/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]

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. ]

[whowhatwhy]

[ He's a rogue, Merida. He does that.

He's also in a tree, bow drawn, but he quickly falls out of attack mode when he sees who's been following him. ]

What in the name of Andraste's holy pyre are you doing here?

[ Still in the tree, by the way. ]

[bearmyfate]

[ and she's drawing her own bow before she even recognizes that it's him-- and then she has to lower it and now she does feel foolish. ]

Going with you, a'course.

[whowhatwhy]

[ This is a Nathaniel Howe Long Suffering Sigh^TM ]

What do you think it is Grey Wardens do, princess?

[bearmyfate]

Fight the monsters, defend the land, get loads of grief for it...

[whowhatwhy]

In part, you're correct. Becoming a Warden... it's not fun, it's not easy. It's not for you. I've been a Warden for nearly a decade now. The least you could do is take me at my word.

[bearmyfate]

You think I'd want easy? I'm not just some... numpty of a princess!

[whowhatwhy]

It is a death sentence, Merida. If becoming a Warden doesn't kill you, if the Darkspawn don't kill you, the taint in your blood will. You're too young. You have your whole life ahead of you. Please, go home.

[bearmyfate]

... What?

[ ah, the things they don't tell the young ones. ]

[whowhatwhy]

I shouldn't be telling you this, but if it's the only way to make you see... [ he's about to explain further, but he feels that familiar tugging at the back of his mind. Darkspawn.

His gaze snaps up the road, and he has his bow at the ready in an instant. He briefly wonders what darkspawn are doing so far out, but it's a thought for another time. ]

Go, Merida. As fast as your horse can carry you. We're no longer alone in these woods.

[bearmyfate]

[ she has so many questions she wants to ask, but Angus is already close to plunging as is, scuffing the ground and snorting his anxiety. Merida focuses on the most important one. ]

What about you? I can't just leave you!