Chapter 17 = = On the Road to Haven

Surana was riding with Zevran, who was riding next to Aedan.

Aedan said, "It would seem that Emmalynn and Alistair have drawn even closer."

Zevran added, "They are a ridiculously beautiful couple."

"I've known M since she arrived at the circle. I have never seen her as confident in who she is as she has been since she met Alistair."

Aedan nodded. "I've known Alistair for many years. He had one relationship that ended very badly, not his fault. But with Emma, he seems comfortable in his skin, less self-conscious."

Surana grumped. "M's skills as a healer are completely wasted in the circle. She can't become a maleficar. She should be running a healing center for the people of Ferelden."

Aedan arched an eyebrow "What do you mean she can't become a maleficar? Aren't all mages at risk of being possessed?"

Surana placed his hand on Zevran's shoulder. "This goes no further than the three of us."

Zev smiled. "My lips are sealed, caro."

"M channels Hope's spirit not a spirit of hope."

Aedan looked puzzled. "There is a difference?"

Surana explained, "You've heard of Justinia, the escaped Tevinter slave who was Andraste's closest friend and confidante?"

Aedan nodded. "I have. That's why there have been four Divines named after her."

"Right." Surana grinned. "Whenever Andraste went to sing to the Maker, she always took two people: Maferath and Justinia. When Maferath betrayed Andraste to the Archon, he lured her into the trap by saying he was taking her to the hills to a silver pool where she could communicate with the Maker. There is no mention of Justinia going with them.

"Some scholars believe that Justinia, filled with guilt for not being at Andraste's side as she was betrayed at the pool. Scholars believe that after Havard Aegis spirited away Andraste's ashes, Justinia found him and together they wrote the Canticle of Apotheosis.

"Apotheosis 2, verse 2 begins 'Hope abandoned the armies of the faithful at the sight of their Lady in chains.' Scholars believe that Hope is both a description of the army's reaction and Justinia's admission of guilt at failing her best friend."

"So, wouldn't it be the Spirit of Justinia?" Zevran asked.

Surana shook his head. "The scholars have written that Andraste thought of Justinia as her spirit of hope. She never called her Justinia. Andraste always called her Hope."

"So how does this affect Emmalynn?"

"M channels Hope's spirit and sometimes' a spirit of faith when she heals. However, Hope also protects her. That's why it isn't possible for M to become an abomination."

"So why can't she be freed from the Circle?"

"Three words: Grand. Cleric. Elemena. That deaf old bat feels threatened by what Emmalynn represents: A mage under the protection of a spirit related to Andraste's disciples."

~oOOo~

The trek up the Frostbacks was arduous. At night Surana and Morrigan would warm tent poles and large boulders around the campsite.

The second night they were hit with a massive snowstorm and received well over a foot of snow. Emmalynn's tent collapsed when a branch above it gave way under the weight of the snowfall, both landing on the top of her tent.

Fortunately, Emmalynn was half awake and was able to throw up a barrier to keep the canvass off of her as she figured out how to dig herself out.

"M! Just keep up your barrier we'll get you out."

Alistair lifted the canvas to see Emmalynn sitting calmly, crossed legged. A shimmering silver aura glinted on her chestnut hair and reflected in her eyes. Alistair was just mesmerized.

The aura shimmered then slowly disappeared. "Thank you for your timely rescue."

Alistair smiled as he extended his hand to help her up. Emma looked wide-eyed at the surrounding blanket of snow, smiling in absolute wonder. "It is beautiful!" She was still holding Alistair's hand.

Alistair didn't even look around as he replied to Emma, "Very beautiful, indeed."

Emmalynn felt the skin on her cheeks tingle. "Ali."

"What?" He said in mock confusion.

"Smooth, Alistair. M, you okay?"

"Yes Rana, very okay."

After digging out, Aedan suggested they move on. "It will be slow going, but some progress is better than no progress."

They traveled for a few hours, but the horses quickly began to tire. Fortunately, they found a rocky out-cropping that provided shelter. Aedan signaled to set camp.

