Leliana

I rushed to Salem, sliding to my knees beside her. She breathed even, but her eyes worked frantically beneath their lids, seeing everything and nothing.

"Salem?" I asked, heedless of the gore spattered on the ground and the blood sheeting down my arm.

Wynne knelt beside me, calm and poised. The healer examined Salem and frowned. "It is as though she sleeps." Wynne's eyes cut at Morrigan. "But I would be right in my assumption that this is no natural slumber, would I not?"

Morrigan's amber eyes leered down at us. "'Tis true."

I rose to my feet and throttled the witch, grasping her rags and pulling her towards me. "What have you done to her?" I demanded.

"Hands off, songstress." a gentle push of magic knocked me back. Morrigan brushed her arms off and straightened her robes. "I did only as she wanted."

"And what was that?" Wynne interrupted before I could speak.

"I sent her to find what she most desires." Morrigan answered Wynne, but wisely kept her eyes on me. "You know as well as I where dreams are born and sought, senior enchanter. Or do I overestimate your knowledge?"

Wynne's mouth set in a firm line. "I know very well."

The answer fell into place and my blood boiled. "You sent her into the Fade?" I seethed, keeping a tight grip on my daggers. "And you left her there alone? How dare you, you wretched, bitch-born whore!"

Morrigan rolled her eyes. "You'll find, songstress, that I am no Orlesian noble, easily set to fire by feckless insults. In fact, instead of attempting to coax out my inner demons, turn those critical eyes inward. Ask yourself, what personal deficit do you possess that Salem first turns to others for aid instead of you? Do not tell me that lovesick light is gone from her eyes."

You know very well that there is nothing in her eyes. Not anymore. Not ever again unless the Urn of Sacred Ashes proves true.

"That is cold, Morrigan." I kept my voice low, aware of the others gathering around us. "Almost as cold as sending one you claim as your friend alone, unguarded, into the Fade."

"Says the self-righteous bard who dragged her beloved warden into the spider's web. Tell me, Leliana, how did it feel when Salem took the poisoned bite and had not the heart to tell you?"

Her words flamed against my ears and I felt my heart go cold. "At least I had the courage to face my demons!" I bit back. "A spider's web is far less dangerous than a dragon's maw. How did it feel, playing puppet's master as you sent Salem to face your mother? You, all of you, have done nothing but use her for your own ends!"

Morrigan's eyes flared and her hand curled, magic dancing between her fingertips. Wynne and Alistair stepped between us.

"Take it back." the future king urged me. "Just...take it back."

"Have you lost your mind?!" I shouted, ready to flay them all alive. "You especially, Alistair. Duncan is killed and you find yourself at loose ends?! You handily shoved all of your responsibilities and burdens onto your junior's shoulders! How well do you believe your mentor would think of you, were he alive to witness your cowardice!?"

Alistair blushed red; even his ears were scarlet with fury and shame. "You little...I have been with her since the beginning..."

"Following like a lost, whining puppy." I cut into him, vicious. "You stay only because you have nowhere else left to you."

Morrigan laughed behind her hand. "Well that, at least, is true."

"This is madness." Wynne's voice carried over the argument. "The fate of Ferelden and Thedas is at stake and you stand here flinging accusations like schoolchildren."

Self-righteous, half-abomination mage!

"The world's fate did not rest so heavily on your mind when Salem came to your tower. 'Save the mages,' you begged, knowing that in her nobility and strength she would attempt or die trying. Only after you threw her into hell at your behest did you again consider Ferelden's needs. At least you have the honor to pay your debts," I glared at Morrigan, "unlike some."

"Oh, someone sew her lips shut." Morrigan groaned. "Salem owed me her life before the two of you crossed paths. The ruination of Flemeth was simply the payment of a debt. And, after your merry little foray to death's door, I do believe your warden yet again owes me her life. I propose a banishment. 'Tis a friend's duty, after all, to remove those who would do the most harm."

"And what," I spat the words, "do you mean by that?"

