The next couple of chapters were emotionally hard ones to write, but they are necessary in order to move the story along.
Chapter 21
Fergus nervously paced the sitting room. Bella should be back any day now. It had been seven weeks since she had left. If all went according to plan the two groups should have meet up in Cariden's Crossing last week. According to Bhelen, Cariden's Crossing was less then a week away from Orzammar. So they should be here by now. Fergus agreed with Alistair, the waiting around for answers was going to be the death of him.
"Fergus, my Love, you have worn a path in the rug with all of your pacing back and further. Your sister is perfectly capable of taking care of herself." Leliana said.
"Yes, I know that. It's just the waiting around is driving me crazy. Why does Morrigan get to go out and hunt herbs while we are stuck in this sunless hellhole?"
"Well, if you are so desperate to see the sun ask Morrigan to turn you into a rat and you can hitch a ride on her back as she flies around looking for herbs and roots."
Fergus laughed, walked over to his lovely wife and kissed her, "I'm sure you would love to see that."
"Yes, actually I would. I'm sure you would be the cutest rat ever," Leliana said as she returned his kiss.
"Well at least the children are happy and content," Fergus said as he watched Eli and Ella build an entire city out of blocks.
In just the few short weeks that they had been together their gifts had grown by leaps and bounds. The two of them no longer needed to touch each other when they talked telepathically. Fergus didn't believe that they needed to touch others either, but continued to do so out of polite courtesy instead of invading one's mind unexpectedly.
Now as they built their mini city they moved the blocks into place with their mind. To someone seeing it for the first time it would be unsettling to see blocks fly around the room, but Fergus had become so use to it that he hardly even noticed it anymore. He looked at the brother and sister and could tell by the expressions on their face that they were in deep conversation.
"I don't understand, brother. Why do you need me to heal you? You aren't sick."
"I am not sick now, but there will come a time not long from now that in order for me to live you will need to heal me."
Ella looked at her brother with fear in her eyes, "But how? I have never healed anything before. What if I mess up and you die? I need you, Eli."
Eli smiled at his baby sister and said, "Ella, the power to heal is in you, but you have never needed to use it so it lies dormant. Over the next year we will work on awakening it. I will teach you and you will be fine. I promise. We will start soon by you helping me heal my broken heart."
"Why is your heartbroken?" Ella asked.
"It's not yet, but it will be soon," Eli replied.
"But why?" Ella asked again.
"Time will reveal all," Eli replied.
"You know I hate when you say that. I think you do it just to make me mad," Ella replied.
"You're right! I do and I need you to be angry and strong right now!" Eli said just as the door to the sitting room broke apart.
Fergus and Leli were on their feet immediately their swords drawn. Four assassins in masks rushed into the room. Three of the assassins headed for Fergus and Leliana while the fourth moved toward Eli and Ella. Before the assassin reached them both Eli and Ella concentrated on the blocks as they were lifted into the air and hundreds of blocks pelted the fourth assassin knocking him to the ground.
Leliana used the distraction to move herself into a position so that she was in front of the children blocking access to them. Leliana was moving so fast Fergus only saw a blur, but then he saw one of the assassins crumple to the floor. She turned to face the fourth assassins as he recovered from his encounter with the blocks and just missed seeing the fifth assassin enter the room concealed in the shadows in order to hide behind the door.
Eli glanced at the door and slammed it shut startling both Fergus and Leliana, but they barely had time to comprehend it before they were drawn back into their own fights. Eli joined hands with Ella and both concentrated on a barrier around the door, but it was becoming a losing battle. The force on the other side was still stronger then the two of them. In time they would be no match for her, but they were still young and not as experienced as she. The door flew open and Morrigan stood there.
As she began to enter the room Eli screamed in her head, "Mother NO!"
But at the exact moment that Eli's thought entered her head she felt the blade enter her heart and she was gone before her body hit the floor.
A rage so strong coursed through Eli and a blast of energy surge out of him knocking everyone to the ground except for Ella.
Eli was on his feet and totted over to Morrigan's body as quickly as his little body would take him. Tears flowed down his cheeks as he touched his mother's arm trying over and over again to heal her. Mentally, he knew she was gone and that he couldn't heal the dead, but his heart wasn't prepared to let her go so he tried over and over again to heal her until he felt the soft touch of Ella's hand on his back.
