Author's Note: This chapter was a pain, as in I wrote and progress didn't save, I tried to rewrite what I wrote but didn't like that, I wrote something different, but didn't like that, and I wrote this and still feel like it's bad. Don't get me wrong I think it's better than the other things I wrote, but I feel like it's missing things. I don't know what, but I just think that it is.

Maybe that's what all writers think of their work, that it's bad and missing things. Nonetheless, I hope it is not too bad, I tried to make it coherent and stuff.

Chapter II, Part IV: Recollection And The Future.

After setting down the pair of scissors and running his hand that had been lightly dabbed in water against his jaw, Aedan inspected his beard.

It took him a moment, but after he was done, he straightened his head and thought to himself. Better, much better.

He then stood up and left the bedroom, and joined Morrigan in the living area. She had Kieran in her arms, who looked to have just dozed off.

Hearing him approach, she turned and looked up at him and said with a smile. "Now there's a handsome looking man."

Legion, who had been laying next to Morrigan's feet, looked up at him as well and started to wag his stubby little tail at him. He didn't move from his position, but Aedan could tell from Legion's eyes that his dog was happy to see him.

Rubbing his jaw, Aedan asked, "I take it you approve?"

"Indeed, much, much better than before." Morrigan affirmed.

Nodding, Aedan moved and took a seat in the chair that Legion claimed as his bed, but not after wiping some dog hair off of it. Almost immediately after he was seated, Legion rose from his spot next to Morrigan, and approached him. He approached with a lolling tongue and a look in his eyes that could only be seen as excitement.

Leaning forward and clapping his hands together two times, Aedan expected Legion to put his head in his hands, but his faithful mabari had different plans. Instead of doing what he expected, Legion tried to climb on top of the chair, on top of him.

The suddenness of his action was enough to make Aedan lean back and find Legion with half his body on top of his legs.

"Nonono, down boy." He commanded as he tried to get the Ferelden Hound off of him, only for Legion to resist and look at him with big eyes.

Seeing his adorable eyes, Aedan sighed and said as he relaxed back in the seat. "Fine, come on. Up."

Not needing to be told twice, his faithful companion got the rest of his body onto the chair. He stood with three out of four legs on top of Aedan and looked at him with eyes that said, "Now what?"

"You're the one that wanted up here despite you not being a baby anymore." Aedan stated as he met Legion's gaze. "Now come on, lay down or get off. I'm not going to sit here with you like this."

Giving him a lick, Legion proceeded to do his little dance of spinning around and stepping all over Aedan's lower half before finally finding the spot he wanted. He laid himself on top of Aedan with his head more or less resting on top of his front legs and the arm of the chair.

Satisfied that his paws were no longer digging into him, Aedan rubbed Legion and said in a soft, approving tone. "Good boy."

The mabari did not bark, nor did he turn his head to look at him, but he did wag his little tail a little at his belly being rubbed.

Averting his gaze from his faithful hound, Aedan looked at Morrigan and found her to be staring at him with a peculiar look in her eyes, one he could not place.

"Something wrong?"

"No." Morrigan answered. "I was just recalling what you said earlier, about trusting me, and was simply wondering if you truly meant that."

At this, Aedan furrowed his brows and looked at her for a long and solid moment before saying, "I know you are planning and scheming things, and I honestly would not be surprised if you already have a plan made on how we're going to befriend and integrate ourselves with our holders, but when it comes to our son… I trust that whatever it is you have planned for him, it will not put him in harm's way."

"Well, you are not wrong about me having a plan on integrating ourselves with our captors," Morrigan confessed after a moment. "But when it comes to Kieran, I will have to put him in harm's way, regardless of if I want to or not."

Aedan stared at her and said only one word in response. "Why?"

"Because I'll have no choice but to." Morrigan answered as she met his gaze. "You may or you may not like to think about it, but Kieran isn't some ordinary child. He has the soul of the Old God of Urthemiel within him."

