Zeriah burst through the doors of Alistair's study. He looked up with a startled expression and raised an eyebrow.

"Zeriah? What's wrong, darling?" he asked. The small warden waved a letter in his face.

"Love, we just got a letter from Kierrai, and I think you should read it immediately." She said, her voice grave. Alistair took the letter from his wife with a worried expression.

"Is my sister in trouble?" he asked worriedly. Zeriah closed her green eyes.

"Just read it." She ordered. Alistair looked down at the piece of paper, which was covered in the energetic handwriting of his little sister. He chuckled. Her penmanship matched her personality well.

Dearest Brother,

If you haven't guessed by the first line, it's me, Kierrai. The letter began. He laughed at her obviousness and continued reading. Al, Sebastian and I are in Starkhaven, and we have been for a few months now. At first, we thought all was well. The nobles that we spoke to seemed to like us, and we decided to host a ball so that we could meet everyone and win them to our cause. It was a fabulous idea, and by the end of the night we thought we had won everyone over save for the advisor to the sitting prince, though I will get to that later. The day after our event, Sebastian was having a meeting with the nobles to get them to sign treaties of alliance, and also to convince them to publicly declare for us. Goran (the puppet prince) soon arrived and began denouncing Sebastian and I, and things only went downhill from there. The nobles took sides, and Goran declared war. Alistair frowned at that. Part of him began planning how to help her as he continued to read her letter. Brother, there is something very wrong here. The night before the meeting, Goran was easygoing and willing to hand over the throne without hesitation. I cannot understand how he could go from being that man to the one I saw leaving the meeting in just one night. It makes no sense to me. But I must say, if anyone is behind the change, it is Arl Jeb Elster. He is Goran's advisor, and he is a conniving rat of a man. He is also a cousin to Rendon Howe, and he gave me reason to suspect that he was involved in the murder of the Couslands, though I have no proof and no idea how he might have been a part of it. Everyone I have asked has told me that Elster is dangerously ambitious, and I feel that we are in danger from whatever he is plotting. I don't know what his plan is, but it can't be anything good. Alistair, we need your help, but due to the accusations that Sebastian only married me so that Ferelden could take over Starkhaven, I have qualms about asking you to send forces to us. I worry that if Ferelden soldiers are the ones to win the war for us, the people of Starkhaven will forever believe that we handed the province over to you, however false that may be. I hope this letter reaches you safely, though I fully trust the one I am sending it with. If you have any ideas, please, send a reply. Or reply anyway, because I would like to hear from you.

All my love,

Kierrai

PS: Congratulations on your son! I hope he gets Zeriah's good looks and my sense of humor.

Alistair's expression was grave until he reached the last line. His full lips quirked into a rueful smile.

"Well that was just mean." He said in an affronted voice. Zeriah chuckled, knowing exactly what he meant.

"You know she was teasing, love. You are very handsome and funny." She assured him. He rolled his eyes.

"What should we do? I can't just leave them to fend for themselves." He worried. Zeriah kissed his forehead.

"Maybe we could send a token force? Not something that would be considered a full Ferelden force, but enough to provide sufficient backup for them." She suggested. Alistair looked into his wife's warm green eyes.

"Where would I be without you?" he asked fondly. A mischievous gleam came into her eyes.

"A virgin." She said, unable to contain her laughter.

"Oh ha ha, very funny. You don't think I could have found someone to sleep with if you didn't exist?" he asked. She shook her head.

"No, because I am the love of your life, and you would only sleep with the love of your life. Well, and Morrigan, but that is a different story." She admitted. Alistair shuddered uncomfortably.

"Just when I think I have forgotten that particular incident, you bring it up somehow." He said grumpily. Zeriah plopped herself down in his lap.

"It isn't pleasant for me to think about either. But I do know that you are all mine." She said possessively. He kissed her and she rested her head against his broad chest.

"Who did Kierrai send this letter with?" he asked.

Orana felt Carver's eyes on her as she gaped at the sheer magnificence of the Royal Palace. She had volunteered to carry Kierrai's message for her after her confrontation with Fenris. She closed her eyes at the thought of him, pain enveloping her heart.

She heard a knock at her door and looked up from her sewing. Orana made her way to the door and cautiously opened it. Fenris stood there with arms folded behind his back and a grim expression. Orana felt her heart leap out of her chest at the sight of him. She smiled warmly.

"Come in, Fenris." She invited. He hesitated for a moment, but nodded and walked into the room. She gestured for him to sit down, but he shook his head.

"Orana, I need to speak with you." He said, his voice filling her with warmth. She nodded at him.

"Of course, Fenris. What do you wish to talk about?" She said, taking a seat where she could easily watch him. He paced back and forth, his strides graceful and predatory.

"I want to talk about us." He said finally. She blinked.

"What about…us?" she asked, feeling like an awkward teenager. Fenris sighed.

"Orana, I like you, I always have, and you are very important to me." He said in a rush. She would have beamed at this, if not for the unspoken "but" at the end of his sentence. Her body turned to ice.

"But?" she whispered.

"But I am not in love with you. I…have feelings for another." He said quietly. The chill crept throughout her body as he continued. She couldn't think. She couldn't breathe. She didn't hear a word he said. All she knew was a deep pain in her chest, one that no healer could take away. "Orana?" she heard distantly.

"Go." She murmured.

"What?" he asked.

"Please go. I…I don't want to see you anymore. Please leave." She said, her voice shaking nearly as hard as her hands. Fenris hesitated at the door.

"I am so sorry, Orana." He said softly before leaving her alone. When she was sure he was gone, she collapsed into a heap on the floor and cried for the rest of the night.

"Orana? Are you all right?" Carver asked. She jumped, unaware that he had been addressing her.

"I'm…not really. But there is nothing to be done about it." She said quietly. Carver nodded in what seemed like understanding. She was grateful that he didn't press the matter further. He eyed the bow on her back curiously.

"Can you use that thing?" he asked. She looked back and smiled proudly.

"I can. Sebastian and Kierrai have taught me some of their tricks over the years. They didn't want me unable to defend myself if the need arose." She explained. Carver grinned.

"That sounds like them, helping everyone they meet. I'm sure you are quite formidable with it." He said. To her surprise, he sounded completely genuine. She looked at him in a new light, and noticed that he was quite handsome in a charming, boyish sort of way. He lacked the rugged features of his older brother, but he was very easy on the eyes. Orana blushed, and noticed that Carver's cheeks had also reddened. Perhaps moving on would be easier than she thought.

"The king wishes to see you both." A man dressed in servant's garb announced. The pair of them followed him to the King's study, where they found Alistair and Zeriah, the latter of whom was comfortably perched atop the arm of his chair.

"It is good to see you again, Carver. And Orana, a pleasure to meet you. I am Alistair, and this is my wife, Zeriah. We wanted to thank you both for bringing us this message. Its contents were incredibly important.

"Were the two of you planning on returning to Starkhaven?" the queen asked. Carver shook his head.

"Nathaniel ordered me to return to Vigil's Keep as soon as my business here was concluded. Orana may come along if she wishes, or she can go her own way." Carver told them, his blush returning when he invited Orana to join him. Zeriah gave them a knowing smile.

"It appears we should send someone else with our force then, hmm?" Alistair said. Zeriah nodded in agreement.

"I think I know just the person." She said, the smile on her face widening. Orana had no idea what had just happened, but she had a feeling Kierrai would probably enjoy it.