Chapter 2) Origin of the Arcane Warrior, Hero of the Mages – Harrowed

Layla POV


"Anders?" I called softly. "Anders, are you awake?"

"What? Layla?" I winced at how raspy his voice was. "Layla, what are you doing down here?"

"An amplification artifact was brought here for safe-keeping and I helped Irving carry it down. He is checking that there are no cracks, so, I took advantage to look for you." I crept closer to the cells and made myself smile. He looked a wreck as he pushed himself off the small pile of clothes that served as his bed. "I thought you might like to see someone."

"Oh, Maker, yes," he sighed, smiling back. "There's been no one but that cat down here. I'm going crazy. Well, crazier."

"I warned you about escaping so much." I reached through the bars and held back tears at how quickly he grabbed my hand. He was so desperate for warmth. "You are so lucky there is a law against making Harrowed mages Tranquil."

"No mention of Aeonar?"

"You are not capable of the stupidity that is required for those sorts of crimes."

"Thanks." He chuckled brokenly. "I hate it here. Getting dragged off and thrown in here, in a whole different country at that. The outside world is beautiful, Layla."

"That is what you have said before. But I am not certain it is so worth your life, Anders. I do not want to have to attend your funeral."

"I know. That's why I don't fight when they find me." He gave me a look. "You'll get in trouble if you stay much longer."

"Yes, I will." Even so, I hesitated to leave him. "I will try to come back down here, or see if I can get Neria or Jowan to."

"I'll be fine. I just got reminded that there's a cute little sister who will bawl if I'm not. Don't worry."

"I will always worry, Anders. You are my family. I will always love and worry over you, just as I would the others."

"…Thanks, Layla."


After agreeing to Irving's proposed compromise, he did everything he could to help the plan without making it obvious while I went to Jowan and Lily and told them I would help, to their delight and my intense guilt. Due to Lily and Jowan having thought of everything prior, it was not long at all before we were descending into the basement.

"I'm still surprised how quickly you got the rod from Owain," Jowan commented. "I thought for sure it would take longer."

"I suppose having a reputation for not planning elaborate pranks comes in handy," I mumbled. This was so hard. I had to think over every single word I had to say. I wanted desperately to tell him everything, and the thought of lying to him was abhorrent. The four of us had grown up together. We would never, ever lie to each other.

"What's so elaborate about using a rod to light someone's pants on fire?"

"Do not even think about that!"

"Huh? …Oh, right, that… Layla, you know that incident wasn't your fault at all."

"…"

"Sorry, I put my foot in my mouth again. I'll shut up now."

"Are you two all right?" Lily asked, glancing back at us. She was leading the way, though I knew the way just as well.

"We are fine," I reassured, smiling slightly. I knew Jowan did not mean to remind me of that time.

"All right then." We turned a corner and came upon a door. "Here we are. The Victims' Door. It is built of two hundred and seventy-seven planks, one for each original templar."

"Lovely bit of triva, that," Jowan muttered.

"It's supposed to serve as a reminder to the dangers of magic."

"And what people are willing to do to stop it."

"How does it open?" I asked softly. I really just wanted this to all be done and over with.

"Ah, it's only through a templar and mage working together," Lily explained, smiling. "Those of the Chantry hold the password to prime the ward, while the mages use mana to release it."

"Then, let us begin."

"Of course. First, the password." She turned towards the door and reached out to it. "Sword of the Maker, Tears of the Fade."

There was the sound of a ward appearing. "Does it have to be a specific spell?"

"No."

"Then I will do my part." I closed my eyes to focus better. "Spirits of old, I plead that you lend me your strength." Calling on the magic of spirits, I loosed one of the most basic of spells, the Arcane Bolt. The door glowed as the spell hit before swinging open. "I believe that it worked."

"Yes." Lily beamed at me. I had to fight the urge to squirm. To think that there were people who could set others up like this on a regular basis! Such people must be truly sick in their minds! "We're halfway there."

