A/N: Thank you to Saga, CCBug and Chasind for reviewing and to Jinx1983, pepper1988, JTheClivaz, and mackillian for putting this on favorites/alerts. A special thank ye to Saga Svanhildr for being my lovely beta. We'll be introduced to Lia and then right back to Alistair. Hope you all enjoy!

"Almost Alright"

The expressions on the faces we don't know
It's a cold hard road when you wake up
And I don't think that I
Have the strength to let you go

-"Maybe" by Secondhand Serenade

"Are you recruiting?" Lia Cousland knew she only had several minutes before her brother and Oswyn would realize that she was gone. She had known the latter for a very long time and did care for him, just not enough to marry him. The only way that she could see getting out of it was through the man who was standing in front of her. "You are a Warden, aren't you?" The man opened his mouth and she sighed. What was with the male population? Did they all cower when spoken to by a woman in a position of power? Bah. She was ready to give that power up as long as she never got to be pawned off into a marriage that she did not want.

"Yes, my lady," the Warden replied, "but you are a Cousland, surely-" That was when she had to stop him. That was one of the roots of her problem.

"I'm ready and willing to sign up. Damn it man, conscript me if you have to," she told him. She ran her fingers through her long, deep auburn hair. "I know the darkspawn are all but eradicated, last week's attacks prove that to be true. You need recruits and I am more than a capable duelist."

"Well, of that I have no doubt," he started, "but the Wardens do not wish to be involved in political matters." Ah. He was afraid of what her brother, Teyrn Fergus Cousland, might want to do after finding out she left for Amaranthine. Though it was not only him, but also the heir to the Dragon's Peak Bannorn who would have something to say. She shifted from one foot to the other as her hands fumbled nervously against the fabric of her dress. This was her last chance to get out of the Maker forsaken arrangement and maybe take her life into her own hands.

"What time does the boat leave?"

"At dawn." He must have been able to smell the desperation that clung to her like a discernible scent. It separated her from all of the other potential recruits. Maybe it was just her imagination, or maybe he was in dire need for recruits. Whatever the case, she was grateful that he had given her the answer.

"Then I will be on that boat."

Lia slipped away and found the men getting ready to leave the market stalls. Fergus and Oswyn seemed to be so deep in a conversation that they hadn't noticed that she was gone. Good. She liked to think that her stealth abilities were back to being on par after…everything that she and her brother had gone through. She put a smile on her face whenever they glanced her way. Her mabari, Nike, found her side and she scratched the top of his head. They went back to Castle Cousland and she plotted her escape during the night. It was terrible of her to do, but she had expressed her thoughts about the marriage arrangement that her brother had made. He wouldn't hear it. She sighed heavily as she thought about it. She would leave him a goodbye note to explain her reasoning. She wanted to get away from the Cousland name, but as soon as that thought hit her she was racked with guilt. What would her father think? Oh Maker, she was such a disappointment.

It was Fergus who had inherited everything, and what was she to do? The noble thing? When night fell, she retired. Oswyn, bless his heart, after everything he had suffered from Howe, wanted to return to her room with her, but she wouldn't have it, using propriety as an excuse. She wanted to save herself for marriage after all. She wrote her letter on a piece of parchment, apologizing to Fergus for her decision and the grief that it would cause him, but her decision was her own and she didn't want him to try to stop her. She…needed to make her own name. She packed her clothes in a backpack and pulled on her drake skin armor. Lia fastened her daggers on her side and slipped out of the castle through the servant's entrance with her mabari in tow. She knew the lands better than most and she prayed that her brother hadn't expected her plans.

Lia made her way to the docks and paid a considerable amount of sovereigns to the inn keeper to make sure no one knew she was there. When morning came, she was on the boat with the other recruits and on her way to Amaranthine.

"I hear you've been talking to statues again."

Alistair rolled his eyes. That was another voice that haunted him, only this one was living. He turned his head to see the dark haired man standing beside him. "Hello, Kristoff," he greeted the Sergeant. The other Warden had come back from investigating darkspawn attacks near the Wending Wood when they had received word that the recruits were on their way. That had been a few days ago. "What is it that you want?"

