A Cousland's Duty

by Sirya Ebony Black

First in the Daughter's of Amell Series. Cousins Elissa and Solona along with Alistair have to fulfill their roles in a Prophecy. To a Cousland duty comes first. Elissa must do everything she for family, country and Wardens to see them all through the Blight. She has help in the form of the group they gather, each member will have their own roles to play in the coming trials.

14. Chapter 14

The Daughters of Amell Series

A Cousland's Duty

Part 8

Elissa was almost aglow with energy and health by the time they left Redcliffe. She woke to find her fever from the few days before had faded as they left Redcliffe. Her appetite was back in force. She also finally got to finish making up with Alistair well into the night.

Jowan had spent the night before they left frightened he was going to end up in the dungeon until Solona had returned. Teagan had been with her in his brother's office to figure out what has going to happen to Jowan without the Arlessa in the meeting. Solona had walked out and told him to get in the back of Bodahn's wagon. Jowan hadn't had any time to really process the fact before he was loaded into the back of the wagon and they were on the way out of the castle without Isolde having a word to say about it. He was still in shock that she'd talked Teagan into letting him go.

The entire party made camp at the edge of the delta that lead into the smaller lake attached to Lake Calenhad in an area protected from the snow and wind by the edge of one of the red cliff faces that the arling was named after. After camp was setup that night Jowan waited until they were sitting at the large bonfire waiting for the stew to cook to ask her what Teagan had said.

"What did you say to the Bann to get him to release me?" He asked her softly.

She smirked and lifted a brow."What makes you think I said anything?"

Jowan groaned looking a little green as he always did when Solona's sex life was being discussed. She was never sure if it was because he saw her as family, or if it was because he might have once been attracted to her. It didn't matter to her because she knew he'd actually loved Lily and she'd never seen him as a possible partner.

"So the rumors were true, you did sleep with him." He said with disapproval.

She giggled and nudged him with her shoulder. "Wasn't much sleeping involved." Jowan didn't laugh with her, it sobered her. Normally while the topic made him uncomfortable he'd at least laugh along with her. "What's the matter?"

"You do know the outside world doesn't look at sex and relations the same way we do inside the Circle." He reminded her.

She shrugged, she knew that but she hadn't experienced that yet. "Seems pretty similar to me."

Jowan shook his head as he avoided looking at her. "A little discreet fun maybe, but banging the Bann of Rainsfaire in front of the Arlessa of Redcliffe and her staff? That wasn't a smart move Sole." He lectured her, his tone was cold and assertive, something she was not used to. "Do you have any idea how much this could hurt your cousin?" He finally asked her.

Solona had been about to brush it off again when his last words sunk in. "What are you talking about?"

Jowan looked tortured as he let his disappointment wash over his face. "If the Arl dies, she will need Teagan to support Alistair for the throne. He will have trouble gaining support for her if it's known he is having an affair with you, the Warden-Commander; Alistair's Commander."

"Who said anything about making Alistair King?" She asked with surprise. "He can't be the King of Ferelden; he's a Grey Warden."

"Eamon was planning on it before I stepped foot in the castle. He asked me to scry for Alistair so he could be found and brought before the Landsmeet." Jowan explained to her. "He wanted to get Alistair to Denerim before Loghain had a chance to kill him."

Solona shivered. "I guess you were good at scrying since Teagan knew Alistair was alive before we arrived." She never could cast location spells, it required something that meant a great deal to the person or a piece of them like blood. It was the type of magic Templar used to find mages, only they activated the magic in the blood to locate the owner.

He nodded slowly, looking a little guilty. "He was greatly concerned when the scrying said Alistair was on his way to the Anderfels via Orlais." He gave her a dirty look for changing the subject. "That still doesn't change the fact that what you did was extremely stupid."

"OK, so no more sex scandals." She sighed, looking a little embarrassed at being called out for her behavior. It had been immature to leave the door open so Isolde could hear them better. "At least with nobles." She muttered. She was going to miss Teagan in some ways, it had been a fun few days. She looked at Jowan with concern. "Are you alright?"

He looked down and shook his head. "Do you know what happened to Lily?" He asked quietly. He looked sick with fear and concern.

Solona bit her lip and looked down too. "Greagoir was pissed when you got away using blood magic. He actually ordered us both sentenced to Aeonar for helping you." He gasped and looked frightened. She tried to reassure him by placing her hand on his shoulder. "It's in a way a blessing he did. There she will be tested and released because you did nothing to her. " She watched as his face clouded with sorrow. "If she had stayed in the Tower she'd have died in Uldred's rebellion." Jowan nodded absently. Solona looked at him sympathetically. "I should have told you earlier when you asked about the Circle. I didn't want to be the one to tell you."

Jowan nodded absently but showing he had understood her feelings. "She most likely hates me now." He looked down at the ground to hide the way his tears were filling his eyes.

Solona placed her hand on his shoulder. "If she loved you, she will forgive you in time. She knows how frightened you were." He pulled her into a hug and began to cry softly on her shoulder. After a few minutes it became body shaking sobbing that he needed to release. "And if I can forgive you, she can." She said with a supportive smile as she rubbed his back in comforting circles.

Solona pulled him closer to hug him as hard as she could as his breathing slowed and evened out. Jowan had always been a sensitive soul, he wasn't cut-out for the killing she and they others were going to have to do. The sooner she could get him to Soldier's Peak the better it would be for all of them, especially for Jowan. At least there he would be in similar to the Circle, without Templar guards looming about the halls. In the meantime he had a great deal to learn from Sandal about enchanting. It would be an interesting type of apprenticeship since Sandal couldn't really teach what he did, but Jowan wanted to learn. It would also be a distraction from what was going on in the world around them.

Elissa watched from a distance as Solona and Jowan talked. When Jowan broke down she turned away and walked back to the camp, pulling Alistair with her. "They are fine. She doesn't need us hovering." She reminded him.

Alistair snorted. "After Teagan I'm not sure how much we should trust her judgment when it comes to men."

Elissa chuckled softly and kept pulling Alistair away. "Kindly remember she is only seventeen and is likely to make mistakes when it comes to her personal life... but the question I have for you; is that her brother talking, or is it something else?"

Alistair looked down at her face, his concern still clouding his eyes. "It's mostly brotherly concern... Living in the castle I heard things I wasn't suppose to all the time." He explained while his cheeks quickly filled with a dark blush. "Teagan is... well his tastes in... activities were always a little..." He trailed off not sure how to describe it to her.

"Wild and adventuresome?" She supplied smiling at his blushing display.

He sighed with frustration and rubbed his now too long hair. "That's one way to say it. Humiliating for the girl...or guy, is another." He admitted uncomfortably. "Or at least I think so."

