Just something that sprang from the June "Choose a well-known, popular scene in DA and tell it from the perspective of a character who is present, but not the main character" Prompt... I'm not sure why, but it did. First-person perspective from the Human Noble's Mabari, through the Ostagar staging camp.

No longer a one-shot.

… He sure loves his own voice I think, listening to the idiot in the shiny armour prattle on. "The other Wardens tell me you found a promising recruit. I take it th… wait. You… aren't you Bryce's youngest?" he asks, finally noticing Mistress. "... The two of you didn't travel with your father?"

"He won't be coming" Mistress manages to whisper.

Sighing, Liar finally explains what happened. You… sent word about recruiting Mistress, but not who she is or what happened?! Oh, Liar; I'm going to piss on all your clothes tonight! I glare up at him, before glancing back at Mistress. These two idiots are distracted… let's run for the gate and go! Liar already broke the deal by abandoning Grandma! I try to hint, tilting my head toward the open barricade. She shakes her head, while Shiny says something about Furgus. You forgot Furgus! I scold myself. We'll need to find him too, before we run. Shiny isn't going to help us… I suddenly realise, as he turns away and walks off; sun bouncing off his armour. Really? Everyone on the battlefield will notice you, in that stuff! I wince, getting a blinding blast of light in my eyes.

"All I ask is that you do not leave the camp for the time being" Liar says to Mistress, as I turn back. Oh fuck you! runs through my mind as I leak a hot stream onto his boot.

Mistress lightly kicks me. "Maxwell, stop doing that already" she orders, no real anger or any emotion in her voice.

"… Your hound can come with me while I attend to some business" Liar suggests, looking down at me. Lead on… show me where your tent is! I laugh, following him over the bridge.

"Welcome back", some old woman greets Liar. "You found someone?" Liar nods, and points back at Mistress slowly pacing the bridge.

"I have… given time to recover, she'll prove worthy" Liar replies sadly. A little late for regret, bastard.

"No doubt… perhaps I'll offer some advice, if we speak" the old woman says. Perhaps you should mind your own damn business! Meddlesome old biddy…

Nodding, Liar says goodbye and continues over to a smaller fence. Brothers! I bark excitedly, catching the scent of other Mabari, while a man looks us over. "Good to see you again, Warden. Fine hound you've found" he says, stating the obvious.

"He belongs to a recruit" Liar interrupts. "I was hoping you could check him over… on our way south, he's had little control of his bodily functions." Moron, I was relieving myself on your bedroll because you're a lying bastard. "She's lost enough, I would not like to see her loss him too."

After a few minutes, Mabari-Man finishes poking me. "… Has he been chewing odd things, at all? Clothing?"

"I lost a few items, before I kept my bag closer at hand."

Nodding, Mabari-Man pauses nervously. "No offense, Warden… but I think he just plain hates you, by the sound. Did you insult his master, maybe?"

Sighing, Liar looks down at me. I glare right back, before he turns away and hands Mabari-Man a book. "… I retrieved this from our Denerim compound. A reproduction of all of Kell's old notes, concerning his hound Hafter. This should answer all of your questions."

"Thank you." Flicking through it, he paused on a page. "Hmm…" looking at one of the pens, Mabari-Man slightly smiles. "I thought so… the preventative mixture he mentions, I've already asked a few men to seek out this flower ingredient if they head outside of camp. Old herbalist favourite, this flower…"

Liar scratches his beard, "my recruits will be allowed out later… I can mention it to them."

Pointing at something I can't see, Mabari-Man says "I've told one already… that smarmy fellow, over near the Quartermaster."

"If Daveth knows, the others soon will" Liar mutters, before turning the book to the first page. "The adapted Joining formula, which he developed for Hafter... the Mages can prepare it for you" Liar adds, leading me away to a large fire. Sitting down, he stares at me for a moment. "I did what I could, under the circumstances…" he finally says, when I frown at his attention. Bullshit I think, turning away from him.

We sit in silence for a while, until he knocks me out of my boredom by standing up quickly. I glance up to see Mistress approach, followed by three men. While they all talk, I study the strangers. I'll call him Stinky, the one with the greatsword can be Baldy… this last one, he looks like he and Shiny were littermates. I'll think of a name for him later, if I have to.

Listening in again, I hear Liar say "Old treaties, promises of support made long ago."

… And, of course, you thought roaming the countryside and kidnapping Mistress was more important for your army then finding these promises first? Who are the two Human gods again… oh, right! Blessid and Draste, I hate you!

As I make to follow them, Liar grabs my collar. "You'll need to stay behind, this time." You're just trying to make me soak your bedroll, now.

Mabari-Man and Old Biddy approach after a while, carrying things. "I consulted with Wynne, and we've prepared the adjusted formula" Mabari-Man says, putting a bowl down in front of me. Win? Nice nick-name, Old Biddy. Is that supposed to make you sound impressive in battle, or something? Like you "always Win"? Senile harpy… whatever. I take it I'm supposed to drink this? Sniffing cautiously, I gag at the smell and back away. You have got to be joking…

Still holding my collar, Liar stops me getting too far. "You'll be fine afterwards, Maxwell." Because I'm meant to trust you? Fuck off…

Crouching down, Mabari-Man pushes the bowl forward. "C'mon boy… if you're going to help your master, you need to drink the medicine." It's not like I can leave Mistress alone, with these arseholes… fine. So be it. Licking up some of the foul stuff, I pause. Oh, that doesn't feel right...

Everything fades to white, as I hit the ground. I feel something soft slide under my head, as the pain puts me to sleep…

I wake, and realise its night-time. Staggering to my feet, I hear someone approach. "Easy, boy…" Mabari-Man says, as he checks my eyes for something. Sitting back, he keeps watching. "Maxwell?" I bark in acknowledgement, feeling sturdy on my feet again. "Good… I'd say you've recovered. The Wardens will be up there", he gestures to a platform. "Where that small fire is… I have to keep watching this other boy, and you'll be fine to find your master yourself."

Nudging his leg in thanks, I leave the pens. Shiny's littermate passes me on the way up, pretending to cry about something. Maybe I'll call you Crybaby… Mistress! Racing over, she kneels to greet me... so I hop up to lick her face. It's just something we like to do. Smells like you had to drink that foul stuff too! Smiling, she strokes my ears as we walk behind Liar. Aren't we done yet? … Wait, where are Baldy and Stinky? I wonder, seeing people up ahead. I hear Shiny, arguing with someone as we approach. Oh, he's a happy looking man. Did he try to eat a pinecone for supper?

His face gets even worse when he notices Liar walk past. Understandable reaction, I laugh while they all talk some more. Another old biddy yells at a man in a dress, while Mistress says nothing the whole time. Ser Pinecone walks away, muttering to himself under his breath.

We leave as well, regrouping with Crybaby. He starts crying something about not having a rattle… huh; I picked that name well before Liar shuts him up. Oh… battle! He's the one they said would go with Mistress. Relax, Crybaby... the strategy meeting was nothing but an excuse for Ser Pinecone to bark at Shiny and Liar; we're probably better off in the Tower, if that's how they plan their tactics… I think, as the three of us head toward the bridge.