'Magic thrives on use. A mage who fears her magic cannot master it. When the demon come calling, she will not have the strength to deny them. The Circles are a cage made from fear. I cannot decide who is more stupid: the ones who built the cage, or the one who allow themselves to be put in it.' –Morrigan, Witch of the Wilds, Daughter of Flemeth, Companion of the Grey Wardens of Ferelden, Arcane Advisor to the Imperial Court of Orlais, Liaison to the Inquisition.

~ Cousland Castle, Highever, 19th Drakonis 9:21 Dragon ~

The seamstress, a Mistress Cynthia, had already arrived and had set up in the hall by the time that Nan had roused Caitlyn—and Rosina—from her sleep.

Two cloth dividers had been set up—one to shield from the sight from the side of the hall that Fergus' (and Bran's) room were and another to stop anyone just walking into the hall and seeing anything—around where a small stool where they would stand and be measured.

Caitlyn had no doubt that Nan would take this chance for them to be measured for new clothing for themselves—Nan hated wasting time after all—and that was the reason she merely washed her face and braided her hair before wrapping her dressing-robe around her and walked out into the hall on slipper-clad feet with Rosina following behind with some hesitation.

"Thank you, Nan," she smiled at the old woman when she noticed a table had been set up with fruit, fresh bread, pots of jam, jugs of milk and juice and a silver enchanted teapot—all easy to eat and to put down with little fuss.

Nan smiled at her—a slight smile that was almost smothered by her wrinkles that were more used to frowning then smiling—before she marched towards Kenna's door with a forceful look on her face making Caitlyn smile as she settled down in one of the seats.

"Sit," Caitlyn gestured towards one of the chairs as a strangled groan of dismay echoed from Kenna's room and Rosina, her new lady-in-waited, hesitated before taking a seat after a wary glance around.

Caitlyn smiled at her, patient and calm, and watched as Rosina settled slightly—it would take time, Caitlyn knew, for Rosina to relax around her, for Caitlyn to trust her with her secrets, for the timid and wary air to fade from around her. Patience, time and care, everything Caitlyn had in spades from her alchemy studies and tending to her personal collection of plants needed for it.

Caitlyn turned her attention to the spread, making herself a cup of tea sweetened just slightly with honey, and was pleased that Nan had already placed her small collection of correspondences next to her plate—obviously having foreseen which chair Caitlyn would take, the chair at the head of the small table—and began to sort through them as Kenna came out with a freshly washed face and her copper hair braided in her usual crown.

Caitlyn's rich blue eyes noted the golden fingers curled around the slim pale wrist of Lileas before she returned to her correspondences; a small scroll from Bran, several pages of rambling words from Botanist Ines Arancia about what other plant had caught her attention and she thought made be useful for Caitlyn's own studies, a small but glowing letter from Brother Genitivi as he agreed to exchange letters with her and a rather long letter from Enchanter Vivienne, Madame de Fer, and newly appointed Court Enchanter from Orlais.

(She remembered staring at the mage that had come to asses if Kenna would stay with them—protected, loved—or would be leaving with him—alone, afraid—and asking about alchemy and such in the hopes of crafting tonics and such to help her sister, unknowing that her desire would lead her to exchange letters with such powerful and amazing people)

Caitlyn glanced over Brother Genitivi's letter, pausing on certain key sentences—it seemed that Aldous had been bragging again, she noted with a surge of fondness—and resolving to take a another look later before she replied—Brother Genitivi wasn't a contact that Caitlyn was writing to for her alchemical studies, but because she enjoyed his books and was fascinated by his writing, and range of subjects—she placed it on the side.

Botanist Arancia's letter was easily placed to the side as it wasn't something Caitlyn could read in one quick sitting.

No, often Botanist Arancia's letters to take anywhere between an hour and several as she rambled in quick and small letters about this plant that Caitlyn would be interested in—and she normally was—before loosing track half-way through with another plant that Caitlyn wouldn't find the same interest for.

Madame Vivienne's letter was discarded for the moment, Caitlyn decided she could read it while awaiting her turn to be put under the scrutiny of the seamstress and her sharp pins.

Madame Vivienne was the only person that Caitlyn had reached out to that had seemed to sense Caitlyn's less than purely academic interest and not be put off by a child wanting to delve in such a complex art form.

Something Caitlyn was grateful for as Madame Vivienne was obviously a master when it came to crafting potions and tonics, a level that Caitlyn would never truly reach as Madame Vivienne used her innate magical abilities to enrich her potions and had greater access to rare and difficult to get a hold of ingredients—either as her position as Enchanter in the Circle, Court Mage in the Courts or her own rather vast personal wealth.

