Promises of the Grey

Silver's Author's Note: This a collaboration between myself and celestia193. It's also a crossover between Naruto and the Dragon Age video game series. So I know this idea is pretty exotic, but it was a birthday request. If any of that bothers you, feel free to turn back now. For those of you still here, we hope you enjoy this story and reviews are always appreciated.

celestia193's Author's Note: Alright, this is in response to a request that we got for someone's birthday. He wanted us to do a crossover starring his favorite pairing, and so, we bring to you a Naruto x Dragon Age crossover. By the way, I have beaten all three games released thus far (and yes, I count Awakening as PART of Origins), and so, a lot of the content here will be based on the extensive and complex Dragon Age lore, with which I am very...intimately...familiar. What characters we bring over from Naruto is still negotiable, but thus far, we've limited the scope to the characters presented in this chapter (though we will leave the possibility open for adding more in future chapters). Enjoy, and then go out and kill some darkspawn for me.

Disclaimer: We own nothing. We don't own Naruto or any part of the Dragon Age video game series and make no profit off of our fanfics.

Chapter 1

He loved his kingdom, he really did. But sometimes, Sasuke cursed how much snow there was to be found in the Frostback Mountains, the border between Ferelden and Orlais. The sticky white stuff stuck to his boots and froze his toes. He didn't want to be here. He'd rather return to the fortress at Amaranthine by the sea, and await the return of their commander.

Instead, here he was hiking through the mountains to a fortress in the middle of nowhere. The freezing cold scales of armor click together over the blue cloth and tanned leather of his uniform. His sword-staff carves a trail in the drifts behind him, disappearing instants later as the wind sweeps away most of the traces of their passing.

The Mabari by his side barks loudly and jumps playfully around in the fresh drifts piling up around them. "Calm down, Aoda." Honestly, his war hound was more excited about snow than he was. Not that that was a particularly difficult feat to manage. "Itachi, can't I just burn a path to the front gates?" It's not like accidentally causing an avalanche here would bury a town or something.

Itachi smiles fondly at his foolish little brother and his endearing canine companion. When neither were in the midst of battle, it was hard to imagine they were actually fearsome warriors. Though they were, but Aoda was such a playful and lovable creature most of the time. Sasuke was…Sasuke. Itachi wouldn't trade him for the world.

"You probably could, but I would rather you conserve your magic. One never knows when a darkspawn might attack." That and it would only attract more attention to them. Their former pedigree meant little amongst the other Grey Wardens, but that wasn't necessarily the case where they were going. That, combined with their magic and occupation, was bound to attract attraction.

Which could be both used to their advantage and work against them. It all depended on the circumstance. As the elder of the two, Itachi knew that it fell to him to decide such things. It no longer mattered that Sasuke had grown from an adorable child into a fearsome warrior, Itachi would always see him as his precious baby brother who needed to be protected. Battles were one thing, but politics were another thing altogether.

"What sort of fucking darkspawn would hang out here!?" Sasuke curses as the snow around him starts to melt a little with his flash of temper. "We're nowhere near the wilds or the Storm Coast. And the Deep Roads are three miles below us."

"I can't believe it. It is truly a wonder how you fear no darkspawn, but a little snow sends you into such a sulking fit." Itachi chuckles as he pokes Sasuke's forehead affectionately. "Patience, Brother. We're almost there."

A little snow? A LITTLE snow!? Sasuke huffs irritably and stomps his foot down, melting all of the snow in a ten foot circle around him as he storms up the side of yet another small peak. "We've been walking through this shit for almost two weeks. Shouldn't we be there by-" His voice fails him as he looks over the ridge and across the thinning sheets of snow at the massive stone structure built into the side of the next peak.

"Well, it seems that Andraste has heard your complaints and decided to take pity on my ears." Itachi smiles as he stares in wonder at the magnificent castle. It was like something straight out of a dream. "Because here we are. I must confess that I look forward to a warm fire and some wine."

Sasuke glares at his elder brother and shifts his cloak about his shoulders as he takes his staff from his back. "I suppose that we aren't risking being attacked by darkspawn now." He drives the end of his staff into the ground, radiating heat across the field before them and melting the snow to reveal the stubborn grass beneath.

