The Chantry teaches us, that it was the hubris of man that created the Darkspawn. Thousands of years ago, the Old Gods, mighty dragons that once dominated the surface of the planet, were cast down into prisons beneath the bowels of the World by the Maker, for tricking mankind into worshipping them. In secret, the Old Gods whispered prophecies to the few men that were still loyal to the Dragons. These men became the first Mages, and together they formed the Tevinter Imperium. A magically fueled Empire that dominated all of Thedas. In their arrogance, the Mages declared war on the maker, opening portals into the fade so that they may invade his Golden City. They sought to usurp heaven….instead, they destroyed it.

They were cast out, twisted and deformed by their own corruption, returning to the World as horrible monstrosities. The first of the Darkspawn. They became a blight upon the lands, unstoppable and relentless, until all was threatened to be engulfed by their shadow. The Dwarven Realms were the first to fall, and from the deep roads the Darkspawn attacked the world of men again and again, until they all neared annihilation.

But all was not lost.

From the ashes of a dying world, came the Grey Wardens. Warriors and Mages, Kings and Commoners, Knights and Criminals, Men and Women of every race, joined together by a single powerful cause. To stem the tide of darkness, and end the Blight once and for all.

The young students gathered around Wynne in the small classroom all burst into applause at the conclusion of her amazing story. She smiled, bowing politely.

"That was incredible, Miss Wynne." One young boy with raven hair commented.

"Yeah! I didn't know the Grey Wardens were so amazing!" Another boy with golden hair added.

"My favorite part was hearing about the Women who became Wardens." One young elf girl with pigtails also replied.

"Well Balin? You've been mostly silent throughout, what did you think?" Wynne asked.

All eyes in the room turned to the young boy named Balin, who stared up at Wynne with curious, emerald eyes. He thought a moment before speaking, unsure of how best to answer her. "Well...it's a great story. But some of it is hard to believe." He finally admitted.

"I agree!" A squeaky red headed child with a condescending voice spoke up. "There's no real evidence that these Darkspawn were ever once human. I've read just about every book on the subject and all the well documented scholars agree that there is no conclusive evidence to that end. All we know is that they come up from the ground." He finished with pride.

"Finn, you bring up an excellent point." Wynne replied, without missing a beat. "It is true that there is no conclusive evidence that the darkspawn were once human. However, there is still much we can learn from this story.

"Like what?" The boy with Raven hair asked.

"Well for one, it tells us about the dangers magic poses." She lectured. "We must use our gifts responsibly lest we be turned into something monstrous."

"But I don't wanna be a Darkspawn." The girl with pigtails shivered at the thought.

Wynne covered her lips with the tips of her fingers, stifling an amused giggle. "Have no fear, there is no danger of that happening." She began writing something on the board behind her, Finn immediately began scribbling it down on his vellum sheet. "But the threats we face from demons, evil spirits who reside within the Fade, are a very real threat that all Mages must be on guard for. That is why The Circle exists." She continued. "Take a look at what I have written here." The students gazed up at the board with curious intrigue. "All magic exists to serve mankind, and never to rule over him. Can anyone tell me what this saying means?"

The children collectively scratched their heads, none of them possessing a confident answer. It was Balin who finally raised his hand. "It's a verse from the Chant of Light. It means our magic is what makes us special, but that we have to use our magic to help people, not hurt them."

She beamed. "Correct Balin. I'm glad you understand." She smiled at him, proud to see her students learning. "We must never forget the lessons the Tevinter Imperium taught us. How magic can be abused, how it can corrupt the hearts of men and twist them into hurting others. Your magic is what makes you special. But it is a gift you must use responsibly, for the betterment of all mankind. That is why The Circle of Magi exists."

The students all smiled at their wise old teacher, nodding collectively in understanding of the lesson. She was proud of them, for how far the young mages had become.

"Now then, you have two rolls of Vellum due to me by Morndas. Have it on my desk by the end of class."

