A/N: A little mature again, nothing too extreme, but still, be warned. Sorry about the lack of updates was on vacation last week, will try to stay on track now.

Chapter 53: Yours and Mine

"I…I think I ruined your shirt."

Bea giggled when she heard him chuckle. A cold shiver went down her spine as Alistair ran his fingers down the full length of her body. She felt him pull her closer she could almost feel his heart beating as he pulled her tight against him. It was still beating quite fast, considering the situation that was more than understandable.

"Mmm," she sighed, wondering, hoping, that he might take her again.

He layered kisses down her neck, stopping at her shoulder. She lay in his arms wearing nothing but his pendant and a smile. He gently lifted her chin and kissed her softly on the lips.

He smiled down at her, mischief shining in his eyes.

"Ooh," he said with mock-seriousness, "Ruined the king's shirt, you evil thing you."

He tried to kiss her again, but she nipped him on the lower lip with her teeth.

"Ow," he purred.

She grinned fiercely.

He chuckled again.

"Whatever will you have to do to make up for such…a serious…trespass."

Bea's heart beat faster.

"I…um…I'm sure you can come up with something…Your Majesty," she cooed.

He nibbled on her right ear; she trembled and sighed with pleasure.

"I have an idea or two," he promised.

"Good," she said.

She surprised him, pushing him over, flat on his back, she ended up on top of him, pinning his hands with hers.

She smirked down at him.

"I have an…idea or two myself," she purred, "With your permission of course."

Alistair smiled.

"You have it my good woman," he promised.

She smirked, and started kissing down his bare chest.

He groaned.

"I'm all yours," he sighed.

IOI

After their second round of lovemaking, the pillow talk started again. Bea lay on her belly while Alistair lightly stroked her back. She sighed with pleasure, enjoying his touch. Suddenly, a sly smile came to her face.

Alistair smiled.

"What," he asked.

"I was just thinking," she said.

"That can be dangerous," he quipped.

She lightly slugged him in the side, again, and he chuckled.

"I deserved that," he admitted.

"Can I finish?" she asked.

"Of course," he said, "My apologies, my good woman."

Bea sighed.

"I was thinking about how we first met our little…collision outside the stable."

Alistair shook his head.

"I was afraid that I had just started a war," he admitted, "that you were the daughter of some great king with a vast army and a short temper."

She sighed.

"I was afraid you were going to have me arrested, that you would cut off my head, and have my family banished."

The king sighed.

"I guess we were both wrong," he purred lightly kissing her bare shoulders.

Bea murmured softly.

"Can I ask you a question," he purred between kisses.

"Yessss," she answered with a soft moan, "I…um… think I'm beyond lying at this point."

He lay back, resting his head on his arm.

"Why were you running to the stables that day? Where were you going in such a hurry?"

Bea pursed her lips; she gave him a faraway look, perhaps pulling herself back to that moment.

"I was trying to get away, I suppose."

"Why?"

She took a lock of her black hair between her fingers twirling it slightly.

"I attended the whole "Gathering of Ladies" thing as a favor to my father. It was Em who really wanted to go, to have a chance to see the new King, to try to enthrall him with her beauty, or impress him with her wit…"

Bea shook her head.

"Em loved the whole idea of it, me, I was not so happy. I felt like I was a piece of meat, that I had been turned into a mare being sold on an auction block. The more I thought about it, the more panicked I became; finally I could not take it anymore. I fled…"

She gave him a sad smile.

"I never thought it possible that you would choose me, not with so many other ladies in attendance."

Bea shook her head again.

"It is ironic," she said, "By running away, by bumping into you that day; I started us on this course."

She chuckled.

"The Maker does have a sense of humor, doesn't he?"

Alistair frowned.

"Do you regret being here?"

"No," she answered, "Being with you, it…it was not what I expected. You…you're so much more than what they say about you, Alistair."

He smirked.

"I do my best," he said.

She smirked, and slightly tapped him on the shoulder again. He caught her hand and pressed her fingers to his lips.

She sighed contentedly.

She lay there for a moment letting him enjoy his work on her fingers. A contented sigh escaped her lips; she had never felt this way before. She had come closest with Rene, possibly, but even he had been nothing like this.

She frowned suddenly.

"What are we going to do," she asked.

"About what," he asked, pausing at her ring finger.

"This," she said pointing back and forth between the two of them.

"Us," she added.

IOI

Alistair paused, considering her question. It was a good one of course, deserving of a serious answer, not just one of his jokes or sarcastic comments.

He sighed.

"You will continue your work, of course," he said, "It helps Ferelden, and I know you enjoy it. As for…well…this, we might need to keep it quiet, at least for now."

Bea pursed her lips.

"Are you ashamed of being here," she asked sounding hurt.

"No," he said quickly, "Never. It is just…I'm not deaf, Milady. I've heard what some of the nobles have said about you, the rumors that have been swirling since you first came to court."

The king sighed.

"I want you to be happy," he murmured, "If there was any doubt that I cared about you, I hope I put that doubt to rest, tonight."

He shook his head.

"You deserve to be treated with the utmost respect, even if we weren't doing…well…this. I will do what I can to see that you get that respect. I promise."

That brought that tiny smile to her lips, the one he had noticed when they first talked in the gardens, not a smirk, not really, but a clear show of acceptance, and contentment.

The king smiled.

That little smile drove him wild.

He sat up in bed and brush a lock of dark hair out of her eyes, she sighed, enjoying his touch.

"I…I don't want this to just be a one-time thing," he confessed, "I care about you so much. I want you. When we are alone your every wish will be my desire. If it is in my power to grant you what you want, I will…without hesitation."

"Alistair," she purred, blushing.

He gave her a shy smile.

