Dead mages littered the floor, their bodies twisted and distorted. It was a gruesome sight.

Two men, surrounded by abominations, were the focal point of the large room. One standing, the other kneeling and hanging by his wrists. Wrists secured by a web of magic. The prisoner's screams were otherworldly, pain evident in how animalistic it was.

Off to the side, several men were gathered, tied up. One of them had better be First Enchanter Irving, or the Tower was going to be cleansed, no matter what we did now.

The lone free man stepped closer to the one screaming, raising him up to eye level with magic, "Do you accept the gift that I offer?" his voice carried across the room to us as he slid a hand under the other man's chin.

A nod.

No!

The magic vanished, dropping the victim to the floor, as the abominations walked to the mage's side. As one, they gathered energy to them and threw it at the fallen man. He was tossed in to the air, his screams somehow louder than before. He changed, becoming an abomination.

"No!" Wynne shouted.

I held out my arm to stop her. Shook my head.

Her eyes narrowed and her jaw tightened, but she didn't argue.

I walked toward the group.

"Ah…. Look what we have here. An intruder. I bid you welcome. Care to join our… revels?"

"I take it you're Uldred?"

"Oh, very observant." His tone made my skin crawl, "I'm quite impressed you're still alive. Unfortunately, that must mean you killed my servants. Ah, well. They were probably better off dying in the service of their betters than living with the terrible responsibility of independence."

"I'm sorry. Are you upset I killed your lackeys?" I drawled sarcastically.

"We needn't fixate on who killed whom. That doesn't help our relationship."

"What are you trying to accomplish by torturing these people?"

"A mage is but the larval form of something greater. Your Chantry vilifies us, calls us abominations, when we have truly reached our full potential. Look at them. The Chantry has them convinced. They deny themselves the pleasure of becoming something glorious."

"You're mad!" Wynne shouted, "There's nothing glorious about what you've become, Uldred!"

"Uldred? He is gone. I am Uldred and yet not Uldred. I am more than he was. I could give you this gift, Wynne. You and all mages. It would be so much easier if you just accepted it." He crossed his arms, "But some people can be so stubborn."

"Say what you like. I'm still going to kill you." I pulled free one of my throwing knives, running a fingertip along the razor-thin edge.

"Resistance! Everywhere I go, resistance. How very inconsiderate. I even have the First Enchanter on my side, don't I… Irving?" he gestured toward the restrained mages.

Wynne gasped, seeming to spy Irving for the first time since we entered the chamber, "What have you don't to him?"

"Stop him…. He… is building an army. He will… destroy the Templars and-" the old man wheezed out, fighting for words.

"You're a sly little fox, Irving, telling on me like that. And here I thought he was starting to turn."

"N-never." A glare.

"That's enough out of you, Irving. He'll serve me, eventually, as will you."

"No, I won't. I'd rather die."

"Killing you would be a waste. Your raw potential, with the strength of a demon behind it, would be unstoppable. I can do that- I can give you power, and a new life."

"Now, see. That's going too far. I think I'm perfectly fine the way I am. You have to die now." I flashed a smile.

"Fight, if you must. It will just make my victory all the sweeter."

"Don't forget the Litany. It will thwart Uldred's attempts to control the mages and win this fight for us." The Senior Enchanter whispered under her breath.

I took out the scroll, reading out the words. White tendrils flowed out, swarming Uldred as he transformed in to a demon of Pride. He wasn't lying; he really wasn't Uldred, anymore.

The wisps of magic wrapped around Uldred's form, binding him in place.

"Take out the abominations! I've got Uldred!" I called out.

Running headlong in to the fray, I darted straight to him. Jumped in to the air and rammed my knife in his chest. Smiled darkly as the demon shrieked and writhed to no avail.

"Fight, if you must. It will just make my victory all the sweeter." I parroted, twisting the blade, "Too bad for you, your death won't be a waste."

Grasping the handle of one of my daggers, I flourished and drove it home in his heart. He collapsed, reverting to human form. Uldred was dead.

The others made quick work of the abominations, cutting them down one by one.

Movement by the stairs caught my attention. While the others saw to the First Enchanter, I went to investigate.

The girl let out a yelp, "Goddess! You can't just sneak up on people like that!"

"Calilian?" my eyes wide, I stared in disbelief, "How did you get here? The Templars weren't letting anyone in."

"I, uh, I'm a figment of your imagination?"

"Was that a question?"

"No?"

"What are you doing here?" I crossed my arms.

"I came to warn you."

"About?"

"The sorcerer."

I glanced back toward the upper level, "They're called mages here. You should be careful, calling them anything else."

Her mouth opened in a perfect o, "I was wondering about that…. Where are you from?"

"You first, since you definitely don't look like you belong in this world."

She played with her hands, "I'm from Altera, though sometimes it's called Lagendia."

