When someone says Werewolves you don't actually want to believe them... right? But it seemed the elves spoke the truth for the first actual encounter we had the moment we left the woods a small pack of wolves and werewolves attacked us. I on the other hand tried to fend them off but ended up stuck in a tree. Now how I got there, I don't quite remember but I believe it was my form of panic. I hug the large tree, my fingernails biting into it's bark as I squeezed my eyes shut. Really, some Grey Warden I was. "Solona!" I can my name being called, Cullen's worry hitting me right smack in the stomach. "Alistair? Did you see where she went?" I can hear the heavy breathing from Alistair, the crinkling of armor but I on the other hand couldn't move. Werewolves! WEREWOLVES! I didn't actually believe him but when I saw them, I panicked. "I found her," I can hear Zevran under me but with the branches obscuring his view I did not miss that hint of disappointment in his voice. "She's up there!" I don't want to look down, this could be a trick... could werewolves actually do that? I run everything I ever read in books about Werewolves in my mind but really nothing like this came to mind. "Bloody Maker," Cullen curses under me. "Solona, get down here!" I grimace but his angry tone wasn't helping the matter. "No!" I shout back. "If you don't come down here, I'll... I'll... just have to come up there after you!" My eyes fly open. Did he just say that he'll come up here after me? "Yeah, right." I snort but before I know I hear his armor falling to pieces upon the ground. "I could go up there," Zevran offers but the grunt from Cullen spoke more than words. "Right, I'll wait here, yes?" I panic again when I hear him start up the tree. I had no idea Cullen knew how to climb trees but evidently I didn't know I could do it either.
After a few quiet minutes he is sitting down next to me, the large branch under us seems to hold both our weight but he sighs. "They did say werewolves," he was going to start this with me... now of all times! "Am I going to have to pry you out of this tree?" He was smirking when I look to him. Suddenly my conversation with Ghenya had made me realize where my actual mistake lay. It lay within Cullen and our actions thus far. We have been through the Black City and back, and he has taken it all with such carefree strides. "No," I mutter to him, my arms letting go of the tree. "Can you get down?" He asks me but I look down. "Tell Zevran to move." He follows my gaze and ping of something strange hits me. I watch the emotions flash across Cullen's eyes before he shouts to Zevran. "She won't come down if you're standing under her!" Zevran sighs but obliges my own request. "I'm starting to get annoyed of that elf." I mutter as I move for Cullen to start down before me. "Yes, well he has proven quite useful." He made a valid point, I suppose.
We start back down slowly, I take my time trying to find the right place to dig my fingernails in. As soon as I hear Cullen hit the ground under me, I ease myself down and his hands grip my thighs, sliding up to my hips as I drop to the ground. For the past few weeks now, we have tried to keep a distance from each other but my breath catches in my throat. Cullen's heart quickens under my touch but I move away quickly. Nearly stumbling over backwards from the process.
After my near life threatening panic to climb a tree as quickly as possible, Cullen on the other hand was just a dumbfounded as I was. We had a small, quick discussion with Swiftrunner. "I had no idea they could actually talk." He looks to me, he was just as surprised as I was. "From what I have read, they are mainly savages. They have one instinct and that is survival of the fittest." He shakes his head, as we all sat before a quiet fire that we built for the night.
So far we had encountered a strange Hermit that did not like the idea of two Templars traveling through his property. He decided to pick a fight with us and we ended having to kill him. We did however save the acorn, ran into another Mage who knew Wynne. I promised to give her a letter and an amulet the next time I saw her. But now we sat quietly, the others finished their meal but I was just too nervous to actually finish mine. Despite what Alistair had said about the massive appetite it seems like mine keeps disappearing. "Okay, we'll take double watches." Cullen stands up, reaching for a bedroll he had packed with him. Alistair had one as well but it left only Zevran and I without one. "Amell and I will take the first watch, you two get some sleep." I blink, normally I don't have to take watch but I didn't really mind I guess. It would give me time to restore whatever mana I had lost during the battles against the creatures and darkspawn from the forest.
