Saitada opened her eyes. Above her she saw wooden beams, hanging with herbs. She blinked, and sat up.

"Ah, your eyes finally open. Mother shall be pleased," Morrigan said, coming over to the bed.

"What happened to the darkspawn?" Saitada asked. The last thing she remembered as a genlock charging at her.

"You were injured, and then Mother rescued you. Do you not remember?"

"Wait..." She furrowed her brow. This was no healer tent. "What happened to the army? To the king?"

"The man who as to respond to your signal quit the field. The darkspawn won your battle. Those he abandoned were massacred. Some of your friends... are not taking it well."

Her blood went cold. "What happened to the Grey Wardens? And the king? And...?" She couldn't bring herself to say his name.

From the other side of the room she heard Jerath's voice. "They are gone, Saitada." She turned to look at him, and he continued, "all of them." There was sympathy in his eyes.

"All?" Her voice was small.

"Your friends are outside by the fire. Mother asked to see you when you awoke."

Jerath looked up at the witch. "Thank you for your help, Morrigan."

"I... you are welcome, though Mother did most of the work. I am no healer. Mother is outside when you are ready. I will stay and make something to eat." She walked off to another part of the hut.

Jerath stood, and came over to sit on the edge of the bed. Saitada looked up at him. "How did she manage to rescue us, exactly?"

He looked in the direction the swamp witch had gone. "I am still working on grasping that one."

"Who else survived?"

"All of us that were in the tower. Even managed to get Griffon out. He's heavy." Jerath hung his head a moment, then sighed. "I got hit in the head. It's all still a bit blurry. Some stragglers and a few of the ones on the outskirts of the battle may have gotten away. The valley is..." His voice became bleak. "Not a pretty sight."

"Then Duncan may have..." She searched his face for any sign of hope.

"He's gone, Saitada. He would not leave the king's side."

Saitada closed her eyes for several moments, then took a deep breath and forced the tears away. "What shape are the others in?"

"Brehan was hurt badly, but he woke up an hour ago and is moving around. Everyone else was moving at breakfast time." He twitched a shoulder. "Brehan's armor is a loss, and his axe is still somewhere in the tower. We had to cut your armor off you. Brosca lost all his knives, but somehow managed to hang onto his mace. Morrigan gave Lenore a new staff. Alistair lost his blade, but has the one we took out of Brosca. I lost my short sword, but acquired a darkspawn axe at some point."

She nodded. "Resupplying may need to be our first priority now. Is there...?

He handed her a dress that had been cut down to her side, then stood and faced the wall so she could dress. It fit awkwardly, but made her decent. "Alright, let's go see what the Witch of the Wild wants with us."

#

Alistair scrambled to his feet as soon as she exited the hut. Flemeth turned towards him. "See? Here are your fellow Grey Wardens. You worry too much, young man."

"You... you're alive!" His eyes met hers. "I thought you were dead for sure."

"I'm fine." She saw her grief reflected in his eyes. "I appreciate your concern."

"This doesn't seem real. If it weren't for Morrigan's mother, we'd be dead on top of that tower." He turned towards her.

She scoffed at him. "Do not talk about me as if I am not present, lad."

"I didn't mean..." He shook his head. "But what do we call you? You never told us your name."

"Names are pretty, but useless. The Chasind folk call me Flemeth. I suppose it will do."

"The Flemeth from the legends? Daveth was right- you're a Witch of the Wilds, aren't you?"

"And what does that mean? I know a bit of magic, and it has served you all well, has it not?"

"I suppose we should thank you," Lenore said, rising from where she'd been staring listlessly into the fire.

"If you know what is good for you, I suppose you should!" Flemeth folded her arms.

Saitada looked around at her companions. They looked battered, and worn, but alive. "We can't be safe here. Where are all the darkspawn?"

Flemeth shrugged carelessly. "The largest part of the horde has moved on. We are safe enough for now. She smiled. "Old Flemeth knows a thing or two about hiding. The longer you are here, the less that is true, however. These things will notice you eventually."

"We need to stop this Blight somehow." Jerath's voice was quiet, but resolute.

Alistair shook his head angrily. "We need to bring Loghain to judgment! Why would he do this?"

