Many thanks to Brelaina for being my Beta Reader!

Chapter 17: The Road to Redcliffe

The road meandered to a point overlooking Lake Calenhad, and Virae paused to take in the view. She closed her eyes and felt the warm sun on her head, felt the cool breeze caress her face, and inhaled the fresh green smell of healthy growing things. In the distance she could just make out the Circle Tower, and she pictured the oak tree where she had sat countless times, imagining what it was like here, on the other side of the lake.

Virae was strangely relieved to be back on the road. Darkspawn stalked her dreams at night, and her waking hours were plagued by a constant niggling feeling at the back of her mind; the sense that time was running out, ever so slowly. That uncomfortable feeling had eased off now that they were traveling again. Being back on the road also meant she could resume shape shifting, and Virae was anxiously anticipating the next shape she wanted to learn: a raven.

The night before - after setting up camp - Virae had barely paused long enough to eat before running off in wolf form with Morrigan. She had ducked into her tent, undressed, and shape shifted into wolf form, then joined Morrigan in the woods just outside of the camp. The wonder and joy of experiencing the world as a wild creature with simple needs, and the relief of putting aside her Grey Warden responsibilities for just a few hours was marvelously refreshing. Virae had recovered her good humor.

The young mage surveyed her friends. Just now, Morrigan was walking along with one hand on Caraid's head, and the other holding the black grimoire Virae had given her. Virae smiled at the Mabari, he was taking his guide dog responsibility very seriously, and Morrigan was engrossed. Alistair was talking to Wynne; you would have thought he'd found his long lost mother, the way the two of them got along. Leliana was humming to herself, pausing now and then to look at some sheets of parchment she held in her hands. Sten was leading for a change; even though he and Zevran had been put to work searching out and destroying the last of the abominations at the Tower, he was frustrated by the delay at the Circle and anxious to be killing Darkspawn, or killing something anyway. Zevran was at the rear, in sweep position, but unusually quiet. Virae thought with an unacknowledged pang of jealousy that maybe he was missing Alain; his usual flirting was subdued and he hadn't made a single lewd comment all morning.

Virae fell into step with the assassin. "Well, Zev, is traveling with Grey Wardens everything you thought it would be?" she asked playfully.

He avoided the question by asking one of his own. "Is traveling with a Crow everything you thought it would be?"

She laughed, "I imagine I may be the only former mark able to answer that question." She thought about what he'd already told her about his early childhood, sold as a slave to the Crows, fighting other children to the death for training and survival. She asked soberly, "Was there anything… positive about being a Crow?"

Zevran chuckled grimly, "the Crows who are actually good enough to survive come to enjoy some of the benefits. In Antiva being a Crow gets you respect. It gets you wealth. It gets you women… and men, or whatever it is you might fancy. But that does mean doing what is expected of you, always. And it means being expendable. It's a cage, if a gilded cage. Pretty, but confining."

The Circle Tower had been a gilded cage also, she thought, and now they were both free… sort of. "So what is it you fancy, exactly?"

"I fancy many things." He smiled genuinely. "I fancy things that are beautiful and things that are strong. I fancy things that are dangerous and exciting. Would you be offended if I said I fancied you?"

Virae's breath caught and she almost tripped. "No… not at all."

The assassin relaxed almost unperceptively. "This is good to know. "

The road from the Circle Tower to Redcliffe wove around the lake, and afforded lovely views of the beautiful, deep blue waterway. Where the roadway departed from the lake, it rolled through picturesque new-growth woods and farmlands.

The Grey Warden party stopped at mid-day for a rest and a light meal. They were moving more slowly than usual, making allowances for Wynne as she became accustomed to traveling long distances on foot. Virae stood at the edge of the small clearing where they took their rest, and looked out over the lake; several sail boats of various sizes dotted the smooth blue surface of the water, all unmoving. She heard footsteps beside her and glanced back to find Zevran sidling up next to her. With a warm jolt, she realized that he must have purposely made noise so as not to startle her.

