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[Gilgamesh1138]

Thanks Lynn01 *HUGS*

[Gilgamesh1138]

Dalira you are way too good to me! Thanks sweetie! *HUGS and thanks you for the gold award*

[Gilgamesh1138]

Aw you are welcome! Almost done with 95 so I can work on the next First Cut chapter.

[Gilgamesh1138]

LOL!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 23 ~Romancing the Wilds~

Night in the Wilds made Kai feel as though they had been thrown under a dark, wet, and very

cold blanket.  Even the moon preferred to stay hidden behind black clouds, peaking out

occasionally before ducking from view. Shadows cast by the fire seemed blacker, denser, and

like the fog here, a living thing.  The cold and odious damp would have been more easily borne

if they had a bigger fire; but Alistair pointed out (when Ser Jory started to whine) that a

bigger fire might draw darkspawn to them. 

There was one bright side to the evening, they had fresh meat for their meal in the form of

one large and very poisonous snake.  Daveth shot the reptile as it wended its way over Jory’s

leg, barely missing...well barely missing making the knight a soprano in the Redcliffe Chantry

choir. 

Kai suppressed a giggle that was threatening to bubble up as she picked the meat from the

delicate rib bones to pop in her mouth.  The memory of Jory’s beady little eyes widening to

the size of hens’ eggs as Daveth’s arrow pierced the snake pinning it to the ground beneath it

next to the knight’s inner thigh was priceless.  The knight’s mouth mirrored his eyes, shaped

into a large “o” that only widened as Kai pulled the rest of the snake’s twitching body from

behind Jory inch by inch. 

She estimated the, Korcari Silver Mouthed Asp, as the serpent turned out to be, to be about

ten feet long.  That was a conservative guess, it might have been longer.  Long or short it

tasted good.

 Daveth having lived near the Wilds as a child knew the snake on sight and how deadly it was. 

Kai had known from a favorite childhood book on the animals of Thedas she and her brother

loved to pour over as it had colored illustrations.   That beloved old tome failed to mention

how really tasty the asp was.  

“Tastes like chicken.”  Alistair garbled around a mouthful before swallowing, “Anyone mind if

I take that last bit there?”  He pointed to the spit where the last foot of meat still dripped

grease into the fire with the occasional popping hiss. 

When they all indicated that Alistair was welcome to it, the ex-templar reached out with

enthusiasm for the spit.  Kai couldn’t help but grin.  Alistair’s appetite was ravenous, to

say the least.  Kai pressed her lips together to keep from laughing as grease dripped down his

chin.  If she didn’t know better, she would have thought the Grey never fed him. 

Having finished her own portion, she licked her fingers clean as best she could before rubbing

them gently on her leather clad legs.  Her mother would have been appalled, Kai could hear her

voice now, “Really, darling you are no Chasind barbarian!”  It was so clear, it caused her

heart to clutch painfully in her chest and her vision to go blurry. 

She cast about for something to distract herself.  Since Alistair was busy dismantling the

rest of the asp she looked at her other two companions.  Daveth was watching her closely with

a raised eyebrow, “You alright there, love?” 

She nodded giving him a half grimace, half grin.  Kai noticed Alistair had stopped with his

cheek bulging and another piece of meat halfway to his mouth, even Jory was squinting at her. 

 Kai jumped to the first topic she could think of to distract them, “So, Ser Jory, you said

you were from Redcliffe?” 

The knight looked confused for a moment, casting a look at Daveth, then her, before answering,

““I grew up in Redcliffe,  but I was living in Highever, a city off the northern coast.”  Jory

gave her a wistful homesick smile, “Have you traveled there?”

Bugger! Kai mentally cursed herself.  She would bring up one of the topics she wished to

avoid, her home, which might lead to talk about her family.  Bugger, bugger, bugger!  She

cursed in her own head once more, “I...hail from there.”

She would have sworn Daveth could read her mind as he flashed her a sassy grin.  She wrinkled

her nose at him.  Alistair looked between them, and Jory seemed to miss the exchange (as

usual).  The knight’s face suddenly flashed a brilliant smile at Kai as if he  suddenly caught

the most elusive and brilliant of ideas, “I thought you looked familiar, I do know you!”

Kai shook her hand emphatically and waved her hands, which Ser Jory completely ignored, “My

Lady Cousland!”

Kai closed her eyes and breathed out a long breath sigh of air.  Sod it!

Her eyes snapped open when Daveth’s amused voice broke her brief silence, “Lady, huh?”  She

snorted and his grin only broadened, “I knew you were a noble, but not that particular noble. 

One step away from the crown itself. Oh ho, now I’m really smitten.”

Kai gave him an nasty glare, before turning back to Jory, “I gave that up when Highever was

attacked by Arl Howe, my family was slaughtered, and Duncan and I had to flee in the dead of

night.  I never cared for that title, and when I take the Joining I will be ‘Lady’ no more.” 

She gave each man around the fire a pointed look, “If any of you call me ‘my lady’ again, I

will slit you from navel to nose and put you on a spit like the snake, understand?” 

Daveth gave her a sly smile, “ I understand my...”  He chuckled when Kai squinted her eyes at

him, but sobered immediately, “Sorry about your family, love.” 

Ali blushed and wiped his finger off on his armor before patting her arm.  She gave them a

rueful smile before waving her hands at the bewildered knight, “Please continue, Ser Jory.”

The befuddled knight just shook his head in confusion, “I was in Arl Eamon’s retinue when he

attended King Maric’s funeral. It was at Highever that I met my Helena.”  Jory’s face took on

a dreamy look, “I was smitten.  She has the most beautiful eyes, my Helena.  For years I found

any excuse to return there.  We married a year ago.” 

Kai remembered Helena from Highever as a curly, golden haired blond with a roses and cream

complexion, and big blue eyes.  Helena looked like a doll, and acted as though her head were

filled with stuffing like one.  Kai remembered Helena as the child who wanted to play the

“damsel in distress” waiting to be rescued by her valiant knight.  Kai gave a mental snort,

Helena and Jory were perfect for each other.

Ser Jory’s face took on, what Nan had referred to as the ‘moon calf’ look, “Arl Eamon gave me

leave to serve Highever, but I was attempting to persuade Helena to return to Redcliffe with

me.  I took her there to show her my childhood home, to help in swaying her.  At least, I was

until Duncan recruited me.”  The knight shrugged, “Last month, Duncan visited Redcliffe while

I was there with my Helena, and the Arl held a tournament there in his honor.  I won the grand

melee.”  

Kai couldn’t help but poke fun at the obviously besotted knight, “So you abandoned her?” 

As she expected, her joke went right over Jory’s head, his voice became indignant, “Never! I

will return to her once my duty is done and the Blight defeated.”  He pounded a fist into his

open palm for emphasis, “It was hard to leave my wife.  We married only a year ago, and she is

heavy with child now.”  Again his face became wistful, “But...Ferelden needs my blade, I shall

not falter.”

Kai shot Alistair a look before addressing the knight once more, “So, what do you think of

Duncan?”

Jory looked thoughtful for a moment (and led Kai to wonder uncharitably if that was a new

sensation for their chivalrous companion), “He has a seemingly impossible task, with a scarce

handful of Grey Wardens.  Yet he does not complain or flinch from his duty.”  Ser Jory

shrugged, “We should find those documents as soon as we can.  Although if they were so

important, why leave them out here?” 

Alistair sighed, “As you heard Duncan say, they always expected to return for them.  Sometimes

plans don’t get to be implemented quite the way we intended.  The important thing is that we

are here now and we will fetch them from this place.” 

Kai broke in before the knight could rejoinder, “So...Daveth, you said you are familiar with

the Wilds.”

Daveth gave her a saucy wink, “Nice change of topic there, love.  Yeah, I grew up in a village

‘bout a day’s trip to the east.  Little blot you wouldn’t even find on a map.”  The cutpurse

gave a sardonic chuckle and a shrug of his shoulders, “I haven’t been back in years.  I struck

out for the city as soon as I could outrun my pa.  He had a heavy hand and a short temper.  My

mum was a gentle soul who found herself on the receiving end of his ire as much as the rest of

us.  I’ve been in Denerim for what...six years now?  Never liked it much, but there’s more

purses there than anywhere else.”  He shrugged with a rueful grin.

Kai grinned, “So, you’re a rogue and a cutpurse.”

