Walking through an army camp was a new experience. Then again nothing that happened to her lately was something she ever dreamed would happen to her. Her parent's were dead. She was handed over to an Order she knew almost nothing about. And there was one thing Elissa knew, she couldn't do a damn thing about it. Elissa found herself staring at everything and everyone in the camp. The guard to the entrance of the King's camp told her that the mages were there due to the request of the king. So she shouldn't be surprised to see templar's running around. She walked quietly and felt very nervous. She wasn't used to being around an army.
She walked between Cailan's tent which was right next to Loghain's. Both were guarded and eyed her suspiciously when they saw her coming close. She walked up the ramp to an older part of the ruins that reminded her of a temple. "Look carefully men," she heard an older man saying.
Elissa made her way to the front of the crowd of soldiers to see what they were looking at. When she saw the monstrous body on the ground she let out a gasp and took a step back. Lucky growled at the dead monster.
"This is a darkspawn. Don't listen to the tales about them, they can be killed," the man kneeling beside the horrible creature said.
Elissa studied it. She was supposed to kill these things? She screamed at the sight of rats and spiders. How was she supposed to kill…that?
"This is a genlock," the man continued.
Elissa couldn't listen anymore she turned and pushed her way through the crowd of soldiers. She ran through the temple until she came to a platform that looked over the bridge she crossed to enter the camp. She fell to her knees throwing up.
"Are you all right my lady?" A woman said from behind her.
Elissa turned and saw a woman in a priest's robe. "I'm okay," Elissa whispered wiping her mouth.
"Are you sure? I can fetch a nurse," the priest looked worried. She had brown hair that was combed neatly and green eyes that were filled with worry.
"I'm sure, I just saw the dead monster the soldiers have," Elissa nodded toward the way she and Lucky had come.
"I saw that, I wish they wouldn't bring it in camp," the priest sighed. "My name is Sister Linette. Here you can have this." The priest handed Elissa a cloth with the Symbol of Andraste embroidered in the corner.
"I'm Elissa," Elissa stood up taking the cloth. "Thank you."
"You came in with the Grey Warden did you not?" Linette studied her.
"Yes," Elissa smiled sadly cleaning off her face. "I fear he has picked a sad recruit if I throw up at the sight of the monsters he wants me to fight."
Linette studied Elissa and noticed the healing bruise on the left side of the girl's face. The girl looked worn out and dead on her feet. Grey Warden's came from all walks of life but not this child, she was nobility it was written through out her features.
"If you'll excuse me Sister, I must go," Elissa excused herself. They made their way back to the main camp. She wanted to find a place to compose herself where she wouldn't be interrupted. But by the looks of the camp there was no such place.
She went up another ramp that led to a type of hall. On one end she saw elven servants setting up a table. There was another ramp to her right and she found herself walking up to see what it offered for solitude. There was no one there she took a sigh of relief, taking off her weapons and laying them on the ground. She wrapped her cloak around her and sat down leaning against the wall. Lucky settled in next to her keeping watch of the entrance to their temporary rest.
Elissa closed her eyes just wanting a break but she fell asleep with in minutes.
"What is it now?" the mage moved up into the old temple. "Haven't the Grey Warden's asked enough of the Circle?"
Elissa stirred at the sound of the mage's voice. She looked up to see a man in a robe being followed by a man in armor. He was young and was smiling uncomfortably.
"I simply came to deliver a message ser mage from the reverend mother. She requires your presence," the man said his voice was filled with humor.
Elissa studied them, she hadn't got more than fifteen minutes of sleep and she was curious at the exchange but unhappy about the intrusion.
"What her Reverence desires, is of no concern to me. I am busy helping the Grey Wardens by the King's orders I might add! Go find someone else to deliver your message to," the mage growled.
"Well I did but all of them directed me to you," the man the mage called a Grey Warden said with a smile. "Should I have asked her to write a note?"
Elissa found herself trying not to laugh. The man had guts she had to hand it to him. She would never try to anger a mage, not if she could help it.
"Tell her I will not be harassed in this manner," the mage growled.
Elissa felt the hair on her arms rise. It sounded like a threat, which was not a good thing when a mage was the one making the threat.
"Yes, I was harassing you by delivering a message," the young Warden smiled. He looked like he'd rather be anywhere but there at the moment. But he wasn't backing down which made Elissa narrow her eyes at the Warden. He was definitely more than he appeared to be.
"Your glibness does you no credit," the mage sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. The soldier was giving him a headache.
"Oh and here I thought we were getting along so well. I was even going to name one of my children after you. The grumpy one," the Warden added.
Elissa swallowed her laugh and bit her lip.
"Enough!" the mage yelled. "I'll speak to the woman if I must. Get out of my way fool!"
The mage stormed off leaving the Warden looking like he won a small battle.
Lucky had kept quiet the whole time but now that the Warden was alone with them he growled.
