Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Bioware, of course; I just thought that I would try to write this as a token of my love ;)

Chapter 9:Viewed From Above

Walking through the Apprentice Quarters, Ayla could barely believe she was leaving them behind. She had dreamed of this day ever since she had first been an apprentice, but now that it had really come it felt odd, like it weren't even happening. I am a mage. A real mage, I have graduated. I'm not on the bottom anymore! Still, though, it wasn't like she was never going to see the dorms again, or the people in them. The difference was, now she would be above them, looking on as a superior. I wish Jowan didn't have this stupid paranoia complex about not being Harrowed, I was looking forward to teasing him mercilessly for the week or so that I was his superior. I guess I just have to sit tight and wait for him to get Harrowed so he can be fun again.

A child's giggles echoed from the door to her right. Ayla smiled. Children may get in the way sometimes, but they are what makes the Tower alive. Pausing, she looked inside. Ten year old Randy was standing on the top of his bunk, pretending to be King Calahad as he led his great army. For Randy, his army seemed to consist mainly of eight year olds, including one little girl named Danya who showed promise to be one of the greatest spirit mages the Tower had ever seen. Already she had managed to conjure a half-decent spellwisp, albeit one that only lasted three seconds. Still, Ayla loved the girl like a sister, and would sometimes read to her from the advanced books when she had the time. Danya had a great appetite for complex magical theories.

Before she could move on, the girl had spotted her, messy braids swinging as she ran over to embrace Ayla. "Yay! Ayla, have you come to read to me? King Randy has almost finished his speech." She lowered her voice conspiratorially. "He's trying to copy the one from The Throne of Kings, but he doesn't know it very well."

Regretfully, Ayla pried the little girl off her. "I wish I could read to you, dear, but I did my Harrowing last night and I have to go see Irving now." The little girl looked stricken.

"But if you're Harrowed then you're a big mage now, and you have to go up to the big mage floor. I'm not going to see you anymore!" The girl sniffed, looking like she was about to cry. Hastily Ayla dropped to one knee.

"Of course you will. You see big mages in the library all the time, right? And you live right by the library. I may not be able to see you as often, but I will still come, as long as you do your lessons. Work hard to become a good mage, okay?" With wide eyes, Danya nodded. "Good. Now, I think King Randy needs his best strategist back in his army for the battle plan, doesn't he?" The little girl beamed and ran back over to Randy, where she joined the rest of the kids in their battlecry.

Smiling, Ayla stood and left the room. Picking up her pace, her footsteps echoed as they usually did as she strode through the empty base hall. In the corner, a mage was observing the range of his stonethrow, taking a few steps back and blasting a heavy rock at a slightly dented area of the wall. I hope he knows how to repair the cracks when he's done. Getting crushed by a collapsing tower isn't exactly how I'd prefer to die.

Skipping through the tiny hallway, she emerged into her favorite room in the Tower. Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling, almost twenty feet, covering all the walls and then some. Ladders leaned up against each shelf, mages climbing them quickly with the confidence of frequent practice. Some shelves with more popular tomes had a line cuing to use the ladder, mages tapping their feet impatiently and talking about their research. And books, everywhere the books. More books than Ayla had ever imagined before coming to the Tower. I wouldn't exactly say that the books are worth a life in prison, but at least it makes the prison more interesting. If there was anything in the world that Ayla liked more than magic it was books. She had spent countless days curled up in some forgotten corner engrossed in tales of adventure, swashbuckling, chivalry, and tragic death. She loved all books, loved learning about far-away places, the history of Thedas, even the lands just a stone wall away. Not that I'll ever see them. Unless there's a war where they need mages to defeat the enemy, I'm never likely to set foot outdoors.

Seeing all the books, Ayla longed to forget about her errand and sit down with one of her old favorites, but she knew she couldn't. Irving was expecting her, and it wouldn't do to be late on her first day as a true mage. Passing all the Enchanters teaching apprentices the more basic principles of magic, she walked through the office and bounded up the stairs.

Passing by Owain, she gave him a wide berth, trying not to stare. Not that he'd care. Looking at me with those dead eyes- creepy, that's what that is. She imagined Jowan like that, and had to suppress a shudder.

