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Chapter 5
~Betrayal~

Morriana

My senses slowly began to return to me. As I opened my eyes I allowed them to adjust to the light. My head pounded as I sat up on a…bed? I looked around where I was and realized I was in someone's house. And I was only in my small clothes.

"Ah, your eyes finally open. Mother shall be pleased," someone says coming to me, causing me to jump. There, in front of me was the girl from the wilds. Morrigan, if I remember.

"Yeah," I reply, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. That was probably a mistake because my head only pounded harder as I did so. Maker I feel like my head's gonna explode. "Ow," I whispered, grabbing my head. "Where am I?" I asked.

"You are in the wilds where I have just finished healing your wounds. You are welcome by the way." I looked at her confused.

"Wait, why am I here?"

"You do not remember?" I shake my head. Morrigan sighed. "The man who was to respond to your signal quite the field. The darkspawn won your battle." I stared at her in shock. Suddenly my head no longer hurt, as I could no longer felt anything.

"Wait, what about the king? The Gray Wardens?" Dear Maker, please, no. . .

"All dead. Mother rescued you and your friend before the darkspawn could claim you too." I looked at the ground, not even believing what was happening. Duncan…

"My friend," I whisper, but loud enough for her to hear. "Do you mean Alistair?

"The suspicious dim-witted one I met before?" I nod, thinking nearly the same thing. Even though I thought of him that way, I did not take pleasure in that thought. Duncan was dead. I know he and Alistair were close, that was obvious. But even I was growing close to Duncan. He was the first human I ever trusted. He was a friend of my elder, and had known my mother. . . Maker, why didn't I ever ask about her?

"He and mother are outside, should you wish to talk to them." I nodded and she handed me my clothes and armor, along with my weapons. I dressed and sheathed my weapons quickly then stood up.

"I should go to them," I say.

"I will make something to eat." Morrigan says before turning to a pot with stew in it.

Going outside into the light did no justice for my head, now that I could feel it again. Once I come outside I see Morrigan's mother and Alistair, who was staring off into the wilds.

"See," Morrigan's mother says to Alistair, "here is your fellow warden. You worry too much, young man." Alistair turns to see me closing the door behind me. He stays silent as I approach him then sighs while dropping his head.

"I can't believe you're alive." Me either. "I thought you were… were dead too." The words seemed hard to come out.

"Well it takes more than a few darkspawn to take me out," I reply in reassurance, though I didn't care that much. Alistair looks up at me with an agonizing look.

"Duncan's dead. The king. . . they're all. . . dead." He let's out something between an disbelieving scoff and a sad sigh. "This doesn't seem real. If it weren't for Morrigan's mother we'd be dead on top of that tower."

"Do not talk as if I am not present, lad." Morrigan's mother says, interrupting our something of a "moment".

"Oh, I didn't mean. . . but what do we call you? You never told us your name." She scoffs.

"Names are pretty, but useless. The Chasind folk call me 'Flemeth'. I suppose it will do." Alistair looks at her in surprise and even I know why.

"The Flemeth? From the legends? Davath was right, wasn't he? You're the Witch of the Wilds, aren't you?"

"And what does that mean? I know a bit of magic and it has served you both well has it not?"

"We need to decide what to do." Alistair instantly says. "Why would Loghain do this?"

"Men's hearts hold shadows darker than any tainted creature." I silently reply, remembering the words my father once told me after my mother had died, and I wondered why those shems had killed her.

"Yes," Flemeth agrees. "Perhaps he believes the darkspawn is an army he can outmaneuver. Or perhaps he does not see the true evil behind it all." Alistair nods and looks down.

"The archdemon."

"It has always been the Gray Warden's duty to defeat the Blight. Or did that change when I wasn't looking?" Flemeth unfolds her arms. Uh, it changed when most of them were kind of slaughtered.

"Then we need to find this archdemon." I reply, putting my hands on my hips. It's not like there's much else we can do. Alistair looks up at me and blows breath.

"By ourselves? No Gray Warden has even defeated blight without a half dozen nations at his back. Not to mention… I don't know how."

"How to kill and archdemon or how to raise an army?" Flemeth asked, folding her arms. "It seems to me that those are two very different questions. Have the Gray Wardens no allies these days?"

"I-I don't know. King Cailan called to the wardens of Orlais and Arl Eamon would never stand for this."

