Join Us
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Note: Almost to the end guys. I'm glad I took this journey and I hope you all have been enjoying my story. Well, here we go.
"Talking"
After the coughing fit subsided I tried to catch my breath as I laid back on the bed. I felt a wave of exhaustion roll across my body and groaned as the pain in my shoulder became apparent. I sighed in relief as something cold pressed against my forehead and I opened my eyes to see an elven face looking down in concern, a face that I was oddly familiar with.
"Iona…" I breathed out, as I tried to touch her face only for my arm to barely raise off the bed.
"No. You should rest Grey Warden. You've been terribly wounded." The elven girl said worriedly and a silence filled the room.
"What is your name?" I asked as I tried to focus on her familiar features.
"A-A-Amethyne, Ser." She said nervously and I felt my heart squeeze a little.
"You have your mother's eyes." I whispered which caused the girl to gasp and accidentally knock over a bowl which promptly shattered on the stone floor.
"You knew my mother…Iona?" Amethyne asked and I could see her hands trembling and small tears began to well up in her eyes.
"Ye-yes I did. She told me about you a few times through letters we would send to each other. You were her life." I paused once again as the pain turned sharp.
"Like my name." Amethyne said softly.
"Like your name." I agreed as the sharp pain faded back into a dull ache.
"Who are you?" Amethyne asked as she looked into my eyes quizzically.
"I-well-I'm Art Cousland. Son of Brice Cousland, Teyrn of Highever. Your mother was a wonderful woman. She was a dear friend of mine." I paused as the door opened and a concerned Wynne walked in.
"Maker, you're awake!" Wynne exclaimed as she rushed over to me and quickly began inspecting me.
"Wynne!" I exclaimed only for her to hush me.
"Be quiet! You are a fool you know that!? A fool! Running off in the middle of the night. Storming the Arl of Denerim's estate! Idiot!" Wynne said angrily as Amethyne backed out of sight slowly.
"Amethyne! I will talk you later." I said to the retreating form of the elf girl.
"Enough of stealing the hearts of you elf girls. Everyone's been worried! Especially Morrigan! People think she's made of stone but when she saw you in the market place she was all but a mess. You are in trouble." Wynne said as she prodded my wounded shoulder a little harder than necessary.
"Gah! Wynne enough! How long have I been out?" I asked only for Wynne to cross her arms irritably.
"You've been out for two days! Maker! You d-you actually died for a handful of moments." Wynne said miserably and Wynne sat back on a nearby chair exhaustion clearly written on her face.
"How many people know what really happened?" I asked again.
"A few people. Loghain's kept the news confidential. He can't afford to look any weaker. Arl Eamon told the rest of us and he made the guards take a vow of secrecy of how you came in so badly hurt." Wynne explained tiredly.
"Fergus, Queen Anora, and that Orlesian Grey Warden, did they make it to the estate before I came back?" I asked nervously.
"Miraculously, yes. To all three. The Grey Warden snuck in past the guards and reported to Arl Eamon and Allister immediately. Thanks to his warning the guards were roused and put to manning the gates when Fergus and Queen Anora arrived together. It was a sight. Still all safe and accounted for." Wynne said with a weary smile.
"Good…that's good." I sighed before pushing myself into a sitting up position.
"It's good that you can move so well. The wound in your shoulder was extensive. Morrigan and I did our best and hopefully you'll gain full functionality of it soon." Wynne said with an air of pride.
"Thank you Wynne." I grunted out as I pushed my legs off the bed and shakenly stood up.
"Art! You can't stand yet! You've lost a lot of blood!" Wynne protested as she steadied me so I wouldn't fall.
"I'm fine." I said through clenched teeth.
"Andraste's grace…there's no stopping you is there?" Wynne said miserably.
"Nothing has yet." I grinned as I lightly brushed her arms off and took a step forward.
"Where are the rest?" I asked as I pulled the door open with a grunt.
