Sorry everyone who has been waiting for me to update this story. Just been busy with my other stories. I will try to balance the stories out in future and not put so much attention on just only one. Anyway enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon age.
Ch.2
"Ahh, Duncan there you are. My scouts reported your arrival." a man in golden armor and an armed escort approached the group as they entered the old fortress ruins of Ostagar.
"Your Majesty, I wasn't expecting…" the man cut Duncan off.
"A royal welcome." The king of Felelden said. Solona frowned at the man. It was partly his fault the guards didn't know she was supposed to be arriving at the palace. "We were being to think you were going the miss out on all the fun. Who do you have with you?"
"Your Majesty, these my new recruits," Duncan sounded formal and Calian talked to him like an old friend. Solona supposed that Duncan was being polite to improve relations with the king. Although the Calian was very enthusiastic.
"Ahh, I understand that you both hail from the Circle. I trust you have some spells to help in the coming battle."
"Yes Your Majesty, we'll help how we can." Neria said bowing respectfully.
Solona rolled her eyes and gave a half-hearted bow of her own. The sooner they stopped talking to this fool king the better. While they conversed Solona decided to take in the tower of Ishal, It was huge. The white stone had lost it luster with age and weathering, but held as any dwarven structure would. It seemed a bit overkill, but she of all people should know that with anything Tevinter, the bigger the more prestige she guessed. Some arrogant pick of a Magister thought wasting so much time and money on a fort this remote was sickening. Fingers snapped in front of her face, "Solona, Duncan done talking to the King," Neria said.
"Oh, sorry just taking in the sites." She followed Neria and Duncan to a massive stone bridge.
Duncan stopped them, "Well, you must go on ahead, Find Alistair the junior member of our order. Meet by the bonfire outside the gates to the Kocari Wilds. If you can, seek out Ser Jory and Daveth as well. They are the other recruits I mentioned."
"Yes sir," Neria said enthusiastically saluting. Solona rolled eyes.
"Will we need anything else?" Solona asked.
"No, just yours staves will do. If, however, you do need more supplies there is a quartermaster near the mages camp," Duncan nodded his head and walked to the Warden camp leaving the new recruits to their tasks.
"Alright, let's go see the quartermaster," Solona walked toward the mages camp. Neria followed her closely.
"What do you need there?" Neria asked.
"More like what you need there," Solona said not looking at Neria.
"Huh? I have everything I need." Neria was confused.
Solona sighed at Neria comment, "Do you really expect to fight darkspawn wearing circles robes?"
Neria thought for a moment, "It's not like I'll being fighting close quarters."
"It doesn't always work that way. Remember your staff training at the circle? Neria nodded. "Well, against darkspawn you have to be prepared."
"I see your point, I…"
"Neria, Solona, is that you?" Both of the mages turned their heads to see a woman in her fifties with gray hair and skin standing next to a tree outside the mages camp.
"Wynne," Neria squealed and hugged the older woman, "It so good to see you."
"You as well, if you don't mind me asking? What are you both doing here?" Wynne looked at them for an answer.
"Well, we joined the Grey Wardens!" Neria exclaimed.
"Both of you," she said looking at Solona.
"I was recruited while Neria was conscripted." Solona said tirely.
Wynne raised an eyebrow and looked back at Neria, "Conscripted, why?"
Neria hung her head, "I helped Jowan escape the tower. When we were caught he used blood magic to get a way and left Lily and myself out to dry." Her tone held barely contained anger, "He lied to me. After he escaped, the Templars were going to make me tranquil. Duncan intervened to save me from that horrid fate. If I ever see him again I'll… I'll… I don't know what I'll do."
Wynne face saddened, "My dear I am truly sorry about what happened, but now you have a chance to serve as Grey Warden. They are a noble order and you'll to travel to places most mages and even common folk never see. My advice would be to take it all in stride."
"Thanks Wynne," Neria said looking a bit more like herself. Solona would be intrigued to see what she'd do to Jowan if they ever came across the traitorous bastard. If Neria couldn't slit his throat she would. Neria was almost made tranquil because of him. The thought of the cheeky and lively girl being a monotone sounding husk sent a chill down her spine.
