Kaitlyn looked back over her shoulder when the mage voiced her thanks. She hadn’t expected Thea to wake up so quickly but then, perhaps she was a light sleeper. The dim light of the single candle cast shadows over the mages face but Kaitlyn could still make out the hands that clutched at the thin blankets of the bed. The whole situation made the Templar feel akin to a paramour, sneaking away after some illicit affair. Thea’s pleading words for her to stay didn’t help.

What the mage did next was even more unexpected. Kaitlyn flushed and turned her eyes to the buttons on her damp undershirt as Thea got out of bed and went over to retrieve her robes. Kaitlyn was almost done dressing herself when she felt the warmth of the mage’s arm on her arm. The touch, however, was far from pleasant. Her wound was quiet tender thanks to the recent activity and the pressure of Thea’s hand sent lashes of pain throughout the limb. Kaitlyn tried her best not to instinctively wince away. The sensation served to ground the Templar.

“I…” Kaitlyn struggled for the words to let Thea down as easy as possible. ”I can’t? I want to do the honorable thing? I don’t trust myself? I am a Templar and you’re a mage? I think I might be tainted? I need to be alone?” No. That last part was a lie. She didn’t desire to be alone with her thoughts, with the reality of Wendell’s death still fresh or the possibility of an agonizing death which was already whispering promises of coming quicker rather than later. Kaitlyn was already feeling unusually warm and she didn’t think it was simply the nearness of her attractive traveling companion.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Kaitlyn finished. There. That at least, was the truth. Still, she wished she could give in, wished she could lay beside Thea in the small bed and bask in the comfort of her company. “In a few days’ time…” The Templar didn’t finish. She didn’t think she had to.

“I’ll be right outside if you need me.” That was the proper place for a guard. It’s where she’d expected to spend the night when she’d requested only one room. First, to make sure Thea didn’t escape but more importantly that no one felt the need to disturb the mage’s sleep. Thea was old enough to arise some suspicion about the reason why she needed to be escorted. At her age, few would believe she was going to the Circle for the first time. Most of the villagers might reason the mage was a run-away apostate or worse and news in a small town was known for traveling fast.

Thea flinched when she noticed the templar's reaction to her touch. Of course, she had completely forgotten about the warrior's wounds. Kaitlyn went on to protest her plea for company, out of a sense of propriety and duty even though the mage could see that the woman was tempted to take her up on the offer. It made sense, of course. There was no point in confusing their relationship as any other than that of mage and templar. For all either of them knew, Thea's fate upon arriving at the Circle was to be made Tranquil at the first opportunity.

Still, when the templar showed herself out, Thea couldn't keep herself in the room alone with her thoughts. If the templar refused to stay with her, then she would go to the templar. She got a few things from her pack, and in the dim light of the room, began working on a healing salve that would help speed the woman's recovery. It took the better part of an hour, but Thea soon walked out the door and straight up to the templar. "Sit," she commanded with more authority than she felt. "If you will not stay with me, then I shall stay with you. At least let me tend to that wound now that we're somewhere marginally more peaceful."

Thea took Kaitlyn's injured arm gently and handled it with utmost care and grace as she applied the salve and muttered under her breath, her hands taking on a blue glow as she began casting healing magic on the templar's arm. "If it was causing this much pain you should have told me." Thea chided her gently, for a moment forgetting she wasn't tending to one of her clansmen but rather a stranger she had just met not a day ago. Once the salve was applied, the mage let it air for a moment before taking a linen strip and using it as a bandage. "Keep it dry and try not to put any strain on the arm for the next few hours. If the salve starts causing you to itch, it's perfectly natural, if a little uncommon. Just don't scratch it." Thea instructed as she knotted the bandage and let the templar regain control of her arm.

Now there was nothing to hide the fact that she had no reason to be with the templar outside the room they had paid for. "I can make some tea for the pain as well, if you want." Thea managed to say. "With your injury I should be standing guard over you instead." She joked, sitting out in the corridor with her back against the wall. If Kaitlyn insisted on her being in the room, the templar was welcome to try carrying her in again with a bandaged and injured arm. The mage was not going to let the woman's foolish stubbornness get the better of her.

Kaitlyn sat in the empty, cramped, dimly lit upper hallway of the tavern. Behind her, she could hear Thea moving about in the room but she had no idea what the mage was up to. Her thoughts turned inward and in her mind she imagined all the possible ways this night could have ended differently. If she had agreed to curl up in bed with the mage, if Wendell was alive, if she hadn’t agreed to escort Thea, if she’d never joined the Templars at all. At the robust age of 23, she’d probably be the wife of someone with a child on her hip and one on the way. She’d never gone back to the village she’d grown up in after she left to join the Templars. It seemed a little late now.

The Templar gave a start when Thea came out of the door behind her. Her lids felt heavy. Had she fallen asleep during her watch? She must have been more out of it than she was giving her credit for. Kaitlyn stood up as the mage approach but quickly sat back down again at Thea’s order.

"If you will not stay with me, then I shall stay with you….” The words hurt. Kaitlyn wanted to say something, to try to explain her feelings better to the mage. Andraste, knew she’d made a mess of it last time. But what else was there to add that wouldn’t make things even more awkward than they were already?

Kaitlyn watched as Thea rubbed the salve over her arm, while trying to not show her nervousness as the other woman’s closeness. Blue light, similar to the same spell Kaitlyn had used earlier in an effort to cleanse her wound, tingled across her skin. She wanted to tell Thea that trying to heal the wound was pointless, but she couldn’t bring herself to forming the words.

”I don’t need tea.” Kaitlyn said, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. The slave had made the pain lessen significantly although it was by no means gone. ”As for taking a break, I can’t make any promised. Maybe you could ask the Darkspawn to go easy on us next time?” Maker say there wouldn’t be a next time.