"And the next door is in sight!" Jowan laughed, slinging an arm around my shoulder. Indeed, the second door was only a little down the hall. I knew this area well. There was a storeroom where many magical artifacts were stored. …The cells for solitary confinement were also in this area. "Second door, same as the first, hopefully. Come on!" He tugged me to the door, Lily skipping along behind us. "Okay, let's go with the rod."

I was a little hesitant to use it, since fire magic had been involved with that Incident, but this was important, and it was barely any magic on my part. So I focused my mana, only to realize something I had never experienced before. I could not access the mana. I felt a brief moment of panic, but then realized it was still there. It was merely hidden from me, like how ice hides the water of a lake.

"What's the matter?" Lily asked after a moment of me not melting the lock. "Is something wrong?"

"There's something up here," Jowan muttered. I saw him gesturing carefully, likely trying to turn the mana's flow. "I can't access my magic."

"What is…?"

"…The door is spelled," I answered, walking towards it so that I could better examine the markings carefully hidden in the wood and stone. "Yes, there are glyphs on it." I looked around the room, noting similar symbols on the walls. "Magic cannot be used here. The rod will not work."

"…I should have guessed." She sighed and leaned against the door. "I should've suspected something as soon as I learned it was non-magical keys. I don't know how we're getting in now."

I almost suggested that we turn back, but then I remembered just why I was doing this. If I did not help here, then Jowan would be made Tranquil without proper trial. I had to keep this going. "…Jowan, the cells are over that way," I whispered, pointing to the side hallway. "We might be able to find something in that direction."

"Are you sure? I mean; what are the chances?"

"The Tower was built quite some time ago, Jowan. According to the history books, many older buildings have multiple ways in and out of practical every important room in case of an attack."

"Point. Besides, I'll take any chance I'll get."

"Yes, now is not the time to give up," Lily agreed with a smile. "We can do this. I know we can."

"Then let us…" I trailed off as I heard something. Who would be down here besides…? Oh, of course. It was quite silly of me to forget why I had always needed Irving's permission to come down here. "No, hold a moment. I had forgotten the guards here."

"Guards?"

"Yes, the animated statues and magical constructs that ensure that no apprentices or enchanter go to the solitary confinement cells and the repository without the explicit permission of a Senior Enchanter. Did you not know of it?"

"Layla, some days I wonder what goes through that head of yours," Jowan muttered as two of the statues stepped out from their resting places and a mage construct appeared from its glyph on the ground, taking the form of a mage to support the two warrior statues. "I don't suppose you have any residual permission."

"Do not be ridiculous, Jowan."

"You're the one who knew about the defenses and didn't mention them, yet I'm the ridiculous one?"

"What is it with mages and just talking?" Lily sighed with exasperation as the sentinels approached. The construct-mage kept its distance, just as any real mage would. "If they get in our way, then we must move past them." To my surprise, she marched right up to one of the sentinels and expertly disarmed it before using its own mace to bash its helmet in. "Well, should I fight them myself?"

"No, I believe I can disrupt the construct in back," I replied. "That would be much simpler. If you would like, you and Jowan can take care of these two?"

"Certainly. Jowan, dear?"

"R-right!" Jowan squeaked, going to work with spells as I ducked back to better focus on the construct-mage. Distance was little problem with magic, so long as the mage had proper control. A construct-mage had none, but Irving had specifically trained me for long-distance spells, to help counter my… reluctance to use the bigger spells. It was merely an exercise in focus and patience.

Luckily, I had a good bit of both! "Storms that crackle on the edge of the calm, bend to my will," I whispered, carefully urging my magic to wrap around the construct-mage. "Bend to my will and smite my foe." Lightning sparked into existence and followed the web my mana wove around the construct-mage, electrocuting it again and again. It took a few seconds, but eventually the construct was overloaded and dispersed.

Around the same time, Lily and Jowan had finished dealing with the sentinels. I was impressed by the number of dents in the armors. "Okay, I'm going to go check on the door up ahead," Jowan declared as he shook his hands out. Jowan specialized in fire magic, and that magic always had a tendency to make the joints uncomfortably warm. "Be right back!"

