Bioware owns all of this. Hello readers! Thanks for the review RogueWardenGirl! I appreciate it! The next chapter will be all the time until just after the joining. I don't plan on going into too much fighting details, as I am not the best at that! I appreciate more reviews here ya go!
The ride from Highever to Ostagar was relatively slow. Duncan was a good companion, he didn't pry too much, but he always took first watch. The temperature started to drop the further south we went. I decided to open up a bit and ask some questions to my mentor, "Duncan do you believe in the Maker?" He paused for a moment as if contemplating his answer "I believe he exists yes, but don't think the chantry is the way to worship him." For the next few hours we talked about chantry ad how we would reform it if we could. We stopped at a small town in the hinterlands called Lothering to re-supply. Our stay was just a few hours before we continued on the Imperial Highway to Ostagar. I could see the ruins a few miles ahead and got excited. "Oh Duncan, look at how beautiful all this architecture is! Imagine the history these walls could tell us!" Duncan looked over at me with amusement "Elissa, I had forgotten how much you enjoy ancient history."
As soon as we entered the camp we are greeted by none other than king Cailan of Ferelden. "Your majesty we didn't expect-" "A royal welcome?" I was beginning to think you would miss all the fun." Cailan turns to me "Ah you must be the new Grey Warden recruit. You look familiar do we know each other?" Duncan interrupts me before I have time to respond "This is Elissa Cousland, we have just come to Ostagar from her home in Highever." Cailan straightens up and asks of my father's whereabouts. "My parents were murdered by that son of a bitch Howe, Duncan and I barely escaped ourselves." The king's jaw drops in shock "I can scarcely believe it, I promise you that the moment we defeat the darkspawn I will turn our army north to retake your home and defeat Howe." I smile graciously "Is my brother Fergus here? I need to tell him of what has transpired." Cailan frowns "Unfortunately he and his men are scouting in the wilds and he wont return till after the battle. Now if you'll excuse me I must return before Loghain sends out a search party." He and his royal guard depart and leave Duncan, Boo and I. "I didn't realize the battle was going so well?" Duncan looks around "I don't know how seriously the king is taking this but the other Grey Wardens are prepared for the worst. I need you to seek out Alistair and he will help you and the other recruits prepare for the joining. I can keep Boo with me while you are exploring the camp." I pat Boo on the head "Of course Duncan, be a good boy Boo." I head down across the bridge leaving the other two alone.
I've never been in an army's camp before. I walk around and watch all of the people. There are mages and Templars here; one of the Templars told me that most of the mages were in the fade. I so never want to be there unless I am asleep haha. I manage to get some new leather boots from the quartermaster. He tried to buy my family's sword from me till I threatened him with it. The look on his face was totally priceless.
"I think I am going to name one of my children after you, the grumpy one." I resist the urge to laugh aloud. I stand in the shadow of the ruin observing a mage and the Grey Warden I am supposed to meet, Alistair. "Now please I am simply delivering a message form the revered mother." The mage scowls at Alistair "Alright I will do as she says." As he passes by me he nearly pushes me out of the way "Get out of my way fool!" What a dick. Alistair turns to me with a smirk "You know one thing about the blight is how it brings people together." I giggle, "I know exactly what you mean." He frowns for a moment, "You don't happen to be a mage are you?" I look at him "Yes I am a mage with a long sword and a dagger on my back and leather armor, definitely a mage." He laughs, "So we have a comedian here do we? Wait I know you; you're the new recruit Duncan brought. Elissa right?" I shake my head "Yes that's me, and you're Alistair? I look forward to travelling with you." His face changes from professional to shock "You are? That's a first. You know I just realized there are never really any women in the Grey Wardens." I raise my eyebrows at him "I can handle myself better than most women, and its probably because we are smarter then you." He laughs at me "there's that sense of humor again, anyways you're probably right. Shall we return to Duncan I know he is eager to start the joining."
"You four will be heading out into the wilds. I need you to gather three vials of darkspawn blood." I look at the other recruits, One, Daveth is his name, is short and I can tell he is a rogue like me. The other, Ser Jory, is a Redcliffe knight but I bet he is a coward. I turn back to Duncan "The other task is to retrieve several important Grey Warden documents from a long abandoned tower. Elissa I want you to be in charge of retrieving these, you know ancient artifacts best." I blush "Of course Duncan I will protect them." Duncan turns to Alistair "Keep them all safe and be alert, darkspawn will be all over the wilds." Alistair nods "We will Duncan." I quickly say goodbye to Boo and promise him some of my meal tonight. We gather our supplies and head for he main gate. "Hail you Grey wardens heading out into the wilds be careful, no one will be safe tonight." He allows us to pass and we head south.