They sat in silence for a while. Despite Kaitlyn’s best effort she could hardly keep her eyes open. Perhaps the mage had put some sort of sleep inducing herb into that balm. ”This is just silly,” Kaitlyn whispered. She wondered if Thea was also struggling to stay awake. ”I didn’t pay good gold so we could sit outside a room. Please go to bed, Thea.” She hoped the mage understood that she meant that bed. ”It is my duty to keep watch. It is my place,” from the corner of her eye, Kaitlyn could see Thea hadn’t budged yet. ”It would make me feel better to know you are sleeping comfortably. We have a long, hard ride tomorrow. Sitting out here all night will only make you more sore and you’ll want to be in top shape just in case-“

"Alright, fine!" Thea gave in with a sigh, heading back into the room. She could not understand the templar. One moment she was all cold and professional, the next she was looking out for the mage's welfare. Keeping her distance to protect Thea seemed like a strange idea to her - the door was hardly the only way into the room, and Kaitlyn would hardly be able to handle a mob by herself.

She sat down on the bed and didn't think of it much, but soon the fatigue from the day's travels and events caught up with her and she fell asleep, haunted by dreams of the people she had left behind. A new life awaited her when the sun rose, and where it would take her was anyone's guess. She awoke with the sun shining on her face, and found the space on the bed beside her empty. The templar had really stood guard outside her room throughout the night then.

She got dressed and washed up, half-expecting to wake up in her aravel at any moment, still unsure this wasn't all some horrible dream.

Sometimes situations improved when you slept on them or at least your mind was a little clearer. This was certainly not the case for Kaitlyn this morning. The Templar rose up on her hands and peered out a nearby curtained window. ”It can hardly even be called morning.” The sun was still hiding away, pink wisps on the horizon the only proof that it was considering showing its face at all.

Kaitlyn slumped back down and felt around, trying to feel for a pillow only to realize there wasn’t one. Maker though it didn’t matter, there was no way she’d be going back to sleep anytime soon. Her body felt like it’d been trampled on my dozens of horses and she openly shuddered as she remembered her dreams. Red blood animal and dark tainted blood, intertwined and splattered across the land. It sprinkled over tree litter and mossy boulders, smeared on helmets and cobblestones, sprayed on the rotting corpses of horses, dark spawn, children, rippled through the rivers and the streams on the land. All the while she could do nothing, her body was hot and impossibly heavy, her skin felt uncomfortable like she wanted to shed it off like a snake.

Kaitlyn turned her eyes towards the room door. Thea had been mad that she’d refused to go to bed with her. She knew the mage must also be suffering alone, away from anyone she had once considered family. But the fact that Kaitlyn felt so wretched this morning was proof enough that she’d made the right decision. This way, at least one of them had a chance to sleep well.

The Templar stood up and gently knocked against the room door. There was no answer. She’d let the mage sleep for a little while longer while she readied for the journey ahead of them.

---

Kaitlyn felt more than heard the mage sit down across from her. The templar had spent the last hour or so at the stable, rooting through the supplies to find Wendel’s map of the area. After she’d accomplished that she’d made herself presentable and was about half way through her breakfast.

The tavern’s main room was as empty as usual. This time it made sense. The breakfast the woman was feeding them was abysmal at best. A chewy white grain was floating in watery milk and enough salt to cure a fish. Normally when faced with something this gut-wrenchingly bad, Kaitlyn would wait out for other prospects but with her health plaguing her, she knew she’d need the strength.

“I figured we’d go this way,” the templar said, presenting the hand-drawn map to Thea. Kaitlyn carefully avoided the mages eyes as she traced a marked trail with her finger. ”It’d be shorter if we cut through these woods here,” she paused and indicated the location on the map, ”but I think we should stay out of them. Just in case. The trail goes around the Circle a bit, so we’ll have to cut back, and we’ll lose an hour or so… still I think it’s safer that way. Just think, this time tomorrow you’ll be safe behind the Circle walls and I’ll… I’ll be able to get this wound taken care of… not that you can’t take care of it,” Kaitlyn stumbled over her words, ”Just that they will have more supplies at the Circle.” It was a bit of a lie and she hoped Thea wouldn’t see right through it. When she removed the bandage this morning, she’d found the wound was hot and clearing infected with something. She’d tried to Cleanse it like she might have worked if it had been a poison or something mild spell. It had barely put a dent in whatever this was.

Thea nodded as Kaitlyn outlined her plan for their movement to the Circle. When she mentioned her injuries, that's when the mage perked up. There was no reason why her healing magic and herbs did not heal the wound already. Unless... Thea didn't want to think about it, but if the templar wasn't concerned, perhaps it meant the Circle had the means to cure the corruption, or its effects would fade with time. Blight sickness wasn't always fatal, but no healing magic would purge it completely.

"Alright, I'm ready to leave when you are." She agreed readily, just eager to move and get to the shelter of the Circle as soon as possible. For the templar's sake, she would try to make the journey as painless as possible. No point delaying getting the attention Kaitlyn needed if her wound really was infected with the corruption. Was Kaitlyn aware of this? She certainly didn't seem to panic about it, which meant Thea had been misinformed about the severity of the corruption or Kaitlyn oblivious to the danger she was in...

There was little point in debating the issue, they would have the answer upon reaching the Circle and Thea saw no need to cause a panic for Kaitlyn when they were going to depart. She kept her mouth shut and just followed the templar's lead until they were ready to leave and were on the road.

