AN: Hey everyone, hope you guys had a great new year. Sorry about the delays but with me at my parents for the holidays it was rough. Not only that but a bit of some rough drama that I won't bore you guys with. The important thing is, no, I have not forgotten about you guys, just keep in mind classes are starting again soon, so I might not have a lot of time to work on this story. I just ask for some patience and you will be rewarded.

Some thanks again for reviews, follows, favorite, and just plain reading. Any form of support is what I need.

So, without any further ado, here's the story!


Arianna trails a little to walk next to Alistair. Despite her brother's glares, she was intent on talking Alistair for a bit. Not a lot of Templars left the order, so to say this intrigued her was an understatement. In fact, no Templars left unless they were considerably older with an addiction to the lyrium that was extremely unhealthy, or they died. This was also another case in that he was recruited into the Grey Wardens. Did someone as old as the Grand Cleric even answer to the Grey Wardens? Arianna found that a little hard to believe. That grouch of an old lady despised everything, there probably wasn't even anything in the world that she mildly disliked even. Once when Arianna was a new apprentice and made her first glob of ice and changed it into the form of a nug, following the picture from a Dwarven book, and tried to give it to her, she gave Arianna a look of disgust and sent her off. Arianna's feelings were a little hurt, but she shrugged it off until she found her brother. Liam had made her feel better that day with the simple jokes and comfort that a nine year old sought out for. He found an elder mage, probably Wynne now that she thinks about it, and showed her the ice sculpture that Arianna made. She received high praise for that one piece of ice, for it was better than even some of the mages could do. She thought back on that moment and many others that her brother helped her through with a smile affectionate smile and glanced back at him quickly. He was still looking at Alistair out of the corner of his eyes, but also looking around at the camp.

Arianna realized with a start that she had been walking a little too close to Alistair while she was reliving memories. She coughed awkwardly when Alistair seemed to notice this too, and she took a few steps away so they were the normal distance away from each other. She looked back at Alistair with an apology in her eyes, to see disappointment and something else maybe too there. She could've been mistaken because there was only a second of a flash there and they were both knocked out of whatever silent conversation they were having when Arianna was pulled back by the back of her robes and she turned angrily to whoever had grabbed her. "You! Elf where is my armor!?" He shouted in her face and she almost gagged at his breath. He stopped and looked at her robes. "Why are you dressed so preposterously?! I'll have your hide if I find out you've been stealing from the mages!" She shrugged out of his grip and grabbed hold of his wrists tightly and said sternly, "How dare you address me so! I am with the Grey Wardens, and I have an infinite amount of spells to use you sorry sod!" She burst out and was stunned at the violent side that poked out yet again, but tried to hide her surprise. It worked for the poor man was scared out of his wits, whatever few he may have had. "You're with the Grey Wardens?" He plundered she and her brother, who was now beside her glaring daggers at the man, both nodded and he continued. "I... I- Please, forgive my rudeness. I am just the quartermaster, nobody special. I don't want any trouble with the Wardens, Duncan is a good man, but deadly with his daggers." Arianna narrowed her eyes and snarled through clenched teeth. "Maybe you should treat your elven servants with more respect." He nodded vigorously "Y-Yes of course. Maybe you want to take a look at my supplies, perhaps? With a discount, of course." He added hastily and Arianna shrugged. They did need to sell these things, but she didn't want to spend another second with this guy right now. "Maybe later." She said with still a little tone of venom, and let go of the man's wrist, which he rubbed and walked away back towards his stall.

Once he left, Liam grabbed Arianna by her shoulders lightly and gingerly turned her to face him, mindful of any injuries she might have. Alistair was right there next to him looking over her as well. "Did he hurt you Ari? Are you okay? You turned quite ferocious there for a second so I figured that you were injured." Arianna smiled and shook her head. "No, I'm fine. You worry too much. As for the outburst... I don't know what happened there."

"Yes, you were glowing a bit. I figured you were about to turn him into a toad. An ugly one at that." mused Alistair. Liam nodded and added "You actually threatened him with your magic. You've never done that before." Alistair jumped in again, "And did you see the pain on his face when you grabbed his wrist? I never would've thought that you were that strong."