We all walk in silence. After we dispatch a pack of pretty viscous wolves, we come across a soldier. "Help me please." I immediately kneel down, "Alistair grab some bandages and Jory get me a poultice." After a few moments the man is able to stand "Thank you, my scouting group was attacked by darkspawn, but I managed to get away, I must return to camp." He slowly runs off. Ser Jory turns to us with worry flooding his face "Did you hear that? A whole party overwhelmed by darkspawn! We can't handle ourselves out here alone!" I suppress a laugh, the bet with myself was successful, and he is a coward. Alistair tries to calm him down "Jory, Grey Wardens can sense darkspawn, that's why I am here. There are darkspawn about but we are no where near the main horde." I look at Jory "It seems I am the only one here who is man enough to battle these monsters." Alistair turns to me "I know I'm relying on you to protect me." WHOA inner alarms going off. Did he just flirt with me? Hmmm I better watch this one.
We easily dispatch the darkspawn in the area and fill three crystal vials with their blood. I give Alistair a questioning look, "Why do we need their blood? Surely you could've gathered some by now." He gives a flustered response "I-I uh Duncan needs it for something." He moves to the other side of the group. As we approach the ruins of the once Grey Warden owned tower, I notice something is wrong. Some of the rubble is shifted in non-natural piles. "Someone's been here. They were rummaging around the rubble." Alistair frowns at me "Who could have-." Then a voice comes from across the tower "Well what have we here? Scavengers?" I look at the others thinking one of them would step up and say something. Of course they all look to me. Babies. "We are Grey Wardens, this tower belongs to us." The women from across the tower, cocks her head to the side "Tis a tower no longer. If you give me your name then I shall give you mine." Man she is dressed pretty indecently. "My name is Elissa Cousland a pleasure." "Well that is a proper civil greeting, even here so far into the wilds, you may call me Morrigan. Now what is it that you seek?" Alistair inches closer to me, my heart falls into my stomach. But I ignore it. "Be careful Elissa, she may not be alone." But Morrigan heard him "Do you fear barbarians will swoop down upon you?" Alistair clears his throat "Yes swooping is bad." I suppress a chuckle. "Morrigan do you know who emptied that chest over there?" "Yes of course I do." Alistair and Daveth scramble towards me "It was you! You took our treaties give them back!" She scoffs "I will not for it twas not I who removed them." I politely ask "who was it then?" "It was my mother." I sigh "Can you take us to her?" Morrigan pauses for a moment "hmm I like you follow me if it pleases you." All four of us share a look and I lead the group after her deeper into the Korcari wilds.
"Mother I have brought four Grey Wardens who-." She is interrupted by her very frail looking mother, "Bah I see them girl, and I do have eyes. I assume they want their treaties back." I nod "My name is Elissa Cousland and I want to thank you for protecting these ancient treaties." She gives me a once over "So much about you is uncertain, you face a mighty battle are you prepared?" I frown "I uh don't understand. Do you have our treaties?" She smiles "here you are I believe they are all still in order, though the seal wore off long ago." I graciously take them and store them in my pack. Morrigan clears her throat "Now its best if you leave." Her mother scoffs "These are your guests girl. Take them back to their camp." Morrigan frowns "As you wish mother", she glances over at the others and me "follow me quickly." Morrigan leads us back to camp quickly and bids us farewell. She dashes back into the wilds before the next patrol could catch sight of her. I watch her curiously as she goes. Alistair grabs my arm "We need to get everything to Duncan for the joining." I nod my head and we all head into camp.
As we walk through the quiet camp, my dog greets me. He jumps up and licks my face. "Ah hello to you too Boo. I missed you while I was gone." He barks happily and dances around the group. Duncan approaches us "Did you gather everything you needed to?" I once again take the lead "Yes Duncan we did, here are the three vials of darkspawn blood and the treaties are preserved but need to be treated carefully." He nods and takes all of the supplies. "Now to proceed with the joining. Go eat dinner and then head to the old church with Alistair, I will meet you there in an hour." He walks off. Eager to eat we all walk quickly to the dining area. I share my preserved mutton with Boo. Alistair and I chat quietly about Morrigan and her mother. "I think they were bad news." "I think your Templar past is showing Alistair, they helped us." He frowns and nods. "We need to meet Duncan now. I leave my dog at my tent to wait for my return. Duncan isn't there when we arrive. Daveth and Jory are chatting nervously and Alistair is grimacing every time he looks at us. I wonder why I have such a bad feeling. When Duncan finally arrives I can tell this isn't going to be good. He finally explains the joining and what we have to do. "YOU MEAN I COULD DIE? What about our families and my dog? Who will tell my brother about Howe?" Alistair stops me from throwing a punch. "Be calm Elissa, you will make it through this I swear to you." But he has a worried look on his face. I watch as Daveth takes a sip from the joining goblet and he starts to choke and he dies before my eyes. "Oh my god" Alistair hold onto me as I watch Jory draw his blade. "This is not glory" Duncan easily disarms him and puts his blade through Jory's stomach. "The ritual is not complete. Do you accept it?" I swallow back what was most likely throw up and nod. I take a drink and I fall back into someone's arms.