Cia is an attentive student, eager to learn.

Ilska is a little less attentive, at least in terms of theory lessons. She tries, but her attention wanders easily.

Anders winks at Ilska, seeing her distraction. 

"Creation," he starts, before making sure he has both of their attention, "my class," he says, giving them both a serious eye. "Creation heals the body and soul, healing wounds and providing motivation to continue moving. The focus is improving and enhancing the body."

"The Spirit school-" Anders falters-

-lighting breaks out across his skin.

"Your speciality, Justice?"

Justice gives em an imperious look-

-but returns Anders, who shakes his head slightly.

"...anyway. Spirit school specialises in manipulation of the spirits who press on the veil. It takes special skill to turn them to your will, but the rewards are great. Would not recommend for you two just now, but...I suppose with a good teacher," Anders says, with a wink.

"We do have the best teacher."

Ilska snorts a little, and nudges Cia's side, but doesn't dispute the point.

Anders can't help himself. He wraps both of them in a hug. "Stop being cute, you're distracting me."

Ilska rolls her eyes, leans briefly into Anders, before leaning back again.

Cia meanwhile hugs back enthusiastically. "Pretty sure that's not possible."

"To stop being cute? Or stop distracting me? Because both of those are impossible. You are correct."

Anders kisses Cia's head, and then coughs, turning back to the book. "Right. Entropy. Debilitating and damaging. Spells that focus on weaving doubt and fear into your enemies, draining stamina and mana. A school the Templars would really rather not exist, alongside necromancy. Too much like blood magic, to them."

"Sounds fun."

"Maker, I worry about you being that powerful," Anders laughs. 

"That's the main classes, anyway. There are stronger ones, most of which involve pairing with a spirit. Things like Spirit Healer," he points to himself. "Arcane Warrior, known as Knight Enchanters in Orlais, Battlemages, I've heard a rumour that of Dalish magic that can control nature, or shapeshift."

"Ooh, do you think Rae might know about that?"

“If she doesn’t, I’d bet Defiance does. Or...Hawke has a friend. Merrill. She non stop rambles about Dalish magic.”

Then he remembers Merrill’s actual specialisation and blanches. “Or not. Definitely not.”

"Hm?" Ilska hums curiously at that change of heart.

"She has some interests I don't particularly...agree with."

"You know evading is gonna make me more curious right?"

"And then you'll just go ask her." Anders sighs. "She's...a blood mage."

"Ah. Yeah. Blood magic: not great."

"That's what we keep telling her. But if she wouldn't listen to her own people, she will definitely not listen to us."

Cia shrugs. "Some people are just like that."

"Yes, they are," he says, giving Cia and Ilska very pointed looks.

"I listen," Ilska protests mildly.

"Yes, my love, when it suits you."

"I reserve the right to ignore you when it's about your health, or Cia's."

Anders hears the unspoken 'but not my own', but chooses not to press it. 

"Well then, I hope you decide that blood magic won't help preserve Cia or me. Because I will be very concerned by that."

"You haven't needed it so far," Raeli notes as she steps into the room. "I think we can avoid it for now."

"Hey, Rae! Welcome home," Anders says, grinning at the elf.

There's a crash from upstairs.

"-What's he been up to now?" Raeli asks, pausing to hug Cia.

"Turns out Hawke's family hoarded some serious magic books, Tevinter in origin. Karl's been pouring over them for days and-"

Bang. Stomping footsteps. 

"-and I guess he's coming to tell you himself."

The door to the living room bursts open and in flies Karl, hands smeared with ink, a few flecks on his face. 

"Rae! Def! You will not believe the stuff I've found. There's this process in Tevinter-" He stops in front of Anders, kisses him once. "Hi love."

"You have ink everywhere," Anders says, incredibly fondly.

"Nice to see you too, Karl. We're fine, thank you, how're you?"

'Everywhere' appears to also include the slightly ink covered Blaise who's following in Karl's wake.

"Oh, look what you've done to poor Blaise."

"Blaise! Blaise has been instrumental, Rae, I can't even-"

He grabs her arm excitedly. "The process- it's called 'a vessel', it's combining the soul with a spirit- power is shared between them- it could-"

"For the love of the Maker, Karl, breathe," Anders laughs.

"It's interesting!" Blaise says, quiet, but enthusiastic.

"So, we managed to luck into something that's actually a thing?"

