Thank you so much once again to all who have followed, favourited and reviewed. I really appreciate it. If you read, please leave a comment to let me know what you think! This is a shorter chapter again, but this isn't really going to be the standard anymore.
Chapter 29: Remarkably Dangerous
Anora had had to get used to a great deal very quickly, but she was nothing if not adaptable. Gone was her legion of ladies-in-waiting, save for Erlina, though Erlina was never a simple lady-in-waiting. The amenities of the palace were gone as well, and she would have to make do with the meager accomodations of Soldier's Peak, not that she was ungrateful. In fact, despite the discomfort, this was all working out relatively well. Anora had no idea the lengths to which her father— or Howe— would have gone to secure power.
Much of the ceremony to which she was accustomed was abandoned; few of the Wardens seemed to know how to properly interact with royalty, and, after the majesty of it all had worn off, few seemed to care. The most they did was refer to her as Your Majesty, and only when the mood suited them. Nathaniel and Keegan, though, stuck to protocol when others were around, and Erlina was still ever so formal. The Commander treated Anora with the same cautious respect that Anora herself showed to Commander. Despite her foreign nature and appearance, Mercy Hissera was a Fereldan, the daughter of Freeholders, and Anora remarked to herself that this may have been the only nation in Thedas where a qunari mercenary could attain such a rank, except perhaps Rivain. Her violet eyes were unsettling, and her grey skin and horns made her seem more demonic than mortal. She towered above all of their traveling companions, even Sten, and her long, snow-white hair, when she was not in armour, was always arrayed in intricate arrangements that Anora believed took much more time than the Commander had to spare.
Lunch today was prepared by the newly-appointed Senior Wardens: Enid, Rayne and Alistair. Everyone had to participate at some point; only the Queen and the Commander were exempt. Anora was wearing a practical but fetching samite gown and small emerald earrings. She supposed that, since she was no longer in Denerim under watch, she could take her wedding band off, but she could not bring herself to do so yet.
The Commander was wearing a fine silver doublet and black slacks, as well as black leather boots. Her hair was braided in an exceedingly intricate Orlesian style, as functional as it was fetching. Where did a Fereldan qunari learn that? Or perhaps… Leliana? Anora and Mercy each sat at the head of the table, the rest of the Wardens and their allies arraying themselves between them, Erlina sitting to Anora's left.
After lunch was served by the Drydens, Mercy began to speak, her voice weary and the bags under her eyes heavy.
"Last night, I thought that we would be splitting up into two groups before we set out, but it appears that that number will be three. Last night, Senior Mage Warden Rayne and our ally, Morrigan, came to me with a third goal. Morrigan, if you would?" she asked, looking at the witch. Morrigan stood up and cleared her throat.
"For those who are unaware, I am the daughter of Flemeth, the 'Witch of the Wilds' about whom the Chasind tell bedtime stories. Recently, while in the Circle of Magi, Rayne came across a most curious tome, one he was unable to decipher. When he brought it to me, I recognized it immediately: 'twas written by my mother years ago in her own code, and in languages long extinct. At first, I had hoped for collection of her spells, a map of the power she commands, for, make no mistake, 'tis great indeed. But that is not what I found. Here, in great detail, Flemeth explains the means by which she has survived for centuries. If you know of the legends, you know that Flemeth has raised many daughters over her long lifetime; there are stories of these many Witches of the Wilds throughout Chasind legend, yet I have never seen a one and always wondered why not. And now, I know: they are all Flemeth. When her body becomes old and wizened, she raises a daughter, and when the time is right, she takes her daughter's body for her own."
The witch let that sink in, and sat back into her chair. Anora was shocked, but kept her face impassive. Was this the same Flemeth her father had met during the Rebellion? It seemed likely.
"This is why the qunari leash our mages," Sten said matter-of-factly. "Such a thing would be impossible under the Qun."
Jowan frowned, staring at Sten. "You can't condemn all mages for the sins of one ancient abomination!" he said.
"From what I have seen, she is far from the only example I have seen of the dangers of an unbound mage."
Wynne jumped in. "That is why the Circles exist, Sten. There, mages can learn and grow in a place where they are unable to pose a risk to any nonmagical Thedosians, and it also keeps the mages safe from the outside world."
"Yet it took a single unbound mage to kill nearly every person in your precious Circle," he argued. "Even the smallest bit of freedom is too much for the saarebas. You are a danger to yourself and all others around you."
This prompted even more responses from the table, before Rayne tapped his staff on the ground and called for their silence.
