Chapter 21 = = Rising from the Ashes

After a hard ride that started at dawn, they arrived in Redcliffe mid-morning. Alistair and Emmalynn dismounted, leaving the reins in the hands of the grooms. Ali went straight to the Arl's room, while Emmalynn went to the kitchens to make a potion out of the ashes.

When she arrived at the bedchamber and saw Isolde, Emmalynn became deeply concerned about the Arlessa. The stress and worry had taken its toll. Her pale skin – not made rosy by make-up - only served to highlight the bruises under her eyes. Her cheekbones were more prominent from weight loss and her normally well-quaffed hair was pulled into a messy ponytail. The poor woman looks like she's reached the end of her rope and is hanging on by a thread.

When the Arlessa saw the vial, she looked alarmed. "How can he take a potion if he's unconscious?"

"Your Grace, if you cradle the Arl's head in your lap, I will be able to administer the potion drop by drop. I promise he will ingest all of it."

After the last drop. Emmalynn motioned for the Arlessa to lower the Arl's head back to the pillows. Several heartbeats later the Arl was surrounded by a cerulean glow, similar to the color of Emmalynn's aura.

After the glow faded, the Arl opened his eyes and, miraculously, sat up. He looked as if he had just woken up from a good night's sleep. However, upon seeing that his entire family was in the room – along with a stranger who was a mage – he looked utterly bewildered.

At the shock of seeing her husband sit-up - after weeks of being near death - the Arlessa threw her arms around her husband. She hugged him close and held on as if he were her life raft, buried her face in his chest and wept, repeatedly saying, "Merci Andraste! Merci! Mon mari, je t'aime. Je t'aime."

The Arl put his arms around his sobbing wife, kissed the top of her head, and lightly patted her back. "I'm fine, Isolde."

Emmalynn, not wanting to intrude on such an intimate family moment, quietly left the room. They have so much to tell him. The poor man. He's lost so much! At least Connor and Isolde are still alive.

Wynne, who had elected to stay outside of the bedroom, stood up when Emmalynn closed the door.

"I heard the Arlessa. It sounds like the ashes worked."

"They worked…miraculously." Emmalynn grinned. "Seriously, he looked like he'd woken up after a regular night's sleep. Then, of course, he saw his whole family in the room with him and his wife clinging to him in tears. As you can imagine he quickly became bewildered."

"You all worked miracles finding the ashes. I wish I had been there to see the urn."

Leliana, who had just joined them, gave Wynne a beatific smile. "It was an experience like no other. Come we have gathered in the family room waiting for news, and I promise you I will tell you all about our trip."

Upon seeing Leliana, Emmalynn, and Wynne smiling, Aedan, Zevran, and Surana relaxed.

"M, I take it the ashes worked?"

"They did! But, I don't envy Teagan and the Arlessa having to explain to the Arl all that happened while he was unconscious."

"Just be thankful you aren't the one who has to tell him, Emmalynn."

"Oh, I am, Aedan. I am."

"I take it our Caballero Honorable is with the family, yes?" Zevran asked.

Emmalynn chuckled. "Yes, our Honorable Knight is with the family, or more accurately with his father."

Surana looked at his lover. "Zev, that nickname is a mouthful, surely you can shorten it a bit?

"Ah, but saying caballero honorable make the tongue move in such a delicious way."

Surana looked dubious, and Zevran purred. "It seems a demonstration is in order…perhaps tonight, mi amor?"

At that moment Surana only had eyes for Zevran. "I will hold you to it."

While Surana and Zevran were distracted, Emmalyn asked, "Aedan…um…about Jowan?"

"Yes?"

"Rana told me that Jowan ran from the Circle because they were going to make him Tranquil. He saw the signed order on Irving's desk."

Aedan blanched. "I saw the tranquil at the Circle. Surana explained what that meant. Honestly, if I were Jowan, I would have run as well. It sounds like a fate worse than death."