Karl shakes his head, but his eyes are bright and he's clearly excited. "No, no you guys are something new. But! This is a practice that can help others, and maybe smooth the path to becoming like you guys. I had- damn it-"

Karl pats down his pockets. "Blaise, what did I do with that piece of paper I had?"

Blaise holds it out.

"We make such a good team," Karl says gratefully, taking it. "Thank you, Blaise." 

He turns back to Rae, explaining away (in very complicated magical terms) about just how he could change a spell here, position a rune here-

Raeli is definitely interested.

As is Cia.

Justice is also interested, manifesting only slightly. A weird balance of Anders and Justice leans in closer to Karl.

Karl pauses, mid-explanation, too look over at his only slightly-glowing boyfriend. 

"Yeah, Justice. Like that. Sharing the space, not controlling it."

"It is...an unknown," he rumbles, quieter than his usual booming voice.

"Not an unknown," Defiance disagrees, a little coolly.

"I do not believe I wAS TALKING TO YOU, DEFIANCE!"

Well. There went Anders' tenuous grasp on Justice.

Karl, after living with their little family for so long, is used to this. 

He grabs Anders' face, staring Justice down. "You threaten them, you put Anders' in danger, and the Fade itself will not stop me from hunting you down."

Ilska is on her feet, definitely not happy with Justice's response.

Blaise has skittered backwards away from the anger.

“I AM ANDERS!”

“No. You wear him like a coat. When you can come and go like Defiance, or make a body like Blaise, then you can demand to be Anders all you like, but until then- Give. Him. Back.”

"You win yourself no arguments or favours this way," Raeli says quietly. "You prove the Templars right, no matter how wrong they are."

“Raeli is right. Every time you do this, you’re betraying what you both stand for. And we’re not going to let you do that to Anders.”

For a moment, it seems that Justice would turn on them all-

-but then there’s the sharp smell of ozone, and Anders blinks clear eyes. 

Karl changes his grip so it’s cupping Anders’ cheek instead. “Hey. Hey, you’re okay.”

Anders leans into the touch for a moment, then brings up his hand to take Karl’s away. “I- I need a moment.”

He turns to head upstairs, but as he passes Cia and Ilska, he taps the book of magic schools. “Read. Pick something.”

Cia watches him go. "Sure thing, Dad."

He stops, turns back, wraps an arm around em, and kisses eir temple. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs. 

Then he’s gone. 

"Justice is getting worse," Raeli says quietly.

“Yeah,” Karl agrees. 

He looks back down at the paper, covered in his calculations and notes. “This will work. It has to. I’m not losing him a- Maker, what are we up to? Fourth time?”

"Possibly better to approach it when Def and I aren't around. Maker knows Justice seems to have a bug in his bonnet about Def."

“Well, Justice and Anders have that whole ‘hate being wrong’ thing in common,” Karl says, a little bitterly. 

He then looks over at Blaise, realising how startled the boy must be. “Hey, Blaise, I’m so sorry about that. Are you okay? Can I hug you, or would you rather not be touched?”

"-Ah. I don't-" He looks lost, obviously not knowing the answer. (And desperately trying not to give someone else's answer.)

“Okay. One hand. Tell me if it’s okay.”

He grips Blaise’s shoulder gently. 

...Okay. He leans into the touch. That's okay.

(He thinks.)

"Why don't you guys go somewhere with less people? Us three'll be just fine."

“Good idea. Come get us if Anders comes back?”

"Straight away," Raeli promises.

Karl leads Blaise into a small room they had mostly been using to store things for the clinic. Two boxes on the ground made for decent enough seats, and so Karl urged Blaise onto one. 

Blaise follows the urging, slightly too compliant.

Karl keeps a hand on his shoulder. 

“I’m sorry. I try not to be angry around you. I’m usually much better at it, I know.”

"I- uh, it's okay? I- you can't-"

“Can’t hold it in? Apparently true,” Karl said on a sigh. “You know that when- when Justice happens, that it isn’t really Anders, right?” 

It seems almost vital to Karl that Blaise knows that.

Blaise nods. "Feels different. They're- They're the same, but not, like...two halves of differents wholes? edges worn together to make them fit..."

"Parts of them both, sawed down to force two things together," Karl agrees. "That's why what we're working on is so important. We can help him, and we can stop abominations."

He nods again. "I know. I know. I just- No. It's fine. S'just loud."

