A note: Co-written with Gaspode5.

The Court of Ferelden

Cailan skidded around the corner as he hurried for the throne room. Normally nothing would appeal to him less than one of his father's court sessions. Lately the seneschal had insisted that it was time he attended at least some events to show himself and get acquainted with the nobility he would one day rule. As if he was interested in getting to know any of the stuffy old coots and he cared even less for the ladies with their glances and whisperings of 'poor motherless child' which only served to remind him of that he was. He had no real memories of his mother and the whispers made him feel that he ought to. Today though, was different.

He also needed to get away from Anora. She had beaten him again at that stupid board game she insisted they play. Still, tossing it out the window might have been a bad idea. The fight it had started ended up with him threatening to have his father send her away. That had made her scream at him that he could never do that since HER father was the Hero of River Dane and he had told her they were to be married and you couldn't send a wife away. Cailan had shouted back that HIS father was the King and he could do whatever he wanted. At that point she had run off in a temper, probably to rat him out to her father. Triumphant Cailan had stuck his tongue out after her. Sadly he would soon be forced to apologise. He must ask father if he really had to marry Anora. He could think of worse things but even so. She might be able to beat him at her stupid game but he could still wrestle her down easily and that's what counted anyway.

He knew he should have taken time to get into some fancier clothing but he was afraid he would get caught and forced to comb his hair and wash his face, which might make him too late to catch sight of what he was really looking for, the new Grey Wardens.

Not that there was anything wrong with Gregory and the others, but they were quite old and priggish, not like the Wardens in the books his father had given him. He had caught a glimpse from the window of these new ones, from Orlais no less. Uncle Loghain would probably throw a fit, which was good. Then he might not have the time to listen to Anora's complaints. Now where were these Wardens?

The throne room was full of people all dressed up and everybody was too intent on father to pay any attention to Cailan. Nevertheless he stopped and hid behind a pillar while scanning the crowd. There! They were perfect just like he had imagined. Of course they weren't allowed weapons in here, a pity. They were both much younger than Gregory, with dark long hair. One of them was really swarthy and had a ponytail, he looked like a Rivaini pirate, did the Wardens recruit pirates? Of course they did. He had a black eye which was strange, surely a recent Darkspawn fight Cailan reasoned, pleased with that conclusion. The other one was probably an assassin he decided; he had watchful eyes that searched the room. The pirate was just hailed by his father. Uh oh, better back away a bit or else father would spot Calian's rather shabby appearance. He turned his attention to the assassin Warden, perhaps he could sneak a closer look at him but to his disappointment, as he approached the assassin got captured by Lady Maryam, a person Cailan genuinely disliked. She was married to old Bann Leofrik but Cailan had noticed that she kept standing too close to his father when she thought no one saw. She also kept going on about that he needed a new mother. No he didn't, He needed a bigger horse!

Father was ushering the pirate out of the hall and for a moment Cailan was torn between following them or the assassin. A quick glance told him that the assassin's attention was on Lady Maryam who with nasty smiles was luring him to her lair on the balcony where she usually dragged father for little chats. By the look of things nothing interesting would be happening there, so Cailan scurried after the pirate instead. He caught sight of him as the man followed father into the Burgundy reception room. This was going to be tricky, Cailan couldn't just sneak through the doors after them, but here was a servants' access...

It was dusty here; nobody bothered cleaning these little back passages and stairwells. Cailan sneezed and wiped his nose on his sleeve, it was already dirty anyway. He carefully nudged the door open behind the drapes. He could hear his father.

"Here try this, I get it from Orzammar. Should help you forget that shiner you've got here. What happened?"

"It's nothing." That was obviously the pirate. He had a deep voice and spoke very softly. There was the sound of a stifled cough.

"Strong stuff eh, packs quite a punch, never figured out what they make it from and I probably don't want to know, but still, it's nice and smooth. So...have you heard anything from ...her?"

"Only once but you know what she's like."

"I guess so, I just wish..."

"Your majesty…"

"Please, not you! I'd like to believe we at least are past that." There was a pleading note in father's voice.

"Of course. I thought I should tell you I haven't been able to visit the boy but I'm planning to on my way back to Orlais." Now what boy would that be, Cailan wondered? It couldn't be him since he was here.

"I understand. Probably just as well, I don't want any attention on him. I've seen him once, he's healthy, that's all I can say. At least he's being cared for but I'd like to do so much more. Perhaps in time...Won't your colleague be suspicious?"

There was a slight pause, "I'll handle him."

"You don't like him."

"He's a...Brother."

There was a smile in father's voice when he spoke. "You've become taciturn; soon you'll be like Loghain."

"Maker forefend!" Cailan almost laughed at the thought of the pirate being anything like the steely eyed grump uncle Loghain. Father chuckled.

This was boring though, no talk about fighting Darkspawn or anything. Cailan leaned against the wall letting the muffled words flow over him. He contemplated going back to see if the assassin had managed to escape Lady Maryam's clutches but his ears picked up father's change of tone and he realised the pirate was getting ready to leave, finally!

"I need to return, it will look strange otherwise and Loghain will no doubt start ranting about Orlesian plots."

"Of course."

"I'm glad though that you came, it's good to see you again. You know there will always be a place for you here amongst the Ferelden Wardens. Gregory is a solid man but quite frankly he's a bit stodgy, they could use some fresh blood."

"Thank you, the order will certainly consider it."

The voices faded and Cailan hurried towards the door that would take him out of the servant's passage. Back in the hallway he saw the two men head for the throne room. He waited until they were out of sight before making a run for the great double doors. He managed to just miss two guards and grinning to himself he slunk into the room and behind a pillar.