Emmalynn nodded. "It is. If he goes back to the Circle, they will execute him, or they will make him Tranquil. I know he's made some terrible decisions, but he has a good heart – even Rana would agree. He isn't Uldred. Jowan resorted to blood magic because he had no confidence in his ability draw in mana from the Fade, but the very fact that he could learn blood magic means he can learn how to cast spells without it.

"Jowan didn't fail the Circle; the Circle failed him. No one took the time to help him learn and then beat him down for when he didn't succeed! I can tutor him, but he would need to come with us…You're the Warden-Commander, is there anything you can do?"

Emmalynn's impassioned plea was highly unusual for the usually shy healer and drew the attention of Leliana, Zevran, and Surana who all looked sympathetic.

Wynne, however, looked angry.

She lashed out at her former mentee in clipped tones, "Emmalynn Amell how can you say that the Circle failed him. Jowan is weak-willed, that's why he cannot draw mana from the Fade. He is a maleficar. How can you claim to be Andrastian and come to his defense?"

Emmalynn looked directly at her former tutor. She did not raise her voice, but her words brooked little argument. "No Wynne, you're wrong. You forget that the Chant was translated from ancient Tevene. Maleficar is the ancient Tevene for 'one who is depraved.' Uldred and his followers were depraved. You cannot define Jowan as such and claim to be rational. When he escaped, he didn't kill anyone, and the boldness of his escape was not done by someone of weak will. He needed time, attention, and care. He received none of that at the Circle."

Wynne's thin-lipped and angry, stood up. "If you will excuse me, I will be in my room until lunch is served." Everyone watched as Wynne turned her back on Emmalynn and walked away.

"M, I know that wasn't easy – Wynne is very opinionated and very set in her ways, but it needed to be said."

Emmalynn hunched he shoulders and bowed her head. Clearly not feeling as if she had made her point.

Leliana eyes were teary but exuded happiness. "You do Andraste and the Maker's work in more ways than healing."

Aedan looked at Surana, who nodded. "Emmalynn, I will speak with Jowan, and if he is amenable, I will recruit him into the Wardens, even if I have to conscript him."

Tears spilled from Emmalynn's eyes. "Thank you, Aedan and Rana. Thank you.

"I...I will go and talk to Wynne, perhaps she and I can reach a détentes."

~oOOo~

Emmalynn and Wynne came into the dining area just as lunch was being served. Both had red eyes, tears had been spilled, but there was no lasting anger between them.

When they sat, Wynne looked at everyone. "I apologize for my fit of temper. Blood magic is a sensitive issue at the Circle and a constant source frustration. Emmalynn and I may not agree about who is or is not a maleficar, but I have to agree with Emmalynn that Jowan was failed by the Circle. She told me about the possibility of making Jowan a Warden. I have to admit, that is a fair solution to the problem."

The tension that had filled the room suddenly dissipated – like a stuffy room refreshed by a cool breeze – leaving everyone at the table with a sense of hope.

Zevran smiled at Emmalynn. "We are fortunate, Cariña. With you and Alistair we have Esperanza y Honor, Hope and Honor."

Emmalynn smiled. "Gracias, amigo."

Everyone was enjoying a leisurely lunch when the seneschal entered. "Wardens, gentlemen, and ladies, the Arlessa requests me to invite you to a feast tomorrow night to celebrate the Arl's complete recovery."

"We are honored to attend, my Lord Seneschal," Leliana said.

The Seneschal nodded his head and left the dining room.

Wynne smiled. "That will be the perfect opportunity to go to bed early with a good book."

Emmalynn looked uncomfortable, her shoulders slightly hunched when she looked at Leliana. "Leli?"

"Yes, cherié?

"I've never been to a feast or any celebration with the nobility. Aside from eating, what goes on?"

Leliana's expression was alight with happy memories of feasts and balls in Val Royeaux. "There will be dancing and music. Sometimes at feasts there is also play, or a fool performs but I doubt that will happen given the short notice."