It didn't take long to hear the soft snoring from Alistair and the shifting from Zevran. I take both actions that they are asleep, leaving me alone in the dark forest with Cullen. I sneak a look to him, as he cleans off his blade. The dried blood, the mud and something else I don't even want to think about, clung to the large blade. "Can you teach me how to fight?" I ask, suddenly catching myself unaware of the words coming out of my mouth. He turns to me, the look of surprise in his eyes must have matched my own. "You want to learn how to fight?" I shrug both shoulders and go back to closing my eyes. "You don't have to teach me. I could always ask Alistair." I peak an eye open, watching him switch his gaze to the sleeping form of Alistair behind us. "Why?" I hear him ask. "Why not?" I shoot back. "That doesn't answer my question." He was growing annoyed but I at least hit some sort of button there. "I'm tired of being useless." I open both eyes and look to him.
He takes my words in carefully, realizing just why I was asking him to do teach me. "It doesn't have to be with something as massive as that thing in your hands." I point out to his giant sword. "I just want to learn how to fight with this." I hold up my staff that was resting in my lap. "Can you teach me?" He sighs, but for a second I thought he would turn me away. Throwing me back into the whims of Alistair. "Alright, I'll teach you." I blink, I blink again but he doesn't seem surprised. "When we solve this Werewolf problem, we can start then." I felt a little relieved I suppose. Not quite knowing what to expect in a form of answer. "Thank you," I smile a little. "And Solona?" He looks away, his gaze back to focusing upon cleaning his weapon. "Yes, Cullen?" I close my eyes, humming to myself as I try to relax my mind. "You're not useless." A smile creeps across my lips. "Thank you."
The next morning I wake up to the gentle nudging of Cullen and a dry biscuit with cheese shoved into my hands. I mumble under my breath as we wander through the forest, chewing upon our dry breakfast. I stop just before the bottom of a large hill. Before us, upon the top of it was a mist of some type. "Do you feel that?" Alistair mutters next to me. "The veil is very thin here." I answer the unspoken question. "Where is that branch?" I ask Cullen. He pulls it out, but it makes me realize the branch looked remarkably like a staff. He hands it to me as I take the lead. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" He whispers behind me. "Well... this isn't exactly the fade. But the veil is thin, so that means the forest is trying to block us from something." I was calculating the options and like the Great Oak had said, the branch should work.
Just before the mist, I take a deep breath and reach for Cullen's hand. He gasps from behind me but I shrug. "Take each others hand that way we can't lose each other." I can hear the starts of complaining from Alistair. But the gentle laughter from Zevran tells me he enjoys putting Alistair in this uncomfortable position. "It is only for a few seconds, Alistair." Cullen grumbles behind me. Which causes me to laugh all the same. "Men..." I mutter under my breath and move through the mist. Just as I had thought, the branch worked and when we all made it through, we take in the sight of the ruins around us. "Maker's breath..." Cullen says under his breath. We are still holding hands but none of us take in the fact there was movement up ahead. "Andraste's flaming sword, Zevran!" Alistair shakes away the elf's hand and I can hear the laughter from Zevran. Rolling my eyes I let go of Cullen's hand. Only reluctantly he looks down to me, his smile returns just for a second. "It seems the forest can no longer be trusted." Swiftrunner's voice cuts through Alistair and Zevran's angry banter between each other. "I told you, we are only here to talk." I start but Cullen moves in front of me. "Take us to Witherfang, perhaps we can work out a peaceful way to solve this." He wasn't about to lift his sword but it was Swiftrunner who made the first move. "No! I will not let you touch the Lady." I blink utterly at a lost for words. "Swiftrunner..." I try to be calm but he crouches down into a pouncing form as we are slowly surrounded by a small pack of werewolves. "Why can't anything ever be easy!" I groan moving to the center of the three men surrounding me.
