Hello everyone. This is the prologue to the story of Evelyn Trevelyan and her brother Aidan Trevelyan. Eve is a mage, Aidan a Templar. Read on to find out more. This will be slightly AU as the chapters progress through the Inquisition. Slow built relationships will be between EvelynxCullen, DorianxAidan. Lots of friendships, humour and adventure in there too.

*If you miss the date stamps, current day (9:41 dragon) Eve is 25 and Aidan 27*

Prologue

9:29 Dragon - The Ostwick Circle of Magi

The dull sound of marching footsteps and clinking chain-mail was the only company Evelyn had. Alone in her tiny room she fought back her tears, dusty light swept in from the high window on her wall; the only source of the outside world that she had left. Though even if she could reach that window, rusty iron bars marred the glass and nothing but stone walls and a glimpse of sky could be seen outside.

She sat on her new, narrow bed, feeling nothing but rough springs and a hard mattress beneath her. She swallowed painfully; why did she have to have magic? Why was it so evil that it made her parents send her here? She got back off her bed, walking over to the wall where a dirty, rusted mirror hung from the stone.

She looked at her cracked reflection. Her pale skin wet and streaked with tears running down her cheeks. Her bright, blue eyes sparkling and filled to the brim with sadness. Her dark, raven hair, usually thick and curly, was a tangled mess as she had thrown herself to the ground, begging and pleading not to be left here. For her parents to please, please take her home.

But, they never did. Months past and not one member of her family came to see her. She was lost to them; they had abandoned her.

Until, one day a year or more since she was sent here. Eve was lying on her bed, staring at the cold, dark ceiling above her when her barred door opened. She whipped her head around, her black curls whipping across her face. Her eyes were determined, her brow set in a hard line, but then…

"Aidan!" she whispered, her voice breaking and warm tears spring to her eyes.

"Shhh!" Aidan said quickly, ducking into the room with a quick glance behind him. "It's Quinn now, Eve," he said quietly, a smile spreading warmly over his lips as his sister ran over and hugged him.

She pulled back suddenly, looking at the armour her brother was wearing. No… no he couldn't have. He… He was only 15, just two years older than her. No! "Quinn…? Why? Oh Maker, what did you do?" she begged, looking up into her brothers warm, brown eyes.

Aidan smiled softly, "You think I'd leave you here alone in this miserable place?" he said. "I had to take on another boy's name, made a deal with him actually. Otherwise they wouldn't have kept me at this circle. No family ties, you see."

"Oh Aidan…" whispered Eve in disbelief, "This is your life. You shouldn't have, you… you hate Templars!"

"Eve, quiet," Aidan said gently. "And you must call me Quinn. They cannot find out we are related, or that we even know each other OK?"

"Aid- Quinn… what are you going to do?"

"I'm just here to protect you," Aidan continued, his bright young face smiling naively. He brushed his sister's hair off her face, the black strands the same colour as his own. "Can you imagine Father's face if he knew I'd past my Templar vigil?" he added, offering a small smirk. "He'd be proud; the horror, right?"

Eve was shaking her head, "I can't believe this…" she whispered. "I'm so glad you're here, but…"

"Eve, I was never going to leave you," Aidan cut across. "And you surely couldn't expect me to stay with that lot back home? Without you? I'd go mad." He offered her one more smile before looking serious,"Now… I have to go before we get caught. I'll see you again, but remember. You don't know me, OK?"

Aidan backed away, giving his sister one last smile, before ducking out of her room.

xXx

9:40 Dragon. The Andrastian Chantry is Crumbling. All the Circles of Magi have separated from the Chantry.

xXx

A few weeks before Eve's life was about be changed forever, Aidan came to see her; his face panicked.

"Eve," he said, quickly closing the door to her room and coming inside.

"Quinn," Eve said swiftly, rushing over to her brother, "what's happening out there? Things are getting serious, the other mages are talking of-"

"I know," said Aidan quickly, "I stole your phylactery," he told her, gesturing to his pocket where he held a vial of her blood. "You need to stay with the mages ok? Whatever happens? I'll be able to find you."

"Aidan," Eve said, her eyes wide. "What's going to happen? What are you-"

"You won't be able to find me if this ends anything like the other circles, Eve," Aidan continued, his face serious. "And it will be too dangerous for either of us to find each other immediately. Our 'friends' will likely kill either of us before we can explain ourselves."

"Aidan-"

"Just keep your head down and stay safe. I'll find you."

With that Aidan gave her one last sweeping look before hugging her tightly and leaving the room.

To this day, that was the last time Evelyn saw her brother. Her life, though she could never have called it a life before, was torn asunder. Her world was thrown into chaos and it was all she could do to follow the rebel mages, to keep her head down.

Fighting, running, hiding. She was freed of the circle, yet she was not at all free. Hate the Templars was all she heard. Fight the Templars was what she was told to do. But, she did not believe in that. This was not the way to peace. They were creating fear across Thedas. Refugees, innocent people were being forced from their homes, chaos and panic was all this wrought.

