My deepest thanks to Warrose (for letting me dream about the hot blonde pool boy), Jinx1983(for all her cookies, the ice cream factory and for believing in me) and Harmakhis (for her wise words and believing in Azure) for their reviews, which I look upon so fondly and wait for eagerly every time I post a new chapter! Thanks to all the rest of my reviewers, and to those who have this story on their favorites lists as well as in their alerts. You have ALL inspired me greatly along this story! All of you are wonderful!
Ok, this is nearly over, sad to say, but it's true! *sobs quietly in the corner*
Bioware still owns, unfortunately. How I wish I owned instead! LOL
Chapter 36 - Love and Life
Azure hurriedly opened a cabinet in her chambers, which was at the far end of the room. She practically squeezed inside to get to the item she wanted to retrieve. Her hands threw away unwanted things that appeared before her; tunics, worn leather gloves and even a boot- Maker's blood, what is a single boot doing here?- were thrown to the floor hastily. Then she found it: Her backpack.
The backpack she had carried throughout the Blight, the very same one she had bought in Lothering, before she had met her brother and Alistair.
She took it her hands, which were shaking badly by now-so eager was she to find the object she needed-and emptied the contents onto the floor, which piled up before her.
Several things came to surface, as her hands moved around them, looking for the one thing she wanted which she knew she had. She impatiently pushed other items aside, like empty vials and dried up deathroots and elfroots, as well as dried up poultices.
Then she found it. A small and very fat leather pouch, closed tightly by leather strings. She snatched it up and ran back to Alistair's room, where her brother and the mage waited.
Pushing the door open she rushed to where they were standing, holding up the pouch happily for them to see.
"What's that?" Aedan managed to say as his gaze fell upon it.
"Remember the visit to the Ruined Temple? I took some of the ashes that day. Only I totally forgot I had them!" She wiggled the pouch in front of them excitedly.
"That is wonderful news!" Aedan exclaimed.
"Um, not to be a party damper, or anything, but does anyone here know how to administer them?" Anders asked, looking from one to the other.
"Well, you're the mage!" Azure said impatiently. "You're supposed to know how to use things like these!"
"Yes, of course I do! They teach us how to use the ashes when we go to the School of Magical and Miraculous Ashes," he replied sarcastically, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his lip.
"There is more than enough in here to try everything out," Azure said.
"What do you mean? We were only allowed to take a pinch!" Aedan exclaimed. She blushed and turned her eyes away from him, her gaze falling on the fat pouch she held in her hand.
Aedan rolled his eyes. "I knew you were doing something up there! It took you long enough to get down from the top of the stairs! Just how much did you take?"
"Um...I might have filled the whole pouch up with ashes," she replied smugly. "And don't you dare lecture me! I figured they might come in handy, in case the pinch we were taking to the arl was not used properly or something!"
"Maker's breath! A whole pouch! That's a lot of pinches!" Aedan said.
Anders burst out laughing.
"Well then, we'll try sprinkling them on him, diluting the ashes in water and making him drink the solution, rubbing a bit on his wound, which is, of course, now a scar. All of this might help." Anders chuckled. "But I have a very strong feeling that ingesting them would work better."
"Well, let's get on with it, then, shall we?" She grinned.
...
Anders forced the solution down Alistair's throat, and Azure sprinkled a pinch of the ashes right over his nose, without waiting for Anders to tell her to do it. She was so eager to have her husband back that she was grinning and hovering over him tirelessly.
After a while, Alistair's body went rigid, and he arched his back up. A nasty coughing fit ensued, and Anders started applying healing magic at once, while Azure backed away, her eyes full of fear.
"Why is this happening? Should this be happening?" She babbled, unable to control the emotions that swept through her.
Anders did not reply and Aedan glanced at him with a worried frown.
After a while, Alistair's body relaxed and they all gave a sigh of relief.
"Oh! I can't believe it! His breathing is normal! No wheezing! Nothing! Oh! Thank you so much Anders! Thank you! Thank you!" And she flung herself into his arms, kissing him on the cheek again and again.
So when Alistair Theirin finally woke up, the first thing he saw was his wife kissing some blonde stranger wearing a dress.
He lifted an eyebrow and cleared his throat.
"Having fun, my dear?" He croaked, his first words sending her into pure ecstasy as she gave a squeal of delight, throwing herself on him, which in turn sent his heart soaring.
"Oomph!" Alistair groaned, as he put his arms around her. "I can't breathe, dear..."
"Oh! Sorry, sorry, my love!" She said, as she moved to the side of the bed.
Aedan helped him sit up in bed, and handed him some water, while Azure just stared at him her eyes dreamy and shining.
Alistair drank the water greedily, quenching his thirst. When he was done, he turned to look at Azure, his eyes twinkling merrily.
"Now, can somebody tell me why it is that upon waking up, my wife is kissing a stranger in a dress excitedly?" He was obviously joking, because he knew she was doing it out of happiness to see him finally awake.
"Excuse me?" Anders sounded terribly offended. "I'll have you know that these are mage robes, Your Majesty!"
Alistair chuckled, pulling Azure as close as he could and kissing her soundly on the lips before he continued.
"Yes, so I figured," he then turned to Aedan. "My brother! It's been a long time since I last saw you."