Daveth laughed, “...and a pickpocket thank you very much.  Or was, anyhow.” 

“‘Still’, more like.”  Alistair’s voice mumbled.

The rogue flashed the ex-templar a wide grin, “Who’d ever guess I’d end up a Grey Warden?”

“Well you might not have been if you hadn’t tried to steal from Duncan,”  Alistair snorted.

“True enough, the Grey Wardens certainly weren’t looking for me, but I found them.  With the

parade of soldiers leaving Denerim for Ostagar, and all the crowds...it was too much to

resist.  I cut Duncan’s purse while he was standing in a crowd.”  Daveth snickered, “He

grabbed my wrist, but I squirmed out and bolted.  The old bugger....” He flashed Alistair a

look, “The Commander can run, but the garrison caught me first.” 

Daveth took a stick and poked at the fire before adding more wood.  He gave Kai a saucy,

come-hither wink and grin, “I’m a wanted man in Denerim, you see, and not just by the ladies.”

 Kai snorted and rolled her eyes as he continued, “They were going to string me up right

there.” 

“Wait, this is the part where you told me Duncan conscripted you to keep you from the noose,

yes?”  Kai laughed and shook her head at the cutpurse.

“Aya, Duncan stopped them.  Invoked the Right of Conscription, he did.  I gave the garrison

the finger while I was walking away.”  Daveth shrugged with a bashful look on his face, “Don’t

know why Duncan wants someone like me.  But he says finesse is important, and that I’m fast

with a blade...”

“Especially on unsuspecting purse strings?”  Kai asked sweetly eliciting deep throated laugh

from him.

“You bet your boots I am.  Besides, it beats getting strung up.”   Daveth raised an eyebrow.

Kai sniggled, “I think Duncan picked you for your skill with a blade, and because you reminded

him of himself.”

“Daveth, reminds Duncan of himself?”  Alistair protested, “I hardly think so.”

“Oh, you didn’t see Duncan ‘borrow’ some blankets and cloaks for us while we were on the

road.”  At Alistair’s appalled look she hurried on, “He left money in their place.  But he has

the skills of a thief.” Kai smiled at the ex-templar, “ And I suspect he knew what Daveth was

doing because he himself has experience with alleviating people of their burdensome purses.” 

She turned back to the cutpurse, “So, what do you think of Duncan?”

“He’s all right for an old bugger.”  Daveth gave Alistair a sideways look and continued when

he received no recrimination, “He’s faster than he looks too.  And I appreciate his saving my

neck from being stretched, and his faith in me.  Well, you heard the same speech I did.  Blood

and old treaties.  He trusts us all to be here in the Wilds to do what needs to be done, even

me.  More than my ‘da ever did where I was concerned.”

The way he spoke of his father was both telling, and sad.  It made her heart hurt for the

abused little boy, and it reminded her of Dairren, which also brought a deep and resonating

pain.  Maker, when would it ever stop?  She looked up from the flames that she hadn’t really

been watching, to find all of them looking at her once more. 

Alistair broke in saving her from thinking of something to say.  She gave him a grateful

smile, “Kai and I will take first watch, Daveth, Ser Jory.  You both get some sleep, I’ll wake

you in four hours.”  He jerked his head towards the bedrolls lying near by.

Daveth and Jory both rose and made their way past Alistair. The cutpurse stopped and bent down

to speak to him, “Nicely done mate, order us off to get some shut eye so you can have our

delicious fellow recruit all to yourself.”  Alistair turned bright red and started to sputter.

 Daveth only clapped him on the shoulder and laughed, “That’s all right, rank has its

privileges.”  And with a quick wink at Kai, the rogue joined Jory under the tarps wrapping

himself in his bedroll. 

Kai bit her lower lip to keep from laughing at Ali’s indignant and embarrassed expression. 

She went to fetch her bow and quiver and her pack, and returned to sit next to him with the

bow across her legs. 

They sat in companionable silence for some time before there was a rumbling noise.  Kai began

looking the darkness surrounding them, looking for the source of the sound which repeated

itself.  Some animal?  Darkspawn? She looked at Alistair to see if his eyes were smoking and

white.  They weren’t, but the ex-templar was blushing while rubbing his stomach.  He gave her

a chagrined look. 

Kai found herself biting the inside of her cheek to stop the laughter this time, “Really?  You

ate five feet of a ten foot snake and you’re still hungry?”

Alistair’s blush deepened only making him look more like a small boy caught stealing cookies

from the  kitchen.  “Yes, well you know what they say about eating reptile, an hour later and

you’re hungry again.” 

He laughed with her when she couldn’t hold it in this time, which they quickly stifled with

their hands lest they wake their companions.   The only problem seemed to be their penchant

for starting the giggling fits when they caught each other’s eyes.  Finally the giggles wound

down to snuffling snorts and the occasional twitter. 

It might have started up again when Alistair’s stomach rumbled once more, if Kai hadn’t

remembered the wheel of cheese in her bag.  She grabbed her pack pulling out clothing items

and piling them on Alistair’s lap.  He grunted in surprise then blushed adorably when her

night shift landed on top of the pile.

She gave him a saucy grin which caused him to flush harder before she dived back into the

pack.  Her fingers brushed something soft while brushing against the hard round of cheddar.  

She pulled both out, handing the cheese to Alistair before she looked at the other item that

she held in her hand.  She expected to see a roll of socks or maybe some apparel of a more

intimate nature with which to embarrass her companion with. 

She was wrong on both counts...oh so wrong.  The little stuffed rabbit with pointed felt fangs

rested in her hands.  Oren’s dire bunny, little black button eyes caught what little light

shone from the fire.  She had forgotten all about it.  Her hands convulsed, squeezing it while

she started to shake. 

“Kai, what is it?”  Alistair’s big hand clamped onto her shoulder, long fingers wrapping

around it.  He looked at what she held in her hands. “A childhood toy?” 

Kai gave a bitter laugh, “Yes, just not mine.  A childhood cut short.”  He looked confused. 

“It was my...it was my nephew Oren’s toy.”  She choked it out.

“Oh Kai, I am so sorry!”  She found her self wrapped in his strong arms as they sat side by

side.

Finally the shakes stopped and the tears that threatened dried before they could make an

appearance.  His cheek rested on her hair, and the warmth he provided was welcome against the

chill.  She reasoned that it was his radiating heat that made her feel so comfortable, made

her not want to move.  It was that, and that alone, surely there couldn’t be any other reason

for her to want to snuggle closer still. 

She found it so enjoyable that she was starting to doze.   That is until the hair on the back

of her neck raised.  She had that feeling of being watched.  The space between her shoulder

blades was itching again.  She shot a casual look over her and Alistair’s shoulder, both Ser

Jory and Daveth were immobile and fast asleep.  There were small snoring noised coming from

the knight’s bedroll.  “Alistair, I am going to nock my bow, and when I give you the signal

casually get up and stand as if you are stretching.”

Alistair, nodded and rose when Kai tapped his metal clad shin with the end of the bow.  He did

as she suggested, placing her clothing on the log they sat on and standing raising his arms

above his head.  Kai spun around and aimed her bow in the direction she thought the spying was

coming from. 

Two great yellow eyes stared at her from a large dark owl sitting in a tree branch on the edge

of camp.  It was the only tree nearby.  She let out a sigh of relief which almost started a

giggling fit again.  The bird was probably hunting for rodents that were drawn to the fire. 

She pointed the owl out to Alistair who nodded and grinned.  The owl seemed to glare at them

both as if it was annoyed at having been discovered, before it unfurled great dappled wings

and rose to the air in that silent flight that owls have. 

“Well, that was a fine ‘how do you do’!”  Alistair grinned at her, “You’d think we insulted

it, letting the mice know where it was.” 

Kai snorted and then chortled.  With everything going on, Alistair hadn’t let go of the

cheese.  Kai pointed to it, then the empty space next to her, “You were planning on sharing

that cheddar, weren’t you?”  Alistair laughed, and sat back down as she handed him one of her

daggers.

[Lynn01]

Alistair and cheese! haha."Actually, I wasn't planning on sharing." I could almost hear him say! Great work Gil! I'll be patiently waiting for more!

[Gilgamesh1138]

ROFL! I know I was tempted to have him shake his head and hide it behind his back saying, "What cheese?"

