Why hello! My name is RobotToxic and welcome to my new and first Dragon Age fanfiction! I hope you guys enjoy it! Oh, and terribly sorry if it seems slow at the moment...have to build it up, ya know?

*The only characters I own are Kiara and Liam Lavellan. The rest belong to Bioware

The Keeper of the Dalish clan Lavellan was in her tent, taking inventory of the artifacts that the hunters gathered on their last run. An ancient knife, a coin, a weird looking statuette…among other things. Of all the clan's time in this part of the Free Marches, they have never had a find like this before. She was about finished until she heard someone approach, her ears perking up a little at the detection. She turned around to see her First, smiling at her. "Da'len."

Her First dipped her head at her. Her hair was as dark as the night sky, pulled back in a ponytail to keep her hair out of her eyes. Her eyes were ghostly, they were orange in color. They made her look sinister and looked like they had a red glow to them. Around her left eye was a red Vallaslin that represents Andruil, the goddess of the hunt. Her ears were smaller than an average elf but they stuck out a couple of inches more than average. Her nose was small, too, but not too small. It was between small and medium, its tip an average size and was going up a little. Even in the fire light, you could see that her cheek bones were of medium size but the fullness of her cheeks made up for it, making it hard to see her cheek bones. In general, she had a round face, her jaw small and along with her chin, neither stuck out. Her brow and forehead didn't stick out. She was wearing the traditional uniform of a First, but it was blue instead of green and she had long sleeves. "Keeper." She was leaning against her staff, a tall, gnarled stick with a stone bottom and the top, thick branches wrapped around a fire-like stone. "I hear that you wanted to speak with me."

"Yes…you do know of the violence between mages and Templars that plagues Thedas, correct?" She motioned the young First to come in. They sat down on the small bench that one of the hunters found in a cave of ancient elven origin.

She nodded. "Yes. I have…erm, at least of what the hunters have gossiped about…why?"

"I know this is a lot to ask of you, da'len, and it will be out of your experience, but I have been informed that the leaders this mage rebellion and the Templars are meeting to make peace talks," the Keeper explained. "And…for the safety of the clans, including our own, I need you to go to this meeting and see how it will affect us."

Her First stared at her with large eyes, blinking a couple of times to process the Keeper's request. "…Let me…get this straight. You want me to go to a meeting? That the shemlens made to try to get the war to end? Alone?"

The Keeper nodded. "Yes. I want you to spy on them."

Her First made a nervous laugh. "I'm sorry if I sound rude but wouldn't it make more sense if you sent one of the hunters to the meeting? Instead of…?" She stopped when she saw how serious the Keeper was. She sighed heavily and rubbed her temples. She got up from her seat, pacing around the tent a little. "Alright, alright, I get it. I'll go to the meeting…where is it? Kirkwall? Wycome?"

"The Temple of Sacred Ashes."

"The Temple of—?! Keeper, that's…that's in the Frostbacks! In Ferelden…that's a long trip! And it's just to spy on the Templar and mage peace talks?"

The Keeper stood up as well. "To see how this war between them will affect not just the Dalish, but all elves, yes." She sighed. "I know how you feel of the humans, Kiara, but you have to go."

Kiara groaned and rubbed her neck. "I have no problem with the shems…I…am just worried of being found. And going…by myself."

"Would you feel better if I sent someone to get you to the Temple?"

"A little…" an idea lit up in Kiara's head. "Keeper—Hahren—I know that this is a terrible request to make but I want…my brother to come with me."

"Your brother?" The Keeper shook her head. "Da'len, it is already dangerous to ask you to go to the talks but having your brother come as well is even more dangerous."

"I know but you know him just as well as I do. When he figures out you're sending me all the way to Ferelden, he'll want to come with me," Kiara told her. "And there will be a giant debate between you and him in front of the whole clan that will probably embarrass you both…maybe you more than him." She looked in Keeper in the eyes. "Think about it…I know it's dangerous to send us both but it's just as dangerous to go by myself."

The Keeper thought for a moment before asking her, "You do know you are asking me to protect this clan from spirits and demons all on my own, yes?"

Kiara nodded. "I do…I really do but Keeper, you are the most powerful of us. After all, this isn't the first time you've been by yourself."

"Yes, but you and your brother were going to research the ruins that the hunters found. That was only a few days, da'len. The trip to Ferelden will take weeks and Creators know how long you will have to be there. The clan will go with only its Keeper to protect them for months, possibly, if I send you both."

"I know, I know! I know…just…" Kiara sighed, hanging her head, seeing that her request was defeated. "Ah, that was a stupid question to ask. Sorry, hahren…I'll…go and gather my things." She turned on her heal and headed out of the tent, heading to her own. The made a soft snort to herself. 'Her things'…the only things she had were the clothes she was wearing and her staff. That was it. She should just head to Ferelden right now. No goodbyes what so ever. Maybe her twin brother won't try to go after her if she left right know. She was about to go with the plan until she heard the Keeper's careful footsteps come after her.

