As the group of soldier neared Vigil's Keep, Elisa recognized the Royal Banner. Her lips thinned at the prospect of speaking to Alistair again. If anything, she hoped their awkward meeting at the Royal Palace would be the last.

"I know you and the boy have an unpleasant history, but keep the shouting to a minimum," Loghain mumbled as he stood beside her.

She glared at him but refused to respond and instead headed down with Varel and the rest of her companions. She would not be goaded into an argument involving Alistair.

Arriving at the courtyard, Elisa released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as Anora greeted them rather than the king. Thank the Maker for small favors.

Only, the small victory didn't last long as few seconds later, the small group of templars joined the royal guards.

Elisa side-glanced to Anders who fidgeted on the spot. The courtyard was far too open and not enough people for a man in robes to blend in and execute his daring escape.

So much for holding my end of the bargain. She looked at the mage apologetically despite the latter looking elsewhere.

"It seems we've arrived too late to be of assistance," Anora said, sparing her father a quick glance as he joined everyone in the courtyard, then returning her attention back to the Commander, "what's the situation?"

Varel stepped forward. "What darkspawn remained had fled, Your Majesty. The Grey Wardens who arrived from Orlais appeared to be either dead or missing."

"Missing?" Anora brow arched. "As in taken by the darkspawn?" She turned the Warden Commander. "Do they take prisoners?"

It took all of Elisa's willpower to maintain a stoic façade at the memory of Broodmothers in The Deep Roads. She hesitated for a moment then asked, "were… were there women among the Orlesian Wardens?"

Varel nodded. "A few, but most are men."

Maker's breath! She forced down the bile that threatened to rise from her throat, all while maintaining the composure of a tranquil.

"Unfortunate..." Anora sighed.

The understatement of the ages, Elisa thought as she nodded with a barely noticeable scowl.

Anora continued, "I will offer what aid I can, but it seems you will be largely on your own."

Oghren interrupted, "hey! What am I? Chopped nug livers?"

Anders mumbled, "from the smell that's not a bad guess."

"I came here to join the Grey Wardens and from the looks of it, you need an extra hand!" The dwarf grinned.

"I see no reason to decline," Elisa said.

"The smell for starters," Loghain grumbled just low enough for only the Commander to hear, "but that hasn't stopped you, has it?"

The corners of her lips twitched as she fought the urge to grin. "You're welcome amongst the Wardens," she told the dwarf.

Anora cleared her throat. "Now, if there's nothing else—"

A woman in templar armor pushed her way through the crowd and interrupted, "My apologies Your Majesty, but beware. This man is a dangerous criminal."

Elisa picked up on who she meant but opted to divert everyone's attention. There was still hope for Anders to escape. "I understand Oghren might have made some... vulgar demonstrations in front of the cathedral—"

Oghren snorted. "Soddin' humans and yer prudish a—"

"— but I wouldn't go as far as calling him a criminal." The female templar opened her mouth but Elisa cut her off as she continued, "regardless, I will personally apologize to the Grand Cleric for his behavior."

"She means me," Anders said, sighing.

The templar grabbed the mage by the shoulder. "This is an apostate in the process being brought to justice."

Anders rolled his eyes. "Oh please. The things you know about justice would fit into a thimble. Besides, I'll just escape again, so what's the point?"

"Never." The templar sneered. "I'll see you hanged for you did here murder."

Hanged? Elisa stepped forward. "I can assure you, Anders had nothing to do with those templars' death. All wounds clearly came from the darkspawn."

"Don't bother." Anders sighed. "There's no use. They won't believe you anyhow."

Elisa couldn't just let it end like that. Anders proved to be a talented healer and a reliable mage, and these people simply could not be allowed to execute him for false charges. She bit her lower lip.. Think, think!

As the templar dragged Anders away, Elisa spoke, her head held high, "I invoke the Right of Conscription."

