The Griffon's Cry

Chapter 3

9:28 Dragon

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"Now remember, this morning it's crucial for you to make an impression," Elissa lectured as she braided Arianwen's hair. "The Grey Wardens will be arriving, and we must convince them to test my abilities."

"This seems too important for me to handle," Arianwen complained as she nibbled on a mint cookie. "If they decide to test you, then you should be there – not I."

"And I will, once I've taken care of a few errands that are just as crucial. And stop eating those horrid things. Everyone knows I despise mint."

"What about me? When will I be tested?" Arianwen asked, ignoring Elissa's order. The older girl's fingers paused in their motion as their owner considered the elf's words.

"We'll find time for you to test as well. When you speak to the Grey Wardens, mention that you know another candidate for recruitment."

"Who are these Grey Wardens that will be arriving, anyhow?" Arianwen inquired, grabbing another cookie out of the box in front of her.

"From the letter, I remember two names – Duncan and Alistair, I think. Duncan is a Commander from what I gathered. He's the one you need to impress. Do well at the hunt, and you should manage to catch his attention."

"Got it," Arianwen agreed, her demeanor full of irritation and impatience. This wasn't going to end well. She just knew it. Patting down the billowy skirts of her riding habit, the girl glared at her mistress. "I'll be back from the hunt as soon as possible. Please relieve me as soon as you can, My Lady." Instead of replying, Elissa stole the box of Nan's cookies out of Arianwen's hands and tossed them in a nearby waste bin.

"Nan baked those for Arianwen," the older girl said in response to her handmaiden's protests. "Right now, you are Elissa Cousland, and Elissa despises mint."

"You are a cruel mistress," the elf whined. "Sending me off on a dangerous hunt in your place, throwing away one of the rare things made just for me…"

"Don't let that brat Dairren kiss me without your permission again," Elissa warned, using a hand to hide her smile.

"It's a supervised trip, so there should not be any opportunities for him to get me alone again," Arianwen replied with more than a little relief. Elissa handed her a hat that matched her outfit and, with a flourish of lace and ruffles, Arianwen stepped out of her chambers into the hall. As she passed by servants, she kept her back straight and her chin held high. Today especially was crucial for the both of them. If they managed to convince the Grey Wardens to test them for recruitment, their lives would take a drastic turn.

The only obstacle that currently stood in the way was the hunt with Dairren. Nearly two weeks had passed since their confrontation, and Arianwen worried that the fool would try to have his way with Elissa once again. Normally, this would not be an issue. Elissa could defend herself and had a spitfire personality. She could easily break the overeager boy's limbs if she chose without too many questions being asked about the affair. As her double, Arianwen had to learn to master equally effective self-defense. The trouble came from Bryce and the way he doted on the boy. Arianwen was certain that he wouldn't approve if she chose to maim him.

Almost as though he really does want Elissa to marry him…Arianwen sighed, imagining the life Elissa would have as a wife of such an irresponsible man. No doubt he would not allow her to do anything she truly wanted. He seemed the jealous and possessive sort, the kind that kept things he felt he owned under lock and key. And if things remained as they were, Arianwen would be shipped off to live with her, trapped to pretend to be Elissa whenever the older girl wanted to sneak out of the castle for –

"I'm sorry, My Lady," a voice whispered right before a hand covered her mouth and pulled Arianwen into darkness. She didn't even have time to scream. She floundered about for a moment, trying to see what was happening, before the heavy hand that covered her mouth disappeared. "Please don't shout," the voice begged. Arianwen squinted through the shadows, convinced that she knew the voice.

"Who are you? What is the meaning of this?" she demanded in the most arrogant fashion she could manage in her current state of shock.

"Please forgive me, but I had no choice. You will not see me or write to me. It's been nearly two weeks since we've spoken - "

"Roland?" she asked, surprised. "Is that you?" Arianwen's eyes finally adjusted to the darkness, and she noticed that the squire had pulled them into one of the larger storage closets that lined the hall. The squire looked more disheveled than she'd ever seen him. His dark, red, hair was tied back in a clumsy queue, his uniform donned in an obvious hurry. The heraldry on his arm was facing the wrong way. "Explain yourself this instant. I have somewhere to be."

"Don't go to him, 'Lissa. I can't bear to see the two of you together."

