"And... weapons up." I slid my daggers back in to their sheaths as the others did the same, "Keep your eyes peeled. Leliana and Zevran, you two watch the shadows. Alistair, you make sure they stay safe."

"What?" the bard protested, "You're leaving us?"

"Let's just say, my heroics are not appreciated." I smirked at the other Warden.

He sighed and rolled his eyes before regaining composure, "Where are they?"

I pointed to the right, "That way. It's far from the path. But there's no time for all of us to bring him safely back to the clan."

"What do you mean? We have plenty of time until it gets dark."

"Did you see the same people I did? They're dying. They can't afford us to stay together on this." I gave him a shove, "Now, go. And remember, you all said you would listen to me. I'm giving an order, not a choice."

Alistair grumbled but didn't argue, thankfully. He merely directed the rogues away down the path, giving me a look that said I had better catch up before the sun had set.

I wasn't sure I'd be able to, but I would try. There were dark magics at work in this forest, and I wanted to find out why.

I met the wounded elf and helped him back to the clan, receiving the thanks of many elves for returning him alive. I did my best to get back to the mission as fast as I was able.

Finally free, I-ran face first in to three werewolves as soon as I'd gotten clear of the camp. Woof, but they were huge.

I held up my hands cautiously, not wanting to set them off. Not if they were here peacefully, which I suspected they were.

At least, at the moment.

The middle one spoke, his voice guttural, "Hrrr. The watch-wolves have spoken truthfully, my brothers and sisters. The Dalish send a human child, of all things, to repay us for our attack, to put us in our place. What bitter irony."

"You speak? I was told werewolves were savage beasts that could not be reasoned with." I asked curiously.

"We are beasts, but we are no longer simple and mindless. Let that chill your spine." The werewolf gestured to himself, "You speak to Swiftrunner. I lead my cursed brothers and sisters. Hrrr. Turn back now, go back to the Dalish, and tell them that you have failed. Hrrr. Tell them we will gladly watch them suffer the same curse we have suffered for too long. We will watch them pay!"

"I would prefer to talk to you. I mean you no harm." I raised my hands slightly, showing submission, "I had my companions, and myself, put away their weapons when we'd entered the forest."

"Was it not Zathrian who sent you? Hrrr. He wishes only our destruction, never to talk!"

"You attacked his clan, why should he not retaliate?" I had to keep him talking. The more information I had, the clearer the picture would be.

"You know nothing, do you? Nothing of us, and even less of those you serve. You are a fool, and we are done talking. Run from the forest while you can. Run to the Dalish and tell them they are doomed." He leaned forward, claws extended.

"I'm going nowhere." I all but shouted in my exasperation. "Hrrr. Very well. I will not risk throwing my people at you like unthinking brutes. Brothers and sisters, let us retreat. The forest has eyes of its own, and it will deal with intruders, as it always has." With that, I was dismissed. The werewolves turned as one and fled my presence.

Interesting.

As I progressed through the forest, I found corpses of werewolves. More and more bodies littering the ground. I hoped they had attacked first, and that my friends hadn't jumped the gun and drawn their aggression.

Voices drifted in the breeze; the others were nearby. Something was wrong, though.

The treants left me alone, preferring to sleep over starting a fight, as I drew closer to my group.

"The elven hunters did not set this up. How strange. And yet, it all just seems so… friendly. I want to do nothing but remain." Alistair's voice sounded funny, like he was… tired?

A campsite came in to view, just as the others collapsed where they'd stood, a fog moving in from out of nowhere.

"No!" I screamed, sprinting the short distance and throwing myself to my knees by the warrior's side, "Wake up! Wake up, dammit!"

Looking around desperately, I cursed myself for not bringing a proper mage. Wynne or Morrigan would surely know what to do. How to deal with this. Right?

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I tried assessing the situation. We were fucked, if they didn't come to. The sleep was unnatural. A demon, perhaps?

"Show yourself!" I screamed, jumping to my feet, "Show yourself, coward!"

A Greater Shade materialized before my eyes, ramming in to me, and knocking me on my back. Dazed, I simply stared up at it as it loomed over me. It went to strike again, but this time, I was prepared. I grabbed its arm and dug my fingers in. My skin burned, but I held on and managed to have it pull me off the ground when it reared back.

Again and again, it launched itself at me, trying to tire me out, no doubt. I reached within myself and threw my arms out, ice leaving my fingertips. One of the shards embedded itself in the Shade's chest, piercing its heart, I assumed, and it disintegrated.

