Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sun was just peeking into the nest of pillows and blankets where Zalan had fallen asleep with Harding wrapped safely in his arms. For once it hadn’t been her with the nightmares that had needed soothing but him, jolting awake in the middle of what would presumably be the night if the lighthouse had day-night cycles. Lace had mumbled something, hardly disturbed by the movement. He barely remembered whatever dream had awoken him, only the vague sort of impression of being worried Lace would disappear, seeing her in his arms settled his nerves and he remembered pulling her closer to bury his nose in her hair before letting sleep take him again.

But he could feel how she must have rolled over in her sleep between then and now with her breathing loudly into his chest. Which was strange because he could swear that her hair was still tickling his nose.

Because of the dream he’d stayed wrapped up in the bedroll instead of getting up as early as usual and with the extra sleep clouding his mind he reached out to push her hair away from his face. It moved easily enough but just as Zalan was letting out a soft sigh the tickling was back and with an extra little thump lightly bumping into his nose.

Forcing his eyes open with a frown he pushed the hair away from him again but immediately it was obvious that it wasn’t Lace’s hair at all. Quick as a whip he snagged the thing that had been smacking him, definitely not hair, and sat up unceremoniously dumping the dwarf off his shoulder. In his hand was an animal tail which he traced back from his hand to the covers. Lace Harding grumbled loudly at being displaced and pushed half heartedly at Zalan’s chest in annoyance.

“Lace…” His voice still rough with sleep but the urgency had Harding alert and sitting up. Frowning harder Zalan pulled the appendage closer for Harding to see and with a startled gasp she took it from the crow’s hand- the color of her own red hair the definitively cat like tail wiggled in her grasp and thrashed around bushing out a little when she let go. Their covers had been kicked to the side at some point and Zalan could see where the tail disappeared at Lace’s waist under the hem of her shirt.

“Please tell me you have a cat trapped in your clothes.” His tone was light almost playful if not for the sharp edge of concern there as the cat tail slapped against his arm.

Harding shook her head in disbelief, grabbing at the tail again and giving it a testing tug. She winced a little and looked back up at Zalan eyes wide and unfocused, clearly working though this strange problem in her mind.

“You don’t think…” She started as Zalan watched the tail thrash, smacking at his arm and into Lace’s thigh. The tail looked like an angry beast whipping around and the crow let it thump between them a few more times before lightly grabbing it. The silence stretching as they both came to the same conclusion.

“Neve had to be joking about the tail.” He insisted, “Magic doesn’t usually just… make cats and tails appear out of thin air. Does it?”

Yet in his hand was the proof and he doubted anyone at the lighthouse would be engineering this elaborate a prank. And how could they? It felt real enough, it was warm to the touch and was curling around Zalan’s hand as he held it, the fur still puffing out like a real cat’s would if it was unhappy or startled. It could have been Harding, she was smart enough to somehow bring a prank like this to life, except for the look of dawning horror on her face, making the usual rosy color drain from her cheeks.

Focusing back on the panicking dwarf, Zalan dropped the tail in favor of grabbing Lace’s hand.

Dipping his head to catch her eye he gently gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, resolutely not checking for the strange blue glow of her lyrium.

“I can’t have a tail Rook! It’s a tail. A cat tail.” Harding squeezed back, the panic still raising in her voice.
“Neve said she wouldn’t help me if I sprouted a tail! What am I going to do? I can’t just live life with a cat tail.” Her voice rushed out, hitching up a tick by the end.

There was a pause while he collected his thoughts, lips pressed into a thin line of concern.

“I don’t know, maybe I find you cute with a tail.” Zalan said, dodging the problem for a moment while lifting his other hand and gently winding the tail around his fingers, smiling softly. He went to lift the tail, intending on teasing her by pressing a kiss to the fur but Harding yanked it away, curling it close to her body.

“Rook! What if it’s-“ she sputtered for a moment, “I don’t know contagious or something!” Her hand slipped out of his and he reluctantly let her go, missing the weight of it in his already.

She poked at it with her now freed up hands, looking unsure. Zalan chuckled softly, amusement shining in his eyes masking the concern at least for now.

“Contagious? You think I might catch a tail myself? I was here all night, I would have already grown one if it spread that way.” He teased and gestured to where there was clearly no tail coming out of the curve of his spine.

Harding smacked his shoulder chuckling for a moment at his ridiculousness. Zalan smiled, he was pretty sure he’d do just about anything for that little sound, to see her eyes briefly twinkle with amusement or warmth.

Leaning forward with a small contented sigh, despite the situation, Zalan brushed his fingers against Lace’s cheek tapping his forehead to hers.

“Zalan.” Harding’s tone was a warning, she wouldn’t be distracted by the problem at hand with all his flirting. And her worry would not be assuaged so easily.

“Alright alright, we can go ask Neve. I know she said she wouldn’t help but you know that’s not true.” He mused wondering if the detective would be more bemused that it actually happened or dismayed at how to get rid of some random magic from a berry bush.
“Or we could ask Emmrich if he knows of some way to dispel the magic.” The necromancer probably read about some case of rogue magic in a random old tome. If Neve couldn’t figure it out he might have an idea.

Reluctantly he sat back up, away from Harding, tucking a few stands of stray hair back behind her ear. The feeling of pin pricks starting as the blue lyrium veins inched up his fingers from the contact before retreating as he pulled his hand away, noting the blush spreading across her face and filling it away for later.

“W-we should start with Neve she would have a better idea of what kind of spells are being used in dock town.” She began, shaking off the crow’s flirtations.

Harding sat up straighter obviously trying to focus on the probable to do list shaping in her mind.

“Hopefully…” She added with a sigh, the list must be growing with such a resigned sound. Zalan huffed a chuckle at the scrunch in her nose before standing, stretching, and offering her a hand up.

“Come on, if we hurry maybe we’ll get to Neve’s before she’s gone to the kitchen and I won’t have to fight Manfred or Davrin for trying to pull your tail.” Lace took the hand, her nose unscrunching a little as she stood but the scrunch came back with a vengeance along with another look of horror.

///

Lace had tried to protest that at least Davrin wouldn’t just go up to someone and yank on them but with as little personal space as anyone in the veilguard team seemed to have and with as close as everyone had gotten neither of them could definitively say any of the group wouldn’t pull on a tail either out of shock, teasing, or trying to scientifically figure out the anomaly.

However Zalan just enjoyed leading Lace along the lighthouse cobbles by the hand- her mind bouncing between concerns and ideas on how to fix the situation while keeping alert to anyone out milling about was keeping the amorously driven lyrium at bay. Though he did worry that if she became any more upset or fearful that the lyrium would still activate. Strong emotions seemed to do that and Zalan was keeping an eye on it.

But for the moment it was fine and there was no one, not even a noisy griffin out on the grounds to see the cat tail lashing around as they walked.

///

In hindsight knocking on Neve’s door may have been the better idea. Not because she had been busy but just to give her some warning on what she was about to be dealing with.

Harding came barging in with Zalan trailing after her looking almost apologetic but more amused than anything and maybe a tad concerned if he was being honest with himself. The detective had been in the middle of pinning some new leads onto her board in the back, placing string where pieces were beginning to connect. Without even being all the way in the door Harding was already speaking a mile a minute.

“I know you said you wouldn’t help me but this has become a very concerning situation. And you know magic so we figured we should come to you first because of course you’ll be able to figure out a solution, or detective out the types of magic used or maybe the types of ingredients thrown into the square. And then you’ll know how to counteract-“ She had to cut herself off to take a breath and Zalan used that opportunity to point to the feline tail waving around in the air wildly.

Neve muttered some Tevene curse under her breath that Zalan didn’t catch and walked closer.

“Maker’s breath Lace, what did you do?” She was almost circling the dwarf, not touching her as though Harding’s earlier concern about it being contagious might be valid. Zalan was forced to step back so Neve could continue her circuit and Lace grabbed at the tail, twisting it nervously.

“Okay so… those berries from dock town? I ate a bunch before you told me not to?” She paused to hold out her hands with the tail laying across them and took a steadying deep breath. “I woke up with a tail today and- just please tell me you can help.”

Neve jutted a hip out, placing one hand on it and staring at their scout now with added tail.

“Well... You know Lace I was joking about the tail. I-“ An uncertain scoff,
“I didn’t even think something like this was possible. But I can look into it. See if there’s any gossip about shapeshifting mages going sideways.”

Harding chuckled dryly, looking more defeated than Rook had thought she would, the tail drooping with her mood.

Zalan reassuringly rubbed her back
“Don’t worry we’ll figure this out. Together.” He knew it would get a look from her and he was right, her eyes flicked to his and she was scrunching her nose again so he added,
“Neve is the best detective around if anyone can figure it out it’s her.”

The scout finally let out a breath and although she was rolling her eyes at him she was also nervously chewing on her lip.
“Anything we can do about this right now?” Embarrassment and concern etched on her face

It had been a question Zalan had been throwing around in his head but he hadn’t come up with much and he said so to Lace.

