Author's Note: I apologize for how long it took to get this chapter up. I had originally meant to do weekly updates, but work got in the way the last few weeks. Thanks to all those who have favorited and followed so far, it means a lot to know you find the story interesting! I promise to update as often as I can, this story definitely wants to come out. This chapter is a bit longer than I meant it to be, I had intended to cover the Tower of Ishal as well, but Ayla had a lot to stay, so we'll get to the Tower next chapter. As you might have noticed, I will also be putting in some game dialogue here and there, and I will try to keep that as close to the game as I can remember. However, there will obviously be a fair bit of original dialogue as well, since a new character throws in a new spin on things. I will be mostly following the game as it plays out, at least, the major events. Please review and let me know what you think, constructive criticism is welcome! Particularly if you think anyone's OOC. Thank you and enjoy!
Disclaimer: Anything related to the actual events or characters of Dragon Age is owned by Bioware.
Chapter Two: Ostagar and the Grey Wardens
As they approached the ruins, Ayla couldn't help but be impressed. She'd never seen such a big structure; even Fallor Castle was nowhere near as big as this Ostagar place had once been. Though most of what was left was only towers or walls, she could tell that the grey stone walls had once been massive and overwhelming. Alistair led them to a large, wooden gate with two doors that spanned an open archway. It was flanked by two soldiers, who nodded when they saw Alistair, took down the heavy wooden plank, and pushed open the doors. They cast curious glances at her as she followed the others in, but said nothing.
She'd made up her mind on the way back through the Wilds, decided what it was she had to do, and was going to do. The old woman they'd met in the Wilds, Morrigan's mother, had clinched it for her. She knew a messenger of the Goddess when she saw one; the old woman spoke in riddles, just like Cranin did. But they were riddles mixed with truth and advice. Not to mention the fact that the old woman had recognized right away, without being told, that Ayla was not of this world. So what the old woman had said must be true: she was here because she was needed here, more than she was needed at home.
She'd known that it must have been something like that. She'd been at Starwood Point when it happened. Only for a walk; she'd told her brother, Mardin, when she'd left that she'd only been going for a walk to get some fresh air. Fortunately, she'd taken her swords with her just to be on the safe side. Starwood Point was known to be a place where portals to other worlds could open, or people from other worlds could arrive in Fallor. But portals didn't just open by accident. Only the Goddess or one of her chosen messengers could have done something like that.
It had seemed like an accident, though. She'd been sitting on the ground in the clearing, facing the Starwood tree, with its blinding, silvery light, just relaxing and breathing in the sound and smell of the woods. Then, the ground had started to shake, at the same time as something had started to appear in front of the tree. A golden light, getting bigger and bigger until it had taken the shape of a door. A fierce wind had kicked up, pushing her towards the light. She'd gotten to her feet, thinking she could get away, but the wind had been so powerful, it had lifted her off her feet and essentially thrown her in the door.
Once in the door of light, she hadn't been able to see anything, not clearly, only sense and feel. It had been like being pushed and pulled at the same time, turned and twisted around in a thousand directions, until she had no concept of which way was up, down, forward or backward. Overwhelming pressure had pushed down on her, until finally, she'd blacked out.
When she came to, she'd been lying on the ground, in what she now knew was the Korcari Wilds. Considering what she could recall of what happened, she'd felt surprisingly good, other than a mild headache. She'd gotten to her feet; unsure of what to do next, since the scenery around her was like nothing she'd ever seen before, when she heard the noise. She'd looked toward it, and seen those monstrous creatures, those darkspawn, as Alistair had called them, coming toward her.
They, too, were like nothing she'd ever seen before. She'd heard stories of demons and monsters in her world, and even come across a few monsters, but largely, Fallor was at peace, and all the demons were gone. She had been wholly unprepared for the sight of these horrible, humanoid creatures, black, bald, and leering. All the ones she'd seen at that point had been short, a good foot or so shorter than herself, stocky, with pointed teeth in dark-skinned faces, wearing bits and pieces of armor, and carrying weapons. Both weapons and armor had looked wrong, as though just by being in contact with those things, they had become dark and twisted as well.
For the first time she could remember in her life, Ayla had actually felt true fear on the battlefield. Her mind had been seized with panic at their approach, and she'd felt like she couldn't move. Fortunately, her ruthlessly trained body had reacted, even when her mind had felt unable to. Her swords had come out almost automatically, and she'd moved into the dance of fighting long before her brain had cleared. When the first one had gone down, and she'd realized they died the same as anything else, except for the black ichor leaking out where red blood should have been, her brain had cleared, and the fear had disappeared.
