Chapter 90
They left Denerim early the next morning and took the coast road towards Redcliffe in order to stop at Warden's Keep and have a chat with Avernus. They found the elderly mage bent over his worktable. "What do you want?" he snapped, without looking around.
"We're hoping you've found some answers in our blood," Aedan replied.
Avernus turned quickly, and a smile spread over his face. "Ah, I was hoping you would return. Come over here." He beckoned the Grey Wardens forward to his work-space while the rest of the companions remained by the door.
Avernus gave them a toothy smile. "You three have found a cure for the taint," he announced dramatically. "I don't know how to explain it, the taint is still there, but your cells are no longer deteriorating."
"So what does that mean?" Alistair asked, wanting some clarification
The old mage tapped his fingers on the workbench. "It means you won't die young, you won't become a ghoul or have to go down in the Deep Roads to die. But you'll still be able to sense darkspawn." He looked at Emma. "Unfortunately, you still won't be able to have children."
She thought about it and decided she'd already come to terms with that knowledge when she'd first been made a Grey Warden, so it wasn't a huge shock. However, she was overjoyed to find that the three of them would no longer die young, well, not from the taint at least.
"So, can you create a cure for other Grey Wardens?" Aedan asked.
Avernus lifted one shoulder. "I'm working on it, and on that note, I'm also going to need more blood from the three of you."
Emma grimaced, and held out her hand; the thin blade cut across, and he held a vial underneath to catch the thick red liquid. After he'd done the same with the other two Wardens, they took their leave and continued onto Redcliffe.
‑‑‑
The first signs of trouble were evident as soon as they descended the slope; a broken cart lay on its side, the goods scattered on the ground. Emma felt the scratchiness at the back of her skull and was thankful for the confirmation that the taint was still inside her. A man stood on the other side of the bridge and confirmed that the darkspawn had attacked. "The castle... did any of them get into the castle?" Alistair asked.
The villager looked over his shoulder nervously. "A few got through, but I think they've managed to keep them confined to the courtyard."
The man ran for safety while everyone drew their weapons and made their way into the village, killing darkspawn with every step taken. It seemed never-ending, and things got worse when they reached the centre where an ogre and an emissary waited to wreak death and destruction. Aedan and the group charged forward with a fearsome battle cry, their weapons cutting through darkspawn with every powerful swing or slash. The ogre fell to Alistair's blade when the Warden leapt high and thrust his sword deep into its thick hide.
However, there was no time to celebrate the victory with the castle still under attack. They entered the courtyard to find the Knights and soldiers hard pressed. However, with the additional forces, the darkspawn soon fell, only to be replaced by a second wave, which included an Alpha ogre. With everyone tiring, the combat took longer, and injuries became too numerous to count. At last, the battle was done, weapons were sheathed, wounds were tended to, and the dead were removed.
A soldier approached Aedan. "Arl Eamon asks that you go and talk with him in the hall. Warden Riordan has returned with news." The whole party entered the castle, and the companions were shown to a room where they could rest, while the three Grey Wardens stayed to talk to Riordan and the Arl. The senior Warden smiled. "It's a relief to see you unharmed, and you too Alistair... or should I say, your Majesty?"
"Er... no. No, I wouldn't say that. Not yet, anyway."
Riordan turned towards the fireplace, gazing into the flames. "The darkspawn that attacked Redcliffe were relatively few in number, I'm afraid. It was assumed that the horde was marching in this direction, but that is not true."
Arl Eamon joined the conversation. "Riordan tells us that the bulk of the horde is, in fact, marching to Denerim. They are perhaps two days away from the capital."
Both Alistair and Aedan showed expressions of horror upon hearing the news, but the senior Warden wasn't finished yet. "The Archdemon has shown itself. The dragon is at the head of the horde."
"Maker's Breath! Are the armies ready to march?" Alistair asked, his tone urgent.
Arl Eamon nodded. "They are. We've had word from Orzammar, the Circle, and the Dalish."
