Prologue

It was a peaceful summer day and nearing harvest season for the small village of Lothering. Their annual harvest festival was in full swing. There were long golden banners hanging from all the buildings and linking to one another to symbolize the wheat they grew and the cooperation of the entire village during the harvest season. There were people dancing in the streets, music playing from a travelling band set up in the village square, chantry priestesses walking through the crowds to collect donations or spreading the word of the maker. Leandra and Malcolm Hawke were walking hand in hand from booth to booth, sampling all the fine foods and treats from the many booths set up around the village square. Their young teenage kids; Marian, Carver and Bethany, were not with them. Malcolm and Leandra let them run free and enjoy their time in Lothering, as they lived on a farm on the outskirts of the village itself. The only rule was that they play amongst themselves, playing with kids their own age brought the risk of Marian or Bethany's 'gift' of magic being discovered.

Though constant moving and secrecy made it near impossible for any of the children to make friends anyhow, so they happily played hide and seek, just the three of them. Carver was 'it' and was counting to thirty up against the windmill just outside of Lothering. Bethany was hiding in the nearby wheat field and giggling to herself. Marian Hawke was running around searching for a place. She soon came up to a cave on the other side of a small hill next to the small wheat field. She rubbed her chin and thought for a moment.

There used to be a small spider nest here, wasn't there? Marian thought to herself. Though by small she meant less than a dozen in number. The spiders in Ferelden were giant in size and as larger as wolves, or even humans in some cases. But the town guard had wiped the nest out, or so she had overheard from the villagers. She smiled as she remembered Carvers phobia of spiders, and the fuss he made when he thought they were playing too near the spiders nest.

But, with the spiders gone, this would be the perfect place for Marian to hide. Carver would never go near it and she'd be the winner. She then began to make her way towards the small cave. But as she got closer, she heard a rather strange sound. It sounded like… someone crying. Curious, she decided to investigate and jogged the rest of the way. Once she reached the mouth of the cave, she bent down and looked inside.

In the back of the cave, she spotted a young boy, possibly around her own age. He was trembling, hugging his knees to his chest and crying softly. A closer look showed that he was wearing a blue tattered robe, a pair of brown boots and a hooded cloak or cape that was covered in mud, grass and bits of tree branches. Marians kind heart went out to the boy.

"Hey… are you all right?" She said softly.

The young boy looked up at Marian kneeling in the cave entrance and he gasped in horror. He backed up until he hit the back of the cave wall. Terrified and trapped, the young boy open one of his palms and a small burning ball of fire appeared. This he held in a threatening manner that showed he meant to throw it.

"S-stay back! Leave me alone! I won't go back!"

H-he's a mage! Hawke thought in delight. Her heart began to beat faster, but she wasn't scared at all, rather, she was excited. She had never seen another mage, other than her sister and father, in her entire life. Many thoughts were running through her mind; What's he like? Where's he from? What's his name? How talented is he in magic?

The young boy saw that the girl still hadn't moved, despite his threat. He then drew his hand further back and hurled is fireball towards her. She simply smiled and leaned to the right. The small fireball flew clear past her and impacted against the grass a short distance behind her. Marian looked back and watch the explosion and chuckled.

"Not bad, boy. Though it was still quite small and not very powerful at all. I doubt it would have hurt me, even if it did manage to hit me."

The young mage boy was surprised, his threats usually worked in the past. He'd show his magical powers and everyone, kids or adults, would run away screaming 'Apostate! Apostate!'. The young boy shook his head.

"I-I wasn't trying to hit you… I just wanted to scare you…"

Just then, "Marian! Marian!" Marian Hawkes' younger brother and sister screamed as they came running over the small hill together. They saw her kneeling next to a small cave entrance and Carver grabbed a hold of Bethany and trembled.

Marian waved her hand at him. "It's alright, Little Carver, the spiders are long gone… But, something much more interesting inhabits this cave now!"

Marian then held her hand out to the young apostate boy. "It's alright! You can come out now. We won't hurt you, we promise!"