Then Alistair and his friends, or recruits, had appeared, and through the conversation, she'd had it truly brought home to her that she was no longer in Fallor. Almost everything Alistair had mentioned to her, place names and names of warrior orders, had been utterly unfamiliar. There were many legends and stories about such things happening; she just never dreamed it would have happened to her. And though the door opening had seemed like a random accident, she knew such a powerful occurrence couldn't possibly be. Morrigan's mother had confirmed it for her, she was needed here, and by doing whatever she was brought here to do, she would be able to go home again. Ayla remembered that she had also said who she met and where she arrived would have a lot to do with what she'd been brought here for.
Ayla was inclined to agree. It couldn't be a coincidence that she'd met these Grey Wardens, who were charged to fight those darkspawn, minutes after her arrival. It also couldn't be a coincidence that her arrival had occurred on the eve of what sounded like a very important battle for them. So she'd made up her mind. She was meant to help the Grey Wardens fight the darkspawn; that was the mission her Goddess had brought her here to achieve, that was her destiny. She didn't know why it was just hers; why hadn't someone else been brought through with her? Even just her brother would have been a huge help. But maybe only one person had been able to cross over, or she'd just happened to be in the right place at the right time. No matter, though, she'd do whatever she had to in order to accomplish her destiny and get home.
The biggest problem right now, she mused as she followed Alistair through the camp, was convincing Alistair's commander that she needed to stay with them and help them fight. She didn't think she could tell any of them the truth about where she was from; not yet, anyway. That was why she'd been careful to say as little as possible to Alistair. She didn't know if this was a world that would readily accept the existence of others, or the possibility that someone from another world could appear in theirs. So she'd keep her mouth shut until she knew they could accept what she had to say, about that and about her own abilities.
She had no idea if they'd be willing to let her stay with them and fight alongside them. On the one hand, it sounded like they could use all the help they could get, if they were bringing in three raw recruits so close to a major battle. On the other hand, would they be able to trust her, when there was so little she could tell them? She knew Alistair already had his suspicions, she'd seen it in his eyes. Of course, he had every right to be suspicious. Her story was full of holes, and she could tell she was missing a lot of basic knowledge someone from his world would have.
But even with that, he'd trusted her so far. He'd been willing to bring her along with them, even as they finished up their mission, and to trust her to fight alongside them. He'd brought her back into the middle of their camp. He'd done so much more for her than she would have expected anybody to do, considering the circumstances under which they'd met. She was hoping that he would help her convince Duncan that she needed to stay. After all, he'd seen her fight, too. He had to know that she'd be useful.
She glanced around the camp as they continued to make their way through it, observing all that she could, and trying to note down the similarities and differences. For the most part, the army camp was like any gathering of warriors before a big battle. There were groups of tents set up around various campfires, each belonging to a different band of warriors or troops. People bustled back and forth, fetching food, water, weapons, supplies, whatever was needed to fight the battle. In one spot, she even saw people praying as a woman in robes spoke about a Maker.
There was a group of mages, too, she noted, though they seemed to be cordoned off from all the others. There was magic and mages in her world, too. But something must be different here. In her world, the mages had their own order, and led themselves. From what Alistair had told her, here they had an order devoted to being able to neutralize mages, in case they were a danger. She could see men in heavy silver plate armor, with red and gold skirting covering their legs, guarding the area where the mages were. They had to be Templars. She wondered what it was that made mages in this world so dangerous they had to be guarded all the time. She was afraid to ask, though, for fear she'd arouse more suspicion.
The only other immediate difference she saw was the elves. There were elves in Fallor, as well, but they all had silver hair. Some believed it was because the valley they lived in contained another tree like the one at Starwood Point, and after centuries of living by it, it had changed their appearance. Whatever the reason was, she'd never met an elf who didn't have silver hair. But the ones here had all shades of hair, just like humans. The other difference was that they all appeared to be servants, or maybe even slaves. They were all performing menial tasks, and wearing rough, homespun clothing, and none of them were carrying weapons. Additionally, none of them seemed to be in command of anything, not even themselves. These were all things that the proud, long-lived elves she was used to would never have agreed to. She decided that the differences she'd seen so far, she didn't like.
"We're here," Alistair announced suddenly, jerking her out of her observations. They'd arrived at a fire in front of another group of tents. An older man stood waiting by the fire. In spite of his years, he was still attractive, with a full beard and his dark hair clubbed into a queue at the back of his neck. His tanned skin and gold hoop earring gave him a somewhat piratical air. He wore an expensive-looking suit of light silver and gold plate, skirted at the bottom. A wicked-looking longsword and dagger were strapped to his back. He had to be Alistair's commander, Ayla thought. She could see it in his stance, in the air of command that surrounded him.
