Arn knelt at the small camp that was about a quarter of a mile south of the clearing where Flemeth's hut lay. The ashes although extinguished still had some residual warmth, suggesting that there had been someone here within the last couple of hours. Tracks showed a single person, the size of the foot suggested a very small human or possibly an Elf. The report he had received at Redcliffe Castle had said a woman and the tracks he found here lead Arn to the same conclusion. Arn let out a sigh of disappointment when he saw the depth of the tracks, the person was armoured in mail at least, maybe something even heavier. This was not Morrigan, but this mystery presence at Flemeth's hut was simply too much of a coincidence for him to not be suspicious.

Like two shadows in the night Arn and his Blight Wolf crept through the forest. Even as they crossed the clearing to the door of Flemeth's hut they were silent and almost invisible as they shifted from shadow to shadow. The door was slightly ajar and the Blight Wolf slipped in, Arn knocked an arrow on his finely crafted bow and followed the wolf into the building.

The sound of the drawing of blades and the growling of the wolf told Arn that there was someone in the hut, Arn drew a bead on the target, then looked at her, checking over the most important details. Elven woman, in armour, twin swords carried with confidence, no fear in her eyes even though outnumbered. This is was a dangerous opponent.

"Tell your wolf to back off, or I'll gut it."

Her Elven voice spoke of the music of Dalish origin. Arn considered her request quickly and decided he could still kill her with a single shot if she proved treacherous. He whistled at the wolf and it came to heel at his side.

"Put the blades away and I'll put down the bow," he suggested.

She looked into his eyes for two or three heartbeats and decided him trustworthy, and with a exhaling of her breath she fluidly sheathed her swords. Arn lowered his bow.

"Oh! Aneth ara, you startled me there! Have you news of the witch? Have you come to visit her too?"

"Do you mean Flemeth? For I can tell you Flemeth is dead. I was there when she was slain" replied Arn.

Now that there was no immediate danger Arn took time to really examine the stranger. The Elven woman before him bore the tribal tattoos so common of the Dalish, her hair was shoulder length and brown, her face though not exactly beautiful was more than comely, though he had found recently he never looked at women that way for he still bleed inside and no one but Morrigan could fill the void.

Her face haunted his dreams, sometimes in that time between waking and sleeping he was sure he could smell her and he would reach out to find her not there, he would wake feeling bitter for at least in his dreams they had been together.

The Elven woman's shoulders were broad and strong, most likely through years of training with the twin blades she carried so effortlessly on her back. She knew how to use them Arn decided. He would be wary of this one.

"Many have tried to kill Asha'bellanar in the past. Do no claim victory until a few centuries have passed without sight of her. We thought she could help us find her daughter, Morrigan"

Suspicion warred inside him, why would this woman be searching for her. Had she been sent to hurt Morrigan?

"The young witch has caused trouble for my clan. Has she earned you ire as well?

"Not exactly, I love her, "said Arn with a wistful smile dancing on his lips.

"Ah. They say she is beautiful, but I have never heard anyone claim she is capable of love."

"Ironically, she may even agree with you on that point"

The Elven woman frowned at that comment, but when no explanation was forthcoming decided to continue. Arn was relived she wasn't there for some sort of bloody resolution.

"Morrigan stole an ancient book my clan has guarded since the days of Arlathan. We were the only ones with such a piece of our history. Everything we once had, all legacy of our ancient magics were stripped from us. First by the Tevinter magisters, then by the wretched Circle. And Morrigan took what little was left."

"What's so special about this book?"

"For almost two thousand years, the Dalish people have been wanderers, a shadow of what we once were. This book—as much of a mystery as it is to us—is one of the only clues on how to reclaim that past. My keeper, Solan, says it was a treatise on something the ancients called 'Eluvian." The word is as old as the book itself, and its meaning has been lost. Save perhaps to Morrigan."

"How do you know Morrigan stole it?" He asked, perplexed why Morrigan would steal from the Dalish.

"One month ago, she visited our clan in the name of friendship, and took great interest in our history. She knew exactly what she was looking for. The keeper allowed her to see the book. Two nights later, it was gone."

Arn listened to her tale, deciding to believe it and wondered what Morrigan could be planning. He wondered if she had their son with her and if not who was caring for him.

"So what do you plan now?"

"Help me. We both want Morrigan, and we can aid each other."

