Title: Home Is Where the Heart Is

Pairings: Alistair/Elissa Cousland (King and Queen)

Rating: Teen

Summary: She is home

Timeline: Post Inquisition

'Home is Where the Heart Is'

She looked at the castle from her spot next to her horse. The horse whinnied and she patted its neck, using hushing sounds to calm it.

"It's okay," she soothed, resting her forehead against its neck. It had been so long since she had been home.

She pulled away from her horse and looked back at the castle. It was still standing, that was good to see. Not that she lacked faith in Alistair's leadership; it was more of the people surrounding him that were most likely to send the castle to the grounds.

Her horse nudged her side and she looked at it, giving it a smile as she smoothed her hand down its forehead, rubbing over its muzzle.

"Come on," she whispered. The horse gave a soft snort and she made her way down the hill, to the path that led the way into Denerim.

It was mostly quiet when she stepped through the gates. She could hear singing from the tavern, smiling as she shook her head, walking closer to the gates that took her back to her husband.

The guards watched her past but did not attempt to stop her. She knew they would not recognise her with her hood up. They were tense, that she could see, and she wondered if it was due to what had happened during her time away.

She and Alistair had stayed in contact with each other during her searching for a cure. She had not wanted to keep him out of the loop and she knew that she would not have made it without his encouragement.

Elissa hated being away from him. She had spent six months in Amaranthine helping to rebuild the Grey Wardens, something she had protested. Alistair had told her that she was the only one he trusted for the job so she reluctantly agreed.

Then she and Alistair spend six months apart when Alistair had his own personal quest to complete.

They had thought it was over, that they would spend the rest of their time together but when the rumours started up and Eamon started pressuring them regarding a heir, she had thought long and hard about it and realised that she needed to find a way to cure the taint within their bodies.

They argued about it, they talked about it; they debated about it. She stormed off the library and he stormed off to train with the soldiers. The servants avoided them and the Nobles feared them.

It had taken, both, Anora and Teagan to knock some sense into them, they eventually came round, talking about it late into the night, and he allowed her to go, without him, providing she stayed in touch with him.

She missed one letter – he was coming after her, Ferelden be damned.

Just when she thought she could not fall in love with him anymore, he proved her wrong.

Elissa stopped when the castle steps came into view, her eyes following them up to the doors where Alistair would be inside. She worried her bottom lip and felt a nudge at her back. She laughed, turning around and pressing a kiss to her horse's forehead.

"Come on, let's get you settle first." She urged her horse over to the stables and it followed her eagerly.

Once it settled, eagerly feeding into the hay-sack, Elissa heard snuffling from the stall next to her horse. Frowning, she gave her horse another pat before she exited the stall and made her way down the path to reach the door of the next stall.

She stopped at the stall door and heard high-pitched barking. The last time she heard those sounds...she leaned over the stall door and her heart melted, smiling at the sight before her.

Mabari puppies.

The last time she had seen a Mabari puppy had been Damon when a Hound Master had brought Damon to Fergus to imprint. Fergus had been excited about having the puppy so she went to the library.

There had been a rule that when a Mabari was over to imprint, only the potential master could be in the room. It was to prevent any inference to imprinting

Elissa had been sitting on the floor, reading, when she heard a bark and pulled her book down to see the puppy at her feet. She had been so confused that she just stared at him for a good while before a noise caught their attention.

Both of them looked at the doorway at the same time.

Her father had been standing in the doorway with an amused look while her mother looked exasperated. Fergus had been laughing into his hand while the Hound Master wrung his hat in his hands with worry clear on his face.

That had been when they told her Damon had imprinted on her by following her scent. He had not looked twice at Fergus when he went searching for her. The Hound Master had said to her father that the dog was like a demon sometimes – which is where his name originated.

Elissa came out of her thoughts where there was a noise and she turned to see a young boy making his way into the stables, no doubt making his rounds.

He stopped when he saw her standing there and frowned.

"Oi, you can't be in here!" he exclaimed. She smiled and he froze. "Your Majesty!" The young boy blurted out and she shushed him, waving her hand. He quickly clamped his lips together.

