Chapter 156: Now Choose
She did not speak again until they were in her quarters, and the door was locked behind them.
Despite the fire burning in the hearth, Alim shuddered.
The journey here had been…unusual to say the least. The hallway had seemed deserted, despite it being filled with both soldiers and their companions. He was still worried about Leliana, worried and a little bit angry that the witch would ensorcell one of their company with barely a thought of what that meant. Normally he would have chided the witch on her decision, such actions used upon one of their company was most unacceptable.
Alas, what was happening here now, felt far from normal.
He watched as Morrigan leaned her staff against the wall. The shadows seemed to grow darker as he watched. The light seemed to leech from the very room. All color seemed to be fading from the room, mere shadows seemed to grow longer, longer and sharper, and it felt like they were reaching for him, as if some dark thing was in the room with them, waiting, and holding its breath.
Alim barely suppressed a shiver.
Something was most definitely going on here, and Morrigan, one of the first of their companions was at the heart of it.
He watched as she moved, her pale skin and dark leathers, in the growing dark only the witch seemed untouched by the shadows, she had become a wraith of black and white. The only color in the room that he could see was the glowing fire in the hearth near the bed, and the golden glow of the witch's eyes in the rising darkness.
"I apologize for the secrecy, Alim," she purred softly, "But what I have to say is not for the ears of those we have allied with."
The witch pursed her lips.
"Even our own companions would not likely understand what we discuss here tonight."
The elf's eyes narrowed, he almost responded with a snarky comment, but any such remark died on his lips as he looked again into Morrigan's eyes.
He found himself thinking back to their first meeting shortly after his arrival in Ostagar. He remembered how she had appeared out of nowhere, and how that sudden appearance had frightened, or at the very least, unnerved his fellows…
Back then, Alim had felt no fear, he had not sensed anything more than he would have sensed in any other mage. She had seemed dangerous, yes, but that had seemed more like a challenge than any real threat.
What he felt now, what he sensed now from the witch was something far more…
What he was feeling now sent a chill down his spine.
"And what exactly would the others not understand?" he asked.
Morrigan smiled and sat down on the foot of the bed, she motioned for him to join her, but Alim remained where he was. The witch's smile faltered.
For the briefest of moment there was a tense silence, an unspoken war of wills between the two companions.
Morrigan broke it with a chuckle.
"After all that we have endured," she said, "You still do not trust me?"
His elven ears lowered slightly.
"I don't trust the situation," he informed her.
Her smile returned.
"Then you have been paying attention," she said with a nod.
"Good."
The elf felt his patience starting to wear thin. After everything that he had heard tonight he was not in the mood to banter back and forth with his companion.
"You said that you know about the wardens, and what it takes to end the life of an Archdemon?"
She nodded.
"You also said that you had a way to change that fate?"
"I offer a way out," she said crossing her legs demurely, "A way to end the Blight without the death of you or any of your fellow wardens. I offer a chance to end the Blight with no sacrifice."
Her smile widened.
"Surely such an offer is worth your consideration?"
Alim snorted.
After what Riordan had told him, most would have jumped at Morrigan's offer. The chance to cheating certain death, many would have seen such an offer as too good to pass up.
Alim was not so foolish. The sacrifice that Riordan described, the power to destroy the soul of an old god, it would take some powerful magic.
His elven ears twitched.
Such power did not come without a price.
"I'm listening," he said, "I owe you that much after everything we have faced together."
Morrigan nodded, accepting his logic.
"Even with your limited Circle training, you must know that what I offer is no simple thing. Tis something beyond the scope of what most modern mages would understand."
"What is it?" he asked.
Her expression turned serious.
"A ritual, performed on the eve of battle in dead of night."
Alim's eyes narrowed.
"And where exactly did this ritual come from Morrigan?"
"From Flemeth of course," she answered, "From a time long before the Circle of Magi was ever created."
She shrugged.
"It could be called blood magic, perhaps, but tis not what the zealots of the chantry or the sheep of the Circle would normally classify as such. Tis old magic, from a time long forgotten, any tales that remain would likely be called legend or myth now."
Despite his sense of unease, Alim sneered.
"So that is what this has been all about?"
Morrigan nodded.
"This is why Flemeth saved Alistair and me back in Ostagar?"
"Tis the reward she sought, though neither of you would have been willing to grant what she wanted had you known."
The elf almost spat.
Now he understood why Flemeth had had to die. Whatever role Morrigan had been meant to play, Flemeth had never intended her daughter to see the fruits of their labors. She simply would have taken her daughter's body and had…whatever it was they wanted to herself.