"The sailboats are all taking a siesta, no?" he murmured warmly in her ear.

"No, not a siesta," Virae replied, without taking her usual step back from the assassin. "The wind on the lake is completely still at mid-day. This time of year, the wind moves North toward the Calenhad Docks in the afternoon, and South toward Redcliffe in the morning. At mid-day, there's no wind at all." Virae smiled, amused with herself because she sounded like a Chantry sister giving a geography lesson.

The elf-mage sighed wistfully, "I used to watch the sails on the lake, and wish I could ride in one of the boats." She turned toward the rogue elf. "Antiva is a harbor city, have you ever sailed?"

Zevran chuckled, "Indeed I have, and I am quite the accomplished sailor, if I do say so myself." He smiled suggestively. "I would be only too happy to take you for a ride, if the opportunity presents itself."

Virae's heart skipped a beat, and her attention was momentarily captured by the delicious pout of the assassin's lower lip. The words of her reply rolled incoherently in her mind as she leaned toward him. But then the moment was shattered by the sudden explosion of expletives behind them.

Virae had to stifle a laugh at the scene before her. Alistair was sprawled on the ground, holding an empty cup, and Morrigan was sitting nearby next to Caraid, her hair and clothes wet, furiously dabbing at the book in her lap. The swearing was emanating from her.

The witch jumped angrily to her feet and stalked away, clutching the black grimoire. Virae guessed that she had been so enthralled with the book that instead of selecting a place strategically away from the rest of the companions, but close enough to hear what went on, she had just sat down where they stopped. And of course poor Alistair had tripped over her, bringing a cup of water to Wynne. The elven mage sighed; it had been an unusually quiet morning, with Morrigan too absorbed with the tome to bother with antagonizing the warrior.

Virae followed the witch into the trees, and was surprised that she didn't want to complain about Alistair. "You read it, I assume," Morrigan stated. She held up the book and began pacing.

The elf nodded. "Yes, I read it. I only understand parts… the sections written in Fereldan and Orlesian, and most of the sections written in Tevinter, I think. Key parts seem to be written in either a very old language, or maybe Flemeth's personal cypher."

Morrigan stopped pacing and grimaced. "Her personal cypher. Yes…" She looked unseeingly into the trees, and slowly turned her attention to the other mage. "It will take some time to decipher, but I… I may need your help," she said uneasily.

A chill ran down Virae's spine, it was so unlike the witch to be anything less than confident. Or to ask for help. "Of course, Morrigan. If it's in my power, I will do what I can to help."

The witch nodded with an uncharacteristically grateful smile. With an unsubtle change of topic she inquired, "You didn't say, were there no Templar repercussions to the Dalish patterns that now adorn your forehead?"

Virae laughed, "none at all. Gregoire asked me how and why I got it, and then pointedly ignored my vallaslin the rest of the time… I think Alistair was a little disappointed."

Morrigan snorted derisively, "that idiot –".

"Morrigan," Virae interrupted. "He's my friend. You are my friend. I need you both to end the Blight! Can you cut him some slack? For me?"

The witch glared at the elven mage even as a smile was tugging at the corner of her mouth. "No. I don't believe I can."

Virae rolled her eyes. "Then how about helping me learn a new animal shape tonight? I want to shift into a raven."

The witch nodded slowly. "I think you're ready for that."

Morrigan was bored. Bored and irritable. Virae, Alistair, and Sten had gone on ahead to determine whether there was a better camp site nearby, Leliana was chatting in her irritatingly cheerful way with the white-haired Circle mage about how noble she was, and Sandal was throwing a stick for Caraid whilst Bodahn fussed over the cart-horse. She was herself stuck with Zevran for company.

She eyed the assassin suspiciously. "You do still intend to kill your target, do you not? Now that you are in Virae's good graces, poisoning her would be a simple matter… or cutting all of our throats while we sleep."

