"Halt, who goes there?" the guard asked the figure, hooded against the snow blowing around them, as it often did in the Frostbacks.
The man pulled off his hood and answered, "Alistair Theirin, my wife said I could find her here."
The guard stammered, "Your, your majesty. My apologies. I…"
"It's fine, may I enter Skyhold?" the king asked, "or will you need to tell someone first? I know how protocol can be."
"Please, I will show you to the throne room majesty, the Inquisitor will need to see you first." The guard bowed.
"Very well," Alistair drove his horse forward, through the gates of the keep and dismounted when the stable master asked for his reins.
He did a double take then "Dennet? Is that you?"
"Majesty, Maker it has been a good few years since you and the Queen saved us at Redcliffe," the old stable master from Redcliffe smiled.
"Yes, and even more since I played in mud with your horses," Alistair reminisced, "I hope the Inquisitor is appreciative of the best horses in Fereldan."
"That she is Majesty. Your wife will be glad to see you," the man bowed.
"As I will her. Good to see you in any case."
The guard from the gate showed Alistair to the throne room then went through a door near the throne.
"Well, Majesty," a voice came from behind him, "I imagine it has been a long while since you had to wait in someone else's throne room."
"Leliana," he recognised his old friend's voice, "the last time was a few months ago in Orlais."
He turned to see her come out of a side door, wearing her normal garb, instead of the robes of the Divine.
"I'm glad I was able to see you before I returned to Val Royeaux." The red-head replied.
"As am I old friend." They embraced.
Then a woman came out of one of the other doors maker how many doors are there and where do they all lead? He thought.
"Greetings, your majesty," she nodded to him, "I am Josephine Montilyet of Antiva, ambassador for the Inquisition."
"A pleasure, Lady Montilyet," he bowed in return.
"Andraste," Leliana threw her hand up in the air, "You don't have to be so formal, either of you. Alistair, I know you hate formalities, Josie, you stopped being formal for Temi!"
Alistair laughed, "Yes," he said rubbing his neck, "Temi and I both dislike formality, so I won't complain if we skip it, just call me Alistair."
"Of course, please call me Josephine."
"A pleasure."
"Your Majesty," a voice came from a side door, near the throne, "it is a pleasure to see you."
The Inquisitor came down the stairs, her commander and husband following behind her.
"And you, Lady Trevelyan, or Rutherford now, I've heard."
"Yes, I believe you already know my husband"
"Yes, it is good to see you trials at Kinloch gave you no permanent issues, Ser Cullen. My wife was quite concerned."
The blonde nodded, "Thank you, Majesty."
"Please, Alistair." The king said, obviously board of repeating this.
"Of course, I have found having people who care helps."
"As it does for most things…" Alistair felt a smile come on his face.
"Hem… Majesty," Tria cut in, "I apologise for bringing you here first, and I can imagine how eager you must be to see your wife," Alistair nodded, "but we needed to ensure that it was really you, security of course.
"I understand. Where is Artemis?" he looked around.
Leliana stepped in, "She will likely be asleep, it is rather late of course."
"Oh, right," Alistair rubbed his neck, "of course…"
"But," the red-head smirked, "I don't think she will object to seeing you straight away."
Alistair looked up with a goofy grin, one that was often seen in their camp during the Blight.
"Her room is up those stairs and the third on the right." Josephine pointed towards one of the doors.
"Thank you," Alistair nodded to them all, then practically ran up the stairs.