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 24 ~Witches Gone Wild~

Kai wiped the blood and sweat off of her brow.  They had, thank the Maker, finally made it to

the ruined tower on Alistair’s map and it had not been easy.  They woke as the sun rose, or

what passed for sun in this foggy, damp, and cold place.  They had found both treasures, but

not without their obstacles. More extremely aggressive wolves greeted them at the large and

worn Tevinter statues near the chest Rigby described.  Then she had the privilege of her first

encounter with magic wielding darkspawn before the Chasind treasure, something she burned

Ali’s ears good over, as she still sported a nasty black scorched mark on her leather armor

from the spell when it hit her.  Alistair had blushed bright red and explained that it was a

hurlock emissary, the darkspawn versions of mages.  He looked so mortified and upset she

hadn’t had the heart to stay mad long.  And after the ashes she found on a corpse called a

demon (because she couldn’t resist seeing what would happen despite Alistair’s words of

caution), she felt she wasn’t in a position to hold his mistake against him.  Especially not

after the demon had almost taken Daveth’s head off; it apparently took affront to being

peppered with arrows. 

After another round of fighting the seemingly endless throngs of darkspawn, they finally

arrived at their destination.  “Remind me to come back here on furlough, when the Blight is

over.”  Daveth winked and gave them all a saucy grin as he finished placing the items looted

off the newly made horde corpses.

Kai rolled her eyes and snorted, “Well, it does have plenty going on and I can’t say you would

ever get bored.  Dead, yes; bored, no.”  Daveth chuckled and Kai flashed him a grin, “You are

welcome to it, my friend, I think I have had more than enough of this place myself.”  She

looked at Alistair and Jory. Jory looked as dim as usual, Alistair’s expression was more

difficult to read.  She waved her arm into the interior of the remains of the once proud

tower, “Shall we, gentlemen?” 

Kai drew her daggers, nodding her head at the others to keep their weapons ready until they

sussed out the ruins.  She walked carefully in, using her rogue and Qun training to keep her

footsteps light and quiet in case there were any more creatures or darkspawn should appear.

Maker! This place was full to bursting with things; it was more crowded here then Denerim. 

She instructed them to walk in as a group back to back so they could watch in four different

directions and improve their chances of seeing any attack.  Kai saw what looked to be the

pieces of a chest, that like the roof of the tower, had collapsed in on itself; but she

insisted they look through the whole of the ruins before separating from the phalanx they were

in.

When no attack was forthcoming, Kai nodded to the others and they all started to put their

weapons away.  Kai still had that feeling of being watched, yet not even a lizard showed

itself in the dilapidated heap of stones that littered the balcony they stood on.  Still, the

space between her shoulder blades practically vibrated with that itch that was so familiar

since stepping into the Wilds.  She shot a look up to the cloudy sky that served as the roof

of the relic now.  The only sign of life was a rather large raven floating lazily in circles

above them. 

Daveth looked up and nocked an arrow, taking aim.  Kai pushed his bow arm down, shaking her

head.  “We have no need of tonight’s meal.  We search what remains of the chest , get the

scrolls, and leave.  I am not spending another night in this frigid and clammy place if I can

help it.”  Kai watched the raven as it gave an angry squawk and flew off.

“What’s the matter, love?  This place lost its charms already?”  Daveth chuckled into her ear

as he leaned in close, rubbing his nose gently on the skin of her jaw, “As for me, well I will

always look back on this trip fondly.” 

A loud clearing of his throat by Alistair had both Kai and Daveth looking over their shoulders

at the ex-templar.  “Yes-ss, well you can reminisce later.  It is rather hard to miss a place

or person until they go away,” This earned Daveth a pointed look which made the rogue smile

wider, “or until you leave it.”  Kai grinned, she wasn’t sure if Alistair meant leave the

Wilds or Daveth. 

She stifled a laugh and walked down the ramp back to the remains of the chest.  It looked

worse up close.  She carefully picked up large pieces of the box and lid removing them and

setting them aside.  It was as she feared given the state of the casket; there was no sign of

any scrolls, not even scraps of parchment. 

Kai rocked back on her heels, biting her lower lip.  She did not relish staying in the Wilds

longer, let alone trying to search them would be an impossible task.  Before she could give

way to despair, a smooth and arrogant voice rang out dancing in a slight echo amongst the

marble pillars.  “Well, well, well.  What have we here?” 

Kai spun around to watch one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen slink like a cat

down the ramp.  What she wore was interesting and left little to the imagination, dark hair

was drawn back from exquisitely chiseled cheekbones.  She was, for lack of a better word than

Kai could come up with, exotic.  But it was the woman’s eyes that caught Kai’s attention the

most, they were a bright and vivid yellow; and Kai had seen those eyes before.  Kai stood and

cocked an eyebrow.  Oh yes, those eyes peeked out from the underbrush, and in the tree in the

form of a great dark owl.  And if she had to guess, the raven that had croaked in indignation

not a few moments before. 

Kai gave an ironic little chuckle as the woman continued walking towards them, arrogance in

her carriage.  The woman acted as if she owned and ruled over the place and her continued

speech only confirmed it, “Are you a vulture I wonder? Poking amidst a corpse whose bones were

long since cleaned or an intruder come into these darpkspawn filled Wilds of mine in search of

easy prey?” 

Her manner of speech struck Kai as antique and formal, as if the girl had been taught an

almost archaic form of Ferelden, and had little social interaction.  Anora and the other

nobles could take lessons on how to put on royal airs from this one.

 Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing, she didn’t know if the woman would take too kindly to

mirth of any kind; but she couldn’t resist poking at their visitor, just a little.  “I am

neither scavenger, nor intruder.  The Grey Wardens once owned this tower.”  Kai grinned and

waved her hands to encompass the whole area.  “I didn’t realize that the Wilds were owned, I

do hope the rent won’t be too high.  Of course I would like to see proof of ownership before I

can sign off on the Grey paying back tariffs.”

The woman tilted her head back, squinting those lovely eyes in annoyance, “‘Tis a tower no

longer.  The Wilds have obviously claimed this desiccated corpse.”  Kai watched pink lips

curve into a cool smile, “And as to ownership,”  a low chuckle floated on the air, “I own

these Wilds because I know them as only one who owns them could.  Can you claim the same?”

Kai grinned and shook her head.  The woman sniffed, before walking past Kai with her nose in

the air slightly.  She stopped at the cliff edge, turning to face them all, “I have watched

your progress for some time.”

“Yes, I thought I felt eyes upon us.”  Kai cocked an eyebrow.

The woman gave her an annoyed ‘tsk’ before continuing, “Where do they go, I wondered, why are

they here?”  She crossed her arms over a barely concealed bosom, “You have disturbed ashes no

one has touched for so long.”

Daveth’s voice broke in, “She’s a Witch of the Wilds I tells ya.”

Intense yellow eyes glared sharply at the rogue, reminding Kai of the way an owl might stare

at a mouse, “Witch of the Wilds? Such idle fancies, those legends.  Have you no minds of your

own?”

Kai was startled when the girl addressed her once more, “You there!  Women do not frighten

like little boys. Tell me your name and I shall tell you mine.”

Alistair came to stand behind Kai, “Don’t answer her.  She looks Chasind, and that means

others may be nearby.”

Their visitor narrowed her eyes at him, her voice dripped with sarcasm, “Oh, you fear

barbarians will swoop down upon you?”

Kai looked over her shoulder to see Alistair’s eyes narrow in return, his voice pitched low,

“Yes, swooping is...ba-ad.” 

Kai thought she might break a rib trying not to laugh at their exchange while tilting her head

and considering for a moment, “I am Kai, pleasure to meet you.”

“Now that is a proper civil greeting, even here in the Wilds.”  The corner of  the girl’s rose

colored lips raised slightly, “You may call me Morrigan.”

“Shall I guess your purpose?  You sought something in that chest, something that is here no

longer?”

Kai felt Alistair move closer, “Here no longer?  You stole them, didn’t you?  You’re some kind

of...sneaky...witch-thief!”  Kai put a calming hand on his arm causing him to blush and

Morrigan to arch one dark eyebrow at them.

“How very eloquent.  How does one steal from dead men, I wonder?”  Morrigan gave Alistair a

smug look.

“Quite easily it seems.  Those documents are Grey Warden property, and I suggest you return

them.” Alistair glared at her.

