Recap: "I'm sorry. Please forgive me." He whispered before he galloped away, towards the wilderness, mentally preparing himself for what was to come.

Now

Irving had just gotten back to his office when he found the note.

Hey Old Man,

By the time you're reading this, I will most likely be out of the Tower. I'm sorry, Old Man. Sorry about leaving you, Wynne, Neria and Jowan. I'm sorry about breaking the rules and disappointing you all. Most of all, I'm sorry about breaking that promise. For the first few years I tried so hard, but every time I was in the Fade, every time I was asleep, I would see it. I would see my house exploding after retuning home on a hunting trip. How he walked out of the flames holding my mother by the throat. How he killed her. How my father attacked him and how he died. How he ended up controlling the guardsmen to attack the templars. How he had his hand on my throat, but most of all, I see his eyes. Those cold, lifeless blue eyes. I see them every time I close my eyes. I need to find him. The templars haven't found him and I'm getting a bad feeling that they missed something with him. That he's after something important. If the templars find me before Reaper is taken down, I'm not coming back. If Reaper is taken down... I don't know. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Till next time,

Aedan Hellathen

Irving placed the note down in mild shock after rereading it a few times. Greagoir came running in a few seconds later.

"Irving! We have a problem! One of our mages has-" Greagoir said before Irving cut him off with a serious expression.

"I know." Irving said as he held up the note. Greagoir walked over and took it before reading it. He then scowled once he finished it.

"You know what needs to be done." Greagoir said. Irving nodded while he held a hand over his eyes. The child couldn't be protected now. Greagoir exited the room and walked over to the where the templars sent letters. He quickly wrote down a message of the newest apostate and to acquire his phylactery as fast as possible. All templar hunters are to bring him back alive unless he ends up becoming too much of a threat. Greagoir then took the letter and tied it to a messenger bird before letting it go. The bird soared out into the night sky, headed in direction of Denerim.

A Few Months Later...

A now 17 year old Aedan found himself in Denerim which was strange since the last thing he remembered was taking the Imperial Highway and meaning to go towards Orzammar. Then suddenly he found himself in the Denerim Alienage. He walked around and noticed it was dark. The moon was full and the sky was clear showing all of the stars.

'... find me'

Aedan looked around for the sudden whisper, his eyes darting all over the place.

'Come find me'

Aedan walked to where his old home was which seemed to be where the whisper came from.

'COME FIND ME'

Aedan's eyes snapped open with a start. He found himself still lying in his blanket under a tree in the wilderness. He grabbed his bow and notched an arrow ready to fire at the nearest disturbance. Over the last few months the templars had hunted Aedan down with great efficiency. The first time they actually tried to capture him alive, but the next one they tried to kill him. And the one after that. And after that. The last fight had been so bad that they destroyed his robes with one of their two-handed swords. He never killed anyone though, but apparently it didn't matter. Not only that, but they had destroyed his staff and that pissed him off. One templar cut through it and Aedan wielded the two pieces like they were clubs. Luckily, Aedan had managed to destroy his phylactery which was in the form of an amulet. After he had knocked them out, he walked to where the nearest village was and sold what he could. He then had to craft himself some new robes. He went with a hunter coat. This was the closest thing to a robe he could make without being thought of as a mage. He had made it out of gurgut webbing, don't ask how he got it, darkened samite, and onyx. It even came with a hood attached. As for the bow, well he found out that while spells are damaging, a staff tends to be a dead giveaway if you're a mage or not. So he bought himself a bow and two daggers.

The only problem was while he knew what to do with a bow, he wasn't really proficient with dual blades. Nor a sword for that matter. So here he was in the woods not really looking like an apostate and was relatively safe from the templars. His survival instincts increased by a large margin ever since he left the Tower. He was now able to track other creatures and detect them when they were close enough. Aedan suddenly heard a ruckus or something going on nearby. He quickly ran to where he heard it and met a sight most wouldn't see.

He could see several armed men, knights wearing a heraldry of two vines, fighting off a bunch of bandits and fighting alongside them was a shield maiden. She had blonde hair that was done up in a bun, possibly to prevent being grabbed by it, blue eyes and she was wearing studded leather armor. Aedan then noticed that several of the bandits had just slain a couple of the knights and they were getting overwhelmed. Aedan made his choice and drew his arrow before firing. The arrow flew and scored one of the bandits in the neck causing the others to turn to him. Two bandits broke off and attacked him. Aedan managed to fire off another arrow before dropping his bow and taking out his daggers. Without anyone noticing, Aedan had managed to cast a haste spell on himself making him much quicker. When the bandit swiped at him with a sword he dodged it before stabbing through the bandit's arm. Before he could scream from the pain, Aedan slit his throat. Aedan turned to see the last knight fall to being backstabbed by one of the bandits. That now left him and the shield maiden up against 6 bandits. Aedan looked at her and then the bandits before groaning.

