Hey guys, it's me again. Here with my (hopefully last attempt) at a Dragon Age Origins story. I have tried so many different times but then my characters develop their backstories further and things change so I have to go back and forth and bleh, it's evil :P Okay, so pretty much everything is set in stone now. All Origins are here except Surana but I've changed them for an attempt at a Templar origin instead because I kinda wanted to play around with it. So we have F/Amell, F/Templar, M/Cousland, F/Mahariel, M/Tabris, M/Brosca and F/Aeducan. So this is going to be an interesting write o.o Wish me luck and please, give me some review, would love to hear what everyone thinks :) With that said, here's the story:
The Mage and the Templar Origin - A Year before the Battle of Ostagar
"Welcome to Kinloch Hold. I'm Knight-Captain Hadley, second in Command here." The brunette greeted warmly as Ciara followed, smiling pleasantly. "Forgive me for asking but you seem very young. May I ask what age you are exactly?"
"Fifteen, turning sixteen in a few weeks." Ciara told him lightly.
Hadley laughed softly. "No wonder everyone's been telling me you're a prodigy. Didn't you only join the formal training at fourteen?"
"Yes, I have watched people train before though. I believe I picked up most of the basics from that." Ciara offered, pausing at the sight of a tall blonde mage leaning against the wall, whistling.
"Well, whose the pretty new girl?" The blonde winked at her.
"Anders behave." Hadley warned.
"I think that is him behaving." A light blonde haired girl noted, she was standing beside him, nose buried in a book.
She was tiny compared to the teen standing next to her who smirked, ruffling her hair. "Well beautiful, as you heard my name is Anders, may I ask what yours is?"
"Ciara." Ciara said, feeling a bit more hesitant.
This guy looked about the same age as her older brothers. She had only just gotten away from them. She couldn't stand the thought of falling straight back into that situation. "And I'm one of your guards. Not a person to be flirted with."
The girl nodded, much to her confusion. "She could beat you up easily Anders."
"You have no faith in me at all do you?" Anders huffed, eyeing the girl. "Besides, it's not like I wanna fight her. I'd prefer wooing her."
Ciara nearly groaned at the eyebrows that wriggled at her.
"You're making her uncomfortable." The girl insisted, lowering her book and meeting her eyes.
Ciara nearly paused, they were so big and blue and shiny.
"I'm Myra Amell. A pleasure to meet you Ciara." Myra offered.
Hadley cleared his throat. "These two are mage apprentices."
"I'm also her big brother." Anders grinned proudly, ruffling Myra's hair again. "Ain't that right squirt?"
"You're just a random guy who keeps following me everywhere." Myra snarked, much to Ciara's amusement.
"Anyway, we need to be going. I want to show our newest recruit her room and give her a chance to meet the Knight-Commander." Hadley interrupted, gesturing to her to walk with him again.
Once they were further down the hall he spoke up again, bemused. "Always need to watch out for those four."
"Four?" Ciara asked, confused.
There had only been two people there.
Hadley sighed. "Jowan, Anders, Myra Amell and Lawrien Amell. The girls are sisters but they somehow managed to make brothers of those two as well. Anders is the oldest and Myra is the youngest and most sensible."
"And the least sensible?" Ciara couldn't help but ask.
They were the ones that always needed an eye kept on them after all.
"Lawrien Amell." Hadley groaned, rubbing his forehead. "She's the biggest concern because most things she does that go wrong are accidental."
.::.
"At times like these I wonder what possessed me to become friends with you again." Ciara couldn't help but remark as she followed Lawrien Amell through the halls.
"We wouldn't stop following you?" Lawrien chirped.
That was correct. Lawrien Amell, Myra Amell, Anders and their tag-a-long Jowan had followed her around a day after she had arrived at the tower at the age of fifteen. Five to six years later and she still hadn't gotten rid of any of them.
She had gotten so many lectures from the Knight-Captain and Knight-Commander for fraternisation before they finally realised that things weren't going to change. That Ciara was still going to be stalked by four mages to be befriended because apparently Lawrien thought she needed a family, no matter how coldly Ciara treated them.
