Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age, EA/Bioware do. I do however own Emily, Siobhan, and their mabaris
(Flashback cont.)
Both parties split in different directions searching for the Sacred Ashes. Alistair's group kept going in circles, as Leliana's tracking was off in the unknown area. While Zevran wasn't the best lock picker or cutpurse, he was excellent at tracking, between him and Emily they had killed cultists, baby dragons and drakes on their path up. They skinned the drakes for their scales, as Wade said he could make armor out of them. By the time they neared the top of the mountain, they're exhausted and battered, that's where they met Kolgrim. He was surrounded by a more cultists, who were better outfitted, fresh, and also outnumbered them by double. The previous battle with the drakes and cultists had taken their toll on her team, especially Draco. He had put himself in between her and the drakes suffering bites and burns. Draco whimpered next to her, and Em wasn't going to risk her mabari's life anymore than she had. Kolgrim made her an offer of safe passage, as long as she did a task for him. She hoped that her parents weren't watching her right now and grateful that she had chosen the members of her group. Em could just imagine the reaction from Leli, Alistair, and Wynne to her agreeing to his offer. At that moment her team and more importantly Draco came first, if the others had a problem with her decision they could yell at her later .She was to the point Wynne's opinion no longer mattered to her. The elder mage made a point to voice her displeasure about every decision the young warden made, Em wondered if Alistair ever got lectured or were those just meant for her. Kolgrim handed her the vial filled with dragon's blood and escorted them to temple. Along the way they saw a high dragon fly over which Kolgrim said was Andraste. She motioned for everyone to speed up to the temple. Emily knew if she wasn't certain how they would fare against Kolgrim that facing a dragon was definitely out of the question. Kolgrim left them at the temple door,
They entered encountering a Guardian spirit, who seemed to know their deepest regrets, each answering or choosing not to. Emily's spirit almost broke as they entered the next room as a spirit in the image of her father appeared. It took her several minutes after it departed for her to regain her self- control. Every room they entered seemed to test their worthiness, with the final test meant stripping to their smallclothes. She was relieved when the Guardian appeared granting them access to the urn. Each was allowed to take a pinch of ashes, which she and Zevran did. She thought it was weird as Zev didn't seem to be Andrastian, but figured he was taking them for Leliana. The two groups still hadn't crossed paths, which was starting to worry her. Zev scanned the area looking for the Guardian or Kolgrim seeing neither. He handed her his share of the ashes telling her to put the blood on them to show that they did as Kolgrim wanted. Their injuries were amazingly healed, but they were still exhausted. She poured the blood on his pouch of ashes. Emily convinced Kolgrim that she did indeed taint the ashes and a spirit appeared saying that Andraste would rise by dawn the next morning. Emily pulled Sten aside and asked him not to say anything about the extra pouch of ashes. He agreed as unlike Alistair, she hid her grief well. Sten knew she was hurting from the guardian's questions as well as seeing the image of her father. He did have one request that they go back before they left dealing with Kolgrim, lingering cultists and the dragon. He felt slaying the dragon would be good practice if the Archdemon was indeed one. They made their way back to the meeting place.
Morrigan and Shale were there already. Morrigan examined them to make sure the wounds were indeed healed. Alistair and the others finally showed up before sunset. Emily showed the ashes to them. Zevran and Sten watched as Emily retold what happened leaving out the part of Kolgrim's request and seeing her father. Alistair said it was safe to camp there, as they had taken out majority of the cultists while trying to find their way back. He took Emily's hand and they went off to their own room with Draco not far behind. Leliana and Wynne went to another. Zevran said quietly to Sten now "I understand why the Crows would offer her a position, as Emily is not only a proficient killer; she's also a master bard." Shale stood guard, while Morrigan left the temple to do her nightly herbal search. Zev, Sten and Oghren went to their own rooms.
The next morning Alistair met with the other warriors and Wynne to take out Kolgrim, the remaining cultists and the dragon. He wanted to do it without Emily, Zev and Leliana as their armor wouldn't last as well. Alistair told Wynne to only heal them as they had planned an all out offensive and would need healing a lot. They killed Kolgrim and his men with ease. Alistair looted the horn from Kolgrim's body and blew into it. The four warriors took their positions. It took them several strategic hits, but Alistair made the crucial shot to the dragon's head. None of them were injured, but their armor was a little singed. Sten suggested they take some scales and along with the drake scales have Wade in Denerim make some armor.
While they were busy there, Zevran remembered how some said the Arl in Redcliffe was known to be power-hungry, manipulative and not the decent man Alistair made him out to be. The assassin knew that Alistair was so blinded by him that he'd agree to whatever Eamon wanted even if that meant being king at the expense of Emily. Eamon would want a stronger political partner like a noblewoman from Orlais to be married to Alistair. He eavesdropped one night and heard the two wardens talking about that it's harder for one warden to conceive and may be impossible for them since they both have the taint. He knew that Eamon would press for an heir, which Emily may not produce. Zevran decided then and there that he shouldn't be revived. The arl couldn't be king, but with Alistair he could rule Ferelden through him, and Alistair would allow it. Emily stood no chance as she was brilliant and a threat to Eamon. He'd seen it before; Eamon would see to it that Emily would be out of the picture either by having her sent off or worse killed. Zev knew what he had to do, he looked around to make sure he was alone. Leli and Em were off bathing, as they'd discovered a bathing area in one of the rooms. He knew they would be gone for a bit, as the two rogues treasured it when they could cleanup since traveling didn't provide that option much. Draco was with them guarding his mistress and the red headed bard. Morrigan was off to the now deceased reverend father's quarters, as she seemed to love learning as much magic as she possibly could. He quickly went to Em's satchel pulled out her pouch of ashes replacing them with his tainted ones. Which now you couldn't tell the difference as the blood seemed to blend in now, he quickly put the tainted ashes in her pack, and headed back as he heard footsteps approaching
End of Flashback