Of Griffins and Hawkes

Chapter 7

"Oh for pity's sake." Elissa muttered angrily, ever since they had stepped off the boat and into the Gallows they'd been eyeballed by every shiny, square helmed buffoon.

She was getting annoyed by the whispering and she knew the mages were uncomfortable being there.

Anders' face belied nothing but from the strained creases at the corners of his eyes and how he clutched with a white knuckled fervour to his staff.

Amell was much worse, her lower lip was wobbling and her skin was a sickly pale. Elissa looked at the mage and gave her the most reassuring smile that she could and earned a weak tremble of the mouth in return.

"Stay here; I'll go see this Sol character. Ser Hawke you say he is just around the corner yes?" The Warden Commander asked as she turned her gaze over to the noble. He gave her a curt nod before standing closer to his new found cousin in a protective manner.

Elissa glanced around once more before heading off and disappearing around a bend.

Alistair looked curiously around at the milling crowd of templars, merchants, tranquil and the occasional enchanter.

"It is a lot different from the circle in Fereldon." He pointed out as he wandered a few steps away from the group, glancing warily up at the giant bronze statues of emancipated slaves, screaming in agony.

"Very cheery." He said dryly earning a chuckle from Hawke and Varric and pained looks from his mage wardens.

"This place was a prison, ironic how it now holds mages no?" Anders muttered angrily in aside.

"Well, at least they can go outside and enjoy the sun and fresh air." Amell said soothingly with a sympathetic pat on the other mage's arm.

Hawke catching some interesting items on the vendor's stall wandered over to it leaving Varric in the presence of the mages and an oblivious Alistair as he took in the Tevinter statues with a scrutinising eye.

"So cup cake tell me, what's it like living with the wardens, is it true it's all blight this and dark spawn that?" Varric asked, butting in before Anders had a chance to go off on a tangent about the plight of mages.

Amell gave him a bright and warm smile that reminded him too much of Bethany.
"Not all the time no, we have scouting parties that venture into the deep roads but we're currently focused on restocking our numbers and educating and training our newest members." She paused and glanced at Anders from the corner of her eye.
"Things have changed a lot now that commander Cousland is back at the vigil , we're like a family always looking after each other no matter our history. Plus the drinking games always cause a stir."

Anders laughed at that and couldn't help the grin on his face.
"I take it Oghren is the main culprit for those?"
Amell merely groaned and moaned out a sorrowful 'maker yes' causing the apostate to chuckle heartily.
She was completely caught off guard when she heard too late the clanking of plated feet come up behind her.

"Would you like to explain why your not wearing circle issued robes?" An achingly familiar voice asked before a gauntleted hand clamped down on her shoulder and swivelled her around.

Honey eyes widened in surprise, the dark purple rings underneath them standing out against pale skin that was slowly turning a rosy pink

"M-m-m-mage a-a-a Amell!"
Amell had the decency to be at least three times as red as the fair haired Templar in front of her.
"C-c-c-cu Cullen!" she stuttered out and felt the tips if her ears catch aflame from embarrassment.

"Oh this is just precious." Anders chortled out quietly as he leaned against the wall preparing to enjoy the show.
"More like drowning a box full of cute little puppies." Alistair pointed out as he came over to join the two other blondes and looked at the scene unfolding before them with a sympathetic look.
"Gotta agree with larger guts here, this is painful."
"And yet you're doing nothing to stop it from happening." Anders shot back
"Maker no, this is giving me an idea about a romantic tragedy."

Alistair snorted in disgust but kept his silence preferring to watch the stuttering, blushing two try and have a conversation

"W-wha-"
"W-w-whe-"
"I-I s-sorry y-you f-first"
"N-no y-you"
They both trailed off in nervous laughter, Cullen scratching awkwardly at the back of his head and Amell kicking at the ground nervously, redder than ever.

She peeked up at him through the curtain of her hair and gave the red head in front of her a small smile which only caused him to turn a fiery red.
"W"-when d-did you leave k-Kinloch h-hold?" Amell finally broke the uncomfortable silence by asking.
"N-not l-long af-after t-the blight." Cullen mumbled out, giving the mage a pained smile.
"Oh" was her reply and another awkward silence began.

"Andraste's knickers." Anders sighed out rubbing his forehead at the display of the two oblivious stuttering idiots. Varric dragged his hand down his face releasing a groan.
"Maker's breath not even I was this bad with Elissa." Alistair said with a pained voice but all three of them continued to watch the display.