“You could wear your cape but it won’t be contained, tuck it in your clothes but I have a feeling that might hurt…”
Leaning close to Harding his eyes going soft he gently took the tail from her grasp, letting its soft fur brush his hand as it slid through and curled around him. “We will get this fixed.” A promise. A promise Harding somehow found believable even in this mess, her eyes shone with that faith in the team, in him.

Neve was drawing a blank, she only shrugged and got to work gathering her casebook and the last few papers to begin sifting through. A bleaker sort of promise from her lips,

“I’ll start looking right away. I wouldn’t expect anything back soon but… I’ll see what I can dig up.”

She was already nose deep in papers and Zalan knew he was going to have to apologize to Lucanis when they got to breakfast. He knew there was no way Neve would be leaving for food any time soon. He made another promise, silently to himself, to ask lucanis to bring her food and coffee. A duty he was sure the other crow would fulfill.

///

Harding decided on doing nothing to conceal the tail in the end. It would have been useless in the long run and Lace was nothing if not practical and getting the revelation out quickly would probably be best.

Neve hadn’t seemed very sure the problem could be solved in hours or days but had made it seem more like weeks if they were lucky.

Maybe the team would be unfazed enough that the sight of a tail would only get a minor reaction. They were dealing with new blight monsters and gods, after all that a little tail should be nothing.

Just as they were opening the doors to the kitchen Zalan reached forward and gave one of Harding’s braids a little tug. She shot a glare at him for it but he only leaned closer eyes still soft and gooey.
“Just shoot them if they get too close. I’ll even close my eyes, no witnesses.”

Part of him wanted to promise no one would mess with her or to promise he’d break anyone’s fingers if they tried to touch her. But he was very aware of how deadly Lace Harding was and sometimes she just needed to remember that herself. She could break fingers just as easily as he could, and where she might fuss or apologize to whomever if he did the breaking he would just sit back and enjoy the show if she did the breaking.

Lace made a noise between a scoff and a choked laugh and looked at him disapprovingly. He only smiled sweetly at her in return.

But as they made their way into the big room he still took up position behind her, walking closely enough to be a threat if needs be.

Zalan was correct to be concerned. His earlier comments about team members trying to investigate were truly inevitable.
Bellara was the first one to come over looking shocked and amazed at the same time. Zalan tried shaking his head to deter her from touching but she didn’t notice and didn’t even spare him a look before reaching out.

If it had been Davrin or Manfred or even Taash he would have slapped their hand away or in Davrin’s case kicked a leg out from under him. But Bellara was different, he loved her like a little sister and couldn’t just lash out at her like the others.

Taking a quick double step to her left Harding managed to dodge away from her grasp while Zalan took a step forward and grabbed Bellara’s elbow, the two moving in sync without meaning to.

Forcing the stern look off his face and rearranging his features into a more sympathetic tilt he shook his head again at the eluvian expert.

“Ask first Bel,” he chastised gently allowing his expression to soften to fond. The elf gasped and grabbed his arm with both hands,

“Oh of course! I’m so sorry Lace! I should have asked I just saw the tail and got so excited, what happened did you go through an eluvian with a cat in your pack? Did you happen to step on a glittering stone step in Arlathan with the pictograph of the big fish on it? I was wondering where that artifact went, it disappeared from storage months ago now-“

The words were tumbling out of Bellara’s mouth at such a fast pace Zalan could only wait for a pause to try and interject but he made eye contact with Harding over the elf’s head.

She was also shaking her head fondly at Bellara’s rush of words and stopped the ramblings by stepping forward and patting her on the arm. Which made her pause and Harding took the opportunity.

“Bel, the eluvian is fine and we have Neve on the case-“ The rest of whatever she was going to say was cut off and Zalan couldn’t stop the low chuckle at her slip, telling Bellara that their own detective was on it was the wrong move. They could almost see her begin vibrating at the news.

“Neve is working the case? There’s a case? Oh now you have to tell me everything! Do you think she’d let me help? I could keep notes for her or help look for clues, are there clues?” She had stepped away from the pair talking animatedly, looking like she wanted to scoot off and ask Neve herself.

Zalan debated stopping her but in the end let her dodge around them and head off to bug Neve about the details. He wondered how much Neve would tell her and looked back down to Lace.

“One down, might as well tell the others and get it out of the way.” He didn’t mind telling the others and letting them know they were working on fixing it but he wasn’t about to tell the team anything else about the situation unless Harding chose to. He joked but he didn’t actually need any of the team making amused comments and risking either of the dwarf’s or his own wrath.

//

Lucanis had been making coffee and had looked up at the commotion but had stayed quiet until the pair made their way closer.

Harding grabbed a glass of water and sat down at the table near the cheese and bread cutting herself slices of both.
The assassin raised an eyebrow as Zalan approached and poured himself some coffee.

“Lace grew a tail overnight.” He said after a breath in and letting it out forcing his shoulders to relax. Reminding himself it was just the team, it was just their friends. “Some magic gone wrong.”
Lucanis blinked and glanced over at where Harding sat.

“And you’re asking Neve to help?” The furrow in his brow deepened and Zalan huffed half a chuckle, nodding.

“Sorry. She’s already got papers piled on her desk and started a new section of pin board on the wall.” Zalan watched the mage assassin sigh and pour coffee into the largest mug the lighthouse had. “Next time I’m in Dock Town I’ll buy a few of those pastries you and Neve like.” Was it really bribery or was it payment for Neve’s time and Lucanis’ endless supply of coffee for the detective.

The crow laughed while grabbing a few fresh pears and the two coffees,
“I’ll let Neve know of your bribery plan, I’m sure she’ll be pleased with pastries.” And then he was off on his delivery to the detective.

Zalan made his way to the table, pulling a chair closer to Harding’s and produced a small pouch of almonds and an apple. She offered him a slice of cheese and he cut the fruit in half to share. With food clearing her head she seemed in a much lighter mood, less bleak about the weird magic tail situation. Which made his own tension ease somewhat. Weird magic was never a good thing but Neve was good at her job and it didn’t seem pressing yet to find a cure. So he forced a relaxed position as he munched on apple slices and cheese, passing the bag of nuts between them, enjoying the slow morning, rare for the team but a gift horse he wasn’t going to look in the mouth of.

The others eventually did file in and out of the dining hall.
Emmrich had hummed over the situation and wondered if it could be different types of transmutive magic gone awry. Or we possibly some tainted blood magic gone wrong.

Manfred seemed very interested in the extra appendage and hissed excitedly at both Emmrich and Harding before trying to swat at it. He was tutted at by the necromancer and shooed away. Only to come back a few minutes later with a stray piece of yarn given to Harding before disappearing again. An apology maybe? Or a peace offering, the trio couldn’t tell.

Taash did try to touch it but was admonished by Harding into apologizing and asking properly. The archer had allowed it, and Taash only commented that it felt real and not like a trick or spirit related thing.

Davrin did laugh when he spotted the pair and sauntered over to crack a joke. Harding threw an almond at him and chuckled although a slight flush still crept up her neck. Zalan snarked at the monster hunter and the two traded barbs for a moment, an arm wrestling contest was momentarily brought up- snark and sass often dissolving into some sort of childish physical competition whenever the two butted heads like adolescent brothers.

Bellara had wandered back in right when Davrin was putting down a silver coin that he would win the arm wrestle. Assan broke up the rivalry talk when he, having snuck in with Bellara, nipped at Harding’s new tail. Sending her jolting up with a screech and half landing on half scrambling onto the table, the tail winding tightly around her middle and up her chest while bristling out to twice its normal size.

Davrin grabbed the shocked looking griffin, hauling him back several feet and scolding him in a quick quiet voice.
The veil jumper had burst into action, checking on Harding and making sure she didn’t need any healing magic.

The sudden scream and commotion had just been enough of a start that Zalan instinctually drew one of his small hidden daggers, searching for the danger.
Forcing an exhale he tucked the knife away and came to stand by Lace, offering a hand down off the table. She took his hand but only sat down on the table’s edge the other one over her heart, breathing fast.

“Probably thought it was the biggest worm he’d ever seen.” He held onto her hand as he spoke, rubbing his thumb across her knuckles since she hadn’t released him when she’d sat.

Assan looked confused and properly upset with everyone’s reactions and once Davrin let him go he slunk over to the table where Harding sat.
She gave his head a scratch and told him it was alright. He perked up again and gave a little squawk and waved his tail around, back to his usual excitable self. The grey warden huffed and apologized for his feathery son before taking him back outside.

Zalan was watching the pair leave but in his peripheral he could see when Lace’s eyes slid to their hands. She seemed to watch the crow’s movements for a few heartbeats before a blush started creeping up her neck. The lyrium veins started creeping up his fingers to his hand at the same time, sharp tingling prickles traveling with the color. The blush disappeared and her face paled but Zalan held her tighter for a moment, refusing to pull away like it burned, instead giving her knuckles a few more gentle swipes before releasing her and watching her pull away.

The blue receded without the contact and Zalan finally turned back to face her, as though her pulling away was more attention grabbing than the lyrium, which it was if you asked him.

