Chapter 1
The night air was cool against her skin. It was good to be out of her heavy armor and back into some normal clothes. Adora rode up to the front gates of Denerim and stopped her horse in front of the guard.
"Your Majesty," The guard said as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and bowed. "We did not expect you back so soon."
"My business at Vigil's Keep has been taken care. I thought it might be nice to surprise my husband by coming home early."
"King Alistair will be happy to know you are back. Things are never the same in Denerim without you."
"You are very kind. As a favor to me could you please not tell anyone you have seen me. I do not want my surprise to be ruined."
"Of course, your majesty." He bowed again and stepped away so that Adora could ride into town.
It was the middle of the night and most of Denerim was quiet. Most of the criminals and bandits that once roamed the streets had been taken care of long ago. One of the many perks of having Grey Wardens in control of the country was the lack of criminal activity. The city was safe to travel through, no matter what time of day or night. Adora had missed Denerim greatly. It had been months since she had been sent to Vigil's Keep. She had managed to recruit a number of new Grey Wardens and now that she had left the keep in Ohgren's capable hands, she was glad to be home.
She entered the palace gates with little trouble. The guards were keen to keep her presence a secret. One had even volunteered to take her horse to the stables. She snuck into the castle through the kitchen entrance. To her relief it was empty. The long ride from Amaranthine had left her hungry. She took an apple from the table and brought it to her lips to take a bite.
"Did you really think you could sneak in here without anyone noticing?" a voice said from the shadows. The voice was familiar even though it startled her to hear anything in the dark kitchen. Zevran stepped out from the shadows. He was smiling and Adora was elated to see a friendly face. "What kind of personal bodyguard would I be if I let someone sneak in here and not notice?"
"Not a very good one I suspect. It is good to see you, Zev." Adora walked across the room and hugged him. He smelled like leather, if she had to guess, she would say it was Antivan. "I take it you took good care of Alistair while I was gone?"
"I made sure that no one got in a good shot. Not that anyone tried. It's not very fun protecting someone that no one wants to kill. I would have much preferred to have gone with you to the keep. I hear you had quite the adventure."
"I certainly could have used you at my side, but I thank you for staying here. I couldn't have concentrated on my duties if I didn't know that my husband was safe."
"I am glad to see you are safe as well." Although he would never say it out loud, he truly loved the Queen of Ferelden, a title he had to remind himself of constantly. If not for that and how much she obviously loved the King, he would not have resisted the temptation to sweep her off her feet and marry her himself. Now he was content to have her in his life as his closest friend and confidant. Something the Queen saw him as also.
"Do you know where I may find my husband at this late hour?"
"Arl Eamon showed up tonight with an important matter to discuss with him. I left them alone in the King's study."
"I wonder if it is anything I should be privy to?"
"There is only one way to find her out." Zevran looked at the door leading to the main hall.
"Are you suggesting I spy on my husband?"
"I wouldn't call it spying. As Queen you should know everything that is happening in your kingdom, should you not?"
"You're a sneaky fox of a man, you know that, but your also very right. Lead the way." Adora smiled and fought hard not to giggle. In another lifetime she could have easily loved him and his incorrigible ways. She was glad he had stayed in her life after the Blight ended. Even though he had once tried to kill her, now there was no one else she trusted more in the world.
"Always keeping your best interests at heart, my lady." He smiled then and walked through the door.
Together they made their way to the study. Candle light gleamed through the slightly open door. They stopped just short of the doorframe close enough to hear the voices from inside the room.
"Your Majesty, you have to understand the importance that having an heir is for Ferelden. We did not fight as hard as we did to see the Theirin bloodline die with you in the Deep Roads. For more than two years you and the Queen have tried to give Ferelden an heir and to no avail. Now your wife has been called away on Grey Warden business. It is her duty to defend the country against the darkspawn. A duty, I might add, that could bring her death at any time. Your duty is no longer to the Grey Wardens. It is to Ferelden and part of what you are expected to do is to have a child."
"I don't know what you want me to do. You think I don't know the importance of an heir. Adora and I have been trying and I really don't think I want to discuss our lovemaking with you or anyone else."
