Chapter 28: The Call of Duty Ⅱ

The nominal leader of our order is the First Warden, but you can expect little assistance or guidance so far from the Anderfels. Even those close to Weisshaupt learn to suffer alone. The murmurs are true-the First Warden is often embroiled in the politics of the Anderfels and has little opportunity to consider worldly matters. I would like to believe it is a matter of survival, not of political self-interest.

Know that your mission is vital. You carry the hopes of our order. If the highest among us holds noble titles outside of the Anderfels, perhaps we will be better situated when the next Blight comes, as we all know it must.-A confidential report for the Warden-Commander

Vigil's Keep-Mess Hall

In the mess hall moment from her joining, Sigrun was eating…the soldiers around her were impressed by how much the dwarf could put away the food. Sigrun was just impressed by the variety of morsels that the surface had, back when she was growing up in Dust Town the best she could get were the scraps of food dropped by the higher castes. When she became part of the Legion her eating situation got better but not by much. She stuffed her face with the braised lamb and gave a big satisfied burp.

"Maker's breath…the lass just ate twenty-six full course meals" one soldier said in amazement.

"Really? I lost track after twelve…"

Oghren gave a smirk. "Reminds me of Branka…good times"

Sigrun raised a brow. "I remind you of your ex-wife, who fed her entire house to darkspawn in search for a magical anvil?"

"Yes…well, no…not when you put it that way"

She sighed. "Smooth, Oghren…real smooth" In the distance, Sigrun could see a group of women and some men both soldier and servant crowding over in the corner. They looked very excited by something for some reason. "What's going on there, I wonder?"

Oghren crossed his arms and grumbled. "Anders found a cat"

Sigrun tilted her head, since she has been underground her whole life she had no knowledge of the creatures on the surface. "What's a…cat?" she asked. "And why are you in such a bad mood all of the sudden?"

"Cats are like furry nugs but instead of eating them, surfacers keep them as pets…ridiculous I know who would keep meat as a pet" Oghren said. "For some reason, women are drawn to him when he plays with that cat"

"Like moths to a flame" Anders said walking towards them. He was holding an orange and white cat and was holding it like a mother would an infant. "Women like it when men show affection for small, fuzzy, defenseless beings…kinda like you"

Oghren grunted in a huff. "Stupid…mage. Every time I pull something out of my robes, the women just flee"

"Gee I wonder why…." Anders then took notice of Sigrun. "So this is the newest recruit to our dysfunctional family…huh Jenra sure loves picking up strays" he said. "Oh come now, don't give me that look…we strays have to stick together"

"Is he always like this?" Sigrun asked.

"You'll get used to it" The doors to the mess hall opened and Jenra's advisers came in to call for Sigrun. It was time to for the Joining.


Vigil's Keep-Throne Room

Jenra sighed. "Now that this is over, I have some unnerving news to give you" he said. Jenra told Varel about what happened in Kal'Hirol; the broodmothers breeding an army and that there was two factions of intelligent darkspawn at war with each other. Varel looked unnerved by the tale…the dangers that Amaranthine faced was much bigger than they thought.

"We've done well to rebuild and improve the Keep but I fear…it may not be enough" Varel said. "If we are to overcome this threat, we must double our preparations" Varel nodded towards the advisers and they went to fetch Sigrun.

"So what can you tell me of this recruit, Commander?" Varel asked.

"She's was part of the Legion of the Dead before tragedy struck her fellows"

"The Legion I've heard of them, they're just as dedicated to fighting the darkspawn as the Wardens are" he said. "Its good that she knows the risks at least, too many times we get recruits who joins the Wardens for personal glory"

"So far we haven't lost any recruits since Mhairi, Maker willing I hope our luck keeps up" The chamber doors opened and Sigrun entered with a determined look on her face.

"So what trial needs to be done for me to become a Grey Warden?" Sigrun asked. "I'm ready for anything" Varel came to her with the chalice, Sigrun looked at the chalice and then to Jenra and Varel. "This is it? Just drinking from a goblet…"

"Do not be fooled Sigrun the Joining is as much your trial as it is your initiation" Jenra said. "In this chalice is darkspawn blood, if you drink it and survive you become one of us and survival is quite low"

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

"Then let it be…" Sigrun gulped down it down; she heard whispers in her head as her eyes rolled to the back of her head. She then fell to the floor as Varel knelt down and took her pulse.

"You chose her well, Commander. She will wake shortly" Jenra could only smile in relief another survivor, another ally in the war against the darkspawn. The soldiers picked Sigrun up and sent her to the infirmary to recover.


Infirmary

Moments later, Sigrun woke up with a great headache….in all the battles she had with the darkspawn she has never felt this much pain before. The healers came to her with a potion to help clear her head. As her head was starting to clear up, Jenra come in. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I just got trampled by a herd of bronto but I'll live" Sigrun said. "I'm more disturbed by…whatever that was when I was out"

"You had dreams; Oghren had the same thing once he became a warden"

"Dreams huh? That is going take some getting used to" Sigrun said. She then saw Jenra hand her a amulet that had a crystal that was red like blood. "Jewelry?"

