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The Last of the Couslands	By : MistressofMagic Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4401 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Bioware and EA own everything associated with the Dragon Age universe. I am making no money off of this fan fiction.

Chapter List
- 5
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Chapter 5
The Joining
No one spoke as the mysterious Morrigan led them into the deepest parts of the Wilds, towards her mother's hut. Bridget could sense the uneasiness in the group but knew that trusting Morrigan to take them to Flemeth would be the only way they would retrieve the treaties. They emerged from the dense patch of the Wilds and came up to a very unstable and old hut. An old woman sat by a fire outside and stood when she noticed the arrival of her daughters and the others.
"Ah Morrigan…it is unlike you to bring friends for supper." She noted.
Bridget stared at the elder and noted that if Daveth and Jory thought that Morrigan looked like she was a witch…they were probably already convincing themselves that this Flemeth was indeed the true witch of the Wilds.
"I have with me a Grey Warden and recruits. They need their treaties." Morrigan stated dully.
Flemeth nodded and swept her eyes over the group.
"Very well, I will fetch them."
She disappeared into her hut and returned moments later with a fairly thick stack of paper. She handed them to Bridget.
"There you are. I hope you did not think that I 'stole' these documents. I only took them away from their rightful place because the barbarians that live here amongst the animals wished to steal them."
Alistair nodded.
"I suppose we should thank you for keeping them safe for all this time."
Flemmeth held up her hands.
"No need. Now that you have your treaties, Morrigan will show you out of the forest."
Morrigan sighed.
"Follow me." She said once again.
The walk back to the edge of the forest did not take as long as Bridget had thought it would. Morrigan bid farewell as soon as the walls of Ostagar came into view, stating that they should no how to get back from there. Before Bridget could thank her for her help, Morrigan had already disappeared back into the shadows.
"Whew…I'm glad to be rid of her…a bit creepy don't you think?" Alistair joked.
Bridget smiled.
"Yes, but she did help us with the treaties."
Alistair nodded.
"Right, now we need to get back to Duncan."
The group grew silent as they reached the gate leading back into the camp. A small knot of nerves formed in Bridget's stomach. Now that they had the tasks complete…what would Duncan ask of them next? They found him by the fire, exactly where they had left him. Bridget handed him the treaties and the vials of blood.
"Well done. Are you ready to partake in the Joining?" he asked.
Bridget nodded, wanting to get it over with. She did not know what to expect…but by the tone of Duncan's voice…she deduced that they would not like it.
"Very well, follow me."
Bridget and the others followed Duncan away from camp towards more ruins. Once there, a single goblet sat atop a stone table. Duncan turned to the goblet and began to fill it with the blood that Bridget and the others collected. Jory's eyes widened.
"Are we…we're not going to drink that, are we?" he asked nervously.
Duncan sighed and turned to him.
"In order to become a Grey Warden…you must drink the blood of a Darkspawn. This is the age old Ritual since the beginning of the Grey Wardens. Those that prove worthy will survive. Those that do not…will die."
Duncan handed the goblet to Daveth. He swallowed and took a deep breath before taking a sip. Immediately his body had a reaction to it. Daveth dropped to his knees and held his throat. His breath sounded as if there were some invisible creature sucking it right out of him. He fell over…dead.
Bridget swallowed nervously. No…she was not afraid. She had lost her entire family...and nothing could be worse than that feeling of emptiness that she carried with her, that feeling of guilt that plagued her soul. Jory was next, but what was he doing?
"I-I can't…I have a wife…with a child along the way!" he shouted.
Duncan placed the goblet on the stone table and withdrew his own sword as Jory was now brandishing his.
"I am sorry Jory…I cannot let you live now that you know the process."
Before Jory even had any hope of deflecting Duncan's blow, Duncan had impaled him with his sword, showering dark crimson liquid all around. Duncan sighed and replaced his blade back in it's sheath. He picked the goblet back up again and walked towards Bridget. She took a deep breath and lifted the goblet to her lips. Bridget felt her mouth burn, as if it was filled with oil and someone had lit a match. She swallowed down the vile liquid and held her stomach. She felt the poisonous blood spread throughout her entire body in mere seconds. Bridget felt her entire body go numb, she didn't think she could feel any hotter, she half expected her skin to begin to boil. She looked up into the night sky and felt her eyes roll into the back of her head and then…nothing.
