Chapter 2
As Matthew entered his room, he saw the silhouette of a women standing in front of the fireplace. The bright flames made it difficult for his eyes to adjust, and out of pure instinct, he reached for his blade.
"Do not be alarmed. It is only I." came an alluring voice from the figure, and Matthew's veins seemed to fill with ice; Morrigan.
When Flemeth, the Witch of the Wilds, rescued Alistair and Matthew from Loghain's betrayal at Ostagar, she had sent Morrigan, her daughter, with her. Alistair, and almost every other companion they had picked up on their quest, had taken an almost immediate dislike to her; she behaved in an arrogant, disdainful way towards everyone. She could be petty, and sometimes downright cruel, and always preached survival at all costs, particularly if it came at the expense of others; as an apostate, a mage outside of the Circle of Magi, these were not welcome traits. All of the members of their group had hated her, and wanted her gone.
Matthew, sensed that not all was as it seemed when it came to her. Ever since they had set out together, he had used every ounce of his considerable wooing skill to try and get Morrigan out of her incredibly thick shell, and, after months of effort, he had proven his suspicions correct; beneath the hate and the arrogance, Morrigan was, in fact, and gentle soul, though she lied about it to everyone, especially herself. Once Matthew had broken trough to her true nature, he found it impossible not to fall in love with her. Morrigan, he believed, loved him in return, but, still clinging to her past lessons from her mother, insisted that love was a weakness. He would have argued the point, but then he heard Redcliff was being attacked by the darkspawn, which lead them hear.
Now, he was confronted yet another heart-wrenching decision; how could he tell Morrigan, the love of his life, that he was going to die within the next few days. How would she react to such news? Matthew was the only one who had every shown Morrigan any true kindness. He could not bear the thought of her reaction to the news that she would lose him.
"Is everything alright?" Matthew asked, as he was unable to think of anything else to say. "I am well. 'Tis you who are in danger. I have a plan, you see; a way out; a loop in your hole." Can she already know about the Archdemon? Matthew thought. He wouldn't put it past her; she always seemed to know more about things than she let on. His suspicion was immediately confirmed. "I know what happens when the Archdemon dies. I know a Grey Warden must be sacrificed… and that that sacrifice could be you." She seemed to have difficulty saying the last part, and fear crept into her beautiful golden eyes. So, she really does care. After their last conversation, Matthew had feared she would break off their relationship, if only to spite herself. He now knew that Morrigan truly loved him, and with that, all fear of his demise evaporated.
"I have come to tell you that this does not need to be." Saywhatnow. Matthew looked at Morrigan, and saw that she was smiling. "Does not need to be? What do you mean?" Morrigan's smile grew. "I offer a way out. A way out for all the Grey Wardens, that there need be no sacrifice. A ritual," Morrigan clarified, "performed on the eve of battle, in the dark of night." "This is beginning to sound ominous", Matthew muttered, causing Morrigan to giggle. "What sort of ritual is it?" Matthew asked. "It is old magic," Morrigan answered, "from a time before the Circle of Magi was created. Some would call it blood magic, but that is but a name. There is far more to fear in this world than names." Matthew nodded, then said "Tell me more".
Morrigan nodded, then she sat down on the bed. "What I propose is this: lay with me. Here, tonight. And from our joining, a child will be conceived. The child will bear the Taint, and when the Archdemon is slain, its essence will seek the child like a beacon." Matthew was outraged. How dare she suggest they allow a child, HIS child, to die before it had a taste of life! He was about to protest, but Morrigan held up a hand to silence him. "At this early stage, the child can absorb the essence, and not perish. The Archdemon is still destroyed, with no Grey Warden dying in the process."
Matthew's mind was racing. He was deeply in love with Morrigan, and had often thought of starting a family with her. But he had never considered the possibility of having a child that was part Old God! Then a worse thought came to him; what if, after this child was born, he reignited the Blight! That could not be allowed to happen.
"So, the child will become a darkspawn?" Matthew asked, trying to gain more information on what Morrigan was planning. "Not at all", Morrigan replied. "It will become something different; a child born with the soul of an Old God." "And afterwards? What do you intend for this child?" Morrigan smiled again, and this smile was the warmest he had ever seen her give him. "Afterwards, you and I will raise and train him for what is to come." This confused Matthew. "Why? What is to come?" "Morrigan's smile acquired a smug and knowing quality. "Change is coming to the world. Many fear change, and will fight it with every fiber of their being. But sometimes change is what they need most. Sometimes change is what sets them free."
"Sure, that wasn't evasive at all." Matthew muttered, rolling his eyes. Morrigan laughed; Maker he loved that sound. "The future will reveal itself in time. Come my love, let us make this night one to remember."
Grinning his roguish grin, he grabbed Morrigan by her shoulders, pulled her close to him, and kissed her on the lips. Returning the kiss, Morrigan wrapped her arms around him, releasing the straps of his Dragonbone chainmail, even as he began loosening the ties of her blouse. Once they were both undressed, he lifted her up, and placed her on the bed, and they lost themselves in a night of lust and pleasure.