Duncan tries to focus on his reports but his fidgeting junior Warden at the corner of his eye proves to be too much of a distraction. Giving up after reading the same sentence for the 5th time, he sighs. "Yes, Alistair?"

The lad purses his lips but can barely refrain from shifting from one leg to the other. He looks down at the ground like a scolded child.

"Go on." Duncan urges, his patience running thin. "Speak your mind."

Alistair glances up, his cheeks burning. "It's been a week since the Joining." He says.

"And?"

"And there's been no sign of Ana." He frowns. "What if she left Ostagar? She knows what the Joining entails…"

Duncan smiles. "If I was not mistaken, I'd think you were smitten with the young Cousland." Duncan teases. He smirks as the lad blanches.

"What? No." Alistair quickly says. "I mean, she's beautiful but…" As Duncan raises an amused brow, he looks down. "Maker's breath… I'm just worried about what she'll do with the information." He looks up at his mentor. "We killed Ser Jory for refusing to go through the Joining yet leave Ana alive…"

"So, you wish to see her killed?" Duncan asks.

Alistair frowns. "No, but it's odd that she's been made an exception. I know you said her brother promised to help but still."

Rising from his seat, Duncan strides over to the lad and places a hand on his shoulders. "As always, I admire your dedication to the Wardens but you need not worry yourself." He removes his hands. "It's true that many are killed when they learn of what the Joining consists of and then try to back out but unlike Ser Jory, Ana is an exception."

"Why?"

As the lad looks at him, Duncan smiles. Such fierce allegiance. He's so much like his mother. "It's complicated." He says with a rueful look. "Even so, I need you to trust me. I've been in my position for decades, Alistair. You should know better than most that I would never forsake my duty to the Wardens."

"I know." Alistair frowns. "Even if we can't kill her, what do we do? Should we have the tents all over Ostagar searched?"

Duncan shakes his head as he gives a dismissive wave. "There's no need. Fergus has been keeping me updated on her whereabouts and condition." Striding over to the large chest at the foot of his bed, Duncan perches himself on it and folds his arms over his chest. "She's not our concern right now. For the time being, we need to focus on training."

"But-"

Duncan motions toward the tent flaps with his chin. "Go on. Head to the training field. I'll be there in a few."

Seeing he's not going to get any more answers, Alistair nods. He rises from his chair and salutes the elder Warden before turning and striding out the tent.

"Dammit." Hawke mutters, rising. His eyes search the surrounding areas for tracks as Ana glances down at the snare he was just examining.

"No luck with that one either, huh?" She asks. With a defeated sigh, Hawke shakes his head and places his hands on his hips. He squints through the sunlight overhead. He suddenly turns to her.

"Looks like we'll get to shoot something after all." He smiles. "Can you shoot?"

Ana's eyes shift to look at the beautiful recurve bow slung across his torso. "Not really." She shrugs. "As a noblewoman, I never really used weapons. Normally I would ride out with my father, brother and other nobles with a company of dogs and my own hawk. I rarely left my horse. The animals did most of the work."

"Where's the fun in that?"

She shoots him a look. "The purpose for me was never to really hunt anything; Not for me at least. It was a chance for me to entertain and impress suitors." She sighs and absently twists her parents' ring around her finger. "Not that it mattered. I refused to accept any of the men paraded before me." Her gaze shifts to the ground. "Look how much good that did me. The one man I loved and my family are dead; I'm alone."

Hawke watches her before reaching out to touch her shoulder. "It wasn't your fault, Ana."

He's caught off guard as she raises her gaze to meet his. "Do you believe in fate, Nate?"

His brows furrow as he thinks about this. "I'm not really sure." He admits.. "It depends on how you define it."

"I mean do you believe that everything, good or bad, happens because our lives are fated to go one way or another since the day we're born?" She pauses for a moment, looking out at the landscape thoughtfully. "I've often wondered…" She trails off.

"What?" Hawke urges.

She self-consciously tucks a lock of her short hair behind her ear with a shrug. "I can't help but wonder if I had tried to fight back, would I have had a chance to save any of them." She glances down at her hands. "I knew something seemed off about Howe and yet I did nothing to prevent it." She feels her throat tighten. "I….I was made aware of the risks of the Joining before Rory went through with it and yet I just stood there. I didn't even try to fight it."

