This chapter contains adult content and addresses some dark subjects.
Chapter 2

"Baby there's a shark in the water, there's something underneath my bed
Oh, please believe, I said
Baby there's a shark in the water, I caught them barking at the moon
You better get here soon"

Shark in the Water by VV Brown

It was only a few hours before the sun was due to come up when Sabrina slipped out from under…from under…hell she didn't even know his name; she eased herself out from under evil Alistair's arm and sat down beside the fire. She looked over at him resting so peacefully. It was like all the countless times that she had watched Alistair sleep during their travels and sadness settled over her heart. She had lost so much over the past two years and now Alistair added to the list of things that caused her heart to ache. She glanced over at the evil Alistair again. His hair was a little longer and he had that full goatee, but other than that he was identical to his brother…his brother. Alistair had a brother, he had a family and this man was hell bent on destroying him without even knowing him.

His plan was the craziest thing she had ever heard…replace Alistair. Replace the King! What did that mean? Kill him…make him disappear…what? The even crazier part was that he wanted her to help him and then become Queen. She had no desire to be Queen. If that is what she wanted, she would have put Alistair on the throne so that she could rule beside him.

Over the past two days this man had completely blindsided her, but now that she had a few minutes alone to think she needed to get a hold of herself. To be this out of control was so unlike her. She hadn't allowed her hormones to control her like this since she was a teenager when she and Nathaniel Howe would spend their summers together, exploring their new found feelings for each other. However, she was no longer a hormonal teenager driven to act on every little impulse.

When he woke up there were some things that were going to change. For one, she couldn't continue to screw around with a complete stranger. Even if it was the most incredible sex of her life, the only reason she'd had sex with him at all was because she thought it was Alistair.

She stood up, walked over to the fire and began to stoke it so that they could cook breakfast. She felt his muscular arms wrap around her waist as he pressed his arousal into her ass. Sabrina brought her knee up and drove her foot into the top of his. He grunted with pain and lost his balance. She grabbed his wrist and forearm, bent forward and pulled him over her shoulder, so that he landed on the ground in front of her. She immediately pulled her dagger out and pointed it at his throat.

"I believe that you and I need to get a few things straight," Sabrina said as she pulled the blade back and pointed to a log. "Why don't you take a seat?"

The evil Alistair gave her that sexy grin that made her stomach flip. He took a seat across the fire from her. He stared at her and she stared back for a long moment before she spoke, "First, if you ever lay a hand on me again without my consent, my body will be the last thing your hand feels before it's been permanently detached from your body."

He smirked at her, "You didn't seem to mind me touching you before."

"That is because I thought you were Alistair," Sabrina replied.

"So let me get this straight, in your mind it's okay to have the man that betrayed you, who stabbed you in the back and allowed you to go fight an Archdemon by yourself, to fuck you every which but loose, but you're against a complete stranger doing that to you," he replied.

"It's not the same and it's none of your damn business. My reasons are my own," Sabrina retorted.

"And last night, after you found out I wasn't Alistair. What was your excuse then?"

She stared at him as he remembered how incredible his hands felt on her body and how he made her cry out in pleasure over and over again. Her eyes must have given her thoughts away as the same grin spread across his face. "You wanted me as much as I wanted you, even though I wasn't Alistair, because Alistair never fucked you the way that I did."

"That isn't true," she replied defensively as the image of Alistair pressing her up against the wall flashed through her mind. She quickly composed herself. "Again you are talking about things you know nothing about."

"You still want me. I can see it in your eyes when you look at me. I'll bet if I slid my fingers inside your pants I would find that you are wet and eager."

She had to control herself to stop from squirming at the thought of his fingers inside her. "I am not some teenage girl that can't control herself because her hormones are out of control. Just because the sex was good…"

"Mon Soleil, don't lie to yourself, that was the best sex of your life."

Sabrina raised an eye brow, "Mon Soleil -my sunshine? I thought I detected a slight Orlesian accent once you dropped the Alistair façade. So what is your name? Or would you prefer I call you the evil Alistair?"

He laughed a full deep laugh that warmed Sabrina from the inside. "Hell no, the last thing I want on your mind is him. So, besides Lover, you can call me Tristen."

She ignored the statement. "Tristen, Tristen what?"

He smiled, "Tristen Theirin of course."