He couldn't see the assassin anywhere and apparently neither could the pirate who was wandering around looking irritated. Cailan moved through the shadows in the direction of the balcony, perhaps Lady Maryam still held the assassin in her grasp. If so, help was on the way since the pirate was heading there too. Sadly there was no way Cailan would be able to sneak out there to see what was happening so he gritted his teeth and waited.

Soon enough the pirate reappeared with the assassin in tow. The pirate looked angry and to Cailan's distress headed straight towards him. He crouched in the shadows and watched the stony faced man stalk past; he looked mean but luckily didn't see Cailan. The assassin passed, looking amused but none the worse for wear, his eyes darted towards Cailan but he didn't stop. Cailan followed hurriedly, things were looking up. The men disappeared around a bend in the corridor as he left the main hall and he nearly ran into them as he hurried to catch up. They'd stopped and were standing almost nose to nose. Quickly he dodged behind a large vas and listened as the pirate spoke in an angry almost whisper.

"If you could stop thinking with your cock once in a while. These women have contacts, their husbands have contacts. Piss any of them off and it's trouble for the Wardens."

This was better than spying on the guards. Cailan giggled with glee and clamped his hands over his mouth. The assassin sounded unperturbed when he spoke. "There's a servant brat shadowing us so if you're planning to break my face you might want to wait."

'Drat!' Cailan looked around for some sort of bolt hole but found himself at a loss.

"Where?"

"He's hiding behind the urn." Both men turned and looked. Cailan ducked down but it was too late.

"That's the prince you moron!" The pirate hissed.

"Doesn't look it. Are you sure? Isn't he supposed to wear a crown or something?"

As Cailan peered out from behind the urn he saw the pirate head towards him. He didn't look angry now. "Your highness, can we help you?"

'Ah well', he conceded defeat and stepped forward. "You're Wardens."

The pirate crouched down and smiled. "Indeed your highness, I'm Duncan, the one over there is Riordan." He nodded towards the assassin.

Duncan was a familiar name. "Father has talked about you, says you're a really good fighter and you've killed lots of Darkspawn."

Duncan's smile grew wider. "Did he now?" The assassin looked surprised but said nothing.

Cailan could barely contain his excitement. He was talking to real Wardens and not grumpy old geezers like Gregory. "Can I see your sword, er...please?"

"I don't have it with me right now. Your father wouldn't be happy if I went around with a sword in here."

"But what happens if there is a Blight?"

"Then I'll get my sword straight away." Duncan said firmly, the other Warden snorted.

"Did a Darkspawn do that?" Cailan pointed at the dark bruise that ringed Duncan's slightly blood shot eye.

"As a matter of fact yes, a great dumb ugly Ogre."

"Did you kill it?"

"It'll never bother me again." Duncan shot a glance towards the assassin.

"Oh wow!" Cailan suddenly had an idea. "If I go with you, then you can get your sword and show me."

Duncan straightened and with a small bow and another smile he said, "Lead the way your highness."

The sword was amazing! Duncan let Cailan hold it even though he couldn't lift it for long. He asked to see the assassin's sword but he just gave a smile full of teeth and looked even more dangerous as he said, "Trust me, your highness, after seeing the sword of the mighty Duncan I really don't think there's any point in showing you mine, I just couldn't compete."

So Cailan took them to see his collection of Warden Statuettes. Duncan was suitably impressed and studied the figurines closely. The one named Riordan turned over a Hurlock Emissary in his hand. "I think I found you Duncan," he said grinning.

Cailan laughed. "Silly, that's a Darkspawn, all the Wardens are over here." He indicated the carefully placed army of Wardens at the foot of a green hill made from painted wood.

"At least you have a Gryphon." Riordan prodded the figurine.

"Oh, I'll get more soon. They didn't use to make them but father asked if they could. This is the first one, he's called Killer, soon all the Wardens will have one. It'll be brilliant!"

Duncan was clearly impressed. He bent over the table and frowned. "You need more Wardens here." He pointed at two Wardens facing some Genlocks.

Cailan huffed. "They're only Genlocks."

"Ah but don't let their small stature fool you. They're just as strong and even faster than the Bugeyes. Some of them are very sneaky." He winked.

"Bugeyes?"

Duncan looked a bit taken aback then he smiled. "Oh, we call the Hurlocks Bugeyes. The Genlocks are Roaches because they swarm you and the Ogres are Splatters."

Cailan looked from the Warden to one of the Hurlock figurines; they really had big bulging eyes in their skull like faces, but the Ogres... "Splatters?"

"Because anybody stupid enough to get caught by an Ogre goes splat." Riordan sniggered.

"Wow." Now Cailan knew all the special Warden names for the enemy. He hoarded this treasure of information like a miser his gold.

Duncan gave the other man an irritated glance before picking up the Emissary. "Now these are the most dangerous. Their magic can take out many men with just the one spell. You always kill the Emissary first."

They spent some time discussing strategy. The other Warden hovered for a bit before disappearing out into the hallway again. Eventually though, Duncan had to go, he looked sad when he said so. Cailan was in no hurry to return to the throne room, he wanted to try out these new strategies. Despite his excitement he remembered his manners, just, and followed Duncan to the door.

The Warden bowed. "Until we meet again your highness." He smiled and his teeth looked really white. Definitely a Rivaini pirate. When Cailan was King he would make Duncan General of the Wardens, but perhaps he would be too old then.

Before closing the door he heard Riordan say, "So, we've admired your enormous sword, what next?"

"What's next is you stay away from that woman!"

"Do I look stupid? That one is high maintenance!"

"Just stay close, shut up and smile!