"I am not interested in your sex life, Alistair. My worry is that you and your Grey Warden wife will not be able to produce an heir together. Do not get me wrong. I love Adora. She is a fine queen and a great Grey Warden, but the taint is inside you both. We know that it is possible for one tainted parent to produce a child, but no one knows if it is possible for two. We also do not know how the child will be affected by the taint or if it will even survive. Unless you want the child you gave to Morrigan to one day come and take the throne, I suggest you look into other options."
"I did what I did with Morrigan to save my life and the life of my wife. I have her assurance that she is not interested in the throne."
"You were not interested in the throne, either and here you are."
"What is it that you suggest?"
Adora held her breath. She knew where this conversation was going even if her somewhat naive husband did not. A silent tear fell down her cheek. It did not go unnoticed by Zevran, who gave her a compassionate and knowing glance.
"There are many beautiful ladies in waiting here at the palace. It is not uncommon for a king to begin relations with one of them in order to produce an heir."
"Like my father?"
"If your father had never consorted with that servant girl, then Ferelden would have no king, or have you forgotten that."
"I have never forgotten the circumstances of my birth and it is for that reason that I cannot believe that you would even suggest such a thing. I am no philanderer. I made a promise to Adora when I married her that she would be my one and only. No matter what my father may have done, I will not follow in his footsteps."
"If your wife loves you and Ferelden as much as I think she does. She will understand what must be done. If you wish, you could choose Anora. You have kept her here as an advisor and she has proven indispensable in matters of day to day politics. She was once Ferelden's queen and the people respect her. A child between you and her would be readily accepted as an heir to the throne."
"I do not wish to choose Anora or anyone else. I'm sorry, but if I cannot have a child with my wife then I will not have one at all."
"You are an honorable man, Alistair. It is that honor that has endeared you to our people, but this is not the time for honor. As king, you have to make very hard decisions. These decisions affect the entire country. Do not make it now, but at least think about what I have said. Talk to Adora when she returns. I think you will find that she will agree with me. Do not take to long though. As a Grey Warden, you cannot escape your destiny in the Deep Roads. When that times comes Ferelden must have an heir that is old enough to assume the throne. You do not have much time to play with."
Adora could not listen anymore. Silently, she began to walk down the hall to her quarters. Some kind of home coming this had turned out to be. Instead of rushing into her husband's waiting arms and making love to him until the sun rose, she had been confronted with the possibility that her husband would have to take someone else into his bed for the sake of the country.
She felt Zevran's hand on her shoulder. He had followed her into her bed chamber and now he gently turned her to look at him. "I am sorry you heard that. If I had known that was what they were discussing I would not have let you go."
"It's okay, Zevran. It is something I had to hear. The Arl is right. Ferelden does need an heir."
"But I agree with Alistair. The heir should come from you. This is not the first time the Arl has brought this up since you've been gone, but King Alistair has wanted no part of the conversation. I have admired him for his devotion to you. King or no, I will not allow him to hurt you."
"Thank you for your concern, Zevran. It is good to have someone that cares for me so much. If only it was as easy as wishing for a child. I have tried every traditional herb in the apothecary to no avail. For the sake of Denerim, Alistair may have to take on a mistress."
"I will not let you think like that. I believe there has to be a way. For everything you have done for this country, you deserve at least that. I will ask around. See if there is anything I can do to help. Do not make any decisions until I have returned." Zevran reached up to wipe another tear from her cheek before turning to leave. As an ex-assassin there had to be someone that he has come across in his travels that might be able to help, someone of course that he had not killed.
Adora sat on the bed and removed her riding boots. She got control of her emotions. Alistair could not see that she had been crying. He could not know that she had eavesdropped on his conversation with the Arl. This was her homecoming. She had to pretend she was still happy about it. From her armoire, she took out one of her favorite nightdresses. It was made from lace and silk sent to her by the queen of Antiva as a wedding present. She had worn it on her wedding night. The silk felt cool against her naked skin. There was just enough lace to show her long legs and the cleavage of her bosom, but it covered enough to leave something to the imagination about what was underneath. Alistair had loved it, even if he had removed it quickly. It seemed fitting for her homecoming.
