The Last Warden

Chapter Fourteen

The pouch was warm in his palm, the ashes still seeming to hold something of that eternal flame. Gripping it tighter, Alistair ran. Had he taken too much? Too little? The Arl and Wynne... He didn't care what they said; he had to try. And if it was going to be like this... if he was going to be responsible, make choices that would get people killed... it wouldn't hurt to keep an extra pinch or two, would it?

Zevran kept pace beside him, watching him with a smirk. They had uncovered the resting place of Andraste herself and still the elf was grinning like the cat that had swallowed the pigeon.

"Stop it."

"I said nothing." Chuckling, he glanced over his shoulder to Leliana.

She had fallen behind, been silent ever since the chamber. Alistair stopped. "Are you alright?"

"I... yes." It was slowly that she raised her eyes, slowly that she met his gaze. He had seen that expression before, the purse of her lips, that half-mad mix of fear and disbelief. Again he could imagine the sword piercing her belly, feel the weight of it heavy in his arm. "I... I feel I must apologize."

"Apologize?"

"It was... inappropriate. I should not have... I mean..."

"Inappropriate."

Zevran stepped between them, slipping a companionable arm round Leliana's waist as he clapped Alistair on the shoulder. "But if the spirit moves you, yes?" They both ignored him.

Alistair broke that gaze, moving up the hall with a shake of his head. "Come on. We don't have time."

Soon enough he could feel the bite of cold, the cool air stirring in the first chamber. Of the Guardian there was no sigh. Lengthening his stride, he pushed through the doors and onto the mountaintop.

"Alistair." He could hear the worry in Leliana's tone, the plea unspoken.

But the snows had come again, lying in fresh-blown drifts amongst the ruins, piling against the dragon's slumped and folded wings. Shielding his eyes, he squinted against the glare, running back toward the broken bridge.

"Alistair! She's—"

"—Gone." He turned round, searching the ground. "She's gone."

"What?" Leliana and Zevran were gaping now too, circling wide-eyed.

"Here. She was right... here." He knelt, digging frantically at the snow, moving from one drift to the next.

"Alistair." There was a hand on his shoulder but she shook it off.

Sitting back on his heels, he let his hands fall at his sides. "Wynne." Again he glanced round the plateau, eyes straying to the peaks above. "Wynne!"

"Lost the old woman, have you?" She slipped from behind a column, stepping slow cross the remains of the bridge. Sneering down at them, Morrigan chuckled.

"What did you do with her?"

"I? I have done nothing."

"Where is she?" Alistair was on his feet now, fist curling round the ashes.

"She left you, then? Or perhaps became confused and wandered off? 'Tis no concern of mine."

Leliana moved to his side. "She's dead."

That seemed to give even Morrigan pause, surprise flickering behind her narrowed eyes.

"We left her... her body here."

"Well, 'twas not I who removed it."

"Then what are you doing here?" Still Alistair scanned the snow, biting the words as he turned away.

"I grew weary of waiting. But that insufferable knight would not let me past the door."

"Not worthy, were you?"

She turned to Leliana with a scowl. "I have no need of your Maker's approval. I merely assumed that you would need my assistance... or that you had already failed in the attempt."

"We fared well enough, thank you."

"Indeed." She arched a brow, eyes roaming between the three of them. "And your dust?"

Slowly Alistair opened his palm, shaking his head. He pushed past Morrigan, turning round to gaze once more across the mountaintop. "Come on. Let's just... let's just go."

* * *

"I must speak with you."

The path was flattening, the foothills finally giving way to the main road. Gritting his teeth, Alistair kept his eyes on his boots.

Morrigan, though, was undeterred, leaning close as she fell into step beside him. "I have uncovered something most... troubling in Mother's grimoire."

"I really don't care."

"Then you are even more the fool than I realized."

"Do you mind? I'm trying to ignore you." His gaze strayed up the trail. Leliana and Zevran had roamed ahead, already disappearing round the bend. Days they had been walking and still she seemed to be avoiding him, exchanging no more than a few words and never finding a moment to...

Stepping in front of him, Morrigan folded her arms. "I have discovered how it is that Flemeth extends her unnatural life."

He stopped short. "How?"

She sighed, glancing round at the empty hills. If he didn't know better, he'd have said she looked almost disturbed... afraid. Morrigan afraid. He felt the dread settle in his stomach.

"How?"

"'Tis a..." She trailed off, avoiding his eyes.

"Fine. You know what? Don't tell me. I don't care." Stepping wide, he made his way up the trail.

"Perhaps you would ask her yourself, then?"

"What?"

Her scowl deepened as she approached. "Ask her yourself. Considering her age, she may be here at any moment."

"Here?"

"At the moment of her death, Flemeth's spirit will seek another form. A younger body, already trained... already prepared. Mine, if you still have a wonder."

"Yours? You mean she'll...?"

"'Tis the purpose of her daughters, it seems."

Alistair stood for a moment, following her gaze. "Wait. Then why would she even – you know – send you with me? Risk you?"

She seemed to stiffen. "She has her reasons, I am certain."

"And she could just... show up? One day you're Morrigan, the next you're Flemeth?"

"So it would seem."

He quirked a brow. "And I would know the difference how...?"

"Trust me, you would enjoy it far less than you realize."

"So why are you telling me this?"

"Because it cannot be allowed to happen." Stepping closer, she raised her eyes to his. "You must kill Flemeth."

"Wait. You want me to... kill your mother?"

"I cannot do it. At the moment of her death, her spirit would seek me out."

"Oh. Right. Of course. You're insane."

"Do you see another solution?" She turned, looking away up the path. "But if you would rather Flemeth's company..."

Alistair groaned. After a long moment, he moved to her side. "I hate you."

"And I you. But this must be done."

"Right."