The Prequel: Alistair's sex life before the blight, Ostagar, and meeting the witches of the Wilde aka how Alistair really lost his virginity.
Chapter 7: The Second Choice is Made
That night he did as he promised himself. He returned the horse, packed clothes to stay on the farm, took his provisions, and left a letter explaining he was going to stay on the farm until summoned for by the mother with the overnight secretary. He couched it in wanting to spent his last free days in the open, the family were indeed dear to him, and that he liked the work of the farm. All things she would expect.
He arrived at the farm with the moon high overhead. He'd slept in the barn many times before, and the family he was sure wouldn't be too upset, and more delighted to see him in the morning ready for work. He needed her tonight though. Needed to hold her and tell her he loved and hear her reaffirm her love. He only had to throw one stone at the window and she was down. Shawl around her. She was in her night dress she didn't look sleepy at all.
She threw her arms around him, kissing him over and over again. He shushed her and led her to the loft of the barn where his things were. He wanted to talk to her.. explain all his feelings and conclusions from the day and night, but she wouldn't hear him until their lust was sated.
He tried to talk but she just unlaced his britches with speed, tugging his now loose shirt over his shoulders. Next throwing her night shirt over hers. She lunged onto him pressing their skin together. She was touching him all over. He felt a great relief when their skin touched. It was like the return of something he didn't know he'd lost until it was back.
Her energy took over for both of them. This time he let her ride him to satisfaction. Touching her, caressing and kissing. Cupping her breasts and pulling her ass towards him. When he knew he was getting ahead of her again he thumbed her clit and was gifted with watching her cum in his lap. Her shuddering send him over the edge.. a feedback loop only driving them both on.
"Maker it feel amazing when you cum" she said grinning down at him. Then she fell into the blankets next to him. "I'm sorry, you were trying to tell me something.. and I just.. I just couldn't put off feeling you. I've been so worried all day and.."
"It's fine.. I ..I will explain everything.. but I came back tonight instead of the morning because I couldn't bear not to see you and hold you."
Alistair told Thea his feelings and thoughts as honestly as he could.. though still leaving out the part about his birthright for the moment. As she said, there was time for that later. He said in a way the arrangement made sense, but also could this other man bear to share her truly? Would he be welcome as a husband when he could be with her? Would they consent to some of their children indeed being his? Could she bear to not know when he would come and go as his duty would dictate that? He told her how he didn't know if he would be able to cope with all these factors himself.
After questions, reassurances, more questions, and more tears, they agreed that she would arrange to meet with her finance as soon as possible to talk things out. She agreed that he could accompany her on the road to ensure her safety, but he would not intrude in anyway in the visit she had with her fiancé. A lot would need to be discussed.
The next morning she wrote to her fiancé. She explained that there was much for them to discuss as soon as possible. A big summer market day was coming at a town between their two villages in less than a week. She suggested that she meet him there.
This also would give her an excuse to leave the farm with Alistair. Her mother and sister both had goods they wanted to sell, and her father had tools he wanted to buy. The other children loved the idea of getting away for such fun. Once the idea had been seeded by Alistair with the family, saying he could go along to help, they readily agreed to the course.
The days passed quickly with all the work to prepare as well as the regular farm work. Alistair felt like he was multiple people living in one body. Alistair was up and down. At moments elated that he was planning a future with the woman he loved, and at others angry and distraught at the idea he might loose her and couldn't settle down like any other normal person.
Thea was the same. She was still tender and loving to him, but at for as many nights as she was all joy in his arms she cried. Either way they made love whenever possible. She had even managed to find a moment to have him when he helped her carry water for the family one morning.
Alistair became more and more nervous about matters as they got closer and closer to the actual meeting. They left early in the morning and arrived in the market town at dusk the night before the meeting. Most of the family would be sharing a room in the inn. Alistair, the oldest son, and father Doran would camp with wagon and goods they had. Partly for safety of the goods and partly because of room and propriety.
It was a long night for Alistair. He hadn't been able to get a moment alone with Thea to say goodbye before the family split up to go into town. He knew for the evening he could wander, but he did not want the temptation of the tavern, nor to end up inadvertently actually meeting Thea and her fiancé.
In his naivety it didn't occur to him that he wouldn't run into them. The young man in question had come with two of his brothers to sell goods at the market. They mostly had done this to make the trip worth it. It was clear that he was going to the market regardless of what the family wished after he received the letter from Thea. His parents were a little concerned, but thought young love has it's ups and downs. Let him go, but send his brothers. They would make sure he was safe, and keep an eye out. This also had the added benefit of hopefully a little profit.
The young man's brothers would make sure he was safe and well if possible, but not having the stringent hold on him that his parents would didn't really mind when he said he was getting a room in the tavern and wouldn't be camping out with him. They shrugged and laughed to themselves of their brother's lady problems.
Thea met her fiancé almost as soon as arriving in the tavern. Thea's mother noticed all this, and that her daughter hadn't told her of her plans to meet him at the fair. She wondered a bit at that but decided young love needed it's moments like this. As the couple were to be wed soon they
didn't see the harm in letting them have some time to themselves. She decided to turn a blind eye when Thea did not return until dawn to the family bedroom.
She certainly didn't suspect anything untoward going on between the Chantry boy, however, kind and handsome and their daughter. There was an obvious friendship, but the open knowledge of her betrothal and her obvious excitement about it caused her to think any interest there would deter him.