Red Roses Don't Last Forever
A Dragon Age Origin Fan Fiction
Disclaimer!: I do not own any of the characters except for my own (Legadrina). Everything belongs to Bioware and I do not claim any of it.
Author's Note: I want to thank everyone reading this so far. Also to those who have added this story to favorite and alert. It means a lot to me. Reviews would be very helpful so I can know your thoughts and opinions. this chapter may be shorter and I hope it doesn't dissapoint. Reminder, if you haven't completed the game, or if you haven't played Dalish elf and want to this MAY SPOIL! Also rated Mature for possible sex scene later on? Yes? No? Thanks and enjoy.
Chapter 2:
We stared at each other for a moment. I didn't know what to think. I felt as if I couldn't speak. What is there to stay?
"Well, uh, hi." Alistair spoke nervously. "I had a whole thing planned on what to say but I..."
"What are you doing here?" I questioned.
"I uh... I was..."
"I told you not to come after me!" I exclaimed.
I picked up the deer and headed back toward camp.
"Come Fang." Fang whined refusing to leave Alistair's side.
"Now!" I exclaimed. He whined, but followed.
"Wait, please!" He begged.
I placed the deer down in the camp and turned to see Alistair had followed.
"Please just go!" I said fighting back my tears.
"I just... wanted to see you. I didn't expect-"
"What did you expect?!" I shouted. "Do you expect me to greet you with eagerness and joy?!"
"I don't know what I expected... I just figured, while I traveled, I could find you. I hoped you would have wanted to see me too..." We stood in silence.
"You can stay to eat, but please, leave after."
x
The fire lit the area brightly. Fang feasted on his deer like a starving animal. I ate quietly, not really sure what to say. Alistair kept looking like he wanted to say something, but remained quiet. It was an awkward silence between us as the forest and its creatures spoke to each other. I tried not to look him in the eyes, or in his direction at all.
"Did you find your people?" He asked.
"I traveled weeks to find them. When I did, I stayed about a month. I just left when you found me." I responded.
"Where are you headed now?" He asked.
"I'm not sure." I said. "How is it that a King of only two months is out traveling? Shouldn't you be dealing with King things?" I questioned.
"I'm not much into the governing. I travel to see the people. They seem to like me..."
I gazed up at the stars.
"Find yourself a pretty wife?"
He sighed. "I didn't want it to come to that. You think this isn't hard for me?!"
"You didn't have to do this!" I exclaimed.
"I didn't have a choice!"
"Everyone has a choice! I told you that. Especially you! You're a king for the Gods Sakes!" I shouted as I stood.
Alistair remained seated and looked away from me. Tears brimmed my eyes as I looked away from him.
"The night that I went to camp, after ending things with you, you were all I could think about. I wanted to hold you. Take that sorrow filled look away. That image permanently scars me." He spoke. I looked at him and saw his gaze directed at me.
The fire lit up his features. A tear fell down my cheek. He stood up and stood in front of me.
"I'm sorry." He whispered as his smooth fingers glided against my cheek and wiped away a tear. "I never meant for this to happen, but I can not ignore my duties."
I smacked his hand away and backed up.
"Why did you come here?!" I shouted. "Did you come just to tell me how much pain I caused and stir everything up again?!"
"No! This isn't how I imagined all this to happen." Alistair said as he put a hand to the side of his head. "I never wanted to lose you. I love you more than anything. You're the first woman I've ever loved... that I'd ever been with. I never wanted to be King or for anything like this to come from it. Please, you must understand."
"All I understand is that you broke my heart and you spit on it by returning here! I told you not to follow me! Go back to your pretty wife Alistair." I spoke and headed to my tent.
"Don't come back here. Do not look for me." I stopped at my open tent flap. I turned to Alistair.
"You couldn't keep one promise to me, make this promise now, and leave here. Do not look for me." I went inside my tent hoping he would leave, for my sake and his.
x
I stood on the balcony of the castle looking over the village. This would be hard to leave, but if I stay I will suffer so much more. Footsteps padded behind me. I turned and saw Alistair.
"where will you go?" He spoke softly and I turned to face him.
"Back to my people. I can't stay Alistair, not with..." I looked down at the ground. His hand lifted my chin.
"I never wanted this." He sighed. "I wanted this all to end and be able to be with you. I wanted you to remain with me." His hand lingered on my cheek. "I hoped this would be easier, but I knew it wouldn't. Couldn't you stay?" He asked.
"How could I?" How could I remain here as you choose another woman? How could I watch you be happy with her and know you are bedding her? Maybe it is selfish, but I think it is best for us both." I said.
I stepped on my tip toes and pecked his lips, letting them linger for a moment longer.
"Morrigan had the right idea. I wish to not be followed. Please, promise me." I said softly.
"You know I can't do that."
"You must." I said. "Promise me."
"I...I" He sighed deeply. "Promise you."
My eyes blinked a couple times as I tried to fully awaken. I opened my tent flap and saw the sun shining. I covered my eyes as I looked around. Fang slept soundly on his patch of grass. The fire had been put out. I looked for any sign of Alistair, but he seemed to have left. A single purple wild Geranium caught my eye. I stared at it as it sat on a log by the put out fire.
How could something so beautiful exist in a place with so much despair and ugliness..."
I twirled the flower in my fingers and looked out to the woods. I regretted sending him away. I wanted him near me, but I knew we couldn't be. maybe I shouldn't have been so harsh...
I looked over at Fang and realized when he woke, he'd be hungry. I set traps up around the forest. Each night I would catch something and and each night there would be another single wild Geranium on the log. I put the flowers together by a Vine to keep them all together. Where was he? Why wouldn't he show himself?
x
The next morning, I grabbed my bow and headed to one of my traps with Fang. Fang stopped with his eyes perked up. A painful groan sounded.
"Do you hear that?" I asked.
Fang barked in response and ran to the pained groan. I followed him quickly in pursuit. Fang barked repeatedly when he reached the trap.
"Alistair?!" I exclaimed.
"Hello..." He groaned.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Oh just lying around. I figured I'd enjoy the beauty." He sighed as he punned about his situation.
"Did you not notice the trap as you were gazing at the beauty?"
"You now, I did, but I thought, 'Hey, why not?' No I didn't! I'm sure I would have avoided it! I always relied on you for that." He answered.
I gave him an apologetic look and started to disarm the trap, Blood seeped through when it was released from his leg.
"Come on, we need to get you to my camp." I said as I helped him up."
"I thought I was forbidden. Now you're allowing me again?" He chuckled. "You always were confusing."
"As were you."
x
Once we reached the camp, I set him in my tent. I grabbed my bandages and poured water on it to clear the blood. I put a rag over his leg wound.
"Hold this please." He held it in place as I grabbed the bandages to place them on his wound.
"You never answered me that night..." I said as I began to bandage him up.
"Answered what?" He asked.
"Whether you have a wife or not... you never said." I spoke quietly.
"Well I would have, but you kind of jumped to conclusions." He gave me a small smile.
"No, I don't." He said. "Yes I'm obligated to find one, but it is hard when you're still in love with someone..." I looked at him and saw the expression on his face that he was serious.
"We shouldn't talk about this. You need to res." I said as I finished bandaging him.
I started to leave the tent. "You can stay..." Alistair spoke.
"That would be very unwise. You and I both know this." I spoke.
"Good night."
"Night." He spoke Softly.
I couldn't go through this pain again. If I lay with him... I will be tempted. Then when I do, He will leave me again. I will be left alone...