The battle wasn't a long one, Swiftrunner was taken down quickly by Cullen's blade. He moved to rush him but we heard the howl from above us. "Cullen!" I shout to him rushing after him. "Solona!" Alistair yells from behind me as I run into the heat of the battle between Swiftrunner and Cullen. "Damn it, Solona!" Alistair collides with me. Sending me flying to the ground, his body covering my own. "Alistair! Get off of me!" I shout, trying to wiggle out from under him but his added weight doesn't stop my initial fear. "No! I don't want to lose him!" The tears break through me but he doesn't get up from off of me. I hear the colliding of armor against the dirt as Cullen is flung backwards. He slides across the dirt only a few inches from us.
I take a breath, but it was hard with all this dirt under me. The sobs stop but Alistair isn't moving. "He is alright," He whispers to me but I know he was right. That Cullen was fine, that my fear wasn't misplaced. "Alistair, you should get off the woman before you crush her, yes?" Zevran is standing above us as I feel Alistair move off of me. I move to my knees, crawling over to Cullen. I pull off his helmet but he winces when the light hits his eyes. "Cullen..." I say his name but apart of me was happy he was at least alive. "Where does it hurt?" I ask, he touches his chest but that doesn't stop me from unclasping his breastplate. I pull it off, throwing it aside. I reach into my boot and pull out the small knife he had given me within the tower. I cut through the threads of his under armor padding. Not stopping when I hear Alistair behind me. I peel it off, seeing the long ragged scratches across his chest. "Oh Maker," I fall back upon my heels. "Damn it, Cullen!" I curse at him but he is laughing. "Now isn't the time," I growl under my breath but he is still laughing. "So all I have to do is get attacked by a werewolf only to get your frantic attention?" His brow quirked but I sigh, seeing where this was going. "You know, I hate you." I mutter as I sort through my pack for herbs and bandages.
It wasn't the best medical attention but it worked. Cullen was back on his feet, his armor reattached to him as we start deeper into the ruins. Only to be greeted once again by another talking Werewolf. "Fall back, protect the Lady!" He shouts turning around and rushes into the ruins. "Just who is the this Lady?" Zevran asks as we take our time with the steps deeper into the ruin. "Could be anyone, really." I reply, answering his question. "I wonder if she is utterly gorgeous and is looking for a willing elf to warm her bed, yes?" I sigh, rolling my eyes. Of course that would be the first thing he would think of. The door opens slowly, I take an uneasy breath from behind Cullen as he peers in. I can hear him catch his breath when he looks back to the three of us. "You should see this..." He says but I push past him. Opening the door wider and the sight before us was without any words. "Did elves live here?" I ask, moving towards the large set of stairs leading down. "Did elves even live underground?" I look up to Cullen but he shrugs. I didn't bother with asking Zevran, knowing that he would have no idea. "If they did then this is a remarkable find!"
I rush down the stairs, not caring about the consequences of what could be living within these ruins. I can hear a sharp curse from Cullen as he rushes down the steps with me. We pause just before a group of tree roots leading further into the ruin. "Do those look safe?" I ask, looking to him. He seems just as uneasy as I did but we turn to Alistair and Zevran. "How about you two go first?" I was a little surprised when he turns to the other two. Alistair might not have been wearing as heavy as armor as Cullen but Zevran weighed just about the same as I. Which makes me feel a little... well, self conscious. Alistair sighs and steps between us. He shares a very uneasy look with me but I smile, trying to just let him know that things will be fine. He takes the steps quickly and makes it in a few bounds. Landing on the other side he pulls his sword out and moves to check the area. Zevran came next and to me, he practically prances across the roots. Which I just realized would make me look like an Ox.
Cullen let out a breath and I sighed, gripping my staff I take an uneasy step out. Cullen is behind me as I try to move quickly but before I am half way across the roots we both hear the creaking. "Cullen..." I look over my shoulder to him, but he had his helmet back on. I take another small step, just as he does behind me and before I am even an arm's length away... the creaking turns into an almost cracking sound. I look down and look back up, "Oh Maker!" Suddenly we are both falling. I can hear the shouts from Alistair and Zevran. I look up only to see their heads peering over the ledge. We were still falling, I try to grab for something but it is Cullen who pulls me closer to him. We are falling together and when the ground comes into sight, he moves under me. I can hear the crunching of his armor against the stone, the grunting from him but I look up. I can no longer see the top floor from where we were just a few seconds ago. But panic hits me, I suddenly realize Cullen hasn't moved since well he landed and I landed upon him.
