I was actually inspired to write this from a simple sentence that appeared in the human noble origins. Upon speaking to Arl Howe, he mentions how his son saw you at the Denerim faire a few months back and hasn't stopped talking about you since. This brought the idea to my mind that the Cousland daughter could meet Alistair here instead of at Ostagar; clearly I won't be following the games plot in this but there may still be a few spoilers.

I do not own Dragon age, it's characters or anything else related to Bioware,

I'm merely trying to let my imagination free, although I'd own Alistair if only I could :P

A Different Kind Of Meeting;
Chapter one: The Denerim Faire

It was the annual Denerim faire and a great day for it too; the sun was high in the sky giving everyone a healthy glow. The Market was filled with laughter from all. Today was a favorite day for the Cousland family; this was one of the rare occasions that the noble family all got to spend together outside of their castle and without the stress of being hosts. The youngest daughter of Bryce Cousland was looking particularly lovely; it was also one of the rare days she would be seen in a finely tailored dress, instead of dirty leather amour fighting with the other boys. Though learning to fight was a strong passion of hers that her parents couldn't hold away from her, she way very much indeed a girly girl, she loved doing her make-up in the mornings, and finding new hairstyles.

"Do you have any of that velvet rose perfume?" The young noble girl enquired with a simple smile. Rose had always been her favorite sent.

"Buying yourself more perfume Roxanne?" Her brother Fergus asked, sneaking up behind her. "A man should be doing that for you." Roxanne merely laughed, although when she opened her mouth to reply, another male voice entered the conversation.

"Your brother is right my lady." A husky male voice spoke. It was no other than Thomas Howe, the son of Arl Howe himself. The Arl was a very close friend of her father; Roxanne on the other hand, cared very little for Thomas, though was too graceful to act out of place towards him. "It would be an honor if you allow me My Lady." He added, but before Roxi could object Thomas was already browsing the perfume woman's wares. Roxi looked to her brother for help but he merely smiled and walked away.

"Here you are my lady, Sweet daisy; I think it resembles you well." Thomas handed the small vial to the noble girl with a seductive smirk that made Roxanne want to cringe.

Daisy? She thought, that didn't say much about her, daisies were bland and boring and always around, but still, she smiled sweetly not wanting to seem ungrateful and thanked him.

"I'm sorry, I cannot stay longer My Lady, but my father wishes to see me I believe… until next we meet."

"Until next we meet." Roxanne repeated with a polite bow. Thomas took her hand, placing a light kiss on the back of it before departing to the palace.

"Is my little girl finally in love?" Bryce approached his daughter.

"In love? With the Arl's son?" She spat, very unlady like. "Please tell me your joking father."

"You looked as though you were getting along quite well."

"I was merely being civil father."

"Well, maybe one day you'll find a man who is worth of you." Bryce said with a glint of hope in his eye.

"I doubt she would settle for less than three." Fergus joined with a laugh. Roxanna couldn't help but giggle along with her brother. Her laughter drifted on the light breeze that floated to a rest on a former Templar and a newly joined Grey Warden. The wind rustled through his short golden brown hair as his gaze came to a rest on his definition of perfect. Though he could only see the back of this mysterious woman, he liked how she held herself with true strength and respect. It was rare to see that in a woman these days.

"Oh really my daughter, is that any way to behave?" The scorning tone of Eleanor Cousland echoed.

"Me?" Roxanne questioned in her all perfected 'shocked tone'. "It was Fergus who made the comment."

"Be that as it may, you need to get your Mabari under control- I really don't know why you even insisted on bringing him here." Roxanne tuned to see what her mother was talking about and sure enough, her war hound Rex was playing with the commoner children of Denerim. She couldn't help but smile at her loyal dog, a smile that made her look even more angelic; at least, that's what the Grey Warden staring intently at her thought.

"Rexie!" Roxanne called in a playful tone making her way passed the Warden without any notice to him. "Rex." She called again, slightly sterner this time. The dog stopped playing with the children and spun around to meet his mistress, leaping from side to side happily.

"Rexie, no." She warned as if talking to a young child. The war hound fell into a bow position, wagging his tail with an evil glint in his eyes. "We aren't at home, that's not proper behavior." She warned again, saying the last part as if making fun of her mother, but again, the dog did not listen. He pounced on his mistress still thinking as though he were playing but the force was to much for the noble girl; she fell backwards harshly, bumping into the Grey Warden who managed to stable them both.

"Oh, I am so sorry." Roxanne gasped turning to see who she had hit.

"N-no, that's quite alright." The stranger replied.

"Oh- I …uh." She tried to say but was stunned by the mans beauty. He laughed lightly which only made things worse for her, and then if at all possible, she was stunned further when he spoke again.

