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My thanks to the anonymous reviewers Reader 276, RageBekka and Captain Zeep for their wonderful reviews and encouragement.

Also thanks to everyone else who reviewed. I have tried to respond to them as they came in.

One can never have to many reviews and more attract more people to read the story so carry on and I hope to hear from you and new reviews again after this chapter. Right Onward!


Chapter Eleven: The Joining

The Korcari Wilds – Fereldan

Morrigan had guided them back to the Grey Warden's tower by the evening but the hour was to late for them to make it back to Ostagar by nightfall. Alistair had been eager to get as far as they could until Aedan pointed out that the missionary's camp would still be intact and was only a few hours travel from Ostagar if they followed the new routes that Morrigan had drawn on their map rather than lead them all the way back to the ruined city which would require travelling through the night.

Alistair had acquiesced and they had set off along the new route. Despite encountering four soldiers that the Darkspawn had hung from a tree and a few scattered genlock scouting groups the only real challenge had come when finding a medium group of Darkspawn being swarmed by wolves. Alistair had been ready to charge forward and take them all but Aedan had held him back and pointed out the simplicity of letting their enemies destroy each other and then moving in to take out the weakened survivors. Alistair had frowned, uncomfortable, and Ser Jory made loud noises about honour and glory but by then Aedan had swayed Alistair and Daveth into realising that glory was merely a word the living used to describe the dead.

After finishing off the Darkspawn that had survived the wolves attack they had found the mangled body of the missionary along with a letter to his son, who sadly didn't need it as he had been killed first, and his wife. Ser Jory had, rather surprisingly, claimed responsibility for making sure the letter and lockbox got to the dead mans wife. Aedan was forced to respect him a little more for that even if he still didn't like him one bit.

They reached the camp a couple of hours after sunset and the slow progress and cursing of the last two hours had Alistair thanking Aedan profusely for convincing him to allow them to stop here for the night. Continuing on to Ostagar through the treacherous, Darkspawn infested marsh through the night would have been foolhardy and dangerous.

Once again Alistair and Aedan had taken the first watch and once again they were sitting in front of the campfire. Aedan had spent the early part of their watch explaining the early history of the Tevinter Imperium to a riveted Alistair taking joy in how the classically handsome face of the older Warden had lit up with interest and excitement. Aedan had spent the entire time cursing in his head, vowing revenge over whoever it was that had come so very close to breaking the fierce intelligence and indomitable spirit of the young man before him. Right now both traits along with Alistair's confidence were more damaged than ruins of Ostagar and were hanging by a thread. Duncan was obviously trying to help but his duties as Warden Commander left him very little time.

Aedan had vowed to do right by his friend and kindle the embers that he saw. He had talked for hours about the Tevinter Imperium, answering every question Alistair had no mater how inane or strange and made sure to point it out when Alistair came up with a question that most wouldn't, which was far more often than he had expected if the slight surprise on Alistair's face was anything to go by.

Still eventually they had exhausted the topic and after a few minuets of friendly banter they had fallen back into their defaults. Aedan was once again reading the book he had picked up on the road south and Alistair was once more staring at the fire musing over the events of the day in his mind.

Alistair looked up for a moment and saw that the firelight made Aedan's hair appear bright red.

Aedan looked up in confusion as Alistair burst out laughing.

"Sorry!" Alistair gasped trying to get his laughter under control. "Its just the fire made your hair look red and then I thought about Ser Gilmore."

Aedan flushed in embarrassment as Alistair started laughing again.

"I can't believe you made him find his completion in front of everyone!" Alistair gasped.

"I didn't mean to!" Aedan shot back his face burning even more. "We were just so far along already."

Whatever Aedan was about to say was drowned out as Alistair abandoned standard laughter and started hooting. Aedan crossed his arms and tried not to smile at the sight of Alistair rolling around on the floor in amusement. He soon lost the battle and started laughing himself.

After they had both recovered. Alistair tried to broach a sensitive subject while they were alone and not surrounded by his fellow Wardens.

Aedan needs to talk about it. Otherwise it will eat him alive. "Were you and Gil still lovers when Highever fell? Was he the one killed in front of you?" Alistair probed gently.

Aedan stiffened but after a moments silence answered. "No. Gill was married to a young woman in the town by then. But he still stayed and did his duty, I tried to make sure he at least had a chance of getting away." Aedan whispered quietly.

Alistair frowned. "A woman? But.. I thought…"

"Alistair don't you know anything about the different types of relationships?" Aedan exclaimed exasperatedly. Embarrassed he had practically shouted over his friends awkward stammering.

