Chapter 72: Mythal
Author Note: Part of the delay was I was trying to get the voice of Flemeth/Mythal right. I'm still not sure I'm happy with it, but it's as good as it's getting lol. Enjoy
"I suppose this means dinner will have to wait," Dorian grumbles, getting back up from the table. He quickly downs the glass of wine before grabbing his staff, which rests against the table next to him.
"Lead the way," Declan tells Morrigan, and we follow her back down the hallway and into the narrow room with the eluvian.
The shimmering surface of the mirror is alive with magic again, and I know what to expect. "More slimy spiderwebs. Great," I mutter. "Varric, I'll understand if you want to sit this one out."
"And leave you to Maker-knows...uh, who knows what? Nah, Firefly, I think I'll take my chances with the spiders."
"It will be a chance to see that place again, study it," Tenebris adds. "We're all going." He looks at Dorian, who sighs, but nods.
"If we must," Dorian concedes.
One after another we file through the ancient frame and into the land beyond. The shadowy landscape is, initially, much the same as it had been on our last visit: the same spindly trees with their naked branches, and the same stone walkways beneath our feet. Something feels different though. A dark, grayish-violet mist clings to the ground and smells of damp earth and decaying leaves. I frown. There is definitely a power here, more than just the boy.
When we round the next bend, my suspicion is confirmed. Kieran stands before a woman dressed in elaborate red leather. A glowing mote of blue energy drifts between the two of them. I'd know that woman anywhere, regardless of what face she was wearing. The energy enters Kieran, just as we are noticed.
"Mother," Kieran states, turning toward us and seeming happy to see Morrigan.
Morrigan glares at the other woman. "Mother," she spits out.
"Mother? Is this some kind of family reunion?" Declan asks, looking between the two of them.
"Yes, mother, daughter, and grandson," the woman replies with a chuckle. "Doesn't it warm the heart?"
"Kieran is not your grandson!" Morrigan protests. "I know what you plan, and you will not have me, or my son!" Magic begins to form in Morrigan's outstretched palms.
"She always was ungrateful," the woman comments, then looks at Declan. "Be a good lad, would you, and restrain her?"
Declan's wrists glow with green magic, and he stares at them, horrified, as he moves involuntarily toward Morrigan, grabbing her arms and pinning them behind her.
"What do you think you are…?" Morrigan stills, looking at the woman. "Then you...are Mythal?" she questions softly.
"Hello friend," I comment, stepping forward, and see the surprise register in Mythal's features.
"Ah, a face I have not seen in ages. I thought you long gone from this place," Mythal comments. "And the Darkness has creeped in, as well, I see."
Tenebris just shrugs.
"Ah," Mythal continues, "but what use are light and dark, when the world lies gray in the gloom of the coming storm?"
"We were gone, for a time," I answer, studying the face of the woman who carries the spirit of my friend. "You look different."
She laughs, the sound like gravel tumbling over rock. "And you do not."
"You knew this before," Morrigan realizes, her eyes narrowing at me. "This is what you mentioned, the knowledge I did not have."
"I'm missing something," Declan states. "This is Mythal...and also Morrigan's mother?"
Mythal smiles. "Once, I was but a woman, calling out in the lonely darkness, and she came to me - a wisp of an ancient being. She granted me all that I wanted...and more. I have carried Mythal through the ages ever since, seeking the justice denied to her. I have had many names, but you may call me Flemeth."
"The short version is yes," I explain.
"Flemeth...I know that story," Varric comments from behind me. "Supposedly she ran off from her husband to be with her lover, but then her husband betrayed her, imprisoning her, until a spirit came to her, and…" he trails off, staring at her.
"Yes, I see that you are understanding." Flemeth inclines her head.
"But why are you here, then?" Morrigan asks, shrugging off Declan's now-slack grip.
"I came for one thing...one thing only."
"No, I will not allow it!" Morrigan hisses, scowling at Flemeth and brandishing her staff. "Not Kieran."