Holy-

The Shade destroyed, the fog lifted, and the others started waking up. Upon closer inspection, I realized we were surrounded by skeletons. How many had died to that thing? How many people had fallen asleep, never to wake again?

"Maker's breath! What-Ana? Where did you come from? What happened?" Alistair was the first to get to his feet, helping Leliana to hers. I pulled Zev up.

Shaking my head, I shouted, "Idiot!"

That caught their attention. They gave me surprised looks. I don't think I'd actually shouted insults before. Well, first time for everything.

"What-"

"Ana, we-"

The elf kept his mouth shut, watching.

"Not you! It's my fault, for not bringing Wynne or Morrigan! There was a demon, a Greater Shade, and it had you all. It put you to sleep, like Sloth at the Circle Tower." I hugged my arms, rubbing the chill from them, my voice trailing off to a whisper, "You could have died, and it would have been my fault. My poor planning."

"You couldn't have known, my dear Warden." Zevran's hands settled on my shoulders, and I looked at the ground.

"Zathrian warned me. He told me the Veil was thin here, that spirits found it easier to cross in this forest because of it."

He gave a gentle, reassuring squeeze, "We can discuss who is to blame later, no? The Dalish need our help."

I sighed, "You're right. We have work to do."

"Will you be joining us this time?" I could hear the smile in his voice, "It would be safer for us, no?"

Probably. I nodded reluctantly, "We'll stick together, this time."

"Who is there?" a deep, reverberating voice made me freeze.

My eyes were drawn to a tree. The huge, silver tree that stood tall in the center of the path. I motioned for the others to follow silently as I got closer to it.

"Hmm… what manner of beast be thee that comes before this elder tree?" slowly, the trunk of the tree unfolded, taking on the shape of a… person. Arms, legs, torso.

"Can't you see me? I am a werewolf." I ventured down a dangerously thin tightrope.

"Hrrrm. A were, thou say'st? I sense no curse inside of thee. Could it be instead a lie? There is no need. Why even try?" The rhyming thing wasn't just my imagination. My excitement skyrocketed; it was a walking, talking treant. An old one, at that. I thought of the stories it could tell, trying not to squirm.

"The forest is full of dangers, that's why." I apologized swiftly, not wanting to anger it.

"It is true, thou seest it clear. There are beasts and thieves a-plenty here." It lifted a branchy hand, "Allow me a moment to welcome thee. I am called the Grand Oak, sometimes the Elder Tree. The world is… certainly full of marvelous, unexpected creations. Each day, we see something we never thought possible."

"Wow." Alistair breathed.

"And unless thou thinkst it far too soon, might I ask of thee a boon?"

"Might I ask, first, why you speak in rhyme?" I hesitated to ask, but I was dying to know.

"I do not know. Why dost thou not? Thy words seem plain, a mundane lot. Perhaps a poet's soul's in me… Does that make me a poet tree?" The tree laughed softly.

I giggled, "A poet tree. I get it."

"It was but a simple jest, a jibe to entertain my guest."

"Where can I find Witherfang?"

"In the center of the forest the weres do dwell, or so goes the tales my fellows tell. But they cannot be followed there; the forest doth protect the weres."

"Why do the trees protect them?"

"Perhaps the weres use magic to control the trees? All I know is they move as they please."

"Hmm. Is there any other way to get to the center of the forest?"

"Perform the boon that I ask, and I shall reward thee for the task. I have but one desire, to solve a matter very dire; as I slept one early morn, a thief did come and steal an acorn."

I nodded, "You want it back."

"All I have is my being, my seed. Without it, I am alone, indeed. I cannot go and seek it out; yet I shall die without."

"Very well, I will help you." I smiled warmly up at Grand Oak.

"Go to the east to find this man. I shall await, do what thou can." The treant shifted, moving back in to its pose, and stilled. The appearance of a model tree.

"We're helping a tree." Alistair stated, bewildered.

"We're helping a tree." I nodded, "I ran in to a few werewolves earlier, and they said-"

"You ran in to werewolves, and you had a conversation with-" he sighed, "Only you could make vicious beasts have a pleasant conversation."

"-the center of the forest was protected. That the forest knows how to protect itself and keep outsiders, well, outside. I think the tree will at least tell us how to deal with whatever awaits us there, once we give it its acorn back." I continued, ignoring the interruption.

No one argued, so I looked in the direction of the sun, determined where east was, and went on my merry way. The others followed after me.

...

A thick fog drifted toward us, impossible to see through.

The center of the forest.

