Prologue

"Come on, Fergus! Give it back!"

"You have to catch me first, slowpoke!"

She was chasing her brother through the halls of Castle Highever, nearly knocking over several maids in the process. Fergus was laughing and was using the advantage of his longer legs to pull ahead of her. They had hooked around a corridor when Fergus was suddenly scooped up by their father, the Teyrn. Fergus squealed and giggled as he was whirled around. She almost fell over trying to stop, but the Teyrn caught her and hoisted her up with his other arm.

"Now, just what are you two doing?"

Fergus lowered his eyes, "We were playing a game, Papa."

The Teyrn arched an eyebrow, "I see. Would this game involve teasing your sister and taking one of her dolls?" Fergus held the doll behind his back. "Don't you think you should give it back?"

"Yes, Papa," he handed the doll over to her, "I'm sorry, Alessia."

"That's a good lad. And Pup," he turned his attention to her, "now that you have your doll, what should you say to your brother?"

"Apology accepted."

The Teryn kissed the tops of their heads, "Good. Now let's see if we can find your mother in the gardens." She rested her head on her father's shoulder and closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, she was standing in Fergus' chambers with her family. Everyone looked much older. Her mother and father both had grey in their hair and Fergus, now a man, was standing next to a lovely woman and a little boy. She knew them; they were Oriana and Oren, Fergus' wife and son.

"And bring us some ale and wenches! For the men of course…" Fergus grinned at Oriana.

"Fergus! You would say this in front of your mother?"

Everyone laughed. But the laughter was followed by screaming.

She stared down at Dairren's bloody form on the floor of her chambers. Her mother, the Teyrna, armed with a bow, was sprinting towards her. She glanced down at her own hands, clutching daggers and covered in blood, and soldiers bearing the crest of Arl Rendon Howe lay dead at her feet.

Her mother shrieked at the broken bodies of Oriana and Oren, "I'll cut that lying bastard's throat myself!"

She ran after her mother. Everything moved unnaturally fast. Together, along with her mabari, Hermes, they cut down soldier after soldier. The hall ran red with the blood of the residents and invaders alike. Ser Gilmore pointed them to the larder before guarding the castle entrance. Her heart sank, knowing that she would probably never see the knight ever again.

Her father lay in a pool of blood, struggling to sit up, "There you both are."

A dark haired man appeared behind her, "We must go now! They are breaking through!"

"Go with Duncan, I will stay with your father," her mother knocked an arrow in her bow.

"Go, Pup, and know that we love you."

She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the tears back. Opening them, she was standing in front of a large ruin, and she was greeted by King Cailan, the ruler of Fereldan.

"Ho there, friend!"

Duncan turned to her, "Find Alistair."

Suddenly, she was in front of a young man with a very big grin on his face, "You must be Duncan's new recruit, from Highever."

Opening her eyes again, Alistair and Duncan stood over her. Alistair helped her to her feet, "Did you have dreams? I had terrible dreams…"

"KINDRED," something hissed in her head. She was atop the Tower of Ishal, pulling her dagger and sword from a lifeless ogre.

Darkspawn overwhelmed her and Alistair, "I KNOW YOU, KINDRED"

Everything faded around her. Glistening and horrid teeth closed in around her, "I SEE YOU."

Alessia's eyes shot open and she gasped for air. The night was warm and the stars twinkled over head. She shook with a cold sweat and tried to get her bearings. She closed her eyes and heard the cracking of a fire and Hermes breathing heavily next to her. After a moment, she realized that someone was lightly holding her hand. Alessia opened her eyes again and turned to look up at Alistair, who was looking down at her with kind eyes.

"You're awake," he helped her sit up.

"It seemed so real…"

"Well it was real, in a way. You see, the taint allows us to hear the Darkspawn. The Archdemon…it talks. You get used to the nightmares after a while," he let go of her hand and blushed, "I heard you thrashing around, and I thought...thought you'd like to know."

Alessia smiled gently at him, "Thank you, Alistair."

Alistair stood, "That's what I'm here for. To deliver bad news and witty one liners. You should try and go back to sleep, we have a big day tomorrow."

Alessia nodded and lay back down, facing away from Alistair. A little voice inside her head spoke up, "Loneliness and nightmares, I wonder if this is what it means to be a Grey Warden."

She closed her eyes, squeezing out a tear before drifting off into a dreamless sleep.