Balin stashed away his books and writing utensils into his desk, lost in thought. Magic exists to serve mankind, never to rule over him. He repeated in his head. He stood from his desk and left, his mind adrift in quiet contemplation. As he exited the classroom he was stopped by the boy with raven hair.

"Oh, hey Jowan." He greeted him in a friendly tone.

"Wasn't that story great?!" He asked excitedly. The young Mage named Jowan appeared to be a little older than Balin, while he normally always was the more extroverted of the two, he seemed particularly energetic today. "My favorite part was when she talked about the Griffons!"

"Yeah, I liked that part too…" Balin replied, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Jowan frowned, not understanding why his friend didn't share his enthusiasm. "What's wrong? You've been acting weird all day."

"It's nothing...I just haven't been sleeping well." He replied.

His demeanor changed to that of concern. "You've been having the nightmare again, haven't you?"

Balin nodded, nervously twirling a strand of his dark brown hair loosely around his finger.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He offered.

He shook his head, still fiddling with his hair. "Nah, it's alright…"

"Ah, there you two are!" Finn rounded the corner with the blonde haired boy in tow. He was a few inches taller than the rest of them, and looked to be at least a year older than all three. "Listen, Anders and I, as well as some of the other kids are going to go play Knights and Chevaliers out in the courtyard. You two wanna come?"

"Sounds like fun!" Jowan was full of energy again. "You coming, Balin?"

"It's okay, you guys go ahead without me."

"Aww come on!" He whined. "We never get out of lecture this early, we should enjoy the day while we can."

"He's right, Balin. You should come play with us." Anders gave him a friendly smile.

"Maybe another time, I'm not feeling well." He replied.

Finn shrugged. "Eh, suit yourself, that just means that-"

At that moment, the girl with pigtails came bursting into the room, a look of sheer panic written all over her face. "Everyone, quick! We have to get outta here!" She screamed frantically.

"What is it Emile? What's wrong?"

"We don't have much time! Braith is coming!" She exclaimed.

Their good humor faded.

"Oh no….not Braith!" Anders trembled.

"Every mage for himself!" Finn yelled, bolting for the door.

They all began darting off in different directions. Jowan grabbed Balin by the arm and began to tug.

"Quick! Let's get out of here before she-"

"Well well well...look what we have here."

The familiar, violent tone of Braith caused both boys to jump and simultaneously turn their heads towards its direction. Standing right behind them, was an abnormally tall, pale skinned girl with fiery red locks that were pulled into a plated ponytail. She stood defiantly with her hands on her hips, her demeanor that of an impatient wyvern. She was flanked by two older boys, each as tall as she was. The two young mages were like halla caught in a bear trap.

"Oh...umm...hey Braith." Jowan nervously stuttered, twiddling his thumbs. "We uhh...we were just umm…" He avoided direct eye contact.

"You haven't paid the toll today little baby mage." She snarled, getting directly in his face. "You owe me five bits for this weeks protection service. So cough it up!"

"Oh...uhhh..gee Braith. I'm really sorry, but I just spent my last copper piece on-"

She grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him up in the air with surprising strength for her wiry frame. "You better cough up the money right now or me and my boys here are gonna bloody your face!" She barked impatiently.

Jowan trembled, terror in his eyes.

"He doesn't have to pay you!" Balin interjected.

Braith dropped Jowan onto the floor, her hazel eyes zeroing in on her new target.

"What did you just say?" She growled, slowly walking over to her new victim like a wolf seconds from pouncing on its victim.

Balin swallowed his fear, mustering what little courage he could find. "I said he doesn't have to pay you. You can't just charge people money to not beat them up, that's extortion!" He argued.

"Who the hell asked you, half breed!"

Her words felt like they had bitten into him. He hated being called that.

"He doesn't owe you anything, Braith! So leave him alone!" He continued to stand up for Jowan, who was doing his best to remain unnoticed at the moment.

