Belyssa's Room at Redcliffe...

When Alistair's eyes finally zoned in on Belyssa she looked startled. He didn't notice Leilana until she spoke.

"Well, I will leave you two alone. Warden we can finish our talk later." and with that Leilana left the room.

Alistair rushed over to Belyssa and started to run his hands up and down her arms. "Are you alright? Bethany said you were injured." his voice was filled with concern. While Belyssa was still upset with him she was happy to see him too, in the back of her mind she kept having thoughts of him being hurt.

"I'm fine, Alistair." she pulled away from him and to give herself some distance from his presence. The gesture didn't go unnoticed by Alistair; however, he didn't protest either.

"But Bethany-" Belyssa cut him off.

"While we were checking the borders of Redcliffe we were attacked. Some very badly coordinated bandits attacked and then later by a small party of darkspawn. It was only about 6 of them." she makes it sound so normal, thought Alistair.

"Why were you riding alone?" he asks

"I wasn't alone. Teagan and some of castle soldiers were with me." The use of Teagan's name didn't go unnoticed.

"So it's Teagan, now?" he tried make light of it. Still distracted Belyssa wasn't sure she heard him correctly.

"Wait, what?"

"Uh, were any of the soldiers injured or Teagan?" Alistair prayed that he didn't sound too eager at the end of his question.

"Nothing serious, mostly minor scrapes. They only fought a few genlocks regardless I threw a firebomb at them to make sure any blood on them didn't have time to penetrate their wounds." Alistair smiled, as he had a quick image of Teagan burning.

"You said they only fought a few genlocks. What did you fight?" Belyssa shuffled her feet for a moment before she answered.

"There was four genlocks and two hurlocks. I fought the hurlocks." the horrified look on Alistair face spurred her anger. "I am capable of fighting hurlocks." she says hotly.

"You are more than capable, Bel. It's just the thought of you having to do by yourself scares me." Alistair hoped his response assuaged her temper.

"Then you shouldn't have left me alone." she said scathingly. Apparently not, he thought. He then sighed. At that point Belyssa took in his dirty armour and how he was standing (he was favoring one side). "Are you hurt?"

Alistair gave her that smile of his that made her stomach flip flop. "Let's just say you weren't the only one fighting hurlocks today and a mages too."

Immediately Belyssa began to bite her bottom lip. This causes Alistair's heart to beat a little faster.

"Mages?"

"Yes, like the one we fought at the Tower." Belyssa just nodded. "There were some in the town we went to today." Belyssa's entire attitude changed before his eyes. She came back over to him and gingerly touched his face; he actually leaned into her touch.

"Do you need help with your armour and injuries?" she then asked.

"Thank you, but I am fine. Wynne and Bethany offered to take a look at us. At least that was I think she yelled as I was running up the stairs to check on you." Now it was Alistair's turn to touch her cheek and like him, she also leaned into the touch. He noticed the expression on her face changed; if he didn't know better she looked hurt for a brief moment.

"Alright, I was just about to take bath. You could jo-" she says as she begins to open her robe; yet, before she could finish.

"I will leave you to it then." says Alistair very quickly. Somehow he managed to get to her door with speed she didn't know he possessed. He also would not look her in the eye.

"Um, I should go meet Wynne and Bethany and get cleaned up as well. I will see you at the banquet." Alistair didn't wait to hear her reply as he quickly dashed out of her room. So he never saw the tears that began to form and that soon fell as he left the room.

Alistair's room at Redcliffe...

Alistair was laying on his bed going over the previous night's disaster and his most recent conversation with Belyssa. He knew he said something wrong again by her reaction. Why do I keep saying stupid things?

"You can't help yourself, you do it every time you open your mouth." says Red

"Don't talk as if you were any better. Remember we are the same, so you can't be any better."

"I have years of practice now and we are talking about you."

"A little full of yourself."

"Not one bit."

"Why is it I don't believe you."

There was a knock on his door interrupting his conversation. When he went to answer he found both Leilana and Zevran on the other side.

"Alistair, Bethany was worried about you and asked us check on you." says Leilana. Before Alistair said anything he grabbed the shirt he was going to were at the banquet and put it on. He then had a thought.

