Chapter Thirty-Three

Leaving Redcliffe

I woke curled in Cullens' arms as he had a nightmare. His arms held me tightly –bruisingly tight.

When he woke, I just held him. He looked concerned when he saw the darkening marks on my arms, "Maker – I'm so sorry…"

"Honey, I've had worse, and I've done worse. Nightmares are just… no fun." I soothed.

"Still – I hurt you." He muttered, leaning in to kiss the marks on my right arm.

My breath hitched, "What were you dreaming about? If you don't mind talking." I was trying to stop the rush of desire.

"The tower – but… different. Rather than my torture, I dream of how much worse it could have been if you had been there when it started. I imagine them… not limiting it to you being with me. I…"

I gasped as his hand stroked my hip, "Cullen… you may not mean to, but you are making it very difficult to concentrate."

I saw a flash of his future devilish self as he smirked and said, "Perhaps I do intend just that?"

I groaned and moved to kiss him, "Then don't let me stop you…"

It was noon before we left the room – we'd had food in the room. I sat between my two mates at the lunch table; we were having a pasta dish. I was very relaxed at the moment.

Sten spoke, "I wish to spar."

"Yeah – okay. I'll win – I'm always in better form after a good nap." I was just leaning between the two men. Cullen had allowed me to feed from him last night, I'd energy-fed during sex… I was in top form.

"Really?" Aedan asked.

I hummed, "I recently had blood from two sources, I fed on the energy we produced this morning… I could run for days without tiring at this point. No joke – as long as it was just running without using too many abilities."

Cullen flushed. Sten looked thoughtful, "The energy feeding – you mentioned it before."

"I feed on the energy produced during sex – such energy is usually ambient and can't be used for much; people call it the afterglow. I can utilize it as a Vampire Nightlord – I draw a good portion of it into myself – like meditating – and it restores my energy reserves. Something I noticed while in the Maw with Andy, though – it also helps me heal. That's almost all that does though; healing and energy – and one other thing."

Roselle spoke, "That is… interesting – how exactly did you gain this ability?"

"It's tied to my diet. After killing a vampire more powerful than I was, I absorbed his power, like I do with dragons, and evolved into a Vampire Nightlord – feeding on sex is also what allows me to go so long without feeding on Blood as often as I should. With my age and power level, I should be drinking a pint of blood every week. But with feeding on sex, my diet changed to only needing that much each month – though I still starve myself to only taking a mouthful each month. I'm a druid – we revere nature and try not to harm it or throw things off balance. By definition, Vampires are corrupted nature – we don't belong; we don't fit. In Skyrim – on Nirn; another world and one that won't have contact with Thedas because I don't know how to make that work – Vampires can be traced back to the Daedric Prince Molag Bal, the Lord of Domination. Lamae Beolfag was a Nedic virgin who was raped by Molag Bal. It is recorded that after the ordeal, Molag Bal shed a droplet of blood on her brow and left her to die. During the night she died, but as her funeral pyre was still burning, she emerged as the first pure-blood vampire. You can see how Vampirism might be considered a curse."

Cullen looked ill. Lyna spoke, "But that isn't how you became a Vampire?"

"No – Molag Bal has since been known to confer Pure Vampirism to other individuals directly via a ritual that granted them great power over 'lesser' vampires. One such case was Lord Harkon, who claims to have slaughtered a thousand innocents in order to gain this power, though this might be an exaggeration due to contradictory evidence. His daughter, Serana, was… different to that. She was a Daughter of Coldharbour – a ritual that makes females into pure-blooded vampires; only those that succeed and live are the Daughters. The women are… offered to Molag Bal on his Summoning Day; very, very few survive this tradition and those selected to be offered are told they should be honored and the honor is never rejected. Serana was my Sire – the one that made me into a vampire. I shouldn't have been considered a Pure-Blooded Vampire – but my dragon soul made it so that I was… somehow. She drank from me – and I from her… and then I died. When I woke up, I was a vampire."