Emmalynn bit her bottom lip, looking a little lost. "Wynne, maybe I'll join you."

"Why would you want to do that?" Leliana asked.

"Well, for one, I get tongue-tied in social settings with people I don't know. Staying in the room with Wynne means I won't have the opportunity to embarrass Aedan, Rana, or Alistair."

"Oh no, you don't!" Wynne admonished. "Emmalynn, you will never learn to be Loire comfortable in these situations if you hide. It sounds like it will be a perfectly lovely evening."

"If it's so lovely, then why are you going to bed with a book?"

"Because I can."

Leliana beamed. "Leave the clothing to me."

Emmalynn sighed giving in to the combined force of Wynne and Leliana. "Okay, I give in, but I hate–"

"–complicated clothing," Leliana said still grinning. "I know cherié, and I find it adorable."

Emmalynn rolled her eyes, and Surana just laughed.

~oOOo~

After lunch Emmalynn decided to take a bath. In part, it was to be ready for the feast, but it was also to relax from the tumultuous emotions of the morning. As she sat in the warm water, she let her thoughts stray to the night before, at the Inn. "We shared more than dessert." She smiled to herself at the memory…

After dinner, they came back to Emmalynn's room to have dessert which Alistair carried on a covered tray. When they entered her room, there was a bath waiting and enough drying cloths for two people. Alistair put the dessert tray on the desk.

Emmalynn turned scarlet. "I…uh…I asked for a bath to be brought up after dinner, but that was before we decided to have dessert up here. I forgot to tell them to delay it."

Alistair's voice was low and husky. "Do you want to bathe?"

Emma looked puzzled. "Of course not! It would be rude for me to bathe and have you wait to eat dessert."

"I should be clearer. Emma, do you want to share the bath?"

She blushed, bit her lower lip, and smiled shyly. "Well...it would be a shame to let the warm water go to waste. Yes, I would like it if you joined me…but only if you want to," she added quickly.

"I want to." He caressed her cheek. "I really do."

Emma blushed shyly. "I'm glad."

Alistair helped her pull the pins out of her hair. He gently elongated a curl and watched it spring back. "I love your hair," he whispered.

He removed his waistcoat and tunic. Emma reached fir the lacing of her mage robe, but Alistair moved her hand away and replaced it with his. "Are you sure about this?"

Emmalynn nodded. "Yes, I am."

He unlaced her robe.

Emma slowly drew the garment off her shoulders, letting it drop to the floor. Standing before him in her smalls, she was suddenly extremely self-conscious of her far from a lithe figure.

Alistair caught her gaze, "You. Are. Breathtaking."

She did not expect his enthusiasm."You… you… don't mind that I'm not slender and athletic like Leliana?"

"Emma, not only do I not mind, I prefer and love your curves."

Feeling a little less self-conscious, she reached for her breast band, but Alistair again moved her hand away. He slowly unwound the band as if he was unwrapping a precious gift.

Once they were both undressed, Alistair sat in the tub and guided Emma to sit in front where she could lean back against broad muscled-chest. While washing they explored each other's bodies. It was sensual and passionate heating their ardor as the water cooled.

"Are you ready for dessert?" Alistair whispered in her ear as he gently caught her earlobe in his teeth.

"Yes, perhaps in front of the hearth?"

"How about you lay out the quilt, and I'll get the tray."

Once they were out of the bath and dried off, Alistair took the dessert tray from the desk while Emmalynn wrapped one of the larger cloths around her chest, and took the quilt off the bed to spread on the floor in front of the hearth.

Alistair knelt on the quilt and uncovered the tray. Emma noticed the large Gwaren strawberries; they were a delicious combination of tart and sweet. "I don't remember those being on the menu."

"Elwin remembered how much I love these strawberries. He always keeps some around."