And one of these days Eve feared she'd find her brother beneath one of those Templar helmets. Searching to find her only to be killed by one of her… 'fellows'.

As she fled she finally found herself joining the mage delegation at the Chantry Conclave in hopes to find Aidan there upon peaceful grounds. She never knew how thankful she would be that he was not there that day.

The day her life would never be the same again.

xXx

9:41 Dragon - The Inquisition is Reborn

xXx

Eve felt as though time flew by the moment she opened her eyes in that cell. Her left hand burned with a green mark filled with magic she did not know or understand. The sky outside was torn apart, the same green magic twisting through the clouds, flashing menacingly and all converging around one, huge breach above the Valley of Sacred Ashes.

Like waking into a nightmare Eve had followed the fierce, black haired warrior through the snow covered grounds. Fighting their way through demons to get closer to the monstrous scar in the sky. She was their prisoner. Accused of starting it all.

And then,

We must seal it, quickly!

The bald elf had grasped her hand, thrusting it at the smaller rift, a small replica of the one in the sky. Her hand had exploded with power, green magic shooting from her finger tips and with a painful, scorching sensation, all of a sudden the rift was closed.

It appears you may be our salvation after all.

And that day the Herald of Andraste was made. Evelyn Trevelyan – the Herald sent to close the rifts, to seal the breach. To save them all.

~End Prologue~

Chapter One

6 Months since the explosion at the Conclave. No word from Aidan. Evelyn is the new Inquisitor.

xXx

About two weeks had passed since the incident with Dorian's father at the Gull and Lantern. Evelyn had been shocked at what his Father had tried to do to him; shocked and disgusted. She could understand his anger perfectly and she would be there to support him, always.

Now that a little time had passed, however, she finally wanted to bring up a little something that had been amusing her. See, she and Dorian had a little past time of passing flirtatious jokes and banter between them. She knew it never meant anything, she merely found it quite fun to flirt with him. But, she couldn't wait to see his face if he thought she had feelings for him. She almost considered bringing Varric to watch.

Finally she had her chance to tease him.

"Don't get me wrong," Dorian was saying seriously, and Evelyn was struggling to hold back her grin. "You're an incredible woman, in another life I-"

But, Eve could no longer hold it back. She laughed at the abashed look on Dorian's face. "Dorian, I'm joking," she said smiling. "Don't worry," she added, "I do of course think you're incredibly handsome," she smirked, "but it was pretty obvious you're not… a ladies man."

Dorian frowned slightly, "So then-"

"I don't have a crush on you, Dorian," Eve continued, still smiling. "I just like flirting. So don't you dare desist."

Dorian gave a small laugh, a smile growing on his lips again, "I stand commanded," he said in amusement.

"I also like teasing you… couldn't resist," Eve added, still chuckling.

At that moment, Cullen suddenly rounded the corner, staring intently at a report in his hand.

"Inquisitor," he said quickly, his eyes catching Eve's.

Eve's face went serious immediately and she stood up straight. "Commander," she said formally, "How do you… do? I mean, how are you?"

A dull blush rose up her neck and Dorian raised his eyebrows.

"I'm fine," Cullen said quickly, "thank you, I, uh… how are you?"

"Wonderful," said Eve.

There was a moment of silence.

"Uh…" Cullen rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I believe Leliana wanted to hold a war meeting this afternoon… if you will be able to attend, Inquisitor?"

"Of course," nodded Eve.

"Great, good…" Cullen looked away. "Well I will see you there, then. Good day."

He nodded politely at Dorian before walking off in the opposite direction.

"…What,"Dorian said after a long moment, a large smirk spreading over his lips, "was that?"

"What?" Eve said quickly, her face glowing. "Nothing. Don't-"

"Well, now I'm thoroughly relieved you don't have a crush on me," he continued, his smirk still growing. "If that's how you would have acted. What a mess!"

Eve flushed furiously. "Dorian I don't-"

"You must try that conversation again," Dorian insisted, turning to look in the direction Cullen went. "Shall I call him back?"

"No!" squeaked Eve in panic, jumping over to Dorian and clasping her hand over his mouth.

Dorian started shaking with laughter and Eve glared at him, slowly removing her hand.

"My, my," he said in a singsong voice. "Our little Inquisitor has a crush on our strapping ex-templar Commander."

Eve sighed heavily. "Please don't tell anyone about this, Dorian?" she begged mournfully.

Dorian raised his eyebrows. "Why ever not? Though I don't think it's necessary, anyone watching that… fiasco could see," he smirked when Eve shook her head in embarrassment. "Why don't you… do something about it, Eve?"

"Are you mad?" hissed Eve. "He wouldn't in a million years think of me like that. I… It's bad enough that I can't stop my feelings. Maker's breath, this is embarrassing," she glared at Dorian. "Never speak of this again."