"Regardless of how one feels about mages in general, everyone here can agree that Flemeth not only poses a danger to Morrigan, but to all of Thedas, and cannot be allowed to live," he stated coolly. Anora noticed the hint of a grateful smile on Morrigan's lips. "Morrigan believes that slaying Flemeth here will likely not prove the end of her once and for all, but will likely weaken her. She must also not be near when Flemeth is slain, for there is no way of knowing if her mother would be able to possess her then and there. We will be using the very techniques Morrigan learned from Flemeth to evade the horde on our journey. Furthermore, since we are in the area, we will need to have a look around Ostagar. In our travels to the Circle, my initial group came across one of the late King Cailan's men, Ser Elric Maraigne, who had a key to the King's chest. I might suggest that it would be in our best interests to recover all that we can from Ostagar as well, Your Majesty."
"Ser Elric? He was a good man… As was Cailan," she said, quietly, before snapping herself back to reality. "I believe that both of those pursuits are worthy of our efforts. In fact, I will accompany your party to Ostagar, and to slay this Witch of the Wilds," she asserted.
"As will I, then," Erlina added quickly, surprised at her queen's decision.
"Queen Anora, I highly suggest you pursue another avenue. This seems remarkably dangerous, or, at the very least, inadvisable," Keegan tried to say.
"Nonsense," Anora said, dismissing Keegan's concern with a wave of her hand. "No more dangerous than chasing this Urn of Sacred Ashes… or than Orzammar politics, I am told," she said, smiling at Diala. "I insist: not only is that Cailan's resting place, but the resting place of King Maric the Saviour's fabled sword, and it would not do to let the darkspawn have it. But I need you in Orzammar, Teyrn Keegan. As the future King of Ferelden, you must ensure that whoever is chosen as successor to Endrin's throne represents the best interests of not only Orzammar, but Thedas at large."
Diala's breath caught in her throat, her eyes filling unbidden with tears. "Successor? My father is dead?" she said quietly. Alistair hugged her to him. Anora had not been aware they didn't know, but she supposed that they had been cut off for a few months. "Who will succeed him?"
"I… I believe the choice is between a Lord Harrowmont and your brother, Prince Bhelen," Anora said quietly. "I apologize. I had not realized you were not yet aware of your father's passing."
Diala was already composing herself, resolving to grieve later. "No. Thank you for the news, Anora. I guess that cinches it, though: I have no sodding reason to return to that place. I'll be coming witch hunting then, I guess," she said, smiling, trying to display strength.
"As will I," Alistair said gravely. "Now, we'll get the details later, but I think Diala and I should retire somewhere for the afternoon. With your leave, Commander?" he asked coldly.
"Of course," Mercy said. "Just let us know if you will be needing dinner brought to you."
With that, Alistair and Diala retreated to their room.
Mercy sighed again. This Blight was taking its toll on her. "Very well. Unless there is anything else: Rayne will lead the expedition south, along with Diala, Alistair, Queen Anora and Erlina. I will also send Jowan, as any additional mages against Flemeth would be wise. Avernus will remain here.
"Since Orzammar is the only treaty that remains, I will be heading that expedition. It seems that Teyrn Keegan will be accompanying me, and I believe Mayrin has unfinished business, which means Zevran will come as well, I presume. Shale will also come, to see if we can uncover anything about their past. We also have a lead on Sten's sword that points us to Orzammar. We will be needing a mage as well, so Morrigan will accompany us. Bodahn and Sandal will stay here at the Peak with the Drydens for now, and we'll meet up with them again at Redcliffe after our journeys.
"Ironically enough, I think, our Dalish Warden Enid will lead the expedition to Haven. Leliana and Wynne both expressed interest in this quest, and will be accompanying her. I will also send Eve and Cadoc with her from the Wardens, and Merrill as well. Lastly, I believe it might be wise to keep our noble allies apart from one another to ensure their survival— if they insist on not staying at the Peak, of course— and am hoping that Arl Nathaniel will agree to follow Enid's party to Haven."
"As loathe as I am to leave either Queen Anora or Teyrn Keegan, that is a sound strategy… And I would be lying if I said I did not want to see the Urn of Sacred Ashes for myself, though it remains likely it is merely a tale."
"Good. We will set out in two days after we are fully prepared, and will hopefully reconvene by Harvestmere in Redcliffe. I will speak with the Wardens further before we leave, but please remember: we still hold the Right of Conscription, and any new Wardens are a boon during a Blight."
There were nods of agreement around the room. Leliana's elation at getting to see the Ashes was tempered only slightly by the fact that she would be parting company with Mercy. Most of Enid's group were Andrastians, devout or not, and were brimming with excitement. Enid was excited as well, and even Merrill was curious. Mercy would have liked to send Shale against Flemeth, but the golem was traveling with them voluntarily, and she would not presume to order it around, especially not after what happened to the wizard that found it in the Deep Roads.