It's pathetically short but i tried to add more and it just seemed forced and horrible. im working on some other stuff with Alistair and my Tabris right now that should (hopefully) be more lighthearted. consider this a taste of what is to come.
Alistair watched her run. It was different, it wasn't collected, it wasn't a steady, reasonable pace; she ran like death itself was at her heels. He swore her saw her stumble, she never stumbled. That was his job. People in the marketplace leapt back as she barrelled past them, paying no mind to anything, or anyone. His breath was becoming ragged as he chased after her, his heavy mail rattled and weighed him down. Zevran was having no trouble keeping up, but Alistair saw concern in his eyes, what had happened to her?
Suddenly she was stopped by a guard. She ran straight into him, almost as though she intended to cleave him in half and just keep running. A scream leapt from her lips and Alistair covered the last hundred meters in seconds, it wasn't a scream of pain, not external at the very least. It was a scream of anguish, a scream of betrayal. The guard held her tightly and her arms clawed forward, trying desperately to keep moving.
"You can't go through!" He said, his voice forceful.
That was when Alistair was close enough to see her face. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, she looked so small. He knew she was brave, he knew she was powerful, but now she looked fragile, broken.
"I'm from the alienage! Let me in! I need to see my father! And Shianni and Soris, I need to see them!" The Warden cried, "Please, open the gate!"
The guard gripped her shoulders and stared down at her, "I can't."
"Just let me up to the gate! Can't I at least peer through the bars?!" She shrieked, her voice cracking on several words.
The guard went to deny her request, but Alistair stepped forward, "Stand down. What possible harm could it do?"
"Fine." The guard said, stepping back from the Warden, "but if she tries anything, I hold you personally responsible."
Alistair nodded and stepped towards the gate, Zevran waited back with the guard, preferring not to interfere. She was already standing there, one hand rested on the iron bars. He could see her shoulders heaving as she wept. As he took the final step towards her, her forehead made contact with the gate with a thump. He didn't say anything, because he didn't know what to say. All he could do was bring an arm around her shoulders and let her cry. To his surprise, she lifted her head and her watery brown eyes gazed into his, for only a second, then her head fell to his chest. He could hear her whispering soft apologies, to who or for what, he didn't know. Alistair ran a hand through her dirty blonde hair and said all he could think to say:
"you did nothing wrong."
