Disclaimer: Character and world belong to Bioware.

Warning: Not suitable for all readers

Rated: MA

Part Three

She drank the hot water that had been boiling with the shredded leaves, Varric watch as she brought the cup to her lips, she had drank this particular brew almost every morning for the past week and a half.

"You must really like that stuff," Varric commented smiling.

"Actually it's disgusting," she replied looking at the cup, her expression told the Dwarf she did not enjoy it. Curious as he was he inquired of her,

"Then why drink it every morning? Digestion issues I know the food we've been having hasn't been the greatest."

With an upraised brow she considered the Dwarf, he wasn't usually so curious, "what are you really asking me Varric?" She questioned.

"I'm just curious about the tea, I've got a mean ache-"

"You do not," she interrupted, but she gave into his curiosity like she had on other rare occasions when he had been digging for details.

"I'm sure you've noticed something between myself and the Warden?"

And when he tried to deny it, she remarked that she had noticed his ears dancing and how red they could become.

"Most of it said for yourself eavesdropper."

Speaking out her concerns as they ran through her mind, "I drink the tea so that I would not swell with a child. Alistair is a very passionate man; we have been together most nights since our meeting. But what place will a half Elven child have in the house of a King? What place would a child have with me in these hard times, to never see his mother or worse never know her."

That last bit did capture his attention; Elves were never ashamed and very free with love, lovers and bearing children. But he supposed the woman did carry a title and filled a role much bigger than herself and it left no room for her desires, for the time being at least.

"King, you say. How did you find out?"

"Leliana responded to my reports, it seems she knew the man when he was just a Warden. A King, a married King she tells me."

"Yet you've continued with him?"

"He is not the first and he will not be the last. Kings married or not enjoy the company of an Elven woman. But there's something different about the way he looks at me, it has drawn me to him."

"What's that?"

"Who can say, nothing I've seen in many years. The first time I saw that look in someone's eyes regarding me they were taken away before I could find out what it meant."

"Doesn't every man who wants a woman carry a certain look in their eyes?"

"Not like this," she calmly replied a soft smile on her face and she brought the cup to her lips one more time and drank until the last drop.

Varric looked over at the Warden King and when he did, he noticed the man was looking in the direction of The Elf a smile in his eyes and he thought perhaps she was right. Maybe this was different.

oOo

They had arrived at Skyhold after their fight with the Wardens at the western approach. They had entered the Fade and returned. Alistair survived the dreaded place due to the revelation of whom he truly was.

When they were back at Skyhold in the Inquisitors private quarters he admitted he was ready to die. Alistair's pain clear in his eyes when he turned to face the woman who so reminded him of another but who had also taking her own place in his heart.

"How you remind me of her," He said.

Alistair hadn't spoken of the woman he saw in Junar.

"She was so beautiful, funny too. She loved me though I was such a fool." His hand brushed over the cheek of the Elf and his eyes roamed her face taking in every feature. She looked nothing like his dead lover when she was this close to him. Junar had a much stronger jaw, her lips fuller and her brow angular.

"I've enjoyed getting to know you Inquisitor," he said pulling away from her.

"You're quite the woman," he finished a mile on his lips. That look in his eye again and she couldn't help but wonder was that look for her or for the ghost he saw in her?

"You should visit me in Ferelden when all this is done."

"Perhaps I will," She smiled, but that smile faded quickly, "I'm not her Alistair," she said plainly.

"I know," he replied his voice low and broken. "But I want you too," he whispered, and slowly brought his eyes from the ground to met hers. They would spend another long night together, and he would be gone in the morning leaving her a note.

I didn't want to say goodbye.

I hope you will accept my invitation to Ferelden when your work is done.

Leliana can direct you when you're ready.

See you then.

With love,

Alistair