As Kaitlyn had hoped, the day’s ride had been blissfully uneventful. The two hadn’t spoken since leaving the inn and now the sun was slinking back down towards the horizon. The road, earlier that morning had cut through the edge of the forests they’d traveled through yesterday. Normally soldier’s would patrol the roads in between the villages and small townships but their presence was wanted elsewhere on the continent. Kaitlyn and Thea passed only one other traveler, a merchant heading the opposite direction with a wagon full of winter rye and a tiered looking mare. As suggested, Kaitlyn cut back across rolling farmlands. After cresting a large hill, the capital of Orlais came into view.

”Welcome to Val Royeaux”

An expansive city rose up from the ground, giant stone walls protecting its citizens from ancient foes. The Waking Sea, the large body of water that cut across the middle of Thedas could been seen sparkling in the sun just south of the city’s limits. “See that white building up on the hill?” Kaitlyn said, pointing, her face full of relief.



”That’s the White Spire. That’s where we’re going. If you think it’s impressive now, just wait until night fall. We’re almost there now. I can just taste the hot meal now. Come on!” With a whoop of joy, Kaitlyn forgot the warm sickness that had haunted over her all day. Leaning forward, the Templar urged her mouth into a gallop and sent clods of dirt up as the sped down the hill towards the city gates.

Thea wasn't sure if she was glad to be finally off the road or upset that she was now looking at the gilded cage she would be living in. Beautiful as the White Spire was, it did little to alleviate the fact that once a mage entered, they were unlikely to leave its walls. "Great." She replied, lacking any enthusiasm in her voice whatsoever. Thea followed closely behind Kaitlyn, if only because she did not wish to be left behind and end up lost in an unfamiliar land.

The bustle of Val Royeaux was very much different from a nomadic life in the forest. People were milling about and almost none of them paid Thea any attention. At least, until they noticed she was wearing a mage's robes. Thankfully, they were few in number and Thea managed to avoid their gaze for the most part. When they finally reached the White Spire, however, all that noise died down as the templar at the gates gave her a dirty look.

"Is that her?" The templar asked Kaitlyn.

"Yes, she is the mage." Thea replied, using the third person out of irritation. "And she speaks the Common Tongue perfectly well, ser." She forced every ounce of sarcasm she could into the final word. She definitely acted bolder than she felt. There were a lot of templars here, and they all had swords and the ability to dispel her magic. Furthermore, she was a woman and raised among the Dalish at that. She was not fool enough to think there weren't any men here who would take advantage of her background to heap abuse on her. She wasn't sure Kaitlyn would be able - or willing - to protect her either.

"Let's get your arm seen to." She spoke to Kaitlyn, eager to get past the doors and away from the templars staring at her.

The fact that Thea showed bravado to the Templar guards meant the mage still had some fight in her. Good. She’d need a little spunk to brave what was coming next. Like it or not, she’s just stepped into a lion’s den and the trials were only just beginning. Kaitlyn wished the relationships between the Templars and Mages were better but she knew they weren’t. The mages saw the Templars as jailers instead of peacekeepers as the Nevarran Accordhad tried to establish them to be. The Templars, in turn, saw the mages as loose cannons, powder kegs ready and willing to go off should the need ever arise. Some things never changed.

”Yes,” Kaitlyn said to the guard who’d just addressed them. ”This is Thea…” she paused trying to remember if the mage had ever given her surname. Kaitlyn couldn’t remember. ”…of the Dallish. Please let First Enchanter Corynn known we’ve arrived. We’ll be waiting in the antechamber.”

Without further ado, Kaitlyn pushed passed them and headed through the open, giant white doors which were tall enough and wide enough to let a dragon fit through comfortably. Looking back briefly she made sure Thea was following close behind her.

”I’d rather not leave you just yet.” said in response to Thea’s voice concerns.

Inside millions of tiny balls of mage fire hung suspended in the air like stars, filling the darkness high into the steepled ceiling. Like the outside, the antechamber walls were carved white rock that shown despite its age. Kaitlyn took a seat on one of the many white wood benches. It was age worn but still beautiful. Sitting down felt like a God send. The walk tired her out more than she wanted to admit but there were plenty of things to take care of.

”My arm’s waited this long. It can wait a little longer. I won’t leave you alone. It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s that I don’t trust some of them.” She didn’t have to specify who them was. Kaitlyn had done a tour in a Circle and she didn’t care to repeat the experience. Any Templar who was half decent was either on the battle field fighting darkspawn or, like Kaitlyn, helping to protect refugees and villages. Mind you, Kaitlyn wasn’t about to admit she’d brought Thea to a place where Kaitlyn felt the soldiers fell into three categories: those too dumb, those too old, or those who didn’t play well with others. ”It’s as I’ve said before. You’re a lot older than everyone expected. Every Templar here has probably already labeled you as an apostate or perhaps even a maleficar. No. I’ll stay by your side at least until the First Enchanter Collects you. She should be here any moment.”

"I'm not stupid, you know." Thea protested when she heard Kaitlyn's words. "You're worried some of your brethren might lay hands on me." She had heard tales of how mages were treated, either from apostates who fled the cities and found her clan, or old tales passed down among the Dalish. She had always thought they were perhaps coloured by the fact that many of her clan thought the shemlen were untrustworthy.

Her first impression of the Circle was beginning to prove that belief wrong.

"Well, I'm not proud enough to think I'd be able to defend myself here. I appreciate the help." Thea added softly, in case the other templars were listening. It was then that she brought up something she didn't really want to discuss but felt she needed to. "What will you tell them about Owen?"

”I’ve thought you were many things,” the Templar replied to the Mage’s outburst, ”Stupid isn’t one of them.”

