First Impressions [Alistair]

[Natayla Kingsley]

The travel had been a long one. For a long time she had lived, without wondering who her parents were, thirty years to be exact, and that was too long. Maybe she was lucky and they were still alive.

The Tower of Magi would be her first stop. Being raised in the Chantry, she knew that at least one of her parents were a mage, and that was a good start. She sat on the water’s edge as she arched a brow at the small dock and finally stood up making her way to the ferryman. She could hear the echo of her boots walking across the dock. “I’d like to cross.” She said. The ferryman arched a brow at her. With a small shake of his head he spoke up as he prepared a boat, “If your business is not important, I am sure the Templar’s can show you out.” He told her with a smirk to which Natayla rolled her eyes at slightly. She moved to get inside of the boat, as the ferryman started to make the way to the tower.

It was then that she seen the what the ferryman had been talking about. She could see inside of the main doors, as there were about six Templar’s inside. As the boat stopped, she stood up and pulled herself out of it. Standing on the other dock now she took in a breath making her way inside. Looking around for a small moment she had seen that not only Templar’s were here. Letting her hands drop to her sides as she looked around. Noticing only one other door other than the one she had just came through. She would watch the Templar’s paths, when their backs were turned, when they would put their hands on the hilts of their swords. She had always been an observant one. Just in case.

It was then when she was spoken to, “I am the Knight Commander at this Circle, What is your business here?” The Templar spoke out loud, she could hear his armor clanking as he walked to her. She gave a slight cough, “I came here looking any signs of my mother, or both parents to be had.” She told him, the Templar squinted both eyes at her. She at this point had no reason to tell lies, but either way she was going to get in, even though she had no real start other than to just look around, and be nosey. “I am sorry Miss, but I cannot let you in. Besides, aren't you a little old to be looking for your parents?” He asked her.

She gave him a glare, “I think that is none of your business, Knight Commander.” She told him as she looked around again. It was then when she heard commotion behind her and both her and the Knight Commander look behind her. She arched a brow as the Templar stepped around her, “Especially today, now get anything you might need from the provisioner and be on your way.” He told her before he continued to walk. She shook her head at him, and turned back to look to the other Templar’s, she would wait for now.

[Alistair Theirin]

“For the thousand times I tell you, I am not hiding any Mages!” Alistair spoke out loud as he argued with the Knight-Captain by the door, wishing to enter so that he could speak with the Knight-Commander. The reason why he argued was simply because the Knight-Captain had denied him access, claiming that the King was a mage sympathizer and a dangerous risk to allow in. It was rubbish, Alistair thought, but he understood him due to the rumours that swirled around. There was some who claimed that the King of Ferelden was in league with the Mages, and that he was hiding them from the Templars. Certainly it was shocking news and Alistair tried his best to avoid causing more trouble, but honestly he knew that the rumours were in fact true.

Since the Mage-Templar war had begun, Alistair had taken a pity in the Mages and whenever he could he had chosen to assist them, especially the young who had been persecuted both far and wide. The first moment he had witnessed the horrible acts of the Templars, was when he himself were about to join them as a teenager, but nothing could compare to what happened lately. Because of what had transpired in Kirkwall, every circle except for those in Tevinter had fallen over time, and now the Templars and the Seekers had both broken free from the Chantry. At least there was some who stayed loyal to the old ways, although most people had chosen the extreme ways, seeing no other solution than to execute or tranquil every single one who had the ability to use magic.

“Excuse the Knight-Captain, King Alistair, we are only being careful here. You are allowed inside.” The Knight-Commander said as he approached the King, hitting the chest with a fist before bowing respectfully forward. “Oh Hadley, how great to see you again! How have you been? Surely the circle have gotten a lot stricter than I remember, is it normal these days for a Templar to deny a King access?” Alistair answered with a joke as he stepped further into the room with open arms, hugging the Knight-Commander. With a look of shock the Knight-Commander frowned and hugged Alistair back, before he took a step away and replied. “We are at war, your majesty.”

