Wilder Wardens
Author: USA Tiger
Disclaimer: The Dragon Age series is the property of BioWare.
Author Note: Speaking of, many thanks goes out to my beta and head minion Asilyessam who not only checked behind me for spelling and grammar but also helped me with the DA lore since she's been playing the games for much, much longer than I have and has also came up with her share of the ideas.
Chapter 2
The halls of the Tower of Magi were always quiet at night. No mages or apprentices running around studying magic or learning how to wield the power they were born with. At this time of night the only people awake were elder mages, up reading this book or that scroll on the many types of magic. Also up where the night shift of the Knights of the Templar, men and women, mostly men, who guarded the tower and surveyed the mages who lived in the tower with them. Many of the mages feared the Templars, with good reason as one could be dragged for questioning for any little thing at any time and that's if they were lucky.
Currently walking the halls was a not so unusual sight, a Templar lead a young apprentice mage toward the upper levels of the tower, toward the top. The youth was male with long silvery white hair pulled back into a braid and crystal blue eyes that would glare every now and then at the back of the knight in front of him. His most striking features were his pointed ears, displaying his strong Elven blood, and the unusual markings on his face. Mages typically didn't have tattoos so Atreyu Surana's facial markings would make people who had not seen them before pause.
The area around his eyes were black, bringing out the blue color, with small wisp-like lines breaking away and curving over his cheeks. Two sets of three curved lines marked his forehead, giving him a bit of a fierce look when he happened to be glaring your way. Some people would even mistake the markings for Dalish markings, though Atreyu was no Dalish elf. If asked, he would only say the tattoos are for his own reasons and to keep their nose out of it. The only person who may know what Atreyu's tattoos were for was his best friend Jowan and even then it was possible the human mage didn't know much.
Atreyu's thoughts were interrupted as the knight led him up a set up stairs on the highest point of the tower. He had never been this high up, no one came up here for no reason. Not unless one was about to go through their Harrowing. A test all apprentice mages must go through to become a full mage and apart of the circle. Atreyu had began to worry that the Templars wouldn't allow him to go through his Harrowing, he wasn't very popular since he tended to cause trouble every now and then. His mentor, the First Enchanter Irving, had assured Atreyu many times he would have his Harrowing soon, so he was very glad that the knight had finally come for him.
At the top of the tower waited Irving and the Knight-Commander Greagoir who commanded the Templars within the tower. As Atreyu approached, Greagoir stepped forward, quoting a saying from the Chantry.
"'Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him.' Thus spoke the prophet Andreste as she cast down the Tevinter Imperium, ruled by mages who had brought the world to the edge of ruin," Greagoir said, Atreyu had to fight not to roll his eyes. He had this 'Marker' crap shoved down his throat since the day he was bright to the tower when he was 9 years old. He never believed it, his family had worshiped something much different and even to this day that was what the Elf chose to believe. Of course he wasn't stupid enough to ever say anything inside the tower, wisely choosing instead to play lip-service everything the Chantry and the other followers of the Marker attempted to brainwash him with.
"You magic is a gift, but it's also a curse, for demons of the dream realm – the Fade – are drawn to you, and seek to use you as a gateway into this world," Greagoir continued.
"This is why the Harrowing exist," Irving added, coming up to stand next to his most promising student. The elderly mage had fought with Greagoir many times over the last few weeks to allow Atreyu to go through the Harrowing. He had great confidence that the boy would pass and with flying colors. While Atreyu was far from the strongest mage within the tower, the young Elf had always had a gift for magic, one Irving had help to nurture. "The ritual sends you into the Fade, and there you will face a demon, armed with only your will."
"I'm ready to face the Fade and its demon," Atreyu said, his voice an even tenor.
"Know this apprentice: if you fail, we Templars will perform our duty," Greagoir said seriously. "You will die."
"I don't plan on failing," Atreyu said with a cocky tone, a smirk on his lips. Greagoir glared at the Elven Mage, this was why he disliked the boy, Atreyu was far too cocky at times.
"This is lyrium; the very essence of magic and your gateway into the Fade," Greagoir said as he waved his hand in the direction of a pedestal with a shallow basin on top. Inside a glowing green liquid sat, humming with the power of magic.
"The Harrowing is a secret out of necessity, child," Irving added softly, Atreyu quickly turning to face his mentor. "Every mage must go through this trial by fire. As we succeeded, so shall you. Keep your wits about you and remember the Fade is a realm of dreams. The spirits may rule it, but your own will is real."
"Right, got it. Don't trust anything in the fade but myself," Atreyu said with a nod, causing an amused smile to cross Irving's face, he quite enjoyed Atreyu's sharp tongue unlike his Templar counterpart.
"The apprentice must go through this test alone, First Enchanter," Greagoir butted in not liking the elderly mage giving the Elf advice. Atreyu narrowed his eyes as he turned to face Greagoir, a hard glint within the gaze. "You are ready."