She was trying to level him with a small glare while he only gave her a small soft smile in return when Bellara cleared her throat and the two snapped to attention looking up at her.

She had come back to the dining hall not to sic Assan on the group but to inform Rook that there was a mission in Arlathan that Strife and the veil jumpers needed assistance with. He had nodded and told the girls to grab their gear. The day was back to moving fast and fighting bad guys.

=End of chapter=

Chapter Text

As Zalan had feared it was looking like Neve tracking down the right reports to find the right spells the right mages had been working on would be taking several days at least. She was working tirelessly and Lucanis was supplying her with coffee and help but she was still working on it.
And so Lace Harding was getting used to having a tail.

It was easiest at the lighthouse, the team was no longer asking to touch the fur or trying to spook her to watch it poof out, and even Davrin had seemed to run out of jokes about it.

She knew to keep it curled close to her body around Assan who just could not help himself, the waving appendage too much like a toy to attack or bite at.

Manfred occasionally still wanted to touch or bat at it but he would bring strange bits and bobs to try and trade with Harding in exchange which if she denied he seemed to accept and move along with a sad hiss.

Occasionally Zalan would wake up in the middle of the night being smacked in the face by the tail. Or wake up in the morning to find it wrapped around his arm or leg depending on where Lace had ended up tossing and turning herself in her sleep. One of the times he was kissing her while the lyrium began crawling up his face he spotted it twisting into a happy little knot. If he hadn’t been breathless after pulling away and trying to get the spinning of his head to stop he would have teased her about it.

But with the days of the tail continuing to drag on he’d been trying to keep the teasing, even the very heartfelt kind, to a minimum. He could see she did still worry about it although she tried to keep the worry to herself.

Around the lighthouse it was easy enough to forget it was a problem as strange as it was. But as they continued on missions and helpful favors to the various factions it always became a glaring problem out in the world.

The veil jumpers were the easiest for her to be around. They were used to the strangest of things happening around the forest and spotting some unfortunate dwarf with a cat tail was on the tamer side for them. It didn’t even garner many whispered theories or rumors just veil jumpers seeing it and shrugging. Or wishing the team well in finding answers. They never even seemed like they expected a solution but Bellara often said weird things happened in Arlathan and the jumpers just learned to deal and knew not everything could be undone.

Going to Treviso or Minrathos, places full of people and gawkers was always harder. People would stare and whispers would happen between heads tilted close together and behind people’s hands. The Crows seemed to studiously ignore it after the first time. Viago had pointedly asked Zalan what he had done to the veilguard’s poor scout. Zalan hadn’t been sure if he should take offense or not but wasn’t above letting others blame him and had only scowled at his mentor telling him to leave it. And people in Dock Town were still hurting and it was hard to tell if they were whispering about Harding or about the destruction and Venatori or about something as mundane as fruit prices rising. Everyone was on edge there.

The wardens were busy and the blight was weird enough for them, they didn’t want or couldn’t handle much more and so seemed to ignore it. Antoine had asked about it the first time and seemed to be sympathetic, talking briefly and cryptically about the time he was bitten by a werewolf. Davrin and Zalan had tried pressing him for more but he wouldn’t say anything else on the matter. After that they didn’t bring us the tail though Harding would complain about the appendage when so much mud was around.

Rivain was nice enough, the lords and spirits would occasionally ask about the tail but they just wanted stories told around a table full of ale and laughter. Treating it like a story one of their pirates would tell about being cursed because they couldn’t undo a trap in time. But otherwise didn’t seem to even notice it.

The Necropolis was a different story. The undead and friendly spirits didn’t care or probably notice that anything was even different about Harding, but plenty of the mourn watchers looked at Lace like some sort of science experiment. They liked to approach her and try to ask questions like she might be a riddle to solve. What had she tried to remove it with, had she tried dissolving it in melting potions? Was she thinking about donating it to any science communities after she was dead or after the tail was removed? Did she think a cat was merged with her or did she think her body made the extra bones for the tail? Emmrich had to chase away some of the stranger scholars who thought they could extract it with some sort of spirit blade.
The lighthouse necromancer could see the tick in Zalan’s jaw when they came poking around and Emmrich tried to explain they only wanted to help. But with Lace being uncomfortable with the questions and the attention and Emmrich not wanting their leader punching out eccentric scientists in the heart of Nevarra the trio decided that Lace should stay away from the necropolis unless Myrna and Vorgoth asked for her specifically.

Which was overall not a bad idea but it had Lace grumbling and pouting about it for a full day after. She hated getting left behind.

In the privacy of her own room she complained to Zalan that he was going to end up getting hurt because who was going to watch his blind side without her there. He could see the hurt in Lace’s eyes when she said it. She didn’t really like complaining but she desperately wanted to keep her friends safe, keep him safe. And he realized he had been traveling with her and Varric for over a year so if someone did know all his weak spots it would be her. Harding had always had his back in battle and he trusted her. Probably not the smartest move, to know you have a weak side but not try to guard it, but he had a scout to protect him so he hadn’t worried about it.

He could claim his friends could cover him in her place, it was just in the Necropolis after all. But part of him wondered when exactly that had happened. When had he fallen so hard and trusted so completely that her having his back, being there, was just a given. To know the arrow flying over his shoulder was aimed at his enemies and not his neck? Viago would kick his kneecap in if he knew the extent of trust he had in Lace Harding.

But he had watched her water her fade plants with her watering can in silence while she spoke. Let her get out all her worries and concerns while she tended the fade turned real plants. And watched her set the can down and plop onto the blankets with a huff when she was through.

He smiled, large and lopsided and had stopped messing with the vine of a giant elfroot plant he’d been poking at to scoot closer to where Lace had settled herself next to him.
Reaching for her he tapped lightly at the back of her hand and warmth bloomed in his chest as she flipped her hand over and laced their fingers together like it was the most natural thing in the world while still talking.

“It’s only at the Necropolis and only until we have this tail thing sorted.” It was nothing he hadn’t said before and he would keep saying it if it would make her feel any better but she still let out a sigh at his words.

“I know but-“ He cut her off with a laugh and tugged her closer knocking their foreheads together with a little bit of force. She worried too much.

“I am an Antivan Crow Lace, an assassin. I’ve worked jobs alone and with company for as many years as you worked for the inquisition. I think I can walk around the Necropolis alone without you worrying about my imminent death. And I won’t even be alone.” He punctuated each sentence with a quick featherlight kiss. To her forehead, a cheek, an eyelid, her nose. She blushed and he could see the faint blue glow start out of the corner of his eye on her hand before she pushed him away with a laugh, done with his antics. She hadn’t seemed to notice the lyrium activate with her eyes caught on his and he just let himself be pushed away and leaned back on his hands.

Still blushing she leaned closer to him, laying her head on his shoulder and placing her hand next to his on the ground, their fingers crossing. Twisting only slightly Zalan tilted her head up with his finger crooked under her chin. He looked in her eyes, always giving her a moment to pull away, before kissing her for real. She hummed into the kiss and he was sliding his fingers up into her hair, brushing all the loose bits out of her face when he paused. His fingers brushed against something soft, softer than hair and with all the strange magic happening he needed to check.
Her hands were fisted in his shirt and she made a noise as he pulled away but he needed to actually look at her hair.

What had felt like the fur of her tail had truly been fur and Harding was watching him warily, having flicked her eyes back open when he hadn’t returned to kissing her.
“I don’t like that look Zalan.” She was frowning now and he stared at the pair of cat ears on top of her head, her hair moving around the new additions as they flicked about.

“I think we need to go see Neve… or Emmrich.” He pulled back farther and her hands fell away from his chest to fly to her hair, grasping at the new cat features.

“No! No no no no no.” Her words came out in a rush and Zalan grabbed her hands to keep her from tugging on the ears trying to give a reassuring squeeze while she panicked.

///

The pair made their way to Neve’s room, Harding pulling and poking at the ears on the walk over. By the time they were knocking on the door Harding had them pressed to her head, hands covering them and pacing back and forth on the walkway to the little office room.

Neve called them in and had a fistful of papers as they entered, waving them around in a triumphant gesture.
“Good timing, I’ve found a decent lead and I was about to go check out one of the dock town markets. Theres a stall there I think might be of interest and the guy should still be there if we leave-“

The rest of whatever she had been about to say died in her throat as Harding released the ears and they sprung up sitting tall on her head before swiveling back in nervousness, mirroring her mood.

Walking over and poking at the ears herself Neve’s eyes tightened and a small frown tugged at her lips, all of which was making Zalan nervous.
“This changes things.” And then she ran back to her desk, grabbed a few other papers, and waltzed past Harding and Rook and was out the door forcing them to follow or be left behind.
The pair looked at each other, a confused conversation playing between their gaze before they both rushed after her, worry pushed aside for now in favor of a determined stride.

Neve marched the group up to Emmrich’s room and with all the confidence of someone who would know what they’d find inside pushed into his study.
Emmrich too had papers littering his desk, though the man himself was coming down the staircase with Manfred in tow both carrying a few books.
“Ah Neve I was just looking into some of the research you asked me to find. I think I’ve found a few mentions of the sort of spells you were looking for but many of them are in the older tomes and from smaller villages.” He paused once he spotted Harding standing with the detective and blinked a few times at the new cat features.