"Wait, Jowan!" I called, trying to get him to stop. He didn't, so I just sighed and turned to Lily, who was carefully setting the mace down next to the sentinel she stole it from. "Lily, may I ask where you learned how to wield a mace?"

She giggled. "Well, I wasn't always a Chantry girl. Still, I shall be happy when we leave this place. It is a far from the Maker as one can get."

"Yes, I agree," I murmured, shuddering. "Perhaps the two of us should pray for protection?"

"Hmm, yes, I think we should." She glanced around before taking my hand and tugging me into an alcove. "Here, this should be good. Should I yell for Jowan?"

"I think we should let him have fun attempting to break down the locked door, since he ran off before listening to me."

She giggled at that before clasping her hands in prayer. I did the same and closed my eyes. "Maker, our enemies are abundant. Many are those who rise up against us. But our faith sustains us; we shall not fear the legion, should they set themselves against us. We shall embrace the light. We shall weather the storm. We shall endure. Blessed be Your name, and may You see us through this trial. So mote it be."

"So mote it be." I opened my eyes and smiled at Lily, who smiled back. "Let us see if Jowan has started that funny muttering yet?"

"Oh, yes." She giggled again. "That's how we met, you know?"

"Truly? I must hear this!"


"Why do girls always gossip?" Jowan complained as we entered the repository at last. I knew this room well. Irving would send me here many times to check on an artifact hidden here. It would drive the Knight-Commander absolutely insane; he had little trust in apprentices.

"Perhaps it is simply something the Maker wished when we were born?" I giggled. Lily and I had been trading stories of Jowan's hilarious antics, much to his embarrassment. "Boys are fascinated by icky things like toads, while girls are compelled to gossip themselves silly."

"Whatever. Let's go hunt around? Or are you two going to pray again?"

"We did not encounter any more strange creatures as we headed here, now did we?"

"Okay, you've a point there, but… oh, never mind, let's just go hunting."

Giggling at how I had won the argument, I carefully wandered the repository. It would not do to accidentally cause one of the artifacts to go off. Not only would we get hurt, but we could also break the thing! Irving would be so upset, and I dared not think of how the Knight-Commander would react. He was always cross over something. Still, though, there were no signs of a door here other than the one we entered from. I should go and check in with Jowan and Lily.

When I found them, though, I found them by a statue hidden in an out of a way corner. "Why are you two lingering here?" I asked as I approached. The statue was quite a strange one. It appeared to be a bald woman in an odd garment, wielding a spear. Why would this be down here?

"There's something off about this statue," Jowan explained as Lily hid further behind Jowan. She was quite nervy around the artifacts. Was she afraid of magic? …No, that would be ridiculous. After all, she loved a mage.

"Do you mean besides the fact that it is here in the place where the Circle stores all their magical artifacts?"

"Yes, besides that."

"P-perhaps we can continue looking for a way through?" Lily suggested hesitantly. "We don't have much-"

"Greetings," a voice whispered, interrupting Lily. It was soft, echoing in my head, and most definitely a woman's. Who was speaking?

"Maker's breath!" Jowan breathed as Lily yelped. I kept silent, more curious than afraid. "What's going on?"

"I am the essence and spirit of Eleni Zenovia, once consort and advisor to Archon Valerius." So, we were hearing a ghost speak? Was not magic wonderful sometimes? "Prophecy was my crime, cursed to stone when I foretold the fall of my lord's house." …The statue was talking in our heads. I believe this was one of the stranger things I had encountered as a mage. I was not sure if it beat learning of Finn's full name. That was truly a strange mess of syllables, particularly his insistence of 'esquire' at the end.

"Archons were the lords of the Imperium, yes?" I asked.

"Yeah," Jowan confirmed. "I don't know that name, though."

"Forever shall you stand on the threshold of my fortress, he told me," Eleni continued explaining. She sounded resigned to it all. "You may tell your lies to those who pass through. However, my lord found death and his proud fortress crumbled into dust around me."

"How do we know this isn't a trick?" Lily demanded. She was gripping Jowan's arm tightly. "Whatever she is, she's of the Imperium, which cursed us all. I wouldn't listen to her."

