A/N: Thank you so much for your supportive comments and constructive criticism! It really helps me with writing future chapters. =) Alistair is not completely gone, so please don't worry...he'll make a comeback. Also, it will be getting a bit more mature in the next chapter, so please be warned!

His Own Worst Enemy

Elissa sat beside the cot, her new comrade was still hasn't awakened from his joining experience. Oghren simply squatted at the far corner of the room, twirling his axe between his hands.

It was ridiculous how things have gotten so crazy as soon as she had arrived in Amaranthine. She had heard rumors of remnants of the blight had been active in the north, but when she arrived at Vigil's Keep, it had been swarming with the darkspawn. What was worse, the Orlesian Grey Wardens that she had been expecting had all been either massacred or taken prisoner by the horde. These darkspawn were quite different from what she was accustomed to.

She sighed and looked up at the dingy ceiling. At least she could be grateful that Highever was safe at the moment. She had left Fergus so quickly because her duties as Warden Commander demanded her immediate attention.

"How long is this stupid brat going to be out for?" Oghren muttered from the corner.

Elissa turned to him and gave him a weary smile. "You know, it is quite normal for a Grey Warden to be out like this after the joining...I was the same. We all can't be like you, Oghren. I still can't believe you simply belched it out!"

Oghren let out his rough laugh and slapped his knee. "Not the best drink I've ever had in my life…but it had a good kick to it."

Elissa laughed with him. She was grateful that Oghren had joined her newest fight. Most of her old comrades have opted to stay behind in Denerim to assist the new King as advisors. Maker only knows that he needed whatever help he could get.

She felt a pang of melancholy as Alistair crossed her thoughts. After the day of coronation, their companionship has drastically changed. Gone were the days when Elissa could be comfortably alone with Alistair. They only spoke to each other when Eamon was present in the room with them…and even then, their conversations were polite and cordial.

Alistair had thrown himself into studying the government ordinances and dedicated himself to learning his new royal duties. Elissa, as the new Warden Commander, had constant meetings with Olesian emissaries and Ferelden soldiers to prepare for any other attack against the darkspawn. It was as if both were doing their best to forget the times they were together by working themselves to exhaustion. After a few weeks at Denerim, Elissa had set out to go to Highever. She did not bid Alistair a goodbye, only gave a quick word to Chancellor Eamon, who always gazed at the two with eyes of pity and regret.

With the most recent darkspawn attack against the Grey Warden lands of Amaranthine, Elissa was fully committed to fight what she was trusted to do as the Warden Commander of Ferelden. It was a welcome distraction from her sorrow.

"Ugh…" A strained voice moaned and broke Elissa out of her reverie.

She hovered over her new companion with concern. "Take it easy, Anders. You'll be fine."

Anders stared up at Elissa with squinted eyes. "Where am I? You didn't drag me back to the tower while I was out, did you?"

Elissa gave a reassuring smile. "I am not so unselfish to allow the templars take their frustration out on you before I do. You're in one of the rooms in Vigil's keep. We brought you here to recover from your joining."

"Brought me here, huh…what a manly mage I am." Anders muttered and slowly pulled himself up from the cot.

"Yeah, that was quite a show to see." Oghren snorted, getting up from his corner. "You passed out like a frail old woman paling from the sun. Even though Mhairi didn't make it, at least she went down more like a man than you."

"Mhairi didn't make it?" Anders asked, frowning. "What a shame…I thought out of all of us, the dwarf would be the first to go."

"I would have preferred Mhairi over the prissy little fruit. At least she would've looked better in his dress." Oghren huffed and crossed his arms.

"Enough." Elissa ordered, already tired from being a buffer between them. "If you guys are going to fight like children, I prefer you do it without me in the middle."

Both of them rolled their eyes but stopped at Elissa's request. Anders got up from his cot and stretched. "Well…now that I have rested with such a nice nap, shall we go about and fight some darkspawn then?"

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. They all turned to see a soldier open the door and immediately incline his head at Elissa. "I beg your pardon, commander. We have a new issue that we thought we should bring to your attention."

"What is going on?" Elissa got up from her chair.

"The guards are preparing to hang a thief that was caught breaking into the keep a few days ago. We were thinking you may want to see the man before he gets his punishment…seeing that you are our Arlessa and all."

Elissa nodded. "I guess I should then." She turned to Oghren and Anders. "You both go on and get your armor prepared. I'll be back shortly."

"See if you'd be allowed to stab the bastard rather than let them hang him. I'd prefer seeing that for entertainment." Oghren suggested, stroking his beard and grinning at the thought.

As the soldier led her towards the dungeons, Elissa couldn't help looking around her surroundings with a disdainful eye. Vigil's keep was still dark and depressing as she remembered it when she had visited as a child. When Arl Howe ran the lands, he did not care much for the aesthetics and comforts of his townspeople. She made a mental note to make sure the buildings in disrepair would get properly rebuilt, even if she would have to supplement the budget from her own pockets. After all, Amaranthine was now hers.

"You should be careful with this one." The soldier warned as they walked down the spiral stairway. "He took down four Grey Wardens before they were able arrest him. He was only able to survive the darkspawn attack because he was locked down here."

The soldier led her to the last door and unlocked it one of his brass keys. The door creaked opened and they both entered the dungeons.

One lone man was locked in the center cell while the rest remained empty. The soldier stood back at the door while Elissa approached the thief. He was sitting with his back against the wall, his dark cloak hung over his head and his body. He did not show any signs of acknowledging her presence and continued to stare at the floor.

"Are you the man who broke into Vigil's keep?" Elissa questioned, holding her hands behind her back.

The man slightly jolted at the sound of her voice. He quickly removed his hood and looked up at her. She let out a small gasp as he glared at her with familiar steel gray eyes.

