The air was growing more and more frigid as the evening grew longer in the outskirts of Amaranthine. Her prized horse, Chez Marie, was however enjoying the swift journey through the outer lands, free from all the restraints put upon her when she had to trot around patiently when all she really wanted was to run as free as the wind. So much like her mistress, who found riding swiftly along wooded paths to be a great release from her otherwise, measured way of having to live her life. It was hardly as rigid as life was when living in Castle Highever but it still required her to follow a set regime in order to live a civilized lifestyle. Now that she was a mother, as well as a wife, she just had to be more sedated. This thought suddenly made her sigh heavily. Hadn't the Blight changed all of that? Her "fate" as it were to be either a respected or despised,( depending on her company), noble woman to be worshipped and loved by all the land?

"Oh Marie, somehow being "noble" and "truly loved" seem so contradictory to one another right now? Just when I think the fates have been unreasonably kind to me, they wickedly put something more distasteful on my plate for me to sup upon." Tara spoke out as if hearing her own voice or just her horses, snort, offered her some much needed relief for a moment at least.

She rode further until she reached the destination that was instructed to her in a carefully passed note, found on the floor of her room. Obviously, slipped under her door, hopefully secretly, to give her direction to the place she was required to travel to this evening.

"Whoa, Chez Marie, this must be the place. I see nothing else in this area that looks even remotely livable anywhere else." She pulled back on the reins and bringing her horse to a slow trot, moving cautiously along a carved out pathway now in front of her.

Continuing around an approaching house, she made her way to what must be the barn to store the horses. Still she noticed not a soul and this made her seem curious. It was her wish to keep things as quiet as possible but she still expected to see at least one or two attendants lingering around the property, considering who she was expected to meet up with here on this eerily solemn Winter's night.

Moving further toward the front entrance of the barn, she hastily dismounts her horse, still holding onto her reigns, so that she could unlatch the barn door and guide her horse into one of the empty stalls left open inside.

"Well, well, my girl, this must be the place or else someone has left behind a very fine horse in such a lonely habitat. Hopefully than, you won't be too lonely in this rather abandoned space. Ah, see? Fresh hay, troughs full of water? Either that or the horse fairy has answered all of your prayers. At least you won't feel hungry and abandoned. Even though Antoine is not here with us this time for you to chat up a storm with this time. I'm afraid I haven't a clue as to what this gentleman's name is so you will have to handle your own introduction this time." Tara told her horse out of habit. She treated her much like one would any other sort of pet and was quite sure it was expected of her to do so. Chez Marie was very particular about so many things. This was all necessary though since she had to be trained to respond best to her mistress and perform duties that other horses usually just snort at in resentment. It did appear that her horse was quite aware of her own special status in the way of things at home and well, expected things to be a certain way, at all times.

How often, Rory, would tease her or complain that her horse was causing too much of a fuss in the barn or her handlers were besides themselves. As if the Bann would ever let anyone but Henry, their horse master, ever handle his own horse? Yes, Chez Marie was difficult at times but she was a purebred and trained to work under the worst of circumstances. Under those condition and the necessity of her survival as such, Tara learned that having her behave best under her command was worth the inconvenience it brought to those who weren't familiar with her likes and dislikes as much. It formed a tight bond that made Chez Marie, that much more responsive and dependent on her as her mistress. In a battle field one must know they can depend on their horse to be there when they are called and not be timid when faced with the worst of situations. This is the only way a war horse can survive and its' mistress find her way to her next fight in hopefully, all of the pieces she came into it with.

Tara, unbuckled her horse reigns and hanging that aside she than nudged her horse to reach the buckles to release her saddle. Than hoisting it up off of her horses back, to flop it on a convenient stand placed to the side of the feed box in front of them.

"Hum… at least this place must be owned by a true horseman. This is all very well organized and equipped. I am always grateful when I don't have to lug a saddle over the side wall of a stall." She said as she pulled her travel bag over her shoulder so that she can find her way around this mysterious new location.

Making her way up a dug out pathway that was obviously surrounding the house, she admired how beautiful its' surrounding really were. Despite its' rather remote location, it was obviously well taken care of by someone? There must be a staff to maintain the yard, house, while the owners are away she thought, seeing how it did not suffer from peeling paint or grossly overgrown bushes. Well, what there was considering the season as it were. Still what was out here was obviously planned since she found plenty of tall fir trees and hollyhocks growing in the surrounding area of the house. The architecture of the house was quite attractive with almost a sort of elvish stylized woodworking along the trim of the porch and its' side panels, she thought as she continued to gaze around the perimeter.

Maybe, some noble, elvish princess, made this her retreat, centuries ago and it has since fallen into the hands of we greedy and hoarding, humans, she now imagined, wandering now further, moving to a path that obvious led deeper into the woods. In no time, she heard the sound that she was longing to hear, a babbling brook. Would that it was the Summertime and she could wade out into it. She always felt so much better whenever she could feel the water rushing swiftly against her legs and feet. It did more than just wash your feet off but it cleansed the soul she was told and this was something she did believe in most fervently.

Walking around, still in her traveling armor, she looked until she could find a rock with a flat enough surface to sit upon comfortably. It was such a hectic day and now she just had to sort out everything on her mind before she did what seemed to be her duty and fate to have to carry out.

Somehow, finding herself in this fairy type setting almost adds to the surrealism of her current situation. Why must everything required of her cause so much.. . conflict? It always seemed someone was going to be hurt by her choices and someone always had to lose something precious to them. Had she herself been so shaped by her upbringing that it was easier for her to accept difficult choices when Rory sometimes struggled so hard with them? Why was she now willing to risk everything that she cherished so much on a gamble that had a very small outcome of succeeding? Ah, now it was more Rory's words echoing in her mind than her own. He would never allow himself to see that this probably was the last viable option left if Fereldon was ever going to have a Therin heir to place on the throne. If she had learned anything from growing up a Cousland, it was that there were worse fates than having to reign over Highever. The throne of all of Fereldon hanged over their cradles and was something they could not ever pretend wasn't a path that could one day find its' way over to one of them.

This threat was the only one that really struck her husband the hardest. They both dearly loved their children. Only two of them survived till birth. Though they knew, they could not ignore their birthright, even the birth of Fergus' daughter did not completely release their own son from being forced to the throne in days to come. It was an ominous letter from the now Teryn of Redcliffe, Teryn Eamon himself, that even Rory, with a heavy heart, felt he could no longer ignore those wicked hags he loved to call, "the fates". He wrote that council was still very much against Conner ever sitting on the throne. No Mage could ever be trusted. Next thing you know, you have this horrible Abomination, wreaking havoc, destroying all that you say you hold so dear. It seemed Isolde's worse fears were being recognized and if the king left no heir, the Therin line would perish. They must take this last option seriously. To ignore it would be more selfish than all of Fereldon could ignore. There must be an heir and it must be of noble blood. Time was now too short to pretend other options were even viable at this point.

There was a point made that ended the argument that two tainted Grey Wardens could never have a surviving heir addressed. It seems that though Conner knew, his place on the throne was very questionable, he did not spend his time in the Tower, foolishly. Wynne, working with her son, Malcolm and Connor, felt that they had a means to negate the taint, if the child was treated in early infancy. They had been experimenting on Mages who had been blighted in the past looking for a means to fight Abomination and stumbled upon this hopeful antidote of sorts? They had no real success so far on those who have been tainted over time but the few that they had to experiment on who were not long infected showed great success in their studies so far. This truth left the Gilmore's with little ammunition to fight what those closest to the Crown had concluded, that Tara must cooperate and try to produce a Therin heir for Fereldon. So, finally, with all of their arguments exhausted and ridiculous terms agreed upon, here she was, hoping all of this would not destroy everything she worked so hard to create the last eight years of her life.

So lost in her own thoughts was Tara, that she barely noticed the crack of fallen twigs being crushed sharply under a man's boots. Reflectively, she turned quickly to face whomever was coming up behind her and than sighed heavily when she noticed a familiar frame taking shape as it approached her.

He did look well, tanned, fit and waves of golden locks, gleaming in the early evenings waning sunlight. He was dressed casually for once and it so reminded her of the man she was so familiar with while traveling along those treacherous roads throughout rugged, Fereldon.

"I hope I didn't scare you? I'm afraid I must have been reading when you made your way out here. Why didn't you let me know you had arrived?"

"Oh, I just… well, …. I really needed a few moments to just cool down. We have quite a interesting group of recruits so it would seem this year. I just have so much on my mind and I thought it best that I was alone while I sorted everything out. No reason to bother you until than, so I thought."

"I just had so much catching up to do. I was sure I would hear you approaching but you are so seasoned, sneaking your way in here probably wasn't too hard for you to do."

"No, I would hope not?"

"However, you really should have at least let me help you with your horse."

"Why? She is so picky as it is about who handles her. I've been on the road long enough to be able to handle a saddle as it were. I do though appreciate having the stall all set up for me. Thank you for all of that."

"I'll remember to thank my staff, later on. Don't worry, all of that was accomplished hours ago. They all have strict orders as to what their expected schedules are to be and I have a reputation for finding insolence intolerable."

"I see….such a strict taskmaster you have become. Though of course, I deserve all the blame for that. You can forward their hate mail to me, if it pleases you to do so."

"I just might, so don't be too surprised. Though Eamon would merely just toss it all in the fireplace when it finally makes its' way to him. He doesn't have time to deal with mailing foolish gestures. If I insist on sending out anything so personal, I must do so directly and not bother him or waste his time. He has so many other more pressing matters to have to deal with, so he says."

"I'm sure he is right. I will remember to thank him for that when next we meet."

"I'm sure that you will." Alistair looked around until he found what he hoped would be a comfortable enough rock to sit down upon. "I know, all of this can't be easy for you. I really rather help with the horse next time and you don't have to prove to me how independent you truly are. I already understand that fact all too well. I am sure, your staff and even Roland wouldn't allow you to do all of that if it can be avoided. You can easily blame my manly pride on my attitude but some things just have be tolerated by women, even those who knock around archdemons, as it were."

"Labor and delivery are much more trying than killing dragons, I have discovered. But you must already know, Rory and I had decided against having any more children of our own."

"Yes, Eamon had mentioned it to me. I remember those trying days after Tabitha's birthing too well. Leliana had informed me when she and Fergus met up with me and I inquired about the birth. It did make this decision that much harder for us all to make. Malcolm, the Mage from the Tower, has me convinced that with his help, he can make this a lot less dangerous for you than your past experiences have been. Well, even Zeveran is remiss in your not coming to him to discuss herbs and such that could, well, make it a less painful experience for you both."

"I can only imagine…just remember, if I pass out, it may effect the outcome of the delivery. I am more than a little wary of medicines and their effects than some of my friends, so it would be."

"Than we will have to help to educate you so that you find our methods more trustworthy."

"So, were you really reading or were you just sharpening knives when I arrived here."

"Oh, so you doubt my sincerity? Granted, studying use to be something I went to some extremes to avoid in the past. I have since found it unavoidable. Though actually, I was reviewing some documents that need to be debated when I get back later to Amaranthine. As you must know, I do actually have a reason for being out here. It isn't merely to help manage and review the Grey Wardens. I am also assured that if I do not show my face out here from time to time, I will be required to shove down my fist more in the faces of those who like to think there is no rule here in Amaranthine. Funny how people like to forget that sometimes."

"That does make some sense. With such a busy port, piracy has always been a plague out here. I rather like it out here, so I don't mind visiting it once in awhile."

"That's good to hear. I was beginning to wonder what on this planet did Roland do for vacation? Surely he didn't expect you to visit the Deep Roads, to knock around darkspawn with the dwarfs as a form of entertainment?"

"He might? I haven't really asked him that lately."

"I do remember how much he seemed to enjoy taking out those orcs? I never liked them. Someone who considers slaying dragons as a professional career option or even a hobby, well…I just have a broader imagination it seems?"

"Roland is a trained knight. If something dangerous needs to be eliminated, he is well suited for the job. Not to mention his temperament is manageable, considering many of those who do the same work but cannot seem to keep themselves under control when not in a battlefield."

"That is true. I can't say though that I have quite figured out how the man handles working in the fields or spending too much time in the Bannorn, after living such an adventurous life?"

"We all have our own means of managing our stressful lives. Since you are well aware that we both work with the Wardens from time to time, you know, we do not chain ourselves to a farm all year long."

"Yes, yes, of course that too."

"Roland rarely works the fields much as it were. He manages them. Now that he has taken an interest in winemaking, that has kept him busy these last few years. I was busy with the baby so it was a good time for him to make such a transition."

"Please remind him that I still haven't received anything from your winery. I know they have sent a request but when I asked before I left it has yet to be fulfilled."

"I'll try to remember. It takes some time to produce a good bottle of wine. At least to our standards so I'm not surprised if orders have been delayed. If you remind me, I have some with me at Wardens Keep. I can't believe I didn't bring any with me this time? But I'm afraid that I haven't."

"That would be very thoughtful of you. Now though, it is getting late and you must be hungry? Remember, the temperature drops sharply when the sun sets out here."

"Oh, of course. I hadn't even thought much about eating right now." They both stood up and started to make their way back toward the wooded house.

"So, you say, there is no one else here? Not even a butler?"

"No. It was clearly stated that all of this must be done very discreetly. Not to worry though, as I mentioned, there were staff here and no, I did not cook. I'm the King and I don't have to cook for myself or anyone else, any longer."

"But they do cook for you, do they not? I mean, to your taste, right?"

"Of course. I would have it no other way. However, living with other people, even my cooks understands that they must prepare meals to the taste of other people. Considering I am quite fond of you, I assure you, the food here is very good and all sorts of delicacies I have been convinced must be included in a proper setting are stocked here in our larder."

"Good. Considering the fare at the Keep, hopefully I won't get too homesick before too long than."

"We have important work to accomplish here, so you will need a good appetite."

"That usually comes if the "work" is successful, at least that has been my past experience."

"In the past, I doubt you took such a task so seriously, am I right?"

"That is…well…debatable. Really, I believe it best that my own personal life not be discussed between us."

"As you wish. It is hard to just pretend that it isn't still going on. Even if it must be interrupted by this rather unusual request at the present time. Now, despite this home's rather secluded location, it has been greatly upgraded in years past! So, at least I hope you will make use of the bath indoors. I also noticed you were traveling rather light. I mean, for a princess and all."

"I… well, my main purpose for being here is to train Grey Wardens. Without Rory and the children, I tend to only take what I really need when I travel up here. I keep some things here year round, since I do sometimes have to attend formal functions at times. Often I will just purchase what I need as it were since I have little use for such formalities out in the Bannorn."

"No, I suppose not. That is why I asked for some help to stock up some apparel that you should find useful for your stay out here."

"I see…who could you turn to in Denerim for such a task? Surely the Queen is not your accomplice in all of this is she?"

"Ha, ha, oh wow, she is aware that some solutions have been taken into consideration but no. That would seem rather insensitive at least to me? Nor did I raid any of her closets for these items. Actually, I had Sanga and her girls shop for me. I just found a girl who most resembled you and explained my situation and well, than it was all taken care of."

"Seriously? And how did you explain all of this? A wardrobe for your…?"

"For my mistress? Something like that."

"Oh! I can only imagine what that woman must have come up with than. Don't expect me to wear anything she bought however."

"I see…now I am more than a little bit amused by your behavior. I was assured that you would be very entertaining under these circumstances. She is sure to be thoroughly amused and satisfied that you have lived up to her expectations."

"Does she know who I am? I didn't realize she is now such a familiar confident of yours?"

"She is a proprietor in Denerim. A very profitable one I might add as well as a shrewd business woman. If you don't believe me, ask your husband."

"You promised…"

"Sorry, just a slip. It was Sanga herself that brought up the fact that many of her clients are very uncomfortable with overly provocative women. Especially those less inclined to use her business on a more frequent basis. There might be at least something that appears to be more imaginative in there but for the most part, elegance, fabric, tailoring was the most important characteristics of what we had in mind. As for whom I bought all of this for? I'm sure she and her friends spend hours trying to guess but I have not revealed a thing. Which was very hard to do. She is very good at trying to trick people into revealing very important information. I am a little surprised you wouldn't expect me to use whatever means is possible to accomplish my goals? Sometimes, that might include getting information from certain Ambassadors who are less likely to speak with anyone but a simple, working girl. It really is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Even with your censored upbringing I'm sure someone in your family must have made you aware of this truth by now?"

"It isn't something we women relish talking much about but yes, I am aware of this method. It just makes me feel very uncomfortable, even knowing any of that is being used here, with me.."

"I could think of no other woman I could trust for such an important task as this one was? Having her do the purchasing spared me any embarrassing questions in the future. Sanga doesn't have enough money or influence to get such information out of me. Why, I even picked a redhead to use to describe you with. Just to amuse myself of course. I'm sure, she loves to imagine me so uncreative to pick a woman who barely resembles you in feature if not in stature of course."

"Of course. Than I will be grateful for that small consideration."

"Now however, I do not own this property, as yet. Rather remote for my needs, so hopefully you will find something you will wear and a bath is recommended of decent folks like us. I understand that you do not trounce around the Bannorn wearing your field armor, despite some of the rumors that travel around Fereldon taverns as it were. Not excluding the fact that I know you do not sleep separately from your spouse, as most royal couples have a custom of doing. So I cannot be convinced that you only wear flannel nightdres's to bed at night."

"So the rumors go, as it were. I have been informed that your Queen prefers it otherwise? How can that be?"

"How indeed. Rest assured she still feels the need to dress me up and goes through my drawers from time to time. Discarding whatever she deems is either too out of date or worn to be presentable for a king."

"If you changed those arrangements all of this might have been avoided."

"If I could have changed those arrangement I promise you, I would have. She was convinced otherwise however. After two years of this, well, it started to become understandable why my own father must have found the housekeepers distracting."

"But you, yourself did not?"

"No, seriously. For reasons I know you at least understand. My Queen, however enjoys entertaining many of her friends at my palace. I have warned her about some of them and well, what more am I expected to do? If she won't listen to my suggestions than, of course, there are consequences."

"I see. Time affects us all, doesn't it? I'm surprised than that you did not choose one of those friends to be your next Queen?"

"Why? I am not so foolish to trust a woman who would so easily betray her own friends? I have been careful and being tainted ..well…it has certain advantages of course."

"Of course. Somehow I still managed to conceive several times as it were."

"I know! Everyone is so impressed. I however know it was not all to the Bann's credit. I also know, Tara, that had Gilmore not shown up, our lives would have been much different."

"Possibly but the outcome, could have still be the same."