“I think the spell is accelerating.” Neve’s tone was urgent and both Zalan and Harding snapped their heads to look at her. The professor and detective had clearly been comparing notes and sharing research on Lace’s condition but they hadn’t expected to have not been kept in the loop.
Zalan had his hands on his hips, mouth pressed in a stern line trying not to be impatient while Lace fiddled with her gloves trying not to look as worried as Zalan felt and doing a poor job of it.

“Yes. It would appear to be that way.” He turned to Harding,
“The ears happened just now correct?” He placed his books on the table and took Manfred’s and adds them to the stack. The skeleton came over and hissed a sad little hiss while watching the cat ears twitch to the side and then pin back against her skull. Lace and Zalan nodded,

“Were you doing anything out of the ordinary when they appeared?” He was flipping a few books open and handing Neve some of his notes.

Zalan felt heat creep up his own neck when Lace looked up at him eyes wide and a blush dusting her face. He cleared his throat and gave a little shrug,
“Not so out of the ordinary no.”

Neve picked up papers comparing listed symptoms and side effects and Emmrich squinted at the pair but didn’t say anything only made a short disparaging hum.

“We think someone was trying to use a very old spell to curse someone into the form of a cat.” Neve seemed to be refusing to be interrupted in her line of thoughts and had been ignoring all the blushing.

“But it’s not magic uses anymore, and it’s difficult to get right. Even when mages shapeshift it’s hard to do and takes massive amounts of concentration and the deep understanding of that animal to work correctly.” Neve was pointing at various papers as she spoke the frustration clear in her voice.

“To do such a spell on someone else would require such knowledge of both animal and person and such an amount of power it was sure to go awry.” Emmrich added tsk tsking at the very idea.

“Many of the older instances of it were merely stories told to frighten children or rumors of deep wood witches being able to change a persons form. Probably all misinformed sightings of mages shapeshifting and getting their stories wrong or twisted over time.”

Harding laughed but it was a bitter sound,
“So you’re telling me I’m going to turn into a cat? Probably because some random mage got pissed off at someone?” She was angrily gesturing with her hands while she spoke, her cat tail lashing around behind her.

“And I think it’s accelerating.” Neve repeated, handing Emmrich a few pages she collected from his desk and her hand of leaflets. He was glancing over their contents as she continued,
“The spell work I found in the area and the reports I found from that mage college outside dock town line up. Well enough at least. But their time line was longer than this.

Zalan perked up at this bit of info,
“What timeline?” He refused to step away from Harding’s side so he had to lift a hand to block the slapping of the tail from hitting him.

“I found a few reports, buried under mundane listings and accidents, from one of the mage colleges. There were two incidents where a mage had a curse thrown at them and they slowly started shifting into a cat, however the spell work was shoddy at best and it backfired hitting the caster.” Neve shook her head, hands on her hips in clear disappointment.

“Both had rich magister families who swept the whole thing under the rug of course.”

Emmrich tutted at the story but nodded at the papers in his hands.

“But those reports were from direct spell casting and still took several days for it to begin working. Your calculations would seem to be correct and our dear Harding should have several more days before more signs appear. But I agree, these new developments must mean either something-“ he paused to stare pointedly at where Zalan and Harding stood.
“Was causing the magic to activate and thus spreading through her body quicker. Or because she ate the components it’s behaving differently than when being cast.”

Neve hummed her agreement,
“At least that’s as best as I can tell. For all we know the lyrium in Lace’s blood is also affecting it. Lyrium potions make our magic more potent and longer lasting it could very well be working similarly here.” She gave a little shrug and stared at the ears on Harding’s head more theories probably bouncing off each other as she did.

“Buuut does that mean you’ll be able to reverse it?” Harding asked after a few too many beats of silence. She had her hands on her hips and a hopeful look on her face.

Emmrich and Neve exchanged glances and the fade expert went back to his notes pulling out more papers and flipping book pages.

“We’ll need to go speak to the lead I got from the market, the stall owner might know components the magister’s son bought to work with. After we know that we can begin crafting a counter spell for you.”

Handing a few of the papers back to Neve the professor grabbed his overjacket and took a satchel from Manfred.

“Come along Manfred, I need to leave you in Lucanis’ care before we depart.”
Neve took this as her cue to leave and gather her own gear. Before ushering the remaining pair out of his study Emmrich pinned Zalan and Harding with a stare,

“Any undue emotional or physical excitement may cause symptoms to accelerate. So I suggest you both be on your best behavior while we’re gone.”

Zalan knew that Emmrich was concerned for their scout but being scolded like naughty teenagers still had both he and Harding blushing and flustered. Lace’s whole face had gone beet red and she seemed to be oscillating between gaping like a fish and trying to disappear. Manfred had already taken off down the stairs towards the lighthouse doors and Rook followed his lead, putting his hand on Lace’s back and steering them out of the room for Emmrich to be on his way.

Despite his own blush still creeping up his face Zalan was hopeful that this would be the lead they needed. He risked a glance down at the dwarf and she had both hands on her face, fingers spread over her warmed cheeks.

“I feel like I’ve just been scolded by my dad after getting caught kissing in the barn!” She hissed the words up at him, like she was afraid speaking too loudly might make him come back.

“It definitely felt like getting caught and scolded.” A pause, “But I can’t say Viago has ever caught me kissing in a barn.” He chuckled and nudged her arm with his elbow,

“But I’m always open to new experiences.” The tease coming far too easy along with the laugh.
Harding’s blushed traveled farther up her face over her ears and she scowled at him, nudging him in the ribs harder than she needed to. But he only grinned with an apology and an assurance he’d behave. An assurance neither of them truly believed.

//

Apparently ‘we’ meant only Neve and Emmrich and so Lace and Zalan had been left at the lighthouse while leads were chased. This had irked them, both being the type to like to keep busy and jump into action.

Which is what led them to look through some of their requests for help, Emmrich hadn’t said they had to stay at the lighthouse after all.

Which had led them to finding Davrin who was also going stir crazy with a bored griffin and the trio headed out to the wetlands to offer some support to the swamped wardens with clearing out more blight and gathering herbs for the wounded and blighted.

Which had led to their current predicament. Lace was running with a bundle of Brona’s bloom in her hand, Zalan hot on her heels, twisting around to fire poison tipped arrows back into the pack of darkspawn ghouls scrambling after them, trying to be careful not to dislodge his own bundle tucked into his belt.

Davrin had been in the lead mere minutes ago but at a split he directed them to split up leading half the horde after himself with taunts and Assan’s battle cries.

But even halved the pack was enough to have them sweating. The poison was working on the ones Zalan’s arrows hit but it was a slower poison and they both had herbs on them and they had to keep those safe which meant not just turning and fighting.
Making an annoyed noise Zalan slung his bow back around his body, arrows running low.

“We need a place to lose them.” He panted, wishing he hadn’t been the one on guard while Lace picked her bundles. She would have downed more ghouls from the pack than him, her archery skills far superior to his own.

Harding made an equally annoyed grunt before pointing at a slim passage between two large craggy hills,

“Head there, if we’re quick we can get through it and have a defendable choke point!” She managed between pants and the two veered in that direction.

Sprinting down the passage way Zalan tried not to rush Harding with his longer stride but the jutting out rocks kept roughly scraping against their armor slowing them down more than either of them would have liked.
Right at the end there was a sharp angled turn and then the other side and as they rounded the corner the rocks underfoot crumbled and the pair toppled forward, Harding trying uselessly to backpedal and Zalan tripping over their tangle of limbs.

There must have been one of the many cavern systems under their path because the ground gave way to air gave way to soggy tunnel floor.
Harding had fallen first, letting out an oof as her body hit the oozing mud. Zalan landed awkwardly over her trying not to crush her and only marginally succeeding as he landed partially on her leg probably bruising it up pretty bad. Crouching low over her as chunks of rubble tumbled after them he risked a glance over his shoulder to see roots and bits of rock blocking most of the way back up.

Their breathing was ragged but they both had eyes up at their new cave entrance and collectively managed to hold their breath as the ghouls bounded over it and continued on their chase.

Neither spoke or moved for several long moments, breathing steadily slowing to normal as the immediate danger passed.
Harding still had her herb bundle clutched to her chest and her other hand holding onto Zalan’s shirt as though to keep him close.

The Crow scanned her face looking for signs of injury. Lace was dirty and he suspected he was as well, but she looked mostly unhurt otherwise. A few scrapes and little scratches from the roots and rocks on the fall down but she wasn’t bleeding from anything he could see and he doubted she would be this silent about anything sprained or broken. And his own body, although sore from bruises sure to blossom over his body in the coming days, also seemed unhurt.

The knowledge neither of them were actively dying calmed Zalan’s nerves and a smile spread over his face as he shifted his body and leaned down on his elbow to lower himself closer to Harding’s face.

