Prologue

Morrigan turned towards Aedan Cousland, accompanying him was his dog, an elf and a mage, "No further, please. One more step and I leave. For good, this time."

No! Not again! Aedan thought.

He couldn't bear the thought of losing her again. Aedan had been trying to track his love Morrigan ever since he slayed the Arch-Demon two years prior. It was because of her that both he and Alistair were still living. But what pained him the most were the words she told him two years ago. Words that still echoed in his head again and again. Words that he would and will never forget for he thinks she was right from the start.

Love is a weakness.

But for Aedan it was a weakness he was willing to live with because he truly loved Morrigan and being without her for two years pained him more than any battle wound or injury that he had ever suffered. Nothing could steal his love for Morrigan and here she was before him.

"Morrigan…" Aedan rasped.

She looked at him with her deadly golden eyes that could pierce any soul. It may have been what made her apostate. What made people: Templars, Mages, or any race know that she was apostate. That was what attracted him to her. But his affection dove deeper than that. It dove deeper than any physical attraction than any sexual tension that might have built up during her few moments that she traveled with him—him being the Hero of Fereldon. She was a part of him and him her. But even though Aedan was brought up as an Adrastian being with Morrigan and his allies made him feel nothing for any god or any teachings that he grew up learning. She made him hate the Chantry for they would without thinking, kill the woman whom he loved. She made him want to protect her even more. The more and more he lived with her, slept with her and talked. The more he wanted her, the more it pained him to be apart from her. It would take her just a step and she would be gone—gone for good. Morrigan stood before him now…just standing. Words failed to come out of his mouth. He never had a problem expressing himself to her but now words just stuck to his throat like mud.

"I knew you would come, my love," her voice echoed throughout the hall," two years ago, whist in camp, you told me that love…that love is no weakness. And yet you tracked me down here. Why?"

"Because you were right…because you were right…you were right…love is a weakness. I can't do anything anymore…I can't think…I can't…I can't live anymore without you. I need you…I need to feel you…I need…"

"No more, My Warden. If love is a weakness…and you admit to that…why didn't you release me from…from this?"

"Because I need…to believe that…I can still live…I have no family to speak of and knowing that you have the only heir— the only thing that I can call a family it…it pains me so. Love is a weakness, yes. But it is a weakness that I can't…defeat…but it is a weakness that I can live with…as long…as long as I am with you. I felt betrayed when you left me but it didn't stop me from trying to find you. I—" He fell to his knees as if all strength had left him.

I have lost everything. Nothing I say will sway. I will never see my son again and I will never be able to hold her in my arms again. I lost my queen.

She lowed herself until their heads met. He missed the smell of her body and her thin raven black hair. She rested her head upon his breast and he wrapped his hands around her waist. She pulled him even closer to her. Their mouths started opening and closing. Their grip that they held onto each grew stronger and stronger with each passing minute and second.

"When I told you I don't want to hurt you. I was telling you the truth. I don't. But at the same time—"

"Hush, you are ruining the moment," she hung her head around his thick neck. Then she said as she got up: "I should have told you this, my love. Something I should have told you two years ago. Aedan, do you know what this is? This is an Eluvian. A mirror…tis magical. It can take you…or even I…us both to a place of our desire. Tis rumored to be able to show you the future," Morrigan paused," there is one more thing: Flemeth."

Aedan looked confused and got up and said "What of her? I killed her…for you."

"I know this: I thought I knew what Flemeth planned. I thought what she craved was immortality. And yet I was wrong. So very wrong. She is no blood mage, no abomination... She is not even truly human! The ritual was but a means to an end, a herald for what is to come."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean only this: change is coming to the world. Many fear change and will fight it with every fiber of their being. But sometimes change is what they need most. Sometimes change is what sets them free. We mustn't tarry on much longer. Come if you want to be with me, my love. But before that I want you to look me in the eyes…you will see the future. It needn't be a bright future it may be a dark one. Your name will be called once more but for now there will be those who carry your name and even worship what you have done for the people of Thedas whether you chose well or harmed those who needed you the most."

Aedan stared:

"I don't want to hurt you." It was his own voice he was hearing in camp after he had killed Flemeth.

"Yes you do. And…I want it too! That is not right, that is not how a normal woman acts…I can see it in your eyes."

"Morrigan…please…don't do this."

"Tis all so... unexpected. I have no experience with any of it. And yet I find myself wanting it…Hungering for it. For you."

"Then…stay with me."

"Release me, Aedan. Tell me that you wish to end this. Make me believe you and I... will be grateful."

"No…I…can't…but I want to…but I can't…I can't lose you. I can't lose the only person. With whom I could call…what I would consider…love. Don't make me do this."

"Beg that I succeed, for I have seen the throne of the gods, and it was empty," It was a voice he did not recognize, "Tell me, where is your Maker now? Call him. Call his wrath down upon me. You cannot. For he does not exist."

Another voice echoed in his head: "DAMN IT! WE SAVED FERELDEN AND THEYRE ANGRY! WE SAVED ORLAIS AND THEY'RE ANGRY! WE CLOSED THE BREACH—TWICE—AND MY HAND WANTS TO KILL ME! COULD ONE THING IN THIS WORKING WORLD JUST STAY FIXED?!"

What was that? Who were those people I've never seen or heard of them. One of them sounded angry and another sounded threatened though he spoke the truth: there is no Maker.

"Deal with our intruders. The elf and the human. They want you dead." Aedan voice changed. It was that same cold voice which he used plenty of times to gain control of the alliances that were for him to take for the Wardens.

Aedan's feelings completely changed in minutes. Moments ago he was full of pain and desire for the woman whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life with—now he was in rage that the people who led him to his lover expect him to kill her. If his parents were alive…they would have expected the same. They would have been horrified that he fell in love with an apostate mage from the wilds. A woman who cares nothing for the Chantry or their teachings. A woman who mocks the Makers and thinks that his existance was a lie. A lie to control people and their thoughts. Teachings that had brought inequality to different races and statuses. Her belief was the Chantry needs to come to an end.

These feelings…these emotions…these thoughts…were things that Morrigan taught Aedan directly and indirectly. She made him free. Without her influence and without her in general he felt like caged animal. Isolated. Isolated from what she sees. Had things been different, had Howe not murdered his family, had he not become a Grey Warden, they would most likely not have crossed paths. Had they, Aedan would have killed her without remorse and without mercy, for it was expected of him. Now, she was the one thing in this world that he wanted to protect. He cared not for the book that sat near the mirror. The one thing that he wanted in this world was standing in front of him. Her head was still planted on his shoulder.

"Kill them." Said Aedan," but let my dog go…in fact I want him…he…he's done nothing wrong."

"As you wish." Said Morrigan. Horror struck upon the elf's face, that the Hero of Fereldon had betrayed her but she didn't have enough time to be angry for she was dead before any emotion had enough time to generate.

Aedan saw a pool of blood created by Morrigan's spell. A single spell created two dead bodies. Their bodies imploded due to the force of her spell. It was horrific but at the same time exciting to see.

"There. Done. Let us go," said Morrigan," there is still much to be done. You want to be with me: then come my love, be with us. Our boy awaits us. You needn't tarry for the world doesn't need you anymore. Your boy does and I do."

Kiren…his name's Kiren