{Chapter Twenty}

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"Fade?" I echoed the word on the mirror and blinked in confusion. Why had Whiskers written the word on the mirror and how could a cat even know how to do that? This kitten was no ordinary cat! I gasped and began to crawl to him. "Dox?" I questioned with hope. I knew he could transform into different animals but was it actually him? White fur, golden-brownish eyes… it had to be! Before I could do or say anything further, the kitten (Dox?) dashed out of the door. "No, wait!" I cried out and forced myself to my feet. I clung to the door once I made it and pushed my way to the hall. I caught a glimpse of him running to the left and so I used the walls to help me travel along after him. I was still in my flimsy night shift, but at this point, I had to get the kitten and find out what he was doing and if it was truly Dox!

The hall led to a large meeting room and planted in the center was an enormous dragon. It was hideous. The scales were malformed. The snout was gnarled. Its eyes were closed until I entered and they popped open to reveal blood-red orbs that stared back at me curiously at first and then narrowed as if it recognized me. I jumped slightly when the creature spoke, female from the sound of it.

"Soooo, you have managed to elude my safehold? Interesting." It lifted its head and glanced around us, but when it seemed unsatisfied, it continued to talk to me, "And I assume you had aid, but I do not know who. Whoever it was, I will deal with them later." The dragon-thing lifted itself up off of the flooring and stretched the tail around so that it was not far from where I stood. I eyed the barbed appendage with fear and trepidation but held my ground. "You have become a thorn under my foot. Still, you gave me what I wanted, though through trickery I had to get it. A pawn you are. And at this point you have become a liability in my plans."

"Flemeth?" I queried. When it wagged its head affirmatively, I gasped in shock.

"Now, because I cannot kill you at this moment, I will take that which matters the most to you instead so that I will never have to worry about your interference again. You will have memories of loving him, but that will not matter much to you. Without emotions, you will not be a bother to me so consider yourself very lucky, child." The dragon-Flemeth's words didn't mean much to me, but I began to back up slowly, alarmed by the veiled threats implied. I could see the tail drawing back, preparing to strike me and I knew there'd be nothing I could do to avoid it.

"Rowwwr!" At the last second, before the tail was unleashed upon me, a cat charged into the room and leaped upon the side of the dragon. Soon it was joined by a couple more. The dragon-Flemeth roared in pained outrage and shook them off. A shield came up before they could attack her again but the room was soon flooded with hundreds of cats of all sizes and shapes, colors and ages from young to old. It was amazing to see so many at once. They attacked the dragon creature over and over, but bounced harmlessly on the shield. I could only stare in dumbfounded wonder.

Until I felt a bite upon my ankle. "Eah!" I looked down as I lifted my foot by reflex to see a small white bundle of fur there. "Oh!" It was Whiskers, or whoever or whatever he was. The kitten mewed at me and began to run toward the hall and I knew I would need to follow it or once the dragon finished with the cats, it would come for me. I slowly followed, attempting to keep up despite my weakness, but as I ran, my limbs flooded with strength and I felt normal again. It was then I realized I truly was in the Fade. This was the realm of the dreams and if the dragon-Flemeth had killed me as it was planning I would have woke up tranquil, never to love Dox or anyone of my family again.

As the world began to fade from my view, I panicked. "Nooo!" It was all I could say before I lost consciousness. As soon as my eyes closed, I forced them back open. It took me a few moments of disorientation to understand that I was staring at the re-thatched ceiling of the old hut. I sat up slowly and stared at the mattress beside me. Clasping my hand, his body curled in a ball next to me, was Dox!

"Dox!" I cried out and leaned over him, staring intently as his brownish-golden eyes began to open. I spared a look around us, worried about being attacked or a prisoner to Flemeth but saw we were alone. There were remnants of a fire that had been out for a while but that was the only sign of occupation other than the two of us resting on the mattress.

"C-Cecilia? Are we out then?" His features were contorted in fear and confusion for only a moment as he also strove to get back to conscious reality.

"Yes, I think we are." But how did a person know or not? The previous experience had felt SO real! "Was that you in there? Were you the white kitten?"

"Yes." As soon as he said the word, I wasted no time in slinging my arms around him and pulling him close.

"Thank you!" I felt my body shake and it took me a few moments before I realized I was crying. His arms had gone around me and we held each other wordlessly for a few moments.

"I couldn't leave you." His tone was full of agony at the memory. "I knew I should have fled to remain out of her reach, but I couldn't leave you."

"Next time, it could mean the world, Dox." I told him, trying to be rational and valiant, but my heart was crying out against it. I felt selfish as I whispered, "But I am so happy to be with you."

