The following morning, Aedan, Alistair, Leliana, and Sten left to go search arround the docks for Sten's sword. They saw a man that seemed to be looting the area. Aedan looked to Sten, "Sten, look over there we should ask the man over there if he's seen it. I don't know if he did, but it's worth a try to get either the sword or a possible location for it." Sten nodded his head not believing the bas had Asala, but appreciating the fact that this human is taking his time to aid him. It surprised him that he was beginning to respect a bas, a month ago the idea seemed inconceivable to him. 'He is strong in his own right, he is adept at forming and adapting strategies even in the middle of combat. Only time will tell if he truly is basalit'an,' Sten thought.
They walked up to the scavenger and Sten immediately demanded, "Where is my sword?"
The scavenger nearly jumped out of his skin when he noticed the giant that towered over him. In a shaky voice stuttered, "I-I don't h-have a sword. I bought this spot from a man named Faryn. He's a merchant that sells in the F-Frostback Mountains near the entrance of Orzamar. I swear."
"For your sake I hope you're right," Aedan told him.
Back at camp, Morrigan started to stir from her sleep and groaned as she woke up "Ugh. What's going on? Where are we?" She began to sit up, but was pushed back down by Wynne.
"We are at camp at Lake Calenhad Docks, Aedan and the others are looking for Sten's sword. Take it easy your injuries still need some time to finish healing, the reason you feel little pain is because Aedan spent all night applying pain killing poultices on your injuries to allow them to heal with little pain, they were also mixed with sedatives to keep you sleeping."
Morrigan opened her mouth to speak, but Wynne interrupted her. "Before you start complaining like a child to me I'll tell you this. You have healed enough to travel but not enough for serious combat, that will take a day or two. I will not argue with you on this because if you don't obey me on this I will not heal your injuries again if you fight and they get worse, You will just have to either heal yourself or make plenty of health poultices. It is your choice however." Morrigan wanted to insult the old woman, to come up with some condescending reply, but she knew that even though she could make healing poultices she would still need healing magic which she did not know.
Wynne took Morrigan's lack of response as a sign that she understood and left. Seeing the others return, Wynne turned to Morrigan, "It appears that they are on their way back. Get ready to leave. Your Mother's book is in your pack just to let you know." and she departed Morrigan's tent to prepare for departure.
"Alright everyone, we're headed to the Gates of Orzamar in the Frostback Mountains to get Sten's sword. It'll take us two to three weeks to get there," Aedan told the group. Aedan walked to Morrigan to check on her knowing that she was awake now. "How are you feeling? You don't have to fight yet, everyone will have their turn being injured I know it, none of us will think you are weak especially me," Aedan smiled to her hoping she understood that he wasn't belittling her, but truly concerned for her well being. He added, "I placed Flemeth's grimoire in your pack so you can get to it when we are at camp next."
Morrigan pulled his head down and kissed him, "Thank you my sweet," Seductively, she added with a whisper in his ear, "I guess your reward will have to wait a few days. I'll be sure to make the extra wait worth it."
Leliana sees the exchange from across camp and her jealousy starts to bubble to the surface. Morrigan notices out of the corner of her eye, smirks and pulls Aedan's head into an even deeper kiss. 'That bitch! She knows of my feelings for him and yet she takes every chance to mock me with him. Mark my words you whore, when you break his heart I'll be there. I only wish Aedan knew that she's playing him, he deserves someone who loves him in return.'
About a week passed and they ran into a woman that franticly ran up to them begging for help, and they followed her. "You know this is a trap right Aedan?" Alistair asked him. Aedan nodded.
"Yes I know it is let's just play along and get ready for a fight. Leliana, get your bow ready, just before she gets to the rock make sure to fire one of the flaming arrows at her. If you time the shot just right she could set off a couple traps that are no doubt placed, Aedan instructed. Leliana knocked a flaming arrow on her bow and waited for her to get a good shot. She released the arrow that went right to her shoulder. The woman panicked when her body caught fire and began to run around setting off traps until she finally died.
When the group entered the clearing after the woman's charred corpse triggers the last trap laid out, An elf with tattoos on each side of his face jumps out and yells "DEATH TO THE GREY WARDENS!" The battle was won before it even began. Aedan tossed six daggers killing each would be assassin as the blades hit their throats. With a well placed kick to the elf's head, he fell unconscious instantly.
Five minutes later Aedan kicked him again waking him up. Aedan took a dagger and aimed it at the assassin's neck saying, "What are Antivan Crows doing here? Tell the truth or I'll cut your fucking ears off and send them back to your masters."
Alistair was confused, "How do you know those are Crows?" Alistair asked.
"It's simple Alistair, only the Antivan Crows wield daggers like these," he said twirling one of the elf's daggers in his hand. Aedan turned his attention back to the assassin. "Start talking. Now," Aedan demanded.
"My name is Zevran, Zev to my friends. I was hired by Teyrn Logaign and Arl Howe to eliminate any surviving Grey Wardens."
"HOWE!" Aedan roared, grabbing Zevran's neck. "Give me a reason why I shouldn't kill you just for associating yourself with that bastard!"
"Calm down Aedan, you'll kill him before you get your answers at this pace," Wynne's voice took the motherly tone that she began to use when speaking to him in an attempt to sooth his palpable anger at hearing Rendon Howe's name. It appeared to work because Aedan's grip began to loosen just enough for the elf to breathe again.
