Elisa arrived just outside the prison with Varel. The lone guard stood up and bowed lightly. "Commander."

"Anything you can tell me about this prisoner?" she said, jerking her head toward the locked door.

"Not much," the guard said with a shrug. "All I heard he was caught poking around the estate late at night."

"Not even a name?" Varel said and the guard shook his head.

Elisa sighed. Another stubborn one huh... "I'd like to speak with him. Alone." He might be more susceptible to listening if he wasn't outnumbered.

Both Varel and the guard side-glanced to one another. She arched her brow and rested her hands on her hips. "Well?"

"... As you wish Commander," Varel said as he gestured for the guard to unlock the door then handed her the keys. "Best be careful. We'll wait here... should you need assistance."

How bad could this person be? It's not the Archdemon.

Elisa entered the dimly-lit room and approached the occupied cell. A figure of a man sat in the corner, disheveled long hair obscuring his face. She inched closer, only to halt when he lifted his head.

"Elisa?"

That voice.

"Nathaniel." It took all of Elisa's willpower to maintain a stoic facade. This man, he may have grown taller, his build leaner, but those sharp grey eyes had been etched in her memory.

Her chest tightened.

Nathaniel slowly stood and wobbled forward until his hands clutched the bars. "Maker's breath... What are you doing here? They said the Couslands died."

Her jaws clenched. This man had the audacity to feign ignorance. Who was he fooling?

Elisa crossed her arms across her chest. "They nearly did. All thanks to your snake of a father. "

His fists clung against the bars. "Father would never! There must be a mistake. He and Teryn Cousland are—"

"Friends?" she scoffed. "I thought so too, until that night when he murdered everyone in the castle."

"Elisa." He leaned closer. "I understand what happened with your family was unfortunate—"

"Unfortunate?" Bloody son of a bitch! Elisa marched forward and kicked the bars, startling the Howe as he stumbled back. "You think it's some soiree gone wrong? An 'oopsie' from some Orlesian fop wearing last season's hat? Is that how you see the death of my entire family?"

"What— no!"

She nearly tore open the cells upon unlocking it and slammed him against the wall. He winced.

"What other proof should I shove down your throat to get reality into your thick skull?" She snarled, leaning close as she gripped the collar of his worn tunic. "Should I drag you to Highever just to see the blood and carnage left by your father and his men? The burnt and beheaded corpses of our soldiers?"

"Elisa please—"

"—Or would you prefer I tell you how they gutted Orianna's belly and tore Oren's limbs! You know what your bastard of a father said before killing mother? 'I made your mother kiss my feet as she died. It was the last thing your father saw.'"

"Elle."

Elisa paused. To hear him call her by her nickname... It brought brief memories of happier times when he visited their castle, only for them to be engulfed by the anger and grief she had suppressed for Maker knew how long.

She hadn't even noticed the tears streaming down her cheeks until now. Typical. Years had passed and still, Nathaniel managed to rile her up so easily.

Shit. She released Nathaniel tunic, dropping him on the floor. She stepped back but kept her gaze glued on him, blatantly ignoring the wet streaks flowing from her eyes. "Why are you even here?" She spoke as calmly as she could "You're in Grey Warden property now."

Momentarily, he held her gaze but turned away. "I... I intended to kill the Warden-Commander... to avenge father.."

I suppose a Howe would always want my head. She nearly barked out a laugh at her morosed musings. "Well, now I'm here."

She tossed her dagger in front of him. "Go on then." Why was she doing that? Maker knew. At this point, her thought barely made sense. She just wanted... everything to stop hurting.

He stared at her wide-eyed. "You're... the Warden Commander."

~oOo~

Lady Elisa Cousland, the young daughter of Bryce Cousland, someone who Nathaniel had once been smitten with, was his father's murderer?

Is this some kind of twisted joke?

His eyes shifted to the dagger in front of him. He could kill her just as easily. Her stance had so many openings, her shoulders sagged, her neck so exposed. He might've been starved for a couple of days, but he could still move just as fast.

But he couldn't, not when he met her sullen gaze.

He kicked the dagger out of his reach and leaned his head back, sighing. "I would have, but now..." Now what? What did he want? "I just want to take whatever's left of my family's things. They're all I have left."

"And then what?" Elisa said.

"I—" Nathaniel's hand rubbed his face. "I don't know... Is there even anything out there for me? Father's dead, my whole family's name worth no more than dirt, lands and title taken away..." He sighed heavily. Did Delilah or Tom even survive the war?

"Redemption maybe?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "If your family name matters to you, do something about it."