"Be nice." Evie's voice had the tendency to be heard at the most opportune moments.

"You don't trust me enough to pick up the recruits?" He asked as he sauntered into the throne room of the Keep. Alistair folded his arms in front of him as his eyes narrowed. "It's funny how trust works around here." And there it was. Alistair didn't expect the man to completely forget what happened, but at least the blow to the head had hindered some of his memories.

"You would know," he told the older man, "I thought we agreed to put what happened in the Deep Roads behind us."

The scar over Kristoff's left eye was a constant reminder of what had happened. Alistair doubted that the situation was ever going to be behind them. He barely remembered the day. It seemed to meld into one blurred mess of images. He could remember shouting and having to defend himself after their disagreement. What had it been about? It was his little deal with the odd emissary. The Architect had clawed Kristoff's face to leave the scar and it had been Alistair that had knocked the other Warden out. Thank the Maker the man remembered less than he did. His reasoning to let the thing live? The Architect had promised to tell him where Duncan's body was, but in the end, he was deceived. Did his means justify the ending of his friendship with the other man? He hadn't decided.

"Easier said than done, yes?" Kristoff asked. Part of Alistair wondered if he recalled everything. He made a gesture to his face. "I still don't understand how the Architect escaped. Anyway, that is not why I have come to you, Commander." If he did remember what happened, Alistair was sure that he was holding it in until the right moment. At least, that was what he would have done. Ah, how Zevran would be proud. He could picture the look on Evie's face if she had been there. She would have nudged him and he would have gladly let her make the decisions.

"Then what is?" He had to word himself carefully.

"Perhaps we can…become friends again," he told the Commander, "Aura says I haven't been the same since the time in the Deep Roads and she thinks it's because of that. So I wish to patch things up. What do you say?" Something didn't sit right with Alistair. Maybe Kristoff only wanted it to be this way because he had something against him that he could use. His suspicions would not waver, but he was Commander of the Grey and he had had far greater foes closer to him before than another Warden.

"Maybe," Alistair found himself replying. Baby steps, right? "When will you be heading to Amaranthine?" He smiled to signify a peace offering.

"Whenever you are ready, Commander," Kristoff replied. He wished that the man would stop already. He smirked. "I mean, Alistair." Maker, this was going to be harder than he thought. He was testing him. He knew some didn't think that he was fit for Warden-Commander, mostly because he didn't see eye to eye with the older Wardens, but to the Void with them. It had taken him a long time to realize that he only had to please himself and it was Evie that had taught him that.

"Well, let me make preparations and we shall be off." That had seemed to be enough for Kristoff. Alistair watched him walk away as he cursed under his breath.

It didn't take long to make preparations with Varel just in case anything was to happen in his absence. Another thing Evie had taught him was to never be too careful. "Stop it Alistair, that was always you." Oh, yes ma'am. "I think it's good that you two are going to be friends again."

"I don't know about that," he said.

"I don't think he remembers what you did."

"Well can you blame me for that?"

"No."

That was all he needed to know. He met Kristoff and a few other Wardens, Ren and Jax, at the gate of Vigil's Keep. Barker trotted by his side as they readied to leave. "Did you see that group of Templars coming in earlier today?" Jax asked. Templars? Alistair's eyebrows furrowed together. He had not heard of the group coming in. Then again, it could be that he usually directed that nonsense to the Seneschal for him to handle. Ren, the Dalish elf, laughed at Jax.

"Ah, mage, I wouldn't be worried. I doubt they're here for you," he said, "Besides, I saw they already had someone in their custody." The elf cast a glance his way, since it was no secret that he was an ex Templar. "What do you think, Commander?"

Alistair offered them a small smile. "Perhaps they're here for our cheese, wine and the Thedas renowned Grey Warden hospitality, should I drive them off?" He asked. Their Commander had cracked a joke and it took a moment for the two younger men to realize that he was capable of such a thing. It felt good too, that much he could admit. He wondered if Evie was at the Maker's side smiling down at him.

"I think the others will do just fine with that," Ren replied laughing.

