They were twelve years old when they first met but her feelings for him never changed. They grew stronger over the years but besides that they remained the same. She still remembered the butterflies in her stomach, the heat on her cheeks and the loud pounding of her heart as if it was trying to escape her chest when she first talked to him. Many nights during those years she wondered if he could ever feel the same for her. Later she would close her eyes and fall asleep as she would dream of the feeling of his lips on hers, the warmth of his skin and the softness of his voice when he'd whisper I love you. But every morning when she woke up she knew it was only a fantasy. They were friends, best friends, fighting partners but nothing more. They had done so many things together and been grounded countless times. She couldn't help but smile when she recalled everytime they'd been in trouble. They would look at each other and pretend to be sorry as her parents grounded them, but in their heads they were already planning something new.

Elissa was lying on the grass, daydreaming as she often did, hoping her mother wouldn't catch her. She was supposed to get ready for the reception her parents held that night. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes. She could see the sunlight trough her closed eyelids and feel the comforting warmth of the afternoon sun on her skin. She let her mind drift, taking her in that fantasy world she loved so much, the world where everything was perfect, the world where they belonged to each other. She smiled as the man in her fantasy kissed her.

"I wonder what the reason for that smile is."

She opened her eyes too quickly, she felt a little disoriented. She stared blankly at the intruder, heat rising in her cheeks as her vision cleared slowly.

"Rory? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to train with the others?"

"I'm done training for the day." He looked at her intently, his green eyes glistening. Elissa's heart was racing in her chest, her hands trembling on her stomach. "You never answered my question." He grinned at her, visibly happy with himself.

"I'm sorry. I ... wasn't paying attention. What was the question?"

"I was wondering why you were smiling like that."

"Nothing." she said too quickly. She cursed in her head, knowing she was making a fool of herself as she sat up.

"Doesn't seem like nothing to me." Roland shot back, sitting next to her. "If I didn't know you better I'd say you were thinking about a boy."

Elissa blushed more than before and cursed him in her head. "I don't know what you're talking about. I wasn't thinking about anyone."

Roland turned his head and locked his eyes on hers, leaning closer to her, his face inches from hers. She could feel his breath caressing her cheek. Her heart accelerated. She fought the urge to close her eyes and kiss him. "Then why won't you tell me?"

"You are imagining things, Rory. The other knights have a bad influence on you." She hoped her voice wouldn't betray her feelings.

"I won't give up so easily, my lady. So, who is the lucky boy? Do I know him?" He smiled broadly, his mischievous eyes staring at her as if trying to read her very soul. She held his gaze, hoping he would let go before her. He sighed. "Ah, well, fine. Don't tell me. I didn't come to harass you. I have something for the birthday girl." He handed her a package.

"What is it?" she asked, turning the package in her hands before tearing up the wrapping. She opened the little box and stared at its content: a pendant with a dragon carved on it. She smiled and jumped at Roland's neck. "It's beautiful, thank you!"

"I'm glad you like it."

"I love it, thank you so much. You shouldn't have." Elissa gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before putting the pendant around her neck.

"It was nothing, really." Roland answered, blushing slightly at the contact of Elissa's lips.

An awkward silence fell between them, Roland staring at nothing in particular, Elissa playing with her hands.

"Elissa Cousland, what in the Maker's name are you doing? You are supposed to get ready for tonight." The teyrna's voice broke the silence.

"I guess I should go. Thank you, Rory. It is beautiful." Elissa got up and headed to her mother.

ooooo

Elissa took the pendant Roland offered between trembling fingers and looked at it, a smile forming on her lips before putting it around her neck. Someone knocked and the door opened on her mother.

"You better hurry, young lady. It is not polite to let your guests wait."

"They're not my guests, mother."

Eleanor ignored her daughter's comment and examined her closely, nodding in approval at the choice of the dress. Her eyes rested on the pendant and her gaze changed. "Take that off."

"But mother, it's a gift!"

"I know you want to please your friend by wearing the pendant he gave you but you can't wear it with that kind of clothes. Besides, he is not invited tonight, therefore he will not know if you are wearing it or not. You should choose another necklace. You need to be presentable."

Reluctantly Elissa took off the pendant and as soon as her mother was out of sight she put it in a hidden pocket in her dress before following her to the ballroom.

ooooo

Elissa was sitting in a corner of the ballroom, her eyes wandering on the guests. This was supposed to be for her birthday but none of them were her friends. Most of her mother's friends had come with their sons, but Elissa had no interest in an arranged marriage. At her mother's dismay she rejected every invitations she received from these young men, preferring to spend her evening alone. Her brother approached and handed her a glass of wine.

