Departure

"Fox, are you ready to leave? We'd better go soon, I want to get to Lake Calenhad before the weather takes a turn for the worse!" yelled Darrian.

I was sitting on a bench, receiving a most fantastic massage from one of the young Dalish women. Even though the curse had been lifted before I entered the final stage of the transformation, it was still quite debilitating and it had left me feeling well below standard. "In a minute," I yelled back.

For every moment that I rested (if you could call it resting, but after I woke up I felt as though I'd not slept for days) on an unusual Dalish cot, I'm pretty certain that I received a different knot in the muscles of my back and neck. My memories of the past few days were hazy at best, and though I could not recall any of the strange dreams I'd had, I could still feel their presence lingering in the back of my mind.

I felt the pressure ease, and Mythra gave a few final taps to signal the end of the massage. "Mar se… serannas?" I said, trying to recall the correct way to thank someone in the elven tongue.

She giggled at me, offering a small correction (the 'ma' did not need to be as pronounced), and then walked over to help pack one of the aravels. It seemed that the Dalish had had enough of this place too, with almost all of them eagerly packing away.

Franklin slowly came to my side, exhausted after spending many hours of every day playing with the Dalish children. I laughed gently at him, and he looked up at me with a happy glance. "You ready to go buddy?"

He replied with a soft bark, resting his head in my lap so that I could scratch him behind his ears. I tried to resist, knowing that he would get complacent should I reward him for nothing, but in the end I had no choice – he looked up at me with those puppy dog eyes, and the little whine he does when he wants something really bad.

"You two look so happy together," said Leliana, watching us from behind. "How did you meet Franklin?"

When Franklin heard his name, his tail wagged briefly before settling down again. I pulled him in closer, getting him into a better angle for a quick nap. "Well," I began. As I thought hard about the day I met Franklin, I realised that I had not told anyone this story before. "You'll have to forgive me; I'm a little sketchy on the details."

Leliana took a place by my side, looking right into my eyes and smiling expectantly at me. "Take your time," she said. "Darrian claims he is ready to leave, but I caught him playing matchmaker and I don't think he'll leave until the wedding's been organised."

I laughed, and looked over to the man. He was indeed playing matchmaker, giving advice to a young man by the name of Cammen. Franklin sneezed in my lap, reminding me that I was telling our story. "When I was younger – maybe five years old – one of my favourite things to do was sneak out into the woods by my house to collect the wild berries that grew there each year. What I loved most about them was the fact that they grew through all seasons, thriving in even the harshest winters and the hottest summers. For many months I would slip away unnoticed to my usual gathering spot, but as you probably know all good things must come to an end. Such as it was, I had plucked and eaten all of the berries in that particular spot over time. I was determined to get my fill of their sweetness, so I walked a little farther than I usually did. Now I was still quite young then, so my sense of direction was not as honed as it is today, and I found myself very lost very quickly. I must have walked in the completely opposite direction of my home, because after a while I knew I wasn't near the farm anymore."

"Are you alright?" asked Leliana. "You… you're going cross-eyed."

"Huh?" I asked. "I'm just thinking really hard, I guess. Anyway, so there I was, lost and it had just begun to rain – quite heavily too, so I tried to hide until the weather cleared up. Whilst I was hiding – no, cowering – in a nearby cave, I thought I heard the sound of a tiny puppy crying out for what I assumed to be its mother. The crying got louder, so I pulled myself together and moved out into the rain, determined to find the source of the sounds. A little farther beyond the mouth of the cavern was where I spotted this little guy-" I indicated Franklin in my lap "-staring into a deep hole that was filling with water. I ran to him, tried to pull him away but he kept looking down into the water and crying. It was only when the rain had stopped that I noticed why… There was another fully grown Mabari as well as two other pups that had…" I shivered.

"That must have been so terrible," said Leliana.

