Dragon Age
"The Relic"
Chapter Four: Duncan
Duncan enjoyed the long rides; he loved to be anywhere but the damned castle and Denerim. He liked the country, the mountains, cities felt too claustrophobic for him. He envied people who chose a life devoted to an order; the Templars, the Wardens, the Seekers, and the Inquisition. He knew he'd never be able to join any of them. Miracle Child they called him, the only child born to two Wardens. It aggravated him more than anything else, he understood his life would never be normal, even normal for a Prince but he dealt with it. There was nothing he could do about it.
He wasn't thrilled about traveling the entire breadth of Fereldan just to attend a damn birthday party. He hated ships, they made him sea sick, and unfortunately most of the trip from Denerim was by ship ending in West Hill. He practically kissed the dock when he got to it. Long trips gave him a lot of time to work with Raider, the horse he had prior to Raider was Shake, an enormous bay Forder that was the definition of safe and solid. He'd been riding Shake since he was five and Shake was ten, and a year ago he lost the old gelding to colic. Raider was very different from Shake, instead of being a tried and tested finished Officer's horse, Raider was young and spirited. Raider did better than he did on the boat ride; Duncan was green half the time, Raider just kept eating and nitpicking with his neighbor.
It didn't take too long riding from the Hinterlands to Skyhold. The road was well beaten; the Inquisition hid it well during the War but now the road to Skyhold was hard to hide. A contingent of Inquisition soldiers from the Grand Villa met them on the road and proceeded to escort the royal family to Skyhold. That effectively doubled their guard for the rest of the trip.
So far Raider had only given him one fit that was quickly quelled by his rider, Alistair beamed with pride as he watched his patient son gently but firmly correct the young horse and rejoin the group. Happy with the long ride but bored beyond belief with the company Duncan rode ahead with the Inquisition scout named Sela. She was pretty and in her mid-twenties and Alistair snorted.
"Dumped for a pretty face," Alistair chuckled looking at Lydia.
"He does know we're trying to marry him off, correct?" she asked and he chuckled remembering the look on his son's face when he brought up the topic of marriage to the Inquisitor's daughter.
"Oh yes, yes, he knows. Not sure if he's happy about it or plotting our destruction," Alistair replied.
Lydia giggled and Alistair couldn't take his eyes off her. Her long red hair was braided tightly and hung down to the middle of her back. As beautiful as she looked in gowns or nothing at all he loved her in her battlemage Warden armor. For an aging Warden on the cusp of the Calling, Lydia was still as stunningly beautiful as the day he'd met her in Ostegar. She laughed at his silly jokes and his childish antics but she never called him a fool. She was sweet to him and kind and he fell in love with her for it. He had to look down at her from his perch on his tall bay Charger, her horse was considerably smaller and lighter built, typical for a Talisen Strider. The little red horse was named Tinder; Alistair had given her to Lydia as an anniversary present a few years ago. His wife appreciated a spirited mount and you couldn't get more spirit in a horse than the ones Antiva bred. The mare was lightly armored with Lydia's staff secured under her right leg. Normally, her sword was on her belt but for a long ride it was secured to a shoulder scabbard on the left. Alistair loved his wife and the amount of weapons she carried, as the Queen of Fereldan and the Warden-Commander of Fereldan she'd better be armed.
"Pending marital status aside, I think he'll forgive us once he sees Skyhold. He's been prattling on about it years," she said and looked over at him when he didn't respond. Alistair still didn't have that regal look about him. He'd never really wanted the throne but it was hard to say no when she grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and tossed him on it. Yes, it was true; his wife scared the hell out of him some times and he was perfectly okay with that. Alistair had traded his brother's golden armor for a new set made by Denerim's finest smith, Wade. Dragonbone and Onyx with a Griffon design on the chest, it was commissioned by Lydia so Wade and Herran were stumbling over each other to oblige. "Alistair?" she questioned as she found him just looking at her. "Alistair?!" she barked in a higher tone and he snapped out of his daydreaming.
"What?" he asked sharply, like she startled the hell out of him. At that moment Mabari stumbled creating a laughable moment. "Ooof!" he grunted. "Bloody oaf."
Lydia laughed loudly, the horse named Mabari was the epitome of Alistair's whimsical humor. He was a big, solid dark bay with the trademark no white like all Amaranthine Chargers. He had a mind of his own; if you weren't paying attention you'd be in the middle of the woods and totally lost. He was goofy and a bit of clown, but as soon as that big oaf heard Alistair's sword clear that scabbard he was all business.
Duncan peered over his shoulder to the commotion and shook his head pushing Raider to keep up with the scout and her tri-colored tobiano mare. "Are we there yet?" he asked and Sela chuckled.
"Don't like your parents, Highness?" she asked and Duncan scoffed for two reasons.
