Another chapter is up! I hope you will enjoy it again!

- Aveline POV -

"You should be more careful, Warden!"

"Dear Maker Sten! You scared me!"

"If I scare you, how are you going to fight an Archdemon?"

"Oh that's not what I meant and you know it."

"I want to know. How will you do it?"

"Usually something dies when you stick a sword in the head?"

"If it is that easy, why do we need you Warden?"

"Good question, though I am glad I don't have to explain anything to you." I replied still having a heart attack from the scare Sten gave me. We were at our tents in the Dalish camp and Wynne was checking me. She made sure Sten left the tent and focussed back on me.

"Your child is just fine." she said. I smiled and sat up. These events took more of me than I anticipated. I was getting tired and it wasn't even that late yet. I walked out the tent and started looking for the new Keeper. Alistair must had known what I was up to as he came walking towards me.

"I just spoke to the new Keeper." he started. "She felt it when Zathrian died. Quite sad really." he said with sad puppy eyes. "Anyway, she agreed to help us against the Blight. We've got all our treaties now so we can call the Landsmeet."

"I agree. There is one point that we still have to discuss though." I said while I looked down to my belly.

~o~

The journey to Redcliffe was slow. Much slower than I had expected. A large part had to do with the fact that I was getting tired faster. It had already troubled me when we lifted the curse at the Dalish, and Wynne now made sure I had my rest. This caused us to be on the road much and much longer. When Redcliffe was in sight, I was glad. The stars were already starting to appear at the sky. when we finally arrived. I wished nothing more than a warm and comfortable bed. Especially with my growing child in the way, it would be a welcome luxary. Alistair had the treaties ready and we all walked in the castle. We were standing in the main hall when Teagan saw us. His eyes widened and he moved towards us. Alistair and I motioned for Teagan to follow us to the corner of the room. I noticed him staring at me and smiled.

"Teagan, Alistair and I wanted to discuss... this situation with you." I said as my eyes moved to my belly to show him what I was talking about. He nodded and looked me in the eyes.

"Is it..."

"No, it is not. This child is Alistair's. Also the potion is not working anymore as you can see. Alistair requested the help of Zevran to make an anti-dote."

"Oh I'm glad. I'm so very, very sorry Aveline." Teagan said. I held up my hand as I predicted we had little time before Eamon or Isolde would show up.

"Please, let us finish before your brother comes in." We had little time for apologies and we decided we had to act as if nobody had found an anti-dote. We would tell Eamon and Isolde this child would be Teagan's, hoping that they would buy it. Not a moment to soon they both came walking in the main hall. We were gathered together and Teagan quickly took my hand in his.

"Did you manage to gather all the treaties?" he asked.

"We have, Arl Eamon." Alistair replied.

"Good, then we can call the Landsmeet. Loghain will be forced to make an appearance and I'm sure he will not be happy about that." Eamon smiled. He focussed back on me and moved towards me.

"Aveline, dear. I am so relieved to find you unharmed. Teagan told us your friends found you and made you do your Warden duties."

"Arl Eamon." I said while I slightly bowed. "I am glad to be back in Redcliffe."

"I can imagine you are." he said with a large smile on his face. "I see you are with child! You have my best wishes! Teagan is a lucky man!" I faked a shy smile and stared at the ground.

"I am certain the Wardens won't need you when the Archdemon shows up?" he said while he casted a look at Alistair. I looked at him as well and frowned.

"I hope not." I replied.

"She is needed for the Landsmeet though, Arl Eamon." Alistair interfered. I could tell it annoyed Eamon.

"Of course a journey all the way towards Denerim would take too much out of her in the state she's in."

"We will provide a wagon and horses for her, Alistair. I am certain this will help a great deal." Eamon was looking confused to Teagan for a moment, before looking back to Alistair.

"Thank you, bann Teagan." Alistair said with a smile. I stared at Isolde and saw she was standing against the wall, waiting for Eamon to finish his business with Alistair. She couldn't wait until we were gone, I could tell. I let go of Teagan his hand and walked to Isolde.

"Oh my, Isolde!" I exclaimed. "You're pregnant as well? What a marvelous coincedence!" I said. She smiled to me and nodded. Alistair walked towards me and took my wrist. He started walking towards the door to leave for Denerim when Eamon interfered.

