Chapter 43
Aedan side-stepped a squirrel that dashed past him, its mouth bulging with food, and managed to grab Revek's collar just in time to stop the big mabari giving chase. "So, tell me why I'm only bringing you and Revek with me to fight the legendary Flemeth?"
Emma watched the squirrel scurry away and straight up a tree, then turned her attention to Aedan. "Well, we're not going to fight her. I mean, you can if you want to, but you should bear in mind that she turns into a dragon."
He stumbled a bit and she grabbed at his arm, steadying him. "That does put a different spin on things. But I promised Morrigan, and I don't want to put her life in danger just because it could be a difficult fight."
Emma remembered the one time she'd fought Flemeth; it had been enough to put her off ever doing so again. She'd freaked out when the witch turned into a damn dragon and took out half her team with one long breath of flame. "Things are not quite what they seem when it comes to Flemeth but I can assure you that Morrigan is at no risk if we leave her alive." Emma bit her tongue to hold in all the juicy information she now knew about the mage; it didn't seem right to spill all of Flemeth's secrets.
"Hmm, what about the grimoire Morrigan wanted us to collect?"
"Flemeth will hand over the book," Emma confirmed.
They continued walking in silence, Aedan's brows drawn down in thought. At length, he stopped and lifted his head. "I don't think I can do that. I won't lie to Morrigan."
Emma brushed a kiss to his lips. "This is why I love you. However, there's no need to lie to Morrigan. You hand her the grimoire and tell her Flemeth will leave her alone."
He kept her close to him when she went to step away. "Will Morrigan be angry?"
She eyed him with a gleam of amusement. "Why do you ask?"
He gave a mock shudder. "She is one scary woman. I don't want to wake up as a toad."
She laughed but answered him. "I don't think she will be."
Aedan grinned and dipped down to capture her lips in a fast, hard kiss that left her breathless and a little dazed.
They drew close to the hut and saw Flemeth waiting for them. She looked Emma over with a knowing eye before turning to Aedan. "I have a feeling I don't need to explain the options to you."
Aedan nodded, his stance wary. "I either fight you, or I don't. I'm leaning towards the latter. However, before I agree to anything, I'd like reassurance that you'll leave Morrigan alone."
Flemeth's brow inched upwards and she glanced at Emma. "Fascinating." Then returning her focus to Aedan, she said, "As it stands, I can truthfully say that I have no further interest in Morrigan." She held out a key to Aedan. "This will get you into the chest that holds the grimoire."
Emma stepped forward. "Might I have a moment of your time? I have a couple of questions."
Flemeth gave a short nod and walked a few steps away to give them some privacy. Emma smiled reassuringly at Aedan. "I'll only be a moment. Why don't you collect the grimoire while I talk with Flemeth?"
"Okay, Angel, just be careful," he said, and with a stern look at Flemeth, he walked to the hut.
"Such a protective young man," Flemeth said, clearly amused by the glare. "So, what would you like to talk about?"
"Well, it's about that vial of liquid you gave me. You said I need to make my decision and then drink it. But I've already made my decision, so can I drink it now? And, do I drink it regardless of the decision?" It's a bit confusing."
"So many questions. Let's see..." She held up a hand and bent one finger down. "No, you can't drink it now, it has to be before the final battle." She curled a second finger then stopped. "Did I really say you had to drink it regardless of the decision?"
Emma scratched the back of her neck as she tried to recall the memory, then repeated what she could remember. 'When you have made your decision, drink this...'
Flemeth tilted her head to the side, her lips pursed. "I'm sure you have that wrong. Clearly, I meant that once you'd decided to stay, you would drink it." She waved a bored hand in the direction of the hut. "Even a blind snail could see that you and what's-his-name would get together." Flemeth's eyes narrowed with anger. "Women are always weak in the face of love."
Emma swallowed apprehensively as she recalled Flemeth's history. If the stories were true, things hadn't gone so well for her in the love department. Deeming a change of subject necessary, she said, "So, if I decide to stay, I should drink it?"
