{Chapter Six}

"Morrigan—Oh! I have heard my parents talk about her!" It took a few moments to jog my memory. "They were friends – my parents and your mother." I grinned as I spoke. "That's great, Dox! Our parents were friends. And she was one of the heroes that saved the world from the Darkspawn and Archdemon!"

"Yes, she told me of how she helped them to end the fifth blight. She never thought of herself as a hero though. She was grateful to step back into the shadows and let others hold the glory for that." I wondered if he were pointedly talking about my father or others in general.

"There were many heroes during that blight. My father was just one of them." I knew they had granted him the title "Hero of Ferelden" because he led them throughout the ending of the blight, but my father had never pushed that title around. He had been humble. And from the sound of it, so had Dox's mother. The same went for my mother too. It gave me new respect for those who came before us. It also put a heavy load upon my shoulders to think we would have to rise to the occasion and end the mindless infection while not becoming overtaken ourselves and at the same time finding the source. Ugh.

"I think parents are always heroes to their children anyway, no matter what they accomplish." Dox's words were solemn and touched with a twinge of pain. For some reason, I wanted to make him smile again. I had no idea why, but I just felt that way.

"I'm sure your mother will live on in your memories and maybe she is by the Maker's side now, smiling at you with pride." I patted his arm gently and jumped slightly when I heard the dinner bell. "And now let's go get some food."


As Kayla, Harris, Merry, Dox and I sat together alone at a table and ate, I noticed how quiet the crew members were who also were in the galley. The meal had been prepared and served by a couple of rotund, cheerful women who loved to eat almost as much as they cooked. I had to stifle a few giggles as I saw them dipping into the pots of stew more times to count. I didn't mind, though, for the food was as good as any I had eaten back home.

"Why do you think everyone is so quiet tonight?" I had to whisper since the air was full of silence and my voice would have carried.

"I don't know." Harris replied back as he dipped a piece of bread into his stew bowl. "Maybe they are terrified from the events that have happened recently… like a dragon flying around the ship. Maybe they are angry that my mother was the pirate that boarded them. Maybe they are angry because you've told them we'll be going to Ferelden." The tone of his voice told me he was not happy. We were all silent after his ranting statements, which was a pity since I normally enjoyed sharing meals for more than just the good food.

Afterward it was dark and I was exhausted, so I retired to my quarters. Knowing it was inappropriate for an unwed male to sleep in my room with me, I convinced Dox to sleep in the cargo hold. We had made him a nice bed with netting and it wasn't bad. After all, my own bed was comprised of an oversized hammock, so it wouldn't have been any worse. Still, I felt guilty for making him stay down there but he seemed to take it in stride.

I had just drifted off when I heard my door open and close very softly. Alarmed, I sat up and prepared to jump off of the hammock to defend myself. I wondered who it was but relaxed when I heard Harris' voice informing me it was just him who had intruded into my cabin.

"Is everything all right?" I inquired, groping along the edge of the left side for my long over-tunic. I had only small clothes on, so couldn't afford to lighten the room just yet.

"Yeah," His voice was closer. "I just can't sleep. Sorry for waking you. I was hoping we could talk a short while?"

"Sure," I said, once I had slid on my long over-tunic and was prepared for the contact. "Let me get some light. One moment." I groped once more along to the dressing table, where the flint and stone rested, sparking it so that I could light the tiny lantern that was latched to the side of the cabin wall. When I turned around to face him, I felt myself avert my eyes for he had nothing on except a pair of long pants. His bare chest was defined and strong, with a sparse covering of dark hair. He was very attractive and I could not help but feel a rush of heat as it lit my whole body.

"Thanks." He sighed as he flung himself down on the hammock sideways so that I could join him. He held it steady so that I could do so, but the way the hammock rested forced our bodies to touch. It was comfortable though. I didn't mind. At all. His body heat was comforting and I echoed his sigh as I leaned back, closing my eyes, touching shoulders with him. We swung together in silence for a few moments, enjoying the company.

"Is everything all right, Harris?" I inquired, worried about him.

"Yeah," I felt his arm twitch – a shrug? "Merry is snoring, so I thought I would get away until I was tired enough to endure it."

"Ahh," I could not help but crack a slight smile. "I didn't realize little sisters were allowed to snore."

"This one can." He chuckled softly and I decided I really liked the sound of it. "Plus I really wanted to talk to you about… Dox."

"Oh? What about him?" I groaned internally, knowing where this would go.

"I know you like him and…" He quickly shifted his thoughts to a different direction. "Well, I think he might be trouble, Cecilia."

"I don't know what you mean?" I did know.