"Is that how Vampires are made now?" Roselle asked.

"No. The ritual changed when I was reborn on Azeroth. I will not disclose that ritual – I am trying very hard to limit the number of Vampires. As it is, I thought all my Vampire Offspring were dead – but one survived."

"I am grateful that my sister still lives," Rulen said lightly.

"The bond certainly snapped – that she still lives means that she went from a Mist-walker to an Ancient; she is evolved enough to found her own line if I gave her the information on how to do so. This process… she shouldn't have been able to be an Ancient until she hit 4000 years old as a Vampire; and she must have skipped the Night-Stalker phase. So I thought she was dead – because it was too soon. I verified the deaths of the others – she was the last and I knew what it felt like by then."

Rulen blinked, "Ah… I see… though I noticed one thing – how were you managing to 'starve' yourself when you weren't getting enough sex?"

Alistair lost his drink – Sereda was giggling like a damn loon. I smiled, "Rulen, honey – Fereldens are prudes."

"I won't apologize – answer the question."

"Let's see… I had sex in Lothering – Carvers' brother; Garrett Hawke. He was good – not my usual type and I was really only using him to make Alistair show if he was interested in me or not. Unfortunately, Alistair is a 'noble suffering' type so that failed. Past that? Well, that's actually rather… ahem, not something I should share…"

"Oh… now I have to know," Zevran batted his eyes. I sighed, "My mates will kill you if I go into detail."

Alistair looked like he was already ready to do just that – and Cullen wasn't far behind him. "Nonsense – they are just as curious as I am; after all, they are jealous of whomever had the pleasure of your company."

"No one did," I flashed a smirk, "Not between when I slept with Hawke to when I slept with Andy."

Rulen frowned, "Then how… were you in pain?"

"Nope – I still got my afterglow." I was toying with people now.

"Maker… love; I really need to know now." Cullen muttered.

"It's simple – I'm the best lover I've ever had; at least… that was true before I slept with one of my mates – and then another. I get the feeling that it'll hold true with my third mate too. My mates can do a better job than I can – but if I do a good enough job myself, I don't generally need a partner."

This time, it was Roselle that lost her drink. I pulled out a piece of paper and began writing – I figured that Roselle was going to contact the Divine anyway…

Divine Beatrix III,

I have read the Chant of Light – extensively – and one thing sticks out like a sore thumb to me. Lady Andraste had a mortal husband – but still served the Maker unwaveringly – did she not? So why do the people of faith need to take vows of chastity anyway? Andraste wasn't Chaste by any means. It makes no sense – wouldn't the best way to serve the maker and Andraste be to walk in her shoes rather than to hold yourself to higher moral standard? Where I am from – the first world I came from – they believe that love is the greatest and most infinite gift that was given to mankind. Parents love their children, children love their parents – even if you don't love everyone in creation, you still love those in your family; it's only right that one would be allowed to have a family – even that Andraste woman had kids, didn't she? As a side-note, I did see a vision where this argument was used – not by your successor, but by their successor – to do away with mandatory vows of chastity. I figured it was worth telling you – even if you do nothing with the information.

Atarah Iris Stormlight; High Queen of Stormwind, Duchess of Northshire, Queen of the Illidari, Starcaller, Deathwings' End, add titles as applicable (about 189 titles in all).

I folded the paper – not caring that both of my mates had been reading over my shoulder – before sealing it with the crossed warglaives sigil that symbolized the Illidari; but as my personal crest, it also held a pair of draconic wings behind the glaives.

I then passed it down the table and said, "This is for her Perfection. A simple flaw I found in the vows that priests take as well as a vision relating to that. When you send your report, include this letter, please."

She looked confused but nodded, "Of course."

Cullen sighed, "The Templars are leaving in 2 hours; and I with them."

"You know… that crown you were presented by Anduin had an Arcane Beacon in it. If you want, I can visit you for a night each week."

"I… might like that." He flushed.