It was not an easy thing, speaking his heart. Kallian had heard it, and he loved her, he would never claim otherwise, but now…Kallian was gone, and Bea…well…Bea had started to fill the whole in him that had been there since his fellow warden, his best friend, and lover had died…

Shianni said that she believed that Kallian would not have wanted him to be alone forever. She would have wanted him to find some happiness in his life, some peace after all the war and death they had seen during the Blight.

He wanted to believe that. He needed to believe that.

Bea was special to him, he could not deny that.

He would not let her go.

He waited for her to respond. If they continue this he would need to be careful, he did not want to distract her from her work, and he would have to work harder to protect her from the snide reactions to her opponents on the royal court. That did not bother him in the least. He had shielded Kallian many times on the battlefield.

He would do his best to shield Bea on this one.

"Will you stay with me," he asked, trying not to sound too pathetic, not an easy thing for him, truth be told.

It is not begging, he thought to himself, it is a request, a very…urgent request…

Okay, it was begging, but he was fine with that, as long as she stayed…

…As long as she was with him.

"Will you stay?"

IOI

Bea's smile faded slightly, her brow furrowed with deep thought. What Alistair had asked her…it was bigger than just the two of them. When a king was involved, it was always bigger than just two people…

He was asking her to be his, and only his. Most women on the court would have jumped at the chance. Maker knew, Margaret certainly would have, she would not have hesitated in accepting the king's offer. Bea did not have that luxury.

She had given herself to Alistair tonight, but when they returned to Denerim, returned to his duties of ruling the nation, she would be giving herself to more than just this kind, gentle, handsome man; she would be giving herself to Ferelden as a whole.

That situation had its drawbacks.

She did not doubt that he would be true to his word. Everything she had seen, everything she had heard had revealed what type of man Alistair Theirin was. He had not taken a single mistress since the Hero of Ferelden died, and it had not been from lack of girls willing to fill that role.

No, if Alistair said he wanted her and her alone, he would be true to that promise. She would be the king's woman, and few would speak against her to her face.

There were many advantages to such a position. She would have whatever resources she required to continue her work. Nobles wishing to bend the king's ear would no doubt come to her hoping that she might speak in their favor. She would be in a position to not only safeguard her work, but deal with those who might try and sabotage it. House Glass' prestige would double, perhaps even triple…

They would be the undisputed masters of the capital. Second only to the royal family itself…

But…

She licked her lips.

She would also be painting a target on Alistair's chest, right now; her enemies were only seeking to discredit her and her work. If she and the king began a true relationship, her enemies would become his enemies as well. Who could say how far such people might be willing to go if they thought they needed to go through the king to get to her.

His Majesty was not weak, she had never believed that, but he was still new to the battlefield of politics. He could not even begin to guess what kind of weapons a skilled politician could bring to bear.

The very thought almost made her shudder. She had no desire to see Alistair harmed, which is likely what he would be if they chose to continue this back in Denerim.

The very idea of it terrified her.

Alistair had so much potential, she should have been smart and told him that this had been a one-time thing, a moment of comfort she did not regret, but could not in good conscience allow to happen again.

That was the smart thing to do, she knew…

Alas, she was not feeling very smart today.

She was not thinking with her head, not anymore, her heart had finally broken free of its bonds and began to speak its mind again.

It would not be silenced the way it was after Rene.

It would not.

She had no desire to leave Alistair behind. She had grown too fond of him for that. She found herself thinking about all the little things that defined him as person. She thought about that spikey hair, the odd humble sense of humor, and those puppy dog eyes, not to mention the strong warrior's body that had pleased her so completely tonight.

Even now the thought made her passions stir, they had been caged for so long, buried beneath her work and her will, Alistair had shattered the walls that held them, broke those chains with his fire and passion.

She could not go back to being the scholar she was, even if she wanted too.

He had changed her.

He had stopped her thinking of herself as "I" and started thinking of herself as one of an "us."

A most frightening thought to be sure, but at the same time, quite liberating.

I am His Majesty's woman, she thought, and he is my man.

A wave of possessiveness washed over her.

She would not surrender that to another, not after what they had shared.

She would not surrender him, not ever…

Not ever.

She would find some way to continue her work, to keep the rumor mill from burying it, but at the same time, she would share herself with Alistair. She would share his life, and his bed.

And she would be damned before she would let anyone stand between them. Everyone knew what the king could do in a fight, but they had no idea what she could do.

She might not use a sword, but that did not make her defenseless, one did not survive in noble circles in Val Royeaux by being defenseless.

She had her mind and her wits, not to mention several very powerful allies, with them at her side, she would not fail.

She could not fail.

She glanced up at Alistair again, only a few seconds had passed since he had made her his offer. Yet the king looked like he had been waiting an eternity, such was his fear of her refusal.

She smiled slightly.

In this, he had nothing to fear. She knew what she wanted, and now…

…he would too.

She sat up and kissed him deeply once again, she wrapped her arms around him, even as he pulled her into his lap, even as he began to maneuver her over onto her back once again.

He gave her a fierce smile.

"Can I take that as a yes?" he asked.

Bea giggled.

"It all depends on your performance in the next few minutes," she said playfully.

"I'm trusting that you can…rise to the occasion.

Alistair gave her his hungriest smile.

I'll do my best, Milady," he promised.

She sighed happily as he began.

"I think you will be impressed," he said in a husky voice.

She groaned loudly.

"Mmmm," she whimpered, "We…ahhhh…we will just…have to…have to discuss it in…in the morning."

They stared into each other's eyes, drowning in each other's gaze.

Yes, they would discuss it in the morning, but for now…there was tonight, their night.

He did his best to make it last…

…Hopefully…forever.