"O Maker, hear my cry

Guide me through the blackest nights

Steel my heart against the temptations of the wicked

Make me to rest in the warmest places."

Canticle of Transfigurations 12:1

Flemeths Hut, The Wilds

The battle of Ostagar was over, many lives were lost. The human King and the Commander of the Grey had both perished to the darkspawn. The Kings general had quit the field at the moment he was supposed to come to his liege's aid. His signal was supposed to come from the beacon at the top of the Tower of Ishal, the beacon was lit, but by that time it was too late.

The tower had proven harder than expected, unbeknownst to the Wardens; the darkspawn had already broken through and were running free throughout the compound. The Wardens assigned to the duty made their way further into the tower and upon reaching the highest point they were confronted by an Ogre. How it had got up there without breaking anything is a different matter. The Wardens and their two allies fought the ogre valiantly, before it was over the two guards that had accompanied them were defeated and lay limp on the floor. Of the two Wardens one was crippled and the other was riding the ogre, her two short swords were embedded in its back and she was riding out its dying moments. As its body hit the floor she jumped off and rolled to her feet and immediately lit the beacon signalling for Loghain to advance. As she watched the army retreat, darkspawn broke through and were immediately upon them.

It took a while for the Warden to wake; when she did she was greeted by Morrigan.

"Finally, you're awake."

"Where am I?"

"You are in my bed, in the room I share with Richard. But I take it you didn't mean that. You are in the wilds girl. You are not one of the Warden recruits from earlier."

"No I'm not. They didn't make it."

"Of this I am aware. Now you must get up but first you'll need some clothes. As much as your form pleases we must cover it up before you meet Richard."

"What happened?"

"You're King is dead, your reinforcements quit the battle thus ending your Kings life."

"Cailans dead?"

"That is what I just said, is it not. Now get dressed Mother will be waiting."

As the Warden went outside she spotted who must have been Richard talking to who could only be the woman's mother. They were sat talking to each other in another tongue, one that she had never heard before, not that that was surprising there were many languages in the whole of Thedas that she wasn't aware of. Yet it felt more like magic than spoken word.

"There you are! How do you feel girl?"

"Better."

"Has Morrigan introduced us yet? No, well I am the poor girl's mother, but you may call me Flemeth. This is Richard, not of my flesh and blood, but there is potential within him."

"I am Mhairi. What of the other warden that was with me?"

"He didn't make it I'm afraid. By the time we got there the darkspawn had already taken him. You only survived due to being the furthest away from the door."

"That's just great, Alistair is dead and I'm the only Warden left in the whole of Ferelden, with a blight roaming the lands. Loghain has a lot to answer for. There is no army left to fight the blight, there is no hope."

"There is always hope, whether you wish to see it or not, it is always there. Now young lady what will you do?"

"I'm not sure. With Loghain having quit the field and the King dead I can't turn to the crown for help. The Orlesian's won't be allowed across the border and it would take too long to contact Weisshaupt. We have these treaties but that would take just as long."

"All that and from a Gray Warden as well, how long since your joining?"

"Nine months. Duncan recruited me from the Kings Army before we marched upon Ostagar. How do you know about the joining? That's a Gray Warden secret."

"We know more than you expect. You seem to have chosen your path; the treaties are your best option. And naturally you'll need as much help as you can. This is why I'm sending Morrigan and Richard with you."

"Do we have no say in this mother? Are we to just be discarded?"

"Calm down Morrigan. You're going because you'll be needed, far more out there than here."

The trio left soon after.

Mhairi, Lothering

Dawn found them on the outskirts of Lothering. After a brief discussion the plan was to restock their supplies here and then move on. They had three treaties to collect on and the blight wasn't going to wait around for them. The village of Lothering was crowded, refugees from Southern Ferelden were gathering there, looking for food and shelter. The Templar's at the gate refused them entrance at first due to two of the party being mages, but after some persuasion from Mhairi they were let through. Once inside the trio split up, Mhairi went towards the Chantry to find out any information about the current situation whereas Morrigan and Richard headed straight towards the tavern.

The Revered Mother wasn't pleased to hear that a Grey Warden was in the Chantry waiting for her. Ever since the news arrived that there was a bounty on the heads of any Warden, she knew they would bring trouble. Doubled with the news that she had arrived with two apostate mages as well the Revered Mother wasn't looking forward to this visit. She met the Warden in her personal chambers and was instantly relived when she saw that she was alone.

"Revered Mother."

"Warden, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Just passing through and I was wondering whether you could tell me what's happening in Ferelden at the moment. I've been out of touch for a while."

"So you don't know then?"

"Evidently not."

"The crown has issued a reward for the capture of any Grey Wardens. It's a sizeable sum; I'd be on your guard. You have nothing to fear from the Chantry. Your comrades however are a different matter; my Templar's will deal with them."

"Your Templar's will do no such thing. My two comrades are Grey Warden recruits and as such are not susceptible to Chantry law."

"Very well, so be it."

With the conversation reaching a low point Mhairi stood to leave but before she reached the door.

"There is one thing you could do for us. At the edge of town we have a Qunari locked in a cage, before you splutter we have just cause. He confessed to murdering a family of farmers, yet there is nothing we can do about it. He's not subject to our laws; he'll only follow the Qun."

"Which is where I come in?"

"Indeed. He needs a noble cause that he can commit to and I believe that he'll submit himself to your cause. The Qun demands it. Your apostates will be able to open the lock if needs be."

Richard, Danes Refuge

Morrigan and Richard had found their way into the local tavern, where they were sat and fed immediately. The air was tense as all the refugees were nervous apart there being two apostates sat in the same room. Nobody moved or did anything towards them, unsure of themselves and their capability against two apostates. Even though they had safety in numbers. The pair were quite content just to sit there and eat amongst the crown, they didn't feel threatened, they knew their own capabilities. It was just lucky that there weren't any young foolhardy Templar's in the tavern, but there were three rather menacing characters wearing the heraldry of the Teyrnir of Gwaren. Upon seeing the apostates they made their way over and confronted them.

"You there, apostates, surrender you arms. Under the authority of King Loghain I order you to lay down your arms."

"The authority of King Loghain? Loghain is no king, you might as well have said by the power of grey skull. Both have little meaning."

"If you do not lie down your arms there will be trouble and we cannot be held accountable."

At this point the crowd within the tavern had fled, leaving a rather sizeable area left. There were two against five but that didn't necessarily mean anything when magic was concerned.

"So be it. Attack."

Before Richard could even attempt any magic he found himself flat on the floor with his mana drained. The man nearest to him had clearly been trained as Templar, as the only thing that could affect him like that was a Holy Smite. Nasty things but the Templar's main weapon in his arsenal. That shifted the odds entirely against them.

"Morrigan go. Get Mhairi."

"I will not leave you Richard!"

"You have no choice, now go."

Morrigan looked towards Richard and then quickly shifted into a crow and flew through the open window in search of Mhairi leaving Richard to the mercy of Loghain's thugs.

"Don't worry mage we're not going to kill you." He ended his sentence with a blow to Richards head knocking him unconscious.