Alim almost snarled.
He had been a bloody fool.
They all had.
"And now that reward is all yours," he said, his voice dripping with venom.
He glared at her.
"Well played."
"There is no reason for hostility Alim," she said, she almost sounded hurt, though that might have been an act as well.
"You knew what I was, you always have known. Is it so hard to accept that I had my own motives and reasons to end the Blight?"
His glare lost some of its heat, but still he was disgusted.
He had thought that he had gotten through to her; he thought they had all gotten through to her.
Love is fleeting and has no meaning, she had said.
Survival has meaning.
Power has meaning.
He had thought she had come to question those beliefs.
It seemed…that he had been mistaken.
"What exactly is this ritual Morrigan? What part do I have to play to save everyone?
Her expression became more thoughtful.
"Your part is why I cast my sleep spell on Leliana," she said, "Tis better that she not know what I ask."
"And what is that?" he demanded.
"Tis simple," she said, "You shall lay with me, tonight, and from our union, a child with be conceived."
Alim's ears rose in surprise.
She…she wanted…
Him…and her…she…they…?
Oh Maker!
"This child," Morrigan continued, "Will carry the taint, a small piece of it. When the Archdemon is destroyed, the creature's spirit will seek out that taint…like a beacon."
The witch's expression changed, becoming almost euphoric.
"The Archdemon's soul will take root within the child, and there it will be contained, thus no Grey Warden will have to perish. The Blight will end with no sacrifice being necessary."
She turned serious then.
"When this is done you will let me go, and you will not follow, ever. The child will be mine to raise, and shape as I see fit."
He gave her a look of pure disgust.
"That child will be a darkspawn," he spat.
"No," she said, "It will be changed; the darkness…the taint has corrupted the creature's body, that corruption will be destroyed with the beast. What I shall take into me will be the spirit of the old god, not the darkness that twisted it."
"A child," she continued, "Born with the soul of an old god, tis a chance for an ancient power to be reborn apart from the taint, to be preserved, and to become something better."
"And what shall become of this child Morrigan?" he demanded. What she suggested, what she wanted, it disgusted him, and yet…yet…
He found himself not able to turn her down flat.
Not yet…
"The child will…represent freedom, tis a chance to salvage something of a world long forgotten."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Such a thing will not simply be hidden in a bog, it deserves more, and will be more. The child will need to learn about the world. Symbols should be seen, should they not Alim?"
She smiled again.
"You can see why I did not trust Flemeth with this. She would have considered the child just another vessel, a stepping stone to becoming more powerful."
"In my care, such a child would become something more, far more."
He crossed his arms.
"I have not said yes," he reminded her.
"Yet you should," she said, "Why should you die, when there is so much to be gained."
"And all I have to do is hand you the power of an old god? You will excuse me if I don't see the wisdom in that?"
Her expression turned ugly.
"Do not be a fool!" she spat.
"I'm not," he said, "I'm simply refusing to be a pawn."
Her golden eyes flashed.
"Alim," she said through gritted teeth.
"Why me?" he demanded, "Is some game to hurt Leliana?"
"I care nothing for hurting your girl," she said, "If anything I have sought to protect her from this, why else would I have used my magic upon her?"
The witch frowned.
"I have come to…respect her," she admitted, "I would not see her pained over this."
"Why not one of the others?" he demanded, "Riordan, Theron, Alistair."
"Riordan had been tainted too long, the ritual would not work," she snarled back, "Theron has been tainted far worse than you, it might have jeopardized the ritual. Jowan is a weak fool, he might have survived the taint, but he offers nothing beyond his mistakes. You…you are like me. A part of something ancient, the old magics are in our blood, the legacy of Flemeth bound to the legacy of the Stormbreakers, such a union would yield a being of incredible power."
"What about Alistair?" he asked, "After what you two shared…"
"Alistair is not suitable either!"
"Why?"
Anger flashed in her golden eyes.
"You know why," she hissed angrily.
"Because he cares for you?"
"Because he would not be able to let me go, let us go, he would want to see the child, and that must not happen. It will need time to grow into its destiny. He would waste its time preparing it to be his heir, when its legacy would be far more than any mere crown. His allies would never accept it anyway. I would be no fit consort for a king, It…it would be a waste, for both of us. I would not be able to focus on what needed to be done if I stayed. His foolishness would ruin the child, it almost ruined me. It…it…"
The witch swallowed hard.
"Tis not possible," she almost sobbed.
