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. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten... and that one day, we shall join you.

Her world had become nothing more than pain as an unclean flame raced its way through her blood and bone and flesh. Then it reached heart and mind and everything went black. What should have been welcome unconsciousness was anything but, as her world turned into a nightmare full of shadowy, twisted beings ruled over by some great monstrous thing whose wings stirred pestilence and death with each great beat. Then it turned blind white eyes that could still see and screamed its hateful welcome. In voiceless terror she fell to her knees, then began to try to scuttle away on all fours because she could not get to her feet and run away the way a still rational human could. When she saw the vanguard of the loathsome horde, a terrible keening made its way out of her throat. Her father and mother, sister by marriage and her nephew, her brother shuffled forward, puppets of some terrible force. But worst of all, Gwendolyn Faolain, her best friend and heart's sister, with her dead babe cradled in her arms. Gwen's once glossy black hair was a matted mess, her face covered by some sort of terrible black lesions and dripping sores. The once bright green eyes now filled with an unclean light. Her dead loved ones reached for her, accusation in their slack faces and a horrible hunger in every movement.

Finally she did find her voice to scream out her denial of everything in that corrupted place. She managed to get to her feet and somehow her blades were in her hands, the only clean shining presence in that…filth. Even though she was slicing away at her own soul, she fought the corruption even though she knew it would win, would drown her, be her death. If not worse than her death. She would fight it with everything that she was. If Marlana Cousland, possibly the last scion of House Cousland, was anything, it was that she would never bow, never break by any enemy.

If anything would be her doom, it would be those she loved.

In silence two warriors watched over the prone body of their new sister. The grim, grizzled warrior whose dark beard was starting to grey for all that he didn't seem to be that old. His much younger companion that was lighter in demeanor and appearance, but still no less a capable fighter, though at the moment there was none of his characteristic laughter as he watched the unconscious woman with the man who was his mentor and adopted father. The slim, almost tiny, figure with long silver-white hair clad in midnight blue leather armor with silver chasings, the big blue eyes closed as she fought whatever terrible dreamscape she found herself in, writhed in a way that made both wonder if she would survive the Joining after all.

Alistair didn't realize just how much fire there was in the woman-girl, it was that spirit that made her beautiful, though she wasn't unattractive. Her oval face with its high cheekbones, aquiline nose above a generous mouth that was meant for smiling that he hadn't seen much of combined with a delicate yet stubborn chin was what most would call pretty. But it was when those eyes were open and aware and could regard a person seemingly to their soul…

"Be careful of this one, Alistair", warned the older of the two men.

Alistair looked up with a faint frown, glad to have his thoughts distracted from the path they were heading down, "What do you mean, Duncan? After seeing her fighting Darkspawn in the wilds earlier, I'd hardly call her fragile."

Duncan shook his head, "Not fragile, but she is volatile. I had to Conscript her to save her life from Howe's forces. And yes, the irony is not lost on me."

Frowning, Alistair studied the young woman as she began to make the most heartrending keen he'd ever heard out of a living being. Or even a dying one. "Jory mentioned that he was surprised to see Bryce Cousland's youngest as a recruit, but he assumed that she was doing it for the glory of it all. She didn't say otherwise, but I got the impression she never wanted this."

Sighing tiredly, Duncan nodded, "It's true she didn't. I don't know if you've been told the details, but all the inhabitants of Castle Cousland are dead. Marlana and I only escaped because her parents bought our escape at the cost of their lives. Though in Bryce's case he didn't have very long."

Horrified Alistair stared at his mentor, "Maker's Breath! You said Howe's forces. As in Arl Rendon Howe of Amaranthine?"

"Yes, Howe betrayed the man who considered the Arl his best friend. It seems the Blight has brought more than just Darkspawn corruption. And it looks like she's waking, we can talk later."

Pain woke her, a mixed blessing. That she was freed from the seemingly unending nightmare of being the one to slaughter her corrupted kith and kin over and over and over again. That she was alive…she wasn't sure if that was all that welcome. Blearily she blinked open her eyes to see the two warriors peering down at her with concern. Great, she thought, they're obviously wondering if I'm going to live, yet they didn't have the decency to take me off the cold stone floor. She ached in every joint, muscle and tissue in a way she never did before, not even when she accidentally inhaled some deathroot extract vapors. Carefully she managed to sit up, but even that was an effort as her head began to swim and her stomach threatened to empty its contents. It was through sheer stubborn pride that kept her from vomiting. For one thing she figured neither man would appreciate her spew on their feet and for another she really didn't want to taste that poison coming back up.

