It hadn't even been a minute, much less an hour, since Angelus and his cousin stormed the palace, rescued the women, and killed Lord Vaughan when they showed up. Valendrian had allowed the girls to go back to their homes, wanting to discuss things further with Angelus when the members of the garrison came marching into the Alienage.

"I seek Valendrian, Elder and the administrator of the Alienage." One of them said.

"Here Captain. I take it you're here in respond to today's disruption?" Valendrian asked, but the captain merely sneered.

"Don't play ignorant with me, Elder. You will not prevent justice from being done." He said, glancing over to Angelus and Soris, before shouting out. "The Arl's son lies dead in a river of blood that runs through the entire palace! I need names and I need them now!"

It was quiet for a moment, Angelus and Soris glancing at each other, before Angelus had taken a step forward.

"It was me, I killed Vaughan." Angelus said, ignoring the surprise look from the Elder and his cousin. The captain himself looked surprised as well, and if Angelus didn't know any better, he could say he saw a bit of admiration in the human's eyes, before the man began to speak.

"You expect me to believe that one man did all of that?" He said, but the unspoken word of impressive was still in the air, and for whatever reason, Angelus found comfort in that.

"We are not all so helpless, Captain." Valendrian said, and Angelus could hear rather than feel how proud the Elder was with him.

"You saved many lives by coming forward. I don't envy your fate, but I applaud your courage." The captain said. "This elf will wait in the dungeon until the Arl returns. The rest of you - back to your houses."

"Captain," Duncan suddenly spoke, surprising everyone again. "A word if you please?"

"What is it Grey Warden? The situation is well under control as you can see." The captain said, but there was a slight bitterness and maybe even a little bit of envy oozing in the man's voice. Angelus couldn't help but wonder if the garrisons even liked the Grey Wardens at all.

"Be as it may, I herby invoked the Grey Warden's Right of Conscription. I remove this prisoner into my custody." Duncan said. Angelus's head snapped up so fast to look at Duncan, eyes wide in shock, Soris's face having a similar reaction, while Valendrian looked not amused, and neither was the captain.

"Y-you can do that?" Angelus asked, but the question went ignored as the captain cursed.

"Son of a-!" He sighed. "Very well, Grey Warden. I cannot challenge your right, but I'll ask one thing. Get this elf out of the city. Today."

"Agreed." Duncan said, nodding his head.

"Now I need to get my men out on the streets before this news hits. Move out!"

And just like that, the guards were gone. Angelus watched them go, still in shock with what just happened, when he heard Valendrian grunt, causing him to look at him.

"Can't say I'm pleased with what just happen, but rather than death I suppose. Looks like you got your Grey Warden after all, Duncan." The Elder said, but he didn't look too happy. Angelus was confused as to why his elder was acting the way he is when Duncan spoke.

"Looks like you're with me now. Say your goodbyes and see me when you're ready. We leave immediately." He said.

"B-but, what's going to happen here?" Angelus asked.

"For a moment, they are fine. There are far more important matters that's on an arising that endangers far more than your people. I needed a Grey Warden and I found one. That conscripting saved your life is only circumstances. You did what you have to do to accomplish your mission, and we need people like you." Duncan said, and Angelus found himself squirming uncomfortably.

Angelus really hadn't thought about joining the Grey Wardens much - heck, he wasn't even sure elves were allowed to be Grey Wardens - and though the elf did some digging with Duncan's offer, the idea never seemed to appeal to him until now. And both Duncan and the Elder were right - had Duncan not been at the right place at the right time, chances are, Angelus would have been hanged no questions asked. Still, the idea of being a Grey Warden was...

Wow...that was just...

And to think his mother had been offered the same, had Valendrian not moved her marriage up and force her to marry his dad.

Angelus frowned.

Would his mother want him to go with the Grey Wardens? The obvious answer would be yes, because the other option was death, but if Angelus didn't have that option, would his mother let him go? More importantly, would Valendrian let him go? The Elder seems to not like the Grey Wardens as much despite being friends with one, so really, if he could, he would probably still be held back because of the Elder.

