Chapter 14 = = On Deceivers, Disguises, and Disagreements

Aedan sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Ser Landry, I keep telling you the Wardens did not kill King Cailan. His Majesty and the Wardens were overwhelmed by darkspawn when Teyrn Mac Tir sounded the retreat."

"He speaks the truth. Have you heard about the Arl of Redcliffe's illness?" Alistair asked.

"Yes. What does that have to do with this?" The knight scowled.

"Wardens Cousland and Surana here are leading a group of us to find the Ashes of Andraste to cure Arl Eamon. Does that sound like the actions of regicides? More to the point, do you think I would ever associate with regicides?"

A contemplative expression softened Ser Landry's indignant scowl. After a few moments, he looked abashed. "Wardens, forgive me for my hasty and angry words. It is clear I was mistaken. Do you wish to seek honor for my slanderous accusation?"

"No. Ferelden needs all of its good men. Please, if you want to help, then try to convince others that the darkspawn are our enemies and not the Grey Wardens."

Landry bowed to the group. "It shall be done." Alistair and Landry grasped arms, and the knight left.

Surana looked at Emmalynn. "M, you feeling better?"

Emmalynn nodded. "Thanks to Leliana and Alistair's quick thinking."

Surana noticed Alistair and Emma were holding hands, and Emmalynn was holding a rose to her heart. Leliana is right…those two are adorable.

~oOOo~

They found Genitivi's home, but not Genitivi. His assistant, Weylon, was in residence and Aedan tried to get the young man to tell him where they could find the scholar, but Weylon was obstructionist.

While Aedan argued with Weylon, Emmalynn felt a slight distortion in the Veil. A distortion that happens when someone is murdered by a mage. Seconds later she caught death's scent.

She turned her attention to Weylon. He isn't Weylon, this man is a mage! I doubt a Chantry scholar would have a mage as an assistant, much less an apostate mage. Surreptitiously, Emmalynn caught Rana's gaze. Good! Rana's figured it out as well.

She focused inward and placed a magic-neutralizing glyph behind the Imposter.

Surana saw a small circle with a barely perceptible aura appear behind Weylon and smiled to himself. M's set up one of her cloaked neutralizing glyphs. Suddenly, Surana charged at the imposter yelling, "Apostate!"

The imposter instinctively backed away, right onto the glyph.

Without his magic, it was short work to capture and immobilize him. Aedan was about to administer mage bane when the man bit down on something in his mouth and died quickly.

"Damn it! I should have rendered him unconscious first! Everyone spread out! See if you can find anything that will give us an idea of where in the void Genitivi went!"

Emmalynn and Surana headed towards the bedroom followed Leliana. There they found the real Weylon. His lifeless body lay on the floor wrapped in a quilt; a large book was laying open on the floor next to him, which Leliana picked up. Emmalynn knelt next to the body. She uncovered Weylon's face; it was frozen in a rictus of screaming pain. His mouth and eyes were open full; the color of his eyes forever obscured by his fully dilated pupils.

Saddened, she looked up at Surana and Leliana. "I doubt Weylon was more than 16 summers old."

"How did he die?" Leliana asked

"Looks like that bastard killed him with lighting. I'll go let Aedan know we found both a book and Weylon."

Gently closing his eyes, Emmalynn placed her hand on his forehead and began to chant softly,

"Blessed are they who stand before
The corrupt and the wicked and do not falter."

Leliana knelt next to Emmalynn, and together they chanted.

"Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just
Blessed are the righteous, the lights in the shadow.
In their blood the Maker's will is written."

Emmalynn continued, "Andraste, Our Lady of Mercy and Light, guide young Weylon to the Maker's side. Unite him with those he's loved and lost and help ease his transition to eternity."

She covered the body again and noticed Alistair in the doorway. His expression one of curiosity and wonder.

Emmalynn stood. "I know...I know. A mage praying to Andraste is not normal. Anders likened it to a 'prisoner who sings love songs to their jailor.'"

"Nonsense! If you believe in saying the Chant, then say it."

Leliana nodded. "Alistair is right–if it gives comfort to you or others, then don't stop."

"Thank you. Rana just rolls his eyes."

