Well, hello. This is the result of my Dragon Age obsession- a collection of one-shots in which I can dump all the various ideas and inspirations that pop into my head and will not leave until I write them. I simply love these games- the plot, the characters, the world itself- and could not resist writing some fanfiction. This will include characters/plot/events from Origins, Awakening, and Dragon Age II. I haven't really done any of the DLCs, but I guess, if I do, then that may be added in here as well.

What to Expect: As far as pairings go, there will be much F!Cousland/Alistair and F!Hawke/Anders. I like a good amount of other pairings as well, though, and I may switch it around. I'm considering some F!Cousland/Nathaniel and F!Hawke/Cullen as well, so… Who knows? I also may write oneshots based off quotes from the games- as I played, I made a note of any quotes that I really liked/may want to write something from, so I should have some material to work with. I like simple character studies as well, so I may pick a character and explore. There will be everything from crack fiction to the angstiest angst (as angsty as I can make it without crying myself to sleep). Also, expect Rouge!Cousland, Snarky!Hawke, and lots of fangirling in the author's notes. Yay! So, here's the first oneshot.

Title: Of Plans that Don't Quite Work

Summary: When Wynne found him hidden behind a giant column, she wondered at the sanity of the new king. But he has a reputation to maintain and he means to take it seriously. Mentioned Alistair/Elissa

Background: This is what I imagined as the awkward stage for Alistair and Elissa after the whole "Let's break up so I can have an heir and not cheat on my wife" ending. Alistair and Elissa obviously are going to bump into each other (even with Alistair as king and Elissa as Warden-Commander). This is one such instance in which talking to each other is unavoidable… Well, Alistair does his best.

Notes: This spawned from a quote I pulled off Alistair during one of the conversations while we were walking around. He commented that "I never said it was a good plan" and I gathered that Alistair is not particularly skilled at planning. Hence, this little oneshot. Also, I wanted to include some Motherly!Wynne because I love her so much. She did not ever stop talking, but I loved her for it. Lastly (maybe), I couldn't have him marry Anora instead of Elissa. Maker, I just… despise her too much. And she supposedly could be unable to have kids (her and Cailan didn't have any and I guess there's some note or something at Ostagar that hints it) and Alistair needs kids. So… I chose another character. Just to let you guys know. OC that I may or may not end up developing... I don't know. But, that's why I stuck her in there instead of Anora.

One Last Note: Also, I chose the male default name for the mabari. I couldn't think of a name… And Aedan stuck. I also blame Crime Scene Fairy for giving me the idea in her bio. Heehee, thanks, Fairy!

Wynne first realized that something was not right when she noticed that 1) there was food on the table and 2) King Alistair was nowhere to be seen.

Yes, this was quite troubling indeed. It was the one year anniversary of the killing of the archdemon and the end of the fifth Blight, an occasion to truly be celebrated with the great hall of the Royal Palace was filled with food and guests and music. Lords, ladies, and soldiers were all present, enjoying in the festivities, and many of the most notable heroes of the war were present, even the Hero of Ferelden herself. Wynne had barely had time to exchange words with her before the Warden-Commander was whisked away by some arl or bann or old war friend who wished to talk with her. The Lady Elissa was quite in demand, it seemed.

And, yet, for all the festivities and celebration, the King of Ferelden had yet to show his face. And that was where Wynne came in.

After fifteen straight minutes of searching (and avoiding a fairly drunk Oghren as he attempted to incoherently explain to her exactly why he still had pants on- strangely enough, this information was useful because she had just been wondering the same thing), she finally found him behind a column in the corner of one of the smaller rooms. He sat sprawled with his back to the stone and a very familiar-looking mabari's head in his lap as the dog drooled slightly on Alistair's impressive-looking attire. Wynne supposed that she should have known better then to trust Alistair to keep those clothes clean. The boy was always a mess.

"Your majesty, may I ask what you are doing over here?"

"Oh, Wynne," the Warden King muttered in surprise, eyes widening slightly. "Hello. Enjoying the party?"

"Yes, very much so," the mage advisor responded curtly, sending quite the stern look Alistair's way. "I was only wondering why you too were not."

"Oh, Maker's Breath, Wynne, I can explain," he eyed her nervously, hand scratching lightly behind the mabari's ears as he did so. "No need to get out that scary-looking face that you do when you…" Seeing her look intensifying, he hastily moved on, tripping over his own tongue. "You know what? Never mind. I'll just explain what's going on. You see, this is what's wrong. Elissa's here."

"Yes, but you can hardly be surprised at that," she replied, eyebrow still lifted skeptically.

