Author's Note: We're in the final push now. Some hints of yet to come... hope you enjoy!
"You're late."
Harry shut the door behind him and smiled at Morrigan's tone. A normal man probably wouldn't find her prickliness so appealing. But then, he hadn't been anywhere close to normal for a very long time.
"After doing my good deeds earlier today, I decided to make one quick trip back to Orzammar," he said as he sat down in the other chair in front of the fireplace. "I've been meaning to give you a gift, and I thought that now would be a good day to do so."
He pulled the package out of an expanded pocket and held it out to her. Morrigan took it and slid one finger nail along the side to remove the wrapping paper he'd found somewhere deep down in his mokeskin pouch. She let out a small gasp as she saw the mirror.
"How? 'Tis incredible that you found one so like the one I lost as a child."
"I saw it in your memory, so I knew what it looked like," Harry replied softly as she turned the bejeweled mirror over in her hands, inspecting every inch of it. "There was a quite helpful, if slightly confused, dwarven merchant who had it for sale. Apparently the design was a popular Orlesian style from about twenty or thirty years ago."
Morrigan looked up and stared at him for a moment. "I have... never received such a gift."
Harry nodded sadly. "I understand. Long ago, I was the same."
She gazed back down at the mirror. "Thank you."
"You're quite welcome." He thought for a moment and chuckled. "One of these days, if I have enough free time, I should be able to enchant it so that we could use it and one of my own as a communication set. The magic for that can be a bit finicky, but I should be able to handle it.
"Then you'll be able to keep track of me even when I run off to do something impulsive and dangerous." He winked at her and Morrigan just rolled her eyes in return.
"I believe that would be quite useful for the future," she answered.
"For the future," he agreed as he stood up.
"But for the immediate future," Morrigan said as she took his hand. "We have time before the evening meal is served. Perhaps I can do something to repay your generous gift."
She drew him close and they began to kiss. As they stumbled over towards the bed, Harry realized they'd probably skip eating with the others that night.
Another couple of days passed before the Landsmeet was called. Arl Eamon was to lead their group inside the palace, and he had asked Harry to stay beside Queen Anora, both to protect her and to keep her hidden. A couple of quick charms and the tall, regal woman was mostly ignored as they made their way to the palace meeting hall.
Having a golem at the fore of their party also helped to draw stares- and Harry smothered his amusement at how much he knew Shale was pleased by the attention.
"I see the guest of the hour has finally arrived," Loghain sneered from the front of the massive chamber. He was clad in shining plate armor. "Well, Eamon, what fabricated cause have you found now to try to drive this distraction? We are in a time of war, and we have no need of this strife now."
"A strife you caused when you betrayed the king at Ostagar, and a strife you made worse when you pushed your own daughter off her throne!" Eamon shouted in response.
"Why should any of the nobles here believe your lies?" Loghain countered.
"Lies, are they?" Bann Sighard exclaimed. "You would have me believe that the torture my son suffered at the hands of your dog Howe was a lie? If your treacherous ally were here, I would slay him for his crimes! I can only thank the Grey Warden for doing so for me."
"Any of you who would trust this Grey Warden are clearly fools," Loghain said.
Harry and the others mostly stayed quiet in the crowd, for the moment at least.
"During a Blight, you would have us turn away the Grey Wardens?" another noble called out.
"We can never trust the Orlesians!" Loghain yelled. "Many of you or your parents fought and bled beside me to drive those monsters from our lands. I will not hand my country over to them, or to their spies and puppets that will come to steal the throne again."
"The Orlesians have nothing to do with this," Eamon replied. "It is you who have grown power mad!"
Queen Anora was obviously becoming more distressed as the argument continued. Harry turned to whisper to her. "Do you wish for me to step in now?"
She nodded slightly. "I fear there is no hope for my father, but I hate seeing him like this."
Harry stepped forward at that moment and cleared his throat. "I've never been to Orlais. While I am here to stop the Blight, that has nothing to do with this political crisis that has consumed Ferelden."
"A likely story, from a likely spy," Loghain sneered as he looked Harry over. "As if the people should put their trust in a mage?"
"My magic has saved many lives already," Harry answered. "It will save more from this Blight, although it would be easier if I didn't have to deal with a traitor like you getting in the way."
"You're one to speak of treason. I should-"
Harry raised his left hand and cut him off, a silencing charm via the hidden Elder Wand helping him in his task. "I was told that you were supposedly the best of friends with the late King Maric and Queen Rowan. How would King Maric feel about the man who abandoned his son on the battlefield?
"How would Queen Rowan feel about the man who left her son to die?" Harry knew exactly how she would feel, as her spirit had come to him recently, begging for justice. "I think they would want your head."