At this, Aedan's frown deepened, and he said, "I understand he has the soul of an Old God within him. If he didn't have it, I would not be here, but I don't understand what you're saying. What do you mean you'll have no choice but to?"

"I mean it doesn't matter if I wanted him to live an ordinary and dull life, it would not be possible." Morrigan stated. "Kieran is special, and what makes him special will attract all kinds of people, he will attract the best, the worst, and all those that lie in between. In simpler terms, he will be Andraste reborn."

"... You're telling me our son will walk a path similar to the one Andraste did?" Aedan questioned after a moment of staring at her, disbelief and doubt in his voice.

"I am telling you that like Andraste, our son will change the world." Morrigan declared firmly. "Tis why I warned you about change."

Aedan said nothing in response, for he knew not what to say. He was shocked, paralyzed by this information, and quite honestly unnerved by it as well.

"You look troubled." Said Morrigan observantly, causing his eyes to flicker back up to her face and see that she was gazing at him with calculated eyes.

"That's because I am. Would you not be as well if you were just told that your son was going to be like Andraste and change the world?" He questioned seriously.

"If anything, I'd be happy to know that. Thedas is in dire need of change, and our son will be the one to do it." Morrigan declared, which made Aedan's brows crinkle.

But at what cost? He asked himself.

He would not deny that Thedas had its problems, and that some, nay, a lot of change was needed, but that was no easy task. He also was no fool and knew it did not come easily, it would take time and war. That last part alone was enough for Aedan to be against their son doing it, for while he did want the world to become a better place, he did not want his son to live a life identical to his.

He wanted Kieran to grow old, to live a long and peaceful life. He wanted him to have a family, to have multiple kids, and dozens of grandchildren.

He did not want Kieran to be like him, to be plagued with loss and tragedy, to be hardened by war and battle. That was no life he wanted his son to live, and that was all he could see him experiencing if he tried to change the world.

Flickering his eyes at Morrigan who was looking at him in an observant manner, Aedan said. "Is that what you want him to do? To change the world?"

At this, Morrigan's lips curled slightly downwards, and she said in a rather serious tone. "It is not a matter of what I want, it is a matter of what must be done. Thedas needs to change, and I see no one more capable than our son changing it."

"Our son hasn't even started walking or talking yet, Morrigan." Aedan pointed out with a tinge of wryness. "We don't know what he will be capable of until he is older."

"That is where you are wrong." Responded Morrigan before glancing down at Kieran. "Kieran is not even a year old, and already can I sense a strong amount of magic within him. I do not know how powerful he will be, but I do not have any doubt in my mind that he will be more powerful than me. He might also be more powerful than my mother."

Hearing that made Aedan's brows furrow. He remembered fighting her mother, and remembered how it took their entire party working together to defeat her. It wasn't easy, and although they beat her, there was a part of Aedan that believed the only reason they won was because she was so old.

Had she been in her prime and not her senior years, Aedan doubted they would have been victorious over her.

"Okay, so we know that he will be a powerful mage, but that doesn't change what I am trying to say." Aedan declared after a nod of his head.

"I know what you are trying to tell me, you are telling me not to put in his head that his purpose in life isn't to change Thedas. You are telling me to let him experience the world and choose his own path." Spoke Morrigan.

At this, Aedan nodded his head in agreement and Morrigan went on to say. "Do you believe my mother and I are the only ones who know actual old magic? Do you think no one else will figure out what exactly I did?"

"No?" He answered in an uncertain, questioning tone.

"No." She said seriously. "People will learn, and when they do, they will spread the word far and wide. How do you think the Chantry will react when they hear about Kieran and what he possesses?"

Aedan didn't say anything, but the thought was one that perturbed him. He didn't know how they would react, but if he had to make an educated guess then it would not be good. Odds are they would probably see his son as evil incarnate, and no doubt preach to all about how Kieran is a threat to their lives, and how he must die.

Of course, there will be some who will speak against this, and claim that this is the Maker's will and all that, but that voice would be incredibly small. Especially since the one who birthed Kieran was not a member of the Circle, but a Witch of the Korcari Wilds.

