Prologue to Act Two

Nerissa paced up and down the corridor, and after a while, she stopped in front of a door. Alistair's chambers. She raised her hand to knock on the door, but something inside her made her stop halfway.

Morrigan knew about the duty. She had known about it all along. She had led her to believe that they would succeed almost unscathed, that happiness was attainable.

But at what cost?

A child born with the soul of an Old God, she had said. If Alistair knew…

He would never agree.

And what about her? What would Nerissa say? There was not only one side to her. Warden, fighter, lover, noblewoman, sister, daughter.

She was Bryce Cousland's daughter.

"We do what we must," she murmured. Her companions had done what they had to in order to survive. She could do no less. And still, there were limits. She could not be less.

She could not agree.

She held her hand against her chest. Alistair would never know about this. She clenched her jaw and went back to her room, where Morrigan was waiting for her. As she opened the door, she heard another door creaking; someone was walking down the corridor. Nerissa went in quickly and closed the door behind her.

"Well? Have you talked to him?"

Nerissa faced the young woman. She noticed that Morrigan's posture was relaxed. She was expecting a favourable response.

"The answer is no," Nerissa said. Every word that came out of her mouth sank deep like the fingernails she was digging on her palms.

Morrigan's eyes stared at Nerissa for what seemed to be an eternity. "You are a fool," she said. "If dying is what you want, then so be it. But I… I will not stay to watch you sacrifice yourself for a lost cause."

"The cause is not lost! Everything we have fought for, everything we did… That will make a difference. And I am the Warden-Commander now," Nerissa stated. "I will not shun my duty."

"Your duty," Morrigan snorted. "You and your precious duty, always. Well then, I'll do what I must as well."

As she walked by Nerissa, she stopped. They did not look at each other, but their arms touched slightly.

"Thank you for your help, Morrigan," Nerissa said gently. She heard Morrigan scoff.

"Farewell, my friend," the witch sighed with unusual sadness.

Morrigan stepped out and closed the door behind her. She had to escape – too much time had been wasted already. She morphed into a mutt so that the others would not recognize her on her way out, and trotted towards the stairs.

A boot came up from the shadows in the corner, hitting her and sending her flying against the wall. She whimpered.

"Finally showing your true colours, bitch?" A man's voice. Morrigan shook her head, still dazed. She had lost her concentration and was back to her human form. She raised her eyes and saw him. Of course.

He grabbed her by the wrist and picked her up. "You and I," he said, watching her with furious eyes, "will have a little talk."

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Next Chapter: Duncan