She sat in front of her dressing table and took down her hair, letting it cascade onto her shoulders. She brushed the long black waves carefully and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were still puffy and it was obvious how tired she was from the long journey. She needed much more than powder and rouge to make her look like herself, but for now it would have to do.
Lastly, she prayed to Andraste. She prayed for a solution to her problem. She prayed for a child. As she finished, the sound of the opening door caught her attention. Standing from her dressing table, she waited for him to walk through. It had been many months since they had seen each other. She noticed his face first. He had stopped shaving, instead opting to let a golden ring of hair to encircle his mouth and cover his chin. It made him look older, more mature, nothing like the baby-faced Grey warden she had met at Ostagar. Other than that he was unchanged. His muscles still rippled beneath his clothes. As King he still insisted on keeping himself in shape. He said it helped him think by continuing his training. Often, Adora had trained with him, much as they had done together in the camp. Now as she saw him, all she wanted to do was rip off his shirt and run her fingers over those muscles. It hit her all at once how much she had really missed him.
"Adora, is it really you?" He stood inside the doorway looking at her. She was just as beautiful as she had been standing in front of that bed on their wedding night. Her choice in bedclothes had not gone unnoticed either. The silk shone in the flickering light of the candles. It hugged her figure showing off the curves of her breasts and her hips. In only a few strides he made it across the room and took her in his arms. "Dear Andraste, you are beautiful." He bent down and kissed her lips. His newly grown goatee tickled her chin, but she didn't care. "You have no idea how much I've missed you," he said against her mouth before kissing her again.
"It could not be half as much as I have missed you." It felt so good to her to be in his arms again. Everything that had happened washed away from her. There was only the two of them locked in a loving embrace. For this moment the rest of the world be damned.
"Why didn't you send word of your arrival? I would have had a banquet prepared in your honor."
"I did not want a banquet. I only wanted to see you." Her hands made their way under his shirt allowing her to run her fingers over his skin. Goose bumps rose under her touch and in their closeness she could feel him eager and ready against her thigh.
He broke their embrace and went to close the bedchamber door. He wanted to be sure no one would disturb their time together. As he came back to her, he swept her up into his arms and walked with her to the bed. He laid her down on top of the blankets and took a moment to take in her beauty for pulling his shirt off over his head.
Adora sat up and began to undo the laces of his trousers. They dropped to the floor and he stepped out of them as he got into bed with her. He made short work of her night dress, throwing it to the floor. Only his small clothes stood between him and her naked body. His hands ran over every inch of her. He stopped to pay close attention to her breasts, massaging the left one with his hands as he closed his mouth over the nipple of her right.
A small moan escaped her throat as he did this. It had felt like such a long time since she had been touched like that. She looked down to watch him as he caressed her. Every few moments he would raise his eyes to look into hers. That was what she missed the most, whether they were making love or going about everyday affairs, he would always stop to look at her. She never had reason to question his devotion. Her hands ran through his thick mass of blonde hair and trailed down to his back. His body tensed with her touch.
After some time of playful caressing, Alistair lifted himself on top of her. The small clothes that had separated them before where now gone and she could feel him pressing against the mound between her legs. As she adjusted her hips, he slid himself inside of her and another small moan escaped her. The first time they had been together in his tent, his girth had hurt as he pushed himself into her, taking her virginity. They had both been clumsy and inexperienced then. Now he knew her body.
He thrust into her slowly at first. He did not want to rush this. Instead he chose to savor this moment with her underneath him, wrapped around his waist. The rhythm came naturally until he could feel her body tighten around his. He watched as her head fell back into the pillow and she cried out his name in ecstacy. Then he quickened his paced, pushing himself into her faster and faster until his own moment of release was upon him. His arms quivered until finally they gave way and he collapsed breathlessly beside of her.
Turning to his side. He looked into her eyes. The conversation he had with the Arl slipped in his mind. How could Eamon even expect him to think of having a child with anyone but his wife? He loved her too much to even consider it.
Pushing the hair out of her face, he kissed her again. "I am so glad you're home."
"Hopefully, this time I'm here to stay."