"The Book of Eluvian was reclaimed for my clan by an Elven mage, who stole it from the Circle of the Magi before defecting. And still other such treasures remain with the Circle. Have you any standing to request entrance?

"They call me the hero of Ferelden. Though many others deserve the credit for what was achieved"

"The.. Then you are the one who slew the archdaemon? Knowing this they'll have to let us in! Ma serannas, let us go immediately!"

"Do you have a name?"

"Forgive me, yes. I am Ariane, of Solan's clan"

"You can call me Arn, or Warden if you prefer. "

Ariane smiled and bowed.

"Arn it is then."


Arn gazed back at the Mage's Tower as the ferry man carried them back across the lake. He was glad to be gone from there.

He could understand Morrigan's dislike of the place; it indeed felt like a prison. It was a cage surrounded by those waiting for one to make a mistake so they could pounce. It would have destroyed Morrigan's spirit to be caged so. He understood the dangers of magic, that a false step could turn one into some kind of fiend that lost all humanity but surely there was a better way?

He knew how the woman he loved cavorted dangerously on the edge with demons and spirits, dancing on a knife edge in the search for power, but did she dance so deftly because her tutor had not been afraid of the dangers. It was good to be cautious, but it was wrong to be overly so, wrapping the mage in wool and keeping him from the world. He trusted Morrigan to take the risks, just how she never questioned his skills or abilities. The mages of the tower had respect for each other, but not the trust in each other's motivations.

He looked across at the mage that had agreed to accompany them. His name was Finn, and for all the power he held, he was still an innocent. Intelligent he was, but could he survive in the world on his own? Arn very much doubted it. He had been cloistered in a world of books and spells most of his life. Brains but no sense his father would have described it. Finn epitomised it. Although Arn admitted that without Finn's training they would still be no closer to Morrigan. With Finn's help they had been able to decipher some Elven texts that mentioned an object called an Eluvian. And for some reason that Arn could still not fathom, this had been something Finn had known a little about. Of all the ancient lore that was stacked on those shelves, it was the greatest of luck to find someone that could help.

The lull of the boat made his mind drift and he remembered once overhearing Leliana and Morrigan in a venomous exchange. Morrigan had a wicked tongue, in more ways than one, but this day it had been of the unpleasant kind because Leliana had seen that no matter what Morrigan claimed, she was falling in love, and then foolishly commented on.

The exchange started innocently enough but eventually Morrigan blazed with annoyance.

"What you call love is a wishful fancy." Said Morrigan

"Ah, you don't fool me. Deep down inside you must be glad of it."

Morrigan's eyes narrowed.

"Let me tell you one thing, and then let us speak of it no more. Love is a weakness, love is a cancer that grows inside and makes one do foolish things. Love is death! The love you dream of would be more important to one than anything, even life. I know no such love. He chose me over you. If your hope is that he chose something pure and sugary sweet then you are quite wrong. What I know is passion, the respect of equals, things far more valuable that I will not speak to you of any further. Now be gone. "

Leliana was left stunned by the outburst, but when Morrigan turned to notice that Arn had been drawn to the sound of raised voices she couldn't meet his gaze. She had turned away and had avoided him for two days after that.

He wondered if she would say the same to him now because his love for her was more important to him than life. He would willing turn his back on it all to be with her, follow her wherever she went, whatever she did. Yes it was all consuming, but Morrigan was wrong he knew. Love was life, and to be without it was death. He only hoped that in these months apart and alone she had come to the same conclusion.

His eyes made contact with Finn's and the young mage smiled an awkward grin. He was like a young child on a grand adventure. It made Arn happy to see his joy. Finn's assistance had been in sharp contrast to the other treatment they had received when they had entered the tower. Entrance not been pleasant, he felt embarrassed by how the Templars showed great suspicion and contempt for Ariane. In the past he had bleed to aid the Circle and their Templar guards, he had faced numerous abominations to save the tower and now much had been forgotten it seemed for they treated the person in his company like an animal that Arn should keep leashed so it didn't cause a mess. He spat over the side of the boat to clear the bad taste from his mouth. Ariane though offended had held herself with dignity and he was glad of it. But he promised himself that unless he had no other option he would wash his hands of the tower.

But yet again the Circle had needed him, needed Ariane. The Tower had needed their help, to repair rips in the Fade that were located in the basement where their most ancient artefacts were kept. It had been cordoned off and no one could deal with it. Finn had pointed to answers that could be found through a soul trapped in a statue from the age where the Tevinter mages were at the pinnacle of their power and they needed answers, so once more Arn, accompanied with allies that were looked on with distain came to the rescue. He wondered where the justice was in the treatment they received. He decided there wasn't any.