'Lissa? Such familiarity! And she dares to deny that there is anything between them? Arianwen rubbed a sudden ache at her temple, desperately trying to think of a way out of this situation. If anyone should find them here alone, Elissa's reputation would be ruined.

"I already told you that we can't see each other anymore, Roland," she explained stiffly. Now that she could see her surroundings, she could clearly make out Ser Gilmore's handsome face above her own - a face now twisted with sorrow and jealousy. His clear, blue, eyes were aflame with the crippling emotions. Arianwen clutched at her chest, feeling a tangible pain at the prospect of hurting a man who loved someone with such sincerity. "You know it is the will of my father."

"And since when have you done what your father has instructed without a second thought?"

"Roland," Arianwen began, taking her time to make sure that she sounded like her mistress. "I am sixteen now. I must think about my duties as a noble." She turned away. "Please try to understand."

"I don't want to understand," he ground out, grabbing her arm in a vice like grip. With surprising strength, he turned her around and slammed her back against the wall of the storage closet. A few boxes toppled over and crashed to the floor. In the same moment, his lips closed over hers. Panic gripped her at first, for she imagined that this would be a repeat of the kiss with Dairren. However, Arianwen found out very quickly that it wasn't.

Roland's kiss was possessive, but he tamed her resistance with gentle passion rather than brute force. His long hair tumbled forward to tickle the sides of her face – a pleasant sensation. They stared into each other's eyes. She'd never seen them so close before. The color was bluer than she remembered, his eyelashes so long that they brushed against her cheeks. After a moment, he deepened the kiss, and she found that she didn't mind at all. The way his tongue swept out to caress her lower lip, the way his strong hands wrapped around her waist and lifted her against him, and the way he groaned in pleasure all sent waves of a foreign emotion cascading through her abdomen. Arianwen didn't understand what it meant, but it was far from aversion. In fact, when he pulled back, it took all of her self-control to resist tugging him back for more.

"You can't tell me that you didn't feel anything just now, 'Lissa," he challenged, licking his lips in a gesture of pure arrogance. Then he paused, looking confused. "Is that…mint? I thought you hated mint, 'Lissa."

That's right. It wasn't me that he was kissing. A new kind of bitterness made Arianwen feel as though she was suffocating. She pushed on Roland's chest and turned her back to him. "We can't do this anymore, Roland. Please, don't do that ever again."

"Is that it, then? You're going to marry that nobody because your father commands it?" Arianwen steeled herself against Roland's hurt tone, squaring her shoulders. Elissa wouldn't cower. Nor would she beg. Just like she'd seen her mistress do thousands of times prior, Arianwen lifted her chin and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I am going to do what duty demands. Dairren isn't a nobody. He is a nobleman and a candidate for marrying someone of my station."

"But, 'Lissa..." She swatted away his hand when he tried to touch her cheek.

"Do not address me with such familiarity, squire boy. Now let me out of here this instant before I report your indiscretion to your superiors. If you ever want to reach full knighthood, you'll think twice before laying your hands on a Teyrn's daughter." The iciness of her tone seemed to pierce through the haze of his emotions. He flinched back as though she'd burned him. Arianwen half expected him to fight her, but he surprised her by reaching over and opening the door to the closet. Unwilling – or perhaps unable – to face the raw pain on his face, Arianwen slipped out into the hall and hurried to increase the distance between them. Only when she was certain that she was alone did she allow herself to pause for a moment and touch her fingers to her lips, where a strange heat still lingered.

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When Arianwen arrived in the courtyard, she saw several unfamiliar faces. As was the norm for a supervised hunt, the courtyard was filled with the sounds of men preparing for several days in the wilderness. The finest horses had been selected for the trip, bred specifically for endurance and speed. Piles of supplies were being loaded onto wagons. Servants rushed to assist their masters with preparations. She saw several knights with their young squires and pushed away thoughts of Roland. Arianwen hid behind a set of pitched tents, observing the others. She tried to make out people Elissa knew so that she would be prepared to greet them. Going over a mental list of names and faces, she tried to recall the last conversation she'd had with each one. Thankfully I've always had a good memory – she thought. The trouble is going to start and probably end with Elissa's horse. That animal has never liked me. Arianwen imagined being thrown part of the way through the hunt and winced. It would be a disgrace. Still, she and Elissa knew the risks. She would just have to grit her teeth and hope that the stupid beast didn't break her neck during one of its tantrums.