The smile she gave Thea was filled with the pain she was too tired to hide. They’d rode hard today but it was clear the journey was yet over with. Kaitlyn looked at Thea out of the corner of her eye. Did Thea even realize that the Templar was trying to be kind? First, by providing her a nice bed in a safe place last night, and now by continuing it her watch. And yet, even when Kaitlyn tried to be nice, Thea seldom seemed to take it the right way. She frowned unconsciously. Perhaps given more time? But no, even if her wound wasn’t as bad as she feared, in a few days’ time the Templar would return to her post and Thea would begin her training. With the war raging on as it did, they’d probably never see each other again.

Any pretense of smiling disappeared as soon as Owen’s name was brought up. Kaitlyn frowned at her traveling companion. ”The truth of course. That dark spawn ambushed us on the ride and that Owen fell under their attack.” Grabbing her water skin, Kaitlyn brought it to her lips, ”Why? I’ve got nothing to hide.” But this time their eyes did not meet. Perhaps Thea suspected something was wrong with the wound festering on the Templar’s arm. Either way, Kaitlyn wished to leave the subject.

Her silent prey was answered as a familiar voice rang through the air. ”Hail, Templar McKarth.” Kaitlyn looked up in time to see a man striding over towards her. She’d recognize his pug face anywhere. Not all Templars were as bad as Thea apparently believed them to be, but this one was one of the worst. He was a brutish, masculinist, prick, something Kailtyn knew first hand since they’d trained together.

”Henrick Falcoy” The Templar responded and stood up so they’d be on the same eye level. Neither one of them saluted.

”Fancy seeing you here in headquarters. Not something I expected ever since you slinked off to…well that isn’t very important is it?” His eyes wandered over to where Thea was sitting, beefy palms coming together. ”Last I heard, you were still palling around with Dopey. I suppose this one’s a bit of an improvement. Or is she ripe for the Rite as well.” Kaitlyn ground her teeth together before forcing herself to smile.

”I am her escort.” Is was all the words she could form while still maintaining her temper.

”Well at least this one’s more attractive, although there’s something…” Henrick never finished. His words were cut off as Kaitlyn fist raked across his jaw. Never one to be caught off guard for long, Henrick reached out and caught the female Templar by the shoulder, to bend her down and deliver a few blows to her abdomen.

Thea's opinion of Henrik was sour from the start, simply from the way he carried himself and the way he spoke. The leery, lecherous gaze in his eyes when he looked at her did nothing to improve her impression of him. Neither did his language or tone when he spoke. It was only exacerbated by the way he mocked Kaitlyn and Owen, the way he acted as if he was the most important person in the room. Thea would have given him a piece of her mind if she thought he cared for it. There was no point wasting her breath, not when it was apparent he cared little for a mage's words and had less patience to tolerate them.

When Kaitlyn finally snapped and punched the man, however, Thea was surprised and just about to cheer when Henrik started retaliating, and returning far more than he got. "Stop! You're hurting her!" Thea protested, reaching for her staff instinctively to try and stop the man. She promptly felt her mana being drained away and could not call on her magic.

Ï'll cut your tongue out if you dare try anything, you bitch." Henrik's threat and malice was thick in his voice.

The man's ego would be his downfall. The Dalish knew what powerlessness was, and they had adapted. They would never assume their strengths were unparalleled and they would never let their weaknesses fester. Thea was raised among them and just because she was mage, did not mean she was powerless without her magic. She swung her staff around and put it between Henrik's arm and Kaitlyn when he pulled it back to land another blow.

There was a loud cry of pain when Henrik sent his next punch flying. Thea had caught his arm at the elbow, her staff acting as a lever while the man's arm was twisted around it, breaking his balance and forcing his limb into an awkward and painful angle when she pushed down on her end. It forced the man to break his grip on Kaitlyn and fall to the ground if he wished to avoid dislocating his shoulder entirely. It was a move that was meant to cause more injury the more an opponent struggled against it. Henrik didn't, unfortunately, and Thea had not the strength to break his arm with her frame.

Still, the ironbark the Dalish used in their weapons was more than capable of hurting even a man in armor, and Thea landed a second strike on the templar's unprotected head, knocking him to the floor, unconscious. The altercation was over, although it had already drawn the crowd.

"What is the meaning of this?!" demanded a gruff voice, full of authority. Thea swung around to see two figures walking towards her and Kaitlyn, one in robes and one in armor.

The mage went to help Kaitlyn up, aware of the woman's injured arm, and well aware that she had no friends besides the woman in this place. "A very unpleasant welcome to the Circle, that's what." She replied loudly and defiantly, standing tall even with Kaitlyn's armored arm around her shoulders. "Is it customary for mages being brought in to be witness to the violence their supposed protectors are capable of? Better yet, how do expect an apostate like me to believe the Circle is for my protection when your Templars would hit one of their own without restraint?"

The fire in her voice would die down, and Thea was well aware she was not doing herself any favours. Showing her temper and her defiance the first moment she entered was not a good way to start her life here, but Kaitlyn had done right by her and she felt responsible for the woman's current situation, indebted to her even. "Are you alright?" She whispered quietly to the templar beside her.

Pain pumped through her stomach as Henricks fists pummeled into her. Even with her plate mail still on, the force of the impact cause the air in her lungs to come out with a whoosh. Kaitlyn knew she shouldn’t have hit him, but she couldn’t help it. Her response was almost visceral. She hated how he spoke about Owen almost as much as she hated the way he looked at Thea. The pain in her abdomen was almost nothing compared to the pain lancing through her arm. Kaitlyn gritted her teeth in an effort to cope with the resonating ache.

