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Chapter 4 – Join us, Brothers and Sisters
Returning to camp was uneventful. Morrigan accompanied them back to the ruins and then left them there. With Alistair's help, they managed to return without encountering even one darkspawn. Sylverin ignored him all the way back to Ostagar and the awkward silence made their trip highly uncomfortable.
"Where are you going?" Aedan asked Sylverin as she started walking away from Duncan.
"I'll be back in a second. I just give the flower to the Kennel Master."
"Don't take long. You have everything…" he said as he shook his head.
It didn't take Sylverin long and she was back before the others realised she was even gone. They gave the vials and the treaties to Duncan and he asked Alistair to take them to the old tower where they'd met Alistair for the first time.
"The more I hear about this Joining, the less I like it." Ser Jory said while they were waiting for Duncan.
"You blubbering again?" Daveth asked in an angry voice.
"Why all these damned tests? Have I not earned my place?"
"Maybe it's tradition. Maybe they're just trying to annoy you."
"Calm down. There's nothing we can do about it now." Aedan joined in. Sylverin was more occupied by trying to calm down. What they'd heard about the Joining from Duncan was not something she liked.
"I only know that my wife is in Highever with a child on the way. If they had warned me...it just doesn't seem fair." Jory looked at Aedan and then back at Daveth.
"Would you have come if they'd warned you? Maybe that's why they don't. The Wardens do what they must, right?" Daveth said.
"Including sacrificing us?"
"I'd sacrifice a lot more if I knew it would end the Blight."
"You make a good point." Aedan nodded.
"You saw those darkspawn, Ser Knight. Wouldn't you die to protect your pretty wife from them?"
"I..." Ser Jory started but was cut off by Daveth.
"Maybe you'll die. Maybe we'll all die. If nobody stops the darkspawn, we'll die for sure."
"I've just never face a foe I could not engage with my blade."
As Jory finished his sentence, Duncan arrived with a chalice in his hands.
"At last we come to the Joining. The Grey Wardens were founded during the first Blight, when humanity stood on the verge of annihilation. So it was that the first Grey Wardens drank of the darkspawn blood and mastered their taint."
"We're...going to drink the blood of those...those creatures?" Sylverin asked shocked. That she had not expected.
"As the first Grey Wardens did before us, we did before you. 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." Alistair added.
"Those who survive?" Aedan asked.
"Not all who drink the blood will survive and those who do are forever changed. This is why the Joining is secret. It is the price we pay." Duncan explained and then looked at Alistair. "We speak only a few words prior to the Joining, but these words have been said since the first. Alistair, if you would?"
"Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand, vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be foresworn. And should you parish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten and that one day we shall join you."
Duncan looked at Daveth.
"Daveth, step forward." Duncan said solemnly, presenting the chalice to him. Daveth seemed proud. Proud to be one of the Grey Warden recruits that is about to go through the Joining. It seemed as if he didn't care if he survived, but he cared for the fact that he was given the chance. And it made him look strong. Strong enough to survive the joining in Sylverin's opinion. She turned her head, fearing what would happen. Sylverin heard him drinking from the chalice, and then she heard the worst scream she have ever heard. Loud, filled with pain. She closed her eyes so she won't even see a little of what's happening. But she heard him fall to the ground and Duncan's words.
"I am sorry, Daveth." She was afraid to look up and she felt Aedan's hand on her shoulder. "Step forward, Jory." Duncan said.
"But...I have a wife. A child! Had I known..." Sylverin could hear the sound of a sword being take out of its holder.
"There is no turning back." This time it was another sword's sound.
"No! You ask too much! There is no glory in this!" She shuddered as she heard fighting begin.
"I am sorry." Duncan's sad voice almost killed her. She knew what that meant and did not want to believe it ended like that. Where was the Glory if you die for nothing? "But the Joining is not yet complete. You are called upon to submit yourself to the taint for the greater good." Aedan squeeze her shoulder and she felt him let go and move forward. "From this moment forth, you are a Grey Warden."
The sound of Aedan drinking from the chalice and the quiet sound of him dropping on the floor did not make her feel better.
"He survived. It is your turn." She looked up and tried not to look towards Jory, without much success. He was there. Bathed in blood, lying on the floor at the side of the old temple. Daveth was closer to her, lying facing the floor. And Aedan… He was on his back. The only person with shut eyes, still breathing. "Sylverin, step forward." And so she did. Sylverin took the chalice and, ignoring the terrible smell, she drank from it. The petite elven girl gave the chalice back to Duncan, waited a few second and then the pain hit her. She felt as her head was about to explode, her veins felt as if they were boiling. She couldn't hold long enough, and the world around her went black.
Darkness, nothingness surrounding her…
Voices, whispers, laughter and growling making her feels uneasy…
Suddenly a face in front of her. A grotesque creature with black blood flowing out of its eyes.
She can't move. She feels teeth biting her. Her warm blood is all around her, mixing with the dark blood of the twisted creatures… tainting her… scaring her… claiming her…
Then suddenly, still in pain she is seeing a dragon. A beautiful creature, looking right into her eyes, burning them with its cold stare. Is she about to die? Is she going to end up like Daveth?