"Now that is a good question." Flemeth tapped her bottom lip thoughtfully. "Men's hearts hold shadows darker than any tainted creature. Perhaps he believes the Blight is an army he can outmaneuver. Perhaps he does not see that the evil behind it is the true threat."

"The archdemon," Alistair said.

Lenore picked up her staff. "We should contact the rest of the Grey Wardens."

"Cailan already summoned them," Alistair said. "They'll come if they can." He ran a hand through his hair. "But I expect Loghain has already taken steps to stop them. We must assume they won't arrive in time."

"What is this archdemon, exactly?" Brosca asked, folding his arms.

Flemeth gave them a solemn look. "It is said that, long ago, the Maker sent the Old Gods of the ancient Tevinter Imperium to slumber in prisons deep beneath the surface. An archdemon is an Old God awakened and tainted by darkspawn. Believe that or not, history says it's a fearsome and immortal thing. And only fools ignore history."

"What would the teyrn hope to gain by betraying the king?" Brehan asked.

"The throne? He's the queen's father." Alistair ran his hand over the hilt of his sword. "Still, I can't see how he'll get away with murder."

"You speak as if he would be the first king to gain his throne that way." Flemeth waved a hand at him. "Grow up, boy!"

Alistair turned towards her, his voice angry. "If Arl Eamon knew what he did, he would never stand for it! The Landsmeet would never stand for it! There would be civil war!"

"Arl Eamon?" Cathiel rose to stand next to Alistair. "The arl of Redcliffe?"

Alistair looked back at her thoughtfully. "I suppose..." Arl Eamon wasn't at Ostagar; he still has all his men. And he was Cailan's uncle. I know him. He's a good man.

"What about those treaties Flemeth gave us?" Jerath's voice held a note of irritation.

Flemeth gave him a sidelong look, and smirked. "See? There is a smart lad."

"Of course!" Alistair smacked himself in the forehead. "The treaties! Grey Wardens can demand aid from dwarves, elves, mages, and other places! They're obligated to help us during a Blight!"

"I may be old, but dwarves, elves, mages, this Arl Eamon, and who knows what else... this sounds like an army to me."

"Why not?" Saitada injected bravado into her voice, and lifted her chin challengingly as she looked at her companions. "Isn't that what Grey Wardens do?"

"So you are set, then? Ready to be Grey Wardens?"

"Yes. Thank you for everything, Flemeth."

"No, no, thank you." She waved her hands dismissively. "You are the Grey Wardens here, not I. Now..." An odd smile lit her face. "Before you go, there is yet one more thing I can offer you."

#

Morrigan emerged from the hut. "The stew is bubbling, Mother dear. Shall we have guests for the eve, or none?"

"The Grey Wardens are leaving shortly, girl. And you will be joining them."

"Such a shame," Morrigan started to drawl. She blinked. "What?"

"You heard me, girl. The last time I looked, you had ears!" Flemeth threw back her head and laughed.

Saitada looked at the dumbstruck young witch. "Thank you, but if Morrigan doesn't wish to join us..."

Flemeth overrode the objection with a careless gesture. "Her magic will be useful. Even better, she knows the Wilds and how to get past the hordes."

"Have I no say in this?"

"You have been itching to get out of the Wilds for years. Here is your chance. As for you, Wardens, consider this repayment for your lives."

Saitada gritted her teeth, then nodded. "Very well, we'll take her with us."

Alistair shook his head. "Not to... look a gift horse in the mouth, but won't this add to our problems? Out of the Wilds, she's an apostate."

Flemeth arched an eyebrow at him. "If you do not wish help from us illegal mages, young man, perhaps I should have left you on that tower."

Alistair withered a bit under her gaze. "Point taken."

"Mother... this is not how I wanted this. I am not even ready -"

"You must be ready. Alone, these people must unite Ferelden against the darkspawn. They need you, Morrigan. Without you, they will surely fail, and all will perish under the Blight. Even I."

"I... understand."

"And you, Wardens?" Flemeth looked at Saitada. "Do you understand?" Her eyes went to where Jerath was standing next to the dwarven woman. "I give you that which I value above all in this world. I do this because you must succeed."

"I understand," Saitada said.

"Allow me to get my things, if you please."