The Warden turned quickly and faced Elissa and Lucky. The man had a flash of fear when he saw the growling dog but hid it when he saw Elissa staring at him. Elissa studied him then, he looked vaguely familiar but she was sure she had never seen him before. He smiled nervously at Lucky. Lucky growled again sensing the man's fear. Elissa looked closer at the man his blonde hair was kept short. His eyes had wrinkles around them from smiling often and they looked to be brown or hazel from the distance it was hard to tell.
"Lucky stop," Elissa sighed running a hand down the dogs back.
Alistair stared at the woman who was being guarded. She was stunning. The bruising on her face did nothing to detract from that. It had been six months since he had been out of the chantry and not once had he been in the presence of a woman like this. His tongue seemed to be in a knot. She was raising her eyebrow at him waiting for him to speak or go away he assumed. So he fell back on the one thing he had in his defense.
"You know, one good thing about the Blight is how it brings people together," he said still studying the Mabari.
Elissa laughed it was the first time she laughed in days. She noticed the man looked up at her and smiled at the sound of her laughter. Elissa thought about Howe using the Blight as a way to advance himself. She could only agree with the man.
"I know exactly what you mean," she said losing her smile.
"It's like a party we could all hold hands and sing! That would give the darkspawn something to think about," he said.
Elissa smiled and studied the man. She found him incredibly comfortable to be around and then she realized why. He joked the same way Fergus did when in a serious situation. It made the whole situation come crashing down on her. Before she let it all sink in and let sadness fill her heart the man interrupted.
"Wait, I don't know you do I?" Alistair studied her. He knew he didn't know her but he had sensed the change in her. Her eyes were sad and it looked like it hurt her physically to smile and laugh. As if the Maker himself would knock her down for being happy. "You don't happen to be another mage?"
"If I am a mage I'm the kind who shoots a bow not flings fireballs. And no, you don't know me," she stood up shaking out her cloak.
Alistair had heard the description of the new recruit from Duncan. He ran into him at the tent when he was on his way to deliver a message. Duncan asked him to seek her out if she didn't find him first. He told her what she looked like but little else. Duncan was in a hurry to attend a meeting with Loghain.
"Wait! I do know you!" Alistair's smile brightened.
Elissa froze. She looked up at him slowly. How did he know who she was? He couldn't know she was a Cousland could he?
"You're Duncan's new recruit from Highever! He told me you were in camp and if you didn't find me first to look for you," he smiled.
Elissa studied him and took a sigh of relief. "You must be Alistair," Elissa smiled.
"Yes," Alistair smiled. "I'm the new Grey Warden and I'll be accompanying you and the other recruits as you prepare for the Joining."
"I'm Elissa," she introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you. It has just occurred to me that there are not many women in the Grey Wardens. In fact you're the first I've met," Alistair smiled at her.
Elissa looked at him wondering why that was something that occurred to him. They were in Fereldan. Women joined the army. They were considered equals in many things. I guess it was different when it came to fighting darkspawn. He didn't seem to be trying to flirt with her, which was a good thing she probably wouldn't be able to handle it at the moment. "You want more women in the Warden's do you?"
"Would that be such a bad thing?" Alistair laughed.
Elissa raised her eyebrows.
"I'm not some drooling lecher, don't get me wrong. Please stop looking at me like that," Alistair said losing his smile.
Elissa smiled in return. "Right you just want them around to cook and clean is that it?"
"And wash and sew my clothes," Alistair shrugged realizing Elissa was joking with him.
"Hopeless," Elissa shook her head. "Just so we're clear I'm not washing your clothes, mending any holes in socks …or cleaning up after you."
"What about cooking?" he smiled.
"I can cook," Elissa said slowly. They stood silent for a few moments not sure where to go from there.
"Well then, Duncan said to get you over to the mess tent. He said you haven't had food all day," Alistair said clearing his throat.
Elissa collected her weapons and Alistair saw the blade she strapped to her back. "That is a beauty of a sword."
Elissa froze, "It's a family sword."
Alistair could sense her reluctance to say more and nodded. He led the way to the mess tent where stew and bread were being served. He had already had his share but he helped himself to another serving. He didn't want Elissa to eat alone. He wasn't a fool she was a beautiful woman and she was in a camp full of men. Sure there were women in the King's army but those women had men in their units to watch out for them. She was his to watch out for. He shook his head at that thought, it sounded better than he had thought it would.
Elissa sat next to Alistair as they ate. She wasn't used to talking during meals anymore after spending time traveling with a man she blamed for all her problems. Meal times at Highever were always loud and always an event. Fergus and Roland would be making fun of her while Oren would try his best to be involved in the grown up conversations. It hurt Elissa to remember her smiling family when she saw them bleeding and dead. She found herself close to tears when her thoughts were interrupted.
