Chapter 98: True Lies
The wardens managed to reach Lake Calenhad with no further attacks from Loghain forces or bounty hunters. A Templar patrol they met on the road escorted them straight to the circle tower without a single act of trouble.
Morrigan was understandably hesitant to accept the men's offer, but given what the Templars had faced during Uldred's recently failed coup, the chantry's defenders had little interest in causing trouble over a single apostate travelling in the warden ranks.
That night they dined at the Spoiled Princess, while word was sent to the tower about purchasing replacement supplies for the ones that had been lost during Lady Cousland's attack. The First Enchanter was more than willing to help his former apprentice and his allies continue on their journey. Greagoir even offered the group his latest report on troop movements along the western bank of Lake Calenhad. A necessary precaution until they were able to make it deep enough into the Frostback Mountains. According to Brother Genitivi's research, the village of Haven was nestled somewhere in the southern section of the mountain range. They had even managed to find a map of the old hunting routes that the scholar himself intended to take.
All put together, it should have made finding the secluded village simple enough, provided that they did not get lost or run into any other issues.
Alim tried several times to speak with Fergus, finding out his sister was alive, but fighting on the other side, was not likely the way that man had hoped that some of his kin had survived. The knight remained silent for the most part, asking only that the others give him time, and let him come to grips with what had happened on his own.
Kally, being Kally, did not let that happen she refused to leave Fergus to himself. Despite the loss of part of her ear, she refused to rest, not if it meant that Fergus would be alone. It seemed that the conversation the two had had a few days earlier had transformed the elf's opinion of their noble born companions, the two seemed back to being friends again.
She did not question him about it, or try to help. She simply stayed close, and let him know, that if he needed someone to talk to, she was there.
In the end, what more could a person ask for?
The others took their brief stop as a chance to not only rest, but find some greatly needed diversions. Wynne had several new books sent over from the tower. Theron took the time to make repairs to his Dalish armor and weapons both had seen a lot of use since he had escaped the warden compound all those months ago. Kally lured Fergus, Seri, Zevran and Sten into a game of diamond back. The Qunari had seemed confused by the rules of the game at first.
The elf had smiled when she heard he had never played before. A smile that fell when the Qunari walked off with half of his companions' gold.
She glared at the Qunari, who took their money had purchased a bag of cookies from the Princess's store.
"Don't know the rules my ass," she growled at the Qunari's back.
For the first time since their encounter with Elissa, Fergus smiled slightly.
She noticed it but said nothing.
It was an expensive night, but perhaps the fact that she had made her hurting friend smile, made it worth it.
Oghren seemed uncomfortable; he chose to stay with Shayle and the Feddics by the wagon. He had seemed distracted since he had seen a small dwarven tavern girl helping the owner unload stock from a wagon.
Alim made note to ask the dwarf about that in the morning, he could not think of a single time he had seen the dwarven berserker uncomfortable. That alone made this a story that he wanted to hear.
Morrigan had vanished shortly after they arrived. She had murmured something to Alistair about needing to hunt something. He offered her a key to his room; she gave him an arched look, but finally accepted.
Alim shook his head at the couple.
He still was not sure what to make of them. Yes, he had teased Alistair often about Morrigan since they had first left the Korcari Wilds together; he was just surprised to see that they were still…well…together.
Morrigan, she seemed a little lost since her mother had been defeated. He had been meaning to talk with her, see if she needed something one mage to another, but sometimes…it felt she was avoiding him.
He wondered what that was about.
So many questions, he thought with a sigh.
He would likely need to answer them, but tonight….
Tonight…he had other plans, or rather, Leliana did.
He was determined not to disappoint her.
The bard seemed…better since their little talk. Over dinner she thanked him for helping her see the truth about her situation. She had decided that he was right. She had come to accept that she was nothing like Marjolaine. Her bard master had believed in nothing beside wealth and her own appetites. Leliana knew her faith in the Maker, and between that, and her love for Alim, she believed that she would not fall.
