Alistair/Warden fic recs Canon and Canon AU
If you've ever felt personally victimized by the Alistair romance, it may make you feel better to find out that David Gaider conducted a field study/ focus group research to write it. An excerpt from the interview here:
In the last romance I’d written, I wanted to draw out if I could make a male romantic character that female players would actually love. I wanted to know what was wrong with former female-oriented romances, what was lacking there, and how they differed from actual romance. [...] I went to this site called “Ladies of Neverwinter Nights,” and I asked the female players there, How do you guys feel? What do you want to see in romance? What kinds of elements and moments were you missing? And they told me. They were very frank about it, and having gotten that excellent feedback, I tried to incorporate that feedback into Alistair.
With that in mind, FIC RECS.
~*~*~ Cousland Warden ~*~*~
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WC <10k
Come On and Turn be On by adjectivebear. Mhm, smut. author's summary: "Or, the logical conclusion of tossing half-naked people into co-ed cells".
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WC 10k-25k
the lure of the jump by clayre.
Very soft. A good 11718 words of pining.
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WC 25k-50k.
Promise What You Will by smutnug.
Summary: Briony Cousland learned of her engagement when Alistair announced it to the Landsmeet. Now she has to convince the Ferelden court - and herself - that she's in love with her best friend.
Notes: Wow, Alistair (and not Cousland) announces the engagement to the Landsmeet! Already our man has some spine. That backbone continues throughout the fic.
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The Fortress of Highever by howlsmovinglibrary.
Summary: Ismene Cousland knows that the only way Alistair can win the throne is with her help. But after finally escaping the confines of her noblewoman’s life, is marrying him to guarantee his success at the Landsmeet a sacrifice she’s willing to make?
Particularly when she knows that, no matter how she feels, their union will never be anything more than a marriage of political convenience.
Notes: I am all for a prickly Cousland. Excellent work from howlsmovinglibrary as always.
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Soldier's Mask by aphreal. Canon AU.
Summary: Alistair was raised at Highever and befriended by young Alexia Cousland. As they get older, that friendship becomes complicated, because a guardsman can't possibly have a future with the teyrn's daughter.
Written for the Dragon Age Reverse Big Bang 2013.
Notes: What if Alistair was a guardsman at Highever? The Cousland in this fic is a bit slow on the uptake about feelings, but she gets there. Oblivious Cousland, pining Alistair, good fight scenes and descriptions about sparring.
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WC >50k
Reunion by athenasdragon. Published within the last 2 years!
Summary:
After King Alistair Theirin’s coronation, Gwen Cousland left Denerim and spent her time drifting across southern Thedas and fulfilling her duties as a Grey Warden. For ten years she missed the friendships she had enjoyed during the Blight—and Alistair’s love, even though she knew that ending things between them had been the logical decision.
Now, she has been summoned to Skyhold to help train the Inquisition’s troops, and she is already anxious to speak with Leliana and Morrigan for the first time in years. She has no idea that Ferelden’s king is also at the keep on diplomatic business. When the two reunite, they may have a chance to find new happiness together, but only if they can win a deadly race against the Calling.
Notes: I enjoyed the Cousland and Alistair characterization in this fic. A good reunion fic with mutual pining, angst, h/c, and best of all a happy ending.
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...And Even the Wind Will Not Blow Me Down by Eadgyth. WC >50k.
Summary:
Aoife Cousland survived the Fifth Blight, but now there is life where there should be none and she wonders if she can survive what comes next. Alistair Theirin thought he had done the right thing, he let go of the one thing he loved most, but no told him how much that would hurt. What happens when the secrets that they've been keeping finally spill out?
Notes: Technically, this is a deadfic as the author has no intention of finishing this work. However, what is there is a good exploration of the consequences of Alistair's Landsmeet decision. It is also a very mature look at how Cousland and Alistair got together within a fleshed out world.
Angst, unplanned pregnancy, mutual pining, special cameos.
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~*~*~ Non-Cousland Warden ~*~*~
WC <10k
Kissing Game by xenosaurus. Mhm... delicious smut. Warden Tabris/Alistair.
Lost in thought by PossumBones. Published in the past few months! Alistair is completely smitten with the Warden and doesn't know what to do with himself. Warden Surana/Alistair
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WC 10-25k
Just a Taste by MinionRipley. Merits its Mature rating. Alistair knows how to treat women right. Warden Surana/Alistair.
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WC >50k
Four Seasons of Loneliness by rydia.
Summary:
It's been ten years since the defeat of the Archdemon, when the ultimate sacrifice was made by Alistair. Since then, Solona Amell has made her way through Thedas, always carrying her grief and heartache with her, never forgetting the man she loves.
The last thing she expects after a run-in with some Venatori is to be hurled into another Thedas; one in which Alistair Theirin is king and she was the one who made the ultimate sacrifice.
A story about strange magic and unexpected second chances.
Notes: the pining is sooooo good! You really feel Amell and Alistair's grief over their dead loves. I am definitely a sucker for reunion fics. Also, some of the Inner Circle of the Inquisition is in this fic :)
Spoilers for some elements of DAI. Reunion, Mutual Pining, Grief/Mourning, some magic.
The Long Way Home by zinjadu. Warden-Commander Tabris makes a home. Separate fic rec post here.
Part of Your World by threehundredthirtythree. A Voice-verse fic, which is Khirsah's spin on Soulmate AU. Alistair/Amell.
The Tempest Inside by withthebreezesblown. Slow Burn. Really great characterization of an Amell who's lived in a Circle tower for all her life and then is experiencing the outdoors. I mean, imagine trying to save a world you are discovering just exists beyond the Tower you grew up in for your entire life. I think the author's summary captures it well:
Because there can never be too many retellings of Origins. Or too much Alistair. Unless you think there can? In which case, feel free to skip this.