I leaned over and kissed him. He gave me a kiss back. Greagoir spoke at that time, "Cullen – are you packed and ready to go? I'd like it if you could watch Reed on the boat back to the Circle."

"I'd like that, Ser."

"And we all know how rough Lake Calenhad can be – a few bruises might be expected," Irving said drily – oh; I think he liked me.

Cullen shook his head, "Only if he trips."

I shrugged, "If you want to make Reed uncomfortable… I could provide a 'special guard' for the trip back who will then fly back here and keep an eye on Jowan."

"… Do it," Greagoir nodded.

I popped open my phone and dialed Asha Ravensong. She answered on the second ring, "My Queen."

"Asha, my dear – I have a job for you; well… two actually. I know how much you love field duty."

"Anything to get off the Fel Hammer once in a while. And anything for you," the smirk could be heard in her voice.

"I need a prisoner escorted – he tried to poison me and two of my mates so his face annoys me. Greagoir – the mans' former commander – says that the boat ride could be a bit rough, so some bruises could be explained away. After that, you are to fly back to the place you're departing from and watch over the mage that has a new room on the Fel Hammer."

"… Allow me 5 minutes to pack a bag and I will be ready."

"Thank you, Asha!" I beamed.

Five minutes – on the nose – she called back and I opened a portal. She came through. Asha was 7'3 with waist-length green hair done in a braid – light purple-blue skin with no scales, long ears with no piercings, and wearing a face-veil. The Warglaives on her back were huge.

She saluted me, "My Queen. I hear congratulations are in order on your nuptials?"

"Thank you. Oh, that one there is Reed. Why don't you show him your eyes, Asha?"

She took off her veil – her eyes flowing with Fel-Flames as she leveled Reed with a glare, "He doesn't look brave enough to poison a child, let alone a Queen."

"He called me a whore and my mates here – Alistair and Cullen – took great offence. When his career was essentially killed, he tried to take it out on us… and now his life is basically over." I shrugged, motioning to my mates as I named them.

Asha looked over my mates with an impressed look, "For such short humans… they are good looking, I suppose. They look like they care for you – you deserve that."

I smiled, "Anyway – Jowan is settled in the dungeons here until we wake the Arl he poisoned. Like a Marquis. This here is Bann Teagan – like a Baron and the brother of the Arl. Teagan is in charge here for the moment."

"Actually, I am," Isolde frowned.

"No – you aren't. You have no idea what needs doing. Teagan is Eamons heir since your son is a mage and can't inherit. If Eamon doesn't wake up, you are obsolete – so Teagan is in charge while I go find a map to the Sacred Temple. On top of that – Teagan knows how to rally the troops that need to be outfitted for the coming war with the Darkspawn; which – by the way – I am paying for the armoring as I have Anduin and my step-father sending blacksmiths and buying materials. You can't afford Azeroth goods – 100 gold pieces might outfit your troops in low grade armors, but I'm paying for quality. Jaina is also outfitting the Mages – on her dime, no less. Asha will answer to Teagan – if he wants to know all about the rituals Illidari go through to be the number one demon-hunters of Azeroth, then she'll tell him. She won't tell you how they hunt, let alone the rituals. You haven't earned our respect. You caused the dead to wake and attack your people – you invited a blood mage into your home to hide that your son was a mage – and look at all it caused; your husband was poisoned, half your people dead, and you still lose your son. I wouldn't put you in charge of a piece of useless paper."

Aedan was choking on his food. Lyna sniggered, "Tell us how you really feel, Lethallan."

"Okay – I don't like you, Isolde. Not one bit. Alistair is my mate – he was entrusted to your care and you had him sleeping in kennels and tending to pigs while not paying him and making him sleep in a hayloft. You fed him the same scraps that went into pig slop and got so jealous that he might have been your husbands illegitimate son that you made his life a shit-show. If we didn't need your husband, I'd let him rot – because he enabled your paranoid bullshit and won't listen to me to save his own sorry hide if I don't show just how big and mighty I am in the start. I have half a mind to have the Fel Hammer moved here – above Redcliffe – just to assert dominance. You are abusive to children and I can't abide your paranoia. You are not fit to be in charge while I'm gone; so I'm leaving it to Teagan. I trust him infinitely more than you. And if I hear you deriding my mate again, I will take action."