"At least we were honest in our requests and cowardice." her lips curved in a malicious smile. "Such pure wool you wore, Leliana, dressed in the garb of the faultless, flawless Chantry, hiding your assassin's calluses in Andraste's herb gardens. No other of us so readily stepped in to resolve a crisis, then spoke in gilded tones of a vision from a long-dead god. What better way to give hope to the burdened, wounded warrior than to convince them that their Maker takes their side. And then, to seduce, tempt with promises of love; only to, at the end of it all, when pressed, admit you are a thief, a liar, and a whore. None of us here committed so grave an atrocity against your warden. Have we, Leliana?"

I shoved past Wynne and Alistair, straight to Morrigan. Without thinking, I rammed my fist against her jaw, savoring the sight as she cursed and staggered back.

"Decry me all you like." I growled. "Mock my vision, slander my name, torture and break me until I speak your version of the truth. All those things I can abide. But never, never question the truth of my love for Salem."

Morrigan rubbed her jaw, wincing. "Are we done playing with words then?" I nodded and she smiled. "Excellent. This is much more to my taste."

She struck out quickly, lightning spilling from her fingers. I rolled beneath the reach of the spell, striking at the back of Morrigan's knees. The witch collapsed and I lept to my feet. I moved behind her and gouged my fingernails into the sensitive pressure points behind her ears. Morrigan's eyes widened, but no sound crossed her lips. Her fingers wrapped around my leg and cold seeped through my armor to my skin. Before she could finish her spell, I dropped to my knees and struck her in the back, directly over a vital organ.

Morrigan doubled over and a hoarse cry ripped from her throat. In seconds, I had a dagger to her neck. Alistair took a step forward, but Wynne intervened. From far away, I heard Oghren mutter a complaint about the lack of nudity.

I pulled the witch against my body, pressing the blade deep enough to draw blood.

"'Twould seem we are at an impasse." Morrigan chuckled. "You won't kill me, Leliana."

"A fortnight ago I plunged this same blade into my lover's heart." I whispered in her ear. "And that is the least of my sins. Give me one reason that you should be spared."

"I haven't one."

A wave of magic rippled from her, flinging the knife from my hand and throwing me back. I landed against a darkspawn corpse, feeling something sharp impale my thigh.

Shit!

If there were any darkspawn blood on whatever was stuck in my flesh, Morrigan had killed me.

"I found a reason, songstress." Morrigan drawled, taunting me. "Were I to die, who would Salem come to should she need aid?"

"Harlot witch!" furious, I pulled another blade and got to my feet, rushing her. "I'll kill you!"

A cold hand iced around my wrist as I readied a strike. Morrigan's staff came down, stopped from impact by a similar, bone-bruising grip.

"What," the most frigid tone I had ever heard, "in hell, is this!?"

I dropped the knife, suddenly afraid and ashamed. Salem's sightless eyes burned into me, fierce and unforgiving. "Have you lost your minds?" she asked, turning to Morrigan. "Were you so energized from battling darkspawn that you decided to spill each other's blood?"

"Ask your lover." Morrigan lifted her chin, defiant. "'Twas she that began the argument."

Salem scoffed. "I doubt that blame rests entirely on one head." she relinquished my wrist and I massaged it, knowing that it would be bruised tomorrow. "Leliana, have Wynne see to you." she ordered, a commander's voice, not the tone of the woman I loved. "Morrigan," Salem turned her attention to the witch, "are you hurt?"

"Bruised pride and skin." she answered. "But I see what you've found what you've sought."

"Not the time." Salem flung the witch's staff away. "I smell your blood. Get back to your tent and tend to yourself. The rest of you," the others flinched at her tone, "get these damn corpses out of our camp!"

She knelt beside a hurlock, lifted it over her shoulder, and strode away from the camp. The others rushed to follow suit. I simply stood there, watching my lover fade into the darkness.

"Salem." I did not realize I had extended my hand out to her until Wynne took it in her own.

"Come, child," she said, calm. "I am certain she will come back to you."

"Wynne," I felt defeated, in body and spirit, "please forgive me. My words were hasty and harsh. I did not mean what I said."

"Yes, you did." she answered, smiling. "And you have given me much to consider. I bear you no anger, Leliana. Now come with me. Your wounds need looking after." she chuckled. "Salem will flay us both if you remain untreated when she returns."

I fear her return. I wordlessly followed the healer to her tent. I have never seen Salem's eyes so full of wrath or heard her voice so cold. There were times I feared Marjolaine but...I held my throbbing wrist against my chest...what I felt from Salem...struck terror in my heart.