Blood Sacrificed
Zathrian's rage eased. It grew quieter, but Lawrien could feel it bubbling at the back of his mind. Cobian was confused, worried, and Morrigan was just as equally baffled. Epona was resigned, but hurt nevertheless, and Leliana and Faren were both shocked. It made Lawrien go quiet. She was glad Epona was back. This was their Epona. But the other Epona, the Ranger Commander, Lawrien had felt so much from her.
The Ranger Commander had been happy to see Lawrien. She had been happy to see both her and Epona together, but Lawrien and Epona weren't the Ranger Commander and an Amell elf. Lawrien was no elf. Yes, they would save this world, but no weird bloodline thing was going to be the cause of it.
No, Lawrien needed to save Ferelden because she lived here. If the darkspawn took over she'd have nowhere to live. Nor would Myra, or Ciara, or Anders- even if Anders ran away all the time- they needed somewhere to live. This was home. Her home, and no darkspawn was taking what was Lawrien's.
Zathrian pressed a kiss to Epona's forehead, held her tight in an embrace, before he stepped away. He faced the Lady and his expression hardened.
"You will go back to being Witherfang?"
"Yes." The Lady nodded.
"Then protect her." Zathrian glanced at Epona. "Protect my people."
"I will protect her, because she is mine, and I am hers. That is all Witherfang would ever promise."
Zathrian sighed. "Very well. Let's get this over with."
He tapped his staff off the ground. Lawrien felt the blood magic disappeared with a flicker as a bright light blinded them for a moment. She felt Zathrian's life waver, then slowly ebb away as he collapsed. His heart stopped. Lawrien flinched as Epona's despair rose, but it calmed, hardened, and that stubbornness she clung to strengthened her resolve.
Epona was going to end the Blight, or die trying. Lawrien would too. All of them, except Torph and Faren would. Faren would if nobody else could, but he wanted to live as long as he could, until he grew old and-
Oh. They hadn't told the recruits. They hadn't told them what the Joining would cost them all.
The Lady gasped, glowing, and the werewolves felt sad. They felt sad and hopeful as they laid their claws gently upon her arms and shoulders. They wanted to comfort her. They wanted to comfort themselves. They were losing her and she was losing them, but they'd all be saved-
Lawrien forced away the emotions and breathed in deeply. That was a lot. Lawrien was almost relieved at the sudden burst of light that blinded them all again. It silenced the confusion, despair and hope for just a quick second.
A tall human stood in Swiftrunner's place. He stared at his hands, marvelled, while the other humans gasped, astonished, shocked and delighted. It drowned out Epona's distress, but Lawrien gripped it tightly. She couldn't celebrate it here, not when Epona was in so much pain. Faren was already by Epona's side. He reached up, ready to lay a hand on her shoulder, but lowered it. He didn't know if that would comfort Epona or make her uncomfortable. He didn't want to upset her anymore than she already was.
Lawrien ignored that and walked over, laying her hand on Epona's shoulder.
"How you holding up?" Faren asked, eyeing them both.
"I just asked one of my Keepers to die to help me fight the Blight," Epona said, inhaling sharply. "We just lost a huge part of our history, and I will have to break the news to the others."
"But not alone." A dalish elf approached, exhausted but relieved.
"I'm glad you've returned to your normal form, Danyla," Epona said softly. "Athras will be relieved."
Danyla frowned. "After Keeper Zathrian cast me out I didn't think I would get to see any of my family again. I know he did it for all our safety, because I could have hurt the clan, but he caused all this... Even if he had a plan to fix it... He still caused all of this... I don't know what to think of that, Epona."
"I don't entirely know either, but at the end of it all he gave his life up. He gave up his vengeance for the world," Epona said softly. "For us."
Danyla's brow furrowed. "I don't know if I will ever forgive him for this, for forcing me away from the love of my life. The fact that he kept coming back here, bringing us here? He endangered us all from a terror he created himself, to punish people who must have died years ago. The werewolves could have attacked us at any time, yet Zathrian kept bringing our people back here regardless of that."
"He wanted to see them suffer still, like they made him suffer," Lawrien said weakly.
"And that I cannot forgive," Danyla said sternly. "But I still love him. He was our Keeper, he protected and raised us for years. The clan will know everything that happened. Everything he suffered and everything he did. It will be up to my brothers and sisters whether they feel angry or not. I for one know where I stand at this moment of time."
"That is your right." Epona nodded.
"What will happen to your clan now?" Faren asked.
"Lanaya will become the Keeper of our clan," Danyla said. "And she will do a good job, I have the upmost of faith in her."
