Where Fate Takes Us

Author: USA Tiger

Disclaimer: Dragon Age is property of BioWare

Author Note: oh my god, yes I know I haven't updated this one in over a year and a half and I'm sorry about that. I have been working on the chapter, I really have. Chapter isn't as long as the two previous ones, I am trying out shorter chapters for my fics to try to post more often.

Since I last updated, I have joined twitter and you can follow me usa_tiger1983 where I post updates and sometimes story recs and everything else to do with my fanfics.

This chapter is currently un-betaed but as soon as my minion does I will replace this chapter.

Chapter 3

No one paid any attention to the white cat as it walked through the village. The cat jumped up onto a nearby fence post and started grooming itself as it listened with half an ear to the people nearby. Being able to shift into an animal gave Atreyu a perfect way to check the village out before he and his friends dared attempted to enter it. So far news that several mages had escaped the Circle of Magi hadn't gotten out, Atreyu assumed that either the news didn't travel that fast or Greagior and the Chantry were keeping it quiet for now. He would put his gold on the second one, it had to be an embarrassment for the Templars that so many had gotten free making Atreyu give a satisfied feline smirk and purr as it had been his doing.

What they did mention worried Atreyu a bit, Darkspawn. So there really were Darkspawn on the surface. Figuring he was going to get all the news he could as a cat, Atreyu gracefully leapt to the ground and headed out of the village with his tail held high. At the edge he was picked up by Jowan and carried into the woods to the little camp the three teens had made.

"Well?" Silver asked as soon as Atreyu had shifted back to his Elven form.

"So far no one knows that we've escaped from the tower," Atreyu said as he sat down. He glanced around and saw Gary and Revas playing by the trees close to the camp then turned back to his friends as Jowan sat as well. "It could be that the news hadn't reached the village yet but I think it's more likely that the Templars hadn't let it get out."

"Greagior has got to be steaming mad," Jowan said.

"When isn't he mad?" Silver asked with a soft giggle.

"True, but such a mass break out? It's never happen before," Atreyu said smirking. "If everyone is smart they'll keep their heads down and hopefully watch the other little ones. Maybe leave Ferelden all together to somewhere unknown." Silver hummed and tapped her chin gently with a long finger.

"I bet they're also keeping it quiet because if everyone knew so many mages got out of the tower, people would panic," she said.

"Hmm, more than possible," Atreyu agreed. "And people would lose faith in the Templars if they are seen not doing their jobs, something the Chantry wouldn't want since they are the Chantry's brute force. Another thing I learned seems those rumors are true, there have been Darkspawn sighted to the south."

"That's right, a lot of the Senior Enchanters left to assist the king's army!" Jowan said. "I had forgotten about that."

"Yeah, kinda worries me a bit," Atreyu said with a frown. "Not just because it could be the start of a Blight but I was planning on taking all of you to my village and it's in the south in the Wilds. If we can make it to the woods around the village we should be good, the area we settled in makes a good defense against the Darkspawn, but it's getting there I'm worried about."

"We'll figure something out," Jowan said.

"We could leave Ferelden all together," Silver suggested. "We could go to the Free Marches, I'm originally from Kirkwall."

"Don't they have one of the harshest Circles in Thedas?" Atreyu asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, but you'd be surprised how many free mages live in Kirkwall. You just have to be careful, there are also tunnels under the city, it's called Dark Town," Silver explained. "If you know where to look and where you're going, you can hide and get out of the city fast. Or in it. It's how my family and I left when we came to Ferelden."

"We'll keep it as a possibility," Atreyu offered. "Right now I just want to get safe."

"So we should be alright to head into the village for now," Jowan said. "They won't be looking for escaped mages."

"We should still be on the lookout for Templars just in case," Atreyu said. "Keep your hoods up if you can." His two friends nodded in agreement and started breaking down their camp. Atreyu put out the campfire, smothering the embers with dirt then called the boys over. "We're going to the village soon to get provisions. You both stick close to one of us."

"Alright Atreyu," Gary agreed. Revas nodded eagerly then held his arms out to be picked up. Atreyu was more than happy to pick up the tiny Elfkit that he was become quite attached too. He was thinking of claiming Revas as his foundling since the boy had no one else now.