"Wait." Kiara turned around to face the Keeper. The Keeper sighed heavily and dipped her head before saying, "You are right, Kiara…I cannot send you to the Temple alone. I will allow you to take Liam with you."

At the sound of his name, Liam came up to them. "I heard my name. What did I do this time?" Liam was the oldest of the twins and even though he was an elf, he was on the tall side but he was still a twig. His eyes were so bright of blue, they would pierce through your soul. They almost seemed they were glowing. He kept his dirty blonde hair well, a piece of his outgrowing bangs was swept to the side while the rest was short and proper like. The brown-colored Vallaslin on his face represented Falon'Din, friend of the dead. His ears were on the long side but they didn't stick out like most elves. His nose was of a decent size, but much like his sister, the tip of his nose was sticking up a little but it was a tad fuller. Also like his sister, his brow and forehead didn't stick out but that's where their facial similarities end. His bridge was straight unlike the steep slope his sister had. His chin stuck out a little and his jaw was thin along with his cheeks, allowing his cheek bones to be more noticeable than Kiara's. He was wearing a red scarf around his neck over a sleeveless harness version a First's armor, but it was the traditional green unlike Kiara's blue. His staff was made of sleek white ash wood where the tip simply wrapped around a dark stone. The bottom had two outward spikes in case something decided to get too close to him.

"You have done nothing wrong, da'len," the Keeper assured him. "You are actually going on an assignment with your sister."

"Oh. Fun, what is it we're doing? Going to another ruin of some kind?" Liam asked.

"Not exactly…" Kiara gripped onto her brother's arm, shifting her head to the side to tell him to follow her before letting go of his arm. He followed beside her, seeing that they were heading to the camp's exit. The Keeper walked behind them as Kiara explained, "Hahren wants us to go the Templar and mage rebel peace talks in Ferelden."

"What?" Liam stopped in his tracks and spun around to face the Keeper. "Why are we going there? Why should we bother with the shemlens and their stupid war?" His dislike for humans was stronger than Kiara's, but it wasn't the stereotypical hate that the Dalish have. It was more on a personal level, not the "the shemlens took everything from us and know we have almost nothing of our culture left and we can't set roots" kind of hate.

"Because it can affect the Dalish and possibly all elves, whatever is decided at the talks," the Keeper quickly explained.

"Well, when you put it that way…" Kiara flicked his ear at his rude sarcasm. "Ow! Okay, okay! To Ferelden we go…where in Ferelden exactly?"

"The Frostbacks…more specifically…the Temple of Sacred Ashes," Kiara answered.

Liam stared at his sister then at the Keeper before looking at the ground, kicking the loose dirt and crosses his arms over his chest. "Oh, even more fun. I get to freeze my arse off while in a temple dedicated to What's-Her-Butt, listening to hostile shems whine and complain. What can possibly go wrong?"

Kiara rolled her eyes and made a grunt of disgust at her brother's attitude but shrugged it off. She somewhat expected his reaction to be like this anyway. He didn't like humans all that well, and for good reason too, but sometimes his remarks on the humans and their culture made her clench her teeth. She turned to face the Keeper as well and bowed a little. "We will contact you as soon as we can, Keeper."

"Of course. And please…" the Keeper hugged the twins. "Be safe…I do not want to plant seedlings for either one of you."

Liam hugged the Keeper back. "We'll be fine…Mother."

Their mother let the twins go, petting their hair. "Please stay safe. May Mythal watch over you on this journey."

"And may Mythal watch over you and the rest of the clan…and may Andruil bless our hunter's hunts," said Kaira with a small smile. Her and her brother turn on their heels and headed out of the camp, starting their journey to the Frostback Mountains.

The Keeper watched them leave and said under her breath, "Dareth shiral…" before returning to camp.

As they headed out, Liam made a small chuckle and thought aloud, "So. Clan Lavellan without its First and Second…Mom's going to have her hands full.

Kiara made a small huff. "Yeah, no kidding. By the way, she originally wanted only me to go the Temple. I had to convince her to let you come along with me."

"Really? What did you say to make her let me come?"

"That you'd made an embarrassment out of you and her in front of the whole clan, begging on your hands and knees to have you come along," Kiara answered with a smirk.

"O-o-oh…so that's how it is huh?" Liam smiled at his sister and ruffled her hair a little. "Well, I guess I would beg her to have me come with you…but not on my hands and knees."

"Because your ego is too big for that?"

"Yea—hey!"

"Mythal will have her hands full protecting you…" Kiara joked.

Liam smirked at her. "I was going to say the same thing about you." He pushed her playfully. "Now, enough of that. Let's get to What's-Her-Butt's temple." He took the lead, using his staff as a walking stick.

Kiara titled her head to the side, giving him a confused look, slowing down a little. "I think her name is Andraste…"

Over his shoulder, not stopping, he immediately replied back, his voice a mix of snark and playfullness, "Same thing."

