This chapter ties in certain events for plot purposes. You'll see what I mean when you read it.

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Chapter 53 - Warning Signs

He woke up drenched in sweat as might have been expected. He was having a nightmare after all. And it was a darkspawn one. His chest was still heaving uncontrollably, and he blinked his eyes repeatedly to force himself to wake. At least that was what he convinced himself he was doing. It was not to keep the tears from falling.

No...far from it.

His hand went to his head and his fingers pressed into the bridge of his nose, while he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. When the lump in his throat had disappeared and his breathing was almost down to normal, he turned to the figure beside him that was still sleeping peacefully.

The only light in the room was coming from the fire in the fireplace. The fire was not roaring as it had been so he guessed he must have been asleep for some time now. A half-smile graced his face briefly as he remembered the passionate love-making that had lulled them both to sleep afterward. That was certainly the best way to fall asleep as far as he was concerned. The figure next to him sighed in her sleep and his smile deepened.

The half-light of the room allowed his hungry eyes take in the softness of her naked body - her full hips and small waist, her luscious breasts moving to the rhythm of her steady breathing. One of her arms was gracefully thrown up above her head and lying in a careless fashion on the pillow. Her dark hair was loose and disheveled and somewhat fell over her eyes. Her long lashes cast dark shadows underneath, where he knew there weren't any.

You are allowing yourself to become distracted yet again.

The disapproving voice inside him did not startle him. He was, in fact, expecting it.

You hunt and kill thugs, go after abominations and demons when there is a greater task that awaits. When are you going to ask her to help you get the ingredients? Why are you putting this off? We must act without further delay!

The smile on his face disappeared and was replaced by a worried frown. He sat up in bed and buried his face in his hands. She stirred in her sleep then, so he turned to look at her again.

You are weak. This has become more than a distraction now. You must stop this affair before it is too late.

Something inside him snapped when he heard those words. He rebelled then, taking control and silenced the voice with his own, speaking forcibly through clenched teeth.

"I love her. You will never speak against her or our love again. I will not allow it. I will never stop loving her, do you hear me?"

She stirred again and he bent down to caress her cheek gently.

"What - mmm. Oh, are you all right, love?" She crooned, her voice sleepy and lusciously thick.

"Hush, my love. I'm fine. Just another bad Warden dream. Go back to sleep."

She stretched and his eyes adoringly looked down her figure, hungrily devouring it.

"Well, now you've done it. You know how I worry about you, especially when -"

But Anders had caught Marian's pouting lips in a passionate kiss which had stopped her from speaking. He did not care at all about anything else for the time being and let himself drown in the intensity of their love.

And deep in the recess of his mind he felt Justice's disapproval.

But at least he was quiet.

...

Jinx was sitting by the window, her form detached and dejected at the same time. Nearly two weeks had gone by since Teagan, Marcus and Zevran had left and there had been no word from them. She did not hear Alistair open the door and come into the room.

From where she was sitting she had a perfect view of the palace gates. She had started to sit next to the window immediately after they had departed. Alistair closed the door softly behind him and his sad gaze took in her thin figure. He knew she was eating more but the fact that she was pregnant and had had morning sickness had really taken its toll. He shook his head slightly and quietly made his way to where she was. She felt his approach and her green eyes sparkled as she turned to him, gracing him with a genuine smile which made his heart flutter wildly.

Maker's Mercy, what a hold this woman had on him!

She held her arms out to him and he knelt before her, taking her in his arms gently, rocking her for a moment, one hand burying itself in her hair while the other one locked around her waist while he kissed her. She smiled into his mouth and broke away at last, turning to the window again.

"I know what to give you for Satinalia now. I wonder if I'll find a box big enough for it," he murmured jokingly, feigning concern as he eyed the window briefly. She turned to smile at him again, but this time the smile did not reach her eyes.

"I long for news, any news. It's maddening. How is it that you appear to be so calm and composed, love?"

"I took lessons from Zevran," he responded automatically and a chuckle escaped her lips, her eyes twinkling briefly. He looked pleased with himself for a few minutes. He had finally made her laugh and his amber eyes bore into hers adoringly before they wandered to the window once again. A carriage bearing the royal seal was pulling up to a stop just outside the gates and his gaze widened with surprise.

She followed his gaze and jumped up excitedly, nearly throwing him off balance. In a flash, she was out the door and Alistair quickly stood up and followed her.

The palace doors opened and Teagan walked in, little Alex holding his hand firmly. Jinx gave a strangled cry and Alex disentangled himself from Teagan and ran to his mother's waiting arms.

"Mamma!"

Alistair's grin was surpassed only by the tears of joy that sprang forth from his eyes as he embraced both his wife and child, burying his head into the child's neck for a few minutes. But then Alex started to complain that his neck was wet, and he quickly let out a bark of a laugh and wiped his tears. Jinx was sobbing aloud with joy and behind Teagan, Alistair saw that both Isolde and Jacqueline were being brought into the palace by two guards. His eyes flashed angrily at the women who were both looking subdued, pale and wan.

The palace doors closed again and Jinx put Alex down but still held on to his little hand. Her eyes narrowed. Where was Eamon?

"He got away, didn't he?" Her voice had a weary resigned tone in it and Teagan's gaze grew sad.

"Yes, he got away. But Zevran and Marcus are in pursuit. I'm sure they'll get him Jinx. I had to come back with Alex and our two prisoners here."

Jinx's eyes fell on Isolde and Jacqueline briefly. She did not care. Eamon wasn't there and that was a tragedy in her opinion. Alistair's quiet voice broke the brief silence.

