Alistair

It is everything I have ever dreamed of. The setting is perfect. The food is perfect. The children are…well, almost perfect. Granted, the home of a washer woman is not the Royal Palace of Denerim, but it's well kept and frankly, just plain quaint. I feel safe, safer than I have ever felt and I ask myself why I am wearing my armor. Hmmm, that makes no sense. I don't even recall putting my armor on now. Oh well, it doesn't matter. I quickly shed the pieces of metal covering my body and lay them on the ground. I won't need these.

I take a seat at the worn oak dining table and look at all of the nicks and scratches in the wood. It gives me such a homey feeling. Then, I hear the joyful squeals of young Nicholas and Tasha. They have been such a delight.

"Have another drink, brother," Goldanna says to me as she hands me a goblet of fruit juice. My sister is all that I have envisioned – kind, gentle, and loving. When I found out about her, I knew that I had to meet her one day. And then, there was this whole Darkspawn distraction that got in the way, preventing me from going to Denerim to meet her. I think for a moment. What ever happened to the war? Is it over now? I can't seem to remember.

I take the cup and thirstily gulp down the drink. Ahhh, the flavors are so incredible – a little tart and pulpy, just as I like it. I taste a little bit of apple in there too. Then, the scent of Cornish hen, roasting on an open flame, comes wafting into the room. I lean back and inhale the aroma like a starving man. This is the life I have always dreamed about. I can't believe that I was so worried about meeting Goldanna. I was almost paralyzed with fear that she would not like me. I agonized over telling Alice about my sister and asking if we might visit Denerim one day and seek Goldanna out. But, it seems to have all worked out.

I think again and wonder what happened to Alice. The image of her face in my mind seems fuzzy. Did she survive the war? She just seems to have disappeared. I do remember when I first saw her, back in Ostagar, so full of despair and completely disheveled. But then, we ventured into the Wilds and I saw a different person, grim and full of hate. Still, I could see something beneath all of the pain – a beautiful woman, caught up in the flood of war, trying to do what she thought was right. I wish she were still here. I'd like her to meet my sister.

And, there were others with us, I recall now. Alice had a dog…kind of a scary one too. Oh yeah, there was a mean, sarcastic apostate witch with us. Morrigan, yes, that was her name. Funny how I get her name right and she never remembers mine. Just being near that heartless shrew makes my skin crawl. And then, there was a big guy with us…a Qunari. Doesn't talk much, always wants to beat me up. And finally, a sweet Chantry sister, now, she's a talker. She has a wonderful singing voice. I could sleep to that every night. What ever happened to them? We were…we were in a tower somewhere.

Childlike giggling interrupts my thoughts and Nicholas and Tasha scramble up into my lap as Goldanna laughs gleefully. The two kids wriggle around like worms and tug on my collar playfully.

"Don't you just adore the children, Alistair," my sister says.

I let out a deep chuckle and wrap the two up in my arms to the sound of their squeals. "Oh, ho ho, uncle Alistair has you!" I growl as I nuzzle my face in their tiny chests. As they squirm in my grasp I raise my head with a contented sigh. Surely, I didn't deserve such happiness, but I wasn't going to complain. Still, the nagging thoughts about my friends wouldn't go away. I turn to Goldanna. "Do you know what happened to the people I was with? I can't seem to remember. There was a young woman who was leading us. I'd like to find her and invite her to visit some day."

My sister smiles and touches my cheek. There was something sinister in her expression though that makes my skin prickle. "Oh her…," she says, tilting her head as if thinking. "Yes, she will be joining us. That you can be sure of."

I wasn't sure whether to be pleased or disturbed. It was the way in which Goldanna spoke that seemed…seemed odd, as if something nefarious was planned. I was going to say something further when Nicholas tugs at the patch of hair on my chin.

"Uncle Alistair, play with us!"

"Yes, play with us!" Tasha adds.

I look down into their cherubic faces, but I saw a darkness that clouded their smiles and their eyes seemed to radiate a red glow that made me want to bolt up. I feel Goldanna's hand press me back down into the seat with an unnatural strength. I gasp and wince at her grip and feel as if something is draining me of will and life. I turn back to face her and, for a moment, I see her image twist into that of a monster, bloated and scaly. The creature smiles at me for a moment before it reverts back to my blonde-haired sister. Goldanna places a dish with a finely roasted hen before me, its skin crackled brown and covered in a rich cranberry sauce. The aroma of the meal fills my senses and the picture of the creature in my mind quickly fades as does any will to leave.

"Ahhh," I say as I tear off a drumstick from the hen, "you are the finest cook in all of Ferelden. You just knew what my favorite dish would be." I lick my lips in anticipation.

Goldanna strokes my hair. "I know everything that you want, Alistair, and you shall have it all."