The day went by quickly for those in the king's camp. Reokai had gotten up to pace back and forth around the fire, only laying back down when Duncan assured him that Elissa would return shortly. While his mistress had left that morning with the others, Reokai stayed with Duncan and went about business with him as the day progressed into night. Sensing a familiar presence, Reokai jumped up and ran towards the gate as Elissa and the others returned from the Wilds.
Elissa smiled as she watched her mabari sprint towards her, then grunted as he tackled her. "Hey, boy." She said, laughing.
Alistair, Jory, and Daveth watched as the young woman wrestled with her mabari for a moment. It seemed that the hound could always put a smile on her face no matter what happened. They all thought of how lucky she was to have such a hound to protect her and look after her.
"Alright, Reo, off." Elissa said as she started to stand. She laughed and rubbed the mabari's ears. "Come on, I have to go do something before we see Duncan."
Alistair and the others watched as she went over to the kennel where the mabari hounds were housed and handed the kennel master a white flower with a red center. She had heard that he had been asking around for someone to go into the Wilds and find one. Elissa had seen a couple while they were in the Wilds and picked a few to bring back to camp, having been told that they could be used to cure the taint in a mabari. The kennel master thanked her and tried to reward her, but Elissa shook her head. She told him that a reward- even of twenty silvers- was unnecessary. She told him that she could understand his worry for the mabari and gave him all but one of the flowers, saying that she would keep it herself to help her mabari if he ever got infected with darkspawn blood. The kennel master told her how to prepare it if it were to happen to Reokai and thanked her again for the trouble of getting the flowers. Elissa waved goodbye as she rejoined the others and they went to speak with Duncan.
"So you've returned from the Wilds. Have you been successful?" Duncan asked when they joined him by the fire.
Elissa nodded and handed him the three vials of darkspawn blood she had held onto. "Yes, but it wasn't easy."
"Good, I've had the Circle mages preparing. With the blood you've retrieved, we can begin the Joining immediately." Duncan said.
"Before that, Duncan, maybe we should tell you about Morrigan and her mother." Elissa said.
"There was a woman at the tower and her mother had the scrolls." Alistair told him. "They were both very—odd."
"Were they Wilder folk?" Duncan asked.
"I don't think so. They might be apostates, mages hiding from the Chantry." Alistair replied.
"I know that you were once a Templar, Alistair, but Chantry business is not ours. We have the scrolls; let us focus on the Joining." Duncan told him.
"Duncan, Morrigan's mother said the seal had worn off a long time ago and that she had protected them, expecting the Grey Wardens to return for them." Elissa said.
Duncan looked at her. "Curious. However helpful that was, we must focus on the Joining and the coming battle."
"What if we are having second thoughts?" Elissa asked, thinking of how badly Jory wanted to get back to Highever and put this all behind him.
"Let me be very clear on that point. You are not volunteers. Whether you were conscripted or recruited, you were chosen because you are needed. There is no turning back now. You must gather you courage for what comes next." Duncan explained, sensing that she was not asking for herself, but for Ser Jory.
"Courage? Just how much danger are we really in?" Daveth asked.
"I will not lie; we Grey Wardens pay a heavy price to become what we are. Fate may decree that you pay your price now rather than later." Duncan explained.
"Is that why the Joining is such a secret?" Elissa asked.
"If only such secrecy were unnecessary and all understood the necessity of such sacrifice. Sadly, that will never be so." Duncan replied.
"Let's go then. I am anxious to see this Joining now." Daveth said.
"I agree. Let's have it done." Jory added.
"I am ready as well, Duncan." Elissa said. "Tell us what to do next and we will follow."
"Then let us begin." Duncan said, then looked to Alistair. "Alistair, take them to the old temple."
Alistair nodded and told the recruits to follow. Elissa stopped for a moment and looked at Duncan.
"Duncan, whatever is to come next, it makes me uneasy. As if something terrible will happen." Elissa started. "Whatever will happen, I just wanted to let you know that I am truly grateful for what you have done for my family. I only wish that I could repay you."
"You can repay me by becoming a Grey Warden, dear girl." Duncan said, managing a smile.
Alistair and the others were watching while they waited for her to finish speaking with Duncan. Alistair gaped at her and Duncan and couldn't believe that she had just made him smile. It was as rare a thing to see Duncan smile as to see another griffon flying the skies in this age.
"I'll not let you down, Duncan." Elissa said and hurried to join the others, Reokai right behind her.
As they walked towards the old temple, Alistair looked over at Elissa, still in disbelief. "I can't recall a time where I have ever seen Duncan smile. How'd you manage to get a smile out of him?"
Elissa shrugged. "All I did was thank him for saving me and helping my family."
Alistair shook his head. "You really are amazing, Elissa."
Elissa managed to smile, something that Alistair had not seen often while she was here. "You're smile is beautiful. You should do it more often."
Elissa blushed and looked at the others as they stopped. "This is the old temple? Isn't this where I met you, Alistair?"
Alistair nodded. "Yes, and this is where we wait for Duncan to join us."