Which, was partially true. She did enjoy her siblings after all but the empath didn't need to rub it in her face.
That had been the big problem. She could never lie to Lawrien and Myra, they both knew exactly what she had apparently wanted and stuck to it. The Amell bloodline, for some reason, had an empathic ability within it and because of her luck both girls had it.
With that, stubbornness and two older boys to help gang up on her, they stalked Ciara throughout her years here.
"Unfortunately." Ciara grumbled, only earning a laugh in return as they slipped into the Chantry room, meeting Jowan right in front of the statue where he and that Lily girl stood.
"Jowan! We can't have a secret meeting in front of the Chantry lady!" Lawrien instantly protested.
"You know you shouldn't admit to a secret meeting in front of people who aren't apart of said meeting." Ciara pointed out, smirking at the look of horror on Lawrien's face.
"Crap!"
"No Lawrien, she's apart of the secret meeting." Jowan tried to explain, looking panicked, which confused her.
"Jowan? Are you alright? If you're nervous about coming clean about your relationship I for one figured it out a while ago." Ciara offered, making him pale.
"Seriously?! When?!"
She shrugged. "Maybe about a month after you two starting dating?"
"She's smart!" Lawrien chirped.
Lily smiled warmly. "That's a prodigy for you. They figure things out fast, don't they Jowan?"
Jowan shook his head, eyes desperate. "That's not the point though! Ciara whatever they've been saying about me it's not true-"
Ciara raised an eyebrow at that. "What do you mean?"
He jerked, taken aback. "You don't know?"
"Know what?" Lawrien asked, seemingly just as confused. "Jowan why are you so upset?"
"I saw on the Knight-Commander's desk that they had approved forcing Jowan through the Rite of Tranquillity." Lily stated, making Ciara freeze.
"What?!" Ciara felt the flare of magic burst out of Lawrien, the fire lighting the room burning brighter with her anger before dying down as Ciara, in reflex, sent out a calming wave to suppress the magical energy.
Lawrien's best spells where within the Elementalist range, especially regarding fire. It was like fire was apart of her, just like how ice was apart of Myra.
The sisters were opposites in look, now that Myra's light blonde hair had gradually turned white, after the Harrowing it resembled snow which fitted perfectly with her 'ice queen' title that everyone had given her. That and cold, blue eyes while Lawrien's brown pair burned brightly.
"Do we need to get Myra in here?" Jowan asked, eyes wide.
"It's fine." Ciara mused while Lawrien gave a quiet 'opps'. "Now, perhaps we can discuss this further? You lost me after the Tranquil part. You believe Jowan, of all people, is going to be made Tranquil?"
"I saw the documents myself in the Knight-Commander's desk." Lily insisted.
"And why were you snooping?" Ciara asked coldly.
A Chantry initiate had no business reading over Knight-Commander Greagior's notes.
"I was handing out messages." Lily admitted softly. "And his desk was empty, I couldn't help myself..."
"Well why don't we ask why they're putting you through it? They could have just mixed up the paperwork." Lawrien suggested, her head tilted as she eyed Jowan. "You aren't a bad person after all. There's probably just a mistake."
"I've been sneaking around at night to meet Lily." Jowan fidgeted, nervous but Ciara frowned, seeing a strange flicker in Lawrien's expression which seemed strangely serious. "They've just assumed I've been practising blood magic when I've been meeting up with Lily!"
"Okay!" Lawrien chirped, grinning again. "Then we can go just tell them that!"
"But that would get Lily in trouble!" Jowan cried out.
Lawrien huffed. "Then how about I go set the paperwork on fire? I've done that before."
"They aren't just going to forget who they want Tranquil-"
"But Templars like having paperwork to prove stuff. Anders said so at least!"
Ciara raised an eyebrow at Jowan, a bit concerned still about Lawrien's earlier serious look. "I hope you aren't lying to us dear brother. I would hate to have to execute you for using blood magic."