"She has proven herself a thousand times over," Epona agreed.
"The spell Zathrian used on you-" Danyla began, her brow furrowed.
"There was no harm done. It merely put me to sleep," Epona reassured.
"And that other you...?"
"The Ranger Commander of the Emerald Knights," Epona revealed. "Apparently I was her once in spirit, which seems to pass along our bloodline."
"She was weird," Lawrien laughed.
"You're one to talk," Epona huffed.
"Both of you are," Faren added.
"Don't you have a weird Uncle?" Epona raised a brow. "I recall him being stabbed multiple times without receiving a single injury."
Faren laughed sheepishly. "Fair point."
Danyla shook her head. "I don't really wish to delve into this to be honest. This is a bit much, even for me, and I was a werewolf barely five minutes ago."
Faren shrugged. "I don't blame you."
"Let's go explain this to the rest of our clan," Danyla said, and eyed the humans. "They can find their own way from here."
"Won't they need help?" Faren frowned.
"Not from us," Danyla said firmly. "Enough pain has been suffered between us both."
"Agreed." Swiftrunner stormed up to them. "You go your way, and we go ours."
"Good luck to you." Danyla eyed Keeper Zathrian's body.
"We'll help carry him back," Cobian said.
"Ma serannas."
.::.
Mithra had waited for them at the edge of the Dalish camp, with Andras right beside her. Andras bolted for Danyla, wrapping her in a tight embrace the moment their eyes met, and Faren couldn't help but smile.
They had been reunited.
Mithra approached Epona and Cobian, her eyes watering when she saw Zathrian on Cobian's back. Faren had offered to carry his shield, which was really heavy to be honest. He needed both hands to hold it up. Morrigan had Cobian's sword, and the both of them were taking good care not to drop anything. They were pretty much the last things Cobian had of his family.
They would not be dropped, not even Morrigan would feel good at the disappointment they'd face for dropping them.
"Mithra..." Epona began weakly, her shoulders growing tense.
"Hush, Epona. It's alright. Lanaya said it was his time... That she had felt it..." Mithra said softly, gently laying her hand on Zathrian's back. "Lower him down, Grey Warden. Let us bring him home."
"Of course." Cobian bowed his head, and together he, Mithra and Epona laid Zathrian's body down, Mithra cradling his head.
"I'll bring you home, Keeper," Mithra whispered softly, pressing a kiss to his head. "Despite his passing, there is happiness to be found. Danyla has returned home safe."
"With quite the tale as well," Danyla said softly, leaning heavily against Andras who kept an arm wrapped tight around her waist.
"I can imagine," Mithra sighed. "Come. Let's go home."
.::.
The Dalish were attending to Zathrian. The rest of them had been told to eat and sleep, so while Faren and Leliana went to bed Cobian had sat down on a log near the lake and began writing in his journal. Lawrien had followed him, but after a while got bored and ended up jumping into the halla pen to play with the halla. None of them seemed distressed by it, and the halla keeper and Lawrien seemed to quickly lose themselves in a conversation about two hallas in particular. Calenhad bounced at the gate of the halla pen, but thankfully stayed out. He didn't know how hallas felt about dogs, and especially about mabari. They were quite big dogs after all. Maybe that would be an interesting discussion? But first he needed to write down their journey with the dalish elves and the werewolves.
Cobian wanted to keep a detailed account of the journey they had. Honestly Cobian hadn't thought things were going to be this difficult. He had thought they would get their treaty sorted and head off to Redcliffe, but none of that happened.
Hopefully there friends were doing alright over there.
"That was quite an interesting quest we went on," Morrigan said.
"Yes, I can't wait to share this with the others." Cobian grinned.
Anora would try to listen to him, but he knew she would blank out half the information. Maybe if he split the story into different parts- Oh. No. Anora couldn't listen to his story. Nor could Oren. Cobian deflated at the thought, but paused when Morrigan nudged him.
"You're deep in thought," she teased.
"Ah, yes. Documenting our adventure!" Cobian sat up, showing her the journal. "I might even convince Epona to draw if she feels inspired too."
Morrigan smirked, looking far too amused. "How did you find the forest then? You certainly handled yourself well. I never knew a handsome noble like you would be so good at fighting."
Her hand brushed against his, making him pause. Morrigan was flirting with him? Why? Yes, she was beautiful, but why him of all people? He had never really flirted with anyone before, but maybe it would be fun? Fergus used to flirt often with... Cobian almost deflated at the thought, but shook it off. Yes. Flirting would be fun. Cobian would try it. Morrigan was beautiful and smart and Cobian liked smart people. Yes, harmless flirting. That was what she must be doing, so he could try it out as well. Study flirting techniques!