"In the dining hall." Wynne answered.
"Are doors normally this heavy?" I gasped out as I pushed through the narrow opening I had created.
"Maybe you should have listened to me." Wynne said as she pulled the door open with no visible effort.
"I hate you." I said as I glared at her.
"Stop acting like a child and let's go." Wynne pointed ahead of me and I grudgingly limped my way to the dining area.
After ten minutes of tortuously slow progress I finally managed to make it to the dining hall. I heard muffled conversations and I recognized most the voices conversing. I peeked around the corner and saw a rather morose sight. I saw Arl Eamon sitting at the head of the table with Allister nearby reading a few notes. Leliana sat quietly while she took sips out of her mug. Oghren wasn't his usual boisterous self and instead seemed completely sober. Shale stood mutely in the corner of the room and the shine of her gems seemed dimmed. Sten was slowly polishing his sword while ignoring a plateful of food. Zevarn kept looking at the guitar that was seated next to Leliana while eating half-heartedly and I saw Morrigan who glared at Queen Anora and a better looking Fergus who seemed surprisingly close. All of them had their own little conversations to themselves and barely said anything to each other.
"See what happens when you rush off without us?" Wynne whispered.
"This, this is why I travelled alone in the Wasteland. I only had to look out for myself. Being here, in this safe world, it's made me soft. If this was sixty years ago I would never have been wounded from that night. I swear I was faster and stronger there but here…I'm weak." I whispered back.
"You can always rely on us Art. Whoever you were back then isn't who you are now. This world is different. This life is different. This is another chance to live. Do not forget that." Wynne said as she gently pushed me forward.
"Thanks." I whispered gratefully as I rounded the corner.
"Man, if I had known how much of a buzz kill my near death was I would have dodge that last spell." I said jokingly as I watched each of them freeze while looking at me.
"Art?" Allister whispered in disbelief.
Whatever retort I had was cut short as I dodged a flying book.
"Whoa! Hold on!" My eyes widened as I saw Morrigan leap at me.
I could barely keep up with a flurry of blows she threw at me and almost regretted teaching her the ways of the Arcane Warrior. I tried my best to keep up but my blood loss and fatigue slowed me down. Eventually she caught me in a throw and I found myself on my back. I felt thin fingers wrap around my neck and I saw Morrigan with a fist pulled back and ready to be thrown.
"You idiot! You moron! You buffoon! Do you even realize what you put us through!?" Morrigan screamed angrily.
"Nice…to…see…you…too." I said despite the pressure on my throat.
"You could have died! Why didn't you bring us! We could have helped!" Morrigan yelled hoarsely into my face and I couldn't stop the feeling of shame that filled my chest as I looked past Morrigan and toward everyone else.
"You're right." I said looking back at Morrigan and almost smirked when the snarl of rage transformed into a frown and tears formed in her eyes.
"Just…" She said at a loss for words before her lips crashed against mine painfully.
After a few seconds she roughly pushed me back to the ground and knocked the wind out of me. With an angry humph she stood up and walked back to the table before sitting in her original seat.
"Wow Art, you sure know how to pick them." Fergus snickered.
"Shut up." I groaned as I pushed myself off my back and with Wynne's help got to my feet.
"Be careful. We just got him back." Wynne said defensively as she guided me to an empty seat on the opposite end of Arl Eamon and strategically placed near Morrigan who sent worried glances my way.
"It is good to see you up Warden. I was afraid you wouldn't make it." Eamon said with some concern.
"I've been through worse. Now tell me, what has happened since my little rescue mission?" I asked.
"It's a bit of a mix of things really." Allister paused and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.
"What he means to say is that it's been a total mess. The Arl of Denerim's estate has been the site of brutal killings most foul. No one survived. At least that's what the servants are saying." Leliana said briskly.
The room became quiet once more as the others looked in my direction. I laid my hands flat out on the table and closed my eyes as images of what I had done flitted through my mind. I breathed three times before I clenched my hands into fist.