"Enough of this father!" Anora said as the crowd gasped at her sudden appearance. "Your self proclaimed Regency was a mistake, and your actions since then have only been worse. Lords and ladies of Ferelden, hear me. My father is no longer the man you knew. This man is not the hero of the River Dane. This man turned his troops aside and refused to protect your king as he fought bravely against the darkspawn.
"This man seized Cailan's throne before his body was cold and locked me away so I could not reveal his treachery," she continued, giving only a brief sad glance at Loghain. "I would have already been killed if it had not been for this Grey Warden."
Harry had let the Silencing Charm fall by then and Loghain hung his head for a moment before speaking. "So, the Warden's influence has poisoned even your mind, Anora?"
"Perhaps it was Arl Howe who poisoned your mind?" Anora countered. "He was a man who betrayed and murdered his allies in his quest for power."
Loghain turned away from her and spoke to the crowd instead. "My lords and ladies, our land has been threatened before. It has been invaded, and lost and won times beyond counting. We Fereldans have proven that we will never truly be conquered as long as we are united. We must not let ourselves be divided now. Stand with me, and we shall defeat even the Blight itself."
His rousing speech didn't sway many though, as voices cried out in favor of Queen Anora and the Grey Warden. Harry felt little vindication though, as it seemed obvious to him that Loghain had gone too far.
"Stand down, father," Anora commanded.
Loghain's dark eyes glared at all around him. "Traitors! Which of you stood against the Orlesian Emperor when his troops flattened your fields and raped your wives? You fought with us once, Eamon. You cared about this land once, before you got too old and fat and content to even see what you risk."
He raised his hand angrily at the crowd. "None of you deserves a say in what happens here! None of you have spilled blood for this land the way I have! How dare you judge me!"
"I am your queen!" Anora shouted over the nearly riotous din of the mob. "Stand down, father, while I still may be able to spare your life!"
"I challenge this Grey Warden usurper then," Loghain answered. "To a duel, if my honor is so challenged."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "You should realize that I can kill you in a second. Do you really wish to fight my magic?"
"Ooh, let me be your champion then!" Oghren suggested with delight.
"I would be glad to offer the same," Shale added.
"Hey, I called dibs!" Oghren replied.
Even with the grim scenario, Harry softly chuckled to himself and patted Shale on the rocky arm. "Your invincible form may be too much of an advantage, my friend." He looked over at Loghain's weapons, a long sword and shield and nodded at the dwarf. "I will trust you with this, Oghren, but put your helmet on first."
The dwarf laughed and covered his head before taking a couple of practice swings with his massive war maul.
The crowd in the center of the room parted and Sirius took a step over towards Harry, speaking in a low voice. "Are you sure this will work? I mean, Oghren's pretty good in a fight, but-"
"Loghain may have been a great warrior once, but he's past his prime." Harry leaned in conspiratorially. "Plus, the choice of weapons matter. A sword against a foe in full plate armor is not a good idea."
Soon enough the two warriors began to trade blows.
Oghren let out a bestial cry, a trait Harry knew was part of his training as a berserker, and the strikes from the war maul began to knock aside both Loghain's sword and shield. While neither of them managed to do much damage at first, after perhaps a dozen exchanges, one mighty blow took Loghain off his feet.
Oghren followed that up with one more shout as his maul caved in a section of the chest plate.
The downed man coughed up a spurt of blood. "Well... fought."
"Father!" Anora shoved her way through the crowd and approached Loghain.
His eyes were drooping and Harry knew the internal damage must have been terrible. Even as his death neared, Loghain managed a few last words. "May you reign... better than I have, Anora."
Harry waved his companions over and they stepped back out of the spotlight. Guards came forward to see to the fallen man and Eamon moved in to speak with the queen.
"Perhaps we should leave for now," Leliana suggested. "Today's battle is over, it seems."
"We will have plenty more still to come," Wynne agreed. "There is more we may be able to do to prepare, and Queen Anora likely will need a bit of time to adjust to what happened today."
Harry led the way as they left the meeting hall and threaded through hallways and then back outside.
Shale huffed as Oghren strutted alongside the golem. "You lucky little blighter."
"He he," the dwarf snickered. "I've never gotten to kill such a high and mighty lord before."
"Just keep that thought to yourself if you're in front of the queen," Sirius said. "Most people tend to be touchy about their family members being killed, and with royalty involved, you'd want to be extra careful."
"Bragging at the tavern might not be smart either," Harry added.
Oghren's expression fell at that. "Damn. You surfacers sure do want to ruin all my fun."
Sirius patted the dwarf on the shoulder and tried to cheer him up. "Just save it for another time, and perhaps taverns in other towns."
"Aye, I suppose that wouldn't be too bad."
Later that evening, Harry and Morrigan were relaxing in front of the fire, each of them reading, when a knock came at the door. He got up and found the Grey Warden Riordan.
"May I come in?"
"Sure," Harry nodded as he stepped aside.
