Chapter 1- Arrival of the black rider

The sun was rising in the small town of Lothering, and it looked like it was going to be another clear and sunny day. Downstairs in the Hawke household, Leandra was in the kitchen making breakfast. Her husband, Malcolm was helping her by setting the table. She then finished mixing the porridge in the large metal pot above the fireplace and gave it one last tap of the wooden spoon against the rim, to shake off any excess bits. She dried her hands against her white apron, then walked towards the hallway staircase, where her children were most likely still sleeping. She cleared her throat a few times, getting ready to yell. It was what she had to do to get them up, they loved to sleep for as long as they could.

Then the most surprising thing happened. Hawke and Bethany ran past her with surprising energy and giggled the whole way. They only paused to look over their shoulders and shout, "Morning, Mom! Morning, Mom!"

Carver was much quieter, and snuck around his mother as she stared in disbelief at her two over energetic daughters. He simply released a simple, "Unn…" and a nod of his head as he walked past.

Leandra scratched her head, "Did I miss something, Marian… Since when did you all get up this early?"

Hawke was scooping porridge into her wooden bowl, but turned to her mother, "Carver, Bethany and I don't remember the last time we were ever up to see an actual sunrise, Mother! Thought that today could be the day. Oh, and call me 'Hawke' from now on, ok?"

As soon as her bowl was filled to the rim, she began scooping heaping spoonfuls into Bethany's awaiting bowl. Leandra looked over at Malcolm, to see what he thought of his daughters strange attitudes. He just smiled and shrugged.

"Good, then that means that we can get an early start to the day, Marian." Malcolm replied with a chuckle.

"Father! I said to call me 'Hawke' from now on! " Marian complained. Malcolm just chuckled and shook his head.

Carver sighed, his father always started magic lessons with them right after breakfast, when their chances of being seen were the lowest. But to his surprise, Hawke waved him over with a smile. Carver tilted his head curiously, then went over to the fireplace. She pulled his bowl out of his hand and began scooping huge spoonfuls of porridge into it. At the same time, she replied, "Sorry, Father… But today we want to hang out with Carver. As sort of a brother and sisters type of day, ok?"

"Uh… ok. I suppose there's no harm in-" Malcolm said as he sat back down in his chair.

"Great, thanks!" Hawke said as she and Bethany darted out the front door with their porridge bowls in hand.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Leandra shouted with her hands against the doorframe.

"Sorry, Mom! We want to eat outside today!" Hawke shouted as she and Bethany headed for the barn. Leandra then stepped back just as the door came swinging back and nearly hit in the face. It banged loudly against the frame a few times from being carelessly closed. Leandra sighed and was in the middle of running a hand through her hair, but then felt Carver squeeze past her. He had two hands on his wooden bowl, being more careful than his own sisters as not to spill. "I'm going too, Mother."

"Alright… But… You're all acting so strange today." Leandra complained to the air, as her kids were already gone from the house and out of earshot.

"Kids…" Malcolm said with a smile. He then got up with his wooden bowl in hand and made his way over to the fireplace. But as soon as he got there and lifted up the wooden scoop, he discovered that the entire pot was empty. There was barely a spoonful of porridge left. He then walked over to the stove, opened it and discovered that all of the biscuits were gone as well.

He turned to his wife and shook his head. Leandra just laughed, "Kids… We'll forgive them, Malcolm. They're still growing, you know." She said as she took the spoon from him, then turned to the pantry, "Sit tight, I'll fix you up some eggs."

Meanwhile, Hawke, Bethany and Carver were hurriedly making their way towards the barn. Hawke handed her bowl to Bethany as soon as she got to the large sliding door. She spit into her two palms and rubbed them together. She then opened the sliding door and spotted Anders covered up in a grey wool blanket. He was curled up like a cat and sleeping peacefully on the pile of hay provided last night.

"Aww… He looks so peaceful." Said Bethany.

Hawke looked back and smirked, "Did you bring the extra bowl?"

Bethany smiled, handed Hawke her own bowl and brought her other hand out from behind her back. "Yep! I managed to swipe it without being seen by either mother or father!" she boasted. "I should have been a thief, instead of a mage!"

Hawke rolled her eyes, "As if being born a mage wasn't hard enough, Bethany. We don't need the extra risk of having a thief in the family."