Beside her, Thea said something. A protest for them to stop? Kaitlyn didn’t know. She was too busy fighting through the pain and concentrating on Henrick. This time when he pulled his fist back, Kaitlyn threw her weight, but nothing happened. He was stronger than her by a long shot, but she still should have been quicker. Another blow fell across her stomach followed by another, and another. It hurt to breath. It hurt to stand. But she couldn’t escape the onslaught not matter how much she tried. Suddenly, a wooden staff whipped down, separating their two bodies. The timing couldn’t have been better. It smashed into the man’s flying fist with a sickening sound. Fleetingly, Kaitlyn wondered if it had managed to break his wrist. She hoped so.

Breathing hard, the female Templar struggled back, no longer on her feet but her knees. It took all of her strength and most of her dignity to not fall any further. Henrick was not so lucky. Within a few seconds, and a well-aimed hit of Thea’s staff, he was lying prone on the stone floor.

Thea managed to help her stand back up just as the First Enchanter and the Knight-Divine came upon them. Kaitlyn still had the good graces to blush, while Thea allowed her tongue to run wild. Did the mage even realize that these two were the highest ranking individuals in their Orders? Probably not.

”Are you alright?"

”Yes.” Her voice sounded exhausted even to her ears. It was a blatant lie but Kaitlyn still had her pride even if she had little else.

”Templars are expected to conduct themselves better than that,” the Knight-Divine replied, unphased by Thea’s angry outburst, ”Those that aren’t quickly find themselves on the front-line.” Stern brown eyes surveyed the duo, the severe scars on his face becoming more severe. The woman next to him, garbed in the robes of the First Enchanter, wore a mask of calm.

”This has been an eventful day,” she stated, her words were low and melodic, ”First the Grey Wardens and now this. These are certainly… trying times.” Kaitlyn was two ashamed to meet the eyes of either of them. ”You will come with me child,” First Enchanter Corynn continued, extending a wrinkled hand to Thea, ”That is unless you plan on being a Templar’s walking stick for the rest of your life… though I fear your position will be short lived.”

The mage seemed hesitant. ”I’ll be fine,” Kaitlyn said softly, her words barley above a whisper. Once again she wished she believed her words. If the taint or infection didn’t get to her, surely the Knight-Divine would. Attacking another Templar was inexcusable, especially in defense of an apostate and a Tranquil.

A sharp hand clamped down on her chin as Hexworth approached and began to rotate her head back and forth painfully. ”I would have expected better, McKarth.” he stated, his words filled with the foul sweetness of lyrium. ”Your father…”
”Is dead.” she stated. Hexworth and her father had been close once, similar to the way her and Owen had been. But things changed. Peopled died.

Hexworth didn’t let go but instead continued to examine her face from her flushed cheeks to her sicken pallor to her listless eyes. He’d seen enough death to recognize the signs. ”You are dismissed.” He turned his attention over to the mage at her side.

”But sir,” Kaitlyn argued back.” I was hoping to be part of the Harrowing since…”

”I said you are dismissed Knight-Corporal.” he said cutting her off, ”You are useless to everyone like this. Picking fights, embarrassing the Order, stinking of infection. Go get yourself fixed.”

Kaitlyn wasn’t foolish enough to temp his temper any longer. She knew he was being kind. He was right. She needed help. Now. ”I’m sorry,” It took more strength than she even knew she possessed to remove herself from Thea. Only she wasn’t sure what she was sorry about. That she wasn’t going to be there for the Harrowing? Ultimately, Thea would have to face the daemons in the Fade alone whether Kaitlyn was there or not. That she’d gotten the mage into trouble? That she’d even escorted her to the White Tower at all? No, Thea was strong. She would do just fine. Just fine. The world swirled, steadied itself, and blurred again.

Thea was tempted to tell the First Enchanter she was no child of hers, but held her tongue. Kaitlyn was in enough trouble as it is and she did not think it was a good idea to sour her reputation with the Circle any longer than was necessary. She followed the old crone quietly, uncomfortable with the silence but not quite willing to let it show. The Grey Wardens were mentioned, though why the Circle would entertain such guests would be... of course.

"So, there are Grey Wardens here in the tower?" She asked, hoping to break the silence with some conversation that didn't involve what happened earlier.

The First Enchanter nodded. "Yes, they are here looking for new recruits, among both the templars and mages. Though I believe the Revered Mother isn't happy with them looking at the trainees and newly Harrowed mages instead of those with more... experience. I expect your clan must have had a visit from them by now. The Dalish are one of the groups who signed a treaty to aid the Wardens, if my memory serves."

"They may have gone to other clans, but mine was never visited by a Warden, no." The First Enchanter was going somewhere with her line of questioning. There was no reason to bring up the Dalish here.

"I see. Well, much as I hate to see children I've taught and watched grow up in the tower march off to war, and I suppose there are some who would wish any opportunity to leave the Tower for good, even if they leave to certain death. Wardens are not known for leading long full lives."

"I suppose not."

"Now then, the Harrowing chamber is right beyond those doors. I imagine the Dalish do not have such practices, though no doubt you know how to avoid the dangers of the Fade. I must warn you, child, a young flower like yourself is temptation enough for the Templars, the fact that you're a mage under their charge and raised among the Dalish to boot will make you a more inviting target. I will be watching within that chamber to ensure nothing untoward happens, but be on your guard once the Harrowing is over."

Thea looked at the doors and considered the First Enchanter's warning. It wasn't anything she hadn't considered herself, but the words coming straight from the First Enchanter made it clear that at the very least, the mages were looking out for one another and she was one of them first, where she was raised was a different concern entirely. The mage simply nodded and stepped through the doors. "Magic exists to serve man, not to rule over him." The Knight Commander was already within the chamber, and began speaking when Thea walked up to the altar, filled with lyrium and surrounded by other magi. "The Harrow exists to ensure that all mages within our walls are able to resist the tempation of the demons who walk the Fade. Pass your test, and you will be welcomed into the fold, fail... and pay the price."