"I do not wish for everyone to know I am here just yet," she told him, keeping her voice low. He nodded frantically and she smiled before she gestured him over to her, her other hand pointing into the stalls. "When were they born?" she asked as he came closer.

He peered into the stall, a small smile on his face before he looked at her.

"Two days ago," he told her. "Your hound is the father." She chuckled as she looked back at the puppies.

"I know. That one there-" she pointed to the one that tackled another puppy before the two of them wrestled "-is a lot like Damon when he was a puppy."

"The Hound Master is pleased with them. The King had spent some time down here since the puppies were born."

"Has he been imprinted?" She asked, looking at the young boy but he shook his head.

"Advisor Eamon suggested it was not proper to do so." Elissa gritted her teeth as she gave the young boy a nod. "I thought having a Mabari was a sign of respect."

"Ferelden is really the only ones who like dogs," she explained to the young boy. "I think Advisor Eamon is more concerned about the perceptive from other countries." She could see the young boy was not convinced, not that she could blame him, before she returned to the puppies. "Do we know what is going to happen to them?"

"I think these ones are going to the Inquisition. Their Spy master requested some Mabari – something about training?" She laughed and it felt good to laugh again.

Oh, how she pitied those who would be training with the Mabari. She knew very well what a Mabari training was like and she could only hope whoever was going to train with them would not faint from fear.

This caught the puppies' attention and they came running toward the stall door, scrabbling and she smile down at them.

"Sorry, I have a feeling your father would be displeased with me if I were to be imprinted by another one." The young boy laughed in agreement, as she looked at him. "Could you take care of my horse? There is some sugar cubes in the bag."

The young boy nodded eagerly. "Not a problem!" he rushed toward the horse, who snorted when they saw him and she smiled as she returned to the puppies then straightened her back.

She had her husband to see.

Elissa stealthily made her way through the castle, easily avoiding the guards patrolling before she frowned to herself. She needed to speak to Alistair about retraining them. She knew Leliana would send them a very stern letter regarding their protection.

She waited until the guard made their round on Alistair's floor before she took a deep breath and walked over to the door, her hand lifted, poised to knock before she faltered outside their – his – bedroom door and wondered if she still had a place in his life.

It had been nearly enough two years. She had written to him, faithfully, not wishing him to worry. However, a person does have their limits to how long they would wait for someone to come back.

She worried her bottom lip, rocking back onto her heels. She knew Eamon would have been pushing Alistair to find another. To divorce her – if they did not declare her as dead – and to marry another who would be able to give him the children needed for the Kingdom.

It never failed to make her angry at the thought. No one should force people to have children, especially for a Kingdom. It was a right that belonged to the parents.

However, that never stopped Eamon from pressuring them to have children, to have heirs for the Kingdom, to continue the bloodline of the Theirin.

The little girl continued to haunt her dreams and she wondered if they now had the chance to hold her in their arms, if they were going to have children. It nagged at her. They had tried to have children but when the rumours surfaced and the unrest regarding the Mages and Templars, they had decided it would have been better to put those plans on hold.

They did not want to bring a child into the world when it was dangerous. Alistair had already feared her life, the thought of her being pregnant and in danger had been a source of nightmares for her husband that she suggested holding off on having children.

Eamon had been beyond furious when he found out, demanding that Alistair was to replace Elissa immediately with a new wife, or take a lover, in order to provide them an heir for the Kingdom.

Alistair's fury had been a remarkable sight, and a widely told tale to those who would listen.

She straightened up, preparing to knock when a snuffling caught her attention. She looked down to see the shadow from the gap and she knew it was her hound. A wobbly smile crossed her lips.

"Damon?" she heard Alistair ask and her knees felt weak at the sound of his voice. She rested her forehead on the door, tears pricking. It had been so long since she heard his voice. "Is there someone out there?"

Her heart started beating faster and she pulled away from the door as Damon started scratching. She was not ready.

She turned away from the door, already planning a quick escape when the door opened, light illuminating the hallway and she sensed Alistair behind her. Damon barked and she heard the confused inhalation from her husband.

"Who-"

Damon rushed to her side, pushing his nose into her hand and she let out a sob/laugh as she stroked her dog's head.