"My dear brother has anyone ever told you that you have a habit of being over-dramatic?" Itachi laughs and shakes his head as they continue on their journey. "Though I'm certain one day when you take a lover, they'll appreciate all that extra energy you have."

Dark eyes roll and Sasuke shakes his head, marching forward towards the castle. "I don't see you taking a lover these days, Itachi." Not since their Joining two years ago.

"That's because I've been too busy looking after you. And no one has really caught my eye in any case." Itachi shrugs as if that settled the matter.

"Right…" Sure, wardens looked after each other, but Sasuke was pretty sure that Itachi's vows didn't include celibacy in favor of looking after his perfectly capable little brother.

The banners of the Inquisition wave in the warming breezes coming from the valleys to the east. The towers lining the castle walls rise high into the sky, easily sixty feet. And the long drawbridge waits lowered, welcoming soldiers home and travelers to stay within its walls.

Sasuke steps onto the bridge, in awe of the ancient walls and the lavishly attired, well-equipped rangers who patrolled the battlements. "It's hard to believe that only a few months ago, this place was abandoned."

"It is." Itachi nods as he gazes around in wonder. "Well, it shouldn't be too hard to find a fireplace in such a grand castle. Come, Sasuke. Let's get you away from the evil snow demon." Itachi smirks as they cross the bridge together.

The though makes Sasuke shiver. The last thing he needed was to be found by a despair demon. He'd heard of a couple of unfortunate wardens getting on the wrong side of one of those and ending up frozen solid by their magic. "You say that like it's NOT something to be worried about." Darkspawn were one thing, Sasuke could kill those. Demons were a whole other game that he didn't want to touch. Especially not after what happened to their comrades at Adamant. Sasuke practiced a lot of magic, but he drew the line strictly at blood magic.

Up on the battlements, two of the rangers take notice and pull horns from their belts, sounding the call to signal the approach of the travelers. And at the end of the bridge, the gate begins to rise for the handful of wardens at their door.

"It was a jest, Sasuke and you accuse me of being the one in need of merriment." Itachi shakes his head and makes the final step past the gates and into the lower courtyard of the mighty and ancient fortress.

A man with golden hair and dark reddish-brown furs fluffed about his collar meets them down in the courtyard, his expression stern but welcoming. "You must be the wardens from Amaranthine. King Alistair sent a raven ahead, telling us to expect you. I am Cullen Rutherford, Commander of the Inquisition's forces." He eyes the staffs carried by most of the group with a wary gaze. "Do you come from Circles?"

Sasuke bristles at the thought of going to those terrible places. He had heard what sorts of things happened there, and he was thoroughly glad that Itachi and his cousins had hid their magic, and helped him hide his magic as well, until they joined the Grey Wardens. "No, we don't."

One of the other wardens lowers his hood, smiling amiably and placing a hand on Sasuke's shoulder to silence him. Shisui wanted to avoid having his little cousin run his mouth, if at all possible. "What my cousin means is that we hail from the Bannorn, where it's easy to overlook a few careful mages. No rules regarding the limited conscription from the circles have been broken."

"Yes, we are now and forever more Grey Wardens." Itachi smiles at Cullen. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Commander. I am Itachi Uchiha, this is my brother Sasuke and our cousin Shisui."

"And it is our pleasure to welcome you to Skyhold." The commander chuckles nervously. "Unfortunately…our Inquisitor isn't here at present to give you a personal welcome. Inquisitor Trevelyan insists on handling a number of matters personally and often disappears across the Dales with a select number of her companions."

"That's quite alright. I'm sure that we'll meet her in due course and the fact you're welcoming us into your home speaks more than well enough of your hospitality." Itachi smiles at them as he pets Aoda.

Shisui nods as he smiles fondly at the sight of Itachi petting their very friendly war hound. "I'm inclined to agree with my cousin. You've shown us nothing but kindness. Meeting the Inquisitor can wait until she returns from her adventuring."

