Of Griffons and Hawkes

Chapter one

Elissa scowled darkly at the figure stomping ahead of her down the chilly corridor.

"Nate." She called after the stoic rogue and was rewarded with the slapping of his boots upon the stone floor.

"Howe." There was still no response which made the green eyes of the woman narrow at the warden before her.

"Warden-Captain Howe."

The man paused in his tracks, shoulders stiffening before he reluctantly and slowly turned around, his features stormy.

"Commander."

Grey eyes bored angrily into deep emerald as Nathaniel Howe studied his superior's cold face, a flicker of emotion across the vibrant green of the woman's

eyes and the male warden sighed heavily as he leaned against the wall, folding his arms against his chest.

"You know I think this endeavour is unwise but who am I to stop the mighty hero of Fereldon?"

Elissa Cousland raised an eyebrow as the corner of her mouth curved upwards into a smirk. "Well I am ten foot tall and shoot lightening bolts from my eyes after all Nathaniel."

Nathaniel glanced away with a scowl. He refused to be won over with humour; there was absolutely no reason for her to follow through with her mad scheme.

Elissa let out a little sigh as she rubber her thumb and forefinger across her brow.

"Nate you know I have to do this, I still love him and we've been through far too much together for me not to finally go to him now I know where he really is."

The Warden Commander removed her hand from her face to give her second a weary smile. From the corner of his eye, Nathaniel glanced at her and huffed.

"Yes, you've said as much, numerous times. I think you're a fool to go to the Marches' on your own, you'd be nothing more than another Dog Lord refugee to them." The Howe turned to

face his close friend and liege, clearly unimpressed by her plan.

"What and have him turn tail the minute he hears of a squad of wardens on their way to Kirkwall? I think not Nate." The younger woman scoffed before her eyes hardened and her voice

once more became serious.

"I've also gotten word that Stroud has been watching him far too eagerly for my liking. I won't have that Orlesian prig drag him back to the order, that right is reserved just for me."

Nathaniel sighed once more, knowing he would be unable to stop her.

"Maker's breath Elissa I'm not your mother, I can't keep you. I've never been able to when you go off on one of your little adventures."

Elissa grinned, leaning in to bump shoulders against her second before signalling for them to continue down the cold corridor of Vigil's Keep.

"True, my mother wouldn't have bickered with me for three days like an old fishwife."

She was rewarded with a shove that sent her thudding into the rough stone wall.

"Did you see that? Insubordination!" The Warden Commander cackled after the other warden.

Elissa murmured a thank you as the servant entered the study with a tray and proceeded to pour two cups of mulled wine from a pewter jug; once her duty was performed

she quietly left the Arlessa and her vassal.

"When will Sigrun be due back from the deep roads?" The Commander asked over the rim of her cup before taking a long drink, which was followed by a relaxed sigh. She

wriggled in her seat to get more comfortable before planting her booted feet upon her desk. Elissa raised an eyebrow at the scowl she received for her actions.

"With manners like that, no one would ever suspect you were very nearly Princess Elissa Cousland." Nathaniel jibed, grey eyes shining in amusement as he took a delicate sip of his wine.

"I've had word that she will be at least another month and a half before reaching the surface. She awaits orders for the expedition."

The Warden Commander groaned loudly, running a hand through her hair before leaning forward and snagging a scrap of parchment and a quill, scribbling quickly as she spoke.

"Don't remind me, smartest thing my father did was decline that foolish notion that the Bannorn had."

"And humbly so." The Howe murmured loudly over his cup.

"Maker, I could've been a Mac Tir too." Elissa cringed much to her drinking partner's amusement.

"I can just imagine the pillow talk." Nathaniel's eyes gleamed with mirth before his face slipped into one of his most fearsome scowls as he badly imitated Loghain Mac Tir's voice.

"We must be ever vigilante against the Orlesian dogs." He paused; watching with amusement as his companion suddenly looked green.

"We'll never be slaves to those pompous swine again, now roll over while I remember the victory of the battle of River Dane."

A crumpled up piece of paper connected with his head.

"Loghain's wrinkly balls." He chuckled to the horror of the woman opposite him.

"Eurgh, you pig Howe. Maker knows what ever possessed me to love you when I was younger."

