Theron soon led them back to camp and out of the corner, he noticed Duncan talking with Kallian. He was unable to make out what they were talking about, because they were talking in whispers, but he had a feeling that they were talking about him.

When they entered back to camp, everyone's eyes were upon Duncan and Marethari rushed towards them. "I'm relieved you have returned. And I did not expect to see you again so soon, Duncan."

"I was not expecting to return so soon either, Keeper." Duncan said in a grave voice.

"Dare I ask for Tamlen? What did you find of him?" Marethari turned to the elves.

Theron looked at Duncan. "The Grey Warden says we will find nothing."

"I see." Marethari nodded, leaning on her staff, her face full of grief. She then turned her eyes upon Merrill. "Merrill, what about the mirror? Did you bring anything back?"

Duncan spoke before Merrill could reply. "I can answer that, Keeper. I destroyed the mirror."

Marethari looked up and gave Duncan a displeasing look. "I intended to use it to find a cure for this mysterious illness. I trust you had good reason for your actions?"

"There is much to discuss, Keeper. I have learned a great deal since I was last here." Duncan said.

"Let us speak privately within my aravel then, Duncan." Marethari looked back at them. "Merrill warn the hunters. If darkspawn are about, I want the clan prepared."

"Ma nuvenin, Keeper. Right away." Merrill wandered off as Theron kept his eyes upon her. He knew that Merrill had grabbed a piece of the mirror thinking that no one had watched them. However, he considered against informing the Keeper, not with the Grey Warden still around.

Marethari then turned her attention upon him. "Da'len, allow me some time with Duncan. Seek us out at my aravel later, and we can discuss your cure."

"Very well, Keeper." Theron nodded and looked upon both Duncan and Kallian.

"Tell Hahren Paivel what has occurred. He now has the sad task of preparing a service for the dead. Duncan, you and your recruit follow me. I am eager to hear what you have to say."


Duncan soon found himself in the Keeper's aravel, Kallian was leaning against the wall looking upon the both of them.

"He is tainted, isn't he?" Marethari asked grimly.

"Yes." Duncan replied simply. There was no point in dragging it out.

Marethari looked saddened. "I feared this the moment you had arrived and left your apprentice among us." She sat down. "This is troubling..." She sighed. "Both Theron and Tamlen are not related by blood, but they consider each other brothers. It is unusual to see one without the other… and now we have lost both."

"Theron's situation isn't hopeless." Duncan assured. "Me and my apprentices are on our way to Ostagar, to aid the king's army. If Theron is able to survive until then, we may be able to help him."

Marethari nodded sadly. "I have some herb and remedies that will slow its infection."

"We have a mage amongst us recruits. If you can provide instructions, I'm sure he will be able to treat him." Kallian said.

Marethari nodded. "I'll write down the ingredients you need and how to use them." She then began scribbling down a piece of parchment and then looked upon Duncan. "He feels as if he needs to protect the clan. He will not come willingly."

"I could invoke the Right of Conscription." Duncan said.

Marethari shook her head. "At least let me try and speak reason into him. I wouldn't want to force him to do something he doesn't want to. Theron can be very stubborn."

Duncan nodded, realizing that the trip to Ostagar was about to get even more interesting.


Hahren Paivel's eyes met Theron's, and the elder immediately began shooing the children away. "So you return with the Grey Warden, but without Tamlen. What happened, da'len? Is he truly lost to us?"

Theron nodded. "Yes, he's dead." Deep down, he had hoped that Tamlen was still alive but obviously there was no point searching for him.

Paivel gave him a sympathetic look. "So… another of our children has perished. To think I'd live to see this…" He sighed before taking a breath. "It seems the will of the Creators that I sing the dirge for those I held in my arms as babes. I think I know why our immortal ancestors would sleep."

He stood, gazing into the fire. Theron watched him a moment, then joined his own voice to Paivel's recitation. "Swiftly do stars burn a path across the sky, hastening 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."

Theron felt tears burning the back of his eyes. "The keeper wants me to tell you to prepare a service."

Paivel nodded. "Of course. We've no body to return to the soil, but we shall still sing for Tamlen. The Creators must come to guide him to the Beyond." He sighed. "Tell the keeper it shall be done before the clan is ready to move on."

"Thank you, Hahren." Theron nodded. He turned and started to go, but the elder's voice stopped him.

"You know, it's imperative now more than ever to pass on what we know to the young." Paivel set a hand on Theron's shoulder. "Let us tell these children of the fall of the Dales. You can honor me by sharing in the telling."