"If it were up to me, I'd never let you leave my side again."
"Unfortunately, that is not up to you. But as long as the darkspawn stay underground, I don't think we'll have to worry."
"I wish I could have been with you. So tell me what news is there from the Vigil?" He wanted to change the subject. The idea that she might have to leave again to fight the darkspawn was to close to what he had talked about with Arl Eamon. He would not ruin their reunion by bringing it up.
"The Vigil is under control. The darkspawn have been taken care of and the nobles have accepted the Grey Wardens as their leaders. There was nothing left for me to do. I have left Ohgren in charge. He and the Seneschal will do fine without me there."
"Good to know. I'd much rather have you here."
"And I would much rather be here. And what about you? How have things been since I have been gone?"
"Too much of the same. Sign this, take care of that, King Alistair we need you to do this. I know it's all for the sake of Ferelden, but at least they could give me a decent plate of cheese as a reward."
"Poor baby, have they not been feeding you." Adora giggled as she spoke.
"No they haven't. No one wants to take care of the King."
"Now that I'm back, I'll have to change that."
"Aw, you'll bring me cheese."
"The finest cheese in the land." Now they both started laughing. "And what about Arl Eamon? I think you should think about what he said about having an heir. I heard you in the study when I arrived." It certainly wasn't the most tact she had ever used, but she couldn't ignore the issue either.
"I do not want to think about that. Besides, who knows after tonight there may be no need to think about it." He reached out his hand to pat the lower part of her belly.
Adora took his hand in hers. "If only that were the case, I would have been pregnant with your child before we even fought the archdemon. It is possible, Alistair that I may never give you and Ferelden the heir you seek."
"Then we just keep trying. Isn't that what you told me after the Landsmeet? Where is the faith you once had?"
"A barren womb has driven it away."
"I love you, Adora. I want to have a child with you, not someone else. If there is a way, then we will find it. Even if we have to resort to blood magic to do it."
"From the mouth of a Templar. I'm sure the chantry would just love that and besides I don't think magic will solve this problem."
"It seemed to work with Morrigan."
"Don't remind me. You didn't even like her and she had no problem getting pregnant. She wasn't tainted either. Whatever the answer is I don't think it is that ritual, even if we could find someone other than her that knew about it. And if we could we don't know that it doesn't have to be the mage that performs the ritual to have the child."
"I thought I was supposed to be the pessimist. At any rate, I refuse to take anyone to my bed other than you. So we will just have to find a way to make it work and in the meantime." He leaned down to kiss her. "We just keep practicing." He moved closer to her pressing himself against her thigh.
"Again, so soon."
"I up for it if you are."
Adora looked down at his body beside her. " I can already see that." She kissed him using her body to move over top of him.
"You little minx," He said smiling.
Chapter 2
In the weeks since her arrival, Adora had begun to get accustomed to court life again. It was odd to not wake up and think about killing darkspawn, but it was good at the same time. Alistair had been more attentive than usual as if he were trying to make up for the time they had lost. Every morning he awoke her with breakfast delivered from the kitchen. He had thrown her a grand banquet a week after she had gotten back. Everyone of note had shown up to welcome back the hero of Ferelden.
Arl Eamon had not mentioned the need for an heir since her return, but every now and then she would catch him looking at her with a sadness in his eyes. Zevran had still not returned. One of the strangest things about being at court was not having him around to lighten the mood. Even though some of his old humor still presented itself, for the most part Alistair had become very serious since he had become the King. He did what he was expected to do which meant there was not a lot of time to have fun. Zevran was her way to break the monotony of palace life. He was always able to make her laugh.
On the day that Zevran returned, Adora was sitting in the rose garden. On a trip to Lothering just after the blight, she had bought the old gnarled rose bush from the chantry. It was the same rose bush that had inspired Leliana's vision and also the same rose bush that Alistair had found after Ostagar. He had plucked that single rose bud and given it to her at the beginning of their relationship. The rose was still in the drawer of her dressing table and now the bush sat in the royal garden of the palace. Adora had taken special pains to transport it and nurse it back to health. Now it was the loveliest rose bush in the entire garden. The dark red blooms sprang to life every spring and Adora loved to sit in the garden watching it grow.
