AN: Alright! Here we go! I can't believe I'm actually going to attempt to write this, but here we go! Reviews are welcome! Lots of talking in this first chapter which is definitely not how I do things, but this is how Delia wanted her story to be told. With that said...enjoy! I think?

Disclaimer: I own none of the peeps you read about. Well, technically, Amell belongs to Bioware...she just has a different story to tell.

Chapter One

There is a fine line between a truth and a lie.

But who decides which is which?

"What can you tell me about her?" The Knight-Commander asked, during one of his usual visits with the First Enchanter.

"She's powerful, Greagoir," Irving replied, looking down at the children playing on the grounds below. The eldest apprentice, assigned to watch over the children, was currently playing catch with a small group of new arrivals. It was easy to see how she kept herself always facing the children, always watching to see if someone strayed too near the water's edge, or took a tumble. She always kept the safety of the children first.

"I don't think I've ever seen any mage pick up the skills and abilities as quickly as she has."

"Any suspicions?" Greagoir asked, leaning over the railing to watch the apprentice more closely.

"Ever since Lila was made Tranquil, Apprentice Amell has been kept under close watch. I've spoken with her a few times and she's confessed how much she misses her friend, but she's always conducted herself well. She's made mention how much she wishes to complete her Harrowing when we believe that she's ready. If I hadn't seen for myself how well she conducts herself, I would have my doubts."

Greagoir was silent and turned Irving's words over in his mind. "I suppose we'll put her under close supervision when our new recruits arrive."

"That won't be for another three months, and then she'd have to wait six months after that. You know she's-"

"I will not change any rules on account of one apprentice Irving, and you know that." Greagoir gripped the railing tightly within his gauntlet covered hands, but as he watched the Apprentice below, he knew he was being too harsh on the girl. Everyone at the Circle knew her and how well she followed the rules. Even now, there was a Harrowed mage with her, as well as two templars who watched over them in case things got out of hand. If she had to check on a child during the night, she always made sure a templar was with her, and she never stayed up past curfew. He knew she'd be fine for her Harrowing, but rules were rules.

"If I let the rules slide for one I have to do the same for all."

Irving held up his hand in an attempt to silence his old friend. "Say no more. I may not agree with your decision, but I will at least accept it."

A bell rang from the grounds below, signaling that it was time to go in and the Knight-Templar and First Enchanter continued to watch Apprentice Amell as she guided the children inside.

"Aww, but Delia I don't want to go inside!" A child complained at her.

Delia Amell tried to hide the smile on her face as she rumpled the young one's hair. "Your studies inside the Circle are just as important as those outside, James. Besides, you all need to wash up before dinner. Now, is everyone here?"

Delia made a quick count of all the children. They had lined themselves up perfectly and waiting as patiently as young children possibly could knowing that dinner was inside.

"All set?" She asked, giving them each a knowing look. The apprentice turned to look at Ser Erin who had accompanied them outside. Delia would never say aloud that she had a friend in the templars, as it would be bad for both of them, but she would say that Erin's company was always the most appreciated.

"Ser Erin, Enchanter Wynne will lead them inside. I'll bring up the end." It was the same every day. Delia always announcing her intentions before she did anything. She'd done it so often that it had almost become habit. The children were even starting to pick up on it. It wasn't that it was a bad thing to do, and some of the Harrowed Mages looked at her strangely, but it kept her safe. It made the templars less wary of her.

"Very good, miss." Ser Erin gave her a curt nod before turning to lead the line of children into the tower.

Delia did a final count as the children filed into through the large doorway. All twenty, she thought to herself, remembering when there were just a few of them when she had first arrived almost fifteen years ago. She couldn't help but wonder if the templars in Ferelden were becoming far more strict in finding apostates or if people were all the more willing to tear a child away from the only home they'd ever known.

The sun had just touched the horizon when Delia turned to cast a final look at the skyline. It had been a day just like this when the templars took her away from her parents. Though her parents had always known she could manipulate magic, it was her older sister that turned her into the templars. To this day, Delia wondered what could possibly make her sister do such a thing to her, and in the beginning it had angered her. She left behind a younger brother who would never remember her, and she could still recall the look of sorrow on her father's face. The sound of her mother's plea for them to not take her daughter once haunted Delia's sleep.

"Thinking of making a run for it?" A voice asked from behind her.

Delia instantly straightened and turned to face the Knight-Commander Greagoir. If there was ever a man who could instill fear in a person just by looking at them, it was Greagoir. He was a man to whom the years had not been kind, and the deep set of his mouth and the hard look in his dark eyes only made him that much more fearful.

"Have I ever given you cause to think such a thing?" She asked, making sure she kept her hands in plain view, lest he think that she kept a blade in them.

