/mashes things together that should not go together

[whowhatwhy]

[ It was a dark and stormy night.

What? It was.

Anyway, the rain was coming down in sheets when a cloaked figure collapsed outside of the gates of Castle Dunbroch. He wasn't injured, at least nothing serious beyond a few scrapes and bruises. Cold, sick, and exhausted? Most certainly. He was brought inside, and it quickly became apparent, thought the insignia on his armor and the papers he carried with him, that he was a Grey Warden. There were only stories about the Wardens this far out, and everyone had to wonder what one was doing so far from his home. Hopefully nothing having to do with the creatures the Wardens were famous for fighting.

But far be it from the king and queen to deny a Grey Warden shelter. He was kept secluded, mostly. Only a few members of the castle staff kept an eye on him, and no matter how much the triplets tried to get a glimpse, they never managed. The castle was buzzing with gossip for over a week, as the exhausted Warden in the tower room rested and healed.

And then, on a relatively quiet day, once the weather had warmed, the Warden emerged. No one was quite sure how he got from his room to the castle's training yard without being noticed. He was just... suddenly there, loosing arrows at a target with deadly accuracy. Obviously, a visit to the king and queen had been first on his list, but since they were both away on some business or other, he contented himself with some exercise.

He feels like he's been in that Andraste-be-damned bed for way too long. ]

Comments

[bearmyfate]

[ it was unfair. Merida hadn't really fought to take a peek at the Grey Warden (so much as she had cajoled, tried to unsuccessfully sneak by undetected, and badgered Maudie about it), but she'd wondered and wondered and almost been driven crazy with curiosity while her mother remained as serenely impossible about it, and her father hemmed and hawed and eventually gave in to the glares his wife was shooting his way.

She'd had to wait. She'd had to not bother the poor man, he needed his rest and not to be 'pestered by a wild lass' while he recovered. It made her curiosity all the more simmering.

But opportunity came, like it had been led by the wisps themselves, and she has to fight back a snort of glee because this time, she can't possibly be at fault for approaching him. She's got to practice, too, and she hadn't known he would be there. Honestly.

She even manages to look somewhat princessly, for all that there's an even more unruly patch of her hair sticking wayward (thanks to Angus' affection) and she's got her bow and arrows loaded on, because it's not like her mother's around to scold her. ]

... [ the princessliness exists for about as long as it takes for her to see him fire off an arrow. ]

Can they all shoot like you, then?

[whowhatwhy]

[ To Nathaniel's credit, he takes her sudden appearance in stride, quickly firing off another arrow before answering. He turns to face her, mouth quirking in a slight grin. ]

Wardens, you mean? Not at all.

[bearmyfate]

[ she grins back, widely, as she lifts her bow off her shoulder and readies an arrow on the string. ]

That's too bad. It'd make takin' down monsters a lot easier, wouldn't it?

[ she lets it fly; it plunges right next to his latest, close enough to touch. ]

[whowhatwhy]

[ He had a reply for that, but doesn't voice it. He's more interested in her archery skill, and lets out a low whistle. ]

You're very good at that.

[bearmyfate]

I'm Dunbroch's best.

[ and clearly she is the most modest. ]

[whowhatwhy]

That is quite the boast to make.

[ A pause, and he sets his bow aside for the moment, sweeping into a little bow. ] My apologies. My name is Nathaniel Howe. I am guessing by your earlier comment that you already know that I'm a Grey Warden.

[bearmyfate]

Well, it's not 'xactly jiggery pokery if I can stand behind it!

[ and she will, proudly. But for now, she awkwardly bends her knees into a quick curtsy as she lowers her bow. ]

Aye, the whole castle's like to know about it by now. My name's Merida. [ ... oh right, manners. ] And I'm pleased to meet you, ehm... [ what's the title for a Grey Warden, Mum never told her this, um um um-- ] Lord Howe.

[whowhatwhy]

[ Pfffft, awww. ] Just Nathaniel is fine.

[ Ah, and then something clicks. ] Not Merida as in... Princess Merida?

[bearmyfate]

Well, you won't be findin' many other Meridas around. [ so pert. ] Just me.

[whowhatwhy]

[ He chuckles. ] I very much doubt that your parents would be pleased to find you here, speaking with me.

[bearmyfate]

Someone has to show you DunBroch's hospitality! [ ... is what she'll say to her mother, even taking on her more eloquent tone for just a second. ] A princess should not be rude to guests.

[whowhatwhy]

Princesses should also not dally with Grey Wardens who are out looking for recruits.

[ Ah yes. That was the reason for the secrecy, when it came to light why Nathaniel was all the way out here. Not that he would dream of taking a princess (or prince) away from their family, but he can't fault them for being careful. ]

[bearmyfate]

[ he probably shouldn't have said that. Merida is not the dainty sort of princess who sits by the window and stitches and strums and waits to be married off, and when she hears what sounds a whole lot like adventure and freedom, she light up immediately. ]

Crivens, really?? You're lookin' here?

[whowhatwhy]

Not here, and not you. [ Neighboring villages, maybe, but not right here. He's a noble- was a noble, whatever- and he knows you don't just go taking the children of noble families to go be Grey Wardens. ]

[bearmyfate]

[ ... oh. Well, there goes her excitement.

Not that she's giving up yet. ]

Why not? If it's because I'm a princess, I know how to fight just as well as any man!

[whowhatwhy]

In part, yes. It is because you're a princess. Whether you can fight or not isn't an issue. This is about politics.

[bearmyfate]

And about obligation and responsibility again, I s'ppose.

[whowhatwhy]

And about your parents not coming down on the Wardens for taking their daughter.

[bearmyfate]

They've still got the boys.

[ rebellious, though it's little more than a mutter. ]

[whowhatwhy]

[ Oh, but he heard that. ]

The answer is no, princess.

[bearmyfate]

Rrrgh! [ don't actually tear your hair out-- ]

Honestly, isn't it more important to be defendin' my family instead of sitting around and waitin' for something to happen??

[whowhatwhy]

It is more important to be a part of your family.

I refuse to continue this conversation. Send my gratitude to your parents, princess. [ With that, he snatches up his things, and stalks off for his room to gather his stuff and go. ]

[bearmyfate]

[ don't worry. He'll have a stalker Clydesdale after him once he hits the road. ]

[whowhatwhy]

[ Nathaniel is just walking, because that's how Wardens roll, but it's pretty easy to tell after a while that he's being followed.

So one moment he's there, just ahead, and the next he's just... gone. ]

[bearmyfate]

... He's taking me for a dafty, is he?

[ ugh how do you lose someone who's on foot?? She'll at least try to put her woodland expertise to work by looking for any sort of sign of his directional progress. ]