She was a child again, back in the wilds. Flemeth had chided her for stealing silly trinkets from the travellers. It wasn't that stealing was wrong, but that she could have been caught, which would have made things a whole lot more complicated.

'Do you have any idea what they would do to you, child?'

'No.' She genuinely didn't.

'They'll lock you away in a dungeon for the rest of your pitiful little life. Your magic will be taken away from you, to use as they wished. You'll be kept alive, but barely. Things will be done to you, too horrible to mention, until you beg for a merciful death. But they know nothing of mercy.'

For a long while afterwards, she would worry about this dungeon and its unimaginable horrors. Flemeth would later refer to it as the Circle.

She was seventeen, and a strikingly beautiful girl. It was the first time she had lain with someone. It was not wholly unenjoyable. It was also the first time she had taken a man's life, the very one she had just been intimate with. Flemeth was not pleased that this had disturbed the girl.

'You will use the gift you have, to the best of your abilities.'

'I'd rather not if I can help it.'

'Stupid girl. You are weak if you should think so. He was a fool, and so deserved to die like one. You are not one of them. There is no place for remorse here. Now begone.'

She was a few years older, and wiser too. The four Grey Wardens had just left Flemeth's hut with their treatise.

'Morrigan, I have something very important to tell you.'

'A plan, mother? Why do I have a feeling it may involve our new friends?'

'Not all. Only one of them. The young one - he will survive the coming battle.'

Morrigan cocked an eyebrow. This was going to be interesting.

'Tis' hard to believe, yes, but I speak only the truth. We will see him again soon, I will see to that. He will be the one to battle the Archdemon when the time comes.'

'The Cousland boy? You cannot be serious, mother, for he constantly looks as if he'd just lost his favourite toy.'

'Do not doubt me, child. Listen carefully, for you may not like the rest of this. I do not however, care how you feel. You must do as I say, or else everything we have worked for would be futile.'

Morrigan listened solemnly to Flemeth's plans. Whether she liked it or not, she knew she had little choice in the matter.

It was the night before the final battle of Denerim. She had enjoyed the feeling of soft silk against her skin as she lay in bed next to her Warden. They had just made love. So it was done. Flemeth's plan had come to fruitation. A God-child would be borne of her. But she cared not for what Flemeth had in store for her nor for the child. The Warden would live. She felt his soft breath on her neck as she lay in his arms. Strange, she thought, as she heard him weep.

She opened her eyes. Bright sunlight blinded her for a moment. Was I dreaming? She was in the wilds again. His face came into focus. Those deep blue eyes were unmistakable. She blinked, unbelieving. My beloved! He was looking down at her with a bewildered expression. He had tears in his eyes.

The Warden had given her up for dead. He had held her body close to him as he knelt on the ground, grieving softly. With amazement, he watched as she stirred, her deep golden eyes returning to life. Some colour had returned to her face, although she was still deathly pale.

'My love, you live!' He was too stunned to say much.

'You seem surprised,' she replied with a hoarse whisper, smiling weakly. Her throat was parched. She suddenly became aware of the cold, realising that she was unclothed. As she caught sight of and the dead Hurlock nearby and her burning hut behind them, memories of the events that had just transpired came flooding back.

'The babe...,' Her eyes darted around in panic. She tried to rise from his arms but her limbs were too heavy. Her womanly parts throbbed with pain.

'Don't move,' he said, smiling, unable to suppress his joy at seeing her alive and breathing.

The Warden carefully held the small bundle up to her. First she saw his perfect tiny fingers, then his wrinkled little face. Tiny eyes opened and stared at up her. His eyes were a deep blue, like his father's. Her face softened as she reached out to touch her child. She held the babe tenderly to her chest, tears forming in her eyes. She felt a wave of emotions so new and strange to her. She soon found herself crying uncontrollably.

'I owe you much gratitude for saving us,' she said between sobs. She had a pained look on her face. 'Twas' my wrongdoing to stray from you, my love. I did only what I thought was best,'

'I thought of nothing but you and our child. I could never forgive myself if either of you came to harm.' His words were sincere and true. The Warden leaned in and kissed her, gently stroking her cheek as he did so. He held her tightly to his body, enjoying the softness of her skin. His lips lingered on hers for a long while.

The dark clouds had parted, revealing a light blue sky. Small critters of the wilds stirred to life again, their noises filling the air around them. The warmth of the sun on her body felt good as she lay in her lover's embrace. Her newborn babe suckled at her breast. No doubt Flemeth will appear soon, Morrigan knew. But they will deal with her when the time came. As for now, she was reunited with her Warden and their child was safe in her arms.