“Are you okay?” He whispered, as though too much sound might disturb the debris or bring the darkspawn back. She was close enough it felt like they were sharing air and pink had tinged her ear tips.

“I’m fine.” Her voice was equally quiet, eyes roving over him, checking on him as he had done with her. She was leaning up and their lips were brushing lightly, before he pulled slightly back,

“It seems,” A pause as she chased after him, letting their lips brush again, “I’ve fallen for you Lace Harding.” He watched her eyes, which had been slowly closing, locked on to his and sharpen for just a second before she groaned and shook her head, dropping it back in the mud,

“Oh my gods, you boob!” She pushed him off her, forcing him to sit up or be rolled out of the way as she sat up, face pink from blushing but she was laughing at him with a smile despite trying to look annoyed at him.

With the pair of them finally sitting up and looking around Zalan could see they were indeed in one of the many caves that ran through the Hossberg Wetlands. Though this specific cave didn’t look familiar to him. One way narrowed to nearly nothing, no chance any person fitting that way, while the other looked like a path they could follow it was darker and didn’t look well used. The way back up however was too far for either of them to jump and it was mostly blocked. And badly blocked at that, it looked as if even attempting to climb that way would dislodge everything and have it all collapse down on them.

Both of them were covered in mud, Zalan’s legs, cape, and hands were the brown gray that almost everything in the wetland was and Harding’s entire back was covered. Lace cringed as she stood up tried in vain to brush off some of the goop off her warden clothes. She had been smart in wearing the utility outfit though, as Zalan stood he could feel how weighted down he felt from his mud covered cape.

“How’s the leg I landed on?” He gestured to the leg she was favoring, she couldn’t hide from him the way she was leaning heavily to one side, despite attempting to disguise it by putting her hand on her hip.

“I’ll survive.” She was trying to assure him but Rook wasn’t having it. He unclipped his cape, letting it do into the mud. He’d have to get a new one and Viago might give him grief over it later but it was already muddy and too heavy to drag around with his scout on his back.

Crouching in front of her and swinging his own bow to his front Zalan gestured her on but she scoffed and didn’t move.

“Come on Lace, you don’t want to make it worse. And if I carry you in front of me you won’t be able to use a bow. Back there you have a better chance at shooting.” He was just so reasonable, tone even and coaxing. He knew he had to approach it carefully, if he didn’t use as much reason and logic as possible she would refuse.
He hadn’t carried her very many times in the past but every time it had been like pulling teeth. Even when she was injured she didn’t like having to rely on the help.

He waited patiently kneeling in the mud and then finally he heard a huff and she was climbing on, making sure their bow strings weren’t getting tangled.
Once standing and adjusted Harding sat high on his back so she had room to fight as he promised.

“If you drop me I might actually shoot you.” She muttered it but didn’t have any heat behind it and she only sighed and leaned on his head.
Zalan only smiled softly and hummed an affirmative,

“I wouldn’t drop you even if someone was burying a blade in my side.” He was being serious enough but he still heard the small chuckle from the dwarf on his back and could almost feel her rolling her eyes at him.

//

Zalan trudged through the cave, Harding occasionally piping up to suggest a pathway when the tunnel split or asking quietly if he needed a break but the crow kept the pace and continued on.
He didn’t want to be stuck down there any longer than they needed to, the other caves often had darkspawn crawling out of the walls and ground and so far they’d been lucky. And he wanted to keep it that way.

After far too long for Zalan’s muscles the pair could see the tunnel’s end light. Wanting to let out a sigh of relief but not wanting to give away how much effort carrying another person was for him Zalan just continued on. He was going to have to ask Davrin or Taash to help him work on his strength training after all this. He could run and jump from roof to roof for miles, carrying another person however was not a muscle group he had.
But before another ten steps could even be taken Lace sat up straight, grabbing Zalan’s bun and giving it a tug as she whipped off her bow and notched an arrow.

Grunting in pain he was about to complain when he spotted what had her riled up- a darkspawn was falling from the roof of the cave closer to the exit. As he watched it wriggle free he could spot several more begin forcing their way out of the muck and drop to the ground.
The first one had turned and screeched in their direction when the arrow found its mark through the darkspawn’s head dropping it to the ground.

Gritting his teeth he braced and let Harding get off another shot at the darkspawn before charging forward. Their best bet was to get out of the cave and not get trapped in the tunnel by the ghouls.
Another shot zipped through the air and met its mark through a chest of one of the closer ones but it only gurgled and continued lunging forward.
A curse from behind him and then another couple of arrows shot out in quick succession. If she didn’t clear them a path getting through the group was going to be tough, neither of them would be able to fight up close.

Another of the darkspawn went down and Zalan had to risk it, he heard Harding yell out,

“Rook there’s too many of them, don’t!” But it was too late and he was weaving through the mass. He dodged around one set of claws aiming for him but he was trying to keep Harding away from the worst of it and took a few slashes to his legs and chest as he pushed through.
Then he heard a familiar screech and Assan’s shadow fell over the entrance.

He squawked and Davrin appeared, charging in and slicing behind Zalan as the rogue dashed by, turning on his heel so Harding could loose another shot. Assan screeched at them and flapped nearby, not able to get too far into the cave and the group retreated as Davrin cut through the ghouls.

They jogged a few feet away before slowing to a walk and Davrin, who didn’t look nearly as rough as the rogues, gestured to them.

“What happened to you two? We managed to lose our horde after taking out a few and where the paths met back up I didn’t see you guys.” Assan hovered near Zalan’s back, chirping at Lace who ruffled his head feathers, tipping Zalan to the side and almost causing them to topple over.

“We found an unexpected cave entrance-“ Zalan started, grunting with the effort to readjust. But he was interrupted when Davrin coughed and gestured to his back. When that didn’t get a reaction out of either of them the grey warden sighed shaking his head,

“Her face?” He asked but again with very little reaction he sheathed his sword and rubbed a section of his shield to a shine before holding it up for Lace to look into.
“You’ve got a cat face and I have a feeling Neve is going to be pissed.”

Trying to twist around to see over his shoulder he heard Harding gasp and he could only see part of her from the angle he was at but her eyes were big and round with slits for pupils, there was fur coming down around her cheeks and with her mouth gaping open as she patted at the features he could see feline sharp teeth.

Shuffling and crouching he slid the scout off his back and she stood there, her tail lashing behind her angrily and her ears pinning themselves down to her head.

“Davrin we need to get back to the lighthouse. Trade me, I’ll take the shield you can travel faster with her on your back than I can.” None in the party looked happy about this but Davrin nodded, handing off his shield and crouching. Harding whipped her head around to Zalan but climbed on anyway, whatever argument she might have had clearly not good enough if they needed to get back quickly.

“But we were following Emmrich’s orders, we were behaving. And it’s not like this place is swimming in magic or anything. I didn’t even use my rock powers this time.” She complained as Davrin stood and the group begun their run back to the Eluvian.

//

In the end Davrin had them leave his shield with Evka and Antoine to lighten the load. They dropped off the herb bundles they had managed to collect and keep safe despite everything, which the wardens were grateful for and the pair rushed through the mirror and the crossroads to get back to the lighthouse.

As soon as they stepped foot back into the Eluvian room they could hear Neve talking to Bellara who didn’t sound particularly happy.

“I thought they would have had more sense than to go tromping off that’s all.” She was saying though in an exasperated kind of way that made it seem like she did not in fact believe they had more sense than that.

“I’m sure they’ll be back soon, you’ll see.” Bellara was trying to soothe Neve judging by her voice.
Davrin let Harding off his back and he and Assan walked off, Davrin patting Zalan’s back with a soft,

“Good luck.” As he passed them.
Harding slung her arm around Zalan as he helped her limp into the library and the muddy pair waved at Neve who was sitting with Bellara on the couch.
The tinkerer stood up with ah oh and Neve glared at them, concern marring the anger on her face.

The troop headed up the stairs and as soon as Harding was sitting on an infirmary bed Neve got closer to examine her face while Zalan tended to her leg, Bellara letting loose a small healing spell to help.

“We were just in Lavendale,” Harding explained, “Helping out with the darkspawn, that should have been safe.” She sounded defensive but Zalan felt the same way, sure they hadn’t stayed put but Lace hadn’t been climbing on him for any fun reasons out in the wetlands either.

Bellara went to go get Emmrich after shooting the scout a sorry look and Neve stood back and watched as Zalan cleaned and examined her injured ankle, apologizing quietly for the bruises.

“But you were out getting chased around and fighting. If Emmrich’s theory is right then any activity that gets your blood rushing could have triggered it.” She was leaning against another bed in the room and had her arms crossed but she couldn’t fool either of them she looked worried, which worried them.

“Lace we’ve only just got a list of the spell’s components and we still have to figure a counterspell for all of this.” She gestured to the cat pieces and her brows furrowed. “Before it gets worse.”

Harding had been holding onto Zalan’s shoulder while he had been kneeling to tend to her leg. She squeezed him now, worry marring her own face, the cat ears making it more apparent than ever what she was feeling.

“What does worse mean exactly? You’ll still be able to fix me if I turn fully into a cat won’t you?” She asked, a hint of panic edging into her voice.

