Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sound of cruel laughter was not a very familiar sound to the ten year old mage but one easily recognized. Whether from templars on a power trip or other recruits shaming each other it wasn't hard to pinpoint just where the laughter was coming from.
Juliana snuck her way closer to the recruits, focusing on her steps through the crowded bedroom. They were near the closets. Four older recruits, around thirteen or so had backed a younger boy, one her age into the space between the two wardrobes.

The boy’s robes were blackened on the cuffs, his hands were red with a slight burn and she could hear the older boys making fun of his attempts at the magic.

From her slightly hidden spot she felt anger rise in her gut. Who cares if he is taking longer to learn the spell, he's putting in the effort and wants to learn that is what is important.

The dark haired boy focused again for a moment, a flash of fire in his hands discolored his palms more as it burned into him. Juliana scowled, summoning a spark of her own to land just above the leader's robes, giving the impression of lit cloth.

One of the others saw this out of the corner of their eye and jumped back. Slapping the tallest boy on the back harshly to dampen the flame.

This resulted in the taller one hitting them back.

While the fight continued Juliana walked over and grabbed the cornered boy’s arm and pulled him away from the others, back to her room. “What jerks,” she said, simply turning on him.

“Yeah,” he replied, “did you really light his clothes on fire?” he asked after a moment.

“No, but it was really close,” she grinned at him. “I’m Juliana,” she pulled one of his hands towards herself, a tincture in her other hand and started applying it to the burn.

“Jowan,” he said. “Will you teach me how to do that?”

“I can try,” she agreed, “but I think you’d get farther asking one of the mages instead.”

“They dont like me very much.”

“Well I like you, I'll ask them for you and then they will have to say yes.” she replied simply.

Juliana was fifteen and the drive to learn more and more was almost overpowering. She spent most of her free time in the library, always staying late when she could convince the mages and templars to allow it.

They never really cared too much. When she was younger they put up more of a fight, but at this point most of the older people have learned that she would fight them to learn as much as possible.

So she really shouldn’t be that surprised when she was called into the First enchanters office, the messenger said it was a matter of some importance.

Juliana walked into the room quietly taking a quick look around, bookcases lined the walls of the room, the two desks in the room overflowing with research and paperwork. Irving’s staff was leaning against the hearth, the fire in it already lit and burning softly. The First Enchanter himself was already setting up a chessboard between the two free seats away from the desks. Upon realising it was just the First Enchanter and herself in the room Juliana relaxed considerably, “You know, it is kinda foreboding being told to come talk with you without any idea what it could be about,” she complained, before grinning up at the old man.

Irving turned towards her, a grin already breaking the wrinkles on his face “Oh have you done something against the rules Juliana? like attempting to bribe a templar recruit to let you into the library after dark again?”

“Now why would i attempt to bribe one?” she asked back, “I’m perfectly civil with Cullen, and he is typically the one on duty when I am most interested in researching.”

The old mage stared at her for a moment and raised an eyebrow, “do we need to have a different discussion then?”

“No, what kind of discussion would that be, anyways” she rushed out, a blush brushing over her cheeks for a moment. Irving laughed at her embarassment. “What did you want to talk about?”

“Well,” he started, gesturing her towards the two chairs and table in one quarter of the room, Juliana sat without pause, hand already outstretched to cast her opening move, “i hear you have overtaken many of our older apprentices in your classes.”

“Have you? maybe they should try harder,” She replied, a slight bitter tone sneaking into her voice. The only apprentices who were older than her and still cared about rankings were Sven and Marco, and ever since they had bullied Jowan those years ago she really hadn’t cared how they feel.

Irving let out a hum of disapproval. “Perhaps,” he conceded. “Rather than leaving you in a class where you are bored every day there might be other options”

“Options?” she asked, Irving had just taken another of her pieces.

“Yes, you need not be so defensive over a pawn Juliana,” he started, “you cannot win without some sacrifice.”

“I’ll figure out a way,” she insisted. “What are these options?”

“I want you to try some more advanced healing magic, with Senior Enchanter Wynne. You have always leaned closer to that magic than any other.”

Juliana stared at him “but I haven’t even had my Harrowing yet. I can’t do any more advanced classes until that.”

Irving hummed noncommittally. “Not necessarily, I have spoken with Senior Enchanter Wynne, and she has agreed to allow you to sit in the class and assist if needed. So you won’t be taking the class by any means.”

“That would be amazing,” she looked away from the board, “no one will get in trouble right?”

“I would not set you up for failure, little one.”

Juliana cringed at that, “don’t call me that, old man, I’m almost grown.”

“And yet you are not.” with one last move on the board he finished the conversation. “Checkmate.”

“Thank you, First Enchanter.”

“Of course, apprentice Amell, check in with Wynne to know when she wants to teach you.”

Juliana nodded, already rushing out the door to find the woman.

Chapter Text

With a gasp, Juliana opened her eyes to see an ever-changing cobblestone road that continued into the distant gray-green fog, the smell of dust irritating her nose into the start of a sneeze. Her hands were freezing, as if they were submerged in ice water, she rubbed them together in an attempt to warm them up. “Okay, in the Fade, gotta fight a demon,” she took a deep breath to center herself before Juliana started down the path.

Minutes passed as She kept walking, but like a nightmare it felt as though she was barely moving. even if the fog around her shifted and revealed statues and trees, even structures within the Fade. shaking her head she turned away from the path, familiar cobblestone shifted to gravel and dirt as she stepped off the shifting path. “If it’s the Fade, maybe I should treat it like a dream,” she muttered as a forest began to surround her, echoed sounds of bird calls joined her own footsteps and the fresh old smell of the forest shocked her. She took a deep breath, savoring a scent that she had almost completely forgotten about.

Movement in the trees didn’t surprise her, at the edge of her memory she knew what kind of forest this was and just how many things made their homes within the trees, just because this was the Fade doesn’t mean it didn’t have similar creatures within it. The voice coming from the hollow of a tree did though, Juliana jumped away from the tree as the voice spoke.

“Someone else thrown to the wolves,” it started bitterly, “as fresh and unprepared as ever. It isn’t right that they do this, not to you, me or anyone.” a small brown mouse peaked its head out of its nest, a frantic look in its eyes as it scanned the surroundings and the apprentice in front of it.

Juliana relaxed slightly, “were you an apprentice once?” she asked the mouse.

A moment later the lanky form of a man stood before here, dressed in the same robes as herself. “Long ago,” he replied, “the templars kill you if you take too long,” he rubbed his arms nervously, “think you failed, and they don’t want something getting out. You don't have much time before they do the same to you.”

“How long do you think I have?”

“I don’t remember,” he started shifting his weight between his feet, shifting back and forth, “I ran away and hid.”

Juliana nodded understandingly, “okay, do you think you could point me the right way?”

His already nervous face turned even more solemn as he looked down the path she had decided to take through this forest. “You know the way already, there are others here, other spirits,” he offered, “they might tell you more, even help if you can believe it.” his human form had already melted away replacing it with the brown mouse he had crawled out as. “I’ll follow, if that’s alright. Its too late for me, but you… you might have a way out.”

Juliana crouched down to the mouse, “would you like a ride? I won’t mind the company,” she offered a hand to the spirit.

The mouse looked up at her with too intelligent eyes, “there's a dangerous spirit not far. Don’t go near it unless you are ready to fight.” She nodded, and he jumped into her hand.

There was a bit of a scramble before the mouse made itself comfortable on Juliana’s shoulder. Once he was, Juliana followed the long forgotten path of her youth, nostalgia rising with each step. She expected to hear the shouts of other children she couldn’t remember, and the call of a woman that it was time to go home.

Despite leaving Sloth’s lair, the stench of rot clung to Juliana and Mouse as they stepped back onto the crooked cobblestones that made up Juliana’s original path through the fade. Idly she twirled the staff gifted to her by Valor, and Mouse perched back on her shoulder once he shifted out of the bear form he now possessed.

“Mouse,” she started, now focused on the task at hand, “could you tell me more about the creature at the end of this road?”

Juliana hears the sound of sniffing on her shoulder before the small voice answers, “could be many things, smells like brimstone and rage.”

She cringed at that, her anger was always quick to surface, it made sense that she had to face it now of all times. “So I fight it and I'll just wake up back in the circle?”

“How should I know?” he asked irritably.

“Surely you’ve seen other apprentices kill their demons?”

He stilled, “i… don't remember.” he shifted slightly, burrowing into her shoulder, “it’s been a long time since i saw anyone else. I think there were others a long time ago. I don’t think everyone who takes the Harrowing comes here.”

“You’ve been alone a while then?” she asked sympathetically.

He did not answer.

Before she realized it she stood at the entrance to a fighting pit, and pacing inside was the glowing form of a rage demon, arms dragging its body through the sand, glints of glass formed as fire dripped off of its body. Taking a breath, she made her way into the ring.

The demon looked up at her, “and so it comes to me at last,” it said smoke flowing from its mouth with every word, “soon I shall see the land of the living with your eyes, creature. You shall be mine, body and soul.

Mouse jumped off her shoulder and shifted into a bear. Juliana focused her energy, hand tightening around the borrowed staff. “Come and get me, if you can,” she said confidently, a tendril of frozen energy leaped from the end of her staff and shot towards the blob of a creature, freezing it to the ground for only a moment.

