[Merle is absolutely on board for other people to be self-sacrificial. He almost refutes the fastness claim, but it's absolutely correct, and arguing means arguing for his own life to be put at risk.]

Okay, but let it be said for the record that you volunteered.

[As for the trees...]

Well, Pan's ditched us, so who can say what trees are doing these days. It's like there are no rules anymore. Up is down, down is left, gods will let a nature cleric get eaten by a sentient pile of somewhat attractive compost.