"Yes, well that brings up one of the things that I want to clarify. I don't know what crazy ass plan you have dreamed up to remove Alistair from the throne, but if your intentions are to kill him, then secretly step in to replace him, you will have to go through me to do so," she paused as she stared at the grin on his face. She glared at him and waved her hand, "Don't even say it. Now on the other hand if you want to claim your birthright and make a bid for the throne, by all means go ahead and do that. But it won't be with me by your side. If I had wanted to be Queen I could have been, but I have no desire for such noble titles and constraints."

"It takes someone with a privileged upbringing to make such a statement," Tristen said bitterly. It was the first time his aloof sexy demeanor faltered.

"Where did you grow up?" Sabrina asked sympathetically.

"Orlais as you have already deduced and as you said earlier, my background is none of your damn business" Tristen retorted.

"It's obvious you know nothing of Ferelden politics because if you are going to go after the throne, then your background is most certainly my business, and the business of every other noble in this country. If you don't want your entire history brought to light, then you may want to reconsider wanting the throne," Sabrina replied.

He didn't reply so she continued, "The second thing I want to clear up is that I am the Warden Commander of Ferelden, and while you are in Ferelden, you fall under my command. You will listen to my orders or I will continue to put you flat on your back until you do," Sabrina instructed.

The incredible sexy grin was back as he replied, "I don't have a problem with that as long as you are on top straddling me."

She grinned right back at him, her most seductive smile, "I hope you have a really good memory and a vivid imagination because that will be the only time you will see me straddling you."

"Mon Soleil …"

"Stop calling me that. You don't even know me," Sabrina demanded.

"Mon Soleil, but I do know you. I know you very well. I know you as well as Alistair does, if not better, because I understand you in ways he never will," Tristen said slowly emphasizing every word.

Sabrina laughed coldly, "You're good, but you'll have to do better than that. You want to know what I think?" Tristen nodded. "I believe that you come from some underprivileged background where you grew up envious of those whose station in life was higher than your own. When you found out that you had a twin brother who was a King, all of the anger and resentment from your past boiled to the surface and you decided that you wanted…no you deserved everything Alistair had. I am nothing but a pawn in your sick game to possess everything that once belonged to your brother."

She turned to walk away from him and he grabbed her arm. He pulled her tightly to him. His large calloused hands burned through the thin material of her nightshirt as his hands roamed up and down her back causing an insatiable yearning to course through her body. He gazed into her eyes for a long moment. "You're wrong, Sabrina. I would never use you. Alistair is unworthy of you and doesn't deserve your love or your loyalty," he said softly.

"And you think you do?" Sabrina asked.

"I know I do," he said as his warm breath washed over her face and his lips pressed down against hers forcefully and eagerly. As his tongue swept against her bottom lip seeking entrance, she opened her mouth and he immediately deepened the kiss while he brought his hand up to stroke her hair. His lips ignited a fire deep in her belly that shot fireworks through every one of her nerve endings, turning her legs to jelly. If not for the strong arm still encircling her waist, she would have fallen to the ground. This needed to stop, yet she couldn't bring herself break free from the delicious sensation of his mouth on hers. He was kissing her with the same hunger that he had before, but now there was an underlying emotion that she couldn't put her finger on. It felt like love, the way that Alistair had kissed her, but this man hardly even knew her.

It actually frightened her. She forced herself to pull away and stepped out of his embrace. She straightened out her shirt as she murmured, "Umm, we need to break down camp."

Once they were ready to start out she said, "Are you going with me to Amaranthine or are you going to head back to Denerim so you can overthrow the throne?"

He laughed. "I am here to help you set up the Ferelden Wardens. I am with a contingency from the Orlesian Wardens. They should already be at Vigil's Keep. I was sent to Denerim to escort the lovely Commander back."

"That's fine, but I will be heading to Highever first. I have not been home since my…I have not been home in a while and I need to check on Fergus," she replied stiffly.

"I understand."

They spent most of the day walking in silence which was perfectly fine with Sabrina. She had a lot on her mind and really wasn't up for idle chitchat. Her mind kept drifting back to her curiosity for this man, but she knew not to ask. He made it clear that his past wasn't open for discussion, but eventually he would have to talk about it if he really did have plans to challenge Alistair for the throne.

She thought about the way he had held her earlier and how possessive he'd become of her with regards to Alistair. Then there was that undertone of emotion in his kiss. She knew what it felt like to have a man kiss you when they were in love with you, and she had felt it again this morning. She hadn't sensed it before, but maybe that was because it had been so heated between them. This morning had still been passionate and damn if the man didn't know just how to make her toes curl. There had also been tenderness present, something she hadn't realized just how much she had missed until that moment. She glanced over at him and he had a smirk on his face. "I take it your thoughts are keeping you entertained."