"I've been ready for this for a long time," Atreyu said under his breath as he walked toward the pedestal. He could feel the stares of all the Templars in the room on him, ready to slice his head off if it appeared that a demon had taken him over. Atreyu gazed down into the basin, where the lyruim in liquid form laid waiting. He reached out and touched the lyruim, watching as it seemed to curl around his hand, then plunged his hand fully inside. To Atreyu there seem to be a bright flash of light then nothing…
"So, they send another victim to our realm," a large Pride demon rumbled in amused tone. "An Elf at that. Hmmm… Elven souls are quite tasty." A few feet in front of him, Atreyu's body had appeared in the Fade. The mortals in the waking world offer the souls of their apprentices here for testing to see if they could resist the demons within. Pride loved to toy with them, making himself appear as a human mage stuck in the Fade that was able to take on a rat form and call himself 'Mouse'. It was much like a game, one he enjoyed far too much at times. After he 'helped' his meal defeat the minor Rage demon in the area, Pride would devoir the mage's soul then send one of the lesser demons to process the body left behind. Why in the Fade would he leave when the mortals on the other side were so willing to feed him?
Not to say there weren't a mage or two that escaped, every now and then a mage came along whose willpower was enough to resist his attempts. He let those go, it was no big loss after all, and another soul always came along soon after.
"This one is mine," a woman's voice said from behind him.
"And what makes you think I will let you have this mortal?" Pride said as he turned to face the demon behind him. The Desire demon smirked as she lightly traced her fingers over her stomach.
"This one is too strong for you," She said. "You won't be able to overcome his pride. But I can see into his dreams, I can see his desire, he want to go home. I can use that to capture his soul." Pride gave a grumbling growl as he too looked into the Elf's dreams, the desire to leave the tower and return to his home was strong. If Desire played her cards right, she could easily entrap the Elf in no time.
"Fine then, this meal is yours," he surrendered, fading into the shadows. Desire looked at Atreyu with hunger, his soul was bright and would make a very tasty meal. She could not wait.
Atreyu groaned as 'woke up', rubbing his head as he slowly stood and took in his surroundings. Who knew going into the Fade like this was so painful. Luckily the pain was already fading.
"So this is the Fade," Atreyu said as he looked around. It… wasn't quite what he expected. The landscape was strange looking with large trees that didn't look right and hills that seem to go nowhere and strange looking statues and monuments scattered everywhere. The 'sky' looked yellow and in the distance he could see floating islands. "Lovely place but I doubt I'll be building a summer home here anytime soon. Now where is this demon?"
Atreyu could only see one path to take and took off down it at a light jog. He hated these damn mage robes, they were a pain in the ass to run in. After encountering a ball of wispy light that shot a ball of lightening at him, Atreyu quickly figured out how to use his spells within the Fade as he flung back his own spell at the wisp.
"Not too hard," Atreyu said to himself as he summoned a small ball of fire to dance around his fingers then closed his hand to cancel the spell. Spells seemed to work the same in the Fade as they did in the waking world, or at least that was how it seemed.
"Another child of magic thrown to the wolves, fresh and unprepared for the horrors here," A male voice said suddenly. Atreyu stopped and looked around then down to see a… fox? "It isn't right that they do this, the Templars."
"A talking fox, well that's a new one in my book," Atreyu said.
"You think you're really here? In that body?" The fox asked with laughter in his voice. "You look like that because you think you do!"
"So you think you look like a fox?" Atreyu asked with a raised eyebrow.
"A fox is useful in a place like this," The fox said. Suddenly the fox glowed, causing Atreyu to lift a hand to block the light until it died now. Now, standing in the place the talking fox had been, was an Elf wearing a soft leather tunic and pants with long black hair. Atreyu's eyebrows raised in surprise, the other Elf appeared to be someone from one of the clans. "Allow me to welcome you to the fade. You can call me… well, Fox," the Elf shrugged his shoulders slightly.
"Fox," Atreyu repeated dryly. "Yes, very original. But that isn't your real name is it?"
"No," The Elf said with a shake of his head. "I don't remember much from… before. My body was found by the Templars while I Fade walked, they assumed I was lost to the demons here and simply… did away with me. With no body to return to, I am stuck here. Other children of magic here claim that if you take too long, the Templars will do the same to them." That… explanation didn't make much sense to Atreyu, the man claimed he didn't remember anything from before, not his name or anything, yet he remembered the Templars and how he died. You couldn't have it both ways. And he had never heard of 'Fade walking' either.
"That's not going to happen to me," Atreyu said with an unconcerned wave of his hand. "I'm not going to let myself get trapped here."
"That has been said before," Fox said. "But you don't know the danger. There's something here, contained, just for an apprentice like you. You have to face the creature, a demon, and resist it, if you can."
"Yeah I know," Atreyu said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "That's the whole point of this test isn't it?"
"That's your way out. Or your opponent's, if the Templars wouldn't kill you," Fox continued, giving Atreyu an annoyed look when the other Elf had interrupted him. "A test for you, a tease for the creatures of the Fade."
"Oh I doubt it's as simple as that," Atreyu said. "Anything can die, even demons."
"You would be a fool to attack everything you see," Fox said. "What you face is powerful, cunning. There are others here, other spirits. They will tell you more, maybe help. If you can believe anything you see."
"You're being… awful helpful," Atreyu said as he narrowed his eyes, he didn't believe Fox's story, something was off about it. But for now he didn't have any proof that the other Elf was anything but what he appeared.
"I only want to help another one of my clan out, I do not wish to see you trapped here as I am," Fox said with a shrug of his shoulders. "I shall follow you, if that is alright."