The soon-to-be king gave a nod. "Good, then we march at daybreak."
Riordan caught their attention before they left the room. "I need to have a word with all of you. Please come to my room when you're ready." He gave them a weary smile and left the hall. Aedan and Alistair turned a questioning gaze on Emma, and she gave a small smile. "Yeah, Riordan is the person I was referring to when we were back at camp. He's the most qualified to explain everything to both of you."
Aedan blew out a nervous breath. "I guess we should get this over with."
‑‑‑
Riordan looked at the stunned faces of two of the Grey Wardens but noticed that Emma's face was sad but calm, as though she already knew the truth. Riordan was puzzled; he knew that Alistair had been a Warden for longer than both Aedan and Emma, therefore it seemed logical that Duncan would have explained the situation to him before Emma, but it was abundantly clear that Alistair knew nothing of why it had to be a Grey Warden to slay the Archdemon. "We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Why don't you three get some rest?" They turned towards the door, and Alistair muttered, "I guess this ends soon, one way or another."
They reached their bedroom, and Emma was waiting for Alistair to leave before going inside, unfortunately, she hadn't filled Aedan in on the plan. He pushed the door open, and Morrigan turned to speak, then raised an amused eyebrow at seeing all three Wardens standing in the doorway. "I admit I'd hoped to speak to Emma alone. However, this works too."
"What's going on, Morrigan? Are you finally going to betray us?" Alistair asked with a sneer.
She rolled her eyes. "No, I think Emma already knows what I'm going to ask. Perhaps she has mentioned a loophole to your current dilemma?"
Emma flushed and shook her head. "No, it's not really something you just tell someone."
"Okay, does someone want to explain what this loophole is?" Aedan asked, taking a seat on the bed, while Alistair pulled up a chair. Emma decided to remain standing; she wasn't sure how either of them was going to take this piece of information.
Morrigan went on to explain the magical procedure that would save their lives, and leave her with a child. There was a stunned silence, a look was exchanged between the two men, a nod from Alistair, and then he stood up. "Okay, I'm the obvious choice for this. I'm not in a relationship, as such, so..." He cleared his throat. "...lead the way, Morrigan."
As the two left the room, the witch could be heard saying, "This is very noble of you, Alistair."
He snorted. "Hardly, I'm going to have sex before the eve of a big battle, which could possibly be my last."
Morrigan sounded indignant." You don't believe this will work?"
"Oh, I do. But who's to say I'll even make it that far?" The rest of the conversation was lost as they moved out of range.
Emma turned to Aedan and found him looking down at his hands in a contemplative manner. After a minute of silence, he finally asked, "Would you have asked me to sleep with her, if Alistair hadn't been here?"
She took a seat next to him. "Yes. As much as it would have pained me to ask you, I would have because I don't want to spend my life without you. I'd rather die in the other world than endure that."
He took her hand. "I feel the same, but Maker, I'm not sure I'd have been able to get it up for her." He slid a glance over to her. "Well, I suppose you could have joined me too?"
Emma snorted with laughter. "You horny bugger, you just like the idea of two females together."
"No, not at all."
"You would have been out of luck, both myself and Morrigan only like men."
"Ah damn it! Stop ruining my fantasies."
As their laughter died down, a more solemn air settled over them. He squeezed her hand. "We're going to make it, right? All three of us?"
"Yes, I'll take the potion tomorrow before I deal the final blow." The worry that it might not work sat in her stomach like a lead weight, but there was nothing she could do about it. She just had to hope that Flemeth had told her the truth.
"What about Riordan? He said he'd take the final blow, if possible."
Emma sadly shook her head. "I'm afraid he won't make it that far." Aedan let out a slew of curses, and they sat there for a while, their hands clasped tightly together, each contemplating what they would face tomorrow. Emma had learned by now that, although she knew what was going to happen, the reality was usually much worse than what she'd experienced when playing the game, and she dreaded seeing what the final battle would look like.
