Dragon Age: Origins

Fury of the Magi

I don't own Dragon Age: Origins, Awakenings or anything else. If I did, I'd be building a home in Antarctica with T3 Broadband.

First Enchanter Irving entered the library and quirked an eyebrow at the common – but still amusing – sight of one mage hogging an entire table to herself. Tomes, each as thick as a stone slab surrounded the magus and hid the apprentice from view as if she had fenced herself off from the outside world. Walking closer and smiling benevolently at a few of the apprentices and their instructors, he glanced at one of the top-most books and frowned.

Ancient Tevinter Runes – Volume Two

Other books caught his attention and he allowed a faint smile to inch across his face.

Tevinter To Ferelden Dictionary

Standing behind the mage who was bent over another thick tome, Irving cleared his throat.

Lessia slowly straightened up and turned towards the First Enchanter. She showed no sign of the fear that most apprentices showed when confronted by the current head of the Circle, even with the questionable research that was scattered across her table.

"Tevinter Runes, Lessia?" Irving inquired as he gently lifted a tome and examined it thoughtfully. "You do know that the Chantry frowns heavily upon this kind of research, right?"

Shrugging, Lessia slowly stood and closed the book carefully. Letting her long red hair hide her face for a second as she stood, a delicate hand brushed the hair back and tucked it behind her ear.

"Forbidding knowledge is probably the best way to get people interested in it. Take Blood Magic for instance" she stated and looked at Irving inquiringly as if seeking permission to continue.

Irving knew he should have been at the Harrowing with Lessia a minute or so ago but theological discussions with his apprentice were always intriguing.

"Go on."

Nodding, Lessia began to pick up the tomes.

"With Blood Magic being forbidden, there exists no instruction for it. Nobody to teach and guide other magi away from the more demonic aspects. So it becomes an almost foregone conclusion that all Blood Magi succumb to the lure of demonic forces."

Irving cracked a wry grin.

"Fair point. But even if we instructed other magi on that particular school of magic, corruption will always be there. In fact, if we taught them more, they may try to reach beyond their means and cause more mayhem."

Lessia afforded the First Enchanter with a considering nod.

"Perhaps so. But consider this. As it stands, all Maleficar become Apostate's if they aren't butchered outright by the Templar. If Magi were instructed and given appropriate over-sight in regards to these Forbidden Arts, then we would have trained Maleficar's at our disposal. Instead of forcing them to flee or cutting them down where they stand, they could stay here and expand their knowledge safely! Just imagine what kind of aid a fully-trained Maleficar could bring when facing a Blight."

Irving nodded before frowning. "You do have a point. Just don't mention it around the Templar's or the Chantry. But we must get going, Lessia. It's time for your Harrowing."

Nodding, Lessia finished putting the tomes back and smiled nervously.

"Magic exists to serve man. It can never be allowed to rule over them" Templar-Commander Greagoir stated as he watched the First Enchanter lead in another candidate. He had the script practically memorized and had delivered it dozens of time within the last year alone.

Of those dozens of times, he had only seen a handful of magi come out stronger than they had gone in.

"Yes yes Greagoir. We know" Irving interrupted, glancing to the side and smiling at Lessia.

The debate from earlier had stirred memories from his past. When he had tried to push back the boundaries of magic and sought to help others do the same.

I miss those days. The Templar's claim they exist to protect us but they function as a limiter. If any mage grows too powerful, they are here to remind them of their place. If we can't be strong in ways they approve of, we find ourselves hunted or butchered.

Shaking his head to clear those thoughts, he suppressed a chuckle when he caught sight of his apprentice glaring at the Templar.

"School your thoughts, Lessia. You will need all your wits and power to survive this test. Anger at the Templar's will only ensure your failure."

Taking the words to hear, Lessia nodded and focused on the Lyrium font up ahead.

"This test will pit you against a demon. You will utilize the font to shift your consciousness into the Fade and once there, you are to kill the demon."

Irving nodded at the succinct description and turned to Lessia. "There are no degrees of success here, Lessia. If you fail, the demon will possess you. And the Templar here will kill you."

