Chapter 32

Nienna

I stopped one of the guards, asking about Alistair as we hadn't come across him yet, and he told me where to find him. Araya and I thanked the guard before following his directions to where he told us to find him. After meeting the other two recruits my expectations of who the recruits and other Wardens were had been lowered considerably. Daveth was an idiot and Jory had an annoying holier-than-thou attitude. As we started to get closer to where Alistair was supposed to be I could start to hear a very angry voice.

"What is it now? Haven't Grey Wardens asked enough of the Circle?" A man's voice echoed through the ruins.

"I simply came to deliver a message from the revered mother, ser mage. She desires your presence." A much calmer voice responded to the shouting.

"What her Reverence desires is of no concern to me! I am busy helping the Grey Wardens-by the king's orders, I might add!" The angry voice replied as we turned the corner, we saw that the voice was from a Circle mage.

A soldier-like man responded, "Should I have asked her to write a note?"

"Tell her I will not be harassed in this manner!"

"Yes, I was harassing you by delivering a message." Huh… if this man is Alistair he definitely has a sharper wit then the other two.

"Your glibness does you no credit."

"Here I thought we were getting along so well. I was even going to name one of my children after you… the grumpy one." Really? The grumpy one? Couldn't come up with anything better?

"Enough! I will speak to the woman if I must! Get out of my way, fool!" He pushed past Araya and I and walked off.

"You know, one good thing about the Blight is how it brings people together." I hear Araya chuckle.

"I know exactly what you mean." I added, a small smile on my face as I watched the mage storm off.

"It's like a party: we could all stand in a circle and hold hands. That would give the darkspawn something to talk about." He joked before his smile fell from his face. "Wait, we haven't met, have we? I don't suppose you happen to be more mages?"

I see Araya look at her sheathes, then look at me and my sheathes. She responds, "Don't worry, we are no mages."

"Less being yelled at for me, then. Though the day is still young. Wait, I do know who you two are. You're Duncan's new recruits. I should have recognized you right away. I apologize." He said to us, and I was happy that he showed us some respect, unlike the other two.

"How could you recognize us?" I asked, seeing as to my knowledge, he had never met us before this point.

"Duncan sent word ahead. He spoke quite highly of you both. Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Alistair, the new Grey Warden, though I guess you knew that. As the junior member of the order, I'll be accompanying you when you prepare for the joining."

"Pleased to meet you my name's Araya." She bowed slightly to him as a sign of respect.

"I'm Nienna." I told him, not caring much for formalities.

"Those were the names. You know… it just occurred to me that there have never been many women in the Grey Wardens. I wonder why that is?" He asked, and it was obvious that the question wasn't meant to be offensive but he asked it in a more joking manner.

"Probably because we're too smart for you." I responded.

"True but if you're both here what does that make you?"

"Incredibly unlucky." I answered. At least it's the truth. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my terrible luck.

"I have to agree on that one," Araya chuckles.

"Ouch. Anyhow, whenever you're ready let's head back to Duncan. I imagine he's eager to get things started." He told us, obviously trying to keep somewhat on track.

Araya's head cocked slightly to the side. "That argument we saw… what was that about?" She seemed curious about what happened.

"With the mage? The Circle is here at the king's request and the Chantry doesn't like that one bit. They just love letting mages know how unwelcome they are. Which puts me in a bit of an awkward position." Alistair sucked air through his teeth, "I was once a templar."

Araya nodded, "That would be awkward."

"I'm sure the revered mother meant it as an insult- sending me as her messenger- and the mage picked right up on that. I never would have agreed to deliver it, but Duncan says we're all to cooperate and get along. Apparently, they didn't get the same speech."

"I look forward to traveling with you." It seemed as though formalities were really drilled into Araya.

"You do? Huh that's a switch."

"Well you didn't manage to insult us the second you opened your mouth, it was a low bar to get over." I said, before turning and starting to walk back towards the main area of the camp.

The three of us started to walk towards the Grey Warden banner… I became sidetracked by the sound of barking. I turned to find the source of it to see a large kennel that had been set up in the camp. Kennels that were filled with Mabari hounds and it made me curious. So I headed over to the kennels with the other two following me.

"Hmmm. This isn't good. I would hate to waste such a promising member of the breed." The kennel master was speaking to himself, before he turned to look at me. "Are you one of the new Wardens? I could use some help."

"What's the problem?" I asked him, stepping closer to the kennel and seeing a hound inside that had been separated from the rest.

"This mabari's owner died in the last battle, and the poor hound swallowed darkspawn blood. I have medicine that might help, but I need her muzzled first." He explained and I could see where this was going.

"I can try muzzling her if that's what you're asking." I said to him, looking at the mabari, and it was clear she was in pain. Poor thing, might as well try to help.

"Go in the pen and let her smell you. We'll know right away if she'll respond." He handed me the muzzle. "Let's hope this works, I'd really hate if I had to put her down."

"Be careful if she tries to bite off your hands. I hear you need those." Alistair warned me before I entered the pen.

"She will be fine, I know mabari, they will respect her." Araya watched the hound.

I opened the door to the pen and stepped inside, standing across from the sick mabari. She looked up at me as I entered and I held my hand out towards her so she could get used to my smell and recognize me at not being dangerous to her. After she sniffed at my hand I knelt down and reached over slowly and calmly, securing the muzzle onto her. She whined quietly as I did it but she didn't struggle. Once it was done, I rubbed the top of her head sympathetically before leaving the pen.

"Well done! Now I can treat the dog properly- poor to think of it, are you heading into the Wilds anytime soon?" The kennel master asked me.

"We might be, why?" I asked him.

"There's a particular herb I could use to improve the dog's chances. It's a flower that grows in the swamps here if I remember. If you happen across it; I could use it. It's very distinctive: all white with a blood red center." He told me and I nodded, committing the description to my memory.

"Where would I be able to find it in the wilds?" I asked him.

"It usually grows in dead trees near the water. There should be plenty of them growing this time of year." He said to me.

"I'll keep an eye out for the flower and try to bring it back."

He thanked me and we got back on task to go talk to Duncan about whatever this Joining ritual was and what it would entail. We made it back to the tent and Aseir stood up from his place laying next to Duncan's feet and barked happily at Araya. Jory and Daveth were also there, sitting near the fire and I mentally prepared for being stuck with the two of them for whatever we had to do next.