A/N: Fourth chapter... To me, this is crazy! I try to update as much as possible but it's tough! I can't believe it took me so long to actually upload this! I'm sooo sorry! School and work and life happened.

As always, thank you for reading, following, liking, etc... ! I also like reviews, no matter how small! If there's anything you don't like in this story or if you have any guesses as to what's going to happen... Let me know there! I also like PMs of course!

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The characters and locations don't belong to me; they belong to Bioware and EA and I'm simply using them to fuel this thing called my muse.

.: CHAPTER III :.
The Surprise

"We should go to the docks, this time!" Katharyne exclaimed as she leaned over her balcony, peering towards the bay, feeling the soft breeze and salty air from the ocean caressing her cheeks, her brown hair shifting in the wind.

A whole week had passed since the Alienage visit and Katharyne had been kept busy by her planning for the new Alienage laws and repairs. Her proposal was finally taking shape and she only had a few more things to add to it before the next council meeting. Cailan was still out at sea but had sent news of success and his return.

"No." Alistair said sharply from inside her room. He was sitting on the armchair closest to the door, reading a book. Katharyne turned to face him, grumbling under her breath as she walked back towards the room.

"No?"

"No."

"Why not? You can protect me! I can even protect myself, you know that."

"Just because" He replied coolly.

"Why?"

"Because"

"Because of what?"

"Because... I said so."

"I told you when we were ten, 'Because' is not a valid answer" Katharyne replied, sulking lightly as she learned on the doorframe, staring at him.

"Yes it is."

"No, it's not!"

"Yes. It. Is."

"No!" She exclaimed, pouting and her hands balled into tight fists.

"Yes!" He exclaimed as well, sitting up in his chair.

"Ugh! Fine! Stubborn man!" Katharyne grumbled as she turned her attention back to the bay. "I swear... If I didn't love you as much as I do, you would make me go insane with your pseudo-monosyllabic sentences..." She whispered.

"Wait... What?" She heard Alistair gasp behind her.

Katharyne stiffened as she realized what had escaped her lips. This truly wasn't the way she had wanted to tell him. She turned around slowly, blushing lightly as she slipped back in the room, closing the door behind her before leaning her back on it. She watched Alistair from there, noticing his face was a shifting between puzzlement and delight.

"Katharyne... What did you... What did you say just now?" He asked lowly, a tinge of hope in his voice.

"You... You heard me..." She whispered, feeling like she was seventeen again, after their fleeting kiss. She stared down at her hands, avoiding his gaze.

"You... love me? Me? Truthfully?" He said, Katharyne hearing his steps approaching her slowly. She nodded.

"So, you truly love me..." He repeated. "Wow...!" He whispered.

"Yes..." She answered in a soft whisper, avoiding his gaze still.

He wrapped his arms around her tenderly, wrapping her in his scent. Katharyne could hear his heart beating faster than normal... Or was it hers? She felt him slip two of his fingers under her chin before he tilted her head up lightly so she would look at him. She saw his amber eyes, filled with a mixture of happiness and pain, were searching hers as he held her close. He leaned in slowly until their noses were brushing lightly. He seemed to be hesitating, holding onto her tightly. Closing her eyes, she leaned up slowly to meet him, her lips brushing his softly. He seemed to snap out of a stupor as he pulled her closer and pressed his lips to hers deeply. Katharyne quivered at the touch, feeling weak in the knees as they kissed. She reached her arms around his shoulders to pull him as close to her as it was physically possible. She felt his hands roam her body before they rested in the small of her back, pulling her closer to him as well.

She felt his tongue slip between his lips and lick her bottom lip. She gasped in surprise and he took the opportunity to slip his tongue in. When she felt his tongue move into her mouth, she let out a low moan, feeling a shiver run through her spine and a new warmth pooled in her belly. She melted, suddenly aware that he was leaning her on the wall. Alistair moaned, a deep satisfied sound and she felt strange at the noise, whimpering when she felt one of his hands resting on her behind. The touch snapped her out of her trance and she pulled away from him, panting loudly, their noses still touching.

"Katharyne...?" He breathed her name.