At that, Irving gestured to a Templar with hair the color of dried blood who was blushing the lightest pink under Lessia's scrutinizing stare.

Nodding, Lessia mustered her courage and slowly advanced on the font. Ignoring the steady metallic thump of steel boots behind her, she reached forward with both her mind and hands and immersed herself in the Lyrium. As her hands sunk into the cool liquid which tingled, her eyes closed.

And her mind…opened.

She felt the atmosphere change about her. From the cool but energizing feel of the Harrowing chamber to something different. More surreal and humid. Sniffing before opening her eyes, her nose instinctively wrinkled at the smell of stale sweat and something that smelt both sweet and rotten.

As her eyes slowly opened, she beheld the twisted beauty of the Fade. The air wavered as if in a heat haze whilst the smell diminished slightly. Catching sight of an odd stone statue that towered over the small clearing in which she had manifested, Lessia slowly made her way over and glanced up at it. The way it seemed to loom over her and glare about even without eyes made her shiver.

"Feels demonic" she murmured and made a note of it in her mind.

Taking a moment to cast about with her senses, Lessia mentally catalogued the spells she had available to herself.

Lightning, Flame Blast, Winters Embrace, Wisp and Grease.

Rolling her eyes at her own naïveté, Lessia concentrated and swelled her magic.

A moment later and a small glowing ball of light shimmered into being just above her left shoulder.

Technically considered a small spirit, the Wisp was in fact a manifestation of the mages powers and acted as an external focus similar to a staff albeit slightly weaker.

Nodding and calling to mind the invocation needed to call forth lightning, Lessia slowly advanced with the wisp bobbing closer to her as if it could sense something.

A strange ball of light caught her attention and she easily identified it as a wisp. A moment later and she let out an undignified yelp as an arc of lightning rocketed from the wisp and struck her arm.

Diving to the side and landing awkwardly, Lessia shook her tingling arm and winced. "Ouchies" she mumbled and stuck her head out. Ducking back a moment later as a furrow was ripped into the mound of earth where her head had been sticking out, she nodded.

Taking a deep breath and recalling the invocation necessary for lightning, Lessia leapt out of cover and flung her own bolt of lightning at the wisp. She watched as the bolt of lightning struck the wisp and ripped it apart before she smacked down on the ground and winded herself.

Standing and rubbing her arm, Lessia frowned at her own Wisp which she was convinced was laughing at her. Advancing down the slope and then up the incline, Lessia peeked over the rise and caught sight of another wisp. Bringing to mind another spell, she sprinted up the remainder of the slope and focused her will on the spirit.

A few snow-flakes cascaded around her and a moment later the enemy wisp was engulfed in a flash of blue light that left a thin sheen of ice on the ground.

Finally getting practical experience with these spells she thought with a faint smile.

Whilst magi in the tower could practice their spells to a degree, there was no way for them to test their spells in any form of combat.

Our custodians probably don't want us to slip our leash.

Gaining confidence in her abilities as she made her way up the slope and under an overhang, she caught sight of what appeared to be a worm. Following the length of the worm up further, she stifled a yelp when the mouse it was attached to spun around and spoke.

"Hello there."

Even though she stifled the yelp, a squeak still escaped her.

The mouse glowed for a moment before the white light grew into the shape of a man. Seconds later and the glow faded to reveal what looked like a thirty year old mage.

"Another one sent to face a demon."

Blinking, Lessia could only nod dumbly. But the more analytical side of her brain which kept her up till the early morning found something off about the mouse-man. Part of it was the way his eyes looked at her. Hungry. But not the kind of hunger with which a lot of other men looked at her – a hunger for which she had no name – but as if eying a potential meal.

"Y-yes, that's right. I've been sent here to take down a demon" she confirmed and kept her suspicion carefully veiled. In all her research into the fade, one rule had stood out above all others.

Trust not in what you see, smell, hear, touch or even taste. Trust in what you know.

"You will need help. I have seen this demon and it is far too much for you to defeat. I've been here for many years and so I know the lay of the…land."

Quirking an eyebrow, her suspicions were only heightened. It wasn't directly offering help but was instead tempting her to invite it in.

