"So we all have our orders. Carver Hawke will lead our army to the border of Orlais and will be aided by the Dalish. Isabela's fleet will be monitoring the seas to make sure we are not hit from the water. Alistair and I will stay here to make sure Denerim does not fall." Ashlyn was in her more royal armor instead of her assassin leathers. Leigh and Anders had began gathering their group together and were waiting for the last member to show. Bethany, Fenris, and Sebastian were ready to go, but they were waiting for Morrigan. After her mother's death the witch had sworn that she would help them. Ashlyn saw the uneasy look on Leigh's face. With all of the nobles around she had to keep things formal, but her eyes spoke volumes on how she felt right then. If it had been her son she would be "Hawke we have horses tacked up and ready for all of you. I wish you well and will make sure your children are well taken care of." Leigh gave a sharp nod and hefted her pack onto her shoulder. Morrigan finally showed. Her face was set in a mask of indifference. If she was hurting from her mother's death, she did not show it. Ashlyn pulled her aside and the two women talked quietly to each other. "Are you alright?"
"There is no need for your sympathy my friend, you know full well Flemeth was not a loving mother."
"She was still your mother." Morrigan sighed and gave a heavy nod.
"She was, but she also was a malificar. She delighted in making people afraid. If not for you I would have been one of her victims."
"I was not about to let her take your life away Morrigan. You're my friend."
"And how did I repay your friendship? I did what she wanted and I am not even sure it was necessary. Talisen cannot do more than shapshift. The vast power she thought he would be gifted with tis not there."
"With Flemeth dead who is taking care of him if you are going to help Hawke?"
"He is safe and well taken care of." Ashlyn opened her mouth to ask another question, but closed it quickly. She was not sure she wanted the answer. "My friend...if something should happen..."
"He will be welcome here." Morrigan smiled genuinely at her old friend. "How can I find him if...Maker I don't want to think of any of you not coming back."
"He knows to come to you if I should not return. He wants nothing more than to live and be content. He does not want the crown or to take Duncan's birthright."
"He is Alistair's son, Morrigan, and the eldest. If he wanted to take the throne he has the right to."
"Tis not something you have to worry about it." The Queen gave her friend and small smile. "Tell Alistair I am sorry for all of it. I would try myself...he hates me and always will. I cannot blame him, but he did give me the greatest gift. For that I will be forever grateful." Ashlyn watched a woman she had gladly called friend walk away, following after Leigh and her companions. A pang of fear hit the normally fearless queen. She sent a prayer to whomever would listen that Leigh would succeed in saving her daughter and Cullen. She also prayed for the war to end. Her hands dropped to her stomach and she rubbed them gently over it.
"I want you born in a land free of war little one. Maker please, please bring us peace."
OoO
"We march to the River Dane to hold those Orleasian bastards at bay. The Dalish will meet us there and bolster our numbers."
"Aye Ser Hawke." Carver hated the fact he had to leave his sisters and wife behind to face the coming threat from their neighboring country. When the king asked him to lead his army Carver had wanted to say no, but Leigh had told him to go. She told him he had to make his own way in life and he was born to command the king's army. Seeing his sisters leave without him hurt more than he would ever let on. He use to wish they both would just go away, but when he thought they were dead he wished nothing more than to have them back.
"Carver!"
"Nathaniel, what are you doing here?"
"My wife's clan is the one who will be bolstering your army so Alistair thought it was a good idea I come along, just in case." Carver turned back to his squire and yelled.
"Get Arl Howe a horse Micah. He rides with us."
"Aye my lord." The boy ran off to find an extra horse.
"Do you really think they will try something?"
"If they do we will kick their snobby arses back across the river. We both have faced a far worse foe, so they should be no problem."
"Fighting darkspawn is much harder isn't it?" Carver snickered and patted the older man on the shoulder. Micah led a freshly tacked horse up to where the men were standing. Carver lifted himself into his saddle and waited for Nate to do the same. Once the Warden was settled Carver raised his sword high and yelled.
