A/N: The usual disclaimer, I do not own bioware or the dragon age franchise (it would be nice if I did ^^) Reviews and constructive criticism are always welcome.
First Impressions
Elissa Cousland squirmed in her clothing while her nanny forcefully kept her down on the stool, trying to brush out the tangles in her hair. A frilly dress adorned with an absurd amount of lace was thrust upon her by Nan, who insisted that she dress and act like a proper young lady for one day.
"Stop fidgeting, girl!" Nan smacked her on the head with the back of the brush.
"I can't help it, it hurts!" Elissa yelped as Nan pulled out another tangle from a lock of hair with little mercy.
"If you acted more like a noble than a shameless piglet in the mud, you wouldn't have to feel this and I wouldn't have to waste my time trying to make you look suitable for the Arl and Arlessa!" Nan replied curtly and continued to brush at Elissa's hair.
Elissa scratched at her neck, the lace on the dress was itchy and uncomfortable. "I don't understand why I have to dress up for the Arl. I was allowed to wear my normal clothes while we were traveling here!"
Nan sighed. "That is different. It's not practical to wear something elegant while traveling. Besides, what you call your 'normal' clothes is nothing more than Fergus's old cast offs! Absolutely shameful, I wonder why your father allows you to be so wild."
Elissa sighed and stared out the window, trying to ignore the hairbrush that was ruthlessly pulling at her scalp. Outside, there was a beautiful view of the town docks. The water sparkled as gentle waves lapped over the surface. The sun was bright and the sky was a perfect blue. It was much too beautiful of a day to spend stuck inside a snooty castle, preparing for meeting more old people that her mother and father were acquainted with. She longed to run outside and explore Redcliffe, rather than being forced to sit down and behave while the adults around her chattered inanely over matters that did not interest her in the slightest.
"There!" Nan announced as she knotted the last ribbon in Elissa's hair. "Now look in the mirror and thank me for the work I've done to make you presentable!"
Nan firmly turned her towards a giant framed mirror on the wall and nodded approvingly at her own work. Elissa's long blond hair was pleated with silk ribbons into one braid halfway down her back. Wisps of hair that escaped from the ribbons curled around the frame of her face. Her eyes were as blue and clear as the summer sky. The only thing that marred her complexion was a sprinkle of freckles across the bridge of her nose, Nan tutted at the imperfection, wishing the child would listen to her and try to stay out of the sun. At the age of nine, it was clear that Elissa would grow up to be a beautiful noblewoman…if she would just grow out of her tomboyish ways.
Elissa simply pouted at her reflection and scratched at her wrists. "I want to take off the dress, Nan."
Nan gave an exasperated sigh. "We are guests at Arl Eamon's castle. You must not whine about such things. When we get back to Highever, you can run around stark naked for all I care."
The door to the guestroom opened and Teyrna Eleanor Cousland elegantly stepped in. "We're getting ready to meet the Arl and the Arless…are you ready, Elissa?"
"Yes, mother!" Elissa dashed towards the door and threw her arms around her mother's knees.
Elenor did not brush off her daughter as most noble mothers would but instead quickly bent down to embrace Elissa. "This can't be my Elissa! My Elissa was filthy and running around in scuffed up trousers just a few moments ago. Nan! What have you done with my daughter!" She teased which sent Elissa into a fit of giggles.
"You're welcome as always, my lady. Although I hope she will stay this way for more than a few moments this time around." Nan chided, straightening the pleats on Elissa's dress.
"Well, come now, my daughter. Your father and Fergus are already with our hosts." Elenor rose and held out her hand to Elissa. "We want to show how us Cousland ladies are dignified and lovely, don't we?"
The pouted face immediately left Elissa's expression and she took her mother's hand. She straightened her back to look as regal as she could. "Yes, mother." She pleasantly agreed and they both strode back down the hall, looking very much like the noble family they represented.
Nan watched them leave and let out another sigh. She would only give Elissa a few moments until all hell broke loose yet again.
