Yeah, think I'll change the F!Hawkes name to Annette. Sounds better. I'll go through all the chapters and do it later.

Circle Tower Entrance

"It's over?" Greagoir looked surprised.

"You did it!" Cullens face lit up.

Solona blushed a little at Cullens enthusiasm. She really didnt have the heart to tell the poor boy he wasn't her type. Not that he wasn't cute or anything. For a Templar, he was somewhat reasonable.

"I'm afraid we don't have time for congratulations, Knight Commander." Elissa rushed out "The life of a little boy is in danger in Redcliffe. I need to take the mages entrusted to me, along with whatever lyrium you can spare."

Orders were issued, and once again, there was little time for discussion. Greagoir gave them a farewell and good luck. Wynne would be accompanying them, along with Irving and two others, in addition to Solona and Bethany.

As they were getting onto the boat, Solona took one last look at the Tower.

"Wait!"

Cullen rushed out, trying to summon the right words "Will I...Will I see you again?"

Solona smiled sadly, and kissed Cullen on the cheek "Goodbye, Cullen."

And goodbye, everyone.

This really wasn't the way she wanted to leave. She pictured her friends waving farewell as she entered the boat, off to better times.

Solona would miss them. Jowan. Niall.

Then again, she could NOT have pictured her family being here. It was so...surreal. But then again, the physical similarities were there.

Solona had no illusions. It wasn't going to be a pleasant, loving family, perfections abound. But Trevor and Bethany seemed kind enough, it seemed. Carver was a bit surly, but that was infinitely better than the treatment she received from most Templars.

Elissa was in less than high spirits. Morrigan was gone, as was that blond mage Anders. She wanted to ask that woman a plethora of questions. They were quite preoccupied with looting the place as they were fighting, and Elissa distinctly remembered them fussing over some odd book, but that was it.

Why? Why come to her? Morrigan didn't seem the type to care about the life of some nobles son. What was in that book?

Then there was the spirit, and its little prophecy. It warned everyone to avoid 'mass killings or wars', or to minimize said killings as much as possible. Well, that was all assuming this whole thing was actually true.

It was all vague doomsday talk. If it had come from anyone else, Elissa would have shrugged it off as mere lunacy. It was only because it came from this...Justice, that she paid it much heed. Mostly because it mentioned darkspawn.

Her mentor Malcolm, the Warden Commander, hadn't been very forthcoming with information, though it seemed he wished to be. Only a Grey Warden can stop a Blight, but why? It has something to do with the Archdemon, and that it can only be slain in special circumstances that require a Grey Warden.

If there was a Blight, Malcolm needed to know.

First Morrigan, then the spirit, now a Blight. It was all so...mystifying. A puzzle left to gnaw at her conscience for many months, she wagered.

If she lived that long.

King Cailan is dead. By the works of traitors and bards. That simply was not going to go unpunished. There would almost certainly be war. The Orlesians would deny any claims of assassination. Moreover, they might even make some silly pretense to justify a full invasion, since their initial plan failed.

What was Loghain going to do? What about Father? There were so many questions that were currently unanswered right now.

"Excuse me."

Solona was staring at Elissa "I have some questions. I'm grateful that you helped us in the Circle Tower, and that you've taken me from it. But what is it that you intend to do with me?"

"That is the question, isn't it?"

Elissa gave it a moments thought, and shrugged "Well, I had intended for at least one mage to be a court healer in Highever. I might even get away with two, if I'm lucky, and Father agrees to it. Unlike most Andrastians, I respect magic, and the good it can do."

She then frowned "But, to be honest, I can't really say what lies ahead. By the way, if you didn't already know, the King is dead."

Solonas lips parted a little "...What?"

"It's a long story. And this child you're helping to save is part of it. My point is, the future is uncertain at best. Loghain will probably need you and whatever mages are left in the Tower to assist in the coming war. That gives you a rather powerful ally to ward away Chantry neer do wells. The bad side is you might have to fight. If you decide to hang around Highever or Denerim, there's no guarantee assassins might try their luck against us. Worst case scenario..."

"Whats the worst case scenario?" Solona raised an eyebrow.

"Worst case scenario, the Chantry gets upset. I give them the finger-"

Elissa followed up with the gesture, which earned a smile from Solona. Wynne was not nearly as amused.

"-and you join the Grey Wardens. I know the Warden Commander. If there's really a Blight like that spirit said, I'm sure he's going to want you. But again, consider it a last resort. Being a Warden apparently isn't easy."

Solona nodded, and immediately casted the spell to help push them forward faster, into the water.

"If you're really family, then I'm really glad you're here with us." Bethany sighed.

"I can picture Mother smothering her." Carver added with annoyance.

Redcliffe Castle

None of them wasted any time. A full sprint from the docks to the castle. Naturally some of the mages fell behind.

Trevor, Carver, Elissa and Dagonet burst through the front doors...

"Ooof!"

Alistair went sailing across the room, hit by a spell.

Elissa, enraged, flew into the next room.

"YOUR PETTY TRICKS CAN HOLD ME NO LONGER! I SHALL!"

Connor was immediately hit with another Smite. The scream made the hairs on Bethanys' neck stand straight up.

