First of all, my deepest thanks to Megglesnake, Jinx1983, LadyCallia, PheonRen, Warrose and tim94 for their wonderful reviews as well as to all that favorited this story and are following it! A special thanks goes to KCousland and Liso66 who are reviewing past chapters and catching up! Thanks so much! :D

Some of you got cookies! LOL

A chapter full of revelations...

Bioware owns! :D

Chapter 40 - The Impossible becomes Possible

I just want to be there

When we're caught in the rain

I just want to see you laugh not cry

I just want to feel you

When the night puts on its cloak

I'm lost for words don't tell me

All I can say

I love you till the end

I love you till the end-The Pogues

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Chantalle was due to see Fiona and she made haste. The fact that she was Alistair's mother had very little to do with that, what mattered was that Fiona could be rather intimidating. Especially if she was angry.

She knocked on her door and was relieved when Fiona answered with a smile.

"Come in, Chantalle. I've been expecting you," Fiona smiled.

"Yes, well, it's been a month now and you have to scan me again, right?" Chantalle said trying to keep the bored tone from her voice.

Another knock on the door interrupted their chat. Alistair stood there when Fiona flung the door open, a scowl on his face.

"Hello, Fiona," he said seriously, but not unkindly. Then he walked into the room directly to where Chantalle was sitting. "Love, you know I always come with you every month when Fiona scans you. I told you the business with the new recruits would take but a few moments. Why didn't you wait for me?" He asked, disapproval on his face as he lightly caressed her cheek.

"Sorry, my love. I didn't want to keep Fiona waiting. What is important is that you are here, no?" She smiled up at him and Alistair felt his heart do a weird little summersault. He smiled back, all traces of disapproval gone.

"Well, then, sorry to interrupt, but we should get on with it," Fiona sniffed and motioned to her bed. Alistair helped Chantalle to her feet, and to the bed where she lay down.

Chantalle was fast approaching her seventh month. Her belly was showing and it was very attractive to Alistair, even though she complained constantly about being 'as fat as a cow'. She removed her tunic and allowed Fiona to scan her, while Alistair gazed upon her with both love and desire, a blush already on his handsome face.

Fiona frowned after a few minutes. Her hands fell down to her sides and her eyes took on a surprised look. Both Alistair and Chantalle noticed this immediately.

"What's wrong Fiona?" He said, his heart wrenching painfully inside him with fear.

She did not reply, but put her hands over Chantalle's swollen abdomen again and performed a second scan.

Her frown deepened.

"Why do you keep frowning? There's something wrong, isn't there?" Alistair panicked. Chantalle bit her bottom lip to keep from crying.

"A few minutes, please. I really need Anders to perform a scan as well. He'll have to see you without your tunic on, my dear. Is this going to be a problem for you?" She spoke to Chantalle but had her eyes on her son.

Alistair blushed again, and then turned to his wife, who was still struggling to keep the tears back.

"I don't know...can't she put on her tunic for this additional scan?" He swallowed. The lump he had in his throat was still there.

"No, but she can drape it over her breasts to cover her breast band. And I'll put a blanket over her smalls. Her abdomen must be exposed for this," Fiona replied quickly.

They both nodded. Fiona excused herself to go get Anders.

The moment they were alone, Chantalle burst into tears.

"Hush, my love, hush," Alistair said, feeling his own heart break into pieces as well. He took her in his arms and rocked her gently while holding her close, still whispering words of endearment to her as he caressed her head and shoulders, planting kisses on her cheeks, then wiping her tears away.

When Fiona returned with Anders, she was surprised at the scene that greeted her. She shook her head lightly and managed a slight smile.

"Honestly you two! Such drama! You have nothing to worry about, trust me," Fiona said kindly. Anders winked at them both and approached Chantalle. His hands went over her twice before turning to confirm his results to her.

"Yes, that is true. It's gone," Anders said, his voice sounding strangely confused.

"Gone?" Alistair echoed, his voice breaking. "What's gone? Why are you two smiling now? What's going on?"

"Something I haven't seen happen in nearly twenty-five years, that's what's going on," Fiona replied, her brow furrowing. "I don't understand how this is possible, but it's happened before, with me. To me."

She took a deep breath and looked at them both first before speaking.

"Chantalle, the Taint in you has disappeared completely. Vanished without a trace. The child you carry also bears no mark of the Taint in it. You are both free from the Taint." She ended up saying quietly.

Chantalle eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"What?" She said. "How is that even possible?"