"Jowan would never! How dare you-" Lily snarled but Jowan cut her off.
"Lily it's okay! That's Ciara's strange way of showing she cares." Jowan assured her, voice soothing before his eyes met hers. "And I swear, I just want to be with Lily. We want to leave here and go far away and live out the rest of our lives in peace."
Lawrien pouted. "You're leaving us? Aren't we meant to celebrate Myra passing the Harrowing together?"
Jowan shifted. "I'm sorry. I need to do this though. I need to escape."
"They will only hunt you down with your Phylactery." Ciara reminded him.
"I know. It's why we need to break into the vaults and destroy mine."
Ciara flinched and she could feel Lawrien's eyes on her.
"Jowan. You're asking me to do something very serious here. I could be executed for this or even worse, sent to Aeonar." Ciara breathed out, she could easily imagine the turn out of this mess.
They could get caught, herself, Lily, Lawrien, they would all be shipped off to Aeonar and Jowan would immediately be made Tranquil. Myra would be alone. Anders was still running around outside, probably causing trouble somewhere.
Perhaps they did succeed, Jowan and Lily got away, then her and Lawrien would suffer the consequences. There was no way they could get away with it forever, someone would easily spot the connections.
Jowan was weak. That was always the problem. Everybody knew it. Everybody would know that he wouldn't have gotten down into the vaults by himself or even with a Chantry Initiate's help.
Either way, Myra was going to be alone.
Lawrien sniggered, cutting off her thoughts. "Let's do it!"
That, was just so typical.
Ciara sighed, massaging the bridge of her nose. "You people are going to be the death of me."
Lawrien only laughed.
.::.
"Hi gramps!" Lawrien beamed as she ran over, form clutched in her hand as Sweeney looked up from squinting at the library books.
"Lawrien? Is that you girl?" Old man Sweeney greeted, chuckling as Lawrien hugged him then pulled away, showing him her request form. "Oh dear, that's the Rod of Fire form isn't it? What could a sweet, angelic thing like you want with that?"
"I think you might be confusing Lawrien with Myra again sir." Ciara said, smirking when the older man squinted again, eyes on Lawrien.
"Ah yes, Myra's the white haired sister. You're the blonde. Of course you're causing trouble." Sweeney winked playfully, causing Lawrien to laugh.
"I'm just going to light a few things up on fire gramps!" Lawrien grinned while Ciara sighed at the honesty.
"I remember a time when some apprentices requested that form. Those boys began lighting each other's trousers on fire." Sweeney chuckled. "Oh and one of those troublesome lads even burned a peep hole in the girl's dormitory-"
"Was it Anders by any chance?" Ciara couldn't help but ask immediately.
"That's the blonde boy right? Hm, I'm not sure, he's asked for the rod before too though." Sweeney mused, shaking his head as he ruffled Lawrien's hair. "Well, I won't ask why you need it. Tower's been so boring lately, you might as well have a little fun! So tell you what my dear girl, I'll just put my name on this form right here."
Ciara nearly snorted as Lawrien bounced eagerly.
"And you'll do me a favour and light that nasty Templar's trousers on fire right?" He jerked his head at the Templar sitting in the corner, currently glowering at them. "He's always giving me the stink eye."
Ciara glanced over the glowering Templar, recognising the stern face. "Yeah he's usually rather grumpy."
"Will do gramps!" Lawrien chirped, leaping up to give him another hug before taking the form and running. "C'mon Ciara!"
"Yes, yes. I'm coming." Ciara sighed, trailing after her little sister who was already halfway down the hall.
.::.
"See? I warned you guys that we can't just burn our way through." Ciara said, feeling more amused than annoyed while Lawrien frowned at the doorway sealing her magic away.
"I don't like it." Lawrien frowned, twirling the rod in her hands to keep the boredom at bay. "It's making me feel funny."
"It's only sealing your magic." Ciara reassured, her voice soft. "I promise."