"How can one break into his own home?" The thief answered, giving Elissa a crooked smile.

Elissa staggered and grabbed at the bars of the cell. "Nathaniel?! Nathaniel Howe? Is that you?!"

Nathaniel slowly stood up, brushing himself off. "Well, I am glad that the great hero of Ferelden did not forget about someone as lowly as I."

Elissa could not believe her eyes. She had never thought she would ever see Nathaniel again. His appearance had changed over the years. Nathaniel's black hair has gotten long and was almost at his shoulders. Gone were his boyish features…his face was now chiseled and sharp with a hard expression. His broad shoulders have also become more muscular. His eyes were still the same grey…only now they were glaring at her with unfamiliar contempt.

She immediately turned to the soldier who was trying hard not to show interest in her reaction. "Please go get Seneschal Varel and bring him down here."

The soldier paused to shoot a look at Nathaniel. "Yes, commander…" He reluctantly nodded and strode out to do her bidding.

Elissa turned back to Nathaniel. "I can't believe you're in here. I thought you were dead."

Nathaniel's lips pursed into a hard line. He was trying not to allow his past feelings of love cloud his clear vision of anger. Elissa Cousland had changed little since he last saw her as a young girl in Highever. Her hair was still the color of chestnuts that tended to curl at the ends. A scatter of light freckles across her nose still marred her otherwise perfect creamy complexion. Her lips were still as full and pink, even as she was frowning at him. Of course her eyes were still as clear and as blue as the sky. The only change he could distinguish was that her body has blossomed from her girlish lankiness into the curves of a young woman.

"I would have thought the same." He drawled, crossing his arms. "But I do not blame you for thinking me dead seeing that you killed my father."

Elissa was surprised at his harsh tone and narrowed her eyes at him. "Your father killed my family and destroyed my home."

"Well then…touché." Nathaniel replied sarcastically.

"What were you doing trying to break into Vigil's Keep?" Elissa demanded, feeling angry at his offish demeanor.

Nathaniel returned her glare. "The last I knew, Amaranthine was my home. But now that your new King has declared us Howes as traitors to the crown…well, that has made things a bit difficult for me."

Elissa let go of the bars of his cell. "Amaranthine now belongs to the Grey Wardens. I am now the Warden Commander and thus the Arlessa of it's lands."

"Why, how far you've come in the world." Nathaniel inclined his head in a mock gesture. "I'm so glad that you Couslands have felt it necessary to rule over Amaranthine along with Highever. I'm sure your parents are quite thrilled."

Nathaniel's cold sarcasm cut into her deep. Elissa did not expect her charming and suave Nathaniel become so bitter. She paused and took a step away to gather her thoughts. Nathaniel noticed her sudden silence and approached the bars that were between them. He felt some of his anger wither back as he saw Elissa's face furrowed with pain.

"Elissa." Nathaniel spoke as earnestly as he could. "I had nothing to do with what my father has done to your parents. You of all people knew I was in Free Marches while it happened. I did not know what had even happened until my sister wrote to me afterwards."

Elissa looked up and Nathaniel met her eyes evenly. She heard no hints of lying in his words…but then again, how could she trust the Howes again after all that has happened? She shook her head and stepped towards him again. "Nathaniel, they are planning on hanging you for thievery."

Nathaniel shrugged. "The guards have said as much. Frankly, it does not matter much to me whether I live or die."

Elissa was shocked. "What?! How can you not be concerned for your own life?"

Nathaniel let out an exasperated breath. "Even if I am let out of this place, where am I to go? As I said…the Howes are now branded as traitors to the crown. I have no home to go back to. I have nothing left. What do I have to live for?" He then gave her a hard stare. "But then again, how would the Warden Commander understand?"

"I think I understand quite well." Elissa replied cooly. "It is how I felt after your father destroyed my home."

"Well then, let's consider my death part of your justice, shall we?" Nathaniel sighed and leaned against the bars between them.

"Nathaniel…I do not wish for your death." Elissa said quietly, reaching her hand through the bars to place her hand on his shoulder. Nathaniel's back tensed with the familiar gesture.

"I don't really see an option at this point." Nathaniel responded. "I am a Howe. Your loyal soldiers consider me a threat…not only to you but to your brother as well."

"You wouldn't kill me." Elissa said confidently, straightening herself.

"How would you know? I may be planning for my vengeance at this very moment and just waiting for an opportunity to slice your throat open."

"I'm not saying it's because you wouldn't try." Elissa corrected him, copying his arrogant stance. "I am simply saying you would not be skilled enough to kill me."

Nathaniel narrowed his eyes at her smug smile. Elissa Cousland was still the cocky little warrior he remembered. Nice to know that hasn't changed.

Seneschal Varel arrived at the dungeons with the soldier in tow. He approached Elissa and did not bother acknowledging the prisoner. "Well, commander…I see you have met our thief. Seeing that he is a Howe, have you gotten your final peace before we hang him?"

Elissa turned her eyes back at Nathaniel who took the news of his execution with little concern.

Even though his father was a traitor and a murderer…she could not bring herself to hate his son. Her mind flooded with memories of the days when he had been her friend and training partner. She still had his birthday gift strapped to her ankle…to this day she could not bring herself to throw it away.

The old Nathaniel that had been so full of life…but was now loaded with despair…she felt she had to take it upon herself to give her friend a second chance at life. She could not allow the sins of his father doom him.

"Varel, I have decided." Elissa said and Nathaniel lifted his head to meet her gaze. She gave Nathaniel a hard grin that made his eyes narrow in suspicion.

"I will be conscripting him into the Grey Wardens. Please prepare for the joining."