A flashing of blue and green caught her attention from across the courtyard. One of Bryce's most prominent knights was walking towards her hiding place, speaking in animated gestures with a taller man wearing what she recognized as Grey Warden colors and heraldry. Her vision narrowed on him, and she inspected him closely, attempting to memorize every detail. His dark eyes flashed with intelligence and wisdom. Black hair was tied back in a short queue on his nape. A stubble the same color shadowed his chin. Broad shoulders, strong arms, a confident gate, deadly swords on his back with more than a few notches from combat – this man was clearly a warrior of a different caliber than even most of the knights in Bryce's employ. Though every one of those men were trained for battle, this warrior had seen fighting and experienced things that the relative peace in Highever did not afford its own defenders. The scratches and dents on various parts of his armor confirmed the elf's hunch.

Arianwen whipped her head around, looking for something – anything at all – to use to her advantage. Elissa had requested she make an impression. The only way she knew would definitely work involved the use of magic, and Arianwen doubted that showing off her skills with illusions would warrant her more than an immediate arrest. Just when she thought she was out of luck, she spotted a young stable boy drawing the string on a large bow. His form was clumsy, and the enraptured look on his face suggested that the weapon did not belong to him. The elf smiled. Perfect. As she saw him notch an arrow into the bow, she stepped out and made a beeline for the Grey Warden Commander. Her timing was also perfect. She waited until she was within sprinting distance of the commander before she gathered force magic between her fingers and snapped them together, hiding them in the folds of her skirts.

She directed the magic towards the bow string in the stable boy's hands. The child cried out in panic when the arrow he'd been toying with went flying, aiming straight for the Grey Warden Commander. Arianwen ran past the knight the Commander was speaking with and drew the sword at his hip in a single, fluid, motion. Using the momentum from that movement, she whirled the blade around in an arc. The action knocked the arrow off course, snapping it in half and safeguarding the Commander. In the aftermath, the courtyard went deathly quiet. All eyes were on the young girl who had just single-handedly saved the Grey Warden guest of honor – Elissa Cousland. The Commander's eyes were veiled and difficult to read. Arianwen flashed him a confident grin.

"I have to admit that wasn't the best form for an introduction, My Lord. Still, I assume you won't object. You see, my Father would be quite upset if something happened to our guest of honor on my watch." She propped the blade of the longsword in her hand on the ground, leaning against it.

"My Lady, are you alright?" a strained voice cut in through the silence. Arianwen looked back and saw the knight who's sword she'd stolen bending to kneel before her. She struggled to recall his name.

"Ser Osborne," she finally remembered. "Yes, I am fine." She turned to the Grey Warden. "I'm just glad our honored guest is safe. That could have turned into a terrible accident."

"May I ask to whom I owe my safety?" the Commander asked. Elated, Arianwen struggled to resist the temptation to bow. As Elissa, she bowed to no one save the King himself.

"I am Elissa Cousland, youngest daughter of the Teyrn, Lord…" she left the invitation open for him to introduce himself.

"I am Duncan, Commander of the Grey Wardens in Ferelden."

"An honor to meet you in the flesh at last," Arianwen confessed. Appeal to his pride. Elissa would show off her knowledge. "My father has told me many stories of the Wardens, and I've always wanted to meet one. My tutors tell me that without the Wardens, Darkspawn would have overrun us ages ago." Good, now test the waters. "I've also heard that your order is few in number in Ferelden. Is it true that anyone may become a Grey Warden if it is their choosing?"

"There are some limitations, of course, but we are always seeking exceptional warriors to join the order." His features softened as though he made a decision. "Your tutors are correct. We are few in number for the moment, though I must confess surprise to hear any tutor mention the Wardens in such high regard. Your father, Teyrn Cousland, is one of the few nobles who sees the true danger the Darkspawn and the Blights present."

"Will you be joining us for the hunt, Lord Duncan?" He nodded, a polite smile playing on his lips. Polite, but not exactly interested – Arianwen mused, irritated. She'd given him Elissa's most charming glance, had saved him from an accident, complimented his Order, and the man still didn't look enamored. Most unusual and most irritating. She turned to the knight by his side who, contrary to his companion, looked absolutely smitten when Arianwen flashed him a grin. "When will this hunt begin, Ser Obsorne? I've been looking forward to it all week."

