BioWare owns all but what I made up. : )
So, Morrigan has a bun in the oven or is up the duff or expecting. Depending how you want to put it. How does she take it? Oh boy!
And a couple of shout outs, one to Night Hunter MGS, who helped me with an outline for my refugee arc. He is my content beta, I don't envy him the task, really! So send good vibes his way and please read his excellent writings! He is a fantastic author, and I am shamelessly trying to get him to write more. Help a girl out? Flatter him, give him reviews! : ) And to Violet Theirin who gave me the Alistair quote about getting lost and losing one's pants. I never got that convo in game, so I posted it below for those, like me, who didn't either. Please read hers and review! She has a great new one out about Jowan and Amell called, "She's My Salvation." And to westiex9 on the BioWare forum who gave me the bit about Fergus and Morrigan having baby dragons and the ensuing issues. He has two stories, forum only, his newest is "Chevalier's Tales." I highly recommend it, it is worth going to the BioWare forum for.
Shout out to my beta and friend Ladyamesindy (her newest is "The Perfect Proof of Love is Trust") for telling me, yes, we are there and I can send it to Janni my other shout out. She is the delightful, wonderful, brilliant, well-read lady who had been fixing my grammar. Now, for those of my fans who re-read and who want to print out copies, thank Janni who has been working tirelessly on revamping the earlier chapters and has gotten all the way to Chapter 63! She is a mad woman I tells ya! And I am thinking of starting a Janni fund to supply her with chocolate and yarn (her other hobby, knitting). So send good vibes to her too please. She is a gem.
My shout out to those who put me on fav author, and the story on favs, and alerts; I can't tell you what thrill it is to see those emails and how much I appreciate you all for it. So thanks to shogei, Eva Galena, Shenzi123, Ariz0na sky, Avey Tare, BookCharmer, Sizzia, Dark Phenoix, Talar7Wolf, and JeanneCalcrie.
And my humble love and gratitude to you all. My lurkers, my readers, my reviewers. You all make my day, my week, my month, my year. Reviewers, special thanks for taking time out of your busy lives to not only read, but to tell me your feelings on Kai's wild ride. Thank you! : )
Here is the Ali quote from the convo on leading and losing one's pants. I wonder, would they be schleets?
"What? Lead? Me? No, no, no. No leading. Bad things happen when I lead.
We get lost, people die, and the next thing you know I'm stranded
somewhere without any pants." - Alistair
Blessings!
"It cannot be true!" Kai watched as Morrigan's wan skin blossomed with two red spots high on her sculpted cheeks.
"Considering what you and Fergus have been up to, it's not only true, but should come as no surprise." Kai grinned at her sister, "You of all people know it isn't good Fade spirits who bring babies, right?"
"Of course I know that! I am not some bubble headed imbecile, or that fool Templar!" Morrigan scowled at Kai, her low voice becoming a growl, "I know perfectly well how babies are made and where they come from!"
"He-yy, that hurts my manly feelings, I know where babies come from too!" Alistair's voice mock grumbled into her ear.
"All one of your manly feelings you mean?" Kai gave him a mental grin, "Are you still sure you know, even now, where babies come from, mi gra?"
"Oh you, you are just as evil as Wynne!" She could feel him grinning. "Though I do have to wonder if the world isn't coming to an end, Morrigan, spawning..." She felt him give a melodramatic shudder.
"Well, I for one am very happy with the idea." Fergus grinned, squeezing the witch's slender frame more tightly to him.
"Fah! You would think 'tis wonderful, but we have established that you are mad! I shall be cranky and get fat, and you will think I am ugly. 'Tis a certainty that you will then go and find some trollop to warm your bed." Morrigan's angry face got redder, but tears continued to slip down her cheeks, "And I will be stuck at home with a squalling babe, while cooking over a hot stove."
"Cranky? She isn't cranky now, she's down right bitchy!" Kai had to keep the laughter bubbling up in her throat from reaching her lips at Alistair's statement. She clapped a hand to her mouth which made her sister utter a low growl in her throat. Kai held up her hands in a placating gesture.
"Now, my love, I wouldn't care if you were fat, but I don't see that happening. And we have a cook, and she is the ruler of her kitchen. I doubt Olwyna would deign to let you anywhere near one of her stoves, even if you had a mind to." Fergus kissed the back of Morrigan's head who, with her hair down, looked so much more vulnerable and childlike, making her tears even more heart wrenching. "So, why are you really so upset my beloved?"
"Foolish man, I am not upset!" And with that the witch leaned forward away from him and crossed her arms while putting her nose up in the air.