Theron met the storyteller's eyes. He knew what the man was trying to do, and loved him all the more for it. He nodded, and Paivel smiled as he gestured for the children to approach once more. Paivel's voice rang out, strong and clear. "Children, hear of the fall of the Dales! Hear the tale of what makes you Dalish..."

Together, they wove the story. Theron managed to incite the tale perfectly much to Paivel's pride.

"We are the Dalish: keepers of the lost lore, walkers of the lonely path." Paivel recited.

Theron's own voice rang out, strong and firm. "We are the last Elvhenan. Never again shall we submit."

Paivel watched the children return to their play before looking back to Theron. "Thank you for your forbearance, da'len. You remember both the tale and the Oath of the Dales perfectly." He opened his mouth, then closed it again and sighed. "I will let you get on with your business now."

He walked away and remembered everything that Paivel had taught him. He was the one that taught him the only way for peace was with coexistence with the humans. He also stated that they would find a city greater than Arlathan for both the Dalish and the flat-ears. He always said that they could help each other, they could teach the flat-ears the lore they lost and they would teach them how to understand the shemlens. He can't help but agree, it was the only way they would truly live in peace.

As he walked, he shot a glance at Marethari's aravel, but neither the Keeper, Warden or Kallian were visible. Theron clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to fight the urge to scratch at the strange sensation beneath his skin. He wished they would hurry up with this cure it was unbearable. He saw Ashalle's worried glance, and walked towards her.

"By the Creators, it is so good to see you whole and well, I was so worried!" Ashalle ran a worried hand over his cheek as she had so often when he was small.

Theron placed his hand over hers, giving her a reassuring smile. "You really shouldn't worry so much about me."

Ashalle smiled, looking teary-eyed. "I can't help it, dear. I've raised you since your poor mother died." She then looked into his eyes which were full of sadness. "Everyone fears Tamlen is dead. Is it true?"

Theron closed his eyes. He didn't want to give up on him but if Tamlen wasn't dead, he was as good as dead and it was obvious there was nothing he could do for him at that point anymore. "It's true. He's gone."

"That's awful." Ashalle's eyes welled up. "He's been a good friend to you since you were fledglings." He drew her to him as she started to weep, and felt tears of his own fall into her hair. She clutched him to her tightly, as though afraid if she let go, he would also vanish. "You must be more careful. Your mother and father, may they rest in peace, would be horrified to see you take such risks."

"You've never spoken of my parents, Ashalle." Theron said, surprised she would ever mention them.

Ashalle looked solemn. "What happened to them is a sad tale, and it's in the past. Reopening old wounds benefits no one."

"Don't we Dalish strive to learn of our past?" Theron pointed out.

"True." Ashalle admitted. "Perhaps you're old enough to hear this, though it…" She sighed. "…hardly seems like the right time."

Theron raised an eyebrow. "Is there ever a good time?"

Ashalle nodded, knowing he had a point. "Very well. If I do not tell you, you'll only wonder." She took a breath. "Your mother was a hunter—one of the finest. And your father was the keeper before Marethari. He was with us for a very long time. Your mother was from another clan, and her elders did not approve of the match. She and your father had to meet in secret." Theron leaned back uneasily, having a feeling this would not have a happy ending. "One day, bandits caught them alone in the forest. Your father was killed, but your mother escaped."

Theron stared. "Humans killed my father?"

Ashalle nodded, giving Theron a sympathetic look. "Yes, but also city elves, too. Those of our kind living with humans do not hold to the old ways." Theron felt lucky Kallian didn't seem to be like most flat-ears, if this was true. "Your mother held to life long enough to give birth to you, but grief wracked her heart. One night, she… she simply walked into the moonlight and never returned."

"My mother abandoned me?" Theron's voice broke with sadness and disbelief.

"She just…" Ashalle breathed out as she held his hand. "…couldn't carry on without your father." She noticed the broken look on his face. "The clan decided not to discuss this around you, lest it poison your heart with sadness."

Theron took a breath to get ahold of himself. "I can't believe I've never heard this tale."

"Our people have learned to live with much sorrow, it seemed only right that we do not dwell on it." Ashalle assured him. "Your mother did leave you a gift, something of your father's for you to have once you were older. Perhaps the time has come…"

Theron raised an eyebrow. "Oh? There is?"

Ashalle handed him a key. "Take this key. You'll see some chests behind the storage aravel by the halla pen. One of them was your mother's. Its contents are your, if you wish." She held him to her again, then her eyes went past him to where the warden and keeper were exiting the keeper's aravel. "I will see you soon, my dear. You make me very proud."

Theron looked into the chest and saw inside a necklace as he recognized it. It was his mother's. Theron stared at it and felt sadness fill his heart as he put it into his pocket, keeping it as a memory.


