It is time to view things with Aveline's POV again!
Chapter 21: Revelations
- Aveline POV -
I was still in my tent with Alistair. He was holding me really tight and I stared at his chest. He had removed his chest armor so I could hold me like this. My eyes felt like they were squished after hearing the news Wynne added. I didn't forget what I had done. I didn't forget what Teagan had done either. How Isolde and Eamon were so kind and understanding while I was there. How they nearly got me to leave the Wardens and my duty. How they almost succeeded in their plan. I hoped that Alistair would still want me. I felt dirty and I wanted to take a bath really bad. I wanted to wash everything off me. I wanted to wash the child out of me. I squeezed my eyes together at the thought. I was bearing Teagan his child, while it should have been Alistair's. I guess I was moving, because Alistair touched my face with his hands. I didn't dare to look him in the eyes after what happened.
"Aveline," he whispered "Look at me please." Slowly I moved my head so I was facing him. He looked calm and understanding. He gave me a kiss on my forehead which caused tears to form in my eyes again.
"Oh, my love." he whispered. "Everything will be all right. I will make sure Eamon and Isolde will be punished. I'm not quite sure what to do with Teagan, but for now he's on my punishlist as well." I nodded and remained silent. I kept staring him in his eyes. They were beautiful, even though I saw the pain in them.
"Aveline, sweetheart. Can you tell me how you ended up in Redcliffe?" I cleared my throat and stared back at his chest again.
"When we were in Orzammar, you remember.. the man who asked to speak to me in private, right?" Alistair nodded.
"There was another man inside and they drugged me so they could take me away easily. When I woke up, we were in a wagon, on the way to Redcliffe. They had me blindfolded, so I didn't know where I was heading until we had arrived. When we were there, they guided me to a room. I could hear Eamon talk and Isolde and Teagan. The mage we had spoken to in the cells was there as well."
"So they lied to me. They said you arrived there, asking if you could stay." I looked back at Alistair and shook my head.
"The mage performed some kind of ritual with some potion and he poured it into me and forced me to drink it. They had me tied to the bed. I tried to escape, I really did." I said. My voice became raspy.
"I know, love. I know." he simply said.
"I felt the magic flowing through my veins and it felt like something was wrong. I felt desire. Not for a moment, but all the time. Next thing I knew Eamon told Teagan to have fun, and the door closed. Teagan removed the piece of cloth that they had bound around my eyes, so I couldn't see anything, and I immediately thought I fell in love with Teagan and with the desire I kept feeling I..." I stopped there. Alistair didn't need to hear this. He already knew. I closed my eyes again, wishing everything better with just a thought.
"Don't worry, dear. Do you know anything though about Teagan's potion?" I moved to sit up. I thought back and could not think of anything. I shook my head.
"No. I mean, after ... he said he made a mistake and walked out the room. Who knows what happened? Eamon could have put it in anything he drank before or after that." Alistair rolled on his back and looked to the ceiling of the tent. Finally he sat up and moved in front of me. He shot a look at my stomach and I immediately felt horrible again. I crossed my arms over it and looked to the ground.
"You don't have to do that, Ave. I... hate what Teagan has left you with, but you are not to blame. I... promise I will stay with you when you give birth to this child."
"But I'm left with something I only wished to have with the one I truly love. You..." I said while I kept staring at the ground. He took my head in his hands and made me look at him.
"Aveline. We'll raise it together. Maybe we have a child of our own one day as well. I love you! I loved you from the moment I first layed eyes on you and I shall support you through thick and thin. I'm furious at Teagan yes, but we'll get through this all right?"
"Maker, I nearly put down my duties as a Grey Warden, Alistair!" I said as that memory floated up. He started laughing.
"Well, you do have to be more careful now. Imagine how much you'll be eating from now on!"
"I didn't eat that much in the first place to begin with!" I said, faking a shock on my face.
"No? You could have fooled me." he said with a wink.
"Hey, I am not a pig, my love." I said with a smile.
"Not ye..."
"Don't you dare!" I laughed. Alistair closed in on me and without a word he started kissing me. I had missed his kisses and I was more than willing to kiss him back. His arms moved around my waist and he pushed me close against him. He broke the kiss off and he put his forehead against mine.
"I.. ehm... do need to let it all sink in, Aveline."
"Of course." I said.
"You... really don't love Teagan, right? I mean, the potion has stopped working?"
"Maker, no Alistair! I don't love him and I never have!"