"Yes, quite." Cullen glances across the courtyard at a group of young mages and kitchen girls giggling and pointing at the newly arrived group. "And…I apologize if our people stare. We've been getting new recruits from all over, but it's not often that a group of wardens walks through our gate."

Sasuke glances at the giggling women trying not so subtly to get a peek at him. His gaze rakes over each of them critically, but it only serves to increase their giggling.

Cullen groans as the girls simply grow even more determined to giggle away their location to the enemy. "You would think they would grow more used to wardens after we wrestled the last group away from a Venatori binding their mages to demons with blood magic."

"We've heard of that unfortunate event and it's understandable why our presence would attract attention." Itachi sighs sympathetically.

"It was absolutely horrific." Shisui frowns at the mere memory of hearing about the tragic fate of those wardens. "Let us pray that such a fate never befalls anyone else." Particularly, his family. It could have just have easily been Sasuke in such a desperate position. He was so bold and always looking for solutions. And then there was Itachi, whose brilliance was of a more cautious nature.

It was all just as well though. Nature was all about balance. Itachi was the luminous moon, Sasuke the blazing Sun, and Shisui the stars that watched the two and made certain they didn't strange each other whenever they quarreled as siblings did.

Itachi rises once more with Aoda by his side, the faithful companion that he and Sasuke had grown up with in their family's home. "Unless you have need of us, I believe it would be best for our company to retire for the evening. I presume that if you received the raven, you know why we're here."

"Yes, the king wrote you quite the glowing recommendation regarding your skills." Cullen turns and leads them through the lower courtyard towards one of the towers, bedecked in the colors silver and blue, with a sigil of a griffon emblazoned on a banner. "We look forward to any and all aid you can provide us with. I've been told that a number of you are tacticians, in addition to experienced warriors."

"That's flattering, but also accurate." Itachi smiles at him. "Are there pressing concerns or shall we be shown to our quarters?"

Cullen gestures towards the banners and his gaze rakes up the side of the tower. "This is where we've housed the Grey Wardens. We've set space aside for you on the fifth floor, with access to the battlements and the roof. Or…" He glances at the newly arrived wardens. "If you would rather be settled in with the mages, that could also be arranged. We're just a little tight for space, what with all of the new recruits arriving." At this rate, he would have to put in an order for new accommodations to be built.

"There is no need to trouble yourselves further on our account. That will be more than suitable." The last thing that the Commander needed was to indulge whims such as that. Besides, they had all certainly been in far worse conditions.

"Good." Cullen tries not to breathe a sigh of relief. "The library can be found on the second floor of the main citadel, through the door to the right. The aviary above that. The war room and garden are opposite them through the throne room. And in the far right corner past the Inquisitor's seat is Skyhold's forge. If you require the quartermaster, he can be found on the first floor of the north-east tower, right behind the…" Cullen shakes his head wearily. "Right behind the tavern. If you require anything for…pleasurable drinking, follow the sounds of a very loud and extremely drunk Qunari."

"Thank you. I think that should make navigating this place easier and that last pieces bit it most excellent advice." He couldn't help but chuckle.

Sasuke smirks at his elder brother. "You did say that you'd like to have some wine when we arrived. I'm sure that you still have a little ale in your pack to mix it with."

"True, I do." Itachi smiles at that thought. They could finally have some rest. "Let's go and see what Skyhold has to offer. Surely, we'll have a grand time."

"Probably." Sasuke starts a little as an alarming crash sounds over near the quartermaster's quarters. Then a booming voice echoes unintelligibly across the courtyard, yelling something about…Chasind sack mead? "…Well, that explains where the tavern is."

"So, then I flipped the rune upside down and attached it to the staff to try and get it to charge the energy more efficiently out both ends. But my calibration was just a little bit off, and if I had more lyrium, then maybe I could have…" Dagna the redheaded dwarf swings her feet back and forth as she sits unashamedly on the table. She rests her arms in the healer's grasp as she waxes on about her latest experiments. "Hey, do you think that if I pounded the lyrium down into a denser form, it might solve the charging problem I've been having and make the runes stronger?"

"I'm not sure, but you should probably give yourself a rest." Hinata smiles fondly at the other woman, though a bit exasperated.

