You guys (well, I really guess we are all girls here actually) have officially turned the corner from awesome, to inspiring. I might, just might, start that epic dragon age love story of the century on my own, if you keep this up… I'm high on reviews! ^^

This one is not so little, and takes place before Alistair and PC-Allira have become, er, more than friendly.;)


Chapter: Humans

Allira was sitting in front of her fire, deep in thought. Oghren was snoring somewhere in the darkness to her right. Which was comforting, but rather annoying at the same time. She couldn't see any of the others, but she could hear them from time to time, the sounds of the night blending with sounds of coughs, laughter, and people moving about. So different from her home in the Alienage. Everybody she knew up until a few months ago had been elves. Elves were so different. They moved so quietly. Or perhaps everyone else was just very loud? Dwarfen society had been a big shock, but it was still the humans that filled her with the most fascination. She had seen humans all her life, feared them mostly, but occasionally she had spoken to them. But until she met Alistair and Duncan, and Morrigan for that matter, she had never spent any longer amount of time in the company of a human.

They were just…strange.

Duncan had been a surprise, for the whole time; short though it was; that she had known him.

At first, when he had suddenly appeared in the Alienage she had been wary. Her wariness had soon turned to curiosity, when he told her that he was a Grey Warden. It felt as if the old stories and the fairy tales had turned real, and one of it's heroes was standing in the filthy street in front of her.

But of course, she soon had other things to busy herself with. She had felt little enthusiasm for her arranged marriage though, and even as she stepped up onto the podium, her thoughts strayed to the Grey Wardens. To adventure. To another life that she could never have in Denerim. Her cousin had told her to stay, and even though she supposed he was right, her soul wanted to soar.

Her whole life had been marked by her elven heritage. It had planned the borders of her whole existence.

Not allowed to go wherever she pleased, an easy mark for any human bully who wanted some sport. Always despised for her looks, shouts of "knife-ear" following her mostly wherever she went. And finally, this arranged marriage with a person she had met only moments before.

When her proper, well-organised future cracked and broke, she was more aware of a sense of relief, than any sorrow. She was angry like hell, deeply worried what would become of her friends and quite a bit frightened. But she was relieved for herself. Because now she knew, that even if she died that day, even if every terrible thing that the other girls feared from human lords came true, she would fight first. And to have one good fight that actually mattered would be enough: she would have lived a little.

But of course, she did survive. And when she returned Duncan was the only one that looked at her like she was still a person. No awe, no fear, no worry that her actions might disturb the awkward balance in Denerim. Perhaps even a tad respect?

Allira became a Grey Warden.

And Duncan died.

She would gladly have died for him. Every day when she woke, every battle she fought, every step she took she was filled with immense happiness. Happiness that she had at least lived a little.

But since he died, and she didn't, she took on his burdens.

He had been a brave man set to do what he could in hard times. Now she was set to honour his memories by doing the same.

From one human, her thoughts leaped to another. Not very surprising. Thoughts of him flittered around in her brain more often then she cared to admit.

Alistair.

When she first met him, she thought he was mad. He surely spoke like a madman. It took her a while to realize that he just had a different outlook on life. A very different one. Irreverent some would say. But Allira liked it. She had never been around humans much, nor ever travelled, and he made her laugh and forget for a while that everything was new, and sometimes uncomfortable.

It felt good to be merry, even only for a little while. Her cousins had always told her that she was too grim. That she should smile more. And that was the reason why Alistair's gift of laughter was even more precious now, when she had little to smile about.

Even though she was an elf, he accepted her as a comrade and fellow Grey Warden. Only a man with a great and kind spirit would do that…

Allira sighed as she recognized the turn that her thoughts had taken. Too often the last month she found herself looking at him, and then not looking away. She was glad he did not seem to notice, for surely he would reject her. Or make fun of her? She had no idea how a human would react to being ogled by an elf girl.

Later. The very subject of her thoughts plumped down beside her on the ground. His breast plate rattled against his metal shoulder guards as he found a comfortable position.

She refused to look at him, to give herself some small victory at least, now that she could not keep him out of her thoughts.

She could feel every glance he cast at her, as if he was throwing pebbles at her instead of merely looking.

When she still didn't say anything, nor looked at him, he finally spoke.

"A copper for your thoughts?" he said. "Or perhaps, a sovereign or two, you seem to be deep in thought… Almost lost to the world. You are not sleeping with your eyes open, are you? Because at the monastery I heard about at least two diseases where the first sign is to sleep with one's eyes open. We don't want you to become ill."

"I was raised in an Alienage, Alistair. The fact that I'm alive today means that I have survived every plague, illness and general infection known to humans," she informed him curtly.

Something passed in his eyes, some feeling that was gone too quickly for her to register its meaning. Then he grinned in her general direction.

"That's good then. I know of this tavern in Denerim… One of the other Wardens told me never to go there if I did not want an exotic disease. I've always wondered what he meant; perhaps you can help me investigate? Since you're immune and all."

Allira sighed. She could not be angry with him. Not even when he occupied so much of her brain when she needed it for other things. He did not do it on purpose after all. She supposed…

"What's this tavern called?" she asked, with a slight smile.

"I think it was named after a jewel or something. The crown? The Arl? Ah no, the Pearl!"

He seemed surprised when her answer was a snort, which turned into a huge laugh. A very small part of her brain was furious at him, for managing to knock her out of her grim mood yet again. Still, the other parts found his innocence too hilarious to keep silent.

"Alistair, do you always proposition escapades to bordellos to girls you travel with? Or am I the first? Because in that case, I'm honoured…"

She could see the wheels and kegs turning in his mind. When he had come to the conclusion, he started blushing.

Deeply.

In fact, she had never before seen a man turn that particular colour.

But then again, she had already admitted to herself that she did not know humans very well…


I was trying to be cool and not post. But it was already written, so why not. And if you want a good laugh and lots of friendly people to ogle Alistair with, head over to the "Romancing Alistair" at the Bioware Dragon Age forum!
As usual, cookies for all!