'Men and women from every race, warriors and mages, barbarians and kings...the Grey Wardens sacrificed everything to stem the tide of darkness...and prevailed.'

The words Duncan had said once before echoed in his mind while the night sky loomed over and a campfire crackled in its burning. The Warden-Commander stood by the campfire, looking up to the dark sky with his arms crossed and his eyes filled with deep thought. Duncan could not shake off the feeling that something was missing from the Grey Wardens. Though he was allowed by King Cailan to look for a new recruit for the Wardens, its Commander felt that it may possibly not be enough. Through his life he had been a thief of Val Royeaux and then sentenced to death within only a single battle. It was fate that pulled a trick on him when the one he murdered was the betrothed of his rescuer. From there he was a Grey Warden, committed to fighting the darkspawn until his last breath.

Now that he was Ferelden's Grey Warden Commander he and his comrades were now in the midst of Dragon Age 9:30, the time of the fifth darkspawn blight. King Cailan, son of Maric, was eager for the glory of ending the blight. But Duncan did not share his enthusiasm on the matter. Taking down the darkspawn was and still is a serious matter. Glory had to be the least of his worries when the time comes to battle the Archdemon. Grey Wardens were essential against the blight. So why did Duncan feel unsatisfied with the way he was recruiting?

A high pitched male voice brought him back to reality. "Something amiss, Duncan?"

Duncan blinked and turned to his fellow Grey Warden clad in leather armour and a templar helmet. "Nothing that should be of concern Ser Hornwath."

The knight shook his head. "You're not getting off that easy Duncan. I've been around long enough to know what you look like when you're troubled. Speak, or let the darkspawn swoop down on us."

Not finding the humour in Hornwath's words, Duncan gave a small sigh. "I was thinking about where we should find a new recruit."

"Ah, the third recruit for the joining. Just one more to go and that blabbermouth Daveth and Ser Jory can have their chance along with the lucky third."

Duncan nodded. "Yes, but I have been also thinking that we are... missing something in our order. Something vital."

Hornwath shook his head. "You're over thinking it Duncan. We're getting new recruits for our order already. Maker knows how many we need against a blight but it sure seems that we have enough."

The Grey Warden knight shrugged his shoulders and said in a humorous tone, "I mean, it's not as if we can pick up even more recruits in such a short time."

At Hornwath's words Duncan's eyes blinked and then remained opened wide. He brought his hand to his chin and a small smile crept up between his fingers.

Hornwath's smile disappeared as Duncan's appeared. "Oh no," he regretfully said as he waved his finger at Duncan. "I know that look as well. I was only joking when I said-"

"What you said..." Duncan interrupted, "May actually be the answer to our problems."

"What?" The knight looked at his commander confused, "But the Joining has only ever been done with less than five recruits at a time! It's been tradition since the First!"

"I would like to hold onto tradition, certainly," Duncan began, "But you've seen the dreams Hornwath. Many doubt that this is a real blight but we know what we've seen in our nightmares."

"The Archdemon..." Hornwath muttered.

"King Cailan takes the Horde far too lightly to listen to us about it. It is why he gave us an entire month to look for our recruit." Duncan kneeled down and stated drawing in the dirt with a twig near his feet. Quickly making a rough map of Ferelden he spoke again, "But the Horde will not be too large even if we use the entire month. We can use this time to go around Ferelden and recruit a far wider variety of warriors."

"But we can't possibly go around Ferelden in a month!" Hornwath added, his worry now showing in his voice.

"Maybe not all of Ferelden," Duncan agreed, "But perhaps if we follow this trail we could go to many places in it." He pointed to the left side of what appeared to be Lake Calenhad. "Right now we are at the north-west of Lake Calenhad. From here, a ride to Orzammar on the horses the King gave us would only take two days and I doubt we would be there for more than one. There we can find a dwarven ally there. Some casteless dwarves hunger for the chance to find glory on the surface and we may be fortunate to have a noble follow us for our cause."

Less worried than before, Hornwath kneeled down next to Duncan and examined the map he made. "Alright that's fine and dandy, but where do you plan to head to after that?"

Duncan trailed the twig in the dirt and drew a line from Orzammar to a dot at the top of Ferelden. "I plan to go east and then north to my birthplace, Highever. It would only take a week on horseback from Orzammar along the roads."

