The Kinloch Hold's Circle Tower looked absolutely tall and intimidating, or that was what the smaller of the two fugitives thought as she was trying to swallow the new reality which was sprung upon her just a mere hour ago. She wondered absently as her friend was pulling her by the arm, how did 'normal' people view it? A prison? A horrifying tower with demons waiting for prey? Or merely an odd type of orphanage with a lot of special children inside it?

"Surana! We do not have time to gaze admiringly!" Her companion shrieked in his nervous rampage.

The elf, who preferred to be called Surana, glanced at her friend. The human had 'sweated like Cullen' as she would like saying and he seemed on the edge; her eyes slid to his sleeve, the blood didn't even look like blood anymore being clashed with the awful blue of his robe. Did that mean that they could return, saying that it never happened? That Jowan is not a blood mage? Finally her eyes settled on his eyes, light blue almost grey reminded her of mother's eyes.

"Did we just…" The elf said whispered. "…escape the tower?"

Jowan glanced at his friend. The usually arrogant, confident elf seemed so lost with one of her hands shakily holding some article of her apprentice robe. Even though they were looking at each other there was a glassy effect on her eyes, and a very disturbing emotionlessness on her face. Just like the day she had come to the Circle; all alone, not comprehending what, why or how things escalated to this point.

"Yes! Now let's get a move on before the templar's find a new boat." Jowan proceeded to pull her arm once again but the girl stood in her place.

"Did you…" This time her words were louder as well as shakier "…lie to me, no us about not being a blood mage?"

Jowan made a pained face and stood silent.

"I risked my life and so did Lily." The elven mage's tone was not angry; in fact it was indifferent, almost tranquil. "No, not only that I betrayed Irving for you, we believed you… believed that you did not deserve such a fate, that Greagoir was up to his foolish paranoia's again. And now look at us. Lily wouldn't even come with you, and I sure don't know why I followed you." Her eyes pinned down to his hand grabbing her wrist. "Did I even want to follow you I wonder?"

"Surana, I… I am so sorry. I thought that it would make me stronger, that I could be a better mage."

"Better." Surana still seemed unfocused.

"I thought that, against the templars I would need one thing they feared; just to ensure my future with Lily."

"And then you threw us to the wolves, all of us. Our phylactery might be broken but that doesn't mean that we won't get caught. And when we do I guess I will join you with being a tranquil Jowan." The girl took in a breath and finally she sneered at Jowan. "Nice planning."

Jowan silent again, a million thought passing through his mind, something or anything to say to the girl. But before he could mutter his thoughts a hand slapped him on his cheek.

"We trusted you Jowan!" Her hand stood up in the air. "How could you? And blood magic? Really? Did you lose the small amount of intellect you possessed? Why are you the one who always screws things up even though you are supposed to be more mature than I am? We will be hunted like animals! And when the hunt is over we will wish that they killed us!"

Well, Jowan thought dryly, at least she had gotten her wits about her; this was the Surana he knew; vibrant, unyielding and well, not always this panicked.

"I know! I made a mess of things but after all that was done I could not leave you there!" Jowan finally had found his voice back "Lily, she wouldn't come and you… you were just standing there like a statue. It is all my fault."

He left her wrist and buried his head into his palms.

"Enough!" Surana stomped her foot. "We need to get a move on, maybe escape Fereldan and hope that they won't expect us to be bold enough to. But be assured Jowan, this discussion is not over."

If Jowan had dared to look to her face, he would realize that she did not look angry at him, rather her face showed the perfect example of annoyance. But they had been together for eight years now and Jowan just could hear it in her words.

You are an idiot my friend, but I will not leave you alone.

He did not raise his head as a very cold hand grasped his hand, so small but forceful. He did not raise his head as she nudged him and started to run. He finally rose his head when they were running, assuring himself that she was there; with him. And while he was assuring himself the girl looked back at him, giving a sad smile she promptly tripped on a tree root, sending herself down to the ground with the human she had been dragging along.

"Erm… maybe you should look ahead when you running?" Jowan suggested in a tiny voice as he got up pulling the elven girl up.

A glare found its way to him.

"I hate you." The now apostate said as she got up and dusting her apprentice robe in anger continued to walk hand in hand with her maleficar friend.

Jowan gave a small smile.

"I know."

-_-' -_-' -_-'

"So why didn't you just tell me the truth? I understand why you didn't tell it to Lily but I have been your friend ever since I was eight years old." Surana asked casually after they couldn't see Lake Calenhad anymore.

"And how was I supposed to tell the favorite of Irving, the star pupil of Kinloch Hold that her best friend was so incompetent that he has to resort to blood magic?" Jowan said sarcastically.

"Easy. 'Hey! You know what I am a Maker damned maleficar. Now let's head to dinner.' I can just imagine it, it's just like the type of thing you would do." She deadpanned.

Jowan sighed.