Morrigan waved her hands at Alistair as if he was an annoying insect, “I will not, for ‘twas

not I who removed them.  Invoke a name that means nothing here any longer if you wish...”

Morrigan’s nose went into the air, “I am not threatened.”

Kai broke in before Alistair could retort, “Then, may I ask who took them?”

Morrigan looked at Kai with a slight smile, “‘Twas my mother, in fact.”

Kai tilted her head, an impish grin on her lips, “Your...mother?”

Morrigan’s eyes narrowed again, “Yes, my mother.  Did you assume I spawned from a log

perhaps?”

Alistair mumbled under his breath, “A thieving, weird-talking log.” Kai heard a muffled

chuckle from behind her, Daveth she assumed, since Ser Jory seemed oblivious to even basic

humor.  Kai bit her lip and looked away.

Apparently he had not spoken low enough for it to get past Morrigan, “Not all in the Wilds are

monsters.  Flowers grow here, as well as toads.  If you wish, I will take you to my mother. 

‘Tis not far from here, and you may ask her for your papers, if you like.” 

Alistair turned to Kai pitching his voice low for Kai’s ears only, “We should get those

treaties, but I dislike this...Morrigan’s sudden appearance.  It’s too convenient.”

Kai patted his arm, nodding, “I agree it is convenient, maybe too convenient, she is the one I

have felt watching us; but we don’t really have a choice do we?  We need those treaties.” 

Alistair blushed and nodded back.  Kai went on, “If it makes you feel better, I would like to

know more about her mother so we have an idea of what we are getting into, okay?”  Again he

nodded, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. 

Kai turned back to Morrigan who held an amused expression on her face at their exchange. 

“Would you mind if I asked more about your mother?  After all, she has our treaties, and I

don’t want to offend her, if I can avoid it.”

Morrigan seemed to find this extremely amusing as lovely low laughter rang out for a moment

before she licked her lips like a cat near a broken crockery that held milk.  “She prefers her

privacy, but I imagine she will be curious enough why you are here.  Come, see for yourself.”

“May I ask, why are you so interested in helping us?”  Kai tilted her head.

Morrigan’s voice took on an annoyed tone, “Why not?  I do not meet many people here.  Are you

all so mistrustful?”

Kai felt Daveth come up close on her other side whispering in her ear, the breath tickling her

skin, “She and her mother are witches! They’ll turn us into toads they will!”

Kai spoke to Morrigan once more, “Please, answer honestly are you a Witch of the Wilds?  The

ones from the legend?  I’m afraid one of my companion has heard stories as a child.”

Morrigan snorted in derision, “Have I been dishonest?  Some call us witches, yes, but purely

out of superstition.” 

Alistair’s voice took on a tone Kai didn’t recognize, “You know what the Circle of Magi is,

don’t you?  The Circle requires an accounting of all mages.  That is the law of the land and

the Chantry.” 

Ah, his templar voice!  Kai grasped is arm again, shaking her head at him, “You are a templar

no more Alistair-”

Anything else Kai might have been about to say was lost as Morrigan interrupted, “If you wish,

tell your Chantry about me, go ahead.  I have nothing to  fear from priests.”  The witch

tilted her chin up while crossing her arms over her chest once more. 

Kai gave Alistair a pointed look, “We need those treaties, not to hunt down supposed rogue

magic users for the Maker be damned Chantry and their enforcers.  A group I remind you that

you are no longer a part of.”  Alistair blushed harder, shuffling his feet and looking down.

Kai patted his arm again and grinned at Morrigan, “Will you take us to your mother?”

Morrigan gave a small smile, “There is a sensible request.  I like you.”

Alistair spoke to Kai, “I’d be careful.”  He pitched his voice higher in imitation of a

female, “First it’s ‘I like you...’” His fist smacked into his open hand, “But then ‘zap’!

frog time.”

Daveth’s worried voice came from her other side, “She’ll put us in the pot she will.  Just you

watch!”

“If the pot’s warmer than this forest, it’d be a nice change.”  Ser Jory’s voice came from

beside Daveth. 

Alistair whispered in her ear, “Oh, Jory made a funny! Who knew?” 

Kai burst out laughing, “Boys, really!”

Morrigan who watched the whole exchange with a cool look, waved her hands down a trail that

Kai had not noticed before.  “Follow me then, if it pleases you.”  The witch turned elegantly

on her heel and walked down the path that wound its way behind the ruins and the lake behind

it. 

They followed Morrigan carefully treading the narrow path and across a ruined bridge to a

dilapidated multistory wooden hut that looked like a patchwork of whatever wood and scraps

could be found to build it.  A large fire blazed before it, larger than they had dared build

themselves. 

Morrigan made her way past the fire to stand behind a grey haired old woman whose dull brown,

patched, and dirty dress faded into the building behind her.  “Greetings, Mother.  I bring

before you four Grey Wardens who...”

The old woman spoke as Morrigan stopped behind her mother, “I see them, girl.  Hmmm, much as I

expected.”

Alistair snorted, “Are we supposed to believe you were expecting us?”

Now that Kai could was closer, the rags Morrigan’s mother wore looked to be a style Kai had

not seen since the portraits of her great grandmother’s time.  And while everything on her was

grey or brown reminding Kai of dust and ash, the eyes were intense, sharp, bright and

predatory.  Something crawled behind those eyes.  No, this was no frail old woman.   She made

Kai’s hackles rise.  She returned the woman’s brief glance as boldly as she could before those

eyes turned back to Alistair.  “You are required to do nothing, least of all believe.”  The

voice was low, husky, and like Morrigan’s seemed to be a more archaic way of speaking

Ferelden, maybe the same era as the dress?  “Shut one’s eyes tight or open one’s arms

wide...either way, one’s a fool!”

“She’s a witch I tell you!  We shouldn’t be talking to her!”  Daveth’s voice rose an octave. 

Morrigan’s mother definitely made him nervous.  Kai suspected the rogue of having sharpened

survival skills from dodging the blows of an abusive father and living on the streets to

survive.  She was inclined to agree with him, the woman gave her the heebee jeebies.

“Quiet, Daveth! If she’s really a witch, do you want to make her mad?”  Even Ser Jory, dim as

a post as he was, seemed to have a sense of ‘not right’ that emanated from the woman.

“There’s a smart lad.  Sadly irrelevant to the larger scheme of things, but it is not I who

decides.  Believe what you will.”  Morrigan’s mother waved a hand then walked to stand before

Kai.

She found those intense eyes locked on hers, Kai returned the stare while the woman addressed

her, “And what of you?  Does your woman’s mind give you a different viewpoint?  Or do you

believe as these boys do?”

Kai shot a quick look at Alistair, Jory, and Daveth before replying, “I’m not sure what to

believe.”

This statement garnered Kai a slight smile, “A statement that possesses more wisdom than it

implies.  Be always aware...or is it oblivious?  I can never remember.” 

Kai cocked an eyebrow.  Whatever the ‘it’ that was off about this woman, Kai suspected being

senile or completely insane was not one of them.  They were being led, but into what?  This

woman sent her daughter to spy on them, sent her to fetch them.  Now here the woman stood

acting powerful and and doddering at the same time.  Kai’s unease grew, along with her

curiosity.  Playing along seemed to be the better strategy. 

Morrigan’s mother’s look became more intense.  It took every bit of discipline Kai had not to

squirm and to keep her gaze steady while being spoken to,  “So much about you is

uncertain...and yet I believe.  Do I?  Why it seems I do!”

Alistair’s voice piped up, “So this is a dreaded witch of the Wilds?”

The woman’s gaze shot over Kai’s shoulder to Alistair, “Witch of the Wilds, eh?”  She clasped

her hands in front of her with a smile on her face, “Morrigan must have told you that.  She

fancies such tales, though she would never admit it!  Oh, how she dances under the moon!” 

Morrigan’s sigh echoed across the clearing as she pulled long fingers across her forehead,

“They did not come to listen to your wild tales, mother.”

Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing at the witch’s exasperated tone of voice.  Morrigan’s

mother addressed all of them, “True, they came for their treaties, yes?”  There was a pointed

look at Alistair, “And before you start barking, your precious seal wore off long ago.”  Kai

watched as the witch went to the cabin door, opened it and grabbed something briefly before

shutting the door and returning to them, handing Kai a dwarven metal carrying case, the larger

version of the small ones Kai had on her person. “I protected these.”