"It is possible though, that a small part, perhaps a very small part of you must still love me. You are right! We may still fail at this. I don't have much time to prove otherwise, unfortunately. I do know though, that had things been different, even if you insisted on sleeping somewhere else, I could never leave you alone for very long."

"I don't know Alistair, you had some rather disturbing habits. I too might find hard to live with on a daily basis."

"Funny how easy than it is for a man to find ways to convince you otherwise, isn't it?"

"Or how good men change their habits once they want to be married?"

"Well, I at least make an honest effort at it but then I have a lot of help as it were. Now, if you don't mind? If you can make yourself more comfortable, I will see about putting together some food that I hope you might eat."

"Very well. It would be good to get out of this armor. Please, don't expect too much from me. Already I am starting to feel a little tired."

"A nice bath should relieve you some of that fatigue I promise. There is a very nice array of bath implements that I'm sure will make it more comfortable to bathe in than your usual inn has to offer. Please make sure you take advantage of it."

"I suppose I need to get this over with. A bath does sound wonderful at the moment. It's seemed like such a long day today."

"Then find something to wear and I'll see to the water while you get ready."

Tara walked over to an armoires that contained quite a few hanging gowns within it. She thumbed through them, carefully inspecting each one before making up her mind which one she felt she could wear with some dignity before leaving to find the bathing chambers.

Walking now down a darkened hallway she peeked into one door and than another. One is these must be the right one, she thought becoming bothered. Finally she found the right door leading to the bath chamber.

Inside, she was mildly impressed. How could she not be? There was a beautiful mural painted as if a butterfly had spread it's wings and tossed a magical forest in it's wake. Tara suddenly felt like a child as she looked up to take in the magical view all around her. Someone put a lot of work into these drawings. She found herself thinking this was something her own daughter should have sketched and painted on her own bedroom walls. She might even do so in her own chambers? Though she wasn't too sure her husband would approve of something that may be too girlish for his palate.

On a golden stand, with several clam-like crystal shells there were bottles of all sorts of marvelous shapes and sizes. She reached down to pick one of them up to look for some type of description to it's contents.

"Ah, here it is, oooh, rosewater. Uhm…smells so lovely." She let out with a sigh of envy. Other bottles contained either bath oils or perfumes from some of the finest perfumers in Orlais.

Once she had decided on which one was to be her favorite, she liberally poured the smooth liquid across the water's surface. Watching how it flowed slowly and than tried to blend with the water.

She turned and found something to use for her hair, laying that on a tray set up close to the bath. Than checking the door to protect her modesty she than started to discard her traveling armor, piece by piece, onto a nearby chair until she stood ready to enter into her bath.

The water did prove to feel glorious. Laying back she felt suddenly at peace with herself. The pale greens and pinks, helped to add to her illustrious imagination. The panels of sheer fabric draping from the ceiling was a rather odd addition but she did like how they seemed to light up the darkening room. Soon, she just fell into her normal bathing routine. She began to hum a familiar song that reminded her of something her mother sang to them when she was quite young.

Soon lost in her fond memories of her dearly departed mother. She raised one of her long legs to start to wash it when she quickly got the sensation that someone else was now in the same room with her. She pulled her leg back down into the water in a rush to hide herself from her intruder.

"Ha, ha, oh, what? Did I startle you? I'm sorry, you didn't give me a chance to announce my presence after all. There are enough bubbles in that tub I believe to preserve your modesty. At least for the moment. As for your legs, I have seen them a few times before."

"It is hard to hide much when you spend so much time on the road as it were."

"Some of those days grew quite hot. It was unreasonable to be always trampling about in our heavy armor."

"Yes it was. Besides, all women have legs. I'm sorry I over-reacted so much."

"All women do. Not all women have legs such as yours. I thank the Maker for that. Women are distracting enough as it were."

"I never knew you to be so overly distracted by women, Alistair."

"Oh, no? Depends entirely on the woman so it would seem."

"That I can understand. What do you have there with you?"

"This? It's really nothing. A few things I found that looked like they should be eaten before they go bad. Does any of this look good to you?"

"Why yes, I love strawberries, especially when they are covered with chocolate."

"Really? I almost tossed them out, thinking it was a very strange combination."

"Can I have one, please?"

"Just one? I suppose they aren't the best of treats after all."

"Oh, they are, well, at least to me that is…"

"Than here, take a bite. Let's see if you really like these ones. Difficult to trust chocolate all of the time with their supplies."

"If you would just hand it to me, please?"

"Ah…no, just take a bite. Your hands will just taste like soap…and roses, maybe some citrus and cloves."

"I'll just hold it by its' stem if you would just allow me to take one of my own."

"No. Now take a bite or I will eat them all. Really, they aren't as bad as I thought they might be? Of course they taste much better with a good bottle of champagne."

"They do or a great bottle of wine."

"Would you like a glass than? Or would you rather wait until you have finished up in here?"

"Umm…just let me have sip of yours. I'll eat another strawberry and than you may leave so that I can get dressed."

"I must leave? I was feeling rather comfortable right here, milady."

"I think it would be for the best. Now I am getting so hungry! I hope there is some turkey or ham to eat."

"No, I'm afraid that I ate all of that waiting for you to finish off with your bath."

"That would prove you to be a very poor host than if you did. I know full well that you have quite an appetite. I have to trust however there has to be some food in there that even you will not eat and I will not be left to starve."

"We still have these strawberries left? Though not too long if you don't hurry up now. I know you must be hungry. You always are because of the taint."

"Ooohh…why is it that whenever anyone mentions the taint I start thinking about those horrid darkspawn and what they left around, almost everywhere they crawled through..? Rory was simply forbidden to even bring up the subject when I was ever pregnant least it caused me to lose my meal."

"Oh, well, I'm sure you just ate again, right? No, wait, I was just teasing!

I will try my best not to speak of it but considering we are working with the Grey Wardens presently, I might slip now and than."

"I know, it is almost impossible to avoid. Now leave here please. I don't care if you eat all of the strawberries. It won't look well for you if you do but I need a moment to calm my poor stomach. Try to distract myself from those terrible memories right now. Here, I felt so at peace for a time just lying here, enjoying how lovely this room had been decorated. Than you come along to spoil it all for me."

"It wasn't my intension, I promise you. I will leave but don't expect me to leave you enough time to drown yourself. Some things even a king will not tolerate."

"I am sure there are many things on that particular list of things. So go before I change my mind. I still have a fast horse waiting for me in the barn."

So he leaves her thinking that he never seems to get these moments just right? Of course, not all women are as stubborn as this particular one was. Than again, he found women who were too easy to manipulate rather boring very quickly. This woman however, he knew too well. This thought brought a huge smile to his face as he walked back into the kitchen to prepare a plate of food to feed her with. He had grown up quite a bit since their time making their way through Fereldon to save it from complete disaster. As Alistair started to uncover plates looking for certain items of food, he wondered how much of that was a good thing?

Meanwhile, Tara couldn't seem to resist the urge to wipe a towel across a standing, fog covered, looking glass, to see how she looked in this new gown. She noted that there were no dressing gowns and this disappointed her. She found it too hard not to at least try one of the many perfumes tempting her to try them on. In decanters that seemed to calling out for her to, "try me! no me!" She relented deciding it was probably an act of mercy on her part. Nothing was going to change the outcome of all of this. She might as well take advantage of the situation as it were.

Finally, she gathered up her courage and well, her appetite for good food also lead her to find out what Alistair was up to now. She found him eating a sandwich with all sorts of things smushed up together. She reached over for a champagne glass and he quickly set down his food to fill up her glass for her.

"Thank you very much. I see I must not have taken long enough for you eat everything left here for us to eat."

"No, but my attempt, I assure you, was a valiant one."

"I'll concede you that one. Ah, this is what I am craving right now. I really do want more of those strawberries but I rather eat them after I have something more nutritious to eat first." Gathering up meats, cheese and fresh bread to put together a sandwich of her own, she than found a seat to eat her food daintily.

"I see you choose the green over the red, black or white to wear. Not that I'm too surprised."

"It seemed the most modest choice. The others just seemed, so, inappropriate for this evening."

"Better to start out that way. Though as far as modesty goes, actually the white one was…as you say, modest."

"Depends on ones' taste I suppose?"

"Or ones figure, I might add. Not that both of us might have felt rather uneasy if you had chosen that one. Considering the circumstances."

"Hardly anything so religious. I feel a little too old to play the young bride. It would almost seem unsacred for me to think so? I am the mother of two very beautiful children after all."

"Your son, looks too much like his father. Your daughter though, she is such a beauty. I think all of us at the palace agree that you must have looked so much like her when you were just a young child. If we are to have a daughter, my only wish is that she resemble you as much as possible."

"We have no way of determining such things as it were. I will love any child of mine. How can a mother not?"

"Some though, it seems, struggle with the task, I'm sorry to say. I am grateful to hear you say you will not be so negligent with any child of your own. I never thought that you could be. You have been so kind to everyone we have encountered. I mean with those who deserved it. We were not so kind to our sworn enemies. I'll admit it. I so wanted to kiss you when you nodded to give me permission to finish off Loghain. Never in my life, so far, had I ever felt a head needed to be severed than at that very moment.

It was over. Finally. Well, not really over but at least we didn't have to keep watching our backs, knowing we had someone with too much influence, plotting endlessly to take what was never theirs to have."

"I do appreciate your restraint at that moment. I doubt Rory would have let you off so lightly if you did something like that. I am never quite sure what he will do before he does it? I just didn't want to see you two fight against each other, especially because of me."

"No, and I knew this. I had told him I would respect your choice. Even if it was perhaps one of the most painful acts I have ever had to play."

"Alistair, you know, I never meant to hurt you. I ..had no idea…no…hope ..in believing Rory survived. Even if he did, I had it in my mind that he had moved on past me, as it were."

"Would that he really had, at least for my sake. Am I the greater man for stepping aside and not fighting for what I believed was truly to be my own? Than again, what did I really have?"

"Much more than you yourself give yourself credit for no doubt. Morrigan was no help, I understand. Rather than help to educate you more, she only saw you as a tool in her plot to shape our history."

"Even in that, I do not entirely judge her harshly for her actions. Who doesn't want to see a better world? Just what was her idea of better? That is what I often questioned. Even then, I did what I felt I had to do. You knew that I would. I was so in love with you. How I wished it was me that you longed for late at night. Or want to cuddle up in my lap when the nights grew cold. How much I missed having you lean up against me when the winds blew fierce and you used me to keep you from the freezing cold chill. So many memories I store here, in my heart, just of you."

"You always were so sweet, Alistair. It was such a hard choice to have to make. I just spent my whole life, running away from the fear of being locked up in some castle, kept away from anything more worthwhile in life. It was by accident that I fell so deeply in love with Rory but it was a wonderful, if often scary one, at times. I know, he braved so much just to be alone with me. I honestly felt I couldn't live without him. When I felt I had lost him forever…I hadn't much hope for what the future might hold out for me. I knew in time, probably once my parents were old enough to not bother much with me, I would find a way to travel and hope for something more out of life."

"We both had that in common, didn't we, for awhile. But fate is not so kind to those of us who are royal born. How could I live out my life, knowing, I had just walked away from the opportunity to make Fereldon a safe place to grow up in? I cannot tell you how many times I wanted to just pass the crown over to Anora or at least Eamon. Anything to be free to live out my own life."

"In many respects, Alistair, you did just that. We all know that Teryn Guerrin makes all of the important decision here in Fereldon. That Teagan advises you on all matters of importance."

"He does but at least in that you cannot fault me with. What King doesn't have a slew of advisors in his Court to help him keep perspective? I have the added burden of being without a son or any heir to have to deal with."

"I know. I also know that you have tried. I don't know why this has been so hard on you. Why the fates have been so cruel in this regard."

"To think I gave up on pursuing you because I was so sure I could at least produce one child to wear the crown and let me be finally at peace."

"I had already made my choice, Alistair. I did not choose Rory just because he was not the king. He is my tie to my past. My anchor to all that was good about my life. I just felt that a man as handsome as you are would find more than enough women to please you because you were now the King."

"You thought too much than, instead of too little. I am sure there are other women out there like you but where are they to be found, Tara? I know not. If I had more time, maybe, I could find her. I just know, Tara, that I never found anyone who could ever make me love you any less."

"You really think too well of me than. I truly am happy with my life. I did not enjoy always being on the battlefield. I enjoy the traveling, seeing and meeting new people. I suppose my position entitled me to more of that than your average Fereldon. I also though cherish so much, just waking up in the morning to my family. How the sun rises over the hills in the morning and having my children running up to greet me each new day. Rory is so good to me. To our children. He has helped so many people try to overcome their circumstance but isn't afraid either to put a man in his place if he feels the need arises. I never needed so much luxury in my life. Just the love of my family and my friends."

"And you think I would never have been happy living such a life?"

"Oh, I don't really know, Alistair? You enjoy having attention. It seems despite there being so many lovely women out there, still none of them could ever satisfy you? I just don't understand how that can truly be?"

"No, I don't expect that you would. Than again, you have not lost so much either. I won the crown but lost the woman that I loved. How can that be such a grand triumph? If Beatrice could have had a child, maybe than, I might be able to understand how your life must be like. I am hardly the only man she has ever slept with, at this point. So, you really cannot blame my feeble obsession to be the cause of why we have no children. My brother also had no children as it were. It may have eventually created a Civil War. Destroying too much good in its' wake."

"Yes, Rory and I have discussed it at length. None of us want to have to live through any of that. I don't believe Conner has any desire to take on the throne and we do not need another weak king. My children, would struggle because of the choices I know I had to make. Fergus could rule, Maker protect us, but with a wife who has Orlesian ties, it might be difficult for her. None of us therefore have given up completely the hope of preserving the Theirin line for Fereldon."

"Than, despite this obvious reluctance on your part, you are ready to at least try to see if we can make a miracle come true?"

"Alistair, I don't think even you have the capacity to understand how much I love my family. I would easily give up my own life for any of them. I have loved strangers who I barely met just because they too deserve to feel wanted and not afraid. I loved you, more than even that much. If I can give you a child, to ease your heart and your soul, to save my own children a cruel fate, I will do what must be done. We know I can get with child under normal circumstances. If it truly is your heart that is preventing you to have a child than let us hope this settles it all."

"Well, that does take some of the romance out of it, doesn't it?"

"Alistair, please…don't make this any harder than it is for us."

"Hum…at least allow me to try to lead us back to a time when we were not so antagonistic toward each other, please? We had a lot of fun along the way when you allowed yourself to just be you, rather than someone else's wife or intended. This will be easier on us both if we do this."

"I'm sorry. This just isn't very easy for me to do."

"No and I would like perhaps less of you if it was not so, with anyone else that is. I just remember, pacing outside of Morrigan's hut, fearing the worse for you. Neither of them would let me see you. I was furious over that. Morrigan went so far as to tell me that you were so horribly disfigured, even your own parents wouldn't recognize you. It was best I be prepared for the worst. You probably wouldn't survive those horrible injuries as it were."

"She did enjoy pulling the wool over your eyes, a little too much. Were you greatly disappointed that she lied to you and I lived?"

"Depends on the day. Of course I was overjoyed to see how well you looked and that she was just lying to amuse herself."

"So like Morrigan. Her humor was a little raw at times. Being female I found her to be less troublesome over all. Though it was my task to keep the peace and get us through it all. I always had Shale to discourage me, if ever I became confident we were to get through any of this victoriously."

"I never would have guessed she was a girl though. What a surprise that was, wasn't it?"

"It was! Though I thought if it was a male, it was not too much of the masculine type and probably not comfortable as a man either way."

"Well, a woman who can smash you with her fists, fails somewhat in the femininity department any ways."

"I will try not to tell her you mentioned that, Alistair. Does one have to look so much a certain way or act a certain way to be one sex or the other?"

"If we are talking particularly about sex, than my answer has to be yes. For me as it is. Some men do not suffer from my taste in women."

"It wouldn't do though for all men to desire only one particular type of woman unless all men were of one type or shape, does it now? I am content with our many difference."

"To each their own, right? You, no matter how much metal you choose to dangle about yourself, still cannot escape how feminine you behave. I have to admit, it was very entertaining, how a new piece of armor was as exciting to you as a silk gown or flowers are."

"Ha, ha that much is true! I still treasure my armor very much. It has to fit well or else I will just be hitting myself with my sword. What good does that do me in a fight? Rory would sometimes wear this armor that I swear, I had to practically duck whenever he turned around to address me. At least once did he smack me in the head while suddenly turning too quickly. Your head seems to feel like a pin being knocked around whenever something like that tends to happen. Bad enough when it is someone else's sword or arrow hitting off of your helmet."

"How many times did we say, "that was too close?" I can't seem to even remember?"

"Too often to even count. Here, are you finished now with your food?"

"Why?"

"I need to get this all put away. It will attract flies if I don't."

"Just cover it up, Put those plates back in the baskets. It will all be gone in the morning when the staff arrives for it."

"In the morning? Hopefully not too early. I see a long walk is in order if I don't want to be seen out here."

"Yes, I hadn't really thought about that. We can go for a ride out if you prefer? Whatever suits you. I have no preferences or places to be this weekend."

"That's good since I have a very busy week ahead of me with the Wardens."

"Than let me wash up some here. I'll be right back."

He left the room, eager to change himself now and move on to what really must be started on this month. It was rather odd, this feeling, as if it was the honeymoon he always longed for but never really would have. Under the right conditions though, Tara would be much more playful and romantic. Some of that was in her nature and he knew it didn't take too much to trick it out of her. Already, he knew he would be able to win her over at least for a little while.

He felt a little nervous. The way she would make him blush or feel so terribly inexperienced when things got too close, too intimate, between them. This was something he knew he had to control around her least she start thinking again he hadn't either aged or matured over their years apart. It was just something that experience had to temper over time.

He smiled though back at himself. Age had done him no harm at all. It had only tanned him better and given his physic more substance. He knew just by the numerous invitation that came pouring in for his attendance month after month that his popularity was not waning at all. It was only one person though that he desired to be so very desired by and here, even she now couldn't resist his plea for assistance. It did seem too good to be true but then often, it was good to be the king.

"What?!"

"Don't be so alarmed, Tara. I've been told and well, experience has taught me that this is a good way for a couple to get know each other better."

"I..I don't like being blindfolded like this…" Trying now to reach up to push the clothe away from her hidden vision.

"Ah, ah! It's only I and I have no real, wicked intent here except to help ease your nervousness around me. As well as help you focus better on your own senses. I'm just going to focus on you for a short while. I have a lot of you to become familiar with and I don't want you to be distracted by anything else in the room while I do."