He snorted. "Right. I'll join King Alistair's service. He'd certainly give another Howe a chance."

Silence fell in the dingy prison as the eyes of his once old friend stared down on him, her expression unreadable. Nathaniel lowered his head and took a deep breath. "Just hang me and be done with it."

"What if I let you go?"

His brows shot up as he locked gaze with her. "Let me go?" What was this, dangling mercy as some sort of cruel joke before his execution? He sneered. "If you let me go, I probably come back here, and you might not catch me next time."

She arched her brow. "You're not making the best case here."

He scoffed. "I'm a dead man, either way. But I could lie, if you prefer."

She reached for the dagger on the floor, and he shut his eyes. I shall not be left to wander the drifting roads of the Fade, he mused at the vague memory of the Chantry teachings drilled into him in his youth, for there is no darkness, nor death either, in the Maker's Light..

Half a minute later, he opened his eyes as his cell door shut, his executioner heading toward the door. So starving to death in this Maker-forsaken prison was his death sentence? He huffed and leaned his head against the wall. "You're a cruel woman Elle..."

Not long after however, the prison door opened and Elisa returned with another man — the Keep's new seneschal, Varel — if he remembered correctly from the conversations from his previous guards.

The noose then? Nathaniel stood up and awaited their judgment.

Elisa turned to the seneschal. "Are you aware this is Nathaniel Howe?"

"A Howe?" Varel's brows shot up then shook his head. "Figured one of them would show up. So what's your decision?"

"Release him."

"What?" Nathaniel's mouth gaped.

"C-commander!" Varel sputtered. "That's—"

"—An order." Elisa glared at the seneschal. "Gather what remained of the late Arl's belongings, give him a horse, then escort him out of the Keep."

"You're just letting me go?" Nathaniel said as she swung the cell door open. "Even after—"

"Yes." Sapphire eyes met his as she whispered harshly, "and if you decide to follow through, I'll kill you myself. So don't test your luck."

She shoved a small pouch of coin against his chest, then marched out of the prison, leaving him with a lingering question.

Why?

~oOo~

Elisa tossed and turned on her bedroll. She managed to sleep for a couple of hours, but the various nightmares of her home's destruction to the faint whispers of the Old Gods kept her up most of the time. And in those waking hours, she found her thoughts trailing off to Nathaniel.

Why did she let him go? He threatened her life even as she offered the possibility of releasing him. Clearly, the logical thing to do was execute him. Yet, as she gazed at his despondent features, she couldn't. What held her back? Sentimentality?

She scoffed at the very idea. She was past her adolescent years. By now, such things should not triumph over practicality.

Elisa sat up and turned toward the window, the sky faintly illuminated by light from the slowly rising sun. Four or five in the morning? she mused as she stood.

Not far from her, Caena whined and stirred, her groggy head turning toward her.

"Shhh, get some sleep," she whispered as she smoothed her hand along the mabari's head to her neck.

Caena yawned and rested her head back on the floor. Once she was certain that the mabari was sound asleep, Elisa quietly exited her office and returned to her designated room.

Changing into her leather armor, she grabbed her bow and daggers from the weapon rack before heading downstairs. If her memory served her right, the woods near the Keep had been ripe with game. And if not, well, she could always scout the area for any darkspawn stragglers.

Anything to distract her mind.

"You're up early."

She halted her footsteps before exiting to the courtyard. She turned to Loghain just as he was approaching her. Instead of his usual Chevaliar armor, he wore a drakeskin leather set with a longsword strapped onto his belt.

Grinning slightly, she replied, "I could say the same to you."

"I've had enough sleep." He glanced to her bow. "And just where are you going?"

Her grin broadened. "Places."

He scowled as he crossed his arms. "Are you going to properly answer my question or do I need to shadow you throughout your little trip?"

Her fingers rubbed her brows. "Hunting. I'm going hunting."

"Just hunting?"

Her eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He kept silent for a moment but maintained eye contact. "Varel told me about the Howe boy..."

Of course he would. She snorted. "And you think, what, I'll go look for him?"

"It's no secret in court that you and Howe's son—"

She laughed. "You, listening to court gossip?"

"It's not mere court gossip when everyone knew about your fathers' arrangements, nor is it when everyone's well-aware of your closeness."

Her lips thinned. "Loghain, I sent Nathaniel away. That should tell you enough that whatever friendship we had ended years ago."

"Returned his family's personal belongings, gave him a horse, then sent him away." He shook his head. "Yes, you've certainly ended it."

Stubborn... Elisa's jaws clenched as she took a slow deep breath. "If you're so convinced that I'll run off to search for someone I just sent away last night, then by all means, join me."

