Distance

When she had first reached the cell door that night, she had not known what to expect. Varel had advised her that a thief had been captured shortly before the darkspawn had overrun the keep. The tale of his capture had been impressive, and the items he had been caught with surprising. Despite heavy 'encouragement', he had refused to answer any questions, and Varel had sought her advice on how to proceed. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she had headed into the jail.

The man had been sitting in a dark corner, his face hidden in shadows but when he had spoken she knew the voice.

"Well, if it isn't little Jules Cousland," said the man, as she stepped into the cell.

"Nate? Nate Howe?" she asked, as she crouched in front of him.

"People call me Nathaniel now," he answered.

"What are you doing here? They told me they had captured a thief," she noticed the bruises, and the broken lip. "Are you alright?" she reached out and gently touched his cheek.

"It's nothing," he snapped, slapping her hand away. "What am I doing here? This is my home, if you recall!" Nathaniel said with venom. "I came to avenge my father, my family name, I came to kill you," he seethed. He sat forward, and the slip of light from outside the cell illuminated his face, making his hate clear. "Then I learned that the Warden Commander, my father's murderer, was Juliette Cousland, the girl I used to fish with, the girl I taught to use a bow, the girl Thomas had had a crush on since I was 8 years old, and my friend," he finished, his voice dropping to a whisper.

Juliette sat slack jawed before him, and then realized what he was saying. "It was no murder, Nate. I swear it," she had said softly.

"Nathaniel!" he snapped. "I should believe you? I have been told well enough what happened!"

"Oh?" she leapt to her feet, her face contorting in rage."And did whoever told you, whatever it is you THINK you may know, that your father murdered my entire family? Mostly in their sleep?" she had yelled. "Did they tell you that he left my home that night having ordered his men to kill everyone within?"

Nathaniel got to his feet then as well, going toe to toe with her. "Your father was betraying us to the Orlesians! It was WAR!" he shouted in her face.

"War? Not even in war do so called honorable men slice four year old boys in half!" she said, shaking. "Those Howe men," she said, his name spoken with a sneer, "were truly defending their land and king when they ended the threat of Fergus's tiny son! I'm sure he wielded his toy sword with real menace!"

He had stopped short at that, his face changing, his confusion obvious, and she pounced on it.

"Guess your information was a bit off then? Maybe you should consider that the rest may be WRONG as well, hmm?' Juliette had spit out.

"Men do terrible things in the heat of battle, I'm sure my father would never have condoned..." Nathaniel had stammered before she cut him off.

"Oh, I know all about the heat of battle, and I know all about your father," she whispered. "He more than condoned it!"

"You lie better than you used to Jules," he met her stare evenly, still just inches from her face. "Heat of battle teach you that?"

"Never took you for a fool Nate," Juliette snapped.

"It's Nathaniel!" he barked.

They stayed that way for what seemed an eternity, nose to nose, neither one relenting in their anger or conviction. Finally Juliette stepped back, "GUARD!" she yelled.

"Decided my fate already, oh Warden Commander, Hero of Ferelden?" Nathaniel had sneered.

"You bet your ass I have," she turned and addressed the guard. "Go and get Seneschal Varel!" and then she paced his cell, her eyes back on him.

"Plan on killing me too?' he taunted. "It will be easier to get away with this time, won't it?"

Varel arrived almost immediately.

"Varel, do you know who this man is? No?" she turned to Nathaniel. "Seneschal Varel, meet Nathaniel Howe, Nathaniel Howe meet Varel, Seneschal of Vigil's Keep."

"A Howe? Here?' Varel looked ready to draw his weapon. "This man is a most serious threat and should be put to death, commander."

"That's what I said," was Nathaniel's response.

"Varel, didn't you tell me that the man captured required no less than four wardens to corner him?" she asked, ignoring Nathaniel.

"Yes ma'am that is correct," Varel watched Nathaniel intensely as he continued. "All the more reason he should be hung immediately," Varel stated flatly.

"Well, as it only took two wardens to take out an archdemon, and end the Blight, I am impressed, Nate," Juliette crossed her arms and looked him dead in the eye. "I hereby conscript you into the order of the Grey Wardens."

"What? Commander, this is a mistake!" Varel looked appalled.

"No! I refuse!" yelled Nathaniel. "I'd rather die!"

"Not today!" Juliette had answered cheerfully. "Sorry Nathaniel, I don't make it a habit of killing people for no good reason," she stepped out of the cell. "Even if they are behaving like ignorant twits," Juliette said to him before turning to speak with Varel. "Bring him up to the main hall," she ordered and left the jail.

A lot had happened since that night.

Over the next few months, Juliette had worked hard to show Nathaniel that she was still his friend. He had worked equally hard on avoiding her. But during their travels, Nathaniel had found his sister, Delilah again and it was through Delilah that he had learned the truth of his father's twisted deeds. It had been hard for him, accepting it all, but in the end he had quietly sought her out and apologized.

"I owe you an apology, it seems you were right about some things," he had begun, and he shared what he had learned. Nathaniel had been in agony, and she had tried to ease his pain. It had been the first genuine and open conversation they had had since before the Blight.

Juliette had been hopeful that it would allow him relax around her, that some of the friendship she had cherished when they were children would return, but it had not. Though Nathaniel acted more like the kind and thoughtful person she had always known, he still remained at arm's length, never letting his guard down around her; or anyone as far as she could tell. She missed him. Suddenly, Juliette realized she had been sitting alone at the table for a very long time.

Remembering that she had a letter she was anxious to read, she quickly rose and departed for her office.