The Joining

Ostagar – Duncan's Campfire, four days before the battle of Ostagar

It had been the day of 'first times'. The first time that I was in the south of Ferelden. The first time that I saw a whole army gathering. My first discussion with Duncan. My first meeting with a king. And my first glimpse at the most beautiful elven maiden that could be out there.

Only halfhearted I followed the discussion around me. Fergus hadn't been in the army camp as I hoped, so I left his wife and son at his tent in the care of his guards. An army camp surely was not the right place for a noble woman, nothing to say about the boy, but I was sure she would be fine. And Fergus would be grateful, I only hoped for him. Having one of the highest nobles in Ferelden owing you a huge favor was not a bad thing. But what now? What should I do next?

Rory had instantly jumped at the opportunity when Duncan asked her to become a grey warden. I felt a bit hurt that she left me so easily for a future with these morons. Alistair was a great example of the kind of men who were attracted to the order. Surely he saw himself as a shiny knight fighting for the good. But I had to admit that he was way better than Ser Jory. How could someone leave his family to become a grey warden? Surely he had no idea what this decision meant, expecting to go back to his family after some glory battles. Stupid ass.

My eyes lingered on her legs. Slender, athletic but not overly muscular, bronzy tanned and without marks they were a sight to behold. More than once she shot me an angry glare that showed me how unwelcome my attention was to her, but I couldn't resist. Shianni was quite the opposite of Rory, both in body as in mind. Never before had I been so aroused and her antipathy made it all the sweeter. This evening I swore to myself that I would have my way with her someday and that I wouldn't use my magic to coax her into it.

Daveth, the last of the recruits, was flirting with her. His success was even lower than mine and I smiled covertly. You'll regret this, Daveth. Nobody interferes with my elven lady. "See you later, Rory. I'll visit the other mages, my uncle is with them." She nodded and I left the group, feeling Duncan's pondering look on my back.

Ostagar – Uldred's Tent, four days before the battle of Ostagar

"It is good to see you, Deridius. I could have really used you the last weeks. Or the days to come, to be honest." I clasped uncle Uldred's arm and smiled warmly. "I'm always ready to help you, dear Uncle. How has it been in the tower the last two years?"

Uldred sighed deeply. "Strenuous to say the least. Wynne is unnerving as ever and Irving … you know him and he's not getting less troublesome with age." I laughed heartily. "You should have got lost of him for a long time." He nodded. "I've thought the same, trust me. Perhaps it is time …" For a moment my eyes twitched, glaring intensely at him. With a smirk I mentioned: "First Enchanter Uldred that has a very good ring to me." Uldred responded in kind. "Don't go ahead of time. There has to be the right moment. But I have a staunch ally, someone you wouldn't expect to participate with the tower and chantry politics."

Now I was really interested but to my dismay Uldred went silent and wasn't eager to explain more. "It is better if you don't know too much. If all goes well you'll come in later. But if I mix it up, you're better no part of it. But perhaps you may be of service with another thing. You rescued the wife of Fergus Cousland, I heard. With his parents dead it is only a question of time before he'll be the new Theyrn of Highever. To have such a man in your pocket is a worthy thing. But there is another noble who could be an obstacle to the plans of me and my allies. The Arl of Redcliffe is a powerful man with high ambitions."

My mind raced. I knew next to nothing about the Arl, but from what I heard some pieces of the puzzle fell in place. I had a suspicion about Uldred's ally. "So we should divert his ambitions. Or we could … "I stalled the sentence, afraid to put forward the idea of poisoning a noble such mighty.

"A plan has already been set in motion. There is an observer at Redcliffe. And we have someone in his household. You remember Jowan? I knew you would." Uldred smirked at my displeased expression. "Much happened these last weeks. Jowan was to be made tranquil because of some rumors about him using blood magic. He escaped from the Templars. The men of my ally caught him, pressed him into service. He is working at the castle now. This stupid orlesian wench the Arl married wanted some apostate to teach her son how to veil his magical abilities. You know that a mage can't inherit a title and so she wanted to hide his magic. Stupid whore, but it was an unsuspected occasion to infiltrate the household."