"Really? Must we play these type of games? I feel so foolish at the moment."

"Than let me help ease your mind. You're so beautiful, Tara. You know how precious you are to me. I'm so grateful to have you here with me, like this. I don't know if you can ever understand how much I have needed you. Your comfort and your love. It seems like a lifetime, some nights.

That doesn't matter now. Only that you trust me when I say that I love you. Even though you hurt me so much when you turned your love away from me. Now, at least I have the opportunity of really showing you what you hastily gave away. It seems, somehow, even the Maker will not let me get away with losing your love. So, it must be this way. For me to keep the peace in Fereldon.'

"If only the Maker was as kind to me. You're a handsome, man, Alistair. So many other woman would surely love to be in my place right now."

"Tara, my love, you know that I only want good things for you. Situations like this one, they happen from time to time. Even I don't understand everything about life. These are not circumstances I ever wished for the two of us. You deserve so much more but try as I may, I have not been able to change your heart. I have accepted this fate, the best that I can. At least you cannot deny that my feelings, after all of these years, have not changed. No matter how hard I tried to trick my heart into believing otherwise, it seems to no avail. I have no desire to dishonor you or to bring any shame to your family. Why would I do such a thing to someone that I love so much? I've accepted and honored your choices. Still, I must accomplish this one task, more than anything else in my life.

I have loved and been loved. For that, I am truly grateful. It seems though there must be something more to all of this since still, I have no heir. I have been left with no other option. It matters too much who I choose to bear any child with. Even though I understand that you will not leave your husband, even to accomplish such an important task, I know, as long as I acknowledge and set this child as my heir, it will have the greatest chance of keeping the throne, uncontested. So I will love you and you will love me, for no child deserves to be made of anything less than all of our love intertwined together."

"Oh, Alistair, I do not understand any of this? How it can only be this way? Yet, I have always found myself uneasy with my fate. So many times. I cannot even count them all. Just, please, promise me, you will not use any of this to hurt Roland. Don't let greed or jealousy bring any more distress to my dear husband. I promised to do what must be done. If you cross him, you cross me. Too much depends on my well being. Do your best to never forget this truth."

"And thus a bastard will beget a bastard. I'm sure that will go over so well among the nobles."

"It was never my wish for this to be the way of things. I cannot however leave my family. I see no more honor in any of that. We did think of letting Fereldon believe it would be the Queen's child."

"She has too much pride for such a thing. Deception with so many eyes upon me didn't seem reasonable."

"It would be so difficult for me to hide this fact as well. At least Rory agreed that we must put the child's welfare first. I could not just give away my own child. Even under such, scandalous, conditions. Better to play the part of a surrogate, than to have a child believe I did not want anything to do with it. I just couldn't be that cruel."

"You feared that the Queen would be an unsympathetic mother?"

"I didn't know what to think, under these circumstances. Had she come to me, pleading for my help, things could have been different. She did not however and I have heard nothing to change this opinion of her as being resentful of me and my children."

"I'm sorry you have been told such things. Despite my feelings for you I was never cruel to Beatrice. She made things difficult for me from the very beginning. Still, I put my own feelings aside and did what I could to work under such demands. Our success remained empty."

"Did you even discuss any of this, with her?"

"I couldn't. So often she has accused me of being more familiar with you than I ever was. She even tried to say that your son was not Roland's, because we traveled around together during the Blight. Apparently there were rumors about us?"

"How could anyone question that Rodney is Roland's son? The resemblance is so striking?"

"Most of your family have red hair Tara. I promise, I have denied it vehemently. It was insulting to me to think she would even believe I would not take responsibility for any child of my own."

"Are you so sure you have no children?"

"Can you imagine anyone who would allow me to do such a thing and not have to answer for my actions? I'm not perhaps as promiscuous as you suppose, maybe?"

"I'm sorry, that was wrong of me to suppose so."

"It was but I forgive you. I have been careful if not always as faithful as I really wanted to be. I have no ill feelings toward the Queen, at least that she didn't earn. I do not blame her for being childless. She is wrong to create other reasons why it is so though. Especially when she made things so difficult for me from the very beginning."

"So it would seem. It's so rare when Rory and I must be apart. Even before we were married, I didn't like us sleeping apart. I don't understand why a wife would desire it otherwise?"

"Not all couples find it that comfortable to sleep with another person so I have been told."

"Yes, I suppose they have their reasons for this. Just as I enjoy feeling safe and protected this way. But I love him so much. I want to be with him all of the time. I guess I am spoiled since he feels the same way."

"Doesn't that become uncomfortable at times? I mean if one is ill or cannot sleep? Taking up your space in the bed?"

"Ha, ha, sometimes it is uncomfortable. Especially with a new baby in the home. Rory enjoys children so much though, his only concern is rolling on top of it in his sleep. We sleep against each other so space isn't so much of an issue with us. Poor Rory, he sleeps so little and he enjoys reading late at night. I too first felt I was making him feel uncomfortable because I need more sleep but he assures me he is fine as things are. Like me, he sleeps better when we are together. Why, it isn't surprising to come home and find all or at least one of my children asleep in our bed. It seems even our own children rest uneasily when one of us is away from home."

"Your children sleep with you? That's rather unconventional isn't it?"

"Not usually. Only if they have nightmares or one of us is away if they ask to. We don't encourage the behavior, of course not. But when you need to sleep and so do they, you rather ease their distress than both of you going without any rest. It doesn't happen often."

"That's good to hear. I couldn't imagine Gilmore putting up with such behavior nightly."

"Ah, well, yes, life is quite an adventure when you have children. We could put the burden entirely on our staff but we feel this sort of intimacy is important between family members. We want to protect our children and have them trust that they will come to us in times of trouble. Sometimes, it is inconvenient but once they fall asleep you can put them back into their own beds if need be. If we are tired and just want to sleep we may wait until the morning but we try not to do that very often."

"I suppose this explains why you only have two children than?"

"No, Alistair, how much information do you share with Eamon? We have been pregnant before but not successfully. There are other rooms in our house if need be, as far as intimacy goes and children."

"I could hardly expect Gilmore to be so put off, even with children to think of."

"Is this where I'm suppose to remain silent and pretend that only my husband is the author of any encounters we share between us?"

"That is entirely up to you. I know you well enough to know that would not be true. You are so committed to this man. I find it difficult to understand sometimes? Maybe it just stems from the fact that I wanted so much more for you. You have been trained and proven a wise diplomat. So many things, that could be accomplished, if only I did have a Queen who was as well suited to me as you often have been."

"You see this perhaps because I too have gone through the horrors of war and lived to discuss them firsthand. I have seen so many disputes from the past that could have been overcome with the proper authority and negotiations. You have done a good job and you have surrounded yourself with able leaders, Alistair, I help when I can. I refuse to completely ignore my family to serve my Country. Delegating responsibility is very important."

"True. Finding those who are capable and trustworthy to the task, is more of a challenge. I must put too much on Eamon and Teagan. The later continues to blame me for his own troubles."

"It would appear to be the truth, though, isn't it?"

"No, I mean, we have our duties to perform. He works my schedule however and I am no child. He wanted to be my secretary so it was done."

"So you suspect he has other reasons for putting his own marriage off?"

"It's possible. She's a lovely woman. She seems intelligent enough. How she will deal with the demands of his work, remains to be seen."

"Is he afraid she will be too much like the Queen?"

"Maybe? I appreciate his caution for one day he may be called upon to be our Regent here in Fereldon. It is important that she neither rejects this duty nor exploits it."

"I understand. Though my brother is as stubborn as our old man. I don't see him losing his life before his time. From what I can see, the Queen does what must be done."

"If only she was more of an asset to Fereldon. I'm sure she felt some of this time would have been devoted to child rearing but she rather follow idol indulgences rather than more political ones."

"I'm sorry you did not discover these traits before you two married. I enjoy traveling. It is interesting getting to meet different people and doing what can be done to improve the lives of so many here in Fereldon. That is our most important service as nobles, is it not?"

"Not all my dear. For some, it is to appear glamorous, untouched by the ugliness of poverty and despair. To inspire others to worship and adore us. Since not all of us can be noble born and surely the Maker has a purpose for those people as well."

"Such talk, coming from you, Alistair."

"That has never been my stance and you know that. I enjoy nice things but I do not always expect them. I do not find them all that necessary for my happiness. All of this here, is more in my effort to please you, than just myself. Except to say that if I can please you, you will be more pleasant through this ordeal. I just wanted you to understand what I must deal with on regular basis. Have you ever wondered if it is possible to love two men, equally?"

"Equally? I do not know. I will not be your mistress, Alistair, you understand this to be true. Honestly, I don't even have the time for such a lifestyle."

"I could demand it of you, if I wish? I much rather you just be my lover, without too many complications however."

"It is not what I wish for us. You know that."

"I know nothing and will assume nothing. I will promise to give you whatever you wish, if it is in my power to do so."

"Now you have filled your head with fantasies of the Maker, my dear. You are my King, not my Maker. Nor my husband. To make such demands of me, would turn what love I do have for you astray. That would not do, if you honestly hope for a son and an heir to your throne."

"Well, put in such a light, I hadn't really thought of myself on so high a level. Maker forgive me for my brash behavior. Andraste was a very beautiful woman. Even the Maker himself was weakened by his desire for all of her. Of course she was not needed to produce an heir to the throne either? Though you may find your fates, similar, we are under a more delicate arrangement.

It does make me wonder though, was there a sexual attraction between the two of them? I don't seem to recall anything at that level, as there is for the two of us."

"None that I seem to recall? However, her husband was driven to madness."

"It would not go well with you to do the same to my own husband."

"He is merely a Bann, Tara. What honest threat is he to my reign? You couldn't even rely on your brother to take up arms against me for such a cause."

"No, that is true however I am the one that has that kind of power and you must understand and be aware of this?"

"Yes, I am quite aware, my Lady, of the hold and influence you have over many of the people of Fereldon. I bestowed that gift to you. We can only be together as equals. No matter what, as the Heroine of Fereldon, only I stand as your equal. Which I humbly do so with all of my love for you and your service to our people."

"If we learned nothing else, it is that even a King can be brought down, if necessary."

"By you? Already you have made me suffer in ways no man should ever have to suffer, especially a King. It would be interesting to note how you propped me up on this pedestal only now to try to bring me down? My fair, sweet, lady. In many ways, my presence here is proof that I am completely and utterly defeated. Not by your sword or the might of your commands but the worst and most cruel of them all, you have enslaved my heart. Chained it up so securely that no one else has been able to claim it as their own. I can think of no more cruel of a fate."

"Alistair, you are mistaking love and lust I'm afraid, my friend. You seem to want to believe I am capable of loving two men equally, at the same time? Why not you, yourself than? Do you long for Beatrice the same way that you do for me?"

"You already knew the answer to that question before you asked it of me. Oh, that I could find that other woman! I have tried and tried. A woman can captivate my attention but none have ever been able to reach the heart of me? I fear I would have to be reborn, in another place once again, in a different situation to meet another woman like you.

My love, why must I be reincarnated to finally find the peace that only true love can bring to one's own heart?"

"I can love you Alistair, always, as your true and dearest of friends. If we succeed at this, hopefully ,this child will help you find the peace of mind that you so fervently seek."

"I will always long for you, Tara, you know this right? Yet, I too believe that our child can at least offer me some of the love you will always so selfishly deny to me. It shouldn't be this way but so it is. I know full well, if I ever brought you any harm, all of Fereldon would rise up against me. How one woman can endear so many nobles in such a short life, only great Andraste can understand.

Right now, just let me love you and let us be lovers once more. Even if it will be at most, a mere illusion of what our love could have been."

"Just please remind me, what reward am I to gain by doing all of this for Fereldon?"

"I will share with you all of my love. The Maker will hopefully reward our children with peace and prosperity. A strong Fereldon will not attract new enemies but repel them from their foolish desires to suffer by our swords. Only if though we follow the will of the Maker. Only if, we keep our Country united will this peace be ever lasting. I know, you know this is true.

I know too, holding you in my arms, finally… being able to touch you, feel how soft you are, how sweet it is to be able to press my lips against you once more, is a joy, a fulfillment, of all that I am, as a man."

"Than love me more, Alistair. I know until I have fulfilled my pledge to you, I will not have the true freedom to be with my family once more."

"I am not preventing you from seeing your family, am I?"

"You are preventing, interfering, with my role as my husband's wife. The longer you keep me away from him, the more tiresome the days will grow for us both, I'm afraid."

"You seem to have it in your heart that I cannot even hope to distract you from such things, even now. I promise that in time, you will miss it less and less."

"How is it, that you have grown into this over confident fool? To think you can influence my heart so easily or distract me so much now, when you never could before?"

"You will see in time. Since it is either my task to have you leave me with either the love of two men or something new to you, altogether. Either way, I will teach you, what it is you should know by now."

"I just can't believe you find me so easily swayed in such matters?"

"Perhaps, you doubt yourself as a student? Or that I can teach you new ways of seeing things? My love, nothing here is by chance. Everything has been carefully planned and orchestrated. Of course to please you. As well as to help you please me. As the Maker designed it for us to be."

"We will see than, shan't we? I hope I don't disappoint you than too much. Just don't ever fool yourself into believing that I am deceiving myself or my heart as to whom the fates have determined me to love.""I have no doubts in you or the fates. I can't even explain why I feel that we will succeed where I have failed so bitterly in the past. I just, know, it isn't just myself, who sees this. So very strange. But now, I have spent enough time talking when what I truly need to hear are your sighs and sweet whispering in my ear.

This gown on you, is quite lovely. It is time now for us to focus on things that are much lovelier still."

The grounds of Warden's Keep in Amaranthine were neatly swept. There were even long trails of vines, growing freely along the ancient stone fortress that once held the Arl of Amaranthine's rather pompous family in days past. There was heavy construction taking place on the Eastern wall of the Keep, in an effort to reinforce the stronghold for future defenses.

Looking around you will find groups of Wardens, some honing their skills while others, working hard to acquire new ones. One could hardly recognize that this Keep took on a heavy blow from an unexpected darkspawn attack from below. The Kingdom looked to their fellow Dwarfish allies to help them layout and construct a defensive barrier against underground tunneling. While scholars were found about investigating ancient runes, artifacts of special interest. Lord Teagan took a moment to revel in this great achievement but not without reminiscing over the price, all Fereldon's paid for betrayal and a deception served up from some of their very own. This knowledge weighed heavily on his shoulders as he started to walk once more to meet up with the visiting King. Much still had to be determined before he would feel safe living in Fereldon once more.

Picking up his pace as he was welcomed past the heavy gate that was drawn up at this time to allow Wardens and their partners to conduct business. Teagan now made his way up a double flight of stairs to where Alistair usually conducted his business while visiting here.

"Your Majesty, the Arl of Redcliffe is here to seek an audience, if you please."

"If he…well never mind all of that. A simple announcement of my presence is sufficient. As the King's secretary, I have full access to His Majesty. Best mind your own post and learn of this well."

"Ha, ha, Teagan, sorry about that. Give him some time, he'll catch on. Now than, Ser Humphrey, I believe you will find that the Wardens will serve as excellent business partners. Your goods could be trusted in no better hands. As for those looking to serve the Wardens? I will pass along your offer to our Purchasing Officer and let them see if you have something we need. We get so many new offers since we have opened up a branch of Wardens out here."

"Of course, your Majesty. It will be an honor to serve you and the Grey Wardens. You are planning on attending our Winter Solstice, I do hope! Oh, it is a grand occasion and so many people just find the time to mingle, just have some fun. It off sets any cause for the Winter blues, so we like to say. Due to our seaside location, we often attract other dignitaries who enjoy traveling by ship or boat to a more colorful location." The well dressed if somewhat stout middle aged man promoted.

"I believe it is on my schedule for this season, is that right, Arl?"

"So far, unless something tragic comes upon us. We are pleased that you have put your trust in the Grey Wardens. Perhaps, you might consider extending your invitation to our senior members here? That is if you have the facilities for such an addition of course? You will find that Wardens make for very entertaining story tellers. Not to mention a deterrent against those outsiders who might have some mischief on their minds!"

"You…you…aren't expecting any trouble…are you?"

"Of course not! Not that trouble will announce itself properly upon troubling your honored guests. That is why, it might be wise to reconsider your guest list, perhaps? I know the King and I would feel much more welcome if we didn't have to depend entirely on our own soldiers to secure this event."

"A very wise idea, Arl. Allow our members to meet the people, fellowship and also send the message that Amaranthine is secured? I do want the people here to understand that I have no tolerance for insubordinate behavior in my Kingdom. I love business people who do their business following the terms of my Government. The rest are not welcome here."

"Of course, your Majesty. I believe we can make arrangements to accommodate your elite members. It would be wise to limit our invitation to those of distinction. New recruits, well, who knows where they came from? I mean, we welcome all Grey Wardens but not all of them would find our gathering as comfortable, to their tastes as it were. .."

"I understand you completely. I promise we will only extend your invitation to our very best behaved and most socially experienced members. It takes some time to train up a superior Warden. Though, one has to be above the rest, just to be offered membership and we have more than a few noble's within our ranks to call upon."

"Oh, yes, uhm…so..uhm word has it that well, our very own Hero of Fereldon might be among your ranks presently…is that so?"

"We try to keep her whereabouts private, unless it is necessary for her to make her presence known, publicly."

"Completely understandable. Such a fine young lady. So well liked among the nobles, I dare say. If those rumors turn out to be, well, of course, she is most welcome to attend. Not that anyone of my sort would ever deny her entrance, still, we would like it to be known she is entirely welcome to our Winter event."

"We will pass along that information, Ser…"

"Humphery…very well. I must tend to other matters now if you will excuse me, please." The King motioned for the man to make his exit while Teagan decided he needed a drink.

"How do these folks get their information? No one announced that Lady Tara would be here for training have they?"

"No but that doesn't stop even new Wardens to speak out or merchants along the trade route to not recognize her when she is traveling."

"No, apparently not."

"So do you think she would be at all interested in such an event?"

"Argh…who knows? I won't until I inform her of it. I doubt she knows or at least she has said nothing to me about it yet."

"We have much to speak of my friend. First though, Eamon sent these papers for you to sign. Than, you must tell me how your weekend turned out. Even the old man can't hide his curiosity."

"He's ancient, why is he so interested?"

"One is never too old I have found out for salacious behavior. Of course my brother's interest is merely for the sake of the Crown. He has his heir. Apparently, that gives him leave to bother himself with our affairs."

"As it were…"

"Well, even he does not expect certain details to be put on paper, except perhaps your personal diary, that is."