Mouse rushed in, thick claws already cutting through the ethereal form of the demon. It let out a laugh. “Is this your offering mouse?” it asked not even acknowledging the claws laying into itself, “another plaything?”

The bear let out an angry growl, the demons' attribute leaking into the air that surrounded it even if it was currently frozen. “No, I don't want this anymore,” he cried out, “I’m not helping you any longer.”

The demon burst out of the frost, slamming into Mouse and pushing him away, Mouse slamming into the rocky wall of the pit. “Aww, and after all that we have shared?” the air shimmered for a moment in the heat of the demon, “Now suddenly a mouse has changed the rules?”

“This one can defeat you,” Mouse called, even as the rage demon turned its full attention towards Juliana.

“We shall see.” it said simply, disappearing into the ground.

A haze of hot air surrounded Juliana, sweat already forming on her forehead. She jumped back narrowly avoiding the melting ground where the demon burst from. Throwing a freezing spell towards it, rage batted the spell aside, clawed arms clipping against her arm.

Pain burst from the wound, blood barely able to spill through the heat of the claw cauterizing the cut as it passed through. Juliana let out a grunt of pain, a thread of mana splitting off and seeping into it to heal the burn.

She ran back trying and failing to reposition herself as the rage demon propelled itself towards her and continued to bombard her with attacks. Whenever she had the chance she tried to freeze it, even if only for a moment to catch her breath.

It didn’t work.

“Enough,” the bear form of Mouse barreled towards the rage demon, colliding into a pile of burning fur and molten rock. One last burst of mana, Juliana threw an overpowered Winter’s Grasp towards the pile. Mouse only just jumped away in time.

Juliana was buzzing, magic itself feeling like it buzzed around her as the rage demon she had been forced to face melted into the sand of the Fade.

“You did it,” Mouse exclaimed, his form melting back into a man and running towards Juliana, “when you came i hoped you would be able to, i wasn’t sure any of you were worthy.”

“Worthy?” she asked, “what do you mean worthy?” her instincts were still on edge from the battle, Mouse stared at her for a moment, “The ones before me, what were their names.”

“What?” he said, “it doesn’t matter, they weren’t as promising as you,” he defended. Juliana’s gazed sharpened slightly, and Mouse hunched away from her for a moment, “it.. It was a long time ago. I don't remember their names. I don't even remember my own.”

her gaze softened slightly, Juliana took a deep breath. The adrenaline should be out of her body by now, it wasn’t but it should be. She forced herself to calm down, “what now?”

He stood back up, a gentle smile on his face. “You defeated a demon, you completed your test. With time you will be a master enchanter with no equal.” he reached a hand towards her, “and maybe there’s hope in that for someone as small and forgotten as me.” he paused pleading eyes staring into her soul, “if you want to help you could let me in.”

“Let you in?” she asked.

“Back,” he corrected, “help me back. They killed me, just like all who fail in here. They’ll kill you too.” he moved closer to her, hands outstretched, “can’t you feel the sword at your neck, they believe all magic is evil. The Fade evil. Once you are here you become what they fear.”

Juliana called a barrier to herself, covering her in a layer of magic to prevent Mouse from touching her directly as he grabbed her arms. “Like you.”

“What?”

“They fear you, were you ever really an apprentice?” she asked, pulling away from him. A spark burst from Mouse’s hand hitting against the shield.

“Of course, I mean I think I was,” he paused, shaking his head slightly, “isn’t that enough? It should be enough for you,” a glare formed on his face “Maybe they are right about you, simple killing is a warrior's job. You aren’t a warrior.”

His shape began to change subtly, arms bulging and shifting beneath the skin. “You should be more careful mage, the real dangers of the fade are preconceptions,” a horn burst from the side of his head, “Careless trust.. Pride.” sparks began to burst into a halo around its body, “keep your wits about you, Juli. the true test never ends.”

Fear gripped Juliana’s heart, she tried summoning something to protect her from the hulking demon in front of her. Her spells kept faltering. Her vision went dark, a surge of energy struck through her rudimentary shields.

With a gasp Juliana jumped up in her bed. Heart racing she stood, eyes searching the room for the demon she had just faced.

“Whoa, Juliana,” Jowan rushed over, “are you okay? When they woke you up last night I was worried you wouldn’t come back.”

Juliana breathed for a moment, reaching towards him and pulling him closer for a tight hug. “Honestly, I was too.”

he was struck dumb for a moment before hugging her back. “Well thank goodness you are fine, right?” he pulled away and looked her up and down, “no injuries.” a pause, “can you get injured during a harrowing?”

“no idea. But I passed,” a small giggle escaped her lips, “I passed!” a few people groaned and glared in their direction but Juliana couldn’t be bothered by that. “Oh I’m so glad not to have that sword over my head, though now I really don't know what comes next.” she grinned up at Jowan, a strained look on his face. “Oh maker, sorry Jowan.”

“You think there is anything you can tell me about it?” he pleaded.

“I.. I don't know.” she replied, thoughts of what if swirling through her mind.

“Nothing?”

“I mean you know we aren’t supposed to know anything about it, it could mess up the test.”

“Juliana they aren’t going to give me the test,” he argued, “I’ve been here longer than you and-”

“Juliana,” another apprentice interrupted. “First Enchanter Irving was hoping to speak to you once you woke up.”

She nodded, “okay I’ll be right up,” turning back to Jowan, “and what?”

He shook his head, a forced smile coming to his face, “it can wait, go talk to Irving, I’m sure he just wants to congratulate his star pupil,” he waved his hand dismissing her like some lordling would, “just… meet me in the chantry afterwards?”

“I can do that,” she replied before leaving the dorm room.

Juliana was surprised by just how many people greeted her as she made her way up to the higher levels of the tower. Questions about the harrowing were asked by the younger apprentices and congratulations were given by the mages she now found herself a part of.

It was slightly disconcerting, she had known of these people most of her life and before now they hadn’t deemed her important enough to speak now. And now all of a sudden she was, simply because she passed the test she had been thrown into. It didn’t seem fair.

She nodded at Owain as she passed the storeroom, thinking back a few years ago before he had been made tranquil. He was always fairly soft-spoken before the rite, nervous and tended to keep to himself. Nervous he was doing a spell wrong, that the people he dreamed of were demons trying to trick him, nervous that people hated him. As soon as he was offered to take the Harrowing test he declined instead asking for the Rite of Tranquility. Severing his magic and dreams from himself. Juliana couldn't understand why he would volunteer to change himself in such a permanent way. Emotions were what made people people, at least that was what she thought before. Now she wasn’t as sure.

Owain was still a person. Even if he stared blankly at you when you had a request.

She forced it out of her mind as she walked past the senior enchanter’s quarters, Juliana thought about Wynne. The older woman had left the tower a few days ago for something along with most of the senior enchanters. She wondered if Wynne knew she was undergoing the Harrowing soon, or if the woman would be surprised to find out that Juliana passed when she got back.

Juliana stood at the door to Irving’s office, it wasn’t often that the door was closed off to the rest of the circle. But the sound of Knight-Commander Greagior yelling was reason enough to wait a bit before actually entering.

“...they ask for more, how many have already gone to Ostagar, Wynne, Uldred, and most of the senior mages! We’ve already committed enough of our own to this war effort-”

“Your own? Since when have you felt such kinship with the mages, Greagoir?” Irving’s subtle anger punctuated his interruption, “Or are you afraid to let the mages out from under Chantry supervision, where they can actually use their Maker-given powers?” it was never a good idea to argue against the templar’s options, but it was already worse since he seemed to already be in a bad mood.

Juliana knocked on the door, hoping to stop this argument.

“How dare you suggest-”

“Gentlemen, please,” a voice Juliana did not recognize cut it, “I believe someone is at the door.”

“It must be Juliana,” Irving said before inviting her in.

“That is correct,” she grinned, “Knight-Commander, good to see you,” she nodded to the armored man, his face red with unchecked frustration.

“This is..?” the unknown man started, his clothes rough, with days worth of travel clinging to the leather armor, a griffin emblem across the chest. His dark brown hair was pulled back from his face. Weariness, as well as the salt and pepper shades of his beard aged his face.

“Yes, this is she,” Irving answered.

The lumbering form of the Knight-Commander marched past Juliana, barely acknowledging her presence. “Well, Irving, you’re obviously busy. We will discuss this later.”

“We will see,” he replied,

as the templar slammed the door as he exited Juliana couldn’t help the quiet comment from escaping, “he acts as if he has the same discipline as a new recruit,” as she turned back towards Irving. The stranger let out a small laugh

The first enchanter shook his head at the both of them, “Juliana, this is Duncan, Commander of the Gray Wardens.”

“Well the Ferelden branch of them at least.” he nodded towards her.

“Pleasure to meet you,” she said to him, her curiosity compelled her to continue, “but what are you doing here?”

“Grey wardens go wherever duty sends them,” he answered.

“That’s vague,” Juliana frowned.

“You’ve heard about the war brewing in the south I expect?” Irving asked, once Juliana nodded he continued, “Duncan is recruiting mages to join the king's army at Ostagar.”

“I heard.”

“What?”

“Greagoir is loud when he is upset.” she offered.

