Chapter 49. Don't Want to Be a Part of It

Maric and Val were unpacking their things and setting up their rooms in the estate. They had planned to live in a small one-bedroom cottage in the village, just the two of them, but with a baby on the way they needed a bigger house. When they mentioned this to Alistair, he looked at them like they were crazy…

"Da, you know there is a suite of rooms in the opposite wing that are identical to ours. We are never going to need them, why not live here? We will have plenty of room…even if we both have more children." Alistair waggled his eyebrows.

"Thank you, I would like that…Val?"

"I am very okay with that."

Maric grinned. "We'll stay, but the estate is still yours. Any time you need us to move just let us know."

Val sat on the bed, and looked out the window at the lake. I wish I could just relax, but…after seeing Merrill and hearing about Fen'Harel…

Once Adaia and Alistair had told them about Fen'Harel and the Black City, and how it was related to the seal and the dagger—The Fang of Fen'Harel—Val had asked Merenwen and Faenor if she and Maric could talk with them.

As a result, they were meeting at Merenwen's home later that afternoon.

Maric saw Val sit and knew that facial expression. He sat down next to his wife. "I know what you're thinking. We will have a better picture after we meet with Faenor and Merenwen."

"I know, but patience isn't one of my virtues."

~oOOo~

Val hugged both Faenor and Merenwen.

The Keeper smiled. "It lifts my soul to see you…Val."

Val breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad Ríneth told you."

"Yes, and I understand...What did your parents call you?"

Val was puzzled by the question. "Mom and Bethany called me Val, Carver called me Sister, and father called me Tina. Why?"

"Just curious. I will make sure everyone knows to call you Val."

"Thanks, Merenwen. I really appreciate that."

"How much did Adaia and Alistair tell you about Fen'Harel?" Faenor asked.

Maric explained, "Adaia said that the Golden City never really existed, that it has always been black. The seal is powered by Fen'Harel's own life force, which he has anchored in the Black City. If the Veil had sundered it would have destroyed the seal because the Black City itself would be destroyed. Is that correct?"

The two elves nodded.

Val frowned. "Andraste was wrong. Was she tricked?"

Faenor nodded. "It would seem so."

"Does our false-maker know that the Fang of Fen'Harel exists?" Maric asked.

"No. Thank the Creators," Merenwen answered.

Val's brows furrowed. "Will the Fang of Fen'Harel only destroy his anchor or would it also destroy the Black City?"

Faenor shook his head. "We are not sure."

Merenwen explained, "We know that if a non-mage wields the dagger they can go unnoticed through the Fade. The weapon will enable them to reach the Black City, and once there use it to sever his connection to it. Destroying that connection will destroy the seal. We do not know if this will kill the Dread Wolf or just severely weaken him.

"It requires a non-mage because the Fang of Fen'Harel was designed to hide its power. In the Fade it would seem like a mundane blade and therefore below Fen'Harel's notice, just as a non-mage in the Fade would also be below Fen'Harel's notice."

Val and Maric sat in silence trying to take in what they had just been told.

"Merenwen, I take it no one has volunteered to do this?" Val asked.

"My words to Alistair and Kali were that they are both forbidden and that, for now, the Fang of Fen'Harel will remain where it is."

Val sighed. "Well, I will add that to the list of things Maric and I need to discuss with Andraste."

"I can take one thing off your list. The Man of Light is no more." Faenor said.

Val was stunned. "Really! Who was he?"

"The Man of Light is…was…the Black Divine, who also happened to be Danarius' brother. He used the unrest caused by the Inquisition to exact revenge for Danarius' death. Feynriel eliminated him, both to save you and because he had made a deal with the Archon. Apparently he had grown tired of the late Black Divine."

The memories of Denarius sickened Val, and the thought of the Man of Light brought back all those desperate days of fear and pain. She put her head in her hands.

