AN: Sorry for so long a hiatus. Medical issues kept me offline for the last month. I was going to post this, but then I got sick.

I'm back and will update again this week.

Chapter 34: Reunion

Gareth cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. It was a kiss that was as gentle as it was passionate. He gathered Siobhan in his arms and held her as close to his body as he could. Suddenly he felt something bump into the bottom of his cuirass. Pulling back, his eyes full of wonder, as he looked at Siobhan.

Siobhan smiled trembled, "I believe the baby feels left out."

Tearing off his gauntlets, Gareth knelt in front of Siobhan and placed his hands against her swollen belly. His deep voice soft and resonant as he said, "Hello, small one. I am your father, and I apologize for my tardy appearance." Almost as if in response Siobhan's belly rose and looked as if something under it, rolled over. The baby kicked twice, each time it was clearly a foot.

Gareth looked up at his wife and smiled. "Is that a nice answer or did the baby just tell me off?"

Siobhan laughed as Gareth stood up again. Smiling, her eyes moist with tears of joy, "I think it was an 'I'm eager to get the heck out of here and start my life' sort of response."

Teagan, Zevran and Connor had left Gareth and Siobhan's presence. Both Teagan and Zevran were pleased to see Wynne again. Zevran looked at the two strangers and carefully placed himself between them and Connor.

Wynne smiled. "Kasch is one of the army's leaders and Kess is one of its many brave soldiers." Pointing to Teagan, Zevran and Connor, "Kasch and Kess, this is Teagan Guerin, Bann of this area. This is Zevran Arainai…from Antiva, and this is Connor Guerin, Teagan's nephew."

Kess and Kasch nodded and bowed. Kasch stepped towards Teagan with his arm extended, "Vell met." His voice thickly accented.

Teagan gripped Kasch's arm, "Well met, and welcome to Rainesfere. I am honored to meet you both."

The men each greeted the other. Kasch was taller than Gareth and when he got to Connor, he squatted down a bit so he could be closer to eye-level with the young man as he greeted him.

Zevran noticed that Connor's eyes were wide at the sight of Kess and Kasch. Connor has seen knights before, but these two men have an air of command, they aren't servants of a higher rank, they are their own men. This is a useful thing for Connor to see, I must speak with him about it later.

Teagan led his guests into parlor, and everyone settled in with some refreshments. Teagan had already told the house staff to prepare rooms and baths. A short time later, Siobhan and Gareth joined everyone. Zevran and Teagan saw a different side of Siobhan, she glowed, she was at peace.

Kasch smiled to himself. He saw the piece of Gareth that had been missing. He draws a tremendous amount of strength from his woman as she does from him. They are indeed a Geist Kraft. Their spirit is a force to be reckoned with. He was glad that he had insisted on Gareth making the journey.

Gareth introduced Kess and Kasch to Siobhan. She smiled, "I am honored to be in your presence, and thank you for all that you have done for my husband."

Kess spoked up, "Meine Dame, your husband has done much for our people, it is our honor to fight beside him."

Gareth cleared his throat, clearly embarrassed by Kess' praise, "So, I suggest that we gather tomorrow and start making plans. I don't know yet when our child will make an appearance, aside from it being soon."

Siobhan laid a hand on Gareth's. "I think for now, it would be enough to show our guests to their rooms and let everyone get a bath and a good night of sleep."

Teagan saw the relief on Kess and Kasch's faces and smiled. "Kess, Kasch, please follow me. Zevran, I had a room made up for you as well."

Gareth looked puzzled, Zevran turned towards him, "My dear Teyrn, I doubt very much that you would like me to continue to sleep in your wife's closet, yes?"

Gareth's eyes narrowed then rose in understanding. "You have my eternal thanks for watching over Siobhan. However, now that I'm here, you can free yourself from the closet."

Zevran just smiled.

Aya had decided to take her father's advice and talk to Fergus about accompanying her when she met with Morrigan. She was now seated across from him on the bank of the stream; her head down, her hands loosely in her lap. Fergus was quiet, giving her time to collect her thoughts. Finally, she looked up, her green eyes held a lifetime of hurt. "Fergus, you know that my mother died, but I never told you how, or why."

Fergus nodded. "I figured that you would tell me when you were ready."

Aya slowly shook her head. "I will never be ready to tell anyone. It is a tale I had hoped never to tell, but Morrigan's presence in the camp has made it…unavoidable."