"You're welcome to stay the night by the way." he said. I looked back to Eamon and then looked at Alistair. "It is far too late to go to Denerim anyway." he continued.

"Oh I'm glad you offered, Arl Eamon! Thank you very much!" I said while I removed my arm from Alistair's grasp and I quickly walked to Teagan. Together we moved out of the room and I could only hope and Alistair and the others would follow soon. When we were out of earshot, Teagan let me go. We were standing in front of the rooms and I paced around.

"Aveline, can we talk about what happened?"

"We lied to Eamon and now I'm waiting for Alistair to join me in my room." I said while I stared at the stairs.

"That's not really what I meant.." I turned around to face Teagan.

"I know, truthfully it has caused me much pain. It broke my heart to see Alistair after what happened. I felt like I was betraying him even though I had no control over my actions. Maker, the moment I found out I was pregnant...I thought ... it was... you know." I said while my thoughts went back to the moment Wynne told me I was pregnant and I thought it was Teagan's.

"I feel like I've commited high treason! I am glad that the child turned out to be Alistairs instead of mine. I would gladly support you and raise it was it mine but still this is better for everyone? Maker, Alistair will be King and Eamon caused an affair between the future Queen and his own brother." Teagan said.

"Queen? Don't be silly." I said with a smile.

"Why not?" he continued. "You are carrying his heir as we speak. Not to forget you are a Cousland." I waved his comment away.

At that moment Alistair was in sight and he walked towards me.

"Are you all right, love?" he asked. Alistair ignored Teagan and I nodded at him. "Let's head to your room for the night." he said while he took my hand.

"Goodnight Wardens." Teagan said. I looked back to Teagan before looking at Alistair and saw he wasn't looking too happy. When he closed the door of the room he stood against it and sighed.

"Thank the Maker that's over. I never thought I'd live to see the day I'd hate Teagan and Eamon. How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling fine." I said and I started to kiss him.

"Can we talk, Aveline? I've been thinking..."

"Oh?"

"You needn't worry." he laughed. "At the Landsmeet I will be put forward as King. If that's going to happen..." He started to act nervous and I wondered what was wrong.

"Don't you want it anymore, love? You'd be a great King!"

"It's not that." He closed in on me and touched my belly. "You've got my heir there." he said while he smiled to me.

"What I'm trying to say is... I love you with all my heart Aveline. You make me crazy when I'm around you and I cannot imagine being apart. Will you be my wife?"

"Oh Alistair." I said while I hugged him. "Yes!"

"Your belly is getting huge!" he said when I let him go. I started laughing.

"It's not that bad yet, my dear." I noticed Alistair was taking something out of his pocket.

"I know we still have to pretend around Eamon, but I do want you do have this already." he said while he took my hand and placed a ring in my palm. I sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at it.

"It's beautiful!" I whispered.

"It's nothing major, but I can get you another one when we're getting married." he said. I shook my head.

"No. This is perfect. Thank you, my love!" I said while I grabbed him for a kiss.

~o~

- Teagan POV -

Outside the room I could hear Alistair laugh. He was talking about the landsmeet I could tell that much. I smiled sadly when he mentioned his heir. A part of me felt sad knowing it wasn't my child after all even if a larger part was relieved for it. Suddenly I heard Alistair proposing to Aveline. So I was right after all! Assuming Aveline would say yes, I moved to my own room. I was glad knowing that Eamon was staying on another floor. At least he couldn't overhear anyone. When I went back into my room I looked at the whiskey. I closed the door and took a glass. I filled the bottom and drank it away in one go. At least sleep would come easily tonight.

The next morning everybody was up early. Before Eamon and Isolde were awake the wagon was packed up and everyone was ready to go. I stood at a distance watching Aveline go into the wagon. Alistair helped her up there and older female mage moved in as well. Eamon would not be pleased they would leave in advance, not waiting for him. When I walked back in the castle I could hear noises coming from Eamon's room. He ran down and saw the moving wagon.

"Are they leaving already? Why haven't they waited? What did you do to her, Teagan." Eamon said in anger.

