Ostagar was truly a beautiful ruin. The grand towers stood over all around, the Korcari wilds to the south and civilisation to the north. It was hard to believe that just beyond its mighty walls stood an entire horde of darkspawn waiting to terrorise and invade all of Ferelden. In any other situation Gabriel might have been able to spend more time enjoying the scenery but as eager as he had been to join the fight before, joining it under such circumstances put a rightful damper on his high spirits. His parents were dead and his entire castle taken by a man that was supposedly a family friend. He would make Rendon Howe pay but first he had to join the Grey Wardens and help with the fight against the horde. As much as he wanted to make the Arl pay there were more urgent matters at hand.

Duncan had been rather quiet during their journey south, no doubt aware of the young man's grief. Even Dovah was incredibly quiet except for the occasional whine. He could feel his Master's hurt and felt it too. The journey to the ruins of Ostagar was uneventful; the most hassle they had encountered was actually leaving Highever. They had to sneak past Howe's ranks of men outside the gates but didn't encounter a one once they left the Teyrn and Teyrna behind.

"Ah, Duncan! You've finally arrived!" Gabriel had been staring out over the landscape when a new voice hit him. He looked at Duncan first, who looked surprise, then to the owner of the voice. The man was all clad in gold armour and suddenly he realised..

"Your Majesty! I wasn't expecting-"

"A royal welcome?" King Cailan laughed. "Come now Duncan, you were nearly late to the battle! I have been waiting eagerly for you. And is this your new recruit from Highever?"

"Yes, allow me to introduce you."

"No need, Duncan. You are Bryce's youngest; I do not believe we have met. We are still waiting on your Father's arrival." The man was smiling warmly but Gabriel felt his heart wrench.

"My Father shall not be coming, my parents are dead."

The King's face dropped as Duncan picked up the story. "Arl Rendon Howe has proved himself a traitor, storming the castle and taking the hold and title of highever for himself. No doubt he would have killed us all and told you whatever he wished."

"Well that is not acceptable.. What makes him think that he can get away with such treachery? I promise you; as soon as we are done here we shall turn our armies north and make him pay for what he has done. Now, no doubt you wish to see your brother but I fear he is out patrolling in the wilds and will be out of contact until after the battle."

Gabriel had barely thought of Fergus and now that he was reminded of him he felt a whole new weight on his shoulders. How was he supposed to tell his brother that not only his parents were dead but also his wife and child? Perhaps it was a good thing that he could not tell him until after the battle.

"I am not eager to tell him."

"I am sure.. I am sorry about your loss but I am afraid that I must run. Before Loghain sends out a search party."

The King and his entourage turned and left the pair alone with Dovah. Gabriel got the impression that the King was very fond of the Grey Wardens but the others of his party did not share the same sentiment. But he had no interest in the worries of those who shared party with the King. He was here to be initiated into the Grey Wardens and help battle the darkspawn, he had no interest in politics. Duncan gestured for him to follow and he did so.

"I suggest you familiarise yourself with the camp and go and meet your fellow initiates. There are two other men who shall take part with you; they are around the camp somewhere. It may do you good to speak to them before you go on this journey together. I also wish for you to locate another of our order, Alistair. He should be somewhere within the ruins, you will find him. He was sent on an errand I believe. The Grey Warden camp is across the bridge if you need anything. And I shall take your hound, he shall be handy."

Duncan left him alone without another word, Dovah trotting along just behind him. The two crossed the long bridge that crossed a deep valley in the bottom of which he could see wooden structures, no doubt preparing somehow for the war. He could go straight to camp and be done with it but he wanted some time to himself. Some peace before life became hell once more. Perhaps exploring the area behind him would provide some.. Peace. With a heavy sigh the young man turned for a long walk.

To his left stood a grand tower that rose high above the surrounding land. He could hardly count the amount of stories it must hold within its high walls. It was a beautiful piece of architecture but he would have little time to admire it, and what time he did have he would have to admire it from afar. There were wooden gates which barred him from entry, more to the point, the guard standing before it barred his entry. Another gate and guard stood straight ahead of him also. But to his right lay a view of great beauty through the destroyed walls of the old ruins. Around these ruins lay a whole array of elfroot which he picked and stuffed into his pack. It may be useful if he were to run into somebody good at brewing one day.

