Chapter 34 = = Reunion - Part 1
Emmalynn – dressed in formal blue robes and the deep green mantle of the Apprentice First Enchanter – was a pacing bundle of nerves.
It's bad enough having to be at the Arl's residence, but what if Alistair is here? It's been two and a half months since I left Redcliffe and I have no idea how he reacted to my leaving. Does he hate me? Is he angry that I didn't consult him, or does he feel nothing for me at all?
I'd really rather have sent a messenger instead of coming here, but Greagoir told me to present myself in person, give Aedan the scroll case, and ask him to read the contents right away.
She stopped pacing and felt her breath catch when she heard someone approach the door, then she quickly let out that breath. Those aren't Alistair's footfalls.
Aedan walked in and closed the door, then he turned to face the room's lone occupant. "Emmalynn!"
Emmalynn curtsied. "Greetings Warden-Commander. I was instructed to inform you in-person of our arrival, and to give you this." She handed Aedan the unopened scroll case Gregoire had given her. "The Knight-Commander was insistent that you read its contents as soon as possible."
Aedan took the case and put it aside. He pulled the mage into a hug, which she took a second to return. "Please Emmalynn, it's just Aedan. Maker, you have been sorely missed! Let me find Alistair!"
Emmalynn pulled back. Desperate to stave off crying, she shook her head and gestured to the scroll case. "No, don't. Please, Aedan? I have no idea what Greagoir wrote, but he was emphatic about your reading it as soon as I saw you."
Aedan frowned but he was afraid that if he left the room the anxious healer would leave. He picked up the scroll case, sat in a reading chair, and motioned to the sofa across from him. "Please have a seat, Emmalynn, we need no formalities between us."
She sat down across from Aedan, her back to the door. Suddenly, she was enveloped in the warmth and feeling of rightness she'd only felt with Alistair. Maker, he's here. Yet she still feared his reaction. What do I do now?
~oOOo~
Alistair left the Arl to find Aedan. If Aedan has trouble with the lead templar, having another person in his corner couldn't hurt. He was about to ask a servant where to find the Warden-Commander when he felt a pull, a rightness…the one I felt with Emma. He moved towards the source of the feeling. The pull intensified until it felt as if it flowed from his heart and enveloped his soul. He stood in front of the door to the sitting room, one that was around the corner from the audience chamber, when he heard Aedan:
"…we need no formalities between us."
Alistair didn't bother to knock, he just opened the door. Aedan was sitting across from someone. He recognized the chestnut-colored curls and he felt a brilliant sunny warmth that burned away the cold emptiness he'd felt since the day Emma left.
"Emma?"
The woman turned and he saw the face he'd seen each night in his dreams. My Emma!
"Ali…?" She stood up and put her hand to her heart. She had been so afraid that she would see anger in his expression, but instead all she saw the love and longing that mirrored her own.
Alistair caught the hesitancy in her greeting. She's worried about my reaction to seeing her. Did she think I'd be angry at her? He crossed the small room in a few strides and pulled Emmalynn into his arms. They held on to each other as if life itself depended on it.
Aedan crept out of the room. I think I'll grab Surana so we can both read what's in this case.
Alistair buried his nose in her soft hair, breathing in her scent. "Maker, Em, I've missed you so much. I am so sorry for what Eamon did."
She relaxed into Alistair's welcoming embrace. "I've missed you, too. I…I'm so sorry for what I put us through."
Alistair pulled back, cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed her. "No apologies. I understand why you left. Eamon's the one at fault."
She smiled, but the release of those last vestiges of guilt opened the floodgate of tears.
Feeling his own eyes tearing, he held her as he rubbed her back, murmuring words of love.
~oOOo~
Aedan left, happy to see his two friends back together. He found Surana talking with Zevran and Leliana in one of the many sitting rooms in the estate. He walked in. "I have good news. The Mages have arrived and Emmalynn is their commander."
Surana jumped up. "M's here?! Where? Does Alistair know?"
Aedan motioned for the elven mage to sit. "Yes, she's in the small sitting room near the audience chamber, with Alistair."
"Perhaps we should give them some time, yes?" Leliana smiled.
Aedan sat next to the bard. "My thoughts exactly, Leli." After seeing Emmalynn and Alistair reunite he looked at the woman who had taken up residence in his own heart and was momentarily lost in her blue eyes.
"Perhaps you two also need some alone time?" Surana quipped.
"What?" Aedan started. "Oh, sorry. Ah…Emmalynn said that Greagoir insisted that I read what is in the scroll case. I thought that we should read it together. Zevran and Leli, please stay."
Taking out the first letter he read it aloud.