The courage that this young girl showed him, combined with her kind voice, convinced the young mage to trust her. He then held out his hand and took the young and welcoming girls hand. He stood up slowly, his legs were tired and sore from running so hard and kneeling for so long. Still, the girl helped him the entire way. He then stood up fully and looked at the two other kids standing behind the young helpful girl. Both were definitely young than himself, but similar in appearance to the helpful girl his own age. They had to be siblings, he thought.

Carver and Bethany looked the young boy over as their sister stood next to him. Bethany held her hands in front of her chest and frowned. "Poor boy… He looks so tired and hungry…"

Though Carver was younger, he stood in front of his twin sister, Bethany, and held his arm in front of her protectively. "Careful… We don't even know who he is."

Marian shook her head and waved her hand. "Relax, Carver. He means no harm. He's just a young, hungry and frightened mage who-"

"What? He's a mage?" Carver shouted out loud. He then drew his small toy sword from his belt and pointed it at the young mage boy. "Careful! If he's a mage, then he may be from the circle tower! That would mean that he's an 'Upholstery'."

Bethany tilted her head, "A what?"

"You know, an 'Apostrophe'!"

Marian rolled her eyes, "Makers breath, Carver, it's 'Apostate'!"

Carver blushed, "W-well, you know what I meant!"

Marian shook her head disappointedly, "Still, how can you treat him so coldly? Need I remind you-"

Carver held his hand up to Marian, "Shh! Be quiet! You know Fathers rules!"

Carver then took a step towards the young mage while still holding one arm in front of Bethany protectively. He swung his sword through the air in an attempt to scare him away. "Get out of here! Leave!"

The young mage boy backed up a step or two, but Marian held onto him and prevented him from backing up any further. She then moved him behind herself and shielded him.

"That's enough, Carver. I mean it!"

Bethany grabbed onto Carvers shoulders from behind, "Carver, don't scare him! It's not nice!"

Carver looked back at Bethany, "B-but, Fathers rules! You know we can't-"

He stopped as soon as he felt something grab his wooden sword and looked forward to see Marian holding it and glaring at him. Her fist then burst into flames and burned his toy sword to ashes in a matter of seconds. The remains fell to the ground and landed in a small blackened pile.

"Back. Off. Carver." Marian warned.

The young mage boy gasped, "Y-you… You're a mage!"

Marian turned back to the boy and smiled brightly, "Yes, I am! Just like you!"

Bethany stepped forward, "So am I!" she said happily.

Marian then stood next to Bethany and wrapped her arm around and her. "Bethany, go and get the picnic basket and bring it back here."

Bethany nodded with a grin, "Of course."

As she ran off to retrieve it, Marian walked up to the young mage and offered her hand once again. "It's alright, you can trust us! We only want to help you!"

Marian meant every word of it, but Carver looked unsure, "Sister, no… We can't. Father said-"

Marian turned and placed her index finger against Carvers lips and stopped him. "Shhh… We just can't leave a fellow mage out here. Look at him, Carver… He looks absolutely starved and freezing!"

Carver then leaned towards Marian and placed his mouth next to her ear and whispered, "What if he's from the circle tower… where the templar's live!"

Marian shrugged, "So what if he is? All I'm suggesting is that we feed him and help him warm back up. Is that so much to ask?"

Carver rubbed the back of his neck, "W-well, no… But-"

Before he could finished, Bethany came running back over the small hill with the picnic basket now in hand. "I've got it, sister! I've got the basket!"

Marian then walked past Carver, "Good! Bring it over here!" Marian said as she walked over to the nearby stream, holding onto the young mage and leading him along as well. The three apostates then sat down on a fallen log together and Marian opened the basket and looked inside. There were three sandwiches inside, along with pieces of chopped up strawberries and other delicious pieces of fruit. The young mage boys stomach growled loudly as he looked into the basket. Marian and Bethany laughed together.