Solona nodded to Wynne, she nodded back it was kind of an understanding between them. Solona would do her best to look out for the elven girl. Not that she had to be asked because Neria was well… a friend she supposed. Her only one at that. Wynne was the only other mage at the Circle who made an attempt get to know her. It was unsettling how open she was with Wynne, and she was the only person who knew what she went through in Tevinter. "Well Neria, we better go see the Quartermaster and get you suited up. Those circle robes won't do much good in a fight. "
Wynne raised an eyebrow at Solona, looking at the young woman's own armor. Of course she'd zeroed in on the more revealing aspects, specifically the chest and thighs. "Really, what your wearing doesn't look all that protective either. Although the steel pauldrons with the raven feathers do look nice and accentuate certain parts." Neria chuckled and Solona blushed.
"Well it's more to distract untainted opponents than anything." Solona said awkwardly," We better go. It was nice seeing you Wynne." she said trying to avoid this conversation about her armor.
Wynne nodded, "You as well, Wardens, remember you represent the Circle as well as the order." Neria nodded and Solona rolled her eyes as they walked toward the Quartermaster.
…
"Haven't the Grey Wardens asked enough of the circle," the mage said, his face was practically red with anger. Alistair wondered how he got into this conversation. Oh yeah he remembered, the Grand Cleric ambushed him and asked, well more like demanded that he take a message to the this mage.
"I have a message for you ser mage, it's from Her Reverence. She asked for you to come and speak with her." Alistair blurted out.
"What Her Reverence desires does not matter to me. I am here by the King's orders no less," the mage said his tone dark.
"Here I thought we were getting along so well. I was going to name one of my children after you, the grumpy one,"
The mage growled, "Fine I'll speak to the blasted woman," he turned to walk away almost bumping into woman who approached while they were speaking. "Out of my fools!"
The shorter brown haired elven girl in leather armor stuck out her tongue at him after he passed, while the the dark haired human wearing a mix of chainmail and steel plate woman rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"One thing about blights is how they bring people together." Alistair commented.
The human woman rolled her eyes again. The elven smiled, "I know right, it's like going to a party with darkspawn."
"Heyyy," Alistair was working on that comeback. "That's what I was going to say. Anyway you two wouldn't happen to be more mages would you?" He said with a little guile in his voice, but the elven straightened up looking nervous, the dark haired woman simply glared. Ah, bloody hell, toad time.
"Would that make your day worse?" the dark haired woman's tone had a little bite to it.
"No I didn't mean it like that. Wait, I am so stupid, you're the new recruited Duncan sent," Alistair said apologetically.
"That's alright, it's not like we had signs on us that said 'New Grey Warden Recruit.'" The elven woman said.
"Anyway now that we got our first impressions out of the way, I am Alistair, Junior Grey Warden,"
"I'm Neria and this is Solona," She gestured to the Dark haired woman who simply nodded.
"Now that we have introductions out of the way, we have to get you prepared for the Joining." The elven woman smiled. Wow, she is beautiful. Alistair shuffled a bit nervously on his feet.
"What does the Joining entail?" Solona asked.
"First we must find the other recruits." Alistair said walking a bit nervous with the two extravagant women following, "But first we have to track down Daveth and Ser Jory." They both nodded. He rubbed the back of his neck. Great he thought just great, he rather have talked to the that Mage than try and make small talk. Neria was likeable but, Solona seemed distant and bit abrasive. This is going to be a long day.
They began wakling searching the camp for the other two recruits. "What was the argument we saw back there about? Nerian asked.
"Hmm, oh right, the Grand Cleric asked me to deliver a message to the mage. It was meant as an insult considering I used to be a Templar recruit." Alistiar realized that he was still taking to a couple of mages. To their credit neither mages seemed to care they simply nodded. Alistair sighed inwardly, That could have been very awkward.
…
"What do we have here I wonder?" said the witch as she walked down the ancient stairs of the old Warden outpost, "Are you a vulture I wonder? A scavenger come pick over bones that have already since been picked clean, or merely an intruders. Come into these Darkspawn infested wilds of mine in search of easy prey. Scavenger or intruder? Hmm. What say you?"