After three weeks' time, the twins got into the Temple of Sacred Ashes. Rumor has it that it was restored not all that long ago. They could tell, they have been able to go down three stories within the Temple without getting noticed. The white marble pillars that held up the floors above were still gleaming in the many lit torches light. There were so many torches, the inside of the Temple could be mistaken as day. Kiara and Liam started to get uncomfortable with all the statues that outlined the halls along with the pillars, as well as the paintings of Andraste and the Maker and other things that were Andrastian. Their eyes seemed to follow them everywhere. As they got closer to the main chamber, a large room that was at the center of the Temple that had a tall ceiling, apparently a mural of Andraste was painted on the ceiling, and more importantly, where the peace talks would take place.

Liam clenched his fists tight, mumbling a little under his breath. Kiara raised an eyebrow at him. "Liam? Is something wrong?"

"We're taking steps in a forbidden zone…a different religion, culture…that destroyed ours," Liam growled.

This surprised Kiara, Liam wasn't usually the one to talk about the fall of the elves, or get angry about it. But it was still an upsetting topic…and Kiara understood. She had a tight feeling in her chest, a feeling of trespassing. The feeling of that they were on forbidden ground. For the moment, Kiara shook off the feeling and sighed, placing her hand on her brother's shoulder. "Don't worry, Liam. We're here to get information and then get out. Simple as that. It's not like we're coming here on a holy visit."

Liam smiled a little. "Heh, yeah…the day I become Andrastian is the day when Fen'Harel apologizes for deceiving the Creators." Suddenly, his smile dropped. His ears perked up. "Did you here that?"

Kiara listened hard then shook her head. "I don't hear anything…" Suddenly, her stomach began to churn, her head buzzing. She held onto her head. "Gah…"

Liam gripped onto Kiara's shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Kiara looked up, her eyes drifting around. "There is a dark magic here…"

Liam's eyes widened. His sister's connection to the Fade was much stronger than his, giving her abilities that an average mage wouldn't be able to do. It was the reason why she was made First instead of him, her magic and spirits and demons was much stronger than his. "Where? Where do you sense it?"

Kiara pointed down the hall. "This way." She wielded her staff, her brother doing the same. "This magic…it…it doesn't belong here…it's…it's evil…" She closed her eyes for a moment and focused on the magic. She started to have a metallic taste in her mouth. She growled at that. She knew what that meant. Her eyes opened and a scowl formed on her lips. "Blood magic."

"Blood—? Here? Why?" Liam's eyes became steely, not a trace of his playful, snarky self were in his eyes. They became serious. "I hate asking this…but we both know that means some kind of ritual. And it's most likely not for the greater good. Do you sense any…any demons?"

Kiara shrugged her shoulders and closed her eyes once more to stretch out her senses. She may have stronger magic than her brother but it was still quite a stain on her to sense if there are demons or spirits in the area. Kiara pushed to the side the shadows of souls that have walked through the hall over all the ages, spirits and mortals alike, knowing that these were not it. One of the spirits took great curiosity in her, and it looks like it took interest in her brother as well, but Kiara pushed it away as well. 'I am sorry but you are not the one I am looking for,' Kiara apologized to the spirit in her head. She took her focus farther and farther. She gasped suddenly and her eyes snapped open, stumbling backwards into the arms of her brother. Her heart was pounding, her ears ringing. It took her a moment to realize she was shaking…and that she dropped her staff.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! It's alright, Kiara!" Liam told her. He spun her around and gripped her shoulders, looking into her eyes. "What was it? I've never seen you react like that before…I was about to pull you back but…you kinda did that yourself. B-But still…" Liam took a breath before asking, "Are you alright?"

Kiara nodded slowly and brushed her brother's hands off of her shoulders. She watched him pick up her staff and gripped it tightly once it returned to her hands. She took a deep, calming breath. "I have no idea what it was. I didn't even see it. I-I sensed it and…I just…I panicked."

"I've never heard of a demon like that before…if that's what it was…" Liam shook his head and ruffled her hair. "Don't scare me like that…the only time you should act like that is when I put a bug under your pillow or something."

Kiara forgot what had happened, what she had felt. She punched his arm. "So that was you."

Liam made a small laugh and rubbed his arm, nodding. Then he got serious again. "Kiara, lead the way to the mages that are using blood magic." He followed his sister down the hallway. He then noticed how empty the halls seemed…that getting this far into the temple without getting noticed was a little too easy. "Where is…everyone?"

"I don't know." Kiara flinched suddenly, making a small grunt of pain. "It's getting stronger. Hurry." They quickened their pace. Kiara ears picked up on a voice, what sounded to be a woman's. "Did you hear that?"

"Yeah. Someone's in trouble...I don't care if it's a shem in trouble. We need to help them." Liam and Kiara burst into a run, to the doors at the end of the hallway, bursting through the doors. It was the last thing they remembered of that day.

Sorry for stopping right there! But if I didn't stop there, then the chapter would have been too long! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Let me know what you think! Farewell