Dragon Age Origins: The Tale of Solana

Chapter 22: From This Day Forward...

Solana had gone to relieve herself in the place reserved for the women soldiers, as it had grown later and still no sign of Duncan or Alistair. She was on her walk back when she heard the muffled voices of Daveth and Ser Jory. She didn't know what the two could be arguing about, but she was happy when she saw Alistair speaking something back to Daveth.

"The more I hear about this Joining, the less I like it." Ser Jory was pacing back and forth between the two men.

Alistair was the first to see Solana approaching again. She walked with the grace of a Halla he had once seen in the wild. How her eyes sparkled with humor when their eyes met made him grow hot in the cheeks. He looked away to Ser Jory, refusing to let an attachment be anymore made. He refused to be connected to another person before a Joining again. The last time he did, the pain was too much, as his new best friend of that three-day journey did not make it.

After another comment from Ser Jory, Daveth groaned. "Are you blubbering again?"

"Why all these darn tests?" Ser Jory head snapped to Alistair, who jumped at the sudden eye contact. "Have I not earned my place?"

Solana came over and pushed the overly sized man away. "Take it easy, Jory."

Daveth shrugged, "Maybe it's tradition. Maybe they are just trying to annoy you."

Solana closed her eyes as she saw the immediate frown crease Ser Jory's face. She gritted her teeth and before the bickering could start up again she rubbed her temples. "I swear I'm the bravest one here, and I'm a woman."

Alistair laughed outright and Daveth scoffed. Ser Jory pointed a large finger into Solana's chest. "I only know that my wife is in Highever with a child on the way." He looked down to his boots, feeling ashamed for leaving her now more than ever. "If they had warned me, I... It just doesn't seem fair."

"Would you have come if they'd warned you?" Daveth felt suddenly irate. He realized that Ser Jory, out of them all, was unworthy to be here. He had a choice, and he was the one whining. "Maybe that's why they don'. The Wardens do what they must, right?"

"Including sacrificing us?"

"I'd sacrifice a lot more if I knew it would end the Blight." After all, he had nothing to return to. Daveth narrowed his eyes at Ser Jory. "Would you say the same?"

Solana had watched the whole thing unfold before her with both irritation and fear. "Will you both shut up," she said with finality. "You will get nowhere arguing like children. We have all more or less chosen to be here, so knock it off!"

"Yeah, ser knight," Daveth mocked, "try not to wet your trousers until the ritual starts."

"I have just never faced a foe I could not engage with my blade," Ser Jory explained. "Is that so hard for you to comprehend, pickpocket?"

Daveth gasped and looked ready to duel right then until Alistair and Solana broke them apart. Then a sudden voice entered into the picture. "At last," came Duncan's deep voice, "we come to the Joining."

Alistair crossed his arms across his chest and bowed. He walked over and took the sheet off from the covered goblet. The symbol of the Grey Wardens, a griffon Solana now knew, was displayed proudly in silver on its facing side. The contents were dark red, with a slight bubble to it. He watched as Duncan came over and put the small droplets of darkspawn blood into the mixture.

"The Grey Wardens were founded during the first Blight, when humanity stood on the verge of annihilation," Duncan explained as he peered at his reflection in the pool of red. Ser Jory watched every move the Warden made from a distance. He watched as the older man turned holding the goblet.