Seireadan Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall

29th Day, Kingsway (September), 9:30

Seireadan stood stretching after his replacement took up the watch at his post. A huge yawn later had him walking briskly across the bridge towards the operations part of the camp. As he climbed the stairs to the greeter guard he saw a flash of sunlight glinting off the whitish blond hair of the recruit that had entered with the Commander of the Grey Wardens. The youth was standing exchanging words with another of the Warden recruits before turning on his heel and storming off with the other recruit close behind. Seireadan hadn't heard what was said between the two but he couldn't help but feel that there was something hauntingly familiar about younger recruit. He knew he didn't know anybody with that hair or skin color; however, the boy reminded him of somebody. Seireadan Hawke followed behind the two from a distance and he watched in amusement as the newer recruit hid and the other hid as well.

Seireadan grinned as he saw the newest warden recruit slip into a group of soldiers and try to enter the main camp, but his grin faded when he watched the shoving match begin and he strode forward quickly as the other recruit was thrown to the ground by the younger. Hawke didn't even think as he grabbed the recruit around chest and waist and hauled the boy up so that his feet weren't touching the ground. The gathered group of Grey Wardens that came to the gate seemed to knock the struggle out of the recruit and Seireadan set the boy back on his feet and then released him before moving back a few paces.

"You have to stop acting like this. You are making Duncan and the other wardens look bad. If I am not mistaken those men are some of the other grey wardens." Seireadan was surprised when the troublesome recruit didn't respond to the older recruit words.

One of the wardens approached the warden recruits and spoke, "King Cailan does not have time to deal with spoiled children." Seireadan almost stepped forward to help restrain the recruit when the lad seemed about to confront the man, but the warden didn't need help. "You need a keeper." Seireadan tensed as the recruit clenched his fists as if preparing to hit the man. "Take him to Alistair." The Grey Warden stepped close to the new recruit, invading his space, and spoke harshly in a warning tone, "Don't cause any more trouble, Aonghas."

Seireadan heard himself gasp and he felt a chill as he stared intently at the recruit, Aonghas, as he passed him in a huff. It was then that he knew what the familiarity was; the warden recruit was Seireadan's second cousin, son of Bryce and Eleanor Cousland, and brother to Fergus. Hawke stared after the lad wondering why the boy looked so different; when Seireadan had last seen his cousin the boy had skin the same color as Bryce and Fergus and hair to match. The boy's eyes had been the same color as Seireadan's, but the brief glimpse he had seen of the lad's eyes showed they had changed as well.

"Dan, I've been robbed and you are not going to believe who did it." Seireadan Hawke turned quickly to face his brother and fought an urge to step away from the towering rage on his little brother's face.

"Who was it, Carver?"

"A grey warden recruit."

"I wouldn't go sharing that with the Commander of the Grey. Duncan doesn't seem the type to be sympathetic when it comes to others accusing his men, recruit or not."

"That's why I've come to you. I got my stuff back from the merchant. Why don't you use your talents to get me back the money I had to spend?"

"Are you suggesting I steal from the merchant?" Seireadan Hawk grinned at his younger brother as he gave him a dirty look, "I take it that's a no. Very well, point out this culprit to me."

Seireadan followed Carver and as his brother pointed out the thief he sighed deeply, "Carver, I hate to be the one to inform you that you have been robbed by your own kin."

"What," asked Carver in suspicion, "is he one of your cronies?"

"No. That is Aonghas Cousland." Seireadan met Carver's look of surprise with a wry grin. "This should be interesting at least. The lad's a wee bit on the irritable side."

Carver didn't answer him but moved to intercept their cousin. Seireadan stood beside his younger brother, Carver, as they waited patiently for their cousin to reach them and they glanced briefly at each other and fought back grins when the look on the warden's face following Aonghas caused the recruit to stop suddenly and turn around quickly. Seireadan fought back a chuckle as the boy blushed at their near collision. Seireadan crossed his arms to mirror Carver and joined his younger brother in giving their youngest cousin identical looks of reproach.

"This is an odd place to run into you, cousin. We weren't expecting to run into family here." Seireadan fought to keep the laughter out of his voice because he knew how sensitive teens were about such things.

Aonghas glanced back and forth between the two men. "Cousins," he questioned?

"I'm Seireadan Hawke and this is my younger brother, Carver. Do you remember us? The last time we saw you would have been about seven or eight years ago."

