The Arrangement

Under pressure, Alistair is desperate to find a suitable Queen. Only that his choice is a highly unusual young noble woman and a new danger threatens Alistair's very life- Luckily Aedan Cousland is here to help. AU. M!Cousland Warden, Alistair, Non-Warden F!Cousland and the rest of the gang!

Hello there and welcome to the seventh chapter of The Arrangement. This is Part Two of this story and we are currently at 13,000 + words and over a 1,000 hits, awesome-sauce! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, fave'd, followed or read this story. It is very much appreciated. Please don't forget to leave a review and enjoy!

Edited: Fixed errors (10/07)


Chapter 7: Collision Course

Aedan crept through the narrow corridor as he followed Ser Tamra's lead. The woman knight had been adamant that they did not delay, despite his attempts to point out the wisdom of running back to the keep to inform the king and rally the city's watch to combat the newly revealed threat. As if reading his thoughts, the elf behind him murmured, ''It was a mistake to go in alone I think.''

He turned his head slightly in acknowledgement, as he carefully stepped over the loose and missing floorboards that led to what Tamra had sworn was the centre of the conspirators' meeting place.

Behind him Zevran let out a hiss of disgust as he took stock of the interior of the dilapidated building, ''La, la. They could have picked a better meeting place, no?''

Aedan smirked in response whilst the blonde knight growled in annoyance, gesturing for them to remain quiet. ''We need the element of surprise otherwise we are all dead,'' she hissed.

''She needs a good man to let off some of that stress, do you not think my friend?'' Zevran asked with a small flirty smile as he watched the woman slide behind one of the broken timber beams.

''I don't think that she would succumb to even your charms, Zevran.''

''I can be pretty persuasive and she-''

''Will you both come here!'' Ser Tamra whispered harshly as she waved at them to come to her.

''I think your lady is calling you Zev,'' Aedan said with an amused grin on his face. The elf answered him with a smirk of his own as they both made their way towards the female knight. It was time to put an end to this, Aedan thought as he unsheathed his sword and shield, and tensed for what would face him around the corner, once and for all.

He shared a brief nod with Zevran before he slipped around the corner and then stopped abruptly. Before him stood men clad in chain mail and boiled leather. Their weapons poised at him and his companions as they came into view.

''Oh...now this isn't very fair,'' Zevran called out, his daggers whirling threateningly, ''three against twelve. This should be fun.''

000

At first he froze in shock as he watched Aedan and Zevran sprint through the wide doorway, dragging a blonde woman clad in chainmail between them as they made their way quickly down to the dais. As he realised the seriousness of the situation, Alistair sprang into action. Quickly issuing out orders for the castle to be secured and for healers to be sent to the main hall, the young king then turned to Aedan whose injuries were currently being healed by Wynne, her magic flashing a pure and refreshing blue as it closed-up his injuries.

''What happened, Aedan?'' He asked his fellow Grey Warden, urgently as he knelt down before his friend.

''Please Alistair, allow the Warden-Commander to breathe for a moment.'' Wynne admonished calmly as she settled back on her knees spent from the magic use.

The dark haired man waved her aside, ''I'm fine, honestly. Just got a bit winded by that mace.''

The old mage frowned, ''All the more reason to rest for a moment, I am certain that whatever you need to relay to Alistair can wait for today.''

Alistair nodded eagerly, ''that's right, we need you at your best and-''

''I'm fine!'' Aedan growled in irritation, ''and it is important that Alistair and Arl Eamon are updated about the current situation. Wait,'' he looked around the hall, ''where is Eamon?''

''Arl Eamon has been sequestered in meetings with some of his own banner-men.'' Alistair replied, ''Now since you're so adamant that you are fine, tell us how you managed to end up bloody this time? '' He gestured to the woman currently being healed on the opposite side of the room, ''and who is this, are you allowing Zevran to bring home strange women now?''

Aedan's mouth twitched in amusement before he masked it again, ''Ser Tamra, that is the woman, came to us with news that she had intercepted letters pertaining to a plot against you.''

Alistair's eyebrows rose, ''and I should be surprised? Eamon and I are already aware of the rumours.''

''Alistair!'' Aedan rebuked, ''this is serious. There are conspirators that mean to assassinate you and place Anora on the throne.''

''Anora is harmless,'' the king waved in dismissal, ''she wouldn't kill me.''

''How can you be so certain, Alistair?'' Wynne questioned with a sharp thoughtful look across her angular features, ''the woman has made it well known that she aims to secure the throne and will stop at nothing to achieve it.''