"Knock yourself out," Atreyu said with a shrug of his shoulders as he walked past Fox, he was wasting time talking to the so-called Elven man when he could be hunting for this demon. He heard a flash of magic behind him and wasn't surprised when he looked back to see Fox in his fox form again. Further down the path Atreyu came across an area that was covered in flames, Fox warning him that was where the demon he was to fight was located.
Atreyu narrowed his eyes a bit as he slowed down, Fox sounded almost eager for him to enter the area though he said it in a way to warn Atreyu off… and it seemed too easy to find the demon. The way Irving and Greagoir talked, finding the demon would be extremely hard, if it was this easy to find the demon a lot more apprentices would have passed the Harrowing. No, whatever was there he may have to fight but he was going to look around more first.
It was wandering around a bit more, fighting off little wisps, that he found another spirit within the Fade. This was one must different from Fox, the figure looked like a Templar Knight, but his own body glowed with a golden light.
"Another mortal thrown into the flames and left to burn, I see," The figure said as Atreyu approached. The spirit's voice had an echoing quality to it the Elf noticed, this was no simple spirit. "You mages have devised a cowardly test. Better to you pitted against each other to prove you mettle with skill, than to be unarmed against a demon."
"Oh I agree with you," Atreyu said. "But it's the Templars that insist on this test, not the mages."
"Indeed," The glowing knight said. Atreyu wondered if the spirit was really a Templar or if it just appeared that way to him since he never saw any other types of knights. "You are not the first sent here for such testing. Nor shall you be the last, I suspect. That you remain means you have not yet defeated your hunter. I wish you a glorious battle to come."
"Thanks," Atreyu said then looked at the knight with curiosity then at all the weapons that floated nearby in the air. "Just what are you anyway? What's with all the weapons?"
"I am a spirit of Valor. The weapons are brought into being by my will, I understand that in your world, mages are the only ones who can will things into being," The spirit explained. Atreyu suppose that was true but only the elder mages knew how. "Those mortals who cannot must lead such hallow, empty lives."
"You said brought into being by your will," Atreyu said. "So you what… think the weapon up and it's here? Could a weapon like that affect the demon?"
"Without a doubt. In this realm, everything that exists is the expression of a thought," The spirit agreed. Atreyu hummed softly to himself, Fox had said he looked like his normal self as that was how he saw himself and the spirit said any weapon could be brought into being by a thought and enough will power. "Do you think these blades be steel? The staves be wood? Do you believe they draw blood? A weapon is a single need for battle, and my will makes that need a reality."
'The Fade is the realm of dreams, I'm pretty much lucid dreaming here,' Atreyu puzzled out in his mind. 'So if I want a weapon….' He held out his hand, thinking of a staff, keeping a very clear image in his mind. There was a flash of light and suddenly a weight of a solid wooden staff that looked like it came from a tree was in Atreyu's hand.
"Bravo my good sir!" The spirit said impressed. Not many mortals figured this trick out on their own and he was impressed this mage had. "I wish you great victory against your foes."
"Thanks," Atreyu said with a salute of his own as he turned and walked away. Several feet away the Desire demon that was Fox watched the mage closely, the Elf had figured out the Fade much quicker than any of the other mages brought here before. Usually the spirit had to guide the mages through the process, if they even made it this far. "Are you coming or not?"
"Yes yes," The fox shaped Elf answered as he followed after the youth.
Atreyu still didn't trust the fox shaped Elf, something was off about the spirit, something that made his gut churn. A growling noise caught Atreyu's attention, in front of him stood a small group of glowing spirit wolves, and they were licking their chops as they stared down at Fox.
"They may think you're lunch," Atreyu pointed out amused. Fox yipped in alarm and ran to hide under Atreyu's robes, nearly tripping the youth. "Hey! You better not be peeking a look under there, I don't give free shows!"
A wolf growled and snarled as it approached Atreyu who sighed and quickly cast an ice spell to freeze it into place then a bolt of Arcane magic to shatter it. Two more appeared in the wolf's place and taken care of just as quickly, Atreyu laughing as each one disappeared. All this seemed way too easy which was a cause of concern to Atreyu. He always heard how hard this test was, many of the young mages who took the Harrowing never passed it yet so far the test was a bit of a breeze. Something more was going on here, he could feel it.
"Alright, get out from under there," Atreyu said as he stepped away from the cowering Fox. "Don't hide under my robes next time, if you're going to be a coward go hide someplace else."
"My apologies," Fox said, Atreyu didn't think he sounded all that sorry at all. What sort of Elf hid from wolves anyway, foxes weren't helpless after all. He turned and walked away again with Fox on his heels. "Careful, there's a another spirit just ahead," Fox whispered.
"That's a spirit?" Atreyu asked. He could see the form up ahead, it looked a lot like a bear… if said bear had a child with a porcupine that is. It didn't glow either like the Valor Spirit had.
"Hmm… so you are the mortal being hunted?" The spirit said as Atreyu approached. The bear like creature sounded very bored and sleepy. "And the small one… is he to be a snack for me?"
"Yeah I'm starting to think this isn't a spirit," Atreyu said down to Fox. Fox merely snorted and changed into his Elf form in a flash of light.
"I don't like this," Fox said. "We should go, he's not going to help us."