Which left; Bran.

She read the small writing on the scroll—slim, but long, something easy to roll up and attach to a bird—and hummed as she read about his belief he would be returning home this year as she reached out for her tea—it had cooled down enough that Caitlyn knew she wouldn't burn her mouth when she drank it—and to a sip as her gaze turned to Kenna.

There was a long-suffering look already on her face as she glanced to where the seamstress and aids were unrolling bolts of fabric and while that would normally amuse her—Kenna almost had as much problems standing still as Bran did, though Kenna's restlessness was limited to being measured and having her clothes tailored to her when Bran seemed unable to sit still for almost everything—Caitlyn felt a stir of worry in her chest.

Kenna was seven now, it had been five years since Bran had left, and much had changed—Kenna had grown up—and she wasn't sure how things would go when Bran returned.

Kenna of course knew Bran—or at least of him if she couldn't remember him—but she didn't know him like she knew Caitlyn and Fergus. And there were things about Kenna that Bran remained unaware of as neither Caitlyn or Fergus had dared put down their theories and such about Kenna's dreams when they wrote to him, so he was as in the dark about Kenna's gift as their parents were.

Kenna's dream, her apparent gift, remained an unspoken thing between Caitlyn and Fergus, a vow to protect their younger sister, and Caitlyn wasn't sure she could break their knowing silence even for Bran.

Her fingers drummed against the cup in her hands as she thought.

Bran was her brother, but Kenna was hers—hers and Fergus'.

Kenna had been theirs since she was four, when she had woken up screaming and crying and would only be soothed by them, when she was flinch away from their father's reaching hand of comfort, cry harder at the sight of their mother's worry, when she would only calm when Caitlyn held her close, and sleep when Fergus held her and rocked her to an unknown song.

Something had changed within the Cousland family, had changed when Kenna began dreaming, and it had settled in to a new norm—a norm, she realised that Bran didn't have a place amongst them yet—as Kenna turned more to Fergus and Cait, and less to her parents despite her clear love for them because she couldn't help but remember their father—gutted, and dying—and their mother—worried, a quiet resolve brewing in her stormy green eyes—and that made her hesitate in a way that she didn't with Cait and Fergus.

Things were already changing with the sudden decision of making the Surana sisters their ladies-in-waiting and things would change more when Bran returned, Caitlyn would just have to deal with it.

Caitlyn slid the scroll under Madame Vivienne's letter and resolved to speak to Fergus about her concerns when he returned for the night as Nan was able to con Kenna into going first.

The look Kenna threw Nan made it clear that she realised she was being manipulated before she sent a small look of reassurance towards Lileas—that looked a lot more nervous than Rosina as she nibbled on some apple slices—before setting her jaw as she made her way to the stool.

Mistress Cynthia chuckled warmly, well used to Kenna;

"It'll be quick, Lady Kenna," she reassured the young girl as she let her robe drop and stood on the stool. "Just need to make sure that your measurements haven't changed too drastically."

Mistress Cynthia took the tape-measure from one of her aids and stepped forward to measure Kenna.

"What have you learnt recently, my Lady?" Mistress Cynthia asked, knowing from experience it was easier and quicker for them all if Kenna was distracted by something while she did what she had to.

"Did you know that dwarves actually use gold as thread?" Kenna asked, eyes bright as she stared down at the seamstress that was measuring her. "They turn real gold into this thing metal thread to decorate their clothing."

"We do the same up on the surface as well," Mistress Cynthia informed her as Caitlyn felt confident enough to take her first read of Madame Vivienne's letter.

"Doesn't that hurt though?" Kenna asked with the slightest wrinkle of her nose. "Trying to sew with actual metal?"

"Yes," Mistress Cynthia admitted easily, "but the way the thread catches the light makes it truly shine." She glanced up with slightly amused eyes as one of her aid quietly noted Kenna's measurements. "Would you like some actual gold thread this time?"

"No," Kenna shook her head slightly, a frown on her face. "Seems a waste really as I'm only going to get it all dirty or outgrow it soon enough."

"A surprisingly wise attitude from you," Nan commented dryly making Kenna send her a look before sticking out her tongue. "Ah, that's more like it. For a moment there I actually thought you had matured overnight."