To her surprise, Alistair leaned down with a look of sympathy and offered her a hand to get to her feet, which he did so with the utmost courtesy since he could have easily picked her up by the scruff of the neck like a week old kitten. That was even when she wasn't feeling that completely and utterly awful. Even feeling wretched, she still remembered the manners her mother had drilled into her so long ago and quietly thanked him.

Gravely, Duncan studied the newest Warden who was the only survivor of her Joining, "It is finished. Welcome."

Alistair was still subdued as if the events just past still bothered him, "I'm glad at least one of you survived the Joining. In mine, only one of us died. But…it was horrible."

Duncan gently cleared his throat to get her attention, "How do you feel?"

She rubbed the back of her head, and since she couldn't think of a polite answer decided to address the killing at the brief ritual. That someone in the distant past had come up with that gruesome rite then willingly inflicted it on themselves and on others… "I can't believe you killed Jory."

Duncan looked saddened, "He was warned, as were you all, that there was no turning back. He forced my hand when he drew his blade and I took no pleasure in ending his life. The Blight requires sacrifices from us all. Fortunately, you're being here means they are not all made in vain."

Despite her aching skull, Marlana made herself think that over, then reluctantly nodded her head. And instantly regretted the action as her skull pounded with more pain and a thick, greasy nausea threatened to overwhelm her. The newly made Warden decided that Jory was the lucky one.

Watching her with concern the oldest Warden said gently, "Take some time to recover. When you're ready, I would like you to accompany me to a meeting with the king."

It took a moment for his words to sink in, "Meeting? What kind of meeting?"

"The king is going to discuss the strategy for the upcoming battle. Though I'm not sure why he wishes for you to be there."

"I…see." Though she didn't. Not really.

"Please attend as soon as you are able to."

She carefully dipped her head in acknowledgement, using her shoulders more than her neck for the movement. At least that didn't make the aching throb in her head even worse.

Once the two men were finally out of sight, Marlana went to the side of the ruined temple and noisily lost the contents of her stomach despite her resolution not to. At least she was able to hold it until they gone. It tasted worse coming up than it did going down, but she felt a great deal better. At least the headache had receded enough for her to think a bit better. Already she could feel the difference the Taint in her blood made, such as the pressure of the approaching Darkspawn horde. Shivering from everything that had happened she took a careful sip of water to rinse out her mouth. Then a few slow swallows to ease her dry throat and hoped she hadn't screamed out loud the way she did when caught in the poisoned nightmares of the Joining.

She studied the blood red pendant on the simple silver chain that Alistair had given her as the last part of the ritual. The fact they stored Darkspawn blood from the ritual in a pendant served as an interesting insight to the order she was now a member of.

To remember the ones that didn't survive.

For the first time, there was something about the Wardens that she could accept without pause and slipped the pendant on. With it, two more names added to the list of her fallen. Jory may have been idiot glory hound, but he still deserved to be remembered for his sacrifice. Daveth on the other hand she did regret his loss. They may have come from very different backgrounds, but the pickpocket had understood what was at stake and had the courage to face the coming darkness.

Enough brooding she decided. There was work to be done, a great deal of it. Trailed by a large, tawny, four footed shadow she slowly made her way to the war council being held by the king. This wasn't the first time she'd been in such a council; her father had her attend similar sessions since he felt both children should be trained equally. Part of it was in case something should happen to Bryce and Fergus. The other was that if her mother did finally succeed in finding a match, at least one of them would be properly trained to lead in peace and war.

But to be in such august company…

Even though she was now fairly disillusioned about said company.

Cailan was a good man, who clearly meant well, but at the same time had never grown up and made a truly rotten king. When he had met Duncan and Marlana upon their arrival at Ostagar she suddenly understood why her parents were so careful about how they spoke of him. The way he had eyed her made her realize why her father wouldn't bring her to court after Cailan's wedding with Anora. Greatly sobered by that meeting, she wasn't pleased to have the "pleasure" of encountering Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir. Who had apparently heard more of her than either of them cared for. His dismissive attitude towards the loss of her family put her back up. Instead of reacting with hot anger, she used a cool response. In true contrary male fashion, he was amused and dryly advised "Keep up that spirit and spine since both would be greatly needed in the days to come."

When he asked her to pray that the king be amenable to wisdom, she readily agreed.

Now she stood before her king and his general at Duncan's side and tried not to feel despair. Loghain had come up with a simple enough plan, but in war you wanted to keep it as simple as possible, especially with someone like Cailan in charge. As the Teyrn laid out the plans for the two parts of the army and the beacon that would be used to alert his troops, Cailan announced, "As for the beacon, the Lady Cousland will take Alistair to the Tower."