"Well, I could, but then there'd be no one to run all of the experiments while I'm sleeping." Dagna's eyes widen. "Oh, unless I can find a way to make one of Caridin's golems. But…first I'd have to get around the whole soul-binding bit. Can't be going sacrificing dwarves to make golems anymore. But if I could impart of bit of my consciousness to an artificial body…" Now those were interesting implications to think about.

"No. No. You definitely don't want to experiment with your consciousness on that level." Hinata stares at the dwarf in absolute horror. "You could go insane." If the other woman wasn't already there and there were days when Hinata found that highly debatable. The dwarf was so sweet natured, but mad as a hatter.

"Oh…but it would be so interesting to try…" Dagna pouts a little. Maybe another day, then. "So, is my arm better now? It sure feels better. You're incredible!"

"I'm glad you feel better, but promise me that you will not experiment with your consciousness." Hinata couldn't have that guilt on her conscience.

"Fine…I promise." Hm…maybe she could ask Solas about that whole walking in the fade in his dreams thing. If she could adapt that and make it usable for a dwarf…

"What am I going to do with you?" Hinata laughs. "Forever trying to invent things that might get you killed."

"But that's half the fun! Life's no fun if it's safe!" Dagna grins widely and hops down off the table. "See you later, Hina."

"Alright, Dagna." Hinata shakes her head as she looks up towards the ceiling, silently hoping that Andraste and the Maker would have mercy on the inquisitive dwarf who had no regard for her own safety.

"Oops, sorry!" The excitable dwarf nearly knocks down a visitor an armor ascending the stairs. "Be careful not to trip over a dwarf!"

"Right…" The dark-haired visitor blinks as the dwarf disappears down the huge spiral staircase and out of sight.

"I know. I had the same reaction when I met her." Hinata half stifles a giggle at the stranger's bewildered expression. "I'm Hinata Hyuga. How may I help you, Guest of Skyhold?"

"Guest?" Sasuke frowns slightly, then looks down at the cloak he'd forgotten to remove after using it to shield himself from the many happily spilled drops of ale that had flown about in that tavern. Right. "I'm newly arrived and I was looking for the library." He gestures about to the books. "The commander told me I'd find it here."

"We actually have two libraries, but he told you truly." Hinata nods at him. "Was there something in particular that you were looking for?"

"Not…in particular. Just…battle tactics, that sort of thing." Sasuke wasn't used to divulging information quite so freely about his interests in elemental magic unless it involved someone being on the wrong end of his staff. And particularly not when someone was treating him as if he were almost…ordinary.

"Oh well, I think you'll find what you're looking for on the top and second shelf, over here." She walks over to an aisle of books.

Sasuke glances up to eye level and pulls a book down, opening it and flipping idly through the pages. It was…a decent book, he supposed, but not at all what he was hoping for. "…What sorts of other books on battle tactics are there here?"

"I like to think that we have one of the most extensive collections around. You should be able to find whatever you're looking for." She nods at him as if it was a statement of fact and not a wish.

"Hn." Perhaps he could, after all, he did have time to kill, it seemed. No darkspawn attacks reported to them just yet, no missions for now while they settled in.

Sasuke glances sideways at her, the robe she wore sticking as as rather elaborate compared to most others he had seen. He recalled only one instance where he'd seen a robe that…particular before. "You're with the College of Magi?"

"Yes, I am." She grins at him, knowing he was bound to be shocked by her title. "I was a First Enchanter and often attended the College of Magi."

Now that gives Sasuke pause. She looked even younger than he did, and barely of age. That sort of rank generally took many years to obtain, from what he understood of the circles. "I see, you must be quite skilled. Especially to have learned anything in the prison of yours."

"I suspect you meant that as a compliment. Compared to most circles, my people were treated relatively well." She looks away from him. "I'm aware that most aren't as fortunate."

"No, they're not." And it was only through the cunning and luck that Sasuke, Itachi, and their cousins weren't taken years ago. They would have died in that tower during the last Blight when the templars tried to purge all the mages there. Sasuke knew as much, he saw four urns of ashes return to families in the Bannorn. But…he supposed that it wasn't fair to hold any of that against Hinata. She seemed a decent enough sort at a glance. "How did you end up here with the Inquisition?"