But the answers were forthcoming, now he knew what he must do; he must find the last Eluvian which could be tracked by a spell that Finn could perform once they acquired a mirror shard and the lights of Arlathan.

He forgot about the Circle, Ferelden and all other things, he saw a reunion, and dreamed of a happy ending.

She would not escape him this time.


Morrigan knew inside she was delaying the opening of the portal. She was afraid that if she opened it then it wouldn't work for very long. The magic around it shuddered and faltered. She only dared risk the opening when she was ready to go.

Nothing held her back except him. She longed to see him again; a single glance and then maybe she could find peace on the other side of the Eluvian. She needed to say goodbye to his face. She knew now she had to let him go, no more fantasies or dreams. If she could just have a glance of him to make it bearable, a memory of him, to see him now with her own eyes, then perhaps she could have closure and so could he. And so she waited...

She had had to steel her heart since she reached out to him. "Please find me" she had called to him even though she knew it would have been better to remain silent. He would have broken down and stopped chasing and maybe in time he would have healed and loved again. Maybe in time they could have found peace. But her need outweighed her sense and the wound was fresh and bleeding again. She was shocked to find that she hated the thought of him finding love with someone else, the jealousy burning her inside like fire, yet she was going to give him up. She made no sense, and she knew it. Love was killing her, it truly was a cancer as she once proclaimed. Yet when she proclaimed it she had no experience of what she spoke. Her imaginings were nothing compared to the truth.

No, she realised, it wasn't Love that was a cancer. It was the denial of Love that was killing her. She couldn't remember a time when she was so at peace as when she was with him, swallowed up in his presence. Only when she tried to think and rationalise her feelings did the pain come. She envied his faith; he never seemed troubled or questioned what they had. He never analysed it, never weighed it on scales against power or freedom or anything else people covet.

She could remember how he would gaze into her eyes as he held her. Sometimes his fingers would trace her face, her hair. Sometimes he would describe the beauty he saw there, sometimes he was silent. But always was she the centre of the world then. At first she had been glad, thinking that it would be easy to ensnare him to her will, but before long she would begin to day dream of what he might say or do the next time they were together, that was when the sinking fear of losing control came to her and gnawed at her when she was not intoxicated with his presence. "If only", it had become the phrase she whispered most.

But a life together was impossible; his presence would destroy it all. His love and compassion could change their child so he would not walk the paths he must. Their son must be as hard as steel, as cold as the winter, as tough as the stone of the mountains. He must not waver or turn aside. Innocents will die but they must be sacrificed for the greater good. She could not let him be influenced by Arn's gentle soul.

She realised that she would become Flemeth to make her son strong. She would rob him of his childhood, of all the wonders of the world to make him an instrument of fate. It was then she understood why she truly couldn't be with Arn.

She was ashamed, ashamed to let him see her become just like the monster he had slain to save her. And that realisation broke her heart; it shattered into a million pieces. She was beyond pain then, she was numb and unfeeling until all the loss came rushing in to consume her. She longed for him to save her but she was beyond saving now.

She found a place of solitude where none could come across her and see her weakness. And there she sobbed until she had wept every tear inside her, and once the sobs subsided she drifted to an exhausted sleep.


Arn caressed the ring on his finger, hoping beyond hope that in some way touching it would make her feel closer, that she would know he was searching, he was on her trail and that she should wait. He had heard her plea to find her, she wanted to be found, needed to be saved he knew, yet she had been silent since.

Ariane interrupted his thoughts.

"That ring, you play with it often."

Arn looked at the ring with a sad smile.

"Yes I guess I do, Morrigan gave it to me. A long time ago."

Ariane raised her brows in surprise.

"A ring is a significant gift. In human cultures, does that not mean…?"

"That we are married? No. Fate has not been so generous."

"You put yourself in such danger, just to find her. What will do you do when you reach her?"

"I won't let her slip away again. And if all else fails I'll beg," said Arn with a sad laugh.

Ariane was sure that Arn's sad jest was closer to the truth than he would care to admit. And he used it to protect himself from the sadness he carried on him.

"We'll find her. You have my word. The ancient Eluvian will be our key."

He nodded his head as he stepped lightly through the rubble of the ancient temple. He could smell the Darkspawn, their stink filled the air, and it was like sulfur and burnt oil, rancid and sickening.

