We continued through the ruins. Of course, we had to fight our way through more of the spiders and skeletons. You thought we'd have an easy time of it? Of course not! We finally reached what looked at first to be a dead end.

"Please don't tell me we just did all that and there is no way into their lair," Zevran said.

I approached what looked like a pool. The water was dark. Much darker than the fountains we had seen throughout.

"I know that look, Realin," Alistair said. "And it usually precedes you doing something insane."

I never realized I had a certain look that tipped off what I was about to do. "What if this isn't a dead-end?"

"Please share with the rest of the class," Leliana said.

I pointed at the pool. "What if that is the entrance to their lair?"

"I didn't know Dalish could breathe underwater. How long can any of us hold our breaths?" Alistair said.

"I'll go in. If it's too far then we'll have to find another way in."

"Like I said. Insane." Alistair shook his head.

"Not as insane as what led me down this path to begin with." I took a deep breath, filling my lungs and jumped into the pool, feet first. The water embraced me and I swam down and towards a light. My head broke the surface and I let out my breath. I shook my wet hair from my face and looked around. The pool was hiding a tunnel. I was treading water and I swam forward a bit until my foot touched something solid. I thanked all the Creators that it was the floor and not some water beast. I went back to the others and told them of my discovery.

"Guess she isn't as mad as she looks," Zevran said with a grin.

One by one, I led them to the tunnel. Alistair was the last to swim in. As we followed the tunnel, the water became shallower and shallower, until it barely came to our ankles.

"Look," Leliana said. She pointed at an opening in the ceiling.

"Who's going first?"

"I'll go," I said. "I'll make sure it's clear."

Sten, being the tallest out of us, helped me up and I used his shoulders as a launchpad. I crouched, my belt knife drawn and looked around. Sten sent Tristan to check things out with me.

"Smell or see anything?" I whispered.

Tristan sat and looked at me.

I went back to the tunnel entrance. "It's clear." I replaced my knife and helped the others out as Sten and Alistair helped them up. Sten was the last one out.

We passed through a door and were set upon by several werewolves. We defeated them and went on until we came upon the werewolf that had told the others to fall back and protect the Lady. The three werewolves flanking him went into an offensive pose, ready to attack.

"Stop!" he cried. "Brothers and sisters, be at ease." They slowly eased out of their positions. I motioned for my companions to do the same. "We do not wish any more of our people hurt. I ask you this now, outsider. Are you willing to parley?"

"Like you parleyed with the Dalish?" I asked.

"That was different. The Lady believes that the Dalish have not told you everything, so she has asked that you be brought to her. She means you no harm, provided your willingness to parley in peace is an honest one."

I crossed my arms, suspicious and wary of a trap. "And how do I know I won't be walking into another ambush?" I did not want the curse spread to my companions.

"What would be the point? You have already proven your strength. We have no wish to anger you farther."

"Hmm. They're smarter than they look," Morrigan said.

"Then take me to this Lady."

"Follow me. But I warn you, if you break your word and harm her, I will come back from the Fade itself to see you pay." He turned and we followed.

~~~

The room he led us to was full of werewolves. He led us to Swiftrunner, who only growled and snarled at us. I made a quick look around. We were surrounded, which I didn't like at all. A woman walked between the werewolves. She was clothed in branches and leaves, her skin took on a greenish hue. She had black flowing hair that reached her mid-back and she was barefooted. She reached up to stroke Swiftrunner's arm with twiggy fingers. Swiftrunner went to a knee. The other werewolves followed. This must be the Lady, although I was not expecting a forest spirit.

"I bid you welcome, mortal," she said, her voice soft and musical. "I am the Lady of the Forest." The werewolves rose.

"I must admit, I was expecting another werewolf," I said.

"No, that I am not. If I could have revealed myself sooner, I would have."

"Do not listen to her, Lady!" Swiftrunner cried. "She is Dalish! She will betray you! We must attack her now!"

I held my hands out to my companions. Any hostility on our part could cause them to attack without warning. I did not want to give them cause.

"Hush, Swiftrunner. Your urge for battle has only seen the death of the very ones you have been trying to save. Is that what you want?"

"No, my Lady. Anything but that."

"Then the time has come to speak to this outsider, to set our rage aside." She turned her attention back to me. "I apologize on Swiftrunner's behalf. He struggles with his nature."

"As do we all, Lady."

"Truer words were never spoken. But few could claim the same as these creatures. That their very nature is a curse forced upon them. No doubt you have questions, mortal. There are things that Zathrian has not told you."

"How do you know what he has or has not told us?"

"Because there are things he would not tell. Things you should decide for yourself whether you need to know. It was Zathrian that created the curse that these creatures suffer, the same cure that his own people now suffer."

I blinked in surprise.

She studied me a moment. "Your people." So she saw that Swiftrunner had been correct. But why would Zathrian create the curse? "Centuries ago, when the Dalish first came to this land, a tribe of humans lived close to this forest. They sought to drive the Dalish away. Zathrian was a young man then. He had a son and a daughter he loved greatly. While they were out hunting, the human tribe captured them both."

Swiftrunner took up the story. "The humans... tortured the boy and killed him. The girl they raped and left for dead in the forest. The Dalish found her but later she learned she was... with child. She... killed herself."

"Oh my," Leliana breathed.

I remained quiet. Any Dalish woman would rather die than carry a Shem's child, especially if it wasn't her choice. There were many like that now. Of course, they wouldn't go anywhere near a Shem, let alone sleep with them. Honestly, I had been the same way. In my old life. Before I joined the Wardens and met Alistair. Now I was surprised anyone recognized me as Dalish anymore since I sure didn't act like one most days. Sometimes I didn't recognize myself.

"So Zathrian cursed them?"

"Zathrian came to this ruin and summoned a terrible forest spirit, binding it to the body of a great wolf. So Witherfang came to be. Witherfang hunted the humans of the tribe. Many were killed but others were turned by his blood, becoming twisted and savage creatures."

"Twisted and savage just as Witherfang himself is," the Lady said. "They were driven into the forest. When the human tribe finally left for good, their cursed brethren remained, pitiful and mindless animals." I had never heard this in our legends. And perhaps for good reason.

Swiftrunner fell to one knee. "Until I found you, my Lady. You gave me peace."

The Lady touched his shoulder. "I showed Swiftrunner that there was another side of his bestial nature. I soothed his rage and his humanity emerged. And he brought others to me."

"Oh, a werewolf whisperer," Zevran muttered. I heard him grunt and I knew someone had elbowed him.

"Why did you ambush the Dalish?" I asked. "For revenge?"

"In part," The Lady admitted. "We seek to end the curse. The crimes committed against Zathrian's children were grave but they were committed centuries ago by those who are long dead. Word was sent to Zathrian every time the landships passed this way, asking him to come but he has always ignored us. We will no longer be denied."

"We spread the curse to his people! So he must end the curse to save them!" Swiftrunner said.

"Is Zathrian's clan the only one you have attacked?"

"We do not wish to involve the other clans," The Lady said. She seemed to sense why I was asking. "We have no quarrel with them. Our quarrel is with Zathrian and Zathrian alone." I hid my relief knowing that my clan, my family, was safe from the werewolves' anger. "Please, mortal... You must go to him. Bring him here. If he sees these creatures, hears their plight... surely he will agree to end the curse!"

"With the hatred he holds for you, why would Zathrian agree to come here alone?"

"If Zathrian comes, I shall summon Witherfang. I possess that power. I also have the power to ensure that he is never found." Everything suddenly fell into place. If it came to killing Witherfang, I would know how to find him. "Tell him this: If he does not break the curse, he will never find Witherfang and he will never cure his people."

"Agreed. I will tell him."

"Then we shall await your return. Outside this chamber, the passage leading back to the surface has been opened for you." She motioned to her right. "Return with Zathrian as soon as you can."

