The next morning, Caylus was stamping out the coals and finishing packing up the camp. Arella rose and went to help him but he brusquely brushed off her aid. They set out quickly. The knight held a small vial around his neck that he relied on for direction. Arella asked questions the whole way, about the Circle and Ferelden in general. After a few hours, Caylus held up his hand.
"Stop." he whispered, "He's nearby." He moved from tree to tree, trying to hide himself as he scanned the area for the boy. Arella just walked. She silently cast out her senses, like her mother had taught her, and heard a faint rustling to her left. She drew apart the bushes and came face to face with a young boy. The boy reeled back in surprise and nearly tripped over himself.
"Found you." Arella smiled. Caylus ran over, reaching for his sword.
"Stay back, Templar! I'm not going back to that tower, I'm not!" the boy cried.
"Calm down, we're here to help you." Arella said. The boy ignored her and raised his hands, summoning wisps of magick.
The Templar swore and grabbed the vial, holding it out at Anders. The magick faded and Anders shook his hands, trying harder, but it was no use.
"Damn it!" the boy swore, "Fine, take me back. But I'm tellin' you it won't last long!" Arella looked over at Caylus.
"What did you just do?"
"I nulled his magic. This is a vial of his blood that any Templar can use to do so or to track him with." he explained.
"Umm... Didn't you just finish explaining to me how blood magic is evil incarnate? What do you think that is?" Arella pointed out.
"Hey, you are so right!" the boy, Anders, joined in, "Technically the Templars use blood magic! I never thought about it like that before!"
"Quiet, mage." Caylus said curtly, "This is not blood magic. I am no mage, I cannot use magic. Come on, we're going back to the tower." He turned and waved for them to follow. Arella glanced at Anders and smiled, trying to reassure the boy. He grinned back and winked.
"What's a beautiful woman such as yourself doing with a grumpy Templar like Caylus?"
Arella chuckled, "He saved my life."
They travelled for the rest of the day and partly into the night. Caylus stayed silent for most of the journey while Anders and Arella chatted amiably. That night, Caylus took watch again, ignoring Arella's complaints that he needed sleep. She stubbornly stayed up beside him. Anders began to snore softly, and Arella smiled.
"You seem drawn to the boy." Caylus stated, not even turning to look at her.
"He's cute." Arella said, "He's like a little brother."
"You should really be more careful around mages. Their intentions are always unknown."
"Yeah well so are everyone else's. It doesn't take magic to be secretive or dangerous." Arella shot back.
"They are dangerous. Demons are always whispering to them. It only takes one slip"
"I could turn around and kill you just as easily as a mage. Demons are a convenient excuse for a bad decision. Watch what you say about mages, my mother was a mage. You might call her an apostate but from what I've heard that equivilates with blood magic. My mother fought against blood mages, and triumphed. She didn't need blood magic to be more powerful than them. She was the best person I have ever known." Arella said, vehemently.
"And how many blood mages have you come across being from a family of apostates?" Caylus childishly argued back.
"Where I'm from there is no Circle! So she could not have possible been an apostate!"
"Where are you from that has no Circle? There are Circles all over Thedas." Caylus could not figure out this girl.
"Maybe I'm from a different time then, I don't know! I know what I remember!" She stood, pacing in frustration. Then sighed, "Look, I- ...I have given this much thought. But no matter how hard I try, I cannot remember names. I see what they looked like, I know what they were, but anything that could identify where they are or where I am from slips out of my grasp." She was facing away from Caylus now. Her shoulders were slumped and the man's demeanor softened, seeing her as what she was, a lost young girl.
"Well... That... could be a start. What year was it?" he said, trying to comfort her.
"I do not understand what you mean. Year? Do you speak of the elven pantheon? I know they keep time with something similar."
"Elven pantheon? Oh, don't tell me you were friends with a Dalish as well." Caylus chuckled, "The Dalish are a myth. You probably heard some knife-ear go on about his ancestors and all that." Arella turned to glare at him.
"I do not have the faintest idea what a 'Dalish' is but if you utter another word against the noble folk you will regret it." she threatened icily.
Caylus held up his hands apologetically, "Sorry, sorry. I call them that will all respect." Arella scoffed at his flippant attitude.
"Enough of this, I am going to rest. Good night."