The Last of the Couslands

Chapter 20

Returning the Acorn

Bridget tossed and turned in her sleep. Her dreams were once again plagued by images of Howe murdering her family. She saw Oriana fall after fighting with one man, trying to save Orhen. Her young nephew didn't stand a chance after his mother…and was slain on the spot, in front of the fireplace where he loved to sit and pet Zeus. She then witnessed Howe barge into the larder where her parents were. He taunted and taunted them, then kicked her father hard in his chest after prying her mother off of him. He did so many unspeakable things to the both of them…

"Bridget, Bridget wake up!"

Bridget's eyes flew open to see Alistair hovering over her. She took deep breaths to try and coax her racing heart back to its normal beats. Bridget sat up slowly and looked at Alistair. He looked worried.

"I heard you all the way from my tent…you were shouting…"

He moved towards her and wrapped his arms around her. Bridget rested her head beneath his chin. Alistair slowly stroked her long hair, rocking her back and forth slightly as she cried into his chest. Bridget held onto Alistair as tightly as she could. She was so grateful that she had him to comfort her. After Bridget calmed down a bit, she pulled back slightly to stare into his face. Alistair gave her a small, sad smile as he lifted a hand to her face. He wiped away one of her tears with his thumb. Bridget sighed as she stared into his honey colored eyes. Needless to say she was falling for her fellow Warden. Alistair gently pressed his lips to Bridget's. He noticed a faint blush spread across her cheeks…he must've caught her by surprise, he assumed. Bridget kissed him back, dipping her head to the side. After a few moments, the kiss broke. Bridget smiled at Alistair and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you, Alistair…" she whispered.

He hugged her back.

"Was it Howe again?" he asked softly.

Bridget nodded.

"Yes…"

Alistair pulled away from her and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"We'll find him, Bridget. We'll find him." he stated.

Bridget smiled and nodded. She moved forward and climbed out of her tent. Alistair sighed. He needed to tell her about his birthright, and soon…he was falling for Bridget, and it was wrong of him to keep his parentage from her. Alistair followed her out of her tent to find Leliana and Zevran eating breakfast. Zevran raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms.

"Aha I see someone got more than just a kiss last night, no?"

Bridget nearly choked on her apple that she was eating. Alistair's face turned a deep shade of red.

"W-What? No! I was comforting her, she was having a nightmare!" he exclaimed.

Zevran chuckled.

"Do you really expect me to believe that?"

Alistair crossed his arms.

"What about you and Leliana? I heard the both of you last night!" he exclaimed.

Zevran grinned.

"I was just giving my lovely Leliana a massage, nothing more…" he stated.

Alistair raised his eyebrows.

"And you expect me to believe that?"

Bridget stood and cleared her throat.

"Okay let's just get going, shall we?"

Leliana stood quickly.

"I agree, let's go now." She said uncomfortably.

The party packed up camp and pressed forward, taking another route back to the Grand Oak as to avoid the Hermit. They were ambushed before they got there, of course by some more Sylvans before they got there, of course. It seemed that the werewolves regrouped over the night, as Bridget counted at least five bodies after they had killed them.

"What do you think that is over there?" Alistair asked.

Bridget turned to the direction he was nodding and raised an eyebrow. There was a strange mist…or perhaps it was a fog blocking the rest of the forest path. Bridget regretted not bringing either Morrigan or Wynne. If she had, one of them would've been able to tell her what this mysterious fog was.

"Let's not walk through it…who knows it might send us back to the beginning of the forest." She stated.

Alistair nodded.

"Good point. Besides, the Oak said he would give you something in return for finding the acorn, maybe he'll give us a way to get past the fog."

Bridget nodded and they continued to backtrack towards the Grand Oak. Thankfully they didn't run into anymore enemies along the way. The Grand Oak sprang to life as Bridget and the others approached him. He looked solemn and sad.

"My acorn is still gone…so I pray to thee, has thou any news for me?"

Bridget grinned as she placed the acorn in the Oak's nimbly, twisted hand. His face lit up with happiness.

"Oh my joy soars to new heights indeed! I am reunited with my seed!"

Bridget chuckled.

"It was no trouble, Grand Oak." She replied.

The Oak smiled.

"As I promised, here it be. I hope it's magic will aid thee."

Bridget gently took the piece of wood that the Grand Oak handed her and watched as he took a step back and rooted himself to the ground again. Bridget ran her fingers over the bark of the wood and noticed that when turned to the light, it shimmered slightly.

"He gave us some firewood?" Alistair asked.

Bridget turned to him and chuckled.

"No, this is a piece of bark from the Oak himself. I'm sure this will get us past that fog!"

Bridget's prediction was dead on. Upon approaching the mysterious mist, she held the bark in front of her, and the fog disappeared. Bridget saw Swiftrunner standing in the distance and approached him with caution. He growled at her.

"You did not heed our warning!" he snapped.

Bridget sighed.

"Please, I really do not want to fight you,"

"The time for words has long since passed!"

Bridget barely had her shield in front of her when he attacked. Luckily she was able to block his blow, only stumbling backwards just a bit. She narrowed her eyes and charged forward, bashing Swiftrunner in the chest with her shield, then turned and cut him with her blade. Bridget didn't even notice the white wolf until it jumped from the cliff and knocked her backwards, clean off her feet. Luckily Alistair caught Bridget before she completely fell to the ground. Swiftrunner growled.

"Retreat!"

The others watched as Swiftrunner and his lackeys ran after the white wolf. Alistair helped Bridget stand, and she brushed some of the dirt off of the front of her leather armor. She turned and looked up at the large columns.

"The werewolves are staying in an abandoned elven temple?" Alistair asked.

Leliana nodded.

"It would appear so…"

Bridget took a deep breath. What remained of the exquisite, stone columns was breathtaking. She led the party forward, gently running her hand over the stone as she walked by. Bridget thought briefly back to when she was in the Spirit form in the Fade, remembering the soft whispers as she passed through the stone to reach the demons. She led them forward only to find another group of werewolves. These did not attack, but fled before them, shouting that there was an intruder. Bridget sighed and withdrew her blade, looking at the others.

"Let's head in. We've got a heart to find."

They entered the ancient ruins…unaware of the drastic change of events that would soon follow.

A/N: I apologize for the short chapter…the next one will be longer!. Now I must return to my fort to write the next (Much longer) chapter! Reviews are greatly appreciated; I would love to know what you guys think of the story so far!