Leaving behind as little evidence of their stay as possible, the small group of mages left the forest and headed toward the village.

As the village was along the main road that acted like a trade route, no one really took notice of trio of youths and the two children with them. People were always coming and going inside the village after all. Atreyu and his friends headed for the market place, planning on spending the rest of their coin on food and other things to help them survive out in the wild. Atreyu ensured the hood of his armor was pulled up and his long hair was tucked inside, his long silvery white hair could catch someone's attention after all which was the last thing Atreyu wanted. Silver and Jowan had their hoods up as well, each tackling a different booth.

As they bargained with the little coin they had left, Atreyu noticed someone watching them. A human male with scraggily, greasy black hair and a couple of nasty scars on his face. The man kept fingering the knives on his belt and had his attention focused on Atreyu's coin bag.

'A thief then,' Atreyu thought. He doubted the man would try anything out in the middle of market place, no… the man would follow them out to a more secluded place. 'Lovely, just what we don't need.'

Atreyu bought a couple of proper knives to use for cooking and hunting and some jerky. He then bought Revas and Gary a couple of changes of clothing in their sizes, the girl running the booth gushing at how cute his 'sons' were and thankfully having no problem serving Elves. Revas shyly pressed his face against Atreyu's shoulder as he was gushed over.

"Oh how sweet," the girl said. "Shy little thing isn't he?"

"A bit yeah, he's never been out in a crowd like this," Atreyu said. "Not use to so many people."

"Cute little thing like him it's a good thing he's got a daddy like you to protect him," the girl said. "Maker bless you and your sons."

"Thanks," Atreyu said with a forced smile on his face, he couldn't fault the woman for believing in her own god after all. He paid for the outfits, at discount since his 'sons' were "So darn cute" according to the woman.

"Girls are weird," Gary said as they walked away making Atreyu laugh. Out the corner of his eyes Atreyu spotted their would-be thief shadowing them.

'Great, the guy still isn't giving up,' Atreyu thought at he caught up with his friends.

"We ready?" Atreyu asked.

"I think so, this stuff will last us for a while hopefully," Silver said. Jowan hiked the tent he bought up on his shoulder and nodded.

"Good, let's get on our way then," Atreyu said. Then in a softer voice added, "don't look but we're being followed."

"Templar?" Silver asked worried.

"No, just a thief," Atreyu assured her. "I'm hoping he'll decide to lay off now that he sees three of us." Jowan turned his head a bit as if he was going to say something to Silver and looked out the corner of his eye, a trick they used to keep watch for Templars or the Chantry sisters at the tower.

"I don't see anyone," Jowan said softly.

"Good, let's get out of here then," Atreyu said. The group of mages quickly moved off down the road, Revas wrapping his arms around Atreyu's neck and Gary holding on to Silver's hand. Luck did not seem to be on their side as they rounded a bend in the road that took them out of sight of the village, there were two men waiting on them, one of them the thief that had been following Atreyu.

"Lookie what we have here," the man said with a sneer. Atreyu turned his head as he heard more footsteps and they were surrounded by 3 more men. All of them had their weapons drawn and were smirking.

"Think the knife ear stole money from a wealthy noble?" one of the other men asked. Atreyu scowled at being called a knife ear and held Revas closer.

"Who cares," the apparent leader of the group said. "Now hand over all your money and maybe we'll let you leave."

"I don't know boss, the girl might catch a pretty coin," another thief said as he leered at Silver. She stiffened and glared at the man.

"Maybe… maybe… the Elf is pretty too… I heard they're always looking for new Elves up north," another said.

"Not on your life," Atreyu said and held up a hand and tossing a fireball at the leader, seeing no other choice.

"Fuck! The Elf a mage!" one thief yelped as he jumped out of the way. Jowan quickly drew the daggers he gotten from Bodahn and stood protectively in front of Silver and Gary. "Get them!"

