There and Back Again Ch. 113-114

"I suppose you heard all that, then?"

He must have taken my silence as agreement, but he turned to explain things to my very confused husband. "Fergus doesn't believe me. That's she's our sister. He thinks she's either using blood magic to confuse me, or just preying on my loneliness to get close to the crown."

Alistair's arms stiffened, and I suddenly worried he'd feel the need to defend my honour to the new Teyrn of Highever. Ironic, considering what he thought of me after learning about the game. I squeezed his arm tighter, and he relaxed again, rubbing my back.

"Look, sis, give him time. Cailan is talking to him now. And Riordan said he would as well. I'm going to ask Greagoir and Irving to assure him you aren't a mage. He'll come around."

"No, he won't." I finally looked up, eyes probably red-rimmed with suppressed tears. "Aedan, you and I have been through so much...it wouldn't matter if I was truly a Cousland or not. You'd still be my brother in our hearts. But I can't even blame Fergus - I wouldn't accept me either, if I were him. Just...leave it alone. I'll avoid him, we can both act like liege-lord and vassal in public, and that's all. I won't be the thing that gets in between you two."

Aedan sighed again. "He's asked to see you after supper." Alistair stirred, and Aedan held up a hand. "Both of you. Cailan will be there, and I'll come, too. We'll bring your things and show him. We can bring him around. I know you're the first to think you don't deserve something, but you will have another brother, Sierra. We'll find a way."

I shrugged noncommittally. I certainly wasn't in the position to decline a summons from a Teyrn, especially my future liege-lord, but I held no illusions it would go any way but badly.

Despite that, I tried my best to get cleaned up; Cailan's command tent had been turned into his personal tent, so we no longer had space for a shower. Instead I sponged off in a bucket, Leliana braided my hair in some ornate fashion, and I put on the only fancy dress I'd brought with me - the now-faded green velvet I'd originally brought from Earth. I had my boots, my jeans, my iPhone, my flashlight, and my zippo with me ready to show off, and I still felt like vomiting from anxiety.

Alistair had dressed in clothes as well - his were more functional, linen trousers and a tunic, as we had packed for a battle, not a ball - but his body felt warm against my side, his hand firmly settled on my hip possessively. He'd stayed with me the entire afternoon, not pushing me to talk, but just being there. My rock, as always. Aedan met me outside Fergus appropriated tent and held my hand as we entered together.

Fergus and Cailan had clearly been arguing before we'd arrived; Cailan's jaw was clenched, his eyes bright with anger, while Fergus looked more serene, but his ire was betrayed by a prominent vein on his forehead, and his hands balled into fists at his sides. Fergus rose somewhat shakily from the small stool he'd been sitting on when we entered, while Cailan just stood to the side, arms crossed and expression irritated.

Alistair bowed, and I dropped into a curtsy, not perfect, but acceptable after hours of training with Leliana. "Your Majesty," I murmured, and Cailan smirked slightly. "Your Grace."

I stayed in the curtsy, head bowed, as was expected, until given permission to rise - permission which never came. After an awkward minute, where I balanced precariously and Fergus just stared at the top of my head, Cailan broke the silence with a disgusted huff, hurrying over to me and offering his hand for me to hold as I rose. I saw the king and Aedan shooting disbelieving looks at Fergus, while Alistair wrapped his arm protectively around me again. I had to stop myself from cuddling into his embrace, and instead turned back to Fergus with what I hoped was my best impassive expression.

"You asked to see us, your Grace?" I tried to keep my voice steady, though I was sure it betrayed my nerves.

Fergus examined me for a couple of awkward minutes. "I've heard a rather unbelievable tale about you, your Highness."

I cringed at the title. "You could call me Sierra, if you wanted."

He stared at me. "No, I don't think I shall, Princess." He shot a sideways glance at Aedan. "I think it's best if we don't try to pretend you didn't come from nowhere, only to marry into royalty."

I felt Alistair stiffen, and Cailan snorted - whether in disgust or something else, I couldn't have said; I held my hand out to forestall the stream of objections I knew would come. "As you wish, your Grace. Though the only title I claim is Steward, and I entirely blame his Majesty for that as well. I hope my business experience will be of use as one of your vassals."

"Business you conducted back on this...Earth?" I nodded. "My brother tells me you have proof." I nodded again, lifting the bag I carried. He waved a hand dismissively. "I'm not interested at the moment. My brother and my king tell me you aren't from here; I can't exactly disagree." Cailan shifted, and Fergus coloured slightly, without breaking eye contact.

He stared at me for another awkward minute. "I may have to accept that you're not from Thedas. I may have to accept you as Steward of Soldier's Peak, and my vassal."

"And indeed you will, Teyrn Cousland." Cailan's tone was firm and final, and Fergus acknowledged it with a nod.

"But no one can force me to accept you as my sister, when you are not. Maybe you truly believe you are. I hope that's the case. Either way, you've convinced Aedan of it, and nothing I say will change his mind; the same for his Majesty, clearly. So let me just say this right now, with witnesses. I will accept your oath of fealty, and I will treat you the same as any other vassal. I will ignore my personal feelings on the matter. But if I find out you knowingly manipulated Aedan, or anyone else here...if you had any involvement in the attack on Highever...if I believe you to be a threat to my country, my brother, or myself, I will end you."

"Fergus-" I assumed Cailan was about to reprimand the Teyrn for being rude; I interrupted him. His rudeness was the least of my worries; if he would work with me, I could live with that.

"Thank you, your Grace. I am sorry if my presence has caused you distress."

"The rest of us have things to discuss. You may go, Princess, unless his Majesty objects?"

Cailan waved apologetically, and Alistair kissed my temple; Aedan squeezed my hand, and then I slipped out of the tent, exhausted.