Thea rolled her eyes. "Simple killing is a warrior's job. Do not talk to me of the dangers of the Fade, templar, you know nothing. I am ready."

The Knight-Commander narrowed her eyes at the young woman and had Thea not been raised among the Dalish, she might have cowed under that stare. "Is that confidence, or arrogance?"

"We are the last of the Elv'henan, and never again shall we submit." Thea voiced the words of the Dalish, her eyes keeping contact with the Knight-Commander. "It is true even with regards demons."

"We shall see."

---

Thea awoke to a forest. Her forest. The forest she had come to know like the back of her hand. The forest she had grown up in, learned to hunt and tame her magic. The forest she trekked with her clan. It was hardly surprising this would be the demon's battleground of choice. Any deal this demon had to make would play on her desire to return home, it seemed. Not that she would have a choice in the matter if she agreed.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Thea cried out into the silence of the forest, sitting at the base of a tree. She wasn't going to wander around and fight whatever stupid minions the demon had. No, she was dictating how this battle would go, however little power she had to do so in the real world.

"A feisty one. I do love a passionate woman." A desire demon appeared before Thea, curvaceous and wanton lust oozing off her purple body. Thea rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"The templars might kill me if I take too long, so do you mind if we sped this along? I want nothing you have to offer, not even the chance to return to my clan. Now, would you rather take me by force, or leave me alone?"

"You don't even have a weapon, and you're the one who stepped in my domain."

Thea smirked, touching her hand to the ironbark tree she was leaning against and pulled out a staff. This is a Fade, and I am dreaming, no? It would be easy to fashion a weapon in my own head."

The desire demon smiled, unintimidated. "If I had known you would be this cocky, I would have let a pride demon try you instead... Very well, Thea of the Dalish. I'll leave you alone, for now. One day I will return, when your arrogance can carry you no further. Maybe when that little templar whore you arrived with is at stake, hmm?"

The demon vanished and Thea could feel her mind being drawn back to her body. Well, at the very least, it seemed she had passed the test, though she wondered how specific the Circle was went they said to defeat the demon.

Kaitlyn wasn’t sure how she managed to make her way two floors up to the medical ward, but she had. Every inhale seemed to be more draining, her breath coming in larges gasps which she knew had nothing to do with the spiraled staircases she’d just climbed.

The large wooden door of the medical ward was already opened. Kaitlyn stumbled inside, startling the occupants of the room including a young who hurriedly stepped out of the way. Even the three Tranquil assigned to the room seemed to be in a hurry to rush to her side.

”Take the second bed,” someone said, their voice void of affect and emotion. In the effort to get her to the correct place, someone’s hand clamped down on her wounded arm. Kaitlyn let out a guttural yell as the world around her blurred and spun. Only the strong hands of the three Tranquil kept her from falling to the floor.

”Keep it down … how’s anyone… act’s like they’re…” the gruff female voice carried over from behind one of the dozens of book and reagent shelves in the room.

Kaitlyn ignored the words as she laid back into the straw bedding. Cool hands, light as feathers helped loosen her chest plate and arm straps. The Templar turned her head to watch as a sharp knife cut away at the sleeve of her shirt until it sliced all the way up to her neck. Underneath the bandage Thea had placed on her arm over the salve had turned, not rust the color of dried blood, but a sickening grey of the variety that seemed to suck up all the candlelight. Kaitlyn knew what to expect even before the bandage was peeled off. From shoulder to wrist her skin took on the pale pallor of a corpse. Inky veins puckered up through the skin originating from a nasty gash right above her elbow.

A heavy sigh escaped Kaitlyn’s lips. ”Is there… anything that I can do?” In her heart she knew there wasn’t but she still asked.

Voices seemed to erupt all over the room. Faces, those of the Tranquil and the young mage and even some of the occupants had come closer to see what the commotion was about. Some gasped. One person screamed in horror. Intermixed were comments like, ”I’ve never seen a case this advance.” and ”I can’t believe she lasted this…” and ”Kill her quick, she’ll…” Before a child-like figure barreled in and pushed most of the onlookers back.

Kaitlyn blinked a few times, clearing her vision of tears. The child, it turned out was a ruddy-faced female dwarf with copper colored hair and a scar that ran from the base of her nose to just above her lip. ”Fascinating.” she said, running a finger under her chin.

”I’m glad you find me interesting,” Kaitlyn replied, her brain too foggy to even wonder what a dwarf was doing in the White Tower.

”Well currently you aren’t good for much else.” she replied, a grim smile forming on her lips. Fishing in the large saddle back strapped across her chest, the dwarf produced a small pink crystalline vial. Either way it looked expensive. ”Here.”

Gently, the dwarf dribbled a few drops of amber liquid into the Templar’s mouth. The taste was sweet if not a little bitter. Kaitlyn waved her away when she made to tip more into her mouth. ”Thank you but it’s pointless.”

”Are you so eager to die?” Her words stung.

”You think I have another option.” It was a statement, not a question. Kaitlyn knew there wasn’t. Grey Wardens were said to be able to fight off the darkspawn taint but that was different. And besides, it was just a rumor.

The dwarf looked at her and Kaitlyn felt she was being appraised akin to a granite statue. She would have been offended by the action, if Kaitlyn still had the will to care. Then the other female spoke up, her words coming slowly as if even she wasn’t sure. ”What if there was?”

---

”Make it quick, some of us don’t have all day, especially you.” Despite Kaitlyn and the dwarf reaching an agreement, Dagna’s tone wasn’t any softer than before.

