Chapter XX

The underwater passage was not particularly long, under perfect circumstances, as it was it took significantly longer. It was also unfortunately dark, cramped, and very cold. If I had still been wearing armor it would have been impossible. My saber was caught on a rock twice and almost held me back too long to make it through. Only a quick shove from Morrigan, who probably didn't fancy the idea if drowning, got me unstuck each time, and the second the sword lost part of the hand grip in the process.

Finally though there was light and Alistair hauled me up out of the water and into a dark cave, the source of the light was Solona drying out her clothes with a magical fire with Alim and Leliana next to her. Then the cold really hit, we were all soaking wet in wet clothes in the middle of a Fereldan winter. Regardless of how deep were in the Earth it was still freezing cold. Instead of looking back to see if Morrigan got through all right I went over to stand by Solona and try to warm up a little as well. Alistair and Morrigan joined us after a second and Solona had to increase the size of her fire to capture everyone.

We stood there for at least fifteen minutes until the dampness had subsided almost completely and we all had feeling back in our hands and feet. Finally Alistair announced, "It's time to get going, and don't forget none of us are wearing armor now, be more careful if the werewolves try to start a fight." Everyone nodded, and I fell back to hug the back of the group.

The cave's exit was a smashed in wall leading into a room that had likely once been the base commander's quarters. There were destroyed statues littering the floor interspersed with the bodies of undead that had been ripped apart by the wolves. We carefully picked through the room, trying not to trip over the debris until finally Alistair peaked through a hole in the door and whispered, "It looks like a barricade. There is probably a pack on the other side ready to mob us when we get in. Solona, can you handle this?"

She stepped up and looked in, then stepped back and thought about it before slowly nodding. "Yes I can, but that much sheer force is going to take a lot out of me." Alistair gave her a look heavily implying he was remembering a comment she had made just a short while ago. In response she said flatly "I can summon and direct fire all day, but there isn't much other than werewolves and stone in there to burn, and I doubt you want the heat blasting back inside and roasting us all alive, or you want air to breathe when I get finished. Now be quiet and let me work."

She drew herself up and began waving her hands while muttering something, then stopping to slice her right hand open. Finally she nodded and Alistair threw the door open and Solona's eyes flashed as she threw her hands through. There was a wave of heat that washed over us, but not nearly what should have happened considering the other end of that magic. There was a horrible roar as the fire started rolling forward, quickly followed by the stench of burning werewolf meat. The next room was a swirling maelstrom of fire; with the heat such a blaze should have generated held back only by whatever magical barriers Solona had erected. She stood there, generating who knows how much energy until finally the flames began to die and the barrier came down. Immediately a blast of heat came out of that room, but it was at least manageable. Finally the last of the power faded and Solona swayed where she stood before saying, "Hmm, I didn't know there were stars indoors," then she collapsed.

Leliana started checking on her and Alistair went into the next room, and I glanced in after him. It was empty of everything but stone, ash, and bones. The werewolves had had the flesh burned from their bodies until there was nothing left and the barricades that had been in place were gone.

Alistair announced, "It's clear. There's a main passage leading deeper into the ruins."

Solona sat up and with a bit of help managed to stand up again. She shook her head to clear her head, then managed to say, "I'm fine, but when we get out of here I think I'll sleep for a few days." She took a step forward and swayed a little before steadying herself. Finally she said, "I can keep going."

Alistair nodded and said, "Say something if you feel like you're going to collapse again." Then he motioned at Leliana and me before saying, "Stay back with her and help if needed."

He started through the room to the next passage. Alim and Morrigan followed immediately with Leliana, Solona, and I bringing up the rear. Solona had to stop once before starting down the stairs on the far side of the room before finally she steeled herself and beginning to descend. The three of us entered the next room to find Alistair, Morrigan, and Alim facing three werewolves.

One of the wolves was saying, "I ask you this now outsider. Are you willing to parley?"

Alistair stood completely still for a moment, then launched into the largest storm of swearing I have ever heard. Finally he said through clenched teeth, "I've been trying to negotiate this entire time. You kept ignoring me. Now start talking."

The wolf answered, "Swiftrunner did not think it would matter, the Lady disagrees. Since you have forced your way this far we must acquiesce to her wishes."

Alistair's glare surprisingly didn't strike the werewolf dead. "Then start talking."

Not with me. With the Lady. She thinks you don't have all the information necessary. She means no harm, provided your willingness to parley in peace is an honest one."

There was another round of swearing from Alistair as he informed the werewolf of his thoughts on the matter before finally he said, "Then take me to this 'Lady.'"

The wolf nodded slightly then turned back to the door behind him. As he began forward Alistair stepped back a little and whispered, "We aren't walking into an ambush are we?"

I shrugged, "I doubt it, at least it never did before."

As if hearing us, and probably wondering what that last bit meant the guardian wolf answered, "What would be the point? You have proven your might and we have no wish to further anger you, but I you harm her I will come back from death to see you pay."

