AN: To make my life easier I'm going to update this story every Saturday. I've a weekly rotation now so I can add to them all week but they'll get posted regularly for each of my stories. I'd posted up to this point on Archive of our Own so this is caught up now. Tomorrow is Don't do the Thing!

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"You know, my mother was Dalish." Zevran stated idly as they grouped around the fire, not far at all from the Dalish campground. They were able to go and visit if need be considering the honoring of the treaties but would not for now. Instead they were heading back towards Lothering, on to Redcliffe.

"Oh?" Alistair looked over and opened his mouth in the usual fashion. "I didn't think they'd have Dalish whores."

There was not even a heartbeat to realize what he had said before Alistair was shrieking, batting at his hair which was standing on end, shaking off the lingering bits of electricity as they crackled along his armor. Nonchalance permeated Saeris's demeanor as she turned a page in the tome on shapeshifting that the Dalish merchant had. She'd learned it from Morrigan, and now the two witches were more laughing over what it wrote down. Clearly, it was meant to mislead someone into set forms rather than finding ones that were a match for your person. The problem with information in books is that most mages were trolls and took great pleasure in providing misinformation in their books. Indeed, it was a fine reminder considering even Flemeth's grimoire they'd gained from the tower. The missing pages still safely hidden amongst Saeris's things even from Morrigan. She had not shared them with her, had no intention of doing so. They were not that close of friends.

"What was that for witch?" Alistair glared over, because out of the mages he traveled with Surana was the pyromaniac, Wynne healed, and Morrigan was more apt to drain his strength or swarm him with insects. When it came to lightning, ice, or just plain strange uses of magic, that was Saeris's doing.

"Has it occurred to you Alistair that insulting the resident assassin may end up with more than a slight bit of blood loss at best? I wouldn't eat anything you don't prepare for a while." She hummed then. "Listen to this part Morrigan...when in the form of a bear it is known to be twisted and ill formed. Someone never learned to put in the hard work did they?"

"Wonder if they ended up rutting with the beasts and it fractured their minds. T'would not surprise me."

"Hm. There's a new level of wrong. Glad you all ended that curse before I had to see if it would have made me even more depraved." Saeris agreed, glancing up at Morrigan. The citrine eyes met gold and the two smirked. This was high entertainment as the entire camp had fallen silent in horror at their talk. Sten tended to entirely ignore them, thinking that both of the witches were more vile than ever. Of course Morrigan was always jokingly hitting on the qunari to tease him.

"You do seem a little more of a bitch, but I think it an improvement." Morrigan nodded, she reached down to turn the page. "do you want me to do the braids in the back for you with your new fangs later?"

"Please."

And that was the other thing, it seemed most the party save Surana and Wynne were also more than surprised to see Morrigan assisting Saeris in letting her Chasind heritage out more. Given a few days among the Dalish to get better gear as they were relieved about the curse being broken, though every time they started to wail about the end of their long lived keeper who had 'discovered a way to live forever once more' it had tested both women's ability to keep their mouths shut instead of telling the truth. Surana and Alistair had been a united front on that though, they needed the Dalish and so for now they could say nothing. The only advantage was the way they took to being able to resupply from their stock and even Morrigan was giving Zevran his due, for he had found a pair of gloves made by the Dalish and not ceased talking about how wonderful they were. It turned out, he was right.

Dalish leather was vastly superior to anything else they'd ever found. Though, the expression on the leather master when the two Chasind witches tried to explain what they wanted? It was easy enough to get Morrigan a new skirt made, this time with more loops and chains to hang items and trinkets from. They'd neither of them been skilled enough in drawing -and Saeris was certain she may give away her heritage if she started- and it took a lot of explanation and Morrigan helping to drape fabric to no avail. Lelilana until then not really socializing with either of them, had come to the rescue.

