Title: A Warrior and his Rogue

Characters: Alistair Guerrin-Therin, Elissa Cousland

Pairings: Alistair/Elissa Cousland

Rating: Teen to High Adult

Disclaimer: I do not own anyone/anything from the forum Dragon Age. Bioware owns Dragon Age and its characters. There is no copyright infringement intended. I do not make any profit/money or take any credit.

Summary: It is the middle of the Blight, they are messed up in their own ways, yet they can still find love with the other.

Timeline: Throughout DA: O/DA: A/DA: II (including DLCs)

Warning: Angst, Romance, Violence, Implied Sexual Themes, Dominance, Friendship, Comfort, AU, Pre-Game, In Game, Post Game

Author's Notes: These were originally going to be part of 'Of Warriors and Rogues' collection but I ended up expanding on this line of thought and I thought it was safer to put them under one title rather than spreading it out.

Title: A Dream within the Fade

Pairings: Alistair/Elissa Cousland (Human Noble)

Rating: Teen

Summary: She sees how happy he is, and it makes her heart heavy with sadness for what she must do

Timeline: During the Fade

Warnings: slight violence, angst

A Dream within the Fade

She hated the Fade, absolutely hated it. It was a never-ending maze and she just wanted to find her companions, her friends, and be done with the whole thing already.

Not to mention she wanted to get away from the dream she had been trapped within. The demon knew what buttons to press and she had been tempted to stay there - with her family - but there had been a nagging feeling that something was missing.

Now, she was walking through the never-ending hazy winding road and she missed hearing her friends banter. She never knew how much it comforted her.

In addition, battling enemies by her lonesome was not easy. It was so strange going into battle and not having Alistair at her back. Since they left Lothering, they have not been away from the other for any length of time. He was always the one at her back when they were fighting and the one standing next to her when she had to make a choice, silently giving her the courage she needed.

Damon, her Mabari, would already be charging ahead taking down the enemies. He would disable them and the others would finish them off.

Her fingers twitched reflexively at the memories of her dog licking her fingers whenever she needed comfort or assurance that he was there. He had been her main source of comfort since she fled her family home.

She shook herself free of her thoughts. Now was not the time to daydream, she needed to focus. She needed to find a way to her friends. She thought back to what the mage, Niall, had said.

Each path led the way to a small island where each of her companions was stuck in a dream of the demon's making. So…all she had to do was keep going forward until she reached them. With renewed energy, she unsheathed her daggers and stalked forward.

If Alistair did not mind, she was going to be the one to behead the Demon who got them into this bloody Fade.

~_ADWTF_~

She appeared onto an island, looking around, sighing with relief. It must be one of the islands the Demon created to trap her friends. She wondered which one she finally managed to reach when she heard familiar laugher.

Her heart leaping, she hurried over to the clearing at the end of the path before she spotted him. He was standing in the garden, in front of a nice house, dressed in comfortable clothing, instead of his grey-warden armour, and he looked so much at ease.

"Alistair," she let out a sigh of relief. "Thank the Maker," she jogged over to him only to stop when she spotted the unfamiliar woman next to him. The two of them were conversing animatedly while there were three young kids running about in the garden.

Two boys and a girl, she noted. They were shouting about Griffons and Grey-Wardens, Darkspawns and Kings.

Watching them a moment longer, she realised they were playing a game and she flashed back to Oren, her nephew. He would look up at her with those bright green eyes, begging for another story or laughing as he squirmed away from her tickling fingers.

The image stole her breath away and she shook it off. Now was not the time to remember her family, or mourn them. What was important was getting to Alistair before he was lost to this dream.

However, each step closer she took, she saw how…happy he looked. He never looked like when they were in the camp, always staring into the fire. She had wondered if he was thinking about the loss of the Grey Wardens, the people who had become like a family to him.

Soon she came to a stop next the gate that opened up to the pathway where Alistair and the woman were standing.

"Alistair," she called out. Alistair turned, brightening when he saw her. She moved closer to them.

