Bioware owns Dragon Age and all the characters, I own Jaya, though...
The King's Rose
Chapter 24: Joining Ceremonies!
Jaya blinked before she turned to Zevran and shrugged. "Get ready... They've beat us here..."
"Who has?" A warrior asked, bringing her sword and shield out when Jaya pulled her bow out and Zevran unsheathed his daggers.
"Wait for it..." Jaya said right as darkspawn showed up, chasing a middle aged man. Rushing ahead to guard the man, she landed a strike right between the hurlock's eyes before hitting another in the throat. She covered Zevran while he fought those who were also firing arrows at her and the warrior. Within minutes, she was surprised at how organized they seemed. "That's odd..." She mumbled before helping the man stand.
"Maker bless you... Ah, you are..." He began.
"Yes. The Warden-Commander that is to take over Amaranthine." Jaya said as Zevran bowed. "This is my dear friend Zev..."
"Truly an honor then... Please... The keep is under attack! They came from nowhere!" The man said.
"Go. The road is clear." Jaya said, placing her bow back and smirking at the female warrior. "Nice skills. Not what I expected from a bodyguard..."
"I beg your pardon... My name is Mhairi and it is my dream to become a Grey Warden. Is Zevran planning on joining too?" She asked.
"Oh, no... You see, my darling wife would never let me hear the end of it if I did." Zevran chuckled.
"Oh.. Are you two...?" She began.
"No. I'm actually married myself, but not to Zev... Hopefully you'll meet him one day... For now, let's take back the keep... Ironic, eh, Zev? Taking yet another keep?" She asked as they made their way to the keep.
"Indeed." He stated before they saw a robe-wearing man attack a group of hurlocks. "Did we travel back in time? Or is there yet another mage?"
"He was here when I left." Mhairi said.
"The man turned and looked behind him. "It wasn't me... I swear the templars died to the creatures... That one there made the funniest sound when he went down..." He said, looking at one templar behind him. "Ahh, my manners. I'm Anders. And you're that recruit that was here beforehand."
"Yes." Mhairi said. "Commander, this man's an apostate, I'd be careful."
Anders blinked and sighed. "At least let me help you out. Then you can hand me in... I'll still escape, though." He pointed out.
"Who said I'd turn you in? Just keep firing fire balls and we're even." Jaya joked. "By the way, my name's Jaya... Warden-Commander Jaya, that is. This is Zevran, my trusted friend."
"You mean the Hero of Ferelden? An honor!" Anders said, grinning and bowing slightly.
"...Or that, too." Jaya sighed before she heard more fighting. "Let's go help all those we can. Any survivors must get out while they can." She ordered before they saw the cause of the commotion and she and Zevran both laughed before joining the fight. When she finished off the last of the spawn, she grinned.
"I told these nug-runners, 'just wait until the Commander shows up, you'll be spitting teeth!' And here you are… Pike-twirler with them?" Oghren asked.
"Of course." Jaya said. "And of course you'd be deep in spawn."
"Meh. Thought I'd try and be a bon-a-fide Grey Warden, like you." He said before noticing Mhairi. "And it's the recruit with the nice rack!"
"He was here before, too…" She said, disgusted slightly.
"Well, let's find Seneschal Varel..." Jaya ordered.
"Looking for him? He was up ahead." Oghren informed as they made their way to where someone said there was a talking darkspawn.
"Be taking this one, gently. We are wishing no more death than is necessary." The spawn stated.
"It IS talking!" Anders said, mystified.
"That's unusual." Jaya murmured, bringing her bow out.
"It has ended, just as he foretold." It said, kicking a guard off the tower before a fight erupted.
Anders and Jaya kept him off of Oghren and Mhairi while Jaya also kept other darkspawn off Anders, bringing her close-combat weapons out to do so. A final arrow to the neck of whom called itself The Withered brought the comflict to an end as she reached down to help the elderly-looking man up. "You alright?" She asked.
"I will be... I'm Seneschal Varel... You must be the Warden-Commander..." He said before glancing at the road. "It appears we have company... Hopefully they are more kind than the previous ones."
Jaya's eyes widened as she grinned slightly at the company before they escorted Varel down to greet the guests. As per tradition, even though she was the Queen, she had to kneel a little when her husband showed up.
"Here I missed a good fight. I kinda miss slaying darkspawn." Alistair joked.
"King Alistair!" Mhairi said, kneeling as well.
"I hope everything is well here."
"Yes, Your Majesty... The Commander had excellent timing." Varel replied.
"I wasn't expecting this when I wanted to welcome the Grey Wardens. What's the situation?" He asked as she stood up.
Jaya frowned. "There were darkspawn, but they fled. As for those Wardens, they either are dead... Or missing."
"Missing? As in 'taken by the darkspawn'?" He blinked. "Do they even do that?"
"Apparently... There is no account for how many are missing." She answered.
"I see... And I take it you weren't too badly hurt, dear wife?" He asked.
Jaya raised an eyebrow. "Planning on joining me, dear husband?" She teased.
Alistair chuckled lightly. "I wish. Don't tempt me, minx. Eamon and your brother will both have a heart attack." He looked around and sighed. "You have quite the task ahead of you. As much as I'd like to help you fight darkspawn, you're on your own... For the moment."
"Don't forget me! Am I suddenly chopped nug livers?" Oghren said, exasperated.
"And do not tell me you forgot I am here as well." Zevran tsked.
"Where's the giant cup? I'll gargle and spit!" Oghren stated.
"You're not allowed to spit..." Jaya reprimanded.
"Well, at least I'm in!" He said, grinning.
"Joining the Wardens, hey? Good luck with that." Anders said.
