They walked up to the fire Duncan was still standing in front of. Elissa studied him and he looked worried. When he saw the group however the look disappeared from his face.
"Have you been successful?" Duncan looked at each of them. Then his eyes set on Elissa.
"We have," Elissa looked at Alistair. "A mother and her daughter had the scrolls."
"I think they were apostates," Alistair said.
"I know you have been trained to deal with them Alistair but it is not your concern anymore," Duncan sighed. "Why did they have the scrolls?"
"One said they were protecting them for us," Jory said. "Crazy old bat."
"She also said this Blight's threat is greater than we realize," Elissa spoke up. "She didn't say how she knew that."
Duncan looked at Elissa then looked at the ground. He knew this as well but no one would believe him not until it was too late. "We should get started, the Joining is brief but I've had the mages preparing for it and with the blood you've collected we have what we need."
"Elissa needs to stop by the mages tent, she was injured in the Wilds," Alistair spoke up.
Elissa felt her face grow red. None of the men were injured except for Jory getting bit by a wolf but that was it. She felt inept.
"All right, I'll take her with me to the mages. Alistair take the other two to the old temple," Duncan nodded.
Elissa watched Alistair, Jory and Daveth walk away. She looked back at Duncan who was studying her. "What?"
"How were you injured?"
"I was stupid," Elissa whispered. "Is that what you want to hear? I was stupid I saw the darkspawn for the first time and one got behind me and stabbed me."
"That's not stupid, fear is natural with darkspawn. Now that you've seen them tell me what do you think?" Duncan asked and started walked towards the mage's area of the camp.
"They are monsters," Elissa whispered.
"And do you want to stop them?" Duncan asked.
"I want them stopped, but I think you made a mistake in picking me," Elissa answered honestly. "I'm not cut out for this."
"I think you are. Your strength from within is what will help you in the months to come Elissa," Duncan said. "Just like it helped you in Highever."
"Wanting to protect my family, my people, my home is what drove me in Highever," Elissa growled.
"And protecting your family, home and people will push you to do the same in the Order," Duncan said.
"What family? Seriously? Fergus is out in the Wilds if he returns, and everyone else is dead! Or do you not remember the fact we left my parents behind to die? I have nothing left Duncan. Nothing," Elissa looked away.
"That is where you are wrong," Duncan, sighed. "But it is not up to me to give you reasons to want to do this."
"I don't have a choice in the matter anymore do I? Just drop it Duncan I am done talking about this," Elissa growled.
They made it to the mages and Elissa was sent to Wynne an older woman who looked at her like she still had things to learn. Lucky stayed outside with Duncan. The woman who was to be her healer was about as old as Elissa's mother had been. She had her white hair pulled back and wore a robe of the Circle of Mages. She had heard the color of the robe often told you what rank they held. This woman's was gold.
"So you were injured by a darkspawn?" the woman clucked.
Elissa nodded and followed Wynne into a tent. "Yes."
"Let's see it," Wynne opened a trunk and turned her back to Elissa.
Elissa took off her armor and lay down on the cot. Wynne's hands touched her and she jumped. "Oh this is bad."
"It was poisoned," Elissa said. "I had an antidote in my pack so I used that but I'm not sure what poison it was."
"You're an expert in poisons then?" Wynne asked.
"My brother's wife who was Antivan taught me," Elissa said. "Their women as you know are proficient enough, as well as their men are with assassinations."
"Well it could be useful to know when battling darkspawn," Wynne said. "Have you seen them before today?"
"No," Elissa shook her head and winced as she felt the cold sting of the magic Wynne had conjured on her wound.
"Do you know the Chantry's version of how they came to be?" Wynne asked.
What is this a history lesson? Elissa thought that to herself but she didn't say anything. "The Tevinter mages entered the Golden City in the Fade, the Maker got pissed off and cast them out because they tainted the Golden City which is now the Black City. When he cast them out they became the first darkspawn," Elissa sighed. She may have been rude to say it in such a way but this woman was getting on her last nerve.
"Well then if you know everything we are done here," Wynne snapped.
Elissa winced as hot pain from the closing of her wound traveled through her. She knew the woman had healed her but didn't do it as gently as she could have. She sat up and glared at the woman. "I'm not one of your students Wynne. I don't need to be shown there is evil in the world because I've seen it myself, and not just the darkspawn in the Wilds. Thank you for healing me, good luck in the battle."
Elissa dressed quickly and left. Duncan was still waiting for the mages to finish their portion of the joining. He saw her and frowned. She looked in a worse mood than he had last left her. "Alistair is up the ramp and to the right," Duncan said.
Elissa nodded and called Lucky and both of them left him behind. She walked slowly up where Alistair and the others were waiting. She felt like crying for some damn reason. She thought she had cried enough to last her two life times. She cried herself to sleep almost nightly since she left Highever and now she felt like breaking down as well. She felt like she was walking to her execution.
She cleared the ramp going up to where Jory was pacing. Alistair was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed looking like he was going to kill Jory. Daveth looked just as annoyed sitting on an old table.