He had smiled warmly at her, gently messaging her hand.
"I'm glad you're feeling better," he said.
She smiled wolfishly.
"Come upstairs," she purred, "I'll show you just how good I'm feeling."
The comment made him swallow hard, the look in eyes, the warm glow on her face.
She sauntered lazily up the stairs, he found himself watching those swaying hips.
Maker save him. She looked as good from behind as she did from the front.
Zevran noticed what had passed between them, and chuckled.
Alim blushed, and almost told the assassin to shut up.
Of course, why did he need to, especially when he had Leli waiting upstairs for him?
No, the elf let Zev go, unrebuked. He had better things to do tonight…
…much better things.
He excused himself and followed her upstairs to their room. They had not been intimate since Marjolaine had been killed.
That night, Leliana made up for it.
As soon as he entered their room she was upon him like a hungry predator. She practically tore off his clothes and made love to him as if it was their last night together. She showed him a side of herself he had not known existed. Even the legendary warden stamina was no doubt tested by her…skills.
When it was over, she lay curled up next to him. Her blue eyes shining like the brightest stars.
He lay their panting.
"Wow," he murmured.
The bard giggled.
"I take it you enjoyed that?"
All he could do was nod.
Leliana's smile widened, as she ran her finger gently down his chest. Her eyes seemed distant, like she was a thousand miles away.
"I did not think that I wanted my bardic side anymore," she cooed, "I thought that side of me was dead, but it is not, is it?"
"It helped shape who you are today," he replied, trying to will his rapidly beating heart to slow down.
He curled into her, gently messaging her bare thigh.
"And what you are is quite nice."
She smirked at him.
"I think you are more than a little bias," she replied.
"More than a little, I'm…I'm crazy about you."
She kissed him deeply, drawing his passions to forefront yet again.
When she pulled away, he growled hungrily.
"Maker's breath woman, what has come over you?"
She grinned.
"The Maker says that we should endeavor to do good, to care for his world and protect those who deserve it, but that does not mean that we cannot enjoy ourselves, fulfilling our…appetites so to speak…is not against his will."
She gave him a sexy smile.
"Fulfill my appetites dearest," she purred, "And I shall fulfil yours."
He took her again, making her hot, making her want him even more.
In the morning, they would need to begin their journey to Haven. They would have to be cunning and careful, but not tonight.
Tonight belonged to them.
Two willing loving animals, losing themselves in their mutual desire, it was not wrong; it was the way of the world.
His world.
It was as Leliana would say.
The Maker's will be done.
The Blight would still be there when they woke.
They would deal with it tomorrow.
Tonight was for them.
IOI
The moon rose full and large over the shore of Lake Calenhad. Night creatures emerged and began their soothing song. A single Templar patrol returned from a search of a nearby farmhouse. The farmer and his family had already fled, but the Templars searched anyway, a trader had seen people moving about on the property. The Templar went to make sure that none of them were mages. Some of Uldred's people remained unaccounted for, and Greagoir wanted to make sure that none of Uldred's followers had escaped the chantry's justice.
Morrigan watched the fools pass. She wore the form of a wolf this eve. Her amber eyes flashed her mussel still red with the sweet blood of her kill.
She enjoyed hunting for food in this form, the simplicity of her emotions, the thrill of the hunt, the warm satisfaction of the kill.
She loved it, she loved it all.
Flemeth had once threatened her with a spell that would have prevented her from returning to human form. That if he daughter preferred to remain an animal then she would grant her wish, grant it and let her spend the rest of her days dodging hunters and predators in the forest.
At the time, the threat had scared young Morrigan, and she had not ventured out in animal form for almost a month afterward.
Now that she was older, she understood.
It had been just another joy that her mother had tried to deny her. Another step in turning her into a bitter sack waiting to be filled, it was a road she refused to walk any longer. Flemeth no longer had any power over her.
She would not give the old woman another thought.
