Movement off to my left drew me from my deep slumber. I forced my eyes open, made myself focus on the world around me. I was alive. Had that all been a dream? Just a horrible nightmare?
"Ah, your eyes finally open. Mother shall be pleased." a familiar voice said.
Turning my head, I blinked. I wasn't in Ostagar anymore. I also wasn't wearing clothes.
"You're the girl from the Wilds, aren't you?"
The woman bowed her head gracefully, "I am Morrigan, lest you have forgotten. And we are in the Wilds, where I am bandaging your wounds. You are welcome, by the way. How does your memory fare? Do you remember Mother's rescue?"
"I..." I rubbed my temples, trying to recall the nightmare, "I remember being overwhelmed by the darkspawn... Wait... what happened to the army? To the king?"
"The man who was to respond to your signal quit the field. The darkspawn won your battle. Those he abandoned were massacred. Your friend... he is not taking it well." she explained.
"... What happened to the Grey Wardens? And the king?" I wondered idly if she thought I was mentally challenged, since she'd just told me.
"All dead. Your friend has veered between denial and grief since Mother told him. He is outside by the fire. Mother asked to see you when you awoke."
"Why does your mother want to see me?"
"I do not know. She rarely tells me her plans."
"Thank you for helping me, Morrigan." I murmured, still shell-shocked.
"I... you are welcome, though Mother did most of the work. I am no healer."
"I will go, then."
"I will stay and make something to eat." she turned from me, leaving me to my own devices.
I forced myself into a sitting position and got to my feet soon after. Dressed in my leathers once again, I took my time leaving the safety of the hut.
My eyes found Alistair's as I stepped out into the early morning light.
"You... you're alive! I thought you were dead for sure." he breathed.
"I'm not, thanks to Morrigan's mother." I noticed Flemeth standing in a small clearing a little way out, watching us.
"Duncan's dead. The Grey Wardens, even the king. They're all dead." he sounded like a broken man, "This doesn't seem real. If it weren't for Morrigan's mother, we'd be dead on top of that tower."
"Do not talk about me as if I am not present, lad." the older woman cut in, chastising him.
"I-I didn't mean... but what do we call you? You never mentioned your name."
"She's Flemeth. She's the one who gave me the documents." I told him.
"The Flemeth? You're the Witch of the Wilds, aren't you?"
"And what does that mean? I know a bit of magic, and it has served you both well, has it not?" her tone was no nonsense, "Duty must come now. It has always been the Grey Wardens' duty to unite the lands against the Blight. Or did that change when I wasn't looking?"
"Of course not!" I protested, "But the land is hardly united, thanks to Loghain."
"That doesn't make any sense! Why would he do it?" Alistair moaned.
"Now that is a good question. Men's hearts hold shadows darker than any tainted creature. Perhaps he believes the Blight is an army he can outmaneuver. Perhaps he does not see that the evil behind it is the true threat." the old witch said thoughtfully.
"The Archdemon." Alistair's words dripped with content.
"What could the Teyrn hope to gain by betraying the king?" I frowned.
"The throne? He's the queen's father. Still, I can't see how he'll get away with murder."
"You speak as if he would be the first king to gain his throne that way. Grow up, boy!" Flemeth scolded him.
I tensed, resisting the urge to defend him.
"If Arl Eamon knew what he did, he would never stand for it! The Landsmeet would never stand for it! There would be civil war!" Alistair's voice gradually grew louder.
"Arl Eamon? The Arl of Redcliffe?" I asked.
"I suppose... Arl Eamon wasn't at Ostagar; he still has all his men. And he was Cailan's uncle. I know him. He's a good man, respected in the Landsmeet. Of course! We could go to Redcliffe and appeal to him for help!"
"That sounds like an excellent idea." I agreed.
"It's been centuries since the last Blight. No one will take it seriously until it's too late." he deflated quickly.
"What about those treaties Flemeth gave us?"
"Of course! The treaties! The Grey Wardens can demand aid from the dwarves, elves, mages, and other places! They're obligated to help us during a Blight!"
Flemeth crossed her arms, "I may be old, but dwarves, elves, mages, this Arl Eamon, and who knows what else... this sounds like an army to me."
"So can we do this? Go to Redcliffe and these other places and... build an army?" my fellow Grey Warden's eyes twinkled.
"Why not? Isn't that what Grey Wardens do?" I grinned, getting caught up in his excitement.
"So you are set, then? Ready to be Grey Wardens?"
"Yes. Thank you for everything, Flemeth." I murmured.
"No, thank you. You are the Grey Wardens, not I." she waved off my words, "Now... before you go, there is yet one more thing I can offer you."
Morrigan interrupted our conversation just then, "The stew is bubbling, Mother dear. Shall we have two guests for the eve or none?"
"The Grey Wardens are leaving shortly, girl. And you will be joining them."
"Such a shame-What?" the younger woman sputtered.
"You heard me, girl. The last time I looked, you had ears!" Flemeth laughed heartily.
"I think that's an excellent idea!" I clapped my hands, more than happy to bring her along.
Alistair gave me a look that questioned my sanity. I grinned widely back at him.
"Wonderful." Flemeth's tone said there'd be no argument.
"Have I no say in this?" Morrigan pouted.
"You have been itching to get out of the Wilds for years. Here is your chance. As for you, Wardens, Consider this repayment for your lives."