"I don't like this," Jory said. "Why so many damn secrets? Haven't we proven ourselves enough?"
"Are you blubbering again?" Daveth sighed. "You've gave us ten minutes of peace and quiet and now you're starting up again?"
Elissa went over and stood by Alistair. He was watching her and noticed she wasn't favoring her side anymore.
"Why all these damn tests is all I want to know," Jory said.
"He's been like this the whole time?" Elissa whispered.
"Yep," Alistair nodded.
"Lucky you," Elissa smiled.
"Maybe it's tradition, maybe they are just trying to annoy you," Daveth smiled getting in Jory's face.
"You going to do something about those two?" Elissa asked Alistair.
"I broke them apart last time, it's your turn," Alistair smiled.
"You're such a gentlemen!" Elissa feigned hurt. "Would you two stop there's not much we can do about it now."
"I only know that my wife is in Highever with a child on the way. If they had warned me I just…it just doesn't seem fair," Jory said looking back at Elissa. She hoped his wife was still in Highever, Maker knows what Howe did to her people.
"Would you have come if they warned you? You saw those darkspawn Ser Knight," Daveth called Jory by his nickname for him. "The Warden's do what they must to defeat them."
"Including sacrificing us?" Jory asked.
"I'd sacrifice more if I knew it'd end the blight," Daveth shrugged.
Elissa raised her eyebrows. Out of all of them she would have figured Daveth would be all for running as well. "Would you two shut up?" Elissa said they were giving her a headache.
"Yeah Ser Knight, try not to wet your trousers," Daveth smiled.
"I just have never faced a foe that I could not engage with my blade," Jory whispered.
Elissa shook her head and looked up at Alistair but he was watching someone approach. Elissa looked over and saw Duncan carrying a goblet towards them. He set the goblet on the table and kept his back to them. Everyone had grown silent waiting for him to talk.
"At last, we have come to the Joining," Duncan said. He turned around and looked at each of his recruits. He saw the fear in Jory's eyes, the courage in Daveth's, and the skepticism in the young Cousland's eyes.
"The Grey Warden's were founded during the first Blight when humanity stood on the verge of annihilation. It was then that they first drank of darkspawn blood, and mastered their taint," Duncan said.
Elissa looked at Alistair. She felt the urge to punch him to yell at him. She saw how red his face was and how he couldn't even look at her. He knew what would happen and didn't say a word. Elissa felt very alone, she couldn't trust anyone. It wasn't the first time that she missed Fergus and Roland the two she trusted most in the world. She wished she had them with her. Fergus might have been able to save her from this fate but it was too late now.
"We're going to drink the blood…of those creatures?" Jory swallowed hard.
"As the first Grey Wardens did before us, as we did before you," Duncan nodded. "This is the source of our power and our victory."
Alistair felt like he should say something. "Those of us who survive the joining, become immune to the taint. We can sense it in the darkspawn and use it to slay the archdemon."
That didn't sound reassuring to Elissa. She could die. The next couple of minutes could be her last. She'd never see Howe brought to justice. She'd never be able to tell Fergus she was sorry for not protecting his family. She'd never be able to do a lot of things. She looked up at Duncan and glared and felt the tears falling down her face on their own. He hadn't told this to her father. Her father had agreed because he thought she'd be able to live.
Duncan looked at her and saw the hate in her eyes. He knew what she was thinking and he hated himself for it but she was a good recruit and he needed more for the Order. The Blight demanded it.
"Let's get on with it," Elissa whispered.
Alistair looked at her and saw the tears it shocked him until he saw the pain in her eyes and her jaw was set with anger.
"We say only a few words before but these words have been said since the first," Duncan whispered. "Alistair if you would?"
Alistair nodded and looked down away from Elissa. "Join us brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be forsworn. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten, and that one day we shall join you," Alistair looked up at Elissa. She stared at him with no emotions. That worried him the most.
Duncan turned towards the table and grabbed the goblet. "Step forward Daveth," Duncan said.
Elissa watched as Daveth, the bravest one out of all of the recruits stepped forward. He took the goblet from Duncan and nodded. He looked at Jory and then at Elissa and smiled. Elissa would remember that smile for the rest of her life.
She watched as Daveth brought the goblet to his lips and he drank. He handed it back to Duncan and then just stood there. Then he began screaming. Elissa started to back up she wanted to run. She felt hands on her arms and looked up to see Alistair holding her in place.
"Don't do it," he whispered.
She shook off his hold and made herself stand still as Daveth fell to the ground drawing his last breath.
"I am sorry Daveth," Duncan said. Elissa looked up at him and saw the sorrow on his face. How many men and women did he see die to the Joining?
"Step forward Ser Jory," Duncan turned towards Jory.
Elissa looked over and saw Jory backing up shaking his head. "No, this is not right. I didn't agree to this. I have a wife and a child," Jory said.
"There is no turning back," Duncan said putting the goblet back on the table.
