Sundermount was a larger than Fenris had thought. (Then again, he had only seen it when he had arrived at the docks in Kirkwall.) The elf could not help but marvel at the large mountain whose highest peak was hidden by puffy grey clouds. In Tevinter, there were no large mountains save for the far South, where Danarius had never taken him. The crag was covered with small pine forests and granite cliffs with a handful of paths separating them. The mountain side almost looks like the face of a man. He mused.
"Do we have to climb all the way up?" Carver whined, bringing the elf out of his thoughts.
"I doubt it," Marian said as she started walking on the closest path up the summit. "I doubt that the Dalish would have their camp at the top."
The elf sighed. The entire group had chosen to go with Hawke to give this woman, Marethari, some sort of necklace. Hawke lead the way with Aveline and Carver following right behind her. Fenris was slightly to the right of the group, because he wanted to keep Anders in his line of vision. Varric took the rear.
"This outdoors thing is growing on me, like a tumor." Varric grumbled, his eyes gazing upward. "We dwarfs are not built for scaling mountain sides."
"At least there will be a nice view," Marian retorted, her cocky smile beaming like the sun.
"Does anything ever bother you, Hawke?" Fenris found himself asking.
"Only my brother and assholes," Marian hopped over a small log.
"Hey!" Carver shouted, while Anders and Aveline started laughing.
The elf heard a small chuckle come out of his mouth. Hawke was undoubtedly the strangest person he had ever met. To think that she wanted to do this task alone. Fenris thought. Whoever had saved her in Lothering, must have been a great person for her to be willing to go through all of this trouble just to deliver a simple trinket.
"Don't worry everyone," Marian said. "I am sure that we'll meet the elves well before we get to far up the mountain."
They had been climbing for several hours when Anders got the feeling that he was being watched. Then again, it could have been because the mage was exhausted from climbing and the thinning air. The group had climbed half way up the mountain side, and there was still no sign of the Dalish. The trees were still plentiful, but at least there were no large boulders blocking their way.
"Looks like you were wrong, sister," Carver spat, the mage was really starting to find Carver's constant complaining annoying.
Maker, how can those to be related? The blond haired mage found himself wondering.
"Don't worry, brother dear," Marian looked up the path. "I am sure we'll find the Dalish soon."
"You've found them, Shemlen," A male dark skinned elf in green armor stepped out of the trees. "Now you had better go back down the path. Your kind are not welcome among the Dalish."
All at once, ten armed elves jumped out from behind the trees surrounding them. Each elf wore the same green armor and had intricate red tattoos on their faces. Half were armed with bows and arrows, while the others had swords and shields. All of their weapons were pointed at them, ready to attack.
"We are not here to fight," Marian stepped forward to address the elf who had spoken to them. "I was given an amulet to give to some named Marethari."
"How do you know that name?" The first Dalish elf demanded.
"Wait," called one of the archers, who was a women with short, dark hair. "I think that this is the one the Keeper spoke of."
"A Shemlen!" The first elf looked at Hawke as though he had never seen a human before. "I thought they'd be an elf."
"Follow us to the camp," The dark haired female Dalish lowered her bow. "Keeper Marethari has been waiting for you."
"Cause trouble and you'll meet our blades, stranger," The first elf said.
"Thank you," Marian replied with a slight bow of her head.
The elves lead the group to a small clearing a few yards off the path where the Dalish had made their camp. Anders had never seen a Dalish camp before. There were a hand full of brightly painted carts with strange symbols on them which matched the patterns of the facial tattoos all of the elves in the camp, save for Fenris, had on their faces. Near the carts, was a small workbench or what the mage thought was a workbench, with three elves carving various things from wood. In the center of the camp was a large fire pit with an old, white haired elf standing next to it.
"That is the keeper," One of archers pointed to the old elf standing next to the fire.
Marian nodded and walked over to the old woman, everyone else following behind her. "Marethari."
The old woman turned to them.
"I was told to give you this amulet," Marian pulled the necklace out of her pocket.
"Andaran atish'an, traveler," Marethari took the amulet from Hawke. "Indeed I am Keeper Marethari."
"Let me look at you," The old elf gestured for Marian to come closer.
Hawke did as she was asked. The Keeper carefully looked at her with an intense gaze. It is almost like she is trying to see into her soul. The mage thought.
"There is truth in your face," The elf said, after a long silence. "And a light in your heart. A rare thing for a human. Don't lose it."
The old woman stepped away from Hawke. "Tell me, how this burden fell to you, child"
"The woman who sent me saved my family from the Blight," Marian answered. "In return I agreed to bring it to you, and I am a woman of my word."
"I honor you for coming to me," Marethari responded.
"How did you know I was coming?" Marian asked.
"I listen," the elf replied with a small smile. "The world can reveal much if one knows how to listen."
"But," the Keeper sighed. "I am afraid your part in this is not yet done. The amulet must be taken to an alter near the top of the mountain and given a Dalish rite for the departed."
The old woman handed the amulet back to Hawke. "Then return the amulet to me. Do this and you debt will be paid."
"Are you going to teach me this rite for the departed?" Marian questioned as she put the amulet back in her pocket.
"I will send my First with you," Marethari answered. "She will see to it the ritual is done. And, when it is complete, I must ask that you take her with you when you go."
"Who is your first? Hawke asked, confused. "First of what?"
"Your people would call her my apprentice or heir," the old elf clarified. "Marrill, would have taken my place as Keeper, but…she has chosen a new path. Please guide her safely from here."
"If that is what you want," Marian agreed.
"It is not what I want." A saddened look appeared on the old elf's face. "But what she wants."
"You will find her down the trial up the mountain over there." The Keeper pointed to a small trail just beyond the camp. "Dareth shiral."