Both mage and templar's mouth gaped as they stared at the Warden Commander. "We have enough survivors to vouch for this mage's bravery," She addressed the everyone in the courtyard. "He could've left when he had the chance. Yet he insisted on aiding us to retake the Keep from those vile monsters. Without him, we could've lost more lives in this tragic incident." She met the templar's gaze as the latter glared. "The Wardens will certainly benefit greatly if he joins our ranks."

"Rylock," Anora spoke, and everyone's attention shifted to her. "I believe the Wardens still retain the Right of Conscription. I will allow it."

Rylock scowled but lowered her head. "If... if you think it is best, Your Majesty." She shoved Anders back to the Wardens and walked away. The mage raised his middle finger and stuck out his tongue.

Elisa cleared her throat as she stifled her laughter. Oddly satisfying it may be, it was juvenile and the Commander could not be seen tolerating such behavior.

Of course, it didn't stop Oghren from laughing as he slapped Anders's forearm, the latter wincing slightly. "Welcome aboard kid!"

"Me? A Grey Warden?" Anders tittered, side-glancing toward his new Commander. "... guess that could work."

Once the templars left, Elisa bowed lightly to Anora. "Thank you for your support, Your Majesty."

"I did say I will offer what aid I can," Anora said, her features briefly softening, "now if you have everything under control..." She turned to Loghain. "Father and I need to speak. Privately."

Must be a family matter, Elisa mused as she nodded. Once Loghain and Anora left for someplace more private, she followed Varel inside the Keep with the two new recruits in tow.

"First off," Varel said as they strode along the large hallway, "as seneschal, I handle the day to day matters of the Keep If anything important arises, I'll alert you."

Elisa nodded. "Anything else?"

"There is the matter of the Wardens… or in this case, the lack thereof."

Elisa frowned slightly. The Joining. The whole ritual, necessary it may be, still unsettled her, especially considering one died during her Joining while the other had been killed when he tried to run away. As the new Warden Commander, however, it was her duty to preside over this sordid affair. And despite leaving her old life behind, as a Cousland, duty always came above all else.

"Very well," she said as they arrived in the throne room, "make the necessary preparations."

The seneschal bowed and once he left, Elisa faced the two recruits. "We have some time to spare." She grinned slightly. "Drinks?"

Oghren guffawed. "Ain't sayin' no to that."

Anders gave a small lopsided grin. "Should I be worried?"

It took quite an effort for Elisa not to wince. "The Joining is… life-changing." And deadly. "If nothing else, the alcohol will help you calm your nerves."

Anders took a long deep breath. "You know, I went in — well, forced really — into my Harrowing completely sober, and I doubt this ritual's any worse than facing a pride demon."

I suppose you're right, Elisa thought, remembering the nightmare that was Uldred's takeover of the Circle Tower.

Anders's stomach grumbled, however, and the mage smiled sheepishly. "But I wouldn't say no to a sandwich or two."

Elisa smiled and jerked her head to the side. "Follow me."

~oOo~

The Joining ended with no one dying, thank the Maker. Unsurprisingly, Oghren chugged down the darkspawn blood like one of his dwarven ale. "Mm, not bad," he muttered then collapsed on the floor soon after and started snoring.

Varel ordered servants to carry the dwarf upstairs then he shook his head. "Maker preserve us."

Elisa merely shrugged when the seneschal looked over to her, the corners of her lips twitching. Perhaps the Taint paled in comparison to whatever swill they served in Orzammar.

Anders had her more concerned. As Varel handed him the chalice, she stood stiffly, her hands behind her back as one toyed with the hilt of her dagger.

The mage grimaced as he eyed the dark liquid. "So, all I have to do is drink darkspawn blood, that's it?"

Varel nodded. "That is it."

Would he run? Elisa gripped the hilt at the thought. Then Anders took a deep breath and raised the cup. "All right."

Her shoulders relaxed as she released her dagger. Briefly, he turned to her. "But if two weeks from now, I wake up in a ship bound for Rivain wearing nothing but my smallclothes and a tattoo on my forehead, I'm blaming you."

Elisa cracked a smile despite her mind now focused on whether he would survive or not. It was fortunate Oghren drank first and survived. He wouldn't be cracking jokes had he witness the other potential consequence.

