I woke up the next morning and dressed in the leather armor that Gorin gave me. He also gave me two daggers and a short bow and quiver. He said that he had the impression that I was a natural rogue type. I didn't really know what that meant at the time.
It was pretty unique for what it was. It was an onyx color with straps and buckles down the arms. The pants hugged my legs and the jerkin looked like an Asian tunic. I liked it. I thought it looked cool.
I was with him at the dwarven army training grounds. We stood with the other dwarf that had saved us, Levin. He was giving me a basic combat lesson.
It was grueling, but the entire time I was driven. I had the motivation to protect Ashley and to get home. But honestly, I didn't want to go home. There was nothing for me there. Maybe this was better.
I hit the dummy one more time and Levin told me to stop. He had a face that was experienced. His beard and mustache were braided and his hair hung around his shoulders. His hair was blond as opposed to Gorin's black hair. He wore the standard leather armor with a longsword and dagger at his hips.
"You're a fast learner C.J." Levin said. I breathed heavily and looked around the grounds to see a human among the dwarves.
He looked like a seasoned soldier. Someone who had seen a lot of battles and who knew how to handle himself. He was tall and wore leather armor with a longsword and dagger at his back. He had long dark hair and a goatee.
"Gorin," I said, "who's that?"
"The Grey Warden." He said. "His name is Riordan." I stared at Riordan for a minute then sighed.
"Okay," I said, "where were we?"
I walked back into the house and collapsed in a chair. I could barely move.
Bruna came up to me with a bucket of water and a rag.
"Here C.J." She said cheerfully. I smiled and took them.
"Thanks Bruna." I said. "Where's Ashley?"
"In her room resting." She said I smiled at the child and ruffled her hair a bit.
"Thanks kiddo." I said. I got up with the bucket and walked to Ashley's room.
She was reading in her bed.
"Hey," I said walking to her and sitting in a chair across from her bed.
"Hi." She replied not taking her eyes off the book. I set the bucket down and wet the rag. As I washed my face, she asked, "How was training?"
"Exhausting." I said running the rag over my face and neck. She glanced up at me and licked her lips.
"I really like that armor." She said.
"Me too." I knew the signs she was sending me and it wasn't happening. Hell no. "I saw the Grey Warden today." I said. She looked up at me and rested the book in her lap.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yeah." I said wetting the rag again and putting the cool cloth on my forehead. "Gorin told me that his name is Riordan. I guess he's looking for recruits."
"And you're hoping to be one?" She asked.
"That's the plan." I said.
"C.J. I'm not sure about this." She said. "What if you get hurt?"
"Don't worry about me," I said, "worry about getting more knowledge about this place. Have you found anything?" Ashley referred back to the book she was reading.
"Dwarves don't have a lot on elves," she began, "but I did find some Grey Warden names of people called Dalish elves. They sound a lot like the name you mentioned."
"Mahariel?" I said wetting the cloth again.
"Yeah," she said, "names like that."
I slung the rag over the edge of the bucket and touched my chin thoughtfully.
"Where are these Dalish elves?" I asked.
"I don't know." She said. "The dwarves don't have a lot of knowledge of them. I can get Tethra to get some books from the Shaperate tomorrow though."
"Okay." I said. "What else have you found?"
"I found a lot about Grey Wardens. Mostly dwarves, but it's pretty much the same. The Grey Wardens are basically really talented warriors, rogues, and mages who fight the darkspawn in the Blight and kill what's called the Archdemon." I listened to her intently.
"So this Riordan guy," I said, "he fights darkspawn?"
"That's not all they do." Ash said. "But it's their main purpose. They also try to keep the peace within and between nations. I also happened to get a map of Thedas, this continent that we're on." She grabbed a piece of paper from the side table and unfolded it. She handed it to me
It was a very detailed map of a continent called Thedas. I wondered where we were. I saw the Korcari Wilds in southern Ferelden as well as the city Denerim that Gorin had mentioned.
"Tethra told me that we are in the Frostback mountains in Ferelden." Ashley said. "So Denerim is the capital city."
"All right." I said standing up. "Do you need me to get any-?"
Tethra opened the door and I stopped in looked like she was worried about something.
"There are guards at the door." She said. "The king wishes to see you." I looked at her surprisingly.
"The king?" I asked. "Like the king of the dwarves?"
"King Endrin, yes." She said. I swallowed and looked at Ashley who looked just as surprised as I was.
"All right," I said, "we'll go see the king."
Endrin Aeducan sat upon his throne regally. Well, as regal as a stout dwarf could manage. The king wore noble clothing with a fur cloak around him. His beard and hair were turned grey and neatly kept. His soft blue eyes stared at me with a mix of curiosity and sympathy.
The Grey Warden, Riordan was next to him. He stood at attention, but he still regarded Ashley and I with a calm look.
"The two humans that you requested, sire." Another elderly dwarf said.
"Thank you Pyral." Endrin said. Pyral stepped back. "State your names." He ordered.
"I am C.J." I said.
"And I'm Ashley." Ash said. "We have come from another world to fulfill a prophecy that is recorded in the Shaperate."
"I know why you're here." He said. "I wanted to know how you got here. From what I understand, Gorin and his men found you in the Deep Roads."