"I think they're redder every year," Zevran said. She had not heard him approach which was not unusual. He looked road-weary, like he had been riding for days without stopping.
"Zevran, where have you been?"
"I told you I was going to find a way to help you and Alistair and I have."
"What do you mean you have?" Her heart jumped, could he really have solved her problem.
"The Urn of Sacred Ashes, it cured Arl Eamon. It's said to cure any disease."
"The taint is not a disease, Zevran."
"If you think about it, really it is a disease of the blood. I'm not saying the ashes can cure you of the taint, but maybe it can suppress it long enough for you to have a child."
"Zevran you're a genius."
"I was also thinking about that mage we ran into at Soldier's Peak, Avernus. I went there to see if he was still alive and to my surprise he was. I remembered the research he was doing with the tainted blood of Grey Wardens. He wants to help. I think he wants to redeem himself to the Grey Wardens, but he wants to talk to you. He thinks he can do something with the ashes, so I left them with him.
"You have already gotten Andraste's ashes."
"Of course. What do you think I've been doing all this time? Leliana helped a great deal she is still over the excavation of the site."
"Thank you, Zevran."
"For your happiness, I would travel to the ends of the earth."
"I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything, just come with me. Speak to Avernus. Let him help you be happy. As I said before, you deserve it."
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Zev."
"You'd be bored most of the time."
"Of that I have no doubt. I will speak to Alistair and we will leave tomorrow."
"What are you going to tell him?"
"The truth or as much of it as he needs to know until I know something for sure."
"That's my girl."
Adora stood from the garden bench, stopping briefly to look at her roses. She picked one quickly wanting to keep it with her for luck. Then she nodded to Zevran and exited the garden.
Alistair sat in the throne in the great hall. His golden armor sparkling as the midday sun shone on it from the windows. Nobles stood everywhere, each voiced their opinions on whatever current events were taking place in Ferelden. Today, Adora had no time to listen to their squabbles. She had to speak to Alistair. The sooner she could leave the better.
Arl Eamon stood beside the King and Anora stood beside the throne that used to be her own. Adora could not help but think that all it would take would be a royal child from her womb for her to try to take it back. She would never allow Alistair to have a child with her. Anora was a good advisor and long ago she had been a good queen, but she could not help but to not trust her.
Adora took her place on the throne beside her husband and leaned in close. "Alistair, I would have a word with you."
"Of course, my dear. Give me a moment to finish up and I will meet you in our bed chamber."
Adora smiled and stood from the throne. Arl Eamon looked at her questioningly, but he did not follow when she left the main hall.
Once in the bedchamber, she set to loading her pack with what she would need for her journey. She pulled her Warden's Commander Armor from the armor rack and laid it on the bed.
"Are you going somewhere?" Alistair said from the doorway.
"I need to return to Soldier's Peak. Avernus wants to speak with me."
"What on Thedas could that crazy mage want?"
"He wants to redeem himself to the Grey Wardens and he wants to speak with me about it. I think he just wants to try to do something good before he dies."
"I can't believe the old codger is still alive. Who will be accompanying you on this journey?"
"Your duties as king will demand that you stay here so I have asked Zevran to go."
"Zevran, I see." Alistair crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Couldn't you think of someone else?"
"Could you think of anyone that you trust more to keep me safe?"
"To keep you safe, no, but that is the only thing I trust him to do." His tone change while he spoke no matter how much he tried to hide it.
"Do I since a note of jealousy in your voice?" Adora stopped what she was doing and crossed the room to stand in front of him. She placed her hands on the front of his armor and reached up on her tiptoes to kiss him. "I promise you have nothing to be jealous of. Just as you asked me before, Zevran and I are only friends."
"For your part I believe you. I trust you, but I do not trust him."
"You're going to have to just trust me enough then to know I would never let anything happen that would hurt you." In her mind she thought about the reason for this trip. If only he knew what Zevran had done for them, he might be sorry for how he felt now.
"Do I not at least get one more night with my wife before you leave?"
"My plans are to leave tomorrow at first light. Soldier's Peak is not far so I will not be gone long."
