Disclaimer: All Dragon Age:Origins characters, scenarios, locations, and dialog belongs to EA and/Bioware and are in no way mine.

Author's Note: We learn a little more about our two wardens here, though most of you reading probably already know the story behind them. I tried to put a little extra personality behind Joseph, not too noble-ish even though he is one of the famed Couslands, and you'll find out why this is later. Enjoy!

He had learned a little about Lothering in his studies back in Highever, and from what he could remember it was not a particularly vibrant village, but it had a sort of dull, quiet feel to it. The Lothering Joseph had stopped to gawk at could be described with one word. Miserable. People lined the streets and various open spaces wherever he looked, dressed in rags and covered in more filth than he could have thought possible. He thought there would be refugees after the battle of Ostagar, but the amount in town was stiffling. A few stared as he, Alistair, and Dog walked by, even more looked at his Mabari hungrily. At one turn, he could have sworn he had seen an elf roasting a large spider on a make shift spit whilst waiting under a wooden crate propped up for shelter.

"Maker's breath..." exclaimed Alistair as he leaned towards Joseph, speaking in a more hushed tone "...So many refugees, how does the Chantry support them all?"

"I don't suppose it does at all, Alistair. There's just too many." Said Joseph, frowning at what looked like a merchant arguing with a Sister of the Chantry. Joseph wanted to get to the Chantry as soon as possible and see if the disturbing rumors the bandits had spouted were true. The issue had been gnawing at the back of his mind like a dog on a bone, and he was sure that if he was this uneasy about it, there's no telling how upset Alistair was. If they could just hear something reassuring in the Chantry, it would make their next steps much easier.

The Chantry looked liked the most grand building in the village, surrounded by Templars in their shining armor and members of the cloth walking about and looking busy. No one stopped them from going up the stairs or through the large doors of the Chantry, though Dog stayed outside at the request of the guards. The inside of the building looked slightly more grand. Clean walls, well kept scrolls and books, brightly lit with what he would guess as a thousand candles. The two wardens made their way up the hall to a templar surrounded by villagers complaining about the bandits Joseph and the other's just dealt with. He was older than they, near the age Duncan had been by Joseph's guess, with long brown and gray hair and a sunken face.

"Enough, enough! We will get to the problem as soon as possible! Please have patience, we are doing the best we can about these bandits." The Templar looked frustrated as the people continued to protest. Joseph saw this as an opportunity to step in and save the day. He took a large step towards the mob and cleared his throat, which caused a few of them to turn around.

"Excuse me, but, about those bandits...?" He smirked, sure that he about to sound clever until the Templar moaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose

"By Andraste! Another one? How many complaints are we going to get before the day is done!"

"One less..." Joseph grinned even wider as the Templar "The bandits are dead." He crossed his arms over his chest, looking smug as the Templar gawked. He expected them to lavish him with praise, or in the very least offer him money. The villagers however just looked at him funny while the Templar seemed to gain his composure.

"Killed them have you?"

"It's true!" came a voice that made them all turn. Another Templar had come up from the back and stopped next to the other "I saw it with my own eyes. The bandits attacked, and were killed before we could even start

moving to help them." This made Joseph's grin grow wide again. The crowd of angry villagers dispersed quietly, Alistair giving them sad glances as they shuffled past.

"Killed them. I'm sorry it had to come to that, but I suppose it can not be helped," sighed the elder Templar "You have our thanks. I am Ser Bryant, would you like the reward for taking care of those bandits?"

Joseph shook his head, seeing Alistair grin out of the corner of his eye "No reward necessary. We're Grey Wardens, it's kind of what we do."

"Grey Wardens? You know that Teryn Loghain declared all Grey Wardens traitors to the King, I hope?"

Joseph drooped at this, hoping that by some miracle, the rumor had been fabricated by the bandits "So that rumor is real is it? Loghain was the one who betrayed the king and the Grey Wardens, not the other way around."

Bryant eyed the two and nodded his head "I believe the Grey Wardens would not be so careless or malicious as the Teryn claims, but regardless, you may not want to linger."

Alistair groaned in defeat, but Joseph had an idea "Actually, I was wondering if there was anything we could do for the town? It looks like it could use a little pick-me-up."

The Templar nodded again and scratched his chin as he looked them over "Of course there's always something to do. Tell you what, you take a look at the Chantry board and see what you can do. There's always some odd job or two posted there, some of which the Chantry will pay you for. You take care of those, and I will spread the good name of the Wardens here in the village."

Joseph and Alistair grinned in unison, the former clapping his hands together "We'll get right on that! It was nice speaking with you Ser Bryant!"