The medicine she’d dribbled on her lips was made of a rare white flower found in the Kanari Wilds far to the east. It dulled the pain significantly and hopefully would slow the spread of the taint, at least until other more drastic measures could be taken. A grey woolen cloak hung over Kaitlyn’s arm, concealing the festering limb beneath.

”This is highly irregular.” this protest came directly from the First Enchanter.

Dagna shrugged nonchalantly. ”Most things dealing with Wardens can hardly be called regular ”

Tension surged between the two women. The Knight-Commander was smart enough to stay out of our way.

”Then it is good that the Wardens serve a special purpose, if not, I doubt they would be so tolerated.”

”Funny, I was thinking the same thing about mages.”

Kaitlyn eyed them both warily and couldn’t help but wonder if the hostility would have been lessened if Dagna hadn’t been born a dwarf. If not for the lyrium trade, she doubted if the mages and the miners would have communicated at all.

Kaitlyn stepped forward towards the female Knight-Commander standing guard. Thea lying prone on the alter, a shimmering summoning circle dancing in the air around her body.

”Has she been inside long?”

The other woman only offered a grunt in response a fingered the sword on her belt.

”Like I said, we still don’t have all day.” The dwarf had chosen to only take a few steps inside the chamber, and her words echoes through the high ceilings.

”I know.” Kaitlyn turned back to Thea. It almost looked like the mage was sleeping, only she didn’t appear restful or peaceful. Surely Thea could handle herself. There was no way that she’d managed to live out of the Circle for so long without knowing how to deal with the demons in The Fade. ”It won’t take long. And… it’s important to me. I don’t want to leave without explaining why.”

”A simple note could explain why,” Dagna suggested. Kaitlyn just shook her head and continued to watch Thea. Beside her, the Knight-Commander began to shift back and forth between both legs. She was getting wrestles. Just then a movement caught the Templar’s eye.

Thea opened her eyes, and she could hear murmurs. Her throat was dry and as she attempted to speak she started coughing. Only when she heard the sound of a blade being drawn did she sit up and face the direction of the offending noise. "I have a dry throat, not a demon." She muttered irritably, getting back up on her feet. The First Enchanter stepped forward and examined her, looking Thea in the eye, before turning to the Knight Commander and nodding.

"She has defiance in her eyes, but no signs of possession. I told you this would be no more than a formality. I doubt the Dalish would not have trained a mage to control her own powers." The First Enchanter commented, before turning back to Thea. "But rules are rules, and it is not served by making exceptions. I hope you understand. Now, I believe someone wishes to speak with you."

Thea looked at the entrance and saw Kaitlyn, standing there with a dwarf. The obvious question aside, the elf raised an eyebrow as she approached and glanced at the templar's injured arm. "Is everything alright?" The question, like her Harrowing, was a formality. Thea could tell there was little improvement in Kaitlyn's condition. She hid the pain well but it was still apparent the healers could not do much for her. Thea's worst fears were confirmed. "It's the corruption."

The dwarf chuckled. "The only one with any sense I've met all day. Your lover wanted a word with you, I'll leave you two to yourselves."

Kaitlyn tried to ignore the dwarf’s words and the disgusted look the Knight-Commander shot her. Lovers? They weren’t lovers were they? People had whispered the same thing about her and Wendell, even after he’d undergone the Rite of Tranquility. But still… this was different. Wendell had been her childhood friend but Thea was a complete stranger. And despite her irritation, Kaitlyn fully understood why her fellow Templar had looked at her that way. It was perfectly acceptable for members of their order to be in relationships and marry, and even if it was seen as strange for women to couple, it wasn’t unheard of. But a mage and a Templar? It was like an elf falling in love with a dwarf. Only trouble would come of such a coupling. ”Why does it matter what they think? Why does it matter if it’s true if I can’t stay and she can’t go?” Deep in her heart she felt a pang of loneliness at the thought. But was it because she had real feelings for Thea or because over the last day the mage had slipped into the place of her old friend? Kaitlyn couldn’t say and she didn’t have the luxury of time to dwell on the thought.

Dagna moved out into the corridor while the first enchanter and Knight-Commander backed away to give them space. ”Yes,” the Templar stated, breathing out a heavy sigh. She shouldn’t have been surprised that Thea had guessed the problem so quickly. Maybe she had known all along as well? ”It’s the corruption.” Why was this so hard? They barely knew each other. ”Back there in the woods… with Wendell. I’m not sure how it happened but…” Pictures of the fight flashed in her mind. Metal. Blood. Screams. ”…it did and no amount of Templar or elven magic could help.” Her eyes pleaded with the mage, not to blame herself for what happened.

Kaitlyn’s voice grew distant. ”I’m going with the Grey Wardens. It’s my only chance and if I make it through this I’ll join them in the fight against the Blight. Turns out I’m pretty good at hacking down darkspawn and this time I won’t have to worry about their corruption.” ”At least not for a while.” Rumor had it that eventually Grey Wardens died from the tainted blood, but that took a while but most didn’t live long enough for that to be a problem. It was similar to Templars and Lyrium or Mages and Daemons. Power of any kind had a price and sooner or later the Maker made you pay despite Adraste’s pleas.

”I wanted to say good-bye, Thea.” Kaitlyn said fumbling for words. Behind she could hear Dagna was becoming antsy. It was time. Now that the mage was done with the Harrowing, she’d be safe. She didn’t need a protector anymore. The mages here took take care of their own. Nevertheless, Kaitlyn still felt guilt over what she’d done. Would Thea ever learn to be happy or would she forever see the White Tower as a gilded cage? Perhaps she should have just left Thea with the Dalish. ”And let you know… that I’m sorry.”

