Author's note

Well, this story has broken 22,000 views! Holy hell. Thank you all so very much for reading, and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 36 – Ruined

Lyla's sadness had only deepened during the short walk back to the campsite. Mithra claimed to be a good friend, yet the only friend that didn't judge her so far was Neria. An elf raised by humans was more accepting than that of her own people. Zevran knew as well by now, and as well, he didn't care who she loved, all it mattered to him was that someone loved someone.

Creators. She guessed even Alistair would be happy for her. An ex-Templar, happy for her. An ex-Templar was more accepting than her people were.

Suddenly, and without warning, her earlier meals threatened to escape from her stomach and Lyla bent double as she began to dry heave. Tears flowed freely and she found herself hiding behind a particularly big bush.

The attacks from her stomach slowly subsided and she brought her knees to her chest, clinging on to them as though her life depending on it as she quietly sobbed.

She sat there, crying, for a time until it became too dark and she realised she would be missed. Wiping her eyes quickly, Lyla rose and attempted to put a smile on her face. Unfortunately, she couldn't and as she walked into the camp, her sadness shifted to anger.

The camp was set up by the time she entered, and Mithra was sitting on the far side. She avoided the warden's gaze and stared down at the bowl in her lap, evidently too full of disgust to even look at Lyla. The warden sat on the stump in the middle of the group and addressed the party. "It is late, everyone sleep, and I will take first watch." The group slowly dissipated into their respective tents, all except Leliana who moved closer to Lyla. "I said I would take first watch, Leliana. Not us." She growled as the bard approached.

"What happened?" Leliana begged as she knelt beside the elf. She placed a hand on her lovers knee but it was shook off as Lyla looked at her, pain and anger in her eyes.

"I don't want to talk about it. Now go to sleep." The elf rose from the stump and went to the nearest tree. With practiced ease, she climbed a few branches, just out of Leliana's sight, and resigned herself to a lonely, brooding, watch.

Something had happened between the two elves, Leliana didn't need her experience in the great game to surmise as much, and now Lyla was as distant as she had ever been. Had this been the Leliana before joining the chantry, she would have snuck into the hunter's tent and held her knife against Mithra's throat until she spoke. However, experience had taught her kindness. She was a kinder person now, not the monster that Marjolaine had moulded and as much as she wanted, no needed to know what Mithra had done to her elf, she would find out from Lyla's mouth, not Mithra's.

However, just because she wouldn't interrogate the hunter, didn't mean someone else wouldn't.

Quietly, she moved through the encampment, making her way towards the other person with a questionable history in the group, Zevran. He had expressed a fondness for the elf, and the relationship Leliana had begun with her from the beginning; well even before it began truly. Moreover, if there was anyone who would have no qualms about sneaking into a woman's tent, it was he.

"Zev." She whispered through the sides of the tent. She didn't dare sneak in, as the elf would never let her live it down. "Zevran, are you awake?"

"Oh, do the angels visit me in my dreams now?" He murmured. "Or is Leliana finally admitting her love for me?"

"Oh, calm yourself and listen." The assassin crept out of his tent, finding himself face-to-face with the bard. "I need your help, something happened between Mithra and Lyla and now she won't talk to me."

"And I am to do what exactly?" Zevran inquired, the flirtiness that was usually in his voice was absent, he had noticed the serious look on the bards face, and even he knew where to draw the line.

"Find out what she said to Lyla, please." Desperation leaked from Leliana as she knelt before the assassin, she would never have allowed her emotions to betray her like this before, but she had changed since Marjolaine.

"I could tell you now if you wish." The elf spoke mournfully. Truthfully he had noticed the disgust on Mithra's face as she looked between Leliana and Lyla after their last fight, and when Mithra returned on her own after their 'talk' he knew what had occurred. The death stares the hunter gave Leliana only furthered the case. "Leliana, I have told you before about the Dalish view on relationships with humans, with the same sex. I imagine Mithra merely reminded Lyla of their misguided views on it. I don't know what else I could discover for you."

"Merde." Leliana swore, swiping at the dirt in anger before looking back at the assassin. "Thank you anyway, Zevran. You might as well go back to sleep then."

"Goodnight, Leliana, my bedroll will be warm, if you want company." He grinned as the bard half-heartedly slapped at him.

