Wynne is silent during our ride and Duncan can't talk, so that leaves Morrigan and I to fill the silence. Duncan has fallen back quite a ways to stick with Wynne and her slower pony (most of Redcliffe's horses had been slaughtered during the attack), so Morrigan and I can speak freely without anyone overhearing us. My dark friend is the first to speak. "I found out what was in that book you gave me.". I look over at her as our horses idly trot through the light, clear woods. The mage's face grows grim as she admits what she found. "It turns out that my mother stays immortal by having daughters, then possessing them when both of them have reached the proper age.".
Well, that sounds completely fucked up. "What are you going to do about it?". Morrigan looks at me with sheepish eyes. "I was hoping that you'd help me like you did Leliana.". I bite my lip and think about it. It's out of my way, but I could definitely return to Morrigan's mother before we have to fight the Arch-Demon. I nod and the woman breathes a sigh of relief. A rare smile even graces her lips. "Thank you. You're a true friend.". I can't help it; it goes to my head. I hold myself a little higher and a smile consumes my face. However, the smile quickly fades when Morrigan asks a simple question about me.
"So, you and Leliana?". I groan and she laughs before continuing. "It's only fair I know what's going on. You two kept me awake half of the night with your banter.". I scoff and roll my eyes. "Our 'banter'?". She nods and defends herself. "That's what I've decided to call the 'conversation' the two of you had. Honestly, I'm just surprised Leliana was the one on top.". She laughs as my face becomes hot. I quickly try to move the talk along. "Is there any particular reason you asked me about Leliana?". Morrigan nods again, but what she says is far too cryptic for my liking. "There'll come a time where you'll have to make a decision, and when you make it I want you to remember Leliana. So, keep her in your thoughts.".
I shake my head as Morrigan moves the conversation onto another, deeper topic. "So, let's talk about your scars.". I sigh and slump down in my saddle. "You know how I got them.". She nods in agreement. "I'm aware of where they all are, also.". I throw her a glance and she smirks before telling me something I didn't need to know. "Your injuries from the battle were severe, and you're aware I had to get you naked. I was able to see everything underneath your clothes. I know exactly where every single scar on your body is.". I shudder and she finally gets to the heart of the matter. "I just thought you'd learn something from your scars.".
I have to fall silent as we lead our horses around a turn, but once we're once again going in a straight line I speak. "What do you mean I'd 'learn' something from my scars?". Morrigan shrugs like it couldn't possibly matter. "You've been beaten and suffered at the hands of humans. I just thought you might have learned to be more wary of them.". Once again, a cord deep inside me is struck. It hurts to have gotten so close to so many humans. To know the burning flame of hate inside of me wasn't strong enough to feed me through my journey. My insecurities and fears come back. The old, stronger me would have joined the Dalish the second Ostagar was over.
Instead, I let Morrigan and Alistair get me wrangled up in this mess. Then, Leliana and Wynne dragged me even deeper. My hands clench as I realize every single person I'm traveling with is a human besides Duncan. My cousins would laugh at me. My father would be disappointed. My mother would be ashamed. My hands are shaking around the reins in my hands. I try to hold back tears that I don't know where I came from. I take the last dying ember of my hate and throw it at Morrigan. "Morrigan, you're a human. Stop talking like you're not.". Morrigan chuckles as she reaches out to me. Freezing fingers brush some short hair behind one of my pointed ears.
She leans over on her horse and whispers in my ear. "Who says I'm human?". She pulls away before laughing like a maniac. I try to brush off her comment. "That's not funny.". Morrigan eventually calms down and starts our conversation up again. "I'm still surprised you've let yourself be cowed by humans. I thought you'd be stronger than that.". I snort and turn my gaze downwards to my horse's mane. "What am I suppose to do? Go run off and live in the woods?". Morrigan once again gets cryptic. "There'll be a point in our quest where you have the chance to save a human's life. Don't take it, or else an elven life will be claimed later.". I shudder and try to defeat Morrigan's point.