"Ah, so you can auction it off when I am gone?"

"Or use as fodder for the scandalous book I have to write upon your demise. It is very rare one of the Royal Court can count on becoming a Regent in our times anyways."

"Anything can and will happen, my dear Arl. I can at least trust you not to embellish my story too much."

"What would be the need, your Majesty? I can count on your doing all of that for me in advance. My chore will be trying to edit it down to avoid too many scandals or angry nobles."

"You speak as if I was already a tyrant? I still have a few more years to make my mark on Fereldon."

"Indeed you do. Now if you will hand those papers back, tell me how did things go for you two?"

"Let us take a walk. As I remind you that I am first and foremost a gentleman of the highest order."

"I see…maybe in your younger days…perhaps. Noble enough but than, nobles can be rather mischievous as our history reminds us, all too well."

"This is true. Have I told you that I have been reading through some of my father's old journals?"

"No, not that I recall. How honest do you believe them to be?"

"I find that reading words written by a man who should have known me as a son, difficult. I have no real connection with this man, except by blood. He has brought up concerns about my brother's enthusiasm. Even he had some eerie feelings in regards to his friend's, daughter, being a match for Cailan. Really, my brother should have taken a keener interest in our father's work."

"It might have benefited him some perhaps? The Blight hit him too early in his career. I mean to be completely fair to the man. He had no honest experience, much like most of you in the beginning?"

"Than again, who would think your own father-in-law would betray you so badly? I mean, his own daughter's husband?"

"The man was mad, Alistair. It happens in nobility over time. My brother was busy with his own affairs. Pity he didn't have more influence over the King. We have a matter to discuss concerning this, after you tell me more about your encounter with Lady Gilmore."

"Please, Teagan, you know, you just said that to get me riled up now."

"Well, I, at least can discern that all went as was expected. At least enough to keep our Wardens here with their heads still upon their shoulders. Had it not gone well, I am sure frustration would not have allowed you to conduct any serious Warden business today."

"Sometimes, I fear you know me too well? Of course, not everything."

"I can read receipts if that is what you are hinting at, your Majesty."

"What of them?"

"Oh, I'm not complaining. If anything, compared to the Queens' expenses, this woman is greatly underappreciated."

"She is not my Queen either."

"As a matter of speaking…true. Not that you have not ever or even often think it to be so."

"I admit, I am a little obsessive on this matter. You have only yourselves to blame. Had your brother not pushed the matter, who knows what would happen to the monarchy?"

"I'm just disappointed, that merely your charms failed to win her over."

"I doubt that you really are that concerned. It doesn't matter because well…I am a happy man, if not a settled one."

"Ha, ha, ha, I knew it! We must celebrate than!"

"It isn't like the first time…after all."

"Isn't it? Or should I say, wasn't it? You cannot tell me you were the least bit disappointed in such a conquest! Oh, my brother…well…at least you will get a sneaky smile out of the old man. That I can guarantee you. He might even be jealous."

"Is that so? And you?"

"No comment. I'm more than fifteen years her senior. I might have had a chance, if she didn't have that lusty, knight after her tail."

"You like her, I know it."

"I do feel a certain lost opportunity but not as much as you do, my friend."

"No, she is probably too tame for the likes of you. I prefer my women as my equals not into any sort of bondage activity."

"Don't knock it until you try it."

"Very funny. No thank you. I am definitely making some time this evening to work out. I appreciate the incentive."

"It is my duty, Sire. Now than, since you are not acting like a little school boy, I'd say the cat still has claws and was not the playful kitten you dreamed she would be."

"It was challenging. Of course she kept reminding me that she was married. Had a husband. As if I had amnesia or some sort of malady like that one."

"Of course. Still, was it all that bad?"

"You really are bored, aren't you? Didn't you get back to see your intended this week?"

"Barely. I had to hire staff, make sure everything was set up for your little private party in Sherwood Forest."

"She did like the strawberries and champagne."

"Oh, good let me make a note of it. Do you think if we continue to serve those items at our social functions she might question your trust?"

"I rather we not do that. At least don't make it too obvious."

"As you wish. So how do your prospects look, on becoming a father with the wife of your chief rival?"

"We'll see."

"We'll…oh no…now you are just being a bore."

"I'm not going to tell you everything. You'll have to read my diaries when I am dead and gone. Not until than."

"That good, eh?"

"She understands that she needs to conceive a child and we only have a month's time to do this all in."

"I still will be amazed if this works out like that. Even with an enthusiastic partner, this is a lot to expect from such a short period of time."

"Always love a working girl, I suppose." Teagan added understandably.

"She is much more than that, Teagan. Be careful what you say."

"I meant no disrespect. I ..just expected you to behave differently, that is all. I don't know if it is maturity or disappointment as of yet…"

"Than worry yourself no further, man. Everything is fine. As a matter of fact, I think I must lure her Ladyship to this Ball. What is more romantic than dancing?"

"Shall I offer you up a list? They did ask for her specifically. However, you should realize, Lady Gil…er… Tara always attends such events with her spouse."

"But at such short notice? Maybe he won't make it out here? It falls on the week-end and we do have an understanding between us, do we not?"

"We do. However there will be plenty of liquor and Grey Wardens have been invited as well."

"Yes, and….?"

"And though you both are in the order, Bann Gilmore's work with the Wardens, will put us all in a very awkwardly uncomfortable social situation if the Bann choose to forget our agreement."

"It would look very poorly on the Bann to behave in such a manner, publicly. There are still rumors that he wishes to officially join the order."

"Only his wife stands in his way. Some Wardens look down upon him for such cowardice, while those with families, are mixed. Some of these Warden's are personal acquaintances of his as it were. A disagreement or worse a cuckold husband, though rather entertaining to observe, is not the desired form of entertainment most nobles look for at such formal events."

"That I hardly believe. Truly depends on the individual."

"Yet our presence here is suppose to be a diplomatic one. Though clearly, you are the King, some might feel slightly insecure actually seeing right before their eyes, a subject of yours so feeble and disenfranchised of his wife. The Bann, has a solid reputation of being a good family man. While, you, being childless, are often whispered to be sometimes lecherous when it comes to attractive women."

"I have hardly earned such a title. I will not take the blame for absent husbands or trophy wives. I have never forced my advantage on any woman. Honestly, I have never had to."

"You do possess a certain charm, your Highness. I'll give you that."

"It is not too difficult to see when a woman admires you, Teagan. The difference between us is whether one acts upon the opportunity."

"True….however I do have a fiancée, I feel it best to behave myself. It isn't always easy, since woman are drawn to the title and are looking for security."

"Rather unfortunate at times. Why I try to limit myself to affairs with women who are otherwise committed. Seeing that I am also. I must admit though, this was hardly how I imagined things to turn out. Maric wrote those same words, in regards to his own wife. She gave him a son but never any more."

"Was that by choice?"

"He seemed to believe so. That may have been an unfair evaluation but they were at war. Many things separate us from the ones we love."

"Being put into a situation, as serving the King, does create an unstable home life."

"How do you feel his relationship with Cailan was? In reality."

"He was proud of him but as duty called, he was a distant father."

"And your mother, did he write of her too?"

"Perhaps. He wrote of a woman. He didn't even write down her name. She obviously was a person he created this fantasy around. He was getting old and Cailan was almost a man now. He seemed to be a very proud man. Maybe even decent in most respects. His wife's lack of interest in him and a thoughtful maid who was widowed from the war…."

"You don't really know do you? Even from his writings. The true circumstances of their affair."

"No. All I know is that he desired her. It could have been how Goldana uttered, I'll never really know."

"I'm so sorry. He must have at least taken care of her while they were together?"

"Just as he must have known she had other children, which must have made her even more attractive to him."

"Than at least you can be comforted by the fact that he did desire another child of his own."

"I cannot actually come to that conclusion. He did not provide for the future of my family. It was my uncle who took me in. For awhile."

"I am grateful for that much, Alistair. All of Fereldon is grateful that you made that sacrifice. I had no other siblings, who survived. Even though we were mostly kept apart due to my education and military service, I was very proud of my brother for his act of generosity."

"As am I. It is my wish, that if Lady Tara has conceived, that we provide the assets needed for my child and it's mother to be well provided for."

"A wise move. I will speak with my brother and we will see that it is done. I only hope that it is so."

"It will be a heavy burden for Tara to have to bear. I…almost feel guilty putting this upon her."

"How is she taking all of this?"

"Very well but it is in her nature to be generous. Her weakness as well that I played like a skilled conductor."

"Out of necessity, my King. I cannot claim that all of your actions have been prudent but this one, had a purpose."

"A purpose…yes. Although my desires did play a vital part in this seduction."

"So you are feeling guilty now? Understandable, at some point in the game. Her husband can't be pleased by her actions. He is a practical man though. For that we owe him our respect. "

"I respect his taking care of the woman that I love. I see her children and sometimes imagine them as my own. How wonderful it must be to wake up in the morning to such cherub faces. Knowing they are your own. Such love and devotion. I have done what I can for my sister's children. Their harsh upbringing has left them rather unsuitable for the Court."

"It is unfortunate. That any mother would be so harsh and unpleasant. It is obvious her poison had a negative affect on her children."

"Unfortunately. We do what we can."

"You are fortunate that the lady has found it in her heart to at least try to give you what I know at this point in your life, you really need. Be grateful, Alistair. She put much on hold for you."

"She would have been here of her own accord, Teagan. Maybe she would have brought the children, had she not been so burdened by her duty. I just cannot erase this feeling…this desire…. to have her, love me for me. Most of all because she truly desires to do so."

"You must learn from your own feelings to understand hers. What she does, she does out of love, not the kind you long for but love never the less. Please be careful of how you deal with her husband. I know he is as important to her as her own offspring. That is why you must keep things on a friendly level, so that you both can get through all of this civilly."

"It is …just…difficult…that's all. Almost like sleeping with the Queen these days. Which I do so little of now. I believe, after all of this, it will be even harder still. I will have to find someone else."

"I understand. Yet you will not seek an annulment? Why is that?"

"It all depends on the lady, doesn't it? I'm so tired of finding myself attached to a woman who doesn't even want to understand me. To risk that again? It is decent, this is so. However, it comes with a heavy price, if once again I find myself barren, stuck with an ungrateful wife."

"Such a woman is a risk to the Crown. At least a drain on our finances."

"Of course. I just rather not feel so troubled at a time when all I should be doing is rejoicing that finally, a part of my life makes sense. Or just feels like it should be, with Tara and I together once more."

"As you say."

"What other business did you mean to attend to, Teagan?"

"Well, there is the matter of who should be the Arl of Denerim."

"I didn't know that was even up for question? Has your brother already grown weary of his post?"

"Not out of disrespect, your Highness. More a question of his age. Denerim, is a troubled region if not a very prosperous one."

"Yes, I am aware of this, go on."

"As much as I would like to be the one to manage it to further greatness, my taking on the chores of Redcliffe as well as your service, I feel I cannot adequately serve both interests well. My fiancée is quite content in Redcliffe and I feel we have a more suitable candidate in mind for the assignment."

"Your Uncle served as both Arl of Redcliffe and Denerim."

"He did but he also has Loghains interests to manage. We both know things grew, in directions neither of us would approve of due to my Uncle's waning years. Had the King been more attentive to management and less on glory, he would have discovered sooner the tragedy of slave trading and how the Crows had infiltrated its' busy streets unaware."

"I see your point. Who do you suggest would be a good candidate for the post than?"

"So many would covet the job and this is exactly why I much prefer a tried and faithful candidate for the job."

"Get on with it, spit out then."

"The Gilmore's."

"What? Are you mad, Teagan? Please tell me so, because why would I promote such a man to a very coveted role in my Government?"

"Try to remain calm, please. You just informed me that you want your issue and it's mother to be well situated, did you not?"

"We haven't enough time yet invested to see the outcome of all of that yet."

"Why not, use this offer as a..well…a gift, if Lady Tara does successfully deliver a King's offspring."

"Now you speak of a bribe."

"Not exactly."

"How is it not than?"

"Since it stipulates on the Lady giving Fereldon a child, it is easy enough to present it as part of its' dowry. It is common enough to reward, even a Queen, such gifts if they successfully bare a Royal heir."

"And you think she will accept this gift from us? She enjoys her hibernation in the Bannorn you well know."

"This has been said. However, her husband, the Bann, has never hidden his own personal ambitions, at least from us. Though it has not so far shown itself to be the title of an Arl, that would sooth his pride some. Living forever in the shadow of his famous wife. Not to mention his brother-in-law the Teryn."

"An interesting idea. Only if Gilmore accepts this will Tara follow suit. What if we do not succeed in this task. Who else did you have in mind?"

"Why, no one else. Please let me explain. We are giving this important task so little time. If, a month from now, her Ladyship has not conceived that will still give us the difficulty of not having an heir. However, if we can convince the Gilmore's that they are, and honestly, my brother and I feel this is the case, the best suited for the job, than that will move them that much closer to the Royal Palace."

"Interesting. It would do nothing however to the fact that I am closely observed by others for my actions."

"Oh, that…well, money and favors change so many unpleasant circumstances. We took into consideration, how well suited it was to have a retired knight and a well respected representative of the Grey Wardens would have be in Denerim. I mean where haven't all of you gone in your many adventures? Who could openly reject Lady Tara's appointment to such a post? Many would consider that beneath her status but most will understand such an undertaking. Despite the many trials it might bring it would also bring your heir closer to you. If you fail, it might opportune you with other opportunities to try again?"

"I do not believe Gilmore will accept anything more under those terms."

"No, neither do I, but than you would understand why better than I would. Since you are having so much trouble with this, to put another player in the soup, may be your best choice? Nobility can question whose child it is but in the end, they won't be able to completely deny that it isn't yours, correct?"

"I personally would like to have direct knowledge of that fact."

"Than best be that you get the job done here. We can only do so much for you. If you fail, you will have to settle on another woman for the task and Maker help us what will follow with all that is involved with it."

"I think it would be prudent to present this option to the Bann, before any results have presented themselves to him. His son is soon reaching an age that training would be required of him. Reminding him that if he took the Denerim post, that may allow him to keep him at home with them, training him in the Denerim's army. They have a good relationship too with the Elves, this would further his petition as Arl of Denerim. Have you considered making him Governor instead?"

"Yes, of course but that would not be a promotion for a man of even Gilmore's standing. Not to mention Lady Tara's. Gilmore would not so easily put himself under the authority of another Arl, not when in the Bannorn he rules his roost free from such restrictions."

"That is understandable. As Tara would say, she comes and goes as she pleases. Even her husband understands this very peculiar stance for a woman. However, he accepts it and they appear to be happy enough with such arrangements."

"Indeed she does. Couldn't imagine my own wife behaving this way but I suppose she has more freedom than most women do."

"She has proven herself to be worth waiting for. Often though they will travel together so they spend very little time actually separated from each other. They actually enjoy working together which is not something I see much of. We have actually recruited two couples into the Wardens."

"How odd that must be."

"One, I know lost their children during the Blight, while the other one I believe, say they do not expect any children in their future so this frees them up to employ their talents in such a way."

"Interesting. Well, I will do as you asked. We will see how Bann Gilmore reacts to becoming the Arl of Denerim before seeing that it is so. It will be interesting to measure his response to this prospect."

"Than let us be off for dinner."

"Is Lady Tara joining with us?"

"Oh, no, I'm afraid not. She won't be training until the afternoon tomorrow so she is staying in Amaranthine tonight, so she says?"

"Interesting. Very… well than, let us be off ourselves."

During the day, Lady Tara Cousland Gilmore worked energetically with her new recruits. This group was entirely more of a challenge since she found herself with three dwarfish recruits with very different temperament. Though if they were all the same, that would be rather boring, so she took it all in stride. It was all too important that these ladies learn how to fight and manuever well in combat. As long as they kept that in mind she felt she did her job well.

"Now ladies, I need all of you to remember that most battles come upon you, rather than you looking for a fight. Those of you, especially ones who are multi-classed must be flexible in a fight. Often, I found myself going from a bow to a sword in the heat of a battle. Of course I want to first slow down our most dangerous of opponents. You will discover though that those same foes will send forward their best assassins to foil that approach, so you must be handy when it comes to the switch of weapons, like so! After you have dispatched those who are in your face, it is important to keep your eye out for those trying to flee the scene."

"If they are cowards, why do we care who picks up and runs." Lady Ngil, asked haughtily.

"Well, the fewer foes I have to fight the sooner we get back to camp, right?"

"Right! So why bother with the fleas?"

"Ah, good description of those kind of enemies. How do fleas bite?"

"What sort of question is that?"

"Stop that, Gretchen, what's the point of arguing it for? They bite us when we aren't looking or paying attention to them. Under cover, right?"

"Yes, that is what makes them very dangerous. Actually, you will find those "fleas" can make very good assassins. They are hesitant in a battle and take the time to think through their attacks. Granted, I much rather not fight a serious battle with one such as that, we are not always at the advantage so we must include whomever will fight for our cause. My reasoning though is, to let even one villain escape allows them to inform others and expose two things that make the Grey Wardens work. Our secrecy, when it comes to fighting techniques and our whereabouts.

I mean, of course we have bases, that must always be well guarded. Those of you complaining about guard duty, well, when you think about what we do publicly, we have a lot of enemies and actually, rivals if you can believe that."

"Well I can of course. Being an ex-Crow myself, well, taking out or befriending a Grey Warden is considered quite an honor."

"Oh, yeah, so you say. Now how am I suppose to think you aren't a spy than, for those Crows?"

"Now,now, calm yourself dear lady. First I passed the Joining, that alone takes some extraordinary courage, does it not? Secondly, we Crows are sold into the organization. I myself, found once getting closer to a fellow Grey Warden that I much prefer a more honorable life. Who wouldn't chose to become a Grey Warden, if they found the courage in their own hearts to fight the good fight?"

"Okay, that makes some sense. Me? I just wanted to swing my axe and gain some glory. Once I saw that big blue sky up above, I never looked back. I mean, we dwarves, look to the sky and only see a good pounding of the head. Might as well hit yourself over the head with your own hammer if you are so freaking dumb. But out here, you can just float away. I'll trade a river of water to a river of molten lava any day."

"Now than, those of you who are on the red team, take your side and those of you on the green team, yours as well. I want to see how well you are doing in switching weapons. Never forget those of you who find yourself defending to not ignore a well positioned knife. Often fighters want to go for their biggest weapon but women, especially those of you who might find your foes overwhelming, must be more handy and ready to go for that weapon to take out an eye, ear or groin if necessary. Than for the sake of Andraste, don't just stand there waiting for them to hit you back. When you are attacking, your enemy is also looking for a means to hit you back. So move aside and hit again. Only if you know you can overwhelm your enemy is it wise to just stand there and keep stabbing. Just food for thought there. Now, let's have at it!"

