A/N: Sorry if this first bit seems rushed. Personally didn't want to linger too much on the beginning portion of Origins, but also didn't want to just skip it.

Chapter 2. The Fall of the Wardens

[Sura]

Duncan had some short business to attend to in Denerim then they were on our way to Ostagar. Sura now wore a long forest green jacket over a tunic and some beige trousers. It wouldn't be safe to wear them again, yet she still couldn't bring herself to get rid of her old armor, hood, and mask. They carried with them many bad memories, but it still had been a huge part of her life. And maybe she would find use for them in the future. She stashed them away in her pack along with her other few belongings. Those consisted of a journal she used to sketch and write in, a carved halla Merrill had made her, among other necessities.

Apparently according to Duncan the bulk of the darkspawn horde should show itself tomorrow, where the King's forces and the Grey Wardens hoped to defeat them and the Archdemon. If they failed in this, Ferelden would soon fall. Sura shuddered at the thought.

They were crossing the bridge entering Ostagar now. The Tower of Ishal loomed over in the distance. This place was massive. The King surrounded by a group of his forces approached them to bid welcome. He asked for a meeting with Duncan, and Sura was left for a bit to explore. It seemed as if eyes were constantly on her.

It must be my vallaslin, I assume.

"Hey miss, please help. Please, I haven't had anythin to eat or drink in days. If I'm to die when this horde comes, at least let it be with a satisfied belly." Sura turned her attention to see the prisoner waving her over begging for help.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have any food to give."

"You could ask the guards, miss. They have food."

"What did you do to end up in there?"

"I deserted. I'm sentenced to die here."

Sura shook her head and turned. She hated to see life wasted, but no one should abandon their comrades on the field. Despite this, the man should at least get one last meal. She walked over to the guard nearby.

"Do you have food you could spare for this prisoner, he said-," but she was cut off by the guard.

"He doesn't deserve shit, end of question."

How kind. Maybe I can put my thieving skills to good use for once then.

She looked over to see the guards lunch sitting nearby. Now she just needed a distraction.

No harm in causing a little mischief.

With a smirk, she used her magic to set the seat of the guards trouser on fire. As he was screaming and running to fetch water, she grabbed his lunch and rushed back to the prisoner.

"Bless you, miss," the prisoner said as she handed it over.

Sura just bowed her head with a smile and walked away. The Joining should be soon. Around her soldiers either rushed about with their duties or sparred preparing for the battle ahead. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a trainer with a sick mabari. She'd been great with animals of any kind back in her clan, helping and treating those with injuries or illnesses they'd often encounter. She could possibly help this mabari.

Two good deeds in a day? Why not. Maybe it'll make up for the sins in my past.

"What's wrong with him?" she asked walking over to the trainer.

"I don't know, tried everything. There's really no hope for him."

"Mind if I look at him?"

"Go ahead," the man grunted.

After close inspection of the mabari, Sura knew just what would help him. She'd seen the herbs she'd need for the potion on the way here. She set off to gather them and 10 minutes later was back and giving it to the mabari.

"There ya go, buddy. Should be good as new in no time," she said while giving him a pat on the head.

"You must be the new Grey Warden recruit, Sura," came a voice from beside her. She turned her head to find a man who looked to be around the same age as her. He had short blonde hair and stubble on his face. "Greetings, the name's Alistair. I'm also a Grey Warden. The Joining is soon, Duncan sent me to get you."

"Indeed I am. It's nice to meet you, Alistair. Lead the way."

He led her away far from everyone else into the ruins of the fortress. Two other recruits along with Duncan wait for them. Duncan held a chalice of some sorts in his hands.

"There are few words spoken before a Joining, but it is tradition that these words be recited before each one. Alistair, if you will." Duncan said with a nod toward Alistair.

"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."

As Alistair finished Sura glanced over to the other recruits. One of them looked so nervous that he was almost shaking in his boots. Duncan handed the chalice off to the first man. He took a sip and his eyes rolled back in his hand and with a scream he collapsed dead. The other man backed away refusing to go through with this, pulling his sword threatening Duncan. Duncan disarmed him and ran him through. Sura stood back watching all that had just occurred before her, eyes wide with disbelief.

