There and Back Again Ch. 061-062

"I grew up in a place with no magic, no mages, no elves or dwarves. We had advanced abilities to build things to make our lives easier, but no magic. One of the people there, I believe, somehow had access to the Fade, or something similar. He was able to see into Thedas from the distant world, and to see future events as they could unfold. Believing this to be a dream, he wrote a book about it. The book, believed to be a work of fiction, was widely published and well-known to those who enjoy such stories."

We had previously agreed that calling the game a book was going to save a lot of time, rather than go into my usual long-winded explanation of a theatre performance.

"I read the book, several times, in fact. I learned about Thedas, and the events that would take place throughout the fifth Blight. I thought it an entertaining story, nothing more. And then, one day, without explanation, my soul came back to Ferelden. I found myself living in the story. Stuck here, I eventually decided that since I knew what was going to happen, I was going to try to change it. I didn't like the outcome, and I decided to make a difference. I found the Grey Wardens, and have been using my knowledge to try to help them achieve their goal – to end the blight."

I began passing around my collection of Earth artifacts. I allowed all four men to examine my clothes, my Zippo, and the other bits and pieces I had brought over. When they were done, I pulled out my phone. I played them a video, and some music; took pictures of them with the camera, and showed them. And then I settled down to allow them to think about what they'd learned. Irving looked ecstatic; he and Tanar began whispering back and forth eagerly, until Greagoir finally interrupted them by clearing his throat.

"Do you believe me?" I asked.

The mages indicated they did, nodding eagerly. Greagoir looked somewhat disturbed. "You're afraid I'm a blood mage, and that I am making you see things that aren't there."

He nodded, having the grace to look at least a little bit apologetic. I grinned. "I expected that. If you come with me away from everyone here, you can go ahead and smite me, if it will make you feel better."

He looked shocked. "Young lady, I wouldn't volunteer for that if I were you."

"It's quite alright. It won't be my first time. Seriously."

Greagoir gave Alistair a skeptical look, and he grinned sheepishly. "She made me do it."

I laughed, and turned back to Greagoir. "Let's go over there. Will that be far enough away?"

"There is no need. I can narrow my smite to include only you."

Of course you can.I nodded. "Go for it, then."

Aedan tightened his arm around me, but he couldn't stop me from spasming in his arms. The pain wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't as bad as when Alistair did it, and it didn't hold a candle to the Joining. I shuddered one more time, and then focused back on the Knight Commander.

"So?"

"You are not a mage." He looked shocked. "I apologise for disbelieving you."

"Don't worry about it. Think you can believe my crazy story now?"

He took one more look at my phone, now sitting silently on the ground, and avoided the question. "I fail to see what all of this has to do with me."

"There's more. Because it turns out that I am not a mage, I'm a templar. Without training, without Lyrium, and without the Chantry."