Carver then entered the barn, "Wait… You didn't really want to spend the day with me, did you?" Carver concluded as he looked over at Anders, still asleep, "You just wanted to see him…"

Hawke sighed, "Settle down, Carver. This is the first time we've ever got to spend time with another apostate our own age."

"Please don't be jealous… We may never get this chance again." Bethany added.

Hawke then rushed up to Bethany, took the other wooden bowl out of her hands and poured a quarter of her own bowl into the empty one. She then took Bethany's full brimming bowl and poured a quarter of her portion into the empty bowl, lastly she did so with Carvers bowl. Now all four bowls had an equal amount of porridge in them.

Hawke carefully tip-toed her way over to the sleeping apostate, Anders, and shook him awake.

"Mmm… Morning already?" Anders asked as he rolled onto his back and stretched his arms and legs out while yawning.

"Yep, it's another day. 'Time to wake up and face it'… as Father would say." Hawke said teasingly. She then held the bowl out to Anders. He bit his bottom lip nervously, then took it. She seemed to be a very trust worthy person after all.

"Carver, keep a look out while we eat!" Hawke ordered as she took up a seating position next to Anders. Bethany naturally took up a position on the other side. She playfully shoved Anders softly and laughed. Hawke joined in as well. Finally, so did Anders. They all then began to dig into their porridge, chatting in between bites.. Carver jealously looked on, grumbled and took up a seat by the barn window and watched the house and surrounding outside area.

As Anders was scooping up the last of his porridge into his mouth, he paused with the wooden spoon in his mouth and a tear came trickling out of his eye. Hawke took notice right away, "What's wrong?"

Anders wiped the tear away, "I… I remember my mother making me porridge like this… Before I was taken away from her."

"They don't serve food like this in the circle?" Bethany inquired.

Anders shook his head, "No… It's very different. Each morning we're all called to the mess hall and the meals are made by the towers cooks, whom we never get to see or even speak to. The quality of the food… cannot be compared to this either. Also, we have to eat at the same time and in the same room with the Templar's for every meal. Even then they glare at us and keep a close watch, making even meal times an uncomfortable experience." Anders recalled with a shudder.

Marian nodded as she ate, "I see… I'm sorry to hear that. But you can relax while you're with us!"

Bethany nodded, "Yeah! We won't glare at you or anything while we share a meal together… Well… most of us won't" she said as she looked over at an already glaring Carver, as did Hawke and Anders. But they playfully laughed it off. But Carver didn't.

Carver grunted angrily, turned and looked out the barn window. He scooped a spoonful of porridge into his mouth and chewed on it loudly. His sisters and Anders continued laughing together.

Still, Carver angrily thought, I can't believe she lied to Mother and Father… about wanting to spend time with me… when they only used me to spend time with him… an apostate… from the circle tower.

Carver looked back at his sisters and the apostate as they continued eating and chatting together, What does he have that I don't… he thought jealously, My sisters never laugh with me like this…

As soon as they were done eating, Hawke collected the bowls from everyone and started for the barn doors. Before she left, she turned back to Anders, "We don't want you to leave just yet!" She called out, "Stay with us for a little while longer, please…"

Anders looked out at the window and checked on the sun, it had barely risen and would give light to Ferelden for a long time yet. He could always continue his journey later on in the day. He swallowed hard, "W-well.. I guess I could stay… for a while longer."

Bethany clapped her hands together happily, "Excellent! There's still so much we want to show you!"

Hawke nodded, "Right! Come to town with us when I get back! We want to show you what it's like to be free from the tower and enjoy the things that my sister and I get to enjoy everyday!"

"Go to town? I don't think that's wise. The risk is-" Anders started.

"Nonsense!" Hawke interrupted, "Just wait here for a moment!"

Hawke then rushed back to the house with the four bowls stacked in her hands. She then entered the house and dumped the bowls into the water tub for her mother to clean later. But before she could leave, her mother called out to her, "Finished already?" she asked as she entered the kitchen, "I guess that mean's that you're ready for your Father's less-"

"Sorry, Mother!" Hawke interrupted, "But Caver, Bethany and I are going into town right now. Then we'll be hanging out together for the rest of the day. Is that alright?"

Leandra tilted her head, but soon replied, "W-well… I guess so… But you and Bethany are usually always so eager to spend time with your father and learn-"

"Oh! Before I leave… I have a favour to ask!" Hawke announced as she re-entered the house and stood in front of her mother with her hands held together, "Can Carver, Bethany and I have some coin to spend in Lothering? The festival is still going on and we'd like to buy some treats and sweets."