Protests erupted over that announcement as Marlana's dismay increased. Loghain was justifiably incensed over the insult to his men at the tower where the beacon was kept. The mage representative was upset at not being used, clearly he'd been hoping to burn stuff up which of course set off her holiness. Duncan was the only one who remained quiet until the disagreement was settled by an irritated Loghain. Once again she wondered at the relationship between Cailan and Alistair. The fact he called her Lady rather than Warden had been telling to her, but she wasn't sure why. Then called herself a fool since she did know the reason. There'd been word of Fergus or his men, though nothing had been said, she knew. It was likely she was the last living Cousland.

Not surprisingly Alistair protested being kept out of the fighting when informed of the plan.

Even though the king had commanded it, Marlana still agreed with Alistair, "I know, Alistair, I didn't agree then and I don't agree now, but the king did command it."

Duncan nodded, "It is as his majesty commands. Since he wants Grey Wardens to light the beacon, Grey Wardens will do so. And he chose the two of you."

Alistair sucked in a breath then let it out in an exasperated huff, "I get it, I get it. But just so you know, if he asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I'm drawing the line."

The mental image his words conjured caused Marlana to laugh softly, "I think I'd like to see that."

He smiled at her, "Well for you, maybe. But it has to be a pretty dress."

She grinned back and tried to sober under Duncan's sigh. The two exchanged glances as Duncan reminded them to uphold the honor of the Wardens. All three bid quiet farewells before going their separate ways.

No longer laughing, the two chose to travel as lightly as possible, taking only the bare necessities along with their arms and armor. Then they were on their way. What had seemed like a quick walk the day before to the female Warden now took an eternity to cross. The span across the gorge separating the two parts of the ruins was now treacherous between the wind and rain from the sudden thunderstorm as well as the hurtling fireballs from the Darkspawn catapults. By the time they arrived outside of the tower, Loghain's men were in disarray due to an unexpected incursion of Darkspawn. It took longer than it should have to rally the fighters and by the time they'd gotten the men gathered, more than half had been killed.

Once regrouped, Marlana found herself in charge of a small group consisting of herself, Alistair, one of Loghain's soldiers and oddly enough one of the mages. Oogie of course refused to be separated from his human's side.

The inside was far worse than any had anticipated, as they battled through packs of the ravening monsters, they found a large pit that lead to tunnels that none wanted to investigate very closely. As they continued to fight their way up the tower, Alistair exclaimed, "Maker's breath! What are these Darkspawn doing ahead of the main horde? There wasn't supposed to be any resistance here."

Marlana rolled her eyes, conscious to make sure he didn't see her expression, "And here you were complaining you wouldn't be allowed to fight."

"You're right, there is a silver lining to this after all! Anyway, Teyrn Loghain is waiting for us to light that beacon, I'm sure we've missed the signal by now."

Getting more and more desperate the group fought through the rest of the tower as quickly as possible. Though she still felt ill, Marlana refused to let that slow her down though she knew she'd pay for it later.

Finally they reached the top of the tower. They expected more Darkspawn, but not what they did find. Crouched down feasting the dead bodies of Loghain's soldiers was a massive grey thing with a pair of twisted horns rising above its bestial face. Alistair paled at the sight, "Oh Maker! Ogre!"

The thing bellowed in rage at the sight of the humans spraying thick spittle, bits of bone and flesh. Even though it was still a distance away, the carrion stench of its breath wafted over the group. Its lowered its head so the wickedly sharp horns were pointing straight out as it visibly braced itself and charged.

"Don't let it grab you!" Alistair yelled as they scattered out the thing's way. Only the soldier wasn't quick enough and they all got a good chance to see what an ogre could do to a man. Even one in armor. After it crushed him, it ripped a handful of his innards and stuffed them into its mouth as it began to rush towards Alistair.

Soon Marlana, Alistair and Oogie had worked out a method of getting the ogre to chase after one while the others did what they could to whittle the thing down and the mage stayed at a distance lobbing various unpleasant magical attacks. For all that it didn't wear armor, it had an incredibly tough hide, not to mention far faster than anything that big had a right to be.

Then it was over. While the mage made sure the corpse of the ogre burned and Marlana kept watch with Oogie, Alistair lit the beacon.

As the massive flames bloomed, a small sea of Darkspawn swarmed up the steps to top of the tower. The mage went down first as a hail of arrows flew through the air striking down the humans.

Before the darkness consumed her, Marlana's last thought was that she must have had the shortest career of any Grey Warden that survived the Joining.