"No matter," The spirit said with a sniff as he lumber to his feet. "The demon will get you eventually, and perhaps there will even be scraps left."
"Why is everyone assuming that the demon is going to defeat me?" Atreyu muttered under his breath. "Why wait for scraps? Come on, I'll take you on," He said louder, reaching up to grip his staff.
"Why bother? You'll just run away," The spirit said with a mighty yawn, mouth open wide to show of rows of razor sharp teeth. "I'll not waste time with a chase, not even for a meal." A tick started to thump on Atreyu's forehead, he wondered if a blast to the face would change this thing's mind. "Begone! Surely you have better things to do that bother Sloth, mortal. I tire of you already." Sloth left himself fall back into the ground in a lazy heap.
"Sloth?" Atreyu repeated then turned to Fox, Sloth was type of demon that lived inside the Fade. "That's a demon not a spirit! How the hell can't you tell the difference if you've been here for so long?"
"Spirit or demon, they are the same here in the Fade, child of magic," Fox said in a soft tone before speaking louder to the demon. "He needs help defeating a demon."
"I can speak for myself and I don't need his help," Atreyu hissed at Fox.
"You have a very nice staff," Sloth mused with another yawn. "Why would you need me? Go, use your weapon on the demon. Be valorous."
"I don't need you," Atreyu muttered to himself. "I'm already stuck with this coward…"
"He looks powerful," Fox mused. "It might be possible that he could… teach you to be like him." Atreyu raised an eyebrow, he did have a high interest in shape shifting, he wasn't going to lie. He always had since he was a little kid even but he had a feeling learning to be a bear thing from a demon wouldn't help him at all in the waking world.
"Like me?" Sloth asked amused as he listened in. "You mean teach the mortal to take this form? Why? Most mortals are too attached to their forms to learn the change." Atreyu crossed his arms over his chest, the demon didn't know him very well then. Not that he wanted to learn how to shape shift from a demon. "You, on the other hand, little one, might be a better student. You let go of your mortal form years ago."
"I… do not think I would make a very good bear," Fox said. "I would be unable to hide in that form."
"So what?" Atreyu asked. "Bears are a hell of a lot bigger than a fox, you could just fight whatever is coming after you. Those claws would do some serious damage. Don't be so afraid all the time, it's an embarrassment to Elves everywhere!"
"I have faced more in this place that you can imagine, child of magic," Fox said. "It is not fear, it is being smart."
"Yeah that's a coward's excuse," Atreyu taunted with a smirk. "Are you sure you shouldn't have been a mouse or something?" Fox sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"You are right, hiding doesn't help," he said. "I am sorry, the Fade changes you…" he took a deep breath and turned to face Sloth. "I'll try then spirit, I'll try to be a bear if you will teach me." Inside Desire cackled with glee, she was such a good actor. The little Elf mortal was a pain in the ass but that would make eating his soul so much sweeter.
"That's nice," Sloth said as he settled down to sleep. "But teaching is so exhausting. Away with you now."
"I told you he wasn't going to help us child," Fox said in a disappointed tone.
"Hey! You're the one that offered to teach him how to change his shape into a bear," Atreyu snapped at Sloth. "You can't just dangle an offer like that then change your mind." Sloth sighed and lifted his head to look at Fox.
"You wish to learn my form, little one?" He asked. "Then I have a challenge for your friend. Answer three riddles correctly, and I will teach you. Fail, and I will devour you both. The decision is yours." Atreyu groaned softly as he heard the word 'riddles'. He hated riddles, that was one of Jowan's favorite pastimes when he was bored. Sadly Jowan asked him enough riddles that Atreyu had gotten quite good at them.
"Fine, ask your riddles so we can get this over with," he said with a sigh. The riddles, it turned out, were so easy that Atreyu wondered why the bear shaped Sloth even bothered? Even Jowan could give harder riddles as the Elf answered with Map, Tongue and Dreams to each.
"Hemf… fine," Sloth said as he slowly lumbered to his feet once again. "I shall teach the fox how to become a bear. Now listen closely."
Atreyu walked a few feet away and leaned against one of the strange trees that dotted the land, watching as Fox was taught by the demon how to shift into a different animal shape. This whole thing felt wrong to him, Fox put him on edge. He might look like an Elf, one that might even come from the same clan he did at one time, but something told Atreyu this wasn't the case. Call it a gut feeling as it were, though Atreyu liked to think it was his magic warning him, something was off about Fox. If the Elf could shape change into a fox or even a bear… who's to stay an Elf was his real form.
"Did I do it? Am I a… bear?" Fox asked as he suddenly changed with a flash of light.
"You look more like a bear that he does," Atreyu said as he walked back over, pointing at Sloth with his thumb.
"It feels… heavy," Fox said as he lifted his front paws, testing out how he could move.
"Hmm… close enough," Sloth said. "Go then, and defeat your demon… or whatever you intend to do. I grow weary of your mortal prattling." The demon yawned loudly and laid back down as Atreyu turned on his feel and walked away.
"Finally, let's go now that you're useful," Atreyu said to Fox over his shoulder. He heard hear the bear shaped Elf behind him. The new bear form turned out to be very useful as they were attacked by another small pack of Spirit Wolves. Atreyu watched out of the corner of his eye as Fox destroyed the spirits with no problem. Fox even gave a gleeful laugh as he destroyed the wolves that had wanted to eat him in his other form. Atreyu shook his head slightly as he continued back down the path. His eyes focused on something floating in the distance.
