"What was the nicest thing anyone's done for you, as a kid?" Elissa Cousland murmured to her husband, the couple lying in bed, wrapped together in an affectionate morning bliss. They'd both been awake for some time now, neither willing to get out of bed. Alistair opened his eyes to smile curiously at his wife, her hair mussed and eyes sleepy. Beautiful. He'd already forgotten what she'd asked.
"Hmm?" he crooned, attempting to pull her closer. Elissa snickered and leaned away before their lips could meet.
"You had a rough childhood, right? Surely it's had some high points." She wove her fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp.
"Mm. Did I ever tell you the time Eamon caught me trying on Isolde's dresses? I had half expected him to send me off to the chantry for that reason alone." He grinned, making Elissa snicker. Leaning in, Alistair pressed a kiss to his wife's forehead.
"As much as I'd like to know why my dear husband has worn dresses more time than I have…" she trailed off, brows high. When Alistair's cheeks colored, she smirked and gave him a nudge. "C'mon, I'm serious."
Alistair thought for a bit, not remembering his childhood that well. She wasn't surprised. He lived in the present, and often forgot the events of the previous night. Thankfully a trickle of a memory finally sparked to life.
"Cake!" he said with a smile.
"Cake?"
"Yes, cake."
"Your best memory is of cake? Alistair, really…" Elissa sighed.
"Not just cake. A girl. The memory is kind of fuzzy." Alistair frowned, thinking harder, "But I remember there was a party at Redcliffe. A bunch of kids were there. And a girl. She shared her cake with me. It wasn't much, but that little bit of kindness… it was one of the best days I had at Redcliffe." As he went on, Elissa had gone quiet, watching him.
"She gave you cake? That's it?" she asked softly. He thought hard, face contorted.
"Aaand, a cookie I think?" he offered. Elissa just smiled softly. That wasn't all, not even half of it. The girl had given him hope, friendship, love. A reason.
As if a fog cleared in her own mind, Elissa let an old childhood memory seep into the front of her thoughts…
