Two Reunions

Still grieving over her mother's death, Jessica Hawke gets solace helping Alistair reclaim his life as Anders realizes the connection he shares with him is closer than he realizes.

…..

Jessica Hawke watched Alistair finish his fourth drink as she waited with Anders for Isabela and Varric.

Alistair had been a fixture at the Hanged Man for three years and she would watch him as he drank the evening and night away. A few months ago, when Varric revealed Alistair was about to be evicted from his room. Jessica paid up his room and used her connections to get him a job on the docks. He actually showed up for work on time everyday and was sober for the most part but at sunset it would always be the same. He'd sit at the same booth and drown his despair with cheap whiskey. Varric and Isabela thought she was wasting her time and coin but she couldn't help it. There was a man buried beneath all that misery. A couple of weeks after her mother's death and still numb from it, she came to the Hanged Man hoping some cheap whiskey and bad poetry would take her mind off it but she spent the better part of a couple of hours watching Alistair drink. Suddenly out of the blue she joined him at his booth and though protesting at her intrusion, he also grew quiet when she mentioned her mother's death. They talked and for a few moments she saw the man he used to be come to the surface. He was actually kind and sympathetic, and asked her about her mother and her family. It was when mentioning being from Lothering that made him push her away. His gentle expression changed and he suddenly looked at her if she was a leper.

There were times when Alistair unleashed a tirade onto Anders as well. If Anders showed any affection towards her it was as if something ignited in Alistair. He would go off and warn Anders on how she would betray him.

Jessica worried that this would always awaken Justice and she feared for Alistair but amazingly Justice never came out and Anders always seemed calm when the verbal attacks occurred.

Jessica was shocked when on one occasion, Alistair had completely depleted her of mana and she realized he had once been a templar. She was equally surprised when Anders did not appear did not seem fazed when hearing this. And that was he unveiled some revelations about Alistair and how he knew of him.

"I know he used to be a templar," Anders said solemnly. "Remember when I said Alistair was the heir to throne in Ferelden? He was also the other surviving Warden who traveled with the Hero of Ferelden."

"And how do you know this?" Jessica's eyes widened.

"She was the Commander of the Wardens and was the one who conscripted me."

"And she made you get rid of Ser Pounce A Lot?" Jessica's eye's glared.

"No," Anders chuckled. "Elissa was the one who gave him to me. It was the Commander who took her place that made me get rid of him. It was never the same once she left."

"Did you two have…?"

"Oh no," Anders laughed. "Maker knows I flirted with her constantly but it never got past that. Her heart always belonged to Alistair."

"What happened to them that made him so….broken?"

"She let Loghain live at the Landsmeet before the end of the Blight. His mentor was the Warden Commander before Elissa and he was killed at Ostagar because of Loghain's betrayal. Alistair felt so angry and betrayed that he left before the final battle. The poor fool doesn't even realize she saved his life. It takes a Warden to slay an archdemon and they have to die too."

"So Loghain slew the archdemon?"

"He gave the final blow," Anders said. "It was Elissa who brought the dragon down. I heard the tale from people who were on the roof. Loghain pushed her away, took the final blow and was killed."

"So this Duncan that he rambles about having failed him was the commander?"

"Yes and Elissa told me Alistair regarded him like a father," Anders explained. "Alistair's despair is not just about Elissa. He betrayed the Wardens and Duncan's memory and bears that burden everyday."

"So can you explain why he attacks me then?" Jessica asked. "Do I remind him of her? Was she a mage?"

"Elissa was a rogue but she was as close to a mage as one could possibly get," Anders said thoughtfully. "She actually saved the Circle in Ferelden when she was trapped in the Fade. We also were trapped in the Fade again when on a mission in Amaranthine. She is one of strongest non mage persons that I know. I think the reason Alistair gets bothered by your presence is because you're beautiful, have a kind heart, and possess a similar strength that Elissa had. Remember that day you insisted on sitting with him? That's something Elissa would do."

"Do the Wardens know about him?"

"The Wardens didn't care when I left," Anders chuckled. "I doubt they care what Alistair has done."

"I remember the one that took Carver away. Stroud," Jessica said. "He was polite but cold. Will my brother turn into that?"

