Chapter 3
~The Joining~

Morriana

Alistair led us to the temple to begin the Joining. What we had encountered in the wilds still racked through my brain. I leaned against the wall of the temple while Jory paced. Davath was standing not far from them, annoyance covering his face, while Alistair stood a few feet away from me. It was only when Jory and Davath started bickering did Alistair come over to me.

"Hey," he started. I gave him a simple nod and looked back at the ground. "Well, um, I wanted to see if you were okay. I mean, with your wound and all.

Which one, I wonder. I bitterly think.

"I was wondering if you would like any help with the injury on your shoulder. It was a pretty bad hit is all and…" I look at him- well I look sort of past his face- and say,

"I'm fine."

"You don't seem like it." I sigh.

"Look, I'll take care of it after this Joining, alright. And if you don't think I will, then you can watch while I put a salve and bandage on it, alright." I reply annoyed. Before he can answer, Duncan walks in with a gauntlet in his hands. He sets it on the table then turns to us.

"And so it comes to the Joining. When humanity stood on the verge of annihilation, so it was that the first Gray Wardens drank of darkspawn blood and mastered their taint." Duncan explains.

Well… that sounds… healthy.

"W-we're g-going to d-drink the blood of those… those creatures?" Jory stutters.

"Yes. This is the source of our power and our victory."

"Those who survive the Joining become immune to the taint. We can sense it in the darkspawn and use it to slay the archdemon."

"'Those who survive'?" I ask. Duncan looks at me with a sad look.

"Not all who drink the blood will survive. Those who do are forever changed."

I could die? Maybe that's good. I mean, it's not like I'll be able to see my family again; I can never go back home, lest I am to be delivered for a funeral. Not only that, but I don't think I could live with the… the shame of what happed and how I left. Shianni assured me she'd be okay along with the others. But how am I to know that? Maybe death would be the best thing for me. For all of them. I don't think she could forgive me for what happened.

"We speak few words prior to the Joining, but these words have been said since the first. Alistair, if you would." Alistair bows his head and begins to speak. I drink in his every word.

"Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows of 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."

Duncan turns and takes the gauntlet.

"Davath, step forward." Davath takes a step and is handed the cup. He puts it to his lips and drinks then hands it back. Duncan and Alistair were taking a few steps back so Jory and I followed. Davath then doubled over, screaming in pain and agony as he clenches his head. His eyes turn white and his hands move to his throat and he gags. I look away from the scene in horror. I hear Duncan quietly say "I am sorry Davath," and when I look back Davath is on the ground, dead still. "Jory, step forward."

"But I-I have a wife. A child! Had I known—" Jory draws his blade, holding it in front of him

"There is no turning back."

"No! You ask too much. There is no glory in this." Duncan puts down the cup and pulls out a dagger. I gasp as their weapons meet and then again then Duncan drives his dagger into Jory's stomach. His mouth opens but no sound comes out.

"I am sorry. . ." With a gasp for breath, Jory falls to the ground. I cover my mouth in sorrow for him. Duncan sheaths his weapon then turns to hand me the gauntlet. "From this moment forward you are a Gray Warden. . ." Taking in a deep breath, preparing myself for death to claim me, I press the gauntlet to my lips and tilt it so the blood reaches me. It burns as it goes down my throat as I hand it back. That's when the pain strikes me like lightning. I felt as though my blood was on fire, like lava being poured my veins as the blood added itself to me. The pain swept through my whole body that no part hurt worse or less than the other.

Maker, I just wanted it to stop! I shut my eyes to stop the pain, only to meet with a horrid dragon. It roared so loudly. Then it disappeared. I felt death wanting to claim me. I began to give in when I heard a voice.

"Don't give up..."

So faint, like a whisper, yet I heard it clearly. It sounded like Shianni. Then more voices joined in. Soris, father, Nelaros, mother. All repeating the same thing over and over again.

"Don't give up…"

The voices started a repetition in my head. The voices were soft and distant, but they were clearer than anything. Then I saw a light. The light drew closer and closer then there was a flash. The dragon appeared again and roared, sending flames from its monstrous mouth. I could hear it talking, but I could not understand it. I shut my eyes and soon the voice faded. I opened my eyes to see Duncan and Alistair looking over me. I opened my mouth, but coughed as I did so. Duncan handed me his water skin and I drank it thankfully. When I was done I handed it back.

"It is finished. Welcome." He held out his hand and helped me up.

"Two more deaths," Alistair said looking down. When I looked around, I saw that they must have moved the bodies. "In my Joining only one of us died but it was… horrible. I'm glad at least one of you made it through." Alistair gave me a warm smile and I nodded, looking at the ground.

"Alistair, take care of your new sister. I apologize, but I have some things to do. And again, welcome, Morriana." I watched Duncan leave before turning to Alistair.

"Did you have dreams?" He asked. "I had terrible dreams after my Joining." I simply shrugged. "There is a pond nearby, should you want to wash up. Duncan won't need us again until tomorrow." he suggested. I remembered seeing the pond as I can into the camp earlir. So i just nodded and headed into that direction.I just want to be alone, really.

"Agreed. There's one for the men and another for the women. How about we go clean up and then we can go to the quarter master about the things we found." I nodded in agreement then took off. I found my way back. When I came around a wall to where I was I saw there was another woman who was cleaning her hands, she turned to me and smiled. She seemed a little old—okay, maybe a bit more than a little… okay a lot—and was wearing a tan colored robe.

