This chapter is intended as a prologue - it is set at the battle of Ostagar, which is before the events of DA2.

"You've told me your version of the Champion's story. Now tell me what really happened."

"That is what really happened."

"Bullshit. There was another man, one who called himself the Doctor. He was the reason they survived, no? And yet he does not appear in your tale."

The dwarf leaned forward.

"You have done your research, haven't you?" he murmured. "Normally, I don't mention him - he doesn't like being mentioned in history." The woman moved toward him threateningly.

"But for you, darling, I'll tell you the truth. The real truth. Unfortunately for me, that truth sounds even crazier than my first lie. But this time, I swear to you on my life that this account is the true one."

"I've listened to two tales of bullshit already. Just tell the truth this time."

"This time," the dwarf began, "It starts in a place neither here nor there, neither now nor then. This time, it starts in a place with no time."

"Enough riddles. What is this place called?"

"The Doctor called it the Time Vortex."

The Time Vortex, Timeless

The TARDIS hurtled through the Time Vortex, a place neither here nor there, neither now nor then. it was moving even more erratically than usual. A sudden explosion from the inside blew the exterior windows out as the Vortex flickered around it.

Inside, golden light poured from the hands and head of the time machine's sole crew member. Suddenly, the flow of light cut off, and the man glanced down.

"Hands, hands, still got hands," he muttered hurriedly, "Legs - yes, still got legs." He kissed his knee. "Hair, hair, ha- I'm a girl!" he exclaimed. "No... no, not a girl and..." he dragged his fringe down in front of his eyes "...I'm STILL NOT GINGER!" the scatterbrained man could almost remember something very important.

"There's something else," he muttered, pounding his head. "I'm..." the TARDIS rocked as another explosion sounded from somewhere deep inside. "Crashing!" he shouted excitedly. He hurried to the round, six-paneled console, spinning coloured balls, pumping a bicycle pump and turning a small hand generator.

"Geronimo!"

Ostagar, 9:30 Dragon

"Archers!" the king shouted. The archers let loose a hail of arrows at the oncoming horde. A few fell, squirming, to be trampled underfoot. But the horde was too immense to be stopped by a few arrows.

"Dogs!" he shouted. The dog handlers let loose the mighty mabari warhounds, which took out another line or two before the creatures cut them down.

"For Ferelden!" he shouted, signaling the army to charge.

Marian and Carver were at the very back of the army, but even they would see some action before the day was done.
Soon, the entire battlefield was thrown into chaos as the army and the darkspawn horde clashed. Marian finished disemboweling a hurlock just as another one threw Carver to the ground and raised its blade to finish him. Carver closed his eyes, readying himself for the incoming blow. The hurlock's sword clattered on the ground near his head. He looked up to see the creature hanging limply on a dagger erupting from its chest.

"They're not taking my brother," Marian declared, ripping her blade out of its back and helping Carver to his feet. "Bethany would hate me forever if you died on my watch." He chuckled, nodding in agreement.

"Come on." The siblings fought their way through the horde, Carver living up to his name while Marian danced from foe to foe, leaving a trail of dead darkspawn in her wake. Before long, however, they realised they were cut off from the army and surrounded by darkspawn. Back to back, they watched as the darkspawn formed a circle around them, keeping just out of Carver's range.

"Well, it's been fun," Marian said to Carver.

"All good things must end, huh?" he replied. she nodded as the darkspawn charged them as one.

BOOM

A loud noise rent the air. Everyone raised their heads and stopped fighting as a burning object burst into existence, surrounded by a halo of red energy which vanished in an instant. The object fell on a shallow angle, straight for Marian and Carver. As the darkspawn around them fled in terror, Marian and Carver did the same, looking back to try to figure out what it was. The object neared them, then passed right over them. Marian could have sworn she heard a sound coming from it - a strange, echoing, wheezing, groaning sort of noise, repeating itself as it ended. The object impacted the ground right in front of the Hawke siblings, throwing them backwards. The darkspawn around them weren't so lucky - they were incinerated. Silently, Marian resolved to thank Bethany for her enchantment to protect them from fire.

The Hawke siblings carefully approached the object. It was a tall, blue box. Fire poured from the windows near the top - if they were windows - and some form of lamp was slowly flashing. as they watched, the box emitted a loud thump. They both flinched, and Marian glanced around to check if any darkspawn were sneaking up on them. None of them even seemed to realise they were there - somehow, they were behind the horde.

The doors of the box flew open. a man staggered out, coughing from the smoke pouring out after him. He fell to the ground as the doors flew shut behind him. Marian hurried over to him - whoever he was, he had just saved their lives.

thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.

Carver looked up.

"Ogre!" he shouted. Marian quickly dragged the man out of the creature's way - it was on fire, and would most likely just be running from the pain. Carver dived to the side as the ogre hurtled past him with the force of an army of cavalry. THe creature flung the blue box aside without even breaking its stride, and the box suddenly started making the same noise Marian had heard before. It began to fade from sight as the man looked up.

"No!" he shouted, pushing Marian aside and rushing to the vanishing box. He was too late, however, and the box disappeared before it even hit the ground. The man fell to his knees in the mud, looking despondent.

"Didn't think the HADS would work after that crash - heck, I didn't expect it to need to work." Marian placed her hand on his shoulder as Carver swung his sword menacingly at any darkspawn who dared to come close.

"We have to go. I don't know who you are, but you saved our lives. Come with us - who knows, we might end up saving yours." The man looked up.

"Well, since I can't find the TARDIS, I may as well go with you. Lead on!"