

“Lady Hawke, messengers from the Inquisition.”

“Send them him in,” Marian said.

The messengers are none other than Josephine and Leliana, who approached Viscountess Marian amidst growing opposition among the nobility over concerns of its growing power and influence throughout the continent, that one day Kirkwall may find itself under the protection and control of the Inquisition before they would know it.

“I must admit, I didn’t expect to see two of the Inquisition’s pillars here in Kirkwall,” Said Marian, “I’d say it’s good to meet you, but sadly things here are… hot as of late.”

“With regards to the Elven refugees from Tevinter, no doubt,” Josephine stated.

“Indeed, and I’ve had to feel hell just shouting them down,” Marian stated, maintaining a professional demeanour in spite of her mounting fatigue, “It’s a real wonder, how nobles can easily change their tone in a heartbeat.”

“Understandable, and we also understand you’ve chosen to house them in your lands?” Asked Leliana.

“Indeed,” Answered Fenris, “Though they’ve become a source of fierce contention between us and the nobility.”

“We’re here about that, actually,” Said Josephine, “The Inquisition is ready to provide all manner of supplies needed to care for the refugees, all paid for out of our own pockets.”

Marian and Fenris looked at each other in surprise, not expecting such a generous offer.

“And in exchange…?” Fenris cautiously inquired.

Josephine and Leliana looked at each other, exchanged cautious nods, and Leliana then said, “You must stabilise internal affairs by any means necessary.”

At first, both Viscount and Viscountess of Kirkwall were confused by Leliana’s statement, wondering what she meant by such a vague and unclear statement with much room for misinterpretation and even manipulation.

“What do you mean by: Stabilize internal affairs?” Asked Fenris, his eyes narrowing.

“You said it yourselves: The nobility are obstructing you every step of the way, all due to you taking in the Elven refugees rather than expelling them,” Leliana stated, “And unless you do something about them, this will only continue.”

“And while I don’t like saying ominous things, who knows if the nobles will go behind your back? You know the history of Elves with Humans as we all do,” Said Josephine.

To that, neither Fenris nor Marian had anything to say.

“Then what do you suggest, exactly? Talk them down and try to find a compromise?” Fenris inquired, “We’ve already tried that dozens of times, and they remain as obstinate as on the first day they challenged us on the issue.”

“If the way of reason doesn’t work…” Leliana started, “Then use the way of ****.”

“What?” Asked Marian, “Wait… are you suggesting…?”

With a nod, Leliana then said, “Kill every single noble who dares oppose you, and then impose severe sanctions on their families. If need be, seize all their holdings and exile their families for good.”

This suggestion shocked Marian, though Fenris remained silent and stoic.

“That is… cruel beyond imagination,” Marian stated, her words tinged with hesitation.

“I know it sounds cruel, Viscountess Hawke,” Said Josephine, “I admit I myself am **** to suggest it, but Inquisitor Aedan did the same thing for the nobility in both Orlais and Ferelden, and as a result, his internal situation is secure. Do you hear of the remaining nobility opposing him in those countries?”

“...So one way or another, I have to do this measure of cruelty, to make the nobility fear me?” Asked Marian.

“We did say that you need to stabilize your internal affairs no matter what, My Lady,” Josephine stated, “This is the condition for our aid, and we’ll accept nothing less.”

In months past, the Inquisition never took such a hardline stance in diplomacy, primarily because diplomacy is an art of seeking compromise between parties over conflicting interests. Taking a hard stance was akin to planting your feet on thin ice, ready to crack and send you tumbling into a cold watery grave.

Yet now, they were doing just that to forcibly motivate Marian to do an act of cruelty that, should it fail, would end her family’s rule and usher in a horrendous fate for the Elven refugees.

“...How long do I have?” Asked Marian.

“Only today, no longer,” Said Leliana.

Marian nodded at this, and said, “You’ll have my answer tomorrow morning.”

Josephine and Leliana nodded, and standing up they bowed to Marian, before they left.

“My love?” Asked Fenris.

“Summon an assembly of every single noble family in Kirkwall, and have men positioned outside their family estates,” Marian ordered, “It’s time to end this charade.”

“As you command,” Fenris said.

And as he moved to leave the office, Fenris took one last look at Marian, and saw both great **** and grim acceptance in his wife’s eyes.

P.S Written by ebanu8 because I got severe writer's block for some time