Within the Forest

"Your brother is a blood mage?" Leliana choked out.

They had continued their trek through the forest. Faren had been bored, tried to play 'I spy' with Lawrien, but she was way too good at that. Leliana was the one who ended up asking how they all became Grey Wardens.

This was day two in the forest.

Day two and Leliana was about to be traumatised for life.

"Yep." Lawrien nodded. "A very stupid one. If he didn't lie to me about it I wouldn't have been half as pissed off as I was. I mean, Ciara would have stabbed him, but still."

"And you didn't sense it with your empathy?"

"How am I supposed to sense magic with my empathy? I feel emotions!" Lawrien protested.

Leliana's brow furrowed. "Blood magic is dangerous. It corrupts people-"

Morrigan scoffed. "Ah yes, as if you know all about magic."

"Yeah, Morrigan has a point, what makes all of you so sure about which magic is evil or not?" Lawrien mused. "I mean I can flatten people with mine, but apparently it's fine in the eyes of the Chantry."

"Or launch people," Faren added cheerfully. "That does look like fun."

Lawrien grinned. "It is!"

Leliana shook her head. "So what happened afterwards?"

"Duncan threatened to conscript me and Ciara if Greagior didn't hand us over, so we became Grey Wardens, Myra stayed in the Circle, Anders was somewhere, and Jowan was probably swimming full speed across the lake."

"And that poor girl he tricked? Lily?"

Lawrien frowned. "Aeonar."

Leliana went pale. Almost white as a sheet. Faren didn't know why. He didn't know what Aeonar was.

"What is an Aeonar?" Epona asked.

"The mages prison." Lawrien's face hardened. "The real one."

Morrigan paused. "I thought the towers were already the prison?"

"This is the one where they will torture you." Lawrien's eyes burned, fire flickering from her shoulders. "The one they will break you, body and spirit, until there is nothing left." She chuckled darkly. "Sure, they try do that already in the towers, but Aeonar is the one that is actually supposed to do that."

"I..." Leliana closed her eyes. "Yes, some of what the Chantry has done is cruel, but the towers are necessary. When we murdered Andraste-"

"I watched all my brothers and sisters be dragged away by Templars," Lawrien snapped. "I remember them all. I remember all the screaming and crying and my mother begging. I remember each time she fell to her knees as she lost another child to men bearing swords, ready to commit murder on those who resisted." Lawrien bit her lip. "And I don't know what happened to her after they took me and Myra. We were the last ones she had." Lawrien breathed out heavily. "I think it probably killed her in the end..." Her eyes then met Leliana's, and stared straight into her. "What child deserves to be ripped away from their mother? What mother deserves to watch all her children get torn from her? Epona said it straight. We didn't murder Andraste, if she was even real in the first place. So why is this our punishment? Why punish us for something somebody did years ago?"

Faren shivered. He remembered when one of the girls had been taken away in the Alienage by the Templars. She had been the couple's only child, their shining star. She had been so smart, the prettiest girl and one of the kindest. She and Shianni had been friends. He remembered her parents begging, they hadn't done anything else. Just asked to keep their daughter, and the Templars had beaten them in front of everyone, bet them until their cries grew silent. Shianni's friend had been tied up and gagged, and he remembered her choked sobs before the Templars dragged her away.

The parents had died right on their own doorstep.

Shianni hadn't been the same after that. She had became vicious, protective and violent against those who laid their hands on them.

"All of it needs to change," Cobian said. "We treasure the past more than our future. We listen to people babble on about some man who may not even exist, and if he even does, does not deserve our praise, for he is selfish beyond measure."

Leliana choked. "That's not-"

"At least my Gods have the excuse of being locked away," Epona scoffed. "Yours apparently is just throwing a tantrum."

"But at the same time having faith gives people strength," Cobian said. "It helps people through their darkest hour. The faith in their God, their loved ones, their dreams. Everything in this world has a place, it's just about tempering it to the right amount."

"Even murder?" Epona raised a brow.

"It depends who you murder, I suppose," Cobian replied.

"Like how we're going to murder the Archdemon!" Lawrien grinned.

"Hopefully," Faren said. "Because if we don't we're probably dead."

Leliana smiled wearily. "Well, I suppose none of your stories could be as drastic as Lawrien's."

They all went silent.

Morrigan chuckled. "Really?"

