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What if Alistair didn’t grow up to be the well-adjusted sweet man we all know and love? |
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Denerim "Where is he?" yelled Duncan. "We were supposed to meet the king over an hour ago!" Malcolm hesitated before answering as he formed the words, "I…I think he went out last night, commander." "Out! What do you mean he went out? I gave orders that everyone was to remain here in the compound for the night!" Duncan paused a moment before going on, "Did he go out alone?" "Yes, I believe so, commander. He was aware of your orders. He just…well…he just ignored them." "Like he does everything else." Duncan shook his head, "I suppose wherever he is, there’s a drink and a woman involved." Rohan laughed at his commander’s comment, "I think I heard him mention more than one of each. That boy’s insatiable!" He laughed harder until he saw the look on Duncan’s face. "Sorry, ser." "So where do I find him this time?" "The Pearl, ser. I told him you’d never look for him in the best whorehouse in town," answered Rohan. "Shall I go get him?" Duncan narrowed his eyes, "No. I’ll get him. You get the rest of these lazy louts up and out to meet the king. Tell him I will join him as soon as I pick up a recruit." He turned quickly on his heel and stomped out, leaving a room full of warriors shaking their heads. "That boy will never get out of it this time," declared Malcolm as he shook his head. "Nothing he says can help him now." @@@@@ It had been a night to remember; he just wished he could. He’d lost count of how many whiskeys he’d had but he knew how many girls. Three at once had been a record for him. Shaking his head, he rolled over on his back only to hear a distinctly feminine voice complain loudly, "Hey!" "Who are you?" he asked the girl. She was naked, just as he was, her long dark hair falling in ringlets around her shoulders. Dark brown eyes flashed in disgust as she disentangled herself out from under him. "I’m trying to get out of here. Do you mind?" she complained as she tried to climb out of the bed. "Actually I do mind. Did I pay for you?" "Yes and we’re done. Can I go now?" she asked impatiently. He felt himself grow hard as he regarded her. She was beautiful and he remembered something about asking for a dark haired beauty to go with the blue eyed blond and the green eyed redhead; one of each had been the request and it had been filled quickly and well. "There’s still some time. Come here, wench." He reached for her and drew her down to him, taking her mouth as he turned her onto her back and settled between her thighs. "I do have other customers, you know," she protested as he nibbled on her breast, gasping as he entered her. "But…they can wait a little longer." He laughed and gave her what they both wanted. Suddenly there was a pounding on the door with enough force behind it to sufficiently wake and scare everyone in the room. "Uhhh….you aren’t…married or anything, are you?" He asked her worriedly. "Of course not," she replied. "Maybe they want someone else. Come back here." He turned back to her and continued his stroking, both of them moaning as he did. The pounding repeated louder right before the door burst its hinges and a large dark haired warrior strode into the room. He stopped long enough to survey the situation, stepped over the bodies lying on the floor and headed for the bed. Taking a hold of the blankets and sheets, he pulled hard, throwing the couple out of the bed and onto the floor. "Get up!" he ordered. "Shit!" the man exclaimed as he crawled to his feet. The girl was dazed and he bent down to help her up. "Sorry love. I’ll make it up to you next time. Duty calls." He pulled her up for a kiss then sent her away with a smack on the bottom. Turning to the warrior he said, "Duncan! So pleased you could join me. Shall I order you a girl or would you like one of mine?" "You were ordered not to leave the compound last night and you disobeyed. And here do I find you? Cock deep in a whore! What’s the excuse this time?" raged Duncan. "I was lonely, cooped up with all those men. I mean, if I went for men, I’d be happy, but I like girls so I came here. I should have known Rohan was setting me up when he sent me here." Duncan reached down and pulled up a pair of breeks and a boot, "Get dressed! The rest of you, get out!" A half dozen men and girls in various states of undress scrambled for the door. Two girls, a blond and a redhead, stopped and gave their host a kiss. "Awww…come on Duncan," he complained as he put his arms around the girls. "They’re willing! And good!" Duncan’s look was enough to send the girls running, leaving just the two of them in the room. The commander began