The Grey Wardens' Leader

1.3 - Thrown To The Wolves

Battle Born by Five Finger Death Punch
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   Avril looked up at the Gatekeeper, a werewolf with dark fur and held her hands up in defense as he leaned forward to sniff her.

"I will come back from the Fade itself to make you pay if you cause any hard to my Lady!", he snapped.

"I don't come to cause harm...I just want to help."

   The Gatekeeper scoffed as the group walking towards the Lady of the Forest and the werewolves surrounding her. She looked like her name sounded, like a woman who had been grown in the forest. She had a green tint to her skin, her body covered in vines in branches, but her hair long and luxurious. The Lady of the Forest was certainly beautiful, she could get behind that part of what the werewolves had insisted. However, she was unsure of how this woman could be their 'savior'.

   Avril instinctively gripped onto Alistair's hand as the werewolves clawed at them, baring their teeth and growling as they did so. The elven woman gave his hand a tight squeeze, genuinely scared for the first time in awhile.

   The Lady held up a hand that resembled a tree branch, and all of the wolves seemed to calm at the gesture. What was so special about her hand or that gesture, Avril didn't know. She just wanted to get out of here alive.

   Nonetheless, the human-like wolves knelt before her, bowing their heads. She had obviously earned their respect and following in some way. Avril raised an eyebrow at Jett who merely bowed before her presence. It seemed that he too was influenced by her, just not to the extent that the others were.

"I bid you welcome, mortal.", she spoke in a honey-like tone. "I am the Lady of the Forest."

   Avril smiled softly, her fear going away enough for her to let go of her lover's hand,"Thank you. I'm glad that we have this chance to talk."

"She's lying! Do not listen to her, Lady! She will betray you! We must attack her now!"

   The Lady shook her head,"Hush, Swiftrunner. Your urge for battle has only killed those that you wished to protect. Is that what you want?"

"No, my Lady...", he bowed his head.

"Then the time has come to speak with this outsider, to set our rage aside." She looked back at the Grey Warden and smiled warmly,"I apologize on Swiftrunner's behalf. He struggles with his nature.

   The elven woman crossed her arms across her chest and nodded,"You lead the werewolves, do you, then?"

"Those who I have helped are very grateful for what I have done for them. I offer guidance, but I do not command them. No doubt you have questions, mortal. There are things Zathrian has not told you, however."

   The blonde raised an eyebrow,"And how do you know what he has and has not told me?"

"Because there are things he does not wish to tell, things he would not tell. These are things that you must decide for yourself if you should know...It was Zathrian who created the curse that these creatures suffer, the same curse that Zathrian's men suffer from."

   Jett glanced at the Warden with sad eyes before looking back to the Lady of the Forest to listen further,"Centuries ago,  when the Dalish first came to this land, a tribe of humans lived close to the forest. They sought to drive the Dalish away from the land. Zathrian was a young man then. He had a son and daughter that he loved dearly, and while out hunting, the humans captured them both."