"Songbirds and laurels, correct?" Mistress Cynthia interrupted making Kenna nod and Caitlyn to smile slightly to herself—she would never admit to how close the seamstress came to having to marry rampaging Mabari hounds with the Cousland laurels, thankfully Caitlyn had been able to convince Kenna of the wisdom of choosing songbirds instead of her first choice when they had decided to personalise the Cousland laurel into something more closely linked and personal to them.

Caitlyn was also thankfully that she had managed to make Kenna interested in the delicate little songbirds when she was young—suffering from nightmares, clinging to Cait's hand when she wasn't in lessons or with Fergus—and they had come across a man selling them in the Market.

While a Mabari hound fitted Kenna's personality much more than a songbird, she doubted even the talented Mistress Cynthia could marry them together in a way that would look anywhere close to nice.

"Can dresses be armoured?" Kenna asked curiously making Caitlyn pause mentally as she picked up her teacup.

That was an interesting idea, Caitlyn thought to herself as she leaned back in her chair and took a sip of cool tea—grimacing slightly as she realised she had let it cool to an almost undrinkable level—and decided she had another project to play with next to dealing with the Alienage.

Lileas Surana had quickly gotten a hand of her new lot of life, even if she was still bewildered by her new Lady—Kenna, she reminded herself—on-going insistence on them being friends—despite the fact that Kenna was a noble and Lileas was still an elven servant.

Every morning before breakfast, Lileas learnt that Kenna went through a series of stretches that she had encouraged Lileas in doing with her; Lileas had been stiff the first two days, but she was certain that she was getting the hang of them now.

Afterwards, Kenna and Lileas would have a quick wash—Kenna always braiding her hair into a crown around her head, securing it in place with simple and slim hairpins, and Lileas was allowed to wear her hair whatever way she liked, even if it meant she was showing off her pointed ears—and then dressed—Lileas in soft garments of midnight blue with the slightest hint of golden embroidery (golden laurels and small songbirds, that Kenna informed her was one of her favourite animals) and dark brown leather when needed while Rosina was dressed in soft garments of a rich blue with the slightest hint of golden and silver embroidery (golden laurels and silver blooming flowers) and white leather when needed because that was the colours of their ladies—before they were off to breakfast.

Lileas and Rosina didn't sit with the squires nor the servants, no, they sat beside their ladies at the top table and ate the same food as their ladies as well.

The rich food had made her sick the first day, something that Kenna had noticed, and she had quickly changed her breakfast to a simpler fare of porridge with honey to sweeten it and freshly cut fruit in an attempt to help her slowly get used to the rich fare—it was thoughtful especially since Kenna obviously didn't like porridge, but she still ate it with that stubborn set of her jaw that was rapidly becoming familiar to Lileas.

Afterwards they had lessons with Aldous—Aldous was almost as old as Nan, but without her frowny wrinkles—and Lileas was given special attention to catch her up with Kenna's level.

She had felt terrible that she was wasting Aldous' time and using up all of Kenna's lesson times, but Kenna had simply smiled and said she needed the extra time anyway as she was nowhere near to the brilliance of her elder sister.

Aldous had added he had seen an improvement to Kenna's written work now he was forced to give her more time, and it saved him having to make her redo it again—he also added, with a rather dry tone, that it was nice to teach someone that obviously enjoyed learning and his attention.

(It was odd, Lileas had thought and Rosina had agreed when Lileas brought it up, that the servants were so free with their words, opinions and attitude towards the children of their employers without fearing censure from their Lord and Lady)

After lessons, they'd head back to Kenna's room to have a quick lunch—cold cuts of meat, bread, cheese and fruits with cups of chilled milk—and then Lileas would help Kenna change into her practise armour—Lileas had been shocked when the Armourer had come to measure Lileas for some, and it comforted her that Rosina was likewise be getting armour and training—and then they would head down to the Training Grounds.

While Commander Kenneth Nolan beat Kenna into a sweaty, bruised mess, Lileas was placed with Ser Morgan Ford—who had sighed when Kenna had proudly presented Lileas to her— and who got Lileas used to the different feel of the wooden training weapons—Lileas had taken a liking to a bladed-staff type weapon, which would make her mid-range fighter compared to Kenna's close-ranged fighting, something that made Ser Morgan nod slightly in approval—and their weight.

Afterwards, Lileas would help a limping and sweaty Kenna back to her room where she would soak in a steaming hot bath laced with elfroot oil and afterwards Lileas would help her lather her bruises with a paste that Lady Caitlyn had apparently made—something that Rosina was learning about during her time with Lady Caitlyn—that helped sooth the painfully looking bruises.

