A/N - I'm slowly starting to get back into the groove of writing this story again. Thanks to all those that commented. I love to hear from my readers. It makes me all happy in the pants when it is also people that i have followed as well. Please feel free to leave a comment or too. ;)


Serene laced her fingers with Alistair as Teagan administered the Ashes to Eamon. She could feel how anxious Alistair was at that moment. Even though his childhood in Redcliffe hadn't been the best one, being forced to live like a servant and sleep in the stables, he still felt a great deal of respect for the man that lay in the bed before them.

Teagan placed a pinch of the ashes in Eamon's mouth and then sat him up to give the sleeping man some water. Serene felt Alistair's grip tighten as his nerves when through the roof waiting to find out if everything they had gone through to get the ashes was worth it. Teagan stepped back from the bed and turned to look at everyone in the room.

"How long do you think it will be before..." Teagan stopped talking when his brother suddenly gasped for hour.

"Eamon, husband! You're alive." Isolde cried. She jumped to her husband's side, opposite of Teagan. Eamon looked from his wife to brother and then took in the image of Serene and Alistair.

"Alistair? Is that you? What is going on here?" Eamon managed to ask in a raspy voice. Serene looked up at Alistair's face and knew from the tears forming in his eyes, he wouldn't be able to answer the man's questions.

"You were poisoned, my lord. We managed to find a cure for you in hopes you will aide us against the Blight." Serene informed him. Eamon frowned.

"I think you owe me a bit more than that as an explanation as to what is going on her." Eamon said as he sat up and looked from Teagan to Isolde and back to Serene.

"Well, to sum things up from my understanding of all of this, Cailan was betrayed by Loghain at Ostager. The majority of the Couslands and the Grey Wardens were also a causality of that betrayal. Alistair here, myself and Brandon Cousland are the only Grey Wardens left in Fereldan. Loghain has accused us of betraying the king, leading him to his death, which has made trying to get allies against this damn Blight harder than trying to change a tire without a jack. And frankly I'm just so tired of it all, being question and having to do everything for everyone." Serene snapped the last bit out and started to cry uncontrollably. Isolde rolled her eyes and turned away from the crying woman while Teagan looked at her with concern. Alistair looked into her eyes and saw the sudden distress in them.

"Serene, are you alright?" Alistair asked. Serene let out a sigh and nodded.

"I'm sorry, I'm just so frustrated about all of this." Serene said softly. Alistair nodded and squeezed the hand that was laced within his.

"I know." Alistair said, hoping she would calm down a bit. Teagan cleared his throat as he noticed that Serene's distress might be about something else.

"Why don't I feel my brother in on everything while you and your companions rest. I'm sure Brieanna would like to speak with you as well." Teagan suggested. Serene nodded and allowed Alistair to lead her out of the room and guided her towards the kitchen.

"Lets go see if there's still any cheese in the lager." Alistair whispered, knowing it would cheer her up. Serene laughed softly and kissed Alistair's cheek.

"You and your cheeses. You better be careful, I might get jealous." Serene whispered. Alistair growled softly in her ear that made her core melt almost instantly.

"I would always choose you over cheese." Alistair said seductively. Then he thought for a moment and pulled her close to him. "That is an idea, you covered in cheese." Serene nearly fell over laughing.

"I didn't think it was possible, but I think you've just turned into Zevran." Serene laughed. Alistair joined her in laughing as they made their way to the kitchen.

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"If we're going to be of any help to you warden, we're going to have to stop the civil war that is about to be on our hands." Eamon said. Serene groaned to herself and watched to clock the man in the face. Ungrateful bastard had just been brought back from the brink of death and wanted her to do more for him.

"Loghain has gone crazy it seems. There's no reason behind all that he's done and the Bannorn is in complete unrest because of it." Teagan explained.

"So what can we do to help?" Serene asked, fighting off the urge to growl her question.

"Fereldan will have to unite under a rule with a strong claim to the throne. I suggest that we put Alistair up for the throne." Eamon suggested. Alistair's face went white with shock. Serene tried not to let her anger show on her face. The man had border lined abused Alistair for most of his childhood and then dumped him off on the Chantry when he became an inconvenience. Whatever the reason Maric had for leaving Alistair with Eamon, she was sure that being abandoned and force to a life of lyrium addiction wasn't it.