Arianna smiled shyly as they kept going on about her little show, and interrupted politely, "We really should be going now... I want to continue exploring." Liam and Alistair looked at each other and both smiled. "Of course. We wouldn't want to get on your bad side, my lady." Jested Alistair. Arianna rolled her eyes, amused. "Oh hush up you." And they went off to explore some more. They passed by the quartermaster, and Alistair pointed out one of the other recruits. They made their way towards him, to hear the end of his conversation with a lady soldier. "Any last wishes you need fulfilled? That pretty face could be decorating the spike by one of the darkspawn." They came up to a couple feet away so not to interrupt. "Should I take that quiet glare as a no? Ahh well, too bad." She walked away and nodded to them, "How do you do?" She said in passing, and they answered in a nod.

The man turned around and immediately looked at Arianna, and she gulped. He smiled cheekily, and said. "Well, you're not who I thought you'd be." Arianna narrowed her eyes, not sure what to expect. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh! Me and Ser Knight were having a bet on what you two would be. Not mages, and one being a woman. Yet, here you are." He drawled out the last sentence, still looking mainly at Arianna. "The name's Daveth by the way. About bloody time you showed up. I was thinking they were making this ritual up just for our benefit." This peaked both Arianna and Liam's interest for they both leaned forward and whispered , "Just what have you heard about this ritual?"

Daveth caught on and lowered his voice in response, with a smug grin. "I was sneaking 'round camp last night see, and I heard some Wardens talkin'. So, I listened in a bit. I'm thinking, they're planning on sending us into the Wilds."

Arianna and Liam looked at each other, intrigued. "The Wilds you say? Why would they send us there?"

"We're at the edge of the Korcari Wilds here see, right where the Darkspawn are camped. Dangling meat in front of a bear." He looked at their robes and amended, "If you catch my meaning. I guess we'll have to wait and see anyhow. It's not like we have a choice, but it's all too secretive for me, makes my nose twitch."

Arianna shrugged. He obviously didn't have anything else on the matter, so maybe the other recruit did? Worth a look anyways. She was half paying attention to her answer and she was paid dearly for it. "Oh I'll watch your back." Daveth snickered and gave her a look that sent shivers down her spine. Did she really have to work with this guy? She feigned a smile and replied, "Oh? You're a charmer I see."

Daveth chuckled again and responded through his laugh "That's me!" And laughed harder. Liam leaned forward and said through clenched teeth and a slight growl in his voice, "Or I could just kill you instead." That stopped his laughing instantly and his eyes widened in fear. Arianna rolled her eyes at her brother's typical behavior. First Alistair and now poor Daveth is shaking in his boots, literally. "Ah, I better get back to Duncan, he'll be waiting. And I'll be safer I bet." With that, he ran off and Arianna cast a glare in her brother's direction. How was she supposed to make friends around here if her brother scared them off. Glancing at Alistair, she caught a note of irritation on his face. When he caught her eye he shook it off and smiled at her instead. She shot a quick grin back and then they set off again.


Alistair sped up to walk in step with Arianna, seeming as she seemed to be better company than her brother at the moment. He nudged her arm and when she looked he asked quietly, "So your brother... He's a bit intense isn't he?" Arianna smirked and glanced out the corner of her eye at her brother who was glaring after Daveth. "Yeah he is, isn't he?" she said with a chuckle. Alistair looked at her hard. "So, aren't you going to tell me what happened?" She turned her head and gave him a weird look. "Why would I? We just met this morning. We aren't exactly the best of friends yet where I can tell you all about my life." She wasn't angry, he could tell when a woman was mad around him. In fact she sounded a bit amused, though he couldn't tell why. "Well? Do you have an answer?" Now he was sure she was messing with him, for there was definite amusement in her voice. "Well, I- No, no I do not. Have an answer. For that. Dear Maker you're an evil woman. I just thought... I was thinking... I had an idea...-" She stopped him with a chuckle and smirk. "Okay so you were thinking, what of it?" Maker this woman is going to be the end of him. "Well, I was th- Right, you know that already. But since we would be in the order together, while traveling for a bit and fighting Darkspawn that maybe we should get to know each other a bit. That's not so bad, is it?" She looked forward to where we were headed and had a look on her face that he figured was probably the one she wore when in thought. He also thought that it was the cutest any woman could look. He soon shook that thought out of his head, for he couldn't think of things like that, and the number one reason was now trying to stare a hole in his head behind them.

