Disclaimer: I do NOT own Dragon Age or anything related to it.

"If you have a sister and she dies, do you stop saying you have one? Or are you always a sister, even when the other half of the equation is gone?"
― Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper

Prologue 3:Regina Surana, Natasha Amell

'Rosie, why did you leave me?'

Natasha Amell sat frozen in place on the floor of her quarters in the tower, her grey eyes bloodshot from all of the crying she'd done as she held in her arms the lifeless body of Rosie Amell, her little sister, her last little sibling. She stared down at her sister, slowly reaching out a shaky hand to close her now lifeless eyes and lowered her gaze to the floor, beginning to sob quietly into her hands. Her heart felt like someone had just taken a knife and stabbed her right through the chest, just like Daylen had done to himself that fateful day two years ago.

When the Templars burst suddenly inside their home, everything took a turn for the worse. Samuel, the youngest of them all, only eight years old, revealed himself an abomination and a blood mage. Solona, sweet long orange-haired Solona, such a nice, kind, sweet girl, had taken the blow for a Templar to save him from Samuel and not just any Templar; it was the Knight-Commander Greagior. Natasha remembered watching Solona's body crumble to the floor as Daylen rushed to her, feeling her life slip away in his arms, as both he and Natasha them tried to get through to Samuel. They seemed to be succeeding, but Greagior didn't think so. He drew his sword, gave a loud yell, and suddenly charged, knocking the two of them roughly aside like rag dolls, and before anyone knew it, Samuel's head was rolling across the floor and their mother, Revka, cried out in grief.

She could never forget the look on Daylen's face as his body shook uncontrollably with both anger and dole before he too snapped at the Templars, declaring furiously that he would not be taken by them. He grabbed a knife and plunged it into his chest, right into his heart and fell dead to the floor. Rosie and Revka were both screaming and sobbing by then as Natasha begged the Templars not to arrest her mother as long as she and her sister went with them to the Circle and Revka, so terribly shaken up and nearly sick from what she'd just witnessed, could do nothing but agree to these heartbreaking terms.

That was two long years ago and now Rosie was dead too, having poisoned herself and come to say goodbye to her sister one last time. But before Rose died she made Natasha promise her one last thing; that she would find their mother and tell her how sorry Rosie was for not being strong enough to live on without the rest of their family. Natasha gave her word that she would and with a very small smile on her face, Rosie died. She couldn't bring herself to get off the floor, to let go of her baby sister, her dead baby sister, her last little sibling, and so she just remained there, white as a sheet and still as a rock.

It wasn't until she felt someone gently rubbing circles into her back that she turned around to see Anders, his expression full of compassion and sadness. He brushed her chestnut-colored bangs away from her forehead, sighing quietly when he saw the pitiful look on her face. Natasha rarely ever let her emotions show, putting on this cold and surly demeanor so no one would ever see how truly broken she was and that demeanor had now crumbled. The sound of the door opening caused them both to turn around as Jowan came dragging both Irving and Greagior into the room, pointing sorrowfully at Rosie's very still form.

Irving frowned, feeling great pity for the poor dead girl and her sister, who'd watched and felt her pass away. Greagior said nothing. He and Natasha never got along well as the chestnut-haired mage never forgave him for murdering Samuel and declared several times from day one that she never would. She hoped he would one day die a slow painful death, or better yet, she wished Solona hadn't taken the blow for him and just let this pathetic excuse for a living being die like he deserved. The First Enchanter reprimanded her multiples times for saying such things and demanded she apologize to the Templar, but Natasha refused and Greagior did not ever force the issue. They hated each other with a passion and wanted nothing more than for the other to fail at life and die a very terrible death.

A still quivery Natasha slowly felt Jowan and Anders help her stand up, but her knees quickly buckled and they barely caught her arms in time to keep her from falling. The two young men who Natasha regarded as brothers gently guided the trembling mage to her bunk where she slowly laid down and curled herself into a ball. Greagior soon called in some more Templars to prepare Rosie's body for a proper funeral service, Natasha never taking her eyes off the stiff as it was carried out of the room.