"First, please don't call me that," he said, "Duncan's fine. Second, I like them fine but being drug all the way out here for a birthday seems a bit over the top," he finished, the only saving grace for him in all this was the fact that he would finally get to see Skyhold. Meet the Inquisitor and Commander Cullen. Briony indulged him to a point in Denerim but she had work to do so he left her to it. Dorian's invitation left him bouncing in his seat though he hid his excitement well. "What's it like?" he asked trying to keep Raider from wandering off the path. "Serving the Inquisition?"
Sela had but one answer. "Never a dull moment," she replied with a snorty chuckle. "I was only a kid when that monster Corypheus tried to destroy the world but there's always something to do, Highness."
Duncan glared at the sky, why people couldn't just call him Duncan like he asked always infuriated him. "Like escorting royals around?" he smirked and Sela chuckled.
"Not just royal," she stated holding up a finger, "a few months ago I got the esteemed pleasure of escorting Magister Pavus around the Hinterlands. That man will talk your ear off if you show even a smattering of intelligence."
Duncan chuckled; he liked Dorian, so far anyway. "I like Dorian, he's nice…invited me here to show me the inquisition," he replied.
Sela shrugged, she got along well with Dorian too but sometimes he just talked too much. "I suppose. I like his daughter better, Bree is so much fun."
Ahead on the trail there was another Inquisition agent who shouted her name loud enough she could hear it on the wind. She excused herself from Duncan's presence, again, addressing his as that Maker awful word 'Highness' and cantered away.
Bree? That was the name of the girl his parents wanted him to marry…Dorian's daughter. "Oh, goody, this'll be fun," he muttered to himself in as sarcastic a tone as possible as he tightened up on Raider's rein to keep him from cantering after Sela. The Courser pranced and danced discussing Duncan's decision to remain at a walk. Before long his parents caught up with him and Duncan found himself riding on his father's left putting Alistair in the middle.
"Something you said?" Alistair prodded in a gleeful needling tone.
Duncan snorted. "No." he replied. "Not at all…I'm just wondering how well this whole marriage proposal to Dorian's daughter thing will go."
Alistair chuckled. "He already knows so you don't have to worry about that, Son."
That wasn't a comfort. Not one bit. "You realize he probably wants to kill me, right?" he asked and it was his mother's turn to laugh.
"Nonsense," she assured. "If Dorian's going to kill anyone it'll be your father, it was his idea."
Duncan sighed with amusement as Alistair glowered playfully at his love. "Perfect," Duncan announced with a satisfied tone and clapped his father's right shoulder. "I have my shield…thank you, Father."
Alistair grumbled looking from his wife to his son, they were both laughing at him. "Oh, I hate this," he whined. "I hate it when you two gang up on me."
His tone wasn't angry, it was playful exasperation, and it was all in good fun. He may have had a son but he did feel outnumbered when it came to the both of them ganging up on him. They did it often, conniving schemers the both of them.
The sight of Skyhold gleaming in the sun surrounded by snow made Duncan pull Raider up and take in the sight in with an awe inspiring breath. "Wow," he commented. "Gleaming fortress in the sky," he said a loud and heard Sela snort.
"Welcome to Skyhold, Duncan," she said with a smile and he could have sworn the scout was flirting with him. His teenage mind registered the tone and twinkling smile from the young woman but the fact that he was there in Skyhold, home of the Inquisition- an order that he'd read about and dreamed about, overrode everything else.
The fortress was huge and it only got bigger the closer he drew to it. Crossing the bridge to the main gate he couldn't help but think that this Fortress was like a strategist's wet dream. This castle could repel a ground war for months if not years. Honestly, all they'd need to do is wait until the winter blew in and watch from the battlements as the assaulting army slowly froze to death. No one with any brains would try to attack head on, the bridge was too narrow and that was a hell of a long drop. So unless you could fly, Skyhold was untouchable.
The Inquisition soldiers were ahead of them with the royal guards in a defensible diamond formation around their Royal family, the trust between Fereldan and the Inquisition was strong but it only went so far when it came to a monarch. Alistair and Lydia could care less about themselves; it was Duncan that needed to be protected. The miracle child and heir to Fereldan, the majority of these guards were for him.
People bowed as they entered the fortress, those who were Fereldan dropped to one knee at the sight of their king while the Orlesians and the Free Marchers simply nodded respectfully.
"King Alistair, my Queen, Prince Duncan," Thom began knowing that his presence would be enough to make this go sideways quickly. Alistair and Lydia thought of him as the lowest of the low but he did his duty as the Captain of the Guard, "welcome to Skyhold."
Alistair glanced down at him and looked over to his wife quickly. "Captain," he practically hissed to him but kept his diplomatic façade. He may have wanted to execute him for his misrepresentation of the Wardens but now he just let it ride. Lydia gave him his punishment and so far Thom had adhered to it…that didn't mean he liked him.
Lydia scoffed at him, basically turning her nose up at him. "Lying coward." She thought to herself. Rather than cause a scene there in the courtyard she didn't say anything to him.
Duncan watched the exchange. He had grown up hearing about the deeds of the 'Warden' named 'Blackwall', or rather coward named Thom Rainier who took the name of a great man to hide. Yeah…it was safe to say Duncan had at least heard of Thom. The man was stocky, burly, had long hair, and a full beard…somehow not as he could have pictured him.