Islands dotted the strange yellow sky, the one that caught Atreyu's attention appeared to have a city on it. He shivered slightly, he read about the Fade of course, or what little information that allowed to the apprentices anyway. And the Templars and Chantry were happy to tell the Mages in the tower how a group of foolish magic users had tried to enter the city of their beloved maker and were cursed, bringing the first blight and Darkspawn back with them. Atreyu wondered if the city he could see was the same from the tales? He didn't know, he didn't put any stock on the tales of the Maker and such but there was something within this realm….
Atreyu shook his head to clear his thoughts, now wasn't the time to think about any of that. He had a demon to beat and a creepy Fade to get out of. He entered the area Fox pointed out before, watching as a fiery demon rose from the flames.
"And so it comes to me at last," The demon said in a deep gravelly voice. "Soon I shall see the land of the living with your eyes, creature. You shall be mine, body and soul."
"Yeah, that's not going to happen," Atreyu said as he quickly drew his staff and held it at ready. "This body and soul are mine and mine alone! Come and get me demon!"
"Oh, I shall," The demon said then turned to Fox. "So this creature is your offering, Fox? Another plaything, as per our arrangement?"
"Arrangement?" Atreyu repeated with a raised eyebrow, looking at Fox out of the corner of his eye as the bear changed back into an Elf. "And just what sort of 'arrangement' would that be?"
"I offer you nothing demon!" Fox said with a shake of his head. "I don't have to help you anymore!"
"Oh, you and I are going to have such words after this," Atreyu said under his breath.
"Awww," The demon said in a pouty voice then laughed. "And after all those wonderful meals we shared? Now suddenly the mousey fox has changed the rules?"
"I am not a coward anymore demon," Fox said as he pointed a finger at the demon. "And soon I will not have to hide. I need not to bargain with you!"
"We shall see…" The demon said with a growl as it narrowed its glowing eyes. It rushed at Atreyu, who had been standing ready for an attack of any kind, and was quickly hit in the face with an ice spell. The demon roared in pain as the ice burned its fiery body then grunted as Atreyu jabbed his staff into the demon's middle. Fox changed back into a bear and raked his claws down the lesser demon's back, pulling back just in time as Atreyu blasted the demon with a bolt of magic to the face.
The demon roared in defeat as it seemed to melt away, becoming a puddle of lava on the fiery ground.
"You did it," Fox said as he changed back into an Elf and turned to face Atreyu. "You actually did it! When I saw you, child of magic, I hoped that maybe you might be able to… but I never really thought any of you were worthy."
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence," Atreyu said dryly. "And this was all a little too easy."
"That is because you are a true child of magic, a true mage," Fox said. "One of the few. The others I have seen, they did not stand a chance. The Templars set them up to fail, as they tried with you."
"The Templars have no control over this realm, though I bet they wish they did," Atreyu said as he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Fox. "And let's talk about your part in all this. Something about a bargain between you and puddles here?"
"I regret my part in it," Fox said with a shake of his head. "One does what they must to survive within the Fade. But you have shown me that there is hope, child of magic. You can be so much more than you know."
"There's more to it than that," Atreyu said. "You want something from me don't you? What is it?"
"You defeated a demon, you completed your test," Fox said with an excited shake of his head. "With time, you could be a master enchanter and strong enough to escape the tower and the circle, return to your people. And if there is hope for you to return to our lands, maybe there is hope for me as well… if you want to help."
"Help…" Atreyu said slowly. "And just how would I do that?" Just how did this Elf know he wanted to leave that blasted tower and return home to his clan he was stolen from? He hadn't said a word to that effect since coming here.
"There may be a way for me to leave, to gain a foothold to the world outside," Fox said. "You just need to… want to let me in." Atreyu quickly took a step back, his hand going up to his staff once again.
"I'm starting to think that the other demon wasn't my real test," Atreyu said in a wary tone.
"What? What are you… Of course it was!" Fox explained, spreading his arms as if he was offended. "What else is here that could harm a child of magic of your potential?"
"Hmm let me see…. Well there's you," Atreyu pointed out. "You are not like any Elf I have met, you are not of my clan and you are not of the Dalish. You are not an Elf from the cities either. You know, somehow, that I wish to get the hell away from the Tower of Magi and the Templars, to return to my clan and family when I know I haven't said a thing to you like that. And you know a little too much for someone who claims to have forgotten everything about themselves."
Fox stared at Atreyu then started to chuckle, shaking his head.
"Oh you are a smart one," Fox said, the deep voice the Elf had before changing into a softer female voice. Atreyu took another step back as Fox started to glow, the Elf replaced with a scantily clad female demon. "Hmm… I did not think you would be able to see through my tricks, the real danger of the Fade is preconceptions after all, careless trust."
"I trust nothing I saw here," Atreyu said. "Why am I not surprised you are a demon?"
"Hmm… I could help you, you know," The Desire demon said as she stepped closer to Atreyu, reaching up to lay a hand on his cheek. "I can give you the power needed to get past the Templars, to escape your tower and to return to your people." She stopped as something cold and sharp pressed against her neck, Atreyu's staff had changed into a sword with barely a thought, Atreyu's crystal blue eyes cold as he glared at her.
