While Mahariel has always been my favorite Warden, and my main story Rise of the Wardens was centrally about Endrin, I've always thought that there wasn't nearly enough detail on the Dalish, or about Mahariel. Part of my intent in writing this is help resolve that issue. In particular the halla. Considering how important the halla are to the Dalish, you find out absolutely nothing about them.

My other intent in writing this story is to do Endrin's pre-origin story. Eventually I want to do one of these for each of my Wardens. Amell's is already up if you're curious... Anyway, onto the story.

Caledor moved through the Brecilian Forest with the same silent grace that any creature of the wild would. Nothing was disturbed as he passed, not a sound was made as his soft leather boots carried him over the forest floor. He was just at home in the forest as any deer, wolf, hawk, or any other wild animal would be, and truth be told he felt more at home and more at ease when he in the ancient forest than he was back at camp, and that was how it should be, because Caledor Varenthal was the lead hunter for the Sabrae Clan, just as his father had been before him.

Caledor loved the simplicity of life that he found in the forest and away from civilization. The only concerns that any of the wild creatures around him had were the concerns of food, rest, shelter, and finding a mate. What could be more simple? What could be more natural? As a hunter, Caledor felt that he was as close to that balance as an elf could possibly achieve.

Behind him, and moving just as silently was Larethae, his wife. She too shared his passion for wandering the forest, and his love of the hunt. In fact it had been their mutual passions that had brought them together. Many years ago, when Caledor had only just become a fully-fledged hunter himself, he'd been on the trail of a wild ox. He'd been tracking the massive animal for hours, and his youthful spirit was overcome with anxiety, so much that when he finally did catch up with the animal, his hands had shook as he drew his arrow, and the missile missed the ox's heart and it had charged through the forest, tearing through and bowling over anything in its way. Caledor had given chance of course, and soon found himself running beside a she-elf that he had never seen before, apparently he had not been the only hunter tracking the ox.

After finally catching up with the wounded animal, it had taken both hunters to bring the animal down, and even when it was over, neither one of them had been able to tell who had landed the killing shot, and so they had divided up the meat, and each taken a horn from the ox to craft into a hunting horn. Caledor did not see Larethae again until the next Arlathvhen, a meeting of all the Dalish Clans in Thedas. The two of them once more hunted together, and then were married the next day. Since that all those years ago, the two hunters had never separated.

But all that was happened almost fifty years ago, and although Caledor and Larethae were still just as skilled, they could no longer move with the same speed, nor the same endurance that they had before. And although the thought of leaving the way of the hunter behind him, and taking up the mantle of a hahren and assisting Keeper Marethari in governing the clan pained him, he knew that the time was drawing close.

Behind him, Larethae stopped and knelt, lowering her face close the ground and studying the hoofprint that had drawn her attention. She looked up, her silver eyes shone happily and her lips turned up in a smile as she nodded at her husband. Caledor understood the unspoken meaning and nodded once, They were getting very close to their prey.

It wasn't much longer before the two Dalish drew near to a small clearing caused by one of the many rivers that ran through their beloved forest, and their eyes came to rest on the beast that had created their hunt. Caledor had to work hard to keep from gasping at the sight of it, and chancing a look back at Larethae, he saw the same shock and admiration over his love's face. In front of them, looking back and forth with the utmost caution before lowering its head for a drink, was a creature so rare that neither of the experienced hunters ever laid eyes on one before, only a few stories of them even existed, it was a golden stag. The magnificent beast was huge, almost twice the size of most of the deer they saw, and with no less than twelve points on each antler.

Caledor closed his eyes and bowed his head in respect to the creature, then moving slowly and silently he reached over his shoulder and drew an arrow from his quiver. As he notched the ironbark arrow to his bowstring, he began a prayer to Andruil, Goddess of the Hunt, thanking her for rare and beautiful creature that was now in front of him, and that he was given the honor of hunting it. Before he could unleash the arrow however, he felt the soft touch of Larethae's hand on his shoulder, and he slacked the bow as he turned back to look at her. The silver-eyed elf shook her head, smiling at him with a touch of sadness. She was telling him not to take the shot, and Caledor arched his brow in confusion.

Larethae only smiled again in response, and moving past him, she called out to the deer, "Ma falon, run! This is not your day to die. Andruil speed your way!"

