Chapter Text
Willow was no stranger to getting her ass handed to her, mouthing off to and antagonising the Denerim city guard often led to such consequences. However Alistair was a surprise. Between the teasing and taunts, it never occurred to the elf that her self trained fighting style would be no match for the Templar trained warrior. The reality of just how much better (Maker she would never say that aloud) Alistair was than her only sunk in as his shield slammed into her chest and sent her sprawling on her back, out of breath.
“I thought you said you knew how to fight.” Alistair taunted, not even having broken a sweat, “You’ve got a shield to protect you, sure, but it can double as a weapon.” He helped Willow to her feet as she tried to regain her breath and some semblance of dignity. Getting beat by Alistair…….Morrigan was going to have a field day.
“Don’t get too cocky, I’m just not used to wearing armour.” Willow huffed with a cough, “I’ll beat your dumb ass next time.” Alistair laughed. Actually laughed at her threat and Willow had never felt the urge to beat his ass so great before.
The elf was not one to give up and she was going to defeat Alistair if it was the last thing she did, not even the arch demon would stop her. That being said, she was now destroying a tree in an attempt to improve her skills.
“You will never improve your skills with an inanimate opponent.” Sten commented, Willow hadn’t even noticed him watching her. The red head turned to face the big man with a huff and crossed her arms over her chest, sword forgotten in the tree.
“And I suppose you could teach me better.” She mocked with a smirk that was wiped clear off her face as a small shove from Sten sent her to the ground.
“Your balance is terrible and your swing is too wide but I’ve trained worse.” The Qunari smirked almost invisibly as he watched Willow regain her feet, eyes wide in shock and a huge grin spread across her face.
“Are you serious? You’ll train me?”
“If that’s what you desire.” Sten nodded, raising an eyebrow in confusion as Willow jumped around happily.
“Excellent! I can finally kick Alistair’s ass and protect everyone!” She cheered, pulling her sword from the tree and turning back to her companion while bouncing excitedly. “Alright what’s first?”
“First you must know I will not be a kind teacher. You will train as though you were Qunari and if you complain then you are not worth my time.” Sten explained, crossed arms and a serious expression on his face.
“You got it!”
For the next few weeks, Willow refused to spar with Alistair and spent almost every free moment she had training with Sten. He wasn’t kidding when he said he wasn’t a kind teacher, on top of working on her sword skills he was also making her work on her strength. More often than not, Willow was sore and exhausted and had almost no time to recover but she didn’t complain once. This was much more difficult than what her mother had taught her as a child but it was all worth it if she could kick Alistair’s ass. When Willow could successfully knock Sten back a pace, he decided she was ready to challenge the other Warden again and challenge him she did.
“Think you can take me this time, little kitty?” Alistair mocked but only received a smirk in return, he had no idea the training she had been going through.
The fight was over in minutes, Alistair was on his back panting hard after Willow knocked the air straight out of him with a carefully placed shield bash. The elf stood triumphant smiling over at her mentor who nodded in approval.
“Don’t feel too bad, your majesty, you’re still winner of the playground.” Willow smirked and hauled her punching bag to his feet before walking off to the Qunari she had learnt from. “Man, Sten, I really owe you one. You’ve really helped me out.”
“I suppose now that you’ve avenged yourself you’ll no longer train?” It was a shot at her sense of being a warrior and all she could do was smirk.
“And let myself get rusty? No chance in hell. Besides I’ve still gotta beat you.”
“You will accomplish that once I become an old man.” Sten boasted and Willow jabbed him in the stomach with her elbow.
“Yeah if I’m lucky.”