A dream is a wish your heart makes.

Eased her back with a pile of wooden crates, Issara was sitting on the rim of celebration area, watching the Dalish celebrated their survivorship.

Sound strange, they just buried their old Keeper just before the sunset, but now, under the moonshine they were dancing, laughing and singing. The wild elf's philosophy seemed complicated, but the exotic Warden understood it completely. Her people too, have known about the truth of live, so they always know how to find something to enjoy even in the hard time. Birth, old, sick and death: all the truths those unable to escape. Why don't enjoy your day while you still able?

Dead people's business would pass on the next generation. Issara raised a mug of wine in her hand to the tree that planted above Zathrian's grave. "For the future," She cheered.

Wild wine was potent, but still weaker than her grandfather's illegal booze1 that she familiar with. As always, Issara still fully sobered though most of her companions already retired for the night. Both mage left to their tent since two hour ago, Sten and Rabbit fell asleep beside each other in the rim of celebration's ring while Miller and Leliana wasn't anywhere in sight, Zev and Lynx seemed to be enjoy dancing with the Dalish…

"Don't you want to dance?"

Issara looked up, and saw Lanaya: Zathrian's first who now was a new Keeper. Her eyes were swelling from crying but her voice steady. Then the exotic Grey Warden smiled. "I afraid I have no enough energy for move more muscle tonight. Besides, my wounds are still recovering."

The keeper glared at the Warden. That woman was wearing over-size tunic and simple breeches which covered most of her skin, but Lanaya could see some dark bruises on Warden's neck and limbs. "You fought so hard for us."

"Oh, this…" Still smiled careless, Issara pointed at her bruises playfully. "Most of it happened because of my poor capability, so this is my fault and I deserve it. No need to concern."

This shem is so strange, but good. Although the Blight is terrified, I'm glad we have her as the leader. Lanaya thought.

"Lynx told me she will leave the clan with you." The Keeper asked. "Is that true?"

"It's her decision. But I'll take care of her like my own sister, you have my word." She was able to be serious if she need to. The Keeper looked at her in surprise.

"You're capable leader. I'm not doubt that Lynx will be save under your leadership. But even among all of us, that girl is a rebel. I afraid she might give you problem."

"Once in a life time, we all were trouble maker I think. She said she have the question she need to find answer. I don't know what it is but I believe she had every right in the world to find it, so I won't let her down." With softer smile, Issara took another sip.

"I hope she appreciate her chance. Travel with you must be interesting journey. I might follow you myself if I don't have to take care of my clan." The Keeper said sincerely.

"We both have duty. You have to stay here to gather your people for the last fight. I hope we will fight along each other's side when the time comes."

Lanaya smiled and clink her mug against Issara's. "You bet,"

They sat on the leaves ground. Exchange their stories and philosophy, both women felt a bit surprise when they're realized how easy to talk with someone from another race. Friendship is beyond the boundary, they understood it completely.

However, all parties must come to an end. Someone took a wooden mug from Issara's hand and lifted her up. "Enough for the day, the patient need to rest."

No matter how alcohol-tolerant she was, the alcohol still was the winner in the end. The exotic lady lost her precaution and enfolded her arms around the party-spoiler, giggled. "Well, is this our lovely templar? Came to capture a dangerous mage, don't you?"

There's no armor between them. Alistair could feel her soft body was pressing against his chest, through his thin tunic. He groaned while she rested her face in between the crook of his neck. Maker help him, this woman will be the death of him someday. "You're drunk."

"Then, take me to your tent, my Stallion." Issara whispered huskily. She hinted the last word with lightly fondled down to the lace of his trousers.

It took all of his templar's discipline to resist her teasing. He knew she did it because she was drunk. Tomorrow morning she would forget everything and become the old prudent Warden.

"That's enough. I'll take you to somewhere save before you do something you will regret later."

…

Back on the green rug, face up to dark canvas of staring sky. Issara was admiring the staring night from atop of small hill. For a long while, she just enjoyed the mother earth's art and symphony of silent. This was her favorite dream of all time.

"Can I have a word?"

A little panic, the exotic Warden jumped to her feet. "Zathrian…"

The old elf smiled eyes softer than she ever saw. "You look better than the last time we met."

"Your wild sylvan almost got me. I'm just lucky to have my comrades." Issara replied with soft smile. "Well, perhaps we ought to sit down. I'm sure you have a lot to say."

