A/N

I know Ser Gilmore's a mod in the game but I really wanted to have him in this FF.

I Am, Elissa Cousland

A Surprise in the Maker's game

Arriving in Lothering was different from what Elissa had been expecting to find. She didn't realise how much Ostagar had effected. Lothering was described to be 'As Pretty as a Picture' but she couldn't disagree more, Lothering was falling apart, tents where put up and bandits where praying on the weak and poor. The only reassurance Elissa found in this place was that she could see a Chantry. A place where she could finally pray for her family and for those she knew and cared for. They walked past the farmers and towards the Templar standing at the gate, Alistair had noted earlier that day not to make themselves to noticeable just gather supplies then slip out unnoticed.

Alistair was listening to Morrigan call him an idiot and so Elissa sped up trying to sneak away before they could involve her in their bickering. She saw a family of elves; she gave them a soft smile but moved swiftly away before a conversation could start. She sighed and placed her hands on her head she needed to stay calm take a deep breath and get through another day.

She breathed out harshly and raised her head in the direction of the Chantry, the large stone building had the Chanter out beside a young boy, but it wasn't them who drew her attention, it was a familiar face, one with a questioning look just like hers. "Ser Gilmore...?" She whispered to herself and walked quickly over to him smiling as she realised it was him, that he was in fact alive and breathing and smiling... She couldn't get over the happiness that overwhelmed her.

"My lady," He smiled as she stopped in front of him, his reddish hair still perfectly neat for a soldier, eyes smiling as always and mouth curved upwards. "I never thought I would see you again!"

There was a pause as Elissa took in all that Ser Gilmore was to her. He looked a little more serious than before but Elissa didn't pick up on it. "Ser Gilmore? Is that you..?" She had to ask, she felt like she was in a dream, nothing this good could happen to her it wasn't allowed in this sick game that the Maker was playing with her.

"Why, yes! When I realised there was no way to save the castle I checked everywhere to see if you and your family where able to escape." He replied and Elissa smiled it was nice knowing that he had been searching for them; it was nice to know that she hadn't been left by her past completely. Ser Gilmore's face dropped and Elissa knew her streak of happiness was about to come to an end. "The Lord and Lady were slain..." Elissa closed her eye's seeing Ser Gilmore had sparked hope that her mother and father had survived but it was too much to wish for. "I thought they had killed you too, I searched for you..." She tried to smile at him but she couldn't, she didn't know what she felt, she had come to terms with their death on the trip to Ostagar but to regain hope and have it ripped from her again, she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear much more. "And never found you" she nodded her head and looked at Ser Gilmore's sad face she leaned forward and nodded her head understanding.

"I'm glad to see you! I thought you were dead!" Elissa whispered finally able to smile a full smile at Ser Gilmore who she had been hoping would find his way to her again.

"And I am very glad to see you too!" He smiled back and breathed in, "When the castle fell I was captured by Howe's men and held until I was able to escape." Multiple scenario's ran through Elissa's mind, what if Ser Gilmore hadn't escape would he be dead right now, wishing he was dead... she didn't want to know. "I went to Ostagar, where I knew Duncan would be headed, but when I arrived there, everything was in ruins" He sighed she had been through a lot but so had Ser Gilmore, losing the people he had lived with for years, only to escape to find his hope in ruins. "I heard the rumours; I know King Cailian fell in battle, as did Duncan." Elissa's mind flashed back to the beacon as she lit it, that was supposed to save them, end the blight, but it never did. "My hopes of becoming a Warden are finished, but not my desire to help in this war." Ser Gilmore said proudly he already had a plan of attack planned out in his head.

She paused she wasn't sure how to tell her best friend she had become a Warden, best to just spit it out, Alistair would back her of course. "Well I did become a Warden..." Elissa whispered not able to make eye contact with him.

"You? How?..." He seemed shocked but brushed it off quickly, "It does not matter" He quickly put in and started speaking what he was thinking "I suspected Duncan was not only interested in me...In any case you are in danger now." Elissa nodded her head in agreement and noticed that Alistair, Morrigan and Sabre had joined her and Ser Gilmore.

Ser Gilmore was very well informed he must have spent some time in Lothering learning what had happened at Ostagar. "The Grey Wardens were blamed for what happened at Ostagar, I did not know what to believe myself, but seeing you are one of them, I know it is a lie" Becoming a Warden had not presented itself with many upsides, but Ser Gilmore just had to see her to believe, maybe she could use some of her families friends to gain support, prove her and Alistair's innocent.

"I'm still bound by the oath I made to your father, I have nowhere else to go. Could you accept me as your companion?" Elissa smiled, this wasn't a dream, in the Maker's game he had given her something to make the days easier.

"Yes!" Elissa said overeagerly but saved herself by adding "Please join me" politely afterword's.

"I am glad to be by your side again." They both smiled and Elissa didn't want to see the look on Morrigan's face or hear what Alistair had to say about this, she just wanted Ser Gilmore along. "By the way, please call me Roland, if you will" he smiled encouragingly.

A/N

I know its been so long since I updated, Sorry I hadn't realised, I'm going to try and update more freaquently now though, Please review so i know what you think! Thanks for reading!