Just the sight of Morrigan made my body twitch and I froze in place, unable to take my eyes off of her.

We did not say anything for a moment but stood and looked at one another. It was so strange to set eyes on Morrigan again after all of this time and everything that had happened. I felt as if I had traveled back in time and we were back at the Peak again but this time, conversation would not come so easy. I was truly speechless.

Morrigan began pacing in front of me and spoke, obviously more at ease than I.

"The final battle grows closer, does it not, Detra? I know the Darkspawn horde approaches Denerim and will most likely arrive by tomorrow."

So Morrigan was here for business then. I should have expected nothing less.

My mouth moved but no sound came out at first. I cleared my throat and responded in kind.

"We know of their movements but Darkspawn have not been spotted any closer than the Brecilian Forest. The troops are prepared and traps are set for incoming Darkspawn. I do not foresee them surviving this encounter. "

"Ah, but neither will a Grey Warden. One of your numbers must sacrifice their own life for the, what is it...The greater good, yes?"

My mouth hung open a bit.

How is it that she knew of this secret we had only just learned of ourselves moments ago?

Morrigan smiled as she watched me question her.

"Do not bother wondering where I learned of the truth, Warden.'Tis something that mother shared with me before I left in your company."

"What? How...How could Flemeth know this?"

Morrigan giggled a bit.

"Have you forgotten that my mother is an abomination? Mother must have been privy to all sorts of secrets with the power she commanded."

I could see the old Morrigan creeping up on me, getting ready to hit me with some bad news. I was sure that was why she was here.

"I...What does this have to do with the Wardens, Morrigan? Why are you even here?"

Morrigan walked from the fire and sauntered past me a bit, smiling. She looked to be enjoying my full attention.

"I have a solution for your problem."

"What problem?"

Morrigan faced me again.

"None of the Wardens need die to defeat the Archdemon. I have a plan that will save all of your lives."

For a moment, the idea of all three Wardens making it through this Blight flashed through my head. I pondered whether or not such a thing would be possible and what magic was needed. Just the flicker of hope that both Riordan and Alistair could survive this Blight almost made me agree on the spot.

And then I remembered who I was speaking to.

I am sure that whatever plan Morrigan had, the cost would far outweigh the reward. As everything involving her did.

"This must be magic you refer to."

"'Of course 'tis magic. Why else would it be me bringing you such news? Very few know of the magic to perform such a feat, and even fewer possess the talent that is needed to carry it out."

"What magic is this, Morrigan?"

Morrigan looked right into my eyes.

"'Tis some of Flemeth's magic that she told me of before I left the Wilds and some from her Grimoire."

"So she told you of...Did she have this planned...the whole time? Is that why she sent you with us?"

Morrigan glanced towards the fire.

"'Tis true indeed. Flemeth assumed that by now she would have claimed my body for her own and it would be she that would help the Wardens...Though you have made that impossible for her. At least for awhile."

Morrigan looked visibly upset for a split second, perhaps remembering the fact that I was the one to kill her mother as she had asked. But then, as always, the emotion vanished without a trace.

"Why would Flemeth care to help the Wardens? She had magical power at her disposal that we could never dream of."

"Do you not think Flemeth feared the Blight as much as any other? She too could be killed by the same means as any creature, were someone or something lucky enough to breach her defenses."

"Yes. I know that to be true."

Morrigan looked up at me and I could see into her soul. See that even as Flemeth had been a monster, Morrigan had still regarded her as family.

And now she was all alone.

Morrigan looked back into the fire.

"If we are going to do this ritual, we need to get things underway. I do have some supplies, but I will need..."

I shook my head, solidifying my statement.

"There will be no ritual, Morrigan."

Morrigan scoffed.

"Have you taken leave of your senses, Warden? One of you must die to slay the Archdemon, there is no question. What I am offering will eliminate that sacrifice."

"The magic you will use, it is Flemeth's and therefore cannot be trusted. Gods only know what evil lies in that Grimoire of hers."

"Do you forget that her 'evil magic' is also what saved your life so many months ago? It seemed perfectly acceptable to you then so why the concern now?"