Atreyu growled and quickly tossed up a barrier as did Silver, the girl holding Gary close to her side. Jowan swiped at the first thief that came near them, his attack clumsy but enough to get the man to jump back. Atreyu did his best to keep the men away from him and his friends but some spells needed him to use both hands to cast since he didn't have a staff on him and Atreyu wasn't about to set Revas down. One of the men realized that Revas was Atreyu's weakness and attempted to attack the tiny Elven boy but got Atreyu instead as the Elf twisted and grunted in pain as the dagger nicked him.

"Now now, that's not how you treat a kid," A voice said from behind the group. Everyone's attention was drawn to a pair of Dwarves standing a few feet away, a male Dwarf with a full reddish brown beard and shoulder length hair decorated by beads and tiny braids and a female Dwarf with her long hair pulled back into a thick braid that wrapped around her head like a crown.

"Bugger off shorty," the greasy haired leader sneered.

"No see, we can't do that," the male Dwarf said.

"Guess we'll just have to take care of you too then," one of the other thieves said.

"Shall we dance then?" the male Dwarf said. Two of the men rushed toward the Dwarves while the other three turned their attention back to the mages. Atreyu had lowered Revas to the ground and quickly drew the bow he bought, an arrow already notched and ready to go. He let loose and hit the closest thief.

"Damn," he said, the arrow had hit the thief but not where Atreyu had been aiming. It had been 10 years since he used a bow and while he hadn't forgotten how, he was out of practice. Another arrow was drawn and quickly followed the first with a little burst of flame on the end, nailing the screaming man in the throat. He clutched at the arrow, gurgling on his blood as he bled out.

Jowan had used the distraction to set greasy's hair on fire. As the leader of the thieves scream in pain Jowan rushed forward to slit his throat then quickly darted back. Silver held Gary's face against her to shield him from all the death while she used force magic to pick up another thief and slammed him on the ground with enough force to break several bones including his neck.

On the other side of the road the male Dwarf had twisted to the side and brought the mace he held in his hands against the back of the man he was fighting knee.

"ARRGGGHH!" The man howled in pain and crumpled face first to the ground. The male Dwarf didn't waste any time and moved quickly, bringing his mace down on the thief's head before the man could even attempt to get up. At the same time the female Dwarf had swept the legs out from under her attacker making him land on his back with a loud whoosh of air. Atreyu and his friends watched as the she-Dwarf jabbed and hit the man with her bare hands, almost seeming to dance out of the way as the thief attempted to strike back at her. She was grinning and looked like she could be laughing yet no sound escaped from her.

"Ralvina quit playing and end it already," the male Dwarf said. "I swear on my ancestors she's like a damn cat." The female Dwarf the other had called Ralvina rolled her eyes but did as her companion asked and kicked the thief between the legs sending the man down with a grunt of pain as he held his family jewels; Atreyu, Jowan and the male Dwarf winced at the action. Ralvina grabbed the downed man by the head and gave him a sharp twist, cleanly breaking his neck.

"Hey, let me see!" Gary said as he struggled against Silver's hold.

"No way am I letting you see all that," Silver said as she held on tighter. Atreyu had put away his bow and picked up Revas again, the little boy's eyes shut tight just like Atreyu had told him.

"Ma serannas ser Dwarf," Atreyu said as he walked over.

"No problem kid, you and your friends looked like you were in a bit of a tight spot," the male Dwarf said with a nod. The girl Dwarf Ralvina kicked the man she killed and shot the body a glare then looked up tenderly at Revas. "Yeah I agree Ra, we didn't like that they were going hurt the kids either. Name's Jalan Arret." The male Dwarf introduced himself, poking himself in the chest with his thumb. Now that they weren't fighting, Atreyu noticed that Jalan had a 'S' shaped mark on his right cheek which meant he was a Casteless. "And this is Ralvina Zylro." The girl Dwarf bowed slightly still not saying a word.

"We can't thank you enough," Silver said gratefully. Jalan laughed and gave her a charming smile.

"Well I'm glad we could help out," he said. "But I'm sure sounds of our fight reached the village so I would suggest we loot any coin we can and get out of here, I'm sure you three don't want to get caught." The trio of mages paled slightly, getting caught was the last thing they wanted. Ralvina walked over and grabbed Gary's hand then motioned for Atreyu to put Revas down. Atreyu was a bit wary but put Revas down. Ralvina smiled at Revas then looked at Jalan and made some motions with her hands. Jalan nodded then looked up at the Mages. "Ra said she'll take the kids back to our landship and wait on us. Come on, let's get to looting." Ralvina led the Elfkits away, nodding her head in the right places as Gary started asking her questions.