Tara took her side and carefully weaved her way through the fight, In time though one of her best students caught her off guard and did exactly what she was taught to do. Using stealth and speed, she first attacked from behind and than swiftly moved forward to face her unshielded side aggressively.

Tara barely ducked to avoid a second swipe and present her shield to her assailant who smiled back at her as her opponent caught her breath.

"Hah! I can see how beneficial it is to move quickly and decisively, Lady Gilmore. I almost had you that time."

"So you did. I'm afraid I have been a little distracted all day today. All of you have done such a fine job. I can at least claim that you have given me a challenge that I rarely face in training recruits. It seems, I should let all of you girls go and allow you some leisure time."

"So, you have plans this evening, Lady Gilmore?"

"I do indeed. I plan on leaving here for a nice evening out. I only hope this good weather holds out and it doesn't snow too much."

"I rather like the snow myself. It sure is a big change from Ozammar, isn't it Maika?"

"That's for sure. I miss the Great Halls, of course, by the stone, we have walls that glitter. So pretty. Still I'm getting use to slopping around in the stuff I suppos?."

"Good to hear. I can only imagine how you must view mountains of snow piled high above your head so often. Just don't get yourself lost in a snow drift."

"Me? I'm staying around here. You're the one who is galloping around on that beast of a horse of yours. Surprised you didn't call 'er Shedevil or Blighter's daughter! That's what I say!"

"Ha, ha Blighter's daughter! I think I'll be rememberin' that one for the future!"

"She only behaves me and a chosen few. Don't think you are so special. You will see in a fierce battle, it is best that your horse remember who her master is. In all of that confusion, does anyone want a steed who is shy in battle or afraid of getting scratched by the tip of a sword? I know experience and training has taught me otherwise."

"Now that does make some sense. Fine, let's be done with all of this than. I need to write back to my folks still. My mum thinks we fight darkspawn night and day. I keep telling 'er, it isn't like the Dead Caste. We only fight them once in awhile. Not every day."

"No convincing her, Gretchen, might as well give up. Draw her pretty pictures of the weather. She'll like that."

"Right. I'll get right to that. You be careful out there though. I hope we will get a chance soon to get out of here for some recreation."

"What? Are you telling me we don't get enough exercise right here. Oh, please, don't make things worse for the lot of us. Surely they will come up with more things to take up our free time. So stop right there or you will find out that the Crows train us well, even in ways to greatly annoy our opponents."

"I'd be checking the color of my ale if I were you for awhile."

"Right on that count. So, have a nice trip Lady Gilmore. Don't be bringing any of those scalywags back with you when you return."

"I'll try to resist the temptation." Tara spoke back as she finally had the room put back into order and was ready to make her way up the stairs to her room."

"So, Lady Gilmore, I couldn't help but see what a good mood you have been in all day. As compared to the beginning of the week. You are meeting someone tonight, no? Ah, it must be someone very special, to get you away from here in the middle of week."

"You are very inquisitive, are you not, Joann?"

"It is in my nature to be so! Besides I am terribly bored and the thought of anyone having too much fun is encouraging to me. So tell me, is it perhaps a secret lover? A distant friend has come to join you for dinner and late night chat."

"Hum…I didn't realize my lover was such a secret? We have two children and we do share the same name, what is so mysterious about that?"

"Oh, well, one can hope! It is the middle of the week is it not? Your husband is far in the Bannorn, true? It is not so ridiculous to think such things. Than again it must be a friend from your past. One that maybe you fought many battles with in the past?"

"Ha, ha, I am surrounded by my friends who I fought the Blight with, quite regularly. Especially since one of them even married my dear brother. I can't seem to escape them all if I tried? I am just looking for a quiet night in a borrowed cabin. Some much needed peace and quiet. Being the mother of two very active children and a large group of Grey Warden's, not forgetting my duties placed on me being the daughter of a great Teryn, such a thing is rare in my life. I treasure those moment like the black pearls of the sea. Rare and often, quite memorable."

"Aw, see, you are not too good at hiding your true feelings. How you sound so like this is something special."

"I have some packing to still do and I must pick up some food along the way. I'm not going to give you too many details of my personal life. No matter how tempting it might be. I have spent a lot of time around another ex-Crow and I know all of your tricks at obtaining information clandestinely. So, go along, find someone else to entertain. I'm sure they will be most grateful for your ardent attention in their own well-being."

"Ha, ha, fine, so you go and maybe in awhile I will be able to find out your secrets. I can tell, you must have many stories to tell."

"At the right time, I promise you I have lived a very adventurous life so far. And I've even more yet to live. Now, begone."

Pulling at a cord that lead to a well concealed pocket she brought up her keys to unlock her bedroom door and hastily unfastened herself out of her training armor and into her rough riding clothes. She than gathered up what she hadn't been able to finish packing the previous night.

She found it interesting that some of her students picked up on her mood considering it was such a mixture of emotions right now. She was finding it hard not to think about that night and what happened so unrepentanted. In a way she wished it was Leliana who was meeting up with her rather than her husband. She was at a loss trying to handle the desires of two very different men intent to have the same thing from her.

She had finally turned in for the night, yesterday, after sharing dinner and a rousing conversation with some of her fellow senior Grey Wardens. She was in a good mood and grateful to put the last week-end far behind in her thoughts and mind. Tired she made her way up to her room and fell quickly to what she had hoped would be a restful slumber.

Only that was not to be for very long. It took some time for an uninvited guest to rouse her from her slumber. There were times, in the past when Rory would show up to meet her, arriving late into the night and simply slipping into her bed, sometimes unannounced. She was expecting him to arrive in the morrow but maybe something had happened that brought him to her earlier? She couldn't imagine what that might be but she couldn't always second guess her husband. Most of time she found that refreshing and fun. This time, she wasn't so sure considering her current arrangement with the King.

She woke up noting that she was being kissed, with someone moving her around to bring her into their embrace. Thinking it was only her husband that would take such advantage of her, she rested back against his chest, almost feeling like she was finally being rescued from this crazy mess she had gotten herself into. Rory always had a way of saying what she really needed to hear in the moment. It took her a few moments to realize it was not her husband but her King that was taking advantage of the moment.

"Alistair! Oh, dear Andraste, why have you forsaken me so! What are you doing in here?"

"I thought my intentions were obvious. It's late and I am sure no one knows I am here."

"I…I…almost thought, well, I did think,…this is not going to work. You promised to keep this all discreet."

"I am. I don't know how many hours I counted past waiting until it was safe to come in here."

"Sneaking in here like this, though? I'm tired and this is not right. Even under our current understanding."

"My understanding is that we both have a job to complete. You only gave me a month to achieve a miracle. I'm afraid considering the many obstacles we must overcome, this is necessary at least for awhile. Besides, I couldn't get to sleep. All I could think about is you being so close to me and yet out of my reach. I just had to do something to put an end to this longing of mine."

"We cant do this, I mean I can't do this. If we get caught my whole life will be in a shamble."

"Than I suggest that you just be reasonable and not make too much noise about it. Your room is in a more discreet location. Mine is even in a less direct location, if you much prefer to cohabit over there?"

"No, I mean that would be even worse. Oh, Alistair, please, understand, we both have work to do tomorrow. This is not a good idea. Not at all."

"Maybe, not so much for you but for me? Just a necessary part of life that I am sure you must understand, having spent at least some time in your husband's bed."

"He is my husband of course."

"He wasn't always and you seemed to have no objections, I do seem to remember, it was at your bidding that he allowed you to share his bed, always."

"Since I never wanted or planned to leave it much, it just seemed economical to do so. Rather than shuffling my things all around as it were."

"Ha, ha, oh well, that is one way of putting it. There was quite a bit of moving around between the two of you. So don't play shy with me, Lady Cousland. I'm afraid I require at least some participation to get this deed done. After that you will sleep most soundly, I promise you all of that."

"Ah, I must be awake through all of this, than?"

"Let's see if you are able to fall asleep before we are done. Shall we?" He told her, now pulling her down by her shoulder to push her back flat against her bed.

"This truly is the only way I will get you out of my room quietly, isn't it?"

"I'm afraid so. You know by now that I am not such unpleasant company. I never want to hurt you. Just to love you as I know you deserve to be loved." Speaking now into her ear almost in a whisper before putting her into a better position to work it all in.

They had both fallen asleep together and Tara woke up with a sharp sense of panic, causing her to first gently but than shaking Alistair with a dreadful urgency.

"Uhm…Tara, please, I'm still trying to sleep. You feel so good and right now I never want to leave you."

"That's nice but you have to leave here right now."

"I'm not ready to leave just yet. Please just relax and enjoy my company."

"I will not and I don't care who you are.." She pushed him off of her abruptly and he barely missed falling clear off of her bed.

"Tara! Stop this right now. Why are you acting this way?"

"Can you not see? It's almost daylight. I will not have you found in my room this way. I will have no way of explaining why you are in here."

"You mean you don't want to share the details of last night? For some reason I doubt most of the Wardens believe that you don't prefer men over women. It might crush some of our women's spirits but for some, that seems merely a sexual challenge at best."

"How you must love to hear yourself talk, Alistair. Honestly, this is not a game and I am not looking to upset my husband. I did what you asked and you must now keep your promise to leave before daylight."

"All right. This is all so…not how life is suppose to be. Would that the Maker lost some of his sense of humor or else shined more of it upon yourself, perhaps?" He looked over at Lady Gilmore whose defensive stance was looking more and more threatening to him, "I see, he will not. Than, I will plead for fair Andraste to heal my senses long enough for me to dress myself and leave your chambers properly dressed if not still obscene in my own minds thoughts or pleasures."

"Oh, why must you vex me so?" the Lady found herself now rummaging around her bed trying to desperately to find her nightgown while failing miserably to keep herself covered up in the process.

"Are you looking for this?" Alistair bent down to pull up her gown off of the floor near his feet.

"Yes, please give it to me."

"Come and get it."

"Please? No more games. I am so tired."

"I'm afraid I am busy trying to dress myself. It is here when you feel you have need of it." He tossed it casually over the end of a nearby chair to tease her more.

"Oh!" she cried out in frustration as she pulled roughly on her bed sheet than trying to wrap it around her hastily.

"It is hard to imagine what part of you I haven't seen yet that you feel so suddenly modest in my presence."

"I know you are enjoying my personal torment. You want or insist on my favor but you so often push my good will to it's breaking point."

"Now, now, I find it hard to stop thinking as your lover. I hope you can understand my predicament." He told her as he saw the opportunity to step on the dangling sheet, hoping to cure her of this feigned modesty of hers.

"What? Oh! Stop that!" She scolded him and on instinct reached for her knife to attempt to cut herself free of the tangled sheet that was preventing her from moving forward.

"Ah, ah! Hold your knife, dear Lady! We haven't the budget to keep replacing your tattered sheets." He spoke quickly causing her to hesitate and giving him the opportunity to pull it off of her while she lunged to the chair to retrieve her nightgown.

"Will you give me no peace here? I swear I will pay to have that door's lock replaced at my own expense if you insist on terrorizing me even more."

"I doubt it would come to that my love. I'll have to satisfy my curiosity with watching you try to modestly don that nightdress for me. It's rather unfortunate that we did not play this game earlier but alas, work will be calling on us soon enough. I really didn't mean to terrorize you so much, this early in the morning. Just a reflex from being shoved out of bed with a beautiful woman besides me. Honestly, not something I am use to having done to me."

"Than you should spend your time in more welcoming beds? I..I just, really, Alistair, it is too early to be challenging me like this. Be grateful I was able to restrain myself. If I were any more tired, I would have easily done you a great harm. Something neither of us would want to happen to you if it can be avoided."

"I am sorry too than madam. Rather than be angry with your insistence, I couldn't help but be thrown into a more playful mood. You know what being with you means to me. It is too hard to resist the role of a lover when I am with you. What man in his right mind would ever want to be forced to leave your bed willing? I cannot imagine one who would that also dearly desires the attention of such a lovely woman as you are. In all ways, Tara. Even when you are angry, I..well…I suppose I better be going before I find myself acting the fool again. Just know that I would have willingly climbed back into bed with you now, if given the choice to do so. Duty be damned."

"What have I done to deserve such compliments! Seeing that I am merely the wife of the good Bann, I do not have such luxuries. Try your best not to forget either that I will soon be facing a bunch of vicious women who will not let me get away with excuses for not being on my guard. This group is fairly seasoned. I have three dwarves this session and you know how much of a challenge it is to fight with women who fight best below the belt."

"You? Many of them I find it difficult not to just trip over! Anyways I know you will do fine. If anything you are probably more seasoned than most, performing without too much sleep."

"Aye, that is probably true. With a lover who knows so little of sleep…"

"It must have been difficult trying to distract him from all of his reading."

"Is that what he has you believing, now? Than I suppose it was just my luck that he found my attention so much more attractive than any book he ever read. He always seemed so eager to put away his reading when I happened to wake up late at night? Or share some romantic words he came across reading while we were in bed."

"At least some of that makes sense. I couldn't imagine much romance in a book based on battle sequences."

"No, though you know I find that worthy reading. It is unfortunate that so many of those books leave out the good points of life, isn't it? I mean, we were not always fighting, were we? How much we enjoyed each other's company in our down time."

"Some of us more than others. You really should have learned how to share much better than you do."

"Ah! I so miss the gentleman that you so used to be. I hardly recognize this stranger in my presence."

"I would hope so. That other man could only dream of what this man has experienced this last weekend. Oh, to have to hide how much I feel about you. What a fantastic release it has all been to love you so much. I was always convinced that only having you once would be like trying chocolate or ice cream without ever learning or experiencing it enough to really relish in it. Now I know that I was right and how true that statement really is."

"Oh, can I do nothing that disappoints you, ever?"

"You do so constantly, my Lady, but I am such a fool in love, it matters not as long as I can look forward to having you as you were, once again. Finally, or disappointed now to be dressed he walked over to where she sat up in bed to take a seat beside her. "Now, no matter how much you continue to deny any feelings you have for me, I know what loving you is really like. No longer do I need to imagine it so. It has not bated my desire but it has tempered it some." He than seductively slipped his arms around her before she could protest and brought his lips firmly against her own to kiss her.

"Would that I could kiss you more or with more passion just now. In time though maybe you too will find the temptation as maddening as my own. How is it that you make me want you so much…and…so…often."

"Could it be the taint? Oh, what a terrible thought. See? I must keep up my training."

"That could explain it? I did happen to notice how much they liked going after you. Even fighting around me to to get to you. You don't think, that they…. too? Oh, Tara, you really must think of some other way to discourage men from this taint of yours."

"I really do hate you, Alistair, you know that, right?"

"Only most of the time. Lucky for me, the apparent guilt that is born and bred within we nobles since birth forces you to have to pity even the raunchiest of scoundrels."

"Curse them all. Except for those times when all I long for is a man's comfort and love."

"Ah! So you see, we are so well bred that even we cannot carry out a curse on something that is so pleasurable to experience with another person."

"Not just anyone. Men are so different. Maybe other men can be as pleasing, I honestly doubt that, but only one pleases me."

"So you keep saying but than I know you are too much of a lady to admit otherwise."

"I think not."

"Well, as much I enjoy your intimate company, next time I might make it a point of showing you how wrong you are with that statement. At least with me."

"Are you not leaving now? As much as you would love to ruin my marriage, exposing yourself in such a way will hardly gain you the respect you require from our fellow Grey Wardens."

"I do suppose, turning Vigil's Keep into a wild brothel would probably not look too good to our sponsors. Not to mention that they would be jealous and demanding that they get the same attention from us? I am still greedy in this instance. We must preserve some sense of order here. Not that I don't believe all of our Warden's are so chaste."

"I doubt it but I prefer that those who prefer it that way not feel pressured or to have anyone take advantage of their close proximity to each other as an invitation to hurt each other's feelings. It will be a challenge enough when relationships among Warden's fail."

"At least we have a closeness that allows us to behave like family. I hope that everyone will treat each other with respect. Anyone who violates that trust is not worthy to be a Grey Warden."

"I wholeheartedly agree. Now about your behavior while you are here?"

"Will you be crying on your sisters shoulders or your brothers over my abusing our set boundaries."

"If I say to our brothers, at least I know you will grind your teeth in sheer jealousy."

"Oh, I will be at odds with myself, indeed. As a man, I will enjoy that envious look in their young eyes, while they start imaging maybe you too might take a more personal interest in their training, while the more honorable and boring ones? They will be sharpening their knives, just because we haven't sent them out much to prove their strength and prowess."

"Oh, you!" She grabbed up her pillow and threw it roughly at him in protest.

"Well, now! Such a temper! I am patient though, well, at least I will try to be. Once you have thrown all of your bed clothing at me surely the only thing you will have left is your nightgown."

"I think before I reach that end I will have you knocked out with my lamp."

"I'm tougher than I look than. Fair enough. I could stay and play with you all day but already I am getting hungry. Since I cannot satisfy my appetite in one way I must settle it in another. Fortunately, I find after being tainted, I have more energy rather than less of it so I can work off all of this food I have to eat to satisfy this hunger of mine. Maybe I will find some time to watch your girls and see how they are coming along in their training. Since you have so many spirited ones who seem to be even challenging to you this session."

"Don't let me stop you. Of course we are all tainted. It might serve you better to visit with some of the noble families around Amaranthine."

"If only it was easier to get them together in one place. I am a busy man and don't really enjoy having to spring from one place to the next interviewing women. Now that I have a Queen, really, how does one interview for a mistress?"

"I havent' a clue."

"Well, you can't say that I don't travel about and meet new people. It is just difficult because I really don't have the time to really get to know any of these women. Tara, you know, I will always love you. Whatever I can do, I will do for you but believe it or not, I much rather have a happy, stable relationship. If you think that I don't envy Roland every day, you are mistaken. Even Fergus seems to be happy enough with Leliana. Life is such a gamble and once again, I have lost at it. Please, I hope you really do understand, how much all of this means to me. How much you mean to me. I can never really have what Roland has but at least for this short moment in time, it is more real to me than I ever hoped it could ever be. It took me this long to even find the courage to do all of this. And a lot of convincing but I really do hope it all works out for us. I promise, I will never be like my father but more like my uncle. You know that or else you would never take such a risk in all of this. Just,… well, thank you seems so cheap to me but when I say I love you, well…let's just leave it all at that."