"Move out!" The king's army began to move out from Denerim. Alistair watched they leave from his window. His heart felt heavy sending his men out without him. A soft hand winding into his made him sigh.
"Carver will see them through this." Alistair met his wife's gaze and gave a short nod. Ashlyn reached up and cupped her husband's cheek. "We have to stay here. I want to be out there with them too...but..."
"But what?"
"I have been feeling off these last few weeks. I asked Anders to check me over and..."
"Maker, please...don't tell me you're sick. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I'm not sick my love...I'm pregnant." A look of joy and horror passed over Alistair's face. Ashlyn let out a small giggle as her husband picked her up and gave her a small spin.
"I...how?"
"My thoughts are it is because of what Meghan did. She killed the Taint in our blood so..."
"So we can have another child. What did Anders say?"
"He said the baby is strong and healthy. He wants me to stay as unstressed as possible, but he thinks I will not have the same problems I had with having Duncan. The morning sickness is nowhere near as bad."
"That's good news, I don't think I could take you going through all that again."
"I for one would go through worse if it meant having your children. The sickness was worth it to have Duncan here."
"You always were a masochist my love. Well, now I know why you asked me to stay here instead of going with our men."
"I...I did not want to, but..."
"Ash, I would rather be here with you protecting our family. I trust Carver and Nathaniel to lead our men. I am sure they can hold off the Orlesian. The ones I worry for are Hawke and her group. They have no idea what they will be walking into. That place was a pain in the arse without having to face an all powerful demon. I can't imagine what she has set up to try and kill them."
"Leigh is smart Alistair. She will prevail...I have faith she will."
"This coming from a woman who said the only things she ever had faith in were her daggers and her hound when I met her."
"Having survived what we did and having the life I have now, well, one tends to find they are grateful. Speaking with Pash also gave me a lot of insight into everything."
"Pash? Oh, you mean the spirit that lives in Hawke. I forgot she called her that." Ashlyn leaned back against her husband's chest and let out a weary sigh. "All we can do now is wait and pray."
"Let's hope the Maker hears us." The king and queen stared out into the morning sunlight in silence. The fate of Ferelden, of Thedas was no longer in their hands.
OoO
Sebastian watched Anders pace in the fire light. They had rode till the sun had long set, but the fog had started settling in and it was unwise to continue traveling. Leigh had volunteered to go hunt for dinner leaving him with the others. Bethany had been very quiet and withdrawn. He could not blame the younger Hawke, he knew that the man she loves was now in the hands of the Divine. His own fears for Meghan had not overshadowed his sympathy for Bethany. The one he had no idea about was Morrigan. She stayed on the other end of the camp away from everyone. The only person he had seen her talk to was Leigh. He could tell Fenris did not like her, but his feelings toward mages could have been the reason. Still the woman's golden eyes unnerved him and her quiet demeanor was colder than anyone's he had ever known. He hoped that she was going to be useful for his daughter's sake.
"Blondie you will wear a hole in the earth if you don't stop pacing." Anders threw Isabela a hard glare and continued to pace. Isabela let out a heavy sigh and leaned herself against Fenris.
"Not that I am complaining Izzy, but why did you come with us?" The pirate turned to Bethany and shrugged.
"I'm not sure really. I did not want Fenris to have to do this alone and I owe your sister for saving my sorry ass with the Qunari. I know I am not the most trustworthy person, but you are all my friends Sunshine. I don't leave my friends to fight impossible odds alone."
"And for that I am very grateful." All heads turned and found Leigh had returned. A few rabbits slung over her shoulder and Sebastian's bow in her hand.
"Well aren't you resourceful. Is there anything you can't do Hawke?"
"I can't put my hand through a person's chest like Fenris can." The elf snickered and shook his head.
"So that is the only thing you can't do?" Leigh knew what Isabela was trying to do and she loved the pirate for it. She was trying to keep her mind off of the fact her daughter was in the hands of a demon.