Alistair’s voice sputtered as Kai moved the leather strap out the way to open the lid,

“You...!”  Kai pulled out the thick roll of parchment holding them up for Alistair to see,

“Oh, you protected them?”  Kai grinned and shook her head as she carefully put the roll back

into the safety of the container. 

Morrigan’s mother raised her chin at Alistair, “And why not?  Take them to your Grey Wardens

and tell them this Blight’s threat is greater then they realize!”  Kai snuck a look, the

witch’s eyes had gone dark, the pupil dilating until the the color of the iris all but

disappeared.  It was like looking into an fathomless abyss and whatever darkness swam in those

eyes surfaced instead just of hinting at its presence. 

It was the combination of the witch and her words, Kai felt goosebumps crawl along her skin,

“What do you mean the threat is greater than they realize?”

“Either the threat is more or they realize less.  Or perhaps the threat is nothing! Or perhaps

they realize nothing!”  The woman threw back her head and gave a husky laugh.  “Oh, do not

mind me, I’m just an old woman with a penchant for moldy parchments!”  This was followed by

more husky laughter.

Again it struck Kai that this woman was trying to appear more innocuous than she was.  Just

how dangerous she really was, Kai couldn’t say; but warning bells were ringing in her head

louder than the bells at the Chantry in Denerim calling people to mass.  “Thank you for

returning them.” 

“Such manners!  Always in the last place you look.  Like stockings!”  More husky laughter

followed, “Oh don’t mind me.  You have what you came for!” 

“Time for you to go, then.”  Morrigan’s voice sounded relieved as she gave Kai an intense and

searching look. 

“Do not be ridiculous, girl!  These are your guests!”  The old woman’s gaze never left Kai’s,

and Kai didn’t want to look away as it might seem a sign of weakness.

“Oh very well.  I will show you out of the woods. Follow me.”  Morrigan’s exasperated voice

broke the stand off, and Kai nodded once to the old woman before following Morrigan’s

retreating form back the way they had come.  She refrained from looking back...barely.

[westiex9]

Flemeth always was a crazy one, anyone else ever feel the need to run in the opposite direction during that confrontation? awesome as always Gil!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Aw thanks westie! Yeah she gave me the heebee jeebies. Never really did warm to her, then when she turned into a high dragon I felt vindicated! ROFL!

[Lynn01]

lol, enjoyed it again Gil!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Thanks Lynn! I always loved Flemeth as a character, because she is just so damn creepy!

[Lynn01]

Oh yes she is. I'm not sure if I should like that or not. I tend not to actually I always have the thought "I'm glad I'm out of that place right now" when I'm around her.

[westiex9]

plus i hear her cooking could make a hurlock weep....which is really hard to do because they lack tear ducts....

[Gilgamesh1138]

SNORT! You two crack me up. I would love to see what you think of Whispering Sighs of the Blades latest chapter then.



I too wish to get away from the old bat as quickly as possible, but I found that when you are leaving for Lothering, there is a whole cool dialogue set for Flemeth and some funny dialogue between her and Morrigan. They will show up here.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 25 ~Yippee~


Morrigan escorted them to the start of the footpath leading up to the gate entering Ostagar’s

ruins.  The witch waved a dismissive hand and tsk’d when Kai offered her a warm meal as

repayment for her assistance. 

Kai shook her head and grinned at the memory of their last view of Morrigan, who had stuck up

her nose in response to Alistair’s reaction to Kai’s invitation, before ‘melting’ (for lack of

a better word that Kai could come up with) into the form of a white wolf with molten gold

eyes.  The wolf stared at Kai for long moment before turning and running back into the Wilds,

disappearing into the underbrush.

Kai was interrupted from her inner musings on Morrigan, the treaties, and most of all 

Morrigan’s very creepy mother, as they entered the gate and Kai was set upon by a very

exuberant Argus.  Kai managed to calm the mabari after allowing herself to be covered in wet

doggy kisses and scratches behind his ears. 

“That’s quite a tongue you have there, mate.”  Daveth winked at the dog, “Maybe your mistress

would like how I lick too?  She seems to like a little oral tickling?”  This earned the rogue

a low growl and a slight peeling of lips from fangs from Argus.  Daveth threw up his hands in

surrender, “Easy there, no need to get your hackles raised.  It was just a thought.” 

Kai caught a knowing look between Alistair and the dog.  Alistair gave the mabari a nod of his

head before slipping Argus what looked like jerked meat from his pack.  Kai bit her lip to

keep from laughing.  She nodded for them to move on. 

They made a quick stop at the kennels.  Kai found the kennel master and handed over all of the

white blooms she had managed to gather.   The man took them with such a look of relief and

gratitude that it made Kai’s heart squeeze tight; she knew how she would feel if Argus were to

become poisoned and run mad. 

The man confessed that he wasn’t sure if the blooms would work, but that it worth a try. He

then tried to offer a reward. Kai waved the man off from counting coins,  “A reward isn’t 

necessary.”

Daveth began to protest but anything he might have said was lost in an sudden exhalation of

air as Kai’s elbow connected with his midriff.  From the corner of her mouth she addressed the

rogue, “Consider it your payment for me taking the blame for your stealing earlier.” 

Kai gave the kennel master a sweet smile, “I hope that will be enough.  Do you think the

elixir would prevent the dogs from getting tainted?  Not just after the fact?” 

“I’m not sure, milady.”  The kennel master’s face, which bore a confused look from her

exchange with Daveth, shrugged, “Why do you ask?”

“I was hoping that you might give some to the leader of the Ash Warriors, for his and his

companion's dogs.”  Kai waved a hand back towards the tents near the gates, “Their leader was

kind enough to give me Kaddis for Argus, here.” Kai reached down and patted the mabari’s big

head as he woofed in agreement.  “I would gladly pay you.”

“Think nothing of it, milady. I would take nothing from you. I will gladly give elixir to

Vadis and his warriors.  Truth be told, I had hoped to gather enough flowers for elixir for

their hounds should they take ill.”  The kennel master reached into a pouch at his waist,

“This vial is for you and your hound.  May it keep him safe.”  The man grasped Kai’s forearm

in a warriors grasp giving her a small little bow of his head, “Maker watch over you, Grey

Warden.”

“Maker watch over you and your hounds, Master.”  Kai returned his grasp.

Kai returned the nod before setting off for the space occupying Duncan’s bonfire.  Kai looked

up to see Duncan watching their approach, and despite his attempt to keep his face immobile,

Kai caught a fleeting look of relief.  She flashed him a saucy grin, “Did you miss us?”

Duncan rolled his eyes, but a small smile played along his lips, “And if I said no, young

lady?”

“I would say you are lying, dear Duncan.”  Kai winked. “Well, here we are, safe and sound, or

at least mostly sound.”

“Half frozen, more like.”  Ser Jory’s voice sounded petulant as the knight walked over to the

gigantic bonfire holding his hands out towards the flames.  Daveth rolled his eyes while

chuckling and taking Kai and Alistair’s packs and walking to the Grey Warden tent.

Duncan looked at Jory, cocking an eyebrow before addressing Kai and Alistair, “So, you return

from the Wilds.  Have you been successful?  Were the treaties there?”

“Well, not where the map said, per se.   But, yes, ‘we’ found them, in a manner of speaking.” 

Kai resisted the urge to squirm like a naughty child as she handed him the metal tube she had

kept slung over her shoulder.

Duncan gave her a long look before opening the metal container, “Good... I think.  I’ve had

the Circle mages preparing.  They require only one more ingredient.”  Duncan looked up from

the rolls of parchment he had removed from the iron tube’s confines.  Alistair handed Duncan

the  now filled vials with darkspawn blood from the leather pouch at his waist.  Duncan took

them with an encouraging smile at the young Warden, “We can begin the Joining immediately.”

“I’d like to get something hot and filling inside of her first.”  Ailstair looked at Kai. 

“Wouldn’t that require somewhere more private, my lad, then out here in the open at our

campfire?”  Duncan looked at Alistair with a smile playing along his lips before he winked

saucily at Kai who had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. 

Alistair merely looked confused for a moment, before catching the rather cheeky joke and

blushing bright  crimson and stammering, “I--that wasn’t--I didn’t mean---!  Oh ha, very ha,

both of you!”