"Over my dead body demon," Atreyu said. Desire gave him her best pouty, sexy look while attempting to press her own will on Atreyu but he wouldn't budge and finally she was forced to let him return to his own body. Such a pity too, she would have loved to play with the pretty Elf before eating his soul.
The Fade was the realm of dreams, as such time past must faster within the Fade than it did within the waking world. What could seem like hours to the dreamer in truth was only a few minutes to those were wide awake. Greagoir stood ready near where the Elven apprentice named Atreyu stood, the boy's eyes blank as his soul wondered the Fade for his Harrowing, ready to put the Elf down should he fail his test. He didn't much like the Elf, Atreyu had caused much trouble over the years for his Templars. Not as much as the boy Anders had, who had escaped the tower many time and had to be brought back in chains, but Atreyu made it clear he hated the Tower of Magi. Greagoir had thought the Elf might turned to Blood Magic like many mages did when they were desperate to escape at one time but he had to admit he admired Atreyu for completely rejecting Blood Magic, strong willed enough not to be drawn in by the foul magic.
Greagoir had been unable to punish Atreyu harshly for his behavior, the Elf was a favorite of Irving's and the First Enchanter refused to see the boy punished when it could be avoided.
Irving too stood nearby, watching his student. Unlike Greagoir, Irving had confidence that Atreyu would pass the Harrowing with no trouble and earn his place as a full mage. The young Elf had shown such a gift with magic since the day he had been brought to the tower at the young age of 9. He had worried a bit for a time when Atreyu refused to allow himself to get close to anyone in the tower with the exception of Wynne, and even that had been met with wariness, until the boy had become close to Jowan, another young mage of the tower. Anders had also befriended the boy, though never as close as Jowan had become, over their mutual hate of the tower and the circle. All three boys had taken Silvia Amell, a young orphan bought to the tower nearly three years after Atreyu, under their wing giving her the nickname Silver. Atreyu was a joy to teach, though he had very little head for healing spells favoring instead other branches of magic but what healing magic he couldn't cast he more than made up for in his knowledge of herbs and potions.
Irving knew Atreyu would never fully accept life here in the tower, or being under the constant thumb of the Templars and the Chantry. He remembered the letter he had received the day before, a request from the Gray Warden Duncan to speak to him and Greagoir about allowing more Circle Mages to join them in battle. Irving thought that Atreyu may jump at the chance to join the Wardens, to leave the tower and have a bit more freedom than he would have here. Greagoir would never agree to it of course, which is why he had not brought up the idea with his counterpart. He knew Duncan needed more Gray Wardens and Atreyu was more than skillful enough to be up to the task.
Both Irving and Greagoir's attention, as well as the other Templar knights within the chamber, were brought back to Atreyu as the Elven youth groaned and slumped to the stone floor as the lyruim released him from the Fade.
"Th-that's impossible…" Greagoir whispered as he stared at the silver hair youth on the floor. "He couldn't have passed the Harrowing so quickly." Harrowings tended to take a bit of time as the mages who took the test bumbled around in the Fade for quite some time before defeating their demon, and that is if the mage was lucky enough to do so. "He must have come in contact with a demon, we should-"
"If Atreyu had become an abomination, then he would be attempting to kill everyone within this chamber," Irving said as he knelt next to his student, his joints creaking softly and hands glowing as he checked the Elf over. He was just as shocked as Greagoir, no one not even he had passed the Harrowing so quickly, but Maker damn if he wasn't proud of the boy for doing so. After a few seconds Irving smiled as he stood. "Atreyu is himself, there is no demon or spirit within him. He had past his test."
"I find it suspicious that the boy had passed the test in such a short time," Greagoir said with narrowed eyes. Irving snorted as he turned to the Knight-Commander.
"Do you think Atreyu had help then while within the Fade Greagoir?" Irving asked. "Unless your Templars have suddenly gained the power to enter the Fade, Atreyu had no help what so ever."
"What about that boy he spends all his time with, the one who-" Greagoir started to ask, grasping at straws.
"I have no doubt Jowan would help his friend if he were able but you know Atreyu's feelings on the subject Greagoir, he would never accept it," Irving said. "Atreyu has passed his Harrowing fairly and is now a Mage of the Circle. You will just have to accept this."
"Fine, but I will be keeping an eye on this one," Greagoir growled as he motioned for two of the knights to pick up Atreyu and take him back down to the apprentice dorms to sleep off the high dose of lyruim used to take him to the Fade.
"Don't you always?" Irving asked with a sigh.
Jowan looked up from his reading as he heard Atreyu groan and shift on his bed. The Elf had been out for hours since coming back from his Harrowing, Jowan having watched as two knights drug his friend to his bed and drop the Elf on the uncomfortable surface. Jowan had quickly arranged Atreyu into a more comfortable position and kept watch over his best friend. He hadn't even known his friend had been through the test until he heard others gossiping about it. He quickly stood and walked over to Atreyu's bed, kneeling next to it.
"Are you alright?" Jowan asked worried. "Say something please…"
"Hmm…. Jowan?" Atreyu asked as he rubbed his forehead.