I nodded solemnly. "It was. I curled myself around Franklin until we both fell asleep. I woke the next day with him still cradled in my little arms, and he stood at the same time I did. I was certain that I'd not be allowed to keep him, but I couldn't just leave him behind either. I stood there deciding what to do, but I don't know why it took me so long. I think I wanted to keep him as soon as I saw him sitting there alone."

Leliana reached over to Franklin and scratched him behind the ears. "The Maker has curious plans for us all. It was He that brought you two together, just as He brought us together. We can only guess at His plans for us from here on out."

I don't know why, but something that Leliana said just then had gotten under my skin. I know she did not do it intentionally, but if what she said was true, then the Maker was to blame for all the hardships that everyone including myself had to suffer. If He loved just as Leliana claimed He did, then why would He abandon his children? Why was there so much fighting and sadness and why couldn't everyone just get along? I struggled internally for a while, forcing myself not to tell Leliana exactly what I thought of her 'Maker,' purely out of respect for her. I mean, sure, there was probably a time when I was younger that I would have thought the tales of the Maker to be true, but I just couldn't do that now, not with everything that has been happening.

If she needed to have faith in some higher power, that was fine. It was not my place to deny her that. "Yes," I said. It was the only thing I could think of.

"Whatchu talkin' bout?" asked Darrian, launching himself into the (very tiny) gap between Leliana and myself. "Because it's not important! I am ready to leave and so are you!"

The elven man stood quickly and hurried off, leaving me behind with a bewildered Leliana.

"Is he… drunk?" I asked her. I could smell something on him, though I could not pick exactly what it was. It seemed vaguely familiar, as if the scent were from a distant memory.

A couple of Dalish ran up past us, chasing after him into the trees. I looked at Leliana and shrugged.

Alistair came to the two of us, looking very worried. "Quick, we need to catch him before he does something seriously stupid. He drank something by mistake, and I've been told that it was a pretty powerful sedative!"

"He doesn't look very… sedated," I replied.

Alistair let a tiny laugh slip. "Yes, well – that can sometimes happen. We'd better go catch him, regardless."

"Right," said Leliana and I. "Come on Franklin, we've got a crazed elf on the loose and we need your help," I said to my dog as I roused him from his sleep.

Alistair extended a hand to both Leliana and me, helping us to our feet. I nodded to him in thanks.

"Darrian!" I called out to the trees. Franklin barked too, trying in vain to get the man's attention. Where the hell was he?

"You still haven't found him, I see," said Morrigan, appearing at my side.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when she surprised me, and I'm ashamed to say that I gave a scream that may or may not have been as many as it should have.

"Morrigan, never do that again. I almost hit you!"

She laughed. "If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I have something I want to show you."

I gulped, then nodded.

"Your magical skills have increased rapidly, far quicker than I could have anticipated. Flemeth insisted that I wait longer, but I believe it is time to show you."

"Show me what?" I asked, somewhat apprehensively. Who knew what she was up to.

Morrigan smiled. "Have you wondered what it is like to look down upon the land as you soar over it? What about how it feels see the world through the eyes of a spider, getting many different views on the same situation? I have known these things for some time now, and I have decided that you are ready."

"Yes, that's all well and good," I began. "But we really should be finding Darrian first."

"The forest is not as dangerous as it was, we have seen to that. Besides, should you get a basic knowledge of the technique, you may be able to find him with it."

I nodded. It did make sense. "Okay, but-"

"Just pay attention. This magic is unlike any other. Close your eyes, and imagine yourself in flight. Make sure that you are the bird, and not just looking at it. Visualise something that you know well, even something that you feel is not unlike yourself."

If this was all there was to it, I knew it wouldn't take me long. I'd spent many of my days watching the sparrows out in the fields as they flitted in and out of the high grass. I was quite jealous, in fact, of their ability to come and go as they pleased.

"Stay focussed," Morrigan snapped.

"I am!" I said defensively.

"What are you imagining?"

