I want to apologize on the delay of this chapter. I had terrible writer's block with this chapter…actually I have had writer's block with all of my stories. Fall is my busiest time of year and it is sapping all of my creative energy. I am not a 100% happy with this chapter, but I don't think I can rewrite anymore without going insane. I hope it was worth the wait.

Chapter 8

The next morning Roxie joined them in the study. They enjoyed their breakfast together and kept the conversation light. Once the meal was over Wyatt led them over to a huge map of Highever that was on the wall. There were three red pins inserted into three different locations. One of the locations was north long the coastline not from the castle, one was a few miles south of the Village of Highever and the last one was east toward Amaranthine.

"The pins represent the recent locations of the darkspawn attacks. I think we should investigate the one south of the village first. Teyrn Cousland also suggested that we talk with a farmer right outside the City who reported the attack. Roxie can you see anything significant about these locations that might connect all three of these attacks?" Wyatt asked.

Roxie studied the map a little more and then said, "Aiden could correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that there are caves located near all of those spots. I know for sure there are caves near the spot by the coastline because we use to play there as children and I am positive about the one south of the village because there was a cave-in there a few years ago that killed a group of kids that went in to explore them. I believe I heard my father mention the one east of here."

Wyatt nodded and a concerned look came over his face. Bryland spoke what Wyatt was thinking, "Those caves could be similar to the caves in Amaranthine and lead to the Deep Roads. That would explain why those attacks occurred near the cave entrances."

"Alright, let's get changed into our armor, saddle up and get ready to head to the location in the south," Wyatt said. They all nodded in agreement and an hour later they were rode out the main gate.

The sun was high in the sky when they arrived at the farmer's house. Wyatt dismounted and walked up to the front door and knocked. A short stout woman answered the door. Wyatt explained that they were Grey Wardens here to investigate the resent darkspawn attacks and that they would like to talk with her about them. She informed him that it was her husband that saw them and that they could find him out in the fields. Wyatt thanked her and they headed out to the fields to look for him.

They found Farmer Kelvin plowing the back pasture. Wyatt dismounted and walked toward the man. "Farmer Kelvin, I am Wyatt Howe, a Grey Warden. We are here to investigate the recent darkspawn activity in this area. I have heard that you witnessed an attack not far from here."

The farmer nodded and replied, "That's correct. However, it was more like they were trying to escape something. They only attacked when someone got in their way. Nearly, two dozen of them ran past me and never bothered to touch me. I stepped around the side of a tree and collided with one and that is when it attacked me."

"What? They ran right by you and didn't even raise a sword!" Bryland exclaimed.

"That's correct. I managed to fight off the one that I crashed into me. He didn't seem all that intent on killing me. He swung his sword a few times at me; more or less trying to get me out of his way and then he moved on with the rest of them."

"Amazing!" Wyatt said. "You are lucky to be alive."

"Yes, I thank the Maker everyday for sparing my life," Farmer Kelvin said.

"And these attacks took place where exactly?" Mirima asked.

"About five miles southwest of here; there is a huge rock outcropping not far from there that leads to a some old caves," Kelvin said.

"Thank you," Wyatt said. "Please be safe and I would avoid that area for now."

"Oh you don't need to worry about that. I don't want to go anywhere near that area," Kelvin replied.

The group then headed in the direction of the caves. They found the entrance not far from the farm. They cautiously entered the cave and explored the different tunnels. After several hours of exploration they found a deep hole and all the Wardens grasped at their chest at the same time.

"That leads to the deep roads, alright," Wyatt said. He turned to Roxie and asked, "Can Ember cast any primal spells?" Roxie nodded and he continued. "Let's ride back and bring her here; with a couple of stonefist spells we should be able to close up that hole. Bryland, Mirima, Gustr, and Frankie you stay here and kill anything that comes out of that hole. Roxie and I will ride back to the castle and bring Ember back here."

It took a several hours for Wyatt and Roxie to return with Ember. They made their way to the hole and as they approached they heard laughter. They approached the group and heard Frankie exclaim, "Did you see that spin move I did. I took that Hurlock's head clean off."

"I take it there was some excitement during my absence," Wyatt said.

Bryland shrugged his shoulders, "Define excitement." Wyatt raised one of his eye brows and Bryland continued, "A few of the slimy bastards tried to crawl out of their hole, but it wasn't anything we couldn't handle."