"You're liking it though? The studying?"

"Yes! Yes it's good! Please-" (don't take it away.)

Karl smiles bright. “That’s good! I tend to get very caught up in it, sometimes I don’t really pay attention to what’s going on around me.” He laughs. 

“Is there anything you’d like us to find out about?”

"I don't- I just like. Magic?"

"I do want to see how you respond to different kinds of magic. Elemental spells seem to come so easy to you. Especially fire."

Karl taps his chin. "I wonder if that affinity ties into your virtue."

"I- I don't know. I don't...know what it is."

"You're certainly empathetic. Very in tune with people's feelings. I would hesitate to say compassion, though I've never met one. Justice or Defiance would have a better read, though I don't think Justice is really up for talking." 

And Karl doesn't want Anders to lose any more time. 

"We could try taking you into the Fade?"

"-Isn't that bad?"

"No, no. It's quite safe. Mages do it every time they sleep. It's as natural as breathing. You just have to be careful when a demon tempts you. It's not too difficult to resist, when you remember what demons really are."

"-Oh. I- Yes. Maybe we should- You'd help me?"

"It would be my absolute honour, Blaise. Plus! Haven't accompanied a spirit through the Fade. You'll have to show me where you hung out. If you remember."

"I think I'd like that."

"That's settled then. We'll work out the safest place to set up an enchantment, and go Fade walking. We'll see if Defiance wants to come too." 

That gets a wider smile out of Blaise.

Karl does not let the melancholy feeling of 'just one more thing he can't share with Anders' take over.

Instead he delights in that smile. "All right. Wanna get back to work? There were some notes on runes of Holding I just know we could use."

Blaise nods eagerly.

Karl scoops him into a one armed hug, then leads him back out into the main room. 

He leans into him and follows.

He waves at the siblings and Rae as they go past. "We're going to get back to it. You all good here?"

"Uh-huh! Rae was talking about Dalish magic!"

Cia's cheer is a little forced, but mostly genuine.

"I know a bit about that!" Comes a sweet, high, very Dalish voice.

Ilska spins to her feet, reaching for the dagger she's still armed with.

Raeli laughs. "Hello, Merrill."

Merrill bounces into the room, immediately wrapping an arm around Rae. "Hello Rae! And Defiance, of course." 

She doesn't even notice Ilska's dagger.

She turns a bright grin behind her at Karl. "Anders went past looking like a stormcloud, so I thought I'd come see if everything was all right?"

"He didn't go anywhere, did he?"

"No. He's just in the courtyard. Why?" 

She drops her voice to a stage whisper. "Did Justice do something again?"

"I rather think this might've been my fault, but regardless."

"It's just so sad. If they stopped trying to change each other, they might actually find balance. I worry, sometimes, that Anders destroyed the person he meant to save." 

Karl winces.

Raeli sighs. "Spirits living in people is...not an easy thing."

"No. But balance is possible-" Merrill catches sight of Blaise, and her eyes light up. 

She leaps up from Rae and bounces over to him. "Hi! I don't think I've met you before. I'm Merrill, and you are- by the Dread Wolf, but there's some power coming off you!"

Blaise twitches away from her, startled by her exuberance, and looks to Karl for help.

"It's all right, Blaise. Merrill's loud, but she's gentle," he coaxes. 

To Merrill: "Blaise isn't really human. He's a spirit who has made himself a body. It's magic I've never encountered before."

"That's the kind of magic from before the fall of Arlathan!" Merrill's eyes are huge, and she stares at Blaise with amazement. "You are very special to have pulled yourself from the Fade intact!"

"I- That is-" He shrugs. "I'm not sure I did?"

"Oooh, maybe I could ask my friend, he would know!"

"We're actually going to walk the Fade. Find where Blaise used to be."

Merrill claps her hands excitedly. "There's a Dalish rite for that! Doesn't need lyrium, or blood, or anything! Just something strong to tie him to both this world and the Fade!"

-He perks up a little bit at that - any new magic is interesting.

"That sounds a lot safer than anything we were going to try. Any chance you have it written down somewhere?" Karl has perked up too, he has always been a scholarly sort of mage.

Merrill's smile dims somewhat. "Oh, um. My, er- the Keeper. She'd probably have it. She wouldn't give it to a shem though. Though she might for Hawke!"

"I doubt she'd give it to me either. All things considered."

