This was asked a lot for Duncan, but I couldn't work out what time frame to put it in. Pre-Warden's Joining? Pre-Ostagar? Alistair's Joining? I wasn't sure. I did consider a multi-origin scene, but it still seemed a bit off.
Another requested was Cullen addressing the Templars – that was really tempting, but then I realised just how many mage/Templar ficlets I'd written, and thought I'd go with Awakening as a bit of a change. I'm replaying it at the moment, and also reliving my love for Nathaniel Howe. He's just so... disapproving. :L
Hope you all approve! :S
I'll Make A Man Out Of You (Mulan) – The Warden Commander
The man narrowed his eyes as he marched up and down the line of soldiers. There was something quelling in his gaze, something burning and ancient, though the Warden was only a young man, maybe in his mid-twenties.
"Well then?" he growled. "Get to it!"
He had shot an arrow into the top of a massive wooden pillar, and ordered each recruit to retrieve it. Oghren and Sigrun had swore. Anders had begun laughing. Velanna huffed. Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. But now the Commander was standing, waiting, one eyebrow raised expectantly.
Oghren went first, and, after scoring several marks in the wood with his teeth and nails, fell flat. Then Nathaniel, whose face, after falling comically on his head, was burning with embarrassment. Then Sigrun, who fell so heavily on her rear end the pillar wobbled. Then Anders, who limped away, rubbing his back and muttering.
The Commander rubbed his neck, sighing in exasperation. "We've got a long way to go," he groaned, closing his eyes. Archdemons were much easier.
Stepping in front of the group, all looking suitably worried, he threw each a spear. He glared, and flourished his own. "Let's get down to business!" he commanded. "To defeat darkspawn. Do you want to be here, or do you want to run?"
The recruits glanced at Nathaniel. It was no secret that the Commander had conscripted him in, when everyone else had wanted to join. The Commander seemed to realise this, and stepped closer. "You're the strangest bunch I've ever met," he admitted, scathingly, pulling the spear out of Anders' hands and grabbing the collar of his robes, "but you can bet before it's through… Mister I'll make a man out of you!"
Anders gulped.
Beckoning them away, the Commander led his recruits to the nearby woodland. "Tranquil as a forest!" he directed, successfully shooting three moving targets with his bow at once. "But on fire within. Once you find your centre, you are sure to win." He shook his head as everyone but Nathaniel failed to hit a single one. "You're a spineless, pale, pathetic lot," he spat, but clapping Nathaniel's shoulder as he passed. "And you haven't got a clue! Bet you I'll make a man out of you."
And they weren't the only tests. The challenges got more and more gruelling, pushing rogue, warrior and mage to the limit.
"I'm never gonna catch my breath," panted Velanna as she frantically dodged the fiery, magical bullets being pelted at her.
"Say goodbye to those who knew me," grunted Sigrun, wincing as one caught her on the backside.
"Boy, was a fool in school for cutting gym," cursed Nathaniel as he nearly broke his hand trying to punch through a wooden block.
"This guy's got them to death!" commented the Seneschal, looking in anxiously on the training session.
"Hope he doesn't he right through me," wished Anders, silently, as he was propelled backwards into the armour racks by a forceful punch from the Commander.
"Now, I really wish that I knew how to swim!" yelled Oghren, feeling slightly green as his short legs almost missed the steps across the makeshift river.
"Be a man!" the recruits chanted, panting between press-ups.
"You must be swift as a coursing river," instructed the Commander, stepping between them.
"Be a man!"
"With all the force of a great typhoon."
"Be a man!"
"With all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon!" The Commander held his head in his hands as the recruits traipsed back, stinking, sweating and panting, to their quarters. There was no time for this. They had to be ready, and the had to be ready soon. The Orlesian reinforcements were dead. The Amaranthine post had no choice.
So, he told them.
"Time is racing toward us," he shouted, impatiently, "till the horde arrives! Heed my every order, and you might survive…"
He surveyed the recruits, his face serious. He would have to wait for backup from Weisshaupt. These were not ready. "You must be suited for the rage of war; or pack up, go home, it's through," he informed them, desolately. "How could I make a man out of you?"
Anders' face set at the words. No. He was a mage and a Grey Warden, and he'd be damned if he was going to be sent back to the Templars to have a brand smacked on his forehead and his thoughts forcibly removed. As others left, he glared at the pillar, its arrow still glinting sneeringly at the top. Gritting his teeth, he willed his magic.
When the Commander came in, he saw the mage, sitting proudly atop the pillar, throwing the arrow at his feet. He grinned. That was it.
The recruits filed back in, and the Commander had never seen a change happen so quickly. Oghren was leaping nimbly across the river; Velanna and Sigrun were leaping and sprinting deftly through the fire; Nathaniel broke several wooden planks in quick succession; and then, Anders landed a punch on his jaw so squarely that it made the Commander see stars for a moment.
"Be a man!" came a rousing cheer from the guards' barracks, who had been watching in horror at the Wardens' 'training'.
"You must be swift as a coursing river!" answered the newly honoured Wardens and their Commander, victoriously.
"Be a man!"
"With all the force of a great typhoon!"
"Be a man!"
"With all the strength of a raging fire – mysterious as the dark side of the moon!"
The Wardens finished their training, brandishing their weapons, their faces set in challenge. The Commander smiled. They were ready to take on the horde. They were ready for anything.
-0-0-0-0-
I changed the 'you're not suited for the rage of war' part, since I don't think any of them were worse than the others :L
I advise everyone to listen to the Mandarin Chinese version of this song. It is sung by JACKIE. FRICKIN'. CHAN. So go listen to it. Now.
: Hahaha, it actually did look like that :S Pinocchio is good, I shall get researching!
LunaCangiante: Thank you! Glad you're enjoying :)
Dafuq4me: (great name, btw) That's a brilliant idea! God, I love tumblr... Will get to work right away :D
Sakura Lisel: That is absolutely amazing. I was staring at the lyrics to that the other day wondering how to do it. Thank you! Also, I love your idea about the mirror messing with Merrill's mind. There was such a personality change between the Dalish Origin and DA2, I like to think there is a reason, other than Bioware's lack of continuity :S
the sister of the anime bros: D'aww, thank you :3 I'm getting all these warm fuzzy feelings! I am delighted that you like these so much - you make a little Disney fiend very happy indeed :')
Up Next: Carver promises his mother that he'll make her proud, no matter what.