"Thank you." Zathrian said and sat down near the Warden. At that, he glared at her until the young woman felt nervous.

"What's wrong on my face?" With wide eyes, Issara asked him nervously.

The old elf smiled. "I just thought; you're so different from the first time I saw you."

"Well, that is…understandable. Your…ability is changed since…you die." this is gonna be uncomfortable. She thought before added. "I knew it sound lame and help nothing but…I'm really sorry about it."

But he smiled in understanding. "No need to apologize, you'd done the good thing for all of us. Actually, you have saved me from the vengeance that chained me with those werewolves. Even I lost my life, my spirit is in peace. I feel better than once I still lived with so much hate."

"Live only one day with happiness is better than hundred years of sorrowful life; I heard it from somewhere." Still didn't sure what to do, Issara played with her bandana nervously while thinking about afternoon.

The Grey Warden and co followed the beasts into the ruin hall. There, more werewolves were standing around, growling hostile. Issara feared she might lead everyone to the ambush, but thing suddenly changed when a green skin woman appeared. She placed her hand on Swiftrunner's shoulder which calmed him down, and then the rest of the pack slowly turned silence.

Just a look, but even Alistair dared to say this woman wasn't human. More than her unordinary skin shade and the vines those clinked itself on hers, the lady looked a bit horrific because her eyes had no the white portion.

After a few conversations, the exotic Warden had learned another side of the story from Lady of the forest.

"A long time ago, the peasants who were living near Brecilian Forest captured two Dalishs. They killed the boy and raped the girl, left her to dead. Her clan found her and saved her life. But when she learned she was…with child, she killed herself."

Issara really wanted to vomit.

"The poor elves were Zathrian's children. To revenge on his lost, he summoned spirit from the Fade and bound it to the white wolf form. Witherfang killed the peasants and turned the survivors to the werewolves. Not for long, there's no human's village near the forest anymore. But Zathrian's vendetta never ended, the curse still exist even people whom commit the crime all die or suffer in the form of the beasts."

Swiftrunner looked down in shame. He bowed to the lady in sincerely appreciation. "I lived as the beast until I found you, milady."

After awhile, the exotic Warden asked with all seriousness. "But why you attacked the Dalish, to revenge?"

"No, all we need is to lift the curse. Every time Zathrian and his clan came near this area, we sent him word, bagged him to undone this torture but he never responded. We will wait no longer, thus we attacked his clan to force him to lift the curse. But it seems he thought about another option." The lady of the forest said emotionlessly. "He sent you and your friends to hunt Witherfang. Anyway, I have another offer for you."

"What is the offer you have?" even though Issara wasn't able to scan the spirit, somehow she felt uncomfortable about this option.

"Bring Zathrian here, this place is where the curse started, he have to end it here."

"Sorry, do you really think he would come? No offend or anything, but not everyone will crazy enough to walk to werewolf's den like me." Issara always speak like a nut but those words always reasonable.

"If he doesn't come, I will use my power send Witherfang to faraway place. You will never found him and the Dalish won't get the cure."

It seemed this lady underestimate her. "I beg your pardon. If you really want my help, at least you should be honest with me. Although I'm not a genius, I'm not an idiot either. I knew you're Witherfang, don't lie to me."

Those words had greater effect on them more than anyone realized. The entire room fell to silent, even the lady.

"Before I promise anything, I need to ask only one question. Can you enlighten me, Swiftrunner?" Issara asked seriously.

Brown beast glazed at her in surprise. "What do you want to know?"

Frowning, the exotic Warden said slowly. No mockery, no provoke, her decision depend on his answer. "Have you regret in what you done to that girl?"

She didn't have to use her blade, only her words hurt him badly than he ever suffer. Swiftrunner replied with tremble voice. "No single day I slept without that nightmare, even now."

The Buddhist believes in redemption and forgiveness. If anyone regretted in their sin, they weren't the truly bad people. Issara wouldn't turn them down. "Alright, I'll do as you ask. Just don't make me regret for help you."

She lost her chain of thought when another unexpected guest appeared.

"Greeting, mortal." Former lady of the forest saluted. She was lady no longer but still kept her human-like form. Anyhow, she looked at the elf and stepped back. "Did I interrupt anything?"

"Absolutely not," The Warden tried to smile. "But… could anyone tell me why you two came to my dream tonight?"

They looked disturb. "I'm sorry for trouble you, Warden."

