Note: This was in response to a prompt on People Of Thedas (google for a link), about putting two or more characters into another story, world, setting, or something. This was my attempt. This is also the first G-rated thing I've written I believe! I may do a follow-up chapter later for the 'Landsmeet' (aka board meeting).

"Alistair, you've got to stop blubbering on about this. What's done is done and there isn't any going back now," Elissa Cousland slammed her laptop down, probably breaking it again.

Alistair pushed his glasses back up his nose for the tenth time in the last five minutes. Somehow, Elissa thought, Alistair made nerdy sexy. She thought he might have gotten the job from his connections, or maybe his looks. He spent an awful lot of time in the gym and he must spend more money on his hair than Elissa spent on her car.

"If I had just been there, I could have..." he moaned. "Duncan, Martine, the guy with the big beard... what was his name? Gone, all gone."

"Well, it's going to be you and me next, Al. You need to pull up your argyles and get it together. We've got a week, ten days at best, to wrench this thing out of Loghain Industries' control otherwise you and I and everyone else at Grey Wardens, North America, can kiss our careers goodbye."

"I can't believe Weisshaupt is leaving us hanging like this," Alistair moaned. "Not a word! Those bastards. And why haven't the French or Italian divisions come to our rescue?"

"Loghain is vying for a hostile takeover of them too. This isn't just us. I don't know what is going on with Weisshaupt; Germany is never in contact with us."

Elissa and Alistair sat down at the large, now empty, conference table. Slumped actually. Elissa's head clunked down on the table in despair.

They had tried to signal the board about the coming proxy fight, but they had been too late. Loghain Industries had made a creeping tender offer, quietly buying up public shares until they had held a majority. Then it had happened: it started with the junior VP's and worked it's way up. The axe was falling. It finally fell on Duncan's neck, the CEO that had led Grey Wardens, North America, back into markets that had been untouched for decades.

The Loghain, of Loghain Industries, or LI, had strode into the boardroom that one fateful day last week, a majority owner, and had fired everyone there. Now Rendon Howe was chairman and he was intent on gutting GWNA and taking all their proprietary assets, patents, their best people... everything. All that was left of the management team was Elissa Cousland, Vice President of Research and Development, only recently hired, and Alistair the CFO, also a relatively new hire. Loghain was going to have them ride the ship down, dismantle it and pour kerosene on it.

Alistair's executive assistant, Wynne, walked into the boardroom and saw the two depressed executives.

"Alistair, there's a woman named Dr. Flemeth here to see you," she said.

Elissa picked her head up off the table. "Dr. Flemeth? I don't know anyone by that name." She let her head clunk back down on the boardroom table.

Wynne shrugged and dropped her card in front of Elissa. She picked it up despondently and read.

Grace Flemeth, PhD
Chairman
Korcari Wilds Company

"Korcari Wilds? What possible interest could they have in us?" Elissa said, looking at Alistair.

"Oh, you wouldn't know this, of course, since you're so new. But we've been providing them with product for a few years. It's a good deal for them. They're going to be hurt too," Alistair said, sighing.

"Show her in," Elissa told Wynne.

An older woman walked in, dressed in an outfit that looked like it walked out of the 1940's. She wore a pencil skirt and a jacket with the long, lean silhouette right out of the era.

Dr. Flemeth looked at the two remaining Grey Wardens.

"You're all that's left?" Dr. Flemeth asked, shaking her head.

Alistair nodded. Elissa gestured for Dr. Flemeth to sit down.

"Such manners! And always in the last place you look... like socks!" she said, with a very odd cackle.

Alistair looked at Elissa, fear growing in his eyes.

"Dr. Flemeth, it's a pleasure to meet you, but as you no doubt heard, thing are looking very grim here," Elissa said. She looked over at Alistair, wishing he'd take charge, he was the senior executive after all.

"Either the threat is more or they realize less. Or perhaps the threat is nothing! Or perhaps they realize nothing!" Dr. Flemeth said, laughing.

Alistair mouthed 'crazy' at Elissa and she nodded.

"Um, I believe Rendon Howe is going to gut the company. I know that is going to have an effect on your business as well," Elissa said.

"Men's hearts hold shadows darker than any tainted creature," Dr. Flemeth said, nodding sympathetically.

"Well, yes, I suppose that's true, although I don't know how that's going to help us."

"Have the Wardens no allies these days? Strategic alliances?" Dr. Flemeth said, finally saying something slightly helpful.

Elissa sat up straighter in her chair. "Maker's breath mint?" She offered one to Dr. Flemeth and Alistair, they each took one. The bolt of minty freshness made her brain click into action.

"Alistair, you know our strategic alliances better than I do," Elissa said. "Is there anyone we can call on? If we could rally them, perhaps we could buy back a majority of GWNA, double-back on Loghain, and seize control."

Alistair sat up straight in his chair, pushing his glasses back into place. "Of course, there's Dalish Limited and The Orzammar Company. Orzammar has been supplying us parts for years and Dalish depend on our technology for their product line. I think we can also get some help from Kinloch Holdings."

Elissa jumped up. "Yes! There's a chance."

Dr. Flemeth smiled and cackled. "There you are, it sounds like a plan. Raise your allies and seize control from this... Loghain."

Alistair looked at Elissa. "Can we do this?" he asked.

"We must," Elissa replied.

Dr. Flemeth cackled again. "I have just one request in return for whatever help I can give you."

Elissa nodded. "Sure, whatever you need, you've been very helpful."

"My daughter needs a job. Take her as your assistant, Elissa," Dr. Flemeth insisted.

"Oh, that would be fine, I'm sure. I've been meaning to hire someone." Elissa hoped Dr. Flemeth's daughter wasn't a complete waste of desk space.

Alistair and Elissa watched Dr. Flemeth leave. They looked at one another and smiled. Elissa could already taste sweet victory in firing Rendon Howe's greasy, sneering ass and defeating Loghain at his own game. If they broke Loghain's grip, he might not be able to raise the capital to try another takeover of their European counterparts.

"Let's get some lunch," Elissa suggested.