It was almost noon when they reached Ostagar on the fifth day of their journey. Although was only a few hours since Eirwen had drunk the last of Marethari's medicine the fever was already starting to build again. Duncan glanced at her anxiously taking in the over-bright eyes, the sheen on her face and the slight shiver. He'd been torn between pushing hard for Ostagar in order to arrive as soon as possible and the fear that pushing her too hard physically would accelerate the taint that threatened to overwhelm her. They needed to complete her Joining as soon as possible. He wondered if the mages in the King's camp would be able to help hold the taint in check until she was able to complete the ritual that could save her or maybe would... He shook himself, unwilling to complete the thought. He hated this. It was never easy but he admitted to himself that he was more reluctant than usual at the prospect of failure. She hadn't talked much along the way and he hadn't pressed her, aware that she needed all the energy to fight the sickness that coursed through her. He had to admit though that he was impressed with her stamina and he liked the quiet way about her. If she survived the Joining he had no doubt that she would make a formidable Warden.

The ruined fortress of Ostagar loomed up in front of them and he heard her gasp. She stopped, almost stumbling, and looked up at the great, grey ruins.

"I've never seen anything like this! Who built this?"

"It's an old Tevinter fortress," he told her, "Ruined certainly but still a good defence for all that."

He stepped down onto a stone bridge that spanned a deep chasm.

"Come. I think we have a welcoming committee." He nodded his head to the far side of the bridge where a small group of people stood waiting for them. Eirwen's head was starting to swim and he balanced both their packs on one shoulder and supported her with his free arm. He took it as a bad sign that she made no protest, merely leaning on him as they crossed the bridge. He bit down his irritation as King Cailan greeted them, all he wanted to do was get the girl to the healers as quickly as he could. Thankfully after exchanging pleasantries that he was sure Eirwen was barely aware of the King seemed to take in the condition of his newest recruit and made his excuses to leave. Bracing his arm underneath her shoulders, Duncan virtually carried her the short distance to the mage encampment. He was relieved when one of them caught his eye almost immediately and hurried over.

"Good day Warden, I am Wynne. Your companion looks in urgent need of assistance."

He nodded. "Her Keeper sent some medicine with her but she used the last of it this morning. She has needed it more frequently over the last couple of days." He sighed, "I had hoped it would last a little longer."

Wynne regarded the elf, noting the unusual tattoo on her face. "Keeper? She is Dalish then? Do you still have the bottle? Dalish lore is somewhat different to ours but I may be able to tell some of what was in it."

"Yes, she is Dalish and yes, the bottle should be in her pack."

Gesturing him to follow she led him to a small cot. "Put her there and let's see what I can do for her."

Duncan dropped their packs to the ground then carefully laid Eirwen on to the cot. Once she was settled he quickly found the empty bottle Marethari had given him, thankfully on the top of everything. Grimly he handed it to Wynne who unstoppered it and sniffed. The pungent smell made her eyes water and she grimaced.

"She's made of stern stuff indeed if this tasted anything like it smells. There's willow bark and elfroot in there certainly but something else too, something I'm not familiar with." She looked at Duncan uncertainly. "This isn't a cure, is it? Just something to ...?"

He shook his head, choosing his words carefully, "No, not a cure. Just something to strengthen her until she can be initiated into the Grey Wardens."

Wynne raised an eyebrow at him, "And then?"

He avoided her gaze, "If she can survive long enough to undergo the Joining then there is a chance for her."

Seeing the set of his face, Wynne was sure he would tell her nothing more. "When can you perform this..er...Joining? "

"Hopefully tonight, however she will need to be well enough to go out into the Wilds this afternoon if that is to be the case."

"Maker's breath!" Wynne looked like there was a lot more she wanted to say however she bit her tongue and sighed, "Very well, I'll do what I can but I warn you Duncan, this girl is near death."

Duncan hesitated, "I know how it seems but the Joining is the only chance she's got and the sooner it's complete the better."

"Come back in an hour or so." Bristling with indignation, her displeasure obvious, Wynne turned from him and bent over the small Elven figure on the cot.

Duncan sighed and retrieved his pack, heading towards the spot the Grey Wardens had picked out for their camp. Most of the other Wardens were camped with the main army but he and Alistair were in the King's own encampment. He needed to speak to Alistair in private before he sent him out in to the Wilds with the recruits. Pushing down his anxiety he headed over to their fire and couldn't help but smile as he saw's Alistair's face light up as he approached.

"Duncan! You made it! I was expecting you yesterday"

Duncan sighed wearily, "Indeed, I'd hoped to make better time but circumstances dictated otherwise."

