I don't have to be a Templar any more, the thought raced around in his head over and over as Duncan led him back to the Warden headquarters. He'd said a hasty goodbye to Herrith, written a note for him to give to Adela how had she known? another to Yuri, and he was off. Away from the Chantry. Away from the monastery. Away from the threat of lyrium addiction and possible madness. He felt like he was floating - or dreaming.

Night was beginning to fall in Denerim and Duncan walked with wariness. Alistair had given little thought to danger in his first trip out into the streets and had paid for it - but Duncan's wariness was more than just a healthy fear of pickpockets or cutthroats. He walked with a silent grace that had everything to do with experience - fighting experience. Alistair doubted that any of the Templars on the field today would have been able to match the warden commander, had he been tempted to try his skills.

Which made it all the more puzzling why he'd decided to recruit Alistair, out of all the warriors he could have chosen.

"You don't have to be silent around me, Alistair," Duncan said. "The Grey Wardens aren't quite as strict when it comes to hierarchy as the Templars, and I can tell you're bursting with questions."

"Why did you choose me?" he blurted. Duncan raised his eyebrow, a small smile playing around his lips. "I.. ah.. I mean... there was Ser Eryhn, and Ser Kalrew.. they both bested me. And they weren't the only ones."

"The Grey Wardens are interested in prowess in battle, Alistair, but it's not the only thing we look for in a recruit, nor is it the most important."

"What is then?"

"Character, Alistair. Will. The Grey Wardens are charged with defending all of Thedas against the darkspawn and blights. And we have to make certain... sacrifices. Your Ser Eryhn would probably hesitate, I think, if she knew what those sacrifices were."

"Forgive me if I sound skeptical, Commander, but you still haven't answered my question."

Duncan laughed. "Well, I did say you should speak freely, didn't I? Alistair, I knew of you before you came to Denerim. A friend of mine wrote to me recently and told me to look out for you."

"Adela!" he cried. "She wrote to you, didn't she?"

Duncan smiled and nodded. "She mentioned you'd be coming here, to compete in the tournament. I didn't expect you to get yourself in trouble before I even had the opportunity of watching you fight, though."

"Knight Commander Glaven didn't tell you what I did, did he?" Alistair said, suddenly afraid, and extremely embarrassed.

"Would it matter if he had?"

"Would it matter if I said yes?"

Duncan laughed. "He said you'd visited a whorehouse."

"It's not true!" Alistair said. "I didn't... you know where I was that day - I was here with you..."

"Calm yourself, Alistair. I know you didn't. And to be honest it wouldn't matter if you had. Not to us, any way. Grey Wardens don't take vows of chastity you know."

"Well, there's another plus," Alistair said under his breath.

"You exhibited great strength on the field today, Alistair," Duncan continued. "Your skills will only grow with time, I am certain of it. But the thing that we look for in our recruits, the thing that is most important, is the will to get things done. In a Blight, we must do whatever it takes to defeat the darkspawn, despite the cost to ourselves. From what I saw today, I believe you're capable of that. Of putting the rest of Ferelden before your own interests."

Alistair was silent for a moment as he contemplated Duncan's words. He wasn't certain Duncan had the right idea about him. It wasn't as if he'd ever had an opportunity to put his own interests first. Maybe that's what Duncan meant - maybe he'd been trained so thoroughly he didn't have any interests of his own. The thought was a depressing one.

"You don't seem pleased, Alistair."

"Oh, that's not true, Ser," he said. "I'm very, very happy to be here. I'm just.." he suddenly remembered something. "How well do you know the king?" he asked.

Duncan sighed. "You mean, how well do I know your brother?"

Alistair's shoulders slumped and he stopped walking. "Was this arranged too, then?" he asked. "Did they decide doping me up on lyrium and sending me after malificarum wasn't good enough?"

Duncan looked at Alistair, long and hard, and there was kindness in the gaze, as well as sadness. "Alistair, I recruited you for your merits, not your blood. Please remember that. I would never recruit a warden if they did not have the potential to be a great one."

"But.. does Eamon know? What about Cailan? Did he say anything?"

"I believe Cailan said.. and I quote here 'lucky bastard'." Alistair couldn't stop the laugh of amazement that burst out of him."Eamon will know in due course, although really, Alistair, it wouldn't matter what they said. Grey Wardens have the right of conscription, you know."

"You'd do that? You'd conscript me?"

There was no hesitation in Duncan's firm answer. "Yes. I would."

Alistair couldn't really give a name to the feeling that washed over him at Duncan's words. It was part gratitude, but there was a good deal more to it - a sense of being wanted - that he'd never had before.

"I.. don't know what to say. Except thank you."

"You might not want to thank me, once you realise what it means to be one of us. Let me warn you now. There is no turning back. You are a warden now."

Alistair couldn't think of anything he'd rather be.

* * *

Six months later he at Ostagar he looked up from a conversation with a mage to see a woman approaching. She stood nearby with her arms crossed, watching as he tried to extricate himself. They always found out he used to be a Templar. He never knew who told them. Maybe they could sense them, the same way he could now sense darkspawn.

When he finally turned towards her, his breath caught. He thought for a moment she was Adela - the dark hair and grey eyes and extreme prettiness spoke to him the same way the sister had used to. But this woman was shorter - she was dressed in leathers with a sword and dagger on her back. She held herself like a fighter and she looked at him with eyes that were incredibly familiar, yet weighted with sorrow. Where do I know that face? he thought to himself, amongst a plethora of other emotions and thoughts, not least of which was how on earth he could say anything at all that didn't sound ridiculous, how could he make sure she liked him?

"One good thing about the Blight is how it brings people together," he said, then cursed himself internally. But he caught the edge of a grin from her in response, and decided then and there that the rest of his life could be devoted to making this woman smile.

It would be a worthy cause.