"If you ladies are done gossiping," Kristoff interrupted, "I wish to make it to the Crown and Lion before nightfall." The other two Wardens burst into a jubilant laughter. They were like children, at least that was how Alistair looked at it. They were still fairly young. Maker, Alistair was still young, but the other two did not have the experience to shape them into hardened shells like his dear…almost friend.

The hope for a day's march to the city of Amaranthine had been out of their reach. Barker had caught the trail of a travelling group of darkspawn. It was nothing like the horde that he had to face a year before, but since the defeat of the Archdemon, in their retreat, they arrived in several villages in small packs and it was up to them to eradicate them. The mabari soared ahead of them to take down a hurlock. Arrows flew past Kristoff and Alistair's heads as they charged upon the group. Jax covered their flanks with defensive spells. Once they were covered, offensive spells were cast to encircle the pack and trap them from leaving. Barker tore into the hurlock's neck and pounced to the next. Alistair bashed his shield into a genlock before he brought his sword bearing down and into its skull.

He whirled around to find an emissary, at least there was only one, hurling a spell his way. He braced himself for impact, but thanks to a magical barrier from Jax, the fire curved along his sides until it finally dissipated. Kristoff leapt behind the emissary with his greatsword slicing through the air in front of him until it made a connection. More arrows flew and the air filled with a rotten, burning stench that was a result of Jax's work. The darkspawn fell around them one by one, whether it was to arrows, swords, or by magic. Fighting them was the only reprieve for Alistair to get away from his worries at the Keep and it made him forget… well; almost forget that Evie was gone. It felt natural to him to slay the beasts, but he still half expected to look up and see her smiling face after a victory. That had been something he wasn't able to shake away easily.

"Commander!" Alistair whirled around to see one last genlock fall backwards from a hit by Jax. He expected a cry of joy, but silence greeted him as Ren laid on the ground. Alistair cringed at the mangled mess as the mage in their company fell to his knees next to his friend.

"Can you heal him?" He asked. The mage nodded slowly and he watched as Jax worked diligently to do as he asked.

"Maker," Kristoff said breathlessly, "I didn't expect them to be so close." Alistair glanced along the dark forest. They were not all gone. He could sense them lurking, waiting for something, but for what? He waited for movement in the shadows, but nothing. Were they retreating? "I feel as if something is watching us." He glanced at the older Warden and nodded.

"Or someone," he replied. He just hoped that Ren wasn't dead. They couldn't suffer another loss. Alistair was sure that he couldn't suffer another. He vowed that no one would die on his watch and it was a vow that he had been able to keep so far.

"He'll be ok." Damn it, not now Evie.

"You don't know that," he whispered.

"What was that, Commander?" Shit, he heard him. Alistair glanced at Kristoff, who was watching him. He must have seemed like a bastard who was losing his mind.

"Nothing," he replied and looked down at the elf's body to see him breathing. Thank the Maker.

"He'll live," Jax confirmed his thoughts. Good. He felt himself relax a little at the news.

"He won't be able to travel much tonight," Alistair said, "Let's set camp…away from here. We'll head for Amaranthine in the morning." Logically, they should push further to the city since he wasn't sure of the numbers that the darkspawn had travelled with this time, but he would not put Ren through the grueling task of marching on while he was injured.

"I don't think that is a good idea," Kristoff argued, "We must continue to the city, if not we might as well just turn in the direction of the retreating beasts and hunt their asses down. Otherwise, what is the point?"

"We're not losing a life on account of those bastards. They will still be around for days to come," Alistair told him, "That is an order Sergeant, and you will take it as such."

"I'm fine," Ren groaned. His voice was weak and signified that he was anything but fine. Alistair had set his mind on a decision and he wasn't going to change it.

"Not another word from you," he replied. Alistair looked at Kristoff. The other man's eyes narrowed at him, but he did not care. Would he dare to contest him? Alistair almost begged for it, but nothing came. "We'll cut through the forest to the Pilgrim's Path and we'll be there in no time." There was a time when even he would question his ability to lead, but the younger men looked to him for guidance while the older one would have him wear them out. Well, Alistair chose to look after the younger recruits. "Unless you'd like to go on without us."

Kristoff shook his head and helped Jax get Ren up on his feet. "That won't be necessary," he replied.