"My lover and I found a tainted mirror that was once used as a communication device in an abandoned ruin." Epona glowered into the trees as they continued down a hill. "It was called an Eluvian. It infected both of us with the darkspawn taint." Epona's face fell, but Faren saw Lawrien nudge her hand. "Anyway," Epona breathed out. "I was saved by Lawrien and Duncan, the previous Grey Warden Commander. I left my clan and became a Grey Warden after that."

"What happened to your lover?" Leliana asked softly.

"He died that day." Epona closed her eyes. "Faren?"

Faren winced.

Lawrien didn't hesitate. "We murdered a Bann together."

Leliana choked. "Excuse me!"

"I mean..." Faren shrugged helplessly. "She's not wrong."

"I robbed him afterwards," Lawrien added.

Morrigan cackled. "You people are far more interesting than I thought."

Faren groaned.

"I... I don't..." Leliana looked lost. "I don't even know what to say to that..."

"It was the Bann's fault!" Lawrien crossed her arms. "He kidnapped the brides and the bride maids and Faren. So we went in and killed him."

Leliana blinked slowly. "This was at a wedding?"

Faren sighed. "Mine and my cousin's, yes. But I had an unfortunate relationship already with Bann Vaughan, where he was obsessed with me and didn't want to see me married because I was supposed to be his. So he kidnapped all of us instead, except for the other groom, my cousin."

"Wait, you said the Bann was obsessed with you?" Leliana frowned. "He loved you?"

"I don't think I'd call it love exactly..." Faren said softly.

Leliana's face fell. "I'm so sorry."

Lawrien winced, grabbing her head. Her eyes met Leliana's, and Leliana softened.

"We freed Faren and went and rescued the women," Epona said. "And murdered the bastard."

"Wait, you were all there?" Leliana paused.

"Except me. I was the last recruit," Cobian offered.

Leliana smiled. "Well, at least your story can't be any crazier-"

"My uncle murdered my family and household, chased me from my home, and is doing who knows what now to my people."

Leliana's smile disappeared in a second. She remained silent for a moment then groaned. "I need to stop talking..."

Epona snorted.

"So, you said household?" Leliana asked.

"Yes, my name is Cobian Cousland-"

"You're a Cousland?" Leliana gasped.

"Hi." Cobian waved.

Leliana buried her head in her hands. "What did I get myself into?" she mumbled.

"A lot of trouble." Faren grinned, but froze.

"Faren?" Lawrien tilted her head.

"I think that tree just moved."

That was when they learned about angry tree monsters that wanted to eat them. Faren had no idea there were angry tree monsters than wanted to kill him, and he wished he hadn't learned of them. Especially when their anger set Lawrien off in an emotional fit of rage and she began exploding them.

.::.

"So, Lawrien gets affected by other people's emotions too?" Leliana asked from where she sat.

They had all been left panting and breathless after all those sylvans had attacked them. Epona had admittedly not been expecting them. She had barely seen any in her life. And it turned out their anger also affected Lawrien, who was still snarling and kicking things as she paced.

"Yes, if you're overly angry or overly happy the emotions tend to affect her," Epona said. "It gets even worse if you're feeling different emotions at once because she gets confused and overwhelmed."

"Yeah, then she's angry because of that," Faren groaned. "And, Epona, since when did trees move?"

"I have barely seen them before," Epona admitted. "I didn't realise the brecillian forest would have any at all, especially not so many."

"We did find the cool one who didn't attack us," Lawrien reminded, grinning. "The poet tree."

"Yes, but as soon as we left him we got attacked again," Epona sighed.

"He was amazing, wasn't he?" Leliana laughed.

"I would have loved to learn more about him," Cobian mused.

"Yeah, we gotta get his acorn back!" Lawrien said.

"Why?" Morrigan frowned.

"Because he's awesome and deserve his acorn."

.::.

"We're lost. We're lost and are going to get eaten by trees," Faren groaned.

They had spent five days in this hellhole. How did he know? He had marked on it the bolder they kept repeatedly passing by. It was their camp site. It had been their campsite for four nights now. Epona looked ready to commit murder.

Epona snarled. "What is wrong with this forest?"

Lawrien grinned. "At least it makes sure we can get water and food. So thank you, forest!"

"Don't thank it!" Epona screeched. "It's driving me insane that I can't navigate this. We should have reached the ruins days ago!"

Lawrien laughed nervously, but Faren had noticed that too. When they grew tired they would arrive back at their camp, safe and sound. If they needed supplies, Epona seemed able to find just enough food for them, and a source of water. Faren half suspected if they said they gave up, they'd even be led back to the Dalish camp, but sadly they couldn't do that.