"If you'll follow me-…" Thom continued as the three of them dismounted passing their horses off to the gaggle of stable hands eagerly waiting.
Lydia wasn't interested in what he had to say, not one word, instead she focused in on Michel. She smiled at the blonde Orlesian and ignored Thom. "Michel," she greeted and the Orlesian champion gave her a respectful bow. "long time."
"Warden Queen," he replied, "it is good to see you again and you as well, Majesty," he added referring to Alistair.
Thom closed his mouth and stifled a huff; this was his penance for disgracing their order so he dealt with it. "If you'll follow us the Inquisitor is expecting you."
Lydia moved ahead and only gave Thom a very chilly glare on the way by. "Rainier," Alistair stiffly acknowledged and moved next to fall in behind his wife. "Duncan, this way."
Calling his son to heel was a good idea; Duncan was already focused on everything else but following them or observing the still fresh animosity between his parents, namely his mother, and Rainier.
"So, Rainier, still haven't worked up the gumption to attempt the joining?" Lydia hissed, her tone very pointed in her disapproval of him. Thankfully, for Thom's sake, Nathaniel had been at Adamant and not her or Alistair, the both of them would have killed him on the spot. Nathaniel recognized that they had bigger fish to fry and let it go.
Michel glanced over at Thom and gave him a sympathetic expression. Thom had served his penance for his lie and had remained with the Inquisition simply because Khrystabel asked him to stay and help. "I still serve the Inquisition, Warden-Commander, if that changes, I'll let you know," he stated but the tone of his voice was more of a hiss. "I know you're very concerned, My Queen."
Alistair visibly cringed at his pointed hiss and Duncan saw it, two things could happen here: first Lydia could brush him off with a scoff and file it under the heading of she still didn't like him or she could hit the roof and whoop his ass right there. He knew damn well she'd whip out the worst of her Blood Magic talents to turn his ass into a toad or worse. He didn't come to her defense here, he didn't need to, she could handle his insolence and it was fun to watch his red headed love fume.
Lydia's midstep pause and narrowed expression was a good indicator that she picked the former, that and possibly Khrystabel's standing edict that nothing was to happen to Rainier. He'd complied with all her orders and had kept himself out of any Warden keep. "Please do," she replied her tone full of sass and heated sarcasm. "I'd personally over see your Joining."
Alistair looked at the sky stopping himself from rolling his eyes, his son had the same expression and they looked at each other. "Why us?" he asked quietly to Duncan who only shrugged and chuckled slightly, he only knew parts of this story and after that he tuned everyone out.
Khrys knew that Alistair hated the pomp and circumstance that surrounded royalty, if he wanted to go to Skyhold to visit his friends he went and begged people not to make a huge deal about it. He didn't like being announced, he hated Balls, Masquerades, and parties, and he really hated people falling all over him to serve him. So when it came time for him to arrive in Skyhold, Khrys had to order Josie not to have the welcome wagon there at the stables or even in the Main Hall.
Had Duncan not been so taken in by the legendary fortress he was walking through he might have actually heard what people were saying, he was an awestruck kid in a candy store. The sheer size of Skyhold was amazing, nowhere near as big as Fort Drakon but given the fact that it was probably older than Fort Drakon and stood proudly on top of a mountain somehow it seemed to measure up. The only place that would have made him happier was visiting Weisshaupt.
Skyhold's main hall was impressive; the mishmash of décor was odd but tasteful. It reflected the taste of the Dalish Inquisitor but it was also heavily influenced by the Fereldan, Marcher, and Tevinter styles.
"Lady Inquisitor, my I present the Royal family of Fereldan, King Alistair, Queen Lydia, and Prince Duncan," Josephine announced, it was an introduction that was merely a formality considering the Inquisitor and the King and Queen were all on a first name basis.
Hearing his name snapped Duncan's attention to the people he'd obviously been walking toward the whole time he was turning circles and examining the Main Hall. The woman introduced as Josephine was clearly Antivan, the accent was impossible to miss; he recognized Dorian and judged the Elf standing to his right to be the infamous Inquisitor. She had hair as white as the snowcapped peaks, was tiny, and was missing most of her left arm. Just like the stories he'd heard, she looked almost exactly as he'd pictured. According to his parents, he'd met her once when he was so little he didn't remember anything but the long white hair. Standing to her right was a girl about his age, long black hair, tanned skin, and very pretty; that must be Bree. There was a tall blonde man in lion armor standing by Josie and Duncan all most lost all level of decorum. That was Commander Cullen; he'd wanted to meet him for years.
"Alistair, how was the ride?" Khrys asked and the King scoffed giving her a respectful nod.
"Too. Damned. Long," he grumped in a tired tone.
"Oh, come on…you've spent too much time sitting on the throne," she sniped in returned making Alistair laugh.
"What can I say…you've all but crushed any opposition, not much more to do than 'sit on the throne'," he replied with a chuckle. "Khrys, you remember my son, Duncan."