"It's nothing negative towards you. You have to trust me on that, love. It's just that... Teagan crossed the line with you because of Eamon and Isolde."
"I understand." I whispered. Alistair looked up and seemed glad with my answer. Alistair moved to the corner of the tent and picked something up. When he turned to me I noticed it was my armor.
"This might be usefull." I smiled and thanked Alistair. Wearing armor was better than a dress, especially when having to fight. "Not that the dress doesn't suit you, but you know..." I nodded and changed into my armor while Alistair moved outside again. I moved outside as well and my eyes searched the nearest pond. I told everyone I was going to bathe so they knew where I would be. I undressed myself at the pond and walked in the water. I untied my hair and it fell down on my shoulders. I couldn't help the tears that immediately treathened to come of my eyes again. Alistair was so kind and understanding while I had done the most horrible thing a loved one could ever do. I had betrayed him, even though it was against my will, it felt like I could have done something about it. My thoughts went to the tiny child that was growing inside of me. A part of me hoped sincerely that Wynne was wrong and this was all a mistake, though another part wished it was true. A Grey Warden couldn't get a child easily and I was blessed with one, even though it was with the wrong person. I knew two Wardens would have even more trouble getting one of their own, so a part of me was grateful. It was a natural course that my thoughts moved on to Teagan. Alistair had beaten Teagan, and he was well in his right when he did that. Teagan was, however, the father of this child. Would he want to see it? Would he want to raise it? Would he want to be part of it? For all those questions, my mind told me that he would. He would want to name it. He would want it to be his heir. My hand coursed over my belly, tracing imaginary lines all over it. I looked up and noticed there barely was a cloud in the sky.
With the ribbon still in my hand I dived under water. I opened my eyes and noticed it was quite clear. I started swimming a bit and quickly came up again. When I looked at the direction where my clothes were, I saw Alistair sitting again. This time he was eating his breakfast while looking at me. I smiled to him and he smiled back.
- Alistair POV -
I walked to the pond and found Aveline. She was standing in the water and it was obvious she was sad and thinking of something. I saw her hands tracing her belly and couldn't help feeling jealous. This child should have been mine. I shook my head and corrected myself. This was not her fault, no matter how hard it was on me I had to support her. Getting a child was considered a miracle for any Grey Warden. I kept looking and Aveline and thought about what could happen. When I would be made King, she could stay with me. She could me my Queen and we could try to get children of our own. I smiled at the idea and I sat down to keep looking at her. I ate once in a while, but she had the most of my attention. She dived down and when she stayed under water for a while, she got me worried. I searched for ripples in the pond, and suddenly she came up again. While she did so, her body rose just enough above the water to make me smile. I should pinch myself for that thought I remembered thinking. Not a moment later she turned my way and looked at me. She seemed surprised at first when she saw me watching her, but then she smiled. I smiled back at her and continued to eat my came swimming towards me and floated in the water.
"Breakfast is ready." I said while I continued eating.
"I can see that." She shot a look at camp, but I was far away enough. With grace she moved out of the water and put her armor back on again. I smiled when she sat next to me.
"What?"
"Nothing. You're just very beautiful."I said. She started to smile and looked in front of her. We sat like that for fiftheen minutes until she started to get hungry and moved to camp. She dragged me with her and I sat down near the fire while she took her breakfast and started talking with Leliana. Wynne sat next to me and looked at me. When I noticed she was doing that I stared at her.
"Hello Wynne."
"How is she doing?" I looked at Aveline again and frowned.
"I suppose a bit better. Though I think she's not fully telling how horrible she feels."
"You can't blame her for that. She has unwillingly been with another man."
"You needn't remind me." I said while my eyes moved to the fire.
"Alistair, have you said how you feel to her?" I nodded. "Then you will only need time. If you really love her so much, that's all that's needed."
"It sounds so easy."
"And yet it's all but easy. What are you going to do when the child is born?"
"I will be there for her." I sighed. "I'll raise it as my own and I'll continue to support Aveline." Wynne nodded and smiled while she put her hand on my shoulder before standing up and packing her things. Everybody started to get their things to get moving so I did the same. When Aveline was finished she motioned to all to get moving. It surprised me that we was taking lead again after all what happened. Then again, maybe she wanted distraction. I ran to her and started walking next to her.
"Oh I'm sorry!" she said. "I'm used to make sure everyone follows me. You've taken over while I was gone, so ... if you want to continue...?"
"Don't worry, Aveline." I laughed. "Yes I took over, but you're more than welcome to re-take what you're good at."