"I infiltrated as expected. Most of the guards were Howe's personal guard. A few I recognized from the attack on my family. They deserve the fate their actions caused them. Every single one." I said bitterly and watched as my words only seemed to make the room grow colder.
"Art's not wrong." Fergus said with a tone more akin to the husk I had found in the dungeon.
"I was in their dungeons for almost a year. The things they did to me…to us…and the Grey Wardens got the worst of it and because of Art…I have eggs on my plate…my cup is full of water…I have clean clothes…" Fergus said as tears fell down his face unashamed as he broke down where he sat.
Arl Eamon made a gesture and a few of the servants made a move to help only for Fergus to wave them off with a sharp gesture.
"No. I'm fine." Fergus said as he wiped the tears with the cuff of his shirt.
"Art-well Art saved me, he saved the Queen, and he avenged our family. Thank you." Fergus bowed his head lowly and I returned the gesture with as much sincerity as I could.
"Still, it has no doubt sent shockwaves throughout Denerim. No one could name the assailant or assailants as nobody was left alive. My father has doubled the guard and word of the incident has been quiet." Queen Anora said as she recovered first.
"He's also kept the fact that Queen Anora is "missing" a secret as well. Right now he is trying to consolidate his power before the Landsmeet." Zevarn said in his easy going tone.
"When is the Landsmeet supposed to take place?" I asked worriedly.
"Tonight." Arl Eamon informed me.
"That's not much time." Oghren grunted out.
"We have a much bigger problem. As much good as we have done in the city it's done little to sway the nobles." Morrigan spat out.
"Actually, I believe I have a way to turn a few if not all of the nobles on our side." I said and smiled as they all leaned a little closer.
*****Landsmeet*****
I grunted in annoyance as the pain in my shoulder flared up as I stretched. Still despite the pain I was glad for the armor Wayne had crafted for me with the dragon scales and dragon skin. I looked like a dragon in the shape of a man and it did its job well to garner some respect as I walked through the double doors leading to the ground floor of the Landsmeet. My group trailed behind me in a sharp formation and what a commotion we caused as nobles gazed at our odd group.
From the opposite corner Loghain stood with two no name guards as Arl Eamon in clad in ceremonial armor decried him from the second story.
"My Lords and Ladies of the Landsmeet. Teyrn Loghain would have us give up our traditions, our freedom, out of fear! He placed us on this path, yet we should place our destiny in his hands!? Must we sacrifice everything good in our nation to save it? "Arl Eamon said and was met with applause.
"A fine performance Eamon. A pity that no one here is taken by it. You would attempt to put a puppet on the throne and everyone knows it! The better question is, is who is pulling the strings? AH! And look what we have here. The puppeteer!" Loghain pointed to me as we came to a full stop ten feet away from him.
"Tell us Warden, how will the Orlesians take our nation from us? Will they deign to send their troops or simply issue commands from this would-be prince? What did they offer you? How much is the price for Fereldan honor now?" Loghain spat out.
"Lords and Ladies, you know me. I am Art Cousland, son of Brice Cousland. You know my deeds by now, or have heard a version of them. Now I stand before you as a Grey Warden trying to unite Fereldan to combat our enemy, The Blight. The Blight is the real threat. Not Orlais." I retorted.
"There are enough refugee's in my bannorn now to make that abundantly clear." One of the female nobles said despairingly.
"The South has fallen Loghain! Will you let darkspawn take the whole country for fear of Orlais?" A male noble this time questioned.
"The Blight is real Wulf! But do we need the Grey Warden's to fight it? They claim that they alone can end the Blight! Yet they failed spectacularly against the darkspawn at Ostagar, and they ask to bring with them four legions of chevaliers. And once we open our borders to chevaliers can we really expect them to simply return from whence they came?" Loghain asked and the crowd reacted as they went quiet.