Lawrien grinned, feeling the honesty leaking from Ciara. "Alrighty then. So what now? I can't exactly burn a hole through the wall."
"I wouldn't recommend that in the first place." Lily mused, feeling warm and happy as she held Jowan's hand who squeezed back, waves of nerves leaking from him and restless energy.
Lawrien flashed him a smile as Ciara walked towards the other side of the hall where a doorway was, her hand stretched out to grab the handle when suddenly one of the armoured knights moved, swinging his axe down. Lawrien froze at the sight as Ciara ducked down, cursing as the axe swung into the door while Lawrien struggled to bring her magic forth, the evil magic sealing door still trying to hold hers as bay.
She managed to summon a small fireball, chucking it at one of the armoured knights as the other swung again at Ciara who ducked and rolled as she drew her daggers. Lawrien grinned before pausing as the armoured knight seemed the shake off the fire and stared at her.
"Oh crap!" Lawrien yelped, throwing herself to the side when it charged.
She needed to get away from the sealing door and bring her magic back out. She was no use without it!
Lily though swung round, a mace in hand which struck as Lawrien twisted the air around the knight and swung her fist down, shoving it down hard on to the floor with her force magic.
"Lawrien you can cast spells again?!" Jowan called out to her, alarmed.
"Come over here!" She called out but he shook his head.
"Ciara's behind you with that other knight! Heck no!"
Lawrien glanced back, finding Ciara still dodging only to step up on to the handle of the axe mid swing and leap up, twisting her legs around it's helmet and stabbing her daggers into it's face.
"Do they have faces?" Lawrien questioned herself aloud, confused as Ciara finished it off, raising an eyebrow at her, bemused.
"Does it really matter?"
"How can you kill it if it doesn't have a face?" Lawrien frowned at her sister, just as Jowan and Lily caught up to them again.
"It is dead right?" Jowan asked softly, looking relieved at his hands as Ciara's daggers became alight with fire.
Every time Lawrien tried that she melted stuff.
.::.
"Alright, be careful in here. This is where the First Enchanter and Knight-Commander store their powerful and dangerous artefacts." Ciara urged as she walked inside the packed full room, grimacing as Lawrien just cheerfully strode in, admiring a staff which she reached for.
Ciara only smacked her hand away, scowling at the pout she received in return.
Lawrien instantly brightened up though. "Oh look! That's the funny statue! Hi Eleni!"
She was away instantly, hovering in front of an old Tevinter statue making Lily instantly flinch and rush over to try herd Lawrien away. Ciara only shook her head and examined the room, frowning at the old bookshelf with a seemingly unstable wall at it's side. Ciara walked over, determined to get a better look and smoothed her hand over the stone, seeing pieces actually falling apart from the brickwork.
"Ciara? Did you see something?" Jowan asked, seemingly ignoring Lawrien's chat with the old statue, the girl wiping away the dust with a bright, cheery grin while Lily protested.
"This wall seems pretty weak." Ciara noted as she pulled back, letting her little brother in to see as well. "And if I remember right we're near the vaults correct? You were always better at remembering layouts than me though."
"Yeah the chamber should be exactly on the other side of this wall." Jowan nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. "Thank you Ciara, you have no idea what this means to me."
"Be careful out there Jowan. The world isn't a nice place and there are worse sorts out there than the Templars." Ciara warned him, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. "And don't look back. Go be happy out there with her. Treat each other well and if she breaks your heart I'll cut her's out and feed it to a demon."
"I will Ciara. I'll cherish every moment I have with her and don't worry. We're in love, she won't hurt me." Jowan smiled, one of the brightest ones she had seen for a while now.
She nodded. "Good. Now how do we get past this wall?"
Lawrien was suddenly there, startling Jowan into jumping while Ciara raised an eyebrow at her expectantly.
"I could push the wall down with my force magic?" Lawrien suggested as Lily arrived, looking bewildered.
"How do you move so fast?"