"More likely you than me," Merrill said, looking a little lost for a moment, and scratching an old scar on her hand. 

"But!" She said a second later, bubbly charm coming right back. "You wanted to know about Dalish magic? I learned from Keeper Marethari, and she's considered one the best we have! The actual best was Zathrian, but either he died or disappeared or something."

"We better head back to it, Blaise. Unless you wanna hang around, listen to the Dalish magic lecture?"

He thinks for a moment, and then shifts closer to Karl - an answer, even if it isn't a verbal one.

Karl listens to that hint, and hugs Blaise a little tighter. "All right."

"I'll leave you all to it," Karl says to the rest of them, waving as he takes Blaise upstairs.

"It was really lovely to meet you, Blaise!" Merrill calls, cheerily. 

"I- and you?" he responds.

Merrill squeaks happily.

Karl takes him back to the study, their notes still sprawled out from before, books open or in haphazard piles.

Blaise flops down onto the floor next to the book he'd been reading.

Karl slides over a fresh piece of parchment and a quill, and adds a book next to him. "That leads into this, this here," Karl gestures towards the second page. 

He sits at the desk and grabs the last thing he was working on.

-Yup, Blaise is officially burrowed back into his books.

Karl goes back to his, occasionally grabbing Blaise to point out something he might've missed, or bounce ideas off him.

It is, truly, a delightful way to spend time, probably Blaise's favourite.

After probably a few hours, something slumps over Karl's back, wrapping his arms around him. 

"Hi."

Karl leans back into him. "Hey, love. You okay?"

"There are a lot of answers to that question," Anders says, tucking his head into Karl's shoulder.

"All right. We'll go with not good for now, and work our way up?"

A muffled sound of a agreement, then Anders lifts his head. "Can I borrow you for a moment?" 

"Of course, love." Karl stands. "Blaise, I'll come back later, all right? Can you also follow up on-" He shuffles through his notes, finds what he's looking for, and passes it to Blaise. "-this one?"

Blaise takes it and nods.

"You're doing awesome, Blaise. Thank you," he smiles at the boy. 

He then takes Anders' hand and leaves.

There's a knock on the door, and Merrill opens it a tiny bit. 

"Hello? Blaise? It's Merrill. Oh, and Cia."

"Hm?" Blaise looks up.

"Hey!" Cia says, slipping in ahead of Merrill. "Merrill was gonna take us to talk to her Keeper."

"Well. Try and talk to her, anyway. I need a special tool to finish my- thing. My important thing, and I would like to get the Fade walking spell for you too."

"Oh- I- did you want me to come?"

"If you'd like! I know the Keeper would be very interested in you!"

He's not sure that's a good thing, but he nods. "O-okay."

"Come on! We'll start heading up now!"

Well then. Off they go?

"Are we taking Hawke?"

"Ooh! I'll go see if one of them is available!" Merrill darts upstairs.

"She has too much energy," Cia says conspiratorily to Blaise. "C'mon."

And follows after Merrill.

To where Henri is greeting Merrill enthusiastically.

Merrill has flung her arms around his shoulders, and is half hanging off him.

"...if you're there, she won't turn us down! She likes you and Talia, because of Asha'bellanar!"

Henri doesn't seem to have a problem with Merrill hanging off him, quite the reverse. "If you'll let me get a word in, I'd have already said yes!"

"Oh! I thought you'd say I should slow down, or that you would think about it. I know I can be a little demanding sometimes, or- no, Varric says I'm not demanding enough-"

Henri laughs. "You're fine. I could do with a walk anyway. Talia says I'm driving her insane."

Merrill gasps in dismay. "No, you could never!"

"I started using a door for target practice. She walked through it."

Merrill giggles, and drops back onto her feet, hands going to Henri's forearms instead. "Probably not the best idea, nearly killing your sister. Might've gotten you in trouble with Leandra!"

"Talia has good reflexes! Anyway. Let me grab my gear and we can get on our way?"

Merrill bounces on her feet, nodding. 

And then gasps. "My staff! I'll be two seconds!" And then she's tearing off down the hallway, to her room.

Henri laughs, and ushers Cia and Blaise to the front door, fetching his gear on route.

Merrill comes back, her staff hanging off her back, and she bounces on her feet.

Though this time, the energy rolling off her is rather anxious.