"So you return from the Wilds, have you been successful?" The commander's sharp-eyed gaze passed over all of them, then lingered on Ayla. "It appears you brought someone back with you."
Alistair cleared his throat. "Yes, we were successful. Duncan, this is Ayla. We came across her in the Wilds, fighting darkspawn. She didn't know how she came to be in the Wilds."
"Indeed?" Duncan's eyebrows raised, his gaze continuing to bore into Ayla. She resisted the urge to squirm. He'd definitely be tough to convince, she decided. "I'd like nothing better than to question her further about that, but we have little time at the moment. The Circle mages are preparing. With the . . . . items you've retrieved, we can begin the Joining immediately. After that, you and I can have a discussion." He nodded at Ayla.
She cleared her throat. It was now or never. "Excuse me, Commander Duncan, but I'd like to offer my services to the Grey Wardens. I would like to help you in your fight against these darkspawn. If that requires me to undertake this Joining of yours, I can do that as well."
Duncan looked both shocked and grim, and Alistair had a sudden coughing fit, as though something had gone down the wrong way. "I am not so sure that is wise, though I appreciate the sentiment and the offer."
"Ayla, wait." It was Alistair who spoke. She turned toward him, noticing, not for the first time, how handsome he was. His closely cropped, reddish-blonde hair gleamed in the firelight, with its odd upturn of spikes above his forehead. His square-jawed face was smooth except for a little stubble that she found oddly appealing, and his hazel eyes were dark with sudden concern. "You want to go home, don't you?"
"Of course I do," she replied, finding the question odd. "But I think, in order to do so, that I must do something here first. I believe that something is helping the Grey Wardens with this fight. Once I have, then I may be able to find the way home."
"Well, if you want to help fight the Blight, that's fine. But the Joining is kind of . . . permanent. If you want to go back home, it's probably best that you don't go through the Joining." His brow was furrowed, she noted, and he was carefully not looking her directly in the eyes.
What exactly did he mean by permanent? She'd realized that he must have some type of ability of his own. It hadn't escaped her notice in the Wilds that he'd picked up on the darkspawn long before ordinary human senses would have, even before her heightened hearing and eyesight had been able to. She'd also noticed that the other three hadn't appeared to have the same abilities, so it must be something that the Grey Wardens gained after going through this Joining.
Judging by his reluctance to have her participate, though, it didn't sound as though it was a simple test of ability or skill, like the Kin Ritual in Fallor, or the battle that tested one's worth to join the Order of Avallonne. In those cases, if you didn't succeed, you just didn't gain your animal kin, or become a warrior of the Order. This seemed to be a lot more serious. Well, he was the Grey Warden. If he was telling her it was best not to go through with it, she'd probably be better off listening.
She nodded. "All right, then I won't go through with the Joining. But I still believe I am meant to help the Grey Wardens fight, so I would like to remain and help you fight off this Blight of yours."
"That will be up to Duncan," Alistair turned back to Duncan as he said this.
"We will discuss it after the Joining." Duncan looked at Ayla. She sensed that he was sizing her up. "If you wish to join us, you will remain here, and wait for Alistair and I to return. I will take a moment with the recruits alone to explain a few things; then, Alistair, you will take them to the old temple, and we will begin."
Duncan motioned to Aedan and the others to follow him as he walked away from the fire. They followed him several yards away to a point that was out of earshot. If they hadn't been in a crowded camp, though, Ayla would still have been able to pick up the conversation. It didn't matter, though, she knew it had to be about the Joining, and it must have been something that the Wardens needed to keep secret. She wasn't going to pry into something that was none of her business, especially when she needed Duncan to trust her.
"Why do you want to help us?" Alistair asked her. "Do you honestly believe you can find your way home from helping us fight the Blight?"
Ayla hesitated. How much to tell him? But then, he'd been there when Morrigan's mother had spoken to her. "You heard what Morrigan's mother said, right? That I was brought here because I was needed here more than I was needed at home? And that maybe once I'd done what was needed doing here, I would find the answers I need to get home? I thought about it on the way back here, and I decided she was right. I do not believe it was a coincidence that I met you so soon after I arrived, and just before what appears to be a major battle in your Blight. So, I will help you and the other Grey Wardens in your battle, and by doing so, maybe I will find my answers."
"You're going to take advice from a crazy old witch?"
Ayla shrugged. "I do not believe she was just a crazy old witch. She knew far more about me than she should have, and it sounded like she had the answers I was looking for."
Alistair sighed, rubbing a hand over his face as though he were weary. "You know this will be dangerous, right? You'll be risking your life to fight a battle that isn't yours."