She smiled softly but continued to tease him. "Not your type of thing then?" She asked calmly.

Alistair started to say no quickly, but then bit his lip. "Not like that no." he finally said, wanting to be completely truthful with her. While most of the things he had heard about were too extreme for his piece of mind, some of them had sounded interesting to a then teenaged Alistair. "Nothing that exotic."

Elissa was intrigued by his answer, but decided to table that conversation for another time when they weren't discussing Teagan Guerrin. "Sole is fine," she reminded him with a reassuring grin, "and other than a few love bites, she is unmarked." Alistair glowered at that statement. They both knew if she'd wanted them gone they would be. "Relax Alistair. At least she isn't shooting daggers at us with her eyes when we kiss anymore." She reminded him of the dirty looks they had endured after their reunion in Orzammar.

He grumbled and held her close to him. "There is that at least."

"Let's take a walk. This will be the last night it might be safe to do so for a while." She reminded him as she pulled on his hand to drag him a little ways away from the camp.
They had made their camp at the edge of the arling patrolled area. After tonight they would be in Blight controlled areas of Southern Ferelden, and it wouldn't be safe to be out of sight of the others. The sky was clear making the stars visible and the air slightly colder.

They walked in silence for a few minutes until they were out of earshot of the camp. Alistair stopped when they got near the shore of the lake. He took her into his arms and held her against his chest, relishing the feel of her warmth. He moved his lips to her throat and gave her whisper light kisses along her pulse point just so he could feel the increasing speed of it under his lips.

"I want you to know that I am eternally grateful to have you in my life. Even as bad as things are right now, with the Blight and Loghain. I believe we are going to make it through all of this, because I believe in you." He whispered devoutly into her ear. "I never want you to doubt that. I can't believe everything we've already accomplished."

She shivered at his words. "I don't doubt it, and you had as much to do with how far we have gotten as anyone." She whispered back as her head fell to the side, giving him more access to her sensitive skin. "I think we can do this because of you." She moaned as his lips pressed harder to her throat, his stubble scratching at her skin as his tongue gave little licks against her pulse. "Without you I don't know I could have managed to shake off my grief enough to fight back after Ostagar." She whispered breathlessly.

He pulled back and looked intensely into her eyes making her shiver delightfully at the emotions reflecting back at her. There was certainly a little lust there, but mostly love and gratefulness that she too was feeling. "Me either." He told her seriously. "I really don't know what to make of this quest to find the Urn of Sacred Ashes though."

Elissa leaned into him and placed her head against his chest, hugging his waist as he wrapped his arms more tightly around her. "I don't think it's really the way to go, but it won't hurt to have some better intelligence on what is happening closer to Denerim, we can reach out to my allies there discreetly, and we need to head this way anyway to see the elves." She reasoned as she placed her head on his chest, playing with the ties on the front of his shirt absently.

"It's only a few days out of the way, and we know the Archdemon is still underground, so we have some time." He shuddered slightly as he remembered the nightmare she'd woken him from last night. His dreams had been worse in the Deep Roads. The dreams from last night were just more intense because they played on his insecurities about being not good enough to stop the Blight or Loghain. Leaving Elissa and Solona alone to fight the darkness and Archdemon because he'd fallen. It brought to the surface the feelings of guilt, worthlessness and abandonment he'd felt after Ostagar. It also dredged up the feelings of grief of Duncan's death, only this time it was because he hadn't live in the dream, which in itself had been extremely disconcerting.

She nodded softly, rubbing her cheek against his chest. She loved standing like this and hearing his heartbeat. On the nights when she was having trouble sleeping the steady drumming of his heart was soothing and reassuring. It gave her hope that things could get better one day, and this strife would all end. It also helped that she had a complete belief in the Prophecy. While she might not believe in the Chantry and its Chant of Light, she did believe in the Maker wholeheartedly. She also believed he'd sent the Prophecy to guide them all to do his work. It was one of the reasons she never pressed Leliana about her own vision. When she was ready she would share everything or not, either way she was here for her own reasons as were all the others. The chances of all of them being in the right place at the right time to make such a huge eclectic group come together and work so well was astronomical. It had to be divinely touched in her opinion.

The prophecy was continuing to bolstering her feelings of positivity towards the choices they were making. While they always seemed to need to fight some unforeseen circumstances, such as the trip to the Deep Roads. Each victory netted them additional resources they didn't have before now, such as; the two Dwarven wardens now following the Archdemon, and the treaties with the dwarves to support Ferelden before and after the Blight. The treaties would not have been possible if she'd had less time to spend in Orzammar. Making the friends she had and taking the time to study the information she had been given had been a huge windfall for her and Ferelden as a whole once they defended Loghain.

Loghain and Howe had to be aware she had allied with the Circle of Magi and the Tower Templars. Their spy network might possibly know about her arrangement with Orzammar. Their allies were began to gather near Kinloch Hold Docks. With the Templars supporting her Loghain didn't dare attack them openly. He would risk starting a rift with the Chantry and even as much as Elissa hated the Chantry, now was not the time to be making more enemies.

Loghain also had the Bannorn rising up against him in rebellion. He had to fight a war on too many fronts right now, with limited resources. He had the Darkspawn, the nobles, and the scared population all vying for his attention. As much as Elissa was the figurehead they were likely to rally behind, Loghain and Howe had no clue where she was at present. All they knew for sure was their assassin had failed, and they couldn't hire another Crow to take care of her directly because of the rumors she was now the Warden-Commander.

Alistair and Elissa stayed out by the lake for a while talking about everything they had done, and how they were feeling about what they needed to do. Alistair had been surprised by her devotion to the Maker. With her constant disparaging comments regarding the Chantry he'd thought she wasn't religious. He wasn't the most devout of followers himself, but having been raised by the Chantry some of his belief in the Chant was real. He just didn't believe the stories and history were the whole truth either. He wasn't so sure the Maker watched over the world anymore.

They headed back to camp when the wind picked up enough to cause the cold to penetrate Elissa's cloak. They retreated back to the fire to be warmer and to eat dinner with the others.

Elissa reluctantly walked off with Solona after dinner to discuss a matter that was worrying her. She'd have rather stayed close to Alistair who had been helping keep her warm in the biting wind. He watched them go with a smile as Rory lowered himself down next to him.

"Everything alright?"

Alistair nodded as he rose to get another bowl of the stew beside the fire, he had to scrap the pot to fill the bowl. "Yeah. Elissa and Solona have a few secrets they aren't ready to share with everyone else yet, I think." He chuckled softly. Their secrets didn't bother him. He knew if it was important Elissa would have said something to them.

Rory chuckled. "More like girl talk."