Alistair blushed and looked at the floor shuffling his feet.

Oh Andraste's mercy he doesn't! He has no idea!

"I'm sorry, I guess I'm just not as smart as…"

Alistair's mumbled apology was cut off when Aedan gently pressed a finger to his lips to silence him. Looking up in surprise Alistair found that the young lord had walked around the campfire and was now crouching before him so their eyes were level.

"I'm sorry Alistair, this is usually the sort of thing your family talks to you about when you first start to become a man. But they didn't talk to you did they?"

"No." Alistair whispered sadly as Aedan sat down beside him and pulled him into a one armed hug.

Right I'm going to find out about his childhood and early life if it kills me. And it certainly will kill whomever did this to him. Still I'd better not push to far to fast, he trusts me far more than anyone should having known me such a short time and that means that his story is not going to be happy by any stretch of the imagination. Still I'd best deal with this first and then maybe he'll open up a bit more to me soon without me having to push to much.

"Well I'll do it then. I'm sorry I yelled Alistair, its just a little embarrassing."

Alistair nodded accepting his friends apology. He was already flushing with embarrassment at the thought of Aedan teaching him about this sort of stuff but his curiosity was overpowering his embarrassment.

Aedan continued. "Well the most common romantic and sexual relationship is that between a man and a woman. You know all about that right?" Aedan questioned.

"Of course!" Alistair replied indignantly. "And I know the mechanics of it to." He hurriedly added.

Aedan let out the breath he'd been holding and sent up a prayer of thanks to the Maker. "Well then there are two others, that between a man and a man and that between a woman and a woman. Still with me?" Aedan continued at Alistair's nod. "Right well there are four types of people that make these relationships possible. First is the type that likes the opposite gender and nothing else, like you."

Alistair stiffened but Aedan continued on assuming that it was just his embarrassment increasing.

"Second is the type that likes their own gender and nothing else, like me. Third is the type that will experiment with both genders before settling."

"Like Ser Gilmore?" Alistair guessed.

"That's right." Aedan confirmed. "Gill experimented sexually with me but for him it was just a phase. He grew out of it and became attracted only to girls. I didn't."

Alistair nodded understanding before frowning. "So what's the fourth type?"

"The fourth is the type of people who don't mind which gender they have sexual relations with. They can be equally happy with either." Aedan explained.

"How does that work?" Alistair asked breathlessly.

"I don't know but it does." Aedan answered honestly.

Alistair got up. If only Eamon or Tegan or even Isolde had taught me about this stuff. Hell I'd have taken the reverend mother or the knight commander up on the offer to explain this stuff! "Thanks for explaining Aedan. I know I must have sounded like a child through most of it." but then I have as much knowledge as a child does in this area, at least until now.

"Any time." Aedan answered as Alistair set off to patrol the perimeter. He had found the experience as excruciating as Alistair had and recognised that his friend needed some privacy to process this new information. To be honest Aedan felt in need of a stiff drink himself. I'm sure mother and father are laughing their arses off up there.

What Aedan didn't, couldn't, know was that Alistair needed far more than to process that information. Ever since he was a young boy Alistair had dreamed about the sisters of the Chantry naked and he used the smuggled copy of Antivas 'Art of Pleasure: How to Keep Your Woman From Poisoning You' just as much as the other boys in the Chantry. But now he might finally have an explanation as to why he had been looking up Aedan's kilt all evening, eager to gaze at his friends bulging smallclothes and the reaction such a view had caused in his own.


Ostagar – Fereldan

After setting out at sunrise the group had reached Ostagar at by mid morning, a messenger had been dispatched to fetch Duncan from the Grey Wardens camp and back to his tent in the Kings Encampment where the recruits were waiting.

"Ah you have returned. I trust it went well?" The Warden Commander asked.

"As well as can be expected Duncan." Alistair replied, clearly relieved at not having to lead anymore even if he had been leading in committee with Aedan.

"Warden Commander." Aedan said respectfully as he handed over the treaties.

Duncan perused them, making sure all was in order before handing them back. Much to everyone's surprise. "You are the only one of us with experience in handling documents of this age Aedan. I entrust these to your care." Duncan explained at the bewildered looks he was getting. And it will show the others that you are one of the candidates who should replace me if I fall. Just as Alistair is even though he doesn't know it.

"Thank you Warden Commander, I shall serve our order in any way that I can." Aedan responded formally, as he had been taught.