If this would keep him from prodding into feelings she had no time to deal with,so be it.

~oOo~

Spending the night on top of a large tree in the middle of the woods had not been part of Nathaniel's plan. Then again, leaving Vigil's Keep alive wasn't part of it either. He ought to be happy that he could live for another day, but what else was there to live for? What was the point now that he had lost everything?

"Redemption maybe? If your family name matters to you, do something about it." Elisa's words echoed in his mind.

Easier said than done. He huffed. The Howes were pariahs now, who would even want him in their service?

Then it hit him, and he nearly laughed at the irony. The Grey Wardens... The very same organization now occupying his family's lands... led by the woman who killed his father. He shook his head. The Maker truly has twisted sense of humor.

And yet... what was there for him to lose? The Wardens had taken any skilled fighter regardless of their past, and he wasn't without skill. He didn't spend his time abroad simply drinking wine and chasing skirts.

Would she have you though? Nathaniel scowled. Anyone with sense wouldn't take as a comrade-in-arms a person who just threatened to kill them. Then again, anyone with sense wouldn't simply release the same person from prison.

He jerked as his horse whined and tugged against his reins that were tied to the tree he was perched on. With narrowed eyes, he surveyed the vicinity for danger. Wild bear perhaps? Or bandits?

The horse's whines grew more frantic as it tugged harder at its rein and Nathaniel held onto a branch as the tree shook, lest he lost his balance. The restraint finally snapped and his mount dashed further into the woods.

Shit.

At a distance, voices echoed coupled with growls and barks from several wolves. Nathaniel readied his bow, nocking an arrow.

"There's a clearing up ahead!" A woman's voice shouted and his brows shot up.

Elle?

Elisa backpedaled toward the clearing just as she fired an arrow toward the trees, her target howling before abruptly silenced. She nocked another arrow just as a man — her companion perhaps — joined her in the clearing, slicing a wolf's flank in the process when it lunged toward him. She released the bowstring and the arrow pierced through its neck.

Nathaniel's eyes widened at the twisted form of what was supposed to be a wolf as it fell onto the ground. Maker's breath! What is that?

More of the beasts joined them in the clearing, two of which fought the dark-haired man while one bolted past him, heading straight to Elisa.

No time to think. Nathaniel fired his arrow straight to creature's eye. The beast howled as it staggered, and Elisa took the opportunity to plunge her dagger through the top of its head. Then she joined her companion and quickly dispatched the remaining two.

Both Wardens panted heavily as they wiped the sweat from their faces. "Loghain," Elisa spoke in between deep exhales. "Your arm."

Nathaniel's brows raised. As in The Loghain Mac Tir? It couldn't be... His eyes squinted to study the man's features before he finally recognized him.

Returning his sword to its scabbard, Loghain raised his arm, unstrapping the bracer. "They didn't break through the leather. More importantly..." He grabbed her arm, raising it to look at the unprotected area. His brows furrowed. "Wasn't this bleeding earlier?"

"If it was, I would've noticed." She pulled away then glanced up toward the tree.

His tree.

"It's safe to come out now."

Nathaniel froze. Should he show himself or pretend he wasn't there? Wasn't this the opportunity he had been waiting for, ask her to let him join the Wardens?

"I just want to properly thank you," she added.

Taking a deep breath, he jumped down, dropped his bow on the ground and raised his hands.

Her eyes widened. "Nathaniel?"

Loghain pulled out his sword and marched forward, but Elisa stretched her arm to block his path. She glared at him and he glared back but ultimately, he returned his blade back to its scabbard .

She returned her gaze to Nathaniel. "What are you doing here?"

"Resting."

She arched her brow. "In the middle of the forest?"

He shrugged. "It was late into the night when your seneschal released me. Traveling to the nearest inn would be too risky."

"So is this place." She jerked her head toward the dead creatures.

He followed her gaze, his brows furrowing. "What are those... things?"

"Blight wolves. This is what happens to animals infected by the taint." Her foot nudged one nearest to her, its dead crimson eyes now facing him. Nathaniel fought the urge to grimace.

"We can't sense any more of them... for the moment," she continued, "but it's best you avoid the woods while in Amaranthine."

She looked up at the sky, then turned to Loghain. "Varel's probably awake by now. Let's finish here then head back."

The older man side-glanced to him, his eyes narrowing. However, whatever complaints he had, he kept it to himself as he gave her asmall nod.

"Wait," Nathaniel called out just as they turned the other way.

Elisa faced him, arching her brow.

"You set me free, just let me go, despite... what I said..." He stepped forward but stopped as Loghain gripped the hilt of his sword. "Why?"