"The sparrows in the field of my-"

Morrigan sighed. "Already you are wrong. I did not say to visualise a field, I said to visualise yourself being the bird. Empty yourself of all other thoughts, memories – birds do not think of those things as we do."

I bit back a snappy response, because I knew that this was her style of teaching.

I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing, and I really thought hard on the things Morrigan had told me to. She kept telling me not to see the bird but to become it and it took me several minutes to understand exactly what she meant.

When I opened my eyes again, I could not see Morrigan. I turned my head to look at her, but instead my eyes met her ankles.

Suddenly, I was back to my regular height, and she looked up at me with a pleased expression.

"What the…" I said aloud.

"Well done," Morrigan replied. "Now put that to use and find the Warden. We mustn't delay."

Morrigan took off in flight, leaving me standing next to Franklin who was looking at me strangely. "Don't worry buddy, I'm not a bird. I'm gonna try this again, so you keep looking for Darrian okay buddy?"

He barked warily, then lowered his snout to the ground and sniffed away.

I closed my eyes again, doing exactly as Morrigan said, and concentrated hard. This time, I genuinely felt my body shifting and changing, and I was suddenly more aware of my surroundings, but less aware of my goal. It seemed that in this bird form, I lacked the same mental processing power I held as a human. I took my time adjusting to my new field of vision before I made my first attempt at flying.

Wow. I could move – fast.

My newfound wings were flapping with increasing speed, and after a few bounces I became airborne, and if it wasn't one of the best feelings I had ever experienced, I was certain that I'd never find anything else that even came close.

I flew, looking down at the treetops below me and saw things in a way that very few other people ever had or ever would, and I just lost myself in the moment. I let the wind take me, feeling its gentle power carrying me along as I dipped and climbed, skimming along the treetops.

I could see a small fork in a river up ahead, and it looked large enough for someone to swim in. I checked it out, and to my surprise I found Darrian floundering about in the water. I circled overhead, just to make sure that it was him.

"Darrian!" I yelled at him.

"Fox!" he called back. "What're you doing up there?"

What am I doing up here? In that instant, the spell broke and I plummeted into the water head first. Thankfully it was deep enough to ensure my safety. I burst through the surface of the water, coughing and spluttering with a (very naked) Darrian wading through the crystal clear water at my side.

"Hey man," said the elf. "That was awesome."

"Yes, thank you," I replied. "We should really get back to the others, we need to keep moving."

Darrian smiled serenely at me. "Woah man, slow down. Everyone's in a rush these days, never taking time to enjoy the finer things in life. Like this lovely water," he said as he swam backward, giving me a face-full of water in the process.

"And clothing, apparently," I grumbled to myself. I swam to the edge of the water and pulled myself out, looking around for Darrian's clothing.

I was about to give up looking for them when I spotted the two Dalish from earlier running toward me, Darrian's clothing in their hands. They had found the clothes, along with his weapon, discarded amongst a pile of flowers.

"Ma serannas," I said, nodding curtly. "I can take it from here."

The Dalish nodded and then left after telling me that everyone else was on their way to this point. I was tempted to wait until they came so that someone else could dress the man, but he just snuck up behind me and placed a firm smack on my left butt-cheek.

I whipped around to catch him looking at me, biting his lower lip and eyeing me steadily. I threw his pants at him then turned around again, waiting for him to put them on.

"Are you done?" I asked him.

"Sure am," he replied.

I turned around again, only to see him still completely naked. "What are you doing!?" I exclaimed, narrowly avoiding his thrown pants.

"I don't wanna wear my clothes," he said with a pout.

"Fine, but we're not going anywhere until everyone else gets here, and you put on some clothes."

"Fine," Darrian replied. He sat down in the mud and folded his arms.

It was like dealing with a petulant child. Thankfully, only a few minutes passed before Alistair and Leliana found their way to the spot where I was situated.

"Good luck," I said, before handing Alistair Darrian's clothing.