He left the room finally and Tara found herself reaching over for her other pillow, usually Rory's pillow, when he wasn't using her to rest his head upon. Oh why, oh why, must her life be so peculiar? Why did her parents teaching always win out in the end? Oh, never mind all of that. No matter what or how Alistair chooses to manipulate away from her, he can never take her heart away from Roland's. Oh, but how hard this man continues to try!

She slumped back into her bed, reaching down to pull her covers over her shoulders tightly. She just needed a few more hours sleep to finally be able to brave yet another day.

How distressing all of these memories of hers were. She wandered around her stone-walled room checking for anything she might have missed, before grabbing up her bag and making her way down the long staircase toward the stables. She just couldn't wait to see Rory again.

Looking outside, snowflakes were floating down, covering over an already snow white beach landscape. The waves crashed angrily almost as they hit the beach in a symphony of splashes and siphoning suction. Back and forth the waters pushed and pulled throughout the darkened night. Tara pulled a shawl tighter around herself and once more stoked the fire to keep the room warm. She was hoping that Rory didn't get lost trying to make his way down that windy road in this snowy weather.

Once more she sighed and walked back to the kitchen taking in a drink to help ease her dry throat. She felt the temptation to go out looking for him was much too strong but knew he was an able horseman. She just had to keep her faith in him and that there were very few who could ever really challenge his might in a duel.

She barely had taken a seat to return to her reading when she heard the sound of horse's hooves pound against the wooden ramp leading up to the house and diverting toward the barn where she was sure he would be heading out first. In a rush, she pulled on her boots and donned her heavy winter's cloak to run out the side door eager to finally greet her husband's arrival.

Rory himself had hopped off his huge horse with a resounding thump of his boots. He kept a hold of the reigns as he did so that he could walk Antoine safely into the awaiting barn.

"Whoa there Tony, let me get you in your stall before you start catching up with Marie. I can only imagine the conversation that you two might have. It will have to wait until I am done here." He chuckled as he threw back the stall's latch and guided his horse inside.

"Rory! Oh Rory, I can't tell you how good it is to finally have you out here."

"It's good to see you too, my love. Please wait though until I get all of this unpacked. I promise you I am just as eager to get out of this cold weather as you are to assist me in doing so."

"I'm sorry, here, let me carry your pack for you than."

"Here!" He sort of tossed it but didn't quite let it go.

"Oh, my, did you pack the children in here with you?" She let go of it as he pulled it back before setting it down to finish removing his saddle.

"I would have if I could have. Well, than again, maybe it is best that I left them to the staff for a day or two. My father will have to entertain them for awhile. He likes that, well, for a few hours of the day. Old man. Two rambunctious children stuck indoors most of the time? All Rodney wants to do is go sledding and Tabby insists that everyday is a tea party with her dolls and their other friends. A little adult company will be a nice break."

"Do they even ask about me?"

"Everyday, of course they do! I believe Roddy has his sister convinced you have taken a ride to the moon on a magical horse and won't return until Tabitha is at least sixteen years old, or some nonsense like that."

"I really should write more often, I know. I haven't been gone that long though and already Roddy is teasing Tabby? Maybe you might take them to visit with their cousin for a week?"

"Ah, no. Not without you being present. Though I do enjoy Leliana's company, she is busy with her Chantry business."

"You use to enjoy sparring with the Kinghts of Highever, Rory. Not so much now?"

"No, maybe in a few years things will change. It brings back too many bad memories."

"Still?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so. I much rather be here with you. I do hope you were expecting me?"

"Very much so. What are you carrying in that pack of yours if not our whole family."

"What are you wearing underneath that heavy cloak? Certainly not any breaches from the look of things."

"I asked you first."

"Helga, wrapped up all sorts of good things, certain if I didn't take them and got waylaid because of an unexpected storm, I would die of starvation. Followed by some very choice words about women who leave their families for days on end. I tried to defend your actions but you know how she is about women and fighting."

"Yes, it needs only be in ones kitchen and never in ones bedroom."

"At least we agree on the last part. Now about my question?"

"Come inside. I can't wait to show you. I should have waited to change but I had to do something to keep me busy here. I swept and dusted but the place was in good condition when I arrived here a few hours ago. It is rather drafty but I have a good fire going and I have been able to keep our dinner warm enough."

"So, you picked up food as well? I wasn't sure if you would have the time and well, you know Helga. We will have a feast to dine on then."

"Here, let me brush off all of this snow." She brushed off his shoulders and than took off his hat to shake it free of all the frost. Looking up though into those stunning green eyes of his stopped her train of thought and she just wrapped her arms around his neck to slowly kiss him longingly.

"Oh wow, I did miss that. Obviously enough to mount my horse and gallop all the way out here just to spend the night and day with you. It was lucky that I had a business partner who owned a vacation house out here by the beach. Not exactly the best time of the year to enjoy the beach but than that wasn't my true motivation for being out here in the first place."

"I'm so honored that you would do this for me."

"You had no other choice. It was either here or Vigil's's Keep. Either way you were not going to be from me without my seeing you days or weeks on end. You smell wonderful. Now to see what it is you have on under this big, heavy, cloak." He pulled down on it to reveal a very revealing negligée. He let the cloak fall to the floor so that he could pull her tightly into his arms only to have her wince.

"Oh, Rory, your hands are so cold."

"Must be because I'm warming up elsewhere. Why is it that every time I see you it's as if it's for the first time?"

"Why don't you let me help you get your coat off. As anxious as I am to get you out of all of your clothes, I think I really should start with this coat of yours." She giggled now feeling silly suddenly.

"If you insist on starting up there, fine."

"Good boy, now let me sit down and I will just pull off these boots." He started to move forward toward her but than stopped to reach back and stomp down on one heel to help him pull his foot out of his other riding boot and repeating the act with his other one.

"Rory?"

"Tara, these boots are wet and muddy. Under warmer circumstances maybe I wouldn't mind letting you play in the mud but since I have to depend on you to warm me up, best that I keep you dry for right now."

"Fine."

"You can help me with the rest of my clothes though if you don't mind? I need to get changed. Do I really need a bath right now?"

"In time, maybe, but at this moment, I'll just pull something for you out of your pack and you can wear that for right now. Go ahead and start filling up your plate. You must be so hungry by now, my love."

"I am! This does look good. So do you. I love that color on you, Tara."

"I don't remember your ever telling me that you had a favorite."

"That is because my favorite dressing on you is …"

"I know, none at all. I found this at a boutique out here. All of their clothing is from far off lands. I liked how easy it was to slip into and out of it without too much of a fuss."

"That does add to its' attraction."

"Here, I suppose this will have to do. I can't believe you still have this old robe."

"I can't believe you still haven't replaced it as of yet?"

"I know.." She stated as she went up to her husband to start unbuttoning his shirt as he tried to keep eating,"it has been all I could do to keep Rodney dressed up properly. He's growing up now so fast."

"That he is. We still have a few more years left before we have to send him off. I can't say I would want to encourage him into the Wardens. Not before he is sure of what his true destiny will end up being."

"No neither do I. Here now, let me get this sleeve off of you and now the other one. Now, to get this buckle undone.."

"Careful there, my wife."

"Not to worry, I have a lot of experience."

"I should know, still… a man gets a little nervous when his hands are full."

"When are they not?" She smirked.

"Good point. Here have you eaten any of this food yet?"

"Just some nibbling. Let me get this robe on you before you freeze in here."

"You know the best way to warm up real fast is …why don't you get your food together and join me on the couch. I brought along some wine, that too helped to weigh down my pack quite a bit as well."

"Good because Alistair was complaining that he did not yet receive any from your vendor as of yet."

"I'm sure his order is buried deep down near the bottom of that pile. No, this is just for us. So hurry along before we freeze in here."

"I'm coming, uhm..this is so good. The girls have been working me hard this week. I won't get away with being lazy with this bunch. Not that I ever am."

"I wish I had some time to spar with you. I miss that. At home isn't the same as when we get a little change of pace."

"I hope this place meets your qualifications than?"

"Here, hand me those glasses please. I'll let you know in just a moment or two. I just need to fill up these two glasses, than put down the bottle and just lift up this flap and yes, your legs are as ravishing as ever. The firelight is perfect against them."

"Let's just finish up our food so that we can move on to the rest of this evenings activities."

"I'm almost done. There now. I'll just kiss you until you are finished. No need to rush. I don't mind taking my time doing this."

"You are too sweet. Rory. How has work been going back home?"

"Fine. I have set up a few meetings and I will give my usual lecture on recruiting."

"You should give a lecture out here. I would love to attend and have the chance to see you again."

"That could be arranged. Since our friend here is quite generous. Our other friend he doesn't know about our meeting here does he?"

"No he does not. I told him I wanted a night away from everything and to do some shopping while I was out here. He is busy enough with his own affairs to really care too much about mine."

"How is he treating you? Under the circumstances."

"We are managing. The house is far out in the woods. There is a river near by to it but mostly it is frozen over because of the weather. It must be so beautiful in the Springtime. The interior is like being lost in a fairytale. I like to imagine it was once owned by an Elvish Princess. Her secret escape far off in the Enchanted Forest."

"I'm happy that you like it so much. If this all turns out as planned, you should ask him to give it to you, as a gift."

"I already feel we are too much in his debt."

"There is no price too great, Tara, for what you are giving to him. He has failed. Now it is up to us to give him what he cannot accomplish on his own merit."

"Rory, I know how hard this is on you. He knows full well that none of this will ever change how I feel for you. It has been so hard to go through with this. I even left practice a little early, I wanted to,…no needed to see you so much. Why, the moment I looked into those stunning green eyes of yours, I was immediately reminded that this is the man I love more than life itself. That luscious red hair of yours, that I love to run my fingers through. I do that sometimes unconsciously to Roddy and he gets so mad at me when I do. I just can't help but be reminded that he is our son. He has so much of the very best I see in you. He just always reminds me of how precious our life is. Every time that I raise my sword, I know it is in defense of these people that I love in my life."

"I know. Whenever they run up to me calling me papa, I can't resist the need to gather them up in my arms fast enough. I want to protect them from anything that would ever do them any harm. Now though, I feel so helpless. I want to protect you but I can't."

"Rory, your love is so strong within me. You know so many women have had it so much worse than I have been treated. This is much harder for us both because this man may be our King but he was often too our friend. Hopefully once this is all over and finished with, he still will be."

"That is going to be difficult for me, you understand I hope?"

"I do, my love, I do. Now though, how I love this wine of yours. I love you. I have missed you so much. I was afraid of having you come out here so soon but now I know, I just had to see you."

"You had no other choice, remember? I am not letting any man, King or not, ever let you forget why you married me. Why our bonding was so special and so necessary. For the sake of my own love and for that of our children's, I owe it to all of those that I dearly love to constantly remind you of why I am the most important man in your lives."

"I am already convinced. But than I have been for such a very long, lon,g time. Rory. How can any man be as fine a man and as strong as you are? I know not any sort of man, except for you."

"I recall you admired your father quite a bit? I don't see that the two of us were quite alike in appearances."

"Except for the red hair, no but please, Rory, he was after all my sire! I was not looking to replace my father or my father's love. Such a foolish notion! I wasn't even looking to fall in love, I was only ten years of age when we first met. I just liked you. When our eyes met, it was just fate, don't you think?"

"I cannot argue that. I wasn't in the best of moods that day but to see such a pretty and feisty girl right upon my arrival? For at least in that moment, I had a reason to at least give this place a chance."

"I seem to recall you were not given much of a choice in the matter. Oh, you know full well, how much I love and adore you! I bow down to no other man and you full know it!"

"Well, with your father now being deceased but we still have the King to answer to…."

"I only do so for show and you know it."

"I can only believe that because it is quite common knowledge that most of Fereldon sees you as their rightful Queen."

"That is just foolish gossip made to entertain a boring crowd. I may not have been able to successfully bear our children had I taken on that mantle. Not to mention how they would gossip so about you being my consort. Please, Rory, I have missed you so much. Never have I been away from our children like this. Than I have no other choice but to banter with Alistair and for a while, it isn't too unpleasant but over the hours, it gets tiresome. I've looked forward to seeing you here so much. Why, I arrived here hours ago. I did some shopping but only to please you. I came here only hoping that I can make everything as you liked it and that you might arrive earlier than expected."

"I'm sorry. It does me no good to keep bringing up the local gossip. In the Bannorn, it rarely ever comes up but on the road, I am exposed to it more often. It is hard when someone brings up the subject of the King and than tries to attach your name to it. To hear some drunk noble claim that you should be bearing the King's children and not mine, is difficult at times."

"I understand. It comes my way as well. For some reason they all feel I have some magical way to forgo being tainted."

"Apparently so, my love? You carry all of the other characteristics of the taint, well, you haven't gained much weight, in spite of your appetite? We get with child often enough on our own? I think, taking into consideration that broodmothers somehow overcome the taint, so too, have you. At least as far as having children are concerned, that is."

"So it would seem. I do not want to wish away our children either. You know how much I love them dearly. Moreso though because they are my gifts from you."

"I welcomed the challenge dear lady. In all honesty though, will we really treat another child, that isn't entirely our own any different?"

"Will you?"

"I…don't see how I can? Who can look into a babe's innocent face and blame them of their parentage? I cannot see it in me to do so."

"That is very good of you to say. I have seen how kind and generous you have been with those we have taken in so far and they look up to as surely as I did my own father."

"Maybe so? No matter what, I know any child that is yours, I cannot love less than I love you. It will be hard to give it up when the time comes but all of our children will leave us eventually. So best that I learn to accept that. It will be easier as long as I still have you by my side. So remember that when you want to play the hero when you must fight."

"I always do, my love. I still ask the same of you as well. You are precious to me. Why would I ever want to replace something that is so fine, so perfect in my own eyes with anyone else? I fear it cannot be done. It will be good, for Alistair to finally become a father. I must trust that he keep watch over his child, since he knows it was not easy to come by. I only wish I knew that Beatrice would love it just as much as I would."

"So still, you insist that we raise the child until he is ready to serve at the palace?"

"I'm afraid so. With its father always being called away, I just, I can't go through with all of this and leave my child at the mercy of an unloving mother."

"What makes you so worried about all of this?"

"Alistair has told me of her jealousy of me. She had no desire either to adopt a child. We both fear now that her contempt of me could very well be placed upon a helpless child. After what Alistair went through as a young boy, can we risk any of that happening to a child of our own?"

"You mean to any child. No. I was too well cared for to be so selfish. My father and Helga took care to make sure our people were fed. Father did not simply give food away of course. He expected some sort of work in compensation for their food. He was however fair in his dealings with people. As long as they did something good with their lives, he was generous. Firm, when it came to thieves or those unworthy of his generosity."

"He is and of course I respect him for his wisdom. My father did the same. Most are willing to do honest work. They need only the opportunity and fair compensation for their efforts. Though true, father only rarely took in one to his service who was not at least a squire or some other noble connection. But a young man who has proven himself of some valor was given the opportunity to prove his worth if the opportunity arose."

"Which was only fair. It is understandable that had a man not the courage to face the dangers of the Korcari Wilds, his life would not last him long in the teryn's service. It was only a safety precaution."

"My father valued the life of a man. Even a young man. I suppose those who were less worthy found their way to Rendon Howe. Enough of all of this. Let the fates decide their course. Tonight they have brought us both together once more and I very grateful for such a fine gift. Everyday, every moment, I can lure you away from anyone but myself, is a gift from the Maker. I will not squander such a gift."

"Nor will I see if for anything less. Besides, you know very well, whenever some noble dares to bring up such nonsense about you, I laugh all the more. Usually they act all upset over my bravado until they get a good look at me. Than the scurry back to their little corners of the room with their tall tales and vicious rumors."

"You can be quite intimidating. It is funny though when those stories do come up, I admit it. I am pleased that you are able to keep up your good humor so well under such challenges. I'm sure proprietors are as well."

"It is one way I have to keep business brisk I do say! I don't even have to try! They are so eager to buy whatever we are selling if I merely promise not to destroy their place of business. At least I know my recruits are always so easy to impress. Of course I attribute it to my Grey Warden connections. It works until someone makes the connection that you are my wife."

"Ha, ha, oh well, such is the tale, milord! I am happy as such. How can they honestly doubt though your skills. Seriously, Rory, even an experienced fighter knows full well your reputation. Just as I know, had you been a Grey Warden, you and not I would have put down that terrible beast."

"Probably so but only to spare our child any more risks. I do not deny your skills as well. The ones I admire the most though are best put to practice here when we can actually be alone. Even in our home we cannot guarantee such an opportunity all of the time."

"No but thank the Maker they are sleeping better in their own beds so at least that isn't as much of a challenge as it came to be for us. Still, I won't waste tonight. Or the fact that you came all the way out here just to see me? As always, I am reminded of why there could only be but one such as you."

"A lesson I am fortunate that you remember. How I missed you too. I will have to travel out to Orzammar upon my return soon. So I refused to do so without seeing my wife once more. You understand of course."

"Of course. You are spoiled."

"Not enough."

"Oh! Which reminds me! I did finally find something for you that I have been looking for, some time now."

"What is it?"

"Here now, I finally found a robe I think will fit you. You are so hard to dress up. When I found this new gown, I came across this robe and I liked it very much!" She rushed over to some bags she had put aside from her shopping earlier that day." Taking it from its box, she put it aside to prompt her husband to allow her to switch him out of the robe he was still wearing.

"Humph….I suppose it will do. A little long but you can fix that."

"I will do it myself. I almost feel guilty making you have to put on anything at all. But for the sake of modesty it will do. The colors look so well against your complexion. I just knew that it would."

"I'll try to live with it."

"It will take you at least some time before it suffers from the abuse you must have put this other one through but I am sure you will like in due time."

"It's a robe. I much rather one after spending days on end in tight leggings and stiff armor. I never much liked wearing a nightshirt either unless I had no other choice."

"Yes, I know. This will keep you warm and decent enough in front of others. I ordered some other things for you but it will take some time to get them."

"This is enough for now. You've put me off long enough now."

"Than let me remedy that for you. We do have to be careful but I have resolved to just enjoy you as much as I can. Remembering how much we enjoyed being together when we were so young and just foolish teenagers."

"Good so you believe that reminding me of how I had the perfect opportunity to consummate our love and stopped before finishing the deed will improve my spirits any? How so?"

"We have played this game before, haven't we? Except now I don't seem to recall your making the same mistake twice?" She smiled over at him and he couldn't seem to prevent himself from smiling now back at her.

"Here than, let me lift you up, now, if you could grab our glasses and the wine bottle, there, let us find a comfortable bed. I'm too tired to be falling all over the floor tonight. I'm sure your back will appreciate a mattress versus a hard wooden floor. Not that in our younger years we ever noticed such annoyances before."