"I'm from Earth." I looked her up and down, "You said 'Goddess.' Does that mean your people worship a female deity?"

"Uh, huh." Her head bobbed so fast, I was worried she would break something, "Altea. She created our world with her dreams."

Something clicked in my head, "Wait. Jeans."

She went from a healthy pink to ghost pale.

"In order to make jeans, you have to have-"

"Shh!" fearful eyes met mine, "Please. Not here. I'm only here to warn you about the demon, but you beat me to it. I didn't set the time right. I-"

I gasped softly, "Time traveler?"

She backed up a few paces, "I, uh, don't know what you're talking about. What's traveler and how do you time? I mean. Wait. That wasn't right, but you know what I mean? I think?"

"What?"

"I don't know." She shrugged, "Oh, but look at the time. I have to be traveling."

I grabbed her arm before she had a chance to run, "No. I need you to answer something for me."

Calilian's shoulders drooped, "What?"

"Will we see each other again?"

Her brows shot up in surprise, "I think so?"

"Good."

We shared a smile.

"But I really have to go now. I need to help my friends in Altera."

"Alright. I hope you have more time, the next we meet, Cali."

"C-Cali?" her jaw dropped.

"I give nicknames to all my friends." A shrug.

Eyes bugging out, she threw herself at me. Hugged me fiercely and blurted out a rush of words, all in one breath, "You know, I wasn't sure how you would react to me, but I'm really glad you like me enough to say we're friends and everything. It's so nice. I'm so happy and glad and I HAVE TO GO!" she suddenly yelled, bolting.

I had a feeling she was always like that, and I smiled to myself.

"Ana?" Leliana called out as the group slowly helped Irving down the stairs.

"I'm here." My smile grew when she reached me, "Fill me in?"

"Of course." She looked bemused, like there was a joke she was missing but she was going to enjoy it anyway, "First Enchanter Irving says he'll talk to Knight-Commander Greagoir about how the mages are all safe and there's no reason for the Tower to be annulled."

"Success." I breathed.

...

"Irving? Maker's breath, I did not expect to see you alive." The Knight-Commander stood just inside the entrance hall.

"It is over, Greagoir. Uldred… is dead."

"Uldred tortured these mages, hoping to break their wills and turn them in to abominations. We don't know how many of them have turned." The younger Templar from earlier stepped forward.

"What?" Irving sounded disgusted, "Don't be ridiculous!"

"Of course he'll say that! He might be a blood mage! Don't you know what they did? I won't let this happen again!"

"I am the Knight-Commander here, not you." A glower.

"Well, what does the Knight-Commander think, then?" I asked boldly.

"We have won back the tower. I will accept Irving's assurance that all is well."

"But they may have demons within them, lying dormant… lying in wait!" I wondered if he was going to start frothing at the mouth.

"Enough! I have already made my decision." Greagoir held up a hand, "Thank you. You have proven yourself a friend of both the Circle, and the Templars."

"What about the Darkspawn? We need aid." Alistair reminded him.

"I promised you aid, but with the Circle restored, my duty is to watch the mages. They are free to help you, however. Speak to them."

"You mean the First Enchanter?" he insisted.

"Yes. Irving. For now, I will have to oversee a sweep of the Tower. There may be more survivors and we should do our best to tend to them. Please, excuse me. And Irving… it is good to have you back."

"Ah, I'm sure we'll be at each other's throats again in no time."

With that, Greagoir walked off to give instructions to the other Templars.

"Here we are, the tower in disarray, the Circle nearly annihilated… though it could have been much, much worse. I am glad you arrived when you did. It's almost as though the Maker Himself sent you."

"I'm glad we could help." I smiled innocently, Alistair coughing in the background.

"From what Greagoir said, it seems that you came here seeking allies. The least we can do is help you against the darkspawn. I would hate to survive this, only to be overcome by the Blight."

"So we have your word?" My fellow Warden and I said at the same time.

"You have my word, as First Enchanter. The Circle will join the Grey Wardens in the fight."

"Irving, I have a request; I seek leave to follow the Grey Wardens." The matronly mage announced.

"Wynne… we need you here. The Circle needs you."

"I appreciate the sentiment, Irving, but the Circle will do fine without me. The Circle has you. This girl is brave and good, and both of the Wardens are capable of great things. If they will accept my help, I will help them accomplish their goals."

"We would be honored, Wynne." Again, at the same time.

"You were never one to stay in the Tower when there was adventure to be had elsewhere." Irving talked himself through it.

"Why stay, where I can be of service elsewhere?"

"Then I give you leave to follow the Grey Wardens, but know that you always have a place here." He bowed his head, "There is much to be done here, and I must go. You must forgive me for not being a proper host."

"We understand." Alistair offered.

"Till we meet again." I murmured.