DAO: Remember Me

I decided to try something longer. I hope you all like it. Please let me know if you want me to make adjustments on my writing style or pace of the story. Thank you. :)

Ch. 6 Loss

Alistair sat by the fire, staring at it in a daze. He was thumbing the petals of a rose he picked up in Redcliffe* yesterday. He thought back on the previous night as he, Violet, Leliana, and Violet's mabari helped to defend the village. After leaving the chantry, he ventured silently to the stables in the back. Along the fence, a healthy rose bush thankfully remained, now in bloom. Thinking of the battle ahead, he picked the brightest and fullest rose of the bunch and tucked it safely in his pack.

The battle was a long one, lasting most of the night. The undead creatures seemed to be appearing from every direction. Alistair did his best not to tire. Now and then he glanced in Violet's direction, ready to cut down skeletons that may be sneaking up from behind. Violet seemed able to sense their presence though. As she turned around, her eyes held a vibrant violet glow and her hands and staff shimmered with the same aura. With just a flick of her wrist, the skeleton flew backwards and landed shattered in front of Alistair's feet. It was a wonder to watch her fight. Her movements were as graceful as a ballet.

Beauty, he thought, still thumbing the rose's petals, amongst the darkness. He glanced across the fire to gaze at Violet's tent. About an hour had passed since she decided to retire.

Alistair sighed. "What am I doing?" he muttered. I know it's her, but I thought I moved on, he thought.

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking warily back at the fire. It danced and crackled, almost mocking him. She left you, Alistair; without as much as a good-bye. That's why you decided not to mention anything in Ostagar.

He sighed again angrily. You're forgiving her though, aren't you? It was so long ago… she was just a kid. She probably doesn't remember you anyway. He tucked the rose back into his pack.

He laid down on the grass and looked up at the stars. The night was clear and the moon was a soft crescent. The moon was laughing at him too.

Ostagar… he thought sadly.

"One more floor!" Alistair had yelled as he, Violet, and the army mage and guard climbed the last flight of steps. His skin prickled as he sensed a large Darkspawn roaming the fourth floor of the Tower of Ishal. "Let's go!"

They burst the door open to find an ogre munching on the last of the guards. It turned its gaze on the small group and roared.

Alistair and the guard yelled mighty battle cries as they charged toward the ogre. They hacked and slashed away at his legs. Violet tensed and swiftly raised her staff. The ogre froze, Alistair and the guard still slashing at his legs and stomach. The mage assisted with more ice attacks to keep the ogre frozen. Violet placed her staff on her back and stretched out her arms. Electricity scorched through the ogre's body and he bellowed in pain. The men continued to slash beneath it; the mages heavily upheld their spells. The ogre fisted the ground with two hands, causing the ground to quake violently and forcing the group onto their backs. Alistair looked up to find the ogre picking up a huge boulder. The creature's eyes were focused on the Elven mage.

"Look out!" he yelled to Violet. She was on her knees when the ogre hurled the boulder. She gasped and jumped out of the way, rolling back to her feet.

Alistair's heart pounded. That was close, he breathed. A new surge of energy coursed through his veins. He screamed angrily, charging at the ogre once more. He leapt into the air, as high as he could, and thrust his sword into the ogre's neck. The Darkspawn roared in agony and toppled over. Alistair slashed its throat again before shoving his blade a final time into his neck for good measure. Blood spewed from the deep wound and splattered across Alistair's face and armor.

"Light the beacon!" he called as he jumped off the corpse.

Violet ran to the beacon and quickly lit it. The group then hurried to the window overlooking the battle grounds.

"Come on…" Alistair growled, waiting for Loghain's men to aid. A minute later, the group witnessed the army's retreat. "What!" Alistair slammed his hands against the window pane. "What in Andraste's name are they doing?" he yelled.

"Alistair!" Violet yelled. He turned around, but a swift knock to the head made him fall weakly to the ground. Violet… he thought, as his world faded to black.

Alistair's body tingled as he began to stir. It wasn't his Darkspawn sense, rather, a relieving feeling as his wounds started to heal.

He slowly opened his eyes to find the old woman they met earlier in the wilds leaning over him. "What-?" he began, but she quickly hushed him.

"Do not move, lest you reopen your wounds before I have a chance to properly seal them," Flemeth said.

"Where am I?" he asked, roaming his eyes around to see the mass of trees surrounding them.

