The Dalish Treaty

They were so noisy!

Epona could hear every footstep. Branches snapped beneath clumsy feet, leafs brushed the ground when strolled through, and Lawrien was whistling. Whistling! They had no idea how to navigate a forest, with the exception of Asha'bellanar's daughter. Morrigan was perfectly capable. Epona had to remind herself that Faren was a city elf. Cobian was a nobleman. Lawrien was in the Circle, and apparently the Grey Wardens hadn't taught how her to navigate a forest.

By the Dread Wolf even the dog was noisy.

Epona hated dogs, but Calenhad would have to be the exception, as long as he didn't bite her.

She hoped everyone was well-behaved when they met with clan, it would be truly horrifying if they were disrespectful and made a mockery of her in front of them. Grey Wardens or no, they would not put up with any mistreatment.

"Oh, this is so exciting!" Leliana chirped, the priest suddenly at her side.

"You're excited?" Epona frowned, confused.

"Oh yes, many city folk talk about how living such a simple life would be lovely. To live so close to the earth."

Epona bristled. "Simple?"

"Yes?" Leliana hesitated.

She couldn't help it. She stopped the whole entire party. Epona swore to Mythal, if they all came to Zathrian's camp with this naive idea in mind the Dalish would slaughter them, and Epona would do nothing about it. No, she would watch, then tell the others 'oops they died for the Grey Warden cause' when she returned to the rest.

"Are you really that naïve?" Epona sneered. "How exactly do you think we live out here?"

Leliana faltered. "Um..."

Morrigan chuckled.

Cobian perked up. Of course the noble did. This was a chance to learn. He even had his notebook up with that gleam in his eyes. Lawrien tilted her head at them, blinked, then shrugged.

"I have no idea," Lawrien admitted.

"I was told you eat people," Faren offered up cheerfully.

Epona twitched.

"I think she's about to kill us," Lawrien said, wincing, then gasped. "Oh no, we're the food offering!"

"Seriously?" Faren let out a strangled yelp.

"Idiots!" Epona snapped. "We don't eat people. We have to hunt animals everyday for enough food to feed the entire clan, and trade if possible if the humans do not wish to kill us-"

Faren held up his hand. Epona swore, if he was about to say something stupid-

"By animals you mean-"

"Faren, if you're about to say 'humans' I will hurt you," Epona hissed.

Faren smiled nervously and lowered his hand.

"People try to kill you just because you want to trade?" Cobian's brow furrowed. "Why?"

Epona huffed. "Why do you think, noble?"

"Negotiations gone wrong?"

Idiots. They were all naïve idiots. Epona barely choked down a scream. What did she do to end up with these fools?

"Because they don't believe in the Maker," Lawrien said, her eyes hard. "Everyone has to believe in their eyes, or the Maker will never return. So that belief is shoved down all our throats."

Morrigan purred. "What an interesting opinion from a Circle Mage."

"We're not all of the same mind on the Circle," Lawrien admitted, crossing her arms.

"The Maker loves us all," Leliana began. "But sometimes people in the Chantry are too harsh."

"Too harsh?" Epona scoffed. "We've had hounds set on us, we've been shot at by arrows, had our people dragged into human streets and beaten. Mobs have chased us with pitchforks and torches."

Calenhad whined and nudged Epona's hand with his muzzle. She sighed, he looked so upset, so Epona gave in and petted his head. Lawrien's eyes had hardened though. Leliana paled, and the nobleman looked horrified, sickly even, so Epona decided to ease him, even if it was a little.

"I see why you might not have heard about this, noble," Epona said wearily. "Highever is one of the better places for us to trade and camp nearby."

The tension eased out of Cobian's shoulders, but only by a bit. "That still doesn't excuse anyone else... I... What about Gwaren and Amaranthine?"

"Gwaren is decent, Amaranthine is terrible."

Cobian nodded, and scribbled. "Then this must be sorted. The Dalish are allies of the Grey Wardens, and as a Cousland it is my duty to see people being treated fairly. I will document everything I see and hear, and argue about treating our neighbours with respect and dignity."

Epona blinked, startled. She had no idea what to say to that.

"And while I'm on it, I must prepare a piece for city elves. Faren has told me some of the difficulties they face after what Vaughan did. We're noblemen, we're supposed to protect those under our lands, and we have entirely failed to do so." Cobian's eyes were racing across the notebook, so much that Epona had no idea how he wasn't dizzy.

"Thanks, Cobian?" Faren offered, though it sounded more like a question.

"Thank me when I hit Anora and Loghain with this notebook!"

The notebook was a weapon? Is that how nobles settled disputes, by hitting each other with paper? Epona shook her head. That sounded insane. But if that was true, then Cobian would rightly win all disputes, surely?