"Oh yeah? And what if I don't?" Braith challenged, a wicked grin on her face.

A slight tremble built in his lithe frame. "I don't care what you do to me, but you're not gonna hurt Jowan! Not this time!" Balin said with finality.

For a moment, that surprised her. She was used to the mages breaking down in tears by this point, nevertheless, she regained her composure. A malicious smile curling on her face.

"Fair enough, half breed."

Wynne gently applied ointment to Balin's bruised and battered face. His feet dangled off the edge of his bed in the Boy's Dormitory. After the encounter with Braith, he and Jowan had returned there to get medical treatment from their teacher. His left eye was swollen almost completely shut, tissue paper drenched in blood hung from his nose, and a deep cut crossed from one side of his cheek all the way down to the other side.

"She sure was relentless with you wasn't she." She commented sadly.

"It's all my fault, I should have gotten us out sooner…" Jowan, who had been standing close by, drooped his head in shame. "I'm such a scaredy cat. As soon as Braith showed up I just froze."

"It's not your fault, Jowan." Balin reassured. He winced in pain as the ointment entered one of his cuts.

"Try to hold still, I need to make sure I get a good even coating before I deal with the swelling."

Senior Enchanter Wynne, in addition to being the head instructor for all initiates ages six through twelve, was the supervisor and Head Mistress of the children of the Circle of Magi in Fereldan. She was a kindly, old soul who would often treat the young mages as if they were her own. Seeing the poor boy beaten to a pulp like this, deeply saddened the Elder Enchantress.

She gently placed her fingers on the sides of his head. Slowly, each one began to glow a luminescent yellow as the pain began to subside in Balin's aching wounds. The swelling in his eye began to dissipate as his skin returned to a normal color. The bleeding in his nose stopped and the cut on his cheek scarred over. When the spell was done, he looked no worse for wear.

"There, much better." She sighed with relief. "Jowan, will you do me a favor and bring me a bucket of warm water?"

"Yes Miss Wynne." The boy left to do as he was asked. Wynne turned her attention back to the young Balin, who was still quietly sulking despite his injuries being healed.

"What's on your mind, dear?" She asked with concern.

"She called me a half breed again." He answered, a bit of shame in his voice.

Wynne clasped a hand over her mouth. A mixture of surprise and disgust on her face.

"She did not!"

He nodded sadly, avoiding eye contact. Her expression soured.

"That's it! I'm telling the First Enchanter about this at once!" She stood up as if prepared to leave the room immediately.

Balin quickly grabbed her sleeve, tugging on it gently.

"Don't bother. There's nothing he can do." He gave a depressed sigh. "Braith is the Knight Commander's daughter. She's untouchable."

"Irving can at least speak to Greagor and convince him to stop letting his daughter run about the place however she pleases." She tried to reassure him.

"That'll just cause more trouble for everyone else..."

Wynne frowned at him sorrowfully, before finally relenting. "Very well, if that is what you wish. But please promise me something." She hugged him close to her chest. "Do not ever be ashamed of who your mother was, young one. You're not the only one in the Tower who is Elf Blooded. In this Circle, we are all Magi, and we are all family. Never forget that."

He buried himself further into her robes, finding comfort in her arms. "Thank you, Miss Wynne."

"Furthermore, I think I have an idea on how you can deal with Braith."

He looked up at her curiously. "What do you mean? What idea?"

She gave him sly smile, whispering something into his ear. Whatever it was, it wasn't what he was expecting her to say.

"Really? Are you sure that will work?"

"Oh trust me dear. As someone who knows how girls think, I believe if this doesn't work, then nothing will."

The next day, Jowan and Balin met together after class, as they normally did. Many of the children were already gone; out to play in the courtyard. The halls of the Circle Tower were abuzz with activity, Mage Apprentices scurrying about, tomes and scrolls in hand. Others, practicing with their instructors. All while the Templars watched vigilantly, for any signs of demonic possession, forbidden arts, or other abnormalities. Officially, they were there to guard the mages, and keep them from burning the place down. But everyone in the Tower knew why they really there, even the young children.

