They were sent to a cave at the base of the mountain as Merrill went on and on about how the Keeper would keep hunters away from caves that were dangerous, but Lisa couldn't really hold her tongue. "What happened to asking for my permission before you put my life at risk?" There was a pause as Merrill blinked, her brain trying to understand where all of this was coming from.

"I thought you had…"

"No, Merrill, I had agreed to come with you to give you moral support when you asked your Keeper for help. Now your accepting some challenge about killing some sort of monster?"

"Lisa…go easy on the poor girl. She obviously didn't realize," Isabela remarked as Lisa sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Fine…just don't do it again," she muttered as Merrill bowed her head like a scolded child before nodding slowly and continuing onward. Lisa did have to admit that she felt a little guilty about it, but she was getting tired of being pushed around. So many people believed she would just help them out no matter what, and in truth she would, but she'd be happier about it if they asked her first.

The worst part out of all of this was as they made their way through the caves they found several dead hunters, which apparently surprised Merrill. And eventually they came in contact with a young elf that ran from Merrill and into the den of the monster.

It was a massive beast that looked something like a spider with all it's legs but had a very strange body that jutted from the center. Lisa wasn't really sure what she was dealing with but just knew that she needed to kill it. Unfortunately it wasn't the easiest things to do but compared to a dragon it was a soft and squishy bug that was squashed after a little while.

She panted, picking up any arrows that weren't broken as Merrill rushed to the boy's side. "Oh Pol," she cried, "why did you run?" Lisa stepped up to her and looked down at the lifeless body before speaking.

"Why did he run?"

"I…I don't know, he said something about the Keeper. What has she been saying about me?" And then Lisa's annoyed expression fell. She had to admit that she felt complete sympathy for Merrill. It never felt good to have people talk behind her back. Evening Lothering, in which the majority of people looked past what she did and who she slept, she still knew there was gossip and hated the way some people looked at her. And so it made her angry that the Keeper had been at the source of it.

They made their way back to the campsite and Merrill regretfully remarked that they had defeated the beast at the cost of several hunters. "Very well, child, then I suppose I will keep to the deal," she handed over what looked like a small broche as Merrill nodded and shied away. But Lisa wasn't finished with this…she couldn't just walk away wondering what lies the Keeper had been spreading about her friend.

"What have you been telling your clan?"

"Excuse me?" The old woman asked as Lisa frowned.

"What have you been telling you clan about Merrill? Her friend, Pol, preferred risking his life with the monster than running for safety just because Merrill was in the way." The Keeper frowned as Merrill tried to tell Lisa that it didn't matter. But it did matter, at least to Lisa.

"Only what the clan needed to know. Merrill is dealing with things that are too dangerous for her own good."

"That's Merrill's choice. It only affects Merrill."

"I don't believe you know well enough what Merrill has gotten herself into."

"I don't need to. But you should know that Merrill is my friend, no matter how naïve she is, how sometimes she much too nice and too gentle to deserve the abuse that she is getting from you. You know what, I'm glad she chose to come to the city, because now she doesn't have to listen to your lies." Lisa snapped as the Keepers face fell, her arms dropping to her side as Lisa turned around and pushed gently on Merrill's shoulder. "Come on Merrill," she muttered as the elf-girl nodded and followed.

"I'm sorry, child," the Keeper whispered but she what speaking hollow words as the group made their way back to Kirkwall. Merrill was quiet since then but Lisa could see that the woman was thankful for what she said. Lisa did feel a bit guilty about it. She'd taken the words from the mouth that needed to say it. But Merrill didn't seem bothered by it, then again she was normally working on that mirror of hers now a days.