Duncan finally joined them at that point and they looked at him as he said, "At last we come to the Joining."
He walked towards the table and placed a silver chalice upon. "The Grey Wardens were founded during the first Blight, when humanity stood on the verge of annihilation. So it was that the first Grey Wardens drank of darkspawn blood and mastered their taint."
Elissa felt a sense that something was going to happen again, like she had before, and knew that something was going to go wrong with the Joining. She didn't know what to do or say as Jory gaped at Duncan in disbelief.
"We're… going to drink the blood of those… those creatures?" he asked, his eyes wide as he looked at Duncan.
"As the first Grey Wardens did before us, as we did before you. This is the source of our power and victory." Duncan said, nodding.
"Those who survive the Joining become immune to the taint. We can sense it in the darkspawn and use it to slay the archdemon." Alistair added.
"Those who survive?" Elissa asked, the feeling growing heavier.
"Not all who drink the blood will survive and those who do are forever changed. This is why the Joining is a secret. It is the price we pay." Duncan explained.
Elissa put a hand to her stomach. "I knew it…" she muttered to herself.
Jory and Daveth did not hear her, but Alistair did. He didn't think much of it, but thought to remember to ask her what she meant later.
"We speak only a few words prior to the Joining, but these words have been said since the first. Alistair, if you would?"
Alistair nodded and spoke the words, "Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand, vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be foresworn. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten and that one day we shall join you."
Elissa watched as Jory looked nervously from Alistair to the Joining Chalice and back and she got that feeling again, this time stronger.
Now that the words had been spoken, Duncan held the chalice in his hands and asked Daveth to step forward. Daveth took a sip from the chalice and began to writhe in pain as the taint over took him.
"Maker's breath!" Jory exclaimed as Daveth fell to the ground.
"I am sorry, Daveth." Duncan said as Daveth drew his last breath and died.
Jory drew his blade as Duncan next approached him, asking him to step forward. "But… I have a wife. A child! Had I known…"
"There is no turning back." Duncan told him.
"No! You ask too much! There is no glory in this!" Jory said, backing into the wall behind him.
Duncan too drew his blade as Jory attacked him, trying to fight his way out. He parried Jory's attacks with ease, then drove his blade into his gut. Jory gasped and fell to the ground, dead, as Duncan stepped back. "I am sorry. But the Joining is not yet complete."
Elissa grimaced at the sight, but she knew that if he had gotten away, he would have revealed the secret of the Joining and Duncan could not let that happen. Even so, she couldn't believe that Duncan had killed him.
"You are called upon to submit yourself to the taint for the greater good." Duncan said, handing the chalice to Elissa.
Taking it, she drew a deep breath and thought of her family, her people, the anger and hatred towards Howe, the vengeance she swore upon him, and drank. Handing the chalice back to Duncan, Elissa began to feel weary and sick as images of a green sky and fearsome dragon with white eyes flashed through her mind. She felt herself fighting the taint, but she heard what Duncan said again about them mastering the taint and allowed herself to let the taint take its hold, then felt herself mastering it. As she did so, she blacked out.
"It is finished. Welcome." Duncan said when Elissa finally awoke.
"Two more deaths." Alistair said, a sad look on his face. "In my Joining, only one of us died, but it was… horrible. I'm glad at least one of you made it through." He helped Elissa stand and steadied her when she stumbled.
Elissa fell into his chest and looked up at him to thank him for catching her. She didn't realize how close their faces were to each other and blushed, pushing herself away gently as to not offend him. Alistair blushed himself, a thought flickering through his mind at how beautiful she was, and he watched as Reokai danced around her, glad to see she was OK. She reached down and rubbed his ears as he sat beside her.
"How do you feel?" Duncan asked her, smiling a little having watched her and Alistair interact in such a way.
"It is over. I am fine, just a little weary." Elissa replied.
"Did you have dreams?" Alistair asked her. "I had terrible dreams after my joining."
"Such dreams come when you begin to sense the darkspawn, as we all do. That and many other things can be explained in the months to come." Duncan explained.
"Before I forget, there's one last part to your Joining." Alistair said, handing her a pendant. "We take some of that blood and put it into a pendant. Something to remind us… of those who didn't make it this far."
Elissa looked at the pendant. It had a small opening that was now sealed with a stopper and looked like one half of an hourglass. Inside of it was the darkspawn blood- what was left after the Joining- and Elissa touched it gently, feeling the cold glass container. She felt her chest aching for Daveth and Jory, as she had grown to care for them, and wondered if their families or loved ones would be told of their… sacrifice. She looked up at Alistair as she hung the pendant's chain around her neck and tucked it inside of her armor.
"Thank you, Alistair." She said, a hand over where it rested against her chest.
"Take some time. When you are ready, I'd like you to accompany me to a meeting with the king." Duncan said. "The meeting is to the west, down the stairs. Please attend as soon as you are able."
Elissa nodded and watched as Duncan and Alistair started to walk away. She felt the urge to do something, so she hurried to stop Alistair before he got too far. She reached him at the base of the walkway, just before he passed from the old temple and into the camp itself, grabbed his hand and pulled him back a bit.
"Elissa, are you alright?" he asked, coming to stand in front of her.
"Alistair, I…" she started, then looked up at him. "I wanted to thank you, for everything. You've stood by us through this whole Joining and you've been there when I've needed someone just to be around. I appreciate it and really look forward to traveling with you." She reached up and kissed his cheek, blushing as she set herself back onto her feet.
Alistair put a hand to his cheek and blushed as Elissa thanked him again, bowed her head respectfully, then turned to go meet with Duncan and the king. She seemed like such a strong person, always fighting for what she believed in, always protecting those around her, and yet, with that kiss- even if it were only on the cheek- Alistair was starting to see a different side to her, one that was soft and gentle. All he had seen so far was a cautious, hardened young woman who didn't hide her grief and angry as well as she thought. He smiled a bit as he saw her look back at him and smile and thought to himself, 'She is indeed amazing. This should be fun.'