Atreyu, Jowan and Silver followed Jalan's instructions and looted anything sellable and all the coin they could find off the thieves bodies, not feeling too bad about it since they had been trying to rob the small group and had spoke about selling Atreyu and Silver into slavery.

"Why are you helping us?" Jowan asked as he pocketed a coin bag, trying to ignore the bit of blood clinging to the bag. Jalan shrugged one shoulder.

"You needed help," the Dwarf said. "And I might be a Casteless but I don't like thugs attacking woman and children, not that I think you're helpless pretty lady." He winked at Silver who laughed. Atreyu's ears twitched slightly and he looked in the direction of the village.

"I hear people coming," he said.

"And that's our que to get out of here," Jalan said. "Come on, this way." The trio of escaped mages didn't argue and followed after Jalan to a cart waiting a bit off the road. Ralvina was waiting in the seat holding the reigns of the horses pulling the cart. Gary and Revas were sitting behind her in the cart. Atreyu and his friends quickly climbed into the back while Jalan quickly sat beside the other Dwarf. "Get us out of here Ra." Ralvina snapped the reigns getting the horses to get a move on, pulling onto the road and away from the village.

Silver shifted as something dug into her hip until she was able to pull out a small shield. The front was painted blue and had a silver griffon in the center.

"Hey isn't that…" Jowan started to ask with wide eyes. Jalan looked over his shoulder and let out a bark of laughter.

"Yeah, I guess I should have mentioned it. We're Gray Wardens," he said.

"How in the name of the Maker are we going to get out of the city?" A female elf with shoulder length crimson red hair, braids starting from the peak of her hair and pulled to the back with two more hanging on either side of her face. Her green eyes were worriedly searched the docks above her as she and the other Elf with her hid. "Denerim is crawling with soldiers looking for us."

"We could always swim under the docks to the outer wall and sneak out that way," her companion suggested in a whisper, his hair just as red with braids starting at the temples and pulled back from his face which was marked with light gray tattoos made up of graceful lines, the ones on his cheeks almost looking like wings.

"Neither of us know how to swim Jamison," the girl Elf said dryly as her eyes darted to her brother. The male Elf, Jamison, rolled his equally green eyes.

"You didn't think I was serious did you?" he asked then shrugged his shoulders. "Okay, I was half serious. We've got to find a way to escape Fable."

Jamison and Fable Tabris were the twin children to Cyrion and Adaia Tabris. Their father had for years been a servant in one of the Bann's estates in Denerim, working in the kitchen as a cook. Their mother on the other hand had been a rouge and trouble maker. She taught both her children how to fight and how to use weapons much to Cyrion's chagrin, Fable excelled with blades favoring daggers while her brother took to the bow. Adaia had been very proud of her children as they mastered their chosen weapons… the Tabris siblings and Cyrion missed Adaia every day since her death.

The twins' current situation had started that morning… well not quite true; it had started even before that. The Tabris's were somewhat well off, for Elves anyway though they were still very poor compared to humans, and their family was very well respected among the various Elven alienages. This had paved the way for Cyrion and their alienage Matchmaker to pick them both future spouses that were more desirable than usual. Jamison and Fable were not happy about that situation at all, not only did they not want their future partners chosen for them, no matter how well it worked out for their parents, but there was also the fact that neither twin was attracted to the opposite sex. The twin just knew that the Matchmaker was not taking that into consideration when picking their future spouses for them.

When all was said and done, the Matchmaker one night came over to the Tabris house and happily announced that she had secured a successful match for the twins and their cousin Soris. Fable and Soris's betrothed were already on their way to Denerim while Jamison's would be another week or so behind them. It was tough to tell who was more irritated and disappointed with the news; Fable, Jamison or Soris.