Zevran hid his irritation and turned calmly to the witch. "Ah, but you are watching me rather too closely for that. I must admit," he purred. "I'm rather fond of your scrutiny."

Morrigan snorted in exasperation just as Virae, Alistair, and Sten returned to where the rest of the companions waited on the road. "There's a clearing just ahead - with a spring!" said the elf-mage enthusiastically.

The human mage picked up her pack, and was surprised to find Zevran still standing next to her. He ignored her glare and said, "Morrigan, my raven-haired enchantress, there is something I do not understand, perhaps you would explain. You go out of your way to help our fair warden learn this shape shifting magic, and yet, it seems that being helpful is not in your nature."

Morrigan scowled irascibly. She did not really understand why she went out of her way to help the elven woman. She realized suddenly and uncomfortably that she had come to care about her… Virae was indeed her… friend. But this was something she could barely admit to herself, and would never admit to this annoying Antivan. "Do you jest? Have you not seen how much it irritates Alistair?"

Zevran chuckled appreciatively, "Ah, now it makes sense."

The witch felt an irrational urge to prove to herself that she felt no particular loyalty to the elf-warden, and raised her voice so that it was clearly audible to everyone in the party. "Of course, Virae has not learned to shape-shift her clothing."

Virae whipped her head around and glared at Morrigan, a look of betrayal clear on her face. Morrigan felt a sharp pang of guilt that was quickly assuaged by Alistair's reaction as he blushed a delightful shade of scarlet, turned on his fellow Warden and growled, "you have been practicing magic in the woods naked?"

Panting and sweating profusely, Alistair finished his sword and shield forms. He'd done three extra sets for good measure, and had finally achieved a measure of calm. Virae had been so infuriating! She simply refused to listen to reason, and was positively unrepentant about doing apostate magic with that Morrigan creature, putting herself in danger, vulnerable in the woods … For a moment, a vague image formed in his mind of the two young mages standing under the trees, the elf unclothed… Alistair felt his ears grow suddenly hot and put the image out of his mind.

She had simply looked at him calmly and coolly, and insisted he was overreacting. Was he overreacting? he asked himself… maybe. It seemed so wrong to him, but he had to acknowledge that she enjoyed shape-shifting, and he couldn't begrudge his friend the good it seemed to do her.

Alistair had something important to speak with Virae about, and he'd put it off for too long. They'd be in Redcliff by midday tomorrow, and he still needed to tell her about the issues surrounding his birth. He could start off by apologizing for the argument, he thought, and then bring it up somehow. Walking into camp, he saw Wynne ducking into her tent for the night. Bodahn and Sandal had turned in already, apparently. Sten and Caraid were relaxing by the fire, listening to Leliana playing her lute. Morrigan's private little camp was conspicuously empty.

"Where's Virae?" he asked.

Leliana stopped playing. "With Morrigan," she said matter-of-factually.

"Ah, shape shifting again." The warrior sighed dramatically. He didn't approve, but he was prepared to accept it. A sudden thought occurred to him. "Wait a minute, where's Zevran?" he demanded.

Leliana shrugged. "I haven't seen him since Morrigan and Virae went off."

Alistair scowled. "That slimy pervert is probably spying on Virae!" To his annoyance, the bard simply smirked and resumed playing her lute.

The human warden strode over to Caraid. "Where's Virae, boy?" The Mabari growled and huffed. "She told you not to help me find her, huh boy." Caraid gave a sharp affirmative bark. Alistair thought for a minute. "Can you take me to Zevran?" Caraid gave a short crisp bark and jumped up.

Alistair followed the Mabari in a long loop away from camp that doubled back to a point on higher ground overlooking an area about a mile from their camp. As he reached the crest of the lookout point, he saw no sign of the assassin, but about forty meters away he had a clear view under the full moon of a small meadow, where Morrigan was standing next to a red wolf. The outline of the wolf seemed to blur, and a moment later Virae stood there in its place.