"I'm certain you have, My Lady. It will be an honor to have you head the charge." Perfect – Arianwen mused. Duncan will not be able to ignore such a bolt statement.

"Head the charge? This young lady will?" the older warrior asked, clearly surprised.

"Our Lady Elissa is the most accomplished archer in Highever," Ser Osborne boasted.

"I should think that I will give even the Grey Wardens a run for their sovereigns with my skills," Arianwen smirked. Duncan raised a brow. "Will Father be joining us?"

"No. The Teyrn had business to take care of in Amaranthine. Lord Howe requested his presence."

"Spoilsport," Arianwen pouted. Ask why. Elissa would want to know. "Did he mention what the important business was about?" Ser Osborne's eyes widened; he scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.

"No, My Lady. Rather, I didn't ask," he floundered. Naturally. Nobody would question the Teyrn about his affairs except for his daughter. Or perhaps Eleanor.

"Let's proceed to the hunt, then," Arianwen announced. She turned to a nearby servant and raised her hand. "My horse. Now." The stable boy bowed and hurried to do her bidding. In moments, knights and hunters rushed to step out of the way as the stable boy led a magnificent steed onto the courtyard. His black fur gleamed in the morning rays of light; he threw his head when the stable boy tried to coax him into turning, agitating his long mane and braided tail. Maker, if you're there at all, please help me get through this…

"Your horse, My Lady."

"Asterios," she called, forcing a smile to her face. "Come, my fine warrior. Are you ready for the hunt?" As the stable boy approached with the horse, the animal's eyes widened and he snorted, stomping his front hooves. I can charm him, but I've never tried using such a complex spell while maintaining my illusion magic. Should I risk it?

"Odd that he's so agitated," the stable boy faltered as he tried to hold the animal's head steady. "He normally calms as soon as he sees you, My Lady."

"Perhaps you have not done your job properly," she snapped. No time for hesitation. If he tries to throw me, I must be ready to charm him. Clenching her jaw, she forced herself to maintain a confident appearance and stepped around Elissa's stallion. Gripping the top of the saddle in a death grip, Arianwen pulled herself up and vaulted her legs over the side of the saddle, landing in a perfect posture on Asterios's back. For a moment, the horse remained still, making her wonder if this might work after all, but soon the elf's hopes were dashed as the beast began to prance and shift beneath her. Unwilling to let this spoil the Grey Warden Commander's first impression of her, Arianwen reached down and gripped the horse's reigns tightly. In the same motion, she patted the stallion's neck, channeling a small charm spell through her palm.

Be still, mighty beast – I wish no harm upon you. Please, lend me your strength for now until I may return you to your mistress.

"Easy, Asterios," she murmured. "Easy, now." Eventually, the horse grew calm and quiet beneath her guidance and she could grasp the reigns and lead him in a tight circle to assure his cooperation. Arianwen preyed that the spell hadn't interfered with her illusion. Judging from the way everyone was staring at her with enthralled expressions, her spell hadn't faltered. Elissa's taming of the wild stallion was the topic of much gossip about the castle.

"Incredible, My Lady," the stable boy gushed. "Only you can calm him so. He usually won't allow anyone else near him."

"He is my warrior," Arianwen decreed. "Together we are unstoppable on the field and in the charge." She glanced at Ser Osborne. "Shall we signal the start of the hunt? Is everyone ready?" The knight looked around and nodded.

"I believe so."

"Then signal the start and have everyone join us at the northern gates. Lord Duncan, as our guest of honor please join me at the front. It is my duty to make sure you enjoy your stay with us while my father is away." Wasn't there another Grey Warden coming with this one? She made a show of looking around. "I believe my sources mentioned that there was another Grey Warden visiting the castle, but I don't see him here."

"Alistair should arrive in time for the hunt," Duncan replied after clearing his throat.

"Do you have a run-away subordinate, Lord Duncan?" she chuckled. Duncan's cheeks turned a faint pink, surprising Arianwen. So, the great Commander feels human emotions. Interesting. Elissa would capitalize on this.

