Alistair was finally finished with his latest round of scrubbing the pots at the monastery and he decided to go down to the pond for a well deserved swim. When he arrived he notice a body on the ground near a rock. Odd, no one has ever been down here before. He walked over to see if the person was alright. When he got closer he realized it was a child like him, well he really is not a child anymore but a young man at least that is how he felt about it. Besides the child is a really nice short bow -must have been specially made they are usually not that small-along with the quiver.

"Excuse me are you alright?" No answer. He walked a litter closer.

"Hello?" Still no answer, but the child turns over and make a soft sound. Alistair gets closer and realizes that is a girl wearing boys clothes, there is only one person he has ever met that did that—No it can't be HER, must be another crazy girl. Besides you are mad at HER, remember! This girls hair is dark like HERs too! He has not thought about HER in years - will that is not exactly true but he is not going to admit it even to himself- he wonders if SHE ever wrote to him like SHE promised, probably not SHE betrayed him just like the Arl and his father did. All of the sudden the girl cries out, Alistair bends down and begins to shake the girl.

"Are you ok?"

Belyssa's eyes open she stayed still trying to listen to the sounds around her oddly there are no sounds. Weird there is always sound. She sat up and looked around the area looked the like the pond she fell asleep at and yet it did not. Where am I? She got up and picked up her short bow and loosely held an arrow at the ready she then began to walk back to the celebration. As Belyssa was walking she could feel someone watching her, she would turn around and no one would be there after a while she had enough and her temper got the better of her she turned and said.

"I know you are there, so come out already?"

"Alright" a man wearing a robe with hood up came out from behind a tree.

"What do you want?"

"For you to die, so my plans can succeed." With that hooded figure produced a ugly ax in its hand and started to run at her. Belyssa was about to scream when she heard

"WAKE UP CHILD!"

"Lissa?" The next thing Belyssa knew there was someone touching her, confused she lifted her leg to kick the person touching her.

"What the—Hey whats wrong with you?"

It's a boy! He had fallen back to avoid the blow to the head and was starting to rise when Belyssa rolled away and drew her bow to fire.

"Whoa, I thought you were hurt, when you did not answer me."

"Answer you?"

"Yes, I came down here for a swim and saw you lying on the ground beside the rock. I called out to you when you didn't answer I came closer to see if you where hurt but you were sleeping then you cried out I tried waking you."

I was asleep then where was I? Belyssa looked at the boy in front of her short dark blond hair and dressed well enough armed with the same weapon style Fergus uses.

"Did you come to the tourney with your family?"

"No, I live in the monastery I came here for a swim."

"A monastery?"

"Yes"

"Maybe you can help, I have friend that I have trying to find for a very long time if I tell you his name can you tell me if he is at the monastery with you?"

"Put the bow down and I will."

"What, oh I am sorry. His name is Alistair from Redcliffe." Alistair blinked in surprise did he just hear

this young girl correctly, she said his name. He took a better look at the girl in front of him, she was

taller than Bel was and while her hair was the same color it appeared much shorter than he

remembered he took a step closer to her to look at her eyes the were the same remarkable blue Bel's Wait she said she had been looking for him, how?

"Bel?" Her eyes narrowed and she came closer to get better look at him. His hair was a little darker in color than Alistair's yet his eyes seemed different too colder than she remembered then the boy held up is hand and she saw it there on his small finger ….. her ring.

"Alistair! It really is you. I found you at last." Belyssa cried out happily, she ran over and hugged him tightly.

"More like I found you." Alistair looked down at her when she lifted her head up there were tears in her

eyes.

"I have been so worried about you.!"

"Not all that worried." Alistair said harshly, Belyssa let go of him and looked at him surprised.

"What?"

"You being worried about me, I have been at this monastery for nearly three years. You must not have looked very hard."

"That is not true." Belyssa was shocked and trying to control her temper. What is wrong with him, he so angry.