"Alistair... I..."

"Why...?" He whispered.

"Why, what...?" She responded, pulling away lightly but not leaving his arms.

"Why me?" He replied, his eyes serious.

"I don't know... I... just... I just knew." She answered meekly.

"How long have you..." He started, guiding her to the nearby armchair.

"Known? Since I became sixteen I think... But I didn't realize it until the year I returned and you were..." She took a deep breath as she sat on his lap.

"Gone to Redcliffe." He finished before she nodded.

"I'm sorry, Katharyne... I had to... I didn't know how you felt. I was confused about my feelings..." He sighed.

Katharyne nodded as he spoke, not uttering a word.

"When I'm around you, I always find myself smiling. You make me feel warmth inside and for as far as I can remember; you've been in my life and I wish you could be in it until I die... but... it wouldn't... I... What I mean is that I... I..." He rambled on, blushing lightly and avoiding her eyes.

"Are you trying to say you love me too?" Katharyne asked, feeling her cheeks redden.

"Wasn't that kiss enough to prove it?" He whispered, turning his head to the side, his eyes shut. "I love you, Katharyne. I've loved you for so long..." He continued as he opened his eyes and turned his gaze to hers.

"How long have you known...?" Katharyne asked as she held his gaze, feeling his hands wrap around and rest in the small of her back.

"I think it was right after when we were ten... After you sat with me." He answered, twirling a strand of her curly hair between his fingers.

"Truly? It was that long ago? What made you... fall for me?" She whispered, searching his eyes.

"Yes, truly. No one had really paid me any attention as you did. You were nice and spoke to me while no one else really did, especially not someone like you, the lady Katharyne." He answered.

"And as we grew, your figure..." He coughed lightly, embarrassed. "... changed and I felt more and more attracted to you. But when our lips met, I... just knew."

Katharyne bit her bottom lip as he spoke, suddenly realizing something.

"Did you leave for Redcliffe because of me?" She asked.

"Yes, I left for Redcliffe as soon as you left Denerim. As you were Prince Cailan's betrothed, I wanted to forget you... And so, I had no intention of coming back. However, Arl Eamon's wife, Lady Isolde was unhappy with me in Redcliffe and as you are aware, I was sent back to Denerim this winter past." He explained glumly.

"Why was Lady Isolde unhappy with you?"

"Oh, nothing of import, love." He answered.

Katharyne smiled at the term of endearment and she leaned up to kiss him lightly on the lips.

"I was so sure I wouldn't see you again, that seeing you on my first day in Denerim... overwhelmed me."

"Which is why you were crying..." He whispered.

"Yes." She answered as he pushed some hair out of her face as he smiled.

"Maker, you're beautiful... If only I could steal you away... Away from Denerim, away from Cailan." He whispered.

Katharyne suddenly remembered her absent husband and felt tears threatening to fall. She was married now, whether it was consummated or not.

"Alistair... My husband. We can't... We shouldn't... I'm a married woman, but we..." She exclaimed as she got up, facing him. "But... I've longed for you, your kiss... your touch..."

"I know."

"In the eyes of the Maker is it sinful that I want to be with you? Even if I am married...?"

"The Maker might not forgive me, but I've loved you for longer than Cailan... And that cannot be sinful, can it?"

"Wait, did you say Cailan loves me?"

"Yes. I was part if his own personal guard before he requested I became yours. And since last winter, before you arrived in Denerim, I found him many a time staring at your portrait with a longing look."

"How do you know it was a look of love?" Katharyne scoffed a little, unsure what to think.

"If it isn't love, I don't know what else it could be. " Alistair said.

"It could be lust." Katharyne grumbled.

"He's not such a man... I know the look he had, I've had that look before."

"Oh, Alistair..." She sighed lightly, walking back to the chair where he was sitting.

"You know Cailan as well as I, if not a lot more, and you know how he feels about me... Although, his actions last year were quite different..." She admitted as she sat down on his lap.

They spoke until the break of dawn, both falling asleep on Katharyne's bed.

"Could you come to my room later, Alistair?" She whispered shyly in his ear the next evening.