He was transfixed by her nubile form. The elf's beautiful auburn hair – dark in the dim light - flowed around her shoulders, framing her firm round breasts, pink nipples hard in the cool night air. His eyes traveled lower, to her small waist and flat stomach, and admired the enticing curve of her shapely buttock. With a low groan, the ex-Templar became aware that his breath had sped up and his trousers suddenly felt too tight.

Alistair heard a low chuckle beside him and spun around to face Zevran. "Oh ho, Alistair," the elf grinned lasciviously, "have you come to observe the shape shifting lesson as well?" The assassin pressed a hand against his own bulging trousers and smirked knowingly at the ex-Templar. "She is quite lovely… and desirable, is she not? Of course, we elves have excellent night vision."

Against his will, Alistair's eyes were drawn back to the vision of beauty in the meadow. He wanted to punch the Antivan elf, but found that he couldn't look away. She stood there, innocently unaware of his amorous gaze, then sank into a crouching position.

Alistair watched as black dots appeared all over Virae's skin. She began to shrink as black spikes emerged from the dots and expanded to become black feathers sprouting all over her body. He stared in horror as she took the shape of a bird with black wings and a harsh looking beak – a raven. The bile rose in his throat and he fought back a wave of nausea as the bird flapped its wings and then jumped up into the air and flew close to the ground across the meadow to land on a stump.

The raven flapped its wings and jumped into the air again, rising higher this time. An indistinct shout brought the warrior's attention back to Morrigan just as the witch shape-shifted into her hawk form. The hawk rose quickly, and for a moment both birds disappeared from view into the night sky. Moments later a cacophony of screeches and caws could be overhead as a bundle of black and red-brown feathers plummeted to earth. Alistair gasped in relief when the birds separated a few meters from the ground and landed on the prickly grass a short distance from Alistair and Zevran's position.

Alistair was off in an instant, running toward Morrigan and Virae in their bird shapes. With no clear thought in his mind other than to stop this abhorrent magic, the ex-Templar hit the two mages with Dispel, forcing both into their human shapes. The moment crawled by as he stared; the raven grew - as the feathers shrunk - until they disappeared as though sucked up into her skin. The sight made the warrior's stomach lurch again.

Morrigan stood slowly, folded her arms and grimaced smugly in a way that made Alistair wonder if she'd known the two men were watching the whole time.

Virae crouched on the ground, her mane of auburn hair hanging over her bowed face. In one fluid motion the mage stood and threw back her head, the look on her face pure fury. She held her ground indignantly, seemingly unaware of the fact that she was naked. "By the bloody gates of the Black City, Alistair, what do you think you're doing?" she demanded.

Still concentrating to maintain his Dispel skill, the ex-Templar choked, "the witch was attacking you!"

"She may have saved my life!" the elf raged. "What do think would happen if I lost control and shifted back to elf form a hundred meters above the ground?"

"Shape-shifting is too dangerous," he declared self-righteously. "You shouldn't be doing this apostate magic!"

"What are you going to do, Alistair?" the elf demanded. "Imprison me in the Circle Tower again? Now. Let. Go. Of. My. Magic!"

Virae held her right hand out to the side, palm up, as a few weak sparks of electricity fizzled there. "Release my connection with the fade, Alistair!" she insisted.

The Templar simply stared at her, his gaze wandering over her firm round breasts, erect nipples, tiny waste, the curved hips... "Alistair, LET GO!" she shouted.

With a start he relaxed his Dispel skill, and the sparks in her hand leapt up and became a sparkling fountain. Virae took several steps toward him, until she was standing only an arm-length away. She ran her other hand slowly and suggestively over her thigh, around her smooth belly, coming to rest cupping a breast, her fingers lingering at the nipple. In a low and dangerous tone she said, "Is this what you came to see Alistair?"

Her gaze slid briefly over to Zevran, who appeared to be equally enraptured, "Diosa del amor y deseo," he murmured.