"I sent you a letter after I returned home about two months later it was returned to me unopened and with a note from Ser Donall telling me you were no longer at Redcliffe and he did not know where you were sent. I was so worried I became sick, Papa made me tell him what was wrong and he promised to find out what happened. At the Landsmeet that year I saw Ser Donall and threatened to tell Papa what he called me if he did not tell me where you were. All he could say was that you were sent to a monastery but not which one. When Papa tried to find out from the Arl they got into a huge argument that King Maric had to intervene. So Papa then decided to send out soldiers to all the monasteries in Fereldan to find you." Alistair could not believe what he just heard from Bel, she has her father looking for him all these years and she has never forgotten him, amazing. No he wanted to stay angry at her, the Arl and his Father it helped him cope with what he was forced to become now.

"Well isn't nice to have a FATHER give you whatever you want." said Alistair with a sneer.

"He did it to help you."

"No! He did it for his spoiled little girl, so he wouldn't have to hear your whining."

"That is cruel thing to say. What has happened to you?" Belyssa was on the verge of crying.

"I was sent away, because I am inconvenient a possible threat so better to hide me away and make sure I can never be problem." Alistair started yelling at Belyssa now, his hands shaking in anger.

"Inconvenient, a threat to who?"

"It does not matter."

"It does to me!" Belyssa too started yelling back at him.

"BULLSHIT!" Alistair yelled.

"ALISTAIR!" Belyssa shouted at him.

"WHAT?" he shouted back at her.

"I have been so worried about for so long." Belyssa was trying to plead with him.

"Not so worried that you didn't stop living your life." again Alistair said with a sneer.

"A person can't stop that unless they are dead and even then life goes on without them. For days after I received Ser Donall's letter I did not want to do my lessons with Brother Aldous and Talnor or even spend time with my brother Gus. I even stopped eating too, all I did was cry because I lost my only friend. That was when Papa made me talk to him and he promised to find you, he said a real friend would want me go on living that they wouldn't want me crying all the time and not taking care of myself and when the day came that we would meet again we could share stories of what had happened to us. I guess Papa was wrong about you. Goodbye Alistair, I hope your life gets better. Belyssa was fighting real hard to not let Alistair see her tears when she turned and left him at the pond they started rolling down her face and she walked off into the woods so she could cry alone. She wasn't going to let him see how badly he hurt her. I thought he would be happy to see me again and know I hadn't forgotten him.

Alistair stood there stunned at Bel's words to him. Did she really miss him all these years they only spent about a month together at Redcliffe, I wonder what would have happened to her if father did not intervene. Alistair then heard a voice,

Someplace else...

The hardened warrior looked into the shimmering water of the fountain in front of him. He watched the young boy and girl standing next to the pond the girl had her bow trained on the young boy they seemed to be talking curious as to what was being said he activated the device. Some time ago he and his companion retrieved it from a demon. He heard the boy say some pretty hurtful words to the young girl, she then said some heartfelt words back at the boy and then walked away crying. He could not take it anymore knowing full well that he should not do what he was about to he couldn't stop himself. Touch the device and think about the person you want to talk to and pray to the Maker that they do not hit themselves in the head with a very large rock to get the voices out of their head. He then took a deep breath and then spoke to the young boy...

"She would have died you idiot!"

"What?, Alistair turns around to see you just spoke to him but see no one.

"Are you going to let your pride lose your only friend. She almost died out of grief for you someone she only knew for a month and in all these years she has not stopped thinking about you, praying to the Maker each night hoping to find you the next day for three years and this how you treat once her prayers are answered?"

"Who are you, where are you?" Alistair keeps looking around to find the source of this voice and he still see no one. Even as the words are being said he knows they are true, he has treated Bel horribly she had nothing to do with him being forced to become a Templar. She just wanted to find her friend, just like the time they met and she attacked Ser Donall at the possibility of him being hurt—he has been an arse to her.

"Go after her and apologize, you two need each other. Never mind where I am, she is more important."

"Right!" Alistair broke into a run following in the direction Bel walked off he did not have go very far

when he found her sitting under a tree crying.

"You did that to her broke her poor little heart, this is what it means to be bastard to someone."

"You have made your point." Alistair comments fully understanding the voice's words to him. Upon hearing Alistair voice Belyssa looks up to see him standing not far from her.

"What, you want to make yourself feel better by watching me." Belyssa says between her sobs.

"NO!"

"Then why are you here, Alistair?" Belyssa watches Alistair walk over to her as he bends down before her.

