Ezra woke up and blinked his eyes, he was back at camp. He sat up but was soon told to lie down again by their healer. Not being one to listen Ezra got up and left the healers tent. Another hunter stopped him outside then tent.
"You're awake! You've the gods' own luck, lethallin," the hunter, Fenarel, said. "You're back at camp. Everyone is worried sick about you. How do you feel?"
"I feel fine, just a tad groggy," Ezra answered yawning.
"We thought you would die. The shem who brought you here said there wasn't much hope. Seems he was wrong."
"A shem brought me here?" Ezra asked.
"Yes he brought you back two days ago. You don't remember him?"
"Wait two days?"
"He was a Grey Warden and appeared out of nowhere with you slung over his shoulder," Fenarel said ignoring Ezra's question. "You were delirious with fever. He said that he found you outside a cave in the forest, unconscious and alone. He left you here and then ran off again. The keeper's been using old magic to heal you."
"Is anyone looking for Tamlen?" Ezra asked his pale blue eyes full of concern.
"Of course! Most of the hunters are off looking for him right now."
"Then I shall join them."
"No. The keeper wanted to talk to you as soon as you awoke. Stay here- I'll get her."
Ezra waited patiently while Fenarel went to get keeper Marathani. Looking around the camp looked sad and didn't hold the same light it once did without Tamlen. Hopefully they would find him...
"I see you are awake, da'len. It is fortunate Duncan found you when he did... I know not what dark power held you, but it nearly bled the life from you. It was difficult even for my magic to keep you alive," the keeper said. Her voice held a calm familiarity that Ezra enjoyed listening to again.
"I kept telling Tamlen we should come back. That we shouldn't have gone there alone," Ezra clenched his fists at his side.
"Do not worry da'len. Even I might have been intrigued enough by such a cave to explore it further." The keeper paused picking her next words carefully. "Duncan thought there might have been darkspawn creatures inside the cave. Is that true?"
"I only remember the mirror." In truth Ezra had no idea what darkspawn truly were. Were they those corpses?
"A mirror? And it caused all this? I have never heard of such a thing in all the lore we have collected." The keeper shook her head and sighed. " I was hoping for more answers when you woke, but there are only more questions. And Tamlen is still missing. He is more important than any lore in these ruins. If he is as sick as you were, his condition is grave."
"I will look for him, I remember where the cave was," Ezra said. He wasn't going to let his clan mate be lost.
"Duncan returned to the cave to search for darkspawn. Quickly go and search for Tamlen."
Ezra grabbed his swords and stuck them on his back. He then went to find Merrill to take to the cave with him. Merrill was a small girl, even for elf standards. She had short black hair and always carried her staff on her back. Ezra and Merrill were very close after what she did for him.
In the forest Ezra and Merrill were attacked by what they both assumed to be darkspawn. Merrill said Ezra had looked feverish and pale but Ezra said he felt fine. They came upon a camp, the fire pit still warm, someone was there recently.
"Was this camp here when you came through?" Merrill asked.
"No, maybe it belongs to the shem who found me."
"You're probably right. Didn't he say he was headed back to the cave?" Merrill asked. "Either way he's not here now. And we've seen no sign of Tamlen. Maybe we should..."
"Wait do you hear that?" Ezra asked interrupting Merrill. She listened to the forest."The forest is too quiet."
"Something is in the air...something unnatural," Merrill commented.
The pair continued to the cave mouth the air becoming filled with more evil and the path with more darkspawn. They fought their way through the cave and to the room with the mirror. A shemlen was in there.
"So you were the one fighting darkspawn. I thought I hear combat," the shem said turning around to face the elves. The shem had dark hair, eyes and skin. His frame was much bigger than that of an elves. "You're the elf I found wandering the forest aren't you? I'm surprised you have recovered."
"If you heard combat why didn't you come to help?"
"I would have, had I not been battling them myself. Not all the kills here were yours as you can see." The shem gestured to bodies scattered around the room all leaking blood. "My name is Duncan, and it's a pleasure to finally meet you. The last time we spoke, you were barely conscious."
" Andaran atishsh'an, Duncan of the Grey Wardens. I am Merrill, the keeper's apprentice." Merrill gave a slight bow to the warden.
"Your keeper did not send you after me, did she? I told her I would be in no danger."
"No, we are looking for our brother Tamlen. I am Ezra of the Dalish." Ezra also bowed slightly.
"So you and your friend Tamlen both entered this cave? And you saw this mirror?" Duncan asked. Ezra nodded.
"Tamlen touched the mirror. I blacked out, all I remember was a bright light," Ezra answered.
"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.." Ezra looked at the mirror it looked more elvish than any of the small amount of Tevinter made things he had seen.
"Is that what made me sick?"
"Yes and Tamlen too I presume."
"Then we should destroy it," Ezra said.
"I agree." Duncan walked toward the mirror and pulled out his sword. He brought the sword down into the mirror and it shattered.
"It is done. Now, lets leave this cursed place. I must speak with your keeper immediately regarding your cure," Duncan said.
"I agree," Ezra said. He still wanted to look for Tamlen but knew they searched the whole cave already, he was gone.
"I sense no other darkspawn nearby, it is safe. Lead on."
Ezra lead Duncan back to camp with a quiet as a mouse Merrill behind them. When they returned they were greeted by the keeper.
"I'm relieved you have returned! And I did not expect to see you again so soon, Duncan," the keeper said.
"I was not expecting to return so soon either, keeper."
"Dare I ask of Tamlen? What did you find of him?"
"Nothing, he is gone." Ezra looked down at his boots and then back to the keeper, she frowned.
"I see. Merrill, what about the mirror? Did you bring anything back?"
"I can answer that keeper," Duncan said. "I destroyed the mirror."
"I intended to use it to find a cure for the mysterious illness. I trust you had a good reason for your actions?" The keeper said. She was peeved.
"There is much to discuss, Keeper. I have learned a great deal since I was last here."
"Let us speak privately within my aravel then, Duncan."
The keeper went to discuss with Duncan while Merrill went back to her aravel. Ezra talked to Hahren Paivel about preparing a service for Tamlen. Upon speaking with the keeper again Ezra was met with a choice. Either die or become a Grey Warden.
"Then I will join you when you leave Duncan," Ezra said.
"I welcome you to the order. It is rare to have a Dalish amongst us, but they have always served with distinction."
Ezra and Duncan left after the service for Tamlen. It was hard for Ezra to say goodbye to everyone who accepted him, but he had to do it. Merrill hugged him one last time.
"Thank you for all you have done for me," he said upon releasing her.
"Farewell my friend."