Author's Note: Hello, everyone! This actually the first fanfiction that I've ever written. I absolutely love the world of Dragon Age and its characters. When I got this idea for a story, I was rather happy to just roll with it. Anyway, before the story begins, I just want to say that the first few chapters will be set before the Blight and then it will sort of follow the plot of Origins. And now that I'm done rambling…

Chapter One: Bad Things Come in Threes

"Everard," the little girl whispered timidly. She tapped the teenager on the shoulder when he didn't respond to his name.

"What?" The red-headed apprentice replied, glancing up from his book and at the much younger apprentice.

"The templars are at it again," she said quietly.

His dark blue eyes seemed to darken further when she said this. "Well, it certainly took them long enough. He's nearly been back for a week," Everard remarked, shutting the book and standing up. "Where are they this time, Louise?"

"In the library," Louise responded.

Everard shook his head and said, "Lead the way."

Louise nodded and led Everard from the apprentice quarters to the library. They got there fairly quick. Everard managed to spot the two templars shortly after they arrived and he marched over to where they were.

As usual, they were bothering Anders. The mage was well-known for his many escape attempts. It was obvious why he wanted to leave, though. No one stood up to the templars. At least, no one except for Everard.

He was only seventeen years old. He was slender and a bit short for his age but he made up for that with his quick wit and abrasiveness. And he was First Enchanter Irving's apprentice, which made him virtually untouchable in some people's eyes.

Anders was sitting at a table, trying his hardest to read. But the templars just wouldn't leave him alone. Everard shoved one of them away from the other mage.

"Back off, Amell," the templar he'd shoved snarled upon realizing who it was.

"How about you back off, Tanner?" Everard rejoined.

The second templar listened to Everard and backed away but Tanner did not. One of his gauntleted hands balled into a fist and he swung a punch at Everard. The mage easily dodged the hit and moved behind him. Tanner rounded on him but he was stopped as he was coated in a thin sheet of ice by Everard.

"What is going on in here?" Knight Commander Greagoir's voice shouted.

Everard noticed that Anders flinched at the sound of the man's voice. He put a reassuring hand on the mage's shoulder as Greagoir approached. He stopped, however, when he saw one of his templars encased in ice.

"What is the meaning of this?" Greagoir demanded.

"Tanner was just curious about magic is all," Everard answered off-handedly. "I showed him how much fun it can be."

Greagoir's eyes narrowed as he looked at Everard.

"Amell," he growled. "You are coming with me."

Everard shrugged and said, "I don't see why I should."

Greagoir ignored the mage and ordered someone to thaw Tanner out. Everard snickered but was cut off as Greagoir roughly grabbed his arm and led him upstairs to the Senior Mages' Quarters.

Once they reached Irving's office, Greagoir shoved Everard forward and slammed the door shut. Irving was at his desk and he looked up at them. Upon realizing who it was, Irving sighed and asked, "What did he do this time?"

"He froze one of my templars," Greagoir hissed, glaring at Everard.

"His templar was harassing Anders," Everard retorted.

"Is this true, Greagoir?" Irving inquired.

"I must admit, I did not get there in time to see that. However, he—"

"He deserved it," Everard cut in. "Anders hasn't provoked the templars and yet he's constantly harassed by them. Honestly, Irving, why do you think he keeps trying to escape?"

"Enough," Irving said. "Everard, return to your quarters. I will send someone for you when I have decided what to do with you."

Everard crossed his arms over his chest but Irving gave him a stern look. The young mage relented after a moment and left the room, shutting the door on his way out. He didn't do as he was told, however.

OoOoOoOoO

"I can't believe you did that!" Jowan chastised his friend as they sat in an empty bedroom in the Senior Mages' Quarters. The room was dimly lit up by a spell wisp that Anders had cast.

"I'm glad he did," Anders remarked.

Everard propped his feet up on a crate and said, "See, Jowan? Anders appreciates all that I do for him."

Jowan sighed and shook his head.

Naturally, there were age differences between the three mages. Anders was five years older than Everard—they were only friends because Everard had randomly started talking to him when Anders was twelve. Jowan was only two years older than Everard—they had been in the same classes due to Everard's amazing magical abilities. Thus, being older, they had a bit more experience when it came to templars and punishments. Although, Jowan had only started getting into trouble after he befriended Everard whereas Anders was considered a troublemaker long before then.

This was why Anders inquired, "So, how are you being punished this time?"

"Oh, Irving hasn't decided. He wanted to chat with Greagoir first. He told me to go wait in our quarters but…you know how well I listen to orders," Everard answered, smirking.

"You might get into more trouble by disobeying him like this," Jowan commented.

"Yeah, well, he can get over it," Everard grumbled.

"What if they decide to make you Tranquil?" Jowan asked.

Anders gave Jowan a surprised look but then he said, "You know, he has a point. I mean, I'm surprised they didn't do it when you stole some of Wynne's wine, got drunk, and then had Jowan give you those tattoos."

"They don't make you Tranquil for doing stupid shit," Everard sighed. "Anyway, stop talking about it. You're both giving me a headache."

Anders and Jowan exchanged bemused looks.

"Anyway," Everard continued, "if anyone in this room should be Tranquil by now, it's you, Anders."