Duncan watched the young man stride towards them, and gave him an appraising look, mentally comparing him to his other elvish recruit. There was so little difference between him and Kallian, apart from his skill with bow and his eyes were full of wisdom as if he carried the knowledge inside his mind. His facial tattoos were tinged green, and Duncan found himself wondering what the pattern represented. He spoke as soon as the young man reached them. "Your keeper and I have spoken, and we've come to an arrangement that concerns you. My order is in need of help. You are in need of a cure. When I leave, I hope you will join me. You would make an excellent Grey Warden."

Theron steadied him and then to Marethari. "I can't just leave my clan."

Marethari gave him a sympathetic look. "And we would not send you away, but there is more at stake."

"The darkspawn taint courses through your veins." Duncan saw from the young man's eyes that he had only confirmed what Theron had already suspected. "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."

"Will I be able to return to my clan?" Theron asked, but the look in his eyes indicated he would know the answer.

Marethari looked at him as if every word hurt, shaking her head. "We do not know. But we cannot watch you suffer. The Grey Warden offers you a way to survive."

Duncan sighed. "This is not simply charity on my part. I would not offer this if I did not think you had the makings of a Grey Warden." He glanced at Marethari, and decided to lay everything out. Misleading this young man would only cause further difficulties down the road. "Let me be clear: You will likely never return here. We go to fight the darkspawn, a battle that will take us far from your clan. But we need you, and others like you."

Theron looked at Marethari not able to believe Duncan's words. "Is the clan sending me away?"

Marethari nodded and her voice became firm. "A great army of darkspawn gathers in the south. A new Blight threatens the land. We cannot outrun this storm. Long ago, the Dalish agreed to aid the Grey Wardens against a Blight, should that day arrive. We must honor that agreement. It breaks my heart to send you away. As it would to watch you slowly die from this sickness. This is your duty, and your salvation."

Kallian then stepped forward. "Theron, I know this is hard, but this may be your only chance of surviving. Ask yourself: Would you prefer to honor your clan by fighting the darkspawn or would you rather they be saddened as they see you become slowly corrupted by the taint?"

Theron looked over his shoulder and looked at everyone in the camp, the children playing, young couples kissing and the hunters training. His shoulders slumped and he turned to look at Duncan. "If this is my duty, then I will go."

"I welcome you to the order." Duncan placed a hand on his shoulder. "It is rare to have a Dalish among us, but they have always served with distinction."

Marethari stepped past him, and took Theron's hands in hers. "I know you'll do your clan proud, da'len. Take this ring. It is your heritage and will protect you against the darkness to come."

"A valuable gift." Duncan nodded. "So… are you ready to go?" The sooner they were underway, the better. By now, Sereda would be starting to worry.

"Can I say goodbye to my clan, at least?" Theron asked.

"Of course." Duncan nodded. "Say your farewells, then let's be off. We have much ground to cover."

"Come then, da'len. Before the Creators guide you from us, let your clan embrace you one last time." Marethari took the young man's arm, and drew him away.


Duncan and Kallian watched from the top of the hill as Theron slowly approached them. Everyone was in the camp men, women and children all looked upon him with sad faces. All of them were singing an old elven song.

He stopped in front of Merrill and looked at her as if he wanted to say something, but looks away in shame. He hugged an elven woman who must've been his guardian and an elder who must've been his old mental. He stopped in front of Marethari and placed his hands over her before he went to join them.

They then headed off into the forest and Theron looked at them one last time before he disappeared into the forest with tears in his eyes.


Sereda was in a tavern with the others as they were waiting for Duncan and Kallian. They were unable wait much longer, they started to worry about their disappearance.

"Can't stay here much longer." Faren said.

Sereda nodded. "We'll give them until noon and if they had not returned, we shall go back into the forest and search for them."

Then, the tavern door opened and they found Duncan and Kallian entering and behind them Sereda noticed the Dalish hunter they found at the mouth of the cave.

"It seems we had nothing to fear." Daylen said.

"Who's the elf that you've got with you, Duncan?" Elissa asked after feeding Barkspawn a chicken leg.

"This is Theron, I believe you remember him from the cave mouth." Duncan said.

"Aye, you're looking a bit healthier than the last time we saw you." Faren said.

"Ma myathash em, durgen'len." Theron gave them a small bow.

Faren looked at him in rage. "What does that mean? Was that some kind of insult?"

"No, he said "You honor me, child of the Stone."" Daylen corrected.

"Oh." Faren flushed in embarrassment. "In that case, Atrast vala." He bowed.

"Smooth, Faren, real smooth." Sereda shook her head with a chuckle before she then looked to Theron. "Forgive our thuggish friend, he so used to being insulted."

