Chapter 1:

12 years after the defeat of the Archdemon and the Blight.

Caleb was a 10 year old human boy fairly average size and height for a human and he thought he was average with his dirty blonde hair that went down to his blue eyes. The only thing that was different about him was just that, he was human. He had grown up in the Alienage; he had been a baby when Shianni had brought him into her home. From what she had told Caleb through out his childhood was that she had lost her brother a few years before. She had stumbled across a bundle of sheets outside of the Alienage gates with him inside of them and she told him that she couldn't just let an innocent baby die, so she took him in and raised him as her own.

Growing up human in the Alienage was tough because many elves still resented the humans. Even though King Alistair had passed laws allowing them to own property and work outside of the Alienage, but due to the tension between the races the elves stayed in their original area. Caleb faced teasing from most other kids everyday. He really had only two friends in the Alienage: Corthal an elven boy with red hair who was Shianni's birth son and like a brother to Caleb. Corthal looked exactly like his mother and was usually the person Caleb got in trouble with. The other friend was Azatae, a girl with long brown hair and brown eyes. She was the daughter of the leader of the Alienage, one of the smartest girls in the Alienage's school, and the girl that all the boys had a crush on.

Caleb snuck out of the Alienage often and would walk around the city, just feeling normal among other humans. He would sometimes find him self in the library reading about the adventures of the current King and Queen back when they were fighting the darkspawn during the last Blight or their accomplishments during the past decade which included: rebuilding the southern part of the country which included Lothering, which had become a major city, they had also rebuilt Ostagar and turned it into a quickly growing. What he read most about were the heroes of Ferelden, the ones that the king and queen united to defeat the Archdemon.

He planned to sneak out today for a different reason, the parade. Today the people were holding a celebration for the heroes that saved them. This happened every year and was one of the biggest parties in all of Ferelden. Caleb had gone to one when he was younger but hardly remembered it, but today would be different, today would be a day to remember. He had tried to talk either Corthal or Azatae to go with him but neither would. He and Corthal were still in trouble from the last time they had left the Alienage, and Azatae would never do anything to get in trouble because she said it "would bring shame to her father," so Caleb would be going out by him self.

Caleb waited until about midday when the cheers and bells began he knew that the festivities would start soon. It was fairly easy for him to sneak through the gate at the entrance to the Alienage. He crept through the alleyways to get to the Denerim royal square, just outside the royal palace where the celebrations were underway.

The square was filled with colorful banners and signs people were mobbing by the city. Caleb climbed up to the top of a nearby building to get a better view of things. It wasn't but a few minutes until the awaited guests arrived, from the pictures in the books he had read and from their portraits in the library he could recognize them: Ogren, Leliana, and Zevran. Caleb knew there were others: Sten and Morrigan had cut their ties with the group and that Wynne had died three years after the Blight.

Caleb watched as they paraded through the city and moved from rooftop to rooftop as they moved out of view. He followed them all the way to the royal palace, where the royal family and the nobles greeted the heroes. When they entered the castle most of the people following the parade went off to have their own party else where but Caleb wanted to get a closer look at them. He dropped down to street level to find a way through the wall. He found his way in when he came across couple loose bars in a sewage drain. He moved the bars out of the wall and got through, he than climbed up to a balcony and into the adjacent room. He snuck through the hallways until he got to the dining hall; it was a very large room with rows of tables leading up to an elevated platform where the King, Queen, and Princess sat at the table with their guest.

Caleb looked on in awe at Princess Eleanor. She had blonde hair like her father King Alistair and her mother Queen Elissa's green eyes. She was sitting between her parents in the middle of the table, laughing and enjoying being around the people that were a family to her. Caleb began sneaking through the table filled with the Ferelden nobility. He got right behind the table where the heroes were sitting. He was just a few steps away from the people he had read so much about. He looked over to see the princess look over at him and smiled at him. He dodged behind a wall while his face blushed. He thought that it may be a good idea to leave before he was caught.

He crept through the halls to going back the way he had come in. It was harder than it had been earlier due to the increase of guards that had occurred during the feast. He had managed to sneak past most of them but once he was just about to sneak out successfully he bumped into a decorative piece of armor knocking it to the ground making a large crash when it hit the floor attracting all the guards. Caleb bolted through the halls and got out into the courtyard, once he was in the open he was instantly spotted by the guards in front of the palace. They chased him to the hole in the wall he snuck in through. He got into the streets and ran through the alleyways with the guards right behind him. He was almost caught when he ran into a dead-end but he quickly jumped up to grab the ledge of the roof and climbed up to safety. He ran all the way back to the Alienage thinking about all that had happened today.

