Rendon Howe and Bryce Cousland had been good friends since the last war with Orlais, but Elissa had only seen Earl a few times, and since the last one he had a lot more wrinkles, but she would never forget that hooked nose and would recognize Howe for a hundred steps.

"My son, Thomas, has been asking about you. Maybe I should take it with me next time." Howe asked casually.

"What for?" Elissa looked away busily, as if she didn't understand what was being said, to which Thairn and Earl just laughed.

"`Why?' she says! She's a lively girl," Howe remarked. "She's just like her mother."

"You see who I have to deal with. Now my daughter decides everything on her own, God bless her," Teyrn sighed with a smile.

"I've heard rumors that you raised your daughter as a warrior. It's quite unusual... although I don't see the point in it."

Teyrn did not react to the last remark and turned back to his daughter:

"Your brother and I are going to war, so I'll leave Highever in your care."

Elissa already knew that her father was not taking her with him, but her childish stubbornness still persisted:

"I want to go with you."

"I'm sure you would have proved yourself, but think about your mother. She's already worried about me and Fergus. What will I tell her if I let you go to war? She's going to kill me."

"If you don't let go, I'll kill you!"

Thairn laughed:

"Don't make me choose which of my favorite women to fight. By the way, your mother holds a stronger sword."

Elissa couldn't argue with that, even though she'd never seen her mother in combat. But he and his father had met during the war with the Orlesians, and they had defended Ferelden together with weapons in their hands.

"Of course, I'm asking you a lot," Thairn continued. "There are only a few guards left here, and you will have to maintain order on the lands. Just in case, be careful. Don't you know the saying `a cat goes out of the house, a mouse goes dancing'?"

"I'll do everything, just come back." Suddenly, Elissa said seriously, the stubborn child disappeared, and the heir of Teyrnir stood in front of the father.

Many had heard stories about the last Plague, and they all agreed that it was a time of darkness, fire, and death, when the heavens themselves turn purple and blood pours onto the earth instead of rain. For a moment, Elissa imagined that their land and green forests could turn into smoldering coals, and crows would swarm on the ruins of dead cities, and shuddered. She didn't want her father and brother to go to a place where all this had come true, but they had to protect Ferelden.

"Your brother and I are going to war. Who knows what might happen."

Teyrn looked up at the window, blocked by angular wooden patterns, from where warm sunlight poured in a slanting column. Thairn looked at Elissa again and took her by the shoulders.

"I'll tell you one thing: you're my daughter, I love you very much, and if the worst happens, you'll be a worthy successor to the Cousland family."

Elissa frowned. She didn't even want to think about the fact that her family wouldn't be around, and she would be left alone with great responsibility. No, the father and the elder brother will return, and everything will be as before. Damned creatures of darkness! It would have been better if she had gone with the army instead of Fergus, or at least looked after him, both of them.

"Let's not talk about sad things!" Suddenly, Teyrn Bryce said cheerfully and stroked his daughter's cheek. "Let's think that the Creator will take care of us, and everything will be fine", Elissa nodded with a smile. "Little wolf, I'd like you to meet someone." Thairn turned to the guards at the gate. "Please invite Duncan."

Chapter 1.2 The Grey Guardian.

Elissa didn't even notice that someone was waiting for them at the other end of the room. A man with the image of a warrior in armor and with a weapon. His dark hair was pulled tightly into a ponytail, his temples were silvered with gray, the lower part of his face was covered with a thick beard, and deep wrinkles lay around his attentive brown eyes. Judging by the dark color of his skin, he could have been from Rivain or had ancestors from there. Elissa had never met such people before.

He approached Thairn and bowed his head politely. I am honored to be your guest, Thairne Cousland.

"Duncan is the Grey Guardian," Bryce introduced him. "We rarely get the chance to see members of their order. Little wolf, I hope Teacher Aldous told you who they are."

Legendary warriors who flew into battle on griffins, fought monsters and saved people from darkness. True, the griffins are now extinct, the Gray Guards have only a coat of arms left of them, but this part in fairy tales has so far been the most beloved for children. But instead, Elissa just said:

This is an order of great warriors who defeated the darkspawn four hundred years ago.