"It was interesting, beautiful and dangerous." Cobian smiled. "Like you. So fascinating. All those ruins I saw were absolutely brilliant." Morrigan paused thoughtfully, but Cobian pressed on. "And the tree that rhymed was perfect. I wish he could come with us."
"Oh? You think I'm beautiful and dangerous?" she teased, eyes glinting.
"Who could miss that?" Cobian tilted his head. It was obvious, right? Morrigan was interesting, she was an apostate who had lived in the Kocari Wilds for most of her life. And her beauty was obvious. The danger too would be obvious to anyone aware of combat. "You're Morrigan."
Did he flirt wrong? Was he not supposed to state the obvious? That was what Fergus did though, had Fergus been flirting wrong all this time?
"How charming." Morrigan smiled. Oh, so he did it right then? "I bet you must have had a queue of women lining up for you."
Cobian paused. "No. Too strange."
"Too strange?" Morrigan raised a brow.
"I ramble too much."
"That is true, but you have learned many things and tend to take an interest in them," Morrigan said. "I prefer that to a drooling buffoon like Alistair."
"You two certainly like to argue like cats and dogs," Cobian chuckled.
"Your dog is smarter than Alistair," Morrigan said pointedly, staring at Calenhad who was drooling on the fence where Lawrien waved a carrot in his face.
Calenhad was making a show of not being able to reach it, but Cobian noticed he hadn't actually stretched out properly. Lawrien lowered the carrot again, and this time Calenhad leapt up while Lawrien's guard was down and snatched it from her, bolting off.
"Hey!" Lawrien cried. "Cheater!"
Morrigan rolled her eyes. "And there is my point."
"Calenhad is a very smart dog to be fair," Cobian laughed. "And manipulative. What about you? I suppose if you didn't live in the Wilds you would have a lot of men after you."
"There were some men around sometimes," Morrigan muttered. "Mother liked to have company over every so often."
Cobian shivered at the thought.
Morrigan winced. "Yes, it isn't the most pleasant of ideas."
"Was it lonely, living in the woods with just your mother?" Cobian asked.
She blinked, surprised. "At times perhaps, but if I felt 'lonely' I would seek the companionship of the wolves, or would fly with the birds, but such simple pleasures only enthral for so long."
Suddenly she laughed, surprising him about how pretty it sounded. "I actually recall a time when I first crept out at the Wild's edge, watching the strange townsfolk from afar as an animal. I happened upon a noblewoman by her carriage, adorned in sparkling garments of which I have never seen before. I truly thought this was what real wealth and beauty looked like. I snuck up behind her and stole a hand mirror from her carriage. T'was gold and decorated with beautiful gemstones that shined so brightly. I remember clutching it to my chest in delight as I sped back towards the Wilds."
Cobian chuckled. "That was daring of you. Although I guess Flemeth wouldn't have been entirely pleased."
Morrigan sighed. "She was not. Flemeth was furious with me. I was just a child and was not fully trained to use my powers. I had risked all the safety and protection the Wilds offered me to get some pretty bauble. To teach me a lesson Flemeth took the mirror and smashed it upon the ground. I was heartbroken."
Cobian frowned. "But you were just a child. It was natural to be curious about such things. I thought she would have taught you perhaps timing such things better or how to properly sneak, but she did not?"
"I was a foolish child, Cobian. Flemeth was right to break me of my fascination." Morrigan crossed her arms. "Beauty and love have no meaning. Only survival and power. Without those lessons I would not be here today, despite how difficult they could sometimes be, I was grateful for them."
"But beauty and love are also known for their own type of strengths," Cobian said. "I have heard of people scaling impossible odds for their loved ones. My uncle Loghain did the same for Uncle Maric because they were brothers. They would tackle odds unfavourable to them and come out the victors!"
Morrigan snorted. "Yes, but if Loghain had been smarter, he would have taken the crown long before Maric had reclaimed his throne."
Cobian laughed. "I think Uncle Maric would have appreciated that. He hated ruling."
Morrigan paused. "How can one hate being King?"
"To be a King is to serve your people. It's not just about riches and being waited upon," Cobian explained. "You are to run an entire kingdom and to run it requires a lot of work. I could easily go into all the details with you, but that seems to make most people stop listening to me."
Morrigan huffed. "Buffoons like Alistair, yes. I however am much more intelligent. Tell me of a King's duties then."
Cobian beamed.
.::.