"Well, It's kind of early this month to be asking for-"

"Please, Mother!" Hawke pleaded with puppy dog eyes.

Leandra reached forward and caressed her daughters cheek, "You always know just how to convince me…"

She then reached into a leather pouch tied to her waist and counted out an equal amount of silvers and dumped them into her daughters awaiting hands, "There you go! Don't spend it all it one place! Or on yourself, Hawke!"

Marian Hawke laughed, "You… called me 'Hawke'"

Leandra smiled as she rubbed the top of her daughters head, "You're always ask me to, my little Hawke."

"Thank you… Mother…" Hawke said as she ran up to her mother and hugged her around the waist. She then backed up towards the doors, "We probably won't be back until this evening! But I will watch out for everyone, I promise!"

Just before she reached the door, her mother shouted for her, "Wait! Hawke!"

Hawke turned around as she dumped all the coins into her pocket, "Hmmm? What is it, Mother?"

Leandra raised all of the bowls out of the soapy pot, then let them fall back down as she counted, "One… two… three… four…" She then turned back to Hawke, "Why did you take four bowls out there? Weren't there only three of you?"

Hawke's eyes darted back and forth as she nervously scratched the back of her head and stuttered as she thought of what to say, "O-oh, w-well… uhh… I…" Hawke stuttered, "W-we… yes, w-we found a stray outside and wanted to feed him as well!"

"A stray?" Leandra said, she then sighed, "Oh no… Please don't tell me that you brought back another stray dog or cat with you…"

"Not really…" Hawke said softly.

"What?"

Hawke shook her head while grinning, "Nothing!" she replied innocently.

She then began to walk back towards the door with her hands held behind her back, "Anyways, the three of us are leaving now! And with all the coin that you've given us, we'll buy lunch while we're in Lothering! But we'll be back for supper! We promise!" Hawke announced as she ran out the door.

Malcolm then entered the kitchen from the bathroom hallway, "What was that all about?" he asked.

Leandra shook her head, then wrapped her arms around her husbands neck, "Nothing," she replied while looking deep into Malcolm's eyes, "But it looks like we'll have the house all to ourselves for once! You won't have to take the girls out for lessons, and I won't have to watch over Carver for a whole day! So let's make the most of it!"

Malcolm raised an eyebrow as he smiled, then locked lips with his beloved wife and kissed her long and passionately. Leandra then took his hand and led him towards the bedroom.

A short while later, the Hawke sisters, Anders and Carver were reaching the outskirts of Lothering. But they all hesitated at the tree line. "Alright, we're here! Now let's go into town!"

Carver grabbed her by the arm just as she was about to lead, "Wait! You want to go into town with him? A runaway apostate?" Carver asked.

Bethany shrugged, "So… What's the problem?"

Carver groaned loudly, "He may have Templar's searching for him! What if they're in town today?"

Bethany rubbed her hands together nervously, then looked over at her sister for both her opinion and an answer. Hawke thought for a few moments, then sighed, "You're right… I guess we can't go into town. It's too risky for us."

Carver exhaled in relief, "That's good, then let's-"

Hawke then set her whole coin pouch into Carvers hands, then turned to Anders, "Tell me, do you ever get to eat treats or sweets in the tower?" she inquired.

Anders shook his head, "Rarely… We don't have many special occasions in the tower. Even when we do, we're not served fancy candy or anything special."

"I see," Hawke then turned to Carver and placed her hands on his shoulders, "Listen, little brother. I want you to go into town and go to all of the stalls and buy as many sweets as you can, then come right back here! Don't spare a single silver!"

Carver was already glaring at Hawke, "What? I took your advice, Carver. None of us mages will go into town today. But you aren't a mage. You've got nothing to worry about. We'll even eat out here in the forest, away from Lothering. See how careful we're being, little Carver?"

"But, I-"

Hawke and Bethany had already turned back to Anders and sat with him on top of a fallen log and began talking, completely oblivious to Carver now. Carver grumbled, squeezed the money pouched between his hands tightly, then headed into town as he was told to.

Stupid sister… spending time with that stupid mage boy. Making me run stupid errands… He complained to the air.

