Hello I decided to finally update a story(and it's the one no one reads, go figure). Anyway it's longer than the last one by a bit and well I guess it ends at an okay spot, the battle at Ostagar being the beginning of the next chapter (if I write another one). Anyway here we go the story yay.


Serona followed Duncan through the terrain, finally making it to this Ostagar. According to him it had been a place where the people of Ferelden had made a stand and was being used for that yet again. She didn't remember his exact words but really, what did it matter? It was going to be a place to kill darkspawn, why overthink the significance it had to humans? It had been a long trip and she had barely slept, the last thing she wanted to worry about was history, not a hot meal first would be nice. She really didn't pay attention when the human lord...king of Ferelden...Cailan or something like that? Learning the names of the nobles in Orzammar had been hard enough…

As soon as the human lord left, his parting words implying he thought there to not be a threat of blight, Serona turned to Duncan, "He seemed...very sure of himself to say the least…" She frowned, even if it wasn't a blight, darkspawn weren't some sort of joke.

"Yes...well the King seems to think that there may not even be a blight," Duncan began, gesturing for the dwarf to follow him as he walked further into Ostagar, "I myself...have different thoughts."

"Why is that? Does it have to do with the fact the Deep Roads aren't as infested with darkspawn as usual?"

"Well in part...blights only happen where there's an arch demon involved and with how the darkspawn are gathering in a horde...I just wish there was a way to get the king to understand."

"You'd be able to if he wasn't such a fool." Serona mumbled, stopping as Duncan did.

"Now, the king is young...he wants glory...I'm sure he'll learn, now we have some more…" Duncan sighed, "Pressing matters to attend to, your joining to be in fact."

"Can't I have a hot meal...or a warm bed to sleep in first?" Serona asked, stretching, that was the worst few days of her life. Nothing real to eat and nowhere to sleep, she'd almost have prefered the darkspawn to it...almost.

"Well," Duncan began with a chuckle, "I wouldn't mind that either but we really need to get this joining underway. Feel free to explore the camp if you'd like, but try to find the Grey Warden Alistair, he'll be assisting with the joining, after you find him, go ahead and come speak to me."

"No problem," Serona replied, "Look around camp and find this Alistair…" She continued as Duncan walked by, when seemingly out of earshot the girl let herself slouch, "Who is probably going to be just another idiotic human."

Serona blinked as the mage shoved past her, if this person was Alistair it seemed he'd messed up and as far as she could tell mages were feared her on the surface as well, so he may have been digging his own grave.

"You know, one good thing about the Blight is how it brings people together." The person she expected to be Alistair sighed, turning toward her.

"I know exactly what you mean," Serona replied with a sigh, if it weren't for the blight leading Duncan to investigating the Deep Roads...she'd be dead right about now.

"Who knows maybe we can all just hug and hold hands, just be friends and the Darkspawn will go away…" Alistair began with a laugh, straightening upon realizing he'd never seen this person before, "Say...you don't happen to be a mage, do you?"

"How can a dwarf be a mage?" Serona asked, her first guess had been right, he really was just a stupid human.

"Well you never know! These mages kind of sneak up on you!" Alistair laughed, "Anyway you must be the recruit Duncan said he was bringing….what was the name again…"

"Serona...my name is Serona….and I'm guessing that...you're Alistair?" She replied, "Nice to meet you…?" Maybe.

"That was the name!" Alistair replied, "You know, there haven't been many dwarves in the Wardens lately! It must be hard for your people, after the last blight most thought the darkspawn were gone, but the dwarves have a daily battle with them."

"Well, I'll tell you this, the politics at more deadly than anything," Serona replied, "I swear the darkspawn have more decency than some nobles sometimes."

"At least the darkspawn stab you through your front, instead of you back, right?" Alistair replied with a grin, "At least, that's what I'm guessing from my little knowledge on Dwarven politics."

"Oh no, no, that's exactly right," Serona replied, "It's especially not fun when it's a younger brother doing the backstabbing...but that's a story for another time."

"Too bad, it seemed so interesting," Alistair chuckled, "So I guess we should get going to Duncan, cover the basics of the joining since as the junior member I'll be going with you."

"I suppose you're right," Serona replied, "Let's go find him then…"

"Know that if you have any questions I can always try and answer them," Alistair added on as the dwarf began walking away, him following shortly behind. Serona had to say, this guys seemed like an idiot...but at least he was a bearable idiot.

Serona walked back into Ostagar, the darkspawn hadn't been hard to fight...but she had to say her companions all seemed to be cowards, she wouldn't be surprised if all humans were like that, infact. Really the only other eventful thing was running into that, what was the word?-apostate, Morrigan and her mother in order to get those ancient treaties back. The old woman had said to warn Duncan and the others that the blight wasn't as small a threat as thought, but...it couldn't really be so important to mention it now of all times.

She gave the Dog Master the flower she had found at his request with a small nod before walking over to Duncan.

"So...this Joining, are we to learn what it entails?" Ser Jory, a Knight from Redcliffe asked.

"I think we'd all like to hear something about this joining." Serona chimed in, she was tired of waiting, let this Joining happen and let it be done.

"You should all know that Wardens pay a high cost to do what they do," Duncan began, grimacing, "Sometimes fate demands we pay the price much sooner than others."

"I...really don't like the sound of that…" Serona look at the others with her, scared, just like her.

"The mages have been preparing…" Duncan turned to Alistair, who Serona couldn't help but noticed seemed to look surprisingly serious for someone of his character, "Alistair, take them to the old temple."