to rummage through the piles on the floor, tossing garments and bits of armor onto the bed. He turned back to his charge, "I said, get dressed. We were supposed to meet the king hours ago for the march to Ostagar. Thanks to you, I have missed that appointment. Now move!" The young warrior began to dress, stopping from time to time to look for a missing garment. Duncan helped him with the breastplate buckles then handed him his sword and shield. "It’s not like my brother gives a shit if I’m there or not." "Maybe not. But I do, so come on." The young man shook his head and walked to the door. "Alistair?" Duncan called. "Don’t forget to pay your bill." Alistair smiled and caught the purse that was thrown to him. "Tip them well. This one’s coming out of your pay." The smile fell as Alistair turned around, leaving a laughing Duncan in his wake. @@@@@ Alistair was, in fact, lost. Born the bastard son to an indiscreet king and a lowly kitchen maid, he had been raised and schooled by the Arl of Redcliffe as a favor to his brother in law, who also happened to be the king. At ten, he had been sent by the Arlessa to the abbey school in Denerim to "get rid of him once and for all." Talented and bright, he had excelled in his studies and training, even though he was in constant trouble for fighting and gambling. At age seventeen, his father had died and his half-brother had taken the crown, only to demand that Alistair be "taken care of." The Grand Cleric had acceded to the monarch’s wishes and Alistair was sent to the Templars, where he would be required to take holy vows and would never be able to rule. It had been downhill from then on for the bastard prince. He still excelled in his training, especially the Templar talents, but his extracurricular activities became more risqué. He was often seen at the local taverns, drinking and gaming, ending up in a different girl’s bed every night. Alistair became depressed, with little hope of ever digging himself out of the hole he was in and beyond caring if he ever did. Nearly six months before, at the great tournament banquet, Duncan had defied the Grand Cleric and named him as his choice for Grey Warden recruit. Alistair had blinked twice, believing the request to be a remnant of the night before’s debauch. When Duncan had repeated his request, two burly Templar guards had seized Alistair and drug him out of the banquet hall and into the Grand Cleric’s office. "You want him?" she asked, pointing at Alistair in disbelief. "Yes, your grace," was Duncan’s reply. "But he’s….you can’t have him," she declared emphatically. Duncan shook his head, "You know the law, your grace. I choose him." The Grand Cleric looked at Alistair. "Ser Alistair, is it your wish that you become a Grey Warden?" Alistair looked at the man standing in front of him, a fierce warrior who’d seen many days and many battles. Looking into the man’s eyes, he saw kindness and compassion there as well as steel. He liked him. Here was an out and he would grab it. He turned back to the Grand Cleric, raised his eyes to meet hers and said, "Yes, your grace. I do." The Grand Cleric looked at him thoughtfully as she pondered what she had heard. He was her best prospect and her worst Templar. Losing him would be both a blessing and a curse; she took the blessing, "Very well. Go. You have one hour until I call the guard and have you both arrested. Get out." Duncan took Alistair’s arm and bowed to the Grand Cleric before escorting him out of the room. "Get your things and meet me at the front gate. If you aren’t there within the hour, I won’t wait on you. This is your only chance," Duncan had warned. The older warrior had turned and walked out of the building and into the courtyard. It had taken Alistair only ten minutes to gather his belongings and join him. After his Joining, Alistair had tried hard to fit into the Warden ranks. He spent hours sparring with whoever was willing, mastered the bow and the lance and even volunteered to train a few of the other Wardens in the Templar talents. For the first month, he was happy, clean and sober. Then he’d had the pleasure of meeting his brother. King Cailan was enamored of the Grey Wardens, spending much time in their company whenever he could, swapping stories and often training with them. It was on one of these visits that everything began to go wrong for Alistair. "And this is the new recruit?" asked the king as he walked through the training grounds with Duncan. Alistair was sparring with Rohan when they approached him. Rohan danced back and forth, baiting the young warrior, but was unable to evade Alistair’s blows and soon found himself flat on his back. Both men laughed as Alistair helped Rohan up. Duncan caught Alistair’s eye and bade him join