Fergus only grinned, grabbed her shoulders, tilted her head back and put a finger under her chin to make her look at him, "What really has you so upset?"
"Because...," Morrigan's face got redder and more tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, "because I don't want to be like my mother!"
"Now, love..." Morrigan's eyebrows drew down as her eyes narrowed.
"How can I not be? I was raised by her! I am nothing more than a cold-hearted..."
"Uh oh, witchy-poo is losing it! I only teased her about looking like her mother. Of course if she can turn into a dragon like Flemeth, well then I recommend that Fergus replace all of the wooden furniture at Highever with dwarven stone furnishings. Dragon babies and oaken highchairs don't mix." Kai could hear Alistair laughing at his own joke.
"Hush you! I am trying to be supportive, and your not hel-ping!" Kai complained. Alistair laughed harder.
"ENOUGH!" Fergus's sudden roar made everyone jump, even Ali, "How much do you have to do before you realize you are nothing like that woman? You helped my sister, you have saved her life on numerous occasions, and you asked for nothing in return except her friendship! Even when you were not sure you had her friendship anymore, did you not return to save her, not knowing if she would forgive you? Would your mother have done the same?" Morrigan's mouth opened, but Fergus continued, talking over what she might going to say, "And did you not go and help rescue Zevran? Or help the Dalish against Bann Loren's men? Did you not help my niece and nephew into the world? Or call my sister, your sister? Would that old bat Flemeth have ever done any of these things without wanting something in return?" Morrigan just shook her head. "And do you think for one second I could love anyone like your demon infested, bitch of a mother who intended to kill you and take your body?" He glared at Morrigan, who now looked at Fergus with pride and love and admiration shining in her eyes. Again, she shook her head. "Well then, I want to hear nothing more on this topic. You will be a wonderful mother, I have seen you with the twins."
He leaned in and put his lips to hers, and Morrigan wrapped her arms around his neck. It soon became apparent that they were not coming up for air any time soon, so Kai and the rest discretely made their way back out of the tent into the camp, making sure the tent flap was down and securely in place.
Kai found herself blushing and hurrying towards the center of camp and the fire pit laid with logs there, as the noises coming from the tent behind them were getting louder She also had the thought that her brother and Morrigan were using the Keeper's tent. "Keeper Lanaya, I am so sorry, I promise to have them out of the tent, before tonight!" And I will burn the bed clothes for you if you want, she huffed to herself.
"Do not worry yourself, lethallan. They are in love and have been separated and frightened for each other. I do have tents set up for you and your party." Lanaya walked them to a stand of pavilions and led them inside so they could put their belongings away. "I expect some of the clans to trickle in over the next few days. I am hoping that no more than two, three days at the most for the other clans to arrive."
"Thank you, keeper. I am grateful for your help and your friendship." Kai returned Lanaya's smile. "Well, since it is early in the day, I was hoping I might purchase some supplies from your merchants and take them to the Hermit; I did promise I would visit him again."
"I know, lethallan, that he is eagerly awaiting your arrival. When we went to borrow his ring again, he told us he had to have it back because you were returning and he wanted to make things nice for you, so he had to know when you were coming." Lanaya smiled, "He is quite taken with you. We have been leaving supplies whenever we are near to his camp as you asked us, including books. We just change them out. He leaves the ones he has finished reading, and we place the new books with the supplies."
"Oh my, another man in love with you! Zevran better watch out, he has competition! You might decide to run off and live in a stump in the forest." Alistair's voice laughed in her ear.
"Ha, very ha! And no thank you! That stump smelled...aromatic. Stronger than even Oghren's usual miasma. Pass!" Kai grinned
"At least he stopped using pages from books for his backside." She caught Ali's shudder, and suppressed a chuckle.
She handed over a leather pouch with coins in it to the keeper. It would pay for the supplies she would take today and be good for six more months of supplies for the poor man. Lanaya smiled and patted Kai's arm, "The supplies we leave him along with books are all collected by Master Varathorn. He and his apprentices usually take them when they look for ironbark to collect."
Kai grinned, "I will be happy to look for ironbark while I am on my way there. Master Varathorn was most generous to me in the past, so I am happy to return the favor." Kai gave Lanaya a cross armed bow before turning to her remaining companions, "Okay, who wants to go visit a mad hermit?"
"Ah, a ride in the woods, bark hunting, and talking to a madman. That fortune teller in Antiva never told me that my life with you would never be dull, my beautiful Kaidana." Zevran kissed her, "I will go and fetch the Ceffyls. My beautifully endowed Wynne, shall I saddle up Bran for you?"
