Author's Note! I do not like swearing, but I'm ok with damn, shit, and bastard in stories, will seldom use bitch and ass, but hate f***, f**, p****, c***. However, there's quite a bit of swearing in-game, and my character doesn't have the same drawbacks I do, so those words will appear with the stars. Or something like f*ing. We'll see what works for me! (or tell me what you'd prefer) (and maybe you could help me come up with alternative words or phrases instead? I'm not creative when it comes to that stuff) I'm sorry if that annoys you! Also, please REVIEW!

Sable leaves silently through the door, the sound of raised voices following her out. She takes a deep breath. That room is full of idiots. We're getting nowhere. That is the third argument that broke out, and it's only been half a day. Sable already doubted anything would come from this, but there was that lingering hope needling in her mind. The closer the temple came, the stronger it got. Don't get too down, she tells herself, it's not over yet.

Sable sighs, letting out all her pent up annoyance and aggression. At least I know the others are ok. It's been ages since I've seen any of them. They all seem to be doing well, for the most part. The horror of what happened at Ostwick circle flashes through her mind, and she has to stop herself from tearing up. She shoves the emotions down, stuffing them in so they don't overflow. There's no point in dwelling on it now. I did the best I could...We all did.

"Sable!" A voice shouts, and she hears the clanking of armor as someone runs up behind her. She turns, letting her face fall into fake pleasantness when she sees who it is. She likes him well enough, but she was hoping to avoid talking to anyone. That's why she left the conference hall in the first place.

"Oh, hey Trenton. Are they driving you crazy too?"

Trenton laughs, a fun, joyful sound that Sable envies. How can someone always be so carefree and happy all of the time? She smiles, trying to mimic his look and hide her own less pleasing thoughts and feelings. He scratches his head, face flaming.

"Honestly, I haven't been paying much attention. My mind can't help but wander." Sable sees the ring on his finger, and her heart softens.

"So you and Ellaria tied the knot? I didn't think that would happen for at least another few years." That's not true, but she felt like she should say it. Trenton loves engaging conversation...and when she's wrong.

He smirks. "Nothing gets past you, huh? Were we really that obvious?"

"Only when the two of you fondue in the library. After that, it wasn't hard to interpret your 'casual' glances and lingering heart eyes."

His face darkens a shade, mouth agape. "You-you were there?" Sable nods, a small smile forming. "Did-oh Maker, did you-" Sable shakes her head, smile widening at the memory.

"No. I left when it became obvious what you two were doing. I'm honestly surprised you didn't notice me."

"And you never told anyone?" He asks, clearly baffled

Sable smiles ruefully. "That surprises you, even after what we went through together? You should know me better than that by now."

"I-I didn't mean… It's just back then you were so intimidating and were close to all of the higher-ups. Some people called you a teacher's pet. Even us Templars wanted to keep our distance." Sable rolls her eyes as he continues "No one wanted to share any sort of secret with you, you know, just in case."

"Well, none of you were very good at keeping secrets of any kind," Sable says flatly.

He pauses, shock on his face. "Wait, we weren't the- Oh, you have to tell me everything!"

"Everything? Are you sure you want to hear everything?" She asks playfully, matching her energy to his.

"You should know me better than to ask me that by now!" He exclaims, hands over his heart. Sable huffs out a laugh.

"Maybe another time. I'll have to write it all down so I don't forget anything." Sable lies, continuing her walk down the hall. They turn a corner, and she runs headfirst into a Templar. They do their 'oh, sorry and try to move around' dance, Trenton laughing the whole time. They continue walking, Sable trying to fight off the red creeping up her cheeks. At least he was a nice Templar. She thinks, trying to comfort herself.

"Well, Ellaria and I are expecting," Trenton says when his laughter dies down. "You should come to the naming ceremony. I'm sure you can have it all written down by then! I'm sure she'd love to hear it too!." She looks behind her, to the Templar that enters the conference hall. He looked familiar.

"When is she due?" She asks, turning back to Trenton and the conversation, the odd feeling slipping away.

His smile takes up half his face. "Oh, she's about to pop! It should only be another week or two!" Sable smiles at the enthusiasm, he's always had a way of improving her mood.

"What are you going to name it?

"It!?" He exclaims, gasping "How dare you call my baby an it!"

"I don't know the gender. What else should I call it?"

"And there you go again! You know, I planned on naming her after you! Maybe I'll have to reconsider."

"So it's a she?"

"Most likely."

"What are you really going to name her?"

