Brosca was proving to be a skilled scout. Though he couldn't yet sense the darkspawn, he was adept at eluding them and moving through the tunnels unseen. He was also displaying a knack for both disarming and setting traps. Even if they didn't get the information they were looking for, the trip to Orzammar had definitely proved worthwhile.
One of the scouts signaled that he'd heard something. Duncan examined his senses, but there did not appear to be darkspawn nearby. He was about to dismiss the sound as deepstalkers when a barefoot dwarf in battered armor appeared. "By the Maker, it's a dwarf!" Harl said, striding forward. He stopped short as the dwarf removed her helmet.
Duncan pushed past him. "Lady Aeducan! What are you doing here alone? Where are your troops?"
She smiled at him tiredly. "It is good to see you again, Duncan."
He returned the smile as he walked towards her. "And you as well, although I am still filled with questions. Such as why are you in these tunnels alone? May I ask what happened?"
"I am Lady Aeducan no longer." She squared her shoulders, and looked up at him.
He saw the meaning of the words in her eyes. "Ah. You have been made to walk the Deep Roads, then." He wanted to put his arms around her, and... he shook his head.
Behind him, Alistair spoke. "You mean you were exiled? What happened?"
Duncan shot him a sharp look. "I do not think matters of dwarven honor are any business of ours."
"I was betrayed by my brother."
Duncan's eyes widened, and he shook his head in disbelief. He could not imagine... "Lord Trian?"
"No, Bhelen." Saitada's voice held no trace of emotion. "Trian is dead."
"I see." He laid a hand on her shoulder. "The brutal intrigue of the dwarven court continues, then. There is no reason for you to walk these Deep Roads and die for something you did not do. You have already proven yourself both resourceful and skilled, and I would expect nothing less from an Aeducan. When last we spoke, you told me you wished you could join our order. I imagine this isn't quite what you meant, but you may still find great honor here. As leader of the Grey Wardens here in Ferelden, I would like to formally invite you to join our order."
"I would be honored."
"Then welcome. We leave immediately for Ostagar to join with human forces facing the darkspawn hordes, led by King Cailan. Stay close. There are still darkspawn around every corner..." He took in her appearance once more, and mentally kicked himself. "Harl, get our new sister something to eat and drink."
Duncan gave Saitada a once over, taking in the ill-fitting and mismatched armor. Saitada glanced down at herself and gave a rueful shrug. "You should have seen the dress they exiled me in." She waved a hand over her head, and gave a prim smile. "Clashed horribly with my hair."
Brosca couldn't contain a snort of laughter, then paused thoughtfully. "We are what, five days out from Orzammar, considering how long we spent looking around that thaig? You've been on your own that long?"
"Seven days, but who is counting?" Saitada accepted the food and drink gratefully.
"Huh" Brosca shrugged. "I guess that's the last time I make a comment about nobles being soft."
#
Harl caught Duncan's concerned look, and dropped his voice to a whisper. "You're worried her helping us had something to do with what happened."
"I do not thing it was the cause," Duncan replied. "It simply presented the opportunity."
"I'm not sure if that makes me feel relieved, or more guilty," Harl said. He sighed. "Orzammar's loss is our gain."
"I cannot argue with that," Duncan replied. He leaned back. "They are massing under the wilds. As soon as we reach the surface, we must send word to Cailan."
"Ostagar, you think?"
"I do."
#
Harl raised an eyebrow at Brosca. The younger dwarf was staring at Saitada again. He caught the look and blushed before shaking his head. "Sorry. It's just... the princess of Orzammar is cooking me breakfast. Even in my dreams I never..." he blushed even harder.
He heard Harl chuckle. "She is not a princess any longer."
Brosca shook his head. "Don't care what the idiot Deshyrs say. That there is a princess."
Harl followed his gaze, then nodded. "I suppose I see your point." Both men got to their feet as Saitada brought them over food. She grabbed a plate for herself, then joined them.
Brosca tasted the meal, then smiled. "You actually know how to cook," he said.
She smiled. "One of our cooks taught me when I was a child. I kept in practice mostly to annoy..." she trailed off, then shook her head. "I can manage a few simple meals." She looked up at Harl. "So what brought you to the wardens?"
"I stole a horse," Harl replied. "Unfortunately, not a very fast one. Got caught. We got attacked by some spawn while they were fitting me for a noose. I got free. Thought about running, but couldn't leave even those jackasses to spawn, so I grabbed a branch and started hitting. The wardens showed up just as I was realizing how stupid not-running was, and then Duncan asked if I'd like to join up. I said yes, and here I am. It's a slightly better life than horse-thief."
"You make it sound so glamorous," Saitada said, putting a hand on her heart. "If I'd only known, I'd wouldn't have dawdled in the deep roads so long."
"Hey, I haven't even begun the pitch," Harl said. "Sometimes, we are even allowed to set foot in taverns."
"Be still my heart," Saitada said. "I'm not sure I can take such luxury." She smiled. "Have you ever read Warden-Commander Kedrik's memoirs?"
"No ma'am. Can't read," Harl said, blushing slightly.
"Me either. On both counts," Brosca said.
"Oh." She shrugged. "I can teach you, if you'd like."
Harl blinked. "Really?"
"Certainly. Ridding the world of all darkspawn can't take up that much of our time, after all."
#
"Your performance at the Proving was impressive. I'd like to learn that spin you did with the axe."
It took Brosca a moment to realize Saitada was talking to him. "You... oh, you were there... you were sitting with Duncan." He felt himself starting to babble a bit, and swallowed.
Saitada smiled. "I knew you weren't Everd. He's never moved that fast in his life. I figured you were his second or something."
He shrugged. "Nope, just a worthless duster." He glanced down at his mace. "You'll be wanting this back, I suppose. It's Aeducan." Offering it back to her felt like tearing his own arm off.
Saitada gave him a puzzled look, and shook her head. "It was for the winner of the Proving. If I didn't want you to have it, I never would have asked Duncan to pass it over to you."
He stared. "You... you sent it to me?"
"You earned it. Duncan came to Orzammar seeking the best to join the Wardens. You proved that was you."
"Didn't you win the Proving held in your honor?" he asked, smiling tentatively.
She laughed. "Lord Harrowmont got the notion he was going to arrange a marriage between me and whatever lordling won. I decided I had more important things to worry about than avoiding courtship." She chuckled, then her voice became sad. "I suppose I still do."
She sat down across from him, leaning against the cavern wall. He glanced at her from lowered eyes, watching her watch the humans. It was hard, reconciling this woman in battered armor, this woman who talked to him like an equal, with the princess of Orzammar. The words came out of him in a rush. "I'm sorry about what happened to you. I heard... I heard you spoke out for the surface dwarves. You said they were dwarves and should have their rights returned."
She raised an eyebrow. "You heard about that?"
He shrugged. "Surface dwarves are treated like casteless. They slum it sometimes." He frowned as a thought struck him. "Do you think that's why you got tossed out?"
She sighed. "I'd be a fool to think that was the only reason." She poured a cup of tea, and offered it to Brosca before taking one for herself. "We will be on the surface tomorrow. Have you ever been?"
He shook his head. "No. Any duster goes up isn't allowed back. And... well... there is not stone up there." He sipped the tea. "It's really happening, isn't it? We are going to be surface dwarves?"
Saitada grinned. "No, my friend. We are going to be wardens."