"It's just creepy, you know?" Jowan commented.

Balin put a finger over his lips. "Shhh, not too loud. You don't want them to overhear you."

"I'm just saying, why are they always here? Even in class, they're always right outside the door." Jowan nervously looked around at the motionless, armored Knights. The fact that their faces were always obscured by their thick metal helmets did nothing to ease his nerves.

"It's not something we should be talking about." Balin complained. "Remember what Wynne told us in class?"

"The Templars are here to protect us from a world that is scared of our gifts." He recited, verbatim.

"Exactly. They're here to protect us, which means they are our allies."

Jowan nodded, understandingly. "I guess, still it's weird…."

They walked on in silence for a moment. The cold gaze of the Templar's sent shivers down their spines.

"So what do you wanna do before curfew?" Jowan asked, changing the subject. "I heard some of the other kids are gonna play Knights and Chevaliers again."

"Sorry, but I've already got plans."

Jowan stopped. "Plans? What plans? There's nothing to do around here except play or study in the library. And we don't have any homework due so I know it's not that."

Balin took a deep breath. "Today, I'm going to get Braith to leave us alone once and for all." He declared confidently.

Jowan dropped every scroll he was carrying. "You're going to do what?!"

"You heard me."

He grabbed his friend, shaking him frantically. "Did she knock something loose when she hit you yesterday?! Wasn't one beating enough?" He argued.

"Listen, if something isn't done she's gonna continue making our lives miserable forever. I have to do this, Jowan."

"But she's gonna eat you!" He countered. Their was palpable fear in his voice.

"Don't worry, Miss Wynne gave me an idea."

He bent his head to the side, a perplexed look on his face. "She did?"

Balin nodded. "Mhmm. Trust me. I know what I'm doing."

Braith was out by the courtyard with her squad of goons close by. Some kids were off playing a few yards away under the watchful eye of the Templars. At that moment, Jowan wished he was over there, and not cowering behind his friend as they slowly walked towards the biggest bully in the Tower. But Balin would not be dissuaded. Not after what Wynne told him. Upon seeing them approach, Braith's expression immediately soured.

"What do you want, half breed?" She asked impatiently.

Again, her words stung. But he let it go.

"Come on, Balin. She doesn't wanna talk to you, let's just go!" His friend pleaded with him.

Balin placed a reassuring had on Jowan's shoulder. "It's okay. Just let me handle this."

Gingerly, the duo approached her, with Jowan using Balin as a barrier between him and the scary redhead. She, along with her two henchmen stood up. One of the boys popped his knuckles, causing Jowan to further burrow himself in his friends back.

"If this is about giving his money back you can forget it. We already spent it on sweets anyway." She mocked.

He took a deep breath before speaking. "Braith, I really wish you would stop calling me half breed. It's really mean, and it hurts my feelings." He said with complete sincerity.

Braith, and her two henchmen exchanged looks of confused disbelief with one another before rearing their heads back and bursting into hysterical laughter.

"This is your big plan?" Jowan whispered.

"Quiet, I'm not done yet." He whispered back.

Eventually the three of them calmed down, Braith got directly into Balin's face, her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed sharply at his.

"And just what are you gonna do to make me stop?" She growled.

His courage wavered. "Well...I was...I was going to…"

He seemed unsure at first, and the longer he took the angrier she got. Jowan considered just bolting before she had a chance to eat him too but was too petrified to move. Eventually, Balin regained his composure and removed an object from his robe, presenting it to her.

"I was going to give you this." He finally managed to blurt out, doing all he could to maintain eye contact.

She blinked at him, staring at the object in his trembling hand, and then back at him, and then back at the object again.

"Wh...what is this?" She asked in a confused voice.