Alistair shrugged with a chuckle agreeing with the ex-Knight. "I don't want to think about what they could be talking about after Redcliffe." He winced as he thought of the rumors he'd heard of Solona and Teagan's performance for Isolde. As much as he hated the woman, everyone knew she adored Teagan. Even as she played the pious, dedicated wife to Eamon her fondness for Teagan has always caused rumors. Their performance must have hurt her, and she already had so much to be dealing with. The whole thing seemed more than a little mean-spirited to him.

Rory laughed and slapped him on the shoulder again."Just be glad we are all dealing with our blighted issues in ways that aren't going to set anything, or anyone on fire again. Or nearly get someone's head chopped off." He said while pulling out a whetstone and his sword.

Alistair looked surprised as he handed over Alistair's own stone and sword to him. "I wasn't aware you'd…" He placed them beside him to sharpen when he finished the last of the stew.

Rory snorted and began to prepare his sword for sharpening. "I know how to be discreet, but no, I was too busy running back and forth from the Circle with the horses. Fetching and returning the mages. I'll deal with my issues in the traditional way when I get to Denerim."

Alistair blushed lightly knowing that Rory was talking about going to the Pearl, or another brothel in the city. "I'm sorry, I should have gone-"

"No. Elissa was sick." He told him without concern for the responsibilities falling on him. It had felt good to be needed without having to make choices that could lead men into death. He still wasn't ready for that responsibility yet, but he was slowly getting better about being a member of the team. "It was a very simple errand. You were where you needed to be. I'm glad Elissa is feeling better." He said watching her carefully, looking for any signs she was still not feeling well.

"No... she's defiantly better." Alistair said with a smirk. "Don't tell her I said so, but she ate her dinner, and almost half of mine both this evening and yesterday without noticing." He said as he held his bowl up to take a huge bit while he had the chance.

Rory looked at him with amused amazement. "Little miss I-still-eat-like-a-noble ate enough to satisfy a warden?"

Alistair nodded with a chuckle. "Under duress mind you, she will admit she eats more now because of the amount of riding and walking we do is more than she was used to. The last two days she's been ravenous." In more ways than one, but Alistair wasn't one to brag. Of course he hadn't needed to when everyone could hear them even as they tried to be quiet. Leliana had taken great pleasure in teasing him this morning about taking directions from Elissa. He hadn't been aware the nosy bard had been in the room beside them at the castle, and had heard everything through the windows. Seemed she had nothing better to do than to listen intently.

Rory glared playfully at him. "She better not be pregnant."

Alistair paled at the thought before remembering her teasing him that she was not in fact pregnant. He hurried to confirm that fact. "Maker, NO!" He cried out. "The healer made sure to tell her she wasn't!"

"Keep it that way until after the wedding." Rory muttered good-naturally. Alistair couldn't help but blush as he tucked into the rest of his dinner hoping that conversation was over.

Solona looked concerned as she dragged Elissa away from the camp. "There are two things I need to say."

"OK." Elissa said waiting for Solona to get herself together. Elissa had a feeling she knew what one of the topics was going to be and she was right as Solona dived right into the first topic.

Solona took a deep breath. "It was pointed out to me, bluntly, that my little bit of revenge against Isolde wasn't considered appropriate and could get you in trouble if the Arl dies." She said looking more embarrassed as she went on. "Maker, the more I think about it, the more I feel stupid for even starting all that." She ran her hand through her hair in agitation.

"That was about Isolde?" Elissa asked astonished that she'd done it for that. "I thought it was your changing hormones helping you make those questionable choices."

Solona had the decency to blush a light red. "My raging libido might have made the idea more appealing, especially after talking to a few of the maids about Teagan's past sexual history, and how Isolde doesn't let the single maids stay in the hall after dinner."

Elissa raise her eyebrows and scoffed. "You knew that he was..." She left the sentence hanging, not sure she wanted any of the rumors confirmed, she was still going to need to be able to look Teagan in the eye at a later date.

"Yeah." she admitted before clearing her throat. "Anyway, we both kind of got carried away when she walked in and left the door open."

Elissa laughed hard and loudly trying to picture the older woman's face. "Oh Maker's breath Sole. I wish I had seen that!"

Solona joined in. "It was great! Her face got that devastated look and scrunched up all harpyish... and the best part was what Teagan said to her as she watched us." She laughed harder as she recalled his tone and actions.

"Should I hear what that was?" Elissa asked still laughing.

Solona's eyes lit up as she recalled his words. "This is how a real woman likes to be pleasured, fucking enjoying every second of it, in every way!"

Elissa shook her head while still laughing so hard her head began to ache. "Maker that must have slayed her."

Solona snorted and leaned back against a tree proudly. "The bitch stood there and watched us."

Elissa gasped and nearly choked as she nearly doubled over laughing so hard, her eyes filled with tears and she had to wipe them away. "She didn't!"

"Oh yeah, then finally she screamed and ran off." They both dissolved into giggles for several more minutes, each setting the other off several times before they were able to sober up. "You're not mad at me are you?" She finally asked as they began to regain their composure.

Elissa shook her head with a look of amusement. "Alistair is a little disappointed, and disturbed by what he knows about Teagan, and what he heard happened. He might be questioning some of your decisions for a bit, but that's more to do with his idea of someone he is used to see as an uncle having sex with someone he sees as a sister."

Solona screwed up her face in sympathetic disgust. "I didn't think of that."

"As for the political fallout, I wouldn't worry. I think we are going to find a way to save the Arl, and if not sex scandals are nothing new among the nobles. They will be more upset about the age difference and that you are a mage than your position as Warden-Commander. Especially the women. Besides the only other option that nobles have would be Loghain if they refuse me as Queen." Elissa spelled out for her. "It won't hurt me. "

Solona looked relieved. "I didn't think it would but that doesn't mean I should make it harder than it needs to be." She paused before she brought up her other reason for dragging Elissa from camp. "The other thing was the book from the tower." She said, referring to Flemeth's grimoire. She didn't want to say what it was out loud since she never knew how close Morrigan was, or what animal she was disguised as to spy on the others. She wasn't as bad as Solona had thought at first. In fact she was starting to really grow on her. "I think we should hand it over."

Elissa agreed somewhat reluctantly. Unlike Solona she wasn't warming to the witch. When she was honest to herself thought her coldness had more to do with Morrigan's attitude toward Alistair than anything the witch had done to her personally. "I would wait until we are done with the Elves first. We'll have time to let her pour over it while half of us are in the city."

Solona agreed. "OK, I'll give it to her before I enter Denerim."