A smile touched her lips before her attention snapped back to Alistair. "Or did you come to see this." She closed the hand holding the fountain of sparks with a flourish and crouched low to the ground. Slowly, very slowly, she shifted into her wolf form, and Alistair witnessed every detail of the transformation. Her auburn hair shrank into her head even as fur of the same color emerged from the rest of her body. A long bushy tail sprouted from the base of her spine as her legs shortened, her feet lengthened, and her hands and toes melted into paws. Her pointed ears moved from the side of her head to the top, as her face lengthened and her mouth grew into a huge, powerful maw.

The red wolf snarled at him, and Alistair jumped back. The Virae-wolf huffed, then bounded away. The warrior turned just in time to see a black wolf where Morrigan had been turn and follow the red, then Caraid barked and followed as well.

Another, stronger wave of nausea assaulted the ex-Templar, and he lost the entire contents of his stomach.

Virae-raven took advantage of the light breeze blowing off Lake Calenhad to hover noiselessly above camp, where Zevran and Alistair were on watch while the others slept. As she watched, Morrigan-wolf padded into her mini-camp at the edge of the woods with Caraid. Zevran's head snapped up to just as Morrigan shifted into her human form, and following his glance, Alistair stared at the witch for a moment before sweeping his gaze around the circumference of camp. As soon as his back was turned, Virae-raven landed on a tree a few meters away from the camp-fire. The warrior was visibly disappointed, and clearly trying to ignore the assassin.

"So are you a very religious man, Alistair?" asked the assassin. "I am curious… you were raised in an abbey, no?"

"No," said the warrior. "I was raised in a castle. I was schooled in the abbey. And no… I'm not especially religious." Alistair sighed, seemingly resigned to be drawn into conversation with the elf. "What about you? I presume an assassin wouldn't be particularly religious."

The Antivan chuckled, "I happen to be quite devoted, in my way. I ask the Maker for forgiveness every chance I get."

"But…" mused the ex-Templar. "You ask forgiveness and then murder again?"

"We all need forgiveness, my friend," Zevran drawled wisely. "Even you could think about asking for a little."

Virae-raven chose that moment to glide to the opening of her tent and hop in. She quickly shifted to elf-form, put on her mage's robe and - not bothering to tie back her hair - ducked back out and approached the fire, and the two handsome men sitting there. "Alistair, we need to talk," she said gently, reaching her hand out to him.

The warrior took her hand and followed her away from the tents to the edge of the fire-light. Virae turned to face him, holding both of his hands. "Alistair… whatever this is we have between us, we have to end it."

"Don't say that," he begged. "Look, Vie, I'm sorry for what happened tonight…"

A slight smile touched the elf's lips. "You vomited at the sight of me naked."

"How did you…"

"I was down-wind."

"Oh." The warrior shifted uncomfortably. "It wasn't the – ah – lack of clothes that made me sick," he protested. "Seeing you naked was…" he swallowed hard and looked into her face. "You're so beautiful, Vie. It was the shape-shifting…" he admitted.

"I'm a mage, Alistair; an elf mage. You're a human, and except for healing, you loath magic. How can this go anywhere? My magic is just as much a part of who and what I am as my skin. I can't change that. I don't want to try to change that."

"I can't stand to lose you…"

Virae grinned as she shook her head. "You won't! Look, Alistair, you know how much I care about you. You're my best friend; but… lovers?" She shook her head. "It just wasn't meant to be. You know that as well as I."

Alistair nodded slowly, and then grinned and pulled her into a hug.

"diosa del amor y deseo" is Spanish for "goddess of love and desire" according to Bing translator.

My apologies, it's been two months since I posted chapter 16. I have been involved in another Dragon Age creative writing endeavor – check out my profile if you want to learn more about that.

I would like to thank Aimi-chan, Juliafied, mille libre, and Ylthina, the wonderful readers who so kindly took the time to review since I posted the last chapter. Also, thank you to everyone who has added this story to their alerts and/or favs. I appreciate the encouragement so much!

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