"I…I would not be able to let go."
Alim blinked not sure what to make of what he had just heard.
Despite everything that Morrigan had said, it was clear why she could not use Alistair to complete her plan, and it had nothing to do with power, or the ancient magics that ran in Alim's blood.
Morrigan, the dreaded witch of the wilds, was afraid. She was afraid that her affection for Alistair would not only spoil her plan, but bring pain down on Alistair as well. She was right that the nobles would never accept a prince or princess born from a lowborn witch, and even if they did, they would take the child from her, to turn it into a proper little noble.
Morrigan did not want that.
The witch shook her head.
"Alistair is unsuitable," she repeated, "That is all you need to know."
He nodded grimly.
Yes, he thought, I know.
He sighed heavily.
"You think I'm afraid to die, Morrigan?" he asked.
"I see no reason why you should die, not if there is a chance to escape such a fate."
"That price maybe too high."
The witch's eyes narrowed; clearly he was not the only one getting frustrated.
"It is more than just a chance to live," she said, "You can slay the beast and live. You have the chance to be the first warden to survive a final battle with an Archdemon; you will be a hero, remembered forever."
"That will happen if I die as well."
"Perhaps," she admitted, "But what if you should fail? What if Alistair is forced to take the final blow? Do you believe that he would hesitate to give his life to save his country? Think of Leliana, do you think she will wish to lose the man she loves?"
"Leli would understand," he said, "It would hurt her, but she would understand?"
"Would she," Morrigan said giving him an arched look, "If not for her, think of your legacy? You are the last of the Stormbreakers. All their power and wisdom will die with you if you take the final blow. It will all be lost, never to be recovered."
"Perhaps that is for the best," he said.
Morrigan growled, her patience wearing thin.
"Foolish," she hissed, "Stupid little man."
She glared at him. He glared right back.
The tension was like a storm waiting to be unleashed.
Alim knew a lot about storms, but Morrigan knew much about him.
"There is one last thing," she said, "One last reason why you should consider my offer."
"If I won't do it for love, fame, or power," he said, "What else could you possibly offer me?"
Her smile returned, dark and cruel.
"The future," she said.
Alim's ears twitched.
"Whose future?"
"Yours," she said, "Yours and Leliana's"
She shook her head.
"Foolish man. Have you not noticed the change?"
"Change?"
"Indeed," she said, "a change that makes all that you have faced before seem like nothing. When I cast my spell on Leliana I found something, something that even she does not yet realize."
Morrigan smirked.
"Fair Leliana has come to see herself as a bit of a seer, but now she has no more visions, why is that?"
"How do you know she has no more…?"
"Because such a gift does not stay when it can be passed on, and passed on it has."
"Passed on to who? What are you…?"
Alim froze. He thought about what she had said to him.
Change.
Passing on.
She.
He.
They.
"No," he murmured.
Morrigan smiled.
"Yes warden," she purred, "Yes."
He looked at her.
She was wrong, he thought.
She had to be wrong!
"It is impossible," he said.
"Yet it is not," she said, "I sensed it when I made sure that she was sleeping soundly, safe, that my spell had done its work."
She grinned at him.
"Such a tiny thing," she said, "But it reshapes the entire world, just as my child will."
Alim was speechless.
Morrigan chuckled.
"Tis a girl, I think," She said, "If she will inherit your power, I cannot say, the union of human and elf can be…troublesome."
He glared at Morrigan.
He thought about what she had said, what she was hinting at.
He had no problem giving his life, but if this was true? If it was...he...he?
His hands were shaking, he pinned her with his coldest look.
"Damn you," he murmured.
"Damn you to the void!"
Morrigan sighed.
"Would you leave such a child without a father?" she asked, "Would you leave Leliana to face such a challenge alone?"
Alim glared and her silently.
In that moment he knew what needed to be done. Even if he did not wish it, it was not something so easily denied.
Morrigan could have gloated, could have crowed in triumph yet she did not, not with him. She seemed resolute, and perhaps a little sad, even in her moment of triumph.
She sighed.
"I told you once that I would always treasure your friendship, even when it seemed that I was unworthy of it. I would not blame you if you hated me for bringing this offer to you. Tis I that put you in this position; know only that I did not seek harm, only the chance to safeguard something beyond either you or me."
I ask only that you be the man I know you to be Alim," she said.
"I ask you to choose, now."
He let out a shuddering breath.
She rose and put a hand on his shoulder, her touch gentle, consoling.
She gave him a sad smile.
"Now…choose."