Full Summary: How do you react when everything has been taken from you, when darkness itself seems to swallow you whole as your journey for vengeance is seeped in blood and torment? Hadrian is fully prepared to give all of himself to his quest for vengeance but finds himself as a pawn in a game that has been in play by the Old Gods for centuries and that Alistair plays an important role in his destiny. Various pairings involved such as: Alistair/Hadrian (male), Fergus/?, Loren Amell (male)/Cullen, Anders/Arren Hawke(male), Carver/Merrill and Nathan Howe/?

A/N: As my first fanfic for this awesome game, please provide much needed support, appreciation, and helpful ideas in reviews! :D

This story will be AU in some parts.

Chapter 1: Wolf's Beginning

0 years

The birthing of any child is deemed as a miracle by the Chantry Priests, except maybe for the mages in some eyes. The Cousland Family, however, deemed themselves lucky enough to not have a mage in the family, as predicted by one of their Mages assigned to them.

Bryce heard the howling of a wolf somewhere and felt something calling him to the woods that surrounded their Castle. He hadn't wanted to leave his wife alone in her labours but duty dictated him to answer the calling. He called for one of the midwives and a small elven woman walked briskly to him, a white hand cloth in her hands. She was clearly on her way to his wife, to help clean her up for the baby's coming into the world. She bowed her head in respect for her superior and Bryce accepted her acknowledgement. He informed her of where he would be should anything happen to his lovely wife and/or the baby. Her head nodded and went ahead to the birthing chambers.

He walked into his quarters and locked the door behind him, not wanting any unwanted intruders. He carefully dressed into clothes more suitable for the woods and was just about to leave his suite when he sensed something standing behind him. Apparently, Zarieth was being considerate tonight. The Blue Wolf was sitting patiently on its haunches, positioned near the large king-sized bed.

It is time. The idea of time resonated in Bryce's head and he nodded. He took out his hand and lightly sliced his palm with a small silver knife. He connected the hand with the immense paw of Zarieth. A soft glow emanated from where the two beings were connected and Bryce gasped at the connection that had flared to life. He could almost feel the bond between strengthen and when asked if he wanted to include his newest son into this, he could only nod in reply. As quickly as it had started, the glow vanished and the hands separated.

Your young pup, Bryce could almost see the grin on the wolf's face. He is destined for great things.

I hope to be there for him when he accomplishes them. Then the grin disappeared, replaced by a saddened look in the wolf's eyes. Zarieth rose up on all fours and moved closer to him. Bryce, despite having known this creature for most of his life, still instinctively flinched when the large creature loomed over him quite dangerously.

It is not my place to tell you of your fate but our kind has always…An idea of warmth and deep trust seeped through the older man and Bryce understood what Zarieth was trying to convey to him. Ever since your ancestor saved our High Lord, we have always watched over you. Keep your friends close, Bryce, but your enemies closer.

The blue wolf disappeared, leaving behind a very concerned man. Zarieth rarely addressed him by his human name. What did the wolf mean by that? Time was no longer afforded to him for further musings when someone gave a polite knock on the door. He emitted a light curse when he forgot to clean up his hurt palm. He looked down at the hand, expecting to see an angry scratch and was shocked to find nothing there at all. No blood, not even a scar. The door opened quietly and there was the same elf again, except this time she had an ecstatic look on her face.

"Milord, please come to your wife and your new son!"

His concerns were immediately replaced by feelings of elation and joy. Unlike his parents, who just wanted one child, he and Eleanor had wanted more kids. Unfortunately, birthing was a painful event, for both parents, and Bryce considered himself lucky that he now has two sons to look after. He dusted off his doublet, wanting to look his best in front of his sweet Eleanor and his family. The Cousland Elder closed the door behind him and he followed the elf down the hallway. Soldiers that patrolled the hallway stopped and saluted him with a hand on the chest. He returned the salutes with a brief nod and walked very quickly to the cleaning room, where his wife was.