Alistair was hiding in his secret place, hoping that the stable hands would quickly give up their search for him. The Arlessa was insufferable today, with hundreds of pointless random demands, and as always, Alistair ended up with most of the duties since her page boys felt the suffering should fall upon the boy she despised so much.
His hiding place was a small enclosed space within the tall hedge bushes against the western wall of the castle. He had stumbled upon it several years ago and it became his safe haven away from the burdens from the reality that was his life.
Alistair sat with his arms wrapped around his knees and with his back against the hard stone wall. A few wispy clouds were floating slowly across the blue sky. He watched several birds fly gracefully above him and sadly yearned for their freedom.
He was constantly told to be grateful to the Arl for his generosity. Where else would an orphaned bastard child go to? He was told his departed mother had no family and the father was un-named. The only item he has that belonged to his mother was an old amulet that he kept around his neck. He desperately hoped that his mother had loved him…that anyone in this world loved him…even if she was no longer amongst the living.
The servants all said that Alistair's upbringing had made him more grown than a boy his age should be. He was quiet and reserved, even when the Arlessa was spitefully ordering him around. Everyone mentioned that a boy his age should be happier and more outgoing…yet Alistair always kept a serious demeanor.
He sighed and looked up at the position of the sun. It was still the afternoon but he has been in hiding for a good hour or two. There was no point to delay the inevitable. Eventually the Arlessa's servants would find him and make him do another insufferable job.
Suddenly he heard thrashing in the bushes to his left. The leaves shook as if something was trying to get through. He heard panting and slight whimper. Had one of the mabari pups gotten away from the hound master? He approached the hedge slowly, wondering if the animal was caught.
A head popped out from the leaves and Alistair fell back in shock. It wasn't a mabari at all! It was a girl…with leaves and twigs embedded into her hair. He was also surprised how clear her blue eyes were…they were as blue as the sky he was just staring up at.
"Um, hello!" The blue eyed girl greeted him.
Alistair remained speechless, still shocked at the hilarity of the situation.
"My name is Elissa…" The girl introduced herself when he didn't reply. "I'm stuck…could you help me out?"
Alistair recovered and remembered his manners. "Uh…yes. Of course. Hold on." He crawled over and took her outstretched hand. He yanked her free from the hedges with one pull, but heard sounds of cloth tearing.
"Thank you." Elissa smiled at him, brushing the leaves from her hair. Locks of her blond hair escaped from her braid and were curling in opposite directions. She had more dirt smudged on her face than on her dress…if it could still be called a dress.
"It looks like your gown is ruined." Alistair pointed out, looking at the bits of torn lace left in the branches in the hedges.
"I hate this dress, so anything bad that happens to it is an improvement!" Elissa declared, tearing off a lace cuff on her wrist. She sat down and felt herself relax. Fergus and several servants must be looking for her by now. She turned to her savior. "Thank you again for your help. Your name…?"
"Alistair." He replied, sitting himself down next to her.
"Very nice to meet you, Alistair. Although the Arlessa said there were no children my age around here. I knew she was lying! It's such a big place…how could there not be a kid or two?" Elissa nodded to herself.
Alistair looked at her with a bit of scrutiny. He tried to remember one of the servants telling him about guests that were arriving today. "Are you by chance…"
"Shh!" Elissa suddenly clapped her hand around his mouth.
The sounds of hectic footsteps stomped around outside the hedges.
"Where in the name of Andraste did that girl run off to?!" A voice angrily boomed.
"She couldn't have gotten far. She has to be around the castle somewhere." A voice replied, Alistair immediately recognized it to be Teagan, Eamon's younger brother.
"ELISSA COUSLAND! YOU GET BACK OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!" The male voice yelled.
Elissa still kept her hand over Alistair's mouth and winced at the shout.
"Let us check the gardens. She may have gone over there." Another voice volunteered, most likely one of the kitchen staff.
The footsteps immediately thundered past the hedges and towards the opposite direction. Elissa didn't remove her hand from Alistair's mouth until the sounds of the search party were completely gone.
"I'm sorry about that." Elissa sheepishly sat back. "I believe I may be in a bit of trouble."
