When Fate Summons (a Dragon Age fanfiction)

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The next morning, Thora set most of the group to searching the campsite and surrounding areas for any traces of the little girls. She couldn't help but notice that Tim's glances in her direction were more resentful than usual. She sent Oghren and Sigrun with him, to see if they could draw him out a bit. Anders and Xandros and Jens scattered out as well.

Thora and Alistair sat down at Morrigan's small fire. The witch looked back at them, her composure unruffled. "To what do I owe the state visit?" she drawled.

"You know perfectly well," Thora snapped. "They're not here. They were, and now they're not. I assume that means Flemeth got what she came for, and has moved on to her next destination."

Morrigan glanced away, unable to meet Thora's eyes.

"Morrigan, we're all in this together," Alistair put in. "You have to tell us the rest of the plan."

Clasping her hands together, Morrigan began as though she were reciting a lesson. "If they are no longer here, I believe that means my mother was able to compound the potion, and the first step has been taken toward drawing forth the soul of Urthemiel."

"What does that mean?" Alistair asked. "What happens?"

"I ... do not know. The books do not say. 'Tis an old ritual, and the tales are sketchy, at best." Morrigan swallowed. "It is possible that ... that my daughter is already changed beyond recognition."

The other two were silent for a moment as Morrigan struggled to keep her emotions under control. When she seemed calmer, Thora said, "The only way to know is to catch them. Where are they going, Morrigan?"

Looking away again, Morrigan said in a small voice, "Orzammar."

"Orzammar!" Thora shouted. She got to her feet, standing next to Morrigan, her eyes flashing. "Orzammar!? If you knew they were going there ... I could have sent messages. I could have warned Gorim. We could have waited for them there. Morrigan, what were you thinking?"

"I ... do not trust easily."

"After everything we went through together? What did you think I was going to do?"

"I thought you might save your own child and leave mine to her fate," Morrigan said, her eyes meeting Thora's. "Would you not have done so?"

"Leave yours to her fate?" Alistair echoed. "She's mine, too, or had you conveniently forgotten that?" As Morrigan looked at him, he sighed. "Of course you hadn't. That's why I'm here, isn't it, Morrigan? Counting on my fatherly feelings as your insurance policy?"

"Let's not forget," Thora snapped, "that none of us particularly wants Flemeth in control of an Old God."

"Perhaps you should have thought of that when you did not kill her," Morrigan said with controlled fury.

"I said I was sorry about that," Thora said. "And it's not as though I knew at the time there would be an Old God child to be dealt with later. At any rate, Orzammar. If we don't catch up to them in Orzammar, then where?" Morrigan hesitated, and Thora shouted, "Where, Morrigan? We have to know, if we're going to plan any kind of a strategy."

"Haven."

"Riiight," Alistair said. "Where else would a creepy dark ritual be performed? Maybe once we're done this time, we could just burn the place down." He paused, his eyes widening. "Does Flemeth know that the Temple can't be found?"