She was pale and pissy all at once. She stomped off. Asha chuckled, "I will answer to Teagan, of course. I forgot how amusing you could be, My Queen."

"Iris dear – you know the Illidari are all family to me. Thank you for taking this job – while on the boat, listen to Cullen; he is my husband, after all."

"Of course – my King, we should be off."

"C-call me Cullen…" he muttered.

"Of course, King Cullen." She quipped. Most of the Illidari had a sense of Humor… it was the little things, you know?

That was when the Exarch and Lor'themar called me. I put it on a two-way call, "Iris speaking."

Lor'themar was faster on the uptake, "My most beloved daughter! I have the family blacksmith packed and ready to go. Thalyssra is offering Ley Ore for the armors and letting the alliance take the lead on weapons since you said your new people use swords and shields more and that is an alliance specialty."

Turalyon cleared his throat, "Right – we have gathered various ores from Draenor and Kul Tiras, a blacksmith from the Dark Iron clan of Dwarves, and 100 people of every class and race – other than warlock – to train your people."

"Ah – right; we also have 100 people to offer. Most of what is happening in the Shadowlands… doesn't transfer over to Azeroth. We're concerned about the hole in the sky, but Inas assures us that things are going well over there. The volunteers have been instructed to answer to an Illidari liaison since the Illidari are mostly neutral."

"Astra will be away for about a week and a half… they can answer to the Human man in charge here. His name is Teagan."

"You can inform them after they come through the portal. Everyone has been issued tents, bed rolls, and are set to have payment deposited directly to their bank accounts through the Horde banking systems."

"I do hope you don't plan to foot this bill yourself. This is my war, so if you get me an itemized list…"

"Consider it a name-day gift – I missed your last one, after all."

"Uh-huh… that's one expensive birthday gift, daddy," I said drily.

"Only the best for my little girl! What use is being the Lord Regent of Quel'Thalas if I can't spoil my family once in a while?"

"Whatever – Turalyon…" I started.

"No, Ma'am – Anduin already took care of the payment too… wedding gift was his excuse, however. Oh – and Alleria is sending Magister Umbric to observe differences in the Void between the worlds. My wife was… adamant that it could prove necessary."

"Sure – but tell him to drop the Magister title; it has a vastly different meaning here and he could be K.O.S."

"Er… Umbric! Drop the title of Magister. It's a kill on sight order there," I heard the regent call out.

Umbrics' deep and echoing voice replied, "I'm not overly fond of the title after what the Grand Magister did anyway. They can call me Lord Umbric – since I am one of the leaders of the Void Elves."

Alleria laughed, "You are essentially the prince – since my son isn't a void elf. When you are ready, My Queen – both sides are ready for a portal."

I stood and strolled downstairs while saying to the two leaders, "Guard the portals – unless they have prior authorization, I don't want anyone leaving here unless they are from Azeroth."

"… You got it; I'll make sure of it." Both men said.

In the basement – Alistair and Teagan had followed me while Cullen had given me a kiss before his group headed off – I opened two portals. I wouldn't need to hold them open, unlike normal portals – because Redcliffe was on a well of magical energy.

People began coming through – I directed the Horde to the two men beside me; introducing Teagan as the leader of this place and Alistair as my mate. I had been very careful to avoid calling him my husband around Isolde… who also followed us down here.

