A strangely familiar face appeared in Claire's dream, and she stared at it, trying to remember who it was. A man she had perhaps seen many years ago... She woke with a start, remembering the man who had helped her get to Kirkwall all those years ago, the man she had forgotten to repay. She looked over at Anders as he continued to sleep soundly, and wondered what she could do to help Frederick out. She hadn't thought about him at all and felt horrible, but so much had happened. Had he even survived the Blight? How was she supposed to find him after what, fourteen years? Would Anders tell her to forget about it? She wanted to, but she'd made a promise.

She snuggled up to Anders, wanting some comfort, and he sleepily put his arm around her. She was thinking too much, she needed to calm down.

"Is something wrong?" Anders mumbled.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" she asked. "I was just thinking about something that happened on my way to Tevinter all those years ago." He pulled her closer as he yawned.

"Is it even morning yet?"

"I don't know, I haven't checked."

"Then go back to sleep," he said. She chuckled and closed her eyes, but she couldn't get the though out of her head, and how she was going to find the man. She decided to go into the Fade, and if she was lucky, he was still dreaming.

After what felt like hours of searching, Claire decided she should probably wake up, see how long she'd been busy. To her surprise, it wasn't very bright in the room, but Anders wasn't there anymore. She got up and dressed before heading into the clinic, where she found it was bustling. It was then that she realized how far the sun had gone and that it wasn't very bright because it was a sunset, not a sunrise.

"Anders..." She felt bad as she looked at him coming towards her.

"I figured it had something to do with what you'd said about your trip to Tevinter," he said. "I was a little worried, but I decided I shouldn't bother you."

"I kind of wish you had," she said, laughing a little. "I wasted an entire day, and now I'm starving."

"Did you get any closer to what you needed?"

She gave a heavy sigh and shook her head. "No, and I probably won't for a while. I was still injured when I went to Kirkwall, if you remember, and I had decided to travel as a bird, since I had no money, but a sailor had found me in the crow's nest. He took care of me and kept me warm, even fed me, so I promised I would repay him."

"But you forgot?" Anders asked.

"I spent so long in Tevinter..." She shrugged. "But, I promised and I want to honor my word. I'll look for him again tonight..." She trailed off as she looked around. "I suppose I should eat first. I'm sorry I wasn't more help today."

"Hush," he said. "It wasn't that busy, and we're fine. Go take care of yourself." She nodded and went searching for food, her mind still too preoccupied.


After another fruitless night of searching, she decided she would have to actually go to Amaranthine and ask around that way. Surely someone on the docks would know what happened to him, if he had even survived the darkspawn attacks. The thought that she had failed that much, and had never sought him out before the Blight made her upset and she prayed he was still alive. She let Anders know where she was going before she teleported to Amaranthine, making sure he would be all right for however long it would take her to find Frederick.

She hadn't been back there since Evan had saved her from the Templars, and she wasn't feeling very keen on being back, but she was determined to find the sailor. Walking around the docks, she spoke to a few of the sailors there, but none of them seemed to know who she was talking about.

"Excuse me, you're not from around here, are you?" A well dressed man walked up to Claire, looking her over.

"No, ser, I'm not," she replied. "I'm trying to find a man by the name of Frederick, who had family in this area and worked as a sailor."

"And who might be asking?" The man crossed his arms over his chest.

"My name is Claire, and many years ago he helped me when I needed it most, and I wish to repay him now that I'm able." Bowing, she put her right hand over her left breast, as a salute, and to show respect.

"Indeed?" The man made a disparaging noise as he continued to eye her suspiciously. After a moment, he said, "How can I be certain you're trustworthy?" Claire was a bit confused by the treatment and wondered what Frederick had gotten himself into that he would require such scrutiny before someone could meet with him.

"If it's that big of a hassle, you can inform him that I wish to thank him and he can decide whether or not to see me," Claire said. "Tell him it has to do with the falcon he saved in the crow's nest." The man raised an eyebrow, but nodded.

"Wait in the Chantry," the man said, sighing as he wandered off. The Chantry was not her favorite place, but with her magic shielded and her sword by her side, she felt a little more comfortable. It had been years since the corrupted Templars had been taken care of, there wouldn't be any left to recognize her, surely. She walked up the steps to the Chantry, then peeked inside. A Templar stood by the door like usual and there were a few people inside, but nothing busy. She gave a nod to the Templar, then sat down and pretended to pray.

