Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age.


Note: For all of those who haven't played the game the Elves are a conquered people who, while no longer slaves, are treated worse than black people were under the South African apartheid regime. Fereldan is better than most countries in Thedas but it's still pretty bad.

Chapter Seven: A Friendship is Born

King Cailan's Army – Ostagar

Alistair continued to stand guard over Aedan as he gently patched up the young elf girl wiping away the blood, bandaging the cuts and checking for any broken bones. The blushing girl fled as soon as he was finished but Aedan wasn't offended.

"Sorry for dragging you into that Alistair." Aedan muttered as they turned their backs on the glaring quartermaster, who was now supporting several impressive bruises, and headed to the other side of the camp. "He's not going to sell to use ever again now."

"Don't worry about it." Alistair replied honestly. "It wasn't right beating that girl just because the armour was late being delivered, he'd never have dared do it to a human so why should he be allowed to get away with doing it to an elf?"

Aedan shot Alistair a brilliant smile Finally! Someone who agrees with me. Sure I had to point it out to him but he agrees with me and that's what matters.

"Um… Excuse me my lords?"

Aedan and Alistair turned around to find themselves facing a simply dressed elf who looked like he was about to faint right there.

"Hello. What can we do for you?" Aedan asked kindly.

"I'm Pick my lord, I deliver messages around the camp. I saw what happened and I just wanted to say thank you for helping my sister." The young elf bushed madly obviously expecting to be scolded.

"There is no need to thank us friend." Alistair replied. "It's never right to beat someone who can't fight back."

"Yes of course." Pick stammered. "But no one has ever stood up for us elves here no matter how many times he's done it. So thank you."

"You are quite welcome Pick." Aedan said kindly.

The young elf seemed to be having an internal debate so both Wardens waited quietly for him to speak. "This is Ser Garland's sword, It's been enchanted. He's just as bad as the quartermaster so I'd be quite happy to give it to you as a thank you and then say that I lost it."

Aedan's evil smirk made the young elf blush. And this is one of the many reasons why its not only wrong but impractical to abuse the people who look after you. "We wouldn't want you to get into trouble Pick so I'm going to insist that you keep it." The young elf looked heartbroken so Aedan continued. "If you truly wish to do something to say thank you then there is something that I would ask of you. You can refuse if you want to though."

The look of determination on Pick's face showed that that was pretty much impossible. "I assume you know that we are both Grey Wardens?" Aedan began.

GREY WARDENS!? I've been bothering some of the most important people in the army!

"Judging from you look of stunned horror I take it that you didn't know." Aedan said with a small chuckle making they young elf blush. "Still there are many in the camp who whish to poison the ear of our few patrons. As you will be passing most of their messages we would appreciate it if you would let us know who the worst offenders are and what methods they are using to try and erode our support."

Pick straightened up at being given such an important task. "I would be honoured to help Ser Warden, as will my fellow messengers. Would you like us to inform you of anything else?" he asked shyly.

"Anything you think may be useful Pick. I trust your judgement." Aedan said pleasantly surprised. Alistair just stood their stunned.

Bursting with pride Pick ran off to spread the news of their new task to the rest of his family and the other elven messengers.

"Wow, just wow." Alistair stammered after a moment.

Aedan smirked at his fellow Warden's surprise. "No good dead goes unpunished Alistair, but neither does it go unrewarded either, you just have to learn how to make the reward for doing the right thing outweigh the cost."

"Remind me never to get on your bad side." Alistair muttered with a grin as they set off again.

It wasn't long before Duncan's tent came into sight. The tent of the Warden Commander of Fereldan was emblazoned with blue griffon and kind of hard to miss. Just before it however was the tent of Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir. When Fereldan was unified the Banns and Arls swore allegiance to one of the two remaining Teyrns who in turn swore aligance to the King. Highever in the north and Gwaren in the south. While Gwaren was a powerful fortress the city around it had degenerated into a small town with the fall of the Dwaven thaig beneath it, still although it was nothing on the sprawling cities of Highever and Denerim The Teyrn of Gwaren was the third highest noble in the land after the King and the Teyrn of Highever.