Leli was the first one to them and she scooped both of them up in her arms and moved them away from Morrigan's body trying to shield them from the horror. Just then Bhelen and several guards rushed into the room only to observe the destruction and the survivors.
Bhelen rushed over to Fergus as he was getting up from the floor, "Teyrn Cousland, I am so sorry. As soon as I heard that there might be assassins in Orzammar I rushed here immediately. I am so sorry that we arrived too late to help."
Fergus looked over at Morrigan's body and shook his head. He had liked Morrigan. Just as Bella was able to look beyond the rough exterior of the mage, he too was able to overlook her flaws and see the goodness in her heart. "When my sister returns she will not be happy about this new development. She viewed Morrigan as a sister. This loss will not be an easy one for her."
"I know this. Morrigan traveled with your sister the last time she came through Orzammar. She was a great mage. I owe your sister a great deal and it sickens me that this happened in my city. I take this attack personally. I will get to the bottom of this!" Bhelen declared.
Fergus stared at Bhelen for a long time before answering. Bella had warned him that King Bhelen was a sly politician and to be leery of placing too much trust in him. "Thank you, King Bhelen for your sympathy and for your immediate declaration to finding out who was behind this. I know my sister will want answers when she returns and King Alistair will also demand answers."
At the mention of Alistair's name Bhelen turned a slight shade of yellow. Fergus knew that for trade purposes Bhelen needed the relationship with Ferelden to succeed more than Ferelden needed it too. "I will have those answers for them. I swear on my Ancestors."
"Good that is reassuring to know. Now, when my sister's group arrives back in Orzammar I will be the one to tell her of this loss."
"I understand completely. I will have servants sent in here to clean up the room. What would you like me to do with her body?"
Fergus thought about it for a moment and then said, "My sister is due back at anytime. I know she will want to honor her as a fallen soldier. Please have the body prepared for a pyre."
"Of course. We will see to it immediately," Bhelen replied.
Bella slowly walked behind the stretcher that Cullen, Nate, Anders and Will carried that held Morrigan's body. Alistair and Zevran were on either side of her giving her support as they made their way out of Orzammar and to the pyre that was built just outside the city limits in the Frostback Mountains. Directly behind her was Fergus and Leli each of them held one of the kids in their arms.
Bella had seen a lot of death during the blight, but thank the Maker she hadn't lost any of her close companions. She hadn't felt this type of pain since the loss of her parents. When they had first arrived back at the Palace Fergus had sat her down and told her what had happened. At first she didn't believe him and told him he had to be mistaken. That Morrigan was the strongest mage. There was no way that she could be dead, but when she saw the tears in Leliana's eyes she knew he was telling the truth and she collapsed to the floor. Alistair was immediately at her side holding her, rocking her as she cried out in pain at the loss. Her sister, the one person that had saved her life in more ways than one, was gone and there was an emptiness that began to settle over her.
As she gained control of her emotions she, Alistair released and she stood up. The look that now settled on her face frighten Fergus. "You said one of the assassins survived. Take me to him."
"Pup, you are in shock and grieving. I don't think this is the best time to visit the prisoner."
"Oh your wrong, Fergus. Some say revenge is best served cold, but I really never had the patient for that. If I could have had Howe's traitorous heart at the end of my blade the same night he took our parents lives it would have felt just as satisfying."
Nate cringed at her bluntness over his father's death. The few times that they had discussed his father she had remained coolly aloof regarding the subject, but as her raw emotions now poured out he could feel the pure hatred in her voice. How was she able to be with him when she still obviously had very strong feelings towards her father? How was she able to compartmentalize her emotions like that?
Both Fergus and Alistair led her over to a chair by the fireplace. Leliana handed her a glass of wine. "Bella, it's late. In the morning if you still want to go see the prisoner I am sure King Bhelen will have no problem allowing that," Fergus said softly.
Bella shot Zev a single look. He nodded and quietly disappeared out the door. Bella gave a weak smile to Fergus and said, "You are right. I am exhausted from the Deep Roads and this news is just so shocking. I will see things more clearly in the morning."
