Much of the dialogue is from the actual game.

Alistair

Why is it always Alistair who gets stuck with jobs like this? Why can't he, I dunno, prepare with the other soldiers? Run supplies? Poison test the cheese?

But no. It seems the revered mother would rather he be a toad. From the way she looks at him, he wouldn't be surprised.

"I simply came to deliver a message from the revered mother, ser mage. She desires your presence."

It doesn't matter that he's being totally polite; the mage is having none of it.

"What her reverence 'desires' is of no concern to me. I am busy helping the Grey Wardens- by the king's orders, I might add."

"Should I have asked her to write a note?" Alistair asks cheekily.

The mage's scowl only worsens. "Tell her I will not be harassed in this manner!"

"Yes, I was harassing you by delivering a message."

"Your glibness does you no credit."

Out of the corner of his eye he sees a figure of a person, just standing there watching. Are they gathering a crowd? How lovely. It's so nice how everyone in camp sticks together.

"And here I thought we were getting along so well! I was even going to name one of my children after you," he says, mock sadly. "The grumpy one."

"Enough," the mage spits. "I will speak to the woman if I must!" He turns and storms off. "Get out of my way, fool."

The figure, an elven woman, steps aside for him and he's gone.

Well. Alistair supposes it could have been worse, right?

"You know," he says as he moves forward. "One good thing about the Blight is how it brings people together."

Now that he's facing her he can tell that though she's almost average height, she's an elf. Her hair is pulled back, revealing her two pointed ears. She's pale and lean, and the dress (robes?) she wears is form-fitting, made of shiny orange and blue material.

Glancing at her face, Alistair can't deny... she is rather pretty. Elves usually are, yes, so he shouldn't be surprised, but most of the elves wandering around camp are messengers or servants. He doesn't recognize her as such, but maybe she's new? Or something...

As he watches, her expression changes from confused to amused. "I know exactly what you mean."

She's even prettier when she smiles.

"It's like a party; we could all stand in a circle and hold hands. That would give the darkspawn something to think about. Wait, we haven't met, have we?" he asks. If they have, he doesn't remember. "I don't suppose you'd happen to be another mage?"

She pauses, as if uncertain, then wiggles her fingers at him and grins in an evil, witchy manner. "I am indeed a mage."

Oh, dear. "Really? You don't look like a mage." That sounded better in his head. "Uh... that is... I mean... how interesting." That explained why she's wearing robes, at least. Then it dawns on him. "Wait, I do know who you are. You're Duncan's new recruit, from the Circle of Magi. I should have recognized you right away. I apologize."

"I hope you don't have a problem with me having magic," she states, arching a fine brow.

"No problem," he insists. "It's just my background makes mages nervous. And nervous mages make me nervous. I don't want to be a toad; I like the way I am." He whispers the last part as if it's a secret. "Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Alistair, the new Grey Warden, though I guess you already knew that. As the junior member of the order, I'll be accompanying you when you prepare for the Joining."

"I'm Avina," she tells him. "Pleased to meet you."

"Right, that was the name." Avina Surana, he recalls. "You know... it just occurred to me that there have never been many women in the Grey Wardens. I wonder why that is?"

She cocks her head to the side playfully. "Oh? You want more women in the Wardens, do you?"

"Would that be so terrible?"

She gives him a look.

"Not that I'm some drooling lecher... or anything please stop looking at me like that."

She giggles and he almost loses his train of thought.

"So, I'm curious," he continues. "Have you ever actually encountered darkspawn before?"

She shakes her head.

"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. Anyhow, whenever you're ready, lets get back to Duncan. I imagine he's eager to get things started."

"That argument I saw... what was it about?"

"With the mage? The Circle is here at the king's request and the Chantry doesn't like that one bit. They just love letting the mages know how unwelcome they are. Which puts me in a bit of an awkward position; I was once a templar."

She frowns slightly. He wonders, briefly, if this makes her uncomfortable about traveling with him. Hopefully she won't take as much offence as the other mage. "You were a mage-hunter?"

"Not that that's all templars do, but yes. The Chantry raised me until Duncan recruited me six months ago. I'm sure the revered mother meant it as an insult - sending me as her messenger - and the mage picked right up on that. I never would have agreed to deliver it but Duncan we're all to cooperate and get along. Apparently they didn't get the same speech."

"I guess not," she agrees. "I suppose we should start preparing."

"If you have any questions, let me know. Otherwise, lead on."

Avina

She can't stop smiling at that man, Alistair.

She's known him all of five minutes, and already he's one of her favorite people.

Maybe it's the way he jokes around. Maybe it's because he's adorable. Either way, she likes him. If the others are half as nice as him, she will be a very happy Warden.

She hopes she isn't bothering him with the way she chatters on the way to Duncan. But she just can't keep her mouth shut. She's free. She's breathing fresh air and meeting new people and fighting! All in the same day!

Everything is more than she could have dreamed.

She can't wait to prove herself.

Tel'abelas.

Next chapter: Daylen Amell.