Sebastian read on from the scrolls that Elthina had handed him. He had to stop a few times to let the emotions that the words brought out quiet. He found that almost everything he had been taught in his years with the Chantry were half truths and blatant lies. Kali had gone to bed hours ago after she had read the first scroll. She seemed shaken by the account of Andraste's death. The first scrolls had been written by Maferath himself and his betrayal of the woman he loved.

Mercy and Courage Scroll 1.

I watched from afar as they set up the burning pits. The Archon Hessarian and his wife had promised my daughters would not share their mother's fate, but I have yet yo see them. I watch them bring out the lesser leaders of our little rebellion. Most had been beaten badly and for the first time since I betrayed them I feel a pang of remorse. The last to come out was my bride, followed by my daughters. Drea was barely walking, while Mercy's head was held high, helping her sister stay on her feet. Drea was the stronger of the two in a fight, but Mercy, my sweet confident Mercy. She was strong in spirit like her mother. Both of my girls could handle a sword and shield. I should not call them them mine, I have a sneaking feeling they are not mine, but the Maker's. It would fit with all the high and mighty things Andraste had been spouting. She was his chosen, his bride to be when her life ended. Let us see if he loves her enough to save her from the flame.

Her generals were put to the flame first so she could hear their screams and smell their burning flesh. I moved closer to see the look on her face and found it was placid. Even through the heavy smoke and flying embers she looked ever the warrior. She was looking to the sky and her lips were moving. The girls were huddled together and Mercy was still staring at the pyres with a look of defiance in her eyes. She held her sister's hand trying to give her strength. It hurt to see them like this, two girls who had not yet seen ten springs. At last it came time to put Andraste to the flames, and my stomach turned. I could not watch this, but something made me stay. I could only guess later that it was my punishment from the Maker for what I had done. The Archon stepped forward, holding on to a torch, his face was solemn, but his wife's was almost happy. The woman had waited a long time for this.

"For your treason against the Imperium you are to be put to the flame." Andraste leveled her gaze at the man and smiled. Proud and fearless to the end.

"Magic is to help man and never to rule over him. Remember that those touched by his grace will always find peace even in death. I go to the Maker's side and I have no regrets. All this proves is that your rule no longer has the strength it use to. It took the betrayal of my husband for you to catch me, I wonder if you could have done that without his help?"

"Burn her now and silence her wicked tongue. It ends here." The Archon nodded to his wife and set the kindling on fire under Andraste's feet. The fire did not take long to spread and the most ear piercing scream came from the Maker's chosen. She writhed as the flames licked her body. Drea screamed and tried to run to help her mother, but the soldiers stopped her and shoved her to the ground. Mercy watched with tears streaming from her eyes, but she did not look away. Her mother's screams became deafening and it was only then that she began to speak. Her voice was steady, but harsh. I will never forget it.

"End it now. Give her mercy."

"Mercy? She deserves this. How many of our people did hers kill?" Mercy turned and faced the Lady Vasilia, her face still placid, yet her eyes were burning with rage.

"How many people have died serving the Imperium? How many under your rule? All we wanted was freedom and you denied it. No, end this or so help me I will end you."

"You threaten me litt..." The woman's words were cut off as her body was lifted from the ground. Two ghostly hands held her aloft and looked like they could rip her in two with little trouble. I noticed Mercy's hands were aglow. It was then I knew she was his daughter, not mine. Her eyes began to glow a brilliant white as magic surged around her. Mercy turned to Hessarian who looked at a lose.

"End it now!" The soldiers that had been standing watch ran at the girl, but no sooner had they moved than they were blasted back again. I could see Drea's face and the horror etched on it watching her twin wield such power. It was this kind of power we had been fighting all these years and yet here was the daughter of the great Andraste using the accursed magic. The air cracked around all of us as the sky seemed to darken. "Last chance, end it or I end her." Mercy twisted her hands and the ghost hands moved pulling the helpless woman's arms taunt. Lady Vasilia screamed in pain and fear. Hessarian seemed torn, did he give mercy to the woman who threatened his rule and save his wife, or did he let his wife die to satisfy his people? His love for his wife won out in the end.

"Enough , release her...I will grant your mother mercy."