It turned out the former bard had the most unnerving talent for fashion and when Morrigan and Saeris managed to explain what they wanted, with Saeris finally pulling out the sketches Tranquil Jennifer had made for her of her facial ink and the other pages of inspirations she had done, not realizing that it would not have gone into body art for Saeris had no way to paint on her own back daily? Well Leliana and the leather master had gone to work and the etching on the leather paid full homage to the Tranquil whom had perished when the circle was beset by bloodmages. Not that it would be ready for a week or two.

"Where did you come up with the designs, dear?" Wynne had asked, coming to join them once done negotiating for more elfroot than they could possibly need. Well, they did have Alistair.

"Jennifer."

"The tranquil?"

"She was a..phenomenal artist. She helped design my face paints."

Wynne had looked stricken then and nodded. "I remember when she came to us a decade or so before you did. Just a wee little thing, was always drawing on the walls and in books she shouldn't. Couldn't help herself, said she needed to doodle to think properly. She was so terrified of her harrowing that she requested to be made tranquil. I didn't know.."

"That she could still create? I had to tell a lot of stories, but she'd just start drawing."

"It means a lot that you kept them. I had forgotten, in all this mess that you used to seek out the Tranquil. It baffled most the Senior enchanters you know."

"Ren taught me about muscles and bone and sinew when he would butcher, remembered his healcraft. Jennifer drew for me. Owain helped me learn how to read the confusing library system.I was used to oral tales growing and Mala used to let me help down in the storage rooms and I would take up books I wanted to translate with Ser Gregoire and Irvin's permission.." Saying it aloud Saeris realized she'd known a great deal of the tranquil. Most mages knew possibly Owain and no more. They were mere fixtures in the tower. Glancing over she saw as Wynne bit her lip.

"I don't know most those names."

"They were once mages. It is cruel to forget that they are still people, just because they lost a part of themselves that permeates all that we are."

Morrigan's hand made a gesture, she would not reach out idly after all. "And yet those of us who seek freedom are called wrong." It had ended the discussion.

So here they were, resting after another long days travel and with Saeris still exceedingly on edge. The fire in her veins from the werewolf curse had her snappish and wary and it was exhausting.

"Go meditate. Or run. Something." Morrigan finally snapped and stole the book from her hands, offer to fix the braids forgotten. It was only then Saeris realized she'd been growling.

"Oh for...right. I'll be back." She didn't say anything further. Her belongings if she wasn't back in time would be taken by Wynne or Morrigan for her and she'd track them down. Instead, Saeris left at an easy run, furred and feeling better for it. Maybe she'd just stay a dog for a while.

()()()()()()()()

She wasn't getting better. Snappish and wild, fey. To the point Sten actually threatened to show her her place at one point and Saeris had actually growled at him. Oddly, that seemed to win her some scant approval from the qunari. Once he growled back. Baffling male.

When they were at the area they'd turn north to head to Redcliffe though, under the stench of darkspawn and blight, the wind brought to her senses the Kocari wilds.

Home.

"I..I need some time. I'll join up with you soon.."

Surana looked as if he wanted to argue but then shook his head, smiling. He remembered her tales back in the tower, knew she never stopped thinking of herself as one of the wilder folk. "We'll be in redcliffe a bit. We're going to head to Denerim after that. Okay?"

Saeris nodded and looked at Morrigan. The two witches remembered the passages in the grimoire. Maybe, just maybe, Saeris could get some answers.

"Run swift, and leave no trail." Morrigan intoned just under hearing for anyone not standing as close as they. It was as close to a blessing as her friend would permit, not liking sentimentality.

Saeris turned towards the wilds. If the Chasind dwelled there still it would be not far from Flemeth's hut, and that, she knew how to find.

