Chapter 18
Alistair sipped his ale as he glanced solemnly around the room at the people he considered his closest friends. He was going to miss the camaraderie that was evident amongst the friends gathered. Except for Zevran they were all Wardens, but he considered every single one of them his brothers. It was this small group of companions that would know the true reason behind the King of Ferelden's disappearance. The rest of the country would believe that Alistair and Anders died during a darkspawn attack on a group of traveling merchants – unfortunately neither the merchants nor the two Wardens survived. At least his fictitious death was how he had always planned on dying – as a Warden, fighting darkspawn.
A roar of laughter erupted from the group and Alistair couldn't help, but be amused as he listened to the friendly banter that flowed between them.
"I still don't see why I can't come along to Alex's world too," Oghren huffed. "Why just think of all the exotic ales they must brew there! I'd give my left lug nugget just to try some more of that alcohol that was in Alex's first aid kit."
"I don't think you were supposed to actually drink that, Oghren," Nathaniel explained.
"Nonsense, it said it was for emergencies - well it just so happened that I had an emergency."
"What's that, forget to refill your flask again?" Anders asked jokingly.
"How'd you know?" Oghren retorted.
Zevran laughed at Anders and Nathaniel deadpanned faces.
"My stout little friend has a point there," Zev stated.
Anders cocked his eyebrow in mock interest, "What, you want a refill too now, Zev?"
"No, nothing like that, I assure you," chuckled the elf. "It is just that I too would like to see this California and its famous girls. I hear that elves are most uncommon in her world. While I find this information truly shocking, I believe it is also a grand opportunity. Why just imagine all the lovely, buxom vixens that have yet to know the thrill of true love making. I would like to get the chance of properly sedu-I mean, educating these poor women."
"Is that all you two can think about, wine and women?" Nathaniel exclaimed.
"No, I think about men too," Zev smirked suggestively.
"Well, all that aside," Anders interrupted before Nathaniel could comment, "I'm afraid that to send two more people into the Fade with Alistair and I would require more lyrium; lyrium that we don't have and cannot possibly hope to obtain in time to save Alex's life."
"Aw, nug wranglers!"
The banter continued as Darrian sat down beside Alistair. "How are you really fairing with all of this?" Darrian inquired.
Alistair took a sip of his ale and thought a moment before he replied. "I am going to miss this…the camaraderie, the silly jesting. The Wardens were my first true home and for the first time in my life I felt like I belonged somewhere. And I am really going to miss you, my friend. You have been like a brother to me. It will be strange not having you by my side." Alistair paused and let out a long sigh.
"Alistair, is this something you really want to do? Are you sure you are doing the right thing?" Darrian asked.
Without hesitation Alistair replied, "Yes, I love her. I realized that I never knew or understood what true love was until I met her. I would risk everything; give up everything to be with her."
"And you are my friend. You are giving up everything you know and love for this woman. Are you absolutely, one hundred percent sure this is what you want?"
Alistair took another sip of ale, "Have you ever experienced the moment when you kissed someone and everything around you becomes hazy, everything else fades away and it's just you and this person. And in that moment you realize that person is the only person that you are supposed to kiss for the rest of your life. In that instant you feel like the luckiest person alive because you have finally found what everyone else is looking for and at the same time you are scared to death that it will be taken from you."
Darrian nodded and replied sadly, "Yes, I do believe I know what you are talking about."
Alistair nodded, "I thought you would. I have found the one person that feels like home to me and she is about to be ripped out of my life forever. Am I sure? Let me ask you Darrian, what would you have done to save Morrigan?"
Darrian was silent for a long moment and then said, "I would do what you are doing…without hesitation."
They were silent for a while as they listened to Oghren as he tried to explain the finer details of what a motion picture was to Anders and he insisted that Anders watch a movie trilogy called The Lord of the Rings. "You might learn something, skirt man. That movie had a real mage in it. He took on a dragon all by himself."
"Ooooh, a dragon; you don't say. I also recall Alex saying that movies were made up stories," Anders retorted.