After what felt like hours, she felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up to see a rough looking sort in armor.

"Come on, I'll take you to the boss," the man said. She stood up and followed up, getting a sinking feeling they were heading to the underground caverns the smugglers used. Had he turned to crime then? Probably during the Blight, or after Amaranthine had nearly fallen, which made sense. Times had been very rough, and it wasn't like she was some shining beacon of law abiding citizenry. Indeed, he was taking her to the secret passages and she mentally prepared herself for what might be going on. The cavern was bustling, with men carrying boxes to a ship.

"Hey boss!" her guide called out, and a man Claire recognized turned to look at them. He was certainly older, his dark hair turning grey, but his eyes still looked kind as he walked over to them.

"You're the one speaking of the falcon I helped," Frederick said. "How did you know? Only one other sailor knew about that."

"I told you I would repay you when I had the chance," Claire said. "My only regret is that it's taken me this long." He looked confused for a moment, then his eyes widened.

"You? You were the falcon?" he asked. "But that would mean..."

"Yes, I am a mage," she said. "I hope you don't have a problem with that, but if so, allow me to repay you first and then I'll leave."

"If I understand correctly... you're like a witch of the wilds, yes?"

"Yes," Claire said, then added, "I was trained by them, actually."

"A mage of your capabilities should have no trouble breaking into the Circle then," Frederick said, his eyes shining. "My son, when the Templars learned of his magic, they hauled him away and they refuse to let me see him." It made sense how he was able to name his reward so quickly, no one forgot such a thing so easily.

"Tell me what you can about him, and I will see what I can do." King Alistair had done a lot for the mages, but there were still difficulties with the tower and she wouldn't mind stealing away a Ferelden mage to Tirashan. If it were tangible, she'd steal them all.


That evening, she disguised herself as a regular young apprentice with illusion just to make sure she wouldn't be recognized if she were spotted and teleported herself to the tower. Frederick had said his son, Edric, had been taken before the Blight when the boy was twelve after a neighbor had spotted him playing with magic and called the Templars down on him, and that was the last Frederick had seen of him. He at least had word that Edric had survived the Blight, though what news came out of the tower was severely limited.

Once in, she noticed the tower itself looked rather different from the last time she'd been in it, without all the strange demonic goop lying around, but it still felt oppressive and she hated it.

Wandering around, she found a young man who looked about the same age as Edric but didn't fit the description, and approached him.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Edric," she said quietly, trying to seem more like a timid little Circle mage.

"Oh yeah, he should be in the library." The other mage didn't seem too interested in her, so she hurried down, almost crashing into a Templar. She looked up in horror as she recognized the woman as Ser Kara, the other Templar who'd allowed Ser Daric to torture apostates.

"Careful where you're going," Kara growled.

"Yes, ser," Claire bowed her head and hurried away, wondering if Kara had changed at all. Once in the library, she spotted a young man with dark hair who looked rather like Frederick, and came up behind him. He was reading a book on the Grey Wardens, which piqued her interest, and she made a mental note to tell him stories about them, since she knew more than most.

"Edric?" she asked. He jumped, slamming the book, and turned quickly.

"Maker, you scared me!" he gasped. "Wait, I don't recognize you, who are you?"

"My name is Claire, I'm new," she said. "I was wondering, though, do you like it here?" She kept her voice low, making sure there weren't any Templars around, but she couldn't sense anyone within earshot.

He looked around nervously, then shook his head. "I barely survived the uprising during the Blight, and the Templars are still paranoid about what happened here then so they're not very lenient with us. You'll need to learn not to talk about it, though, they might overhear you."

"There's nowhere private we can go, is there?" she asked. He laughed and shook his head.

"You really are new, aren't you!"

"If there was a way out, would you take it?" she asked in a whisper.

"Maker yes..." Edric sighed, then put the book back in the bookcase. "But it doesn't do to dream. I learned that the hard way."

"Here, take my hand." She held it out, but he just stared at her like she was crazy. "Trust me." Suddenly nervous, he took her hand, and she could feel him shaking. "I promise you, I won't hurt you." She quickly teleported them to a lonely place in an underground cavern and took the disguise off.

