Dark images clouded her mind. Monsters, creatures and awful howling followed by what could only be described as maniacal laughing. The images and sounds started to fade as Elissa slowly came awake. She hurt, that was the first thing that came to mind. Her head was pounding. Her whole body felt like she had fallen down stairs. She moaned and slowly opened her eyes. The light blinded her and she brought her hand up and pushed on her eyes trying to will the pressure away. She slowly sat up against the protests of her muscles.
"Your eyes are finally open, Mother will be pleased," a feminine voice said.
Elissa jumped at the sound. She opened her eyes and her eyesight blurred. She blinked a few times to clear them and found herself looking at the girl from the wilds. Morganna, Morgena, no Morrigan that was her name.
"What…what happened?" Elissa looked around. She realized she was naked and clutched the blanket to her chest feeling exposed. She figured she was back in the wilds but how was that possible. The last thing she remembered was the tower and darkspawn.
"You were injured and Mother rescued you, do you not remember?" Morrigan asked.
"I…no, I remember darkspawn overrunning us," Elissa frowned. How did an old woman rescue her?
"The darkspawn won your battle. The man who was to respond to your signal quit the field. Those he abandoned were massacred," Morrigan said.
"Wait, what? The King? Duncan and the other Grey Wardens? Are you saying they are all dead?" Elissa stared up at Morrigan.
"Yes, all dead," Morrigan nodded. "Your friend is distraught by the news."
"My friend?" Elissa whispered. "Alistair?"
"If Alistair be the suspicious dimwitted one who was with you before, yes it is he," Morrigan smiled.
Elissa didn't think that was a nice thing to say about Alistair. She wanted to defend him but sorrow racked her heart. The King was dead. Duncan was dead. She felt like screaming or laughing. Panic was rising in her chest. The darkspawn won the battle. She was trying to run that over and over in her head. "Are you saying no other Grey Wardens live?"
"You and your friend are the only two left," Morrigan said. "If there are others they have likely retreated but it is doubtful since they were on the front line."
Elissa groaned and put her face in her hands. Why did this happen to her? She could barely handle her family dying…Fergus!
"What about the scouts that the King had in the wilds? Do you know anything about them?" Elissa asked looking up at Morrigan.
Morrigan shook her head. "If they survived they will likely be making their way out of the Wilds. But since the darkspawn has overrun your camp it is doubtful that they live."
Elissa felt the world turn upside down for the third time. She felt the tears forming. She wanted to cry but she could only imagine the words that Morrigan would say to her. This was a woman who didn't hide her feelings.
"Mother is out by the fire. She asked to speak to you when you have awoken. Your gear is right there," Morrigan pointed to the pile of armor and her bow and quiver. "Your friend is also outside."
"My dog?" Elissa asked. "Did…is he…?" She couldn't finish the sentence.
"Your beast is outside," Morrigan said with a hint of distaste. "He was laying on top of you when Mother rescued you. She had to bring him."
Elissa felt her heart soar. At least Lucky was still alive. She had to focus on that because if she thought about Fergus, the King, and Duncan she'd go mad. She'd probably already go mad now that Alistair and her were the last two Grey Wardens in Ferelden. But at least she would be a crazy girl who still had her Mabari.
She slowly stood up while Morrigan busied herself at the fireplace. Elissa looked over her shoulder and saw a scar. It was new, so was the one on her side and thigh. She winced remembering the feeling of those arrows piercing her flesh.
She slowly dressed and grit her teeth with every movement. She carried her bow and quiver in her hands and looked at Morrigan. The woman didn't acknowledge her so Elissa slowly let herself out. It was dusk Elissa noticed. The swamp was eerily quiet. She looked around and Lucky barked.
Elissa closed the door behind her and she set her weapons down as Lucky bounded for her. She knelt down and was knocked on her butt by the hound that smelled her all over to make sure she was safe. Elissa smiled and laughed, "I'm all right boy."
She looked him over to make sure he was in one piece and when she was satisfied she looked up.
"It seems you worry too much young man," Morrigan's mother said from her rocking chair beside a fire.
Elissa stood up and looked at Alistair for the first time. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked torn between bursting into tears and smiling. Elissa went to him and without thinking she wrapped her arms around him. She hid her face in his chest and let the tears fall. She wouldn't allow him to be the only blubbering idiot she'd join him.
Seeing Elissa walk out of the hut brought relief to Alistair. He had lost everyone and she was the only one he had left. He couldn't face the Blight on his own it was doomed to failure. It probably was doomed to failure as is.
When Elissa came towards him and wrapped her arms around him he didn't know how to react. He wrapped his arms around her and hid his face in her hair that was loose from its usual braid. He let the tears fall, as he had known she was doing the same. It felt like an eternity that they stood embracing until she finally pulled away from him and looked up staring.
"You," Alistair said his voice was soft like he couldn't believe it was real. "You're alive, I thought you were dead for sure."