"You speak of the possibilities of the chevaliers and yet you ignore the facts of your own leadership. You allowed Arl Rendon Howe to imprison and torture innocents!" I accused and the crowd visibly turned toward Loghain.
"The Grey Warden speaks truly! My son was taken under cover of night. The things done to him in Denerim's dungeon…Maker! Some of them are beyond any healer's skill." The father of the noble son I saved in the dungeon spoke out angrily as the crowd gasped and whispered amongst each other.
"Howe was responsible for himself. He will answer to the Maker for any wrongs committed in his life. As must we all. But you know that. You were the one that murdered him." Loghain accused and this time the whispers were directed at me.
"Whatever Howe might have done, he should have been brought before the seneschal. There is no justice in butchering a man in his home." Loghain finished.
"You speak of the justice of butchering a man in his home and yet my family was killed for no other reason than to seize power under the guise of friendship from Howe. My family honored the old rights of home and hearth and were killed by a friend. I reclaimed what was due as any true son or daughter of Fereldan would have done." I stated and many nobles nodded grimly at my proclamation.
"And who are you to speak of justice? You who sent an assassin into the home of Arl Eamon." I spat on the floor in disgust and the crowd once more gazed at Loghain who visibly looked affected.
"I assure you Warden. If I was going to kill a man I would send my troops and not entrust the work to an apostate" Loghain dismissed it only for a feminine voice cleared her throat.
"Indeed? My brother tells a different story. He says you snatched a blood mage from the Chantry's justice. Is it coincidence?" An irate looking noble said before looking at me and nodding her head.
"Do not think the Chantry will overlook this Teyrn Loghain. Interference in Templar matters sacred duties are against the Maker." A wizened chantry sister spoke.
"Whatever I have done, I will answer for later. At the moment, however, I wish to know what the Warden has done with my daughter." Loghain said as he glared at me.
"We are talking of your crimes here Loghain." I said quietly.
"You took my daughter-our Queen- by force. Slaughtered her guard in the process. What have you done to keep her? Does she even live?" Loghain demanded.
"I believe I can speak for myself." Queen Anora said as she walked into the room causing every noble to pause and allow a true silence to fill the room.
"Lords and Ladies hear me. The man my father is, is no longer the man you know. This man is not the hero of River Dane. This man turned his troop aside and refused to protect your king as he fought bravely against the darkspawn. This man seized Cailan's throne before his body was cold and locked me away so I could not reveal his treachery. I would have already been killed if not for the Grey Warden." Queen Anora said sadly.
"So the Warden has influenced and poisoned your mind Anora? I wanted to protect you from this." Loghain said in a hurt and quiet tone but Loghain pulled himself together and addressed the nobles.
"Lords and Ladies! Our lands have been threatened before, invaded, lost, and won more times beyond counting. We Fereldans have proven that we cannot be truly conquered as long as we are united. We must let ourselves be divided now. Stand with me and we shall defeat even the Blight itself!" Loghain roared out only for silence to greet him.
"Warden! I stand with the Warden." A random noble shouted out and another one nodded with his arms crossed.
"Southreach stands with the Warden." A younger but stronger voice called out.
"The Warden helped me personally…with a family matter. The Waking Seas stand with the Warden." The female noble from before called out.
"Dragon Peak supports the Warden!" A male noble shouted next to her.
"The Western Hills throw their lots in with the Warden…Maker help us." An old noble said in a raspy voice.
"I stand by Loghain. We have no hope otherwise!" A single noble yelled out much to the disgust of his peers.
"We support the Grey Warden. The Blight is coming, we need the Wardens." A younger noble, John Fletcher I recognized shouted, to the applause of the rest of the nobles.
"Traitors! Which of you stood against the Orlesian Emperor flattened your fields and raped your wives!?" Loghain shouted and the applause ended abruptly.
"You fought with us Eamon! You cared about this land once before you got too old and fat and content to even see what you risk. None of you deserve to be here. None of you have spilled blood for this land the way that I have…How dare you judge me!" Loghain roared as he paced in front of the assembly.
