I suppose the whole wretched affair began shortly after the destruction of the Archdemon. I had been sequestered in the Chantry with the others who had sought out the Chantry and the Maker's divine protection when the first bells had begun to toll upon sighting the darkspawn army approach the capital. In the first few hours of battle, I had sat huddled with the other women and children as we listened in growing terror to the battle and dying cries of the brave men and women who were fighting for our lives and their own against creatures that we could only imagine in our nightmares. I had bit my lip to stop myself from whimpering in fear when the Chantry's back door had clanged open to reveal several soldiers streaming in through the doorway, carrying their most severely wounded in to lie in a place that would grant them with a moment of peace and healing I had wiped away the tears that had begun to fall, and had offered my help – albeit what little I could to the Sisters and the few healers that had taken refuge in the Chantry.

By the time, the sun had started to rise in the sky, we had lost several good men and women and were tired to the bone but already the news had spread that the last surviving wardens had ended the Blight. I had remained where I was; kneeled next to an injured dwarf with the most striking coloured hair I had ever seen. The man had been brought in by an elven man and a ginger haired woman soon after the bells had begun to chime around the capital that the Archdemon had been defeated. I had assisted one of the healers who had stitched and bandaged the man, and had remained at his side whilst the others had vacated the building still holding onto his hand and murmuring a soft and gentle tune even though he had drifted off to a deep dreamless sleep under the influence of the milk of the poppy. It was near to midday when the Chantry doors had clanged open again, and I had started in surprise when the newcomer had slumped down next to my charge and had taken his other hand.

"You best get better, you old dwarf." He had murmured with a good natured grin, although his eyes had displayed a rather different emotion before turning to face me. "Thank you for sitting with him, I know Leliana would have done so but she and Zevran were needed to assist our friend."

I had remained silent and had gaped up at him in – what I can only describe now as an unladylike stupor, that he was talking to me with such openness that I had never before encountered outside my family. He had smiled at me with such a gentle and kindly smile that I could not help myself but to return it.

"I am sorry about your friend." I had said by way of filling up the silence that followed. My heart twisted a little when his smile faded slightly that I added fairly desperately with: "But he has received the best care and healing that the Sisters and Healer Hareth can provide. He will recover."

There must have been something in my voice that had caused the man to take me into his arms and pat my back as though I was a child. "It's all right." He had soothed, softly. But safe in his arms I had broken down and started to weep. "There were so many who we could not help, and I held hands with them all and tried to…tried to…" I had hiccupped into his chest before gently disentangling myself from him. "…and after what happened to momma and papa, I don't even know what has happened to my brothers. I am all alone now."

He had nice kind hazel eyes as he looked down at me with such compassion that I did not move when he lifted a hand to gently wipe away the tears that had rolled down my cheeks, and murmur gently "You aren't alone, dear Lady" and before I could stop myself I had leant myself into his embrace once more and had kissed him with such intensity that I am sure that Andraste herself would have blushed.

I still do not know till this day how long we had remained with our lips locked together in a desperate dance of shared loneliness and loss but to my mortification we were interrupted when the Chantry doors had opened again to reveal the ginger haired woman and the elven man from early that morning. I had pushed him away, scrambled hastily to my feet and fled past the new arrivals out of the Chantry and into the sunshine; leaving the man, woman and elf in my wake. As I fled with bright burning cheeks and swollen red lips, I could only pray that the loss of control would not come around to me in fall circle.

Little did I know that, that was exactly what was going to happen…

Hey, it's been a long time since I have sat down with a story plan to follow and let everything flow. I'm really hoping that this new story will help me with the creative flow of The Arrangement, even if they are two different Elissa's. Thank you for taking the time to read the prologue. I will try to update as often as I can (a chapter a week sounds like a good plan, yes?) although if the story progresses further into Autumn term, updates may be a little bit longer than they are intended to be. I really hope that you will enjoy this version of Elissa. It has been such an interesting challenge to write in first person (and in her POV!) without itching to go back and forth between her, Aedan and Alistair.