Light shone in the small room near the tavern at Skyhold. Flecks of dust floated in the air and slowly swirled in the rays. Alistair laid in what had been Caoilainn's bed, prior to his arrival, with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

She was predictable.
He was certain that Caoilainn had been surprised by their interaction last night, overwhelmed even- with not only how he had shown up, but especially how much she enjoyed it. The determined woman was likely taking out her confusion with some heavy training, and probably yelling at any innocent bystander who got in her way.

Alistair couldn't help but feel a certain sense of achievement with the thought that he had flustered Caoilainn to such a degree. After a few minutes of soaking in the sense of satisfaction, he rose to wash up and dress. Donning his standard, and more importantly, less royal looking armor, plated with leathers and lined with furs, he headed from the room to the Ferelden army's encampment outside of Skyhold. His desire to view the effects of their night together on Caoilainn was strong, but he knew he must give some space and time for her emotions to settle. Caoilainn's predictability was Alistair's greatest weapon.


"Is that all you've got?!" Caoilainn yelled at a seasoned rogue with whom she was practicing hand to hand combat. She had dodged his every punch and each attempt he made to undermine or evade her lead over him had been met with a solid counter attack. Her final counter had knocked him to the ground. "Take your blades to the pell." She barked the order as consequence.

The rogue, face red from exhaustion and embarrassment, gathered his daggers and made his way to practice at the bare wood log that stood vertically on supports. It was covered in nicks and speckled with missing chunks, resulting from sharp blades having hacked against it.

After having woken up in bed with Alistair and recalling the shameful events from the night prior, she fled before he woke. The vulgarity of Alistair's treatment of her was humiliating and most disconcerting was her inability to deny that she absolutely loved it. Caoilainn channeled her confusion in the intensity of her commanding the Wardens this morning. The training yard that had been formed in the Warden encampment was busy with activity. Crashing sounds of metal on metal, thuds of arrows on wood, and chants of mages echoed in commotion.

She turned swiftly on her heels to find the next target of her high strung energy. Her gaze quickly landed on Nathaniel, chatting with some new recruits, both women, a few paces away. Caoilainn had met both of these girls briefly at Vigil's Keep when they completed the Joining a few weeks prior. One was a homely-looking, young human girl from a less affluent neighborhood in Amaranthine. The other was also young, maybe 19 year old, elven girl. Her gritty exterior had suggested she was from the Alienage in Denerim but her vallaslin indicated Dalish descent. Caoilainn still wasn't sure she understood how the elf girl ended up with the Grey Wardens.

As Commander, Caoilainn rarely had the opportunity to get to know all of her recruits on a personal level. The Wardens who were driven, those who wanted to pursue more responsibility and prove their worth to the order made sure that Caoilainn noticed. She had few interactions with these two women. But they had both displayed excellence in combat. Particularly, the young elf girl, who was quick with a bow and nimble with small daggers. She was light on her feet.

Caoilainn noticed a ping of jealousy as she saw Nathaniel, charming as he was, talking to the young girls. He smiled at the elf girl, something he rarely did when not on duty. She was tall for an elf, her long red hair was shaved on one side, and her face was covered in an intricate tattoo.

"Hale!" Caoilainn yelled to the woman. She learned the girl's name at her Joining at Vigil's Keep. Hale had been prone to violent outbursts and inappropriate language; Caoilainn had already reprimanded her once before she left for Skyhold.

Hale looked from Nathaniel to Caoilainn with an irritated delay. "Yeah, Commander?" Her respectful tone just barely masked the resistance that lay beneath. Caoilainn picked up on a Denerim accent.

"You are an archer. Are you not?" Caoilainn asked, as if the question had an obvious answer.

Hale's expression looked mildly amused; she was condescendingly entertaining Caoilainn with her attention. "Imma hunter. That count?"

Caoilainn realized the girl was testing her boundaries. It was the worst possible time for the girl to make that choice. A sarcastic smile, bordering on a snarl spread across Caoilainn's face. "It does and this morning, I ordered my archers to practice their speed for the hour." She nodded to the targets for archery practice a few yards behind them as a test of Hale's compliance.

Languidly, Hale turned to look at the targets and back, smirking at Caoilainn. "Right away, Commander," she said with exaggerated enthusiasm and slung her bow on her back. "You comin', Lieutenant?" Hale asked Nathaniel, passively noting that he was also an archer in the process. Nathaniel had been watching this interaction with interest.

His brow creased and his eyes darted to Caoilainn and back to Hale. "You go on ahead. I'll catch up."

Posture straight and frown pulled, Nathaniel walked to Caoilainn as Hale and the other Warden strolled at a leisurely pace to the practice area. Keeping a safe distance from Caoilainn to not draw attention, he asked, "Bad night?"