Kai and Duncan both burst out laughing this time, before Kai sobered immediately, “That’s

okay, though I can’t say the...offer?  Isn’t tempting.”  This made Alistair turn even redder,

though he gave a small, if embarrassed smile.  Kai continued, “However, maybe we should tell

Duncan about Morrigan and her mother?” Kai winked at Alistair while she stuck her tongue in

her cheek to keep from giggling, “After all, they made you, Ser Jory, and Daveth jump out of

your skins.”

Alistair wrinkled his nose at her, whispering to Kai out of the corner of his mouth, “You are

a bad, bad person.”  He turned to Duncan, “There was a woman at the ruined tower who said she

had been watching us all along, and her mother had the scrolls.  They were both very...odd.”

Duncan flashed a curious look, first to Kai then Alistair, “Where they Wilder folk?”

Alistair shook his head, “I don’t think so.  They both might be apostates, mages hiding from

the Chantry.  Though only the one called Morrigan did any magic.  It could be her mother is

not, but protecting her daughter.” 

Duncan shook his head at the ex-Templar while clapping a fatherly hand on his shoulder, “I

know you were once trained as a Templar, Alistair, but Chantry business is not ours.  We have

the scrolls; let us focus on the Joining.” 

Duncan shot a look at Kai, which she returned with a raised eyebrow, “Now will you tell me

what this ritual is about?”

Duncan kept his features immobile, but Kai saw the same slight crimping around his eyes that

he had when her father refused to let her try out to be a Warden.  It was that same minute

look of fear that flashed so quickly if she hadn’t been watching him closely, she would have

missed it.  He looked her in the eye, “I will not lie; we Grey Wardens pay a heavy price to

become what we are.”  He looked over his shoulder briefly at Ser Jory before pitching his

voice lower, “Fate may decree that you pay your price now rather than later.”

Kai gave him a cynical smile, “Is that why the Joining is so secret?”

Duncan’s dark skin darkened further and he looked...abashed?  “If only such secrecy were

unnecessary and all understood the necessity of such sacrifice.  Sadly, that may never be so.”

Kai felt a pang of pity and understanding, to know that the Joining could kill the very people

who might be best at being Grey Wardens; to make them taint themselves with poisonous blood of

monsters and potentially sacrifice their lives should they not survive the poison.  It struck

her how difficult a task Duncan had as commander.  How each life must weigh on him, it

certainly would her.  She smiled and touched his arm, “I have no problem facing what is to

come, dear Duncan.  We Couslands...”

“Always do your duty?”  He finished for her patting her hand that was resting on his arm,

covering her hand with his, and giving it a squeeze.  “Then let us begin.”  Duncan turned to

Alistair, “Alistair, take them to the old temple.”

Daveth and Jory apparently walked up during part of the conversation, though Kai had no idea

how much they overheard. 

Daveth grinned, “Let’s go then.  I’m anxious to see this Joining now.” 

Jory’s face bore the look of a frightened rat, his voice bellowed with bravado, “I agree. 

Let’s have it done.”

Duncan nodded at them.  He walked with them towards the temple, parting from them at the

magi’s section of the camp, while they continued up the ramp past the quartermaster turning

right and climbing the ramp to the open columned area that Kai had met Alistair in the day

before. 

The area, empty then, now bore a stone table that seemed to be from the ruins, along with a

small round wooden table set further back.  Kai stood as casually as she could taking a look

around.  The stars shone brightly but in the distance there were dark clouds of a storm front

rolling in.  She saw flickers of lightening followed by distant reverberations of thunder.

Kai counted the time between the flashes and the thunder’s rumbling peals the way her brother

taught her, and their father taught him, to gauge when the storm might make its appearance. 

The storm was miles off yet, she estimated it would be overhead in a matter of a couple of

hours at the most. 

Kai leaned against one of the pillars watching the cloud bank blot out the stars like a great

black blanket.  She shivered and a thought struck her, the simple irony of which, almost had

her expelling a bark of cynical laughter.  Here she was, about to drink the blood of monsters

along with who, but the Maker (and the mages), knew what else.  Her stomach clenched painfully

and a chill settled around her heart. This wasn’t a battle she could fight with her sword, her

dagger, or her Qun moves.  She wouldn’t be falling in battle defending her beloveds, or her

home.  She wouldn’t be slipping into the Fade because of her own despair and exhaustion;  Kai

absently rubbed the leather vambrace resting  on the still pink scar on her wrist.  No, she

was putting her life on the line drinking a poisonous cocktail.  This really could mean her

death, and after she had discovered she liked being alive.

She stole a look at Alistair from underneath her lashes as the ex-Templar stood leaning

against a wall, fidgeting with nerves himself.  Yes, she liked being alive, very much.  Panic

started to set in, making her want to run  Kai caught what she was doing to herself, and

before her body could send her completely into ‘flight’ mode, she began deep breathing

exercises taught to her by the Qun priest so long ago.  A soothing calm penetrated the panic

and ripped it until only the tattered remnants of it remained, and these she blew away, like

the wind that was picking up as the storm drew closer. 

The energy of the tempest in the distance was matched by Ser Jory, who paced back and forth in

front of the stone table, his movements were jerky and agitated. Daveth walked over to stand

with Kai as he watched the knight, his head turning from side to side as the man pounded a

path before them. 

“Easy there, mate, you’ll dig a trench with all that stompin’ about.”

Jory stopped short and turned to face Daveth and Kai, “The more I hear about this Joining ,

the less I like it.” 

Ah, so maybe Ser Jory overheard more of her conversation with Duncan than Kai  thought.  Her

gaze swung to her fellow rogue when Daveth answered the knight, “Are you blubbering again?”

“Why all these damned tests?”  Jory waved his arms making Kai think of a large and indignant

rooster.  “Have I not earned my place?”  Okay, maybe he hadn’t heard as much of what Duncan

told her, or more likely, he was just too dull to understand it.

“Maybe it’s tradition.  Maybe they’re just trying to annoy you.”  Daveth crossed his arms over

his chest.

Kai rolled her eyes before addressing Jory, “Do calm yourself, Ser Jory, really there’s

nothing we can do about it now.  I swear, Daveth and I  are the bravest ones here, and I’m

supposed to be the soft noble woman and he is the buggering thief.”

“Oh, buggering?  Before the Joining or after?  I always knew there was a lusciously naughty

minx inside that leather armor.”  Daveth leaned in and winked. Kai put a hand on his face and

pushed him back while rolling her eyes.

Jory’s voice was pitched into more of a whine, “I only know that my wife is back in Highever

with a child on the way.  If they had warned me...it just doesn’t seem fair.”

Daveth groaned before speaking to the knight once more, “Would you have come if they’d warned

you?  Maybe that’s why they don’t.  The Wardens do what they must right?”

Jory’s voice pitched higher, “Including sacrificing us?”

Daveth stepped towards the man, his voice exasperated, “I’d sacrifice a lot more if I knew it

would end the Blight.”

“Daveth makes a good point don’t you think, Ser Jory?  And you are a knight after all, sworn

to defend and protect.  You will just be defending and protecting all of Ferelden.” Kai put a

calming hand on Daveth’s shoulder in an attempt to keep him from jumping the man, though why

he shouldn’t smack some sense in Jory, she couldn’t say.

Her fellow rogue flashed her a wide grin before addressing Jory once more, “You saw those

darkspawn, ser knight.  Wouldn’t you die to protect your pretty wife from them?”

“I---”  Jory started but Daveth cut him off.

“Maybe, you’ll die.  Maybe we’ll all die.  If nobody stops the darkspawn, we’ll all die for

sure.”  Daveth swept his arms to encompass all of them. 

Jory shook his head, his voice quavered, “I’ve just never faced a foe I could not engage with

my blade.”

Anything Daveth or Kai might have made to reply to that was interrupted as Duncan walked up

the ramp past them carrying a large ornate silver chalice and a glass bottle.  He strode

purposely to the small wooden table set towards the back of the ruin.  He kept his back to

them, but Kai assumed he was pouring the contents of the bottle into the chalice.  When it

took a moment longer than it would just to decant some magical elixir into a goblet, Kai

wondered if there wasn’t some extra ingredient the magi weren’t privy to and she didn’t want

to hazard a guess as to what it might be; especially as she would be drinking whatever it was,

in a matter of moments, if the chalice was any indication. 