"I know." He continued to hold me, as if afraid to ever let go. Or was it me who was afraid to ever let go of him? I would have remained for a long time, but he pulled back and looked into my eyes as he said, "We must leave now."

We stuffed our packs with what was necessary, sparing as little time as we could and fled the hut. I wasn't certain where Dox was taking me, but I knew that we had to find a place where Flemeth could not find us. Every move we made, every turn we took, she seemed to know. When I vented my frustration at this, Dox shrugged and said, "She can foresee the future. If we are somewhere easy to find, like the palace or the old hut, she can find us there."

"What?"I stopped, gasping in shock at his words. "You mean no matter what we do, we're doomed? She knows what will happen?" I shook my head ruefully. "Then that means there is no hope." Dox pulled me into his arms and held me. It was what I needed and I calmed myself.

"Cecilia." His tone was filled with an ancient pain as he spoke, "We're going to have to part ways now."

"What?" I blinked at his words. "N-No! I am not letting you go. There's no force on this world that will keep me away from you, Dox."

"Except me." With those words, he pushed me away and ran into the clearing. I wondered why until I saw him instantly change into the white dragon. I would have admired the dangerous beauty of him in this form but I knew what he was about to do.

"Dox, NO!" I ran to him, but it was too late. He flew up into the air and then was gone. "DOX!" I screamed his name over and over, running around in circles, tears streaming down my face as I cried out. I continued to scream for him until my voice turned hoarse and then I could no longer talk. Distraught, I began to ball like a baby. I curled on my side and continued to sob until I couldn't do anything more than hiccup. I knew what he would do… he would become the dragon statue and attempt to hide away. My head lifted at the thought and I gasped silently in horror. Thanks to my time in the Fade, Flemeth knew of the alcove – our alcove. That would be where he would go and I had led her right to it!

"Oh no… no, no, no!" I picked up my discarded pack and began to run as fast as I could. I knew I would have to stop for the night, to rest and remain safe, but whenever I was awake I would be running. Dox's life depended on it. It took me little time, because I kept my pace fast and frantic, to arrive at the Palace. But there were so many minions surrounding it, I had no idea how to get through. I had to get help though. I had to get someone inside to help me get to the coast. But as I snuck around each entrance, I saw no holes, no spaces where there wasn't a body pressing in to try and get into the palace. It was frightening and I had a couple of close calls.

In one last effort, I slinked around the busted west wall that surrounded the palace, seeking a way in that would not require any contact with the minions. But I could see none. I wondered if they slept. Perhaps if they could sleep, I could get through. I peered around a corner and watched, waiting. But each second I did, made me more and more impatient. I wanted to get to Dox. I needed to! I sighed as I waited for the sun to set, though I had some time yet. The pack was growing heavy so I reached to adjust it. As I did, one or two of the minions caught the motion and stared at me. I mumbled under my breath, "Ignore me. Just ignore me."

When they looked as if they would turn and amble my way, I grimaced. I did not want to become one of them now that the need to get to Dox was so dire. I was about to turn and run, to locate another possible way into the palace when I felt a hand press gently against my mouth. Whoever it was knew I had a penchant for screaming and I did, though the sound was muffled. I turned my head, once they released the hand and saw who it was.

It was Harris!

"Harris!" I kept my cry soft; I was almost overwhelmed to see him. How I had missed him!

"Cecilia, what are you doing here?" His tone was harsh and I tried not to let it bother me. His face was full of unshaven hair giving him a scruffy appearance and there were bags under his eyes as if he had not slept in a long time.

"I need to get into the palace." I wasn't certain I wanted to tell him why. Not yet. "What are you doing out here? You should be inside!"

"I came looking for Kayla. She went missing and her mother thinks she foolishly went to their house to get more clothes." His tone banked no amusement but it was difficult not to snicker.

"I haven't seen her out here." I peered up at the minions who had seen me but they had gone back to searching the heavy grated palace gate for a way inside.

"We're not getting in." His tone was bleak. If he gave up, then I had no one to lean upon and I really needed someone at this point.

"Then I'll go to Amaranthine. My parents should both be there now." I began to creep away from the wall, attempting to stay low. Harris mimicked my actions and began to trot behind me as I started the path that would take me to the coastal town. Before I went any farther though, I stopped and stared pointedly at Harris. "What do you think you are doing?"

"I'm coming with you, of course." He shrugged. "Kayla is on her own. I have looked enough. If I keep looking, I will become one of them." All I could do is shrug back. I would welcome the company, though perhaps not his company.