"No, you ask too much. There is no glory in this!" Jory grabbed his sword.
Elissa watching in horror as Duncan went for his dagger. He blocked the blow that Jory meant to deal and countered it sinking his blade into Jory's side. Elissa backed up further but Alistair was right with her. He didn't want to see Duncan end her life like this.
"I am sorry," Duncan said.
Elissa watched as Jory fell to the ground his eyes staring up at her as he died. She closed her eyes. "But the joining is not yet complete," Duncan said. "Elissa, step forward. You are called upon to submit yourself to the taint, for the greater good. From this moment forth you are a Grey Warden."
She felt Alistair nudge her and she stepped forward opening her eyes. She took the goblet from Duncan and looked down at the blood. She felt bile at the back of her throat and she quickly swallowed it. She looked up at Duncan who was watching her closely. "If I die, tell my brother about Highever," Elissa whispered.
Duncan nodded, "I will."
She brought the goblet to her lips and closed her eyes. She tipped her head back and felt the liquid burst into her mouth. It tasted like copper and bitter like poison. She forced herself to swallow the blood. She opened her eyes and gave the goblet back to Duncan.
Elissa didn't know what was supposed to happen. She felt fine then all at once a great pain filled her. She let out a scream and bent over. It felt like her head was going to expose. He blood felt on fire. Somewhere she heard Lucky barking. He seemed far away. She wanted to tell him she would be all right, but it felt like she was dying. What would happen to him if she died? Who would take care of him?
She opened her eyes and looked up but she didn't see Duncan or even Ostagar. She saw a huge dragon glaring down at her. The dragon glowed green. It was hazy like a dream but it felt real. He looked into her and saw her soul and it scared her. The dragon let out a loud screech and Elissa felt herself falling down as blackness surrounded her.
Alistair caught Elissa before she hit the ground and gently picked her up and placed her body on the table. Duncan came over and studied her. "She lives."
"Was that necessary?" Alistair asked. He was angry. He had never seen Duncan kill someone like he had Jory.
"He drew his weapon Alistair, you know this is not something you can walk away from," Duncan said.
Alistair didn't respond he stared down at Elissa who looked like she was dead. The red blood marked her lips and he wanted to wash it off for her. He hated this was to be her life. He loved it, he felt important and worthy. Elissa should be off raising little girls that looked like her. He felt a strange emotion stirring in him. He didn't know what it was it was foreign to him. He was beyond relieved that she lived and he knew she'd be angry with him for a long time for keeping the blood a secret.
"Don't get the wrong ideas about her Alistair," Duncan said. "Now is not the time to be forming attachments."
"I'm not," Alistair said. "You put me in charge of them, and now she's the only one who lives. I should be concerned about that don't you agree?"
Duncan studied Alistair and knew he was lying but he wasn't going to argue. Both of them had more in common than they realized. He would just make a note to separate them more after the battle.
Elissa stirred a few moments later. She opened her eyes and looked up at Alistair. He smiled down at her and looked relieved. Duncan hovered behind him, "It is finished, welcome."
Elissa slowly sat up. She put a hand on her head and shook it. She had horrible dreams about a dragon and monsters.
"Two more deaths," Alistair sighed and shook his head. He helped Elissa stand. "During my joining only one of us died but it was horrible."
"How do you feel?" Duncan asked.
Elissa looked up at him and glared, "You killed Jory."
"Once he drew his weapon I had no choice. I took no pleasure in ending his life but he could not back out from the joining. He knew this, as did you all," Duncan said.
"So hold him down and force him to drink the blood at least then if he lived you'd have another on your side," Elissa growled.
"He'd have run," Duncan said. "We cannot have that."
Elissa opened her mouth to speak but closed it and chose not to.
"Did you dream?" Alistair asked. "After my joining I had terrible dreams."
Elissa was about to answer him when Duncan interrupted. "Such dreams come when you begin to sense the darkspawn. That along with many other things will be explained in the months ahead."
Elissa looked down and saw Lucky with a paw on her leg. She reached down and patted his head.
"Take her back to camp Alistair, she needs sleep. Tomorrow the King has requested you attend a meeting with myself and others to discuss strategy in the upcoming battle," Duncan said. "The meeting is in the morning as we expect the horde to be upon us by nightfall."
Elissa nodded and watched him walk away. She looked up at Alistair he was looking at her with relief. "Before I forget, we put some of the blood from your joining into a pendant."
Elissa watched as he filled the pendant up with blood from the chalice. "Why?"
"To remind us of those who didn't make it," Alistair put the pendant together and wiped it off handing it to her.
"I won't need a pendant to remind me of them," Elissa looked down at the bodies of her former comrades. "What will happen to their bodies?"
"Duncan will have some soldiers come retrieve them. I do not know about after," Alistair said. "I'm sorry Elissa."
Elissa looked up at Alistair and saw him looking down at Jory's body. "So am I," she whispered.
Neither of them would ever be the same after her Joining. Elissa felt the person she was had been died in Highever with her family. She was now a Warden. Whatever that meant.