AN: I do not own the setting or world or the characters of the NPCs

Return to the Cave

Time passed as Lyna rested. Only coming to consciousness when she was tended to by Merrill with elfroot concoctions. More intensive measures would have to wait until Keeper Merithari was free. Eventually Lynas head was clear enough to think on the events that had left her this wounded and to wonder about the fate of her friends. When the Keeper's First next returned to administer her treatment she took the opportunity to speak.

Lyna spoke gently and attempted to catch the skittish girls eyes. "Why isn't the Keeper seeing to me? Were they that badly injured?"

To many in the clan, Merrill seemed standoffish, hiding behind her official title and speaking in cool, curt tones. Her short black hair among the largely fair-haired clan served as a visual reminder that she was not originally from this clan, a fact she seemed to feel more than the others. The sharp stylized antler-like tattoos that crossed her forehead and slashed down her cheeks didn't help her to look inviting either. Her large mossy eyes though spoke volumes, and Lyna thought her only very shy and uncertain and trying hard to sound like she wasn't.

"I-It's not they, exactly." Merrill stumbled through her explanation, clearly uncomfortable in what she had to say. Her eyes darted around as she gathered her supplies. "It's Darrian, he's ill with something the Keeper doesn't recognize. She doesn't think it will spread though."

"So Tamlens alright?" Lyna pressed, she was worried that she couldn't remember him coming around to visit her.

Merrill finished collecting the healing supplies and looked at them hard, "We... don't... know?" she asked in a small squeak. "He's still missing. The human went back to the cave where he found the two of you... But the Keeper says he's probably more worried about dark-spawn."

"He's missing? …. How long?" Lyna sank back down into her bed. Tamlen is still in the forest? Lost? Wounded? Ill?

"It's been two days now." Merrill stood, "You should rest, the treatments are working but it will take time for you to return to normal. Hopefully, Darrian will wake soon and the Keeper can finish healing you herself. Don't worry about Tamlen." She ordered, "Our hunters are out looking for him now. I'm sure they'll find him."

As Lyna lay in her bed she tried to remember the way to the cave. She knew she could guide others there if she could see the land. She could not rest. She had to help Tamlen. She fought the tears that tried to gather in her eyes. Crying now would only make her head hurt worse and prevent her from acting. Tamlen, her love, needed her and she would not fail him due to frailty. She needed to speak with the Keeper.

She dressed quickly in her armor, grabbed her bow and quiver, and stepped out into the afternoon sun. Nausea and pain greeted her as soon as the light of day touched her eyes, making her pause, but the thought of Tamlen alone out in the forest, ill or wounded drove her on.

The clan was bustling, apparently preparing to pack up and move on. It was a bit soon to be moving camp but Lyna pushed that aside for the moment, Tamlen was her only concern. She moved steadily through camp searching for the Keeper.

"Mahariel!" The voice of a young man caused her to pause in her search. She turned to see Fenarel a blonde with tattooed branches rising along the sides of his face and reaching out across his mouth and forehead to lightly touch. "You're awake as well! Darrian woke a while ago, he's with the Keeper now."

"What about Tamlen?" Lyna turned to look for Darrian and the Keeper and found them standing outside of her aravel.

"Tamlen is still missing." Fenarel said gravely, "The Keeper seems to intend for Darrian to lead Merrill to the cave the Gray Warden spoke of."

"Without me?" Lyna turned to Fenarel too quickly and nearly stumbled under the effect of her injury.

Fenarel looked Lyna over carefully as she steadied herself. Everyone knew that she and Tamlen were close. But, the deep, colorful bruise still bloomed across the side of her head and that same eye was still bloody.

"Are you sure you're able? You look-"

"I am a Dalish hunter." she scowled, "I am capable of this much."

They waited while the Keeper finished questioning Darrian about the cave and explaining about Duncan the Grey Warden, and his illness. Darrian took it all in with a dazed look, answering questions and nodding absently. Lyna thought he looked terribly pale and unsteady. The Keeper couldn't really be thinking of sending him out, could she?