Irving let out a sigh “how much did you hear?”

“Not too much, you calling him out. Very impressive.” she turned towards Duncan, “as he said though you already have most of the senior enchanters. Why come back here?”

“Mages are uniquely equipped to combat darkspawn.”

“You like to keep your answers frustratingly vague, don’t you?” Irving sent a small glare her way, she ignored it.

“The power you mages wield is an asset to any army.” Duncan answers, “Your spells are effective against large groups of mindless darkspawn.” He turned more to Irving, “I fear if we don't drive them back we may see another blight.”

Irving focused back on him, “Duncan you will worry her with talk of blights and darkspawn. This is a happy day for her.”

“We live in troubled times my friend”

“We should seize moments of levity, especially in troubled times.” Juliana raised an eyebrow at that. “The Harrowing is behind you. Your phylactery was sent to Denerim. You are officially a mage within the circle of magi.”

“It was sent already?” she asked.

Irving nodded as she turned away, Juliana rolled her eyes before realizing that Duncan was watching her. She quickly shifted her face into one of innocence in case he decided to call her out on it.

He didn’t.

“Wynne wanted to be here for this but you will just have to tell her when she returns,” he hands her a small bundle of stuff, a staff laying on top of it “wear these proudly, you have earned them.”

Juliana takes the bundle, a small smile on her face, “Thank you, first enchanter,” Irving smiles back at her and squeezes her shoulder for a moment, a feeling of belonging grows in her chest before he lets go.

“It goes without sayings that you cannot discuss the harrowing with anyone who has not undergone the rite,” seriousness creeped back into his tone

“Of course,” she agreed

“This means Jowan,” he stressed, Juliana nodded at that, “Good, take the day as your own, your new quarters should be ready in a few hours.”

Duncan started for the door, “I will go rest as well.”

“If you don’t mind,” Juliana started, stepping next to him, “I can make sure you get back to your room, I have some questions about the Gray Wardens if you're willing to answer them.” he stared her down for a moment, “I promise it won’t take long, and you’ll be able to rest afterwards?”

He nodded, “Very well, I would be happy to answer your questions.”

The guest quarters were simple and private, Juliana gave Duncan a moment to get settled. He had taken off the outermost layer of his armor, laying on the ground next to the chest on the end of the bed. Then raised an eyebrow at her.

“Ready? have there been many darkspawn attacks?”

He nodded, “a horde has formed in the Korcari wilds in the south. We gray wardens believe an archdemon is leading the horde.”

“Archdemon?”

“Yes, while darkspawn attach the surface in ragtag bands, archdemons are capable of rallying them into an unstoppable force.”

“And the king is calling an army to beat them back”

“That is the hope, yes.”

“And that’s what Irving and Greagoir were arguing about?”

“It's not my place to comment.”

“But it’s your place to cause it?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Duncan let out a small sigh. “Yes, Greagoir serves the chantry, and as you know the relationship between Chantry and mages are strained.”

She had wandered around the room as they talked, and now was leaning against the stone bricks of the wall. “Through no fault of our own.” she thinks for a moment, “you came to ask more mages to join the army to fight darkspawn. Greagoir is worried us mages will think we have more freedom than we thought.”

Duncan stared at her for a moment, “and do you believe that?”

“Believe what?”

“That you have more freedom than the chantry likes?”

“a dangerous question,” Juliana straightened and walked back to the door, “and one I will not be answering at this time,” she nodded to him, “thank you for your time Warden-Commander, but I have to go, I told a friend I would help him with something. It's been wonderful speaking with you Duncan.”

“Likewise.”

And with that she confidently strolled out of the room to head to the chantry. Thoughts of freedom swirling in her mind.

Walking into the chantry room, Juliana watched as two people jumped away from each other. A small grin formed on her face as she walked over to them. “Is this what you wanted to talk about?” she teased, “Lily, nice to see you.”

“I don't have any idea what you mean.” Jowan started

“Hi, Juli.”

Juliana touched his shoulder, a serious look on her face, “I think Irving already knows about you two, if you don’t want to get caught hide it better.”

Both their faces flushed for a moment. “Like you and Ruth ford?”

“I don't have the slightest clue what you are talking about,” she replied casually, “the most we have done is talk.”

Jowan hummed unimpressed. “Right… let's talk somewhere else since anyone can just walk in here.”

Juliana nodded and followed the two of them to a forgotten room deeper into the tower. “So you wanted to talk. I’m assuming it wasn’t just about your little affair?”

“I wish it was just that,”

Juliana’s face fell, worry settled in her chest.

“They are going to make me tranquil.”

“What?! They haven’t even given you the opportunity to do the harrowing.”

“And they aren’t going to,” lily started, “I saw the document on Greagoir’s table, it authorized the rite of tranquility. And Irving had signed it.”

She stared, looking between Jowan and lily, “no, he wouldn’t do that.”

Jowan nodded, “he would if.. If people thought I was a blood mage.”

“But you aren’t,” she paused, “you aren’t a blood mage right?”

“Of course I'm not!” he replied defensively, “but it's not safe for me anymore.”

“What are you planning on doing?”

“That's what we need your help for,” Lily started. “We need your word that you'll help.”

Juliana looked between Lily and Jowan, the pull of loyalty to the circle she just officially joined was vastly outweighed by her loyalty to her closest friend. All in all, she knew she would help him, “of course,” she pulled Jowan in and hugged him tight, “i won't let them make you tranquil.”

Jowan sunk into the hug. “Thank you Juliana.”

“Here’s the plan,” Lily started.

Chapter Text

“It's a pretty good plan,” Juliana said nodding along, “though Owain isn’t just going to give me a rod of fire.” Jowan let out a groan. Juliana shot him a glare, “I’ll need to ask one of the other senior enchanters.”

“Why not just ask Irving?” Jowan asked.

Juliana stared at him for a moment, “he's going to want to know why.”

“So lie?”

Juliana rolled her eyes, “he can see through my lies as easily as you can.”

“That’s because you are bad at lying.”

“We get it, you two are close,” Lily interrupted, “can we please focus?”

“I know most of the senior enchanters left the tower last week. Who’s left?” Jowan asked.

The three of them thought for a moment, weighing the options.

“Leorah, she’s still here, since she is in charge of the laboratory.” Juliana finally said.

Lily nodded, “I heard there’s been an infestation of spiders in the stores, maybe she will sign off on the paperwork if you help her out.

Juliana let out a small groan, “what a pain.”

“It can't hurt to ask,” Jowan said simply, “plus you can just say you wanted to use it to help her anyways.”

“Don’t you think if she was able to use a rod of fire to get rid of them she would have already?” her nose wrinkled in disgust, “plus I hate the smell of burned spiders.”

Lily nodded sympathetically.

Juliana let out a sigh, “I’m going to talk to Owain first and get the form for Leorah to sign, I’ll meet you downstairs near the vault doors.”

The lovebirds both started for the door, “maybe leave separately… if you still want to keep your relationship a secret. I swear you are the worst at keeping them.” Lily blushed slightly while Jowan started glaring at Juliana. “If you don’t want to get made fun of, I suggest doing better.” And with that she walked past the two of them, heading back to the requisition station.

The talk with Owain went exactly as predicted, tranquil were sticklers for rules after all. Juliana worried the edge of the form in her hand, wrinkling it slightly. She looked into the laboratory, eyeing the experiments older enchanters were working on.

Senior Enchanter Leorah walked the edge of the room, her piercing brown eyes glared at any apprentice who walked near her, throwing the young mages off their path and to other enchanters for the questions. Her long hair had been pulled back into a bun but as the day had passed, her own hands had caused the tie to loosen and now strands of blond fell around her face. Every few minutes a sound escaped the door to the storerooms, a small crash of a crate falling over and the mage jumped at the sound, hands rubbing against her arms in a soothing manner.

When Juliana entered the room the heated glare focused on her, she ignored as she walked up to Leorah confidently, “Senior Enchanter,” she started respectfully, “Irving sent me to help you.”

The enchanter shifted, looking Juliana up and down for a moment, “no he didn’t, he told you to take the day off after your Harrowing, he does that for everyone.” She crossed her arms, “so why are you really here?”

Juliana shrugged, “true he did say that, but I heard a rumor that you were bothered by spiders,” she paused, “and I also heard that you had a small infestation of them in the stores.”

“Small?” Leorah questioned, “small?! Those monsters are huge, if they were small I would've already dealt with them. No they have to be the size of mabari puppies and twice as aggressive,” the senior enchanter complained, throwing her arms up in disbelief.

Juliana winced at that, spiders didn’t bother her, but she really didn’t want to deal with bites and webs through her brand new robes. “Well that sucks,” she settled on, “but I am still offering my assistance.”

“In exchange for what, Amell?” the senior enchanter asked, crossing her arms over her chest. Juliana held out the requisition form, the enchanter looked it over, “you want a rod of fire.. For personal use?”

“Yeah, Owain said that is what the request is under, but it’s just for getting a fire started in my room. Since I'll now have my own room in the enchanter's wing.” the enchanter raised an eyebrow and waited. “You know I’ve never been good with fire,” she winced at the memory of Juliana learning fire spells. “Exactly, and I talked with some of the other enchanters and they mentioned that since they are single rooms the ambient heat of people doesn't heat the room like in the dorms. Thus I will need a fire, and Gregior took away my flint and steel when he saw that I had them,” Juliana raised her hands in a plea, " I don't want to burn my eyebrows off again trying to start a fire for the night.”