Alistair came to Emmalynn and took her hand. "I was raised Andrastian, but it wasn't until I met you that I started to think about the Chantry spiritually."

Emma bit her lip and looked down at her feet, then Alistair pulled her into a hug.

Leliana smiled coquettishly. "Quelle langue mielleuse que vous avez."

"Who has a honeyed-tongue?" Aedan asked as she entered the room.

"Alistair does. Don't you agree, Emmalynn?"

Too embarrassed to respond, she buried her head in Alistair's cloak and began to giggle.

Alistair's ears turned pink, but he gave Leliana a grin. "I only speak the truth."

With everyone assembled in the bedroom, Leliana held up the book. "I think this is Genitivi's journal – I will begin studying – perhaps there will be clues as to where he went."

"Someone needs to take Weylon's body to the Chantry." Emmalynn pointed out.

"I can take him." Alistair volunteered, then turned to Aedan. "Um…Aedan you should probably stay here. There's no problem if someone recognizes me. I'm known in Denerim. Besides, it is my duty as a Knight to see that Weylon's spirit is honorably sent to the Maker's side."

Aden nodded. "Sadly, given the general unrest in the city, I doubt his is the first body the Chantry has received."

"I will take the dead saarebas away and dispose of the body." Sten volunteered.

"I'll come with you. If we can find somewhere hidden, I can incinerate the corpse."

Morrigan looked at Surana with disdain. "T'would be suspicious enough to see a qunari carrying a dead body without the added attraction of an elven mage tagging along, hmm? In bird form, I can accompany him without being noticed and be there if my assistance is needed."

Surana sighed and shrugged. "Aedan?"

"I agree with Morrigan."

"As you should." The hedge-witch replied.

Once Alistair, Sten, and Morrigan left, and Leliana began reading the journal, it was clear to Emmalynn that Surana and Aedan–having nothing to do–seemed out of sorts. She looked around the bedroom and wrinkled her nose. Despite the quilt, in the heat of the day, the decomposition of Weylon's body left the residue of death's distinctive smell.

"Aedan, Rana…um…perhaps you can help me clean the floor?"

Aedan looked a bit sheepish. Surana looked at him and snickered. "I'm going to guess that you've never cleaned a floor before?"

"I've swept one, once."

Emmalynn smiled encouragingly. "It's not difficult, Rana and I can show you."

"M. I noticed that there are two buckets of water in the kitchen – one for wash an one for the rinse?"

Nodding, "That works, let's see what there is to deal with the scent." She turned to Aedan and nodded her head towards the main room. "Let's take a look."

While Surana carried the buckets into the bedroom, Aedan and Emmalynn stood in the larder. "We need something to get rid of the smell." She looked around tapping her chin. "Ah! Wine. Wine works."

"Wine? Why not soap?"

Emmalynn nodded. "Oh, we'll use soap, but first we need to break up the residue. If we heat the wine until it becomes vinegary, we can scrub the floor with it, and then we use the soap to clean the floor."

"Won't the room smell like vinegar?"

"Yes! Which is why we will need to scrub the floor twice: once with the vinegar, once with the soap, and then we can rinse down the floor and dry it. See if you can find a ceramic bowl. I'll get the scrub brushes and cloths."

Assembled back in the bedroom, they sat on a clean area of the floor. Surana poured wine into the bowl, then used a small fire spell to heat the wine.

"When will we know when it is more like vinegar?" Aedan asked.

"We taste it."

"Are you pulling my leg, Surana?"

"Nope."

"I'll taste the wine." Emmalynn said.

"No…I'll…I'll do it. How else will I learn?"

"Okay. Rana, stop the fire."

Aedan dipped a finger into the bowl then licked the wine off of his fingertip. "Still tastes like wine, although not a very good one."

"I wouldn't know the differnce between a good and bad wine; I've never had it before."

"Well take my word for it – this is not a good vintage."

He started to heat the wine again. On the third try, Aedan pursed his lips and scrunched up his face.

Surana stopped and chuckled. "I think it's ready. Aedan?"

Aedan's expression didn't change; he could only nod yes.

Emmalynn looked sympathetic. "Aedan, there is some ale in the larder, go rise you mouth."

