Seireadan Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall
29th Day, Kingsway (September), 9:30
Seireadan Hawke passed the Warden Commander's fire pit where Aonghas and the others spoke with Duncan before slipping into the shadows of the tents. Aonghas hadn't noticed him so when the boy separated from the others he stealthily stalked his cousin. As the elder Hawke watched Aonghas looked around nervously and Seireadan moved quickly as the warden recruit slipped between two tents with his hound. Seireadan knew then that the boy intended to make a break for it and sighing deeply the older man continued to move more swiftly and by the time the lad approached the gap in the camp's defenses Seireadan was waiting with his arms crossed and a serious look upon his face.
Seireadan watched intently as the boy stepped up to face him and the flush of color in his cousin's pale cheeks was the only warning he had before the recruit attempted to bully him. "You will not stand between me and my search for Fergus. Interfere and I will be forced to inform the templars, at the mage encampment, of your true nature." For a long moment Seireadan felt a thread of panic invade his being, but as his panic turned slowly into anger his cousin spoke once more. "Stand aside, Seireadan." The tone of voice of his baby cousin was so imperious that Seireadan had to mentally berate himself to keep from moving aside as ordered. The tone was not one he had expected from such a young man and it was definitely not a tone that he could allow the boy to get away with using. Seireadan remained standing arms crossed as he racked his brain for the best way to handle the situation. Certainly the loss of Aonghas' parents had something to do with the boy's behavior; however, he had overheard his mother and Bethany speaking of how Aonghas had been found to be a mage and had been sent to the tower and it was obvious that somehow the family had managed to bring Aonghas home again or he wouldn't have been in Highever. Seireadan knew there had to be more to that story but he also knew now wasn't the time for it.
"I suggest you amend your attitude, Aonghas." Seireadan watched as Aonghas crossed his arms, in an echo of Seireadan's own stance, and glared. "I'm not the only one who has something to hide." Seireadan paused to give his baby cousin a chance to respond but the boy just flushed a darker red and looked away briefly before giving Dan another glare as fierce as the one before. "I understand you want to find, Fergus, but you aren't going to be able to find him. You don't even know which way he was headed." Dan sighed and decided to not confront Aonghas about the results of desertion and instead attempted to guide the conversation in the direction he had planned all along. "I am sorry to hear about Uncle Bryce and Aunt Eleanor." They weren't really his uncle and aunt but familial respect caused him to address his father's cousins and their spouses as such.
"I don't want to talk about it. I want you to…," Seireadan watched as the boy seemed to struggle against emotions before presenting pouting lips and speaking in a pleading tone, "please just let me go." The sudden change in demeanor startled Seireadan but he just shook his head and stepped forward and slid his arms around his cousin and pulled the lad into his embrace. He ignored the boy's stiffened posture and hugged tighter not saying anything, just offering what little comfort he could. When the trembling started he held even tighter. For what seemed like a good while the two stood so and Seireadan felt the trembling of his cousin beginning to subside. Finally the boy composed himself and tried to push out of Seireadan's embrace; Seireadan released his cousin but left his hands resting on the slightly trembling shoulders of his kin.
"I am truly sorry, baby cousin." When Aonghas didn't respond Seireadan continued speaking. "I know things must be very difficult for you, but your place is with the Grey Wardens." When Aonghas opened his mouth to respond Dan interrupted him. "I don't want to hear your excuses. I will not accept a denial of your obligations. I have already spoken to King Cailan and to Duncan. King Cailan expressed that your duty to your parents is to join the wardens, not start an impossible search for your brother. Your brother will return after the battle." Hawke slipped a finger under his baby cousin's chin and forced the boy to meet his gaze, "Have I made myself clear?"
"You have," answered Aonghas before pulling away. "Good bye, Seireadan."
"I will see you soon, Aonghas." Seireadan watched Aonghas head for the quartermaster and he continued to watch him until the young man Alistair joined his cousin and helped him put on his armor. It was only as the two headed off together that Seireadan relaxed and headed to his bedroll where he assured Carver that he had spoken to their cousin.