She nodded her head slowly, with a note of reluctance on her face. "Yes, while I believe that to be true, I don't think that I can relay that story just yet. One of those being I don't know for sure what sparked this level of it, and if I am correct on it, the story is still too... personal. I'm sorry, but maybe some other time Alistair." He gave her an encouraging smile, telling her he didn't mind. "Fair enough. Not everyone walks away from their past without some sort of scar. If you want we could just go and look for the other recruit. He's married and seems honorable if that helps." He bit back a scowl, for he wasn't quite ready to admit that Daveth's brazen attempts to woo Arianna had gotten to him. He just met the woman today! Well, he had seen her around the Circle Tower from time to time. There was also this black haired mage that's follow her around everywhere, and there were a few rumors about him but he never really paid any attention.

"It wouldn't hurt to look I guess. I thought it better to talk to them now rather than later... Let's hope the next guy is a little less of a charmer, hmm?" Alistair nodded, for he hadn't really talked much to the other recruit and was interested in learning a bit more about this fellow knight.


"Well he's certainly the opposite of a charmer isn't he?" Liam muttered when Ser Jory was out of earshot. They guy seemed to have both feet in his mouth at the same time and didn't even notice. Alistair snorts and adds, "Not too bright either, huh?" Liam looked to his sister to gauge her reaction, but there was nothing to gauge. Her face was completely devoid of any emotion as she looked around. He knew that look, and it meant that she was trying really hard not to blow and keep her magic under control. He would have to talk to her later, but for now she has her eye on the prisoner and he isn't sure why. Alistair looked at him and he shrugged in response. Liam was torn in his opinion of Alistair. One side wanting to hate him for looking at her the way he does when she isn't looking, and the other that enjoys his jokes... Something to ponder later. When they walked up they caught the gist of what the prisoner wanted. "Does it matter? All I want is some food and water!"

"Okay, okay," She calmed him with her hands out. "I'll get you your food."

"My thanks. Just ask my guard for some. He still has his lunch. I saw him put it in his coat."

Liam and Alistair stood back to watch and listen as she talked to the guard, getting a background to see if the guy was innocent. She eventually persuaded the man into giving her the food and she returned to the lone prisoner. "Brought me some food have you? I'm so hungry I could faint dead away." His sister nodded, but before she handed it to him she questioned "Why would the soldiers think you were deserting anyway?" The prisoner scoffed but answered, "They see you sneaking around camp at night and they come to that conclusion no questions asked. Armies are funny that way... But I wasn't deserting, honest." "Oh really?" Said with curiosity. "If you weren't deserting, then what were you doing?" The prisoner was getting impatient, but he could hardly get mad at her. "Well I would've deserted eventually, just not then. I picked a key from one of those wizards that day and was going to use it on the chest when they caught me. Figured me a deserter and locked me up then and there. The key is yours if you hand me that food." He said as he licked his lips.

"But, wait a second... How do you still have the key? They more than likely searched you, right?" Arianna questioned. The man had a proud look on his face and replied "I swallowed it. But it's a... come back into my possession, so to speak." The look on Arianna's face was priceless at this. "Ewww! That's disgusting!" Her voice going into an octave higher. Alistair smirked and muttered, "Also an excellent party trick, I'll bet." "So? Do I get the food or not?" The prisoner butt in and Arianna sighed, "Yes, here you go." and handed it through the bars. The prisoner handed her the key, and she held it with disdain. "May the Maker smile down on your kind soul. And the key, use it in good health eh?" He said with a chuckle. "Let's hope we are not the only ones in good health, considering where that came from." Said Alistair with a pointed look at the key looped in Arianna's robes. She nodded and muttered something about burning her robe when they had the chance for a new one. Honestly, he couldn't blame her and knowing his sister, she was true to her word.


