Lake Merle

Lake Merle on a map of First Warren.

**L****ake Merle** is a body of water in the Great Wood, sitting just north of the city of First Warren. It is fed by the River Fay running down from the High Bleaks, and is home to a chain of small islands including Forbidden Island.

## History

### Prior to the War for All Natalia

On one occasion, Helmer and his future brother-in-law Snoden swam across the lake to Forbidden Island. This act threatened to end Helmer's army service, as well as incurring the wrath of his sister Airen. Lallo, a future soldier of Halfwind Citadel, lived near Lake Merle before fleeing First Warren.

### *The Green Ember*

Emma mentions the Tomb of Lander's Dragons in conversation with Picket and Heather.

### *Ember Falls*

Captain Frye mentions the Tomb of Lander's Dragons in a conversation with Picket.

### *Ember Rising*

Heather Longtreader is thrown into a dark cavern after being stabbed by Garten Longtreader. Within the cave, she finds Smalls, who had also been wounded and thrown into the cave. After the Battle for First Warren, Picket sees the island and is struck with longing for Heather, unaware of her presence on the island.

### *Ember's End*

In the Tomb of Lander's Dragons, Heather Longtreader drifts in and out of consciousness until she finally starts to slip away, but not before she uses Jone Wissel's tonic on Smalls' wounds. Smalls recovers some time later and nurses Heather with mossdraft, eventually saving her with the rest of the tonic. They then meet a massive dragon who calls himself the Keeper and asserts that he has been waiting a long time for an audience with the ruler of Natalia. Heather reminded Smalls that they were underwater under Forbidden Island while in the dragon tomb.

It is mentioned that there is a battle burrow on the eastern shore of Lake Merle. During the Siege of First Warren, there was a large in-battle fight between the wolves and raptors on the lake's shore.

On returning from Harbone Citadel, Picket notes that the dam on the northern edge of First Warren, which was built long ago, created Lake Merle. He also sees the Forbidden Island and wonders why it was forbidden in the first place. Heather and Smalls' efforts to destroy the Dragon Tomb result in Forbidden Island collapsing, even as Lake Merle is drained following the destruction of First Warren's dam. The whole city of First Warren shakes when the islands collapse. Fortunately, the Seventh District fleet escaping Akolan arrives in time to rescue the pair.

## Composition

### Forbidden Island

**Forbidden Island** is one of several islands in Lake Merle. Unlike its neighbors, it is a barren, rocky landmass known to inspire fear among the younger citizens of First Warren. Following the Dragon War, Lander planned for his followers to build a dam in order to create Lake Merle. This process transformed a series of mountain peaks into Forbidden Island and its six neighboring islands. Lander also had the dragon hatchery on the island converted into the Tomb of Lander's Dragons.

Forbidden Island is also home to the **Tomb of Lander's Dragons**, an underground tomb so named because it was here that Lander placed the Dragon Seeds. It was thought by some in Natalia to have also been the hiding place of the Stone Sword of Flint, and that only the heirs of Lander have the key to retrieve it. This was later revealed to be true. The dragons attempted to break out of the tomb, but Heather and Smalls stopped this by collapsing the tomb on top of the dragons. They were rescued from the tomb, but the dragons were all killed and Forbidden Island and the six other islands all collapsed into Lake Merle.

## Trivia

* ”Merle” is a French name meaning “blackbird”.