"Alistair, I want to make a short stop if that's alright?" Aedan asked quietly.

Alistair frowned but nodded.

"Would you please inform Loghain Mac Tir, Teyrn of Gwaren that Aedan Cousland, Teyrn of Highever wishes an audience with him." Aedan said in his best courtier voice.

The guard nodded and went inside, a moment later Teyrn Loghain emerged. "Teyrn Aedan." He said bowing his head slightly.

"Teyrn Loghain." Aedan replied bowing his head in reply. "I wish to question you on a matter of strategy. Is their any mercenary force in Fereldan that is capable of retaking Highever Teyrnire from Arl Howe's forces if they are forced to protect both Highever and Amaranthine?

Alistair had been admiring his new armour in his refection in a pail of water with a dumbstruck and shy appearance as he still couldn't believe that someone had just bought him a present without expecting anything in return. Aedan's question however caused him to whip round so fast that he almost got whiplash.

Teyrn Loghain grunted. "Now if only most of the banns had your instincts and desire to fight these Darkspawn would already be defeated." He muttered before replying. "My apologies Teyrn Aedan but Highever is simply to easy to defend. No mercenary force has the numbers or siege equipment to retake it. I am sorry I whish there was another way."

Aedan thanked Loghain as he went back into the tent. He was puzzled by his fellow Teyrns response. Its almost as if he expects Highever to remain in Howe's control even thought the King has promised to take it back. He can't be thinking of supporting Howe's claim through conquest can he? No matter, once the Darkspawn are defeated even if King Cailan's hands are tied House Couslands forces are still under my command and will be more than sufficient to overpower the traitor.

Aedan was brought out of his musings by a one armed hug from his new friend. "I'm sorry Aedan." Alistair said with genuine regret. "When this is all over I'm going to ask Duncan if he'd let me ride with you when you retake Highever."

"I'd like that. Thank you Alistair." Aedan replied blushing. He was truly touched by his new friends declaration.

The two friends walked towards Duncan as Aedan tried to figure out what Howe was playing at.

There are only two cities in Fereldan, Denerim and Highever. Gwaren was once one as well but it barely qualifies as a town these days. There are five major fortifications still in use, Fort Drakon, Castle Highever, Castle Gwaren, Castle Redcliffe and West Hill Fortress. Even if he controls Castle and City Highever and one of the other Arls has thrown their lot in with him he can't take them all. And as long as the majority are loyal to the King he can't challenge him in the Landsmeet. What is Howe's plan??!! He has to have one!

Aedan's musing was cut short by an irate Duncan. "I almost expected Alistair to sass the mage but I thought better of you Aedan. What were you thinking attacking the quartermaster?"

Aedan decided to meet Duncan head on just like he did is father. "I was thinking that it was the right thing to do. Or do you think that it is proper that an elf should suffer a severe bloody beating for something a human would get at most a slap for. Well Warden Commander?

Duncan sighed. I knew Aedan's sense of honour, justice and fair play would cause problems. "Our position here is weak Aedan, we cannot afford to provide any ammunition to our enemies or alienate any allies. The quartermaster will no longer trade with any Grey Warden and is already spreading tall tales throughout the army."

Aedan refused to back down. "We can trade with the merchants directly when they enter Ostagar and thus cut out the quatermaster's mark-up as well, that is no great loss. The tales the pitiful man is spinning will soon be proven wrong when we fight with the army in battle and I have managed to arrange a benefit as well."

Duncan's eyebrows rose as he motioned for Aedan to continue.

"The messengers of the camp are almost exclusively elves. As a token of thanks they have agreed to mention the source and content and destination of all messages pertaining to the Grey Wardens and anything else they feel we may find of interest."

"You have created an extensive intelligence network in under a day?" Duncan asked shocked out of his usual calm demeanour. The Wardens with a more colourful past have been trying to do that since we arrived here months ago and none of their contacts and networks are as extensive as the one Aedan just created."

