The Most Unlikely Place
By Deadly Off Topic
Part 1: Elissa
Chapter 2
She doesn't know how long it's been since she broke free from the dark spawn's ambush, but Elissa hurts everywhere. Tired legs from running, sore arms from having to parry, thrust and shield against every blow, not to mention the few knicks and cuts she took when the dark spawn manage to snip at her. Stupid Arch-demon working overtime, doesn't it know to take a day off once in a while? Damn the beast to the hells. Gas. All she wants now is a warm, soapy bath she can simply lie in for hours. Preferably with a very hot, naked and wet Templar joining her. Too exhausted for a girlish titter, although if truth be told, she isn't much for doing girlish things, Elissa leans against a huge slab of broken stone with a heavy sigh.
What if Alistair changes his mind? What if he starts thinking she's too much trouble or how dangerous it is to be with her? After all, she's the one leading this expedition when he's the senior warden. He's the one skirting that responsibility so why would a romance be any different? Stupid! He's not like that, and she knows it. While he doesn't take the lead, he does handle his responsibility as a Grey Warden very, VERY, seriously. It's one of the things that draws her to him, his steadfast faith and honour, as well as his ability to do what is necessary. Elissa's surprised to find a chuckle on her lips. She can't help but admit there's a certain charm to a man who does what he's told - especially one who's at her beck and call and knows it - and doesn't mind.
Ah. All these silly worries when she knows better, but Elissa's never been in love before and despite what Alistair might suspect, he would be her first and only. It terrifying that she's been flirting with heart pangs from the start, but he's the one person in her life who's come to her not because of who she was, but because of who she is. He doesn't care that her family is second in line to the throne, but then again he knows she doesn't give a damn that he's Maric's bastard either. They're an unlikely pair and that's where the trick of it lies. Such an unlikely place for the two of them to meet and yet...
If only things could be different. It's a foolish thought because she knows that in a perfect world, she'd still be in Highever and Alistair would be a Templar under the power of the Chantry. The dark spawn? They'd be a nightmare best left forgotten and as to her and Alistair they would never have met. Well, she can't say that for absolutes, but the chances would be extremely unlikely. In a way, she'd have to say a prayer and thank you on behalf of Duncan the next time she's near a Chantry's building. Without him, this would never have been possible.
As she stares at the star infested sky above, her eyes tracing the wonders of the heavens with something akin to awe, something Duncan once said drifts back into her thoughts. It makes a lot more sense with hindsight. I want both her and Alistair to light the beacon. They'll be okay as long as they're together. His laughter, surprising warm in the dismal circumstances, had pulled her attention as if it was an explosion. Elissa was half afraid he knew she was listening in by the tent shadows, but if so he never revealed her. I know he won't like this duty at first, but I'm not blind. She'll be good for him, temper his steel and perhaps make him shine when before he only glimmered.
I don't think he'll thank you for it. Came a reply from a Warden she regrettably did not know.
Of course not, all he'll see right now is that he's not able to ride with me, but in time, he'll thank me. I know his tastes and I have seen her promise. She'll be the one. It will be enough.
He had a clearer eye than all of us, she realizes as she lowers her head. Her gaze trailing off into the darkness of the woods in front of her, her dim senses feeling out for what dark spawn remained. She'd always suspected there was another reason why Duncan had his eye on her. Why he made it absolutely clear that while he would not press the issue that she join the Wardens out of respect for her father, the offer had been laid bare on the table just the same. He had made sure she understood her importance. He wasn't just claiming her for the Grey Wardens... he wanted her for the boy he had come to love as a son. "It's not all black and white," she says softly. "You knew and you hoped. Sometimes I think you're as conniving as Loghain claims you are."
As she leans back into a broken wall, its outline barely visible by the light of the milky heavens above, Elissa suddenly comes back to herself amidst all her dark memories. The tower stands like some sliver of broken bone jabbed into the dirt. Is this on the map?
Thoughts of Alistair and Duncan on hold, she searches through her backpack for her lantern and some flint and tinder. Though it takes a few moments, she has a light going and is pursuing a map she's retrieved. Everything seems in order, except she never expected the ruins here. "Either the map's wrong about this, or I've walked further than I meant to." She murmurs softly to herself as she shoves it back into her pack before reshouldering it. It's a bit awkward, what with her in her armour and carrying both the lantern and her shield in the same hand, but she needs her sword hand free just in case. Her minute radar warns her that there are still dark spawn in the area and Elissa needs to be wary. "Even now I haven't lost them all. Sodding bastards."
As she shifts, she's reminded again that every part of her hurts. Those blasted dark spawn really did a number on her and the camp. Painfully, she tries not to think about her friends right now because doing so is not conducive to surviving. And yet she knows that if they're going to meet up here, she needs to do something to secure the place. She's not having wounded, near dying friends getting ambushed by things they can't feel coming.
An odd flicker of white catches the peripheral of her vision and Elissa swears she sees the glimmering tail end of light disappear into...a pathway revealed amidst this rubble of crumpled stone. Was that a spirit or are her tired eyes playing tricks on her. She's not afraid of ghosts, she's dealt with her fair share, but ruins like this are notorious for spirits with bad attitudes.
But that doesn't stop her from casting her lantern in the pathway to get a better look. As Elissa's sea-green eyes flicker to the doorway, a half-sketchy plan presents itself. It'll take a bit of nerve and concentration to get the attention of the few dark spawn left, but she knows she'll be able to do it. It's time to clear out the trash so that the survivors - and she cringes at the thought that some of her friends might be dead - can find a safe haven.