~~~

We went in the direction she had indicated and took a flight of stairs back to where we had entered the ruins. I stopped when I saw Zathrian himself in the middle of the room examining our handiwork from earlier. And why did it not surprise me that he was there?

He looked up when he heard us approach. "Ah and here you are already."

I sighed. "Somehow I figured I'd find you here."

"Did you?" He stood. "Aren't you the intuitive one. There was no way to tell what would happen once you reached this ruin, so I decided to come myself."

"You wanted to make sure we did your dirty work, did you not, sorcerer?" Morrigan said.

"Do not call me that, witch!"

"She's right, Zathrian." My tone was dark. A tone I would never had dared in the past to use with a Keeper. "You mean you came to make sure I got the heart."

"Just so," he admitted when I called him out on it. "Did you?"

"No," I answered flatly.

"Then may I ask why you are leaving the ruin?"

"The Lady of the Forest wishes to speak to you."

Zathrian looked amused. "Oh? Is that what the spirit calls herself now? And what does she want with me, if I might inquire?" And now he decides to play stupid?

"You should know that she says that she will not summon Witherfang until you break the curse."

"You do understand she is actually Witherfang?"

"I figured as much."

"Wait, you knew that she was Witherfang?" Zevran asked me.

"Put two and two together, Zevran," Alistair said. "A spirit saying she can summon a wolf or ensure he is never found is more than likely said wolf."

"So you're not the complete idiot like you let everyone believe?" Morrigan said. Alistair actually ignored her, knowing this was not the place to bicker.

I sighed and shook my head.

"She is the powerful spirit of this ancient forest that I summoned long ago and bound to the body of the wolf. Her nature is that of the forest itself. Beautiful and terrible, serene and savage, maiden and beast. She is the Lady and Witherfang both, two sides of a single being. The curse came first from her."

I raised my brow at him.

"Those she afflicted with it mirrored her own nature, becoming savage beast as well as human."

"The werewolves have regained their minds, just so you know."

"I find that difficult to believe. They attacked my clan and they were the same savage beasts then that they have ever been. They deserve to be wiped out and not defended. I will accompany you back to the ruin. Let us go and speak with the spirit and I will force her into Witherfang's form. He may then be slain and the heart taken." He wasn't willing to listen to what the spirit had to say. I never thought I would lose respect for a Keeper, but it was slowly fleeing.

"At least consider talking to them."

"Why? You claim they have regained their minds but they are still savage beasts. Their nature is unchanged. All they want is revenge... or a release I cannot give them. No, let us take the heart and end it."

"Do you still have so much hatred after all this time?" My patience, and respect, were dangerously thin.

"You were not there! You did not see what... what they did to my son. To my daughter. And so many others! You are Dalish! You know how we must struggle to be safe, how we must fight for justice. I could not let their crimes go unanswered!"

"Yes, but I do not hide behind the fact that I am! Those crimes were committed centuries ago."

"I remember them as if it were yesterday. Even if they are more than animals now, they desire nothing but revenge. They will never let my clan be."

"Are you willing to let your clan suffer for it?" This gave him pause. I had struck a chord with him. "Just meet with them. Hear them out. That all I propose."

"And what if it's revenge they want and not talk? Will you safeguard me from harm?"

"I don't think it will come to that as long as you don't make any hostile moves towards them." He could see I was going to stand my ground on this.

He sighed. "I fail to see the purpose of this... but very well. It has been many centuries now. Let us see what the spirit has to say."