"W-what b-brings y-y-you to k-k-kir-Kirkwall?" Cullen politely asked and folded his hands behind his back so he could hide the frantic clenching of his fingers.
"W-Warden c-co-Commander Cousland had a m-missive that n-needed delivered to her." Amell stumbled out shyly from under the curtain of brown hair.
"Y-your a-a warden?"
"Yes"
"Oh"
"Is that bad? I-if it h-helps Irving m-made m-me a senior e-en-enchanter after t-the b-blight." Amell rushed out clasping her hands together with fervour.

"No! I-I mean of c-course n-not." Cullen flushed out smiling awkwardly
"B-being a w-warden m-must be a gr-great honour f-for you and t-the c-
circle." Cullen finished lamely with an awkward cough.
"Y-yes I-it is."

"Bah they had nothing worth my time." Hawke muttered as he returned to the group and eyed speculatively at the scene.
"What's going on?"
"Cup cake and the knight captain are performing the Templar-Mage mating ritual." Varric coughed out drawing the attention of said Templar.

"Messere Hawke!" Cullen exclaimed a bit too happily. "The new scion of the Amell household, congratulations is in order."
Amell's face crumbled at how easily she was shoved aside and discretely shuffled off to hide behind Anders and Varric in embarrassment.
"Thank you knight captain, I trust you are well?" Hawke said striking up a conversation.

Amell felt her eyeballs nearly pop out of their sockets at the title her cousin gave the no longer stuttering templar and couldn't help the squeak that escaped her.
"Knight Captain!"
She realised what she'd blurted out aloud when everyone turned to her and she quickly ducked her head.

"Yes, as well as I can be Serrah Hawke." Cullen carried on; the confidence in his voice gaining now that he was no longer talking to the female mage.
Amell flushed and shoved her hands into the sleeves of her robes feeling her heart clench at the smooth and calming timbre of his voice.

"There, there cup cake it's not so bad." varric soothed, placing a friendly hand on her forearm.

Amell gave him a pained smile before ducking her head again to hide behind the curtain of brown hair.

Her old habits of trying to hide herself re-emerging with the encounter of the one man she'd ever been madly in love with.

She cocked her head and listened to the conversation between her cousin, her fellow grey warden Alistair and Cullen sullenly as they talked casually about Fereldon, Mabaris and their favourite cheeses.
'He hates me, maker he can't even speak normally around me he must truly loathe Me.' she thought pitifully and unconsciously hunched her shoulders and crept behind the tall frame of Anders trying to disappear.

Hawke unfortunately had other plans.

"Cousin! You didn't tell me you knew Cullen?" Garrett called jovially over his shoulder and frowned when he couldn't see her.

Anders grinned as he side stepped to reveal the cowering mage that was in the process of pulling madly at the frayed threads of her sleeve cuff.
She looked up startled before giving her fellow mage a violent glare.

"I ah I umm yes. That is I mean er I do." she mumbled out staring at the floor and wishing for it to swallow her whole.

"a-Amell are y-you well?" Cullen inquired with concern, his soft voice turning her insides to jelly.
"I - I yes, very well. N-never b-better." she stuttered out before shuffling out of view once more behind the blonde mage.

Anders had the decency to stay still feeling sorry for the bumbling, mumbling young woman.
Cullen tried to peer over his shoulder in concern when a cheery greeting drew his attention away.

"Cullen! Just the templar I need." Elissa called out as she returned to the group, a small package in her hand which she gave to Alistair to shove in their pack.

"Warden Commander." Cullen greeted respectfully and gave her a formal bow with arms crossed over his chest.
"I hear you've shot up the ranks since the last time we met." the warden commander carried on and ignored the flush of the templar's cheeks, considering the last time they had spoke he'd been ranting about killing mages everywhere.

"Err yes warden. May I be of assistance?" he asked carefully not liking the glint in the woman's eyes.
"Yes, you are going to take us to see your commander."
"knight commander Meredith does not allow outsi-" He cut off suddenly as Elissa's green eyes narrowed dangerously.
"You will take us to see the knight commander Cullen."
"Err. Yes, well this way then."
"Good lad."
Cullen gloomily waved them to follow as he pivoted on plated feet and marched off back the way Elissa had come from.
Behind him he could hear a guffaw of laughter which he was sure had come from the escapist.


Elissa glared, Anders glared, Alistair was staring blankly at a spot in the corner, Hawke was grinning like an idiot, varric was idly inspecting his nails, Amell was blushing a violent red and Cullen was shuffling awkwardly in the back ground.

But more importantly Meredith was a most unflattering shade of puce, eyes bulging and dangerously gripping the edge of her desk as she leaned forward nose to nose with Elissa Cousland.