"She wants the boy?" Dorian asks, turning to Morrigan. "Why?"
"Flemeth extends her lifespan by possessing the bodies of her children. 'Tis what she planned for me, and why I left. She wants to use him."
"Did you not also wish to use him?" Mythal points out. "How quickly you forget, it is I who taught you to respect and preserve the old ways. You knew it will enough when you agreed to his creation."
Morrigan's ire abates, her brows pulling together. "Yes, but now he is...my son."
"A child you would not even have had you not followed my teachings," Flemeth retorts, walking a few paces away. "You are not as different from me as you wish to believe. You sent your Warden friend to kill me to ensure that you would have the power for yourself."
"If only 'twere so easy to rid myself of you."
Flemeth's features remain calm. "I offer you a proposal. Let me have the lad," she says, looking over at Kieran. "He carries a piece of what once was. If you give him to me, I will leave and never trouble you again. Or," she continues, her voice more ominous, "take the boy with you, but you will never be safe from me."
"What is it you think you're doing?!" I demand, frowning. "Urthemiel is not yours to claim!"
"Oho! The Destroyer still has fire in her yet. Fire, yes, I know what you carry as well, Ferox, and what it cost you."
I place a hand over my chest, feeling Toth flutter. "I did what I did to save her, but I was wrong, I shouldn't have. Toth is...still tainted."
"So your failure should dictate what I can and cannot dare?" Flemeth asks, raising her chin in a proud gesture, mocking me.
"Why not just reveal yourself?" Declan asks.
"And to whom shall I reveal myself?" Flemeth asks, a smirk pulling at her lip.
"The elves," he answers, shrugging, "everyone."
"Men," she scoffs. "I knew the hearts of men even before she found me...it's why she found me." She sighs. "I am but a shadow, lingering in the sun. But alas, so long as the song plays, we dance."
I frown, considering her words.
"What is your meaning?" Tenebris asks directly.
"Meaning? Meaning is found where you least expect it, so expect great things." Flemeth chuckles to herself.
"Cryptic as ever, Mythal," Tenebris grumbles with a roll of his eyes. "You did always like the melodrama. I have no idea how you and Ferox ever became friends."
"Dragons," I answer simply, before turning back to face my old friend. "Mythal, answer me this: are you with Fen'Harel or will you help us stop Corypheus?" I ask.
Mythal smiles enigmatically. "You," she says, looking at Declan. "What do the voices tell you about Corypheus and his dragon?"
Declan's eyes go unfocused, and I can tell he's listening to the voices again. His brow furrows in concentration. Finally, his eyes shift upward to look at Flemeth.
"Corypheus's dragon contains a bit of himself. If we manage to kill it, we can stop him from changing bodies, at least for a time."
I exhale a relieved breath.
"That is excellent news," Dorian comments. "It means Dragon Girl can be of use again without worrying."
I smile at him. "I'm always useful, Tevinter."
"Except for that one time-" Tenebris contradicts me.
"Nope, even then," I insist. "Unless you want me to tell Dorian about the cave."
"You seem to have forgotten, it doesn't go that way, imp."
"So how do we kill the dragon?" Declan asks, cutting off the conversation between my brother and me.
"Another dragon waits for you," Flemeth explains. "It is not far from my altar in the Arbor Wilds - the Destroyer knows where. Defeat it in combat, and it will agree to help you against the dragon Corypheus keeps."
"You bound a dragon?" My voice raises. "They don't belong to you, Mythal."
"The dragon made a choice, as we all must." Flemeth glances again at Morrigan, a pained expression crossing her wizened features.
I realize Kieran is still at Mythal's side. A glance at Morrigan tells me that it hasn't escaped her notice, either.
"Let him go," Morrigan orders. "Or possess me. He would be better off without me, anyway, as I was better off without you."
Flemeth pauses again, as though waiting for something, but nods, facing Kieran again. The blue mote I had seen before emerges from Kieran's body and enters her own once more.
"No more dreams?" the boy questions.
"No more dreams," Flemeth confirms.