"Why indeed..." Loghain muttered.

Elisa rubbed her forehead as she sighed. "I have no quarrel with you."

"Even though I was trying to pick a fight?" Nathaniel said.

Her lips thinned. "I'm a Warden now. Unless we have a darkspawn joining the nobility, I could care less about petty squabbles. The Crown gave Amaranthine to the Wardens. If you have a problem with that, send your grievances to them." She waved him off. "There. I've answered your question. Now, if you'll excuse me—"

"Make me a Grey Warden."

Loghain snorted as Elisa's brows shot up.

"Becoming a Warden won't get you back your family's lands," she said.

Nathaniel scowled. "It's not about that."

She crossed her arms. "What then? Redemption?"

"I..." His gaze lowered. "I don't know... Maybe. I just... I have to do... something."

"You don't know what you're asking. " She shook her head. "Joining the Wardens could kill you."

"Does it matter?" He looked at her so helplessly that in any other circumstance, he would've chastised himself for being so weak. "I fully expected to die in that cell. But you spared me..." He pushed back his hair. "Please... let me try."

She turned to Loghain and the two shared a silent moment as they locked gazes. The older man disapproval was evident from the furrowed brows and deep frown, while Elisa kept her features stoic.

After what felt like an eternity, her attention returned to Nathaniel. "Once the Joining begins, there's no turning back."

He gave a firm nod. Nothing to fear.

~oOo~

Loghain stood quietly behind the Commander while they both watched Varel recite the words spoken during the Joining Ritual. Her unreadable gaze remained fixed on Howe's boy but her slightly shaking hand gripped the hilt of the dagger strapped behind her.

Hesitation?

He scowled at that. If she couldn't kill the lad should he changed his mind, then the duty fell onto him. He breathed deeply. No, she wasn't the type to shirk her responsibilities, no matter the cost. Her actions during the Blight proved as much.

"Something troubling you?" Elisa whispered, side-glancing toward him. They stood far enough that their hushed conversation wouldn't interrupt the ritual.

"Are you certain about this?" He murmured as he kept his gaze on their new recruit. "He is a Howe."

"You've taken a Howe as an ally." She returned her focus back to the ritual. "And that one was an ambitious greedy bastard."

He scowled. "That's different."

"Exactly my point."

Nathaniel accepted the goblet from Varel then glanced over to them. Elisa maintained her unreadable facade and only offered him a slight nod. He took a deep breath and downed the cup's contents. Staggering, his hands dropped the chalice as his eyes rolled back before collapsing on the floor.

For a split second, her mask cracked. Loghain caught a glimpse of that raw desperation in her eyes before she returned to that stoic expression as she approached the seneschal.

Varel glanced up after checking the unconscious man's pulse. "He lives, Commander."

She exhaled as a brief small smile graced her lips. "Good. We'll take it from here."

As soon as the seneschal left the room, Elisa slung one of Nathaniel's arm over her shoulders. She stood but stumbled at the unconscious body's heavier weight.

Loghain sighed and slung the other arm around his shoulders. "Where should we put him?"

She stared at him for a moment with her furrowed brows. Then she started to walk. "I know his room."

He arched a brow but kept silent. However, she probably figured out the silent query as she huffed and pursed her lips.

"The guest rooms used to be in the same wing where his room is," she began. "That's how I know."

Elisa sped up her pace and Loghain kept up with relative ease. The two remained silent for the duration of their short journey to Nathaniel's room, and only once they settled the latter on the bed and exited the room did she finally spoke, "he's not his father you know."

Loghain crossed his arms. "Sentimentality makes for a poor judge of character."

Her lips thinned. "It's not sentimentality, it's—" She sighed heavily as her fingers rubbed her brows. "It's a waste of opportunity if we decline someone practically pleading to take him. You heard him earlier. He expected to die in that cell. Nothing else await him, so why not let his life serve a better purpose?"

She made a point. He hated it, but he could see where she was coming from. Still... "What if you're wrong?"

"Assuming I'm wrong..." She said slowly. "Then, wouldn't it be better if we can keep a close eye on him? It'd be much easier than having him roam Maker-knows-where, scheming, and then we find ourselves face-down on a ditch."

Another fair point. Loghain uncrossed his arms. "Clearly this is something I can't convince you otherwise."

The corners of her lips twitched. "Isn't it already too late for that?" She patted his arm. "Get something to eat. I'll meet you downstairs. Just need to check on Caena."

Loghain nodded and watched her as she retreated further down the hallway.

I hope you know what you're doing, Commander.

End of Chapter 4