Hawke shrugs. "From what I hear about Joinings, even if you had objected, it would have happened anyways. No recruit escapes their Joining."

"I did." She points out.

"Maybe for now." Hawke shrugs once more. "Did they say why they spared you?"

Thinking about this, she slowly shakes her head. "I don't remember. I don't think so. I imagine it has something to do with my bloodline or something."

"Or, maybe you're fated to be a Warden."

Ana's brows furrow and Hawke smiles. She feels the heat rise to her cheeks and quickly straightens. "So, what will we be hunting?"

"I've seen a few deer around recently. It'll provide a fair amount of food and other materials. The quartermaster is always looking for people to bring in pelts for leather armor and the kitchens can always use more food."

He shrugs off his pack and sets it down at the base of a nearby tree. He removes his bow from around him and holds it out to her, smiling as she eyes it warily.

"It won't bite, I promise." He chuckles.

"It's not that." She frowns. "I told you I've never shot before. You can just shoot…"

Shaking his head, he takes a step forward.

"No. This is a lesson. Before we can hunt, you need to learn how to shoot." He smiles. "I believe that men and women should all know how to at least hunt. Life is unpredictable and it's good to at least have the skill to feed yourself."

"I've never even held a bow before."

"Well, now's your a chance." He grins. He waits as she hesitantly take the bow. He watches her a moment as she turns it over in her hand. "Right or left?"

She looks up at him, puzzled. "What?"

"Are you right or left-handed?"

"Does that matter?" She inquires as Hawke kneels down by his pack and removes this strange looking piece of leather with straps. He rises and turns to face her.

"It does, actually. I'm right handed myself so my bow is a right handed bow."

She glances down at the bow curiously. Maybe it was from the angle she looking at it but she couldn't tell what could make it for one hand or the other. Mimicking what she's seen Fergus do countless times during training, she awkwardly holds the bow in her right hand and draws with her left.

"Wrong way!" Hawke chuckles, touching her arm to make her lower the bow. He motions for her to switch hands before stepping forward with the leather strip. He motions toward her hand. "May I?"

She nods and her heart pounds as he gently pushes her sleeve up to her elbow. Her eyes flick upwards to watch him as he puts the little loop at the end around her ring finger, pausing for a moment as he notices her ring. "This is a vambrace." He says, turning her arm over. "This goes on the nondominant hand and protects your arm from the friction of the string when you shoot." He fastens the brace surprisingly quick.

He reaches back and retrieves an arrow from his quiver and holds it out to her. Carefully taking from him, she nocks the arrow and draws the string back with her right hand. She can feel her arm shaking slightly as she awaits for him to tell her she's doing something wrong. Much to her relief, Hawke smiles. "Very good. Now…"

He pulls out a dagger from his belt and she flinches, lowering the bow as she automatically backs up. Hawke's smiles falls and he holds up his other hand in peace. "It's alright."

Her heart races in her chest but she tightly nods. "I know. Sorry."

"No need to apologize. I should have known better than to just pull it out after what you've been through." He says, flashing her a half smile. He motions with his head toward the trees. "How about you take a couple practice shots before we head out to find some game?"

Ana nods and watches Hawke as he walks over to a tree a few yards ahead of her. Using his dagger, he prys off a strip of bark. Examining his work, he nods and sheathes his dagger before turning to her.

"Try to aim for that bare spot I just made." He stands off to the side as she quickly raises the bow and draws. "Wait!" He calls, jogging over. As he gets closer, he picks up on her tense demeanor and slows before coming to stand beside her. "You have the right idea but are moving too quickly." He motions toward her. "If I may?"

She can feel her breathing become ragged but nods. She becomes increasingly aware of his body as it comes near hers. Wrapping an arm around her, he places one gently on her hand gripping the bow and touches the back of her hand on the strings. Feeling his warm breath on her neck, she tries to push away the overwhelming craving to be held, kissed and touched. She feels the tears threatening to form and tries to focus on the task at hand.

"Easy now." He says softly. "I know it's hard but relax."