"I'm afraid that victory wasn't final," Duncan replied. "No more than three weeks ago, we noticed that a whole horde was gathering in the south of the Korkari Wilderness. Fortunately, King Kaylan heeded our warnings and raised an army."

"That's where we're going. To the fortress of Ostagar," Teyrn confirmed. "Duncan will be here for a while and will look for recruits for the order. I think he's noticed Sir Gilmour."

"My Lord, I don't want to be impertinent, but your daughter could also be suitable", The Guard cautiously remarked.

Teyrn's good mood instantly evaporated, he stood between his daughter and the Gray Guardian and said sternly:

"It may be honorable, but we're talking about my daughter."

"My friend," Howe interjected, "you said yourself that the Grey Wardens are heroes."

"I don't have so many children that I send them all to war," Kusland stood his ground, "so, Duncan, if you don't intend to resort to the Right of Conscription..."

"You have nothing to worry about," the Guardian replied conciliatingly. "Even if we need people, I won't force anyone."

Thairn relaxed and turned to his daughter:

"Little wolf, make sure that Duncan doesn't need anything in my absence." Elissa nodded. "And now we need to discuss how best to fight in the south, so go upstairs, wait for your brother and tell him to lead the army to Ostagar without me."

"Where's Fergus?"

"He's probably with the soldiers now, but I'm sure he'll go upstairs later. He won't leave until he says goodbye to Oriana and my grandson. So go ahead."

Thairn spoke to Earl Howe again and bent over the map on the table. Duncan wasn't involved in the conversation yet, and Elissa motioned for him to take a few steps back and asked quietly:

"Did you really come here for Sir Gilmour?"

"There aren't many decent candidates in all of Ferelden. I wrote to your father asking him to look for recruits here, and he invited me, suggesting this Sir Gilmore."

"And what will you do?"

"I'll test him. If he doesn't fit, I'll head south at once and join the king. The battles with the darkspawn have already begun."

"Can you test me?" Elissa looked meekly from under her brows.

Duncan smiled.

"To be honest, I've heard of you. They say you are skilled and eager to fight. The Guardians would love to have you in their ranks, but I will not go against your father's wishes. Although ancient treaties give me the Right to Conscription, which is more important than even a royal decree, we try not to apply it. Our order is too small to recklessly incur the wrath of the Ferelden aristocracy."

"I'm not asking for that, I'm just asking for a test."

"Well, with great joy. If you'd like, we can talk about recruitment later, when your father and Earl are gone."

"Actually, I'm still here," Thairn called over his shoulder.

"I just offered to satisfy the other person's curiosity," Duncan smiled.

Elissa glanced back at her father and Earl, who were talking, and lowered her voice:

"Is it really that serious in the south?"

"It's hard to say," the Guard said thoughtfully. "In previous battles, victory was easy for us. Some even believe that this is not a Plague, but just a major raid by darkspawn.

"What's the difference?"

"The plague begins when the creatures of darkness find the archdemon underground and awaken him. It is he who leads them to the surface to destroy and contaminate all living things. Without the archdemon, they are scattered and not so dangerous."

"There was no mention of any dragons." Hou replied, looking up from the map.

"My Lord, the archdemon has not been seen yet, but I feel in my heart that it is a Pestilence."

"And the king agrees with you, since he's raising an army?" Elissa asked.

"The King listens to the Grey Guards," How interjected again. "I have heard that he is fascinated by the legends of your order and therefore indulges you in everything."

"How, those are unworthy words," Thairn said sternly.

"He only repeats what he has heard from others." Duncan said matter-of-factly. "Whatever the reason for the King's support, I will accept it. Our main goal is to stop the Plague."

"Earl How, you don't seem to have a high opinion of King Kailan, but you fought for his father in the past," Elissa addressed Earl.

"And Kaylan is far from him, which is a pity."

"I've heard that King Kaylan is a good man. Don't you think so?"

"You never know what I think of him," Earl shrugged, "if only he would think more often."

"Hey, stop it! He is our king!" Thairn raised his voice.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace, but the girl asked herself." Hou said softly, "according to the freedom of action you've given her. I was just expressing my opinion."

"Little wolf, I thought I told you to go upstairs." Thairn looked at his daughter urgently.

