Judy: thanks for commenting. Kenyata Tabris: Me too. I wanted a story where Alistair got more than just the girl. :) Thanks for commenting. My Spanish guest: I am glad you liked it. thanks for the comment. This chapter corresponds to the flashback in chapter 15 & 16 in Seeking Alistair

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It was total chaos or that is how it felt to me. I don't remember which book I had read it in, but it described 'the roar of battle.' I finally understood what it meant. 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.

But not all the noise was in the camp. There was this din of noise close enough to be a racket but far enough I couldn't make out a single voice. It was like standing outside the dining hall and listening to all the mages talking at once.

Darkspawn. This is what Alistair meant when he said Grey Wardens know when they are close. They were talking to me but when I concentrated on what they were saying it just became noise.

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.

There were three chests on the ground. Probably what they couldn't carry. I looked at them carefully and noted the heavy padlock. No key and no Aedan to pick them. I was truly out of luck.

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 we faced minor injuries. 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 must have come from the chantry in Denerim because I had never saw him 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 who snuck out of the Tower?"

"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. My commander 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. If you are going to lie, then at least lie believable. They don't have female Grey Wardens. 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 in and effort to stop momentum forward. He is not listening to me and my time is running out. His strength outstrips mine and he keeps dragging me along.

I must find a way to stop him from pulling me, but 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 verify 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 new 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 and you will not thrall a solider to get away."

"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 and the Maker 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 to do. 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 arse in the dirt several feet away.

"If you could do that then why were you calling 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. 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.

The Templar swung his sword knocking two of the knights off center and reached out to grab me.

"Micah. What is taking you so long? Is the girl a mage, or isn't she? The battle cry has been sounded." A second man in Templar armor appeared around the corner.

I recognized the voice before I saw the man and I was elated. Finally, a Templar I knew. The Knight Captain would vouch for me. He had known me the entire time I was apprenticed to the First Enchanter.

"Just in time, Hadley. The apostate claims she is a Grey Warden. As if we were to believe such rubbish. And these mage lovers are trying to help her escape." Tightening his grip around my upper arm.

Hadley quickly looked the woman over. Her slight build, her high cheekbones, bright green eyes, and platinum white hair. "Rhiannon! Andraste's Mercy child. Then it's true. You are a Grey Warden. Congratulations Rhiannon, the Knight Commander sent word. Micah let her go. She is a Grey Warden."

"Ser Hadley, thank you. Tell Knight Commander I am sorry for shoving his Templar and please stay safe." This time I was able to stay free from Micah's hold.

I didn't listen, and I didn't care if the woman who tried to help me was still there. Anything more I wanted to say to Hadley would be after the battle. I would thank the woman if I saw her again. But I was late, and Duncan and the King were fighting without me.

I ran as hard as I could praying that by the time, I made it to the battlefield I would be able to access my mana.

I ran… right into a Hurlock. I didn't have to worry about my mana because either my terror allowed the fire to flow from my fingers or I was out of the Templar's area of cleansing. The bald monster with a mouth full of teeth roared in pain as the fire consumed him.

There were three more of the short squatty ones running towards me. I sent a small bolt of electricity through the one farthest away as I watched the other two engaged by redheaded woman who tried to help earlier.

"Good to know that you can defend yourself. I am Aveline."

I shrug and grin. "Just as long as there is no Templar Darkspawn. Thank you for your assistance. It is a death sentence to for a mage to assault a Templar. I am Rhiannon."

"Nice to meet you Rhiannon. You better hurry if you are going to get to the King before he storms the battlefield."

"I'm going. Thanks again for your help."