Blood and Thunder: Deja vu

I am cooking in my armor. Maker, how in the world do the templars do this all the time? I don't think I've ever seen a templar out of his/hers' armor besides while resting in the barracks.

I'm out…through…my training is complete and I am now able to see my family. My heart should be soaring, but it's not.

What will they think of me?

I know Mother will see me no different, she isn't a mage and neither is Carver so that is a blessing I guess.

But Papa…Bethany…I am one of the monsters in their eyes, and they'll know I'm watching…always watching now. I have to.

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather be a pariah in my own family than have Bethany and Papa sent to the Circle. It would mean Papa's death, I once heard him tell my mother that if he ever got captured the second he was alone he would kill himself, he swore never to return to the Circle and from what he has told me I don't blame him.

Maker the look on his face as they'd dragged me off. Well, not dragged, that's a bit overdramatic…especially considering that I left with them willingly, but still…I cried and clung to him, whimpering about how I was only agreeing to keep him alive and out of the Circle, that was the only reason! I had no wish to become one of them…no wish to have the title of Leash Holder to my two mage relatives. They actually asked me to make phylacteries for Papa and Bethany…me! Those are my loved ones you bastards!!! Never…I will never ask that of them, no…I will go out the second I get home, send Marley off to go kill a rabbit or something, fill up two tiny vials with its blood and claim they are my family's phylacteries. The templars wouldn't be able to tell would they? I hope not…

He probably hates me…Bethany will be scared of me from now on, Maker I'm not strong enough for this…

Andraste's great flaming ass, did we have to live so far out of town?! This armor isn't for my protection…no… that is complete bullshit, it is a tool used to slow cook me until I am ready to be served to a ravenous blood mage. It doesn't help that the skirt is lined in chainmail and so damn heavy I feel as if I'll sink into the ground and die of heatstroke.

Though I must admit whoever designed the skirt was a genius, it is utterly hilarious watching the men storm about all intimidating while wearing this…Yes, you are a big bad templar man…wearing a skirt. Heh…

Mages wear skirts I know that…even the men, although they swear up and down they are robes. I must admit though the mage guys pull it off far better than most templars I've seen. Is it weird that I find some of them pretty? Not feminine pretty mind you…I'd probably get set on fire for telling a male mage that, but…still, I find magic fascinating…and watching a guy conjure lightning with his bare hands is kind of impressive you know? Yes, I am a freak aren't I? I blame Bethany…

And now my distraction has failed…damn it.

I can't lose Bethany, she's my only friend. The only other person who knows me inside out, she knows me almost as well as I know myself…maybe even better. I used to accuse her of mind reading.

We whisper secrets to each other, hold ourselves close when nightmares strike. These past few weeks away from home have been unbearable without her.

Will Papa still tuck me in at night? I know I'm sixteen now, but still…

Damn it I'm crying again, how many times have I cried today? Shit…

There's the house, oh Maker's mercy please don't let them hate me.

Oh! Oh there he is….there they both are, waiting…

I see fear in Papa's eyes…Bethany looks nervous.

Damn them…damn all templars for forcing this on me. No, my family will not fear me!

I rip off my armor while they watch, making sure to throw the plates on the ground with feeling…

I stand in a loose tunic and pants now, holding the breast plate…it flashes in the light, the sun catching on the sword of mercy…

I look at my father, seeing him no longer fearful, just…curious, and maybe a bit amused.

I drop the chest piece, kicking it into the dirt and stomping on it as I begin to run to them, crying out once I'm close enough to throw myself in Papa's arms, burying my face into the feathers on his coat.

I'm sobbing openly now, he smells the same, looks the same…and he's hugging me back with just as much feeling. Kissing the top of my head and petting my hair and murmuring that he loves me and missed me and I'll always be his little girl no matter what armor I wear…

I turn as a soft hand pats my shoulder, my tear filled eyes meeting Bethany's, hers every bit as wet as mine.

"I missed you!" She squeaks before throwing her arms around me.

Maker, I swear on all that is holy and pure in this world…the templars will not get my family. THEY WILL NOT!!!

. . .

Maeve had a strange feeling of Déjà vu as she approached her mansion. She was wearing her regular clothes…and had only been gone for a few hours.

But Anders was pacing in front of the house across the way, and she was holding newly shined templar armor.

She remembered her fight with the Knight Captain, wanting to laugh at how Cullen had actually expected her to wear such offending protection.

"Knight-Captain…" Maeve growled as she gripped his collar, "You tell that self righteous lunatic that I will never look at, let alone touch this suit and she's even crazier than I thought if she thinks I'll join her order!"

Cullen had forced her to take the armor anyway…and now Anders was looking like she'd just stabbed him in the back.

Maeve stood across the street, facing her lover…was that fear she saw in his eyes? Maker's breath NO!!

She smirked, winked at her lover and dropped the shiny, pristine armor into a mud puddle.

"Oops! Oh dear what a mess…" She purred, loud enough for Anders to hear, before she slammed her foot on top of the pile and smeared it into the muck on the sidewalk.

Maeve kicked the ruined armor into a back alley and crossed the street, leaping into Anders' arms as she crushed her lips to his. The kiss was hungry and filled with passion.

"I love you." He whispered, smirking as she kissed his forehead.

"I love you too, now take me inside mage, I've had a rotten afternoon and I want to forget all about it."

Anders carried her into the entrance hall, "I can definitely help you forget…" He purred as he set her down.

Maeve looked up at him innocently, "Oh? And how will you manage that?"

She let out a loud and extremely girlish squeal as he chased her up the stairs to their room, the door slamming behind them.