Wonderful News
Road to Redcliffe, 9:30, August 29th Midday
What in maker's name was going on, Mikhail pondered. The last days he noticed an increasing unrest in Iona's and Morrigan's behavior. The discussions with the dalish had been going well, the voyage in direction of Redcliffe had been uneventful so far. What troubled these two ladies? At the midday rest he used some spare moments to ask.
"It is because of Natasha. Mikhail, you said she wanted to visit the Magi, but are you sure about it?"
Mikhail frowned at the elven maiden. "Sure? Why not? She didn't explain the details, but …" His face paled. "She lied? I … felt a bit unsecure, but yes, she seemed a bit … what do you know about her real purpose? "
Iona shook her head sadly. "To my regret I know nothing. I only … she seemed unhappy when she left. As if she had something difficult in mind. And then … she took Sten with her, especially Sten. Do you know why him? I would guess she chose him because he is the only one from us who would not … discuss things with her. If she planned something dangerous Alistair or you would argue with her about it, perhaps even hinder her, but not Sten"
Morrigan went very pale, her hands trembled, and concern was visible in her eyes Mikhail didn't think to be possible with the witch. Her words came haltingly. "Do you really think? I … I hoped she would not … Mikhail, I fear I've done something royally stupid." The witty remarks Alistair and Zevran wanted to start were cut short by a sharp hand-move of Iona. "Morrigan, please, what's going on?"
Haltingly the Witch explained how she got information about her mother's longevity, the danger for her own life, and how she begged Natasha to help her. "I begged her to wait, to attack her with help from us all … us all without me as it has to be in this case. I never thought she would try it alone. She can't win alone, she must know. Why did she …" Morrigan's voice died down.
"She didn't want to endanger us all." Mikhail assumed, trying hard to remain calm. "She has two days of headstart at least. Never can we be there in time to help. And if she won and is on the way to Redcliffe … the chances are great that we would miss her in the wilderness. I really don't like the idea but we have to go on and wait in Redcliffe for news. "
Korcari Wilds, 9:30, August 30th Morning
I had been a restless night for Sten. After searching for Flemeth's books and burning her corpse as Natasha said, he dragged the senseless mage a few miles away before he set up camp. Her life signals were very low, breath and heartbeat nearly not noticeable, her skin cold as ice. Sten tended her wounds and wrapped her into some blankets. Now she seemed to be stabilized at least but still very weak.
A twig snapped. Sten's move to pull his sword was stopped by an arrow to the ground near his feet. Slowly a dozen men and women emerged from the woods, Chasind.
"Who are you? What are you doing in our woods?" One of them asked, remaining out of the Qunari's weapon reach.
Calm and without signs of fear Sten answered." I'm Sten of the Beresaad and bodyguard of Natasha, a grey warden. She had been wounded seriously in a battle against a witch and I'm waiting for her to recover. When she feels better, we will leave your domain."
One of the foreigners stepped forward, pushed back his cowl and stared intensely at the Qunari. For a moment Sten thought him to be Mikhail, but then he realized this man was older, his face a bit narrower, the frame less muscular. Seeing the recognition in Sten's eyes, he asked cautiously: "Do you know me?"
"Perhaps I do. You remind me of someone I travel with. His name is Mikhail."
"Mikhail? You know Mikhail? And he lives? Where is he?" His voice spun over in excitement, his hands signaled his companions to lower their bows.
"He is the leader of our group. We left him three days before. Now he should be on his way to Redcliffe. You're a relative of him I suppose by your face."
"Yes, I'm Fergus Cousland, his older brother. I've not seen him since months, thought him to be dead as the rest of our family." His voice dying down for a moment, Fergus tried to steady himself. "But he lives. That's … Sten of the Beresaad, you delivered me wonderful news. Can we help you in any way?"
"Do you have a healer?"
Redcliffe, 9:30, Kingsway 6th Afternoon
With the help of the Chasind carrying Natasha's stretcher the way to Redcliffe went far better than Sten had hoped. Their young shaman had been able to tend her bodily wounds but her weak condition hadn't improved. Fergus sent a messenger ahead to inform Mikhail and Sten could only hope that Wynne would be able to do more for the mage.
The meeting, joyful as the embrace of the brothers was, was overshadowed by the concern about Natasha's condition. Sten handed Morrigan her mother's books waiting for a sign of content, but she stored the books away mostly unheeded, pressed only a short thanks before following Wynne.
"She is really concerned about her," Alistair wondered.
"She should be," Mikhail pressed.