Chapter 27

"So... are we going to talk about how Morrigan's mother moonlights as a dragon?" Alistair looked around. "No? Okay."

It had been an interesting stroll through the woods, to say the least. What better way to spend the night than being slapped around by Darkspawn and shapeshifting mages in quick succession?

Ah, if only I could take a holiday.

"Flemeth is old," Leliana said, "and shapeshifting is very ancient magic, or so I'm told."

"Didn't move like a pile of old bones," Aedan muttered. "Sprightly as a young maiden running off with her lover, Maker."

Alistair chuckled. "You really think she would've taken Morrigan's body? Is that even possible?"

"You're the Templar. You tell me."

"Wouldn't know. Had I kept at it, maybe they'd have let me in on the good stuff."

"What little you do know saved us, Alistair," Leliana reminded him. "Who knows what may have happened otherwise."

"My hero," Aedan supplied from the other side.

While it was true that Smiting had worked just as well on Flemeth in her dragon form, Alistair didn't feel particularly heroic. Being tail slapped by a dragon had shattered his breastplate and he'd sprained his ankle after being smacked into a tree. He'd made it back to camp only because of Aedan and Leliana's support.

Wynne, Morrigan and Zevran had secured the campsite with all manner of traps, both magical and mechanical. That had allowed them to sleep once Wynne had sorted out Alistair's foot.

Now, after consuming a heavy lunch, the party was resting. Wynne was by Solona's bedside, who'd woken up around midday. She seemed fine, if weak. Aedan had decided to break the news to her later on, after having explained the situation to the others. Alistair did not envy him.

"So d'you think she's dead, then?" Alistair asked him. Aedan had, after all, delivered the finishing blow. "Flemeth I mean."

"No, I don't think so. Neither does Morrigan." He smiled darkly. "Someone as wily as Flemeth... take more than that to kill her, I reckon."

"So what'll you do if she comes after Mor-"

"I'll kill her again," Aedan snapped. "I'll kill her as many times as she shows her face. I've lost enough. Anybody tries to take what I have left, they die."

With that, he got up and carried his empty bowl towards the pond to rinse it clean. Alistair watched him go. You just had to leave me alone with her? Right. Time to make awkward conversation!

Turning to Leliana, he said, "He can be scary sometimes."

"Perhaps, but I understand his sentiments."

"As do I." He sighed and chewed on the last piece of potato in his bowl. "In hindsight, this was a good thing, I think."

"Hmm?"

"I'll forever get to lord over Morrigan. Tell her that she owes not having her body snatched to this ol' fool of a Templar."

Smiling, Leliana shook her head. "Silly. But I was thinking..."

"What?"

"Flemeth saved your life, yes? After you were overpowered at the tower?"

"Yes. That's what she told us, anyway."

"And you helped kill her. How does that make you feel?"

Alistair took a deep breath and hummed. He hadn't thought of it that way. Biting the hand that feeds you... not exactly the best thing in the world to do.

"The way I see it," he said as he lay down on the grass and folded his hands behind his head, "is that Flemeth, while she saved us, also tried to sabotage our party. Morrigan, horrible as she is, is still a valued comrade. Losing her would significantly reduce our chances of ending the Blight. So in this case, it's justified as far as I'm concerned. Never really liked the old crone, you know? Too nutty."

When Leliana didn't reply, Alistair turned to look at her. She sat there, one leg drawn up and the other folded. She seemed to be staring at the grass, but her eyes were distant. As if she were replaying some long-lost memory in her head. She hummed when he called her name, but didn't look at him.

"Leli, are you okay?"

"Yes. Just... thinking."

Something she didn't feel like sharing, then. Alistair looked up, watching the winter sun trying to find a way to reach him through the foliage. He closed his eyes and smiled.

"You know, after all that happened to Solona, I'm really starting to appreciate how ephemeral everything is. We're all of us trying to reach... somewhere. Some of us make it. Some don't. All they leave behind is regret. I don't want to be like that." He opened his eyes and looked at her again. Found her looking at him, cheek resting on her knees and hair falling over her face. She looked beautiful. "I'm glad we're going to Denerim next. I want to look someone up. I'm afraid if I don't, I might not get the chance later."

"Would this be some former lover of yours?"

"A former what? No. No!" Alistair sat up bolt upright. "D'you really think I'd suggest to go see... with you?! No! I was talking about my sister!"

Now she was grinning. "You have a sister?"

"Mmm yeah. Half-sister, I suppose. A daughter my mother had before she met the King. I only learned about her after joining the Wardens. Did some checking. Turns out she lives in Denerim."

"But that's wonderful news! Have you contacted her?"

Rubbing the back of his head, Alistair said, "No. I doubt she even knows I exist."

"And you want to meet her."

"I guess? I mean, she's the only family I have left, you know? The only family not mixed up with the whole royal thing." He shrugged. "Maybe I can help her, warn her of the dangers. Help her evacuate, I don't know. "

"I think you should."

"I think I should, too." He lay back down. "Her name's Goldanna. She remarried, I think. Lives outside the Alienage, as far as I remember."

"That's good. You've been thorough with your checking."

"I had to be. But anyways, I was hoping maybe you could accompany me?" He felt like an idiot as soon as he said it. "I get nervous and tend to blabber and you can slap some sense into me, I mean."

With a little laugh, Leliana nodded. "Of course, Alistair. I would love to accompany you. I'd like to meet your sister myself."

"Thanks, Leli." He smiled at her. "This means a lot."

"Oh, don't mention it. Though I wonder..."

"What?"

"Why are you so against taking me to meet former lovers?"

I knew it! I knew it'd come back to bite me in the arse! Bloody gingers.

In a poor attempt to hide his blush, Alistair turned away from Leliana but couldn't shield himself from her giggles. He frowned to himself.

"Oh, shut up."