The Order

"There's a saying, that history is written by the victor; their lies become your truth. Over four hundred years ago, the world had fallen into turmoil. Darkspawn had poured out, the fifth blight had been unleashed onto the nation of Ferelden. The Grey Wardens Alistair Theirin and Elissa Cousland had gathered an army of humans, dwarves, elves and mages, and defeated the blight. Not much later, in the city state of Kirkwall, the tension between the magi and templars had boiled over, causing an all out war, involving the Chantry, with innocents slaughtered on both sides. The Champion of Kirkwall had enlisted the help of her brother, who was also a Grey Warden. It was unusual for the Grey Wardens to become involved in political warfare, but when magi of Grey Wardens were threatened to be placed under the blade as well, the Grey Warden headquarters in Weisshaupt could not ignore it. The Hero of Ferelden and the Champion of Kirkwall had allied together, putting a stop to the massacre. Treaties were created between nations and all races. The Elven and Qunari had retreated to seclusion, the Chantry had become what you now know as the Catholic Church, and well...the Grey Wardens were charged with protecting mankind against the constant threat of the Darkspawn, as well as protecting the history that was rewritten over the centuries...the taint in our blood had evolved the minute that Alistair Theirin and Elissa Cousland had conceived; therefore opening the doorway to what we now are...we protect the truth we know, and the lies you see and live every day, through our treaties and through constant cover up. We are now simply known as The Order."

Chapter 1

The cool breeze tickled Isla's face as she made her way through the cemetery. She stopped in front of a large crypt; the designs of the ancient griffons were carved in detail on the doors, with four family seals as the encrypted locks. She knelt to the ground, placing two large bouquets of white roses at the doorstep. She looked up, brushing her raven colored strands of hair out of her face. Sighing, Isla crossed her arms over her chest, bowing slightly in respect, "For you, father and mother. Today, I honor your sacrifice in the name of the Maker and his bride Andraste, in defending mankind against the threat of the Darkspawn."

She sat back on the ground, staring at the crypt. Isla knew that her fate would call for her to one day be laid to rest. It was the wish of her parents; she was born within the top four of the Warden families of the Keep. But, she was the only female within the top four families. Her ancestor was one of the first Grey Wardens to reproduce the taint. She was Isla Hawke, descendant of Carver Hawke. Her parents, Tyler and Branna Hawke had died during a battle with Darkspawn two years ago.

The Grey Wardens had evolved over the centuries, providing heirs of the taint, working with the Warden Magi to evolve the blood in their veins to survive, and produce Wardens instead of having to strictly rely on the potentially fatal Joining ritual. It began with Alistair and Elissa, which had gained the attention of the First Warden in Weisshaupt. The Wardens were able to reproduce, with the help of the enchantments of the Magi. The process became duty that was eventually bred into the blood of the Wardens as the darkspawn threat continued. Only one child would live; and as if by will of the Maker himself, the top four bloodlines had risen to power within the Wardens, providing only male heirs, until Isla had been born.

As Isla's fingers began to idly thumb at the amulet around her neck, the Warden's Blood Oath of Carver Hawke, passed down through her family, she almost didn't feel the nudge on her back. She smiled, turning to her faithful hound. He sat next to her, staring at the doors of the crypt, whining with worry. Her hound had imprinted on her at puppy hood; she was the last of her generation to finally have one. The legendary Mabari hounds had evolved over time as well, becoming immune to the taint, which was still a mystery to the Wardens this day. They had evolved to resemble a mastiff, however larger than normal, and with a much longer lifespan. The species had retained the intelligence they were prized for, as well as their loyalty and imprinting ability.

"I miss them so much, Carell." Isla sighed, as she began to pet her hound's back. "I miss my father's hug, my mother's laugh." She bowed her head, placing her hands into her lap. "I can't kill the hurt out of me."

She heard a long whine from her hound, as he placed his chin onto her shoulder, looking at her. She turned her head, looking at Carell, smiling slightly as he let out a low huff, staring at her. "No matter how satisfying it is to kill the Darkspawn, I can't seem to let go."

A low and muffled ringtone of a cell phone broke the moment, and Isla rolled her eyes, digging through her pocket. Isla answered the phone, "Yes sir?"

"There is a meeting to be called within the Keep Planning Room in thirty minutes." She heard Kian Theirin, the Commander of the Weisshaupt Keep, ordered on the other end of the phone.

"Yes sir, I will be there."

After Isla had hung up her phone, she looked at her hound, shaking her head. "Never can get a moment of peace, can we?" She asked, with a slight smile.

"Just concentrate on it, Dillon."