"Who are you?" Edric yelped as he stumbled backwards. "What have you done? Are you a demon?"

"I am no demon," she said. "Your father sent me to find you, as repayment for him helping me many years ago. My name is Claire, it's my duty to rescue mages."

"You... you've seen my father?" He started tearing up. "Please, take me to him! They wouldn't let me write to him!"

"I wanted to ask a few questions first," Claire said. "I have a secret mage commune, where many mages live free and where no Templar can touch them. Would you like to go live there? I can ensure you can still write to your family."

"What are you?" Edric gasped. "You're no human..." She gave a sad laugh.

"I have been called many things, but suffice to say I have the abilities needed to get things done. Come on, your father should be down at the docks." He followed her until he saw his father, then ran to him, almost knocking him over. Watching them reunite made Claire grateful for her abilities, and she found she wanted to go hug Anders again. He would have to wait, though, as she needed to take care of Edric first.

"You did it!" Frederick said, still holding onto his son. "I didn't think you could, but you did, and in so little time! I... I was expecting days, at least!"

"You helped me when I needed it, the least I could do would be to return your son to you," Claire said. "However, he's not safe here. I have a mage commune where the Templars cannot reach him that I can take him to, if he's willing, so you will never have to worry again."

"But... I would never see him again, would I?" Frederick frowned, looking worriedly at his son.

"I can ensure that you can write to each other," Claire said. "But yes, it would be difficult to see him again, though not impossible. If you like, take as much time as you need to make up your mind, and I can come back later to speak with you again."

"Thank you, I would like that," Edric said. "I want to spend some time with my family again before I leave. Could you give me a week? I fear any longer and the Templars will find me. Once they know I'm gone, my family's place will be the first place they look."

"Certainly." Claire could tell Frederick was happy he would have his son for some time, something he'd thought he'd never get again. "Stay safe, and if you need to hide out, they shouldn't be able to find you down here."

"Thank you again for everything," Frederick said. She decided she didn't want to know what business they were operating, and bowed out, walking back through the tunnels until it was safe to teleport back to the clinic.

"I was wondering if you'd make it back tonight." Anders came up to her and put his arms around her. "You look happy."

"I was able to reunite a father with his son," she said as she grinned. "Frederick's son, Edric, had been taken to the tower before the Blight, but now he's free and in a week I'll take him to Tirashan. It's not safe for him to stay with his family with the Templars around, but giving them a little time..."

"I'm glad you were able to help. Come, Hawke brought some stew earlier, and it's still warm if you want some. You look like you could use some good food."


After a week had gone by, Claire went back to Amaranthine and found Edric hiding in the smuggler's cavern. When she arrived, he was sitting on a box looking glum and the cavern was mostly empty, with the ship gone.

"Edric, what happened?" she asked.

"Oh, we got word the Templars were looking for me a couple days ago, so I'm stuck down here while my family is at home. With the ship gone, there's not much left to do here and my father doesn't want to lead the Templars here so he has to be more careful. I knew you'd be coming, so I've already said my goodbyes and I'm ready to leave."

"I'm sorry you couldn't have more time, but there will come a day when mages will be more free, and we will make that world a reality." She held out her hand and he took it, then looked around in awe as he suddenly found himself outside a large castle.

"Welcome to Tirashan castle," Claire said. The sun was approaching the horizon, so the mages were getting things ready for night, and Edric looked so excited.

"Wait... wait a moment..." He was staring at a mage, then his eyes widened. "That person! That mark! But... but he's smiling!"

"Yes, I can cure tranquility," Claire said.

"My lady, please, I beg of you!" He quickly dropped to his knees at her feet, so she knelt in front of him, hating that he felt such a thing was necessary. "I med a girl in the tower..." He started choking up as he clenched his fists.

"She was made tranquil then?" Claire asked softly.

"Please..." She hated how much it hurt to hear his voice crack, how much pain she could feel in him.

"Tell me her name and what she looks like so I might be able to find her."

Once she'd made sure Edric was secure with Richter to show him around, she sighed and teleported back to Kinloch Hold, only staying in the Fade enough to be invisible so she wouldn't have to deal with anyone. Find the girl, sneak out, cure her, and then reunite her with Edric and crash for a week. But when she found Nicole, the tranquil was in the presence of a young Templar who was not being very gentlemanly towards her, and Claire felt her anger growing. Disguising herself as an older Templar, she stepped out of the Fade.

