For those who are still reading... thank you for your patience. In deference to you I am posting two chapters today. Judy thank you for your review. Because of your faithful commenting I know there are still those reading.

"Rhiannon! Stop. She's a dragon. She just admitted it. Think about it, a dragon could have roasted half the horde instead of letting it decimate the army. They have a dragon. We could have used one too. Duncan wouldn't have had to die. But she chose to hide here in her hut. Where was the mighty dragon when Ferelden needed her?" Cailan's pale face flamed almost purple with anger and indignation.

"He didn't mean anything by it. His anger is … misdirected. So many good men were lost…" I said trying to place my body in front of his. I understood the anger but not the senseless acting out on it.

"Do not apologize for me. I am the King of Ferelden and I demand..." Cailan said pushing me out of the way.

"Be quiet, please!" I begged.

"No, do let him go on. The smell of Darkspawn does nothing for the appetite, but I could be inclined to have a snack or two while I wait for them to leave."

I saw this spiraling completely out of control. Her grasp of magic outstripped mine by a hundred times. And things were declining rapidly. I did not save him and lose all those people so he could anger a dragon and be eaten.

"Cailan, shut up!" I shouted yanking on the king's arm. "She protected the Warden treaties. And as a dragon do you really want to piss her off while you are weaponless."

I turned back to the woman in armor and begged. "Please forgive us. I am sure as powerful as your wards are, if you were able to help us you would have."

"And who is to say I am not helping?" Flemeth said tossing her head back and laughing.

Her laugh was grating. As if she was gloating over something. But yet…"You are? Then you knew we would be here and that is why you left the vials of injury potion. This what you meant when you told me to always be observant or oblivious?"

"It is a merry tune we all dance to is it not? And so many different songs. Which one shall we dance too?"

"I don't understand."

"A statement that possesses more wisdom than it implies..."

"You said so much about me is uncertain, yet you believed. Did you already know when you met me and the group about us returning to your home? Alistair told Duncan what you said about this blight's threat is greater than our leaders realized. But neither of them understood any more than I did. Was it because you knew what the Teyrn was going to do? Or Is there something special about this blight? I am the only Grey Warden left can you teach me to be a dragon so I can defeat the archdemon."

My questions ran on with almost not even a breath in between them.

"I cannot teach one to be who they are. You either are or you are not. Just as you are not the last Grey Warden in Ferelden. There are two others in the land."

Cailan and I exchanged glances and simultaneously asked, "Which two?"

"Your traveling companions from before. The one who was itching to be a frog in the pot and the one who looked at Morrigan as if she were a meal," Flemeth said with no real animosity.

It had to be Alistair. Of course, Daveth mentioned it but not where Morrigan's mother could hear him. And now that I thought about it. Alistair didn't either. The woman heard because I was teasing him. But a thought occurred to me and I exclaimed. "It was you I saw flying to the tower of Ishal."

"Where are they witch? What did you do with them?"

Cailan!" I admonished.

"My he does bark loudly. I healed them and sent them on their way. They were ready to be Grey Wardens again. They said they were heading to Lothering three days ago."

I looked at the king and noticed he was glowering. I didn't understand why. She had just given us good news. I had been dreading leaving the shelter of the hut. I had no idea how to lead an army and defeat the blight by myself. Now I wasn't alone. "Can you help us get them? Or can Morrigan show us the way?"

"So, you are ready to jump and see if you can fly? Then it is fate, and you are ready to accept your destiny. But sadly, I have come to the end of my charity."

My face fell. How could she hold out hope and simply snatch it away? I tried to think about it from her point of view. When she admonished Aedan for his assumptions, she reminded us that she helped for a reason. "Is there nothing I can offer as trade? I am a hard worker. I have a fair amount of skill in magic, and I am willing to become your servant if need be."

"And you? What do you offer me, king of Ferelden?"

"What do you ask? But be reasonable. My kingdom is not for sale."

"Why would I want your kingdom? It would not fit here in my wilds. No. I see your father in you. Both strong, proud men. You will fulfill your father's debt to me. One of the Theirin bloodline will travel to the Tellari swamps and do as Yavana requires. You will see it done."

"I do not believe you. My father would never…"

"Would never what? Find himself lost in the woods offering a token for help. Or taking help when it is offered. My dear boy, we believe what we want to believe. It's all we ever do. Now what will you risk having what you have always desired?"

"If it is truly possible then I would give even my kingdom."

"Don't be absurd. Why would I need a kingdom?"

I felt a little out of my element. I was freezing. The king no longer needed me as he and the witch set about haggling the price of help. I went over to stand by the cooking fire. While I was doing my best to keep the king from getting himself killed, I hadn't noticed how cold I was. But my dunk in the lake and sopping wet robe was reminding me.

I looked up as the king called me for the third time.

"Rhiannon, did you hear me? She is going to take us out of the wilds and take us to West Hills. From there we can get to my Uncle Eamon. He wasn't at Ostagar. He will still have his whole army. And Flemeth, which is her name said that is where your Wardens were going."

I try to answer but my teeth are chattering and all I can do is shiver uncontrollably. My eyes are beginning to feel heavy, and I want to go to sleep. I can see Cailan's mouth move but it feels like a dream and I close my eyes again.

Only to be jarred awake by someone slapping my face. I hear the witch tell Cailan to take her inside the hut. I feel myself scooped into his arms and it is as if I am floating. I close my eyes again. And I am not so cold.

And then as if I am in a dream I am standing before the witch and I feel her hands on my robes. And the sound of cloth is rendered as she tears the material off my body before pushing me into a basin of hot water.

In the back of my mind, I heard the witch tell Cailan to get more firewood but stay within the wards. I closed my eyes again and let my head loll back on the stone. The need to sleep was dissipating.

"Dying of the freezing death would be a very unsatisfying end to your tale, warden. How could you explain this as fate?"

Gathering a little strength, I said, "You did say you weren't sure if this was fate or chance. If this had been my end, we could assume it was chance."

Flemeth threw back her head and gave a throaty chuckle. "I like you, child. But a warning. You will have a long and difficult path before you. The Archdemon is only your first hurtle if you survive. When the sky turns green and is torn open come find me. This will be my price for helping you."

"But isn't the king paying your price?" I ask weakly.

"Yes. For a period, you will walk with them. But in time you will walk a different path. Therefore, you must pay a different price. There are things in Morrigan's chest. Take what you want; she will not be needing them. When you have washed and finished warming yourself. Join us outside. You will be on your way."