I am ALIVE! Sorry I kno I went away for a bit there but I'm back, real life stuff turn to shit there for a while, it's still shit but now I have a little bit more time on my hands, I'm a good bit ahead still with the writing so I'll probably post again this week cause I feel bad :(
but any way little bit of Alistair whump in this one.

Alistair turned and left the others to prepare for their trip to the Circle Tower, the two small vials that he carried in his palm left a heavy weight in his stomach. He quietly walked up the stairway to a small room, relatively untouched by the battle, setting the two vials down on the bed, listening as they clinked when they rolled into one another.

He stood staring at them for moment, before he sighed and began to remove his armour and padding, he soon stood in his linen trouser and tunic. He gave a slight shiver as the cold air of the castle made his skin prickle. He sighed as he picked up the first bottle, studying the blue liquid inside with a securitising look as he let the lyrium swirl around the glass.

He pulled out the stopper, took a deep breath in through his nose and steeled himself before he quickly brought the vial to his lips, tipping it upside down and swallowing the contents. The bitter and metallic and hot liquid slid down his throat, burning all the way down. He coughed and spluttered as he leaned over the bed posts clutching his abdomen as he felt the lyrium crawl in to his stomach. Taking a deep breath Alistair grimaced as he straightened, lifting the other vial and placing it in the small pouch of his belt, along with the small dagger he usually carried while he wasn't in armour.

Alistair rolled his shoulders, the stretch of his muscles eased the tension he had been carry from wearing his armour for so long. He hummed in relief as he squeezed his neck and made his way back through to the hallway.

He found Morrigan at the bottom of the stairs that lead towards Connors room on the second floor, "It looks as though your Templar training will be put to good use after all." She snorted, "I've set up a few wards around the boy's room, to help keep the demon at bay. But I am afraid we will be mostly relying on your… skill."

"As much as I love our little back and forth, I'm really not in the mood Morrigan." He growled out as he stormed past her up the staircase.
He stopped at the top of the stairs and shook out his limbs, trying to shake out the buzzing that was running along the top of his skin. He looked towards Connors room, finding him curled up in the bed, his head resting on Isolde's lap as she stroked his hair and whispered soothing words.
He quietly closed the door, not wishing to disturb the moment of peace the boy had been able to obtain in this nightmare. He sat down cross legged on the ground, as close to the door as it was possible and began to clear his mind, letting the stress and grief of the last few weeks wash out of his body. He felt his breathing slowing as the vibrations that hummed along his skin increase, the vibration began to spread outward like a barrier around him, stretching and stretching, until he could feel the strings that connected Connor to the fade. He let the barrier wrap around the connection, not cutting Connor off from the fade, but making the connection week so that no real power could be pulled through.
He lost himself in the peaceful sensation and calm that spread throughout his body, forgetting, for a moment, about the monumental task that lay before them, and the mound of bodies that lay behind them.

It wasn't until felt the air shift that he noticed that he was no longer alone. Cracking open one of his eyes he saw Elissa sitting leaning against the opposite wall, her knees pulled in tight to her chest, the setting sun threw awash of purple and orange light through the window. She didn't notice the quick glance that Alistair gave her, he closed his eyes again as they sat in silence for a moment.

"You don't have to sit with me you know." He said keeping his eyes closed.

"I wasn't sure if you knew I was here or not." She stated calmly, "I came to bring you something to drink; I also managed to find some food in the kitchens that wasn't spoiled."

It was then that Alistair noticed the small plate of bread, apples and salted meat, he felt a pang of hunger, quickly followed with a roll of nausea as the lyrium swam in his stomach, "Thank you Lady Cousland, though you shouldn't have gone to the trouble, I don't think I could stomach any food."

"It was no trouble, are you feeling unwell?"

"The preparation for a vigil can… unsettle your stomach." he answered vaguely.

"Your fellow warden said that a vigil can be difficult, she asked me to keep a eye on you." She said allowing a small hint of humour to tinge her voice.

"And here I thought it might have been my riveting conversation and dashing good looks." He joked with a small smirk letting his eyes close again as he leaned his head against the wall.

"You have not provided any conversation, let alone anything riveting." She shot back jokingly.

"Oh, not denying the part about my dashing good looks? Good to know." His brain only caught up with his mouth after the words had left it, a blush spread over his cheeks as he coughed nervously into his hand. "Ah- but really, this must be incredibly boring for you, and I know the floor isn't comfortable…"

"That's why I have a pillow." She retorted pointing to the cushion that she had pilfered from one of the nearby rooms. "I don't really understand what 'standing vigil' entails, but Neria said that having someone to speak to might help."

"Well, thank you- for doing that." They both drifted in to silence again, Alistair let his eye's drift closed again and the sound of the lyrium song thrummed under his skin as he concentrated on the barrier he had created. The song felt like a drum beat inside his chest, the vibrations echoing through his chest and head sending shock waves down to his finger tips.

He wasn't sure how much more time had passed, it was only when he felt a hand being placed on his own that he looked up, seeing Elissa and a large Mabari hound sitting on its hind legs, head tilted to the side as it's tongue hung out the side of its mouth. Elissa brow was creased in concern as she crouched down in front of him, shaking his hand to get his attention.

"Are you okay?" seeing the confused look on his face she continued. "I was calling you, but you didn't seem to hear me."

"Yes, sorry, I'm fine, just… takes a lot of concentration." He mumbled out as he scrubbed his hands over his face. He looked towards the window, seeing that the sky was now completely dark, "What time is it?" he asked.

"It's closed to midnight."

Alistair felt his eyes widen in shock, he was sure only a few minutes had passed since he closed his eyes. "Are you sure you're alright?" she questioned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just hadn't realised how late it had gotten; have you been here this whole time?" she nodded. "You've had a long day Lady Cousland, you should get some sleep."

Elissa gave him an unimpressed and pointed look, "As have you."

"Yes," he said with a huff of laughter, "But I'm afraid I have to stay awake, scare all those creepy skeletons away."

Reluctantly Elissa left him, giving him a backward glance as she disappeared in to a nearby room he Mabari tailing behind her.
He breathed out heavily as he as the sound on the lyrium sang inside his head as the vibrations hummed under his skin. After a while he stood from his sitting position, his legs stung with lack of use and protested under the strain of his weight making him cling to the wall as he waited for the thousands of needles digging in to his muscles to stop; he slowly began to pace as he stretched. He stopped and heaved a heavy breath as he leaned back against the door to Conner's door. Quietly he opened the door and glanced inside. The room was dark except for the glow of the wards that Morrigan had placed around the room, he only had a vague idea what they were actually doing to protect Conner but it reassured him seeing them glowing. Being as quiet as possible he snuck in to the room to use the chamber pot in the corner, he sighed as he felt the pressure in his bladder ease. Quickly and quietly he washed up before he snuck back out closing the door carefully behind him, taking up his post again, sitting with his back against the door and his legs bent at the knees.

When he opened his eyes again the sky outside the window was beginning to lighten, he glance around, seeing the small tray of food still sitting, despite the rolling in his stomach he lift the small piece of bread and began to break it in to smaller pieces and eat it slowly. He looked up when the sound of a door opening, followed by the scraping of an excited Mabari as it ran along the stone floor and light footsteps, reached his ears.

Aww poor Alistair has no idea what he's getting himself into, more Alistair whump and nerdy awkward flirting...