III.
"Elly?"
"My lord," Elissa curtsied stiffly. She was wearing the tattered, mud-hemmed remains of a once fine dress, feet clad in a pair of boots that were clearly sized for men and golden curls twisted back with a piece of string. There was a streak of dried blood on her forehead that he reached forward to wipe with his thumb. She flinched.
"...Elly?" Alistair asked again, softer. "Why are you here? I thought your brother was bringing Highever's troops, Bryce said he was having you stay at the castle." Up North, behind stone walls, she was supposed to be safe – not down here in the swamps with him and his royal brother's armies and the darkspawn.
"The Warden Commander has conscripted me into his order."
The Crown Prince of Ferelden was usually the mild-mannered and congenial counterpart to his older brother, the King – but now, all he could see was red as he turned upon his heel to face the dark-skinned Rivaini with a scowl. "And what," he growled, "Made you think it acceptable to conscript my betrothed into the ranks of the Grey Wardens? I won't allow it. I won't, Maker damn your Right of Conscription!"
"Arl Howe betrayed us," Elissa replied for him, stepping in between the two men. "He attacked in the middle of the night and – and killed them all, Oriana and little Or-Oren and Nan...Mother and I fought out way out, but we found Father dying and she wanted to stay with him. Rory stayed to buy us time...They're all dead. Duncan got me away." Her eyes, he noticed now, were rimmed in scarlet. She'd surely spent days crying into her pillow – but of course beautiful, brave Elly had still followed Duncan out of the wreckage of her home to fight another day.
Alistair's face softened, and he removed his hand from the hilt of the sword that Loghain had demanded he keep on him at all times, 'just in case'. "I thank you for saving her then," he gave a shallow bow to the Warden Commander. "You should have been more specific Elissa, just because he saved you doesn't mean you have to join the Wardens. We will deal with Howe, I promise you, the throne will not ignore his crimes-"
"No, the Teryn agreed that she would take the place of the recruit I went to Highever for," interrupted Duncan, his dark face solemn, "In exchange for my assistance in her escape. Lady Cousland is a fine combatant; she would have been my first choice. I'm afraid the Right of Conscription has no exceptions-"
"Alistair, we will speak of this later," Loghain appeared at his side, one heavy gauntlet placed on his shoulder. "The King must speak with the Warden Commander about troop placement in the coming battle." It was meant as a restraint, and the prince gritted his teeth and took Elissa's hand to lead her towards the camp.
"When this is over," he promised her, "We'll still be together. I'm a bastard, you're...even if you join the Order, it'll all balance out."
Elissa smiled, so careful it was almost as if she expected her face to crack at the motion. "Or we could run away and build a farm and make cheese all day."
"That would never work Elly, I'd eat all our stock."