Chapter 1

Flashback (7 months ago)

Unfortunately her dreams now seemed to plague her thoughts .The Landsmeet and final battle were imminent; it seemed all their companions had plans for what they would do if they survived. Some were returning to former lands or starting adventures of their own in or out of Ferelden. Alistair was accepting his birthright and the duty that came along with it. During their journey they hardly spent more than a week apart. Emily's upbringing taught her that marriage was typically the next step, especially since the past six months of their relationship they're intimate with one another. It took Alistair asking several times before she agreed, as she was a devout Andrastian before becoming a warden. She'd already broken many vows but being abstinent was hoping to honor. Emily even accepted that being married to Alistair meant if he was chosen king, she would've become queen. It's not that coruling scared her, she was to become Teryna. Her father had been grooming her to take over the terynship for several years with her brother's blessing. Fergus was content with managing the Highever troops than mountains of paperwork and governing. Emily remembered Cailan making Duncan promise in writing that if she survived, her duty to the wardens was done, and she would be formally made Teryna. Emily was cautious to up marriage or the future as when she did a few months ago he snapped at her. She took it as maybe he was scared if one or both didn't survive, but since arriving back at Redcliffe, Eamon seemed to consume most of his time with preparations, and when she did see him he barely spoke to her.

The Landsmeet was less than a week away, and the darkspawn battle was drawing nearer. For some reason she no longer heard the song, but the darkspawn dreams were more frequent. Since Highever, Em seemed to scrutinize over every detail, especially when something seemed amiss. If she followed her instincts in Highever, she could've convinced her Father not to send Fergus and the troops until the next morning. Her family and everyone else would be alive had she just followed her gut about Howe. The young rogue realized that Eamon always mentioned Alistair solely, never mentioning Emily. She wondered if Alistair made her leader was to prepare her to take over the Wardens, and not because he was naïve at leading. If he were king his royal duties would supersede meaning his days as a Grey Warden would end once he was made king. She started to shake curling into a ball, as he had to know she was tired of killing. The last few months, she had spared just about anything and anyone that didn't attack them first. Em had even talked their way of some fights that had begun. She took herself off the task of hunting for food, as she couldn't bring herself to kill innocent animals anymore. It meant her hunting days were over as she no longer found pleasure in it. Emily got up to find a pail as it was time for her nightly nausea session. It had been happening three months straight. She just took it as another secret side effect of the joining, which she was to be kept in the dark. Draco looked up as she reentered the bedroom; Em had a vision of the Main Hall at Highever, but instead of seeing Howe talking to her father, she saw Eamon. That was it for her; she was going to find out where Alistair's plans for them and or her were. If he thought she would remain silent and allow others including him to plan her future, he obviously didn't know her at all.

She entered stealth mode, which she learned from Leliana. Emily headed to the kitchen, but no Alistair. Emily then headed to Eamon's study, there she found Alistair along with Eamon and Teegan. Alistair said that one of his first acts as king was to establish a Grey Warden post in Ferelden. To Emily's horror, Eamon suggested Amaranthine and what killed Emily most was that she would be warden commander. She prayed that Alistair would speak up and defend her, but he silently nodded to Eamon. Emily was half tempted to unsheathe her daggers and throw them at Eamon and Alistair. She was trying to remain hidden, but her rage was building. Surely Alistair didn't expect her to be warden commander and arlessa to people who possibly were Howe loyalists and want her dead. Was the whole naïve man he portrayed the past year an act? He was basically sending her to die, as if the darkspawn didn't kill her, Howe's supporters would. Then she heard Teegan's voice. He said that" it was cruel to send her to a place they know she'd hate, as basically you're demoting her politically and sending her to die. No one is sure how many loyalists Howe and Loghain had, but they'll mostly be in Amaranthine." He then said that "she won't like the fact you two, as I'm not getting involved in this, are deciding her future without any consideration for her or allowing her to be present."

Emily now considered Eamon and Alistair on the same lines as Howe and Loghain which was not good, and since the latter were not present. They were about to witness her in full rage mode and very unnobleladylike. She made her presence known making clear that she heard every word and that if they thought she would go along with their plan, they were sadly mistaken. Alistair and Eamon's mouths both dropped, while Teegan just sat back with a smile. He was going to enjoy this as he had heard about her temper, but never seen it in person."Seeing how I've being betrayed for the umpteenth time in a year and the whole naïve bastard routine was an act as his true nobility has shown through. I take it without my knowledge we broke up the moment we entered Redcliffe. If I survive the Battle, and believe me right now an Archdemon wouldn't even stand a chance with the mood I'm in, I'm out of the Wardens ,as if I didn't even have papers from Cailan and Duncan agreeing that my duty ends when the Blight does. If he gets to get out of the Wardens, so do I. Also seeing how Eamon has apparently offered Highever in some sort of vote for you, I no longer have a home to go to in Ferelden. Draco and I are leaving Ferelden the moment the Archdemon is slain, injured or not." I'm not making the same mistake I made with Duncan, and leaving Draco with you or Eamon, as you'll hold him as bait to get your way to send me to Amaranthine I now realize Duncan kept Draco to make sure I would go through the Joining. Had I known then what I know now and especially about being a female warden, I would've rather defended and died at Highever with people who truly loved me, instead of being used by people who had ulterior motives all along, and once I was no longer needed sending me to my death. "

She thanked Teegan for speaking up for her, as at least I know you care about me." After this, I'm done as I no longer have the will to fight or even hunt anymore. I know I've got to leave as soon as it's slain, as the minute he gets the crown on his head and Eamon becomes advisor they'll take me by force to Amaranthine if they have to. Its weird only reason I want to live now is for Draco, as he's the only one in my life that truly loves me. Teegan, I hate to put you in this spot, but once I leave this room, I plan on not seeing either of them again. I'll relay messages about the battle and battle only between you and Leliana or Zevran?" Alistair still had his mouth wide open and Eamon looked like he was about to speak, but she gave him a look to keep quiet. Teagan understood now how "Cousland Spitfire" got to be her nickname and it was well deserved. He looked at his brother and Alistair, who were still silent.