She smiled. "I am a warrior, after all. I have spent my entire life risking it on the battlefield. Besides, I know nothing about where I am, or how I could get to my home from here. If I start to aimlessly wander your country while it is in a state of battle, that would be equally dangerous. Best to help you finish your fight, then go looking when your country's at peace again."
"I suppose you have a point. All right, I'll make you a deal. You help us defeat the Blight, and when it's all over, I'll help you find your way home." He grinned at her, and she was surprised to feel her heart jump a little. Why did she find him so attractive? It wasn't like she wasn't used to being around attractive men, after all.
She found herself grinning back. "That sounds like a deal. A favour for a favour. Just as long as Duncan lets me stay, that is."
He held out his gauntleted hand, and she shook it to seal the deal. "Don't worry about Duncan. I'll talk him into it. Anyway, I'd best go help him with the Joining now. There's a food tent over there, if you're hungry. We'll be back as soon as we can."
She followed the direction he was pointing, and saw the tent open at the front, with a large kettle over the fire. A man was ladling what looked like stew into bowls for the soldiers lined up there. Realizing that she did feel hungry, she decided she'd go eat. She nodded to Alistair. "I will be waiting here, then."
He walked off in the direction that Duncan had gone with the recruits, and joining up with them, headed further away, towards a stone ramp that led up into another area of the ruins. She headed over to the food tent, and joined the line up to get something to eat.
It had been at least a good hour since Duncan and Alistair had left, and Ayla was getting restless. She'd eaten the stew, which had been surprisingly good, along with a hunk of bread and some cheese. Then, she'd simply sat by the fire, watching the camp. Part of her had wanted to leave and go exploring, but not knowing when exactly they would get back, she'd decided against it. She'd agreed to wait here, and if she wasn't here when they returned, that wouldn't help Duncan trust her any.
Finally, she picked up on footsteps approaching the fire she was sitting at. She turned her head to look. Duncan and Alistair were approaching, with Aedan. Alistair had Aedan's arm slung over his shoulders, and was helping him to walk. The young man, who Ayla suspected was close to her own age of 21 years, looked very pale. His short black hair was sweaty, and his eyes looked glazed. He looked ill, Ayla realized, like his body was fighting something off.
Alistair helped him into another one of the tents, this one was closed off, and most likely contained sleeping pallets. Duncan, meanwhile, approached the fire where she was waiting. "I see you are still here."
Ayla was burning with her own questions. Where were Jory and Daveth? Why did Aedan look so ill? What did this Joining entail exactly? But she knew now wasn't the time. So she simply nodded. "I am. I did say I wished to join you in your fight, after all."
Alistair came back out of the tent, and took a seat on one of the logs around the fire, as Duncan had. "He's resting," he said in answer to the look Duncan cast in his direction.
Duncan nodded, then turned his attention back to Ayla. "You say you wish to join us. First, I would like to hear a little bit more about whom exactly you are, and where you come from. I cannot allow just anyone to fight alongside the Grey Wardens."
Ayla had expected as much, and had decided how exactly she wanted to go about it. "My name is Ayla Trichlor, and I hail from a country called Fallor. I doubt that you have heard of it, for I have not heard of your Ferelden, either." This was all true, of course. She just wasn't mentioning that they probably hadn't heard of it because it was in a different world. "I am a warrior of the Order of Avallonne, an Order of warriors pledged to fight in the service of our King, either in war or to keep the peace of his lands. I am the Lieutenant of that Order."
She pulled back the left side of her pantherskin cloak, to show them the silver band wrapped around her upper arm. It bore the symbol of the spreading wings crossed by swords that symbolized her Order, the same symbol worn on her tunic. The silver band was worn by the Lieutenant of the Order, while the Captain wore the gold band. She had decided it was best to tell them her qualifications as a warrior, so to speak. It might make Duncan more likely to bring her along. She continued with the story she'd chosen to tell him.
"I had gone out for a walk in the woods near my home, just to get some fresh air. I took my swords with me, to be safe. While I was resting in a clearing, there was a bright flash of light, and I lost consciousness. When I awoke, I was in the place you call the Korcari Wilds. Before I could even decide what to do, I was attacked by those creatures you call darkspawn. Then Alistair and the other recruits came to my aid. I imagine you know the rest."
Duncan folded his hands together, and looked at her with a considering gaze. "This is truly all that you can remember?"
Ayla nodded. It was, after all. She was just leaving out a few facts that they didn't need to know quite yet. But everything she'd told them was completely true.