One sip, and the mage's eyes rolled back as he collapsed on the floor. Elisa moved but Varel was quick on his feet and sat beside Anders, checking his pulse.

"He lives Commander," he said after a moment.

Thank the Maker! Elisa sighed heavily. "Good." More servants entered the throne room and carried Anders upstairs his quarters.

"Now that's done," Varel said, "allow me to escort you to your quarters. It has been a long day, and you might wish to rest."

"Of course," Elisa said, "but before anything else, could you show me the Orlesian Wardens' rooms?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"I'd like to secure any necessary documents they have before the ambush," Elisa said, "Grey Warden matters, you understand." Not entirely a lie. Warden secrets needed to remain as such.

"Ah. Right this way then." Varel led her to the Orlesians' quarters. She searched every inch of the rooms for any document, Grey Warden-related or otherwise. Other than official reports and personal letters, nothing in its contents hinted that they were spying for the Empress — at least, not on the surface. She would need to scrutinize these further.

Elisa followed the seneschal to her assigned room, only to stop mid-step upon arriving outside the master's bedroom — the former arl's bedroom. She grimaced.

Varel opened the door to an elaborately decorated room with bookshelves lining the walls and a rather gaudy bear rug that lay close to the fireplace on the other end of the room. He turned around and his brows furrowed. "Is something wrong Commander?"

How could she put this politely? Clearly, the Keep's staff put much effort into making the place welcoming and pristine. But this was the late Arl Howe's room. The name alone had her gritting her teeth.

"This is rather… excessive," Elisa said carefully. "A smaller room would suffice."

"Nonsense," Varel said. "You are the Commander of the Grey and The Hero of Ferelden. Anything less would be too inadequate for someone in your station."

There was no convincing the seneschal, and Elisa hesitated on pushing the matter further, so she nodded. "Thank you."

Varel bowed lightly and as soon as he left, she stood awkwardly in the middle of the bedroom. Granted, the staffs hanged Grey Warden banners, but in her mind, this place remained to be Howe's personal quarters, and Maker-knew-what he did here—

"Ugh." Grabbing her bedroll and pack, Elisa stepped out — ran really —of the room, shuddering at the memory of their infiltration of the Arl of Denerim's estate. There was no way she would stay there for the night. Or possibly for a couple of weeks.

However, this left her with a dilemma. Where was she going to sleep? Or rather, where could she sleep without raising questions.

If her memory served her right, next to the master's bedroom was the arl's personal study. That… that's actually perfect.

She entered the room next to Howe's chambers and sighed in relief. The Keep's staff cleaned the room before her arrival, and fortunately, this section of the fortress remained untouched during the ambush.

Clean and close to her assigned room. Perfect.

Minutes later, the door creaked, and Elisa nearly jumped from where she stood. She turned around. "Loghain."

The other Warden's brow arched as he stared at the Commander then the office's setup. "Why is there a bedroll here?"

"I prefer the floor," she said. The look he gave her screamed 'bullshit' for that pitiful excuse but her free hand waved dismissively as she set aside the Warden documents onto the table. "In any case, will Her Majesty be staying for the night?" Perhaps she could pawn off her room to Anora.

He shook his head. "Already left." He paused then drawled, "and sends her apology that she's unable to say her farewells."

"And here I am all-too giddy to play the welcoming host." Elisa grinned briefly. She sat on her desk chair and leaned back. "Bannorn giving her the trouble I take it?"

Loghain shrugged. "Hard to say. We... avoid speaking of politics."

She arched her brow. "Oh, what did you talk about then?"

He responded with silence and an unreadable expression on his face.

Oh. Elisa cleared her throat. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry on personal—"

"It's not personal." Loghain averted his gaze to the bookshelves lined on the wall then took a deep sigh. "A letter from Weisshaupt arrived." He showed her the folded parchment, and as she read the contents, he continued with a deep scowl, "I've been commanded to join the Wardens in Montsimard. They think I might interfere if I stay here in Ferelden." He grumbled, "and here I thought darkspawn blood will be the last poison I have to swallow."