He led us through a long maze of passages and rooms until finally we neared a room and were surrounded by a group of almost two dozen werewolves. They snarled and growled at us, until Solona feebly waved a hand at them, and several of them shrank back from her. Most of the rest quieted after that, though Swiftrunner continued before a tree woman touched him on the forehead and he quieted as well.

Then the woman turned and said quietly, though we could all hear her perfectly if that makes sense. It doesn't of course, but its magic and magic rarely makes sense. "Welcome mortal. I am the Lady of the Forest."

Alistair looked around and said, "Really, you seem more like a lady of a ruin to me."

Swiftrunner leapt at his face and growled at him, "You will not speak to the Lady in this way!"

Alistair looked up at him and asked, "Do you want a repeat of outside?"

Before Swiftrunner could respond the Lady told him, "Quiet yourself Swiftrunner. Your willingness to battle has only led to the deaths of those you are trying to save. Would you have further bloodshed?"

The wolf looked contrite and answered, "No Lady. Anything but that."

She turned back to us and said, "I apologize on behalf of Swiftrunner. He struggles with his nature, but now has come the time to set our rage aside."

Alistair shrugged and said, "So you lead the werewolves."

She shook her head, "Those who I have helped look to me for guidance, but I do not command them. Now, no doubt you have questions, there are things Zathrian has not told you."

Alistair raised an eyebrow and said, "Like how he was the one who cursed the werewolves, you are actually Witherfang, and his long life is because the curse endures, and you want it ended?"

If the Lady had had proper eyes she would have blinked for several seconds in surprise, then finally she said, "How do you know that? He would never have told you."

Alistair answered, "A wild guess, and a little logic."

The Lady did not press the issue, "Requests to end the curse were sent whenever the landships passed near this forest, but they were ignored. So the werewolves moved to infect his tribe as well, he must end the curse to save them. Please bring him here, if he sees these creatures he will surely end the curse."

I muttered, "Don't bet on it." Then said more loudly, "She has a point Alistair. Zathrian must be brought here."

He glanced back and said, "Really? Well then, I suppose we should fetch him."

The Lady seemed a bit taken aback by the decision, but she said in something approaching happiness, "Good. Then I suggest some of you get back to Zathrian, though at least half must stay here to ensure you return."

Alistair groaned then said, "Alim, Morrigan, Leliana stay behind." He motioned at Solona and me and said, "You two come with me." Then finally he turned back to the Lady and said, "If you could have someone fetch our armor from behind the pool it would be appreciated."

He started out and we followed. Before the door closed behind us I heard one of the werewolves say, "The one in the stupid clothes thinks there isn't any chance of Zathrian curing us." I glanced down at my clothes and decided not to take too much offense at it. I was wearing my original clothes, and they were starting to fall apart so he did have a bit of a point.

The door shut and we began up the stairs until reaching the third Landing where Alistair told Solona, "Sit down and rest. Something tells me we will still need to fight before this is over." He turned back to me and said, "And we will go look around to make sure no more creatures have wandered in."

He started up more of the stairs and I ran to catch up before saying, "That really isn't necessary. Zathrian followed us into the ruins and will be waiting above."

Alistair raised an eyebrow, "Really? Then let's go meet him."

Sure enough Zathrian was waiting when we opened the previously sealed door into the ruins. He said calmly, "Ah and here you are already. Did you acquire the Heart?"

Alistair answered equally calmly, "Not as such, no."

"You didn't," Zathrian asked. "May I ask why you are leaving the ruin?"

Alistair thought for a second about an answer before I said, "The Lady won't summon Witherfang until you break the curse."

Zathrian shook his head in annoyance and said, "You do understand she actually is Witherfang?"

Alistair shrugged, "We worked it out."

Zathrian looked away and said, "She is the spirit I drew from the forest and bound into the form of a wolf. She was the..."

He kept going on about how awesome she was, and I tuned him out. The man seemed to be admiring his own work rather than describing anyone in particular."

Alistair seemed to have the same thought since after a little while he interrupted, "Will you remove the curse or not?"

Zathrian's eyes flashed with anger and he said, "They attacked my clan and they were the same savages than as centuries ago. Come, we will go back into the ruin and I will force her to become Witherfang. Then she can be slain and the Heart taken."

He started down and Alistair muttered to me, "So you were right."

I nodded, "Told you so."

Solona rose to rejoin us after Zathrian reached her, and now there was quite a bit of color back in her face.

We followed him back into the werewolves' chamber where Leliana and Alim were playing cards and Morrigan was looking bored. Leliana and Alim looked up and brightened when they saw we were back already, and Morrigan managed to completely not change expression.

The Lady and Zathrian got into an argument about the nature of the spirit, that made absolutely no sense to me whatsoever until finally the Lady asked Alistair, "And you mortal? Do you support Zathrian even after all you have heard?"

Alistair groaned, "I'd prefer to do this peacefully."

Zathrian snapped, "There can be no peace. Their nature compels it just as mine does."

The Lady sighed and said, "Surely you have some compassion left in you Zathrian."

He glared at her and said, "I feel no compassion for these beats. My retribution was justice then and it is justice now."

