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The Last of the Couslands	By : MistressofMagic Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4401 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Bioware and EA own everything associated with the Dragon Age universe. I am making no money off of this fan fiction.

Chapter List
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Chapter 22
Ending the Curse
Bridget furrowed her brow as she saw Zathrian bent down to the ground and examining a stone. What was he doing here…and why? Though it wasn't like she was about to complain or anything. At least this would save her a trip trekking all the way back through the forest to the camp to find him. Bridget approached him cautiously. He smiled as she neared and said,
"Ah there you are."
Bridget crossed her arms.
"And what brings you all the way out here, Zathrian?" she asked coolly.
Zathrian stood and stated,
"You cleared the forest and it is safe for the time being, so I followed after you."
Bridget narrowed her eyes as he continued.
"I followed you because there was no telling what would happen once you arrived here." He said innocently.
Bridget raised her eyebrows.
"Interesting, but we must speak, now."
Zathrian brushed her off and turned his back to her.
"There will be plenty of time for that much later, during the celebration for finding the heart. You did acquire it…didn't you?"
"I say we stab him in the back right now, he dies the curse dies, right?" Zevran whispered.
Bridget shook her head and replied,
"No, Zathrian. I did not."
Zathrian turned back around to her and narrowed his eyes.
"You didn't? Why are you leaving the ruins then?"
Bridget looked at him. She was going to be straight forward with this conversation, not wanting to keep the werewolves waiting for long.
"The Lady of the Forest wishes to speak to you…she has asked me that I escort you to her."
Zathrian snorted.
"So she has a name for herself now, hmm? Might I ask what she wants of me?"
Bridget sighed, starting to lose her patience, but kept her temper intact. No reason to go and make anybody mad for no reason, after all.
"She states that she will not summon Witherfang unless you break the curse, Zathrian."
He scoffed and began to pace back and forth.
"You do realize that she is Witherfang…don't you? They are one and the same."
Bridget nodded slowly.
"Yes, I suspected as much."
Zathrian continued.
"It is she who I summoned long ago and bound to the wolf. Her very nature is of the forest itself, as you saw. She is both beautiful, yet terrible, serene and savage. She is like a coin with one side being the good in nature, the opposite being the bad. The curse came from her first. The afflicted became savage beasts, but human as well."
"Zathrian…the werewolves have regained their minds."
He snorted and quipped,
"I find that very difficult to believe. They attacked my clan, they remain as savage as they have always been. They all deserve to be killed, not defended!"
Bridget opened her mouth to reply, but Zathrian continued by saying,
"I will accompany you back into the ruin. Once there I will force the Lady into Witherfang's form and you may then slay the beast and retrieve the heart."
Bridget shook her head.
"I assure you Zathrian; the werewolves have regained their minds!"
"No! All they want is revenge, they must be killed!"
Bridget gaped at him.
"Do you still have so much hatred after all this time?"
Zathrian narrowed his eyes and flared his nostrils.
"You were not there, human. You did not see the mangled corpse of my son…my daughter, bleeding out from her heart where a knife from her own hand had pierced her. Do not speak to me of hatred! You are not Dalish! How can you expect me to let their crimes go unanswered?"
Bridget sighed.
"You can at least meet with them, that is what I suggest."
Zathrian crossed his arms.
"And what if they attack instead of speak? Will you defend me?"
"I really do not think it will come to that, Zathrian." Bridget replied.
He sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"I fail to see where this will get us but very well…I will speak to the spirit."
Bridget sighed in relief and turned back around. She led Zathrian and the others back into the ruin and towards the wolves' den. Upon entering, all the werewolves growled at Zathrian maliciously. Bridget could see the hatred in all of their eyes and prayed to the Maker that things could be sorted out peacefully…though she knew with her luck that this conversation would probably lead to a battle. They stopped once they stood in front of the Lady. Zathrian sneered.
"And so here you are, Spirit." He spat.
Swiftrunner moved so fast, Bridget didn't even have time to blink. He stood in front of Zathrian and growled down at him.
"You will address my Lady by her proper name!" he snarled.
Zathrian raised an eyebrow and looked over his shoulder at Bridget.
"Regained their minds…?" he asked curtly.
Bridget narrowed her eyes as he turned back around and addressed the Lady.
"So…I see you have taken a name and given names to your little pets…how lovely. And they all follow you?"
The Lady shook her head.
"It was these creatures who gave me my name, Zathrian and the names they bear are their own. They choose to follow me because I help them find peace and solace and who they truly are."
Zathrian scoffed.
"Bah! Who they are now does not change who their ancestors were! These beasts will always be savage animals and untamable monsters!"
Swiftrunner growled.
"He will not help us, Lady. He does not wish to talk!"
Zathrian raised an eyebrow.
"On the contrary I am here to talk, beast…though I see it as a futile effort. We all know where this will lead…after all it is in our nature to protect ourselves."
The Lady stepped up to him.
"But it does not have to be that way, Zathrian. Surely there is room for compassion in your heart. Your retribution is spent."
Zathrian shook his head.
"My retribution is eternal, as is my pain though I suspect you will not understand that. This is justice, nothing more."
The Lady walked back to stand next to Swiftrunner and contemplated Zathrian. She was cunning and said,
"Are you quite certain your pain is the only reason behind keeping this curse? Have you told the mortal exactly how it came to be?"
