A Life's Worth

Finding Alistair

Shite!

Eloriel sprinted across the Chantry's camp, cursing to herself. She looked back and forth and cursed more. She had finally realized that she forgotten to find Alistair and took off like she was being hunted down again. She had already searched the areas around the Wardens' camp (avoiding Duncan of course).

Where's the damned shemlen?

"I forgot! I can't believe I forgot!" she yelled, panting. "Where the heck is this Alistair anyways?! How can I recognize him?! Shite, I'll be late! It's not as if he'll-" Eloriel then slammed right into a pillar and fell.

"...I thought we were getting along so well," she heard and she rubbed her forehead. "I was even going to name one of my children after you... the grumpy one."

Eloriel paused and looked over to where a brownish-blond haired man stood with his back to her and a mage looking at him crossed. She held her breath for as long as she could, but it didn't last long. She started a laughing fit so hard, she soon couldn't breath and tears came. "That was just... and naming the child...." she paused. "The grumpy one!" she shouted with laughter. She pounded the floor.

"Oh, you think that's funny do you?" the mage asked and stormed off while the man turned to her.

"Why hello there. I think I'll name my child who constantly giggles after you," the man joked again, sitting on the stone floor across from her.

"I'm sorry, but after all the stares and pressure and such making me feel all stress, I just couldn't help myself," she apologized with a small bow as she walked over to him.

"You know, one good thing about the Blight is how it brings people together," he said, watching the mage head to the Revered Mother.

"I know what you mean," she said with a half smile.

"It's like a party: we could all stand in a circle and hold hands. That would give the darkspawn something to think about. Wait, we haven't met, have we? I don't suppose you happen to be another mage?" Eloriel observed that he wasn't so bright.

"I would think that a mage would have a staff instead of an unenchanted bow, but who knows? Fashion is a big thing these days. Anyways, you must be Alistair."

Alistair awkwardly smiled. "Yes, of course, my apologies." She just waved it off.

"There's no need, sometimes we overlook these small details. I have a knack of not looking where I'm going, as you could tell from the bump on my forehead." She pointed at the place on her forehead which she'd smacked herself against the pillar.

"You must be Duncan's new recruit. I should have recognize you right away. I apologize," he told her. Eloriel was confused as to how he could've recognized her, but waved it off.

"Pleased to meet you, Alistair. My name is Eloriel...just Eloriel."

He nodded, "Right. That was the name." Alistair rubbed his chin in thought. "You know... it just occurred to me that there have never been many women in the Grey Wardens. I wonder why that is?"

Eloriel laughed to herself. "Because we're too smart for you guys."

Alistair smiled at her. "And so why are you here?" Eloriel thought it through. She didn't want to tell him that she was banish. She'd have to avoid the question.

"I don't know... just one of the boys perhaps? Yeah." Alistair accepted the answer and she sighed with relief.

He then stuck his hand out to her that resembled what the king did, but his hand was flat.

"Oh great, another shemlen greeting," she sighed, her mood becoming cloudy again.

"Huh?" Alistair then looked at his hand and back to Eloriel, a smile growing as she became more confused. "Oh this? It's a very, very special handshake. Just hold on."

"Like this?" Eloriel asked, gripping his hand with hers.

"NOT THAT HARD!" he cried and she loosened up.

"Sorry."

"Better, thank you."

Alistair then lifted her up and spun her around.

Shemlens and their complicated, messed up, greetings.

"So I'm curious: Have you ever actually face darkspawn before?" Alistair asked.

"I killed a whole cave of them before I came here, and hope to kill more," she answered. "But I had help. My clan was with me," she lied, hoping to stop the bragging before it begun. She almost laughed at the memory of her taking off in the middle of the keeper's conversation and leaving Merrill behind.

Alistair sighed to himself. "I've only fought them once up close. And that was before the battles here started... which Duncan kept me out of so far. Tell me, did you find them as monstrous as I did?"

Eloriel looked down, the news of what happened to Tamlen, she just couldn't take it. "Those hideous, disgusting creatures will pay for what they've done," she grimaced.

"You really hate them, don't you?" he observed.

"Well shouldn't you?" she retorted. "They've kill innocents, children, mothers, fathers, the elderly, the babies, friends, family. They'll kill everyone and everything. And they won't stop until we put them down."

As the two walked down to Duncan's tent, things were awkward. "I'm sorry, I didn't-" Alistair spoke up.

"Hey, it's okay. I was blowing off steam, so I should be sorry," Eloriel replied with a smile. "Always the one who can't ever make a good impression. Always the weirdo."

Alistair looked at her with a large grin. "You're a weirdo? Well, we'll get along quite smoothly."

Eloriel rolled her eyes as her smile grew. "I look forward to traveling with you, Alistair."

Alistair looked at her again, smiling to himself. "What a nice change. People mostly avoid me."

Eloriel laughed. "Just don't start crying."

"Wait a second," she said, stopping him.

"Yes?" he asked, confused.

Eloriel stared at his face, trying to get rid of a funny feeling that she'd seen him before. "You look like... What was his name? You look like that kin-" She then paused again. If she told him, he might start putting on airs. He might even think of it as flattery or flirtation. As if she'd ever like a shemlen.

"I look like who?" Alistair asked with a note of concern.

"Huh? Oh, just forget I said anything."

He nodded his head. "Then shall we continue?"

Eloriel started walking again, but the thought was still in her head. Alistair looks a lot like King Calian.

"Yeah.... Let's go to Duncan."