Alistair,
I shall shortly be arriving in Ostagar having found a suitable recruit that you will take charge of along with Jory and Davith, but she will not be what you are expecting. My travels took me to Highever, the home of Teyrn Cousland, as I had heard of a promising recruit among the soldiers there. However, I have come away with Teyrn Cousland's daughter, Elissa. She was not recruited willingly.
I must press on you that what I am about to tell you is strictly confidential and it is important that you allow me to deal with this when I arrive. However, you need to be aware as Elissa is in deep mourning and she is fighting her conscription into the Grey Wardens.
Her mother and father have been betrayed and murdered by Arl Howe of Amaranthine. I elicited the promise to conscript her from her father as he lay dying before her to facilitate her escape. She resents me for this and I do not blame her. At any other time, I would have aided her without condition.
I want you to keep an eye on her, particularly if she survives the Joining. She will need someone her own age with a similar education to look to. I trust that I can rely on you in this matter?
Duncan.
(Letter to Warden Alistair in Ostagar)
-...-
King Cailan is a fool.
I arrived at Ostagar with Duncan hoping to find our King sobered by the battles that were to come. But his boyish giddiness was enough to wash even the gratefulness of his promise of justice away. Hundreds of men and women of Ferelden congregate here to stand for him in battle, some have already given their lives, and he looks at me as if I have been afforded the greatest honour. Well, he can have my conscription and I shall take his throne. In the circumstances, it seems like a fair swap if he wants it.
Of course, it will mean that I cannot use him to fight my conscription and with my brother in the wilds, I am alone on that front. So it is to be done, I suppose. I am out of pleas for Duncan, so I must face my fate as a Warden.
There is only one thing for it. To find this other Warden Alistair and face up to my new life.
(Extract from Warden-Recruit Elissa's Journal)
-...-
Howe,
Word has reached the King of your deeds in Highever by the mouth of Elissa Cousland no less. What fool's errand are you on? I asked that you keep them occupied, off the field so they would not be able to intervene with Cailan's fool notion that we need the Orlesians. I did not ask for you to kill them.
Your actions have put us in a difficult position. Lady Cousland has been recruited into the Wardens and we know what happened the last time a noble malcontent was recruited in the Fereldan order. I suggest you pray she is killed in battle before she turns her eyes back to you.
Cailan's justice will be swift for you, should it come, but Cousland will make you suffer.
Sent unsigned but delivered by a man baring Loghain's arms.
(Letter sent to Arl Rendon Howe of Amaranthine)