Fergus nodded and said, "You have been in the Deep Roads for seven weeks with little sleep. I promise you will feel better in the morning."
Bella smiled at him, "Yes, brother, I do believe I will feel better in the morning. I know that all of you are concerned for me, but I really wish to be alone right now."
"Are you sure you want to be alone, Bella? I could stay with you." Leli said. Bella glanced in the corner and saw a small shadow move.
"No, Leli, I will be fine. Please I am exhausted and really wish to be alone." Alistair eyed her suspiciously, but agreed to leave her be.
Once everyone had left her room and she was sure no one was lurking in the halls Zev appeared out of the shadows.
"Did you get it?" Bella asked.
"Of course my dear," Zev said as he handed her the bottle of purple liquid.
"And this will work?"
"It's the most powerful truth serum available. Two drops of this and he will be singing like a canary." Zev replied.
"Well then what are we waiting for let's go," Bella replied as both of them slipped into the shadows.
Alistair knew she was up to something. She was never that agreeable unless she was using it to get her own way and Zev may have thought he went unnoticed as he slipped into the shadows, but Alistair caught the look that Ella had shot him. So he waited in the dark alcove down the hall from Ella's room. He was able to see her door, but remain unseen in the shadows if anyone looked this way.
He had to wait less than 15 minutes before Ella's door opened and closed. Alistair knew that the partners in crime were both in stealth mode and headed for the prison. Alistair followed at a safe distance behind so that they didn't hear or sense him. They had left trail of unconscious guards in their wake. Alistair pulled them into dark alcoves or closets so that if someone passed by they wouldn't become suspicious. Alistair knew that this was more than just a revenge trip. He knew she was seeking information about who had hired the assassins and he wanted to give her as much time as possible to get that information.
By the time, Alistair had reach the cell Bella and Zev were already inside. There must have been a slight struggle to get the truth serum in the assassin because the cell was a mess. Alistair stood in the shadows as they began to questions him.
"Are you a member of the Crows?" Bella asked.
"How could you ask such a thing, my dear? If he were a Crow everyone in that room would be dead right now. That's why it really does pay to only hire the best." Zev replied.
Bella smiled at him tauntingly, "Well then obviously Teyrn Loghain didn't pay enough cause they sent you and you were a bloody failure." Alistair smiled and thought 'Good one, wish I had thought of it.'
"Ouch, my dear Warden, you wound me. Least you forget I was on a suicide mission, but the mere sight of your beauty made me want to live," Zev said in a mocking tone.
"Okay so we know you aren't a Crow. Who sent you?" Bella questioned.
"We were paid by a noble," the assassin replied.
"Was this a Ferelden noble," Bella asked.
"Yes," the assassin answered.
"Which one?" Bell asked, but the assassin remained silent.
Bella drew out her dagger and held it to the man's throat and asked again, but still the assassin remained silent. Bella looked at Zev and said, "I think your truth serum is a bunch of shite."
"Here let's give the man another drop, but we don't want to give him too much. Don't want him dying before he answers all of our questions."
After Zev had administered another drop, Bella placed her dagger at the man's throat and pressed down just hard enough to draw blood, "Now answer my question. Which Ferelden noble hired you?"
"Arl Wulff of West Hill," the assassin whispered.
Bella was visible shaken. She dropped her blade and sat back against the wall. "I convinced Alistair to befriend the Arl. I told him that he would make a powerful ally. Why would he do this?"
Zev grabbed Bella's dagger and pointed it at the man's heart, "Who was the primary target?"
The assassin swallowed deeply and said, "Ella, the baby named Ella." Bella lost the slight grip that she had on her emotions and began to punch the man in the face and stomach as she screamed, "I told him this would happen. I told him they would come after her."
Zev was glad that he had taken her weapon away from her or their only link behind the attack would be dead now. Zev saw two arms come around Bella and pull her away. He looked up to see Alistair holding Bella in a bear hug as she kicked and screamed to be let go.