“Ah yes, so I have heard. And there are rumours about me hiding mages, ha-ha, who would have thought.” Alistair said with another joke as he made a fake laugh, noticing the grumpy comments which the Knight-Captain gave in the background as he silently withdrew himself from their presence. “Hmm yes, well I certainly hope you`re not hiding anyone.” The Knight-Commander said as he rubbed his beard in thought, watching the King intently. “Of course not, but I am here to discuss the matter in fact.” Alistair answered as he stepped more into the room, seeing the young lady in the corner, but kept focused on the Templars.

Meanwhile as Alistair had entered the circle, and his guards remained outside, something happened in the dungeon below. A wall begun to crumble and within short moments a hole appeared, from where Alistair`s friend stepped in.

[Natayla Kingsley]

Natayla turned her attention to the provisioner once more for the moment. She would buy a small amount of rations just to make it look real. She turned her head back to look to the Commander, really, the King, here of all places? Now that was questionable all around. She arched a brow as the Commander and the King exchanged words, now why would he be here, she thought again. She turned her head to look to the door that would lead inside the Tower. This might be a little easier than she had thought. With the King having all the attention of the Templars, she glanced to the man before her and thanked him, and took a step back. Now was her chance.

Keeping a close eye on the Templars’ it was then that she thought that she had caught eyes with the King, but would go directly for the door as if she was supposed to be there. She did not need him of all people getting suspicious. Slipping past the open door, giving a small smirk, now on to business. There had to be an archives place around here somewhere, someplace that she could up past mages. With an arch of her brow she continued down the hallway. The place was pretty empty for a Circle Tower. In fact she had not seen a single person since the entrance. It was then that she seen a door, labeled, Archives. To her luck today, the door was not locked, she stepped inside, locking the door behind her.

Turning back around she took in a deep breath, maybe it was under her name? Looking up to the labels she went in order and then found N. Going through some of the folders look at the names, she finally found one that had her name on it. Opening it up, there was not much but telling her her given name, when she was born, what chantry she was at, rather or not she had magic (which was of course no). Then there was what she was looking for, Freywinn was her name. With a small smile she looked onward, but there not much of anything else, and no name of her father. So the next thing came to mind, look in her file. Closing it all back up she moved on. Inside was a single letter inside an envelope, a single word written on the outside, Duncan.

Arching a brow at it, confused a bit. She must have been to locked on what she was looking for to have noticed the door open up. Dropping the letter on the ground as her mouth was covered, hearing voices behind her. “I thought you said there would not be anyone past that door.” The male voice rang in her ears, as low as it might be, “I was not aware either.”

[Alistair Theirin]

“Hmm interesting, and what exactly do you wish to tell?” The Templar spoke seriously as he watched Alistair with a firm look, curious on what the King had to say. “Well, I had hoped to speak with Knight-Commander Greagoir about it…is he around?” Alistair answered with a question. “No, he is not. I am the acting Knight-Commander of this circle while he is gone on Templar business.” Hadley replied, knowing that Greagoir was in Orlais with the other Templars, preparing a siege on Andoral`s Reach. The answer Alistair got wasn`t quite what he had expected; now he had to speak with Hadley about it, but hopefully it would go well. He sure didn`t seem as harsh and strict like Greagoir, perhaps he was easier to deal with. Then just as Alistair was about to respond, he noticed that the young woman behind the Templar sneaked into the circle without anyone noticing. It made Alistair wonder what was going on and it caught him a bit off guard, but with a slight smile he looked back at Hadley and said “I see, in that case then it is to you I must plead my case. Could we speak in your office perhaps?”

“Certainly, follow me, your majesty.” The Knight-Commander replied and turned to face the door, guiding the King inside with two other Templars following. The circle was huge and confusing, Alistair thought, believing that if he had been a Mage he would have gone lost all the time. When he was about to take his vow in becoming a Templar it had been easy, as he never actually had needed to live in the circle. Right now he felt lucky that Duncan had recruited him, had it not been for him then Alistair would probably have been on the Templar`s side against the Mages these days, but perhaps he then would never had needed to become King. It was something to ponder, although none the less here he was.