''She is not like that Wynne,'' Alistair replied calmly, ''at first she may have wanted to secure the throne for herself but-''

Aedan rolled his eyes, ''Oh please, do not tell me that she has changed. That woman is a snake!'' he spat.

''I will not talk about this again,'' Alistair retorted in a tone that meant finality, ''I trust Anora.''

''And yet you were and are unwilling to name her your queen and wife.'' Aedan pointed out, ''or have you changed your plan now? Are you willing to break the arrangement of marrying my sister, after all you did force her to leave a place where she was relatively happy to a place that was...a bustling loud mess of a city?

''Because I am warning you Alistair, if you hurt my sister I will find a way that-''

''Aedan,'' Alistair ran a tired hand through his sandy coloured hair, ''I have no intention of breaking the arrangement with your sister. I still intend to get to know her but I wish that you could see that Anora has changed. She is not after my throne!''

Aedan gritted his teeth as he felt his blood boil, ''you-''

''Let us not fight,'' Bann Teagan broke in, as he turned his attention onto the dark haired man, ''Aedan, can you bring any light to this conspiracy plot?''

He grimaced, ''unfortunately there isn't much information.''

''...but there were many Antivian Crows present,'' Zevran interjected as he came over to the small group, ''Oh, and I am fine by the way.''

''Glad to hear it,'' Alistair replied wryly, before adding in a more serious tone, ''so, the conspirators have conscripted the Crows into their plot?''

''Si, and we are very expensive.''

The king had a thoughtful look on his face that Aedan knew from previous experiences that the man was thinking hard. As the silence progressed he shifted, uncomfortably aware that despite Wynn's healing magic his ribs still throbbed with pain.

The silence was broken when Ser Tamra approached, limping from s semi-healed hamstring wound, ''my Lord King, I apologise for meeting you rather than more auspicious circumstances.''

Alistair waved a hand in understanding, ''so you are Ser Tamra?''

She bowed, ''yes your majesty, I have the honour to be Ser Tamra.''

''As Ser Tamra came to us with news that she had uncovered a conspiracy well...'' Aedan shrugged, ''well, we thought it was best to act with haste rather than-''

''Allow the conspirators to continue with their plans,'' Alistair finished for him. He turned to the lady knight with a gentle smile on his features, ''I am in your debt Lady Tamra.''

The woman flushed, ''I...''

''So have the conspirators been dealt with?'' Teagan interrupted, with a small furrow on his brow, ''Does Alistair remain in danger?''

Aedan shared a quick glance with Zevran, and shook his head, ''we only killed the Crows that were present at the meeting place. We do not know their overall numbers or how many escaped when we rushed them.'' He paused before adding, ''but for as long as we remain vigilant, Alistair will remain safe.''

000

Elissa sat reading one of the romance novels that Wynne had leant to her. She found that the choice of genre surprising, as the older woman did not strike her as someone who found romance to be appealing. But to each their own, she thought with a shrug, as she fingered the page.

A knock at the door revealed a tired looking Alistair.

''Oh, I did not expect you,'' she said, placing the small volume down on the table as she made herself stand up.

''No, need to get up,'' he told her as he made his way into her chamber, furrowing at the book as he passed, ''The Rose of Orlais,'' he murmured before he sent her a wide grin. ''I did not know that you were interested in reading romances.''

Her face flushed and she could not hold his gaze. ''No, I...I am not interested in reading romances.''

At his raised eyebrows, she elaborated, ''Wynne...she leant it...the book, I mean, to me.''

For several long moments, Alistair just gazed at her steadily, and then something shifted in his eyes. ''Have you ever been kissed, Elissa?''

Again, Elissa felt her face flush as she avoided his gaze. ''I...no, I have not.''

He suddenly leant in close, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. The action caused Elissa's eyes to widen and she took a sharp gasp of surprise, as she felt hard muscle under the fabric. ''Well, allow me to give you your first,'' he murmured huskily, and his lips were against hers.

For an instant, Elissa froze, but the sensations that were assailing her were hard to describe. Without knowing what she was doing, her arms slid up around his neck, and she eagerly leant into the kiss but then abruptly he stopped and drew back, causing her to whine a little in protest as her eyes looked up at him fairly dazed.

Both were slightly out of breath, but after a moment of studying her, Alistair released her completely and stepped away. ''I...I should not have done that.'' He said after a moment, shifting uncomfortably, before he turned and left, and all Elissa could do was watch him go, feeling overwhelmed, astonished, and disappointed.


Ah, Alistair what have you gotten yourself into this time?

I apologise for the fairly short chapter, I have been having some family issues. The next chapter will, hopefully, make up for it. See you next time.:)