Warriors

"Come on lad; get your head in the game!" Donnic chides the young guard I'm sparring with. He is standing on the sidelines of the practice yard with the other young recruits and an increasingly angry looking Aveline.

"Stop, stop, STOP!" Aveline cries out, she's pinching the bridge of her nose. Her temper is making her red in the face. I sheathe the practice sword at my back and remove a pebble from my toes. I almost feel sorry for the boy.

"Artor, did you learn ANYTHING from me?" She towers over the young man, who is actively shrinking from his irate captain.

"I have been teaching all of you to block and bash with your shield for over a month now! THIS is the best you can do? If Fenris wasn't using a blunt sword, we would be picking up bits of you for days to come!" She roars at the unfortunate lad and now, sensing that they need it, at the other recruits gathered.

"But he's so fast!" One of the guards on the sideline foolishly quips.

"Just because I use a greatsword doesn't mean I must be a lumbering beast. That kind of assumption can get you killed." I nonchalantly toss back. It's an assumption I have used to my advantage time and time again. People see the huge sword and think it'll take me three days to swing it at them. By the time they realize their mistake, they are often on the wrong side of my blade.

Aveline crosses her arms over her chest and glares at her recruits. "You are sadly deluded if you think you can size up an enemy just by looking at him." Aveline turns and gestures in my direction. "I asked Fenris to help me teach you precisely to prove a point. He is an elf, so you imagine you'll be stronger. You see the big sword, so you imagine he'll be slower. Little do you know, you've been sparring with one of the best warrior's I have ever met. Now you've seen how fast and accurate he is with that thing. Never underestimate your opponent." She declares as she strides across the yard to the weapons rack. She takes a sword and shield from the rack. "Fenris, will you allow me to show them how it's really done?" She asks, saluting with her sword.

I feel myself blush faintly at the compliment and I nod my acceptance. Aveline and I have never sparred, but we have fought side by side often enough to know what to expect from one another.

As the whole exercise is about defense, I quickly attack. Aveline deftly blocks and pushes me away. Her strength is impressive. Striking at Aveline feels like going up against a wall. We go through various versions and techniques. Time and time again Aveline repels my attacks.

Her recruits seem to gain a better appreciation for her style and several mimic her stances from the sidelines.

The exercise draws to an end. We salute each other as Donnic yells the recruits towards their next task. We head to the weapons' rack to drop off the practice equipment. As I start to clean the practice blade I had been using, Aveline speaks up.

"You don't have to do that. I'll have the recruits clean in here. "She said, setting her practice weapons down.

I shrug. "I'm used to it. It'll only take a moment." I turn to face her. "I want to thank you for this opportunity. You've done a lot for me over the years. Helping you train the recruits is the least I can do in return." I tell her.

"I can't understand your fixation with staying in that wreck of a place, but as long as I can keep the nobles off your back, I will. You are my friend." She shrugged, dismissing her kindness of years now.

"You are well named Aveline." I say.

"What do you mean?" she answers.

"I read about Ser Aveline recently. Your father named you well. I have fought all kinds of warriors, and rarely have I come across skill like yours. You are noble as any knight could hope to be. I think she would have looked up to you. You actually became what she sought to be."

Aveline gapped at me in disbelief. Her face grew red as her hair very quickly. She turned away from me just as Donnic returned to report to his captain.

Donnic looked from his wife to me and his face grew concerned. "Is everything alright?" he asked Aveline.

She nodded quickly and passed the back of her hand over her eyes.

Had I offended her? I put down the clean sword and prepare to apologize.

Aveline shook her head and gave a little smile. "I see what she means now."

I'm frowning in confusion. "Did I say something wrong?" I look to Donnic who is also looking for clues. He shrugs at me, equally at a loss.

"No, Fenris. I just finally understood something Hawke told me once about you." She smiles kindly and repeats Hawke's words: "He doesn't say much, but when he does, it makes your head swirl."

"Is that a good thing?" I ask her.

"Yes, it is. Thank you for the compliments and whenever you need something, don't hesitate to ask me for help." She nods, still blushing slightly, and abruptly leaves the training grounds.

Donnic and I look at each other.

After a moment, Donnic breaks the silence. "So…Diamondback at your place tomorrow?" He gestures towards the exit.

"Yes. Bring food" I reply and start walking out. Donnic accompanies me.

"Very good. I will see you then." We nod at each other and I walk out of the Viscount's Palace, still unsure of what Hawke and Aveline meant.

I ask Varric about it later, and he just guffaws and slaps the table. "Elf, you are one sly duck! Who knew there was a silver tongue hiding behind that giant sword? I can just imagine Aveline blushing from her head to her toes!" he chortles and shakes his head.

"But I was just telling her my honest opinion!" I say to the overly-pleased dwarf.

"And that's what made her heart flop into her stomach. Watch out, elf, keep sweet-talking the women and there may be consequences." Varric just keeps grinning at me.

Having gotten nowhere with this, leave the table. As I get closer to the door, I overhear Varric mutter "It'll be broody babies left, right and center if he keeps that up!"

I give up on trying to understand people and just go home.