Conjunction

Chapter 4 - The Eluvian

She and Lusa met Morrigan the next day in a small grove outside the northern gates of Denerim. They set off with few words and traveled for a few days until they reached the Dragonbone Wastes. It was a desolate place, with paths winding in between fallen dragon skeletons. Nothing seemed to grow here, either. But she could feel the power of the Eluvian the moment they stepped within its bounds. Morrigan told her it was still a day away, but she could still feel its power, even from that far off.

"Why in the world is it here, of all places?" she asked as they navigated the winding paths through the bones.

Morrigan responded, "I think the Eluvian was here long before the dragons decided to make this place their dying grounds. Who knows why it was placed here to begin with, or who placed it. If Mother is correct, our world - Thedas, I mean - used to be the world of humans, and only humans lived in it. No monsters, no elves, no dwarves. Only humans."

Solona asked, "But how did the elves get here? And the dwarves? And the fucking dragons?"

Morrigan smirked, "Well, as for the elves and dwarves, they came from the world you're about to travel to, but the fucking dragons are a different story."

"So, how did they get here in the first place?"

Morrigan didn't speak for several moments, "I admit I'm still not sure myself, but what I've heard is that about a millennium and a half ago, there was some kind of cataclysm that caused a conjunction between the three worlds. They crashed together and somehow managed to survive and pull apart again. But pieces of each world remained in the other two, and the three worlds are irrevocably connected to each other. "

"So, there are three worlds. One was originally the human world. One was where the elves and dwarves lived, and the third? What was there?"

"Monsters. Or, if you believe your Chantry lessons, the Maker's first children who he abandoned because they were inferior. What kind of parent abandons a child, for any reason?"

"I didn't think you liked children"

"I don't, but that doesn't mean I would just abandon one if I were unhappy with it." Morrigan grew very quiet then, and when Solona looked at her she saw she had stopped walking and was just standing on the path with her hands on her abdomen.

"Are you okay?" Solona asked gently.

Morrigan said, "I'm fine... It's strange, sometimes it feels like he's talking to me, but I have to stop and concentrate to really understand."

"What was he saying? I mean, if you don't mind telling me..." Solona asked.

Morrigan said, "He... it's hard to say, there weren't exactly words exchanged, it was more like an expression of emotion. Like he was feeling... trust and understanding. I don't know how else to describe it."

Solona nodded, "That's what it was like when I felt him the first time. It wasn't like there were words... just a feeling."

They walked a few more paces and then Solona asked, "The Eluvians... if this world was originally a human world, where did the Eluvians come from?"

"I think the elves were the first to understand what had happened after the Conjunction. They are more closely connected to the fade anyway. After the Conjunction the elves that were trapped in the other worlds tried to find ways to communicate with the other elves and built the Eluvians to serve that purpose. I think they're the only ones who know of their existence, too. Except for us."

"Are there humans in the world I'm going to?"

"All three worlds share the same types of creatures, for the most part. But there hasn't been any interaction between worlds since they converged, so creatures may have evolved, or died out. And it's possible the world you're going to may be dominated by elves if that was where they originated, but I suspect the three worlds are balanced somehow. I'm not sure why, but I think that's the only way they could remain connected."

"What about the darkspawn. Can they infect the other worlds?"

She paused for a moment, "I am certain that darkspawn are not in the other worlds. It was the corrupt magisters in Thedas that brought those abominations into being. Darkspawn aren't really monsters - they're just corrupt versions of normal creatures like us. Also, the only access to the other worlds is through an Eluvian, and the elves have guarded those closely for over a millennium. If one becomes corrupt, they destroy it."

"Do the dragons come from the monster world, then?"

Morrigan hesitated for a second, then answered, "No. The dragons are... beyond worlds. I don't know how to explain it. I guess you could say that they are corporeal reflections of the Old Gods in the real world."

"So, I guess if it's made by the Blight then it doesn't count as a 'monster', right? What does count as a monster?"

"Good question. There really aren't that many in this world that I've seen. Or they keep quiet because of the darkspawn. Witherfang was one, I think, and creatures like her. Deepstalkers and Nugs, too."

"Nugs? Are you serious? Nugs are from an alternate universe?" Solona looked at her friend in disbelief.

"Okay, I admit I don't know that for certain, but they're just so... otherworldly... and creepy. It stands to reason..."

Solona laughed at her, "Okay, I think I understand. It feels like we're really close now anyway. I think my hair is standing on end from all the magical energy floating around here. Is it like this by every Eluvian?"

"This is the first one I've ever encountered, so I don't know, to be honest," Morrigan replied. "But I do believe we are close."

When they rounded the next bend in the path, they saw it. A glowing elliptical structure that appeared to be made of dragon bones stood in the middle of a small clearing surrounded by more dragon skeletons. One large skull on the left side of it seemed to be staring at Solona with its eyeless sockets. They stepped closer to it. The power emanating from it made Solona's teeth ache. It seemed almost like it was trying to draw her in. When she looked around she saw a few sad trees nearby that looked the way she felt, with their branches trained towards the portal as though they were about to be sucked in, roots and all.

"No time to waste," she heard Morrigan say. "Let's get this over with. You have the Grimoire, yes?"

She did, but she didn't want to pull anything out of her pack right now for fear it would be sucked in.

They walked up to the threshold of the portal, and gazed up at it in wonder. "I didn't think it would be so big," Solona said.

"Nor did I," Morrigan responded.

"So how does this work exactly?" Solona asked, looking at her friend.

"Like I told you the other night, there is a small ritual to perform to attune it to the correct world. I will go first. Then you will perform the ritual for yourself after I pass through. If you read the Grimoire you know what to do. Good luck, Solona."

Morrigan looked a little wistful and stepped forward to hug Solona goodbye. Overcome by emotion and the overwhelming scale of their mission Solona hugged her back tightly.

"Good luck," she said, not knowing what else to say at this moment.

Within the span of a couple breaths, Morrigan had recited the words for her ritual. The Eluvian brightened and the fog seemed to clear from its surface. Solona thought she could see a wavering image of snow-capped mountains through the shimmering field. And then the witch stepped through into the other world and the surface clouded over again.

Solona stared for a few moments. When she heard Lusa's subtle whine next to her she finally came to her senses.

"My turn," she said, shaking her head and letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding all along.

"Okay, Lusa, when I say the words and start to go, you have to go with me, understand?"

The dog whuffed in response.

"Okay. Here we go." She recited the ritual words she'd already memorized, waited for the smoke in the Eluvian to clear into a crisp image of a lush, green forest, and then stepped through with Lusa at her side.

Next Chapter: In which her purpose becomes illuminated by an unexpected source.