Solona stood in front of the group. She sort of fell into a leadership role for the party since they first stepped foot into the wilds. She led men into battle before and was somewhat decent at it. She looked at the witch, her clothes were very revealing. She wore a purple shirt that was more of a rag really, her pants and skirt had some raven feathers. She wore a single leather sleeve that had black leather pualdron with three raven feathers sticking out. She wore it all very well, using her natural assets as it put what Solona was wearing to shame. Solona realized she might have looked a little too closely, she saw that witch had taken notice of her wandering eyes. Her raven black hair glistened, in the cloudy sunlight. "We are Grey Wardens simply come to retrieve what is ours."
"Ahh, forgot something have we, tis seem a bit odd for Grey Wardens to misplace anything," She sauntered past Solona swaying her hips and stood atop a small knoll looking over them. She continued to speak, "I have been watching your progress for some time. Where do they go I wonder? Why are they here? And you disturb ashes that have long been swept away."
"Don't answer her. She looked Chasind. That means others could be nearby." Alistair said in hushed tone. The witch heard regardless.
"You fear Barbarians will swoop down upon you," she said mockingly.
"Yes, swopping is bad," Alistair said suspiciously. His eyes were narrowed at her.
"She a Witch of the Wilds," Daveth sounded frightened. Daveth usually had a cool demeanor and was sort of a ladies man. Solona first met the rogue chatting up some female officer who proceeded to kick him the groin after his comment about sharing a bed for the night. Solona found it very funny. "She'll turn us into toads." Neria huffed and shook her head at Daveth's comment. It was the first sound she made since meeting the witch.
"Witch of the Wilds, such such idle fancies those legends. Have you no minds of your own? " She mocked. "You there," she pointed at Solona, "Women do not frighten like little boys, Tell me your name and I shall tell you mine. Let us be civilized."
"Solona, pleasure to meet you," she said. She hid her suspicion behind a viper like smile. She wondered if the witch noticed. Probably not, she did not seem to the type to catch such things or perhaps she did. If there was one thing Tevinter taught her well it was how to look and play the part.
"Well that is a proper civil greeting even here in the wilds. You may call me Morrigan." She continued, "Shall I guess your purpose?" You sought something in that chest, something that is here no longer."
"Here no longer," Alistair spoke up belligerently, "You stole them didn't you? You're some kind of sneaky witch thief." Solona rolled her eyes, pointing fingers will not get the documents back any faster.
"How very eloquent," Morrigan seemed to enjoy egging him on. "How does one steal from dead men?"
"Quite easily it seems," Alistair said. "Those documents are Grey Warden property. I suggest you return them."
"I will not for twas not I that removed them. Invoke a name that means nothing here any longer if you wish. I am not frightened" She still carried her mocking tone that to be honest was getting annoying. Solona felt that the witch despite her bravado was ready pounce if need be.
Before she could speak Neria spoke up, "Then who removed them?"
"Twas my mother in fact." Morrigan replied. This should be good Solona thought.
"Can you take us to her?" Solona inquired.
"Hmm, now there if a sensible request." She let out a small giggle, "I like you." Solona was caught off guard but did not let it show. She must been not as subtle as thought when judging the woman's assets, perhaps she gave the wrong impression or the right one. Whatever the reason, the witch obviously played to her strengths.
Alistair looked at Solona, "I'd careful, first it's 'I like you," he imitated Morrigan's voice, "then zap, frog time." He sounded serious. Solona was a little insulted to be honest that he didn't think she's catch something so obvious, but she didn't say anything.
"She'll throw us into the pot she will just you watch," Daveth's voice quivered with fear.
"If the pot's warmer than this forest it will be a nice change," Jory commented dryly. Jory the other recruit was a great swordsman, but when he wasn't cleaving Darkspawn in two with his greatsword he never shut up about his wife and unborn child, not to mention darkspawn tended to unnerve him a bit. Solona was annoyed enough at the fact he clearly wasn't cut out for fighting Darkspawn. She was surprised he hadn't ran off already. Neria let out a small chuckle at his comment.
"Follow me then if it pleases you." Morrigan said while turning to walk down the path. Solona followed not looking to see if the others were following. After an hour of treading through muddy swamplands Neria walked alongside her.
"Are you sure it's wise to follow her," she asked in a whisper. Solona saw Morrigan's ears perk up slightly. She had really good hearing, if she heard Neria's whisper.
