Honored Guests
Well with all this talk of Darkspawn I suppose it would be inevitable that a Grey Warden would show up at Highover. And so we have been honored with the presence of one Sir Duncan, Ferelden's very own Commander of the Grey.
Arl Howe also called us earlier in the morning. He and father talked about old times. Howe's men are delayed, he blames the rains, I blame his incompetence. He was in a good mood,as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Highly unusual.
Of course when he talks to me he is his usual snide self. "Your father trained you as a warrior. How unique." And your father trained you as a condescending ass. How unique. That's what I should have said to him. But alas he is our most powerful vassel and appearances must be maintained. If their is one lesson of mother's that I will remember it is this, "A lady must remember her courtesies." Howe said I took after. He meant it as an insult.
He didn't brooch the topic of Harpers Ford with me. However the first thing he did when we met was to say that Thomas asked after me. When I inquired to what end, Howe said I took after. He meant it as an insult, whatever our differences me and her are smart enough to detest that leach. He knew my response as I knew exactly to what end he asked the question. So I guess we both played our roles in the pageant of aristocracy quite well. Sometimes I feel our family only puts up with Howe out of pity.
Father has informed me that I will not go with him to Ostagar,rather I will be left in charge of the Castle. The early battles have gone well, so well that they are saying this might not even be a true Blight. I have terrible mixed feelings about this. What is worse, to be a coward or to be a bloody minded fool bent on glory? Father certainly wouldn't approve of ether. A true Cousland does not look for battle. But neither does she flee from it. We wade stoically and gallantly into the fray and pray it will be over quickly.
And it seems the war might be over soon indeed. Duncan reports the battles in the South have gone in our favor. Oh right I should say more about him.
Duncan is here to recruit my beloved human chastity belt ,Sir Gilmore, for the Grey Wardens. It's a great honor and I'm very happy for him. It's sad that he'll be going, but like I said it will be a great honor and I'll be able to let my hair down a bit more. At least until mother assigns another Knight to keep me out of trouble. I do that well enough on my own thank you ver much.
I wonder if I should become a Grey Warden. An unusual path for the daughter of a Teyrn I know. And it would make Mother furious (all the more reason to heed the call.) Though I suppose that with a Blight on the Grey Wardens will return to their formerly illustrious station in the eyes of the nobility. Their detractors are most certainly already helping themselves to sour slices of humble cake. Letting them back into the country was the second best decision Good King Maric ever made, the first of course was wedding Rowan Gurien. And if one counts kicking out the Orlesians, than those jump to third and second respectively.
Fergus will be leaving soon. I should say goodbye to him. Poor Oren will miss him terribly. So will Oriana, bless her fragile heart. But I'll be their for them. All of them. Tomorrow Father will march off with Duncan, Howe's men and the rest of our lads, and I'll be the lady of the Castle. Maker give me strength.