I had an accident with the window last night and I discovered two things. First, I do not know my own strength, and second, shatterproof glass isn't exactly as shatterproof as the makers say it is. Anyway, I've been thinking this chapter through. I hope it stands up to what everyone is used to.

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I stalk through the halls, only just now realizing the late hour. The sun will be up soon. I head to my bedchamber, eager for a bed and sleep. It's not as easy as it should have been. The door is locked. I roll my eyes. Anora, you really have fallen if you think a lock can keep me out of my own bedchamber.

I take a step back then lift my knee to my chest and slam my heel into the door right next to the handle. The flimsy knob shatters at the impact, and the wooden door flies open wide, slamming against the wall.

Anora flies up from the sheets, shock on her face. "Alistair, what in the Maker's name have you done?"

She shrieked at me, and her voice grated on my ears. I ignore her and begin removing my armor, leaving the padded tunic and breeches on, just for fun. When I get to the bed, I am yet again annoyed.

She has put that old board in the middle of the bed. As if it was needed. Anora's touch makes my skin crawl. I grab the offending piece of wood and fling it across the room, and crawl in the bed.

"Alistair, you're filthy! Get out!"

"No. Now hush and let me sleep."

"Why don't you go sleep with your whore?"

I sit up and glare at Anora, cold fury washing over me.

"This is your last chance Anora. One more word and you're out."

"I'm the queen! You cannot put me aside for a dirt-born knife-ear!"

I've had enough. I push Anora out of the bed, then follow her out. She shrieks for the guards, and I can't help but smirk when a pair of my own men come running through the door.

"What's happening?"

Before Anora could say anything, I tell them, "The queen was just wanting an escort to a different room to sleep in. And of course, she will be needing you to guard her at the door because she fears for her safety. Make sure no one bothers her. She could really use some beauty sleep."

I pick Anora up out of the floor by her upper arm and toss her towards my men. They restrain her, and look at me quizzically before saying, "We will escort her to a separate room and we will make sure she is not disturbed. When is her allotted time for beauty rest finished?"

I think about it, scratching my chin. "Hmm, until I say so. I have a busy day tomorrow and I would rather her not ruin it. I will also send her food, so no need to worry about sending her maid to do so."

"Yes, majesty."

And off they went, dragging a kicking and screaming Anora between them. I am about to return to my bed when I hear her sputtering threats to my guards.

"Anora, if any of my men come to harm under questionable circumstances, I will have your head. Do you understand that?"

She screams at me.

I sprawl out on my bed and sleep my first deep, peaceful sleep in eleven years.

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I wake to sunlight and pokes. I crack an eye and find Duncan in the middle of jabbing his finger in my cheek.

"Is everything alright?" I ask with a yawn.

"I was just wondering if you were dead. Old Kane doesn't even sleep that deep. You were snoring so loud the chandelier downstairs was rattling. Oh, and there's a large pool of drool on your pillow as well."

I yawn again and roll over onto my back. I felt fabulous. "Well, aside from the inherent dangers to my wellbeing during sleep, I actually feel great. What time is it?"

"They just tolled the bells for the hour before noon."

"I slept later than planned. How are the Qunari?"

"Sleeping off the celebration of a birth."

"Well, at least I'm not late to my own meeting."

Duncan grins at me crookedly. But his grin disappears and his brow furrows. "What did she do that made you throw her out?"

I debate telling him, but figured it wouldn't hurt. "She spoke against your mother."

He stares through me, like Alyssa does when she's deep in thought. I do not interrupt him, not even when he mentions we might go get something to eat. I put my armor back on and follow him through the castle halls and down to the mess hall where people were gathering for lunch.

Heads turn automatically, and I feel eyes boring into me. I glance up at the cry of a baby and find Alyssa already seated and stuffing her face. I'm impressed by how quickly the maids can refill her goblet and her plate.

Asala is strapped to her back. I reach and cradle her face, and her crying turns down to a low complaining. I sit beside Alyssa and a maid lays a plate down in front of me. I don't even care what it is, I just start shoveling food in my mouth.

I hear the snickers but I ignore them, paying my attention to the rumbling in my stomach. It isn't until the large mass of cook is standing across the table from us, hands on her hips and a nasty glare pointed at us that Alyssa and I exchange a glance.

Cook's mass of curling black hair bounced as she flew into a rage on Alyssa's level.

"Look 'ere now! It's 'ard enough feeding an army. It's 'ard enough feeding you,' she points at me, 'when you eat more than th' army. But it's nigh impossible to feed the three of ye when ye all go eatin' at the same time! You're going to hafta start helping fill the larder if you're going to eat like a family of 'ogs. Now wot 'ave ye to say for yeselves?"

She ended her tirade by pointing her wooden spoon square between my eyes. Naturally, I couldn't find a thing to say in defense of myself.

Alyssa breaks the silence by snatching Cook's spoon and licking off what appeared to be cookie dough. Cook snatches back her spoon and knocks Alyssa on the head with it.

I join the rest of the mess hall in laughing until my sides burst.