"Not all of them are like that," Anders explained. "It's just that the single focus of the Wardens is the eradication of the darkspawn between, during, and after Blights. Elissa was not like them. She was actually…fun to work with. The older Wardens didn't like her because of it. Carver is part of a different generation so things should be different."
"How old was she when she became Warden Commander?"

"Elissa was barely twenty one," Anders said.

"Maker!" Jessica exclaimed. "She's around my age now."

"Yes," Anders nodded. "There's… something else you two share in common."

"What?"

"Her mother…was murdered," Anders said in a solemn tone. "Actually her whole family was murdered except for her brother who ended up missing in the Wilds for nearly a year during the Blight."

Jessica briefly looked away when thoughts of her mother flooded her mind.

"How did she survive?"

"It was Duncan who saved her," Anders explained. "Rendon Howe was the man who had her family murdered."

"You mean to tell me she's a Cousland?" Jessica's eyes widened. "We killed those conspirators who were trying to kill the Warden Commander. I heard of the Couslands being massacred, I just had no idea the Hero of Ferelden was a Cousland. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Elissa is very uncomfortable with the accolades and the attention she gets regarding her status. She's a very private person and when she left Amaranthine she only told me and a few others. Elissa did so much for me; I felt I owed it to her not to mention her. She even killed templars for me in an attempt to get my phylactery."
"Elissa is pro mage then?"

"Oh yes." Anders smiled. "Her grandfather believed mages deserved more freedom and she shared that belief."

"It sounds like I would like her."

"And she would like you," Anders said. "I hope you understand why I kept it quiet that I knew her."

"Yes," Jessica nodded. "I would be the same way."

Jessica turned and watched Alistair down another drink and felt her heart sank.

"Jess," Anders took her hand. "You know it makes me love you even more the way you are concerned for him and I know you wanting to help him is your way of dealing with what happened to your mother but sometimes people just don't want to be helped."

"I know," Jessica let out a sigh. "And you're right. If mother was alive and saw him, she would not stop bothering him until he let her help him."

"Elissa told me she was angry at him in the beginning but eventually it went away because she knew that Alistair would end up hating himself more."

"What would Elissa think of Justice?" Jessica asked.

Anders grew pale and the peaceful expression on his face slowly faded away, replaced with anxiety and a touch of regret.

"Jess, Elissa knew Justice," Anders explained. "He initially inhabited the body of a dead Warden. She considered him a friend and he respected her. And I honestly don't know what she would think now."

"Are you telling me that Justice was in a body that was…already dead?" Jessica picked up her drink and set it down.

"Yes and we could smell him through the heavy armor he wore."

"So I guess that's one of the reasons he approves of the baths we share," Jessica teased.

"Yes," Anders blushed. "Justice reluctantly admits that as much of distraction you've been for me, you've been very good for me as well."

"Well that's good to know," Jessica laughed softly as she continued to watch Alistair.

"Justice thinks you are wasting time with him," Anders said. "And its not only drinking he has a problem with. The reason your mana got depleted so rapidly is because he is using lyrium. It would not have happened so fast if he wasn't using it. It's also why he shows up on the docks in a semi sober state."

"Where do you think he's getting it?" Jessica asked. "Has he ever been to Darktown, the sewers? I've seen him here, stumbling around Lowtown and the docks."

"I think he's probably getting it from another dock worker, or he's stealing it when the Circle ships lyrium potions."

"I think I might have to check that out," Jessica said.

"Alright," Anders sighed. "Since I can't convince you to leave it alone, you know you can count on me to help. I think Elissa would have wanted me to keep an eye on him. And it's not interfering with our other… activities so Justice won't be complaining too much."

"Thank you," Jessica reached over and kissed him. "I'll make it up to you tonight."

"I expect you to," Anders gave a knowing smile and watched Varric and Isabela enter the tavern.

"It's about time," Jessica stood up. "Are we still on to play? I want to win back that ten gold I lost the last time."

"Sorry about the Hawke," Varric said. "Isabela had to watch that huge ship as it docked."

"What ship?" Anders asked.

"There's a ship that came in from Ferelden. It's about three times the size of the other ships. Two ships had to move just so it could dock."

"Interesting," Jessica said. "I'd like to go see that but right now I am in the mood for some Wicked Grace. Fenris is upstairs waiting with Merill."

"Isabela," Anders said as he walked over to her. "Are you alright?"