"I see. Well, regardless..." Elisa tossed the letter onto her table. "You're not going."

Loghain's mouth gaped as he stared wide-eyed. "Are you deaf? I said the letter came from—"

"Weisshaupt. Yes, I heard." She met his gaze. "And my response to that is you're not going."

"The First Warden—"

"—can kiss my arse." Elisa stood, chin held up as a deep scowl formed on her lips. "I'm not letting him ship you off to Orlais simply because he finds your presence here 'politically inconvenient'. Tell you what, if he can ship all the elite Wardens in Weisshaupt to Ferelden, I might just consider sending you to Orlais."

She huffed and pushed her hair back. Calm down, you can't decide properly like this. She paced around the room for a minute, Loghain's gaze trained on her.

Finally, she faced him and said, "direct order or no, I need you here. The Orlesian Wardens dead, a new breed of darkspawn has surfaced, not to mention administration of the arling..." She sighed. Maker, she should've taken her lessons more seriously. "I'll write a letter to the First Warden about our current situation and the delay of your departure." She gave a lopsided grin. "With luck, he might forget all about it."

Loghain snorted. "Such optimism."

"Well, if you prefer to leave for Montsimard, don't let me stop you. I'm sure the Orlesian are ecstatic to have your pleasant company," Elisa said, and the corners of her lips twitched as the other Warden grimaced. She returned to her desk and pulled out some parchments. "Speaking of Orlesian Wardens, I've recovered these from their quarters."

"Found anything?" Loghain skimmed through some of them.

Elisa shook her head. "Nothing noteworthy. At least, on the surface. We still need to review these."

He nodded. "Then it's best to inform Anora as well about this theory of yours. I'm aware of her... people, so I can send them for you once it's done."

She raised her brow. "I'm writing the letter?"

He huffed. "It's best if I... restrain myself from interfering in Ferelden's politics. As an assurance to the First Warden, should your optimism on his poor memory fail."

Elisa pulled out a clean parchment from her drawer but then paused. "Have you mentioned to her about... Cailan's letters?"

Loghain frowned. "I've done many cruel things in my life Commander, but not to my daughter. She loved that bastard, and while Anora's a pragmatic woman, she..." He trailed off, gazing to the window behind her.

Protecting his daughter from all forms of pain... he might not be doting, but he certainly cares. Her own father crossed her mind, but she set it aside before it lingered on unanswerable questions.

Elisa sighed as she scribbled down. "I won't mention it then." She glanced up and noted how his tensed shoulders relaxed a little.

She finished her letter not long after, and handed it to Loghain. "A fair warning, if I may. Speaking as someone who had been a daughter for nearly three decades, one way or another, we find out what our fathers are hiding."

He snatched the parchment. "And as a father for more than three decades, I am very much aware. I'll answer her questions should that time comes. But until then, I'd rather spare her the unnecessary trouble." He turned and opened the door. "If nothing else, i'll take my leave."

Elisa leaned back against her chair as she watched the door close. Fathers and their secrets... honestly. And this time, she allowed her own thoughts to trail off to her own father.

A knock on the door jolted her from her rumination. "Who is it?"

"My apologies Commander, but there is an important matter brought to my attention," Varel said from the other side.

Elisa opened the door immediately. "What about?"

"Recently the Orlesian Wardens caught a thief wandering around the Keep."

Elisa tilted her head to the side. "Why me?" Recalling the lectures correctly, theft and minor offenses had often been handled by the seneschal.

"The Wardens suspect he isn't a common thief," Varel said. "It took four of them to restrain him, one he managed to give a black-eye."

"Now that is curious." Elisa said. Judging by skill alone, this prisoner could prove useful. Whether he would be willing to follow orders, however, was entirely up for debate. "Where's he now?"

"In the dungeon," Varel said.

Commander duty beat stewing in her own thoughts any day, and she was grateful for its endless supply. "Lead the way."

End of Chapter 3