So…this is my demon. It's trying to trick me for now. But it ultimately needs my permission to enter. I either…die or succeed.

Shrugging, Lessia made to walk past. "I think I will be fine. I do appreciate the offer of assistance but I will find this demon. And I will either prove myself a mage or die."

Taking another step, she was brought up short by a sigh that had the sound of being practiced many times.

"I'll come with. Maybe it will help redeem me."

Nodding and smiling at the apprentice, Lessia advanced onwards as the apprentice shifted back into his mouse form.

"You can call me Mouse if you're interested."

"What's it been like to be in the Fade for so long? Have you been to the Black City?" Lessia inquired.

"It…distorts everything. Things that would seem logical in the real world are confused here. Up isn't always up for example. And as for the Black City…it hurts to look upon it."

Lessia nodded but her attention had been caught by another wisp who had yet to notice her.

Perhaps I can try out that Tevinter glyph I learned…how did it go again…

Tracing the sigil in the air and willing it to appear beneath the wisp, she watched happily as it swirled into existence under the wisp. Infused with Lyrium, it activated and froze the wisp in a spiritual vacuum.

Paralysis in the Fade is different to the kind invoked in the mortal realm. In the Fade, a creature is inviolate if no direct attack is made. But by creating a spiritual vacuum, I make sure it can't move by the process of ensuring it cannot move beyond itself.

Blinking at the somewhat odd thought that seemed muddled, Lessia knew that her time in the Fade was growing short.

Walking up to the paralyzed wisp and extending her hand, she watched as a small cone-shaped vortex of fire erupted from her hand. But instead of immediately killing the wisp as her other spells had done, the Flame Blast spell had set it alight…and the Glyph of Paralysis kept it from moving.

Wincing in discomfort at the almost sub-audio scream that echoed throughout the area, Lessia noticed that her wisp had taken to hiding so close to her that it had practically buried itself in her hair.

As the wisp vanished and the flames were extinguished, Lessia glanced around and caught sight of a strange spirit on a rise. Making her way toward it whilst glancing about, she blinked in surprise when, instead of attacking her or ignoring her, the spirit nodded at her.

"Greetings, magus. I assume you are here due to the test that the mages invoked?"

"Um…I am, yes. I'm here to take down a demon" she began but had her attention distracted slightly by the sight of all the weapons.

Some hung in mid-air and others lay securely on racks but what drew her attention was the sight of a staff.

Most apprentices never get to hold or touch a staff. They're considered too powerful for anyone who hasn't undergone this test. Perhaps…

"You've been here a while I take it? I know a bit about the Fade and these weapons aren't made from steel and wood, leather and crystal. They're made from thought. But for such thought constructs to possess this much definition speaks of both great concentration and time."

"I am the Spirit of Valor. I am…a conglomeration of different aspects of souls. The ones that are ripped apart by demons have parts scattered and some are attracted to me. And you have a good mind, mage. I have been here for a while. Although in the mortal realm only a second may have passed since my creation, it has been many centuries here. Or so it seems."

Nodding, Lessia gestured. "Spirit, I ask of you a boon. I do not have much time left and I must slay this demon. May I do your thought-constructs the honor they deserve and wield one to slay such a terrible foe?"

Valor eyed the mage curiously. Some magi begged and pleaded with him for one of his weapons. Others demanded. And neither of those types got to even touch the hilt of a weapon.

But this mage was different. He could feel it in just how connected she was to the Fade.

"I will…on one condition. That once you leave here, you promise to do whatever it takes to stop these tests. Many have died here, some would have been revolutionaries. The Golden City became the Black City because magi tread too far into the Fade. Promise me this and you may wield a staff."

Lessia paused.

The Harrowing is as much a test of ability as it is of the mind. But we are untrained in combat. In how to use our spells offensively.

"I so swear, Valor."

"Then take a staff and go, Lessia Telrúnya. You do not have much time left."

Nodding, Lessia walked over and wrapped her slim fingers around the warm hilt of the staff.

"I don't have time to seek out any more allies or power here. I must slay this demon now."