"I think he might lead us down a dangerous path. I don't know how he came from a statue and why my… my mother wanted his statue so much. It troubles me." He sounded frustrated so I opened my eyes and looked over at him. The flickering candle in the lantern cast strange shadows on his face. "Why are we going to Ferelden? You sprang this on us at the start of dinner and didn't give us any choice in the matter. I know you want to go seek out your father, but isn't the point of getting away from Ferelden so we don't become one of the mindless minions? It just seems to me like we're doing this only after Dox's discovery. I don't want to blame him… but just talk to me?"

"Well then, I will be honest with you and tell you that Dox has seen things through a vision." I wasn't sure how much to tell Harris, though he already had an idea about the vision of my… closeness with the raven-headed enigma. "And he did see you, me and him finding my father in a cavern, probably in the Deep Roads somewhere. So knowing that, I made it happen and changed the plans. But once I find my father, he can help us get to safety and we will be all right."

"I have to be honest with you in turn and say I don't trust his vision. I mean, what if he tells you something and then that makes it come true just because you will it to?" He rubbed his face with the hand not touching mine. "Argh, that doesn't make sense."

"Yeah it does, actually." I moved my hand over so that it was touching his, and felt my stomach flutter when he twisted his hand around to clasp mine. It was a sweet gesture, though it made me feel all jittery inside. "It's the power of suggestion, so you are probably right. However, he said he saw your mother board the ship in the vision and it did happen. How could suggestion have caused it to actually happen?"

"He … did?" The shocked tone was warranted. "I didn't know that." I suddenly felt guilty for not telling him everything.

"Yeah. He told me and I knew… but I didn't want to change the future because of trying to prevent it. Plus you got to see your mother." I realized after I said it that it was a silly thing to say.

"Oh yes, what a delight that was… she told me my father was dead. And fairly told me she didn't want to have anything to do with me unless it was convenient for her." I heard the pain and felt horrible for it.

"I'm sorry." I leaned my head over to rest on his shoulder to try and comfort him, but he took it a step further and leaned over, wrapping his free arm around me in a half-embrace. I felt awkward, but leaned into the embrace, hoping to show my support and consolation. My heart skipped a beat when he pressed his lips gently against my forehead.

"You're making me feel better." Harris' tone was playful, yet weak and I knew he had a long way to go to reconcile with the fact that he was alone except for his sister, Kayla and I. And Dox, if he would accept a friendship with him.

"Glad I can help." I told him as I pulled back, but I did not get far. His free hand gripped my shoulder, locking me in place so that our faces were mere inches apart.

"I like you, Cecilia. Very much." His eyes pierced mine and I froze, unable to even breathe. He massaged my arm, moving his hand to press behind my neck at the base of my skull. Very slowly he pulled me in to his face so that he could reach me with his lips. He kissed me hesitantly as if I would yell or react, but when he saw there was no reservation or dislike for it, the kiss deepened. I felt my body go limp from the sensations I was feeling and my eyes drooped shut as I enjoyed the touch.

His hand slid slowly down from my neck to my back, down further past the curve of my buttock and back up to my side until it rested against my chest. His hand began to explore there, but I felt as if I should stop him. However, I was enjoying it so it left me with a dilemma – should I stop him and risk him alienating himself against me for fear of rejection or let him do what he would and not care about where it led?

Decisions, decisions…. No. It was actually an easy decision. I wasn't ready to be this close to Harris and so as his right hand began to caress one of my breasts, I pushed away from him. Of course I did so gently, unwilling to hurt his feelings so I gave him the option to step back mentally and keep his pride in doing in this manner. However, he was not willing to stop and grasped my free arm, pulling me closer to him so that I was suddenly straddling him as the hammock erratically swayed from the action.

"Harris…" I had nowhere to put my hands, so they landed on his bare shoulders to help keep me from falling.

"I want to be with you, Cecilia." He murmured, letting his hands slide underneath the end of the long tunic I was wearing. I knew what would happen if I let him keep going. "You are so beautiful."

"Thank you, but I think I need sleep now." I began to push against his chest, to help me off of his body, but his hands gripped my arms and attempted to pull me down to allow access to my lips. Frustrated, I knew I would have to get forceful with him, which would end badly. His pride would be injured and it would hurt our blooming friendship, which was NOT what I wanted!

"Cecilia?" A soft voice called from the hall and seconds later, Dox pushed his way into my room. He stared at my struggling form and leaned in to help me.

"Back off, pale freak!" Harris snarled, glaring around the outline of my body so that he could make eye contact with the newcomer. "Can't you see we are busy? Come back in the morning."

"Cecilia, is this what you want?" Dox's question was nebulous but I realized he said it so that I could choose and not let him interfere if necessary.