him. "Yes, your majesty. May I introduce Alistair, the new Grey Warden," Duncan had said proudly. "Not up to your usual standards, is he? Getting desperate, Duncan?" commented the king, his voice haughty. Something inside young Alistair snapped and he turned to his king and brother and said sarcastically, "I am pleased to meet you nevertheless, your majesty. Would you like to take a turn?" Cailan sized up the competition and frowned, "Of course. Let’s test our mettle, shall we?" The two men drew their swords and took their places in the training ring. They circled each other warily, searching for the right opening, Cailan struck first, glancing a blow off Alistair’s shield. Alistair continued to counter the king’s blows one after the other, never letting his brother come close. When the king began to appear winded, Alistair seized the moment, parried a blow from Cailan’s sword and shoved his shield into his brother’s middle, knocking the wind out of him. When Cailan opened his eyes, he was lying on the ground with Alistair’s sword pressed to his neck. "I yield," he said, his hands up. The sword was removed and Duncan helped his king up, dusting him off. Cailan looked up at his half-brother and smirked, "So, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?" Alistair sheathed his sword and answered, anger tingeing his voice. "I wouldn’t know." "Oh, I think you know a lot about it," the king answered, his smirk growing larger at Alistair’s expense. Turning to Duncan, he engaged the commander in a heated discussion then bid his farewells and left the compound. Alistair did know more about his father and brother than he led on. Cailan was a warrior like he but also a womanizer, just as their father had been; something that Alistair was all too familiar with. That night was the first time that Duncan had to pull Alistair out of some mischief at a tavern or whorehouse and it was far from the last. Alistair had simply stopped caring. Ostagar "Do you think he’ll be able to stand any more of this?" asked Grigor. "I don’t know. I was sure he’d have broken by now," answered a laughing Rohan. "Alistair’s made of firmer stuff than I thought." The man in question stood at attention for what was his fourth hour in a row. Each day he was required by Duncan to stand at attention in the center of the encampment for six hours straight as punishment for disobeying orders in Denerim. It had gone on every day since the Wardens had arrived at Ostagar and he still hadn’t broken. And, if the fact that he was standing in the middle of his friends and fellow Wardens wasn’t bad enough, someone had advertised his fate to the king, who had begun to make a habit of strolling through the camp several times a day to gawk and laugh at his younger half-brother’s fate. Alistair’s only saving grace was that none of them knew that the king was his brother. On top of everything else, Alistair had been left out of the battles that had been fought so far against the darkspawn. While his fellow Wardens had been off with the king, pursuing glory and fame, he had been standing guard at the royal pavilion, resplendent in his silver griffin armor but way too noticeable. It had taken all his control not to punch the dozen or so people who had asked him why he wasn’t fighting. When Duncan had returned the day before from a recruiting trip to Highever, he had been pleased to see that Alistair had obeyed his order to stand at attention for so long despite the humiliation he suffered. Duncan had promptly asked the men to redouble their efforts to shame him into breaking and they did so with a vengeance, teasing and cajoling him endlessly. And so it was that Alistair, the new Grey Warden, took his fate into his own hands and gave in, sighing heavily and leaving his post in the center of the campsite. He marched over to where Duncan sat with several men at arms, "A word, please, ser," he asked. Duncan bid the men good day and walked with his young apprentice to a secluded spot by the fortress wall. Alistair stopped, took a deep breath and turned to his commander, "All right, you win. I give. Can I stop now?" "Have you learned how to obey orders and why they should be obeyed?" asked Duncan cautiously. "I have to obey my commanders so that I may stay alive. Failure to do so results in consequences, not just for me but for all I serve with." "Good answer. Yours or did you read it in a book somewhere?" He knew the man too well. "Mine. What do you think I’ve been doing there all this time?" Duncan perused him, "Very well, Alistair; one more chance. There are three new recruits in camp who are ready to be joined. You will take them to the Wilds and gather the darkspawn blood we need for the Joining ceremony. Try them out in combat and