Henri drapes an arm around her shoulders, giving her a quick squeeze. "It'll be fine. C'mon."

Onwards?

Merrill cuddles into him, her tiny hand fisting in his jerkin for a moment. 

Then she straightens, puts on her usual bright smile. "All right! Let's head up." 

She leads the way to Sundermount.

Henri launches into a doubtlessly embellished tale as they walk - from his and Talia's days as smugglers.

Merrill is a rapt audience, gasping in the appropriate places, bouncing excitedly, turning big, wide eyes of amazement on Henri.

Cia is a pretty good audience as well. Practice from listening to Anders.

Blaise listens, but also appears to be listening to everything around them.

Later, into the afternoon, they leave Kirkwall proper, heading up the steep path leading away from the Wounded Coast. 

Merrill, noticeably, stops talking. 

Blaise bites his lip - people don't like it when he echoes their thoughts out, especially not the negative ones.

Rae skips to catch up with Merrill, nudges their shoulders together in solidarity.

Blaise can feel regret, sorrow, longing- but most of all, anger. Defiance. 

Merrill smiles a little at Rae, and nudges her right back.

"We've got your back," Rae reminds her.

Merrill smiles at Rae. "I know."

Her face hardens as they get closer to the camp, and the two Dalish standing guard spotted her. 

"Thought we got rid of you!" One of them calls.

"I am still Dalish, whatever you think of me," Merrill says, and walks straight past them.

"You can't deny blood."

"It's her that has the problem denying blood," the guard says with a sneer. 

Defiance ripples over Raeli's skin, a sneer obvious in eir manner.

"-It's all too much. It's sickening. It's wrong. It's not. It's not."

The guards shrink back from Defiance, snarling. "She brings abominations and monsters and shems in her wake. And you blame us for being fearful."

"Charming, really. Anyway, we'll be about our business."

Ilska glares at that guards as she passes.

The guards glare at the group, but do not bar their progress. 

Merrill is already at the centre of the camp, mid-argument with a older elf, recognisable to Henri and Rae as the Keeper.

Defiance slides away, leaving Raeli.

"Keeper," she greets with a nod.

Cia tucks closer to Ilska's side.

Marethari nods at Raeli. "I feel as if we just spoke, Raeli," she says warmly. 

She looks behind her, to Henri. "And I suppose you're here to help Merrill with this foolishness?"

"You know me and Talia, always up for a little foolishness. But this is a favour for Karl and Blaise." He gestures to the boy.

Who is half trying to hide behind Raeli.

"And I'm invoking vir sulevanan, for the arulin'holm." 

The Keeper turned tired, sad eyes on Merrill. "Merrill, please. Give up this foolishness. Come back to the clan. Let Tamlen and Mahariel go." 

"You might've given up on regaining our past, Keeper. But I have not."

"We've lost so much," Raeli says quietly. "We should take any chance we have to regain some."

"Merrill put the whole clan at risk to bring back something that killed our People. I will not be lectured by either of you, on this."

Sigh.

"But there is a task I would have you perform."

"A favour for a favour. The best kind of deal."

"A varterral has taken up in a nearby cave. Three of my hunters have already been killed. I need you to-"

"Who?" Merrill's voice is stricken.

Raeli curses quietly.

"Of course we'll help."

"Who, Keeper?!"

The Keeper sighs, sadly. "Radha, Chandan and Harshal. Pol went missing yesterday, and we fear the worst."

Merrill presses a hand to her mouth, eyes filling with tears. 

"Where is the cave, Keeper?" Raeli asks. "Time is of the essence."

"Follow the path towards the mountain, but take the left road."

She reaches out for Merrill. "Merrill, da'len-"

Merrill pulls away from her, eyes glittering with angry tears. 

She marches off up the path.

Raeli's hot on her heels, with the others following behind her.

Merrill is uncharacteristically quiet, and when skeletons rise near the entrance of the cave, she fights with an aggression they haven't seen before, going as far to strike a wound on her hand and summon the strength of her spirit to shake the skeletons apart.

Ilska's dived into the fight as well, no more aggressive than usual, but eager for the chance to get rid of some of her pent up energy.

Once the skeletons are dealt with, Merrill leads the way into the cave. 

They aren't far into it when she lets out an anguished cry. "Radha!"

There, so close to the exit, is the body of a Dalish hunter, blood surrounding him. He had been gravely wounded, but had still tried to leave. 