They were not alone, and as the shadows exploded from the walls he loosed the first of many arrows.

"For the Grey Wardens!" he bellowed.

And the killing started.


Morrigan nervously paced in front of the Eluvian. She could feel him there just beyond the chamber's entrance. So close was he she could watch him through the power of the ring. He fought the creature she had left in place to guard the chamber from enemies. The Varterral . Arn was more magnificent than even she remembered. He was lithe as an athlete, as he skipped and vaulted from the attacks of the beast. She had seen the speed and deadliness of the creature and yet Arn made it look slow and lumbering.

Arrow after arrow struck the creature. His companions too fought like demons. He had always been able to inspire those around him to feats of heroism. He had inspired her hadn't he, he had inspired her and gave her feelings she never knew she could feel. He was so much greater than her in many ways and yet somehow she thought him weak no matter what the evidence said to the contrary. But maybe that inspiration was what their son needed to learn how to lead? She stopped that line of thought, thinking it just a life-line she was casting to allow her to change her mind and let them be together. She would become terrible for the good of their son, he must not see it.

She had ushered her people through, and her son waited on the other side, it was the force of her will keeping it open. She had left a small vanguard of followers to protect the way, to stay this side of the mirror and protect it. She had to assume that they were now dead. They wouldn't have been able to stand against him. He truly was the greatest champion in the realm, yet it wasn't that prowess that left her feeling this way. It had attracted her yes, it had aroused her knowing that power that emanated from him, but in the end it was his tenderness and care and respect of her that turned that into love. And that love was calling to her now. She should have left but the pull of him kept her there.

She held her breath as the fight continued. She didn't fear the beast would win, she was afraid of their meeting.

Their final meeting.

"I have to say farewell, my love. I hope one day you will forgive me" she whispered to the breeze.


The thrum of the bow string was like music to Arn's ear as he released another Elven arrow. Made from heart wood, these arrows travelled further and truer, could pierce the stoutest armour as if it was made of smoke. The Varterral hissed in agony as another arrow thudded home. Arn vaulted on to the pile of debris to his left, nimbly dodging a pincer that could have skewered him. He laughed with abandon as he leapt and fought. He was alive when he fought, the fight to survive, the losing yourself in the thrill of battle. Never did he think of death, never did he think of anything but the lust to slay his enemies.

A piercing howl escaped his lips and a Blight Wolf burst from the shadows, as if appearing from the Fade itself. It leapt on to the Varterral's back, strong jaws locking onto the creature's neck. Its insect-like chitin crunched audibly over the sounds of battle and its high pitched scream was enough to freeze the blood of even the most stalwart heart.

The Varterral could only be described as a praying mantis of the size of a mammoth that once wandered the snowy northern plains. It could spit a fine spray of acid that burned and paralysed. It pincers were more precise than a surgeons tools yet hit with the force of a blacksmith's hammer. It was truly a creature whose sole design was to prey and feed on other creatures. The perfect killing machine, yet here it had met its match.

Finn had soon realised he should not get too close to this thing, his robes would offer little if no protection to the beast, even though ensorcelled to act like armour. He stayed out the way, weaving spells of healing and rejuvenation, offering strength to tired limbs as they fought this beast.

All of a sudden the thing turned to face him; he was paralysed with fear as he recognised his death in those black metallic eyes. Like a black streak there was the wolf between him and the beast. The pincer struck as quick as lightening puncturing the wolf through the back, impaling him. It howled in anguish and pain before the pincer was roughly pulled out. A huge gout of blood erupted across the floor, splattering Finn with the wolf's life blood.

Finn in drastic haste cast a force shield around the wolf, this primal creature that had just saved his life. The shield held the creature in stasis, saving it from bleeding to death. He wove spells on the wolf, healing it, knitting its flesh back together, and filling it with life anew.

Ariane saw her chance when the beast was so focused on Finn and the wolf that had saved him. With all the strength she could muster she hacked at the joint of the beast's legs. It severed with a gush of black viscous blood. Her momentum continued as she allowed herself to spin full circle to wind up the next blow. Another leg was severed, leaving the floor slick with black blood. The Varterral collapsed to its side where it floundered. Pincers still flashing like lightening it was far from subdued. But now it couldn't move. The fight was drawing to its conclusion.