"Calm down, brother. They're just leaving early as they didn't want to bother you. You've got a horse available and thus will be a lot faster than they are as most of them are still walking remember? Oh they will be a bit later anyway as they need to make a small detour."

"Detour? Where to?"

"I am not sure. Alistair didn't say anything else."

"Hm. Right. I will leave soon, Teagan. Make sure the servants have my horse ready."

- Aveline POV -

We were standing at the grounds where our Warden adventure started. The Korcari Wilds and we were now looking at Flemeth her hut. Morrigan grew up here and after persuading Alistair he agreed to help Morrigan kill her mother. She had her reasons for it, and it sounded solid to me. If my mother would be an evil witch who wanted to take over my body for her own use, I might have done the same thing.

So here we were, standing in the Wilds, and seeing Flemeth walking out of her hut. She must have expected us as she looked straight in our direction. I walked towards her and she started laughing. I raised an eyebrow and ignored the laugh. She looked around and when she saw Morrigan wasn't with us she focussed back on me.

"Oh, with child, are we?" I sighed. That was kind of obvious. I didn't care for small talk this time.

"You know why we're here, don't you?"

"Oh how my Morrigan dances under the moon!" she said while she gazed to the sky. This woman was giving my a headache.

"Listen. Morrigan knows how you extend your unnatural lifespan."

"It is my Grimoire she seeks, is it not? I will propose a deal. You let me go and I will give you the Grimoire myself. She doesn't have to know you didn't actually killed me."

"So I should dance to your tune now? I don't think so. I promised this to Morrigan."

"Promises can be broken" Flemeth said. She started to get annoyed that I didn't accept her proposal.

"How sorry I am that I'm not like that." I sarcastically said. This triggered something in Flemeth and she ran away from the hut. Light started to build up around her and we saw her transforming into a High Dragon. I yelled for Alistair to go to the front lines to hold her back and Wynne to stay out of the way, but in reach to heal us all. Leliana had started to nock her arrows and I moved away from them so we wouldn't be in the same spot together. I took out my bow and nocked my arrow as well. Wynne was already busy healing Alistair and Leliana was firing her special fire arrows.

Alistair was doing well in the front lines and I pulled out the string of my bow and started firing my own fire arrows. They didn't seem to help much so I yelled for Leliana to change to close combat and without a thought she did as asked and ran to the dragon. She danced around it and stabbed it. It seemed to have more effect as the dragon tended to snap to Leliana. Suddenly it opened its mouth and lunged for Alistair.

"Finish it!" I yelled and Leliana took action upon that. She ran to the front of the beast which now had Alistair in its yaws. She jumped up and sliced open the throat. The dragon opened its mouth and Alistair dropped on the ground. He didn't move and I aimed for the eyes of the beast. Two arrows shot in perfectly and it fell down. Leliana thrusted the dagger in its head and I quickly ran to Alistair.

"Alistair!" I shouted while I looked at his wounds. The teeth had pierced through his armor and blood was flowing out of it fast. Wynne sat down beside me and immediately started healing him. I touched his face and prayed to the Maker he would survive. It took so long and I was so impatient. Alistair hadn't opened his eyes yet nor had he made a sound. He lied still where he fell and even though Wynne's healing seemed to work, tears builded up in my eyes.

"Don't you dare leave us." I whispered while I stroke his face. Not long after that he started coughing and wanted to get up. I held him back by pressing my hand on his chest so he wouldn't leave the ground.

"Not yet, love. Wynne is still healing you." I said with a smile on my face. He opened his eyes and looked at me. His hand came up and I kissed the back of it before holding it in my own. When Wynne was finished with her healing, she slowly helped him up. I removed the tears that fell with the back of my hand and stood up. I held out my hand for Alistair and after he got up he hugged me.

"We won? We did? Yaaaaay." he grinned.

"Stop playing around. I was really worried for you, you know!"

"I know." he said, suddenly very serious. He kissed my forehead and I saw Leliana coming up next to me. She held up the key, and the Grimoire. We had done as Morrigan asked and I could only hope nothing bad would come of this. I thanked Leliana for gathering the Grimoire and we walked back to camp. Morrigan was extremely pleased we had done as she asked and took the Grimoire from me without a question. Our next stop would be Denerim. We had a Landsmeet to attend!