I roll off of him. My hands fumbling with his helmet as I pull it off, throwing it aside. He winces, an eye opens a little but he closes it. "Are you alright?" He asks me but I laugh a little. "I should ask you the same." He winces, but he shares my small sense of humor with the moment. "Don't move," I place my hand upon his forehead, my other fumbling within my herbal pouches for something. I can sense he had sprained a few ribs but he was fine, thanks to all the armor and probably the way he landed upon the ground. He was lucky to still be in one piece. "You should be fine but I'll need to bandage your ribs." He looks up to me. "That explains why it is so hard to breathe." I snort, helping him up into a sitting position. "We should stay here. I'm sure Alistair and Zevran will find their way to us." He nods, knowing that he wasn't in the best shape. I help him pull off the breastplate and the under armor which I come to realize I will need to fix for him. "Well, I hope they find their way to us." He grimaces from the sharp pain when I start to wrap his middle with the bandages. "That is if Alistair and Zevran don't end up killing each other before they get here." I only knew that could be the situation. The way they bickered, it would probably end with Alistair flying off the handle.
"Rest back," I ease him back against a stone basin of some sorts. I fall back beside him, I can hear his wavered breathing when his eyes close. "Are you alright?" I touch his forehead but he peeks an eye open. "Just hard to breathe," he touches my hand upon his forehead. "Did I make them to tight?" I worry but he sighs. "Don't worry," I blink did he just say what I thought he said. "So you've felt it too." He lets go of my hand, as I pull it back. "Yes well, it's hard not too." At least I wasn't alone in this. "You would think that Alistair would have said something." I shrug, trying to find a comfortable place to rest against. "I doubt he would have noticed." Suddenly I laugh, snort even as he shifts his gaze to me. "May I ask you something?" Curiosity catching us both off guard. It seems I am amazing myself with each second. "What do you want to know?"
I hesitate, he normally is so secretive that it is hard for me to press him answers. "You and Alistair... what is the story there?" He blinks, both eyes open as he looks to me and then around the small area we landed in. "Well, it's sort of difficult." I could understand difficult. "Try me?" I smile a little, he seems to hesitate. "I grew up in the Chantry," he starts. That much I did not know. "Like most orphans, I never knew my parents nor where I was initially from. The Grand Cleric took me from the Chantry I grew up in at the age of nine and placed me within the Denerim Chantry. There I was placed within a pairing. I was paired up Alistair of all the people in the Chantry." He sighs, though I felt he was a little uneasy with this. "The first words out of the Grand Cleric's mouth when we were paired together, she told me to watch him. Or mainly watch over him. I didn't understand why but I can see that now." With Alistair's own past finally revealed, I could sense the feeling of betrayal from Cullen. "We grew up together, I guess. Sort of like brothers, which I guess is why they paired everyone up. We trained against each other, did our lessons together and even witnessed the capturing of a Maleficar together. On that day, I think we fell apart..." He looks to me, but I smile trying to at least encourage him to continue. "When I was 16, I was asked to go to the Circle. They asked Alistair but he turned it down. I had asked him why but he said he doesn't feel right hunting down Mage who feel they should be free." I didn't exactly understand the situation but the feelings from Cullen, explained everything. "I spit at his feet and left, telling him he was a disgrace to all Templars. And I know I hurt him with my accusations. But I didn't care then, all I cared about was doing the right thing." It seems we all try to do the right thing. "When I showed up at the Circle, I hated every Mage I encountered. Refusing to get even remotely close to them."
