Kanta48: I am glad you liked Daveth. I agree he would have been an awesome GW. There are some mods that allow you to save him. Maybe my next playthrough. As for the frog... mine too. Followed closely by "its a good thing he's cute..." I am glad you enjoyed it thanks for commenting on both 13&14. Kenyata Tabris: Who is in the love triangle? I am glad you are enjoying the story. Thank you for the comment. Judy: thanks as always. Finally back on track thanks for your patience everyone.
9:30 Dragon, 3 Wintermarch – Ostagar
I heard the audible sigh of my companions as we walked through the gate separating the wilds and the camp. I echoed the sentiment, but I couldn't shake the feeling that Morrigan was still out there watching us. I wasn't even sure why it bothered me.
Alistair nudged me and said, "We need to get these back to Duncan. He's expecting us."
"I have something I need to do first."
"Rhiannon, you have the flower. The hound can wait. The Kennel Master said that he would survive until after the battle."
I didn't know how to explain to Ser Jory urgency I felt. Or the need to get the medicine to the dog. I understood it had something to do with the danger, with the ritual. But as Duncan and Alistair avoided the topic and changed the subject, I could only imagine worst case. Something told me if I didn't get the flower to the Kennel Master now, it might not happen.
"The flower might lose its affect the longer it's not used after we have picked it. It's wilted and half dead now. Go ahead without me. I'll catch up. Hopefully, Duncan will understand."
Aedan surprised me and said, "No. We'll wait for you. Technically Duncan doesn't know we are back, yet."
A lump formed in my throat as I looked at Daveth, Jory and Alistair and found them nodding in agreement.
After finishing at the kennels and the hound Master assuring me that the Mabari would be good as new in a little while, we made our way back to the bonfire where Duncan waited. Aedan and Alistair brought up Morrigan and Flemeth.
It interested me seeing what he thought of two women, but after verifying that they weren't barbarians, Duncan counseled Alistair to remember he wasn't there to worry about apostate mages. I had hoped that Alistair would explain that Flemeth warned us about the blight being a greater danger than we knew, but he just looked at the ground like a kicked puppy.
The place I originally met Alistair was actually the old temple, according to Duncan, and it was where we were to perform the joining ritual.
Ser Jory and Daveth were arguing. The knight's whining had gotten on all our nerves. He was having trouble controlling the fear. Why, I didn't know. He had proven himself more than a capable warrior.
Alistair stood there against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, lost in thought about something. I'd lay odds on it being Duncan's reprimand. He watched me as I walked over to join the men but said nothing to any of us.
Jory asked why all the tests. Hadn't he proven himself. He had. We all had. But Daveth made a point to when he thought it might be tradition. I had to bite my tongue when he suggested Duncan was doing it to annoy him. I looked to Alistair, figuring he would intercede, but other than a quick grin he said nothing.
"Calm down, there is nothing that can be done about it now." Aedan reminded the knight.
I rolled my eyes when he told us about his wife in Highover again. We had heard about her six times already. He didn't think it was fair that Duncan didn't tell him about the danger ahead of time. But I wondered, as a knight hadn't, he delt with life and death before.
Daveth beat me in asking if he'd known would he have still come. He said the Wardens must do what they must get recruits. He talked about how much he would sacrifice to end the blight. I knew this man was someone I would fight till my death alongside.
"You make a good point, Daveth," I said, hoping that Jory was listening and that would be the end.
Jory might have said more, but Duncan appeared. He crossed the floor, speaking to all of us about the origins of the Grey Wardens. Standing at the table, he placed a goblet down and turned to us. We like the first wardens were to drink Darkspawn blood. I glanced at Aedan's face to see if he realized yet that we were performing blood magic. If he did, he made no show. His face was impassive.
I didn't know how I felt. Blood magic was evil. And went against everything they had ever taught me. But Duncan said it was the source of the Grey Wardens power. I'd had an inkling we were going to dabble in blood magic. I figured it was the root of the ceremony but not 'the' ritual.
When Alistair said those that survive the joining…. I was going to die. I survived almost eight years at the Tower under constant threat and abuse. And a vial of Darkspawn blood in a secret ritual was going to kill me. If the Templars back at the Tower could see me now, they would laugh their arses off.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. I couldn't get out of it if I couldn't think straight. Wait, did he say master the taint? Was it like the harrowing? It was a test, like the demon if I could defeat him, I would survive?