"I throw mana into my legs so I can go faster but it makes them tingle and sore sometimes?" Lawrien frowned.
Jowan looked instantly concerned. "Lawrien you need to stop experimenting with your magic. You're going to get yourself killed one of these days."
"But my magic likes it." The blonde insisted.
Ciara swiftly cut in. "We're running out of time. Lawrien, do your thing would you?"
"Right!" Lawrien grinned and just like that she pushed her hand forward, shoving the bricks over with a push of her mana.
Ciara ignored the singing call of the mana and strode into the cold room, magically chilled to probably keep the phylacteries fresh. Jowan whistled while Lily frantically began searching through the first set of shelves.
"We have to hurry! We're running out of time!"
Ciara agreed as Jowan went up the stairs to the other set and Lawrien glanced around. "I wonder if Myra's is still here."
"I doubt it. They would have moved it to Denerim where yours is once she passed her Harrowing." Ciara sighed but whirled around when Jowan gave a victory cry.
"I found it!"
Ciara frowned suspiciously at that. "That was quick."
Lawrien only nudged her arm though. "Good right? We need to get them out of here after all and party with Myra."
Ciara grunted at that, she didn't like this but remained silent. Lawrien could probably feel her dislike and only grinned at her as Jowan raised the glass holding his blood.
"It's amazing how something so small stands between every mage and their freedom. So small and fragile." Jowan said, staring at the medallion before he dropped it, blood spilling over the tiles. "And I'm free."
"Brilliant, amazing. Let's get you free outside!" Ciara ushered, beckoning the couple who were holding hands again, Lily beaming and squeezing Jowan's hand who squeezed back, bright eyed and full of love. "And be sure to name a few kids after us too!"
"Ciara!" Jowan spluttered, cheeks flushing as they rushed for the exit, Lawrien laughing brightly at that.
"Me first Jowan! I'm your favourite after all!" Lawrien winked, making Ciara snort.
"That's probably Myra. Myra's everyone's favourite."
"She's cute!" Lawrien agreed.
"Isn't she the 'Ice Queen' the apprentices speak of?" Lily asked as they got past through the main doors and heading for the last set of stairs.
"Yep!" Lawrien said as Ciara hushed them, quietly creeping out the stairs and out through the door, beckoning them out once she noticed the hall was empty.
"Thank you both so much. Ciara, Lawrien, I mean it. Thank you so much." Jowan was grinning at them but Lily cut him off, looking alert.
"Jowan hush. We need to keep quiet." She hissed, eyes darting over the hall, her posture completely tense.
"She is right. We aren't safe here-" Ciara tensed at the footsteps quickly approaching and froze at the sight of both the Knight-Commander and the First Enchanter approaching, making Lawrien let loose a strangled yelp and Lily and Jowan pale rapidly.
"So what you said was true Irving." The Knight-Commander growled out sternly. "An initiate conspiring with a blood mage. I am disappointed in you Lily. The Chantry will not let this go unpunished."
"Jowan isn't a blood mage!" Lawrien snapped, instantly fiery tempered, making the Templars behind Greagoir tense.
Greagoir was busy examining Lily though. "Shocked but within control of her own mind. I had thought she was merely a thrall but then again, if she was then Ciara should have been able to have noticed. Correct?"
She nearly cursed when his attention went to her. "Sir, I have seen no sign of blood magic from Jowan or corruption. He has used the same basic skill set that he always has used and has made little to no progress since his last examination."
"Hey!" Jowan protested, apparently insulted, before instantly shutting up.
"You and I will speak more of this later Ciara Trevelyan but right now I don't want to hear a thing from you." He literally just ordered her to shut up, much to her frustration but she decided to obey.
She was already in a lot of trouble.
"As Knight-Commander I sentence this blood mage to death! And this initiate has scorned her vows. Take her to Aeonar!"
"Aeonar?!" Ciara choked out, alarmed at the brutal punishment as two Templars approached, ready to seize Lily.
"That's not fair!" Lawrien protested, horrified.
