Update 2/25/15

The trip to Amaranthine had been very uninteresting. Marian was actually pleased by the lack of events. She hoped the story would be the same when she reached the town, and the fortress of Vigil's Keep. Unfortunately she was still Marian Hawke and her luck was fickle. Thus it was not too surprising to instead find her new home under attack by darkspawn when she arrived.

The litter of bodies and bright stream of mage-fire caught Hawke's attention right off. The little blonde ponytail completed her knowledge of the man before her as he turned and quite clearly stated, "I didn't do it."

Marian held back a smirk. "Really? I remember saying exactly the same thing a year ago in a strikingly similar situation. That didn't end so well for me." In actuality, it HAD been her, and the Templars knew it, but this mage didn't have to know that much.

"Ah. Well I won't say too broken up about them dying, but I'm not a huge fan of what killed them. Darkspawn. Ugg."

Ugg indeed. "Who exactly is it you are supposed to be, ser mage?"

"Me? You may call me Anders, my lady." He gave a small flourish and took her hand to kiss the top. "At your service, even if I am a wanted apostate."

"I have... some familiarity with apostates." He was up-front and witty, easy to trust. "Tell you what. Why don't you help me now and we deal with what happens after...after?" She gave him a slight wink, hoping it would relay her intention to be useful in turn. He followed her lead from there, so it must have worked.

It was almost like with Alistair, the ease with which she found herself working with the mage. Unlike with her fellow Warden, however, Anders quipped back from the start. They quickly found they were the same age and shared a birthday. With that, he stuck his tongue out and Marian gained a new nickname.

It had taken by the time they cleared the Keep and Marian was eye to eye with her best friend. "Sis, who is that in the shiney armor?"

"Just a very good friend," Marian explained, though she dropped to her knee. The seneschal followed suit, her other companions confused by the action.

"Sorry I'm late," Alistair greeted. "I miss this darkspawn-killing thing." He extended an arm, offering it to Marian. Hawke accepted the help up, giving her friend a pat on the back.

"Better late, Alistair. If I got you in a battle it might stain the armor and I'd be in real trouble."

"Andraste's grace, sis, that's King Alistair!"

Alistair blinked. "That...isn't..?"

"No Alistair, Anders here isn't my brother."

As Marian opened her mouth to continue the Templar guard piped up. "No he is not. Beware your majesty, he is a dangerous apostate we were in the process of bringing back to the Tower. Though now that he's killed I suppose he will need to be brought to justice."

"What you know of justice would fill a thimble," Anders scoffed, stalled by Marian's arm from speaking further.

"None of that. I hereby conscript this mage into the Grey Wardens. As we retain that right, you no longer have a say. Now leave us to speak with the King."

Anders looked at Marian, stunned. "Me? A Grey Warden? I... guess that will work."

"Welcome to the club. I'm sure his highness will help me reach you the secret handshake. Brother."

She was pleased to find a mage willing to help her cause. Anders reminded her dearly of her father, from his broad smile to the cheeky laugh. Even his wit. Marian felt a pang. Anders made her miss her family, being like the brother she should have had.

He would make a magnificent warden.

It was on reaching the main fortress castle that Marian found her time monopolized. Someone had already found out who she was and came with plans to kill her and her own. With a sigh, she wandered to the dungeons and had the guards step aside. This would be quick...

What she did not expect was the man before her. Haunting grey eyes, very taut lips. She wondered what had led him here, and actually considered hearing him out before deciding his fate.

When he spoke, voice measured, Marian about rolled her eyes at the bad joke. "So you're the Hero of Ferelden. Aren't you supposed to be ten feet tall with lightening bolts shooting out of your eyes?"

"I see my reputation proceeds me." She could humor him with a light chuckle as she leaned against the wall. Though really, did EVeRYONE have to be a comedian? Laughter was her job!

"It does. I know you best as the one who murdered my father." That got her attention, and Mari straightened under the increased intensity of his gaze. "I am Nathaniel Howe. My family owned these lands until you showed up. Do you even remember my father?"

"Ah, so you're the arl's son. Now it makes sense." Marian found her mind racing. She couldn't...not when it all came down to family. She thought of her own siblings, wondering how she would react if one of them was killed for a mistake in judgement. Nonononono, her brain cried. This wasn't possible!

"My father served the Hero of River Dane and killed Orlesians. Yet our family lost everything. I came here...I thought I was going to try to kill you. I was laying a trap for you. But then I realized- I just want to reclaim some of my family's things."

Marian thought carefully. Very carefully. "Just how much do you know about your father?"

The man in front of Hawke deflated. "Whatever my father did shouldn't harm my whole family. The Howes are pariahs now- those of us that are left. It's all thanks to you! And now you get to decide my fate. Ironic, isn't it?"

Marian looked past Nathaniel at the wall as if the answer was there. She'd intended on hanging him.

"Irony? No. Irony is when you expect one thing, but something else happens. I do know something of the concept. Maybe I will get to show you." Marian turned on her heel, ignoring his confusion as she exited the cell and called for the guard. With a chuckle she added "I've decided what to do with you." That should give him something to consider. She very pointedly made sure not to turn back and see his questioning, because her heart had done everything in it's power to flutter.

Moments later, Nathaniel was in front of her yet again. Marian scrunched her nose. "I promised you irony, Ser Howe. Here it is: I wish to invoke the right of conscription."

Both her seneschal and Howe answered in tandem. "What?" Marian thought about biting back her smirk but thought better of it. The elder man recovered first. "I'm sorry. The right of conscription? On the prisoner?"

"Absolutely not! Hang me first!" Nathaniel's lips were screwy though, and Marian recognized his slight pleasure at the thought of joining them. Good.

"Don't you think this might be preferable to dying?" Her tone was light, playful.

"Hard to say. Do you like having grey wardens who want you dead?"

"Some of my best friends wanted me dead." Marian shook her head at the thought. Zevran- though that brought back thoughts that would color her cheeks too fully. That had turned out just fine. "Truth is, Howe, you didn't want me dead. If you had, you wouldn't have told me your plans. Not here at least."

Nathaniel would never forget that moment. There was the Commander of the Grey, joking with him, when she suddenly went as pale as a ghost and seemed to lose focus. Her voice went from light to a deep, carefully guarded whisper. "Besides, I do understand something of family. It's important to stay focused on the people who cared for you even if they make mistakes. I respect that."

Marian Hawke went from being an enemy to a curiosity in that moment. Certainly he couldn't let this morose version remain. Not after she had chosen to go out on a limb for him here. With an exaggerated frown he lightened the atmosphere. "I can't decide if this is a vote of confidence or a punishment."

Marian did manage a smile, but the color stayed out of her cheeks as she answered, "I'm still working that out myself."