He practically ran from the room. The elven mage laughed. "I wish we had been pulling his leg, that expression would have been worth it."

Once Aedan returned Surana poured the wine on the floor. Aedan rolled up his sleeves and took a scrub brush. "Is there a special technique to scrubbing?"

"Nope," Surana said taking the other scrub brush.

Aedan began scrubbing. "Once the floor is cleaned the ladies can sleep in here, and we can rough it in the bedroom."

I don't even have to look up to know how M feels about that.

"M' I'll give a yell when we are ready for the soap. Why don't you go into the other room for a while?"

Tight-lipped. Emmalynn nodded and left the bedroom.

Aedan looked puzzled. "What did I miss?"

"You would have no way of knowing this, but when someone is killed by magic, the veil becomes thinner. Mages feel the press of the spirits and demons trying to enter our world. They can't, but it is still an uneasy feeling. More so for M because she's a spirit healer."

"Oh. Well then Emmalynn can sleep in the main room with us I guess. Surana, why wouldn't Emmalynn tell me?"

Surana shrugged. "I'm not sure. I do know she isn't one to ask for special favors."

As Aedan scrubbed he got into a rhythm decided to do the soap scrub, too.

"M?" Rana called.

Emmalynn peaked her head into the room. "You've already started on the soap scrub?"

"You can do the rinse. Aedan and I just got into sync scrubbing and decided to keep going."

Aedan grinned. "Actually, I found it kind of relaxing."

Surana rolled his eyes. "You wouldn't if you had to do it twice a day."

Emmalynn shewed both men out of the room. "You both did the heavy work. Let me rinse and dry the floor. Go get cleaned up."

Emmalynn had just dried the last bit of the floor when Alistair peeked in. "I spoke with the Revered Mother Perpetua about Weylon. She agreed to have a special service tonight before his pyre. Would you like to go?"

"Yes, I would! Thank you for talking to her."

"Do you need any help?

"No, I'm just finishing up, Aedan and Surana did the scrubbing."

"Here, let me put away the supplies and get rid of the rags, so you can wash up and get ready to go to the service."

"Thank you!"

After washing her face and hands, she took down her hair, combed it and was about to braid it when she heard Leliana coo. "You have such beautiful hair; let me braid it, please!"

"Sure. I…uh… don't remember the last time someone fixed my hair."

As Leliana braided, she asked. "What are you wearing?"

"I only have mage robes and my riding clothes, so…riding clothes."

Leliana looked scandalized. "You cannot go in those."

"These are my only clothing options. If they're not good enough, I can go naked – which would create its own problems."

"Attendez! I have something, I know I do!" After braiding Emmalynn's hair, Leliana looked through her pack. "Ah ha! Here, I know it's drab, but it is better than your riding clothes, yes?"

Emmalynn looked at the blue crushed velvet dress. "Drab? It's beautiful."

Leliana frowned. "It is depressingly plain–there are no lace or ruffles, and no beading to catch the light."

"I don't think I want to go to a funeral service in the chantry in anything that is going to shine in the candlelight."

Leliana's eyes took on a dreamy look. "Ah, when women go to the Chantry in Val Royeaux for daytime services they wear dresses made with beads crafted to capture just the type of light that shines through the Chantry's gorgeous stained-glass windows. When they go at night, they wear evening gowns with beads crafted to reflect the light of the Chantry's hundreds of beeswax candles."

Emmalynn could only nod. My father would have approved of such ostentation; my mother would have been horrified. With Leliana's help, she put on the dress and went to the main room.

Alistair smiled his approval.

Aedan looked puzzled. "How are you planning to make it past the Templars? Aside from not taking your staff?"

Emmalynn chuckled. "Just watch. Rana taught me this trick at the Circle." She cast what looked like the neutralize magic glyph. The only difference was the shape in the very middle of the glyph was barely visible. Taking a calming breath, she walked onto the glyph. Emmalynn only swayed slightly but remained standing.

Aedan looked impressed. "Neutralizing your own magic. Surana that's brilliant!"

He nodded excitedly. "Only M and I know how to do it. I didn't think it was a great idea to teach the apprentices."

"How are you feeling?" Alistair asked.

"A bit tired, but otherwise alright."

"How long will the effect last?"

