Chapter Forty-Nine: A Meeting of Gods

"Leliana, would you mind explaining who I am to them? I'm getting a little tired of having the same conversation over and over," I request.

She chuckles. "Yes, it is probably best that I prepare them."

Leliana walks over to where Alistair and Morrigan are talking in the garden. A young boy, maybe around nine years of age, stands with them. So this is the boy. Urthemiel. Toth stirs, and Alistair cuts a sharp look in my direction. Could he feel Toth just now? I know that the Joining ceremony the Grey Wardens undergo gives them the ability to sense darkspawn, but I didn't suspect they would be able to know her just from his soul.

Leliana launches into a discussion with them, and I see a multitude of expressions cross their faces before she waves me over.

"Hello," I say shyly, not knowing what to expect.

"I felt you just now," Alistair says. "It's true, you have an Archdemon's soul."

Leliana nods. "I know her claims seem improbable, but they have all proven true so far."

"She said she knew Mother," Morrigan states.

"Flemeth?" Alistair asks, and continues without confirmation, "but we killed her."

"You killed Flemeth?" I gasp. "Why would you do that? Wait...when was this?"

"During the Fifth Blight," he answers.

"And as to why," Morrigan continues, "you knew Mother. She always had an agenda. She prolonged her life by possessing the bodies of her daughters. I had no desire to end up like the others." She doesn't know, then, about Mythal.

"I have reason to believe that she lives."

Three worried stares. "But the Hero slew her. I was there," Leliana insists.

"As was I," Alistair adds. "She turned into a blasted dragon, it was a terrible fight. But when it was over, I kicked her, just to make sure. Dead."

I shake my head. "With Flemeth, things are never quite what they appear to be. I don't think you've seen the last of her yet."

"T'would not surprise me," Morrigan admits. "Mother had many secrets."

"I need to get back," Leliana states. "I'll leave you to talk." I smile and nod at her before she walks away.

Once she's out of earshot, I can't wait any longer, and ask, "Can I speak with him, Morrigan? He's here, right?"

She hesitates, but nods. "Kieran," she calls, and a boy comes to her side. "This is Ferox. She would like to say hello."

The boy looks at me, and when our eyes meet I can see her inside him. Urthemiel, dragon of beauty. He says, "Your soul is old. No, there are two. You're...like me...?"

I nod and wrap my arms around him. He allows me to do so, tentatively raising his own to embrace me. I whisper, "It's good to see you again, my old friend." A small smile from Kieran. "You are well?" He nods slowly.

"He is healthy, and well-behaved. I could not ask for a better son," Morrigan states.

"He has changed you," Alistair points out with a smirk.

"Don't be absurd," Morrigan replies.

I stand. "Thank you for taking such good care of the boy, Morrigan."

She walks him back to continue his studies, leaving me alone with Alistair for a minute. I'm a little saddened not to get more time with the boy, but I do need to talk with the Warden.

Turning toward him, I say, "Thank you again for your part, as well." He looks away, his brow furrowing.

I continue, "I know you don't see it as such, but you've done the world a great service. Which is why I'm hoping you'll be willing to help me again if the time comes."

"No, once was bad enough," he states putting his hands up in protest.

"Not that, Alistair," I correct him, laughing, despite the seriousness of this conversation.

"If you turn, you mean," he clarifies.

"Yes...if the Archdemon Toth rises again, I won't be around to stop her. I need you to promise you won't hesitate to kill me if that happens, Alistair."

He sighs. "This was a lot easier when it was just 'kill darkspawn'. Magisters, old gods, actual gods. I'm not sure what to do with any of this."

"Alistair, if the time comes, then this version of me will already be dead. I don't want my legacy to be burning the world I'm trying to protect."

Pain crosses his features. "Do you have any idea what you're asking? We killed our Archdemon years ago; that threat's supposed to be over for us. The woman I love is out there, right now, working on a better future for us, and you're asking me to risk never seeing her again. The Inquisition has another Warden, why haven't you asked him?"

"Do you think I want to die? No, I want a life with Varric as much as you want to see Elissa again. But Alistair, you're the only one I can trust with this. Trust me, Blackwall...he can't help me." Tears form in my eyes unbidden. "Please."

His shoulders hunch, as though carrying the weight of the world upon them. "I swore an oath when I joined the Wardens to stop the Blight, at any cost. I won't turn my back on it."