"Leilana, you're female, right."

Leilana gets this mock look of astonishment on her face.

"I am? That's news. When did that happen?"

"I just wanted some advice. What do I do when I want a woman to know she is special and..."

"You want to woo her?"

"I think Alistair understands the wooing. Well I hope he does." says Zevran.

"I doubt that." says Alistair; he looks down at his feet for a moment. "What I meant was, never mind. Can you just give Bel this dress for me?"

"Sure." He then walked over to his closet and pulled the dress he asked her opinion about after Belyssa left at Redcliffe in search of help for Connor.

"I can, though you could do it yourself."

"No, I can't. I will probably say something to upset her...again. I know this dress isn't as fine as the last one she wore. To me it doesn't matter what she wears, she is always beautiful."

"There is hope for you, my dear Alistair." says Zevran. Leilana gives him a kiss on the cheek and leaves the two men alone.

"So you want to tell me what's wrong?" asks Zevran.

"I don't know." Alistair shrugs his shoulder and starts to pace. Zevran sits down and patiently waits. "I used to be able to talk to her. Tell her what I am thinking, feeling, anything really."

"And now?"

"We hardly talk now." Alistair begins to blush. "And I don't think I am doing it right."

"Have you read the book I lent you?"

"Yes." sighs Alistair

"And?"

"I have so many ideas now that I don't know where to start." the previous blush intensifies. "I was trained as a Templar. To perform our abilities we needed to have discipline. I never had a problem with that, around Bel sometimes I find it hard to concentrate." Alistair's sinks into the chair opposite Zevran. "That has never happened, before."

"This is new to you both. It will take time for you find familiar ground again."

"After last night I am not so sure."

"Then tell me what happened."

"You really want to know?"

"I think it is more about you really needing to talk to someone about it."

"Maybe you're right."

The Previous night continued...

He then felt a hand touching his manhood, to his surprise it got harder. When Belyssa squeezed it, he froze, the sensations running through is body was overwhelming. So were the thoughts he was now having. She squeezed again. Alistair grabbed her hand and pulled it away.

"Alistair?" says Belyssa

"Bel" his voice sounded heavy. He looks down at her realizes just how undressed she is. To him she is utterly breathtaking. Her lips are swollen from his kisses and she is panting. Her chest heaving up and down making her body even more enticing. And yet Alistair finds the self-control (praising his Templar skills) to pull back from her beautiful body.

"I need some air." he says lamely

"You want to outside?" asks Bel with a look of disbelief on her face.

Alistair bends down and gives her another kiss, as she begins to wrap her arms around his neck he disengages them. He sits up on the couch pulling her up as well, to help with his raging hormones he hands her his shirt. He can see her confusion as she puts it on. Once that is done she touches his face.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong. I just couldn't get the thought that they might be watching out of my head."

"They?"

"You know them, Elissa and Red." Alistair knows he is telling a lie. But it's the best he can come with up in an effort to not hurt her.

Belyssa eyes him for a few moments. "I don't think they would do that."

"Says you,. I don't know what Elissa says to you; but, Red has a creepy sense of humor."

This piqued Belyssa's curiosity. "Oh? Like what?"

Alistair realizes he was about to tell her about Red's comment at Lothering and then had second thoughts.

"Nothing important, though, he was really helpful in the Wilds."

"Really?"

"I didn't know it at the time. I just thought his voice was a part of the Joining. It's not like there is manual to read."

"Why is that?"

"The Wardens are very secretive and they don't want people to know about the Joining."

"They can leave that out of the texts."

"I didn't say it made sense."

"True."

They were both now sitting on the couch together. Alistair didn't realize how much he missed just being able to talk her. Without having his other thoughts cloud his mind. He sighed realizing how late it must be getting and he knew he needs to leave her.

"I should get back to my room and get ready for bed. We have an early day tomorrow."

"Don't go." Belyssa begs.

"Bel."

"Please, I sleep better when I know you are here. Stay until I am sound asleep." she gave him a look she used to use when they were kids.

"You are not playing fair." Alistair knew he was defeated.