"Goodnight, Zev." Leliana rose from the tent and walked back towards the base of the tree Lyla was up hiding. "Lyla, I don't know if you can hear me, but I am here for you, ma petite cherie." She sat below the tree and waited, reminded of the last time she had found herself in this position. By Andraste, she wished Lyla would stop retreating into herself.

Maker only knows how long she sat there, but the cold began to bite at her legs, so she drew them in to herself, clutching them to her chest. Nonetheless, eventually, sleep came and took her away.

"Leli?" A voice woke her up, she didn't know how long she had been there but the grass around her was wet with morning dew, but the sky was still dark and the moon high. A hand reached for her and caressed her cheek. "Creators, you're freezing. Let's get you back to the tent, ma vhenan."

"Lyla?" Leliana's voice was slurred as sleep still tried to claim her, she barely woke up as the elf lifted her to her feet, but she leaned in to her lover's warmth with a smile. "I'll only go if you join me. I need my elf to cuddle."

"Ok, Leli." Whatever hesitation Lyla held before was gone; the only thing she felt now was worry for her frozen human. She knew how dangerous sleeping in the forest could be, especially during the winter months, the cold could kill, and Lyla would fight Falon'Din himself to save Leliana. "You go get warm in our roll; I'll wake up Zevran for the next watch."

It didn't take her long to wake the amorous elf, and after she told him, he could choose his own partner for the watch she left him alone with only the golem for company, and whomever he chose.

Returning to her tent, she found Leliana had already gotten into their bedroll and was currently warming it up for them. "I missed you." Lyla mumbled dumbly as she changed. The bard had graciously averted her eyes, let the elf change with privacy, and before long Lyla had joined her in the bedroll, taking her usual pillow choice of Leliana's chest.

"Je t'aime, ma cherie." Leliana purred into the top of the elf's head. The warden was warm, very warm, and it didn't take long for Leliana to heat up enough to be comfortable, the winter chill finally lifted from her body.

"I…" Lyla started before her voice wavered. Leliana stroked the elf's back as they lay together, granting wordless support as her lover grew in confidence. "I am sorry, Leli. I shouldn't have hid from you again."

"Its ok, Lyla." She pulled the elf closer, needing that comfort of her lover's body. "You're here now, that's all that matters."

"No, its not." The elf mumbled, shaking her head. "We're together, that means we are partners, no? If you can talk to me, then I can talk to you." She sighed and closed her eyes tight. After a few moments of silence, she began to talk again. "I never expected Mithra to accept us, not really, but to have it thrown in my face was hard. However, it made me accept something about myself, something I've been thinking since I became a warden. I truly am no longer Dalish, their gods are mine, but I am one of them no longer. I could never be a part of a people that would not let me be with you. You are too important, ma vhenan."

"I." Leliana couldn't speak. She was overwhelmed by the love she felt for the elf, yet she didn't understand how she could possibly deserve it. She was just a simple peasant girl, forged into a murderer, until she fled to the chantry. How could she deserve this happiness, this love, this devotion? She opened her mouth, once again, to speak but she couldn't find her voice, instead resolving to kiss her lover's head once more.

"Could you sing for me?" Lyla whispered the sound muffled, as she spoke into Leliana's chest.

"But, of course." The bard was always glad to sing, especially for Lyla, and when it proved a distraction from the feelings inside her heart, it was more than welcome.

They lay there, Leliana softly singing, for a time until they both drifted off into a practically restless sleep.

-FTDTD-

The rain came down heavily as the group left their camp, and Lyla had taken her usual position at the front of the group as they marched back towards the Grand Oak. It did not take them long to reach the ancient spirit, and fortunately they didn't run into any monsters on their short journey.

Walking into the small valley where the Oak was rooted, the group were in awe. Most had not seen the talking tree, and were astounded to marvel at such a thing, and no doubt, the bard was already writing stories in her head. Lyla stepped forward before the poet tree, and watched as it unravelled itself, transforming into a more humanoid form.

"I see you have returned, dost thou retrieve what I have yearned?" The Great Oak's voice boomed across the small valley, bouncing and reverberating off the walls and returning to the group with a great echo. It seemed more powerful today, much more so than the day before and Lyla had to wonder if it was something to do with the rain, or perhaps the acorn she carried.

"I do, is this your acorn?" She reached into the small pack she carried, and pulled out the acorn. It was big, and it took both of her hands to carry it but as she lifted it up to the tree, it practically leapt in joy.