see what they are made of. I’ll expect a detailed report of their abilities and actions when you return." "Babysitting recruits…I can do that I suppose. Anything else?" "There was a Grey Warden outpost nearby that was abandoned in years past. In my research into the area I have discovered that there was a cache of documents left behind for safe keeping. The chest will be enchanted but as a Warden, you should be able to open it. Bring the documents to me." Alistair could see the look in Duncan’s eyes and knew it for what it was, "This is it, isn’t it?" "Yes. This is it. Fail this and you are through; I have no more time to waste on a selfish man who cannot help himself." "I see." It was the first time anyone had laid it on the line for him. "I will not fail this time." "See that you don’t," was Duncan’s answer. "Meet me at the fire after lunch and I’ll introduce you to the recruits." Alistair nodded and watched his commander walk away. This was it and failure wasn’t acceptable. There was too much at stake now. He headed for the mess line and lunch. Highever Castle It wasn’t exactly how she’d ever thought it would go. A proposal was supposed to be romantic and sentimental, ending in flowers, kisses or gifts exchanged. Instead, Brianna found herself flat on her back on the ground, having been knocked there while sparring with Rory. "Bree? You know, I was wondering if you might consider marrying me?" he had asked as she wallowed in the dirt. Brianna shook her head, knocking the cobwebs out. She looked up at her attacker, squinting in the sun, "You…want me to what?" she asked, surprised. "Marry me," he said. "I talked to your father and while I’m not rich or big landowner, I am going to be a bann one day and hold my own property and title. He said it was up to you." He reached down and pulled her up to her feet. "Please, love." "I…I really…" she stammered, completely stunned. “So what was all that about?" she asked, pointing to the ground with one hand while rubbing her behind with the other. "Oh. Well…I wanted to be sure I had your attention. Did it work?" Brianna was beside herself in about four directions. "It worked. I’m listening. You talked to Father?" "Yes. He wasn’t very excited at first but he knows how close we are and said that it was your decision." He put his hand on her cheek and turned her face up to his. "Maker! Say yes, love! I want you so!" he whispered intently. In the past, when Brianna had pictured herself married she was always matched with a dandy arl or prince, married and living in separate rooms, getting together just long enough to have the requisite heir and the spare. It had always been such a nightmare to her that she had dashed the hopes of three suitors already. Yet here was Rory, whom she’d known nearly all her life, asking for her. Someone who would let her live as she wished and wouldn’t just be tolerant of her but would embrace all that she was and more. "Yes," she said quietly. "Yes? You said yes?" he said, unbelieving. "You said yes," Rory repeated the words. Suddenly he was yelling, "She said yes!" as he jumped up and down, his armor clanking with every jump. Brianna laughed until tears ran down her cheeks as she watched him dance around her. "As long as I can keep my bow and swords and practice them anytime I want," she said, with a touch of defiance. Rory stopped dancing around and put his hands on her cheeks, "I’ll practice with you." His lips came down on hers and she opened to him as she had so often before. Somehow it was different this time, the kiss held all the promise of the future, both near and far. Her arms came around his neck and he pulled her close. Drawing back a little, he rested his forehead on hers, "I love you, Brianna. Maker I do!" "And I love you, Rory. Shall we tell Mother and Father?" He looked up at the castle behind him, two figures stood arm in arm on the balcony above. "I think they already know." Brianna laughed as she waved to her parents, then brought Rory down for another kiss as she listened to them laugh. He smiled and reached into his pocket, pulling out a ruby ring set in silverite. Placing it on her hand, he took her mouth and kissed her in a promise of the future. No, it wasn’t how she thought it would go; it was so much better. @@@@@ "Are you sure, my darling?" Eleanor asked her daughter. "I know it’s Rory but I want you to be sure." "I’m sure, Mother. I do love him and I know he loves me." She looked at both her parents with a worried expression, "You did say I could choose whomever I wanted? You don’t disapprove, do you?" "Your mother and I just wanted to be sure you would be happy with your choice. Rory is a fine man and I can think of no one else better matched for you. He can manage my eastern holdings to