Only after he said this did she notice that her knuckles were white from how firmly she grasped the stave. She feels the heat rise to her cheeks and mutters an apology as she relaxes her hand.

Hawke adjusts her other arm and looks out toward the tree marking.

"Now, don't just let fly just yet." He instructs. "With a bow, the eye is more important than the hand."

"I didn't know the eye could shoot arrows." Ana mutter, earning a chuckle from him that made her relax slightly.

"Can you imagine? If eyes could do that, I'd be dead by now by the amount of deadly stares I receive from my brother on a daily basis." He laughs. "Anyways, you need to see your target and understand what you're aiming for."

Ana looks at her target in the distance and closes one eye as she tries to line it up. Hawke gently squeezes her drawing hand to signal for her to shoot and she lets it fly. She watches in awe as the arrow embeds itself into the tree and she gasps.

"I did it!" She breathes, turning to smile at Hawke. "I hit it!"

"Good job. Now practice a few more times and we'll head out." He says, pulling his quiver off his back and handing it to her. "You'll be hunting in no time."

The candle at Duncan's desk had already burned down a quarter of the way by the time Fergus Cousland was announced by his guards. Rising from his seat, he motions for them to let him in. He awaits as the young lord strides into his tent, saluting him formally.

"I received your summons. You said you had some important things to speak with me about?"

"I do." Duncan nods. Walking over toward the decanter of wine, he pours himself a glass along with one for his guest before offering him one. Fergus accepts it and takes a sip as he waits for the older man to continue. "As you're aware, our time here at Ostagar is uncertain. Signs of darkspawn corruption have been spotted by scouts but there have been very few darkspawn spottings and the King is beginning to wonder if this truly is a Blight."

Fergus lowers his glass. "And what do you think? Do you believe that it's a true blight after all these years?"

"I do."

"How do you know?"

Duncan's mouth curls upwards slightly. "We Wardens always know. There are things that we have the ability to do." He glances at his wine before setting it down on the nearby table. "Regardless of what I know, it's still unclear of when or how many darkspawn we will be facing when the time comes. With our timeframe still unknown, it is vital that I begin to train all my newest Wardens."

In the back of his mind, Fergus knew that this would eventually come up. He nods. "And I'm assuming you summoned me here because you want my sister to go through her Joining and fulfill my father's promise to you, correct?"
"Yes." Duncan nods. "The sooner, the better. While I know that she is still wracked with grief over the death of Ser Gilmore, it's best for her to get this over and done with."

Fergus takes a seat in the nearby chair and turns this over in his mind. His gaze meets Duncan's.

"What are the odds?"

"Of?"

Fergus leans forward, his mouth set in a line. "Come on. It's obvious that whatever this Joining is, there's a chance of a recruit dying. While the common story told was that Ser Gilmore had caught something out in the Wilds, we both know the truth." The corners of his mouth turn downward as he exhales. "I will respect your order's secrecy code surrounding it but at least tell me her odds of surviving."

"I can't." Duncan replies. "If I tell you, you may stop Ana from fulfilling her destiny."

Fergus's brows knit together. "Are you questioning my honor?" He asks, taken back. "While I may not agree with this decision, I have no intention of breaking my father's final promise he made to you. I just want to know if preparations should be made for her. Regardless of Howe's treachery and his siege of our home, we're still Couslands. She deserves a proper funeral for a woman of her ranking." He folds his arms over his chest. "Now tell me what her odds are of surviving. As she is my last surviving family, I have a right to know."

Duncan quietly thinks this over as he absently rubs his beard. Finally, he sighs.

"It's hard to say but I'd say that she has about a 50/50 chance."

Leaning to one side of his chair, Fergus covers his mouth with his hand thoughtfully. While it was better odds than he was expecting, the reality that it could go either way was far from reassuring. While he wanted to respect his father's final wish, could he really live with himself if he sent Ana willingly to her death?

Setting his cup on the table, he abruptly rises from his seat. Duncan simply glances at him, unperturbed.

"One more day." Fergus says as he feels his throat run dry. "I'll give her more day to grieve and then…" he breaks off, looking away at the canvas. "Then I'll see what I can do."

Striding toward the entrance, he disappears without looking back.