"Lily, I think it's a victim," Jowan murmured. "I feel a little sorry."

"How did she even arrive here?" I mused. "It must have been quite some time ago." Ignoring Lily's protests, I reached out to brush off the dust that stubbornly clung to Eleni's stone shoulders. "This is almost as bad as the underside of Anders's bed."

"Oh, Maker, don't remind me of that."

"I wonder if there is a way to break it."

"Weep not for me, nor go through such troubles," Eleni gently refused before Lily could snap at me. "Stone, I became and stone, I am. I am eternal and unfeeling, just as all other rocks are. I shall endure until the Maker returns to light all fires again."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It's ambiguous rubbish," Jowan sighed. "Typical. Look, I can do it too. 'The sun grows dark but lo! Here comes the dawn!'"

"Might we leave it alone?" Lily asked shakily. "Come on!" Jowan nodded and quickly followed his girlfriend to a different section of the room.

I made to follow, but Eleni's voice rang out one more time. "Young one." I turned back to face the statue. "Do not keep the Eagle's Power hidden. It will be needed."

"What are you talking about?" There was, of course, no answer. "I… see then. I will try."

"Why are you still talking to it?" Lily had returned to take my hand. "Come on," she insisted, tugging me away. "Jowan has that 'thinking face' on."

"I thought I smelled smoke," I joked. She giggled as she continued tugging me to where Jowan was studying the bookcase. "Jowan, what is it?"

"Just noticing how weak this old wall is," Jowan replied. Oh, so he was studying the wall behind the bookcase. That was an error on my part. "I wonder if we can take advantage of that?"

"What do you mean?" Lily asked.

"Well, I'm no expert, but if we think of how we've been running about, then I think the chamber would be on the other side of this wall, behind this bookcase." Jowan was always quite good at orientation, by far the best of us four. "I'm going to move the bookcase. Maybe you two can find a way to knock a brick or two loose."

"You mean besides the amplification artifact over here?" I asked softly, pointing to a dog statue I recognized. "If we combine it with the power of the rod of fire, it should do something."

"Let's get it into position!" Lily pressed eagerly. "Oh, but how did you know what it was?"

"I helped Irving carry it down when it arrived. Help me push it into place?"

"Of course!"

Jowan had just managed to get the bookcase out of the way when Lily and I got the artifact at a safe distance from the crumbling wall. Truly, we might not have even needed the artifact, but it would not hurt. At least, I hoped it would not. "Okay, let's try it!" Jowan insisted as he ducked behind the artifact. "Hurry! The clock is ticking!"

It certainly was. As much faith I had in Irving, I knew he could not keep the Knight-Commander at bay for long. So, this time, I did not hesitate, but made myself use the rod of fire on the amplification statue. It immediately took the spell and blasted out a stream of fire far more powerful than I could hope for. It took naught but a second for the wall to crumble, leaving a hole just large enough for us to crawl through.

"It worked!" Jowan cheered as the last of the rubble hit the ground. "Layla, you're amazing!"

"We must find the phylactery quickly," Lily reminded. Still, she beamed at me in her own show of thanks.

"Shouldn't be hard. There aren't that many apprentices at the moment."

"Then let us move," I insisted. I tucked the rod of fire back into my robes, and told myself to not shake. "Come on!"

Quickly, we raced inside the room, magically spelled to be cold, so that the blood in the phylacteries was kept as pristine as possible. We jumped up the stairs leading to where they kept them and frantically hunted through the shelves. Still, it seemed as if we had just started searching when Jowan triumphantly cried out, "I found it!" I whirled to see him studying the small vial made when he was a child. "It's amazing how something so small stands between every mage and freedom. So small and fragile." He dropped it to the floor, where it shattered instantly. The blood spread out eerily on the floor, as if hunting for something to hide in. "That's it. I'm free."

"Yes, we both are," Lily agreed, kissing his cheek with a smile. "Come! I would not stay here a moment longer!"

