When Fate Summons (a Dragon Age fanfiction)

Always Something There to Remind Me

As the party climbed farther into the Frostbacks, nearer to Orzammar, the tension increased. Morrigan, in particular, grew more and more nervous.

Xandros drifted toward Morrigan as they climbed, but the witch stiffened on his approach. "I need none of your pity, elf."

Stung, but trying not to show it, Xandros said, "It's not pity. I would like to help."

She whirled, ready to blister him with words, but thought better of it. "Your tracking skills are helpful. Make use of them, and do not waste your energies on a simpering fool who cannot control her maternal weakness," she said, turning her sharp tongue on herself instead. It was her own traitorous heart, yearning toward her child, longing for the comfort of the elf's narrow shoulders to lean on, that had her unsettled. No reason for him to take the brunt of that.

"As you wish," he said simply, and melted into the forest.

Behind them, Thora watched with worried eyes. She hoped she understood why Morrigan was on edge, but was terribly afraid there was more to it, something the witch hadn't told any of them. It was a reasonable fear—when had Morrigan ever shared more than she absolutely needed to of any plan? Thora hoped against hope that Gorim, with his remarkable efficiency, had Anawyn with him, but something in her gut told her it wasn't going to be that easy. She glanced around at the trees, wondering about the location of a long-ago camp. It wasn't far from here, if she recalled correctly.

There was little sound from any of those behind her. The pace through the mountains had been faster, the climb more tiring, and the mood darker. Occasionally someone would comment on a feature of the scenery, or the weather, but these sallies mostly received grunts in response.

Thora called camp as the light turned purple. Much later and they wouldn't have been able to see a tree before they ran into it, up in these heavily forested mountains. True to her memory, they found the clearing not far off the road. Jens and Sigrun, who tended to set up the tents together, breathed sighs of relief that they didn't have to create a big enough space for the whole camp. They got to work.

"Commander," called Xandros from the ashes of the fire. "Someone has been here."

"Yes," Thora said. "I believe we camped here once during the Blight." She was intensely aware of Alistair behind her, and she was sure she was blushing.

"No, Commander," Xandros said. "Someone camped here just a few days ago." He pointed to the bits of unburned wood left in the fire pit, and the scattering of pine needles where bedrolls had lain. Three of them.

Morrigan's eyes caught Thora's in the fading light. Realistically, what good could it do to know the girls had been here? But it made them feel closer to catching up, and a spark of hope flared between them.

Everyone scattered to their assigned camp tasks, and Thora took the moment to disappear between the trees. A little ball of light appeared over her shoulder, and she turned to see Anders grinning at her. "No point wandering off into the woods alone, Commander," he said. "If you got lost, we'd all have to follow Oghren to Orzammar."

"Think I can't lead ya there, Sparkle-fingers?" Oghren grunted. "I could find my way from here blind-folded, just have to follow my nose to the finest ale in Thedas. Ah, Tapster's," he sighed.

"Exactly how would you do that?" Anders drawled. "I can't imagine any scent could get past your stench."

"I think that's all your flowery perfume, mage," Oghren returned. He grinned, happily downing some more ale.

Thora left them to it. They could go on like that all night; and there was something she wanted to see. She followed her memory out into the forest, about 30 yards from the campfire. And there it was, revealed by the little ball of light. She traced the initials, T.A. & A.T., in the crudely carved heart, leaning her head against the tree. Here it was, a tangible reminder of the love that had created their child. The bark scraped her forehead as she pressed her head into the tree, wanting to absorb its strength into herself.

She started, feeling the prickling of her skin that signaled Alistair's approach.

"I thought I'd find you here," he said. "Is it still there?"

"Yes." Thora stepped back from the tree, feeling Alistair's hands close on her shoulders. She leaned against him, glad to have him at her back. Her eyes strayed back to the carving; the little ball of light illuminated something at the bottom of the heart. Thora leaned forward to look, and drew in her breath sharply. "Alistair, look!"

There, below the heart he had carved so long ago, was another set of initials, burned into the bark: A.T.A. Anawyn Theirin Aeducan.

Tears came to Thora's eyes, looking at the addition.

"She was here," Alistair said softly, tracing the little girl's contribution to his artwork. It almost still felt warm from her fire spell. Thora turned in his arms and they embraced, thinking longingly of the day their family would be together again in fact, as it was in the symbol in front of them.