So with that, Angelus gave him a nod, affirming his joining, making Duncan smile.

"Angelus? I would just like to say thank you for not ratting me out." Soris said, giving Angelus a playful nudge of the shoulder.

"Don't mention it." Angelus said.

"Still casual even now. I wish I had your nerve, or skill or, well, anything. No more daydreaming, I'm settling down. Valora's a good women and she has good ideas of how to make lives better for everyone here. Your father had the women take Shianni back to your place. Will you see her before you go?" Soris asked.

"Of course I will, she's my cousin." Angelus said. Soris nodded.

"Good luck cousin, and may the Maker watch over you on your travels." He said. Angelus nodded and made his way over to his house.

Opening the door, Angelus peaked inside, curious, before going in, shutting the door quietly behind. That's when he noticed Valora standing around by the table, pacing back and forth. Her head snapped up and a smile came across her face when she realized it was just Angelus.

"There you are! Nesiara your betroth is here!" She shouted.

"I'll be right there!"

"Thank you. For me, for Nesiara, for Soris, for everything. I'll never be able to repay you." Valora said just as Nesiara began walking to them. "Well I'll leave you two alone."

"Thank you, Valora." Nesiara said, before turning around to face Angelus. An awkward minute passed before Nesiara cleared her throat, looking at the elf with a bit of hope and kindness. Great, he thought. She still thinks we're getting married. "So I guess you don't have to get married after all."

The way she said that it kind of sounded like she was disappointed. Angelus could only muster up some pity towards her.

"We both lucked out, didn't we?" He said. Nesiara's face twisted into a scowl.

"Still an ass, I see. Your friend seems to be recovering, I'll leave you two...well...goodbye." With that, Nesiara stormed off, purposely shoving into Angelu's shoulder. Caught unaware, Angelus stumbled a bit until he'd found his footing again, and looked at the door in confusion.

"Nice cousin, nice." He heard Shianni laughed, and he turned around to see her on the bed, wheezing.

"You okay?" Angelus asked. He began walking towards her as she sighed, laying back on the bed.

"I'll be fine, but let's talk about you." She said, looking up at the elf with a slight grin on her face. "You took all the responsibilities of what happened. You're amazing, you know that?"

"I'm awesome, I know." Angelus said, smirking, only to laugh when Shianni punched him on the shoulder, weakly.

"And now you're a Grey Warden. Or about to be. How does your dad feel about this?" Shianni asked. Almost immediately, a frown came across his face as he remembered the talk with his dad.

"Well...he's not happy, but...I guess knowing that death was my other outcome, I guess he accepted it. He told me that my mother was a Spirit Eater too, and had taught me some tricks at ages I can hardly recall. He said he remembered Duncan trying to recruit my mother as well, but Valendrian practically forced the arrangement so Duncan couldn't have her. At the time, if I can remember correctly from Duncan, there was no need for Grey Wardens so he didn't push it." Angelus said. Shianni couldn't help but smile.

Angelus never noticed it, but every time he'd spoke of his mother, a gleam would appear in his eyes, and now figuring where his magic abilities came from, it must've made a huge impact on the elf, who had been looked down upon by others for his abilities, excluding his father and of course his cousins. To know that there was, or at least, had been, someone like him probably made Angelus feel not so alone anymore.

"Well, I guess something big must be happening if Duncan recruited you despite the Elder's attempts. Thank you, cousin, for everything." Shianni said. Angelus just gave her rubbed her forhead.

"Get some sleep, cousin. When this is all over, I'll come back for you and the rest of the Alienage."

"So, are you ready to go?" Duncan asked. Angelus nodded.

"Ready as I ever will be." The elf said.

"Good. Then we'll leave for Ostagar immediately." Duncan said. With a sigh, Angelus picked up some of his things and headed towards the gate with Duncan, smiling at the elves that were waving goodbye to them.

Your life here is over, Angelus recalled in his head, looking up at the direction the son was pointing at. And a new one is just beginning.