Chapter 27
~Now You Know~

Alistair

Through one of the doors in Andraste's Temple, we found our way through a tunnel that lead to the other temple. We encountered no more cultists on our way back, but we had heard the roar of the dragon and the temple shake, which did not sound good. We walked quickly back to where we had left Genitive and, thank the Maker, he was still there, studying ancient writing on the wall.

"You've returned!" He said once he saw us approach. He had dark line under his eyes, so I assumed when we left him he did not sleep. "Did... did you find the ashes," he asked hesitantly. Morriana smiled and pulled out the pouch, handing it to him. Genitive let out the breath he had been holding. "This… the ashes of Andraste…" He stopped, unable to process what was going on.

"Genitive, we must go to Redcliff." I announced, breaking him of his thoughts. He looked up at me, coming out of his daze.

"Yes, yes. Of course. I will need help though." I nodded and allowed him to put his weight on me as we descended the stairs.

###

When we arrived back at camp both Morrigan and Wynne work one healing Genitive's foot and gave him a potion to drink to make him sleep a long while, to make up for the day he missed of sleep and to let the foot heal better. Then, still with some energy left, Wynne tried to heal Morriana's foot again.

As we had gone down the mountain, her foot could no longer hold her, and Morriana could not walk the rest of the way. Zevran offered to carry her, but I protested and let him help Genitive so I could help her. It wasn't a matter of jealousy, I knew Morriana wouldn't fall for his charm, but a matter of I just want to take care of her. Even more so since…I found out. I carried her back, easily since she pretty much weighed nothing, and we finally arrived back at camp, where Wynne, Sten, Orrick, Bodahn and Sandal were waiting for our return.

Morrigan and Wynne fought about healing Morriana's foot, since it wasn't healed all the way with magic. It was finally decided to let it be set with magic and the rest healed on its own. I did not think much of this, for they had to used magic to reset it, but when they did Morriana screamed in pain. I was quick at her side, assuring her that it would be okay.

A half hour of this felt like hours, and the bones had been rest and the pain numbed. They also gave her the same potion as Genitive and she fell asleep so fast it was as if someone had knocked her out. I carried her to her tent, took off her armor and set it aside where she could find it then went to my tent for sleep. We all did at this time, with Sten keeping watch. I was glad I was finally getting used to him, but I could not sleep that night.

I thought back on what the Guardian had said to Morriana. Since I met her I knew something was wrong. Duncan had told me that he needed to take her in order to save her life, but I never realized it was… that bad. But now that I looked at it… it was all there. She never wanted me to touch her; she was silent and refused to talk; was distrustful of humans; she didn't like to be close to someone; and then she had freaked when I was on her.

Now it made sense. But as I realized that…I began to cry. It was not that I was being weak, but that I couldn't believe something so horrible could have happened to her. I mean, I love her. I was not angry and disappointed at her for not telling me. I understood. I finally whipped the tears from my eyes and laid on my back, looking at the roof of my tent.

This I would need to talk to her about.

###

Morning came bright and early, but I smelled smoke along with it. That was what jolted me awake. I climbed out of my tent and looked above the trees to see smoke coming from the village.

"The dragon attacked last night." I jumped when I saw Genitive sitting on a long near our once-been fire.

"I never hear nor felt it," I said to him.

"No? You must have been exhausted then, with what all you did. I never heard it either. Some of your companions did, however."

"Why didn't it attack us?" I walked over and sat on a log next to him.

"Perhaps since we showed we were no threat she left us alone. Like a bee. If you leave them alone, they leave you alone." I nodded and looked back up at the smoke clouds rising above the trees.

###

We left an hour later, and, to Wynn's insistence, Morriana rode in the wagon. We walked all day and set up camp at night. Since Wynne (main me, but everyone assumed Wynn) argued to Morriana about not walking I carried her out of the wagon and set up her tent. Things now seemed to be tense between Morriana and me since I found out what happened. But I was not going to let her think I don't love her anymore.