"How'd you get that bruise?" Alistair asked in between bites.
Elissa paused, she was here to a Grey Warden so bruises were not uncommon she would think. But this Alistair seemed like a curious lad. "I took a shield to the face," Elissa said quietly.
"Ouch," Alistair studied her. He knew there was more to it than that. He wasn't going to pry though they just met and he knew he hadn't earned the rights yet.
"So you said there are other recruits?" Elissa changed the subject.
"Yes, Daveth and Ser Jory. I take it you haven't met them yet?" Alistair said.
"No," Elissa shook her head. "Tell me about them."
Alistair frowned. "Well Daveth is a cut purse that Duncan recruited from Denerim. He's a bit shifty, not really sure what Duncan saw in him."
"A cut purse?" Elissa asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, quite the ladies man or so he says but I'm not buying it," Alistair looked at Elissa and smiled. She had beautiful blue eyes he noticed. Blue eyes shadowed with sorrow.
"And the other?"
"Ser Jory is a knight from Redcliffe. I believe Duncan recruited him in Highever. Maybe you know him," Alistair said.
Elissa's hand shook and the stew fell down the front of her. "Shoot," she whispered.
Alistair laughed, "Good thing there are only men here to witness that and half of them don't eat as politely as you. I've been having to watch myself for the past fifteen minutes when I saw you actually had table manners."
Elissa frowned, "Don't hold yourself back because of me."
"Oh let me look like a pig and you a dainty woman?" Alistair raised his eyebrows.
"Would you rather me look like a pig and you look like a dainty woman?" Elissa laughed.
Alistair laughed at that and took a bite of bread chewing with his mouth open on purpose. Elissa smiled and felt a little sadness lift from her.
Elissa ate the rest of her stew and fed Lucky. "I need supplies."
"We'll stop by the Quartermasters," Alistair said. "I understand you had to leave Highever without notice."
"Yes," Elissa nodded.
Alistair knew she didn't want to talk about it. He'd ask Duncan later what had occurred in Highever.
At the Quartermasters they ran into Daveth. He was leaning into a pretty blond woman. "Shall I take that quiet glare as a no?"
Elissa watched with a smirk as the female soldier smacked the man across the cheek and walked away.
Alistair wasn't so gentle he laughed. "I hope that was part of your charm Daveth."
Daveth turned towards Elissa and Alistair and frowned until he saw Elissa. He smiled wide and came up to her walking in a way he probably thought was charming. "Well you are definitely not what I'd thought you'd be," Daveth looked Elissa up and down.
Elissa was used to being flirted with, but by nobles. This was a different kind of flirting. One she wasn't sure if she liked.
"What did you think I'd be?" Elissa looked back at Daveth crossing her arms.
"Not a woman, but here you are and a beautiful one at that," Daveth smiled. "I'm Daveth."
"Elissa," she snapped.
"Pleased to meet you," his smile didn't falter. Elissa knew he thought of her as a challenge now. Men like him rarely gave in.
"Can you give Elissa some breathing room Daveth?" Alistair growled.
Daveth looked at Alistair, "Is the young templar jealous?"
Elissa raised her eyebrows. "Templar?"
Alistair shifted, "I was recruited from the chantry where I was in training to be a templar."
"Oh," Elissa said studying him. He didn't seem like the religious sort and out of all the templars she had met were strict, not full of jokes.
"So why don't you ditch chantry boy here and come have some fun with me," Daveth suggested.
Alistair sucked in air and was about to say something when Lucky beat him to it. The dog barked and growled at Daveth until the man backed up.
"Hey…hey easy boy," Daveth said throwing his hands up.
Elissa smiled, "I think I'll stick with Alistair thank you."
She made her way to the Quartermaster and he supplied her with what she needed. She was glad she had remembered to pack her funds. She wasn't sure how she was to pay for things when her money ran out but surely the Grey Wardens paid their people. Didn't they? She'd have to ask Alistair more about everything when they had time. She hated feeling helpless.
Alistair stood glaring at Daveth who shifted under the gaze, "I think I'll just go back to Duncan now."
"You do that," Alistair nodded. Daveth went running. Alistair looked down at Lucky who was staring after Daveth. "Good boy."
Lucky wagged his tail and looked up at Alistair letting out a happy bark. "I'll get you a bone sometime just for that."
Lucky barked again.
"Are you bribing my dog?" Elissa came back her hand full of armor. Her armor had taken a beating during the escape from the castle. She could have it repaired but she also wanted armor that didn't have Oren, and her father's bloodstains across the chest. It was too much for her.
"Not at all," Alistair smiled. "I think he likes me."
Elissa looked down at Lucky and saw him wagging his tail. It appeared Alistair was right. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all not with Alistair around in the Wardens. Given enough time Elissa was sure she could almost convince herself that her life was not over. But for now, she still believed she died in the castle with her parents.