When he was instructed to take Merrill to find Tamlen he agreed without question or hesitation, straightening his weak posture and hardening his expression with resolve. This mask of intent, absent of self-consciousness or humor was not an expression she had seen on the easygoing young man's face before and it worried her.

As soon as he was free of the Keeper and moving through the camp, Lyna and Fenarel moved to intercept him.

"Darrian," Lyna called to him. He stopped and turned, waiting for them to catch up, "Are you going back to the ruins?"

"Yeah," he answered slowly, "I'm to take Merrill there and find Tamlen."

"I'm coming too." she announced.

He took at the livid bruise and bloody eye, "...You don't-"

"A Dalish hunter doesn't leave anyone behind," she scowled proudly, then pleaded, "It's Tamlen, Darrian. He's in danger. I should not have left without him in the first place."

He could see that she was near tears. She would not leave Tamlen, he knew. She would follow no matter what he said. With him, she would be safer. Even safer if Fenarel came along.

"All right, let's go." He spoke curtly as he walked around the two.

They fell in line silently behind him as they searched for Merrill. They found her on the outskirts of the camp, looking into the forest in the general direction of the cave.

"There you are." Lyna reprimanded, "didn't you know the Keeper wanted you?"

Merrill turned to them, "I was waiting for Darrian, I'm to go with him, and only him." she frowned at the group.

"I'm coming, you cannot stop me." Lyna scowled right back at her.

"I'm coming too." Fenarel spoke up, made bold by Lyna's declaration, "I can help."

"The Keeper says it's too dangerous-"

"I'm coming, Merrill," Lyna crossed her arms, "If you leave without me I'll go on my own."

"He can keep an eye on her." Darrain added, indicating Fenarel.

"The Keeper said-"

"We're going, if you want to come you'd best keep up." Darrian started walking away from camp, the others quickly following him.

"But," Merrill looked back towards the camp and the Keeper before running to catch up to them. They walked in silence, following their path from the other day.

They had just entered the extreme landscape that led to the crevasse when monsters attacked. Three creatures the size of dwarves, but puffed and darkly discolored as if from disease, cried out in a hoarse screech and rushed them. Two of them stopped to aim crossbows, but Lyna's and Fenarel's arrows felled one before it released its bolt. Merrill blasted a second with magic from her staff, stunning it long enough for Lyna to loose another arrow. Darrian rushed to meet the last one well ahead of the mage and archers, deflecting the blow from its sword with his shield and using the momentum to slice its head nearly from its body. The conflict had been short but frightening.

"What were those?" Merrill asked as they caught up with Darrian, "Were those darkspawn? Ugh, you can smell the evil on them."

"I don't know," Darrian stood from examining the snub-nosed face and needle-like teeth of the thing he had just killed, "but these weren't in the ruin."

"They look sort of like that... bear-thing though." Lyna added. "The one we fought at the center of the ruins."

"Tabris," Merrill hesitated, waiting for him to acknowledge her, "Are you alright? Were you injured or anything?"

"I'm fine." He stated with an odd finality that drew the scrutiny of the others in the group.

"You... do look quite pale." Fenarel offered, "Now that Merrill's mentioned it."

"I'm sick," Darrian scowled, as if the illness was some fault of his. "The Keeper said so. I'll be fine as soon as we find Tamlen and look at the mirror. Right Merrill?"

"Y-yes," She answered dutifully, "I'm sure once I get a chance to study the mirror I'll be able to figure out where this illness is coming from."

"Be careful Darrian," Lyna whispered to him once they were moving forward again, "I don't want to lose you too."

"I'm a warrior. Swords and shields protect the back line." He didn't look at her. he couldn't. According to the Keeper, Duncan had said he was found outside the ruins. He had crawled out on his own. He had left Lyna and Tamlen behind, alone.

