AN: Sorry for this is taking so long, but I have a lot to do in school now. Lots and lots of homework. Only five more weeks to go before I graduate and go on vacation, woho! I hope you enjoy this!

She was running through a plain field of grass. She had no idea where she was headed but she continued to run. When she stopped at the end of the field, she saw Aurelia floating in the air, grinning mischievously at her. She tried calling her name but no words escaped her lips, no sound emerged from her, when her entire body was trying to scream her name. Her child was only laughing at her and flew up in the red scarlet sky and her blue eyes changed her color to lighting red eyes and she said in a dark and scathing tone that send ice chills throughout Diana's bones;

"Look at your creation, mother. You should be proud."
Aurelia laughed and she transformed slowly. Her legs melted together and formed a long black tail, while her arms slowly became two long thin black wings. Her eyes were still gleaming like molten lava while her smile grew larger and larger.

She tried calling her daughter once more and kept running while Aurelia was flying further and further away. Her daughter looked like an tainted angel that transformed into a beast. Diana run through the field that turned from grass to black rocks that burned her feet with every step she took. The laughter echoed through her mind and she tripped over the sudden edge that appeared and fell down. Aurelia was flying above her and with no intention of helping her, she kept laughing while Diana fell lower and lower into the dark abyss of nothingness, while she screamed her lungs out with no sound escaping her mouth...

"Diana?" She felt a hand on her shoulder. A stinging cold touch, and she tried squirming away.

"Diana!" The voice was stronger, more forceful. She refused to open her eyes and her heart was pounding in her ears. If she opened her eyes she would only see the abomination that was her child, the essence growing within her. Was this a warning? Can't be. So many thoughts going through her mind, nothing made sense, she closed her eyes more firmly.

"Diana." She recognized this voice, is it another cruel mind game they were trying to play her? Imitating his voice....that was beyond cruelness.
"My dear, you need to wake up." her heartbeat was now stronger, and her eyelids was hurting from her attempts of shutting them tightly. His voice was not real, he had not been near her for all this time. Her body was shaking violently and she was covered in sweat. Another hand was gripping her twitching hand. A warm touch that sent jolts of sensation, interrupting the fright eclipsing within her. She gasped for air, it surprised her how much she had been holding it back, and she had a hard time now keeping her vision engulfed in darkness.

She felt a soft finger touch on her forehead, tracing the coldness of it. The hand removed her long curls from her plastered face. She felt hot breath upon her neck.

"Diana, I know you are awake. Open your eyes." His voice breathed in her ear. Diana clutched her hands tightly and the one embracing her small one. Opening her eyes would embrace her nightmare, wouldn't it? He is just a trick for her to open them, a very cruel one for her to accept defeat. NO! That would not happen. She felt soft kisses tracing her jaw line, she recognized them more then she should, and how much both her mind and body had missed them. Defeat seemed less horrible when she felt that touch upon her. She slowly opened her eyes, everything was a blur. She could make out the person holding her hand and face. The golden hair was no mistake neither the tanned skin.
Diana blinked her eyes hard and her vision returned. She saw the assassin staring at her, with his known smile on his face. His amber eyes was looking at her face, and she could see the worry dwelling deep within them.

"Zevran?" Saying his name was now foreign on her lips, she had not spoken it since he refused her presence that day. He didn't react to it and kissed her forehead gently, and took a serviette lying next to him, patting it softly in an attempt to remove the cold sweat.

"You had us all worried." She heard from the other side from her bed. She turned her head and saw Alistair and Morrigan hovering there.

"Wh-what happened?" She asked.

"Don't you remember?" Alistair's tone was trembling.

Diana closed her eyes and tried to remember what happened. She was with Morrigan and she told her....By Andraste flaming sword! No! She opened her eyes and sat up faster then she should have. Her hand was still clutching Zevran's hand and she gasped by the pain that was shooting vibes through her body.

"Morrigan..." She looked at the witch, and she saw the apostate looking sternly in her eyes. No emotion present.

"You should rest." Alistair said slowly and sat down on the bed, his eyes flickering from the assassin and her.