"No matter how short your trip, to me it will feel like forever."
"I will be back in your arms before you know it."
"I count on it." He leaned down to kiss her again. "How shall we spend our last night together?"
"I think we'll be able to come up with something."
Chapter 3
Alistair walked her out to the stables the next morning and helped her atop her horse. The armor she wore clanged against the saddle which seemed louder than it really was in the early morning hours. They had watched the sunrise from their bed before he allowed her to get dressed. Now, he wished he could have kept her a little longer. It had been wonderful waking up with her next to him over the past few weeks. It had been even nicer that Eamon had left him alone while his wife was around. Nothing would stop him from bringing up the dread subject of an heir up to him again. He had really prayed that Andraste would allow Adora to become pregnant when she returned, but alas the symptoms of a pregnancy had not come and once again the surgeon confirmed she was childless.
"Return home soon, my love," he said pulling her toward him for a final kiss.
"I will be back before you've even had time to miss me."
"It's too late. I already do. I love you."
"I love you too." Adora placed her swords into the sheaths behind her back. One had belonged to Duncan, the Grey Warden responsible for recruiting her and also the man responsible for her meeting with Alistair. Even though he had died in battle of Ostagar, she felt that she honored him by keeping his sword as her weapon. Her other sword belonged to Alistair. It was the king's sword, passed to King Cailin from his father King Maric. As Maric's son it was given to Alistair when he became the new king. He had insisted that she take it with her on her journey as a way to keep him always by her side.
Spurring on her horse, she rode out of the courtyard not looking back at her husband's grief-stricken face. She met Zevran at the city gates and together they rode toward Soldier's peak only stopping briefly to rest the horses on their way.
The peak was much as she remembered. Even though it was spring in the rest of Ferelden, the top of the mountain had not given up its winter snow. A familiar face greeted them at the gate. Levi Dryden and his family had been formally given the Peak by the King after the Blight. They had managed to repair the place and bring it back to some of its former glory.
"Your Majesty, we've been expecting you. Come, the wife has fixed a wonderful supper in your honor." One of Levi's sons came from behind him to take the horses. Adora and Zevran followed Levi to the keep's main entrance.
Inside they sat down to a splendid dinner with Levi and his family, but Adora's thoughts were not on her meal or the company she shared it with. All she wanted was to speak to Avernus.
At the end of the meal, she got to her feet.
"I thought you might want to go to the tower after supper so I made a plate for you to take with you. Avernus don't come down from his tower often so we send him his meals whenever we eat." Levi said.
"Thank you, Levi. You have been extremely accommodating to us."
"No problem. Without you our family wouldn't have the keep at all. We at least owe you a good meal and a place to stay."
"Thank you again." Adora looked over at Zevran, who had been sitting quietly in the corner since he finished his meal. "Are you coming?"
"No dear, this is something you need to do for yourself. I've got you this far. Now, you're on your own."
"Then at least wish me luck."
"I don't need to wish you luck. I have faith."
Adora smiled and made her way to the tower. The door was open when she reached it. Stepping inside she saw Avernus sitting at the desk in his study. He looked much older then he had when they had first met. The magic that had kept him alive for so long was running out and it showed.
He looked up when she entered the room. "So you finally made it and you brought my supper. I was beginning to believe I might die before I had a chance to speak with you."
"I came as soon as I could." Adora placed the plate in front of him, but he pushed it away.
"No matter, you are here now. I do not have much time for this world so I will get onto business. You want to have a child with your king who is also a Grey Warden. What you ask has never been done before in the history of the Grey Wardens. The taint is strong enough in one parent but with two, it is believed that the taint would be too strong for a child to survive. Even if it did, it may not be born human at all."
Adora was heart broken at his words. She wanted to cry, but she kept herself strong. "So there is nothing you can do to help me."