"Bela leave her be." Isabela turned and pouted at Fenris, but kept herself quiet. Leigh place her kills down on a flat rock and began to skin them. She felt Anders hovering over her, but she made no move to acknowledge his presence. She kept her mind on her task even as tears threatened to flow. Her hands began to shake violently and Anders put his hands over them.
"Let me do that."
"I need to keep busy or I will..."
"Then let me help." She did not trust her voice and just nodded. It did not take them long to get the rabbits set on the spit over the fire. Anders settled himself next to her and wrapped his arm around his wife. He knew no words would make either of them feel any less afraid. He looked up and saw Sebastian looked just as lost as they did. Bethany looked no better.
"How far did Ashlyn say this place was?"
"About three days ride if we stop and make camp at night. She gave me a map of the mountains that gives us a few options on how to approach the town. I expect that it is crawling with Seekers and Templars. We have to be careful. I can take on maybe a dozen Templars before their talents start stealing my magic. We need to use stealth first, force second. I don't want them to get the upper hand."
"I am not as good with daggers as you and Isabela are Hawke."
"I know, that is why I want you to be our cover along with Anders, Morrigan and Bethany. They know spells that are quiet and can incapacitate our targets. You can shoot them with your arrows."
"So I guess it is up to you, me and Fenris then to take them out."
"Yes, Fenris can use his ghost form to end them quickly. He is quite silent on his feet for a warrior."
"I will do what ever you need Hawke."
"Alright then, so which path are we going to take to get up there?" Leigh pulled the map from her pack and laid it out for the group to see. The spent the next few hours going over their plan. Morrigan even joined their little meeting, but stayed silent. Her eyes had a far off look to them and Leigh wondered if she was thinking about her mother or something else. Morning came and the group set off again with plans in their head on how they were going to pull this off.
OoO
Alistair sat on his throne late on the second night since his army had marched to the boarder of Orlais. Ashlyn had retired to their chambers, but the king could not sleep. He was restless and felt like he was abandoning his men. Even though he trusted Carver and the others, he was the king and should be leading his men into battle. He let out a heavy sigh and sank deeper into the throne. A small meow broke him from his thoughts and he looked to see a black kitten sitting a few feet away staring at him. He recognized the animal as Meghan's pet.
"Miss your girl don't you?" The kitten mewed and padded up the throne. Alistair had always been more of a dog person so cats were a mystery to him. He stilled as the small black ball of fluff jumped into his lap and curled itself up upon him. "I will take this as a yes." The kitten purred and nuzzled it's face on Alistair's shirt. "Any port in a storm huh? I saw you sitting in my wife's lap earlier today and I'm...talking to a cat. Maker, I need some sleep." A sound made Alistair look up from the cat and he caught sight of a figure keeping itself to the shadows. "Show yourself!"
"Looks like the Bastard King is all alone and without a stitch of armor. How wonderful." The kitten hissed and let out a low growl when the figure showed themselves. It was a man dressed in light Templar leathers. His eyes were cold and had a evil glint to them.
"Let me guess, you're one of the Divine's little demon possessed or just another person who fell for her lies."
"Hold your tongue heretic. The Divine is trying to save us from those accursed mages and their Void drawn powers. You have harbored them in this shithole of a country and now it is time for you to die. I will enjoy this." Alistair jumped to his feet sending the cat flying. The assassin lunged at him with daggers laced with a deadly poison. Alistair rolled to his left and dived for the hidden dagger his wife kept behind her throne. He thanked the Maker his wife was paranoid as his hand landed on the hilt. The assassin began to laugh manically seeing Alistair had armed himself. "You expect to stop me with that pig sticker?"
"No, but I will." Alistair and the assassin both turned to see a boy in his early teens standing before them. Balls of lightning cracked in his palms and he smiled. "Now step away from him or I will make sure you will meet the Maker long before he does."