"Happy birthday, little sister." He sat next to her, looking straight at her. "What's wrong? You should be enjoying the reception, it's for you."

"For me? They don't care about me, Fergus."

"Of course they do. Look at all the young men who came from every corners of Ferelden for a chance to dance with you tonight."

"Only because they think they'll have a chance to marry me." Elissa looked at the liquid in the glass before drinking it. She looked at her brother, sadness in her eyes.

"You're eighteen now, Elissa. You'll have to find a suitable husband."

"I don't want a husband, Fergus."

"I understand you are nervous about the idea of getting married but I'm sure some of them are nice men. What about Thomas? Or Dairren? Maybe you should give them a chance."

Elissa frowned, she didn't want them. She would never love any of them. They had tried, so many times, to sweet talk her but she was not interested.

"I think I know what your problem is, sister. There is probably someone you want but you don't know if he wants you back." Fergus smiled at her reassuringly. "But I'm sure he does, and if he isn't interested, than he is an idiot." Fergus patted her shoulder before heading to his wife.

Elissa's eyes wandered on the guests once more. She spotted her parents; they were in the middle of a discussion with Arl Rendon Howe. Her brother was dancing with his wife. She left her chair and exited the ballroom quickly, unnoticed. As soon as she was out she took off her shoes, put her pendant around her neck and headed to the garden. She welcomed the fresh air on her face and breathed deeply. She untied her hair, knowing her mother would be mad at her if she found her in that state, but she didn't care. She sat on her favorite bench, the one surrounded by all her favourite flowers. She closed her eyes, enjoying the flowers' perfume. She heard a noise, someone was coming. She cursed, knowing she would have to go back to the reception.

"Elissa? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to celebrate your birthday with your guests?" Roland sat next to her as Elissa breathed more easily. Thank the Maker it's not my mother.

"I needed fresh air. And they are not my guests; they are my parents' friends." Elissa looked at the stars for a moment, thinking about what Fergus had told her. Once more she wondered if Roland could ever feel the same way about her.

"Look, a shooting star. You should make a wish." Rory pointed at the star, smiling. Elissa looked at him, noticing how his eyes shined in the moonlight.

"What for... I can't even have what I want." she whispered to herself.

"You can't be sad on your birthday. Tell me, what is it you want? Maybe I could make it happen for you." He grinned.

Elissa looked at him for a while before looking away, embarrassed. "You." she said softly as tears fell down her cheeks. She waited for a reaction but Roland stayed silent for an eternity.

"Me?" he finally asked, surprised by the answer. "Why? I'm just a knight."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Please, forget about it." Elissa rose from the bench but Roland's fingers wrapped around her wrist, preventing her to leave.

"I can't forget about what you have said, Elissa." He forced her to sit back next to him. His eyes fixed on hers. She felt his fingers on her cheek, caressing her skin slowly as if he was afraid she might break under his touch. His other hand left her wrist as his arm circled her waist, pressing her closer to him. His face was now closer to hers, his breath caressing her lips. She closed her eyes and waited for the magic moment. Their lips sealed with a kiss; she felt his heartbeat accelerate against her chest as the kiss became more passionate. Every fibers in her body wanted to explode, this was more wonderful than everything she had ever dreamed of. She felt his tongue clumsily caressing hers. She closed her eyes tighter, almost waiting to wake up in her bed any minute. The kiss ended, she opened her eyes. She was still in the garden, in Rory's arms, the feeling of his lips clinging desperately on hers.

"I love you." he blurted, his cheeks red in the moonlight. "I always have."

"I love you too, Rory. Since the day we met, six years ago." She whispered before kissing him again.

"So you were thinking about me this afternoon?" he smiled. She rested her head on his chest, her arms around his waist as he caressed her back tenderly. Elissa blushed, remembering her fantasy.

"Yes." She admitted, embarrassed.

"I often think of you too, you know. I dreamed of this moment so many times."

"We don't need our dreams anymore. We have each other." Elissa whispered, her eyes closed as she breathed deeply, noticing for the first time Rory's musky odor. He kissed her forehead tenderly. She knew she never wanted to be elsewhere than here, in his arms, forever...