Zevran looked up at the group seeing anger in all of their eyes, especially the leader, but what he saw next made his blood run cold. Morrigan had the look of the most pure hatred in her honey colored eyes aimed directly at him and looked like she would kill him no matter what he told them. 'What is wrong with me? I feel like I have to protect Aedan from the world. It shouldn't be like this! But I must because he is MINE and nothing will take him from me. Mother would be furious to hear these thoughts, but I can't get rid of them.' These thoughts had been plaguing her for a few days now and she didn't like it because they scared her. She was brought out of her thoughts when Zevran began to speak again.
"I have loyalty to neither Logaign nor Howe, even if I killed you now the Crows would kill me just for failing the first time. I had no choice to join the Crows, I was purchased as a slave to them. I propose that I travel with you. My skills may be useful for you," Zevran said.
Aedan began to think about it, 'The Crows are well trained killers, he is offering his aid to combat the blight and Grey Wardens take allies wherever they can get them. Right now we need as many as we can get, I think I'll take his offer, he likely knows that betraying me would be a fatal mistake.' "Alright, but the slightest indication that you will betray us and you will not survive more than a few seconds. Am I clear?" Aedan asked. Zevran looked surprised that Aedan didn't kill him yet relieved at the same time.
"Thank you, by the way why didn't you kill me? It must be how handsome I am. I mean could you kill this?" he outlines his face.
"Oh no my daggers must have taken a liking to you. No wonder why they didn't slit your throat while you slept," came Aedan's sarcastic reply.
Zevran laughed despite the situation he was in a minute earlier.
Alistair looked worried at the aspect of having someone that just tried to kill them joining, but Morrigan was furious. "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!? Aedan, he just tried to kill you and now you're letting him join us."
"Relax I'm going to have Wrex watch his every move. I'm also not going to allow him to cook or serve food to avoid any of us being poisoned from something other than Alistair's cooking," Aedan whispered into her ear. She was still angry, but knowing that Wrex would be watching out for him even when she can't gave her some surprising comfort.
"Good," came Morrigan's curt reply. Aedan went to tell Wrex to keep a constant eye on Zevran.
The following night at camp, Morrigan was reading more of Flemet's Grimoire when her eyes widened and shrieked, "WHAT!? THIS CAN'T BE TRUE!" but she knew that what she just read was true. She ran to the main fire to get Aedan filled with both anger and terror, Flemeth was going to try and steal her body for her own.
Aedan heard Morrigan's shriek "WHAT!? THIS CAN'T BE TRUE!" and bolted away from the others knowing that whatever it was that it had something to do with Flemeth because she had spent the last week with her nose stuck in that book every time they set up camp. He saw Morrigan running his way 'Oh this is really bad, she never leaves her campsite.' Then he looked into her eyes, she was terrified.
"What's wrong Morrigan? Should we go somewhere less public for this, because if this is about what I think it is you wouldn't want the others listening in," Aedan asked. Morrigan nodded her head.
"'Twould be best," came her shaky reply. So they walked back to her tent so she could tell him what she found.
Morrigan took a deep breath and began to explain what she found, "The grimoire that we found at the circle tower was the wrong one, this one tells of how she has lived for so long. You have heard the tale of Flemeth having many daughters? I've just found out why I have never met one," she took another deep breath. "Because they are all Flemeth. When her body begins to grow old she raises a daughter and later takes the body as a new host, she intends to do the same to me I just know it."
Aedan knew where this was going and he agreed that what she was going to suggest was necessary. He wouldn't lose Morrigan to Flemeth. 'That bitch has lived for too damn long,' Aedan thought. "We have to kill her Morrigan, if we don't she'll try to steal your body over and over again until she succeeds," Aedan told her.
Morrigan was glad that he understood, but to her surprise was worried that she would send him to his death for the real grimoire. "Aedan, could-could you get the real grimoire after you kill her?" Morrigan asked him.
"Yes Morrigan, I'll get it for you after we get Sten's sword," Aedan said
Morrigan nodded, trying to hide the worry in her eyes. ''Tis foolish to be concerned for him, if anything goes wrong, 'twould be by his own doing,' Morrigan thought, scolding herself for such weakness being shown.
The group finally made it to their destination and saw a dwarf purchasing a sword from a red haired man. Sten automatically recognized it as Asala. "Warden the dwarf has my sword," Sten whispered. Aedan nodded, unsheathed a throwing dagger, and threw it at the dwarf's throat. The dagger hit its mark perfectly killing the dwarf instantly. The group walked over to the dead body and Sten picked up his formerly lost weapon while Aedan retrieved his dagger and put it away. They casually headed back to camp.
'Yes. he is basalit'an. He has earned my respect, perhaps he is worthy of being kadan,' Sten thought.
When back at camp Aedan walked over to Sten, "What is it kadan?" Aedan raised an eyebrow.
"To be kadan is to be what the bas call a friend, you have also earned the title basalit'an which means to be a bas but having earned respect among the Qun," Sten explained.
Aedan smiled, "Thank you Sten, it has been an honor to fight by your side, maybe one day after the blight is dealt with we could do so again." For the first time, Aedan thought he saw a smile on Sten's face.
"One day the Arishok will send us to conquer this land, if it is within my lifetime I will not search for you," was Sten's answer.
Aedan walked away thinking, 'Now to deal with Flemeth. I would deal with the dwarves first, but I have to do this for Morrigan to keep her safe. Back to the Korcari Wilds it seems.'