A/N: This will be a rather "longer than planned " story that has now grown into 9 chapters. I will be posting rest of the chapters as soon as I make them available. I hope you enjoy the story.

I want to thank the following friends on the DA writers fanfic club who beta'd this for me:

A huge thank you to Elysis, Cmessaz, and Hilde for taking out time and reading my first five chapters and helping me with story input.

Another HUGE thank you to Legbamel for taking the time to not only beta my story but correcting my grammar and wording.

Update 12/31/12: Well it has been a very long time since I have added chapters to this continuing story. However I am still in the process of producing chapters in my spare time for this story. At least three are done and three more in progress. I will loading these as soon as I have another quiet moment to myself in my busy life. :)

The Exiled-Chapter 1: The Chase

The Circle Tower-Knight-Lieutentant Draven

Knight-Lieutenant Draven had not forgotten her, even through horrible mage revolt in the tower and through the Blight that threatened. He still remembered the apostate mage from Riverway who killed three of his Templars under his command. He had lost her and the young girl that night as one of his men had croaked out her name in that alley. The man had been burned so severely that even a healer would not have been able to help him. With his own hand he had to put his friend out of his misery and cursed the despicable mage for it all. After that Draven had gone to the family homestead but that had also turned into the second fiasco for the night. The man and woman who answered the door that night refused to disclose anything about Vivian and Kora to them. Then things got ugly and violent with two dead apostate mages and no answers. Draven and his men then questioned the rest of the townsfolk and found some of the answers they were looking for.

After getting descriptions of the girls and a reliable destination to track them too Draven began his search. However the trail on the way back to the Circle Tower went cold and then all hell broke loose. Now with everything back under control and new templar recruits living in the tower he was once again given permission to continue his search. The once cold trail now seemed to warm once again with the arrival of the letter. His half brother Drustin, who ran the Black Wolf Company, half of which were expert trackers, may have found his quarry. A woman and young girl having similar descriptions of the two he was seeking were found in Bower's Hill. He could not be sure as the hair color and styles did not match what he had been told. But that did not matter certain physical characteristics could be changed others could not. He was positive he had them and so as not to waste a moment he penned a quick reply.

"Make no threatening move towards them. Act as nothing more than a group staying for a rest then moving on. Take this gold and use it to find out whatever you can even seducing her till I get there. You were always good at that when it came to women. I will be there in two days and will send word to meet up when I arrive. Look for me. Draven" He folded the letter sealed it with wax and gave it to the merc courier with some gold coin "Take this and deliver it as quickly as you can and directly into Tracker's hands." The young boy nodded eyes widening at the amount of coin he was given to hold. "Oh and don't even think about taking the gold and running. We will find and gut you like a pig if you do."

Fear made the boy's eyes go wide as he stammered. "No ser, I work for Drustin personally." Draven narrowed his eyes then dismissed the boy with a nod of his head.

As the boy dashed out he nearly ran over Gregoir, the current Knight Commander of the Tower Circle. Draven crossed his arms over his chest in salute as Gregoir said. "What news do you have for me?" Draven put the ink and the wax away as he spoke. "Commander do you recall that apostate who killed those Templars in Riverway after Ostagar? After Lothering her trail went cold. However some former contacts who are also rangers may have found her again."

Gregoir raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner. "Former contacts? Would that be the mercenaries you ran with before you were a templar? I do remember that incident, yes what have you found out?" Draven invited the Commander to sit while he poured a cup of wine and handed it to Gregoir.

"With the Blight and crisis here raging at the time trying to lead a search would be futile of course. So I got in contact with the Black Wolves and my half brother, Drustin, who agreed to start where I had to stop. The Black Wolves frequent the Bannorn and Coastlands so I hired them to track the two girls. More than likely the apostates had limited supplies and a limited amount of coin; so I had him start at Lothering. It of course has taken up till now but I received a message from him today that a woman and teenage girl of similar descriptions now reside in Bower's Hill. I have instructed him to keep an eye on them for me. I wish to ask permission to take leave and see for myself if they are indeed apostates. I would like to take five Templars with me as well." Gregoir sipped his wine slowly considering this request as Draven continued with his argument. "I would not ask this except I saw firsthand what this apostate did to my men, good men that did not deserve death. I would bring them both back here and execute the older one. The younger one we can put into training as a mage and if need be make her into a tranquil. I wish to get them unprepared so she does not have a chance to run."

