She watched the Inquisition's forces. Competent, yes. But not on the level of her people. She'd feel far better with her family at her side, where they belonged. It should be Loghain and Jerath directing the forces. Carver, Nathaniel, and Reimas leading the teams. Temmerin and Talsaad manning the war machines. Merrill, Valya, Anders, and Caronel should be standing with her, spells at the ready. Or better yet, in the air above, on griffin wings.
Morrigan sighed. At least the equipment was of Dagna's make.
#
The Warden's body twitched. Morrigan stared at it. It started to rise, changing. Corpyheus. Corypheus was taking their bodies. Her husband's face flashed in her eyes. This was why Flemeth had wanted him to stay away. She must have known. Corypheus was taking the Wardens. "It cannot be." Panic filled her. If Corypheus... If he added the abilities of Jerath or the others to his own... No. She would not allow it.
#
It appeared she and Merrill had been wrong about Corypheus's goal, but not his destination. Some element of luck was on their side, at least. Whatever it was he was after, they had a chance to reach it first. It was more difficult to call to Vigilance now, and Morrigan wasn't sure she dared with two other mages present. Especially two with such affinity for the Fade. Morrigan nearly sighed in frustration. She was on her own for this.
They needed to be careful. This was a place of ancient knowledge and secrets. The Inquisitor figured out the path with very little guidance. Which was for the best. The elf's eyes were entirely too suspicious for her tastes. He was starting to remind her of her mother.
When this was done, and Corypheus ended, she'd have to find a way to get Merrill back here. What secrets could the two of them learn from this place?
#
Whatever this well was, it was a chance to keep her beloved safe. She saw Abelas move, and took wing after him.
#
"You heard his parting words, Inquisitor." Morrigan held her ground between Abelas and the pool. "The elf seeks to destroy the Well of Sorrows."
"So the sanctum is despoiled at last."
"You would have destroyed the Well yourself, given the chance." Destroyed her chance to protect her family.
"To keep it from your grasping fingers. Better it be lost than bestowed upon the undeserving."
"Fool. You'd let your people's legacy rot in the shadows." How long had this lain here, while her husband has risked his life over and over in their struggles? While the Blight dwelt within him?
The Inquisitor tried to calm her. "Corypheus needed Samson to use the Well. Without him, there's no 'Vessel' to claim it."
She'd almost forgotten about Samson. "The moment we leave, he will send more forces to secure this place." She made herself calm down. The Inquisitor was a reasonable woman. "The Well clearly offers power, Inquisitor. If that power can be turned against Corypheus, can you afford not to use it?"
"Do you even know what you ask?" Abelas glared. "As each servant of Mythal reached the end of their years, they would pass their knowledge on..." He gestured at the well. "Through this. All that we were. All that we knew. It would be lost forever."
"This can't be easy, holding on to what's lost." The Inquisitor spoke to Abelas gently. Morrigan hoped the woman could sway him. If not... Well, she could put Nathaniel's knife-throwing lessons to use.
"You cannot imagine. Each time we awaken, it slips further from our grasp."
"There are other places, friend. Other duties. Your people yet linger." Solas joined his voice to the Inquisitor's.
"Elvhen such as you?"
"Yes. Such as I."
Her husband was elven. She wondered if that would make a difference. No. She dared not take the risk of Corypheus learning of him. Not until she knew she could protect him. Morrigan saw Abelas sigh, and realized that the Inquisitor was getting through to the man.
"You have shown respect to Mythal, and there is a righteousness in you I cannot deny. Is that your desire? To partake of the vir'abelasan as best you can, to fight your enemy?"
"Not without your permission." Morrigan wanted to sigh at the Inquisitor's words. This was not the time for modesty. With what was in the well, she could teach her son, prepare him for what was to come.
"One does not obtain permission. One obtains the right. The vir'abelasan may be too much for a mortal to comprehend." He let his shoulders slump. "Brave it if you must, but know you this: you shall be bound forever to the will of Mythal."
"Bound? To a goddess who no longer exists, if she ever did?"
"Bound, as we are bound. The choice is yours."
The Inquisitor tilted her head at Abelas. "Is it possible this Mythal might still exist?"
"Anything is possible."
Now was not the time. "Elven legend states that Mythal was tricked by Fen'Harel and banished to the Beyond."
"'Elven' legend is wrong. The Dread Wolf had nothing to do with her murder."
Morrigan blinked. "Murder? I said nothing of -"
"She was slain, if a god truly can be. Betrayed by those who destroyed this temple. Yet the vir'abelasan remains. As do we. That is something."
"Are you leaving the temple?"
"Our duty ends. Why remain?" He waved one hand in a defeated gesture.
