Rescue the Queen

Rescue Queen Anora from Loghain's imprisonment.

Background

 * Rescue Queen Anora
 * ''Queen Anora's handmaid, Erlina, has informed you that the queen is being held prisoner at Arl Howe's estate. Queen Anora believes that she may be killed, and her murder blamed on Arl Eamon. Erlina Seeks your aid in freeing the queen. Meet Erlina at the arl of Denerim's palace as soon as you can.

Walkthrough
Start by entering the Arl's estate from the Denerim city map. First, you must sneak past the crowd. Follow the path to the back of the estate. if you are spotted by the guard on the wall, four guards will appear to fight you. Continue along the path until Erlina warns you about the two guards by the door. Tell her you need to put on your disguises, then have her enact her distraction. Move back to the bushes against the courtyard wall, and as soon as the she gets them to leave the door, advance through it. Erlina will rejoin you once you are inside.

Make your way through the estate. Feel free to search the rooms and grab whatever items you like. Eventually, you will reach the Queen's magic-sealed door, and a scene will play. Now you will need to seek out Howe and his mage friend.

Continue past the sealed door. After a few rooms you will come to a closed door on the left, entering the room will blow your cover and you will have to fight your way through the rest of the estate. It doesn't matter too much, you'll run into trouble soon enough anyway. When you reach the dungeon, you will see a scene and some dialogue. Continue down the stairs.

In the next area, it will be time to start fighting. Just make your way down the hallway, exploring the side rooms and dispatching all comers. You will pass a torture chamber with a noble. You can free him.

The next door, on the right, is the jail. Rexar can be found in here for the quest Missing in Action. Kill the Jailer for the key to his cell. There is also an elf who you can free in another cell.

When you come to the last door, put Howe down and kill his mage friends. Take the Biteback Axe from Howe's body.

Continue deeper into his room to pick up a new quest, Lost Templar, from one of the prisoners. Do what you like with Vaughan.

It is easiest to return the way that you came. If you feel prepared to fight a great many guards at once, feel free to use the stairs across from the room where you fought Howe.

Either way, make your way back to the magic-sealed door, now unlocked, and open it to meet the queen. In your way out, you enter battle yet again, against Ser Cauthrien. It's not an easy fight, but it can be won. Don't miss the Summer Sword on Cauthrien's corpse.

Walk out, and return to Arl Eamon at his estate.

Result

 * It seems Anora managed to get to Eamon's estate, where she will be staying as a guest.

Completing this quest opens up the Alienage, and starts the quest Unrest in the Alienage.

Along the way you had opportunity to grab both Biteback Axe and Summer Sword, as well as 40 gold if you spoke to Vaughan.