A/N- 6/8/12: I recently made some changes to this story, a little tweaking here and there, but I did not remove any of the M-rated content, so there may be a chance that this story could be purged. If this happens, this story can be found on the An Archive of Our Own site (see my profile for link).

As always, BioWare owns all the characters and I am just grateful that they allow me to muck around in their wonderful Sandbox.

Chapter One

She was actually getting married to Alistair in one week…in one very short week. But first she was going to have a nervous break-down.

When Arianna had been engaged to Alistair six months ago, she had thought that it would be a simple thing to organize her wedding. She had not realized how much work it was, putting on a wedding- especially a royal wedding. There were so many details to be attended to, and numerous decisions had to be made daily. It seemed to Arianna that her time would be better spent helping the city guards in their attempts to bring back some semblance of order to Denerim. Yet here she was choosing the kinds of flowers for the decorations and where to place them, what food should be served to the wedding guests, and so on…and so on…and so on. Maker's breath, it was less work ending the Blight!She thought to herself in some frustration.

Arianna had retired to her private chamber for the evening, in search of a few quiet hours of solitude. She had told her maidservant, Saranna that she was not to be disturbed tonight- for any reason- and that if she was disturbed; she would introduce that person to the very sharp point of her blade. What was the point of having private chambers if it was never private?

The Warden (yes, everyone still called Arianna 'The Warden' or 'The Hero of Ferelden') had chosen this particular room because of its splendid view of the palace gardens. It was late spring and many of the flowers in the gardens were in full bloom, their fragrant scents perfuming the air. She stood by the window breathing in their aromatic aromas and gave a sigh of pure contentment.

This was the only room in the palace where the windows were eye-level instead of placed higher above. Arl Eamon remarked often that this room was not very secure, due to the placement of the windows, but she loved this room and had let him know, in no uncertain terms, that she wanted the room to be kept exactly as it was.

Arianna wondered what Alistair was doing now and how he was fairing. He had taken to his duties as king with a resolute determination that had surprised many in the kingdom including himself. He was well on his way to becoming one of the most beloved and respected kings in the history of Ferelden, most especially by the common people.

She did however, miss sharing his chambers with him, but after all it had been her choice to move into this room, so Arianna had no one to blame but herself for her lonely nights. Alistair had been a little surprised when she had informed him that she wanted to stay in separate quarters until their wedding night. But he had given in, albeit somewhat grudgingly, when she explained her reasoning behind the request. Simply put, Alistair was too much of a distraction for her. When they were together in their private chambers, Arianna just could not think of anything else but him. She wanted their wedding night to be special, so she thought that a little space between them would help insure that it would indeed be a night to remember and cherish.

Arianna moved away from the window and started to disrobe until she was dressed only in her light chemise. She sat down at her vanity table and began to brush her dark auburn hair. She was deep in thought and did not hear the light knock at her door.

"May I come in, my love?" inquired Alistair, as he stood in the doorway waiting for her response.

"Alistair!" She smiled at him tenderly. "Of course you may come in. You are always welcome in my room."

Alistair shut the door behind him and walked over to where his betrothed was sitting. He leaned down and nuzzled her neck playfully, and then kissed it softly. His light brown eyes met her green ones in the reflection of the vanity's mirror as he spoke.

"I heard you've been threatening the servants again." He grinned and shook his head at her. "The servants are starting to believe that you might really run them through with your sword." He placed a hand on each of her shoulders and gave them a playful squeeze.

She laughed. "And who said I wouldn't? Don't I deserve some time for myself, love? It was the only way I could insure that I would be left alone in peace." She looked at him with a mischievous gleam in her eye.

He laughed at her again. "You are incorrigible!" He looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Does that mean you wish me to leave you alone, my Lady Arianna Cousland?"

"No, you can stay. Anyone else gets my sword." she replied teasingly, as she smiled up at him. Arianna looked at him closely and noticed that he looked tired. She frowned slightly.