Aonghas shook his head as if the memory failed to come to mind, so Carver spoke up, "I have a twin named Bethany." The brothers watched as a look of realization came across their younger cousin's face.

"Do you remember now, Aonghas," questioned the elder of the brothers?

Aonghas grinned, "I remember you and Rory getting yelled at by your mother and mine for breaking one of the benches in the atrium. I believe you were trying to teach him how to throw an opponent."

Seireadan Hawke threw his head back and laughed heartily before settling and speaking with a smirk and a sarcastic tone. "I had nearly forgotten about that. Thank you so much for reminding me."

Aonghas and Carver both looked at each other and Carver nodded at his brother and made a motion that said his brother was crazy, which made Aonghas laugh. Seireadan pretended not to notice the exchange but gave his full attention to his baby cousin's next words. "This is indeed an odd place to run into you two. You're with?"

"The King's Army," answered Carver.

"Interesting. I don't suppose you could get me into camp?"

Seireadan Hawke felt a surge of irritation and he quickly stepped forward and fixed a stern gaze on Aonghas. "You are not allowed in the King's Camp, at present. Stop causing problems."

"How do you know that?" Aonghas asked with a surprised look on his face.

Seireadan grinned wryly as he realized the boy hadn't bothered finding out who had interfered with him earlier. That the lad could be so oblivious to his surroundings made the elder Hawke brother feel a sense of familial responsibility towards the boy. Hawke carefully displayed just the right amount of shaming sarcasm and chastisement within his response, before tacking on a compliment. "Because I am the one who grabbed you from behind, to keep you from getting yourself in all manner of trouble, after you threw your fellow recruit to the ground. Nice throw by the way."

Seireadan watched his cousin's face redden and he could tell the lad was perplexed for only a moment before shifting a look of pity towards Carver; however, his younger brother returned Aonghas' look with one of impatience before turning to face him. "Look, we need to get back to camp. Are you going to demand the coin from him, Dan? Or shall I?"

"Ah, straight to the point then, Carver?" Seireadan once more gave Aonghas a harsh look before he issued his demand. "How about replacing the coin Carver had to spend to get his items back that you stole from him?"

"You might as well do it. I remember you stealing from him." Aonghas turned and gave the warden a dirty look but the warden didn't even notice because he was looking towards Duncan's camp fire. "Make it quick. Duncan looks to be getting impatient."

Carver moved in closer and grabbed Aonghas' left arm and held out his free hand for the coin. The moment before Carver grabbed Aonghas Seireadan snagged his cousin's belt pouch and he had it open and was inspecting the contents by the time the boy noticed it missing. Seireadan was very aware of his cousin's rage at his actions and he quickly drew out the correct amount of coins and handed them to Carver. "Relax, Aonghas," spoke Seireadan softly as he held out Aonghas' belt pouch to him. Carver released his grip on Aonghas' arm and Aonghas snatched the pouch back. "I hope we see you again soon, Aonghas," spoke Seireadan gently hoping to soothe the boy. As he and Carver walked away they both pretended not to hear the words the adolescent spoke, but Seireadan felt a twist of regret inside that he didn't have more time to spend with his cousin; however, both he and Carver were due for watch soon.

"Do you think we'll see him again, Dan," questioned Carver as they entered the main camp and walked towards their bedrolls to retrieve the rest of their gear for watch.

Seireadan shrugged and sighed again before answering Carver. "I hope so. How about you?"

"There is something I didn't tell you. I was going to wait, but since Aonghas is here I think I should tell you now." Seireadan raised an eyebrow at his brother and was about to make a sarcastic comment when his younger brother gave him a look of warning. Seireadan sighed at having to be serious again so soon but he nodded to encourage his brother to speak. "Eleanor and Bryce Cousland were murdered by Arl Rendon Howe. The tale going around is that Duncan saved Aonghas from the same fate."

Seireadan froze in shock at the news and a couple of soldiers had to dodge to avoid him as he stopped in the pathway. He ignored the swearing men and turned to look back the way they had come. "Aonghas didn't say anything. He should have told us. I guess we didn't really give him a chance though." Seireadan Hawke turned back to his brother and spoke reassuringly, "I will take care of it. I'll catch up with him after my watch."

Carver nodded in agreement and the two men gathered their gear in silence. The brothers Hawke gripped each other's right forearm in a quick acknowledgement of their concern for each other before heading off to their separate watch assignments.