"If you can call the Circle of Magi a hole."

"What would you call it?"

"A tower in a lake."

Lys barely holds back a snort. "It does have its problems," she acknowledges. "Some similar to, some different from the alienages. I didn't mind it as much as some do - but I am glad for the opportunity to join the Wardens."

"A fancy cage is still a cage. Worse than a shithole where you at least get mostly ignored, even." 

"I suppose we're all happy you were never sent there, then."

"And that Ser Xandra was able to bring you into the Wardens."

"There were some arguments. But the Right of Conscription apparently outweighs even a death sentence - among humans, at least." Lightly: "I had to find the Wardens myself after being cast into the Deep Roads. But my steel plus Xandra's was enough to sway Denerim's enforcers."

"It's my story, not yours, Halna."

"We'll be working with them, Shiremi. You don't need your armor here."

Skeptical face. 

"It is good to know who we'll be fighting with. But forcing the issue seems counterproductive."

"And I'll trust Ser Xandra's judgment on your abilities and character."

"Why were you- cast into the Deep Roads?" Briony asks Halna, since she seems inclined to be friendlier.

"...I was falsely accused of plotting against the royal family of Orzammar in a bid for the throne. I made the mistake of trying to clear my name and actually bring my older sister Gina to justice for her role in the king's death. It didn't help that my supposed co-conspirator, my brother Gen, had fled as soon as we received the news, which was taken as evidence of his - our - guilt. So, I suppose the nobles of Orzammar now have the Queen they wanted - and the Queen they deserve."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"It's in the past, now. And my claim to the throne would be removed by my status as a Grey Warden, anyways."

"I'm afraid our story is much less exciting. Forbidden love between a mage and her guardian, fled to the Wardens to escape the shackles of the Chantry."

"I don't know; there's a lot of excitement in a good romance, especially one with star-crossed lovers..."

"Making out in a cupboard is only excitingly dangerous the first couple times."

"Then we can mark both of our stories as more exciting on paper - my trial was more frustrating than exciting."

"Deal."

"Works for me."

It's about then that Xandra and Duncan join the group.

"I hope everyone's getting along?" she says.

"So far, so good."