Dear Warden-Command Aedan
As you are reading this, I assume Emmalynn Amell has arrived in Denerim. First, there is a vial packed within this casing. Handle it with care. Once you are done reading the enclosed scrolls please give the vial to her. She will know what to do with it.
I have enclosed two scrolls in addition to the one you are currently reading. The larger scroll is the missive we received from the Grand Cleric. The second is Emmalynn's release from the Circle. The Senior Enchanter does not yet know that she's been released. Please read the Grand Cleric's letter now, then read the rest of this missive, and you will understand why.
Aedan reached for the scroll that had decoratively gilded edging. I've seen official chantry missives that Mother Mallol received from time to time. They all had this kind of edging. He felt the pull on his heart as he thought about all he'd lost at Highever. Clearing his mind, he continued to read.
~o~o~
25th of Justinian, 30th year of the Dragon Age
Knight-Commander Greagoir
Kinloch Hold
Dear Knight-Commander,
I have decided that we will provide mages to the Ferelden Warden-Commander, but not templars. Templars are the Chantry's best and most valuable resource and will remain at their posts doing their sworn duty of guarding mages in both the Kinloch and the Jainen Circles.
Enclosed is a list of mages that would best serve the Chantry by fighting at the side of the Wardens. Apprentice First Enchanter Emmalynn Amell is to lead the mages to Denerim. Unfortunately, as the mages will fight without templars, there is no way to determine if they become maleficarum. Therefore, you will instruct Apprentice First Enchanter Amell that she is to send any other mages that survive the battle to the Denerim chantry, before she returns to the circle.
May the Maker watch over you.
Elemena
Grand Cleric of Ferelden
~o~o~
"That b-" Surana began then Leliana caught his eye. "…bad. That's bad. Why isn't she sending templars?" He was both incensed and confused.
"I'm sure Gregoire will explain." Aedan resumed reading the Knight-Commander's letter.
As you have just read the Grand Cleric's letter, I can tell you that her intentional omission of templars is highly suspicious.
As you now know, the Grand Cleric has violated the treaty with the Grey, which requires both templars and mages in equivalent numbers. Additionally, the mages she's requested from Kinloch are all mages who survived Uldred's rebellion – it is likely she is refusing to send templars as an opportunity to carry out her own Right of Annulment.
Irving and I suspect that someone is trying to use Emmalynn. This is based in part on Grand Cleric Elemena explicitly naming her, which is highly uncharacteristic of a woman who could not remember Irving's name three months into his tenure at the Circle. The only way to stop Emmalynn being repeatedly used as a pawn is to release her from the Circle, and let her use her maker-given gift, which is wasted here.
We have not told her any of this and leave that to you. It is our hope that Emmalynn's genuine surprise at all of this will help flush out whoever is pulling the strings.
As for the mages who have been caught in the middle, I don't know what can be done. If the Maker is with us and you defeat the Blight, the Grand Cleric may not recognize the Right of Conscription. There is a precedent for this as traditionally the wardens could only conscript one mage per Circle.
I have also briefed Knight-Captain Hadley on the current situation. I sent him and a few templars to escort the mages and ordered them to stay. It isn't nearly enough but it is the best we can do.
In the end, Irving and I hope that you can get to the bottom of this and that Emmalynn can live a life of purpose, and happiness.
Regards,
Knight-Commander Greagoir
"The Knight Commander referred to M by her first name. He must really be concerned."
"I'm quite sure our host is involved, but how?" Aedan whispered. "Surana, let's go talk to Emmalynn and Alistair. Leliana, I mentioned receiving a note?"
Leliana nodded. "I received a note earlier from Erlina. The Queen has requested my presence, so I will be going upstairs."
"I will observe what our dear host is up to." Zevran grinned.
~oOOo~
After Teagan left, Eamon was alone in his office. "Well, clearly the plan has been set in motion."
~oOOo~
Finally, able to stem the tears, Emmalynn pulled back and wiped her eyes.
"Emma, when this is all done, when the Blight is over, I don't want you ever going back to the Circle. I'm not losing you again, Em."
"Ali…I…"
"I'd listen to him, M."
She looked to see a bemused Rana, who wasted no time coming into the room and pulling his best friend into a hug. "I've missed you, M." He pulled back, looking at the green mantle and remembering the Grand Cleric's orders. "You're Irving's apprentice?"
Before Emma could answer, Alistair asked, "What does it mean to be Irving's apprentice?"
"It means Irving and Greagoir are training me to be Irving's successor, the next First Enchanter." She plucked up an edge of the green fabric. "This is the mantle of the office so to speak."
"Son? Are you ready to lea-?" Teagan entered the room. "Emmalynn! You're the Commander Aedan was meeting?"
The healer nodded and curtsied. "Hello, Bann Teagan."