On their way back to Duncan, Arianna heard the pitiful whines of some dogs. Mabari would be her best guess. She steered over, unable to resist the sounds of the poor animal in pain. When they reached the area, she came across the Kennel Master and he offered a sad wave to them and said to himself, "Poor ol' chap. Lost his master and now this." When he looked back over at Arianna, his face lit up as if an idea popped in his head. "Hey, you wouldn't know anything about helping a Mabari, would ya'? The poor fellow swallowed some Darkspawn blood in the last battle and he isn't taking it well." Arianna nodded, for she didn't want to poor creature to suffer. "Great, all you'll need to do is muzzle him so I can treat him properly." Muzzle him? A Mabari? Yeah, sure. two weeks out of the Tower and I get killed by a sick Mabari hound. Unable to turn this sort of thing down, she nodded hesitantly. The Kennel Master sensed her uneasiness and offered, "Go in and let him smell you first. He might be more inclined to stay and not bite that way." Arianna gulped and walked in.

What she didn't expect to happen was the dog to be as cooperative as he was. Just one sniff and he leaned back on the wall of his pen. Arianna felt for him, for she could see the hurt in his eyes, as well as a great deal of wisdom. She stepped forward and offered the muzzle to the dog, and he didn't try to run or resist in any way. She snapped it on and patted him lightly on the head before leaving. She was quickly greeted by the Kennel Master once more. "Wonderful, now it'll be easier to treat the poor fellow, though we are low on supplies... Say, you're Grey Warden recruits aren't you? Any way that you could be headed into the Wilds soon?"

Arianna quickly thought back to Daveth and his mention of the Wilds. "Mmm, We might be, why?"

"Well, there's this herb in the wilds, a white flower with a blood red center in there. It would help cure our friend here if you got it." He said hopefully.

Arianna nodded, for it didn't sound too hard. "Sure, if I head that way I'll keep an eye out."

"Great! The flowers grow rampant this time of year. It shouldn't be too difficult." She nodded and waved to the man, and then they walked towards Duncan. When he spotted them he smiled slightly. "Ahh, there you three are. I assume you're ready to begin." He stops with a pointed look at Alistair. "Assuming of course you're done riling up the mages Alistair."

"What can I say? The way the revered mother wields guilt they should stick her in the army." He said with an amused tone.

"She forced you to sass the mage, did she? We cannot afford enemies Alistair. We don't need to give anyone more ammunition against us." He argued sternly but politely.

Alistair sighed. "You're right Duncan. I apologize.." He said much like a grumpy child not keen on giving up his toy.

Duncan turned to them all and began. "Now then, since you're all here, we can begin. You all will be headed into the Korcari Wilds to perform two tasks. The first is to obtain four vials of Darkspawn blood, one for each recruit."

"And the second task?" Liam spoke up. Duncan nodded and continued. "There was once a Grey Warden archive in the Wilds, abandoned long ago when we could no longer afford to maintain such remote outposts. It has recently come to our attention that some scrolls have been left behind, magically sealed to protect them. Alistair, I want you to retrieve these scrolls if you can."

Arianna memorized the instructions, for there wasn't many and said aloud, "Find the archive and four vials of blood. Understood."

"The scrolls contain treaties promising support. Treaties that could prove to be useful in the days to come." He turns and looks to Alistair. "Watch over your charges Alistair. Return quickly, and safely." Alistair answered with a quick, "We will." And Duncan set them off with a blessing of, "Then may the Maker watch over your path. I will see you when you return." With that, they turned and headed off to the Wilds. Arianna felt her heart sink a little when she realized they may not return before dark. Looks like mine and Wynne's talk will have to wait. They walked to the man at the gate, and he let them through with a warning of caution.


AN: Alright, hope you enjoyed it. Going into the Wilds next and getting to see Morrigan! Fun, fun right?

Again, so sorry for the delay. Just went through some hard times because hey, life sees that you're happy and wants to see what it takes to change that :P

Anywho, let me know what you think. Please R&R if you have the time.