{Chapter Twenty-Five}

((Mature chapter warning))

"Lover? Lover? You gave yourself to him?" The strangled voice from behind me was not Harris' and I craned my neck, shuffling away when I realized there was in fact someone else in the bed with me.

"Who is… Dox?" I groaned when he summoned three light orbs that hovered over the bed illuminating his handsome face – the face of the man I loved and had been so desperate to find. "Dox!" I scrambled on my hands and knees to him, but he shuffled off of the bed backward, nearly falling but catching himself before he did.

"Why?" His brown-gold eyes were almost black in the flickering light and they revealed pain beyond measure as he attempted to understand what he had heard from his beloved's lips.

"I… It was a different time, Dox. I swear I have not given myself to him… in this life. Argh. It's difficult to explain." I sighed, unable to put into words what I needed to in order to resolve the situation.

"I know you are planning on betraying me to the Evil One and I will not allow that… but this… I cannot believe you would do this…" His eyes turned feral and he jerked out one of his hands. As soon as he did, I felt a tightening around my throat. I couldn't breathe! I scrambled to release whatever was holding my neck, but there was nothing there. I attempted to move back, but I was locked in place as if his arm had extended and he was tightening his grip around my throat instead of something invisible.

"I trusted you, Cecilia." He shook his head and the ebony locks danced around him as if in protest along with his words. "I cannot believe you would hurt me in such a way, so many times. My heart feels as if you have ripped it into pieces." He grasped at his chest, which was bare. He had dirt stains on his tan leather pants and smeared along his cheek and some parts of his belly. Tears began to dribble down his face as his expression slowly morphed into a scowl.

"D-D-D…" I attempted to talk, but the lack of air made it impossible, which frustrated me even more so. I had to explain somehow! I had to make things right! I began to sob along with him, though I could not breathe so it sounded more like a snorting-hiccupping noise. Tears rolled freely down my face as I pleaded with him with my eyes. But would he release me without killing me? Or would he release me and run? I felt my legs give out from under me as the lack of air was slowly killing me, but his magic held me up. It was as if I were a rag doll, hanging loosely in his outstretched hand.

"I do not want to end you!" His breath came out in ragged sobs as if he were the one without the air. "I love you too much to do that. But if I do not, you will have me destroyed and I will lose my life and the world will be in such jeopardy. I cannot risk that!" He covered his leaking eyes with an arm and mumbled softly, "I will give you one chance and then… I will have no choice." As soon as he said the words, his grip around my neck loosened.

"D-Dox!" I gasped out his name as soon as I had taken in large gulps of air to recover. I knew I had little time but I knew what I had to say. I had to tell him the only thing he would understand. "I love you." I stared at him hard as I spoke. My hands still clawed at whatever invisible force held me, but it was more of an unconscious act than anything else. "I did not betray you." When his eyes hardened and he looked as if he would close my throat again, I spat out, "Un cabra va amo tena veria."

"Where did… how did you know to say that?" Dox's eyes grew wide as he gasped out the words in shock.

"I… I don't know what it means, but your mother said to tell you those words. I met her in the Fade." I pointed to the sword resting by the wall. "There is a part of her spirit within that sword. I think when I killed Flemeth's image in the Fade it released the control she had over the minions. I had used a sword identical to that one and your mother – your real mother – appeared to Harris and to me."

"You killed Flemeth in the Fade? Wait…did you say my mother?" His stricken expression brought pity deep within me but I had to focus. I could not let him slip through my fingers again.

"Yes, she told me to tell you those words. I hope you believe me when I tell you I did not betray you nor would I ever do such a thing. I love you. I mean that." I sucked in deep gulps of air, still attempting to recover.

"My mother…" He repeated, staring at the sword. He reached down to touch it, but hesitated as if afraid it would bite him. When his hand came to rest on the orb in the pommel's end, nothing happened and he sighed.