"The arena is just back the way we came. It's surrounded by fire like a bulging peninsula" Mouse stated and gestured ahead with his nose.

Recalling the place he was talking about, Lessia immediately began to walk towards it before slowing and glancing around.

"Something's here" she murmured before yelping and ducking as a spectral wolf lunged out from mid-air to try and rip her throat out.

One by one, wolves began to appear around her, stepping out of thin air and snarling at her.

Standing and looking around at the wolves warily, Lessia allowed herself a small smile.

"I know exactly what spell to use here" she murmured to Mouse and gestured with her hand for the small rodent to move away.

Mouse nodded and scampered away.

Lifting the staff with one hand and willing the wisp to hover by her other shoulder, Lessia took a deep breath before willing the spell into being. Extending a hand and aiming her palm at the ground around her, she nodded.

Thick sludge erupted from a point close to an inch from her palm and splattered onto the ground which formed a thick, slippery film. Spraying the Grease spell around herself completely until she was surrounded by a veritable ocean of the thick slime, she nodded.

I've removed their mobility and speed from them. I can do this!

A moment later and the wolves charged.

Or tried to.

Not only is it exceptionally difficult to charge at an enemy when your paws are submerged up to your ankles, it becomes far worse when the substance is so slippery that even standing upright becomes a challenge.

As the first two wolves approached from directly ahead, Lessia quickly selected the only spell she had that would affect more than one enemy.

Flame Blast.

Taking a deep breath and extending her staff towards the wolves, she willed her magic into the staff and chose what form it would take when it exited the staff.

A cone of fire.

As the blast of fire erupted from the crystal perched at the tip of her staff, Lessia's smile quickly turned into an expression of fear as the grease ignited explosively.

Not even having a spare second to scream, Lessia threw herself backwards as hard as she possibly could whilst hoping the sludge behind her hadn't ignited. Sluicing back through the grease just a bare quarter of a second faster than the fire, she shot free of the grease just as the fire engulfed the entire puddle of slime. Quickly dissolving the grease on her clothes before the fire followed the thick trail she had left, Lessia watched the wolves seemingly shatter inside the pyre.

Interesting. They didn't tell us that Fire spells and the Grease spell could interact like that. But in hindsight, it's really quite obvious she thought, chagrined by her moment of sheer stupidity.

Panting and slowly standing from her seated position, Lessia watched the flames extinguish themselves as the grease was completely consumed. With her mind already buzzing with ideas for new spells, she gestured idly towards Mouse. "Come on, let's go face this demon."

Mouse was staring at Lessia with even more curiosity now. Few magi ever managed to combine spells like that. Some didn't think of it, some didn't survive it and t hose few who thought of it and survived never shared the secret.

Oh, it shall be fun possessing her.

Stepping across the charred and blackened ground, Lessia quickly found herself at the arena. Walking into it nervously, her eyes immediately locked onto an amorphous blob that slowly coalesced into a demon.

A rage demon. I've read about them in one of the tomes Irving lent me. Let me see…oh yes, they tend to attack hard and fast but without much strategy. They overwhelm, not outmaneuver.

Entering the arena properly, she was brought up short as the walkway she had just occupied crumbled away to be replaced by an inferno.

Taking another glance at the Rage Demon, Lessia yelped and shot forward just as the demon swung an arm at her. Barely escaping the attack, Lessia quickly called up the Winters Embrace spell.

As the ice rapidly encased the lower half of the demonic manifestation, Lessia yelped as a small bolt of lightning struck her left arm. Focusing on the demon, she quickly willed the rune for paralysis into existence underneath the demon and watched it activate. Turning away from the trapped monstrosity, she glared at the five wisps circling the arena.

Hurling her own bolt of lightning back at the first wisp, she knew that a single solid spell would destroy these wisps.

Wisps were perhaps the most fragile spirits within the Fade and only survived destruction by being small and having access to a tiny degree of magic.

Lessia however, had access to far more magic.

Watching the first Wisp vanish in a puff of smoke, she quickly moved on to the others and vanquished them in short order. The second was frozen and the third was engulfed in a cone of fire when it ventured too close. The fourth and fifth were treated in the same way the first and second were dealt with, respectively.