"Well we can go back to Duncan and tell him the treaties were gone." Solona said not trying to hide her thoughts, "Or we can follow her and hope she is telling the truth."
"Can she be trusted?" Neria asked not bothering to whisper anymore.
"Yes, though it should not be too far by now," Solona said looking at the tower of Ishal in the distance. Even after an hour walking the distance they walked, it obvious that they were not far away from the outpost.
"How is it, may I ask? That you know you are close to a destination that you have no known knowledge of." Morrigan quipped looking back at Solona.
"Well you have being leading us in circles to obviously throw us off if we try to return here. There are also the wards hidden under the brush and moss that lead the common passerby astray and away from where you dwell. Which are beginning to fade I might add." Solona smirked as Morrigan's mouth nearly dropped, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Well aren't you a smart one, I didn't think a Chantry pet would be able to figure that out." Morrigan placed her hands on her hips. Neria glared daggers in Morrigan's direction.
Solona could sense the young witches power, while less than her own it closely matched Neria's in strength. Morrigan's smirk disappeared when she noticed Solona started to shake her head. "I was not Circle trained, I was trained in Tevinter." Alistair and the Jory stiffened as they heard that. Morrigan was certainly surprised but did not let it show. Solona grinned dangerously, "Now if you are done walking us in circles. I would prefer if you simply lead us to your mother sooner rather than later. We've all had a long day."
Morrigan shrugged and continued walking leading the group deeper into the wilds. It was not long before they walked into a small clearing with a small shack in the middle. An old woman stood outside the hut as if waiting for them. "Greetings Mother, I bring before you five Grey Wardens who…"
"I see them girl," the older woman said sternly. She looked over the group, "Hmm, much as I expected."
"Are we supposed to believe you were expecting us?" Alistair said a little disbelieving.
"You are required to do nothing, least of all believe. Shut one's eyes tight or open one's arms wide, either way one's a fool." The woman said sagely. Solona found her mannerisms especially odd.
"She's a witch I tell you. We shouldn't be talking to her," Daveth said visibly losing his nerve. Solona rolled her eyes.
"Quiet Daveth, if she is a witch do you really want to make her mad?" Jory interrupted before Daveth could speak any more.
"There's a smart lad, sadly irrelevant in the larger scheme of things,but it is not I who decides. Believe what you will." Solona hadn't a clue what she was saying, but she sensed great power surrounding the older witch. She stepped closer to Neria, who stayed surprisingly cool under the witch's amber gaze. "And what of you, does your Elven mind give you a different viewpoint or do you believe as these others do?"
"I… I am not sure what to believe," Neria said unable to meet the witches gaze.
"A statement that holds more wisdom than it implies."
She looked at Solona, "And you, who's legacy stretchs far back to the old ones, hmm?"
Solona really thought the old witch was mad, "Well either you are a wise old sage or an old fool. Maybe somewhere in between, it is difficult to tell." Solona smirked hoping to see the witches reaction… Smack! She was on the ground. Did that old hag just backhand her, if so she was stronger than she looked.
"I will forgive your ignorance this once, but in the future when speaking to your greater kin you will show respect." The witch growled with a slight undertone, she could have sworn she understood the growl in her voice more. Before she got up she bowed her head, it seemed like something she had to do. There simply was something she could not fathom. The Witch nodded in return. "Better," the witch muttered. Solona saw Morrigan giving her a very curious look as she got to her feet. That tipped Solona off that this was not normal behavior for the older witch. This led only to more confusion.
"They did not come to hear your wild tales mother," Morrigan said sounding a little impatient.
"Your right, they came for their treaties, yes? And before you begin barking your precious seal wore off long ago," she reached into the sack at her side, "I have protected these." She handed them to Solona who quickly put them in her satchel.
"You!" Alistiar caught himself before his outburst fully voiced, "Oh, you protected them."
"And why not? Take them to your Grey Wardens and tell them that this blight's threat is greater than they realize." The witch warned. Does she know something we do not? Solona thought.
"Thank you," Neria said softly.
"Such manners, always in the last place you look, like stockings," the old witch said looking at her shoes. "Oh, do not mind me, you have you came for."