"I believe I will go. Considering Kai's penchant for trouble, a healer along is always handy." Wynne flashed Kai a saucy grin and before she could protest about not looking for trouble (it always knew just where she was), Wynne laughed, "I also could use more plants for potions."
Zev walked off towards the lake and the halla pens where the Ceffyls were pastured. Kai, Wynne and Argus made their way to Master Varathorn's aravel. It looked as though he had acquired a new apprentice and the young man he had with him during the Blight had been promoted. Kai watched as Varathorn chastised the newest assistant, while the other gave a sideways glance and a smirk before plastering a salesman's smile on his face and leaning across the table to see to his new customers.
When he saw who it was, his smile got wider and he turned and grabbed Varathorn's arm, giving it a shake until the annoyed man looked up, "Yes! What is it? I have to keep this scoundrel from ruining what ironbark we have, I don't have time for..."
"By Sylaise!" And Varathorn was shoving the new apprentice out of the way and coming around the table, "I am so glad to see you well, my lady!" He had her arm in a warrior's grip.
Kai smiled at him, "I am well, my friend, or at least trying to be."
"Well, you took a hard blow when last you were with us. I and others were worried." He smiled at her, giving her hand a squeeze.
"I would say you, your clan, and the others took more of the blow than I did, Master Varathorn." Kai grimaced. Lelyth's dead and broken body on the bright green grass floated into her mind's field of vision. She shook it away as her heart squeezed painfully. She put a wall up around her last visit with Lanaya's clan lest she start remembering the other dead, including that little boy. Stop it! She gave herself a mental head slap. Kai was at least grateful they hadn't set up camp in that site again.
She tried to give Varathorn a smile which must have reflected more of her inner turmoil than she thought, from his giving her arm a little pat and his own nod. "So, Master Varathorn, I have come to see you about the supplies for the Hermit, and I thought I might look for ironbark for you while we are out?" She gave him a genuine smile and a little chuckle at the way the craft master's eyes lit up.
"By June's left stone, that would be very much appreciated, my lady! I have more trouble with the new apprentice than I had with the old one! I swear he is going to burn the camp down! What is it with these youngsters and their penchant for overusing fire?"
Kai giggled as the young apprentice blushed and looked down, while the older one smirked once again. Varathorn turned to the older one, "Don't smirk so hard lad, or do you want me to tell Jonren some of your tales of mishap?" The smirk left the young man's face immediately, and it was Jonren's turn to smirk. "Well Renthan, don't just stand there looking pale, get the Hermit's supplies and be quick about it!"
The lad went to a chest and brought out two bulging leather bags. Varathorn turned back to Kai, "I put soap and a razor in there. But I don't know if he has ever used the others that I sent. More clothes of course, lighter weight for the summer's coming. Boots, his last pair were in need of replacing. I gave him a new skinning knife for the game he has been catching and fishing line with hooks. I also put in sewing needles, thread and paste in case he needs to make repairs, even a comb in case he lost the last one or it broke. Anything to remind him he is a shem, not an animal." Varathorn smiled. "I think we have been making progress with him. He seems better, though he has his moments. I think your kindness did the most for him, lethallan. The rest has just been building on that. I put new books in, they seem to make him the happiest. I do the trading with the shem merchants. It was only a matter of letting them know I was interested in books. We read them here at camp when he is done, and then sell them back for new books. It has been good for everyone. I have included more food items that will keep, along with flour, some honey, tea, and some spices. I added salting materials so he can salt fish and meat to make them keep, and a couple of new water skins too."
Varathorn looked up from the interior of the bag he had been holding, "I don't think I have forgotten anything. But if he mentions anything, well, just let me know when you return. I shall make sure he gets it."
Kai smiled and nodded, "I will see if there is anything I notice at his camp that he might need. Thank you, Varathorn, here is a little coin for all your trouble and kindness. I gave Lanaya the coin to pay for the supplies, but you should have some for your efforts."
Varathorn waved her away, "I will take nothing from you for that, lethallan. I am happy to help. But if you feel you must repay me, look with those sharp eyes of yours for ironbark. I fear this new apprentice is going to use it all on practice. Which means I may be sending him to clean out the halla pens instead!" Varathorn threw this last bit over his shoulder at the youngster who was blushing.
Kai waved her goodbyes and turned to find that Zev had been there waiting with the Ceffyls. They packed the supplies for the hermit into the saddlebags and started deeper into the forest. At one point Kai thought they might be lost. Some of the paths that had been made by Swiftrunner and his clan when they were running though this part of the forest had grown over. The forest animals apparently preferred to make different avenues.