She was her own self, Issara just smiled. "It's nothing. Since I was young, dead people invaded my dream so often than I able to count. I really get use to with it, no problem at all."

With different culture, they didn't get her gag. However, the spirits relaxed.

"I just want to say thank." Zathrian said first. "You had freed me and also saved my clan. For that, you have my appreciation forever."

Embarrassed, the Warden blushed so hard. "Don't mention it. I just did what I should. Besides, the one who ended the curse even that cost your life was you. I did nothing."

Come to think about it. She thought she almost mess thing up.

After the meeting with the lady, Issara found the Keeper in the ruin. Somehow, he followed her party to that place. Although he didn't give her any reason, the exotic Warden rather sure he didn't trust her, so he wanted to do the job himself.

They argued, but she could convince him to go meet the spirit at last. The old elf continued grumble all the way to werewolf's den. And because Zathrian never hid his malice toward the lady of the forest and her furry friends, Issara knew the negotiation was impossible without her push.

"I understand your grief, Zathrian. But it's a long time ago, everyone suffers for too long. Whatever you'd done couldn't bring them back. You should let it go."

"How could you understand my grief?" The Keeper shouted, more insane. "How could you know how it felt when I held the lifeless bodies of my children in my arms? They're so young and suffered so much before death took them. These beasts got what they deserve, I won't let them free."

Migraine nearly got Issara again. She sighed deeply in dismay. "Alright, I admit I never known the felling of losing my child because I never have one but that doesn't mean I never lost anyone who special to me. The sorrow is only thing that everyone has in equal. Elves, human or Dwarves, they're all the friends whom sharing their grief in the circle of karma. I… damn, I'm babbling again."

Even though everyone was looking at her confusing, no one was able to get mad on that blushing face. The exotic Warden tried to regain her confident to speak more sanity.

"However, the stone you cast will back to you someday. Don't you see what happen to your clan right now? Do you really want to let them suffer too?"

Zathrian growled. He loved his clan like his own children and never wants to let them suffer, but the vendetta was still gripping in his heart.

He needed more push, so Issara had to find some words. "Lanaya; your pupil told me that you're mercy on her like her father. I believe your children surely love you in that way too. But the hate changed you to monster. Do you think your children will be happy if they know what happen to you because of their lost? I, myself is a girl of my father. I'd known how much I love him and know how I feel if he was burn in the hate because of me. It feels so bad, really bad."

That's all. The Keeper lost the grip when her words stroked at his heart. In his opinion, this human was so lovely which remind him of his long gone daughter. When he heard her speak like that, it felt like those words came from another girl.

"I…" He faced the lady. "What about you, spirit? You and I are bound with the curse. If I end it, we both will die. Don't you fear it?"

"You gave me life but I'm not actually living. I have the form but have no emotion. What good about living if I can't love? I don't want to live like this anymore, Zathrian." The lady aka Witherfang replied.

Issara always thought much. Those words gave her another thing to think about so she kept quiet, waiting for them to make decision.

The silence covered the stone hall. There's not much sound but the echo of wooden staff bumped to stone floor, which followed by the bright light. The exotic Grey Warden didn't sure what was happening till she heard.

"Ma serannas, Grey Warden."

With her special sight, Issara saw the elves; a girl and a boy. They're smiling while holding Zathrian's hands. "We have waiting him to be free for so long. You have our gratitude forever, kind lady. In return, we will tell you the secret."

"Be careful," The spirit knew about the thing that calls 'heaven's secret' but they unable to tell the mortal because it would be against the rule. So, they have to say it in riddle. "The white wicked witch wants to break you, and she won't stop until she got what she wants. Don't let her succeed, or Ferelden and your man will doom."

"Who is she?" Issara wondered. But on second thought, that one could be Flemeth. The old shape-shifter had the white hair and she was wicked.

"We can't tell you. Anyhow, we'll pray for you from another world." And then, the family disappeared.

When the light faded, Issara opened her outer eyes to was found naked people. Because the curse had ended, so the werewolves turned back to their original form…without any cloth. Involuntary, the exotic Warden covered her face with both hands. Her cheeks were burning while she hid behind Alistair's tall body.

"We…are free." The tall man with extraordinary eyes color said. From the scar on his face, they assumed he was Swiftrunner. "Thank to you, Warden. We won't forget this."

"It's alright." Issara replied from behind the ex-templar. Still in hiding, she waved her hand cheerfully. "But what do you going to do?"

