Ailwen
- Ingenious Pilot -
Grey Warden%\1\%
Posts: 114
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Post by Ailwen on Mar 16, 2011 1:21:12 GMT -5
Ailwen had been called to Denerim for a wedding--Soris, it seemed, had found someone after all--but the place only brought back memories of that battle. Every old stone had been here that day, and every new one was being laid because of the destruction.
She couldn't go anywhere without recognition, so she'd taken to stealing about the city in a cloak that covered her face. The astute recognized her sword, but it was better than the constant attention. She'd only done what was right, what was best for Ferelden. For all the good it'd done her.
As it was, she wanted to speak with Alistair. Privately. No small feat, as he was the King, but she had friends in convenient places. Shianni was headed to the palace anyway to get funding to rebuild the Alienage, and she agreed to slip a note into Alistair's hand.
It was up to him to figure out a way to get her into the palace without anyone noticing. If he even wanted to see her, that was. She'd left without explanation for Weisshaupt to see the remaining foreign Grey Wardens, not inviting him to come along. She'd needed the time to think things through and...
It wasn't going to work. Hopefully he'd picked up on that, and wouldn't interpret this as some kind of secret lovers' assignation.
She had to break things off officially, and it was going to hurt.
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Alistair
- Masterful Virgin -
For Ferelden, For the Grey Wardens!%\0\%
Posts: 27
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Post by Alistair on Mar 16, 2011 1:40:08 GMT -5
Alistair had taken to wandering the halls of the palace, others might call it moping, he called it getting much needed exercise.
The others would be right.
In the events leading up to the landsmeet and the slaying the Arch-demon, Alistair's life was busy, full of adventure and movement, he hated it, but wouldn't have traded it in for the world.
Now he was here, stuck in a palace knowing nothing of how to be a king and alone. He'd taken to studying books on governing, on exactly what he was duty bound to take care of. It was all mostly boring, but it gave him the knowledge to keep his country safe and in a good standing. He was mostly liked as king, although there would always be sects that don't believe he should be there.
Alistair himself still believed he should have never been king, he didn't want to and had tried to make everyone around him understand that. But he was Ferelden's only chance at lasting through the end of this blight, and building it up to be the once powerful kingdom that it once was.
As he rounded a hall he came face to face with a familiar figure "Shianni, my god good to see you."
After a small conversation of small talk and how do you do's, she told him why she was here, it wasn't up to him where the money went, he'd approved the rebuilding efforts and told his treasurers to give them as much as they needed.
As they said their good byes she slipped him the note, saying it was from a mutual friend and went off down the hallway.
Raising a eyebrow he opened it and read it, devouring the information "Ailwen."
He headed off to the gardens where it said to meet her.
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Ailwen
- Ingenious Pilot -
Grey Warden%\1\%
Posts: 114
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Post by Ailwen on Mar 16, 2011 1:45:39 GMT -5
She was there, for once without her armor. A soft, green wool cloak and a simple dress seemed to highlight how very tiny she was, sitting on a large marble bench.
She didn't know if she could see his face and leave again. She was sure she wouldn't have the strength. In her hands sat the rose he'd given her so many months ago. She traced her fingers along it, watching it intently.
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Alistair
- Masterful Virgin -
For Ferelden, For the Grey Wardens!%\0\%
Posts: 27
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Post by Alistair on Mar 16, 2011 1:54:04 GMT -5
He hadn't meant to run, but his body wouldn't allow anything slower.
So many things came rushing through his mind.
Was she there to stay? Was this closure? Why would she sent a note along with Shianni, she was the hero of Ferelden, they would let her in to the bloody palace with a parade.
But that was never her way, he realized as he jogged in to the gardens. All the fanfare around her never seemed to sit well with her, the same way it didn't sit well with him.
On the other side of the garden, he saw her. Looking more dressed down than he ever had, it stopped him in his tracks.
"Ailwen" he repeated as he found the strength to move.
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Ailwen
- Ingenious Pilot -
Grey Warden%\1\%
Posts: 114
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Post by Ailwen on Mar 16, 2011 1:57:36 GMT -5
The months away had not helped. When she heard him speak her name, her heart skipped a beat like it always did for him. She inhaled sharply, unable, for a moment, to look away from her knees. Eventually she turned her head, reaching up to pull the hood away.
"Alistair." Another pause, this one laden with emotion. "Your highness."
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Alistair
- Masterful Virgin -
For Ferelden, For the Grey Wardens!%\0\%
Posts: 27
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Post by Alistair on Mar 16, 2011 2:05:15 GMT -5
"No" he smiled as he came near "please, not from you."
He wanted to take her in to his arms, hold her to push the loneliness out.
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Ailwen
- Ingenious Pilot -
Grey Warden%\1\%
Posts: 114
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Post by Ailwen on Mar 16, 2011 2:07:54 GMT -5
"I... I came to give you something."
The rose was still in her right hand. She wasn't used to feeling so helpless, so useless. With a sword in her hand and the darkspawn before her, she could think, could act, could be the hero everyone believed her to be. But here, in front of the man she loved, she was a coward.
She couldn't bear to hurt him, and she knew this was perhaps the worst thing she could do.
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Alistair
- Masterful Virgin -
For Ferelden, For the Grey Wardens!%\0\%
Posts: 27
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Post by Alistair on Mar 16, 2011 2:13:05 GMT -5
His smile faded "What's wrong? Are you all right?"
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Ailwen
- Ingenious Pilot -
Grey Warden%\1\%
Posts: 114
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Post by Ailwen on Mar 16, 2011 2:15:28 GMT -5
"Here," she said softly, extending the rose towards him. "You gave this to me when we first started our relationship. I'm giving it back."
She couldn't look him in the eyes.
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Alistair
- Masterful Virgin -
For Ferelden, For the Grey Wardens!%\0\%
Posts: 27
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Post by Alistair on Mar 16, 2011 2:18:03 GMT -5
"Wha-" he looked down at the rose and almost gasped "I, no, it-it was a gift, for you" he stumbled "please don't make me take it."
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Ailwen
- Ingenious Pilot -
Grey Warden%\1\%
Posts: 114
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Post by Ailwen on Mar 16, 2011 2:21:27 GMT -5
"I can't keep it, Alis--your Highness. You know that."
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Alistair
- Masterful Virgin -
For Ferelden, For the Grey Wardens!%\0\%
Posts: 27
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Post by Alistair on Mar 16, 2011 2:22:27 GMT -5
"Stop calling me that" he pleaded "it isn't fair, first you leave me, without a word, n-now here you are trying to. It isn't fair."
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Ailwen
- Ingenious Pilot -
Grey Warden%\1\%
Posts: 114
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Post by Ailwen on Mar 16, 2011 2:24:47 GMT -5
"I can't... I couldn't--"
She bit her lip. For all she'd saved the country, there was a part of her that was still only just past girlhood. She wasn't equipped for this.
"I had to go. I had to think."
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Alistair
- Masterful Virgin -
For Ferelden, For the Grey Wardens!%\0\%
Posts: 27
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Post by Alistair on Mar 16, 2011 2:27:38 GMT -5
"And this is the conclusion you came up with?" He laughed, it was an angry laugh, a hurt laugh. One he'd given so many times before.
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Ailwen
- Ingenious Pilot -
Grey Warden%\1\%
Posts: 114
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Post by Ailwen on Mar 16, 2011 2:30:48 GMT -5
She hated that laugh.
"And what would you have me do, Alistair?" She snapped. "Hide myself away as your mistress? Lurk around the hallways of the palace, the laughingstock of the country?"
She turned away. "You think I want it to be this way?"
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