"What if I had told you and the word got out? You would be blamed too if you didn't tell it to the Templar's." He groaned. "And I just… you were always so busy, probably they would have taken you to the Harrowing soon enough. I just, maybe I didn't want you to know because I was ashamed. I don't know."

"You are a pickle brained oaf. You are my friend!" A small pale fist made its way to his shoulder. "You are like a brother to me Jowan, I wish… I wish you had trusted me a bit. Besides it doesn't matter anymore because I can imagine that they are not very fond of me anymore." Surana sighed exaggeratedly. "I did kind of help and really help a maleficar."

"I know, I know. I ruined everything! The poor stupid, useless Jowan; he can't even be a proper blood mage." Jowan huffed as he crossed his arms. "And great, magnificent Surana helps him in even this, such a saint you are!"

"Maybe just maybe if you concentrated on your studies rather than initiates' skirts and what's underneath them, you would not be in this situation." Surana spat.

Jowan glowered at the girl.

"Yes and also the almost constant loser in romance. Do you want to add anything more oh Great Surana?"

Surana opened her mouth, and closed, and repeated this movement a few times. Jowan had stopped his stride glaring at the elf in front of him.

"I am sorry that she left you." She finally said. "I had no right to poke my finger deeper into your wound." Then she suddenly held his left hand, placing her other hand on it. The knife wound Jowan had made disappeared in a low blue glow leaving only a scar. Jowan freed his hand and looked to the scar left on his hand with a raised brow.

"Surana I know that you can make the scar go away too." Jowan said and immediately regretted it, there she was following him after he betrayed here and here he was nagging like Wynne would after her healing lessons. Unexpectedly the elf gave a small albeit soft smile, tracing the scar with her finger she spoke in a calm yet teaching manner.

"I know, it's a small wound, but maybe you need a reminder. Blood magic corrupts demons corrupt." Letting out a bit of air she continued. "I won't leave you alone but don't expect me to stand still when you are turning yourself into an abomination. Whatever you lost today, it was because of blood magic, never forget that."

"And what return being a mediocre mage?" Jowan started to walk with a grim face. "I want to be strong."

"Then focus on your inner power, just don't tread lightly on the easy choice." Surana paced to catch up with him. "It isn't worth it Jowan."

"I wonder what we would do if I didn't use blood magic there. Do you really think we would be able to escape easily?" Jowan snorted rudely. "Magic is magic, it helped us before and it might later on."

"Jowan, I hate to prove your wrong." Surana said in a matter-of-fact tone her light grey eyes squinting. "Your blood magic IS the reason why we needed to escape the Circle."

Their somber march continued in silence for a few hours.

"Where are we going?" Jowan asked finally.

"To Denerim we can find a ship or whatever."

"Isn't Jader closer?"

"Is it?"

Jowan sighed.

"Right. I had forgotten that your map skills can only rival a 3 year old's." He muttered under his breath.

"I heard that." Surana growled to her friend. "Fine! What is your great plan this time?"

Jowan pulled out a scroll from his hip bag and presented it with a Taa-daa sound.

"Where did you find a map?" The elf's already

"Did you honestly think that I would try to escape without a map? I am not Anders." Jowan smirked remembering the other mage's escape attempts. "I bribed Sweeney to part with this lovely Thedas map. All I had to do was to set a Templar's skirt on fire."

Surana confusedly looked at the human, then to the map and in the end she gave out a loud laugh.

"You are an unpredictable man, my friend." She said when her laughter had finally died out. "You and Sweeney, wish we could bring him too. It would have been priceless."

"Yes us and Sweeney senile mage who likes lighting up the templar skirts, we would definitely be able to escape the templars." Jowan said sarcastically.

Surana smirked widely.

"So what is the plan?"

"We had planned with… we had planned to pass by Gherlen's Pass to Jader, then on the first boat and freedom..." He ended the sentence bitterly.

Suddenly the jovial mood has disappeared. Surana glancing at Jowan placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You know if you need a crying shoulder, for once only once, I'm here."

"I really messed up this time didn't I?" The apostate hanged his head low.

"Well, think it this way better now than later hmm? I'm sure that you will find a lovely girl with penchant for blood magic in no time." Realizing what she said Surana gave a nervous laugh. "I mean, ah maybe it was not meant to be?"

Jowan shook his head, trust Surana to botch even her own attempt of curing a broken heart.

"I guess it is a regret I have to live with." Said after a few minutes. "Added to the other regrets…"

"Let's just move away from the road and rest a bit shall we?" Surana started to move towards the woods surrounding the Imperial Highway. "Tomorrow, we will deal with everything tomorrow."

Jowan nodded silently and followed the elf to the woods. Tomorrow, his tomorrows didn't have Lily anymore but at least they belonged to him. He took a bitter comfort of that.

"Stop nodding to yourself Jowan." Surana's voice held a small amount of amusement.