As she left, Ayla couldn't resist looking up at the ceiling so far above. She never could, when passing through. So open; I can almost remember how big the sky is. Maker help me, I look at ceilings imagining the outdoors. This is why you're not supposed to keep people in enclosed spaces. Regretfully, she tore her eyes away, walking toward Irving's office. The thick green carpet seemed to soak up her footsteps, but all the same she slowed when she neared her destination, struggling to hear the argument unfolding within.

"...many have already gone to Ostagar! Wynne, Uldred, and many of the senior mages. We have committed enough of our own to this war effort!" Gregoire was shouting. Ayla narrowed her eyes. Gregoire was eager enough to claim the mages now, but when whoever the strangely armored man standing inthe office left it would be a different story entirely.

Irving was evidently thinking the same thing. "Your own? Since when have you felt such kinship with the mages? Or are you simply too afraid to let them out from under your watchful eye, so they can actually use their Maker-given powers?" Irving never yelled, but spoke with an authority that could shame even the most rambunctious apprentice into quiet.

Unfortunately, Gregoire was not an apprentice. "How dare you-" he blustered, and would have gone on had not the mystery man interjected.

"Gentlemen, please. Irving, I believe you have a visitor." Ayla had been edging closer the whole discussion, and had apparently gotten a little too close. Walking in like she had intended to be spotted, Ayla bowed slightly.

"You sent for me, Irving?"

Irving turned, smiling. "Ah, if it isn't our new sister of the Circle. Welcome, child." The stranger looked to Irving interestedly, a question in his eyes.

"This is...?" he asked.

Irving nodded. "Yes, this is she." So, they've been talking about me. Interesting. I wonder what was said.

Sighing, Gregoire said, "Well, Irving, you are obviously busy. We will discuss this later." With that, he clanked his way out of the room. Ayla had to bite her lip to keep a victorious grin from spreading across her face. Yeah, that's right you big self-righteous tin can, Irving is talking to me instead of you.

Irving nodded. "Where was I? Oh, yes, where are my manners? Ayla, this is Duncan, of the Grey Wardens."

Grey Warden...now where have I heard that before? Oh, of course, the ballad of Ayesleigh. An ancient group of elite warriors, protecting the realm from darkspawn and blights. But there hasn't been a blight in 400 years, I thought the order disbanded ages ago.

Out loud, she said, "I am honored to meet a member of such a renowned order. Well met, Duncan." She inclined her head.

He chuckled, a twinkle in his eye. "She is certainly polite."

"Indeed. Ayla, you may have heard about the army amassing to the South. Duncan is here to pick up recruits to fight in the king's army." Irving looked slyly at his former pupil, knowing how fascinated she was with events in the outside world.

Ayla looked up excitedly. "An army? I hadn't heard anything of this, Frank and Lewis- I mean, the Templars at the door- didn't say anything. And Duncan is recruiting? Can I volunteer?"

Shaking his head, Irving chuckled softly. "Child, you have only just become a mage. Much as Duncan may need spells, yours will have to wait. Today is a happy day for you."

Duncan shook his head gravely. "There are few happy days ahead of us, I fear. These are troubled times. I fear a Blight has come upon us."

"Duncan, you will worry the girl with all this talk of Blights and darkspawn. This is a day of celebration for her." He turned back to Ayla. "Child, get settled into your new place in the Circle before you throw your staff into battling this Blight. The darkspawn will still be there, I am sure." Ayla nodded, though reluctantly.

Irving crossed to the chair, where he picked up a pile of beautifully crafted items. "Now, to welcome you into magehood, here are your new robes, a staff, and a ring bearing the insignia of the circle. May you wear them well, and take pride in your magic." Gratefully, Ayla took the items. The robe was a beautiful golden color, and the staff had a good weight; solid, but not so heavy that it couldn't be twirled. The ring she slid onto her finger, admiring its gleam in the flickering lights of the study.

"I know you have much celebrating to do today, and you shall have the day off to do it. First, though, would you mind escorting Duncan to his rooms? He is staying in the guest quarters, on the other side of this floor." So he wants to give me a chance to talk to this Grey Warden. Kind of him to provide me with such a nice source of current event information.

She nodded. "I would love to. Duncan, after me whenever you are ready. Irving, I will take my leave, with your permission." With both of their nods, Ayla draped her new robes over her arm and walked out the door. Now all I need is a room to change in.

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