"Elissa!" he sounded so joyful, it made her heart clench. She looked at the other woman, who smiled serenely in her direction. "It's great to see you again! I was just thinking about you," he gave her a wry smile. "Isn't that a marvellous coincidence?" He seemed to remember himself for a moment, his cheeks blushing. "This is my sister, Goldanna."

Elissa looked at the other woman once more in shock. Sister? He had never once mentioned a sister to her and she wondered if this was real or something he desired, a family. "These are her children," He gestured to the children still running about in the garden, taking no notice of the adults. He looked back at her once more and she felt tightness around her heart.

"You seem…happy," she reluctantly noticed.

"I am," he agreed. "I'm happier than I've been my entire life." He gave her a bemused grin. "Isn't that strange? I thought being a Grey Warden would make me happy, but it did not. This does."

"I am so overjoyed to have my little brother back. I'll never let him out of my sight again!" Goldanna chimed in with a laugh.

Elissa wanted to say something, anything to break him out of his dream but one look at happiness; she found it hard to say anything. She wondered if it was fair for her to break him out of his dream, especially when he looked so happy and at peace.

She remembered how hard it had been for her, surrounded by her family once more. It had felt so real that she could have almost believed that it was real, that their deaths had just been a nightmare.

Nevertheless, there had been something missing, and that had helped her to break free of the illusion she had been in.

"Elissa?" she saw him looking at her with concern on his face. She tried to muster up a smile but she failed, she could see it on his face. He stepped closer to her.

"Is your friend staying for dinner?" Goldanna's voice cut in and both of them looked at her. Alistair in surprised, while Elissa had noticed the possessiveness in the other woman's voice. A strange haze seemed to surround Alistair for a moment before he turned to Elissa.

"Say you will stay," he told her, seemly forgetting what he had been about to say. "Goldanna makes a really good hot-pie." Goldanna chuckled.

"Anything you wish little brother." The haze around Alistair seemed to tighten and it resolved her courage.

"I can't stay," Elissa softly admitted, looking up at Alistair, who looked disappointed. She felt even worse for what she was about to do. "But neither can you, Alistair."

Alistair frowned while a hissing sound came from Goldanna as she stepped forward.

"What are you talking about?" he asked Elissa.

"Dinner time, Alistair," Goldanna cut in sharply. Alistair went to look at his sister but Elissa got there first, placing a hand on his elbow and he refocused his gaze on her.

"Alistair," she bit her bottom lip.

"You are not making any sense," he told her, shaking his head and she took a deep breath.

"Please," she stepped in closer. "Please think about how we got here."

He frowned again before giving her a nod.

"Alright, if it will make you happy," he told her, his voice soft.

"Yes, it would," she assured him softly, while everything inside of her screamed at him to stop thinking, just to go with the dream but she refrained. She was being selfish but she could not help it.

"It's…fuzzy," he thought back as he tried to remember. "That's strange."

"Alistair, come and have some tea," Goldanna tried to interrupt again but this time Alistair wasn't so easily deterred, giving his sister a short head-shake.

"No, I-I think I remember? The tower? We were at the Circle," he slowly remembered. "It was under attack?"

"Yes," Elissa confirmed. Alistair shook his head, obviously having a hard time believing it.

"Wait – is this even real?" he demanded, his brown eyes flaring. The haze around him started to crack, his normal clothes turning back to his Grey Warden outfits.

A sure sign he was breaking out of the dream.

"Of course it's real!" Goldanna near shrieked at him, causing the two of them to look at her. "Now wash up before supper-" But Alistair dismissed her, turning back to Elissa.

"The Demon," he blurted out. "Is this the…Fade?" he asked before he shook his head, a hand coming up to his forehead. "I don't feel so good, I think I should leave."

Elissa took a step back, giving him space and a short nod of agreement.

"Maybe it will help clear your head up," she suggested and he gave her a small smile before he started to walk away when Goldanna lost the last control over her temper.