He died, so close to the exit.

Henri reaches out to squeeze Merrill's shoulder. "We will avenge him."

"This shouldn't have happened. Varterral usually let the Dalish pass. What happened here?"

She kneels next to the corpse, and collects a small amulet. "Radha. I'm so sorry."

Raeli crouches down. "We'll figure it out."

"Yes. You're right. Can't think about it now."

She pockets the amulet. "We have to go further down. The varterral protects Elvhen ruins."

"We've got your back," Henri promises.

She leads them down further into the caves, battling spiders and skeletons as they go. Twice more, Merrill crouches beside the body of a Dalish hunter, and collects a small amulet. 

The more perceptive members of the party will hear or sense a distressed noise coming from a distressed person, hiding in the shadows.

Ira clicks her tongue.

Blaise shudders. "Stop. No. Please."

“Hello? It’s all right! We’re not skeletons! We’re really real!”

“Thank the Creators!” Says a small voice, and then a fourth Dalish hunter comes stumbling around the corner. He’s young, with red hair that sticks up every each way. His voice is the picture of relief. 

Until his eyes settle on Merrill, and it turns to terror. “Merrill?”

"There's other people here. Can't be fussy about rescue."

"Do you know what she is? What she's done!?"

"Saved my life!"

"-I don't think I know that story. However: we don't have time to argue about this."

“Pol, please, we’re here to help!”

“No! Stay away from me!”

Pol runs back the way he came. 

“He’s running towards the vartarrel!” Merrill screams, and runs after him. 

...Ilska is fast, and tackles the elf.

“No! Get off me!” Pol lashes out with pointy elbows and sharp fingers. 

“Pol! Please, we’re not going to hurt you! I’m- I’m not going to hurt you!”

Ilska doesn't let him go, pivots him towards the exit. "If you're going to run, run that way."

Pol noticeably recoils from going anywhere near Merrill.

Merrill turns, hands her staff to Henri, and walks herself as far from Pol as she can, without blocking a clear run to the exit. 

Her nails clench into her palms. 

Henri drifts back with her.

Ira lets Pol go.

Pol stumbles out of her grip, and turns to stare worriedly at her, but backs towards the exit. 

Before he keeps going, he looks at Merrill, with terrified hatred. “That thing you brought back, it killed Tamlen. Mahariel. How can you justify that?”

“Because our history is worth protecting, Pol. Even if we have to do distasteful things.”

“Distasteful. The Templars has a different word for that,” Pol says, hatefully.

He runs to the exit, not sparing her another look.

Henri wraps his arm around Merrill's shoulders, handing her her staff back.

“I- we...um-“ Merrill’s lip trembles. 

"Let's go and deal with this, huh?" Henri says gently.

“Can I have a hug first? Please?”

"Of course!" Henri wraps her in a tight hug.

Cia steps in closer and adds eir arms to the hug.

Merrill cuddles gratefully into both of them. “It wasn’t always like this. The Dalish are good, kind people. You’re not seeing us at our best.”

"They have their reasons. All of this--Everything is hard."

“This is why finding our past is so important. This is why history is important. We have to preserve what little we have left.”

Merrill wipes her eyes, and takes her staff back. “All right. The faster we do this, the quicker the clan is safe.”

Raeli reaches out to squeeze Merrill's shoulder. "This shouldn't take us long."

“No. We have good warriors here.”

Merrill looks at each of her friends, and smiles. 

"Well then. Onwards! Before Talia decides to come and hunt is down!"

“Well, we wouldn’t want that now, would we?” Merrill’s smile is watery, but there. 

She leads the way further down. 

"She'd tell us off. I hate it when she starts scolding me. She inherited Ma's mannerisms that's for sure!"

"Talia is terrifying when upset..."

"She's never cross with me!"

"You haven't done anything to upset her!"

"You- you don't think I could? I mean, she would tell me, if I had?"

Henri wraps his arm around her shoulders again. "Talia's pretty good at letting you know. The worst you're likely to manage is scaring her and she'll tell you off and then hug you within an inch of your life."

"It's just- you matter so much to me, you all have become like my second family. I would've been lost without you all."

"Family argues, you've seen me and Carver. But we don't stop loving each other, and it doesn't mean you don't still have a place with us."

"Hear, hear," Raeli says quietly.

Merrill's smile is a little more confident. "Thank you!"