"Guards, please escort the prisoners to Fort Drakon. They will be questioned tomorrow."

The guards saluted briefly and took the women away who went without saying a word.

"Alex is hungry and tired from the journey -" Teagan began but Jinx turned to him, a radiant smile on her face.

"As you are, I'm sure. Let's just get you both fed and Alex to bed. We can all talk afterwards."

...

Isolde finished her story and grew silent again. Alistair and Jinx sat on their thrones, surveying both women closely.

Jinx went over all the words she had heard for the past hour slowly. Her gaze fell on Jacqueline who was standing beside Isolde, a far-away gaze in her eyes and she tried to imagine what was going on inside her stupid blonde head but she couldn't. She turned to Alistair who had his eyes fixed on her.

A silent understanding passed between them both and he nodded slightly. Clearing his throat to speak he looked down at the two women again.

"This is treason, Isolde. Even if you swear that he is a monster and beat you continuously, I have the feeling you are not telling us everything. I have the feeling that you played a greater part in all of it."

Alistair stopped talking and turned to Jinx again. His wife did not look at him, but kept her eyes on both women. He sighed.

"Teagan?"

Teagan stepped forward, readying himself for what the king was about to say. "Yes, Your Highness?"

"Call in the scribe so that he can write down the sentence."

"Yes, Your Highness." Teagan bowed slightly and left the room.

A sigh escaped from Jacqueline's lips and Isolde bit her lower lip.

Teagan returned with the scribe who sat at a desk, quill in hand and parchment ready.

"Isolde Guerrin, you have aided in the kidnapping of the crown prince and have committed treason to the crown - your sister Jacqueline, an accomplice to this act. You have confessed to having her brought here with the sole purpose of making me fall into her arms in order to cast my queen aside and wed her instead." Alistair's voice trembled slightly as he said these words and he paused for a few moments to get a grip on himself and control the anger he was feeling. "Furthermore, you have assisted your husband in poisoning my son's mind against his true mother using your sister as well."

There was another pause after this and the only sound heard in the vast throne room was the sound of the scratching of the quill against the parchment. When Alistair spoke again, his voice was quiet.

"Isolde Guerrin, you and your sister Jacqueline are to be executed tomorrow at sunset."

A cry escaped Isolde's lips and the tears started. Her sister, however, did not move a muscle. She stared up at Alistair, a fierce look in her blue eyes.

And then she smiled.

Jinx blinked, taken aback by the woman's reaction. The woman vaguely reminded her of Anora, so blonde, haughty and insolent. The guards took a sobbing Isolde and a fierce-looking Jacqueline away and it was over.

Alistair let out a sigh and bowed his head. Isolde had treated him badly as a child. But there were no words to express what she had done when his son had been taken away from him like this. Even so, he was surprised at the fact that he could still feel sorry for her.

Teagan ushered the scribe out and the king and queen were left alone.

"We will never be safe now, Alistair. Not while that madman still lives."

He lifted his head and turned to look at her, his amber eyes full of concern.

"I know."

...

Zevran and Marcus arrived two weeks later to confirm their fears. They had followed the tunnel and come upon the fork as Eamon had before them. However, they had taken the tunnel on the left and had not run into any spiders along the way. The whole thing had been uneventful and they had surfaced near a village in Orlais, so they turned back then, to retrace their steps. Once they reached the tunnel on the right they had decided to follow it to see where it led.

When they were attacked by the spiders, they had been surprised and fought back. One of the guards had died during the attack and it was then that they decided to return. There was no point in carrying on a suicide mission. They doubted Eamon had survived but did not find a body so they could not earnestly say he was dead.

Jinx nodded sadly when they finished their tale, and did not say anything else. Alistair had a worried frown on his face as well, but quietly thanked them profusely and urged them to freshen up, get something to eat and rest. Once they had left his study, she rushed to his arms and he held her close, rocking her gently.

"What do we do now, my love?" She managed to say, as soon as she had found her voice.

"We prepare. We remain vigilant." Alistair's strong voice comforted her.

There was a knock on the study door and Teagan walked in, closing the door behind him.

"I ran into Zevran and Marcus along the way. I'm sorry they couldn't find him."

Jinx smiled at Teagan, her expression soft and grateful. Teagan, however, did not return the smile. He looked extremely worried.

"What is it, Teagan?" Alistair said sharply.

"It's Orlais, Alistair. There are at least two hundred men stationed at the border now. It seems they wish to attack and take over Ferelden like we thought. This is serious. What should we do?"

"Did you send the reinforcements over like we agreed?"

"Yes. They should be there by now. But we have not heard back from Empress Celine, have we?"

"She wrote me a missive not two days ago. She is greatly troubled by what is happening and is sending some of her men to disperse the attackers. They may be too late to arrive in time to stop a battle, though."

"Our forces are not big enough to go to war, Alistair. We've been through a Blight. Ferelden is still recovering."

Alistair said nothing to this, his mind quickly going over everything. After a few moments an idea popped into his head.

"I shall travel to the Free Marshes. Marian Hawke is the Champion there. The Free Marshes is right next to Orlais. We could get them to help us somewhat in this, if Marian can influence whoever is in charge right now."

"The Viscount is gone, the Arishok killed him."

"I know. Who is keeping order now, Teagan? Is there a new Viscount?" He silently hoped his friend Marian had stepped in.

"I'm afraid not, Alistair. Times have been turbulent in Kirkwall. Knight Commander Meredith of the Templars has practically taken over. She is keeping order."

Alistair's jaw dropped and then shut with an audible snap. He shook his head slightly.

"Marvelous. Just the news I needed to end a perfect day."

...