His reputation may help his son out a little, but he had no doubt in his mind that it would not stop the Chantry from labeling his son a danger and sending their best templars after him.

Sighing, Aedan finally answered her question. "Their reaction will not be good."

"Indeed, it will not." Morrigan affirmed. "It is the other reason why I decided to leave Thedas and come here. It will be hard for my mother and others to find Kieran if he is not in the same world as them."

"I see, but why not just stay here?" Aedan inquired with furrowed brows. "I mean, I understand then you didn't know what this world would be, but now that we know, why not just leave Thedas behind completely? Start anew here?"

"The thought has crossed my mind many times, but each time it has, I also thought about our son and what he will be capable of doing in the future." Morrigan quietly revealed. "With the proper guidance Kieran can change Thedas and for the better."

"But at what cost?" Aedan questioned, his tone grim and laced with emotion. "Hmm? What will it cost him to change the world? His happiness? A long, quiet, and peaceful life? Will that be what it costs him to possibly bring a new age?"

Morrigan didn't respond, and before he could inquire any further a knock was heard on the door, causing him to avert his gaze and for Legion to raise his head.

He found the person who had opened it to be the young, silver haired man he had seen at that feast a few days ago. He was dressed in black and red and had following right behind not one, but two of the knights clad in white.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O

The sight Rhaegar saw was a peculiar one.

After opening the door, he was met with the sight of the one called Aedan sitting down with that large dog of his in his lap. It was a sight he didn't expect to see and one that had almost made him raise an eyebrow at.

However, instead of doing that, he shifted his gaze to the room's other occupant. He glanced at Morrigan and saw in her arms the infant they had traveled with.

Kieran was his name if he remembered it correctly, although he wasn't quite sure. It was either that or something very similar to it.

He stared at them for no longer than a couple seconds before averting his gaze at Aedan, who was warily staring at him. He didn't know why, but his stare made Rhaegar think of wolves and hawks.

The thought of those things made him want to frown, but rather than doing that, Rhaegar offered Aedan a smile and said. "Greetings, I am Rhaegar Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone, and heir to the Iron Throne."

It felt incredibly odd to say and it was mostly because he never really had to do that. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he had to introduce himself, usually there was someone else who did that, or they already knew who he was.

Glances were exchanged between Aedan and Morrigan, but were soon followed by Aedan saying, "Well met, Rhagar."

His words may have been simple, but his accent was not. It was one Rhaegar did not know at all.

Of course, he did not know every accent, but he did know a good number of them. Despite what many think of him, he did not just play his harp and read scrolls all day, he travels and spends time in the streets of King's Landing. Those two things allowed him to meet all kinds of people, and not all were from Westeros. He learned their accents and could confidently say that Aedan's was not any of theirs.

Smiling still, Rhaegar said gently, "Rhaegar."

His name made Aedan frown a little, and say, "Rhaegar."

He nodded his approval and glanced at Morrigan only to glance back at Aedan when he said to him.

"Aedan."

He knew his name already, but Aedan didn't know that, so he said in response. "Well met, Aedan."

With that he looked at Morrigan once more, and it wasn't until after a few seconds passed did she say. "Morrigan."

"Morrigan," he repeated in a low tone, barely above a whisper as he nodded. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Morrigan."

He smiled at her and could have sworn he had seen her smirk at him, but when he opened his eyes from blinking there was no smirk. She just looked at him with those golden eyes that he found to be enchanting and cat like.

Silently swallowing the little saliva he had in his throat, He looked at the empty chair across the drinking table from Aedan and said as he moved and pointed at it. "Mind if I sit down?"

His response was a nod, and as he took his seat, Ser Oswell and Ser Barristan took up positions close by him.

"Apologies, I should have brought refreshments with me, but in my haste to meet you, I forgot them." Said Rhaegar after he was finished sitting down and looked at them.

The response he got was nothing but stares, which made him pause in what he was going to say and think.