"Wrong again, fancy skirt. She said some movies were based on true stories. I believe the Lord of the Rings was one of those."
Alistair turned to Darrian, "I need you to promise me something."
"Whatever you wish of me Alistair, I will do for you," Darrian replied.
"With my death, the country will once again be in upheaval. As the Hero of Ferelden, Commander of the Grey and Arl of Amaranthine you will have a large say in selecting the next king. I honestly believe that Fergus Cousland is the best man for the job. Eamon may try to fight this and use his connection with his sister, Rowan, to take the throne for himself. Do not let this happen. It will destroy him. Fergus is what will be best for Ferelden. Can you do this for me?"
"Of course, Alistair and not just because I agree with you, but because it's you, my brother, asking me to do this," Darrian said as he put his arm Alistair's shoulder. "I will miss you, my brother."
Darrian pulled Alistair to his feet and called Anders over to him. In a loud voice he called out, "Brothers we are here to say farewell and wish safe travels to our friends so please lift your mugs with me as we offer them our well wishes." Darrian raised his mug and everyone in the room did the same. Darrian turned to Alistair and Anders, "My friends, may the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may the Maker hold you in the hollow of his hand."
"Here, here," everyone cried out in unison.
Later that night Alistair quietly crept into Alex's room and curled up beside her on the bed; her breathing was shallow and raspy sounding. He pulled her into his arms and brushed his lips against her forehead as he whispered, "Hang in there just a little longer, Love. You just need to fight a little while longer."
She stirred in his arms as mumbled, "Alistair?"
"I'm here, my Love."
"You haven't left yet?" She asked.
"No, we leave first thing in the morning," Alistair replied.
"Will you stay with me tonight?"
"There isn't any place I would rather be," he said as kissed the top of her head.
"Alistair, my world is big. Very big, it may take you a while to find me. Don't feel bad if you don't find me in time," she muttered drowsily.
He lifted her chin so that he could look in her eyes, "Alex, no matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you, but you have to keep fighting. Don't stop fighting, don't give up. I promise I will find you. Promise me! Promise me you won't stop fighting."
"I promise," she murmured. She started to drift off to sleep when she jolt awake, "Alistair, watch out for the cars. That is how Morrigan got hurt."
"Cars, what are cars?"
"Think of them as wagons but without the horses and they move very fast. If they hit you they could kill you," she whispered.
"Do they intentionally try to hit you?" Alistair inquired.
She giggled, "At time I have thought so, but no, most people do not try to hit other people."
She rested her head again on his chest as she whispered, "I love you, Alistair."
He lifted her chin once again and kissed her soft lips, "I love you, Alex." He held her in his arms the rest of the night as he listened to the soft sounds of her breathing. He slipped out of bed just before the sun began to rise, kissed her forehead, got dressed in causal tan trousers and a shirt, and grabbed his backpack and sword. Since Alex had managed to carry her backpack through the Fade and Sienna said anything that was attached their bodies should make it through both Alistair and Anders were going to try to do the same thing. He set the letter he had written her on the pillow beside her. He leaned down, kissed her lips one last time and then headed out the door.
He met Anders, Darrian and Connor at the rear stairs and they crept down to the dungeons and out the secret passage to the windmill. Darrian thought it would be best to perform the ritual in secluded area away from the castle. They made their way to a clearing about a mile outside of town. Anders immediately began setting up; he pulled out a large basin and filled it to the brim with lyrium potions. Then he pulled out two more potion bottles and the Tevinter diary.
He then handed Alistair potion bottle, "I will say the Tevinter incantation then you will drink the potion that I just handed you at the same time as I pour this potion into lyrium."
"Then what?" Alistair asked.
"Well, the only thing the diary says is that after the ritual they were physically able to enter the Fade. So we will have to wait and see," Anders said. Alistair just nodded.
Anders circled the basin as he read the incantation out loud. After several minutes he looked at Alistair and nodded. Alistair drank the potion as Anders continued reciting the spell out loud as he poured the potion into the lyrium when he finished reciting the spell he drank his potion. As the lyium basin began to smoke Anders called Alistair over.