"I'm glad you're alright," Jowan said relieved as he stood up and stepped back as Atreyu sat up then climbed off the bed. "They carried you in this morning, I didn't even realize you've been gone all night. I've heard about apprentices who never come back from Harrowing. Is it really that dangerous? What was it like?"
"Harrowing," Atreyu said dryly as he walked over to the chest at the end of his bed. He head was killing him and he hoped he still had a potion in his chest to take care of his headache.
"It that why they don't tell us what it's about?" Jowan wondered, watching as Atreyu made a happy noise and uncorked a bottle to drink the contents. "I know I'm not supposed to know… but we're friends. Just a little hint, and I'll stop asking, I promise!"
"Jowan, you know I can't tell you," Atreyu said as he closed his chest and sat down on top of it with a sigh, relaxing a bit as the potion worked its magic and his headache started to fade away. "Both of us would get in trouble if I did." He gave a pointed glance at the Templar Knight watching over the room.
"And now you get to move to the nice mage's quarters upstairs," Jowan said as he sat down next to Atreyu on the chest, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm stuck here and I don't know when they'll call me for my Harrowing."
"They'll summon you when you're ready," Atreyu said with a sigh.
"I've been here longer than you have… sometimes I think they just don't want to test me," Jowan pointed out. Atreyu admitted that was true, while they were close to the same age, Jowan had been brought to the tower at a much younger age than Atreyu had been.
"Well… maybe you're not ready?" Atreyu suggested. Jowan wasn't the best at magic but his friend wasn't bad either. He was a bit clumsy at times and still burnt himself with fire spells but Atreyu thought Jowan could past the test. At least he hoped so.
"I've been ready for a long time," Jowan disagreed. "I'm afraid they don't want me to take the test. You do the Harrowing, the Rite of Tranquility… or you die. That's what happens.
"They're not going to kill you Jo," Atreyu said as he pressed his shoulder against Jowan's.
"They might not," Jowan agreed softly, pressing back gently against his slightly smaller friend. "But the Rite of Tranquility is just as bad… maybe worse." Atreyu shuddered slightly, the idea of being made Tranquil… it scared him as much as it scared Jowan. To be cut off completely from your magic and to have no emotions… Atreyu would rather die than have to go through that hell.
"You've seen the Tranquil around the tower, like Owian who runs the stockroom," Jowan said.
"Yeah I've seen him," Atreyu said with a shake of his head. "He's so cold now."
"Not even cold. There's just… nothing in him," Jowan said. "It's like he's dead, but still walking. His voice, his eyes are lifeless…" Atreyu shuddered again, he could agree with that. He hated talking to Owain when he needed to fetch something from the stockroom.
"I think you're reading too much into it," Atreyu said. "They're not going to make you Tranquil and they're not going to kill you. You'll go through your Harrowing, soon I hope as it'll be lonely upstairs without you."
"I wish I had as much confidence as you on that," Jowan said with a sigh. Atreyu was his only real friend at the tower, most people ignored him. The two of them had been at each other sides since Jowan saved the little wild Elf from a fight with much older, bigger apprentices who didn't like Elves all that much. One of the few times Jowan had ever shown bravery. He had been shocked to learn Atreyu was from the Korcari Wilds the same as him, Jowan even thought Atreyu may be from the Dalish clan that would wonder the wilds though Atreyu always denied he was one. Jowan had been taken from his tribe when he was young, during a lucky catch set up by the Chantry and the Templars to catch and kill rouge mages. Jowan had been young enough to be saved by the views of the Chantry and sent to the Tower of Magi. Seen as strange by the rest of the mages of the tower, Jowan had been left on his own until a certain little wild Elf had been brought in. They had been each other's support within the tower, Jowan usually following Atreyu in whatever mad scheme the Elf had. Not to say they were completely friendless, a few of the older mages were kind to them over time. Anders had watched over Atreyu and Jowan plenty of times in the past and one of the younger girls in the tower, Silver Amell, was like a sister to the two teens.
"I shouldn't waste your time with this," Jowan said as he stood up. "I was supposed to tell you to see Irving as soon as you woke up."
"What for?" Atreyu asked as he stood as well.
"I don't know but you better not keep him waiting," Jowan said. He reached up and clasped Atreyu's shoulder gently. "We can speak later."
"Alright, just try not to get into trouble then," Atreyu said. Jowan laughed softly and shook his head.
"You are the one always causing trouble my friend," He said as he walked away. Atreyu hummed softly as he watched Jowan until the other man left his sight. He worried about his friend sometimes and he wished Irving would just let Jowan go through the Harrowing already, it would put his friend's mind at ease. Sighing to himself, Atreyu turned and walked out of the apprentice dorms to head up to the next level of the tower. His sharp ears catch snatches of gossip as he walked, learning that many of the other apprentices were in awe of him as he had the shortest time of passing the Harrowing. He was a bit smug to learn about that.
The trip to the second level and to Irving's rooms was short, a few of the older mages stopping Atreyu to congratulate the young Elf for passing his Harrowing and to welcome him into the circle. Atreyu forced a polite smile each time, he honestly didn't care about the circle of magi but it was better than being a simple apprentice and living in the dorms.
As he approached Irving's rooms, Atreyu could hear Greagoir ranting about something inside. Atreyu rolled his eyes but entered anyway, he had been summoned after all. Inside were the Knight-Commander, Irving and a third man Atreyu had never seen before.