There is a rumble from the cavern below.

"I think it's getting impatient," Ilska murmurs.

Merrill pauses just outside the mouth of the cavern, and looks back at everyone. "They're ancient constructs. We don't know how or why they form, except that they guard ancient elvhen places. If it's angry- I don't think it can be reasoned with."

"Much like Ilska then."

Merrill giggles, helplessly.

"Alright, Rae, Cia, Merrill, Blaise, stay up high, you're our support and ranged. Ilska, I guess you and me are doing the heavy lifting today."

Raeli nods, readying her bow.

Ilska grins and cracks her neck, ready for this.

Merrill spins her staff. "All right. Mythal'enaste!"

The varterral is crouched over the entrance to deeper ruins, the writing around the entrance so badly damaged. 

Like a shuddering spider, it stomps towards them.

Ira surges forward, sword in hand.

Henri is beside her, short sword in one hand, dagger in the other.

The varterral lets out a terrible, guttural noise, and thick, pink liquid starts oozing from its mouth.

Merrill summons vines and roots that burst from the ground and wrap tightly around the varterral's legs.

Oh good. It's hopefully restrained by the time Henri and Ilska make it within arm's reach.

Raeli starts to fire arrow after arrow.

It roars ineffectually, trying to rip its legs back out, but Merrill's roots and vines keep coming.

Merrill whips a hand through the air, and Rae's arrows glow green.

The enchantment over Rae's arrows means they can pierce the varterral's rock hard hide.

Cia channels eir own strength in Merrill the best ey can.

Ilska's attacks are, if not effective, then relentless.

The varterral lashes out with one freed leg, mouth foaming with that pink substance.

Some of it hits the ground, and immediately the ground sizzles with it.

Henri makes a note, and an effort, to stay clear of that.

Ilska continues to prove that she lacks a self-preservation instinct.

"Cia! I don't know how to do shields!" Merrill calls frantically, trying to tie down the leg that was hurtling towards Ilska.

Cia does, although it's pretty obvious ey's irritated at eir sister even as ey brings a shield around Ilska.

The varterral's leg shudders across the shield, the creature howling in fury.

Merrill makes a gesture, and flings it towards Henri and Ilska.

Their weapons glow green too, and there is a ripple of energy around them.

Ilska surges forward, intent

The varterral's freed leg is extended further from the body than the others, that are pinned, and the creature is clearly struggling to pull it back.

A very vulnerable spot.

Ilska brings her blade down on it.

The joint fractures, the leg going limp. 

The varterral roars, and then spits the acidic goop at Ilska.

Cia manages to shield her from most of it, although some of it makes it through, spattering over Ilska's arm.

Ilska doesn't even notice it, pushing in closer, aiming for the head.

"Ilska!" Merrill cries, anguished, and then vines shoot up twice as much, wrapping the varterral and pulling it forcefully into Ilska's path.

...And Ilska's laughing gleefully. Okay.

Henri surges forward to help.

Merrill quickly opens the wound on her hand again, closes her eyes, and summons a wave of energy. It floods through Ilska and Henri, making their swings twice as strong and their stamina seemingly unending.

Ilska didn't really need the boost, but she's not going to complain about it - she perhaps, doesn't really notice it.

Still. It hopefully won't take them much longer to have the varterral dead.

With one leg down, and Merrill's vines strangling the rest of it, the vulnerable parts of the parts between segments are clear for them to attack.

Henri doesn't bother to try and direct Ilksa - isn't entirely sure she'd listen - just makes sure he goes for the vulnerable spots that aren't in her way.

The varterral weakens with each hit, and falls a little further, howling impotently. 

Soon, it collapses, twitching weakly.

Henri looks back to Merrill. "We good?"

"One moment." 

Merrill walks to the varterral, keeping the vines and roots coiled around it for safety. She lays a hand on its head, and her magic courses through it. She nods.

"It's disabled. We're safe." She lets the vines and roots go.

Henri reaches out to hug her again.

Merrill cuddles closely into him, breathing steadily. He's calming, and she needs that.

"Everyone okay?" Henri aims at the rest of the band, and gets a variety of affirmatives.

"We should probably go. I need to get the amulets to the Keeper. We can get the spell from her too."

Merrill casts a somewhat longing look at the ruins, and then leads the way back out.

"We can come back," Henri says. "I'm sure Rae and Def would love to look at the ruins."

