"I cannot imagine how you endure it."
Elspeth glanced from Morrigan to the large—and admittedly somewhat smelly—warhound drooling sleepily on her feet. "Beornulf? Oh he's not so bad. In fact, if you go stand next to Oghren for a few minutes, you can't even smell 'Ulf for about an hour afterwards."
Morrigan snorted. "I've no doubt. That is not what I was referring to, however," her nose wrinkled a little with distaste as she went on. "That lout Alistair. You not only tolerate him, you allow him to call you… 'sister'. Why?"
"Oh, that," Elspeth smiled slightly. "Well, he is my brother in the order. We even share blood. Sort of. Because, you know, we've fought together so many times now," she added hastily. Elspeth had the feeling Morrigan knew a lot more about the Grey Wardens than she let on, but that was no reason for Elspeth to just go around blurting out the order's secrets. "Besides," Elspeth added, recovering her composure, "it's kind of nice to have a brother again. Alistair even reminds me of Fergus sometimes."
Morrigan made a face. "If that is what a brother is like, I am fortunate indeed that I have none."
Elspeth laughed. "All right, I'll admit that about half the time Fergus and I just wanted to wring each other's necks, but the rest of the time he was—is the best friend I've ever had, and if anyone else ever tried to bother me he would always have my back because… because that's what brothers do, I guess."
Morrigan looked thoughtful for a moment. "And… sisters too?"
"I don't know," Elspeth shrugged. "I've never had a sister."
"Nor have I," Morrigan hesitated, looking as if she wanted to say something more, then abruptly turned toward her tent. "Good night, Warden."
Elspeth shook her head, bemused. "Good night, Morrigan."