()()()()()()

The Kocari wilds may be suffering from a blight but they weathered it well. It was though the wilds refused to acknowledge the presence of the Darkspawn, the fog was still thick, the areas of swamps still threatening to drown anything near. Great rocky outposts and ruins still remained, the bones of great civilizations long gone. There were the rare wooded areas, thick and lush deeper inside the Wilds than any would know to find if you were not familiar with it's paths. One of those, winding round and again, powerfully protected by magic, led to the hut of the Witch of the Wilds.

"Well girl. I see you're not only alive but seem to have found yourself." Flemeth was waiting at the entrance to her hut when finally Saeris made it to the end of the path. Something tight around her chest loosened then, here in the kocari wilds and hearing that raspy voice. To one who knew her as all that she was. When she had been a scrappy little girl not yet tasting lyrium, not yet exposed to demons or the pain of a smite. When her only knowledge of magic was wild and wickedly playful. Good memories came from that voice.

"Found and lost and reclaimed. I have missed your presence."

"Oh? In that lofty spire with so many mages prattling about their magics, and the templars watching every step? You thought of me there?"

"I found you there." Saeris smiled, watching as the yellow eyes, ever more brilliant than what Morrigan had and eerie in their hue, glistened. Flemeth snorted then, her hands out.

"Oh? And think you ken old Flemeth now do you?"

"Not at all. I think I found a book that you knew could be found, perhaps even intended that way to direct and control templars. It certainly had code enough."

"Did it now."

"/When the warring factions finally agreed to peace, it was with great loss. And the generals of each had become something more to the people./" Saeris repeated the parts that had been hidden between the lines telling of the old tales. Ones she knew too well from the time among the Dalish to not detect the alteration of the words. Flemeth chuckled at her then and inclined her head.

"Come in girl. No point in yammering away all night in the cold. Darkspawn are about you know. Even my magic can only hide us so well when the wind takes our scents to those who would feast upon our flesh."

The inside of the hut had not changed. It was still clean as could be, curious considering the surroundings, but the low beds, the open table. The simmering stew pot on the fire. Shelves and the false wall behind which lay the entrance to Flemeth's cellar where she kept ingredients and supplies cool using the nature of the earth itself. Saeris rolled her neck, hearing a satisfying crack as she did so. The clatter of her braids in their ornamentation rustling along with her loose hair, she'd not cut it since she'd left and it reached her upper back now a days.

"This is new." Flemeth's hand was in her hair and Saeris obediently stilled. The ever present pouring of power that came from the old crone was daunting, all the more so now that Saeris had been in the world and seen that even the first enchanter had nothing on this one apostate. "What sort of fangs were these from? They seem a wolf..but a dreadfully large one.." And for some reason Flemeth was laughing.

"We encountered werewolves." Saeris turned when she heard the startled sound and smiled, taking the seat that was gestured for her at the table as Flemeth eased her old bones down. "In the Brecillian forest where a clan of Dalish settled." Slowly she shared the tale, baring her arm and the scar, thick and nasty as the immense wolf bite was not that she had realized how lucky she was to keep her arm at all during that time. How fortunate that it had not snapped bone, the force disrupted by the breaking of her staff but if she hadn't acted with her spell so swiftly it could have adjusted the bite.

"You blackened it." Flemeth said in amusement, though the color was truthfully more a rich green. They had been limited in dye options that the dalish had.

"I feel it clashes with my coloring." Saeris laughed. "But I didn't want it just to be faint. It was a werewolf! Surviving that was something else." She continued then, telling of Morrigan helping her clean and save the trophies from her kill, of the strange ruins. The dragon.

"You fought a dragon?" Flemeth sounded both impressed and entirely against the idea.

"It thought we were there for lunch. I was just in my other skin so I couldn't do much but try to distract it, went for the wings. It got my side."

"Well strip girl, and let me look."

Pulling off her robes, still the awful circle standard material and wasn't long before she was just in her smalls.

"...blessed fate upon you da'len." Flemeth stated and shook her head, hand reaching out to touch the injuries. Healed by the lady and with a rich shimmering appearance. The dull green and silver hue was clearly not anything done by man. "What caused their coloring and the almost branching look to them?"