Elissa wiped her eyes and shook her head, "I feel like this is a very bad dream. I'm glad you're alive."
"If it weren't for Morrigan's mother," Alistair whispered. "We'd be dead."
"Bah don't talk about me like I'm not here," the woman said.
Elissa and Alistair both looked at the woman. "I'm sorry, I just don't know your name. What do we call you?" Alistair asked.
"Names are pretty but useless," the woman smiled. "The Chasind folk call me Flemeth."
"The Flemeth? From the legends? Daveth was right you are the Witch of the Wilds," Alistair stared in somewhat a state between shock and anger. His templar training was showing itself.
"I have a bit of magic yes," Flemeth smiled. "And it has served you two well has it not?"
"Why did you save us?" Elissa asked.
"Well we can't have every Grey Warden's dying at once can we? It is after all the Grey Warden's responsibility to unite the land against the Blight is it not? Or has that changed?" Flemeth eyed Elissa.
She didn't know what to say. She was lost and confused and did Morrigan say Loghain quit the field. Why?
"The land is hardly united anymore thanks to Loghain," Elissa whispered.
"That doesn't make any sense why would he do it?" Alistair asked looking at Elissa.
She knew why he would. She had a hunch it had to do with Cailan bringing in Orlais. Fear was a big motivator for people to do stupid and dangerous things.
"That is a good question," Flemeth smiled. "Men's hearts hold shadows darker than any tainted creature. Perhaps he believes the Blight is something he can out maneuver. Perhaps he doesn't see the evil behind the Blight is the true threat."
"The archdemon," Alistair growled and looked out towards the Wilds.
Elissa shook her head she felt out of place. She had no idea what to do. "Alistair is the real Grey Warden here, I just joined."
"I've lost everyone," Alistair said looking at Elissa. She felt his stare burn right through her. "For the love of the Maker don't back out on me now. I can't do this on my own."
Elissa felt her face redden and looked at Flemeth then at Alistair. "Can I talk to you alone Alistair?"
"Don't mind me, I'll be right here." Flemeth said.
Elissa walked a distance away without looking to see if Alistair was following. When she looked back he was right behind her.
"I can't do this Alistair! I don't know a damn thing about fighting a Blight!" Elissa voiced her fear. "How are we going to do this? By ourselves?"
"I don't know a damn thing either. I'm almost as new as you are to the Order!" Alistair said.
Elissa studied him she knew he was taking the deaths hard. "When were the Grey Wardens from Orlais due to be here?"
"I…I don't know," Alistair sighed.
"If Loghain pulled out for the reasons I think he did and they aren't within Ferelden's borders now he'll stop them from coming," Elissa sighed. "And it will be just you and I once more."
"Why would he pull out?" Alistair frowned.
"He fears Orlais occupation again," Elissa explained. "Anything that has to do with Orlais he is adamant against. When Queen Anora hired an Orlesian elven servant as her personal maid he exploded. Something about Maric had once trusted an Orlesian elf who turned out to be a spy."
"How do you know this?" Alistair asked studying Elissa.
"I just…I heard it from the Couslands," Elissa sighed. "Look I'm not going to back out on you Alistair. But just so you know I think this is crazy."
"I think it's crazy too. We're the only Wardens left Elissa," Alistair's voice softened.
Elissa licked her lips than bit her bottom lips. "Are you all right? The attack didn't cause permanent damage did it?"
"Flemeth healed my wounds," Alistair sighed.
"I wish she would have saved Duncan and the King as well," Elissa whispered.
"I agree," Alistair nodded.
"So what do we do?" Elissa asked.
"I can't help but over hear your conversation," Flemeth yelled. "But you do have more to your disposal than you think."
Elissa looked up at Alistair then at Flemeth. She moved back over to Flemeth. "Oh and what do we have?" Elissa asked.
"What did you come to the Wilds for in the first place?" Flemeth eyed them both.
"The treaties?" Elissa asked raising her eyebrows. "But we gave them to Duncan."
"I have them," Alistair said excitedly. He reached into his pack and pulled out the scrolls. He turned to Elissa and smiled. "Duncan gave them to me for safe keeping and to read them."
Elissa took them from him and looked at each one. "Dwarves, Dalish, and the Circle," she saw that was whom the treaties were for.
"We can go to them for help and use the treaties," Alistair smiled.
"What about the humans, nobles, and commoners?" Elissa asked. "We're going to need them too."
Alistair bit his lip, "We can go to Arl Eamon. He wasn't at Redcliffe he still has all his men. He was also Cailan's uncle. He won't let what Loghain did go without punishment. He also has the respect of the people to unite the nobles."
Elissa didn't need Alistair to explain who Eamon was. She knew him and knew his family. "Then we'll go to him," Elissa nodded.
"I may be old but that sounds like you have the start of an army," Flemeth smiled.
"Can we do this? Build an army?" Alistair asked staring at Elissa.
