"That's just ridiculous!" came Thora's voice through the door.

"Well, that's how it's going to be." Alistair's was just as loud, but implacable rather than furious.

"You are as stubborn as the very Stone!"

"Takes one to know one, doesn't it?"

Wynne and Leliana exchanged glances as they stood in the hallway. "How long has this been going on?" Leliana asked.

"Most of the morning."

"You been out here listenin', Wynne? Hear anything … dirty?" Oghren leered at the mage.

"Bits and pieces," Wynne said, blushing. "I left for that part."

"What are they arguing about?"

"That's hard to tell. Mostly they get loud when they're slinging insults. Or … um, making up for lost time."

"Should we … go in there?"

"And get a sodding lamp thrown at our heads?" Oghren stared at Leliana like she'd suddenly grown a bronto's horn. "Not bleedin' likely. Look, those two need to get all this out of their systems and learn how to talk to each other. Ah, many's the time Branka and I had screamin' matches that made this one sound like a deshyr's ball … and we didn't need no one comin' in to help us make it up, if you know what I mean." Both women grimaced. They knew. "Let 'em be. It's a messy world they've made for themselves. No one but them can clean it up." He grabbed Wynne and Leliana by the arms and pulled them down the hall and away from the door.

Inside the room, Thora was trying to stay calm. "Alistair, you can't be serious. It's a nice idea, but it just won't work."

"It'll have to work, because this is not under discussion."

"You really intend to openly acknowledge our baby?" She sighed. "That's going to complicate everything. You know that, right?"

"Ask me how much I care." He glared at her, daring her. Thora shook her head. "I'm not going to make an announcement to the bloody Council or anything," he said impatiently, "but I will absolutely not have my son—"

"Daughter," she murmured, just to be stubborn about it.

"Whatever! My child is not going to grow up the way I did, shuffled from pillar to post and unwanted wherever he—she—goes."

"Do you think I was going to let that happen?" She glared at him, outraged.

"I don't have any idea what you were going to 'let happen', now, do I?" he asked. "Exactly what was your plan, anyway?"

"I was going to put it about that a baby had been left here, to be dedicated to the Grey Wardens."

"Interesting. Might even have sounded plausible, although I don't think anyone's ever done that before. Nevertheless, we're not going to do it that way."

"Whatever happened to making all of our decisions together?"

"Did I say that?" he said in feigned innocence. "Because what I meant to say was that now that I'm King, I'm getting used to making a few of my own decisions—and I kind of like it." He grinned at her. "See what you've done?"

"Created a monster, apparently," she sighed, flopping onto the bed.

"That gives me an idea," he said, eyeing her reclining form appreciatively. "Don't you think it's time for another break?"

"Alistair!" she protested, laughing. "I think there's a limit to how much one baby can take, don't you?"

"Let's find out." He laid an ear to her stomach. "How you doing in there? 'Oh, fine, Daddy,'" he answered his own question in a ridiculous baby voice. "'Go ahead, I'll just take a nap.'" He looked back up at Thora. "See? Baby's fine with it."

"You are completely impossible, you know that?" It felt unreal to be here with him, laughing this way. Hearing him refer to himself as "Daddy" had nearly taken her breath away. These were the moments she had dreamed of, just normal moments together. Thora sighed, pushing him away before she could get too used to it. "But we're not done here."

"Fine. But if we're not going to take advantage of this nice soft bed— You're sure we're not going to take advantage?" She shook her head. "Be that way, then. If we're not going to, we're going out. A nice walk will do you good."

"People will see me!"

"And since we're not hiding this any more, that doesn't matter, does it?" he said with exaggerated patience.

Still protesting, she allowed herself to be led out of the room and outside. She had to admit, the sunshine felt lovely. "What exactly am I going to say when people ask me about the baby?"

"The truth?"

"Right. Affair with the king, having his bastard. That won't be at all embarrassing."

"Should have thought of that before, shouldn't you?" He grinned down at her. "Have I mentioned today how beautiful you are?"

"I can't say I feel it," she said, looking down at her midsection. She could tell the difference in the way she walked, and she knew the dragging awkwardness would be a problem if she had to fight any battles. "I'm all … ungainly."

"You are the loveliest woman in all of Thedas," he said.

She smiled up at him, her special smile for him that warmed him all the way through. "Let's see you say that when I'm twice this big and even more awkward."

"You think I won't?"

"I think you'll be in Denerim with your queen."

"I will absolutely be here with you when our child is born, I don't care what it takes." He got that look on his face again, and she knew better than to bother arguing with him, or trying to point out the complicated logistics involved. She'd worn herself out arguing already today. "Unless you'd rather come to Denerim to have the baby. We have healers and … and it might be safer." He looked worried.

"I have a healer here—Wynne. Who has saved both of our lives more times than I can count. And I also have Oghren and probably Leliana, both of whom I can trust with my life. I think Denerim would be far more dangerous." At his questioning look, she said, "I suspect there are people out there who won't be too happy that I'm having your baby … and wouldn't mind doing something about that."

"But the baby will be half-dwarf, and therefore not a threat to any legitimate heirs."

"I don't think that will make the Council feel any better, do you? Some of them might well object on principle to the Theirin blood being mingled with dwarven blood."

"You don't think any of the Council would—" He broke off, looking vaguely horrified.

"No, honestly I don't," she said. "But remember that I grew up in the midst of all these political machinations. I'm a bit paranoid where these things are concerned. At any rate, even beyond issues of safety, that would seem like a slap in the face to the queen, to have me there having your baby in Denerim."

"Point taken," he said, sighing.

"Out of curiosity, what are you planning to tell her?"

"Dorothea?" He frowned. "I suppose I'll have to tell her the truth."

"I'm sure that'll go well," Thora said. "Because women love that kind of thing."

"Full disclosure?"

"Not as much as you seem to think."

"I'm hardly going to marry the poor girl with all this going on and not tell her about it," he said.

"You think she'll still marry you after you tell her? I wouldn't."

"Who are you kidding?" he said, grinning. "You'd marry me no matter what I'd done."

"Possibly." She grinned back, her heart full nearly to bursting. This whole interlude was so unexpected, she'd almost stopped waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"You know I have to go back tomorrow." Thud. "I'm surprised Eamon hasn't been after me already. If he didn't know about us—"

"Eamon knows? How does Eamon know?"

"Ah." Alistair touched the braided chain holding his mother's amulet. "Apparently my mother had brown hair. And of course, Eamon knew that the amulet hadn't always been on such a lovely chain."

"I guess we should have thought of that," Thora said ruefully. "Has that helped at all? That Eamon knows? Or does it make it worse?"

Alistair shrugged. "A bit of both, really. I'm sure he's going to be thrilled with recent developments."

"That ought to be quite the conversation," Thora agreed. "I'm glad I'll be here."

He turned to her, stricken. "Maker, I don't want to have to leave you. Are you sure I have to go through with this, the getting married and all that?"

Thora nodded miserably. "I assume you agree," she said. "I wouldn't want you to feel I was making this decision without consulting you." Brief smiles flickered across both their faces.

"No, I agree. It's what's best for Ferelden." Swallowing hard, Alistair went on, not meeting her eyes, "Thora—I intend to try and do right by her. You understand? After I leave tomorrow … it's back to friends and partners."

"And parents."

"And parents," he agreed, the concept sending a thrill of happiness through him, despite all the complications. "Have I mentioned that I'm so glad this is happening with you first? I mean, yes, awkward timing and all, but … I'm so glad we're going to have this to share."

"Me, too," she said. They embraced there in the courtyard, much to the relief of the three pairs of eyes watching them over the top of the parapet.