"So, how did Orzammar go?"
"We eventually had to find Paragon Branka, Oghren's wife. We also had to kill her when we arrived at Paragon Caradin who made a crown so we could make Bhelen king."
"Oh... That must have been tough." she replied. I nodded. Suddenly we all heard a damp noise and looked back. I saw Aveline running over already and when I looked where she was heading I could see Wynne on the ground.
"Wynne!" Aveline yelled. When she arrived Wynne was already waking up. In the meantime I was near Wynne as well.
"Oh... I fell." Wynne said.
"Yes, I could see that." Aveline said seriously. She and I helped Wynne up.
"This is no time to talk. I will explain myself later." Wynne shoo'd us away and I moved forward again. Aveline stayed behind and started talking to Wynne. Her falling had Aveline worried, and it showed all over her face. I walked in front of everyone for at least half an hour when Aveline came up next to me again.
"Wynne seems all right now. I'm so relieved! Oh she told me about a student she once had. I want to find that student, Alistair." she said while looking at me.
"Maybe we can find him with the Dalish Elves. He ran off to find them, maybe he did!"
"You mean he ran from the Circle Tower?" Aveline nodded. "But Templars would trace him down and kill him. There's little chance he managed." I carefully said.
"That's not the point. Maybe he did managed to escape." Aveline frowned. "We have to try." I heard her whisper to herself after which she remained quiet.
- Teagen POV -
I was nearly there. I could see the lake and the Tower sticking out. My face was still hurting, but I knew what I had done. Guilt never left my body since the first moment it started. My hate of Eamon and Isolde grew by the day. I prayed to the Maker that the mages could help me. When the path to the docks were clear I fell on my knees. I barely slept in order to get here as fast as I could. I had already done so much to Alistair and Aveline. The least I could do was get the Anti-dote. My thoughts went to Aveline. Did they manage to free her from the potion and spell? Part of me felt sad. I would have done anything for Aveline to love me like she did when Eamon drugged her. I shook my head. I knew it wasn't good to make someone love you with a potion, it had to come from within herself and she had already rejected me once after I crossed the line with her. How was I supposed to earn her trust now? Show her I don't mean everything as bad as it all was.
I stood up again and I started walking to the man on the docks. When I arrived he questioned my reason to come to the Tower. I meantioned Aveline and I saw his eyes lighting up. He knew her. It didn't make him less reluctant to let me pass, but he did. He stepped in the boat and motioned me to follow. When we arrived at the Tower I was greeted by the First Enchanter. Irving I believed his name was. I told him what had happened and he immediately started asking about Aveline. Saying that she went with Alistair and that his companions would find a her for her themselves took away his concern for the most part. He sent some mages away to get started on some kind of anti-dote and guided me to his study. The Templar Gregoir was with us and he closed the door.
"You said Aveline was feeling sick?" he started while he sat down behind his desk. I nodded.
"And you said you two have been together as a result of being drugged by this man and woman?" Once again I nodded. I had nothing else to add.
"Have you ever thought about the fact that she might be pregnant? Women tend to feel sick in those periods and when they do too much it can result to fainting." I shook my head while my mouth hang open. I wasn't sure what to say to that. Could this be true? Could Aveline be pregnant? The first thought that came up was to find her. Yet another quickly followed and told me to go back to Redcliffe. They would come there eventually.
"I haven't heard of any Grey Warden pregnancies though." Irving continued. What was he trying to do? Confuse me to death? "Whilst I believe it is not entirely impossible. I mean, it would be hard for one Warden. Even harder for two Wardens. But not impossible!" he said. He now stared at me.
"But.. we weren't together like that for long." I said, trying to prove it wasn't possible. Irving waved away my comment before going on.
"People get pregnant with less tries than that." he said. Not a moment later a mage entered the room and I could see Templar Gregoir stiffen. He took a vial from the mage and told him to get another mage with him and to come back to the study when he did. He put the vial on the desk when the door closed and Irving took a look at it. He nodded and he stood up. When the two other mages came in he asked me to lie down on the little bench that was placed against the wall. They would perform a ritual there which should remove every trace of the potion Eamon gave me. I did as he asked and lied down. It wasn't very comfortable and I got nervous when they were all around me. The First Enchanter was standing at my side while one mage was standing near my head and another near my feet. The Templar was standing next to the mage that was near my head and kept a close eye on everything the mages were doing. I focussed on the ceiling and tried to relax when Irving opened the vial and started to use his magic.