"And I did it while doing the right thing. Are you surprised? I am a Cousland after all." Aedan replied confrontationally.

Alistair frowned at the disrespect being shown to his mentor and father figure but relaxed when Duncan let out one of his rare belly shaking laughs.

"Indeed young Aedan. The reputation of your house is well deserved I see. Your parents would be proud and you will be a very welcome addition to our ranks." Aedan flushed under the praise but also felt his eyes grow misty at the mention of his parents. Thankfully Duncan noticed and addressed all of the recruits.

"Now in preparation for the joining ritual you three recruits, chaperoned by Alistair will go into the Korcari Wilds and fetch three vials of Darkspawn blood. That will be needed for the joining itself. In addition I would like you to retrieve some documents from an abandoned Grey Warden base approximately two days into the wilds."

"What sort of documents?" Daveth asked distastefully.

He's probably never learned to read or write. Aedan realised. So he doesn't understand that one piece of paper can bring down entire counties if used correctly Then again I wouldn't last five minuets on the streets of Denerim where he has lived his adult life. We all have different skills. I guess that's one of the reasons the Grey Wardens recruit from all walks of life.

"Ancient treaties signed by the people of Thedas recognising their obligations to help the Grey Wardens in a blight. As we have been gone from Fereldan for so long it would be useful to have something tangible to remind them of their obligations."

"What in the makers name are documents of that importance doing in an abandoned tower in the wilds?!" Aedan cried out in frustration and surprise only to be elbowed by both Daveth and Alistair.

"While our noble friend put it a little bluntly." Daveth forced out trying desperately not to laugh.

"We have to agree that leaving them there wasn't the brightest of ideas." Alistair finished.

Before Duncan could respond Ser Jory jumped in.

"You don't question your betters!" The knight said forcefully. "They were left there for a reason and it is not your place to question that decision."

Duncan frowned. Perhaps I was wrong in choosing Ser Jory. He is very skilled with a blade as the tournament at Redcliffe showed but his conceit and belief his knighthood makes him better than anyone else hasn't abated. This may cause problems. "It was assumed we would return after a decade or two at the most but the Grey Wardens were then exiled from Fereldan for over 200 years. Since we returned our time has been spent recruiting to build up our numbers and fighting the Darkspawn that have appeared here in the south."

Aedan, Daveth and Alistair blushed as Ser Jory glared smugly at them feeling vindicated.

"Gather your packs and the two tents and set out. The main bulk of the horde is still a week away but it is best not to linger." Duncan commanded as his recruits seemed intent on glaring at each other. With the spell broken the three warden recruits and the junior Warden bustled about. Duncan took both Alistair and Aedan to one side as soon as they were ready to depart. "Aedan, if you find your brother's trail in your travels you are free to track him down and bring him back to camp. But only if you find his trail while you are carrying out your mission. Do you understand?"

Aedan wanted nothing more than to go running around the wilds until he found Fergus but this concession from Duncan was more than he had expected. "Yes, thank you Duncan."

The Warden Commander turned to Alistair. "Alistair, take care of them, especially the young Cousland. He has lost so much he may become unstable in battle." Actually I don't think that I had to tell Alistair that. Duncan thought as he saw the defensiveness on behalf of Aedan and worry for him battle for dominance on Alistair's face. Duncan watched as his promising young Warden shot off in search of Aedan clearly intending to never let the young noble out of his sight. So Alistair has finally found a friend. Good, six months has barley even started repairing Alistair's confidence and self worth. Hopefully Aedan will prove worthy of Alistair's friendship. There is so much that boy could do if he only believed in himself. Eamon should be killed for doing what he did to him. At least Cailan no longer has any affection or trust for the Guerreins and has come down firmly on Alistair's side.

Duncan smiled to himself as he watched the group depart, Alistair and Aedan side by side a recreation of a similar picture of Maric and Loghain that Duncan had seen so long ago. They will do great things together. I just know it.


Review if you want me to continue! Tell me what you like and what you don't and what particular play through you would like to see in the next chapter. Obviously this is Ostagar so there are no options atm but the principle stands for later chapters.