"We came to see if we could help you. Much has happened, both here and in Amaranthine, my brother. It's a relief to see that you are finally awake."
"So, my first question is how long have I been like this?" Alistair asked.
"Over a year my darling," Azure said quietly.
"A year? Truly? Wow!" Then in a cheerful tone he added, "I'm sure that I have a lot of catching up to do, but at the moment I'm famished. Care to give this old king some food? And if it's cheese, then you'll make me the happiest man in Thedas."
They broke into laughs and giggles. Aedan went off to tell the guard at the door to order some food for the king and find Teagan along the way. The guard broke into a small smile, relief over his face. He had been guarding the Royal Couple for some time now, and practically worshipped them. To say that he was happy that his king was finally conscious was an understatement. He practically ran to the cook in the kitchen and then to Teagan who was in the study, waiting for Azure.
Teagan's jaw dropped when he heard the news, then broke into a brilliant smile. He rushed over to the Captain of the Guard, to deliver the message, running into Wynne along the way.
"Alistair is awake! The King lives!"
...
Anders scanned Alistair's body, his head bent as he focused intently. When he was done, he performed a second scan just to be sure. Wynne had already scanned him thoroughly and needed a second opinion. She was so overjoyed at seeing Alistair alive and well, that she could not keep herself from shedding tears of happiness.
"Yes, I agree with you completely Wynne," Anders said, smiling at the elder mage.
"What? What is it? Are you two going to give out my death sentence now? I feel really healthy and apart from a growing beard and long hair, I'm fine, really!" Alistair smiled.
"No, not at all," Anders said cheerfully. "We do have some news, but it isn't bad at all. Wynne, would you do the honors?"
"Well, Alistair, both his and my scan have revealed that not only you are completely cured but something else. The Taint in you has been reduced and contained." She said happily.
"What? How is this possible?" Alistair asked, his eyes wide open in disbelief.
"We used the Sacred Ashes to cure you and bring you back, my love," Azure said, her voice low with emotion.
"Yes, it seems that my little sister here might have, um, taken quite a bit of ashes for herself when we visited the urn during the Blight." Aedan shook his head, a smile on his face nevertheless.
"So, what does this mean? About the Taint I mean?"
"Well, probably that you are going to live a lot longer, and lead a very normal, healthy and happy life," Anders replied before Wynne could answer.
"I think we should speak to Genitivi also. He might have some ideas on the subject," Aedan remarked.
Alistair already was embracing Azure happily, he looked dazed by the news.
Azure laughed, Alistair's beard was tickling her. "You should get that shaved my love. I'll call servants in so they can fix that and your hair."
"What's wrong with my hair?" His eyes automatically reached for it, feigning surprise when he already knew that it was long. His face fell with mock depression. "Oh! I thought I felt strange..."
Azure's laughter bubbled up. "You've always been a terrible actor, my love," she teased.
Alistair pouted slightly and she kissed him on the lips quickly, trying to pull back, but Alistair would not have that. Tightening his grip, he kissed her back and his lips parted as their kiss deepened.
Maker's breath, I've missed this!
The rest were blushing and looking at everything in the room but the king and queen to give them some privacy.
After some time, Azure reluctantly pushed him away slowly.
"You have someone to meet, my love. He's been here every day, but he's always seen you sleeping. I told him you were asleep, you see..." she murmured, her eyes tender.
"I- I have a son, don't I?" He said, his voice thick and full of emotion.
She nodded and went to the next room, taking Bryce into her arms, and walked back into the room holding her son tenderly, her eyes on Alistair's as his whole face lit up. She carried him to the bed and sat down. The Royal couple looked lovingly at the chubby little boy who looked so much like his father.
Bryce's eyes fell on his father automatically. After gazing at him quite seriously, his little arms went up and his eyes twinkled.
"Da!" He gurgled happily and Alistair cried tears of joy as he held his boy gently.
...
The bells in the Chantry rang furiously, the people were beside themselves with happiness. Their king was awake and all was well in the kingdom.
Alistair had made a brief appearance on the balcony, still looking a bit pale and gaunt but smiling happily as he waved at the crowds below.
They all cheered at his appearance.
One of the people he had really looked forward to seeing was Zevran. Their meeting had been a very emotional one.
"My friend, I hope you will forgive me for not believing in you that night," Alistair said quietly as Zevran stood before him, trying to keep his emotions in check.
"There is nothing to forgive, Alistair. I was merely doing my job, and I truly understand why you chose not to listen to me. You always believe people are better than they actually are," Zevran said quietly.
"I know a certain ex-Crow whom I believe is the best and most loyal friend I've ever had, certainly," Alistair replied quickly.
Zevran's blank stare shone brightly for a few minutes as he fought back the tears. He could not say anything to his words, for the emotions that he felt were stopping him from uttering any words at the moment.
But Alistair crossed the distance between the two, and gave him a bear hug, which Zevran returned, his eyes brimming over with tears.
"I'm very happy you have returned to us, Alistair," he mumbled, pulling away finally. "And if you choose not to listen to me in the future, I'll kill you myself!"
"Is that a threat?" Alistair's eyebrow shot up and his eyes danced at the elf.
Zevran burst out laughing at this. He would hold his king and queen dear in his heart forever. He could never return to the Crows now.
He had forgotten how to be one.
A/N: Epilogue up sometime tomorrow, or maybe before! :D