"I'm sorry, Dox." I wanted to touch him so badly, but pushed myself against the wall, leaning there for support. My legs were shaking from the attack on my windpipe and I was still struggling to recover.

"I am sorry that I hurt you." Dox's dark eyes flickered from the sword to me. When he stood and walked to where I rested against the wall, I could not help but flinch back away from him. I was afraid, but it was not something I could help. I knew the power he held and I knew he was angry with me – possibly hated me. I wondered if there was any love remaining in his heart for me.

"I am sorry." He repeated and pulled me to his chest. I relaxed and slid my arms around his waist, clinging to him tightly. I began to cry softly, mostly in relief that I was touching him again. The pain of my betrayal with Harris ate at my heart and I knew our relationship would never be the same.

"I'm so sorry for hurting you." I mumbled into his chest. I inhaled deeply of his skin, enjoying the earthy, musky scent. "I never meant to do that. I love you so much."

"I love you too." His arms tightened around me and we stood like that for a short time until he pulled back and stared down at me with sorrow-filled eyes. "I must go now."

"No!" I unwrapped myself to grasp both of his upper arms tightly. "You cannot leave me again! I have spent so much time and effort searching for you. Don't go!" I locked eyes with him, forcing him to listen to me closely. "I do not want to be away from you. Let me go where you go. Let me help you in any way that I can."

"I must go back to the Deep Roads, Cecilia." Dox's expression was grim. "I must change into the statue and remain there until the danger is passed. Even if that means a lifetime or two." He pressed his forehead against mine and sighed, blowing weakly into my face as he did. "It will be painful to be apart, but it has to be this way."

"But…" I tried to protest, but of course I knew it was safer the way he wanted to go. I could not refuse his safety. It was so much more important than my own happiness. Dox spotted the dress on the edge of the bed and lifted it up, staring at it curiously. I reached for it and pulled it over my head when he handed it to me. I turned and let him button up the back for me.

"The most beautiful thing I have ever seen was a rainbow at sunset when the clouds shone with the sun's fading light. That pales in comparison to what I am looking at now, Cecilia. Your beauty simply takes my breath from me." His words, of course, melted my heart even more so and I clung to him, pressing myself against him, unwilling to give up the moment.

"Thank you for forgiving me." I mumbled into Dox's collarbone as I held on to him.

"I do not want to let you go." His own words were soft, but filled with such love. "I could never be apart from you for too long but if I must do it to keep you alive, then I must. I will die of a broken heart before I hurt you again, this I swear to you." His hands stroked the side of my head, roaming to my neck where he caressed the area that his spell had crushed. I held my head high, letting him touch me as I stared with utmost trust into his eyes. I felt a warmth around my neck and knew he had healed any damage that his spell had caused.

"Thank you." I murmured, unwilling to let him go. Just one more moment was all I wanted. I knew I was being greedy, but I had gone so long without feeling his touch and I craved it. I craved it. I pushed my mouth against his, fearful at first that he would reject me, but he accepted me fully and kissed me back with as much passion as I had ever felt from him.

As our passion blossomed, I found myself pressed with my back against the wall. Dox's hands caressed the curves of my side, sliding down to lift the hem of my dress and pushing it up to give him access to what rested underneath. I groaned as his touch fanned the flames of my desire and I let him push me up into his arms, giving him free access to my body. We rocked gently for what seemed like mere moments until he called out my name as we fell over the edge of reason together. Our lips continued after our bodies had finished and we kissed as if we would never see each other again. It was sorrow-filled, but full of need and want and love and anything that could be classified as passionate.

After he released me, grudgingly so, I replaced my dress with a simple leather tunic and breeches, sliding on the sword around my waist. I was not going to be without it from this point forward and Dox watched with approval as I finished looping the belt about me. Holding my hand, he led me to the courtyard in preparation for his departure. I knew he would fly back to the Deep Roads for it was faster so this was our final parting.