"Alistair is still a very new recruit," Duncan revealed. That doesn't give him leave to wander around someone else's castle unsupervised – Arianwen concluded darkly. Stars, I sound like a bitter old woman. Or like Eleanor on one of her bad days. All the while, the pleasant smile never left Arianwen's face. Elissa would never break protocol with a guest of this stature, and neither would she. Instead, she led a large group of knights on horseback around to the northern gates of the castle.

Before them, the massive portcullis loomed upwards, an intimidating sight to any visitors. Arianwen knew the history of Highever and Cousland Castle, recalling that the Couslands had to carve out a name for themselves in the past using bravery and brute force. It was no wonder that the castle was as secure as it was, or that Bryce insisted that his children be trained by the top combat tutors available to them. The only way anyone is going to get into this fortress is through guile and deceit – Arianwen reasoned, feeling a shiver of foreboding run up her spine. She looked down when a servant ran up to her bearing a beautiful longbow and a sheathed blade.

"My Lady, your weapons," he announced, waiting for her to take them from his hands. Arianwen did so as was proper, all the while praying to whoever might be listening that she didn't make a fool of herself on the hunt. Beneath her, Asterios still shifted, restlessly fighting against her spell over him. The horse was no fool. Bryce had spent a fortune to purchase the stallion for his daughter on the mere basis that it was a fully trained warhorse. The only creature that could top it in intelligence was a Mabari warhound, and Eleanor had made it quite clear that she would hear nothing of such a notion. Though the humans around her had no hope of seeing through Arianwen's illusion under normal circumstances, the horse knew she was an impostor.

"Sorry I'm late," someone shouted from the back of procession. Arianwen, distracted by the magic she was casting, took longer than usual to glance around. By the time she turned her head towards the voice, the owner was hidden behind all of the knights. She followed the young, boyish, voice with her eyes as it weaved through the rows of Elissa's loyal soldiers, a white horse and plenty of excuses in tow.

"Please forgive Alistair, Lady Elissa," Duncan requested next to her. "He is still young and spent most of his youth in the Chantry."

"The Chantry? Is he a priest, then?"

"He was training to be a Templar," the Commander revealed. Arianwen carefully schooled the expression on her face. Stars help me. A Templar. Just what I need.

"That is a very prestigious post," she answered, patting Asterios's neck. "What pulled him away to be a Grey Warden?"

"That is a story he may wish to tell himself, My Lady," Duncan concluded, pointing ahead. Arianwen followed his finger to the figure of a young man no older than Roland. He had unruly shoulder-length golden hair and fair skin, broad shoulders hidden well under heavy Grey Warden armor, and – silver eyes. I've never seen eyes like that before – Arianwen thought dazedly. She glanced back at Duncan, noted his dark brown eyes, and wondered at this development. She recalled reading that some Grey Wardens reacted differently to the taint in their blood, that some showed different physical signs of their abilities. Were Alistair's eyes such a symptom?

"I apologize for being late, Lady Cousland," Alistair announced with a formal bow, cutting into her train of thought. She glanced at the back of his neck, visible now that he bowed, and considered forcing him to remain in the position for a little longer. Elissa would have found his rudeness to be past annoying, after all. Yet, somehow, Arianwen couldn't strike back at this young man with her usual spite.

"You are forgiven, Lord Alistair."

"Please, just call me Alistair. No need for all the formalities."

"Alright, if you insist. Though I must insist that you mount your horse as quickly as possible, for the sun is well above the horizon now, and we must begin the hunt." With that, Arianwen tilted up her chin and turned her horse aside. Reaching across her saddle, she pulled out a large horn and brought it to her lips. The sound was clear and carried a large distance across the yard and well into the castle itself. The call signaled the official start of the hunt. All of the knights in the procession straightened in their saddles, looking on with enamored expressions at their Teyrn's noble daughter. Dressed in vibrant greens and earth tones, Arianwen knew that her mistress was a vision on her magnificent war steed. They believed that nothing could stop her from making this hunt as glorious as all the others they'd participated in with her as their leader. But, in truth, Arianwen hid behind her mask and sent an endless stream of prayers to any spirits who were listening, hoping, begging, and pleading that today's hunt would pass by smoothly and without incident, especially when the man riding closest to her was a former Templar who could sense magic.