"You filthy little..." The boy threw his spell and hit the assassin square in the chest. The scream that came from the man was deafening. Alistair moved to stand beside the young man, but kept his dagger ready in case the assassin had any ideas to try to kill them again. "You think this...will..stop...me. I will see you both dead." The assassin tried to get to his feet only to have his throat slit.
"Are you both alright?" Alistair heaved a sigh of relief in hearing Ashlyn's voice. Her dagger was covered in blood of the assassin. She had come looking for her husband after she woke and found his side of the the bed stone cold. The assassin's scream made her run for the throne room.
"I think so. The Divine must be desperate to send a hired killer here."
"Hawke had said that she was afraid and angry. I am just glad you remembered about the hidden dagger and my training against assassins."
"I would have been dead if not for this young man. Though I don't remember ever seeing him around here before." Ashlyn looked the boy over trying to remember if she had seen him before. His hair was jet black, his skin was sunkissed much like Alistair's, but his eyes...Ashlyn's hand went up to cover her mouth to stop the scream she wanted to let out.
"You're..."
"Talisen, Your Highness." Alistair looked back and forth between the two confused.
"Ash?"
"Talisen is Morrigan's son...your son." Alistair spun and stared at the young man who had saved his life. The boy had his mother's hair and eyes, but the facial features and skin color of his father. The boy grinned at them both and Ashlyn sank to her knees. Tears sprang to her eyes and the boy's grin faded. His expression was just like his father's and Ashlyn began to cry and laugh at the same time. Both men looked at her like she had gone crazy. "She said you were in a safe place I never imagined she meant here. Where in the Maker's name have you been hiding.
"In plain sight." The boy waved his hands and his body shrunk down. Magic churned around him till nothing was left of the boy that had been standing there. Instead there was a small black kitten with deep yellow eyes. Ashlyn shook her head and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"He has been here for months. How did none of us know?" Talisen changed back so he could explain.
"Meghan knew and I was surprised that her mother or father did not sense me. My mother sent me here to keep me safe. She feared Flemeth would try to take me."
"Why didn't she just come to us, we would have helped both of you. I owe your mother for saving my life, your father's life. I would have done everything in my power to protect you."
"Mother thought she had caused you enough pain and I did not know if...if I was wanted." Alistair placed both his hands on his oldest son's shoulders and smiled.
"You are very much wanted here. My father gave me up and I never got the chance to meet him, to get to know him. I have thought about you everyday and you are always welcome here."
"I don't want...I'm not meant to be royalty. I don't want the throne. I just want to be."
"Believe me I understand, I did not want this either. If that is your wish Talisen then that is what will be. You have nothing to fear anymore Flemeth is dead. You and your mother no longer have to hide."
"I know and for that I am grateful. It has been a lonely life for both of us. Mother never would admit it, but she missed her one and only friend very much." Ashlyn smiled warmly at the boy. As much as what Morrigan did hurt she had done it for the right reasons.
"I missed her too. I hope both of you will stay at least for a while once this is all over...if it is ever over."
"Do you think they can stop her?"
"If anyone can it would be them. Anders is a survivor, your mother is wicked with her spells and Isabela can get herself out of any tight spot she finds herself in. Not to mention you have the Hawke sisters and Fenris. The Divine does not have a chance in the Void."
"I hope Meghan is alright."
"You said she knew you were a human, not a cat. How?"
"She is more in tune with magic than most. She is the one who taught me how to use the lightning spell. My mother did not lie about me not being able to anything but shapechange. She did not know I had learned from Meghan. The girl has power. Even her mother could not match her magic if she decided to use it to it's full power. She saw right through my spell, but told no one what I was. I'm not sure why. She said she understood why I was hiding and would take care of me." Alistair heard people beginning to make their way to the throne room. The last thing they needed was for someone to see Talisen right now. The boy had said he did not want the throne and by the Maker his father would honor his wishes.
