Dear Diary,
We are finally on the road again. It's time to head to Orzammar and take the treaty to the dwarves, both Leliana and Rory have recovered from their wounds, well at least the physical ones, the emotional ones are much harder to deal with.
As we walk, I once again feel my darkspawn sense go off. I stop short. Luckily this time people are paying attention and I don't get trampled. I point to the right and Leliana sends an arrow in the direction I pointed. A darkspawn angrily growls running toward us with an arrow sticking out its arm. Then they all descend. I feel another presence, like Alistair but not Alistair. I look beyond where we are fighting and see a dwarf fighting darkspawn as well.
When the fight is over she comes over and introduces herself as Adela, an Orlesian grey warden. She states there is another darkspawn in the area and we need to go kill it and she will await our return. I look at her sharply because I don't know this woman and she thinks to order me about. However, she is right I feel a something nearby.
We head toward the creature and it speaks to us. It's not a darkspawn but a tainted elf. He is turning into ghoul.
"Don't come near me! Stay away!" the elf warns.
He runs. I follow him curiously as any darkspawn would have tried to attack.
"Don't...look at me! I am…sick," He pleads.
"We can help you…don't be afraid," I say kindly.
"No help no…help for me," he says sadly.
"The song… in my head. It…calls to me. He sings to me. I can't stop it," He continues trying to explain.
"Don't want to hurt you, please stop me!" he begs.
"I have to try and do something," I plead with him.
"Then you leave me no choice…I don't want to do this," he says taking a fighting stance.
"Wait, I'm a grey warden, I may be able to stop the singing," I offer hopefully.
"Yes, stop the singing," he agrees.
"Join me then," I say firmly.
"You can call…me Tamlen," the elf says.
We head back to Adela together.
"You should have just killed it," she sneers, "it's not a pet."
"I didn't ask your opinion," I smirk back, "and his name is Tamlen."
We continue on and finally set up camp Adela complaining the whole way.
Alistair speaks up, "This is what happens when the taint is left unchecked."
He looks at Tamlen, "I am so sorry."
"There has got to be something we can do. So many people have already died," I plead looking at him.
"Perhaps if he takes the joining, I've heard of them doing that it keeps the taint in check," Alistair says thoughtfully.
"Absolutely not!" Adela shouts angrily looking at me.
"Again I don't remember asking you," I sneer at her. This woman is getting on my last nerve, but I feel she is just testing my resolve.
"I am your superior officer and you will obey me," she commands angrily.
"Not likely," I say softly so she has to lean in to hear me, "These are my friends not soldiers they have offered to help with the blight."
I step back and turn to walk away to let her think she has the upper hand. She pulls her daggers and heads toward me. Before she can think of another move everyone has pulled their weapons and all are trained on her. I turn to look at her. She looks around to Zev, I'm sure she can feel his daggers pressed into her back, Wrex is growling and ready to pounce, Leliana has an arrow aimed at her heart, Alistair, Cullen, Sten, and Rory ready with swords, Morrigan and Wynne a hairs breathe away from casting and Shale has picked up a huge boulder if the rest should fail.
"You see Adela, I lead by example," I explain "you can fall in line and join us or you can leave. It's as simple as that. You need to understand only Alistair and I, are the only wardens, the rest are not and my people, my friends are not expendable."
She looks around at the all the weapons trained on her and laughs heartily, "Well played recruit, Duncan said you had spunk when he recruited you. He failed to mention your charisma though."
"Sodding hell, you were able to charm the blighted elf into joining you," she says in wonder chuckling as she puts her weapons away.
"His name is Tamlen," I remind her.
"Okay, I might not agree with you about recruiting Tamlen but there is way to help him," she adds cheerfully.
I'm a bit confused about the sudden change in demeanor but I go with it as she has put her weapons away.
"We will need to find an old friend of mine he can help," She adds.
"How about we talk it over a flagon?" I offer.
"Now there's an idea!" she agrees chuckling.
"Alistair, could you see that Tamlen is comfortable please?" I ask.
"Sure thing, Elly," he cheekily grins.
I pour ale into the flagons and hand her one. She accepts gratefully.
"So what brought about the change in attitude?" I ask pointedly.
"Quite frankly, I was testing you," she admits, "I knew Duncan had recruited a noble's kid. I wanted to be sure you weren't some spoiled prat."
"Well this spoiled prat, noble's kid is now an orphan," I said coldly.
Adela had the decency to look ashamed.
"I apologize, I shouldn't have assumed," she says regretfully.
"We will need to meet with my friend "Ox," she says changing the subject.
"Thank you Adela, I know you don't agree, but I'm glad you respect me enough to try to help him," I say graciously.
"Now I think proper introductions are in order. Hey everyone, gather around for minute!" I call out.
One everyone settles with flagon. I make the introductions.
"This is Alistair another one of Duncan's recruits and bastard child of King Maric," I say grinning cheekily. Alistair nods cheeks flaming.
"Next to him is Leliana bard of Orlais and chantry sister," Leliana giggles at the irony and leans into Alistair.
"Next to her, is Wynne our wise healer and a great mage," I smile at Wynne.
"A pleasure to meet you Adela," Wynne says gracefully.
"The rather stoic man next to her is Cullen a templar from the Ferelden circle," I flash him a cheeky grin.
He nods in greeting to Adela watching her wary.
"Next to Cullen is our resident Qunari Sten, serious but a real softy," I joke.
He glares at me.
"The gorgeous woman next to Sten is our witch of the wilds Morrigan," I tease.
She smirks at me.
"The strapping young man next to her is my childhood friend, and soldier from Highever, Ser Gilmore, also known as Rory," I tease.
Rory looks at me shaking his head and chuckles.
"Our statuesque friend next to him is Shale. She really hates birds," I banter on.
"Next Shale is my faithful most favorite mabari Wrex; he will probably watch you carefully for a bit because you pulled weapons on me," I explain cheerfully. Wrex growls low and stares at Adela.
"Last but not least is my favorite assassin Zevran, he tried to kill me and I recruited him for his trouble," I snicker.
Zevran grins impudently at me and laughs.
Adela looks at my friends, and back at me and says, "You know I really think you can do this."
"I honestly don't think the wardens could recruit better," she says in wonder.
We spend the evening chatting and finally everyone heads back to their tents one by one. I'm just sitting with Zev by the fire.
"Do you think you can trust her?" he asks concerned.
"After the display today, I think she will be just fine," I say confidently, "she offered help for Tamlen although she disagrees with me. I knew she was testing me, if I had pulled my weapons, my point wouldn't have been made."
"You all made my point for me. Sometimes a "show" of force is needed. I however needed you, all of you," I continued gesturing to the tents, "to make the point, which you all did and I am ever so grateful. My father showed me that sometimes letting the people decide was best rather than a show of force on his part."
"Well, I will still be watching her," says Zev seriously.
"I can't let anyone "assassinate" my favorite warden," He jokes.
"Thanks Zev," I smile at him gratefully.
"It's been a long day I think I will head to bed; I have watch in a few hours." I say looking a Shale who is watching from the outside the firelight.
"G'night dear warden," Zev mumbles sleepily heading to his tent.
I didn't really sleep. I laid in my tent on the bedroll and thought with the events in Highever plaguing my mind until it was my shift.