I watched out leader, he is young and I'm not sure if he is up to the responsibilities so I wait and see. I know if he can't do this then I will have to take over.
At the moment we were heading towards the Mages Tower. I didn't agree with him but he told me why we were going here. I understood now and waited. Along our travels we came across some bandits. It was the first time I had seen him fight. He slashed, and jabbed, slitting throats that he came across. I was about to kill the last man.
"No, don't kill him yet." He ordered and came over to me. I watched to see him kneeling down beside the man. I thought he was getting cold feet and would release him since he was badly injured.
That wasn't what he did, he questioned the man brutally, as soon as he had his answers he killed, slitting him throat and left him there. The other watched, one them in horror and that was the bard. The two men nodded before turning away and heading out. The witch sneered and followed along. I knew I would have to watch her.
We stopped for the night and he came over to me. I waited for him to speak, prepared to be annoyed by inane questions. He didn't do that, he asked to the point questions, expecting the same for answers. When he was through he left, for the first time since being let out of that cage I felt alone.
I watched him with the others, he kept them inline giving orders. The witch he avoided at all cost it was amusing to see. He couldn't kill her because she is need, he told me once. "Or she would have been dead long ago." He had finished speaking and walked away once more.
I awoke late in the night to see him sitting on a log. He was staring into the fire his body alert. He knew I was moving around, I seen his hand automatically for the blade at his side. The one he uses for executions.
"What is it Sten?" He asked without looking up. I walked over to him taking a seat on a rock next to him.
"I'm to do watch now." I told him abruptly. "Why are you still awake?" I asked him.
"Nightmares, same one since before I became a Grey Warden." He told me as glanced at me.
"You shouldn't let nightmares win." I told him. He should know this.
"You're right, but these are different than normal nightmares, these are real. What me, Alistair, Gilmore see in these dreams actually happen. We feel what they feel, we see what they see. The Arcdemon calls to us sometimes. So when that happens I stay awake for a bit and try again." He shrugged. I waited for him to ask a question like human's are known to do but he didn't, he kept silent.
I watched as he picked a twig and scratched something on the ground. I looked closer and found out it was a map of sorts. I waited until he was finished, "Make sure no one ruins that when they wake. In the morning I'm copying it." He ordered before standing up.
"What is it?" I asked taking a closer look.
"I don't know but it is where the Archdemon is." He stated before leaving.
I kept watch thinking about what he had said, I memorized the map waiting for the dawn to come. A while later, his companions began to rise for the day, but he was still in his tent. No one tried to wake him, no one barely made sound as he slept. A true leader has control over his people, as he does.
One went to step on the map and I glared at them. They moved, pitiful humans. "What is that?" The one called Alistair asked.
"The Warden drew it last night." I growled at him. He looked at me fearfully before backing away.
Not long after his companions rose for the day so did the Warden. He came out with writing material and redrew what he did last night.
"Let go." He ordered once we were packed up. He led the way and we followed him.
He led the way through the Mages Tower. At first I thought he was going to kill all the mages but he didn't. I asked him about it and he answered. "Wynne is a healer and we need a heal desperately. If we kill her people she won't follow us." He grumbled. I could see he wasn't impressed with this, he wanted the mages dead too. He even said they were dangerous.
We left the tower, each of us having our own version of a nightmare in there. I looked over at him, he was hiding his turmoil better than the others were.
A noise in the bush caught my attention and everyone else's. I went hunting for the intruder and found him. I brought him back to the Warden curious what he would do. I knew this man must die but humans don't think like that. Though sometimes I think the Warden is more Qunari than human at times.
He scowled down at the hostage, with a growl he asked a question. The Warden stopped him before he could finish and dragged him into the bush out of sight of everyone. I sat down and waiting wondering if I was wrong about the Warden.
With a grunt I followed him into the bush. I could hear the Warden not far away. I listen to what he was saying. I watched as the Warden slit his throat and walked away like nothing happened.
"He pled for his life yet you killed him?" I asked, waiting to see what he would say.
"If I didn't someone would have found us." He stated with a shrugged giving me a challenging look.
"What will you tell the others?" I asked him. If was human he would lie.
"The truth if they ask." He watched me closely, measuring my worth. A look of a strong leader.
I tried for what humans do, I tried to crack a joke I think they call it. "You are not as callow as I thought you were." I tried to smile. He looked at me shocked, I know thinking him callow had been stupid, he was a warrior, a true warrior, a true leader.
He had earned my respect, he had proven himself. He was Kadan to me. Someone I would stand beside, someone I would fight beside with pride, someone close to my heart. Kadan.