From the looks in their eyes I could tell that they were expecting more than a small hut.
"What? Did you expect a huge mansion with ancient carving on its walls?" I asked. "'Tis a forest, is it not? How could something like that fit in this small clearing?"
"You could enlarge the clearing by cutting down some trees. It wouldn't be so hard with your magic." said Alistair. I glared at him angrily.
"I know better that destroying the homes of the creatures of this forest." I snapped. He looked surprised by my reaction. He glanced back at my hut, displeased.
"But...This hut is so small." he complained. "Well then, feel free to camp outside in the cold with wild animals that will come to eat you while you sleep." I said angrily and headed into my hut. I had bunk beds and lots of spare sheets so it wouldn't be a problem to arrange temporary beds but the real problem was that there was not enough space for all of them. They were all huge muscular men where I was just a short, thin girl. It actually got a bit claustrophobic with all of them jammed in my small hut. Two will sleep on the bunk beds and the other eight will sleep on the bed that I will prepare with the sheet, I thought. And I... Well, I guess I will just sleep outside with the wolves. I moved towards my cabinet while they were examining the motives that I drew on the walls and the ceiling. There weren't much to do in the forest other than running with the animals or reading so I would often spend my time decorating my walls. I finished preparing the beds and told them where they will sleep. I gave the bunk beds to Duncan and another senior Warden.
The others were to sleep on the sheets.
"Wait... If they are slleping on the beds and we on the floor... then where will you sleep?" asked Alistair. I looked at his warm, hazel eyes and without showing any expression "It is obvious, is it not? I am going to sleep outside." I told him. "But you can't do that." he said. "And why not?" I asked, amused.
"This is your hut. We can't just throw you would be rude" I do no know why but his eyes reminded me of a little boy's.
I laughed loudly. "You are not throwing me out. Not that you could if you wanted to." I smirked. "I am going out on my own will. I would be a poor host if I let my guest sleep outside in the cold and dark. With the wild scary animals that will eat you alive." I said the last a few lines with a scared, dramatic tone but I regretted it immediately when I saw his expression. He looked worried, almost sad. I don't know why I felt this way. I usually enjoyed making others sad unless they were children and he definitely was not a child.
"Oh, don't look at me like that, big boy. I will be fine. I have lived in this forest for most of my life. I do not feel treatened by the creatures of the forest." Then I turned to the others. "I will leave alone for now so that you can get changed in peace. When you are done please come out. I will light a fire and cook something." I said and got out of the hut. I lit a fire and cooked meat with some herbs I gathered today. About ten minutes later they came out off the hut and sat by the fire. I handed all of them a bowl of stew and watched as they ate. I didn't feel hungry so I didn't eat. They seemed to like my stew. They ate it all. Good thing I made a lot, I thought. They were eating like a group of animals. I have never seen someone eat like that before. Maybe it had something to do with being a Warden. I continued observing them as they laughed at each other for various reasons. I was trying to figure out why they laughed at Alistair as he was blushing like a tomato again when Duncan came near me.
"You are very kind to open your home to us and even give us food. I cannot thank you enough." he said. I smiled. "It is no trouble. I do not get a lot of visitors. Especially not the mighty slayers of darkspawn." I said. I continued watching them as I spoke. Now, Alistair was laughing with them, too. But when Duncan spoke again the tone of his voice made me turn my attention to him.
"Well then would mind listening to what I have to say?" he asked. He sounded like he wanted me to walk into the Black City.
"Of course." I said but my voice was uncertain. He asked his question anyway and I realized it wasn't so different from the thing I thought he would ask.
"Would consider becoming a Grey Warden and join us in the battle we are headed?"...