I filled Leliana in on the details while we watched Alistair try - and fail - to get our leader clothed once more. Darrian was far quicker than Alistair (whom Darrian had dubbed the 'clothes demon') and he ran circles around the other man, who was beginning to get desperate. He lunged out and grabbed Darrian by the arm, who instantly reacted by pulling himself in closer, so that his junk was now making contact with Alistair's leg.

"I'll do it for a kiss," grinned Darrian.

Alistair looked at us hopefully, but I just laughed at him. Cruel, I know, but Leliana didn't seem to mind a tiny bit, and she was supposedly the purest of heart.

"Sorry, Alistair, but someone has to do it and it's not going to be me," I said, laughing.

Alistair gulped. "Maker, forgive me…"

Their lips met very briefly, before Darrian pulled away smiling. "That wasn't so hard now, was it?"

"Can we never speak of this again?" groaned Alistair. "And please, don't tell Morrigan. I'd never hear the end of it."

"My my," said Morrigan, entering the clearing. "Keeping secrets now, are we?"

True to his word, Darrian rinsed himself off and slipped into his clothing. Until Darrian had returned to his usual self, I became the de facto leader. I suggested Alistair myself, as he was the Grey Warden here, but he stated that he was never meant to be a leader, and insisted that I head the group.

I knew that Lake Calenhad connected to the Drakon River, and if I was correct Darrian had just been swimming in it. I asked that Morrigan fly up and get a bearing on our location, double checking that we were following the river away from the mountains and toward the lake.

Darrian had returned to normal by dawn of the next day, and I was all too happy to return the mantle of leadership to him. It was much easier to follow, in more ways than one. I was very pleased that I had little decisions to make, and none that would affect the group as a whole.

Another day had passed before we spotted the circle tower in the distance. With the end of our trek in sight, we all picked up the pace and hurried along the path that led us to a small inn on the shore, named the Spoiled Princess.

"Right, here we are. I say we rest until dawn, then cross the lake to the tower. Is everyone okay with that?"

I don't know what it was about the man, but whenever he spoke, we listened, and whatever he ordered, we did. The longer I spent in Darrian's company, the more I knew that he was destined for great things, and I am honoured to call him one of my closest and most trusted friends. I had faith that he would never lead us astray.

A/N: Thank you again, friends! I hope you've enjoyed this slightly silly chapter, it was pretty fun for me to write... But! I have a question, and possibly a favour to ask of one of you! I'm looking for a beta reader, to help me keep this story in line ;)

The Dark Door: Why thank you so much! Reading your comments always brings a smile to my face, and I really appreciate that you take the time to leave a reply! As for Alistair and Fox, I'm sure they'll get along just fine... good friendships take time!

Avarenda: You are quite right, things will most certainly become complicated down the track. Thanks for your reply!

SwoopingDragon: I know, to be honest I'd completely forgotten about Sten until it was far too late! If I can think of a reasonable way to introduce him via some other means, then I will do so. Sten is just one of my favorite characters, he has so many hilarious moments! And I completely agree with you, it does seem like I strongly dislike Alistair, but that couldn't be further from the truth, I'm actually a huge Alistair fanboy! I just felt that everything would be too simple if everyone liked each other, so we're seeing Fox's dislike for Alistair, not mine! I swear! And I'd just like to add a huuuuuuge thank you for taking the time to reply to each chapter, it is much appreciated. You're a star, you're on top, somebody bring you some haaaaaaaaam! (that was a little song from 30 Rock just for you)

AD Lewis: Thanks! I, too, wish that Fox could have both, but... Oh well. Thanks for leaving a review!

Once again, many many thanks to all the readers, especially the ones that followed or favorited this story and/or myself! Ya'll are the towel to my hitchhiker!

P.S. As you may well know, I make a stupid nerdy reference at the end of each chapter. Starting from now, if you correctly guess what it is, I'll write a little somethin' somethin' for ya ;)

If you've got it, follow me on Tumblr and I'll do the same back :) lankykilla . tumblr . com