My head bobbed enthusiastically, "Of course. I'm looking forward to it!"
Alistair looked more than doubtful, "Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but won't this add to our problems? Out of the Wilds, she's an apostate."
"If you do not wish help from us illegal mages, young man, perhaps I should have left you on that tower." Flemeth said smugly.
"Point taken."
"Mother... this is not how I wanted this. I am not even ready-"
Morrigan's mother waved a hand in the air, "You must be ready. Alone, these two must unite Ferelden against the darkspawn. They need you, Morrigan. Without you, they will surely fail, and all will perish under the Blight. Even I."
"I... understand."
"And you, Wardens? Do you understand? I give you that which I value above all in this world. I do this because you must succeed."
"I understand." I said solemnly.
Morrigan let out a long-suffering sigh, "Allow me to get my things, if you please."
Without waiting for a response, she put her back to us and went to the hut. The three of us stood there, waiting in silence. My head was spinning from how fast everything seemed to be going.
Before I knew it, her voice sounded close to me, "I am at your disposal, Grey Wardens. I suggest a village north of the Wilds as our first destination. 'Tis not far and you will find much you need there. Or, if you prefer, I shall simply be your silent guide. The choice is yours."
"No, I prefer you speak your mind." I assured her.
Flemeth laughed again, sounding for all the world as if Ferelden wasn't on the verge of destruction, "You might come to regret that later."
"What are your skills?" I asked, curious.
"I know a few spells, though I am nowhere near as powerful as Mother. I have also studied history. And your Grey Warden treaties."
"Can you cook?" Alistair cut in.
I had the urge to smack my forehead.
Morrigan gave him a look full of hate, "I can cook, yes."
I waved my hands in front of me, "Never mind him! You don't have to cook."
Her expression relaxed, becoming neutral.
A sigh from Alistair told me he'd been looking forward to not being the only cook, "You missed your chance. Now it's charred rabbit from here on out."
I rolled my eyes and didn't bother with a response, "I'm ready when you are."
"Farewell, Mother. Do not forget the stew on the fire. I would hate to return to a burned-down hut."
Flemeth scoffed, "'Tis far more likely you will return to see this entire area, along with my hut, swallowed up by the Blight."
Morrigan's face crumpled, "I... all I meant was..."
The older witch softened, "Yes, I know. Do try to have fun, dear."
With a wave and a few quiet goodbyes, we set off toward the village, leaving the Korcari Wilds behind us.
...
Something rustled in the brush nearby, setting us on alert. A large ball of fur darted toward me, knocking me to the ground. A second later, my face was drenched in slobber.
"What the- Are you alright?"
I burst out laughing, the mabari licking me still,
"H-hey! Stop it! H-heeeeelp!"
Morrigan shooed the hound off me and helped me to my feet, giving Alistair a look. He was laughing entirely too hard to be of any use. She did not look happy about it.
The dog pranced around, wagging its tail.
Then it dawned on me, "Oh! I think this is the mabari I helped in Ostagar!"
A few moments passed while Alistair collected himself. I turned on him.
"Please, oh, please! Can we keep her? Please?" my hands were clasped in front of me, begging.
"I- What? Why are you asking me?" he waved his hands haphazardly.
"You want to keep the mangy mutt?" Morrigan's tone spoke volumes; she was indeed not happy.
"Yes!"
"...Would you even listen if either of us said no?"
I bit my lip, my eyes falling. My face burned with embarrassment at being called out for the other day, "Of course. I would tell her to leave."
"I don't think it would matter, honestly." Alistair sighed, "Mabari imprint; that's how they choose people. And it seems she's chosen you."
"It had better keep away from me, if it will be traveling with us. I do not do dogs."
"So... We're keeping her?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yeah. Wonder what her name is."
She whined, nuzzling my side.
"Do you have a name, girl?" I murmured, petting her.
She lowered her head to the ground, whining again.
"Would you like me to give you a name?"
Lightning quick, she jumped up and pranced around.
Bemused, I watched her, "Hmm... How about... Seraphine?"
The hound stopped in her tracks, her ears primed, then suddenly growled. Stared deeper into the forest.
Unease pricked my skin. A warning.
"Watch out!" Alistair and I both shouted, moving into defensive positions.
Darkspawn ran toward us from up ahead, three deep and spanning the line of the trees. Show time.
I launched myself at them, blades already in my hands. Morrigan and Alistair took care of the ones that slipped past me, Seraphine coming to fight by my side. I was going to like this dog. A lot.
The skirmish was over in a matter of minutes; not a single one was left alive after the dust had settled. Sheathing my daggers, I grinned, "That was fun. Can we do it again sometime?"
Alistair shook his head, "Would it be too much for me to ask you not to just throw yourself at them, quite literally?"
"Yes." I raised an eyebrow as he did the same, "That's how I fight. I draw all of the attention. I thought you'd learned this by now? Were you even paying attention at the Tower of Ishal? Did you hit your head?"
"I did not hit my head! And I was paying attention. The whole time you were getting knocked around, in fact." A sigh, "One of these days, you might get seriously hurt from pulling things like that."
"If it saves someone else, then it's worth it." My voice was soft, my gaze lowering to the ground.
There were a few beats of silence before Morrigan yelped and started shouting about the mabari trying to get to her pack and eat her food. It alleviated the tension, making Alistair and me laugh.