When we got out to the courtyard, I noticed a few goblins and gnomes looking around in Disgust and Horror – respectively – I cleared my throat, "Thedas is a world without technology. If you want it back, you will have to make it yourself or pop home every weekend. Their weapons are rudimentary, their views on magic are crap, the food in Ferelden is 'bland uniform grey means it's stew', and their religion is single theistic and please – don't get me started on the fact that there is a civil war going on while evil creatures made of black ichor and death rampage to kill everyone. You are here to not only improve our chances of winning the Blight and the Civil War, you are here to teach the people here how to fight in a way that will raise them above our enemies. As you know, you are all being paid by Lor'themar or Anduin respective to your faction – however, if you do any work here to upgrade things and want to be paid for it, then keep an itemized list and I will take care of transferring funds to your accounts for it. I don't care if you work together or not – I do want showers when I return. I'm sick of bathing in boiled water and not wanting it to get cold. You aren't doing anything free unless you want to."

One panda raised her hand, she was a white and blue panda with chopsticks in her hair. Culturally, you had to be a master of at least one of the Pandaren ways of cooking to earn the right to chopsticks in your hair – I was a master of all 6 ways (Oven, Brew, Wok, Steamer, Pot, and Grill). I motioned to her, "Yes…?"

"Song-Min, My Queen. You are saying that if I choose to teach your people here how to cook in the ways of Pandarens… I will get paid for it?"

"You are a Master Chef, are you not? You wear chopsticks – you must be. I wouldn't dream of asking you to do something you are not comfortable with. As far as I am aware, you are all volunteers – you can change your mind at any time, of course. I know the average pay for lessons is 20 gold coins an hour – I don't mind paying for that. Just keep a spreadsheet of how long you teach and how many students you take – I'll pay 40 gold an hour per student."

"And you're coving material cost as well as labor if we upgrade the castle here?" one of the goblins asked – you could literally always count on goblins to cover all questions about pay.

I nodded, "You can ask either leader – Turalyon or Lor'themar – if you need anything and I will cover it but they will get you what you need. So, money, material, labor and anything else – just keep an itemized list, you'll get paid."

A light-forged Draenei spoke, "I am Aveera, my Queen – Captain Fareeya is offering to bring the Vindicaar here, if you wish it."

"What is it with people and wanting to bring giant sky ships here? Screw it…" I opened my comm-link and called Kayn, "Bring the damn Fel Hammer to my coordinates – but keep the cloaking up; we don't want to freak out the fragile minds of the humans who have never seen floating green ships. We have a whole unused wing anyway, right?"

"600 rooms through two unused wings. This was a demon citadel, after all – it was used by Brood Queen Tyranna. She had such a large harem; it is no wonder that there are many rooms. Why…?" Kayn asked.

"We can house all of my volunteers there so they don't have to camp. I have 200 – 100 from alliance and 100 from the Horde. 2 wings, we can keep them separate unless they don't care… and Illidari are faction-neutral; it would be better than bringing a faction-stamped sky-ship here. Like I said, though – keep the cloaking up."

"As you say my Queen – Illidari! Our Queen calls – we are moving the Fel Hammer!"

A cry rang out as I assumed people began scurrying to get the Fel Hammer ready for inter-galactic transport. They had several mages – those mages would open a portal big enough to move the Fel Hammer instantly above the castle.

Teagan coughed, "We won't see this citadel?"

"No – but you won't get wet when it rains either." I quipped.

"Could I… ask for a tour?" Teagan was very open-minded.

"Honey, all these people are to answer to you. You are in charge – if you want them to move the Fel Hammer 3 inches to the left, they will. You hold the power of Redcliffe. Isolde hold the power of annoyance."

I heard sniggers from the people in front of me. This was essentially my way of telling these people that they could completely ignore Isolde with no repercussions – I knew she would try to order them around.

Song-Min spoke, "My Queen – would it also be alright if… Lorewalker Cho comes here? The Lorewalkers have expressed an interest in this worlds' history."

"Er… I'mma have to say no at this moment. This world doesn't even properly know their history… maybe in a few years when Nozdormu takes an interest."

"A good idea then. Thank you," she smiled and did that cute swaying things the pandas did – hands behind her back while she twisted back and forth.

I smiled, "And there's the Fel Hammer." I saw the portal open then close – but with the cloaking up, we couldn't see the citadel. Kayn and two mages appeared before me – teleport rather than portal. The mages were escorted down to the portal area to set up the gateway to the Fel Hammer.