"Fine. I'm only stopping to rest at night." I told him as I began to jog again.

"What's the hurry? And not that I really care, but where is Dox?" There was an obvious hint of jealousy in his tone.

"I need to get to Amaranthine so I can find Dox. And I can do that with or without you slowing me down." I threw my snippy tone back at him with my reply.

We ran for a few minutes and I heard him mutter something under his breath, but I ignored it. Finally, a particular nasty mood set upon me and I mumbled, "Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials." And then I realized my mistake - there was no wedding. I had been in the Fade and Flemeth had been playing tricks on my mind. Or had it been a trick?

"What do you mean? I'm not marrying anyone." His tone was full of confusion, nothing more.

"Nevermind." But the more I thought about it, the worse the dread in the pit of my stomach grew. I stopped, letting my mind chew heavily on the thought.

"What is it?" Harris had stopped and jogged back, waiting for me to talk to him.

"I think Kayla has become a minion." I grimaced, feeling sorry for the girl. "I saw her in the Fade."

"Fade!" His face bled of all color. "You were in the Fade?"

"Yes."

"How did you manage to return?" His tone was filled with excitement and interest, as if he believed everything I said. I was relieved of that.

"I just woke up. Flemeth did not get to me, I guess. She has a hold on the others there. I am almost certain of it. She's controlling them from the Fade. That's where she is the strongest. I think if we killed her out here, she'd still return since her essence is timeless and untouchable within the Fade." I shook my head at the brilliance of it. No wonder she had access to so many minds and couldn't be killed!

"Wait, wait, wait!" Harris shook his head, holding up his hands at me in disbelief. "Flemeth? The Witch of the Wilds?" I blinked and then realized he had not known about her, that she was the cause of the problems.

"Yes, she is the one who is controlling the minions. She wants Dox so she can use him to destroy all of humanity. We've got to find a way to stop her, but I can't do that until I find Dox and make sure he's safe." I decided to shock him further and added, "She's Dox's grandmother."

"That's… difficult to believe." He shook his head. "I mean, I didn't even think Flemeth even existed. My father told me of stories of meeting her but he did it as a bedtime story for my boyish brain."

"Trust me, she is real." I grimaced and looked Harris in the eye as I said, "I am going after Dox and nothing more. If you have a problem with that, you can go kiss a nug." He scowled at me, probably at my tone more than anything, and I could have sworn I heard him mumble something about how a nug would be more pleasant to kiss. I rolled my eyes and began to trot to Amaranthine. I caught Harris running beside me out of the corner of my eye and sighed. It was going to be a long journey despite how short the distance would be.

"No!" I snapped for the third time at Harris. "We are not making a fire!" He was insistent since we did not have a tent. Dox's pack had held the only tent I could have used and that was gone, so we would have to make the blanket work.

I ended up letting him make a small fire. It was simply too cold and I cursed my luck at having left Denerim so late in the day. I probably could have made it during a full day at the pace we had kept up, but that was not to be.

"Don't need to be like that. You act as if my touch is poisonous." Harris muttered angrily as he curled up on his side, back facing me. He shoved away the blanket, letting me have most of it. I knew he was being childish, but at this point, I didn't care. I still harbored ill feelings toward him and didn't care if it showed.

"You may as well share my blanket, Harris." I finally said after he had suffered enough. I scooted so that my back was to his and tossed the blanket over him. In the few seconds of being next to him, I already warmed enough to stop shivering. I could hear my teeth chattering and sighed, groaning as I adjusted the dress under my head. I was using it as a pillow, but also trying not to get it dirty since it was so pretty and I hadn't even had a chance to wear it for Dox yet.

"Cecilia?" I heard Harris' soft voice, but chose not to reply, feigning sleep. He said nothing and I finally was able to drift off into a restless sleep full of aching pain from the harsh travel speed and unseasonably cold night.

When I woke the next morning, I had Harris' arm slung over my waist and he was snuggled next to my back. I could feel my temper flaring and knew that my face was probably extremely red so I fought with myself to retain calmness. I took in a few deep breaths and pushed his arm off of me, sliding away from him carefully so that I did not wake. He mumbled something and then continued to sleep while I stood and stretched.

Dawn was barely breaking and I was still exhausted, but did not want to spare another moment, especially if Harris was going to attempt to hold me during the nights! It was then I realized the world around us had a layer of white covering it. I blinked a few times, shocked at the sight. It had never snowed in Northern Ferelden as far as I could remember. I went to the nearest tree and touched one of the branches.
It was encased in solid ice.

What was happening?

To be Continued