Walking further into the circle, Alistair found it to be unnatural silent from what it used to be and there was few Mages around, those who were had been made Tranquil, robbed of their emotions to live like productive slaves. It was horrible to look at, and Alistair pitied them. Who knows what they had endured before they were taken and made like that, yet such was the new way of the Templar order, they could either capture or kill all mages. Nothing could stop them anymore, and worst was that most people supported them more than the White Divine in Val Royeaux.

Looking around, Alistair wondered where the woman had gone; he could not see her anywhere. Hopefully she was alright, and hopefully Alistair hadn`t seen a ghost. Then as he walked side by side with Hadley, the acting Knight-Commander, he remembered there was also another reason why he was there. “Oh, hmm if you don`t mind, there is something else. I promised the Chantry Mother in Denerim to bring some letters from your archives, could we take a look?” Alistair asked for permission and Hadley answered “Well, it isn’t normal for us to bring strangers into our archives, but since you are the King and the Mother have asked for it, I will allow you. Come, this way.” The Knight-Commander spoke as he then showed Alistair the way to the archive.

Then as they came to the door, the two Templars who had followed Hadley and Alistair went to open it and it became clear quite fast that it hadn`t been locked, nor did the Templars really seem to care. Was it because they believed Tranquil Mages didn`t need to sneak around? Maybe, Alistair thought, but once the door opened, they were all shocked to see a woman standing inside. It was the same woman Alistair had seen earlier, but what did she do in the archives. While the Templars spoke between themselves, Alistair looked curiously over the woman and noticed she had lost some papers on the ground. Before the Templars reacted to step in, Alistair went first to assist her, and when he knelt to grab the papers, which he was about to give to her, he noticed a familiar sign. “Duncan…”Alistair said in surprise and got speechless.

[Natayla Kingsley]

It was then when she turned around that she heard another commotion outside the door, but then the two men behind her were gone. She was starting to panic now, why the Archives? Why did they have to come in. By the time she moved to try and find the way the two men had went, they had already came inside. She was then rooted to the spot. She had to be more careful than this. She then turned on her heel just as the King had picked up her letter. She arched a brow at him, at the look on his face when he read who the letter was addressed to. Her only lead, and now here she was caught for breaking and entering, and the King had her letter, something that was rightfully hers. Now she did not know the King at all, but she had heard the rumors, and stories behind his coronation. The Landsmeet had spread even the day it happened. To see Alistair as King and Anora as his Queen, now that was something all together weird. People who loved each other did not pretend out in public. Even the little they showed themselves out of that castle, it was not love that kept them there.

With a grit of her teeth, Natayla stepped forward and snatched the letter from his hand, she had not even read it yet. She would be damned if someone else was going to before her. She did not go for any type of weapon on her, she just wanted to read it, even it was here in front of the King, and maybe with the reaction that he had given her, he would let her do just that. She ripped open the envelope, and pulled the letter from it, graciously handing the empty envelope back to him for him to marvel at. She read the letter to herself, at a fast pace, catching every detail of it.

Dearest Duncan,

I know this may be the last thing you want to hear, but your daughter has been welcomed to this world. I hope for her sake that she is not blessed with curse I bare, so that she can be free of the Circle. You know how it is here. She has your eyes, and a head full of hair that was black as charcoal. I hope that she carries your bravery and talent, when and if she is freed from the Chantry. She has already been taken to the Chantry in Highever. I thought maybe every now and then when you are not busy being a Grey Warden, you could check in on her, even if you do not wish to tell her of her parents.

Yours Truly,
-Freywinn

Natayla let out a small cough as she finished reading, almost as if she was about to cry, but she did not. At least if they took her away in shackles, she knew that she did have parents, and that they did at least love her in some way. Even if this Duncan did not know she had been born, he at least knew that she was conceived, by the words in her mothers letter. It did not show any signs of him not knowing. The Knight Commander then took the letter from her hands, despite the horrid look on his face. He had for one just been tricked. Reading it he arched a brow at Alistair, "Is this telling me truth, Duncan had a child?" He asked as he held the letter out to Alistair, but the Commander's gloom still held high over Natayla as she looked between the King and the Commander, just a tad confused. She kept silent for the moment.