"I did not say that. I was only stating the hardships we face. My research as you well know has been devoted to the effect of the taint on a Grey Warden. For years I only wished to make the taint stronger so the Warden would be more powerful. I never thought or trying to suppress the taint in order to buy a Warden more time or in your case to have a child. Normally I would wonder why you would want a child do badly, but your companion has explained your unique circumstances. This country does need an heir and in my old age I want redemption for my name and my research. I have been working all this time with the effects of the ashes your elf brought and blood tainted by the darkspawn. If you ask where I attained this blood, I will refuse to help you at all so don't even bother. Instead I will tell you what I have found. Although the Ashes of Andraste will not destroy the taint, they will suppress it for a short time, around twenty-four hours. I made it into a poultice that can be taken like any other medicine. It does not take much of the ashes. What your companion brought to me should be enough for a year of more. If you need more than that then I will give you the recipe. Any good herbalist will be able to make it for you with the proper ingredients.
Have your husband drink the poultice himself before you make love. This will give you the greatest chance of having a child that is free of the taint. Then you will have to drink the poultice every day that you are pregnant. I do have to warn you though. I do not know what will happen once the child is born and you stop drinking the poultice. It may have a reaction much like that of the Joining. It may kill you when the taint returns to its full strength within your blood. I have not had time to test this fully so I cannot tell you about any of the long term effects."
"To give my husband an heir, I am willing to take the risk. Is there any danger to Alistair when he drinks the poultice?"
"There seems to be no ill effects to drinking the poultice once or even a few times. As far as the king is concerned, limit your tries to a few times a week so that his body can recover fully from the poultice before drinking it again. As for you, drink the poultice for as long as it takes for you to get pregnant and through your entire pregnancy. You may only stop when the baby is safely delivered. Then you must stop and I do not recommend taking it for any longer or trying for any other children. Ferelden will have to be satisfied with a single heir to the throne. A wet nurse will be able to feed the child, fore, I do not think it would not be safe for you to do it yourself."
"I understand."
"One last thing before we discuss payment. I would not suggest that you merely let nature take its course. There are many herbs that aid a woman in getting pregnant. I suggest you use as many as are necessary. You do not want to use this poultice any longer than you absolutely have to."
"Believe me. I want to get pregnant as quickly as possible. Thank you for giving me a way to do so. Now, what payment do you seek?"
"I only wish that my name be remembered for more than it is now. I do not want to be known as a monster or an apostate mage."
"I promise you this as the Queen of Ferelden. For what you have done for king and country you will be known as not only a Great Mage, but also as a Savior of Ferelden. Your name will be written in the history books for what you have done. You have redeemed your honor and your family name."
"Thank you, your Majesty. I may die now and know that my soul will rest in peace. I do not think I will live to see the birth of Ferelden's heir, but I am glad to know that I helped make its birth possible. I have made enough of the poultice to last you for six months. After that you will need a herbalist to make more. I have included the recipe. Now if you do not mind I will take my leave in order to eat my supper."
"If I do not see you tomorrow before we leave, I want to thank you again."
"It is I that should thank you. You let me live and allowed me to restore my name." Avernus took his plate from the table and left the room. He had motioned to a crate full of vials on the table. Adora looked inside. She found the recipe. Avernus named it the baby potion which Adora found very fitting. She lifted the box and carried it with her out of the tower and into the keep. Levi and Zevran met her at the door.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Levi said.
"I certainly did. I would ask that you keep an eye on Avernus. By his own admission he is not long for this world."
"Whatever you need, Majesty. I have had a room prepared for you for the night. If there is nothing else, I will show you there now."
"Thank you, Levi. Zevran and I will leave tomorrow. May I request the use of a horse in order to transport these poultices back to Denerim."
"Of course. It will be ready for you by the time you leave."
Zevran took the crate out of her hands which allowed Adora to reach into her gauntlet. She pulled out a small leather pouch and handed it to Levi. "For you hospitality and your horse. I will be offended if you do not take it."
The satchel jingled with twenty sovereigns. "Thank you, Majesty. You are most generous."
"Please Levi, call me Adora. Friends should not call each other by title. Now I will retire for the evening. We have a long journey ahead of us. Zevran, guard those vials with your life. You hold the future of Ferelden in your hands."
"Your wish is my command." Zevran grinned as he said this. He knew that the meeting with Avernus had been successful. Adora looked happy, happier than he had seen her in a long time. The weight of the country was now lifted from her shoulders and he was glad to see it.