"It's not like I resist capture," Anders replied. "That's probably why."

"There are plenty of other reasons," Everard muttered thoughtfully. The serious look on his face lasted all of two minutes before he grinned slyly and said, "Hmm. I have the sudden urge to go seduce Cullen. How odd."

"You're so impossible," Jowan grumbled.

"What? He's fun to tease…and the poor man doesn't even seem to realize that I'm flirting with him," Everard responded.

"Why is it that you tempt fate by flirting with the templars anyway?" Anders inquired. "I don't really see the appeal. Well, other than those few female templars. Some of them aren't too bad looking."

"It's harmless flirting…unless they decide that they don't mind breaking their vows or whatever," Everard replied.

"You flirt with everyone, though," Jowan remarked.

"No I don't," Everard denied instantly. "I only flirt with apprentices near my age and older. Anyone below the age of sixteen is off limits."

Anders and Jowan groaned simultaneously.

"You're both just jealous because I've seen more action than either of you have," Everard smirked.

"Wait. I think someone's coming," Anders said, bringing his voice down to barely above a whisper.

The three mages fell silent and listened as creaking footsteps passed by.

"Templars?" Everard whispered, quirking an eyebrow.

Before Anders or Jowan could say anything, Everard stood up and left the room. Anders looked rather surprised but Jowan was shocked. He knew Everard could be impulsive but…he risked exposing their hide-out.

"Oi! You there!" A gruff voice called to Everard as he started walking down the hallway and away from the hiding place.

The young mage turned to face the templar.

"Oh, are you looking for a quick tussle in a storage closet?" He said mockingly.

The templar stared at him in shocked silence. Anders and Jowan sneaked out of their hiding place from behind the man. Everard snickered once they'd disappeared around the corner.

"I was only joking," he smirked.

The templar blinked and then responded, "Irving needs to see you in his office."

"I'll get right on that," Everard replied, heading in the opposite direction of Irving's office.

The templar stopped him by reaching out and gripping his shoulder.

"He needs to see you immediately," the templar declared.

"Alright, alright," Everard said irritably brushing the hand away.

Much to the apprentice's dismay, the templar followed him all of the way to Irving's office. Once he was there, he found that both Irving and Greagoir were waiting for him. They both looked more than a little grim.

Ah. Solitary confinement must be just around the corner, Everard thought.

"So, what is it?" Everard asked.

"Sit down, Everard," Irving ordered, gesturing to a nearby chair.

The mage eyed the chair suspiciously and then said, "I'd prefer to stand."

"You'll want to be sitting for what we're about to tell you," Irving replied.

Everard's eyes narrowed but he sat down on the offered chair despite his suspicion of them.

"Your mother is dead," Greagoir stated bluntly once he was seated.

Irving glared over at the Knight Commander and then his face softened when he looked at Everard. "She was killed," the Senior Enchanter added solemnly.

Everard stared at them both in horror. Then, he laughed, which startled the two men.

"That's a bad joke!" He cried. "That's a horrible one, actually. Why would you tell me something like that?"

"It is true," Irving remarked. "Your mother was killed by bandits on her way from Denerim to Lothering."

Everard's face fell and then he stood up. "I want proof then!" He hissed. "Show me proof or I won't believe you!"

Irving looked pointedly at Greagoir. The man sighed and handed Irving a piece of parchment. Irving passed it on to Everard. The young mage snatched it out of the older man's hands. He unfurled the parchment and read the letter to himself:

My Dearest Everard,

If you are reading this, then that means that I am at the Maker's side now. These are my parting words to you:

For years, I was devastated that you were taken from me. But I have come to terms with it, in a way, by reminding myself that you are somewhat safe where you are. Knowing how well you made friends as a child also brought me comfort for I am sure that you have made plenty of loyal friends. I wish you great success in all that you do, my son.

With love forever and always,

Revka Amell

Everard's hands were shaking by the time that he finished reading. He sat back down in the chair and reread the letter. Then, he looked up at the two men in front of him and said, "I want to go to her funeral."

"You cannot," Greagoir responded.

"Of course I can! She's…she was my mother! She was the only family that I had left! So, yes, I can go to her bloody funeral!" Everard shouted, standing right back up.

"Calm down, child," Irving said soothingly, stepping forward.

"No!" Everard yelled. "I'm not going to calm down! I will go to her funeral even if I have to burn this fucking place to the ground!"

Everard was trembling with rage now. Flames were at his fingertips. Without warning, Greagoir drained Everard's mana. Everard collapsed to the ground, pain shooting through his whole body.

"No," he gasped. "No! Stop it!"

His mana was completely drained now, taking his anger with it and leaving him with his grief. His shoulders shook as he broke down crying..

OoOoOoOoO

For a week, Everard did nothing but eat and sleep. He didn't read, he didn't flirt, and he didn't talk to anyone. Jowan and Anders tried and failed to get him to say something but he shooed them away. The two young men were at a loss. They didn't know what to do for their grieving friend. Jowan had never liked his mother much and Anders could do nothing but sympathize with Everard. And Everard didn't want anyone to pity him.

After two weeks of mourning, Everard started to return back to normal. It was a slow process but, eventually, he was his old self again. That is, until something else happened that changed how he felt about the Circle even further.

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