A/N: I know that my time and travel frames are not going to match what's in the game. This was done on purpose so that certain things would make more sense.
A/N: (3/5/2010) Changed Aedan's POV description of Kallian to match something in Part 8.
A/N: (3/20/2010) Minor spelling and wording changes made. Thanks to my Betas. (4/3/2010) Punctuation and some sentence phrasing changed. Big love for to_paraphrase again. You're an awesome Beta!
Part 3: Home of the Hawk
"This way, Warden," the guard motioned with a hand and lead them both through another pair of large double doors.
There were soldiers everywhere when they got close to Cousland Castle. Many were preparing or were already prepared to march South. Her ears easily picked up mutterings of "the Blight" and "darkspawn" from more than one group of soldiers. Some were haughty, others more worried. None, however, spoke anything of not going at all. These men would go to the fight, frightened or no.
The interior of the hall was warm. It was the first thing she noted. A high vaulted ceiling and grey stone walls caused voices to bounce and echo. Paintings hung on the walls of people and scenery that Kallian was unfamiliar with. At the far end of the hall a giant fire blazed in the equally giant hearth.
There's probably enough wood in there right now to heat every hovel in the Alienage, she thought bitterly.
She shoved the thought aside for later as they neared the men Duncan was here to speak to. Two of them looked Duncan's age or older. The third was a younger strapping man. Though he looked to be more around Kallian's age, he was at least a half a head taller then the others. Nearly as tall as Duncan. While the older men wore clothes of noble quality, the younger was garbed in armor, looking as if he were ready to head off to war.
"You didn't say there was going to be a Grey Warden here," one of them was saying when she paid attention to the talk. He was one of the older men. His nose was large and hooked and there was a narrowness of his eyes that made him look as if he was always squinting.
"Duncan had come by unannounced, Lord Howe," the other older man replied. "I was also unaware of his coming. Is this a problem?"
"No, I simply...," Lord Howe paused. To Kallian's ears he was searching for the right words. Whether it was to avoid insult or to cover something up, she couldn't surmise. "... feel a bit at a disadvantage. These things require a certain protocol so I am quite unprepared."
Duncan bowed his head slightly to him, "I apologize for dropping in so suddenly, but were circumstances different I certainly would have sent word ahead."
"It's quite alright. The King's call-to-arms has us all scrambling right now so I think breeches in protocol can be ignored for a time," the other man, whom Kallian could only guess was Teyrn Cousland, smiled and nodded. Then he looked right at her and she felt her back stiffen. "But it certainly doesn't give us the excuse to be rude. Who is this with you, Warden?"
Kallian suddenly found all their eyes on her as the Teyrn motioned to her.
"This is Kallian Tabris, your Grace," Duncan said as she stepped up slightly to stand more at his side instead of at his rear flank. She had sort of hoped that her presence would go unnoticed and that she would simply be assumed to be an elven servant of some sort. No such luck. "She is a recruit I found in Denerim. I'll be taking her and whatever recruits I happen to find here to Ostagar where they'll become full Wardens."
"Ah, I see," the Teyrn nodded again. "Then congratulations are in order."
Not really seeing as how I didn't have much choice, was what Kallian wanted to say. She inclined her head once, but before she could say anything at all, Lord Howe spoke again.
"Bit of a trek, isn't it?" He looked directly at Duncan. "Denerim to Highever and back to Ostagar again seems a bit of a journey."
"One that is necessary, Arl Howe," Duncan clasped his hands behind his back. "Finding Grey Warden recruits isn't as simple as gathering men off of farms into a town square and having them conscripted into an army. There are particular qualities we seek in each potential individual. If they do not have them then we do not conscript them."
"What does one look for in a recruit?" This time it was the younger man that spoke. His tone was somewhat eager, but he covered it well with a veil of curiosity.
"Various things," Duncan answered in the same exact 'mentor' tone she had heard quite a bit of over the last week and a half. "Simply being the strongest fighter or the best with a bow is no guarantee of recruitment. Each Warden has their own particular talents and all of them are valuable when battling the Darkspawn."
"Do you think you'll find someone with those talents here?" This time the eager tone was more pronounced.
"Eh, forgive his questioning, Duncan," the Teyrn said. "This is my younger son, Aedan. He'll be minding the castle while we're away."
Kallian felt the corner of her lip turn down despite the fact that she was trying not to let any of her emotions show. The last thing she wanted right now was to be anywhere near the son of a noble lord, let alone an Arl and a Teyrn of the land. Unfortunately, this is where Duncan had to be and it was only because of it that she'd bare up with the company. She decided to take a more solid look at him. He was one of the two Duncan had mentioned as being a potential recruit, after all.
He had dark brown hair that was neatly trimmed short and well combed. His face was clean shaven and he was perhaps not as young as she first guessed. Not so much older then Kallian, but older by a few winters, at least. He stood erect with a proper posture making his already tall height seem taller. She thought to herself that good looks were apparently a trait of the Cousland line as both father and son were handsome of face.