A thought popped in to my head, and it made me a little uneasy.

"Zevran?"

"Yes?" he stepped closer to me.

"Can you see what's on the other side of the fog?"

He raised an eyebrow, but I didn't share what I was thinking. After shrugging, he slunk in to a crouch and crept forward. Promptly coming out, facing us. Confusion was clear on his face.

"Why did you turn around?" the other Warden frowned at him.

Straightening, the elf shook his head, "I did not."

"That's what I thought." I sighed, "This is the protection the weres were telling me about. It's magic of some kind. Like a misdirection spell."

"Werewolves can do magic?"

I gave Alistair a look, "No. They cannot. The Dalish said the veil was thin here, remember? There are spirits in the forest. One, or more, is behind this." I waved my hand at the obstruction, "We have to find that acorn. Alistair, you and Leliana go right. Zevran and I will go left."

"Are you sure?" the archer was surprised, "There is strength in numbers."

"Not to mention the werewolves." Ali ran a hand through his hair, looking in the direction I'd given them.

"Yeah, and the Dalish might not have enough time for us to scour the entire forest as one group. If it makes you feel safer, you go ahead and scout. Leliana can stick to the shadows and sharpshoot anything that moves. Now, let's go."

I grabbed Zev's wrist, dragging him with me.

"We have to find this acorn. And soon."

"The acorn is the key? You know this?"

I hesitated, unsure, "I don't know it, but I know it. You know? Like an instinct."

"Of course. Like when you're breaking in to a house to kill your target, and you know something is wrong, even though nothing is out of place."

"Exactly." I nodded, serious.

He shook his head, chuckling to himself, "It's strange to talk about murder with a little girl such as yourself."

"Why? Because I seem like the wholesome type? The little angel that sits by and lets others tell her what to do?"

"Yes." he raised an eyebrow, "But then you open your mouth, and you're anything but a mouse."

"That comes and goes, honestly. I'm still a child, in this life. No matter how old my soul is." Frowning, I glanced over at him as we walked, "You know, it's weird for me to talk about this kind of thing, too. I've been in Thedas for over six months, and I haven't had a conversation quite like this one. I told Duncan, the Warden who recruited me, that I was a mage, by this world's terms, but that's the extent of it all."

"I am honored, my dear Warden, that you confide in me."

I rolled my eyes, "Don't get sentimental on me. We relate to each other. I could see there was something of me in you, and vice versa. Besides, I had a vision during my first week here." I closed my eyes. Stupid.

"Oh?"

Sighing, I let go of him, "Yes. I did. I saw you, in the future. Much farther in the future."

"And what was my future self doing? Killing innocents? Tending a merchant stall? Entertaining kings and queens with my juggling skills?"

"You can juggle?"

"An assassin must have several tricks up their sleeves. When we wear something with sleeves. That is beside the point. What was I doing? Or is it sensitive information that could have an impact on time if you were to share?"

"You're smarter than people give you credit for, I bet." My grin was short-lived, "We should wait to talk about it. Until we're not pressed for time. It's a long one. One of the longest I've had."

He studied me for a moment before nodding and gesturing for me to continue forward. I was so lost in my own thoughts, I almost fell over a tree stump. As it was, I hit one of my shins on it.

Sucking in air, I hopped in place, "Ouch! Stupid stump."

Bending down to rub at my skin, I glared at the offending dead thing, and was surprised to see something glinting within my assailant.

"What's this?" Reaching in, I wrapped my fingers around something that felt like... an acorn.

"Oh dear, oh dear! Not a werewolf and not a spirit, even, what are the woods coming to?" An old man appeared out of thin air, startling me. I snatched my hand from the tree stump.

"What are you babbling on about?" the Antivan sounded bored.

"Questions, question, always questions! They say it was questions that made me mad; will it do the same for you?" the man's eyes suddenly moved to me, zeroing in, "Ask a question and you'll get a question, but give an answer and you'll receive the same! Oh, I do so love to trade!"

"You... want me to answer a question?" I was hesitant.

"Wouldn't I have to ask you a question first?"

"I'd rather ask the questions, myself."

"NO!" his sudden shout made me cringe, "That is not a question! And if it be an answer, it be an answer to a question I've not asked! Have you no sense for the rules?"

Zevran murmured quietly, "Be careful, my dear Warden. This is no ordinary man."

I agreed, "He's a mage... powerful, but he's been driven mad."

"No fair being a mage in a guessing game!" the man chastised me, "Will you play by the rules or not?"

"Would you like me to ask a question?"