Marian then held the basket out to him. "Go on, take whatever you like!"

Bethany nodded in agreement, "We have more than enough!"

The young boy reached in and plucked out one of the meat sandwiches and bit into it three times in rapid succession and chew them loudly and hungrily. He moaned in ecstasy as he chewed. The girls couldn't fathom how long it must have been since he last ate anything resembling real food. But they were so excited that neither asked any of the questions that were lingering in the backs of their minds. This boy was after all, a mage, like themselves. Bethany took out a handful of strawberries and ate them one by one. Marian took out an apple and munched on it as she watched the young mage eat the entire sandwich, then a handful of fruit and cheese rapaciously.

Marian chuckled, then asked, "So… what's your name?"

The young boys eye shifted left and right nervously. He then swallowed the bit of fruit he had in his out and replied, "Uh… It's… Anders…"

Bethany squinted suspiciously, "That took quite a while…"

Marian nodded, "Is that your real name?"

Anders shifted uncomfortably, "W-well… No…"

"Oh, so it's a nickname then! Alright, you can call me 'Hawke' from now on!" Marian said cheerfully.

"I can't think of anything good, so just call me 'Sunshine'! My father always said my smile was as bright as the sun!"

And for the first time since their meeting, young Anders smiled and chuckled along with the two new apostate girls he had just met. "Alright… Hawke… Sunshine!"

But as the three young apostates laughed and ate together, Carver was sitting up on the nearby hilltop. He was on guard duty and made sure no one interrupted the young mages before as they got to know one another. He looked on jealously as Anders chatted and finished up the rest of the picnic baskets contents with his two mage sisters.

That was my meal! And Anders ate it all! Carver thought angrily.

A few moments later, he then came back down as soon as he saw all three of them stand up and dust off their dresses and trousers. Anders bowed gratefully.

"Thanks for the meal… I haven't eaten in days…"

"Really? Why not?" Bethany asked.

Marian shrugged, "That's not important right now." She walked up to Anders. "It'll be night time soon, do you have a place to stay?"

Anders rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment "The ditch…"

Marian looked over at Bethany and raised an eyebrow. She nodded and looked at Anders, "You'll come with us! We know a place you can stay!"

"That's right, it may not be much, but you can stay in our barn for the night!" Marian kindly offered.

"O-oh, no! I couldn't possibly ask-"

"It's alright, you can trust us, Anders. We're the same after all… Well, most of us." Marian said as she looked over at Carver.

"I heard that!" Carver said in offense.

"Ok… if it's alright with you…" Anders said nervously.

Marian put her arm around Anders and began to lead him back towards the farmstead, "It's not a problem at all. Just come with us and we'll help you to-"

Carver then grabbed a hold of Marians sleeve and pulled her off to the side. Marian sighed, "Keep going, Bethany! I'll catch up!" She then turned back to Carver, "What?"

"Don't, Marian! We can't-"

"Like I said, call me 'Hawke' from now on! I kind of like it!"

"Fine, Hawke. Anders is an apostate…"

"So? Bethany and I are as well, in case you've forgotten."

"That's not what I mean!"

"Oh come on, Carver. Don't spoil my fun! I've never met another mage my age before! Besides, it's only one night! He'll be gone before mother or father ever find out, I promise."

Carver gave up, "Fine… whatever…"

Marian squealed in delight and hugged Carver tightly, "Thank you! I knew you'd understand!" She then ran to catch up with Bethany and Anders.

Still, Carver wasn't convinced. Rather, he was worried. Marian was the eldest, so why wasn't she able to see what Carver saw? What if Anders was from the circle tower… Then not only would he be an apostate, but he'd be a runaway. And Carver knew just who would be chasing after him in that case… the Templars. If this was the case, then the danger to the family was extreme. Still, Carver didn't know much about this young mage. He decided to wait and see what would happen next. But if the danger to his sisters or the family became too great, then he'd have no choice but to let either mother or father now about it. He wouldn't put their safety ahead of this new strangers.