Relationships: Plenty of exploration into relationships including antagonistic, platonic and romantic. Some sexual themes explored but nothing rated M. These chapters fill in the gaps between the game and give back ground for the coming saga. Part one of six. Written and posted simultaneously with Seeking Alistair

9:29 Dragon, 22 Harring –Kinloch Keep, Ferelden's Circle Tower

Duncan stood at the bookcase flipping through a tome written by a Tevinter Mage during the third blight. The book wasn't old enough to have what he was looking for, but it had a mention of a magic that sounded like the blight.

For the past several years he'd searched for journals or written works of the First Enchanter Remille. This had become as routine as going to the Monastery to check on Alistair and then to Redcliffe to report what he knew.

The mage had come from Orlais as the First Enchanter before Ferelden's uprising. Therefore, it made sense he'd authored several of the books in the library. And used others as reference material.

Looking for a way to help Orlais reconquer Ferelden Remille accepted an offer by the Architect to learn Blight Magic. With that knowledge, Remille created a dagger that could pierce the magic, destroying it and amulets speeding up the Blight. He intended to protect himself and Orlais with the first and defeat his enemies with the second.

Sadly, with his death, the ability to control the blight magic vanished unless Remille documented it somewhere. Which betting on the man's ego, Duncan prayed it was.

He and Fiona searched for the Architect, to work with the Grey Wardens, but it was the proverbial needle in a haystack to find one darkspawn in a horde. Wardens at Weishaupt didn't believe it was possible. But he wasn't ready to give up.

That was how he met Irving. He was the Senior Enchanter elected into the position when Bergen killed the former first enchanter. Over the years Irving had pulled books for him to look at and see if he recognized anything. Fiona did the same at Orlais Circle. He didn't get here as often as he wanted, and now that the blight was upon them it might be too late.

"Duncan. I see you settled in nicely. I did not ask if you wanted your traveling companion to have a room of his own because I didn't think you had time to research this trip. Will you be staying several days? Was Rhiannon able to answer most of your questions?"

"You did not exaggerate. It was a pleasant surprise to see a seventeen-year-old with that level of maturity. She expressed an interest in helping in the battle. But suggested the Templars will not permit leaving. The power and mastery of magic, you say she commands; Rhiannon would be a boon for the King's Battle."

Irving was grateful that Duncan saw his student's promise. He had set into motion a set of events that would free her from the tower. "Ah yes. If it were up to me, I would allow her to go with the other mages and you could see her skill for yourself. But I am afraid Greagoir is set in his opinion. He feels the King's War needs no more mages. I think he doesn't want mages to realize they don't need the Tower. But fear not. I have set Rhiannon on a path that will allow her to travel with you. If you will do what it takes to free her."

Duncan stroked his beard, contemplating what the First Enchanter was suggesting. Surely, he realized, infuriating the Templars would benefit neither of them. "Are you suggesting conscription?"

"I would not presume to tell a Grey Warden how to recruit a mage who will face consequences for doing what she was told. It is of little importance to an old man who never leaves the tower."

"You did not tell her to perform blood magic, did you? Because I don't think even conscription would help her."

Irving's laugh stuck in his throat and came out half choked. "Blood magic is involved. But let's not talk about it here. I will walk you back to your rooms and you can decide what you will do."

Duncan sighed and placed the tome back on the shelf. The reference to the sickness magic didn't have the same properties as the Blight. The trip was damned from the beginning. Why not add another cog into the mix? He was getting good at juggling.

The two men stood in the hallway just on the other side of the library speaking in low tones. To an onlooker they might appear to be planning something nefarious. And maybe to a Templar it was.

"Irving in my opinion, magic is magic. Darkspawn have it and they do not govern it the way we do. But to involve blood magic is just asking for trouble. That isn't how your former apprentice became powerful is it?"

"Rhiannon a blood mage? Hardly. The Maker himself would have to beg her, and she would still refuse. No, the mage dabbling in blood magic is her friend. He is to go through the Rite of Tranquility. But he and his Chantry lover have chosen to run away before that can happen. They asked her to help."

Duncan frowned in confusion. "Forgive me Irving but I am not seeing where this concerns the girl."

"When she found out that Jowan was to be made tranquil, she came to me and asked me to put him through the Harrowing, so he didn't have to have the rite performed. Since this information was known by myself and Greagoir I was surprised. Asking how Rhiannon knew of this she reluctantly told me that Jowan told her. She told me he wants her help to steal his phylactery. And she came to me so he wouldn't have to run. I convinced her to help them."

"Do you think that is wise?"

Irving crossed his arms over his chest obstinately. "I had my reasons. I told her I wanted to make sure that the priest was caught too. But the reason I handled it this way was, I want you to take her from the tower and make her a Grey Warden. And the only way you can conscript is if they commit a crime."

Duncan threw back his head and chuckled. "You my friend, make things so difficult on yourself with these intrigues. I could have conscripted her based on the allowance of one mage per circle and I have none from the Ferelden Circle."

"Then you will take her? If she stays, she will become a shell of herself. Her friend Jowan will be dead or tranquil. And her only other friend Anders will undergo the Rite the moment they return him to the Tower. After seven escapes they will not give him another chance. Besides my fondness for the girl it will be a waste not to use someone with her gifts."

"Even if she is as powerful as you say. She's never been in battle. I am assuming never even been out of the Tower. The outside world differs vastly from spell casting here in the Tower surrounded by teachers and Templars. With the Blight we are hardly in the position of taking in rescued…"

Irving didn't let the Grey Warden finish and said, "She will serve the Wardens well. She has a will of iron and is sharp and cunning. Rhiannon has a desire to be of use. In another lifetime, I would have trained her to be my replacement."

Duncan nodded thoughtfully. "That speaks highly of her. But you know the life of a Grey Warden is exceedingly difficult. Going through the joining at her age means she won't live to see fifty. Maybe even though this is a cage, she would be better off here."

"No."

Duncan could tell from the tone of voice and lack of any other response that he wasn't changing his mind and the girl's fate was cast. Maker help her. "All right. I will not try to change your mind. When will she be ready?"

"An hour at most. She procured a rod of fire to break into the repository. With her skill maybe a little less. But we will have to time this right because I don't want Greagoir to get the idea we are deciding for him. I would image you have time to get some supplies, items she may need and get young Cousland up."

"I take it with this trick they will not welcome us afterword?"

"Not for a time. He will feel she escaped justice. But I will handle him. Please give this to her. There will not be a chance later." Irving said pulling a large book from the stack in his arms and handing it to the Grey Warden.

Duncan took the book. It was deep red, leather bound with gold gilding on the pages. A fitting gift if looks were to be believed. "Where will this… where shall we stage this show?"

"Do you remember the entrance to the basement from the time you and I talked to the statue?"

"I do."

"Meet us there. It is the entrance to where they are right now. And hope the Maker is on our side."