But Vaughan wasn't ugly in looks either, Kallian's mind cut in. And you saw what sort of sodding bastard he turned out to be. Though I think if it came to a fight, this Noble's son wouldn't be as easy to kill.
Along with the posture and well cared for armor was a set of decent muscles. He had a deep chest, broad shoulders, and she noticed a tan quality to his skin. Vaughan was paler and probably didn't get outside much. Aedan looked more a soldier then he did a noble. There was also something about his eyes.
She had known Vaughan to be nothing more then a coward in bully's clothing. He had come to the Alienage, of all places, to force his will on those "weaker" then he. When confronted by someone stronger, he squirmed and even tried to bribe his way out of it. She had a feeling that would happen as Vaughan's eyes were that of a rat's. Cold, beady, prone to darting about, and shined when a treat was in his grubby paws.
Aedan's were far brighter, despite the dark blue, and more solid. There was no cowardice in this one that she could see. His eyes didn't dart away from the person he was speaking to. He had will and possibly the skills to back up that will.
Kallian's thoughts were cut off as the elder Cousland had stepped in between Duncan and his son. Again, she had been ignoring the conversation.
"I do not have so many children that I can send them all off to war. I will not have him be recruited," he paused and suddenly looked very tense. "Unless... you look to invoke the Right of Conscription?"
Duncan was a picture of calm. In fact, the Teyrn's words undoubtedly helped ease his mind as it answered his question on how the Teyrn would feel on the matter.
Duncan raised his hands in a brief gesture of surrender, "You need not worry about that. I've need of recruits, but I won't force that sort of situation on you. I am more then content to see if there are other potential recruits among your men."
The relief on Teyrn Cousland's face was quite evident. It overshadowed the light disappointed look his son carried behind him.
"Well that, at least, is good to know," he turned to look at Aedan. "The Warden, Arl Howe, and myself have some things to discuss, Pup. In the meantime help set up sleeping arrangements for both Duncan and his recruit."
Kallian noted that Duncan was suddenly looking at her. All at once she felt this small amount of dread because some thought was obviously going through his mind. She had a very strong hunch what is was, but before she could even protest Duncan was speaking.
"Actually, your Grace, if it's not any trouble perhaps your son could show Kallian about the castle and then to where she'll rest," he conveniently kept his gaze away from her to avoid any 'looks' she was trying to give. "The trip was long and there is no need for her to stand about and hear our talk."
"No trouble at all," what tension the Teyrn had expressed only seconds before had completely fled and he gave a smile. "Son, if you would be so kind to be host and escort for the young lady?"
"Of course, Father," Aedan replied and looked at Kallian. For some reason she had the impression that he wasn't really looking at her. His eyes still seemed clouded in disappointment. Then all at once, the look faded and he gave something of a smirk at his father. He spoke in a sarcastic, but very light tone. "Don't stretch my abilities or anything."
The Teyrn laughed a bit, "Don't worry, Pup. You'll have more then enough to occupy and test you once you're fully in charge. Go on now, and if you see Fergus tell him we need to speak."
"Yes, Father," with that Aedan came around closer to Kallian. He bowed courteously at the waist and motioned to a door with his hand. "This way, please."
Inside, Kallian was seething. She glared one more time at the back of an unmoved Duncan. She spared Aedan no glance and tried not to stalk off towards the door.
Aedan kept looking sideways at the Grey Warden recruit as they took a walk about the castle. He hadn't paid close attention before due to being a bit blinded by an actual Grey Warden standing before him. He and Fergus were abroad in Cousland lands the last time the Grey Warden leader had come by Highever, and they both missed the tourney held in his honor.
Grey Wardens, a living figure of legends. What child didn't play at pretending to ride on a griffon's back, swooping down to save the village from the evil Darkspawn? He recalled the time that Fergus nearly broke his leg once as the two of them decided that the corral fence was a prefect structure to "swoop" down atop from. Nan nearly grew a third eye in her furry and forbid them from ever playing "Grey Warden" again. Not that they had listened.
So Aedan was a little bit in awe of Duncan. He felt almost a child again, wanting to ask all he could about what it was like to be a Warden. Then to have him say that if given a choice he would have picked Aedan as a recruit almost felt surreal. He was disappointed that his father wouldn't allow it, but it was passing quickly.
As a Cousland, he knew where his familial duty lay. His nephew Oren was far too young to take over as Cousland heir just yet and it would be up to himself and his mother to mind the castle and lands should the worst occur.
Aedan tore his mind away from the horrid thought of losing both his father and brother in the battles to come. Instead he turned his attention to the elven woman.
She had an attractive face, he had to give her that. However, her short cropped black hair was tousled and a little unkempt from traveling. Any lady of court would have gasped at its condition, but the hair only emphasized her sharp chin line and high angled elven ears. It gave her something of a severe look, and one without the ability to see passed the sloppiness might have labeled her as harsh looking. The ill fitted leather armor didn't help any. The top of her head only came up to his shoulder, and though most of her form was hid he could see she was typically "elven thin" and had that paleness of skin most of her kind carried. He tried to imagine what she might look after a bath, a brush, and exchanged the leathers for a dress. Aedan liked what his mind was seeing.
