this story was not only inspired by my favorite game but also by a song called All of Me by Matt Hammitt the words moved me but fit the whole city elf/alistair romance
chapter is rated T
story is rated M and MA
I stared at the wheat colored blond haired human, and for a moment the sorrow I carried over Nelaros and Nola's deaths, the heartache from having to leave the only home I had ever know faded by just looking at his smiling face. An unfamiliar feeling gripped my heart and twisted my stomach. I shook my head to clear my thoughts, what was wrong with me? I was still in morning and this man was a stranger, not to mention a human, what would my father think?
"Oh nothing, just trying to find a bright side to all this," he said waving his hands in the direction of the soldiers prepping the war council.
"Oh I see," I said taking deep breaths to calm the jitter in my belly and smiling, "you're looking for the silver lining."
"Yes exactly. It's like a party; we could all stand in a circle and hold hands. That would give the darkspawn something to think about." He grinned.
I laughed loudly for the first time in forever. "You're a strange human," I giggled.
"You know you're not the first to tell me that," he smiled brightly and my stomach fluttered. His whiskey colored eyes gazed into mine, "wait, we haven't met have we? I don suppose you happen to be another mage?"
"Hardly," he drawled. "I just like to know my chances of being turned into a toad at any given moment." He sighed eyeing me carefully.
I giggled at his obvious discomfort, "Well, no worries then for I am no mage."
"Less being yelled at for me then." he grinned mischievously, "though the day is still young." He paused taking a careful look at me, "wait I do know you. You are Duncan's newest recruit, the elf from Denerim. I should have recognized you right away. I apologize."
"That's alright, no offense taken."
"Good you didn't exactly catch me at my finest with the mage there," he grimaced slightly. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Alistair, the newest Grey Warden."
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Fìera," I smiled. "Duncan actually sent me to find you."
"Oh," he beamed. "As the junior member of the order I get to join you while you prepare for the joining."
My eyebrows knit together tightly, "I can't prepare for this on my own?"
"I know!" he embellishes a large sigh that has me snickering then says in all seriousness, "I felt the same way when I did this; unfortunately they don't give us much of a choice."
"What can you tell me about the joining itself," I ask curiously.
He evaded my eyes and stared past my head at the soldiers, "honestly nothing. Just try not to worry about it. It will…just distract you."
"Okay," I said slowly letting the subject drop. There was something serious about this joining that neither Duncan nor Alistair was willing or able reveal. "Duncan said we were to gather the other recruits and meet him at the bonfire."
"Alright let's go find them then, if you have any questions let me know otherwise lead on."
"I look forward to traveling with you," I stated genially.
His head snapped to attention. "You do?" he asked incredulously. "Huh, that's a switch."
My eyebrows knitted in curiosity, most humans were so full of themselves it was…odd to find one who was not confident about himself. I turned toward the camp Alistair falling into step beside me, "so what was that argument about with the mage?"
"Oh that? Psh… nothing," he rolled his eyes evading my gaze.
"Are you sure? That was a lot of hostility towards someone just delivering a message."
He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly, "if you must know. The circle is only here at the kings request and the chantry doesn't like it one bit. They just love letting mages know how unwelcome they are. Which puts me in an awkward position, you see I was once a templar."
I stopped walking my mouth agape, "you were a mage hunter?"
Alistair frowned. "Not that that's all Templars do, but yes the chantry raised me until Duncan recruited me," he said defensively.
"I'm sorry, I meant no offense. I was just surprised that they let you go," I apologized.
"The grand cleric didn't want to so Duncan was forced to conscript me and here I am." He smiled looking off to the right of us. "Oh look there's Daveth one of the other recruits."
My gaze followed the direction of Alistair's, a young roguish looking human male stood near the quartermaster flirting with an unwilling blond female soldier.
"So any last wishes I could help you fulfill before we head into battle? Life's fleeting you know that pretty face could be decorating some darkspawn's spear tomorrow wouldn't you like to do something tonight that makes you feel alive?" he flirted with her. I grimaced on her behalf as far as lines went it was a good one but obvious I winced at the sound of her fist connection with his jaw but smiled crookedly in approval.
"Does that line ever work?" Alistair asked Daveth curiously.
They both watched the retreating backside of the pretty soldier and Daveth answered, "For every 20 women I asked one of them rewards me for my effort."
I shook my head at their behavior, "men I swear that you are all the same."
"Well my, my, my, you're not what I expected," Daveth smiled charmingly at me.
"Oh, and just what were you expecting?" I asked
"Not a woman yet here you are," he almost purred.
"You know there haven't been many women in the order. I wonder why that is?" Alistair asked thoughtfully.
I grinned at his innocence, "Would you prefer more women in the order?" I teased.
"Yes!" Daveth exclaimed and I frowned at him.
"Would that be such a bad thing?" Alistair asked and I raised my eyes in surprise. "Not that I'm a drooling lecher or anything…please stop looking at me like that."