"My happiness is clear; you have brought me cause to cheer." It laughed a mighty sound that rumbled the group before them. "But there was one thing that I did vow, to trick the trees I'd show you how. Give me my seed and your reward you shall receive." Lyla held the acorn up high, and as quick as a flash, the tree had grabbed it from her hands. "I said I would give thou a branch of me, so you could travel through this forest free. I am a being of great arcane, and I hope this gift is not in vain." A branch fell from the top of the tree and Lyla retrieved it. She had no gift of magic but even she could feel the power emanating from the branch. With a grunt, she threw the branch back towards Neria, who eyed it with great reverence. "I wish thee well, my mortal friend. Thou brought my sadness to an end. May thy days be long, thy winters kind, and thy roots be strong."

The tree began to form back into itself, until finally it was just an out of place looking tree in the centre of the valley.

The group turned as one and quickly made their way from the Oak, only the mages could feel it truly, but the veil between the worlds was thin there and made it uncomfortable. The air felt electric as the raindrops fell past them and as soon as the party left the valley, they instantly felt better. The rain was still falling heavy, making the leaves of the bushes droop as the water filled them, but it was still better than that uneasy feeling of the veil.

As they continued through the ancient forest, the group rearranged themselves. The rain was causing everyone to feel down and Lyla didn't feel the need for constant vigilance right now, and if anything happened, they were close enough to get back into formation at any rate. As such, the golem fell back to talk to Wynne and Leliana took her opportunity to be closer to Lyla, and looped her arm through the elf's.

"Bonjour, ma cherie." She whispered into the elf's ear, and Lyla felt her skin prickle at the contact. "That tree was amazing, no? Already I can imagine the stories I will conjure from it." Lyla leant into the bard, and smiled to herself as she listened. She realised that she didn't care if her new clan knew about their budding romance. "Perhaps I will spin the tale of the valiant elf, in shining armour, saving the small offspring of an ancient dweller of the forest? Better yet, you could be saving his paramour. Saving a woman from the clutches of an evil mage, who desired nothing more than to keep the breath taking woman locked away for all eternity. My beautiful knight saving the lady of the forest, there is a nice ring to that."

Lyla thought the smile she was wearing couldn't get any wider, but as the bard spoke, she was glad to find she was wrong. From the corner of her eye, she saw a small white flower drooping from the waterfall, and obscured by the heavy rain falling around them. Separating herself from Leliana, who let out a small moan in protest, she walked over to it, plucking it from the ground with a smile. She knew she had recognised it.

"For you, ma vhenan." She held it out to the bard. Leliana took it with a small smile, a blush barely visible as the rain flowed down her face.

"Oh? It is beautiful, Lyla." The bard reached for Lyla's hand and held the small flower close to her chest. Lyla gladly took it and returned to her love's side.

"Do I get a kiss?" She smirked as Leliana giggled, before bending down and planting a small kiss on her lips. She could hear the reactions from the group behind them, any doubt they may have had about the relationship between their commander and their bard, gone from their mind. Lyla ignored the grunt of disgust that no doubt came from Mithra, or possibly Morrigan, and focused on the bard beside her. "You haven't smelt them, Leli."

Lyla watched with delight as the bard brought the small flower to her face, burying her nose into its bloom. Leliana nearly dropped the flower in surprise, and she looked to Lyla with a newfound fondness in her eyes that made the Warden's heart melt. "These…" The human began, but her voice caught and happy tears began to form behind her eyes. "These were her favourites. I haven't seen them in such a long time, they smell just like mother used to." Leliana reached for the elf, and Lyla was very glad to reciprocate as she was enveloped in a hug. "Thank you…" A lone tear made it past the barricade and joined the raindrops as it fell down the bards face. "Thank you so much for remembering.

A flash of light, and a surprised squeak, from behind them brought them out of the embrace much quicker than Lyla would have liked. As she turned to the group, she saw Neria's face covered in small leaves, and the branch she was holding was covered in a similar substance.

"Woops." The young mage laughed. She took her own staff from its holder on her back and held it next to the oak branch, comparing them. "Lyla, I think this is much, much, more powerful than anything I've ever used, and it seems to react well to the keeper magic I know. I can use it as a better focus for my mana."