She shrugged, "I doubt it will be that easy the way things are going for us but why not?"
"So you are set then? Ready to be Grey Wardens?" Flemeth asked both of them.
Elissa paused, was she really agreeing to help build an army to stop monsters? Her life had fallen apart in less than a week and here she was trying to play hero. This wasn't her. She felt like running. Somewhere at the back of her mind she could hear her father. "Our family always does our duty first, you must go for your sake and for Ferelden."
"As ready as we'll ever be," Elissa sighed. She felt like she was marching to her death but at least she wasn't going alone.
"There is one more thing I can offer you," Flemeth said.
Elissa's head snapped up and frowned at Flemeth. What was she playing at?
The door to the hut opened and Morrigan walked out. "The stew is bubbling Mother, shall we have two guests this eve or none?"
Elissa moved closer to Alistair as Morrigan's gaze glared over them. She knew when she wasn't wanted somewhere.
"The Warden's are leaving shortly girl, and you will be joining them them," Flemeth said.
"Such a shame…what?" Morrigan looked sharply at Flemeth.
"You heard me girl, the last time I looked you had ears," Flemeth laughed.
Elissa looked at Alistair who looked like he was turning red in the face. He didn't like the idea of Morrigan coming along. She couldn't say she was a fan of it either.
"Have I no say in this?" Morrigan asked.
"You have been itching to get out of the Wilds for a while here is your chance," Flemeth said.
"Thank you but if Morrigan doesn't wish to go…" Elissa started to say.
"Morrigan will be useful to you. You two can use a bit of magic. Consider this repayment for your lives," Flemeth eyed both Alistair and Elissa.
"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," Alistair said slowly.
"If you did not wish help from us illegal mages young man perhaps I should have left you on that tower," Flemeth glared at Alistair.
Alistair took a step back and stood slightly behind Elissa. "Point taken," he mumbled.
Elissa studied the mother and daughter. She didn't like this one bit but it was Flemeth's game for now. She felt like a game piece on one of her father's gaming boards.
"Mother, this is not how I wanted this. I'm not even ready," Morrigan said.
"You must be ready. Alone these two must unite Ferelden against the darkspawn. They need you Morrigan, without you they will surely fail. And all will parish under the Blight even I," Flemeth narrowed her eyes.
"I…understand," Morrigan said.
"And you Wardens do you understand? I give you that which I value above all in this world. I do this because you must succeed," Flemeth said.
"She won't come to harm with us," Elissa said. Why not send everyone with them? They were all doomed to fail anyway, Elissa thought sarcastically.
"Allow me to get my things if you please," Morrigan said disappearing back into the hut.
Elissa looked over at Alistair he was shaking his head. She turned to him and grabbed his hand. He looked down at her and looked confused.
"We'll get through this Alistair," Elissa found herself whispering. She didn't know why she was reassuring him when she felt like they were going to fail.
Alistair nodded at her and squeezed her hand.
A moment later Morrigan appeared. "I am at your disposal Grey Wardens. I suggest a village north of the Wilds as our first destination. It is not far and you will find much you need there. Or if you prefer I will simply be your silent guide," Morrigan said through gritted teeth. "The choice is yours."
Elissa and Alistair looked at each other. "Speak your mind by all means," Elissa found herself saying.
Flemeth laughed, "You will regret saying that."
"Dear sweet Mother, you are so kind to cast me out like this. How fondly I should remember this moment," Morrigan smiled sweetly at her mother.
"Did it get a little chilly out here?" Alistair whispered.
Elissa felt like laughing.
"Well I always said if you want something done do it yourself. Or hear about it a decade or two afterwards," Flemeth smiled.
"I just…do you really want to take her along because her mother said so?" Alistair asked.
"We need all the help we can get Alistair," Elissa sighed.
"You're right, the Grey Wardens have always taken allies where they can find them," Alistair glared at Morrigan.
Elissa felt the start of a headache coming on and it pounded more with Morrigan's next remark.
"I am so pleased to have your approval," Morrigan smiled sweetly at Alistair.
"I think we should get going," Elissa sighed.
"Farewell Mother. Do not forget the stew on the fire. I'd hate to return to find a burned down hut," Morrigan smiled.
"Bah, tis far more likely you will return to see this entire area including my hut swallowed up by the Blight," Flemeth scoffed.
"All I meant was…" Morrigan looked remorseful. Elissa raised her eyebrow at that.
"Yes I know, do try to have fun now," Flemeth smiled.
Elissa went over and grabbed her gear looping her bow over her head she took off walking following behind Morrigan who was to be their guide. "Thank you Flemeth," Elissa called as they went over the hill that led away from the hut.
She didn't hear the response but she saw the woman nod. Lucky loped along in front of her and Alistair was at her side glaring at Morrigan's back. Morrigan was bound and determined to ignore them it seemed. Elissa let out a deep sigh. It was going to be an adventure with this small group that was for sure.