"Are you alright Rainne?" Duncan asks for probably the hundredth time since the sun first breached the horizon and his new recruit experienced her first panic attack of the day.
"You're not going to fall into the sky. You're not going to fall into the sky," the young rogue mumbles under her breath and pulls the cloak hood over her eyes a little farther for good measure, "I'm not sure that I can do this Duncan. Maybe you should just take me back and leave me to my fate."
The human rumbles a soft chuckle, "Nonsense girl. You simply have to acclimate to the surface. It is nothing to be ashamed of Rainne."
"Tell me about where we are heading then. I need to start learning about this sodding place if I'm going to be living up here from now on," she squints at him from under her hood, "And I also need to know more about the Grey Wardens."
"Not an unreasonable request," he acquiesces and begins teaching her about both the lands of Thedas and the Order.
Over the ensuing weeks, the Warden Commander keeps Rainne occupied as they travel to Rainesfere, West Hill, Redcliffe, Kinloch Hold, and Highever.
Redcliffe allots them Ser Jory, the Circle Towers offers Neria Surana, and Highever produces Gabriel Cousland-along with his mabari Ox-despite the tragedy that instigated his recruitment.
Duncan enters the city of Denerim alone while the others take the time to rest and recuperate from the brutal pace their Commander set after they fought their way out of Gabriel's home. He later returns with a cart laden with supplies, a rogue named Daveth, a young elven widower named Rory Tabris, and a fuming Gabriel-who had gone off to plead to some of the other nobles for retribution against Rendon Howe.
Soon enough though, the band treks through the Brecillian Forest, which adds a quiet Dalish archer by the name of Ash to their ever growing numbers. After that is Gwaren, where a Grey Warden messenger finds them.
The king of Ferelden is requesting the Warden Commander's presence immediately.