#

Morrigan re-emerged from the hut carrying two small packs. She threw one at Jerath, and he caught it easily before moving the strap to his shoulder. "I am at your disposal, Grey Wardens. I suggest a village north of the Wilds as our first destination. 'Tis not far, and you will find much you need there." She twisted the staff in her hands and gave her mother an annoyed look. "Or, if you prefer, I shall simply be your silent guide. The choice is yours."

"I think we should just get underway," Saitada said.

"Farewell, Mother. Do not forget the stew on the fire. I would hate to return to a burned-down hut."

"Bah." Flemeth waved a hand at her. "'Tis far more likely you will return to see this entire area, along with my hut, swallowed up by the Blight."

"I... all I meant was..."

Flemeth smiled. "Yes, I know. Do try to have fun, dear."

Saitada gave the group a cursory once over, then nodded. "Let's head to this village of yours then, Morrigan."

#

Lenore gave Saitada a cursory once-over. "Well, I suppose Flemeth does know her healing."

Saitada smiled, "I take it I was in rough shape?"

Lenore nodded. "If we'd been limited to my healing skills, you'd be dead now. They just kept coming."

Saitada thought back to the fight. "I lost sight of Alistair and Cathiel when the emissary started casting."

"I caught an arrow in the chest when they first started coming. Brosca tried to keep any from getting closer to me, but they overwhelmed him. I saw you take the hit from a genlock. It was about to finish you off, but Jerath cut it down." Lenore frowned briefly. In the haze, it had almost seemed... She shrugged. "Then something hit me and I passed out. Woke up in Flemeth's hut, and she had me finish tending to Brehan." She looked Saitada over again. "Jerath had to cut your armor off before she could tend to you."

"He mentioned that. Did he say how she rescued us?"

"He said he got hit in the head and the last few seconds of the fight were a bit of a blur. He did say... he said she tried to get to Duncan first, but it was too late."

Saitada closed her eyes a moment, then nodded. "Will you start making a list of supplies we are going to need?"

"Of course," Lenore replied.

#

Brehan cast his senses around. "Nothing within my range. Perhaps we could risk a fire?"

"Could do with some warm," Brosca said. He gave Lenore a worried look. The mage was almost dragging. "And some rest."

"Keep the fire small," Saitada said.

Alistair slumped against a tree, then let himself slide to the ground. Cathiel sat next to him, her own face bleak. Brehan knelt and began building the fire.

Morrigan lit it with a gesture from her staff as soon as he'd finished gathering the wood. "I will get water," she said as she disappeared into the forest.

Jerath removed the pack from his shoulder and offered it to Brehan. Brehan took it, and removed a small pot from within. He went through the rest of the pack, and took out some dried herbs and jerky, and set about making a stew.

"I'll take first watch," Saitada said.

Jerath shook his head at her. "You are still healing. I've got it."

"You sure?"

He nodded. "I'll wake someone when I need sleep." He looked over at where Lenore had her head on Brosca's shoulder. "Not Lenore."

"Good. You'd make a terrible frog," Brehan said. When Morrigan returned, he added the water to the pot, and set the stew to heat. He stretched, looking around at the bleak faces of his companions.

Silence reigned as they ate communally from the pot, sharing the two spoons that were in the pack. Cathiel had to elbow Alistair to get him to eat at all, and Brehan noted Jerath did the same for Saitada. He rinsed the empty pot, and put it back in the pack. His stomach still felt empty.

He stood, staring into the fire. His mind drifted back to his last hour with his clan.

#

Saitada looked up as the Dalish man began to sing. She didn't have to know the words to understand their meaning as the dirge flowed around her. Brehan's voice was rich as he sang the eulogy, his eyes half closed as he looked into the fire. She saw tears falling from the eyes of both Cathiel and Alistair as the two sat together, lost in grief. Brosca put an arm around Lenore as the mage leaned against him.

She closed her own eyes, and lost herself in Brehan's voice.

#

The journey out of the Wilds was quiet. At night they scarcely dared a fire, relying instead on the dried foodstuffs that Flemeth has provided them. Brehan managed to scrounge a little, but Saitada made him stay close to camp. Even with the range of the elf's senses, there were times the darkspawn nearly were upon them. Twice they had to fight their way clear of a small band, then flee before larger numbers came down upon them.

They ate on the move. None slept well, and often they were underway again before the sun had fully risen, allowing them to make good time out of the wilds with the help of their guide. In four days, they reached Lothering...