I promised I would get this one out today, night ...whatever. Here's Blackwall.

I was teaching some simple farmers how to protect themselves and their homes when she came along. She sought me out directly calling me Warden Blackwall, which made sense since that is the name I have been going by. She looked at me honestly and with concern.

"You're not-" I said looking at her, she was an elf, Dalish judging by the Tattoos across her cheeks, blue as a winter sky, her eyes almost match only they were a deep sapphire I have only seen in Orliasian courts, they popped out against her ivory skin, even the scar over her left eye made her slightly exotic. Her hair hung in a high ponytail falling past her shoulders down her back. "How do you know my name? Who sent…"

Before I could ask more questions, an arrow was shot, it almost hit her, both of us moved at the same time, her ducking down and me moving my shield taking the arrow. Soon the bandits that shot the arrow came after us. It took everything I had not to swear, elf or no she was still a Lady. "That's it. Help or get out," I warned her not sure if she could fight, she looked like a stiff breeze could carry her away with how tiny she was. "We're dealing with these idiots first! Conscripts here they come!"

She fought well, stayed close to the mage she travelled with and let the other close range fighter move in. She adjust as those slipped past us trusting the mage to have her back as she drew her daggers and went in for the kill before going back to her bow and focussing on the other long range attackers. I was mildly impressed. As soon as the fight was over I stuck my sword into the ground, to pick it up quickly if there was a second wave, as I examined the body of one of the bandits, It was just a kid, probably around the same age as the elf girl. I shook my head at the situation knowing there was nothing I could do.

"Sorry bastards," I muttered before addressing the boys I was helping. I stood up and looked at them proudly. "Good work, conscripts, even if this shouldn't have happened. They could've-well, thieves are made, not born. Take back what they stole. Go back to your families. You saved yourselves."

As they walked away the girl approached me. She walked with confidence and nobility. Not something you see in elves these days if at all. Her armor was like that of a frost high dragon, white leather and cloth, the metal a blue vitriol. She knew how to wear it, carry it's weight despite the fact that it was made for someone bigger than her, she adjusted it where she could. The bow on her back was also of dragon design, it was old but well cared for, could be from her mother or father even if it was passed down through the generations. She used it well enough to show her love for it. I turned to her ready for answers.

"You're no farmer," I said. "Why do you know my name? Who are you?"

"I'm Vawyn Lavellan," she said softly, her expression serious. "I know your name because I'm an agent of the Inquisition. I'm investigating whether the disappearance of Wardens has anything to do with the murder of The Divine."

"Maker's balls," I swore forgetting myself for a moment as I began to pace, this was bad. "The Wardens and The Divine? That can't-no, you're asking, so you don't really know. First off, I didn't know they disappeared. But we do that, right? No more Blight, job done, Wardens are the first thing forgotten. But one thing I will tell you: no Warden killed The Divine. Our purpose isn't political."

"I wasn't accusing," she said simply. "Yet. I'm not here to accuse. Not right now anyway. I just need information. You're the only one I've found out of your Order. Where are the rest?"

"I haven't seen any Wardens for months. I travel alone, recruiting. Not much interest because the Archdemon is a decade dead, and no need to conscript because there's no blight coming. Treaties give wardens the right to take what we need. Who we need. These idiots forced this fight, so I "conscripted" their victims. They had to do what I said, so I told them to stand. Next time they won't need me. Grey Wardens can inspire, make you better than you think you are."

"I wasn't aware that the Grey Wardens could take whatever they wanted," she said it made me wonder if she ever met any grey wardens.

"It's complicated," I said folding my arms. "If there's a Blight, everyone has to help the effort to fight it. The treaties are ancient. Outside of Blights, it's as binding as a clever tongue can make it."

"Do you have any idea of where the other Wardens could have gone?"

"Maybe they returned to our stronghold at Weisshaupt? That's in the Anderfels, a long way north. I don't really know. Can't imagine why they'd all disappear at once, let alone where they disappeared to."

"Why haven't you gone missing like the rest of them?"

She asked a good question. She was also suspicious I could tell that much in her eyes, the lack of knowledge I had was not convincing to her. I better get this cover straight or I'm dead by her blade.

"Well," I said with a casual shrug. "Maybe I was going to. Or maybe there's a new directive, but a runner got lost or something. My job was to recruit on my own. Planned to stay that way for months, years even."

"It's been a pleasure, Warden Blackwall," Vawyn said with a sigh. "But this didn't help at all."

I thought about letting her go. Just disappearing in the wild again but I felt something. A pull or a gut feeling I couldn't tell you but I had to follow, I had to help. This was out of character for me, not easy to admit but I stopped her.

"Inquisition...agent, did you say," I asked. "Vawyn right? Hold a moment."

Vawyn stopped in front of her companions and looked at me her blue eyes piercing.

"The Divine is dead, and the sky is torn" I said almost pleading with her. "Events like these, thinking we're absent is almost as bad as thinking we're involved." Vawyn nodded for me to continue. I had her full attention at least. "If you're trying to put things right, maybe you need a Warden. Maybe you need me."

"The Inquisition needs all the help it can get," she said thoughtfully her head tilted to one side. "But what can one Grey Warden do?"

"Save the fucking world, if pressed," I said smiling at her slightly it got her to smile a little bit. "Look," I said getting serious. "Maybe fighting demons from the sky isn't something I'm practiced at, but show me someone who is. And like I said, there are treaties. Maybe this isn't a Blight, but it's bloody well a disaster. Some will honor them. Being a Warden means something to a lot of people."

"Warden Blackwall," she said, holding out her hand to me with an innocent smile that showed her age. "The Inquisition accepts your offer."

I took her hand firmly but gently and shook on it. It would be good to work with a company again, even if it is led by an elf.

"Good to hear," I said releasing her hand. "We both need to know what's going on, and perhaps I've been keeping to myself for too long. This Warden walks with the Inquisition."

Vawyn smiled at me it was obvious she was glad for the help, I would guess her age at around twenty no older for sure. For one so young she carried the weight of the world, but seemed to be one of the rare few that gathered strength from that rather than crumble underneath. Where would all this lead I wondered as I gathered my things and followed her to Haven.