"I don't want you to go." I pouted, tears flowing freshly down my cheeks as I clung to him one last time. His arms held me tightly and he nodded in agreement. "I love you, Dox."

"And I love you." He kissed me and then looked over my shoulder. The moment his expression turned grim, my heart sank.

"Ahhh is this not a touching scene." Flemeth, speaking with his mother's voice, stepped into our view and I groaned, knowing what it meant to have her there. All would be lost if she were allowed to take Dox's body and use him at will. "I am feeling somewhat generous today. Am I? Yes. I believe I am." She nodded as she crossed her arms and stared imperiously at us both. "I promise I will spare her life if you make this easy, Dox."

"No!" I turned to my beloved, pushing him gently. "Go Dox. Go inside of the Keep. Find a guard or anyone and tell them to get my parents! Go now, we do not have to do this alone. I will stall her! GO!" I pushed hard and watched him give me one last, lingering worried look and dash away, tossing a shield up around him as he fled.

"That was not wise." Flemeth's tone was full of the promise of pain but I knew this would be the only way to thwart her for the moment. I had no idea if she was powerful enough to tear down the Keep brick by brick, but I had no choice in this. I had to buy Dox time to bring help or at least escape. I watched with a wary eye as Flemeth approached me slowly like a predator ready to pounce upon its next meal.

"I'll gladly give my life for his." I remembered saying similar words to the bandits on the road to Denerim. This time, it meant so much more to me to say.

"That can easily be arranged." Flemeth's teeth shone in the torch and moonlight and I wondered if she would make it quick or draw it out painfully just to see me suffer. I had caused her a lot of problems. And I had broken my promise to help her. She was the fool, though, for believing I would ever give up Dox to her.

"I'm not afraid to die." I slowly unsheathed the sword that supposedly held the essence of Morrigan within it. Flemeth's eyebrows rose as she saw the weapon revealed.

"So this is how you were able to destroy my Fade being." She nodded thoughtfully. "My daughter is truly her mother's child." She cackled madly and then shook her head. After a brief delay, she snapped her head to the side and said, "You can come forward. You will not be able to sneak up on me this time, boy." I peered around her to see Harris, sword in hand, creeping slowly behind her. He held up his hands in surrender and shrugged, staring past her to look at me as if to make certain I was unharmed. When our eyes locked, he smiled so briefly I could have imagined it and edged around the witch to stand beside me.

"Glad you're all right." His words were soft, spoken without him looking to me as he said them.

"Dox is here…" It was a warning, nothing more.

"Happy for you." His venomous tone made me flinch. I felt my temper flair as it normally would but forced it back down into the pit of my stomach where it rested uneasily there. Now was not the time for petty bickering between us!

"Two little mortals stand before me." Flemeth's words picked up volume as she continued to talk. "Two little mortals who think they are invincible." She tossed her hands out and something green began to fly toward us both. I shoved Harris away from me and at the last second the blast landed behind us, blasting chunks of stone from the wall. Zevran's training had paid off.

"Two little mortals who are quick." She grinned wickedly as she moved in a slow circle around us. "Two little mortals who will wish that they had never been born…" Once more her hands flew up but this time, two bolts flew from her hand, one for each of us. I attempted to dodge mine, hoping that Harris would dodge his easily, but I was not as fast as I had hoped and a wave of pain rocked my off-shoulder. I heard myself cry out, unable to help myself.

"Cecilia!" Harris dashed to my side and I let him help me to my feet.

"I'm okay."I waved him off, though the use of my left arm was now gone. I still had my right arm, and the sword, which I pulled out and prepared to use. But it was at that moment that soldiers began to flood from the big gate behind us. I sighed in relief for that meant Dox had found help.

"Hah, more play things for old Flemeth." The vile woman shook her head and smirked. Her hand was lifted and she waved as if greeting them. But all around us a white wall was put up so that the guards were unable to approach us.

We were locked inside with the one creature that could easily kill us both…

To be Continued