Surana was sitting next to Emmalynn watching in stunned silence as she quickly ate her lunch. She's wolfing her food! This is the woman who is so afraid of spilling anything or doing anything embarrassing while eating that she eats unbelievably slowly. He thought back to an early memory from the Circle:

…... ... ...

"M, we're gonna to be late for potions! I swear you are one of the slowest eaters I've ever seen."

"I have never been late to potions, and while I'm a slow eater, I am also the neatest eater you will ever see."

"Okay, that's true, but why is that so important? It's not like you're in danger of becoming Enchanter Harris. I don't think he owns clothing that doesn't have food stains on it."

Emmalynn winced. "I don't want that to ever happen to me."

"Aside from not being Enchanter Harris, why is it so important not to spill stuff while you're eating?"

"It's just how I was... taught by my father."

"Your father taught you to eat slowly?"

"No. He taught me not to spill anything while I was eating."

"Never? M, that's ridiculous!"

"No, it's not."

"Would you teach our apprentices that same lesson?"

"No." Emmalynn took a deep breath and let it out as she placed everything on her tray. "I'm not as hungry as I thought. I'll see you in potions class."

Without waiting for a reply, M walked away.

….. ...

She refused to discuss it any further. It was several years later when she told me that her father was from a noble family and he would hit her with his belt-Two strikes for every mistake while at the table. A real piece of work.

He leaned over and whispered, "Hey M, what's the rush?"

Emmalynn froze, then slowly put down the roll. She turned to her friend; her cheeks were pink, but not from the cold. "I…want to have time to…play with the snow."

"Play?" Surana grinned.

Emmalynn spoke in an excited rush. "Rana, I've never seen snow before, and now I'm surrounded by it!" She paused to take a bite of the roll, chewed it quickly and swallowed it. "So…I'm in a bit of a hurry…but I've been careful."

Suddenly her excited expression vanished. Her lips tightened, and she looked down at her hands then back up at Surana. "I haven't embarrassed you have I?"

The frightened child. Worried that she's embarrassed her family. I hope her father is in the void. "M, stop. You haven't embarrassed you, me, or anyone else." He took the roll out of her hand and grinned. "Go play in the snow."

Beaming, she kissed Surana on the cheek and went to the side of the camp. Alistair, who had been in an in-depth discussion with Aedan, caught the end of Emma and Surana's exchange and raised an eyebrow.

Surana mouthed, 'I'll tell you later.'

Emmalynn cleared an area so when she sat she was surrounded by the snow. She placed some snow on her gloves and looked at the individual snowflakes, blowing them off her glove and watching the flakes catch the light as they floated away, laughing delightedly.

She created balls of snow of various sizes; then she started playing with differently shaped mounds of snow. I remember being on the beach at the shores of the Waking Sea. Mother showed me how to make castles from the sand.

She found the snow to be coarser and more irregular than sand, therefore, harder to use her gloved hands to create crenellations and arrow slits. After thinking about it she used her spell wisp and began to shape and carve the snow. She was so focused on her construction she didn't notice the audience that gathered.

Alistair whispered to Surana, "Castles?"

Surana shrugged. "It's news to me. It's never come up. It's not like we get snow at the Circle.

Sten stood arms crossed. "Her meticulous care is remarkable."

Emmalynn finished a two-towered castle. Standing, she stretched then noticed her audience and looked up at the sky. "I must have lost track of time."

"Bellissima, you are very talented."

Emmalynn laughed. "Hardly, I used a wisp."

"Still, you are good with your hands. Alistair, you are a lucky man."

"Zevran!" Alistair's ears turned red, but he did chuckle.

Emma was puzzled. "Zev, what do you mean?"

Zevran just grinned.

Alistair whispered in her ear, and Emmalynn's eye grew wide, and she buried her face in his chest and started to laugh.

AN: All my thanks to my amazing Beta ElyssaCousland! Thank you all for reading along. Bioware owns all.