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[Alistair Theirin]

As Alistair picked up the letter, it was almost immediately snatched away from him by the woman, a rude thing to do toward a king, which the Templars reacted against, but before they could do anything, Alistair raised his hand and told them with a look to stay away. The symbol he had seen on the letter belonged to Duncan, his former friend and mentor. Why did the woman care about him? He thought and wondered, allowing her to read the letter in silence, even though he was curious to see what it was about.

“She`s Duncan`s what?” Alistair said in shock and disbelief as he was given back the letter by the Knight-Commander, what he had just heard was far beyond his expectations. Could she really be Duncan`s daughter? How was that possible? Surely Duncan could have had his fun during his youth, but he never told him. Perhaps it was his own mistake that he hadn`t asked much about his past, but if there was any remains of his lineage, then Alistair would make sure it would be taken care of the best he could, at least he owed that to Duncan.

Holding the letter in hand, Alistair took the chance to read it and from what he understood, she truly was his child. Back and forth his gaze went between the letter and the woman in front, it was unbelievable news, yet it seemed to be true and when he looked at her he thought he could see some resemblance of Duncan in her. Apparently Duncan have had an affair with a mage in the circle tower, it didn`t say when, but the result on what had followed was clear. Did it mean that his daughter too had magical abilities, he wasn`t sure, although it appeared she did not.

Before Alistair could say anything further, the Knight-Commander nodded to the other guards and spoke. “This woman have broken into our archives, she must be punished.” Once that was said, the two Templars who had followed came up to her side and grabbed her arms. She was to be taken to the prison, none would sneak into their territory and go unpunished; Hadley firmed believed. As Alistair heard those orders and saw what happened, he was surprised, but chose to interfere. “No, let her be. She came here in search for answers; it is not like she stole something valuable.” Alistair said and glanced at the woman, not knowing entirely what he did, although thought it to be best to solve the situation. “That still does not deny the fact that she broke in, it is forbidden!” The Knight-Commander answered.

“In that case I claim her into my custody; she is to stay with me.” Alistair spoke back, hoping the Templars would allow it. “What? Why? Just because she may be Duncan`s daughter, who we all know was your precious friend and teacher, you wish to take her away from us?” The Knight-Commander said frustrated with an angry look at the king, folding the arms as he waited an explanation. “Duncan was a hero to Ferelden! And yes, I do want to know more about her and Duncan, but I promise you, she will be punished for her crimes.”

“Hmm…very well then, as his majesty wishes.” Hadley spoke hesitantly as he rubbed his beard, then bowed and thought of leaving, but before he could do that, one of the Templars noticed something in the back of the room.

[Natayla Kingsley]

“She`s Duncan`s what?”

Now that was an interesting opening statement. She arched a brow at the King. But it seemed that he knew Duncan. Maybe enough to give her some idea about him and what he was like. But the fact that he was defending her said a lot. Watching as the guards stepped closer to her, she knew what was about to happen before it happened. Feeling their hands grip at her arms, she adjusted herself. Had he not chose to come inside the archives this would not have been a problem at all. It was then when the King stalled them, this Duncan must have meant a lot to the King for him to do such a thing for her. But what she did not understand was that he did not know her at all. She could have been a murderous raging lunatic for all he knew.

"Ohh lovely, in the King's custody now." She said in part sarcasm. But the thank you could be heard in her tone. Feeling the guards let her go she looked over to the Templars with a small shake of her head. Just as they stepped behind her to investigate something that they had noticed another Templar came through the door in a huff, "Knight Commander! The mages have broken out!" The Commander swirled around on his feet to look at the Templar, "What!? How?" He asked as he looked back to the King with an arch of his brow as if he wanted to say something but he did not, "It looks as if there is a hole in the base of the tower, someone must have helped them." The Templar continued. Natayla turned around standing next to the King as the other Templars then found a door. She arched a brow just as confused as the Knight Commander was.

