Elissa looked into her husband's eyes waiting for him to recoil but instead found understanding. "Of course you were tempted. I was tempted with less reason but it doesn't matter."

"Doesn't it, don't you worry that the blight, the taint is changing us. Will we start as heroes but end as villains, like Loghain?"

"Firstly, nearly really means didn't. Secondly, Loghain has been driven mad by his obsession with Orlais. The letters from Loghain to Isolde make that much clear. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he believes the blight itself to be an Orlesian deception."

She chuckled. "I can just see that salon. A lovely Orlesian lady with her hair piled high on her head offering a glass of spring wine to the hurlock sitting next to her husband on the settee."

He joined her in her laughter. "I want to see the Emissary toddling about in a dress and high heels."

"That's it, to defeat the blight we need only import a bunch of Orlesian high heeled shoes and send them to the enemy. Whilst they're trying to learn how to walk in their new finery we'll slaughter them all."

"I like it. Now we just need someone to finance this plan."

"Oooh, good point," said Elissa, "Orlesian shoes are rather expensive. Ah well, so much for plan B."

"Elissa," he said seriously, "you are a good person. If you weren't you wouldn't be worried about these things. Your reaction to grief is certainly more useful than mine but it is no less real. Just because you aren't staring at your shoes all day doesn't mean you aren't suffering and I know it."

She let him draw her into his warm strong arms. Everything about Alistair comforted and drew her in to him. His hard muscles and his rough hands reminded her that he could and would protect her from any and all comers. His gentle words, silly humour and soft glances let her know that he cared for her feelings as much as he cared for her body. Now, she realized that his soft touches and low rumbling groans inflamed her lust and made her feel wanted in the most primal way.

"Alistair, maybe we should have that talk in a more private location."

"Pardon," he croaked.

"Come with me, my love, I want you to tell me more about that book." She stood and pulled her willing husband to his feet. They walked much too quickly past their companions in the main hall. Elissa caught Leliana and Zev sharing a saucy grin. Once past the castle's few inhabitants they tossed away all pretense of decorum and raced to their room. Together they fell into the bed where they made love slowly and sweetly. Not once did Elissa feel nervous or scared as Alistair gently worshipped every bit of her skin before they let their passions loose and dove into the endless now of their climaxes.

Hot, sweaty and sated they held each other and enjoyed the afterglow. Elissa felt deeply contented, loved and safe. Her head rested on Alistair's chest. She listened to his steady heartbeat as she lazily traced stars and hearts on around his belly button with the tip of her finger. His warm calloused hand slid gently back and forth along her side.

"What are you thinking?" she asked.

"Honestly, I don't know. I suspect I wasn't thinking anything at all."

She sat up to look into his face. "How can you not be thinking?"

He shrugged. "I do it all the time. Don't you ever suddenly find you've been staring at something and have no idea what you were thinking?"

"I call that sleep."

"No, I think it's when you slip into that space between sleeping and wakefulness."

"That's very poetic."

"Yes it was, wasn't it. I do have my moments."

"I love you, my husband."

He gave her a quick peck on the lips. "I love you too, my wife. Now, before anything else distracts us I believe you did actually want to talk, as well."

She nodded. "I want to know how much you think is safe to tell Eamon."

"Well, you need not fear he's in league with Loghain. In fact, I fear his anger at the self-styled Regent may well affect his judgement."

"So, he'll fit right in."

Alistair snorted. "I would never put your son in danger."

"I know you wouldn't."

"Elissa, we need his advice. He will know what must be revealed and to whom to make sure Cailan's heir takes the throne."

She nodded. "Alright. I agree. I just don't know if I can face the Landsmeet and tell them I was despoiled. It's not the sort of thing good Andrastians admit to having happened."

"We will face them together. If the letter and you're identity come to light then so will Cailan's admissions to fault. The whispers will not change anything because we are the mighty Grey Wardens not simpering nobles."

"I want our companions to know."

"Are you sure?" he said with a frown, "Most of them have no reason to be loyal to Ferelden."

"That's why I wish to tell them. They have reason to be loyal to me and that may do more to protect Ferelden's future King than anything else can."

"Well then, I'm afraid we'll have to get dressed."

"Afraid?"

"Oh yes, terrified, you have no idea how it saddens me to see you cover this beautiful body of yours with clothing."

"So you'd rather I tromped around nude."

"Hmm, no I suppose not, it would be bad for morale if everyone else knew what they would never touch."

"Alistair, you're crazy."

"About you."