"Thank you." she gave him a quick kiss. Alistair turned around as she took off the rest of armour. He realizes she had every intention of sleeping in his shirt. He swallowed as he watched her climb on the bed and he then took a deep breath as she patted the bed for him to join her. To his surprise she gave him another kiss then rested her head on his shoulder to sleep.

At some point during the night Alistair was having a great dream. Belyssa was sitting on top him leaving a trail of kisses down his chest, he groans as she begins to nibble her way down his abs. He realizes her hands are on the ties of his pants. He pulls her up so he can kiss her deeply. She begins to moan. He is overwhelmed by the sensations she is causing in him and he flips her over onto her back.

"Alistair" he hears her whisper in his ear. Then he feels her lips on his neck followed by a bite. He is surprised that he is enjoying the pain too. (Wait pain? I shouldn't feel pain in a dream) Alistair slowly begins to open his eyes.

Once again he is greeted with image of Belyssa underneath him. Her lips are swollen from his kisses. She just smiles at him and brings his head down for another kiss. Her hands managed to undo the ties of his pants. He gasps as he feels her hand sliding into his underwear and then groans into her mouth as her fingers circle around his manhood. He starts to struggle against her, but she runs her other hand down his back while she grips him harder. Once her hand begins to move up and down his shaft he loses himself in the sensations. His hips seem to have a mind of its own and they begin to move with the same rhythm as her hand.

He tries to speak. "Bel...I"

She just gives him another kiss, this time she thrusts her tongue into his mouth. And Alistair loses himself as he begins to taste her. She squeezes his shaft harder and now Alistair breaks off the their kiss. Belyssa lets out a whimper, which turns in a gasp as his lips find their way to her neck. Soon she begins to writhe; the motion causes her to raise her hips to his. This friction soon has her moaning louder as she begins to rub her sex again the back of her hand. The rhythm of her hand begins to get faster and Alistair's moans turns into a deep groans. His hips also move faster. Both of them become lost in this dance, neither truly understanding the goal but both wanting to reach it.

"Alistair, please don't stop" at this point both of them are too caught up in the heat building up in them.

"Oh Maker!" Alistair realizes what is happening to him and tries to grab her hand; but she just tightens her grip. Alistair tries to call on his templar abilities to stop her but he can't.

"Bel, I don't... Stop, please..." she misunderstands his plea and she increases her rhythm. The heat is building within her as well. Alistair tries one more time to speak to her by whispering in her ear but instead he lets out another groan. As soon as his lips touch her neck he opens his mouth but instead of words escaping he bites down on her neck. All of sudden all the heat building in her reaches its peak and boils over, causing her to let out a scream. Her body begins to shake and that's all Alistair can handle as he too reaches his end and climaxes with a loud shout of her name. He rests his head against hers, as he tries to regain is strength and his composure.

As he looks down between to them and to his utter mortification, all evidence of his climax is sprayed all over Belyssa's hand and lower body, himself as well as the bed sheets.

"I am so sorry. I need to go." babbled Alistair as jumped out of the bed. Belyssa just looked at him with her blue eyes wide with surprise as she looked down at herself and at him. He felt like a fool and ran from the her room.

"Brasca!" says Zevran

"I told you earlier that I did something far worse." mutters Alistair as he covers his face with his hands. Then to his amazement, Zevran begins to laugh.

Alistair lifts his head and look over to see Zevran laughing so hard he is doubled over.

"It's not that funny!" shouts Alistair as he grabs a pillow and throws it him.

"My dear Alistair, our little Belyssima tried to seduce you."

"NO!" Alistair is so surprised that he is dumbfounded at Zevran's revelation.

"She tried to seduce you into making love to her." Zevran sees his shock. "It is clear you have awakened Belyssa's amorous side and she wants you to make love to her."

"Oh Maker!" Alistair goes back to his previous position of his head between his hands. He then looks up at Zevran again.

"What do I do?"

Zevran snorts. "You oblige her."

The look on his face causes Zevran to become concerned. "What is it?"

"I can't. I have never...licked a lamppost in winter. I told you that, remember?" Alistair looked so sad.

Zevran did his best to keep a straight face. "Licked a lamppost in winter?"

Alistair blushed again. "It's a phrase Bel and I came up with as children."

"What are you truly afraid of?" that question seemed to register because he got a guilty look on his face.