I lingered a bit as they raced for the door. In truth, I should have intervened there. However, I did nothing as he picked up his phylactery and dropped it to the ground. This was my own compromise. If they escaped anyway, they would be free.

Still, though, how had Jowan known so quickly which phylactery was his? Then again, the Circle was meticulous about labeling. Perhaps he had just been lucky.


When we left, there was no sign of Irving or Knight Commander Greagoir. In fact, there was no sign of templars at all. Had we gotten through faster than they had expected? If that was the case, then perhaps Jowan and Lily could escape before anything happened? If they attempted, what would I have to do?

"We did it," Jowan cheered, smiling at me. "Thank you, Layla. Seriously. Without you, that would've never-"

"Jowan, quiet," Lily suddenly hissed. She was more nervous now than she had been in the repository. "If we're not careful, templars will come and…"

"So, what you said was true, Irving." There they were. They were here now. They must have been hiding right outside the doors, considering how quickly they had appeared. The Knight Commander looked particularly annoyed as he spoke. "An initiate conspiring with a blood mage."

"A First Enchanter's job is to know everything that goes on in his Circle," Irving replied, coming up to stand next to Jowan and me. "But, Greagoir, I've told you that there was an alternative explanation to your suspicions of his sneaking around."

"Yes, yes." The Knight Commander sighed as he studied Lily. "Shocked, but in control of her mind. Not a thrall. Strange, I was certain she was. Why else would she take such stupid risks?"

"I could wax poetic, but I think Wynne might find a way to hurt me."

"Bah." Knight Commander Greagoir looked almost disgusted. "An initiate betrayal and a newly dubbed mage already flouting the rules of the Circle."

"Whatever do you mean, Greagoir?" Irving's voice took on a light, whimsical tone. I knew he was about to spin a lie. "I asked Layla to check on an artifact for me. There is no rule stating she could not, say, invite her friend down to give him some alone time with his girlfriend. Layla has covered for Anders and Neria before." I… well, yes, I have, but I was not sure that was something that needed to be said here, though!

"Oh, enough," the Knight Commander sighed. "Very well, Irving. I shall imprison Jowan as you asked for a more complete investigation. It will come to the same conclusion." No, it would not. Jowan was not so stupid. "But for the initiate who has scorned the Chantry and her vows? We will take her to Aeonar." …Pardon?

"Isn't that too harsh, Greagoir?" Irving asked, obviously started. "This is barely a crime!"

"There have been too many. She shall serve as an example."

"P-please…" Lily whimpered, gripping my arm as the two leaders argued. Jowan remained nearby, frozen at the news. I did not blame him. Aeonar was the mages' prison, far worse than any Circle. "Please, help me. I'll go anywhere but there. Please…"

"Wait a moment," I whispered back, hugging her. "Hide behind me. Irving will calm him down. You shall see." To be sent there was to die. There was no way to escape that place unscathed.

"Enough, Irving!" The Knight-Commander yelled. "She's not under your protection; she's under mine!" He gestured at the templars standing guard nearby. How many were there? I counted ten, not counting the Knight-Commander. "Go! Take her!" The templars advanced and I shifted so that Lily was firmly hidden behind me. "Knock her aside if she gets in the way!"

"No, I won't let you touch them!" Jowan suddenly snapped, producing a knife from robe and stabbing himself in the hand. I almost shrieked, but then found my voice stolen by the sight of the crimson whirlwind of power that surrounded him. He… he was using blood magic. He was using blood magic. He had lied. He had lied to me! Jowan… Jowan, why?

Despite the whirlwind of thoughts, I could not scream as he attacked the templars. I could not cry as he attacked Irving. I could not do anything as he proved to everyone in the room just why mages were so feared, and why the world was justified in thinking that.

"By… by the Maker…" Lily whispered when the whirlwind finally died. She was shaking in my arms as she stared at Jowan. "Blood magic? How… how could you? You said you never…"

"I… I dabbled. I thought it would make me better," Jowan mumbled. I could only stare in shock. Blood splattered his robes, hands, even his face. Blood coated the floor and stained the rugs. The templars and Irving were groaning as their blood stained their own clothes, as they attempted to stand up and stop him. Jowan… Jowan, why…? Why?!