“Why not ask the First Enchanter?”

Juliana let out a sigh, “I didn't really want him to know to be honest, like I know he is going to know but I don't want to have to ask him.”

The enchanter looked Juliana over for a moment before letting out a relieved sigh, “very well, you get those spiders to a controlled point I'll sign your form for the rod of fire,” she pulled out the key to the storeroom and handed it over to Juliana.

“Mabari puppies my ass,” Juliana muttered, kicking off a spider she had accidentally frozen to the hem of her robes. At least that one was small enough to deal with like a regular spider. The others she had come across came up to her hip and she had to deal with them quickly or get surrounded by them.

She cast a look around the room, peeking into the nooks and crannies between boxes and chests to make sure there were no other egg sacs hidden amongst the dark. She had found four so far.

Leaving the stores she couldn’t help but glare at Leorah, “I think the issue is not cleaning down there,” she said simply, “I found 3 open egg sacs and 2 more fresh ones.”

Leorah let out a shiver of disgust, “I’ll keep that in mind,” she handed over the form, her signature already on the bottom.

Juliana nodded in thanks before taking the form back to Owain, retrieving the rod and meeting back up with Lily and Jowan.

“I hate waiting.” Jowan complained, he was leaning against a wall, arms crossed, “it makes me nervous.”

“Next time get the thing yourself then,” Juliana said simply handing him the short rod with runes etched into it.

“If all goes well, there will not be a next time.”

She grinned at the two of them and headed over to the basement door. There were no templars around to take notice of them entering the basement. Guards were rarely posted in the area, only when new mages arrived. And none had come in the last month.

The air was stale, with no windows and only one door there was little airflow. As they walked to the door deeper in the tower, the weight of their mission weighed heavily on Juliana, as if it was her holding up the tower instead of the foundations around them.

Lily walked up to the vault door, muttering slightly, “the Chantry calls this entrance “the victims’ door.” It's built of two hundred and seventy seven planks. One for each original templar. It is a reminder of all the dangers those cursed with magic pose.”

Juliana wrinkled her brow at that word, ‘cursed’ was not a word she would use for her magic, she was gifted magic. If the maker truly didn’t want mages to exist surely they wouldn’t. She was knocked out of her train of thought as the door to the vault lit up, vague shimmers of magic shifting through the grain of the wooden planks.

“Now you need to cast something at it, any spell will work,” Lily said, stepping to the side so Juliana could do her thing.

Summoning a bit of frost magic to her hand she shot out a stream of it into the door, immediately the spell sunk into the door, seeping into the lock a distinct click of the door unlocking rang out in the silent room, “if that's all it takes why couldn’t Jowan just do it?”

“The ward only responds to mages who have been through the Harrowing,” Lily answered.

She nodded slightly, “so were you two just waiting on my Harrowing to tell me about your desire to run away or was it just a happy coincidence?”

“A bit of both?” Jowan offered hesitantly.

Juliana hummed, the room they walked into was a disorganized mess, crowded beyond compare, piles of scrolls and books surround the bookshelves stacked up to her waist. “What's the plan after you get out of here?” she asked fingertips grazing over the spines of books laid on one of the tables.

“Lily and I will get married somewhere,” Jowan started, a small smile on his face, “away from the Circle and its rules.”

“In the outskirts of Ferelden,” Lily continued.

“Or in Orlais, just… far from here,” on the wall was a map of southern Thedas, marks circling various locations were scattered around Ferelden and Orlais, each one with a cross through it. Jowan let out a sigh as he examined it, “we’ll live a quiet life away from magic. Maybe we can buy a farm one day.”

Lily reached out and grabbed Jowan’s hand squeezing it slightly. Juliana watched them interact, “I think a farm will suit you both.” there was an ache in her chest, a small wave of envy that Jowan would have that opportunity and she won’t. She took a small breath to center herself walking to the door of the phylactery vault, “we should concentrate on getting you out of here first, then you can think about your future goats.”

Jowan lets out a laugh and nods, “yes we should,” he says simply, holding up the rod of fire and focusing it on the lock. A moment passes and he frowns, shifting it slightly in his hands and tries again. He switches it into his left hand, face twisting into anger, his right lays on his belt a moment.

“What's wrong?” Lily asked, moving closer to the door.

“Something’s not right, I can't cast spells.”

Lily looked at the two mages and back at the door, slowly she ran a hand on the stone door frame, lips tightening into a frown, “there’s wards carved into the stone,” she focused on one in particular, finger following the lines of the rune, “this must be templars’ work.” she started pacing between the two doors, “I should have guessed. Why would Greagoir and Irving use such simple keys for that door? Because magical keys don’t work.” Lily was twisting a strand of her red hair in her hands, “how do you keep mages away from something, make their powers worthless.”

Juliana walked the edge of the room, “there's another door over here, maybe it loops around?”

“There is only one door to the phylactery room,” Lily argued.

“Let's look anyway.”

“I think the phylactery chamber is on the other side of the wall behind this bookcase,” Jowan said walking across the room, so far they had walked past another artifact room, with a talking statue in it, weapons storage and another library.

“The wall looks weak in spots here,” Juliana said looking behind the bookcase, water had dripped through the mortar between the bricks.

“You want to break down the wall?” Lily exclaimed, hands clenching, “that will get us caught.”

“If they catch us down here either way we will get in trouble,” Juliana argued, “we break through, grab the phylactery and get out of here as fast as we can. You two run and I’ll be not down here.”

“We have to find a way,” Jowan agreed.

“I think there was something we could use,” Juliana walked back to the weapons storage, “here it is,” she said, straining to move the large metal pipe from that room into the one the others were in. along the sides of it etched into it was ancient Tevene.

“I've seen pictures of things like this,” Jowan said, helping Juliana move it opposite of the weakened wall, “they amplify any spell cast into them.”

“Like the rod of fire,” Juliana continued, a grin on her face.

“I am not sure that is a good idea,” Lily argued, “surely that will make it known that we are down here.”

Jowan looked at her, “Lily, there isn’t any other way, we can't get through the door, and while the wall is weakened we can't just break through it.”

Juliana didn’t wait for the convincing, instead she aimed the arcane cannon and shot the rod of fire. A bright blue fireball shot from the cannon, hitting the wall in the weakest point, the sound of shattering bricks and dust filled the air.

The three of them coughed at the dust.

“A little warning would have been nice Juliana,” Jowan squeezed out between coughs.

As the dust cleared the three of them could see through the substantial hole Juliana had made. Inside the vault rows of cases stood making a u shape that faced the locked door. From what they could see the walls were bare. The only light within the room came from the small vials. A subtle glow of red made the room even more eerie than expected. As Jowan entered one side of the room glowed a little brighter.

“I'm surprised we didn't break any when we broke through the wall,” Juliana muttered looking into the cases. Each vial of blood had a nameplate beneath it, idly she read a few that she recognized as Jowan and Lily scoured the cases in the corner.

It wasn't very long before his was found, “that's it?” Jowan asked, picking up the vial carefully, turning it in his hands. “I can't believe this tiny thing stands between me and freedom.” he called a surge of magic into his hands, destroying the phylactery. “So easy to be rid of.” he looked up from his hand at Lily, a grin spread across his face filled with relief and anticipation.

“I expected a larger room,” Juliana said simply moving back out of the room.

Lily was right behind her, antsy to get out of the tower. “Only apprentice phylacteries are stored in the Circle tower, that tiny room could never hold the phylactery of every mage that passed through the doors of the Circle.

Juliana hummed in acknowledgement, “too bad.”

Jowan eyed her, “would you have come with us, if you could?”

She thought for a moment, “No,” she decided, “it would be hard to keep two runaways from getting caught.. I just wish I had a choice.”

As the three of them made their way out of the basement Juliana watched as Jowan and Lily walked hand in hand, they were softly talking about the future. Jowan was just nodding along with Lily’s plans, his face filled with infatuation.

“We really did it,” he said excited, “thank you Juliana, we never could have done-”

“So what you said was true Irving,” Knight-Commander Greagoir interrupted the line of gratitude, in full templar regalia, he gestured to the four other templars with him to move towards the small group.

“This is bad,” Juliana said softly.

“Greagoir,” Lily gasped.

He stared into her, “an initiate, conspiring with a blood mage,” he clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“He is not a blood mage,” Juliana defended Jowan, Greagoir ignored her completely, attention firmly on Lily.

“She seems shocked but fully in control of her mind, not a thrall of the blood mage then. This initiate has betrayed us, the Chantry will not let this go unpunished,” he turned his attention to Juliana, already sharp eyes turning even sharper. “And this one, newly a mage, still thinking the rules don’t apply to her.”

“This was my idea, it's not her fault,” Jowan defended.

Greagoir rolled his eyes at the weak defense.

“She is here on my orders, Greagoir,” Irving said simply, “I take full responsibility for her actions.” Jowan and Juliana looked at Irving, his attention was firmly on Greagoir.

“You are taking your favoritism too far.”