"No!" she screamed and both of them spun around to watch her normal features twist and consort.

"Maker's breath!" whispered Alistair as he watched the children's form twist and change shape.

"He is ours," she hissed, growing in size, "and I'd rather see him dead than free!" she morphed into a demon, along with her three 'children'.

Both Elissa and Alistair unsheathed their weapons and twisting so they were back to back with the demons circling them.

For the first time since she entered the Fade, she felt safe. She knew it was because Alistair had her back, they were both protecting the other rather than her being alone. They had sparred together, learned the other's moves and used it against those who fought them.

She dived forward, driving her daggers into the side of the demon before jumping backward as the demon swiped a large claw at her.

Alistair was there in front of her, his shield blocking the attack before slamming his shield into the demon, rocking her backward then thrusting his sword forward, embedding it deep into the demon's stomach.

She ran around, backstabbing the demon, holding it place for Alistair to pull his sword free and swing it, beheading the demon.

The demon died with an unearthly shriek, the other demons cried out before they exploded in a shower of black blood.

The scene shifted, revealing they were standing on a small island. Elissa looked around, wondering once more how it could look so different when it was someone's dream.

"How did I not see this?" he asked, looking around with fresh eyes. It had been the same for her, killing the demons had brought her to the 'reality' of the Fade and it had been disturbing.

"It is the Fade," she reminded him softly, her eyes going to the dark shapes she could make out further away. "It does things to your head."

He gave a chuckle born out of embarrassment as he turned to look at her and she felt her cheeks heat up when he rubbed the back of his head while giving her a bashful look.

"Let's not tell anyone how easily I was fooled, yeah?" he asked, giving her that smile he always gave her and her heart skipped a beat.

"Okay," she agreed, giving him a small smile as his hand dropped to his side and he looked off to the side.

"Still, I should have known it wasn't real," he said, mostly to himself. Tears pricked the back of her eyes when she saw the look on his face, the same look that he wore when he looked into the fire, and she blinked to keep them from falling but she failed as a tear slipped free, running down her cheek and his look turn to one of concern.

"Elissa?" he asked, his hand going to her elbow.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. He frowned. She leaned up and softly pressed her lips to his. He froze under her touch and she felt her broken heart crack a little bit more.

Pulling away, she looked up at him only for Alistair to lean in, pulling her close by her elbow and he kissed her.

Her eyes fluttered shut and she let herself go. Alistair's free hand rested on her hip and her hands went to his shoulders. He kissed her softly, almost hesitantly at first, before he gained the confidence and kissed her harder.

His hand, on her hip, slid around to the small of her back, pulling her further into his body while her arms slipped around his neck. His hand, that was still cupping her elbow, slid up her arm and into her bun, his fingers digging into her dark locks.

One of her hands slid into his dark blonde hair, her other hand sliding over his shoulders as she pressed herself up on tip-toes. He slid his hand fully over her waist, banding his arm and pulling her in closer.

It was surreal; they were having their first kiss within the Fade, she was having her first kiss with Alistair, a man she was slowly coming to care for. He was slowly worming his way into her heart and it scared her, but the thought of losing him scared her more.

As if sensing her thoughts, his kisses turned gentle, softer, before they parted to breathe, his forehead resting against hers as she fought to get her heart back under control when he dipped his head down once more and gave her a soft kiss.

She gasped into his mouth, her breath taken away at the sweetness of it and tears pricked the back of her eyes once more. Who knew Alistair had a romantic side to him?

"Elissa," he breathed against her lips and she shivered only to frown when she suddenly felt cold. Looking up, she saw Alistair was fading. "What's…what's happening to me?" he looked at his hands, which were beginning to turn transparent.

"Alistair…" but his eyes widened as he took a step back.

"NO! Let me go!" he shouted but it was too late. She reached out to grab his hand only her hand to pass right through him and he disappeared before her eyes.

Swallowing back a gasp, she looked around only to see the pedestal was glowing once more and gritted her teeth.

