Courtesans - English version

51 Ideas

Morrighan followed Chickweed day and night, constantly watching for when the new prophet would finally cast a spell or drop a prophecy. Yet all she ever seemed to do was bake, cook, and clean. So that evening, as Leliana and Dina sat in their room, Morrighan explained to them, clearly disappointed.

"It's maddeningly hard to even get a word out of her! You ask her a question, and it's as if she doesn't hear, or when she does respond, it's as if she's answering something else. And then, out of nowhere, she'll bring up some random topic, and you're watching her like a hawk, wondering if maybe this is the prophecy you'll be the first to hear among all living folk? But... then you realise she's just talking about the shape of dried food on unwashed dishes, and as to whether there's any mystery in that... well, I can't sniff it out! I can't. Maybe you two should try; maybe you'll get further with her. Sometimes it's as if she's not even the prophet, but she has to be—we weren't mistaken, all the signs lead to her! Damn it..."

Morrighan punched the air and then collapsed into a chair, resting her elbows on her spread knees, staring hopelessly ahead.

"Don't blame yourself for it. Prophet Druindar's words were also difficult to understand," Leliana said, though it didn't seem to reassure Morrighan.

"I feel like we're trapped. If either of you suggested we move on, I'd say no. If we leave this place, we're bound to miss something important, that's for certain. And yet, if things carry on like this, we're going to struggle painfully to get anything coherent out of Chickweed," she grimaced at the name.

Leliana sighed. "It's true that I hadn't quite pictured the Prophet of the Elven People like this either." She then looked at Dina, who, despite sitting with them, was staring silently at the floor.

"What do you think, Dina?"

She looked up and finally said, "I'm more concerned about Züiya."

"Oh, come on!" Morrighan immediately brushed it off. "That girl is the picture of charm, and unlike Chickweed, she can actually hold a conversation! It's just a pity she can't do magic, though."

Dina didn't relent. "No, something isn't right with her. First of all, that little girl was only about half her current age a month ago. We assume Chickweed somehow made her older through magic, but we have no idea how, and most importantly, we don't know why she did it. Think about it—it hardly served any purpose for her. Do you see what I'm getting at?"

"Not exactly," admitted Leliana, honestly.

Dina pulled her clothing down off her shoulder, pointing to a scar. "An arrow went right through me—imagine how much flesh, muscle, and skin it took to heal this. The healer who managed it, even with help, was utterly drained, possibly even died. Imagine, then, the strength required to turn Züiya from a little girl into a sixteen-year-old young woman. The very idea is terrifying!"

Morrighan glanced aside, nodding.

Dina pulled her clothing back over her shoulder.

"Perhaps that's why Chickweed looks the way she does. You might say... she's already used up her mind."

"Or maybe your healer friend wasn't so deeply involved in magic. Holding the prophet's title, however, carries considerable power."

Dina nodded but also shrugged. "I don't know; maybe you're right. Still, the question remains: why would anyone take such a risk for what's ultimately a pointless spell? If Züiya was only meant as help around the house, why didn't Chickweed choose someone who was already the right age?"

The thoughtful expressions on Morrighan's and Leliana's faces showed that they found this suggestion worth considering.

"There are too many questions about Züiya—we know almost nothing about her, and yet we're living in her house... basically at her mercy."