Caledor shook his head as he replaced his arrow and put his bow across his back as the golden stag sped into the forest with a speed unmatched by any other forest animal. He wasn't angry with his love, he could never be angry with her, he was only confused. "Ma sa'lath… Why did you do that?"

"Because emma vhenan, it would serve no purpose." She reached out and cupped his face in the palm of her hand. "We have both had our day, and we are old now. Let one of da'len rise to the occasion and prove themself."

"The Rite of the Hunter." Caledor chuckled, wondering why he hadn't thought of that.

"Yes." Larethae agreed, and she motioned with her head for them to head back to the Sabrae camp.

Caledor sighed with a touch of sadness as he began to make the long journey back to camp. He said, "Perhaps it is time to step down as a hunter… You're right, our time has come and gone."

"But we still have a few hunts left in us." Larethae said happily.

Caledor slowed his pace until he and Larethae were walking side by side. "I could never give up hunting completely." He smiled. "Could you?"

Larethae looked around at the forest that surrounded them as she laughed and answered. "No ma sa'lath. I could not."

Endrin Mahariel stroked the neck of the halla with one hand while it ate the grain out of her opposite hand. Although she was an apprentice hunter, hunting was not her only interest. The halla were one of her greatest passions. There were white furred creatures were bound to the Dalish, and to all of the Elvhen, but some of the Dalish shared a closer bond with their animal companions than others, Endrin was one such elf. As far back as she could remember she'd always loved the halla, and they responded better to her than almost anyone else. She was particularly close with Rayd, the halla that currently held her attention. Rayd and Endrin were so close that at times it seemed they could read each other's minds. Their bond had only grown stronger when Endrin had been permitted to start riding him six years ago.

Endrin knew that someone was coming as soon as Rayd lifted his head, making a kind of humming noise in his throat. It was one of those times that Endrin could seemingly read his mind. "Hello Tamlen." She said without looking up from her halla-friend.

"How did you know it was me?" Her surrogate brother asked.

"Rayd told me." She answered, finally looking over her shoulder at him and flashing her mischievous smile.

Tamlen snorted and shook his head. "You know lethallan… I'm really starting to believe that you two share the same mind or something."

"Good." She answered happily and returned her attention to the halla. "Rayd wants to know what you want?"

"Okay…" An exasperated Tamlen said, "Now I know that you're just trying to mess with my head."

Endrin grinned as she answered. "Yes I am! And I think it's working! I'm really the one who wants to know what you want."

"Caledor and Larethae are back, and they say they have news and for the two of us, Junar, Fenarel, and Veersa to meet them at their aravel."

Endrin sighed and patted Rayd on the shoulder. "Excuse me Rayd." She said. "Duty calls." Rayd dipped his head in acknowledgment and moved to the feed sack to finish his meal as Endrin moved to join Tamlen.

It didn't long for the two apprentices to arrive at the aravel, the other three young hunters were already there waiting for them, together the five of them formed a half circle around the two master hunters. The young faces of the da'len were still clean, unmarked by vallaslin tattoos that would someday mark them as adults. Caledor and Larethae on the other hand both had their faces marked in the vallaslin that venerated Andruil, as most hunters chose, a drawn bow across their faces with an arrow rising up from their chin and ending on their foreheads.

"My hunters." Caledor started. "The five of you are our oldest and most experienced apprentices. And today the time has come for one of you to undergo the Rite of the Hunter."

Endrin and her four comrades looked from their masters to each other, sly smiles spreading over all of their faces.

Larethae continued. "We have sighted a golden stag in the forest, and as you know, only one of you can have the honor of hunting it. We leave it up to you to decide among yourselves who that hunter will be."

Caledor finished by saying, "But decide quickly da'len. We are not the only clan in the forest, and there are many other hunters who would take the prize." With that said, the two masters turned at the same time and approached the bonfire that always burned in the center of their camp.

Endrin turned to look at her fellow apprentices and found them all looking back and forth from one of their number to another. "Tamlen," She said, and the four hunters all looked at her. "You're the oldest, and you've been a hunter the longest, I think entitles you to be the one to take the Rite."

"Yes." Tamlen answered. "But the truth of the matter is that you're a better hunter than I am…" He glanced at Fenarel, Junar, and Veersa before saying, "You're better than all of us. You're faster, more patient, and your instincts are sharper. I think you should go."

"Me?" Endrin said in surprise. She blinked several times before saying, "Do… all of you think that I should be the one to go?"