"No!" Jowan suddenly screamed, a knife in hand which made her freeze, stunned. "I won't let you touch her!"
The last thing she saw was a flash of blood and then her vision blacken out.
.::.
"Ciara!" Lawrien yelled, struggling to catch Ciara's suddenly limp form as everyone else was thrown away, leaving herself, Jowan and Lily the only ones standing.
"I-I only knocked her out..." Jowan stammered, nervous. "I'm sorry Lawrien. I'm so sorry but she would have killed me-"
"You lied to us." Lawrien stated, upset as she lowered Ciara to the floor.
"By the Maker!" Lily was backing away from Jowan, growing pale and full of horror and disgust, at herself and at him. "Blood magic? How... How could you? You said you never..."
"I admit I dabbled!" Jowan rushed to explain. "I thought it would make me a better mage!"
He was showered in blood and Lawrien could feel the waves of distress leaking off him but she froze at a very familiar presence lingering at the entrance of the room. Myra's wide eyes staring horrified at Jowan.
She was afraid of Jowan.
"Blood magic is evil!" Lily protested. "It corrupts people! Changes them!"
"I'm going to give it up! I'm going to give it all up!" Jowan cried out desperately, holding out his hand. "I just want to be with you! Please Lily come with me!"
"I trusted you... I was ready to sacrifice everything for you..." Her voice broke and Lily nearly caved in but she shook her head and turned away. "I don't know who you are blood mage! But stay away from me!"
Jowan flinched, as if slapped and stumbled back, glancing over her and Ciara who stirred, groaning softly, making Lawrien tense. "I-I am so sorry..."
With that he ran, making Lawrien nearly cry out at the sight of another brother running, leaving them behind. She clutched Ciara tighter though as she struggled to wake up, just as Myra ran over to Irving, hands shaking as they glowed, alight with healing magic.
"Myra?" Irving groaned as he struggled to sit up. "When did you get here child?"
"I-I overheard that they got into trouble. I thought it was just the usual and I wanted to lecture them but this?" Myra gritted her teeth. "I should have turned him into a bloody ice statue!"
"None of us expected this." Irving reassured as he stood up, Greagoir, who was beyond pissed, marching over to him. "Are you alright Greagoir?"
"As good as can be considering the circumstances!" He spat. "If you had let me act sooner this would not have happened and now we have a blood mage on the loose!"
"Can't you use his phylactery?" Myra suggested as Ciara groaned, sitting up shakily.
"D-Did Jowan just use blood magic?"
Lawrien nodded. "Yep."
"That bastard lied to us. To our faces." Ciara cursed, a rare sound which nearly made Lawrien laugh but she glanced up at the Knight-Commander as she helped her sister stand.
"Jowan broke it." Lawrien admitted, the Knight-Commander's frustration building up even further.
Ciara sighed. "I doubt he got very far. There's a lake outside after all unless he did an Anders and decided to try swimming across."
"You're his friends! Did any of you ever suspect anything?!" Greagoir demanded, glaring at herself, Myra and Ciara.
"I would have turned him into an ice sculpture if I had." Myra glowered.
"I would have killed him." Ciara said.
"I had no idea!" Lawrien grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. "I wonder when he started that up?"
"I thought he was only sneaking about to meet up with Lily." Ciara sighed. "I should have followed him."
"We told you to stop stalking people." Myra pointed out.
"We will use every resource we have to capture him." The Knight-Commander stated before glaring over towards Lily. "And you! You helped a blood mage! Look at all he's hurt!"
"That's not fair! She didn't know-" Lawrien protested but felt Lily's eerie calm wash over her, confusing her.
"No save your breath. I can speak for myself." Lily's eyes hardened, as if overcoming whatever had terrified her before. "Kn-Knight-Commander I was wrong... I was accomplished to a... A blood mage... I will accept whatever punishment you see fit... Even... Even Aeonar..."
"Get her out of my sight!" Greagoir spat out before glaring at the three of them left. "And what am I supposed to do with you three exactly?"
