We left without telling anyone. It was a two-day journey to the Wilds and Flemeth's hut. We were passing through an area with a ridge. As we approached it, an Emissary appeared on it. It looked at us for a moment before a pair of fireballs appeared in its hands. Before we could react and Alistair could put up his Templar guards, it combined them and threw the massive fireball it made at us. It exploded at our feet, sending us backward. Wynne was the first back to her feet. I had managed to get to one knee but I felt sapped. Alistair and Sten were still on the ground. Alistair shook his head and attempted to rise. Wynne looked at us and seemed to understand we were not in the best fighting condition. Darkspawn were coming at us from both directions. Alistair looked over at me. Wynne raised her staff in the air and twirled it over her head. A blue light emitted from her staff and hands. She threw her hands to the sides and I felt my energy return. I drew my swords and launched myself at the nearest Darkspawn. Alistair and Sten were on their feet a moment later, their blades cutting down Darkspawn. Whatever Wynne had done had given us the strength we needed to fight. Wynne went after the Emissary. I finished off the Darkspawn I was engaging and ran up the ridge. I snuck behind the Emissary and surprised it with a quick sweep of my blade. His head landed a moment after his body crashed to the ground. I went back down to the others.

"Good hit," Alistair said.

I walked over to Wynne, who was holding her head. "Oh, hmm. That was interesting... and draining," she said.

"What was that?" I asked, concerned.

"I called forth the spirit that sustains me so it could lend us aid. I did not realize it would take this much out of me. It seemed a good idea at the time, if a little rash. I think I may have weakened the spirit a little."

"So you could kill yourself doing that?"

"Well... er, that's certainly conceivable. I guess I shouldn't be using that particular trick to entertain children at parties."

I smiled.

"I promise I'll be careful. And thank you. Your concern is touching."

"What is she talking about?" Alistair asked. "What spirit?"

"I'll explain when we return to camp, Alistair," I said.

We continued a short distance and destroyed a barrier that seemed to trigger another group of Darkspawn.

"Well, jeez," I muttered.

We easily dispatched those ones and continued on our journey.

"So, tell me, Realin. How did you become a Grey Warden?" Wynne asked.

"I met Duncan and he liked me?"

"Ah so you're keeping this tale to yourself, I see. Fair enough. Forgive me for prying."

I sighed. "It's just a tale that I have trouble sharing, but the short version is I was tainted and only the Joining could save me."

"Then you became a Warden out of necessity. But Duncan must have also seen something special in you. The Order does not take in recruits just to save their life. You must be proud to be able to represent your clan and the Dalish as a Grey Warden."

"I was honored to have been chosen by Duncan." I guess in a way I was. Not many elves, city-born or Dalish, get an opportunity to become Wardens.

"Sometimes it gives me comfort to think that everything will end up the way it's supposed to, that it will be all right. You were chosen: you survived the Joining when others did not. Perhaps it was meant to be."

I made a glance at Alistair over my shoulder. "Perhaps it was."

Alistair walked up behind me and put an arm over my shoulder. "And she is proving herself to be more than Duncan expected," he said with a grin.

"Oh, go away." I pushed him off as he laughed.

Wynne laughed as well. "And I must agree with him. You bring honor to both the Dalish and the Wardens."