"I'm not," he answered hurriedly and the mabari's head lifted up as he panted, perhaps even because he caught his master's name in the conversation. "It's just that… Eamon suggested that I announced my engagement to Elayne tonight. And I know that it is the right thing to do. The anniversary of the Blight and the announcement of a Queen, which could mean an heir soon, maybe. There couldn't be a more perfect time. But…"

"You must talk to Elissa beforehand," Wynne filled in where Alistair faltered and he nodded. "Everyone will be looking toward her when the announcement is made. Your past… involvement is not exactly a secret."

"Hm," the king grumbled, looking down to scratch under the dog's chin. "It's one of the worst kept secrets in Ferelden. I wonder how it got out anyway. It's not like having a drunk Ohgren is a liability or anything." Hesitation then marred his face as he paused in his scratching. "But, I do not know what to say to her. It will be an… awkward conversation, to put it mildly."

"So, then," Wynne looked at him appraisingly, expression quite skeptical. "Your formulated plan was to hide over here until… you knew what to say? Or until I came to find you?"

"I never said it was a good plan," he muttered, even a touch sulkily. Aedan whined from his lap and Wynne wondered when on earth the dog had started taking a liking to him. During their campaign, he had always seemed particularly suspicious of Alistair. It had been most amusing.

"Well, you can start by bringing her hound back to her," Wynne ushered the king into a standing position, her voice taking a no-nonsense kind of tone. "And I know that you will find the right thing to say, Alistair. You always do, somehow."

"Hm, and I always thought that everyone found me terribly awkward," he joked, adjusting his clothes and seeming to realize, for the first time, the drool that he had on his pants. "Oh, of course. Just when I thought the thing was starting to like me. I knew I should have just worn my amour. It would be formal enough. But, no, apparently armor's not supposed to be suitable for a celebration like this. Maker, I wouldn't want to remind anyone of war in any way!"

A happy Aedan simply wagged his tail side-to-side at a scowling Alistair.

"Your majesty, you will find her and talk to her as soon as possible, will you not?" Wynne started to straighten Alistair's clothes for him, adjusting his collar and smoothing out the fabric. He was so very messy. "She is like a granddaughter to me, just as you are like a grandson, and I do not wish her to be taken by surprise with this. She will be hurt."

Alistair seemed to turn sober almost immediately and he looked down, seeming frustrated. With himself or with the world or with her, Wynne was not sure, but he was almost angry. "By the Maker, I would never mean to do that. I've held it off as long as I could. The country needs a Queen and, well, it's not as if this is easy for me either-"

"Alistair. You do not have to justify your actions to me."

"Yes, but, I just, I do not want to be around her just because- because I want to be around her so badly and Elayne is here as well, so I do not want to make things awkward and-"

"She is made of tougher stuff, Alistair, and you know it," Wynne soothed him and his shoulders did seem to stop tensing for a few seconds. "As long as you warn her about it beforehand, she will be fine."

He sighed, rubbing his temples for a few seconds before continuing. "Yes. You're right, Wynne. She will act in her typical Elissa way and pretend that it is nothing and, by the time I make the announcement; she will have already composed herself. She will do what is necessary."

"And you will as well," she reminded him gently. He looked down only to see Aedan looking right back up at him and he looked elsewhere.

"I only wish that what was necessary was not so painful."

Wynne smiled softly, showing a crack in her stern façade. "It almost always is, Your Majesty."

"Very well," he rubbed his hands together, seeming to shake off the conversation with a shrug of his shoulders. "Then I will be on my way. Do me a favor and… Tell everyone of this!" He grinned broadly, looking for all the world like a boy again and Wynne remembered a time when he would have moped much more about this. He was growing up- or perhaps was already grown up. She could not decide. "I must keep up my image of being a scared little boy who hides from the women in his life."

He left as Wynne hid a wry smile, but he came back only seconds later, sticking his head around the column. "By the way, that was a joke. Just in case. So, please don't tell anyone. Especially the dwarves. They'll never let me drink ale with them again." He looked thoughtful. "Although, I suppose that wouldn't be a bad thing. Anyway, thanks!"

Wynne shook her head affectionately. She tried her best with him, but she could only do so much. For a Grey Warden and a king, he was awfully silly.

Well, that's it! Reviews are welcome! Just let me know what you like/would like to see and I'll see if I can't put that oneshot near the top of my list. Like I said, I have a lot of ideas floating around and not much prioritizing done, so... I'm open.

Thanks for reading! May the Maker watch over you! :D

Added Note: Whenever characters would say that (May the Maker watch over you), I always immediately think of Star Wars (May the Force be with you). Especially when Duncan said it. Maybe that's because I envision him as the Qui-Gon Jin of Thedas. I feel like that's pretty accurate. Maybe.