She explores Ostagar indeed. Initially Mae tries, and fails, to enter the Tower of Ishal, traverses the bridge where the main section of the camp is. Meet the mages camp. 'Wynne seems nice', explained the connection between the darkspawn and the Fade, the Black City, and a few things more. That make her ponder a little about what the Chantry and the elder taught her. The only knowledge she got at the Alienage was speculations and what Valendrian would often want to tell the children. Mae stumbles with Loghain near his, the Teyrn certainly seemed like seasoned warrior and experienced in the battlefield, his armor probably weighted more than herself. He called her "pretty for a Grey Warden" which added to her confusion on how she expected to see him.
After a few rounds around the camp, she manages to find what would be deemed as "the old temple" where she is supposed to find the Grey Warden Duncan mentioned previously. On the top of a ramp, she notices two men talking to each other, one in a Grey Warden set of armor, simpler than Duncan's, and the other in some familiar robes she seemed in the mages section of the camp at Ostagar.
Maeghan approaches the sturdy build human with tanned skin and dirty-reddish blond hair dressed in heavier armor and, only when she arrives, she notices the two were in the middle of a heated argument. "I simply came to deliver a message from the Revered Mother, ser Mage. She desires your presence" the Grey Warden pinches the bridge of his nose. The discussion continues between the two men, little to her interest.
"And here I thought we were getting along so well. I was even going to name one of my children after you… the grumpy one.", Mae softly chuckles to herself at that, covering her mouth to not draw much attention but catching the eye of the warrior who stated it in the process. The mage sharply leaves, throwing his hands in the air, as the Warden approaches her "You know, one good thing about the Blight is how it brings people together.", she smiles, open her eyes wide and returns the sarcastic comment with "Ahh, I just know exactly what you mean! I was JUST thinking about that. So many different people at the camp, none of them getting alone… warms the heart" He snorts a laughter this time.
"Indeed! it's like a party: we could all stand in a circle… holding hands. THAT would give the darkspawn something to think about, right?" She laughs "Exactly!".
Trying very little to recompose the air of solemnity to the ambience the Warden asks "Wait, we haven't met, have we? I don't suppose you happen to be another mage?" he squints his eyes upon her as she replies "Uh, that depends? Would it make you day worst?" she takes a long pause waiting for his reaction as he keeps staring at her a crooked smile "... No, I'm no mage, don't worry" she mockingly rolls her eyes.
"Ahh so that makes you Duncan's new recruit! I apologize, I should have recognized you right away". The easygoing attitude this Warden presents helps her a little to forget all the dread, apprehension, and fear one can notice at Ostagar this day. "That's all right. No offense taken! You must be Alistair" He nods in agreement and replies "Yes." He shifts his posture as to make himself more presentable, cleans his throat, "As the junior member of the order, I'll be accompanying you when you prepare for the Joining"
"Please to meet you. My name is Maeghan" he looks up in recognition "Riiight, that was the name! You know… it just occurred to me there have never been many women in the Grey Wardens. I wonder why that is?" she estranges the remark closing one eye in his direction "Well, I guess they aren't all as charming as you are" he blushes "Oh I'm sorry! That's not what I meant. I'm not some drooling lecher or anything…" He looks at the sky, at the floor, rubs the back of his neck, looks at the sky again and returns his eyes to her, where she is just staring at him, with the corner of her lips turned as she was trying to hold her amusement, "Please stop looking at me like that"
That breaks her, Mae throws her head back and laughs as Alistair tries to change the subject "Have you ever encountered any darkspawn before?" She shakes her head negatively, drying the corner of her eyes, "No I haven't, have you?" He takes a deep breath. At that point Mae realizes the change to a more serious tone in his demeanor and her smiles fades, "Yes… I did… When I fought my first one, I wasn't prepared for how monstrous it was. I can't say I'm looking forward to encountering another…"
She believed him immediately. For the past minutes or so, Mae met a chilled sarcastic witty humor man that transformed when mentioned tainted creatures. "Anyhow…" he breaks the silence "…whenever you're ready let's head back to Duncan. I imagine he's eager to get things started"
She agrees "I just need to see the quartermaster before, I don't have the most… appropriate gear for anything darkspawn related right now" he realizes now she was wearing leather armor but beaten, ripped cotton clothes, and really oversized considering her small figure. "Of course, I can take you there" he bows his head as both leave the temple together.
Upon arriving at the quartermaster, it's the first time in Ostagar where she is remembered she's not human and never will be treated the same way as one. The pig poor excuse of a man asks about an armor she's supposed to be fetching or something but before she could answer, Alistair intervenes. "She is to be the newest Grey Warden, good ser. I hoped you could show some respect with the people who will help in this fight." There is no irony, no sarcastic face, Alistair is serious for what seemed to be the second time since she met him, the man babbles as Alistair continues "I would also expected you could show more sympathy and civility around others of any origin. Or it would be too much to ask of you?" He crosses his arms in front of his chest in expectance of an answer from the shopkeeper, who couldn't do much instead of just showing whatever he had in store and other items on the side.
She bows her head in thanks to her fellow Warden and gets a more appropriate set of armor before meeting Duncan once more. 'Second human that stood up for me, Grey Wardens are pretty amazing actually.' She jokes to herself rolling her eyes as Alistair walks with her in the direction of Duncan's tent.