Khrys looked him up and down much the same way Dorian did in Denerim and he guessed he next words that came out of her mouth. "Oh, Duncan, you've grown up!" he mused in his head. "Well, no shit, Inquisitor." was his mental response, unfortunately, she said exactly that but his response was much more polite. "Time has that effect," he said and she smiled, she had a beautiful smile.
He shook Dorian's hand and was practically presented with Bree. "Duncan, I'd like you to meet my…" Dorian began and corrected himself, "our daughter, Gabriella. Bree, this is Prince Duncan Theirin."
Duncan still wasn't comfortable with this but Bree's kind smile helped put him at ease to some degree. "A pleasure, Highness," she bowed but he got the distinct impression that she was just as uncomfortable as he was.
Duncan did what was expected of him, what he knew wasn't going to get his ass beat by his mother and father later or kicked out of Skyhold on his ass. He took Bree's right hand gently and kissed the back of it. Her skin was soft and delicate and she smelled wonderful, he almost wished he could do it again without his gloves on so something other than his lips could touch her skin. "The pleasure is mine, My Lady," he replied his smile as dashing and handsome as he could muster without looking like a creep; "you are as lovely as I've heard."
Bree giggled, either she saw right through him or she was genuinely blushing at the Fereldan Prince. "You just don't know any better yet," she replied causing Alistair and Lydia to laugh, Duncan to chuckle, and Dorian to scold.
"Gabriella," Dorian and Khrys scolded in unison. "Manners, young lady," Dorian added.
Duncan waved it off; he wasn't offended he was actually relieved. He hated prissy noble girls; he liked girls who had guts and a backbone. So far they were off to a good start, she was very pretty and by the sound of it had a sense of humor. "No I like it…I like it when people speak their mind."
"Be careful what you wish for," Khrys muttered, if there was one thing that Bree did besides panicking the boys with her harebrained horseback stunts it was speaking her mind. Neither Khrys nor Dorian ever tried to curb it so what they had was a very intelligent, outspoken, Daddy's little girl. She knew the rules of course. When mom and dad spoke, she listened and obeyed. When confronted with royalty, don't say anything to get thrown out on your ass, and if you did, dear Maker make sure it was worthy of storytelling at the tavern later.
"We'll show you to your chambers and then a feast has been prepared in your honor," Khrys said chuckling at the way Bree and Duncan were looking at each other. No joke. It was a critical, if not bemused eye, as if they were trying to figure the other out.
The Theirins' attention snapped back to her at the promise of food. "Feast? I'm starving," the three of them said at once and Khrys laughed.
"Good call, Cullen," she chuckled. "Three Grey Warden appetites: check."
Cullen allowed a smile at the praise from her, he'd been around Wardens long enough to know that three of them arriving after a long trip meant they were about eat the Inquisitor out of house and home.
Skyhold had plenty of rooms to accommodate the guests that were slated to arrive; however, it was bound to get a bit crowded. His parents were given a large room that was cozy and warm. The staff did a fantastic job of making their chambers worthy of royalty. Alistair and Lydia were content with them, smaller than theirs at the palace but that was something they didn't care about. Duncan was shown to his chamber, a little further down the hall from them. It was the same as his parents', small, clean, warm, and cozy. The hearth was lit and he turned a circle in the middle of the room looking around.
He didn't want to just hang around in here and rest, he wanted to see more of Skyhold, but right now he'd settle for food. The mere mention of food made his stomach growl; both his parents were Grey Wardens and had a massive metabolism. He wasn't quite sure what he was, he wasn't a Warden but he did have Warden blood and had the same ravenous appetite that they did.
The kitchen staff out did themselves; there was a massive amount of food that took nearly two days to prepare. It was all for the royal family, but it was a good time to sit down and just enjoy the company of allies. This was just the first of many feasts that would take place over the next few days and Khrys grumbled at that. At least this one was smaller and didn't require anyone to move heaven and Earth to pull it off. The head cook was going to be grouchy for a long time after this.
Duncan sat at the heavy wooden table next to his mother and across from Bree. He was still trying to figure her out. She was pretty and well-mannered but if he was supposed to marry her he wanted to know way more than that about her.
He observed the table; there was his father on the end, his mother next to him, and Michel to his left. Michel de Chevin, the Chevalier's reputation preceded him, he was an amazing swordsman that Duncan would love to learn from. Across from them was Dorian, Khrys, and Bree. Next to Bree was Cullen, he really wanted to actually talk to that man, next to him was a pale redhead who didn't look too content with the idea of food. There was another man, an Elf with white hair and strange looking Vallaslin, he'd met him a few years back in Denerim with Captain Briony. He recognized him as Fenris, the Inquisition's Lyrium Warrior and the only person besides Cullen, Michel, and Khrys he wanted to talk to more.
Between the three of them, himself, Lyida, and Alistair, they put away a chicken each, a few loaves of bread, and lots of potatoes. It was a typical appetite for a Grey Warden, the Royal Palace was used to feeding three Wardens the same amount of food you'd feed an army.