"You have already done far more than most." Duncan replied with a warm chuckle and a pat to Aedan's shoulder. "Your intelligence network is already paying dividends far above the cost of creating it. My congratulations to both you and Alistair for making it possible." Yet another reason why it is one of you two who should succeed me should the worst happen.

"Thank you Warden Commander." Aedan replied with a bow.

"Thanks Duncan." Alistair mumbled beaming at his father figure. Duncan smiled fondly at his favorate Warden before continuing.

"Well I shall have the mages put the finishing touches to the Joining ritual. We shall begin as soon as possible. Be warned that once the ritual starts there is no turning back, this is your last chance to bow out. None of us will think any less of you, indeed it is better to admit that something is beyond you than to try and cause damage to others and yourself." Duncan's eyes settled on Ser Jory but no one spoke. "Very well. Wait for us by the mages enclosure. Alistair will fetch you when we are ready.

Ser Jory was mumbling under his breath as Daveth tried to pickpocket one of the tranquil mage enchanters. Aedan gazed out across the ruins of Ostagar, glowing brightly in the mid day sun. He saw but didn't see as his mind tried to make sense of everything that had happened recently.

"You look troubled young one." A kindly, aged voice said softly from behind him.

Brought crashing back to reality Aedan turned to find himself looking at an old woman with a lined face and silver hair. He noted the robes marked her as a mage, a senior enchanter, if he wasn't mistaken. Second only to the First Enchanter himself.

"Senior Enchanter." Aedan greeted with a respectful bow. "I apologise my mind was elsewhere."

"It is of no bother." The old woman replied kindly. "I am Wynne, mage of the Circle and you?"

"I am Aedan, Grey Warden recruit." Aedan replied. He would not formally claim the title of Teyrn of Highever until he saw Fergus's corpse with his own eyes.

"Ah you are about to undergo the Joining then." Wynne said kindly. "Fear not, I think you will pass with flying colours."

"How do you know?" Aedan asked.

"Oh lets just say a little bird told me." Wynne said with an enigmatic smile as Alistair arrived to collect the recruits.

Wordlessly Aedan bid Wynne fair well before following Alistair to where they first met. The kings guards stood outside the only entrance and a stone altar had been added to the centre of the ruined room. On it was a large goblet and when Aedan looked at it he was filled with a terrible sense of foreboding. Duncan was speaking but Aedan didn't register what he was staying. He only ripped his gaze away from the goblet when Alistair started to speak.

"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 locked gazes with Aedan as he said the words. His eyes, filled with fire, friendship and fear seemed to be ordering Aedan not to die.

Aedan nodded. A silent acknowledgment that he would do his best.

"Step forward Daveth." Duncan ordered holding out the goblet filled with Darkspawn blood.

Nervously Daveth stepped forward and drank from the goblet before passing it back to Duncan.

Then the screaming began.

Aedan rushed forward and tried to stop Daveth fitting.

Duncan simply stared down, regret etched on his features. "I am sorry Daveth."

Daveth clung to Aedan's hand as he screamed in agony before finally falling still.

Aedan reached out and closed his fellow recruits eyes. "Fair ye well Daveth. I wish I had known you better." Aedan whispered before rising and taking his place next to Ser Jory.

Duncan waited a moment out of respect for the fallen recruit before continuing.

"Step forward Jory." Duncan commanded.

"No! There is no glory in this!" The panicking knight said backing away.

Had the situation not been so serious Aedan would have rolled his eyes and asked if he still hadn't learned that this was not a tournament.

Jory had pulled his blade clearly intending to run but Duncan was quicker. "I am sorry Jory." Duncan said as his blade slammed home.

Ser Jory gasped his last on the floor, when he was gone Duncan turned to Aedan. Alistair had come to stand at his friends shoulder, Their expressions identical ones of shock and horror but sadly not ones of surprise. Deep down they had both known that Jory would try to run.

"Step forward Aedan." Duncan asked.

With his legs shaking so badly he was surprised he actually could Aedan stepped forward and drank the Darkspawn blood. Almost as soon as he had passed the goblet back pain exploded throughout his body. Completely lost to the agony Aedan didn't realise he was screaming and choking nor that he had fallen to his knees. Until warm strong arms enveloped him and pulled him close. His head resting on someone's shoulder Aedan tried to focus through the pain. He heard Alistair's panicked voice whispering in his ear.

"Don't you dare! Your not allowed to go you hear me? Please don't die! Come on Aedan fight! Please don't die, Please don't die!"

Aedan opened his eyes one last time and saw the sun shining through the hair of his handsome friend like a golden crown. "Alistair."

The darkness claimed him and in the depths of his mind a dragon roared.


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