This story starts in Origins, but is initially a series of 'one shots' exploring the personality and background of the female warden (whose origin I have created) and her relationships with the other characters, particularly with Alistair and Zevran (mainly to give some context to the main body of the story). Most of the key events in the game won't be covered, but the Landsmeet and the Final battle will be. The focus of the story is post Origins, exploring how Morrigan's ritual has affected the futures of our heroes. Relationships between the characters and how these develop will be a key theme.
Bioware own all of this apart from my character's origin. Apologies for any glaring mistakes as this is my first fan fiction. Rating will change to M for future adult scenes
Alistair stared out over the hills and valleys, drinking in the cool clean air of the mountains that surrounded their next destination, the village of Haven. It was so peaceful, yet so magnificent. It was as if nothing could damage this place. Maybe, out here, a man could be free….
His heart was in torment. He could not help but play the argument over and over again in his head
And just what do you think the Arl is going to say when he wakes up! You sacrificed his wife!
The Arl will realise there were greater things at stake Alistair, as an intelligent man he will see that!
Oh right, so I'm stupid now am I? Better that than a corrupted murderous! Blood magic! How could you?!
The look on her face when he had said that. She had been crushed. Why had he said that? Why couldn't he just gather her in his arms and tell her the truth – that she was his everything, that he loved her more than life itself. That he couldn't do any of this without her.
As time had passed, his feelings were getting harder and harder to ignore. He turned into a gibbering wreck whenever he saw her. When she was close, it was even worse. He had imagined so many times how she tasted, what it would feel like to have her body against his. The scent of her skin this morning when she had changed the bandage around his shoulder, the feel of her soft yet strong hands across his flesh. He still couldn't believe how such a ferocious fighter could be so tender. She drove him crazy.
He was running out of time. Once the Arl woke up, he would do what was needed to secure Fereldan. Eamon would make him King and they would have to finally battle the archdemon. He was going to loose her before he had even had her, and he had no idea what to do about it, let alone how to stop it from happening.
A shadow appeared beside him.
"By the Maker!….Morrigan, don't do that please" He glared at the witch who, as she had a habit of doing, had just popped up out of no where.
"Oh do be quiet Alistair, grow some backbone for pity's sake."
Alistair turned away. He was not in the mood for her nasty comments and humiliations. Not now. He just wanted to be left alone.
"What do you want?" he asked flatly.
Morrigan turned to face him fully, hands on hips, chin stuck in the air like some pompous noble's daughter.
"To save myself and our companions from the constant misery that you and Solana seem to insist on inflicting upon the lot of us. It really has become quite unbearable"
Alistair narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced at Morrigan sideways. What was she prattling on about now?
"Meaning what exactly?"
"Meaning, my dear, that despite every fibre in me being wanting to prevent such a union ever ever happening, that you and Solana need to sort this out. Now. Comprende?"
Alistair turned to face her, his brow furrowed in concern and confusion. Now he was really at a loss. Had Solana said something?
"Has it even crossed your mind to tell her how you feel?"
Maker's breath, was it that obvious?
He suddenly felt very foolish, because, it hadn't. Not really. He had supposed that, should she feel the same, she would come running. Because, of course, she was just the type of woman to go around flinging herself at men…..now he did feel like a fool.
"No, I thought not. Well can you please? Then maybe the sickening atmosphere of sexual tension will be over and the pair of you can stop gazing at each other with tormented puppy dog eyes."
Alistair replayed that sentence in his head.
"You mean, she feels the same for me too? Even after what I said? She only speaks to me really to change my bandages…" He was blabbering, he knew that, but he didn't care.
Morrigan rolled her eyes. "She's furious at you yes, but a simple sorry will solve that problem for you. Its clear to everybody, and I mean everybody! That you two are besotted with each other. Maker knows why…."
Alistair blushed a brilliant red. Could it be true? Not in his wildest dreams had he dared hope that maybe she did feel something for him. Sure, sometimes he caught her watching him, but he had figured that had just been in sympathy.
Morrigan looked at him in disdain.
"Just promise me that you'll speak to her, before I turn you into a toad!"
