Chapter 25!
Disclaimer: not mine!
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Chapter 25 - I Can't Take This Tension!
Hermione's feeling of impending doom did not get any better during the following days. It was rather the opposite.
It was all so…unpredictable. What kind of magic did Corypheus possess? What about the bloody orb? It was rather different, wasn't it; Corypheus' magic. How would that affect her? Could he affect her mind? Again; what about that bloody orb? Would that have some kind of unknown effect on her?
So far, nothing has touched you, she thought, trying to ease her fears. No demons, not even The Dread Wolf. You managed to break the link to the Nightmare, and you tortured a monster the size of a house.
Corypheus was something else altogether though, wasn't he? And he would – she was pretty much certain of this – recognise that she was something else altogether as well. What if he focused on her? She didn't know that story. She didn't know how that would end.
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The day of the departure arrived, and Hermione was rather silent as she got Da'mi ready.
"What if something happens this time?" she said quietly as she tightened a strap on Da'mi's saddle. "What if something changes because of me, and that will ruin everything?"
Da'mi neighed softly, and huffed a warm breath on her hand.
"Let's hope you're right," she said. "Let's hope everything will work out just fine."
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The journey to the Temple of Mythal was...tense. Even Dorian was unusually quiet.
Unnerving, to say the least.
"I can't take this tension!" Hermione exclaimed after three days of unnerving silence. "Da'mi, could you please follow the rest? I need to run."
Da'mi neighed, and Hermione dismounted, ignored Morrigan's curious look, and shifted.
Freedom, she thought as she ran past the rest. Freedom!
It didn't take long before she heard a familiar sound - a familiar growl, in fact - and she spun around, pouncing on The Dread Wolf. He had her - as always - on the ground within seconds, and she growled playfully, something he returned with a snicker.
They continued play-fighting until the rest caught up with them, and Hermione yipped at Dorian.
"Yes, yes, behave, wolf-girl," he said, grinning at her. "Be a good wolf. Be gentle with the birds."
Hermione gave him a growl that clearly told him that perhaps he should behave, causing him to hold up his hands in defeat. "I yield, I yield."
Hermione snickered again, and ran off with The Dread Wolf hot on her trail.
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Hermione was still in wolf form when they made camp later that evening.
She had to ward the camp though, so she reluctantly shifted back to human shape, followed by an equally reluctant Solas a moment later.
While the rest made camp, Hermione walked around, casting her usual wards, lost in thought as always.
Thus, she was rather surprised as she turned around and found Morrigan standing a few feet away, staring at her with confused awe. "What are you?"
Hermione sighed. "Long and complicated story. Now, I know you like to camp alone, but I suggest you check out the tent before you make up your mind." Morrigan gave her a confused look, but Hermione just shrugged. "Believe me. Just take a look inside."
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A while later, Hermione found herself alone with Solas outside the tent, and gave him a playful look.
He shifted before she could even reach him, and she growled in a rather jaded way at him. The Dread Wolf snickered before brushing his head against her in a way that reminded Hermione more of a cat than a huge wolf.
They played a bit, but eventually they lay down, flush against each other, both gazing at the campfire.
That's when Morrigan exited the tent – of course it had to be her – and just stopped and stared at them. After a long moment, she moved towards them – hesitantly – and Hermione realised her eyes were fixed on Solas.
She recognises him, Hermione thought, and made a small sound, a quiet sound that meant 'be wary'.
Solas tensed up, and fixed his eyes on Morrigan.
A moment later, he huffed – reluctant defeat, Hermione recognised. Solas realised what was happening.
"You are him, are you not?" Morrigan asked breathlessly. "You are not just any shapeshifter. You are him. You are Fen Harel."
Solas huffed again, and shifted just as Hermione did the same.
"Will you believe me if I say I am, in fact, not him?"
"No," Morrigan whispered. "No. I recognise you. You are him."
"Life takes unexpected turns, does it not?" Hermione quipped just as she flicked her wand, conjuring a chair behind Morrigan. "And you should probably sit down before you topple over."
Morrigan stared at the chair for a moment, but then she sat down, just staring at Solas and Hermione.