They continued to laze in bed and chatter for another half hour before guilt and Red's barking drew them out of their private retreat.

"Is it time we returned to the real world, boy?" Elissa asked her mabari. She had been neglecting him lately but hopefully Leliana's doting and Wynne's baths had made up for it.

Red whined then barked in response.

"I'm sorry. We're on our way now."

The hound barked his approval and led the way downstairs to the Arl's study.

"It's uncanny," said Alistair, "do you really think he understands?"

"Understands what?"

"Well, I don't know about the blight, about us, about the problems in Redcliffe... take your pick."

"The blight not so much to my mind. However, he definitely knows that darkspawn are bad."

Red barked in seeming agreement.

"Us?" She giggled. "Oh yes, he understands everything about us. Don't be surprised if he tries to bully you a bit as well, after all in his mind you belong to me now."

"How's that, perhaps you belong to me."

"Well it's my scent that is important to him, not yours. So in his mind you are marked by my scent."

Red barked again. He sounded almost smug to Elissa.

"As for Redcliffe, well I don't know what he thinks of this mess. He always recognizes threats and finds the best way to fight them. I know he usually picks up on the emotional overtones of those around him but he only comforts family."

"So," Alistair said looking carefully at the war hound, "am I friend, foe or family."

Red stopped at the bottom of the stairs and waited for them to open the heavy wooden door. Before either of them could start through he leaned into Alistair and whined shoving the man's hand with his nose.

Alistair rubbed Red's head and then scratched behind his ears. Red thanked him by licking his hand leaving it dripping drool. The hound barked his approval then trotted off ahead of them.

"Family," Elissa said.

Alistair shook the drool off his hand, "I'm honoured, really. Uh, he won't do that often, right."

Elissa just shrugged and all three of them marched over to the Arl's study where they found Teagan and Eamon were discussing strategy.

"Is there a comfortable and secure place our companions can gather to meet?" asked Elissa.

"I suppose the main hall would be the best choice," answered Arl Eamon.

"Will you join us?"

"Certainly, my lady."

"My position no longer warrants that greeting, my lord."

Eamon nodded but it was the slight up tilt of his mouth that heartened Elissa. She thought that Alistair may be right. The Arl could be just fine.

They traipsed through the castle to gather everyone. Leliana and Zev were working on the map in the Arlessa's private sitting room. Wynne was napping in her room. Sten was pacing on the castle walls. Morrigan was nowhere to be found but appeared at the beginning of the meeting anyways. It wasn't until the purported Witch of the Wilds slipped in the main hall's doors that Elissa remembered the other woman's comments about Grey Warden secrets.

Elissa stood at the front of the room and began. "In the past to defeat the blight the Grey Wardens allied with nations. The nations raised armies and together fought the hoard while the Grey Wardens fought their way to the Archdemon and destroyed it."

"Unfortunately," Alistair said, "we have lost the support of the Ferelden government, we have few other allies and there are only two Grey Wardens left in Ferelden. If we do not find a way to overcome these difficulties quickly we will lose Ferelden. Whether Loghain and his allies want to believe it or not this is a real blight. The Archdemon is coming. Do not doubt that. All the Grey Wardens knew there was an Archdemon lurking behind the darkspawn before the battle of Ostagar."

"Friend Alistair," said Zevran, "how do you know?"

Elissa and Alistair shared a glance.

"Zev," Elissa said easily, "we can't share Grey Warden secrets. I'm afraid you'll just have to trust us on that one."

Zevran shrugged. "I, too, have my professional secrets."

"The long and the short of it is that we need an army, the larger the better. Ferelden is verging on civil war. We must regain order and restore the Grey Warden's good name before we can rally the remaining warriors of Ferelden. Even if we managed that by tomorrow it would not be enough. We have treaties which oblige the Dwarves and Orzammar and the Dalish to help defeat the blight. We have already secured the help of Ferelden's Tower of Magi. Is there anywhere else we can look for aide?"

Leliana waved the map she and Zev had been poring over. "I do not have another army for you, Wardens, but we have found reference to another of your order within the country."

"Where?"

"That may be a problem," replied Zevran, "the map indicates the route he, or perhaps she, took from Orlais into Ferelden. The notes here also indicate that a force of Grey Wardens and Chevaliers were turned back at the border, further that group has returned from whence it came."

Alistair shook his head sadly. "That must have been the aide King Cailan requested from Orlais. I'd heard Loghain was livid at their inclusion. Still that even one other Grey Warden is here somewhere is good news indeed. I assume that he or she is more senior than we."

