Chapter 15
The next few nights were horrid to say the least. I felt exhausted, despite the obvious difference in how long Duncan and I stayed on watch, him always taking the longer shift. He didn't sleep much better either if the tossing from the tent while I sat next to the fire was any indication. We were on our fourth night when I finally remembered the stitches in my head that needed to be taken out.
After making camp I dug through my pack and found the small and sparsely packed pouch of first aid items that Shianni packed for me. It wasn't much for first aid, some small bundles of elfroot, a small tin of salve for burns, another for frosts, some clean cloth for bandages, and a tiny sewing kit and inside there was thankfully a small pair of scissors. I grabbed the scissors and felt where the stitches were, feeling the scar underneath them before starting to cut the stitches carefully. I cut each stitch one by one before pulling them out of my skin, by the time I finished I noticed that Duncan was watching me closely.
"You could have asked for help with that. I'm familiar with treating wounds to an extent, enough to know how to undo stitches at least." He told me, passing me a clean cloth and a canteen of water.
I took it from him and wet the rag before wiping over the skin carefully. "I'll remember if there is a next time." I told him, before moving the rag so I could lightly feel the scar, just above my brow, my permanent reminder.
"If you are concerned about the scar it doesn't look as bad one might think when your head careens into a wall." He joked and I managed a small smile at that.
I handed the canteen back to him before putting the scissors away and seeing my coin purse, tucked away in the bag. I pulled it out tossing it lightly in my hand before opening it and seeing the wedding band on top of my coin. It seemed I had been carrying another reminder, of my betrothed. I had been so quick to dismiss him when we met, but he came after me carrying this basic silver ring. I slipped it onto the middle finger of my right hand, the ring too big to fit on my ring finger. Was the plan to get it resized after we were we? I pushed the thought out of my head before attaching the purse to my belt, close to my hip and tucked to be mainly out of sight from habit.
"You haven't asked anything about the Wardens yet, is there anything you'd like to know?" Duncan asked me and I debated on starting a conversation.
It would be nice to hear something other than scratching sounds from the woods. It would also be best to get some idea of what I will be walking into. I closed my pack and looked over at him. "The Grey Wardens, how many are there?" I asked him.
"There are only a handful in Ferelden, more in Orlais. Our command is Weisshaupt Fortress in the Anderfels, though there are numbers of us in every nation." He answered and I nodded.
"Is just a few Grey Wardens enough to stop a blight?" I asked him and he sighed quietly, seeming to think about his answer.
"Grey Wardens are instrumental in stopping the Blight, but we don't have enough numbers to be considered an independent army." He said after a few moments. "That's why we ally with armies, like the one the king has formed, to help fight the darkspawn."
"So the Grey Wardens are needed to stop the blight, but others can kill darkspawn without being a warden?" I asked him and he nodded.
"Darkspawn are much like any other monster or creature, they can be killed. Their danger comes from their taint and being controlled by an archdemon." He explained for me.
"And an archdemon rising is the sign of a new blight? Have you seen the archdemon for this blight yet?" I asked and he shook his head, looking grim.
"Not yet, but the darkspawn wouldn't gather unless there was one, that's what we will be looking for on the battlefield." He told me and I sighed.
"I'm going to have to fight right away?" I asked and he chuckled quietly.
"You can hold your own plenty well and we need all able bodies on the field." He assured me. "You haven't met a darkspawn yet, and even as you get used to them always exercise caution." He told me and I nodded.
"Are there any elves in the Grey Wardens in Ferelden? Or woman wardens for that matter?" I asked him and he smiled at me.
"No, but the Grey Wardens accept all into their rank and file."
We talked for a while more, mainly about what to expect at Ostagar. There were apparently two other recruits besides myself that I would be going through something called the Joining with. I wasn't sure what it was but when I pressed about it Duncan said that I would learn in time. Seeing as he's the only reason I'm not rotting away in a dungeon I didn't press farther.