"Ah, greetings child," she said to me. "Am I to assume that you are the new Gray Warden? Congratulations." I nodded nervously and shifted. "Shy?" I nodded again. "I am Wynne, one of the Circle Mages. What's your name?" I looked up at her kind face as she smiled.

"Morriana," I replied. Yes. She is much easier to talk to.

"Well met." We chatted for a while until she told me she had to get back to her tent before the Templars came looking for her. I said good bye them started to clean. When I was done with getting the gunk out of my hair I looked over to my soap to begin washing my body. But then me eyes veered over to the dagger laced at my belt. I just stared at it then grabbed it placed it on my thigh and slit it, though not deep enough to hit a vein. I wasn't sure why but I felt, somehow, like a little bit of the pain from before was lifted off me. I then cleaned the wound on my shoulder and made sure the bleeding stopped on my thigh before I threw on my clothes and armor. I grabbed my things then headed back to the fire.

Alistair was not at the fire when I arrived so I put together all the items I would not need I headed back to the quartermaster. Once I had done that I went back to my spot when I noticed the kennel master looking at one of the hound in the kennel sorrowfully. Curious, I slowly walked over.

"This is not good," he said under his breath.

"What?" I asked, making him jump, but ignored it.

"This poor hound got sick biting one of the darkspawn. It happens sometimes. But I don't like to idea of putting them down." I gave the hound a sad look.

"Is there any way I can help?" I asked without thinking.

"Come to think of it, were you in that group that went into the wilds?" I nodded.

"Yes, why?"

"Did you happen to come across a flower? White with a red center." I thought for a moment then rushed back to my pack and dug out the flower I had wrapped around a small cloth. I had picked it when we had taken a break at the pond. I quickly rushed back to him and placed it in his hands. "Yes, this is the flower. Wait here and I'll make it into an ointment." He walked away to a table not far off that had other herbs on it. "Why don't you go on in while I do this so he can have a chance to smell you?" I didn't reply. I walked up to the small gate and opened it.

The hound made a faint growl at me and I stopped. I could see in his eyes he was in pain. I slowly knelt down to him and put my hand in his head. He whined pitifully and put his head back down. I wasn't sure whether it was that he was too weak to continue growling at me, or if it was this thing I've had since I was young where animals, preferably dogs, would just fall in love with me almost instantly. Either way, I sat down next to him and stroked his fur.

A few minutes later the kennel master came in with the medicine. The dog put its head in my lap and allowed the man to give it to him. Not long later its tail began wagging his tail and lifted his head.

"And he looks better already," commented the kennel master. "You know, we could try imprinting him on you. What do you think?" I looked up at him to see if he was serious. He was.

"I… you can do that. You would really do that for me?"

"Sure, why not? Just… come back after the battle and take another look." I looked at the hound and slightly smiled.

"I'll try." I yawned. I stood up before petting the dog again and made my way back to the fire. Alistair was sitting there and I wonder how much he saw.

"Hey," he greeted. I simply nodded and sat down on my bedroll. I noticed his was a few feet from mine.

Doesn't this guy have his own tent or, something to do than sit here and watch me?

"So, about that arm…"

"It's fine, I cleaned it and bandaged it while I was bathing." I waited for his response. No doubt he would get mad that he didn't help or that maybe if I had fought better I wouldn't have gotten it.

"Okay," he simply said. I looked at him confused but turned my attention to the fire. "Hey, by the way, here's a blanket." He handed me a blanket from out of his pack. It was cold, but it would do. I organized my stuff without saying a word.

"Um, don't you have your own tent?" I asked after a small silence and getting my stuff set.

"I did, but I let one of the other soldiers use it. So here I am, out here with the newest member to our family."

"Hmm."

"Duncan's right. You don't talk much."

"Hmm."

Silence

"So, you grew up in the alienage? What was it like?" Well, he obviously doesn't know much about it, does he?

"Me managed." I replied bitterly.

"So, did you have a family…?" I cut him off.

"I don't need to be discussing my personal life with you, human." He opened his mouth to say something but quickly closed it.

Burn! Serves him right for trying to find his way into my past. Shem.

I turned and laid down on my bedroll to sleep, pulling up the covers, and facing away from him. I head him mumble a "Goodnight" but I ignore him.

Maker, I want to go home. I want all of this to end. Please don't let me wake up. Please don't make me bare this pain.

I peeked over my shoulder to see if he was still looking at me. He was now staring at the fire, lost on thought. Turning back around I pulled up the cover over my face where I finally let tears fall silently.

Alistair

I knew she wasn't asleep. I don't think she knew that I knew she was crying. It was obvious that she was hurting.

What happened in the Alienage? What's hurting her so bad?

I had seen her with the kennel master and the hound. She seems to get along with animals so well. I smiled at the thought of the loving look she gave the mabair when she tried to calm it. It just seemed to fall in love with her and trust her immediately. I soon noticed her crying had ceased and her breathing even and slow. She was finally asleep. It's sad to think that she had to cry herself to sleep.

Shaking my head mentally, I pull out my blanket and lay down on the bed roll. I watched her for a few more minutes then closed my eyes and did something I had not done in a long while.

"Maker, help her and give her strength for any of her reasons why she feels pain. I pray that you guide her and all of us through the troubling time and bring us close together." I silently prayed. I didn't usually pray, but it just seemed right at this time. Finally, sleep overcame me, where I fell into a dreamless sleep.