"Kayn, this is Bann Teagan – he's in charge. This is Isolde – at the moment, she is not. Her husband is the lord of this castle, but Teagan is his brother. As his heir, if Eamon doesn't wake up from his coma, then Teagan is in charge. Eamon won't wake until my second return. This is Mother Roselle – she is my liaison to the religious chapter here. Answer any questions she may have about me or anything. Isolde has no power to order anyone from Azeroth around and if she tries, ignore her. You aren't staying in her home; you aren't eating her food… and she's not the one paying anyone. In fact, Kayn… you have access to my bank account – these people won't even have to wait for my return to get paid for their work! Go to Kayn for payment of your labor or if you need anything guys!"

Kayn chuckled, "I only had access because I was your husband…"

"Was – previously. But now you are my second in command over the Illidari – and as such, I am authorizing you to make proper transactions to pay these people and get them what they need. I'm offering cooks double pay – 40 gold an hour per student – so base payment off that. Their housing is taken care of now… keep me updated on things, kay? Oh – Teagan wants a tour of the Hammer – I old him that he's in complete control; if he wants the Hammer moved 3 inches, then move it 3 inches. But Teagan is pretty reasonable so he'll have reasons for such requests."

Kayn saluted Teagan, "We answer to you in our Queens absence."

"Oh… I uh, will leave you to your own devices for the most part…" Teagan stammered.

Kayn smirked, "Then she chose you rightly."

"Cool – now, it's getting dark out; it's time for my group to head out east."

Isolde shot me a dark look, "I do not like that you are usurping my authority in my own home."

"Actually, I'm not. You're the one that caused this whole mess with the undead attacking the damn town, Isolde. If you didn't try to hide your sons' magic, he wouldn't have contracted with a demon – you husband would have woken up on his own, and people wouldn't have died. Mages – anyone with magic – need proper education or their magic can go haywire here. On top of that, if your husband – the one who really held any power here – doesn't wake up… then you are just a commoner woman; because you have no heir and no Ferelden would listen to an Orlesian anyway without a Ferelden spouse. You are nothing without Eamon; just some phyco-obsessed woman who couldn't handle that the Bastard her husband was raising might have been his. You tortured my mate for imagined slights and things beyond his control. A child cannot choose their parents."

"… I thought… he was Eamons…"

"Does he look anything like Eamon? No; his hair is his grandmothers – Moira Theirin – the Rebel Queen. His eyes are his mothers. His height and skin color and looks come from his father – he's fucking Sexy. Show of hands – who else would bed him faster than I can say 'hot damn'?"

150 hands raised from the Azerothians. Alistair was bright red. I turned back to Isolde, "You had him sleeping in a Hayloft, tending dogs and pigs so often that he jokes that he was raised by dogs… it's not really a joke, is it? You are unfit to care for any child – Connor is better of at Kinlock Hold. And when you have a daughter, she would be better off there too."

"I… can have another child?" she looked shocked.

"That's what you got out of my rant? And you wonder why my people won't give you any face. I'm done – Teagan, show the people that want to build showers to my room first, please. If the Arlessa has anything to say to me, she can go through you; I'm done trying to get through her very thick skull to try to drill it into her head how wrong she's been. Paranoid and delusional is my diagnosis. And yes – she can have another child in the next two years. A girl named Rowan."

I turned on my heel and marched away – my Blight group scrambled to follow me.

I heard Kayn begin issuing orders to the people that came through the portals.

Alistair – once we were away from the castle – said, "Is it so wrong that I find it sweet that you scolded the Arlessa on my behalf?"

"Rowan will also be a mage – there is mage blood in Isoldes family. It's her own damn fault." I grumbled.

"I sort of figured when you said Rowan will be better off at Kinlock."

Aedan coughed, "I didn't catch that – and I don't think Isolde did either. She likely thinks this means she will have an heir."

"Nope – and fuck her very much; she is unworthy." I growled.