"Oh, they always do," he replied.

"And what is so amusing now?"

"I was just thinking about the kiss that we shared back at camp. I don't recall you giving me your consent, but somehow my hands are still attached to my body," he mused as he held up his hands and waved them at her.

She rolled her eyes and snorted, "It's a mistake that can easily be remedied."

He smiled at her, "It would be fun to watch you try."

"Oh, I think you would be doing more than watching. And is sex the only thing you ever think about?"

"I'm a guy sooo, yeah just about. What were you thinking about?"

Her brow furrowed and she felt the blood begin to rise on her cheeks, "Stuff…lots of stuff t-that doesn't have anything to do with sex."

He laughed, "Oh really, then why is your face all red?"

"I-it's from the physical exertion of walking up this hill," she stuttered like a babbling idiot.

He grinned at her, "No, it's not. You were thinking of us and that very heated moment we had this morning."

"Yes, I was thinking I can't let my guard down around you," she stated matter-of-factly.

"So you're that worried about caving into your deep-seated desire for me, are you?"

"No, I have no problem controlling myself. It's you that I have to worry about," she countered.

He grabbed her arm to stop her and stepped close to her. He looked deeply into her eyes. She felt her stomach flip and heard her breath hitch. "Sabrina, you never have to worry about me. I promise I will never bring you harm, and I will never allow any harm to come to you."

She scrutinized him before she spoke. "You barely even know me. Why would you make such a declaration?"

She watched his face as conflict raged beneath the surface. He dropped his hand from her arm and stepped back. "Your right I don't know you, but I know of you. From all accounts you are a strong, passionate leader who has a warm and compassionate heart. Against all odds, you were able to gather an army to aid in the fight against the Blight, and when the one person that you had come to trust with your life deserted you, you still found the courage and bravery to face the Archdemon with a man who was considered an enemy. That is someone that I would be honored to serve under."

She searched his face and she could tell there was something he wasn't saying, but she didn't feel now was the time press the issue. She nodded as if accepting his explanation, but then asked sarcastically, "Have you been rehearsing that speech long?"

He looked surprised at her frankness and hesitated in his reply. She impatiently waved her hand. "Never mind, it's getting late and we should find a place to make camp."

He nodded as the two of them began to search for a place to set up for the night.

xxXxx

"What do you mean she has gone?" Alistair bellowed at the Captain of the Guard.

"I'm sorry, your Majesty. She incapacitated the guard outside her room and escaped undetected. The guard was unconscious for several hours before he woke and was able to make a report. Unfortunately, I was out on patrol with several units and did not find out about the incident until morning."

"She has been gone for two days. Why is it that I'm being informed of this just now?"

"As soon as I found out what happened, I sent a message to your adviser asking for an immediate audience with you. He informed me that today was the earliest he could squeeze me in to see you."

Eamon had been extremely busy preparing for the Ambassador of Orlais' visit, but even so, if he had known that this regarded Sabrina, he should have found the time.

"Did Chancellor Eamon know the nature of the request?"

"Yes, Sire. My note stated that it had to do with the unforeseen departure of Commander Cousland," the Captain replied.

Alistair drew in a deep breath and pressed his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose. Eamon had been begging him for weeks to release her and to allow her to go and perform her duty for the Grey Wardens. So when the message had come, Alistair could only assume Eamon had seen this as an opportunity to force him to let her go, give her enough time to put plenty of distance between her and Denerim before the King was informed. "Thank you, Captain. That will be all."

The Captain bowed and quickly exited the room.

Alistair walked over to the bar in his study and poured a brandy. He knew that she was gone before he even had the confirmation. Being the only two Wardens in all of Ferelden he could sense her taint within the Palace. And even though a part of him hated her, another part of him took comfort in knowing that she was close by; knowing that he wasn't completely alone with all of these vultures surrounding him.

When he had woken up two days ago and felt nothing when he reached out to sense her taint, he had quickly gone to her rooms and discovered that all of her things were gone…except for a tiny rose that had been pressed into a piece of wax paper that she had left sitting at her desk. The pain that had torn through him then upon that discovery once again slashed at his heart.