take some of the strain off Fergus here in Highever," replied Bryce. Fergus put his arm around Oriana as Oren tried to climb his leg. "Come on, pup, you know they are just worried about you. They asked me that question a hundred times before I wed." "And yet you married me anyway," declared his wife as she looked up at him and smiled. Fergus bent down and captured her lips in a quick kiss. "Despite all your faults, my love," he teased as she smacked his chest with her hand. "I have no qualms about my choice, dear brother. I am very happy," Brianna told him. "I think you are too." "Indeed I am. I’d hate to lose such a good sparring partner as Rory," jested her brother. Looking down at his wife and son, he said, "Kiss me my loves, I must go." He kissed Oriana again and pulled Oren up for a hug, then bent to kiss his mother and sister before embracing his father. "Off I go." Oriana handed him his sword, kissing the blade before she did. Fergus smiled at her and kissed her again before leaving them. "Pup," Bryce said to Brianna as she turned to leave, "Since I’m leaving you in charge while I’m gone, you should be sure to meet the Grey Warden Duncan. He’s here on a recruiting trip and I want you to make sure he has everything he needs." "Of course Father. I’ll see to it personally," Brianna replied, smiling. "I’ve never met a Grey Warden." "Recruiting? Here?" asked Eleanor. "Yes, it seems he needs all the help he can get at Ostagar fighting darkspawn," answered Bryce. "He’s already taken Ser Jory and he says he has his eye on a couple more if he can persuade them. I told him to take whoever was willing. The Grey Wardens are too valuable not to be ignored." "Then I shall make doubly sure he is well cared for, Father. So if you will excuse me, I have a million things to see to." Brianna kissed her parents and whistled for Rufus to follow her as she left the room for her duties. @@@@@ Rufus woke her in the middle of the night, barking incessantly. "What is it boy? An intruder?" The dog growled low and took a fighting stance that was uncharacteristic of him. Brianna slipped from the covers and tiptoed to the door. Rufus stepped quickly between her and the door, refusing to let her go near it. She quickly remembered the last time he had done that; she had been hunting and had not heard the stag as it charged. Her Mabari hound had placed himself between her and the attacker, protecting her with his own body and saving her from certain injury. Brianna stepped back slowly and headed to the chest in the corner. Opening it quietly, she took out her bow and daggers, and dressed. There was no time to put on her armor, so she settled for a tunic, breeks and boots. She strapped on her sword belt, stashed the daggers in their sheaths and pulled on the quiver harness. Pulling an arrow, she knocked it well, then stepped up and behind Rufus and unlatched the door. The door swiftly swung open and two men entered, brandishing swords. Rufus knocked one down and went for his throat as he screamed in pain and fear while Brianna shot the other in the neck. He fell to the ground, cursing as she quickly pulled the arrow out and blood began to gush from the wound and pool under him. Rufus led the way as she entered the outside hallway. Finding it empty, she retreated back into her room and quickly pulled on her armor. Stopping to inspect the bodies of her attackers, she saw the sign of the brown bear, Howe’s men. "Why would Howe’s men want to kill me?" she said out loud. Rufus looked up at her and whined worriedly. "Okay boy. Let’s find Mother first." The dog wagged his tail and led the way down the hallway where they found two more men trying to break into her parents’ room. "Get them," she commanded as she loosed an arrow on the first one. He dropped like a stone, followed by the second, who was finished by the hound. When the commotion had died down, the door slowly opened to reveal the Teyrna, dressed in her battle armor and carrying a sword and shield. "Darling! I thought you had…" "I’m okay Mother. What’s all this about? Those men are wearing Howe’s coat of arms." Brianna asked, confused. "We must find your father. He was with the Grey Warden in the hall when I went to bed." Eleanor started down the hallway, Brianna and Rufus following. They stopped at an open door and Rufus entered first, growling low, then letting out a howl of pain. Brianna and Eleanor entered behind him, ready to charge. They weren’t prepared for what they found. Oriana lay on the floor in a crumpled mess, her skirts torn and pushed up to her waist. Blood pooled from the deep cut to her throat and had soaked her golden brown hair. Oren lay next to her, his throat cut, his favorite stuffed horse still clutched to his chest. Brianna sank