"Well, since that's settled," Jax added, "Let's get away from the rotting corpses, shall we?"

If the Waking Sea had a calm moment, Lia would have liked to see it. With her first time being on a ship, it would have been just her luck to be on it when a storm hit. The captain demanded that all able bodies help and she had her first crash course on being a sailor. It wasn't exactly what she dreamt of when she first thought of leaving Highever for Amaranthine, but she had to deal with whatever the Maker threw at her for her choices. Waves crashed against the boat. The vessel rocked against the water, threatening to tip it over. She watched as some men fell over the side. Their cries were drowned out by the murderous rolling thunder. Lightening crashed around those on the surface on the boat. Rain pelted their skin and Lia felt like if it got any harder that it would be enough to be considered piercing.

"Help me!" A woman's voice cried. The youngest Cousland grabbed some of the rope that was attached to the mast and skidded across the wooden surface to the woman in need, who was barely hanging on the side. She would have fallen herself if it hadn't been for Nike trying to keep her balance for her. Her fingers gripped onto the woman's armor as she pulled her back onto the ship. "Thank you," she said, "I am Mhairi."

"Lia…Cousland," she introduced herself. She watched as the woman's eyes widened, but she really didn't want to hear any questioning from her about her purpose with the Wardens.

"I owe you a life debt."

"Then pay it with friendship," Lia offered with a small smile, "Come. It doesn't look like the storm is going to lighten up and the captain seems to want us women out of the way now."

She led the other woman back into the cabins of the ship and she noticed that the number of recruits had declined because of the storm. She bit her lower lip and wondered how they would be welcomed to the city. That night she shared a room with her new found friend. They shared tales of their lives. Mhairi had seemed intent on wanting to know what happened with her family. That was not a topic that she was willing to discuss. Thank the Maker that the woman understood. Lia was perfectly content with hearing the other woman's story though. Mhairi had told her of her reasons to join the Wardens. She had been betrothed and wanted nothing to do with it, so she joined the army, only to witness Loghain's betrayal. Lia could sympathize with her feelings. It seemed that the two had more in common than she had originally thought.

When morning came, Lia made sure that she was one of the first recruits to be on deck. She watched as Amaranthine came into view. She hadn't been there since she was a child. She could recall playing in the gardens of Vigil's Keep with Delilah Howe, sparring with Nathaniel, and Thomas pulling on her braids. She bit her lower lip as memories threatened to spur up one by one. She had not anticipated that seeing the Howe home would stir such emotions. It wasn't his children that had caused her family grief. It had been Rendon himself. She heard that the Hero of Ferelden had dealt the death blow to the traitor. Lia only wished that she had been there to see it.

After Howe's men attacked the Castle, she had been ready to defend her parents to the end, but it had been Ser Gilmore and her mother that had pushed her out of the servant's entrance. They had locked it so she couldn't get back in. She knew better than to let their sacrifice be wasted. She had gone to West Hill to seek refuge and Arl Wulff had welcomed her in. She had been the one that helped him escape when the darkspawn horde over took his arling. She had gone to Denerim with him in hopes of facing Howe, but they arrived after his death, shortly before the Landsmeet. She had kept herself unknown until she had news of her brother. She had gone to the Wilds where the Chasind had kept him alive. It had been a reunion, to say the least. After that, they appealed to Anora to get their lands back and well, the rest is history.

"Are you alright?" Lia turned her head to see Mhairi standing there. "The boat has docked." Had it? She gave her a small smile.

"I'm fine," she told her, "just having a little trip down memory lane. Ready to be off?"

The dark haired woman nodded and led her off the boat with those who had survived the storm. They reached the bottom of the docks and were greeted by four men. She recognized one to be Alistair Theirin, the one that Arl Eamon had wanted to place on the throne instead of Anora. She had watched him deal the death blow to Loghain at the Landsmeet and here he was…her Warden-Commander. Flaming asses, coming was a mistake, she thought. Surely, when he realized who she was, he would send her right back to Highever and that just would not do.

A/N: For those who haven't seen Warden's Fall and want to see the influence of my Kristoff, here he is- h t t p : / / w w w . you tube . com / watch ? v = fRVTl 2ii8BM