"Thank you, Wynne."

~~~

We found the path leading to Flemeth's hut and slowly made our way to it. Flemeth must have known we were coming; she was standing outside her hut waiting for us. Instead of wearing the worn dress we'd seen her in previously, she was wearing something that looked like she was ready for war. Her clothing was form-fitting brown leathers with boots of the same color that reached her thigh. the bottoms were split on the sides clear past her hips and around her waist was a skirt that only went around the back. She wore black and red gloves and on her shoulders looked like a pair of birds were resting on them. I was pretty sure this would be a tough fight.

"And so you return," she said, looking us over. "Lovely Morrigan has at last found someone willing to dance to her tune. Such enchanting music she plays, wouldn't you say?"

"We know your little secret, Flemeth," I said.

The Witch of the Wilds laughed. "Which one, I wonder? What has Morrigan told you, hmm? What little plan has she hatched this time?"

"She knows how you extend your unnatural lifespan."

"That she does. The question is, do you?"

"I do."

"But it is an old, old story. One that Flemeth has heard before and even told. Let us skip right to the ending, shall we? Do you slay the old wretch as Morrigan bids? Or does the tale take a different turn?"

"And how are you proposing this tale ends?"

"Morrigan wishes my grimoire? Take it as a trophy. Tell her I am slain."

I raised an eyebrow. "And you think she'll believe that?" Just telling her that Flemeth is dead along with presenting her the grimoire wasn't going to work. I was sure Morrigan would know if we were lying.

"We believe what we want to believe. It's all we ever do."

"And what happens to you?"

"I go. Perhaps I surprise Morrigan one day. Or I may simply watch. It would be interesting to see what she does with her freedom. Enlightening, even. Would you give an old woman that?"

"No. Forget it." If we let her live, she would still return and acquire Morrigan's body, despite any promise she made.

"Shame. What will it be, then?"

"You die."

I really couldn't believe that I was doing this. She was Asha'bellanar after all. Not to mention she had saved mine and Alistair's lives.

Flemeth sighed. "It is a dance poor Flemeth knows well. Let us see if she remembers the steps. Come." She stepped away from the hut and onto the higher ground a few yards away from it. "She will earn what she takes. I'd have it no other way."

She then changed shape from an old woman... into a dragon. We all took a few steps back. Flemeth roared.

Shit!

Alistair, Sten, and I charged at her while Wynne kept her distance using various spells. While Alistair and Sten kept her occupied, I darted underneath her and went for her legs and belly. She roared when I made contact. She then made contact with a forefoot and I went flying into the hut, missing Wynne by mere inches. I gasped for breath and coughed. Wynne helped me to my feet. I nodded at her to let her know I was alright and went back into the fray. Flemeth swung her tail around at us. Sten and I ducked. Alistair didn't. Her tail caught him in the side and a splash told me that he'd landed in the swampy water. His head broke the surface and I breathed a sigh of relief. He made his way out of the water and back into the fight, although he was protecting his left side now. Flemeth brought her head around and hit Sten, who went backward, fell, and rolled a few feet. Wynne scrambled out of his way. This only succeeded in pissing him off. He growled and charged. I went for her back legs while Alistair charged forward towards her side. She seemed to know that was where I was headed and the full force of her tail hit me in the stomach and I crashed into Alistair's shield. We both fell. Unlike in the Tower of Ishal, where we had ended up jumbled and tangled in each other, I hit the shield hard enough to bounce off it and the force had caused him to lose his footing. I tried to catch my breath as Alistair staggered to his feet, then fell to one knee, dropping his sword and clutching his injured side. I staggered to my feet as Sten leapt upon Flemeth's head and buried his sword there. She roared and tried to shake him off. He held on and ended up looking like a rag doll being shaken by a child throwing a temper tantrum. She fell and the sword came loose. Sten landed on his back and was on his feet a moment later, bringing his sword down upon her neck. Flemeth was dead. He looked at me and nodded. I nodded back. Alistair was still on his knee, the pain showing in his face.

"Alistair!" I cried as I darted to him.

"I think...," He grimaced in pain. "I think she broke a few ribs... when she hit me with that... massive tail of hers."

Wynne knelt next to him and I carefully took the shield off his arm, trying not to jar his side and cause him more pain than he already was in.

Sten joined us as she healed Alistair's side. "Are you alright, Kadan?" he asked me. I'd have to ask later what that meant.

I nodded, actually surprised I hadn't broken anything when I hit Alistair's shield. Or either time Flemeth had hit me. "Are you?"

"Perhaps you should let the Mage look at you in case?"

Wynne had finished with Alistair and had turned to me. Alistair no longer looked pained at least. Wynne administered to me despite the fact that I had no major injuries, only massive bruises. Which surprised all of us. I would perhaps be sore and hurt for a few days, but it was a small price to pay. I went into the hut and found the grimoire. We left Flemeth's body, which was still in dragon form, and started the two-day journey back to camp.