6 years later

Caleb and Ser Thomas were once again training in the fields outside of Denerim. Ser Thomas was the templar stationed to the Alienage. He had offered to train Caleb four years ago when Caleb had gotten into a fight with some of the other boys outside the school at the Alienage. He had won the fight but Thomas pointed out that he hadn't fought with any skill just blindly throwing punches.

Over the years Thomas had taught him how to use a variety of weapons but Caleb had developed a fondness towards using a sword. His athletic build allowed him to have the speed to outmaneuver his enemies and the muscle to overwhelm them. He was a few inches taller than most other humans and a bit more muscular as well.

Thomas was an elderly man; his graying hair was balding on his head. His grey eyes showed what was left of the fire that had once burned bright in him. He had fought during the blight and had an easy career being in Denerim. He had been placed at the Alienage five years ago to finish up his career.

Today was just another training day; Caleb would use his weapons against a few target dummies that Thomas had dressed up in armor. Caleb would practice for a few hours with his sword and bow and arrows. After that the two would spar, where Thomas would usually win, however Caleb had won a couple times recently. Whether due to Caleb's new found skills or Thomas' increasing age it didn't matter Caleb had come so far with his training he felt he could best any warrior in combat.

The two were dueling in a clearing, Caleb had his sword out. It wasn't anything special, an average grey iron sword, he had found it one day outside of the weapons smith. When he went in to return it the shop keep said he had no record of selling and gave it to Caleb. With the exception of the sword he had made most of his weapons by hand; Thomas had required that he make his own weapons for the training. When he fought he only used the sword he would rarely used a shield or another blade. His lack of a shield allowed him to move faster than any opponent he could face.

Caleb felt he was just about to win as he cornered Thomas against a wall they had built for an obstacle course. Just as he was about to end the duel another templar came running towards the two, "Ser Thomas we need your help,"

Caleb lowered his sword from against Thomas, "What is it?"

"Thieves have robbed from one of our priestesses that were brining some donations into the city,"

"Finally some action," Caleb grabbed his pack that held his potions and smaller weapons, "let's go find these guys,"

"No Caleb you go home, this is templar business."

"What do you mean go home? You've been training me for this, and you just want me to go home!"

"Yes, this doesn't concern you,"

"Fine," Caleb walked back towards the city gates where 15 templars were waiting for orders.

He went back to the Alienage to change out of the sparing armor he was wearing. He got back home and changed into his commoners clothes, what most others in the Alienage wore due to the immense poverty. He wasn't sure what to do the rest of the day; Corthal was working at the Arl of Denerim's estate as a servant, and Azatae was studying with her father over what it takes to be the leader of the Alienage. So Caleb was on his own for the rest of the day.

Caleb walked around the Alienage for a while just to pass some time when he got by the bridge that connected the Alienage to the market district he saw a human girl about his age walking over it in the direction of the Alienage. As soon as she got across she was intercepted by three of the elven boys, the same ones that had been giving Caleb trouble his whole life, Darrian and his group. Caleb hurried over to stop them from hurting the girl.

"What are you doing her shem?" Darrian was closing in on the girl.

"I don't want any trouble, I was just passing through," Caleb could tell by her tone that she was scared.

"Well, you sure found it. Boys let's show her what we do to shem," they started moving towards her.

"Leave her alone Darrian," Caleb stepped in.

"Just stay put Caleb we'll take care of you next,"

"I said leave her alone," Caleb drew his sword, "Or you will see just how good I am with a sword,"

"You win this time Caleb, but watch your back," the elves walked back toward the homes.

"Thanks you, Maker knows what they would have done to me," she was defiantly one of the most beautiful girls Caleb had ever seen. Her long blonde hair going down to here shoulders like curtains and her green eyes were like emeralds.

"You're welcome, but you really shouldn't be here they don't look too kindly on us humans,"

"Than why are you here?"

"I live here with and elven woman who took me in when I was young," Caleb noticed that the sky was darkening, "It's getting dark, can I walk you home?"

"I won't complain," she smiled a smile that Caleb remembered from somewhere as they began walking.

The two walked through the city talking as Caleb followed her to wherever her home was, "You know I never got your name,"

"My name? It's…um…Allison,"

"So Allison, where did you say your house is?"

"I didn't,"

"You want to enlighten me,"

"I live near the palace district, happy?"

"A little," they continued down the streets until they passed the palace. Allison walked up to a nearby tenant building.

"This is my place,"

"Home sweet home, I guess," Caleb said looking at the condition of the almost run down building, "Is this good night, or good bye?"

"I'll be in the market district in a few days, so good night, and I don't believe you ever told me your name,"

"It's Caleb," Caleb walked away waiving to this mysterious girl.