"I came to apologize. I was an arse before to you and you did nothing to deserve that. I have been angry for a long time and I took it all out on you. I am so sorry Bel, I hope you can forgive me for my stupidity." Alistair pulled out an small piece of cloth and handed it to her, Belyssa took it and began to wipe the tears from her face as she asked Alistair.

"Who are you mad at?"

"The Arl, his wife and my Father."

"Your Father?"

"Yes, look Bel I really do not want to talk about that right now, ok?"

"Ok." When Belyssa was done wiping her face Alistair stood and held out his hand to help her stand up. Once pulled up he then hugged her and Belyssa hugged him back.

"I am sorry Alistair." Alistair stepped back to look at her.

"Why are you sorry?"

"For not finding you sooner then maybe you would not have become so bitter."

Fountain Room...

He watched as the boy ran after the young girl, he then admonished him when they found the young girl crying under a nearby tree. Once he was certain all was well between the children he let go of the device and turned to leave when he notices his companion standing in the doorway with her arms folded and her beautiful brow arched looking at him.

Back at the Pond...

"That is really sweet, but this isn't your fault it was my choice to hold on to my anger." Belyssa nodded and then took a good look at her friend she noticed he was a lot taller now and his hair was no longer bound in fact it was much shorter.

"You cut your hair. Why?"

"I didn't do it they did it at the monastery, I never really brushed anyway."

"It looks nice and you are much taller too."

"Thank you. What are you doing in this area of Ferelden?"

My brother was married last month and when we arrived home from Antiva my parents thought they would give them some time alone at Highever as a wedding present. We were on way to Denerim when Papa decided to change plans to attend the Tourney, originally he was going to allow me compete in the Archery Tourney; however, plans changed." Alistair noticed the change in Bel's voice and how her body language changed.

"Why did the plans change?" Belyssa told Alistair the events of the previous day and her fight with her Mother that night she included her conversation with Luc Tar in regards to Ladana.

"I just go and kick when you are down. I am so sorry."

"You did not know what happened to me yesterday, while your words hurt I understand while you feel the way you do. I forgive you Alistair." Alistair was stunned Bel just forgave him so easily, while he still clung to his feelings, maybe he need to forgive too so he can accept his new fate. Wanting to change the subject Alistair asks Bel.

"How long will you be in Denerim?"

"Til the end of the year, Fergus and Oriana will join us for the Santalia celebration in three months."

"You don't seem excited about all of this."

"Since I would not be around for a while Talnor was sent on some assignment for the Wardens and I have not heard from him at all; usually he sends me letters reminding me to practice as well written quizzes every so often and this trip nothing it is odd."

"There is nothing you can do about it so I would not worry over much just keep practicing so you will be ready when he comes back. You should also get back to your family."

"Aren't you coming with me?" Belyssa looks up at Alistair and her big blue eyes start well with tears. Alistair tries to not to meet her gaze, Please don't cry again I can't take it.

"Come with you?"

"Yes, you have to meet my parents I do not think they completely believe you are real."

"Oh, I would love too Bel; but, I need to get back to the monastery."

"Please!" Belyssa gives Alistair her best pout, hoping to sway him. Alistair nervously shifts from one foot to the other before answering her.

"I just got finished with a punishment if I am not back for evening prayers I think my punishment will be worse this time."

"I will bring them to you then." Belyssa answers brightly.

"I guess that could work."

"Good, see you later."

The Warrior and Companion...

"Uh, Hello Love how long have you been standing there."

"Long enough, I was looking for you to tell what happened but apparently you already know." She gestured toward the fountain in the room. "You know we are not supposed to mess with that."

"I know, but when you look so distressed I had to see what was happening for myself and then I could not stop myself from interfering, he was being unreasonable with his anger towards her. I can't lose you!"

"One would think that after all this time you would be tired of me by now." The warrior walked over to his companion and wrapped his arms around her and lowers his head to kiss her before his lips touch hers he whispers "Never". When he releases her from kiss she gasps.

"When my kisses no longer get that reaction then I will let you go."

"You didn't do that."

"What!"

"The children are being attacked.!" They both run over to to the fountain as another person enters the room.

"He is making a move on the children!"

"We know! The man and woman said in unison. The Lady also walks over to watch event unfold.

At the pond...

"Sure." At the moment a Bere burst through the woods it stopped and looked at the children then charged at Belyssa.