Riordan sighed. "It was a shame that there was no way to talk Loghain down. He would have made a valuable ally in the coming battle."
"I suppose an experienced military leader would have been useful," Morrigan agreed.
"Maybe so, but if he's already been a traitor once in the fight of the darkspawn, there's nothing to say he wouldn't do it again," Harry countered. "And it seems that he thought he could defeat the Blight without the Grey Wardens. You know, if the only way to kill an Archdemon is supposedly with the sacrifice of the Grey Warden who strikes the killing blow, it may have been wise for your order to reveal that fact."
"Perhaps," Riordan allowed. "But how many would turn away from the order in fear of that sacrifice?"
"Joining the Grey Wardens is already a sacrifice," Harry pointed out.
"True," Riordan said. "Some are even lost during the Joining Ritual, but leadership has always decided to keep these things secret."
"Well, I guess since I'm not really a member, I can't argue with the leaders," Harry shrugged.
"Speaking of that," Riordan began, "I can access the Grey Warden vault hidden here in Denerim now, so you could join us in truth."
Harry shook his head. "Because of my powers and circumstances, I could become a terrible liability if I did so."
Riordan sighed. "Very well. I will still try for the killing blow then, and if I should fall, then may the Maker bless your own efforts."
"By any chance have you felt any change through the taint?" Harry asked. "I know you can feel the darkspawn in a way, and it would be good to know if they're soon going to be upon us."
"I still feel that they are distant," Riordan replied as he closed his eyes. "To the southwest, I believe."
Harry pondered that for a moment. "We may have a way to scout and thus prepare. Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"
"No."
"What are you thinking of, Harry?" Morrigan asked.
"I was going to suggest that we take Riordan out on a ride to see if we can discover where the darkspawn horde is located."
"Then I should try to get some rest this evening," Riordan said. "I will speak with you tomorrow."
"Good night," Harry answered as the Grey Warden left.
After dinner, Morrigan excused herself early and went back to the room she shared with Harry to have a few moments alone with her thoughts. With the various forces of Ferelden now seemingly all assembled behind the banner of the Grey Wardens, she had a feeling that Harry would lead them towards a confrontation with the Archdemon sooner rather than later.
On one level, that was almost humorous. The first Blight had lasted nearly two centuries. Of course, at the time, it took many years before the Grey Wardens were even created, let alone how long it took them to discover how to kill an Archdemon and make sure it stayed dead.
While later Blights were able to be turned aside in less years, even the fourth of them still lasted more than a decade. At this rate, it seemed like the fifth might be stopped in less than a year- and remain confined to the borders of only a single nation.
Remarkable, really. But then, she'd seen many remarkable things since she had met Harry Potter.
Her mother's original plan was now unfeasible. With a strange combination of disgust, anger, and curiosity, she couldn't be sure if she should have pondered it for as long as she had. How much of her had become a tool of Flemeth, and how much was truly Morrigan? Was it even possible to measure herself without considering her mother's influence?
After discovering what her mother had planned- how she would become a vessel for her mother's ancient soul- Morrigan wanted nothing less than to fully cast off the old witch's treacherous impact upon her, but at times she felt as if a shroud still lingered, something dark and cynical that would drag her away from finding a destiny of her own.
Perhaps Harry could help her- more than he already was- but there was still a part of her that found it hard to trust. He'd given her no cause for such thoughts, but this was a particularly old, deep wound, and even as she wanted to, she wasn't sure that she could let her barriers down more than she already had.
There was another step, another possibility she'd been contemplating. But could she start that path, and if so, was it now truly time to make such a decision?
It was during these thoughts that Harry intruded, joining her in their quarters.
"You left dinner early," he said. "Is anything wrong?"
"I was merely not as hungry as the rest of you," she replied.
He smiled at her. "Or feeling as gregarious as our friends? I can't blame you. I haven't always been the most sociable person. At times, I felt the need for solitude, especially during stressful times. "
"The dwarf's boasting was tiresome after a while."
"I'm not surprised," he chuckled. "I know that you or I could have defeated Loghain just as easily with our magic. But it was an easy way to keep our shorter warrior happy. Of course, it also gave Shale and Oghren yet one more thing to bicker about, which is also a plus if you find it as amusing as I do."
Morrigan exhaled and rolled her eyes. "At least one of us gets some enjoyment out of it, I suppose. 'Tis not something that entertains me, though."
"Well, the night is young," Harry grinned. "Perhaps we could find something else that you would enjoy."
Perhaps this was a sign, a thought crept in. Perhaps it was the right path to take.
Morrigan sat down upon the edge of the bed and began to remove her boots. "I believe I can think of something that might keep both of us enthralled for the rest of the evening."
Harry grinned and joined her in beginning to disrobe. "I like the way you think."
Yes, perhaps this was just the beginning of things...