"You're back at my hut, lad," the old woman said, matter-of-factly.

Suddenly he remembered the battled at the tower.

"Violet!" he said with concern and began to sit up. A piercing feeling stabbed his ribs and he laid back down.

"Did I not tell you to hold still? Yes, I did," she said in an annoyed tone.

"But, what about-"

"Your Warden is recovering in the hut," she said flatly. "Morrigan is tending her. She will emerge when she has woken."

"Oh," he said, still a bit concerned. She hasn't woken yet…

"Um… Thank you," he said when she finally allowed him to sit up.

"Don't thank me just yet. Your Warden hasn't come to."

Alistair grew pale. He walked to the edge of the swamp and sat down, staring into the water.

Duncan… he thought. The battle scene was returning to him now. Alistair was too high up to make out any particular bodies in the tower, but from his view he could tell it wasn't going well.

"Could you tell me, Flemeth, what happened at Ostagar?" He braced himself. He honestly didn't want to hear it. He wanted to keep believing everyone was okay; that Duncan was okay.

"It was a massacre," she said bluntly. "There are no survivors. Those who weren't hacked away were dragged underground by the Darkspawn." He held his breath and his chest ached.

"Loghain's men… they deserted us, didn't they?" his eyes stung and his voice grew hoarse. He was shaking with anger. Slowly, tears fell down his cheeks.

"If you call the mass of soldiers leaving the battle field without as much as a rock thrown at the Darkspawn, then yes. I take it that wasn't the plan."

"Sodding bastards!" he yelled, chucking a rock into the swamp.

He brushed his hands through his hair angrily and then dropped his head into his propped arm. He wept for his comrades, his brothers and sisters, and for Duncan.

Violet… he thought again. Maker please let her be all right.

He hadn't realized how worried he was for her. It was years since she left the Chantry to live at the Circle Tower. He thought he could forget her after all those years, but the dreams wouldn't go away. Now and then the day of hide and seek replayed for him. He was only ten then, but it didn't take long for him to warm up to her. For some reason, he felt it was his duty to protect her and care for her. The day he lost her was horrifying. He looked all over the Chantry and even ventured into town. Eventually, he started to panic and called out for her. It seemed like hours passed before he heard a faint voice calling from inside the chantry well. How she thought it was a good idea to hide there, he didn't know. He was angry, but relieved, only to turn angry again when he couldn't pull her back up himself. He retrieved a brother from the Chantry and paced impatiently. Violet was crying her eyes out as the brother set her down.

"I don't want to play anymore!" she cried. He looked down at her angrily. The brother kept quiet, seeing it wasn't necessary.

"No, we aren't playing hide and seek anymore," Alistair scolded. "It's too dangerous."

"I'm sorry," Violet said, sniffing. She got up and hugged Alistair tightly. "I'm sorry."

Alistair hugged her tightly. "From now on, don't leave me, okay?"

He felt Violet nod. "Okay," she said softly.

A week later, he woke up to find her missing. Once again he searched the Chantry. He asked all of the residents of the Chantry of her whereabouts, but none would speak, let alone look at him. He grew frustrated by the minute, but eventually, one of the brothers pulled him aside.

"She's gone to the Circle Tower, Alistair. She… She's a mage," he said sadly.

Alistair was confused. "How do you know?" he asked, but the brother wouldn't tell him.

Many days passed and he took his anger out on her. He wished she had kept it a secret, or told him, or at least said good-bye. Now and then he thought he was glad she was gone. He wouldn't have to worry about her anymore. He figured she was too excited to go to say good-bye to him.

Alistair wiped his eyes, starting to calm down. He looked into the murky water and reminisced of the following nights he sat in the shed alone.

When Violet finally emerged from the hut, he didn't know how he would react. He prepared himself for something friendly, yet relieved, but melted instead. Her eyes were back to a dark violet, but the sun still made them sparkle. Her pale skin seemed to glow. If it weren't for the various bandages wrapped around her he would have forgotten she was badly injured. The closer she stepped toward him the harder his heart pounded.

"You're all right," he breathed. She nodded and smiled meekly.

Alistair felt himself growing tired. He got up to gather his things and made his way to his tent.

"Maybe tomorrow…" he whispered to himself. "Maybe I'll give it to her tomorrow."

*I know he picked it up in Lothering, but I wanted it to be from the Chantry in Redcliffe instead.