Wyatt nodded and then turned to Ember and gave her a few instructions. She cast a few well placed stonefist spells and the hole was closed up. "Well, that should hold them for a while. We will need to let the Teyrn know about this opening so that they can device a more permanent solution."

xxXxx

Over the next month the group of Wardens traveled to the other attack sights to investigate the area, but they found very little to explain the attacks. They had collected enough darkspawn blood for the recruits to complete their Joining so Wyatt suggested that they should make their way back to Vigil's Keep before the first snow fall of the season; two days later they rode through the gates at Vigil's Keep.

It took a week for Eli to prepare the potion of the Joining; when the day finally arrived for the ceremony Wyatt nervously paced in the throne room as he waited for the others to arrive. Eli was the first to enter the room. He must have noticed Wyatt's anxiety because he quietly approached him and rested his hand on Wyatt's arm. A calmness spread over him as Eli said, "She is going to be fine, Wyatt. I promise."

"How can you make a promise like that? There is no guarantee that she will survive the Joining."

Eli gave him a reassuring smile and replied, "I can guarantee that she will survive."

"You know it's kind of creepy the way you predict the future like that," Wyatt said.

Eli chuckled, "You aren't the first to tell me that."

Soon Roxie, Remy, Frankie and Gustr stood in front of Connor, Eli and Wyatt. Eli handed Connor the Joining Chalice as he stepped forward. "It's time for us to begin the joining ritual. I will speak the words that have been spoken since the beginning, 'Join us brother and sisters, join us in the shadows were we stand vigilant, join us as we carry the duty that cannot be for sworn, and should you perish know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten and that one day we shall join you'."

Connor stepped forward and handed Roxie the chalice, "From this moment forth, Roxie, you are a Grey Warden." Wyatt held his breath as Roxie took the cup, drank from it and handed it back to Connor. Wyatt watched as she began to sway then wobble before she fell backwards. Wyatt started towards her, but Eli rested his hand on Wyatt's arm and shook his head slightly.

Eli stepped forward and checked on Roxie, looked up at Connor and said, "She lives and she will recover in time."

Remy and Frankie had the same reaction to the ritual, but when Gustr drank from the cup he grasped at his throat, gagged and coughed and fell forward. Connor slowly shock his head, "I am sorry Gustr, may the Ancestor's watch over you."

Wyatt sighed. Gustr had been jolly dwarf and in the short time that Wyatt had traveled with him he had become found of him. Wyatt went to Roxie scooped her up in his arms and carried her to her room. Connor followed him as he carried Frankie into the room. Wyatt sat down on the edge of the bed and brushed a hair away from Roxie's face. Connor looked at him for a long moment and said, "Wyatt, she is going to be asleep for awhile. There isn't anything you can do for her."

Wyatt nodded, but replied, "I know, but I want to be here when she wakes up."

"Alright, I will have Cook send your lunch up here," Connor said.

Wyatt sat beside her bed the rest of the day. That night he fell asleep with his head resting on her bed beside her hand. Early the next morning, he felt her hand begin to twitch; he sat up just as her eyes began to open, he smiled at her and said, "Glad to see you awake."

Roxie rubbed her eyes and asked, "How long have I been asleep?"

"For almost a day," Wyatt replied. He gently stroked her cheek as he asked, "Did you dream at all?"

Roxie sat up in bed and said, "Yes, it was the strangest dream. I was tracking these darkspawn in the Deep Roads. They led me to this ancient looking temple. At the center of this temple there was this illustrious being that had this remarkably bright light shining all around it so I couldn't make out what the being was. As the darkspawn approached the being an invisible shield reflected them away, but the darkspawn kept trying to crack the barrier. Finally one of the Emissaries managed to break the shield and they all charged at the celestial creature. It shrieked and that is when I woke up."

Wyatt stared at her and finally said, "That is strange. I only dreamt about the Deep Roads and darkspawn. I wonder what that means."

Roxie shrugged and then said, "I'm starving."

Wyatt laughed, stood up and said, "I will have some food sent up. You ate a lot before the taint. I can't imagine how much food you're going to put away now."

Roxie looked abashed. "It's not polite to tell a Lady that eats too much."

Wyatt raised an eye brow and replied, "But now you're officially not a Lady anymore."

Roxie gave a fake pout and said, "It still isn't nice."

Wyatt couldn't resist her pouting lips; he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, "I'm glad you are alright."

She smiled up at him; she grabbed the material at the front of his shirt and pulled him closer for another kiss when a messenger rushed in, "Warden Wayland, a letter was just delivered for you."

