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Thanks to Morrigan, the return journey to camp was uneventful and they were inside the ruins shortly after dusk. The Warden recruits were all excitedly anxious for the Joining, or just plain nervous, while Emma and Arthur were curious about it. While they will not go through the Joining themselves they still have to witness it, Duncan thought that seeing it would help them understand the sacrifices Grey Wardens make. As if they haven't learned such lessons growing up on save-the-world battlefields.

Duncan seemed pleased upon their return, "So you return from the Wilds. Have you been successful?" Everyone nodded, holding up their vials of black darkspawn blood and Elisa held up the treaties and handed them over to Duncan. "Good, I've had the circle mages preparing. With the blood you've retrieved, we can begin the Joining immediately." "We're ready" Lucilla replied with a stubborn rise of her head. "Then let us begin. Alistair, take them to the old temple. Emma and Arthur are to come as well."

Alistair nodded solemnly and motioned for everyone to follow him. As they walked to the old temple a thought entered Emma's head He didn't seem very happy not looking at him she sent back No, I have a really heavy feeling, and I think death is waiting for someone there. Arthur internally sighed For once Em, please be wrong with your fortune telling. Emma looked at the approaching temple with apprehension I can't predict the future, that is a completely different kettle of fish, but I still feel like something bad is gonna happen.

The six recruits waited for Duncan to arrive. Stella and Cullen talked quietly together soon joined by Elisa and Alistair. With no one to really talk to, Daveth and Ser Jory not even an option, Lucilla walked over to Emma and Arthur who were standing by the table with a fancy goblet. "I feel like a fifth wheel around those shems," she complained. Emma giggled "I think it's cute, but then again I am a hopeless romantic at heart so that is not really saying much. At least they aren't being over the top about their attractions." Lucilla almost smiled then shot a disdainful look at Arthur, taking the hint Emma gave Arthur a pleading look.

She does not seem to like human men, can I please speak to her alone. I am not going to be forced away from my best friend. If we are to work together I would prefer to know the people that will be watching my back and if she would feel better talking with a woman, well so be it. Fine, I'll go.

He sighed and said, "Well I better see how Ser Jory the cowardly knight is doing, hey maybe I can shock some courage into him!" Emma shook her head "Be nice."

She looked back at Lucilla who was still glaring at Arthur, "Oh come on now, he is really not that bad. Sure he will do a couple of pranks but other than that he is harmless, well as long as you're not an evil monster bent on destroying the world." Lucilla puffed up to deliver a scalding remark but deflated, noticing the lack of Emma's usually proper speech and a much more open manner, admitted "Well he is the strangest shem, I mean human, I have met. Actually, all of you are except for that pickpocket and that coward of a knight." The proper speech was still missing as Emma rolled her eyes with a nod "He really is a coward, but perhaps he will get better. It took me a while to get used to the whole fighting monsters and weird thing and I was only ten years old."

Lucilla looked at the smaller human with interest asking "So you really been fighting monsters for nine years?" Emma let out a tired sigh that seemed to come from the bottom of her soul "Yes, I will admit it was not the easiest thing in the world but I had to do it, why? How old are you?" Lucilla bit her lip and looked away "…Eighteen."

Emma laughed with a teasing smile "Forgive me for saying so but thank the Lord I can finally pass the torch of being the 'baby' of a group!" Lucilla glared down at the tiny human "What is that supposed to mean?"

Emma crossed her arms and leaned on her right hip "Let me put it this way. All of my guardians is a decade or more years older than me. Sure I have some friends in my own age group in the capital cities but since we moved around a lot I never really had close friends, not counting Arthur of course since he was with me the entire time. I had to learn to grin and bear it being called the baby to the group."