Gregoir nodded asking. "How do you intend to do that? Our uniforms are not exactly inconspicuous or quiet for that matter."

Draven sat down in his own chair putting his fingers together explaining. "I know where the Wolves will be camped outside the town. Mercenaries tend to keep a rather large supply of extra weapons and armor from their conquests. If I can't sneak in under the cover of night then I will disguise us in merc armor. Granted our garb gives us more advantages over mage effects but the woman is the only one we really need to be concerned about. The girl will have little if any training I suspect so she will not be a problem for less experienced Templars to get at. The difference in this situation is they will be the surprised ones, not the other way around. For now that is my plan. Until I meet up with Drustin to find out the situation fully it is hard to have a definite plan in place."

Gregoir downed the rest of his wine turning the goblet over and over. The Templars were dedicated to making sure mages were in there places and dealing with the wild ones. This one Draven sought did literally fry three Templars to death in their armor which of course is a death sentence by their terms. Standing Gregoir granted his permission "Very well, because of the nature of the mage we are dealing with and since they are still in Ferelden. But if something goes awry and they escape north I want you to report back to me before giving a chase. Our numbers may be at a comfortable level but I am reluctant to allow six of you leave the country. For now choose the five to go with you and choose wisely. I don't want all our best or newest to go out in the field and be lost."

Draven breathed an inner sigh of relief even though he did not show it on the outside. "Thank you Knight-Commander. You have my word I will keep you appraised of the situation." Draven saluted him and bowed slightly as Gregoir left the room. He dropped his head back closing his eyes in relief. Looking out the tower window he mentally began to run through dozens of Templars now at his disposal to take the trip north.

Bower's Hill-Vivian

Vivian's, or Alana's, as she called herself, day started off like any other day in the town of Bower's Hill in the outer Bannorn Region. Her niece Kora, was still sleeping in her bed, though that was not the name she used here either. They had changed Kora's name to Janna to protect her as well. Morning's routine consisted of washing away the night's sleep, a quick breakfast and off to work. Vivian to the tavern and Kora to the local washer woman's wooden stall run by a grandmotherly old woman named Esilia. They had been in Bower's Hill for about one year now. The pair had arrived there about six months after the darkspawn spewed out of the earth and a new Blight had begun. Now it was seven months since the Blight and the Archdemon's defeat and the Cousland Warden, as he came to be called, was now the new king and married to Anora. The queen's father, Loghain, was celebrated as a hero as it was he who killed the Archdemon and died in the process. The act of his sacrifice elevated him to the Hero of Ferelden in addition to the Hero of River Dane. The other Grey Warden called Alistair or as he was now called the Exiled Pretender had vanished right after the Landsmeet. Some came through saying the king had the pretender secretly executed so that he could not be a future threat. Others had said that his uncles Bann Teagan and Arl Eamon ferried him away to some unknown hiding spot. Either way it mattered not to Vivian since it was hard to tell what was fact and fiction about the Blight and the Grey Wardens. To her they were tales to spin to Kora at night when they retired to bed. Being a tavern worker she heard all manner of stories come through. However she was always on alert for any word of two apostate mages being hunted from Riverway or Lothering.

