Conjunction

Chapter 2 - The Grimoire


There was a fluttering sound in the darkness outside her window that caused her to awaken with a start. Lusa lifted his head and looked towards the window, sniffing the air. He barked softly.

A moment later a large owl landed on the windowsill and sat looking into the room with huge yellow eyes, head swiveling left and right as it surveyed the area. Solona's guard was up as the air began to shimmer around the bird. The dog remained calm and alert, but uncertain what to expect Solona began gathering power for a spell. She let it subside when she saw a familiar form begin to take shape in the shimmering air where the bird had been.

"Morrigan!" she exclaimed when she recognized the figure as it finally stood solid and real in front of her. She quickly reached for a lantern and lit it, turning the flame up higher to illuminate the dark room.

"Yes. 'Tis I," the witch replied, with an obvious hint of irritation in her voice. "I thought I had finally made it away from this place once and for all, but was compelled to turn back to deal with unfinished business."

"Away from Ferelden? But why? Where would you go?" she asked.

"Away from Ferelden. Away from this world. But Mother," she said the word with no little amount of exasperation in her voice, "Mother found me and scolded me soundly."

Resting one hand protectively over her abdomen, Morrigan said, "At least she couldn't take this treasure from me and crush it to pieces like a silly jeweled trinket."

With a sigh she continued, "It seems we're both destined to be pawns in her little game for a bit longer." She strolled to the edge of the bed, then sat, sliding a pack off her shoulders to the ground in front of her and rummaging in it. She brought out a large leather-bound tome and handed it to Solona.

"This is for you."

Solona took the book, perplexed.

"Flemeth's grimoire? Why are you giving it to me?"

"It seems your destiny is inscribed among its pages," Morrigan said, gesturing vaguely. Then she turned and gave Solona a frank, appraising look.

"I admit even after all the heroics of the past year, I have grossly underestimated your significance. I read that book twice, cover to cover, yet never made the connection."

Solona looked at the grimoire suspiciously. She had a feeling she knew what she would find inside but turned her head to face the other woman again with a questioning look.

"Just read the book. The important passages are marked." Morrigan gestured again towards the grimoire, then moved up and settled herself back against the pillows next to her friend.

Solona shifted closer to the light of the lantern and opened the book to one of the marked pages. She read for a moment, turned a page and read some more. The text she read was a revelation. Everything she had begun to believe about her connection to the Old Gods was confirmed in the words on these pages. She looked up at Morrigan, her eyes wide in wonder.

Words came out in a rush.

"Is this true? Morrigan, if this is true, this isn't some little game your mother is playing! If we don't do something soon... the fate of the entire world is in jeopardy. And not just one world, by the sound of things."

Morrigan nodded and began to explain. "The fates of three worlds lie in the balance. Mother has tasked me with ascertaining the state of one of them, and taking this treasure with me, far away from darkspawn influence," she gestured towards her midsection.

"You are to travel to the second world and find these 'Witchers' so you can complete the ritual to protect the remaining Old Gods. The darkspawn will not be able to reach you there, but you will still have your connection to the Old Gods. They slumber between worlds, in the Fade, connected to all three but existing in none. They need to be protected from the darkspawn taint and the only way to do that is to lure their souls from the Fade into the other world without awakening them. If they awaken within the Fade the taint can easily overcome them and turn them into archdemons. And if what Mother says is true, if that happens the last two Old Gods will likely be tainted at the same time and awaken together. There wouldn't just be another blight to contend with. Awakening them would trigger a cataclysm that none of the three worlds could withstand."

She paused for a few moments, thoughtful, as Solona continued to read.

Morrigan asked, tentative, "Why did you never tell me of your connection to them?"

Solona looked up at her, holding her gaze for a moment before answering, "I guess I never really got the chance. After our talk before your ritual... there was just so much information for me to process. I thought we could talk more afterwards, if everything... worked out."

"Is it true, then? They speak to you?" Morrigan asked, with a tinge of jealousy in her voice.

"I... suppose they do. In dreams mostly, but I feel their influence when I'm awake. It's like... well, you wouldn't understand it, but it's similar to the connection the Archdemon has with Grey Wardens through the taint. And I suppose the Archdemon used to be one of them anyway."

Thoughtful, Morrigan looked down at her abdomen and asked quietly, "Can you sense him now?"

She looked at Morrigan's belly, then reached out her hand slowly, her eyes querying Morrigan's for permission. At Morrigan's slight nod, she laid her hand over the other woman's womb and closed her eyes. With her healer's ability she could sense the life forming under her hand. It was still the tiniest pulse, but strong and determined nonetheless. Then suddenly her mind was filled with a deep, ethereal thrumm. The sound, familiar to her somehow, vibrated through her entire being for a second and then gradually settled into her mind. As it settled, she could discern a single sentiment: Thank You.

"Yes. He is there," she said, meeting Morrigan's eyes again, her own eyes filled with wonder. "You did a good thing, you know. Keep him safe."

Morrigan was unable to conceal the gratitude in her expression, a small smile lighting up her face. Solona didn't think she'd ever seen the other woman look happy before. She'd always heard that pregnant women tended to glow, but just thought it was a figure of speech, but now she knew otherwise. She smiled back, unable to help herself.