Lucilla smirked, "Not much of a torch though since you're only a year older than me." Emma's arms dropped to her side "Oh, you're right. Oh well I will take what I can get"

Duncan would choose this time to enter into the old temple "At last we come to the Joining. The Grey Wardens were founded during the first Blight, when humanity stood on the verge of annihilation. So it was that the first Grey Warden drunk of darkspawn blood and mastered their taint." Ser Jory was not thrilled "We're going to drink the blood of those... those creatures?" Duncan nodded somberly "As the first Grey Warden did before us, as we did before you. This is the source of our power and our victory." "Those who survive the Joining become immune to the taint. We can sense it in the darkspawn, and use it to slay the archdemon." "Th- those who survive" questioned Cullen, quickly looking at Stella.

Emma pointedly looked at Arthur with sorrowful eyes I really hate being right about these things. If it makes you feel better I hate when you are right too.

Duncan stated "Not all who drink the blood will survive and those who do are forever changed. This is why the Joining is a secret. It is the price we pay. Emma, Arthur stand on the other side of the table and be honored witnesses to this Joining. We speak only a few words prior to the Joining, but these words have been said since the first. Alistair, if you would?"

Alistair looked down and spoke in a monotone "Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand, vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be foresworn. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten and that one day we shall join you." Duncan went to the table and picked up the chalice of blood "Daveth, step forward" he handed the cup to Daveth who drank from it and handed it back to Duncan.

Emma quietly gasped "Lord have mercy" as the corruption, the taint, took over his body. Arthur wrapped his arms around the young sensitive in a vain attempt to shield her from even a tiny bit of the energy that causes her discomfort, sometimes he hated that his senses were ten times duller then hers. He would gladly trade places with her if it would make her feel better. They watched in horror as Daveth's eyes rolled back into his head and he fell down dead. "I am sorry, Daveth. Step forward, Jory." Seeing the death of Daveth was the last straw for Ser Jory, he backed away and drew his sword"

But… I have a wife. A child! Had I known…" Duncan would not be deterred "There is no turning back." Ser Jory was running out of space behind him "No! You ask too much! There is no glory in this!" Duncan set the chalice on the table and drew his dagger and Ser Jory attacked Duncan but was no match for him. Duncan swiftly blocked the attack and plunged his dagger into Ser Jory's stomach. "I am sorry," Duncan said as Ser Jory took his dying gasps, "But the joining is not yet complete, you all are called upon to submit yourself to the taint for the greater good."

Duncan handed the cup to Elisa "For this moment forth, you are a Grey Warden." Elisa took a sip of the blood and the corruption ran through her body but luckily her body overcame it. Emma, no longer able to fight off her uneasiness, turned to face Arthur who wrapped her in his arms. She whispered loud enough to only be heard by Arthur "Lord, please allow these people to live so they may join us in the cause that You have placed before us. Give us Your strength as we face these trials." One by one Emma felt the remaining recruits ingest the taint but, by God's grace and mercy, they all survived.

With the Joining finally complete Alistair let out a sigh of relief, he then noticed the pair, Arthur trying to comfort the visibly shaking Emma. He remembered that Emma mentioned that she could sense the taint as well, what she had felt during the joining he really didn't want to know but still "Duncan," Alistair softly spoke "did you know she can sense the taint, she also said that they are both naturally immune to it as well." Duncan looked at the young heroes and sighed "Yes, the Grey Wardens has received the aid of those like them in previous blights, only the commanders and those who gain their complete trust are told their true nature. Though they are young, I would imagine that they have seen more than their fair share of troubled time, yet their hearts still bleed for other's pain."

The wardens walked up to Emma, who has mostly calmed down, and Arthur with Duncan requesting "Now that the Joining is complete, Arthur I want you to help Alistair and me to move them back to the Warden Camp. Emma run ahead and have everything made ready for our new members." With a nod, Emma ran and alerted the other Wardens of the four new ones and helped them prepare the tents, while others, assuring her they will awaken soon and will be hungry, prepared food for the new junior Wardens. With help, the four new Warden were placed in tents until they awaken on their own. Alistair and Arthur went and sat with Emma who was sitting just staring into the fire with a thin blanket around her shoulders to ward off the night chilliness.