Anders and Jowan did not leave her side, both of them sitting by her bed and trying to comfort her, but she didn't even bother to acknowledge them, instead staring straight up ahead with eyes that showed no emotion or sign of life in them. After almost an hour of receiving no response from the grieving girl, they decided to let her have some time to herself and gently pulled the covers over her quiet form. Natasha watched them head back to their own bunks and slowly rolled onto her back to stare up at the ceiling, blinking away more tears that threatened to come and swallowing down sobs. She refused to let herself cry anymore, she needed to be strong for her little siblings who were all now watching over her and expecting her to make good on her promise to one day find and reunite with Revka Amell.

Those were her last thoughts before she closed her eyes and slowly fell into a restless sleep plagued by dreams of Rosie's lifeless body in a tomb and Samuel's innocent face as Greagior cut him down.

One Year Later:

Working her fingers through the ponytail of her apple-red hair, Regina Surana heaved a sigh as she followed First Enchanter down the hall to her new quarters that she would be sharing with three other apprentices.

The elven mage had just recently been moved up to some of the higher floors thanks to some supportive comments by Senior Enchanter Wynne to Irving. She blushed a little upon finding about this just a few days earlier, but thanked the older woman greatly. It was true that despite her often shy or nervous nature, Regina was a very smart young woman with great potential who, like anyone else, had her moments and did sometimes bend the rules a bit, but was otherwise a perfectly friendl, kind, and well-behaved individual.

Eventually, Irving stopped in front of one of the doors and looked at Regina over his shoulder with a small smile.

"These will be your new quarters, Regina, I will introduce you to your new roommates as well." Regina gave a nod as Irving opened the door and ushered her inside. There two male apprentices in the room, both of them talking about something in whispers. They both looked up at the sound of Irving clearing his throat to get their attention and Regina took a tentative step forward when the First Enchanter gestured for her to come closer.

"Anders, Jowan." Regina's dark green eyes studied the two apprentices as Irving introduced her to them."This is Apprentice Regina Surana, your new roommate." She noticed Irving seemed to be looking for someone else on the other side of the room and when it became clear that whoever he was looking for was not there, he turned to the two males with a questioning look. Seemingly understand Irving's silent question, the blonde apprentice called Anders cleared his throat and answered.

"She went to the library to study after class." Regina cocked her head to the side as she wondered who her third roommate would be. The way Anders sounded when he spoke of her seemed like he was sad about something or perhaps worried for his female roommate. Jowan gave an almost sad nod and it looked to Regina as if a silent type of understanding had passed between Irving and the two male apprentices. Irving nodded back in reply and left Regina to get settled in her new room.

"Hi." She said, hesitantly walking closer to them and not really knowing what else to say. Fortunately, they seemed to understand her timidity and both gave her separate smiles that she happily returned. For the next few hours, Regina took the time to get to know her new roommates and found that she enjoyed their company. Anders was quite friendly and funny and so was Jowan. They welcomed her warmly and instantly she knew that she had found good friends in them both.

When the door opened, Regina turned to see an unfamiliar female apprentice who she guessed was her female roommate enter the room. The human woman was very beautiful with long chestnut-colored hair tied in a loose ponytail behind her back and grey eyes that glinted with a hint of fury and interest when she spotted Regina talking with Anders and Jowan.

"Well, look who finally finished studying." Anders jested like he was trying to lighten the chestnut-haired mage's mood and a very small smile crossed her lips but vanished just as quickly. She stared at Regina and with some hesitation, the elven mage walked over to her and extended a hand for her to shake.

"Hi, I'm Regina." The human girl blinked and slowly smiled again before she shook Regina's hand and introduced herself.

"Natasha Amell. Pleased to meet you." She lowered her eyes briefly and little did Regina know, a single thought ran through Natasha's head as she smiled sadly back at the elven girl.

'I won't lose another sister.'

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Name Meanings:

Natasha - Rebirth

Regina - Queen

Next up: Prologue 4:Zoë Tabris