"Your past victories and glories meant something once Loghain. The man you are now, the man consumed by old fears and paranoia, is nothing but a shell of who you used to be. You allowed your fears to seep into your bones and are so sick that you cannot tell what is real and what you perceive to be real. But the time has passed for talk." I stated calmly and we all watched as Loghain could see he only held one course of action and paused in his pacing with a look of loss on his face.
"A man is made by the quality of his enemies…Maric once told me that…I wonder if it is more a compliment to you or me." Loghain said solemnly before looking up at the nobles on the upper tiers.
"Enough! Let the Landsmeet determine the rules of the duel." Loghain directed and the female noble from the Waking Sea nodded.
"It shall be fought according to tradition. A test of arms in single combat until one party yields and we by the assembled will abide to the outcome." The noble from the Waking Sea declared.
"Will you face me yourself? Or have you a champion?" Loghain asked.
"I will fight." I heard over my shoulder and saw a grim look on Allister's face.
"Allister?" I whispered only for him to grin at me.
"You've fought enough battles for me Art. It's time for me do a little fighting for myself. Besides, you're not up to full strength yet and the world needs someone like you around." Allister said as he brushed past me and stood facing Loghain who was already preparing himself for the duel.
"So we test the mettle of the would-be king." Loghain taunted as Allister readied his sword and shield.
"Allister, remember, this is the first time the nobles have seen you. Truly seen you. Keep that in mind." I said loud enough for only him to hear me and he nodded as walked into the circle of nobles where Loghain stood ready.
They stood for a moment weapons drawn. With an unsounded signal they began to move in a circle probing each other's movements. Finally Loghain struck first with a quick jab with his sword which Allister blocked with his shield before counter attacking with his own sword only to be blocked by Loghain's shield. This went on for a few minutes before both of the combatants backed away after a particularly powerful exchange of blows. Each one was sweating and breathing heavily although Allistar was clearly ready to fight on. The only reason Loghain had lasted so long was his experienced but he was no longer a young man nor was he as battle ready as Allistar who had been in a near constant state of combat since Ostagar.
"You'll have to do better than that to best me." Loghain said angrily as he caught his breath.
"I'm not even trying." Allister retorted as he leveled his shield at Loghain.
With a roar they rushed toward each other again. Loghain stopped first and prepared to strike only to pause stunned as Allister ran full force into him shield first. The charge threw Loghain off his feet and he flew backward onto the ground stunned. Allistar quickly took advantage and kicked Loghain's sword from him. Loghain tried to fend Allister off with his shield which worked as he deflected Allister's blows from above. Annoyed Allister threw away his sword and shield before grasping the shield and with a yell yanked it out of Loghain's grip and smacked him in the face with it leaving a gash on Loghain's cheek. The sight of blood seemed to knock all of the fight out of him as he raised his hands.
"I yield!" Loghain gasped painfully out.
We all watched with bated breath as a panting and tired Allistar dropped the shield and got off of Loghain. With little flourish he collected his weapon and shield and turned back to Loghain who had managed to get on his knee. Blood poured down the right side of his face and already it was swollen.
"There…is some of Maric in you after all. Good." Loghain admitted as he raised a cloth to his cheek.
"Forget Maric. This was for Duncan." Allistar said angrily although he still managed to keep his sword from cleaving through Loghain's neck.
"I-I had thought you were like Cailan. A child playing with war. I was wrong. There is a strength in you that I have not seen since Maric. I yield." Loghain said once again with as much grace as he could.
"I should kill you." Allistar whispered.
"Wait! There is another option." Everyone turned to see Riordan, the Grey Warden I had rescued in the Dungeon.
"The Teyrn is a general and warrior of renown. Let him become of us. Submit him to the Joining." Riordan suggested.
"You want him to become one of us? After all he's done!? Why?!" Allistar demanded.