"We're probably going to run across a lot of humans during our journey.". Morrigan sighs and gets a tiny bit more specific. "An old enemy. You're going to have a chance to redeem an old enemy. Don't take that chance, or else an elven life will be lost.". I look up towards her and pull on my ears. "Is that elven life my own?". She shrugs and admits something rather disturbing. "I don't know.". She looks back towards the trail and falls silent. However, I now have a question. "Morrigan, can only mages enter the fade?". When she nods I ask her an important question. "Would you mind going into the fade and putting a stop to what's happening at Redcliffe when the ritual is ready?".
Morrigan seems to chew over the offer before sighing and shaking her head. "You're damned lucky you're my friend. I'll do it.". I smile and try to make sure she knows how much this means to me. "Wynne is the only other option. I trust her a lot, but having one of my closest friends do it for me will mean a lot more.". I snicker as the witch's cheeks begin to turn pink. Playfully, she shoves me and turns our attention back to the matter at hand. "Shut up. We're almost there.". I nod and look ahead of us. The Tower is still looming on its island in the middle of the lake. As we wait for Wynne I ask a very important question.
"Why don't the mages use magic to cross the lake?". Morrigan sighs. "There's not a spell to fly or breathe water, and none of them know how to change their shape. So, they'd have to swim across before any of their spells would be useful. Besides, the Templars aren't going to let them practice spells that would normally help them.". Wynne joins us and begins tying up her horse. Duncan sits down and takes a few seconds of break. Then, all of us head over to the boat. The boy running it doesn't question us like he did the first time. Smart lad. Instead, he just takes us across when we step into his boat. The tower looms above us as we arrive at its shores and quickly go inside.
We find the leader of the mages standing right inside the door. I don't bother beating around the bush or trying to be subtle. I go up to him, snap to get his attention, and tell him what I want. "We need mages sent to Redcliffe to deal with a possessed child.". The man balks and begins questioning it. Thankfully, Wynne has my back. "Irving, it's okay. Send the mages and come to the castle. We'll be there; it's important.". The older man sighs, but nods and eventually gives in. Wynne and the boy clear things up a little, then we all head back out. The young Templar pushes us back across the lake and we go find our horses. Wynne is once again forced to ride the pony on our return trip. The sun is steadily sitting, but we continue to ride on. I make conversation with Morrigan as we ride.
Wynne is asleep at the moment with her horse tethered to mine, so we can talk freely. "Do you think I should have killed the boy? Connor?". She instantly nods before going on and defending her opinion. "He was a brat and possessed by a demon. Besides, it was his fault that Redcliffe was the way it was. Killing him would have been the only proper thing to do.". I sigh and slump in my saddle. What Morrigan says next makes me slump forward a little more in my saddle. "Although, I understand why you did it. Leliana owns you.".
My fire of hatred has already burned itself down to nothing, but my pride is still bruised. I only manage to mumble an argument. "Leliana doesn't own me.". Morrigan chuckles deep in her throat and her next words chill me to my very core. "I saw what Leliana did to you. Stepping on your neck and making you do what she wanted. And you let her. You rolled onto her back like a bitch and let her.". My face burns red and I don't bother fighting what she's saying. Morrigan, however, tries to cheer me up about the whole situation. "You lost your spine with her, but at least she isn't parading you around on the end of the leash like some elves are.". I shrug and my friend keeps trying. "At least you're getting a good fuck. When's the last time you had one, back in Denerim?". I nod in agreement.
Somehow, I don't feel comfortable telling Morrigan that I was a virgin until a few nights ago. There's still a filthy mark on the word. Admitting I'm a virgin who loves being dominated by a human isn't something I say to just anyone. Thankfully, the conversation wraps up and everyone falls quiet as we continue riding. The castle of Redcliffe looms above us before we even know it. All of us tie our horses up at the stables before dismounting and going inside. Everyone is gathered in the main hall of the castle with the tables pushed to the edges of the room. I take a few steps forward and see the mages have already arrived. I raise my arms upwards and give a single command. "Let's get started.".
Note: Sorry for the poor quality of the chapter. I didn't have a chance to reread it or 'cut it up' properly. I'm just super busy and didn't have the time. Sorry.