He cursed his luck a brief moment. If he hadn't already made plans with Lady Landra's handmaiden for the night he would have definitely made aims for this one. Then get to brag about it to his brother after.
There was still some hope, though. If the Warden had plans to stay a day or two longer then Lady Landra, then he could be free to accept new company.
Maker's Breath, he mused. If mother ever caught wind... she'd probably fetch Nan to get me to do the coldest and dreariest work possible just to keep me reigned in. But how could I pass up this opportunity?
"So the Warden said you were from Denerim?" he began as they paused on one of the outer castle battlements. She had seemed rather non-responsive to him showing her about, only nodding her head from time to time in acknowledgment of his words when he pointed something out. He figured her to maybe be the shy quiet type as she tended to keep her eyes averted away from him. "Was there two years ago for a tournament held in honor of the Queen's birthday. I take it not much has really changed since then?"
Her face was turned away and she didn't say anything for some seconds, "Still a city. Still big."
And that was all he got.
Alright, she's shy and not one for many words.
"Well, being from the city I guess you come from the Alienage there," Aedan continued to speak despite the niggling thought in the back of his mind that was telling him to stop. "We have one here in Highever as well. We Couslands never turn away an elf that wishes to live here."
She then gave an unmistakable snort and her voice dripped with sarcasm, "Well, aren't you the enlightened one."
"P... Pardon?" Aedan blinked in surprise.
The Warden recruit then heaved a long and exasperated sigh. She turned to look squarely at him, her eyes tinged with dislike.
"Look, just show me where ya elven servants sleep and I'll pull me up a spot on the floor with them," she crossed her arms and looked at him from head to toe, almost in disgust. "Then ya can be off and do whatever it be ya human nobles do."
It took Aedan a full set of seconds for everything to register. Her intonation, her words, her posture, everything. Aedan very quickly decided that he now didn't care for her company, but was tempted to call a duel on her and see if that sword strapped to her back was just for show.
"That would not be... prudent," his voice was under control and though he kept a ridged smile, there was a definite edge in his tone. "It would be downright rude and ... insulting... to have a Grey Warden, even a recruit, set up to sleep with the servants."
"Wouldn't be the first time me had ta suffer an insult," she gave a smug sneer. "Not the worst me had either. Besides, long as your servants quarters be better then a cattle corral then me won't be insulted in the least." Her sneer got a little wider, "Unless ya be sayin' ya servants stay in squalor only fit for animals."
His eyebrows furrowed and the pseudo-smile disappeared. Aedan drew himself up to his full height and squared his shoulders to look downwards at her as he felt the challenge in her words. He wanted to rise up in anger at her cocky tone. Another part of him, though, wondered just what insult happened exactly to give her this obvious chip on her shoulder.
Aedan knew that he never ran into this woman before because he certainly would have remembered it. He definitely would have remembered quarreling with one such as she, so whatever hatred she bore wasn't directed at himself so much as it was his noble heritage. Even so, Aedan felt more insult at the implication that he and his family were exactly the same as whatever her interpretation of a human noble was.
Of which, he had no doubt, wasn't a flattering one.
Her eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch and the sneer slowly slipped away. Despite his height advantage she didn't back away and remained glaring at him the whole time. Whether it was confidence, false courage, or just sheer bloody minded stupidity that prevented her from backing down, he couldn't tell. In any case, Aedan decided not to rise to the bait. He clenched his fist as he forced his emotions to calm.
"Whatever your assumptions happen to be know that in this castle we treat our servants with more respect then you think," try as he might he couldn't hide the indignation in his voice. "I dare you to ask any servant if they think we treat them like animals and then pass your judgment on us. Not before."
He saw her eye twitch just slightly and after a few more seconds she frowned as if she were about to spit and looked away with a "tsk". If Aedan wasn't mistaken she looked disappointed. Her words were almost a muttered growl.
"Only way me can question them be to talk to them when they be not bowin' and scrapin' so do us both a favor, m'lard," she only gave him a cursory glance, her arms still crossed. "Take me to them to rest, get me out of ya hair, then we can spend the rest of the time avoidin' one another."
He stared at her hard for another good score of seconds, fighting back another spike of anger.
"As the Lady wishes," spoke the words through clenched teeth. "This way... if you will."
He would keep his words civil, but he was going to make it known to this Kallian Tabris that she's definitely not earned a friend in him. As he purposefully brushed by her, he heard her utter.
"Bout bloody time."
Aedan couldn't stop the words from tumbling out, "Don't push it, elf."
He didn't dare look back at her and kept walking. There was no way he wanted to see her smug self-satisfied look. Even as he was kicking himself for letting his anger overcome his senses he heard her mumble.
"Typical."