We spent the night at the ruins and left first thing in the morning. It was late evening by the time we arrived back at Ostagar. We came to the Grey Warden's camp site just as Duncan was coming back from a meeting with the King. "Ah, Alistair. You have all returned. Successful, I hope."

Alistair held up the scrolls, handing them over to his superior. "I quickly went over them to make sure they are the treaties. Surprisingly they are in very good condition."

Duncan, instead of taking them, placed them in a satchel and handed that back to Alistair. "Keep them in here and on your person for now. I hope we won't need these." Alistair did as was told. "And what about the three of you?"

The three of us held up our vials of blood so he could see. He nodded and took them. "Good. We can get started on the initiation, as soon as possible."

Ser Jory spoke up. "What does this initiation entail, exactly?"

"I'm sorry, Jory, but I cannot reveal anything at this time, when there are others around." He turned to Alistair. "Could you get the Chalice prepared, Alistiar, and meet us at the location we agreed on?"

He bowed. "Yes, Ser." And he left to enter one of the larger tents.

"You three, follow me." Duncan lead us through the cam to the far East side where the ruins were; where I met Alistair. There was a stone table, which I hadn't noticed before in the center of the elevated platform.

Alistair came, shortly afterwards, and placed on the table a vial and a large chalice. He poured some of the contents of the vial into the chalice and Duncan handed him ours.

"Well," Duncan began. "Here we are, finally. The moment of truth. The three of you have come this far. There is no turning back from here on."

"Wait," Ser Jory interrupted. "'No turning back?' What are you saying? This Joining isn't dangerous... Is it?"

Duncan looked to Alistair, ignoring Ser Jory's question. "Alistair. Would you recite the vow?"

"Yes, Ser." Alistair placed his hand over his heart. "Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that can not be forsworn. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten. And that one day we shall join you."

Duncan turned to us. "Now, who is joining first?"

Daveth stepped forward. "I am, Ser. I am ready."

"Good." Taking his vial of blood, Duncan opened it and poured it into the Chalice.

"Are we drinking that?" Ser Jory exclaimed. "Isn't Darkspawn blood poison?"

Duncan nodded. "Yes. Some die right away, but those that don't become Grey Warden's. The blood is what gives us the ability to sense them."

Without any more delay, Daveth took the Chalice, looked into it, a big smile on his face, and tipped it back, drinking the contents, and handed it back to Duncan, who slowly backed away.

Suddenly, Daveth started screaming and thrashing around, holding his head in pain. Even Jory and I backed away. I wanted to help him. But what could I do except watch as he fell to the ground, thrashing until he became motionless. Dead.

Alistair poured the next two vials in and handed it to Ser Jory, who didn't move.

"It's your turn, Ser Jory," Duncan said to him.

Ser Jory started backing away and took his sword out. "No. I have a wife. And a child on the way."

Duncan glared at him. "There is no turning back."

Apparently, Jory thought he could and lunged his sword toward Duncan, who dodged it easily. "There is no honor in this!" cried the knight.

Duncan pulled out his sword as Jory swung at him. Duncan twisted it and threw Jory's blade across the floor and pushed the blade into his chest as he tried to make a run for it. "I"m sorry, Ser Jory." He released the blade and let Jory's body fall to the cold stone floor.

By now, I was scared. No, terrified. Either die from poison, die from the blade... or, possibly, live. The Chalice was placed into my hands and I just stared into the blood. I could see my reflection inside. I couldn't do it.

"Darrian?" I looked up to see Alistair's concerned face. "Please, don't make Duncan do the same to you."

I looked back into the Chalice and lifted it up to my mouth, tilting back the copper tasting liquid and swallowing it back and handed it back to Alistair. Suddenly, all I could feel was pain, everywhere. MY head pounded, my body ached, my insides twisted and flipped. My world went back as I suddenly couldn't breath; my ribs squeezed my lungs tight. I felt the ground behind me. I must have fallen down. My body thrashed all over. I couldn't understand what was happening to me.

Then, I wasn't in the ruins of Ostagar, and neither Duncan or Alistair were with me anymore. I looked around and saw that I was underground, darkspawn were all around me, yet they were not attacking me. And then, I saw it. A large demon-like dragon, teeth jetting out from it's mouth in all directions, it's wings torn, and a tail as long as both wings with spikes from head to tip. Then, darkness.