Chapter 51. To Free or not to Free

Two days after Justice freed Merrill from Tranquility, she and Fenarel arrived in Revas. Val met them in the cellar. She was relieved and happy to see Merrill's expression of wonderment as she stepped out of the Eluvian

"Hawke! You're here! Well, of course you're here. The Eluvians are amazing. I always hoped they were for travel, but I never dreamed they would be to other lands. Although, they would have to take you somewhere…I'm babbling."

Val hugged Merrill. "I am so glad you are here. There is so much to see and learn!"

Merrill returned the hug. "Once again I owe you my life, Hawke.

"You owe me nothing, ma falon, seeing you alive and happy is thanks enough."

Merrill happy expression suddenly turned to sorrow. "Fenarel explained how Elven magic is supposed to work, and why blood magic is a true perversion. I…if…if I'd listened to Marethari…"

"Shhh," Val said softly. "Do not fret about what could have been. Take the lessons you learned and go forward. Build a new life, live it proudly, and live it without fear."

~oOOo~

Merenwen and Ríneth's disagreement about rescuing the Creators severely strained their friendship. Their husbands were at their wits end, and insisted they all meet with Keeper Tamuríl from the other village, hoping that she would be more objective. When Tamuríl also agreed with Ríneth, Merenwen became a one-woman storm cloud and blew out of the keeper's home. Elrohir apologized to their host and left to find his wife.

Merenwen had already gotten in a boat and used her magic to speed across the lake. She was getting out of the boat when she heard Adaia's voice. "Hahren Merenwen?"

She turned, trying to calm her anger. "Ah...Hello, da'len."

"Ne isa…isala halani? Do you need help?"

Merenwen smiled. She knew Adaia had begun learning elven under the tutelage of her schoolteacher, Syona. "Tel'isalan halani. I do not need help. Ma serannas, Adaia. What brings you to the lakeshore?"

"Oran asked if I could gather some Lyre Leaf. It grows really well near this side of the lake."

"Then do not let me keep you. Dareth shiral, da'len."

"Dareth shiral."

~oOOo~

"Mom. I think something is upsetting Keeper Merenwen."

"Why do you say that?"

I saw her use magic to speed her boat across the lake from the other village. I asked her if she needed help and, while she said she didn't, I could tell something was bothering her."

Kali frowned. Merenwen has been acting strangely since Val freed Merrill. "I too have noticed that something is troubling her."

"Will you talk to her about it, Mom?"

"Not yet. I want to talk to Elrohir, first."

Adaia looked anxious. "Why?"

Kali smiled. "Sometimes it is better ask someone who knows the person very well, then to press the person who is upset. Sweetling, do not worry. Merenwen is a Keeper. There are bound to be things that don't go smoothly or worry her. Such is the way of life."

"I know. I just…"

"Just what?"

"I just have a bad feeling about this."

Kali smiled. "You sound just like your father. I promise, if something is wrong that concerns us then I will let you know. Now, go wash up for supper."

Adaia kissed Kali on the cheek and went upstairs.

A voice came from the doorway. "I think I know what is bothering Merenwen."

Kali turned to see Val, who wore the same worried expression as Adaia. "What do you think it is?"

"She refuses to allow me to go into the Fade to destroy Fen'Harel's anchor. If that isn't done then the Creators will stay locked in the Beyond…she's trying to protect me."

"Val, she isn't the only one who wants to protect you."

"I know, but this all started with the goal of freeing the Creators and getting rid of Fen'Harel. The issue with the mages and Inquisition was only a part of that process, not the end goal."

Kali nodded. "I cannot argue with that."

~oOOo~

Two days later, Val asked Cullen to have lunch with her at the Tavern.

They had just sat down when Cullen said, "Val, I cannot thank you enough for heading into the Fade to help Merrill. Until I heard that you had succeeded, I hadn't realized just how much of the guilt still clung to my soul. I feel less…haunted.

"You're welcome. How did your meeting with her go?

"Surprisingly well. It will take some time for both of us to heal from that experience, or even for us to become friends. However, she understood and said that if she were in my position she would have done the same thing. You were wise to tell her the whole story."

"I'm glad it helped. It took almost two days to explain everything that had happened since I was brought to Revas."

"Aside from Merrill, what did you want to talk about, Val?"

"How would you feel about going with me to the Black City to destroy Fen'Harel's connection to it?"

