An apology most unexpected
Morrigan walked through the fortress making herself familiar with the lay out. She knew where most things were after a couple days of settling in. Keiran was in the garden with his books when Morrigan made her way through. He looked up as his mother sat beside him. He studied the side of her face as she looked up at the balcony where the sleeping chambers were.
"Mother? Are you alright?"
Morrigan brought her attention down to her son. She smiled at him and nodded.
"I am fine dear. How go your studies?"
Kieran started to tell her about what he was studying when a figure on the balcony caught Morrigan's attention. She looked up to see Leliana leaning on the wall absently gazing out over the garden. She took the time to study the Orlesian's features. She had forgotten how beautiful she was. If she allowed herself to think about things, she knew she missed her. She missed sharing a bed roll with her. She missed her lips and her touch. She knew deep down that she ruined any chance of any sort of reconciliation with the redhead. No matter how deep she wished for it.
Leliana looked down into the garden. She scanned around looking at the priestesses and the scattered few civilians. She was very proud of what they were able to create here. Her eyes passed where Morrigan sat with her son. She refused to let her eyes linger. Her heart was still torn because of the witch's betrayal. She not only slept with her best friend but then abandoned them when they needed her most. She loved the witch fiercely and seeing her again brought all of those feeling back to the surface of her mind. She was fighting with the conflicting emotions and it was making her quite tired. She glanced back at the brunette who was looking up at her. Their eyes locking sending an all too familiar feeling into her lower belly. She straightened up, her nose twitched up as she turned away. She would not give into these lustful feelings. No matter how deep they went. She made her way back into her chambers shutting the door behind her.
Morrigan felt the stab in her chest when Leliana turned away. She needed to ignore these feelings. She knew nothing good would ever come from dwelling on them.
"Why do you not go speak with the Nightingale mother?"
Morrigan sighed looking down at her boy.
"What have I told you about listening to my thoughts."
"I am sorry Mother. But you seem so sad when you see her."
"Worry not about your mother and focus on your studies."
"Yes mother."
She looked down at the boy that has soften her heart in ways she would have scoffed at ten years ago. He was her life. Every decision she made was to benefit him. She left Ferelden as quickly as she could. She ran to Orlais. A place she could be close to her former lover since she could not have her physically.
"Lady Morrigan? A moment of your time please?" Akasha pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Of course, Inquisitor."
The two women walked through the garden and into the main hall.
"Nightingale's birds have returned with word of Elven ruins in The Emerald Graves. We are sending scouts out to check for any sign of Corypheus or the Red Templars. I would like for you and Solas to put your collective knowledges together to see if you can come up with any reason they might be in that area."
"The Emerald Graves is full of ancient ruins Inquisitor. Is there a reason this one seems more important than the others?"
Akasha looked down at the Witch. "That is need to know information Morrigan. Let's just say the Dalish seem to have particular interest in this location and what lays within."
This information peeked Morrigan's interest.
"May I have map coordinates at least so I may find any significance with the surrounding area?"
Akasha looked dubiously at her. She heard Leliana's voice in her mind telling her not to trust the Witch. At the same time her mind struggled with the fact that this woman was an advisor to the Empress of Orlais so she must be able to trust her to an extent.
"Come with me to Solas' study. I will tell you both what we have found and show you on the map where the Ruins were located."
"Fair enough," Morrigan nodded.
As they walked through the throne room Leliana turned the corner out of Josephine's office nearly colliding with the pair.
"Pardon me Inquisitor. Lady Morrigan. I was not paying attention."
"It's alright Nightingale. We were just about to discuss the findings at the Emerald Graves. Care to join us?"
Morrigan looked up at the Qunari and then at the Spy Master. Silently hoping she would accept.
"Actually, Inquisitor I was hoping to speak with Morrigan for a moment if I may."
Morrigan's heart clinched. She felt an odd amount of anxiety slam into her chest. She tried her damndest to push it away. It would not do to have the Inquisitor see the affects the woman was having on her. Morrigan looked down at the ground unable to look her former lover in the eye. She felt much like she did as a child in front of Flemeth rather than the ruthless sorceress she appeared to be to others.
"Of course, come meet Solas and I in the war room when you have finished."
As Akasha walked away Morrigan couldn't help but look after her. She had hoped she wouldn't leave. She felt a fear she couldn't explain. She did not like this weakness. Twas unnerving to say the least.
"You are awfully quiet Morrigan. I am not at all used to you being this silent."
Morrigan did not speak. She would not be baited into a meaningless banter with the red head. Her eyes remained fixed to the ground. Leliana sensed a change in the normally abrasive woman. A change she would say she did not like one bit. She took one of Morrigan's hands and guided them to a nearby table. She leant against the table pulling Morrigan to stand in front of her. She tilted her head down trying to capture the Witch's eye.
"Morrigan look at me please."
Morrigan looked up. Her eyes focusing behind Leliana. She refused to look her in the face. She felt her throat tightening.
Cursed emotions.
"I am sorry Morrigan."
Her eyes snapped down to the Bard's. She knew she looked shocked and she honestly couldn't careless at the moment.
"Don't looked so surprised my Lady. You know I suffer so much when I feel guilty."
"For what could you possibly feel guilty?" Morrigan's voice sounded foreign even to her own ears.
"For attacking you when you first arrived at Skyhold. For telling the Inquisitor you could not be trusted. For assuming you were the same selfish woman you used to be."
A silence fell between the two.
"I too must apologize. I never wanted to hurt you Leliana. But I could not let Cousland or the stupid boy King die if I had a way to prevent it. I never thought I would grow to care for you as much as I do. But I will not apologize for my son. He is why I have changed. You may never truly forgive me but. . ."
Leliana silenced the rambling Witch with her lips. Her hands cupped her cheeks. Morrigan was not the rambling type and the cuteness of it caught Leliana off guard. She released her hold and lent back on the table.
"You are too cute when you try to focus your thoughts. You always were."
"I am not cute bard." Morrigan's bitting tone returned.
"Whatever you say My Lady." Leliana moved passed the table toward the war room.
Morrigan stepped back crossing her arms. She needed to create the barrier after being left vulnerable. She followed Leliana who took one of her hands as soon as she came within reach.
"Morrigan I would like to meet your son. If you would allow me?"