Morrigan took us through the moor, easily finding the safe paths to travel on. I was right behind her, Alistair, and then the other two. At first nothing was said except for the occasional whispers from the other three, so I decided to converse with her.

"So, Morrigan. Have you lived in the Kokari wilds for a long time?"

She ducked under a low tree branch. "I don't see how that is any of your business, but I have lived here my entire life. I have never known any other home."

"Wow. Must be nice to be free your entire life."

I could tell she was puzzled by my words. "what do you mean? Slavery is forbidden in Ferelden. Did you grow up in the Imperium?"

"No. I grew up in Denerim. But all the elves in the city work for humans. None have their own businesses. We're looked down upon and no one cares that we're oppressed. Rape and murder happen all the time to the elves, and no one seems to care. Plus, they work us to the bone, while they enjoy everything we can't."

"I see," she replied, hopping across some stepping stones through the marsh. "I can see how that would make it feel like slavery."

I followed across the stones. "And to make matters worse, I never had a choice of who I could marry."

"You are married?"

I shook my head. "My father wishes I was. No, I was, thankfully, able to escape that."

"You do not like the idea of marriage?"

I ducked under a low hanging branch. "It's not marriage, itself, but the arranged part."

"Ah, I see." She continued weaving through the trees. "You wish to fall in love first, then marriage?"

"Yes. Although, I doubt anyone would fall for someone like me."

She t'sked and muttered something under her breath. "Love is such a silly notion. It doesn't truly exist, except in faerie tales."

That stopped me ain my tracks, making Alistair bump into me, almost knocking me over. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean," she responded, "is that there is no such thing as love. Lust, on the other hand, exists and people mistake that for love. Anyone who believes otherwise is a fool who is waiting to get their hearts broken."

I could not believe that someone could actually believe that. Unless something happened to them that made them think that way. But that was too personal a question to ask someone who you I just met, so I dropped the subject.

We continued through the marsh for another hour or so until we reached a clearing that opened up to a large swamp. There was a small shack with a water wheel built right at the edge of the pond, and herbs hanging from the beams of the small overhang above the door. An old woman was standing in the doorway, watching us as we approached. It was as if she was expecting us.

"Hello, Mother," Morrigan greeted her, without much enthusiasm. "I bring before you four Grey Warden's who-"

"I see them, girl," the elderly woman cut her off. She eyed us as if we were tasty morsels to eat. I could se out of the corner of my eye that Daveth was shaking quite violently. "Much as I expected."

"Are we supposed to believe," Alistair chuckled, " that you were expecting us?"

"Believe what you will," she responded. "Shut one's eyes tight. Open one's arms wide. Either way, one's a fool."

"We need to get out of here," Daveth whispered to Alistair. "She's a witch."

Ser Jory elbowed him. "Quiet, Daveth. If she really is a witch, do you really want to make her mad?"

"Now, there's a smart lad," the woman smirked. "Now, you." She pointed to me. "There is something different about you. It may be your youth, or it may not. Whatever it is, you have something special about you. Tell me, does your elven eyes see? A witch, or just an old woman who talks too much?" She laughed at herself.

"To be honest, ma'am," I replied. "I'm not entirely sure."

She glanced down at my hands, which were palming the hilts of my blades. "There is more wisdom in those words than they imply. Listen to that wisdom, and you shall become great. Anyways, is there a reason you came here? Or was it just to simply listen to an old woman rant on and on?"

Alistair stepped forward. "Your daughter told us that you stole the documents that were in a chest in the old Warden ruins West of here. I suggest you return them."

The woman tilted her head to Morrigan, who walked back towards the hut and entered. "You would be wise to hold your tongue instead of speaking to me in that tone. Especially, since I was helping your order by protecting them."

Morrigan returned and shoved three scrolls into Alistair's hands. "Oh, you were protecting them?

"And why not? The seal on that chest wore off long ago. I did not want to see these in the wrong hands. Take them back to your Grey Warden's and tell them that this Blight is a greater threat than they realize."

"Thank you, ma'am," I responded, nodding to her. "I'm sure that they will be eager to follow your advice."

"Ha!" she laughed. "I cannot be responsible for their doubt. I would go mad! Or, perhaps I am already!" She laughed again. "Don't mind me, Wardens. You now have what you came for."

Morrigan nodded in agreement. "Time for you to go, then."

Her mother tsked, at her. "Morrigan, that's no way to treat them. They are your guests."

Morrigan sighed. "Oh, very well. Let me return you all to your camp."

As she walked towards us, we tall turned as well and started walking back towards camp. "Oh, and thank you for returning the-" I turned back to face her mother, but there was nothing there. No hut. No swamp. No Morrigan. No mother. We were back at camp, the fire pit was lit, and it was evening. "Treaties?"

"What happened?" Ser Jory asked. "How did we get back so quickly?" Didn't it take us two hours to get there?"

"She cast magic upon us!" Daveth exclaimed. "We're cursed!"

I gave a great sigh. "This is going to be a long night."