"King Alistair! Your Majesty, beware! This man is a dangerous criminal." A rude woman said.
"You mean the dwarf? He's harmless, I assure you..." Alistair began.
"She means me..." Anders sighed.
"He is wanted for murder and other crimes..." She informed before she and Anders began bickering.
"You have something to add to this, Commander?" Alistair asked.
"I conscript him to join the Grey Wardens." Jaya stated, smiling when the guard's face fell.
"What? Never!" Rylock said.
"I believe the Grey Wardens still retain the Right of Conscription, right? I'll allow it." Came the reply. "If you have everything under control, I will need to take my leave."
"Oh? Why not join me, dear husband?" She teased, knowing the reason why perfectly.
"I hate having to ask you to do this, love. It would be so much more interesting to keep you at court, with the kids." He said.
She giggled lightly. "Why don't you?"
"You are such a temptress.. I will join you as soon as I am able. I promise." He chuckled before kissing her cheek and leaving.
"Wait... You're the Queen?" Anders asked.
"Yeah." Jaya nodded, raising an eyebrow. "Something wrong with that?"
"Not at all... Just trying to wonder what I should call you. Your Majesty, Commander or what?" Anders stated.
"Jaya's fine. When I wear a Warden-armor, I leave behind my titles. While otherwise I prefer that I'm called by my name." Jaya explained as they went into the keep, getting interrupted by a guard. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, Commander. There was an assassin that was here. It took four guards to capture him." The guard said.
"Who would want to harm our lovely Warden?" Zevran commented. "Besides me, but I've sworn my life over to you."
Jaya shrugged as they followed the guard, freezing when she saw who it was. "N... No way..." She said.
"Aren't you supposed to be ten feet tall? With lightning bolts shooting out of your eyes?" The prisoner sneered.
"I don't think my enemies care what I look like, since they wind up dead anyhow..." She sighed. "I know him... Get the seneschal..."
Oghren and Zevran blinked as Zevran spoke. "Why does he look so familiar?"
"Nathaniel Howe... Eldest son of Howe himself..." Jaya said.
"Wait... I remember you... You're Jaya Cousland. We grew up together... Small world that you would kill my father with no remorse." Nathaniel said. "Look, I don't know what happened to the Couslands. But from what I hear, it was horrible. The entire war was. But what my father did shouldn't harm my entire family."
Jaya frowned, knowing that Nathaniel was in the Free Marches when the entire massacre happened. "How about you redeem the name for yourself? Join me." She said. "It'll be like we're kids, but with higher risks."
"You can't be serious. You like having Grey Wardens who want you dead?" He asked, standing up.
"Hey, some of my best friends wanted me dead once." She sent a pointed glance at Zevran as Varel showed up. "I conscript Nathaniel Howe into the Grey Wardens as well."
"Maker... This will be interesting..." Zevran sighed as the seven of them entered the main hall.
"I assume you want to conduct it, Commander?" Varel asked.
"I do indeed..." She was glad that those that had 'clean-up' after the archdemon fell kept it's blood. According to the documents, what she drank was this mixed with lyrium and actual darkspawn blood. Turning to those that wanted to join, everyone save Zevran, she recited the words Duncan had said over a year or so ago to her. "Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that can not be forsworn. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten. And that one day we shall join you." She motioned to Mhairi. "From this moment forth, Mhairi, you are a Grey Warden."
"I am honored..." She breathed, taking a swig before she collapsed.
Jaya had seen Daveth react the same way and she knew Mhairi didn't make it. "Maker bless you..." She prayed before turning. "Oghren, step forward. From this moment forth, you are a Grey Warden."
"What is this? The sampler size? You mean you drank out of something this small? Is this about my height, eh, Jaya?" Oghren stated.
"Nope. This is what we always use..." Jaya informed. "Drink and let's move on."
Oghren drank some and belched. "Mmm. Tasty..."
Jaya chuckled lightly before handing it to Anders. "From this moment forth, Anders, you are a Grey Warden."
"If I wake up two weeks from now on a ship bound for Rivain in nothing but my smallclothes and a tattoo on my forehead, I'm soooo blaming you." Anders commented before he passed out.
"He will live, Commander." Varel said.
"Good. I suspected he would... Nathaniel Howe, from this moment forth, you are a Grey Warden." Jaya said, giving the goblet to Nathaniel, who also passed out. "Well, three of four... Not bad for my first Joining as Commander.." She said proudly before helping wake up Anders and Nathaniel. "See? Not bad being a Warden..."
"My head's pounding... But, I'm not on a boat nor do I have a tattoo on my forehead." Anders said, grinning. "I think this is a good way to start out as a Warden... What's this tingly feeling?"
"Oh, that's how it feels to sense darkspawn... One thing: we can sense them and they can sense us." She took the words her husband told her before the camp was attacked by shreiks during the Blight.
"Ahh, this is what that pike-twirler was saying..." Oghren said.
Zevran shook his head a little. "I believe you are safe with our dwarven friend... Shall I return to Denerim, friend?" He asked.
"I believe I'll be fine. Thanks, Zev, for coming with. Give my best to Leli... And try to keep you know who from any sharp objects until they are at least eight." She scolded.
"Right. Farewell, my friends. And good luck, fellow Wardens." He bowed before leaving.
Little did Jaya know that she would need all the help she could gather. Under the grounds, trouble was brewing.
Well, this is the end of chapter 25... And the beginning of 'Awakening' in my timeline. I'll write when Jaya recruits someone, get to a major battle of that area, give a little downtime and repeat for the remaining companions... And if you haven't guessed, Anders is my favorite character, besides Jaya, in Awakening!
~~Skittles~~