Zev stood up and whispered, "Hush, my dear or you are going to bring the entire dwarven army down here with all of that screaming." He looked up at Alistair. "Do you have a good hold on her? Cause we still need more information." Alistair nodded as he calmly whispered in her ear that she would have her revenge. He promised her.
Zev turned back to the assassin, "Was Arl Wulff acting alone or on someone's orders?"
"On someone's behalf."
"What does that mean?" Zev asked.
"Not orders, but out of concern for someone," the assassin replied.
" Whose behalf then?" Zev pressed. The assassin was struggling not to answer. Zev pressed the blade against the knick that Bella had left in the man's neck and opened the gap a little more. The man cried out and Zev asked again, "On whose behalf?"
The assassin swallowed hard and said, "Queen Anna."
"Liar!" Alistair screamed as he released Bella and lunged for the man. It was Bella's turn to restrain Alistair as she grab him by arm and jerked him back. "Alistair no! We need more information," she cried out.
Once again Zev stood up and looked at Alistair, "We can't get answers from a dead man. I need the two of you to remain calm. Can you do that or do I need to insist that you leave?"
Alistair and Bella both nodded and said, "We'll be good."
"Did Queen Anna know about the assassination?"
"I don't know. The Arl only said that he was working on her behalf."
"Did King Bhelen know you were here?" Zev asked.
"No."
"How did you get into Orzammar and the Palace?"
"We bribed a few of the guards."
Zev looked up at them and said, "I think that is all the information that you are going to get out of him. It would be best for the two of you to leave now. I don't think either one of you want this man's blood on your hands."
Arm and arm Alistair and Bella left the prison cell and headed back to her room. They both fell on to her bed in each others' arms. They were both were physically and emotionally exhausted. They fell asleep holding on to one another as if each were the other's anchor and the only thing keeping them afloat.
The following morning Fergus brought Bella breakfast, but when he noticed Alistair in her bed he set the tray down on the table and excused himself, but before he exited the room he said, "I thought you might want to know that the assassin is dead."
Bella tried to act shocked and said, "What? How did that happen?"
"The assassin had a suicide capsule concealed in his tooth. He broke it last night in order to kill himself before he could be questioned."
"I told you I should have questioned him last night." She yelled at him. Trying to cover up her actions. Fergus just nodded.
"Also, the pyre for Morrigan is ready. When would you like to have the ceremony?"
"Let's plan on having it this afternoon. Alistair needs to get back to Denerim and I need to keep back to Vigil's Keep."
"I will let the others know," Fergus replied and closed the door behind him as he left.
Alistair took a deep breath, "I don't think he was happy to see me here."
"Oh, don't worry about him. He probably thinks that you took advantage of my grief last night and had your way with me."
"What?" Alistair cried out, but one look at her face and he realized she was joking with him. He hit her with a pillow and said, "That wasn't funny."
Bella slid out of bed and headed for the breakfast tray. "Oh, yes it was. You would agree if you could have seen the look on your face." She poured the two of them a cup of tea.
Alistair joined her at the table and asked, "So how are you doing?"
"It hurts and I will miss her terrible, but I will get through this. What's that old saying, 'that which does not kill us only makes us stronger'. Well, I'm still here so I guess I will get through this just like the other losses in my life."
There was a long pause and then Alistair said, "I think that Eli and Ella should go back to Vigil's Keep with you. They will be safer surrounded by Grey Wardens then they will be with me in Denerim. Especially, now that I don't know if I can trust my own wife."
Bella's heart broke as he spoke the words. She had brought this on him because of her lack of faith in them. He was now feeling the heartbreak of betrayal because of her. "Alistair, we don't know if she was involved. The assassin said the Arl was acting on behalf of her, but not ordered by her. You have to find out her involvement before you act against her."
Alistair ran his fingers through his hair. "I know, but until I do know how deeply she was involved I can't trust her. I am surrounded by people I can't trust. Your wife should be the one person you can rely on. This wouldn't be happening if you had just agreed to marry me."
Bella burst into tears, "I know, Alistair, this is all my fault. Everything that we have been going through for the past several years is my fault. Can you ever forgive me?"
Alistair was immediately on his feet and pulling her into his arms. He was kissing her forehead and her wet cheeks "Oh, Maker, Ella I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just opening my stupid mouth without thinking. I don't hold your decision against you. You have to know that? There isn't anything to forgive. I'm sorry. Please, Love don't cry."