If Bryce wasn't expecting a child tonight, he would have thought a demon came in here and slaughtered his lovely wife while she slept in bed. There was the pungent smell of blood that pierced his keen sense of smell and the sheets were scattered around her, the red stains standing out in stark contrast to the original whiteness. Midwives were hovered around her, one soothing the pale lady in bed with a cloth dabbing her face while another attempted to gather the dirty sheets in her arms. Another lady was there, dressed in an unusual attire of light blue robes that were embroidered on the bottom with golden gems. She was like the servants around her: small, slender, and point-eared. He would have thought her a blood mage originally, seeing so much blood in one place at one time. However, Bryce had summoned the elven mage a day ago to help Eleanor with the pains of childbirth. Also, he knew the mage very well, since her mother was in direct service to the Cousland family. In fact, it was her mother who was in charge of all the elven servants and made sure things were running smoothly in the castle, domestic-wise.

"Ariala," The elven mage turned to see who had called her and her lips slightly curved upwards. She bowed her head in deference to Bryce and turned her attention to the pale woman in bed. "How is she?"

"She is fine, milord. As is your son,"

A cooing sound could be heard from the bundle of blankets his wife had in her arms and a pale face peeked out. His heart swelled in joy and his hand gently peeled back the white blanket that covered his son's face. His son had the most startling blue eyes, almost as bright as the blue wolf's. He could almost see a slightly wolfish quality in the baby and he smiled, knowing that Zarieth was right. This boy would do great things in the world.

"Isn't he beautiful, my husband?" A weak voice whispered to him and his eyes sought out the face of his wife. Bryce was a little concerned to see the dark circles under her eyes, the pale and withdrawn features of her face. His concern must have been plain to everyone around him for she gave him a gentle smile and said in a soothing tone, "don't worry, Bryce. I am just tired."

"I have already sent for Fergus," Eleanor managed to say before coughing slightly. The Mage's hand immediately placed itself on her forehead and some colour started to come back. The flush on her cheeks disappeared and there was the more natural rouge covering her face. "Thank you, Ariala. I feel much better."

The mage smiled at her patient and she turned to Bryce, clearly wanting to say something to him before leaving the family.

"She will be fine, milord. Just lots of rest and some quiet for the next two weeks."

"Thank you for your efforts. Your mother is expecting you in her room. I gave her some time off for the next few days so you both can see each other."

Ariala was quite stunned at the generosity of the Cousland's offer. Her mother had always been telling her in her letters that Bryce was a rare human lord, kind, generous and most particular very protective of his servants. Unlike most banns and teryns, he treated them warmly and like a family too. Although propriety dictates the Cousland Teryn to distance himself from his lowly servants, he would have none of that in his castle. He made sure the elves had time off when it was possible and enforced harsh punishments on those who violently protested against the elves. Their rooms, though plain in colours and quality, were quite spacious and clean. Ariala had personally seen what men would do to lovely elves as sometimes it would occur in the circle, despite the presence of First Enchanter Irving and Sir Gregoir.

Bryce chuckled at seeing the stunned look on the Mage's face and he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. She flushed and then bowed before him. Then, she murmured something in an ancient tongue and suddenly, clean sheets displaced the bloody ones and the room's temperature increased slightly to give the room a cozy feeling. Happy with the arrangement, she gestured to the servants to follow her out, leaving the trio in peace.

A little boy ran up to the room, unheeding of all the female servants departing the room. He stood in the doorway, unsure whether he could enter and join his parents or not. His mother must have noticed his arrival for she made a motion with her hand. Bryce looked up to see his oldest son scrambling towards them and his hand firmly planted itself on his shoulder, trying to calm him so as not to wake the baby.

"Fergus, come and see your new brother," Eleanor called out to her oldest son, who stood beside his father. The four-year old almost jumped from his position and he took a few steps forward to his mother's bed, all the while staring at the moving bundle in his mother's arms.

"He's so small, mummy," Fergus commented. The little brunette stood on his tiptoes to see the baby and marveled at how tiny his brother was. Both of his brother's hands fit in Fergus' hand, with some room to spare in the palm.

"That's because he is just a baby, pup," Bryce said, ruffling his son's hair. The boy grumbled at having his hair be in disarray and was just about to say something when the baby made a cooing sound. He regarded the newest member of the family and his grin broadened at the possible pranks he could play on his youngest brother.