"No at least I don't remember it. Maybe after the fact but never in the moment."

"I'm sure in time you will remember so at least this time I will be more thoughtful. Already it has been much too long since I have had you safe in my arms once more."

The night was warm and cozy sheltered under a stack of ruffled up blankets. Tara reluctantly lifted up her head from her husband's chest hoping she could wish the morning sunrise away but no, it still insisted on shining it's way under the windows dense shading. So she tried to wiggle her way out from underneath her husband's grip to make her way out of their borrowed bed.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to get up. I'll put together some breakfast for us and get water ready for a nice hot bath."

"No, just stay here a little while longer. All the rest sounds good but it's too early yet for me to let you go."

"How long do you want me to wait then?" She pulled herself up enough to look him in the eyes.

"You'll know when I'm through with you, I promise." He winked at her and they both laughed out loud at each other.

"You are getting old my love when you have to tell me to wait for you rather than forceing me to wait."

"I'm only two years older than you are and who are you calling old? I was merely trying to be polite. Now that might be a sign of old age or experience, not quite sure which one applies to this situation but either way, I am still stronger than you are. Of course if you feel you can out wrestle me, you are welcome to give it a try."

"Nope, not today, anyways. So get about your business here so I can move along with my morning chores. Unless you feel the need to play the housemaid. I am accustomed to such fine treatment but I do not expect it from my own husband."

"That is only because you expect me to go to the barn, feed and water the horses. Shovel the snow covering the front path. All of the really fun work of course."

"Any chore that causes you to flex your muscles, is very sexy."

"I could say the same thing about some of your chores in regards to your bending over but why state the obvious?"

"We could draw straws if you prefer?"

"No, I'm not complaining, just settling the facts. Lest I feel any guilt in your taking care of me. But not yet. It must be barely dawn and it is too cold for me to let you go just yet. Especially since my chores require me to go out into that bitter cold. Funny, on my ride out here, it didn't seem to bother me as much as it does now?"

"I am so spoiled. You had to come out here if you wanted to cuddle up with me to fight the cold weather. I assure you, it is only my duty that ever takes me long away from your bed."

"Definitely the best of explanations. An even better reason to take full advantage of our situation. Now that we have this all figured out. Lay back down against me before I catch a cold and you will not be able to return to your feisty students for some time."

"Perish the thought." She answered him while she tried to lay back down next to him so that she could better see him face to face.

"One of my students, Joann, a retired Crow, told me she felt certain that I was on my way to spend time with a secret lover."

"I see, what did you reply to that?"

"I told her it was no secret who was my lover since we share the same last name and two children."

"That isn't much fun. There must be some secrets we must still have from all of the others."

"Like, what side of the bed you really prefer?"

"Ha, ha yes those types of habits. I rather like the idea of being a mysterious lover. Some insatiable lover who woos you with letters full of all sorts of sexual innuendos. Who lacks common modesty and demands the same of you. "

"Oh that I was free to tell her all of that. Well, maybe not. Why would I want others to know how slavishly devoted I am to you? How satisfying it is to be your lover? Just the fact that I couldn't even make it through the whole day, knowing I will see you in the evening. Always hoping that you will arrive that much sooner if I did?"

"I like this game. Keep teasing me and I promise to make every moment this morning satisfying and erotic. I have a reputation to uphold as it seems. "

"I must be so seriously motivated this early in the morning? Lack of sleep can make me rather tipsy, I suppose? Yet, since you are in such a romantic mood, I can't resist the challenge either."

"I'm still just trying to wake myself up. I know I can't be with you all day today. Rather than waste the day cursing why things have to be this way, I much rather enjoy what little pleasure I can get out of life."

"We have been so wonderfully blessed, Rory. I am not bothered with having to earn the means to keep things as they are for us. We have so much joy between us, with our wonderful family. I want others to have that opportunity too."

"Oh, it is just best we not talk too much about work and such. I don't want to nor will I allow you to keep distracting me from why I rode all of the way out here to begin with." He told her as he scooted back so that he could sit up with her on his lap."

"It wasn't my purpose, to distract you like that. I do like this place but anywhere that I can be with you, is satisfactory to me. I do enjoy how often we get to change the scenery. It is not hard to imagine you as a secret lover, considering all of the places we have come together in."

"I'm glad you don't really mind. It started to become sort of a game for us during the Blight, didn't it? It was fun and exciting though to have you when and where I wanted to."

"With a little bit of caution. Considering in our younger years we always had to sneak around to see each other. I'm afraid it has become somewhat of a habit for the two us, isn't it?"

"That may be true. I had a lot of fantasies about that when I was young. I had all of those hours late at night to come up with ideas ... many years now that I think about it?"

"I know. We really had little choice. For the sake of our children, it was for the best. Not that I didn't wish so much that it could have been different."

"You do, do you?"

"You know I would have married when I was sixteen if I could have."

"Couples have been known to do so. I could have taken you back to the Bannorn. Lived with my father. I just didn't want to deprive you of all that you were entitled to. Not that I really wanted any of that. I didn't. I just didn't want to make your life harder than it had to be."

"As usual, you always wanted too much for me."

"It wasn't just that, you know I looked to your parents fondly as well. I knew, in my heart, that to separate you from them, would cause so much unnecessary strife. I kept thinking there must be some way I could please both sides and find real happiness."

"It was never meant to be like that. I was too sheltered. The Blight would have had a harsh effect on our family had we done things differently. We were needed to fight it. It would have been harder on us, to leave our children, feeling they would be left defenseless while we fought."

"That is true. I see you are so confident we would have had children by than."

"Ha, ha, how could we not? You can never doubt how much I love you when I was willing to endure childbirth at such a young age. Whatever was necessary to be your wife."

"I am than lucky indeed."

"After I had married that man and given him his son, I doubt even my own parents could forsake us. Rodney is such a handsome boy. My parents doted on Oren, how we all loved him so!"

"My love, please, don't make yourself feel sad. We all loved him. He would have grown up to be a fine man. As much as I wish our fate was different, you have reminded me that we had a part to still play. Parts we wouldn't have chosen had fate treated us differently."

"I know. How is it that you grow more handsome as you age? How I wish you could be with me and the children at the Keep right now. I miss all of you so much."

"Already? You haven't been gone that long. Still, I have to be with you. Even under these ridiculous terms. As long as I can be with you, as much as I can, it has to be enough for right now. We have learned how to still love each other so well. It is no worse than when you are very pregnant. I fear this time, I will be restricted even longer."

"I'm sorry. I know it is difficult for you to have to behave that way."

"It helps a lot that I had so much practice before we became adults. As long as I have some intimacy with you, your playfulness helps me forget some of what I must do without at times."

"I'm happy to hear you say that. I know you don't have to be such a faithful husband. I can't imagine how I could ever share you with anyone else. Still, you give me all of your love. Even if I don't really deserve it." Tara looked down at her husband as he continued to kiss her, "Please believe me that I will never become any man's mistress but your own."

"He has been pressuring you to change your views, I can imagine."

"I don't know what reality he chooses to exist in. It is not my own. I hate being in this position but we could find no other way out of it either. I only hope that it works. Only because Fereldon deserves a good King. That I trust no other man to help me raise the future King but you."

"He will always be trying to interfere, you do know this I hope."

"His work demands that he travel so much. If not for us, his children would have been raised by nannies, people who themselves would have their own personal interests in Fereldon Government."

"And you do not suffer that same taint?"

"What more have I to gain, my love? Our children will have every opportunity to succeed. As long as we can steer them away from greed or unnecessary attempts at obtaining power for the wrong reasons."

"I know I must be grateful that you have found some contentment with me and our family. Tara, I know what you sacrificed for our love. I try very hard to be worthy of it."

"It is your nature, Rory, to be loving and kind. I am the one who is grateful for your love and acceptence of all that is asked of me to do. Never could I have had a better spouse. You truly are my partner in all things. It is such a joy, to see you with the children. How much they look up to you. That look, it reminds me so much of my dear father. How much we loved and adored him. At least until he made that fretful decision of his. In all other things, I loved him dearly. You are my true reward for all that is asked of me."

Moving up now straighter, Rory pushed back his hair out of habit from his face so that he could now kiss her lips. Kissing her, they still spoke between each one.

"Life is not so perfect. I can accept that….we make it more…perfect. Every moment…we spend….together…like….this."

"We do. Uhm….I can't wait….to tell…..Joann…how I spent….the most glorious night….and day…with the….most…exciting and pleasurable….man….I could ever imagine…to be with."

"Ah, such pressure! To have to live up to all of these fantasies of your making."

"I often find myself being positioned to fit into your own, quite often."

'I cannot help it that you are so much fun to play with. Oh, you always have been."

"Yes, the only fear my parents should have ever had with us it how happy we two can be together. What parent wouldn't wish that for their child?"

"I know not? All in due time of course. I do not want to push adult responsibilities onto either of our children before they have had enough time to train themselves up to be responsible adults. Meaning, no matter how much it would have pleased us both, for us to marry when you were only sixteen, reality is that it was better to have waited a few more years. I am thoroughly obsessed with you and I am quite enjoying my addiction."

"So I can see. You are going to be so hungry by the time we finally get around to eating anything."

"That may be true. We have plenty that is already prepared. Right now, I am practically starving for this moment with you. Breakfast can be Brunch. As long as I can settle my hunger for more of you."

Later that morning they bundled up some to take their lunch out with them for a nice brisk walk climbing high about the cliffs that lined the shore that borders their little get away. The crisp cool air, sprinkled by a constant trickle of sea water that splashed up regularly as waves came and went felt refreshing despite their frigid stings. They didn't stop climbing until they reached a spot that gave them the perfect view of the low laying city of Amaranthine as well as a long view of the vast Ocean beyond it. Like the pelicans that landed and than took off when they found their prey, the couple too, landed but with every reason to stop here for a short while's rest.

"This I believe is the perfect spot. As you can see, we have this rock formation to shelter us from too much cold or strangers who just happen by us, while it gives us a great view of the Ocean."

"I like it very much. I'm so glad you decided we should go for a short hike out here. The view is wonderful. The cool air helps take away the heat that climbing out here brings."

"Good. I thought you would like the idea. I'm sure you have already seen more than your liking of cold stone walls. At least out here, the air is fresh and the sea, well, it really does sing to us, doesn't it?"

"It truly does. Thank you too, for understanding my predicament. It is still possible that Alistair might find out we have been spending time together. I rather not deal with any of his thoughts that we might try to undermine his intentions."

"No of course not. For a husband to ask for time to spend with his own wife, well, it's scandalous!"

"He doesn't deserve such a loyal subject as yourself. It would not serve either of us well if we didn't cooperate with this, at least under the terms that we have agreed on. We both understand the heir must be of the Therin line. He must understand that we can still be together without putting any of that at risk."

"He really does make it very hard for me to like him. I'm grateful you at least understand me. It is just too much to ask of me, to pretend you are not my wife. It really isn't so much that I must be so spoiled in this way. I …just well, I had this opportunity and it would have been foolish for me to waste it. If he doesn't understand me by now, I don't know what else to do for him. We must be separated at times. I always knew what little sacrifice I had to make by not having all of your affection when your health was at risk was worth it to give us good, healthy. children, in their own due time. We always found ways to still be as intimate as we needed to be together. But I have never gone completely without your company for any long periods of time. I wouldn't have married if I didn't know I needed to ensure your intimate company. I love and need to have you as my wife."

"We both know I haven't as much time to live out my life as many other couples are granted. To be able to grow old in their love for each other. I am so grateful, despite this fact that still you chose to be my husband. To bear your children."

"As if, I would pass on such an opportunity? No, he knows full well the extent of our love for each other. I had to make myself see…that even this demand…of his…it cannot break the bond of love we treasure. To allow it to do so, would be a failing on my part that I just know I could never live with."

"I don't know if I could get through all of this, I mean really, I couldn't give up your love, even for his. He is, overall, a good man. He has been a good King. I just have to be with you Rory. I am so glad that you feel this way too. I can't lose myself in all of this. I couldn't' get through another pregnancy without your love and support. Never would I ever forsake our dear children. Nor could I ever have the heart to deny them to you. Just…thank you…I love you so much."

"And I love you. You are so brave. To do all of this? It does make me think of the Joining though."

"Must we speak of this now?"

"It's just…you know, how much I am treated as an outsider…because I haven't finished the requirements."

"I know but…."

"But…you know how difficult it is for me to have to wait. The children, they will understand…in time."

"But…"

"But you still fear I might fail in some way? I just don't understand this fear of yours?"

"You have seen it yourself. To watch a person just die right before your eyes. I am not so afraid of becoming a widow as much as I am afraid of a life without you in it. I don't care how that is. If you suddenly hated me, disowned our children? I will survive, even though I'm sure my own personal grief would eventually do me in. But to lose you now? You already broke my heart once. Must you do so again? Not to mention how our poor children will be left with a wretched mother in your stead. Can you not see how worthless my life is without you? Your love makes me strong."

"As does yours for me. I just wish I had some magical power to give you more courage on this matter. You know, tainted or not, I will never let you leave me, knowing, it will lead most assuredly to your death. At least that you cannot expect of me to do."

"Time changes us, or it does some people. You must follow your own destiny. I cannot deny you this. When you can find that magical solution than maybe so too my heart can change as well. I'm just so worried for Tabitha's sake. I cannot change what has already been done. Nor would I ever deny you a child that we have conceived together. I must though know that they have been given to us for a reason. We cannot trust Fergus to do what is best in Tabitha's interest. Think about what grief he has given us? He is more blunt with just me, I assure you. You must think of their welfare."

"And you know it is the most important thing, as is your own, to me. I have more faith that all of this can be settled before we must leave. I work very hard to make sure our children will have more choices than I ever did. Every time I take you into my arms, I know how close I came to never having that opportunity again."

"Anything can take our lives away. It is the life we have chosen. Or yes, in my case, the life put upon me. I feel guilty enough though knowing my falling in love with you put too much of my fate onto you as well. You don't deserve my fate."

"Than you are saying I don't deserve you?"

"No, that isn't what I mean."

"But it is what you are saying. To love you, I knew the price. It is weighty to be sure but the reward? What more must I do to show you how grateful I am to have your love? I can't think of anything more than what I already give to you. Not because I have to, oh, Tara please? I want to be here. Now, in this moment and in every moment we have shared together. On this issue, you cannot deny, becoming a Grey Warden, it is more my destiny, than just a passing whim or a need to feel more important in my own life."

"That would never be the right reason to join up with the Warden's in the first place. Our honor, our glory, it is mostly just a myth. So many never even face an archdemon. Fewer still ever survive to brag about it. It is merely a case of surviving the battle than some great honor We either win the battle or die trying. What is truly so honorable in doing that?"

"It is the courage to do so, my love. When so many others can't. No, never have I claimed that you have not earned your title. It is much earned. It just means more to me, to stand at your side and not be denied the right to do so if I feel the need to be there. I enjoy training soldiers, you know this. I cannot do so in the same capacity that you do because I am not a Grey Warden. Honestly, it makes me feel more like a pet than a part of it all. Not something I would ever volunteer for given the choice."

"A pet? What an interesting observation. I never saw you as such. Maybe because I feel no superiority over you. Except maybe emotionally in some romantic moments."

"It is amazing to experience that position with you. When I just know every move that I make will please you so much. Still socially you have never been in my place though either?"

"Not really, until now. I can see your point. Even in my dealings with Alistair, I have learned, faced, and sometimes even set up a position for myself, to protect our family from any of his temptation to take too much advantage over me."

"Interesting…we must speak more of this I see."

"It's just you know my parents used their authority over me, to almost ruin my entire life. I was still strong, even in the face of losing the one person who was the most dearest to me. They could take you away from me but I knew in time, my place, my authority, would one day overrule theirs. Even with Fergus as Teryn of Highever, being their daughter and his sister, inherently gave me a certain degree of power in my own right. I have been taught since I was a wee lass, that power and influence rule the land. So I have used my skills to make a good impression on my nobles. In various ways, to ensure no one can take away from me what is mine, without a real fight."

"So feisty you are today. No wonder I couldn't resist the opportunity to take advantage of all of that energy. I sometimes find myself questioning how did I ever win over such a woman as you? I'll not question it now but this is an odd stance for you to express right now. I will stand at your side however you will have me. I hope that you will understand my own circumstances right now. Personally, I have never taken much of a tally of how powerful you have become in Fereldon. Obviously, powerful enough that the King himself felt that only an heir with you could hold the throne. The fact that he and those we respect so much believe that even out of wedlock, your child could hold such authority? It's a bit overwhelming if not maddening in some moments."

"I know who I can trust. Our marriage though is secure because, yes, I know your love for me is real but also because even the King understands, he cannot command just anything from me."

"I see…it is to be expected of course. Perhaps maybe this will help you see why my becoming officially a Grey Warden is for the best."

"So that he can command you to follow his will, Rory?"

"Only you have command over the Grey Warden's my love."

"Because of him. He could usurp it, if he wishes."

"He could do a lot of things to make us completely miserable. Yet you are forgetting that the Grey Wardens love you. Almost as much as I do. I can't think of any of them who would not allow you to lead them off into battle? The Wardens are an order outside of royalty and their jurisdiction. Indeed the King can disband them but than he would have to dishonor himself to do so since he to is part of the Order. He cannot go against you and not go against himself. He cannot beat you. It is why we have formed this rather unholy alliance, he and I."

"He has suggested some things, rather cruelly, that he could make happen, if I rebelled too much against his wishes."

"Are you well, my love? We can stop all of this, if it is hurting you too much to go through with it."

"I just don't understand why we must fight like this between us? Why he cannot seem to accept that I love you. He thinks he can change me but he will not. I do not want to have to live my life always feeling chained to this man in some unholy alliance. I will do this one thing for him but nothing more. I'm worried that this petty obsession..it could lead us into Civil War."

"No, Tara, he would never risk that. Good that he understands that you have many friends. His harming you will destroy this Kingdom. I swear, I may not have the power to draw up an army as easily as he does. He must know, if he dared to harm you, Fergus would immediately turn on him as would most of the people of Fereldon."

"Yes, if he harms me directly, I understand, but if he harms you? What would I do? Or have to do to in revenge of such madness."

"Has he threatened to do so?"

"It is game he plays with me. It seems more of a defensive move to test me, to test our relationship. It just…makes all of this much harder to have to go through."

"I am not so easy a target my love. I have so much to fight and live for. More than he does. Trust that he knows, he could never have you by force. I would have already been put out of the way if he knew it was so easy."