I was getting that impression with all the new Templars until they at least met us or even remotely talked with us. "That was until I met you." I blink, looking up to him. "It was that day you told Wynne it is ridiculous to learn Healing spells. That you only want to learn elemental spells. She hit you with that mind blast so hard I thought you died. I even tried to help but Brann..." His voice catches, remembering one his comrades. "But Brann... stopped me. Telling me that it was normal seeing you fly halfway across the classroom. Before I could even reply, you stand up and dust yourself off. She then goes around chasing you in the classroom with her staff until you complied. But you never did," he laughed at the memory. "You just kept telling her Healing spells were for wimpy Mages." He was still laughing but he paused toward the end. "There were other moments..." He takes an uneasy breath. "Such as when you had too many books in your arms and smacked right into me. Or when you were afraid you were going to hurt one of the elves you were practicing with. Only to end up in the infirmary, by the end of the night." He was struggling between laughing and breathing but I sigh, crossing my arms in front of me. "But it wasn't until I realized that I was slowly starting to enjoy being in the same room as you during my guard shifts. Or watching you argue with yourself in the corner of an empty room. Even when you managed to piss off Wynne, which I have to come to realize is a very hard thing to do. I was slowly starting to realize I enjoyed being with you, even if you knew I didn't exist."
I was still a little caught off guard by this sudden confession of his. But he sighs, heavily and I can feel the grateful sensation from him. "I knew you existed," I look to him. He was a little surprised by this. "I just never knew your name, according to Jowan you were the Templar that was always there whenever I had to escape from the flying Glyph of Paralysis from Wynne. You managed to always save me at the last second. Did you ever realize as to why I was always in the same room as you? I hoped you would at least... talk to me?" He blinks, trying to at least understand what I had just pointed out to him. "I'm sorry about Jowan," he apologizes quietly. "Jowan deserved what he got, despite what the Circle might do to him." It was his own mistake and not mine, I just wish I could have done something about it... before it was too late. "You were always there for me and now you're here for me, still." I mutter but he tries to come to terms with my own little confession. "So what does that make us?" He looks to me, we share a small smile between each other but we both knew what was going through the others mind: I am a Mage and he is a Templar.
I get upon my knees, making myself eye level with him. "What do you think it makes us?" I ask, a sheepish grin in on his lips. My stomach suddenly becomes full of butterflies. Before I can even wait for his answer a secret door opens along the wall. There in the heap of dust, blood and sweat stood Alistair and Zevran. "Thank the Maker, you're both alright." He rushes us, looking me over as I quickly move to my feet and his gaze lands upon Cullen on the floor. "Will he be alright?" I nod, knowing that he will live at least. "Good, because the Lady of the Forest wants to speak with us." I look over his shoulder seeing the same greyish white werewolf from the entrance of the ruin.
"Find Zathrian and bring him here," I blink looking up to the ragtag Cullen standing before her. "And if he doesn't comply?" Alistair asks from the other side of Cullen. "Then tell him he will never see Witherfang, again." I gulp, but Cullen sighs. He was annoyed just as I was by this. "Come on," he brushes past us and leads the way out of the small chamber. "What do you think will happen?" Alistair asks to the three of us but I shrug. "No one can be sure, Alistair." Zevran answers for him as we hike up the steps. Upon reaching the area we had our little accident in, Zathrian was standing before us. I look over the gaping hole only to see a large long used as a bridge set across it. Some how I got the feeling Alistair and Zevran didn't build that. "So there you are." He stands up but I do not like this. "Did you get what I asked of you?" I look to Cullen. "I don't like being lied to, Zathrian." He spits out, but I knew why he was annoyed. We all were. We were lied to or well, we were placed in the position of not know who to believe. "I am guessing that thing in there told you who she really is?" My arms cross before me. "I would take a wild guess and say that she is Witherfang." His gaze falls upon me but Cullen moves before me, protective as always. "She only wants to talk," Alistair was going to try his hands at being civil for once. "Do you believe her?" Zevran looks to us, we were all tired of the lies. But we knew that eventually we'd have to pick sides. "If you're going to be stubborn about it, then let us go talk to this Lady of the Forest." Zathrian moves past us and leads the way back down to the lower levels.
