A loud barking pulled Elissa from her memory and she looked up to find Reokai and Alistair walking over to her.
"You aren't easy to find, even with your mabari leading the way." Alistair said, chuckling.
Elissa rubbed Reokai's ears and managed a smiled. "Good boy. Did you play nice with Alistair?" Reokai barked happily and danced around her feet as she sheathed her sword and hooked her shield on its strap.
Alistair chuckled at that, having never seen a mabari as carefree as Reokai. He looked at Elissa as she started to clean up the remnants of the dummy she practically made mincemeat out of. When she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Alistair could see tears in her eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked, concerned.
"Yes, I'm fine." Elissa said, wiping away the tears and trying to pretend she hadn't been crying. "Why do you ask?" she asked in return, tucking a strand of her crimson hair behind her ear and trying to walk past him.
Alistair reached out and grabbed her hand, stopping her and pulling her back. "Is it something that you want to talk about? Before we meet up with Duncan and the others, I mean."
Elissa felt herself blush as Alistair held onto her hand firmly. It was strangely reassuring, even though she had only just met him upon her arrival to Ostagar. "Alistair, please…" she said. "Right now I just want to focus on whatever you and Duncan have planned for us. I can't talk about this, not just yet."
Alistair nodded and squeezed her hand gently. "Of course. But, if you do want to talk, whenever you're ready, I'll be here for you."
Elissa smiled at that. "Come on, Alistair, I am anxious to see what Duncan has to tell us."
Alistair let go of her hand and followed her back to the camp where they were joined by Jory and Daveth.
"You found Alistair, did you?" Duncan said, greeting them. "Good. I'll assume you are ready to begin preparations."
"Of course, Duncan." Elissa said.
"Assuming, of course, at you are done riling up mages, Alistair?" Duncan added, looking at the young man.
"What can I say? The revered mother ambushed me. The way she wields guilt they should stick in her the army." Alistair replied.
Elissa giggled at that. "My mother was the same way, back in Highever." She said, trying to ignore the rush of sadness that was washing over her as she thought of her mother. 'I will not break down, not here in front of everyone else.' She thought. "My brother often said she should be in the army. We were all convinced she could scold the darkspawn back into their tunnels."
Alistair smiled at her. 'At least she's trying to make an effort not to let her grief get in the way.' He knew what had happened to her family- well the whole camp knew as news of Teyrn and Teyrna Cousland's death had spread like wildfire- and he knew that she was trying to be strong for him and Duncan and everyone else. But when he looked at her mabari, Alistair could see the worry and concern Reokai had for his mistress.
"She forced you to sass the mage, did she?" Duncan asked. "We cannot afford to antagonize anyone, Alistair. We don't need to give anyone more ammunition against us."
Alistair sighed and nodded. "You're right, Duncan. I apologize."
"Now then," Duncan said, turning his attention back onto the recruits. "Since you are all here, we can begin. You four will be heading into the Korcari Wilds to perform two tasks. The first is to obtain three vials of darkspawn blood, one for each recruit."
"And what is the second task?" Elissa asked.
"There was once a Grey Warden archive in the wilds, abandoned long ago when we could no longer afford to maintain such remote outposts." Duncan said. "It has recently come to our attention that some scrolls were left behind, magikally sealed to protect them. Alistair, I want you to retrieve these scrolls if you can."
"If I may ask, what kind of scrolls are they?" Elissa asked.
"Old treaties, if you're curious. Promises of support made to the Grey Wardens long ago." Duncan replied. "They were once considered only formalities. With so many having forgotten their commitments to us, I suspect it may be a good idea to have something to remind them with."
"What if they are not there?" Elissa asked.
"It is possible the scrolls may have been destroyed or stolen, though the seal's magik should have protected them. Only a Grey Warden can break such a seal." Duncan replied.
"I don't understand." Alistair said. "Why leave them in a ruin if they're so valuable?"
"It was assumed we would someday return. A great many things were assumed that have not held true." Duncan told him.
"Is this another part of our Joining?" Elissa asked.
"No, but the effort must be made. I have every confidence you are up to the task." Duncan said.
Elissa smiled at that. "You know that I do, Duncan. Now, how do we find this archive?"
"It will be an overgrown ruin by now, but the sealed chest should remain intact. Alistair will guide you to the area you need to search." Duncan said. "Find three vials of darkspawn blood, then seek out and search for the scrolls in the ancient archive."
"Understood." Elissa replied, knowing that this was going to be a vital task for not only the Joining ritual, but also to ensure that the Wardens had as many allies as they could muster to aid them against the Blight. Though there was no signs of an archdemon in the Wilds, Elissa had a strange feeling that this was indeed a true Blight, one that if left unchecked would consume Ferelden and spread to the other lands before any outside help could come.
"Watch over your charges, Alistair. Return quickly, and safely." Duncan said.
"We will." Alistair assured him.
"Then may the Maker watch over your path. I will see you when you return." Duncan replied, dismissing them.
Elissa bowed her head and went over to the gate leading into the Wilds, Alistair and the others following close behind. Reokai trotted next to her, but Elissa stopped and told the others she'd meet them at the gate. Kneeling down in front of her hound, Elissa rubbed his ears. "You need to stay here, Reo. I want to take you with me, but I can't risk you getting infected with darkspawn blood. Stay here with Duncan for me and I'll be back soon as I can."
The mabari whined and cocked his head to the side. Understanding his mistress, Reokai nudged her cheek with the side of his head and turned to return to Duncan's side.
"Good boy, Reokai." Elissa said to herself. "I'll be back soon enough." Then, turning towards the others, she jogged over to join them and they entered into the Wilds to begin their tasks.