"The spirit of the forest. Bound in the curse. The werewolves called her Lady, but her other form was that of an immense white wolf, branches and thorns covering it."

"That tone of yours worries me." Flemeth said, noticing the almost devoted way she was speaking.

"I was changed by the curse." Saeris admitted and then shrugged. "Easiest to show you, Morrigan helped me find my other skin but the Lady said it was too young and new when I was infected.." A breath out and she was looking up at Flemeth, her multi-hued coat marked along her side faintly the scarring mostly hidden in the change of colors.

"Twiceblooded." Flemeth agreed with a smirk. "But yet, yes, I see where you are changed. Not much right now, a whisper in the veins but it will grow. You will grow. Only careful eyes will notice in time that you are definitely no common beast, but you should blend in fine otherwise. A useful form, especially here where it seems not even the most crazed fool would attack a dog if given another choice. A way to hide. The best secrets, girl, are those kept in plain sight. Use this form shamelessly and hide yourself as much as possible on this journey. Blossom like the choking vine in your chasind appearance so that if you wash the paint, smooth and tie the hair and change the robes none would see you. Keep that fierce nature brimming so eager, the storm ready to break upon the world, inside."

Saeris sat down and scratched at her ears with a hind leg, feeling just fine like this. Something about Flemeth's domain stole any territorial nature from her and the snappish and feral feeling had subsided. She acknowledged this as the realm of a more powerful woman and was quite at ease with it. It was a peaceful sensation, as though the very blood inside her veins assured her that here she was safe, here nothing would happen that Flemeth did not desire. She was the immense mountain range upon which the winds and storms that made up Saeris's nature could crash but never move the mountains. She needn't hold back, her control could be eased and it was a burden she had not been aware of holding onto until now. What changes had been made to her mana from the curse and the Lady's gift, the one she was warned would not be pleasant?

"Change back." Flemeth looked her over and hummed watching the flash of light that preceded the switch. "Need to work on that, best if you've a secret to not announce it to the world. Well girl..keep your head on straight and that surge of power and ferocity will not be a problem. We just need to help you reassert control to get those instincts handled. They grew several times too fast and you probably don't even realize how they are benefiting you. Easy enough to fix. Now, tell me about your time in the circle. I am curious what the caged beast learned when pretending to be tamed."

The evening passed over stew and teas as once Saeris was dressed again she shared everything. The tranquil, her cozying up to the templars which made Flemeth cackle at her shrewd actions. Her creating a bolt hole when given a room and having several hiding spots beside that she had worked on over time so there were places to tuck items she did not wish to be caught having, reading, how she had tricked herself out of her harrowing which made Flemeth coo in delight and laugh that Twiceblooded were known for being crafty as cats when they felt like it. Flemeth was entranced when she spoke of Valor and the training they underwent encouraging her to continue doing so in her dreams even if there was no spirit to actively spar with. The tales of the other mages, one whom she had met as a warden and made Flemeth shake her head, muttering about Fate. When she confessed about finding the grimoire and certain pages she had removed, Flemeth snorted.

"Have them with you?"

"yes."

"Let me see."

As they did belong to Flemeth, much as she had not had a chance to revisit and memorize them, Saeris nodded. A bit of work with her knife and the layer she'd stitched in her pack to hide them from nosy camp mates, a small rune stitched in as well that one of the tranquil had done to make your eyes pass over the area without noticing, until the documents came free, the bits of oil cloth having kept the pages safe. As she stood to walk back over Flemeth shook her head. "Throw them into the fire."

For just a moment, Saeris's fingers curled protectively but this was Flemeth's work. Her words. Her knowledge and damned if Saeris didn't respect the legendary woman. Though it burned her as surely as the paper would once fed into the hearth she did as asked. It wasn't until the last page was blackened and gone that Flemeth smiled. Oddly it felt as though Saeris had just passed some strange test.