"I knew they'd need healers for their work and I was right. I wanted to see the world and help people with my gifts instead of being locked away in an ivory tower and here I am." She looks at her feet. She must sound terribly naive.

"…" that…was something that Sasuke understood better than being comfortable locked in said tower. "You wanted to do things with your gifts instead of wasting them." That was one of the reasons why he became a warden. Other than his burning need to destroy the darkness that had claimed so many of the people he loved.

She nods at him. "Yes, exactly." It was amazing he didn't laugh at her answer like so many others would have.

Sasuke snaps the book closed and places it back on the shelf. "Why? Wouldn't you have been more comfortable in your ivory tower, rather than this close to the battlefields?"

"In a sense yes, but my conscience wouldn't have been." She bites her lower lip, feeling as though Sasuke was seeing into her very soul.

Yes…the conscience was a great ally to have, but a terrible foe to provoke. "Is it everything that you hoped for? Is it what you thought you would have to fight when you were growing up? A tear in the sky to mend, with demons and darkspawn pouring out of every seam?" And those red, glowing templars that seemed to attack indiscriminately, if the small groups they'd come across while crossing the Hinterlands were any indication.

"I never imagined anything like this. I've known about the Blight, but I never thought it'd come from the sky itself." She pauses, not sure how to describe it. "It's not easy work, but it is important work and if we don't do it, who will? The ivory tower would protect some for a time, but even it would fall eventually."

"Yes, you're right." Even those ivory towers would fall. Sasuke turns to face her, his onyx eyes searching, gazing, watching… "you have your part to play, and I imagine that it's…very different from mine. You're here to help, to heal." He most certainly was not here to play healer.

"What do you believe your part in all this is?" She watches him curiously.

"Standing with my brother and cousins against the darkness." Throwing fireballs, killing darkspawn, just as he'd done ever since his Joining. Not that it scared Sasuke anymore. The child who had once been scared by the darkspawn was long gone now.

"Are you a Grey Warden?" Hinata blinks. She wasn't sure why the thought hadn't occurred to her before.

Sasuke pauses, uncomfortable under this woman's pure gaze. Nonetheless, he shifts his cloak aside to bare his armor to her. "I am. I lived through the Fifth Blight and saw the death it brought. And now there's a darkspawn magister wreaking havoc across Thedas." The math was easy.

"Well, not everyone's role can be supportive. I'm glad that we have wardens such as yourself to help us deal with this menace." She smiles at him.

Despite himself, Sasuke smirks slightly. "Just point me towards darkspawn and they'll be eating fire." It was what he was best at, after all. Nothing better for handling a young man's temper. Then he winces slightly, flinching as an unearthly song with a haunting melody plays itself for only his ears to hear. A reminder of the danger of the current threat.

"I'm glad to hear that." She giggles. "Because we're definitely in need of such skills."

A smile works its way back onto Sasuke's face, almost imperceptible, but present nonetheless. He usually found giggling irritating but…her laughter was better than hearing that terrifyingly demanding song. "I suppose now I know who to see if I need a healer."

She nods at that, happy that Sasuke seemed to have lightened up. "Yes, you do."

Sasuke glances out the window, noting the setting sun. It was about time that he go and make sure that Shisui hadn't trapped Itachi for too many drinks in the tavern. Or worse, that Itachi was actively participating. Too much time on the road could impair even his big brother's judgment. "Thank you for your time." He places his hand to his chest and bows slightly in a gesture of respect. "It's late, and I've had a long journey." And maybe tonight, he might sleep without the nightmares. Maybe.

"Of course. Sleep well." She smiles at him, performing the same gesture. "It was a pleasure to meet you."

"Hn." Sasuke snorts at the blatantly Orlesian attempt at manners. "And don't bow like that. It's a warden thing." He shakes his head and disappears down the stairs with only the sound of the softest tinkling of his armor.

"Wardens are strange creatures, but he does have a nice backside." Hinata laughs softly to herself.