She placed a hand on his armored arm, "Then be our wall, just... maybe don't run towards the danger, for now anyway."

She removed her hand and they followed the others to what was apparently a campsite at the flat spot they had seen last time they were here.

"This is new." Lyna looked around the fire pit at the center, "The dead halla was here, but the camp is fresh."

"Maybe this belonged to the shemlen? He was returning to the cave wasn't he?" Merrill searched for clues, "Or those creatures we killed, they could have made it."

"I don't think it matters, with the creatures and the shem we know to be careful." Fenarel looked to the edges of the crevasse, only just above their heads here.

"The birds went quiet." Lyna murmured.

They listened, no bird calls, no buzz of insects, even the leaves were still.

"This is not natural." Merrill stated.

"That's an understatement." Fenarel added, "I've never witnessed this sort of thing before."

"It may be related to the mirror," Lyna fretted, "We opened a ruined door. What if it was containing something?"

"Then we should close it." Darrian gripped his sword, "And we should do it fast."

An unearthly growl notified them that more of those same monsters had found them. Three more, and this time Darrian waited for them to come to him. Two were felled by magic and arrows and the last was vastly weakened by the time Darrian needed to act. They were not weak creatures, a bit tougher than the average human taking several well placed elven arrows before being affected, but they were clumsy and unorganized, easy for two skilled hunters, a mage and a warrior to pick off.

This time they didn't stop to investigate the fallen things, instead pushing on toward the ruins. Inside the spiders were gone, replaced by more of these same creatures. Twisted, primal and unsettling they attacked on sight and their black blood burned if it touched your skin. Still, they were unorganized, small groups and easily dispatched.

Deeper inside, as they approached the room with the mirror, they were met with a larger group. This one more organized, with an apparent leader who used a staff and threw spells.

Merrill threw fire at them while Darrian rushed forward, not waiting this time for the group to approach. Arrows rained on the magic-user while Darrian's sword and Merrill's magic bolts took down the soldiers.

"Are you alright Tabris?" Merrill handed him an elfroot potion before he answered.

The mage had hit him with something that burned worse than their blood, but that was all, "It's not that bad." he drank the potion, though he felt more winded than wounded.

Lyna leaned against a wall for support, struggling to maintain her equilibrium under her not yet healed injuries, "What are they? They stink."

"Maybe they are the source of the... feeling of this place." Merrill offered.

Darrian shook his head, "No, it was like this before, it's just worse now."

"Where is the Grey Warden?" Fenarel lifted his hands in exasperation, "There's been no sign of anything but monsters since we arrived. Wasn't he supposed to be down here?"

"That was days ago now." Merrill said, "maybe he left?"

"The mirror room's just around the corner." Darrian adjusted his grip on his sword and moved forward, "If there are answers to be found, it'll be there."

The hall before the door was clear. The corpse of the bear-thing was gone, the trap was still sprung but the door to the room was closed.

"This was the place," Darrian walked up to the heavy door, closed again, "we opened this door fought a monster and found the mirror. So we should be prepared for anything."

The door creaked only slightly when it opened revealing a group of darkspawn corpses surrounding the Grey Warden Duncan. He was standing nonchalantly with his back towards them, his arms crossed, as he studied the mirror that was now showing a nonsensical purple landscape brightened with occasional sparks of lighting.

They entered the room carefully, on the lookout for more humans or darkspawn. Duncan seemed unaware of them but Darrian doubted that was really the case. He shifted as they neared, uncrossing his arms and turned to face them and took a few steps forward, effectively blocking them from approaching the mirror.

"So you were the ones fighting darkspawn. I thought I heard combat." he was almost casual in his manner and posture until he saw Darrian. His expression opened into surprise, "You're the elf I found wandering the forest, aren't you? I'm surprised you have recovered."

"Yeah, well, thanks for the help." Darrian shifted as he spoke, his eyes glancing around the room. This was the last place he had seen his friend.