"Abusing your charge?" Claire growled. The Templar put his hands up quickly and stepped away from the tranquil girl.

"Well I mean, it's not like she cares." He tried to excuse it, but he didn't seem convinced himself.

"You are a Templar, sworn to uphold the duties given to you, which involve protecting the mages and tranquil," Claire said. "If you excuse abusing a tranquil because you don't think she cares, the next thing we know you'll be abusing your power over the apprentices too. Go, it would do you good to pray in the chapel and reflect on your behavior." He seemed confused, but nodded and hurried out.

Walking over to Nicole, she sighed as she saw the young woman's ripped dress and the bruising on her neck showing how rough the Templar had been with her. Simple healing could help that part, but the dress would need to be replaced.

"Nicole?" Claire asked. "I am to understand you were in an illicit relationship with a mage named Edric, who recently disappeared."

"Yes, you are correct," Nicole said, no emotion showing at all. "As I told the other Templars, he did not see me before he left. I do not know where he is."

"Very well then." Claire looked around and made sure the coast was clear before removing her disguise and teleporting the young woman to the Fade.

"What...?" Nicole looked around in shock as tears rolled down her cheeks. "What happened?"

"I'm curing your tranquility," Claire said. "I assume you want to, yes?"

"Yes, please! Don't let me be tranquil any longer! I can't stand it please!" Nicole was gripping Claire's robe tightly as she sobbed, so Claire tried comforting her awkwardly while attracting the attention of a wisp. It was done and over with quickly, without the young woman even knowing what had happened.

"Do you want to see Edric again?" Claire asked.

"You know where he is?" she gasped. "Please! He must be so worried!"

Claire grinned and said, "I was the one who kidnapped him. Come, I will take you to him." Nicole wiped her eyes as Claire took her to the castle, teleporting into an empty hallway. She walked quickly to the main hall, looking around for someone who might know.

"Richter!" Claire called out as she spotted the older hunter. "How is Edric? Did you find him a room?"

"Yes, I put him in a room in the south wing, but he's currently eating in the mess hall."

"Thank you, I want to go check in on him." She smiled, not wanting him to know why Nicole was there. Richter had never recovered after his own lover had been struck down by the Templars, and as Claire couldn't raise people from the dead, she avoided mentioning romance around him.

"Oh, the smell..." Nicole looked ready to tear into a steak as they entered the mess hall, making Claire chuckle.

"We'll get you a plate, no worries. Look, there's Edric." Claire walked over to the boy and patted him on the shoulder. "Hey, someone's here to see you." He stood up quickly and grasped Nicole in a hug as they both broke down crying. Claire wasn't sure what to do, as she felt so awkward just standing there, so she turned and waved down one of the helpers, asking her to get Nicole a plate of food.

"Thank you so much!" Edric had turned and suddenly hugged Claire, then stepped back. "I thought... I thought it was final, that I'd never see her again..."

"It was so horrible being tranquil, and the Templars..." Nicole's bottom lip quivered but she didn't cry again.

"You'll never have to worry about Templars again while you're here, if I can help it," Claire said.

"Here's your food." Claire took the plate and set it down next to Edric's.

"Eat, rest, and I'll let Maude know that you'll need new clothes and a room, unless you'd rather stay with Edric."

"Thank you again," Nicole said as she sat down. Claire immediately teleported to Maude, then realized how tired she was.

"Brought in two more mages tonight, one formerly tranquil," Claire said, sitting down. Maude was in the infirmary, of course, making her the easiest person to find. "She'll need a new dress, the Templar abusing her tore the one she's wearing."

"You've pushed yourself again, haven't you," Maude sighed, shaking her head. "Rest easy, we'll take care of the rest."

"Thank you. I think I'll go back to Anders and crash for a week," Claire said, giving an embarrassed laugh. "No worries, I'll be fine."

"Don't push yourself too much, my dear." Claire nodded and teleported to the back room of the clinic, crashing on the bed. Anders wasn't around, but she didn't have the energy to go find him and figured he'd find her eventually.