P9
As the desert sun sets, the air chills with the moon's nocturnal wisp. The refuges at the camp had all retired to their shoddy tents and makeshift cottages. In the center of the encampment, the bonfire continued to roar and glow. Duncan sat at the log, waiting for his chosen. He had a small table set up beside the log with a tall grail standing alone on the surface. Lady Holly, Alistair, and Aladdin all approached, ready to begin initiation.
Duncan wasted no time in hasty beginnings. "With each passing minute, the threat of the darkspawn grows ever larger. But after tonight, even the greatest threat will become lesser. There is confidence in number, strength in the heart of every soldier, and wisdom in the very souls of those who crave peace and turn away the darkness. Lady Holly, Alistair, Aladdin—you have all been asked to join the ranks, to battle darkspawn, to protect the land our fathers crafted, our children play on, and our future depends on. Tonight, we see if you three warriors are truly destined to become Grey Wardens."
Duncan lifted the grail off the table, holding it by the base. With his free hand, he reached into a pocket under his breast plate, slipping out a small vial. The contents were dark almost blackish-red plasma that flowed thick within the glass. He popped the cork off the lid and poured all of the liquid into the grail before handing it to Lady Holly. "Drink this, the blood of the darkspawn. May it leave no corruption; grant you instead the ability to overcome the darkness. With this I…" "Blood of the darkspawn? You never mentioned this before!" Lady Holly was outraged—and slightly disgusted—by the initaion. "There was no need to mention this before the start. Our ways have always been secret. Had you known before hand and reacted then as you are now, then others would be wary to join our cause. I assure you, you will be fine. I have confidence." Duncan showed no remorse for his trick. Rather, he felt eager to get on with the initiation. Lady Holly glanced over at her partners. Alistair shrugged his shoulders and Aladdin was shifting his feet into the sand, showing signs of nervousness. A sigh escaped her crimson lips. Eyes closed, a deep inhale and exhaust, and Lady Holly took a sip from the grail. Just one was enough to cause her to cough. "It's like medicine. But much, MUCH worse." The other three watched her, waiting to see the results. But nothing happened. "Lady Holly, you proved to be stronger than the darkspawn and proved your heart is strong. Congratulations, you are a Grey Warden now." Duncan passed the grail to Alistair. He had seen all that he needed to witness and quickly gulped down the blood in the grail only to spit some of it out. "Andraste's bloody uncle!" His charming face scrunched into a horrible sour grimace. "I'm going to need some ale to wash that horror down." Aladdin was next. He still felt uneasy and made it clear by backing away when Duncan held the cup to him. "Go for it Aladdin. We're fine. You should be as well." Alistair patted Aladdin on the back as inspiration. "Alright…" Aladdin sighed before taking a sip. The grail dropped from his hands soon after. His breathing became heavy, and the thief fell to his knees, clutching the sand with his fists. "Aladdin?" Lady Holly felt concerned as neither she nor Alistair reacted like him. Duncan unsheathed his sword as precaution as did Lady Holly. Lowly grumbles escaped the thief's lips followed by raspy growls. Aladdin tilted his head up to reveal the horrors of a failed initiation. His face was pale with veins webbing close under the skin, his eyes had rolled back into his head, and foam frothed down his chin. "He's turned! Slay him quick!" Lady Holly struggled with decisions, but Duncan was swift to charge the new darkspawn. But before he could reach Aladdin, a wall of green flame erupted from the ground, blocking the path. Soon, a wicked chuckle echoed all around. "Such an amusing result. And here I thought your little game was going to be nothing but a stiff bore. I had no pawns to lay out, and yet I still won a prize." The voice focused into the flames which collapsed into a tall shadowy figure. Sharply cloaked in all black, a woman stood before the Grey Wardens. Her pale green face, demonic golden eyes, and large horns were as intimidating as her entrance.
"Who are you to make an entrance now?" Duncan shouted. "I am Maleficent, Mistress of all Evil. I have watched you mortals for some time now. I have come to collect my prize. You have crafted a fine mindless fool to join my ranks." Maleficent curled the tip of her finger under Aladdin's chin. He remained calm, only kneeling in loyal embrace. "The darkspawn react to those with hearts darker than their own."
"You will not have him!" Duncan charged past Maleficent to dive his sword into Aladdin's chest, but was caught back. Vines of blackened thorns wrapped around his ankles to keep him in place. "Duncan!" Lady Holly and Alistair charged at Maleficent to aid their friend. But the sorceress was already prepared. Vines of thorns kept Lady Holly and Alistair in place, twisting tightly around their wrists and ankles to keep them immobilized. "Since you were all so kind enough to sacrifice this thief to me, I will reward you personally." Maleficent flashed a devious grin as she turned her attention to Duncan. The vines twisted tighter around his arms till the man grunted in pain. Razor sharp thorns dug into his palms till it breached the back of his hands. Beads of blood trailed down his skin and over the vines soon after. "Duncan!" Alistair shouted. But his voice was soon muffled by vines that wrapped around his neck. Duncan struggled to withhold the pain as Maleficent grew ever more amused. She manipulated the vines to lash at his face till blood stained his scruffy beard. While Duncan no longer held the strength to cry out, she finished him off by plunging a giant thorn straight through his torso. The vines around him withdrew to the ground but the thorn in his body remained. "We are finished here. Farewell, mortals." The sorceress gave one last menacing cackle before she faded into the dancing flames of her green inferno, taking a feral Aladdin with her.
Lady Holly and Alistair were free soon after and rushed to Duncan's side. The man was already dead; his wounds were too great. "Duncan…" Alistair whispered. He dragged a palm through the man's hair and reached down to close his eyes. Lady Holly remained silent but held a hand to her heart in grief.