to her knees next to them and began to tremble as she reached out to smooth the hair back from her sister in law’s face. Eleanor had picked up Oren and was hugging him tightly to her breast, rocking back and forth and crying. "Maker, no! Please let it not be true!" she repeated over and over. Brianna’s hand found her mother’s and squeezed. "Mother? We can’t stay. We must find Father," she begged. "I know," answered Eleanor as she lowered her grandson to the floor gently. She picked up the little stuffed horse and stuffed it in her belt. "The ring. For Fergus," she said, pointing to Oriana’s left hand. Brianna pulled Oriana’s wedding ring off her finger and threaded it through her amulet chain, then rose and helped her mother up. Together they pulled the coverlet off the bed and covered the bodies. Eleanor said a silent prayer and looked at Brianna, "Let’s go." They headed down the stairs to the main hall. @@@@@ "Man the doors! They must not get through!" yelled Rory as he pushed against the huge double doors in the entry hall. "Rory!" yelled Brianna as she rushed to her love’s side. He clasped her tightly to his chest as she began to cry. "I…thought…" she trailed off, burying her head in his neck. Rory looked over at the Teyrna and put out his hand for hers. "Your ladyship, we thought the worst for you. So many have died already." He looked down at Brianna, "I was so afraid…" "Oriana and Oren are dead. Killed by Howe’s men. Where is my husband, Rory?" asked Eleanor as she clung to his hand. "He was wounded in the first attack. The Grey Warden was with him while they looked for you." He looked down at Brianna, "They went to the larder. The passage there was still open last I heard." Rory let go of Eleanor’s hand and took Brianna’s face in his hands. "Bree, love. You must listen to me and do what I say. Go to the larder and find your father. Get out of the castle with him. The Grey Warden will see to your safety. Please love, it’s the only way!" "But what about you? I won’t leave without you Rory!" Brianna told him. "You must, love. Someone has to stay and cover your escape. Please love! Go!" When Brianna shook her head, "Your ladyship, take her, please!" he pleaded. Eleanor put out her hand and took Rory’s, nodding in agreement. "We must go, darling. Rory is right, it is the only way." She released Rory’s hand, took her daughter’s arm and started to pull her away from her love. Rory took her in his arms and kissed her hard, "I love you, Brianna. Never forget that. Now go!" He pushed her away from him and turned to the doors. "I love you Rory," Brianna replied as her mother pulled her away. "Maker keep you," she said through the tears. With a last look, she turned and ran out of the hall and to the larder, Eleanor and Rufus on her heels. "Maker keep you safe, my love," Rory replied sadly as he pushed against the door with all his strength to buy her time. Brianna and Eleanor ran straight for the kitchen and pulled open the larder door to find the Teyrn lying in a pool of blood, nearly dead. "Bryce!" exclaimed Eleanor as she ran to his side. "Father! What happened?" cried Brianna, kneeling down next to him. "They nearly…got me," he panted. "Listen love," he said as he looked up at his wife. "Duncan…he will get you out. Go…with him…please!" "But what of you?" asked Eleanor. "I’ll…never make it. The standing…will kill me." "He is right, your ladyship. His wounds are too great. He is finished. I am very sorry," said a tall middle aged warrior as he strode into the room. Bryce looked up at his friend, "Duncan…please…see them to safety. You…promised." "I did, your lordship, at a price. Are you willing to pay?" "Yes…you have it." "What price, Duncan? What do you mean?" asked Eleanor. "I will take you and your daughter to Fergus at Ostagar but in return, your daughter must agree to become a Grey Warden." Brianna looked at her father and the warrior before her, "You want me to….Yes! If it will save my mother, then yes, I will!" "Then go with Duncan, darling. I will stay here and buy you time. I’ll kill every bastard that comes through that door!" "No Mother! I won’t let you!" Bryce looked at Eleanor as she held him close, he nodded and she nodded back. She looked up at Duncan, "You have your orders, Duncan," she said. "I love you my darling daughter. Tell your brother, we love him too." She held out Oren’s horse. "Give him this and the ring." A massive crashing noise was heard that shook the walls. "Go now! They are coming!" "No! Mother! Father!" Brianna screamed as Duncan grabbed her around the waist and took the horse from the Teyrna, stuffing it into his belt. When Brianna refused to follow him, he hoisted her over his shoulder and carried her through the passage as she screamed. The last