"Morrigan?" Fergus' voice mirrored the perplexity in his face.

"Yes, Morrigan and I were apprentices to my Father, however, Morrigan's apprenticeship was kept secret."

"Because of Flemeth?"

Aya nodded. "One afternoon, Mother and I were outside of the village harvesting some healing herbs." Aya's eyes had a faraway look, "I remember the sky was a perfect blue, the wilds were in the full bloom, young animals were venturing away from their nests and burrows. Mother was laughing and we were singing as we worked...

Raelyn suddenly frowned and looked up.

Mother? What is it?

Raelyn's voice was calm, but firm, "Aya, get behind me."

Aya obeyed without question and tried to reach out with her other senses. Raelyn's presence was like a sentinel and Aya couldn't push past it.

Raelyn stood, as a large bird landed before them, "Andaran atish'an, Asha'belannar,"

Flemeth! Aya thought

The bird in front of them transformed into Flemeth. Aya didn't need special senses to tell that the infamous Witch of the Wilds was enraged.

"Ar'din atisha, Raelyn."

"Why are you not at peace, Asha'belannar?"

"Arrogance tends to disturb it."

"I know not of what you speak."

"Don't play coy with me; it doesn't suit you. You know precisely of what I speak."

"I know nothing of any arrogant acts."

"You do not think apprenticing my daughter to be arrogant!"

Aya was terrified; how did she find out…Morrigan!

Raelyn turned to her daughter, her eyes full of love for her only child. "Aya, please go to the village and ask your father to join us."

Aya didn't want to leave her mother, Raelyn's voice was soft, calming, lyrical, "Aya, emm'asha emm'vhenan, dar'atisha. My girl, my heart, be peaceful."

Aya felt the calming warmth spread through her body, looking from Raelyn to Flemeth and back.

"Ma'arlath, Mother."

Raelyn smiled at her daughter and made a shooing motion with her hands.

Aya, coming back into herself, looked at Fergus, "Those were to be the last words mother and I shared. I ran to the village and found my father. When I told him what had happened, I could see the color drain from his face. He made me stay at the village and left to be with my mother." Aya held Fergus' hand, took a deep breath, and then let it out. "Father came…back to the village with Mother in his arms. He was silent as be brought her to our hut and laid her out on the bed. There wasn't a mark on her; she simply looked like she was asleep…" Aya's eyes again looked into the past…

"Father, is she unconscious?"

Udell shook his head, "No, my sweet one, she is with the spirit of our ancestors."

"Dead! Why did Flemeth kill her? Why…WHY!..." Aya collapsed on the floor in tears.

Udell gathered his daughter into his arms.

Once again focusing on Fergus, tears streaming down her face, Aya continued, "I never understood how my mother could die on a day that teemed with life! Father told me that Flemeth decided that there was a price to pay for the 'audacity' of teaching her daughter anything. Flemeth had planned on killing my father, but according to Father, my mother convinced Flemeth to accept her as some kind of sacrifice. She gave her life to save my father. Father knew that the only reason mother sent me to get him was to bring back her body and to keep me safe. I found out later, that it had been Morrigan's selfish pride and carelessness that led to Flemeth's discovery."

Fergus was quiet.

"Fergus?"

Fergus started. "Sorry, I was just thinking about what you went through; losing your Mother at such a young age." Pulling her into his arms, he stroked her hair. "I will always stand with you and support you. You never need to ask."

Aya relaxed into Fergus' arms as the tension eased from her body. After a few precious moments, she pulled away just enough to look into his kind eyes. "Mien helle seele, your support means everything to me. I'll suggest to my father that he set up this meeting as soon as possible."

Fergus smiled, the setting sun bathing them in a warm red glow. "Let's enjoy the sunset first, then you can talk to your father." Fergus shifted slightly so Aya was still in his arms, but snuggled against his side, affording them a wonderful view of the fading daylight.

The next day, after the morning meal, Aya and Fergus entered Udell's tent where he and Morrigan were already seated. Fergus took Aya's hand and tried to send as much love and strength as he could through this simple act of touch.

Udell stood, he knew the courage it took for Aya to face the woman she had always held responsible for her mother's death. He motioned for Fergus and Aya to sit.

