Cailan Theirin was not an imposing man, but he was slightly taller than his general, Loghain Mac Tir. The young king was not much older than Alistair, and they actually looked quite similar. Cailan had his long hair pulled back and a massive blade, similar to Anthatal's but much more expensive, sheathed on his back, qunari-style. He wore the golden armor of Maric Theirin, his father, who had led the Fereldans against the Orlesian Empire but thirty years before. Loghain Mac Tir had been Maric's general as well as his son's, and obviously did not relish working for a man less than half his age.

Loghain was a typical Fereldan; in fact he was nothing more until the Battle of River Dane, where he helped Maric defeat the Orlesians. For his aid in that victory, Loghain was given a teyrnir, and became one of three teyrns in all of Ferelden. He still kept his plain, unadorned steel plate armor, and wore a standard Fereldan longsword at his side and a kite shield on his back.

These two men walked side by side out of Lothering at the head of the Fereldan army, and the Grey Wardens under the command of Anthatal fanned around them, keeping watch for ambushes. The Wardens were only a score strong, and thus they were thinly spread around the army. Anthatal caught up to the king and his general after positioning his Wardens, and Cailan greeted him enthusiastically.

"So you're a Grey Warden? I've always wanted to meet one. Your order is legendary for your skills in battle."

Loghain did not share the same view. "The Wardens live on nothing but legend. I don't recall them being the ones to force Orlais out of Ferelden."

Anthatal spoke respectfully, but his voice was icy. "The Wardens had been expelled from Ferelden at the time for a crime they did not commit. Maric Theirin was wise enough to allow the order to return to Ferelden twenty years ago."

Loghain was about to reply, but Cailan interrupted him. "Are you Duncan? I've heard so much about the man, and you fit the descriptions."

Anthatal chuckled, touching his beard that undoubtedly matched Duncan's by now. "No, your Majesty. Duncan could not join us, and he has given me command of the Wardens. My name is Anthatal."

"Oh," the disappointment was obvious in Cailan's voice. "Where has Duncan gone to?"

"He is trying to conscript more Wardens, your Majesty. He fears that we will not be enough."

"To stop this little uprising?" Cailan scoffed. "This isn't even a true Blight, Anthatal. We've had no reports of an Archdemon, so this must be nothing more than a result of boredom from hiding underground. The darkspawn will see our might, and see the Wardens' banner flying beside mine, and flee before us."

This response worried Anthatal. Duncan was right; Cailan was too innocent to see the truth. He spoke again, choosing his words carefully. "My Lord, just because we haven't seen an Archdemon yet doesn't mean we won't ever see one. It may be that he is waiting to see the strength of our forces before emerging. We must have enough Wardens to kill him if he decides to appear."

Cailan did not seem pleased with this response, but recognized the freedom that the Wardens had to do as they wished in darkspawn matters, and said so. Anthatal thanked him for understanding and excused himself, moving forward to scout ahead of the army.