"It is yours to keep then, lethallan. Just try not to cover yourself in plants again." She smirked before meeting the eyes of the older mage. Wynne was giving her a stare that showed great disapproval, whether at Neria's staff or the relationship between Lyla and her bard, the warden could only guess but she knew that sooner or later she would get an earful about it. "Let's keep going, the hunters in the clan can't have much longer."

Returning to her lover's side, she led the group towards the centre of the forest. It wasn't until a few hours later that they saw the first signs of fighting. A dead ogre lay at the bottom of the small hill they had just climbed. It was surrounded by dead werewolves and other darkspawn corpses.

"Alistair with me, everyone else, keep your distance. I don't want anyone to risk infection." The armoured warden quickly reached her and as a pair, they marched down the hill, stopping just short of the battleground.

A werewolf's body rose to its feet and stared across at Lyla, who had instantly dived across the ogre's corpse to reach it, weapons drawn.

"P-please." The werewolf strained to speak, and fell to its knees. "Please help me." It groaned. "I am not the mindless beast I appear to be." It crawled forward a step but stopped when Revas' howled, running down the hill to reach his master. "You are Dalish as well? I am cursed, lethallan. It, it burns." The werewolf let out a howl of pain, practically rumbling the trees around them. "It burns inside my soul. I fled from my clan, and the werewolves, they took me in. But I am not like them. I had to return, I had to!" It howled once more, and crept closer to Lyla. The Mabari jumped in between them and bared its teeth at the threat before him. "Please, have you seen my clan?"

"Zathrian sent me." Lyla called the dog back with a whistle and stepped towards the monster. "He sent me to kill Witherfang. Have you seen it?"

"I have. But it is not what you think." The wolf grunted, falling further to the ground. It managed to lift itself up with one huge arm and looked at Lyla. "There is no time to explain. I can feel the curse returning, the burning is worse. Soon my mind will be gone. I left a husband in my clan, my name is Danyla, and his name is Athras. Please tell him I am with the creators now. Tell him I died in peace, as elvhen, not a werewolf." The wolf howled once more, and fell to the ground hard. With one final great effort, it managed to look up at Lyla. "Please, kill me. End this fire in my veins, end my pain."

"Tell me where the werewolves are and I will do as you ask, lethallan." Lyla stepped forward and brought her axe out, holding it ready.

"They are not violent creatures any more. They have overcome the curse, as I tried. There is a ruin in the centre of the forest and you can find them there. If you go there, they will think you are attacking and defend themselves."

Lyla quickly brought the axe down on the werewolf, severing its head and killing it. She then knelt down on one knee and closed her eyes to pray. "Swiftly do stars burn a path across the sky. Hast'ning to place one last kiss upon your eye. Tenderly land enfolds you in slumber. Softening the rolling thunder. Dagger now sheathed, bow no longer tense. During this, your last hour, only silence." Rising from her feet, she turned to Alistair, who had remained oddly silent, and nodded her head at him. They returned to the group in silence and Lyla told them that there was no doubt; they needed to find the centre of the forest to find the werewolf lair.

-FTDTD-

Maker's breath. What Marjolaine wouldn't have given at this moment for a bard with even half the skill of Leliana. Raven's heart was in the right place, directly in Marjolaine's pocket, but she was too violent, and much too eager to rush in.

With a small sigh, Marjolaine rose the small goblet of warmed wine to her mouth, drinking it slowly to savour the taste. She had brought a crate of the stuff directly from Val Royeaux, the idea of drinking the piss the dog-lords called wine made her want to vomit. The drink was delicious, and cleared Marjolaine's head as she waited for Raven to return, successful this time.

The first time she had sent the young bard off, she had let her travel with her own companion, foolishly trusting the woman's own judgement. Raven had attacked the elf warden and failed. Miserably. The warden had managed to kill Raven's companion and flee from the fight. And Raven had just let her do so.

Marjolaine spat into the fire, anger clouding her judgement as she downed the rest of her goblet. Perhaps if she drank enough, she could imagine she had a bard like Leliana once more. That foolish, guileless woman. Leliana was the perfect weapon. Moulded within the furnace that was Marjolaine's bed, and her wrath. She had formed Leliana into the perfect dagger, the perfect needle, the perfect bard. Marjolaine thought Leliana had loved her, but she betrayed the bard-master instead.

One job, it had been one simple job all those years ago. She was going to gain so much gold for those documents, but the bard had spotted Marjolaine planting them. And even more foolishly told Marjolaine.