"There are only three of us in all of Fereldan, and there are compelling reasons to have as many Wardens on hand as possible to deal with the archdemon." Riordan explained cautiously.
"The Joining itself is often fatal is it not? If he survives you gain a general if not you gain revenge. Doesn't that satisfy you?" Anora interjected as she walked closer.
"Riordan, how could you want this? He left our brothers and sisters at Ostagar and blamed us for letting the King die. He captured and killed any Grey Warden reinforcements. He tortured you. Can we simply forget that?" Allistar asked quietly as he looked at me and then at Riordan.
"We should put him through the Joining." I said calmly causing Allistar to focus on me.
Half a year ago, that Allistar would have been shouting and raving. He would decry the very notion of Loghain taking part of the Joining. A process that many men and women, noble regardless of title, lands, or position in life had died going through. That Allistar would have killed Loghain without a thought but this one went quiet. Half a year of battling darkspawn, dragons, werewolves, spirits, and doing it all at my side had changed him for better or worse. This moment would decide which, and both of us knew it.
This Allistar went quiet and his silence overtook the entirety of the nobles assembled and nothing was heard for minutes. A war waged in Allistar's mind as various parts of him debated and argued for control although his face betrayed none of it. Instead he turned calm as a stone toward Loghain and placed the tip of his sword onto the ground with both hands on the hilt. As his eyes reached Loghain's he made his decision.
"You are a man who sacrificed everything to get to where you are today. Your duty, honor, and now family has left you. You have nothing to call your own except your sword arm and your mind and while my fellow Grey Warden's think it shall be useful in the coming battles I disagree." Allistar said as he picked up his sword with one hand and pointed it dangerously close to Loghain's throat.
"Prove to me otherwise. Should you survive the Joining, prove me wrong. Show me why I should call you brother. Show me that there is some form of redemption for someone such as you. That is your task. Guards!" Allistar shouted and with no hesitation two guards stepped forward.
"Take him into custody and bring him to Arl Eamon's estate. There he will take the Joining." Allistar commanded and with practiced motions Loghain was quickly put under chains and brought away in silence.
"Who will rule now?" a random noble asked unknowingly echoing the thoughts of every noble there.
"I will." Allistar proclaimed as he looked from face to face daring anyone to challenge him.
"Yes, as Maric's only living son Allistar will take his place on the throne." Anora conceded as she stepped back leaving the crowd in an uproar which Allistar quickly placated with a wave of his hand.
"Now is the time to prepare. The Blight is here. Gather your armies, prepare for war, and pray to Andraste and the Maker that when this is all over we all are still standing." Allistar commanded and each noble resolved themselves and hurried out of the room.
"I'll meet you back at the estate. Arl Eamon looks like he wants to talk about something." Allistar said looking back at us.
With a quick nod I did as he commanded and led the party back to Arl Eamon's estate more at ease than I had been in a long time.
*****The Estate*****
"So…"I said as I raised a cup of mead and sipped from it.
"What?" Fergus asked as his eyes narrowed.
"You and Anora?" I asked inquisitively.
"What about us?" Fergus asked suspiciously.
"Nothing. Glad you found some happiness." I said which caused Fergus to splutter out the ale he was drinking causing me to laugh.
"Wh-what!?" Fergus yelled out.
"There's a reason she gave up the power of a Queen." I said suggestively.
"What? Me and her? No! I wouldn't." Fergus denied as he drank the rest of his tankard.
"Oh? Well, then." I paused as I finished the rest of my cup and stood up.
"What are you doing?" Fergus asked.
"Well she's little bit more lady than you can handle anyway. My turn." I said a little slurred before tripping over my feet barely catching myself on the table just in time.
"Still the light weight as always. Sit down you fool." Fergus said standing up and pushing me back into a chair before walking over to where Anora was sitting surrounded by Wynne, Leliana, and much to her chagrin, Morrigan.