He dropped his daggers much to the confusion of everyone present. Then his hands crackled with electric energy.

"He's a mage!" One of them shouted before Aedan used chain lightning, killing all of them and leaving him and the woman alone. He didn't say anything or even turn to look at the woman as he picked up his daggers and moved to pick up his bow before he felt a blade near his throat.

"Why are you here mage?" The woman asked making him stop in his tracks.

"I'm merely passing through." He said before pushing her blade away and continuing onto where he left his bow. He picked it up and strapped it to his back before walking to his camp. He heard footsteps following him but he ignored them as he kept walking. As soon as he came to his camp, he immediately began packing up. As he wrapped his tent up and placed it into his pack, he heard the woman approach him.

"Why did you help me?" She asked. Aedan kept packing things in before answering her.

"You looked like you needed it. Besides, contrary to what you've been led to believe, we mages aren't all bad." Aedan said. He then looked at the woman. She looked suspicious of him but her sword was sheathed with her hand still gripping the hilt. Aedan looked her over. She looked as if she was around his age, maybe a couple years older. Her build was athletic, typical of a shield maiden, but that didn't mean she was manly. She held a somewhat regal femininity. Her figure wasn't half bad either. An hourglass figure, her hips were wide, the leather armor clung to her and outlined her curves. Her breasts weren't small but not too big that they called out immediately. Overall, she was a beauty.

"Keep your eyes up here mage." She said with a hiss. Aedan looked her in the eyes. Aedan finished packing and slung his pack over his shoulder as he stood up.

"Forgive me. I tend to study new people when I meet them." Aedan said casually before walking off in the direction of the nearest town.

"Where are you going, mage?" She asked as she followed him at a distance. Aedan stopped and sighed before turning to her.

"To my destination. Why are you following me?" He asked back. The woman's cheeks seemed to color for a minute, that or it was a trick of the light.

"I-I don't need to explain myself to you, mage!" She said with a little less venom. Aedan just stared for minute.

"You don't know where to go, do you?" He asked blandly. The woman remained silent at being caught. Aedan sighed at her.

"I'm heading to the nearest village to resupply before I continue on my journey. Your welcome to come along." Aedan said before continuing on his way. The woman said nothing but followed. After nearly thirty minutes of walking in silence, the woman chose to speak up.

"Don't think this means I might not turn you in to the templars, mage." She said making Aedan glance at her before looking ahead.

"Really? Even after I saved you? Have you no honor?" He asked casually. The woman hissed at him.

"What makes you think I owe you anything?" She asked venomously.

"The fact that without me, you would most likely be held by those bandits now and being raped right around this time." He said back. The woman stopped in her tracks at his words. Aedan noticed and looked at her, meeting her wide eyes.

"What? You thought those men were going to simply kill you like the others?" Aedan asked. The woman sputtered at his question. Aedan then gave her a deadpan look.

"Look, I'm not asking for much. Just for this to be a civil trip to the village. No insults, no spats. That too much to ask?" Aedan said making her give a weak glare. Aedan then began walking again with her following him. After an hour of walking, she began talking again.

"What will you do if I do turn you in?" She asked suddenly. Aedan shrugged.

"I don't know. Probably knock out a couple of them before running out of the village. I refuse to be captured and taken back to the Circle before my business is finished." Aedan replied making the woman look at him.

"What business do you have that you would refuse to go back?" She asked. Aedan was silent for a moment before deciding to tell her.

"You know how the Chantry likes to say that mages are dangerous and will most likely bring the end of the world as the Magisters did so long ago?" He asked which she nodded.

"Wait the Chantry doesn't say that exactly." She argued.

"Doesn't matter. People will take what they want to see from the Chantry, what they are allowed to see and will use it to make their own views. Anyway, I'm hunting someone similar." Aedan said making her look at him cautiously. Aedan saw this.

"It's another mage." He said making her look at him in confusion.

"I thought that templars-" She said before he cut her off.

"They do, but this particular mage has evaded or slaughtered the ones after him. He and I crossed paths which led to me wanting to kill him." Aedan said unconsciously quickening his pace. The woman speed up to stay with him.

"Why do you want to kill him?" She asked making Aedan stop.

"What do you think when you hear the word mage?" He asked her.

"You probably think about someone who has something come out of their fingers or talks to demons, but all of us began like everyone else. With a family or as orphans. My beginning included a loving mother and father until a certain mage took it all away from me." He said not looking at her.