Alistair turned to Darrian and hugged him, "Thank you for being such a great friend and brother."
"No, thank you for always believing in me, I love you, brother," Darrian said.
"I love you, too," he said as he released him.
Alistair walked over to Anders. "Reach into the basin," Anders ordered.
Alistair did as instructed; as his hand touched the lyrium a bright light leaped out of the basin and into his hand, the light coursed through him until it completely enveloped him.
Alistair stumbled through the doorway and fell to the ground. He looked around and realized he was in the Fade. He looked down at his body and was glad to see that the ritual had worked and his corporal body had passed through the portal. He stood up; adjusted his backpack and looked around at his surroundings. He did not see Morrigan anywhere. He hoped it wouldn't take them long to find her.
A moment later a bright light flashed and Anders stumbled out of the portal. "They really need to work on a better means of travel. That landing is a little rough," Anders grumbled as he wiped the dirt off of his trousers.
"I don't see Morrigan so let's start walking and hopefully we will find her soon," Alistair said.
Anders looked around for a moment and spotted a tree near the portal. He cast a fire spell and drew an X on the tree.
"What's that for?" Alistair asked.
Anders knew that Alex didn't want Alistair to know that there might be a way home until she knew that she could actually make it happen. "Oh, it's just something I do every time I come to the Fade. The Fade is a big place and easy to get lost in. It's like leaving breadcrumbs to follow back."
"But we aren't coming back so why do it now?" Alistair inquired.
"Well, that's true, but if we get lost trying to find Morrigan then it would be helpful to know where we have been," Anders responded.
"Good point," Alistair said.
They started down a path that led to a large lake where there were boats suspended in mid-air. "They really should hire a new decorator," Anders said.
"I was thinking the exact same thing," Alistair chuckled.
"Great minds think alike," Anders replied as he scorched an X into another tree.
They made their way around the lake when they saw the light of a campfire up ahead, as they drew closer to the camp Alistair unsheathed his sword and Anders reached for his staff. They cautiously approached the camp, but saw no one.
"Be careful," Alistair warned. "I have seen traps like this set by demons to lure travelers to sleep and then to their deaths," Alistair cautioned.
"And lucky for you I was there once again to save your sorry arse," Morrigan retorted from behind them.
Both men spun around to see the mage approach through the trees. "I am glad to see the two of finally made it. When I said hurry that wasn't a suggestion that was an order; now let's go, we don't have much time."
"Is she alive?" Alistair asked.
"Yes, but she has grown much weaker," Morrigan said as she headed through the trees and toward a purple doorway. "I am going to try to get you as close to Alex's apartment as possible, but this isn't an exact science so I maybe a little off. The hospital that she is at is only five blocks from her home so once you orientate yourselves you should have no problem finding it."
"Alex drew us a map of all the streets near her home and she marked her home and the hospital on it," Alistair said.
"Good, that will be helpful. Listen to me this world is unlike anything you have ever imagined. They use electricity for lights…"
"What? Do they use magic to do this?" Anders asked.
"No, they have learned to harness the power from their environment's natural elements and to convert it into electricity to power their homes and all the modern conveniences in their homes. They use switches to turn the power on and off. My point is that you will see things beyond your imagination, but you have to try and act like these things are not unusual because to the people that live in this universe they aren't. You need to blend in," Morrigan cautioned.
"That is why we tried to dress as casually as possible so that we would blend in," Alistair replied.
Morrigan looked both of them up and down. They were both wearing loose tan trousers, ivory shirts that laced up the front and boots. They didn't look like the modern people that she had seen, but they didn't look terrible out of place either.
"Your attire is passable, but I would find a change of clothes as soon as possible," Morrigan said as she ushered them toward the portal.
As they approached the purple gateway Alistair turned to Morrigan, "I know that you and I haven't always seen eye to eye on most things, but I wanted to thank you for helping us save her."
"You're welcome, Alistair and good luck," Morrigan said.
Alistair took a deep breath and stepped through the doorway.
Anders winked at Morrigan, "Here goes nothing," he said as he stepped through the portal.