Now it was Sura's turn. This was it. She had no other choice. She stepped forward and took the chalice, taking a long sip. It was the most horrid thing to pass her lips. As blackness threatened to swallow her vision she heard Duncan congratulate her on officially being a Grey Warden. The vision of a dragon flashed in her mind then nothing but darkness.

She came back to a few minutes later, her head throbbing, presumably from whatever was in that chalice. Alistair reached a hand out and helped her to her feet.

"So do people normally die from that?" Sura couldn't believe the other recruits were actually dead.

"Unfortunately, though only one died at my Joining." Alistair replied. "Come on, let's get some rest before tomorrow."

That night Sura had spent most of her time chatting with Alistair. He told her about his past and time as a Templar, and she told him about her life among the Dalish. Before sleep could take them, they filled the night air with muses and hearty laughs. She hadn't had a friend in two years, but she was starting to consider him as one.

The Next Day [Sura]

Sura stood beside Alistair, they were at the front of the soldiers who stood gathered around Duncan, King Cailan, and Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir. An argument had broke out among the three. Sura wasn't sure what to make of this man named Loghain. He was supposed to be a hero and loved among the people of Ferelden, but something was off about him. Duncan broke away from the two and came over to herself and Alistair. He told them of how the King wants them to climb the Tower of Ishal once the battle breaks out signaling to Loghain and his forces to join the fight. Alistair protested saying he wanted to be in the fight, but Duncan expressed how important it was that this signal fire be lit, and it was also the King's orders.

"Darkspawn on the horizon!" A scout shouted running through the encampment.

Alistair and Sura ran off to make their way for the tower. Soldiers scattered around to take position. Sura took a glance out onto the field to see a huge swarm of darkness headed their way; the darkspawn. There has to be thousands of them. As they mounted the steps to the tower a soldier ran from the doors yelling.

"Darkspawn infiltrated the tower!"

Sura sighed to herself. "Looks like you're getting a fight after all, Alistair."

They raced through the doors to find a grim sight inside. Soldiers scattered about the floor dead. A hurlock took a swing at Sura. She ducked and stabbed him from behind. Alistair stand nearby with three of the creatures on him. He ran one through with his sword, decapitating another with the point of his shield. Sura threw a knife into the head of the remaining one. They continue their way through and up the tower laying waste to darkspawn as they go. What felt like twenty flights of stairs and a hundred darkspawn later, they finally reach the top of the tower.

"There! There's the beacon!" Alistair shouted beside Sura.

"And what in Creators is that?" Sura gasped.

An ogre blocked their path, readying to charge them. It grabbed Alistair about to crush him when fear flushed through Sura. She lashed her hand out and a fireball was fired toward the ogre. It hit in the chest, causing it to stumble and fall, releasing Alistair. He lie limp on the floor unconscious. Sura took the chance while it presented itself, daggers in both hands, she sprinted toward the ogre, jumping and bringing both daggers down to stab into its head. It was dead. She shot another burst of fire toward the beacon, lighting it, then made to run over to where Alistair lay unconscious. Before she could reach him she felt an arrow pierce through her chest from behind, followed by two more arrows. She stumbled and turned to see more darkspawn had entered the room, there was darkspawn as far as she could see.

So this is it..

She clutched at her chest as blood spilled from her mouth and for the third time in the past few days darkness overcome her. This was becoming an unfortunate trend for her.

Meanwhile on the Battlefield [Duncan]

The King's forces and the Grey Wardens were quickly being overwhelmed. The beacon in the Tower of Ishal shown in the distance where it had been lit, but Loghain's reinforcements were nowhere to be seen. He had retreated his forces and abandoned them all to die. To the left of Duncan he watched as King Cailen was snatched up by an ogre and ripped apart. It was over. With a swing a hurlock alpha decapitated Duncan. They had killed enough darkspawn to force them to retreat for now before trying to take the rest of Ferelden, but all was lost here at Ostagar.