Elissa turned to Duncan.

"But I wanted to..."

"You'll have time for that later... and by the way, do I hear a dog barking from the kitchen?"

Everyone fell silent at once. Elissa listened and heard barking, the clatter of dishes, and the painfully familiar swearing.

"Oh-oh. I'm sorry," she nodded goodbye to Duncan and Earl and quickly left the main hall.

Chapter 1.3 Fergus's departure.

Elissa almost ran towards the noise, tapping her heels on the stone floor. In one of the corridors, she almost bumped into a young knight who was also in a hurry.

"There you are. I've been looking for you everywhere", The red-haired knight smiled good-naturedly.

"Greetings, Sir Gilmore." Elissa smiled slyly in response.

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry," Gilmore laughed. "I just lost my mind looking for you."

Roland Gilmore had served as a squire at the castle of Couslands since childhood. Having a slight age difference with Elissa, they quickly found a common language and became friends, studying history and fencing with the same mentors. Roland became a constant accomplice to the games and pranks of the young daughter of Teyrn, which adults often turned a blind eye to. The children communicated easily, regardless of their titles, until one day, for reasons unknown to Elissa, Roland changed his first name to the tactful "milady." From then on, Elissa called him "Sir Gilmore." And there was so much resentment in this "sir", after all, she felt well that she was being moved away from her. However, the resentment has passed with age, but the funny game "Who is more polite than whom" has remained to this day.

"It looks like your dog is messing up the kitchen again."

"Yes, I'm afraid Nan's screams can already be heard by the whole castle," Elissa agreed.

"She threatens to leave."

"She's been threatening to do this once a week ever since she was my babysitter. He's just letting off steam," came the clatter of dishes, "... but let's hurry up anyway."

On the way, Elissa told Roland about the Grey Warden. Gilmore was overjoyed. He intended to pass the test at all costs and enter the order. Elissa was a little upset that he was ready to leave so easily, but seeing how happy her friend was, she just wished him luck. But Duncan said that she was also suitable....

* * *

The sun had already disappeared behind the tall towers of the castle, when Elissa, standing on the fortress wall, watched the line of warriors leaving to the south. Her older brother rode at their head on a horse. She was proud that her father was leaving Highever to her, but if she had been offered a choice...

"I wish I could go with you."

"Yes, it's a pity. It will be difficult to kill all the creatures of darkness alone." Fergus grinned, and Elissa poked him in the shoulder.

"Don't laugh."

"I'm not laughing, sis. I would really like to fight with you shoulder to shoulder, but what can I do? Another time. Protect everyone here, and don't go anywhere until I get back."

Elissa sighed and hugged herself. Fergus felt from afar that he was being watched, turned around and raised his hand in farewell. Elissa waved back. She wanted to go.

"Your father and brother have their own duty. You and I have our own," her mother told her.

A huge, toothy Mabari dog with smooth light brown fur whined nearby. He poked his wet nose into the hostess's leg, trying to cheer her up. Elissa stroked the dog's head and scratched him behind the ear. Mabari closed his eyes in pleasure and stuck out his tongue. The girl took another look at the soldiers leaving to defend the country without her, and sighed again. Finally, when all the soldiers had left the fortress, she descended from the wall, wished the passing guards a good evening, and went to her room.

Be polite to everyone. There is no shame in thanking and apologizing to anyone. No matter how high their position, people will judge them by their deeds. She is the heir of one of the two remaining Teyrnir in Ferelden. Only the royal family is above them. That's why she has to take care of those who have entrusted their lives to her. Duty comes first, that's what she was taught.

The Grey Guard watched the girl until she disappeared into one of the castle passageways. Thairn and Earl were still discussing the upcoming war, and Duncan went out for a minute to get some fresh air. The plague was gaining strength in the south, and the Grey Wardens were needed now more than ever, but still he was plagued by doubts.

When the Guard returned to the lords, they were sitting in chairs and drinking wine. The conversation seems to have reached a dead end.

"Does your daughter have a fighting wolfhound?" Duncan asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, I brought him back as a puppy. She had never been so happy with any gift. The elder sulked for a long time when the wolfhound chose her", Teyrn cheered up. He was always filled with pride when he talked about his children.

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