Prologue
Elissa was sitting alone at her table when a knock on the door sounded "Come in" She said with a slight sigh, Alistair walked in and crossed over to her "Hello love, What was that all about?" He asked, kneeling beside her chair and looking at her, she avoided his gaze "What was what about?" She asked, trying to play innocent.
He pushed himself off the ground "You know what i'm talking about, you left earlier during dinner, What for?"
"Because, i don't want to be around many people lately... You do know i have a lot to think about.. Mostly ... these" She indicates the papers that are scattering her desk
"What are these? The documents you found in that emissary's lab?" Alistair asked
"Yeah" She looked uneasy "But I've found references to things that.."
"What is it dear?, Come on.. you can tell me anything" He said softly.
"I've found references to a trek through the deep roads lead by a warden commander by the name of Genevieve..." Elissa said uneasily
"Should i know that name?" Alistair asked confused
"I don't know, there's really no record of her at the keep" Elissa said
"You think there would be.. How long ago was this?" Alistair said
"I dunno.. twenty five years, maybe longer, Allistair.." Elissa said staring at him with intensity
"What?" He asked
"These documents mention Duncan.." She said, looking away
"What?" Alistair said, his face looked as it normally did whenever one mentioned Duncan after his demise at Ostagar, Paper White.
"Yeah.. that's ... kind of the reason i've been acting weird for a bit.. I mean, this warden commander, From what i'm reading it appears she was HIS commander, His big boss.. He can't have been older than eighteen at the time" Elissa said, sifting through more of the papers
"Does it say why they were in the deep roads?" Alistair asked
"No i don't think so, there may be some papers missing, But there were people with them" Elissa said
"Who?" Alistair said "Some elven woman, a few warriors, a dwarf.. Wait.." Elissa said, pausing to sift through a secondary stack of paper
"What, did you find something?" Alistair looked over her shoulder to try and see what she was looking at.
"I did" She said "I don't.. remember if i told you about this but when me and the others got kidnapped by the architecht, on the way out he showed himself before he summoned two dragons with some strange magic.. There was a dwarven woman with him.. He said her name was Utha"
"Huh, was is the same one that went into the deep roads with this Genevieve?"
"Yes, actually.. and shes not the only one who was there" She skimmed through more of the Architects notes "Maric.."
"Maric was there? The king of Ferelden ... In the bowels of the deep roads!" He said incredulously "I don't believe that, And how does this .. architect know anyone's name anyway? I mean is it like a pleasant meeting where this thing has manners or something, I can't imagine a darkspawn being ..nice" He said, running his hang distractingly through his hair.
"Well" Elissa started "You weren't there.. He was certainly creepy enough, Yes but he was also very polite about everything, I'm sure he found out their names just as he knew ours" She said
"Wait, he KNEW your names?" He said
"Yes, all of ours, i assume he knew Velanna's because he had her sister with him." She said
"Her sister..Did.. Did anyone ever find her?" He asked
"No, i sent out a search team to the lair we were at.. They never found anything"
"Has anyone found Velanna?" Alistair asked.
"No." Elissa said, looking away "Seneschal Veral said when me and the others came back that she had been crushed by falling debris from the keep.. But they never found a body" She went back to her papers
"So.." Alistair began pacing "What exactly do those notes say.. I mean why were all these people in the deep roads? I mean the king of fereldan hardly just drops everything to go into the deep roads does he?"
Elissa looked up at him "I don't know, i can believe it" She smirked
"Oh funny, very funny, I never once went into the deep roads in the time i've been king, I'll have you know"
"Mhmm, but if you had a choice to go there, you would.. Like father like son"
"I would NOT choose to go into the deep roads!" Alistair said, chuckling "Anyway, dear.. I have to get back to our guests least they think I've been eaten by a broodmother.. Are you sure you aren't coming with?" He asked looking at her gently
"No, i have a lot of things to think about tonight..." She looks up at him and gives him a reassuring smile "I'll be fine Alistair, Just go.. Be all royal and stuff, I'll just put these papers away and get on to bed"
"Good, you need the rest" He turns to walk out of the room "Be good Dear Elissa, And please don't worry yourself over those notes" He leaves, the door closing behind him.
One thing in the paper stack that Alistair did not know about was the letter from Zeveran she had received a day earlier and was the source for most of her confusion and mood shifts, The letter states
Dear Elissa, It is i.. Zevran, I am.. well i cannot say where i am currently lest this letter falls into the wrong hands, The hands of.. The birds that are trying to kill me, Let us just say i am not without information, I ran into a friend of ours almost a week ago, By the name of Morrigan, She pretended she did not know who i was.. Elissa i want you to understand that the morrigan i saw whilst strolling the streets of my current location was nothing like the Morrigan who you bonded with at camp, She looked very different, it was only a miracle that i recognized her as ... you know, Her.
What i am writing about is that she did not first say anything to me that lead on she remembered me or the rest of you, She did however tell me to give "The Grey Warden Commander" A message - which is as folows:
Dragons blood was spilled This deal holds true Lies were spread The witch of the wilds is still alive I am being hunted But not by previous mentioned The fade is your answer - Morrigan
I do not understand what she means.. But maybe you can decipher it, Another thing.. She told me to tell you not to speak of this to anyone else, I miss you darling, You must write back as soon as you can and tell me of these fabulous tales and talking darkspawn you've met on your travels.. Yes? Also.. don't let Alistair see this letter... He may get jealous
Love,
The Crow