Chapter 13: The Joining

Duncan quietly walked into the tent and pushed aside the sheet that was Delia's wall. He smiled at her and pulled a stool to her side.

"How are you feeling, my dear?" He took her hand in his gently.

"Weak, but alive. I'm sorry, Duncan." Tears formed in her eyes.

"What do you have to be sorry for? You did nothing wrong and actually saved Alistair from the wolf you took down. You would have been fine had the pack leader not attacked."

Her eyes were downcast. "I failed my mission. I have not earned the right to be a Grey Warden. What will you do with me now? Must I return to West Hill?"

Duncan chuckled softly. "Absolutely not. You are still my recruit. As I said, you saved Alistair from the same injury that you have. All this does to you is cause you pain and give you a later Joining day. You must be in top shape to take part in the ceremony, but you will be a Grey Warden. You will have your own Joining after the battle. In the meantime, you must rest."

Delia looked relieved. "Thank you, Duncan. I appreciate your faith in me. I will continue to work hard. Have the others returned? How long have they been gone? I've lost track of what time of day it is."

"They have not returned yet, however I expect that they will be here soon. It is midafternoon."

Delia swallowed hard. "Will they take their Joining today?"

"Yes, as soon as we can prepare for it."

The sound of clanking armor was growing closer to the tent. It stopped at the entrance, and then they heard muffled voices.

"It's safe, my boys. Why don't you come in to see me?" Delia called with a hoarse voice and a glint in her eyes.

The men filed in and stood around her in a semi-circle. Ser Jory cleared his throat as if he were the acting leader.

"We just got back, and wanted to know how you are doing. You are looking… well… much better than you were earlier."

Delia laughed. "I'm sure that I do, with my hair clotted in blood and my face full of dirt. Thank you though, really, I appreciate that you all care about me." She looked at the men warmly.

Alistair blushed and pushed his toe into the dirt. "We were thinking that, perhaps, you might like a bath. We could warm water for you and borrow a trough. It wouldn't be the best bath of your life, but it would be better than nothing."

She smiled at him. "That would be wonderful! Thank you all so much."

Duncan stood up. "Alright, if you are going to do this for Delia you should do it now. We need to prepare for your Joining as well. Alistair, bring the blood vials to Warden Elrich. He should be waiting at the mage encampment. Jory, you borrow a trough from the stable. Daveth and Aeden, see if you can borrow a cauldron from the mess tent and get the water heating."

Aeden looked between Alistair and Duncan. "Maybe we should tell Duncan about Morrigan and her mother?"

Alistair cleared his throat as Duncan looked his way. "There was a woman at the tower and her mother had the scrolls. They were both very… odd."

"Were they wilder folk?"

Alistair shook his head. "I don't think so. They may be apostates: mages hiding from the Chantry."

"I know you were once a Templar, Alistair, but Chantry business isn't ours," he replied with a frown. "We have the scrolls; let us gather what we need for Delia's bath and then focus on the Joining."

Alistair led the recruits out of the tent, and they each left to perform their tasks. Duncan looked at his injured recruit and sighed.

"I wish you could be part of the Joining tonight, but you really must wait. At least you can have a peaceful bath, without having to worry about Daveth sneaking in for a peek," he said with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Yes, well we have to watch out for that one, don't we?" she laughed back.

"I will have Wynne stay with you while we are gone in case you need anything. I would guess that you are feeling much better by now, if I know Wynne's healing."

Delia stretched her arms and rolled her shoulders. "It feels tight, but the pain is gone."

"Good. Tell Wynne about the spots that feel tight and she will correct them."

They continued to chat until the men started to return. First was Jory, carrying a trough. He placed it at one end of Delia's tent section. They heard Aeden and Daveth outside, pouring buckets of water into the cauldron. Alistair finally returned, bringing with him a platter of food.

He smiled shyly at Delia. "I thought you might be hungry, so I stopped by the mess tent."

Delia smiled back at him. "Thank you, Alistair. I didn't realize how hungry I am, so I really appreciate it. By the way, thank you for saving me from the Wilds too. I know you carried me back and put poultices on me. Wynne went on and on about what a good job you did!"

He blushed from ear to ear. Delia thought it was the cutest thing she had ever seen. "No need to thank me. I was glad to work on your back… I mean… um… I was glad to help."

Aeden and Daveth rejoined the others and they told Delia all about what she missed in the Wilds: the darkspawn, the special trail signs, the dead bodies… they didn't leave out a gory detail and actually exaggerated most of it. By the time they were finished, Alistair and Duncan were laughing at them, Jory was shaking his head in disbelief and Delia was feeling a bit nauseated.

"See what fun you missed by letting that beastie getcha?" Daveth teased.

"I think I had the easier time of it from the way you describe your adventures. I hope that your senior wardens are laughing because your adventure was more story than reality!"

"Well, there were darkspawn, signs, dead bodies, and even demons, but I guess it wasn't quite so gory."

Alistair guffawed. "There was no green slime dripping off the ruins. There were no dancing spirits. Unless, of course, those darkspawn hit your heads harder than I thought? Hmmmmm?"

Duncan cleared his throat. "Alright, it's time to check the water. Bring enough buckets in to fill the trough and then refill the buckets and leave them next to it in case she needs them. I'll get Wynne and be right back. Dusty, you stay with Delia and get Aeden if she needs something."

Dusty answered with a soft woof.

The men formed a bucket brigade, and the trough was filled quickly. Wynne arrived with Duncan and turned her attention directly to Delia.

"Men, it's time now. We will see you later, Delia." Duncan seemed disturbed, but Delia couldn't quite figure out why.

The three recruits and the two wardens said good bye to Delia. As they filed past her, she grabbed Aeden's hand.

"Maker watch over you, Aeden. Make sure you see me when you get back. I will be worried about you if you don't."

He smiled at her and squeezed her hand. "I will, Delia. Dusty will stay here with you and take care of you, won't you, boy?"

Dusty spun in a circle and rolled onto his back for a quick belly scratch. Aeden then walked away, a sad smile on his face.

"Now will you tell us what this ritual is about?" Aeden asked as he rejoined the men at the campfire.

Duncan grew serious. "I will not lie; we Grey Wardens pay a heavy price to become what we are. Fate may decree that you pay your price now rather than later."

Aeden's eyebrow rose. "You're saying this ritual can kill us?"

"As could any darkspawn you might face in battle. You would not have been chosen, however, if I did not think you had a chance to survive."

Daveth shrugged his shoulders. "Let's go then. I'm anxious to see this Joining now."

Jory nodded. "I agree. Let's have this done."

Duncan looked at his recruits with a soft sigh. "Then let us begin. Alistair, take them to the old temple."

Delia overheard the group at the campfire. She cried quietly, praying to the Maker that her childhood friend would survive the night. Wynne helped her into the makeshift bath, and she tried to allow the warmth of the water to take away her fears.