His fingers entangled in her hair and he continued kiss her tears away and his lips made their way to hers and as he pressed his lips against hers the world just slipped away. All the pain, all the anger and all the sorrow slipped away and it was just the two of them again holding on to each other for dear life. Alistair pulled her closer to him and the warmth of his bare chest against her night shirt sent shock waves through her and she moaned against his lips. His lips pressed harder against hers, his tongue desperately seeking out hers and his desire for her began to rise as he pressed against her and she felt his need for her.
She pulled away from him panting, "Alistair we can't do this." But he ignored her and pulled her back into his arm. "I need you, Ella. I need to be in the arms of someone who loves me and who I can trust. I need to be with you." And before she could reply his lips were on hers and her head was spinning with desire and more importantly the need to take comfort in the arms of the only man she had ever loved. Alistair slid his hand up her night shirt, cupped her breast and flick his thumb over her nipple. She moaned his name and he pushed her against the wall as he pressed his body against hers.
Again she pushed him away, "Your married, I can't do this." Again he ignored her and urgently pressed against her. He kissed down her neck and pulled her night shirt away exposing her breast. He took her breast loving into his mouth. He licked and flicked his tongue over her nipple. Want and need rippled through her body.
And as she clung to her last thread of sanity she said deliriously "If we do this we will regret it. Alistair, I don't ever want to regret anything where you are concerned and I don't want you to ever feel guilty where I am concerned, and I know you will if we continue."
Her words stopped him dead in his tracks. He rested his head against her neck and cried. Her arms went around him as she stroked his hair. "Ella, I just need you so badly. I have missed you so much over the past two years. At times I thought I thought I would smell your jasmine perfume or hear you laugh and I just knew that I had finally lost my mind. I thought I could do this if I had at least had one ally at court, but knowing that Anna may have betrayed me is just too much."
"I'll always be here for you, Alistair. I am so sorry that I have been so distant these past couple of years, but I honestly did believe I was doing what was best for our daughter."
"Well, you followed your heart on that one and it was correct. I just found out that I have a son and daughter and assassins are already showing up."
Alistair paused for a second, cupped her face in his hands and said, "You were right. Even if my wife is lying backstabbing bitch I would feel guilty if we had gone any further and your right…I never want a bad feeling to be associated with us." He paused again as sadness flooded his eyes. "Look, I should be getting back to room so that I can get ready for the ceremony this afternoon." He looked one last time into her eyes leaned in and brushed his lips against hers and left.
Bella stared at the pyre as the stretcher was place on top of it. Leliana stepped forward and sang a lovely song about a beautiful, brave mage and her handsome son. There wasn't a dry eye when she was done. Even Oghren was wiping tears away muttering something about dust getting in them.
Then Bella stepped forward composed herself and said, "From the first time I laid eyes on Morrigan I knew that I had met my match in wit and sarcasm. She kept me on toes throughout our travels during the blight. She never questioned my actions, but always questioned if I was remaining true to myself and my mission. She was my compass and I was hers. By the end, we considered each other sisters. If it were not for her I would not be here right now. I owe her my life. I love you, sister. Sleep well and rest easy."
She stepped back. Anders and Kya raised their staffs to light the pyre, but Eli who was in Leli arms beside Anders rested his hand on Anders and said, "She was my mother. I wish to light the pyre." Anders nodded and relayed the message to the crowd. Leli stepped forward with Eli in her arms. The child closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, raised his arm hand extended forward, and in the next instant the wood under the pyre broke out into flames so intense that the crowd had to take several steps back.
Once the ceremony was over the group headed back to the palace. They had a good old fashion wake planned for Morrigan and if they were going to get good and drunk and still be able to leave in the morning they needed to get an early start.
Bella had told Kya, Cullen, Oghren, and Will to accompany Alistair and his royal guards back to Denerim. Alistair said it was not necessary, but Bella insisted. She wanted to make sure that her King arrived safely back home. She wanted him all in one piece the next time she saw him which hopefully would be that summer for the christening of the royal prince or princess.