Isabela let out a sigh and she looked dreamily at him, "What? Did you say something?"

"She's alright Anders," Jessica laughed. "Izzy just had an erotic daydream about walking naked on the deck of that ship."

"You know me too well Hawke," Izzy growled.

"Let's get upstairs and get the game started," Varric grinned. "Its good we're staying in tonight. They sent everyone home at the docks. There's a big storm coming. The Arishock was even spotted climbing up the latter to get to higher ground."

As they headed upstairs, Jessica took one last glance at Alistair before Anders grabbed her hand.

…

"Thank you for helping me Teagan," Elissa said as she paced around the cabin. "I hope we haven't wasted time coming here. He could be gone by now."

"You don't have to thank me Elissa," Teagan said. "I want to do this. I owe it to Alistair for how the mistakes Eamon made in caring for him and for what Isolde did."

"Your brother is not too happy with you for doing this."

"I don't care what Eamon thinks," Teagan said bitterly. "He's still bitter that Alistair walked away from the crown and that I married Bella. I just happy that Anora has allowed Alistair back in Ferelden and she won't go after him."

"Yes. That little information that came my way certainly helped Anora to…change her mind," Elissa smiled. "Sadly though, I think Ferelden will be in for a battle when the time comes for a new ruler,"

"I'll be too old to care by then," Teagan said. "The future generation of Ferelden can deal with it. Odds are your new baby nephew might be king."

"True," Elissa smiled when thinking of her nephew. Fergus remarried a widow a couple of years ago and even adopted her daughter as his own but six months ago Bryce Oren Cousland was born and holding him in his arms for the first time was one of her most cherished memories.

"So tell me again how you got this tip?" Teagan asked as he poured two drinks.

"A new Warden by the name of Carver mentioned it by accident when I was visiting the compound in Nevarra," Elissa said as she took a sip. "It has to be him."

"I'll do my best to look for him when I'm not conducting business." Teagan promised.

"Thank you Teagan," Elissa said gratefully. "Hopefully I'll muster the courage to face him."

"You know if he is drinking like that Warden said he was that will have to be dealt with."

"Carver said his sister is a mage," Elissa said. "He was her and a group in the Deep Roads when he became ill. Some Wardens were there and saved him. We can ask for her help if we need to."

"He had to become a Grey Warden in order to live?" Teagan asked.

"Yes," Elissa said. "He became a Warden while she became very wealthy from the treasure they found."

"I've heard some disturbing things about the Circle in Kirkwall," Teagan said. "I'm surprised she's even free."

"I know. There was a Warden Mage in Nevarra who escaped the Circle. He told me some things about Kirkwall and how the mages are treated. It really angered me that that Wardens refuse to get involved in these matters."

"Do the Wardens know what you are doing now?" Teagan asked.

"No," Elissa laughed. "Given my status…I can get away with a lot. All they know is I am here to check that entrance to the Deep Roads."

"You know you don't have to worry about me revealing your presence," Teagan said. "The ship Captain says there's a storm coming. I am just relieved we're docked."

"I guess I'll do some exploring tonight," Elissa said.

"Just be careful," Teagan said. "Kirkwall has never been known for being safe at night."

"Teagan," Elissa laughed, "With what I've experienced, I think I am more than capable of handling whatever comes my way and I'll have Rex with me. He will be happy to get out of the hold."

"You're right," Teagan chuckled. "I'll just tell the guards to ignore it when you come and go."

"Thanks," Elissa smiled. "Have I mentioned lately what a wonderful friend you've been?"

"About a dozen times," Teagan grinned.

"Well I am saying it again," Elissa grinned. "You stood by me when I made that decision. You, Zevran and my brother were the only ones and I will never forget that."

"You are alive Elissa," Teagan said. "And Alistair is alive. That's all that matters."

"I just hope its not too late for Alistair to understand that," Elissa sighed before heading to the hold to retrieve her dog.

….

A/N: I swore to myself that I would not write anything for Dragon Age 2 but this came to me based on two things: The Alistair drunken cameo and Elissa's friendship with Anders and what her reaction will be when she finds out about him. This story will be shorter than my other stories and I promise it won't consume me and it will not interfere with my other will probably be the only story I write for DA:2 unless I get really inspired. Thanks for reading. :-)