The march from Highever to Ostagar was a long and mostly quiet one, though Dorcas would bottle up her thoughts and when it became too much she'd began to rant. "Howe stood there, a guest in our hall. He made small talk, as if he weren't about to slaughter all those people." Her arms were crossed in front of her tightly as though she were cold, despite the mild climate of the Hinterlands this time of year. "His men warmed their bones at our hearth. They shared a meal and laughed with our men, knowing that hours later they would be shoving swords through their gullets…" She stopped walking, frozen by the memory of seeing a young soldier she only knew in passing plead for his life as one of Howe's men slowly pushed the tip of his sword into the boy's throat and then proceeded to twist the blade. Page, her mabari, panted as he walked beside her and nudged at her hand for pets.
So many memories, they made her dizzy at times. She could barely sleep these past two weeks, insisting on taking watch. It was only when she absolutely had to she relented and would curl up with her mabari in her tent, crying in her sleep. "I'll kill them." She looked to Duncan, who had stopped once he no longer heard her footsteps behind him. Her eyes were red and raw, no longer holding tears but unforgivable loathing. "I'll kill them all. Howe can't get away with this. He won't."
"I am certain King Cailan will not allow Howe's treachery to stand unpunished, but for now there is a matter of more urgency that-"
"You keep saying this 'blight'- if this even is one- is the most important thing, but it wasn't your family that got put to the sword!" She snapped at him, her voice cracking at the end. "How could anything be more important than what Howe did?"
Duncan kept a neutral face, a sharp contrast to her wild eyes and ragged expression, pleading with him to agree with the importance of her vendetta. He was silent for several moments, merely studying her and choosing his words. "Have you ever seen a Darkspawn?"
Her brows furrowed. "No. Never. Only in books."
"They are terrible, bloodthirsty things who will destroy everything in their path. No sense of morality, only an insatiable urge to kill and corrupt the world. Grey Wardens are the only chance Thedas has ever had against the Darkspawn. If we did not take that responsibility seriously, the Darkspawn would have won ages ago." His intense dark eyes softened, and he spoke to her in a less formal manner, "I understand that you want justice, Dorcas, but first I need you to help the Grey Wardens prevent others from losing every one they love as well."
Her green eyes narrowed slightly, mostly because she knew he was right. "I don't believe I gave you permission to call me anything but 'my lady' or 'Lady Dorcas'."
"Traditionally, a Grey Warden gives up all lands and titles."
"Well…. I am not a Grey Warden yet. And it's Lady Dorcas still to you." she huffed and began to walk again with renewed energy thanks to her anger, storming past Duncan. She would make it to Ostagar and request of King Cailan to give her family the justice they so rightly deserve. Page trotted beside her, licking at her clenched fists for several moments until she started to relax.