"Why is that?" Theron asked.

Sereda rubbed her forehead. "It's complicated."

"Anyway, Theron is going to join us." Kallian said, wanting to break the tension.

"Well, I didn't think he came here for food and drink." Sereda said. "I'm Sereda." She turned towards the others and pointed them out in turn. "You've met Kallian obviously, and that was Faren, over there is Daylen and right over there is Elissa and her dog Barkspawn."

"So, bow or sword?" Faren asked.

"I beg your pardon?" Theron said as they sat down to join them.

"Which do you prefer; a bow or sword?" Faren asked.

"Oh, I can handle both." Theron then looked at the other recruits. "So, how did you get recruited?"

"Duncan conscripted me." Faren said. "I took part in a Proving, that's an arena fight." He added, noting the puzzled look on Theron's face. "I disguised myself as a Warrior Caste and just after I finished beating the shit out of them, the man I was pretending to be wondered in."

"And it's a great insult for a casteless to take part in a Proving let alone pretending to be a higher caste." Sereda added. "If not for Duncan, he would have spent the rest of his life either in prison, banished into the Deep Roads or executed."

"What about you then?" Theron asked, looking at the female dwarf.

Sereda sighed. "It's complicated, but in short I was betrayed by my brother. You see I'm the second child of the King of Orzammar and I was framed for killing my older brother, Trian. I was banished into the Deep Roads and I would have perished if I had not bumped into Duncan and his Wardens."

"Betrayed by your own brother, that must be difficult." Elissa gave her a sympathetic look.

"It was, but I have to admit I didn't know he had it in him." Sereda shrugged.

"Wait, let me get this straight, you're impressed that your brother betrayed you and killed your other brother." Theron looked dumbfounded.

Sereda chuckled. "Yes, he'll make an excellent king and if there's one thing I like about him it's that he believed as I do that the casteless deserve a chance to prove themselves and that if we are to survive we need to call upon aid from the surface."

Theron was unable to comprehend this and decided that dwarven politics were way over his head. He then turned the mage. "And what about you?"

Daylen sighed as he took a breath. "Just like Sereda, I was betrayed by someone I trusted. You see, I was helping an old friend escape the tower, because he was going to become Tranquil." He then noticed the confused look upon Theron's face. "That's severing one from the Fade making them unable to use magic and rob them of their emotion."

"That's horrible." Theron said.

Daylen nodded. "Anyway, we succeeded in destroying his phylactery and then I discovered he was in fact a blood mage. He ran off leaving me high and dry and I would have either been imprisoned or executed if Duncan hadn't stepped in."

"That was nothing compared to Howe's treachery." Elissa said bitterly as she looked at Theron. "You see, I'm the daughter of Bryce Cousland, the Teyrn of Highever. Anyway, my father sent my older brother Fergus with most of our forces down to the south the battle the darkspawn. Then that night Howe, whose forces were"delayed"…" She gestured with her fingers as quotation marks. "…attacked us. It was a total massacre, they killed everyone, women, children, my parents, sister-in-law and nephew, my whole family, they spared no one. I would be dead too if Duncan hadn't come to the castle, but in exchange for my safety, I was to be conscripted into the Grey Wardens."

Theron looked at her, seeing the sadness in her eyes. "I'm so sorry."

"Well, my story isn't as dramatic as hers, but it still ended in tragedy." Kallian shrugged. "It was my wedding day and the arl's son decided he wanted a party. He took every woman in the wedding, including me. Fortunately, I was able to escape and rescue everyone before things got bad."

"Yeah, by killing the arl's son and most of the guards." Faren said.

"What I wasn't going to sit around to get raped." Kallian snapped. "Anyway, the guards came to arrest me and Duncan stepped in, and here I am."

Theron looked at Duncan. "You recruit all kinds, don't you?"

Duncan looked down at him. "I only recruit those who I believe have the makings of an excellent Grey Warden."

Faren placed his tankard down and rubbed the mead off his beard. "So, how did you get recruited?"

Theron looked at Duncan, who frowned before looking at them. "There was little choice in the matter. He has the blight."

"Me and my friend, Tamlen encountered it in that cave. We were not able to recover his friend." Theron said, closing his eyes.

They all remained silent as they turn their gaze upon Theron.

Duncan then spoke. "Anyway, we'll have a good night's rest and make a way to Ostagar." He then looked at Daylen. "Daylen, the Keeper of Theron's clan has given me a list on how to treat Theron's condition until we reach Ostagar."

"I'll see what I can do." Daylen nodded.

Duncan watched Theron as he entered into his room early and knew he was suffering more than just the blight, but also a wounded heart.