"I do." Junar answered quickly. "What Tamlen said is completely true… and besides… any of us can claim the Rite any time we want. The golden stag just makes this more special, and personally, I'm no glory-seeker."

"Neither am I." Endrin protested.

Junar chuckled before he said, "I'm not saying you are. I just think that your skills deserve some recognition." He glanced at Fenarel and nudged him with an elbow before Fenarel grunted and nodded his agreement.

All eyes turned to Veersa, who'd been a rival to Endrin practically since they learned how to walk, and there was nothing friendly about their rivalry. Veersa's father had been a flat-ear, a City Elf, who'd come to live with the clan and eventually married a Dalish. While most of the Sabrae had welcomed him, and later Veersa with open arms, there were a few who antagonized both Veersa and her father, and other who pitied them for their heritage. Veersa took it personally, and although Endrin had never been an antagonist, Endrin was the best of the apprentices, so Veersa was determined to outdo her in every aspect… and she usually failed.

"I don't think so." Veersa said venomously. "What makes her so much better than me? Or any of us? It's not like she's more successful than we are or anything. She just got lucky a few times, and so she gets showered with praise for luck rather than skill. I'm a better shot than she is, and I can track just as well."

"Shut-up!" Tamlen growled. "You're not a better shot. That was settled last week when you challenged her to an archery contest, and as I recall it was a tie! And we all know that Endrin tracks better than you do, and out of the five us she's brought home the most meat! So shut-up already! Endrin's going to go!"

"Fen'harel's fangs she is!" Veersa shot back.

Junar roughly shoved the unruly half-Dalish. "It's three to one Veersa!" He growled. "Shut-up!"

Veersa spun on her heel and stomped away in the direction of her parents aravel, swearing under her breath just quietly enough so that she couldn't be understood. The other three apprentices all turned to look at Endrin. Tamlen was the one who spoke. "Well I think that settles it." He said. "All three of us know that you're too modest to admit it, but you really are the best. Go on… Andruil bless your hunt, and Ghilan'nain guide your path!"

Endrin finally nodded and grinned. "Ma serannas!" She said happily. "All of you, thank you so much!" Then she ran after Caledor and Larethae, once she informed them that the decision had been made, she made her way to Ashalle's aravel.

"Ashalle!" She shouted with so much enthusiasm that the older elf dropped the basket she'd been weaving. "Ashalle! I'm going on a hunt… the hunt! The Rite of the Hunter! I'm finally going to be a real hunter! And I'm going to be a grown up, no more of this da'len!"

Ashalle looked up at her adopted daughter and smiled happily in the motherly way that she had. While Endrin had never known her own parents, and knew very little of them aside from their names, Ashalle had more than filled both their roles. Even though Endrin was ever-restless, and had a tendency to get into trouble because of her adventurous nature and insatiable curiosity, Ashalle had never grown angry with her. She was the most patient, most kind, most understanding, and loving person that Endrin had ever known, and she could not have hoped for a better parent. Endrin had never voiced it, but she deeply wished that Ashalle really was her mother.

"That's wonderful Endrin!" She said happily as she stood up and dusted of her yellow dress. "I knew that your time would come soon. What animal are going after? A sabertooth? A great bear?"

"No…" Endrin could barely contain her excitement. "A golden stag! Caledor and Larethae saw one on their last hunt, and my friends want me to be the one who brings it down!"

"A golden stag?" Ashalle repeated and remained in stunned silence for a few moments. "In all my years even I have never seen one. You must feel so proud to be chosen for such a hunt."

"I am!" Endrin beamed, her emerald green eyes shining the like the gems they were so reminiscent of. "I'll make you proud of me Ashalle! I promise!"

Ashalle wrapped her beloved ward in her arms, kissing her temple. "You've already made me proud Endrin, time and time again. I've always been proud of you, and I always will be." She broke the embrace and placed her hands on Endrin's shoulders. "May the Creators bless you, Endrin."

"Ma serannas! Ma serannas!" Endrin couldn't help herself and she started jumping in excitement. "I'll be back soon, and when I come back I'll be an adult!" Endrin quickly hugged Ashalle in last time, than quick as a flash, she dashed inside the aravel, emerging with her bow and quiver of arrows, then she made a bee-line for the central bonfire where the master hunters awaited her.

Even though Endrin was gone, Ashalle still said, "Farewell… my daughter."