"Give my mother peace first and you shall have you wife back in one piece." The Archon drew his sword and pierced Andraste's heart granting her peace. Mercy true to her word let the woman go, but the damage had been done. When Mercy went to her sister to help her from the ground Drea screamed and scrambled away from her.

"Get away from me you...you demon!"

"I am no demon. I could not sit by while our mother suffered. Drea please, I am your sister. You know me."

"You are like them. Another power hungry mage. You are everything our mother fought against. Don't touch me!" Mercy dropped her hand and bowed her head in defeat. No words she could say would change her sister's mind. I watched Drea run from the courtyard and disappear in the crowd. The people of Tevinter let the girl go afraid to cross the sister that remained. Mercy walked back the pyre that held her mother's now burnt body and fell to her knees. She pulled the sword that was still in the blackened body out and held it in her hands. None of the Tevinters tried to capture her or tried to go after the girl who ran away. The Archon and his people left before Mercy decided to turn her magic back on them and I also left not wanting her to see me. I am not sure what happened to her or to Drea. I just know there will never forgiveness for me. I betrayed my family, my people and I will rot in the Void for it. I will live the rest of my days with the sounds of my wife's screams echoing in my head. I deserve a worse punishment than this, but who is to say that it will not come later. If there is justice in this world, it will come at my daughters' hands.

Journey of the Ashes Scroll 2.

Written by: Disciple Harvard

I found her kneeling in front of our Lady Andraste's pyre. A young girl barely out of her childhood. I approached softly as not to scare her, but my footsteps were heard and she drew the sword that had been sitting on her lap like a seasoned warrior. I knew who she was, even with the soot stained face and clothing. Her eyes had a feral look to them and she snarled at me. I put my hands in the air and slowly knelt down away from her.

"Mercy, do you not remember me?"

"Harvard?"

"Yes little one. I came to retrieve your mother's ashes so the Tevinters can not defile them. I want to take them somewhere safe."

"What does it matter she is gone?"

"She deserves to be honored and revered."

"Then take them, but the sword is mine."

"As you wish. I will gather her ashes and take them and you to the faithful. Where is your sister?"

"She...she ran. I do not know where she went nor do I care." I could only nod as I collected the ashes of our fallen leader. Mercy did not move, her face was a mask of pain and rage. Having seen the two girls grow up at their mother's side I could tell that Mercy would be the one who take up the mantle should Andraste fall. She was always the strongest of the two. Drea though a strong warrior was not made to lead like her sister.

"It is time to leave Mercy." She followed, but did not speak. We made our journey with others back to the land of our Lady's birth. There in the highest mountains did we place her remains. It took years, but we finally finished her final resting place. In those years Mercy remained with us, but at a distance. She read her mother's writings and poured over them alone. She would disappear for days at a time and walk the mountain side. Most of us kept our distance and let her grieve. I knew she was not over the lose of her family. Her mother gone, her father a betrayer and her sister lost to us. All of us who had followed her mother into the Void and back felt a certain sense of responsibility in making sure that she was safe. We lived apart from the rest of Thedas and remained faithful to the teachings of Andraste. Every few months some of our people went to trade furs and other wares for supplies to last the harsh winters we had come to endure on the mountain. We named our new home Haven, a place of peace and faith.

Over the years I watched Mercy grow in beauty that surpassed her mother. Her voice was that of an angel when she sings the Chant, but she was still aloof. She spoke to all of us, but was not close to anyone. My fear is she learned of betrayal so young that she was guarding herself from further pain. It was sad for us to see her so surrounded by people who loved her and she seemed so alone. She was a grown woman now, strong, wise and every bit the warrior her mother was. When the news of the Chantry reached us through our trades it did not surprise her at all. We were not the only survivors of the war with Tevinter. Many different sects broke off and scattered after our Lady was taken from us. This Chantry claimed to follow her teachings to the letter, but the more we heard the more we knew it was not true. It was said that all mages were to be locked away from the general populous to keep the world safe from their curse. Having scribed many of Andraste's sermons I know this was false. She never wanted anyone to know the bonds of slavery and imprisonment again under false rulers. We were all to be equal, men, women, elven, and human. We are all the Maker's children. I fear what this tide will bring in. Mercy is aware of it all, but still she stays silent. Even the rumors that her sister had become a Templar, a mage hunter have not broken through her stoic resolve. I pray to the Maker that the rumors are false, for I fear what will happen should the women one day meet on the field of battle.

