This story follows BioWare's DA:O game and playstory line, using the characters, locations and some back stories, but I have added bits of my own imagination and characters that are my own. I have rated this M for mature for blood, strong language and sexual content. All comments are welcome. Thank you!

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I walked the village well before dusk, recalling very little of it from when I was a child. I made my way throughout the houses to make sure the fires we saw earlier were all put out and on finding a surface dwarf locked in his home, persuaded him and his guards to join in on the village's defenses. It pained me to force more people when the Bann assured them they would not be but seeing the faces of the terrified women who had lost already their sons and husbands, I was more than a little enraged at these cowardly men.

Sten and Alistair, along with a few Templars had moved all of the barrels of oil that had been located in one of the small shops, placing them on the main path leading to the village in hopes to slow down the attackers. The shopkeeper had perished in one of the previous encounters and his widow had given permission to take them, after the Bann had agreed she would be compensated for their use.

I found myself back at the tavern, having had an altercation with one of the Templars who took issue with an apostate mage traveling in our group. He was attempting to take Morrigan into custody when Sten and I approached and I demanded that he release her. Ser Perth was called the moment we drew our weapons and he was forced to stand down. As I was walking back to the tavern with Morrigan, he could be heard commenting to another Templar that he doubted I was even a Grey Warden.

"When this is over, Templar, we shall settle this," I promised him over my shoulder and continued down the path. I stopped, seeing that Alistair and Teagan had also witnessed what had occurred. I crossed my arm across my chest and bowed my head to the Bann in apology and he demanded that Templar Hagen, as I discovered was his name, be placed in defense of the Chantry instead. Despite his protests, Ser Perth agreed to move him away from the battle.

Once Teagan and Alistair returned down the path away from us, Hagen glared at me for being removed from the battle. He took a step towards me but he looked first at Sten standing beside me and stopped. "This isn't over," he snarled.

"Count on it," I said to him sweetly. "And it's Warden to you."

Once back at the tavern, Bella brought out more ale and I sat back making myself comfortable. Morrigan watched the bar maid walk away, raising her eyebrows slightly as she had deliberately touched my hand when handing me the drink.

"Might I ask you a question, Warden?" I turned to her and waited for her to continue, drinking the good ale. "Why do you continue to defend me against the Templars?"

"Would you rather I go against my word to your mother, Morrigan?" I asked her back jokingly. "Although I doubt you make it easy for them, I meant what I said in Lothering. I would sooner fight than allow them to take you to the Circle."

"It escapes me why you feel this way. We are not blood yet you would stand up to these men?" I could see that she could not understand my reasoning and I sighed as I leaned forward, placing the pint down on the table.

"I know it seems everyone believes mages should be locked away but I do not. Nor do I believe their families should be kept from them," I said softly as I looked at her. "When I was little, I knew a girl just like you. Alessa was the closest thing I had to a sister and one day they discovered she was a mage. It happened when she found her stepfather, an ex-Templar, raping her little sister. She burned him to try to stop him and accidentally killed her sister as well. Her mother turned her in to the Templars and I watched as they murdered her for killing one of their own," I explained and picked up my pint once again and drained it. "No one deserves that, Morrigan."

"Most would have let that experience taint the way they see mages but you…I'm not sure what to say," she admitted.

"I had often wondered why my friend would not allow me to visit her home until that day. I didn't realize it was to protect me," I told her. "Her mother mourned her husband and youngest daughter but would become hysterical when Alessa's name was mentioned. She denied ever having a daughter who could have been so tainted by magic."

I paused when Bella brought me a new pint, smiling at her in thanks. I looked back at Morrigan, who was taking in everything I had told her. I had never told anyone about Alessa, whose true father had once been the keep's blacksmith. Her mother was a mid-wife and we were friends since birth. She was the one friend I had who did not think I was strange for wanting to train with my brother. We had remained friends even after her father had passed and her mother had taken to drinking heavily, eventually remarrying the handsome ex-Templar Simon who everyone knew. Only no one knew he married her only for her two young daughters.

I had often heard tales of Templars taking advantage of the mages in the Circle tower and after what had happened with Alessa and her sister, I believed them.

"Thank you for sharing your tale, Warden," she said and got up slowly. "I will leave you for now to relax…I believe someone is waiting for your attention."

I looked up as Alistair sat down in the chair that Morrigan had left, hands clasped and leaned forward to me. "Maker's breath, Kat, what was that all about earlier?"

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "He was trying to arrest Morrigan, Alistair. What would you have me do?" I asked and took a drink from my pint.

"I could have informed the Bann that she was with us and he would have her released," he said.

"By then it would be too late. They would have taken her to the Circle, or tried to and it would have made matters worse!" I looked at him. "You know I'm right and despite how you feel, you know we need her."

He opened his mouth to say something but closed it and sighed. "Alright, I admit we do need her but her being an apostate will only continue to cause problems with every Templar we come across."

"And apparently so will my being a woman," I responded. "I promised I will speak to the Bann once this is over and explain Morrigan as best as I can, alright?"

He grinned and leaned back. "I'll be at the Chantry until dusk, speaking to Teagan and Murdock about tonight's preparations. Will you be joining me?"

"I'll be along shortly, Alistair," I agreed and looked over his shoulder, glad he did not realize exactly why I was distracted.