Fears and thoughts of the past plagued Vivian on a daily basis. She tried her best to not think back on those days stragglers from Ostagar came in. Word and rumors spread like rampant disease about the defeat, the king's death, the pulling out of Loghain's army and the betrayal of the Grey Wardens. That horrible night behind the tavern with the Templars and Kora haunted her dreams, the smell of scorched metal and flesh always present in her memory. The eventual news of her parents' death and the destruction of the farm. The word being spread that Templars were hunting two runaway apostates reaching their ears. No, no she would not and could not think about it. She had to remain calm and strong for Kora, lock the horror and weakness away inside of her. Since the ending of the Blight she had seen or heard nothing about Templars looking for them. Perhaps, Vivian mused, that had made them forget about searching and deal with their own troubles. Vivian could only hope as she breathed a prayer as set the plates on their small table and she called out. "Kora, breakfast is ready."

They had grown accustomed to their life here but not complacent. Still they could not help but look over their shoulders waiting for the Templars to arrive in their search for them. Bower's Hill of course had a chantry but no Templars here only local militia and soldiers. At least for time being anyway as they were here to earn enough to get themselves to Jader and take ship into Cumberland. From there they would strike out for Asariel in Tevinter where her parents' family lived. A daunting journey of several thousand miles but it was the only guaranteed place of safety. Getting lost in the myriad of mages and under family protections was their best bet. With Ferelden still trying to recover from the Blight the Circle would be hard pressed to send Templars chasing after them through the northern lands of Thedas. She just hoped however that they could find refuge with or among her far away relatives. "If not well, I am not going to think about that. Getting out of Ferelden unscathed and alive is the first hurdle to overcome." she thought to herself. Vivian sighed as she pushed fears out of her mind sitting down to her plate of eggs and sausage as Kora came in and sat down. This was a good place with good people but all good things must eventually come to an end.

As Kora sat down she mostly played with the food on her plate rather than eat. The child's dreams last night had once again been plagued by nightmares. Templars, fires and a dark uneasiness that implied danger always seemed to haunt her and Vivian. It had been a long time since she had dreams but now what started up as little bit here and there were becoming more frequent. This did not go unnoticed by Vivian. "Kora what is it? You look pale and tired. Are you not sleeping again? What is wrong?" Vivian asked as Kora felt herself being studied.

Kora stayed silent for a bit then spoke hesitantly. "The nightmares are back and I can't seem to stop them."

Vivian studied Kora for a moment then asked. "Ah I see but that is not all is it? What did you see child? What else is there you don't want to tell me?" Kora stared out the window past Vivi's head towards the alley way. Whispering to her aunt but still not looking at her she said "I think they are coming again. I saw a darkness tinged with red that seems to get closer with each dream."

Vivian's heart began to beat hard with panic. "Do you mean the Templars? How long have the dreams been happening?"

Kora shrugged still playing with her eggs looking forlorn. "A few days now. Do you think we will have to leave soon?"

Vivian shoulders sagged in sadness and she hated herself. One rash act now had them on the run, constantly in fear that they would never reach Tevinter. It was so, so far away and limited coin only took a person far let alone two. But they had no choice if they wanted to avoid the Templars and the Circle. Kora should be having friends, being interested in boys and living life as a youth in a safe home. But she was not, she was working as a washer woman's assistant to earn coin so they could have enough to travel.

Vivian took Kora's hand and squeezed it. "Yes we will have to leave soon. This dream of yours is a warning I think we should heed. I don't like running anymore than you do but, Kora look at me." Vivian shook Kora's hand to get the girl's attention. Light blue eyes focused on her green ones. "We will make it to Tevinter and to Aunt Mahari's home. I swear that we will have a home and we will no longer have to run. Trust me okay?"

Kora bit her lip then sitting up straighter nodded. "I trust you aunt and I know we have will have to leave soon. I know you are trying to the best you can for us."

Vivian smiled squeezing her hand again. "Doing the best for us or failing us? I sometimes wonder at that little one."

Kora sensed Vivi's sadness at this whole situation they were in. She went over to her aunt and gave her a hug. "At least I am on the run with you; I know you will keep me safe." Kora said softly. Vivian nodded sniffling "That I will always do child, that I will always do, with my last dying breath. Now eat your breakfast. Tonight we need to work on the minor spells, control and see how much we have for savings for this next journey."