sound she heard was the heavy metal door of the passage slamming behind them. Ostagar She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, or ever would for that matter. Reddish brown hair hung in large curls around her shoulders and her eyes were bluer than the sky. Lightly tanned skin proved she was an outdoors type and her shape held all the curves of a woman with the muscles of long hours of weapons training and strength. Alistair was speechless as he watched her walk up to meet him as he stood near the fire with Duncan. "Alistair, this is Ser Jory, from Redcliffe, late of Highever and Daveth from Denerim," announced Duncan. The girl had stopped to stand between the two men, whom she was obviously familiar with. "And this is Brianna, also from Highever." Brianna. The name echoed in his head as he looked down at her. "How...how do you do," he stammered as he looked at her. "Good afternoon, Alistair," she said, smiling slightly at his regard. "I am pleased to finally meet you." Even her voice held the promise of pleasure as she spoke. Jory and Daveth smiled down at their fellow recruit and politely greeted Alistair but he only had eyes for Brianna. "Yes…me too," he replied. Duncan suppressed a laugh as he watched the exchange in front of him. In the six months he’d known Alistair, he’d seen the boy with dozens of women of all ages, sizes, shapes and races, but never had he seen him speechless in front of one. This would be fun to watch. "Very well, Alistair will be taking you in to the Wilds to collect three vials of darkspawn blood to be used in the Joining ceremony. There is also an abandoned Grey Warden outpost there and I have charged him with retrieving a cache of documents that were left there for safekeeping." He looked over at Alistair, who was still staring at Brianna, "Alistair?" When Alistair didn’t answer, Duncan bumped him with his arm. "Huh?" he answered, tearing his gaze away from the girl. "You are responsible for them while you are gone. Return to me as soon as you have finished. I will set the mages to preparing." To the recruits he continued, "The rest of you are warned that this is a test. Fight well and stay together and you will live." The three of them looked at each other, their eyes wide and nodded their understanding. Alistair pulled on his helmet and gestured towards the gate, "Shall we?" Jory put on his helmet and Daveth and Brianna pulled up their hoods. He led the way to the gates, showing the guard his pass to leave, before heading out to Wilds. Brianna was definitely not what he was expecting. They hadn’t gone twenty yards before she opened fire on a wolf that had been lying in wait in a clump of bushes, continuing her fire on the rest of the pack as they came to their mate’s rescue. Alistair was amazed when he found she hadn’t missed a shot and several had been from over a hundred yards away. "Where did you learn to shoot like that?" he asked her as she knelt down and began skinning the wolves. Brianna huffed as she pulled her skinning knife through a particularly tough piece of the wolf’s hide, "My father had my brother and I taught by a Dalish master." "Dalish master?" Alistair looked down at the carnage around him and then back at her. Dalish masters who sold their services were expensive and rare. "Who are you?" "You mean you don’t know, mate?" asked Daveth. He looked over at Jory and they both began to laugh. "What’s going on here?" Alistair asked, scratching his head. "Did I miss something?" Jory stood up and made the formal introduction, "Alistair, may I present Lady Brianna Cousland, daughter of the Teyrn of Highever." "Lady…oh, I didn’t know." Brianna stood up and wiped her knife on a rag. "No one knows except the king and Duncan. The only reason Daveth knows is because I knew Jory when he worked for my father and Jory told Daveth." She pulled out a ball of twine and handed it to Daveth to bind up the pelts. "So how did you come to be here?" Alistair asked her. Brianna grew quiet and he sensed something very wrong by the way she carried herself. "I’m sorry, if you don’t want to tell me, that’s all right. Many of us have secrets here." Brianna took a deep breath and looked up at Alistair, "Becoming a Warden was the price for saving my life." She stuffed the pelts into her pack and shouldered her bow before walking to a nearby pond to clean her hands. Alistair watched her go, wondering what could have been so horrible that she would have to choose between dying and becoming a Warden. He looked back at Jory and Daveth, "Come on; we have a ways yet to go." He led the way to the pond to pick up Brianna and together the four continued on in search of the outpost and the darkspawn. @@@@@ |
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