Interrupting the two Zalan gestured at the foot and looked apologetically up at Lace.

“It’s dislocated, I have to pop it back…” The scout only nodded, bracing herself against Zalan. He hated doing it but it was always startling to remember she wasn’t some pushover when it came to pain. He’d watched her do it herself once during a mission with Varric and it had shocked him then too.
He applied the pressure and just as Neve opened her mouth, half standing up with some urgency Zalan popped the bone back in place.

Emmrich waltzed into the room, saw the two and tutted,

“Setting bones without magic? You two are surely giving poor Neve a headache.” He scolded, waving a hand around and casting healing magic to help sooth it and help it mend.
Then he launched into an examination, poking at Harding’s face and humming thoughtfully.

“I think we’ll be able to reverse it even if you change fully Lace.” Neve answered, picking up their conversation from before the bone setting.
“It should be the same, however we aren’t sure what you’ll be able to do if you changed fully. None of the research we’ve done indicates you’d be able to talk with us or use any kind of magic in animal form.”

That at least was a comfort to Zalan. At least there wasn’t a time limit to change her back before she became a full cat.
Emmrich stood back up straight clasping his hands together.

“Neve and I will begin working right away on the counterspell but I suggest staying in the lighthouse until it’s finished. It’s too risky that you’ll change again. And I would prefer if you still had the capabilities of speech when we attempt to turn you back.” Which felt like a dismissal enough for the assassin. Standing up and following Harding out of the room Zalan gestured to the bath and they veered off to grab their home clothes while the mages got to work.

//

The bath house room was wide and open with a handful of large pools of water for the veilguard to use for washing. There was even one smaller pool the group had discovered was a hot springs like pool, much to several member’s delight.

The pair chose one in the back and sunk into the water after peeling off their muddy clothes.
Zalan wasn’t looking forward to trying to wash the mud out of his hair and gave a wary sigh as he undid the band keeping his hair tied.

Turning to offer to help Harding with her own hair ties he got a good look at her bare back, a strip of fur about a hand’s width went from the nape of her neck down to her tail bone where the tail sprouted from. He frowned a little but didn’t think he should mention it yet.

Gently tugging on her braid she turned and came closer, trying to untangle the muddy tie on one of her braids. He began working on another and he stole peeks at her face, scrunched up in concentration, as they worked.
Her ears were swiveled forward, almost tilting like her hands had their attention and he caught sight of her nails which had grown sharp and longer than the scout liked to keep them.

She got her braid free from the dried mud cake and started on the next and Zalan idly wondered if her toes looked like that too.
Grabbing the soaps the lighthouse kept on hand for them he poured some into her hair and started working the mud out of it.
Once she’d finished with her last tie both of them worked on untangling the braids and washing the mud from them.

It was quiet work apart from the soft whooshing of water and the two had taken turns working the dirt and muck from their hair.
Once the actual mud was gone the pair moved to the pool’s steps to sit down deeper in the water. Zalan working gently, scrubbing at her scalp with his blunt nails and adding a conditioning oil to her hair once the braids were all loose wet waves down her back.

“If they can’t turn me back…” Her voice was quiet and with her back to him he couldn’t inspect her face. But Lace sounded unsure of herself.

“I told you once I’d be here as long as you need me. And I meant it, still mean it.” He matched her quiet tone with one of his own. She leaned against his chest and tilted her head back at him. Her wet hair clung to him but he ran his fingers through it, brushing over her cat ears and giving them a scratch, amused when she leaned into the contact.

“You know what I mean.” She shook her head to try and keep herself on track. And he smiled, enjoying that he was being a distraction.

“If you permanently had ears and a tail?” He asked, shifting to be closer to her face. “I’d ask Bellara to make more fish for dinner to help keep all the fur silky.” He teased, having to dodge the water she flung at him.
Chuckling together Harding pulled at his neck, dragging him closer for a brush of lips.

“I’m serious.” She grumbled into his face, pulling away to scowl half heartedly at him. He leaned into her touch, feeling how her fingers tangled in his hair at the nape of his neck.

“So am I. And if you what turned into a cat? A whole actual cat? Then you could come with me on every mission like Assan. I bet you’d be pretty vicious with some claws.” Harding tugged at his hair this time, scowling at him but he tapped their foreheads together.

“Lace I wouldn’t just abandon you if something happened. We’d figure it out like we always do. Together.”

Retracting her fingers from his hair she sighed but nodded, combing through her own hair and brushing it to the side before leaning back against him again.
Stretching out he slid his hand along her fingers and she laced them together, settling their hands on her stomach as they pair enjoyed the warm water.

//

The warm water had done wondered for his sore body and sitting there holding Lace in his arms soothed any other aches he had. The dim natural lighting from the windows up near the ceiling of the room was relaxing and the combination eased Zalan into a light sleep.

His senses were still alert enough to hear the water but he dozed in and out for a little while. Time was hard to keep track of in the lighthouse with no sun cycles. He distantly wondered if the Caretaker was any closer to fixing that than the last time he’d asked. But he could tell if they didn’t get out soon someone was liable to come looking for them.

So with a sigh he began sitting up only to realize with a jolt that the weight he was expecting, Harding’s weight, wasn’t there.
Panic rushed through his veins and he sat up in a rush.

His brain worked too slowly to catch it in time but the much lighter form that had been curled up on his chest was dumped off him and into the water and Zalan stared at the wet flailing creature for a moment before his brain caught up.

Cursing he grabbed Harding, a small unnaturally red furred cat out of the water. Her claws sliced and dug into his arm as she clung to him in her mad escape from drowning.
Zalan got them out of the pool, blood running in rivulets down his arms but he crushed her to his chest trying to calm her down.

“Harding you’ve got to relax, I’m sorry.” But she didn’t look like she had any intention of doing that. Grabbing a towel and wrapping her up in it to contain the claws he struggled until she stopped moving, her eyes big and wild as they locked onto him.

He shushed her and managed to pin the bundle under a stool while he threw on his clothes, ignoring the blood, he’d have to look at the damage later. For now the fact his girlfriend did in fact turn into a cat was more concerning. The curse had concluded its timeline. He was sure Neve and Emmrich were going to have a fit when he got back to them.

= End Chapter =

Chapter Text

Harding, now just a cat bundled up in towels, was quiet for only the time it took Zalan to struggle into his clothes then she started wailing at him.
Picking her back up he stared into her green eyes.

“Lace hey, are you in there?” A pause as they looked at each other, Harding looking less than thrilled but she’d stopped the loud sad noises.

“Look I’m sorry I dunked you but I need you to calm down so I can dry you off.” Setting the bundle down just inside the door He unwrapped her and she stood there looking miserable while he did just as he told her and rubbed her dry. He patted the blood off his arms and then tossed the towel picking the cat back up and heading around the building’s edge towards the library.

Harding put a paw on Zalan’s arm and he caught her looking at her handiwork.
“Don’t worry about it Lace, they’ll heal.” He just lifted her a little higher, holding her up against his chest.

//

Walking up into Emmrich’s room holding the cat he would have thought he’d dragged in Harding’s dead body with the way the three mages standing around the marble table reacted, gaping and gasping and glaring.

Bellara let out a high pitched excited noise before slapping a hand over her mouth and rushing him. Taking the cat from him she held Harding up in front of her face to get a good look at her.

“Oh my goodness Lace! You’re so cute!” She gushed and turned towards Neve and Emmrich and seemed to remember the seriousness of the situation and cleared her throat, cuddling Harding and petting her. “I mean, it’s horrible that she’s a cat now but she is really cute.”

To her credit Harding just allowed herself to be whisked off and petted by the elf. Zalan came to stand beside Bellara who glanced at him about to say something but her face grew concerned at his arms. He just shook his head and muttered something about getting some elfroot potion later for it and not to waste her magic. The concerned furrow didn’t go away but she didn’t say anything else.

Emmrich however heaved an exasperated sigh and gestured to the cat.
“Well at the rate she’d been progressing this isn’t that surprising.” Neve piped up, barely glancing away from the notes after the initial shock.

“I do wonder what you did to poor Harding to make her claw you up like that?” She asked, raising a brow but Zalan just gestured to the cat that Bellara was placing on the table.

“I saved her from drowning.” Not a lie, just a stretch of the truth and Neve hummed like she clearly knew he was doing it but she only chuckled and handing Emmrich a paper.

The necromancer shook his head looking much less amused and tapped the table to get Harding’s attention.
She looked properly sullen sitting there and Neve gave her a little pet which didn’t cheer her up exactly but her ears perked up a little.

“Now Harding I’ll need to ask you some questions, tap one paw for yes please.” At his instructions she did as asked and stomped one paw on the table.
“Good, let’s begin. Are you in any pain or discomfort?”
A shake of her cat head.
“All senses seem to be functioning correctly?”
A paw stomp to the marble.
“Any problems controlling your body and moving the way you intend?”
Another shake of her head.
“Good. In that case you’re cleared for now. The spell has stopped and you will have to stay in the lighthouse, of course, but nothing else should happen to you. And we’re getting very close to being able to test the counterspell.” And with that she seemed dismissed.