"It time for you to go then," Morrigan said even more impatiently.
"Do not be ridiculous girl, these are your guests." The old witch admonished her daughter.
"Oh very well," Morrigan rolled her eyes, "I shall lead you out of the woods, follow me" She turned back toward the forest not looking to see if she was being followed. Solona turned to look back at the witch, who met her gaze. Something was at work in the old witch's head. The witch grinned at Solona's confusion and turned back to her hut.
…
Neria was nervous, the old witch had put her on edge, but this waiting was killing her. Any minute Duncan would arrive for the ritual, Alistair was the only other warden present. He kept shifting his feet. He was nervous, which made her even more nervous. Jory was babbling about his son and how he was not sure. She wasn't sure herself. She wanted to run, to hide away from the Circle, the Blight. Darkspawn made her nervous, they were terrifying. Here she was, barely seventeen going to become a warden. She would spend the rest of her life fighting those monsters.
Solona put a hand on her shoulder, "Hey steel yourself for what is to come." Solona looked sincere, she was worried as well. Neria saw how uneasy Solona looked. It made things even more hard to grasp.
"What if I don't make it, the Joining can be fatal." Neria said although it sounded more like a whimper. Solona grabbed both her shoulders.
"Look at me, you can do this. You are a strong person. You're brave and fearless, but the fact that you are nervous means you're smart. You must be ready." Neria could tell Solona meant what she said. She couldn't believe how Solona was such a different person when they met, abrasive and cruel. She was still bit abrasive, but she had lightened up more.
"I know it's just hard to stay calm, and it does help Duncan is late. Is he trying to be cryptic or is he just giving us a good scare."
Solona chuckled, "Both, but I know this. You will make it Neria." She was surprised by Solona's confidence in her.
She was about to reply when Duncan walked up the steps and set the Joining chalice on the table in the middle of the old ruins where they were to perform the ritual. His voice was dark but softer as well, "At last we come to the Joining. Know this. Our order was founded during the first blight, when our world stood on the brink of annihilation. It was then, when the First Wardens drank of Darkspawn blood and mastered their taint."
"We… we are going to drink the blood of… of those creatures." Jory shuddered.
"As the first wardens did before us, as we did before you. This is the source of our power and our victory." Duncan said.
Alistair continued to explain, "Those who survive the Joining become immune to the taint. We can sense it in the Darkspawn and use it to slay the Archdemon."
"Those who survive?" Neria piped up. She was nervous and the words just kind of fell out.
"Not all who drink the blood will survive and those who do will be forever changed. This is why the Joining is secret. It is the price we pay. We speak only a few words prior to the Joining but these words have been since the first. Alistair if you would." Duncan finished.
"Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows were we stand, vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be forsworn. And should you perish know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten, and that one day we will join you."
Duncan grabbed the chalice and brought it to Daveth, "Daveth step forward." Daveth grabbed the cup. He took a drink and handed the cup back. Immediately he grabbed his throat and started coughing and spitting up blood. He fell to the ground, dead. Jory seemed to have lost if nerve and stepped back. "I am sorry, Daveth." He turned to Jory next, "Step forward, Jory" Duncan's voice was monotone like a tranquil.
"But I have a wife a child, had I known…" he was cut off by Duncan.
"There is no turning back," Duncan said with a little anger and disgust at Jory cowardice.
"You ask too much... there is no glory in this," Jory whimpered. He drew his sword but Duncan was faster and had already drawn his blade and planted it in Jory's heart. Jory slumped to the ground.
Neria stared at the scene wide eyed, she wanted to run. Some held her something that said 'No, you can do this."
Duncan stepped to Solona, "Solona, step forward." Solona didn't hesitate. She took the cup and drank. She wavered on her feet, her eyes rolled back and she fell backward, "From this day fourth you shall be known as a Grey Warden," Duncan looked at Neria, "But the Joining is not yet complete. Neria step forward."
He held the cup out to her. She took it and looked at the black liquid, "Well bottoms up," she whispered. She tipped the cup back and drank down the rest of the contents. She stumbled and heard voices in her head, she heard music and then she saw it. It was a large dragon perched a stone in the fade. It was spiky and had black ooze dripping from the cracks in its scales. It roared and then everything went black.