Slowly the warrior ambled across the bridge, looking at the views on both sides until he was finally in the main camp. Immediately he was confronted with two paths to take. On the left they appeared to be tents but on the right he could see mages practicing and Templars guarding them. He took the left path, intending on circling round. Perhaps the left was the best choice for straight away he came across none other than the King's tent. A guard stood outside and responded surprisingly warmly when greeted.

"Good day, this is the tent of King Cailan. He is not here currently, so there is no business for you here."

"The King's tent? What can you tell me about the King?" He would like to know a little more about the man he would be fighting alongside.

"Well, I.. I don't know." He looked around rather nervously but continued anyway. "He's a good King but his advisor Loghain argues with him all the time. They fight with each other; Loghain has known the King since he was in swaddle. When Loghain tells him off the King shouts right back. But he has a good heart. They often fight about the Queen too."

"The Queen?"

"Yes, she is Teyrn Loghain's daughter. Although I often cannot tell if they are fighting over something the King has done or the Queen."

Loghain.. The name rang a bell from the lessons he had been taught by Master Aldous. A man who helped King Maric defeat the Orlesians, was he not? He bid farewell to the guard with a small nod of his head and before he knew it he had stumbled upon the tent of the man himself. With a far colder guard. "Teyrn Loghain is busy, leave."

"My apologies. I was just wondering if you could tell me a little more about Teyrn Loghain?" He would answer with politeness to get his own answers.

"The Teyrn? How do you know nothing about Teyrn Loghain? Thirty years ago he fought alongside King Maric to drive the Orlesians from our land. In return he was granted the title Teyrn of Gwaren. Can you believe that? A commoner given the high title of Teyrn!"

It certainly was impressive. The title had been in his family for years so it was not as an impressive feat for his Father to remain Teyrn after the Great War against the Orlesians. This man seemed easy to sway and he wouldn't mind having a quick chat with this Loghain. He sounded like a great man. If only he knew now how wrong that assumption truly was. "May I have an audience with the Teyrn?"

"I.. I suppose so." A few moments later the guard reappeared with a man dressed in full armour with dark hair.

"You know his Father helped to free all of Ferelden? His Father would have known that legends could not help him win battles. But that is not an argument I shall repeat here. Will you be riding into battle with your fellows?"

"I don't know."

"You'll be on the front lines if Cailan has his way. But now I must go, important business to attend. You'd best pray your King is right in his 'wisdom' if you are the sort." And with that the man was gone once more.

Seeing as he was no longer wanted he moved on, towards the warriors with mabari war hounds. But he had not seen hounds with marks such as these before; they had different markings all over them. He was interested in knowing what they were for. Did they grant the dog extra powers? Why not ask the owner?

"Your hounds..What is it you cover them with?"

"Our hounds? We cover both the hounds and ourselves with kaddis." The man seemed unwilling to talk but did answer his question.

"Why? And, may I ask, who are you? You fight with hounds, that is not often seen." He couldn't help but think of Dovah. He would love to find something to help protect his war hound in battle.

"We are ash warriors. We are one with our hounds, fighting side by side for none other than glory. We smear ourselves and the hounds with kaddis so that they recognise our scent in the heat of battle and do not attack us."

"I have a mabari myself.." Perhaps he should find some of this kaddis for Dovah.

"Then you are a lucky man. Today I shall fight with my own hound and if he survives we shall celebrate."

"If he survives?" A sudden surge of worry for Dovah washed over him.

"Darkspawn blood is poisonous but not lethal. Those who survive will forever be immune to its effects. Now, if you do not mind we must prepare." It seemed he was not going to get anything else out of the man so walked away.

He passed a pen full of dogs; most of them looked half dead! There was a man standing not too far away so he walked up to him. "What is wrong with these dogs?"

"They are sick, darkspawn blood. How am I supposed to have them ready for battle?"

It seemed the Kennel Master was busy so Gabriel left him to it. There had to be some way to help those dogs, to help the Kennel Master. Right now there was nothing he could do so he wandered up some stairs to a higher platform. He could hear the cries of wounded soldiers and the chants of a priest with a couple of soldiers. Perhaps this place was not the best place to be..