Lawrien cackled. Cobian and Morrigan were coming back to the camp, and Morrigan had a glazed look in her eyes. Cobian looked sheepish.
"I spoke too much." Cobian rubbed the back of his head, cheeks pink. "Sorry, Morrigan."
"I just need a moment to reflect upon your information on court," Morrigan said. "There was quite a lot there."
"Cobian's really smart," Lawrien said, grinning. "You're probably the only one who could keep up with him, Morrigan."
Cobian deflated, and Lawrien frowned, he felt disappointed, and worried, and what?That wasn't right! He thought maybe he should stop talking. No, why? He was brilliant.
Morrigan eyed him and sharply elbowed him. "Don't look so disheartened. I will think upon what you told me and we will discuss more properly later. Unlike Alistair I can retain information, Cobian."
Cobian softened, hopeful, and Morrigan felt warm, a flutter of it. Lawrien tilted her head, because she remembered Morrigan looking over all their Grey Warden men back at camp before they all had split up. She gazed at Alistair and wrinkled her nose in disgust. She seemed curious by Faren and Torph, but Morrigan had faltered thinking about Faren and dismissed him. It had been between Torph and Cobian.
Obviously she had chosen Cobian.
"Can I speak to you for a minute, Morrigan?" Lawrien asked.
"Why not?" Morrigan raised a brow. Flicker of distrust and unease. What did Morrigan think Lawrien was going to do? Set her on fire?
Cobian smiled. "I'll go get something to eat. Maybe ask about Dalish customs, or about the halla. They look interesting."
"Have fun!" Lawrien grinned.
They waited until Cobian was out of earshot before Morrigan spoke up.
"You seem awfully curious. Jealous?"
Lawrien blinked. "Jealous...?"
"I was flirting with Cobian, but now you have interrupted our conversation." Morrigan crossed her arms. "I didn't realise you were after him."
Lawrien scrunched her nose. "Ew. No. He's my friend. Just like you are."
"As always you claim friendships so easily," Morrigan sighed, but there was a warmth to her, a soft, hesitant warmth, but it was there nevertheless.
Lawrien grinned. "I make good friends. But I also will punch my friends if they hurt each other."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I know you and-" Lawrien groaned. "Urgh, Flemeth, are planning something. It's why you are flirting with Cobian, also because he's the smartest one out of all of us. You like that a lot. But yes, as a friend I am supposed to say I'd hurt you if you break his heart, but you're also my friend so does that mean I have to threaten him too?"
Morrigan snorted. "Ah, tis the friendship speech."
"I think so?" Lawrien tilted her head and shrugged. "All I know is Anders did it to Cullen when he caught him and Myra eyeing each other for too long. Anyway, don't hurt each other, and I won't hit either of you."
Morrigan chuckled. "Despite how amusing that would be, I'd rather avoid it. I don't want to be set on fire."
"Yeah, a lot of people like to avoid that," Lawrien laughed. "I don't blame them."
Morrigan hesitated, and Lawrien felt her curiosity growing.
"I thought you would be less curious after all those things Cobian talked to you about," Lawrien said.
Morrigan startled, then huffed. "Ah, yes, the empathy. What I am curious about are things he cannot answer though."
"The bloodline thing, right?" Lawrien frowned. "I don't know much about it either to be honest."
"But my mother obviously does. I don't know what she is up to entirely, and I'm not really sure I want to find out, but we cannot trust her, Lawrien."
Lawrien snorted. "I could have told you that."
Morrigan rolled her eyes. "Either way, we best be careful. Whatever history we're disturbing now might get out of hand quickly. We need to learn more about it."
"I just want to beat the Archdemon!" Lawrien groaned.
"So you're not curious about this at all?"
"It sounds way too complicated. At least with the Archdemon all I have to do is set it on fire."
"I have a feeling it won't be as simple as that."
Morrigan felt worried, but Lawrien didn't comment on it. Morrigan wasn't exactly comfortable talking about her feelings, and Lawrien wasn't always the best with her words. She missed Ciara. Ciara would know what to say.
"You do realise I am not after some sickly sweet romantic relationship with Cobian, right?"
Lawrien laughed. "Cobian wanted to flirt because it looked like fun."
Morrigan's shoulders slumped in relief. "That is good to know."
"But if you do fall in love-" Lawrien grinned.
"The Archdemon will surrender and the world will finally be at peace," Morrigan said dryly.
"And then we'll take it down while it's vulnerable with its emotional weakness!" Lawrien cackled.
Morrigan groaned. "You do whatever you want. I will be content to watch it eat you."