Arn chose his angle with care then fired arrow after arrow, piercing the head repeatedly. The final arrow crashed through the chitin just under its eye, exploding the organ and burying itself deep into its brain. The beast howled out its death rattle before collapsing into a heap. It was over.

Arn could see that the wolf, though safe and stable could do no more, he thanked it for its aid. The empathic link between ranger and beast passed on his thanks before he told the wolf to run free. It looked back at the companions for a moment as if acknowledging them before vanishing as quickly as he had come.

Finn was the last to turn away from the point where the wolf was last seen.

Arn pulled open the door to the chamber, he could feel her watching. The sensation was so strong that he knew she was just ahead. The search was over, after all those months, all those heart aches and tears he would be reunited.

He raced ahead of the others, drawn by the call of her presence. And there, ahead he saw a woman standing next a mirror, the fine figure, the black hair. She wasn't as yet close enough to determine the details of her face, but he knew it was her. He could feel the tears coming to his eyes. Relief washed over him like a spring rain. He saw that she was pacing backwards and forwards and he felt her anguish hit him through the ring.

His feet slowed, he was suddenly afraid. For the first time in his life he was terrified.

He hadn't released he had totally stopped until he felt Ariane's hand on his shoulder, her voice soft as she saw the fear on his face. It was the fear of rejection.

"I think she is waiting for you"

He took a breath to steady his beating heart and walked the final steps until there she was, clear in every detail.

His love, his life, Morrigan.


"No further, please. One more step and I leave. For good, this time".

Arn held up his hands in a sign of peace. This was not how he dreamed their meeting would be like. But just as it was every time he gazed on her she stole his breath with her beauty, her poise. Many had died to get to this point, every pain; every sacrifice had brought him to this point. And he would pay them again gladly; ten times over, if need be, to be with her.

"There's no need to run," he responded

"I assume you know what this is. I have gone to great lengths to find and activate this portal. Give me reason and I use it, and you will not be able to follow."

"I know the Eluvians are portals, but to where?"

"To another place, beyond this world and beyond the Fade. But this portal can only be used once more. Achieving even this much was... difficult."

She tried so hard to steel herself to keep her sorrow from him; she needed to be strong to make him believe that she cared no longer, her last gift to him to help him heal his heart. At least then only hers would be broken forever. She would dedicate the rest of her life to their son. But seeing him was too much for her aching heart and her tone softened.

"I remained because I sensed your approach. You kept the ring."

His fingers caressed the ring she spoke of. It had never left his hand since the day she gifted it to him.

"Of course I did, it was all I had left of you," he responded.

"Tell me: why did you come?"

"You think I would let you just walk away?" Arn said.

"Was that not our deal? A deal you are breaking. What can you hope to gain by coming here now?"

"You speak of a deal my love, but in truth there was no agreement to that, you told me you would leave, I never agreed to it. What I agreed to is that I would live, that you would save me and then I hoped that you would change your mind and we would be companions to go where ever you wished to go.

But to answer your question, why did I come, I came here for you. The woman I love."

That simple statement made her heart sing, she hadn't realised just how much she missed to hear him tell her these things, to say her name, to look on her, to know that he fought all this way for her. And in the end it made none of what she must do any easier.

"And you once argued with me that love is not weakness. I will never understand you. And you will never understand me."

"I won't understand unless you help me to." He replied. His eyes pleaded with her to open up, to tell him, to give him some clue of how to make this better.

" I... would not even know where to begin explaining." She said sadly. She felt like she was breaking inside. This perhaps had been a mistake. She had needed to see him face to face to look on him one last time to help her remember all the joys they had shared together. But it was so difficult.

He broke her reverie with a question.

"Tell me, why did you lie to me?"

"Tis true I deceived you. I did not think the battle with the Archdaemon would come so soon. And so I came to you. I needed you, yes, but I also did not wish to see you die. And here you stand, alive. So do not speak to me of betrayal."

"I never spoke of betrayal, but in truth Morrigan you should have just asked me and I would have done it willingly. Knowing what I know now I would still do it again even if the child would not have been my salvation. I believe in you, your judgement, and your goals. I would have helped you in any way I could. Yes there must be danger for us all in what you have done, the boy you possess, but I know you must have done it for some good reason. It was more than your own power. I know you are not your mother; that this was not just for your own glory.

If there was betrayal, then it was you that betrayed yourself, in to being convinced that you could not trust me with the truth."