Bellara looked sympathetically at them,
“Lucanis and I can make fish tonight Lace, that should be safe for you to eat.”

Zalan gestured for Harding to get closer and, scooping her up, he slunk off before anyone had anything else to say to the pair.
For now he would take her to her room, she’d be able to roam without any danger there and he could only hope the mages would be finished soon.

//

Harding had seemed to accept that she was going to be a cat for a little while. She sighed a lot over the first few hours; the team coming by to see her. Taash had brought a training dummy by in case she wanted to hit something.

It had been a good idea and Zalan had thought it brilliant. Harding hadn’t been interested. Taash told her she couldn’t be sad all the time but had left and promised to come by later to do some training with Zalan.

Lucanis had brought the pair fish as promised at dinner and commented that he would keep making fish for the cat until she was changed back. Spite asked more than once, according to Lucanis, where Harding was but didn’t seem to understand when either crow pointed out the cat.

Zalan slept in the conservatory with Harding and woke up once to her crawling onto his chest and curling around his neck. He thought maybe she’d had a nightmare so he didn’t say anything even when her claws caught on his skin as she settled.

And when they woke Zalan decided he was probably mildly allergic to cats. His eyes were itchy and he wondered if that’s how Lucanis felt every day in the fade.

He had gotten up early and slid the cat onto the pile of pillows and had gone for his usual morning workout, stretching and jogging around. It had ended up taking longer than planned when Davrin and Taash caught him and made good on their promises to train, pulling him into Taash’s room to use their equipment.

After too many pull-ups and attempting a push up with Davrin on his back, which he spectacularly failed at, he was finally back at the plant filled room.
Only to poke around, looking for Lace and being unable to find her.

Trying not to panic Zalan ran to the dining hall, the mages were sitting at the table taking a break with Lucanis serving coffee and tea. And no cat in sight.
Wracking his brain he was pretty sure he’d seen Assan in the courtyard, not eating anything. And he had just been with Davrin and Taash.
Bellara spotted him and waved but the motion stalled when she saw the face he was making.

“Rook what’s wrong?” She set her cup down and the group at the table all looked up.

“I can’t find Harding!” He blurted. He thought about just turning and going back to start his search again but he watched the group get up and offer their help.

Agreeing and thanking them profusely they split up, Bellara and Neve breaking off to check their rooms, Lucanis heading for the bath house to see if she’d wandered that way, and Emmrich going to his study with Zalan in tow. He checked around the library and was getting ready to go to the infirmary thinking maybe Varric had seen her when he heard a call from Emmrich’s room.
Pushing the door open he saw the necromancer standing with his hand on his hip and Manfred standing in front of him, holding one red cat. The skeleton hissed and Harding growled low in her throat and looked extremely put out.

“Manfred you know you are not supposed to just go around picking up animals. Especially our resident scout.” He scolded, but the skeleton shook his head and shuffled past Emmrich to Zalan, proudly holding up the cat and looking expectantly at the crow.

Zalan glanced to Emmrich who didn’t have any answers for him and so the crow just nodded and went to take the cat. Manfred let him take her and Harding let out a huff of annoyance. Back in his arms he looked her over and chuckled, realizing what the wisp must have been doing.

Around her neck was a smaller version of the watcher shirt collar that Manfred wore. It looked quickly put together, mostly just a strip of the purple fabric and a few buttons but it was clear Manfred had wanted to do something for the cat and had brought her up here to give it to her.
It was obviously a loving gift made by the skeleton and he shifted Harding so he’d be able to show Emmrich.

“Looks like he just wanted to make her something.” He explained and watched as the cat flattened her ears in, if he had to guess, embarrassment.
“Thanks Manfred.”

Emmrich’s fondness for the wisp was obvious and he only scolded him a little about stealing Harding without letting anybody know. But after letting the others know she had been found and with Manfred everything settled once again.

//

All was quiet at the lighthouse for another day. Neve was called back home to do a favor for the Shadow Dragons. Lucanis and Davrin going with her.

Emmrich was sure he was close to perfecting the spell and was in his room with Bellara and Manfred finishing up.

Taash was sitting in the conservatory with Harding and Zalan, who was feeling very useless after not being allowed to go with Neve.
Harding was pouncing on Taash’s hand as they played with her.

“She’s sneakier than you are now.” They commented, watching as Harding tumbled into the plants and all but disappeared into them as she stalked about.
Launching an attack from a different angle, claws clanging on Taash’s dragon scale armor.

“She’s always been sneakier than me.” His chest tightened just a little watching them. It was easy to tell Lace he was confident they’d eventually turn her back, and he still did believe them. But it was hard to watch her. No one had outright blamed him yet but it still felt like his fault.
At least his fault that she was fully cat. And he wanted to blame himself.

“Hey. Stop that. You keep looking all sad and junk. They said they’d change her back and they will.” Taash sounded as sure as Zalan usually did when he’d told Lace the same thing. But his had all been bravado. Theirs seemed more genuine.
Lace was biting at Taash’s arm bands and stopped to narrow her eyes at both of them before jumping at Zalan’s hand on the ground. He moved it out of the way at the last second and ruffled her head fur.
She grumbled a half growl at that but he only chuckled.

“I believe them.” He started, letting the sentence hang there. Taash slapped a hand down and Harding jumped out of the way, leaping onto their fingers and running up their arm.
“But I worry.” Was all he added in the end after a sigh. The cat had disappeared off of Taash and Zalan glanced around for her when she leapt out of the plants and up onto his shoulder, balancing there.

Taash watched him for a moment in silence and then stole one of his little daggers that had been in a sheath on his ankle and chucked it farther into the room.

“Hey! I-“ He started protesting but Harding made a little huffing noise and ran after it. As soon as she had taken off Taash turned to him.

“What are you really worried about?” They had their arms crossed and looked like they were trying to figure out a puzzle they didn’t want to do in the first place.
He knew he wouldn’t have much time before the cat came back and shrugged.

“That it will take too long. That some mission will come up and I’ll have to leave her here. That we’ll all have to leave her here. Or that something will happen to us before she’s fixed and she’ll be stuck a cat and no one will know that its her in there.” He said it quietly, he didn’t need Lace to hear him and speaking his concerns didn’t make it better, it didn’t make any of them go away. But Taash had wanted to know so he’d explain.

The qunari was silent but he knew they must have been mulling it over.
Before they could give Zalan any answer Harding came back, dragging the knife and setting it in front of the crow and crawling into his lap to sit.

Taash only stayed for a little bit longer, opting to let Harding rest. But on their way out they paused,
“We all care about Lace, none of us will let any of those things happen. You fight for what you love. So you know… keep fighting or whatever.”

//

The next day the group gathered in the dining hall, Neve and Emmrich deciding they’d gotten the counter spell as close to being ready as they could.

Zalan was holding Harding in his arms, her fur fluffing out and her claws digging into him with nerves.
He didn’t blame her, he was nervous too, shifting from foot to foot and trying to keep from pacing the length of the room.

Lucanis was leaning on the pantry door and Bellara was standing with Davrin and Taash out of the way with the assassin.

Putting her down on the ground he gave her head one last reassuring pet muttering a quick ‘you’ve got this, love’ to her before backing away to stand behind the mages as instructed.

She looked like a puff with her fur bristled out like it was. And Emmrich started muttering something while waving his hands, green magic washing over them. Neve waited only a moment and then joined him, gently motioning with her hands in a much less dramatic fashion, her own silvery ice magic glowing around her as she cast.

Standing back with his hands fisted almost painfully at his side he pleaded silently that it would work.

The magic swirled around the cat and she was obscured by the colors mixing together for a moment and then it cleared and Harding sat there on the ground. Very naked on the ground.
There was an audible ‘eep’ noise from Bellara as the assembled group turned away or closed their eyes, Taash laughing heartily but turned with the rest. Emmrich just cleared his throat and approached her to ask her a few questions, all professionalism. Zalan took off his shirt to sling over her body as she blushed profusely slipping into the button up.

This close he could see that while she was in fact more human again she had the tail once again. The way she had been standing facing them had kept the tail hidden behind her. They were back to the beginning, the spell had at least half worked. But she was still not a cat anymore and anything was an improvement from that. While she fumbled getting the shirt buttoned up Zalan pulled her into a hug pressing his face into her hair. She grumbled something that sounded half annoyed and about not seeing the buttons but she still leaned into the touch.

Emmrich asked her a few questions, how she felt, making sure she was as alright as she could be. She answered a few questions before the crow decided that was enough for now, interrupting their necromancer he informed Emmrich she was going to go get clothes on which seemed to snap him out of inquisitive scholar mode and he apologized for holding her up.

The pair trekked off and Zalan could hear Emmrich, Neve, and Bellara launch into theories on what happened and how to fix it.

As soon as the doors to the dining hall were closed behind them Harding let out a sigh that Zalan wasn’t sure was in defeat or relief. But she walked with her hands out in front of her in the air wiggling her fingers like she was happy to have them again.

