Chapter 36

"Mother we are home!" The children said together.

"Good supper is ready." Morrigan said with her back to them.

"We found something! Can we keep her? Please, please? Can she stay just a little while?"

Stirring the pot, Morrigan said sternly, "if it is another stray animal the answer is no. Especially if it is a cat, I will not own a hundred cats like some old cat-woman."

"Well I am hardly a cat." I told her.

She spun around, "What are you doing back here?" She sounded more shocked than angry.

"Your…children brought me here and we have much to discuss now." I said trying to communicate the urgency for a private discussion with my eyes.

"Hmmm, about what I can only guess at." she added sarcastically.

"I am sure your guess would be accurate."

"Then it is not to be discussed."

"However, it is to be discussed if it involves a duty of mine." I said trying to be vague in front of the demons standing on either side of me.

"Very well, but know this will be the end of our friendship, this is not what I agreed to!"

"If that is what it must take." I said regrettably.

"very well then, Lenobia, Come and we shall talk privately, then I expect you to leave. Zazike, Razika, Go outside and eat." Morrigan commanded as she led me into a small room, I assumed was hers. "Say what you must and be gone."

"Their names are Zazike and Razika?"

"Yes." She answered curtly, this would not be easy.

"Did you choose these names?"

"They chose them themselves."

"Morrigan, did you not stop to think that it could be the old gods Zazikel and Razikale?" I saw shock cross her face.

"No, but hadn't one or both of those old gods been killed I thought only Lusacan or Urthemial remained."

"Apparently not."

"So you are trying to claim my children are already slain dead gods?"

"well…yes."

"I suppose you will also say they are evil?"

"Morrigan I have had dreams of them, speaking as though they are Arch demons-"

"Of course they are!" she cut me off. "They are old gods!"

"Yes I know, however, they are not just old gods they are arch demons and with the dreams I have been having I think they may be turning animals and humans into darkspawn-like creatures and forming a horde of them and regular darkspawn!"

She looked at me with surprise, then disgust, then disdain. "You expect me to believe that my children are some kind of evil force, well yes I believe that. But they can be controlled. You then expect me to believe that they are raising an army of so called Darkspawn in forms never before heard of. Oh and to top it all off at least one of the two is already believed to be a slain god. Yes you are right Lenobia Let me pick up my torch and pitchfork and warn the other villagers at once!"

"I do not expect you to believe me but-"

"Good because I do not and I will not."

"Fine I will go, just keep an eye on them."

"I do not need your instructions to raise them."

"Very well, but If I may ask, how did they get so old?"

"I- I do not know. I suspect they can change their age and appearance just as they can their shape, but they will not discuss it with me."

"And yet that does not seem suspicious to you?" I murmured as I left her hut and traveled out into the forest.

What am I going to do? I suppose I should discuss this with…with Ali-…With the king. But we are not on good terms. Shiri and Zevran and the other Grey Wardens should be informed, but I am leading them and I am not even certain yet. Roran has most likely went home to Orlais. I have not heard from Leliana since she left the celebration to go find Sketch. I have no idea where Oghren went off to. Wynne is at the Tower, Sten went back to his Qunari people, Shale left with his new freedom.

I have not an ally in the world. Morrigan is right, How am I supposed to get people to believe that Gods we thought we had slain have arisen again in the form of children and are possibly turning humans and animals into Darkspawn-like creatures.

I let out a long sigh towards the setting sun. I was almost out of the trees, I might as well make camp. I pulled out my camping stuff and started a small fire. I lay down on the hard ground and closed my eyes, I had a long day ahead of me tomorrow, and same for the day after that, and the following day after that. Probably a long week, month, or possibly even year…If we even have that long.

Remember this? Someone whispered. "And how did it feel when you betrayed our friend Jowan?" The spirit Guard asked and my heart squeezed. I hated myself for it, but should I tell him that?

Or this?

"There is nothing wrong with liking someone."

"No it was a silly boy's infatuation. I am long over it now." Cullen told me once he realized I was not a demon. He was over it? But was I over him? I had just found out he liked me back! Now that is no longer the case?

You are pathetic…

Then a scene I recognized all too well. Alistair and I had just kissed in front of Cullen. "No Cullen wait it was a-"

"Mistake?" Alistair asked hurt slamming his door, then Cullen was gone as well. I wept sleeping in my own tears.

Do you deserve a friend?

"It will cost you our friendship." Morrigan said. Then the words 'lost your only friend' echoed in the air around me, then out of no where the two children appeared in front of me. Remember this? They asked.

"I never loved you, you were just another girl." Alistair spat hatefully.

You sabotaged his happiness, you are the evil one…

"Cullen if you want her go after her, talk to her. If you love her you should not be apart even if she is with the king, just play fair."

You are a hypocrite. You cannot lead, you are not strong, you are not loved, you are not a hero.

The two children were in front of me again, circling me.

"Of course if you joined us…" Zazikel said.

"You could be happy, you could be powerful and pretty…" Razikale added.

"You could be loved again." Zazikel concluded.

"No I will not join you!" I shouted.

"You are so selfish." Zazikel accused.

"Yes, always talking about what you will and will not do, always thinking of yourself." Razikale told me.

"No wonder you are so alone."

"But If you joined us, we would love you, and they would have to bow down." Razikale mimicked a bow.

"They would have to love you." Zazikel put his hand over his heart.

"They would not have a choice."

"Who are they?" I asked.

"Everyone. All of Ferelden." Zazikel said simply.

"All of Thedas." Razikale gestured with her arms opened wide.

"They would all love you."

"Even Alistair." Razikale said seductively but innocently, taunting me.

"No! No I refuse!" I screamed at them.

"Very well." Razikale said simply.

"Pleasant dreams." Zazikel smiled maliciously at me.

Instantly visions and words filled my head.

"Your parents aren't coming child."

"Jowan how come you and I never…?" "I never thought of you that way."

"Go away!"

"No I do not feel the same way."

"We cannot be together."

"You think you can defeat me pathetic girl?"

"It is your fault he is dead!"

"How could you tear them apart?"

"Just following him around for his money!"

"Go Away Lenobia!"

"Yes, and now I do not need you."

"Tell me what is the benefit of doing good? Just look at you, what have you gained?"

"You bitch!"

"The Arch demon will swallow you whole."

"It is because they do not love you."

"I am gravely disappointed in you."

"You are not worth it."

"It is a wonder anyone has the desire to be around you."

"The world would be better off without you Lenobia, go, join them, then we will not have to deal with you."

I let out a terrified shriek as I awoke, it was dawn, I was sweating and crying and shaking. I knew this was not a dream, they were somewhere in the forest filling my head with these lies…but are they really lies? YES! Yes they are do not be foolish! Or maybe I am being foolish for thinking they are lies? What if-

"Lenobia? Is that you?" A woman asked.

"She does not look well." A man added.

"Who-who's there?"

"It is me! Are you okay, you are shaking poor thing."

"Lel-Leliana?"

Want to read more about Leliana? Visit my fan fiction that is now completed entitled Sing Me To Saftey here: .net/s/6625139/1/Sing_Me_To_Safety