Alistair opened his mouth but before he could say anything the door opened for a second time and Lelianna and Zevran walked in. Zevran leant up against the door frame. Probably all to aware of the awkwardness that had sprung up between Alistair and I. Meanwhile Lelianna just skipped down the path and wrapped her arms around a now standing Alistair "Oh I missed you guys."

"The Chantry Woman?" I questioned to Zev

He shrugged "She sent a message a few days ago. Wanted to surprise you both."

I smiled and wrapped my arms around Lelianna. "Its good to see you."

"You too."

And so Alistair, Lelianna, Zevran and I all sat in the Garden and talked. Like we use to in camp. I smiled at Zevran made fun of Alistair and his hair. Lelianna began talking about the Chantry and what was happening there. Apparently something big was happening in Kirkwall. Tension between the mages and templars apparently. Nothing new there though I suppose.

I remembered Carver once saying something about Kirkwall. I climbed up from the bench and excused myself. I felt Alistair watch me but ignored it. Carvers unusal behaviour early was still palying on my mind.

I found Carver in his room, leaning against the headboard of his bed a little bored. I took a seat next to the bed and smiled "So, you said something about Kirkwall a while ago." He looked at me out of the corner of his eye and nodded. Keeping quiet. "Do you have family there?"

Again he nodded. Paused and sighed "Yeah, my sister and my Mother are there. Oh as well as an Uncle but he doesn't really count as family."

"Why didn't you go to Kirkwall?"

He looked at me for a second, looked at his feet, then back at me again before speaking "I did. But me and my sister didn't really get along. I was always the little Brother. You know?"

I shook my head "I don't have any brothers or sisters."

"You lucky." he muttered "I had two sisters. Both mages."

"Oh," I don't know why but I was surprised. I never imagined Carver having any connections with mages. "Did they go to the Circle?"

Carver shook his head "No, they were Apostates. Same as my Father."

"So you and your Mother were the only ones in your family that were not mages?"

He nodded "Yup."

Then Carver's attitude to Anders abilities this afternoon made sence. In his own way Carver was jealous. I'm guess that all his life he would have been put second to his Apostate sisters who needed more attention that him. "Come with me."

"What?"

I grinned at him and held out my hand to help him up "Come with me we are going to go train. Get your mind off things."

Carver hesitated for a few seconds before grabbing hold of my hand and pulling himself up.

The young Solider was very skilled with a sword. He welded his large blade like it was nothing. He spun it over his head and to be honest I was finding it difficult to get out of the way in time. For the first time since I met Carver I seen the real him. Sometimes he smiled. Sometimes he was deadly serious.

My blades pierced the ground and I dropped to the ground exhausted. My chest heaved and I laughed as Carver leant up against his sword with an shattered expression on his face. Sweat beaded down his face and he was breathing just as hard as I was.

"I don't think," I paused catching my breath "I don't think I've trained that hard in along time."

He smiled "I'm impressed. The Hero of Ferelden definitely lived up to the legend."

The two of us say there for a few more moments before Alistair appeared at the top of the stairs that lead down to the court yard. "I need to see you both in the War Room."

Carver reached out his hand and pulled me out of the dirt.

Anders, Alistair and Zevran were already in the room when the two of us walked in. Alistair sat at the end of the table with a serious look on his face. Anders looked as thought he still hadn't managed to catch up on lost sleep. His eyes were puffy and slightly bloodshot. Zevran sat at the other end of the table with his feet up on the table lounging back in his chair. Totally relaxed. With a smile on my face I pushed his feet off the table with a grin and took the seat next to him as he gave me a wink,

Alistair turned his head to face Carver "I want you and a small group of guards to head to the Keep and find out what is going on. I don't want any one to know you are there. Be discreet. Find out what you can and return."

Carver nodded "Yes Sir."

I caught Alistair's eye before he could speak again. Hinting in the direction of Anders, Alistair quickly picked up my insinuation "Anders go rest. You've used a lot of energy working on the Guard. Please take some time for yourself to rest up."

Anders didn't speak. Simply rise and left the room.

With a quiet sigh Alistair rubbed his eyes. I turned to Zevran and nodded for him to leave the room. "Alistair," he looked up at me "I want to talk to you about the letter from the Empress."

His eyebrows rose "Yes have you read them?"

I shrugged with a small grin on my lips "One of them. I think she is very interested in you."

His dark eyes narrowed slightly but his charismatic grin played at the corner of his lips "Well who wouldn't be,"

"I think she is interested in your throne Alistair. Have you heard anything from the Wardens in Orlais?"

"Not for a long while." In a couple of strides he was standing next to the desk and pulled open the top draw. He refiled through it for a few moments before pulling out a rough looking scroll. Walking around the table he placed it in my hands "This was the last letter I received from them. I sent a courier to them after receiving a few letters from Celena. I became suspicious of her."

I unfurled the scroll and read it over quickly. They spoke of a little more Dark Spawn activity but nothing they were ready to concern us with. Why was the Empress doing this then? An attack on the Keep and letter suggesting she was interested in Alistair as more than just the King of Fereldan. I glanced up at him but quickly looked away. He was closer than I thought he was. For a split second I looked up at him our eyes met and I felt my heart skip a beat.

"When Carver gets back, depending on the report we should head to Orlais." I stole another look at him and he nodded slowly.

"I think you might be right."

We were both silent for a moment. Neither of us knowing where to take the conversation. Honestly we hadn't spoken about much other than work since we met up again. I sighed and stood. Before I could leave Alistair grabbed hold of my arm "Kali," I looked down at his large hand wrapped around the top of my arm. He loosened his grip but did not let me go. "Kali I need to know something."

I looked up into his eyes and felt that familiar pull for him growing my stomach "Yes?"

"Why did you leave?"

I shook my head and snapped my arm out of his grip. Determined to walk out of the room .We were not going to talk about this. Before I could walk out with a little pride Alistair caught me again "Ok Ok. I'll leave it.." He slid his arm around my waist pulling me back against him "Just," he paused took a deep breath and sighed "Just know, I've missed you, a lot."

I was ridged as a board. I was not ready to let down my defences. Not yet. Even though years had passed since we had departed on such horrible terms the pain was still real. The betrayal, the fact I was willing to die for him and he took that choice away from me. "Not yet Alistair." I whispered "Not yet."

He released me and I walked out of the room without looking at him.