"So...what do you all think this Joining is going to hold? You don't think they'll actually kill us, do you?" Ser Jory asked as they entered the temple, "It's not just something to get rid of those who are unfit…"

"Now, now, I'm sure it's tradition!" Daveth, the other recruit exclaimed, "That or maybe they really did just set it up to spook you!"

"Really now, are all humans such cowards?" Serona asked with a frown, "Or is it just you two?"
"Hey, you know she's right Ser Knight!" Daveth exclaimed with a laugh, "A thief like me. maybe, but you shouldn't fear at all!"
"I've just never faced a foe I couldn't engage with my blade is all…" Jory mumbled, turning towards the entrance of the temple as Duncan walked in.

Surely, this wouldn't end horribly Serona thought, they'd do this Joining, two of them, if not all would survive...at least, she thought that until Daveth took a drink of the Darkspawn Blood.

Serona groaned opening her eyes, there had been horrible images playing behind her eyes, a...dragon looking thing. At least now it was replaced by the slightly less fearful image of Duncan and Alistair leaning over her. Sitting up she groaned.

"It seems this Joining only had one survivor…" Duncan sighed, standing from his crouch.

"Did you have nightmares?" Alistair asked Serona, pulling her to her feet, "I had terrible nightmares after my Joining."

"That was...the worst experience of my life." The dwarf groaned, "Are they always that horrifying?"

"I don't think so," Alistair replied, "Only one person died at my Joining and, well, it was horrifying…"

"So I guess the horror is just a part of the entire initiation into the Grey Wardens, huh?" Serona replied with a sigh, "Great…"

"Well," Duncan began, clearing his throat, "When you feel up to it, there's a meeting and the King requested your appearance there, though do take your time." With those words the older man walked away.

"Great, first this, now having to listen to the human lord blab…" Serona mumbled, "Might as well just take care of this now…" Giving a small wave the Alistair she followed after Duncan, grimacing as she came closer.

When she came close enough to see everyone she frowned, the human noble and a black haired man seemed to be arguing over the map as a mage and...member of the chantry stood by, along with Duncan (who looked quite exasperated). "Oh look!" Cailan-that was the human lord's name, right?-called upon seeing Serona, "If it isn't the warden recruit I met earlier today! I understand congratulations are in order."

"Not really, nothing really special…" Serona mumbled, standing next to Duncan, "At least I don't feel like I'm very special right now…"

"But you are!" Cailan exclaimed, "Being of the wardens is of the highest honors-"

"Your majesty," The black haired man cut in, "We are supposed to be discussing the tactics for tonight's battle."

"Yes, yes Loghain," Cailan sighed, going back the the table, "So the tactic…" the king began leaning over the map again, pointing as he spoke, "My men, the grey wardens and I face the bulk of the horde and then…"

"When the signal at the Tower of Ishal is lit my men will join yours," The Loghain man added on the end, "It's a small but crucial job, I have a few men stationed there, which I believe will be sufficient."

"No, no," The king replied, "If it's an important task we need to send our best…" He looked up at Duncan and Serona, "Send Alistair and the new recruit to light the signal."

"Another mission away from the main force?" Serona asked, her voice flat, "Thrilling." Who knows, she thought, maybe she'd be unlucky enough to be betrayed again, really that idea was the opposite of thrilling.

"You rely too much on these Wardens!" The black haired man exclaimed, "I have men there already why should we send the Wardens there?"

"I trust the wardens!" Cailan replied, "So I'm sending them there, it shouldn't matter if it's such a small task, right?"

"Or, my lord, since it is such a small job surely the mages could light the signal-" The circle mage began before the Chantry woman pushed forward.

"We will not leave the life of our king in your hands!" She snapped, "You mages are lucky to be allowed to leave the circle to fight!"

"Then it's decided!" Cailan exclaimed, "The new recruit and Alistair will light the signal, any more objections before we head off for battle?"

"...No, my king," Loghain replied, shooting a glare over at Serona and Duncan before walking away from the table, Serona really had a feeling there would be another betrayal tonight.

Duncan turned from the fire, looking at Alistair and Serona, "Tonight, it seems we face the darkspawn horde," he began with a sigh, "I need you two to go and light the signal at the Tower of Ishal, in order of Teyrn Loghain to know when to send in his men."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Alistair exclaimed, "You mean we're not going to be at the actual battle?"

"I'm sorry Alistair, but it was the at the King's personal request." Duncan replied with a sigh.

"...Fine!" Alistair replied with a frown, "But let's just get one thing straight, if the king ever asks me to put on a dress and dance the Marigold I'm drawing the line."

"I don't know, I think I'd like to see that…" Serona replied, a human making a fool of themselves could be fun to see.

"Okay, maybe for you," Alistair began, grinning at Serona, "but it has to be a pretty dress."

"Uh, yes well, do you both understand the assignment?" Duncan asked, bringing the attention back to him, "Or are there any other...problems you have with it before you leave."

"Well, the last time I was sidelined like this I was exiled." Serona replied with a frown, she really didn't need that to be repeated.

"Well there are no meddling brothers to interfere this time." Duncan replied with a small chuckle before returning to his serious demeanor, "Now then, we better go get in position, make sure not to light the signal until we give you a sign...Maker guide you."


Well I forgot something at the beginning so oops

post/64745622671/i-thought-i-might-as-well-post-th e-screenshots-i

Theres some screenshots of Serona in case anyone cares...That's all I have to say so have a nice day