Chapter FORTY-FOUR
From the outcrop where they stopped to lunch, Aria could almost see all of Ferelden. In the south, great forests spread out to the horizon. In the east loomed the Amaranthine Ocean. In the west, the caps of taller mountains loomed, as well as in the north. The Drakon river slithered through those mountains, a wide snake of muddy water. The sun had been obscured by the pillars of dark thunderheads roiling in the atmosphere above them. Aria regarded them warily. She liked storms; so long as she was inside a sturdy structure next to a warm hearth or in her soft bed. Or Fenris's soft bed, she amended the thought with a guilty smirk.
"What?" Fenris asked then, shouldering the pack that held their food as he looked to the sky.
"It's going to rain," Aria wryly chuckled.
"What was it you said earlier... Oh right. I guess you're Miss Optimism now, hmm?" he snarkily retorted.
"Shut up," Aria giggled, walking away from him to mount her waiting horse.
"So, Aria, when do you plan on heading back to Kirkwall?" Ysabel, Izzy as Alistair called her, asked once they'd turned their mounts down the winding, steep trail. Thankfully, it was wide enough for two carriages to pass each other. Aria was not overly fond of heights.
"I have no idea," Aria replied in earnest. Despite her desire to dislike the Hero of Ferelden, Aria sincerely enjoyed the Grey Warden's company. Izzy was a genuinely good person and it was next to impossible to dislike her.
"Must be nice to just...get away," Alistair groused.
Aria bitterly chuckled. "After the month I've had... I think I earned it."
"Indeed," Alistair concurred. "I am... Terribly sorry to hear about your mother. I can't imagine how hard it must be to lose a parent."
"I heard that Duncan was like a father to you," Aria said after a quiet moment of contemplation.
Alistair chuckled. "Ah, Duncan. He was truly a good man."
"I wish I had known him as Alistair did. He gave the distinct impression of wisdom, grace, and power upon first meeting," Ysabel said. "And, he saved my life."
"Oh! That reminds me," Aria stated then, turning in her saddle to face Ysabel. "Did you know Merrill?"
"The First? We grew up together. I heard... I heard she is one of your companions," Ysabel chirped, her interest piqued.
"She is, yes," Aria amicably replied.
"But... Why is she not with the Dales? I had also heard the Keeper threw her out of the clan," Ysabel sadly stated.
"She wasn't kicked out," Fenris venomously interjected then. "She chose a demon over her clan."
"Is that true?" Ysabel asked Aria, her eyes pleading and sad.
Aria sighed. "It's quite a complicated situation."
"Bah!" Fenris spat, but was otherwise silent. Aria glared reproachfully at him before turning back to Ysabel.
"The only reason I survived the destruction of Lothering was because of Flemeth," Aria said. "But it wasn't without a price."
"Things never are with that witch," Alistair darkly interjected. "Did she ask you about your socks? She asked us about our socks."
"No, she asked you about your socks," Ysabel giggled. "After your whole 'swooping is bad' commentary."
"Swooping is bad. And Morrigan is the queen of Swoop Town."
"Morrigan?" Aria asked, and Fenris leaned forward to listen more closely.
"Flemeth's daughter," Ysabel replied.
"Yes, we know. But also her enemy," Fenris said.
"Of sorts. I think ultimately they want the same thing, but Flemeth hasn't lived as long as she has by natural means. Morrigan is her means," Ysabel cryptically stated.
"Can we... Just not talk about Morrigan?" Alistair said then, his face slightly flushed. He was sweating slightly. Interesting, Aria thought.
Ysabel cast her eyes down and looked sad. "Yes, my love."
Alistair edged his horse closer to hers and briefly held her hand for a moment. She brought his hand to her lips and kissed it before releasing him. Aria and Fenris shared a questioning gaze.
"We are not allowed to publicly show affection," Ysabel explained then, looking between them. "While Ferelden may be far more...tolerant of elves than most places, there still exists harsh prejudice. They would never accept an elven queen."
"It's not exactly a secret, darling," Alistair coughed.
"No. But they are far more accepting of an elven mistress than a queen," Ysabel reasonably stated. She turned and looked first to Fenris then to Aria. "You are bold. There is talk of you succeeding Viscount Dumar. And people know exactly where you stand. Together. They respect you greatly. I thank you for your boldness. It is...heartening."
"I've never been one to care what others think," Aria softly replied. "But then, I've been fortunate enough that most times, it doesn't matter. I have no...obligations, such as Alistair's. And Fenris..." she turned to look at him, and he lifted his chin in acknowledgment. Aria smiled. "Well, without him, I wouldn't even be here."
Ysabel grinned at both of them. "So what was the cost of Flemeth's aid?"
"I had to take a locket to Marethari, in the Free Marches," Aria answered.
"And you did?" Alistair asked.
"Of course," Aria replied.
"The Keeper...the clan...how are they doing?" Ysabel gushed, happy to have news of her kinsmen.