Elissa nodded in agreement. "But how do we contact this warden. Where would they go?"

"Duncan carried coded Grey Warden records. The list of all recruits and the results of every joining were among the notes he made. That information as well as an accounting of the dead and the true outcome of the battle would draw him to Ostagar."

"So, we need to revisit Ostagar to track him," Elissa said, "I do not look forward to that journey."

Eamon stood. "I do appreciate the need to remember the goal of all our efforts, namely to defeat the blight, but none of this will matter if the Wardens are still being hunted by Loghain. Any army, even a Dalish or Dwarven one, would be forced to take sides in our civil war or face attacks from both sides."

"Yes," Elissa said, "we must reunite Ferelden, which means we must dispose of Loghain and his allies."

"Neither I nor any of the nobility will commit troops to any external war while civil war threatens but should an internal war erupt all will truly be lost. We can ill afford the causalities nor the time such a war would take. It would be best to call a Landsmeet and attempt to overthrow Loghain's position politically."

Alistair moved to stand behind Elissa, he put his hands on her shoulders and squeezed lightly. "Shall I tell them?"

Eamon retreated back to the chair next to Teagan. Elissa turned her back on the Arl abruptly and nodded to Alistair. This was much harder than she expected and it would be even worse if she had to do it before the entire Landsmeet.

"We need a candidate for the throne, a stronger candidate than Anora. We have already discussed this with the Arl, a little. He and Bann Teagan have a claim by marriage but their claim is no stronger than that of Anora's and Loghain's. However, we know of two persons of Theiren blood and a candidate with a blood claim is exactly what we need. Strangely enough, I am one of these two people as I am King Maric's bastard son."

"It is good you have Elissa to lead you," sneered Morrigan, "but will the nobility be willing to trade one headstrong Queen for another?"

"Thank you for your vote of confidence."

Elissa almost feel Alistair's bitter sarcasm and could not help but feel compelled to leap to his defense. She swept around and fixed the witch with an angry glare. "Alistair would have made a fine King. He is honest and genuinely cares for Ferelden. If his duty took him to the throne I would gladly have bowed to him."

"Well, it doesn't really matter. I cannot be King as I am a Grey Warden. I have sworn to forgo any titles and devote myself to the defeat of the darkspawn. As it turns out I would not have been first in line even if I was eligible. It seems that Cailan inherited Maric's penchant for producing an heir on the wrong side of the sheets, he too has a bastard son. This nephew of mine is the rightful King of Ferelden."

Elissa stood straighter as Alistair continued willing herself not to show any emotion as he revealed her shame.

"I was the product of a King acting the cad towards a gullible scullery maid. My nephew, Aedan, is the result of a drunken attack on a young noble woman. Some of you may have guessed that Elissa was the unfortunate recipient of Cailan's undesired attentions."

Eamon surged to his feet. "My nephew never forced himself on a woman particularly not a noble woman. This is..."

Teagan placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "He did, brother, exactly once. I heard the tale from his own lips, though he did not know the identity of the woman he'd used so harshly."

"We cannot take such a tale to the Landsmeet. We cannot tarnish Cailan's name in this way."

"Brother, stop and listen. There is a letter written in Cailan's hand that bears his seal admitting his fault and declaring the boy his heir."

Eamon dropped sadly into his chair his brother kneeled on the floor next to him. "The boy is five years old. Do you remember the tourney in Highever that was held just after Cailan married Anora?"

"Yes, he was so angry. I convinced him to go work it out fighting in the grand melee."

"Do you remember the tale of the maid that stole his signet ring?"

"Yes, of course. Anora was furious to learn that he just left it on his bedside table while he fought."

"He told me the truth, or as much of it as he knew anyhow. We can discuss the details privately later suffice to say that was when they, uh, met."

A choked gurgle burst from Elissa's throat.

"Elissa was a gangly fourteen year old, brother, this cannot be lain at her feet."

The Arl nodded reluctantly.

Alistair coughed. "The Arl needed to know the truth of Aedan's parentage to help us device a strategy for putting him on the throne. Elissa wanted all of you to know exactly whom we will be going to fetch and protect."

Elissa finally found the nerve to speak up. "Secrecy has kept Aedan safe so far. Though some knew he was a Cousland bastard only I knew the name of his father. He must be retrieved from his guardians and he must be kept safe. If we cannot do that, Ferelden will fall and this darkspawn hoard will have time and resources to swell and grow stronger."