"Who was that man who was shouting for you?" Alistair asked, rubbing his face.
"That would be Fergus…my older brother." Elissa waved him off. "He's no man, just a boy who thinks he's a man. He thinks he can be my keeper why we're here."
Alistair raised an eyebrow. "Why are they searching for you?"
Elissa simply shrugged. "My family is here to visit the Arl and Arlessa. I met them a little while ago with my parents and Fergus. Father and the Arl walked off to talk amongst themselves and Fergus and Teagan went off to the side as well. I was stuck with my mother and the Arlessa." Elissa shuddered. "That woman is so frightfully…painful to listen to."
Alistair couldn't help nodding in agreement. "Yes, I know."
"It was such a bore!" Elissa exclaimed, raising her hands to emphasize her words. "I couldn't stand it any longer. I lied to them and said I needed to use the chamber pot. When I got to the room, I immediately climbed out the window and ran away." She said proudly.
Alistair tilted his head at her. "Wouldn't your parents be angry?"
"They'll be a little angry." Elissa sighed. "But they are as used to it as I am. They'll forget about it shortly."
"Wait…Elissa COUSLAND." Alistair finally recognized the name. "You are the daughter of Teyrn Cousland?!"
Elissa fidgeted. Whenever she met another child, they immediately shy away after finding out who she was. "Yes…I am. Does that displease you?"
Alistair couldn't wrap his mind around it. Elissa was the daughter of the Couslands, the big guests that the Arl and Arlessa have been anticipating for the past few days. From what he had gleaned from the gossip amongst the servants, it seems that they are the most noble of the nobles. Yet, the very daughter of the Couslands was sitting on the ground with him, with leaves in her hair and dirt on her face. "Why would the daughter of a Teyrn be hiding in the bushes?"
She grinned at Alistair. "I can tell you are hiding as well. Who are you trying to get away from?"
It was his turn to fidget. "The Arlessa." He answered honestly.
Elissa happily got on her knees to face him. "That makes us comrades! I am technically hiding from her as well."
Alistair gave a rueful smile. "If you say so…my lady."
"No, please! Don't call me that." Elissa begged. "Everyone at Highever already does…even Roland Gilmore…and he's my age!"
"But it's appropriate." Alistair said seriously.
"How old are you?" Elissa asked.
Alistair had to think about it for a moment. When all the seasons somehow merged into one, it was difficult to track his own age. "Ten." He finally answered, thinking of the previous summers.
"Then you are just a year older than I. You shouldn't have to call me…your lady." Elissa insisted.
"Then what should I call you?"
"Anything but 'my lady'…please." She stubbornly requested.
Alistair nodded. "If you say so…I will try, my l-…I mean, Elissa."
Elissa smiled in approval. She looked around the hedges. "Well…as appreciative I am of this hiding spot, it is a bit confining, don't you think?"
Alistair shrugged. "I like it."
"How about we go hide in your room?" Elissa suggested. "I'm positive Fergus will find me here sooner or later. He's quite sly."
Alistair shook his head. "I don't think you would like my room."
"Why not?"
He hesitated. "I live in a room above the stables."
Elissa stared at him, blinking. "You live in the stables?"
"Yes…so I don't believe…"
"That sounds incredible! You are so lucky!" Elissa exclaimed, her jealousy was genuine.
"P-pardon?" Alistair stuttered, not anticipating her reaction.
"Do the stables carry horses?" She asked, leaning towards him.
"Yes, they do. And some goats and cows…with a few mabari hounds…"
Elissa immediately stood straight up. "I insist you take me to your room so we can continue hiding there!"
"Why would you want to see the stables?" Alistair asked, confused more than ever.
"I love the animals in the stables in Highever." Elissa beamed and quickly walked towards the small tunnel in the hedges which she crawled through. "But mother will not allow me to spend as much time as I want with the animals. But our stable master is quite kind to me. He allows me to brush and feed them from time to time. Now…" She crouched down to crawl back out. "Let's go!"
Alistair scratched at his dark blond hair as he watched Elissa wriggle out of the hedges. "You are quite odd for a noble."