"Think nothing of it. It was my duty to return you to the clan. The Dalish have always been allies with the Grey Wardens."

"You were still kind." Lyna spoke up, "I want to thank you too. I doubt I would have made it back had you not motivated me to move."

Duncan nodded respectfully to her, "You are quite welcome. My name is Duncan, and it's a pleasure to finally meet you. The last time we spoke, you were barely conscious."

Merrill stepped up then, an air of authority to her, "Andaran atish'an, Duncan of the Grey Wardens. I am Merrill, the Keeper's first."

"Darrian."

"I am Lyna."

"And I am Fenarel. Did you... come here alone, human? Battling all those creatures."

"Yes. Though I must admit, you took a great deal of pressure off me. Your Keeper did not send you after me, did she? I told her I would be in no danger."

"She said you might be here." Darrian answered, "We're looking for Tamlen. Another Dalish that was with us the first time we came."

"So the three of you entered this cave? And you saw this mirror?" Duncan's steady stern gaze was on Darrian as he spoke.

Darrian sighed in exasperation and didn't meet the older man's eyes as he recited the events from before, "Tamlen and I investigated the mirror. Lyna didn't want anything to do with it and left. Tamlen said he saw some dark vision and touched the mirror. Said he couldn't look away. Then I blacked out. I don't even know how I got outside."

Duncan's hard expression softened again, "I see. That's... unfortunate. The Grey Wardens have seen artifacts like this mirror before; it is Tevinter in origin, used for communication. Over time some of them simply... break. They become filled with the same taint as the darkspawn. Tamlen's touch must have released it... Its what made you sick... and Tamlen too, I presume."

"So... it's a fountain of darkspawn taint?" Lyna took a step back, her hands clutched in front of her, "this could endanger the whole forest?"

"Then we should destroy it." Darrian looked again at the tainted mirror.

"I agree." Duncan was again the authoritative leader, his voice hard and commanding, "So long as the mirror exists, it is a threat to anyone nearby."

"The Keeper thinks that the mirror holds the key to finding a cure for the illness." Merrill pipped up.

"She is mistaken. The mirror holds only the same taint as the darkspawn. It will not cure Darrian. I know of a cure of sorts, but for now, we must deal with this mirror... It is a danger."

Duncan turned from them and drew his sword, taking it in both hands he bore down on the mirror with all his strength. The surface shattered in a flash of light and an incoherent growling, not unlike the sounds the darkspawn had made.

When the light cleared Duncan was examining the wreckage. He returned to the group and stated, "It is done. Now let's leave this cursed place. I must speak with the Keeper immediately regarding your cure."

"We're going to have another shot at looking for Tamlen. We came straight here and there are some places he could have stashed himself." Darrian raised his chin and crossed his arms.

"Let me be very clear." Duncan began patiently, "There is nothing you can do for him. He's been tainted for three days now, unaided. Through your Keeper's healing arts and your own willpower, you did not die. But Tamlen has no chance."

"You can't know that!" Lyna cried out, "Tamlen is strong, He could still live..."

"I am sorry, but I have had much experience with this, trust me when I say that he is gone."

"We'll just have that look around first." Darrian stood strong, "We'll catch up."

Duncan seemed a bit exasperated, "I would suggest leaving sooner rather than later. You are sick, whether you feel it or not, and it does you no good to linger."

The elves before him made no move and Duncan was forced to concede, "As you wish, I will see you back at camp."

Once he had left the group searched the room, searched the hallways and looked into the holes that revealed a lower level. There was no sign of Tamlen.

"I don't believe it's a Teventer thing," Merrill mused on the way back to camp, "I think it's elven."

"Did the mirror eat him?" Lyna was despondent and clasped her hands together as she walked.

Darrian wanted to comfort her as he would a friend back home, to hold her and tell her everything would be fine. But the Dalish were not like the elves in the city, and it was not his place to comfort her or to hold her, and he was sure nothing would be fine.