Leliana shifted. Epona expected her to be angry for snapping. To hiss and spit at her, to show her true colours but Leliana lowered her head. "I am so sorry. My words were clumsily chosen I did not mean to belittle your culture..."

Leliana was apologising? Huh, Epona was certainly finding strange shemlen these days. She caught Lawrien's smile, and almost rolled her eyes. Yes, definitely strange shemlen.

"Thank you?" Epona wasn't sure what to say to that.

Leliana brightened, her face growing sunny. "I look forward to learning more about your people. It would be nice for things to change, I know our history has been a long and bloody one but it would be nice to become friends, no?"

Epona grimaced. "You're a strange shemlen. Either way, try keep such remarks to yourself once we arrive. Most Dalish clans are not quick to trust outsiders. That could also include me."

"You as well?"

"Our clans only meet at the large gatherings, unless we pass by each other. I haven't seen many of these people for years." Epona sighed, glancing into the forests around them. "The only clan I know to be trusting of most folk are Clan Lavellan, but that's because Lavellan's a Hero of Hasmal."

Morrigan paused. Epona frowned, blanked out the conversation and focused.

"Warden." Morrigan's eyes were on her, her brow furrowed. "Don't you believe t'is forest is eerily quiet?"

It was quiet. Too quiet. There were no birds. Epona grimaced and grabbed her bow, notching an arrow. It made the others tense. The noble's dog then growled, teeth bared and back hunched. She eyed the beast and saw it was staring right into the shadows of the forest, ready to pounce.

"What's going on?" Faren had his daggers in hand, warily looking in the same direction the mabari was staring at.

Epona frowned. "Something is wrong. The forest is too quiet."

"Something lurks nearby," Morrigan warned.

A howl pierced the forest, echoing as a pair of golden eyes stared out at them from within the darkness of the forest. Epona didn't have enough time to dodge when a large height threw itself at her, her hands were the only thing keeping it from biting into her neck as she struggled to kick him off.

"Epona!" The priestess cried before yelping.

More howls cut across the sky before a small form collided with the creature on top of her. Lawrien tackled the beast, yelling as she wrapped her staff around its neck, yanking it back from Epona's throat. Calenhad collided with another that tried to pin Cobian, howling, clawing and biting while everyone scrambled.

"Are these werewolves?" Faren cried out, he was facing off another one of the giant beasts. He dodged to claws, leaping aside and ducking, his daggers just shy off the beast's side.

Epona scowled, rolling away she grabbed her bow and arrow and released an arrow, narrowly avoiding Lawrien who gasped. Lawrien looked suddenly unsure, panicked almost, and shook her head.

"Wait, why are you trying to scare us away?" Lawrien inhaled sharply. "We need to pass! We're Grey Wardens!"

"Don't talk to the werewolf!" Leliana yelled, scrambling out the way of another werewolf, screaming. Morrigan whacked it with her staff, snarling.

The werewolf Lawrien held shook her off, tossing her to the grass. It leapt at Epona, teeth bared, but a burst of magic threw it away.

"Enough!" A vaguely familiar man stood in the pathway, a stern look on his face.

"Keeper Zathrian," Epona murmured, stunned as the brown furred creature in front of her sneered, seemingly ready to go at him.

"You really don't like him..." Lawrien mumbled. "He hates you too..."

The brown creature stared down Lawrien who stared right back. Another howl echoed though and the beast froze before it and its brethren ran back into the forest, the Keeper glaring until they were gone before his eyes softened as they landed on Epona.

"Are you hurt, da'len?"

"Keeper Zathrian." Epona stood up, unable to help but glance over him. "My apologies. but... You haven't changed at all..."

"You have though, I haven't seen you since you and Tamlen had little Lyna." Zathrian noted fondly before frowning at her company. "You seem to be with a different group now, what has happened, da'len?"

"Quite a bit to be honest, hahren, but it seems strange things appear to be happening to you as well. What were those beasts?" Epona couldn't help but ask, scowling when Faren whispered 'werewolves'.

Zathrian sighed. "Your young friend is indeed correct, da'len, they are werewolves. Come, I'll explain on the way back to camp."

.::.

"Is this the darkspawn taint?" Faren asked softly, surprised as they walked around the campsite, men and women injured and in so much pain all around them. Lawrien groaned, clutching her head, massaging her scalp as if trying to ward off a headache.

"No, da'len, this is a curse that is growing rampant within their blood. We are usual weary of strangers, but we never expected the werewolves of the Brecilian forest to attack us."

Lawrien's brow furrowed.

Faren beamed, grinning at Epona. "I told you they were werewolves!"

She snorted as she brought out her sketchpad, beginning to draw out a werewolf's form. "They are meant to be mere legend by now. It is certainly interesting to learn that they are still in Ferelden."