I shook my head again sighing, "Men." It didn't matter if they were human, elven or dwarven in the end they all thought the same. Daveth grinned and Alistair managed to look both adorable and embarrassed at the same time.
"Have they told you anything about the upcoming ritual?" Daveth asked joining our two-person party our goal, the remaining recruit Ser Jory.
"Not really, even our friend her has been sparse on the detail," I replied indicating Alistair who seemed to be ignoring our conversation and focused on finding our final party member.
"I heard they're sending us into the wilds," Daveth speculated.
"I don't know why they would send us out their needlessly into danger. The whole thing is too secretive for my liking," a deep voice said. We turned our attention in the direction of a tall broad shouldered man with a receding hairline said standing my one of the chantry priests.
"I take it you are our final recruit?" I asked
"Yes Ser Jory's the name, I hail from Highever. I was recruited in a tournament a few weeks ago but just made it down here a few nights ago it was hard for me to leave my wife in Redcliff where we keep our home for she is heavy with child."
"I am Fìera from Denerim, this is Daveth and our escort the grey warden Alistair," I smiled kindly at him. "Duncan has sent for all of us to join him the fire."
"Very well," he bowed and fell into step next to us.
"So what do you think this ritual in tale?" Daveth asked Jory. "You don't think it will be too dangerous."
I sighed interjecting my opinion, "Daveth if our takes is hard it is because Duncan and the other grey wardens believe we can obtain it. I am sure all of us have done something so difficult and impressive to be here. I doubt the grey wardens accept someone into their ranks just because they want to be a grey warden. For instance how did you end up here?"
Daveth laughed, "I picked Duncan pocket in Denerim he caught me, he's pretty quick for an old guy, but I got away at least until the guards cornered me. Duncan was forced to conscript me to keep me from the hangman's noose."
"See," I pointed out. "Something you did that day made Duncan believe there was something inside of you worth saving something worth giving a second chance too. Now if you don't mind I see Duncan." The men turned quiet as we approached the fire.
Duncan appraised our little group as we approached, "it would seem we have everyone accounted for and are ready to begin the preparations for the ritual that is if Alistair is done riling up the mages?"
Alistair flushed crimson at being single out by Duncan, "what can I say the revered mother ambushed me. The way she wields guilt they should stick her in the army."
Duncan shook his head sighing, "She forced you to sass the mage did she? We are too new at being reinstated in Ferelden and we cannot afford to be antagonizing any one Alistair. The last thing we need is to give anyone any ammunition against us."
Alistair stared at the ground sheepishly, "your right Duncan…I apologize." He swallowed quickly as if saying the words left a bad taste in his mouth.
Duncan nodded turning his attention back to the rest of us, now that you are all her I can tell you we will be sending the four of you in to the Korcari wilds. While there you will have to collect three vials of darkspawn blood, one for each recruit."
"Surely you've acquired some darkspawn blood before now," ser Jory asked looking slightly pale.
Duncan laughed lightly, "of course we have but it is necessary that you each collect you own fresh blood."
"Finally some action," Daveth joked causing all of use to chuckle.
"What is the second task Duncan?" I inquired drawing his attention to me. I didn't ask any more questions about the darkspawn I doubt anything he could tell me would take away the nausea I felt about fighting one.
Duncan watched the play of emotions dace across my face, "there once was a grey warden archive in these wilds. It was abandoned years ago, due to the remoteness of its location." He paused turning towards the flames. "It has come to our attention that a few scrolls were left behind there, treaties important to the war. Alistair I want you and these recruits to retrieve them."
"How will we find this archive and if we do what if the scrolls are no longer there," I wondered.
"It will be an over grown ruin by now but I will mark the general location on your map," Duncan paused thoughtfully. "It is possible that the scrolls may have been stolen or destroyed. They were magically sealed before it was abandoned to protect them and only a grey warden can break the seal.
"I don't understand," Alistair frowned. "Why would anyone leave something important like that behind?"
"It was always assumed we would return for them," Duncan looked at Alistair sadly. "A great many things were assumed that have not held true." Duncan stared at Alistair a look of regret flitting across his stoic features. His hands clenched at the air and I wondered at his response. Why would he say that and have it directed at Alistair? The sound of wood snapping in the bonfire broke the awkward silence. Duncan shook his head as if in a daze.
"So three vials of darkspawn blood and find the archive, got it," I said quickly.
Duncan's eyes flitted to me and then back to Alistair, "watch over your charges Alistair, and may the maker watch over your path. Return quickly and safely I will see you all soon."
omg this chapter took forever well kinda it was all written out all i needed to do was type it up but i needed to verify something in the game but then i misplaced it and i couldnt find what i was looking for online and then bam 6hours ago i was cleaning my desk off and found it buried under a bunch of papers. thus this chapter was finished. :) its mostly dialogue from the game i've changed up a bit the next chapter wont be so dry *crosses fingers* also i've been crazy busy writing Raised by Wolves please check it out if you havnt already :)
thank you to everyone who is following this story for your patience, i'll try to be better about updating this story in the future.