H: Headache
Adara was quickly losing her mind.
She could barely keep up with Shemlen logic and politics; why in the Creators name was she being forced to deal with Dwarven logic and politics? And not only deal with it, but make active decisions regarding it!
Honestly, if the world above ground didn't desperately need the help of those underground, she would have turned around the moment she lost sight of the sky. But stopping the Blight required all the help they could gather so, here she was running around; claustrophobia flirting with her sanity.
Branka had better be worth the headache.
I: Ice
Every so often they needed a break; some time for them to breathe.
On one of those times, Wynne decided to freeze the small pond inside their camp. They didn't have real skates so they bundled up their feet with furs and twine, slipping and sliding from one end of the pond to the other. Even Sten found amusement, watching Alistair repeatedly fall on his backside.
Hours were spent laughing and enjoying the unique dynamic each member brought to the group. No matter what happened, they would always hold onto the memory of happiness a pond of ice had brought.
J: Jester
Growing up, Alistair was well aware that the crown was never meant for him. If Arl Eamon wasn't subtly reminding him, or Loghain casting disdainful glances on rare visits to Redcliff, than Cailen blatantly ignoring he existed helped drive the point home.
On one of the very rare occasions that Cailen did actually acknowledge Alistair's existence, it was only to inform him that he'd be good entertainment in Cailen's court.
It didn't really bother him.
Well, not much, anyway.
He might never be good enough for the throne but he still wanted to prove himself worth more than just a jester.
K: Keep
The knot in Alistair's stomach seemed to be getting tighter as he made his way towards the dining room where everyone waited to congratulate him on winning the throne.
Now that he was to be king, Eamon had informed him to end his 'love tryst' with the Dalish; the people of Ferelden would never allow an elf to rule beside him.
He'd wanted to argue, to say that, as king, he should be allowed to marry whomever he pleased…but he knew he'd lose the argument before he could even start it.
He had to find some way to keep her.
