Chapter I
A couple of days later, Melisende reached the entrance to Vigil's Keep. The burly guard stopped her from entering.
"Sorry lady, but we're a bit on edge here. The Vigil was attacked by darkspawn a few days ago," he explained.
Melisende was not surprised. The farms she had passed on her way in were tense and uneasy, with whispers of an attack, but no definite news.
"Don't worry about it, I am a Grey Warden. Has the Commander made it here yet?" the guard suddenly stood straighter at Melisende's admission of being a Grey Warden.
"Excuse me, I thought you were just a traveler…" Melisende stopped him saying anything further. She didn't blame him for thinking that, for she wasn't wearing any armor, preferring to move quickly on her way to the Keep. She wore a simple brown tunic, belted at the waist, with black tights and high leather boots, a dagger concealed in her right boot. Her waist long brown hair was tied back and braided. A cloak rested on her shoulders. She certainly didn't give off the airs of a Grey Warden.
"No matter, just take me to see the Commander, please."
"Yes, yes, right away. Didn't expect there were more Wardens, you don't sound Orlesian…" the guard muttered under his breath as he led her towards the keep.
He led Melisende into a large hall-like room with an equally large hearth in the centre. Through the softly swaying flames, Melisende glimpsed the glint of his golden-flame coloured hair and the shine of his armor. Tristan. At the sound of their feet, he turned around and grinned mischievously, as if they had never parted. Melisende realized with a sudden pang just how much she had missed her friend.
"Melisende, you are here, finally," he said as she halted in front of him. He embraced her.
"Commander," she said, smiling as he let her go. He turned to the man of middle years beside him.
"This is Seneschal Varel, Varel this is Melisende Cousland, Grey Warden extraordinaire."
"Oh please," said Melisende as she locked arms with Varel in greeting, and then added, "pleased to meet you, Varel."
"As I am to you," Varel replied. "We need all the Wardens we can get."
"What exactly happened here? I heard the Vigil was attacked," Melisende inquired.
"Yes, I had the most interesting welcome party. There was a horde of darkspawn invading the Keep just as I arrived. But that's not even the interesting part. They were led by a talking darkspawn," Tristan explained. Melisende regarded him with disbelief.
"You are jesting, right?" when Tristan made no reply, she continued, "A talking darkspawn? How odd. I gather you handled the problem. Alone?"
"No, not alone." Tristan chuckled lightly. "I am not that talented. Our good friend Oghren is here. There was also Mhairi, and a mage, Anders."
"I see. Oghren?"
"Yes, he is a Grey Warden now. Mhairi, unfortunately did not survive the joining. But Anders and Oghren did, and I have recruited another since then."
"The survivors will be glad to know another Warden has arrived, and one which helped end the Blight no less," said Varel.
"Anyhow, we will speak more later. Surely, you are tired from your journey. I will show you to your sleeping quarters," Tristan began leading her away. "It really is good to see you again…"
"Thank you. I am a bit disappointed that I missed out on killing some darkspawn."
"Ha, surely that's not the last we'll see of them. Those hellspawn are annoying as ever and now I fear that they will be even more so now they can speak. Anyway, you'll get your chance Melisende."
…
As Tristan was leading Melisende to the sleeping quarters, a guard of the Keep caught up to them, and clearing his throat, caught their attention.
"Commander, Sergeant Maverlies begs an audience with you."
"Is it urgent?" Tristan asked, a trace of annoyance in his voice.
"She would prefer to see you immediately. It regards the darkspawn attack." The guard flicked an apologetic look toward Tristan, noticing the man's irritation.
"Alright, I'll be there immediately," Tristan turned to Melisende and when the footsteps of the guard receded, he let out a rolling sigh. "Well, duty calls. You'll have to escort yourself. The room is at the end of the hall. I apologize…"
"No worries, Tristan, or should I call you Commander from now on?" Melisende interrupted.
Tristan chuckled. "Perhaps 'Commander' is too strong a title, at least in private. Anyway, I will take my leave of you now. We'll talk later," with that, Tristan strode off.
Melisende stood alone in the quickly darkening hallway. She suddenly felt the weariness of her journey wash over her. She tried to stifle a yawn, to no avail. Her lids felt heavy. Better find that bed quickly, she thought.
The sound of footsteps treading down the hallway became audible to Melisende. A soft light illuminated the growing darkness behind her. A man holding a torch came up beside her. She could see nothing but the fire for a moment.
"It's a little dark in here, isn't it, m'lady?" he said. As he shifted the torch, she could see the man more clearly. He was wearing leather armour, of medium height, and carried a bow on his back. He had shoulder length black hair, the two front locks pulled to the back. His kind, dark eyes and slight smile stood out. And that nose, Melisende thought tiredly, it looks familiar.
"Have you lost your way?" he enquired after a moment, looking a little uncomfortable at Melisende's close scrutiny of his face.
"I… no, I am just tired. I am on my way to the sleeping quarters," Melisende answered.
"I see. I will escort you there, if you'd like, as I'm already on my way there."
"Fine, let us go."
They walked in silence for a few seconds.
"I am Nathaniel, by the way," the man chimed in.
"Melisende," she nodded in reply.
"The Grey Warden?" Nathaniel asked.
"Yes."
"I… am a new recruit."
"Oh, yes. Tristan mentioned a new recruit. He told me of Oghren and the mage Anders, but not of you. I am pleased to meet you."
They had reached the end of the hall. Nathaniel gestured to a room on the right. Melisende could see a few beds, mostly unoccupied. She turned to thank Nathaniel, but he was already gone. Strange, she thought, I thought he was headed this way.
"Well, who is this ravishing cloaked woman come into our sleeping quarters? I must already be dreaming. Tell me, what are you waiting for? Get under the covers woman!" said a man with a blonde ponytail, lounging on one of the beds.
"Well shave my back and call me an elf! It's Melisende finally come to join us!" said a dwarf, sitting in a corner. The blonde man looked slightly disappointed as he realized that he was in fact awake.
"Oghren, I was surprised to hear you joined the order," Melisende said to the dwarf. She sat on a bed and removed her cloak.
"Not disappointed are you?" Oghren chuckled.
"No, of course not," Melisende replied, a little sarcastically. "You must be Anders then."
"That's me." Anders primped his face.
"Well, it is nice to meet you. If you don't mind, I'm really tired and would love to just go to sleep."
"Want some company?" Anders playfully asked.
"No thanks," Melisende half laughed. She crawled under the covers and soon fell into a blissful sleep.