"Trust is a rare gift you know. For one like yourself who has learned not to trust fully simply from the world around you, to always be wary, it is even more precious. Indeed can you think of any save your mother that you trust so implicitly or am I the only one?"

"Just you." Came the answer after a long pause. It was the truth though, Saeris would always trust her mamae, but with her father gone as much as she liked and trusted others it was only to a point. Yet she had told Flemeth everything not holding back a single secret. Indeed, the tales of her and Surana rutting swiftly before being caught amongst the shelves of the library had Flemeth laughing over her own days of youthfulness. Her blood, her heart and very soul cried out that this woman was dangerous and lethal and could destroy the world if she so desired. That same nature was what had the form of Saeris as a hound that had easily ripped out the throat of a werewolf and attacked a dragon ready to curl up at her feet.

"Why?" And yet there was happiness in Flemeth's eyes. Perhaps she had missed someone being willing to admit they trusted her, certainly Morrigan would not have.

"I do not have an answer. I just do."

"Sometimes child, that is the best answer there is. It takes a very wise soul to utter those words, words that have choked kings and if uttered could have saved empires...I don't know...Well, to make up for the knowledge you just destroyed..and it wouldn't have done you much good either but I'm glad Morrigan won't see it. It is meant to mislead and I'd rather she didn't forget her lessons as getting them to stick on her was often requiring being cruel. Will full girl. I've something else you'll find far more useful considering your situation and where your own magical talents lie. Come down with me to the cellar and I'll show you a few things you need to learn to make if you're going to keep following the Wardens. I would have given you time but this Blight and your getting bitten by a werewolf changes things..makes them need a shove to move along."

"Because I gave your grimoire to Morrigan."

"Yes." Flemeth moved the rug, grasping the handle with strength that belied her wizened frame and heaved up the trap door. Before going to descend the ladder. "It was to be done, truthfully I was not certain how to get it back. I rather hoped you'd stumble on it and find a way to smuggle it out, if they hadn't broken you by then. But the old blood runs strong in you and stubborness and resilency was the hallmark of The People once. Though I admit, I did not expect you to be trailing after the Warden's I rescued and come back already mastering your other skin with the remnants of a powerful curse and blessing from a bound spirit in you both! Not that I'm sure which is the more damning, mind you. I suppose it depends on you in the end."

"She's going to try and stop you..."

"By killing me? To keep me from taking her form?" Flemeth cackled. "Of course. It's part of the dance she plays, so determined to follow her own beat not realizing it was one I laid out for her. She's missing much of the information thanks to you and will act sooner rather than craft and plan. It's better this way. Far better. She won't kill me though, not truly..."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"...a sentimental thought. One I had not expected to hear again in many a lifetime. Most who touch on the powers of Fate fall to corruption seeing only their goals. But in you? The wilderness of your father's blood and the steady old powers of your mother's have mingled. Such a different creature you could be. You know I'm using you and yet you do not mind, because you are that loyal hound. Twiceblooded indeed, willing to do so much so long as free and not against your own morals. The gods of many a culture will rail that they could not collar you."

"I'd bite them I think."

Flemeth roared in laughter, approving. "Never forget that. If you ever do meet a god and know them to be such, bite them. That's a good girl."

The cellar stank of plants and rot, dry earth and strange components. Some staring at them from the jars. At the work table Flemeth began in her teaching voice, rasping and yet soothing to listen to. She made Saeris repeat the ingredients, how to gather and harvest, how to utilize over and over until she knew every step was there. Only then did she show her the next part, the crafting of the various unguents and oils. Ones to help her mind when she dreamed in a place that she dared not attract the attention of unsavories. More to help her delve deeper in places she knew she was safe.

"Once the ancient elves used these rarely as aids only but they had centuries to learn and you've but months. You are not to scrimp on their use. I'll not see you fall to a demon just because you forgot to take caution, your powers are at the point to be dangerous now."

