First Dragon Age fic! Enjoy and review. Kinda Nathaniel/F!Cousland. I know that in DA: Awakening they never said who's bow it was before/after you gave Nathaniel his bow, but I decided to make it his grandfather's because of reasons. One, even though he loved his dad his dad was smsh. Two, kinda like Sebastian in DA2 and how his gramps taught him how to use a bow.
Nathaniel Howe stands and fiddles with his hands idly, thinking about one person in particular. He envelopes himself with thoughts of his Commander. Commander-Warden. It was beginning to be a somewhat peaceful day and he was just waiting for something—someone—to ruin it.
"Aren't you a pretty little kitty, Ser-Pounce-a-lot." Anders approaches, coddling the kitten Commander, Nora, had so kindly gotten him. "Hello my good ser!" He pipes happily. Nate resists the urge to roll his eyes and instead he crosses his arms across his chest, staring at the Mage with spite.
"Is there something you need, Anders?"
"Yes, do you—"
"ANDERS!" A shout erupts from the Commander's tent and he resists the urge to run to her, to see what's wrong. His eyes open wide with surprise as Nora stomps towards them with some type of cloth clutched in her hand.
"This is all you, buddy." Nate shakes his head as he steps away from the Mage and towards his own tent. Anders looks as if he would protest but Nora cuts him off with a series of shouts and insults. Once in his own tent Nathaniel picks up his grandfather's bow and examines it. Nora had given it to him yesterday and he couldn't have been more thankful, although he'd never tell her that. He pulls it over his shoulder and grabs his arrows. Carefully he peers out of his tent and is content to see a defeated Anders. He laughs to himself and decides to sneak up on the Mage. Carefully he exits his tent and quietly makes his way over to Anders.
"What crawled up her—"
"I wouldn't finish that question," Nathaniel all but growls, "I'm going out of patrol. I advise you to go and apologize."
"Why?" Anders replies in a whiney tone, "It's not my fault she can't close her tent properly." Nate gives him an icy glance and walks off towards the forest. This patrol would do him good; he had needs to get out of camp.
- Nathaniel returns to camp -
"Hey Nate!" Nora greets happily as Nathaniel enters the camp site, "You've been gone for awhile. Anders and I were debating whether or not to go and find you…" She stops talking as she glances over at her friend, who's now sleeping. "Well, I guess I was talking to myself." She sighs and chuckles to herself. Nate couldn't help but smile back at his Commander, always so sweet and nice; even to those who didn't deserve it. Such as Anders but maybe that was just from his point of view.
"Commander—"
"Call me Nora, Nate. I'm not your Commander, I'm your friend."
"Okay," Nathaniel chuckles, "Nora. You know, this whole business isn't as bad as I'd anticipated."
"What whole business?" Nora cocks her head to the side curtly, genuinely looking confused. His breath hicks in his throat and he found himself almost speechless, but after a silent moment he found the words.
"You know, when you conscripted me I wouldn't have thought I'd end up liking it." Nathanial smiles and for once he really means it.
"You know," Nora giggles, mocking him in a friendly manner, "You're not so bad for a Howe."
"And you're not so bad for a Cousland." Nate shoots back, a small grin taking place of his normal frown.