It is now cannon that time travel is possible, under the right conditions, in the Dragon Age Universe. Since Mass Effect thrives on Sci-Fi clichés and time travel seems to one of the few it left out, I decided to go back to one of my old writing tools of using time travel to fix stuff. If you hate time travel stories, then you can blame Bioware for this one.

I do not own any rights to Dragon Age, Mass Effect, etc. This is all done for fun.

Chapter 1: Cailan

"What I know about magic would fill a thimble about half-way, but is it really a good idea to keep these things in the same room or keep them at all, "asked Jane.

Maxwell placed the recently declared safe, broken pieces of the Orb on a small table. Hanging on the wall and sitting on tables was other memorabilia of other battles that the Inquisition had since its founding. There was the Orliasian mask once worn by a Duchess, the Herald's broken armor from his escape from Haven, a staff from some old Western Expanse ruins, and even the shards of the amulet used in an attempt to erase Maxwell from history was placed on the same table that he placed the Orb.

Maxwell asked as he straightened some deadly looking arrows that looked to be of Elven make that were hanging on the wall, "What's wrong with keeping a few mementos?"

Jane crossed her arms and answered, "Nothing but could you at least separate the more magical ones or put them behind glass or something?"

"There you are, "said Josephine in a hurry as she walked into the room.

Maxwell's eyes softened as he looked at Josephine, "What's wrong, my dear?"

"We just received word that the Weisshaupt Wardens have laid claim on Amaranthine, stating that Queen Anora gave it to the Wardens and are demanding that the Inquisition backed Wardens leave immediately," said Josephine.

"I thought the Queen specifically stated that Amaranthine was given to the Wardens with Warden Commander Elissa as the title holder, "said the Inquisitor.

"That is true, but they are claiming that she gave that up when she left her command for her personal quest, "said Josephine.

"And she was gone long enough for the acting Warden Commander to assume the position was permanent and reported as such, "said Shepard seeing where this was going since she already got part story from Anders, "He was so confident that she wasn't coming back, he harassed her inner circle to the point they all either left or did something to get re-assigned."

"Just great, "said Maxwell leaning onto the table, which was nowhere near as sturdy as it looked as it leaned over some causing the larger broken piece of the Orb to roll over some and barely touch the amulet shards. Sparks started to pop and sizzle as they grew from where the two items touched. Shepard, pushed both Josephine and the Inquisitor away from the table just as the sparks hit the staff on the wall. A swirling mass in shades of brown to gold to red appeared right behind Shepard and dragged her in.

"Shepard!" Maxwell called out as the mass of energy dissipated. On the other side of Skyhold, Cole was helping out in the healer chambers when he froze mid-step. A look of dismay came over his face as he turned and stumbled towards the main keep. He then ran chanting to himself, "No no no no…"

(Unknown Location, late afternoon)

"Your Majesty, "a guard bravely spoke up as the group of three armored men walked towards a creek, "The Teyrn will not be happy with…"

The blonde headed man in gold colored armor just laughed as he waved a hand, "Let me worry about Loghain, I'll take full responsibility for this little trip. I just want to spend some time away from his lectures for a few hours." The blonde then knelt down and picked up a stone only to toss it into the water.

"But, Ser, "said the other guard, "Shouldn't we have brought more people? It might not be safe here so close to the Korcari Wilds."

"Please, "said the noble, "we're days away from the closest reported darkspawn and the Chasind are more pressing matters than a small group of fully armed men taking a quiet stroll."

One of the guards turned, drawing his sword, when he heard a strange growling noise. He said, "What's that?" The next thing the guard knew was a darkspawn landing on his back and ripping out his throat with a jagged edge dagger.

"Sire, get behind me, "the remaining guard ordered as he hurriedly prepared his shield and drew his own sword. He fought off the darkspawn which was quickly joined by two others and a fourth one in the distance getting ready to cast a spell.

"Damn it, "growled the noble with a serious look on his face for once and drawing his own two handed blade. The guard slammed the first darkspawn to the ground and stabbed it as the noble behead the second. The distant dawkspawn cast his spell freezing the guard enabling the remaining nearby darkspawn to shatter him. The noble shouted as he charged the nearby darkspawn, but it dodged his attack. He could hear the spell casting darkspawn's evil laughter being cut short and replaced by a husky female voice saying, "Oh no you don't." The noble turned to see a woman in strange leather armor running towards him and saying, "Look out!"

The noble was hit from behind and knocked to the ground. He turned over in time to see the remaining darkspawn's sword raised for a killing blow and then a thrown dagger driving into its throat. Dark, tainted blood squirted out as the creature fell and the armored man knocked monster to the side.

"You alright, "said the woman walking over and then offering a hand up. The noble took the offered help up and was surprised by the relative ease she had helping his fully plate armor self up. "I'm uninjured, thanks to you, my lady," he said with a small bow, "Unfortunately the same cannot be said for my men."

The woman pulled her dagger from the darkspawn's throat and cleaned it off using piece of cloth hanging from her belt before sheathing it. "Sorry I didn't make it sooner, but I was too far away when I heard the fighting, "she said and then asked scratching the back of her head, "This may sound strange, but where are we?"

"Got lost did we, "asked the noble with a smile, "We're a few days march from Ostagar and the Korcari Wilds. If you don't mind, would you walk with me back to camp. I would like to report what happened and see that these men are given proper rites. And if I may be so bold, who do I have to thank for my timely rescue."

"Jane Shepard, "she said with a small bow and then asked, "And you are…?"

"Ah, pardon my manners, "he said as he started to walk and she fell in step by him, "I am Cailan, King of Ferelden and you will be well rewarded my new friend."

To be continued…