"Swiftrunner did say the forest will keep us out," Cobian reminded them. "And the poet tree said he could help us if we brought him his acorn."

"Yes, but we haven't found anyone here. It's just been us, and a creepy campsite that tried to murder us when most of us passed out," Epona complained. "Only Lawrien and Morrigan stayed awake during that battle. And I told Andras I would do my best to find Danyla, but so far I haven't seen any sign of her."

"But is this Witherfang, or some kind of spirits in the forest?" Leliana mused.

"I could just start burning things," Lawrien offered.

Epona whacked her head, earning a grunt.

"That might just murder us all," Cobian said. "But I suspect if we're forever trapped in this forest that might be a last resort."

"I've tried leading us out the forest multiple times to see if the Keeper knew anything else," Epona admitted. "But I haven't managed to get us there either. This forest is certainly keeping us contained here."

"T'is a remarkable forest," Morrigan said. "These spirits must be strong indeed."

"If only Ciara or Alistair were here, they could maybe dispel whatever was causing this?" Faren frowned.

Morrigan huffed. "Ciara would be more useful than that buffoon."

"Neither of the Templar shemlen are here so we just have to make due on our own!" Epona snapped.

Calenhad came sprinting out the forest, and Faren swore someone was screaming behind him in the distance. Cobian was instantly between Calenhad and the forest, while Lawrien scowled.

"Someone's angry." Lawrien crossed her arms.

Faren took a step back, and Leliana did too. He smiled sheepishly at her, and she laughed softly. But Leliana instantly had her bow drawn and arrow notched when a man looking worse for wear came charging into their clearing.

"That is mine, you foul dog!" the man yelled, reaching out for Calenhad.

Cobian had his sword at the man's throat in an instant, earning a yelp.

"Don't touch my dog," he growled.

That was probably the angriest Cobian had ever sounded. So yes, Faren would not touch the dog. Except to pet him. Calenhad was a good boy and deserved treats and pets.

"He has my acorn!"

Faren paused. Epona smiled, a strained smile, and Leliana beamed. The acorn. This was the crazy man who had the acorn. They could finally get out of this forest. Lawrien still wore a hard expression though, and that made Faren still.

"Who are you?" Lawrien approached Cobian's side.

"Be careful, Warden," Morrigan warned.

"I know." Fire flickered from Lawrien's hands. "He's dangerous."

"Me? You would like to know that wouldn't you? You thieves would then tell the bad men and we can't have that! Oh no, we cannot!" the elderly man rambled. But his eyes remained locked on Calenhad, who had the acorn in his mouth. Calenhad sat down by Faren's feet, his tail wagging, and Faren patted his hand with his free hand.

"I assume he must be running from the Templars," Morrigan mused.

"Templars! Did they send you? I knew it!" the crazy mage snarled.

He disappeared. Lawrien swung round, but the man was already right in front of Morrigan who scowled and crossed her arms.

"I am no one's pawn!" she spat.

"Then give me my acorn!"

"You're annoying me!" Lawrien snarled, slamming her hand off the ground.

A symbol appeared, right at the edge of the man's feet and around her. Morrigan stumbled back, just as the man began to fall back, right towards Lawrien at the centre of the symbol. Lawrien swung her staff, but the man twisted round and caught it. Lawrien braced herself, just as the man kicked her side, throwing her out the glyth. Lawrien hit the ground, while Cobian and Faren raced in, swinging sword and daggers. Faren swore his daggers pierced the man, but they went right through him, as did Cobian's sword. Faren cursed. That was Uncle Kerth's ability. The man threw his hands out, and a violent wind shoved Faren away, throwing both him and Cobian into trees.

The next thing Faren saw was Epona's arrow lodging into the man's head, but then it kept going, straight through. The mage went for Epona, and Leliana's arrows went right through the man too.

Faren grimaced. He knew that ability. He knew that ability like the back of his hand. That was definitely Uncle Kerth's.

"Make him overuse that ability to go through things!" Faren yelled. "He'll be overwhelmed-"

The man was instantly in front of him, and Faren gasped when a hand clamped around his throat, cutting him off. Lawrien tackled the man, throwing them all off their feet, and Morrigan blasted him with lightning, but it went through him and hit both Lawrien and Faren. Faren yelled, his whole body seizing up, but thankfully Cobian was there, attacking again. But all his sword swings went through the man.