Back at camp
Alistair returned to the campsite soon after Morrigan, who had flounced off after her threat of sorcerous attackings leaving him to pick his own jaw up off the floor. Solana raised her head and saw him enter the clearing, and frowned in is direction.
Alistair paused under her gaze. Maker was he really going to do this?
Suddenly, he was sent pitching forward.
"Hey!" he cried, ungainly trying to regain his balance. He turned sharply to face Zevran. The beautiful Antivan face glowered up at him, eye half lidded in annoyance.
"Go my friend, before I take your place" he whispered, his accent adding weight to the statement. Alistair glared back before dismissing him with a wave of his hand. It would appear he really had no choice in this matter.
He turned back to Solana, whose attention had returned to the fire, which she was absently poking with a stick. He took a deep breath, and took a slow step towards her, trying to look calm and controlled. All he wanted to do was run and hide in his tent, or be sick, or perhaps both.
All too soon, his toes were next to her crouched form.
The silence was deafening.
"What do you want Alistair" she said finally, her voice ever so neutral. She didn't look at him, just continued to stir at the dying embers. Ouch, this wasn't the best of starts. Still, at least she had spoken, it was different from "its time to change your bandage" which was all he had gotten out of her for the past few days.
Alistair took the plunge, and crouched down next to her. He kept his gaze averted, not wanting to appear forward in any way. He was so scared he was going to get this wrong…..
"Solana, I….I wanted to apologise for my, awful, behaviour towards you. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. It was wrong. I hope you can forgive me."
His words were barely above a whisper. His throat had gone dry and he felt that his head might explode any second. He couldn't look at her. The silence dragged….dammit woman say something, anything!
Nothing.
Ok well, I tried. They can't accuse me of not trying anymore.
He shifted his weight slightly and went to stand up. He felt a slight pressure on his hand, making him pause. He looked down, and saw Solana's tiny, tanned hand covering his own; her palms roughed with calluses caused by that giant sword she managed to wield so effectively.
"Thank you" she whispered. Alistair smiled his crooked smile at her.
"Your welcome, figured it was time to act like a man for once". He was rewarded by a slight tug at the corner of her lips, but her face remained sad. She started to chew fervently on her bottom lip; her eyes fixed on the flames dancing in front of her. Alistair, took her hand in his.
"Solana, I need to tell you something," he said softly, watching for any reaction.
Much to his surprise, she shook her head roughly.
"No, you don't" she said, almost hissed in fact. Her deep brown eyes darkened even further, and remained staring straight ahead. Alistair watched the muscle in her jaw start to jump erratically. Had Morrigan and the others got this wrong?
"I, er, yes I do, I think, Solana, please?" He sounded pathetic even to himself, but he felt that he had to do this.
"Solana, I love you…."
No body was prepared for what happened next.
With an animal growl, Solana leapt upright, shoving Alistair over hard onto his backside.
"Don't you dare do this to me you bastard!" She screamed, jabbing her finger at him as he lay stunned in the dust.
"Wha…."
"Your going to be the bloody king you fool! All this time, you kept this from me, all this bloody time I dreamed and hoped that…..someday….but it can't happen can it! Your going to be the king! I'm a mere commoner, the two don't mix!"
Alistair just stared at her, wide eyed, in total disbelief. He could hear her words, and knew them to be true, but he wasn't going to accept them. He couldn't accept them.
He rolled forwards, pushing himself up with his hands. He could convince her, he had to. He couldn't loose her now.
"No wait, Solana, we can do this we can….." But she cut him off, shaking her head at him and backing away.
"Don't ask me to love you back Alistair, don't offer me what I can't have!" she cried. He slowly stood, and saw the tears that streamed down her cheeks and dampened the ends of her dark curly hair.
He took a step towards her, reaching out with one hand. He had to make this better.
With a final choking cry, Solana turned and bolted into the forest. Alistair did the most sensible thing that he had done in a while. He followed straight after her.
Zevran watched the two figures disappear, and was aware of Leliana scooting closer to him He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. The bard rested her head on his shoulder with a small sigh. They would both feel their hearts break a little bit more many more times before this was over, and for now, patching up the damage was all that they could do.