Bridget felt something against her cheek. She slowly opened her eyes and stared up at Alistair.
"Duncan! She's awake, she made it!"
Bridget placed a hand to her forehead and sighed. Her skin felt clammy, but cool. Alistair held out his hand and she took it, thanking him as he helped her stand. Duncan approached her.
"Congratulations…you are a Grey Warden."
Bridget took a deep breath.
"That was most unpleasant…is this how you treat all your ladies, Duncan?"
Alistair chuckled and Duncan smiled.
"Already cracking jokes, I see. I knew you would make a good Warden. You may rest for a while but afterwards I need you and Alistair to join me to meet with King Cailan. He is discussing his battle strategy for tomorrow."
Bridget nodded, still a little weary and was grateful that she would be able to rest for a bit. Duncan smiled and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Your father would have been very proud, Bridget."
Bridget looked down at her feet.
"Thank you." She replied.
Duncan nodded and walked off. Bridget looked up at Alistair.
"I feel bad for Daveth…and Jory…" she whispered.
Alistair sighed.
"I know. Not everyone made it through my Joining, either. I'm glad you did though…Duncan is right, you are going to make a great Warden."
Bridget gave him a small smile.
"Thanks, Alistair. Well I guess we should go and meet with the king to get it over with. Sooner we do that, sooner we can sleep."
Alistair nodded.
"I agree. I don't know how much sleep either one of us will get tonight with the impending battle and all, but it's worth a shot, right?"
Bridget smiled and laughed softly.
"Yes, I suppose it is."
They turned and followed in Duncan's wake towards the king's tent. Upon approaching the tent, there seemed to be a dispute between two men.
"Cailan you would sacrifice the lives of all these people just to have glory in battle?" A dark haired stern looking man said.
King Cailan ignored him when he noticed Bridget and Alistair.
"You must be the new Grey Warden, congratulations."
Bridget looked at him and furrowed her brow. He looked oddly like someone else that she knew…she dropped into a bow.
"Thank you your Majesty. I am honored to stand by you and defend Fereldon with the others."
Cailan smiled and looked back at the other man.
"Looks like you could learn something from her, Loghain." He stated.
Bridget's eyes widened. She did not realize that the man the king spoke to was the Teyrn of Gwaren and decorated war hero. Bridget always pictured him to look…well he didn't match up to anything that she pictured.
"I'm glad you are here, Duncan. I need the two other Wardens to light the beacon at the Tower of Ishal during the onslaught. This will inform Teyrn Loghain to march his men towards battle."
Duncan bowed deeply.
"It shall be done, your Majesty."
Bridget and Alistair bowed and followed Duncan back to his tent.
"So let me get this straight…we're not going to get to fight tomorrow?"
Duncan turned and looked at him.
"Consider yourself lucky, Alistair. The king has entrusted this important task to you two…I know you will be able to get it done."
Bridget nodded, although she too had hoped to fight in battle. Duncan bid them both a good night and retired to his tent. Alistair sighed.
"I was really looking forward to killing some Darkspawn too." He said in disappointment.
Bridget nodded.
"I was too. Seems like I can never bloody fight in battle not even when I'm in a camp full of soldiers!"
Alistair chuckled.
"Maybe once we light the beacon we can join?" he suggested.
Bridget nodded.
"Perhaps…after we light the beacon I see no reason why we should remain in the tower. Maybe we will get our wish after all."
Alistair smiled.
"Maybe. Well…I guess I'll go and try to get some sleep although I find that highly impossible. I don't know if Wynne showed you were your tent was, but it's right over there." Alistair said as he pointed off to a tent a little more than a foot away.
"She did, but thanks for the refresher. After everything I've been through in the past three hours, there was no possible way I would remember where it was." She began to walk off to her tent, Zeus coming out of nowhere and trotting at her side.
"Goodnight, Alistair." She said.
Alistair nodded.
"Goodnight."
Bridget crawled into her tent after ordering Zeus to stay outside as it was rather small and would not fit the both of them. Bridget removed her armor and laid back on the small bedroll. She was tired and her whole body ached, most likely from the Ritual. Bridget closed her eyes praying to the Maker that things would go in favor of the king during the upcoming battle…
- 5
- 6
- 7
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The Last of the Couslands