"Thank you," Roxie said as she took the letter, reached into her drawer and handed the messenger a couple silver coins.

Wyatt leaned kissed her one last time, "I will let you read your letter while I go get you something to eat." He glanced over at Frankie and continued, "It won't be long before Frankie wakes up too so I will have two trays brought up."

"Thank you, Wyatt," Roxie said with a smile.

Roxie looked at the handwriting on the letter an instantly recognized it as Reece's penmanship. She felt her heart skip a beat. She had deeply missed Reece, but she felt a pang of guilt that she wasn't pining away for him like she had when she first arrived at the Keep. Wyatt had slowly crept into her life as he helped ease her sadness over all that she had lost with the hope of all that she could gain if she allowed herself to open up. Wyatt had quickly become a part of her life, she cared about him deeply, but she loved Reece. She quickly ripped open the letter.

My Dearest Roxie,

I hope that this letter finds you safe and sound at Vigil's Keep and that you are currently teaching those darkspawn why they should learn to fear you. I am sorry that I haven't written sooner, but I have been very busy traveling and then trying to earn a living. I made my way to Val Royeaux where I have found some fame and recognition by competing and winning several of their large tournaments. I impressed the Chevaliers with my talents and they have recruited me into their Order. Tomorrow I will leave with them to travel to Montfort in the service of Lord Verdon. He is in the middle of a land dispute and needs as many Knights in his service as possible.

I miss you, my Love. I wish I had you to hold onto and keep me warm these long cold nights, but I know that it will be years before I will be able to gaze into your beautiful face or feel the warmth of your embrace. I fear that the two different paths that our lives have taken us on may never converge back together again and that is why I must let you go so that you can be free to live your life without always waiting for me to come back. The longer that I am away the more that I doubt that I will ever be able to return to you; I love you, Roxie. I will love you till the day that I die. Please have a long and happy life.

Love you always and forever,

Reece

Roxie didn't even realize that she was crying until she saw the tears splash down on the page and she heard the ragged breath that escape from her lips. She quickly got dressed and made her way to the Commanders office. She rapidly knocked on the door. A voice called out, "Come in."

Connor stood up as she entered the room and noticed her red swollen eyes. "Roxie, what can I do for you my dear?"

She still held the crumbled letter in her hand as she waved it at Connor, "What have you heard regarding Reece? Why does he think he will never be able to return?"

Connor looked at her for a moment, sighed as he sat down, "The Senior Enchanter at the Circle wrote me to tell me that the Templars had placed a bounty on Reece and that he was wanted dead or alive. The King was made aware of the situation and at great expense to him; he made arrangements for Reece to have a new identity created including paper work to back up his claims. As you know only nobility can enter tournaments so these documents are what allowed him to enter the tournaments and create a name for himself in Val Royeaux. As long as the Templars continue to hunt him, he will never be able to return to Ferelden. It is just too dangerous for him and for his family. I am sorry my dear."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Roxie sobbed.

"Roxie, I didn't find out about until you had already left for Highever and when you returned I wanted to wait until after the Joining. I am sorry that you received his letter before I had a chance to tell you." Connor stood up, walked over to Roxie, pulled her out of her chair and into his arms, "I am so sorry it turned out like this. I know that you loved him and that he loved you."

Roxie took comfort in Connor's fatherly embrace. After a moment she stepped away and wiped her tears away, "Thank you, Connor."

Connor smiled at her and said, "Anytime, my dear."

Just then a knock came at the door and Wyatt entered the room as Roxie rushed past him. He noticed Roxie's tear streaked face and reached out for her.

Connor stopped him from going after her and said, "She needs some time, Wyatt. Let her be."

Wyatt hesitated as he fought the urge to run after her. He turned back to the Connor and said, "Are you sure? Maybe I can help."

Connor shook his head, "Not with this, my boy. Only time will heal this wound. Now, what did you need to see me about?"

Just then Eli walked in behind them. Wyatt turned and said, "I asked Eli to join us. I think he will find this interesting too."

They all sat down and Wyatt told them about the dream that Roxie had after the Joining. They both sat there stunned for a moment and then Connor replied, "So it's already started."

Eli nodded, "It's earlier then I had anticipated."

"Will she be ready?" Connor asked.

Eli paused as if he were deep in thought and then replied, "She is even more ready than her great grandmother was. She will be fine."

"What has started? Who needs to be ready?" Wyatt inquired.

"The darkspawn have started to seek out my brother, Razikale," Eli replied.