Mercy and Courage Scroll 3.

Written by Mercy.

I have been asked many times by my mother's disciples why I have not tried to finish what she started all those years ago. I have no answer to give them save it is not my battle to fight. I am not my mother and never will be. I am a mage and from what I have been hearing in most of Thedas I am not to be trusted. We are dangerous, evil, the Maker's curse on mankind for their sins. No matter how many people our magic heals, or how many battles we help win, we will never been seen as anything but a weapon. A weapon with a soul and a mind of our own. Unlike a sword who needs a warrior to wield it, a mage just needs mana to fuel them. Some of us don't even need that, at least I know I don't. My connection to the Fade is as strong as my connection to the waking world. I feel a home in both places and it is true I prefer to stay in the Fade. At least there I don't have to hide, I don't have to face the fact I am alone. My family is gone. My mother is dead, taken from me by narrow minded mages who thought they were Gods. My father betrayed her out of spite and jealousy of a being who has never shown himself to his people. My sister hates me, fears me for what I am. She even went as far as becoming the first of these Templars that are to hunt mages down and collar us.

Drea. My twin, the other half of me, her absence hurts the worst of them all. We always promised that we would fight back to back against everything. Be there for the other when we were weak. I guess promises mean nothing in this world. Blood means nothing. The people who have protected me to this point see me as aloof, stoic, and maybe a bit unfeeling. How can I tell them that I have no heart left to care? How to I guide them when I myself have no faith? The Maker turned his back on us, he let my mother burn, a woman it is claimed that he loved and wanted for his bride. When I was younger I was in awe of his presence through my mother's words and songs, now I would spit in his face if he appeared to me. It scares me that I know hate of this kind, that I have fallen so far and yet I have never acted on my hate. I have never once harmed a person with my magic or with a weapon really, not since the Exalted March. I have no stomach for it anymore. I know the time is coming for me to face this new Chantry. I need to see it for my own eyes, but first I must find my father. I have received word he is here in the Wild Lands. He is hiding they say, though I can't guess from what or who. I mean the man no harm. He will be judged if the words of my mother are true. He will know justice before the end.

OoO

I went alone to face my father at the very heated protests of the faithful. I needed to know why he did it without some overzealous person try to kill him out of some idea of vengeance for my mother. I traveled at night mostly heading toward a small farm town on the edge of the Wilds just north of the old Fort Ostagar. The mage hunters were out in force along the roads looking for apostates, that is what they call us now. Illegal mages that live free. It is strange to see how much has changed in the twelve years since her death. Once mages ruled over everything and now we are the slaves, the hated. I am one of the lucky ones who can defend themselves from Templar abilities. Even if they drain me of my magic they have to contend with my blade.

When I arrived at the village I was surprised to see a group of Templars were accosting a man in the middle of the square. From my vantage point I could see the man was no mage. He wore heavy armor that had seen better days and a greatsword had been strapped to his back before they stripped him of it. His hair was matted and encrusted with leaves. I crept closer and nearly bolted into the clear when I saw the man's face. It was the great Maferath, my father. It broke my heart to see the once great man he was so broken, so lost. It was then I heard a voice I never thought I would hear again.

"Did you think I would not find you? Did you think that I would let you go after what you did to my mother?" Drea's voice had changed with age and was filled with anger, but I would know it anywhere. She removed her helmet and stared down at the broken man. Her visage was hard as stone. Gone was the girl that was full of life, now it seemed anger was all there was inside her. She handed her helmet off to one of her men and reached down to pull our father up by his matted hair. "You will answer to the Divine for your sins."

"The only person who I have to answer to Drea is Andraste. It does not matter what you or this Divine do to me. My damnation or salvation is in the Maker's hands."

