Summary: A few years after the Archdemon was slain by the Grey Wardens, Leliana receives a missive from King Alistair of Ferelden - "Find Morrigan." Pairings: Aedan Cousland/Leliana, Aedan Cousland/Morrigan, a bit of Alistair/Anora
Warnings: There will be fighting, relationships, lots of traveling, and memories. So... yeah. I realize that I have this listed Aedan Cousland as being one of the main characters of this fic, but I will say this now before anyone gets up in arms about it - he's dead. It's all pretty much in flashbacks.
Author's Note: It has been way too many years for me to count since I've written fanfiction, so I am probably a bit rusty. Also, I don't have a beta. If there are any volunteers out there, I'd greatly appreciate it - I'd probably need someone more for the characterizations and plot development than just grammar and spelling, though. All feedback is appreciated, regardless of nature.
Find Morrigan by wayfaringpanda
Chapter 1 - The Missive
Leliana couldn't help the swelling of joy in her chest when she finally spotted the city of Val Royeaux. Gleaming stone and the great expanses of glittering windows seemed to wink at her; a coquettish gesture beckoning her to enter the den of expertly balanced sin and religious fervor. It had been over three years since she had returned to the city, her heart torn asunder and her eyes dead, and only a year since Lady Lysta, Lady Cecilie's cousin and her benefactor, had finally thrown Leliana out on her ear and informed the bard that she could return when she had recovered her personality or not return at all.
The bard had taken to the roads, then, traveling throughout most of Orlais, singing for her keep at the many taverns she came across when she had not staid out under the stars. She had even ventured into Antiva, faint whispers of memories brought back as she listened to the people speak and drank the wines made by the Chantry. Everywhere she went, she sang of the Fifth Blight. Tears no longer interrupted her performances, although each time a hush would cover the audience as they considered the battle of The Warden and Hero of Ferelden. Each time, her heart had bled a little, and healed a little.
Now, hoping to at least visit with the Lady Lysta, Leliana picked up her pace, eager to see, smell, taste and touch the city that called to her blood more than any other.
The Lady Lysta was an imposing woman, despite her advanced years. Her back ramrod straight, hair pulled fiercely back before cascading down her back like white-capped waves. Her steel eyes gazed upon Leliana as she entered the sitting room, taking in her freshly scrubbed face and travel stained leathers, hair brushing against her shoulders.
"Maker preserve us, Leliana," Lady Lysta said, disapprovingly. "You look frightful."
"It is good to see you too, Lady Lysta," the bard replied cheerfully. "I hope you have been well."
The old woman sniffed. "I am. I had assumed you were not coming back, as I was not expecting you to be gone so long."
Leliana had the grace to look chagrined. "I should have sent word on occasion," she responded. "It was rude of me not to." She glanced down at her outfit. "It was also rude of me not to properly clean up before coming to see you, but I felt as if I could wait not one moment more." A hand brushed slightly at a dark stain on her leather skirt.
Lady Lysta sighed, and then motioned for Leliana to take a seat. "I was the one who threw you out, dear one. I have only myself to blame that you indeed took me seriously. I had not meant for you to vanish completely, only to think upon your state of affairs before returning." Her gaze softened as she reached out to brush a strand of fiery hair behind the bard's ear. "I am sorry."
"Oh, no!" Leliana exclaimed fervently. "You must not apologize, my lady. I cannot blame you for your actions. You see, you recognized how I was feeling, and you did what you thought was best. I needed that." A small smiled graced her lips. "It seems I am stubborn in my moods. If you had not given me a kick, I would never have moved."
"So you have improved? You do not seem to be grieving quite so severely as you had been." Lady Lysta searched the girl before her for any signs of anguish. Leliana seemed a bit worn from her travels, but other than that healthy. She seemed to have regained her cheerful nature that the lady remembered from her youth. However, there was a tightening around the eyes that she had not seen before Leliana's return to Orlais, a tightening that she suspected would never leave the bard's visage again.
Leliana endured the frank perusal Lady Lysta gave her, before smiling and nodding. "I have… come to terms with what happened. I still…" Here she faltered, eyes glazing slightly as if looking at a distant image. "I will always feel the loss. In a way, this has hurt me much more than Marjolaine ever could have. But I must continue to live on, because that is what would have been wanted."
"A wise sentiment," the lady said approvingly. She opened her mouth to speak, and then hesitated. "I am not so sure of what to do now," she finally said, rising and heading towards an old desk.
"Lady Lysta?" Leliana queried, her voice laced with confusion as she followed the old woman's path.
Producing a key from a pocket in her skirts, Lady Lysta unlocked the top drawer of the desk and removed what appeared to be a letter. She relocked the desk and headed back to the bard, standing in front of her while looking down at the seated young woman.
"This arrived for you about three moons ago," the lady finally said, handing the paper over. Leliana's brow furrowed, keeping her gaze locked for a moment with the old woman before finally looking at what was in her hands.
It was a single piece of vellum, folded and sealed. Leliana's confusion increased when she recognized the twin mabari hounds on the seal. Pulling a dagger out, she quickly ran it under the wax, smoothly separating it from the vellum. Unfolding it, she was greeted with slightly unfinished hand writing in Ferelden.
I need you to track down Morrigan. Please come. -Alistair
Leliana reread the missive over, although there was little chance she had missed anything with so short of a message. Images flashed through her mind: a good-humored, attractive blond man in heavy armor; a witch who was dark not only in coloring; a campfire roaring with the murmur of voices all around; a knee tentatively pressed into hers as she sat on the log, eyes gazing into the dark around camp. She wrenched her mind away before she couldn't stop the memories anymore, and slowly folded the note. Taking a deep breath, she schooled her features as best she good before the bard looked back into the eyes of the woman in front of her.
"You're leaving, of course," Lady Lysta said. She had watched as Leliana's entire body had stiffened, then shuddered ever so faintly. The eyes had fluttered shut for a few moments before flying wide open, desperate to dispel the images seen behind the lids. The lady had recognized the seal, of course, and if she had known how to find Leliana she would have forwarded it on. After all, it was not very often that someone of common blood received a letter from a king. Still, though, she wished she had kept it hidden from the girl, as despite all her healing she obviously kept the pain not too far beneath the surface.
"I at least will not be imposing on your hospitality," Leliana finally responded, forcing a smile to her lips. "I apologize for having to cut this short, my lady. I wish I could stay to play catch up with you."
In response, Lady Lysta went to the door and called to the maid in the hall. The young elf woman ran to her, face flushed from her exertions in cleaning the stone walls. "Yes, m'lady?"
"Call the housemistress, and see to it that she prepares Leliana to leave in the morning. She is to have everything that she requires for her journey. Also, find someone to clean those leathers of hers while she bathes. They're atrocious."
Leliana laughed, light and bright.