Chapter 14 Things you say at camp
As we settled back into camp I looked through my pack and found the amulet, I took it out gently. It was beautiful the way the sapphires sparkled. Holding it behind me I head over to Alistair who is playing with Leah.
"Alistair..." he tosses the stick and Leah rushes off to get it.
"At your service." he says smiling at me.
"I have something you might like..." he looks at me with surprise at first until I show him the amulet. He is frozen, stunned for a brief moment when he rushes to come closer.
"My my mother's amulet where did you find it?" his voice was tight struggling to hold back the emotion.
"Well...I found it on a desk and Redcliff, you had described it to me once and I knew that was it so I...I took it."
"You mean the Arl's study?" he said looking at me with surprise.
"Oh was that his study...yes that would be my luck."
"He must have kept it and repaired it but why would he do such a thing?" he looked at me with slight confusion.
"Perhaps, you mean more to him than you realize, either way this is yours." I place it gently in his hands.
"I don't know how to thank you...this means a great deal to me." His voice cracked and I felt tears in my eyes. Maker I better not cry over this.
"Did you remember me telling you about this? Wow I'm used to people not really listening when I go on about things." he smiled at me.
"Of course I remembered Alistair...you, you are very special to me." I glance up at him and his eyes widen and he smiles.
"Is this the part where music plays and we begin dancing, because I'm game!" he laughs happily.
"Oh you don't want to dance with me I'm not very good at it." I said laughing with him.
"If you need help learning how to dance I can teach you!" Lelianna said as she made her way over to us.
"Thank you but I might injure you permanently so it might safer to let that particular non-talent of mine be." laughing slightly.
I glanced around for Idris but he was nowhere in sight most likely in Morrigan's tent. Shaking my head I sigh "I will go make something to eat."
Lelianna stayed and talked to Alistair and I grabbed our large cooking pot and set it on the flames. Bucket in hand I make my way down to a small creek that was nearby. My mind wandered to Jowan, what was I going to do? Death or tranquility had become his option...unless. She sighed "I'm not even sure Idris would go for it."
"What are you sure I wouldn't go for!" I jumped dropping the bucket spilling the ice cold water all over me.
"Andraste's tits Idris don't sneak up on me!" he laughed picking up the bucket. "I'm sorry... you are drenched let's get back to camp so you can change. So what where you talking to yourself about?"
"Jowan his fate is death either way by the Arl or by tranquility...he's my best friend. I just, I can't let it go that way."
"Then what did you have in mind?"
"Conscript him." I stopped looking at Idris.
"You are serious." his eyes wandered over me 'You are, all right I will do it when the time is right."
"Thank you Idris."
"You're welcome, we need more greywardens anyways."
Idris poured the water in the pot and I crawled into my tent and changed. The only thing I could change into was the chasnd robe I had found in the wilds. I had to cut off the strange fur it made me sneeze so it was even more revealing than before but I really had no choice.
I stepped out adjusting the strange robe when I heard Lelianna "Ooo that looks lovely on you!" my cheeks flush red.
"Thank you Lelianna." I begin putting things in the pot when I hear Alistair return.
"Your hound is..." he stopped. I stood up and turned to him and his eyes widened a bit more. "...uh your hound...yes...your hound relentless. ahem." he turned and quickly walked away.
Lelianna giggled "Poor Alistair."
After dinner I again find myself heading to the stream to clean the dishes when I hear footsteps. I get up and turn quickly around to see Alistair."Oh I'm sorry did I startle you?"He asks.
"No, not really." I smile at him when a breeze passes by and I shiver. "Maker I hate this robe." I warm my hands and rub it along my arms.
"Well you look uh, very pretty in it." he said smiling weakly.
"Oh well thank you though I think it's better suited for summer than fall." I rubbed my arms faster.
"It would seem so. Did you need any help?" He asked looking at the dishes.
"I'm actually done but you can carry the bucket and dishes back!" I grinned.
"Ha, of course my lady" he bows and grabs the bucket.
As we walk he turns to me "So after all this over you know the fighting and the darkspawn the threat of death looming in the distance. Will you miss it?"
"Oh I tear up just thinking about it." I fake sniffle and pretend to wipe my eye.
"Ha! No more darkspawn, no more running for our lives and ugh no more camping in the middle of nowhere." He sets the bucket down. We are only a few feet from camp and the moon shines down upon him illuminating his armor, his face suddenly serious I pause and turn to him. "What is it Alistair is something wrong?"
"No nothing is wrong...I just...I know this might sound strange...we haven't really known each other very long, but I've come...to care for you a great deal. Maybe it's because of all the time we've spent together, I don't know maybe I'm fooling myself" His eyes golden wheat eyes turn to me staring intently "Am I fooling myself or do you...think you could ever feel the same way about me."
My jaw dropped, literally. Never had I expected this, why would he even be interested.
"Oh um I'm sorry." he said grabbing the bucket.
I lunged grabbing his arm "Wait Alistair..." he turned to me."I do...I do feel the same way about you...I just couldn't believe that you did." he drops the bucket and takes a large stride towards me saying "So I fooled you did I?"
His arms wrap around me and his lips fall onto mine, they were soft and he tasted off honey. Our lips parted and his tongue playfully ran around mind. My knees had begun to weaken and his arm around my waist tightened. When we pulled away we were both breathless and dizzy. "That...that wasn't too soon?" he asked worried.
I shook my head "No it wasn't, I liked it."
He grinned "Good I'll take that as a good sign...maker's breath but your beautiful...I am a lucky man." he kissed me again and I returned his gesture with fervor. "Well ahem... I guess we should get back to what it was we were doing before..." holding my hand he grabbed the bucket.
When we arrived at camp everyone was sitting around the fire. Idris saw me first and his eyes narrowed slightly and then widened when he saw me lean in whisper something into Alistair's ears and then kiss him on the lips.
"Alistair my friend let's have a chat shall we?" Idris stared at him.
Alistair looked at me "Is this the hurt my sister and I'll bash your face in speech."
"Oh you got it, have fun."
I watch as Idris puts his arm around Alistair who's nodding and Idris is wildly gesturing then it was done Alistair returned to me smiling. "Your brother is rather protective of you."
"Oh yes he is, he didn't scare you away did he?" I said worried.
Wrapping his arms around me he kissed my forehead "Nothing could ever scare me from you."