I tilted my head, regarding Morrigan in disbelief.

"This is the woman who wanted to steal your body for her own, the same woman you asked me to murder for you... This is her magic and you are so willing to trust it? And you call me a fool."

Morrigan faced me, glaring.

"You are a fool if you refuse this ritual, Warden. Your life hangs in the balance as does Alistair's and that other one. Do you really think that Alistair will hesitate to strike that final blow if given the chance? Would you forfeit his life instead of partaking in a ritual that I will prove to work?"

I folded my arms, tired of this encounter, tired of the countless lies.

"I don't care, Morrigan. I don't want to hear anything else. I want you out of my life. Go back to the same place that you've been for the past week or so... Just be gone."

Morrigan looked genuinely shocked that I'd said those words to her. She was speechless, but only for a moment.

To be honest, my own words had shocked me as well. But they had also empowered me.

"Are you so blind that you cannot see past your own self righteousness? You are so willing to trade lives for your own beliefs!"

My voice rose in pitch to compete with Morrigan's.

"My beliefs are what got us this far in the first place! And it is because I value their lives that I will never let you do this ritual. You have lost my trust and I do not want anything further from you but for you to leave me and my companions alone."

Morrigan was steaming. She was not taking this rejection well and I watched the anger build in her.

She exploded at me again, throwing her hands in the air.

"You imbecile! I am trying to save your life!"

I sighed, shaking my head.

"I am sorry for what happened to you, Morrigan. It is not your fault that Flemeth raised you as she did, but you are your own woman now. You have made the choices in your life since you left home that have led up to this point. You are responsible for what comes of them. You left me...You took what you wanted..."

I looked straight into Morrigan's eyes. The words still hurt for me to say.

"And for what you have done to me, I will tell you to go straight to the Fade."

Morrigan just stared at me, an angry look on her face growing darker by the second.

And then she charged at me, crying out in anger.

Morrigan barreled into me and we hit the wall together, knocking the lamp off the bed table with a crash. Morrigan slammed my wrists into the wall, pressing against me, her eyes flashing with anger.

"You...You..."

Electricity crackled on Morrigan's fingertips and I pushed back against her, trying to break free.

"Do you think you can still hurt me, witch? You cannot...Not anymore."

Our eyes locked, our breath in each others face and we simply stopped.

Morrigan pushed forward into me and pressed her lips into mine and I responded just as readily, wanting this to happen. My arms fell around her as she let go of my wrists and I pulled her closer to me. Morrigan had her hands all over me and she pulled my shirt open as my hands slipped her shirt from her shoulders.

I was suddenly alive in her arms and I could see nothing but her.

Things were happening so fast.

Morrigan trailed downward with her kisses and my body was unable to do anything but become her slave, my hands holding on to her shoulders to steady myself. Morrigan returned to my mouth but her hands sought shelter elsewhere and I gasped into her shoulder, feeling her inside me.

This is what I had dreamed of so many nights... so many. That she would come back to me... And that she would love me.

Everything became slow motion and all I could see and feel was Morrigan. I let her have her way with me, falling into her arms and hearing her softly groan her approval.

My head was spinning and my knees were weak as something inside of me tried to get my attention despite all of the pleasure- my common sense.

I forced myself away from Morrigan with just enough strength to make it, wiping my mouth and feeling like an idiot as usual around her.

"No...You will not do this to me again, Morrigan."

I clutched at my chest, in pain.

"You can't just take what you want and then leave..."

I stumbled further away from her, unable to finish while trying to withhold the tears.

Morrigan stared at me with a look I'd never seen before. She actually began to cry as I looked on, staggered and she covered her face.

I could not think of anything to say or do as I was simply shocked at her display of emotion.

Suddenly Morrigan shifted into her wolf form and leapt from the window in my room that I hadn't even noticed was open, leaving me standing alone. I rushed to the window only to find empty darkness and all I could do was stand there, crying into my hands.

Why could I not say anything?

Now she's gone again.

Morrigan escaped through the estate garden and ran through the darkening night, never looking back.