It was in one glade with Wynne plucking herbs that Kai and Zev sat side by side on the log of a fallen ironbark tree. She had collected the bark from it and now sat trying to get her bearings. Time did not sit still in the forest, and Kai was getting a little nervous that she would not be able to figure out where the Hermit might be. "It is certainly different from when last we came wandering through here, is it not, mi cielo?" Zev grinned and wound his fingers with hers.
"You can certainly say that! I don't know why I didn't think to bring one of the Dalish with me, or even ask Master Varathorn for some landmarks." She gave him a rueful smile.
"Perhaps, mi amada, it had to do with unpleasant memories?" He gently brushed hair away from her face. Kai could only gape at him. "It would be natural for you to have such distractions running through your mind, and I saw your face when you were talking to Varathorn." Kai felt tears threatening to well up in her eyes as she bit her lower lip. "No, mi querida, don't." Zev leaned in to give her a lingering kiss.
It was the woof from Argus that had them all standing with weapons at the ready, or in the case of Wynne, her staff and magic. The crashing through the underbrush was followed by a shout from a familiar sounding voice, "Hello, Warden, don't attack, it is only Tythen and I!" The "I" turned out to be a person Kai had not expected to see; Swiftrunner stepped out from the underbrush followed by the Dalish hunter Tythan. It was Tythan's sister who had been watching the children the day of the attack by Erys and Bann Loren's men. Swiftrunner had saved not only Lana, but the children, leading them into the forest and hiding them all in the woods under leaves before drawing off Bann Loren's men. Apparently, Swiftrunner had stayed with the Sun Hawk Clan.
Both of them wore a bow and quiver and had a string of rabbits and birds that had already been field dressed. Kai felt her face lighting up in a wide grin. Not only was it very nice to see familiar faces, but here was a solution to her dilemma.
She sheathed her daggers as she strode forward hand outstretched to grasp first Swiftrunner's forearm, then Tythan's in a warrior's clasp. That was not enough for Swiftrunner who then swept her up in a bear hug lifting her off her feet. Tythan laughed at her dazed expression, "I think, my brother, that you are squeezing a little too hard. I think she can't breathe." Tythan clapped Swiftrunner on the shoulder.
Kai managed to gasp out, "You may not be a werewolf anymore, my friend, but your strength is still formidable. I am please to see you again as well!" Kai grinned, "I had thought you might go with the soldiers in the bannorn or arlings." And then it struck her that some of those dead bodies in the watchtower could have been Swiftrunner and his clan if they had.
Kai found herself swallowing hard as her stomach rolled with a wave of nausea. She felt Zev's warm fingers twine with her suddenly cold ones while he put out his other hand in greeting to Swiftrunner and Tythan. Kai beckoned them back to the clearing around the fallen tree where she told them all that had happened at the watchtower and her plans for dispersing the remaining soldiers and townspeople of Gwaren in with the elves until Anora was off the throne. Hence, the calling of the clans for a meeting earlier than they would have normally gathered.
The fact that she managed to get though the telling without vomiting she supposed said something about her healing psyche. Swiftrunner grasped her hand, giving it a little shake, "Well, I can certainly see why you want to ask if the Dalish can take them. We move around so much, and only certain members of the clans ever come into contact with shem for trading." His yellow eyes looked thoughtful, "I am glad you came to Lanaya with this, it is a good plan. And it is good to see you again, lethallan."
"Shem, lethallan? Are you going native Swiftrunner?" Kai allowed herself a teasing laugh.
"I should hope so, since he married my sister just last month. I am to be an uncle when the leaves turn to flame and fall like rain." Tythan clapped Swiftrunner on the shoulder and grinned at him while the bearded human blushed.
"Well, for whatever reason, your sister decided to give this poor excuse for a human a chance. I couldn't resist." Swiftrunner started plucking leaves of grass and shredding them, "I have you to thank you know, Warden. You brought me to them. If you hadn't I wouldn't have met my Lana."
Kai could only blush while Zev reached out a hand in felicitations while grinning, "Congratulations, my once furry friend! I hope you have a healthy little one in the Fall. But we shall be here until the babe is born if we do not get to the hermit, no?" With this Zev gave Kai a sideways glance and a smile.
Kai wrinkled her nose at him and gave him a quick kiss before turning back to Swiftrunner and Tythan, "I hate to admit this, but this part of the forest looks so different now that I am lost. I was trying to reach the hermit to drop off supplies for him and to visit with him as I promised." Kai felt a flush rising up from her neck. Ah, the great and mighty Warden, Hero of Ferelden, lost in the woods, how embarrassing. Kai did a mental squirm.
"Well, at least you stopped and asked for directions." Alistair's voice teased her.
"More like I stopped because we were going around in circles, funny guy." Kai gave him a mental grin.