“If my defense of Juliana is solely based on favoritism why would i tell you of this situation if not to lead them into a trap of my design.”

“You led us into a trap?” Jowan snapped, pushing Juliana away from him and Lily.

“I-”

“Don’t you dare speak to me.”

“Enough, as Knight-Commander of the templars assembled here. I sentence this blood mage to death.”

Greagoir looked over at Lily briefly, “This initiate has scorned the Chantry and her vows. Take her to Aeonar.”

“the mages prison,” She gasped, her hands rising in a pleading gesture, “please not here.”

As the templars grabbed her arm, Lily resigned herself to her face.

“I won’t let you touch,” Jowan growled, his hand shot down to the small blade hidden at his waist. With a slash at his palm, blood mixed with mana as ichorouswaves burst from him. The spell affected all but the couple. The blood magic seeped into Juliana's muscles, stiffening and paralyzing her before the second wave hit, knocking her to the ground. Unable to catch herself she hit the stone floor hard, head swimming as pain bloomed.

“By the Maker! Blood magic?!” Lily screamed, backing away from Jowan, “how could you?” her voice was pleading, “you said you never..”

“I dabbled.”

“You lied, Jowan.”

“I thought it would make me a better mage.”

“Blood magic is evil, it corrupts people.”

“I’m going to give it up,” he promised.

“There shouldn’t be anything to give up Jowan,” she yelled back, eyes brimming with tears.

“All magic,” he started, “I'm giving up everything I was ever taught,” he reached for her hands, “everything I was, just to be with you.”

“I trusted you, was ready to sacrifice everything,” She pushed him away, “I don’t know who you are, blood mage. Stay away from me.”

Jowan only paused a moment, staring longingly at Lily, before casting a glance at the mess he made and running to the door of the tower.

Juliana watched him run.

And waited for his magic to pass.

Slowly Juliana felt her rigid muscles loosen, she clenched her fists, opening and closing them over and over until the magic leaked out of her system. She felt a hand on her arm, Irving had broken out of it faster, his wrinkled face showed his worry clearly, eyes trailing over Juliana searching for any injury, “Are you all right?”

Juliana nodded stiffly, “I will be,” she forced out.

He nodded back before looking around at the fallen templars, “Greagoir,” he said simply, kneeling at the Knight-Commander’s side and gathering healing magic to his hands.

“I knew it,” Greagoir said sitting up without Irving’s help, the First Enchanter moved on to one of the surrounding templars as Greagoir stood, anger seeping through his body language. “Blood magic, but to overcome so many… I never thought him capable of such power.”

“He lied..” Juliana said softly, looking towards the door Jowan had fled through, “he lied to me,” she had helped him, and he lied. He was a blood mage, and she helped him.

Irving stood next to her, worry now lessened to simple concern, “none of us expected this-”

“I did,” Greagoir shot back bitterly, “if you had let me act sooner this would not have happened, Now we have a blood mage on the loose and no way to track him down.

If they had acted sooner I wouldn't have helped him, Juliana thought idly.

“He will be hard to locate without his phylactery.”

“Don't you think I know that?” Greagoir yelled, looking around the room, “You,” the rage in his voice caused the mages, and Lily, to jump slightly, “where did he go, where were you two headed if you escaped?” he pointed at Lily, two templars moving to flank her to prevent another escape.

“Lily didn’t know he was a blood mage,” Juliana defended, moving towards the woman's side.

Lily sighed and held up her hand to stop Juliana, “you’ve been a good friend Juliana, but you can’t defend me any longer.” she thought for a moment, “I am sure the plan has changed now,” she sighed, hands wringing, “but we were going to head north, try and catch a vessel and head into the Free Marches.” She looked up at Greagoir, “Knight-Commander, I was wrong. I was an accomplice to a blood mage. I will accept whatever punishment you see fit.”

“Get her out of my sight,” he growled, turning back to Juliana, “and you, your antics have made a mockery of this Circle. What are we to do with you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked to Irving.

“As I said, she was working under my orders,” Irving answered, stepping between the Knight-Commander and Juliana.

“You think that improves this situation?” Greagoir’s fury shifted to the first enchanter. “The phylactery chamber is forbidden to all save you and me.”

“I had my reasons.”

“And what were those reasons? You are not all knowing Irving,” he spat, “you don’t know how much influence the blood mage might have had.” Greagoir let out a sigh, hand raising to rub the headache from his forehead. “How are we to deal with this?”

“Knight-Commander, if I may,” a voice called from the door, at some point Duncan had stumbled on the scene. Now that he had the attention of everyone he walked over to the crowd of templars, moving to stand behind Juliana, “I am not only looking for mages to join the king’s army. I am also recruiting for the gray wardens,” he gestured with his hand, “Irving spoke highly of this mage, and I would like her to join the warden ranks.”

Juliana twisted around and looked at him, his body was loose, no tension in his face, he actually wanted this.

“Duncan, this mage has assisted a maleficar,” Greagoir argued, “and has shown a lack of regard for the Circle’s rules. She is a danger to all of us.” Juliana shrunk away slightly.

“It is a rare person who risks all for a friend in need,” Duncan explained, he glared at Greagoir defiantly, “I stand by my decision, I will recruit this mage.”

“No, I refuse to let this go unpunished.”

Juliana at the force of wills that was Greagoir and Duncan, Templar verses Gray Warden. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Irving staring at her, she met his eyes and he responded with the slightest nod, and a reassuring look on his face. She let out a small sigh, “If the Gray Wardens will have me I am willing to go.”

“Willing to go,” Greagoir scoffed, “wanting to run you mean. Escape punishment.”

“Greagoir, mages are needed. This mage is needed.” Duncan tried to reassure, “there are worse things in this world than blood mages. I will take this young mage under my wing and bear all responsibility.”

“A blood mage escapes, and his accomplice is not only unpunished, but is rewarded by becoming a Gray Warden,” Greagoir scoffs, “are our rules nothing? Have we lost all authority over our mages?”

“Enough Greagoir, we have no more say on the matter.”

“This does not bode well, Irving,” Greagoir scowled, making his way out of the room, “Not for the Circle and not for Ferelden.” with that the templars followed their Knight-Commander out of the room.

Juliana stared at them as they left wanting to ask how this is a reward, forced to leave the only home she knew for the crime of believing in a friend. She stood there for a moment letting the sound of Irving and Duncan’s conversation mull over her mind. She didn’t listen to it, she didn’t think she would understand the words they said anyway. Instead she focused on the tone of Irving, he was sad, worried, there was a stretch in his voice that wasn’t normally there. “I am to be a Gray Warden then?”

The two men pause in their conversation both eyeing her, “Yes, be proud Juli,” Irving reassured her, “You are luckier than you know.”

Tears rose in Juliana’s eyes, this was a mistake, she shouldn’t leave. She was meant to stay here and do what she was trained to do. She jumped forward, arms locking around Irving in a tight hug, she hid her face in his shoulder, the tears falling unwillingly. “So I have to leave the only family I truly know?”

Irving’s arms wrapped around her, just as tight as hers. “The Circle never forgets its apprentices, my child,” he pulled away, hands resting on the sides of her face, he wiped away the tears that had fallen, “but the Gray Wardens will be your family.”

A small sob escaped Juliana’s lips as she breathed in, it took her a moment before she had control over her breathing, “thank you for everything, Irving.”

Duncan cleared his throat, “come we must leave before the Knight-Commander gets irritated.”

Juliana let out a desperate laugh, “too late for that.”

“Stay well Juliana.”

Juliana could feel the eyes of the Gray Warden shift between her and the road in front of them, over the past ten minutes he had stared at her for a total of five of them.

“Juliana..?” Duncan had finally decided to start the conversation.

“No thanks,” she interrupted, “I don’t really want reassurances, or really a conversation on what comes next, can I just wallow in my own self-pity for a bit?”

He let out a small sigh before nodding, “very well.” shifting slightly on the bench trying to get comfortable.

Juliana stared down at the horse leading the cart, mind circling around the events of the past day. It had been less than a day since her Harrowing and her life had been torn away from her for something so small. The foundation of her life had been wretched away, the friendship formed in it changed forever, “how could I be so stupid, trusting a blood mage?”

“How could you,” Duncan started, knocking Juliana out of her spiral of thoughts, she hadn’t realized she had said that aloud, “how could you trust a man you grew up with?”

“I've known him forever,” she started, “I should have noticed him change.. Right?”

Duncan did not answer.

“You’re too quick to trust.”

Juliana stared at him for a moment, it had been a few hours since their last conversation, the Ferelden countryside slowly changing to hilly forests. “You know, you aren’t the first person to tell me that,” she finally decided, not acknowledging the comment, “won't be the last I bet.”

He nodded slightly, “that kind of habit is hard to break.”

She glared at him, “I bet it is, but I'm not going to be trying to break it.”

“Why is that?”

Juliana stops and thinks for a moment, “I don't want to be the kind of person who holds themselves back because they keep looking for the person who is going to backstab them.”

“So instead you will let it surprise you?” Duncan shook his head, “sounds like you will have a lot of heartbreak in your future.”

“I hear heartbreak is inevitable, and I haven't had much over the years. I guess it is my time.”

Breaking the silence that had settled between them, Duncan asked “Was it one of the enchanters?”