It took them twice as long as they thought it would to get to the area where the Dalish were said to be camped because of all the Darkspawn between Redcliffe and the Forest. Zevran was well and truly blooded now. He'd killed as many darkspawn as Elissa, Wynne and Leliana had combined so far on this leg of their trip. It was as if he was still trying to prove himself to the group. Elissa could understand that. None of the others had been around when she had learned how dependable the elf could be. She was surprised Solona was dragging her feet about confirming her decision in making him a warden. She would leave it for a few more days before she said anything about it. Zevran seemed to be waiting for Solona to make her move and since he was content to wait for now, she would be too. At least until the elves were served the treaty.

Of all the treaties this one was the one she didn't hold out any real hope for. it was not because she had anything against elves, but because co-operation between humans and elves always seemed to end with promises to the elves falling short or being straight out broken. The Elven people were slowly being decimated and she did not blame them for their lack of trust when it came to humans.

Where there were once Elven cities filled with their race, there were now dwindling numbers among the nomadic tribes of Dalish. The populations of elves in the city alienages were so small, marriages had to be arranged between different cities to avoid inbreeding. Worst still for the elves was that they couldn't breed with any other race, all the children of such unions were born non-Elven. All breeding aged elves were needed to continue their race into another generation. Too many could be lost if they fulfilled their contractual obligations with the Wardens. And yet they could all perish if the Blight spread. It was not a predicament that she would want to have to make choices regarding. The Elves had sat out the Second Blight and the Chantry and Orlais had used it as an excuse to call an Exalted March against the Dales killing far more elves than the second Blight ever could have.

Due to all the discrimination and broken trust between humans and elves the Dalish were skittish around humans. They even had their own derogatory word for humans, shems. The Highever alienage was no better than any other, and while Elissa had wanted to do more, the elves wouldn't hear of it. They refused what they saw as charity. One of their leaders had explained it to her when she was a child. She'd tried to give an elf child her doll she had brought along with her that day when she had seen the girl looking at it enviously. The other child had spat at her and yelled something she hadn't understood before running away. The Elven leader had told her that they choose to live together in the Alienage where they could protect and care for their own rather than live among the people who used and abused them. He further explained that no elf would accept a gift from a human because most humans would hold a gift as an obligation to be used against them later. It wasn't until Solona told her about the abuses by the Templars against some of the other apprentices that Elissa finally fully understood when he had meant.

Elissa had been more determined to help, but over time she'd learned that forcing your help was as bad as ignoring a problem. She made sure the Elven leaders knew they could call upon her if they had need of a fair hearing, and they had called for her a few times when local guards, or other people had tried to take advantage of them. Highever City was also one of the few places where elves were allowed to openly wear and train with weapons like daggers and bows. The Arl of Highever was a close friend of her father and they had lifted the ban against weapons that most cities still enforced.

Zevran was the first to notice they were being shadowed as they looked for the Elven encampment. Leliana took an additional five minutes before she picked up the signs. Once the elves in the trees knew they were spotted they allowed themselves to be seen. There was a group of ten hunters surrounding them on either side of the wagon.

"State your business Shem!" One of the Hunters called out harshly.

Solona stepped forward. "I am the Warden-Commander of Ferelden. I am here to talk to the Keeper about the Blight. I hold the ancient treaties of alliance."

The elves starting talking to each other but stopped as soon as the leader made a motion of her hand. "Grey Wardens? We were expecting the one called Duncan to come." She said as she stepped forward to look Solona over. She did not seem to believe her.

"Duncan and the rest of the senior Grey wardens perished at Ostagar three months ago." Alistair said as she stood beside her. Solona explained the current situation and why she was coming to the Dalish camp.

The lead hunter put her bow in her hand away on her back. "I will lead you to the camp."

"They are Shems, we have enough to deal with right now. Send them away!" Demanded another elf, several others seemed to agree with him and they closed ranks on the far side of the group.

The leader turned and yelled at him in Elven. Zevran leaned forward and translated in Elissa's ear. "You know I cannot! The treaties give them the right to petition the Keeper. And be careful, they have the right by even our laws to conscript anyone into their ranks during times like these." Elissa nodded thankfully to Zevran, but she kept quiet. She'd let Zevran tell Solona.

They'd gotten much closer to the Dalish camp than Elissa would have guessed they could before they'd gained the attention of the Hunters. It was soon evident why when they entered the camp and they could see the largest area was the hospital enclosure where the smell of disease and death was strongest. The hunter said that they'd been attacked in the forest but said nothing else until she introduced the group to a bald elf named Keeper Zathrian.

He greeted them dismissively. "If you are bringing news of the Blight it is not news to me. I can feel it in the south. I'd take the clan north but as you can see," He said waving his hand towards the large hospital, "we can't at the present time."

"They've had their own troubles." Alistair snarked. "What are the odds of that!" Solona elbowed his sharply. When he looked down at her he noticed she was giving him a look that said let me handle this. He was tempted to ignore her but thought better of it when he saw Elissa shake her head subtlety in the background.

The Keeper had turned his attention back to Solona. "I am sorry, but as our warriors are mostly hurt, or dying at present from the werewolf attacks that started about a month ago. I don't have any warriors to send with you, and our mages are needed here for healing." He said with some honest sympathy.

Elissa stood back and watched the rest of the camp while Solona continued to talk to the Keeper about the werewolves, why they were attacking, and what to watch for if one of the party besides Shale was to be bitten. The rest of the camp seemed restless and agitated by their very presence in the camp. Even Zevran was getting the dirty looks, and in at least three cases the looks were worse when directed at him. It fit in with what she knew of Elven culture. Though the Keeper seemed almost too eager to let them do the clan's fighting for him. It could be because he expected them to fail, but the mood of the camp struck Elissa was odd, as if the clan didn't seem to understand his actions either.

Zathrian was telling Solona about the White Wolves when she turned back to the group. "We have become experts on helping at non-warden issues." She said somewhat bitterly. "We'll see what we can do to lift the curse, in return I hope we can rely on the help of the clan when the situation is resolved."

The Keeper looked surprised and somewhat amused by Solona's insistence that the issue would be solved. "Of course, but be mindful of the forest, there is much more than werewolves out there."

"Of course there is." Alistair couldn't help adding. "Can't have a recruiting quest without a demon or a hundred attacking us. For once, can't we just ask for help and have it be provided without having to fight demons or some other Maker forsaken issue?"

"We didn't fight demons in Orzammar." Rory quipped back.

"Did you miss the Archdemon swooping pass our heads?" Alistair snapped sarcastically. "Swooping Demon. That is the worst kind of swooping!" He stated with a sharp nod to emphasis his point. "And you wonder why I think swooping is bad!"

"Swooping wouldn't be bad if we had Griffins." Rory said with a chuckle.