"What if I am horrible and she hates the experience and then me." Now Zevran understands, it had been so long that he forgot what it felt to be new at sex.

"There is only one way to know. But if you are this worried, then maybe you should wait. What you must do is talk to her, explain how you feel. Right now she wants this and she will only handle your running away from for her so long." Alistair knew deep down that his friend was right. Alistair nodded at him, he was about to say something more but there was another knock on his door.

"I was never this popular in the Chantry." On the other side of the door was a servant telling him that Bann Teagan wished to speak with him.

"I will see you at dinner." says Zevran as he left the room.

The Arl's Study....

Upon arriving to the Arl's study he found Fergus in there as well and he did not look happy. Alistair nodded at Fergus who gave him the barest of nods back as he continued to stare at Teagan.

"You asked to see me, Teagan?" Alistair's use of his proper name didn't go unnoticed by either man in the room. Before Teagan spoke he took Alistair appearance. He does have the makings of a king, he thought.

"How did things go in Haven?"

"They went well, though you could have told me that Wilhelm was killed years ago." Teagan coughed as Fergus raised an eyebrow at his comment. By Teagan's reaction Alistair knew the errand was just a rouse.

"I am sorry in the confusion of what's been going here I must have forgotten that Eamon mentioned it. You did save his son and granddaughter."

"So do you want to tell me why you sent me on a fool's errand?" demanded Alistair. For a second time Teagan was surprised, he has grown up a lot. I guess the Cousland's did help him.

"I wanted to show you that you are capable of leading; that you can gather an army to help defeat the Blight."

Now it was Alistair's turn for his eyes to widen. "You want Bel to stay here and I lead?"

"Even you can see that is for the best. The Teyrna is a capable fighter but she is the highest ranking noble in Ferelden, we will need her in the future and placing her life at risk isn't a wise decision."

"Wise or not, that is not your decision to make!" says Alistair

"Exactly!" says Fergus agreeing with him.

Teagan looks at both men and tries to control his rising anger. "Surely you are not going to encourage her to fight the darkspawn?"

"She is a Grey Warden. Fighting darkspawn is our responsibility." says Alistair. Teagan begins to rise from behind the desk and Alistair also rises and takes a step forward. Fergus now stands to intervene.

"While I am not happy about my sister being a Grey Warden, the fact is she is one now. This is her duty and for a Cousland duty comes first." Alistair remembers hearing Bryce saying that few times when he stayed with them.

"I had hoped I would have your support in this, but it is of no matter. I will tell the Teyrna that she will not be leaving with you both in the morning." Alistair and Fergus exchange a knowing glance.

"How dare you!" shouts Belyssa as she entered the Arl's study.

"This is going to be good." mutters Alistair as he looks at Fergus grinning. Belyssa turns her attention to Alistair and Fergus.

"Can you leave us alone, please." she says coolly. Both men look at each other before they leave, as they were walking out Fergus mutters.

"If you just stayed quite she would have forgotten we were even in the room." both men are startled as Belyssa slams the door to the study as soon as they cleared the doorway.

"It is far too dangerous for you to be fighting the darkspawn." says Teagan as he begins to defend himself.

"If I wasn't there you and those soldiers would be dead now!" counters Belyssa

"I will admit that it was fortuitous that you were there." concedes Teagan

"I am Grey Warden; there was nothing fortuitous about at it. And how dare you try to dictate my life!"

"I am not the only one who is worried for your safety."

"And yet both Fergus and Alistair refused to side with you."

Teagan gave her a sheepish look. "You heard that part?" Belyssa just nodded.

"I am trying to keep a promise."

"To whom?"

"Your mother, we were friends and she mentioned her concern." This stunned Belyssa, while she was quite Teagan continued. "Alistair did well leading your companions today. He can make a great leader."

"I know he can." now Teagan was surprised. "However, he lacks the confidence in himself. Your brother did him no favors by dumping in the chantry."

"So he told you, who his father was?"

"Not at first but eventually, he told me King Maric is his father; however, I knew about what Arl did since I was ten. Isolde had a chance at having two sons instead of one. As selfish as she is, I do not understand why she didn't want to raise him. Raising the son of a king regardless of his birth would have given her a considerable amount of influence at court."