"You'll have to come to find out!"

Sable smiles, considering it. "We'll see."

"Oh, come on! I know you have nothing planned." He says, elbowing her in the side. She elbows him back.

"Not at the moment, but something might come up."

He rolls his eyes. "Like what?"

She stops walking, turning to face him. "Well, for starters, we have no idea what will happen after the conclave."

"So?"

"So, no matter what it is, the ramifications will surely effect-"

He sighs exasperatedly, hand going to cover his eyes as he woefully says "You and your worrying. You know, if you lighten up a little you won't scare everyone away! Especially," he wiggles his eyebrows suggestively, eyes peeking out from behind his fingers "a special someone."

"Ooo. Sounds like a good reason not to." Sable says, smiling smugly. Trenton's been trying to hook her up since they left the circle. Despite missing him when they ent their separate ways, she didn't miss that.

He waves her off. "Oh please, one day a man is going to come into your life and sweep you off your feet!"

"That only happened once in a training ring. And that man was my father."

"Really?" He deadpans.

"What?" She asks indignantly. He shakes his head sadly.

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Be alone all the time. I would go crazy!"

Sable shrugs. "It's never bothered me. I don't have to worry about anyone."

"Or how anyone thinks of you. You know none of us still think-"

"I know," Sable says, smile fading. She doesn't think fondly of her days in the circle. Trenton continues, oblivious to her thoughts

"Though, in our defense, you were rather terrifying."

"How so?" Sable asks, humoring him while she lets her mind wander.

"Are you kidding me!? Everything! I already told you part of it! You had a fearsome reputation! Especially when you were younger!" Sable thinks back to those days with a groan. He wasn't wrong. She was not one of the gentlest or nicest kids. And he doesn't even know the worst of it. At least one secret of Ostwick circle has remained a secret."Not to mention who your family is! Granted, you lost your title, but still!" He looks at her, and she avoids his gaze. Family is another subject she hates speaking about. Noticing her distress, he asks "Speaking of which, have you contacted them at all?

"No." She says, hoping he'll drop it.

"Are you going to?

"I don't plan on it."

"Not even your fellow disowned sister?"

"Even if I wanted to, I'd have no idea how to. I've never even met her." Sable says. I don't even know her name. She sees him looking at her with pity in his eyes. He sighs. "What?" She asks, annoyed. Her life is not a pity fest.

"Nothing, I just-It's amazing to be part of this." He says, wiping his eyes before tears can fall. "We can make a world where mages don't have to be separated from families. Where people like us can be friends without worrying about having to kill each other if anything goes wrong. My daughter will have a chance to live in a world that accepts everyone and everyone has a choice to be who and what they want!"

Sable watches him for a moment, shocked by his passion. She hates to ruin his optimism, but she would hate it more if he's blindsided by reality. "We still have no idea what will happen-" She starts, but he swiftly turns to look her dead in the eye.

"Please don't ruin my moment of hope!" Sable looks away.

"I-I'm sorry. I was just-"

"I know. You're a realist, and my head's in the clouds." He sighs. "I should get back there. They should be taking a break by now, and Damien decided he'd get crazy drunk. I need to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid.

"Why don't you just make sure he just doesn't get drunk?

He gasps, faking offense "I'm no killjoy! He's a grown man! He can make his own decisions!"

Sable rolls her eyes. "But it could lead to-"

"Uhuhuh!" He places his hand over her mouth. "Which is why I'll be there to make sure something like that doesn't happen. I'm not a complete dolt." He takes his hand away. "So, I should probably hurry back. See you after we change the world!" He exclaims, raising his hand in farewell as he turns to walk away.

"Bye," Sable says softly, not even sure if he heard it. She watches him get further for a moment, before making a split second decision. "Trenton!" She calls out, and he turns around without missing a beat.

"Yes?"

Sable smirks as she says "I'll bet you ten gold pieces that your daughter will be a mage." He smiles, and Sable can tell that she just made his day.

"Ha! I'll take that bet! My family is known for its strong lineage! My wife has no chance!" He turns around again, this time with a bounce in his step. Sable continues walking in the direction she was going, no destination in mind. I just need some fresh air. The temple is fascinating, and Sable enjoyed it at first. But it's rundown dusty and musty state has started to give her a headache,

"We'll see." She tells herself, hoping that she actually will make time to go to his ceremony. He'd be very disappointed if she doesn't. She turns another corner, a door leading outside in her sight when she hears someone calling for help.