Bridget furrowed her brow.
"Zathrian told me that the summoned you and bound you to a wolf. Is that not what happened?"
The Lady nodded.
"That is true…but such powerful magic could not be accomplished without some of Zathrian's own blood."
"Blood Magic." Alistair whispered.
The Lady continued.
"Your people believe that you have found a way to be immortal, as your ancestors once were. But this is not true. So long as the curse exist…so do you."
Zathrian's eyes widened.
"N-No! That is not how it is!"
Bridget heard is voice falter and crack. And so Zathrian was caught in another lie.
"How far are you willing to go for your revenge, Zathrian?" she asked.
Zathrian swallowed and said,
"I did this for my people and my family, I would do anything for them!"
The Lady looked at Bridget and stated,
"The curse will not end with Zathrian's death alone. I believe his death plays a part in it…and that his life relies on it's existence."
Swiftrunner growled.
"So we kill him!"
Zathrian scoffed.
"You may speak, but you are beasts still! Only I know how the ritual ends, and I will never do it!"
"Then we must kill them all!" Swiftrunner snarled, earning growls of agreement.
Zathrian turned to Bridget and stated,
"You see, they turn on you as quickly! Either do what you came here to do, or get out of my way."
Bridget shook her head and withdrew her sword.
"I am not helping you, Zathrian."
Alistair nodded as he too withdrew his weapon.
"We're standing for what's right." He stated.
Zathrian walked away.
"Fine! You will die with these savage beasts!"
The Lady transformed into Witherfang as Zathrian brought the trees in the area to life. Bridget dodged a ice spell he sent towards her and began attacking one of the trees. Once given the opportunity, she looked over her surroundings. Many of the werewolves had become paralyzed, for some reason. Zathrian had also summoned a few Shades. Bridget killed the tree and ran towards Leliana to help her with the Shade she was facing. At least Bridget and the others had the upper hand here. They had already defeated Uldred…so Zathrian couldn't be more terrible than him. And he wasn't, really. To be fair, Zathrian was a very powerful mage, and he actually knocked Zevran out cold. After finally ridding the room of all of the Shades and Sylvans, Bridget wasted no time. She charged at him and hit him with her shield as hard as she could. Alistair was beside her, slashing away with his sword. Soon, with the aid of Witherfang and Swiftrunner, Zathrian could no longer keep his magic alive. He had sustained far too many injuries. He dropped to his hands and knees.
"N-No more, spirit…I…I cannot defeat you."
Swiftrunner grinned maliciously.
"Finish it! Kill him now!"
"No! There must be some other way!" Leliana shouted.
As Swiftrunner was about to charge, the Lady placed her arm out in front of him to hold him back.
"No Swiftrunner, we do not kill him. We must find mercy in our hearts…if we cannot, how may we expect to find any in his?"
Zathrian shook his head as he slowly stood.
"I am too old to know mercy. All I see are the faces of my children…I…I cannot,"
Bridget sighed as she looked at him.
"Hasn't this gone on long enough, Zathrian?"
He was silent for a moment as he stared at the floor. Soon after, he nodded and said,
"Perhaps I have…lived too long. This hatred in me…it has consumed my soul and branded me forever…but what of you, spirit? You are bound to the curse just as I…do you not fear your end?"
The Lady looked at him.
"You are my maker, Zathrian. You gave to me consciousness so that I could experience all the joys of life…and the sorrows. I desire nothing but to put an end to it. Please, I beg you, maker. End this, show us mercy."
Zathrian sighed.
"You shame me…I am an old man, alive long past his time."
The Lady's eyes widened.
"You will put an end to the curse?" she asked in surprise.
He nodded.
"Yes…let us put an end to all of this."
Swiftrunner looked to the Lady and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. She placed her hand atop his and looked back at Zathrian. He raised his staff and thrust it to the ground. Zathrian fell as the room was filled with a bright light. All the other werewolves surrounded the lady. Bridget closed her eyes as the brightness was too much. When she re-opened them…all of the werewolves were now humans. The man she guessed to be Swiftrunner gazed at his hands and then looked at her.
"I can't believe it…it's over…"
Bridget smiled.
"What of you now?" she asked.
Swiftrunner smiled.
"We'll leave the forest and find other humans, I suppose. We cannot thank you enough human…err…"
Bridget chuckled softly.
"It's Bridget, Swiftrunner." She stated.
He smiled.
"Thank you, we will never forget you."
With that said he and the other freed humans ran from the temple. Bridget turned to the others.
"Guess we should head back to the Dalish Camp and explain all of this."
And so Bridget and the others exited the ruin and trekked back through the Brecilian Forest. Upon reaching the camp, Lanaya, the new Keeper ran up to them.
"It is remarkable, all of our people are cured! But Zathrian…"
Bridget placed her hand on her shoulder.
"He died a hero, Lanaya." She stated.
Lanaya nodded.
"I felt it, when he passed. Please stay with us tonight to celebrate the end of the curse. We will have food and music!"
Bridget turned to the others.
"I think we earned ourselves a little relaxation, don't you?"
Everyone nodded eagerly. Bridget turned back to Lanaya.
"We'd love to stay."
Lanaya grinned.
"Excellent! We will begin preparations right away!"
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The Last of the Couslands