"Will you both shut up." Solona snapped. "I have a few more questions if you don't mind Keeper." She said once more turning to Zathrian. She proceeded to ask him about the rate of infection, how wide spread the infection was, what herbs and such did they need from the forest if they came across them should they bring back, how the infection started, and the signs and symptoms of such an infection. The Keeper's answers didn't seem to satisfy Solona very much. The answers were vague for someone who had been dealing with the disease for a month, and it seemed to her, he was letting his people suffer rather than try anything other than killing the wolf Witherfang.

"So basically if any of us start acting like Elissa during her time of the month..." That was as far as Rory got before Leliana kindly smacked him in the back of the head, sending his chin down into his breastplate forcing him to shut his mouth. Elissa took pity on him, but still hit him in the arm hard enough to bruise had he not been in armor.

Alistair was shaking his head and trying not to giggle. "Even I know better than to say something like that!" He turned to Morrigan and raised a brow. "And you think I'm the dumb one."

"Seems to be a common affliction among males." She sniffed.

"It is lucky I was not closer." Shale said dryly. "I am finding myself needing to defend the female ones now that I know I was once one."

Rory took a step further away from the women with Shale's threat, she could hit really hard. "OK, OK, I get it, damn!" He rolled his eyes towards the guys. "Sister solidarity."

Alistair took a step away from him as the women all turned to glare at Rory. "You are on your own brother."

"Indeed." Sten said, also taking a step away from Rory. "Provoking the Kadan and her associates is unwise, even if they are only women."

"I'll stand with you." Oghren said with a slight slur in his voice. Rory looked nervous that his only ally was the drunk dwarf.

"Damn I'm in trouble aren't I?" He sighed dramatically. "I don't see why Sten's not in trouble for his comment." he grumbled as he walked to the edge of the area they were eating in and out of range of anymore retaliation.

Elissa laughed with the other girls but she also looked down at the Dwarf. He'd been very quiet since they came to the surface from Orzammar. He'd drunk heavily and seemed to be enjoying the surface alcohol much better than the dwarven equivalent. She'd have thought the death of his wife would have been more traumatic than being on the surface. He'd been fine until they reached the doors outside. She realized then just how far Solona had come. Like Oghren she had been very limited in what she could do and her experience with the outside world had been very limited. She was doing a good job and Elisa made it a mental note to tell Solona how proud she was of her.

Before leaving for the deeper parts of the forest they talked to pretty much anyone willing to talk to the group. They learned a great many things about the Dalish and what to look for in the forest. Solona seemed to be of the opinion if they were going to go into the damn woods they were going to solve as many issues as they could without endangering the mission so the Elves wouldn't have any excuse to back out when they were cured. Elissa approved of her actions tremendously, even the match-making she'd done between a young hunter named Cammen and his sweetheart Gheyna.

The list of things to do included; looking for Athras's wife Danyla, who was likely a werewolf now, finding Ironbark for Varathorn, find the missing hunters, and to top all that off Wynne found out her first apprentice was holed up in the woods hiding from a few Templars that were also searching the forest for blood mages.

They headed back to the wagon just outside of the Dalish Encampment to sleep before heading into the forest in the morning. Only Jowan would be staying behind with Sandal and Bodahn. Varathorn and Bodahn were going to do some extensive trading when they were gone and several elves had been interested in Sandal's skills after seeing the party's arms and armor. Now that they were deep in the forest away from the eyes of others who might report back to Loghain, most of the party were wearing the Warden armor that offered more protection thanks to Sandal's enhancements than their previous armor.

Wynne was restless and quite jumpy that night when Elissa made her rounds to talk to each party member. Solona was also doing her rounds. They had come to an agreement that they each would cover half the group and they would switch every few nights. Tonight was her night to talk to Wynne. She approached the older woman and just sat beside her in companionable silence. She found Wynne liked to start the conversations rather than having them started for her.

It took her nearly ten minutes before she spoke at all. "I suppose I owe you an explanation."

Elissa shook her head. "Nope, I'm just here if you want to talk. Or I could get Sole if you'd prefer a mage who'll understand your concerns better."

"No." She said quickly. "She never had an apprentice. She would not understand."

Elissa gave her an encouraging smile. "But I've commanded younger men before and so I have in effect, although not officially, had squires of my own."

Wynne nodded quietly, which was strange. Normally the mage was full of advice on the day, or even how things were going. "I have lead a full life, more full than many others in my circumstances." She said acknowledging her past adventures outside of the Circle. "My only two regrets are both from times within the Circle itself."

Elissa smiled encouragingly at her. "Only two, you've lead a charmed life then."

Wynne actually chuckled. "I just don't often dwell on what cannot be changed. My son, while I do not regret giving him life, I regret knowing I could not be there for him when he found out he was a mage too." She looked deeply troubled as she looked down at her feet. "I had hoped he'd be more like his father and not be magical so he could escape the Circle."

Elissa gave her a searching look. "Wouldn't he have been given to the Chantry anyway?"

"Yes. The Chantry keeps all mage sired children to monitor them for magic until they are old enough to become lay sisters or Templar." Wynne acknowledged.

"So he would have been trapped in the Chantry either way." Elissa said as non confrontationally as she could. She hated the Chantry and its entitlements, especially to children whom they brainwash into servitude. It was one thing for a woman like Leliana to choose that life, but another to force someone from childhood to become a fanatic.

"I suppose." She said introspectively. She had never considered it that way before. She pushed away the thought for later and began to tell Elissa a little about her son, Rhys. He was a twenty-eight year old Enchanter in the White Spire.

"So you have written to him?" Elissa asked.

"Yes, I have let him know a little of his father and what I can about myself, but those things are carefully hidden in the letters just in case they were read by someone else. I am not suppose to know who he is." She admitted sadly.

They sat in the quiet for several minutes. "My other regret was Aneirin."

Elissa waited a moment before she encouraged Wynne to keep talking. "The ex-circle mage in the forest?" She couldn't help but wonder if Wynne had ever had a girlfriend she could share her burdens with before. If she had it must have been some time ago as the older woman seemed out of practice talking about herself.

She nodded quietly. "He had been a child found in Denerim's Alienage, as most Elven Circle mages are. He was fourteen and wasn't adjusting to the Circle well." She finally said, she fidgeted nervously, digging her toes in the dirt under her robes so Elissa might have missed it if she hadn't been looking for some sign of how uncomfortable she was. She stayed quiet, letting Wynne tell her what she wanted to of that time in her life.

"He was very defiant against humans and those in authority especially. And I certainly wasn't understanding at all. I had been so grateful to come to the Circle, and to be safe that I didn't take his concerns seriously." She flushed with her regret. "He needed time, and an understanding ear. Instead I gave him rules. Told him to forget his life outside. Spend his time learning his spells, and to stop dreaming of finding the Dalish."