The Lady answered, "I doubt it was only your sense of vengeance hat led you to refuse to end the curse." She turned back to Alistair and said, "This is an old forest and I am its spirit. I was pulled from the trees and bound into Witherfang. Such powerful magic could not be accomplished without Zathrian's blood. The two are intertwined. His people believe he has rediscovered the secret of immortality. So long as the curse exists so does he."

I thought about pointing out how if he died the matter that made him would still exist, but then remembered I was talking to a tree spirit in the body of a naked tree woman who could transform into a wolf.

The Lady looked at Zathrian and said, "Ending the curse requires his death however."

Swiftrunner snarled, "Then kill him now. Rip him apart. Kill them all."

Zathrian raised his staff and said, "You see? They return to savagery at the soonest provocation."

Alistair stepped out of the way and said, "We will not support you in this Zathrian."

The Keeper threw his staff up and said, "Then so be it."

There was what I presume was a flash of power and the trees around the room shook themselves to life. Realizing what was happening the werewolves tried to leap at Zathrian, but were caught in the now whipping branches of the sylvan and the battle began.

We tried to stay out of it, but one of the sylvan came at us so Morrigan blasted it with a wave of cold magic, only for the tree to shake it off moments later and smash a branch down at her. Its gaze passed over me as it kept going, and it shuddered for a moment before continuing without striking.

Alistair and Leliana tried to reach Zathrian as well, and Alistair cleared the room of the paralyzing spell Zathrian had placed upon most of the werewolves to make it a significantly closer fight.

In the end however when you have people armed with steel and animals with claws fighting cursed trees that cannot feel pain, bleed, or even become fatigued there can be only one outcome. I watched it happen as I tried to stay to the side of the room and get around to Zathrian myself without him seeing me. The blows my compatriots hit the trees with were simply not enough to actually knock them down. Morrigan and Solona had the best time, but Alim's lightning was almost worthless here and Solona had not fully recovered so she was left casting minor fire spells rather than yet another demonstration of what she could do when she put her mind to it.

The fight ended incredibly anti-climactically when I finished sneaking around Zathrian, walked up behind him, and kicked him in the back of the knee. He fell down, and used magic to order one of the sylvan to attack me. It started too, then whatever it was seeing seemed to register and it retreated. Quickly I brought my saber to his throat and ordered, "Call them off."

Zathrian refused, then sobbed out, "I cannot do it. I am too old to know mercy. All I see are the faces of my children and my people. I cannot do it."

I remembered a few specifics of this event and asked, "Would you really let your clan die for this?"

He thought for a moment, then finally said, "Perhaps I have lived too long. Maybe I simply fear my death." He motioned a little and the sylvan withdrew. Then he asked, "And what of you spirit? Do you fear death as I do?"

The Lady looked at him and said, "You gave life to me Zathrian, you formed me and bound me, and with the ending of the curse I will die as well. Yet I do not fear it, all I desire is an end."

Zathrian smiled a little, "You shame me spirit. I have let fear and rage consume me. Let us put an end to it all." He began to chant, and finally slammed his staff into the ground as a light consumed him, then spread to the spirit. There was a brilliant flash, there always is with magic, and then the werewolves were consumed as well. As it faded there was nothing left of Zathrian, the spirit, or the werewolves? In their place were a group of humans and elves.

One of them said, "It's over, she's gone. And we're human again, I can scarcely believe it."

Alistair sighed, "Then it's time to get back to the Dalish Camp. I suggest you come with us to avoid getting killed by whatever else is lurking in this horrible place." He picked up his armor and started out. Everyone else followed suit.

The trek back out of the forest took less time, but still consumed almost all the remaining daylight. Keeper Lanaya, or Teirnessa Lanaya as she is known now, met us at the entrance and said, "The curse is already fading. It is too bad Zathrian had to die." She responded to the questioning looks by saying, "I felt it when he departed, but I think he was ready to go."

Alistair nodded, "I am sure he was."

Lanaya smiled, "It will be difficult to replace Zathrian. He was our Keeper for many years, but I am Keeper now. So let me fulfill the terms of the treaty. Call and we shall come, with speed and purpose. We shall strike at your foes, this I swear."

Alistair nodded in gratitude. "We thank you Keeper Lanaya. We have need of your forces as soon as they are able. We need more time to raise our own army, and to bring the dwarves into the fight. We need skirmishers to harass the darkspawn and slow their advance until then. Can you do so?"

She thought a little, "It will be some time before our Clan will join the battle, it takes some time for the curse to leave their body. Until then however I can send out the summons to the other Clans in Fereldan and perhaps Orlais as well. We shall make a difference for you in the end."

The Dalish refilled our provisions as best they could and set Cammen and Gheyna as our escort back to Redcliffe, which was probably a good thing since otherwise the Dalish likely would have made it to the castle before we did.

We passed through the ruins of Lothering, which was officially back in Fereldan hands now. Redcliffe came into sight after just three weeks of travel. A short two week respite there, and Solona's successful Joining and we began our travels into the mountains and toward Orzammar.

A/N: There will be an interlude covering what actually happens in Redcliffe before the first Orzammar chapter.