"You'll forgive me if I am suspicious. Your story is very difficult to believe. If it is true, I can only imagine some type of magic brought you to the Wilds. You are correct that I have never heard of your country, and I had thought that I knew every country in Thedas. I would be inclined to think you were making it up, but you are wearing clothes different from any I have seen, and the crest you bear is different from any that I know of, as well. It also seems like a much too elaborate ruse for the purpose of getting to risk your life fighting alongside the Grey Wardens. Not to mention, there is no way you could have known that Alistair and the recruits would be there at that particular time." Duncan paused here, and seemed to be thinking.
Ayla waited, holding her breath. He was smart, this Duncan, logical, and fair. It sounded like she might have a chance of convincing him after all.
Duncan turned to look at Alistair. "Alistair also tells me you're a skilled fighter, and we could certainly use more of those. I have a feeling that you are not telling me everything, but I also believe you are sincere in your desire to help. So, I am going to allow you to stay with us."
"Thank you –" Ayla began, but he held up a hand to forestall her.
"There are conditions, however, which you must agree to, or I will not allow it."
Ayla nodded. She'd expected no less. Any commander worthy of the title would not simply allow a strange warrior to join them without some kind of restrictions. "What are the conditions?"
"The first condition is that if you are fighting with the Grey Wardens, you will be expected to act as one, meaning that you must follow the orders of the Warden Commander at all times. The second condition is that you must not divulge any secrets you might learn about the Wardens while fighting with us, under pain of death. Finally, if I suspect at any time that you are a danger to any of us, or our King, I will do whatever is necessary to end that danger." His eyes were cold on the last sentence, his face set. Ayla had no doubt he'd do as he said, if he felt it necessary.
Ayla nodded again. "I agree to your conditions. They all seem fair and straightforward. Where would you like me to begin, Commander?"
Duncan smiled suddenly as he rose to his feet. "I have a meeting to attend with the King, regarding the upcoming battle with the darkspawn. Since Alistair was the one who found you, you are his responsibility. For now, you go where he goes. At the moment, the two of you will remain here to watch over Aedan. When I return from the meeting, I should have further orders for you."
Ayla nodded. "Yes, Commander." She watched Duncan head off again, back in the direction he'd come from, and turned to Alistair.
It wouldn't be much of a hardship to go where he went, she decided. She'd already come to the conclusion she wanted to find out what was under that splintmail armour of his, besides his broad shoulders. She had the feeling he was very well defined under there. Being partnered with him, so to speak, would only make it that much easier to eventually find out. Plus, from what she'd seen so far, he was a skilled warrior as well, and she felt she could trust him to watch her back on the battlefield.
"Sorry about that," Alistair muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was the only way he'd agree to let you along, if I took personal responsibility for keeping an eye on you, in case you were up to something."
"Not to worry," Ayla assured him. "I wanted to come along, after all, and I do believe I'll enjoy travelling with you."
"You will?" He looked startled. "Huh, that's a switch."
Ayla fought back a grin, and turned her attention to more serious matters. "What happened to the other two recruits? Why does Aedan look so ill?"
Alistair sighed, and looked away. "I suppose it won't do any good to try to hide it from you. Just remember, you agreed to keep any secrets you learned about the Wardens." He looked at her again, and when she nodded, he went on. "As I said, the Joining is kind of permanent. It changes our bodies in order to let us fight the darkspawn more effectively. Not everybody makes it through the change. Those that do, feel ill at first, and need some time to recover."
"Daveth and Jory were not able to make it through the change, then," Ayla guessed. Seeing the sorrow in Alistair's eyes as he nodded, she knew she had the right answer. "I am sorry for your loss."
"Thank you," he murmured. "I can wish that it wasn't necessary, but Duncan says there is no other way to fight them, and defeat a Blight. At least Aedan made it through."
"You should get something to eat," Ayla urged him. If she'd been hungry when she got back, however long ago that was now, she could only imagine how hungry he must be. "I'll keep an eye on Aedan's tent while you do."
"Well, I am hungry," he admitted. "Are you sure that's okay?"
"Yes, go," she waved him off. "Besides, Aedan might be hungry when he feels better, too."
"You're right, I'll get us both some food." Alistair got to his feet and headed in the direction of the food tent.
Ayla wondered while she watched him go, just what it was that the Joining entailed, that it could potentially take the lives of those who went through it. It wasn't her secret to know, not yet. Maybe they would trust her with it eventually. Maybe she'd eventually trust them with the secrets of her own abilities and where she came from, too. Only time would tell. For now, she'd accomplished the first goal she'd set for herself in this strange new world. She was going to fight alongside the Grey Wardens. It only remained to see just how that fight would play out.