Maric pulled her close. "What we really need to do is talk to Andraste about reversing the Rite of Tranquility. Please tell me that you have others who know about the Fang of Fen'Harel and able to get the job done."

Faenor shook his head. "We have kept it hidden in the hope of finding a solution. None of us want you, Alistair, Val or Kali to risk your lives for us again. You all have done enough."

Merenwen smiled. "Now, go home. Faenor and I will set up a meeting with Andraste for tomorrow. I know how much Val hates to wait." She smiled affectionately at the couple.

~oOOo~

Facing Andraste was not sitting well with Val. Maric seems comfortable. Perhaps because he was here shortly after arriving at the Reach…or maybe it's because I'm pissed off at her.

"Your success on Thedas was beyond anything I could have hoped for."

Okay, that sentence felt like nails on slate. Yep, I'm pissed off. Val remained silent.

"It was a group effort, Andraste. Everyone contributed to the defeat of the Inquisition," Maric said plainly.

"You are being too humble, Maric. Val?"

Val smiled affectionately at her husband. "Yes, he is being entirely too humble, but that is one of the traits that makes him remarkable."

When she turned to Andraste, the smile vanished and there was a distinct edge to her tone. "As for what you hoped, the only thing standing between success and failure was Maric, not you. If not for him the mages would have killed me on sight and been defenseless against the Inquisition. Does that sum it up well enough?"

Maric took her hand and gently squeezed it. "It's over, ma vhenan."

"That part is. Now we need to save Merrill from living the rest of her life as a Tranquil, and Fen'Harel's life force is anchored in the Black City and needs to be severed in order to break the seal. At least we can be sure that Adaia was not tricked about the true reason for Fen'Harel's concern over a sundered Veil." She said the last looking pointedly at Andraste.

Andraste shoulders sagged. "You're right Val. As much as I hate to admit it, I was arrogant about what I thought Fen'Harel knew."

"Rhys told me and Val that the Tranquil named Pharamond taught him a ritual to reverse the Rite of Tranquility. However, he couldn't teach to us because we aren't mages. Do you know how the ritual is performed?"

"I do. Someone, mage or not, would need to be with your friend Merrill. A major part of the ritual involves getting into the Fade and locating a spirit. You are already in the Fade."

Maric said, "Merrill is now living with Aveline and Donnic. She helps their nanny and their housekeeper, who both understand the situation."

"And I know a Fade spirit." Val sighed.

Andraste nodded. "You must seek out Justice in the Fade. You both will locate Merrill and he will perform the rest of the ritual."

Maric asked, "You are going with her, right?"

"I cannot accompany her."

Maric focused on Andraste. It was clear that he was not happy. "Andraste, there are other spirits – Compassion, Faith. It doesn't have to be Justice."

"You are correct, Maric. However, the most difficult part of this ritual is finding a Fade spirit. Val has the best chance of bringing Justice to her. Anders' death will have separated them.

Maric was adamant. "Val, you will not go alone, especially since you're pregnant."

Andraste's voice was calm but firm. "The pregnancy won't be an issue, Maric. Once she finds Justice, he can protect Val far better than anyone else. Also, she has experience in the Fade; the temptations faced there can easily trip up one who has never been. As Val well knows."

Val sounded weary. "When I was last in the Fade both Varric and Fenris succumbed. Anders didn't because Justice was in control."

Andraste added, "That you didn't succumb is an amazing thing for a non-mage. Perhaps the magic that runs in your family has given you a certain protection.

"Or perhaps it's because I'm just that stubborn," Val smirked.

Andraste looked at Maric. "Val has unfinished business with Justice. He will seek her out; quickly, I might add. You are naturally protective; if you went with her it would just keep him away."

"Will Anders seek me out as well?"

The room was completely silent.

Andraste voice was soft. "I don't know. Hopefully, he is wise enough to steer clear of you both."

Val spat, "I am pinning my hopes on Anders' wisdom? Wonderful!"

"Can he do anything to Val?" Maric asked.