I heave a sigh of relief. "Thank you!" I impulsively hug him. He returns it with stiff arms, and I pull back, feeling a little sheepish. "Sorry, Alistair. I know you don't really know me, and I know what killing an Archdemon would do to you...but thank you. I'll do my best to make sure it never comes to that. With any luck, neither one of us has to meet our end, and we can both have the futures we want."

"Is...the boy in danger of turning?" he asks, his eyes moving to watch where Kieran is sitting with a book. Morrigan walks back to join us.

"No," I assure him, shaking my head emphatically. "The ritual you did...it cleared the corruption from Urthemiel's soul, and she is what she once was again - the magic of beauty," I say with a smile. "Kieran will be fine. I wish I'd known about the ritual back then. Things might have been different for Toth." I place a hand over my chest.

"You were still able to preserve a piece of the old magics," Morrigan points out, joining us again. "'Tis a worthy goal."

I nod. "I'm glad we understand each other. I wish it would be possible to try your ritual again for Toth, but there's no telling when or if she will appear, and I don't want anyone to get hurt because we waited."

Morrigan smiles, looking back at her son. "When I was younger, I would not have understood your sentiment. Perhaps I have changed."

"It wasn't that long ago that I referred to you all as 'filthy humans'," I admit, and laugh. "All I cared about was the dragons and their magic, but I've made friends here that have shown me I was wrong. I had been away from the world for too long, had forgotten what it felt like to be a part of something."

"I hear a that our resident author had a little something to do in the convincing," Alistair teases, grinning.

I blush, caught off guard at his innuendo, but chuckle. "What's with the 'little' comment, huh, Warden? Don't underestimate us just because we're not as freakishly tall as you."

"But you're so tiny," he jokes, reaching out to pat the top of my head. He pulls it back, realizing what he had done, but relaxes when I laugh again.

"I may be a goddess, but I'm still just me, just a foul-mouthed mage with a few anger issues who's apparently terrible at dinner parties. I would welcome your friendship. Both of you," I say, looking at them.

Morrigan huffs and smirks. Alistair grins. Looks like a couple of yeses to me.

"Things are going well, I see," Cullen says from behind us.

"Cullen, good, you're here. I was hoping to talk with you again."

"My office, then?" he suggests.

"That works. Alistair, I could use you for this too."

"Okaaay," he says, confusing drawing out his words.

I grin. "Nothing bad, I just want to talk about Adamant. I may have information you can use."

"Ah, at least it's easier than your last request," he says with an exhalation.

We walk up the stairs to the battlements and make our way to Cullen's office. Once the door is closed again, I take a deep breath. "We have a device back home called the Watcher's Well. It's an enchanted pool that lets us view important events in the human world," I say, this part of the explanation getting rather familiar to me. "I saw Adamant not long ago. I believe I could recreate the layout if you think it would help."

"Yes, that would be helpful," Cullen says, smiling. "I'll get you a quill and some parchment immediately."

I spend the next hour answering their questions and sketching out what I remember of Adamant. After a while I shush them so I can finish filling in the details. "We're going to have to clear the ramparts here before we can approach the gate, they will no doubt see us coming, but wait...they don't have to see us coming. Well, at least a few of us." I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier. I look down at the silver vines encircling my finger.

"You're talking about that travel thing you do, aren't you? But that would leave you there alone without any backup."

"It also means I can unleash my magic without worry about hitting any of you. Hm...but you're right. If we don't time it correctly, then I and anyone I brought with me would likely be toast."

"The idea has merit, though," Alistair admits. "We should included it in our considerations and present the ideas to the Inquisitor when he returns."

I stand, stretching. "Well, gentlemen, it's getting late, and I still need to move my things."

"Move them where?" Cullen asks.

"While we were on the road, Varric and I decided that we want to live together. I'd like to get my stuff into his room before it gets dark."

"Oh," Cullen says, and a slow smile spreads on his face. "I can assign a few of my men to help you if you like."

"That would be appreciated. I don't have much, so it shouldn't take long if I have help. I'll need to locate my brother, too."

"I'll find out where they've placed him, but as he offered his healing abilities for us, I'm guessing he's staying near the infirmary."

"You have another brother here?" Alistair asks.

"Yes, Lucis, my twin. He's a bit new to being back around people, but he can be quite charming. I bet he's got at least two people eating out of his hand and offering to run errands for him by now."

"Then you'd better go rescue those poor souls," Cullen jokes, grinning. "I'll send over someone to help with your things, and I'll see you later."

"Chess tomorrow?" I ask.

"I accept."