“Glad to have you back.” He nudged his shoulder into her and she turned her attention away from the fade sun shining through her fingers to smile up at him.

“I thought you were all positive outlooks and don’t worry Lace we’ll find a solution.” She nudged him back but looked to her her hands, fiddling with the sleeves of his shirt. A pause.
“Not quite fixed but I am glad to be back and talking again.”

He let them get back to her room before speaking again, she went inside to get to the shelves with some of her clothes and he stayed leaning against the doorframe.

“You look good in my shirt.”
His shirt wasn’t really big enough to look comfortable on her, the buttons straining over her curves but seeing her in it still sent a thrill through him.

Lace scoffed, her tail lashing about behind her.
“Idiot.” She muttered the insult but the word was said too fondly for it to be anything but loving. He smiled, his own expression too soft and fond for someone of his profession, but Lace Harding did that to him.

She turned to him after finding her own clothes, unbuttoning the shirt as she moved, and blushed when she caught sight of his sappy expression. Trying to huff and look exasperated with him she tossed his shirt back at him and turned to put on her things.
Zalan just chuckled and got his shirt back on.

//

Once they were both dressed again they headed back to the dining hall where the team was still talking.

Taash was suggesting they try the spell again, Neve was saying they needed more information, and Emmrich was saying they should give it a day or so to see if more symptoms appeared again.

Taash noticed them reentering the room first and nodded to the pair.
Bellara was quiet and looked deep in thought,

“Maybe we could ask some of the spirits in the crossroad? There’s some old elven spirits there maybe they know an old spell we could use.” She had tried to ask the archive about the magic but it was being obstinate about answering.

Emmrich agreed that asking some of the spirits would be a good idea, tacking on that they could ask some of the necropolis spirits too if that didn’t work out.

Harding agreed but demanded they be allowed to come with them this time.
And so Zalan, Harding, Bellara, and Emmrich gathered around the eluvian and headed off to the crossroads.

Walking through the crossroads was always strange, the fade feeling both heavy yet somehow almost weightless. Zalan found it fascinating but they weren’t there to explore today.

Staying close to Harding as they piled onto the caretakers boat he marveled at her physically just being there, sitting beside him.
Her tail twisted behind her and thumped against his back as it lashed around. The scout’s nervous energy on display through the appendage.

“Antsy?” He shuffled through some of the requests for aid the factions had for the team in his head. If she was as cooped up feeling as he suspected he would figure out a place to let her get some energy out. Treviso had some antaam patrols that were getting too rowdy, he could always let her loose on some of them. Or they could always find some of the venatori prowling around Dock Town, there was always bunches of them that needed taken care of.

“I just want to get back out there. Sitting at the lighthouse is getting to me.” She grabbed the tail to make it stop moving just as the boat stopped at the island with the spirit market.

“Soon, Lace. I promise, even if we don’t get the tail taken care of. We can go out and stretch your legs somewhere.”

The spirit market was bustling, there were a few veil jumpers with diagrams of artifacts in heated conversations with groups of elven spirits, shadow dragons and crows were moving supplies towards the Minrathous eluvian, and there were a few wardens dropping off materials to trade for medical supplies with some of the shops.

Emmrich and Bellara wandered off immediately while Harding and Zalan trailer behind watching the ebb and flow of people.

Naturally moving towards a Rocky outcropping so they could get a better vantage point, Harding climbed up to sit on an edge while Zalan stood at its base. The pair people watching for a few minutes in silence.

“Treviso.” Harding finally said, attention on the crowd. Zalan looked up at where she was sitting, he was at waist height so he didn’t have far to twist and she nodded towards the eluvians once she had his attention.
“After this. We should head there, let you check in with Viago and Teia and maybe see if they have any problems that need taken care of.”

The crow chuckled, she must be trying to tempt him into going by bringing up checking in with the talons. But he didn’t need any persuading, he would take her anywhere she wanted, all she had to do was ask.

“Alright Lace, after they talk to the spirits. We can convince Emmrich to come along, keep an eye on you though I doubt you’ll be turning back into a cat in the time it takes us to run around the city for a bit.” He watched her relax a little, maybe she had been expecting him to try and fight her on it.
But they’d both been going stir crazy being stuck at the lighthouse not having anything to do but sit there while the others figured things out and they both needed to get back out there.

His eyes drifted back to scanning the crowd, with tuning out the feeling of the tail against his shoulders he almost missed her. But her distinctive outfit and stride made her stand apart from the other non spirits shifting around the market.
Standing up straight he pushed away from the rock and darted after her, leaving the dwarf to try and figure out what he’d seen while he dodged around people.

Morrigan was striding with some purpose but Zalan intercepted her, managing to cut through the throng of people and spirits to end up in front of her.
Stopping in front of her he dipped his head a little in greeting,

“Morrigan you are a hard woman to find. You haven’t been at the Veil Jumper’s camp in days.” His pulse sped up, one of their first stops after Harding had become a full cat had been to see the witch but she had gone off on some business of her own and Strife hadn’t known when she was coming back.

She stood tall and narrowed her eyes only a little at the crow.
“Yes I had a great many things to attend to, as you well know. But what could the Veilguard want of me?” She sounded suspicious or amused, Zalan honestly couldn’t quite tell which and he bristled at her tone but he gestured her to come with him and led her back to where Harding was standing, the scout’s keen eyes tracking him as he got closer.

“You’re always running around to attend to things. But you are the only mage we know of who can shapeshift. We need any information you can spare.” He halted in front of Harding and the dwarf hopped down from her spot, her tail curling around her side.

Morrigan hummed when she saw it, hand on her hip and eyes sharp.

“Tell me scout Harding whom did you upset enough to have a curse such as this thrown at you? ‘Tis a poorly executed curse at that.” She glanced to Zalan and raised an eyebrow,
“When was she affected by this?”

The assassin’s first reaction was to be annoyed because they had looked for her to ask for help but Morrigan hadn’t been available. But he pushed that down for now,

“For a few weeks. It got worse and she had ears and fur and transformed into a cat for a little bit. But our mages turned her back with a counterspell.” He could feel Harding shift closer to him and she nodded along,

“It didn’t exactly work the way we were hoping. Can you help us? Emmrich and Bellara are here, if you have ideas for them to try-“ Lace was interrupted by the witch raising her hand to stop her.

“You should have sent word to me right away. This is a pathetic attempt at a revenge curse.” She waved her hand at Harding, purple magic flowering from her fingers. Her eyes flashed purple briefly, lightning jumping over her skin as she cast. The purple wisps of magic wound around the scout like fog surrounding her before dissipating into the fade.

The magic had drawn the attention of a few spirits and curious wisps that had floated over.
“Your mages did… valiantly with what little information they had but you should have managed a way to ask me directly.” She scolded, and Zalan had a feeling she was restraining herself from calling them idiots outright.

But Harding stood there with no tail and she was turning around twisting to see the extra appendage gone and the smile lighting up her face was enough that Morrigan could have called them bumbling nug droppings out loud and he would have been okay with it.

The spell casting had brought Bellara and Emmrich rushing back and upon seeing the witch of the wilds Bellara excitedly clasped her hands together and then came over to marvel at the spellwork done on Lace. Asking a half dozen questions in one rush of air.

Zalan thanked her sincerely but Morrigan only nodded and may have rolled her eyes fondly at the group before taking her leave, she still had things to do and places to be after all.

Bellara and Harding were bouncing around together in excitement with the elf talking animatedly about what she could feel from the spell work and how intricate and interesting it felt and how she wished she had been able to see it close up when it was being cast.

Lace managed to catch his eye and smile warmly at him before Bellara had gotten her swept up in being excited and the crow patted Emmrich’s back telling him to go ahead and take the veil jumper back and to let the others know, especially Neve who Zalan had a feeling was worried and pushing herself to figure things out in their absence, that Harding had been cured.

And then he grabbed the scout’s hand and tugged her in the direction of the eluvians, shouting over his shoulder that he just needed to check in with Viago and they’d be back.

Emmrich shook his head at them and sighed at their rush ahead attitudes but didn’t attempt to stop them from running off.

//

Zalan had, true to his word, very quickly stopped by Viago and Teia to see if they had any news before taking Harding to the rooftops of the city.
He let her lead the way, scouting the path to a couple of the rowdier antaam camps. Watching Harding in her element was always a sight to behold. She was focused and her eyes keen as he followed the path she chose through his city, jumping between rooftops and sticking to the shadows.

Once the pair had found some of the antaam giving the crows trouble they dropped nearly on top of them. Zalan hitting the ground first with Harding laying down cover fire as he went to work cutting down enemies with his swords.

Harding hit the ground once he’s cleared her a path and the two danced around the battle field. The dwarf jumping and dodging around while easily hitting mark after mark, and Zalan slicing though antaam, throwing himself headlong into the fight knowing that as he deflected and twirled and slashed the scout had his back and was right there shooting over his shoulder and downing enemies that dared to get too close.

It felt right to be back in the fight and to have her by his side again. And there was no where else he’d rather be than following where she led.

= end =