"I don't want to be king. I wouldn't make a good king. I can hardly lead myself around without getting lost." Alistair finally said. Serene giggled softly at his comment and was glad he left out the part about losing his pants as well. Brandon cleared his throat and all attention in the room fell on him.

"From what I can recall from the stories my father told me about the rebellion, your father was just as reluctant about being king as you are. You wouldn't be ruling alone, no king really ever does. Brieanna and I are trained in politics and Serene can read people better than anyone I've ever seen. Then there is Arl Eamon here and Bann Teagan." Brandon explained. Alistair gave him a wary look and looked down into Serene's eyes.

"I don't want to be king." Alistair whispered to her. Serene smiled and placed a hand on his arm.

"Brandon does have a point, Alistair. You won't be ruling on your own. Contrary to what you might think, I think you would make a great king." Serene whispered back. Brandon chuckled at the look the two were sharing and his mind started working on a plan to make it work, should Alistair take the throne.

"We can discuss this more later. From what I hear, you still have some treaties to get before we can call a Landsmeet. Teagan and I will let all of our allies know what we're planning while you do so." Eamon interrupted. Serene nodded in agreement.

"That sounds like a plan, and hopefully we'll be able to figure out a way to sort out the other issues. If you excuse us, we need to discuss a few Grey warden issues." Serene said. Eamon nodded understandingly and the three wardens bowed to him and left the room. Serene walked into Eamon's study and closed the door behind her after Alistair and Brandon.

"Do I have to say how much I would be a bad king?" Alistair started but stopped when Serene gave him a look.

"Not now Alistair. We'll talk more about that later. From what I'm getting from Eamon, he wants to get this all done and over with. So I'm suggesting we split up, one group go after the Dalish and the other go to the dwarves." Serene explained. Alistair swallowed hard at the thought of being away from her and being in charge.

"Who do you think should come with me?" Brandon asked, assuming that Serene wanted him to take charge of the second group, giving her the opportunity to work on Alistair. Serene smiled and was glad that Brandon caught on so quickly.

"I would suggest at least taking Ste and Morrigan with you, maybe take Leliana or Zevran too. Actually, Zevran being part Dalish and an elf might make the Dalish less likely to kill you on sight." Serene suggested. Brandon nodded.

"I think I will take those three. Hopefully things will go smoothly. Do you want us to meet you in Ozammar once we're done?" Brandon asked. Serene shook her head.

"Come back here and be ready to leave when we get back. I'm planning on taking Wynne and now Leliana with me. I would like to hope that it will go smoothly, but given our track record with our search for help, we'll end up having to do something for them all. I swear, when this blight is over, I want someone to do something like this for me." Serene said, sighing deeply at the last part. Brandon laughed.

"If what you're planning works out, it might be awhile." Brandon laughed. Serene stuck out her tongue and gave him a look.

"Shush, you. Now get going and tell the others what's going on. We're all going to be heading out in the morning." Serene said.

"Well then, goodnight and good luck." Brandon said as he walked out the door. Serene turned to Alistair and pulled him back towards their room. Alistair pouted the whole time, wanting to build his argument about him not being king.

"Do you plan on pouting all night, because if you are I'm going to see if Teagan won't mind me joining him and Brieanna. That is if she hasn't curled up with Zevran for the night." Serene teased. Alistair growled and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I don't want to be king, Serene." Alistair whined. Serene shook her head.

"Don't knock it until you try it. I'm sure Brandon is going to see about making it legitimate that I'm a noble." Serene said.

"Why would he do that?" Alistair wondered aloud. Serene giggled and kissed him softly.

"Unless you intend on marrying Brieanna or Anora." Serene said. Alistair shook his head in disgust.

"That would just be... no. If I'm to be king, I will only have one woman as my queen and that will be you." Alistair said firmly. Serene nodded.

"I do believe that was the plan. So you wouldn't be ruling all by yourself. Heaven forbid you end up staying at your coronation with no pants on." Serene said with a slightly laugh. Alistair growled and lifted her up and placed her on the bed.

"I think I might be open to the idea, ruling with you as my queen. I do think I need some convince though." Alistair said as he let his hands run up and down her body. Serene moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I think I can manage to convince you, even if it takes all night." Serene said as she pulled him down to her and kissed him deeply.