Thea listened to Kaitlyn's words, and her apology. The mage was angry, and it showed. Who was this templar who thought she could come to her clan, take her away from them and then disappear? The same woman who insisted on guarding her through the night, who soldiered on after losing a brother and fought the corruption off to see her here was now abandoning her without a second thought. She didn't get to apologize.

"I'm sorry too, because you don't get to do this." Thea replied fiercely, not caring if her words reached the Knight-Commander a few meters away, if the templars thought she should be made Tranquil for what she said. "You do not get to come into my life, tear apart my world and just leave. You would not be standing here if I didn't help keep the corruption at bay, and I wouldn't have survived the darkspawn if you hadn't been there to fight with me. You owe me more than just a rushed goodbye and a stupid apology!"

"Oh for fuck's sake, come along then!" The dwarf cried out in frustration, drawing a sound of protest from the Knight-Commander. "The Grey Wardens could always use more mages to help us, and if you're as good a healer as you say you are, we'll be thankful for you. Not to mention that you know Dalish magic and seem to be resistant enough to the blight that you're not even sick."

"She will not! She is dangerous! And just harrowed!" The Knight-commander marched up to the dwarf, and Thea had to be impressed by the dwarf, for she stood her ground and it was the human templar in full plate that seemed to shrink.

"Oh, I'm counting on her to be dangerous." The dwarf replied coolly. "What kind of people do you think the Wardens recruit? Peaceful, carefree farmers? You can object, Knight-Commander, but I am well within my right to invoke the Rite of Conscription if I need to. If I have to listen to any more sappy crap from these to, I will do just that to shut them up. Your rank and emblem might cow mages into fear and submission but I am neither a mage nor under your command. So sod off."

Thea had to admit she was rather amused by the expressions that crossed the templars' faces. At least, those she could see. Some of them seemed to reach for their swords, as if expecting a fight, or perhaps an order to kill the 'maleficar' before the Wardens could free her. She searched Kaitlyn's face, trying to see how the woman felt about all this but frankly, it didn't matter. It was tempting to be free of the Circle the moment she was Harrowed, before her phylactery could even be created. The Keeper had always taught her never to dismiss events as coincidences. The fates had a twisted sense of humour and could be both cruel and ironic. Something in Thea told her everything had been leading up to this moment.

"If the Grey Wardens will have me, I will gladly join them."

”What were you thinking just then.” Dagna asked.

Kaitlyn had turned briefly around to see the White Spire rising up among the rest of Val Royeaux. The setting sun had caught in one of the upper windows, creating a shaft of light that trickled through the bright, weather worn stone, creating a halo like effect as if the Maker himself were blessing the tower. Then just as suddenly, the stream of sunlight was gone. The Templar shivered and pulled the dull grey woolen cape that had been draped around her shoulders tighter.

”It’s nothing.” Kaitlyn said. Her voice was low, and even the effort of talking was draining her again. She wished she could have said more. Expressed how much of a waste it all been. They’d only just gotten to the White Tower a few hours back and now they were turning around and leaving again. Wendell had given his life trying to safely escort Thea, and here Kaitlyn was, dying from the taint she’d received for the exact same reason. And for what? So that as soon as they’d arrived Thea could surrender her life over to the Grey Wardens? Kaitlyn had joined up with the group because she hadn’t have an option. Thea could have had a good life at the Circle or at least a much long one.

She hadn’t said anything to the mage since Thea had volunteered to join. It wasn’t completely out of custom, very few seemed to want to talk in their group. There were only three other conscripted souls besides Kaitlyn and herself as well as three actual Grey Wardens and everyone seemed grim as they headed into the growing darkness of the wilderness around them.

”We’ll be at our camp soon.” The words were deep- Roan’s. The tall, burley Grey Warden who was leading their group down a winding goat path. The first time Kaitlyn had seen him waiting outside the White Tower’s gate, she’d wondered why he wasn’t cold with the amount of bare skin he was showing. Perhaps it was due to the amount of shaggy black hair that covered his over muscled body?

”Then all we have to do is catch us a dark spawn and get to it.” This came from the somewhat smaller man at his side. Johanas was everything Roan was not: pale, lithe, and a practical joker. Kaitlyn had caught a rumor that one of the three had originally been part of the Circle at the White Spiral. Since Johanas was the only one with the staff, it had to be him. ”Shouldn’t be so hard.”

”You mean, just like that?” This voice came from a young male mage. ”There’s no ceremony? No formalities?”

”You’re not getting cold feet, are you?” The voice belonged to Dagna.

”Corse not.” Johanas said and clapped the young man on the shoulder. ”Tell you what, let’s celebrate afterwards? Maybe we can even convince Roan to share some of that wine we all know he’s been stashing.”

Roan let out a disgruntled noise but his feet never missed a beat.

”Why do we need to go looking for darkspawn? We practically got one right here.” Kaitlyn didn’t have to turn around to know that the other Templar conscript was referring to her.

”That’s just the way things are.” Dagna said. Ever since leaving the White Spire, Dagna’s mood had turned sour. The female dwarf had been brusque before, especially when Kaitlyn had waited for Thea to finish her Harrowing, but the other female seemed to be completing with the rocks for hardness. If she had more energy, it might have given Kaitlyn a great deal to worry about, but right now all her mental efforts were in keeping herself upright and seating in her saddle.

The other Templar didn’t seem to be phased by the dwarf’s sour mood. ”So I hear the tower mage’s weren’t good enough for you…”

Voices Kailtyn couldn’t track anymore raced back and forth across her mind. She tried to reach out and grasp at the words, but their meanings slipped past. Then she wasn’t moving anymore. Had they stopped? Rough hands grabbed her as she slid from the saddle.