When he finished, Duncan turned and walked towards them the large silver chalice held between

his to hands before setting it on the edge of the marble table.  He addressed them all, “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.”

Kai watched Ser Jory take a step back a look of horror and disgust marring his features,

“We’re going to drink the blood of those...creatures?”

Bloody hell, what did Ser Dull-As-A-Stump think they were going to do with it, make pretty

pictures?  Kai wondered in her own head.  Maker, make a miracle and give the man another wheel

for the cart that is the man’s brain!  Even then the he would be two wheels short of a full

wagon.

Her inner musings were interrupted as Duncan continued patiently explaining the Joining, “As

the first Grey Wardens did before us, as we did before you.  This...is the source of our power

and our victory.”

Alistair’s voice had Kai swinging her head in his direction, it was the first time he had

spoken since they walked from the camp, “Those who survive the Joining become immune to the

taint.  We can sense it in the darkspawn.”

Kai smiled at him, and when he smiled back, she could see the worry in his eyes; for her?  Oh

my!  A part of her felt a warm flush, but it was quickly doused by cold, as she knew he was

afraid that she would die.  She did a quick round of circular breathes before turning to

Duncan with an impish grin, “Let’s get on with it then, the darkspawn aren’t going to be

standing around holding hands and singing, waiting for us to join the dance now are they?” 

Duncan returned her smile before grasping the chalice once more, holding it before him, “We

speak only a few words prior to the Joining, but these words have been said since the first.”

Duncan looked towards the ex-templar, “Alistair, if you would?”

Alistair nodded straightening his shoulders and putting on a more sober countenance, “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.”  With this Ser Jory’s face became a sickly shade of pale gray

looking from Alistair to the goblet.  Alistair’s voice continued, “And should you perish, know

that your sacrifice will not be forgotten.  And that one day we shall join you.”

Duncan walked to stand before Daveth holding out the chalice, “Daveth, step forward.”  The

rogue gave Kai a saucy wink and grinned at Duncan, giving him a mock salute as he took the

chalice with both hands and tilted it to his lips briefly before handing it back. 

It took only seconds and Daveth started screaming holding his hands to his face and throat. 

The screams ended in choking gasps as Daveth looked up, and Kai’s heart beat painfully in her

chest; his eyes were glazed and solid white, smoke curling out of the corners like Alistair’s,

when darkspawn were nearby.  His hands clawed once more at his neck as he fell forward and lay

still. 

Kai started to move towards Daveth, to check and see if he lived or no, but Alistair waved her

off and bent over the prone body, checking for a pulse.

Duncan looked at Daveth’s still form for a moment, his eyes sad, “I am sorry Daveth.”  Duncan

turned towards the knight, holding the chalice out before him, “Step forward, Jory.”

Kai watched as Jory began looking around wildly, “But...I have a wife! A child!  Had I

known...”  His pace increased and his beady eyes were so wide Kai thought they would pop out

of his skull.  Ser Jory’s breath sounded like a blacksmith’s bellows he was breathing so hard.

 His great sword made a ‘ching’ noise as he drew it from its scabbard as he backed away.

Duncan continued walking towards the knight, goblet held out, “There is no turning back.”  

Jory finally ran out of room to flee as he backed into the stone wall, stopping his movement,

“No! 

Duncan sighed, and put the chalice on the stone table once more, not missing a step as he

continued walking towards Jory.  The knight held out the great sword aggressively, and Duncan

drew a curved dagger from the sheath at his waist.  He stood before Jory who swung the blade

in a long arc at Duncan who parried, sword and dagger clashing metal to metal before they

broke apart.  Jory swung in a panic which Duncan blocked with his free arm before sticking his

dagger between the knight’s ribs in a fountain of blood. 

Kai watched Ser Jory’s face which held a sort of hurt confusion before he collapsed to his

knees at Duncan’s feet.  Duncan gave the same look as he had her parents in the larder, what

seemed a lifetime ago; his voice held the same pained tone, “I am sorry.”  The dagger slid out

with a sickening sucking sound and more red blood flooded from the wound as Jory collapsed

face first into the dirt, a crimson pool quickly forming beneath him. 

Duncan’s shoulder’s drooped slightly before he turned and fetched the chalice.  Kai felt her

breath coming in spurts after the exchange, her heart pounding.   The panic she felt earlier

tried to return, but she pushed it down.  She was not afraid of death, so much as she wanted

to live; but she made a promise, to her father, to her mother, to Duncan.  She was a Cousland,

and she would do her duty.  Kai took a deep breath and squared her shoulders as Duncan

approached her with the chalice. 

Kai shot a look at Alistair as he rose to standing next to Daveth’s still form.  His face

looked stricken.  She gave him her best encouraging smile, which he tried to return without

much success.

Duncan handed the chalice to her, “You are called upon to submit yourself to the taint, for

the greater good.”

 It was heavy and glowed in the dim light of torches and starlight.  It had a series of images

embossed into it, one which looked to have a man on a griffin before an army; the next panel

showed the man putting a sword through the head of a dragon with beams radiating outward like

on a stylized sun.  The final panel had the man borne away on a pallet covered in flowers and

ribbons, surrounded by people.  So killing an archdemon must be tough, the first Warden ever

apparently didn’t make it, poor sod.  She figured they must have improved the technique by now

after four Blights before this one.  Kai was willing to bet each panel held a picture of the

story of the first Grey Wardens.  How appropriate, Kai mused, this could be the beginning of

the end for me. 

Kai looked at Alistair who looked as though he was going to be sick, which made want to laugh

as she was the one doing the drinking.  She gave him a saucy wink, “I don’t suppose the mages

made it taste like strawberries now, did they?”  She kept her hands from trembling, barely, as

she lifted the cold metal to her lips. 

The liquid hit her lips and her instinct was to shut them tight, but the elixir seemed to be a

thing alive and it crawled over her lips seeping into her mouth whether she would have it or

no.  Kai fought instincts which screamed at her to throw the goblet and spit the stuff out,

RIGHT NOW!  Instead she opened her mouth and took a small mouthful. 

The taste was definitely not strawberries.  It tasted the same as the darkspawn it came from:

rotten flesh, excrement, vomit, and something else, something even more nasty; a humming

sentience that set her teeth on edge.  And what else?  Ah that after taste of metallic lyrium

adding just that right piquant note.  She handed the chalice to Duncan before she dropped it.

She didn’t have to swallow really, as the earlier sensation of the volatile crawling inside of

her continued as it crept down her throat as if by sly little hands that grabbed at her

insides. Now she knew why Daveth grabbed his throat, her hand was doing the same thing as the

potion hit her stomach.  She watched Alistair back away slightly his face stricken, as if he

didn’t want to watch. 

Her stomach clenched and heaved, but the potion was not going to be evicted, she knew that,

almost as if it had a mind to read.  The humming was getting louder, so much so, she almost

couldn’t hear Duncan.  Kai watched his mouth as the world was receding fast and it was so

damned hard to hear as the humming was becoming a keening wail and her vision was becoming

blurry around the edges.  “From this moment forth, you are a Grey Warden.” 

Yippee!  Was her only thought before her vision went completely white and the world

disappeared.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 13 janvier 2011 - 11:53 .

[Lynn01]

Yay for the update!!! and it was another great chapter Gil! On to her new life as a Grey Warden!

[westiex9]

The joining is grusome! i love your description of the potion, darkspawn blood is truly revolting!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Thanks guys! Yeah I figured it had to be really, really nasty. Glad you liked it. The next chapters have a bit of an AU surprise.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 26 ~The Joining, Or How I Learned to Love the Taint~ (A take on the movie "Dr. Strangelove")


Kai's hand flew to her neck as she grasped her throat; her stomach convulsed and clenched at

the invasion of the potion that seemed to be burning its way throughout her whole body. 

She was simultaneously aware of her surroundings while having the experience of being in

another time and place.  She could hear Alistair and Duncan speaking to each other, but could

not understand what they said. 

The effect was heightened by intense pain as it flared from the inside out, exploding behind

her eyes in a flash of bright light.  Kai realized that the bright light wasn’t just the pain,

as she opened her eyes to find the world had disappeared into an empty white void of

nothingness. 

The nothingness included sound as she could no longer hear Duncan or Alistair, then the

silence was broken by what she thought was the sound of waves lapping on a shore, like the

lake at Highever, and she thought she heard her parent’s voices calling to her over the gentle

cadence of the water. As there was no sense of direction in this place, she moved in a way

that she thought would put her closer to where their voices and the wave sound were emanating

from. 