"I'm sorry, Epona, but we are in no place to help you right now," Zathrian apologised.

Morrigan cut in swiftly. "Then there is no point in us being here if these Dalish cannot help us. I suggest we leave and try and contact another clan."

"Can we do nothing to help?" Leliana frowned, looking horrified. "We cannot just leave these poor people behind like this!"

"I would like to help as well." Epona pressed, looking concerned. "They are my people."

"This is foolish," Morrigan sneered.

"In the forest there is a great wolf called 'Witherfang', he is where the curse originates from. If you bring me his heart I should be able to destroy the curse," the Keeper offered.

Lawrien's furrowed brow deepened and she stared at Zathrian, but he seemed content to ignore her. Her, Cobian and Morrigan in fact.

"Perhaps we could seek out another clan?" Cobian asked. "You mentioned a 'Lavellan' earlier, Epona?"

"Cobian!" Leliana gasped. "You can't be in favour of leaving these poor people here."

"Yes, but they live in the Free Marches." Epona grimaced. "We could try send word, but I doubt they'd be able to come, or will. No, they'd probably ready themselves for the darkspawn over there instead."

"Fair enough." Cobian nodded. "A good idea to be prepared."

"Are there any other clans nearby, hahren?" Epona asked softly.

Zathrian softened. "I am afraid not, da'len. Most have moved on by now."

"So if we defeated Witherfang that would solve the problem," Faren said. "All we gotta do is kill a legendary werewolf and bring you his heart." Faren laughed nervously. "I never thought this would happen to me."

"If you can save my clan then we would have the power to fulfil our treaty." Zathrian nodded.

"But that's not the only way to save your clan," Lawrien said quietly.

Epona froze. "What?" Her brow furrowed. "He's leaving something out?"

"What is that supposed to mean, shemlen?" Zathrian scowled.

"She is an empath of the Amell family," Epona said softly. "Keeper Zathrian, what are you leaving out?"

"An Amell?" Zathrian whispered, his eyes wide. "An Amell and a Mahariel together?"

Cobian frowned. "Is that a problem?"

"Perhaps."

"He means yes." Lawrien blinked.

"There are..." Zathrian grimaced. "Old bloodlines in this world. The Amells share an elven blood trait-"

"I'm not an elf!" Lawrien choked, hands instantly on her ears, feeling them. "Nope. Still round."

"How is that a way to check?" Epona smacked the back of her head. "It's not like you would have just sprouted elven ears!"

"I wanted to check!"

"The Amell family were once elven," Zathrian said softly. "But over time your bloodline was polluted by human blood, after the shemlens won the war."

"My blood isn't polluted." Lawrien's nose wrinkled.

"Well, not by that, but it is by Grey Warden standards-" Cobian began.

"Don't just blurt out Grey Warden secrets!" Epona snapped, whacking his head too.

Faren watched her warily, because he was probably her next target at this point. He was the only Grey Warden in their group she hadn't whacked.

"Anyway, those old bloodlines reuniting will mean there is a great threat to this world," Zathrian continued. "According to the stories we found, a horrible threat is what brought them together in the first place. They intended to save the world."

Lawrien tilted her head. "Well, I guess a Blight works." She grinned. "That's why us two are here, eh, Epona?"

Epona smirked. "Perhaps."

"Hopefully none of the others start to emerge and group up," Zathrian sighed. "Otherwise things might just get messy."

"My mother was obsessed with old bloodline names," Morrigan mused.

"She's a pain!" Lawrien scowled.

"Tell me about it," Morrigan scoffed.

"So..." Leliana cut in. "Are there any stories about the old bloodlines?"

"Yes, but none that I shall share with you, shemlen," Zathrian sneered.

"Oi, don't bully Leliana!" Lawrien growled.

"Maybe just the other family names?" Cobian asked.

"No. That is a secret we shall guard closely." Zathrian frowned at Epona. "I have already said too much. This might endanger you, da'len. Most of those families are dead and gone now. I don't wish for you to join them."

"I do have many questions," Epona admitted. "But I shall refrain for now then. We have more important business to take care of. Lawrien, let's go into the forest."

Lawrien eyed her. "Even if we don't know everything?"

"Yes."

Lawrien grinned. "Okay. I trust you."

Epona huffed. "You and you're unconditional trust."

Faren laughed, but glanced over at Epona's sketch, noting that it was beginning to form a rather hastily drawn werewolf. He threw her an excited look. This was just like in the old adventure stories his mum used to tell him!

.::.

"Wait, Epona!"

Epona paused, and watched as a vaguely familiar elf rushed her way.

"Cammen?" she asked.

"I'm glad you remember me." Cammen smiled brightly.

"You know each other?" Faren asked. "Is that a common thing with the clans?"