Thanks to Alim, she now had the grimoire, and within its pages she had found everything she needed to complete the plan herself. What Flemeth had sought, it was still viable, and now that she was free of the threat of being possessed.
She could make the plan her own.
She could reap the rewards on her own.
Strangely, that did not seem as appealing as it once would have.
The Morrigan/wolf glanced at the inn, at the room that Alistair no doubt slept in, part of her longed to go to his side, her animal instincts filling her body with a different kind of need.
The quest for food was always good.
...The act of taking a mate…equally so.
She tried to resist losing herself to the urges, but it was not an easy thing. She thought of Alistair, her dear handsome fool, her wonderful dupe.
Why should she not enjoy herself this eve?
Flemeth's face seemed to appear before her, the old woman's disapproving gaze sapped her confidence.
She glared at her daughter.
What are you doing girl?
Enjoying myself Mother, what else.
She could almost hear Flemeth's snort with disappointment.
You are fooling yourself now girl. You can try to pretend that the boy means nothing to you, but I know better.
He is a tool mother, a means to an end.
And yet you let him hurt you when he did not tell you of his birthright? Why were you hurt by that? If he means nothing to you, why do you care what secrets he keeps?
She found that she had no answer to that, and in the silence of her mind, she heard Flemeth's mocking laughter.
My foolish little dear, somewhere along the lines of your deception, you lost your focus. You are as ensnared as that boy is.
Tis not true mother.
Then prove it dear girl.
I have nothing to prove to you anymore!
Never the less you will. You need to end your dalliance with the fool.
But the plan…
You don't need to be stringing him along for the sake of the plan. You have lost your perspective.
I have not.
You are in love with the boy.
Love is fleeting.
But you are thinking that it has meaning? Tell me girl, do you think that you will be able to remain with him when all of this is done? That you will live in his palace, that he will gift you fine jewels and dresses, and you will be his beloved Mistress?
I never wanted that.
Then you should have no problem stepping away from him, will you?
Morrigan's mind spun. She…she could not…
It was not possible.
It was not fair!
She growled with fury, yet Flemeth's face refused to leave her mind.
She thought of Alistair and she thought of Flemeth, a single thought blazed across her mind. It rumbled like thunder inside her head, four simple words:
I won't do it!
Yes you will!
I will not!
Yes, you will.
I am no longer a child! You cannot order me around anymore!
Again she thought she heard Flemeth's mocking laughter.
Oh child, you are forgetting that I'm dead. We are not having a conversation. I am you, and you know what is best for the plan.
The Morrigan wolf growled, yes, she knew but…
You know what you must do.
Yes, she did…but…
But…
She could not deny that a part of he no longer wanted to carry out the plan. Part of her did want to stay with Alistair, but if she did that…
All that she had toiled for in the last few months would be gone.
She howled loudly, the night air carrying the sound up to the very moon itself.
She howled not just in frustration, but grief as well.
When she tried to focus, to remember the plan, his face kept springing up in her mind, and in that moment she knew that she had made a grave error.
She thought that by seducing Alistair he would be her pawn, and when the time came to carry out her plan, she would have a willing partner to give her what she needed.
She had been wrong.
Alistair had gotten inside of her, not just her body but her soul. She was no longer thinking clearly about the plan. She had been lying to herself, trying to convince herself that it all wasn't true.
Yet it was true. It was all true.
She had lied to herself, and now…she was not exactly sure how she could get out of this.
She had thought herself the hunter in her pursuit of Alistair, but it seemed that she had been wrong.
She was also the prey, his prey…
…Which left one important question.
How was she going to get out of this?
Love was fleeting, it had no meaning. She believed that.
She knew it to be true.
The wolf growled low in the back of her throat. She transformed back into a woman before stepping out of the shadows.
She would not tolerate such weakness, not in herself.
Tis time to end this," she growled under her breath.
But even as she said the words, she also heard the truth.
Easier said…
Than done.
A/N: Next Chapter: A little bit left at the Princess then it is off to Haven, only two more chapters until we crack one hundred!
See you all next time!