Alistair stood there, too stunned to even speak. He opened his mouth several times but no sound could come out. Try as he might, he could not speak.

"I...don't know..." Fiona sighed heavily. "The only memory I have of this happening was when it happened to me. The Taint also disappeared when I was starting my seventh month of being pregnant. Alistair was born without a trace of the Taint in him. This is...unexpected. I thought it was an impossible thing. The wardens at Weisshaupt reacted as if it was something impossible anyway. They thought it was a miracle."

"Unexpected? Is that all you can say?" Alistair said. He had recovered his power of speech. "It's impossible, but it's happened twice so far, right? So this means that it is not as impossible as you think." He finished firmly, smiling at her.

"Yes, I know," Fiona said, and suddenly was quiet, while Alistair bent down to take Chantalle in his arms and give her a kiss. Chantalle was all smiles but wanted to listen to what Fiona was saying as well.

"So, what's the problem?" Anders drawled, his eyes twinkling. "I'd say this is a cause to celebrate."

"Yes, I would like to second that," Alistair smiled up at him. He was seated on the bed comfortably, his arms around Chantalle, so that he was leaning against the headboard. Her head was on his chest, and she was beaming.

Fiona was the only one with a frown on her face.

"What's wrong, Fiona? Aren't you happy with the way things are working out here?" Alistair asked.

Fiona scoffed, but replied in a softer tone.

"Of course I'm happy! This means that Chantalle and the child will not suffer the Grey Warden burden."

"I sense a 'but' somewhere, Fiona," Alistair teased.

"Well. I can't help but think that all this is tied to the reason why there aren't many women wardens. Women were meant to conceive. They are turned into broodmothers after all, in order to conceive more darkspawn. They are raped and fed flesh, they drink blood, and so on. The darkspawn vomit into them, to pass the sickness into their bodies. Then they turn into broodmothers. This may be a reason why there aren't many women wardens."

"Was that what they wanted to do to me, then?" Chantalle sounded both horrified and disgusted.

"Yes, my dear. I never was able to tell you this. I'm sorry," Alistair said, his arms tightening around her slightly.

"Anders, turn around please, I'd like to put my tunic back on." She muttered and Anders complied, turning quickly so that she could have some privacy.

"Well, Fiona. Is that all you have to say about this?" Alistair said, his brow furrowing.

"I'm sorry. I would like you all to leave. I must gather my thoughts and read some books. I have with me some journals from Weisshaupt from the time of the Second Blight. The First Warden sent them to me hoping that they would help me with my research. But I must check them immediately. I have a thought, more of a hunch really. Could all of you please leave?" She looked at them all steadily, her gaze unflinching

"Yes, of course. Come, my love. Let's go downstairs and see if dinner is ready for us. Are you coming Anders?" Alistair turned to the mage.

"Sure thing. When food is involved I never say no," Anders deadpanned.

"I think that goes the same way for whenever a beautiful woman tries to seduce you, right?" Alistair smirked.

"I am deeply insulted, Commander. I'm very devoted to my Lillylee." He answered in offended tones.

"Lillylee?" Alistair burst out laughing, while Chantalle chuckled beside him. "Does she know you call her that?"

They all went out the door, and Fiona was left alone. She nearly ran to the next room and opened her trunk.

Breathlessly she started to look for the journals and quickly found them. Then, sitting at her desk, she took the first one, and started to read.

Fiona read for the remainder of the day and all through the night.

She forgot about dinner and breakfast too.

When she was done with the first book, she went on to the next.

They would not see her again for two days.

...

Fergus stared down at the young woman lying on the bed. He had sent for a healer and now was waiting for her to wake up.

When she finally did, she gave a sob and flung herself into his waiting arms.

"Fergus! Oh, Fergus, I'm so happy to be here with you!" She said, crying on his chest.

"Elissa! Thank the Maker for you!" Fergus said, his voice laden with emotion. "How is this even possible?"

"Mother and Father saved my life, Fergus," she sobbed. "They made me leave, through the servant's exit in the larder. Father had already been mortally wounded, and Mother would not come with me. They both made me leave them. They...saved my life, Fergus." She cried harder, her tears streaming down her cheeks and into his doublet.

"Ah, little sister. We're together now, that is what matters," he said softly, his heart nearly breaking. "But where have you been all this time? Why didn't you come sooner?"