"Is that why you said to keep to my form in dreams?"

"The spirits that once held you close taught you to consort with those that were not formed of will and personalites yet, hid you beneath their scents as if you rolled in mud. Cake it on your fur to survive. Things are coming and especially with the blight, best to be hidden."

One day bled into the night, and back again. From Flemeth she was getting a crash course in how the ancient elves taught their 'Fade Walkers' and being interrogated on it greatly. She was having lore pushed on her as well, much of it only snippets and related to the items she was learning to make, the plants, but mostly it was potions, poultices, techniques. She was being forced to work on her shifting faster and faster, to try and draw on the Fade and find what other changes the Lady of the Forest had caused when helping her. That generally meant fighting Flemeth in her hound form and with the crone flinging every spell she wanted in her direction. It was a very good thing she'd had so much practice healing and Saeris made the decision to actively seek out Wynne for more lessons.

She was too tired to dream.

By the end of a few weeks however her nature was fully controlled despite the severe changes from the cursed bite, the ferocity present and lingering like an itch but under her entire choice if she acted on it or not. Save the growling. Flemeth snickered every time. "It appears that at least is permanent. I suppose your best bet is to play up the Chasind as savages part."

"Flemeth? Thank you."

"Don't get sentimental girl." But there was a smile on the old crones face, before she looked at her hair, where her ears were hidden. "You're something new in a world old and broken, even I can be surprised it seems. Now..come here.."

Kneeling before a sitting Flemeth which always seemed to make the old crone startle before settling, she reached her hands over the wolf bite. "Green is the hue of the Fade, the color the Fade walkers bore in ancient times however was a deep gold mixed with silver and copper, it was rare and usually made artificially but the blend was highly valued and only those who were acknowledged as Fade Walkers were to wear it formally in large amounts no matter if it ran to the silver, gold, or copper hues more. It was called 'Electrum' amusing considering I named you Stormbringer, no? Watch my mana carefully to learn this spell da'len, I shall do it only once." The energies warped, crackling, and the Fade seemed almost awake and paying attention, Saeris's eyes wide as the energies pooled, seeking out the ripped and torn flesh that had been purposefully agitated to heal in raised scars with the dye and soot, and saw the twist that was not entirely a healing magic.

Nothing happened. Curious Saeris looked up but Flemeth just sat there, waiting. Licking her lips Saeris scooted back, resting on her heels and focused. The feel of the Fade, the change in it building in her mind as if she was using a familiar spell, but then she felt something just close..like trying to write and not exactly copying the letters. She shifted from what Flemeth showed her to what her instincts were insisting on, felt the Fade latch on, eager, joyful.

The marking changed.

It was now golden, almost reflective but just shy of it. Slowly Saeris turned her arm, appreciating the warm copper like tone, fresh brass even.

"Well done." Flemeth spoke softly. "Very well done. Wear them with pride and don't worry about if you only have ash to mark the scars from now on. It's a small gift, but it suits you." Flemeth chuckled. "Not that it helps much with your face paints, but I doubt you want to mark yourself in such a way as the Dalish now do you?"

Saeris was curious why there was a sharp warning tone to Flemeth at that but shook her head. "I never felt the need to get a vallaslin, I've no Dalish god I'd pledge myself to, no Chasind deity that calls me. And someone told me to bite any god I met."

"That is not a bad thing. Indeed, it seems in general the People are always too quick to bend a knee. Another thing, the places I told you to seek out for knowledge? Go alone. Sleep in them to learn." There was an amused look to Flemeth then as she reached out to tug on one of Saeris's braids tipped in one of the werewolf fangs. "The last bit of advice I give you, Saeris Twiceblooded, Stormbringer..Remember when you wander the Fade do so in your other skin, and do not craft another if you can help it. Keeping to only a single other form makes it stronger, able to do more. Stay Twiceblooded and make it yours beyond any other's ability to call such a shape their own."