Kieran walks to Morrigan, who wraps a protective arm around him. She watches Flemeth with wary eyes.
Flemeth shakes her head. "A soul is never forced upon the unwilling, Daughter." She turns. "You were never in danger from me." Flemeth walks away, the gray-purple mist rising to meet her, and she's gone.
I look to Morrigan. "Is he alright?" I ask.
Her eyes flick up to mine. "He is fine," she snaps. "Let us be done with this place." The last is directed at Declan of course, who winces.
I feel a little sorry for him. He's probably feeling guilty for following Mythal's orders to hold her. Maybe I should have told them about Mythal...but would it have helped? Someone still needed to drink from the Well of Sorrows, to keep it from Corypheus.
I wonder what this means for them. Declan is now bound to the service of Mythal, for good or ill. Mythal hadn't answered me about whether she was allied with Fen'Harel or not, I hadn't missed that. But, she helped us, gave us a clue that could help against Corypheus. Perhaps with her help, we can succeed and everything will turn out alright. Watching Declan as he attempts to soothe Morrigan, I hope for their sakes that it's the truth.
We return through the eluvian, and Morrigan takes Kieran to his room. The rest of us go back to the dining hall to eat our dinner. It isn't much, as the kitchen wasn't prepared to serve dinner at such an hour, but the wine bottle is empty by the time we finish, and it feels nice to have a full stomach, for once.
"When do you want to go see about this dragon?" I ask Declan. "Tenebris and I have full charges on our rings. Depending on how many we take, we could also stop in to notify the troops of what happened."
"We have time," he answers. "The others will not be back for weeks yet. I say we rest a day or two. If we're going to be battling dragons, I want us to be at our best."
Dorian sighs happily. "Two days of rest? I, for one, plan to get started on that immediately." He stands up from the table, as does my brother.
"I will retire as well. Goodnight, Inquisitor," Tenebris says, giving a small bow. I watch them leave together, seemingly headed in different directions, but I have a feeling neither of them will be alone tonight.
Once they've left, I turn back to Declan.
"You might not have to fight the dragon," I point out. "You have me. It must at least be a high dragon to understand Mythal's commands, and it has clearly served her for some time, so it might be older. Perhaps it will listen."
He smiles. "We'll talk tomorrow, start working on our plans."
"Yeah," Varric interjects, pushing his chair back from the table. "I'm beat. See you tomorrow, Your Inquisitorialness."
"Goodnight, you two. Thank you for your help today."
"Are you sure you're alright to go back on your own?" I ask Declan.
He nods. "I'm feeling better now that we have a direction."
"Okay," I say, nodding. "Then I should see that this dwarf gets his beauty rest." I chuckle at my own joke.
Varric fakes a dramatic sigh. "What can I say? It's a curse."
He takes my hand and we leave the main hall, heading toward what used to be Solas's quarters. Varric, noting that I've paused at the bottom of the stairs, waits as well and follows me into the room. I take in the murals Solas painted during his time here, as though seeing them for the first time. So much symbolism here, and meaning, if one knew his secret. I wonder what he's thinking now. Probably gloating about his plan. But, when I think about it, he stayed as Solas for a long time. I suppose he was hoping to use the Inquisitor to get his artifact back. In a way, we are still following Solas's plan.
"No matter what, we can't let Solas get his orb back," I mutter.
"They have two gods from Tevinter working with advice from an elf, we have two gods from Tevinter working with advice from an elf," he comments. "They've got Corypheus, we've got an Inquisitor. But we have an advantage that they don't. We have Bianca."
I look at him and laugh. "You're totally right, Varric. Bianca will see us through."
"Come on, let's go to bed."
I follow him up the stairs to our room. We're both so exhausted, it takes all of our effort to throw down our things and get undressed. We crawl between the covers and he turns to face me. He says nothing, but looks into my eyes for several seconds before leaning in to plant a kiss on my forehead. He strokes a hand over my hair and I smile. Moments like this one are worth everything.