The snarling attitude from Swiftrunner, the angry glares from Zathrian and the utter annoyance from us all... I didn't think this would end peacefully. We had learned that if Zathrian willingly gives up his life to end the curse everything will go back to normal. Or at least that was what we were hoping for. The trees came alive, the werewolves were stuck in place and Zathrian was closing in on me. I look to Alistair as he cleansed the immediate area with Witherfang and Swiftrunner. If we had them in this battle it would go quickly. Just as I thought it would, I am being slammed back by a tree branch as I tried to fire off a lightning spell. Instead I knock into one of the paralysis glyphs and is trapped just like the other werewolves. I cannot move as I watch Zathrian's spells bounce off of Cullen. He absorbs them, twisting the mana used and blows Zathrian back against the stone walls. He falls to his knees, coughing up what I assumed was blood and when he does the spell is released. I fall to my knees, shaking off the numbing feeling from being held in place by one of those spells. "End the curse, Zathrian. They have suffered long enough." Cullen picks him up by the collar of his robe and drags him over to the Lady of the Forest. "I am tired of these childish games, end it now or I end you." He was threatening him but from what I could tell, Zathrian was going to end it no matter what we said or did.
There was a flash of light that engulfs us but I smile, just really, really tired from everything. I fall over, resting my face against the cool stone. "Solona?" I can feel the gentle hand of Cullen upon my back as I can hear the quiet conversation between Alistair and the once werewolves. "Can you move?" I mumble a few incoherent words but I get to my feet quite easily, with a little help. "Come on, let's get back to the Dalish."
We explained everything to Lanaya. She seemed to understand but she asked us if he died as a hero. I look to Cullen, he was reluctant to admit so but I nod. "He died honorably." She seemed to accept this. "Since you have honored your part of the bargain I shall honor ours. We will be ready when you need us, Grey Wardens."
The four of bow our heads, slightly grateful that this was over-with for now. I move into line behind them but I hear a whistle. I look over to see Tamlen waiting at the edge of the entrance. I move past Cullen, he reaches out for me but I give him that I'll be okay look and he seemed to understand. I stop before him, he looks me over and bows his head. "Keeper Lanaya had asked me to come along. As a representative of the Dalish." I give him a sheepish grin and he returns it. "Then come! I'm sure you know the fastest way for us to get back to our camp, yes?" With a simple bow of his head the five us disappear into the forest and head on our way back into camp.
A/N: So this one was a tad longer/rushed than I thought it would turn out but the next one should be fun! Now with Tamlen added to the group, Solona on her way to learning how to fight and of course there will be the wonderful Alistair and his sister moment! So I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! I found myself laughing at some of the points. She is quite entertaining to be in her shoes at some points. Very different character to those I normally write, so I hope all of you enjoy it! Much love! :* And now for those shout outs!
Mapachita: Haha, yes Zevran is always so great. Can't wait for her to question as to why he looks at her with that strange look in his eyes. That should make for an interesting conversation. Thank you! I tried to work some of Tamlen from the game into it. I plan on explaining as to why he is there and why he is going with them and etc. Should be fun! So thank you! ;)
DarkMage6: Yes, yes well someone had to do something about those Mage robes. Which makes it all entertaining since she'll probably walk around trying to cover up her legs while Zevran makes some sort of comment on how her legs or nice, or something. Haha, yes well that will change now that he has explained somewhat of himself to her. Just hope she can actually stop being oblivious and such. ;)
sandradee27: Thank you! Haha and yes he seems to get grumpier by the second which I hope will change later when their in Denerim or even with the Dwarves. Don't quite know for certain yet, but there shall be some fun, entertaining moments between them. And thank you, as always for your kind words! ;)
Evalyne: I noticed that as well! I figured she would sort of sympathize with them. Seeing as how she can't go places without someone remarking on she is a Mage and etc. So I decided to throw that in there. And haha, I thought that was funny when she gave them a strange look when asked for her advice. Mostly wondering that she is the worse person to come to for advice. Ahh! Cookies! Gotta love that wonderful bribe! :*
And as usual! I do not own Dragon Age: Origins, belongs to Bioware! *-*