Chapter 11

Alistair escorted the Empress to the dining room. He seated her, and took his place directly opposite her. The Empress noticed the additional place setting. As she was about to inquire about it, Anora, walked in.

"Ah, my darling. You have joined us." Alistair said as he stood up.

"Your Majesty" Was that the term I was to use thought Alistair. He looked quickly at Anora who remained passive. "May I present to you my betrothed? Anora Mac Tir." Anora curtsied. The Empress made no attempt to get up. She looked at Anora coolly.

"Yes, Anora. Cailan's wife."

"Widow." Alistair corrected.

"Yes – widow. Of course. My deepest sympathies. And how wonderful it is to learn that not only are you no longer under lock and key, you have the other Theirin boy now. How absolutely precious!" The Empress replied.

Anora smiled sweetly and touched Alistair on the arm. "Yes, I am fortunate" Anora said, wanting to throttle her.

Dinner passed without incident. Anora did most of the talking, impressing the Empress with her knowledge of Orlais. Alistair sat there, mostly silent, trying to look bored and interjecting from time to time with some vaguely related Grey Warden adventure. It was as they had planned. Anora would reprise her role as the real power of Fereldon with Alistair, like Cailan, acting the kind hearted dreamer. They played their parts well. It was subtle – Alistair wondered if not too subtle. The Empress was not quite sure whether or not to buy what was being displayed. She had come here to test the waters with Alistair and determine what matter of pray she needed to seduce. Cailan had been easy. How inconvenient that he died. Cailan was planning to divorce Anora and marry the Empress. Fereldon would then be hers of course, re-shaping Orlais to make it the largest and most powerful nation in all of Thedas. And done without one drop of blood being spilled. The Empress genuinely adored Cailan. He was her charming, handsome little puppy dog. But what of Alistair? That Anora had managed to get into his pants was most interesting to the Empress. Anora was much like Cailan had described. Beautiful, intelligent, but all business. By attaching herself to Alistair it was clear to the Empress that Anora wanted her power back. The information that she had received that Alistair was governing his country effectively and efficiently certainly did not jive with earlier reports that he was an affable enough fellow but one with no experience and apparently not much interest in ruling. Perhaps his success was because Anora was behind it. Perhaps he was like Cailan after all. Regardless, the fact was Orlais's coffers were empty. She needed to find new sources of wealth. Fereldon had always seemed the most likely source, but Orlais did not have the funds to mount another war. The Empress decided she would use whatever she had at her disposal to take Fereldon. Cailan had been most obliging. She would have to act quickly. Though she had not intended to seduce Alistair this night, she decided she would if she was given the opportunity. She needed to get Alistair in her pocket, ideally before he married Anora. A marraige would simply protract the process. Alistair would be marrying her, not Anora. Her confidence in her sexual prowess made it a foregone conclusion in her mind.

Throughout the evening, Anora was seen to discretely rub her head and make small barely visible grimaces. It was therefore no surprise to the Empress when Anora finally excused herself with one of her tortuous headaches. The Empress was even more delighted with the subtle reluctance to leave that Anora was displaying. Clearly she wanted to be in on this conversation.

They entered the library and Alistair poured them each a brandy. The Empress eyed him carefully. He was taller, better built than Cailan. He was handsome like Cailan but there was softness to his features that made him even more appealing. And there was something very sensual about him. This will be rather pleasant she thought.

The hardest part was next. Alistair was to flirt with the beautiful Empress, but Alistair was not much used to flirting. Never mind "subtle" flirting as Anora had instructed. He was going to have to talk to Anora about the use of the word subtle.

"And now we are alone at last." Alistair said. "I am flattered that you came all this way to see me. And I did want to thank you for your unending support to my brother Cailan and to the Grey Wardens."

She moved towards him, her hips swaying rhythmically. She perched herself on the arm of Alistair's chair. Her voice was soft and sultry. Apparently Alistair did not have to worry about trying to be flirtatious. The Empress was doing it for him. "I came here Alistair," she said "to see if Orlais could assist you in any way." She drew closer, looking at him seductively, her breasts brushing against his chest.

Alistair moaned slightly. Encouraged, she began to run her fingers through his hair. "You see, Cailan and I well, we were beginning to forge, relations, shall we say." Her other hand was at his groin, caressing him. Despite trying to control himself, he was getting hard. "Oh my!" She exclaimed. "It seems you are bigger than your brother." She said licking her lips seductively.

Alistair tried not to squirm. He was beginning to feel sick to his stomach. His body was betraying him.

"I did not know that." Was all Alistair could think to say. Anora, who by now was crouched in the small storage rooms, thought her eyes would pop out of her head. She did not know whether to laugh or cry. A flash of doubt crossed her mind, but she dismissed it.

"My lady, I can see that you are a strong and very beautiful woman." Alistair said "What exactly are you proposing? Perhaps an alliance between our nations? I thought we were already allied."

By now somehow one of her breasts had somehow managed to escape her dress. She was caressing herself. Alistair had enough. He stood up and approached her. He gently took her breast in his hand and tucked it safely back into her dress.

"Your Majesty. If for a moment I thought your attempts to seduce me were in the least bit sincere, I would be most flattered. Have you Orlesians ever heard of the word subtle?" Good word Anora – Thank-you, he smiled to himself. He continued. " Sincere or otherwise, you must know that I have the most beautiful woman in the world waiting for me in my bed. I want or need no other woman. I am promised to her. And As a Templar and Grey Warden both, trust me, I take my promises and my vows very seriously." Alistair continued, wondering if Anora would come in to rescue him. He was not sure if he had just started a war.

"Tell me. If Orlais is as desperate as your behavior would suggest, then let us talk openly and honestly about how Fereldon and Orlais can truly help one another. Tell me about your trade partners. Speak to me about your untapped resources. Tell me about your system of taxation and governance. We Fereldons are a hearty people. Surely there are things here that would benefit Orlais, and surely Orlais has much that would benefit us. Let us work together."

The Empress looked stunned, embarrassed, puzzled, and intrigued. She was silent for what seemed to be hours. Anora had not yet made an appearance.

"Then let us talk Alistair" She said gaining her composure.

They talked into the night. Alistair provided her with the right amount of information, asked her the right questions at the right time, poked, prodded, guided, and gently pushed her in the right direction. By the end of theior discussion, the Empress had devised the beginning of a plan for reform that within the next few years, if all went well, could see Orlais flourish once again. As dawn approached, the Empress took her leave, but before she left she turned to Alistair.

"You are quite an amazing man. I am humbled by you. I hope my antics can be forgotten and forgiven by you and Anora who I have no doubt is listening in somewhere. She is a lucky woman. I hope she knows that." The Empress smiled.

"Thank you. Though it is I who is the lucky one." Alistair replied. "About Cailan. He would have made a fine King in the end you know."

"Perhaps" The Empress smiled. "Well, I look forward to your wedding. You will invite me of course."

"Of course, we would not wish to strain our new found friendship. You are an amazing woman." He grinned.

Alistair found his way to the storeroom and saw that Anora had fallen asleep with her ear against the wall. How beautiful she looked, albeit a bit disheveled. He picked her up and carried her to their bed. She stirred and looked up at him sleepily.

"When did you fall asleep? Alistair said

"Just after the steamy bits I think" she said. Then, shaking off her sleepiness, she grabbed his crotch and gave it a playful squeeze. "You are bigger than him you know." She giggled.

"Well your breasts are bigger and nicer than hers" Alistair replied. She grabbed her pillow and hit him and then they made love.