"Hey! Don't count in Myra!" Lawrien glared. "She had no idea!"
She paused at the cold, frost she felt lingering within the room, making Greagoir tense while Irving only sighed.
Myra was currently glaring at them both, cold fury in her eyes. "Yes, I do wonder why I was not involved dear sisters. Perhaps I could have told you how utterly stupid this entire idea was."
"We didn't want to spoil your big day?" Ciara suggested.
"You already did!"
"I just forgot to let you know." Lawrien admitted honestly.
"That I am not surprised about!" Myra sneered, the room growing even colder.
"Did you take anything from the repository girls? That room is full of dangerous artefacts." Irving chided, making Lawrien sigh.
"I saw a cool staff but Ciara wouldn't let me touch it. I did dust Eleni though and we chatted for a bit. Lily didn't like her though." Lawrien noted.
"Ciara your family would be embarrassed to hear what you did today." Greagoir sighed, massaging his forehead in frustration. "I have no idea what to do with you right now. You're one of my best yet this cannot go unpunished."
"Please don't send them to Aeonar." Myra pleaded. "I beg of you not to Knight-Commander. These two are idiots but they don't deserve Aeonar. I would rather you made them swim a thousand laps around the tower and nearly have them drown!"
"I'm not sure how much love I'm feeling right now from you Myra." Ciara pointed out, amusement rolling off her.
Myra eyes sharpened. "That's the point."
"Knight-Commander if I may?" The Grey Warden guest Lawrien recognised from earlier was approaching, surprising them all. "I am looking for Grey Warden recruits as of right now. Irving spoke highly of both Lawrien and Myra Amell, and you spoke highly of Ciara Treveylan as well-"
"They are very young still Duncan and highly reckless." Irving admitted, his hand on Myra's shoulder. "Really Myra is only just about to become fourteen-"
"You promised him Grey Wardens?!" Greagoir yelled, alarm pooling off him.
"I agree on young Myra's behalf, and yes, Lawrien and Ciara are both still young as well but they would flourish well with us I believe. We all know their talents are wasted within the Circle." Duncan said, looking fondly over them both, making Ciara instantly weary and confused while Lawrien grinned at the warm feeling. "Besides, worse things plague this world than blood mages and we need all the help we can get in fighting the Darkspawn."
"Does this mean we're going to the Deep Roads?" Lawrien asked, confused.
"There are still sometimes attacks on the surfaces but yes. It means you get to come help Orzammar too with the Darkspawn." Duncan explained before looking firmly over Irving and Greagoir. "I take these young women under my wing and will bare responsibility for all their actions."
Myra snorted. "Good luck with that one. They tend to get into a lot of trouble, especially Lawrien."
"How can they be rewarded for this?! This is a mockery!" Greagoir protested.
"You know Duncan can just easily conscript the two of them Greagoir. It is out of our hands now." Irving hushed him, earning a grumble.
"It sounds fun, eh Ciara?" Lawrien grinned, laughing when she felt Ciara's weariness and exasperation grow.
"It's not like I can just leave you on your own." Ciara noted.
Myra was staring sternly at Duncan, earning an amused look. "If you get my sisters killed I won't forgive you."
"I'll keep them as safe as I can."
"I suppose that will have to do, considering Lawrien's tendency to get into trouble." Myra nodded, before reaching over to pull Lawrien into an embrace who hugged back just as tightly. "Stay safe?"
"I'll try to." Lawrien smiled, beckoning Ciara over who instantly sank into the hug, squeezing them both tightly. "You stay safe too. You'll be here alone now."
"That's fine. You people are too noisy anyway." Myra huffed as she pulled away. "Now get going and be sure to watch each others backs."
"Aye, aye!" Lawrien beamed.
They were going to head out and become Grey Wardens. Ciara still seemed suspicious and weary but Lawrien had a feeling that this was going to turn out for the best. She was excited and couldn't wait to see what Duncan had in store for them.
It was a brand new adventure.