"Like your family?"

"Touché, Teagan. Yet, my family already had the prestige and my father believed he had a duty the people of Highever and our sovereign. Not the other way around, like Isolde."

"I agree your father was honorable, let us not talk of Isolde." Belyssa nodded in agreement.

"We can stay in this room all night. I am not changing my mind and you can't force me to stay atRedcliffe." Belyssa turned her back to Teagan in an attempt to emphasize her point. So she was caught off guard when he spun her around.

"I was hoping to use some mild coercion." This time he used her earlier rejection of him to his advantage and had his hand on the back of her neck holding her head still as he lowered his mouth to hers. Soon after he kisses her, Belyssa begins to struggle against him. He mistakes her movement as excitement and he uses an old trick he used when he was younger which involved pinching her ass causing her to gasp so he can slip his tongue into her mouth. Furious at his audacity she bites down on his tongue then uses his surprise to push him away from her knocking him down.

"I was not being coy, when I said 'I am not that kind of woman', Teagan. I was trying to be polite, but clearly being polite doesn't work with you. So I will say it plainly. I am not interested in you, my heart belongs to another!" shouts Belyssa as she still panting slightly. When she opens the door to the study Trouble comes barreling past her and straight towards Teagan. With Teagan on the floor Trouble has the clear advantage, he begins to bark and growl at him.

"Yield Trouble!" says Belyssa loudly. Lucky for Teagan the hound obeys, though Trouble continues to growl at him. "In Orlais I used to let him have at least one bite before calling him off the other men who made lesser offenses than you. This is your only warning, you ever try to something like that again and I will leave you in a room alone with him."

Teagan looked up shocked at her threat. When he nodded his understanding did she make a hand motion and Trouble followed her out of the study. Belyssa was too upset at being caught unaware that she ran past everyone in the main hall, leaving the castle entirely. So she never heard Alistair calling out to her. She stopped running when she reached the stables and punched the wall to let out some frustration.

"Do all squishy things like to damage themselves?" Belyssa turns to see who just spoke to her. She is surprised to see a golem.

"I guess sometimes we do. Please forgive my rudeness, but who are you?" she asks

The golem roles it's eyes and sighs. "The clown-knight didn't tell it about me?"

"The clown-knight?" repeats Belyssa

"Don't tell me it doesn't know the man with the spiky hair that tries to say funny things all the time?"

"Spiky, wait do you mean Alistair?"

"Yes, the golem means me." says Alistair as he walks into view. Both the golem and Belyssa start speaking at once. Alistair holds up his hands in surrender. "I apologize to you both; I became distracted and didn't mention it."

"The clown-knight is sorry?"

"Yes, I made a mistake and I am asking for your forgiveness." All of Alistair's attention was on the golem. The golem just stood there staring at Alistair, so Belyssa decided to speak.

"Where did you find a golem, Alistair?"

"In that pathetic village of Honnleath." answered the golem. Alistair sighed and then he quickly explained activating the golem and his agreement with the golem about joining the quest. Once done Belyssa and the golem spoke briefly where the golem decided it had nothing better to do so why not join them. The golems whose name is Shale then choose to go someplace else since its resting spot was now disturbed by Belyssa and Alistair. Once they were alone Alistair pulls Belyssa into a stall for privacy.

"Bel, are you alright? What happened in the study?" Belyssa rests her head on his shoulder, she feels safe in his arms.

"Talk to me, please don't shut me out." pleads Alistair, Belyssa pulls back from him to look him in the eye.

"And you didn't shut me out last night and earlier this evening?" Alistair knew that tone in her voice, she was picking a fight with him, and he knew his best course of action was to try to stay calm.

"You're right, I did. And I am sorry. Let's go talk about everything in my room." suggests Alistair. He takes her hand in his and heads out of the stall and back to the castle. Belyssa pulls him back.

"I can't go back in there, not after…" her voice begins to crack "Can't we just stay in the stables, like when we were kids." Alistair can tell she is upset and feels his own anger rising for Teagan; yet, he finds his way to calm himself so he can help her.

"Your wish is my command." Belyssa gave him that smile that made his heart skip a beat.