"The neutralizing effect alone would be enough to get me to the Chantry and through part of the service, but I'm also taking one of Rana's special, diluted Mage bane potions."

She held up the potion and drank. "Blecch! Rana, can't you make a potion that doesn't taste vile?"

"Hey, this is a damn sight better than the full-strength version."

"I'm glad you spared me that. Can you sense me?"

"Nope. You're good to go M."

Alistair placed her cloak around her shoulder and whispered. "I know we are going to the Chantry for a funeral, but you look lovely, Em."

"Thank you."

Alistair opened the door. "After you."

The combination of the upcoming funeral service and the closing of the market stalls allowed Emma and Alistair to walk arm and arm to the Denerim chantry calmly; their only concern was being able to pass by the templars without raising suspicion.

Alistair was relieved to get past the templars, who gave no indication that they could sense Emmalynn's magic. They needed to leave immediately after the pyre, however, as she felt her mana begin to return. Her mana was fully restored by the time they arrived at the house.

They returned to a dinner of cheese, sausages, and bread. Aedan looked a Leliana. "Did you find anything helpful in the book?"

"Oui! It seems that Brother Genetivi has traced the ashes to a village in the Frostbacks called Haven. He believes there is a large temple to Andraste built into the mountain above Haven and that at the top is a smaller Temple the holds the urn."

Surana shook his head. "Good thing we didn't listen to the imposter, he would have had us looking near Kinloch."

"Good work Leli! We will leave tomorrow and make our way west."

"Ah, to see the final resting place of Andraste. What an experience that will be, yes?"

Emmalynn nodded. "I also hope the ashes can cure the Arl."

After dinner, Aedan approached Emmalynn. "Could you step into the kitchen with me for a minute?"

"Of course."

"Emmalynn, why didn't you tell me about the problem you would have sleeping in the bedroom?"

"Ah, I guess Rana told you. Well, after my breakdown this morning, I wasn't going to make things any more difficult for you."

"Your comfort is just as important to me as anyone else's in the group. If you're not comfortable, it is okay to tell me. In fact, I would prefer you tell me. I've never been a commander before. You telling me what you need, what works and what doesn't, helps me learn."

"I will. Thank you for understanding, Aedan."

As they walked out of the kitchen, Surana motioned Emmalynn over. "M, Alistair set up an area in here that would give you some privacy."

That is so thoughtful! She looked around. "Where is Alistair?"

"He and Leliana are making sure everything is locked down. I'll show you where we set up your bedroll."

When Leliana and Alistair returned, Leliana smiled. "Bon nuit, Emmalynn."

"Bonne nuit 'a vous aussi 'mon ami." Emmalynn smiled.

Alistair's eyes went to Emmalynn, who was standing near her hidden bedroll. Her eyes lit up, and her smile simply took his breath away. He crossed the room to her.

"Thank you for setting this up, Ali! It was so thoughtful of you."

Alistair grinned. "You're welcome. I was worried you'd think it presumptuous."

"No! Not at all! I appreciate it. I wanted to thank you before I went to bed. For this and all, you've done for me today. It means a lot to me…as…as do you. Good night, Ali."

He kissed her hand. "Good night, Emma."

~oOOo~

Early the following morning, Aedan, Alistair, and Leliana had gone to get some additional supplies. Sten had left for the stables and would meet them there mid-day. Morrigan was in bird form flying around the city.

Emmalynn placed her pack on the table. "Rana, can I talk to you?"

"Always. What's on your mind, M?"

"I want to help the elves in the Alienage."

"I know you do."

"I thought that I could send a note to the Harhen and ask if anyone needed healing. If so, I could go there and then meet up with you outside of Denerim."

"No. You can't," he said firmly.

Surprised by the edge in his voice. "Why not?"

Rana sighed in frustration. "M, think about it: Aside from the foolishness of being on your own in Denerim – considering your marketplace meltdown – you are squatting in a house with me and Aedan who are part of a group considered to be regicides."

She crossed her arms, upset with his reference to her panic attack in the market district, a stubborn set to her jaw. "I wasn't going to involve either of you."

"Oh? And how will that work if the templars find you? How are you going to explain why you aren't an apostate without implicating us?"