Arianna knew that he had been having a hard time adjusting to his duties as king. He had never wanted the throne and he had always hid the fact that he was indeed the bastard son of Maric, and therefore the rightful heir to the throne. However, in the end he had accepted his duty and the crown, with only a little pushing from her and his uncle, the Arl of Redcliffe.

"Are you feeling well, my love? You look tired. Is everything alright?" she asked with concern.

Alistair did not answer right away, but stared off into the distance and sighed. "I am a bit tired. My Uncle Eamon has been keeping me quite busy. Ferelden has been keeping me quite busy. I guess I'm just having some trouble adjusting to being "King" Alistair. Before it was kill a few thousand darkspawn, kill an Archdemon and maybe an Ogre or two… you know- the usual Warden stuff. It was so much bloody easier…" He looked at her worried face and gave her a reassuring smile. "Not to worry, my dear. Soon you'll be queen and stuck at my side, suffering right along with me!" He winked at her and gave her one of his charmingly boyish grins that she loved so much.

She searched his face for a moment longer, trying to decide if he was telling her everything. Though Alistair was not in the habit of keeping things from her, she understood that that he may keep certain information and thoughts to himself, if he felt it would be in her best interest not to know. Arianna loved him all the more for this. Arianna decided to let him keep whatever worries he might have to himself for the time being. She already had too many worries of her own to deal with right now. Not to mention, that she was battling a few self-doubts of her own.

She smiled at Alistair again and then resumed the task of brushing her hair. Arianna usually kept the length on the shorter side, as it was easier to manage and it didn't get in her way when she was fighting. However, she had decided to grow it out. She wanted her hair long and flowing for the wedding since she had decided not to wear a veil, but would adorn her head with a simple crown of flowers instead.

Alistair watched his betrothed for a moment longer and then walked over to the window that over-looked the garden area. He was still amazed how this small area of Denerim had escaped all the destruction that the darkspawn horde had brought upon the city. Denerim had all but been destroyed by the corrupt horde, and it would be many, many, months- perhaps years- before the city would be restored to its former glory. Alistair was determined not to only rebuild the capital, but to improve upon it as well. Merciful Maker, give me the strength to deal with everything. Alistair sighed wearily and then looked over at his betrothed. He smiled at Arianna tenderly.

First things first… he had a wedding to get through and that took precedence over everything else. He could not wait until his wedding day; for on that day his one and only true love would finally become his wife and his queen. And this blighted nonsense about separate sleeping quarters will finally come to an end. It was a very good thing that he had been schooled in the Chantry and trained as a templar, otherwise he would not have had the forbearance to last this long. Arianna was on his mind constantly now, and his Uncle had been making comments of late about him being a bit short-tempered and on the grumpy side.

He looked at his bride-to-be intently. "Come to me, my lady." He said in a low, commanding tone. "Come here."

Arianna looked over at him as she set her brush down on the vanity. "Is that a command, my King?" She looked at him and gave him a flirty grin. "If it is, I guess I must obey, then." She got up and proceeded to walk towards Alistair, ever so slowly, teasing him with the soft swaying of her hips. Arianna continued walking across her room to him, but then stopped a few feet away from where he was standing.

"Closer." He said as his eyes caressed the supple curves of her body. It had been much too long since he had last held her close to him.

She moved a foot closer, but stopped once again. "Is this close enough, Your Grace?" she asked him, teasingly, her voice low and husky.

Alistair looked into her eyes and gave her a slight smile. His eyes were dark with need and passion. "Come- closer- now."

Arianna moved closer to him and did not stop until there were but a few inches of space between them. She looked up at him and smiled shamelessly at him. "Is this now close enough, my King? Arianna laughed softly, teasingly, as she gazed into his amber eyes.

In response to her enticing inquiry, Alistair pulled her into his arms, pressing her hard against his muscled body, and kissed her deeply and passionately. His yearning for her was great and he was not gentle in his kisses.