"That's right." I said. "We were captured by the darkspawn and ended up in the Deep Roads. We were lucky enough to escape and even luckier that Gorin found us."
"I understand that you were bitten by one of the darkspawn and received strange markings." Endrin said putting his hand to his chin thoughtfully.
I looked at my left arm and undid one of the straps. The black markings peeked out. Riordan's eyes widened.
"How is it that you survived this long with no treatment?" Riordan asked.
I looked at him questioningly.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"The taint should've taken over by now." He said.
"What do you mean Riordan?" Endrin asked.
"The taint is in her." Riordan explained. "It may not have killed her yet, but it's spreading."
"Killed me?" I said.
"Not all can stand the darkspawn taint." He said. "But those who do will still die an agonizing death."
"So is there a cure?" Ashley asked.
"There is one cure." He said. "She must become a Grey Warden."
I was taken aback.
"What?" I said.
"The Grey Wardens offer a solution," he said, "and you seem like a very skilled warrior. Also," he added walking toward us, "according to the prophecy, one of you must become a Grey Warden."
"Coincidence?" I asked.
"Fate." Endrin corrected.
"I know how to do the Joining ritual." Riordan said. "With your consent, I will prepare it and you will become one of us."
I couldn't believe it. This quickly? We hadn't been here for forty-eight hours and already we were going to be cast into something huge. I could feel it. I didn't even need to train for weeks. Well, I probably did, but not to become a Grey Warden.
"I accept." I said. "I'll become a Grey Warden."
"C.J." Ashley said. I looked at her as she leaned on her wooden cane. She looked scared and concerned.
"I'll be okay." I said. "It has to happen."
"Very well," Riordan said, "then let us begin the Joining."
I stood alone in a room with Riordan. Ashley was waiting outside. There was a table with a white goblet on it.
"Allow me to say the words that have been said since the first." He said. "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." He paused and took the cup and walked toward me. "C.J., step forth."
I stepped forward and took the cup from him. The contents smelled like blood and had a red tint to it. Maybe it was blood.
I drank the contents. As I separated the cup from my lips, my head began to ache. The migraine grew until I fell to my knees as Riordan took the cup from me. I gripped my head in agony and my vision began to blur.
A dragon with white eyes roared. Flashes of it flying and screeching glazed across my line of vision.
Pain took over my body and I couldn't move. My muscles locked and the only thing I could do is stare at the horrific vision before me.
The scene faded into white and I felt a little more relaxed. A man appeared. An elf with short black hair and a chiseled face. Blue tattoos decorated his nearly flawless features. Was this Mahariel? A forested setting faded into view along with caravans and other elves.
"Come on Cayne," another elf said this one fair-haired, "let's go hunting. If we leave now then we can get back before nightfall."
"I don't know Tamlen," Cayne said, "the forest doesn't seem like itself today."
"Taking advice from Merrill again?" Tamlen asked tauntingly. "We need to go hunting anyway."
"All right," Cayne said impatiently, "let me get my bow."
I woke up with Ashley and Riordan looming over me.
"It is over." He said. "Welcome to the order."
I sat up and looked at my arm. The markings were still there.
"C.J.," Ashley said, "are you okay?"
"I'm fine." I said. "How long was I out?"
"Only a few hours." Riordan said. He held out his hand and helped me up.
"What now?" I asked.
"You continue your training." He said. "You still have a lot to learn."
"What about Ashley?" I asked.
"I have a friend back at my camp who can heal her leg." Riordan said. "After that, you will leave with them for Ostagar."
"What about you Riordan?" Ashley asked.
"I must return to Orlais." He said. "We must leave as soon as possible. Please, say goodbye to whomever you need to. Afterward, meet me at the great doors."
I nodded without really realizing that I was. So soon. I was leaving the dwarven family that had saved our lives. I could never fully repay them. Never.
Riordan left and Ashley and I stood in the room.
"So how does it feel to be a Grey Warden?" She asked.
"I don't feel different." I said. "Everything's happening so fast, Ash."
"The sooner we get through this," she said, "the sooner we can get home."
"That's the thing," I said, "I don't want to go home." She sighed and shook her head.
"Come on," she said, "let's go say goodbye to Gorin and Tethra."
Gorin and Tethra bid us farewell sadly.
"I can't thank you enough for saving us." I said to them. "We can't ever repay you."
"Stop this Blight," Gorin said, "and that will be enough. Good luck you two."
"I have some things for you." Tethra said. She went into the other room and came back with two bags. "I put some supplies in these for your journey."
"Thank you Tethra." Ashley said.
Bruna walked into the room with a big frown on her face.
"Are you leaving us C.J.?" She asked. I smiled and kneeled down to be eye level with her.
"I'll be back sometime." I said putting a hand on her head gently. "I promise. And I'll bring you back something really cool, you can count on it."
Bruna smiled wide and gave me a huge hug.
"I'll miss you C.J." She said. I smiled and hugged her back.
"I'll miss you too kiddo." I said.
"Have a safe journey." Gorin said as I stood up. "And may the ancestors show you their favor."
"Thank you again Gorin." I said. We embraced the family one last time and shouldered our packs. We had a long road ahead.
Chapter 2 is now up. Please let me know what you think and the next chapter will be up in two weeks.