"I think it is your turn to ask, is it not?"

I was starting to get a headache. I had never known anyone who was as hard to deal with as he was proving to be.

"Who are you?" I threw out.

"Who am I? Why do you want to know? Did they send you? Did they tell you to ask?"

I blinked at the rapid assault of questions, "Who's 'they'?"

"Oh, oh, oh! Did they tell you to pretend to be an innocent stranger, with a head full of fluff and nothing?" Okay, that stung a little, "I'm trickier than I look! Ha, ha! I survive still, and the trees, they leave me be! Ha, ha! I've won! They will never find me! Never!"

I leaned forward, smiling, "I found you."

"So you did! But I'm watching you! If they sent you, I'll know! But that's all I have to say about that. An answer for an answer, there you go!"

I resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose, "Do you want to ask me another question?"

"May I? Oh, yes, I think I might!" he rubbed his chin, "Now... what shall be first? Oh, yes! What is your name?"

"My name? Anastasia."

"A-ha! So you claim!" My eyes widened. Did he know...? "They sent you, didn't they? But you're too tricky, and you're trying to fool me! Well, I'm on to you! Just so you know."

No. No he did not. He was just insane, that's all.

"But it is your turn to ask now. Ask! Ask away! I dare you!" he cackled.

Definitely insane. As if there had been any doubt.

"Do you have anything to trade?" I felt the elf's eyes on my back.

"Let's see... I'll trade you an acorn, a helmet I found, or a book I finished reading years ago. Provided you have something interesting in return."

"An acorn? Is that the Grand Oak's acorn?"

"Ahhhhhh... suddenly it all becomes clear. You here, that talking three there, it all makes sense now. As a matter of fact, yes, I do have that tree's acorn. I stole it and it was easy. Silly tree should have locked it up tighter. If you want, you'll have to trade me for it. And nothing from that silly tree... no leaves or branches or anything. But that's all I have to say about that. An answer for an answer, there you go!"

I suppressed a sigh, "Do you want to ask me another question?"

"May I? Oh, yes, I think I might!" Did he really have to shout when he said that? "Hmm... where were you born?"

"I was born in the city of Denerim, actually." the lie fell from my lips easily.

"Hmmm. So you say. Fiendishly clever of you to maintain this facade for so long. But I will see though it yet! Mark my words! But it is your turn to ask now. Ask! Ask away! I dare you!"

"So you live in this stump?"

"Yes, I live here and it's not as bad as you think. Where else to go, eh? I must stay away from them! They are out there and looking. They will take your secrets, oh yes. All of them and leave you empty!" his demeanor shifted again, the same as the other times, "But that's all I have to say about that. An answer for an answer, there you go!"

"Do you want to ask me another question?" I could feel Zevran getting impatient. I shared the sentiment.

"May I? Oh, yes, I think I might! What is your relationship with your father?"

My stomach sank, and I answered curtly, "My father is dead."

"Hmmmm. Interesting, most interesting. So that means that you did indeed have a father! Ha! I knew I would trip you up sooner or later! But it is your turn to ask now. Ask! Ask away! I dare you!"

"Will you trade me the acorn?"

"Oho! And what do you have to trade for the acorn?"

I was this close to simply killing this man and taking it from his dead body. I dropped my pack to the ground and crouched so I could dig through it. The handful of quarters and the opal tumbled out in my haste.

"What are those?" curiosity gleamed in the old man's eyes.

I scooped everything up in my hands and them out to him, "These are coins from strange land called America. This stone," I held it up in the light, "is called opal. It's supposed to magnify a mage's power."

"Does it work?"

I set it on the ground and snapped my fingers; a small flame appeared above my free palm. Picking up the opal, I repeated the action, this time tapping in to the power of the gem; a large gout of fire burst forth, illuminating the dark forest around us.

"I would say so."

"Yes, I'll take it. Give me that!"

It seemed I would need something else to make in to an anchor.

I muttered a seal under my breath, making it so that only the basics would be enhanced, before handing it over. There was no need for a mad man to accidentally burn down a forest. Or an entire village, should he suddenly have the inclination to do so.

He thrust his hand in to the tree stump and all but threw the acorn at me, and I caught it easily, "There! Now that's done. La-la-la!"

He darted away from us, the gem clutched in his hands.

"That was..." I trailed off.

"Strange, I agree."

I turned to face the elf, "We have the acorn back, at least."

"You could have given just the coins, you know."

I shook my head, "No. As soon as he saw the opal, it was all he would accept."