Chapter 86
She felt Aedan shift, and then he lifted her face to his and took her mouth with a slow, loving kiss as he lowered her to the bed. With tenderness, he removed her clothes before taking off his own. He worked his way down her body, leaving soft, lingering kisses over every inch of her skin, building the passion within each of them at a steady pace. But it was his non-sexual gesture that brought tears to her eyes. He moved up her body and took her hand which he placed against his heart. "I love you with every beat of my heart," he moved her hand to his temple, "with every thought in my mind," her fingers smoothed over his profile, stopping at his lips. "and with every breath that I take."
He kissed her then, pouring all his love into the merging of their lips. "Remember that tomorrow, Angel, when you strike the final blow, and make sure you come back to me."
She wrapped her arms around him, a small sob escaping her lips. "I will, Aedan. I promise I'll do everything I can to return to you."
He made love to her, taking his time. When she tried to move faster, he slowed the pace. "Not yet, Angel. I want this moment to last."
She tucked her head in the crook of his shoulder as emotions swirled within her; a suffocating fear, a deep abiding love, anxiety, and a fiery passion mingled together, one overlapping another, tangling around her heart and squeezing it painfully.
"Look at me, Emma."
Her eyes met his, and she saw the same emotions reflected in his dark blue eyes. Knowing she wasn't alone somehow made it less scary. They didn't look away from one another, and as they reached the climax, the words left their mouths simultaneously.
"I love you."
They reached the peak of their lovemaking, and for a few seconds, their connection was lost as muscles involuntarily clenched. However, as their bodies relaxed they found each other's gaze once more. His hand framed her face stroking away tears she hadn't known were there.
"We're going to make it," he whispered. She nodded and kissed him desperately. No more words were spoken that night, they had said everything that needed to be said, and so they lay in each other's arms until exhaustion claimed them and pulled them into sleep.
-x-
Emma looked around the unnatural surroundings, and recognised the place immediately; upside down furniture, green puddles, a slightly distorted view... yep, she was definitely in the Fade. "I'm sure I could have thought up something better than this."
"Perhaps you could. However, this is my dream."
Emma spun, but the voice was a dead giveaway, and she knew who she'd see even before the figure came into view. "Flemeth."
"Yes. I forgot to tell you something about that potion." The woman stepped out from the shadows, and her appearance now resembled her look in Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition. "If you drink it, one of the Grey Wardens will die. Not you of course, but either Alistair or Aedan."
A cold numbness stole through Emma's body. "But the ritual... surely that should stop any Grey Warden from dying?"
Flemeth shook her head. "You know as well as I do that there are only supposed to be two Wardens at the end, and that's how it should be. If you take the potion, you will survive, and in so doing you will condemn one of your fellow Grey Wardens. The choice is yours."
Emma stood there speechless as the surroundings started to fade around her, and then she awoke in her bed. Tears trickled from the side of her eyes, dampening her hair. There was no choice – Aedan belonged in this world, whereas she had always been an oddity, and Alistair was going to be king. She remembered his excitement upon learning that the taint wouldn't kill him and knew she wouldn't risk either of their lives. She turned her head to the window and waited for the dawn to arrive, knowing that sleep would be impossible now.
‑‑‑
A male voice, clear with a soft lilt, cut through the silence of the Fade. "That was cruel."
Flemeth shrugged. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep?"
A wispy figure stood near to the witch. "I am."
She glared at the shadowy shape of an elf. "Then stop pestering me. It's not yet your time to wake." She turned from him, her arms folded in a defensive manner.
"I am aware, Flemeth. But I'm curious to know why you lied to her?"
She turned back, fire burning in her eyes. "You know why! I have no reason to believe that true love exists in this world. Let them suffer!" The man eyed her for a moment, and then inclined his head and disappeared.
Emma dressed as soon as the pale cold light filtered through the window. When they were ready, they left the room for breakfast. At the top of the stairs, she patted her pockets. "Damn it, I left the potions I keep in my belt". She waved him on. "I'll catch up with you downstairs. Grab me a plate of something nice." As she returned to the room, the smile slipped from her face. She closed the door and dug down to the bottom of her bag to retrieve the small vial. Running a wistful thumb over the glass, she contemplated the shimmering liquid with a painful longing. Maybe Aedan would live, perhaps she should take the risk? It was a 50/50 chance. "What the hell am I thinking?" She placed the bottle on the dressing table, disgusted at her own thoughts. To even contemplate Alistair's death so that she could be happy was despicable. She turned and left the room quickly before she changed her mind.
-x-
Morrigan tossed and turned in her bed as a voice whispered to her. She awoke as the first rays of dawn lightened the sky, and her eyes widened as she recalled the voice in her dream. Hearing footsteps outside her room, she threw on a robe and pulled the door open a crack; one look at Emma's hollow face told her all she needed to know. She closed the door, a pensive expression on her face, and went to get washed and dressed.
-x-
As they ate breakfast, Emma managed to push her heartbreak deep down inside knowing she would need her full focus on the battle ahead. She was determined to leave Thedas knowing she'd had a small hand in saving it from a Blight. Her lip trembled at the thought of leaving, but she bit down on it savagely, using the pain to get her emotions under control.
The armies marched from Redcliffe, and she thought of the dwarves setting out from Orzammar, the elves leaving the Brecilian Forest, and the mages departing from Kinloch Hold. Her heart hammered in her throat. Oh shit, she was really going to do this! Everything else she had done paled in significance to this one all-important battle. As they drew closer to Denerim, towers of black smoke could be seen rising from what remained of the once great capital. Alistair called the army to a halt near a windmill, and grabbed both Aedan and Emma by their arms, pulling them up the few steps outside the building.
He took a moment to look over the large and powerful army, a coalition of all the nations, and then he spoke, "Before us stands the might of the darkspawn horde! Gaze upon them now, but fear them not! These two beside me are natives of Ferelden." Emma flinched, wishing his words were the truth. "They have risen to the ranks of the Grey Wardens, and they are proof that glory is within reach of us all. They have survived despite the odds, and without them, none of us would be here."
Emma's face heated up. She'd done sod all, it was Aedan who had led them to this point. Alistair descended the stairs. "Today we save Denerim! Today we avenge the death of my brother, King Cailan!" He stood proud, in front of the troops. "But most of all, today we show the Grey Wardens that we remember and honour their sacrifice!"
He lifted his arm and pointed towards Denerim, his expression determined, as he shouted in a voice that rang with strength and courage. "For Ferelden! For the Grey Wardens!" A deafening roar went up from the army, weapons were drawn, and then they were charging towards the horde of darkspawn.