She went to stomp off when Dorian grabbed her arm, chuckling in amusement again. He sighed, "Eve…" he said seriously, "You struck me as an intelligent woman. That's why we're friends! Don't tell me you were tricking me all along?"

Eve rolled her eyes. "What are you getting at?" she snapped.

"Cullen is most certainly already thinking of you like that."

Eve gave Dorian a long look before sighing, "Dorian, I'm a mage. He wouldn't," she moved over to the chair Dorian liked to lounge on and slumped down in it. "Plus there are tonnes of incredible, beautiful women here that he could have in a heartbeat. I mean… Leliana, Cassandra, Josephine…"

Dorian raised his eyebrows. "I have never seen you so insecure!" he said in appalled amusement. He paused, then sighed. "Ok, I don't say these things often so… I need you to sit there and keep quiet while I say it, then never ask me to say it again. One time only offer."

Eve looked up at him smiling ruefully.

"Here we go," continued Dorian, moving to kneel by the chair. "You, Eve, are an incredibly beautiful woman. You're confident, strong, clever and when you're not acting like a nervous school girl you're incredibly charming and amusing. On top of that you are also the Inquisitor. So if you think Cullen wouldn't think of you that way… then, unfortunately my dear, you are also an idiot."

Eve's smile grew despite herself and she leant forward. "Careful, Dorian," she said cheekily. "I might get a crush on if you continue like that."

Dorian smirked. "I'm honestly offended that you haven't," he said slyly. "I can't believe you could resist my charm."

Eve laughed, "I'm afraid you're too much like my brother," she said smiling. "So, I can never get you to shower compliments upon me again?"

Dorian laughed, "One time offer," he quipped. "Quick little off topic question for a moment… you have a brother?"

Eve grinned, "Interested are you?"

Dorian smirked. "Come now, that's not all I think about," he said slyly. "I am merely interested as it is your family, my dear. Of course… if looks and wit run in the family I can't say I wouldn't-"

Eve laughed, slapping his arm. "He is very handsome," she said simply, then her expression sobered a little. "And very important to me. I… haven't seen him in a long time."

Dorian looked at her caringly. "I'm sorry," he said gently. "Do you know if he is alright?"

Eve sighed. "He… became a Templar so that he could come to the circle with me. The idiot was always determined to protect me. He hated being a Templar," Eve tapped her fingers on her knee. "I haven't seen him since the war. When the circles broke I couldn't even get near the Templars…for obvious reasons… there was so much chaos."

Dorian was frowning seriously. "That's why you initially wanted to try and seek the Templars help to close the breach?"

Eve nodded. "Cullen found out from Barris that Aidan wasn't with them. I don't know where he is," she looked at Dorian, forcing a smile. "And then you distracted me with all that time magic business with Alexius," she added jokingly. "Anyway, Leliana knows. She has every eye and ear out there for him…But, he can take care of himself and he never would have gone along with that Lord Seeker. I'm… sure he is fine."

"If he's anything like you then I'd be certain of that," Dorian said warmly, though he could hear deep concern to her voice.

"Stupid, isn't it?" Eve added, throwing Dorian a half-hearted smile that did not reach her eyes. "I'm the Inquisitor and I can't even find my own brother."

"At least you have every chance in the world of finding him because of that fact," Dorian said comfortingly.

Eve smiled at him, "So… anyway," she continued, not wanting to talk about this painful subject anymore. "You had better keep quiet about this… thing that you… found out about…"

"Your blooming love for the Commander you mean?" grinned Dorian.

"Ok," said Eve quickly, "let's not escalate things now."

Dorian laughed. "I won't say anything," he promised. "So long as you promise you will try to be yourself around him. You know, give him some of your charm?"

"Aghhhh…" groaned Eve. "You're not going to stop are you?"

"Certainly not," he scoffed, "I'm a romantic, Eve."

Eve stood up, glaring at Dorian all the way. "I'm going to go to Inquisitorial things now," she said in a fake snooty manor. "And as the Inquisitor," she smirked at him. "I order you to be silent on the topic."

Dorian looked mockingly affronted, "I am shocked and appalled," he said, unable to hide a smirk. "Thankfully I happen to be good friends with this Inquisitor you keep speaking of. I can ignore her orders."

Eve sighed in annoyance but couldn't stop a laugh tumbling from her lips. "Drinks later?" she asked shaking her head in annoyed amusement.

"Absolutely," agreed Dorian.

Author's Note:

Thanks for reading! :) I have lots of plans for this story so I hope other people are interested in it too. Please let me know if you liked it or would like to read more! Future chapters will be longer than this one, this was merely a prologue and teaser to set up the rest of the story. Also, obviously this story will contain two of my faaaavourite romances. One of which is male/male so if anyone doesn't like that, best to stop reading now. Rated T for now, will probably move to M later. The cover pic for the story is Eve, and if you'd like to see Aidan he is the pic on my profile page.

:):):)