Chapter 2 - the grey wardens
Duncan spoke through the large iron bars seperating the two "I wont hurt you.. please talk to me" his calm yet commanding voice reached out to her as if a hand,
apprehensively she Steped forward towards the bars. "I just need to ask you a few questions" he continued "Do you know of The grey wardens?"
The young elf threw the name around in her head, she had heard of them in ledgends and storys and had read about them in books but never met one for real.
"the.. the heros? like in old storys? the darkspawn slayers" she cautiously answerd unsure why she was being asked about such things.
"and of darkspawn? you know why they must be stoped?" he learned slightly farther in towards her. "They say that the darkspawn live deep underground and that they are led by tainted gods" "yes" duncan replied
"When the darkspawn rise from the deep roads it is called a blight, In thousands of years it has only happend a few times when it does, the wardens must slay their leader..
always one of the old gods the darkspawn have turned evil with their taint" "only then can the world be saved" Kass paused for a few moments contemplating his words.
"I dont understand why you are asking me about old ledgends that probably arent true... im sure there must be people who know more about them then me"
"just one more question my girl" He softly spoke back to her "Tell me.. if you had the chance to be a part of the wardens...
to fight against the Darkspawn knowing that you would most likly die but that you would do so fighting for everyone you love would you make that sacrafise?"
Kass felt confused by the strangers question How could she know for sure what she would do if it were all real?. as he considerd it a sence of adventure filled her soul
The danger.. the excitement the honor of fighting against the worst evil ever to threaten the world... "Yes" she answerd proudly "I would"
"I see" Duncan responded in the same calm voice he had used the whole conversation. he turned over towards the jailor
"As commander of the Ferelden Grey Wardens I hereby enact the right of conscription and take this prisoner into my custody" the jailors face turned pale in shock "Bu.. but shes a murderor she killed the Arl's son!"
"When A blight threatens the world.. no man not kings nor emporors can refuse the right of conscription.. let this girl go" The jailot nodded with defeat knowing he had no choice.
He opened the cell slowly. beaming Kass a dirty look as he did so. "get her out of this city tongiht" he barked towards duncan who nodded in responce.
"Come with me now Girl We leave tonight" The next few moments seemed to last how hours.. so many questions filled the mages mind yet there was no time to ask a single one.
Kass walked as closely to towering human remaining silent marely out of shock. "you must have a lot of questions but suffice to say a blight has begun every warden in Ferelden is traveling to ostagar to rally under the king"
kass listerned patiently to the man unsure if he was just insane or really a grey warden. The two traversed filthy back alleys towards the denerim city gates eventualy
reaching the stables, Duncan pulled a small sack from his belongings and threw it at the Elf's feet its opening relealing the contence to be gold coins..
atleast 20 soveriegns "I am not in the buissness of slavory child, wardens pay a price to end blights sometimes soon... sometimes later. we are there to die for the
plight of all those threatend by darkspawn if you choose to come with me... i can not guarentie you wont die under my command"Kass looked almost lustfuly at the sack of coins, Never had she seen that much money in one place before. If she took it she could easy leave ferelden... maybe even reach trevinter... but something deep down within told her she coudnt just go... too much curiosity... too much adventure to just walk away from. She need not say it, Duncan could see her answer in the young elf's eyes… "so… can you ride?".. the girl nodded back at him.
With that the warden hailed to the stable master for two horses. though hers was little more then a pony. As night fell the Two rode off through the dead leaves and broken ground towards a future of uncertainty, betrayal, death and glory.
A few days out of Denerim came the village of lothering, its quaint thatched houses and relatively calm demeanour betrayed a dark reality behind the quiet settlement. The village was within a few hours of the frontline. If ostergar was to fall lothering would be destroyed probably before anyone could escape. Just outside lothering a small band of unsavoury looking chariters lay in wait, clad in cheap leather armorer and poorly made iron weapons. Duncan's eyes darted around them, almost as if he was searching for something.
Their leader took a clam breath as if preparing himself before approaching them. "halt travellers, no entry though this point without paying a….. eh a toll um… your weapons and gold will do" Duncan silently signalled to kass, suggesting to her she should move backwards. He then calmly collected his words. "My friends, its clear you are bandits, we are grey wardens and we cannot relinquish our arms" the leader took a step back…. "wardens? You don't look like wardens… an old man and a little girl…. What a load of sh…" Duncan interrupted the man.. "5 sovereigns is all I will give.. please let's not spill blood over something so small" another of the bandits whispered into their leaders ear. Although it was impossible to hear what he said. "now now travellers" the leader cautiously remarked " That is not your choice.. there are 5 of us by my count.. hand over your weapons and gold now" Duncan looked down at the floor, he seemed weary, upset at this ultimatum. He placed his hand on his sword and pulled it form its hilt. "We are going through now" he took one step forward towards the leader now only a couple feet away. The bandit's nerve began to break but he held firm his sword arm slowly shaking as he brought his own steel towards the warden.
After what seemed like an age the tension broke. The bandit ran towards Duncan, his sword poised to strike from above. The warden with a flick of his wrist Intercepted pushing the blade away with the side edge of his sword. In a clean movement Duncan brought his sword to the man's now exposed neck, drawing a small portion of blood but not cutting deep enough to kill. "I…I..I surrender" the whole movement had taken only couple seconds but its result was clear. The bandits would not dare to try and stop him again. They passed on safe into the Village and onwards to ostergar. A place Duncan has described as a fortress where the forces of ferelden was gathered. Ready to face the gravest threat it had ever faced. The blight.
Ostergar's gates stood high imposing over the surrounding thick forest the fortress stood on a on a hill which itself would be easily defendable without the huge white walls and massive towers. Battalions of soldiers marched up and down the path as the warden and his recruit passed through the gate. Each of them wearing the finest armour. Elven runners dashed around delivering messages and equipment. The whole place felt in a rush, a quiet panic shun through underneath fine discipline. Though not one would admit it everyone here was scared Terrified even.
Approaching a tent towards the centre of the grounds, Duncan stoped to inform his newest warden recruit of his plans for her. "Im afraid I will be busy planning over the following months. Im introducing you to Vagar one of the younger wardens. I left him in charge here while I searched for potential wardens. I will warn you he can be.. firey just keep your witts about you" Duncan signalled the girl to enter into the tent. As they did so a messey table came into view. Around it two men appeared to be arguing the first man Vagar himself , was a crazy looking man dressed in tight black armour with ragged long hair and an imposing mildly muscular figure. His face was handsome but frightening in nature. Despite him appearance elsewhere, something about his warm blue eyes suggested a softer heart. Not that kass could be sure her first impressions could be right. And after hearing him speak she was sure she was wrong. The other man opened his mouth first "but the Teyrn's plans say…" Vagar quickly interrupted "The Teryn' can go fuck himself for all I care". "but what do I tell him about.." "tell him that the wardens know how to end a blight and that if he doesn't listern to his advice the blood is on his hands" "But.. " "Tell him that exactly that word for word" The other man signed and marched out of the room mumbling curses to himself.
Vagar noticed the two only after his company had left the tent, he looked over to them and calmed himself "this your new recruit?" he turned his gaze from the warden to the elf "Don't worry.. im only mean to assholes"