By the time they reached the Circle the two girls shared a close bond. Aryana had stayed true to her word, watching over Talizan and making sure she had enough to eat, a blanket to sleep under and standing up for her when the Templars called her a filthy knife-ears. It helped Aryana to push her own fears away to have someone else to be brave for.

By the time they were presented to the first enchanter at the Circle they were standing hand-in-hand, ready to face what lay ahead together. The first year was eventful. Both were rushed through their Harrowing, Aryana because of her age and Talizan because of her skill, having already been taught for several years by her Keeper. The Blight was ended by the Hero of Fereldan and many of Ostwick's senior enchanters and Templars were sent to help rebuild Fereldan's Circle. This led to less senior voices of reason within Ostwick Circle and the treatment of its mages began to take a down turn.

Despite this, both girls advanced quickly in their lessons, showing an aptitude for magic, although in different areas. Talizan was gifted in the art of spirit healing and the school of spirit in general. She was often approached by friendly spirits during her time in the Fade, and spoke with them at length, though she did not share this information with her tutors. The teachings of the Circle were very different from those of the Dalish and far more based in fear.

Aryana on the other hand was far more drawn to combat magic and showed great promise for the Knight Enchanter branch of magic. She often spent time observing the Templar training drills and yearning to be able to train with a sword. She'd managed to find a single tome in the library that went into some detail on the ancient elven arcane warriors and had committed it to memory.

But as much as they involved themselves in Circle life, neither girl forgot about their home, and neither gave up on the possibility of escape. They would whisper together late at night, when their peers were fast asleep, about what they would do the day they managed to get out. Talizan missed her Clan fiercely and Aryana ached to explore the world. There was more out there to learn then the Circle would teach them.

Two years after the Blight in Fereldan was ended Talizan found herself alone in the library at night. Aryana had snuck off to the kitchens to see if she could steal a midnight snack, but mostly to try and practice a stealth technique she'd been reading about in one of the books on combat. Talizan had stayed behind, not only because the combat technique didn't interest her, but also because she was too engrossed in her book on the Fade.

Ayana hadn't been gone long when the door to the library creaked open. It was unusual for anyone else to be in the library so late, not to mention the Circle was unusually quiet lately as another large group of mages and Templars had recently left to go help the Fereldan Circle.

"Ary?" Talizan whispered into the dimly lit library, assuming her friend had returned. There was no answer. Talizan put her book down and stood up, frowning. "Who's there?" She asked the silent stacks of books.

He stepped into her view then, one of the newer senior ranking Templars who'd been transferred to Ostwick recently. Talizan couldn't remember his name. He smiled at her, but it was a slow, unsettling smile. A tight knot of dread settled in her stomach.

"Good evening little elf-ling." He drawled, eyes slowly appraising her. "What's a pretty thing like you doing all alone so late night?" His face turned predatory. She knew what could sometimes happen to female mages when left alone with the wrong Templar. She'd never been victim to anything more than inappropriate comments before but she knew what that look meant. Before she could try to dash away he'd knocked her down with a holy smite. Her strength dissolved as her mana left her and she managed little more than a feeble cry as he stalked towards her.

She realized with a violently ill feeling that he was unbuckling his belt as he approached. He removed it as he stood over her and tossed it aside. He knelt beside her and roughly pinned her wrists with one hand. She was too weak from the smite to offer much resistance as reached push up her robes.

"Don't worry little elf, this will be over shortly." The Templar drawled. He was leaning over her, one hand on the bottom of her robes, the other holding her wrists. And then, suddenly, his headless body was slumped over besides her, blood spurting out of the stump of his neck onto the library floor.

Talizan could only stare, wide eyed, up at Aryana, who held the dead Templar's long sword in her hands. She'd pulled it out of the scabbard on the belt he'd so carelessly discarded. Her eyes were filled with deadly rage as she silently helped Talizan to her feet. Then she turned to the Templar on the floor and pulled out a set of keys from a pocket in his uniform. She turned back to Talizan.

"Did he...?" The question hung unfinished between them. Talizan shook her head slowly. Aryana let out a sigh of relief. Then her expression hardened again as she looked at her friend. Her grip around the stolen sword tightened.

"Come on. We're getting out of here."