Juliana starts, “what?”

“Who told you that you trust too easily?”

“Oh no, it wasn’t.”

He waited for her to elaborate, but when she didn’t he prompted, “then who?”

“Oh.. a demon said it,” she said, Duncan flinched slightly, “last night actually.”

He stared at her dumbfounded, “you said that far too casually.”

Juliana let out a small laugh, “sometimes things bother you at night,” granted last night it was for a reason, “pretending it's normal makes it less scary, I guess nonmages wouldn’t really understand that.”

Over the first days of travel Juliana grieved for the life she had lost back in the Circle. As the miles passed she made a conscious effort to cheer herself up. When they stopped to rest the horse she jumped out of the cart and explored the sides of the road, picking up flowers and weeds. Once back on the road she tried to remember how her siblings from so long ago would weave them together before she was taken to the Circle of Magi.

Broken circles of flowers fell from her lap as they climbed out of the cart to set up camp for the night.

Conversations between the mage and the Gray Warden were stilted and stiff. Lack of familiarity and forced proximity only made things worse.

After a week Juliana was over it, so she started asking questions of Duncan. Most focused on Gray Wardens, it wasn’t a topic she was all that familiar with in general. She asked about the structure, the tactics, Weishaupt, the other wardens waiting in Ostagar. Anything she could think of, anything of importance she had written down in shorthand in a journal she had grabbed from Kinloch when they left.

This evolved to Duncan asking her about the Kinloch Hold, Irving and Jowan, her own abilities. A few questions he asked took her a moment to form the answers, homesickness still fresh in her mind.

Ambushes were to be expected on the road, bandits tended to stick to well trodden roads to take on merchant caravans, common traps included someone on the side of the road asking for help, or a felled tree.

Most people knew to be on guard in these situations, anyone who has traveled from town to town knows to be wary of strangers.

So when the warden and his recruit had to stop to deal with a block on the road, Duncan kept his hand on the sword at his side as he jumped off the drivers seat to investigate.

Juliana on the other hand watched patiently from her seat, oblivious to the small band of people sneaking behind her to attack.

It really is too bad that one of the newer criminals didn’t notice his sheath hit against the wheel of the cart. The quick noise gained the attention of the mage and she let out a cry of fear at the five of them.

Two things happened instantly. First, Duncan pulled out a dagger and quickly threw it towards the leader, the blade clipping Juliana’s hand. Second, Juliana summoned her magic and thrust it towards the group, ice overtaking one completely.

As blood began dripping from the edge of her hand she turned back towards Duncan. A wisp of fear on her face.

Already two of the men had unsheathed their swords, focused on the woman staring dumbfounded as they swung towards her. Duncan barely got between the two of them and his charge.

“Amell, Focus!” he strained against the weight of the two men, leaning back on his hind leg and forcing them out of the block.

Juliana shook her head slightly and muttered a word, her magic enveloping herself and Duncan in a barrier. A poke at her back alerted her to the other two bandits trying to attack her.

Her barrier didn’t break.

She recklessly raised her staff, nearly beaming Duncan in the side of his head, swung it towards the man at her back. The hit let out a crack that made her staff shake with reverberation, electric sparks jumped from her outstretched hand to the chest of the other attacker.

Half a second passed before Juliana looked back towards the other two that Duncan was dealing with, swinging her staff into a better position, knocking into Duncan's side. Someone grabbed the staff and threw it away from the battle. Panicked Juliana flung unsorted magic towards them, pushing them ten feet back with the hot air it had summoned.

“Amell!” the attacker called.

Startled, Juliana focused once again, Duncan had been thrown to the ground. Clothes singed by the wild magic and blood trickling from the cuts from the battle

“Oh no, Duncan,” as the thrill of battle settles, Juliana jumps towards Duncan, soothing healing magic forming on her hands. The small cut from Duncan healing instantly, the magic begins to settle into the injuries of her companion as she continues babbling, “I’m sorry I thought you were-“

“I know what you thought,” he interrupted, pushing her hands away after only a moment, “if you are going to have something as cumbersome as a staff in battle you need to pay attention to its size, you almost hit me twice during that.” the gray warden glared at her for a moment before walking to one of the bandits and starting to rummage through their pockets.

“Sorry,” she said simply, hands reaching for the staff. Looking down at its white surface now marred with blood.

Someone started speaking.

Juliana stared at it for a moment, it was brighter than she expected. She has of course seen blood before. Blood taken from mages for their phylacteries. Shallow cuts and broken noses from the templar training. Papercuts from the library. Injuries are fairly common in the circle, easily had and easily fixed. A simple twist of magic and it is like it never happened.

She wiped at the blood, what was a few drops created a large smear across the shaft.

Someone was talking to her.

Juliana looked up at the frozen bandit, her magic had done that. Eyes wide, frozen solid. a white knuckle grip on the weapon they would have killed her with. Was it white because of the grip, or because of the chill from the ice.

Someone was talking to her.

Juliana reached for the frozen corpse, a small thread of fire magic rising to her fingertips. Maybe they are fine under that ice. It would be fairly simple to melt the ice, even if fire wasn’t a specialty of hers.

Sharp pain startled her back into focus. The magic left her hand and Duncan pushed her back onto the seat of the wagon.

“They would have done the same to us,” he said simply as he led the horse away from the scene. During her panicked state he had managed to push the bodies far enough away to start the journey back up.

“I know,” she replied.

“Good.”

“I just haven’t killed anyone before,” she reached into her bag and pulled out a handkerchief and started cleaning off the blood better, she started praying in her head for forgiveness.

Duncan simply nodded. “Unfortunately it is something you have to have some knowledge in. especially now.”

“Kill a lot do you?”

“Only when necessary, people at least. Tend to kill all darkspawn I can.”

Juliana lets out a slightly frantic laugh, “that is in the main thing we do right? Run around Thedas and kill darkspawn, maybe occasionally conscript criminals into your ranks?”

“You are one of my conscripts,” he said patiently.

“And i am a criminal to the circle, I did break the rules and helped a malificar escape,” she replied bitterly.

“Looked to me you simply tried to help a friend escape a terrible fate.”

“Mmm, and look where it got me. On the road to a battlefield to join an order I know next to nothing about. In a country where my general knowledge is far outside of the common people.”

“True, most would know to be on guard in a situation like that.”

She nodded again. Now that they were on the road proper juli’s mind wandered slightly. “Could you tell me things like that?”

“Juliana-“

“I grew up in a place with dramatically different rules. I don't know what I need to know and remember and what I can just ignore.”

“So you want me to teach you about…?”

“Survival on the road? How to be quiet. During our breaks maybe how to fight like a person and not like a mage, I don't want to hurt you defending myself because I can't tell where my staff ends.”

He stares at her for a moment, “Very well, I will teach you common sense.”

Juliana let out a real laugh.

Chapter Text

The rest of the journey was relatively peaceful. As hilly farmland overtook the forests they traveled through, Juliana learned more about the wardens, the men they were meeting and the other recruits that she would be joining. The evenings were filled with combat training. Duncan wasn't too familiar with staff fighting but he knew how to teach what he did know. 

And like always, Juliana was an eager student. 

The nights were spent switching through watches. Juliana taking the longer, later shift. She could always nap on the road, plus she liked watching the star filled sky as the night passed. Making up constellations and trying to find the few she actually knew.
If not for the stars her thoughts would turn to the uncertain future ahead of her. What a revelation that was. She didn't know where her life was going. 

She crossed a precipice helping Jowan, off the side of a cliff, she was in free fall diving into obscured waters.

Through thriving small towns and villages barely more than a single road, some were friendly and some were not. 

Juliana spotted the fortress miles before they arrived. set up on a cliff, the colors of the flags and tents only brought more attention to the locale.

Supports peppered the walls holding together and peaking out like a bee hive, soldiers patrolling the structures. 

As they got closer Juliana registered just how many tents were within the structure and how many had spilled out if it.

She heard shouts and reassurances, laughter, cries of anger, relief, resignation and so many conversations.

It wasn't quiet, like the older apprentice rooms in the circle, nor like the way here. 

It was loud.

As they ascended the cliffs there were a few shouts at Duncan, welcoming him back. A man in a blue tunic, the familiar griffon emblem walked beside them for a while. "Back just in time Commander," a sly grin lighting up the slim elfin face, "I was beginning to worry I would have all the fun."

"Captain Caramond, I trust you have split our men within the various battalions of the kings army?" Duncan asked.

"Of course sir," Caramond answered, automatically and unthinkingly. His attention focused on Juliana, “welcome to the Gray Wardens, recruit.” he nodded at her, “you came at a hell of a time.”

The mage grinned back at him, “Thank you sir, though I didn’t really plan it.” 

Duncan scowled slightly, “so it is possible for you to be respectful… that is a surprise.”

Caramond let out a startled laugh as Juliana shot the older man a glare.

“You sure know how to pick recruits, Duncan. First Alistair and now her.” He slammed his fist over his heart and bowed his head slightly in a salute, “I look forward to learning more about you, my mage friend.”

Juliana copied his gesture and nodded back, “same to you.”

Caramond nodded to Duncan before turning back in the direction they had just moved through. Juliana was surprised when Duncan jumped off the cart not long after, a tall slim blond man waved at them from just inside the gates on the other side of the bridge. 