"Ash someone is coming. We need to get him into hiding." Talisen grinned and waved his hands. His body shrank again and turned back into the black ball of fluff be had been earlier. "Well that works."
"I will take him back to our chambers. Once you finish with the guard and Eamon come and join us. I think the three of us have a lot to talk about."
"I think we do too. I have a son to get to know." Ashlyn picked up the kitten and slipped back into the shadows before the guards showed.
"My King are you alright?!"
"I'm fine. Can't say the same for the assassin." Eamon winced seeing the large pool of blood around the dead man.
"How did he get in the castle?"
"Don't know Eamon, but I am sure he won't be the last to try. We hit a nerve with the Divine and the zealots."
"Alistair this is not a game. We might have bend to their wishes for a time just to make sure..." Alistair put his hand up to silence his mentor.
"No Eamon, I will not bend to them. Nor will I go back on my word to the mages and their families."
"My boy this will not end well."
"You have to have faith Eamon."
"Alistair..."
"Enough. I know I am not my father or even my brother, but I will not change my mind and don't try going to Ashlyn either she feels just as do."
"You are willing to die or worse for these mages?"
"Seeing as Connor is a mage I would think you would understand why I am willing to do this. It is not just for the mages. This is to right a wrong that should never have happened. We have been lied to about what Andraste wanted for us. I for one am willing to give Hawke the time to face the Divine."
"I...I'm sorry, I just don't want to see you get hurt or worse for this. If Hawke fails, if our army can't hold off Orlais, the Divine will make an example of Ferelden. Starting with you and your family. I'm an old man Alistair. I don't care what happens to me, but to you...your wife, your son. It would break my heart to lose any of you." Alistair's expression softened and he clapped his large hand on his mentor's shoulder.
"I worry about that everyday, but to live in fear gives power to those who would do evil. I can't give into it or it will rule me. If I do I am not better than Loghain."
"You remind me so much of your father. He never did things the easy way either, nor did he care what people thought of him. Well save your mother, he did care about her perception of him."
"Wish I could have known them both."
"They would be proud of you. That I am sure of." Eamon looked at the body of the assassin one more time before motioning to the guards to remove it. "Go get some sleep. I am sure this will be a long string of days. Conner is coming here tomorrow from the Tower since you seem to have lost most of your mages. He is excited to see here again."
"I bet he is taller than you by now."
"Only just. It makes me feel old. My son is now a man."
"I am thankful Duncan is still a child. I am not ready for him to be all grown up."
"Before you know it we will be calling him king and attending his coronation. Enjoy the time while you can." Alistair smiled and bid his mentor goodnight before walking toward the hall that lead to his chambers. He was happy to find his wife sitting by the fire talking to Talisen. The two were sharing stories of Morrigan and their adventures during the Blight. He silently stood in the shadows and watched.
OoO
Cullen sat against the wall of his cell. His body ached from the beating he had taken by the Divine's Templars. Everyday he had been here they tried to break him, body, mind and soul. It was something he had experience in, but this was far worse than what happened in Kinloch. They had broken his ribs only to heal them and re-break them again. He feared to sleep even with Valor watching over him in the Fade. He heard footsteps coming down the hall and his breath caught in his lungs. He tried to harden his expression to show he was not afraid, but inside he wished that they would just kill him and get it over with. His gaze rose to meet whomever was going to be his next tormentor,but the footsteps stopped and he heard was the sound of the Templar cursing.
"Knock it off brat!" Cullen jumped to his feet and put his forehead against the cell bars. He saw a Templar struggling to contain the small child. He caught sight of red hair and knew it was Meghan. She was beating her tiny fists about the Templar's unhelmed face. The man struggled not to drop her, but was losing that battle. Meghan sent out a jolt of electricity into the man and he fell heavily to the ground. The little girl rolled away from the fallen man and tried to run. Another Templar grasped her from behind and picked her up.
"Let me go!"