She hadn’t gone far when a strange ‘whooshing’ sound began to drown out her parents.  The

sound was peculiar, reminding her of a blacksmith’s bellows blowing air on hot coals. Either

the sound was magnified in this place (though her mother and father’s voices hadn’t been

amplified so much) or the bellows would have to been fit for a mythical giant, such was the

strength of sound and it was only getting louder. 

The booming whoosh noise was accompanied by a humming buzz, like the sound of angry bees. It

was a sickening vibration that rattled the teeth in her skull. The drone deepened and became a

strange voice that was simultaneously terrifying and beautiful.  It whispered in her ear, yet

she could not understand what it told her.  It was both maddening and compelling; much the way

hearing a conversation in another room was; hearing the voices but not being able to

understand what was actually being said.  She only knew that the voice called to her, called

to what was inside of her. What was in her blood wanted nothing more than to go to that

dreadfully beautiful voice, yet the part of her that remained “Kai” wanted nothing more than

to run as far and fast as she could away from the wellspring of that haunting song. 

As if in response to what crawled inside of her, a silhouette appeared in the vast white

world.  The spot on the non-existent horizon grew larger with the air vibrating with a

thunderous gust of wind pushed under great wings, and the sly whispering became louder still,

and echoed upon itself.  The language was foreign yet familiar.  It circled upon itself until

it was just a cacophony of seductive hissing whispers.

Just when Kai was tempted to put her hands over her ears, as if it could stop the internal

hissing chatter, the world came into focus and she found herself staring at a sinuously long

neck covered in black scales that bore a strange oily purple iridescence, topped by a head of

spiky protuberances. 

The vast void of white became a virulent green mass of roiling clouds.  Kai realized that the

dragon was not flying towards her, rather she was being pulled towards it at an alarming pace,

and it wasn’t until she was practically on top of it that it seemed to take any notice of her

at all.  She watched in horror as the spiky head turned her way, swinging slowly on its

snake-like neck. 

She knew how a mouse must feel when the hawk dove for it.  The great dark head  turned with

delicate precision putting her nose to nose with it.  The scales of the great beast looked

diseased, and encrusted with angry looking pustules and raw sores.  The skull looked almost

skeletal with leathery skin stretched thin over the bones. What looked like thousands of

dagger-sharp black teeth were exposed with no gums or skin to cover them, making them appear

even more elongated. 

But it was the eyes that made her heart beat even faster.  The eyes were milk white with smoke

curling upwards.  Eyes like Alistair’s were when darkspawn were nearby; but unlike Alistair’s,

these eyes were filled with malice and sly cunning.  She felt transfixed by those eyes.  Then

it opened its mouth wide, stretching it wider and wider until it looked as if it could swallow

the whole world.  The great dragon’s scream echoed her own as Kai tumbled forward into the

deep black infinite pit.

Kai found herself slowly coming to, or at least she thought she was, if the pain in her head

was any indication.  But it was so dark, maybe the storm?  Kai grumbled, “Someone light a

sodding torch, I can’t see a bloody thing!” 

“It might be because you still have your eyes shut tight, love, but that’s just a guess on my

part.”  That cheeky voice sounded so familiar, but she had watched him collapse and die...

“Daveth?!”  Kai’s eyes flew open to see the stoic face of Duncan, the worried face of

Alistair, Argus’s pink tongue, and the saucy grinning face of her fellow rogue.

“You got it in one, darlin’.  Apparently that nasty potion didn’t scramble your brains after

all.”  Daveth stood, arms crossed over his armored chest, with a smile that went from ear to

ear.  “Though if you feel as hungover as I do, we should at least have a variety of loathsome

memories from which to cherish, preferably things we did together, no?”

Kai rolled her eyes and instantly regretted it as it made the world tilt and her stomach roll.

 Kai thought she heard a snort from Alistair, as he grasped her gently under one arm as Duncan

did the same as he spoke to her, she caught the undercurrent of relief, “It is finished. 

Welcome to the Grey, young lady.” 

Again the world tilted slightly as they brought her to her feet.  Alistair’s hand lingered,

Kai could feel the heat of it through her leathers.  It was arousing and comforting at the

same time. 

“I think she can stand without the help there, mate.”  Daveth grinned at Alistair, raising an

eyebrow at the hand still resting on her arm. 

Alistair blushed and dropped his hand while glaring at Daveth before speaking to her, “Another

death.  In my Joining we had one die, it was...horrible.  I’m glad you made it.”

Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing, as Alistair’s statement didn’t include Daveth.  She

heard the rogue chuckle behind her, “Yeah, he’s especially glad you made it, love.” 

Alistair’s blush deepened and she caught Duncan’s small smile as if he too was attempting not

to laugh.  Duncan caught her look and winked with a slight grin, “So, how do you feel, young

woman?”

Kai barked out laughter, “How do I feel?  Hm, let me think about that for a moment:  every

muscle in my body hurts, as if I was run over by a fully loaded ale wagon.  My head feels two

sizes too large and is pounding like I have dwarves swinging hammers in my skull.  My tongue

feels as though it needs a razor, and the lovely after taste of that concoction you handed me

to drink tastes like I drank the contents of the sewer pipes at Highever with a good dose of

metal shavings thrown in, thanks to the magic the mages put in it.”  Kai patted Argus’s head

as he licked her hand and whined, “My stomach feels as if I have ground glass, rocks, and salt

in it.  I have been passed out for who knows how long, oh, and the lovely side-effect of being

a Warden: a musical little hum, which plays constantly in the back of my skull and  if I

concentrate on it, borders on nauseating . Other than that, I’m just sodding fantastic, thanks

for asking.”

Daveth burst out laughing, “Well said, love!” 

“And as for loathsome memories, I have plenty after meeting the archdemon in my dreams; though

I don’t know about cherishing them.”  Kai snorted, and then became contrite when she saw the

look on Duncan and Alistair’s faces, “It’s over, and I’m fine.” 

Alistair’s hand reached out and rubbed her shoulder, “I had terrible dreams after my Joining

too.”

“I thought I heard my parents at one point.”  Kai cocked an eyebrow at Duncan.

“We thought you weren’t going to...to make it.”  Alistair’s voice caught slightly and his hand

gripped her shoulder while he looked away.

Duncan broke in, “Such dreams come when you begin to sense the darkspawn, as we all do.  That

and many other things can be explained in the months to come.”

Alistair gave Duncan a sheepish smile before addressing her once more, “Before I forget, there

is one last part to your Joining.”  He held up a sliver chain with a glass vial wrapped and

protected within embossed silver filigree. As he handed it to her, what little glass showed

through the metal glowed with a dark red liquid that seemed to crawl up the sides of the glass

when it tilted, and seemed to linger before sliding back to be hidden by the metal.  Kai took

the pendant, and what hummed in her blood seemed to speak to what lay inside the ampule laying

in the palm of her hand.  Alistair flashed her a smile before handing a duplicate pendant to

Daveth and explaining, “We take some of the blood and put it in a pendant.  Something to

remind us...of those who didn’t make it this far.”  Alistair’s eyes slid toward Ser Jory’s

cooling corpse.  Kai slipped the chain over her head, tucking the pendant beneath the leather

of her armor. 

Duncan’s hand patted her shoulder, “Take some time, both of you.  Kai, when you are ready, I’d

like you to accompany me to a meeting with the king.”

Kai watched Alistair as he gave Duncan a hurt look. That was curious, Kai cocked an eyebrow,

“What kind of meeting?”

Duncan’s face remained set, “The king is discussing strategy for the upcoming battle.  I am

not sure why he has requested your presence.”  Duncan raised his eyebrow while looking at

Alistair, “Take Daveth and Argus back to camp so Daveth can rest.”  He turned to Kai once

more, “The meeting is to the west, down the stairs from here. The king and Loghain will be

going over the plans and finalizing the details. Please attend with me.” 

Kai nodded as Duncan bowed his head at Daveth and Alistair, before cocking an eyebrow at her,

waving his hand for her to follow him down the stairs to the war council.

[Lynn01]

Oh my still commentless on this chapter as well! Oh Kai falling for Ali!

It's amazing how you've written her experience on the Joining!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Thanks Lynn!! *HUGS*