“Ho there, Duncan,” Juliana followed Duncan down as she examined the man in front of her. As simple as his outfit was it gleamed with expense. 

Duncan bowed slightly to the man, “King Cailan,” Juliana jumped to copy him, “I didn’t expect-”

“A royal welcome,” the king laughed clamoring to Duncan’s side, pulling the Warden deeper into the camp, “I was beginning to think you would miss all the fun.”

“Not if I could help it, your majesty,” Duncan replied, the smile on his face strained.

“Then I’ll have the mighty Duncan at my side after all.”

Juliana looked at Duncan, an eyebrow raised, “I thought you were going to be on the front line?” she asked without thinking.

“Indeed we will be, it will be glorious,” Cailan glanced at Juliana for a moment before his attention was back on Duncan, “the other Wardens told me you found another recruit, this is she?” 

At this Duncan was able to extract himself from Cailan’s reach, thrusting Juliana closer, “Allow me to introduce you, your majesty.”

“No need for such formality, after all we will be shedding blood together soon,” Cailan laughed as if he had told a joke, Juliana forced out a small laugh of politeness. This brought his attention back on the mage. “So? Might I know your name, my friend?”

“Juliana Amell,” she replied bowing her head slightly.

He nodded along with her, “the Gray Wardens are desperate to add to their numbers, I understand you come from the Circle of Magi?” he gestured towards her staff and robes, “I trust you have some spells to help us in the coming battle?”

She shrugged slightly, “I may be more helpful after the battle, I never really cared for the flashy elemental magic other apprentices enjoyed. But I will do my best.”

“Excellent, we have too few mages here, another is always welcome.”

“You’re too kind, your majesty”

Cailan let out a small groan, “I suppose I must return to my tent. Loghain is eagerly waiting to bore me with strategies.”

“Your uncle sends his greetings,” Duncan replied before Cailan could leave their small party, “and reminds you that his forces could be here in less than a week.”

Cailan lets out a laugh, waving his hand dismissively, “Eamon just wants in on the glory. We’ve won three battles against these monsters, and tomorrow will be no different.”

“You sound very confident of that,” Juliana couldn’t help but point out.

Cailan shares a knowing look with Duncan, “Some would say overconfident.”

“I don’t think the blight can be ended quite as.. Quickly as you desire.” 

Cailan shrugs, “this isn’t a true blight, i am sure of it, there are plenty of darkspawn on the field, but i have yet to see any sign of an arch demon.”

“Disappointed your majesty?”

The king lets out a small sigh, “I was hoping for a war like in the tales! A king riding with the fabled gray wardens against a tainted god.” he said excitedly, back straightening, “but,” he started excitement draining out of him like a pierced water skin, “I suppose this will have to do.” he nods towards the Gray Warden and Juliana, “I must go before Loghain sends out a search party, Farewell Gray Wardens!” and with that Juliana watched as the king ran into his own camp, avoiding the set of ostentatious guards that were scouring the area searching for him.

Duncan lead her to a small camp the gray warden colors waving in the breeze to indicate who this spot was reserved for. Once they unloaded the cart and set up each tent he turned to Juliana, “take a look around, see if you can’t find the other recruits, Alistair should be somewhere around here as well. Find him within two hours and make your way back here, we have much to do and not much time to do it.”

“Why not just send someone to find them then?” she asked looking around at the squires around them. 

“I am,” he replied eyeing her, “go, explore a little and see who you can find.”

Juliana wandered the kings camp, eyes wide. She stopped a few times on her route to talk with the various soldiers who had taken up positions nearby. 

Soon she spots the mage's area, despite it being completely sectioned off from the rest of the camp, two entrances on either side of the encampment were guarded by a couple of templars.

Maybe it was the distraction from a blond knight insisting on delivering a message or the fact that she was still wearing the same robes she had been gifted on the day of her Harrowing, but Juliana had no issue making her own way into the mage camp. And some unknown tension was lifted off her shoulders as she looked around at the familiar faces she had grown to see as teachers and mentors.

“Juliana?” a voice said, surprised concern clear in the tone.

“Wynne,” Juliana choked out rushing the older woman and instantly wrapping her arms around the other’s shoulders.

Wynne let out a huff of disapproval before returning the embrace.

“I was so worries I wouldn’t be able to say goodbye,” she muttered into Wynne’s shoulder.

“What are you doing here Juliana?” Wynne asked pulling back to look the younger woman in the eye.

Juliana could feel the tears in her eyes ready to fall, she wiped them away quickly, “Joining a cult, I think.”

Wynne stared at her for a moment before pulling Juliana towards one of the campfires, felled logs making up the temporary seats. She pushed Juliana onto one and sat opposite, “Explain.” She asked simply.

“I passed my Harrowing,” Juliana started, a small grin on her face, “it’s been a few weeks now.”

“I knew you would,” Wynne nodded.

“But after I did something stupid, like really stupid,” she started looking down at her hands. She told Wynne the whole story, waking up and meeting Duncan, offering Jowan and Lily help, discovering Jowan had done the unthinkable.  “In order to avoid Greagior’s wrath I was conscripted into the Gray Wardens, we’ve been making our way here to do whatever it is I need to do to actually join.”

The two mages sat in silence for a moment, Juliana looked up at Wynne and saw a sympathetic look on her face.

“I’m glad you survived your Harrowing... and Greagior,” she eventually said.

Juliana grinned at her mentor, “Me too.”

The two sat in silence for a while, simply relaxing in the company of each other. Eventually it was nearing the time that Duncan asked her to return to their camp, and so she excused herself, “stay safe Senior Enchanter,” she said simply before sneaking her way out of the mage camp. Wynne simply watched her protege as she left.

After narrowly avoiding the man trying and failing to flirt with one of nearby soldiers Juliana asked someone nearby to point her in the direction of Alistair. 

The person she found surprised her, “its you.”

“What’s me?” he asked turning around quickly, as if she scared him.

“you’re Alistair right?” 

“Yes I am, we haven’t met have we? Don’t tell me you are yet another mage,” he sighed.

Juliana crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, “indeed I am.”

“and here I thought I had been yelled at by every mage in camp.”

“I doubt Wynne yelled at you, unless you did something really stupid. And I don’t plan on yelling at you unless you do something really stupid.” she paused before turning to head back towards the camp, “Duncan told me to fetch you, I’m a bit early but I doubt he will mind.”

“ah,” Alistair muttered falling into step next to her. “you must be the new recruit from the Circle.”

Juliana pursed her lips, “indeed I am. Juliana Amell.”

“Alistair… but you already knew that,” Juliana looked up and saw a slight blush on his face, “but you knew that already of course.” she hummed in agreement, “At least I am done being a messenger boy, for now.”

“Oh is that what you were doing talking to the templars?” she asked, “you were a pretty good distraction for me.

“Yes, not that it got me,” the second half of the statement finally registered in his ears. “what do you mean?”

“Well, I needed to get past the templars,” she started, “and with you speaking with them it didn’t register that I was not supposed to be there when I walked past, you didn’t even notice.”

“to be fair I don’t know what every mage here looks like.”

“It seems like they didn’t either, Greagoir would put them on extra duties for that if he was here.”

“Greagoir?”

“No one important at this point.”

The two lapsed into silence for a moment.

Alistair broke first, “did you get the chance to meet the other recruits?”

Chapter Text

After quick introductions and explanations, the small group of recruits followed behind Alistair, the three men were talking amongst themselves about the plans of their hopefully short journey into the Korcari Wilds. After explaining her own specialties Juliana’s mind wandered, only half listening to the conversation of her companions. As they reached the gate her ears caught the conversation between the kennel master and a hunter that had just returned from the wilds.

“I know the herbs are out there, if I could get them myself I would.”

“I’m telling you, there ain’t any white and red flowers anywhere near us.”

The kennel master threw up his hands in frustration, before turning back to his charges. The sickly dogs in their kennels occasionally let out whimpers and barks. “That blood is a death sentence, and you aren’t even trying to help.”

“They're just dogs.”

If the kennel master had a rebuttal Juliana didn’t hear it over the sound of the closing gates, she decided to keep an eye out for those herbs.

“An entire patrol of seasoned men killed by darkspawn,” Ser Jory panicked, gesturing to the corpses nearby.

“Calm down Ser Jory,” Alistair put a hand on the older man's shoulder reassuringly, “we will be fine if we’re careful.”

“Those soldiers were careful, and they were still overwhelmed.” The knight stepped away from Alistair, “how many darkspawn can the four of us slay? a dozen? a hundred? there’s an entire army in these forests.”

“There are darkspawn about, but we are in no danger of walking into the bulk of the hoard.”

“How do you know? I’m not a coward but this is foolish and reckless, we should go back,” Ser Jory had already started the short trek back to the camp.

“I mean it is reckless, but it can’t be any more reckless than joining the gray wardens. Besides, Alistair will know.”

“But how?”

“Gray wardens just know somehow,” Juliana shrugged.

“How do you know that?” Alistair asked.

“I ask questions.”

Ser Jory didn’t look convinced.

“We won’t be taken by surprise, like our mage friend here said, all gray wardens can sense darkspawn. That is why I am with you.”

