A/N: This takes place in the same universe as my stories "Change of Plans" and "A Learned Child". You are welcome to go read them it to get the full context, but here's the extra-short version. "Teagan rescued Alistair from the Chantry. As such, he never became a Grey Warden. He met up with the Wardens at Redcliffe and became one of the Blight Companions."

This story takes place one year after the death of the Archdemon. Alistair was made king at the Landsmeet. Warden Daveth killed the Archdemon, dying in the process. Warden Commander Elissa Cousland has gone to Amaranthine to rebuild the Ferelden Wardens, and her lover Zevran Aranai has accompanied her.

King Alistair has spent the last year learning governance, advised by his foster father, Bann Teagan, who has taken the position of Chancellor. Alistair has become fairly comfortable in his role as king. He has no queen, and, more importantly to the people, no heir…

King Alistair walked out of the throne room and raked his hand through his hair, pulling off his circlet as he did so. He almost spun the circlet on his finger, but caught the look that his Chancellor and foster father gave him and stopped.

"Sorry, Father," he said.

"No, you're not," Chancellor Teagan Guerrin said with a smile.

"No, I'm not. It bugs me, Father, not as much as the crown did, but even the circlet bugs me. At least I don't have a headache. How Maric wore that crown day in and day out is beyond me. By the Maker, once I had that thing on my head for an hour I thought my head was going to explode. Thank you for getting this made," Alistair said, holding up the thin gold circlet.

"Glad to do what I could to assist. I know you don't like wearing it, but you need to, at least for now. It's only been a year; you're too new in your power, the people need to see a visible reminder that you're king," Teagan said, which made Alistair sigh and nod.

"I know, and I'll wear it, but…ugh…it messes up my hair," Alistair said. They arrived at Alistair's private study and stepped in, closing the door behind them.

"Fine, fine, just in the audience chamber and at official functions…but no playing with it," Teagan said, holding out his hand. Alistair stopped spinning the circlet on his finger and blushed.

Alistair handed over the circlet and then gave Teagan an inquiring look. "No review of my performance today?" he asked.

"Do you think you need one?" Teagan asked, eyebrows raised.

"Not really, I guess. I think I handled everything fairly well…." Alistair said.

"Oh, I'd agree. You're getting good at this, Son," Teagan said, which made Alistair give him a pleased smile. Teagan stopped himself from shaking his head. Even after all this time, being praised was something Alistair cherished. He certainly hadn't gotten enough of it from Eamon and Isolde. Teagan had tried to make up for that, but he supposed the boy would always feel the lack of love in his early years. Some things you just didn't get over. And now that he'd praised Alistair, it was time for the news that Alistair would certainly not want to hear.

"There is one thing I do need to talk to you about, though," Teagan said, which made Alistair sigh.

"What?" he asked.

"Well, I'm probably not the appropriate person to bring this up, under the circumstances…" Teagan said, which made Alistair groan. He knew what was coming.

"Oh come on, Father, not you too?" Alistair asked.

"Alistair, the nobles are restless. They've gone some seven years with no heir. They want to be sure the succession is secure," Teagan said.

"I'm not ready," Alistair said.

"You don't even mean that anymore. You've got that mulish expression on your face that you used to use when I asked you to take a bath," Teagan said, which made Alistair shake his head.

"You know me too well. Ok, I admit it. I was heartbroken when she chose that damned elf over me, but…it's been over a year. I'm fine," Alistair said.

"Good, then we can look over the list of candidates that my brother so thoughtfully provided," Teagan said.

"Still meddling, hmm? He isn't still mad I made you my Chancellor, is he?" Alistair asked.

"Oh, probably. I love my brother, but he can be remarkably shortsighted. He still sees you as that little boy that left Redcliffe with me all those years ago. He's never gotten to know the man you have become. It really was a stroke of genius, how you got him to go back to Redcliffe. I was so proud of you for that," Teagan said with a smile.

"Liked that, did you?" Alistair asked.

"Oh yes. Of course, I saw through that vapid innocent act of yours, but you fooled Eamon," Teagan said, raising the pitch of his voice to imitate Alistair's speech to his uncle. "Uncle Eamon, I just couldn't ask you to sacrifice any more than you already have. You've been so ill, and with Connor gone to the Circle you need to spend your energy on making sure that you have an heir for Redcliffe," Teagan said, then chuckled.

"I was rather proud of myself for that, actually…although that does bring up something I've been thinking on," Alistair said.

"What's that?" Teagan asked.

"You said it yourself. I'm not the only heirless noble around here. I'll look for a wife, but only if you agree to look, too," Alistair said.

"Oh no, this is about you, not about me," Teagan said, which made Alistair smile. His father had made the exact argument that Alistair had expected him to, and he had his answer ready.

"Who was the one who said that you were giving up your heir to Rainesfere when Eamon went and made me king? And Eamon and Isolde are not having any luck making a new heir, so you may end up with Redcliffe, too. Face it, Father. You need a wife as much as I do," Alistair said with a smug smile.

Teagan sighed. He knew he was defeated. "Fine, fine, but I am not choosing from the same pool of candidates as you are. I will not be the runner up in some sort of 'Ferelden's Most Eligible Bachelor' contest," Teagan said.

"Oh come on, Father. A noble is a noble is a noble. And besides, as decimated as Ferelden nobility is right now, I'll certainly be looking in the Bannorn. There are bound to be some who would prefer to be a Bann's wife or an Arlessa rather than a queen. I may even have to take a wife from one of the landholders. It's either that or an Orlesian, and I can't imagine that going over well at the Landsmeet," Alistair said.

"You've been thinking about this," Tegan said.

"Of course I've been thinking about this. Loghain was right about one thing, we just got the Orlesians out of here. There are still plenty of people who remember the Occupation. We do not wish to invite them to take through marriage what they lost on the battlefield," Alistair said.

"True enough. The people would take someone from almost anywhere else, though – after all, if things had been different Fergus could have been king…and his late wife was Antivan. She would have been the Teryna of Highever regardless," Teagan said. Alistair nodded and sighed.

"Poor Fergus. In some ways he's lost more than Elissa has. She has the Wardens, at least. He feels like she's abandoned him, too…just like I felt when she told me we had to end it. Odd thing to bond over, but…well, it's nice to have a friend. He needs to remarry as well, you know. Elissa has given up title and name to become the Warden Commander. Fergus is going to have to make sure the Cousland line goes on," Alistair said, and then looked thoughtful.

"He will never agree," Teagan warned.

"We don't need to tell him that part. If he sees someone he likes, nature can take its course," Alistair said, which made Teagan give him a skeptical look.

"Oh come on, it will solve so many problems at once! I'm sure he'd love to get away from Highever Castle, and if there are three of us looking then I won't feel so much like I'm at a livestock fair," Alistair said.

"No, we'll all feel like we're at a livestock fair!" Teagan exclaimed. "Not really sure if we'll be the buyers or the exhibits, though," he muttered.