"And you...erm..." Ser Bryant furrowed his brow as if trying to remember their names, but Joseph cut him off

"I am Joseph, ser." He said with a bow

"And I am Alistair." Alistair followed suit and the two rose in unison. The Templar bowed his head once more in respect.

"It is good to see brothers fighting together these days." He said simply. Joseph and Alistair gave each other a puzzled look and back at Bryant

"I beg your pardon? We aren't related..." Said Joseph

"Oh? My apologies then. You do look remarkably similar. Now, I must be on my way, duty calls." With another bow, he turned on the spot and strode further into the Chantry, leaving the two wardens looking at each other with curious glances, trying to see if what the Templar said had any truth to it. They soon shrugged it off, however, and made their way to the Chantry board Bryant had mentioned, Dog once again bounding at their heels. Bryant had not been joking then he said there were always things to do, the Chantry board was piled high with tasks, several of which Joseph gladly yanked away after discussing it with Alistair. Once they decided they had all the jobs they could handle, the three of them headed out towards the fields and abandoned farms. They passed a rather large man in a cage who was mumbling to himself. Though Joseph was curious, he wanted to get the bulk of these jobs finished before nightfall, or afternoon, if it was possible. They spent many hours fighting various bandits in the fields, spiders on the hills, and had even found the corpse of the woman meeting the description on the board. Alistair had suggested burying her, to which Joseph pointed out they had no shovels. The two had settled for simply closing her eyes and saying a few words in what prayers they knew. Soon they found themselves aside the river among the bodies of the largest bears Joseph had ever seen. He set to work skinning the beasts, thinking the Chantry could use the pelts for coats or blankets while Alistair knelt next to the water, cleaning his blade and armor. After he had been satisfied with his work, Joseph laid his skins over one of the bear corpses and made his way down to the river to join his comrade and clean his gear. Alistair was staring forlornly across the river, idly scratching in the mud with a stick he found. Joseph watched him for a little while before settling down on the bank and working on cleaning off his armor. Many moments had passed until his gear was cleaned and Alistair had not made a sound or moved from his spot. Joseph thought now was as good a time to say something as any. "Alistair..."

This seemed to bring the ex-templar out of whatever deep thought he had been in, shaking his head slightly and looking over at Joseph "Yes?"

Joseph sighed, resting an arm on his knee "Do you want to talk, about Duncan?"

Alistair shifted, looking away again "You don't have to do that. I know you didn't know him as long as I did."

"That doesn't mean I don't mourn his loss." Said Joseph firmly, making Alistair glance over at him "You've been awfully quiet at times, and it makes me worry."

Alistair nodded, his eyes traveling back to the river once more. He rolled the stick he had been holding and tossed it in the river "I'm sorry. It's just, I don't know...Duncan warned me this could happen right from the beginning, you know? Any one of us could die in battle. I shouldn't have lost it, not when so much is riding on us with the Blight and everything."

"There's no need to apologize, Alistair. He was like a father to you, I understand." said Joseph softly, hoping that maybe it would help comfort his friend.

Alistair shook his head and laughed sarcastically "I feel like I abandoned him..." Joseph thought he could see Alistair's eyes water, filling with tears. the warden simply rubbed his eyes casually and kept talking "Like...I should have been there with him on the battlefield. Maybe I could have changed something."

Joseph shook his head "No Alistair, you shouldn't think like that. If you were on that field, you would have died next to him. In a way, it was Duncan who saved us, sending us up the tower."

Alistair sighed "I know. I'd like to have a proper funeral for him, when this is all over. Maybe a monument in his honor. I think he said he was from Highever, though I'm not sure if he had any family to speak of." Alistair turned his attention back to Joseph, who was smiling slightly, trying to be helpful "Have you ever had anyone close to you die?"

Joseph went rigid, staring at Alistair blankly. It was the first anyone had really asked about his family since the night it happened, and the first time he had actually stopped to think about it since he had started the tests to become a Grey Warden. He turned his gaze to the river, watching the water flow. He found it oddly comforting and wondered if that was why Alistair had stared at it for so long without a word. Joseph cleared his throat and tried to sound as collected as possible "My entire family was murdered recently, except my brother, who may also be dead for all I know."

"Murdered!" Alistair shook his head "I...I'm sorry, I didn't know. Who did it?"

"Arl Howe, a friend of my father's for...Maker knows how long. He took advantage of our lack of forces when my brother left with the troops early. Not even my brother's wife or young child were spared. I would not have made it out myself, had Duncan not have been there..." He swallowed the lump in his throat that had risen when he spoke of the deed, and of Duncan himself. It had just hit Joseph how much he owed the man, and how grateful he was to him. He had been risen from his thought when he felt Alistair's heavy hand on his shoulder.