"I won't deny that."

Merrill takes a bandage out of a little pouch, and starts wrapping her hand, well practiced by now. She grins up at Henri, cuddling into him as they walk. 

“There could be something intact, something worth recovering. Something worth all this pain.”

Well then. Peaceful walk back to the Dalish camp?

It is indeed very peaceful, with nothing rising up to fight them, or crawling out of the walls.

The only thing that is worrying, is Merrill's mood turning dark the closer they get. When the camp is in sight, she stiffens, but keeps walking.

The Keeper is where they left her, though this time she is having a heated discussion with another older elf, a man, dressed like a blacksmith.

Well. Henri leads them close enough to be noticed, which, conveniently, is also into hearing range.

"She did the task! She has a right! You've always been so harsh on her, it is no wonder that she ran to the humans-" The older man was saying, but the Keeper cut him off.

"She ran to blood magic, Ilen! What would you suggest I had done instead?" 

"Listened to her. In her grief she has tried to fix something-" Ilen notices them approaching, and forcefully relaxes his shoulders. "Hello, da'len," he says to Merrill. 

"Hello, Hahren," Merrill says, smile watery. 

She takes the amulets out of her pouch, and hands them to the Keeper. "The varterral is dead."

"Very dead," Raeli agrees.

"Then there is no reason not to give you this," Ilen says, handing Merrill a small, ornate knife.

The Keeper's face noticeably darkens.

Henri smiles. "Can I ask what the...meaning of it is?"

She hugs Ilen, who tucks her head under his chin and closes his eyes. "I miss you, da'len."

"I miss you too, Hahren. You're welcome to come and visit," she says, hopefully.

"And leave my apprentice to butcher the ironbark?" He laughs. He squeezes her one more time and takes his leave.

Merrill grins at Henri. "Maybe I'll show you. When we get back to Kirkwall."

Henri grins.

"...is this everything we need?"

"In a moment," The Keeper says, beckoning Blaise over. "Let me take a look at you, child."

Blaise twitches, ducks his head, shifts uncomfortably.

"It's all right. I don't bite."

The Keeper gestures over to herself, again.

-That's not really the problem, but he does move a bit close - still out of arm's reach though.

The Keeper's hands glow a soft gold, and Blaise can feel a warm energy going through him. 

"Hmmmm. You are something strange. Not of this world, and yet centred."

He shrugs.

"You are not worried that your connection to...Karl? Was it? Is forcing you to stay?"

"-Was already here."

"Hmmmm." The Keeper lowers her hands. "If you don't wish to move on, you must ensure to guard yourself against bindings."

Merrill's face darkens, and she turns away.

"Been fine so far."

"Just be careful. I would hate to see you twisted from Empathy." 

The Keeper hands him a small scroll. "A spell to walk the Fade. Should you need it."

"...Thank you."

Turns back to the others. "Can we go home now?"

"Of course, Blaise." Merrill turns to go.

"It's not too late to turn back, da'len," the Keeper says, looking sadly at Merrill.

Merrill says nothing and keeps walking.

Henri waits until they're out of earshot before saying anything. "You're fine just the way you are, Merrill."

Merrill leans into him again. "I'm so glad the Hawkes think so."

"Not just the Hawkes think that," Raeli adds quietly.

Merrill smiles brightly at Raeli. "Well. You have to like me. We're spirit friends!"

Raeli laughs. "It's more than that."

"Really?"

"Yes," Raeli confirms.

"I like you!" Cia adds brightly.

Merrill giggles happily. "I like you too!"

"Excellent! We all like each other!"

"An important part of being friends," Merrill says seriously, giggling.

"Very!" Henri agrees brightly.

Ilska rolls her eyes at the antics.

Merrill giggles at Ilska, feeling much lighter than when they headed up the mountain. 

As they get closer to Kirkwall, Merrill's step regains its spring.

Raeli seems pleased about that at least.

Merrill stops at the turn for the Lowtown Alienage. "I'll see you all later! I've just got to- this...way. Bye!"

She disappears. 

Henri shakes his head. "That girl."

It doesn't take Cia, Ilska, Raeli and Blaise long to get back to their place in the basement of the Hawke's mansion.

Where Anders is waiting, a somewhat rueful smile on his face. 

"Hey, kids," he says to Ilska and Cia.

"Feeling better?"

"If I say yes, would I not get a hug?"