They'd change into fresh clothes—Lileas still couldn't get over how many clothes she had nor the amount of times she was expected to change and bath—before going for dinner—the only real rich fare that Lileas had to eat and she was slowly getting used to it.

After dinner, they spent time with Lady Caitlyn, Rosina and often Teyrna Eleanor where they would talk, sew or read together for about two hours before they headed back to their room, bathed and then bed—only after Kenna drunk the tea that Lady Caitlyn prepared for her every night.

It was her new schedule, her new way of life, and Lileas was happy to relax into.

So, of course, Kenna would once again turn her life upside down.

~ Cousland Castle, Highever, 25th Drakonis 9:21 Dragon ~

Kenna frowned thoughtfully to herself as Lileas tied off her braid with a midnight blue ribbon.

"How do you suppose one goes about finding an apostate?" Kenna asked making Lileas twist and stare at her with uneasy pale green eyes.

"Why do you want to find an apostate?" Lileas asked warily, still just a shadow of who she would become—Kenna almost wished she had a clearer image of who she would become like she did with Lileas and Cait because she thought that made things easier and would maybe encourage her when Ser Kenneth knocked her down for the dozenth time.

Kenna frowned for a moment then realisation hit her, and she stared at Lileas in surprise.

"You don't know yet, do you?" she asked, somehow surprised that she knew that Lileas was a mage when the elf wasn't yet aware. "You're a mage."

Lileas' mouth dropped, and her face paled dangerously as she swayed on the stool making Kenna jump up to steady her.

"I'm not, I can't be," Lileas told her, her voice trembling and Kenna held her by the shoulders, Lileas' pale hands gripped at Kenna's wrists as she stared up at Kenna with scared pale-green eyes.

Lileas was panicking; she couldn't be a mage, could she? She would have known by now, wouldn't she? Oh Maker, had Kenna called the Templars already? But she had no proof! Lileas wasn't a mage! She wasn't! But would that mean anything?! Kenna was a noble while Lileas was just an elf! They were going to drag her to the Tower! They were going to take her from Rosina!

"Breathe!" Kenna commanded anxiously, eyes wide as Lileas began gasping great shuddering breaths. "It's alright! We're going to find you a tutor and everything will be okay!"

"I'm not a mage!" Lileas gasped out, trembling and pale. "Please!"

Kenna didn't know what to do as tears began to brim in Lileas' pale green eyes and just hugged her, swaying her slightly like Fergus did when Kenna woke everyone up with her screams and he wanted to calm her, making the same nonsense sounds that Cait gave when she held Kenna close.

"I promise you," Kenna told her fiercely, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, we're going to find someone that can teach you, we'll keep it a secret, you won't have to leave."

"Why?" Lileas gasped, hot tears staining the soft tunic that Kenna was wearing—she'd be embarrassed about that later—though she wasn't aware of what she was really asking.

"Because you're my friend," Kenna told her, fiercely and simply. "And you'll always be my friend, I know that for a fact."

"You…don't…" Lileas gasped, sobs shuddering her.

"I do, I knew the moment I saw you and saw who you would become," Kenna told her, grimacing as Lileas just shook her head and sobbed, and decided to tell Lileas her secret—Lileas was hers, was hers from the moment Kenna had seen her future spectre in her mind's eyes dressed in her colours, brilliant and confident. "I dream about the future, I have since I was four, but when I first saw you, I saw it without sleeping. I saw who you would become, brilliant and beautiful, and mine—my friend, my confident, mine."

Lileas listened, calming slightly, as Kenna spoke of the Lileas she had seen, of her dreams, of how that Kenna promised that no one would take her away, that she wouldn't let them, how she was going to be amazing, that Kenna would look after her and protect her until she could do it herself, that she would find the best tutor she could, that she would hide it from even Lady Caitlyn and Lord Fergus, that no one had to know if that was what Lileas wanted.

And despite herself, Lileas believed.

She believed the impossible tale of dreams and visions of the future, she believed in the way Kenna promised no one would take her away despite her youth, she believed that Kenna thought she would grow up to be brilliant, she believed Kenna when she reaffirmed that they would be friends.

She believed in Kenna Cousland, her Lady and her friend.

Author's Note; Sorry it took so long, but my laptop broke and needed to be fixed—part of it was broken in six places so a new piece had to be ordered.

Yeah, so I hope you enjoyed this chapter despite how long it took, and I look forward to your feedback.