Flemeth scowled. "Isn't that what I just said? You need to pay attention, girl."
"Okay, thanks for clearing that up. Is there anything else I should know?"
Flemeth's yellow eyes glinted in a disturbing manner that set Emma's nerves on edge. "Of course, but your time is up." She walked over to a clearing and in the space of a heartbeat, a huge red dragon stood in place of the fragile woman.
Emma heard a swift intake of breath. "Shit! You weren't kidding about the dragon." Aedan stood at her side as the great beast spread its wings and flapped mightily, buffeting their bodies with a strong wind. By the time Emma had pulled her hair from her eyes, the dragon had become nothing more than a speck in the sky. "I think it's safe to say that is not something you see every day," Aedan quipped. Then becoming serious for a moment, he said, "Did she answer your questions?"
Emma thought over her conversation with Flemeth. "Yeah, although I think have more now."
Aedan looked back to the hut. "I can see her being that type of person."
With Revek running happily ahead, they returned to camp, where the conversation with Morrigan went without a hitch, her excitement at getting her hands on Flemeth's grimoire overriding any other concerns. As they left the witch to her reading, Aedan exaggeratedly wiped at his brow while blowing out a relieved sigh. "Well, that went better than expected." Emma chuckled at his antics, but she also knew Morrigan was not someone to take lightly.
While Aedan and Emma had been visiting with Flemeth, the others had packed up the camp in readiness for the next leg of their journey. So it was that, after having some lunch, they made their way to Orzammar.
-x-
The road leading to the dwarven kingdom was littered with broken carts, a testament to just how treacherous the steep, icy mountain paths were. It made the trip to Haven feel like a walk in the park by comparison. However, they were more than compensated by the beauty of the landscape.
"I now understand why the dwarves live underground. It is certainly a better alternative to living in this bitter cold," Morrigan complained. It seemed not everyone agreed with Emma's point of view.
"It's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey," Alistair announced, proud at remembering Emma's saying.
Morrigan raised an eyebrow. "I know I told you to improve your mind, but I believe you've failed to grasp my meaning."
Alistair pointed over to Emma. "It's one of her sayings, and I think it's great."
Morrigan sighed in a put-upon manner. "Of course it is, and of course you do."
Massive dwarven monuments lined the road as they neared Orzammar, and Emma could only stare in astonishment. She stood next to one and reached up with an outstretched hand but her fingers didn't even come close to the top of the stone base. She was given a tug to move along and found herself walking next to Wynne. "I'm glad to see you're back to your old self."
Emma winced; she didn't want to be reminded of her previous state of mind, or their last conversation, which still irked her, although she couldn't say why. Perhaps because the conversation had been unnecessary. With everything that had been happening, Emma hadn't given much thought to the spirit training, so why on earth had Wynne bought it up?
"Let me know when you want to start," Wynne said cheerfully.
Oh, so now I'm good enough to be trained by you?! The thought popped up out of the blue, shocking Emma and causing her to wonder if her insecurities had more to do with the annoyance she felt towards Wynne. Emma had struggled with feelings of inadequacy for most of her life, probably because of being passed from pillar to post during her younger years, and perhaps due to the burden of guilt that she'd carried around with her. She knew that Wynne hadn't meant it as a snub but Emma still felt some resentment. "Thanks, but I'm probably going to postpone it until I feel ready."
She saw the speculative glance from Wynne and guessed the mage wasn't completely unaware of how Emma was feeling towards her.
"A sound suggestion. Let me know when you feel up to it."
Emma smiled, grateful to Wynne for moving past the tension. "Thanks, I will."
She turned her attention back to the road ahead and saw a small gathering of people. Suddenly, she remembered the meeting committee that had been arranged for them. "Aedan, you might want to get everyone ready for a fight," she said, inclining her head towards the crowd, "as we have some bounty hunters waiting for us."