"I am so happy you needed me, to be here now with you. I will never not need you, my husband. Sometimes my need for you is so great, I fear you must feel smothered by it all."

"No, you give me room to move around. We have no need to put jealousy between us. I feel that need too and I thank you for understanding this. Why do I now feel you are going through all of this with Alistair to protect me?"

"Maybe I am? If I can cool his ardor, than he can no longer use that as a need to put you into harms way. It has crossed my mind. There are limits to what I will do, even for a King."

"I needed to hear that. If I must uproot us all to live in some foreign land, I will do it to keep my family, to keep you, safe with me."

"I know you would. This is why I am afraid of your becoming tainted. Honestly, I do have faith that you can survive the Joining. I just know how much I need you. I can see that our daughter will need you just as much when I can no longer live to be her mother."

"I understand that. Yet, we have survived without your parents. Does it give you no comfort at all, believing they are together and not alone without each other?"

"I don't really think about it like that. I do however understand grief. Maybe better than before. Can we at least get through this event? It matters not, I hope, if I don't conceive this child things, our situation, will be more precarious. If you have not changed your mind than I will find the bravery that I need. Just please make sure that everything is secure for the children. I want nothing. Only the knowledge that our children will have what is their right to own and will never have to live in poverty because of the choices we have made."

"Of course I will handle all of those arrangements. Most of that has already been handled. Just because of the many threats to our life already. Some things though I have secured for you. It is my duty as your husband."

"I am well cared for. My own liquid assets are enough for me. By Andraste's mercy, if ever I had a need, I can earn my own way, without having to debase myself or allow myself to be used in any more sordid way. Why I have been assured that I could have quite a lucrative income working for Sanga, if only I would take her offer seriously."

"Do not vex me my wife. Nor provoke my anger that any man would even discuss such an option for my wife."

"You doubt her observation, based merely on my looks alone?"

"Tara, your value is beyond measure to so many people. Besides, that is no pearl of wisdom on her part. She gets clients from all social sphere's. Your hand in marriage was quite valuable. Why even the King desires you as his mistress! I'm sure Sanga would love to profit from your misfortune or if you ever agreed to such foolishness. It was all just foolish banter, Tara. You would never be forced into such a situation. So many nobles would gladly support you, in whatever lifestyle appealed to you for your favor."

"At least I can see you too can feel my frustration over some of Alistair's comments. Just believe me when I say, even if I can only spend a night with you here or there, it means more than words can express."

"I know now more than ever. Lucky for him we have access to this place, least I find the need to prove why I am the better lover and the one who deserves you the most."

"Than I will not forget to reward our host. I enjoy being your lover so you have nothing more to prove to me. It is too hard to hide that fact I have figured out. I don't really want to have to always feel the need to. I do not though want to find myself so used by either of you to prove a point. What a strange challenge that would be but really, I want no part in it. It doesn't work any ways. I don't want to play the same games with him that I play with you."

"And he isn't cruel to you because of your lack of affection? How can that be true?"

"I am not mean to him. It..well…is like a job? I mean how do the women who work for Sanga get through it all? I can't imagine? At least I am familiar with Alistair. He cares enough about me to not want to do anything intentially that could hurt me."

"That still makes all of this so odd. To even compare yourself, my wife, in such a way. What would your parents think of us both?"

"They have no say, since they are part author to all of this."

"How so?"

"For denying you as my husband of course. I would not be a Grey Warden, I think, if we married and had a family of our own."

"Yes, I … that much is true. I just can't think of you in that way."

"Even you have confessed not every woman you have encountered has met your expectation."

"Tara, please…he puts up with this from you?"

"So it would seem? Oh he complains but honestly, we talk quite a bit. Anything to make those hours pass by more quickly. I mean, I have to cooperate some. It is in my best interest to get pregnant if it is possible. If I put up a fight, I am going to get hurt plus, it will give him more fuel against us."

"How?"

"If he knows I was purposely fighting him, than I was preventing a successful outcome right? He could use that to prolong these meetings. Already, he has expressed that with only a month we have to make an effort of this. I don't know when he will make demands of me. It is becoming very uncomfortable."

"What can I do, to help you through all of this?"

"Just what you did for me last night, today. Keep reminding me that you love me and need me. I cannot go on thinking this is all that I am."

"In many ways, something you always dreaded of course. I understand. He better understand this as well. It is more comfortable for us to meet out here but if you prefer, I can meet you next time at the Keep?"

"That would be…wait…no…this is much better for us."

"Than it is as I feared. You do not feel safe from him, even in your room there? Is that right?"

"Yes. If you came there, even though it would be accepted by my fellow Wardens, it could also cloud who really is the father of the child. It could take after me and that will be difficult enough. Yet to take after you? We know that will defeat what we are trying to accomplish here."

"Of course. I still don't see how any of this is going to work but do what you must. I cannot see you next week but I will come out the week after that. Please though, come home if you must. We will deal with the problems that follow if it becomes too much for you to have to go through."

"Thank you and I love you. Just hold me right now. Soon I will have to return. It will take the courage of Andraste for me to do so."

"If only I could find a woman to distract Alistair from you? I'm afraid in the Bannorn, I don't come across noble women often."

"We should have planned that part out better. I wish Fergus would behave himself better. He meets nobles regularly. Please though, consider looking maybe further North for recruits? There must be a noble family with a widowed daughter, someone who might compromise her dignity for a Royal's favor."

"If it was only that, the task would be an easy one. Right now I prefer not to be so far away from you. Because he remains married, that does present an obvious obstacle."

"I know but for the right woman, he would put aside the Queen. Remember he is desperate. At least you know you both have the same type."

"Any woman I would consider would not agree to such an arrangement or compromise herself in such a way."

"Is that so true?"

"Well, ... oh, never mind. The sooner I am relieved of all of this, the better."

"I just want us to be a family once more."

"Can you get away to come home for a day or two?"

"I wish that I could. This will be the longest time I have been away from the children. Please make sure that they know that I miss them."

"I will. Next time I can come out here, I should have a couple of recruits. So I will not have to make my visit so secretive. I was thinking but no, it is better not to travel with the children with people I don't know well enough. Nor do I want the children traveling without us. We will just have to adjust."

"I'd love to have them with me now but with Alistair around like this? Roddy is quite bright. I cannot trust that nothing will happen to upset him. It isn't worth the risk."

"No, not until this is all done and settled with. You're having to go through another pregnancy will be hard enough on our family. Especially considering our previous miscarriages."

"At least I have that marvelous deck you built for me. I fear I will be put to bedrest sooner than I would ever hope to be."

"Not to worry my love. We will all take good care of you."

"You always do. No more about this. I didn't really want to bring any of this up today."

"But you cannot keep secrets from me. Speaking of which, Helga still insists on flirting with me."

"Helga? Our cook?"

"She is a terrible flirt. I do love to eat but I pay her, I don't feel obligated to give her any more of my favors."

"You were never…?"

"With Helga? No…ha, ha,…I'm sure if I was ever interested she might be willing but even when you were well with child…we managed to get through that. If we can do that, we can get through anything I told myself."

"Phew! It would be hard to imagine it. I'm not even sure how I would handle such a situation? Please, never with our staff. It is just too wrong."

"I quite agree. I'd kick Alistair out of his bed to get to you before I would go that far. Rotten scoundrel. I liked him so much better when he was shy and awkward. He was so bumbling."

"Let's be grateful for that. As opposed to you, who are so cocky and self-assured of yourself."

"That is my nature, I can't help it. But would you have fallen for me so easily if I wasn't?"

"Not easily. Maybe we would have ended up like poor Ser Swindon and Cecelia? How sad that would have been? To have never really kissed you so passionately, my feet didn't even touch the ground!"

"You are somewhat shorter than I am. I don't even want to imagine it. We have too many fond memories I never want to live without. Even if I was rather hesitant or really scared to death of the consequences of being caught or worse, rejected by you. After that first kiss, I was hooked. All the days that followed when I couldn't be with you, I was imagining and scheming when next it would happen again."

"I still am, scheming and thinking of ways to make all of that happen again." She smiled over at him as she reached to put her arms around his neck.

"My pleasure." He leaned in to kiss her and they continued so for a while. They than ate their lunch and enjoyed the peaceful view around them before packing up and getting ready to leave their separate ways.

The Lady Gilmore had hardly been back to Warden's Keep before she was confronted by a young lad who said the King was waiting to speak with her. So reluctantly she changed her course and made her way to the Warden's main offices to find out what he wanted of her.

"Excuse me, Ser Raynard, I have a request to see the King. Is he busy/"

"Lady Gilmore, yes, I know he was looking forward to your returning back to us. Please step right in."

"Thank you. Your Majesty, you needed to speak with me about something?"

"You do know, it is very seductive, when you call me that."

"I can't imagine. I just got back. What can I do for you?"

"Many things. The list is rather long. Right now though, please sit down for a moment."

"This is all very nice of you but I do have a class to teach soon."

"Right, well, what I wanted to tell you is that there is a Ball here in Amaranthine that I want you to attend."

"I see. Not much notice I'm afraid. I was just out today too… when is this to take place?"

"In two weeks. I know it is short notice. I was just reminded of it yesterday and you had already left us here. I'm afraid news has reached the organizers that the "Heroine of Fereldon" is here. They really would like you to probably give a short speech. At least make an appearance at best."

"Oh, wonderful. Two weeks? That is hardly enough time and a Ball you say?"

"Yes, it is an annual event here. I'm surprised you haven't heard of it."

"I have. We attended it maybe twice I believe. Once I was pregnant with Tabitha, we haven't had the time to travel out here just for that. Since they somehow know I am here, it would be rude of me to completely avoid it."

"I agree. Since you have attended it in the past, you know what to expect. Just pick out something appropriate and have them send the bill to us here. I asked them to extend the invitation to our Senior Officers here so you wouldn't feel too overwhelmed by curious participants."

"Thank you. I appreciate it. It is very short notice for my family though. I don't like attending these sort of events by myself. We are too close to Highever too. So old friends often confront me at events such as these."

"Teagan and I will be there, not to worry. Just stay with our party and all will be well. Please, since you are a representative of both the Grey Wardens and my Kingdom, pick a dress that is worthy of your station. I insist."

"Here I was thinking I needed to polish up my armor. Now I must dress for royalty? Well, my brother must have gotten an invitation. I'm sure he misplaced it somewhere already. It might not be too late for me to persuade Leliana to join us at least."

"As you wish. Just please don't let her turn it into some sort of Chantry event. Once someone brings up Templers, I find it very difficult to change the subject. That is well in my past. I find talking about the progress the Grey Wardens have made here a much more entertaining topic of discussion."

"I will do my best."

"How was your time away from the Keep?"

"It was refreshing."

"Did you do much shopping?"

"No not this time. I did some reading, enjoyed some time hiking, some good food."

"That's good to hear. It's good to have you back. Actually, Tara, I have some tailors who work for me. They have to come here to fit me, I can have them make something for you as well."

"Is that appropriate for me to do so?"

"It is if I say it is. It is probably too late for us to expect someone in town to put something appropriate together at this late of date. I will send out a dispatch directly so they come prepared when my clothes are brought to me. They have a full staff at their disposal for such events."

"If you think it is best."

"What color do you want to wear."

"I have to wear something light, usually, something in a pale green or purple?"

"Pink, perhaps?"

"No really I rather not."

"Than blue? That is always a safe color to choose."

"So common for me. Really a pale green so reminds me of Springtime."

"I'll ask them to bring out a few ideas with them. It really depends on what they can find that is available."

"That will be fine. Since this is an annual event, fabric may be somewhat limited. I much prefer darker, brighter colors but I seem to remember at this event, they favor the paler ones, unfortunately for me."

"I'm sure you will look fine. Thank you for taking this invitation seriously. I was hoping that you would."

"For Fereldon, right? I love to dance so, it will be a nice change of pace."

"Is there anything else than?"

"Oh, wait, I almost forgot. This is for you. I know, I wasn't quite the gentleman, the other night. Please accept this, as an apology for being, well, putting you into such an awkward position."

"I really don't expect gifts every time I see you. It brings unnecessary attention to me. You have a Queen to spoil. I am a Grey Warden, I merely do my duty to the Crown as all Warden's are expected to do."

"Yes, we all do. You however, have done more for Fereldon, than any other has. Please, no need to make a fuss or to have to convince me why you deserve whatever favors I want to give to you."

"Until we know if the deed is set, this seems rather premature. I mean the dress and now this?"

"You are feeling like a kept woman, is that your complaint."

"Something in that order, yes."

"Good. If it makes the Queen jealous, perhaps she will behave more appropriately to her station."

"I didn't know it was the Queen who was denying you her favor. I thought it was otherwise?"

"Lately, your thoughts would be correct. Though how could they be substantiated on her part? Since it is up to me whether it is worth my trouble or not to pursue the matter. As of late, the thought doesn't even cross my mind. I'm so distracted by your beauty nothing else seems as important.

This gift, isn't really much. I will find something more elegant for the Ball once I have an idea what you prefer to be wearing."

"I see, will the Queen be attending this event also? I would expect her to make an appearance at least?"

"She doesn't much like to travel out this far during the Winter Season. There will be the usual events in Denerim that she will officiate there while I am away on Warden business. She may surprise us but no, she isn't expected to attend this year."

"What a shame. Hopefully the Bann will be able to make it. I won't know until the last moment I'm afraid. Such a difficult time to leave the children alone. We try very hard to not leave them without at least one of their parents at all times."

"That would be a pity but we will rally on. It will be enjoyable to spend the evening with some of our Senior Wardens. That will make up for any boring guests who might show up to take up our time."

"As you wish your Majesty. Am I free to go now?"

She asked him but before he answered her, he rose from his seat to walk over in front of her. The nervousness in her demeanor felt odd to him. Already he could see this was taking a toll on her good nature. It was hard for him to imagine her this way. Usually, she was rather carefree in her everyday existence.

"Milady." He answered her back finally as he took up her hand to kiss it politely. "You may leave, though you take the very sunlight away with you when you go."

"Truly you jest. I need to suit up and be ready for my class. I'll be leaving now." She curtesies and made her way hastily out of the door.

"Lady Gilmore?" Arl Teagan acknowledged her as she passed by him hastily and she barely noticed him.

"Lord Teagan. Please excuse me." She moved past him and he wondered what was on her mind to be so distant.

"Well! Ser Raynard, did they quarrel, these two?"

"Not to my knowledge, Arl. Their conversation was very brief."

"Humm …well …" Teagan let it go with that as he continued on his way back to see the King.

"What was that all about?"

"What do you mean? With Lady Tara?"

"Yes, of course with the Lady."

"Nothing is amiss. I spoke to her about the Ball and she consented to attend. I decided since it was short notice we should use my tailor. We cannot trust that anything decent can be made up from whatever material might be left up out here at this late a date."

"That is probably wise. Best though that we keep them quiet. No reason to bring the Queen into all of this."

"We have different tailors, why would they bother to inform her?"

"Your wife, the Queen, prefers to not remain ignorant of these things. How best to follow your moves than through your tailor?"

"Idle gossip. I already warned Tara but as I told her, let the Queen be jealous if she chooses to be. It is an utter waste of her time but she has enough of it these days, I'm sure. She plays her own games. At least this time the rumors will be true."

"Except that the Lady is not your mistress."

"No, not yet. I am just getting started though. Once we conceive a child, she will have a difficult time not remembering who its' father is. Nor will I allow her to forget this fact."

"How could she? I just came up here to have you look over your menu for the weekend. The cooks are eager to make preparations. Is there anything else I should be made aware of this evening?"

"Once we have Lady Tara's gown decided, I want you to find her something very nice to wear with it. Our time together will be almost over. I couldn't bear seeing her without something I would find fitting for her to wear during this event. I'd mention to our jeweler that Lady Tara is quite attractive, so it would be poor of them to not fashion something very elegant, to show off their handiwork. It must be something that will tempt ladies and gentlemen to want to inquire where it came from. As well as something to rouse envy from the Court."

"Very well. I will pass that along also. She will not feel comfortable playing such a part. Even for you."

"People will talk no matter what I do. Lady Tara is not such a stranger to fine gifts. Even as a child her father spoiled her so I have been told."

"But if you single her out so much, it is sure to arouse the Queen's interest."

"Is she planning on attending this event?"

"You haven't spoken to her about it?"

"We haven't spoken since my arrival out here. Her ladies are responsible for her calendar. I know I have not bothered about it."

"That would appear rather awkward. Nobles like her to make an appearance on special occasions."

"Than it is their duty to see that she is well informed, not mine."

"She might surprise you."

"If she attends that would be quite a surprise. She doesn't favor this place much. Usually she finds excuses not to attend."

"Curiosity though is quite common in women, so I have observed."

"Unfortunately this is true. I can avoid her easy enough if she should show up. I hardly notice her with all of those ladies she surrounds herself with these days. I find them a poor substitute for children, myself."

"Right you are. My fiancée is hoping to attend. As long as the weather doesn't turn sour."

"That's good. It will be good to see her again. Now please see that those things I asked of you will be done. We need the tailor right away so that the jeweler will have enough time to do their work. I am looking forward to seeing Tara look like the princess she was born to be."

"You really cannot blame her for not coming out here in all of her finery. She did look rather well this afternoon didn't she?"

"She did, didn't she? She looked lavishly lovely last weekend. Only a few more days left until than."

"Did she like the gift you gave her today? I still cannot believe you took advantage of her that way. Yet, you say she was forgiving and cooperative. You have become unlike any man I have ever known, your Majesty."

"Come now, men have done much worse. I didn't force her into any uncompromising situation. I merely took your words to heart. I haven't much time. It has been some time since I had any hope of becoming a father. To have Tara as its' mother? I never had any hope of ever making that happen without going to drastic measures."

"You are very close to that though."

"Am I? I am doing what is expected of me. Even the Queen has no room to object. Too many times she blamed Tara for the reason she is barren. Can you even imagine such ridiculous logic? If anyone pushed me into her arms, she was one of the main culprits. As if I would consider pushing Tara aside for her?"

"She is lovely in her own right though."

"If only that was what it took to become a mother. We all agreed this was the best course of action. At least when all of the truth comes out, it cannot be stated that I used Lady Tara wrongly. I have rewarded her for her duty. I will greatly reward her and her family if we finally get an heir."

"It is only fair. I need to return to my work. Good day to you, Alistair."

"Good afternoon." Alistair replied somberly wishing to himself there was some way to convince Lady Gilmore that she can rely on his love to be her strength. Instead of a Knight. He looked to the courtyard waiting to see Tara's class begin their lessons.