"Blood magic is evil. It corrupts people, changes them."

"I'm going to give it up! I'm giving up all magic! I just want to be with you! Lily, please…!" He held out his wounded hand, still dripping blood. "Please, come with me!"

There was a moment where everything seemed to stand still. There was no sound, no breath. Even time froze for this moment. But then Lily turned away, hiding her face in my shoulder. "I trusted you. I was ready to sacrifice everything for you. But now… now I don't know who you are." She began to sob. "Stay away from me, blood mage." Jowan stared, as if not sure he had heard right.

So, I glared at him and hid Lily further from his sight as she broke down in my arms. "Run, Jowan," I hissed, forcing malice when all I wanted to do was break down into sobs just as Lily was. "Run far away and never return. If I see you again, I will kill you." Looking as if I had slapped him, he raced off, tripping as he disappeared into the corridor. I should have just attacked him right then, truth be told, but he was still Jowan and I still loved him as my brother, even though he had just used me, had just betrayed me. Why… why was I so… so stupid?

"Are you two all right?" Irving asked, making his way towards us. Blood shone eerily on the stone floors. "Did you see what happened to Greagoir?" I shook my head and told myself that the shaking I felt was from Lily, not from me. There were templars about and a mage did not show fear around a templar, especially not in these circumstances. "I see. Well, just give it two seconds and I'm sure-"

"I knew it," the Knight Commander growled, stomping over to Irving. The healer in me automatically took in both of their wounds. They were shallow, surface wounds more than anything. I thank You, Maker, for Your mercy. "Blood magic. To overcome so many, though…" He gestured at me. "I would've thought her capable, sure, but him?" He suddenly glared at me. "You. You're one of his friends. Did you never even suspect?!"

"No," I whispered. My voice was shaking. "No, I… I would've never thought him that stupid."

"None of us expected this," Irving defended. "Are you all right, Greagoir?"

"As good as can be expected, given the circumstances! If you'd let me act sooner-!"

"If you had investigated when I asked, I wouldn't have stopped you."

"Well, now we've a blood mage loose! We have to get his phylactery!"

"That… that will not work," I squeaked. I did my best to not shake. Lily was still crying in my shoulder. "His phylactery was destroyed."

"And how did that happen?!" I flinched as he roared in my face. "What did you do?!"

"I did not stop him in time." What was I suppose to say? "J-Jowan was never good at running, though. He could not have gotten far."

"And we shall use every resource we have to catch him." He was back to calm. This was not good. This was not good at all. I tried to hide Lily further as he focused his too-calm anger on her. "And you, initiate! You helped a blood mage! Look at all he's hurt!"

"Wait, please!" I protested. "We were both horribly tricked!"

"No, save your breath," she told me. "I can speak for myself." She pulled away from me, using her sleeves to dry her tears. "Knight-Commander, I… I was wrong. I was a willing accomplice to… to a blood mage." She shook, even as she tried to stay dignified. "I will accept whatever punishment is given to me."

"Get her out of my sight," the Knight Commander growled to his fellow templars.

Before they grabbed her, though, she pressed something into my hand. It was a bracelet made of simple silver chaining blue gems together. "My mother gave this to me to remind me that I was loved," she whispered. "I give it to you, in hopes that you remember the mistakes I made because of love, and do not repeat it."

"Goodbye, Lily," I whispered back, gripping the bracelet tightly as a templar roughly grabbed her by the shoulders and dragged her away. This… this was just so wrong.

"Why did you send her into that repository, Irving?" the Knight-Commander sighed as they disappeared into the hall. I let them talk over my head, struggling to put on the bracelet. It had a difficult clasp. Lily must have been quite dextrous.

"Why not?" Irving countered, absently reaching over to help me. I tried to smile in thanks, but was far too tired. "I've sent her before. She is my star pupil, after all."