Elissa was sympathetic. "Sounds like you weren't ready to have an apprentice." She said softly.

Wynne nodded softly. "I was not ready to have someone rely on me as much as he needed someone, not that soon after I lost my son. And then one night... my apprentice was gone, the Templars came back saying they had killed him. I thought he'd run because of me, and he was dead because I was too harsh with him when he really needed someone to be there for him." Sorrow filled her face as she took a deep shaky breath, holding back her tears. "I have tried since then to be the mentor each of my charges needed. I haven't always been understanding of everything, but I try to not push them so hard they feel the need to escape from me."

Elissa placed a hand on her arm in support. "Some people are not meant to be caged." She said softly. "Your Aneirin seems to be the type who would never flourish in a cage. You needed to spread your wings, as did he."

Wynne patted her hand. "I thank you, Your Grace." She said softly. "I had not thought of it from that angle. It would explain why I am unable to connect to a few others I have taught."

"I imagine it must be worse for healers. All that training to save lives and still being locked up, unable to use your skills for the greater good of all."

Wynne looked hurt as she looked down at her hands. "I never thought about what I could not change, and now as I am older I wish I had tried a little more to get out so I could do more. But now I am a tired old lady." She chuckled softly. "Well beyond my peak for these adventures in the cold of a Ferelden winter."

Elissa smiled with understanding. Wynne hadn't been keeping up as well as she used to. "Why don't you sleep. I'll take your watch tonight."

"I can do it..."

Elissa shook her head. "Tomorrow is going to be hard enough on you. You can have my shift the night after tomorrow when we are back in the encampment if it will make you feel better?"

Wynne smiled at her. They might have gotten off on the wrong foot but Elissa was much stronger now, and her temperament was more calming than tempest since they'd returned from the Deep Roads. "I will do that. Thank you." She agreed before going into her tent to sleep.

The next morning they headed out into the forest, Zevran took point while the others fell into their usual formations. Right away they were set upon by wolves, several were blighted. Only a few feet away they came across one of the missing hunters. It was a quick trip back to drop him off with the scouts outside of camp.

It was mid-morning when they came across a small bridge near a large pool created by a waterfall where three werewolves stood. As strange as it looked they were waiting for the group to come to them.

The largest one in the middle looked them over, with obvious intelligence in its eyes. "So the watch wolves spoke truly. The elves sent humans to kill us for our attack. How ironic." He spat with contempt.

The party was surprised. Alistair's mouth was the first to recover. "That's is just creepy." He shuddered.

"Alistair!" Elissa admonished him slapping his head lightly.

"Idiot." Morrigan hissed.

"You can talk!" Solona exclaimed with astonishment. "May I ask who you are?" The Leader stood taller while the others seemed to hiss and watch over the group warily. The Werewolves were hugely outnumbered.

"I am Swiftrunner, leader of the pack. You can go back to your wretched Dalish friends and tell them you failed." He said bravely considering the circumstances. "Tell them it is now their turn to feel and share our fate they placed upon us. They will now pay in blood for what they have done to our people."

Solona who had felt a large part of the story had been left out now was even more concerned about the mission into the forest. These werewolves were not like the ones that occupied other parts of Thedas, Zathrian had admitted that much when they spoke. Those other werewolves were unable to speak.

"Sounds like you have a tale to tell that I have not heard. Please I would like to hear your story, if you would indulge me?" She asked openly.

"What are you mad?" Alistair asked her openly.

Morrigan scoffed with disgust. "I can't believe you are going to make me agree with the oaf again, but are you mad?"

The werewolves growled at their interruptions. "Zathrian sent you. He only wants our deaths, talking is useless." Swiftrunner growled. "Even with you."

Solona was beginning to get a clearer picture and the holes in the stories she heard made it seem as if the werewolves had a legitimate reason for retaliating against the elves. She hoped she was wrong. "You know the Keeper?" She asked.

"Not in the flesh." Swiftrunner and his cohorts all growled and let out excited huffs of breath. "If he ever steps into our portion of the forest we will take great pleasure in killing him for what he's done."

"What has he done?" She asked.

The question seemed to be the wrong one because the werewolves slipped down into defensive crouches. "You know nothing of us, the curse of those you serve." Swiftrunner hissed before they turned and disappeared into the mist created by the river's waterfall.

"Well that went well." Rory snorted.

Solona turned fire in her eyes as she turned on Alistair and Rory. "We needed to know what is really going on here and you," she yelled turning on Alistair, "are letting your personal feelings about my judgment get in the way of using your brain."

"He never uses it." Morrigan scoffed. "The witless moron doesn't know how to think."

"You're no better and you just agreed with him Morrigan." Solona laughed with scorn dripping from her words. "What does that make you?" Morrigan sputtered for a moment before falling silent.

"Let's keep moving." She sighed.

Nearby they found; the body of a Templar that had been attacked by a bear, a small raiding party of darkspawn, and a few rapid blighted werewolves before Solona called for a break.

Elissa came over and offered her some support. "You did well this morning."

Solona snorted. "I bitched out your boyfriend." She whispered to her to keep their conversation private.

Elissa giggled. "I know it was great to see him all cowed like that."

"You should try it sometime." Solona smirked.

Elissa laughed. "Who says I don't?"

"We all know he's good at following your orders." Solona giggled loudly as Elissa blushed a deep red and covered her face with both hands while giggling.

"Maker! Can you really hear us?" Elissa mumbled through her fingers, trying not to think about the night before. She knew they'd been overheard because of the giggling from Solona and Leliana she'd heard after one of her louder than intended moans.

Leliana sat down beside her. "Yes, when he gets very energetic it is hard not to notice. Your whole tent shakes, even when you manage to swallow your screams." She giggled delightfully.

"That night outside Redcliffe, I thought the tent was going to fall down on your heads." Solona managed to say while laughing softly.

"I am going to cutting him off." Elissa groaned in embarrassment.

"That is likely to make your problem worse." Leliana sang teasingly. "He'll be twice as enthusiastic when he's allowed to return to your..."

"What are you ladies laughing about over here?" Alistair cut in, he'd noticed Elissa's blush and knew they had to be teasing her as much as the guys had been teasing him about noise from their tent.

"Kitten!" Leliana finished loudly.

It started as a startled snort from Solona, and then delightful giggles from Leliana as she saw the look of mortification wash over Elissa's face. When Oghren and Rory started hooting loud enough to wake the dead, the rest of the party joined in. Elissa knew Leliana had overheard Alistair call her private parts by that name when she'd overheard them in Redcliffe. She hadn't known she'd shared that piece of information with the whole group until that very moment.

"Kitten!" Oghren bellowed. "I got to remember that one! Certainly enough pussy in the camp that they'll each need a name."

