Dragon Age AU
“So you are the new recruit,” Seamus said. “My name is Seamus and welcome to Vigil’s keep. I am sorry I couldn’t welcome you sooner, but I’ve just returned.”
Dean smiled weakly at the other warden. “Nice to meet you. I’m Dean. And don’t worry, he warden’s missions have utmost importance.”
“You don’t seem too happy to be here,” Seamus said and sat down opposite the other at the huge wooden table, placing his dinner in front of him.
“I am just shocked. I didn’t expect people to...” Dean trailed off.
“Die?” Seamus finished. “You didn’t expect to drink Darkspawn blood?”
“Yes. Nobody told me about this when I signed up,” Dean said and ran a hand trough his hair.
“At least you signed up,” Seamus muttered.
Dean looked at him in confusion. “At least I signed up? What do you mean by that? Haven’t you?”
Seamus sighed. “Ever heard of the right of Conscription?” he asked.
“Conscription? Are you a criminal?” Dean gaped at him.
“Not really,” Seamus said, running a hand through his hair. “It’s… complicated.”
“Tell me,” Dean demanded, leaning forward. He had heard before that the Grey Wardens accepted criminals into their ranks, giving them a new purpose in life and a clean slate. Hell, even two of the most famous Wardens in Ferelden, The Hero of Ferelden and Duncan, who had recruited her, had been conscripted – that was, if the rumours were true.
“I am half elvish even if you can’t see much of it,” Seamus said. “Mom’s an elf, dad’s a human. Meaning that our lives were a mess since before I was born. With such a union it’s always hard, no matter where you live. Anyway, I grew up in Orlais and with the years passing we got accepted in our city. Things were alright with Briala on the top. Well, at least until the old Lord died and his nephew took over the reign over the city. Long story short, everything went to hell as he exploited the poor and hated elves. A resistance formed and I accidentally blew him up,” Seamus finished with a grin.
“You can’t be serious,” Dean said.
“I am.”
“Don’t you feel sorry for killing him?” Dean asked.
“Would you feel sorry for killing Darkspawn?” Seamus countered. “That man was worse than any Darkspawn I have encountered. And as I’ve already said, it was an accident. The old Lord’s cousin is a way better ruler than the nephew was and everybody is doing better. I have a meaningful position here and our Commander, the Hero of Ferelden, has taken a personal liking to me. Did you know, that she killed a noble who wanted to rape her and her friends and killed her fiance on her wedding day and became a Warden because of that?”
Dean was staring at him with his mouth hanging open. He hadn’t expected that when he had volunteered to join the Grey Wardens. The tales that were told about them being noble, selfless people didn’t seem true anymore. Not with what he had witnessed in the past three days since he came to Vigil’s Keep.
In that moment, Angelina, Alicia and Katie walked over to them and sat down next to Dean. “I see you have already met,” Angelina said. “That’s good. I hope Seamus isn’t spreading any wild tales.”
“They are all true,” Seamus grinned and Angelina laughed at that, while Alicia rolled her eyes at Katie.
“I hope so. But don’t use all of them up at once. You’ll have more than enough time to share them in the future as Dean will be joining you in the laboratory.”
Seamus looked curiously at Dean. “Really?”
Dean nodded, feeling his cheeks heat up. “Yeah. I am pretty good at drawing and I have been told that there is help needed with the blueprints.”
“Indeed. There was an accident..” Seamus began but Katie cut him of.
“What he wants to say is that he blew the old ones up.”
“What I wanted to say is that there was an accident,” Seamus repeated and glared at her.
Dean looked between them in confusion.
“He works with the dwarves on explosives,” Alicia explained. “They can be quite useful against Darkspawn.”
“Or roofs,” Angelina snickered and Seamus blushed.
“Do you always have to bring that up?” he muttered.
“I do,” she said and stood up, taking her empty plate with her. “But I’ll let you be now. Get to know each other. You’ll spend way too much time with nobody but each other and a bunch of grumpy dwarves in the workshops. It’s much more fun if you are friends.”
“Or fucking,” Alicia chipped in and followed Angelina.
“Don’t mind her,” Katie said to Dean, who’s mouth was hanging open once again and stood up as well before leaving the two of them alone.
“Were they serious?” Dean asked.
“Considering that a lot of Wardens have a thing with each other, yes,” Seamus grinned. “But I believe that was a jab at Angie, so don’t worry over it too much. Except you have made the mistake of discussing your sexuality with them.”
“Why?” Dean questioned.
“Well, there are some people in this place who believe that in order to keep our sanity we need to form meaningful relationships and fall in love. They have the tendency to play matchmaker and judging by the former comment, the two of us may be the next victims.”
