Sleeping Arrangements

Chapter 36

"Grey Wardens don't have children"

Elissa cradled her daughter in her arms and couldn't imagine anything could ever feel more right. The room was warm, the sheets were soft, and the air was sweetly scented by the multitudes of beautifully arranged flowers friends and colleagues had sent for the princess' birth. Elissa sighed blissfully and leaned her head back on the fluffy pillow. She wasn't sure how long she stayed like that before a loving kiss was planted gently on her forehead.

"How are my girls?" Alistair asked as he pulled up a chair to sit and caressed his daughter's pink cheek.

"Perfect," his wife responded, watching him under heavy lids.

The serenity of the moment was impeded when the door flew open. Elissa sat up taller and clutched the baby tightly as she watched a group of dark figures enter the room. Their features eventually became clearer until she was able to recognize them as the Orlesian Grey Wardens. The air was tight with anticipation and she felt Alistair stand stiffly.

"Was there something you needed?" he asked in a hoarse voice that Elissa knew was attempting to hide his own uneasiness.

The Commander of the Grey's eyes seemed colder than Elissa remembered and his tone was darker. "We're here for the child."

The baby cried out slightly as she was pulled in even closer to her mother's chest. "What are you talking about?" Elissa demanded. "We've done nothing wrong! You said so when we told you about the baby!"

The Commander folded his large arms. "I said I wasn't surprised. Of course it's possible for two Wardens to have children, but there's a reason they normally don't. It isn't safe."

"What do you mean?" Elissa's voice became high and pleading. She turned to Alistair, who held his chin in his hand and stared at the floor. "Alistair?"

"He's right, Elissa," the king said with grave determination. "We have to give them the baby."

"I will not give up Daisy!" Elissa cried.

Alistair turned to her, his brow creased in concern and. He shook his head slowly. "We never should have named it."

Elissa felt like she couldn't breathe. It was bad enough the Wardens had turned on her, but now Alistair? And he hadn't just betrayed her, but their child as well! What did everyone think was so frightening about an infant? She looked down at the small body in her arms and shrieked. Throwing the bundle wrapped in a soft white blanket across the room, she crawled out of bed to stand behind her husband as they all watched what had once been an innocent baby girl transform into a bloodthirsty Darkspawn. The Wardens readied their weapons and began to fight the Hurlock that quickly grew into an Alpha and then a full-grown Ogre. Elissa shut her eyes and covered her ears but voices kept ringing in her head. "This is why Grey Wardens don't have children…"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

She sat up in bed. Someone was screaming, but it took a moment for her to realize it was her. She covered her mouth to quiet it, but couldn't stop her body from sweating and shaking violently. It was a dream, just a dream… The words failed to comfort her. She suddenly felt like nothing could ever comfort her again, until Alistair wrapped his arms around her and pulled her head into his chest. It was a while before she could speak, but he didn't even try to make her. He stroked her back and kissed her hair until she finally looked up at him feebly. "I had a nightmare."

"I figured," he said, pushing her head back down. She didn't fight him and stared at the hair on his stomach. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Elissa shut her eyes tightly and silently wished they shared the same nightmares like they had during the Blight. Back then she never had to relive the horrors of her dreams; he already understood. Her mouth felt dry when she opened it and the words made her stomach churn, but she attempted to explain. "We had the baby. It was a girl."

Alistair stiffened slightly and Elissa knew all the nightmares that could come from that sentence were running through his mind. No doubt he had also considered the worst possible outcomes of their child's birth a thousand times over. But she was fairly certain he had never come up with this. "And?" he asked, reluctance evident in his voice.

Elissa swallowed hard and dug her face deeper into his torso. "It… it… The baby turned into a Darkspawn!" She bit her lip, waiting for his response, but after less than a minute he burst out laughing. She lifted herself off of him and watched as he writhed in fits of giggles. "It was horrible!"

He wiped a tear from his eye and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure it was. I'm sorry, but it's… It's just so ridiculous."

She looked away while he snorted back more laughter. Just a moment ago the thought of giving birth to Darkspawn had made her heart stop and skin grow cold, but the more she thought on it now the more amusing she realized the concept was. Soon she started to giggle, then guffaw, until she found herself gasping for air beside her husband, chuckling together in the wee hours of the morning. The hilarity of the situation eventually died down and they fell back into their soft sheets, staring at the ceiling in happy silence.

Alistair turned toward her, whispering in her ear, "You don't have anything to worry about. Our baby is going to be just as human as you and I."

Elissa nodded and felt her round belly. She pressed into her skin slightly and felt a kick in response. Human, she assured herself. A little warrior.