After he sat on the quilt, she dipped the tip of a strawberry in the bowl of cream and fed it to him. They took turns feeding each other.

Then Alistair dipped his finger into the bowl of cream ran it down the side of her throat where he proceeded to kiss and lick the cream off sending shivers of desire through her body.

Once the cream and strawberries were gone, Alistair reluctantly left to sleep in the room he shared with Aedan. He knew that they needed to leave the inn before dawn and that Emma needed to be rested when she worked with the ashes to heal the Arl...

Emmalynn startled when she heard Wynne enter the room. The water was now cold, but she finished washing and got dressed. She saw Wynne sitting on the bed. "Are you feeling alright, Wynne?"

"Yes, yes. I just thought I would take rest before dinner. No one has come down from the family quarters yet."

"Oh, okay. Well, then I think I will go to the library unless you need me?"

Wynne waved her away. "I'm fine."

~oOOo~

Emmalynn was relaxing on the couch in the library reading when Alistair came in and said,

"Zevran said I could find you here."

She looked up and beamed. Alistair bathed in the happiness that radiated from her eyes and smile.

He sat down next to her on the couch, and she curled up against him.

"Ali, how are you feeling?"

"Honestly?"

"Of course."

"I'm relieved that Eamon is alive, but only insomuch as I'm glad my father didn't lose his brother."

"I'm not surprised you feel that way given how you were treated while you lived here."

Alistair looked at the book Emma was reading and chuckled. "The Botanical Compendium. Unless that's a euphemism I'm not familiar with, I think Zev was pulling my leg."

"What did he tell you I was reading?"

"He said 'Esperanza is reading a book about erotic flowers,'" he mimicked Zevran's accent.

Emmalynn giggled. "Yes, he is pulling your leg. I told him the book included information about exotic flowers and I doubt he misheard me. Besides, I've met Enchanter Arancia, and I don't think erotic is in her vocabulary. I'm reading up on the kinds of healing plants that can be found between here and Orzammar."

"Can I steal you away from your studies?"

"You can steal me away from anything. Let me put the book back."

As she slid the book back on a shelf, she felt Alistair's arms around her waist, and she leaned back against him.

He whispered in her ear, "I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner at the tavern with me."

"I would love to."

~oOOo~

As the word of the Arl's recovery had already circulated through the village, the tavern was lively. Eating dinner without the rest of the party allowed them just to be Alistair and Emma. They talked and laughed. Somewhere between eating the lamb stew and attacking the cheese tray, minstrels began to play country dances.

"Dance with me?"

"I don't know how."

"I'll teach you!"

Alistair was a great teacher, and before long he was twirling her around as she laughed. When they sat back down, Emma put her hand to her hair and giggled. "I think some of my hairpins escaped!"

"You might as well remove the rest." He grinned.

"You just like to see me with my hair down."

"Hair up or down, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever known."

Emma blushed as she happily removed the remaining pins.

~oOOo~

They were walking back to the castle, with a stop by the lakeshore to see the stars reflected on the calm surface of the water.

"This has been such a wonderful evening. I don't want it to end."

"It doesn't have to." Alistair's voice was whisper-soft.

"What do you mean?"

"Emma, would you…lie with me?"

"You mean like the last time we were in Redcliffe?"

Alistair slowly shook his head. "I want to do more than hold you; I also want to show you how much I love you."

"You know I've never done…that before? But I want to…with you."

"Emma, let me be your first…and your last."

"My last? Oh, Ali are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Yes. When this Blight over, marry me. We can live in Rivain, have children, and no circle will find us."

"Alistair, you…you would leave everything, leave your father, to go on the run with me as an apostate?"

"Yes! My father would understand. Emma, with you I've found completion, wholeness. You are my home."

"I feel the same way, and I don't know what will happen during this Blight but know this. You will be my first and my last, no matter what…"

AN: Thanks to my beta ElyssaCousland for her beta brilliance.