"Emmalynn, did you read the scrolls?" Aedan, who had quietly walked in behind Teagan, held three scrolls in his hand, his expression guarded.
"No. Greagoir explicitly told me not to. Why? What's wrong?"
"Emmalynn, the Knight-Commander included the orders from the Grand Cleric; there are things you don't know." Aedan gave the Grand Cleric's letter to Emmalynn. She read it, horrified as she read the last paragraph to everyone in the room.
Unfortunately, as the mages will fight without templars there is no way to determine if they become maleficarum. Therefore, you will instruct Apprentice First Enchanter Amell that she is to send any mages that survive the battle to the Denerim chantry.
"She wants to make Tranquil any of us who survive the battle! We are all harrowed mages. We've done nothing wrong!" Emmalynn went from angry to crestfallen as she figured it out. "Oh no, she's trying to carry out her own version of the Right of Annulment. All of the mages with me are those who survived Uldred's rebellion. What can we do?"
"M, you missed the part at the end where she wants you to return to the Circle."
"I don't care about that. I care about the mages I just led here. Mages I led from the only home they've really ever known. Mages who Elemena wants to treat as sacrificial lambs."
Alistair looked at Aedan. "Can you recruit any of the surviving mages into the wardens?"
Aedan and Surana both looked upset.
"Aedan, Rana?"
"Greagoir pointed out in his letter that if we succeed in stopping the Blight, Elemena would be within her rights not to allow conscription."
"What? Can she do that?" Alistair looked stunned.
Aedan sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. "Typically, the Wardens have only been allowed to recruit one mage per circle."
"Yeah, Duncan arrived at the circle to recruit his one mage, I was the one – and I had to be conscripted."
Emmalynn shook her head. "I will try to figure something out."
Aedan grinned. "It's not all bad news." He handed her the other scroll.
~o~o~o~
Let it be known that on this day
27th of Justinian in the 30th year of the Dragon Age
Emmalynn Amell Trevelyan
is released from the Circle of Magi and henceforth will be under the authority of the Crown of Ferelden
with all the rights and privileges to which a subject of the Crown is entitled
Knight Commander Greagoir
~o~o~o~
Emmalynn read it to herself. "It says I am to be placed under the authority of the Crown. Does that mean I'm to become a court healer?"
"No, Emmalynn," Aedan said excitedly, "it means you are to be a subject of the Crown like any other Fereldan. We are all subjects of the Crown, save for mages in the Circle. It means you're free!"
Emmalynn's head began to swim. She had been too worried to eat breakfast that morning and only had some cheese and bread mid-day. The lack of food coupled with her shock at the Grand Cleric's orders and at her own sudden freedom overwhelmed her. She felt her vision narrow to a pinpoint then fade to black.
Alistair caught her as she collapsed unconscious and laid her down on the sofa.
Rana was in motion. "I'll get Wynne."
Emmalynn had no idea how much time had passed as she slowly became aware of her surroundings. Alistair is cradling my head in his lap. Then she felt her former mentor's rejuvenating energy and opened her eyes to see Wynne, who arched her eyebrow pointedly. She knows, but this is not how I want Alistair to find out. "Thank you, Wynne."
"Do you feel like you can sit up?" Wynne asked.
Emmalynn nodded. Alistair helped her.
"I will have a servant bring up something for Emmalynn to eat." Wynne gave Emma a knowing look then left the room.
"Emmalynn, the Knight-Commander said to give this to you. He wrote that you would know what to do with it." Aedan pulled the glass vial out of the case. It was filled with a glowing liquid that became even brighter in her hand."
"It's my phylactery!" Seeing Alistair and Aedan's puzzled expressions she explained, "This vial contains blood taken from me when I first came to the circle. Every Circle mage has one. The blood is enchanted and acts as a tracking device if the mage escapes. As you see by how brightly mine glows in my hand." Emma frowned. "It's blood magic, and it's evil." She was about to throw it into the hearth fire.
"Wait! M, don't. Hold on to it. Maybe we can figure out how they actually work, and how to counter them."
Emmalynn looked skeptical but wrapped it and put it in her pack
"Why is Elemena doing this?" Surana asked.
"It sounds to me as if Grand Cleric Elemena is trying to flex her muscle in the absence of power from the throne. Ever since the Marcher treaty, which Maric helped negotiate, Elemena has been less combative." Teagan observed.
"There is only one voice that Fereldans will heed over the Chantry... A Theirin King." Eamon entered the room, focused on Alistair as he spoke.
AN: Big Thanks to my beta ElyssaCousland! Thanks to Melysande for the reviews and support. Thank you to those following this tale. I hope you enjoy the reunion, so far.