"You spoilt little upstart." She hissed viciously making the warden commander's eyes narrow into slits.
"Temper, temper." Elissa mockingly admonished.
"You barge into my city, my office and demand I reprimand my templars for trying to bring this-this Mage to where she should belong!"
"Yes"
"You are a fool"
"And you are an incompetent idiot"
"Watch your words Fereldon."
"Have no fear templar, I watch my words very carefully" Elissa growled out.
"Fact is, your tin men should be able to recognise a warden and more importantly her commander."
"She is a Mage-"
"Amell is a warden of brilliant renown not one of your gilded prisoners"
"You dare speak to me like this!" Meredith exclaimed with outrage.
"I speak the truth; you flaunt your tyranny like a true monster. No other circle is treated so harshly as the gallows; the fact that you house the mages in a prison speaks quite clearly of your need to assert your power over your supposed charges."

The knight commander's face was aflame with outrage as she mustered her breath for her verbal onslaught but yet again the warden commander cut her off once more.

"The rumours about you are not in your favour templar, murdering the viscount and placing a puppet on the seat of Kirkwall for your own gain. Your treatment of mages fuelled by your disdain for them and you wonder why there are frequent escapes and more mages turning towards blood magic out of desperation of their treatment."

"Enough! Need I remind you of the horrors of your Fereldon circle?"
"I was there and I know it was the workings of a prideful and spiteful man who thought he could turn the situation of the blight to his own needs. One man not many and Fereldon and the wardens will be forever indebted to those courageous persons who fought against the darkspawn." Elissa pointed out angrily as she slammed her had furiously down upon the desk making the others jump in surprise.

"And where was Thedas' largest army? They were hiding in their chantrys and circles, ignoring the call to arms to defend the land. What would it have taken to get the templars to fight once Fereldon had fell and left the roads open to Orlais for the darkspawn? My country was the only thing that kept you safe in your little prisons, myself and this man." She shot a finger towards Alistair who blushed from neck to ear tips.
"And with the help of a few others and that of warden Loghain, were the only ones who fought against the blight. We were the ones taking our last stand with death in our hearts as we stopped the oncoming tide of the darkspawn. I was the one who saw the fury of the archdemon and looked it in the eye knowing the possibility of survival was a slim thing. Where were the Templars as they hid from the blight? Whilst good people, good mages gave their lives to protect the army that fought at the gates of Denerim the home of Andraste herself."
Elissa Cousland spat out with such venom at the woman before her, her green eyes burning with her fury.

"The Templars sole purpose is to-"
"And still you hide behind your dogma!" Elissa burst out, "Maker forgive me if I don't go and conscript every Mage in Kirkwall, they would be a welcome to the wardens ranks."
"You would not dare."
"If it helps against the darkspawn the wardens will use any means possible"

"Including blood magic?" Meredith demanded.

"It has been known to have been used in the past, after all the wardens don't condone blood magic. I myself do not agree with it and our mages have been trained as some the finest battle mages, healers and scouts with out the need to converse with demons." warden commander Cousland said and shot a look full of pride at Amell who fidgeted under the stare.

"You are too lax with your mages grey warden." Was the sneered reply.
"Lax? Giving my wardens the freedom they deserve and the opportunity to continually educate themselves in all areas is reward enough for our unending fight to keep Thedas safe. Our Mage wardens have no fear for the repercussions in wanting to practice sword play or stealth or even some of the more arcane arts that are forbidden to circle mages. The fear of a demon enticing them for freedom has diminished greatly as we have no need for Lyrium addled templars." The red head finished with triumphant spite towards the White haired woman.

"I ask you again templar, to see to it that your followers are fully aware that there will be two female warden mages staying in Kirkwall for some time and that they will remain un-accosted." Elissa eyeballed the knight commander until she turned away from her with a mixture of disgust and admiration on her face.

"Keep your mages in check warden we will be watching."

Elissa straightened up and placed a hand calmly upon the hilt of her blade as she turned to leave.
"I expect no less templar, after all that was what you were trained to do was it not? Too watch?" She jibed before leaving the office, Elissa waited patiently until a beetroot Cullen quietly and firmly shut the door behind him before she sighed out in relief and leaned into Alistair for support.

"Maker's breath she is positively obtuse." She breathed out and gave the red haired templar a sympathetic look.
"I offer you my condolences ser Cullen, if you want to transfer back to Kinloch hold I'm sure Gregoir would be most happy to have you once again. Or may I tempt you within our ranks of wardens?"

Cullen flushed at the comment as they travelled down the hallway towards the courtyard.
"You honour me warden commander but I feel my need to remain here." He mumbled out from his position beside Hawke.

"I expected much, I hope Meredith appreciates your loyalty to her. I suspect she will need it in the coming days." Elissa stated as they once more entered the gallows courtyard.