"Try it and I'll fried you like an egg Oghren." Solona laughed lighting up her hand with flames.

"Yours can be named Andraste, little miss flaming knickers." He teased.

Everybody else continued to laugh heartily as Solona shot a tiny flame at his behind, making him swat the smoking hot spot on his armor.

"Alright time to move on I think." Elissa called out. With very high morale everyone gathered up their things and prepared to move on.

They found the Ironbark, and it was at that point the trees in the forest began to attack them. Solona explained they were called Sylvans. Elissa didn't really care. She wasn't happy with how dull her sword was going to be after cutting the damn things into firewood. She'd almost cried in relief when she realized she wasn't going to have to cut up the Grand Oak they came across. At least that was until the thing started rhyming at them. She was tempted to cut the thing up anyway, but Solona being the voice of compromise and reason agreed to find some crazy ass thief and get the damn Tree's acorn back. And if Oghren didn't stop making jokes about retrieving the Oak's semen she was going to kill him too.

Tramping through even more forest they found the thief and he too was a completely crazy human mage. Solona managed to trade for the damn acorn and they moved on. Not far from his camp they'd came across Wynne's apprentice Aneirin.

Elissa let Wynne go forward and the two talked privately. Elissa watched from a distance as Wynne began crying softly and the Elf comforted her. Elissa moved everyone a little further away to give them more privacy. When they were done Wynne introduced Aneirin to the group. He was shy and quiet.

"Hello." He said.

"Everyone this is Aneirin." Wynne said. She made introductions to everyone. "Aneririn has decided to stay and help the Dalish as their healer until the Blight is over, and then he is thinking of returning to the Circle to help rebuild it." She said happily. The Elf seemed happy with the choice but Elissa was curious.

"Why would you?" She asked bluntly. "You're free out here."

He gave her a shy smile. "I am not Dalish, and they are not very accepting of outsiders, even when that outsider is an elf." He explained. "I had romanticized notions of what living with the Dalish would mean as a child. Now all I want is a home." He admitted softly.

Solona smiled sadly. "The Circle will need help rebuilding, but the Templars are not forgiving." She warned him."If they cause you to run again, fine me and I'll help you." She said with a welcoming smile. She gave him directions to finding Soldier Peak. "Please don't tell anyone where the keep is."

"I give you my word. Thank you and goodbye for now." He said before returning to his camp.

Morrigan watched him walk away. "I will never understand why you allow yourselves to be ruled by those accursed Templars and their church. Why not just kill them until they leave you alone as they do the Wilder Folk, or the Dalish?"

"It more complicated than that." Solona told her with a weary voice. They had had this conversation several times in the past. "The Chantry doesn't just go after the apostates, they go after every friend, family member, loved one the apostate has, even enemies, so that the apostate has nowhere to turn."

"Eventually they must run into groups who fight back as the Dalish do." Morrigan said with crossed arms, she was not impressed with the argument.

"You have had the protection of your mother, and now us for your whole life." Elissa said rudely. "You care for only yourself, and so they cannot harm you. Most of us care for more than that and they can exploit that when they find the need to control someone."

The rest of the day saw them return the acorn and receive a branch that suddenly allowed them to see through the mist and illusions of the Forest. It allowed them to find the blood mages some of the dead Templars had been looking for, and Athras's wife Danyla.

Solona had cast a very powerful sleep spell on Danyla instead of killing her as she had begged them to. Shale carefully carried the werewolf to Aneirin's camp. Once they explained the situation he agreed to watch over her while Solona looked into the cure. They saw no reason to kill her if they were about to see about lifting the curse. If it was unrecoverable Solona promise him she would abide by her wishes.

Leliana once again set off a Reverent Trap when she examined a tombstone. Rory had defended her when he reminded Solona that it was better they set off the trap than an unsuspecting elf or traveler. Solona had apologized and Leliana had graciously accepted.

It was decided that they would start fresh in the morning instead of pushing on and attacking the ruins that day as it was pretty much the only place the werewolves could be held up in. Walking into their stronghold tired and cranky was not in their best interest. Solona still decided that tripling the guard was best to make sure everyone got a good night's sleep.

They were on the move at first light. The ruins were everything Elissa had expected. The werewolves had managed to blockade themselves inside the ruins and of course the ruins were crawling with monsters. There were undead, ritual locked rooms with ghosts and vengeful spirits, giant spiders and even a young dragon. The dragon was well on its way to becoming a High Dragon, and had a mini-dragon horde of gold and jewels. There were rooms of traps that Zevran, Shale and Leliana were able to subdue, and writings only Morrigan and Solona could read.

The ruins themselves were ancient Elven. The buildings must have been very beautiful at one point. Now the walls had crumbling rock and holes that made some sections unstable. There was a wealth of Elven histories locked up in the many small ancient libraries spread around the ruins. Solona had come across a spirit phylactery that held knowledge of the Elven Arcane Warriors, an order of magic using warriors that had set off the Exalted March on the Dales by sacking Val Royeaux. The knowledge of how one became and advanced as an Arcane Warrior from an apprentice to a grandmaster level was imprinted directly into Solona's mind. In return she destroyed the vial and released the spirit back to the Fade. Wynne had seemed unusually approving of Solona's actions, which caused Elissa to once more wonder about the mage and her concern for Alistair, Solona and herself.

It wasn't long after that they found a way to climb down into the area behind the barricade. The werewolves knew they were coming and a group waited for them.

One of them stepped forward with his hand out to the side showing he was leaving himself open. "The Lady would speak with the Queen, King and Hero."

Elissa and Solona shared a startled glance at each other. "And who is this Lady?"

The Werewolves also shared a look. "The Lady is the Lady of the Forest." The first one said calmly. His fellows seemed very irritated. "The Lady thinks you can be reasoned with... that you hold the power to change the world. She also believes that you do not know the truth and would inform you of the things that Zathrian would not wish you to know."

"Is our safety guaranteed?" Elissa asked.

"We obey the Lady and she means you no harm, as long as you agree to the terms of a parley." The Were leader said looking over the size of the party warily.

Elissa nodded. "What are your terms?"

"No more than two others might come, and your weapons stay sheathed." He told her.

"Elissa don't." Alistair pleaded. "All of us or none."

"How many Weres are in there?" Elissa asked. "Do you out number us?"

The werewolf looked annoyed but nodded. "I told Swiftrunner you would not agree."

Elissa shook her head. "Tell the Lady we agree on the terms we all enter but the rest will stand at the back of the room."

"Agreed." He said swiftly. He and the others turned quickly and ran into the next room.

As they entered to follow Elissa nodded to Zevran and placed her hand on Wynne's arm. "You two come forward with us. Rory be prepared to fight our way out if we need it."