I listened intensely to his explanations. "What is his purpose?"

Uldred's eyes got ice cold. "To make sure the Arl doesn't interfere with our plans, at least not for the next weeks." As I nodded he continued. "These two agents should do the entire work fine, but if you happen to go there after the battle it would be reassuring to know that someone with brain and patience is there in case of need."

"You can trust me as ever."

Ostagar – Duncan's Campfire, two days before the battle of Ostagar

"I really don't know what Duncan sees in her." Rory frowned deeply. "She has hardly any combat training, her abilities in hiding and picking locks are modest to say it optimistic and she has no magical talent. The whole time in the swamp we had to look out for her. Adding her temper to that she was more of a hindrance than a help."

"And yet he wants to make her a warden as it seems. Perhaps he is infatuated with her." I smiled weakly. Rory scorned. "Infatuated as you are?" I gulped several times, tried to collect my mind. She deserves the truth. Where did this thought come from I mused? Nobody deserved anything from me. Erg, Rory's vicinity was not helpful in the least. I looked into her eyes, padded her chin meekly. "I'm sorry, Rory. She is nothing like you and I can't really explain who it become. But you're right. I feel something for here … I hope it is only lust but I can't swear that." Snarling she whirled around and stomped away. I hoped that I didn't lose her, Rory was simply too valuable.

"Deridius?" I looked up angrily as Duncan neared. My sympathy for him was nearly not existing, the simple fact that he took Rory away being his greatest failure. "Rory surely told you that this evening will be the joining ritual of our recruits. With four candidates with roguish and weapon skills I was thinking about our dire need of magical talents. I know from Wynne that you're a very accomplished healer and that you rescued Lord Fergus' family shows me that you value the life of others and have a strong will. Would you accept my invitation into the order of grey wardens?"

While I understood his thoughts and his urge to get same healing spells under his wing, I was hard pressed not to giggle aloud. How stupid could he be to think I really cared about Oriana? Sure, she was intelligent and beautiful, but there were many other women with the same assets. Without her being Fergus' wife and Howe's betrayal I hadn't spent a second of thought on her welfare.

I tried to remain calm and answer with a friendly voice. "Surely this invitation is a great honor and I know that for example Rory values it highly. But my future sees other things before me. So no, I must decline."

Duncan was not amused and tried to press the offer. "It is sad that you don't see the necessity to strengthen the order with magic. You're aware that I could simply conscript you? Nobody would stand against it in these dire days." Anger washed thru my mind. He would pay dearly for this. Staying halfway calm I declined anew. "You could surely try. But I would resist. I know you have the right to do this, but that wouldn't help you. I would rather fight and die before become a warden. Conscripting would gain you nothing but you would lose the abilities of a very accomplished healer." Disgusted Duncan turned away and collected his recruits. I wished Rory luck and watched as they went to the ritual place.

For a moment I thought about warning Rory, explaining the dangers of the ritual. But I hesitated. From helping Uldred in preparing the potions I knew the ingredients and the dangers of dying. If nothing else this risk would have persuaded me not to join the wardens. What if Rory died? He body and mind were strong; I had to hope for the best. And by the way I was pretty sure she would go thru the joining even with the knowledge about the dangers.

Ostagar – Duncan's Campfire, the day of the battle of Ostagar

"Alistair, you and Rory have the duty to light the fire on the tower. It will be the signal for Loghain so it is an easy but very important task. Daveth, you'll accompany me. We two will stay near the king. Have an eye for enemy caster, I'll protect his rear. Shianni, you'll escort Wynne, Lady Oriana and her son to Lothering. It is safer there for them."

And for you too, I added silently. Jory had died from the joining drink. One stupid mouth closed, I smirked. To my regret Daveth survived it as did to my relief Rory and Shianni. At least I would have a chance to go for him at the battle. I had made sure to be assigned to the wardens. Endless possibilities even if I had preferred to be with Rory. I was sure at least part of the reason behind sending Shianni away was her temporary worthlessness in battle. Lothering would be my next stop after the battle as it seemed.