A Tale of Two Wardens
Chapter 1 – The Start of a New Life
The orange glow of the fire reflected on his pale skin, in stark contrast to the weather worn tan of his companion. Theron's young face was marked with deep bags under his eyes, the exhaustion of the previous two days catching up to him. Theron's life had been normal for an elf, happy even, but now his family was pulled apart and endangered by his actions. Duncan had saved him, but Theron knew the shems wouldn't let the alienage get away without some punishment. When he woke up yesterday, this was the last thing he could imagine happening.
"Theron, we are two days from Highever, and then we have five day's travel down to Ostagar," Duncan said, breaking the silence in the camp they had set up along the North Road that connected Denerim to the northern cities of Ferelden and then to the Imperial Highway that spanned all the way north towards the Tevinter Imperium.
Theron nodded, quickly glancing at his companion, the Warden-Commander of Ferelden, a strong but stoic man and the man who saved his life.
"But why?" Theron wondered, it was a question he had been asking ever since Duncan strode up to the gates of the alienage and invoked the right of conscription. Duncan knew his mother, well enough that he had immediately recognized Theron. She had been considered for the order, but that was stopped by the alienage elder, the Hahren.
"How different would my life have been….would I even be here? Could a Grey Warden have children?" Theron wondered but his thoughts were interrupted by Duncan handing him a waterskin.
"I'm sure you aren't used to long travels, you should keep hydrated," Duncan said
"The farthest I've ever traveled was to the docks with my father….imagining what it would be like to go on one of the ships and sail out into the Amaranthine Ocean," Theron responded and nodded appreciatively at Duncan.
Duncan just nodded and went back to his thoughts by the fire. He didn't strike Theron as the talkative type to begin with, but right now he had no desire to talk. His mouth was dry, but not from thirst, he couldn't shake the feeling that he made a mistake, but at this point he had no choice. If he returned to Denerim, he probably would be thrown in jail...or worse.
"What would mom have thought? Would she be proud that I had fought for my family, even given the risk? Would she be happy that I finally got to leave the alienage and live the life she wanted, live an adventure? Dad certainly wasn't," Theron thought to himself, the questions lingering on his mind. He had no answers, but would have to find them himself.
"A Grey Warden need be free from fear and regret, free from bindings and connections," those were the few words of advice that Duncan gave Theron as they traveled.
Without saying a word, Theron got up and laid down on the bedroll, one of the few provisions they picked up before leaving Denerim.
"We walk again by dawn," Duncan said to Theron as he got as comfortable as possible
"If only I would wake up to Shianni in my face," he mumbled to himself and dozed off quickly, succumbing to exhaustion