With their plan in place the five walked to the raised dais. On it stood a group including Swiftrunner all standing guard over what looked like a woman with vines wrapped around her legs and lower arms and hands. Her eyes were pitch black, but her slightest touch calmed the werewolves. Her voice was quiet and soft like a summer breeze.

"I bid you welcome, Queen, Hero and King. I am the Lady of the Forest."

Solona stepped forward. "How do you know those names?"

She smiled. "I am a spirit of the forest made flesh nearly three centuries ago." She looked angry for a moment before her features flowed into tranquility once more. "I will answer your questions in the order that will make the most sense I believe. There are things Zathrian will not have told you."

"As you wish Lady." Elissa said calmly. She was being careful to watch the Weres closest to them, but they were almost in a trance looking at their Lady as she swayed fluidly back and forth where she stood.

"It was Zathrian who created the curse." She told them. "He made the curse to punish the humans who attacked his encampment, captured and killed his son, and raped his daughter. The girl was with child. She killed herself rather than live with her pain and shame." She explained, her voice filled with sorrow and sympathy for the children flowed like her movements, slow and beautifully. "Zathrian was in great pain. He summoned a spirit and bound it to the body of a great wolf, creating Witherfang who in turn created the cursed with those bitten and left for dead. The rest of the human tribe were killed by him."

"Is it true that the death of Witherfang will destroy the curse?" Elissa asked diplomatically.

"Yes and no." She answered softly. "The death of Whitherfang will be needed, but so will the release of the curse by Zathrian." She explained, as she continued her voice began to harden. "We have pleaded for years for him to release the curse. Those he sot to punish are long since gone, we attacked the Elves with the hope he would now be forced to free us all."

"You are Witherfang." Solona stated with a damning sigh of exasperation. This was what she had begun to suspect all along. Zathrian had no real desire to save his people, that had been evident in his vague answers regarding treatment when they had spoken in the encampment. She suspicions had only grown when they had spoken to Swiftrunner the day before at the river.

"Yes." She admitted, her voice once more soft and beseeching. "Will you bring him here to end the curse on both sides?"

"We will." Elissa stated firmly. The rest of the party had shifted when Elissa had made her pronouncement into a more relaxed posture.

They were escorted by the Lady to the barricaded door and left to return. They had not even left the ruins when Zathrian met them. After a brief conversation, but frustrating conversation in which he confirmed the Spirit's story, he agreed to met with the Lady.

Elissa held Solona back and they let the two sides argue for several minutes. They learned some interesting facts during the argument. Zathrian used blood magic to bind Witherfang together along with his life-force. To end the curse would also end his life. His death and the Lady's return to the Fade would release the elves from their plight, return Danyla to her Elven form, and cure all those in the camp who were dying. Elissa finally had enough.

"Would your children be proud of what you are doing to your own people now?" Elissa asked with thinly veiled contempt. "Your people depend on you as their Keeper. What kind of Keeper abuses his own people to hold a grudge against those long dead? Your people are dying out as it is. If you can't serve your people, you do not deserve the life you have!"

Alistair looked down in shame as he recalled his accusations he'd thrown at Elissa just last week. Seeing her in action, condemning Zathrian for failing his people, his duty, made Alistair feel small. He knew she would have to do things like this as Queen of Ferelden, and as her Prince-Consort he'd be asked to hold nobles to their oaths the way she was doing right now. He wasn't sure he would ever be ready to do this. He'd always shied away from the spotlight, that had been engrained. But Teagan had pointed out, every time he wasn't sure of himself, he'd have to consider letting her go, and the pain of that thought made him push the fear aside, for now.

Zathrian consented to lifting the curse on the condition that the Werewolves resettled far away from the forest.

Solona turned to Swiftrunner. "If you go northeast toward the Tower in the Lake, you'll find an encampment of those fighting against the Blight. Those not wishing to fight can go to the Warden Keep and help but supporting the war effort there with collecting herbs, making armor and weapons, or just help keep the settlement running. The keep is mostly empty so you will have a place to stay while the Blight is on. Once it is over we can see about re-locating you somewhere else if you wish."

Swiftrunner looked completely speechless. "You would do that, for us?" He asked uncertainly.

The Lady ran her finger down his back. "She is the Hero. She will see it through."

"The Hero?" Zathrian gasped. He knelt before Solona. "I am sorry My Lady. The spirits warned us of your coming, but I had thought it would be many years before the troubled times would come."

Solona just looked resigned. "We all have our parts to play."

Zathrian nodded and he stood. "It is time we rested Spirit." Together they began the complicated ritual to remove the bindings on the Lady. As she unraveled and blew away like leaves in the wind the Werewolves each fell to the ground writhing in pain and agony, and Zathrian fell slowly to the ground his features smoothing into restful contentment as he died peacefully. The transformation back into humans took time, and several of the people ended up with deep wounds and broken bones. Wynne and Solona began to heal them while the others searched for clothing and other necessary items for the suddenly naked and weaponless group of thirty-two people in the chamber.

The party stayed overnight. It was decided that they would hand over half the dragon loot to the re-humanized humans and the party would trade with the Elves for any other supplies they would need for their trip north. While the Werewolves knew how to hunt and track, that was with bodies they no longer had. Snares and learning to shoot a bow would be needed.

Solona wrote a letter to Levi and Cara explaining what was happening. To help with the co-operation of the Elves, Solona made sure to collect Danyla who was now an elf once more and fully healed and clothed thanks to Aneirin. He agreed to accompany the newly transformed humans as far as the Tower. He would join with the Elves until after the Blight was over. He would then rejoining the Circle and help Wynne re-build.

Shale brought the wrapped body of Zathrian to the new Keeper Lanaya for Solona. "I am sorry for your loss." She said honestly. "I know your people have your own burial rites for your dead so I made sure to not disturb his body too much as we brought him to you."

"Did the werewolves do this?" She asked sadly.

Solona shook her head and placed a comforting hand on the young Keeper's arm. "He died ending the curse. It was too much for his body to take, but he did this for his people, for all of you and for those that have been infected for the past several centuries."

Lanaya looked at her with sad skepticism. "I have been his First for a long time." She said frankly. "I know it was he who cursed them and why."

Solona nodded carefully. "And he agreed that those that did the deed they were being cursed for are long gone. It was unfair to allow his grief to condemn his own people too."

Lanaya acknowledged the sentiment. "We will meet at the Tower Encampment in a few weeks. We will need to recover and supply ourselves. Dareth Shiral." She said with a final bow.

"Safe journey to you too." Solona said with a nod of respect before backing away.

Solona walked to Elissa. "Let's get back to the wagon and get out of here at first light. It's time to go to Denerim."