Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Age or any of its characters.

Hedylogos

"Between flattery and admiration there often flows a river of contempt."

"So…what do you reckon?" Anders asked.

Nathanial glanced up at the mage. "What do you mean?"

The pair had taken a break from training and were laundering their linens in the lake near the Keep. Despite having servants in the Wardens' employ that would normally take care of such things, both men found comfort in the mundane task.

Anders scrubbed at a particularly stubborn bloodstain before murmuring conspiratorially, "I heard she's a real ball buster, hard to get along with, and no patience for anyone…Kind of like Velanna!" He recounted the rumours he had heard of late.

"It will be…strange having an elf as our leader," Nathaniel said softly.

"You'd better get used to it, shem," a voice spat from behind them.

Both men turned to identify the source of the interruption. They each nearly died of embarrassment when faced with the king, a little girl, and a very angry looking elf. The elf folded her arms across her chest, and narrowed her violet eyes. "Who're these fools, your Majesty?" the elf asked.

King Alistair sighed. "The blond fellow is Anders, a mage, and the dark haired fellow is Nathaniel." The king waved an arm toward the elven woman. "This, gentlemen, is your new Warden-Commander – Kallian Tabris."

Both men leapt to attention immediately. Nathaniel looked especially uncomfortable. "Commander, I apologize profusely. I meant no disresp-"

"Shut it," Kallian snapped. "Your apology means nothing, Warden. All I care about is whether or not you can fight." She scrutinized him, her gaze was hard and made Nathaniel feel like he was being dissected. "Your weapon of choice is a bow?"

"Yes, Commander," he replied.

Kallian turned her attention to Anders. "The only thing I've heard about you is that you're a mage…what's your main specialization, blondie?"

Anders flashed the Commander a winning smile. "Well, Commander, I have many specializations," he winked. "I feel as though we all got off on the wrong foot, Commander. Please, call me Anders." He held out his hand, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

Kallian stared down at the proffered hand. She supposed that she was being unreasonable with them, and should at least be a little civil. She relented and grasped his hand, shaking it firmly. It was then that she felt a slight trill of electricity shoot up her arm. The sensation was pleasant, she had to admit, but Kallian was not a fan of having magic used on her by her supposed comrades. She took in his catlike grin, and suddenly realised that he was actually flirting with her. She had to admit, the shem had balls. Nevertheless, such insubordination required immediate action. She squeezed his hand just a bit tighter and watched as Anders paled visibly. "I believe I asked you a question, mage."

Anders felt his mana deplete considerably, all from a single squeeze of her hand. It was a warning, he knew. "You're…a templar?"

"No, I simply picked the skills up from an…unnamed source," she smiled sweetly, but her eyes bore into his. "Now, I'll ask you again: what is your main specialization?" there was an edge to her voice that Anders couldn't help but shudder at.

"I'm an adept Spirit Healer, and have recently started training as a Battle Mage," he replied.

Suddenly the young girl spoke up. "Mum! He's a healer like me! Do you think he could teach me how-"

Kallian's gaze snapped over to her daughter. "Hush, Adair. What did I say about telling others about your gift?"

The child looked away, immediately chagrined. "I'm sorry mama."

The elf sighed and wandered over to Adair, collecting the girl into her arms. "No, no, I'm the one who should be sorry, sweeting. Mama just worries about you. There are bed shems out there that want to take you from me, and I don't want that to happen," her eyes darkened. "I won't let that happen." She kissed her daughter's forehead lovingly.

Anders watched this exchange with wonder. To see the Commander shift from a sharp tongued harpy to this sweet, maternal creature…it was beyond perplexing. He cleared his throat tactfully. "Commander, if you wish, I'd be happy to tutor your daughter in my spare time. I'm pretty sure I hate the Chantry and the templars just as much as you do." He watched the conflicting emotions play across her features.

"I…I'll think about it. Thank you," she replied.

Adair wiggled out of her mother's arms and leapt to the ground. She rushed over to where Anders stood and tugged on his robes. "I'm Adair! I didn't know shems could do magic too. Can you heal people? Have you healed many people? Have you ever healed an animal? I once healed a bear. He was very happy about it after. I rode on his back and he was soooooo big!" The small girl was making several large motions with her arms, and Anders had to bite his lower lip to keep from chuckling. He noticed how the Commander's muscles had visibly tensed and she had even moved to block her daughter from moving toward him, but the king held her back, shaking his head at her slightly. Anders raised his eyebrows at his new leader, a silent question as to whether or not he could address her daughter. She chewed on her lower lip and nodded.

Anders smiled and knelt down to the little girl's level. The first thing he noticed was that she looked just like her mother. The second thing he noticed was that her ears weren't pointed. Interesting…"You, my dear girl, may call me Anders. To answer your questions: Yes, shems can do magic, yes I heal people, have I healed many people? Well, I'd have to say yes to that question as well. I can't say I've ever healed a bear before, but one time Ser Pounce-A-Lot got into a nasty scrap and I healed him."