"I tried to get away from Howe's men. I tried to put all the distance I could from him and his treachery. So I travelled to Orlais by boat. I thought that Val Royeaux was a city where he could send his men over as spies or hire assassins to kill me, so I went to some of the smaller, less conspicuous towns. And before I could arrive to my final destination, I met some bandits on the road. They managed to beat me up and rape me. They left me for dead. They stole everything I was carrying with me. When I woke up, I think I may have hit my head because I had a big bruise on the back of my head, and...I did not know who I was. After arriving at the town, I started working as a serving girl in the local tavern. I worked there all these years, until my memory started to return. I would have these flashes of my past life from time to time, you see."

Fergus nodded, his eyes brimming over with tears. "By the Maker, Elissa! I cannot even imagine how terrible it must have been for you!" He said sadly.

"It was terrible, but when I finally remembered who I was and what I was doing there, I made my way to Montsimmard. And there I heard about the Blight and what had happened to Ferelden. I also heard about the 'Defender of Orlais' and what had happened in other towns and villages. Fortunately, the Defender of Orlais put a stop to the attacks before the darkspawn reached the town I was living in," she sighed. "Once I knew who I was, I returned to Ferelden as soon as I could. But I could no longer afford to take a ship back here and had to walk."

He held his sister close and sighed deeply.

"I am so glad you are here. I will send a servant up with food. You must be starving!" Fergus said.

"Thank you, Fergus! And while I eat, could you fill me in on the details of how you became the regent?"

"Of course, little sister. I don't think I could keep quiet about that, even if I wanted to," Fergus grinned.

...

Chantalle and Alistair made their way to Fiona's rooms. She had sent word with Anders that she wished to talk to them.

Alistair knocked on Fiona's door and waited for her to call them inside. They made their way to the room where she carried out her experiments and sat on some chairs she had there.

"I found what I was looking for," Fiona said. There was a gleam in her eye that Alistair had never seen before. He smiled.

"By the look on your face, I imagine that it was all positive?" Alistair shot back, while he chuckled.

"I discovered that there are two reasons why there aren't many women wardens. As a matter of fact, the senior wardens that have been to Weisshaupt and leave go back to their compounds with the idea that women are never supposed to become wardens," Fiona continued, her face flushing with excitement now.

"The fact is that this has been kept a secret and for a very good reason," she said. "But the First Warden had ...er...feelings for me, and earnestly tried to help me with my research, so he sent me the journals detailing information from the Second Blight and Third," she added, her flush turning into a crimson blush as Alistair sniggered. "I swear, Alistair, if you say one word right now, I'll hex you!" She warned.

Alistair forced his face into a serious mask.

"You see, there are records of women wardens in these journals. They also detail the reason why women should not be made wardens. The first is, of course, due to the fact that when they go to their Calling, they become Broodmothers. The second is that when women conceive, the Taint miraculously vanishes from their bodies and from the infants they bear. They write about these cases. So far I've read about nine cases. In each case, the woman who conceived bore no traces of the Taint in her, and when the child was born, it was born without the Taint as well."

"The wardens who investigated this before and after the Third Blight found no reason for this and called it a miracle. But I think it's because a woman's body fights any aggressive thing that may endanger the baby inside her. The Taint, of course, is extremely aggressive. Therefore, the body must expel it at all cost, in order to ensure a safe haven for the child. I don't want to hold on to this explanation but it's the only one I've got at the moment," she said.

"Seems reasonable enough to me for now," Alistair said. "Of course, the real issue here is how the order hides everything from everyone. All the half-truths told. All the lies and cover-ups," he sighed.

"They have to, Alistair, in order to survive," Fiona said quietly.

"Yes, I understand that. But still. Duncan told me that grey wardens go into the Deep Roads when the nightmares begin. That the Calling is ending their lives fighting the darkspawn. That isn't true, is it? So, I'm a little bit disappointed. Why didn't he just tell me the truth of what we become? What really happens?"

"I don't know, Alistair," Fiona frowned. "But he may have just been trying to make it easier for you. Maybe he was going to tell you before he left. But the battle kept him from doing that."

They both lapsed into silence, lost in their thoughts.

"Alistair, you mustn't let this put a damper on the admiration and love you feel for Duncan. He was a good and kind man and one of my best friends. He really cared about you." Fiona's words touched him. He nodded, unable to speak.

After a while he did say some words, and they were said full of emotion. Chantalle squeezed his hand reassuringly as he spoke.

"He was a good man, who didn't deserve what happened to him, that's for sure."

...