Chapter 5: Arise
The wilds were not how Gwen had imagined them. It was a swamp, filled with gore and magic. The entire placed reeked of fowl evil forces.
But at least the flower that the kennel master had mentioned grew all over the wilds; Gwen had no trouble locating. She wondered what the kennel master would give her in return for her cure.
Gwen's first encounter with a darkspawn had been, not her finest moment, if she ever did have a fine moment. The images of contorted and rotting flesh still burned into her mind, she felt light headed and had to sit down.
She was being thrust into this completely new world, a world of danger and blood and death. The blood was the least of her worries, in fact the blood didn't bother her at all.
It was the smell.
Then, she had to drain the horrid beast of its blood. The smell of rancid meat attacked her, making her choke and gag.
After she had finally gotten over the fact that they were indeed there to kill monsters, and after she had somewhat gotten used to the smell, she was able to focus on her surroundings.
She studied at how Daveth moved to kill, they had very similar fighting styles. The style of a rouge, Daveth said.
Gwen was inexperienced at killing things other than animals. Sure, dark spawn could be called animals, but they still walked around on two legs.
Later, when they were following up on Alistair's duty of finding the documents, they met a mysterious woman named Morrigan.
She was cautious, yet confident, and sarcastic. Gwen liked this woman, although this Morrigan was also intensely beautiful, she did not flaunt it or even recognize it.
Gwen believed her when she said she did not have their scrolls. But that her mother did.
"Can you take us to her then?" Gwen had asked.
"Now there's a sensible question. I like you."
Alistair narrowed his eyes, "I'd be careful if I were you. First its 'I like you' but then Zap! It's frog time."
IXI
It was plainly obvious that Alistair did not enjoy Morrigan's company, in fact he rather hated it. Sometimes Gwen thought it was amusing, other times she thought it was just out right annoying. She wanted the two to shut up and stop their bickering.
Whenever Alistair wasn't arguing with Morrigan he was staring at Solona, something that bothered Gwen very much. She wished someone would stare at her like that. Then she quickly reminded herself that she didn't care, that it didn't matter. She didn't need anyone but herself, right?
Morrigan's mother, Flemeth, had been an old hag, but a very powerful old hag. She gave them the documents without problem, but sent them off with a strange feeling.
Flemeth stressed the importance of defeating the Blight, and how it would engulf everything if they did not stop it.
Her message had scared Gwen a little, she had never been given so much responsibility in her life. No one at Highever ever expected much from her. They all knew she was just some Chantry trainee. She wasn't important and now...she was suddenly one of the most important people in Fereldan.
She chided herself for her foolish thinking. You're not a Grey Warden yet, don't let it go to your head. You're still inferior to... she didn't finish her thought. At least, not with words. Her gaze followed the trail up to Solona and Alistair who were chatting happily. They seem to have gotten along well.
By the time they had gotten back to Ostagar, the night had fallen and it was time for their joining.
The blood had been gathered, and the ritual was ready. Duncan awaited the three recruits in the place that Gwen had first met Alistair. There was a table set up, with a large white goblet. The designs carved into the side of the goblet looked foreign, Gwen couldn't tell from where exactly.
Everything was silent except for the sound of Duncan's deep resounding voice, "We will speak a few words, but these words have been said since the beginning. Alistair if you would." Duncan raised the goblet, and lowered his head. Not to drink, but in a prayer of sorts.
"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." Alistair's voice was grave, but steady.
"Daveth, step forward." Duncan held the goblet out for Daveth to drink. He seemed hesitant at first, knowing that it was dark spawn blood he had to drink. Finally he gave in and tipped the goblet. "From this moment onward you are a Grey Warden."
It looked as if he had been hit by a wave of electric pain, his body shot out spasticly in every direction.
Solona and Gwen exchanged looks of horror. Gwen could tell Solona was frightened, Gwen was too but it was different. Gwen believed that she would live. The Maker had a plan for her. She would not die here on the cold stone floor.
Finally, Daveth's movements stopped. For a few difficult moments no one said a word, no one even breathed. Duncan stepped forward, placing two fingers over his neck. His eyebrows shot up in surprise, "He lives."
Solona and Gwen's eyebrows relaxed, then furrowed. If that is what it is like to live through the joining...they didn't want to know what it would be like to fail it.
