Prologue - 9:08 Dragon

"Mother! Mother, look! The stars are burning!"

Revka Amell smiled down at her eldest daughter Reilyn, lying under the canopy of the stars in the quiet back garden of the Amell Estate. Rei's fiery red hair was splayed out on the ground, interwoven with the grass, the night sky reflecting in her large blue eyes.

"Those are shooting starts, my sweet," Revka replied, stroking Rei's hair.

It was a quiet summer's evening, the sort that Revka usually cherished. The dinner party at the estate was winding down nicely, and Rei had made her first public appearance to Kirkwall society, charming them all with a little song and dance. Revka could not be more proud of her daughter's elegance and how she had blushed prettily under their praise. That was until the candles had sparked and the fireplace spluttered. The undeniable twinge of magic in the air. Initially the guests had been impressed with the display, thinking them amusing parlour tricks and part of the act.

But Revka knew better. Dread had washed over her when husband Damion met her eyes from across the dining room table. That feeling of helplessness, knowing that it was the beginning of the end. Not wanting it to be happening, praying to Andraste that it was a guest playing tricks. Revka rose from her seat slowly, the laughter of the guests dying out, fear creeping into their eyes as Rei kept on dancing, her skirt twirling around her. She spread her little hands forward as part of her dance, and fire licked her fingertips.

She screamed.

The fireplace crackled and spat, flames rising and the guests had leapt to their feet to avoid it. Revka ran to her daughter, going to grasp her little wrists only to flinch away when she touched her skin, scolding her hands. Rei stopped screaming and looked up to Revka, her large blue eyes watering, tears streaming down her cheeks, only to evaporate before they reached her chin.

Somehow, the servants had managed to extinguish the fire with pails of water and the guests retired to the drawing room, leaving Revka and Rei alone in the empty hall, the rug singed, the wax candles melted and the fire gone from Rei's hands.

Her husband came back in to the dining room and took Revka's hands in his, looking down at Rei, his expression sombre.

"They are coming," he said to Revka, so quiet she hardly heard. "Lord Aristide has already told the Viscount."

"Damion, I… I can't…" she whispered frantically, tears stinging the corners of her eyes.

He placed a calming hand on her arm before kneeling down to Rei.

"Are you alright, my daughter?" he asked.

Rei swallowed a sob and nodded her little red head. "Yes, father," she whispered. "I'm sorry for ruining your party."

Revka let her tears fall silently at her daughter's innocent words. Oh, if only it had been just that.

Damion tried to smile. "Why don't you go into the garden and watch the stars? You mother will join you in a moment."

"Yes, father," Rei replied meekly, giving him a little curtsey before heading out the open doors.

"What are we going to do, Damion?" Revka said frantically, grasping his arm.

"There's nothing we can do, my wife. She must go with the templars."

"But she's an Amell!" Revka cried exasperated. "Our eldest daughter!"

Damion shook his head. "Despite our position in society, the quicker she is sent away, the better. Our name will not be tainted for long. Although the other children may be under more scrutiny."

"They will not take any of our children," Revka snapped.

"They must to take Reilyn, Revka," Damion said.

"How can you say that?" Revka hissed, hands on her hips. "She is your daughter and heir!"

But Damion had turned away, leaving his wife to stand in the remains of the dining room.

And so Revka had sat in the garden with her daughter, treasuring every final moment, knowing that she may never see her again. How could she bear to let them take her? Her sweet little girl, who knew nothing of the world? Nothing of mages, templars and the Circle. She watched her daughter fondly as Rei looked up at the stars, unaware of the templars about to take her away from her family.

"Reilyn?" Revka said quietly.

"Yes, mother?" she replied, turning her head in the grass to look at her.

"I… just know that I love you very much," Revka rasped, tears now falling freely.

"I love you mother… why are you crying?"

"Oh, sweetheart," Revka sighed and pulled her daughter into her arms, a hug she would remember for the rest of her life; hoping it would never end, knowing that all too soon it would.

And then she heard it - heavy chainmail clinking in swift movements, steel boots crunching on the garden path. Revka looked up to see three, tall templars approach.

"Lady Revka Amell?" One of them said, stepping forwards and saluting. "We're here for your daughter, Reilyn Amell, who is to be taken into templar custody."

Revka stood and scooped Rei up into her arms. "You can't take her," she stated, her voice sounding stronger than she felt.

"Mother?" Rei asked innocently.

The templar ignored her. "I'm sorry, m'lady, but you have no choice."

"She is my daughter, and heir to the Amell Estate!" Revka retorted, clutching Rei tighter.

"Mother, I'm scared," Rei squeaked, nestling her head in the crook of Revka's neck.

"Lady Amell, this is the last time we will ask: please hand your daughter over to us, now."

"No!" Revka cried and, with Rei tight in her arms, sprinted past them, back into the house, careful not to trip on her skirts. She thew the front door open, not knowing where she would go, knowing only that she must get away and save her. Perhaps to her cousin's in Ferelden? With the little coin in her pockets, she could afford safe passage on a ship.

But once out on the street she was stopped in her tracks to find herself surrounded by templars. There were too many to count - perhaps twenty? And they were blocking off the entire street, ready and waiting to catch her. All thoughts of escape left her and she fell to her knees on the cobbled street, Rei now sobbing in her arms. The tears on their cheeks mingled and Revka held her as tight as she could, wailing when three or four templars approached and attempted to peel Rei out of her arms. Revka screamed, her throat raw with pain as Rei was pulled away, her little legs kicking frantically under her dress as a strong templar carried her away.

"Noo! My daughter! No!" Revka cried, her body shaking. Her sobs echoed down the street. The other estates closed their curtains and Revka looked up to the Amell house through her tears. Her husband stood stoic in a window, his hands behind his back, looking down on her as she sat in the street, knowing she would never see her daughter again.

So this is the first of my Origin's fanfic! I really wanted to flesh out my canon warden, so I've decided to share her story. This fic may jump around in places, but years shall be mentioned.

Your feedback is loved! I'm not sure how often this will be updated yet, but your feedback will keep me encouraged! Thank you for reading ^^