"It quite all right My Lady, my name is Alistair." He bowed politely, a bow that was full of grace and honor.

"Alistair?" She questioned but before she could say another word;

"Roxanne!" The young girl turned to see her mother with an angry look on her face. "What did I tell you about that dog?" She hissed ignoring Alistair completely. "You're covered in dirt from his pawns!"

"Mother," Roxi giggled, "Don't worry about it."

"Don't worry about it?! What will everyone think?"

"That I don't wash my clothes?" Roxanne laughed.

"That's not funny young lady." But clearly Roxi thought it was.

"Oh mother, calm down." Fergus said jumping to his sister's rescue. "I believe father wishes to see you." He added smiling.

"Just keep that dog under control." Eleanor hissed before rushing off.

"I really don't understand why she insists on getting so worked up every time we come here; oh, and where are my manners?" Fergus said holding out his hand to greet the stranger standing besides his sister, "I am Fergus." Alistair took hold of the man's hand where they met in a strong but firm hand shake.

"Alistair." He replied.

"Well met, but if you would excuse me, I'd better get back to other before she pulls her hair out… oh and be careful with this one, she a bit of a minx!"Fergus confessed about his sister before sneaking off with a playful smirk upon his lips. The young girl, utterly embarrassed reluctantly turned back to face the man with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"I, uh," Once again she was lost for words.

"Say no more My Lady," Alistair chuckled. "It's not everyday I get to meet a beautiful minx such as yourself." Though she knew he was joking, one word in that sentence seemed to stand out above the rest.

"You think I'm beautiful?" She blushed even harder now.

"Oh, did I say that?" He joked, "I guess it must be true then." Although he had withdrew behind a layer of humor, she could still tell he meant what he had said and so, she smiled with a hint of shyness that managed to stop his heart. He went to speak again but as he did so, he was interrupted by the sound of someone calling his name.

The man now approaching them was middle aged, he held himself with great pride and honor. Dark hair pulled back into a tight ponytail and messy but rugged facial hair.

"I'm afraid our candidate wasn't quite what I had hoped for."He confessed coming to a stern stop in front of Alistair.

"Candidate?" Roxi enquired, her curiosity peeked. The strangers focus shifted to her.

"Forgive me My Lady." He said with a bow. "I did not see you there. If I'm not mistaken, you're Roxanne Cousland; Bryce's youngest, are you not?" At this, Alistair's position fell slightly- disappointed perhaps?

"You know my father?" The young lady questioned.

"I do indeed; I've known him for many years now my lady, my name is Duncan." He as very humble and his words stirred some excitement in her.

"The Grey Warden?" Duncan let loose a wild chuckle.

"Am I really so popular that you could know that from my name alone?" Roxanne smiled; she had read so much about the Wardens of the old and had many questions, but she had the feeling this wasn't the time to think about such things.

"Well, it was not only an honor but a pleasure to meet you… especially you Alistair." The Cousland daughter confessed with utter admiration in her voice, but as she took a step backwards to bow, she tripped over Rex who had cleverly positioned himself right behind his mistress. As her reflexes kicked in, she reached out for whatever she could grab. It was no another than Alistair's armor her hand rested on; being completely caught off guard, he fell with her. Rex rushed out of the way, now sitting beside the two barking happily. Although all the noise had caught the attention of just about everyone at the faire.

Roxanne lay motionless on the ground, her hands reached out above her head, and Alistair right on top of her. His face was full of shock, so much so that it didn't register in his mind to get up off her. Her warm soft breath caressed his cheeks; she blushed followed by a smile. Their silence was first broken by Duncan's laughter which roared like a lion. Not the type of man to laugh in such an uncontrolled manner at such a situation, Roxanne thought, but she liked his humor and it set her off in a timid giggling fit of her own. Poor Alistair however, was still shocked though he had managed to get his body to move and with a little extra effort, got to his feet where he helped Roxanne up too.

Her laughter came to a sudden halt however when she came face to face with her mother, who didn't find anything remotely funny about the situation at all. She was furious her daughter had made her look a fool in front of all the other noble families yet again.

"I've had just about enough of this young lady!" She hissed but only loud enough for Roxanne to hear. "Sort your daughter out Bryce!" Roxanne tuned to face her father who was trying to hold back his own laughter.

"Oh mother dear," Fergus jumped in to save his little sister for the second time today. "Accidents can't be helped." He said bluntly. Eleanor shot a glare at Alistair, a glare that would want to make even the toughest solider want to run crying to his own mother before grabbing her daughter by the writ and dragging her away from the on lookers. Roxanne barely had enough time to call back a sorry to Alistair before she had disappeared around the corner and out of sight completely.