"There is a place for you, lethallin..." Solas nodded to the man respectfully. "If you seek it." Morrigan decided she'd let Jerath know of the man. Perhaps her husband would track him down.
"Perhaps there are placed the shemlen have not touched. It may be that only uthenera awaits us. The blissful sleep of eternity, never to awaken. If fate is kind." Or maybe she wouldn't. He lacked patience for those who gave up.
"Thank you for this gift, Abelas." The Inquisitor bowed.
"Do not thank me yet, shemlen."
"Malas amelin ne halam, Abelas." Solas watched the man leave before turning back to the Inquisitor. "His name. Abelas means sorrow. I said..." He shrugged. "I hoped he finds a new name."
That didn't sound right, but she hadn't been paying enough attention to catch the exact words. She gestured at the mirror behind the pool. "You'll note the intact eluvian. I was correct on that count, at least." Her husband had managed to find it. They'd have to go after the one in Antiva as well.
"Is it still a threat? Can Corypheus use it to travel the Fade?" The Inquisitor gazed up at the mirror.
"You recall when I took you through my eluvian, I said each required a key?" She could sense the link between the well and the mirror. She gestured. "The Well is the key. Take its power, and Mythal's last eluvian will be no more use to Corpyheus than glass." She lowered her hands. "I did not expect the Well to feel so..." Her blood felt chilled. "Hungry."
"Let's not be reckless. I don't want anyone hurt."
No. She didn't want anyone hurt. Especially not her husband, and the men he considered his brothers. Her family. "I am willing to pay the price the Well demands. I am also the best suited to use its knowledge in your service."
"Or more likely, to your own ends." Solas stepped forward, glaring. She was starting to really dislike that man.
"What would you know of my 'ends,' elf?"
"You are a glutton drooling at the sight of a feast. You cannot be trusted."
She added 'to spite him' to her long list of reasons for wanting the Well. "Of those present, I alone have the training to make use of this. Let me drink, Inquisitor."
"'You alone?' You're not the only mage here."
"I have studied the oldest lore. I have delved into mysteries of which you could only dream." She didn't want to have to fight this woman. She actually rather liked her. But at the moment, she was standing between her and her best chance to aid her family. She'd killed for far less. "Can you honestly tell me there is anyone better suited?"
"What about you, Solas?" The Inquisitor turned towards the elf.
"No. Do not ask me again." His voice was blunt. At least he was no longer a concern.
The Inquisitor glanced at the Well, then back at her. "Perhaps you're right."
"I am." Hope began to burn brightly within her. "You know I am."
"You're not concerned about the price? 'Bound forever to the will of Mythal'?"
Her husband had killed one god already. She'd no doubt he could deal with any others that came calling. "Bound to the will of dead god? It seems an empty warning. Perhaps a compulsion yet remains. Who can say otherwise? I do not fear it, even so."
"Are you sure you want this, Morrigan? We don't know what will happen."
"We do not, and yet it must be done." Fate had led her here. "I am ready."
"It's yours."
She stepped into the waters.
#
"Garas quenathra?" The voices all blended together in an eerie harmony.
"Why am I here?" Morrigan spoke aloud, translating the words. She swallowed. "What they are. What they will become. I must help them. I must protect them."
The voices whispered to her, barely understandable. "Anything. For them, anything. Take what you wish."
"Vir Mythal'enaste."
It flooded into her. Ancient knowledge, burning behind her eyes. She thought she screamed.
#
"The Wardens in the Free Marches should be able to deal with that nest in Antiva. Put a note in one of House Brosca's dead drops. He'll take care of the rest."
Caronel nodded. "I'll handle it. The Inquisition still has enough forces out at the Western Approach that they should be able to deal with the..."
Jerath's head came up sharply. His eyes went completely black, and there was nothing elven in his snarl. The room brightened as both Justice and Vigilance surged. Nathaniel caught the edge of the table to keep himself from falling. Jerath clenched his fists, and forced himself to take a deep breath.
"Morrigan?" Fear crept into Merrill's voice.
"She's alive." Jerath's voice was harsh. His eyes slowly returned to normal.
"What was that?" Carver swallowed and rubbed his arms. His blood felt like it was trying to crawl out of him. He saw Temmerin and Caronel doing the same thing.
"Trouble." Jerath narrowed his eyes.
#
Morrigan closed the eluvian after the Inquisitor stepped through. She could feel him now. He was angry. And frightened. Her love did not scare easily, but he was frightened now. For her. She reached, touching the bond between them, and felt him reach back, calming.
The answers would be hers soon enough. All that was left was to kill a darkspawn. And she knew how.