"Warden Commander you said that there would be two mage wardens staying in Kirkwall." Varric pointed out as they made their way to the gateway that would lead them back to the ferry.
"Very astute of you ser dwarf. Yes I'm picking up a warden from Stroud within the next day or so, she is not faring well within the ranks of our Free March brothers and sisters. But enough I've gotten what I came here for." She paused and gave the knight captain in their midst a warm smile. "I thank you Cullen for your help I hope you will be able to inform your brethren who our little amell is and avoid anymore unpleasantness." Her eyes glinted in warning despite her cheerfully smile.

"I ah yes of course warden."

"Smashing, right we be better be off, it was good to see you again ser Cullen." And with that she headed off down the steps with Hawke, Anders and Alistair in tow. Varric patted the templar in a friendly fashion on his plated arm.

"If you know what's good for you, you better give cup cake a kiss good bye." He said quietly before traipsing after the others leaving a blushing mage on her own with said templar, who stared after the stout rogue with a gaping mouth.

"It w-was n-nice seeing y-you again." Amell mumbled awkwardly and began to scurry away, unfortunately a gauntlet grabbed onto her fore arm.

"M-miss a-Amell a w-word I-if you p-please."
Amell nodded despite the feeling of her heart suddenly stopping and let herself be pulled into a small alcove by the red head so that they may converse in private.

"A-Amell. Sol-Solana will you be in Kirkwall l-long?" Cullen asked once more turning a lovely shade of pink. Amell could only numbly nod as his quiet and soft voice wreaked havoc on her.

"F-for some w-weeks I b-believe."
"If, if it's n-not impertinent of me to a-ask but may I-I s-see y-you a-again? Y-you were a g-great friend t-to m-me in f-Fereldon."

"Yes! I ah I mean o-of course y-you've always b-been a dear friend c-Cullen." she rushed out and nearly fainted by the radiant smile she received, she inwardly she thought if she would die from another of those joyful smiles from the man.

"If your d-duties w-will allows it w-we are st-staying in an inn in l-Low t-town. T-the Hanged m-man, do y-you know of it?" She asked cautiously as she mentally forced the feeling of her heart jumping in her throat back down to where it belonged.

"I-I do, I w-won't hold you f-from your b-business a-any more." A determined look crossed his face as he took a deep breath as if steeling himself before he began speaking again.
"It was a great pleasure to see you again Solona." He said in that soothing voice of his and before Amell knew what had happened, Cullen bent and brought her hand to his lips and placed a warm soft kiss upon the back of it.

"Good day warden Amell."

And with that he was away, leaving a dazed Amell grinning like an idiot.


"There you are! Where did you get off too?" Elissa asked once the stray warden jogged up to the group.
"Sorry, ser c-Cullen wanted t-to speak to me." She mumbled out blushing furiously.

"I bet that wasn't the only thing he wanted to do." Muttered the dwarf and causing Anders to chuckle.

"Well anyway let's head back to the Hanged man, I feel unnaturally naked without armour on in this place and I promised Alistair to a big lunch." The warden commander grinned with a knowing smile as she subtly changed topic.

"Maker now that is the finest idea I've heard today." Garrett exclaimed before his stomach rumbled its agreement causing a chuckle from the rest.

"You eat more than a warden I'll give you that." Anders laughed causing the fighter to blush as he pouted before stepping onto the ferry that would take them back to Kirkwall.


Authors Notes: My apologies! I was expecting to post this up yesterday but my graphics card has been temperamental with me for some weeks which ment yesterday when I turned on my pc I just got a black screen for eight plus hours. *Grumble grumble*

It's quite short and I do apologise for it but my brain has been frazzled this last month or so from uni and having to write two essays about Cezanne and C. Marlow's Dr Faustus -Gah- I have no idea when I'll next be able to update but hopefully it will only be a week or two with any joy.

A quick shout out to Nightbrainzz - I know I know I said this would be the span of two chapters but I really want Bethany to hurry along too, I hope you like my little confrontations here. I must admit that I would have had an entire chapter dedicated to Amell and Cullen but it was just too painful for me to write heehee.

And also to Sharem - There you go I really hoped you like the lovely awkwardness of Amell and Cullen. I have to admit that Amell is starting to become one of my favourite character's in this little story along with Hawke, I have plans later for her in a chapter or two but they are just rough ideas as of yet.

I completely and utterly apologise right now about the horrible spelling and typo's I've only given this chapter a quick once over and I'm far too tired to ruthlessly go through it word for word. You might notice when I'm just too tired and stressed by my lack of caring about the state of my writing haha! I need to go on the beta forums and hunt one out soon I think. But apologies all around in any case, I know how annoying it can be when your having to discern every sentence.

And finally - Thank you lovely people favouriting this here story, since the last chapter update I've gotten ten more emails telling me people are tabbing of Griffons and Hawkes. Thank you! Please feel free to drop a review I would love to hear what you have to say! =D

P.S Bioware owns all