Thankfully the way was now clear, the strange feeling was gone from the forest and the animals had returned. Every now and then, less often than one would think, Fenarel would point out a sign that the Grey Warden had passed this way. Apparently, he was making good on his promise to return to camp.

He was already in conference with Keeper Marithari when they arrived. She smiled sadly at them as she and Duncan acknowledged their presence. "I'm relieved you have returned. Duncan informed me you would not be finding Tamlen. Was he correct?"

"Yes Keeper," Merrill reported, "We searched the ruins as far as we could. There was no sign of him."

"I see. He also told me about the mirror and the danger it represented. And that... he destroyed it." She paused for a moment, as if mourning the loss, "Merrill, warn the hunters, if darkspawn are about, I want the clan prepared."

"Yes, Keeper." Merrill nodded and left.

"Fenarel, Lyna, do not think I have overlooked your actions to circumvent my will in this." the Keeper turned her frown on the two, "I will deal with you later, go to the fire ."

"I want to know about this cure." Lyna stood solid, willful.

Marithari sighed, "I know you are worried about losing another friend, but this is between Duncan and himself."

"What does that mean?"

"Have faith da'lin, and be thankful the taint did not touch you. Fenarel, see to it she stays by the fire."

Duncan had remained quiet as Keeper Marithari dealt with the others. Now that they were gone he stepped forward and addressed Darrian.

"Darrian, you must realize by now that this is no illness. The darkspawn taint courses through your veins." He paused to measure Darrian's response, "That you recovered at all is remarkable. But eventually, the taint will sicken and kill you, or worse... The Grey Wardens can prevent that, but it means joining us, and from what I have seen you would make an excellent Grey Warden."

"... Are you asking me to join the Grey Wardens in exchange for this cure?" He asked skeptically as he looked to the fire where Lyna was seated, her hands clutched together and pressed to her head.

Duncan shifted, deciding on how to verbalize his intent and settled on, "My order is in need of help. You are in need of a cure. When I leave, I hope you will join me.."

"Sure." he answered, his eyes never leaving the young woman, "Whatever, get me out of here."

Duncan paused for a moment but continued in a somewhat more cheerful tone, "I welcome you to the order. There are few elves among us now, but I believe you will find us more welcoming than you may be used too.

"Come now, da'len. Let the clan prepare you for the journey, and say your goodbyes." the Keeper lead him towards the fire, "You were not with us for long, but do not think us untouched by your stay."

Darrian did not argue, he did not speak. He stood stoic and grave as members of the clan came to offer their good wishes and their regret that he would not be remaining with them. Darrian could not shake the thought that they, that Lyna and especially Tamlen, would have been better off if he had died in that bandit raid.

He had arrived with only the clothes on his back and a few coins in his purse, so, in honor of the time he had spent with them and the path he was to walk, the clan made gifts of the sword and shield that had been lent to him, as well as good Dalish armor and some basic supplies for the road.

Once he had received his gifts the clan gathered again, giving him a traditional send-off as though he were one of their own. He and Duncan walked down the line of gathered clan members stretching to the outer limits of the camp. They each offered their blessings and well wishes as he passed. At the end of the line stood Keeper Marithari, Merril and Lyna. Darrian kept his eyes on Lyna as she watched his progress, her fist pressed to her mouth and tears in her eyes. When he approached her, she stepped forward to meet him.

"You aren't staying for the funeral?"

He paused, quietly answering, "I can't, it's my fault."

"You could help, we could find him." Lyna whispered.

"I'm sorry." He looked away, "He's gone. I... look, don't go looking for something that isn't there. The Clan is leaving. Stay with your family, there's nothing out there for you. Here they'll remember him with you, he'd want that."

She slouched a bit and withdrew back into the ranks of the clan, softly calling out the proper goodbye blessings. He nodded to her, turned away from the Dalish and toward the GrayWarden. He didn't know much about Ferelden past Denerims walls, but he felt like they had a long walk ahead of them.