No!
That can't happen! She was given a second chance and she will not let it go to waste!
Darkness surrounds her again. This time it's warm and comforting.
Then she felt the cold air on her face and she slowly opened her eyes and saw Duncan, Alistair and Aedan looking down on her.
"It is finished. Welcome." Duncan said while Aedan sighed as he could finally relax. "How do you feel?" the old warden asked her as he helped her up.
"I'm fine… It's over…" she lied.
"Before I forget, there is one last part to your Joining. You take some of that blood and you put it in a pendant. Something to remind us...of those who didn't make it this far." Alistair said as he handed a pendant to Aedan and Sylverin.
"Take some time. When you are ready, I'd like you to accompany me to a meeting with the king." Duncan said.
"Very well." The two new Grey Wardens nodded in unison.
"The meeting is to the west, down the stairs. Please attend as soon as you are able." And with that, Duncan left for the meeting, while Alistair left them as well to go to the other Grey Wardens.
"Let's go." Aedan said "We should not keep the king waiting."
"Loghain, my decision is final. I will stand by the Grey Wardens in this assault."
"You risk too much, Cailan. The darkspawn horde is too dangerous for you to be playing hero on the front lines." The king and Loghain seemed to be an argument when the two new Wardens arrived.
"If that's the case, perhaps we should wait for the Orlesian forces to join us after all."
"I must repeat my protest to your foolish idea that we need the Orlesians to defend ourselves."
"It is not a foolish idea. Our arguments with the Orleasians are the thing of the past. And you will remember who is king."
"How fortunate Marric did not live to see his son ready to hand Ferelden over to those who enslaved us for a century."
"Then our current forces will have to suffice, won't they?" Cailan said and turned towards the Wardens. "Duncan, are you men ready for battle?"
"They are, your Majesty."
"And are they the recruits I met earlier on the roads? I understand congratulations are in order."
Sylverin and Aedan looked at each other. The man, seeing Sylverin's face decided to answer this himself.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"So. Let's get back to business. The Grey Wardens and I draw the darkspawn into charging at our lines. And then?"
"You will alert the tower to light the beacon, signalling my men to charge from…" Loghain started, but was cut off by Cailan.
"To flank the darkspawn, yes I remember. This is the tower of Ishal in the ruins, yes? Who should light this beacon?"
"I have men stationed there. It's not a dangerous task, but it is vital."
"Then we should send our best. Send Alistair and the new Wardens to make sure it's done." With that the king looked at Sylverin and Aedan. The girl felt a bit of a relief as she expected there wouldn't be much fighting if she only had to light the beacon, Aedan, on the other hand, did not look too happy about that.
"We'll do our best, Your Majesty." The girl said quickly, before Aedan had a chance to complain.
"You rely on these Grey Wardens too much. Is that truly wise?" Loghain asked Cailan.
"Enough of your conspiracy theories, Loghain! Grey Wardens battle the Blight no matter where they're from."
Sylverin did not pay much attention to all the battle talk. She was never a great strategist and she was still under the shock from the Joining. Her hands did not stop shaking even while she, Aedan and Duncan walked down to Alistair. She had so much to think about and not enough time.
"Sylverin…" she heard Aedan calling her.
"Um… Sorry?"
"You two heard the plan." Duncan said, probably repeated what he said before, looking Sylverin straight in the eyes. "You and Alistair will go to the tower of Ishal and ensure the beacon is lit."
"What?" Alistair interrupted shocked. "I won't be in the battle?"
"This is by the king's personal request, Alistair. If the beacon is not lit, Teyrn Loghain's men won't know when to charge."
"So he needs two Grey Wardens standing up there holding the torch. Just in case, right?"
"I agree with Alistair. We should be in the battle." Aedan said.
"That is not your choice! If King Cailan wishes Grey Wardens to ensure the beacon is lit, then Grey Wardens will be there. We will do whatever it takes to destroy the darkspawn. Exciting or no."
"I get it, I get it." Alistair nodded in a very unhappy manner. "Just so you know, if the king ever asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I'm drawing the line. Darkspawn or no."
Aedan giggled. "I don't know… It could be a great distraction…"
"Me shimming down the darkspawn line? Sure, we can kill them, while they roll down laughing."
Duncan just sighed; Sylverin let herself giggle a bit. This mental image would never get out of her head, that's for sure.
"The tower is on the other side of the bridge."
"When do we light the beacon?" Sylverin asked.
"We will signal you when the time is right. Do what you must. You have your orders."
"We know what to do." She said with a nod.
"Duncan. May the Maker watch over you." Alistair looked at the man, before he left.
"May he watch over us all."
Much love for my Beta Reader: Flyte9393, for correcting this chapter as well.
Also, check out this picture of Sylverin: http:/ shadowna . deviantart . com/art/COM-Sylverin-Surana-255706114 I am absolutely in love with it :) (take out the spaces ^^)
Thank you all for reading this story ^^