"It's a flower. Girls like flowers don't they?" Their was a beaming, friendly smile plastered on his face.

The look she gave him at that moment was indescribable. She was completely dumbfounded, as was her two goons. Sure enough, in the palm of his hands, was a single white flower with a golden center. Andraste's Grace, a rare species only found in the Greenhouse of the tower. Wynne's advice ran through his mind as he offered the peace offering to her. Girls her age desire to be noticed. She acts out because she feels underappreciated and ignored. Like you, she has no Mother, and her Father is constantly busy with work. If you give her a gift, I'm certain her demeanor will change.

"You...you picked me a flower?" Her face began to turn as red as her hair.

"Well...yeah. Do you like it? These don't grow just everywhere you know."

He offered it to her. She seemed hesitant to take it at first, but eventually she allowed him to awkwardly drop it in the palm of her hands. She twisted it around in her fingers curiously. Still not fully comprehending what was going on.

"Why...why would you pick this for me?" She finally asked, flower in hands.

"Well...I was hoping we could be friends." Balin admitted, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

"Ah come on boss! Let's clobber this wimp!" One of her goons stepped in.

"Yeah! Dumb little mage thinks he can boss you around with some wimpy flower. Ha!" The other one added.

For a long moment, she said nothing. Just continued staring at the flower. At this point, Jowan was forcefully tugging on Balin's robes in a desperate attempt to get him to flee. Finally, she spoke.

"Cullen, you and Carrol get outta here. Go see if there's any protection money we haven't collected yet." She commanded.

"But boss!" Cullen was about to protest.

"Just do it, ya nughugger! Before I clobber you!" She barked.

The two boys jumped, and quickly bolted. Clearly just as fearful of her wrath as Jowen was.

An awkward silence hung in the air.

Balin rocked on his feet, unsure what to say. He wasn't sure he would get this far without getting punched. "So...do you think we could-"

"Do you really wanna my friend?" She interrupted, clutching the flower to her chest. Her demeanor had changed. She was fidgety, almost unsure of herself, her gaze cast down to the ground.

"Well...yeah." He hesitantly replied.

As quickly as it had gone, suddenly, the fire was back. She got directly in his face again, grabbing him by the collar. Her expression was stern, but she didn't look like she was about to beat his skull in at any given moment this time.

"So does that mean you're going to do whatever I say without question?"

There was no evidence of a joke anywhere in that statement.

"Uhh...well I mean.."

She began to shake him. "Well do you wanna be my friend or not?!"

"Okay! Okay! Just don't hit me!" He whined.

She stopped shaking him, glaring with fiery eyes for a moment, until finally she released the collar of his robes. Balin exhaled, breathing again for the first time since she grabbed him.

"Maker's breath, you sure are wimpy aren't you." She bluntly commented. "If you're gonna be hanging out with me we're gonna have to toughen you up."

Balin wasn't sure if he should feel elated or terrified.

She turned on her heel sharply and began walking off, a confident bounce in her step. "Come on. I have Chantry study coming up. You can carry my stuff for me."

"Well, the thing is...I already sort of had plans to…"

She snapped her head around, a menacing glare in her eyes

Balin nearly jumped out of his shoes. "Errr...I mean...they weren't that important. I can carry your things." He chuckled nervously.

Her glare slowly faded. Finally she turned back around, her petite nose defiantly pointed to the sky. "Good. Now, come on! I don't want to be late!"

As she dragged him away, he quickly turned back to Jowan and waved goodbye, shortly before being pulled out of sight. He scratched his head, completely baffled. "What...what just happened?"

Authors Note: My first Dragon Age Story! I'm going with kind of a slow burn on this one so I apologize if the pacing seems off. This is only my second work to post to Fanfic so if there are any inconsistencies or slight grammatical problems I apologize in advance. Please feel free to comment and review! (constructively of course) I love getting feedback on my writing. :)