Do you remember your first—?
Summary: This is a short fic about some kids who meet at Redcliffe years before the Blight. Story will be in third-person (which I'm not very good at, but I'll do my best), and we'll also find out how Alistair first develops his unholy love of cheese. *wink*
Characters: Alistair, Elissa, Cailan, Anora, Fergus, Nathaniel
A/N: Erm I'm putting this up to remind myself to update it—or it'll never get uploaded. Heh. So I apologise in advance if I take say, three weeks to update. I'm not entirely sure if the timeline's right? But hey, we can fantasize about how awesome this meeting will be if it were actually shown! Please let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Chapter 1: Your first real party
The boy watched the streamers flutter in the breeze from his loft, the bright pinks, blues, purples, reds of these looked so merry as even more people flooded the place for the wedding. Isolde was finally marrying Arl Eamon. And just as expected, he wasn't invited. It was not like he cared or anything— at least he had a free rein for the day—no one would pay any attention to him as far as he knew. He just wished… that they'd save some cake for him.
The icing on that largest one had looked most scrumptious.
xOxOx
"I'm bored." The little girl whined, careful to keep her voice low amid the throng of nobles. Her Mother and Father were off somewhere in that mix, mingling, speaking of the most boring things that the adults could come up with.
She wished that she had been left at home. The new mabari puppies were coming soon, and she did not want to miss the birthing. Elissa rather hoped that Fergus and her could secretly imprint one before Mother had a chance to protest. She didn't like the smelly things very much. Elissa loved the way the dogs smelled. Sure most of it was doggy, but it was familiar—although a tad wet. They reminded her of home—of what Ferelden meant to her. They were also the reason why their tutor had been pleased with her last composition. She had written about Chance—their full grown mabari who was about to become a father himself.
At least Fergus was here. He was similarly dazed by the sheer size of the crowd, and both of the young Couslands were glad that none of the nobles had deigned to approach them to comment on how their outfits were. Some of these ladies terrified him with their garish makeup.
"Me too… but we're supposed to be close by, as Father's moral support." He kept his voice low too, and clutched at his sister's hand. He really did not like how loud these people were.
But still Elissa murmured. "But… can I at least go see the horses? I'll be quick— they're in the stables—and that's so near the main yard."
She was itching to get away from this place. She preferred the horses to these people; at least they smelled better than the odd scents the nobles used. Some of these richly-dressed people did not look very happy, although weddings were supposed to be joyous occasions. They looked angry.
Her brother turned and gave her a dirty look. "And what about me?"
He seemed slightly anxious, but that was to be expected. Elissa knew how he felt about masses of people. Her brother would very much prefer to be left tumbling in the dirt, training with his (wooden) sword and shield. He wanted to be a warrior.
"I guess… you can come too…" She hadn't really thought of that. Anything, to get away from the stifling heat. The little girl also realised how unhappy she sounded at the thought of being accompanied, and was relieved that her brother only smiled, squeezing her hand gently.
"I'll keep watch for you here—tell them that you've gone to the privy." This was why she loved him. He always understood. She promised that she would be back soon. She could not leave him on his own for long. Fergus looked too handsome in that green velvet for his own good, she snickered privately. Most of these ladies would no doubt want to introduce him to their own little girls back home.
"I'll be quick. I'm just taking some apples to them." She let go of his hand—reaching behind them and counted off five of the reddest apples she saw. They were huge, and were all she could carry. The horses would have to share.
Her brother laughed, waving her off, turning his watchful eyes back to the adults. Everyone seemed to be preoccupied, still. "Be careful with your dress— or you'll have to wear that purple one."
She made a face at him—they both knew the dress. It was a ghastly taffeta—one that she had resisted all her parents' efforts to make her wear. Father had said she looked absolutely wonderful in it—almost a princess—he had added, but Elissa only shook her head. She did not want to be a princess. She wanted to be his 'Pup'. The muted blue dress she had on was her favourite, still. Looking around, Elissa inched beneath the long tables, turning her attentions back to sneaking out of the hall with her arms full.
The apples which she had gathered into her arms thankfully did not spill—though they threatened to escape her grasp—and Elissa found all the ducking and dodging between the tall people quite exciting. None of them even turned to look at the small figure squeezing past, so focused they were on their inane banter. Elissa owed her skill in stealth to all those nights she crept out of her room (they had only recently begun sleeping in different quarters) and into Fergus's where she would kip out on the spare bed—she missed the sounds of his snoring— those lulled her to sleep where mere sheep-counting couldn't.
Even the men in shiny armour did not seem to have noticed a young girl, small as she was, slip out through the heavy doors, clutching at the five red apples like the small treasures they were.
xOxOx
P.S.: So that's it- the first chapter of my take on what happens when you bring noble-borns to Redcliffe. All of them in the same place! So cute! Please leave a review—thanks for reading :D