It was only self-defence. No doubt, Leliana would have used this information against her. It was with a heavy heart, that Marjolaine realised she would have to kill the weapon she had developed so well.

A quick message to her contact within Denerim Castle, and that was it. Leliana would break in to steal the letters back, and eventually be caught with them in her own hands.

Unfortunately, Marjolaine had underestimated the young bard. And Leliana had escaped from the dungeons of Denerim Castle. The bard fled, eventually finding her way to Lothering. Nevertheless, Marjolaine suspected that one day that bitch would be back for her revenge. It was what Marjolaine would have done.

Until she left the chantry. Marjolaine didn't like to think she was particularly religious but even she wouldn't murder a member of the church, even a lay sister with plans of revenge. However, Leliana left the chantry, no doubt finding someone strong enough to hurt Marjolaine.

She left with a damnable Grey Warden. A rabbit to make matters worse, the same rabbit that Raven failed to murder.

Therefore, Marjolaine had sent Raven off once more, with a full squad of Qunari warriors, easily enough to kill a single rabbit and her wayward former pupil. All Marjolaine had to do now was drink, and wait.

However, she didn't trust Raven to get the job done. Of course, she would never betray Marjolaine, not like Leliana, so there was no real fear of her former bard finding her in Denerim. It would be prudent to prepare for that though, wouldn't it. Rising from the chair, she left to speak to some old contacts; she needed protection and traps, anything to keep her safe.

-FTDTD-

"The forests have not been vigilant enough." Swiftrunner snarled. The party had found their way to the centre of the forest with relative ease. As soon as they crossed into a small opening, they had been ambushed. "Your Dalish chose well, elf. This is our place now you do not belong. Leave or we will destroy you."

"Not without Witherfang's heart" Lyla growled, drawing her weapons as she stalked closer, followed by Shale, Sten, and Alistair.

"You are sent by the treacherous Dalish to kill Witherfang." The alpha werewolf roared. "I will kill you before you get closer to him." The werewolf charged, followed by its pack.

Lyla met the alpha's claws with her own weapons, hooking its paw out of the way with the heel of her axe. She span and thrust her sword into the wolf, but it was too quick for the elf. It clobbered her out of the way with a backhand to her chest, sending her flying across the group, and landing at Wynne's feet who instantly healed her. Shale was at the alpha wolf in an instant, its great strength a match for the wolf, and they began to hit at each other, the golem doing more damage to the wolf than it was receiving.

Alistair and Sten had rushed past Swiftrunner, attacking its pair of followers. The Qunari charged, his great sword pointed forward, and he speared the first wolf he reached. Piercing its heart and killing it quickly, painlessly. Alistair was not so lucky.

He managed to deflect the first hit he received, pushing the werewolf away with his shield, but he didn't catch the second, and like his commander, was thrown backwards, fortunately she had returned in time, with a hail of spells and arrows behind her. The werewolf soon died.

Swiftrunner retreated somewhat, dashing past Shale, Sten and Alistair, until it was level with Lyla. The elf swung her axe down, and aimed for its arm, but she was cut off by a white blur crashing into her.

A great white wolf had jumped from somewhere behind the treeline, cutting Lyla off from the werewolf. Its four legs were covered in some strange sort of ivy and its eyes, Creators, its eyes seemed to bore into Lyla's very soul. She locked eyes with the creature before it howled and Swiftrunner retreated the battlefield, leaving Lyla to face this white wolf. Fortunately, for either Lyla or the wolf, it too fled the scene, disappearing into the forest as quickly as it appeared.

"C'est beau." The bard exclaimed, as she quickly arrived by her lover's side and they were both enraptured by what stood before them.

Rising out from the ground were ancient stone pillars, reminiscent of some ancient empire that had stood for ages past. They stood jagged after the ages had had their way with them, but it was easy for Lyla to see how they could have once reached the very sky.

Behind the pillars was something altogether fantastical.

An ancient building seemed to rival the very height of the trees before them, and whilst it did remind Lyla of something she could not figure out what. Great arches had been built into the sides of this awesome structure, creating beautiful breaks in the solid façade of the building. Carved inside the centre of the arches were tremendous depictions of the Creators, albeit somewhat weathered. Lyla recognised the horrifying mask of Elgar'nan in one, the body of Mythal in another.

She was completely awestruck.

"Mythal'enaste. This is of my people." She whispered as she walked closer, eyes darting to every corner of the entrance.

