Alistair

Why was it always Alistair who got stuck with the jobs like this? Why couldn't he, I dunno, prepare with the other soldiers? Run supplies? Poison test the cheese?

But no. It seemed the revered mother would rather he be a toad. From the way she looked at him, he wouldn't be surprised.

Sending messages to mages via former templar Grey Warden wasn't the kindest way to send word from the Chantry. That was blatantly obvious. Still, it wasn't Alistair's fault. He was doing his best. "I simply came to deliver a message from the revered mother, ser mage. She desires your presence."

It didn't matter that he was being completely polite; the mage was having none of it. "What her reverence 'desires' is of no concern to me. I am busy helping the Grey Wardens - by the king's orders, I might add."

"Should I have asked her to write a note?" He asked cheekily.

The mage's scowl deepened. "Tell her reverence I will not be harassed in this manner!"

Alistair was having fun with it now. "Yes, I was harassing you by delivering a message."

"Your glibness does you no credit."

Out of the corner of his eye he saw the figure of a person, just standing to the side, watching the interaction. Were they gathering a crowd? How lovely. It was so nice how everyone in camp stuck together.

"And here I thought we were getting along so well! I was even going to name one of my children after you," Alistair replied, mock sadly. "The grumpy one."

"Enough! I will speak to the woman if I must. Get out of my way, fool," he snapped, brushing Alistair aside and storming past the woman who'd stopped beside them to watch.

As Alistair turned, he got a better look at her.

Brown braids, blue eyes, pointed ears… an elf, most certainly. He wasn't surprised; there were many elves running about. Most of them servants, few of them warriors. This one didn't look like a warrior… She carried no weapon, and wore no armor. Still, it would be rude to assume she was a servant based solely on that.

"You know," he said, taking a few steps towards her, "one good thing about the Blight is how it brings people together."

Her brief look of confusion quickly morphed into a small, wry smile. "I know exactly what you mean."

"It's like a party! We could all stand in a circle and hold hands. That would give the darkspawn something to think about." He paused for a moment, remembering what he was meant to be doing after delivering the message. Either she was a messenger, or maybe-

"We haven't met, have we?" He asked. "I don't suppose… you'd happen to be another mage?" He didn't think she was, but it didn't hurt to ask.

She raised an eyebrow. "I suppose that would make your day worse?"

"Not worse, it's just… I tend to make mages nervous. And nervous mages make me nervous. I don't want to be a toad, I like myself the way I am."

"I hate to make you nervous, but I am indeed a mage."

Alistair blinked. "Really? You don't look like a mage -" not that she wasn't dressed properly, or that mages were terribly unattractive, or anything… Maker, that sounded better in his head. "- That is, I mean… How interesting." But, this was what he was supposed to be doing, yeah? Duncan had sent word to greet the new mage recruits.

"I know who you are," he realized. "You're one of Duncan's new recruits, from the Circle of Magi. I should have recognized you right away, I apologize."

She waved him off. "I suppose you must be Alistair, then."

"Did Duncan talk about me? Nothing bad, I hope."

She glanced at him, her expression deadpan. "Only that you're the youngest Warden. I'll have to ask him for whatever dirt he has on you later."

Alistair laughed nervously, guessing - or hoping, really - she was joking. "Yes, well, I'm Alistair, the new Grey Warden… as you know. As the junior member of the order, I'll be accompanying you while you prepare for the joining."

She frowned slightly. "I can't prepare on my own?"

He bowed his head slightly in understanding. "I know, I felt the same way when I did this. Unfortunately, they don't give us much choice."

"Hm." She turned her gaze away, either thinking or irritated.

She didn't appear to be very talkative. But Alistair couldn't stand to sit in silence; he had to say something. "You know… there have never been many women in the Grey Wardens. I wonder why that is."

"Oh?" That got her attention. Somehow that made him more nervous than the silence. "And you want more women in the Wardens?"

"Would that be so terrible?" He flashed her a smile. "Not that I'm some drooling lecher… or anything please stop looking at me like that."

She looked away again, but she seemed as though she was trying not to smile. He took that as a small victory.

"I'm curious," Alistair continued, "have you ever actually fought darkspawn before?"

It was something usually asked before the test. If they didn't know what they were getting into, it was a good idea to warn them.

"I haven't," she admitted, "I'm assuming you have?"

Alistair nodded. "I have. When I fought my first one, I wasn't prepared for how… monstrous it was. Can't say I'm looking forward to fighting another." Which was kind of funny, considering it was his duty now. For the rest of his life. "Anyhow, whenever you're ready, we should head back to Duncan. I imagine he's eager to get things started.

"That argument I saw... what was it about?"

Damn. He was hoping she wouldn't ask about that. "With the mage? The Circle is here at the king's request and the Chantry doesn't like that one bit. They just love letting the mages know how unwelcome they are. Which puts me in a bit of an awkward position; I was once a templar."

She inhaled slightly, frowning. He wondered, briefly, if this made her uncomfortable about traveling with him. Hopefully she just wouldn't take as much offence as the other mage. "You were a mage-hunter?"

"Not... that that's all templars do, but yes, I guess I was at that. The Chantry raised me until Duncan recruited me six months ago. I'm sure the revered mother meant it as an insult - sending me as her messenger - and the mage picked right up on that. I never would have agreed to deliver it but Duncan told me we're all to cooperate and get along. Apparently they didn't get the same speech."

"I guess not," she eventually agreed. "I suppose we should start preparing."

"If you have any questions, let me know. Otherwise, lead on."