"The mage I'm hunting is the kind of mage the Chantry warns of and he took everything from me." Aedan said before moving forward. The woman stood there stunned at his admission before following him. After another hour of walking, a village came into their sight.

"Come on." Aedan said picking up the pace. The woman followed him until they had gotten into the village. She and Aedan separated, one going to the merchant stalls and the others going to ask for directions for her destination. After spending a few hours around town, Aedan had finally resupplied himself and had gotten a horse. The last one ended disappearing on him one night. It was becoming night time now and it was beginning to rain too. Aedan quickly walked to the tavern after putting his horse at the local stable. He rented a room before sitting at the bar, ordering some bread and cheese along with some wine. It wasn't his first time drinking wine. He had to blame Wynne for allowing it. She had great taste though, he had to admit. While he was eating, someone sat beside him. He glanced over to see who it was only to find it was the woman he helped today. She quietly put down some money and ordered her food. The two ate in silence before Aedan spoke up.

"You know, it just occurred to me that we haven't told each other our names." He said. The woman snorted.

"What of it?" She asked. Aedan scoffed at her.

"It's only proper manners. Besides, I told you something about me. At least tell me something about you that I haven't already guessed." Aedan said drinking some wine. The woman looked at him curiously. He was nothing like she had heard of mages. Granted she hadn't heard much but still. He had an air of politeness that was mixed with a straight forward manner. What seemed to frustrate her about him was his nonchalant attitude with her. But part of her, a very small part, enjoyed it. Most others talked to her with the utmost respect and politeness and also treated her as if she was above them, which granted, she was due to her family's status but it was nice to have someone to talk to normally without it being her family. Then something he said struck her.

"What do you mean guess?" She asked. The mage gave her a look that said 'really?'

"Okay, since walking with you today I've learned that you come from a noble family, that you're a curious woman and that you take your honor seriously." The mage listed off.

"H-How?" She asked shocked. How had he known that? She hadn't spoken a word of it.

"Easy. The way you walk with refined grace and the fact those knights were fighting for you, not just with you. Those bandits were after you either to rape you, hold you for a ransom or both. Those tell me you come from a noble, or at least wealthy family. The way you asked questions about me told me of your curious nature. Finally, you haven't turned me in to the templars yet." Aedan explained. The woman was stunned at how he had figure her out so easily.

"Okay. You have me. I do come from a noble family and I have been taught to uphold my honor. And I can't help but be curious especially since you are the first mage I've met." She said. Aedan nodded.

"Okay. Now, lets get to each other's names. I'm Aedan Hellathen and you are?" Aedan asked as he gestured to her. She smirked.

"I'm Elissa, Elissa Cousland." She replied. If she expected Aedan to have any reaction, she would be disappointed.

"A Cousland eh? That's one of the two Teyrnirs in Ferelden isn't it?" Aedan asked curiously. Elissa nodded with pride.

"Yes my father is Teyrn Bryce Cousland of Highever." She said with a smile. Aedan raised an eyebrow at her.

"Highever? That's an hours ride from here. What were you doing out of Highever anyway?" Aedan asked. Elissa looked away.

"I was actually returning from a trip visiting some cousins of mine. Nothing that was enjoyable, but my father said it was necessary for me to know what connections my family has with other holdings." Aedan nodded.

"Sounds right." Aedan said before lightning flashed outside.

"You're going to want to take a room here tonight." Aedan said before pushing his plate to the barkeep.

"Thanks for the food." He said before walking upstairs to his room. Elissa watched him go up before looking at the barkeep.

"Excuse me but, I'd like to rent a room for the night." Elissa said taking out her coin purse.

"Sorry miss, but that guy just took the last room." The barkeep said not turning to her having been too absorbed in a conversation to hear the two talking earlier. Elissa sighed.

"Then where am I supposed to go?" She asked.

"You could always ask someone to bunk with. I'm sure no man in his right mind would say no to a... pretty young thing such as yourself." The barkeep said leering at her. Elissa backed away from the bar. She thought of taking her chances outside briefly before knowing she'd catch her death of cold out there. She then thought of what the barkeep said. Bunk with someone else. She was no stranger to sex but that didn't mean she was loose and willing to sleep with any body. Then she thought of the mage- Aedan, his name is Aedan. He seemed nice enough and not the type to take advantage of people. He had proven that when they had been in the forest alone. He could have used his mage powers to bind her or something and then have his way with her. How his hands would-Where did that come from?! She'd only known him a few hours even then it wasn't much. She really had to stop reading those smutty books in her grandfather's library. Elissa walked to the stairs before looking back at the barkeep.