Originally the plan had been to wait for Jamison's match to arrive so the twins could marry at the same time, but for some reason the alienage's Hahren Valendrian insisted that Fable was married alongside Soris as soon at their betrotheds arrived. Valendrian kept shooting worried, nervous glances up to the day of the wedding at Jamison who still didn't know what that was about.

So the night before Jamison and their other cousin Shianni took it among their selves to give Fable and Soris a night to relax before the wedding. There had been a lot of drinking involved all around.

That had lead to this morning… Maker Jamison couldn't believe how wrong it had all gone, glancing up nervously with Fable as a pair of guards walked above them. They held their breaths, hands clutching at their weapons until the guards walked away. .

"Fable, we've got to do something," Jamison hissed. "Swim, or sneak through the city to the gates, or I don't know, stow away on one of these boats, but we're going to get caught if we don't move soon."

"I know that Jamie but… hey what did you just say?" Fable glanced at her brother.

"What? Sneaking out of the city or sneaking onto a boat?" Jamison asked back.

"Now that isn't too bad of an idea," a sultry voice said behind them. The Elves yelped and quickly turned, weapons held at ready. A woman crotched balanced on a beam just above them, an elegant eyebrow raised and a playful smirk on her lips. "If you were running that is. Are you running, sweet things?"

The woman had dusky skin tone, dark golden eyes and long dark brown, almost black hair that fell in ringlets around her shoulders. She wore a tight, short sleeve-less white dress with slits on the sides up to her hips and the front dipped to show a bit of her impressive cleavage, the dress held close by tight lacing. She wore tight-high leather boots, had a blue sash tied around her waist with a matching handkerchief on her head that kept her hair pushed back from her face. All of her jewelry was made of gold with a golden stud in her bottom lip, gold disks hanging from her ears, some sort of golden armband on her left arm hidden by her fingerless gauntlet and pieces of armor, and a collar chocker decorated with delicate looking designs, a oval shaped jade stone and little golden disks that matched her ears that hung down to the top of her bosom.

Fable's green eyes took all of the shem woman in and couldn't help the grin that her lips curled up into. The woman was stunning looking, like sex on legs, but was clearly dangerous if that lean body or those daggers on her back were anything to go by. Unlike her brain dead betrothed Nelaros, this woman was much more to her liking.

'Okay, that's not fair to Nelaros,' Fable thought with a bit of a wince, she hadn't wanted to marry the man and didn't think they would have had any sort of happy marriage but what she heard about him was that he was some sort of smith and something of a fighter. He really was a good match, for someone else that is. And he had come with her brother and their cousin to rescue her and the others though it resulted in his death.

"Yeah, you could say that," Jamison said knocking Fable out of her thoughts.

"I wager then that the soldiers out today are looking for you two," the woman said. "Something to do with business up at the Arl's estate?" A look of wariness crossed both Elves' faces as they moved back slightly, grips tight on their weapons again.

"And if it is?" Fable said in a tight voice.

"I think you have a very good reason then," the other woman said. "Why don't you come onto my ship?"

"Your ship?" Fable asked.

"Aye, that one there," the woman turned and pointed at one of the ships with the name Siren's Call painted on the side, one that was in a spot where the woman and her crew could see the twins perfectly under the docks the whole time.

"I haven't got anything to lose," Jamison pointed out. "I mean, they know we're here but haven't alerted the guards."

"Maker," Fable said with a little sigh then looked at the woman again. "Alright shem, we'll go but if you try any funny business we won't hesitate to defend ourselves."

"Of course, but I won't harm you sweet thing, or your brother," the woman said. "My name is Isabela, pirate captain of the Siren's Call." Jamison bit back a snort of amusement as a quick flash of interest flashed in Fable's eyes. His sister was something of a little thief, she liked to pickpocket shem's in the markets and at night she would break into homes to steal little things for no real reason other than she could and to mess with the humans. The sexy pirate lady would catch his twin's eye.

"Alright then," Fable said as she sheathed her knives. "I'm Fable Tabris, this is my brother Jamison." Jamison gave the good captain a quick salute of his fingers.

"It's a pleasure," Isabela all but purred as she held out her hand to help Fable out of their hiding spot while Jamison helped himself. "Come on then, before those soldiers come back."