"No. Not unless he has made a deal with a demon. If that is the case Justice will kill it. That doesn't mean Anders can't be emotionally hurtful, he is still Anders, but he is not a physical danger to Val."

Val looked at her husband and squeezed his hand. "We need to save Merrill. No one else has the chance to draw a Fade spirit to them. Once there, I can persuade Justice to find other Fade spirits to help those who have suffered wrongly from Tranquility.

"However, given what happened at the Reach, I will not go unless you agree. If you don't, we will need to find another person willing to take my place."

Maric looked into her eyes; he knew she was right…she was the only one who could really do this. He pulled her into his arms, held her tightly and whispered, "If you see Anders, kick the Fade shit out of him for me."

Val laughed. Maric, reluctantly let her go. Val stood and turned to Andraste. "Open the damn door."

~oOOo~

Merenwen, Elrohir, Ríneth, and Faenor were sitting near the Vhenadahl in the forest discussing the issue of Fen'Harel.

Elrohir furrowed his brows. "We need at least two non-mages who can traverse the Fade to the Black City. Does the blade provide any protection from demons?"

Faenor nodded. "Elgar'nan essence was present at the forging of the blade. When Fingolfin quenched the blade, the water turned red and then light green. After it turned light blue, I no longer felt Elgar-nan's presence. That red indicates demons; the light green means the Fade. The blade will offer some protection against demons."

~oOOo~

Val looked around. The hut is gone…or just not visible…and I am on that odd surface that poses as a road in Fade. She knelt and took out a piece of white stone from her pouch. Carefully, she drew a symbol on one of the stones. I hope it stays there.

Standing up, she began to follow the path and marked stones at every fork, or turn, she made.

I think I'm far enough away from the hut. She sat down with her back to a stone monument. "Justice, you have nothing to fear from me."

Aside from Val's breathing, she heard nothing.

"Justice, I understand what motivated Anders, and it wasn't you. It was his anger. He used you as an excuse, but you and I know better."

"Do we?"

Val stood quickly; the being who appeared in front of her looked exactly as Anders had described, but she wasn't going to take any chances. She grabbed one of her throwing knives and hurled it at the spirit. It simply went straight through him and into a pillar.

He pulled it out and returned it to her. "You are wise to be cautious, and yes, I must speak with you. After events in Kirkwall…I feel…unclean. What happened wasn't justice."

"If you recall, neither was what I did to Anders."

"No, our crime and guilt were obvious. You, more than anyone, knew both sides of the issue. You declared that our punishment was death. You acted justly. Except, that I am not dead. I am back where I belong. That is not justice."

"Justice, what if I told you that you could help reverse the Rite of Tranquility?"

"Then it can be done?"

"Yes, the mind of a Tranquil needs to be touched by a Fade spirit. Will you help me reverse the Rite for my friend, Merrill?"

"You mean the Dalish maleficar?"

"You sound like Anders and Fenris. Merrill gave up blood magic a long time ago. You know that."

Justice was quiet for a seemingly long time, and then he spoke. "I could do this, but not as recompense for what happened at Kirkwall. There is no recompense; those innocents cannot be brought back to life."

"Justice, I will not kill you even supposing you can be killed."

"I can be killed, but I cannot do it alone."

"No! I will not put you to death. The spirit of Justice is needed here just as as much as other Fade spirits. Valor has helped countless mages pass their harrowing. You helped save the souls of an entire village enslaved by that Baroness. You never stripped Anders of his free will; you know that. He chose to hold onto his anger, to feed it and let it grow within him. There was nothing you could have done to stop it."

"In his better moments he said the same thing."

Val gave a grim smile. "Well, he and I agree on something."

"We agreed on quite a few things, Val."

~oOOo~

AN: Just when you thought all was calm...remember the Veil wasn't the only issue... Millions of thank yous to Alpenwolf, Melesande, ElyssaCousland, EasterViolet for your reviews. Thank you to my Beta Shakespria!

BioWare owns all.