Although Nathaniel knew that he was not to ask Caoilainn about Alistair or their relationship, he could not resist the opportunity. The sense of satisfaction he would receive knowing that they had a miserable night together was too tempting. As her recollection of the night before took over, she blushed lightly and stared at the ground. The frown deepened on Nathaniel's face. The moment quickly passed; Caoilainn's blushing faded and her authority returned.

"That's none of your business, Nate." Flustered, she replied to his prying. "Do not prey on the junior Wardens."

"Maker," Nathaniel said with sarcastic dismay. He leaned closer so as not to be overheard. "You wouldn't suggest I would shirk my responsibilities as Lieutenant to pursue new bedmates. Would you, Commander?" His sarcasm was filled with undertones that insinuated her own immoralities as his Commander. Caoilainn knew he had other bed partners, Wardens he trusted to keep their interactions private. He found himself curious about her .

Unamused, Caoilainn met his sarcasm with a dead stare. "I would suggest that and I am telling you not to. Besides," she glanced over to the hunter girl, who was now loosing arrows on a target in rapid succession with finesse. "I think that one would be more than willing to slit your throat if she felt the slightest bit wronged by you."

"I know," Nathaniel agreed. Caoilainn detected the tone of excitement and attraction to that very fact in his voice.

Her eyes rolled with annoyance. "I need to have a word with the Inquisition's Commander. Direct training for the day, and don't dillydally."

"Yes, ma'am. I won't let you down." He ended his attempts at lightening her mood and returned to his taciturn demeanor.

"You better not." She crossed her arms.

"If I may speak," he said, keeping his stern face. He stepped closer and turned to face the training army and spoke in a low voice, "I am your best Lieutenant. You know I always follow your orders with exactness and care…," he turned his head to his commander, "unless you don't want me to."

Caoilainn cut him off by raising her hand. "No," she said simply. Her tone was calm, but rigid. "Not here. We are on duty and there are inquisitive ears everywhere."

"Yes, Commander." Nathaniel frowned at Caoilainn's abrupt end to his flirting, then nodded his head respectfully and returned to the practice area.

Caoilainn often thwarted his flirting, even when they were at the Keep, but it was rarely with such rigor. She was Commander and he a lieutenant and therefore was required to present professionally, but they both knew it was an ongoing part of their game. This instance was inconsonant and most irritating to Nathaniel, it was inconvenient. In the past, their game was halted when she returned to the castle or either were on a mission. Being in uniform at the same location and being unable to find creative ways to partake in their dance was a new experience. The addition of her husband didn't help.

In silent observation, Caoilainn watched him walk away. As he reached the practice area, the Hale girl turned to welcome him with a smile. Something about her irritated Caoilainn. She looked young, impulsive, and attractive in a down and dirty sort of way. She was nothing like Caoilainn. What made it worse was that Hale seemed to be unaware of her appeal, instead relying on her skill as a huntress and her crass tongue to draw people near her or to keep them away. Caoilainn noticed sheer jealousy springing within toward the girl. She quickly identified it as irrational, knowing that the Wardens and the Inquisition would benefit from her skill.


Caoilainn made her way to Cullen's office and burst open the door without knocking. Cullen was standing at his desk and looked up quickly, startled by Caoilainn's brash entrance. The desk was covered in papers cleared around a map.

"Commander, I have a few things to discuss with you about your plan for the Arbor Wilds." Caoilainn stated curtly, authority and judgment apparent in her tone.

Cullen looked confused for a moment, then his face became serious. "Oh… well. These plans are for the decision of the Inquisition Council, Warden Commander. I am afraid I cannot discuss those details with someone who has not received authorization."

"Authorization?" Caoilainn scoffed and continued the conversation while walking toward his desk, as if the concept of authorization was insignificant to her. "I wanted to discuss your scouting team examining the area before we invade…. You are sending out a scouting team aren't you?"

Wondering what her motive was in asking this, Cullen stared at her with a questioning glance. The information was not confidential, however. "Well, yes. Our scouting team has already surveyed the area. They will be destroying evidence of their encampment before we move in for attack."

"Your standard scouting team? Really?" Caoilainn asked as if this information was disappointing. "With the momentousness of this battle, I would have thought you wise enough to send out a special team. A team of scouts with unique abilities, appropriate for the unique circumstances of this battle."

Cullen's eyebrows furrowed. "Well, our scouts are quite skilled, Warden Commander. They have not let us down."

"And can you afford for this to be the time that they do? I have learned some details of this battle. Corypheus and his Lieutenant may be present."

"Yes…" Cullen followed along, his usually tolerant demeanor was growing displeased with what he experienced as Caoilainn's judgment. "And we have a number of allies, including the Orlesians, who will are ready to aid us."