As they entered, Lyla was just as awestruck, and found herself speechless.

The room was fantastic, that was the only word for it, and as they entered, Lyla watched the floor descend into beautiful stairs, chiselled with designs that she faintly recognised. The stairs gave way to a humongous great hall, its ceiling bigger than any Lyla had seen in her life. If she had asked Leliana, the bard would have likened it to the ceiling in the grand cathedral, complete with sculpted designs within. In addition, it was just as overwhelming as the statues continued inside. She stopped before one, recognising it as the god Falon'Din. She felt tears form behind her eyes, as recognition of this place set it.

It was eerily similar to where she had lost Tamlen, where she had become tainted. Suddenly, it was all too much, the memories of her childhood friend began pouring into her head, and she had to shake it to try to rid them. It was no use, and images of him laughing, attempting to flirt with her, or Merrill, and tears began to flow freely down her face. Creators, she missed her family all the more now, they may have left her behind, but that did not change a thing. Tamlen was gone, presumably dead, and she couldn't have saved him.

A howl shook her, and her group. They had seen the tears fall from the elf, but all but Leliana felt too awkward to approach. The howl was a welcome addition to the somewhat uncomfortable atmosphere, and Alistair joined Sten and Shale at the front, standing tall against whatever threat was coming.

Lyla roared in response, unnatural anger flowing through her body. How dare this monster approach her clan? How dare it try to harm her new family? Her Leliana? The monsters dared to enter her people's ruins? Her people's history? Deep down, Lyla may not have felt she was Dalish any longer, but she still loved elven history, still craved to know more, to protect it. She charged past the group, her rage spurring her on, and launched herself down the great stairs that led down. As she flew down the stairs, she saw a pack of werewolves, complimented with a few normal ones, and she only felt her anger grow.

Reaching the first, she danced through its attacks, slicing at the arms with rapid succession and bringing it down in a matter of seconds. She roared a threat at the next, and the werewolf roared in kind, charging at her. She clearly had Elgar'nan's blessing as she dived under its first attack, and drove her sword through its soft underbelly.

The rest of the party had reacted quickly to Lyla's outburst. Neria casting an enchantment on their weapons as Lyla dived down the stairs, whilst Wynne cast a spell around Lyla, protecting her slightly against the sharp claws of the enemy she faced.

Mithra, and Leliana, both drew their arrows and began to fire at the wolves below, leaving the stronger monsters for the heavy clad warriors of the group. They managed to kill one as Lyla killed her first werewolf.

Morrigan had transformed into her raven form, flying down barely behind Lyla and past the pack, before shifting into her bear form and attacking from the rear, keeping the pack confused as they fought their way through.

The golem, Qunari, and Human warrior charged as one, each crashing into their own werewolf, and grunting at the exertion. They each managed to kill their foe, as Lyla destroyed another monster.

Soon they were all gone, and Lyla stood in the centre of the room and let out a howl of her own. Her voice reverberated around the ancient ruins, and traveling along the narrow halls leading out of the room they were in. "I am coming for you, Witherfang." She roared. "Ar tu na'lin emma mi. You will pay for desecrating elvhen history."

The elf marched ahead, barely taking a moment to see her group were following, as she made her way through hallway after hallway. Taking a moment to admire each room, she continued onwards, hoping to find a sign of the great white wolf that she guessed was Witherfang.

Eventually they made their way to a stairway leading down, cracked walls framing it as it led down into darkness. Without a second thought, Lyla progressed on.

A ghastly thunder echoed throughout the stairway, and caused Lyla to pause. The group caught up and spoke of their concern, but it was not enough to slow her down. She had never heard a cry like that before, and could only guess what sort of creature could have made it.

The bottom of the stairs led into another great room. Its walls stretched into the sky, forming a ceiling barely visible to the elf. The walls were cracked, and a large opening led into the forest on one side. The horrific roar thundered throughout the room, and to the groups dismay a gigantic creature flew in through the hole.

A dragon.

Author's note

Sorry for the cliff hanger! See you next week.

Translations.

Elvish

Ma vhenan – My heart

Ar tu na'lin emma mi – I will see your blood on my blade

French/Orlesian

Merde – shit

Je t'aime – I love you

Ma Cherie – My Dear

Bonjour – hello (did I really need to translate this?)

C'est beau – It's beautiful