How my nerves jumped as this Templar in training walked with us into the castle. Why would Duncan recruit him at the same time as me?

Then again, the guy sure looked like he didn't want to be in the Chantry...

"So where are you originally from?" the now ex-Templar asked

"Far away from Ferelden."

"Where exactly? Your accent sounds much like dwarves..."

I laughed.

"A friend of mine said the same thing when I first came to the Circle."

"How old were you when you went?"

"Six. I woke up in nothing but a sheet wrapped around me in the arms of our now Knight-Commander."

"Why?!"

"I was found in a crater with my clothes burnt off, or so I was told."

"So how old are you now?"

Duncan stopped.

"You two stay here. I have to grab the other recruits, and we'll begin the Joining."

"Joining? What's that?" I asked

"I can't say yet. You'll find out soon enough."

Duncan left the room. We apparently were in some kind of waiting room.

"To answer your question, ex-Templar, I am seventeen years old."

"Wow, that's young!"

"I also just finished my Harrowing before we came to pick you up."

"Wow... you took it at the age of seventeen?!"

"Why, what's so shocking about that? My friend Anders took it when he was sixteen."

"You can take it at so young of age?!"

"They do it when they feel you are ready for it... but how did you know about Harrowings?"

"I was training with Templars, so of course I know. Went to a Harrowing recently..."

"Who's?"

"A girl a little older than you. She... didn't pass..."

"Gretchen? She took hers about two months ago, but we haven't seen her since..."

"I... think that was her name..."

"Tell me, what happened?"

". . . the demon took over her body and the Templars struck her down. I'm sorry..."

"Did you do the act?"

"I was scared, but no. She was still a person to me!"

"Then I don't blame you. So why were you with the Templars if you wanted to leave so bad?"

"I... can't say right now. But your right that I hated the Chantry."

"... I suppose I can give some leeway for you, ex-Templar."

"It's Alistair."

"Do you remember mine?"

"Um... Kelly?"

"Good job for remember!"

Duncan came back with a male elf with elaborate tattoos and hunting gear, another male elf in street clothes, a male dwarf with ginger hair and a long, braided beard, and a man with black hair that came down to his shoulders. I was the only woman.

"What is a woman doing here, Duncan?!" the man protested, "she should not be allowed to join the Wardens! Her job is to take care of the family!"

"Listen here, buddy, I have just as much of a right to be here as you! Duncan recruited just like he did with you!"

"Your accent...?!"

"Enough! Wardens take in whoever they deem worthy. She is an excellent mage who just recently passed her Harrowing at the age of seventeen! And she has talents most mages cannot do!"

"A MAGE?!"

"I SAID, THAT'S ENOUGH, ENOCH!"

The man became silent.

"It does not matter what you think. Wardens have never had barriers of sexy, background, or origin. We have even taken in Blood Mages in our past! Now, please line up shoulder to shoulder."

We did as he commanded. Another Warden came out with an enormous silver goblet far too large for me to hold. Duncan began reciting how the ritual was done, and other traditional information. Like the stuff we were gonna drink was DARKSPAWN BLOOD!

"Step forward, Azring of Orzammar!"

The ginger dwarf stepped forward. The other Warden handed him the goblet, and the dwarf drank.

"From this moment forth, you are a Grey Warden!"

The ginger dwarf fainted onto the floor.

"He passed. Step forth, Sir Melville of Redcliff!"

The same thing occurred with the black haired man. The difference was that the man choked on the stuff, and collapsed onto the floor.

"I'm sorry, Sir Melville."

The process continued on without any others choking on the blood until Alistair and I were left.

"Step forward, Kelly of 0the Fereleden Circle of Magi!"

I did as I was commanded, my hands shook with fear as the goblet was given to me. It was much lighter than it looked, and the blackish red liquid swirled around in the cup. I gulped before I took a sip. I could feel the stuff burning my insides, and the room began to spin before I blacked out.

. . .

I woke up to see Alistair and Duncan over me. I must have been the last to wake.

"Congratulations, you are now a Grey Warden!" Duncan told me

But I could feel my hands still shaking. If this is how you joined, what was coming up next?