"Well that was an experience, at my joining only one of us died but it was horrific, I am glad most of them survived" Alistair tried to start a conversation. Emma sighed and looked at Alistair with troubled eye and said in a voice so piteously childlike "Can we please not talk about that. Anything but that." Arthur put a hand on Emma's shoulder and said: "So Alistair got any questions for us, I'm sure your dying to ask some?" Alistair was just about to ask something when out of one of the tents came Elisa and Stella who looked around with confusion before noticing the group of familiar faces, with Alistair waving at them. They walked over to the fire, Elisa of course sat by Alistair and Stella sat on her other side.

As they watch Alistair and Elisa smile and great one another Arthur glanced at Emma with a raised eyebrow before turning back to the others A couple in the making? A giggle rang in his head Yep, their bond ribbon is a really pretty goldish color. They must be meant for great things together. What about Cullen and Stella, anyone can see the attraction there. Correct again, they have a lovely turquoise color. They will have a very stable and happy relationship. How do you know that, again? Read a book on color meaning. Of course, you did, nerd. Blond. Meanwhile, Alistair explained to the women that Arthur and Emma were willing to answer some questions. Emma bit her lip and added hesitantly "Well at least as much as we are allowed to or trust you with, I mean no disrespect but we have only known you for less than a day."

Stella nodded and in her clear gentle voice asked: "Where are the two of you from, you do not act or sometimes talk like you're from Feralden."

Arthur looked at Emma who considered the question before answering "Where we came from is very different from where we were born. At least for me, it is…"

"It is for me too but not as much," interrupted Arthur.

"Any way we moved around a lot these past nine years, going from guardian to guardian every two months, except in times of war, as each taught us different things or explain something differently from another. Fortunately, Arthur and I were paired up in a way, kind of like a pre-chosen or custom made battle partner, as such I must admit I am much closer to him than the others."

"Others?" inquired Cullen who just came out of his tent "What do you mean others, and why am I so hungry?"

Alistair laughed as the other two new wardens, and Arthur, voice their agreement on that statement "One of the side effects of being a Warden is having a large appetite, I guess it is a good thing food was prepared, Emma would you like some as well?"

"What is it?" she asked.

"Probably some kind of meaty stew."

Emma sighed "I am not allowed to eat meat actually, don't ask, may I just have some bread and cheese then or maybe an apple?" Though confused by her response Alistair complied and gave her the simple foods, which she happily thanked him for especially for the apple which is a favorite of her. Arthur, however happily served himself some stew, not as much as the Wardens but still quite a bit.

"Anyway" Emma began during the meal "as you asked Cullen, there are eight of us 'born heroes' as some calls us, four pairs. In truth, we never actually meet them but we do know that they are out there, for whatever reason Arthur and I was the pair chosen to lend the Grey Wardens our aid, as our predecessors have done in the past."

Lucilla, having woken up by then, came out of the tent and saw that they were beginning to eat. "I hope you left some for the elf, shems" she hissed.

Elisa turned to look at her "Of course, it is in the pot on the fire help yourself to as much as you want."

Lucilla took the bowl given to her and filled it with the stew before sitting between Emma and Cullen. Emma, sensing the taint within Lucilla and still not being used to it, scooted closer to Arthur a knee-jerk reaction from childhood seeking out the comfort of familiar things. Lucilla took the offensive at once "Think you are too good for me to sit next to you don't you. And I was just starting to think you were different from the others."

Emma looked beyond horrified "It is not like that, you have the taint within you now and I am really not used to feeling in y'all yet, and it's not exactly a pleasant thing to sense. And besides, some of my guardians are elves so honestly, why would I care that you're an elf. To say I think less of you because of that, well that… that just ain't right."

Finishing her little rant Emma looked around at the startled faces and flushed bright red when she realized that she slipped into what left of her old accent that she retained when she was supposed to keep the Ferelden accent on. "I, I" she stuttered, "I am sorry, that was unnecessary. I think will turn in for the night, I will need my energy for the big battle tomorrow." She fled to the safety of her tent.

Arthur stood up, stretched and said "She has the right idea. Might as well sleep while we can. Oh to answer the original question that Stella asked, me and Emma were trained and raised in a place called Azeroth"