"Not exactly, but I helped train him to shoot arrows during the last time our clans ran into each other." Epona crossed her arms. "You don't still need me to teach you, right? Because I'm busy."

Cammen floundered. "I... Well, as you can see I'm still an apprentice."

Epona nodded. He wasn't eighteen yet, probably seventeen now if she remembered rightly. An apprenticeship was very reasonable to still have.

"How do you know?" Lawrien blinked.

"Oh!" Faren perked up. "I think its their face tattoos."

"Vallaslin," Epona corrected.

"Vallalin?" Lawrien tilted her head.

"Slin. Vallaslin."

"Vallabean!" Lawrien grinned.

"I hate you," Epona sighed.

Lawrien sniggered.

"Anyway." Cammen shifted. "I'm trying to prove myself to Ghenya, but Keeper Zathrian won't allow us to hunt due to the werewolves."

"And you can't wait because?" Epona raised a brow.

"My heart sings desperately for her!"

Epona and Morrigan both groaned in disgust. Lawrien snorted, giggling into her fist. Leliana however cooed.

"That is so sweet!"

Faren rubbed his head. "It is?"

"Of course," Leliana insisted. "He's fallen in love."

"You are seventeen, da'len," Epona said. "Do not rush out of your apprenticeship so quickly for the sake of winning her heart sooner."

"But you and Tamlen-"

"I am a widow, Cammen," Epona spat. "Because we were young and reckless."

Leliana faltered, the hopeful lovingness in her eyes flickering away, replaced by horror. Epona ignored the look, ignored that and Morrigan's curious glance. Faren's puzzled frown and Lawrien's gaze growing darker.

"But I'm not being reckless! Look, if you just got me a pelt-"

Epona snarled. "That is not how you start courting someone! You don't lie and pay someone else to do the job for you. That is not our way. You are not some dishonest thug. Tamlen fought for me and brought me many pelts. You will do the same for Gheyna if you're truly worthy of her."

"But-"

"Your are only proving yourself unworthy of her affections," Epona scolded. "So stop before you embarrass yourself any further."

"That's a bit harsh. He only wants to be with his sweetheart," Leliana said weakly.

"Yes," Epona snarled. "And Gheyna won't bond with someone unworthy, and right now he is only proving how unworthy of her affections. And the fact is neither have proven themselves to be adults yet. None of them have their vallaslin."

"Valladream," Lawrien added.

"Shut up, you." Epona rolled her eyes. "So no. Just wait, Cammen." She turned on her heel, only to nearly run head first into Athras. She barely dodged him, twisting on her heel.

"Ah, sorry, Epona!" Athras apologised. "I didn't want to interrupt, but I was desperate to talk to you."

"That's alright. What's wrong?"

Lawrien shivered. That made Epona frown.

"It's Danyla," Athras whispered, drawing them further away from camp. "We fought side by side during the first attack, but she was injured. Keeper Zathrian took her into his tent to heal her and insisted I rested, but the next day he said she had died."

Epona flinched. "I'm so sorry-"

"But she wasn't that badly injured," Athras insisted. "And he refuses to let me see her..." He looked a little pale. "Her body..." He shook his head and straightened up. "No, I think he's lying to me. I think she got turned into a werewolf and he cast her out into the forest."

Epona eyed Lawrien. "He really is hiding a lot, isn't he?"

Lawrien frowned. "Yeah. Want me to go whack him?" She held out her staff.

Epona snorted. "No!" She shook her head. "We'll try find Danyla. I... I know how it feels to be left without answers in regarding lost loved ones... Maybe a little more than most. I wish to ease your pain, Athras."

"Thank you, Epona." Athras shifted. "Why... Why are you a Grey Warden, Epona? What happened? Is your clan alright?"

Epona shifted, and couldn't help but touch Ashalle's bracelet that rested upon her wrist. They were fine. They had to be fine. She paused when Lawrien leaned against her arm, nudging her from her thoughts.

"I- Sort of. A lot happened." Epona frowned. "Keeper Marethari will probably tell you everything during our next meeting, for now we should get going before the days light is out."

"Alright, well stay safe, alright?" Athras said.

"We'll do our best."

"Yeah, I mean hopefully werewolves aren't as bad as darkspawn," Faren said.

"They are certainly taller," Cobian mused.

They walked towards the heavily guarded path, and Lawrien continued to press close to her side.

"Whatever he didn't want to tell us wasn't to protect us," Lawrien said, her face growing hard as they headed into the forest. "He was hiding something that scares him."

Epona took a deep breath, and nodded.

"Whatever happens, we'll figure it out together," Leliana said.

"Or Cobian will," Faren chuckled.

"Then let's go and kick some ass!" Lawrien cheered.