"Not a chance. The Divine has plans for you brat." Cullen raged against the bars of his cell. He did not care what they did to him, but he would be damned if he let them hurt an innocent child. A child that was soon to be his niece, if he survived this and got back to Bethany. The Templar opened the cell next to Cullen's and tossed the little girl in. "Can't wait to see what she does to you. Filthy mage." Meghan scurried to the back of her cell, burying her head in her knees and began to cry. The Templar's laughter echoed of the dungeon walls as he walked away.
"Meghan, sweetheart look at me." The little girl lifted her head from her knees and looked over to Cullen.
"Uncle Cullen?"
"It's me honey. Come here." Meghan slowly made her way to the bars that separated their cells. Cullen dropped to his knee and reached out his hand our through the bars. The little girl looked at him and slowly let her fingertips brush his hand. All his pains eased and Meghan looked up at him and smiled.
"No more hurt." Cullen wanted to laugh, but could only nod.
"No more hurt. Did they hurt you?"
"No, where is Mum and Da?"
"They are coming to help us. I need you to be brave for me alright? There are people here that mean us harm."
"I will be brave. They hurt Mimi, made her mean."
"I know, it's not her fault little one. The Divine..." Cullen felt a chill run up his spine and his eyes shifted to see Strife standing by the cell bars smiling evilly.
"Oh please don't stop talking on my account. I so want to hear what you have to say Ser Cullen."
"What I want to say I can't in front of the girl." The Divine knelt down and cooed at Meghan, but the girl made no move to come closer.
"Such a shy child. I will not hurt you my dear. Come closer." Cullen made a grab for the Divine's hand only to have his own burned by a fire spell. "Do not touch me mortal. I will make you wish I had killed you." Cullen hissed in pain and cradled his burnt hand to his chest.
"If you hurt her I swear I will kill you."
"Such devotion to a mage. It is a shame that you could not be persuaded to join us. It would have been less painful."
"I would rather die than become an abomination like you." The Divine sneered and her hand snaked out to throw a spell. Cullen felt like she was tearing him apart and he could not stop the scream that passed his lips. Meghan's own scream echoed through the chamber and she ran at the woman. She hurled an ice spell at her making the woman jump back.
"Impossible they drained your mana." Meghan glared at the woman. "Or could it be you are like the others who have tried to stop me before? Oh how perfect, I can stop this before it even becomes a bother."
"You're mean!" Strife laughed loud and darkly.
"I think I know just what greeting I should have for your mother. I wonder what she would do if she found you with the sun brand upon your brow." Cullen growled and pulled a the bars with his good hand.
"Leigh will make you regret ever being, Strife. She will defeat you."
"I doubt it. Many have tried. Do you really think she was the first? Each time they came and each time I defeated them. I will not lose to a mortal especially one who does not possess the power this little one does. I have reined for over a thousand years" The Divine wheeled on her heels and barked orders to her men. "Prepare the chamber for the Right of Tranquility. I want Hawke to see her child marked by my hand."
"Yes, Your Grace." Once the Templars had left Meghan placed her small hand on the cell bars and melted the iron. The space was just enough for her to crawl through. Once she was on the other side she went to Cullen. Her hand glowed with healing magic and Cullen felt his burnt flesh begin to cool.
"I won't let them take you Meghan. I promise they will not get their hands on you." Meghan looked up into his eyes and Cullen saw no sign of fear. "You're not afraid?"
"No, they can't hurt me." Cullen looked confused, but Meghan only smiled and curled into his lap. Her fingers traced a rune on his forehead and a sense of great calm washed over him. "Now you are like the rest of us."
"The rest of you?"
"Mum and Da have the same mark on them."
"And this mark is...?"
"The Maker's Blessing."
"We could use that right about now." Even with the calm in his heart Cullen was worried. He was unarmed and outnumbered. How could he protect Meghan if they tried to take her to be made Tranquil? He prayed Leigh made it there in time. He did not want to think of the alternative for either of them if she didn't.