After dinner Alistair and Lydia sat causally on the couch in Khrys' chambers as Dorian handed them both a goblet of wine, a little drink to end the evening and relax among friends without the children.
"I wonder if you know just how much of a headache you've caused me?" Dorian grumped, referring to Alistair who just knitted his brow.
"Pardon?" Alistair asked as he sipped the wine.
In response to that Dorian crossed the room to Khrys' desk to retrieve a bunch of letters. "Here's where he gets dramatic," Khrys droned and earned a look from Dorian as he walked back and handed them to Alistair.
"These. This is all your fault, your Majesty," he accused and Alistair skimmed the one from Sebastian and raised his eyebrows passing it to Lydia.
"How…?" he began and began to skim the next one. "How in Andraste's ass did the Prince of Starkhaven and Emperor Gaspard find out about this so quickly?"
"Well, someone in Denerim has good ears and some very loose lips…which pair, well, I'll leave that to you to decide," Dorian stated and heard Khrys scoff at his sexual innuendo and saw Lydia laugh.
"Oh, I do like him, Inquisitor." Lydia giggled. "Can I keep him?"
Alistair looked at his wife and blinked, was she flirting with him? "Easy," Alistair warned with a slight chuckle.
Dorian smirked and was delighted to flirt with the Queen, Alistair knew he was harmless given his sexual preference but the fact that he had a child with Khrys gave him pause. "I am yours to command, Majesty," he flirted with the redheaded blood mage.
Now it was Khrys' turn as she sipped the goblet of wine. "Hey, now, you're my toy, Pavus," she flirted and Dorian continued to smirk.
Alistair was more than happy to let Khrys keep her Magister. "Yes, please, Lydia, I, your husband, am still right here," Alistair reminded and Lydia just chuckled.
Their attention was drawn to the stairs as Michel crested the top and observed the situation. "Michel," Khrys smiled and beckoned for him to join them. "Come join us."
Michel was fairly certain he didn't want to and he observed the room with a sigh. The only mage in the room he trusted was Khrys, Lydia the Blood Mage but as of now he was on good terms with her, and Dorian was just Dorian. His relationship with him was hit or miss, Alistair he really had no opinion of, but the King had done nothing to him to make him wary.
"Yes, Ser Michel, please join us, we were just pointing fingers as to whose fault it is that everyone wants my daughters hand in marriage," Dorian announced and Khrys shook her head with a smile.
Michel poured himself a glass of wine and sniffed it. Tevinter wine it wasn't bad, though Michel preferred Orlesian wine but one of Dorian's redeeming qualities was the access to good wine.
"It was one letter," Alistair defended. "From Orlais…Sebastian has daughters for crying out loud."
"And yet, still your fault," Dorian sniped back as Michel only shook his head staying as near to Khrys as possible.
"In his defense, there are more on Josie's desk," Khrys added and Alistair sighed, he couldn't help any of it and shrugged innocently with a sigh.
"What can I say-…" Alistair began and Dorian helped him finish.
"Uhh… 'it's my fault'?" Dorian helped and Lydia chuckled loudly.
Michel snorted loudly. "Ahh the Tevinter talent of overreacting, you do know that this is not the end of the world," he said dryly and finished off his first glass of wine.
Dorian turned to Michel with his typical smirk. "You're one to talk, your country has started wars over dropping the wrong spoon." he countered and Khrys swore she saw the Orlesian smile at the banter.
Well, he wasn't wrong there but Michel simply shrugged. "Depends on the spoon," he replied replied causing Dorian to snort.
"The War of the Lions began over a fucking feather, Michel," he pressed as the former topic was practically forgotten. "But of course, that's not overreacting at all. No, of course not."
Khrys cleared her throat. That really didn't take long to descend into a fundamental disagreement on just about everything. "Boys, corners please."
Lydia was grinning at the exchange and looked at Khrys. "Tell me you get a crack at both of them?" she asked with a broad grin and heard Alistair snort his wine.
"Lydia…"
Khrys laughed and looked from Dorian to Michel and then to Lydia. "On occasion," she said smugly and snickered as both Michel and Dorian glared at one another before Dorian looked away from him. When had this conversation spiraled to the gutter?
Ditching his escort seemed like a good idea at the time, despite the long journey he wasn't tired and the 'adults' had vanished to drink and BS the night away. Duncan didn't want to sleep, there was no way he could, not here, he'd always wanted to see Skyhold –the Inquisition. He'd been promised a tour and a one on one with Khrys in the morning but he couldn't wait. He wanted to see Skyhold now. So ditching his escort was a good idea until Skyhold's halls got him so turned around that he was officially lost.
"Damnit," he cursed softly as he opened another door and found more unfamiliar terrain.
"Lost?" he heard a woman say from behind him and turned quickly. It was Bree; he looked her up and down noticing that she was still in the blue dress she'd worn to dinner. Her long black hair hung loose off her shoulders and draped down to the middle of her back. His throat went dry as he tried to swallow. Well, at least the rumors were true, she was pretty and she had a lovely voice. The descriptions he'd heard were pretty much correct, she looked like Dorian, inheriting more Tevinter characteristics than Elven ones, but was as small as her mother.