How his statement hurt her inside. She would be like Flemeth yet he told her she would not, she felt as if she was deceiving him. To discover that after all the lies that were spoken, all the pain that she caused him, and he caused to her, that he would have done as she wished without any deceit. They could have been happy and she had ruined it because she had such little capacity to trust. She cursed Flemeth for what she had done to her through her teachings.

"I need to leave", she said and somehow with great strength of will she kept her voice from shuddering. The task became harder still as she saw his shoulders slump slightly, as if for the first time he realised he was going to lose her, before he pulled himself together to keep fighting for something that was already lost.

"But first allow me to provide you a warning. "Tis Flemeth you should beware of, not me. Hunt her, if you hunt anyone.

"Flemeth is dead."

"My mother has tricked her way past death and more. She is no more finished than I am. "

She stepped away from the Eluvian for the first time, moving closer to Arn. He found that he had been holding his breath and now that she was close to him he drank in everything of her, her beauty, her scent, that intoxicating muskiness of sweat and herbs and desire, she oozed everything that made his blood burn and his mind reel. How he loved her and longed for her and as she closed the gap her eyes softened and a faint smile crossed her lips.

"I thought I knew what Flemeth planned. I thought what she craved was immortality. And yet I was wrong. So very wrong. She is no blood mage, no abomination... She is not even truly human. The ritual was but a means to an end, a herald for what is to come."

"Why? What is going to happen?" he asked her.

"Change is coming to the world. Many fear change and will fight it with every fibre of their being. But sometimes change is what they need most. Sometimes change is what sets them free."

"And is that what you want? To be free?"

"What I want... is unimportant now."

His eyes blazed like emerald fire, never had see seen him so furious, he blazed like the sun and she was tempted to step back.

"Damn it Morrigan, the time for evasion is over. Why will you not fight for us? Why are you so afraid to love me? We both know what we feel for each other. "

He held up his hand that bore the ring.

"This tells me, though I knew it already. I have seen it in your eyes, tasted it on your kiss and felt it in your words, I know how you yearn. I feel you there sometimes watching, so do not claim what we had was a passing fancy. Do not try to tell me that the love I see in your eyes right now is but a reflection of my own. It has been almost a year since I gazed upon you and not a day passes that you are not part of it. Tell me it is different for you?"

She nodded her head sadly in agreement, her eyes so full of sorrow.

"We stand on the brink. This is it." He pointed at the Eluvian.

"The final chance, we have both made this moment happen, I chased and you waited so you cannot tell me you didn't long for this. So why do you now push me away again? Why will you not just listen to your heart?"

She could not meet the fury in his gaze and when he saw the unshed tears trembling on her eyelashes, the anger abated.

His voice gentled and he took a step closer to her, taking her hands in his.

"Please my love, tell me. What is it you want; do you truly want to be free of me?"

She blinked away welling tears. She could not look at him.

"You", her voice was barely a whisper.

She looked up into his eyes and said as steadily as she could.

"You, I want you."

It felt like a weight off her heart to tell him how she felt, the fear had not receded at the opening of her soul to him, the wall she had built up still stood, but she had opened the gate and the emotions rushed through it like a swollen river bursting its banks.

"Then take me with you"

It was the words she had dreamed of, but long ago she had been told not to dream. They were flights of fancy to lure the weak and foolish. So even now she tried to push him away. At that moment she hated herself for the emotional suicide she was committing, but she just couldn't stop.

"You.. cannot know what you ask. T'would be better if you stayed. For you, for us both."

"Do you really believe that is true? I do not. Part of me dies here today if we go different paths. I want to be with you, no matter the consequences"

Finally she surrendered. At last she refused to listen to her mind, to Flemeth or anyone else, it was time to let her heart speak.

"Then come, my love. We will face the future together."

He leaned in close to her and his mouth found hers. They kissed, a kiss that spoke of all the longing, the pain, the joy and love they had. Her fingers wound in his hair and his arms pressed her against him so she felt as if they were merging into one.

After a time Arn drew back remembering his companions, looking over his shoulder he raised his hand in thanks to Ariane and Finn for their help. Ariane nodded back, but Arn had forgotten her, lost again in those wolfish eyes.

Later Ariane would recover the book she had been searching for left at the small camp next to the Eluvian.

She led him to the Eluvian, she brushed her fingers along the surface of the mirror and it rippled like a pool. Intrigued Arn did likewise.

"Are you ready my love?" she asked him.

