Chapter 7

Emma awoke slowly. Her head throbbed and she could feel a bruise or two forming on her ass. Would it hurt to have someone catch them when they started falling? Two hands took hold of her and pulled her upright. After checking that she was steady, Aedan and Alistair released her arms. She thanked them both and discreetly rubbed her backside, grateful for the first time that she had a bit of padding there. Alistair handed her the requisite Grey Warden amulet and she fastened it around her neck while Duncan explained about the meeting they would shortly be attending. After confirming the directions, the Warden-Commander left with Alistair in tow.

The two new Grey Wardens looked at each other, still somewhat dazed by the events of the last twenty minutes. Aedan smiled. "Well, it seems we have some time to spare before the meeting."
"Yep, and I need to get some money. I've got to get a backpack; these little pockets in my trousers just aren't cutting it."
Aedan's eyes lit up when he spotted an iron chest nearby. "Let's see if we can increase our funds."

He pulled out a thin leather pouch and extracted two slim metal lock-picks. After a few deft movements, there was a click and the padlock sprung open. Reaching inside, he threw a few things into his pack and they continued their exploration of the camp. Emma remembered the wildflower in her pocket and handed it to the Kennel Master. She would have happily taken the proffered twenty silver as her reward, but Aedan had other ideas and soon managed to wrangle an additional thirty out of the man.

"You're quite the smooth talker aren't you?"
He gave her a grin. "So I've been told. Now, is there anywhere else we should check before we head to the Quartermaster?"
Emma mentally ran through the list; they'd collected the key from the hungry deserter and looted the chest, they'd picked the place bare of elfroot and deathroot, and they'd pillaged every chest, box, sack and crate around. "I think we've covered everything."
At the Quartermaster's, they sold what they didn't need and split the money evenly. Emma's first purchase was a backpack along with a few health and lyrium potions.

"I guess it's time we attended that meeting," Aedan said. She scrubbed a hand through her hair, frustrated at being unable to change what would soon happen. She'd turned over the details of the upcoming battle, wondering if she could do something to save Duncan. But in the end, that damn butterfly effect kept intruding upon her ideas. She accepted that Duncan's death was inevitable, but that didn't make it any easier to bear. Every time she played Dragon Age: Origins, she'd never been able to watch the final blow that struck down Duncan.

Aedan tweaked her ponytail. "A copper for your thoughts?"
Emma smiled, but it felt forced. She couldn't summon a genuine smile when she knew that in the next hour or so everything would change. The Warden-Commander and the majority of the Grey Wardens would be dead, along with King Cailan. Ferelden would be thrown into a civil war with a blight on its doorstep.

Betrayal. Such an ugly word; but it was this act alone that would bring Ferelden to its knees.

In the distance, the War Council gathered around the table; but instead of walking towards it, Aedan pulled Emma into a corner, darkened by shadows.
"Have you seen more of the future?"
She nodded, not wanting to reveal what she knew.
His face was grim."You're not going to tell me, are you?"
She looked up, her gaze beseeching him to understand. "This has to happen; there are some things that can't be changed." She swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Please, you asked me to trust you. I ask only that you do the same."
Seeing the distraught look in her eyes his features softened. "I do trust you."

She watched his gaze flicker from her eyes to her lips, lingering there as if remembering the shape, before moving back up her face. She gave him a tremulous smile, which he acknowledged with one of his own, before leaning in. Their lips brushed together, tentatively, as most first kisses begin. His hand reached up to stroke through her hair, before finding a resting place against her cheek. He pressed against her a little harder, and her lips parted beneath his warm mouth. Their tongues met and each got their first taste of one another. She let out a sweet, soft moan, which spurred him on to pull her closer and take the kiss deeper.

Emma moved her hand up his chest, before curling it around his neck and stroking her fingers into his thick black hair. The kiss was slow, teasing; a means to taste and explore, to learn what the other liked. Finally, they leaned back, both breathing heavily. Aedan gently rubbed a thumb across her bottom lip. "You have the sweetest mouth in all of Thedas."
Her cheeks flushed. "Thank you, I was trying to think how to say the same thing to you."
He grinned. "Well, you could praise my firm jaw."
Emma raised a brow, a wicked smile lighting her face. "I'd be more likely to praise your firm ass."
He let out a shout of laughter. "Well, you're not so sweet and innocent as you first appear."
"Oh I am, but I know what I like."
He captured her lips for an all too brief kiss. "I do like a decisive woman." As they separated, the weight of the future battle settled between them, dimming their laughter and smiles. "Take care, okay?" Aedan urged.
She managed a small smile. "It's going to be all right, we can do this."

Keeping a reasonable distance apart they moved towards the War Council. Loghain and King Cailan were leaning over the table, discussing the strategy. Emma found she had to avert her gaze from the Teyrn, lest he notice the anger in her eyes. She greeted King Cailan with a smile; he was as friendly and enthusiastic as he had been in the game. Regrettably, he was also too focused on the glory that could be attained by defeating a possible blight. The instructions were given and then they were back at the bonfire.

Emma took a long look at Duncan as he spoke, knowing that this was to be the last time she'd see him. After he finished speaking, Emma rushed forward and hugged the Warden-Commander. "Thank you for your kindness," she whispered as she struggled to get the words past a throat tight with emotion. She released him just as quickly and walked away at a steady pace. Before they crossed the bridge, she ducked into Duncan's tent and quickly retrieved her t-shirt which she stuffed in her pack before leaving.

Outside, both Alistair and Aedan were waiting. "So, what was with the hug?" Alistair questioned.
Emma looked down at her boots, then to the side, hoping for some inspiration. As the silence stretched out, she panicked and babbled the first thing that came to mind. "Ah, well, where I come from it's a ritual performed before battle."
Both men had matching looks of disbelief, and honestly, who could blame them? She wanted to kick herself for what was, to date, the worst excuse she had yet come up with.
"Is that so?" There was a hint of amusement in Aedan's eyes.
"Yep." She decided it was best to stick with the story, no matter how ridiculous.
Alistair tilted his head a little. "So, do you have to hug every person you see?"
"Oh, well, no. Just those I know." Emma fidgeted, wondering what the hell she'd been thinking, blurting out something so idiotic.

"Well, can't argue with tradition," Alistair said wrapping strong arms around her. Emma almost melted; this was just too good to be true. Alistair! The Alistair was holding her. Then she locked gazes with Aedan and remembered their kiss. Quickly, she patted Alistair's back and withdrew from his hold. She'd never been able to cheat, even in a game; in fact, the only time she'd gotten the jealousy talk was when she'd accidentally triggered Zevran's romance.

Aedan approached a little slower and wrapped his arms around her waist in a firm hold. "I rather like this ritual, though I think you may have been enjoying yourself a little too much with Alistair."
Emma groaned. "I'm sorry Aedan, it's just... shit, it's hard to explain, but I promise I wouldn't cheat on you." She felt a warm kiss pressed to her neck.
"Honestly, I don't blame you, he is a handsome fellow. But I'm glad to hear you won't do anything. At least not without me there."
Did he just suggest... surely she couldn't be that lucky? She was feeling a bit dazed as he pulled back and gave her that knee-weakening smile.

Alistair clapped his hands together. "Okay, all rituals performed? If so, I think it's time we make a move." He glanced from Aedan to Emma. "May Andraste watch over you both."
"May she watch over us all," Aedan added. Then the trio set off for the Tower of Ishal.