"Which room did the gentleman I was talking to have?" She asked politely. Barkeep looked sullen for minute at the subtle rejection.

"The first one on the left." He muttered going back to cleaning up. Elissa smiled at him.

"Thank you." She said before going up the stairs to his room. She arrived in front of it before knocking on it hesitantly. After a second, she heard footsteps approaching and the door opened to reveal a shirtless Aedan. By the way his eyes had widened, he had clearly not been expecting her. Elissa's eyes had widened at the fact he was shirtless. Despite having seen shirtless men before by accident, his torso seemed to be more stunning than the other ones she had seen. While most men had a more bulky build having been training for heavy combat, Aedan had a more lean and agile build. He was capable of swinging a sword with one hand but anything heavier and he couldn't swing properly. This body was of training by using a staff and a sword at the same time. Aedan was sadly stunned at the fact Elissa was in front of his door. He eventually came to his senses but Elissa hadn't. He saw where her eyes were and smirked.

"Hey, my eyes are up here." He said jutting her out of her stupor. Elissa threw him a scandalized look.

"I wasn't looking at anything!" She blurted out. Aedan just gave her a knowing smirk making her blush harder.

"Alright, what are you doing here?" Aedan asked. Elissa became more flustered at what she was about to ask.

"I know you've helped me greatly today and I hate to ask this of you but... may I stay in your room for the night?" She asked looking away embarrassed. Aedan's eyebrows rose up to his hairline in surprise before thinking about it. On one hand, he didn't really know her that well. On the other hand, she came to him for help and he would feel guilty about letting her sleep in a total stranger's bed or outside while a storm's going on.

"Fine... you can stay." Elissa gained a smile. "But..." Elissa's smile wavered. "I'm not giving up the bed to sleep on the floor. You can sleep in the bed with me or on the floor. I'm sorry if I'm being rude, but I've been sleeping on the cold hard ground for the past few days." Aedan finished. And he meant it to. He was sick of sleeping on the ground. Elissa nodded reluctantly before he ushered her in. He then walked to the bed before laying down on it. He turned over on his side and noticed Elissa's uncomfortable look.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I don't have any clothes besides this armor." She whispered out, cheeks still flushed. Aedan pointed to his pack.

"I have a change of clothes in there. Use them." He said before laying on his other side looking away from her. He heard her unbuckle the straps on her armor and when it fell on the floor. He heard the clothes unfold and when she put them on. Eventually, whatever ruffling was going on stopped and silence lasted for a time. Then he felt the bed move and shift before he felt the heat of her body beside him.

"Just so you know, I have a knife and I'm not afraid to use it." Elissa said making Aedan snort. He may be a young man, but he was a gentleman first. Though she didn't need to know that now.

"I was about to say the same thing." He replied before closing his eyes and fell asleep.

The next day...

Aedan woke up and felt a weight against his chest, not only that but his arm was asleep too. What was wrong with...?! Aedan's eyes widened at the position he was in. Some time during the night, he and Elissa had somehow ended up cuddling with her laying her head on his chest and him holding her with his arm. Aedan knew he wouldn't be able to move without waking her, so he did the only other thing he could: pretend to fall back asleep. A few minutes passed before he felt Elissa's body tense. She was awake now. He felt her slowly try to let go without waking him. He decided to help her out by turning his body away from her and laying on his side. She quickly got out of bed and began changing into her leather armor. Once Aedan was sure she had finished changing he began to get up out of bed. He yawned and stretched his arms before going to his pack and pulling out his coat and a new shirt. After putting that on, he turned to see a bundle of clothes in his face.

"Thank you for lending them to me." Elissa said looking away with a blush. He grabbed them and placed them in his pack.

"You're welcome." Aedan replied as he got his things together and walked out of the room with Elissa following. He exited the building quickly and moved toward the stables. He found his horse and promptly placed his things in the saddle.

"So you're leaving then?" Elissa asked as he led his horse out of stables.

"Of course. My original intention was to head to Orzammar until I heard you and your knights fighting with those bandits. You already know the way to Highever from here do you?" Aedan said as he began checking his saddle for anything loose.

"Yes. Look... Aedan, I wanted to say thank you for... coming to my rescue and letting me stay in your room for the night. You didn't have to and afterwards you didn't even ask for a reward, while I just..." Elissa said before Aedan stopped her.

"Look Lady Cousland, it's fine. I walked out of the Tower knowing that even if I do save someone, they'll most likely not thank me anyway. The fact that you said it matters." Aedan said before mounting his horse.