Hornwath smirked. "Ah, thinking of recruiting Ser Gilmore? I heard you almost had him join the last time you went to Highever."

Duncan shook his head. "At one time I did consider Ser Gilmore a suitable candidate. But now I am more interested in two particular individuals. Individuals who have hardly been apart since birth."

The knight's eyes widened when his mind clicked into what Duncan was saying. "The Cousland Twins?" he exclaimed, "Teryn Bryce would never and will never agree to that! His eldest son is already going to Ostagar in a week from now! His other son and daughter will be looking after the castle after that! You don't plan you use the Rite of Conscription on them do you?"

The Warden-Commander bowed his head and closed his eyes for the moment and took a deep breath. "If we do not find allies in Orzammar, then I'm afraid I must. The Twins would be fine Grey Wardens. Word has it they have grown into excellent fighters and an even better team. Their unity may be essential in the upcoming war."

Hornwath pinched the bridge of his nose and clenched his eyelids closed. "Maker, if it comes to that I'm certain we'll never here the end of it."

"I assure you that I will try not to conscript them. Though in these times, we may not have a choice."

The knight lifted his arms in the air and shook his head. "I'll try not to think about it. Where to after Highever then? Denerim?"

Duncan shook his head. "I'm afraid a trip to Denerim would limit our choices too thin. It would take almost a week to get there and nearly two weeks to get to Ostagar afterward. We may be late for the King if we head for Denerim. And though I might regret not going to see Adaia's child, going to Denerim with such little time would mean we would have to bypass two potential locations."

Hornwath raised an eyebrow. "Two? What's the first?"

Duncan drew a line connecting Highever to the north of Lake Calenhad. "Nearly a week away from Highever is the Tower of the Circle of Magi. Another mage would surely strengthen our chances against the darkspawn. That is where we will go after Highever."

"As if worrying if Tarimel will turn me into a toad wasn't enough..." Hornwath grumbled. He seemed to have lost his enthusiasm at the mention of the word 'mage.'

"Tarimel's magic has saved some of our lives, including yours." Duncan retorted though there was no disapproval in his voice, "Mages are just as useful as any skilled warrior. We cannot deny that."

"I guess I can't complain," The knight reluctantly sighed, "What's the last place?"

Duncan began drawing again and connected the north of Lake Calenhad to the middle of the east of Ferelden. "The Brecilian forests are only nearly a week away from the tower. I plan to see the Dalish tribes and see if one of their warriors would be willing to come with us. The skill of their hunting and their art with the bow are second to none. Finally, we will head to Ostagar with a week to spare, on time for the King."

A moment of silence between the Wardens grew until Hornwath huffed out. "Well... that's certainly tight planning. If you manage to pull this off the blight will be a cakewalk."

Wagging his finger, Duncan said, "Do not say such things Ser Hornwath. The Orlesians have a saying 'What goes around comes around.'"

"I'm too familiar with the term." The knight stood up and stretched before turning and saying, "Guess I'll go pack our bags for the tri-"

"Ser Hornwath," Duncan interrupted before Hornwath left, "I need you to take Alistair back to Ostagar and help the King's troops ready themselves for the battle with the darkspawn."

Hornwath stopped in his tracks. Without turning to Duncan he said, "I'm guessing that's not the only reason you want Alistair to go back, is it?"

Duncan grimly nodded. "Alistair holds the blood of an important man Ser Hornwath. If we encounter danger in our path, Alistair must take no part in it until he is ready."

Hornwath silently nodded and was about to walk again when Duncan's voice rang out, "And I know you don't want to be there if we recruit the Cousland Twins. I will not put you through agony for simple duty unless necessary."

"Thanks Duncan." The knight walked away and then called out, "Alistair! Pack your bags, we're heading home!"

Trying to drone out the complaints Alistair was throwing at Hornwath in the distance, Duncan walked to the middle of the camp and announced to the rest of the Wardens, "We leave at dawn men. We must pack up camp and move as soon as the sun rises."

The Wardens around the camp then scrambled to pack their things for the morrow. An elven Warden walked to Duncan and he asked, "Where to Duncan?"

Duncan walked over to the horses and placed a saddle on its back. Strapping the saddle, he said. "To Orzammar, then where the Maker will allow us."