"You know how to show a man a good time."

Val laughed. "If you think that is a good time, I'm going to talk with Renna."

Cullen looked at Val. "I would rather go with you than either of us go alone."

Val nodded. "Have you talked to Renna about this?"

"Yes. She isn't happy about it, but she understands the need. What about Maric?"

"He wants to go with me, but I feel like that is a really bad idea. I know he is mentally tough…but I…can't explain it."

"Val, is there magic in Maric's line?"

Val looked surprised at the question. "I don't think so. Why?"

"He just has such an uncanny ability to sense certain things. Like when we arrived in Hunter Fell he could feel that the Veil was stronger. Could you sense that?"

"No. But I am not as hyperaware as Maric can be. Do you think that he has some level of magic in him?"

Cullen shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it is just as he said; that it was something he developed during the Rebellion."

"I think that you and I need to have a meeting with Andraste, Ríneth, Merenwen, Alistair, and Maric to figure out a plan that takes you and me to the Black City."

Cullen chuckled. "One of the things I have always admired about you is that you act decisively."

"I like to cut through the shi…ah…stuff," Val sighed. "I'm trying to cut down on swearing. Having my child mimic some of my vocabulary would be…unfortunate."

"I understand, but I will miss hearing some of your more colorful expressions."

"If you hear me giving birth, then I am sure you will get to hear them at least one more time."

~oOOo~

The group gathered around a table in Andraste's presence soon after Val's meeting with Cullen. Might as well cut to the chase. Andraste looked to each individual, "Let me get to the point. We must destroy the seal. The Creators need to be free."

Merenwen wore an uncharacteristic scowl. "I agree, but not at Val and Cullen's expense."

Ríneth was frustrated. "But they are the only ones that can do this!"

Val held up her hand. "This bickering is getting us no where. If the Fang of Fen'Harel was crafted to navigate the Fade all the way to the Black City in order to kill Fen'Harel, it should also give some protection to the wielder, and I would suppose whomever was with the wielder."

Merenwen looked dubious.

Andraste looked at Merenwen. "You know that the Creators would never send someone on a suicide mission for the sake of their own freedom. If that were the case, Dirthamen would never have shared the information with Adaia."

"It may not be a suicide mission, but it will still be a dangerous task!" Merenwen snapped

"Dangerous but not hopeless," Ríneth replied. "Perhaps Maric can join Val and Cullen?"

Andraste's voice was sharp. "No! Maric cannot go and neither can Alistair."

Merenwen looked puzzled.

Andraste said, "You haven't sensed it in all the years you've known Maric?"

"Sensed what?" Rhovaneth asked.

Maric growled. "Enough! Stop speaking of Alistair and me like we aren't in the room with you. Andraste. spit it out."

She sighed. "Calenhad Theirin drank the blood of a Great Dragon. That is what gave him the strength to rise from his rather humble standing, to eventually become the first king of Ferelden. That power has been passed through the blood of all Calenhad's descendants. While you and Alistair are not mages, your blood possesses Calenhad's power. In the Fade, you would be sensed as mages and would be a beacon for demons."

Alistair looked stunned. However, Maric didn't look surprised.

Val held Maric's hand. "Emma lath, did you know about this?"

"I had heard rumors but dismissed it. It was never relevant."

Alistair sputtered. "Never relevant? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I hadn't thought about it in 40 years."

Alistair immediately calmed down "Ah…riiight. Sorry."

Maric smiled. "No apology needed."

"Is this why Adaia is such a powerful mage?" Alistair asked.

"Undoubtedly," Andraste responded.

"It still doesn't solve our problem. It just eliminates two more people from going on this mission."

Cullen who was sitting next to the Keeper placed his hand gently on her shoulder. "Merenwen, Val and I are ready and willing to go. You know this has to be done."

Val smirked. "I'd rather go now than when I'm the size of a bronto."

Tears came to Merenwen's eyes. "I don't want to loose either of you."

Val's voice was soft. "You won't. We just have to have faith that the Creators provided a way when they forged that weapon."

Alistair quipped, "That is far better than putting our faith in the Maker."

~oOOo~

AN: Elvhen courtesy of the DA Wiki and "Katie's Best-Guess-At-Elvhen-Dictionary" by Katiebour on AO3

Well, another three chapters and the story will be complete. A billion thanks to everyone who has left a review! Big hugs and thanks to Shakespira, my amazing Beta.