"Arrrgh," he screamed as he threw the brandy snifter against the wall shattering it into pieces. He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing his tears into submission. He had sworn to himself after the incident in the library that he would not shed another tear over her. That night had been the most painful night of his life; even worse than when she had conscripted Loghain.

He loved her while at the same time he hated her, and that night in the library he had wanted her to feel his pain, his agony. In the process had lost the essence of who he was and became a monster. The things that he had done to her, the way he had treated her was inexcusable and she had allowed him to use her, as if she were trying to help him come to terms with the rage and loathing he felt for her.

Now when he thought about that night it made him physically ill, but it was her eyes that would forever be burned into his memory. She had stood before him, her clothes ripped and hanging on her tiny frame in tatters, her body bruised, scratched and bitten. When he had looked into her eyes, they looked as broken and shattered as the clothes that she wore. He was to blame for that look and it broke him. He had quickly fled to the confines of his chambers and wept as he grieved for all that he had lost.

Ever since that night he ached to tell her how sorry he was and to beg for her forgiveness, but every time he started for her rooms he feared looking into her eyes, seeing that vacant, broken stare and it halted him in his tracks.

Alistair entered his bed chamber from a door in his study. He swiftly undressed and climbed into bed. Sleep would be a welcome relief from these agonizing memories.

Once again, he had her pinned against the library wall as he vigorously ripped the dress down the front exposing her supple breasts to him. He roughly took her nipple in his mouth as he sucked and bit at her. He heard her moan and the thrill that her pleasure sent through him drove him to the brink as he ground into her. He needed to be in her, to plunge into her deep moist center. Alistair undid the laces of his trousers, hiked her dress up, tearing off her small clothes and surged deep inside her. He felt her legs immediately wrap around his waist as she drew him in deeper. He groaned as he slammed into her and drove her with force against the wall. He heard the air rush out of her lungs.

'That's it, take it. Take all of me,' Alistair thought. 'I know you want me to fuck you like a whore.'

He felt her nails raking across his back and he cried out with a mixture of both pain and pleasure. He drove into her deeper and harder and he bit down hard on her neck.

'Am I hurting you?' He thought. 'Can you feel the anguish you have caused me?'

He knew that he was being violent and brutal, but she clung to him and took all that he gave her. Her arms clutched at his shoulders as she cried out his name, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. She was crying for him, for herself and for them.

Fuck, he desperately wanted, he wanted her back in his life again, he wanted her by his side and at the same time he wanted to hurt her. He wanted her to feel a tenth of the pain that he felt. Alistair continued to slam into her as his hand reached up and wrapped around her slender neck. He lightly applied pressure and he could feel her pulse under his thumb. His body sustained the frenzied thrusting deep inside her as he felt her body tense, her climax drawing near. She moaned and he felt a thrill as her throat vibrated in his hand and as she began to shudder, her orgasm breaking, he began to squeeze tightly around her slim neck. He watched as her eyes sprang open with surprise and he felt her hands grasp at his. Her mouth opened as she sighed, "Alistair, no."

A scream tore from Alistair's throat waking him. He was covered in sweat and his body shook violently. The memory of the nightmare came flooding back. He could still practically feel her soft velvety throat beneath his hand as he applied pressure and he could hear her crying out his name. What in the Maker's name was happening to him. He needed to see her. He needed to beg her forgiveness. Her absolution was going to be the only thing that saved his mind and his soul.

Tristen stood in the corner of the dark library as he watched Alistair grotesquely defile the woman that he claimed to love, and worse, she was allowing it. She didn't stop him. Why? She was strong enough to resist him and Tristen knew Alistair well enough to know that if she had put up any type of struggle, he would have stopped. He may be a lot of things, but a rapist wasn't one of them. So why did she allow him to humiliate her in such away? Did she believe on some level that she deserved this for conscripting Loghain? She had to know it was the right choice.

Tristen watched as her climax drew near and he wished he was the one causing her to moan and it was his name falling from her lips. He observed as Alistair repeatedly thrust into her and watched as his hand began to tightly squeeze Sabrina's throat. He ran toward them screaming…NOOOO! But it was as if he was running in quicksand. He wasn't going to be able to reach her in time before Alistair choked the life out of her.

Tristen shook violently and sat up. He immediately looked across fire and saw Sabrina peaceful and sound asleep. He breathed a sigh of relief. She was fine…for now. She was alive.

*Special thanks to RandomWittering for her betaliciousness.