"Call me Elissa and if you ever find yourself in Highever, please come to Castle Cousland. Ask the guards for me and you'll be welcomed as an honored guest." Elissa said with a smile making Aedan give one back and nodded. Aedan watched Elissa walk away as he trotted towards the way toward Orzammar putting. He was almost at the edge of the village when he noticed some men in armor moving in the opposite direction. What gained his interest was the fact that they were wearing the same armor those bandits had been wearing yesterday. His eyes widened in startled realization before looking back to where they were running to. He noticed that some had already mounted their horses and were galloping towards... Highever!

"Dammit." Aedan muttered before turning his horse around and galloped after them. At the rate they were going they'd catch up to Elissa halfway to Highever. She'll be ambushed completely then.

Elissa had been doing just fine after she and Aedan parted. She had walked to her horse and had mounted it before galloping straight to Highever. She was eager to see her family. She couldn't wait to see her mother and father and tell them of what happened. She really wanted to see Fergus and Oriana along with their newborn son Oren. He was so precious and innocent. When she was old enough she couldn't wait when she would have a baby, but first she'd have to find the right guy. She smiled as her thoughts turned to the future until she heard galloping coming form behind. She turned to look back to see several bandits and horses gaining on her. Her eyes narrowed before galloping harder. She had her sword and shield on her but those alone won't protect her against them.

Several arrows suddenly hit her horse from behind causing it to collapse, tossing her from it. She tumbled and rolled onto the ground hard. Her body was sore and would be bruised but nothing was broken. From years of training, she quickly got off the ground and drew her weapons. They had her surrounded within seconds all pointing arrows and swords at her.

"What do you want from me?" Elissa hissed out as she had her shield raised and her sword ready. The man in front of her laughed as he got off his horse and walked toward her, sword still pointed at her.

"Well... Lady Cousland, what we want really is you. My boys and I want a piece of that fine ass of yours and a few hundred sovereigns from that father of yours for a safe return. But not after we've had our fun, right lads?!" The supposed leader laughed making the others cheer in agreement.

"Now, be a good little whore and come along." The leader said with a sick grin showing his yellowed teeth. Elissa almost retched at the thought of any of these men touching her.

"I would rather die than touch any of you." Elissa hissed before spitting in the man's face. The other bandits oohed as he wiped the spit of his face.

"This coming from a naive nobleman's girl who slept with a man she didn't even know just because he saved her, or was it so you could have a warm bed for the night?" The leader retorted causing Elissa's eyes to widen and her cheeks turn red. She then calmed herself down before smirking.

"And yet he'd still be more satisfying than you." She replied making the older man snarl.

"You little-" He growled out as he raised his hand ready to slap her.

"Boss, you may wanna calm-" One of the men said suddenly nervous before his boss cut him off.

"Shut up! It's time someone put this bitch in her proper place. On the ground!" The leader said before striking at her. Before the blow could connect, Elissa was suddenly enveloped in some sort of light. Elissa tried to move but found she couldn't! But why?!

"What the hell!?" The leader said as his hand smacked the light and stung as if his hand slapped a wall of stone. Then the aura of light flashed before he and his men were sent flying away from Elissa. Elissa looked completely shocked this. This looked as if it was... magic! Her eyes quickly scanned the area to see where her rescuer was. Her eyes gleamed in delight when she saw him on the road riding up behind them. The bandits noticed him too as he got off his horse.

"Who the hell are you?!" One of the shouted.

"A concerned fugitive." Aedan said with a bored expression before he lifted his hand up. Fire ignited in his palm. "Now, you guys want to leave the lady alone or am I going to have roast all of you?"

The bandits looked at each other nervously before the leader rallied them.

"What are you doing? He can't take all of us on!" The leader said making his men get up and ready themselves... just before he was engulfed in big fiery explosion including a few others. The rest stopped seeing this and looked back at the mage.

"Anyone else?" He asked looking around. Then one of the bandits aimed an arrow at him. Aedan knew the force field around Elissa would protect her from this next spell combo so he quickly cast a death hex on the archer and followed up with a death cloud. The rest of the bandits were caught in the entropic death, a very deadly spell that was made for killing large groups quickly. Before the archer died however he let go of his arrow. It soared through the black haze and caught Aedan directly in the right lung.

Aedan was shocked for a moment before falling on the ground in pain. He tried to remove the arrow but he found himself stunned. He couldn't move. Then he felt as if there was fire coursing through his lungs and into his bloodstream.

'Poison!' He thought before his weakening vision saw someone running towards him. His eyes fluttered as he desperately tried to hold onto consciousness. He felt another hand grip his before he felt weightless and then all fell to darkness and silence.

Yea sorry this was later than usual. I had a pretty bad fever hit me.