Аннотация: Getting to know Morigann and Flemeth. The return of the Grey Wardens treaties.
Chapter 7. Witches of the Wildlands
The guards climbed up the slope, picking their way through the undergrowth and tripping over roots and hummocks. The forest was getting thicker, and they felt that they were going deeper into the thicket. In front of them was a young dark-haired woman with a branch-staff on her back.
"I don't like this," Alistair said, crushing the tall grass with his boot.
"We need these papers," Elissa walked beside him.
"Yes, but it was too sudden and timely for her to appear."
"We didn't say anything, she guessed what we were looking for."
"Yeah, and those scrolls are conveniently in her mother's possession."
"You just heard the word "magician" and started arguing with her."
"A magician is, of course, not critical, but apostates are another matter. Do you know what the Templars do to them?"
Elissa looked at the witch, who was walking ahead as if nothing had happened, completely unafraid of the four armed Guards behind her. Compared to the big Jory, she seemed small and weak, her slender fingers had never held a weapon, but the staff behind her back stubbornly said that she was not so simple.
The stranger introduced herself to Morrigan and said that she had been watching them since they came to the Wild Lands. She was wearing a purple jacket, very light for the local cold, with a low neckline on the chest and feathers on the shoulder pad. A large necklace of darkened metal glittered dully around her neck with a string of snow-white pearls, and her eyes shone like a wildcat's. The tall grass parted in front of her, and she ignored the ominous rustlings and cries of birds, as if they were familiar to her. Without a doubt, Morrigan has been living here for a long time.
"I don't think the laws of Ferelden mean anything in these lands." Elissa said thoughtfully.
When Alistair threatened Morrigan with the Templars, she just laughed in response, saying that she was not afraid, but wanted to help the Guards out of curiosity. She kept looking at Elissa, probably because she was also a woman, and Elissa returned the courtesy with politeness.
"Who knows where she's taking us," Alistair continued doubtfully. "Maybe into a trap."
"Are you afraid that the barbarians will attack you?" The witch in front laughed.
"Yes, it's not good to lash out!" The Guard snapped back.
Morrigan stopped to wait for the others as they made their way through the undergrowth.
"She's definitely a witch of the Wilds. Oh, we'll get into her pot," Davet cringed.
"The witch of the Wildlands?" Morrigan laughed again, as if the wind itself had carried the distant words to her. "Legends, fairy tales are lies and superstitions. Are you not used to thinking with your mind?"
Davet fell silent, and when the witch turned away, he spoke to Jory in a whisper again:
"We are far away from the trail. Does anyone remember the way?"
"I remember that tree over there."
"I see..."
"Just let's go already" Elissa sighed and caught up with Morrigan. "How far does your mother live?"
"It's getting close. She prefers privacy. However, you will see for yourself" The witch turned around. "Although your friends are already ready to run with all their might, as soon as a rustle is heard behind your back. Are you all that distrustful?"
"The wildlands are inhospitable. There is something to be afraid of here."
"There are more than just monsters in the Wildlands. Toads, flowers, birds and animals live here."
"Aren't you afraid of the creatures of darkness?"
"I know the Wild lands as only the mistress knows. I deftly bypass the creatures of darkness. They come out of the ground as if erupting, and their number grows and causes inconvenience. That's why I'm taking you to my mother.
Jory screamed from behind. He stepped on something alive and recoiled in fright. Morrigan smiled wryly.
"It's not death that scares them," Elissa hastened to reply. "They just have something to lose."
"So you have nothing to do?"
They came out from behind the trees to a large clearing surrounded by swamps and thickets of reeds. On it stood a sagging and green hut, so squalid and dilapidated that it was hard to imagine anyone living here. However, smoke was coming out of the stone chimney, and an ugly old woman in rags was standing by the door, which was barely hanging on its unoiled hinges, as if she were just waiting for guests.
"Mom, greetings! There are four Grey Guards, they are..." Morrigan began, but the old woman interrupted her in a slightly hoarse voice:
"I see them, girl. Hmm..."
Uncombed strands of gray hair fell over her face, which was stained with earth, making the old woman look wild and even unreasonable, but her penetrating gaze made one shudder. She examined the guests carefully. The dark gold of her eyes was far older than they could have imagined.
"That's about what I expected to see," she finally nodded.
"She's definitely a witch!" Davet muttered. "He'll turn us into toads, too!"
"Calm down, Davet. If she really is a witch, then it's not worth angering her." Jory whispered faintly, but they heard him.
"What a good fellow. Unfortunately, your role in the overall picture is insignificant. And here you are..."
The old woman stared at Elissa, which made the girl's insides freeze. It was as if the witch looked into the deepest abyss of her soul and saw, looked, opened, observed. The golden gaze was mesmerizing.
"...how much is uncertain. Who knows how your fate will turn out."
The pressure eased, and Elissa exhaled softly.
"Is this the terrible witch of the Wildlands?" Alistair chuckled.
"The witch of the Wildlands?" The old woman burst into a raspy laugh. "Morrigan loves such fairy tales and dances under the moon."
"...They didn't come here to hear your wild tales, Mom."
"Did you come for the contracts?" The old woman disappeared through the door and quickly returned with a bundle in her hands. "Before you start barking at me, keep in mind that there's nothing left of your seal for a long time. I protected the papers."
"Did you... ah... did you guard them?" Alistair was surprised.
"And why not?" The old woman shrugged her bony shoulders, handing the scrolls to Elissa. "Give them to the Grey Guards and tell them that the threat of Pestilence is stronger than they think."
"Thank you for returning them," the girl muttered in confusion. It really turned out to be so easy, and there was no catch.
"Oh, how sweet that is," the old woman laughed again. "You find politeness where you don't expect it at all. It's like stockings... oh, don't mind me. You got what you wanted.
"Then it's time for you to leave," Morrigan said.
"Girl, don't be so rude. They're your guests, and it's getting dark."
Morrigan sighed.
"Well, okay. I'll get you out of the woods. Follow me."
The Morrigan wasn't lying. She took them back by a short cut and left them at the main trail leading to Ostagar. Alistair watched her go and wanted to say something, but just blinked as Morrigan disappeared. Only the cry of the crow merged with the sounds of the night.
Komm/
The chapter turned out to be short, but Akili still wanted to introduce you to the witches separately. As a reward for waiting, the next one will come out faster. Initiation is coming.
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