Turning back to the demon, she was just in time to see the rune fade away and the demon released.

Spraying a quick blast of grease at the demon to blind it, Lessia hurried to the side and even still barely evaded the hungry grasping of the demon.

Quickly engulfing the malevolent spirits bottom half with ice, Lessia smiled victoriously as the demon surged its own fire-based magic, melting the ice quickly.

"Got you" she stated and before the demon could blink, Lessia had hurled a bolt of lightning at it. But instead of aiming for the central mass, she had aimed for the puddle of water that had formed around the creatures feet.

With a scream of frustration and rage, the demon exploded violently due to the massive influx of power.

Reaching up, Lessia made a face as she pulled a few chunks of demon from her hair. "Eugh…that's disgusting" she whined, flinging the sloppy remains to the ground where they evaporated.

Slowly turning to Mouse who was watching her, she frowned.

"The charade is up, Mouse. I know you're a demon. And I know that you're my real test."

Slowly transforming into his human self, Mouse stared at the young mage in annoyance.

"How long did you know, mortal?" he growled out, his voice sounding larger than his body.

"This is the Fade. Nothing is what it seems here. And a mage offering to help with no expectation of reward, especially when trapped in the Fade? I don't think so."

Mouse nodded though his eyes appeared colder than the spell Lessia had just utilized.

"You are powerful, Lessia Telrúnya. You would have risen high in the Tevinter Imperium ranks. But the age of Mages is fading fast. Perhaps you can restore them, perhaps not."

Lessia could feel the unspoken promises oozing into her head like warm honey and shook her head to clear them away.

"So you are a Pride Demon. Preying on a persons need for glory and power. I will not succumb."

Mouse smirked darkly at her before his shape shifted again into something far larger.

"Very well, mortal. But there will come a time when you need more power than you possess. And then…then we shall see."

A moment later and Lessia lost consciousness.

"Come on Lessia, wake up! Irving will have my hide if you don't!"

Lessia groaned and slowly cracked open her eyes. She felt drained and her entire left side was still tingling most unpleasantly.

"Jowan, what have I told you about waking me up?" she whined and slowly sat up with her right arm as support.

"That you'd encase me in stone up to my neck and leave me in public for birds to crap on?" he asked with a wry smile. Shaking his head and taking a step back just in case, he gestured for her to get up.

"The First Enchanter wants to see you. But I was wondering if I could talk to you first" Jowan inquired and assumed a comfortable pose showing he was quite prepared to wait.

"Ugh…I feel worse than the time you convinced me that brandy was water" she groaned and glared at him out of the corner of her eye.

Looking somewhat embarrassed, Jowan sighed. "You're never going to let me forget that, are you Lessia?"

"You weren't found by the First Enchanter dancing on his desk, were you now? Do you have ANY idea how humiliating that was?"

Jowan had the good grace to look ashamed.

"Fine, what do you want. And make it quick."

"What do you know about the Tranquil, Lessia?" Jowan asked and as he felt her glare, hurriedly continued. "I think I'm going to be made into one of them. You've only been here as an apprentice for seven years and you're already a fully fledged mage. I've been here for fifteen and there hasn't even been a mention about it."

Lessia sighed and frowned at him.

"Look Jowan. How many hours a week do you spend in the library?"

Looking somewhat confused, he shrugged. "I don't know…maybe twenty?" he suggested and flinched under her annoyed look.

"I spend close to seventy hours a week in the Library. And that isn't including the time I spend studying with Irving. And even with all that, it was close Jowan. Be glad you have more time to prepare" she stated before standing. "Now get out. I need to change" she ordered.

Jowan glanced down and flushed a deep burgundy when he saw she was just in her underwear.

A moment later and he was sent fleeing whilst the seat of his pants smoldered alarmingly.

Lessia sighed as she heard the loud, angry shouting of the Templar-Commanded which none-the-less was off-set by the calmer, wiser shouting of the First Enchanter.

After donning her typical attire of an apprentices robe and cowl, she had quickly made her way up to the second floor where she had been told the First Enchanter was entertaining the Templar-Commander.

