Fourth week on the road, and Ser Gyles Hawthorne's mood was as bad as it might get. [i]I am getting too old for long trips, it seems. But there are darkspawn to be killed, and loot to be gathered, so I can't just whimper out of this opportunity[/i], he thought. He was holding a palaver with one of his men, a scout named Harding, who hailed from Ferelden. Gyles' company had stopped marching and most of the men were eating supper, a soup with deer meat, mushrooms and roots in it.

"The Tevinter's border fort is not so far away, commander. A couple of hours ride from here" scout Harding said to Gyles. "There the Wardens should be."

"Let us hope so. I'd like to have some shelter and warm fireplace after few weeks of tenting in the wilds" Gyles said mildly. "Get some supper and get back to the formation, Harding, and send out Michael. It's his turn." It had been weeks since he and his company of about fifty men had seen a village, and it had had a poor brothel. Along the way to the north towards the Tevinter territory he had recruited about fifty men, all from different nations and villages. Most were Fereldan and some were from Orlais. A couple of the recruits were even from the Free Marches or Rivain, but luckily all of them were capable soldiers and knew which end of a sword to hold.

At first, they had resented and distrusted each other, but the during the past few months they had been together the men had grown bonds between them that only soldiers knew, and Gyles for happy for that. Gyles had noticed that if a man fought not for himself but for his unit and his comrades, even a small company could hold its ground against a great enemy army. Of course, the company also needed training and drilling beyond measure, and supplies also helped. But Gyles had all of his trust placed on his men.

After the meal, they packed their goods and started to march forwards, and in few hours the company reached the border fort. A young man, apparently in his early twenties, appeared at the top of the gatehouse. "Halt!" he shouted to Ser Gyles, who was riding as the first man of the company "Who are you, and on what business?"

"The name's Gyles Hawthorne of Ferelden, and remember to add a ser when you address me if we converse later. I heard that the Wardens would need some assistance, and that they would pay handsomely those who helped them. I sent my answer to your commander few months ago, but my company and I were slightly delayed by a small battle in Orlais."

"I see. Wait for a moment, I'll go to confirm from my captain" the young man said, and in a matter of seconds he was gone.

About fifteen minutes later the gates opened, and the company entered the fort. Gyles glanced around, and noticed a circle around a young elven Grey Warden. He jumped from his destrier's back and walked to the group. "Who's in command here, Warden?"