Jarvia needed to be disposed of, that was the priority, Bhelen told Natia.
So, Natia went to Leske, asking if he had any ideas. The thug, exasperated at being pulled away from the palace before he could even relax, made a proposition: he goes back to the Carta, earn Jarvia's trust, earn a rank, making it all the easier to kill her.
Natia was shocked by this idea. She pled to her friend that it would be too dangerous for him, but Leske insisted, wanting to stay in Prince Bhelen's good graces.
The Brosca huffed, knowing that it would be impossible to change Leske's mind. So, she only hugged him and wished him luck. Natia watched her best friend walk out of the palace, to return to Dust Town, fearful for his life, and wondering if her new 'brother's' plan and ends were worth his life.
Ostagar:
After months of travelling south through the Hinterlands, Duncan and his recruits had finally reached Ostagar. Daveth, Kallian, and Jory steeled themselves, knowing that the worst had yet to come. Now they were at the frontlines against the darkspawn horde. Duncan had emphasized that the Blight must be stopped here, so that the horde does not spread north and assault the rest of the kingdom.
But a surprise awaited the group once they reached the gates: His Majesty, King Cailan of Ferelden, the son of Maric, approached them, accompanied by two bodyguards. Cailan cheerfully greeted Duncan before taking hold of his hand and shaking it eagerly.
Duncan expressed surprise at the king's arrival while the recruits were in stunned silence at being this close to the monarch of their nation. Kallian, especially, fearful that word had spread to the camp about her slaying of Bann Vaughan, and terrified of having to face Arl Urien, the bann's father.
Cailan seemed absurdly jovial, in spite of the apocalyptic horrors on his doorstep, and only seemed excited at the prospect of fighting beside the famous Warden-Commander. Jory and Daveth found his attitude somewhat comforting. Perhaps the situation truly wasn't as bad as they had feared.
The king then brought up the topic of Duncan's recruits and examined them. All three bowed before their sovereign. Jory knelt with dignity; Daveth only just keeping himself from shaking out of anxiety from him, a common thief, being under a royal's watchful eye; Kallian did her best not to look Cailan in the face.
Cailan greeted all three recruits one by one.
Ser Jory introduced himself as a loyal knight of Redcliffe who had dedicated his life to serving Arl Eamon, His Majesty's uncle. But now that the kingdom needed him, he came with Duncan to serve the Grey Wardens in glory. Cailan vaguely recalled him from a previous visit to Redcliffe.
Daveth passed himself as just a humble citizen who joined up with Duncan out of altruism. This earned him raised eyebrows from all his companions (though they did not speak up to reveal his lie) and a slap on the back from the king.
Cailan deduced that Kallian came from the alienage of Denerim and asked her about the conditions there, genuinely interested as his court had hidden the truth of it from him for years. Kallian was conflicted. If she told the truth to the king, would he even care? Would he have her executed to appease Urien? But, she theorized this could be the only chance an alienage elf could get to make the king hear of their struggles.
With a deep breath, she told Cailan that she was conscripted after slaying a bann for raping her cousin. Her companions were stunned; Cailan was speechless. Duncan spoke up, advising the king to investigate what happened in the Denerim alienage, but the matter at hand at the moment was defending Ostagar. Cailan promised to look into the matter later before welcoming all three recruits to Ostagar.
Duncan inquired about Arl Urien, to which Cailan answered that Urien died in battle weeks prior. Kallian was a little relieved, but still worried about any of the other nobles in camp finding out what she did.
Duncan then informed the king of Eamon's offer of sending reinforcements, which Cailan scoffed as his uncle only wanting some of the glory before showing skepticism that what they were currently dealing with was a true Blight as no one had seen an archdemon. Duncan couldn't help but be unnerved by the disappointment in Cailan's voice in this and disturbed at the king voicing his childish fantasy about leading the Grey Wardens against the Blight.
Cailan bid farewell to Duncan and his recruits, not eager to return to his tent to listen to more of Loghain's strategies. All four bowed as he left.
Duncan cautioned them not to let the previous victories make them drop their guard as the horde is noticeably increasing in number each day and insisted that the horde must have been led by an archdemon.
The Warden-Commander announced the ritual, the Joining, must be done tonight, so he told his recruits to seek out another Grey Warden in the camp by the name of Alistair.