Seireadan Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall

Chapter One: For Ferelden

Early August 9:30

The Battle and the Escape

Seireadan and Carver Hawke stood side by side both shifting from foot to foot in anticipation while clutching their weapons as they waited for the approach of the darkspawn and the arrival of King Cailan to the army's front. "Do you think Father would have been here with us?"

Seireadan smiled and shifted closer to his younger brother before answering him quietly so others wouldn't hear. "I believe he would. You know how Father couldn't help but become involved in things. I know he tried to stay hidden from view, but always he was drawn to make a difference in the world."

Carver nodded intently and forced out a grin to match Seireadan's before nodding towards where King Cailan and the Warden Commander were approaching the staged area. "Here we go."

Seireadan felt his adrenaline surge at the King's words and he watched in anticipation as first the archers and then the hounds were released. As he watched the hounds take damage he couldn't help but feel relief at having left his own hound behind in Lothering to protect his mother and sister. As they prepared to surge forward he reminded his brother to remain close. "Stay near, brother."

Seireadan frowned at his battle ready brother's terse response, "Yes, Brother." He didn't have time to speak again before they had to join the others rushing forward to clash with the darkspawn.

It was inevitable that they would become separated but Seireadan began searching for Carver in earnest as the darkspawn began to overpower the troops. He didn't want to reveal his abilities but as things became more desperate and he began to feel panicked at not being able to find Carver he involuntarily began drawing in and narrowing his power. As his power peaked he sent it surging down his blades and he watched in satisfaction as every strike against his foes with his blades sent waves of lightening through the enemy. He knew the noise he made with the strikes could be heard despite the noise of battle, but as he tried to ignore the startled glances he received from the soldiers closest to him he heard a familiar voice and then Carver surged to his aid. "Brother!" Carver raised his broad sword finishing off Seireadan's current opponent before speaking again. "Brother, the battle is lost. King Cailan and the Warden Commander have fallen!"

Seireadan froze for a moment at hearing the battle was lost and then he felt a surge of protectiveness for those who remained. They were near the edge of the woods at this point and he figured he knew the land well enough from having scouted the area in the past that he could get Carver and the others to safety. "To me, soldiers!" Seireadan watched as his commanding voice caused the nearby remaining soldiers to converge upon his position. Some of the soldiers were cut down as they rushed to join him and a few were still trying to make it to his side but he was out of time and as Carver pushed the men who had joined him to the rear of Seireadan he sheathed his blades and gathered his magical power and threw his arms to the heavens as he cast one of the few spells he had ever been successful at casting. A whirlwind of lightening struck not twenty feet from his gathered party and the swirl of shocking power began to wreck havoc upon foe and ally alike and only those that had been urged into the trees behind Seireadan were saved the fate of the others.

Seireadan stared for a long moment at the destruction he had wrought before turning to face the men he was prepared to lead to safety. He could tell they were shocked but when Carver ordered them deeper into the trees they went quickly; although, he was sure he heard a muttered voice pronounce him a mage. He could feel the blush and the panic strike him but he knew he didn't have time for his fears to jeopardize their safety.

Seireadan ensured the others didn't have time to stop and think or to speak as he forced them to wade through brush and trees at a pace that left his own body straining at the physical exertion. He would have pushed himself to the point of dropping, but Carver called out to him. "Brother we have men down." Seireadan spun around quickly and moved to where Carver stood over a man that had a deep cut across his thigh, and Seireadan couldn't figure out how the man had managed to keep up with them to that point. Without even thinking about it he crouched beside the man and placed his hand over the wound and sent a surge of healing into the man and the wound slowly closed until it became a puckered scar. When Dan removed his hand from the man he stood and suddenly he felt faint but Carver was there instantly holding his arm to steady him. "We need to rest, Dan."

He didn't answer Carver, but he nodded. Carver urged him to sit on a rock before turning to the men and setting up a perimeter of men to watch for darkspawn as they rested. Seireadan closed his eyes against the sight of the men eyeing him and felt himself drift back to a conversation with his father when he was a teen.

"You are right, Seireadan, you do not hold much magic in you and using it takes more out of you than it should, but you are still a mage."

"I refuse to be a mage. I don't care what I can or cannot do. I am fifteen and have never shown any magical ability before now."

He knew instantly that his father knew he was lying but for once his father didn't confront him about the lie but instead nodded towards Bethany and Carver who were watching them wide-eyed. "Perhaps, you should consider your words more wisely."

Seireadan nodded and gave a smile to his nine year old siblings before speaking again. "I have been training to fight since I was younger than the Bethany and Carver; I have no interest in developing any mage abilities."

"I will teach you to control your abilities and we'll leave it at that. Fair enough?"

Seireadan had agreed readily enough, but even then he knew his father would insist on more. They had never figured out if it was Seireadan's own stubbornness that kept him from being unable to do more than cast lightening and heal or an actual lack of ability, but even that limited amount of ability had been far more than Seireadan Hawke wanted to be capable of.

"Dan, I think the others are ready to continue." Still with his eyes closed the rogue with mage abilities nodded before opening his eyes and standing to lead them to safety.