"I have done that plenty. I want answers." She said firmly, her eyes fixated on Morrigan.

"Answers to what?" He asked.

Diana didn't answer and she saw the witch turned her head away. This did not escape the both men.

"I see that our deceptible witch have said something that upset our dear Warden." Zevran's eyes were gleaming. Alistair walked fast out from the bed and stood in front of Morrigan.
"What answers does she mean, hm?" He was seething and Morrigan scoffed at him.

"I only told her the truth. Something that apparently did not go by your foolish mind." Alistair's face twitched and he took a step closer to the witch.
Diana could see the tension building up and she didn't need more of their bitching.
"Alistair, please calm down."
"Don't tell me to calm down! She said something that caused you to faint. You are pregnant, by the Maker!" He was angry, beyond it. His eyes was still set upon Morrigan. She sighed and mumbled something with a wave from her hand. Alistair's eyes closed immediately and he fell down.

Diana's eyes widened and before she could ask, the witch already answered.
"He was a pestilence, 'tis was very aggravating. He is of better use asleep." She shrugged her shoulders and sat down on the edge of the bed. Zevran chuckled.

"I have wanted to do that on many occasions myself, alas our dear Warden would never let me since my poisons can escalate the desired effect."

"Is he going to be fine?" Diana asked, trying to a hide a giggle. It was pretty sad that he was only worried about her and gets treated like a child by Morrigan.

"Sadly yes." She said.

"Morrigan...I-" She was cut off by the witch holding up a hand.
"I will answer and we will talk. Today is not 'tis day. You are too unstable."

Diana wanted to argue but had no strength to do so which proved Morrigan's point.

The witch stood up and when she opened her door, she turned and smiled at Diana.
"I will see you tomorrow. Rest." And with that final note, she strode out of the room, leaving a asleep Alistair, a nervous Diana and a long gone friend.

Zevran had been sitting on a chair next to her, and now she saw the crutches that were leaning on the wall behind him.

She had a hard time to formulate an appropriate sentence. Sitting with him now seemed so unreal.

He cleared his throat after what seemed like forever and captivated her attention.

"I need to go back to my quarters as well, my dear."

"No, don't leave." She whispered and held his hand more tightly. He smiled and caressed her cheek with his free hand. If he was gone, she would think of all the things Morrigan had said and her dream that only intensified her fright, and frankly she would rather not think about it now.

Then with no warning a pain went through her body, it felt like knives, dabbed in poison stabbing her abdomen. She let go of Zevran's hand and clutched her belly tightly, while in all her effort, trying not to scream.

The baby within her felt like it was in a uproar and she could feel its violent movement that caused extreme pain for Diana.
"Diana?" Zevran's voice seemed so faraway and she could feel him trying to hold her down with his hands on her shoulders.

"Take deep breaths." He whispered.

She did as she was told and after some breathing it seemed to help and she didn't feel the child anymore. All that went through her mind was hope. She hoped that everything that Morrigan told her was a dream, rather that then to be reality, and that her nightmare had just been a figment of coping with the dream. This can't be real! Her child can't be the root of evil. Diana felt like she was losing her marbles, her sanity was slipping away, slowly but surely. Soon she was afraid there would be nothing left in her except darkness. It seemed to have a strong hold of her, not letting go. She didn't know what to do if what the witch told her was true. What would that leave her? She could feel her skin had been changing since she got pregnant, a more pink tune had been overtaking her pale features, and she had light wounds on both arms, legs and back after all all her scratching. And those nightmares and that song that had been stuck within her for so long, only to cause more insanity. She would not be able to handle more losses, more bad news. It would be to much and it would led her over the brink of her own life.

"Diana?" Zevran's voice interrupted her inner depressing musings.

She looked at him and only saw those amber eyes. Those eyes that had captivated her and had looked at her while making love. That time seemed so faraway and distant. She would chose the Blight over one of these days anytime. And now she was scared. Beyond it. She couldn't stop the 'what ifs' from interrupting her mind.

