A Year Before The Battle Of Ostagar
Ciara Trevelyan had joined the Order rather late in life. Her parents had deemed her too unruly to find a match for after the tenth suitor suffered a fall from his horse, his trousers being mysteriously torn as he fell. He had been forced to ride back in his underwear.
It wasn't always her who pulled the pranks. Her little brother did too. But her eldest brothers and parents didn't approve of her actions of course. They tried to teach her 'her place' multiple times, but it never worked.
She was a quick learner, but none of their rules sat well with her. Whenever she read a book, she would remember it in one go. Her brothers hated her for that. Ciara could work out problems quickly, solving situations that even her father struggled with sometimes. Her mind wasn't supposed to work like that. Her family told her that all the time. The heir of the house should have been given her 'gift', not her. Thankfully Dexter didn't care. Her youngest brother would smile, and ask her questions, testing her memory further.
Ciara became a Templar at the age of fifteen, one of the youngest in Ferelden, and it was the best thing to ever happen to her. She missed Dexter of course, her baby brother, but her true family had always been in the Circle of Magi.
Lawrien Amell had been the first of her new found siblings that she had met. Ciara had been ambushed by her on the first day of her arrival. Myra Amell, Lawrien's little sister, had greeted her much more politely.
Despite being sisters, the girls were rather different in looks and personalities. Lawrien was loud, with bright blonde, long, messy hair, and warm, brown eyes. Myra was quiet, with icy blue eyes and short, straightened, light blonde hair.
After Ciara had met them, Anders showed up. A flirty spirit healer. Jowan took a while longer to coax out, and warmed to Ciara slowly.
It was the Amell sisters who were the most interesting of the group however. The Amell bloodline had a special trait. Knight-Commander Greagoir had explained to her that some Amells were empaths. That they had the ability to feel and understand whatever emotion someone were experiencing. It was like an open door to all their thoughts and feelings.
For Ciara, the thought had at first been unnerving. But the four mages who trailed her about everywhere had been exactly what she had needed. They were open and honest. They happily showed their affections and most of them couldn't lie to save themselves.
They also never tried to harm her.
Five years later, and nothing had changed.
Well, expect that Anders and Lawrien were fully fledged mages. They had passed their Harrowing, Lawrien with flying colours, and Anders with a chaotic mess that made most Templars want to weep.
Today was Myra's day.
At first everything had been calm and peaceful. Knight-Commander Greagoir himself had collected Myra from her bed, with Lawrien following his heels like a duckling, grinning away happily. Greagoir had said it was much easier if he collected the empaths than allowed any random Templar do it.
Ciara had been sent out the Harrowing Chamber to sit on the steps of the stairs with Lawrien. Lawrien had been humming out of tune to herself as they sat in almost silence. The problem was Lawrien abruptly stopped humming, lunged to her feet, and shoved open the doors to the chamber.
Ciara scrambled after her, trying to drag her back outside.
"Lawrien! Don't just interrupt!" Ciara hissed.
"What are you doing, Amell?" Knight-Commander Greagoir howled. "Ciara, get her out of here!"
Ciara tried to resist the urge to look around, even as she tried to drag Lawrien back. But she glanced at Myra's limp body on the floor. Cullen standing nervously beside her.
That was cruel. Cullen had an obvious crush on Myra. The Knight-Commander must have been testing Cullen to make sure he hadn't become too attached. Just like Ciara had been tested at Ander's Harrowing.
"What demon did you summon?" Lawrien scowled, kicking Ciara sharply. Ciara cursed, locking an arm around her sister's neck, earning a choked hiss.
Irving looked amused.
"A Rage demon," Irving said, eyes softening. "Don't worry. We made sure that the Pride demon who went after you was distracted."
"We have been more cautious, given that the girl is a Spirit Healer," Greagoir grumbled.