Alistair

Alistair awoke with a wine laden head and mouth to match. He knew he was at some inn, in some bed, in some town and had once again had too much to drink and too little to eat. His stomach rumbled violently indicating that he was going to be sick. He groaned rolling over the side of the bed and vomited in the chamber pot. In between heaves he cursed the warden king, Aelil, and queen with ill luck with all the vile he could muster. For two months now he had been on the move, exiled out of Ferelden like badly infectious pox. Thankfully Teagan had kept him sheltered and safe till he had taken his leave not wanting to put his uncle in danger of retribution. Teagan had supplied him well with plenty of supplies and coin which for all his drunken episodes he has managed to not lose or spend recklessly. He was not without common sense and the long road from Ostagar up until this moment had hardened him. With the last of his retching done Alistair rolled over and threw an arm over his forehead. The spinning in the room finally stopped after several minutes, making the attempt to move easier. Easing up off the bed he stared out the window at the rising sun over the square. The town was a not very large but served many travelers between the West Hills and Jader. The town was not far from the coastal waters of the Waking Sea and he could smell the ocean on the morning breeze. The wind felt good on his face and he leaned out the casement breathing deeply.

Merchants were opening doors and vendors raised their canopies for another day of selling and trading. He caught his reflection in the window pane as he turned his head to the side. His hair was an untidy mess sticking up and his face has started growing a beard. He cringed at his appearance which he had always been rather meticulous about, even during the Blight. His present state of dishevelment did seem to cause people to mostly avoid him. It particularly seemed to keep women at bay except for those who sold their bodies to anything with a penis. He was not interested in women or in anything except getting out of Ferelden and cursing the new royal couple with this every step. Turning from the window he bathed in a cold water bath, cleaned himself up and decided to trim the beard he was sporting. His blonde hair had grown out longer that what he normally kept it but he did not care about that, just the facial hair. He was not overly fond of the scraggly-bearded wildman look. It was so much easier to manage his looks when he went the low maintenance route but the facial hair thing, yes that needed to be kept tamed down. He put his hair into a ponytail, gathered his things and went down to the tavern room. In the smoky room only a few of the patrons had come down for the morning meal. Alistair went up to the bar and paid for his room then ordered a plate of food with ale. He figured he had better eat something substantial to hold him on the road. Since he was traveling by himself he had to keep this strength up otherwise he going to get dusted to the ground in a fight.

While waiting for food he studied the map Teagan had supplied him. He was currently in Sangia's Port and was several days' ride from Jader where he planned to catch a ship to Cumberland. He planned to stop at the Warden headquarters in Jader for a rest and some supplies. He could tell them he was on his way to Weisshaupt fortress. He may have quit the Wardens here in Ferelden but that did not mean he couldn't make a home with other Warden sects. Anything that would get him out of Ferelden and away from that spoiled ass of a Cousland and the ice spawned bitch of Loghain's. Though Alistair did reflect with satisfaction that Loghain got his death, just not in the way Alistair wanted him to die. Now Loghain was a glorified hero because he had atoned for his sins at Ostagar. Cailan and Duncan deserved better than Loghain's sacrifice for all the trouble that started Alistair's journey. For all his bitterness though Ferelden was his country and home. Alistair could not help but feel a bit of sadness leaving. The only ties to family he had were Teagan and Eamon. However because they would be tied up in the royal court he had to leave lest trouble come down on their heads. They were extremely displeased and disapproving of Aelil's decision that sent them all reeling in surprise. But it was done and they had no choice but to support the new monarchy. In only one small way was Alistair grateful towards Aelil.

After the disastrous meeting with Goldanna, Aelil had encouraged Alistair that life was tough and sometimes you had to be tough or people would walk all over you. So that is what he started learning how to do: being his own decision maker, his life, his way, his rules to live by was freedom, even in exile. He had found the courage to stand up for what he believed in and his views against a man he thought was his friend. Now he was paying for it by leaving his home, but in the long run he knew he was better off. He was in charge of his own destiny now and the royal couple could go sod off.