The Howe widened his eyes, a look of complete astonishment plastered on his face.

"Come now Nate, I was your living shadow when ever your family visited." Elissa Cousland laughed.

"I thought it was just a phase." Sputtered the other grey warden, he was rewarded with a bemused scoff.

"I suppose it was, but I was completely smitten with the dashing, silent, eldest Howe."

Elissa took a sip of wine, savouring the flavour.

"I was thoroughly heartbroken when you traipsed off to the Free Marches for seven and a half years. I hope you feel thoroughly wretched for brutally stamping on a young girl's heart."

She grinned that lopsided grin of hers, making the rogue scowl.

"You weren't even twelve years old when I left for Maker's sake." Nathaniel frowned despite his cheeks tinting a lovely pink.

The Warden Commander laughed as she placed a new piece of vellum before her, lowering her legs to the floor so that she could scrawl once more with her quill.

"That I was, any word of that miserable old sod in Orlais? We should have gotten word news that he's en route back to Fereldon to rejoin with his brother's and sister's."

Nathaniel drew forth a thick sealed envelope from his breast pocket.

"Beginning of the week actually but your lapse into madness made me temporarily forget."

He passed it to the outstretched hand before refilling his cup and leaning comfortably back into his chair.

"A brilliant burst of inspiration more like, my dear Nate." Elissa grinned as she broke the wax seal with a fingernail before dropping her gaze to read the correspondence

from their brother's in Orlais.

"Loghain has already left their head quarters in Val Royeaux, a rough guess it'll take him around four moons for him to get back to Fereldon, never mind Soldier's Peak and take up

command of our force's there." She scowled as she turned the parchment over.

"Insufferable man, he would be back in Fereldon in half that time if he would only take ship to Highever." The Warden Commander placed the parchment to one side as she read

the remaining sheet, her eyebrows rose and a small smile graced her face before she folded the last sheet and placed it atop the other.

"I'll also be picking up a Fereldon warden that's in Stroud's care in the Free Marches too."

Nathaniel quirked an eyebrow at her across the desk.

"Oh?"

"Yes, a pretty little mageling called Bethany. Apparently she just isn't suited for Stroud's contingent of arse kissers and brown nosers." Elissa grinned smugly.

"She was recruited in the deep roads after becoming tainted." The Arlessa leaned back, once more propping her legs on the desk.

Nathaniel gave her a small frown at her display but otherwise kept silent about her lack of manners.

"Three female mages, Maker help me." He rolled his eyes before drinking deeply from his cup.

"Oh come now, Amell isn't so bad. We needed another mage, what with Velanna traipsing off here there and everywhere without a word and with Anders. Well best not think of t

hat headache for the time being." Elissa frowned into her cup along with the Howe, both deep in thought before her companion broke the silence.

"Velanna's sent word she'll be back before the week's out. If I can keep her stationed long enough shall I bring her with me?"

The Warden Commander looked up thoughtfully, pondering over plans silently before replying.

"Yes, bring Oghren too but Andraste's arse make sure Felsi knows he's buggering off to first. I don't think the keep could handle an assault from her while we're all underground."

She grinned in jest and took a mouthful of wine. "I'll bring our new sister with me and meet you and the rest at the entrance. If it comes to it, Sigrun can meet us en route in the Deep Roads."

She paused as her eyes gleamed mischievously. "Bring that nutter Dworkin too. No doubt we'll have use of his explosives along the way."

Nathaniel suppressed the urge to groan aloud at her command and instead opted for nodding his consent as he pushed himself up to stand.

"When can we expect your departure Elissa?" He asked before downing his wine and placing the pewter cup upon the desk.

"There's a ship setting sail to Kirkwall in two day's time." The Warden Commander smiled wistfully, dropping her gaze as she leaned forward to write out commands for Seneschal Varel.

The Howe nodded and murmured a quiet goodnight, closing the door behind him and heading to his own quarters.

AN: So an idea popped into my head about the warden commander and Hawke always bumping into each other and how frustrating it could be to one another.

I'll post the first two chapters and if I get a good response then what the heck I'll carry it on.

Any feedback at all would be highly welcome =)

Also Bioware owns all