Morrigan was also dreading this meeting, but she was, surprisingly, intrigued. She remembered the young Aya, the sometimes unsure, sometimes overconfident, and sometimes bratty, Aya. However, during the short time in camp, she had watched Aya interact with Sten and Shale, and play music with Leliana. She watched Aya act as a healer, and serve as a leader among the healers. She was impressed by Aya's strength, independence, and fierce determination; all were traits that Morrigan admired. Aya, like Siobhan, could be as gentle as a breeze or as tough as steel. Yet, Aya clearly asked Fergus to come with her, to support her, did that make Aya weak?

Morrigan was surprised when the answer came unbidden to her mind…No.

As Aya sat down, she was surprised at the look in Morrigan's eyes…Respect?

Though physically separated by only a couple of feet, the emotional distance between the women seemed infinite. Udell looked up at Morrigan and Aya, his face and voice calm and neutral. "This meeting isn't about past hurt, anger, and blame. That is something for your own hearts to pursue. Today's meeting is about gathering strength to battle the current forces of darkness."

His words lifted some of the tension in the room and both women focused on Udell, who opened a small box lying in front of him. Inside the box were two pieces of polished, featureless, blue-grey stone.

"This is a ritual of binding. It was something I was going to perform after you had finished your apprenticeships. Although you are both well beyond that now, it is still a necessary ritual."

"Father, why are you doing this? Why now?"

Udell looked at his daughter, "Would you deny me, a tradition that has been in our tribe for many generations?"

Aya looked down at the floor. "Of course not, Father."

"Before I continue, I will need each of you, in turn, to hold the rocks, and speak of the most important thing you learned as an apprentice." Udell gave the stones to Morrigan. The pieces warmed to her touch. She thought for a long moment. "The most important thing I learned as an apprentice was something I only recently understood. That there is still much I still have to learn." As she spoke the stones began to faintly glow.

Aya was surprised by Morrigan's admission, the Morrigan she remembered was quick tempered, intolerant and arrogant. Morrigan passed the pieces to Aya, their eyes met, green to yellow. As Aya took the stones, her hands met Morrigan's and memories started to flash through her mind, memories of laughter and joy as Morrigan and Aya both began to learn, and to experience the world around them.

Morrigan was also flooded with memories, of her first meeting with Aya and Udell, about the freedom in learning and the joy of making and sharing discoveries. She pulled her hands away from the stones. The images stopped, but the emotion still flowed through her.

Surprised by the power of those memories, Aya almost dropped the stones. After securing them in her hand, she felt a presence in them. As if a portion of Morrigan's essence remained. Aya thought for a long while. Then spoke softly, "The most important thing I learned as an apprentice seems to be the one lesson I have forgotten…'To judge is to become blind to further knowledge.' " Looking at Morrigan. "It appears that I too, still have much to learn." The pieces of stone glowed more brightly.

Udell took the pieces and held them in his hand. "You are bound by the path of discovery upon which you both once journeyed. As the path diverged, one became two, but what was once joined can never truly be sundered." The stone mirrored Udell's words, coming together as on brilliantly glowing stone, no longer featureless but marbled with various brilliant shades of blue. Then stone quietly split into two pieces, each retaining the brilliance and the beautiful marbling.

Udell gave one piece to Morrigan and one to Aya. "As long as you keep this stone on your person, you will always feel the essence of the other and can draw from the knowledge and the strength of that bond. Choosing to use it, and how you use it, is up to each of you."

Aya felt Morrigan's essence with her, but instead of fighting it, she let it in. She felt Morrigan do the same thing. For the moment, a quiet truce existed between the two women.

It was late afternoon when Alistair saw Fergus sitting by his tent oiling his bow. Alistair didn't remember Fergus being an archer, but as reflected, he hadn't seen Fergus carry a sword and shield since they arrived. Fergus finished the bow and secured it to his back. As he stood, he winced for a moment, then ducked into his tent and returned with a tall walking stick. He turned and saw Alistair watching.

Alistair felt like an idiot for starring. "I…I'm sorry your gra…Fergus. I didn't mean to stare. It was only because I didn't remember your being an archer and you are obviously recuperating…actually then, I guess I did mean to stare… but in a…good way?" Alistair stopped and just sighed, looking at his feet.