Rulen hummed, "Well – at least she didn't touch the Griffons or Larion."

"We kept them out of her sight – she would certainly want to take them if she knew about them."

Alistair reached out and pet Fiona – she had come out of the stable where she had been eating when she heard us leaving. Silverite was with her.

I still marveled at how different Larions looked from Griffons. Griffons had an actual eagle head with a lion body… Larions looked more like lions with wings and feathers.

Carver spoke, "Well – the Grey Wardens actually are honor bound to protect any griffons. It's in the treaties – I was reading them earlier; we're allowed to conscript help for our griffons and 'other mounts' as applicable. Griffons are expressly mentioned though. And it even says that the barer of the treaties is permitted and encouraged to do anything in their power to protect any griffons with them."

I pulled out the treaties and glanced over them in stunned silence, "So they do. Good job, Carver. You're a good Warden."

He straightened at the praise. Sten spoke, "So if the Bas woman tried to take the Griffon…?"

"I'm legally obliged to kill her." I smirked.

Lyna grinned, "I can get behind that – the shem woman was treating me as a servant the whole time I was there."

Sereda nodded, "She seemed to think I was the group smith."

"Racist to the extreme," Daylen grumbled.

Alistair coughed, "As long as it wasn't wholly because of my childhood that you killed her… I mean, I don't want you to kill her; it would make Eamon…"

"Do you know what he plans to do with Goldannas kids after the Blight – oh yeah, the woman you were told was your sister will not live."

"Er… no?"

"If we go visit Goldanna – which we will, to keep up the ruse that you are completely human – she will broadcast that her bastard half-brother is the heir and so on. Eamon will take her surviving kids and hide them away in another country to keep them away from you. Even if you promised to support the family – which, knowing they aren't your family, you won't promise that. Goldanna is a gold-digging shrew that only wants money. My point…"

"Where…?" Alistair asked darkly.

"What?" I asked, glancing at him.

"Where does Eamon send the kids that he thinks that I believe are my family. And why does he do it?"

"Well, he does it because he knows that they aren't really your family and thus he believes they have no right to even look at the throne, let alone get close to it. And as to where he sends them… well, I don't quite know at the moment; it's in flux. He could pick Orlais or Nevarra or Antiva. He won't send them to Tevinter just in case you die without an heir so that there's always a chance that there won't be a civil war again; if he sends them to Tevinter, they'd be slaves and he can't allow that. He won't end them to Rivain because there's too much Qunari influence there. Certainly not Par Vollen – he doesn't want them to submit to the Qun for the same reason he doesn't want them in Tevinter. Not the Anderfels – too likely they'd die because no one takes in orphans there. And he really won't keep them in Ferelden – too likely they'd manage to get to you and he can't claim they died in the Blight if you find them." I explained. My visions had shown all of that.

Alistair was pissed – I could feel it and Fiona was looking around like she was searching for the source to kill it.

"Knowing how important family is to me…?" Alistairs' words were clipped.

I nodded, "Eamon took you in because he was ordered to do so by your father. I'm sorry, Alistair."

"No – I'm glad you told me." He shook his head.

Morrigan was looking at me with contemplation, "Not to cut in…"

"You've been studying Flemeths' Grimoire, yes? I suppose this means that it's time to go kill her then. Good timing, I guess – we'll be right there while we clear Ostagar."

She looked at me, startled, "You knew…"

"That she possesses her daughters? Yeah – but you were never actually in danger from it. You see, a soul cannot be forced on the unwilling. So long as you don't want it, you're safe."

"I would still feel better if…"

"Say no more – I'll lop her dragon head off and make a staff from her horns for you. We'll consider this a hired hit."

Alistair snorted as Zev said, "Ah – a hit. We can still take those?"

"Sometimes. Flemeth is a… unique case. Now… Morrigan… could I ask you to see about teaching me shape-changer magics? I'm a druid, so it's similar, but I'm curious about taking on more forms."

"I suppose I could do that," she shrugged.