"I think I have been ready since I woke to see your face after Ostagar"

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and pretended to be unimpressed with the romantic foolishness he had just stated. But long ago she realised that she longed for those types of words and gestures even though she claimed they were weakness. And that ring she gave him wouldn't let her convince him otherwise.

He grinned wolfishly.

"I might need to ask for that ring back" she said in mock-displeasure.

"You can try" he said smirking.

And hand in hand they stepped through the Eluvian.


Lord Chelvois was an important man in the higher echelons of Orlais society. He had been become increasingly worried about his wife's mental state throughout her pregnancy. Through the months she seemed to be more and more erratic, exploding in to fits of fury, cackling with delight at the strangest things, even quoting phrases that had no meaning or context. If she had been a mage he would have called to the priests to see if she was ensorcelled or possessed, but their physician said it was just her body rebelling against her in her condition. She had always been a quiet and calm woman and this change of personality was beyond anything he would have expected.

In the last few weeks she had been suffering nightmares that would wake her screaming every night. She started talking to herself in daylight hours as if conversing with a confidant. He had to keep her out of society for she was simply unpredictable. And gossip would follow her like a cart follows a horse.

Now he paced back and forth in his study as her wails filled the house. She was birthing, and the best nursing wives were with her. In time the cries abated and a servant opened the door.

"Mi'lord, you are requested in her ladyship's chamber".

Chelvois nodded and rushed to his wife's side.

She was sitting in bed cradling a child. She was smiling.

He crossed the room to see a sweet little babe. Her hair was raven black like his wife's and he decided that she would be a beauty for he could see his wife in her. Then he blinked back in shock, his daughter's eyes were yellow. His eyes were brown, as was his wife's.

"Isn't she perfect? " His wife said in a voice thick with love and pride.

"Yes indeed, she is most beautiful, which is to be expected as you are her mother. Now we must have a name for her."

"I already know her name, I have known it a long time ago, and her name will be Flemeth"

"But isn't that the..."

His voice dried in his throat at the stare his wife gave him. Her eyes were terrifying. For a second they were golden and serpent like before returning to a normal brown. He thought it must be a trick of the light but there was a presence in the room, surrounding his wife at that moment, that made a shiver run down his spine and he felt that his soul was in peril.

"Ver.. ver.. very well"

And again her face was sweet and happy, although tired. Yes, a trick of the light he thought.

And Flemeth again walked the world of men.


A few days later found Arn and Morrigan in the forests of a world whose name had been lost to men a millennia since.

The sky was bright and clear, the sun warmed their skins and the sweet smell of elf root was carried on the breeze. They lay on his cloak, dressed only in their skins. He lay upon his back and she sat astride him. Sitting upright her face tilted towards the sun, her eyes closed enjoying the heat. He admired her beauty. Her form imposed upon the blue of the sky was breath-taking. The raven tresses blowing in the wind, her hair had been released from its bun in their passions. Hers were perfect features, her full lips, the hard and somewhat cruel looking eyes that could pierce his soul and yet when she let her love shine in them warmed him more than any sun. Truly there wasn't another woman in the world like her, she was fierce and primal, his wolf eyed woman and yet she could still be that naive little girl that needed his protection. The blend of her soul was intoxicating. Her skin was like milk, and satin to the touch. His fingertips traced down her neck, between firm breasts, across her stomach that had returned to flatness after the birth of their child. He let his fingers continue their path until they brushed the soft hair of her womanhood. She turned from the sun and looked down at him.

"Soon we must prepare our son for what is to come."

"So the honeymoon is over" he quipped.

She punched him and her look became harder still.

"I told you once before I will not be tied to some strange and elaborate custom of ownership"

He laughed at her and she put her hands on her hips. He could not help but admire the view.

"And what is so funny?"

"Well if I recall, it was you that made it clear that you would not share. Not that I want to be shared or share you with anyone. And it was also you that gave me a ring."

"To be able to track you" she corrected, trying to offer a logical explanation.

"Of course... And the day you left, I thought of nothing else. I didn't see anyone else because all I could see was you"

She nodded her head thoughtfully.

"Indeed, I know that feeling well." She took a breath.

"I love you", she said. He felt her tense as she said it. He smiled at her, gazing into her eyes, stroking her thigh idly.

"I know it is hard for you to express what you feel my love, and I appreciate every time you do."

"Give me time, it does get easier to be open with you", she replied. She was happy to feel the teachings of Flemeth start to lift from her soul by the love and care of the only person never to give up or forsake her.

"But back to my point" he said smiling.