"Uhh…yeah," he answered sounding a little sheepish about that as she walked toward him. "I was doing alright for a while there but I think, and I can't be sure, I took a wrong door somewhere," he said and his humorous tone made her chuckle.
"Didn't my mom assign you an escort?" she asked in an almost lecturing tone.
Duncan sighed nodding. "She did," he replied and she giggled at his sheepish tone.
"Ditched him huh?" she said with a laugh.
He nodded sharply. "Yep," he admitted and sighed. "Seemed like a good idea at the time." Her smile was lovely and so was her laugh, she had a small frame like an Elf and came to his chin.
"Alright, come on, My Prince," she giggled.
"Please don't call me that," he begged falling into step with her. "Duncan is all anyone needs to call me."
Bree looked over at him as they walked, so far her favorite feature on him was his shaggy long dark hair. He had a nice smile too. She liked the fact that his head wasn't in the clouds simply because he was the heir to an entire kingdom. He was grounded and didn't like the pomp and circumstance, just like his father. "Very well, Duncan," she smiled. "So how do you like Skyhold so far?"
"Oh I love it," he said sounding like he could barely contain it. "I've read everything on the Inquisition, old and new. Inquisitor Ameridan…Inquisitor Lavellan-…" he went one but stopped himself hearing how silly he must have sounded. "I'm sorry."
She chuckled and waved him off. "No, no, go on. I think it's cute," she smiled and saw him turning bright red, blushing or embarrassed.
Truthfully it was a little of both. "Umm…is it true that you have the armor of Inquisitor Ameridan here?"
Bree nodded. "Yep, as I'm told my Mom brought it back after finding him and talking to him in the Basin."
Duncan's head spun. "I…I can't imagine that…she actually spoke to Inquisitor Ameridan, the man who started the Inquisition and the Seekers. The Templar Order was created because of him…it's amazing," he babbled on and then stopped himself again. "Listen to me…I'm sorry, My Lady."
Bree waved him off again. "Bree," she corrected. "Call me Bree and it's okay," she assured, leading him back out into the main hall. "You want to see something?"
Duncan knew enough to know that was a loaded question and it was better to ask first. "That depends on what it is," he replied cautiously and she chuckled.
"Come on, Duncan, I don't bite," she replied, her smile mischievous. "Besides, I think you'll love this."
Duncan followed her feeling his heartrate increase seeing her mischievous smile; he really liked that and wondered where she was taking him. He followed her through the Main Hall, through another door…and another and down a long hallway to a big set of double doors. Through the door was a large room and he blinked recognizing the infamous Inquisition War Table.
"Maker," he breathed. "This is the War Table."
She smiled as he moved tentatively toward the huge table. "Yeah…I thought you might like this."
Duncan saw the pieces on the map, from Fereldan to Tevinter. This was a military board showing the Inquisitions strength and strategy and got the distinct feeling that he shouldn't be viewing this. "The Inquisition War Table…wow."
"Lady Bree," a voice interrupted the silence as she let Duncan stare in awe at the table.
Bree turned sharply recognizing the voice instantly, Cullen. "Cullen," she began and got the impression that she might be in trouble for this.
"You should not be in here and you know that," Cullen scolded his tone even but stern and he shifted his eyes to Duncan. "Highness," he acknowledged and bowed his head to his future sovereign. "I apologize but the War Table is off limits to everyone but the senior agents."
Duncan moved away from the table and looked at her then to Cullen. "Don't blame her, Commander, I asked," he said and Bree cocked her head at him, he was covering for her. "I've actually wanted to speak to you for a very long time, Commander."
Cullen's stance remained even as he looked at the Prince. "Me?" he questioned without thinking. "Why?"
Cullen was always so modest, Bree had heard her parents and several others comment on that on multiple occasions. "You're Commander Cullen, General of the Inquisition. I've read everything about your exploits. What happened at Haven, despite the loss, it was a victory because your tactics saved so many. Your victory at Adamant and in the Wilds all against a superior force or a fortified position…I've read all about them," he said and tried not to make it sound too much like hero worship. "One of my fathers' Generals calls you the most brilliant strategist he's ever seen."
Cullen looked down. "I was just the luckiest, Highness," he said being as modest as he could.
"Don't be so modest, Commander," Duncan said with a smile. "I've heard the Inquisition wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."
"Thank you for your praise, Sire, and excuse me for this but I must insist you not be in here," he said not really relishing the idea of booting the future ruler of Ferelden out of the War Room but it was his duty.
"Of course, Commander," Duncan wasn't offended and complied with the Commander gesturing for Bree to walk ahead of him. "Ladies first."
Cullen's expression was enough to tell her that she was probably going to get scolded by her mother for this. She walked with Duncan back to his room making sure he didn't get lost on the way there. Duncan was amazed that she knew her way around like the back of her hand but then again she'd probably be just as lost running around Fort Drakon as he was trying to navigate Skyhold.