"How do we fight somebody who can pass through attacks?" Morrigan snarled.

"Perfect timing. When he attacks he is physically here, but when he dodges he does not attack!" Cobian yelled.

Faren coughed. "A-And w-when he gets overwhelmed by his ability... His body will struggle to register feeling... I-It'll make him lose focus-"

Another gush of wind threw him off his feet, and he gasped as his back hit a tree. He hit the ground, coughing and spluttering. The mage appeared right before him, hands sparking with lightning, but Lawrien dived in, throwing her body between him and Faren. Faren reached out for her, to yank her back, just as lightning hit her, but Lawrien's fist, alight with flames, grabbed the mage. His lightning shocked Lawrien, but her fire burned him. They both screamed. Faren ducked beneath Lawrien and pierced the man's chest with his dagger.

The lightning died off, as did the man's screams. Lawrien coughed, stumbling back, and grinned, despite how singed she was.

"T-That worked," she laughed. "T-Thanks, Cobian, t-thanks Faren for the i-ideas."

Lawrien had grabbed the mage just when he had been attacking, using her own body to take the hit instead of Faren's, when it would have been far easier. Lawrien could have gotten the mage from behind, but she had chosen to take the hit for Faren. That... That wouldn't have been what most folk would have done, probably not even himself, but she had. They barely even knew each other and she had still protected him.

He wasn't supposed to need protecting anymore.

"Thanks, Lawrien." He managed a shaky smile. "You saved me just now."

He needed to do better.

Lawrien eyed him, and despite the coughs she still replied. "Y-You saved me too, so thanks."

"Are you insane?" Leliana rushed over. "Lawrien, you could have died!"

"Perfect timing you two," Cobian congratulated.

"Don't encourage that," Epona scolded. "That was suicidal."

Calenhad whined as he approached Cobian's side. Cobian petted his fur and took the acorn from him.

"Thank you, Calenhad. I believe you just secured our way out of this forest," Cobian praised him.

Calenhad woofed happily.

"But you wandered off yourself and put yourself in serious danger," Cobian scolded. "At least next time make sure someone is with you."

"Next time?" Epona glowered.

Cobian smiled sheepishly. "Um, no? Although the possibility of a situation happening exactly like this again will be a little more difficult to come across, but given our current misfortunes it might actually occur-"

Epona's glared sharpened. Cobian knelt down beside Calenhad and silently petted him, still smiling nervously. Calenhad's tail wagged, and he licked Cobian's palm.

"And Faren?" Lawrien whispered.

Faren glanced at her. She was frowning, a deep furrow in her brow.

"I'm your Commander. If I couldn't put myself in the line of fire I don't deserve the position. If I don't try protect my brothers, sisters and comrades, I would be a shame on Duncan and all the others who came before him," Lawrien said quietly, so only he, and possibly Epona, could hear. Epona was watching them, she looked startled, but she met Faren's eyes and shrugged, smiling tiredly.

"I don't like people protecting me," he admitted. His mum was gone because he couldn't protect himself, murdered by the people who were supposed to keep them safe. The loss ached. His mum should have been alive.

"Your mum?" Lawrien tilted her head.

"She died keeping me safe," Faren said softly. "I never forgave myself."

"And she wouldn't have forgiven you if you died on her," Lawrien said firmly, her voice still hushed. "And I won't forgive myself if I let any of you die and I could do something about it. We're going to work together, right, Faren?"

Faren smiled weakly. "I'll try my best."

"Good." Lawrien smiled. "And don't worry about me. Elemental magic is one of my best spell sets, a little lightning won't mess me up for long."

Faren paused. "You've already stopped coughing."

She laughed. "Yeah, elemental magic is difficult. If I couldn't handle a bit of fire or lightning, my two best paths, I'd be screwed."

"Paths?" he blinked.

"I find it best to think of elemental magic as a path. Most people start with small, basic spells, then work their way up the path. More like a ladder really?" Lawrien shrugged. "But anyway, doesn't matter. Just know that if you protect me, I'll be protecting you back, got it, Faren?"

He sighed, but nodded. "Alright, Lawrien."

"Then let's bring the poet tree his acorn!" Lawrien rushed to Calenhad's side, petting him eagerly. "Good boy, Calenhad! You stole off of our enemy, the enemy of the Grey Wardens."

Epona groaned.

Morrigan sighed. "And this is your Commander?"

"Somehow, yes," Epona chuckled.