She, apparently, was not finished with the Fade, not by a long shot.

~_ADWTF_~

She awoke with a gasp, her eyes snapping open to see the familiar ceiling of the tower they were currently trying to save.

"Elissa," she turned her head to see Alistair propping himself up on an elbow, a hand reaching out to touch her hip. "You okay?" his eyes scanned her body for any injuries.

"I'm fine," she assured him, her hand touching his upper arm, feeling a little drained. She wondered if it was normal since their life force had been the one powering the Demon. "You?" she checked his body.

"Yeah," he agreed softly, watching her with those brown eyes that seemed soft. For a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her but Damon's barks broke them out of their stare.

They turned to see Damon was sitting next to them, his tongue lolling while Wynne and Sten were slowly wakening from their sleep.

"My thanks," Sten told her, his voice low and she gave him a nod in return, understanding.

"The Demon is gone, right?" Alistair as he got to his feet, helping Elissa as he did.

"Yes," Wynne got to her feet, her hand gesturing to the slain Demon, lying nearby. It was funny how different it looked from the Fade. Looking closer revealed that the Demon had possessed a human body, obviously with the intent on corrupting the tower.

"We should find this Litany of Adralla if we wish to proceed," Sten reminded, focused as ever.

"Yes," Elissa snapped to attention, looking in the direction of the young man who had helped them out only to stop short when she discovered that Niall had been right all along, it had been too late to save him.

"He was right, he had been dying," Elissa whispered as she knelt down to the still body of Niall.

"At least he died honourably," the motherly mage told her. "I will tell the Knight-Commander of his bravery. He will use that to encourage the mages to fight against demons and blood magic."

"Still," Elissa reached out, her brushing over his eyes to seal them shut and picked up the Litany of Adralla, "he should have been given a chance."

"That is the cost of demons and blood magic," Wynne told her, placing a hand on her shoulder and Elissa looked up at the older woman. "Those who make the deals are never enough of a payment. Those around them are also the ones to pay the price."

They stayed silent, each one offering the young man a prayer before Elissa straightened up, placing the Litany in her pack.

"We should get a move on. No doubt we have little time left thanks to the Demon," Elissa told them and got nods in return. Sten and Wynne went ahead with Damon following them.

Elissa was about to do the same when she was stopped by Alistair.

"Hey," he gently grasped her elbow, spinning her around to face him and she looked up into his dark eyes. He tilted his head quizzical and she felt her heart race. Did he remember?

"Did…" he trailed off, his eyes going hazy before they refocused on hers, "Did anything happen in the Fade?"

"What do you mean?" she asked; her voice carefully calm.

"I…I just-," he huffed out a frustrated sigh, running his free hand through his hair. "I just get this feeling that I'm missing something. Almost like…I forgot something."

He did not remember.

It should not have hurt but it did, sending stinging pain through her chest as she forced a smile onto her lips, shaking her head.

"I cannot think of what you mean," she lied. It sounded sweet but it tasted sour. "I just helped break you free," she choked on the last word, shaking herself when she caught Alistair's concerned look, "of your dream."

"Yeah, I remember that," he pointed out. "But I just…" he sighed once more. "You know what, forget it," he told her, finally letting her go and stepping backward.

It was strange that she suddenly felt cold and groundless, like Alistair was a rock that she could lean against, a comfort that she once thought she would not need.

She briefly wondered for a moment if this was what her brother had spoken of when he told her that one day she would find a man who would be able to handle her.

"We have a mission to do, right?" his voice broke into her thoughts and she looked up at him, smiling.

"Yes, we have a mission to do," she agreed. He gave her a sharp nod then set off, walking over to where Sten, Wynne and Damon waited for them.

She watched him go before her gaze fell to the ground and bit her bottom lip.

This was her secret, hers and hers alone. She would bear that burden, Maker forgive her.

The End (maybe?)

Yes, erm…angsty (Could this be considered as one-sided? I never know how I write these things and not know what-the-heck I am doing!)