"They are going to pay, Joseph." He said, squeezing his friend's shoulder "Loghain and Howe, they'll get what's coming to them for what they did to us."

Joseph smiled at this, not at the thought of revenge, but that Alistair had decided to share in his righteous anger for the loss of his family. He supposed that for what Duncan had done for him, he lost more family than he realized that night at Ostagar and decided to share Alistair's anger towards Loghain as well. He stood, brushing his chain mail off out of habit more than anything. "Well, we best be going..." he started to say, but when he saw his reflection in the river he snapped his fingers "Alistair, come stand next to me would you?" Curious, Alistair made his way over and stood next to Joseph, giving him a raise of an eyebrow.

"What's this about?"

Joseph pointed at the river, astonished by what he saw. "Look." He was pointing at their reflections, side by side. Alistair had short, dirty blonde hair, golden eyes, and a little stubble on his chin, while Joseph had black hair, vibrantly royal blue eyes, and a line of thin facial hair that crept along his jaw line, like it was outlining his face. Though their differences aside, Joseph realized that the two of them looked almost identical.
Their jaws sat the same way, their chins and noses were the same. Ears, eye shape, and even the size of their necks were similar. Alistair might have been broader at the shoulder by a slight margin, but Joseph thought that may have been because Al was wearing heavier armor than he.

"Maker's breath..." exclaimed Alistair, rubbing his chin "No wonder he thought we were brothers...that's odd."

Joseph nodded in agreement, suddenly looking at his comrade with suspicion. He turned towards the dead bears, starting to walk up to them. "So..." He started, hatching a brilliant plan. He was sure he wasn't adopted, but as far as he knew, he did not know of his mother's or father's past 'exploits'. "You said Arl Eamon raised you?"

"Did I say that?" Said Alistair, blushing and hurrying to help with the pelts "I meant dogs raised me! Giant, slobbering dogs from the Anderfels. A whole pack of them in fact."

Joseph laughed aloud, deciding to play along for at least a little while. Alistair was always good for a chuckle it seemed. "Really? That must have been hard for them." he said, tossing half of the skins over his shoulder "Well, they were flying dogs, you see," chuckled Alistair, waving his hand about like it was common knowledge. "Surprisingly strict parents, too, and devout Andrastians to boot."

"That is what they say about Anders." said Joseph as he rolled his eyes. Alistair seemed to pick up on this and chuckled again before continuing "Lets see, how do I explain this? I'm a bastard. And before you make any smart comments," he added quickly, becoming accustomed to Joseph's sharp tongue "I mean the fatherless kind. My mother was a serving girl in Redcliffe Castle who died when I was very young. Arl Eamon wasn't my father, but he took me in anyhow and put a roof over my head. He was good to me, and he didn't have to be. I respect the man and don't blame him anymore for sending me off to the Chantry once I was old enough."

Joseph raised an eyebrow "Why did he send you to the Chantry?"

"Arl Eamon eventually married a young woman from Orlais. The new arlessa resented the rumors which pegged me as his bastard." Alistair said, shifting his pelts to the other shoulder. "They weren't true, but of course they existed. The arl didn't care, but she did. So off I was packed to the nearest monastery at age ten. Just as well. The arlessa made sure the castle wasn't a home to me by that point. She despised me."

"What an awful thing to do to a child." said Joseph, shaking his head in legitimate disappointment. Though Alistair didn't seem to care much.

"The arl came by the monastery a few times to see how I was, but I was stubborn. I hated it there and blamed him for everything... and eventually he just stopped coming. I had an amulet with Andraste's holy symbol on it. It was the only thing I had of my mother's. I was so furious at being sent away I tore it off and threw it at the wall and it shattered." He shook his head. "Stupid, stupid thing to do."

Joseph felt the sudden urge to defend Alistair's actions in an attempt to make him feel better "You were young."

Alistair chuckled at that "And raised by dogs! Or I may have well been, the way I acted. Anyway, that's all there really is to tell. Why do you ask?"

Joseph shrugged, quickly looking forward "Just curious." Which was a lie. He was wondering if Alistair had known his true parents, though it would seem he didn't. The gears began to turn in his mind, wondering when his father, of all people, had an affair with a maid, if at all. Could it be possible that he and Alistair were related?

"All I know is that the arl is a good man" Alistair continued, shifting the skins once more,"And well-loved by the people. He also was King Cailan's uncle, so he has a personal motivation to see Loghain pay for what he did."

