"So, since we're going to be traveling together, I'd figured we should get to know each other." Angelus said as he and Alistair walked among the court of Ostagar. As they passed by, many of the guards there bowed their heads and offered their greetings, which was something Angelus was slowly getting use to, if not still wary of the humans surrounding him. "Tell me about yourself."
"You first. Did you want to become a Grey Warden?" Alistair asked, giving the elf a side-look with a raised eyebrow. Having to already answer this in his head, Angelus sighed and decided to tell Alistair the truth.
"No, but I guess it isn't as bad as I'd thought so far. Then again, I didn't have much of a choice when Duncan recruited me." He said, to which Alistair clicked his tongue in what Angelus could assume was sympathy.
"Conscripted, huh? Duncan rarely needs to do that, I hear. I was conscripted as well, not that I didn't want to join. I was training as a Templar for the Chantry before Duncan recruited me. That was...about six months ago." He said, which surprised Angelus.
"You were a mage-hunter?" Angelus asked, swiftly getting out of the way of a random guard storming his way. He half-expected the guard to curse at him, but when the guard just went about his day, Angelus figured it was better to count his blessings than to disturb the moment of niceness.
"That's right - but the joining of the Chantry wasn't my idea. My fate was decided for me long before that. Duncan saw I wasn't happy, and figured my training against mages could double for fighting against darkspawn. Now, here I stand a proud, Grey Warden. The grand Cleric wouldn't have let me go if Duncan never forced the issue. I will always be grateful of him." Alistair said, a small smile on his face. Angelus simply stared at him.
Alistair didn't have to say it, but Angelus could hear the love and caring towards Duncan in his voice, almost in the same sense as when King Cailan was speaking of the Grey Wardens - but this felt different. Whereas Cailan's voice held nothing but worship, and maybe a few admiration, Alistair's voice held a different kind of flame as if he was speaking about a loved sibling or parent. When this thought came to mind, Angelus couldn't help but wonder a bit.
"You speak fondly of Duncan." He stated, folding his arms.
"I spent years in that Chantry, hopelessly resigned to that fate. Duncan was the first person who cared about what I wanted. He risked a lot of trouble with the grand Cleric to help me." Alistair said, smile wary.
"Maybe Duncan thought you would be useful." Angelus said, but quickly regretted when Alistair gave him a glare and spoke with a little hostility in his voice.
"Or maybe he just happens to be a good man." He spat.
"Sorry, didn't mean anything by it." Angelus said, holding up his hands. Alistair narrowed his eyes, but sighed, realizing Angelus was telling the truth and scratched the back of his neck.
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you, knowing elves and humans don't exactly see eye to eye, but, Duncan does have the best intentions. Whether or not you believe me, well, that is up to you." He said, looking a bit impish. Angelus couldn't help but like Alistair a lot, and he really didn't want to upset him anymore than he did, so the elf decided to change the subject.
"You didn't want to join the Chantry?" He asked. Alistair sighed.
"It just...wasn't for me. I believe in the Maker well enough, but I never wanted to devote my life to the Chantry." He said. Angelus thought he could understand that. He, too, believed in the Maker and while the elf never had problems with the Chantry, he doubted he could spend his whole life devoting to something well beyond his reach, without ever getting an answer to so many questions he has. Maybe one day, he will get those answers, but at his own time.
"Well, we should find the other recruits for the ritual. The sooner we get started, the faster we can defeat this Blight." Angelus said and Alistair nodded in agreement.
As soon they went down the ramp, they were met by another recruit, who was chatting with a female.
"So, any last wishes I can help fulfill before you head into battle? Life is fleeting, y'know. That pretty face could be decorating some darkspawn's spear by some time tomorrow." He said. When the women did nothing, but glare at him, he smiled. "Shall I take that silent glare as a no? Ah well, too bad."
The women turned and walked away, just as Angelus and Alistair approached the man. Hearing the footsteps, the man turned around and blinked at Angelus.
"Well, you aren't what I thought you'd be." He said.
"Uh, what did you think I would be?" Angelus asked, curious.
"Not an elf, yet here you are." The man said, and Angelus felt himself tense, and narrowed his eyes. Seeing this, Alistair placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed, and Angelus felt his shoulders unwind slightly, making him look over at Alistair, who just smiled apologetically, and continued to listen to the man. "The name's Daveth. It's about bloody time you came along, I was beginning to think they cook this ritual up just for our benefit."
"Maybe they did." Angelus teased.
"Just to give us a good scare? No, they really don't seem the type." Daveth muttered, before glancing at Angelus. "I happen to be sneaking around camp last night, see, and I heard a couple of Grey Wardens talking. So, I listened in for a bit. I'm thinking they might send us into the Wilds."
"The Wilds?" Angelus asked, raising an eyebrow in peaked interest.
"We're right on the edge of the Korrnori Wilds here, miles and miles of savage country. My home country isn't far, and I grew up on tales about the Wilds; even been there a few times. Scary place." Daveth said, shivering at the thought of going back to the wilds.
"Why are the Wilds so frightening?" Angelus asked.
"Cannibals, beasts, witches, and now darkspawn. What isn't to be scared of? It's all too secretive for me. Makes my nose twitch," With a sigh, Daveth looked up at the elf with a grin on his face, though, his eyes did seem to dim just a bit. "I guess we'll have to wait and see. Heh. Like we have a choice."
