A/N: I do not own Dragon Age.

Duncan's Request

Rain pelted down the Grey Warden camp, the members of the order were uncomfortable but were thinly sheltered by a large oak tree. Many Wardens were rubbing their hands to regain some warmth and some were shifting uncomfortably.

Alistair was squashed between two Wardens, he tried to make room for himself but only succeeded with two grunts from the much bigger and burlier Wardens. Deciding it would be unwise to annoy the two any further he decided to try and think up a conversation topic. "It's such nice weather were having, we should all have a picnic!" Alistair gave a cheesy grin to the two next to him and they both rolled their eyes in response.

"Oh do shut up ankle-biter!" The taller warden next to him named Lark squared his shoulders and sniffed.

The warden named Patrick on the other side of Alistair also squared his shoulders and in his thick Orlesian accent drawled, "Why does Duncan wish to speak to us in these circumstances? Shouldn't we be preparing?"

Lark stroked his long dark beard in thought and in his gruff voice muttered, "Whatever it is, it must be important,"

That moment Duncan emerged from the tent and the Wardens straightened up in respect. All eyes were on their leader standing tall hands on his hips, Alistair's hazel brown eyes lit up as his mentor opened his mouth to speak.

"Wardens, I am sure that it has not escaped your notice that our numbers are few," Duncan soft voice commanded a certain respect from the troop, "To rectify this I am sending groups across Ferelden to search for recruits,"

Several members shifted uncomfortably, this was a very strange request. Although their commander was correct, they only had two dozen men in the Wardens which was a pitiful number compared to the troops in Orlais but it was certainly odd that their leader would request this now and so soon.

"Isn't this one enough!" Lark roared with laughter slapping Alistair's back roughly who winced in response.

Duncan's soft gaze flicked over to Alistair. "While Alistair is a promising new Grey Warden, it is unfair to rely solely on him," he said softly. He quietly approached Patrick who straightened up his shoulders. "Go to Highever with Rooch and proceed how you wish,"

"Yes Warden-Commander," Patrick saluted Duncan and walked away with his elven companion.

"If I may Dun-I mean Warden-Commander," a Warden named Denton approached Duncan crossed his arms and nodded his head. "I was hoping to search the Brecilian Forest in search of the Dalish, they would surely have good potential there,"

Duncan frowned. "The Brecilian Forest is a vast place Denton," he then sighed. "Very well, do try not to ruffle any feathers with the Dalish they are a proud people..."

Denton smiled and saluted Duncan, Duncan turned to Lark. "You go with him."

"What? Can't I go to Denerim instead?" Lark's head jerked around to face Duncan.

"That's only because you want to go get drunk off your arse and visit the Pearl," Denton's lips curled at the edges in a sneer.

Lark snorted. "Hmph. It'll be a lot more interesting than being in the wood." the much burlier man rolled his eyes and walked off with the smaller Denton.

"Edme with your experience with mages and templars you should be the representative of the Grey Wardens. Do try and convince Knight-Commander to release a few more mages into our forces, we cannot do with just seven..."

"Yes Warden-Commander," the red-haired Warden saluted.

"Alistair you go with Damar, Poves and Osage to Denerim," Duncan gently gave a nod in Alistair's direction.

Alistair blinked rapidly as Poves clamped a hand on his shoulder and dragged him away. "C'mon my boy, let us show you what a brothel is!"

"I shall take a team of you with me to Orzammar, the rest of you head to Ostagar and wait for King Calian's army," as Duncan walked away a gentle hand was placed on his shoulder, the other Grey Wardens have walked away to carry out their duty.

"Duncan are you alright? You seem tense," the soft voice of Carrie her blue eyes filled with concern.

"...No." Duncan answered honestly.

"The nightmares, they are getting worse aren't they?"

"Yes," Duncan replied not meeting her gaze he looked off in the distance eyes deep in thought. "I saw the end," as the words left his mouth flashes of the nightmare appeared in his mind.

Denerim destroyed, a sea of bodies laying in the street as the darkspawn trampled over the corpses. The Alienage on fire, elves women and children screaming as their symbol of hope their vhenadahl tree combusting in flames as ogre rips through the gates. Then Alistair trying to lead the charge against the archdemon only for a Hurlock alpha to make the charge fall flat. Alistair look of dispair as he sees his companions dead around him, the Hurlock raises his sword and slices off his head. The archdemon flying in the sky roaring in victory.

"That's why you ordered to find new recruits...?" Carrie asked slowly.

"Yes," Duncan answered softly still not meeting his gaze.

"It can be just a nightmare Duncan..." Carrie looked concerned at her friend.

"I cannot take that risk," Duncan's gaze finally meeting hers.

"The nightmares...i-is that why you wish to travel to Orzammar?" she really couldn't bring herself to ask if his time was coming. But she knew the answer when he looked at her sadly and walked away.

It was a cruel fate for the Wardens. They alone were needed to fight the archdemon. They gained a strong reputation for being strong fearless warriors but they could never live normal lives. They were sentenced to die a slow maddening death with the taint spreading inside them like a cancer. It was a rare feat indeed if anyone of them had children, even rarer between two wardens. Marriage was not forbidden but is considered cruel for the short lives they live would be cruel for their spouses. The saving grace for them was that they had each other. A member of any race would join their ranks in brother or sisterhood. The Wardens were a large family and although they fought darkspawn they preferred to spend their remaining days in merriment wherever they could. Be it together clinking goblets to spending time in the seedier parts of the world. Together they were Wardens. And they must defeat the archdemon before it destroys Thedas.

Duncan noticed the rain had stopped as he lead the men away to Orzammar. The final resting place for Wardens.

A/N:

Why isn't Duncan going to be present for all of the Origin stories?

Duncan can't be at every origin story. From what I gather in Dragon Age in the game it takes a long time in travelling between places. In parts its suggested its taken an entire year for the Warden to travel all around. I chose Orzammar particularly because Alistair mention his "calling" was drawing closer and it would be potent.

Why aren't there many women Wardens?

Particularly because of Alistair's dialogue with female Wardens. "There aren't many women in the Wardens. I wonder why that is?" I only written in Carrie because he said many not any. Though it does change in the next few chapters.

Are all of the Origin stories going to tie in together?

Yes. All of the origin stories will tie in together, that is including male and female wardens because some Origin stories differ depending on gender. Such as the City Elf.

This was short. Will it be longer?

Yes. The rest of the chapters will be much longer than this. This just a prologue.

Thank you for reading!