"Hey boy," she whispered. Damon sat at her feet, licking her hand before burying his nose into her stomach. She knelt down, wrapping her arms around him. She had missed him so much.

Damon whined, resting his head on her shoulder, tucking his nose into her neck and she giggled before she pulled away, cupping his face.

"Oh – I missed you." He licked her cheek before he looked around her at Alistair. She slowly rose up, Damon nudging her hand in comfort as she tried willing herself to turn around to face him.

"Elissa," He grasped her arm, turning her around. She bit her lower lip again and heard him huff out a laugh, his hand coming up to cup her cheek. She closed her eyes as a tear slipped free, leaning into his touch. "I thought I told you I was the only one who was allowed to bite your lip."

She laughed as he tugged her lip free of her teeth, rubbing his thumb over it. She kissed his thumb and he pushed back her hood, baring her face to him to see.

She met his eyes. The warm brown eyes she only saw her in dreams and memories.

"Hello Alistair," she greeted and he laughed, leaning in and resting their foreheads together.

"Nearly two years and that's what you say," he teased her.

She pulled away, looking at him. He looked older. More lines – stress lines. There was a new scar on his cheek. She reached up, cupping his cheek, he leaned into her, watching her with those eyes, and she felt tears well up.

He softened, a small smile crossing his lips before he pulled her into a hug. She clung to him, burying her face into his neck as she breathed him in.

"Maker's breath, I've missed you," he whispered into her neck. She nodded, tears slipping free and she began to cry. "Sh, it's okay. You're home." It made her cry harder and he rubbed her back.

He was right; she was home. He was her home.

Elissa felt Alistair tighten his arms around her waist and picked her up. She tightened her grip as he turned them around and walked into their bedroom. She felt him kick the door shut and carried her further so she could feel the heat from the fireplace.

He set her down on her feet and she pulled away, cupping his cheeks. He kissed her and she felt it all the way down to her toes, warming her.

"Let's get you out of those armour," he told her when he pulled away. She nodded, helping him. She removed her gauntlets while Alistair removed her back, balancing before removing her leggings.

She slowly pulled off her tabard, her muscles aching and protesting. Alistair stood up, helping her and she sighed with relief when he dropped the tabard onto the ground, leaving her in her shift.

He placed his hands on her waist and frowned, looking down before meeting her eyes.

"You haven't been eating," he scolded her and she laughed.

"I did not have you reminding me to eat," she teased him and he shook his head, kissing her shoulder. She sighed, her eyes sliding shut at the contact. It was a simple one but one she had missed all the same.

"You," He kissed her neck, "Are," her jawline, "Going," Her cheek, "To be," he kissed her deeply and she moaned, sliding her hand into his hair, her other hand going to his shoulder, "The death of me," he whispered against her lips when he pulled away.

"Mm, what a way to go," she breathed before she kissed him again. His hands slid around to the small of her back, pulling her in close before she pulled away, sighing as they rested their foreheads together.

His hands returned to her hips, slowly pulling up her shift. She raised her arms, carefully and he removed it, leaving her nearly bare and dropped it to the side, taking her hands, lifting them to the sides.

"Okay, let's see." His eyes scanned her body before he let one hand go, reaching out, touching the new scar that was high on her left hip. He arched an eyebrow as he looked at her and she scoffed, embarrassed.

"A bear – a great bear. You have no idea how much I missed you being my shield." He laughed, his fingers caressing the scars before a look of sadness and worry crossed his face. "Alistair." He looked at her again. "I promise you, I am fine. I stayed safe the best I could." She tugged on his hands, pulling him in. "And I am not going anywhere without you."

"Promise?" he breathed against her lips and she smiled.

"Promise," She kissed him.

"Mm," he pulled away, "As much as I like this, I really need to make sure my wife is okay." She smile before stepping back, allowing him to pull her knickers down, kissing her stomach as he did.

Her hands went to his hair as tears pricked at her eyes. He stood up, pulling off her breast band and she winced. He pulled away, turning her around to see the bruises on her back.

"Maker's breath, Elissa! See if I let you get out of my sight again. Here I was thinking I would be worse off if you had not been there to lead me. It turns out that you are worse off when I am not there to be your shield!" She laughed as he turned her around, amused exasperation clear on his face as he shook his head.