Adair giggled and glanced at her mother. "He called himself a shem!"

Anders feigned confusion. "Well, that's what I am, aren't I? I'm certainly no dwarf!" At this last remark, he heard a distinctly feminine chuckle. He glanced up and raised an eyebrow when he saw the Commander, red faced with a hand covering her mouth. His lips quirked up into a lopsided grin and he returned his attention to Adair. "I'd make a terrible dwarf, really. I'm too tall, I don't drink nearly enough ale, and compared to the other dwarves, my beard is pathetic." He hazarded another glance up at Kallian, whose shoulders had begun to shake. She was trying very hard to stifle her laughter. By the surprised look on the king's face, Anders could only deduce that laughter from the Commander was a rarity.

"Yes, I agree, you would make a very poor dwarf," Adair announced solemnly. "By the way, who's Ser Pounce-A-Lot?"

Anders' eyes brightened. "Why, he's my cat! The old Commander found him and gave him to me. He's such a handsome fellow. Would you like to meet him?"

Adair turned to her mother with pleading eyes. "Oh can I see the kitty mum, please? I promise I'll be good! I'll pet him nicely and I won't accidentally pull his tail like the other kitty we saw on the road."

Kallian pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sweetie, we can talk about all this once we're settled in. I want to see the Wardens' combat skills first hand, and I'm sorely in need of a bath, and so are you, for that matter. Maybe after all of that, you can see his kitty." She turned to Alistair. "Your Majesty, would you mind taking Adair into the Keep? I'd like to talk to these two for a moment."

Alistair nodded. He wandered over to Adair and lifted her into his arms easily. She let loose a little giggle. "Uncle Ali, can I go piggy-back again?"

Alistair grinned. As the king he really should be behaving in a manner more befitting his station, but damn it, he had a soft spot for the girl. "Alright, Addy." He flipped her around so she rode on his back and then turned to Kallian. "Don't be too hard on them." He winked and headed toward the Keep.

Kallian turned and faced the two men, her hands resting on her hips. Nathaniel was regarding her wearily, while Anders smiled at her brightly. She chewed on the inside of her cheek; she appeared to be weighing her thoughts and how to proceed.

"Nathaniel," she began, "I apologize for my behaviour earlier. I know that you're a good man, and the king told me about your rescue of Teyrn Cousland. It was unfair of me to snap at you when you were simply stating the obvious – elves don't usually hold positions of power."

Nathaniel relaxed and bowed his head. "You are most kind, Commander."

Kallian held up her hand. "No, Nathaniel, I'm not. In fact, I can be a right bitch when I want to be, and frankly, that's most of the time. I also can't stand shems. I can stand a few individual shems, like the king, and a few of my old companions, but as a whole, I hate the entire lot of you. I especially hate noble shems. There's a reason for that, but it isn't any of your business. Nathaniel, you used to be a nobleman, but now you're a Warden, and that's all that matters now. My comments to you were out of line and I apologize. Unfortunately, I have a tendency to say whatever comes to mind without much regard for the person on the receiving end of my ire. I hope to change this…part of me, but it will take time."

"I appreciate your candour, and I understand. I hope that we'll eventually be able to build a working relationship," Nathaniel responded.

"Know this, as much as you may make me uncomfortable, I will always be with you in combat. You're my responsibility, and I don't take that lightly. I would lay my life down for any of you, regardless of your race." She took a breath and turned to Anders. "I appreciate the way you treated my daughter. It was most kind. I refuse to send her to the Tower; especially after the Uldred ordeal. If you're willing to teach her the ways of magic, I would be grateful. Our Keeper had started to show her the ropes, but they hadn't gotten far." Her eyes narrowed. "And if you ever use magic on me outside of battle or a sparring session ever again without my consent, I'll smite you so hard that even your ancestors will feel it. Is that clear?"

Anders swallowed audibly. "Yes, Commander."

Kallian nodded. "Good. Pick up your things and tell the others in the Keep to meet me on the practice grounds in an hour. Tell them to wear full armour."

"Yes, Commander," they replied in unison. Kallian reached down and hefted a large sack, obviously filled with her belongings, over her shoulder and headed toward the Keep.

When she was out of earshot Nathaniel turned to Anders. "You used magic on her?"

Anders grinned widely, "I just sent a bit of a current up her arm when we shook hands. She paid me back in kind, though. She nearly drained me of all my mana."

"Are you insane? She could have killed you on the spot!" Nathaniel exclaimed.

Anders shrugged a shoulder. "Lovely woman like her? It was well worth the risk. Besides, I think she likes me, don't you?"

Nathaniel shook his head bewilderedly. "You are quite possibly the most idiotic man I've ever met."

Anders did not answer immediately, for the slight swaying of the Commander's hips held his attention. He knew that her sensual gait was unconscious, which is why he found it all the more alluring. He grinned devilishly. "What can I say? I've always had a thing for women with tattoos…"