"I really hope you didn't get into trouble because of me," Duncan asked worriedly as they made their way down the corridor to his assigned quarters. Bree knew the room; it belonged to her friend Malcolm, although he wasn't in Skyhold right now.
Bree shrugged like it was nothing. "Mom or Dad will probably talk to me about it in the morning but it's on the lower end of the things I usually get in trouble for around here."
Duncan snorted to her and offered a smile. "Well, regardless, I do apologize," Bree smiled and looked up at him as they reached the door to the room. "This seems backwards, I should be walking you to your chambers."
Bree shook her head with a chuckle. "You'd get lost on the way back," she sniped and he laughed out loud nodding to her.
"Yeah, you're probably right," he admitted. "Good night, My Lady, thank you for the company."
She smiled as he respectfully bowed to her and she simply smiled as he disappeared into the room for the evening. The door closed and he leaned back on it. Okay, he admitted, his father was right, he did like her. He went to sleep that night thinking of her but not in a sexual way. So far she was very pleasant, funny and sweet. She certainly wasn't like the other noble girls he'd met; she actually seemed to have a backbone.
The next morning he was rousted out of bed with a loud knocking at the heavy wooden door. By the light coming through the window he deemed it was early. He shook his head to wake up and made his way to the door making sure his clothes were presentable before he opened up. He expected it to be his Mom or even his Dad so when he opened it up and found Bree there he was, needless to say, a little surprised. "Bree…umm?" he stammered and looked her up and down. Her hair was tightly braided and she had on tight dark brown pants, tall black boots, black gloves, and tan tunic.
"Good morning," she greeted brightly. "I know it's early but I was wondering if you wanted to come for a ride."
Duncan blinked; mornings were for sleeping and therefore were not his friend. "Uhh…yeah, yeah…just let me get dressed," he said and held up a finger. "Don't go anywhere."
The door closed and Bree leaned on the stone wall overlooking the courtyard letting the Royal guard stand there in silence with her. The Inquisition allowed only a handful of guards in to satisfy royals and important people. Most were okay with the limited number of guards as the Inquisition was neutral and Skyhold was safe territory. Anyone who fucked up answered to the Inquisitor and that was generally not a good day when that happened.
Ten minutes later Duncan's door opened and he came out dressed for riding. "Sorry," he apologized and finished pulling on his gloves looking a little more flustered than anything else.
She giggled. "Mornings are not your friend?" she inquired and he snorted softly.
"Yeah, something like that," he said and walked with her and it took a moment before she realized they had a tail. She turned seeing his guard following and Duncan paused as well. "Odds are he's gonna throw a hissy fit if he can't come along."
Bree chuckled slightly. "That's fine…he can come along," Duncan snorted as he followed her down to the stables. He was surprised to learn that he could have actually found that without getting lost and scoffed that he had gotten lost the night before.
Down in the stables he got a look at Skyhold's legendary horses, there was an impressive mix of breeds and even a Hart. He saw mostly Forders and Coursers. There was a grey Courser in the stall next to Raider, same build but considerably lighter in color. Older. Raider had a dark silver dapple look to him with black mane and tail and black points. The horse next to him was the common light grey dapple with an impressive build.
"He's impressive," Duncan commented pausing to rub the stallion's nose.
"That's Dragon," Bree replied. "Thom's horse."
Duncan gave a half smile as he patted his forehead. "He has good taste in horses. Coursers are amazing mounts," he said and moved over to his horse getting Raider's attention.
"So, what's his name?" she asked letting the grey lick her hand.
"Raider," he answered as Raider sniffed her and then ignored her moving over to his owner.
"He's young."
"Three. But he's very smart…keeps me on my toes," he chuckled. "Which one's yours?" he asked and followed her as she headed further down the row of stalls. She said hello to the stableman Duncan was informed was the Horse Master and she grabbed a halter off the stall door of the thick built honey bay mare. A Green Dale or an All-Bred he guessed.
"This is Skye," she smiled proudly slipping the halter on her and leading her out.
"Very nice," he said and ran his hand down the mare's neck patting her shoulder. "All-Bred?" he inquired and she nodded. "Excellent choice; All-Breds are good horses."
Duncan finished saddling Raider first and took the time to check out the Hart. "I've never seen a Hart before," he commented standing in front of the creatures' stall as it munched on its morning hay. "They're bigger than I thought they'd be."
Bree smiled and stood next to him. "This is Tem. She's my Mother's."
Duncan leaned on the door but the Hart ignored him until Bree clicked to her and the big red beast came to investigate. She sniffed Duncan's hand and took a step closer curious about the new person before her. "She's magnificent," he said with a broad grin, he never expected Harts to be so majestic.
"She's temperamental…they all are. They bond with their riders and will fight for them if they have to," she explained as Duncan touched Tem's huge antlers, after a moment Tem lost interest and moved away from him. "Shall we?"
