Author's notes: I felt sooooo guilty at this part, man. And I felt worse because my character was romantically close to Alistair at the time and had just passed the part that could have saved them. DANGIT! . Anyway, enjoy what my mind has concocted.
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Age: Origins.
"Hey, Elissa, we need to talk." She heard Alistair say behind her as they walked into camp.
The two of them walked to a place away from their comrades and she said, "Sure, what's on your mind?"
Alistair took a deep breath and almost yelled, "You let Lady Isolde DIE back there! Why would you DO such a thing?" He looked outraged, as if it was his family that had died. Oh… It kind of was…
"Um…" Elissa began, "It was her choice, Alistair. What could I have done to stop her?"
"Exactly that!" He shook from his anger. "STOPPED her! She didn't have to die like that!" He stepped a little closer to her to emphasize his point. "You could have told her to wait and you could go to get help!"
"And leave the poor people of Redcliffe to the abomination's mercy?" Elissa said, sounding feeble. She didn't want to admit it, but he was right. "Is that really what I should have done?"
"Well, you could have…" He sighed and stepped back to his original spot. "This is getting us nowhere. I just wish you could have spared her life."
"I had to make a choice, Alistair." She looked to the ground. "And I did."
"Yes, but what will the Arl say? When we revive him, what will he say? He'll see that his son is a mage, ex-abomination no less, and his wife is dead." He sighed and shrugged his shoulders, armor clanking with his movements. "We owe him better than that."
Elissa looked up at him, thinking about his last statement. "Wait, this is about you and the Arl and not really about me, isn't it!" She pointed an accusing finger his way.
"What, no!" He held up his hands in offense. "No, I just… I don't know. I feel we could have done more, had we thought about it." Sighing again, he walked closer to the other Grey Warden. "I know it won't do any good now, though."
Elissa nodded. "True, there is the Blight to focus on. I know what you mean, though." She thought for a moment and then whispered, "I'm sorry. I should have done better."
Alistair panicked a little and began trying to cheer her up. "Ah! It's… well, not alright, but I understand. I see that you made your decision." He chuckled a little. "I'm just glad that you're the leader. Imagine me making the decisions!"
The two Wardens laughed together, Alistair's laugh ringing out into the wilderness. "Yeah, I remember when I first met you." Elissa looked Alistair straight in the face. "You and decisions do NOT work together!"
"Hey now!" He poked fun with her for a few more minutes and then remembered the rest of their party was waiting at camp. "I think we better get back. I wonder if anyone's missed us!"
"Yeah, we probably better go…" Elissa still seemed a bit upset at his outburst earlier, so he chose to fix that.
"C'mere, you." He pulled her into a hug, something he didn't do often. Really, he was just glad she wasn't the one killed in Redcliffe that night. Their armor kept them in an awkward hug, making sounds of metal clashing all the while. Eventually, the two of them pulled apart. "Well, back to camp then?"
"Yeah," Elissa said. "And, Alistair?"
"Hmm?" He had begun walking to camp already, and turned to face her.
"Thanks." The Blight and being a new Warden had really taken a toll on her nerves and confidence, but with a guy like him around, they just might make it.
End notes: Yeah, so there you have it! My first DAO fic. I love Alistair, but Zevran too. Might make a fic of him sometime later! Anyway, tell me what you think in a review, 'kay? I'll be much obliged. (On a side note, my spellcheck has decided that "Zevran" should be changed to "Zebra." Greaaaat.)