Dillon Hawke lifted his hands slightly, as they began to glow, his grey eyes focused on the box that began to levitate off of the ground at his command. His mentor, and father, Isaac stood behind him, coaching him to use his magic. The box then fell as the door behind them opened, causing Dillon's concentration to break. Isaac turned around, staring at the guard that came into the room. "I apologize, sir," The young guard crossed his arms over his chest, bowing in respect to the older mage, "But Commander Theirin had called for an emergency meeting in the Planning room. He requested for you and Dillon to be present."

Isaac nodded, and grabbed the coat hanging on the back of a nearby chair, "Where is Isla?"

"She had been informed, sir. She is making her way to the room from the Warden Crypt." The guard told him.

Isaac nodded, and the guard left. Dillon shook his head, as his father turned to look at him. Isaac adjusted his coat, as he and his son walked out of the room. "I tried talking to her, but she's still in mourning." Dillon told him.

"It's understandable. However she must be focused. She cannot let her grief overtake her, especially with the possible rise of the broodmothers again." Isaac told his son.

Isaac was worried about his cousin's daughter, and how she frequently snuck out of the Keep unaccompanied, slaying Darkspawn in a fit of her own vengeance. As he walked alongside his son towards the room, he squeezed the bridge of his nose, as if attempting to squeeze out a headache. "Don't worry, we know to make sure the female Wardens aren't left out of the Keep alone." Dillon reassured his father.

Isaac nodded, "The Darkspawn are doing whatever they can to take women. If they get a hold of a female Warden, especially one of the Top Four bloodline, we have no idea what can result of that; and we cannot take that risk."

The doors hissed as they slid open, allowing Colin into the hallway. He walked towards a room, pressing in a code on the keypad posted near a door, and pressed his hand against the screen for verification. The name Colin Theirin appeared on the screen, allowing him access. The meeting had already begun without him. He cursed at himself as everyone turned to look at him, to include his father, Kian, who was conducting the meeting. "I'm sorry I'm late," Colin stated, as he sat in his chair next to Isla.

She stared at him, as Kian continued the meeting, shaking her head as Colin leaned into her, "Did I miss anything?"

"Have you not noticed the huge tentacle on the table?" She snapped at him, slightly. "Where were you, anyway?" She asked, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.

"Ahem!" They heard.

The two looked up, noticing Kian glaring at them, his arms crossed in annoyance. "If you're not done?" Kian asked them.

"I apologize, sir." Isla sighed.

The corner of Colin's mouth slightly turned upwards, as he sensed a hint of jealousy in his friend's voice. She folded her hair behind her ear, and he noticed her sigh heavily, as she looked up at Kian. Colin looked at the table top, seeing the tentacle Isla referred to. "So, if the Darkspawn are kidnapping women again, that has to mean that either the Vanguard are not doing their jobs, or there's other entrances to the Deep Roads we aren't aware of," Sean Howe spoke up.

Kian stood, and turned to the screen behind him. "Our two scouts that had found this had taken photographs of the area. What concerns me is this," He touched the screen, enlarging an area on the photo for a better view. "Golden Gate Park."

"I propose that we organize a mission," Isla stood, "If the darkspawn are kidnapping women to make Broodmothers, I want in. What I propose, is this," Isla walked towards the screen, staring at the photo, "We all know the Darkspawn has their Firsts creating deals with sleaze bags. When it comes to vulnerable women within the city, and snatching them in the dark of night," She turned to her comrades, "Send me in undercover. The Darkspawn only hang about when absolutely needed, and we'll be able to sense it. If it's women they want," Isla crossed her arms across her chest, narrowing her eyes, "Then it's a hell of a woman they'll get."

"Are you sure that's smart? You're one of the Top Four, not to mention you're the only female Top Four." Colin smirked, leaning back in his chair.

"Who else is capable of handling herself better if something were to go wrong then, smartass?" Isla hissed.

"Ha!" Colin laughed out loud, "That's why I'm going with you." He stood, facing her, "I'm not going to let your personal feelings get into the way of your decision making, Isla." He told her.

"Isla, you, Colin, Dillon, and the two scouts that had brought this to our attention will go. You will conduct this tomorrow evening." Kian stated. "Female Wardens are not to travel without a male companion, is that clear?" He almost pointed his last statement towards her.

"Understood." Isla agreed.

AN- This is a different take; it's completely AU with "memories" of their ancestors of the DAO/Awakenings and DA2 era...so, at the motivation of the lovely Isabella Monroe, I had decided to post this to ! Thank you for your reviews and reading (in advance of course!) and please, let me know of any suggestions...I am in need of a Beta for this fic, since my energy will be concentrated onto this fanfiction. It will be in a "series" on my website, but I will post the first fic of it on here...thanks again!