She could feel his heart beating strongly within his chest as she wrapped her arms tightly around his hard, toned body. She gloried in the feel of him. Arianna answered his kisses with more of her own, as she pulled his head closer to hers, her lips eagerly meeting his as he crushed his mouth to hers. Alistair deepened his kiss further and she felt herself starting to lose control. Her body cried out for his touch as she pressed herself yet closer to him. Arianna felt her control slipping further as his kisses kindled a fire within her that threatened her resolve.

Alistair groaned loudly as Arianna suddenly pulled away from his embrace. He grabbed her again and pulled her back towards him. "No! Not yet. I need….more." He whispered in her ear. "I need…you." He kissed her neck softly and ran his hands down her back. How he loved the feel of her body! How he loved the smell of her… a scent that was uniquely hers, it always drove him wild.

Arianna pressed herself against him and felt the hardness of his desire. She heard Alistair groaned softly again as he placed his hands on her shapely rear, pulling her body closer to him. Alistair was quickly losing his control. His body felt like it was on fire and she was the only one that could quench the flames. He yearned for Arianna, wanted her desperately.

She pulled away again from his embrace. "Alistair. We must stop. Please…" she pleaded with him softly.

Alistair looked at her as he tried to catch his breath. "Maker's breath woman! Do we really have to stop?"

She laughed lightly at his question, and smiled amusingly at his annoyed expression. "Yes, my love. We really have to stop. And don't ask me why, because you already know what my answer will be, Alistair."

Alistair closed his mouth and gave her another irritated look. She laughed at him again and shook her head. He soon sighed in resignation and gave Arianna a sheepish smile. It was her fault that she was so desirable. He did not understand how she could blame him when he had trouble keeping his ardor under control. It had been well over a month since the last time they had been together, for Maker's sake!

Arianna gave him a quick peck on his cheek. "Thank you, Alistair… for understanding. I love you."

"Hmm. Well. I guess that's supposed to make everything all better..? Saying, 'I love you'…?" He gave her a petulant look, as he tried to bring his lower regions under control once more.

She laughed loudly. "Alistair! Don't pout! It's not very becoming for the King of Ferelden to act in such a manner," she chided him gently.

He simply swore in response, and told her that he would bloody well act in any manner that he wanted to. Arianna just sighed in exasperation and shook her head at him again. He could act like such the little boy at times! But she wouldn't change him for all the gold coin in Thedas. She loved him exactly as he was.

"Well, my King. It's late and I am going to bed- alone." Arianna looked at him pointedly. "I suggest you retire to your chambers, Alistair, and get some rest. She looked at him with mild amusement. "You're getting rather grumpy." And with that observation, Arianna walked over to her armoire and removed her nightgown from inside. She took off her chemise and dropped it to the floor. She then slid the nightgown over her head and onto her body. As the sheer silk nightgown slid smoothly down the curves of her nude body, she heard Alistair's sharp intake of breath.

"Merciful Maker, woman! What are you trying to do to me?" He was getting grumpier by the moment. He felt like his head was getting ready to explode.

"I'm not trying to do anything to you, Alistair. I'm simply getting ready to go to sleep." Arianna looked at him with slight annoyance, and then got into her bed and under the covers. Really, the man had no patience whatsoever, she thought as she settled down under the coverlet of her bed. It's not like I told him there would be no sex ever again!

"By Andraste's flaming sword! I know when I'm not wanted." Alistair walked to the door and opened it. He turned back around and opened his mouth to say something else, but Arianna quickly cut him off.

"Good-night, Alistair. I'll see you later tomorrow," she told him in a gentle but firm voice.

Alistair closed his mouth and turned back around to leave her room. He was extremely annoyed at the whole situation. Did the woman even care that this was torture for him? Why must she make him wait another week, for blighted sakes? After all, we are engaged. Bloody hell!

"Alistair?" Her voice stopped his exit but he did not turn back around to look at her. "I love you," she said softly. She heard his sigh of exasperation.

"I love you too, my love. Always." He then left her room, shutting the door softly behind him. Arianna smiled to herself as she fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.