Soon, Carver had a large bag of candy and other sweets wrapped in a paper bag and was checking on the last stall in the town square. As he was searching, however, he heard a horse whinnying loudly. He turned just in time to see a black horse rear up on it's hind legs, and a black rider pulling on the reigns, attempting to calm it.

Once the rider in black armour and a black helmet had the horse back under control, he jumped down from the saddle. His entire plate armour set rattled and clanked loudly. The villagers all went about their normal business as the rider approached. Carver gulped nervously and turned back to the stall and pretended to browse.

"I'm… looking… for an apostate." The black rider announced loudly, though hardly any of the villagers paid him any mind as they continued on about their business. "A young apostate… from the nearby circle of Magi tower..."

Carver's heart beat loudly in his chest and within his ears, it couldn't possibly be Anders that he was talking about, could it?

He quickly paid for the last of the candy treats and dumped them into the bag with the others. He then started to walk back to where his sisters and Anders were waiting. The black rider, however, grabbed him and positioned Carver in front of himself, "About this big…" He ruffled Carvers dark hair with his gloved hand. "with dirty blond hair…" He then tugged on Carvers brown tunic. "and wearing a blue circle robe and hooded cape… Has anyone here seen him?" He then released Carver and continued walking through the town square.

Carver trembled violently. He's talking about Anders! This man is… hunting for Anders!

"Are you a bounty hunter?" The tavern owner asked as he leaned out the front door, "You'd have to be! No one would hunt someone so young unless they were paid to do so!"

The black rider took a knife off his belt, twirled it through his fingers, then threw it towards the tavern and it became stuck in the doorframe, right next to the owners head, "Why yes I am!" he replied with an evil grin, "I've been paid by Knight-Templar Zook to hunt down this apostate and hold him until they get here… Anyone got a problem with that?"

Everyone froze the moment the knife was thrown, but they all managed to shake their heads out of fear. "Good." He then tossed a bag full of coins into the tavern owners hands, "Give me a room, I'll be setting up here to search the surrounding area. This is the largest settlement that is closest to the tower, and the most likely place he'd stop to rest and look for food or shelter."

The black rider then entered the tavern, while a young worker rushed outside and took his horse towards the stables to tie him in. This isn't good… Carver thought worriedly.

He then rushed back towards the outskirts located near the fields, windmill and stream where his sisters were waiting. Close to the same place they had originally found Anders.

"Ah! Good to see you back, little brother!" Hawke replied as she took the bag out of Carvers hands and peered inside.

Before she could start handing out the treats, Carver took her by the arm and pulled her away, "Marian! Marian!" he said in a hushed whisper.

"I told you, call me 'Hawke!'" she insisted.

"Whatever, Hawke!" he corrected, then continued, "There's a bounty hunter in the village! He says that he's looking for an escape apostate from the circle tower! The description he gave matches Anders to a tee!"

Hawke rubbed her chin, "Is he a templar?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Then we're ok for the time being!" Hawke insisted, "We haven't brought Anders into town or back to our home. No ones seen him with us, and we're being very, very careful about where we go and what we do with Anders."

"But, Hawke!"

"Don't worry, Carver! It'll be alright!" Hawke said as she ran a hand down his cheek, "This boy hasn't got to experience the freedom that Bethany and I have. Let us help him enjoy himself for just a little while longer, please…"

"I…" Carver started, but sighed in defeat and shook his head, "Alright, Hawke… Whatever you think is-"

"Great!" Hawke answered, "Thank you, little brother!"

Hawke then ran back to Anders and Bethany, sat back down on the log and opened the paper bag and showed its yummy contents to them. They both cried out in joy, then dug in and began to enjoy the yummy, crunchy, or hard candy sweets and treats within. Once again, Carver was not included.

He crossed his arms, grunted, then turned back to the village to keep watch, a role he was having to play regularly while the three young apostates mingled and had fun together. Still, some angry tears began to build up in his eyes as he looked on at Anders jealously. As a non-mage, he was rarely included in anything Father, Hawke and Bethany did together. Why should this young boy get to be so close to his sisters when he's only just arrived?

Carver pushed that thought aside and thought of something else that was bothering him, What's wrong with Marian? She wasn't even fazed when I told her about the bounty hunter.

It's that boy! It has to be! He's clouding her judgement! He's making her become far too careless and reckless! I have to do something… otherwise… everyone in our family will be in trouble because of him. I should… No! I must tell Father!