"Of course, how could I forget? You only brag about her to everyone you meet, even Teyrn Loghain." Pardon me? "That phylactery chamber is forbidden to all save you and me! You're not all knowing, Irving. Who knows how far his influence was? How are we to deal with this?"

"Knight-Commander, if I may?" Commander Duncan walked up then, looking strangely at home amidst the blood. "There was a second reason for my coming to the Tower," he continued when the Knight-Commander nodded, clearly aggravated by the interruption. "I was looking for mages to join the Grey Wardens." He set a hand on my shoulder. "I've heard nothing but praise for Miss Layla's abilities. I would like to recruit her." Pardon me?

The Knight-Commander stared a moment in shock before rounding on Irving. "You promised him a recruit?" he accused.

"I promised nothing," Irving deflected neatly. "I merely bragged about Layla to someone I met, as I always do. You just mentioned that habit, actually."

"I object to this! She's just been brought into the Circle, powerful or no! Plus this whole business is suspect!"

"I don't think that matters, Greagoir. Have you forgotten? Duncan need only invoke the Right of Conscription, and you're forced to it." The Knight-Commander was silent. "Greagoir, please. If you will not trust her or him, then trust me, as you always have."

"The mages are needed," Commander Duncan pressed as the Knight-Commander remained silent. "This mage is needed. Worse things are plaguing this land than blood mages, you know that."

"Pardon me, but may I speak?" I finally squeaked. All three men turned their attention to me. "I am afraid I am horribly lost at what is going on."

"Ah, I'm sorry, my dear," Irving laughed softly. "Duncan wishes to take you from the Circle, as a recruit for the Wardens."

"So, I am to leave the Circle?" But I… I was not sure I wanted to leave. The Circle had my family. I had no ties, really, to the outside world.

"The Circle never forgets its apprentices, wherever they may fly. You will always be a reflection of our teachings. But the Wardens shall be your new family."

"I… I love my family here, sir."

He smiled at that. "And we shall always be your family, Layla. Just because you have a new one does not mean you have to forget your old one."

"I… if that is what the Maker wills?"

"It seems so."

"Th-Then, I will accept."

"Then go and gather your things," Commander Duncan ordered. The Knight-Commander looked livid. "Make your farewells. I would leave soon, to avoid getting caught up in this madness."

"Yes, sir," I whispered, curtseying before racing for the stairs to my… my old-new room.

To my surprise, though, Neria was already there, packing a bag for me. "Oh, hey there," she greeted, smiling sadly.

"What are you doing here?" I had to ask.

"…It's already spread around the Tower. Jowan's flight was rather… conspicuous. There are also templars not happy that you're being sent with…"

"Yes, I…"

"I figured you'd be panicking over what to pack, so I came here to help!" She turned back to the bag. "There are some robes and undergarments, a few little trinkets like the things Anders would bring back for us, and the… the pictures…" Some of the mages here had artistic talents and would frequently draw whatever they saw. Quite a few of them had been inspired by us four with our strong friendship. Jowan… Jowan, why would you…? "I asked a couple of the enchanters, and they actually suggested you not carry a staff. I think they were thinking you should learn knife work or something." Who would teach me something like that though?

"I shall take that advice." Besides, the staves wielded by most of my fellow mages were so noticeable and cumbersome. I would be glad to not carry one.

"Hey, Layla?"

"Yes?"

She hugged me tightly. I had not even seen her move. "Never forget that you have family here," she whispered in my ear. "I know we aren't of the same blood or even race, but you and I are sisters. Now and forever."

"I will miss you, Neria," I whispered back. "Do not forget me."

"Never." She pulled away and helped me shoulder the pack. "Well, off you go. There's no way the templars will let me close to the doors, but I'll head up to a balcony floor to wave you off."

"Okay." We both smiled at each other and then parted ways. She raced for the stairs and I walked to entrance of the Tower. I thought about going to find Cullen and wishing him farewell, but decided against it. It would look too odd. Even worse, though, was the fact that he might get into trouble for it. No, it would be better to not go find him. If he happened to be near, I could silently tell him goodbye, but I could not go looking for him. I did get a bit of luck, though, when I arrived. Cullen was one of the templars waiting to help open the door, along with a few others I vaguely recognized. Irving and Commander Duncan waited at the doors themselves, listening to the Knight-Commander rant.