"After find some cloth..? I think I'm going to get out of this forest and find the human's colony. If I am able, I may join your armies to fight against the Blight. It might not good enough, but it will be only thing I can do to redeem myself."

Smiled wider, the cheerful Grey Warden blessed him. "I hope you be well, Swiftrunner. See you again when the duty call."

She couldn't see, but Alistair told her later that the ex-beast bowed in front of them and then said. "You saved us. I'll do anything in my power to serve you."

"More people will take that vow for you…" Lady in green interjected. Her words brought Issara back to present.

The exotic Warden blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

"You're important person, more than you ever realize. That is why I came here tonight. I will teach you to tame Lillian's power, and may strengthen it."

From those she had learned, thus Issara was sure she better make thing clear before accept anything that offered by the immortal. "Wait a minute… This isn't blood magic or something like that, right?"

"Of course not," those black eyes were sparking in dim light. "I'll teach you the Spirit Warrior's technique. With this knowledge, you will able to use the power of the Fade to improve your combat ability."

The elf spirit sighed. "I can't help you in the battle that will come. Perhaps I ought to repay you in another way. What if I teach you to be Arcane Warrior? This technique has been lost for very long time; I had learned it from the ancient elf spirit inside the ancient ruin."

Always wants to stronger, Issara saluted them in appreciation. "Thank you. I owe you both a lot."

But the spirits held her hands. "No, we both owe you more. The people we left behind need your strength. They're relied on you. Please don't fail them."

Came to think about it, Issara realized she had no choice. She couldn't control her fate since she accepted the demon's offer. Only thing she could do is jump into this mess and fight her way out, at any cost.

"Fuck the archdemon and his minions. I'll do my best to save this world. Please toughen me in any way you're able."

…

In the morning, Issara opened her eyes and found herself was lying in someone's tent, with snoring templar behind her. Alistair's large frame was clinging with hers in spoon position. His arms were so warm in the cold morning. So tempting, she wanted to rest here for eternity.

Smiled and rested her face to a hard pillow, but suddenly jerked when realized that she shouldn't suppose to be here. What happened last night? How could she end up in Alistair's tent? And what was the hell that poking her butt? Wow, that…impressive, chantry-boy.

With many 'source of information', Issara wasn't exactly innocent virgin. She'd known about men's tension in the morning. It's just natural of healthy men. So, she didn't panic, just tried to untie herself off him before he awake.

Her train of thought totally lost while naughty hands found its way to slipped beneath her over-size tunic. Even though she wore the tank-top underneath that prevent him from trespass further, brush of his rough hands still made her flushed with some strange feeling she never known. Thing was going to be worse with his hot breath poured on her earlobe and sensitive spot on her neck.

"Issara… By the Maker, you feel so good." Husky shaking voice vibrant just a few millimeter from her earlobe. No need to use her gift, she knew completely about what was he dreaming.

"A…Ali," Issara called him breathlessly. If he didn't stop now, she might do something they both would regret later.

It took some time before the ex-templar fully awaked. This fantasy seemed real and really pleasant. He still thought the woman in his arms was a dream until he found some part of him 'woke up' and shamelessly pressing against her firm butt. Despite the fabrics between them, Issara seemed to know full well about what was happening. She blushed like mad as her breath ragged.

"Issara… I'm sorry. I just… Maker helps me." And then, Alistair ran off the tent.

Alone in his tent, the exotic woman thought about back to her own tent. Alas, the first thing she met outside was knowingly grin of Zevran and incredible wide hanging jaws of Lynx.

"Before any of you make smart comment; this isn't what you think." The leader defended.

"Of course, dear Warden," The ex-crow chuckled. "Our innocent templar just ran off that tent shirtless and you followed him with disheveled cloth and flush from head to toe. I think you both just finish…sparring, perhaps."

Issara moaned in dismay. "Ouch… Whatever, I'm going to back to my tent and stay in there until the Blight come…or the breakfast ready."

"Now I knew how that Warden fall for you." The Dalish added. "You aren't just beautiful and smart, but also rich of humors. How could any man resist such abilities?"

Garr… this couple is driving me mad. Issara roared like a tiger and ran to her tent.

1 In Thailand, the booze producer needs the license for making their goods, but people in some regent still make it beyond the authorities' knowledge. Most of these products are potent which may too strong and toxic. Well, they said the good booze will able to use light the fire, but I never taste any of it.