"Solona. Step forward." Solona, took a deep breath, and muttered something under it, too soft for even Gwen to hear it. She confidently took a step forward and drank from the goblet that had caused Daveth so much pain. "From this moment onward, you are a Grey Warden."
At first nothing happened, but then she suddenly clutched her stomach, letting out a scream, a groan, of utter pain. She fell to her knees, trying to fight it.
Alistair stepped forward, but Duncan held him back. A look a pure worry and anxiety on Alistair's face, he prayed to the Maker she lived.
Under labored breathing she fell to the ground, passing out from the exhaustion.
Duncan didn't even have to check her pulse, her ragged breaths were enough to tell them that she was alive. Alistair's face changed into relief, but then he looked at Gwen and grimaced. There was still one more person.
In his joining only one person had died. He hoped Gwen would be strong enough to live. Rarely did no one die in a joining.
Had Duncan truly picked the right people? Would they have five wardens to fight the Blight in Ferelden?
"Gwendolyn. Step forward." Duncan voice was not as loud and confident. He too realized the probability of her chance at success. He looked at her evenly, "Are you ready?"
"Yes." Gwen said, although she wasn't. She had experienced many different types of pain before, but none so physical as this looked.
He gave her the goblet, and watched her every move, "From this moment onward, you are a Grey Warden...there is no going back," he added quietly, as though he was trying to convince himself.
Gwen hands were shaking, but she didn't notice it.
The moment was here, right here in front of her.
I'm not going to die. I will not die. I can do this. I will do this. She chanted inside her head as she took in the deathly concoction.
The pain...it was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Her entire body was lit aflame. She screamed and writhed. Every nerve in her body was tortured. She felt like her blood was spilling from every point in her body. A worm, bleeding from the inside out.
Then she saw images, lived the images as if she was really there. She saw dark spawn, hundreds upon thousands of them. They pierced her mind like a white hot knife over and over...just stabbing her.
Then, as quickly as it came, it stopped. She saw nothing but a black abyss, and felt nothing. It was as if she didn't have a body. But the voices! She could hear them outside, surrounding her.
"I'm so sorry." Duncan's voice echoed in her abyss.
No, no, no! I'm not dead! Why can't you see that? Please, hear me. Hear me! The Maker...but I can't be...no...I'm not supposed to be dead. Why is this happening? WHY?!
All of the sudden her black abyss turned into blinding light. Then, she had a body again. She could feel her hands, and her feet, then her legs and arms. She wanted to shout out, 'I'm alive' but there was no strength. Then the blinding light died down to reveal blurry colors. Blue, red, silver, black, blue...
Duncan leaned over her in his blue armor, a dagger at her throat. His eyes were closed, and his thoughts were in prayer.
Gwen's vision had returned, with her heart beating fast, she tried to reach out to Duncan to let her know that she was alive. But it did not work! She didn't have any control over her own body!
Then, her savior stopped Duncan from committing a grave mistake, "Duncan no! Stop!" Alistair rushed forward and knocked Duncan to the ground.
"She's alive!" Alistair exclaimed.
"But her heart!" Duncan turned to face her wide eyes, and yet still she could not speak, "It stopped..."
He walked over to her and helped her to her feet, "I'm sorry. If Alistair hadn't stopped me..."
Gwen shook her head, she wanted to say it was fine. He didn't see her, so she didn't blame him.
"But how are you alive?" Duncan asked her with great astonishment, "I checked myself and you were dead!"
Gwen had finally found her voice, but is was raspy and horse, she realized she had lost it while screaming, "I...I don't know...I need water...food," Gwen felt nauseated from hunger, and her throat burned.
"If you think you're ready you can go down to the feast, Alistair would you escort her? I'll make sure Daveth and Solona get back to their tents."
Alistair nodded, scooping up Gwen's wobbly form. She was as light as a feather, in her hungry state she must have only weighed 96 or so pounds.
He gently set her down in a chair near to most of the food and drink, and away from the loud drunken fools.
And from across the way, Fergus spied his sister's weak and ill form. He ran to her, knowing that she had grave news to tell him.
Fergus would not have ran if he knew what she had to say.
No, he would have wished he took more time to live in a world where everyone he loved still lived.