As Sten took first watch, the rest of us went to sleep… save for Morriana and me. Orrick laid snoring loudly at her side and she watched the flames dance before her at their own tune. I walked easily, but loudly so she knew I was there, and sat next to her. I opened my mouth to speak, but she beat me to it.

"I know." That could mean a lot of things. I shook my head, waiting for her to tell me what she meant. "I know that you don't think it would work out and that now you know what I've been hiding. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just couldn't bare the shame and—"

"Mori," I stopped her, "is that honestly what you think?" She looked at me, a guilty look to her eyes. "No, I won't do that. And I'm not made that you didn't tell me." I moved my hand to cup her cheek. "I love you too much. I know now what happened—"

"But not the whole story." She interrupted.

"—Maybe I don't know the whole story, but if you want to tell me I will listen. If not I won't ask." She looked away for a moment and closed her eyes.

"The day it happened I was to be married." That struck me like a bolt but, instead of interrupting I let her continue. "It was arranged and I didn't know him. I didn't even want to marry him. I wanted to run away. But then, who would support my family? So I went on with it. Soris was getting married too. He didn't want to do it either, but understood the need. Duncan was also there. He was looking for a Grey warden at the time, and wanted to talk to our elder, Valendrien.

"Before it started there was a man with his friends, the arl of Denerim's son. He was tormenting us and trying to take some of our women. I tried to tell him off but Shianni knocked him out cold with a bottle before I had a chance to get to the good insults." She laughed at the memory, but then stopped.

"He came back later with more people and took Shianni, Soris's wife, others… and me. I tried to fight back but he knocked me out. I woke later in a room with the girls he took. She opened her eyes, and tears poured from them. I tried to put a hand to her shoulder but she shook her head, wanting me to wait for later. "The guards took them out while some stayed with me. I… I tried to fight back…but…" A sob escaped her, and she didn't even need to finish. Not even caring if she wanted me to or not I wrapped my arms around her as another sob came. "I killed them. I killed every man I came across. I didn't care who it was, I just wanted them all dead!

"When I found Shianni she was… they… I killed him, but he should have let him suffer. I wanted them all to suffer." She moved away to look me in the eyes. "Does that make me a bad person?" I shook my head and kissed her head.

"No. You were hurt and wanted revenge. I'm guessing that you all escaped and went home?"

"Yes, but then the guards came to arrest Soris and me but Duncan stepped in and recruited me. He couldn't with Soris, though. But…I didn't want to leave. All I could do was pack my things, say a quick good bye and leave. I left with, with this hole in me." she looked back at me, more tears coming. "But, that Guardian was right. I do want to die. But now… now I see what I will truly lose if I decide to…"

She scoffed to herself. She looked down and pulled up her sleeve, showing her cuts. Seeing them made my throat clench. "No more." She whispered. She cupped my cheeks and kissed me passionately. When we broke I looked into her bright eyes. "All because I had you to help; to guide me." my breathing stopped. It was the thought she was here, the thought that I was the one who helped her without even knowing it. She was alive because of me.

"I love you," I told her, brushing my lips against hers once again.

"I love you too." She whispered back to me. The tears from before stained her cheeks and her breathing hiccupped. "Stay with me tonight." She said quietly, as if she was hesitant about it. I looked at her to make sure it was what she wanted.

"Are… are you sure? Because… I mean…" she made a small sound, like a little laugh.

"Yes. I don't want to be afraid anymore, Alistair. And if I'm not… then I need you to help me." This made me smile. I planted one last kiss on her lips before I moved enough to gather her in my arms. "I will always help you." Standing I walked to my tent and laid her down on my bed roll. It was too late to get hers with us, so we settled most comfortably as we could.

She laid on her side, facing away from me and I curled up behind her, placing an arm over her side. I kissed the back of her neck and rested my head on the pillow. Her hand slid up to cover mine and she moved her head back to me on my chest. With her next to me, there was no stopping me from falling asleep.