On her way up, she had made sure to pass through the Libraries, both the Apprentice one and the Mage Library, the latter of which contained more advanced books. Promising herself to spend even more time in here than the Apprentices library, Lessia entered the study and quirked an eyebrow at the sight of the three men there, two of which she knew.

The First Enchanter was glaring at Greagoir whilst the Templar-Commander was glaring right back.

The third man was silent and had adopted the demeanor of a man who was watching two children bicker over the last cookie.

"First Enchanter, I'm here" she announced, completely ignoring Greagoir.

"Ahh, good evening child. I trust you are rested sufficiently?"

Clenching her left fist, she shrugged. "Some aches and tingles but I'll be fine. I've sustained worse in your sessions" she stated with a half-smile.

Laughing under his breath, Irving nodded and gestured to the third man.

"This is Duncan. He's a Grey Warden here to recruit mages for the war brewing near Ostagar."

The cooler, logical side of her brain saw no coincidence in Duncan arriving the exact same day she had passed her Harrowing.

That said, it had taken five years for Irving to develop that particular side of her.

Irving caught her eye and nodded minutely, signaling he knew what she was thinking and agreeing with it. It was also a signal that they would talk when alone.

"Would you mind escorting Duncan to the guest quarters, Lessia?" Irving requested and chuckled at the mutinous flare in her eyes before it was squelched with practiced ease.

"Of course, First Enchanter. I exist to serve the Circle" she replied with sarcasm coloring her tone to be a tad darker than was the norm.

Rolling his eyes, Irving nodded before returning to his desk.

"Come alone then, Duncan. It can get quite confusing here, what with the perfectly logical lay-out" she stated whilst making sure her voice was loud enough for the First Enchanter to hear.

Irving frowned.

It is good that Duncan wants to recruit her. By becoming a full mage, the Chantry and the Templar in particular will have direct power over her. She is too hungry for knowledge for them to let her exist unmonitored. Maker preserve me for putting her between a rock and a very hard, sharp place.

Lessia easily navigated the halls whilst remaining silent. It was not that she wasn't curious about the Grey Warden but her early life had taught her to be exceptionally careful and circumspect when dealing with humans.

And the nobler their rank was, the more dangerous they could be to an elf.

"So, how long have you been here?" Duncan inquired, curious about this potential new recruit.

"Just going on ten years now. Been an apprentice for seven" Lessia responded.

"I thought you had to be an Apprentice or higher to be able to stay here" Duncan inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"That is usually the case, yes. However, the First Enchanter argued that I be allowed to stay here since my gift was more advanced than most."

Duncan grinned at that. "Irving always was a good a man. Stern…but good. But how much more advanced?"

Lessia smiled. She always did enjoy discussing magic.

"By the age of five I could control fire enough that I was never cold. It wasn't fool-proof but I was warm more often than not. By six I could shock anyone that tried to hurt me. Which in the Alienage was quite often" she stated, her voice suddenly turning dark.

"And how did your particular gift awaken, if I might inquire? I was lead to believe a certain event triggers the awakening of the talent in those inclined."

Lessia winced at the question and struggled to keep those memories buried.

"I don't want to talk about it. Here's your room. Good day" she stated, her tone suddenly flat and devoid of anything approaching life.

Duncan frowned as he entered his room.

Just how bad was life at the Alienage for her?

Lessia struggled to compose herself as she made her way to the chambers of the First Enchanter.

I can't afford to let those memories out. Not yet. Once I'm away from the tower, maybe then.

Finally arriving back at the First Enchanters rooms and entering, she closed the door and finally allowed her tiredness to show.

"Was the Harrowing that bad?"

Lessia didn't even blink in surprise as Irving spoke from his desk without looking up.

"It confirmed everything I had been taught about the Fade. But yes…it was rough. I learnt some things though" she stated and smiled.

"Such as?"

"Well, magical grease is combustible for one thing. Another is that a demon really can't handle lightning" she stated, somewhat evasively.

It's not that I don't trust him. I just want to develop these ideas on my own.