I tried to focus on what Alistair said, hoping he was like Irving just before the Harrowing giving us clues on what to do. But the man was of no help. The words of the ritual sounded more like a prayer. I would just have to depend on myself.
Daveth was the first. I tried to give him a supportive smile. He took the cup and put it to his lips and swallowed.
For a moment, I hoped. Then I noticed both Alistair and Duncan backing away. He doubled over and his groan became a howl of pain. He was on his knees grabbing at his throat when I heard Jory's expletive to the Maker. I wanted to run to Daveth. Heal him. Do something, but something rooted me in place. I felt helpless.
Daveth was still groaning in pain as Duncan apologized to him and commanded Jory to step forward.
I tore my eyes away from Daveth's prone body lying on the ground when I heard Jory pull his sword.
He kept repeating that he had a wife and child. But Duncan wasn't listening. He calmly said there was no turning back and advanced on the knight.
He handed the cup to Alistair and pulled his own dagger.
Aedan and I looked on in horror as Jory tried to fight Duncan, only to lose and find himself impaled on Duncan's blade. There was a sadness in Duncan's voice that told me that wasn't the way he'd wanted things to go. And for a moment, I briefly wondered about Templars. And then dismissed it as Duncan was speaking to Aedan, telling him it was his turn.
Aedan whispered, "if I die take care of Rabbit for me."
I nodded as I watched him put the cup to his lips and swallow.
As he handed the cup back to Duncan, I snatched it away. I would not stand there, watch Aedan die, waiting for my turn.
I saw the surprise on Duncan's face as I wiped the blood from my lower lip after gulping the last swallow of liquid in the chalice. Aedan made a gurgling sound and the last thing I saw was his eyes go white, before the pain exploded in my head.
Distantly, I heard sounds. It was like the crashing of water against the rocks during a heavy storm. I tried to focus on it, but it quickly became overwhelming. And I tried to run away. That's when I saw the dragon. He roared. And the sound became so loud I sure my head would explode. Then there was blissful blackness. My last thought was, so this is what it is like to die.
My body ached, and my head throbbed. I didn't think you were supposed to feel anything when you joined the maker. Or in my case being a mage, I was supposed to wander the fade forever.
Opening my eyes, I saw two concerned faces staring down at me. It took me a moment to focus on Duncan as he told me it was complete and welcomed me. I could hear the pain in Alistair's voice as he said two more deaths. As he stood, he added that in his joining only one of them died, but I noticed he didn't tell me how many were in his joining.
Awkwardly, I sat up and looked around the temple. Alistair said there were only two deaths, and Jory and Daveth died before we drank. It meant Aedan must still be alive.
There he was, leaning against the table, unwilling to meet my eyes.
He offered me a hand and helped me to my feet as he said he was glad that at least two of us made it.
I nodded, not finding the right words as Duncan asked how I felt. He stressed that Jory was warned that there was no turning back. And that he defended himself when Jory went for his blade. He said he found no pleasure in killing him.
His quick defense had me wondering if Aedan had accused him of wanting to kill Jory. Or suggesting that there could have been another way. Myself, I was numb. It felt as if I had gone through the Harrowing all over again.
Alistair asked if I had dreams that his dreams were terrible. I didn't know what I had. That thing that roared. I think it was a dragon, but I couldn't be sure now that I was awake. The things I saw and heard were fading, so maybe they were dreams. But mages didn't dream. Dreams were the fade and mages stay conscious in the fade.
I shook my head, not sure but not able to explain it either. I figured if I just said yes, he wouldn't ask for details. After I got it straight in my mind, I could come back later and ask.
Duncan quickly tried to reassure me that there were many things I would need to learn in the months to come and plenty of time for learning them. For the time being, we needed to focus on the upcoming battle.
"Wait. There is one last part to the joining. Those that do not survive the joining. We take some of that blood and put it in a pendant. Something to remind us of those that didn't make it this far."
My mind went immediately to Daveth and as Alistair held out the silver amulet, my eyes darted to where the cutpurse had fallen. When I didn't see him lying there anymore. I searched for Jory. But all that was left of him was the bloodstain on the wall and ground.
Aedan must have known what I was thinking and said, "I helped them carry them down to the pyres. The priest will get them ready to meet the Maker."
I nodded mutely and accepted the pendant.