"Well, I suppose," Aria allowed. "Last I saw Marethari... I was assisting Merrill. Or rather, trying to save Merrill."
"Save her?" Ysabel queried, worry creasing her brow.
"She's a blood mage," Fenris spat.
Ysabel looked horrified. "No!"
"Yes," Aria replied through clenched teeth. "She keeps trying to restore this mirror. She's obsessed with the damn thing. Thinks it's somehow a gateway to reclaiming Arlathan."
Ysabel's face paled. Alistair looked sharply back at Aria. "A mirror?"
"Some old...Arlathan artifact," Fenris replied for her.
"That mirror almost killed me!" Ysabel hoarsely replied. "Please...please tell me she hasn't finished restoring it."
"To the best of my knowledge, no," Aria answered. "She asked Marethari for the arulin'holm. Marethari entrusted it to me. I have it locked in a safe still, in my estate in Kirkwall."
Ysabel heaved a great sigh of relief. "Thank you, Aria."
"So, this locket..." Alistair asked, but then his gaze shot upwards.
The rain started to fall then. Intermittent, fat drops at first, but seconds later, torrents fell from the sky in cold sheets. They all urged their horses into a brisk canter, soaked to the bone by the time they reached the back gates. The guards took their horses and they retired to their suites to dry off. Alistair invited them to a private dinner in his chambers, without all the pomp and circumstance Bann Teagan insisted upon last night.
As Aria stripped out of her riding clothes, Fenris sat on one of the enormous sofas near the hearth. He'd flared his lyrium brands several times and his clothes were already dry again. She went to the closet where her clothes had been hung and rifled through the few dresses she'd brought. If it was possible, he thought she seemed paler than usual.
Fenris watched her intently, Ysabel's words to her replaying in his mind. The King of Ferelden was in love with an elven woman, but he had to hide it, even though the whole country had been saved by her. She held a respectable position at court and nothing more for it. They were forbidden from expressing their love in the open, forbidden from taking vows.
The Champion of Kirkwall was in love with an elven man and she refused to hide it. She went out of her way to see him respected and never once had he felt slighted by her in that respect. Aria had not once looked down on him. She had not once made him feel less than equal. She had done nothing but lift him up. It saddened and angered him that the King himself didn't have the stones to do that.
"What's wrong?" Aria's voice broke him from his thoughts.
"I was just...thinking," he replied.
"You were brooding," she chortled, turning her back as she removed her wet brassiere. She hastily donned a dry one, red lace that matched the colour of her tattoo, then did the same with her underwear. She then snatched up the soft lilac hued dress she'd selected and pulled it over her head.
Fenris stood and laced the built-in corset bodice for her while she held her hair up. "I was thinking how weak King Alistair's character is."
"A little tighter, please," Aria softly said, then turned her head to look back at him over her shoulder. "He is not weak."
"He is," Fenris growled, gently tightening the lacing. "You never once denied your...involvement with me. Not to anyone."
"I don't have a kingdom to judge me," Aria chuckled. "It's far easier for me than it is for him."
"He has great power, yet he refuses to wield it," Fenris responded, finishing the task.
Aria turned to face him and put her arms about his neck. "His claim to the throne is not all that strong." She gasped when Fenris kissed her then, a short, passionate kiss.
"Stop defending him. You bow to no man, remember?"
Aria kissed the tip of his nose. "I can think of one I might bow to."
Fenris chuckled and his arms wrapped around her waist. "We walk side by side."
"Yes. Yes we do," she breathed.
They were escorted to Alistair's chambers by royal guards an hour or so later. The meal set before them was much less grandiose, and for that, Aria was thankful. How nobility ate so much was beyond Aria. Seven courses was four or five courses too many for her. Tonight's meal boasted four courses, and they all ate rather quickly. When the meal was finished, they retired to the parlor of the King's suite and Alistair offered Fenris a cigar to go along with the fine wine they were drinking.
"What was in the locket?" Alistair asked as soon as the servants had gone from the vicinity.
Aria looked at Fenris, who puffed on the cigar. He quirked his half smile at her. "A...piece. Of Flemeth," Aria answered.
Ysabel sighed at this, and Alistair groaned. They shared a look of mutual annoyance and fear.
"She's a tricksy one," Alisair said.
"What do you mean?" Fenris queried before Aria could.
"I killed her. Or so I thought," Ysabel nearly growled.
"Somehow, Morrigan factors into this," Aria pried.
"Yes. She...found out Flemeth's secret to immortality," Alistair explained.
"I'm assuming you know this secret, too?" Fenris analytically queried.
"We do. Flemeth would have a daughter, and then possess her," Ysabel informed them. "She's done it for many, many generations."
"Is she a demon then?" Fenris coldly asked, sharing a look of grave concern with Aria.
"No," Alistair replied, puffing on the cigar that Fenris handed back to him. "She's no demon."
"But she can...shift. She turned into a dragon," Aria puzzled.
"Morrigan can too," Ysabel said.
"Magic, of course," Alistair added.