"At least you still have pants. We all know what would happen if I were leading." He laughed reminding her of that time in camp when he had teased her that he was going to turn their companions against her with gossip so he could lead.
"Actually, my lady, you aren't far from him. He is just around the bend." It was then that Kai realized some of the fallen trees in the clearing were dead sylvans, the ones she had and her party had killed in the clearing near the hermit's home during the Blight.
Kai blushed harder and slapped a palm to her forehead, while expelling a loud sigh, "Now I know the clearing! I certainly hope the meeting with the hermit goes better than my leading us through the forest." Kai grumbled under her breath. Zev only chuckled and gave her hand a squeeze before rising to get the Ceffyls.
They opted to walk as the distance was not far, and the deer or wild halla track was narrow and required them to walk single file. When they came around a bend in between two gentle hills, the area opened up into a clearing which was the only part of the forest Kai actually recognized.
Or at least she thought she did, but even this looked different. It took a moment and then Kai realized that the tent was actually open and there were two cots inside with blankets and a mage light on the beside table along with a pile of books. The tent was obviously being lived in. The area was clean of its previous detritus. The fire pit had a cheerful little fire going with a kettle on a tripod above the flames. Wood was laid out neatly for the evening. The stump no longer had a large burrow under its roots as if for some giant rodent. Kai watched as a young elf rose up from a crouched position near the fire where he had been filling mugs with tea leaves.
Kai recognized that auburn head of hair with the facial tattoo immediately, as did Wynne, "Aneirin! Child, it is so good to see you once again!" Aneirin walked towards Wynne, his arms wide and a smile on his face. They embraced for a moment.
Before they could start a conversation, the air crackled with energy and one minute the space next to Kai was empty, then it was not. Kai had a moment to be thankful they had Ceffyls, not Chevals, who may have startled but did not turn and run. The hermit stood before her. Or at least she thought it was him, but the man before her was clean, and while not clean shaven, his beard was trimmed. His hair was cut neatly and clean of dirt and leaves.
But it was the eyes that looked into her own which revealed the greatest difference; they seemed less haunted, more lucid. For the second time that day Kai found herself being grasped in strong arms, though this encounter was so brief she would have missed it if she had blinked. She had no more started to pat the hermit on the back when she was released and he had stepped back.
"I knew you would come! Do you know how? The ring, the ring of course! The ring you gave me!" This was followed by a giggle. He threw up his hand and showed her the silver ring she had given him. It was glowing with a soft blue light. "I couldn't let the elves have it, though they have been kind, so kind...but because of you! Always because of you! I needed it you see! I wanted to have tea ready! And biscuits! We have biscuits! Aneirin and I made them in the little stone oven we built. Aneirin is my friend too, so are the other elves."
His speech seemed to have changed from a series of questions to a non stop torrent of statements. Kai grinned at him, "I have more supplies for you, clothes, food, some practical items, and of course more books."
Kai went to the Luna and started to undo the saddlebags, "You just have to tell me where you would like them placed her..." Kai turned to him with the leather bags in her hand, "I am afraid I don't even know your name."
"I know yours, I remember, it is Kai! Kaidana Cousland. I didn't believe you then, but I hadn't really talked to anyone in so long. Not even Aneirin. He had nothing to trade for questions you see. But after talking to you, I remembered what it was like to talk to people again!" This was punctuated by another giggle, "I remembered my name again too! It is Nissyen, I am Nissyen! And when they didn't come to take me away to the Tower, I realized you are a friend. You wouldn't hurt me. And then Aneirin talked to me, and the elves came to visit, bringing things. And I remembered I am human. And I had friends who would keep them from finding me." Then the old mage came and grabbed one of the bags from her hands and started to rummage through it before looking up like a naughty child, "Oh, sorry, thank you!"
Kai smiled and gently stroked his old wrinkled cheek, "You are welcome, Nissyen."
The old mage surprised Kai with the speed with which he moved, and the strength of his grip when he grabbed her hand and grasped it to his chest tightly. The old man's eyes dilated so much that they looked black, and she felt as if she were looking at the bottom of the Waking Sea. His voice became calmer, deeper, and more lucid, "What is the monster that does not think and has no soul? What is the monster that does think and has a soul made from blood? What is the maker of these puppets, and the puppet that cut its own strings? These are the questions for you this time, my friend. The answers you must seek, or rather the questions' answers may seek you, and soon too while you try and topple the apocryphal queen."
And just as suddenly as he had grasped her hand he released it, the simple smile returned to his face as he beckoned her to the fire, "Come I have tea, and we have biscuits, did I tell you we have biscuits?"