Irving grinned wryly.

"Yes, we generally let Apprentices discover spell combinations on their own. If we taught them that, they wouldn't experiment. Sure, less would explode but magic is a risky venture" he stated.

Lessia smiled and took her seat.

"So, I'm to accompany the Grey Warden to Ostagar then?"

Irving grinned at her and nodded.

"Indeed. We both agree that were you to stay here, the Chantry would crack down on your reading heavily. And I can only see two possible outcomes. You die or they die."

Lessia winced at the matter-of-fact tone but nodded in agreement.

"By sending you to become a Grey Warden, it is the same as giving you the freedom to research whatever you want, as the title of Grey Warden confers a sort of diplomatic immunity."

Lessia couldn't contain the hopeful smile that split her face.

Irving chuckled dryly.

"I'm also willing to let you take some books with you on your journey. It's rare but I get the feeling you'll need all the help you can get" Irving stated gravely and the jocularity that had once infused his face had faded.

"Duncan has his suspicions about this new war. He tells me it is a Blight and I am inclined to believe him, despite all the evidence to the contrary. Do not ask me why, Lessia. There are some secrets that I cannot tell you" he stated when she opened her mouth.

Pouting, she nodded.

"Go gather the books you want to take. And please, less than ten."

Lessia sighed again and nodded. Standing and smiling at her mentor, the young magus bowed. "I thank you, First Enchanter Irving. For all the help and all the knowledge."

Irving nodded formally at Lessia. "Farewell, young magus. If we do not meet in this life again, I will expect to hear the demons speak of you with fear."

Lessia turned and made her way out with a heavy heart.

Duncan found Lessia in the library, surrounded by books and glancing at each of them in turn.

"Is something the matter, Lessia?" he inquired and got a sharp nod in response. "May I help?"

"I don't know which tome to take!"

Glancing down at the books, he grinned in amusement.

"I would take some to do with Tevinter runes. If you ever get into any of the ruins, you could find some powerful magic in there. And I understand there is an entire branch of magic dedicated to runes."

Lessia nodded absently and slipped another into her bulging pack.

"I guess that's it then. We'd best be off" she stated quietly and a moment later, she began to cry.

Duncan winced at the sight. Like most male warriors, he had no clue what to do when confronted by a crying woman.

"Is…something the matter?"

Lessia glanced up and stared at him through tear-filled eyes.

"The Circle is the first place I have ever considered a home. Nobody hated me here and I could practice my gift without the worry of being discovered. And now I'm being taken away from it all to fight a war I could care less about!"

Duncan flinched at the accusatory tone of her voice.

"I am…sorry, Lessia. If I could find another mage as promising as you, I would do so in a heart-beat. I don't want to put you in the front-lines of a war but I must. For what its worth, you will have ample opportunity to explore magic without the purview of the Chantry."

Lessia nodded and smiled weakly. "Here I am a fully-fledged mage and crying like a little girl."

"You still are a little girl" Duncan reminded her.

"Don't remind me. Shall we be off then?"

Duncan nodded though his concern was obvious.

"We shall make our way south. We will stop first at Lothering to replenish our supplies before advancing to Ostagar. We'll be riding hard for Ostagar so I expect you'll appreciate the rest there."

Lessia shuddered.

"Riding? As in horses?"

Duncan nodded and blinked at her.

"Do I have to? I hate riding horses" Lessia complained but stilled at the glare from Duncan.

"I am making a great many concessions, mage. We must get there within five days. If you know a faster transportation method than horses, I'm all for it."

Lessia stayed quiet.

"Horse it is then."

And that's chapter one! This is just a trial project and I'm looking to get some feedback. Now, before anybody reviews, let me address a few things.

First, Lessia is not a mary sue or a self-insert. May seem like it but she is flawed. Exceptionally so actually. Yes, she's powerful. And smart. But only book-smart. If she can read about it, she'll know it. Her past will be revealed soon.

I also realize events are a bit different than in the game but its all part of setting the stage. Jowan will show up again.

Also, this hasn't been proofed. I would welcome messages showing mistakes in spelling or etcetera. Or someone offering to proof.