"Here, sit down." He helped her to sit down next to the fire, tucking the blanket around her. He pushed back stray hairs from her face before he frowned, his hand covering the back of her neck. "You are still cold. We need something else to heat you up, and hopefully sooth those bruises on your back."

He stood up, looking around the bedroom before his eyes locked on something. She followed his gaze to see he was looking at the door that led to the bathing room.

"Alistair-"

"Bath!" Damon barked, growling and Alistair rolled his eyes at the hound. "Not for you." He looked back at Elissa. "The servants tried giving him a bath. You can imagine how that went." She laughed as her dog hunched before he stalked closer to her, curling into her side.

"Oh, dear. I guess it was not as fun when I give them, huh?" He whimpered, resting his head on her shoulder and she grinned, kissing his muzzle. She turned to look at her husband who was already gathering up the runes from their chest and she knew what he was planning.

"Alistair, you really do not need-"

"Let me, please?" he asked and she softened as she sighed then rolled her eyes.

"Very well, if you must." The smile he gave her was worth it as he hurried into the bathing room.

Elissa snuggled into her dog, listening to her husband curse under his breath a few time before he uttered a triumphant cheer and smiled. Damon lifted his head from her shoulder as Alistair came into the bedroom.

"My lady, your bath awaits you." He bowed. She laughed as she slowly pushed herself up, taking his hand when he offered it. He moved in closer and lifted her up into his arms that she had to arch an amused eyebrow.

"Yeah, you're not getting away from me again for next – oh - ten years," he stated. She laughed again as she slid her arm around his neck, hugging him close as he carried her into the bathroom.

"I have no problem with that," she told him, kissing his cheek before resting her forehead against the side of his jaw.

"That's good."

"It means we can hide out in the library more often." He laughed, almost dropping her. She squealed, tightening her arms around his neck and he reaffirmed his hold on her.

"Sorry," he managed to apologise and she sighed, shaking her head in amusement. "Eamon does not like it when we hide out in the library," he reminded and she scoffed.

"That is only because you told Damon to bite anyone who tried to enter," she reminded him.

"How was I supposed to know Damon would obey me? I thought Mabari only obeyed their masters!" He reached the bath and slowly lowered her in.

She groaned as the warm water lapped at her skin. He had put salt and oils in, helping with her sore muscles. "How is the water?"

"Perfect." She sank lower, allowing him to run the cloth over her skin and she closed her eyes. For the first time, since she started her quest, she felt safe. "And for your information," she opened her eyes to meet her husband, "Mabari do not really have masters. Mabari obey those they deem worthy."

He stopped his ministrations, his head snapping to look at Damon, curled up in front of the fire – he had followed them into bathing room – and he whined quizzically, cocking his head at Alistair.

Alistair looked back at Elissa, who was smiling fondly as she nodded.

"Damon followed your orders because he has deemed you worthy." He swallowed and she felt her heart swell. He had always wanted a Mabari – he had grown up with them when he was living in the stables – but he had never had the chance to have a Mabari imprint.

"Really?" she nodded.

"He had never listened to anyone else's orders. That is why I left him behind when I went away. Because I knew he would obey your orders and you would be happier if you still had him."

"You are sneaky sometimes," he muttered, resuming his ministrations and she grinned.

"Only sometimes?" she asked. "I guess I need to up my game."

"Oh no, you don't," he argued. "You already run circles around me as it is." She rolled her eyes, shaking her head in amusement.

Alistair kissed her shoulder.

Elissa reached out, her index finger stroking his chin as she memorised his appearance. "I missed you." He smiled. Her finger traced his lips.

"My witty jokes and irresistible charm?" she laughed. He kissed her finger.

"Believe it or not, I actually did miss those." He chuckled, shaking his head. "But I missed you having my back." Her hand cupped the side of his face, thumb stroking his cheek.

"And I missed you having mine." He kissed her gently then rubbed his nose against hers. "Welcome home, sweetheart." She smiled. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Home is where my heart is. My Heart is You. You are my Home.

The End

Thanks to Pervinca for Betaing

The pairings (in selection box) will feature the previous chapter pairings and the current pairings so it will show up rather than leaving it blank