There was a wounded soldier shouting things at him and when he went to speak he just received a bunch of nonsense about the monsters that he would be facing. The nurse apologised for the mutterings and Gabriel just waved it off. Of course the men were scared; they were facing vile creatures from the very depths of the earth itself. He found he wasn't as scared as he thought he would be, perhaps all the loss he had just gone through had hardened him. Maybe he was just foolish.

A warrior near the praying men caught his interest. In fact, the man looked as though he were a knight. He couldn't help himself but speak to him and a short conversation revealed his identity as Ser Jory, another of the Grey Warden initiates. He didn't get to find out all that much information out of him before he muttered something about going to meet Duncan. He too turned to leave the platform when a prisoner shouted to him.

"Hey! Come on, just some water!" The man was hanging in a cage clad in nothing but his underwear.

"Why should I give you anything?"

"Because I am innocent!" The man leant forwards in his cage causing the whole thing to tilt on its chain.

"Of course, that is why you are locked up and I am out here with the other innocent people."

The man hesitated then looked down. "All right, all right.. Look, if you help me I can give you this key I stole. It is for the chest that those tranquil keep with them."

"A thief.. Now tell me, thief. Why shouldn't I just kill you and take the key?"

"What?!" He stuttered, leaning back in the cage. "You! You can't do that! Guard! Guard!"

Before the guard could even react Gabriel leapt forwards and buried his dagger into the man's chest, ending his life. He swiped the key and secured it away in his pocket.

"Oi! What do you think you're doing?!" The guard had come lumbering over, he most definitely wasn't keeping an eye on his prisoner.

"He lunged at me." He lied smoothly.

"Oh.. Well, I suppose that's all right. I guess I'll take a sleep now you've killed me only prisoner."

Gabriel smirked to himself as he descended down the stairs of the platform. He quickly located the chest to which his key belonged but it was located behind a tranquil. He would have to come back later, perhaps just after the battle began. He would try it whenever he got the chance but for now he would seek out this Alistair man. There was a gap between two pillars that he guessed led to an area where he would find Alistair but he caught wind of a conversation to his left.

A man who seemed to be the quartermaster was shouting for an elf but he had no interest in that. Instead he had noticed a young rogue talking with a woman. He smirked to himself as he listened to the conversation. Looks like the young man struck out.

As it turned out, this was the final of the three initiates. His name was Daveth, a man from nearby who was quite a thief. He could see himself getting to like this man. He left him to go and find Alistair, the other man going to Duncan.

Alistair was easily found, a blond man who was winding up a mage. He couldn't help but be amused by the interaction and by the man. When he got the chance to speak to him he quickly realised that he was a joker. He liked to play and mess around, which he wasn't expecting in the slightest. He was expecting somebody more serious, perhaps more like Duncan.

When they returned to Duncan Dovah immediately came to his side although Gabriel got the feeling he was to be leaving the hound behind again. But after what he had seen happening to those poor war hounds he was beginning to think that would be a good idea. He didn't want his hound to suffer a slow and painful death.

"The three of you are to go into the wilds with Alistair as your escort. The purpose of this task is to retrieve three vials of darkspawn blood."

Three vials of darkspawn blood? He was a little worried as to why they would need such things.. But he didn't complain. "When are we going?"

"Right away. But I have a second task, which I am entrusting you Alistair but you are to assist him with. You are to retrieve archives from an old Grey Warden outpost. These are of great importance, these scrolls are support treaties and you must retrieve them."

Gabriel nodded his head, more than ready to go out and get their task done. The war was looming and the longer they stood around here the more darkspawn moved into position around the ruins. He did not fancy running into the horde whilst they were out on this little mission.

"Stay here, Dovah. Stay with Duncan." The dog whined but he did as he was told, ears flat against his head. He trotted over to the other man and sat by his feet.

Content that his dog was safe, Gabriel found himself leading the way past the Ash warriors to the guard who limited access to the wilds themselves. He allowed them access but not without a warning.

"Be careful. Even a Grey Warden won't be safe out there tonight."