It was only as Saeris stepped out the door the last comment came. "And don't tell anyone, especially Morrigan, where you learned what you have. Blame the books."

Saeris nodded at the sharp warning in the legendary witches voice and shifted forms. It would be easier to travel that way and fortunately Flemeth had now taught her how to move things in and out of the Fade when she did so, all her pack and staff no went with her, as Morrigan had not been able to explain. They were just lucky she'd managed in her clothing at all or the Brecilian forest could have been a strange encounter indeed!

She caught up with the group not far outside of Redcliffe, heading towards the circle of magi again. "We're going to get the circle's assistance, it was Jowan behind so much of this under Loghain's directive..can you believe it? Foolish bloodmage offering a rite and then mentioned a mage would have to go in. Surana and I both were having none of that! Morrigan too, nice to know that sharp tongue of hers can be put to good use lecturing Jowan on his addled scheme." Wynne filled her in. "..what am I supposed to do with that boy! If he was any younger I'd put him over my knee!"

It was later that Saeris sought out Surana, her voice rough but she had to know. "Jowan?"

"He...yeah. He didn't look good but.." Surana groaned, running his hand through his hair. "Heh. We haven't talked much really have we? I mean since.."

"No." And she'd missed it, missed him. Missed their friendship, not so much the clumsy rutting together but there were other ways to distract themselves out here instead of being locked in a tower. "But at least you came back, Surana."

"I...look you were right. I was infatuated with the idea of having someone but you're just my friend. Dear to me, I guess..I don't know. I didn't like that you seemed so calm about no longer being with me and then it became a point I had to prove. That I was worth that sort of attention. Not just another throw away beneath Templar eyes. Seems so petty now, but I guess the Blight has a way of changing perspectives."

"You're telling me this because someone caught your attention aren't you?"

"Maybe?"

"...well you can't be any worse than Cullen and Amell."

"No one is that bad." Surana agreed and the two shared an awkward smile. Irrevocably changed and yet both heading back to the tower. "You know though I think Jowan had one thing right Saeris, I wish I knew where my phylactery was to destroy it."

She could agree even though it could not affect her, she still disliked knowing it was out there. "Maybe we'll peek in the records while there?"

"Good idea."

Mostly though Saeris was looking forward to sleeping a night in the tower and seeing Valor again. She had not seen Curiosity or Patience since the blight let her outside the walls but after all this time she didn't remember them well enough to let them in her barriers like the tranquil and Flemeth had taught her, the later in the grimoire. And now? Her hand slipped down to her pouch where the oil was, easily hidden as a perfume that she could dab a little on without drawing attention with a faint woodsy scent to aid in blocking her from those who would seek her out in the Fade idly. She had no wish to match wits with a demon. Sighing, she began to unbraid her hair as they walked.

If she was going back to the tower, it was best to look a little less wild.

"I'll vouch for you, child." Wynne said, stilling her motion. "There is nothing wrong with seeking out your heritage. Expressing it. I'd keep the fur a secret but the rest? Goodness we've had stranger in the tower."

"Those of us with magic in our veins yes, but to the Templars?"

Wynne looked over, smart and wise both and hummed. "So much of your actions are suddenly made clear to me. You are terrified of the Templar's, not fond of them?"

"When they smite they tear my soul from me and silence the fade. They could make of us tranquil. Just because I've befriended a few doesn't mean I am not fully aware they watch me for a single sign that I would be best branded or beheaded."

"I wish I could say you were not correct in that. Still, it is our lot. Perhaps there shall be far more leeway once this is all over, traveling and aiding the Gray Warden's in their quest is likely to grant a great deal of leeway."

Saeris met Morrigan's eyes from where the dark haired woman was walking. They shared the same thought with a frown.

Or a great deal more suspicion.

This would be the last time Saeris went to the tower, she was determined of that.