"- many have already gone to Ostagar – Wynne, Uldred, and most of the senior mages!" Greagoir yelled. "We've committed enough of our own to this war effort-"
"Your own?" Irving asked with a raised eyebrow and tried tone as if he heard this argument many times over. "Since when have you felt such kinship with the mages, Greagoir? Or are you afraid to let mages out from Chantry supervision, where they can actually use their Maker-given powers?"
"How dare you suggest-" Greagoir started, pointing a finger at Irving in anger.
"Gentlemen, please," The third man said calmly. "Irving, someone is here to see you." He waved a hand at Atreyu who stood in the doorway.
"Errr… what's going on?" Atreyu asked, wondering what the fight was about.
"Nothing concerning you at this moment," Irving said kindly as he smiled at his favorite student. "Come, child." Duncan stepped up to Irving's side as he looked Atreyu over.
"This is...?" He let the question hang in the air. Before Greagoir had busted into the room to argue that no more mages would be joining the fight at Ostagar, Irving had told him about his young student and that perhaps the young Elven mage could make an excellent Gray Warden.
"Yes, this is he," Irving assured him with a glance in Duncan's direction.
"Well, Irving," Greagoir said as he prepared to leave the room. Talk of war was not for the young mage's ears after all. "You're obviously busy. We will discuss this later."
"Of course," Irving agreed, waiting until Greagoir had left his chambers before turning to Atreyu as the Elven mage came closer. "Well, then… where was I? Oh yes. This is Duncan, of the Gray Wardens."
Atreyu's eyes widen a tiny bit, he heard plenty of the Gray Wardens over the years and about their eternal battle with the Darkspawn.
"I am please to meet you Gray Warden Duncan," Atreyu said with a tiny bit of a bow. Duncan smiled just a tiny bit and nodded back.
"You've heard about the war brewing in the south, I expect?" Irving questioned.
"Yes, it's all some of the older mages can talk about," Atreyu said. Irving gave Atreyu a pleased smile.
"Duncan is recruiting mages to join the king's arm at Ostagar," The elder mage told him.
"Ostagar? The ruins near the swamp?" Atreyu asked.
"You've heard of it?" Duncan asked.
"I… am from the area originally," Atreyu admitted. "I'm going to take it you're fighting Darkspawn then?"
"Yes, the threat grows in the south," Duncan agreed. "We need all the help we can get. The power you mages wield is an asset to any army. Your spells are very effective against large groups of mindless Darkspawn. I fear if we don't drive them back, we may see another blight." Atreyu came worried at hearing this, he still had family that lived within the Wilds after all, family he loved and missed very much.
"Duncan, you worry the poor boy with talks of blights and Darkspawn," Irving said as he saw the worried look in Atreyu's eyes. "This is a happy day for him."
"We live in troubled times, my friend," Duncan said in a somber tone.
"We should seize moments of levity, especially in troubled times," Irving countered then turned back to his student. "The Harrowing is behind you. Your phylactery was sent to Denerim. You are officially a mage within the Circle of Magi," He said proudly.
"You mean my leash," Atreyu all but spat.
"Now child, you know that is for your protection," Irving said soothingly.
"I'm sorry – what is this phylactery?" Duncan asked. The youth seemed upset by it being brought up.
"Blood is taken from all apprentices when they first come to the tower and is preserved in special vials," Duncan explained.
"So they can be hunted if they turn apostate," Duncan guessed.
"Or be tracked if we try to leave the tower without permission," Atreyu said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "To be dragged back kicking and screaming."
"We have few choices," Irving said with a sigh as he crossed his arms as well. "The gift of magic is looked upon with suspicion and fear. We must prove we are strong enough to handle our powers responsibly." He turned his attention back to Atreyu and gave him a proud smile. "You have done this. I present you with your robes, your staff, and a ring bearing the Circle's insignia. Wear them proudly, for you have earned them." Irving turned and picked up a set of robes off his desk, a silver ring sitting on top, and handed them to Atreyu.
"Thank you First Enchanter," Atreyu said as he took the robes. "What happens now?"
"Patience, child," Irving said with a chuckle. "You have been through an ordeal. Let us not rush things. It goes without saying that you shall not discuss the Harrowing with those who have not undergone the rite."
"You mean I shouldn't tell Jowan," Atreyu said, a teasing smile on his lips. "I was tempted too but I kept it a secret in the end." Irving chuckled again and shook his head.
"Now then… take your time to rest, or study in the library. The day is yours," Irving said. "If you wish, you may step into my bedchambers to change into your new robes child. I shall have your old ones sent off."
"Thank you sir," Atreyu said with a small bow and entered the offered chambers. He curled his lip slightly as he looked at his new outfit once he was alone again. It was the same as the robes he wore now but a different color. "No one around here has any originality," he bemoaned to himself as he started to change.
"Irving, are you sure…?" Duncan asked once Atreyu left the room.
"Yes, the boy is quite strong and stifled here in the tower," Irving said softly. "You saw his reaction, he has someone he wants to protect within the Wilds, he will bewilling do anything to protect whomever that is."
"I shall… see how it plays out then," Duncan agreed at last. He did need more Gray Wardens after all and a mage would be an excellent addition to the ranks alongside the young Dalish he was already bringing.