"Who's distracting Mouse?" Lawrien wheezed, then bit Ciara's arm. Ciara yanked her arm away, hissing. "Because something doesn't feel right. I've got that nagging feeling whenever Mouse is nearby."
"You could have told me that before biting me!" Ciara scolded, rubbing her arm.
"Orsino from Kirkwall's Circle. He's a powerful mage with a strong mind. He can keep it at bay for-"
A strangled cry cut them off, Myra sitting up with a panicked look on her face. Cullen full on flinched while Greagoir gaped.
"That was fast! By the Maker what-"
"I had to get out of there!" Myra breathed out, eyes wide as she panted. "The Rage demon was fine. I could simply freeze it, but the Pride demon-"
"Pride?" Irving froze, and his and Greagoir's eyes met.
Ciara tilted his head, curiously. Mouse went after Myra as well then? Ciara had hoped that the demon had only been after one of the Amell sisters. Not the pair. How did that even possibly work?
"I told you!" Lawrien threw her hands up in the air. "I knew he was lingering about."
Myra took a moment to compose herself, her breathing easing out slowly. Greagoir and Irving with stood aside, muttering to each other, both baffled.
"So..." Myra began, almost hesitantly. "Does this mean I passed?"
Ciara chuckled, holding out a hand. "Since you didn't possessed by either a Rage or Pride demon, I'd assume so."
Myra took it gratefully, letting Ciara pull her to her feet. Myra dusted off her robes and sighed, stretching out her back. Cullen's shoulders sagged, and immediately Lawrien was beside him, grinning, but it had a tint of malice in it.
"Cullen! I'm glad you didn't have to kill my sister," Lawrien said, patting his arm. "You wouldn't have lasted the week otherwise."
Cullen tried to back peddle, but before Ciara could do or say anything, Irving marched past, grabbing the collar of Lawrien's robes and dragging her back. Cullen looked horrified, and it made Ciara snort.
"Be careful, she smells fear," she teased. "And really, don't worry. She did the same thing to me during Anders Harrowing. It's like she's marking her territory or something."
"I thought you two were close," Cullen said, almost hesitantly, throwing a nervous look at the Knight-Commander who sighed.
"Unfortunately, yes. They aren't supposed to be, but I had to make an exception," Greagoir explained, massaging his forehead. "Otherwise I'd have more problems in this tower than necessary."
"Myra, my child, what happened exactly?" Irving asked, depositing Lawrien next to Myra.
"Well, my Spirit of Hope met me on the other side. She introduced me to a Spirit of Justice, and we met a rat who told us he had failed his Harrowing and was trapped in the Fade. He said he wanted to help me. I allowed it, but remained cautious, as beings in the Fade are not always as they seem."
"That sounds familiar..." Lawrien winced.
"Yes, except you tried to make a deal with it, instead of it offering you a deal." Myra frowned.
"I wanted to trick it like it wanted to trick me!"
"That's not how demons work," Myra sighed. "Anyway, we defeated the Rage demon, but the rat suddenly turned into a Pride demon and introduced himself as 'Mouse'. He also told me to say 'hello' to Lawrien."
"Oh, that's not so bad," Lawrien laughed.
"I don't understand why a demon is after your family in particular." Irving frowned.
"Yes, we contacted other Amells in the Circles and they shared similar stories." Greagoir scowled. "But the demon never explained why it was following anyone."
"It told me," Myra said, her brow furrowing. "It is because our family contains a very powerful magical bloodline, and thus, has staked a claim on us."
"We will need to sort out this Pride demon. Perhaps if a group of us went in at the same time we could overpower it," Irving pondered while Greagoir scowled.
"It needs to be dealt with quickly."
"Agreed, but first, young Myra has passed her Harrowing. That is a cause for celebration." Irving smiled, looking absolutely pleased.
Ciara almost smiled at the thought. Another sibling had gone through the Harrowing and passed. Now all that was left was for Jowan to do so, and everything would be fine.