He was saying her name with such delicate tone, like treating a withering flower from dying. And she laid her face in his palm and closed her eyes. The warmth of his skin engulfed her and sent her on the way to the world where she hoped she was granted one night of peace.

Diana woke up late the next morning. Zevran was not there, not that she was surprised, he had left her somewhere in the night. Neither was Alistair, he must have woken up and walked out without disturbing her. Strangely she felt no pain, nor tired, which seemed pretty strange seeing that she got so little sleep and so many nightmares to fill it nowadays. Not that she complained. She got out of her bed and walked to the mirror. She had dark rings under her eyes, her hair was a mess, like a bird nest, she chuckled when she remembered how many times Wynne complained about it. Not really caring how she looked like or that she was wearing a nightgown, she headed out.

"Oh, M'lady." A servant came rushing, and took Diana back inside and fixed her up. She had no desire to speak or to protest so she sat there like a doll while the servant put her hair in a tight bun, and put on new clothes. Apparently it would not be fit for a Cousland soon-to-be-married to the king, to walk out like a troll. When she was finally done, she walked out trying to find one of the three people she wanted to see. When she was headed to the throne room, she collided with Eamon.

"my queen." He said and bowed. She shook her head. She hated to have be called by titles.

"I'm not queen yet, my good friend." She said while he stood up.

"The marriage is growing near, it would only seem appropriate." He insisted.

"Fine. Do you know where Alistair is?"
"Yes, both he and the mage girl is with the Orlesian."
"The Orlesian?" Diana asked.

"Yes, the only survivor of a darkspawn assault. He is dying and the king needs information."
Diana's heart pounded and she tried not tremble when she asked where they were. When she got that piece of information she hurried to the quarters where they kept him. She knew it could only be one person. David.

Indeed it was. Diana covered her mouth of the sight she witnessed. Blood was everywhere almost in the room. The white sheets and covers have been painted by scarlet blood. The Orlesian was lying in the bed was twitching and screaming out pain. It was strange to see the strong commander only being dressed in simple cloth piece and trousers. It was colored by his blood. Strange indeed. She saw a mage trying to heal the mans wound with help of Morrigan's magic. The witch had her hand embraced by the healer. Alistair was standing on the other side with some of his guards behind him. He looked grim and he looked slightly happier with her presence and waved her over.

Diana slowly walked over, having her eyes fixed on the man in front of her. He had not noticed her as she stood next to the king.

"How is he?" She asked.

"Not good. Their magic is hardly helping. They don't even know why." His voice was barely a whisper when he continued;
"He is dying and we can't do anything to stop it." Diana nodded. It was hard to believe that he was dying. The commander and that all that was with him was dead. That meant that darkspawn was on the move, did it not? David screamed and and turned his body, trying to get away from the mages which failed miserably. His eyes now saw Diana, and he tried to say something. Diana got nearer to him and his hand gripped hers tightly and she almost tripped.
"Darkspawn...killed...left me..." his eyes was blinking furiously.

"everyone...out." He continued. She nodded.

"Everyone please get out." They all looked at her.

"Without our magic he will surely died." The healer said.

"It is his wish. Leave." She said firmly and Alistair walked out which caused everyone else to leave.

She turned her attention to the man in front of her that was still clutching her hand.

"You...they..left...message...you."
She blinked her eyes.

"What, they, who?"
"They killed...everyone, except me." He was trying his hardest to talk properly, blood was running down from his mouth.

"Who's they?"
"Darkspawn...one of them...talked. Talked!"
Diana's heart sank. More bad news....

"They left me alive to come here and give you a message."
"Why me?" She asked.
"They said....will kill everyone...Ferelden, if you don't give yourself to them."

Diana flinched and she started to shake.

"Why-why do they want me for?"
"They want you and your child." He coughed and blood splurted out and sprayed all over her arm.

"What do you mean? Why?" She tried asking but David closed his eyes and fell on the bed and stopped moving. Diana's heart pounded and she pulled her arm away from the dead commander and stood up. She couldn't move or think, but she was not telling anyone about this and she sprinted as fast as she could out of the room, while fighting the tears that were threatening to fall.