Zindrafel pelted head long down the cobbled streets into the darker part of Lowtown. The only thought as she dodged around the last of the shoppers was getting to Alistair's. What if she was too late? She rounded a corner and onto the dirty street where all the Shemlin refugees were dumped once they'd filed into the city. She stopped dead. Paused to catch her breath, she dragged in one ragged breath after another until it ceased to burn. She looked up and realised she had no idea which one Alistair lived in. What was worse; people were starting to stare at her. She pulled herself upright again and continued at a brisk walk.
She did her best to steal sidelong glances into the windows, trying to avoid being too obvious about what she was doing but gave this up. It made her feel conspicuous, more so than she already felt. What was an elf like her doing in the Shemlin part of the town? She could hear the questions in the minds of those she passed. Swallowing hard she continued on her way, her heart was still pounding and she wiped her sweating palms on the front of her dress. This was not going well. She stopped on a street corner and looked down the new road. It looked identical to the last one. If she wasn't careful she was going to get lost and there were some untoward people lurking in this part of the city.
"You alright?" a gruff voice behind her caused her to start. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
"I…" she turned and took in the person who had spoke. It was an elderly gentleman with deep set dark eyes in a button of a face. "I'm looking for a friend of mine," she said, deciding the truth would be better than anything in this situation.
"Aren't we all?" he replied rearranging his thick dark coat. Why he was wearing one on such a balmy night, she couldn't guess.
"Sorry?" she said with a frown.
"No offence meant girl, who's you're friend."
"Alistair, he's one of the Ferelden refugees and I think something may have happened to him, I need to find him. He's tall, strawberry blonde hair, golden eyes…" She said, trying to keep the rising panic out of her voice.
"The drunk one?"
"How many Alistair's could there be in this city that meet that description?" she said, knowing she sounded rude, "Sorry, I'm worried." He waved a hand at her, dismissing her terseness.
"You're close, it's the third house on the right back the way you came."
"Thank you so much." Zindrafel said, "You have no idea how much you've helped me." She said turning away
"He's lucky to have one such as you looking after him, that's all I can say, good evening." He said, nodding his head at her and walking away. She pelted to the door the old man had pointed her to and raised her hand to pound on the wooden obstacle. She stopped herself before she did so. The place was dark, silent. Maybe she was too late. She shook her head, banishing the thought, then knocked on the door. She stepped back and after a second or two, heard shuffling within the house before the door opened by the tiniest fraction. "Can I help?" a sleep confused voice said.
"Alistair?"
"Mmhm."
"Oh, Maker's Breath." She said, letting out a breath she didn't realise she'd been holding.
"Zin? What're you doing here?"
"I-"
"Look, come in and tell me what's happened." He said, opening the door and letting her in. He was dressed, barely, in a dark rope wrapped around him and long woollen pants. She avoided looking at him as she followed him into the house. He indicated a chair for her and she flopping into it. She suddenly felt very silly as she watched him move about the small room. How could she think someone would be interested in capturing the innocent drunk? He poured her a hot drink of something and handed it to her. The smell of nettle and honey reached her nose and she let out a sigh. "Now, tell me what's wrong."
"It all seems so silly now." She said, her face colouring.
"Come on, you didn't risk coming over here on a whim, what's wrong?" he asked.
"I had a fight with my cousin and his soon to be father-in-law. They were waiting for me when I got back. Anyway that's not the point. We were ebing watched when we were out and I got to thinking that no one would want to spy on me. I thought they were after you and then-"
"You panicked and ran to find me." Alistair said finishing for her. She nodded.
"And you were here, sleeping." She said.
"No one's trying to find me. No one is interested in me at all here,"
"Not quite." She sipped at her tea and looked away at the floor.
"Oh?"
"I'm interested in you." She said. His cheeks coloured a little at that and he turned his gaze to the wall.
"I can't see why, I'm just a drunken Shemlin with a bit of a colourful past. One that has got you into trouble without doing anything by the look of it and that isn't a good thing. I want to be with you but I don't want to cause you bother and I don't know how to stop that." Alistair said, letting his mouth run.
"It's nothing to worry about." She replied drinking some more of the delicious tea. "My cousin and most of my people are fools."
"And you'll leave them behind soon right?" she nodded but noted there was a tone of regret when he said it. He yawned and a wave of guilt flooded through her.
"I'm so sorry I woke you." She said.
"It's fine." He said, "I got to see you again, twice in one day." She laughed and he smiled at her. It was a wonderful smile that lit up his face, changing his whole expression. Crow's feet cracked around his eyes and the sparkle danced as she laughed along with him.
"I should go." She said, setting her empty mug aside.
"You don't have to."
"It's getting late and I don't want to make things worse between Cacil and me." She said.
"I can walk you back if you like."
"No. You're not dressed and I'll be ok." she leaned over and laid her hand on his arm. "I appreciate it though." He regarded her a moment, there was a gleam in his eye that hadn't been there before and for a moment, it frightened her. She withdrew her hand and it died as quickly as it rose.
"Sure?"
"Yes." She said getting up from the little wooden chair. He stood to and followed her to the door. "I'll apologise again, I've been a silly girl today." She said before he opened it.
"Never think that." Alistair said, resting his strong hand on her shoulder, "I'm glad I have someone who cares about me."
She nodded. "I'll see you soon."
"Yes." He said, smiling once again. Zindrafel left then, unable to stay any longer, she walked from his door; fled down the street, only slowing when she'd turned the corner. What an idiot she felt. How could she have been so worked up about such an unsubstantial threat. She must be losing it, it was the city, doing it to her. The sooner she was out of it, the better. Except she was unsure if that was true now. Damn it, this was getting too complicated. Far too complicated.