Greagoir didn't answer her but motioned for her to get inside. Delia gave a quick nod of her head and she hurried inside. Just after crossing the threshold she turned to take one last look at the slowly fading light. The windows here never really gave her the same view as when she was out on the grounds and she wanted to savor it. Living in a circle, it was sometimes difficult to tell if any night would be your last.

The doors shut and their metal clanging echoed in the antechamber. All was silent except the shuffling of children's feet which caused Delia to realize that she was not alone. Pushing the memories of her family aside, she forced a smile on her face and clapped her hands twice.

"Alright, children! Line up!" It was the children's favorite part: the race back to their dormitories. It was their last chance to get out all of their excess energy as the atmosphere of the Circle was very subdued.

"Amell…" Ser Erin cautioned. "Be careful."

Delia shrugged and raised a hand signaling that she needed the children's attention. "You remember the rules?"

"Yes!" The chorused, their eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Fast…" She started.

"Feet!" The responded in unison.

"Loud…"

"Voices!"

"And above all…"

"Avoid the templars!" Their voices resounded in the entryway and it was a signal to all on the first floor that they needed to move out of the way.

"GO!" Delia yelled, laughing as children ran passed her and towards their room.

She waited until the last child has passed her before she too took off running.

"Delia!" She could hear Wynne's voice behind her but she paid the woman no need. They had this fight almost every single time she let the children race to the dormitories. Their opinions differed as Delia believed that the children shouldn't fear this place, and the Circle shouldn't be a prison for all who were forced to live in it.

She brought up the rear of the group and entered the children's dormitories to find them doing exactly what they should be doing. They were helping each other get ready for dinner by combing their hair, as well as washing their face and hands.

"You see how well they behave, Wynne?" Delia asked, resting on the doorframe. The older mage had walked her way to the dormitories and was just now joining her.

"You give them too much freedom," she advised.

"I'd rather let them have a little bit of freedom here rather than wishing for a freedom they could never have out there." She tucked a strand of hair back into the braid wrapped around her head.

"You don't think it'll make them too rebellious? Wishing for more and more freedom until they finally manage to be like Anders?"

Delia grimaced at the name of the mage made it no secret that he did not like living in the Circle. Despite his numerous escape attempts, nothing had been done to curb the young man's incessant desire to flee the Tower.

"We must let the children understand that they must find some sort of happiness here, or otherwise they will end up like Anders."

"Lia will you help me?" One of the young girls called to her. She had been attempting to brush out her hair and managed to create an obvious tangle. THere were tears brimming in the young girl's eyes at her incapability of brushing her own hair.

"We'll be in the dining hall in a few minutes," Delia told Wynne, moving to help the young girl.

Wynne couldn't help but watch the young apprentice as she loving took care of the girl. The mage couldn't help but briefly wish that Delia hadn't been born a mage, because this sort of tenderness should be given to her own children.

"She's quite a natural with the children," Irving said, coming up to stand next to her.

"That she is," Wynne replied softly. "Despite how very powerful she is, I'm saddened that she should miss out on all of the opportunities of being a normal woman."

"I think Delia would be the first to tell you that she doesn't not consider her abilities to be a curse." Irving chuckled. "She's often overheard trying to pacify those who seem to be a little disgruntled with this life."

Wynne nodded, knowing that this was true. "I don't think I've ever seen someone so young be so accustomed to this life."

"Life is what you make it," Delia announced to the children.

"So make it a good one!" The children chorused back to her.

"Very good! Now line up, children! It's time for dinner."

Wynne and Irving both turned to make their way to the small dining hall, as it was their turn to be the Harrowed Mages to have the evening meal with Delia and the children.

"Have you heard the rumors coming from the south?" Wynne asked, once they were out of earshot of the young ones.

Irving nodded but for a moment said nothing. "I hear the Grey Wardens are moving."

"Will they come here?" Wynne asked, wondering who would be conscripted or who would ask to go.

"There's no doubt about it." Irving paused in the middle of the hallway and sadly looked back the way they came. "I also no doubt of who they'll ask for."

"You're pushing for your Harrowing, aren't you?" Wynne asked, knowing that Delia would pass with flying colors, but also wanting her to stay an apprentice for as long as necessary. While she'd become a mother-like figure to so many, there were many who looked on Delia as if they were her parents.

"You know I can't talk about that, Wynne. Even to you." Irving admonished quietly, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Although, I should probably mention to you that we will be getting a few new templars within the coming months. Delia should prepare the children."

"And herself," Wynne replied, cheekily.

Irving didn't respond and with the sound of the children coming their way, neither said anymore as they quickly made their way to dinner.