"I think a long time ago we agreed to it in essence even if we were apart. I don't require ceremonies or written notes. It has never been about that for me. You are my companion, I am whole with you, that is the best way I can describe it"

A wicked grin appeared across his face.

"I promise not to call you 'Wife', even if you really are"

She growled and they ended up in a mock fight, she liked to play dirty and she kicked and punched and bit but eventually he had her trapped, she was leaning forward her breasts pressed against his chest, and his arms wrapped around her pinning her arms to her sides. He was glad she had stopped using magic in their play so that he could win now and again.

Sometimes he was too smart for his own good she thought.

"I hate it when you are right; it forces me to change the subject." She moved her hips in such a way that made him groan and forget totally about their conversation.

No, she was still using magic, just of another sort he thought to himself.

And for the next few hours she changed the subject most deftly.


Author's Note.

And there is it. The happy ever after the way I "wanted" to see it.

I wrote these stories with how I interpreted Morrigan. Bioware's writers did a wonderful job with her, you never really know enough to be totally sure of how she works, so in the end you decide whether you want believe in what she says or you don't.

My interpretation actually saw Morrigan as the "good" girl and Leliana as the "bad" girl. Leliana made a trade of deceit and manipulation, though she was at a point in her life where she regretted it.

Morrigan is the product of a parent that deliberately broke her personality. Actually telling her love/compassion/friendship/trust etc. are bad traits. Power is all, people are used as tools. Morrigan acts tough and cold because she has been taught to do that, and also that she doesn't want to be hurt emotionally, she has no notion of how to deal with a fight she can't use her powers to control. Inner turmoil for her is devastating.

She has a tough outer wall but is very brittle. Once a crack appears she breaks easily. I wanted to portrait that. Throughout my stories she is very assured on the outside but the inside is full of doubts and questions.

She starts to question what she knew, but also there was cowardice in her actions because what she had been told to do (her destiny) was a laid out path, the easy path. It was playing it safe because she knew where it would lead. She was very scared to take a risk and follow her own path. She claims to stand for freedom, yet she followed Flemeth's plans without any prompting. I think Morrigan is very far from being free.

And I feel that is was probably the most important factor in her decision to leave. But like most of us I couldn't leave it like that, I needed a "loves conquers all" end.

Although I enjoyed Witch Hunt and have reproduced most of the dialogue verbatim, I really did have a "OMG Will you answer the question for once!" moment and needed to put that in there.

In some ways Morrigan is very naive and that too makes her attractive. And above all she needs to be saved. This made her the perfect romance character in my eyes.

I introduced a "destiny" line into the story because I could never really decide why Morrigan would continue with Flemeth's plan even after the warden killed her. If anyone else has an insight why, then please fill me in.

I played the game with the Morrigan Restoration patch by Terra_Ex. This actually gave the scene where she slaps the warden, which I think is the highlight of the relationship (no dancing though :P) and recommend everyone to get that patch.

It's the culmination of her frustration and relief, frustrated by trying to cope with this feeling of love and the total relief that the warden refuses to let her go because although she says otherwise she doesn't want it to end. Morrigan has a few 'explosions' of emotion then she buries them again to become cold and cynical and almost business-like. But it's those outbursts that make the chase such a good story. You are left wondering about her sincerity at times. But as I pointed out before, in my stories the warden did believe what she said (and she was being honest..) and so it all rolls up into a happy ending.

As a side note I came to the conclusion that the romance with Leliana and Morrigan are actually very similar, and are very typical of many fantasy stories. The "hero and the maiden". In my opinion there is a fascination in males to be given some kind of 'virginity', to be the first and I think Bioware decided to follow that plot. With Leliana it is the common understanding of offering her virginity to the one she loves. (Listening to all the banter between her and Morrigan makes me believe she is a virgin). She loves fairly easily but holds herself away physically. But Morrigan is the reverse; she is still virginal emotionally, not in the flesh. And to me that makes Morrigan's love story far more sentimental and sweet, I see sex far less important than emotion.

So where to now? I think I might write of their adventures as they explore the new world and gain power. I don't really have a persona for the child (or even a name tbh ... Though I sort of like the idea of Kadan as a reference and salute to Sten who was an excellent and stoic companion. It brought me a lot of joy when he addressed me as friend.) and so he will be referenced but won't star too much in it.

And of course Flemeth has been reborn.

And finally thanks to anyone who took the time to read these stories.

All the best.