“See Ser knight,” Daveth flashed a dark grin at the older man, “at least we won’t be surprised by it when we die.” The two had started walking deeper into the Wilds.

Alistair had slid up next to Juliana as they too started walking, “When did you ask questions?”

She just looked at him for a moment, “the long trek down here? Duncan answered some about the Gray Wardens, and life outside the Circle, and I answered some about myself and life inside of it.”

Alistair nodded, “I suppose it would have been boring if you hadn’t talked.”

She nodded in agreement. “I didn’t even get all the answers I wanted though.”

He raised an eyebrow, “well feel free to ask me anything he didn’t answer.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“No pressing inquiries?” he asked, leaning over her slightly.

She rolled her eyes, pushing his shoulder away. “None that I think you’ll answer.”

They had been traveling for about an hour, settling into a rhythm as they walked. Juliana making them stop for a few minutes as she collected the flowers that she hoped the kennel master was talking about. That hunter truly didn’t want to help, these flowers were everywhere near the swampy river. At this point she had a fill bag of the flowers, stems and leaves, and roots. Unsure of what part of the plant was needed she grabbed all of it.

Daveth had taken to scouting ahead while she picked the flowers, teasing her as he walked past. He was making his way over the bridge deeper into the Wilds, following the overgrown path they all assumed was the remnants of the supply lines that supported the stronghold long ago.

Juliana was just walking back to the other two members of the group when she saw Alistair stiffen, already insheathing the sword on his hip, “Ambush!”

His call came seconds too late, the blade of the genlock that had leaped out of the shadows already glistening with blood. Juliana ran the remaining steps, calling her magic forward. Mana was already wrapping itself around Alistair, Ser Jory and herself, as the shield spell solidified. Ser Jory nearly dropped his blade in surprise, Alistair sunk into the protection for a moment before running forward.

Daveth had his blades out before Alistair reached him, crossing the blade on the other side of the genlock’s shoulders, digging beneath its shoulder blades. Alistair slammed his shield into the creature, wrenching it away from the rogue recruit. The warrior shifted his shield up just in time as several arrows rained down on the two of them.

Daveth, out of breath and leaning over slightly, took a step back. A clash of steel as he blocked the second genlock rogue’s blade from stabbing between Alistair’s greaves.

Sword in hand Ser Jory makes his way on the outer edge of the battle, the focus of the darkspawn current on the two already engaged in battle.

Juliana followed closely behind, the two of them sneaking closer to the bow wielding warriors, aiming towards their companions. They were noticed, an arrow flying past her before Ser Jory raised his shield. With her front protected, Juliana’s attention was on Daveth, blood seeping out of the wound on his side. Pooling her mana, she started muttering the short incantation for her healing spell. Before she could throw it towards him, the magic fell. A crack of pain as a hurlock’s club broke her concentration. Head reeling, she froze the offending hurlock with a cast of winters grasp

The edges of her vision blurred as she tried to regain that focus. “We have more coming!” Alistair called out from her skirmish.

She summoned her magic once again, the pain making it harder, but threw it to Daveth at once. The spell sunk into his wound, stitching the skin back together even as the battle tried to rip the new skin apart.

Another Hurlock stood in front of the mage, Ser Jory thrusted his sword into its back as his shield bashed into another at his side. The knight looked down towards the others, “they are going to be surrounded, you have any big spells or something?”

“Buy me a little time, I need to focus.”

“I’ll try,” Ser Jory replied, looking towards the darkspawn drawing near.

Juliana thought for a moment, what spell could she use, she had never been great at the bigger showier spells, but there were a few that were favorites of the senior mages. The decision made she began focusing on drawing her mana up above her trying to make the odds more favorable for the four of them.

Bain exploded in her leg as an arcane bolt knocked her out o f the fragile concentration she held. She looked up at the direction of the attack, taking a half step back in surprise at the creature in front of her. “They can have magic?!” she shouted at Alistair.

The warden’s attention focused on the emissary before it returned to the spawn surrounding himself and Daveth. “Sometimes,” he shouted back, “thin the crowd and I can take it out!”

Juliana had already pooled her magic, sky darkening as the clouds thickened. Bolts of light flashed in the sky. It wasn’t more than two seconds before the crash of thunder broke through the sound of blades, a lightning storm burst down, striking into every darkspawn near the recruits, Juliana pulled Ser Jory away from a nearby Hurlock as the lightning fried him.

With nothing between the warden and the emissary Alistair ran forward, a glint of unknown power enshrining his weapon. As it slammed into the emissary, the shield that engulfed the two opponents broke. Juliana gasped as her spell shattered off of Alistair.

The emissary dropped to the ground, and Juliana soon followed.

The adrenaline left her body, her two injuries throbbed in different ways.

Dark blood was streaked across Alistair and Daveth, bright red mixing into it as it ran out of the cut in the rogue's arm.

Daveth sat next to her, her hand already rising up to hover over the wound. The spell sank into it quickly. “Healing magic is pretty useful,” he says dumbfounded.

She nodded, “yeah, but not getting hit is even better.”

He nodded back, “Looks like you took a few hits too.” She hummed in agreement.

“Why did you run off ahead, if you were with us, we could’ve avoided that whole fight?” Ser Jory yelled at the rogue.

He glared up at the knight, “oh the coward knight has something to say? You could have scouted ahead at any point, it didn’t need to just be me.”

“Why didn’t you retreat when you set off the obvious trap?”

“We had to go that way anyway, no way to avoid it. Unless you wanted to take a bit of a dip in the swamp with your glistening heavy armor.”

“We could- “

“I can’t swim.” Juliana interrupted.

“What?” Alistair asked.

“Only one way through, I can’t swim.” Her hand ran over the wound in her leg, magic seeping into it as the heal was started.

Daveth let out a strained chuckle, Ser Jory and Alistair joining a moment later.

Shaking his head Daveth stood up, “At least we don’t have to go searching for any more darkspawn. Think we can get what we need out of these guys?” he extended his hand to Juliana.

She took it, swaying slightly as he pulled her up.

A worried look flashed over Ser Jory’s face, “you took a bad hit back there, you okay?” he asked, fingers prodding over the lump on her head.

She pushed him away, hand reaching up to cover the bump, “don’t poke it.” Her eyes looked over the battlefield before she walked over to the closest darkspawn, grabbing its discarded weapon to harvest the vial she needed.

“You aren’t going to go crazy now, right?” Daveth asked, collecting his own.

“What?”

“You aren’t gonna go all blood mage now that you are collecting some.”

The content look on her face fell, hardening to a pinched glare. “What?” she repeated sharply.

“Just, some old friends used to say the reason your kind turn to blood magic is that you see blood and just go crazy for it.”

“Your friends are idiots, if that were true there would be no mages who were women,” standing back up she began walking deeper into the wilds, “after all we see more blood that you do. You done yet?”

“Don’t you want to deal with your head wound?” Ser Jory asked.

“I’d rather save my mana for any upcoming ambushes, the faster we leave this place the sooner I don’t have to worry about the darkspawn blood turning me into a blood mage,” she said bitterly.

“What crawled up her ass?” Daveth asked Alistair, who only answered with a shake of his head.

Juliana couldn’t help but stare dumbfounded as the men around her continued to insult the woman in front of them. Obviously, they had no idea how bad an angry mage could be. She stepped in front of them, muttering, “are you stupid?” before looking up at the black haired woman, “apologies for my companions, they don’t have the instincts necessary for a conversation with you.”

“Oi!” Daveth started.

The woman only raised a thin eyebrow.

Behind her Juliana heard Ser Jory whisper, “that’s a witch of the wild, she will turn us into creatures for her brews.”

Juliana couldn’t stop the roll of her eyes, “if we insult her,” she replied normally, attention back on the black clad woman who had moved closer in Juliana’s momentary lapse in attention. “I am sure she is as pragmatic as she is mysterious.”

“Indeed,” she replied, arms crossing over her chest, “women do not frighten like little boys, tell me your name and I shall tell you mine.”

“How respectable, my name is Juliana Amell, previously of the circle of magi, now of the gray wardens.” She paused a moment, “hopefully.”

“Ah a pet mage,” the witch replied, Juliana’s nose wrinkled at the insult. “You may call me Morrigan. Shall I guess what you seek?”

Juliana shook her head, “no need, I can just tell you? There were some historical documents that we were hoping to find in these ruins.”

Morrigan gestured towards the rubble, “I believe what you are searching for resides in there.”

Looking through the pile Juliana saw a chest beneath, “thank you,” she said turning back to the witch, “Will you be safe out here?”

“You should hurry back to your camp,” Morrigan replied simply, her body twisting and morphing into a raven before flying into the sky.

“We are so cursed,” Daveth complained once the bird was no longer visible.

“Maybe you are, but she seemed to like me,” the boys continued complaining but Juliana was already focused on retrieving the chest. Sitting inside were three scroll cases, the mage could feel the preservation spells wrapping around them.

“You are a rude woman,” Alistair pouted.

She replied with a grin, tapping his shoulder, “You can be a bullfrog, Ser Jory a tortoise, and Daveth can be a newt,” she teased.

They began the trek back to camp.

“I never want to see her again,” Ser Jory said simply.

Juliana let out a laugh, “if we do, you can always hide behind me again.”