Chapter 109
The next morning Emma stood on the battlements overlooking the stables and watched Blackwall chopping wood. She'd had a long discussion with Aedan about whether or not to reveal Blackwall's true identity, and in the end, they'd decided it had to be his choice to step forward and stop Mornay's execution. However, as the role of the Grey Wardens in the Inquisition had been changed drastically due to their refusal to deal with Lord Livius Eremond, she would need to make sure that Blackwall still got the opportunity to redeem himself. She turned at the sound of a door opening and saw Aedan coming towards her. He glanced over the wall and spotted the fake Warden, and a frown appeared between his brows.
"I'm still not happy about letting him continue this masquerade, and the only thing that's stopping me from talking to the Inquisitor is the knowledge that Leliana is already aware of his circumstances."
"I know, love. But it's for a good cause."
There was so much to do that the months flew by. Emma and Aedan danced at the Winter Palace and, being a fan of mysteries, she was thrilled to join up with the Inquisitor and follow the clues, the trail of blood, and climbing up and down the trellis. However, the reality of seeing the dead bodies in the kitchen and the gardens did put a damper on her enthusiasm. Emma was happy to see Morrigan again, and after the witch had joined the Inquisition, both Wardens spent many hours in the garden talking to her and making friends with Kieran.
Emma was unsure how a lot of the decisions made during the Inquisition would affect the future, and therefore felt it would inadvisable of her to offer advice. Therefore, during their time at Skyhold, Emma and Aedan stayed out of the important decisions and stuck around only to help out with the fighting. Therefore, she was thankful when Ellana Lavellan decided to save the Chargers; in the game Emma had played through with both decisions, and to her it always seemed that The Iron Bull was a happier man when the Chargers were alive and well. Emma got to meet Bianca, and just barely managed to stay polite to the female dwarf. She knew she didn't have the full story, but she'd always hated seeing the hurt on Varric's face when he talked about Bianca, so the dwarf definitely wasn't on the Christmas card list. Not that they had Christmas in Thedas, mind you, but that was beside the point.
After a month at Skyhold, Hawke and Fenris travelled back to Kirkwall to help Knight-Captain Aveline in restoring peace and order to the troubled city. Aedan promised Hawke that when they had some free time, they would travel to Kirkwall and help out as much as possible. Not long after, Emma pulled Cullen to one side and asked how he was doing with his fight against lyrium. The pain in his eyes spoke louder than any words he muttered that day, but he promised not to start on the lyrium again.
A month or so later, Emma walked in on the Commander and the Inquisitor playing tonsil hockey – the two pulled apart so quickly anyone would have thought a bucket of cold water had been thrown over them. Emma laughed and congratulated the two of them, telling them that it couldn't have happened to two nicer people. She left his office with a skip in her step, knowing that with the Inquisitor supporting him, Cullen would stay off the lyrium.
Blackwall redeemed himself, and although there were some hard feelings towards him – especially from Cassandra – he stayed with the Inquisition until it was finished, and then travelled to Weisshaupt to undertake the Joining.
Both Aedan and Emma fought at the Arbor Wilds alongside Commander Cullen, with a request from Lavellan that they keep him safe. Before the Inquisitor took off for the Temple of Mythal, Emma whispered a few words to her and handed her a piece of paper with four drawings on it. She knew that to do the trials of Mythal would take time and cost the lives of loyal soldiers, but to avoid them would cost the lives of the ancient elves that lived there. So Emma had drawn detailed diagrams explaining how to quickly get past each one so that as little time as possible was wasted. She made no suggestions about whether or not to drink from the well, as she wasn't sure of the outcome of that decision herself, so she left that choice up to the Inquisitor.
At the end of a year, the final fight between the Inquisitor and Corypheus took place. Lavellan, of course, walked away triumphant, and upon her victorious return to Skyhold, she was immediately pulled into a long embrace by her beloved Commander.
The celebration that night was second to none; food and drink filled the tables to bursting, couples danced to the lively music played by the bard Maryden, and all around there was laughter and happiness. As the evening drew to a close, Aedan and Emma found themselves at a table with the Inquisitor and all the companions. They all looked at each other, grinned and then cheered loudly. Varric pulled out a pack of cards.
"Who's up for a game of Wicked Grace?"
There were assents from everyone, even Commander Cullen, who vowed to restore his pride. Emma was secretly hoping he'd lose all his clothes again. In between games, Varric told the story of Hawke's visit to Chateau Haine, and when he was done he asked if anyone else had a story to tell. Aedan slipped his hand into Emma's, lacing their fingers together, then glanced over to her, and with a naughty smile, he said, "Let me tell you the story of Emma's first fight. It involved wolves, and the use of a mage staff that has never been seen before or since in the history of Thedas."
Emma rolled her eyes, and chuckled as she rested her head against her husband's shoulder, listening to his deep voice tell the story.