"Trouble on the road?"

"Not exactly." Duncan dumped his pack and sat down, gesturing for Alistair to do the same.

"Sit, I need to speak to you before you head out this afternoon." He looked round warily, "Where are Ser Jory and Daveth?"

Alistair shrugged, "Daveth's probably making a nuisance of himself around a woman somewhere." He shook his head, "Honestly Duncan, he seems nice enough but he just doesn't know when to stop! It's only a matter of time before he arrives back with a black eye or worse. As for Ser Jory, he's like a wet weekend in Highever, which is where I suspect he'd rather be right now by all accounts." He stopped suddenly aware he was babbling, "They're both around somewhere", he gestured vaguely around him. "What's the latest one like?"

Duncan sighed, "She's ill, very ill. A healer's looking at her now."

Alistair eyed him warily She is ill? "Ill?" he asked, "Something she picked up on the way?"

Duncan shook his head. "She's from a Dalish clan I ran across on my way back down here. Her name is Eirwen. She's tainted."

Alistair's eyes widened in surprise.

"Her Keeper" continued Duncan, "gave her something that has managed to keep her alive this long but she's at the end of her strength. The Joining must be tonight but I'm not sure she'll be strong enough for your trip out into the Wilds this afternoon."

Alistair shrugged, "So what? She can stay here with you and just do the ritual later with the other two can't she?"

Duncan smiled, "I don't think she'd see it like that Alistair. She is very proud and not a little stubborn. No, that isn't what I was going to say. She will go with you; what I want from you is to keep a particular eye on her. I don't want her exerting herself to much. It shouldn't be too hard as apparently the bow is her favoured weapon however be aware that she's probably stubborn enough to keep putting one foot in front of the other until she drops. I really don't want it to come to that. Also bear in mind that the Dalish are a proud people and her experience of humans isn't anything we can be proud of. She's a little..." he paused, casting around for the right word, "prickly. "

"Riiiight" drawled Alistair, "A prickly elf who's liable to drop dead at my feet. How hard can this be?"

Duncan raised an eyebrow, "I'm not sure she'll appreciate what passes for your sense of humour right now so try and keep it to a minimum."

Alistair flushed and looked embarrassed. "Sorry Duncan" he muttered, "I really will keep an eye on her and bring her back on her own two feet."

Duncan smiled, "See that you do. I suspect that she's the pick of the bunch."

"Honestly Duncan, I swear I'll look out for her." He stopped as his stomach rumbled loudly, "Uh-oh, lunch time. I'm going to go and look pathetic near the kitchen, I'm starving."

Duncan couldn't help laughing, "Go on then, you've about an hour until the healer's done with our Dalish friend. Once she's here you can all head out into the Wilds."

Duncan headed back towards the mage's encampment and was relieved to see Eirwen on her feet. She still looked pale but there was no sign of her earlier fever. Wynne didn't look pleased to see him but tapped the young woman on the arm and gestured towards Duncan. He headed over to meet them to be met with a look of stern disapproval from Wynne.

"I've done what I can but it won't last." She turned towards Eirwen, "Remember what I said young lady. You are not to exert yourself too much. If you do then your relapse will be all the quicker."

Eirwen nodded meekly, "Yes Wynne, I will bear what you said in mind."

Duncan tried to hide his astonishment, this meek attitude was the last thing he had expected. He tried not to flinch as Wynne rounded on him. "And as for you Ser Warden, " Was she wagging her finger at him?! "I expect you to take good care of her. I do not expect to see her here again in such a state."

Duncan crossed his arms over his chest and bowed to the mage, "My thanks Wynne, we are very grateful for your help. You do the Grey Wardens a great service."

Wynne merely snorted and headed back towards her fellow mages. Eirwen caught his eye and grinned. He couldn't help but grin back at her, "You look much better Eirwen."

"I feel much better."

"I'm glad to hear it. You have all your things?" She nodded, adjusting her pack on her shoulder. "In that case I suggest you spend a little time looking round the camp then find Alistair. There are some things I need to attend to but when you've found Alistair come and seek me out over at our camp."

She looked round the camp warily and for a second he saw it through her eyes. "Don't worry Eirwen. You remember what we spoke of the other day? I know that your experiences with humans aren't very positive but truly, you are unlikely to encounter those attitudes here."

She regarded him carefully, wanting to believe him. "We'll see" she conceded grudgingly. "I'll just dump my pack at your camp then go and look around a bit then."

He extended his hand, "Give it to me, I'll see it's stowed safely, off you go."

Almost reluctantly she handed over her pack, like she expected him to abscond with it, then abruptly she turned and was gone.