"Go back down there now! They must be brought back and their accomplices punished! Find them!" The Knight Commander said and turned to step back into the room again, "That must have been them." She said in a quite tone, Alistair may have even heard her. Natayla did not come here to get into trouble at all, she only wanted to know of her parents, and here she was, right in the middle of a segment of the Mage Templar war. She did not like it. As the Templars filed out and the rest were going through the secret entrance in the Archive room, she caught a small glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye. Through the main door of the Archives she watched as in slow motion as another notched his bow, now what in the hell was this? Looking up to Alistair and then back to the man in the hallway, just great. "Move out of the way!" She said to Alistair as pulled a dagger from her belt using it to deflect the arrow that was released at the King's head.

Pulling her next dagger stepping around Alistair to face the door she pulled back her arm and let the dagger fly through the threshold of the door, the dagger imbedding itself in the assassins chest. Arching her brow watching as his body dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

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[Alistair Theirin]

Hearing the woman speak in a sarcastic tone, which remarked her thanks made Alistair smile. She did not seem entirely happy that he had just saved her from the Templar`s might, but had he not then her fate could have turned grim. In silence, Alistair stood by and watched as he noticed something drew the Templar`s attention behind the woman, what it was he could not tell, but suddenly another Templar came running into the room, immediately warning that someone had broken into the lower levels of the tower. A cold chill rushed over Alistair then, knowing what it was. His friends had been discovered and if the Templars found and questioned them then his own life could be at stake. It was a worrying thought, and Alistair prayed within himself that it would go well.

Nervously he watched what happened further and he could see the Knight-Commander was not pleased, it was as if he suspected him, or that he maybe wanted the King to stay put until the matter was settled. None the less it was frightening, and with a glance back at the apparent daughter of Duncan who had chosen to stand by Alistair side, he listened to her whispering words as the Templars hurried out to investigate. She had seen something earlier, that much was obvious, but could she really have met his friends? It was a question that lingered on Alistair`s mind until they were alone.

With the Templars gone, he wanted to talk; however before he got the chance he was shouted at, ordered to move out of the way. Seeing that she pulled out a dagger made him think she was threatening him, not realizing at first what was going on. Thus out of fear he did what she said, while in shock and horror he witnessed her dagger save him from a flying arrow, and then she threw her second dagger, which flew through the air and hit a man in the chest. “Whoa, that was close…” Alistair spoke surprised, seeing the man fall dead to the floor.

The woman had just saved him from an assassin, who would have thought? It was unexpected and Alistair got speechless for a moment after, but slowly he moved over to study the man, poking him with the boot. “Seems like someone wants me dead?” He spoke in a low voice, before he turned around to face his savior. “Thank you, had you not stepped in it would have been me who lied dead on the floor by now.” Alistair said thankful with a smile, while he continued after a pause. “Allow me to introduce myself, my name is King Alistair Theirin, ruler of Ferelden…but I am sure you may already know that.” He said and reached out his hand for her to shake.

[Natayla Kingsley]

An arch of her brow appeared as the man dropped to the floor. It was no every day that she saved the King of Ferelden. Then again not every day soeone tried to kill him on the spot, it was however a good opening for it. She stepped up to the man just as he did looking over to Alistair, "No kidding." She told him in a slightly sarcastic tone. She turned him over with a boot to get a look at him and to get her dagger back wiping off the blood on the dead mans shirt. "He look familiar to you?" She asked him with a small shake of her head. The man must have known something like this was going to happen to get a head shot like that. Another shake of her head appeared before she stood up again. She gave him a nod at his kind words but that was all she did to it.

She extended her hand to him as he properly greeted her. "It never crossed my mind." She told him with a smirk about her face but spoke again, "Natayla Kingsley." And that was all that she had for him, no title at all, because she did not have one at all. But she did give him a respectful bow of her head, because he was the King after all. But what she wanted to know was what it was that hee knew about Duncan, call her selfish, but she got the feeling that he was wanting to know about the ame thing, only she did not have anything that she could tell about Duncan. She pushed back her hair from her bow a small smile appearing on her lips.

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