In League With The Wolf - The Elves of Fen'Harel Book 2 (Dragon Age)

Mythal's Mercy

She needed to say goodbye to her sister, just in case. She wasn't sure what would become of Morrigan and Kieran when this was all over, if they all lived through it. From Solas's tower, she headed down into the gardens where her sister could usually be found. Instead, she found Leliana looking stricken. She must have come to see Morrigan directly after speaking to Tilda.

"What's happened?" Tilda asked, following her into the tiny room where the eluvian was held. It was active, rippling with blue light.

"I came to discuss our next move with Morrigan." Leliana was upset. "She said Kieran had activated the eluvian and run through, and went running after him. I've sent for the Inquisitor!"

"Don't bother." Tilda snapped, pushing past her and diving through.

She felt that slight moment of travel of disorientation before crashing into somewhere she didn't recognise. Pausing, she gazed around her in concern.

This was the Fade, not the Crossroads. It had that terrible, eerie green glow, the endless sky like a void that could go on forever. She stood amid a landscape of slimy rocks, though intermingled were things she recognised: tables and chairs, bookcases and mirrors.

The eluvian had sealed behind her.

Was she physically in the Fade? It seemed impossible, yet this was what the Inquisitor and her companions had experienced. Wait until I tell Solas, she thought. But first, she needed to find her family.

It didn't take her long to catch her sister, turning frantically, screaming her son's name. "Morrigan!" Tilda yelled, running down the hill.

"Sister." Morrigan turned, her features twisted with anguish. "It is all coming apart."

"This is the Fade." Tilda said, putting a hand on Morrigan's arm. "How are we here?"

"Kieran...it would have taken an almost impossible amount of power to bring us here." Morrigan whispers. "This is my fault. This path...I set him on it." Tears sparkled in her golden eyes as she turned to Tilda. "I cannot lose my son!"

"You won't!" Tilda replied fiercely. "He cannot have gone far, Fade or not. We'll find him."

They hurried onwards together, passing the mundane mixed amid the extraordinary, both sisters urgently searching for the boy, and then, in the distance, they saw him with another.

"There he is!" Morrigan cried out in relief. Then both their eyes fell on the woman beside the dark haired child. "No...it can't be."

Both women raced down to see Flemeth kneeling in the Fade, a glowing light passing between her and Kieran. Flemeth looked...younger almost, powerful. Despite her age, and her white hair, she had the face and body of a much younger woman, clad in leather and feathers, curved horns on her headdress.

The sight of her filled Tilda with distress and joy in both. Then anger and hurt rippled through, thinking of how her mother had abandoned her in her pain, confirming Morrigan's tale that their mother was using them for her own purposes.

"Mother!" Kieran greeted Morrigan with a smile. He at least seemed unharmed.

"Mother." Morrigan and Tilda said simultaneously.

"Now isn't this a surprise." Flemeth said wryly, rising to her feet. "Both my girls, together at once...and a united front at that." She cackled. "My wayward elder daughter, and my Tilda." Her voice warmed a little. Morrigan flicked her a glance. "Mother, daughters, grandson. It rather warms the heart, does it not?"

"Kieran is not your grandson!" Morrigan snapped. "Let him go!"

"As if I was holding the boy hostage." Flemeth's voice dripped with humour. "She's always been ungrateful, see." She raised an eyebrow at Tilda. "Not like my youngest daughter."