Morrigan looked at her with a determined expression. "I want to see the dragon mark."

"See the what?" Solona asked.

Morrigan grabbed the grimoire and flipped through it quickly, landing on a marked page near the front of the book. She laid the open book back on Solona's lap and pointed at a passage. Solona read it, her look of concentration quickly transforming into surprise.

"How... this... I don't... " she stuttered.

"You have it, don't you?" Morrigan asked, urgently. "Show it to me."

Solona nodded, her surprise still evident on her face, and handed the book back to Morrigan. She shifted slightly onto one side away from the other woman and pushed the bedcovers down to mid-thigh, then lifted her shift up, exposing her side and the large birthmark in the shape of a dragon that that adorned the rear portion of her hip, just above one buttock.

There was a pause as Morrigan inspected Solona's backside. "It's bigger than I expected," she said.

"Ha ha," Solona retorted, shifting back onto her pillows and glaring at the other woman as she covered herself up.

Morrigan smirked at her. "I meant the birthmark, silly. I'm sure your behind is the perfect size for anyone who cares about such things." Then she said, "Speaking of people who care about your assets..."

Solona let out a small sigh. "Alistair, you mean... I'm going to have to have a long talk with him soon... tomorrow after the coronation, I guess."

She wasn't relishing the idea in the slightest. She had known for some time that he was growing too attached to her. She had developed quite an attachment to him, as well, but some part of her had still insisted on keeping her emotional distance. She was relieved now that she had done so. It wouldn't do to fall in love and then have to turn around and leave. It still wasn't going to be easy to be apart from him after having his sturdy, comforting form to fall asleep beside every night for so long.

Morrigan said, "Being marked for glory has its disadvantages." Adding a slight chanty note to her words, she continued, "You'll have to leave the arms of your true love to pursue your higher calling."

Solona elbowed her friend in exasperation. "Being a mage in Ferelden has its disadvantages," she retorted. "But you're right anyway. I wish things could be different, but I think it's for the best if I'm out of his way. There's no room for a mage mistress in the king's court, and it's not like I'm going to bear him any heirs anyway," she said the last with a slight hint of bitterness, and couldn't help but glance at Morrigan's abdomen. Then a thought occurred to her and she eyed the other woman suspiciously. "You're not thinking of..."

Morrigan interrupted her, an expression of genuine surprise on her face. "No! Absolutely not!" she insisted. "His being a king had nothing to do with why I chose him for the ritual. It could have just as easily been Riordan as far as I was concerned, but … well... I got the distinct impression that Riordan would have preferred Zevran's company over mine. So Alistair was the only option. And, well, if you liked him, and he seemed to make you happy, then I... I just hoped it would make it pleasant at least. It isn't like there were many Grey Wardens to choose from."

Realizing that they were delving into potentially uncomfortable territory, Morrigan fell silent.

Solona, curious as always, finally broke the silence, "Was he... was it pleasant for you, then?" she asked. She knew she had been Alistair's first, so in spite of the residual jealousy she felt, she still felt she had something invested in the question. Her relationship to both parties made it particularly important.

Morrigan looked back at her, "Ahh... well. Wouldn't you like to know?" She smiled suggestively.

Solona said, determined, "Yes, actually. I'm curious. Are you going to tell me or not?"

Morrigan sighed and shook her head very slightly, "He was... tolerant at best. He evidently enjoyed it - it's not that difficult to tell with men. But he clearly didn't have his heart in it. Not that I blame him, considering our relationship. He is a competent lover, but the entire time he looked like he was trying to pretend he was someplace else. He cried out your name at the end." She paused, a moment, then said, "He isn't going to take your news well. I don't envy you the task of breaking it to him."

Solona felt a tightness in her chest that had nothing to do with the wound she had just healed. She looked down at her hands for a moment, then said quietly, "I do care for him him, greatly. But I would be lying to myself if I thought that he and I were in any way meant to be together. I do believe some things are meant to be. This book is evidence of that." She laid one hand on the grimoire and continued with more resolve, "And I think Alistair and I were meant to be together for a short time, but I know deep down that my place is not here with him. And if these… prophecies… are true, my place isn't even in Thedas."

Morrigan said, "He will move on, but I don't recommend telling him any of the details of why you need to go. I don't think he would understand, being raised in the Chantry as he was."

Solona nodded, "I'll only tell him as much as necessary. It would probably be best to keep the conversation short, anyway." Although she wasn't sure if that would make it any easier. She paused, then continued, "So, how do we get to these other worlds, exactly? Do you have some ritual up your sleeve that will transport us there?"

"In a manner of speaking," Morrigan replied. "I have discovered the existence of an uncorrupted Eluvian in the Dragonbone Wastes near Amaranthine. We will travel there, and perform rituals to attune it to the locations we wish to access. We will need to leave soon. 'Tis a long journey and we have little time to waste. I will meet you outside Denerim in two days' time. Hopefully that will be ample time for you to complete your business here and gather supplies."

She stood then and reached for her pack, the air already beginning to shimmer around her as she began to transform again. A moment later she was gone, her feathered form flying off into the night sky.


Next Chapter: In which farewells are spoken (or groped).