"All wardens receive these amulets after their Joining." Jenra said. "These amulets serve as a constant reminder of the Wardens eternal vigil against the darkspawn hordes." Sigrun looked at her amulet…it amazed her how much the Wardens customs were like the Legions. Before they permanently leave Orzammar and enter the Deep Roads, the Legionnaires undergo a symbolic "funeral" where last goodbyes are spoken to friends and relatives and all ties to their former lives are cut. It begins with chanting and toasts, then the dwarves bid farewell to their friends and loved ones. This funeral clears the dwarf's name and restores their family's lost honor. They are recorded as dead in the Memories, viewed as having found glorious and redemptive death in battling the dwarves' eternal nemesis, the darkspawn. The Legionnaire must then work to make this a fact through a courageous and honorable death.

Legionnaires are typically marked with grim tattoos and equipped with heavy armor. When a Legionnaire dies in battle the Legion entombs them, thus returning them to the Stone. Wardens are the same way in some parts even down to the groups' individual creeds…that was when Sigrun realized that while she lost one band of brothers, she had gained another. "So what's next?"

"We search for one of our own, a man named Kristoff" Jenra said. "But first I think we've earned a little rest, once we've prepared we'll head out"


Vigil's Keep-Training Yards

Nathaniel was in the training yard firing arrows at the hay targets. The yard was noisy as he was surrounded by soldiers sparring and whacking training dummies…but Nathaniel liked the noise not only did it remind him of his training back in the Free Marches but it kept his mind off of…his family. As he was about to fire another arrow, out of the corner of his eye Nathaniel spotted Velanna under a tree in the back of the yard. In her hand was the amulet that Jenra gave back to her when they first met, Nathaniel put away his bow and walked towards the elf. "You know if want a quiet place…this isn't it" Velanna glared at him and Nathaniel just smirked. "Still with the deadly looks, my lady?"

Velanna scoffed. "My lady" she sneered. "Sure a shem thing to call someone"

"It is a term of respect. You think its human to be respectful?"

"Now you're mocking me"

"I think you're a lovely woman, and due some respect. So I call you a lady"

Velanna blushed a little. Well…stop it!"

Nathaniel leaned on the tree next to Velanna. "That's a beautiful amulet…never seen anything like it before"

"My mother made it, she was the best crafter in my clan" Velanna said. "It was to celebrate Seranni getting her Vallaslin, she was the youngest person in the history of our clan receive it" Seranni was a happy and compassionate young girl, who was beloved by everyone she came across. Seranni stood as a sharp contrast to her sister Velanna, who was her senior by two years. Velanna was a quiet and awkward child, who lived as a social outcast among the clan.

Seranni who loved her sister greatly, made constant attempts to include Velanna whenever she played with friends, but every time Velanna faced rejection. Eventually Seranni could no longer convince her friends to play with Velanna, and her sister gave up on trying to make friends. Although the two sisters had little in common they continued to remain close throughout their childhood.

Nathaniel chuckled. "Sounds like my younger sister, everyone adored her though she had her mischievous side" he said. "When we were children, she put beetles in my blankets…she would laugh when she heard me shriek"

Velanna snorted. "Serrani liked to put sap in my hair, she also pushed me into an icy river…twice"

"Ouch"

"Hmm, yes…why did I want to rescue her, again?"

"Because despite all the vexing things they do, they're family and you would give anything to see them safe and sound" Velanna looked at Nathaniel as he had a melancholy look on his face…it was so strange that a human could relate to her so well, or maybe her hatred of them blinded her to how similar elves and humans could be.

"I may have misjudged you a little"

Nathaniel chuckled. "Just a little?"

"I sometimes paint all humans with the same brush"

"As long as it's such a pretty brush, I don't mind"

"I'm sure I don't know what that means" Velanna said.

"It means your apology is appreciated, my lady"

Velanna blushed. "Well then, good" The elf saw something caught Nathaniel's attention as he headed to an old elf in brown clothes.

"Samuel? Groundskeeper Samuel? Is that you?" The elf looked confused at first but then a big smile spread across his face as he came and shook Nathaniel's hand.

"Maker's breath, as I live and breathe if it isn't little Nate!" Samuel said. "Look at you, big and strong…that training in the Free Marches sure paid off" The elf then gave a sad look. "Oh Nate, I'm so sorry about Thomas…he was…"

Nathaniel lowered his head. "I know, killed by darkspawn"

"I was hear when the soldiers broke the news to your father, Thomas fought to his last breath even saved some men from that hell…however short-lived it was"

"That sounds like Thomas…he could never ignore someone in danger" Nathaniel said. "Samuel, do you know of Delilah's fate…I've been receiving letters from her but they've stopped coming"

"Lady Delilah is safe, in fact she's married"

Nathaniel was taken aback. "M-Married?! When?! How?!"

"Sometime after your family lost its title and lands, last I heard she married a storekeeper in Amaranthine, don't know which one" Nathaniel ran for the Keep to look for Jenra, his sister was okay but he couldn't just go…it would be seen as abandoning his post. He turned the corner and bumped into Jenra.

"Ow…Nathaniel? What is your hurry?"

"Cousland, I need to go to Amaranthine!"

A Family Reunion! Next Time! As always Review and Comment!