Loghain, clenching his teeth, sheathed his sword, and roughly seized Elissa by the forearm "What the bloody Void took you so long!?"

Trevor lifted Alistair to his feet "There was something of a rebellion at the Circle Tower. We had to put it down. Several mages are dead."

Loghain was still very angry, but he willed himself to calm down. It could have been worse. Only Marics boy was injured. He released Elissas arm, and looked her straight in the eye "I suppose you have what you need for that ritual?"

"Yes. The mages should be entering now."

"Good."

Loghain swept past her. It was in her hands now. The rest of the armies were mustered here. Some would need to be deployed at the border. He could afford to wait here while the Cousland girl ran her errand. That was the reason he allowed this. If the armies had mustered here sooner...

...If they had mustered here sooner, he would have finished what needed to be done. But no matter now.

"You're in charge of Redcliffe, Teagan. See that Miss Cousland receives all the help she needs."

"Yes, my Lord."

Before touching the door, Loghain stopped "Good work. All of you."

Elissa rushed to Alistair, holding him by his arms "Are you alright?"

He smiled weakly, still held up by Trevors strength "Well at least he didn't turn me into a toad."

Elissa squeezed him tightly, and mournfully replied "I am so sorry...I am so sorry Alistair."

Alistair rested his chin on her shoulder, and reciprocated, hugging her back. Even in their armor, it was good to feel her presence here again. He closed his eyes, taking in this moment.

"I'm not."

The Fade

Bethany, Carver and Trevor had gotten all the fun.

Now it was her turn.

Annette was proud to have Bethany as a sister. She was sweet, caring, and always willing to sacrifice for others. Perhaps that also served as something of a weakness too.

That naturally came out in her magic. Bethany was more of a healer. Her magic concentrated on the Creation and Spirit schools. Whether it was casting Haste, or strengthening Trevor and Carver, Bethany usually preferred spells that didn't involve direct destruction.

This is where they differed.

"Connor!?" Eamon screamed "Connor! Connor, where are you, my boy!?"

Annette tilted her head "Umm...hello."

The phantom looked at Annette with an intense, frightened gaze "Where is my boy?! Have you seen him?"

"Are you the Arl? Thought you were dead."

The Arl pointedly looked down "...Yes. I suppose I am, now. I have less answers than you do as to why I remain here."

"I've had some time to think on it, actually." Annette crossed her arms, proud of herself "When you were killed by the Tevinters, Connor made a deal with a demon to preserve your spirits. I think he was trying to reanimate you. In return, possession."

Eamon's eyes went wide "I...that's...No! No, please! You can't let that happen! You must save him!"

Annette rolled her eyes. Yeah, she decided to take all that lyrium, dive into Connors mind, but not to save him. No, she just decided it was a nice day, and that a stroll through memory lane might be refreshing.

"Yeah, I'll save him. Don't worry about it. I'd be more concerned with what happens to you. I kill the demon, and the game is up."

"I...I understand. It was over, anyway."

Annette walked away from the old man. She didn't really know the Arl of Redcliffe that much. Seemed decent enough to care for his son, a mage son at that. Too bad he had to involve him in all of this.

It didn't take long for the illusions to appear. Fake Connors. Fake demons. Promises of power. Wealth. Freedom. Sex. Knowledge.

"I can get all that in Denerim. And a nice bottle of Antivan Brandy to boot." Jokes aside, her voice went stern "You see, you have a bit of a problem. If those Circle types Wynne and Irving had sent in the two rookies, they would have obviously failed. Though I have to say, there was another among them that simply radiated power. If my sister had gone in, you might have stood a chance. She's strong willed, but not necessarily the aggressive type, you see. That just leaves me."

A ball of fire quickly erupted in Annettes off hand as she explained "I'm a simple woman. I love my family, and I love my magic. And there's absolutely nothing more enjoyable to me than to test out how far I can go. So let's cut all the smoke and mirrors, and get ready for a fight. Because I'm not going to stop until you're nothing but a dried up ash pile on the ground. Let's go."

The desire demon sprung out from the ground "As you...desire."

It put up a decent fight, but Annette kept lobbing gigantic Fireballs at it. Fire was her specialty. Fire both fascinated and frightened her. The fear drove her further. Every time a Fireball exploded, it never ceased to amaze her. The power. All of that power, at her fingertips. This was why Father had always instilled in her a respect for the arcane. Should one person really have so much power? It almost didn't seem fair.

Then again, she didn't really play 'fair.'

The size, velocity and intensity of the projectiles gave the Demon pause for concern, as it narrowly dodged them. It leaped backwards, but the explosion sent it flying into a wall.

Annette casually walked up to it, pointing her staff, smirking.

"Boom."

Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the Orlesians, or the fact that the King is dead, along with a huge mess in Denerim. And don't worry about the whole Sacred Ashes quest either! Leliana is on that! I realize it's been a while since any of the political drama, but I had to get this part down. It's essential to explaining the rest of the story.

Always open to suggestions, or helpful pointers if any of you think I'm making mistakes about world construction, etc. As always, thanks for the reviews/favs/follows, and I'll see you guys soon!