It took a while for Aveline to find them all suitable weapons in the barracks, but she scraped the barrel and even managed to find a shortsword for Varric.

"You sure about this, Aveline?" Varric hefted it with a dubious look on his face. "I don't do a lot of fighting with swords."

"You should all know how to defend yourself with a sword," Aveline replied to the room at large. "I know you all think you're safe with staves and daggers and bows and whatnot, but knowing what to do with a sword is a life skill."

Fenris drew his sword and rested its tip lightly on the ground. "Aveline, I understand what you're saying, but I assure you, my swordplay is up to scratch."

"So come at me." Aveline assumed a defensive position. "If nothing else, it's good to get some practise in."

Fenris muttered something about getting practise everyday he went out with Hawke, but shifted his balance and darted in…

…only for Aveline to nimbly sidestep his rush, and deal a hefty whack to the back of his knees, sending him to the ground. Fenris couldn't help but grunt. "Ooh. It wasn't necessary to hit that hard."

After they sparred for a while, Aveline turned her attention to the mages: Bethany, Merrill and Anders. "Come on, Merrill. I found you the lightest sword I could."

Merrill was sporting a slim, one-handed sword. She lifted it awkwardly. "Oh, Aveline, I'm not so sure about this. Eek!"

Aveline batted her sword away like it was a toy. "Pay attention! First lesson is to get a good grip on your sword."

Anders gripped his sword with two hands. "It's a one-handed weapon, mage," Fenris said, amused. "I'll enjoy watching this."

Anders shot him a dark glare. Aveline rapped his sword. "Hold it properly. Now when I swing, you block…"

"Owch!" Anders nursed his cut hand. "Let me just heal this, then…"

"You're not healing anything till I'm done," she said inexorably. "Don't rely on magic to fight."

"I don't know how you get along without it."

Aveline turned her attention to Bethany. "Hawke says she's been trying to teach you. Let's see how well you've learned."

Bethany managed to hold her off for two blows before Aveline slid her sword along hers and flicked it away. "Good. Keep at it."

"If I learn how to deflect two blows every week, I may just be able to hold my own in a battle in four years," Bethany said irritably, fetching her sword.

"Let's see what you've got, Lady Man-hands," Isabela said, lazily twirling her sword.

"Not with that." Aveline borrowed Fenris's greatsword. "You'll be using this."

"What? That's hardly fair!"

"That sword's too light. You're using it like a dagger."

"Balls." Isabela crouched awkwardly. "There's only one type of big sword that I like."

"Isn't there only one type of big sword anyway?" Merrill asked curiously. Bethany patted her shoulder.

"Ooh!" Isabela rubbed her shoulder. "Do you take it this hard on Donnic?"

Aveline raised her sword. "You're just asking for more."

As Isabela retreated to wash her wounds, Varric apprehensively stepped into the middle of the room. "Take it easy, Aveline. I'm only half your size."

"If I take it easy on you, you'd never learn anything." Aveline stepped to the side and brought her sword down quickly. Amazingly, Varric managed to deflect it. He held her off for several minutes until Aveline finally tripped him and put him on his back.

"I'm impressed, Varric," Fenris said, taking his greatsword back from Isabela. "Where did you learn that?"

Varric brushed the dust off his sleeves, whistling. "Oh, you pick up a few things in Kirkwall…"