Author's Note: This is my first serious fanfic~ Hope you all enjoy it. I wanted the first chapter up as soon as possible, but will update soon after my exams. Betas are welcome. As are all other suggestions and feedback.

"Join us, brothers and sisters.

Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant.

Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be forsworn.

And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

And that one day we shall join you."

"How did I get myself into this…?" Celes thought as she was approached by the Warden-Commander. She grimly took hold of the chalice, and looked down at its deep crimson contents, allowing her gaze to flicker briefly to her side where her fallen companion lay. The little voice in her head whispered, "You have nothing to lose…" She held the rim to her lips, and drank.

Two months ago…

"Move faster, you worthless piece of scum!" She was always yelled at by Thomas. It was uncommon, and she should be used to it by now, but it never ceased to rile her up just a little. Celes was a servant girl of Arl Rendon Howe, in his estate in Amaranthine. The Arl was in his Denerim estate at that moment, preparing for the Landsmeet.

Celes was a child of a human-elf union. Such unions were traitorous, as the children of these unions were always human, and the elves were slowly dying out; as a result, her father had been exiled from the Dalish community to which he once belonged. Her mother hailed from Ayesleigh, but she had not known either of them for very long before they were murdered near the outskirts of Lothering.

Barely 7 years old, Celes had watched the bandits rape her mother while she hid in the bushes and her father weeping, begging them to stop. It had been a beautiful autumn day, with leaves the different shades of orange littering the trade route alongside Lothering. But all Celes could see was her parents' blood pooling around them, staining the leaf-strewn path deep red.

She did not understand what happened very well. But daddy had said "Don't come out! No matter what happens, stay hidden!" And she did. It wasn't long before the bandits left, and the terrified little girl crawled out of her hiding place and stumbled over to the cold, lifeless bodies of her parents. "Daddy…?" She prodded her father experimentally. His body was cold, but his eyes were open, staring blankly into the distance, and it scared her. She turned and looked at her mother; mommy was always angry with daddy for some reason, but now she was so quiet… and calm. "Wake up, mamae…"

It was at that opportune moment that a carriage, occupied by the Howes of Amaranthine, appeared at the end of the road. Celes was hugging her father's cold, dead body, and failed to notice the Arlessa stepping down from the carriage and approaching her. What happened after that was a blur of tears and shouting, as she was unwillingly pried away from her parents. The Arlessa had persuaded her husband to take in the poor orphan girl to serve as a maid in the estate; and she had been living that life ever since.

She arrived at the estate, confused and crying. Celes found a comfy companionship with the Arl's youngest daughter, Delilah, who was the same age as her, despite the disapproval of her father and older brothers. It took some time to reconcile herself with the loss of her parents at such a young age, but her life was good in the estate with the Arlessa caring for her as if she were her own. But all good things had to come to an end when the Arlessa contracted a mysterious illness when she was ten, and slowly wasted away, finally passing when Celes was twelve… Then came the abuse.

"What's happening?" Her mind was whirling in confusion as the Arl forced himself on her over and over again. She did not understand. It hurt, but why wouldn't he stop? She cried, but why didn't anyone help her?

Knock-knock-knock.

The sound of the door-knocker brought her back from the present, and she realized she had been standing at the front door, hand on the knob, for Maker knows how long… She turned the knob, opened the door, and was greeted by the sight of a messenger at the doorstep.

"Yes?" Celes did not think the messenger was worth announcing to the rest of the family in the estate. "I have important news for the Howe family." The messenger announced curtly, before engaging in a glaring competition that made Celes relent and let him in.

It was not long before the Nathaniel, Thomas and Delilah had all gathered in the sitting area around the newsbearer. He had a stiff expression, giving nothing away until, without warning, he unrolled the missive and stated, "The late Arl Rendon Howe has been found guilty of high treason and is branded a traitor to Ferelden. Amaranthine is forfeit to the throne. All inhabitants are to evict the premises within 5 days. That is all." And as soon as started, he had finished; then turned quickly and left, undoubtedly an attempt to avoid any 'unpleasantries' that would be bestowed upon him by the late arl's children.

Celes looked around the room to see the reactions of the 3 suddenly orphaned children. Nathaniel looked dumbstruck; shock clearly splayed across his features, his jaw slightly open as if to call out to the messenger, but could not find the words. Thomas had both hands running through his hair, eyes wide in disbelief, and had fallen to the floor after his knees gave way. She searched Delilah's face for clues that would give away her feelings, but could find none; her face was emotionless, as the revelation sank into her, it was as if her ability to feel had been numbed to her core. Even though Celes detested the Arl for obvious reasons, it hurt to see her friend's emotions fade away in the few short moments after the announcement of her father's death. She moved forward ever so slightly to touch her arm, and that's when the screaming began.

A chilling, deafening scream pierced through the ominous silence in the air. Celes withdrew her hand from Delilah's arm to cover her ears as she realized the sound was coming from the woman beside her. Delilah's eyes were shut tight as she clenched her fists beside her face and screamed. She screamed for her father's death, for her lost titles, and the home she would soon lose. She screamed for her bleak-looking future and her family's shame, and she screamed because she did not trust herself to stay sane if she kept everything inside any longer.

When she finally stopped, Thomas lowered his hands from his ears slowly, "Maker's breath! Delilah, are you trying to rob us of our hearing too?" Shamefaced, she looked up and started to retort, "I…"

"No. We need to stick together now more so than ever, as a family." Nathaniel spoke up. He was firm and trying to be strong, being the eldest and all that. The other two looked to him with deference and desperation, for guidance, for hope. "First things first, we need to tell everyone else in the estate to leave too." He cast a sideways glance to Celes, who had been observing the whole play out of events with interest. "That includes you, Celes. You have to go."

Then it struck her. She had to leave. She was… Free? But where would she go? She had no money. She had no family. She had no other expertise. "I… see. Then leave I shall, ser Nathaniel." She gave a short curtsy and retreated to the servants' quarters where her room was, ignoring the curious glances from Delilah and the servants of the estate.

It didn't take long to pack up what little belongings she had, a few sets of clothing, her favorite flute, and a dagger she kept under her bed for protection. Hoisting up her pack, she looked around one last time at the room she spent the last 13 years of her life in. "Nary a good memory to take with me. Figures." She mumbled under her breath and strode out to the master bedroom.

When she left, Celes had in her pockets roughly 10 of Arl Howe's rings. "Nothing compared to what he took from me," she thought bitterly and grabbed a handful from the mantel in his bedroom. After filching some bread and cheese from the larder, and an injury kit from the storehouse, Celes set out the backdoor, not wanting to face the prying crowd gathered outside the Arl's estate.

Don't look back…

She kept walking.