Clare silently indicates to her companions which parts of the open space between stable and gate are visible to the guards in the gatehouse.

Metella nods. She takes Stalas aside and does something that involves a soft flare of blue light, visible only because it is otherwise very dark here, which she keeps shielded as much as possible. Then she leads everyone over to the outer wall, careful to stay out of the gatehouse's line of sight, and they are all gently lifted into the air and floated over the wall.

No one is patrolling this section of the battlements.

Fort Drakon stands on the highest hill in the city, so the ground level in the other side of the wall is considerably lower. Fortunately, this is not the side with the abrupt cliffside drop into the river.

They meet the ground again as gently as they left it.

Clare takes the lead again, heading for the Redcliffe estate.

The Queen is somewhat stunned by the display of magic.

Denerim is quiet in the early morning hours.

They arrive safely.

"Would you rather talk politics now, or sleep first?" asks Elissa of Anora as everyone else disperses into the manor.

"I am quite awake after that adventure."

"That's fair. All right. I want Ambrose Theirin on the throne," she says. "I'm perfectly content to leave your father alive and in good health as long as he's no longer in a position to bring this country to ruin or send assassins after me. I have plenty of evidence to put before the Landsmeet on an astonishing variety of indiscretions."

"Warden Ambrose? I agree that my father ought be removed, but why him as a replacement? Does he have any experience or qualifications beyond being, I assume, Maric's bastard?"

"He's responsible, thoughtful, and dedicated. He grew up talking politics with Arl Eamon, and he has a gift for seeing how all the pieces of a situation fit together. If he becomes King of Ferelden, Ferelden will have every reason to be glad of it."

"Eamon will support him, then. I assume you have a decent fraction of the banns on your side already... It does have a sort of storybook charm to it, I suppose."

"I want to meet him."

"Of course. Although I think he'd prefer if we let him sleep for another few hours first."

"I suppose. But my father sent out messengers last night to call everyone to meet today, we will need to sort it out before then."

"I'll give him another hour," she decides. "It won't do us any good if he's asleep on his feet at the Landsmeet, either."

"Very true." Smile. "What is Ambrose like, personally?"

"Quiet. Bookish. Insightful. A little shy."

"He doesn't sound at all like Cailan."

"He's a very different person. Although the physical resemblance is striking. I met Ambrose at Ostagar shortly after speaking to Cailan and my first thought was how alike they looked."

"Cailan was... never very interested in the details of governance. He loved all the bright pomp and flash, the showmanship of it all. Somewhat childlike in that way." She has a fond expression while saying this.

"Ambrose is just the opposite," she says. "He likes the work more than the recognition."

"Someone will need to be the public face."

"He's going to have to carry that himself for at least the duration of the Blight. A king people see as a hero, a savior - it'll make a big difference to morale."

"If he survives. Which is a real problem. He needs an heir."