Chapter 33

"What were you talking about?" Alistair asked suspiciously. "What did she want? It was nothing good, was it? She told you I got Sophia Dryden's room, didn't she? I have a haunted room, don't I? I knew I smelt rot in there! I'm telling you right now, Morrigan had something to do with it."

As far as he was concerned, anything to do with Morrigan was bad news. It was a universal truth. Did the sun rise in the east? Yes. Were Orlesians weird? Oui. Was Morrigan trouble? Absolutely. The only thing worse than Morrigan was Morrigan talking to Leliana. Who knew what kind of witchy poison she'd be pouring down Leliana's ears!

The woman herself didn't appear much affected. Leliana had been smiling happily as Morrigan left, which had turned into a giggle at his words. "She was thanking me, Alistair."

What in the name of fuck?!

"You–she–what?!" Alistair spluttered. The news was akin to having a Darkspawn come up to him and ask for sugar, or something. "She did what? To you? Why? How?"

Evidently, there was something amusing about his reaction because the redhead broke into laughter. "Oh, you silly. She wanted to thank me for my part in dealing with Flemeth."

Oh, this is much worse. "Morrigan? Being nice? Are we talking about the same Morrigan, here? Witchy and bitchy? Turns into spiders to scare me? Made fun of me instead of helping me that one time I got dehydrated and started screaming about Darkspawn and running into trees?"

"To be fair, everybody laughed at that last one."

"She laughed the loudest, okay? But anyway, she thanked you? Actually thanked you?"

"Yes, Alistair. She actually thanked me."

"Well. That's something." Then a horrible, horrible thought struck him. "Oh no." Alistair paled. "She's going to thank me too, isn't she?"

"I think she might."

Alistair rubbed his cheek nervously. Need to shave soon. "I'm going to have to stand near her and look at her and listen to her–damn you, Flemeth."

"You brought this on yourself," she said with a quiet laugh and started walking towards the tower Alistair falling in step beside her. "But how do you like your new headquarters?"

Twirling his latest acquisition–a metal rod–between his fingers, Alistair pondered on the question. Soldier's Keep had been a Warden fortress back in the day and was still in good shape, and was readily defensible from its place tucked into the mountains. But it was a sinister place with a dark history, and though the Veil was no longer a problem, the atmosphere still gave him goosebumps.

"It's a start," he said cautiously. "This can be a rallying point for the armies against the Blight. Afterwards, when we're rebuilding the Wardens, at least we'll have a base."

"But you don't like it."

"Wouldn't make my home here, that's for certain."

He doubted anyone who knew what had transpired here would. Alistair, as a Warden, knew that they had to do anything necessary to meet their goals. But when those means involved summoning demons to win a battle, that's when he started doubting his life choices. Sophia Dryden, for all her charisma and tactical brilliance, had crossed a line that he never would be able to forgive.

The thought that gave him trouble was whether Duncan would have made the same choice in the same situation? Would Aedan? Would he? Was it only a matter of time and experience before he became a twisted monster of logic?

Aedan was halfway there. The way he'd played the demon-possessed Sophia Dryden and decided to keep Avernus–a Warden mage who'd kept himself alive for centuries using blood magic and experimented on his fellow Wardens–around showed a fiercely pragmatic worldview. Aedan was more of a Warden than he himself was and that was the bitter truth.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah. Just thinking." He placed his elbows on the crenellations and leant forward. "Say what you will about this place, but it's got a grand view."

It was true. He could see the entirety of northern Ferelden stretched out before him. To the north, he could even see the coastline o the Free Marches. Leliana just hummed.

"I agree, but what have you there?"

"Oh, this?" He brought up the metal rod that he'd been twirling between his fingers. "Apparently, this is a golem control rod. Levi gave it to me. Said he'd had it lying around for years. I thought it'd be a good thing to scratch my back with, you know? Those places you can't reach? Well, not anymore!"

Leliana said nothing for a bit. "Is it real?"

"So he says. Apparently there's a golem in Honnleath. Right in the middle of the square. This thing is supposed to wake it up."

"Are you planning on going there, then?"

"If I do, I'm taking Solona with me. Show her Cullen's hometown. Maybe she'll like it."

She smiled warmly at that and Alistair felt the familiar feeling of his heart wanting to jump out of his chest. Oh, here we go again.

"That is very sweet of you, Alistair. I think you should go."

Say it. Say it now. "Well." He shuffled his feet but kept his eyes on hers. "Uh, you can come along too, if you want. I doubt Solona would want to travel with just me. It'd bore her greatly."

Leliana hummed. Said nothing. Alistair fought back an eye-roll. Damn woman.

"I'd like you to come along, too." He rubbed the back of his neck. "If you want to, that is."

It was awkward and embarrassing to ask, but it was worth it when he saw a grin split her face.

"I would love to."

Love to? Really? Oh no. I'm grinning like an idiot now, too. Good job, me. Ugh. You and your awkward Templar ways.

Before he could pull his head out of the ground and suitably answer, the person in question rounded the corner and headed straight for them. Solona Amell looked tense and worried and upon being asked what the matter was, she bit her lip.

"Have any of you seen Aedan?"

Alistair exchanged a look with Leliana. She shook her head. The last he'd seen him was last night at dinner. He looked over at Solona. "Has something happened?"

"I can't find him. I've looked everywhere," she answered. "I think he's gone."

"Gone?" Leliana sounded flabbergasted. "Gone where?"

Alistair looked out over the horizon. Watched the entirety of northern Ferelden stretched out before him. "I think I know."

Both Leliana and Solona looked at him expectantly and he pointed eastwards, straight at Highever, tiny in the distance.

"He's gone home."

A/N: Next chapter will be from Aedan's POV.