The life of a Royal Bastard, Alistair

 

The view from the ruins of Ostagar was surprising beautiful. I have only been a Grey Warden going on a year but I have already seen more than I have in my lifetime. To think if I had taken my vows as a Templer, how I may have been stationed at the Circle for the rest of my life makes me want to lose my cookies. Now that would be a terrible tragedy, to lose one’s cookies. I still thank the Maker every morning that Duncan used the right of Conscription against the Grand Cleric when she wouldn’t let me go. I mean, I was sent to the Chantry as a child, but I never belonged. The Chantry was just a place to hide me from the world when Arl Eamon could no longer keep me due to an over jealous wife. Well those are breaks of being a royal bastard.

“Alistair, I have found another recruit. This one is from Highever.”

“Ah hello Duncan, aren’t you originally from there?”

“Yes, however that was a long time ago.” Duncan replied, walking up to where Alistair stood by the cliff edge of the Ostagar ruin.

“Duncan, so with Ser Jory and Daveth that makes three new recruits correct?”

“Yes, though there is a bit of a complication with this new recruit. The Cousland estate was attacked by Arl Howe after the army was sent here. She might be one of the only survivors.”

“The new recruit is a she? Female grey wardens are as rare as sober dwarves.”

Duncan chuckled but responded seriously, “I need you to keep an eye on her. She lost possibly all of her family after that attack, so emotions are likely to cloud her judgment. I have told her to take a look around camp, and come find you when she is ready. She is pretty well equipped already, she apparently learned alongside her brother in fighting technique. There is no need to find her gear from the armory stockpile and bring all three recruits to me in an hour. We need to get the joining ritual prepped as soon as possible.”

With that Duncan walked off towards the central camp to make rounds. All the Grey Wardens of Ferelden had been amassed together to stop what looked like the beginning of a Blight. I feel that there is a high concentration of dark spawn nearby like a minuet vibration in my blood, which is scary in itself since I usually only feel them yards away.  Duncan had tried his best to gather large numbers of recruits. Being as the life of a Grey Warden is not easily left, I can see why gathering new recruits fast in nigh to impossible. Duncan always had a reason for all candidates he chooses. The question I have now is why he picked a person that is heartbroken with loss? I have always wanted a proper family. I didn’t have one as a child. I can’t imagine what it is like to lose all of that. Looking out to the horizon, I waited to meet the last recruit before the battle.