"Drinks." He said finally as he lifted his hand and tilted it back into his mouth as if a glass was there. "I forgot drinks."

He felt a little bit of embarrassment after making the hand gesture, but he had seen a couple people communicate like that with those that couldn't hear or understand. He also was certain he heard Ser Oswell snort quietly, but he couldn't fault him for it if he found this situation to be somewhat amusing.

It's not often you see a prince talk or act like this, Rhaegar thought as Aedan glanced at Morrigan and spoke unfamiliar words to her.

Her response was in their unfamiliar language, which was to be expected, but the way she had spoken caused a shiver to go down his spine. It made him feel as if some invisible force had caressed his back and neck.

The feeling had made him roll his body, and almost frown, but he managed to keep a straight face and listen to the two converse.

It was a brief conversation and ended when Aedan looked at him and said, "Is fine."

At first, Rhaegar was confused by his words, but he quickly realized that it was his response to what he said earlier about the drinks.

A silence filled the room after that, one that lasted for quite some time. Rhaegar had a lot he wanted to say, but after hearing Aedan speak those two words, he doubted he would be able to have a full-blown conversation with them. If he wanted to converse with them, then he would have to keep his words short and simple.

"Question," he said, breaking the silence. "Where are you from?"

He looked at Aedan who glanced at Morrigan, which caused him to turn his gaze to her as well. She spoke only a few words to Aedan before looking at him and saying. "Not here."

Her response left him somewhat dumbfounded and had caused Aedan to look at her and speak in a questioning tone.

Again, he didn't know what they were saying, but it allowed him a moment to ponder what she had said.

He wanted to believe that she just meant they weren't from here, as in they weren't from Westeros, but the way she had said those two words was cryptic and made him think it was more than just that. Another thing he had taken into consideration was the possibility that those two words didn't mean she would reveal it there, but that didn't make any sense to him.

Why not tell where you were from? Especially since you were technically prisoners. Sure, they had freedoms that actual prisoners didn't have, but anyone with a brain could see that they were prisoners. Their cage was just gilded.

Glancing at Ser Barristan, Rhaegar became tempted to ask if they had told Lord Steffon where they were from, but in the end decided not to. As tempting as it was, he had other ways of learning about them, and that was from someone who was far more reliable.

"Apologies," he heard Aedan say, causing Rhaegar to look at him. "Is a… long tale."

Not doubting that at all, Rhaegar said in an unbothered tone. "That's fine. I'm sure you will tell me eventually."

If Aedan or Morrigan understood what he said, then they did not really show it. Aedan had nodded at his words, but he doubted he understood that last part and had nodded mostly at his acceptance.

"Your weapons," Rhaegar began, only to realize that Aedan probably didn't know that word yet. "Your swords," he corrected as he made the motion of unsheathing a blade. "I've never seen anything like them before, what are they made of?"

At this, Aedan's lips curled downwards, and his brows furrowed. After a while, he started to get up, which caused the dog in his lap to get off of him. He then moved to the balcony and looked up at the sky and said only one word as he pointed up at it.

"That."

Curious to know what it was, Rhaegar got up and moved to the balcony. He followed his finger and saw that he was pointing at the hardly visible moon in the sky.

Seeing that made him look at Aedan, who lowered his hand and said rather curiously. "Question, what are we?"

Author's Note: I'm cutting it there, mostly because this part was so fricking, flipping, fucking tedious to write. A part of me regrets them not being able to speak the same language, but I made my grave, so I have to do this. Well, I could just skip these things, but most of these parts aren't that bad. It's just I have to make it readable, keep things simple, and yadadada, you get what I'm saying.

Honestly, I just want to write what I want, but I've been told that I can't just switch to different characters all willy nilly, it causes confusion for readers, especially those not versed in Dragon Age, which is something I don't quite get. Why would you click on something with a thing you're not familiar with?

I don't know, all I know is that I can't wait to be done with these parts. With that said, toodles, because I feel like I'm ranting at this point.