Sweet Goodbye
Alistair was not as emotional about the Cousland's departure, but he felt the depression just the same. The week that Elissa had been at Redcliffe was the best in his life. The next morning, he stayed in the room above the stables, deliberately ignoring the Arlessa's staff who hollered at him to come down. He wanted to stay in his rooms and avoid facing the truth.
The handful of Cousland servants that had accompanied the family to Redcliffe were briskly packing up for the trip home. Eleanor held onto Elissa's hand, overseeing the work to make sure nothing would be forgotten or misplaced. The Teyrna noticed that her daughter was oddly quiet. Her behavior was not what she was used to seeing in her bright, mischievous girl. Eleanor also noticed that Alistair was nowhere to be found.
Fergus was busy tending to his riding horse with Teagan and Bryce was speaking with Arl Eamon at the side of the courtyard. The Arlessa was apart from them as well, fuming at several of the castle's elven servants, with the usual Orlesian flair, Eleanor mused to herself. She tugged at Elissa's hand, trying to get her attention. "Come, love. Let's say our goodbye to the Arlessa and thank her for their hospitality."
Eleanor and Elissa walked over and heard some choice harping that the Lady Isolde has been going on about. "What do you mean he refuses to do anything?! He is nothing more than a stable boy! Just go up to his room and drag him down! Are you all so useless you cannot even throw a child out a window? I should…Oh! Lady Cousland!" The Arlessa immediately began to smooth out her hair. "I'm sorry you caught me at such an…inappropriate moment."
"Yes…" Eleanor did not object to her statement. "By chance, are you talking about Alistair?"
Elissa's ears immediately perked up at Alistair's name. She unconsciously gripped her mother's hand and leaned in to listen to the person that she had tried so hard to ignore all week.
"Yes, I am…that worthless boy." The Arlessa angrily crossed her arms and tapped her finger against her slender elbow. "He was to do some errands to assist your family's trip back home, but he is refusing to leave the stables! What a lazy thing! I am glad that my husband has decided to send him to the Chantry!"
Elissa's eyes got bigger. The Chantry?! Why would the Arl send Alistair away? Alistair's home was here, wasn't it?
Eleanor nodded. Bryce had mentioned his conversation with Eamon the other night. Even though Eleanor was also more than willing open their home to Alistair, unfortunately the politics of the situation would mean dire consequences for the Couslands from the throne.
"I must find him!" Elissa cried and pulled her hand from her mother's. She quickly ran off, ignoring the shouts from the people behind her.
Elissa ran to the stables and burst open the doors. There were no hands around, only the animals that were either grazing at their food or resting at their stalls. She ran over to the ladder hole that led to Alistair's room. He had pulled the rope ladder up so there was no way of climbing in.
"Alistair!" Elissa yelled. "I know you're up there! Please answer me!"
Alistair was huddled on his bed when he heard Elissa call his name. He quickly got up and peered down at her. Elissa was jumping in place.
"Elissa! What are you doing here?! Shouldn't you be going home?" Alistair asked, still surprised that Elissa was still in Redcliffe.
"Throw down your ladder, Alistair! Let me talk to you!" Elissa pleaded.
Alistair complied and let down the rope ladder. Elissa nimbly climbed up in a matter of seconds and pulled it back up behind her.
"What are you still doing here, Elissa?" Alistair repeated his question.
"I was waiting for you to come by and say goodbye." She sniffed, willing herself not to cry again.
Alistair shook his head and hugged his knees. "I don't want to. If you're leaving, you should just go."
"But I overheard the Arlessa saying that you might be sent away to the Chantry." Elissa reached over and tugged at his shirt sleeve.
Alistair shrugged. "She threatens it all the time. I'm not overly concerned."
Elissa frowned. "How can you be so serious all the time, Alistair? I will miss you terribly!"
Alistair felt himself warm to those words but tried to brush it off as quickly as possible. "You're leaving for Highever. You will go back home and never think of me again."
"What?!" Elissa exclaimed, feeling her temper rising.
"I said, you will go back home and never think of me again. You will be surrounded by your loved ones and your life will resume as normal. The same as me. There will be no point in missing me."
With those serious words, Elissa drew her hand back and slapped Alistair as hard as she could across his face. The impact threw him back and he was stunned at the force the lanky girl had dealt.
"I will miss you, Alistair!" She hissed through her teeth. "And I demand you miss me as well!"
Alistair rubbed at his cheek and couldn't help letting out a laugh in disbelief. "You demand it?!"
"Yes!" Elissa's eyes began to water out of fury. She angrily rubbed them away. "I, Lady Elissa Cousland, demand you miss me once I am gone!"
Alistair couldn't answer, her order was so ridiculous he couldn't come up with a reply.
Elissa's bottom lip kept quivering as she did her best to hold back her tears. "And I also demand that you stop being so broody and serious all the time!" Her voice got higher and angrier. "The Alistair that I want to miss will be the same one I spent these days with…fun and happy and clever!"
Alistair watched the tears run down Elissa's cheeks as she tried to hold herself with dignity. He then burst out laughing so hard he rolled onto his side and his voice shook through the stable rafters. Elissa immediately stopped crying and watched him laugh at her. "What is so funny?!" She asked angrily, stomping her foot.
He was laughing at the absolute absurdity of her request. She demanded that he not only miss her, but to change his personality as well? He couldn't help but to laugh. He was so depressed that Elissa was leaving and he was about to resolve to forget about her, but she had come up to his room and insisted upon being missed. How could he not laugh at such a ludicrous situation?
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Alistair got up from the ground and caught his breath. Elissa's face was bright red from her anger and glaring at him. He immediately got down on his knee and took her hand. "Lady Cousland, I will comply to your demands." He looked up at her and saw she was no longer angry but surprised. Whatever reaction she was expecting from Alistair, this was not it.
"I, Alistair, promise that I will not only miss you, but try not to be so broody and serious all the time." His eyes twinkled.
Elissa smiled happily and threw her arms around him. This was the Alistair that had slowly awakened over the week that she had come to cherish. "I'm glad! So glad!" She rubbed her face into his hair.
"Elissa! Are you in there?" They heard Fergus calling from outside the stables. "The wagon is packed and we're preparing to leave!"
Alistair threw the ladder back down and gestured her to climb down. "Come on, Lady Cousland. Your chariot awaits."
"Will you come watch us go?" Elissa asked, hesitant to leave.
"Yes, I will." Alistair smiled. "How else, will I be able to miss you if I do not see you ride off?
The Couslands bade their farewells to everyone at the Castle of Redcliffe and began their journey down the road toward Highever. The Teyrn and Teyrna were on their respective horses and Elissa rode with Fergus's steed. She did not stop waving goodbye to everyone until they were all out of sight.
Alistair watched the Couslands leave, standing with the Arl long after the Arlessa and the castle staff have gone back into the castle.
"Didn't expect you to become so attached to the Lady Elissa, did you, boy?" The Arl mused to Alistair while they were alone.
"I didn't expect a lot of things to be honest." Alistair admit.
The Arl sighed and patted the boy on the back. "Come on now. We both have many things to take care of."
"Arl Eamon!" Alistair called out before Eamon could walk away. Eamon turned around, looking puzzled.
Alistair recalled when Elissa had warned him that he may be sent to the Chantry. Before he is taken away, there was one question he had always wanted to ask of the Arl. One thing that would ease some of his self-torment. He swallowed nervously and faced the Arl, meeting his gaze. "I would like…" Alistair faltered but then found his resolve again. "I would like to know who my father is!"
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