Judy - your faithfulness to the story is awesome. Thanks for the comments. Beth- Agreed Alistair would be good. Thanks for the comments. Michele about the sex 'plausible deniability & sometimes sea sickness is just that thanks for commenting.


It was total chaos or that is how it felt to me. People rushing one way or the other. Everyone yelling to get over the top of someone else. And no one seemed to know where anyone was. The First Enchanter would call it a madhouse and I would agree.

When I finally found and waylaid the red-haired elf in the corner of the encampment, she told me the quartermaster had packed up and left. He wanted to be on the road before the battle started. And she was in fact sent to gather a few left-over items and to join him on the road.

I asked if she might have a few of the potions I was looking for and she haughtily shook her head no. Even after I offered to pay her coin. She didn't spare me a second though as she scurried away to do her master's bidding.

In my pack, I had six vials and the components to make maybe two more. And that might have been enough if this was a skirmish or injuries were minor. The irony of having the wilds with most of the plants needed right outside the gates was not lost on me.

I walked out of the alcove and right into the mailed chest of a Templar. I didn't recognize him. He wasn't one of the regular ones I saw at the Tower. I tried to make my apologies, but he wasn't having any of it. And it seemed the more I tried to explain the angrier he got.

He grabbed me by my arm and started dragging me toward the area where the Mages performed under constant guard.

"You have to let me go. Duncan is waiting for me. He only gave me leave to go to the quartermaster and return."

"And who is this Duncan, you tart? Another mage that snuck out of the Tower with you?"

"My Warden Commander. I am not a mage, I am a Grey….I mean I am a Grey Warden Mage. Please Ser you must let me go. Duncan expects me on the battlefield before the call to arms is sounded."

"You're not old enough to have taken your Harrowing much less become a Grey Warden. They don't have female Grey Wardens. If you are going to lie, then at least lie believable. You stowed away with the others of your Circle. And now you've made up this ridiculous story to stay out of trouble."

I plant my feet to try to stop momentum. He is not listening to me and my time is running out. He keeps dragging me along. I know better than to use magic against a Templar. It will get me thrown in Aeonar and I am no good to anybody in the mages prison.

"Take me to see Duncan. He will tell you that I am telling the truth. Or take me to the king, he welcomed me when we first…"

My words died in my throat as my head pitched violently back and forth. He had grabbed both of my biceps and was shaking me so hard my teeth chattered.

"Unhand that woman."

"Stay out of this. You may be of the Kings Guard, but you have no authority over the Templars. This woman" he said sneering the word. "Is an apostate who escaped the circle. You can not interfere with Chantry business."

I wind milled my arms trying to break his hold on me. "I am not an apostate. I am a Grey Warden. Duncan sent to get any healing potions the Quartermaster might still have. Then I was to meet my Commander with the King. But he won't…"

The Templar shook me again this time cuffing me once for good measure. "Shut up Mage. No one wants to hear your lies."

"I! AM! NOT! LYING! Duncan and the King will tell you. Please just go ask him. He is expecting me back. We are going to protect King Cailan on the battlefield. Duncan will come looking for me and that will leave the King exposed."

"See I told you she was lying. No one will allow the king to be protected by a Mage."

Aveline carefully studied the girl. She left a lot to be desired if she was the king's protection. She couldn't even escape one Templar how was she going to fight Darkspawn.

But then again, she wouldn't leave a girl not quite a woman in the hands of a man intent on subjection. "Do you know my husband Ser Wesley? He is one of the best Templars I know. He takes his responsibility to Mages seriously. He wouldn't treat a mage like this.

Out of respect for my husband I am going to give you the opportunity to let her go. I will take personal responsibility for her. If she is telling the truth and is a Grey Warden, we don't want to stop her."

Suddenly the call to arms blew and I knew I had lost. Duncan was depending on me. And I was here arguing with the Templar. I gathered the manna put my hand against his chest and pushed with the aid of magic. "If you don't believe me. That is your problem. I have a duty. And if you are going to send me to Aeonar then it will have to be after the battle."

The Templar went flying backward landing on his back in the dirt several feet away.

"If you could do that then why were you looking for help?" Aveline asked.

"We don't have time to talk about this he is going to attack. I can feel my mana draining. He is using mana cleanse. I only get one shot. My magic is useless. As a Mage I do not get to defend myself and Templars are always right or believed. And because I didn't kill him and now, he is going to kill me."

Aveline now understood the situation a little better. "Men protect her. Ser Templar she is under the Kings protection."

"Maker damn you and your King as a fool. I answer to the Grand Cleric and the Maker. That apostate mage is going back to the tower to be made tranquil or to Aeonar.