"Of course," Caoilainn replied respectfully, but as if his answer were obvious. "But your scouts, Commander. If your scouts missed something about our enemy, that could doom us all. You remember the last time the Inquisition came in contact with Corypheus. I heard what happened at Haven. We cannot afford that type of destruction again."

Cullen's eyes looked at the floor as he recalled the tragedy at Haven. "Hm," he replied shortly. "I suppose that is valid. What are you proposing?"

"Send me and a group of Wardens," she ordered bluntly. "We have training to see things that even the most trained scout would miss, especially when it comes to darkspawn."

It was clear Cullen was surprised at her recommendation but as he thought it over, it made sense. "I will bring this up with the Inquisition Council at our meeting today. I would recommend you join so that you may elaborate your plan to Alan-" He caught himself before he finished stating Alanna's first name. "The Inquisitor, if she needs it."

Caoiliann nodded. "I will be there."


She walked to the War Room to attend the Council meeting. Confident, self-assured, and pleased with the progress so far of her strategy to flee from Skyhold. To flee from Alistair, at least temporarily. The pleasure she felt from what happened with him the night prior was indescribable but she had decided that she could not afford to be baffled. She needed to get away from him to figure things, and herself out.

As she strode down the hallway, she could hear voices. The Inquisition Council meeting was already in place, it seemed. The door creaked as she opened it and came to face the group of people talking around the War Table. Her eyes scanned the individuals standing there. Inquisitor Alanna, Cullen, Josephine, and Leliana. Caoilainn knew that Leliana was the Inquisition's Spy Master, but had not had the opportunity to reconnect with her since she arrived. Lastly, she saw Alistair, who stared back at her with his usual cocky-grin. He had respected her distance for the day, which had surprised her. Caoilainn had assumed Alistair would hover over her to receive feedback about the night they had. Instead, he had been completely preoccupied in his own responsibilities, and now their paths collided.

"Thank you, Warden Commander for joining us," Cullen stated as she cautiously walked toward the table, taking the empty space next to Alistair but keeping a safe distance from him. "I explained your recommendation to the Inquisitor and the council. We asked the King to weigh in on your recommendation, which will also impact his army. Since he is providing the largest ally we have, it is pertinent that he is included in this meeting."
You mean the ally I provided, Caoilainn thought resentfully. She kept her comments to herself and nodded.

Cullen looked to Alistair. "We must also discuss some precautions for your army successfully crossing into Orlais, as well as fighting alongside Orlesian soldiers."

"Of course." Alistair nodded professionally, though he was amused at the irritated thoughts he was sure were going through Caoilainn's head.

"But first," Inquisitor Alanna spoke to Caoilainn. "About your plan to go into the Arbor Wilds with a team of Grey Wardens, I assume you have already selected the Wardens you would like to join you?"

Serious, determined, Caoilainn kept eye contact with Alanna and nodded. She acknowledged anxiety growing within her and she was certain she could feel the weight of Alistair's eyes. Her mouth barely had a chance to open so that she could list the people she had selected to join her on the trip.

Unapologetically, Alistair interrupted. "If I can add my two coppers, I think a Grey Warden scouting team is a brilliant idea." He beamed at Caoilainn before looking back to the council and Alanna.

Surprise, followed by relief washed over Caoilainn. Thank the Maker. He's giving me space; he's letting me go.

"… and the Warden Commander should not join them."

The sense of relief Caoilainn had experienced vanished and the anxiety returned, now joined by a sense of despair. Her eyebrows furrowed and she looked to Alistair .
He smiled back professionally. "The trip could be dangerous. It would be wiser for a key leader in this crusade to remain with the Inquisition as a whole. Furthermore, if the Warden Commander goes with the small scouting team, who will take charge of the remaining body of Grey Wardens?" He addressed Caoilainn directly. "I would recommend you send one of your lieutenants, Warden Commander. Perhaps your best lieutenant would be the most promising."

Her face instantly flushed as her plan had clearly been foiled and his reference to her best lieutenant was eerie. Alas, Alistair's logic was irrefutable and she knew that. The Inquisitor spoke to Caoilainn again. "What are your thoughts, Warden Commander?"

Slowly, she took a deep breath to process before responding. Using every last ounce of willpower she had left to maintain her calm demeanor, despite Alistair's successful blocking of her strategy. "The King makes valid points that I hadn't considered. I will provide you with a list of the skilled Wardens I recommend. They will be led by my best lieutenant, Nathaniel Howe."

Defeat admitted, yet again, Caoilainn stayed for the remainder of the Inquisition meeting as they discussed the requirements of the Ferelden soldiers behavior on Orlesian soil. She could not help but lose herself in thoughts about how she would inform Nathaniel of this plan and how he would react.