"I will see you suffer as my mother suffered!" I saw Drea pull her arm back and hit our father full force in the stomach with her armored hand. She continued to strike him till I stepped in. The Templars did not know what hit them as I used a spell that made them crash to the ground. I ran as fast as I could and pulled my father to his feet making him run with me. I sent a firestorm to form between us and the Templars. I heard Drea growl, but they could not get past the flames. We ran til he could no longer keep up with my pace. Once I was sure we had not been followed I set camp and went about healing his wounds.

"Who are you?"

"I am someone who does not like seeing people hurt no matter their crimes."

"Your a mage."

"Yes, hence the healing I am doing. Do you hate mages too?"

"I...I did."

"What changed your mind?"

"My oldest daughter, she is a mage."

"Where is she now? Did they force her into the Circles they have been making around Thedas?"

"I don't know, I hope she is safe. I was a fool for what I did. I do not deserve your kindness child, nor do I deserve to continue breathing. I betrayed my family out of jealousy and a lust for power. Now I am alone and if I die no one will care."

"I would not say that. I would care if you die. I would mourn you."

"You don't even know me child. I am a monster, a murderer. I gave the Tevinters the purest, most noble person I have even known. I knew full well what they intended to do to her and I let them. You should not show me kindness."

"It is said we as man are weak when we let envy and pride eat at our hearts, but if we ask for forgiveness and strive to change the Maker will show us his grace."

"You speak like Andraste."

"I should, I learned at her knee since I was a babe." It was then I pulled my hood back and looked my broken father in the eye. I saw the sorrow and pain swimming in his gaze. He began to sob and I wrapped my arms around him. For so long I wanted to hate him, to be like my sister and make him suffer for his sins, but faced with the sight of him now I could see he was paying for it now. "I forgive you father." The words flowed out of my lips before I was aware I was saying them.

"Mercy..."

"Yes father. I had to come find you. I had to face what happened before it ate me alive like it did Drea."

"She hates me, wants me dead."

"She is angry and lost. One day she will be able to move past all this, but she will have to do it in her own time. This Chantry they formed has poisoned her mind. It has fed into her rage and made her turn against what mother wanted. They twisted her words to use for their own fruition. I would take you to were I have been hiding, but there is too many of the faithful there. They would attack you and I am not sure even I could protect you from them."

"I would never ask you to protect me. It is enough to hear they you forgive me."

"I want to make sure you stay safe."

"I am old child. I am being hunted by not only the Chantry and the other faithful, but also your sister and my older sons. You are not safe being near me."

"I can handle myself father, you taught me that. I will help find a place for you to live in peace." To his credit he did not try to argue with me after that. I am not sure if it was from exhaustion or the fact he was very happy to have at least my forgiveness. I let him rest and kept watch through the night. Before dawn I woke him so we could move before the Templars could find us. For a month we wandered staying hidden from Templars that seemed to show up out of the blue. I will give my sister this, she does not give up easily. It would come time soon for me to show her that neither do I.

OoO

It finally happened near the place known as the Blooded Cliffs the east of the Frostback Mountains. Drea and the few men she had left found us as we made camp. Her Templars looked as if they had taken on a dragon and lost. Drea herself was not much fitter then her men. Her armor was in tatters and I could see dried blood from a large gash on her face. Their condition gave me hope I could talk them down from a fight, but only a slim hope. I knew my sister too well to think she would give up easily. She had no idea it was her twin she hunted, not that it would have mattered to her. I was thankful that my cloak and hood were covering my face at the moment she spoke or she would have seen the amusement on my face.

"Surrender now and I will see you have a quick death apostate." Even her voice sounded weak. My father shifted his weight and stared blankly at Drea. He was not keen on attacking his own flesh and blood, truth was neither was I.

"I will not let you harm him Templar. Go find your glory somewhere else."

"You have no say in this mage. He will pay for what he has done and you will burn for helping him escape. Now lay down your weapons and get on your knees." I was not going to kowtow to anyone, least of all my younger sister. She was letting her hatred rule her, something our mother warned us not to do.

"Don't I have a say Drea or does what I think no longer matter?"

"Did he tell you my name?"

"No he did not have to. I have known your name my entire life, just as you know mine. We use to share everything, but now it seems you have me burned." I pulled my hood away from my face and I heard the gasps from her men. Even she was taken aback seeing me stand before her.