Duncan smiled at her, she truly was a delight, and he nodded collecting the horses and heading out for their ride.
The trails Bree took him on were enough to make anyone afraid of heights but she knew them and Skye knew them. He just hoped that Raider wouldn't have a hissy fit at the wrong time and send him plummeting to his death. It was an interesting ride to be honest and it was a great time for them to get to know one another. She was a mage, that was something he'd been told but wasn't sure if it was true or not. The fact that she told him showed a degree of trust or the beginnings of it, and that flattered him.
"Can I ask you something?" she asked as they rode abreast across the bridge to the main gate. Duncan grunted an affirmation. "There's never been a child born to two wardens, at least none that have been documented. Are you a Grey Warden?"
Duncan shook his head but also shrugged. "That's a good question," he replied. "I'm not sure. I have the same appetite they do, strength, and stamina…beyond that I'm not sure."
"You haven't been down into the Deep Roads?" she asked and he cackled loudly.
"My parents won't let me anywhere near the Deep Roads," he replied sarcastically and she laughed softly at his tone. Duncan had a sense of humor but that was to be expected given his father, she liked Alistair, he made her laugh.
"Your mother's a mage, you don't have any powers at all?" her questions weren't meant to interrogate but to learn more about him. Duncan was a bit of a mystery to a lot of people, no one knew what a child of two Wardens was like as there had never been one. A child born to one was rare but it happened. Alistair was one of those.
He shook his head. "Much to my mother's happiness, no. Not a mage."
"Happiness? Your mother didn't want you to be a mage?" she asked and Duncan looked over at her.
"My life was going to be difficult enough with unknown blood of wardens…adding magic to that would have made it even worse," he explained. "I'm okay with not being a mage, I truly am. I've seen enough of the dangers and the suspicion to know that I'm not that interested in it." Bree was silent at his explanation and he felt that he offended her. "I don't mean to offend you."
She shook her head with a kind smile. "No, it's okay, I'm not offended," she reassured. "You want to hear someone who doesn't like Mages you should listen to Fenris, and he's my mother's bodyguard."
Duncan wondered just how her family structure worked and thought about asking. Obviously Khrys and Dorian were her parents but he wasn't sure where Ser Michel fit in. "Okay, I have to ask…Khrys is your mother and Dorian is you father so Michel is…"
Bree grinned, she loved hashing this out with people, it was amusing half the time. "My mother's lover."
"So, Dorian and your mother aren't married?" he asked fishing for clarification.
"He's not attracted to women," she put bluntly and Duncan took a moment.
"Well that makes sense," he mused; it did explain some things and confirmed others. Little things he'd overheard from his parents and others in Denerim. "I'll admit, I'm curious, if he's not attracted to women how are you here, but I won't expect you to answer," he chuckled and she did as well.
"Oh good…because I'm not going there," she laughed.
When they got back to the stables they found Alistair with his arms folded across his chest expectantly looking at his son riding toward him. Duncan narrowed his expression. "Oh, I know that look," he muttered. "What'd I do?" he called to him.
Alistair scoffed as they stopped in front of him. "Well, the Inquisitor was looking for you…so I have been relegated to the fatherly question of: where have you been?"
"It's my fault, Sire, I always go for a ride in the morning I guess we lost track of time," she smiled and Alistair looked from her to him and raised his eyebrows.
"You got him out of bed before midday?" Alistair questioned and then smirked, his son was anything but a morning person 'Mornings are for sleeping' Duncan always said. Honestly, Alistair couldn't agree more but his reasons were more centered on being in bed with Lydia. "My Dear, Bree, I like you even more now," Bree laughed and Duncan rolled his eyes at his father. "The Inquisitor's waiting for you."
Duncan slid off of Raider as he heard Bree dismount from Skye. Keeping the Inquisitor waiting was a great start. "Let me take care of him and I'll be up."
Bree shook her head and took Raider's reins. "Don't worry about him, I'll take care of him," she offered and Duncan looked down at her. His mouth worked but only an 'umm' came out. "Go. Go on, I'll take care of him."
She knew how much he wanted to get a tour of the Inquisition and to talk to the Inquisitor, Bree pictured him asking her mother a million questions and smiled to herself she thought that part of Duncan was charming and cute. Duncan gave her a smile and nodded to her. "Thank you," he said sincerely and walked away from her with his father.
Bree smiled to herself as she watched him walk away and blushed as he looked over his shoulder at her. Raider curiously sniffed her face and she chuckled rubbing his muzzle before taking him and Skye into the stables.
Alistair snickered at Duncan looking over his shoulder at Bree as he walked away from the stables. Duncan caught his look and furrowed his brow. "What?"
"Still think coming all this way for a birthday wasn't worth it?" Alistair smirked and Duncan stammered then sighed in resignation.
"Yeah, alright, you're right," he said and pacing his father as they climbed the steps. "I like her."
Alistair's smile broadened and patted his shoulder. "Oh, good, that's what we were aiming for," he said and Duncan heaved a sigh, his parents were trying to marry him off…at least they picked a good one for him.