When they neared the village, they caught the eye of a Chantry Sister walking along with a Templar. When Joseph had offered the skins to the Sister, he could have sworn she was about to explode with thanks. He tried to tell her that he didn't need any sort of payment for he wished to donate them, but she insisted and gave him a small bag of silver coins. Joseph and Alistair waved goodbye to the joyful Sister and the disgruntled Templar, who was now laden with fresh bear hides. As the two wardens and the mabari made their way back into Lothering to reap the benefits of their deeds, Joseph stopped to stare at the man in the cage he had seen before, whom he realized was mumbling something he didn't understand. Joe made a detour, heading straight for the cage which caused Alistair to sigh, but he followed anyway with a look of curiosity on his face. As they approached the man opened his eyes and stared, or maybe glared, Joseph could never remember, down at them. He was dark skinned, darker than any Joseph had seen before, with a forehead that jutted out over his eyes slightly, giving him a cave-mannish look. He had white hair tied to his scalp in a way Joseph had seen on many warriors back in Highever. Joseph nearly jumped when the man spoke suddenly in a voice that reminded him of an angry bear.

"You aren't one of my captors," he said "I will not amuse you any more than I have the other humans. Leave me in peace."

"So you're a prisoner then?" asked Joseph, stepping closer.

"I am in a cage, am I not?" replied the man, crossing his arms.

"Technically speaking, you are in a cage, yes." said Joseph, crossing his own arms and laying them on the railing of the large window that was on the front of the 'prison'. It was large, at least three feet by two, if not bigger. "Trapped in a cage? I'd say not. This big hole is a design flaw for a crime deterrent device." This got a chuckle out of Alistair behind him, but the man merely stared with a stony gaze. Joseph took a step back at this "Who put you here? And why?"

"I've been placed here by the Chantry. I am Sten of the Beresaad - the vanguard - of the qunari peoples." Sten paused for a moment, narrowing his eyes slightly "I have been convicted of murder."

Qunari! Joseph was suddenly glad he took a step back when he did, lest he make Sten angry and loose his face to his fist. "And are you guilty?" he asked in mild curiosity

Sten groaned out of frustration, but answered the question anyway "Are you asking if I feel guilt, or if I am responsible for the deed? However I feel, whatever I've done, my life is forfeit now."

"Aren't you interested in atonement?"

"Death will be my atonement. I'd prefer to die in battle, but my decision has been made for me."

Joseph scratched his chin, the gears turning once more "Call me Joseph, I am looking for recruits to help me stop the Blight."

Alistair did a double take, looking at Joseph in shock. Sten merely raised an eyebrow "You are a Grey Warden then?" He frowned when both Joseph and Alistair nodded "Surprising. My people have heard legends of the Grey Wardens' strength and skill... though I suppose not every legend is true."

Joseph smirked, deciding to ignore what he thought was meant to be a subtle insult "Would the revered mother release you to me?"

Sten shrugged, looking off to the stone bridge nearby "Perhaps if you told her the Grey Wardens need my assistance. It seems as likely to bring my death as waiting here."

Joseph did his best at a salute, or what he thought was a salute, eliciting another odd look from the Qunari "I'm on my way to the Chantry then! Be back soon!" He gave Sten a smirk and motioned for Alistair to follow.

Upon reaching the Chantry, Alistair grabbed for Joseph's arm and frowned.

"Are you sure this is such a good idea? Enlisting a murderer?" he asked, sounding a bit worried.

Joseph shrugged, knocking on the double doors to the temple "Why not? We need all the help we can get. And he's Qunari, his word is about as solid as a signed treaty."

"Oh, well, I suppose you're right." said Alistair as they entered the building. They made their way passed the brothers and sisters mumbling the various prayers of the Chantry. One right turn at the end of the hall revealed yet another large wooden door, decorated in the holy symbols of Andraste and an angelic looking knocker. Joseph, compelled to follow silent instructions, knocked on this door as well, turning only to try and steady a fidgety blonde warden.

"You may come in." came the voice of the Revered Mother, clear as mountain spring water. When the wardens entered her 'office', Joseph was in awe at how plain it seemed to be compared to the rest of the temple. It was a small room, with yellow walls and only a desk, chair, and cabinet for furniture. The candelabras on the walls were the only source of light in the room, giving it an odd sort of homey feel. The Revered Mother herself looked wizened, much older than Joseph had ever remembered his mother being. Her silver hair hung about her shoulders, encasing the wrinkled features of her face in a sort of elderly, yet beautiful frame. She reminded Joseph of a tree, old, yes, but something to be respected for it's ability to survive so long and pass it's seeds of wisdom onto the next generation. She smiled kindly and folded her hands in her lap "Care to give unto the Chantry a donation?" Joseph immediately reached into his pocket and pulled out five gold sovereigns, handing them to the Revered Mother who brightened in her smile considerably. "Maker bless you, child. How may I help you?"