"Ah, yes. I had almost forgotten she was a witch," Aria chortled.
"What did Flemeth say?" Alistair asked.
Aria looked to Fenris, and he took the liberty. "She said we stood on the precipice of change, and when we looked down into the abyss, we shouldn't be afraid to leap. She said something about learning to fly."
"Ah Flemeth. Never very straight forward when it really matters," Ysabel groused, draining her glass of wine. She stood and went to the liquor cabinet and poured herself another glass. Aria followed suit, and they returned to their previous places.
"Tell me about your other companions. You have many, I hear," Alistair gently commanded then.
"Well, being that you're a templar," Aria slyly hedged, her tone egging him on to negate that statement. He didn't disappoint.
"Former templar recruit. I never said my vows. Took the Grey Warden oath instead. You have apostates in your service. Well, so did we," Alistair answered.
"Had?" Fenris interjected.
"Morrigan...disappeared after the Archdemon was slain," Ysabel carefully replied.
"I had heard as much," Aria said. "We have an apostate in our fellowship. His name is Anders."
"Ha! Anders! He's a right scrappy fellow," Alistair chuckled. "How is he?"
"As well as an abomination can be, I suppose," Fenris wryly stated.
"An abomination?!" Alistair almost squeaked. "I highly doubt it. Anders would never accept the offer of a demon."
"Not a demon," Aria clarified, glaring at Fenris for a second. "There are other spirits in the Fade."
"Yes! Like Wynne!" Ysabel said.
"Wynne?" Aria asked, confused.
"A fellow of ours," Alistair explained. "A mage in the Circle who also helped us defeat the Archdemon. She had a Fade spirit that...kept her alive. It does still."
"So, she doesn't...have mild freakouts where she loses control?" Aria queried.
"If she has, no one's ever seen it," Ysabel replied.
"That's interesting. I'll have to pass that along to Anders," Aria said.
"You keep company with a dwarf, yes?" Alistair continued questioning.
At this Fenris wryly laughed. "A beardless one."
"A beardless dwarf? Now this I have to see," Alistair chuckled.
"His name is Varric Tethras, and he's a merchant prince," Aria supplied.
Ysabel chuckled. "Does he favour the drink?"
"I've never seen a dwarf who didn't," Alistair laughed.
"You know, come to think of it, neither have I," Aria chortled. "He has a vivid imagination and is a wondrous storyteller."
"Perhaps Oghren might know him," Ysabel suggested.
"Perhaps. And then you have the elven blood mage," Alistair cringed. "That's just...just..."
"Oh Merrill wouldn't hurt a fly," Ysabel dismissed his concern. "Sure, she's annoying and a bit of a tattletale, but... A vicious killer? No."
"I've seen her kill plenty of things," Fenris dourly stated. "She is far from harmless."
Ysabel shook her head sadly but said no more on the topic of Merrill.
"The Guard-Captain, Aveline is a friend of ours, along with Captain Isabela," Aria continued with the roster.
"Isabela!" Ysabel laughed. "That sly wench.!
"So you know her?" Fenris asked, one eyebrow arched sardonically.
"She taught me the art of dueling," Ysabel replied. "We had great fun."
Alistair chuckled uncomfortably. "She is...an amusing sort."
"Did she teach you?" Ysabel asked Aria.
"No one needs to teach Aria how to duel. She took on the Arishok without Isabela's expertise and won just fine," Fenris interjected.
Aria smiled sweetly at him, then looked to Ysabel. "She never offered. And after the fight with the Arishok, I don't think there's anything new she could provide for my arsenal."
"Of course," Ysabel said with a nod.
"We had a Qunari in our entourage," Alistair chimed in. "Sten. He likes cookies."
"Cookies?" Fenris and Aria queried in befuddled unison.
Alistair laughed. "Yes. He has a soft spot for chocolate chip cookies. Wynne made them for him often."
"You have a mage for a sister, do you not?" Ysabel asked Aria then.
"Bethany. Yes," Aria sadly answered.
"If it would please you, I could have her escorted and transferred from the Kirwall Circle to the towers on Lake Calenhad. I hear it's quite...inhospitable for mages in Kirkwall," Alistair offered.
"I will consult with her upon my return to Kirkwall," Aria replied.
"See that you do," Alistair graciously replied. "The reports we've received about that particular Circle are troubling and being a foreign leader, I can't be seen making any moves as it could start a war with the free Marches."
"I appreciate your position and the offer," Aria tried to stifle the yawn that came to her then, but was unsuccessful. "Excuse me," she laughed. "I'm quite tired."
"I am inclined to agree. Shall we pick this up tomorrow morning?" Alistair asked both Fenris and Aria, his eyes going between them.
"That would be a pleasure," Fenris said, shaking the hand Alistair extended to him.
"I hope so. Good night, Serah Hawke, Fenris," Alistair relented. "Have the guards escort you to your room."
Aria and Fenris were both asleep before their heads even hit the pillows.