"I still think we should have waited a few more years. Lawrien Amell as well." Greagoir frowned. "They are both very young."
"It's done now either way, Greagoir," Irving hushed, placing his hands on Myra's shoulders. "Let us go to my office, child, where I will present you with your official robes and ring."
Myra smiled softly. "I would like that."
Ciara watched as Irving led Myra away, though he did grab Lawrien's wrist, tugging her along. Lawrien threw Ciara a grin, before disappearing behind the doors. Greagoir dismissed everyone, apart from her.
"Ciara, I know I allowed Miss Amell to follow us up here, but she wasn't supposed to come inside the Chamber," Greagoir scolded.
"My apologises, Knight-Commander," Ciara said, lowering her head. "But, might I ask why you allowed her up here?"
"The day the girls arrived to the tower, they snuck upstairs while we were in the middle of someone's Harrowing. They felt the stress and excitement, and of course, those two just had to find out what was going on. You can imagine my surprise when I found two little girls outside the door, confused and curious," Greagoir explained, grimacing. "They've known this day would come for years. It was easier on us to simply keep them close together than to try and separate them for an event that would never be a surprise in the first place."
"That makes sense, sir."
Greagoir stared at her, before turning away. "I imagine you are curious about Jowan's situation right now."
Ciara frowned. "Not exactly. Lawrien and Myra have exceeded expectations in completing their Harrowings so early. However, for most apprentices, they need more time before they are expected to join their fellow mages' ranks. Jowan's peers may have surpassed him already, but that wasn't unexpected. He is a slower study."
"Harsh, but accurate," Greagoir snorted. "However there is another reason his Harrowing has been held back. Tell me, do you know where he wanders off too at night?"
Ciara tilted her head, baffled. "He's been in a relationship with someone. I've not exactly looked into it however considering most of our people in the tower have such couplings. Why? Is something wrong? He hasn't gotten a mage pregnant has he?"
Greagoir sighed heavily. "I wish that was all there was to it, but he has been caught practising blood magic."
Ciara's heart skipped a beat. "Pardon me, Knight-Commander?"
"You heard me, Ciara."
"If he practises blood magic, shouldn't his marks have become higher in response?" Ciara asked, trying to think on Jowan's grades. "He only just passes his tests. Is there not possibly some mistake? As I mentioned he has been seeing a lady."
"This is why you cannot let yourself get close, child," Greagoir sighed, placing a hand on her shoulder, the other hand holding a dagger. "It only hurts more."
Ciara closed her hands and breathed. "What are my orders, Knight-Commander?"
"If he shows any sign of blood magic you will kill him immediately. Meanwhile I will sort out this mess with Irving. He's still trying to meddle despite the proof," Greagoir said, frowning deeply.
Ciara took the dagger from his hand and eyed it, gazing at it's sharp edge. She nodded and buckled it's sheath on to her belt. "Understood, Knight-Commander. I won't let a blood mage remain loose in the tower."
"Good. Now you should be off."
"Of course." She bowed her head and turned on her heel, heading straight for the stairs. She met Cullen on the way down. who looked nervous still.
Ciara smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You did well, Cullen."
"Thank you. I am glad miss Amell did not fail," Cullen admitted softly. "Not that I ever thought she would have."
"Myra's a fantastic mage." Ciara smiled. "I have no doubt in my mind that she will end up a Senior Enchanter soon," she then sighed. "I must be on my way Cullen. Perhaps we shall speak later?"
"Of course." He nodded. "I'll see you around."
She continued down the stairs but the moment she found a quiet corner she pressed herself up against the wall and sighed. Her eyes trailed down to the dagger at her side and she reached up to clutch the sheath. It felt so heavy in her hand.
She had to prove that Jowan was not a blood mage. That this was simply a mistake. It was rare that Greagoir made mistakes of course, but this time he had to have.
Jowan would never become a blood mage. Not her brother. None of her family would be so foolish.