Fergus looked confused at first, then smiled, then started to laugh. After catching his breath he looked at the red-faced Warden. "Alistair, I apologize for laughing, I wasn't laughing at you, it's you just reminded of the time I first met King Maric. I was about fourteen. The King had a pronounced limp, which, I found out later, was from a recent accident. I just remember staring at his limp thinking, 'Do I mention it? Do I look away? What do I do?' I just stood there and stared at his limp. Maric simply stopped walking and waited for me to notice. When I finally looked up, I stammered out some, maker knows what, kind of apology. Maric laughed as he clapped me on the back and told me, 'Young Fergus Cousland, just because I'm King doesn't mean that my crap smells like roses.'

"He actually said that?"

"He did indeed. So, please, don't apologize for staring. When I last saw you, I was hale and whole, swinging my sword and carrying a shield. Now I carry a bow and need the assistance of walking stick. I would be surprised if you didn't stare."

"Thanks. I tend to ramble when I'm nervous."

Fergus nodded. "Truth to tell, so do I."

Alistair smiled. "I take it, then, your crap doesn't smell like roses, either?"

"Only if I squat in a rose bush, my friend."

Both men laughed heartily. Fergus was the first to speak, "So, aside from noticing my change in martial skills, what do you need?"

"I need your advice and counsel."

"Sounds serious, does it require privacy?"

Alistair simply nodded.

"My tent would be the best place. Go on in and I will tell the watch to make sure we're not disturbed."

Once inside Fergus' tent, Alistair noticed two large cushions on the floor, a lute resting against the tent poll and piece of parchment lying on the bedroll. The drawing on the parchment was a beautiful portrait of the healer, Aya. The sketch captured Aya the way a lover would, luminous, highlighting her soft curves and beautiful eyes. At that moment, Fergus entered the room; he saw Alistair looking at the parchment. Not knowing Alistair all that well, he was unsure of what to say. Fortunately, the younger man smiled. "She seems to bring you joy; Siobhan will be so happy to know that."

That simple statement allowed Fergus to completely relax his guard around the young warden. Motioning toward the cushions, he smiled. "She does, and I look forward to introducing them. Please, let's sit down. How can I help?"

"Fergus, you know that I wasn't raised near court, so the knowledge I have of the Fereldan political affairs could fit into an ink-well. You know from Gareth, that Arl Eamon wants to put me forward as king?"

Fergus nodded. "Yes, I'm not surprised. I also understand that isn't what you want."

"No it isn't."

Fergus grinned, understanding in his eyes. "I'm sure Eamon didn't take that well, did he?"

"That's an understatement. Fergus, your sister fought for me, even when I was unable to fight for myself. She believes I should be able to follow my own path."

Fergus leaned back on his hands. "Siobhan and I were raised to think differently about the nature of duty. Father firmly believed that if your action came from a respect to what's right, you were being dutiful. He felt that duty was not some tradition-bound dogma designed to strip one of their free will. Our father said, 'duty is something you should be able to embrace, not something you endure.' In the case of Highever, father spoke with me as soon as I was old enough to understand, to determine if I wanted to succeed him as Teyrn."

"Did you?"

Fergus suddenly had a far away look in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Fergus, I didn't mean too…"

"Alistair, it's all right. It is a legitimate question, and yes, I did. I also know that if I had not, truly did not want to. Father would not have forced me."

What your father would have done if you'd said, no."

"Done the smart thing and made my sister do it." Fergus smirked. "So let me ask you. What is it that you would rather do than be King of Ferelden?"

Alistair spoke without a second thought. "Remain a Grey Warden. I want to work to rebuild all that we lost at Ostagar. I want to change the Fereldan image of the Grey; undo the lies Loghain has spread. I want Fereldans to know that even if the Archdemon is dead, the Wardens are still needed. Fereldans need to know and to understand that we are not an Orlesian mouthpiece."

Fergus saw the passion in Alistair's eyes, heard it ring in his voice. Would this passion better serve Ferelden, with Alistair as king? "Alistair, could you not accomplish this as king, with the aid of a Warden Commander?"

Alistair shook his head. "No. Wardens strive to be politically neutral. While the crown could partner with the warden commander, the final decision rests with Commander of the Ferelden Grey. I want to be the one making that final decision, I want to set the direction. I also swore an oath when I became a Grey Warden, to become king would require me to break that oath. Ferelden does not need an oath breaker as king…it already has one as it's regent."

"Alistair, I can see why Siobhan supports your decision, but you didn't need me to confirm that."

"Where I need your counsel and advice is that I know who I want to take the throne, but not how, or if I should even try, to make that happen."