Ignoring all forms of dignity, though, Irving rushed forward and gave me a huge hug. "You'll be fine," he reassured. "I know you well. You'll do us all very, very proud."

"I will try," I promised. "I am sad to leave, Irving."

"Then you merely have to come back and visit. The Tower is always open to you, dear." He kissed the top of my head. "Go and fly, Layla. All will be well."

"Until we meet again then, Irving." I smiled as bright as I could at him before turning that smile to each of the templars here to open the doors. I lingered my gaze on Cullen, who was the only one to smile back, before focusing on Commander Duncan. "I am ready."

"Then let's be off," Commander Duncan replied. The Knight-Commander looked quite sour. "Open the gates for us, please."

The templars rushed to obey, keeping silent all the while. I was startled when the Knight-Commander touched my shoulder as the doors finally opened and sunlight streamed inside. "Well, good luck out there, girl," he muttered. "You'll need it."

Uncertain how to take that, I defaulted to my normal politeness. "Thank you, Knight-Commander. I am sorry about Jowan. If… if I see him, I will report it immediately."

"Good. I expect nothing less." He saluted me, a mage. He even smiled slightly. I had not once seen him smile at anyone before. "Farewell, Miss Amell."

"Farewell, Knight-Commander." I curtseyed back and took my first step outside of the Tower for many years. It was weird. Anders had always spoken highly of the outside, but I did not see what was so special. If anything, I felt afraid at all the things I could see. This was the outside world. The last time I had been here, my father had tried to kill me for being different. What… what was I supposed to…?

"Layla!" At my name, I looked up and saw the balconies of the Tower filled with mages and apprentices, those who had not gone to the King's Army in Ostagar. I recognized some of them on sight, mostly those who had forced their way to the front. There was Leorah, a recent Senior Enchanter, waving next to Sweeney, an elder Senior Enchanter whose sight was slowly deteriorating. Close to them was Niall debating with Senior Enchanter Torrin, though both stopped their debates to grin at me. Cera, who taught runecrafting and enchanting, was cheering next to Keili, who was praying as she always did. Godwin looked nervous in the crowd, but he smiled and waved from his hiding place next to the cheering Petra and Kinnon. In another part of the crowd, Finn and Eadric were discussing books, but both spared a moment long enough to shout encouragement my way. Of course there, front and center, was Neria, cheering the loudest even as she cried.

I found myself crying to as I saw them all wishing me well and waved back before turning to where Commander Duncan was waiting at the dock. A fisherman was already there, ready to take the two of us away from the Tower. But with everyone cheering, I no longer felt afraid. I felt ready.

"Do you know how to get into a boat safely?" Commander Duncan asked me as I stepped up beside him. I shook my head, afraid to talk. "Here, then. Give me your hand and I'll help you." He did so and we quickly pushed off, sailing across the lake. As we sailed, I found myself unable to believe everything that happened in this one, single day.

I suppose I was truly a Harrowed Mage now. I had gone through quite a few harrowing events, at the least. Surely, nothing I would experience would ever be worse.


Author's Note – Title refers to the Achievement for completing the Mage Origin. Like I've done in other fics, I'm prefacing each non-intro chapter with a memory for the POV char, typically related to something inside the chapter itself, just for more background for the chars. This memory is Layla visiting Anders while he was in solitary confinement. There are cells located in the basement area in the Tower, so I've chosen to believe this is where he was kept.
But wow, this all happened in one day. Longest day ever. No, I did not produce all those names from random. Those are the names of every named mage that we know was not in the Tower at this time. …What? I decided that there should be a bit of a triumphant send-off. Oh, for those wondering about the whole "power of eagle" thing, that's literally what Amell supposedly means. I'm a bit of a sucker for incorporating name meanings. Lily's prayer is piecing together some known bits of the Chant.

Next Chapter – Dalish Origin with our second POV char.