"I'm tired and want to sleep. I will see both of you tomorrow." I stared pointedly down at Harris and watched as my words seemed to wilt his spirit like a water-starved plant. I hoped that he kept some remaining shreds of pride as I let Dox help me off of the hammock. I found myself leaning on him for support as Harris climbed out of the hammock and angrily brushed past us.

Once Harris was gone, Dox turned to leave, but I caught his arm.
"Thanks." I stared up at him in gratitude for the intrusion. "I guess I should thank your vision for that, anyway thank you."

"I did not follow the vision exactly, Cecilia." His tone was full of shame and I stepped closer to him, keeping my hold on his arm as I did.

"Explain?"

"I… you were meant to handle him fine alone, without my help." He broke eye contact then and looked down. "My coming in here was not necessary. I did not interrupt in my vision, but I felt something deep inside as if he should not be doing that with you… and… well, I just felt an odd feeling inside of me when I heard your struggles and… I am sorry for listening in but I worry about you and want to keep you safe."

As Dox finished he kept his head bowed while I absorbed what he had been trying to say. "Um," I tried to sort it out and make sense of it. "So you knew this would happen, but you didn't know when. So therefore you stood outside of my door waiting? That seems a little strange in timing. How did you know it would be tonight that he tried to… get close to me?"

"I did not know when." He shrugged. "I just did not feel comfortable sleeping so far from your side."

"So you waited by my door until you could not wait any longer to interfere?" I tried to keep the anger out of my voice.

"In a way, yes."

"Dox, you are making NO sense!" Frustration leaked into my voice and I attempted to get control of it. "If you were waiting by my door, wouldn't Harris have seen you?"

"Not if I did not let him see me."

"If you knew this would happen, maybe you should have stopped him from entering my room." I knew I did not mean the words, yet I did. I had to find out Harris' intentions and make sure I was ready for them. And at that moment, I wasn't. But I had faith in Harris that he would have let me go had I asked and not pushed himself on me. Dox's vision confirmed that and so I mourned the loss of that moment. It had been robbed from us.

"I would have, but you are correct that we should not alter the future from my vision. If we change the future, it could cause a ripple that would ruin everything and possibly lead to the end of life on Thedas." His words were grim and delivered with a frown.

"And yet you broke that rule by entering and interrupting anyway!" I threw up my hands, releasing his arm as I did. I turned, frustrated and exhausted.

"I am truly sorry, Cecilia." I felt Dox step closer from the presence of sudden body heat at my back. "I do not know what came over me. Why I felt pushed into action. I cannot comprehend it."

"Jealousy." I commented.

"Oh. I have never felt that way. It is new to me. I am sorry." I heard anguish in his tone and knew that if I did not get a grip on my emotions, that I would end up making him upset alongside Harris tonight.

"It's only human to feel that way if you want something that someone else has." I sighed as I spoke, trying with utmost effort to be soft and gentle in my tone. "Why don't you sleep on the floor here tonight? I need to rest and think." I really wanted to be alone, but was unwilling to let him leave since I wasn't certain if he wouldn't just sit outside of my door anyway.

"If you wish." He sat near a corner of the room, leaning back against the wooden wall, facing away from the hammock. I watched him as he closed his eyes, as if trying to rest.

"Ugh." It was the only thing that came to mind at that moment – the only safe thing to say. I gathered a few extra blankets and handed them to Dox before climbing onto the hammock. I let it sway to mirror my mood. With a frustrated groan, I glanced up at the lantern as I realized I had not blown out the candle to darken the room. I was too tired to get up and thought perhaps sleeping with a light lit wouldn't be so bad. Not that I expected something to happen, but the illumination helped ease my mind just a little bit.

"Let me extinguish the light." Dox's voice automatically drew my focus. Before I could ask him to leave it, he had formed a small ball of light in his palm and blew on it, angling toward the flickering lantern. Fascinated, I leaned on my elbow so that I could watch the display. The light floated gently up to the lantern and once it reached it, engulfed the entire fixture until the whole thing was a big ball of light. I was impressed, but kept silent. Dox made a sound as if blowing out and instantly the room was covered by darkness.

"Neat." I mumbled mostly to myself as I curled back into my normal sleeping position, trying to get comfortable for the night. As I lay there, knowing I would fall asleep quickly gauging by my heavy eyelids, my mind could not stop chewing on what I had just witnessed. What other tricks could Dox do? How powerful was he, exactly? Would I be prisoner to his visions? I had to admit, I welcomed them more than not. Knowing what could happen would be very useful, as in the case with going to help my father. But there were things I should not know. And things that would happen whether I knew them or not. By the time I began to drift to sleep, my brain ached from it all.

To be Continued