"They're forcing you to be here?"
"I got nowhere else to go after what Duncan saved me from. Anyway, I expect it's time to get back to Duncan. That's where I'll be if you need me for anything." Daveth said and began walking away towards Duncan. The two Wardens watched him go just before Angelus commented.
"Another Conscripted? Duncan must really like helping people." He said to which Alistair grinned.
"Like I said - Duncan's a good man. I don't think he would do anything to intentionally hurt us." He said.
"I believe you are right, Alistair. Sorry for doubting you." Angelus said. Alistair just shook his head and nudge him a little.
"It's fine. With your background, I should come across a little understanding, and I, personally, should know better than to question Duncan's recruits. Come along, we have one more person to find."
Likewise, it didn't take long to find the third party member either, having the man standing right before a small group of people, listening to a prayer.
"Greetings, you must be the third recruit we've heard so much about." He said.
"I am, and you are?" Angelus questioned.
"Ser Jory is my name. I hail from RedCliffe, where I served as a knight and commander of Arl Earmen." He said, nodding his head, before getting a good look at Angelus. "I wasn't aware of elves could join the Grey Wardens. Those camped in the valley are all human."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Angelus asked.
"Just that in some places, elves are not always permitted into the military." He said, hoping he didn't offend the elf. "I hope we're both lucky enough to join the Grey Wardens. Is it not thrilling to be given that chance?"
"I'm curious about this Joining ritual I keep hearing about." He said.
"As am I! Has anyone told you about it?" Jory asked.
"Daveth said we might be going into the Wilds."
"I never heard of such a ritual. I had no idea there were more test after getting recruited. I suppose since you're finally here I should get back to Duncan. I shall see you there." He said, and likewise with Daveth, began walking to Duncan.
"Great! Now that everyone is together, we shall go see what Duncan has in store for us, yes? I bet it's a surprise party." Alistair said, a smile on his face as Angelus chuckled.
"We can go see Duncan soon, but I'd rather we look around first. This place is huge." Angelus said, looking around as he did.
"An adventurer? Didn't most of those seemly met an early grave because they went somewhere they weren't suppose to?" Alistair asked sarcastically, to which Angelus just grinned.
"I don't think anything bad is going to happen while under both the King's and the Grey Warden-Commander's watchful eye, Al. If something did happen, however, it just means someone isn't doing their job correctly." Angelus said.
"Al? Is that a nickname? Nobody's ever given me a nickname before." Alistair asked as they walked some more around the yard. Shrugging his shoulders, Angelus turned to the human.
"Does it bother you? As I've said, we'll be spending a lot of time together, and well, I like you already. If you found that offensive, I'll just stick to Alistair." He said, but Alistair quickly shook his head.
"No, no. Just...surprising. I didn't think you'd warm up to me so quickly, and I don't mind being called Al, but don't let anyone else hear that. I don't think getting a nickname suited for a drink would go over so well." He said.
"Mum's the word." Angelus said, pretending to zip his mouth as Alistair grinned. It was at this moment that both of them came across a scene that disturbed Angelus greatly, and nearly ruined his cheerful attitude.
There were cages hanging in the air as a guardsman stood by. Inside one of those cages was man, who looked worse for wear, but it didn't seem like the guard cared for the prisoner, too busy with his shift, and something in Angelus's gut twist at such as seen. He quickly ran over towards the man.
"Heh. Someone finally comes and talks to the lone prisoner. I don't suppose you came to sentence me?" He said, looking at Angelus.
"You haven't been sentence?" He asked. The prisoner shook his head.
"No. They put someone like me in a cage until someone important has time to decide what to do with me." He spat out, before glancing at Angelus once more. "I don't suppose you have a bit of kindness in you? All I want is food and water. They haven't fed me since I was locked up and I'm starving."
Angelus couldn't help but feel the disgust at the mere thought of this man dying just because the guards don't particularly care about their prisoners. It felt wrong and unjust, and Angelus was going to make sure he would give the man what he needs.
"Tell me why you're in there first." He said.
"I'm a deserter, or so they think. I bet there's no arguing out of it from them, though - armies are funny that way." The prisoner said.
"Did you desert?"
"I wasn't deserting, but there was someone sneaking around in the middle of the night, what else are you going to think?" Then the prisoner got frustrated. "Does it matter?! All I want is a bit of food and water!"
"Alright, calm down. I'll get you some food and water." Angelus said.
"Just ask my guard for his. He still got some dinner. I saw him put it in his coat." He said. With a nod, Angelus and began walking towards the guard along with Alistair. Conversation broke out between the two, up until Angelus had asked the guard for the food and water, which the guard had denied at first. It took some convincing, but the elf manage to pull it off, and was able to give the supply to the prisoner.
"Thank you. May Andraste herself rain blessings upon you. And, as I mentioned, here's the key. Use it in good health, huh?"
"Ugh. Considering where that came from, let's not be the only ones in good health." Alistair said as Angelus picked up the key the prisoner had mentioned when they were talking further. "You know, that was a good thing you did. I don't know many who would help a prisoner, whether he was accused of wrongdoing or not."
"Well, I couldn't just leave him there, withering away like that. It doesn't sit right for me." Angelus said, shrugging his shoulders.
"That just means you have a good spirit." Alistair said.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's go exploring some more." Angelus said, shoving him slightly, causing the Grey Warden to laugh and moved on to the next spot.