Sam was laughing. A desperate, sickly laugh that really should only belong to old, bearded, battle-hardened warriors. He supposed he and Dean were close enough. That they made it out of Denerim in one piece was a great feat in itself, given the fact that Dean decided to get on the bad side of the Crimson Oars, and that they now stood just outside the gates to Vigil's Keep was a miracle. The sun was bright and cold, hovering overhead. It seemed a good omen if the past days of rain were anything to go by.

"The Maker loves us," Dean grinned, elbowing Sam a bit more roughly than necessary.

Just inside the entrance, a man wearing the Vigil's insignia on his breastplate greeted the brothers. "Welcome to Vigil's Keep," he said, and further introduced himself as the captain of the guard. Sam explained why they had come, and the captain nodded. "You boys have come just at the right time—Warden-Commander Brosca is heading to the city later today. You might have missed her."

They were led through the keep's sprawling courtyard, up a series of steps and into the keep itself. From there they went to a large throne room. Above, Warden banners hanging from the rafters and a large, circular hearth blazed at the center of it all, contributing both to the warm temperature and comfortable ambiance of the room. At the back were stairs leading to a simple throne.

"I thought throne room was just a name," Dean commented out of the side of his mouth. "They actually keep a throne in these places?" By 'these places' Dean meant Warden strongholds, Sam assumed.

"Warden-Commander Brosca is also Arlessa of Amaranthine," Sam mentioned in an undertone.

"Andraste's tits. She's nobility? Damn, the whole Hero of Ferelden thing definitely has its perks."

Sam couldn't disagree.

As they approached, the small figure reclining on the throne stood up. Warden-Commander Natia Brosca was tall for a dwarf, but that wasn't saying much at all with Sam and Dean in the room. They towered over her physically, but Sam felt very small in her presence. It was strange—he knew he and his brother were around the same age as the commander, but she seemed so much older, not in appearance but in demeanor.

Her skin was nut brown and she wore her dark hair in a simple bun at the nape of her neck. The style of it left her face clear, and seemed to emphasize the tattoos on her face—a dwarven C for casteless, and a network of thin geometric designs over her brow. The captain of the guard spoke with her briefly, then stepped to stand to her right.

Her shoulders were back, calm, and her hands were held behind her, resting on her tailbone. "Captain Lestrade says you boys want to join the Grey Wardens," Brosca said to them, eyebrows lifted in blatant appraisal. Sam swallowed against a nervous lump in his throat.

"That's right, ma'am," Dean replied. His arms were folded over his chest, but his tone was deferential.

Brosca didn't seem swayed one way or another. Sam took a small step forward. "We've fought darkspawn. All throughout the Southron Hills," he said.

Brosca's detached expression broke into a small grin. "Is that so? Do you have proof, O Great Darkspawn-Slayers?"

Sam and Dean exchanged pained looks. "Not so much," Sam admitted.

"But it doesn't matter," Dean cut in. "We can fight. We want to fight."

"Why?"

"They took our home, our family. They did the same to half the other people in Ferelden!" Dean said, tone aggravated. The question irritated him, Sam knew, because why wouldn't anyone want to fight darkspawn, after what they did? There wasn't a single person in Ferelden who hadn't been affected by the Blight.

"Dean," Sam said, voice soft. He looked back at the Warden-Commander. "Please, let us prove ourselves. We don't have anywhere else to go, ma'am."

"The Grey Wardens accept individuals based on their merit. Everything else is after the fact," she replied. Her eyes focused on Sam and Dean "Though, there are a few others here who are waiting to undergo the Joining ritual. Captain," she addressed Lestrade.

"Yes, Commander?"

"Alert Seneschal Garevel, and make sure these boys get a warm meal and a place to sleep. I want Oghren to test their skills in the morning," Brosca said.

"Of course, Commander."

"You boys have one shot. Be ready. Also, don't call me ma'am."