"Oh, um...right." Joseph mumbled, nearly falling over himself after Alistair gave him a playfully firm shove, silently mocking him for being the one that ended up stumbling. Joseph gave his friend a glare before turning back to the Mother. "I wanted to talk to you about the Qunari, Sten. I was wondering if you could release him?"

The Revered Mother's smile almost vanished completely as she stood and walked around the room. Or, glided rather, Joseph noted how she looked rather light on her feet for one so high in years. "You want me to release the murderer? Why? So he can make me, or you even, his next victim?"

"Oh, I just thought he'd be helpful..." Joseph said quietly. He felt rather like a child being punished for a naughty prank. "Just what did he do exactly, if I'm allowed to know?"

"If you must know..." She took a deep breath, once again sitting in the chair at the desk "...A farmer found the Qunari in question horribly wounded and near death. He took him in and nursed him back to health. In repayment for this deed, the Qunari murdered the farmer, and his family. Wife, children, farm hands, everyone. When the guards got to what remained of the house, they found him standing in plain sight, surrounded by the corpses of his victims. He confessed immediately, not even trying to hide what he did." She looked at the wardens with a heavy sigh "Still want him?"

Joseph could only stare as he processed Sten's crime. He could hear Alistair gulp and shift uncomfortably behind him. After a while, he nodded "As vulgar as his claim sounds, we need any able bodied hands we can get. He can use this as a form of atonement. If we succeed, he has been redeemed. If...we fail, then let it be his death sentence."

The Revered Mother furrowed her brow as she looked between the two "Just what are you talking about?"

"Oh, right. We're Grey Wardens." said Joseph blankly

"Grey Wardens? By Andraste...fine, take him. But begone from here. If you stay too long, you will draw unwanted attention. Here is his key," She held out an old, rusted iron key for Joseph, who took it promptly with a bow. "Maker watch over you."

Joseph and Alistair wasted no time leaving, no need to stay where one was not wanted. But as they neared the exit of the Chantry, Alistair grabbed Joseph's arm and spun him around, much to Joseph's surprise.

Alistair's face was more worried than before, with a hint of anger "What in Andraste's name has got into your head? We can't take him! He's a murderer!"

Joe sighed, rubbing the back of his head nervously "Yea, I know, but I already gave the guy my word. We will get him to swear fealty to us, he will be honor bound to do as we see fit, this includes NOT killing innocents. Besides, we will be watching him. If he tries any funny business, you and I can take him out, no problem! Right?"

Alistair shook his head, running a plated hand through his hair and apparently catching a snag and wincing when a tuft of hair was pulled out "I do not know if this is such a good idea, Joseph."

"So you would have me go back on my word then?" asked Joseph, crossing his arms.

The ex-templar looked at him for a moment then shook his head "No. You are right. I just hope you know what you're doing."

"You and me both..." said Joseph with a scoff. He smirked, patting Alistair on the shoulder "At least he will distract Morrigan for a while, eh?"

Alistair grinned at this, heading towards the door with Joseph close behind. The shocked look on Sten's face made Joseph nearly burst into laughter, it took all his strength not to snort, much less hide his grin as he dangled the key in front of the Qunari. "I must admit," Sten started,"I did not expect her to actually give you the key."

"So, if I let you out of here, I have your word that you will not kill anyone or anything, unless I deem it worth killing? That you will aid us in the destruction of the Blight and the protection of me and my comrades?" asked Joseph, thinking he was being clever and not leaving any loopholes.

Sten nodded solemnly and scowled back at them "On my honor, you have my word Grey Warden."

Satisfied with this answer and believing he had firmly locked in Sten's loyalty, Joseph quickly unlocked the cage and flung the door open wide, along with his arms "Fly Sten! Be free! But not too far now, got Darkspawn to fight." Sten stepped from the cage and merely scowled at the warden indifferently, causing him to flinch and lay his arms down at his sides "Too early for jokes?" No response. "Right..." Joseph turned back towards the village and headed for the direction of the nearest armor shop. "Let's get you fitted Sten, can't have you fighting Darkspawn in naught but your skin." Sten followed, of course, silently and still wearing the scowl.

Alistair walked next to him, casting nervous glances towards Sten every few seconds. Disregarding the tales of Sten's...exploits...Joseph felt good about what he had done, and looked forward what the future held.