"You think I would tell them about you and Aedan to save my hide? Really?" She shook her head. "I thought you'd be willing to help me."

"Why, because I'm an elf."

"No! How could you even think such a thing? I thought you'd be willing to help because you are my best friend and understand how strongly I would feel about this."

Surana took a deep breath and let it out, closed his eyes for a moment and centered himself. "Look M, you have a big heart, you're a healer and you want to help, that's natural. But you can't help everyone. This is a dumb idea and you know it."

"Yes, I am dumb and foolish. Sorry for bringing it up." Without waiting for Rana's response, she walked into the bedroom then closed and locked the door. Leaning her back against it, she slid down to the floor and quietly cried. They suffer every day of every week of every month of every year, and there is nothing I can do about it.

Shortly after Emma went into the bedroom, Aedan, Alistair, and Leliana a returned. They saw Surana sitting on the couch with his eyes closed, rubbing his forehead, clearly frustrated and upset. Emmalynn was nowhere in sight.

Aedan spoke first, "Surana? What's wrong?'

"M and I had a disagreement and I was a bit of an ass."

Concerned, Alistair asked, "Where's Emma?"

Surana nodded towards the bedroom door. "She'll be out soon."

Leliana quickly went to the bedroom and knocked. "Emmalynn, may I come in?"

Everyone heard the lock sliding back and saw Leliana slip inside.

Aedan sat next to Surana, Alistair stood next to them. "What was the disagreement about?"

"M came to me to talk about helping the Alienage. She wanted to send a note to the Harhen asking if she could help. After going to the Alienage, she would leave the city and catch up to us. I was less than diplomatic when I told her it wasn't a good idea. Um... foolish and dumb were the words I used.

"Sometimes, she just gets into 'heal the world mode' and she doesn't think. She's too bright to be that bloody naïve. It just irks the shit out of me."

In the bedroom, Emmalynn sat on the bed next to Leliana. "I want to help the Alienage, to see if there was any healing I could provide. I thought of writing a note to the Harhen, and if I could help I would go the Alienage and then catch up to you all outside of Denerim. I asked Rana about it and after flatly telling me no. I pushed. He thought it was a foolish idea because of my marketplace 'meltdown,' and because of the situation in the city and he and Aedan being wanted regicides.

"It devolved from there. But Rana is right. If the templars catch me I would never mention Aedan or Rana, but they probably could find out another way. As I doubt the grand cleric would let me out of her sight, it would leave you all without a healer. I just wanted to help, but all I've done is annoy my best friend." She looked at the door. "and, now Aedan, Alistair, and you. Sometimes I just don't think."

"My friend, I think it is admirable of you to want to help. It is because of you that I have begun to question the chantry's stance on mages–someone like you should never be locked away. It is a waste of the Maker's gifit. However, I have to agree with Surana. Although, I would not use the term foolish or dumb, nor would I refer to your situation in the marketplace as a meltdown."

"Thanks, Leliana, point taken. Does my face look horrible? I am an ugly crier."

Leliana chuckled. "So am I. You look alright. Your eyes are still red, but that's it."

"Thanks for listening."

"Any time, my friend."

When the bedroom door opened, Surana was just on the other side, he pulled his best friend into a hug. "I'm sorry, M."

Hugging back Emmalynn sighed, "It's okay. I know how trying it can be when I am not using my head. And you're right it would be colossally dumb of me to think I can make it through the city on my own given what happened at the Marketplace." She pulled back. "Although meltdown does sound more like a two-year old's temper tantrum."

"Yeah, sorry about that. I know it wasn't a tantrum. You do need to figure out what causes these attacks, but that's for later. We good?"

"Always, Rana."

Surana looked at everyone, "And that concludes today's melodrama. Check your programs for the time and place of our next performance."

Laughing, everyone picked up their packs, made sure their cloaks were in place and left Genetivi's.

~oOOo~

The day after they left Denerim, a frantic crying woman flagged down the group. Aedan dismounted as the woman grabbed his arm pleading, "Please you have to help me! My wagon was attacked!"

AN: Bioware owns all - I just play in the pool

Many thanks to my Beta ElyssaCousland. Thank you to those are reading. Thank you to those who have faved and are following.