I watched as the girls each made an excuse and left the table leaving just Fergus and Anora to soft conversation.
"So you play the matchmaker as a hobby?" I heard Morrigan's silky voice to my right.
"It is very fun. Besides my brother is a fool. Twice I've pulled the same trick and twice he's fallen for it." I admitted as I watched Anora laugh softly as Fergus rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Hmmm….do we do that?" Morrigan asked and I heard some genuine curiosity.
"No, but then again I enjoy our normal interactions." I said looking at her.
"Excuse me." Morrigan said dismissing herself and walking out the door.
A few seconds later Allistar opened the door and entered the room and whatever conversation immediately stopped.
"So, I'm a King." Allistar said plainly.
"Yes. How do you fell?" I asked.
"I actually…don't mind it. I think I could get used to this. Maybe, maybe I'll actually do some good." Allistar said thoughtfully.
"You've grown a lot Allistar. We believe in you." I reassured him and he nodded in appreciation.
Suddenly the door opened once more and Riordan's face appeared.
"Allistar, Art, it's time. The rest of you stay here." Riordan said quickly before withdrawing from the room.
Without hesitation we followed suit leaving the rest of them in the common room. Riordan led us throughout the estate until we eventually came to the guest room. As he opened the door we already saw Loghain who sat in plain clothes with manacles on his wrists. Silently we entered and Riordan locked the door behind us before walking to where the hearth was. Without a word he tossed another log onto the fire which almost immediately caught flame.
"So we are now assembled. You two are new to the Grey Wardens, so you may not have been told how an Archdemon is slain. I need to know if that is so." Riordan asked.
"No. Although the question has come upon my mind once or twice and I'm sure Loghain has been asking that since the beginning." I suggested and Loghain simply nodded his head.
"There's more to it than just chopping off its head?" Allistar asked and Riordan sighed deeply as he sat in a nearby chair.
"So it is true, Duncan had not yet told you…I had simply assumed…tell me have you ever wondered why it must be specifically a Grey Warden that must defeat a darkspawn?" Riordan asked.
"I assume it has to be the Taint inside of us." I said finally voicing out a secret suspicion I had since I was a teenager reading about the Blight and Grey Wardens in Highever Castle.
"That is exactly what it is. The Archdemon may be slain, as any other darkspawn, but should any other but a Grey Warden do the slaying it will not be enough. The essence of the beast will pass through the Taint to the nearest darkspawn and will born anew in that body. The dragon is all but thus, immortal, but if it is slain by a Grey Warden then its essence will travel into the Grey Warden instead." Riordan said grimly.
"That doesn't sound too healthy." Allistar murmured.
"The darkspawn is an empty vessel, a Grey Warden is not. The essence of the Archdemon is destroyed…and so is the Grey Warden." Riordan finished with a heavy sigh.
"Meaning…that the Grey Warden who kills an Archdemon dies?" Allistar said dumbstruck by the revelation.
"Preposterous." Loghain denied.
"Whether it is true or not it means nothing but think of the ramifications if it is true." I retorted and Loghain went silent once more.
"It is time for the Joining. Will you stay or go?" Riordan asked.
"Allistar may go. I shall stay." I replied.
"I'll stay as well." Allistar said only partially bitter with the fact that we were going through with this.
"Very well." Riordan said as he stood up and walked to a table where a variety of items laid.
"Will the Joining hurt?" Loghain asked.
"Yes." I answered simply.
"Good." Loghain said as Riordan came back with a silver chalice.
"There is little ceremony but these words have been said since the first." Riordan said handing the cup to Loghain.
"Join us brother and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant." I intoned.
"Join us in the duty that cannot be forsworn." Allistar continued.
"And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten." Riordan finished and with that Loghain drank from the chalice and pain, unlike any he had ever known, racked him to his bones.
I know this is the shortest chapter that I've written so far but it is because we are so close to the end. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. The next chapter will hold the conclusion of this story.