"Maker's mercy, Knight Commander she...she looks like you."

"I should have known it was you. Who else would try to save such a pathetic waste of a man."

"He is not a waste, he is our father!"

"He is no kin of mine and neither are you my family died long ago. The Chantry is my family now. I have a purpose, a calling. I hunt your cursed kind so that they may know the wrath of the Maker for their sins."

"What sins? We did not ask to be born this way! I do not want these powers, not after what they cost me." Drea scoffed and drew her blade.

"And what pray tell did they cost you?"

"They cost me my sister." A flash of sorrow crossed her eyes, but she did not let it show anywhere else. I knew she would not let us go without a fight and I would not give in to her wishes without one either. I pulled the blade that had pierced mt mother's heart from it scabbard. It still had the stain of her blood on it no matter how many times I have cleaned the blade. It did not go unnoticed by my sister or my father.

"You dare use that blade!"

"It is only a blade Drea. It cuts like any other." I let flame wreath the blade and heard my sister growl. I felt the draining effects of their spell, but the flame never wavered. The wide eyes on my sister said enough. No other mage had ever been able to stand against this many Templars and keep their mana. "Are your talents lacking sister?"

"How?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I smiled and set my stance, my father backed away not wanting to fight his own daughter or get caught by one of my spells. "Let us finish this Drea, if you win I will be dead and you get your revenge on father. If I win you and your men walk away never to hunt us again."

"You have to kill me to win Mercy."

"As you wish." I let her make the first move. Her anger makes her sloppy, while I keep my head. Her swings are wild and choppy and I parry them easily. Her armor is heavy and slows her down. I wear robes re-enforced with leather and chainmail covering my vitals. Drea was always the one who was quick to temper, quick to quit when we would spar. I know today that this is win or die, but I will not kill my sister. I will not become the monster she claims me to be. I use my skill with a sword instead of my magic. I wanted to prove that I was much more than a power driven mage, I was a warrior. Our father and her men watched in awe as we clashed. I heard one of her men yelling for her to let him take me on, but she refused. This was more about her pride than it was about killing an apostate. She had never been able to beat me when we were children and even now she was faltering. Drea stumbled as she took a wild swing and I made my move. I shoved her over to the ground and brought my blade to her throat. Her men rushed forward to her rescue, but she waved them back.

"Do not interfere!" She turned her eyes up to mine and I saw the look of utter defeat in them. "You won, what are you waiting for sister, kill me."

"No."

"If you don't I will hunt you down and make sure you pay."

"Do what you must, but for now I have beaten you and you agreed to the terms. Father and I leave, you and your men do not follow. If you want to hunt us later then do so, but know this I will not give in to your Chantry. You know as well as I do that they have skewed our mother's words. This is not what she wanted."

"Did she know what you were?"

"Yes, she always knew, that is why she had me training with the elven mage. I wasn't just learning to make potions and bandage wrapping. He taught me to control and use my magic."

"Why did she never tell me?"

"She thought it was better that no one know till the war was over. Even father did not know." Drea looked over to our father and he nodded. "We are leaving now, follow and I will show you what a true mage can do." Father and I left and much to my relief Drea did not follow. I knew it was not the last time I would see her or her men, but for now we were safe. I made the decision to take my father to Haven. It was a gamble, but I knew at least there we would be safe from the Templars. Little did I know, Drea had sent her second in command to follow us. Drea had hoped that he would find the hiding place of the Lost Faithful. Little did she know what awaited him in Haven. This man that she had put so much faith in would come to be my most trusted friend and ally, if she had known she never would have sent Justice after me.

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I have to apologize for this taking so long to be posted. I am having problems with my computer again and have started a new job that takes a lot of time out of my day. There is at least one more chapter about Justice and Pash coming. It depends on where my muse takes me with this. I haven't forgotten I left Anders and Leigh hanging on the run from the Seekers. I promise that I will get back to them soon. I am sorry if this chapter is boring. I have to set up a lot of things before I end this story. As always to my readers thank you for reading and sticking with me this far. I hope you will stay with me to the end of this. I will try to write a bit faster, but that depends on my darn computer.

Much Love,

Raven