"Arl Eamon?" I ask. "Is he someone important?"

"I suppose. He was Cailan's uncle. But he wasn't at Ostagar; he still has all his men. Of course! We can go to Redcliff and appeal to him for help."

"Well, then, there surely has to be more allies we can call upon." His head snaps towards me.

"Of course! The treaties! Gray Wardens can demand aid from dwarves, mages and elves. And I still think Arl Eamon is our best bet."

"Then perhaps you need to find these people." I turn back to Flemeth.

"Thank you for your help then. Perhaps we should get a move on."

"So you are set then? Ready to become Gray Wardens?"

"One step at a time. Better slow and organized than fast and sloppy."

"Spoken truly. Now before you go there is one more thing I can offer you." She turns as Morrigan emerges from the hut and walks to us.

"The stew is near ready mother. Shall we have two guests for the eve, or none?" Morrigan shoots a quick glare at Alistair then looks back at her mother.

"The Grey Wardens are leaving shortly girl. And you will be going with them."

"Good luck then—What?" she looks back at her mother to see some form of jesting.

"You heard me girl. If I remember correctly you still have ears." Flemeth laughs at her own comment.

"Well, if Morrigan doesn't want to come with us—" Flemeth cuts me off.

"Her magic will be very useful. She knows the wilds and how to get past the horde. She will take you to the village north of here, Lothering."

"Have I no say in this?"

"You have been itching to get out of the wilds for some time, girl. Here's your chance. And, you Wardens, I give you that which I value most in this world. Do not disappoint me."

"No to. . . look a gift horse in the mouth, but won't this add to our problems? Out of the wilds she's an apostate."

"If you do not wish any help from us illegal mages, young man, perhaps I should have left you on top of that tower."

"Point taken." Yeah. point taken.

"Very well," Morrigan sighs. "Allow me to get my things." She turns on her heal and stalks into the hut and Flemeth follows after her. Alistair and I simply stood there and waited. A silence lay between us, but I was thankful for it. I normally hated silence and had to have some conversation to entertain me, or simply just listen to one. But there was nothing but the sound of croaking frogs, chirping birds, and buzzing bugs around us. Finally, after a few minutes, Morrigan emerged again with her pack.

"I am at your disposal, Gray Warden. I would suggest the Lothering like mother said. Or if you prefer I shall simply be your silent guide."

"I think we should get a move on. And you can speak your mind Morrigan." She nods and begins down the path. I glance at Alistair, only to see his clouded eyes staring at the floor as he followed behind me. I sighed.

Things cannot get any worse. I thought about that then shook my head. Well. . . yes it can.

Alistair

We were about a few hours away from Flemeth's hut when all of the sudden barking catches our attention. I look up from the ground to see a mabari charging down the hill. It passed Morrigan by but stopped in front of Morriana. But he gave her no time to pet him. He turned back around the way he came and following him were a group of darkspawn. Huffing I drew my blade and shield and a fight commenced.

Morrigan froze three of the darkspawn and the hound tackled another. Morriana danced around the Hurlock general and stabbed it from behind. I stabbed one of the others and pushed it off my sword then I swung it around to sever the head of another coming behind me. Realizing the battle was over I looked to Morriana to see her with the hound. She knelt in front of him and scratched his head. The dog then bounced around and barked happily. Then it hit me.

"He must be the mabari hound from Ostagar. I think he was out there looking for you. He's… chosen you. Mabari are like that. They call it imprinting."

"I think he would help us, won't you boy? Want to help us kill darkspawn, big guy?" the dog barked happily again.

"And now we'll have this mangy beast following us? Lovely." Morrigan said while folding her arms, clearly annoyed.

"He's not mangy." I said back. "What are you going to name him?" I asked coming up next to her. She smiled as she thought. Maker, she has a bright smile. She needs to do that more often.

"Orrick." She decides. The hound, now Orrick, seemed happy with his name so she stood up.

"And now we have a dog and Alistair is still the dumbest one in the group." Morrigan says coming up and walking on. I scowled at her and shake my head. Yes, she will be a problem, I just know it.

Morriana stands and loses her smile. Once again we are back on the road to Lothering. Orrick walks at her side, sometimes looking at Morrigan and me. When he gave Morrigan a slight growl I smiled. It's official. I love this dog.